Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union ARCATA – The North Coast Growers Association (NCGA) has voted 32–8 in favor of partial street closure on the Plaza during main season Saturday Farmers Markets. But before that takes place, the controversial measure will have to be considered by Arcata’s citizen-led Transportation Safety Committee (TSC). Any recommendation the…
Plaque re-wording made simple, but of course there’s a complication
Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union ARCATA – The plaque designating Arcata’s Jacoby Building as California Registered Historical Landmark No. 783 was removed from its 55-year station at Eighth and H streets on March 6 because of its misleading and offensive wording trivializing the ruthless conquest of the indigenous Wiyot People as “Indian troubles.” The…
Watson’s crisp attire sparks clean shirt, washed face revival
Angus Podgorny Mad River Union ARCATA, APRIL 1 – Clean-cut Arcata Councilmember Brett Watson’s natty duds have sparked a city-wide fashion shift. The era of earth-toned garments, in effect since the 1970s, may have passed. With his monochromatic 1961 tax accountant look, the vice mayor’s crisp, wrinkle-free shirts and ties have set a new tone…
The plaque is toast
Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union ARCATA PLAZA – It may look like solid brass, but the plaque designating the Jacoby Building as a historical landmark is toast. As in done, vapor, game over, history. More details will be available at tonight’s epic City Council meeting about the Plaza, the McKinley statue and the plaque.…
Downtown desires detailed in run-up to epic Feb. 21 Plaza meeting
Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union ARCATA – Whatever the Plaza looks like five years from now, no one can say they weren’t asked for their ideas on how to shape it. Some major questions are on the table about Arcata’s town square: How can we make it more inviting and less frightening? Should cannabis…
Plaza scoped with generous use of butcher paper, marking pens and dots
Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union ARCATA – Ideas and colored dots were abundant at the D Street Neighborhood Center last week as the City Council held a multimedia study session on Plaza conditions and ways to improve them. The event resembled a Chamber of Commerce mixer at times, with lots of civic leaders on…
Holiday and other events coming up
Mad River Union NOHUM – The Holiday Open House is a feature of Arcata Main Street’s Season of Wonder and Light. During the Open House, Friday, Dec. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. on the Plaza, enjoy art, complimentary horse drawn carriage rides, hot chocolate and cider, stilt-walking elves, caroling, theatrical performance and a very…
Transportation activists introduce new vision for a human-centered ‘living Plaza’ with fewer cars
Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union ARCATA – Re-imagining the Plaza has never been more popular, with ideas flying at near-weekly scoping sessions in and out of government. The frequency of the solution-seeking is exceeded only by the daily incidents of drunks, drugs, fights, smoking and other offenses continuing to take place out on the…
PastaLuego closed for overhaul
Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union ARCATA – In a world where a venerable Plaza ice cream shop became an artisanal Italian food and deli, one woman strove to take the concept even further … to expand the popular sandwich offerings, add desperately needed coffee drinks and even bring back ice cream (in the form…
‘Tis the season – Santa hits town this week
Mad River Union ARCATA/McKINLEYVILLE – Santa season gets underway this week with St. Nick arriving in a big way in McKinleyville and Arcata. McKinleyville Mack Town’s Christmas Celebration begins tomorrow night, Dec. 1, at 5 p.m. at the McKinleyville Shopping Center. Sponsored by the McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce, the night kicks off with Christmas music…