May 2, 2013 Volume XXIV No. 18
North Coast Journal Inc. www.northcoastjournal.com ISSN 1099-7571 © Copyright 2013 CIRCULATION VERIFICATION C O U N C I L
The North Coast Journal is a weekly newspaper serving Humboldt County. Circulation: 21,000 copies distributed FREE at more than 350 locations. Mail subscriptions: $39 / 52 issues. Single back issues mailed / $2.50. Entire contents of the North Coast Journal are copyrighted. No article may be reprinted without publisher’s written permission. Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink.
“Second Chances” Art Show Art Sale, Raffle & Fundraiser featuring art by and about youth.
Benefits Humboldt County Teen Court.
May 4 • 6-9pm
Humboldt Baykeeper • 217 E St Eureka
publisher Judy Hodgson judy@northcoastjournal.com editor Carrie Peyton Dahlberg carrie@northcoastjournal.com art director Holly Harvey production manager Carolyn Fernandez staff writer/a&e editor Bob Doran bob@northcoastjournal.com calendar@northcoastjournal.com staff writer Heidi Walters heidi@northcoastjournal.com staff writer Ryan Burns ryan@northcoastjournal.com staff writer/assistant editor Grant Scott-Goforth grant@northcoastjournal.com contributing writers John J. Bennett, Simona Carini, Barry Evans, William S. Kowinski, Mark Shikuma, Amy Stewart graphic design/production Lynn Jones, Alana Chenevert, Drew Hyland production intern Kimberly Hodges general manager Chuck Leishman chuck@northcoastjournal.com advertising Mike Herring mike@northcoastjournal.com advertising Colleen Hole colleen@northcoastjournal.com advertising Shane Mizer shane@northcoastjournal.com advertising Karen Sack karen@northcoastjournal.com office manager Carmen England classified assistant Sophia Dennler MAIL/OFFICE:
Art by Eric Drooker
310 F St., Eureka, CA 95501 PHONE: 707 442-1400 FAX: 707 442-1401
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on the cover:
Photo by Grant Scott-Goforth
4 NORTH COAST JOURNAL • THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013 • northcoastjournal.com
A Touching Choice Editor: High praise for Josephine Johnson’s cover story about euthanasia, “Choosing Death” (April 25). The article was beautifully written, very moving, complete with facts about the procedure and how it affected the couple and their family. This subject has been around for a long time and still needs coverage for understanding. The subject was my first feature article for United Press International in 1972. (I told my brother I had written an article about euthanasia and he said he didn’t think I knew anything about kids in Asia.) Josephine Johnson brought the issue home in a very personal way. When I came to the end it was like putting down a good book. Dave Rosso, Eureka Editor: I wish to thank Josephine Johnson and the Journal for their fair treatment of Betty and Reg Dawson’s end-of-life story. Talking with Josephine about our experience gave Dominic and me time for reflection, and some closure. Betty and Reg were special people: clever, humble, polite, reserved, dignified, kind and generous. The saying “we die and give birth as we live” seems to fit their experience. As someone who works in the Humboldt birthing community, I see that just as it is with birth, the way we die matters. The choices we make as we prepare to give birth and as we prepare to die affect us emotionally, physically and spiritually. And our choices affect those around us. Reg and Betty Dawson gave tremendous thought and care in creating their final passage, an end that was dignified and ended years of suffering. It is one of the most powerful experiences of my life to have witnessed such brilliant clarity amidst such suffering. After watching my dear grandmother suffer with Alzheimer’s for over two years, it gave me comfort to be close to Reg and Betty who died intentionally, with distinction and grace, and in the presence of their loved ones. The Dignitas staff present at their deaths deserve mention. These two women were in essence midwives for Reg and Betty’s final passage. They were there to comfort, to answer questions and to create a sacred and safe space
for their final breaths. They never hurried Betty or Reg in their process. They shouldered a heavy weight that day, midwifing the death processes of not one but two human beings, and they did so with immense professional compassion, and a rare capacity for patience. In our constantly moving lives, it is important that birth and death be given the time and attention they need. Tina George, Arcata
VA Valuable Editor: I am writing as a partially disabled combat infantry veteran of Vietnam, regarding your recent article “The Long Wait,” (April 18) about the new VA clinic in Eureka. We live on a cattle ranch near Petrolia, almost 50 miles from Eureka. I have been using the VA since 1994 when my private insurance became impossible to maintain. While I agree that the previous privately contracted VA clinic operated by Drs. Craig and Swenson was very well-run, I believe that the new VA clinic is not nearly so bad as Heidi Walters implies. While it has had some start-up problems and difficulty retaining doctors, so far, it is still functioning better than many hospital
What got kicked down Seven years seemed impossible As a young man he had seemed Impossible that he had been here seven Years and still he found himself still On the Plaza With hand outstretched Sliding from one oil stained corner to another he Mocked those college students and berated The shop owners As capitalist tools Because he was free to live his life without Monetary attachments like his stupid family he Could get by with what got kicked down And sure Seven years was a long time To be in one place But then there always Was Portland. — Seth M. Smith VI