Volume XII, Issue 17: November 2, 2012

What's Goin' On?
Our Rotary Exchange Student from Thailand, Fa Sillapajarn, enjoyed Halloween as an angel!

Angel Fa

Fa was on the Arcata Plaza for part of the festivities, but left before the going got ... shall we say ... a bit rambunctious.


Lynda Moore announced that the Eureka Symphony will honor veterans of World War II on November 12th. The concert will take place at the Arkley Center for the Arts, and it will feature anthems from the various armed forces, and other patriotic music. Admission is free for WWII vets and their spouses, $12 for other adults, and $5 for children. The event will begin at 5:30 pm.

Lynda also said that Margaret Gainer and Kathrin Burleson are editing a book detailing the experiences of WWII veterans. If you know someone who should be included, please let Lynda know - she'll make sure the connections are made.

Bob Moore reminded us that to reserve Saturday November 24th. That's the day that our Club will celebrate November's Fifth Friday Fellowship meeting. We will gather at HSU to take in a Jacks basketball  game. Details will follow.

Ron Sharp reminded us to sell those tickets for A Taste of the Holidays. It's coming up on Thursday, November 15th.

The Rotary Club of Arcata Sunrise Cross Country Championships were held on Friday, October 26th, and they were a great success! Thanks to all who helped out at the event, and a special thank you to Dewey Kiefer and Arcata Lumber for the medal stand they created.

As you update your calendar, remember that December is a busy month, and the busy stuff starts early for Sunrisers. On Thursday, December 6th, we have not one, but two events - we are sponsoring and serving the Foster Youth Holiday Dinner, and it's also the first day of the Arcata Invitational Basketball Tournament (AIBT). The AIBT continues on Friday the 7th and Saturday 8th, so be sure you've eaten your Wheaties that week!

History With Cam Appleton
Last Friday, we heard quite a bit about the history of Jacoby Storehouse from Cam Appleton. He said that Augustus Jacoby built the building with two stories and a basement. The Storehouse provided supplies to the mining camps for many years. Cam's great-great-grandfather, Alexander Brizard, purchased the Storehouse in 1881, after his old store was destroyed by fire.

Cam Remembers the 1800s

In 1907, Alexander's son expanded the building's scope of operations, filling it with retail stores. Cam recounted that the third floor (where our Club meets) housed an appliance and furniture store, and that the telephone switchboard was also located there. The second floor held dry goods, ladies' fashions, and an employee kitchen. There was also a freight elevator in the back. On the ground floor, which now houses Abruzzi's and Chase Bank, there were a dry cleaners and fish market. Next door to what was now called the Brizard Building (but connected by several walkways) was a grocery store. Next to that, and also connected, was a sporting goods shop.

In 1973, small retail businesses were suffering from the arrival of shopping malls, and so many of the Storehouse's shops closed. But in 1977, the building was re-opened, featuring many small business spaces, and it served as an incubator for several retail shops in Arcata. Cam managed the Storehouse from 1984 to 2005. He said that Bill Chino and Chris Smith of Abruzzi's and the Plaza Grill purchased the Storehouse in 2001.


Special Olympics Northern California
"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." That is the Special Olympics Oath. Our featured speaker last week was Ken Musante, who serves as the group's head softball coach and as an assistant swimming coach.

Ken Musante

Ken noted that Special Olympics started in the early 1960s as Eunice Shriver began an effort to provide people with intellectual disabilities opportunities to participate in competitive sports. The first International Special Olympic Games were held in 1968 as a result of her vision. Today, the Special Olympics organization helps more than three million athletes in over 150 countries.

Today, Special Olympics Northern California serves over 170 athletes in Humboldt County, ranging in age from 5 to 70. The program is open to anyone with an intellectual disability, and the competitions are held at all skill levels. All of the services are provided at no cost to the athletes, without government funding.

The athletes compete in several sports - aquatics, soccer, bowling, softball, bocce ball, and basketball. The competitors are empowered to reach their full potentials, and they learn to live physically active lives.

Ken noted that only 10% of disabled adults in the U.S. hold jobs, while over half of the adults in the Special Olympics program work. He said, "Our athletes are diverse. Our benefits are immediate. And the experience is humbling."

For more information about Special Olympics Northern California, please visit their website at www.sonc.org.