Local Poet Published in the Book of Hope

Judi Armbruster, known locally for Bigfoot Cookies and the poetic meditations she leaves on Happy Camp bulletin boards, had her work chosen for an international publication commemorating the 911 disaster in New York City.

The Book of Hope compiles the inspired work of numerous poets from around the world. The anthology starts with a poem by the Dali Lama and ends with Judi’s poem, Meditation.

On May 18 the St. Agnes Library in New York City hosted a reading of this poetry. Editor Birgitta Jonsdottir from Iceland and twenty contributors read from the companion anthologies, The World Healing Book and The Book of Hope. Although Judi couldn’t attend, she had a friend, Candice Falloon, there to read her poem.

“The anthologies were a direct response to the fall of the towers and its outcome around the world. Major poets, artists, writers, and spiritual leaders contribute to the books with their thoughts and anyone reading the two books will hopefully feel joy, hope and understanding,” said editor Birgitta Jonsdottir.

The two anthologies are published by Beyond Borders, an Icelandic publishing house. Additional information can be found at http://this.is/poems/hope.

Judi, a descendant of natives Ah Ish K’ and “Shorty”, came home to Karuk ancestral land a few years ago after living in Sacramento. Her father, Weldon Edward Brannan, was a member of the Karuk Tribe.

Saturday Night Jam

Billed as “The Son O’ Pop’n Jam” and as “an evening of music and popcorn”, the jam session on January 19 was an attempt to discover if there’s local interest in having a coffee house type evening in Happy Camp. I could not resist the opportunity to see who might show up and with what. My curiosity was not disappointed.

Wandering into the Family Resource Center an hour after the jam began, I found Robert Goodwin at the mike, playing his acoustic guitar and singing with a friend. About twenty people sat in the darkened back room, listening; the only light came from the stage where a drum set, keyboard, amps, mikes, and electric guitars were set up. Goodwin’s final tune was one he had written himself, and I heard Coreen Davis say it was the best song he had sung that evening. I agreed – it was awesome and heartfelt. It seems that the songs best suited for our voices are often the ones we write ourselves.

Next Coreen and her husband, Scott Hampson, played with a friend, Denise, on guitar, Scott on banjo. They did a few blue-grass mountain-folk tunes.. very entertaining. I had to leave about then, but later in the evening returned to find a group of about ten musicians still at it. There were several electric guitars, drums, two keyboards, and a bass guitar. The music was loud! We heard Dylan’s tune, All Along the Watchtower, in the Hendrix style, and something that sounded like Pink Floyd. Some of the musicians are very talented and some are beginners, but everyone was having a good time groovin’ with the music, deep into the night.

Bigfoot Appears Again

An amazing Bigfoot is about to rise up out of the junk pile in the Forest Service parking lot. Sculptor Ralph Starritt, famed for transformation of junk into works of art, was in town on July 13 and 14 for the start of the Bigfoot project.

Local citizens have contributed junk metal to the project, organized by Carol Wainwright of Happy Camp. Keep an eye on the Forest Service parking lot this summer as Bigfoot grows in stature.

Ralph Starrit and Bigfoot
Renowned sculptor Ralph Starritt adds another piece of junk metal to Happy Camp’s new Bigfoot project on Saturday afternoon.

Donations are still being accepted

Metal donations are still welcome in the Forest Service rear parking lot. Any volunteer sculptors in town can participate in the building of Bigfoot. Monetary donations are needed for supplies, equipment and Mr. Starritt’s lodging and other expenses while he is in town. Donations are tax-deductable and can be mailed to “HCAP Bigfoot Project” P.O. Box 640, Happy Camp, CA 96039. Donations have already been received from Frontier Café, Evans Mercantile, Clinic Pharmacy, Happy Camp Elementary School and the U.S. Forest Service.

Bigfoot Scupture Planned

Bigfoot is coming! An artistic rendition of the legendary forest creature is to be created from metal collected by the community. Sculptor Ralph Starritt will be in Happy Camp for a few weeks this summer to create this unique Bigfoot sculpture. Mail went out to all Happy Camp residents requesting metal pieces of all sorts brought to the Forest Service parking lot on Friday, July 13 from 9 to 5. This metal will be incorporated into the sculpture project, and donating a piece of it is the opportunity of a lifetime for Happy Campers.

Examples of metal donations needed are sheet metal, baling wire, cable, chain, rebar, and round or square tubing. Welding and cutting supplies and a grinder will also be useful. Also needed is a 12-16 foot long dual axel trailer, requested for about three months to build the sculpture on, and a bit of land for putting the sculpture on permanent display.

Any volunteer sculptors in town can participate in the building of this monster. Monetary donations are needed for supplies, equipment and Mr. Starritt’s lodging and other expenses while he is in town. Donations are tax-deductable and can be mailed to “HCAP Bigfoot Project” P.O. Box 640, Happy Camp, CA 96039. Donations have already been received from Frontier Café, Evans Mercantile, Clinic Pharmacy, Happy Camp Elementary School and the U.S. Forest Service.

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