Pubdate: Wed, 21 Apr 2010
Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)
Copyright: 2010 Times-Standard
Contact: http://www.times-standard.com/writeus
Website: http://www.times-standard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1051
Author: Allison White
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)

LOCAL WOMAN HOPES TO CHANGE 4/20 INTO HEALTH DAY NEXT YEAR

Arcata city staff asked people to stay away from  Redwood Park on 
Tuesday in anticipation of the  unofficial marijuana holiday, but one 
resident is  planning to make next year different.

Mariellen Jurkovich submitted a plan to the city last  month to turn 
the pot holiday, which often leaves the  park damaged and trashed, 
into a health and wellness  event. As director of the Humboldt 
Wellness Center and  the Humboldt Patient Resource Center dispensary, 
she  sees the large gathering of people as an opportunity to  host 
something more productive.

"We know it's going to be there, so let's embrace it in  a positive 
way," Jurkovich said.

Her proposal was turned down by the city this year --  she said staff 
told her they did not have enough time  to work on the plan, which 
she submitted March 8. City  staff suggested that if she wants to 
start such an  event, she would have to start planning with the 
city  six to nine months beforehand.

Jurkovich said she plans to do just that. Having a  sanctioned event 
would cover some of the city's  concerns, such as a lack of insurance 
and  responsibility for damages and injuries that happen at  Redwood 
Park. She also planned on having students from  Humboldt State 
University survey the attendees to  determine who comes to the event 
every year, how many  end up in the park, and the concerns of the 
neighbors  before and after.

Taking ownership of the day would be a positive move  for the city's image.

"I don't  want to be known as Pot City," she said. "I would  rather 
be known for a whole list of things that we  offer."

What she sees in the event is an extension of what the  Humboldt 
Wellness Center offers -- free classes in yoga  and other exercises, 
and speakers on health topics such  as nutrition and vaporizers. She 
emphasized that  smokers should embrace their health in more ways 
than just taking the drug.

Jurkovich said that she has seen the positive and  negative aspects 
of medical marijuana with her work in  the dispensary, so she 
understands some of the city's  concerns.

There are also concerns with drinking in the park, but  that should 
not prevent the city from approving an  event. Buses and other 
transportation could be provided  if the event is allowed next year, 
and Jurkovich said  she thinks the people who drink and people who 
smoke in  Redwood Park on April 20 are not the same.

"They're two different highs," Jurkovich said.

In preparation for the event this year, the city closed  vehicle 
access to the park Tuesday. Shade-giving trees  were also trimmed in 
the park and their branches left  on footpaths to make the park less 
user-friendly.

Mayor Alex Stillman said she had not heard of  Jurkovich's proposal, 
but that March was rather late to  start organizing with the city 
about an event. Due to  liability issues, the event cannot be 
city-sanctioned,  "but if someone wanted to organize it and deal with 
all  the insurance, they can," Stillman said.

She was not sure if the city would approve the proposed  event next 
year, saying she has not seen what Jurkovich  submitted. However, 
anyone who holds an event at the  park would be responsible for 
cleaning up the trash  left behind and repairing any damage caused, 
Stillman  said. Those two factors cost the city a significant  amount 
of money every year.

"It's another expense we have to add on," she said,  adding it is 
difficult during tight budget years such  as this.

It might be difficult to serve alcohol at an event in  Redwood Park, 
because neighbors have complained about  other events that did in the 
past, Stillman said. There  is also the problem of controlling 
entrance to charge  admission to such an event in the open area of the park.

"There's things that have to be worked out," she said.

Whether Jurkovich's plan would help mitigate some of  the city's 
concerns is impossible to tell at this  point, but the center 
director is welcome to submit her  ideas to the city, Stillman said.

"Maybe that would be something that could solve that --  I have no 
idea," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom