Lifestyle briefs

Arts Day

The Humboldt Arts Council will host the “Second Saturday Family Arts Day” on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Morris Graves Museum of Art, 636 F St., Eureka.

This monthly event is always free. Families are invited to participate together in an art-making workshop that complements current exhibitions at the museum. However, this month is a special edition workshop celebrating with art made with heart. Everyone will be creating woven baskets with repurposed materials and colorful yarn. This project is inspired by the collective exhibition, “Powerful Fragility,” which asks, “How are we part of nature's web?”

Participants are invited to explore the exhibition and then to gather in the rotunda for the day's project with assistance and guidance from art educator Genevieve Kjesbu. All materials will be supplied.

Irish dancing

Performers from the Academy of Irish Dance in Eureka will be at the Morris Graves Museum of Art on Sunday at 2 p.m. for the “Afternoon of Dance.”

This festive and lively performance features dancers of all ages, from youth to adult, as well as dancers of all skill levels, from beginners to champion dancers, who will “kick up their heels” and dance to the tunes of their choice, demonstrating a reel, light jig, slip jig, treble jig or hornpipe.

Traditional set dances, danced in hard shoes and choreographed to a particular tune, will also be performed. These include “Job of the Journeywork,” “King of the Fairies” and “St. Patrick's Day,” which originated in Limerick, Ireland in the early 1800s. In addition to traditional music, a few “playful tunes” will be danced to. For more information about the Academy of Irish Dance, call Shelley

Fugate at 707-834-5333.

The Morris Graves Museum of Art is located at 636 F St., Eureka. Admission is $5 for adults; $2 for seniors (age 65 and over), military veterans and students with ID; and free for children 17 and under free, families with an EBT Card and valid ID receive and museum members.

About earbirding

The Redwood Region Audubon Society will present a program titled “Earbirding in Humboldt County: Recording, Editing, and Learning Birdsongs” with Robert Childs on Wednesday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m.

Childs — who created the website earbirdinghumboldt.com — will share tips for identifying birds using their songs and calls. This will include descriptions of how to use your phone to record and learn bird songs, along with steps for using easy-to-use sound editing software to turn your recordings into phone alarm sounds or for submissions to Cornell Labs. Childs will be playing recordings of some unusual local bird sounds that casual birders might not be familiar with, some sounds made by mammals that are commonly mistaken as bird sounds, and some of his favorite bird recordings from Guatemala and Australia.

Childs received a bachelor's degree in wildlife management from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1975, and then taught high school sciences in the state for nine years, including short courses in ornithology and entomology. After working summers in Sequoia National Park and starting a company that took people rappelling into vertical caves in Mexico, he and his wife moved to Humboldt County in 1989, where he taught for 21 years at Eureka High School. There he developed environmental field science classes and organized 10 student “adventure education trips” to Belize and Guatemala. He's birded in more than 20 countries, participated in the exploration of caves in Borneo that led to the formation of a national park, and enjoys sharing his love of insects and art on the Backcountry Press poster “Common Butterflies of Coastal Humboldt County.”

The live program will be held at the Six Rivers Masonic Lodge, 251 Bayside Road, Arcata. It will be simultaneously presented via Zoom — go to RRAS.org for the Zoom link. Hot drinks and goodies will be served at 7 p.m. so bring a mug to enjoy shade-grown coffee. (Come fragrance-free.)

Day of Service

A Cesar Chavez Day of Service will take place March 31 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Martin Slough, 800 Pine Hill Road, Eureka.

Join folks from the California Conservation Corps' Watershed Stewards Program and the Northcoast Regional Land Trust to help maintain a restored tidal wetland that provides vital habitat to salmon and trout and commune with Alexandre Family Farms cattle on this wild and working property.

Hand tools, work gloves, hot drinks, water and lunch will be provided. Dress for the weather; wear long pants and sturdy shoes.

Legion fundraiser

The American Legion, Arcata Post 274, will hold a special event, “Entrées & Espionage Murder Mystery Dinner,” on April 29.

The fundraiser, described as “a retirement party gone awry to investigate who is killing guests at Arcata Veterans Hall,” will begin at 6 p.m. with social hour. Dinner and the show follow at 7 p.m.

Everyone is encouraged to wear their best 007-themed attire. The meal will be catered by Mother's Cooking Experience. The John H. Grobey light downstairs will be on throughout the night for those who'd like additional refreshments.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of the Redwoods. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/ EntreesEspionage.