Thousands are expected to show up Saturday at the third “No Kings” protest in Eureka. Demonstrations are planned in a handful of communities across Humboldt County as part of a massive nation-wide protest against President Donald Trump.

“We want people to just come and protest anything and everything that Trump is doing that makes him a king, that makes him a tyrant, that makes him a dictator, that makes him a fascist,” said AJ, a 50501 organizer who provided a nickname to avoid getting doxxed.

AJ expects two to four thousand people to show up beside the Humboldt County Courthouse.

“I think it’s just going to be absolutely huge,” she said.

The protest, scheduled for 12-2 p.m. outside the Humboldt County Superior Court, is part of a nationwide push.

National No Kings organizers, which include people from activist groups Indivisible and the 50501 Movement, say over 3,000 events are planned across the country. They predict the day will be the largest protest in U.S. history.

The first No Kings protest was in response to Donald Trump ordering a military parade on his birthday.

AJ said the movement is still pushing back against a spread of the Trump Administration’s actions — like the war in Iran and the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in airports.

Demonstrators can expect poetry, speakers and musical acts. Activists will be collecting food for Food Not Bombs and raising funds for Rick Toledo, who was arrested recently by Cal Poly Humboldt police.

Previous No Kings protests have drawn thousands in Eureka, including a June 2025 event where protesters walked past marshals and blocked U.S. 101.

AJ said Saturday’s protest doesn’t include plans to shut any streets, and organizers have trained safety marshals to smooth over interactions with possible counter protesters and to keep people off the road.

At Eureka protests in January, one man was arrested after allegedly brandishing a chemical agent at protesters and another was arrested after pulling his car onto the sidewalk.

Eureka police spokesperson Rachel Sollom said in an email that commanders and Chief Brian Stephens will be on scene Saturday.

In Humboldt County, similar protests are planned in Trinidad, Ferndale, Shelter Cove and Garberville, according to AJ and the No Kings map. 

Ted Pease, a spokesperson for Indivisible Trinidad, said he wouldn’t be surprised if 100 people showed up Saturday.

“Every day is a new atrocity in this administration,” he said, pointing to “disregard for constitutional liberties.”

Weekly protests are held along Main Street in Trinidad. Some of Indivisible Trinidad’s members were part of marches in the 1960s opposing the Vietnam war, Pease noted.

“They’re deeply, deeply concerned about the future of this country. There’s nothing happy about that. But these are optimists, and they don’t turn out to say what they think at a protest if they weren’t hopeful they could make a difference,” he said.

Trinidad protesters will meet at the whale sculpture on Main Street near the Chevron station, march a 0.5 mile loop through town at 12:15 p.m., down Main and Trinity streets to the harbor, and then back to the start using Ocean and View streets.

A rally will follow the march on both sides of Main Street. Organizers ask attendees to park in the field behind Murphy’s Market.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Massive ‘No Kings’ Protest Draws Thousands to Eureka Today; Fifth Street Temporarily Closed at the Courthouse But is Now Open Again
• ‘No Kings’ Protest in Eureka Draws Thousands

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PREVIOUSLY

• A Big New Parking Lot in the Bottoms? Cal Poly Humboldt Hopes to Ease its Parking Woes By Building 200+ New Spaces Across Town

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If you missed the chance last year to share your two cents on Cal Poly Humboldt’s Foster Campus Connectivity Project, I’ve got good news for you! 

The university is recirculating the Draft Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the proposed project — a 212-space student parking lot and campus shuttle station slated for a vacant 16.7-acre parcel at 2000 Foster Avenue — which has been modified to include a new trail along the old railroad that runs through the Arcata Bottoms. The public comment period ends on April 2. 

Wait, isn’t this old news? Didn’t LoCO already report on this “new” trail at the end of last year? Well, yes, but that was before the university amended the environmental documents to address some of the concerns that came about during the initial public review. The modified IS/MND can be found here.

The idea for the trail came about in response to safety concerns over increased bicycle and pedestrian traffic along Foster Avenue, which is bisected by McDaniel Slough, as seen in the aerial view below. Running a short trail through the slough would create a straight shot from the proposed parking lot to the intersection of Foster Avenue and Heather Lane and create a safer route for student to get to and from campus.

“The Foster Campus is just over a mile from campus, so a major focus of the project is making the route to and from campus easier, sustainable, and convenient,” Mike Fisher, the university’s interim vice president for administration and finance, told the Outpost. “Community feedback emphasized the need for non-vehicle options, and focusing pedestrians off of Foster Avenue to the west of McDaniel Slough. The pedestrian and bike path is a natural extension of those efforts, helping improve direct connectivity to Foster Avenue over McDaniel Slough and support sustainable mobility.”

The environmental documents were also adjusted to address neighborhood concerns around the frequency of the campus shuttle service, which was scheduled to stop at the Foster Avenue parking lot every 15 minutes. (“Would you want shuttles going down your street every 15 minutes?” Arcata resident Brittney Villigran asked at a city council meeting last year.) Now, the shuttle will run every 30 minutes, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The IS/MND determined that the project “would have either no impact or a less than significant impact” on most of the issue areas outlined in the “environmental checklist,” which covers air quality, agriculture and forest resources, soils, hydrology and water quality, among other things. 

“Potentially significant impacts were identified for aesthetics, biological resources, cultural resources, noise, and tribal cultural resources; however, mitigation measures included in the Recirculated IS/MND would reduce all impacts to a less than significant level,” the document states. 

The Foster Campus Connectivity Project is just one component of the university’s long-term vision for the “Foster Avenue District,” as seen below. The Campus Physical Plan, which is also in the middle of a public review process, envisions the 16.7-acre site as a hub for athletics, with three “state-of-the-art” sports fields, an indoor athletics complex, “upper division” housing and a pond.

Construction on the new parking lot and trail is expected to begin this summer and wrap up in February 2027, depending on the length of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review process.

Those interested can email written comments to ceqa@humboldt.edu with the subject line “Foster Campus Connectivity Project.” More information, including links to the documents, can be found here.

Press release from the Yurok Tribe:

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has awarded the Yurok Tribe $12 million through the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round II to develop a Peer Respite Center as part of its expanding behavioral health infrastructure in the Weitchpec area.

This major project includes a culturally grounded, non-clinical, peer-supported facility designed to serve individuals experiencing mental health challenges, including those transitioning from inpatient treatment, crisis stabilization settings, or requiring step-down support to prevent higher levels of care. The center will complement clinical and youth‑focused facilities planned for construction nearby. 

The Peer Respite Center is a critical component of the Tribe’s continuum of care, addressing identified gaps in post-treatment recovery support and helping prevent unnecessary hospitalization or re-hospitalization. The facility will enhance local capacity by providing a structured, home-like environment where individuals can stabilize, receive peer-based support, and reconnect with family, culture, and community.

Developed in alignment with BHCIP program requirements, the project supports the Tribe’s long-term expansion of behavioral health infrastructure and will operate in coordination with the Wah-sekw Won Yurok Health and Wellness Center and Youth Center to create an integrated system of care.

“Working in unison, these three facilities will provide treatment close to home, helping people stay connected to family while benefiting from a broad range of supportive services,” said Joseph L. James, Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “The Peer Respite Center reflects our commitment to building a sovereign, community-driven behavioral health system that meets the needs of our people today and for generations to come.”

The Peer Respite Center will serve Tribal members and other Native individuals experiencing behavioral health needs within the region, with a focus on culturally responsive, trauma-informed support services.

Funded through the State of California’s Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond, the project will be implemented in accordance with DHCS requirements and applicable federal and Tribal compliance frameworks. The facility is expected to be operational by June 2031.

Wellness and Youth Centers

Located near Weitchpec, the Wah-sekw Won Yurok Health and Wellness Center will encompass approximately 26,000 square feet and include 53 inpatient beds, with accommodations for both men and women. This facility will provide inpatient behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use disorder treatment, as well as outpatient services such as behavioral health counseling and primary care. Services will be available to Yurok Tribal members, all Native Americans and the broader community.

The model of care is designed to deliver comprehensive, holistic services that address physical, mental, social, and cultural health needs across the lifespan—from infants to elders.

 The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has awarded the Yurok Tribe $12 million through the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round II to develop a Peer Respite Center as part of its expanding behavioral health infrastructure in the Weitchpec area.

This major project includes a culturally grounded, non-clinical, peer-supported facility designed to serve individuals experiencing mental health challenges, including those transitioning from inpatient treatment, crisis stabilization settings, or requiring step-down support to prevent higher levels of care. The center will complement clinical and youth‑focused facilities planned for construction nearby.

The Peer Respite Center is a critical component of the Tribe’s continuum of care, addressing identified gaps in post-treatment recovery support and helping prevent unnecessary hospitalization or re-hospitalization. The facility will enhance local capacity by providing a structured, home-like environment where individuals can stabilize, receive peer-based support, and reconnect with family, culture, and community.

Developed in alignment with BHCIP program requirements, the project supports the Tribe’s long-term expansion of behavioral health infrastructure and will operate in coordination with the Wah-sekw Won Yurok Health and Wellness Center and Youth Center to create an integrated system of care.

“Working in unison, these three facilities will provide treatment close to home, helping people stay connected to family while benefiting from a broad range of supportive services,” said Joseph L. James, Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “The Peer Respite Center reflects our commitment to building a sovereign, community-driven behavioral health system that meets the needs of our people today and for generations to come.”

The Peer Respite Center will serve Tribal members and other Native individuals experiencing behavioral health needs within the region, with a focus on culturally responsive, trauma-informed support services.

Funded through the State of California’s Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond, the project will be implemented in accordance with DHCS requirements and applicable federal and Tribal compliance frameworks. The facility is expected to be operational by June 2031.

Wellness and Youth Centers

Located near Weitchpec, the Wah-sekw Won Yurok Health and Wellness Center will encompass approximately 26,000 square feet and include 53 inpatient beds, with accommodations for both men and women. This facility will provide inpatient behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use disorder treatment, as well as outpatient services such as behavioral health counseling and primary care. Services will be available to Yurok Tribal members, all Native Americans and the broader community.

The model of care is designed to deliver comprehensive, holistic services that address physical, mental, social, and cultural health needs across the lifespan—from infants to elders.

The Tribe anticipates breaking ground on the Health and Wellness Center this summer, with construction completion targeted for Spring 2028. All project development and implementation will be conducted under the sovereign authority of the Yurok Tribe and in accordance with applicable Tribal laws, policies, and governance processes.

Concurrently, in Weitchpec, California, the Yurok Youth Behavioral Health Center will be developed utilizing an Alcove-Based Model of Care, designed to support small-group, trauma-informed, and culturally grounded healing environments. The Tribe anticipates breaking ground on the Youth Center this summer.

The 10,500-square-foot Youth Behavioral Health facility will provide access to Yurok Behavioral Health staff, licensed therapists, and external service providers. The center will include a dedicated computer station for telehealth and virtual medical appointments, a calming space for youth, a pantry, a game room, and a classroom to support mutual support groups and parenting education. In addition, the site will feature an outdoor amphitheater and a traditional sweathouse to promote cultural engagement and holistic wellness.

The Tribe anticipates breaking ground on the Health and Wellness Center this summer, with construction completion targeted for Spring 2028. All project development and implementation will be conducted under the sovereign authority of the Yurok Tribe and in accordance with applicable Tribal laws, policies, and governance processes.

Concurrently, in Weitchpec, California, the Yurok Youth Behavioral Health Center will be developed utilizing an Alcove-Based Model of Care, designed to support small-group, trauma-informed, and culturally grounded healing environments. The Tribe anticipates breaking ground on the Youth Center this summer.

The 10,500-square-foot Youth Behavioral Health facility will provide access to Yurok Behavioral Health staff, licensed therapists, and external service providers. The center will include a dedicated computer station for telehealth and virtual medical appointments, a calming space for youth, a pantry, a game room, and a classroom to support mutual support groups and parenting education. In addition, the site will feature an outdoor amphitheater and a traditional sweathouse to promote cultural engagement and holistic wellness.

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Exciting news arrives this morning regarding Humboldt County’s most beautiful old movie palace: The historic Eureka Theater, which now operates as a nonprofit, has landed a $48,870.44 T-Mobile Hometown Grant that will be used to upgrade the sound, lighting and production equipment.

Scott Adair, vice president of the Eureka Concert and Film Center’s board of directors, tells the Outpost that the theater’s grant bid was one of only 25 to be selected for funding among roughly 900 applicants.

Board President Gregg Foster said, “We are very grateful to T-Mobile for their support of the Eureka Theater. This investment will improve our sound and lighting systems and will benefit the many community groups that we serve.”

The theater, built in the elegant Streamline Moderne style (a descendant of Art Deco), opened in 1939, which was a landmark year for cinema: “The Wizard of Oz,” “Gone With the Wind,” “Stagecoach,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” … the list goes on.

“The Eureka Theater was a beautiful, ultra-modern movie theater when constructed in 1939 and was an expression of optimism and confidence in Eureka and Humboldt County as they pulled out of the Depression,” the website notes.

But the 87 intervening years haven’t been entirely kind to the theater (nor to the city and county, truth be told). After being divided into a triplex in 1978, the theater stopped showing first-run movies in 1996 amid competition from a multiplex inside the Bayshore Mall called The Movies, Eureka’s Broadway Cinemas (which opened in 1995), the State Theatres on Indianola (which didn’t last much longer) and The Minor and Arcata theaters.

The once-gleamingly modern movie palace has suffered some wear and tear, but its volunteer committees and a board of directors have worked hard in recent years to pursue funding opportunities while hosting a wide array of events, including live music performances, classic film screenings, fundraisers and community events.

“The Eureka Theater board is embarking on an ambitious program of improvements to make the dream of a restored and vibrant community gathering place a reality,” Foster said, adding, ” Stay tuned for more good news!”

Below is some more information about the T-Mobile Hometown Grant program, which will end after just one more round of funding. (Deadline to apply is March 31; click the link for details.)

T-Mobile today announced the latest 25 Hometown Grants recipients, including, for the first time, a town in North Dakota. With the latest and second-to-last round, T-Mobile has invested more than $21.5 million in grants to 475 small towns and rural communities across 49 states and Puerto Rico over the last four years.

Since Hometown Grants started in April 2021, the program has impacted 2.8 million people and created nearly 2,700 jobs. With up to $50,000 awarded per town, communities have used the funding on projects that strengthen communities and improve lives, with this round including a new STEM initiative for students, a revitalized historic school building and transforming a barn into a community hub.  

“Nearly five years ago, we launched this program to invest in small towns with big ideas and help turn local vision into meaningful impact,” said Jon Freier, Chief Operating Officer, T-Mobile. “Across 475 communities, thousands have come together to create positive change, contributing nearly 300,000 volunteer hours and proving what’s possible when heart and community pride lead the way.”

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Ed. note: “Community Energy Insights” is a monthly column from the people at the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Humboldt County’s intergovernmental joint-powers authority on all things electrical. Look for it on the last Thursday of the month.

This week’s column is by RCEA Customer Programs Director Stephen Kullman.

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A new effort led by Redwood Coast Energy Authority is bringing more energy efficiency resources to rural Northern California. The Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) was developed to make sure rural communities receive their fair share of energy efficiency funding and services. The program is designed specifically for the unique needs of rural areas and is already launching programs to help households, businesses, public agencies and tribes save energy and lower costs.

The effort is meant to address a long-standing challenge for rural communities.

It probably won’t surprise anyone that rural communities across Northern California experience higher energy burdens than more populated regions of the state. Energy burden refers to the share of household income that goes toward energy bills. There are several reasons for this. Energy costs are high, especially for people who rely on propane or other delivered fuels, many homes and buildings are older and average incomes tend to be lower.

Most of us also know that improving energy efficiency — using less electricity to do the same amount of work — is one way to help lower energy bills while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. What many people may not realize is that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) collects a small amount of money from all ratepayers to fund energy efficiency programs. It amounts to roughly 1% of an average energy bill. These programs are very successful at reducing energy use across the state.

Energy efficiency programs do not just assist homeowners. They are also designed to help schools, public buildings and commercial buildings operate more efficiently, which saves money over time. Unfortunately, these programs have historically been designed in ways that favor more urban areas. Up here in Northern California, we have not received the same level of energy efficiency services that we have paid for through our energy bills.

As the energy advocate for Humboldt County, Redwood Coast Energy Authority wanted to know why this was the case.

Energy efficiency programs in California are mostly run by Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs), such as PG&E. These programs must meet strict cost-effectiveness rules. Because of this, contractors can often make more profit working on projects for larger customers located close together in urban areas. Working with smaller customers spread across rural regions like Humboldt County simply takes more time and travel.

There is even an official term for communities like ours: “Hard-to-Reach.” Taking the time to travel longer distances and work with customers, rural schools, under-staffed towns, community service districts and our many Tribal Nations often does not make economic sense under traditional program rules. As a result, rural communities are frequently left behind when it comes to energy efficiency upgrades.

Local contractors face challenges as well. Statewide programs have complex participation requirements that can be difficult for rural, smaller-scale contractors to meet. On top of that, unreliable grid connections and older housing stock can create additional barriers for customers who want to make upgrades. Recognizing these challenges, RCEA decided to do something about them.

RCEA now leads NREN, working in partnership with four other agencies across 17 rural Northern California counties. Together, this network ensures that energy efficiency funds paid by local ratepayers are invested in ways that directly benefit the communities they come from. NREN operates with a “for rural, by rural” philosophy to design and deliver programs tailored to the region’s unique needs.

These programs currently serve Humboldt, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lake, Lassen, Mariposa, Mendocino, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter, Tuolumne and Yuba counties, with plans to expand to neighboring counties in the coming years. NREN was officially approved by the CPUC toward the end of 2024 as one of the state’s newest Regional Energy Networks, also known as RENs. These networks are designed to serve customers and fill gaps not met by large IOU programs.

NREN programs serve homeowners and renters, small businesses, public agencies and tribes. They will also focus on improving workforce education and training and making energy efficiency financing more accessible. While some programs are still under development, others are already available.

RCEA staff members Stephen Kullman, Shea Donnelly, and Patricia Terry, who work on administering the NREN program.

For example, NREN offers phone-based home energy assessments at no cost! One of our energy advisors will help identify where you can save energy and money. They can also advise you on upgrades you might be considering and connect you with programs such as our equipment rebate program.

NREN currently provides rebates for a variety of energy upgrades, including more efficient cooking, washing, drying and water heating equipment. Our popular heat pump rebate program is currently paused while the CPUC revises its requirements, but we hope to reopen it soon and will be sure to get the word out once it is back online. If you are not ready to invest in new equipment, we can still help.

We would be happy to send you a free energy efficiency kit. These kits include high-efficiency LED bulbs, weather-stripping and faucet aerators, along with useful tools like a smart power strip and an energy meter to help you track your energy use.

More programs will launch this summer. These programs will provide incentives for local participating contractors to install energy-efficient equipment in homes and businesses. Through existing programs, RCEA already works closely with public agencies, schools, tribes and other partners throughout the county and NREN will allow us to expand that work and bring more funding into Humboldt.

This funding will support the organizations that serve our communities and the local contractors who will be doing this work. We will also be launching partnerships to support workforce training at all levels, helping ensure that local rural workers benefit from the programs we offer.

At NREN, we recognize that high energy bills are a burden and that upgrades can be expensive. Our goal is to make sure the dollars you already pay to support energy efficiency programs are spent locally and provide the greatest benefit to our rural communities.

For more information or to enroll in any of our programs, please visit RCEA or NREN. You can also email info@redwoodenergy.org or call 707-269-1700. We are here locally and happy to help.

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This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

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Want to know what your government is up to? Be prepared to pay up.

A California state lawmaker wants to let public agencies charge an unspecified, uncapped fee if it takes their workers more than two hours to search for records to fulfill a public records request. The proposal is raising concerns among transparency advocates that the fees could deter Californians from accessing records they are constitutionally entitled to.

Assembly Bill 1821, authored by Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco, a Downey Democrat, would also allow the charge if government workers spend more than 10 hours within a month looking for documents requested by the same person. The proposal would apply to most people, with exemptions for journalists and educational or scientific institutions.

In a statement responding to CalMatters’ questions, Pacheco said public agencies have had to spend substantial time responding to a spike in the volume and scope of records requests.

“This bill is intended to address a narrow set of high-cost, resource-intensive requests that can delay agencies’ ability to respond to other records requests,” she said. “The goal is to ensure that agencies can continue to respond to all requests in a timely manner.”

The measure follows years of local government complaints that fulfilling extensive, sometimes duplicative records requests can be so time-consuming that it distracts government staff from other vital tasks, such as performing health insurance eligibility checks, responding to homeless encampments or conducting elections.

“The growing volume and complexity of requests creates real challenges for local governments — straining limited public resources,” said Ben Adler, spokesperson for the California State Association of Counties, which has not taken an official stance on the bill.

It becomes even more difficult for governments when someone “disgruntled” or “unreasonable” files requests maliciously, an attorney who represented public agencies in California wrote in a 2023 op-ed.

Pacheco said in her statement that one person submitted more than 100 records requests in the city of Fontana and stated that their goal was to disrupt city operations, resulting in more than $300,000 in legal and staffing costs. Another request received in Chula Vista, she said, could require 150 to 300 staff hours to fulfill.

“Requests of this size consume a disproportionate share of public resources and delay agencies’ ability to respond to other requests.”

Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco in the Assembly in Sacramento on March 13, 2025. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

But agencies already try to charge astronomical fees for public records, which has a chilling effect on the public’s right to know because “for most people … $100 is going to be too much,” said David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition.

Applying the charge to most Californians threatens their constitutional right to government information, Snyder said.

“The California Constitution says that it’s a fundamental … right of everybody in this state to obtain records from their public agencies,” he said. “The underlying principle is that the government’s records are the people’s records. The government serves the people; not the other way around.”

State law allows public agencies to charge fees for making copies of public records but not for the time spent searching, reviewing or redacting them. In 2020, the California Supreme Court concluded that governments cannot charge for search and redaction and said such costs would undermine Californians’ right to access.

“Just as agencies cannot recover the costs of searching through a filing cabinet for paper records, they cannot recover comparable costs for electronic records,” the ruling said. “Even if higher costs to the agency mean slower disclosure rates or greater inconvenience to the requester, these burdens on access are insignificant if the alternative is no access at all.”

But several local governments tried to charge those fees anyway. Shasta County, for example, adopted an ordinance in January 2021 to charge $25 an hour for staff to find, review and redact records. A year later, Mendocino County established regulations to charge up to $150 an hour, in one case sending a local journalist an $84,000 bill. Both counties only repealed their ordinances after drawing widespread criticism and litigation threats from journalists and First Amendment advocates.

Under Pacheco’s measure, they wouldn’t have had to.

What is a ‘reasonable’ charge?

The measure would require the rates agencies charge for records searches to be “reasonable.” But without a dollar amount cap, that guardrail is meaningless, Snyder said.

“If it’s a large volume of body cam footage, that could be many, many, many hours of review time,” he said. “And if agencies are charging hourly, let’s say $100 an hour, you can see how those numbers can go up really fast.”

The proposal also doesn’t say who would determine what is a reasonable amount of time necessary to search and review records, which could further empower public agencies to justify expensive fees, Snyder said.

“It leaves an enormous range of variables up to agency discretion,” he said. “Many agencies unfortunately behave in a way that suggests that their goal is to not produce the records asked for.”

The measure would additionally give agencies more time to respond to and fulfill requests: While state law requires agencies to tell the requestor what’s disclosable within 10 calendar days and allows them to extend that deadline by no more than 14 calendar days, Pacheco’s measure would prolong those periods to 10 and 14 business days, respectively.

Pacheco said she will amend the bill to ensure it is “narrowly tailored” to establish “appropriate thresholds” for charging for public records, although she did not elaborate on what those thresholds would be.

Pacheco has pushed for several measures to limit disclosure requirements in recent years, including a law last year that made it easier for agencies to redact police misconduct records and another that allowed more public officials to withhold personally identifying information.

John Joseph Gierek, Sr. was called home by the Lord on March 16, 2026. John joins his parents, Michael and Gertrude Gierek, as well as his siblings Michael Gierek, Helen Scuri, Mary Hoffman and Paul Gierek.

John was a lifelong resident of Eureka, born on February 4, 1935. He attended Nazareth Academy and Eureka High School. Upon graduation, he went to work at Hammond Lumber Company until he was drafted by the US Army and was deployed to serve in Germany. After his return, he became a journeyman carpenter and married our mom, Joyce Evenson. They enjoyed 63 happy years together.

John managed Humboldt Moving & Storage after his brother’s death and worked there until his retirement. John loved his community. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Southwest Eureka and served on numerous local boards – including the American Cancer Society and the St. Joseph Hospital Board of Trustees and Foundation.

When John saw a need in the community he always strived to lend his assistance and help. He was instrumental in the creation of the Evergreen Lodge, which was created to help house patients who had to travel to Eureka to undergo cancer treatments at St. Joseph Hospital.

John’s sense of humor and cheerful smile were contagious and will always be remembered. John loved to garden and was always happy spending time in his shop woodworking. He built his family’s home as well as numerous pieces of furniture and toys for family children.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce Gierek, as well as his children John (Heather) and Laurie (Chris); grandchildren Caitlin (Mike), Alex (Nathan), Jonathan (Nicole), Lane (Emily), Elizabeth, Lucas, Catherine and Natalie; and great-grandchildren Mary Gwen, Graham, and Hattie; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the nursing staff at St. Joseph Hospital for their outstanding and compassionate care. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Joseph Church in Eureka on April 11, 2026, at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Evergreen Lodge Fund at Humboldt Area Foundation, or to the charity of your choice.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of John Gierek Sr.’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.