“Well, hi there, friend!” a young boy says, his grasp on a southern accent a little loose. “Hi, friend!” Metal clangs and kids shout. “I was climbing up, and I couldn’t find a way, so I just jumped,” added another. He tacks on a little Ugandan Knuckles and an a capella rendition of Dinge Dinge Dinge a few seconds later. He screams.

The wind whistles. 

“What is he doing?” one of them asks the other. “Oh! He’s recording us! Well, hi friend!” 

They scream again.

For 20 seconds on May 7, 2026, Stewart Park sounded exactly like this; it will never sound exactly like this again, and if someone hadn’t been recording, no one would ever know what it sounded like to be in Stewart Park on May 7, 2026, on a windy day, packed with kids spouting off a reference to a meme a few times a minute. There are an infinite number of these moments, every day. Why don’t we preserve more of them?

Playhouse Arts aims to. From the beginning of May through August this year, the art agency is inviting visitors to five different parks around Arcata — Redwood, Larson, Stewart, Greenview, and the marsh — to take a 30-second to 10-minute audio recording of the park and send it in. The Playhouse is calling it the “Hear Here!” project. All of the recordings people send in are publicly accessible. 

Anyone desiring access to a library of sounds can do whatever they like with the recordings, Humboldt Hot Air director Neroli Devaney told the Outpost. They’re meant to be a public resource. She envisions ambient artists turning them into experimental music, into albums that incorporate the identity of a place into song. (She’s not super into that genre, but she grew up listening to it — her dad was a fan.) There are only a few submissions so far, but she’s optimistic that there will be more. 

The program is part of Playhouse Arts’ Outside Art project, a campaign that endeavors to entice people to check out parks around Arcata they may have never been to before. There are lots of little parks that don’t get a heavy amount of foot traffic. One of them, Mountain View Park, is basically just a spot of green lawn off of Haegar Avenue on the west end of town; in November, two people told stories in the park. In January, the Playhouse hosted an “exploration” of middle-of-winter light and dark in Shay Park. 

Directing people to these underutilized public spaces is a big focus of the program, Devaney said. Residents have “every right” to go and picnic in the park, lay down in the sun and enjoy themselves, she said, and they should know where they are and how best to enjoy them. Asking them to sit and listen and share a fraction of their experience benefits everyone. 

“It’s really grounding to pause and breathe,” Devaney said. “When you’re having a panic attack, you’re supposed to do that, right? Look around and count how many blue things you see — you know, count the number. I think it’s a really similar thing, where you’re like, ‘Okay, stop what you’re doing, and ground yourself in your surroundings,’ and I hope that people feel calmer and less anxious after they do it.”

Having a sound library of dozens of moments in time could be a valuable resource for historians and archivists as well, she said. Photos are cheap, often “mindless and quick,” Devaney said. Having a trove of sounds in addition to the countless images people snap every day adds a new layer. One person sent in a recording of sword fighting practice at Redwood Park; the clash of steel on steel, the wren’s cry in the background, would have been lost. 

Noise changes how people interact with the world. Hanging out at the D Street Linear Park is a way different experience than hanging out at Redwood Park, Devaney said; listening to highway drone instead of bird song can make someone feel totally different, but just paying attention to it makes a difference. 

“There’s something to be said for just closing your eyes and listening to a place,” Devaney said. “It’s a way to relate to a place in a way that isn’t visual. It’s an additional way to relate to a place, to understand a place. I am here, and this is what here means.”

On May 7, to be here in Stewart Park was to be serenaded by a child with the Labubu song for three seconds before another one lamented some unforeseen woe.

“I’m cooked,” he said. “I’m cooked, I’m cooked, I am COOKED!” 

Now we can listen to it, forever.

###

The Betty Kwan Chinn Foundation has secured $130,000 in community donations to expand Betty’s Blue Angel Village, a 30-unit transitional housing project made up of retrofitted shipping containers at West Washington and Koster streets in Eureka. 

The donation, which includes a $50,000 contribution from Eureka Natural Foods and another $80,000 from community partners, will allow the Betty Kwann Chinn Foundation to add 30 new independent units to the village.

Local leaders and city officials gathered at the Betty Kwan Chinn Day Center this morning to celebrate the news, which just so happens to coincide with Chinn’s 46th anniversary of service to Humboldt’s homeless community. 

“We are blessed, Betty, to have you in our presence and serving [our community] the way that you have,” said Chuck Petrusha, foundation board president. “We’re all just so grateful. I know you don’t want [this announcement] to be about you, but it is, and it’s about the selfless giving that you’ve always done and the way that you do it without any judgment — I think that’s the part that I’ve learned from the most.”

Chinn vowed to serve the community “until the day I die.”

“We’re gonna provide more services for the people who need it, like a little tiny houses,” she said, referring to the Bayside Village transitional housing project on Hilfiker Lane, which began welcoming residents last summer. “I will keep going, and then I have [my staff] behind me and the board behind me. … And I want you all to know it’s not really about Betty, it’s community and unity that make it work.”

The fundraising campaign was largely organized by Kathleen Lee and Julie Fulkerson, who were able to raise $80,000 through monthly donations from local contributors. Fulkerson thanked Chinn for her commitment to the city’s most vulnerable community, and shared a story to illustrate “what Betty’s about and what Betty does.”

“About 20 or 30 years ago, I was in San Francisco at a conference having a very lovely dinner at a very lovely restaurant, and we were sitting behind these big glass windows having very delightful meals,” she said. “On the other side of the glass, literally inches away, were people asleep on the sidewalk or eating out of little food bags. … What I know about Betty is she takes that thin sheet of glass away between the differences. She doesn’t see the differences; she sees everyone as a real living human being.”

Slattery

Eureka City Manager Miles Slattery credited Chinn for being “instrumental” in connecting the unhoused community municipal social services, including Pathway to Payday, a free four-day workshop that builds interview skills and connects applicants with potential employers. 

“It’s not a typical thing that cities get into providing social service programming,” Slattery said. “Betty’s been crucial for that.”

Eureka Natural Foods owner Rick Littlefield told the Outpost that he has long-admired Chinn’s approach to housing the homeless because she’s able to balance compassion with accountability. Betty’s Blue Angel Village emulates those values, he said, because it gives residents a safe place to live while they get back on their feet, but encourages them to take responsibility of themselves.

“The thing with Betty, and what’s very different than a lot of the homeless outfits, is that she requires that the people that participate to follow through on their commitments,” Littlefield said. “She works with them and tries to be helpful, but if they don’t [follow through], she cuts them loose. That’s the reason she has so much success, I think, because there are consequences, and in life there are consequences. … We want to help, but they have to do their part.”

Today’s announcement comes almost exactly 10 years after Chinn first established the retrofitted shipping container village, which began as a partnership with the Humboldt Coalition for Property Rights to help transition the city’s homeless population into temporary housing amid a newly declared shelter crisis and ongoing concerns over the homeless encampment in the Palco Marsh known as “The Devil’s Playground.” 

At the time, the proposal drew criticism from local business owners who worried that the camp would exacerbate ongoing issues with crime and drug user in the heart of Eureka’s downtown business district. But one month after people started moving into the container village, Chinn announced that most residents had already found full-time employment and several others were on their way to securing permanent housing. A few months later, the village was moved to its current location on West Washington.

###

###

PREVIOUSLY:

• WHOOPS: Humboldt County Elections Office Discovers 596 Ballots From the Last Election That Were Not Counted

###

Press release from the Humboldt County Office of Elections:

The Humboldt County Office of Elections would like to share that the ballots discovered earlier this month inside a locked drop box from the November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election will be counted.

Background

On May 4, Humboldt County Office of Elections staff discovered 596 uncounted sealed ballots from the November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election inside a locked ballot drop box. Under Section 2.5 of Article II of the California Constitution, these ballots should have been counted before election was certified on Dec. 5, 2025.

Following the discovery, elections staff worked to ensure proper protocol was followed. It was confirmed the ballots had not been tampered with, as the drop box was locked and the ballots remained sealed. The Office of Elections then worked with the California Secretary of State to determine the appropriate process to have the ballots counted.

It was determined that the error occurred due to a miscommunication among election workers about whether the drop box had been fully emptied. To prevent this from happening again, the Office of Elections has implemented a new physical verification procedure requiring each drop box to be confirmed empty and secured before election results are finalized.

While the Office of Elections and the state both confirmed that counting these ballots will not change the result of the November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election, it was important for the county to explore every available option to have the votes counted. 

Under Elections Code §17302, ballots from the November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election must be destroyed six months after the election was certified. However, the County of Humboldt secured the uncounted ballots and filed a petition with the Humboldt County Superior Court requesting to count the ballots and recertify the election. The court made the determination to grant the county’s petition. 

“I am grateful to the court for granting our petition to count these votes so that every eligible ballot will be reflected in the final election results,” said Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters Juan Pablo Cervantes. “While we are relieved by this outcome, I want to be very clear that my entire team takes the circumstances that led to this situation with the utmost seriousness. I am deeply sorry this error occurred. We have strengthened our procedures, implemented additional safeguards, and remain committed to maintaining the integrity, transparency and accountability our community expects and deserves.”

The court order authorizes the Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters to open and count the ballots and include the results in the final vote totals for the November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election. A supplemental certification must be issued by July 31 and will be backdated to the original certification date of Dec. 3, 2025. The ballots must also be destroyed by July 31.

About Humboldt County Elections Office

The Humboldt County Office of Elections is committed to ensuring all eligible residents have an opportunity to exercise their right to vote, conducting elections in a fair, accurate and efficient manner, providing reliable information and the best possible service to voters, districts, candidates and other interested parties. For more information, visit HumboldtGov.org/Elections.

###

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

###

Amid tech layoffs, anxiety around artificial intelligence, and a forthcoming run for president, Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order that calls for state agencies to explore ways to mitigate job losses stemming from the use of AI.

The order, among other things, requires a report on the impact of AI on the California labor market and ways to help displaced workers, including through severance policies and subsidized employment.

It also calls for increased job training , stock compensation and cooperative business ownership for workers and a review of how unions are negotiating over AI.

Newsom previously signed executive orders last month and in 2023 simultaneously putting in place AI protections and encouraging state agencies to use the technology.

The latest order comes a day after Facebook owner Meta laid off 8,000 workers, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg citing AI in a memo to staff after the cuts. It also comes two days after the California Senate passed the No Robo Bosses Act, which prevents businesses from using decisions made by AI and other automated systems as the sole reason a person gets fired or disciplined. Newsom vetoed a similar bill last fall.

In February, AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler, members of the California Labor Federation and labor leaders in Democratic primary states pledged to pull support for a Newsom 2028 presidential campaign if he didn’t take steps to protect workers from artificial intelligence. Newsom’s veto of the predecessor of the No Robo Bosses Act was named as a reason for that pledge.

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

###

In the face of the nation’s highest gas prices, California lawmakers approved a bill to ease restrictions on E85 conversion kits — devices that let conventional gasoline cars run on a cheaper, mostly ethanol fuel blend.

Assembly Bill 2046, dubbed the “Access to Affordable Gas Act” by its author, Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, a Stockton Democrat, advanced through the Assembly on a 59-0 vote with no debate or opposition.

The measure is the latest example of Sacramento lawmakers scrambling to respond to gas costs that have soared amidst the Iran-Israel war, which has rattled global oil markets and pushed California pump prices above $6 a gallon. It now heads to the California state Senate and would need Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approval before it becomes law.

“Californians consistently pay more at the pump than drivers from other states, and gas prices are once again climbing across the state,” Ransom said on the Assembly floor Thursday. “For commuters and working families, (the proposal) offers a practical way to save money.”

If approved in its current form, the measure would exempt manufacturers of E85 converter kits from an approval process by the state’s primary climate regulator, the California Air Resources Board, which requires companies to demonstrate the devices do not increase a vehicle’s emissions. The bill would leave in place a separate federal certification process run by the Environmental Protection Agency.

“Members in Sacramento are looking for ways to try to reduce costs — or appear to reduce costs of driving — and so this is a way to do that,” said Aaron Smith, a UC Berkeley economist and fuels expert.

The converter kits, which cost between $800 to $1,250, according to a legislative analysis of the bill, would let drivers convert their cars to run on both gasoline and E85 fuel.

E85 is a blend of up to 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline; the share of ethanol typically is between 55% and 85%, said Smith, the Berkeley expert.

Jeff Wilkerson, government affairs manager for Pearson Fuels, the largest E85 fuel provider in the state and a bill supporter, said E85 — much of which is made from Midwest corn — is largely insulated from overseas oil shocks that drive California gas prices. The ethanol blend has sold for $2 or more less per gallon than gasoline during recent price spikes.

While E85 is typically priced lower than gasoline and can reduce petroleum dependence and carbon emissions, it delivers 20% to 30% fewer miles per gallon, according to the air board, meaning drivers only save money when E85 is priced at least 20% to 30% below gasoline.

About 1.3 million vehicles in California can currently use the fuel, which is sold at about 640 stations statewide — just 3% of the state’s more than 15,000 fuel pumps, according to the bill analysis.

Ransom said more E85 pumps would be built if the state loosened restrictions and encouraged demand for the fuel blend. She stressed that her bill would present E85 as an alternative.

“For some people, it may not be a wise choice, but at least now it’s going to be a choice,” she said.

Environmentally, the fuel is rated cleaner than regular gasoline by California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. But that rating has critics. Smith, the Berkeley economist, said the benefits of ethanol are likely overstated. Official numbers likely understate emissions from land use as rising corn demand for ethanol pushes farmers to clear forested land.

The state’s own certification record offers a cautionary tale. Lindsay Buckley, a spokesperson for the board, said the agency has received only five applications from companies for E85 conversion kits since 2008 and that none has cleared the certification process, which is designed to ensure modified vehicles still meet their original emissions standards. Supporters of the proposal argue the board moves slowly and its regulations are burdensome.

But loosening that standard carries its own risk, cautioned Aaron Kurz, senior consultant on the Assembly Transportation Committee, especially now.

As the federal government has stripped scientific expertise from regulatory decisions, he wrote in his analysis, “this committee should consider if the state should cede authority over an inherently scientific process and set a precedent for transferring approval authority to the federal government.”

It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Frank Speck, age 72, on March 28, 2026 in Eureka. He was out doing something he loved when he left this world, riding his bike along the Bayfront Trail.

Born June 23, 1953 in Liverpool, England, Frank was known locally for his realistic paintings of classic cars. He excelled at capturing the chrome bumpers and reflective surfaces, and delighted in creating custom paintings for car enthusiasts. He exhibited his work at many places in Eureka, and he received a commendable award for his painting “Brooklyn Cadillac” at the Morris Graves Museum 2011 RAA Spring Exhibit.

He had a hilarious cryptic sarcastic sense of humor, which left some scratching their heads until hours later when “the penny dropped,” as he would say. He enjoyed watching someone’s face as they slowly figured out the joke and then burst out laughing. In his working days he was famous for his job site pranks, such as placing cutouts of rats in hanging light fixtures to scare the night guards, and buckets of yellow tinted water with attached rolls of toilet paper in the freight elevators.

He made friends all over the world and loved talking to complete strangers, starting up conversations anywhere, be it the grocery store, flea market or while out walking his dog, Bullet.

He had a deep empathy for those less fortunate, and was incredibly generous, always willing to help a friend or stranger with whatever they needed.

He was also a devoted Liverpool Football Club fan, and never missed a game even when it meant getting up at 2 a.m. to watch it. He refused to record it and watch it later as he didn’t want the excitement of the game ruined by someone revealing the outcome before he had seen it.

Frank was adopted at an early age by George and Elsie Speck. They moved from Liverpool to Bristol, where Frank spent a good portion of his youth and adult life. He had various odd jobs, but it was when he gained employment with Hayles and Howe that he found one of his true callings. While working for the ornamental plaster firm, he was introduced to scagliola, a 17th century Italian technique of imitating marble using plaster and pigments. The company was hired for a restoration project at the New Jersey state capitol in the early 1990s, and Frank came to the US for that project. He fell in love with New York City, and moved to the US the following year and was employed by Evergreene Architectural Arts as an ornamental plaster and scagliola expert. He met his ex-partner Lisa Jarrow, who was working as an art conservator for the same company, shortly thereafter, and they lived and worked together there until 2008.

Frank and Lisa moved to Eureka after departing NYC and bought an old Victorian house a year later. It was after moving to Eureka that Frank finally had the time and space to pursue his passion of painting. He was also finally able to realize his dream of having an Italian greyhound — he found a local breeder — and Bullet joined the family in 2010. Many happy hours were spent together walking in the forests and along the coastal beaches.

Early on, he also worked for a short time at the Blue Ox School, teaching plaster skills and renovating the theatre on the millwork grounds with the students. While working there he found his cat, who he named Vinnie Van Gogh because of her crumpled deformed ear. She was being picked on by the other resident cats and he feared for her safety over a long holiday weekend so he brought her home.

Frank had always hoped to find his birth parents, and before leaving NYC Frank was able to contact his birth mother, Norma Hemsworth, and shortly after that he was contacted by his late birth father’s wife, Norma Lucock. He traveled to the U.K. and met his half sister Linda Mundy, and half brothers Jeff Hemsworth, Chris Hemsworth, Geoff Lucock and Mark Lucock. On the way back home, he stopped and met his half brother Chris Lucock in Rhode Island. Finding and meeting them brought him great joy, and a sense of belonging. Unfortunately he was never able to meet his remaining half brother Steven Hemsworth.

Frank was preceded in death by his adoptive parents George and Elsie Speck, half sister Linda Mundy, birth mother Norma Hemsworth, birth father Frank Lucock, his beloved Italian greyhound Bullet and cat Vinnie.

He made a lasting impression on all who knew him and will be deeply missed.

A heartfelt thank you to all of Frank’s friends for your compassion during this time of grief, and to the anonymous individual(s) that found him on the trail and called 911.

Happy trails Frank, you will never walk alone.

There will be no funeral service. A celebration of life and exhibit/sale of Frank’s paintings will be held at a later date. Please email Lisa at frankspeckart@gmail.com if you would like to be notified of the event.

Irene Jarvis Crichton
June 4, 1932 – April 24, 2026

Irene Jarvis Crichton (93) was born June 4, 1932, in Provo, Utah and died April 24, 2026, in Eureka, Calif. Her life was long, productive and full. Irene lived in Eureka, Utah as a child and came to California with her family in 1942. As a youth Irene was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Walnut Creek. She attended Walnut Creek schools, graduating from Acalanes High School in 1950. Irene attended Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington where she was active in student organizations. Irene graduated with honors in 1955 with a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education and a minor in Psychology. She continued her education with graduate work at UC Berkeley while working in the Presbyterian Church Field Office in San Francisco.

Irene moved to Eureka, Calif. to take a position as Director of Christian Education for the First Presbyterian Church of Eureka. She worked there for one year where she met Robert C. Crichton. Irene and Bob married in 1958 and raised two daughters, beginning with René in 1960, followed by Susan in 1963. Irene was a long-time 50+ year member of the First Presbyterian Church of Eureka where she enjoyed many personal and family friendships. She was active in numerous roles, including as a church school teacher, a youth group leader, an Elder, and as a member of both the Library, and Church and Society Committees. Irene was instrumental in starting the International Student Scholarship Fund. She especially enjoyed participating in the Voyager and Midship Mariner groups, the Eureka (Calif.)-Tokyo Homestay Exchange Program, and Relay For Life team.

Irene received her lifetime teaching credential in 1957 and taught elementary school for thirty years in the school systems of Livermore, San Francisco and Eureka, Calif., where she taught for the last 26 years of her career at Jefferson School. Most of her years were spent teaching Kindergarten, which was her favorite experience. When recently asked what she enjoyed most about teaching, Irene said, “I loved reading books to the children. I read to them every day.” She retired in 1993 yet continued her positive influence on Eureka’s children by substituting for a few years. Irene formed lifelong friendships with fellow teachers at Jefferson School. They met several times each year to celebrate birthdays, including the most recent gathering a few months ago. Irene was an officer in the Eureka Teachers Association and a member of the California Retired Teachers Association, National Teachers Association, American Association of University Women (AAUW), a volunteer poll worker, an active volunteer for CASA and the Humboldt Literacy Project. Irene had a particular interest in literacy, democracy and Hmong resettlement.

Irene loved spending time with her grandchildren. She attended many of their activities in both Eureka, Calif. and El Dorado County. A favorite for Irene was reading books to all four when they were younger and participating in her grandchildren’s preschool class when visiting. She was happy to be able to attend all four of her grandchildren’s middle school graduations and one high school graduation. Irene achieved a goal she set for herself in 2000 to live long enough to see all her grandchildren grow into adulthood and begin their careers. She was very proud of them and their achievements. Irene loved their visits, calls and updates. She treasured every minute with her grandchildren.

Irene was an avid reader and especially enjoyed participating in her AAUW book group where she made many friends. She was a lifelong learner, reading a wide variety of books throughout her life. After retirement, Irene took several OLLI classes hosted by Humboldt State University. In recent years she joined an online book group with René. They had many discussions about their favorites. Irene always loved discussing books with friends and family. Irene appreciated beautiful music, especially when family was involved. A highlight of her week was on Sunday afternoons when Susan would share her bell choir video. Irene was always ready for an ice cream cone, but rhubarb pie was her most requested dessert. She would trade cleaning up the pie crust mess for a homemade pie going way back to the 1960s when her girls were young. Irene loved growing beautiful flowers, which, in addition to her own enjoyment, attracted songbirds and butterflies. She especially liked tending to her backyard garden and delighted in her grandchildren’s help with planting and watering. She cared about the Earth and was proud to have been involved with the origin and opening of Eureka’s (Calif.) first recycling center.

Irene and Bob enjoyed traveling to new places, both together and with friends or family. Some of their memorable trips were to Tahiti for their 25th anniversary, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Greece, Scotland, England, France, Holland and Norway. They did genealogy research for both Bob’s and Irene’s family histories. Irene was thrilled when they traveled to Greece and met some of her father’s relatives. When not traveling, they walked several mornings a week with the Dawn Breakers, a group of friends from church, who loved to end their walks at a café for conversation, coffee and breakfast.

Irene touched many lives and was loved by those who knew her. Irene was known for being kind, gentle, fair, peaceful, generous, thoughtful, smart, witty and loving. In her quiet way she would stand up for what she believed in.

Irene is survived by her daughters and their husbands H. René Crichton and Robert L. Nisson of Shingle Springs; Susan Lucile Crichton and Daniel Janney of Eureka, Calif.; grandchildren Jeremy Joseph Toste (Nichole Bloch), Alexandra René Nisson Smith (Emilio Smith), Spencer Robert Nisson, Jacqueline Irene Nisson; sister-in-law Darlene Jarvis, former sister-in-law and close friend Donna Jarvis; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Bob; parents Alex C. Jarvis (né Zervos) and Lucile E. Walters Jarvis; her sister Helen Jarvis Stevens; and her brothers Leo A. Jarvis and Rev. Andrew A. Jarvis.

Irene’s family is grateful for the care and compassion provided by Frye’s Care Home over the last year and appreciates the assistance of Hospice of Humboldt during the last few months.

Friends and family are invited to attend a Memorial Service, officiated by Rev. Carlotta Vallerga, at the First Presbyterian Church of Eureka (15th and I Streets) on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 1 p.m. with a reception to follow in Crichton Fellowship Hall. A private graveside service was held earlier this month at Sunset Memorial Park under the direction of Sanders Funeral Home and officiated by Rev. Rus Kosits.

Contributions in Irene’s memory may be made to Friends of the Humboldt County Library or Hospice of Humboldt.