PREVIOUSLY:

• “Going Down,” Jan. 5.

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Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On January 5, 2023, at about 10:45 a.m., the Eureka Police Department was notified that a deceased female was located amongst recycling that had been transferred to the Samoa Resource Recovery Center on Vance Avenue by a Recology truck. Based on the pickup route, it is believed the female had been picked up from within the City limits of Eureka.

The Eureka Police Department has identified the adult deceased female and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Coroner will be working to notify next of kin. An autopsy will be scheduled to aid in further investigation. This is an active investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Bailey at (707) 441-4215.

Longtime Humboldt newsman and personality Dave Silverbrand passed away this morning at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka. He was 76 years old.

If you’ve lived in Humboldt for any length of time, there have been numerous occasions when Dave’s kindly spirit has shone out at you from your screen of choice. For the past 30 years, he’s held down reporting jobs for a number of television news operations, most recently with North Coast News. While a good portion of his career was spent in an anchor’s chair, in recent years Dave’s reports have focused on human interest stories highlighting people and events he’d run across in his daily Humboldt life. His final report for NCN — a visit to a drive-thru nativity scene in Eureka — was filed only two weeks ago. You can watch it below. 

In addition to his onscreen exploits, Silverbrand was also an active presence in the IRL Humboldt community. For years he acted as emcee of Oyster Fest’s oyster calling contest. Among other projects, Silverbrand found time to pen an autobiography and a stage play. In recent years he even offered his services as a wedding officiant — in Spanish, if you so desired. 

On a personal note, Dave was always beloved by all of us here at the Lost Coast Outpost. He will be missed. 

Above: Silverbrand shares moments from the many encounters he had with President George Bush

Dave Silverbrand’s role in the film Outbreak remembered.

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The Westwood Garden Apartment Project is a go.

After more than three hours of discussion on Wednesday evening, the Arcata City Council voted 4-0, with Councilmember Kimberley White recusing herself, to deny an appeal brought forth by several residents of the Westwood Garden Apartment complex and uphold the Arcata Planning Commission’s decision to approve the housing expansion project. In an effort to address some of the appellants’ concerns, the council requested that Strombeck Properties and its hired consulting firm LACO Associates include bike lockers on site and work with residents of the complex to establish an appropriate space for a community garden.

The project, which was approved by the planning commission back in October, will more than double the size of the existing 60-unit apartment complex by adding 11 new buildings that will hold 102 one-bedroom units. The plan also includes riparian enhancements to the Janes Creek/McDaniel Slough at the southern end of the parcel, as well as the removal of 21 trees (10 of which are greater than 16 inches in diameter) and the planting of 33 additional trees. 

Several residents of the complex — including recent council candidate Raelina Krikston – argued that the planning commission’s decision was based on “misleading, misrepresented, and false information” contained in the staff report. 

“The qualities of the development will result in a lower quality of life for current and future residents if the development is allowed to move forward as it is currently proposed,” according to the appeal. “​​Instead it contributes to a degradation of the living standard on this parcel for current and future residents. Due to the nature of the project as well as inconsistencies in the staff report presented to the Planning Commission, we find the grounds for the proposed development to be appealed.”

The planning commission’s “Findings for Approval” notes that the housing expansion project would “provide important, unrestricted affordable housing for the community.” The appellants argued that “unrestricted affordable housing is a meaningless phrase” and, on top of that, “there is no affordable housing in this project,” noting that the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development considers housing to be “affordable” when a household spends 30 percent or less of its income on housing costs.

“The commissioners referred to this project as affordable housing,” said Arcata resident Fred Weiss, who accompanied Krikston during the appellant’s presentation to the council. “The[ir] vote was made based, I believe, upon the statements … that this was supplying affordable housing for the city of Arcata. … I think that the commissioners were far more compliant about the inadequacies of the project than they would have been because we all want housing and we all want affordable housing.”

Weis and Krikston also criticized the layout of the housing plan, noting that the space between apartment buildings would limit access to sunlight within the individual units and the communal areas on site.

“I think it goes without stating … but sunlight is required for healthy living,” Krikston said. “To propose a development where community members are blocked from sunlight at the height of summer is not healthy for people. When we think of the health of the environment … we’re talking about the frogs and the trees and the grass and everything, but we’re also talking about the people who are living there, first and foremost.”

Speaking during public comment, Arcata resident Dan Duncan acknowledged the urgent need for housing in Arcata as well as the “huge pressure” placed on the planning commission to move the project forward to accommodate the anticipated influx of Cal Poly Humboldt students.

“That’s a lot of pressure,” he said. “I believe a big part of Arcata’s housing problem originates from the state mandate for the hyper-fast expansion of the university and not from the normal pressures of growth of a town. The main responsibility to house the incoming students, in my opinion, belongs to Cal Poly, not the city. … Some of the commissioners I know openly expressed dismay with the Strombeck design that is under appeal today but voted for approval anyway because of the urgent need for housing.”

Several other speakers acknowledged the need for affordable housing but felt as though the term was being used as a buzzword to “sweeten the deal” for commissioners. Others criticized the design of the project and urged the developer to “do better.”

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Mike Nelson, president and CEO of LACO Associates, defended the project proposal and any assertions that the plan did not adhere to the city’s land use code.

“The project was designed to meet the land use code and the land use plan, both in its letter and in its intent,” he said. “They are clearly different interpretations about how those come out when you apply them to a specific project under a microscope and every minutia but it does meet those standards. It does meet those requirements.”

Strombeck Properties and LACO Associates underwent “considerable site redesign” to address the public’s concerns with the first rendition of the expansion project, Nelson said.  Initially, the planners proposed adding 12 buildings to the complex, but during a meeting in September the planning commission rejected the proposed project, asking that the planner return with an amended design that retained more open space on the property. 

“Not everyone is necessarily happy with it, but we did make real tangible changes and improvements to the project based on that input, some of which came at considerable expense to the redesign as well as the actual construction costs,” he said. 

Earlier in the discussion, Krikston noted that the plan did not include a secure area for residents to store their bicycles within the covered parking area. Nelson said the developers could easily include bike lockers in the design. He also expressed willingness to adjust the location of the on-site community garden.

Steve Strombeck, the owner of the property, said his team worked really well with city staff, even if they didn’t agree through every step of the design process.

“It takes a long time to work on a project like this,” he said. “We took all the input we heard, both from the audience and from the planning commission, and we made those changes. … We did the best job we could and we feel it’s a really good project.”

Turning to the council for discussion, Councilmember Stacy Atkins-Salazar asked Community Development Director David Loya if he thought commissioners were confused or misled.

“No,” he said. “The planning commission meeting, especially one as complex as this is pretty fluid. … In any kind of situation like that, you know, some things are misunderstood, they’re misheard and the commissioners asked for clarification. I believe that the majority of them – if not all of them – understood the project in very good detail by the time they made the decision to adopt the findings that are in your packet.”

Loya added that the applicant has admitted “to some extent” that “these are not fantastic designed buildings, but that’s not what the code requires either.”

Councilmember Alex Stillman said she felt as though the planning commission “did a good job” and made a motion to deny the appeal and uphold the commission’s previous decision. After some additional discussion, Atkins-Salazar offered a second. 

Ultimately, the council voted 4-0, with White recusing herself due to her previous involvement on the planning commission, to deny the appeal and approve the project with the additional requirements that the developers include on-site bike lockers and work with residents to relocate the community garden. 

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At the beginning of the meeting, the council unanimously approved two appointments to the Arcata Planning Commission: Matthew Simmons, staff attorney with the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), and Peter Lehman, founding director of the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt.

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You find a recording of the meeting here.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• Big Housing Project in Westwood Neighborhood Bumps Gateway Talk From Arcata Planning Commission Discussion Last Night
• Arcata Planning Commission Approves Big Apartment Expansion Project in Westwood Neighborhood
• Will Tonight’s Arcata City Council Meeting Happen? It Depends on Whether or Not Brett Watson Shows
• The Long-Delayed Final Decision on the Big Westwood Gardens Apartment Project Should Come at Tonight’s Arcata City Council Meeting

UPDATE, 11:31 a.m.: Back in biz, for now…

UPDATE 11:15 a.m.: U.S. 101 is OPEN at Last Chance Grade north of Wilson Creek (PM 14.25-15.3) in Del Norte County. Crews have cleared the slide. https://t.co/v9kIKOOfNm

— Caltrans District 1 (@CaltransDist1) January 6, 2023

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Caltrans release:

U.S. 101 is fully closed at Last Chance Grade north of Wilson Creek (PM 14.25-15.3) in Del Norte County due to a slide. Crews are on scene working to clear the slide. Currently there is no estimated time of reopening. 

Follow this page for updates, and visit quickmap.dot.ca.gov for real-time traffic information.

Our mother passed away peacefully on December 17, 2022 (10 days shy of her 90th birthday). Arlene was born in Eureka on December 27, 1932, to William and Ruby Gallaway. She spent much of her childhood in the logging camps of Southern Humboldt and Santa Cruz. As her mother cooked for the various camps, Arlene was left in charge of her five younger siblings. She had many stories to tell of their various antics during those early camp days. For a short time, during World War II, her family moved to Fields Landing where she attended Field School and later Eureka’s Marshall School. After the war, the family moved back to the town of Blocksburg. She spent many days riding her horses, sunbathing on the Eel River and taking care of her younger brothers and sisters.

As a teen Arlene would ride the train from Blocksburg every Sunday to Fields Landing. She would stay with her grandparents so she could attend Junior High and High School in Eureka. When she turned 17, she began working for Eureka Fisheries. While working there she met our father, Walt Ghera. Dad took Mom to the Redwood Acres stock car races on their first date. Mom hated stock car races. She took him to the Fortuna Rodeo on their second date. Dad hated rodeos. They married a year later in June of 1952.

In 1955 Arlene and Walt bought a home on Humboldt Hill where they spent the next thirty-three years together. During this time, they had three children, Mike, Sharon and Cindy. We were so lucky to have such wonderful parents who loved us unconditionally.

Our parents were not only husband and wife they were the best of friends. They did everything together. Mom spent many years accompanying dad on his hunting and fishing adventures, and they always had time to visit with relatives and old friends. Their favorite vacation spot was Reno, Nevada. They would travel there every year after “crab season.”

Arlene wore many hats during her lifetime. She served as a PTA member, room mother, Cub Scout leader, Campfire mom, 4-H mom, and classroom aide. In addition to being “Mom” she helped my father with his commercial fishing business and was a founding member of the Commercial Fisherman’s Wives of Humboldt. She campaigned to build a lighthouse on Humboldt Bay and to obtain Coast Guard helicopters for the safety of our community. The Fishermen’s Memorial Statue, built by Dick Crane, was one of her many accomplishments while working with the dedicated wives of our local fishermen. She was also a past member of the Humboldt Art Association and Redwood Quilt Guild.

After our father’s passing in 1993, Mom didn’t want to just sit around and grieve. She wanted to pursue a job where she could work with children. She began working with CASA and then for Sequoia Park Zoo as the assistant gift shop manager. She loved her job and stayed there for the next twenty years. She retired at the age of 81. She spent her free time gardening, quilting, and painting. However, spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren was her favorite pastime.

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ruby, husband Walter, son Michael, daughter Cindy Vanderheiden, brother Robert Gallaway and sister Billie Goodwin. She is survived by her daughter Sharon Ferreira (Frank), son in-law Dennis Vanderheiden, daughter in-law Jenny Ghera, grandchildren Ron Ghera, Brian Johnson, John Ferreira, Haley Ferreira, Alex Danielson (Kyle), Kylie Vanderheiden, Kelly Vanderheiden, brother Harry Gallaway, sisters Doris Fearien, Betty Brazil (Jerry), sister in-law Lee Gallaway , seven great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

We would like to acknowledge her dear friend of 80 plus years, Nova Cramer. A special thank you to the staff at Seaview Rehabilitation and Wellness Center for the care and love they showed our mother for the past two and a half years, after her dementia diagnosis.

At Arlene’s request the family will have a private internment. There will be a Celebration of Life/Open House, located at 4800 Walnut Drive in Eureka from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Donations in Arlene’s memory can be made to Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation, Hospice, or a charity of your choice.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Arlene Ghera’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

A New Angel In Heaven

Melanie Anne Ioelu Spencer passed October 20, 2022, due to complications from ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease).

Melanie has now joined her Dad, Tapuni (Cap) Ioelu, in Heaven.

Melanie is survived by her mother, MaryAnne Ely Ioelu. She is also survived by her sons Jason and Christopher Spencer, and their dad Fred Spencer. Melanie was Grammy to Caden and Brenna Spencer, of Redding, and her loving partner Johnnie Wright. She is also survived by her aunt Kathleen Ely Green, husband Russ, of Fairport, N.Y., and Paul Ely, Wife R’Delle, of Westhaven, her Aunt Karole Ely, of Arcata, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Melanie was born in Arcata on February 15, 1958 and lived in Arcata and Eureka all her life.

She attended and graduated from Stewart Elementary School, Arcata High School and College of the Redwoods.

Melanie was very proud to have become a certified pharmacy tech and worked for CVS and Lima’s Pharmacy.

Melanie was an avid bowler, having become a member of the 600 club. She enjoyed bowling in local leagues, state and national tournaments and also traveling with Mathclub.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 25 at 1 p.m. at Azalea Hall in McKinleyville.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Melanie Spencer’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Judy Williamson died on December 29 peacefully with her children in attendance at her home in Eureka after a short decline in health.

She was born in Fromberg, Montana, September 27, 1927 to William Burger and Lina Kuntz. She was number seven of 11 brothers and sisters, all of whom preceded her in death. She is survived by her children, Dennis Koble of Lincoln, California; Allen Koble of Eureka, California; and Mariann Koble Sampson of Victoria, Australia. She lived in Eureka for over 50 years.

She graduated with honors from Santa Rosa School of nursing and worked as an RN for Saint Joseph’s Hospital and Eureka Family Practice until she retired. She and her husband at the time built the Eureka Indoor Tennis Club, and tennis was their life for many years. She love camping, hiking, and was an avid reader. She loved all dogs and cats and was a caring and loyal friend to many.

She will be fondly remembered, loved and greatly missed by all who knew her.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Judy Williamson’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.