Michael Peter Galdieri
Born, June 2, 1952 — Died, August 18, 2022
Michael Peter Galdieri, 70, of Eureka, passed away on Thursday, August 18, 2022. He was born to parents Luisa and Peter Galdieri on June 2, 1952 in San Francisco.
He attended St. Michaels and Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco, and retired as an employee of Humboldt State University, Arcata.
Mike’s love for God’s Earth led him to fish and hunt the Six Rivers of Northern California and exotic locations such as Christmas Island. He taught his children to love the world as well through hand-built tree forts, backyard gardening, camping, fishing, and hunting trips. A trip to Italy to meet relatives and learn more about family heritage was just one example of his love for family and his heritage.
A true jack-of-all-trades, Michael passed on a great breadth of knowledge to his children. Michael was also a hero; he earned a merit of honor for saving a man’s life while at work. Above all else, he taught forgiveness both as an example of one who gives and as one who receives. He spent his final years imparting to his sons the wisdom he accrued over a lifetime of hardship and love.
Michael is survived by his Sons: Aaron and Devin; Granddaughters Destinee and Chloe Galdieri; Sisters Sandra Wilcox, Anna Maria Galdieri, Maria Murtagh, Jane Ritchie; Niece, nephew, and cousins; and Former wife: Janis Cross
To honor Mike’s memory, there will be a celebration of life, in Eureka on November 13, 2 p.m. (doors at 1:40), at Faith Center Church in Eureka, in the dome. We invite those who knew him to attend, and share a story. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided.
A private service was held and interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, California.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Betty Jackson’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
Screenshot of Tuesday’s Eureka City Council meeting.
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The Eureka City Council and Mayor Susan Seaman donned colors of the rainbow during Tuesday’s council meeting to stand in solidarity with Humboldt’s LGBTQ+ community, in response to a recent onslaught of hateful and transphobic public outbursts and social media posts from a small group of local individuals.
The controversy stemmed from a recent all-ages Halloween event hosted by Redwood Pride – a DreamMaker project of the nonprofit Ink People – at the Jefferson Community Center in Eureka. The event featured a drag show in which performers dressed up, danced and lip-synced to pop songs. A group of about a dozen protestors interrupted the event and accused the event facilitators and attendees of “grooming children” and being pedophiles.
In the time since, some of these same individuals have taken to social media and public meetings to call the event organizers “perverts” and accuse them of “indoctrinating children into the Church of Satan.” They have also made harassing phone calls to Ink People staff, threatening to run the organization out of town.
About two dozen people turned out to this week’s city council to weigh in on the controversy, the vast majority of whom condemned the hateful rhetoric and defended Redwood Pride.
But before the non-agenda public comment period began, Mayor Seaman read a statement of decorum into the record and informed those in attendance that the comment period would be limited to 30 minutes to provide ample time for the rest of the council’s meeting and would resume towards the end of the meeting.
The night’s first speaker, Eureka resident Donnie Creekmore, read a statement he had previously emailed to each of the council members in which he outlined his liberties and freedoms as “an American Patriot.”
“I stand for liberty and justice for all who are born on this land and see them as my brothers and sisters despite any differences we may have,” Creekmore said, adding that he is also free to love his family, his friends and his community. “I am also free to hate. …I am free to hate those that would support and condone pedophilia and the ideas they use to justify it.”
He condemned the recent Redwood Pride event, calling it “appalling” and “disgusting,” but noted that there would have never been a protest in the first place if the drag show excluded children under 18 years of age.
“We were not protesting your right to exist; however, we are protesting your faulty methods of indoctrination to our youth,” he said. “Stop targeting our children like a bunch of thirsty groomers and we will stop treating you like thirsty groomers.”
Eureka resident Caroline Griffith underscored her support for Redwood Pride, noting, “I am happy to go anywhere at any time and support this organization.” But she questioned whether a city council meeting was an appropriate venue for the matter. “I’ve been a little confused about why this is the venue to come to support Redwood Pride because my understanding is that the City of Eureka actually did not put on this event,” she said.
Griffith emphasized the importance of creating spaces and events that cater to the Queer community and individuals who don’t feel accepted by their peers.
“I have a trans teenager in my life who lives in a rural area of Humboldt County, who would be trans no matter what,” Griffith said. “And it’s so beautiful to be able to come with him to a space where I can see that recognition in his face and see how he changes when he’s around people who he knows are accepting of him and to be able to see that kind of light at the end of the tunnel and to know that it gets better.”
A few members of the Raging Grannies spoke up during public comment to defend the Redwood Pride event. “The Grannies feel strongly that diversity is important for a healthy community and a better world, which includes making an effort for respectful dialogue,” Sandy Lynn said before launching into a song.
Redwood Pride Director Æpryl Nikolai offered their gratitude to the community for the outpouring of support but said their organization would be willing to take a different approach to drag shows in the future.
Nikolai | Screenshot
“One of the things we’re heavily considering is labeling it like a movie rating,” Nikolai said toward the end of the public comment period. “If somebody wants to protest a PG drag show, that’s fine. Then they can take it up with the parents of children that may be there because parental guidance suggested is just that. If it’s G, well, then it’s going to be [general audience]. There’s not going to even a hint of anything risqué, just people dressing up for fun.”
After closing public comment, Mayor Seaman said she wanted to comment on the matter at the beginning of the meeting but, recognizing that her input could have swayed public comment, opted not to.
“And I’m glad I didn’t because I was so angry at the beginning,” she said. “I think I would have said things that would have maybe only made things worse. And, with the exception of a few people, today was really heartening. I really feel like, once again, Eureka showed a lot of the best of itself and came up and stood together. … We heard a lot more people talking about how to love each other and how to support each other and who to make people feel safe [during] an evening where, quite frankly, we were really worried about people not feeling safe.”
All in all, the non-agenda public comment period took up about half of Tuesday’s meeting. The council did not take any action or have any additional discussion on the matter.
Homeless Action Plan
Earlier in the meeting, the council discussed and ultimately approved a Homeless Action Plan to expand efforts to address mental health and housing needs in Eureka.
The 24-page document outlines the city’s ongoing efforts to reduce homelessness in the City of Eureka by expanding affordable housing, bolstering outreach efforts and expanding partnerships with organizations that provide services to people experiencing homelessness, such as UPLIFT Eureka.
The plan focuses on eight goals:
Increasing the availability of affordable housing for community members experiencing homelessness;
Increasing the availability of affordable housing for community members experiencing homelessness;
Increasing engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness;
Increasing community education, engagement and resource awareness;
Expanding partnerships and collaborations with organizations providing services to individuals experiencing homelessness;
Addressing environmental impacts, public health and safety issues related to homelessness;
And utilizing relevant and available data to identify trends in homeless services provided by the City of Eureka.
Following a somewhat brief discussion with Eureka Community Services Supervisor Jeff Davis on the item, the council agreed to adopt the Homeless Action Plan in a unanimous 5-0 vote.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the council approved a resolution banning new digital signs in the city’s coastal zone as well as an update to the city’s zoning code that, in part, extends the ban to the city’s inland areas as well.
The resolution will now move forward to the California Coastal Commission for certification.
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The council went over several other topics during Tuesday’s meeting – including a report on offshore wind development from the CORE Hub, a presentation on Dishgamu Humboldt Community Land Trust and a peek at the city’s proposed Zero Waste Action Plan – but did not take a vote on the items.
You can find a full recording on Tuesday’s meeting at this link.
Eureka City Schools (ECS) is aware of the arrest of Nathan
Thomas Hentley. Hentley was a volunteer coach for boys’ basketball at Eureka High School this
year and a walk-on coach for boys’ basketball last year. Effective immediately, Hentley’s
volunteer status and coaching status with ECS is revoked.
There is an ongoing investigation with the Fortuna Police Department and, at this time, there is
no indication of any ECS students being involved. ECS is in communication with Fortuna Police
Department, as student safety is the District’s top priority.
Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the
Fortuna Police Department at 707-725-7550. All further inquiries should be directed to the
Fortuna Police Department.
Betty Delephine Jackson Born December 28, 1934 – Entered into rest October 26, 2022
Betty was the devoted and loving wife to Paul Jackson for 53 years. Together they had four children, Pliny
“Jack” Jackson (Amanda), Paula Lynn Abarr, Bonnie Hunsucker, and Patrick Jackson; 14 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. When Betty married Paul, she gained six sisters, many nieces and nephews and became “Auntie Betty” to many generations.
Together, Betty and Paul built Jackson Trucking, and employed many people in the Hoopa Community.
Their business also provided training to many young truck drivers and mechanics. During their trucking
years, Jackson Trucking was also part of the Weaverville and Trinity Center communities. Working in
Trinity Center gave Betty and Paul many good times on the lake, and allowed Betty to find a stash of
maiden hair fern for her mother’s basket materials. Betty was involved in many community projects
throughout the area. She was part of the group that revived the plans of preceding elders to see that
Sumeg Village was completed into existence. In addition to all the planning that took place, Betty and
Paul committed their time and trucks to haul in the wood that makes up the buildings at the village.
Betty was a member of the Hoopa Chamber of Commerce, who helped raise funds to put in the KEET
translator so generations of children could grow up watching Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers. Betty was
part of the High School Booster Club that raised funds to place lights at the Hoopa High football field.
These are just a few of the many projects our mother was involved with. Betty’s middle initial D wasn’t
just for Delephine, it was also for determination. If Betty got it in her mind, she didn’t stop until it was
done, usually with Paul right beside her.
Although her grandmother was a full-blooded Hupa, Betty was an enrolled member of the Yurok Tribe.
Betty worked many years with the Tribe as a cultural advisor and knowledgeable elder. Betty was proud
to work alongside so many others in the Yurok Tribe and enjoyed the many hours she spent with the
Cultural Committee. Many of you spend time with her, finding out who was in your family tree and the
stories that she could share from her childhood.
Among the many things Betty represented, she was Granny and Auntie. We are sure that everyone has
a story about her wit and spunky sense of humor. Even as little girl, she had that ‘extra’ and twinkle in
her eyes.
Betty received loving care and attention from many people over the years, and her family is especially
thankful to those who came whenever called. The family is very thankful for her close friend Wilma
Roberts. Betty and Wilma shared many adventures and you never knew where they might wander.
Thank you to her great-nephews Hoopa Tribal Police Officers James McCovey, Sr. and Russell Hurley,
and the K’ima:w Ambulance Crew who would always lend a hand to “Auntie Betty,” and were her
“visitors” at any hour of the day. In her latest years, Betty was cared for by her children and
grandchildren; with her grandson Robert ‘Bobby” Hunsucker as her daily caregiver. The family would
like to express appreciation to the Yurok Tribe; especially Emily, Ryan, Elizabeth and Jeanette, who are
so caring and respectful, the Medical Team at Resolution Care; Dr. Autumn Eglitis, NP- Zachary Wagner,
Kate Erwin RN, and Community Outreach; Kimberly McDowell-Henri, RN. You all made sure Betty was
comfortable and able to be at home, surrounding by family and friends.
Betty is survived by her four sisters, two brother’s in-law; her four children, fourteen grandchildren,
twenty-six great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Betty was preceded in death
by her husband Paul, father John Safford, mother Violet Moore (Haynes), sister Carol Dela Rosa, brother
Arnold Moore, cousin Lois Kerwin, close friend/sister-in-law Letitia “Lovey” Guyer, and sons-in-law
Daniel Abarr, and Robert Hunsucker, Sr.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons and great-grandsons. Honorary Bearers will be Robert McConnell, Sr.,
Skip Lowry, Johnny Ray Dela Rosa, Donald Winter, Marion “Inker” McCovey Sr., Michael Orcutt, Kevin
Orcutt, Thomas O’Rourke, Tiger O’Rourke, Tyke Robbins and Ryan Fleisher.
Betty was blessed to have so many friends and family, who were loved and cherished. We are sorry we
have not mentioned each of you by name, but know that you are loved and appreciated. Please
remember the time you spent with her, stories you shared and memories you made.
Betty will be laid to rest with her husband Paul at the Jackson family cemetery in Hoopa in a
private service. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Libby Nix Yurok Tribal office in Weitchpec on Sunday, November 6 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Arrangements were made in conjunction with
Ayres Family Cremation, and Arcata Country Living Florist & Fine Gifts, and Sun Valley Floral Farms.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Betty Jackson’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
Patrick Thomas Murphy born March 26, 1935 - passed
October 20, 2022
Patrick Thomas
Murphy passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, October 20,
2022, at the age of 87 with his wife of 65 ½ years, Lois, by his
side. He was born in Eureka on March 26, 1935. He is survived by the
love of his life, Lois Ann Murphy, whom he met at the Holmes Flat
swimming hole in 1955. He was welcomed to heaven by many friends and
family members before him. Family that is here to support one another
through this very difficult time are his three children, oldest
daughter, Kelly Murphy of Fortuna; his youngest daughter Joy Carter,
of Monterey and his son and daughter-in-love, Roy and Leslie Murphy
of Pleasant View, Tenn. He is also cherished by his three grandsons,
Patrick & (Ashley), Christopher and Neil and (Jennifer); two
granddaughters, Megan and (Piper) and Kachelle; two adopted
granddaughters, Jackie and Natalie’ his 14 great-grandchildren who
all adored him and were often found on his lap playing with “GRAMPS”
in many photos. To the many nephews, nieces and cousins — he loved
you all!
Pat was born in
Eureka, but by the time he was 8 years old his parents, Bill and
Minnie Murphy and purchased the Redcrest Grocery Story on the Avenue
of Giants and moved to Redcrest. After attending elementary school in
Holmes Flat, he attended Fortuna High from 1949 until graduating in
1953. He soon became part of the upriver gang, which were all the
kids from Redcrest, Holmes and Pepperwood that had to ride the school
bus up the Eel River into Fortuna High. He excelled at Fortuna High
in academics, as well as sports, he played football, baseball, a
Golden Glove boxing champion, and wrestler. He was an active FFA
Member raising sheep on the Murphy’s property. He worked for local
dairies in Ferndale and Loleta all through high school. After high
school he was scouted by the SF Giants, he met Babe Ruth and
continued to play ball for the Humboldt Crabs, he was known for his
left-handed pitching ability and his incredible skill on first base!
He was offered a scholarship to play baseball. He turned it down.
Patrick had
several other interest and hobbies at the time, he married the love
of his life in 1957, went to work for Pacific Lumber Company. He
continued with his hobbies, that would become his lifelong
experiences and memories he sought after. He was an avid hound man,
owning up to 15 hounds at one time. He hunted and we ate it all, no
waste. His first buck he shot at 6 with his daddy holding him on his
shoulders. He hunted everything from grouse, pheasant, ducks, turkey,
to deer, to bear, to elk and one of his favorite hunts and meat was
buffalo! As far as fishing and being a master fisherman, WOW!! He
fished every river in the six-rivers national forest, but the Eel,
Van Duzen and Mad rivers mostly. He fished the Humboldt Bay and
surrounding ocean with comfort, ease, and respect. By the early
1960’s we had bought property out in Trinity County on the Van
Duzen Rd., we moved out to the Dinsmore area permanently in 1967, He
raised his family out there and his parents kept the store in
Redcrest for over 40+ years. He went to work for Louisiana Pacific
mill out at Dinsmore, when it shut down, he was a logger, a road
builder and heavy equipment operator for years out in the Dinsmore
area. Once he got older and his 3 kids had graduated high school he
moved mom back to town, he spent the later part of his working career
running the big crane/shovel stacking logs for EEL Rivers Sawmill
until he retired in 2000. He and his wife Lois then returned to their
family home in Dinsmore.
He became an avid
tournament BASS fisherman in the early 1970s. He was also one of the
men that planted the first BASS in Ruth Lake. He eventually went on
to become 7th in the state of California among Western BASS. He made
the ranking in Western BASS magazine. They wrote an article about
him, stating what an accomplished bass fisherman he had become. They
described the beauty and splendor of fishing for bass on his local
lake, known as Ruth Lake, where he planted the bass and help build
that lake! He ran heavy equipment building the dam for Ruth Lake.
Thanks Dad, for improving the destination location of Ruth Lake and
making it a BASS Lake that many enjoy to this day! He and his friend
Keith Clow won the 3rd Annual Ruth Bass Fishing
Tournament! That was one of many trophies, he loved fishing more and
more. He sold his ranger bass boat 2018 to a local man after he
couldn’t fish any longer. It did his heart good to know his boat
could still be seen on Ruth Lake to this day!
He had the gift
of being a true storyteller and he always loved sharing the many he
had with family and friends, he was a country man, a simple man, he
loved his family and would protect them at all costs. He loved nature
and being out in it. He was one of the kindest people you would ever
meet, with the biggest smile you’d ever see. He truly lived the
life of… if you don’t have anything nice to say about someone
don’t say anything! He loved Jesus and knew God and rarely went to
the building called church. It was no matter as he demonstrated to
all that he knew what a person who loves unconditionally constantly
and consistently looks like. There is nothing as strong as true
gentleness, and nothing a gentle as true strength. This was Pat
Murphy! Our family hero! Greatly loved and missed by all!
His wishes are to
have a “Celebration of Life” on Ruth Lake. We have planned this
for Saturday July 8, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Location and more
details on Pat’s “Celebration of Life” on Ruth Lake to be
announced as we get closer to date. Mama wanted the sun shining and
Dad wanted the fish biting!
Our family would
like to thank you, for all the phone calls, cards, and prayers. If
you want, please send any memorial donations to one of his favorite’s
charities, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Wounded Warrior
Project, or Ruth Community Church in Ruth, California.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Patrick Murphy’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
Sandra Jean Myers passed away September 20, 2022 in Fresno. She was a longtime resident of Fortuna. Born on December 19, 1941 in Monterey Park, her family moved to West Covina, where she attended West Covina High School (class of 1959) and graduated from Mount San Antonio Community College in Walnut. She was employed by Aero Jet ElectroSystems in Azusa for 15 years.
Shortly after leaving Aero Jet Sandie and her husband Bob moved up north to Garberville. Together they opened up a donut shop in Garberville called The Donut Barn. While Bob ran the shop, Sandie worked as secretary to the principal at South Fork High School in Miranda. While at South Fork she proudly displayed some of her memorabilia of the Los Angeles Dodgers, much to her sister’s dismay. During her time at South Fork Sandie and Bob lived in Garberville, Phillipsville (where their mobile home was flooded out) and then lived in Miranda. Finally in 1998 they moved to Fortuna, where she remained just prior to her death.
She retired from South Fork after 20-plus years. She thought she would enjoy her retirement doing crafts she loved, painting and photography. However she volunteered part time at Adult Day Care in Fortuna. She quickly got on their payroll and stayed several years until the Fortuna office closed.
Sandie enjoyed crafts, scrapbooking with friends and photography. She also enjoyed antiquing and had quite a collection of Coca Cola antiques. She enjoyed watching the Dodgers play and vying with her sister’s Giants on who had the better team.
Sandie was preceded in death by her parents Wallace and Helen Mullvain, her husband Virgil “Bob” Myers and her brother-in-law Ken Snyder. She is survived by her siblings Wallace Mullvain Jr, of Menifee, California, Cynthia Mullvain of West Covina and Sherrie Snyder of Fresno as well as two nephews Westley Mullvain of Tennessee, Casey Snyder of Roseville and niece Ashley Mullvain of Indiana. She is also survived by two granddaughters and four great grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday November 19, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Calvary Chapel Fortuna 914 9th Street Fortuna, CA 95540. We invite all who knew her to come and share your stories. For questions you can contact her siblings at 209 642-5657 and leave a message.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Sandra Myers’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
After hearing an hour and a half of pleading, distraught public commentary from financially struggling local cannabis growers, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors gave them a reprieve on Tuesday, voting 3-1, with Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell abstaining recusing herself, to suspend Measure S cultivation taxes for the next two years.
Bushnell abstained recused herself because she has her own cultivation operation, and Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson cast the lone “no” vote. He observed that the booming weed economy people are harking back to was based on prohibition. He also noted that while growers may unanimously support axing the tax, a majority of voters approved Measure S.
“That’s the constituency, ultimately, that we are answering to,” Wilson said.
Back in February, the board slashed 2020 Measure S bills by 85 percent, citing profound economic struggles for an industry beset by rampant overproduction and a transition away from small-scale farms in remote forested hills. According to growers who spoke on Tuesday, things have only gotten worse.
Tabatha Miller, the county’s chief financial officer and assistant county administrative officer, said there’s a 57 percent delinquency rate for the current tax year, even with the dramatic 85 percent reduction.
The vast majority of public speakers urged the board to eliminate Measure S completely.
“Everyone taxes the cannabis industry at such an outrageous amount,” one local grower said. He specifically called out the $52.7 million in excise taxes that the county has collected since implementing Measure S in the 2017/18 fiscal year. “It’s great for the county, but it’s killed the entire Humboldt County cannabis industry,” he said.
Others objected to the fact that the taxes are based on cultivation area rather than production quantities or sales amounts.
“It seems like you’re just handcuffing farmers before they’re even out of the gate,” a cultivator named James observed. The owner of Humboldt Renegade Farms also asked for a 100 percent reduction in taxes, saying, “The overtaxation and overregulation is literally killing the small farmer in Humboldt County.”
Nick Erickson, owner of Full Moon Farms, said many Humboldt County farms have already failed, “and we’re gonna see more farms leave this industry before it’s over. That is why I’m asking you all today for complete elimination of Measure S.”
Erickson added that he, for one, is still optimistic about the future of the industry. “The current market is unsustainable for any size cannabis business model, including large corporations,” he said. “It will correct itself to at least have a living wage.”
Honeydew grower Sean Stamm said farming is a lot of work, “and starting indebted for the last three years has been backbreaking and demoralizing.” He beseeched the board, “Help us get through this time so we can make Humboldt great again.”
Karla Knapek of Honeydew Valley Farms said that the lowest amount they were offered for flower last year was $263 per pound while last month they were offered just $200 for a pound. The break-even figure for her business is around $375 per pound. She joined the chorus requesting a 100 percent reduction in Measure S taxes.
When the matter finally went back to the board for discussion, First District Supervisor Rex Bohn said he’d be willing to slash taxes again, even though local growers asked to be taxed six years ago “because you were excited about being legal.”
Still, he said he’d be fine with a two-year suspension or even a four-year suspension of Measure S taxation. He noted that the collapse of the local cannabis industry has had “trickle-down” impacts across the entire county economy.
Wilson then remarked that the inflated value of cannabis was caused by its status as an illegal substance, which impacted communities across the country. And he said some of the restrictions growers still want — from one-acre cultivation caps to crackdowns on out-of-state imports — are all “gradations of regulation” that would artificially inflate the product’s value.
Wilson also observed that the supervisors don’t have the authority to entirely eliminate or repeal Measure S since it was passed by voters.
Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone, who attended the meeting remotely, struck a more positive note, saying change breeds adaptation. He also cited the old adage “You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip” and suggested revising it to “You can’t squeeze blood from a bud.”
“Let that be a quote for the day,” he proposed. Madrone went on to say he supported the two-year moratorium on tax collection.
Bohn wound up making the motion to suspend Measure S collection for two years — cultivation years 2022 and 2023, billed in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The motion, which Madrone seconded, also deferred all outstanding Measure S payments until October 2023, and it directed staff to return with recommendations to modify Project Trellis, which uses Measure S revenues to fund micro-grants.
