Donn passed away quietly at the age of 71 in the beautiful mountains of Humboldt County in July 2022.

A true craftsman, Donn had an undeniable gift and could create anything with his hands whether it was building with wood or playing the guitar creating music. His passion for the outdoors complemented his quest for a simple life his last 20 years. He was born in Sacramento but was always drawn to the Pacific Coast — first to Gold Beach and then Shelter Cove, where he stayed and forged a new life for himself.

He is survived by his two children, Kerry and Manuel Martello, his sister Eileen Gillette and her two daughters Leeza and Jen, many cousins, as well as the wonderful friends who became his family along the way. He is incredibly loved and missed. May he be free from the weight of the world and inherit the wind. Rest In Peace Donn/Dad. 

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Well, it is done, Arcata. The official deadline to submit nomination papers to run for Arcata City Council was 5 p.m. today and Arcata City Clerk Bridget Dory has provided the Outpost with a list of candidates — most of whom have already officially qualified, and a couple of whom still need to have their signatures verified before their names will be on your November ballot. 

Here are the folks who have officially qualified for the race:

Meredith Matthews — A current Arcata City Councilmember, Matthews was appointed by the council in 2021 to fill the place of exiting councilmember Sofia Pereira. 

Dana Quillman — A longtime Arcata resident and partner of previous councilmember Paul Pitino, Quillman also ran for council in June. 

Jeffrey Sterling —  Sterling is a U.S vet and manager of the Arcata Veterans Memorial Building. 

Brett Watson — An Arcata councilmember with a controversial history, to say the least, Watson is running for re-election for a third term. 

Kimberley White — A member of the Arcata Planning Commission and coordinator for Comunidad Unidad del Norte de Arcata (CUNA), White has also run for council in the past two elections. 

Dory also informed the Outpost that two other prospective candidates returned their nomination papers today but have not yet had their signatures verified.  They are Joe Ostini, director of arts management company Arcana Artists, and Raelina Krikston, owner of marketing and design company The Stuudiio. 

So there you have it. These folks will be vying for two open seats in the November general election. (Matthews and Watson’s terms are up.) Dory said that the City should know by Monday whether or not Ostini and Krikston have qualified for the ballot.  Either way, it looks like it’s shaping up to be an interesting election. 

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PREVIOUSLY

• ’I’m 100% Running Again’: Embattled City Councilmember Brett Watson Announces Re-election Bid
• Councilmember Meredith Matthews Announces Candidacy; One Other Community Member Has Taken Out Nomination Papers So Far

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Press release from the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services:

Local Public and Environmental Health officials are warning recreational users of all bodies of fresh water to avoid contact with cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) after samples from Big Lagoon tested high for toxins earlier this week.

Benjamin Dolf, a Supervising Environmental Health Specialist with the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services Environmental Health Division, said the samples tested in the “danger” zone which comes with very specific guidance.

“When the levels meet the danger threshold, it’s important for people, animals and even watercraft to stay out of the body of water until further notice,” he said, adding that resampling is scheduled to take place at the lagoon in the next week.

Other guidance for bodies of water that meet the danger threshold include the following:

• Do not let pets and other animals drink or go into the water or go near the scum.
• Stay away from scum, and cloudy or discolored water.
• Do not eat fish or shellfish from this water.
• Do not use this water for drinking or cooking. Boiling or filtering will not make the water safe.

Typically, cyanobacteria warnings come out between late July and early August, coinciding with low flows and sustained high temperatures in the inland areas which may contribute to cyanobacteria growth in the river.

Formerly referred to as blue-green algae, the county has followed the lead of the state, using the term cyanobacteria as it is not algae, but bacteria.

Human activities have an effect on nutrient and water flows in rivers, streams and lakes. Nutrients found in fertilizers, animal waste and human waste can stimulate blooms. Excessive water diversions can also increase water temperatures and reduce flows. People can take the following measures to prevent algal blooms in our waters:

• Be conservative with the use of water, fertilizers and pesticides on your lawn, garden or agricultural operation.
• Avoid nutrient runoff by recycling any “spent” soil by tilling it back into gardens or protecting it from rainfall.
• Create shade and filter out nutrients by planting or maintaining native plants around river banks.
• Inspect and pump out septic systems every three to four years.
• Prevent surface water runoff from agricultural and livestock areas.
• Prevent erosion around construction and logging operations.

Cyanobacteria can be present in any fresh water body. It looks like dark green, blue-green, black, orange or brown scum, foam or mats on the riverbed or floating on the water. Warm water and abundant nutrients can cause cyanobacteria to grow more rapidly than usual causing “blooms.” These blooms are termed “harmful algal blooms.” Most cyanobacteria does not affect animals or people, however, a small number of cyanobacteria species are capable of producing toxins that can be harmful to animals and humans. Dogs and children are most likely to be affected because of their smaller body size and tendency to stay in the water for longer periods of time.

The presence of cyanobacteria has been previously confirmed in some water bodies within Humboldt, Mendocino and Lake counties including the South Fork Eel River, Van Duzen River, Trinity River, Clear Lake and Lake Pillsbury. It is difficult to test and monitor the many lakes and miles of our local rivers. Most blooms in California contain harmless green algae, but it is important to stay safe and avoid contact.

Officials recommend the following guidelines for recreational users of freshwater areas:

• Keep children, pets and livestock from swimming in or drinking water containing algal scums or mats.
• Adults should also avoid wading and swimming in water containing algal blooms. Try not to swallow or inhale water spray in an algal bloom area.
• If no algal scums or mats are visible, you should still carefully watch young children and warn them not to swallow any water.
• Fish should be consumed only after removing the guts and liver and rinsing fillets in tap water.
• Never drink, cook with or wash dishes with water from rivers, streams or lakes.
• Get medical attention immediately if you think that you, your pet, or livestock might have been poisoned by cyanobacteria toxins. Be sure to tell the doctor or veterinarian about possible contact with cyanobacteria or algal blooms.
• Join or support one of the many watershed and river organizations.

To learn more about cyanobacteria and harmful algal blooms, visit the state of California’s website at www.mywaterquality.ca.gov/habs/index.html.

To learn more about cyanobacteria and algae on the South Fork Eel River, visit www.eelriverrecovery.org/algae.html.

To report a bloom, e-mail CyanoHAB.Reports@waterboards.ca.gov or call 844-729-6466 (toll free). Blooms can also be reported via the “bloomWatch” app which is available for free download on iTunes or Google play.

For information on conditions occurring within Humboldt County, contact the Division of Environmental Health at 707-445-6215 or 800-963-9241. Photos of suspected blooms can also be emailed to envhealth@co.humboldt.ca.us.

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Incumbent First Ward City Councilmember Leslie Castellano will run unopposed for reelection on the November ballot.

That’s according to information just released by the city of Eureka, just after the 4 p.m. deadline for nominations for the city council races.

Two candidates for the ballot have qualified for the Third and the Fifth wards, which are being vacated by termed-out councilmembers Natalie Arroyo and Kim Bergel, respectively. They are:

THIRD WARD:

• John Fullerton
• G. Mario Fernandez

Fullerton is a former member of the Eureka Planning Commission and a former candidate for office. Fernandez is a member of the board of Eureka City Schools.

FIFTH WARD:

• Nicholas Kohl
• Renee Contreras De Loach

Kohl is the owner of Oberon restaurant in Old Town. The Outpost doesn’t know much about De Loach, apart from the fact that she participated in the Eureka Women’s March despite being a “pro-life, Republican, anti-government-making-women’s-decisions, stay-at-home mom.”

The Mayor’s race, if there is one, is still TBD. Bergel has submitted her paperwork, according to a city press release, but because incumbent Susan Seaman chose not to run for reelection the deadline is extended until Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Cal Fire press release

Humboldt County Roads, following a request from CAL FIRE, has closed Harris Street in Eureka between Hubbard Lane and Viale Avenue. This closure is to facilitate the safety of first responders and support staff assigned to the CAL FIRE incident base camp operating out of Redwood Acres Fairground. This section of Harris Street is restricted to emergency response vehicles and civilian personnel working under contract and assigned by CAL FIRE to the Six Rivers Lightning Complex.

The closure comes after complaints of speeding traffic and a near-miss accident where a firefighter was nearly struck by a passing motorist. Due to the large amount of resources assigned to the incident, large equipment such as fire engines, hand crew buses, and bull dozers are utilizing the parking area on the north side of Harris Street opposite the fairgrounds. Firefighters must cross Harris Street to get to the rest of the incident base camp facilities. The level of foot traffic is highest in the early morning hours as crews arrive for morning briefing and prepare for assignments. The low light conditions that time of day further add to the danger posed to the pedestrian traffic.

Travelers using Hall Avenue to connect between Harris Street and Myrtle Avenue will need to use an alternate route. CAL FIRE apologies for the inconvenience created by the closure. Public and first responder safety is always the top priority for firefighting operations. The CAL FIRE Humboldt – Del Norte Unit would like to thank the public for their patience and their support.

For information on planning for potential evacuations and how to be prepared for wildfires, as well as tips to prevent wildfires, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

Patrick Hutton has been racing in marathons across the country for the last nine years, and this weekend he will run his first ever course in beautiful Humboldt County – the Humboldt Bay Marathon in Eureka – and he intends to break the current course record. 

Patrick Hutton at the California International Marathon in Sacramento | Submitted

“I’m excited to come out there and hungry to run fast,” Hutton told the Outpost in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. 

Originally from San Diego and now living in Flagstaff, Arizona, 30-year-old Hutton trains every day, running up to three times per day and roughly 120 miles per week, he told the Outpost. When he isn’t doing his own training, Hutton professionally trains other marathon runners. 

Hutton said he is excited for the Humboldt Bay Marathon course, a 26.2-mile route that runs along the Waterfront Trail, because of the flatness of the trail and the coolness of North Coast climate – two conditions that make this an ideal course for him to break his personal best time of 2:24:45 (two hours, 24 minutes, 25 seconds). Hutton tries to break his own record during each marathon, getting closer to his goal of 2 hours 18 minutes – the time a runner of Hutton’s age and gender needs to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials. In December Hutton plans to compete in the California International Marathon, which is an Olympic trial qualifier, meaning that if he competes that course in 2:18:00 or less, he could be one of the 200 runners who qualify for the next Olympic Trials. Out of those 200, only three will move on to compete in the Olympic Games. 

Based on the course conditions and his own training, Hutton expects to finish the Humboldt Bay Marathon in about two hours, 22 minutes, which will not only be his personal best but also break the course record of two hours, 33 minutes and five seconds, set by Jochen Uhrig in 2018. 

The marathon course starts at Madaket Plaza and runs north, mostly following the Waterfront Trail up to Tydd Street, then back down to the Waterfront Trail south to the end of the Hikshari’ Trail and, finally, back to Madaket Plaza. Those running the half marathon (13.1 miles) will complete the course once and those doing the full marathon (26.2 miles) will complete the course twice. There will be aid stations, with water and other supplies available, about every two miles. 

If you are an avid marathon runner, you are probably already aware that 26.2 miles is the standard marathon distance. But for those who don’t know much about running (like this sluggish reporter), then you might be wondering: Why this specific length? According to History.com, the marathon length was initially set at 40 kilometers (about 24.85 miles) to honor the legend of a Greek messenger who ran the distance from the city of Marathon to Athens in 40 B.C. to announce Greece’s victory over the invading Persian army. Legend has it that after the Greek messenger ran the roughly 40 kilometers between the two cities he collapsed and died. 

For the next several Olympics, the marathon length remained at 40 kilometers, until 1908 during the Olympic Games in London, when the length of the race was changed to accommodate the British royal family. Allegedly, Queen Alexandra requested that the race start on the lawn of the Windsor Castle and finish in front of the royal box at the Olympic stadium – a distance of 42.195 kilometers, or 26.2 miles. For some reason, the increase in length stuck and in 1921 the length of a marathon was standardized to 26.2 miles.  (The Outpost hopes you enjoyed today’s random history lesson.)

Of course, to run the impressive distance of 26.2 miles takes a great deal of training and endurance. Those who are not up to such a long run might prefer the half marathon, which is usually a more popular choice. Terri Little, co-director of the Humboldt Bay Marathon, said that about 100 people are registered for the full marathon, and about 200 are registered for the half marathon. 

This is a pretty small number compared to some of Humboldt’s larger and more well-known races, like the Avenue of the Giants and the Humboldt Redwoods marathons, which both generally have about 1,000 participants. But Little said this is considered a good turnout and that many people are coming from out of town to participate. One of the biggest draws to this marathon is the weather, with temperatures expected to run from the mid 50s to mid 60s. 

“That’s part of why we’re doing it in August, because pretty much everywhere else in the country is super hot and miserable,”  Little told the Outpost. “People can come here and run in fairly cool weather.” 

Another draw for the Humboldt Bay Marathon is that it’s a Boston Qualifier, Little said, meaning that runners can use their time from this course to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Times needed to qualify vary depending on age and sex and on how many people apply. So beating your qualified time by a larger amount makes you more likely to be accepted into the marathon. 

“Qualifying for Boston is a big deal,” Little said. “People strive for that.” 

The deadline to sign up for the Humboldt Bay Marathon online has already passed, but late registration will be available on Saturday, Aug. 13 between 4 and 7 p.m. As of Thursday evening, there were still some spots available for both the full and half marathon. The marathon starts at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14.

And if you enjoy running but a marathon isn’t your thing, the organizers are also supporting a 5K fun run hosted by Kelly Ridgeway, a survivor of Spontaneous Bilateral Vertebral Artery Dissection (VAD). The run starts at Madaket Plaza on Saturday, Aug. 13 at 3 p.m. Sign-up costs $25 and proceeds will go toward to Teddy’s Team – a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness for stroke and heart disease. 

You can find more information on the marathon and the fun run on Humboldt Bay Marathon’s website. 

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Press release from the California Environmental Protection Agency’s State Water Resources Control Board:

The North Coast Water Board approved a fine of $301,950 against a cultivator in Humboldt County for failing to cleanup and abate sediment discharges to Mad River tributaries, according to an order adopted at an August 4 board hearing. The fine was increased by more than 40 percent from the proposed liability.

Szagora LLC, (the “cultivator”) commercially cultivated cannabis on a 100-acre property along the Humboldt-Trinity County line between the towns of Dinsmore and Mad River.

The board found that the cultivator failed to respond to an enforcement order requiring it to maintain an access road on their property consistent with industry standards created to protect water quality and beneficial uses. North Coast Water Board staff determined the road is undersized, misaligned and contains failed stream crossings that threaten to discharge sediment to the Mad River less than a quarter mile east of the property. During a public hearing where the cultivator failed to appear, the board determined that a higher fine was justified because the cultivator was largely unresponsive to various board actions requiring corrective actions at the property.

“The cultivator made no effort to comply with water quality protection standards and this constitutes intentional misconduct,” said Gregory Giusti, the board chair.

Excess sediment washing into streams can harm the migration, spawning, reproduction and early development of cold-water fish. The discharge of sediment in the Mad River watershed is especially problematic because the Mad River watershed is listed as an impaired water body under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act due to elevated sedimentation/siltation and turbidity.

The enforcement order directed the cultivator to submit a workplan to correct the road on their property by July 1, 2021, and to implement an approved plan by October 15, 2021. To date, the cultivators have not submitted a workplan or implemented any corrective actions.

“These monetary penalties do not remove the requirement for the cultivator to correct the poorly designed road and failed stream crossings on the property,” said Gregory Giusti, the board chair. “It is the board’s expectation that the cultivators implement corrective actions to protect aquatic species or else risk additional fines.”

The board has prioritized enforcement on missed deadlines in existing enforcement orders and on discharge violations associated with site development and use for cannabis cultivation without applicable permits.

More photos from the property: