UPDATE, August 4:

The zoo added a condition to its terms for donations today due to an overwhelming response from bamboo donors.

All donations must now be scheduled with the zoo ahead of time. All unscheduled, drive-up donations will not be accepted.

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The Sequoia Park Zoo is asking the public for bamboo clippings to help feed some of its leaf-munching critters.

“Do you have bamboo growing in your garden? You can donate bamboo to help feed our red pandas and other leaf-loving animal friends!” the zoo announced on social media this week. “All bamboo must be freshly cut and organic.”

The zoo is accepting bamboo donations every day of the week except Mondays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Donors can drop off their bamboo at the zoo’s front gate and will be asked to complete a donation form. For more information, contact the zoo staff at (707) 441-4229.

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There’s no good way to go east this morning. Both Highway 299 and Highway 36 are closed due to wildfire, as two major fires burn along the roadways.

The Monument Fire, which is burning along the Trinity River near Del Loma — between Willow Creek and Weaverville — was at 4,256 acres with no containment last night, when the Highway was closed. It was sparked by Friday’s lightning storms.

Down to its south, the McFarland Fire, near the Highway 36 community of Wildwood, is already at 15,565 acres and is 5 percent contained. Evacuation orders are in place around Wildwood, and warnings are in place for the nearby communities of Trinity Pines and Post Mountain.

There’s no telling when the highways might open again, or for how long. Best plan to take other routes if you need to do so. Current traffic information is available on the CalTrans Quickmap, but remember that conditions on the ground can change quickly.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of “Land Use and You,” a new series that explores the latest in cutting edge and good old-fashioned land use policy. Ever wondered why housing costs are so damn high in Humboldt? Concerned that hordes of wildfire refugees and remote workers are coming to destroy our North Coast paradise simply by their very presence? Does your eyeball twitch every time someone says “HSU” and “polytechnic” in the same sentence? Are you mad as hell and just can’t take it (1) anymore?

Alright, champ, let’s walk it back a bit. Anger alone isn’t going to resolve Humboldt’s housing crisis (2). Nope, solving the problem is going to require a concerted effort by the people, their representatives in local government and our local builders. There are many things that need to go right — some big and some small. Let’s start with something small.

Small Lot Subdivisions. A small lot subdivision is exactly what you think it is. It’s a subdivision where instead of the lots being 5,000-8,000 square feet, they are only about 2,000-3,000 square feet. Other than that, they function pretty much exactly like a conventional subdivision. The subdivision occurs, the lot is created, someone builds a house, a person buys the house and moves in, and just like that — another happy homeowner.

Here are some additional details to round out your understanding:

Availability. Small lot subdivisions are currently only available in Eureka, but Arcata and the County are looking into allowing them. Oddly enough, SB 9 (Atkins) is currently being considered by the legislature and would allow lot splits to create lots as small as 1,200 square feet.

Subdivision vs Lot Split. The technical term used by planning departments is “subdivision” regardless of whether you are creating one new lot or one hundred. It’s okay to use the term “lot-split” if you feel more comfortable, but it will still technically be a subdivision.

Access. Access is typically provided via street frontage. If street frontage isn’t available to serve the new lot(s), you will need to use the alley, a recorded access easement, or (in extreme cases) create a flag lot. Flag lots waste space and you should only pursue that option if the planning department insists.

House Size. The size of the house that you are able to build is directly related to the size of the lot. This is regulated by something called Floor Area Ratio (FAR). To determine how big of a house you can build, you multiply the lot size by the FAR. A common FAR in low density residential zones is 0.6. On a conventional 5,000 s.f. lot, this would allow a 3,000 s.f. house. On a 2,000 s.f. lot, this would allow a 1,200 s.f. house. Small lot subdivisions create houses that are “big enough”, not “big”.

Building Setbacks. To accommodate the smaller lot sizes the building setbacks have to be reduced as well. Building setbacks of around 5-10’ are typical — anything in excess of that makes it very hard to fit a home onto the site. For comparison, a typical 5,000 square foot lot will often require front and rear setbacks of around 20’. In some cases (e.g. Eureka) you’ll be able to build right up against a side property line to create a townhouse or rowhouse style development.

Affordability. When it comes to market-rate housing, newly constructed housing is always more expensive than older housing — the same way that new cars are always more expensive than used cars. However, given that the houses built on small lots tend to be small, they tend to cost less.

Financing. Small lots often result in small single-family homes. As such, they are bought, sold and financed just like any other single-family home. Your trusty local real estate agent and mortgage banker should be more than up to the task.

History in Humboldt. Small lots have been in Humboldt for over 100 years. Prior to the minimum lot standards being imposed in the 1950’s, lots could be as small as you damned-well-please. At 12th & J Streets, there is a row of adorable houses built on 25’ wide lots (you may remember them from the picture at the top of this post). There are some great examples in Eureka at West Washington & California Streets (like the one in the image above on the right).  Though perhaps cutest of all would be 823 13th Street (above, left) — all on a 1,800 square foot lot!

Small Lot Subdivisions vs ADUs. The new homes that are built on small lots tend to seem a lot like ADUs, but there are important distinctions: ADUs are built on the same lot as the main house and cannot be sold separately. As such, ADUs create rental housing whereas small lot subdivisions create new (small) home ownership opportunities. ADUs offer some additional perks due to State law: impact fees can’t be charged, off-street parking is rarely required, utilities can be shared with the main house, etc. However, adding an ADU to an existing single family home will likely not be as profitable as constructing a new (small) single family home on its own lot and selling it to a eager new homebuyer.

Seniors. Small lot subdivisions are great for seniors that are looking to downsize or age-in-place. If their current house has a backyard large enough, they might be able to subdivide and build a new, smaller house right out back. Done smartly, grandma might be able to continue to tend her prized rhodies from the comfort of her new aging-in-place compatible small home.

Well, there you have it, the key takeaways of small lot subdivisions. Ask for them by name.

If for some reason your town doesn’t allow small lot subdivisions, be advised that amending the zoning code to allow them need only take a few months. Call your representative and explain why you think small lot subdivisions should be allowed in your town.

FOOTNOTES:

1. “It,” here, is defined as “the thing that government allowed to happen or didn’t allow to happen.” (Back.)

2. If you felt triggered by the term “housing crisis” because you are of the view that there is no housing crisis in Humboldt — please don’t be concerned. This topic will be addressed in a future episode. In the meantime, please practice empathy for those struggling to find safe, decent and affordable housing in Humboldt County. (Back.)

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Brian Heaton is a local pro-housing advocate with a professional background in city planning. Views expressed are his own and do not represent those of any government.

Rebecca Julianna “Becky” (Dean) Ferris, 67, crossed over to the other side at Mad River Hospital in Arcata on July 24, 2021. She was born February 24, 1954 in Calexico to Omar M. Dean Jr. and Alfreda Colegrove Dean, and was the oldest of four siblings. As the eldest in the family, she took her big sister role seriously and fulfilled it with much joy. She was a fierce protector, loved unconditionally, and had a silly side that made everyone feel uplifted and included. Becky’s family and friends were her absolute world and they will miss her unique and special attention that she provided to each and every one of them.

Becky attended Catholic school in Los Angeles, Hoopa Valley Elementary School, Hoopa Valley High School, and College of the Redwoods.

Becky worked as a laborer for the U.S. Forest Service, Orleans Ranger District. For many years after that, Becky did selfless work as an Indian Child Welfare caseworker for the Hoopa Valley Tribe. Her girls fondly remember their mother often providing a safe place for children, treating them as if they were her own. During this time in her life Becky could regularly be found at the local grocery store, gas station or even at her home, lending a caring, listening ear and giving her time to people and families who needed it. Because of this important work she did, her family grew to include many people in the Hoopa Valley, far beyond those related by blood. She also managed the Hoopa Tribe’s BP Gas Station for several years and was proud of the revenue generated under her management. Her last full time positions before retirement were at K’ima:w Medical Center where she filled a few different roles, building many meaningful relationships all along the way.

She married Dale R. Ferris and they lived and raised their three daughters, Julie Anna, Frances, and Ilene in Orleans. After their separation, Becky moved to Hoopa with the girls and thereafter she and Dale lovingly co-parented their girls. In 2000, Becky and Gary Jordan Sr, rekindled an old high school crush and have since been together as life-long soul mates. Becky’s girls, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all have a special place in their hearts for Gary, as he has always treated them with tender loving care. Becky and Gary were good partners for each other because they were both kind, understanding and willing to go the extra mile to get things done.

As a child, she lived in Los Angeles with her family while her parents worked and attended barber and cosmetology school, returned to Hoopa with her family in 1960 where she lived since, with the exception of brief periods in Quinault Lake, Washington and Orleans.

Becky loved to sing traditional Hoopa ceremonial songs as well as contemporary songs, teaching her daughters and grandchildren to sing traditional brush dance songs, and would tell them, “Make it come from deep in your stomach.” She was a warm, fun-loving soul who loved to make people feel good. Once when riding on the high school rooters’ bus, one of her best friends talked her into singing Janice Joplin’s “Mercedes Benz.” There she sat in the back of the bus in all her glory singing to a bus full of schoolmates who cheered her on like they were at a concert.

Becky took on the role of camp cook for the Medildin Village brush dance during the time that her uncle Lonnie Colegrove was the ceremonial dance leader. Brush dances are held to help cure an ill child so they may live a long healthy life. She was honored and humbled by the experience knowing that all of the hard work, cooking over the camp stove in the hot Hoopa sun, dish washing and feeding the people added to the strength of the prayers and good medicine for the dance.

Becky is survived by her longtime partner Gary L. Jordan Sr, daughters Frances Ferris-Billy, and Ilene Ferris (Eric), grandchildren Tescheanche Moon (Quentin), Melissa Billy (Micah), David Billy Jr (Alexa), Lekshiyat Billy, Rebecca Ferris-Tripp, Dale Ferris (Cassie), Deanna Ferris, Aliyah Aubrey, Julian Ferris-Aubrey, Julie Hunsucker (Darren), Louisa Hunsucker, Lorencita Perry, Agapito Perez, Avery and Mason Ferris, Auhna and Loretta Castaneda, great grandchildren Dani, Harlee, and Darren Howerton Jr. Rowen Moon, Jett Matilton, Braelyn and Scarlet Billy, Maria Titus, and Dale Ferris II, step father Alexander Pratt, stepmother Kathy Baldy-Dean, great uncle Mel Youckton, aunts Ilene Colegrove, Lila Gerstner, Charlene Colegrove, Vonice Colegrove, uncle Gary Colegrove Sr. (Kathy), siblings Deborah McConnell (Bob), Omar M. Dean III, Alfreda Jackson-Brown, step-sisters Kathleena Valdez, Allison Hescock (Sonny), and Arlyiss Pratt, step brother Daniel Pratt (Tawny), and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and special friends.

Becky is preceded in death by spouse Dale R. Ferris, daughter Julie Anna Ferris, son-in-laws David Billy Sr. and Jefferson Moon, grandchildren Baby Angel Ferris, great-granddaughter Gracelyn Billy, parents Alfreda Colegrove Pratt and Omar M. Dean Jr, grandparents, Mabel and Alfred Colegrove Sr, Julianna and Omar M. Dean Sr, great grandparents Theresa and Joseph Capoeman, aunts Marilyn Colegrove, Sarah Reyes (Manuel), Olivia Cano (Peely), Elizabeth Hernandez, uncles Christopher “JB” Colegrove, Alfred N. “Riggie” Colegrove Jr, and Bryan “Stoney” Colegrove Sr, Lionel Colegrove, Joseph, Robert and Richard V. Dean, sister-in-law Noreen Ferris, brother Richard V. Dean, brother-in-laws Wilfred “Sonny Buck” and Dwayne Ferris, niece Stephanie Ferris, nephews Omar “Baby O” Dean, and Wilfred “Bando” Ferris III.

The wake and funeral will be held at the Hoopa Valley Tribal Neighborhood Facilities building beginning at 8 p.m., Wednesday, August 4, 2021, and 10 a.m., Thursday, August 5, 2021, respectively. Place of internment will be held at the Colegrove Family Cemetery with a reception immediately following at Pookey’s Park. CDC Safety Protocols will be followed. Officiant will be George “Pordie” Blake, and Paul’s Chapel in Arcata is in charge of arrangements.

Pall bears are David Billy Jr, Dale Ferris, Agapito Perez, Avery Ferris, Eric Castaneda, Quentin Matilton, Micah Titus II, Darren Howerton, Tsewenaldin Van Pelt, Robert and Stuart McConnell, Marcus Rowe, Mathew Swanson, Lonnie, Al Kenny, and Sonny Jim Dean, Bradley Hostler, Brandan, Brian and Gary Jordan Jr.

Honorary pall bearers are Omar M. Dean III, Lonnie Dean Jr, Gary Colegrove Jr and Sr, Alex and Daniel Pratt, Bob McConnell, Isha-Kom McConnell, Kekyua and Kay-Cam Van Pelt, Danny, Larry and Leland Jordan, Billy, Lonny, Nolan and Alphonso Colegrove, Rocky, Rosco and Diggs Colegrove, Greg Cano Jr and Sr, Richard V. Meyers, Tuekwe Hunsucker, Orion and Louis Cosce, Richie Dean, Omar Dean V, Richard P. Dean, Sebastian Swanson, Dave Drake Jr and Sr, Stanley and Raymond Ferris, Michael and Ulysses McLaughlin, Josh and Ben Saxon, Rick Bradberry, Barry McCovey Jr, Kalvin and Leland Merlin, Whits Marshall, Kevin McConnell, Jason Hunsucker, Clayton James, Dave Maloney, Greg Perry, and Becky’s boys, classmates and special friends.

Thank all of you who provided support, prayers and medical care for Rebecca. Remember her fondly the next time you sing a song.

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Arlene Frances (Logan) Kentta went to her home in the sky above the clouds, on July 26, 2021, from her home in Wautec Village.

Arlene was born on May 17, 1948, in Hoopa. She was the daughter of John Sr and Eleanor (Roberts) Logan. She was 73 years young.

Arlene had a daughter, Florenia, son Donald Jr (Beanie) who preceded her way earlier, and husband Donald William Kentta Sr.

She is survived by her brother, Kenneth (John-Man) Roberts and sister in-law Evelyn Roberts; sister Anna Logan; sister Lillie Butler and brother-in-law Reginald Butler Sr; auntie Frances Snider; daughter Florenia Kentta (Louie Myers); grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Preston Ruiz (Cecilia Ochoa), Preston II, Bronson, Karen, Benjamin and Sergio; Dennis (DJ) Ruiz (Kelley Graham); Lulu Myers (Steven Osburne), Jared and Jaxson; Aurelia Knight (Xavier Knight), Aliya, Jonquil, Nalani, Che’shon-ee and Hazel Knight; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arlene enjoyed gathering weaving materials and native foods when she was able, she surely knew how to cook a scrumptious batch of acorns. She also enjoyed and loved going to her 1910 Indian Shaker Church, all up and down the West Coast.

When Arlene was in her late teens she went to Omaha for Job Corps. Later she was the UIHS driver for the Pecwan/Weitchpec area. She was a firefighter, flagger and cook at the Yurok Head Start Preschool. She also helped build Pelican Bay State Prison. She was a very religious woman and will be greatly missed by many.

A special “thanks” to Janaye Stevens.

Honorary pallbearers are Louie Myers, Preston Ruiz, D.J. Ruiz, Steven Osburne, Reginald Butler, Kenneth Roberts, John Roberts, Reggie Butler and Lee Butler. Pallbearers will be Shawn Logan, John Logan, Rafey Logan, Finely Logan, Lil Shawn Logan, Chemooch Logan, Lil Buck Logan and Sly Logan.

Services and wake will be held at the Johnson’s Indian Shaker Church. The wake is on Tuesday August 3, 2021, and services on Wednesday August 4, 2021 at 1 p.m. with potluck to follow. Officiating are Rodney Vigil and George “Pordie” Blake.

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Blake Neil Armstrong
August 30, 1925 - July 26, 2021

Blake was born to David and Ruth Armstrong in Boulder, Colorado where they lived for 10 years. The family moved to Tacoma, Washington in 1935. He was the sixth in line of 11 brothers and sisters.

He joined the Navy April 1944 and was honorably discharged in May 1946.

On June 7, 1947 he married Bonnie Spain. They lived in Tacoma until 1950 when they moved with their daughter Sherry to Rohnerville, which is now part of Fortuna. He then started logging until retiring in 1985.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie, of 51 years. He is survived by his daughter Sherry of Tacoma and grandchildren Charlene of Tacoma, Keith of Seattle and Minnette of Kennewick, Washington.

Blake and Bonnie enjoyed traveling in their fifth wheel. One of his greatest joys was driving his truck in the Auto Expo every year.

He will be remembered for being a devoted husband, father and grandfather and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

A memorial service will be held at Campton Height Baptist Church, 1655 Cecil Ave., Fortuna on Thursday, August 5 at 1 p.m.

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The prosecution will take 30 days to consider a plea agreement offered by the defense attorney for triple-murder suspect Mauricio Johnson.

This morning both Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees and defense attorney Andrea Sullivan asked Judge Christopher Wilson for a continuance in the preliminary hearing for the 19-year-old Johnson, charged with shooting three people to death on Feb. 10 on the Bear River Rancheria.

Johnson.

“I have floated an offer to the prosecution,” Sullivan said.

Rees said he and District Attorney Maggie Fleming have already met once with family members and friends of the victims, and a second meeting is planned to get their feedback on any possible plea bargain. Johnson is looking at life in prison without possibility of parole if convicted of all charges and special allegations.

“We want to reach out to the victims again and have another meeting,” Rees said, “before we make a final determination on Mr. Johnson’s offer.”

Johnson, who was arrested in Utah the day after the killings, did not come to the hearing today. About a dozen people were in the courtroom audience to watch the proceeding. The next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2. On that date it’s expected that either the case will resolve or a preliminary hearing date will be set.

Johnson was booked into Humboldt County Correctional Facility in May after fighting extradition from Utah for three months. He is charged with murdering Margarett Lee Moon and her fiance Nikki Dion Metcalf, both 40, along with Moon’s 16-year-old daughter Shelly Moon.

Johnson is being held without bail.

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Mamea.

A trial date of Aug. 30 was confirmed today for an Arcata man suspected of attempting to murder a 50-year-old man who was repeatedly stabbed as he slept on a Eureka street.

Deputy Public Defender Casey Russo, representing Tory Tasi Parker Mamea, told Judge Kaleb Cockrum he is ready to proceed to jury trial in the case. Mamea, 28, is accused of attempted murder and weapons violations. He allegedly stabbed the man multiple times in the early morning hours of Sept. 24.

Eureka police, after conducting an extensive investigation, arrested Mamea at his home on Nov. 4.

Mamea was in the courtroom this morning.

Deputy District Attorney Trent Timm was in court for the prosecution.

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Tanner.

Doctors appointed to evaluate murder suspect Ryan Anthony Tanner failed to get their reports in today as scheduled.

“We haven’t heard from either doctor,” defense attorney Russ Clanton told visiting Judge Marjorie Lord Carter this morning. Tanner has entered a dual plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity to the killing of Jason Todd Garrett. An eyewitness has testified Tanner forced Garrett into a bathtub, shot him with an assault rifle and then buried him under a water tank on Tanner’s rural Southern Humboldt property.

The next hearing for receipt of the doctors’ reports is scheduled for Aug. 18.

Tanner faces life in prison if found guilty and sane, and life in a mental hospital if found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Deputy District Attorney Jessica Acosta was in court today for the People. Tanner also was in the courtroom in person.

PREVIOUSLY:

• HOMICIDE IN ETTERSBURG: Sheriff’s Office Arrests One After SWAT Operation Yesterday
  
• Investigators Locate Ettersberg Suspected Homicide Victim’s Remains
• Ettersburg Murder Suspect Enters Not Guilty Plea; Also Charged With Assaulting Two Other Men With AK-47
• Suspect in March Homicide Near Ettersburg is Sane Enough to Face Charges, Judge Rules
• Witness Describes Execution-Style Murder of a Man and Dog in a Bathtub During Ryan Tanner Prelim Hearing
• Ettersburg Murder Trial Delayed Until Next Week
• ETTERSBURG MURDER TRIAL: Main Prosecution Witness Garbles Testimony
• Witness Provides Gruesome, Hallucinatory Testimony in Ettersburg Murder Trial
• ETTERSBURG MURDER TRIAL: Girlfriend of the Accused Testifies That He Abused Her and Threatened Her With Death
• ETTERSBURG MURDER CASE: Another Neighbor Testifies That the Accused Had Been on a Paranoid, Violent Rampage for Weeks Before the Killing
• ETTERSBURG MURDER CASE: Another Witness Testifies That All Was Fine Between the Accused Murderer and the Victim on the Night of His Death
• ETTERSBURG MURDER CASE: Police Investigators Testify to the Discovery of the Body and Possible Murder Weapons
• ETTERSBURG MURDER CASE: Defense Attorney Grills Lead Detective, Attempts to Cast Doubt on Witnesses, Evidence, Investigation
• ETTERSBURG MURDER CASE: Prosecutors Play Jailhouse Phone Tapes for the Judge; Medical Examiner Testifies
• ETTERSBURG MURDER CASE: Judge Rules That Ryan Tanner Must Stand Trial For Murder
• ETTERSBURG MURDER CASE: Trial Date Set for May; Accused’s Laywer Enters Pleas of Not Guilty
• TODAY in COURT: Updates on Three Murder and Manslaughter Cases
• SoHum Murder Suspect Changes Plea to Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity

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Watson.

Sentencing for convicted murderer Brandon Watson will not proceed on Aug. 16 as scheduled.

Andrea Sullivan, defense attorney for Watson, told visiting Judge Marjorie Lord Carter she does not plan to file a motion for new trial, but the verdict will be appealed. Also, Sullivan wants another attorney appointed to interview Watson about whether he believes she represented him effectively.

In July a jury found Watson guilty of murdering a man during a bar fight in Arcata and stabbing and seriously injuring two men during a bar fight in Eureka. The maximum penalty is 35 years to life in prison.

Carter set an Aug. 15 hearing to confirm the new attorney has been appointed and to set a date for sentencing.

Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees, the trial prosecutor, said he wants the sentencing date to be certain. Family members of murder victim Peter “Bo” Triantos are in Alabama and want to book flights to attend the hearing, Rees said.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Suspect in Arcata Stabbing Identified, Named
• Arcata Police Arrest Suspect in Thursday’s Stabbing Murder
• TODAY in COURT: Suspect in Arcata Plaza Stabbing Gets New Lawyer; Hearing Postponed for Woman Accused of Murdering Teen in Eureka Cemetery
• Eureka Man Accused of Stabbings Outside The Jam and The Pearl Will Stand Trial
  
• TODAY in COURT: Trial Date Set for Man Accused of Stabbing Another Outside Arcata Bar; Latest on Rancher’s Animal Cruelty Retrial, Eureka Attorney Accused of Trafficking
• TODAY in COURT: Eureka Attorney Scheduled for March Trial on Drug Trafficking Charges; Old Town, Rio Dell Murder Cases Move Forward
• Murder Trial Scheduled For Suspect in 2018 Arcata Bar Stabbing, Even Though Pandemic May End Up Delaying It
• Prosecutors Offer Plea Deal to Man Accused of 2018 Stabbing Murder Outside Arcata Bar
• Arcata Stabbing Suspect Will Head to Trial Next Week
• Arcata Man Found Guilty of Homicide Outside The Jam, Older Stabbing Incident Outside The Pearl