A crowd of masked community members gathered at the Old Town Gazebo in Eureka today for a celebration of Black culture and history hosted by the Humboldt County Black Music and Arts Association (HCBMAA).

The event was a part of HCBMAA’s Harambee Liberation Month, which focuses on community organization and cooperation. Starting at 10:00 a.m., today’s event included speeches by BIPOC members of the community, prayers and performances of spoken word, dance and music

“I am no longer doubting what I bring to the table,” said HCBMAA intern Andrea Jones said to the crowd. “…I am going to start acknowledging my place, my worth and my ability to increase culture identity. Because community isn’t about tearing each other down, it’s about lifting each other up and coming out and speaking out when the time is needed…HCBMAA gave me the strength to feel comfortable with being different and allowing myself to shine in my own unique way.”

Many other speakers talked about the importance of increasing education around Black history, in our school’s and as individuals. Among the speakers were a group of high school students from the St. Bernard’s Academy in Eureka, who are are starting Black student union to help provide opportunities for education and celebration around Black history and culture.

Dominic Kofi and other students from St. Bernard’s Academy

“Together we will strive to provide opportunities for our students of all races to celebrate Black culture, lifestyle and history,” St. Bernard’s student Dominic Kofi to the crowd. “We hope to accomplish goals that will benefit us all. Through the spirit of cooperation we will enrich the lives of students, faculty, staff and the community at large.”

After the many speeches and performances, a small crowd marched to the Humboldt County Courthouse at about 1:00 p.m., where they placed flowers and candles on the courthouse steps, in memory of lives lost. 

Scroll down to see more photos of today’s event. You can also find many videos of today’s speakers and performers on HC Black Music and Arts Association’s Facebook Page.

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“Dressed in Black” - Los Perdidos:

A “field recording” by local duo Los Perdidos. The group sends in a live performance of “Dressed in Black” from their EP “Four.”

“We decided to shoot outside to capture some lovely Humboldt scenery and safely distance from each other during these times of COVID,” the group said.

“Zosser” - White Manna:

A music video from Arcata’s psychedelic rock group White Manna.

“2 Cooks in the Kitchen” - Yellow Curry Dungeness Crab:

The aptly named Matthew and Kelly Cook return to share a recipe for crab season.

“Arcata Forest Fairy - Part 2” - A film by Ray Olson & Moonlight Macumber:

Ray Olson’s highly anticipated sequel to Arcata Forest Fairy Part 1.

Chad Lourenzo, 32, of Fortuna, passed away on January 30, 2021. Chad was a very generous person who would give you the shirt off his back and offer to help without being asked. He loved his fast cars and riding motorcycles, and love doing do-nut and burnouts. He loved anything with wheels. He had a natural talent for driving cars and riding motorcycles, he was awesome.

He love life and lived it to the fullest. After battling cancer and kicking its butt, he helped Kristen Smith, the love of his life, battle her cancer too, and he helped her battle her second cancer but she did not make it through. He was crushed with her passing, but he got right back up and battled his own for a second time alone because he did not want anyone to see him that way. Chad finally knew what he wanted out of life, but he was involved in the tragic accident that took his life. We will miss Chad very much and we hope he is at peace now.

His viewing was Tuesday, February 16, 2021. There will be a funeral and memorial service at Sunrise Cemetery in Fortuna on Saturday, February 20 2021 at 11 a.m.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Chad Lourenzo’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

Murlene, better known as “Judy,” was born on September 18, 1939 to Bruce and Gertrude McLeod. She passed away, surrounded by her family, on February 8, 2021.

Judy, and her sister Jacquie, were blessed to be raised on the McLeod Dairy in Fortuna and were always surrounded by a large and loving family. Judy enjoyed helping with chores around the dairy but loved to explore and play even more. On any given day you could find Judy riding along during milk deliveries through town, swinging from a swing her father built, climbing in trees, or begging to drive their pick-up truck in the pastures. There is a well told story of Judy nearly crashing that truck into fences on the dairy. Judy and Jacquie also really enjoyed playing with their cousin Larry Pries. He apparently had a better driving instructor than Judy, as he went on to be a successful local stockcar racer. From a young age, Judy was one of Larry’s biggest fans and loved watching him race the 01 car at Redwood Acres Raceway.

Holidays were always a time when the entire McLeod family would get together. Christmas Eve was especially fun as the families would travel from house to house to open presents. Santa Claus was known to make a visit this time of year. The group would have dessert at the last home and the missing uncle or dad would always suddenly appear. The love of family and holidays would be something Judy learned and would cherish forever. This led to her creating many new traditions with her own family. Judy selflessly made sure every holiday, especially Christmas, was magical and memorable for her family. She enjoyed singing the song “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and was diligent about making sure there were an equal number of gifts under the tree for each person. Judy would bake nearly 120 dozen cookies every year and her many generations of family would race to the freezer to get their shares as they arrived at her house on Christmas Eve.

Judy lost her mother at the age of 7. Judy felt the loss of her mother very deeply. Judy’s father met and courted Ruby Biasca, after she moved down the lane from the family. The couple eventually married and the even bigger Biasca family welcomed the McLeod family with open arms. It took Judy a little longer to warm up to Ruby and the family. She was concerned that Ruby would not know the things she liked. Judy was always honest about what she thought. When Ruby cooked the first dinner and served cookies Judy did not like, her comment to this was, “Just as I thought, something I don’t like.” Judy eventually warmed up and it was not long before she loved Ruby and the Biasca children as family.

Judy graduated from Fortuna Elementary School in 1954 and Fortuna High School in 1958. She enjoyed going to school activities and working at the local A&W with her best friend, Barb Brashear (Robinson). After High School, Judy attended Fredrick and Charles Beauty College and began working in a beauty parlor. She began bowling around this time which continued to be a lifelong interest.

At the bowling alley in February of 1960, Judy met Jerry Meadors. Jerry was a young sailor who was stationed at the Ferndale Navy Base. They were engaged a month after their meeting and married sooner than initially planned due to Judy’s father becoming ill. Judy’s father was able to enjoy seeing Judy as a beautiful bride before he passed away in the fall of 1960.

Judy and Jerry spent the early years of their marriage moving from one duty assignment to another with the Navy. They lived in Bakersfield, California, where their first daughter, Tami, was born in 1961. Over the next two years, they moved to Pacific Beach, Washington, Ocean Beach, California and finally to Seattle, where there second daughter, Kathy, was born in 1963. Over the next seven years they moved to Adak, Alaska, Bermuda, Key West, Florida and then back to the San Diego in 1970, where their third daughter Teresa was born. Judy made many friends during her travels and was known for baking pies and cookies for the servicemen. Judy enjoyed her travels, but her heart was always with her family in Fortuna. The family moved back to Fortuna when Jerry retired from the Navy in 1976.

Judy was a loving homemaker for a large portion of her life, but also worked several jobs in the Fortuna and Eureka areas. She worked at Ben Franklin’s for nine years and loved spending her days laughing with her co-workers and good friends. She also worked at Kmart for over 19 years, where her co-workers became her “Kmart family”.

In 1982, Judy welcomed her first granddaughter, Jenifer. She was thrilled to be a grandmother and was beyond excited to see her family grow over the next few years with the birth of her other 5 grandchildren: Stacy, Chris, Derrick, Alyssa, and Samantha. Her grandchildren would often run into people around town who would know all about them because Judy would love to share stories and pictures about each one of them.

Judy and Jerry divorced in 1990. In 1993, while having a drink and visiting with friends at the Angelina Inn, Judy met the handsome Tony Michelet. They had many common interests and hit it off immediately. Tony and Judy began dating soon after their meeting and were married later that year. Over the years, Judy and Tony enjoyed visiting with friends at the Ivanhoe, Playroom and Parlato’s. Judy especially liked to line dance and loved to dress up in her Western style clothes, boots, and jewelry. Tony and Judy also loved to spend time at the Ambrosini Ranch at Bear River. Judy will be very missed, especially by her husband Tony, who described her as “the most wonderful woman.”

Judy’s daughters often joked that each of them was her favorite. Truth be told Judy’s favorites were her great grandchildren. She loved Kelton, Amara, Ryker, Kinley, Annaleigh, Remi, Gunnar, Sawyer, and Axton with everything she had. You would often find Judy watching them scramble for pennies at the rodeo events, hiding her eyes while they competed in wrestling, or cheering for them from her scooter at the soccer and football fields. She shared her love for agate hunting with them and was happy to be able to spend time at the beach any chance she could get.

Judy was preceded in death by her father Bruce, her mothers Gertrude and Ruby, her daughter Teresa, and her cousin Larry. She is survived by her husband, Tony Michelet, her daughters; Tami (Tom) Trent, Kathy (Scott) Rexford, her grandchildren; Jenifer (JD) Braud, Stacy Hanson (Shawn Sopoaga), Chris Craps, Derrick Craps, Alyssa Craps and Samantha (Michael) Cardoza, her great grandchildren; Alamea Sopoaga, Kelton Braud, Amara Craps, Ryker Braud, Kinley Braud, Annaleigh Craps, Remi Craps, Gunnar Sopoaga, Sawyer Cardoza, Axton Sopoaga and Baby Boy Cardoza due in August. She also leaves behind her sister and brother-in-law, Jacquie and Dale Callihan, nieces and nephews, Mike, Dana, Brenda, Lisa and their families, along with many other extended family members and friends whom she loved deeply.

Darrell Arthur Price
November 25, 1926 — February 7, 2021

Darrell Arthur Price passed away at Saint Charles Hospital in Bend, Oregon at the age of 94. Darrell skied Mount Bachelor February 1 in the morning and had a massive stroke that evening. Dad went to be with the Lord February 7, 2021.

Darrell was born November 25, 1926, in Eureka to Evelyn and Harry Price. He was the oldest of two brothers and one sister. Darrell graduated from Eureka High School and was married to his high school sweetheart, Gertrude, for 65 years, until her death In 2013.

Darrell was very active his entire life. He always started his day by exercising, doing 100 push-ups and 100 sit ups and a brisk 2-3 mile walk. Dad prided himself on skiing 100 days a year at Mt. Bachelor. He enjoyed backpacking numerous trails in Northern California, including the Marble Mountains and the Trinity Alps. When Dad wasn’t skiing or backpacking he was In the forest of Humboldt County gathering firewood, another one of his passions.

Dad proudly served his country In the United States Navy during World War II and he enjoyed the Veteran’s Honor Flight to Washington D.C.

Darrell started his career building houses for Ernie Pearson and then becoming an independent contractor. He built many homes in Eureka and surrounding areas. Darrell was a loving, no-nonsense type of Dad. He truly enjoyed the Nazarene Church.

Darrell was a faithful member of Gideon’s International for 46 years, joining in 1975.

He loved skiing cutting wood and relaxing in front of his fire, even on the warmest days of summer.

Darrell is survived by his brother Elwood, daughter Judy, his sons Walter and Charles, and nine grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife Gertrude, his son David, and his granddaughter Roseann. Dad will be missed by many, many people. He had a great “run.” See you in Heaven, Dad.

A graveside service was held on Wednesday the 17th at Ocean View Cemetery.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Darrell Price’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

Press release from Arcata Fire:

At approximately 10:53 a.m. this morning, Arcata Fire District was dispatched to an explosion heard and possible fire in a garage at the 900 block of Bayview Street in Arcata.

The first arriving engine reported heavy smoke and fire from the garage basement area, declaring that access needed to be made down a long driveway. Hose lines were deployed off of the initial engine, with minimal effect. The fire was large, deep-seated, and difficult to access, and based on conditions, the Incident Commander requested additional resources as mutual aid. Arcata Fire, with the assistance of five neighboring fire agencies, 34 firefighters, and 13 apparatus, fire knockdown was achieved after approximately an hour and a half. Damage to the home is a total loss and estimated at $234,000 to the structure and $158,000 to its contents. The fire has been deemed unintentional. The home was occupied at the time and both occupants were able to exit the structure, although one occupant sustained minor burn injuries and smoke inhalation.

Due to the severity of the incident, Fire Chief Justin McDonald provided the family with immediate monetary aid via the California Fire Foundation’s SAVE Program. “The SAVE Program can supply $250 gift cards to assist the families displaced by fires or natural disasters. This will assist the family with obtaining the much-needed and immediate essentials following such a tragedy,” McDonald reported.

Arcata Fire District would like to thank our partner agencies, Blue Lake Fire, Fieldbrook Fire, Humboldt Bay Fire, Samoa Fire, and Westhaven Fire for their assistance, as well as Arcata Police and University Police, PG&E, and Arcata Mad River Ambulance for additional support at the fire scene. Arcata Fire would also like to remind the public that when a fire occurs in a residence, get out, stay out and call 9-1-1.

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PREVIOUSLY

• END OF THE LINE? State Senator Mike McGuire Drafting Legislation to Dissolve North Coast Railroad Authority, Form ‘Great Redwood Trail Agency’ to Manage Humboldt, Mendocino Assets
• All the Fight Has Gone Out of the North Coast Railroad Authority
• It’s Official: Sen. Mike McGuire Introduces ‘Great Redwood Trail Act’
• U.S. Supreme Court Roundfiles North Coast Railroad Authority’s Appeal; McGuire Bill to Dismantle Agency Progresses Through Legislature
• ‘Great Redwood Trail Act’ Passes State Senate Unanimously; Assembly Left to Wrestle With All the Details
• Will the Great Redwood Trail Act Pass Before the NCRA Goes Off the Fiscal Cliff?
• Up Against Legislative Deadline, McGuire Scales Back ‘Great Redwood Trail’ Plans in Hopes of Getting Bill Past Assembly, Governor
• The Bill Formerly Known as ‘The Great Redwood Trail Act’ Has Passed the Assembly
• END OF THE LINE: Gov. Brown Signs McGuire Bill to Eviscerate the North Coast Railroad Authority, Start Trail Planning
• Senator Mike McGuire Discusses ‘Great Redwood Trail’ At Humboldt Trails Summit
• Conservation Nonprofit Buys Chunk of Mogul’s Massive Ranch on the Eel, in the Path of the ‘Great Redwood Trail’; Group Still Looking for Donations to Acquire the Rest

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Early in Thursday night’s Zoom-enabled town hall meeting to discuss the Great Redwood Trail, State Senator Mike McGuire asked everyone in his remote audience to close their eyes and imagine.

Map of the proposed route for the Great Redwood Trail courtesy Kevin Wright, Marin County Parks Dept.

“Imagine a strip of land,” he said, “roughly 50 feet wide and running for 320 miles, from the edge of the San Francisco Bay in Marin County through the vineyards of Sonoma County, showcasing the stunning beauty of Mendocino County through the redwood- and oak-studded hills of the Eel River Canyon, and then you’re gonna end your hiking adventure on the fog-shrouded shores of Humboldt Bay.”

While this ambitious trail project remains mostly imaginary, it took a major step forward on Thursday when the board of the North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) unanimously voted to railbank the agency’s right-of-way between Willits and Samoa, a move that would allow a multi-use trail to be built atop the existing railroad prism.

“Even a few years ago this [proposal] would have died on the vine,” NCRA Board Member Richard Marks declared afterwards on Facebook. “But the new board enthusiastically supported [the railbanking proposal] and the Great Redwood Trail will become reality and create many jobs and recreational opportunities.”

The board of the NCRA, which will soon transition into a trail authority, directed its staff to submit the necessary paperwork to the federal Surface Transportation Board. In a phone call with the Outpost Friday afternoon, Marks said he sees no reason why the railbanking proposal would be denied.

McGuire, who authored the legislation to dismantle the supremely dysfunctional NCRA and create the nation’s longest rail-to-trail, was characteristically exuberant Thursday evening. He noted that there’s “a ton of work ahead,” including developing a master plan, conducting feasibility and design studies, securing untold millions in funding and, eventually, building the trail.

“But I’ve got to tell you,” he said, “we’re off to one hell of a start.”

Millions of dollars have already been invested, and on December 8, McGuire introduced Senate Bill 69, which he said “will officially, and once and for all, disband the North Coast Railroad Authority, which is a hot mess and is bankrupt.” In its place the bill would create the Great Redwood Trail Authority and empower it to construct and operate eponymous pathway.

The NCRA was created in 1992 in an effort to salvage the floundering freight rail industry in Northern California, but the state agency’s mission — to preserve the rail corridor — was never funded, and when severe flooding and landslides wiped out portions of the rail line through the Eel River Canyon in 1998, the infrastructure remained defunct.

In 2008, voters at the southern end of the line approved the formation of the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART), a passenger rail system that has since resumed some passenger service with plans to eventually run from Larkspur to Cloverdale. 

Kevin Wright, external affairs manager with Marin County Parks, said at last night’s meeting that the southern segment of the Great Redwood Trail will run alongside the existing rail line while the northern segment, from Willits to Humboldt Bay, will likely vary dramatically, with wide, paved bikeways through cities and more narrow, “single-track” sections of dirt trail through more remote areas, including the Eel River Canyon.

“It’s a wild stretch,” he said, noting that having hiked and rafted through there, he’s seen lots of erosion, abandoned boxcars, derelict infrastructure and what he diplomatically called “great opportunities for environmental restoration.” But while acknowledging that some washed-out areas are indeed in bad shape, Wright said 75-85 percent of the canyon is ready and available for trail use.

The rail line, which was formerly leased long-term to the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Co., includes 19 major trestles, 38 bridges and 42 tunnels, the longest of which is 4,313 feet long, Wright said. All these features will be incorporated into the Great Redwood Trail.

Michael Jones, the founder of active transportation consulting company Alta Planning + Design, was on hand Thursday night. (McGuire called him “an all-star in the trail world.”) And he offered an outline of the next steps in the process, including a master plan, which may require an environmental impact report and thus plenty of opportunity for public involvement. There’s also the question of where the funding will come from and who will build it.

Members of the public who live near the right-of-way have voiced concerns about privacy, security, liability, litter, access to agricultural operations and more, and Jones said those issues need to be taken seriously. “The public will have a huge role in this,” he said.

Laura Cohen, western regional director of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, said during the meeting that such public access tends to increase property values along trails while boosting the economies of nearby communities via lodging, tourism, public sector expenditures and more.

He argued that the Great Redwood Trail will eventually take its place alongside the likes of the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail as “an iconic American trail.”

McGuire said that the master plan will ensure that the public will have “a seat at the table” all the way through the process, and he expects it to take a year or two just to get the funding for that plan. But over the past 24 months, partners in this effort have managed to secure about $30 million to move some critical segments forward, including the four-mile gap in the Humboldt Bay Trail between Arcata and Eureka.

The ultimate cost of this ambitious project remains an open question, though last fall McGuire scoffed at a state report that found the price tag could run as high as $5 billion.

“My goal is to do this project right, not fast,” he said, explaining that funding could come from transportation agencies, voter-approved parks bonds, nonprofit groups and/or private investors.

“It’s complicated,” the senator said. “It’s not going to be easy. And we have eyes wide open going into it.”

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Correction: The headline of this post initially, and incorrectly, stated the line would be railbanked from Willits to Scotia, rather than all the way to Samoa. The Outpost regrets the error.