Yes, that season is upon us. And your President of Positivity is making the most of the weirdest year any of us have ever lived through by turning her backyard into her own wacky winter wonderland. She even cut down her own tree! We do what we can!

This week’s shoutouts go to the Breast and GYN Health Project and Ambrz Art. Thanks for all that you do!

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Perhaps You’d Like to Explore Previous Mondays With Michaele For Some Reason!

It’s been quite a roller coaster couple of weeks, Covid-wise, with good news and bad news making headlines daily.

The bad news locally, of course, is that Humboldt leapfrogged from yellow to red (skipping orange), and then—last Tuesday, after a weekend that brought 56 new cases—landed in the purple (“widespread”) tier. Purple is no longer the color once reserved for royalty (because of its scarcity—it took 250,000 tiny sea snails, Bolinus brandaris, to make one ounce of purple dye); now it’s the color of the strictest state regulations designed to prevent the spread of Covid. Humboldt is in good—or bad, I guess—company, sharing its new designation with 41 of the state’s 58 counties. Some 37 million of us are now in purple, meaning that you won’t be able to eat or drink inside, and gyms, movie theaters, nonessential business offices and houses of worship are closed. Stores can open at 25% capacity, grocery stores at 50%.

The good news is that no less than three candidate vaccines appear to be on track for early approval, with the first shots to be given—probably to healthcare workers—before the end of the year. Which came as a total surprise to many of us who have been following the saga of vaccine development, and who didn’t expect such early and effective results. “Effective” here means “efficacy,” that is, the statistical probability that a vaccinated person won’t get Covid if they’re exposed to it. The FDA’s bar to green-light a vaccine, to “prevent disease or decrease its severity in at least 50 percent of people who are vaccinated,” now seems ridiculously low, with all three vaccines coming in around 90% in trials involving tens of thousands of people.

The earliest announcement came from Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech, which claimed a 90% efficacy from a study in which 38,000 people were either given the vaccine or a saline placebo. Pfizer says that, assuming emergency approval by the FDA, they’ll be able to ship 25 million doses in December, ramping up to over 30 million in subsequent months. But—and it’s a huge but—their vaccine is vulnerable to storage temperatures warmer than minus 80 degrees Celsius (nearly as low as the coldest ever recorded, minus –89 C, in Antarctica in 2010). Pfizer says they’re on top of their deep-freeze problem, but this requirement is nearly unprecedented: standard vaccine storage calls for temperatures of around 9 C. (Actually, some African countries may be better off than we are, since hundreds of thousands of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi have been vaccinated against the Ebola virus; the Merck Ebola vaccine has to be stored at –70 C.) Cost: $20/dose, with two doses three weeks apart needed.

Second up was Moderna’s candidate, which, like Pfizer-BioNTech, uses a novel RNA approach (unlike traditional vaccines that rely on dead or weakened viruses to alert the immune system). Moderna claims to have a 94.5% efficacy rate. The cold storage requirements for their vaccine are far less stringent than Pfizer’s: it can last for up to six months at –20 C, and 30 days in a regular fridge. Cost: $32-37 per dose, two doses required.

And third, best of all, came last week’s announcement from the Oxford University-AstraZeneca collaboration, which claimed 90% efficacy for their more traditional vaccine, a genetically modified version of a virus that typically causes colds in chimpanzees. Oddly, that 90% was for participants who were first given a half-dose, then, a month later, a full dose of the vaccine. (Volunteers given two full doses only had a 60% efficacy.) The really good news comes in three parts: (1) the vaccine seems to be stable for six months at normal fridge temperatures; (2) AstraZeneca claims it can deliver three billion doses by the end of 2021 (exceeding Pfizer and Moderna’s combined output); (3) they say they’ll provide the vaccine at cost, around $3 per dose.

Caveats: Results for all these candidate vaccines (and many others in development) are preliminary; none have yet been approved by the FDA; no long-term results are available (obviously), meaning that repeat shots may be needed at, say, yearly intervals; and very old or very young people weren’t included in the initial trials.

(AUDIO) Kati Moulton is Holding Up

Subscribe to Humboldt Holding Up on iTunes!

Your lonely turkey dinner has digested. Time to get your ears back into Humboldt’s goings-on with another edition of Humboldt Holding Up, the Lost Coast Outpost’s good-enough podcast thingy.

Kati “Kati Texas” Moulton, councilmember

This week: The second half of our attempt to get to know Eureka’s newly elected council members. For more than a decade, Kati Moulton has worked with arts-related organizations in Humboldt (The Ink People Center for the Arts, Kinetic Universe, SCRAP Humboldt, etc.) and earlier this month she bested three other competitors to claim the Second Ward seat on the Eureka City Council. Click the audio player above to hear Moulton chat with LoCO’s Stephanie McGeary and Andrew Goff on numerous topics, including:

• The factors that fueled her last-minute decision to run for council
• Kati Moulton? We thought you were Kati Texas!
• How her artist’s journey landed her to Humboldt
• How she reached out to Eureka’s next generation of voters
• A discussion of potential uses for the decaying Jacobs Junior High School campus in her ward
• Eureka’s push to become a hub for artists
• Will there be a traditional 2021 Kinetic Grand Championship?

Again, click above to meet the newest Kinetic Kouncilmember and/or scroll our past Humboldt Holding Up guests below.

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• Eureka City Councilmember Scott Bauer
• Ungraceful Ager Barry Evans
• Arcata City Councilmember Sofia Pereira
• HumBrews Music Booker Laurel Weston
• Eureka City Councilmember Kim Bergel
• Film Commission’s Cassandra Hesseltine and Nate Adams
• Marble Maker Topher Reynolds
• Arcata Playhouse Director Jacqueline Dandeneau
• Humboldt Political Junkie Eric Kirk
• Rio Dell Mayor Debra Garnes
• Second District Supervisor Estelle Fennell
• Arcata Food Aficionado Jada Calypso Brotman
• Body Piercer Jackie Silva
• Dick Taylor Chocolate’s Adam Dick
• FUHS Teachers Mark Thom and Inma Thompson
• Eureka City Manager Miles Slattery
• Savage Henry Co-Founder Chris Durant
• Eureka Street Art Festival Organizer Jenna Catsos
• SCRAP Humboldt Founder Tibora Bea
• Gym Owner Tyler Parr
• Six Rivers Brewery Co-Owner Meredith Maier
• Multicultural Skincare Therapist Levia Love
• Annie’s Cambodian Server and Social Worker Joshua Coppock
• Eureka City Councilmember Austin Allison
• HSU Professor Deidre Pike 
• Pastor Bethany Cseh
• Singer/Songwriter Chris Parreira
• Eureka City Councilmember Leslie Castellano
• Arcata City Councilmember Paul Pitino

Subscribe to Humboldt Holding Up on iTunes!

Stars Hamburgers on G Street in Arcata is temporarily closed, after a member of the staff tested positive for COVID-19.

“Dear Humboldt, we have just learned that a member of our staff has tested positive for COVID-19,” Owners Jennifer and Arron Eaton wrote in an email sent to the Outpost on Saturday. “We have been closed for the Holiday & will remain so until our entire staff has been tested and we have conducted a deep cleaning of our restaurant. From all of us at Stars Arcata, we thank you for your patience and understanding. We will post an update on our plans to reopen soon. Please stay safe.”

The announcement follows numerous recent Arcata restaurant closures due to COVID-19, with Plaza Grill, Salt Fish House, Campground and Wildflower Cafe announcing temporary closures on their social media accounts last week. Wildflower has already reopened its doors after all employees tested negative, and Salt recently posted plans to reopen for outdoor service on December 1.

Earlier this month, Septentrio Winery closed due to a potential exposure to the virus. And although all employees have since tested negative, the business posted on Facebook, Septentrio will continue its pause in indoor and outdoor service. The Pub at the Creamery also recently announced plans to close as a precautionary measure, as the local spike in COVID-19 cases continues.

The Joint Information Center reports that of the 850 cases recorded in Humboldt County so far, 179 have been Arcata residents.

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Burton John Hoyle passed away in early November 2020, just weeks from reaching his 101st birthday.  He is survived by three children, Joe and Glenn Hoyle and Pamela Lund, three grandchildren, Julie McGuffey, Karin Ballstadt and Dennis Hoyle, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Burton (Burt) was born in Saranac Lake, New York in 1919 and grew up in the Jamestown, New York area. He graduated from high school in 1938 and spent several years pursuing odd jobs before starting college in 1941.  He did not serve in WWII because of a childhood injury.  In 1944 he graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in horticulture. 

There was a war going on and jobs were scarce, so Burt applied to graduate schools.  The University of California, Davis, wrote that classes were closed but they did have a job opening in vegetable crops.  After Burt got to Davis, classes soon resumed with the end of the war, and he graduated in 1946 with an MS in Vegetable Crops. That same year he also married True Dolson.

As 1946 drew to a close Burt took a job with the University of California Cooperative Extension system to pioneer the Agricultural Experimental Field Station in Tulelake, now known as the Intermountain Research and Extension Center (IREC). From 1947 to 1965 Burt’s research and work shaped many of the crops still grown in the Tulelake basin today including potatoes, barley, peppermint and strawberries.  However, his big winner was the introduction of horseradish as a cash crop.  In 1983 he was featured in an NBC nationally broadcast news show as the “Godfather of Horseradish.”

In 1965 Burt relocated to Fresno where he worked as a vegetable crops specialist at the University of California’s Five-Points station.  Two major publications from his many projects were A Guide to Commercial Vegetable Production (1970), Curley Top Identification Handbook (1977) [Curly top is a plant disease]. His work on “aggresizing” [a process for making the soil optimum for successful seed growth], for which he received a patent, led to widespread recognition in the agricultural research community.

Burt and True were active in the First Presbyterian Church in Fresno.  One of the ways they lived out their faith was by opening their home to many foreign students.  Over a period of more than ten years they hosted a number of Chinese, African and Middle Eastern students. Their involvement with these students was a ministry as they helped them with practical matters, and also spent hours in counseling them about their lives. 

Burt retired in 1983 and he and True relocated to Humboldt County.  He enjoyed his friends and taking pictures of beautiful Humboldt scenery.  He travelled up and down the coast shooting pictures; then with his scanner and Adobe Photoshop, Burt explored the creative expressions of the visual, displaying some of his photos at local art shows.  He and True were very involved with the Arcata Presbyterian Church and participated in many community activities.  Burt was a lifelong Rotarian, receiving the Paul Harris Fellow Distinction.  Burt and True also engaged in developing housing on land in Arcata which True had inherited from her family. 

True Dolson Hoyle passed away in 2005, and Burt married MaryAlice Comstock in 2006.  MaryAlice preceded Burt in death on September 16, 2020.  She was 91 years old.

Burt was blessed by health, mental clarity and mobility throughout his life.  He was known for his brilliant thinking and ever-present curiosity.  During his final years he was working on a book on statistical thinking and re-analyzing data from his field crop experiments he had collected more than 50 years ago.  And even in his last days his caretakers commented on his intellectual curiosity, his smile and sense of humor.

His three children remember the significant impact Burt had on their lives, but more importantly his love and concern for them, their families, and for the large number of people whom Burt influenced

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Trying to be a wonderful daughter, wife, sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, great aunt, great-great aunt, friend, community member and best spaghetti sauce maker in Humboldt County is a big task, but Gloria Thompson was up for the task for 81 years. She passed away on November 18, 2020 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Eureka, California.

Gloria was born in Medford, Oregon on January 23, 1939 to George and Lillyan Hutchins. She was said to be a sweet baby and was adored by her parents and aunts and uncles. Her mother later got remarried to Eugene “Gene” Holt and he became the proud father of Gloria and her younger sister, Karen. Her parents later added her brother Jim Holt and sister Jan (Holt) Vaughn to the family. The family lived in southern Oregon and Northern California as Gloria was growing up. When Gloria was a freshman in high school, she began dating Brice Thompson and, as her favorite Dean Martin song would say, “That’s Amore!” The young couple was married in 1957 and spent an amazing 58 years together. After Brice served in the United States Army, the couple continued to call Humboldt County home, living for many years in Samoa and Blue Lake. They lovingly raised their three daughters, Linda Thompson-Padrez, Dawna Lamb, and Paula Thomas. Together with Brice and her family Gloria loved to go camping and fishing. She was an avid golfer (even having a hole-in-one on her record of achievements) and agate hunter (she could spot an agate from 40 paces). The Thompsons were blessed with two grandsons: Christopher (his partner Hannah DePute) and Craig Edgar, who adored their Papa and MomMom. Gloria became a Great MomMom to the light of her life Lillyan Edgar in 2015. Over the past several years her great-grand daughters Rhilee, Harper, and Sadie joined the family and Gloria spent many hours snuggling, laughing, and playing with all of them.

In addition to spending time with her family, Gloria was quite active in her community. While living in Samoa she worked at Samoa Elementary School as a librarian and teachers aid for over 20 years. She was the Mayor of Blue Lake during the late ‘80s and into the mid ‘90s during which time she oversaw many helpful changes to the little town she loved. Gloria was an active participant in community organizations including the Wanikas and the Fire Department Auxiliary Clubs in both Samoa and Blue Lake (Blazzettes).

In her later years Gloria enjoyed reading, crocheting, listening to music, attending church services, and spending time each day with Lillyan.

Arrangements are being handled by Paul’s Chapel in Arcata. Donations in Gloria’s memory can be made, in lieu of flowers, to the Blue Lake Volunteer Fire Department or to Northfork Full Gospel Church (McKinleyville) . Services will be held at a later date, due to Covid-19 restrictions.

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Rick to his parents, Ricky to his friends, was born in Salem, Oregon, a welcome addition to the Richard and Arlene Anderson family of three girls. He passed away at his home in Arcata. He had recently been ill, hospitalized and while still under a doctor’s care, he seemed to be recovering well. This was an unexpected and tragic event.

Rick was raised in Silverton, Oregon. He was a joy, bright, funny and loving. With a strong personality he was always in charge of all of us.

In 1987 his father began working for Blue Lake Forest Products and Rick moved with his family to Mckinleyville. He excelled in school and attended Dows Prairie, Mckinleyville Junior High and Mckinleyville High School, graduating in 1994. After that he attended Humboldt State where he continued to excel, especially in mathematics. While he was in collage, his best friend committed suicide. This had a profound effect on Rick for the rest of his life.

During high school he began working at Live from New York Pizza, first in Mckinleyville, then Arcata. He then became interested in bartending and started working at the Looking Glass House. He loved it and after the restaurant closed he continued working at other bars, including The Pearl, the Palm Lounge and the Jam. Also bartendied for catered events. He had just started working for the new Jam when he became sick,

Rick’s many friends knew him as generous, funny, intelligent, loving, charismatic, thoughtful and supportive. He would do anything for the people he loved.

Everyone loved talking to him. He was a great storyteller and always had a joke at the ready.

Though never married, Rick had long-term girlfriends, including Lily Baker, Jessie Immit, Mindy Fitzgerald and his current best girl, Corrine Mead. Rick’s many interests included collecting things he loved, cooking, Elvis, Magic Johnson and attending concerts. He was a voracious reader, always reading a new book. 

Rick and his dad enjoyed many concerts together as well as going to NBA games, Yankee baseball games and pro wrestling events. He loved Japanese art and had beautiful tattoos, too many to count, many by his good friend Brian Kaneko. He loved his manicured nails. He had many close friends he considered brothers — some very long term and others more recent. 

Throughout his life he remained a kindred spirit with his mom. They were very close and shared the same love of music, books and sense of humor.  We send thanks to Dr. Hooper, Charlie Van Buskirk and Dr. Kushner. Steve and John, Kaia, Julie, Kristal and Corrine for helping at the house. Kathy Galloway for years of weekly haircuts and a lifetime of friendship and love.  

Arrangements were by Ayres Family Cremation. A special thanks to Nick for helping his sister with pictures and flowers.

Rick was preceded in death just seven months ago by his very loved sister Michelle Anderson, by his grandparents Henry and Alma Anderson, Fred and Etta Moulter and Ronald and Lucille Worden, by his Aunt Roneen Thyberg and uncles Don Anderson and John Worden. His beloved dog Swayze also preceded him.

He is survived by his grieving parents, Richard and Arlene Anderson; his sisters Kristal Waters of Mckinleyville, and Tami Anderson of Saint Paul, Minnesota; niece Bridget Fenner of Everett, Wash.; nephews Jeffrey and Randolph Anderson of St. Paul, Minnesota; uncles Arland Anderson, Jeff Anderson and David Moulter, all of Silverton, Ore.; aunts Lori Douglas of Seattle, Wash.; and Linda Anderson of Silverton, Ore.; many cousins; and  his girlfriend, Corrine Mead.    

There aren’t words to describe how much he was loved and how much he will be missed by so many. Due to the pandemic, a celebration of his life will have to be held at a later date. Details will be posted at that time. In the meantime, the family plans to dedicate a park bench in Arcata to Rick, and everyone can honor his memory by passing along a kindness and by donating to an animal shelter.

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