Patty Berg
June 6, 1942 - November 19, 2024

Patricia “Patty” Berg, a fervent Democrat and former State Assemblywoman, passed away on November 19, 2024, in Eureka.

A Humboldt County resident since 1974, Berg established herself not only as one of the California Legislature’s most dependably progressive members, but also as one of the few members whose personal integrity earned her respect and cooperation on both sides of the political aisle. As a member of the legislature, one of Patty’s proudest efforts was carrying “Death with Dignity” legislation in 2005-2007, to replicate the Oregon law of choice to allow aid in dying. It was an effort that spurred the adoption of the landmark Compassionate Choices Act in 2015.

She was a creative force in the Humboldt community, over the years leaving her stamp of enthusiasm and effectiveness on many organizations. She was founder of the Area I Agency on Aging and cofounder of the Redwood Coast Jazz Festival. She was also enormously proud to have helped start “the Girlfriends Over 60” group – 16 fabulous, local women friends who met monthly to discuss issues around how to grow old with class, dignity and verve. She always said, “It’s all about the Girlfriends.”

A prodigious local fundraiser, when Patty made a commitment to a project, she was tireless in her effort to see the goal achieved. From the Redwood Coast Jazz Festival initiated to support senior programs, to Six Rivers Planned Parenthood, Hospice of Humboldt and Life Plan Humboldt, many knew if you took a call from Patty, keep your check-book close because she was a convincing and very effective advocate.

In the last days of her life, Patty was embraced by the loving warmth of her many friends, who gathered to watch over her during her last struggle. She was a force in this life. Determined, organized, kind and generous. Once you were taken into her family circle, her generosity knew no bounds. Famous for her clip board, daily to-do check list, she was organized. Need to make a decision about next steps in your life, see Patty – she’d help develop the pros and cons, and help you think it through. She was a good listener, genuinely curious about people and cared enough to want to know your story. She was a matchmaker and fabulous hostess, where no detail was left unattended and where over the years she brought many together at her dining room table. Patty loved to garden her acre of land, both with flowers and vegetables, and in the early 1990s she became a Master Gardener. Gardening gave her such joy.

Patty often acknowledged how very lucky she had been in this life – to have enjoyed many loving relationships and friendships; to have experienced a truly intimate and loving relationship with a husband she adored; to help raise two step-children that she often referred to as her own; to have been given so much and be able to give back in return; to have been financially independent and to always have strived to be true to herself.

Elected to the California Assembly (2002-2008), 1st Assembly District, she was a tireless advocate for her district, which included the counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Lake, Mendocino, and parts of Sonoma. She was Chair of the Aging and Long-Term Committee and the Select Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Patty was also a strong and vocal advocate for women’s issues throughout her lifetime. She chaired the Legislative Women’s Caucus, which developed the first working family’s agenda, and she worked tirelessly to encourage more women to run for public office – a goal only recently achieved when for the first time in the history of the California Senate, parity was achieved – at least 50% of the members are now women. During her six-year term, she received 14 Legislator of the Year awards from various statewide organizations and developed the nation’s first Master Plan and Policy Agenda for aging adults. Following her tenure in the Legislature, Patty continued to work with the Assembly, to create the nation’s first training program for incoming women legislators in 2010 and 2012. Beginning in 2014, she served as the Principal Consultant to the Senate Select Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care, developing a comprehensive report with over 30 legislative recommendations to restructure long-term care in California. Patty always dressed with style and flair, in fact, her legislative colleagues once voted her “the Best Dressed” legislator in Sacramento.

Patty was born and raised in Seattle, Wash., moving to Southern California in 1962. She graduated from California State University at Los Angeles with degrees in Sociology and Social Work. Prior to her election in the California State Legislature, Berg served as the founding Executive Director of the Area 1 Agency on Aging, serving Humboldt and Del Norte counties for nearly 20 years. There, she became a leading advocate for policy change in Sacramento and our nation’s Capital by writing legislation and testifying before Congress. Patty’s agency was nationally recognized, receiving the Administration on Aging’s highest award for developing the most comprehensive system of services for older adults in all of California. She also served on multiple local non-profit boards, and two national boards: The National Association for Area Agencies on Aging and the national Compassion and Choices organization. She was an instructor at HSU in both the Sociology and Psychology Departments and was awarded “Woman of the Year” by both the State Assembly in 1992 and the State in Senate in 2000. In 2008 she was honored as “Democrat of the Year” by the Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee.

After graduating from college, Patty moved to New York City, where in 1970 she met the love of her life, Patrick Murphy, MD, who had traveled to New York to hock pickles. It was love at first sight when they met at a Block Party that Patty helped organize to raise money to plant street trees on West 69th Street. Following a whirlwind 4-day romance, Patty moved back to southern California, where Patrick was an Internist in private practice in Newport Beach and a clinical instructor in medicine at UC Irvine. In 1971, Patrick began a residency in psychiatry, which he completed at Napa State Hospital, following which Patty and Patrick moved to Humboldt County. Patrick died in 1987.

Patty is survived by her brother, Danny Berg (Colleen) of Washington; sister, Marsha Bowman (Bruce) of Florida; step-daughter Gretchen Tavenner (Chris) of Montana; step-son Brian Murphy of Idaho; cousin Judy Nick, niece (Danielle); nephew (Eric) and step-granddaughters, Damia and Leila; her ‘team’ of many intimate friends, and her friend and caregiver, Mia Mulhern.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the following organizations selected by Patty: Hospice of Humboldt, Life Plan Humboldt, the Humboldt Library Foundation, or to a charity of your choice.

A memorial service to celebrate Patty’s life will be held after the first of the year. Notice will be provided.

Dora Kaliamos, 85, passed away in the early hours of November 16, 2024. She left us peacefully, surrounded by family and friends in the final days of her full and active life.

The eldest of eight children, Dora was born in St. Mary’s, Kansas to Frank and Fredia Jager. Her Kansas roots were represented by her favorite flower, the sunflower, displayed throughout her home. In her early years the Jagers migrated westward, settling in Oregon and Northern California. Eureka was home to Dora for most of her life. She traveled to all corners of the U.S. and spread her wings globally with trips to Italy, a family visit to Greece, and numerous adventures Down Under.

Dora was a member of the first graduating class of St. Bernard’s in 1957. Several years later Dora and her husband, Jim Kaliamos, Sr., started their family in Eureka, later moving to Vancouver, Wash. Dora and Jim returned to Eureka after their sons graduated from high school. She was inducted into the St. Bernard’s Hall of Fame in March of 2013.

Dora led a life of service to others. Following high school graduation she entered the nursing profession, a career that spanned her entire life. A milestone achievement was RN certification in 1979. All the more remarkable was that she completed her studies concurrently with two teenage sons in high school while continuing to work at the hospital. Dora was a surgical RN at Vancouver Memorial Hospital, then St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka. In 2004 Dora was recognized by the the St. Joseph Health System in the Values in Action Awards and was selected as the system-wide finalist for the Service Award. After retiring, Dora continued to volunteer at St. Joseph Hospital into the last year of her life. She was again recognized in the Values in Action Awards in 2014.

After returning to Eureka, Dora owned and operated the popular restaurant, Michael’s Steaks and Spirits, along with her husband, Jim, and brother-in-law, Frank. She continued to work at St. Joseph’s (Providence) as well as volunteering extensively in the community. She volunteered at the Discovery Store, St. Vincent de Paul, Betty Chinn’s Foundation and was an active member of the Emblem Club of the Elk’s Lodge.

Dora’s Native American heritage was maintained as a tribal member of the Citizen Band Potawatomi, People of the Place of Fire. Her ancestry on her mother’s side was the Bird Clan of the DeGraff-Navarre families. Dora will be interred next to her parents amid Jager family at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in St. Mary’s, Kansas.

Daughter, Sister, Mother, and Matriarch. Dora is survived by her two sons, Jim (Carol) and Tom (Leanne); her grandchildren, Ryan (Sheila), Eric ( Christine), and Charlie; her great-granddaughter, Valencia.

Dora leaves behind five of her seven siblings, Frank (Sarah), Mike (Sonia), Patty (Dave), Dorothy (Dennis), Adam (Gilian); her two brothers-in-law, Frank (Joanne), Bill (Clinton), and sister-in-law, Francie. She will be missed by her large, extended family which includes many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Dora was pre-deceased by her parents, Frank and Fredia, her brothers, Paul and David and her husband, Jim.

Her family would like to give special thanks to Hospice of Humboldt and the staff of Timber Ridge Eureka who cared for Dora in her final days.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Dora’s life on November 23 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Eureka Elks Lodge. In remembrance of Dora’s generosity and service to others, donations can be made to your favorite charity. We know she would appreciate that.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Dora Kaliamos’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jessie Wayne Stanfield, who went to be with the Lord on November 14, 2024, at the age of 77. He was taken way too soon and he will be missed by all who knew him.

Wayne was born in Foreman, Arkansas, on July 13, 1947 to his parents Sidney and Georgia Stanfield. He was the sixth of their eight children. As a young man, Wayne and his family moved several times before ending up in Bieber, California where his father found employment in the saw mills, and they lived there until the family built a house in New Bieber. Wayne was involved in all the activities of a young man growing up. He would hunt and fish with his brothers, and as he got older he attended Big Valley High School, where he played football and basketball. You wouldn’t know it now from his quiet demeanor, but Wayne was selected as both Prom King and the Student Body President during his time in school. He graduated in 1965 in a class of 25 students, and he went back to Bieber often for high school reunions to celebrate and stay connected to his schoolmates.

After high school, Wayne put himself through college and earned an AA degree from the College of the Siskiyous. He would work all summer to earn and save up just enough money to pay for his next fall semester of classes each year. He was a hard worker from the very start. Upon graduating from college, Wayne enlisted in the United States Navy. He served his country for four years from 1968-1972. He was first stationed at the Centerville Beach Naval Station in Ferndale as a Radioman. It was during his time at Centerville that he met a local girl, the love of his life, Betsy Nesmith. They met in March of 1970 and were married eight months later on November 28, 1970. Wayne then took his new bride to his second duty station at Midway Island in the Pacific Theater. While on Midway, the couple welcomed their first born son Jeff into the world in July of 1972. Wayne ended his Navy service and was honorably discharged in October of that same year.

Back on the mainland, Wayne and his small family moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he worked at a molding mill. In 1974, Wayne’s father-in-law Bill invited them to move back to Fortuna for him to start as an apprentice in the local Carpenters Union. He worked for a few different companies until he found his forever job with Sequoia Construction Specialties, owned and operated by Jim and Brian Pritchard. Wayne was a skilled carpenter, hard worker, and dedicated union member. He remained active and continued paying dues to the Carpenters Union for over 50 years up until his passing. Wayne and Betsy Stanfield would go on to add two more boys to their family, Jeremy in 1975 and Josh in 1980. They bought the home that Betsy’s dad had built on Tompkins Hill just outside of Fortuna, where they would raise their family and live for the next 40 years.

Church and humble service to others were major parts of Wayne’s life. He was always willing to give his time and talents to the church, other congregation members and his community, and would rarely accept any money or accolades for his kindness and generosity. After his retirement in 2004, he continued to bless others with the carpentry skills that the Lord gave him by providing acts of service. He and Betsy attended the Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer for the last ten years, and his handy work is visible all throughout the building. The remodeled kitchen, the additional bathroom, and numerous other maintenance projects are all examples of how Wayne chose to quietly serve God and others. You can also see his work all over the community. He built many ramps for the elderly, and constructed various projects at Redwood Preparatory Charter School where his grandkids went.

The best way to describe him is that he was a hardworking, loyal, dedicated family man and a humble servant of the Lord. He gave without thought of reward and he gave wherever he saw a need. A scripture that reminds us all of how he lived his life and how he would show up is Colossians 3:23, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than people.” Another example of his generous spirit was his mission to always donate blood when he could. He was happy to give at every opportunity, and he was proud of donating nearly twelve gallons of blood over the last ten years. In addition to his construction career, Wayne loved woodworking, and always had a project going on in his woodshop. He built furniture, made playhouses and tree forts for his grandkids, crafted beautiful cutting boards, and made many a birdhouse. He donated many pieces of his work to local charity auctions or fundraisers for the various activities his kids and grandkids were involved in. In retirement, Wayne and Betsy loved to travel in their cab-over camper. They often traveled up and down the West Coast, and also went on several cross-country trips. True to who he was, most of the trips consisted of going to see family while taking in the sights along the way.

Wayne is preceded in death by his beloved parents Sid and Georgia, His father-in-law and mother-in-law Bill and Virginia Nesmith, his brother Sid Jr., brother-in-law Dolan and some extended younger family members. He is survived by his wife and life partner of nearly 54 years of marriage, Betsy, his sons Jeff (Sue), Jeremy (Lareesa), and Josh (Lyndsey), as well as his brothers Carl, Jim (Corinne), Charlie, and Joe (Cindy), his sisters Pat, and Faye, his brothers-in-law Norman (Marilyn), and James (Mayme), his sister-in-law Bonnie (John), numerous nieces and nephews plus his seven grandkids and four great-grandkids. Family was the pride of Wayne’s life. From supporting his granddaughter Allison in her travels abroad, working on projects with his grandson Greg, attending cheerleading activities for his granddaughter Carlee, and his great granddaughter Abby that gave him the nickname ‘PapaGreat’, there was nothing that brought him more joy. He is gone too soon and he will be greatly missed. We share great comfort in the realization that Wayne led a full, Godly life and died as he lived, secure in his relationship with his Heavenly Father. Though he is no longer with us, we know that he is safe in the presence of the Lord. He will forever be remembered for his love of his family, his generosity and his willingness to quietly help all who needed it.

A memorial service will be held at the Fortuna Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer at 1431 Ross Hill Road, Saturday, November 30 at 2 p.m., followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. Family and friends of Wayne are invited to attend. Those who would like to commemorate Wayne may consider donating blood or making a love offering to their local church.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Wayne Stanfield’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

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Arcata’s Tofu Shop Specialty Foods, a local institution and staple of the region’s natural food scene since the heyday of the back-to-the-land hippie movement, will close permanently by the end of the year.

Tofu Shop founder and owner Matthew Schmit in 2018. | Screenshot.

Reached by phone this morning, owner and founder Matthew Schmit confirmed that he plans to retire after next month, nearly 50 years since he and his then-partner opened an artisan tofu shop in Telluride, Colo. Three years later, in 1980, Schmit opened his tofu shop in Arcata as a takeout deli and small-scale manufacturing facility.

“We are going to be operating through the end of the year, and then I will be closing down the shop,” Schmit told the Outpost. He declined to elaborate at this time, saying, “Things are just kind of new and happening.”

According to the company’s website, Schmit’s interest in local food systems inspired him to help found a food co-op in rural Colorado. That’s where he was introduced to “the art of organic tofu making,” the site says. 

The Tofu Shop operated as a deli-manufacturing combo for a dozen years, but in 1992 it became one of the founding businesses in Arcata’s Foodworks Culinary Center. Since then, the company has focused on growing its manufacturing and wholesale business. 

Tofu Shop products displayed in a cooler at the Eureka Winco.

“In 2002 we were able to qualify for local financing and built this building we’re in right now,” Schmit says in a 2018 video produced by Eureka Natural Foods. (Scroll down to watch the whole video.)

At the time, the Tofu Shop was producing up to 250,000 pounds of tofu a year, and its organic product line has expanded to include dozens of products, including a variety of smoked and flavored tofu in various degrees of firmness, plus tofu-based breakfast sausage, potato patties, soy milk, salads, spreads, tofu burgers and even sauerkraut. (No tofu goes into that last one.)

And the products aren’t just sold here in Humboldt County. They’re available in grocery stores and natural food shops across California and up into Oregon, plus they’re served in roughly 50 restaurants, from vegetarian and sushi spots to delis, breweries and barbecue joints.

Schmit remains fascinated with the history of tofu, from its origin in China more than 2,000 years ago through its adoption by western vegetarians in the 1970s as a healthy meat substitute.

“But for me as a tofu maker, it’s much more than that,” he says in the video below. “It’s been around for thousands of years, kind of like bread and cheese, and that’s really where its real power and the source of its vitality comes from.”

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UPDATE, 11:53 a.m.:

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 11:07 a.m.: The Eel River is No Longer Expected to Reach ‘Major Flood’ Stage

As noted in the detail above — from the graph on NOAA’s Eel River @ Fernbridge monitoring page — the river is no longer expected to cross up into the purple zone. The bridge will likely remain open; the flood will continue to swell a bit for another hour or two, and then recede.

Meanwhile, here’s a snippet of Lost Coast Communication General Manager Roger Harrell’s adventures through the Elk River/Berta Road area this morning:

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 4:52 p.m.: Someone Got Trapped Inside the Vance Hotel’s Elevator During the Eureka Power Outage

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When the transformer blew near Grocery Outlet, plummeting Old Town and much of downtown into dusky dimness (see below), some unlucky soul inside the old Vance Hotel building got trapped inside the elevator.

Two Humboldt Bay Fire units responded to the scene and began working to extract said human. Their efforts were soon rendered unnecessary when the power returned. Paramedics carried one person downstairs on an EMT backboard, though she appeared alert and not in distress. 

— Ryan Burns

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UPDATE, 4:23 p.m.:

Photo: Andrew Goff.

PG&E is at the scene of the Grocery Outlet fizzle-out. This seems like the kind of thing that should be fixed pretty quick, right? 

[UPDATE, 4:30 p.m.: Indeed, it is back now.]

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 3:54 p.m.: Old Town Power Out

Yikes! Isn’t quite showing up in the LoCO system yet, but all of Old Town has gone dark.

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 1:49 p.m.: Don’t Believe in Fernbridge Staying Open

File photo: Andrew Goff.

Myles Cochrane, Caltrans public information officer, tells us that the agency’s rule of thumb is to shut down traffic on the bridge when the river level reaches 22 24 feet. In other words: Pretty likely, given that the river is forecast to reach 25 feet by tomorrow midday. 

[UPDATE, Friday morning: Caltrans calls to make the correction noted above.]

Cochrane said that it’s not so much that the bridge gets flooded when the river reaches that level — it’s just that the road will be impassible on the Ferndale side. You could cross the bridge from this side of the river, but there would be nowhere to go.

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 10:15 a.m.: DAY THREE: Today is Rain Day; Road Chaos; Moderate to Major Flooding Expected in the Eel River Delta Tomorrow

We’re on the third day of this thing, and the skies look to be opening up. The National Weather Service says that heavy rain is imminent, according to the Doppler radar, with several more inches expected to day.

This is going to lead to some sort of flooding, both in localized low-lying areas and in our major rivers. Perhaps of greatest concern: The NWS now estimates that the Eel River will crest at just over 25 feet near Fernbridge. This will happen tomorrow (Friday) at noon.

Twenty-five feet is big. It could well lead to the closure of Fernbridge, and the Eel River Delta will be swamped. Ranchers out near Loleta, along Cannibal Island Road, are going to have to figure out what to do with their cattle.

Meanwhile, the rains are already causing havoc with the road system. The Avenue of the Giants near Holmes is closed due to flooding. Highway 36 is open only to one-way controlled traffic near Pamplin Grove, and again at Bridgeville. There have been several scary-sounding crashes on Highway 101.

The worst is yet to come. Maybe you want to cancel that trip, if you can. Stay at home, snuggle up.

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 2:12 p.m.: Warming Shelter Opens Tonight in Eureka

This is going to be a bad night to not have a roof over your head.

The City of Eureka has activated its overnight warming shelter protocol. If you’re without a home tonight — or know someone who will be — here’s what you need to do.

Meet up with service workers at these times and in these places:

• Eureka Free Meal: 6 p.m.
• The Sacco Amphitheater, near the Adorni Center: 6:30 p.m.
• Hope Center (2933 H Street): 7 p.m.
• 14th and Koster: 7:30 p.m.

They’ll transport you to the overnight shelter. Stay dry, everybody.

— Hank Sims

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Batten down the hatches, Humboldt! 

Over the next few days, a powerful atmospheric river – or “bomb cyclone” – will bring an onslaught of wind and rain to the North Coast, with most areas seeing between three and six inches of rain between now and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service’s office in Eureka. 

“A major atmospheric river storm is forecast to bring periods of heavy rain and the potential for major flooding in urban and rural areas late tonight through Friday,” according to a Flood Watch issued this afternoon. “Small creeks and streams will rapidly rise and may come out of their banks. More extensive flooding, including flooding of main stem rivers, is forecast later in the week.”

There is a Flood Watch in effect for the Eel River at Fernbridge and other low-lying areas of the Eel River Valley. “Significant flooding of the western portions of Cannibal Island Road, Camp Weott Road, the Salt and Old Rivers, and all adjacent low-lying areas,” according to NWS. “Owners of livestock should consider taking appropriate action to protect livestock.”

There is also a High Wind Warning in effect for the next 24 hours. Folks living in the interior areas of the county can expect south winds ranging between 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 70 mph expected. Expect power outages throughout the region.

You can find a list of active weather alerts from the National Weather Service at this link. Your LoCO will keep this post updated with current weather conditions, road closure information, power outages and other helpful links. 

As we wait for this so-called bomb cyclone to make landfall, you might want to take the time to charge up all of your devices (including backup batteries) in case of a power outage. It’s also a good idea to have plenty of water and non-perishable food handy.

Need sandbags? The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services has complied a list of where to get sandbag supplies throughout the county:

Bags and sand:

• Hensell Materials, 4475 Broadway in Eureka (bags and sand available)
• Randall Sand & Gravel, 214 West River Ln. in Garberville (bags and sand available)

Sand only:

• Eureka Ready Mix, locations in Arcata, Eureka, Alton and Blue Lake (sand only, no bags available)
• Kernan Construction, 1195 Hatchery Rd. in Blue Lake (sand only, no bags available)
• Mercer Frasier, 200 Dinsmore Dr. in Fortuna (sand only, no bags available)
• Powell Landscaping Materials, 1955 Hilfiker Ln. in Eureka (sand only, no bags available)
• Miller Farms Nursery, 1828 Central Ave. in McKinleyville (sand only, no bags available)

Bags only:

• Nilsen Feed, 1593 Market St. in Ferndale (bags only, no sand available)
• Dazey’s Supply, 690 Thomas Dr. in Garberville and 5307 Boyd Rd. in Arcata (bags only, no sand available)
• United Rentals, 3132 Jacobs Ave in Eureka (bags only, no sand available)
• Root 101 Nursery, 350 Sprowl Creek Rd. in Garberville (bags only, no sand available)
• Pierson Building Center, 4100 Broadway in Eureka (bags only, no sand available)
• McKinleyville Community Services District, 1656 Sutter Rd. in McKinleyville (bags only, no sand available)

We have also confirmed that sandbags are available at the following city locations, free of charge:

Free supplies are intended for residents of the incorporated cities listed below and are available in limited quantities, while supplies last. Residents are encouraged to bring their own shovels to fill bags.

• City of Eureka Corp Yard at 945 W 14th St., available anytime
• City of Arcata Corp Yard at 600 South G. St., available anytime
• City of Ferndale at the Francis Street Bridge on Francis St., available anytime
• City of Fortuna, behind the skating rink at Rohner Park located at 9 Park St., available anytime
• City of Rio Dell, behind City Hall at 675 Wildwood Ave., available anytime
• Blue Lake City Hall at 111 Greenwood Ave., available anytime

How to fill and place sandbags:

Check out this video from the California Department of Water Resources on how to fill and place sandbags: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fa8ApB_TFc

Storm season preparedness tips:

Be sure to keep your essential devices and phones charged in the event of power outages. To learn more on how to prepare for a power outage or for more winter storm season preparedness tips, visit: www.listoscalifornia.org/stormseason/

Stay safe out there, Humboldt!

Press release from the office of Senate president pro tem Mike McGuire:

SACRAMENTO – The Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast), has appointed Mary Ann Hansen of Humboldt County to the Early Childhood Policy Council.

Mary Ann Hansen | Photo: First 5 Humboldt

“Mary Ann Hansen is an exceptional and effective leader. No one works harder on behalf of our kids and she will bring passion and dedication to the Early Childhood Policy Council,” Pro Tem McGuire said. “Kids are California’s best investment, so the policies shaped with Mary Ann’s leadership will be some of the most important policies coming out of the State Capitol. We look forward to working with Mary Ann in this new role and our continued collaboration with the Council.”
 
Hansen has served as the Executive Director of First 5 Humboldt since 2015. Her leadership has been transformative to the organization, which is now helping more underserved kids than ever. As a result of her life-changing work, Senator McGuire selected Hansen as the 2022 North Coast Woman of the Year. She has been a champion for expanding equitable access to high-quality and robust childcare, and during the pandemic, fought to expand health and wellness opportunities for Humboldt County’s youngest residents.
 
“I absolutely love working with Senator McGuire and this is an incredible honor to be appointed to the Policy Council,” said Hansen. “I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and continuing my work at a statewide level, ensuring every child in California has access to high-quality early education and robust services.”   
 
A Humboldt County native, Hansen was a faculty member at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Child Development department for two decades, while also holding various consulting positions for First 5 Humboldt and the Hoopa Valley Tribe in the area of early childhood education. She is a licensed Transdisciplinary Infant-Family Early Childhood Mental Health Practitioner and is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. In 2022, she served as a subject matter expert for the California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Network work group.
 
The Early Childhood Policy Council is one of the preeminent organizations in the State focused on all aspects of California’s early childhood education system. The Council advises the Governor, Legislature, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction on early education policy and priorities.
 
Mary Ann Hansen lives in Ferndale. The term is at the pleasure of the Senate Rules Committee, not to exceed six years. Compensation is reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses.

If you have less than an hour to buy a new pair of running shoes, do not ask the guy in the Jogg’n Shoppe any questions about the photos on the wall, the shirts hanging in the windows, or the running paraphernalia scattered around the store, because that hour will be sacrificed to a long discussion about the characters and races that make up Humboldt’s distance running history. But it is an interesting history, full of tales of all-consuming rivalries and legendary training logs. The Jogg’n Shoppe has been around for all of it.

The Jogg’n Shoppe celebrated its 50th birthday last week. Founded in 1974 by Humboldt State cross-country coach Jim Hunt and Arcata High School coach Chuck Ehlers, it’s currently owned by Mike Williams, who ran for HSU back when Hunt was still a coach. The shop is old enough that some of the first shoes Hunt sold were made by Blue Ribbon Sports — the company Bill Bowerman founded that would later become Nike. 

Williams, 63, first worked at the Jogg’n Shoppe in the 1980s, when he ran for HSU. In 2002, he became a part-owner of the Eureka location, which closed in 2005. He’s been the sole operator of the store since. At its peak during the mid-1970s, the store had locations in Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna and Brookings, Ore., though that only lasted for a couple years. Now, only the Arcata location is still open.  

“It all happened at a perfect time,” Williams said. “The running boom was going on after the ’72 Olympics with Frank Shorter and [Steve] Prefontaine — that just kind of fueled that fire.”

Distance running exploded in popularity in the early 1970s nationally, but Humboldt was also home to a large pool of talented runners. HSU was second at the Division III national championships three times during the ’70s and won the Division II championships when they moved up in 1980. Williams has an encyclopedic knowledge of the dozens of personal records set and races run during this time period, and asking him about local legends like 2:15 marathoner Bill Scobey or 1992 Olympic Trials winner Mark Conover will elicit from him stories of the days when the Trinidad-Clam Beach run fielded 2,300 competitors from around California and even the smaller community races had sub-30 minute 10K talent. 

Races in Humboldt aren’t as fast as they once were, but the local running community has found a home in the Jogg’n Shoppe. Running clubs meet out front and Williams helps organize local races. For its 50th anniversary, Williams hosted over 100 people in the store last week. Nike representatives from Oakland came bearing gifts. Williams thinks the store provides services beyond simply selling running equipment.

“It’s getting people motivated whether they’re walkers or runners, just getting people outside and doing something, and when people get together for events, not only competition, it’s feeding off the good vibes, the community thing,” Williams said. “The club, everyone who shows up for that is so upbeat and into it…a lot of the old guys, they can’t run but they still meet and walk and they love it! They’re sitting there chitting and chatting. My dad dealt with depression, pretty severe sometimes, when he became a runner and got part of that group — man, it changed my dad’s life. It really did. He got a new group of buddies, like a new family.” 

Williams will likely retire within the next few years, but there are several different parties interested in buying the store. 

“I would love to keep going,” Williams said. “I think it can. The internet changed everything obviously, but it can make it. … It’ll keep going, there’s no doubt about it.” 

“Having a shop, it’s a place where people can meet. A lot of people come in and yak with me. It’s just fun talking to people. A lot of people, they come in and go, ‘I’m too slow for racing.’ Oh! Walkers, everybody’s welcome … Don’t worry about the times, just go out there and participate.”