My grandfather, Davis Schemoon, came to the United States from that war-wracked country we today call Lebanon. He was ethnically Syrian, since there was no Lebanon in those days. His passport indicated he was a citizen of the Ottoman Empire, as Turkey owned practically all of the Near East at that time.

“Grampa,” as all of us grandchildren called him, was born in 1860 in the mountain resort town of Zahle, located in the Bekaa Valley amid the Anti-Lebanon Mountains. The village was one-half Christian and one-half Muslim. He was a Maronite Christian. The church was named after Maron, a bishop in the very early Christian church.

After attending American University in Beirut, Davis came under the wing of American Presbyterian missionaries at that school. This was fortunate for him, because those missionaries sponsored Davis to come to the United States and sent with him letters of introduction to people here. The missionaries described him as a moral man and a good businessman. They were correct. Davis remained in business the rest of his life and attended church regularly.

Davis Schemoon came as an immigrant to this country in 1887, in the first boatload of newcomers from the Near East. Since he could speak English fairly well and had education beyond that of the average immigrant, he was asked to talk about his native area through the Chautauqua traveling lecture series in upstate New York. He spoke on the Arabic language, the customs, religious history and geography of the land of his origin. In 1890, after lecturing on the circuit for several years, he traveled west to San Francisco. There, he bought a house on Telegraph Hill just below Coit Tower. Davis paid $900 for the property, which he later sold. Today, because of its location and outstanding view, that home - which is still standing - would sell for close to $1 million.

Davis Schemoon and his wife, Amelia, pose for a portrait with George and baby Alfred.

After working in San Francisco for a year, Davis sent for his wife, Amelia, who had remained overseas while he was making enough money in the United States to support them. Three of their eight children, George (known as Toofy), Alfred (Najeeb) and my mother, Mary, were born in San Francisco. Their other children, Joseph (Yusef), Kelly, William, Amelia, and their youngest, Edward (Assad), were all born in Humboldt County.

North on the Pomona

Davis first heard about Humboldt County in 1896 from a fellow countryman who was living in this area. That same year, he and his growing family boarded the steam schooner Pomona and came to the North Coast. The family’s new home — located at 226 West Grant Street in Eureka — sat between Pine and Summer streets. It is still there today. The Schemoons’ neighbors included the Berrys, who lived across the street; the Toninis who lived around the corner; and Sergeant Hill of the Eureka police force and his family who lived on the west side of Summer Street. The Pinochis, who owned the Butternut Bakery, resided next to the Hills, and the Fred Moore family was just up Grant on B Street.

For his first local business venture, Davis put a large leather container filled with clothes and various sundries on his back, and peddled them Near Eastern-style in Eureka and as far away as Blue Lake. Later, he bought a team of horses and a wagon and sold his wares all the way to Hoopa. His route took him near the old Highway 299 over the Lord-Ellis Road and down into Redwood Creek, then down river for a few miles until he hit the old road that ended on the south side of Hoopa. Since no one had much cash in those days, a barter system was often used. At one time, Davis had accumulated a whole room full of Native American baskets and other artifacts. The collection would have been priceless today, but it disappeared when the younger Schemoon siblings rented out the family home and moved back to San Francisco during World War II. Fresh out of the Army, I came back to Eureka to visit in 1946. I checked on those baskets during my stay, but I was too late. Someone had realized their worth and taken off with them.

A Budding Businessman

In 1907, Davis opened up a clothing store right across Second Street from where the Eureka Rescue Mission is now located. A few years later, Davis — who wanted to move up Second Street a bit closer to town — closed his first store. In 1912, he started a second clothing store called Davis Schemoon and Son since his oldest child, George, was working with him by then. This new clothing store was located at the corner of Second and E streets, home of today’s Irish Shop. Uncle George worked for my grandfather until he joined the Army and was sent to France during World War I. The clothing store closed shortly after the war was over.

Years later, my grandfather started two grocery stores in Eureka. The first one, located on the corner of Summer and Grant streets, opened in 1922. The second store, on the corner of Summer and Simpson streets, opened in 1926. The latter — run by my Uncle George — was across the street from the Eureka Auto Camps, then the name for a trailer park or motel. There were cabins on the grounds, I remember, as well as places to pitch tents. Ancient cypress trees surrounded the Auto Camp. My cousins, George and Helen Schemoon, my brother Jim, and I spent many happy hours climbing on those large trees when we were young.

Davis ran the grocery store at Grant and Summer streets. The Tonini girls, Anna and Lilly, came to that store often to buy hairnets. Mr. Dixon, who lived up on Union Street, preferred the strong Toscani cigars. Kids in the neighborhood would congregate around the penny-candy counter. A big stock of bananas was always hanging in the window of the store. Most customers wanted to cut bananas from the stock themselves. A curved knife was there to accommodate them. In the back of the store was an old-fashioned coffee grinder. The wheel on the grinder was four feet in diameter. Coffee beans came in bulk form in a sack so customers could have my grandfather grind as little or as much as they desired.

A Tragic Accident

Early in the century, the streetcar line was extended out Summer Street to Broadway and out Broadway to Bucksport. The track ran right alongside my grandfather’s store. My grandfather still had a team of horses and a wagon then and my Uncle Kelly would usually accompany him while he was delivering the groceries. My uncle and grandfather were down on Broadway one day. The streetcar tracks had just been put in. The horses were unfamiliar with the clangs and bells of the trolleys and they shied and Grampa and his brother were thrown to the ground. My grandfather landed on the street and, with the exception of a few bruises, was OK. Uncle Kelly, however, landed on his back squarely on the tracks. He was disabled for life. He became a familiar sight around town, selling various sundries out of a drawer from his wheelchair.

Closing Shop

After working as a businessman for many years, my grandfather retired and turned his stores over to George and Edward. George’s store burned down in a spectacular fire in the 1930s. In 1942, Edward — who was operating the store my grandfather had managed — went into the service. He closed the store down and never returned to Eureka. Edward was the last person to carry the name Schemoon around here.

In 1965, remaining family members sold all the property Davis had accumulated over the years. Today, there is a private home and a dry cleaning establishment on the lot where George’s grocery store once stood. The other store is still standing, though it is used as a warehouse.

Grampa died in Eureka in 1935 at the age of seventy-five. His funeral was one of the largest in this area at that time. Relatives and friends came all the way from Lebanon to attend. He is buried along with my grandmother, one aunt, and two uncles at Ocean View Cemetery in Eureka.

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The story above was originally printed in the Summer 2000 issue of the Humboldt Historian, a journal of the Humboldt County Historical Society. It is reprinted here with permission. The Humboldt County Historical Society is a nonprofit organization devoted to archiving, preserving and sharing Humboldt County’s rich history. You can become a member and receive a year’s worth of new issues of The Humboldt Historian at this link.

Ginger Olsen passed away peacefully on July 21, 2025 in the exact spot she wanted to be, at her ranch on the top of Humboldt Hill, overlooking the ocean, with loved ones by her side. Ginger lived a remarkable life marked by dedication, compassion and an adventurous spirit.

Ginger was born in 1937 and spent the first half of her life in big cities, living, working and pursuing her education in New York, New Jersey and L.A.

It was by chance on a weekend getaway to Humboldt County that she saw and fell in love with the ranch at the top of Humboldt Hill. In true Ginger style, she made an offer and decided to move here, still having a job and house in LA and having no plan about what she was going to do here. She just knew this was where she wanted to be.

Ginger was a devoted nurse who not only cared for countless patients but also inspired future generations by teaching nursing. She achieved a Ph.D. in Education, reflecting her passion for learning and imparting knowledge. Ginger taught nursing at College of the Redwoods, and also ran a program for people who had gotten a DUI. Beyond her professional achievements, Ginger was also an election worker year after year. She was vocal about everyone exercising their right to vote, and if you didn’t, she would ask why not! You could often find Ginger at a rally in front of the courthouse, or on the phone to one of her representatives, and if she didn’t like the answers she got, you might just find her running in the next election! Ginger made sure her voice was heard by any means. Ginger and her life partner Diana owned a goat farm where they crafted award-winning cheeses, and could be found at the farmers Market in Arcata for many years. Their Capricious cheese won best in show at the American Cheese Society’s nationwide show, beating out some very stiff competition.

An avid traveler, Ginger explored the world, embracing diverse cultures and experiences. At 69, Ginger traveled to Lebanon to teach cheese making and ended up having to be evacuated by the military due to unrest in the area. It was a profound experience that changed her forever and was the subject of her book, which she published this year, at 88 years old!

Ginger was a proud, active member of Alcoholics Anonymous for over 40 years, embodying a life dedicated to service and helping others find hope and recovery. She even opened a transitional living house and was responsible for helping countless people get off the streets, further highlighting her dedication to service.

Ginger leaves behind both East Coast and West Coast family. Her commitment to family was second to none. She used to always say, I don’t throw away family! And you could always count on her to lend an ear (and tell you what to do!) even in your darkest hour. She was a beloved spouse/life partner, step-mother, bonus mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, daughter, cousin and especially Tanta. Ginger loved all of her family, but it’s important to mention that she shared a very special bond with her niece, Renee Winslow, who came from the east coast to live on her Tantas goat ranch during high school. The bond they built remained strong until the moment Ginger left us … and I’m sure will be carried in Renee’s heart forever. She is already missed sorely by us all.

Ginger was extremely proud to have seen the laws change in this state/country such that she was able to legally marry her life partner, Diana Livingston, who cared for Ginger for years all the way to the end, allowing Ginger to live out her life for as long as possible. We all should be so lucky to have that kind of love in our lives.

A celebration of Ginger’s Remarkable Life will be held on August 23, 2025, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Ginger and Diana’s Ranch, located at 7333 Humboldt Hill Rd, Eureka. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Feel free to bring a side dish or dessert to share if you want, and/or a memory of Ginger to share with us. We ask that you carpool whenever possible. For more information, text 707-845-4191, messages will be checked and responded to once a day.

Ginger’s legacy of strength, service, resilience and zest for life will continue to inspire all who knew her.

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This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

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As pressure mounts for their return, half a dozen Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas to stop a Republican-led redistricting scheme traveled to Sacramento on Friday to urge on California’s retaliatory response.

The Texas delegation appeared at the historic governor’s mansion alongside Gov. Gavin Newsom, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top legislative leaders, who publicly endorsed for the first time Newsom’s plan to redraw California congressional lines in the state to favor Democrats. They expect to make the proposed map available next week.

“We are here because we do know that courage is contagious,” Texas state Rep. Ann Johnson said, “and we are here to give hope to others to stand up and be courageous in this moment.”

Nearly the entire Democratic caucus of the Texas Legislature left the state earlier this week to deny Republicans a quorum and prevent them from taking up their redistricting proposal. At the request of President Donald Trump, who is seeking to protect a narrow GOP majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas Republicans are advancing a plan that could flip five seats currently held by Democrats.

It’s unclear how long the Democrats will be able to hold out as GOP leaders demand their return. The House has issued civil arrest warrants for the missing lawmakers, who also face $500 fines for each day they are absent, while the FBI is getting involved in tracking them down. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday sued to expel 13 of them from office.

“We take this fight one day at a time. We fight to win today and tomorrow we assess,” said Texas state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, one of the legislators Paxton is seeking to have removed.

This is the second time in two weeks that Newsom has hosted Democratic legislators from Texas at the governor’s mansion as he seeks to drum up public enthusiasm for his redistricting plan. He wants to call a special election on Nov. 4 and ask California voters to replace congressional district lines drawn by the state’s independent commission with a new map crafted to benefit Democrats.

Initial internal polling, shared with state lawmakers in private meetings on Sunday, showed a feeble majority of 52% of California voters in support — enough to win in November, but perhaps not enough to withstand a combative fall campaign that will almost certainly draw national attention and resources.

Gov. Gavin Newsom addresses the media during a press conference with a delegation of Texas Democrats who fled their state over the GOP redistricting plan, at the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park in Sacramento, on Aug. 8, 2025. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

“I think the voters will approve it. I think the voters understand what’s at stake,” Newsom said Friday. “We live in the most un-Trump state in America.”

Legislature will quickly take up redistricting

With time running short to meet an Aug. 22 statutory deadline for the November special election, California can no longer wait to see if Texas acts. Democratic leaders in California are still finalizing the language and district lines for their proposal, which the Legislature is expected to take up as soon as it returns from summer recess on Aug. 18.

Newsom has said the California redistricting measure will also include trigger language, with the new map only taking effect if Texas or other states redraw district lines before the 2026 midterms.

Sources who were not authorized to speak publicly have told CalMatters the redrawn map broadly aims to shore up Democrats in several swing seats while flipping five Republican-leaning districts to solidly Democratic, offsetting the potential gains in Texas.

It could spell the end for Reps. Doug LaMalfa of Chico, who represents California’s northeastern corner; Kevin Kiley of Rocklin, whose sprawling district runs down the eastern border of the state; Darrell Issa of Escondido, who straddles southern Riverside and eastern San Diego counties; and David Valadao of Hanford and Ken Calvert of Corona, perpetual Democratic targets in the Central Valley and Riverside County, respectively.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas on Friday dismissed criticism from Republicans that the new map has been drawn in secret without input from voters.

“Once these maps are released, voters will have the opportunity to digest these maps, review them for weeks and months leading to this election,” Rivas said. “If there is another state with a more transparent process, where voters will get the ultimate say in these new maps, please let me know what it is.”

As California and Texas accelerate their efforts, other states are still weighing whether to join a national arms race for control of the House. After a visit this week by Vice President J.D. Vance, Indiana’s Republican Gov. Mike Braun was noncommittal about redistricting the state, where Democrats hold two of nine congressional seats.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren of San Jose, who chairs California’s 43-member Democratic House delegation, said Friday that every single one of them supports the redistricting plan.

That includes Pelosi, who accused Trump and congressional Republicans of trying to rig the next election because they cannot defend their agenda and have no winning ideas to present to the American people. She said California was right to fight back to protect democracy.

“We have a responsibility to prove through the night of this Trump administration, the darkness of it all, that our flag is still there, with liberty and justice for all,” she said.

PREVIOUSLY:

• UH-OH! Vero Fiber Down in Eureka While Company Looks for a ‘Possible Fiber Cut’
• DAY TWO: Vero Fiber Still Down in Eureka; Company Tracks Problem to a Main Cable Cut by a Fire Somewhere

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Early this morning, Humboldt County’s newest internet service provider — Vero Fiber — finally managed to put its Eureka customers back on line, after a 36-hour outage caused by a fire near Laytonville that took out the main fiber-optic cable between here and the Bay Area. 

This afternoon, the Outpost was able to get in touch with Evan Biagi, Vero’s chief revenue officer, to talk about what went wrong and what it plans to do about it. 

First of all, Biagi wished to assure Humboldt County that the company had taken the outage very seriously. He said that Vero management had been receiving texts every hour updating them on progress toward a fix.

“We’re holding ourselves to a higher standard, here,” he said. “It’s just not acceptable to have outages like this in our world.”

So what went wrong? According to Biagi, it wasn’t that Vero had consciously put all its eggs in that one fiber-optic cable through Laytonville.

Biaggi told the Outpost that the company was very aware of the problems Humboldt County has experienced in the past, back when there was only one fiber-optic line connecting it with the wider word. Vero had implemented redundancy to prevent these issues before it ever started hooking up homes in Eureka, Biagi said. It found out, when the fire hit, that this redundancy did not work as expected.

So the first thing that the company will be addressing is making sure that they nail down a redundancy plan that does work if the north-south line is severed again.

“We’re now in the mode where we’re expecting this to happen again, and how do we make sure our network stays up when that occurs?” he said. “We want to build the most robust network possible, so a single incident doesn’t impede internet services.”

Biagi assured the Outpost that such will be the case even after Vero lights up its own big fiber-optic line to Humboldt — the Digital 299 project, which runs along the highway to Shasta County. Biagi assured the Outpost that even when that project is fully operational, the company will maintain redundancy options with the other main cables out of town.

Vero customers should soon be receiving an email that will further apologize and atone for the trouble the outage has caused. But all in all, Biagi said, Humboldt seems to be cutting his company some slack through all of this, and he said that this has been noticed and is very much appreciated.

“We’ve been following a lot of chatter out there, and the lack of negativity on public forums has been great,” he said. “I think that speaks to the community there.”

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UPDATE, 2:36 p.m.: The email to customers went out shortly after this story was published. In it, Vero credited all its Humboldt County customers with one free month of service and pledged $5,000 apiece to the the Laytonville Volunteer Fire Department and Food for People.

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Press release from the City of Arcata:

Arcata, CA – Celebrate National Dog Month this August by being a responsible dog owner and following all local laws protecting pets, the environment and the community.

In the City of Arcata, dogs must always be leashed on City trails and parks, including the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, Redwood Park and the Arcata Community Forest. Pet owners with friendly dogs should remember that other dogs may not be friendly and could be nervous, reactive, fearful, in training or owned by people who want to be left alone. Never let a dog run up to another without talking to the owner first. Respect others and their need for space.

Here are five key reasons to leash your dog in public spaces:

1. On-leash isn’t just good practice; it’s the law. Arcata Municipal Code Section 10008 states that dogs must be leashed in all public areas. Leashes must be under six feet long and sturdy. Dogs are not allowed, even on leash, in the downtown business district, including the Arcata Plaza. When planning to visit the Saturday Farmers’ Market, leave the dogs at home and enjoy a dog-friendly trail afterward.

2. Prevent the spread of disease. Pet waste is full of bacteria that can make pets, people and wildlife sick. Some local streams and beaches have been placed on the North Coast Water Board’s Impaired Waterbodies Action List due to fecal pollution directly linked to dog waste. When dogs are on a leash, it is easier for owners to locate their pets’ waste. The owner can then pick it up and appropriately dispose of it in the trash. If bags were forgotten, most City parks and trails offer pet waste stations with bags and trash bins, please use them. Never toss pet waste into the trees, bushes, streets or gutters.

3. Safety: An unleashed dog can cause accidents or be in an accident. Leashes help prevent dogs from running into roads, cyclists or other trail users. Leashed dogs are also easier to manage if confronted by other animals, aggressive dogs or unforeseen hazards.

4. Wildlife and habitat protection. Off-leash dogs can unintentionally scare or harm wildlife, disturb nesting birds and damage sensitive habitats. Staying on leash and on trail preserves local ecosystems.

5. Reunite lost pets: When a dog has a leash and collar people know that the dog belongs to someone in the case of separation. It is important for a dog’s collar to have an ID tag with basic contact information such as the dog’s name, the owner’s name and a phone number. Additionally, dog owners in the City of Arcata are required to obtain a Dog License, which will help reunite pets with their owners. For more information about the application or annual fees, visit cityofarcata.org/401/Dog-Licenses.

6. A Special Note for Cat Owners: Many people are bringing cats to parks and trails using cat backpacks or strollers. Be sure your cat is also harnessed and leashed, even inside a carrier, to prevent escape. While cats don’t require licenses in Arcata, they too benefit from ID tags and safe outdoor practices.

Some beaches and trails in Humboldt County allow dogs to be off-leash if they are under voice control. For those with little or no voice control over their dogs, keep them on a leash at all times. For a detailed list of recreation areas in Humboldt County and the dog use regulations at each location, Friends of the Dunes offers free online maps and guides. Visit friendsofthedunes.org/resources and scroll down to find the Exploring Wild Places with Your Dog map.

This Dog Month, consider donating to local shelters and care centers or volunteering time. Local shelters are often at full capacity and struggle with a lack of either funds or supplies. Donate old blankets or pet food which can make a significant difference for local shelters.

For a map of DogiPot locations in the City of Arcata and information on the impact of pet waste, please visit cityofarcata.org/779/Pet-Waste or contact the Environmental Services Department at (707) 822-8184.

Derek Russell, long-time Humboldt resident and owner of Arcata’s Ampt skate shop, died July 31 after suffering a massive heart attack during a camping trip near Roseburg, Ore. He was 37.

Russell’s impact on the local skating scene cannot be overstated. He ran Arcata’s summer skating camp for years, and his teaching influenced countless skaters.

“You work five years for Arcata’s Rec department teaching kids how to skateboard for a month and a half each summer, and you have a lot of reach within this community,” said friend and owner of Ramparts Skate Park Riley Morrison in an interview with the Outpost. “A lot of these kids between the ages of 17 to 10 were literally shown how to skateboard from Derek.”

Local skate shop Ampt opened in 2002, when Russell was in high school. 

“He immediately found a home there, hanging out and working at the shop over the years,” reads a statement from assorted family and friends. “As the heart of Arcata’s tight-knit skateboarding scene, the importance of the shop cannot be overstated. When Derek bought Ampt in 2018, it was a dream come true. He embodied the phrase ‘skater owned and operated.’”

He dedicated his efforts to getting more skate parks to open. He was instrumental in the creation of the skate parks in McKinleyville and the almost-completed park in Willow Creek.

Most of Ampt’s products have been bought out by well-wishers after his death, and there’s a GoFundMe set up by his partner Isabel Angell, his former spouse Cecilia Rivera, and longtime friend and Ampt associate Nick Kraus.

“The kid was a visionary and had a heart of gold,” Morrison said. “I firmly believe that what he saw for his community was incredibly appropriate. And that vision — we’ll keep working towards it: more skate parks, more access for the kids. Derek was a young kid when I met him, and he was a young kid when he passed, and it’s always hard when they’re a lot younger. It’s hard anytime a buddy passes, but it’s really hard when it’s someone like that. There was still a lot more — there is still a lot more left in the journey.”

“I’ve known Derek since he was a teenager,” said Charlie Caldwell, director of the Humboldt Skatepark Collective in an interview with the Outpost. “He was just a big-hearted guy. Everyone knows him, and he’s a pinnacle of our community. He cares about everyone. It’s a huge loss for all of us.”

There will be an unofficial memorial in his honor tomorrow, Aug. 9 at 2 p.m., at the Arcata Skate Park. 

Don’t let that icy blue fool you — it’s gonna be hotter than hell in the mountains this weekend, with a Heat Advisory in effect.

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What happened to Faugust? We coast dwellers are accustomed to digging out our sweaters and vests this time of year. Instead, it has been downright gorgeous, with sunny skies and temperatures sometimes reaching into the 70s! 

It’s a different story for our neighbors at higher elevation, of course, and they — and you, if you plan on visiting them — should be aware that this weekend the mouth of Hades is poised to blow on the mountains, with temps in Hoopa reaching as high as 108 degrees. 

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory. Put some effort into keeping cool, especially if you or one of your loved ones is elderly or otherwise at risk. Also: Hydrate.

Meanwhile on the coast: More of this crazy pleasant weather. Get your Vitamin D while you can.