If you drink coffee, there’s a chance you have a brewing ritual. A ritual that you likely have some attachment to. Hey, maybe you’re even passionate about it. It can be an immersive sensory experience: Grinding the beans and inhaling their rich, earthy scent. Waiting for the kettle to whistle and emit a stream of vapor if you’re using a French press or pour over. The distinctive, rain-like sound of a drip coffee machine filling your kitchen as the sun breaks free of the horizon. At its best, it can be a mindfulness practice, a reminder to slow down and appreciate the moment. To start the day with a level of presence and patience.

Or… you could pop in a K-cup.

While the stripping away of ritual in favor of speed and convenience is arguably problematic for the human psyche, this is a column about environmental sustainability. But there’s usually a correlation between things that are bad for our mental health and practices that are bad for our planet. NPR reported last year that Keurig agreed to pay $1.5 million in penalties for misleading statements about how recyclable their single-use pods are. Just because they’re technically recyclable, it doesn’t mean it’s easy to do so, leading to a history of large recycling companies not accepting them. A Berkeley non-profit called “The Story of Stuff Project” estimates that the number of K-cups currently in landfills “could wrap around the planet more than 10 times.”

There must be more sustainable ways to enjoy the world’s favorite caffeinated beverage, right? Why yes, there are. So many ways:

1. Reusable K-cups: If you’re smitten with the Keurig system, you can invest in stainless steel, reusable K-cups. Simply pack it with ground beans, pop it in like you would the single-use variety, and hit “go.” Toss the grounds and rinse it afterwards, and you’re free to use it over and over.
2. Coffee filters: Spare the planet from all those paper coffee filters that add up over the years, and invest in a reusable coffee filter for your drip machine. The metal ones are easy to clean and can be used for years. If you’re attached to paper filters, opt for the ones that aren’t bleached white, as those can’t be composted.
3. Consider the French press: This method has a built-in filter and doesn’t require any waste other than the beans.
4. Compost those beans: Coffee grounds are a fabulous addition for the compost. If you compost for your own garden, you can personally reap the benefits. If not, it’s great to toss them into the local green bins if you’re able to.
5. Coffee on the go: Most coffee shops are happy to fill your personal mug or to-go container, which reduces overreliance on single-use cups. These single-use plastics are often not recycled despite being labeled as such. And some places, like Jitter Bean, give a discount on your drink when you use the mug you purchase from them, so it eventually pays for itself. Plus, it keeps my coffee hot for hours.
6. Forswear the straw: If you don’t have a reusable mug the next time you’re in the coffee shop drive-thru, resist the offer for a straw to go with your cold drink. Many single-use cups now have built-in spouts, making straws unnecessary. If straws are your jam, consider investing in the reusable version. I found some that are dishwasher safe and BPA free. Finding the right system for having them available in my car or purse when I’m on the go remains elusive to me. Drop your strategy in the comments if you’ve got a successful one!

Happy (sustainable) caffeinating!

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Ashley Nichole Thomas is a marriage and family therapist who’s passionate about shrinking her carbon footprint. In her free time she writes fantasy novels, and remains unconvinced that fairies don’t exist.

Maria Lourdes Furtado passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on January 21, 2025.

She was born on January 25, 1939, in Ponta da Faja Grande, Flores, Acores and the last surviving member of her immediate family. Maria immigrated to the United States in 1956 and lived in Arcata until 2002, before moving to McKinleyville.

Maria started working as soon as she got to the United States. Her first job was in the kitchen at the Big 4 Inn and she continued working in commercial kitchens at the Eureka Inn and Jolly Giant Commons at HSU. She retired in 2001 to care for her Mother.

Our Aunt truly spent her life in service to others. She learned to speak English soon after arriving in the United States and would drive new immigrants to their appointments and help translate for them. She was a devout Catholic and attended daily mass for many years.

Every holiday Maria selflessly prepared an amazing meal. It brought her great joy to be caring for her family and spending time together. Maria was an early advocate for the homeless, purchasing and preparing monthly meals for the unhoused in Arcata. She enjoyed gardening and flowers. She always had freshly cut flowers to put at her parents’ grave. Many hours were spent enjoying daily walks. Maria was a talented crocheter, creating many heirloom keepsakes that we will treasure.

Maria is survived by her niece Diane (David) Sloane, nephews Rev. Jose Furtado, Jim (Keri) Furtado and Steve (Lorrie) Furtado, grandnieces Kelsey Sloane & Jenna Furtado, grandnephews Justin Furtado & Ryan Sloane, sister-in-law Fatima Furtado, and cousins in Canada, Massachusetts and in Flores, Acores.

She is preceded in death by her beloved parents Alberto L. & Serafina L. Furtado, brothers Angelo L. Furtado and Pedro N. Furtado.

A rosary followed by a funeral mass will be held at 10:45 a.m. January 29th at Christ the King Catholic Church at 1951 McKinleyville Avenue, McKinleyville. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Arcata.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Eureka Rescue Mission, St. Vincent DePaul’s Dining Facility, or donor’s favorite charity.

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The City of Eureka will open an extreme weather shelter tonight in response to frigid weather conditions anticipated across the region. Temperatures are forecast to dip below 30 degrees tonight through Sunday morning, with wind chills as low as 25 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

If you or someone you know needs shelter tonight, be at one of these locations at the specified time, and city workers will drive you to the shelter:

• Free Meal at 6 p.m. (35 West Third Street)
• Sacoo Amphitheater at 6:30 p.m. (near the Adorni Center)
• HOPE Center at 7 p.m. (720 Wood Street)
• 14th and Koster Streets at 7:30 p.m.

For additional questions or concerns, contact the City of Eureka at (707) 441-4253. Click here for information about extreme weather shelters and warming stations located elsewhere in the county.

Stay safe out there, folks.

Every year, delegates from across the globe meet to discuss how we can muster an international response to climate change. On November 5, 2024, voters elected Donald Trump to be president and one of his first actions was to, again, pull the United States from global climate accords. How can we take meaningful action on climate change when an election fundamentally changes American climate policy? And are these annual meetings actually accomplishing anything or is the age of multinational climate action over?

Guests Derek Walker Adjunct Professor in International Climate Change Law at Vermont Law and Michelle McMillan, law student at Vermont Law share their perspectives.

The California Gold Rush produced many things that were not meant to last. A man’s dream went about as far as his dollar, and that wasn’t far considering what it cost to live and work at the river’s edge, panning for gold in the 1850s. Likewise, the towns that were built contained wooden structures that were raised quickly and were easily burned to the ground in the event of a fire.

In 1856, Augustus Jacoby had more permanent plans in mind when he constructed his storehouse in the small community of Union, now Arcata. Taking advantage of local resources, Jacoby built his building with bricks made by local people in Union and stone hewn from a quarry nearby.

Carpenters working in Union at the time were not accustomed to building brick and stone structures, so it was necessary to call in an outside contractor to do the work. Clark W. Durkee, a “Jack of all trades” and well-known contractor of that period, was hired to build Jacoby’s storehouse. The structure was hailed as the first brick building in Union and the first fireproof structure in Humboldt County.

After its completion in 1857, Jacoby’s building was used to store groceries and supplies, which were shipped by pack train to the mines of the Klamath-Trinity area. It was used as a shelter for women and children during the Indian troubles from 1858 to 1864, and miners could also store their belongings there while seeking riches in the hills beyond.

In the late 1870s ownership of Jacoby’s storehouse changed hands a number of times until it was bought by a young businessman, Alexander Brizard, in 1879. The company of A. Brizard has owned the building ever since, making it the longest surviving family-owned business in Arcata. [ED. NOTE FROM 2025: While this may have been true in 1988, it is true no longer. The Storehouse is now owned by an LLC headed by local entrepreneur/restaurateur Bill Chino.]

In addition to the Arcata store, Brizard eventually opened nine branch stores in Humboldt and Trinity counties to serve the needs of miners and ranchers far from supply sources.

Today, Wallace C. Appleton is president of what is now Brizard Company. He is married to Josephine Brizard, granddaughter of A. Brizard, the original owner. In an interview in his office on the fourth story of Jacoby’s Storehouse, Appleton described some of the development that has taken place on the structure since its original foundation was laid in 1857:

The building was about 100 feet long and 35 feet wide originally. Then in 1907 they enlarged it. They took out the east wall, the north wall and the south wall and left the west wall which is still there. Then, they enlarged the building to 185 feet by 50 feet wide and added the (three) additional stories. They made the bottom into a mercantile and on the second floor, where the shops are now, they had shoes and all types of clothes. On the mezzanine floor they had furniture. The same original store was kept intact until 1974.

In 1974 Brizard Co. made some major decisions concerning the branch stores and Jacoby’s Storehouse.

In 1974, it was decided to close the business out. The branch stores, of course, had roads to them way back in the 1900s but it was hard to drive down because of the old cars and the roads were just one-way with turnouts and there were all kinds of twists and turns. In took from two to two-and-a-half hours to drive from Willow Creek to’ Arcata. So people did most of their shopping at the stores up in the hills. Then, as the roads improved, it was kind of a treat for people to get out and shop in Eureka and Arcata, and the business at the branch stores gradually dropped off, so they had to be closed up.

At the time of closure, Brizard Co. had no plans to renovate the Arcata building, but seeing that there were many possibilities, the company hired professional help to give them advice concerning their options.

We hired a consulting firm from San Francisco and had them do an economic survey of the area and they came up with a recommendation of what we should do. What you see here today is pretty much what they recommended as far as the types of businesses and offices we have.

The $1.3 million project was financed solely by Brizard Company without any grants or low-interest loans from the government. This was in accordance with Appleton’s strong beliefs about the government’s role in restorations such as these.

I, frankly, don’t believe in grants and low-interest loans because the federal government is so far in debt. In my opinion, they don’t have the money to do that. If the deficit keeps going the way it is, we could wind up with a big collapse of the economy.

So, I know a lot of people are for those, but I never was for them. We’ve always done our own thing. We’ve used all our own funds internally or borrowed from banks.

The initial reconstruction plan was drawn up by Beacom Construction Co., a firm from Fortuna, but it was not until a local craftsman, James A. Groeling, came onto the scene that the full potential of the renovation was realized.

“When I came into the storehouse,” said Groeling in an interview, “The project had already begun. They had an the time the Appletons assumed they (Beacom) were going to do the finish work. I then had run into Hank Appleton (son of Wallace and Josephine) and started discussing the possibilities of actually doing something quite special as opposed to what the architect had hauled out, which was a basic shopping center in this building.”

Groeling, a 39-year-old cabinetmaker’s son originally from Lakewood, Calif., has studied architecture for close to twenty years, starting in high school where he won awards for his work. He studied under two talented practicing architects at Cerritos Junior College, and went on to work in nearly all the trades, ranging from construction to model making.

I kind of fell into an interesting position with the storehouse in that I had a well rounded background. Not only am I a cabinetmaker and a fine woodworker, but I know construction and that allowed me to fit right in. It gave me a little bit of merit when it came to discussing the project with Beacom Construction.

We had already contracted them to do the whole project, but they really had no way to create what needed to be created. Something had to be created or the project was going to be rather flat. So they were a little skeptical of me at first.

Groeling worked with five craftsmen and a number of people from a local guild — Savoy Studios, which included the best glass workers, painters and lamp-makers from Humboldt County and abroad.

It was pretty interesting in the beginning. Mr. Appleton, being the pleasant fellow that he is, was able to give us a certain amount of faith that we needed to attempt the project. He felt like we could do it and that says a lot for Mr. Appleton because without that, we would have never gotten the project going.

To provide the best possible working conditions for Groeling and his woodworkers, a large barn at the corner of Union and Seventh streets in Arcata was converted into a workshop. From here they produced the beautiful entries that are now seen throughout the structure and proved their qualifications as craftsmen.

Groeling recalls one memorable experience he encountered while working on the project

We were sandblasting the outside of the building, and Hank and I were standing out there and we looked up and we could barely see the word ‘Studebaker.’ I asked Hank about it and he said, ‘Ya, they sold Studebaker wagons here.’ Those letters were underneath the paint and when they started sandblasting it off, you could make it out, which I thought was pretty amazing.

They had a wagon store in the basement and there was a tunnel that went all the way through. So you could actually drive through the building. There was hardware there and rough plumbing and that’s where they had the wagons.

The biggest problem that Groeling encountered while working on the project was dealing with time constraints.

The grand opening celebration was set for Nov. 4, 1977.

From the point when we agreed on the date for the opening, all our crews had to really begin to push. What we ended up doing, because there were so many people and so many crews working, was to arrive at about 5 p.m. and work a second shift.

By Nov. 1, the crews were working around the clock to finish before opening day. On the afternoon of the fourth the project was completed and ready for the grand opening that evening at 8 p.m. A barrier had been constructed to keep the entrance from public view. Groeling described his feelings upon completion of such an extensive project:

I’ll never forget it. The whole crew, as soon as the opening was beginning at around 8 o’clock and it was just starting to rain a little bit, went across the street and sat on the bus stop, sitting there in the rain, just looking at this thing. I had designed the whole front, and we had gone in and built it, all the doors and the glass tiles and everything, but we had never seen it in its entirety. So they tore the barrier down that day and it was really neat. It turned out better than I had hoped.

With 37,000 square feet of space, Jacoby’s Storehouse now contains over thirty businesses and private offices including two restaurants, a dessert shop, a bank, a hair salon and assorted novelty and clothing stores. It was designated California Historical Landmark #783 at the time of the A. Brizard Centennial in 1963, and on June 17, 1982, it was placed on the “National Register of Historic Places.” It continues to serve Arcata and the surrounding area as a place of business and a building of prestige, just as it did in the beginning.

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The story above is excerpted from the July-August 1988 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.

Candice Crystal Conner Burrell was born on April 13, 1983, in Eureka. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 6, 2025, in Willits. She was born to Frederick and Joyce Conner as the youngest of four siblings including two sisters, Angela and Catrina, and brother Frederick.

From birth, Candice had a happy spirit. She smiled and wanted to play and engage with people. She loved the adoring attention from her older siblings. Throughout her childhood she had an exceptionally close bond with her father as they were both adventurous and risk-takers. At nine months old, Candice would wait for her dad to arrive home and point to the stereo to dance with him. Her family was known for playing music and dancing with family and friends. She also enjoyed playing with her dogs, cats, and hamsters. There was no shortage of pets at her house. Other activities she enjoyed included hiking, fishing, motorcycle riding, boating, and riding in fast cars. She was fearless and would scale rocks that would petrify most people!

Candice was a strong academic student, receiving awards for writing and poetry. She loved to read and draw and her penmanship was truly an art. She was chosen to speak on behalf of the agriculture club. Her employers acknowledged her strengths and diligence with recognition awards.

Candice was born to a remarkable mother who was a strong supporter through all of life’s challenges. They enjoyed gardening, long walks, rollerblading, bike riding, and the sudden spurts of energy to run. She and her mom enjoyed going out dancing with friends. When Candice moved out of the area they enjoyed long conversations on the phone and traveled to see each other.

Being closest in age, Candice had a special relationship with her comedic brother, Freddie. They shared close mutual friends and lots of memories. Candice wasn’t able to spend as much time with her oldest sister, Angela, as they lived far apart. Nevertheless, they immensely enjoyed their time having fun together including working out over the phone. They often spoke and stayed close remotely. Catrina was the sister who Candice went to as a child for comfort, often sleeping in her bedroom. As adults, they enjoyed spending time together when possible.

Although Candice was challenged with many health issues, she never let that stop her. She faced those difficulties with perseverance and a hope to thrive with a brighter future. She believed in never quitting and dealing with every challenge head-on. Candice was open and honest about her mental health struggles that started in her teenage years. She knew her personal struggles caused pain to others. She always tried to make amends and was known for going above and beyond to help anyone in need. Not only that, but she loved to brighten someone’s day just because she could. She had a servant’s heart! When asked if someone could do something for her, she would say a smoothie or coffee would be nice.

Her deep regard and faith for God were growing through her study of the Bible. Many members of her congregation became lifelong friends.

Her family was blessed to have an extraordinary visit days before she passed which included many of her extended family ranging in age from five to ninety-four. It is a memory that will be held close to our hearts forever. Family and friends deeply loved her and will miss her.

Her ashes are being cared for alongside her father’s ashes, in the home of her mother in Eureka.

A celebration of life will be held on February 23, 2025, at the Elks Lodge at 2 p.m. Event Venue: 445 Herrick Avenue, Eureka, CA 95503.

Robert Brede Lima, fondly known as Bob to his friends and Bobby to his family, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2025, at the Ida Emmerson Hospice House in Eureka, surrounded by his loving family. Born on February 14, 1961, in Eureka, Robert’s life was one of profound love, adventure, and service.

Early Life

Robert spent his early years in Eureka before moving to Oahu, Hawaii, at the age of 6 with his mother, Margaret Ann Brede Lima, and his sister, Toni. At the age of 13, Robert returned to Eureka with his family and reconnected with his father, Bob Lima. The two shared a growing bond, often playing cribbage together and engaging in lively discussions about airplanes and guns. His father, a former avionics electrician in the Air Force, inspired Robert’s appreciation for aviation.

Robert attended Zane Junior High and, in his teens, Robert especially discovered a passion for auto mechanics, spending countless hours in his grandmother’s garage working on his 1971 Pontiac GTO with his lifelong friend, Dean Rychlik. These formative experiences were integral to shaping Robert’s adventurous and hands-on spirit.

Military Service

After graduating from Arcata High School in 1979, Robert joined the United States Air Force with his buddy Dean Rychlik. His basic training was in San Antonio, Texas, followed by technical training in Wichita Falls, where he excelled, graduating as the top honor student in his class. He was ultimately stationed in Charleston, South Carolina. During his service, Robert worked in Cargo, traveling to destinations like the Panama Canal and gaining valuable life experiences. He served honorably until 1983, returning to civilian life with a sense of discipline and adventure.

A Life of Love and Dedication

Robert met the love of his life, Ramona, in 1988 while attending pharmacy school at the University of Texas at Austin. One of Robert’s closest friends and college roommate, David Rothbardt, stood as his best man at their wedding, and the two remained steadfast friends until Robert’s final days.

Last year, David spent several months in California helping care for Robert and supporting Ramona during Robert’s hospital stays in San Francisco and his time at home. Robert and Ramona graduated together in 1990 and married in 1991 in Hurst, Texas, celebrating 33 wonderful years of marriage this past September. In 1992, they moved to Eureka to pursue their shared dream of owning a pharmacy. That year also marked the birth of their first child, Ryan Brede Lima, in Hurst, Texas. Their second child, Raegan Kate Lima, was born in Eureka on the grand opening day of Costco in 1994 — a memory not forgotten, as her labor immediately began after walking through every aisle of the store.

Professional Accomplishments

Robert began working in Eureka for Clay Tom at Clay’s Pharmacy in 1992, and in 1994, he became the first pharmacist manager at Costco in 1994. It wasn’t until 1997 when Robert and Ramona realized their dream by opening Lima’s Professional Pharmacy, which served the Eureka and McKinleyville communities for 16 years. Going on their 28th year in business, Ramona still runs and operates Lima’s Compounding Pharmacy in Eureka. Robert was known for his dedication to his patients, especially through his work providing comfort care medications for palliative and hospice patients and conducting pharmacy audits for Humboldt Open Door for over a decade.

Passions and Adventures

Beyond his professional life, Robert was a man of many passions. He obtained his pilot’s license in 1986 and often flew family and friends to stunning destinations across the United States, even venturing to Mexico for fishing trips. A lover of the ocean, Robert found solace in its vast beauty, a sentiment that drew him back to Humboldt County. He was also an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing trips with friends, and in his earlier years, a dedicated golfer and a member of Baywood Golf and Country Club.

After “semi-retiring” from pharmacy in 2013, Robert found a new passion in winemaking, partnering with Jimmy Pastori of Old Growth Cellars. Using his chemistry expertise and woodworking skills, Robert played an instrumental role in helping Jimmy and a group of friends and volunteers construct the Old Growth Cellars Tasting Room on Hilfiker Lane in Eureka. Over nearly a decade, Robert fully embraced the winemaking process—from traveling to renowned wine regions in central and southern California to crushing, blending, bottling, and welcoming locals and visitors in the tasting room. His contributions and enthusiasm left an indelible mark on the winery and all who shared the experience with him.

Community and Family

Robert’s zest for life extended to the community. In his youth, Robert was active in the Boy Scouts of America. In his adult life, Robert was a long-standing member of the Ingomar Club, where his grandfather Herbert Brede was a charter member. He supported numerous service and academic organizations, always willing to lend a helping hand or provide donations to meaningful causes. His adventurous spirit also found expression at the Redwood Acres Raceway, where he was part of Rat Pack Racing, a close-knit group of friends that included Robert and his three amigos: Jim Redd, Terry Vallee, and Ray Demello. Together, they shared countless memories of thrilling races and the camaraderie of repairing their cars to prepare for the next exciting event.

Devoted Family Man

Above all, Robert was a devoted family man. He took immense pride in being a father to Ryan and Raegan, wholeheartedly supporting them and coaching their baseball and softball teams during their younger years. As a grandfather, his love grew even deeper for Ryan and his wife Casey’s daughter, Amelia Kate Lima, as well as for Raegan and Malachi’s two sons, Irah King Gabor Levvi and Theo Brede Donald Levvi. These cherished grandchildren were the light of his life, and Robert’s face would glow with joy and pride whenever he spoke of them.

Legacy

Robert was preceded in death by his father and mother, Robert Louis Lima and Margaret Ann (Brede) Mattice, and his stepsister, Barbara Emerson-Wilcox. He is survived by his wife, Ramona; his children, Ryan Brede Lima (Casey) and Raegan Kate Lima Levvi (Malachi); his sister, Marnie Antoinette “Toni” Lima Browne (Dan); nephews, Cody Box (Sierra) of Hydesville, Ca., Shawn Manning (Connie) of Cave Creek, Az., and Robert’s grandchildren; Amelia Lima, Irah Levvi, and Theo Levvi; his grandniece Brooklyn Box, and grandnephews Cooper and Bodie Box all of Hydesville, Ca., and Myles Manning, of Cave Creek, Az. He is also survived by his stepsister, Patricia “Pati” Emerson and her son, Dolan Lane, both of Portland, Or., and stepsister Kimberly “Kimi” Smith of Arcata, Ca. His memory will be forever cherished by his family, friends, and the community he served so selflessly.

Robert’s life was a testament to love, generosity, and a spirit of adventure. He leaves behind a legacy of compassion and dedication that will continue to inspire all who know him. He will be deeply missed and never forgotten.

Celebration of Life

A celebration of Robert’s life will be held on Saturday, March 8th, at 1:00 PM at the Elks Lodge in Eureka. Family, friends, and community members are invited to come together to share memories and honor his remarkable life.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Hospice of Humboldt in Eureka.

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