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.

Thomas Maxwell Kohler, 87 years of Rio Dell, died after a brief illness on January 17, 2025 in Eureka, with his wife by his side.

Tom grew up in Petaluma. The son of Maxwell and Mary Kohler, he was in the U.S. Navy Reserve Seabees (“We Build, We Fight”) for eight years. He married Beverly Aichino in 1961. They had two children. Tom lived the majority of his adult life in Humboldt County along with a few years in Etna.

Tom was a Journeyman carpenter and worked for Pacific Bell. He was a master craftsman leather worker. Tom won the Ford Industrial Arts Award for Leather Crafting, as well as winning many ribbons at the California State Fair.

In 1962, he began working for CalFire. He was stationed in Healdsburg, Whitethorn and Garberville as a Firefighter, and later was Captain of the Mattole Valley Station in Honeydew. He retired from the State in 1991 with 30 years of exemplary service. Tom was hardworking, conscientious and respected by both his employees and superiors.

He was also a kind, patient, loving, selfless man who loved his family and friends. He had a great sense of humor. A friend to all, Tom never had a bad word to say about anyone.

Tom is survived by his wife of nearly 64 years, Bev; their children Maxwell Kohler and Michele Burley (Jesse) of Fortuna; grandchildren James Goff (Brittney Timmerman) of Rio Dell, Jessica Lonbeck (Daniel) of Salem, Oregon, Leah, Dylan, Jordan and Rose Burley of Fortuna, Max Kohler of Lewiston, Idaho; twelve great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Tom is preceded in death by his parents and his sisters Laura Gilmore (Allen) of Roseville and RoseMary (Roy) Jensen of Petaluma.

Tom will be missed tremendously and in our hearts forever.

Celebration of life:

• Saturday, April 5th @ Noon
• Mattole Grange
• 36512 Mattole Rd., Petrolia

Please bring your favorite potluck. Main course will be provided.

Please RSVP by texting 707-656-6836 by March 22.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the local volunteer fire departments.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• Trump’s Order Won’t Halt California’s Offshore Wind Leases. But Will It Derail the Industry?

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On his first day in office, President Donald Trump fulfilled a long-held promise to block offshore wind development, issuing a sweeping Executive Order to halt leasing and permitting for new wind energy projects slated on the outer continental shelf. While the ban has sparked widespread concern over the future of wind energy in the United States, it doesn’t target lease areas that are already paid for, including those within the Humboldt Wind Energy Area, located 20 miles west of Eureka.

Those lease areas — along with three other sites off the coast of Morro Bay — were sold to multinational wind energy developers in December 2022 during the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s first-ever offshore wind lease sale on the West Coast. Those leases were paid in full shortly after the auction, and there are no pending federal approvals for the proposed projects at this time.

While the ban does not affect existing lease areas, it does direct the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Attorney General, to conduct “a comprehensive review of the ecological, economic, and environmental necessity of terminating or amending any existing wind energy leases,” the order states.

To get a better sense of how the offshore wind ban is playing out on the national level, we called up our North Coast congressional representative Jared Huffman for more information. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity. 

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Lost Coast Outpost: Before we get into the topic at hand, can you describe the current scene in Washington, D.C? How are things feeling now that Trump is in office and how does it compare to his first term?

Huffman

Huffman: It is different. It’s off to, obviously, a very rapid start with these executive orders, but the other thing that’s different is that there’s almost complete deference to Trump from congressional Republicans. Under Donald Trump, this has ceased to be a co-equal branch of government — it’s simply an arm of his administration. … Congress is supposed to be a check and balance in our system of government to prevent presidents from turning into kings, right? That was the whole idea, and right now we have a Congress where the majority seems perfectly fine with President Trump just claiming unthinkable authoritarian powers and doing these bizarre and almost laughably ignorant things — proposing to rename the Gulf of Mexico, acquire Greenland, take back the Panama Canal — and these guys are just nodding and smiling. It is strange to watch the transformation of these members of Congress who swore to uphold the Constitution [and] are supposed to be here to exercise their Article I power as an independent branch of government, but it sure looks more like a cult from where I sit.

LoCO: I’d like to focus our conversation on Trump’s crackdown on wind energy in the United States. As I understand, his executive order temporarily halts permitting and leasing for new offshore wind energy projects. What else should people know about the order?

Huffman: In terms of what affects us on the North Coast, the halt of leasing is not that big a deal because our leases have already been held and the leasing rights are already acquired. It’s not very helpful that permitting is paused as well — hopefully, that’s only temporary and the government can get back to doing what it’s supposed to do. I think this will not be the last obstacle the Trump Administration throws in front of clean energy. They hate it because they’re all in for fossil fuels. Wind power and other clean energy threaten the fossil fuel monopoly, so they’re going to do really extreme and overreaching things, but that shouldn’t mean that we allow them to win. I don’t think [this executive order] means the end of our incredibly promising offshore wind project. It simply means we’re going to have to be strategic about how we continue to make progress, and it probably means some delay.

LoCO: In previous discussions with the Harbor Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District’s leadership, I’ve been told that the Trump Administration’s anticipated actions against the offshore wind industry will slow things down, but they’re not likely to lead to a “complete elimination of the industry.” Can you speak to that?

Huffman: I think that’s right. Look, we had years of work ahead of us anyway, all kinds of planning, all kinds of design, decision-making, siting, etc. All of that work can move forward, we just have to think about how we sequence things because we’re entering a four-year temporary alternate reality. 

LoCO: I came across an article in The New York Times that said Trump has directed the U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of the Interior to “explore the possibility of ‘terminating or amending’ any leases that have already been issued.” Can he do that?

Huffman: No, he cannot do that. Let me just demystify right up front: He cannot do that and if he tries to do that there will be litigation. There’ll be takings claims brought forth. I mean, he will create huge financial exposure to the federal government at a time when he claims he wants to cut budgets. It makes no sense whatsoever and this is what’s going to be difficult for a lot of us during the second Trump presidency. A lot of what he says is just going to be wacky, ignorant, baiting stuff, and then some of it is going to be truly dangerous and actionable. It’s important to be able to distinguish between the two — which is not always easy — but in this case, I think you can. I think you can take the revocation of leases off the table.

LoCO: And have you spoken with either of the developers — Vineyard Offshore or Canopy Offshore Wind — about the order against offshore wind?

Huffman: No, not since the firehose of executive orders.

LoCO: Can you also talk about the environmental consequences of this executive order and other proposed actions to double down on oil drilling?

Huffman: Yeah, none of that is a surprise. This is always the Republican playbook, but with this administration, it’s more aggressive than anything we’ve seen before. The last time around, his ambitious offshore drilling agenda ran up against real-world political opposition in places like Florida and I think that is likely to happen again. I mean, people — most people — don’t want offshore drilling off their coast. I’m not surprised that they would propose some of these things, but proposing it and actually doing it are two wildly different things.

LoCO: Can you also talk about Trump’s decision to declare an energy emergency in the United States and how it directly conflicts with his executive order against offshore wind?

Huffman: It’s just extreme cognitive dissonance. Real facts tell us that we are at record levels of oil and gas production, record levels of exports and record profits for this monopoly. In the face of that, [Trump] declares an energy emergency like there’s some kind of a crisis. It’s just absurd on its face, but he’s going to use that very disingenuous emergency declaration to try to invoke a bunch of emergency legal authorities to do even more for his pals in the industry. It’s just so deeply corrupt and at odds with reality, but this is what we’re dealing with, not just on this, but on a host of fronts.

LoCO: As you said, there’s been a firehose of executive orders since Trump took office on Monday and I would imagine you and your colleagues are trying to figure out which one to address first. What steps are Democrats considering to push back on this executive order against offshore wind?

Huffman: If there’s anything about this executive order that actually leads to action, that would try to take away leases or do irreversible things that would set back our interests, there will be lawsuits and other ways to address that. For now, we just have to see how much of this is bluster versus how much of it is real. We won’t know that for some time.

LoCO: Thank you for taking the time to chat today. Is there anything else you want to share with the Humboldt community?

Huffman: No, I think the biggest impact — and it’s real, I can’t sugarcoat it — is the loss of time. In dealing with the climate crisis, you’re fighting against carbon pollution but you’re also fighting against time. We are running out of time to decarbonize before permanent negative climate cycles run away from us, and that’s what’s so distressing about this. We don’t have four years to waste, we’re already behind. And so it just puts that much more pressure on the folks who will have to clean up this mess.

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The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District issued the following statement in response to the Outpost’s request for comment on Trump’s executive order:

The Trump Administration has wisely acknowledged that our nation needs additional power generation.  Our ever-rising demand for power is driven by a growing population, an exponential explosion in new AI servers, the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, and other many causes.  Tariffs should lead to more manufacturing in the US, which will further increase the demand for energy.  This demand for more power can be met by a wide range of energy-generation projects, including renewables.  The State of California has committed to 100% renewable energy by the year 2045, which includes several types of solar and wind power projects.  In 2021, the California Energy Commission asked the Humboldt Bay Harbor District to design, permit, and build a modern offshore wind vertical assembly manufacturing port terminal.  The envisioned project will bring a much-needed economic boost to our region, will be a substantial contribution to State’s renewable energy goals, and will provide a wide range of community benefits.  In collaboration with local Tribes, environmental advocacy organizations, other local governments, and many private sector stakeholders, we are striving to deliver a project that will make our community and our nation proud.  Accordingly, we are proceeding with our project to support the State, to deliver options for more power generation, to boost our local economy, and to support our local communities.

Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On January 23, 2025, at about 9:51 p.m., officers from the Eureka Police Department (EPD) responded to the report of a vehicle vs pedestrian traffic collision that occurred near the intersection of Broadway at Tomlinson Streets in Eureka.

Officers arrived on scene and located the involved pedestrian laying along the side of the roadway unresponsive and with significant injuries. Officers started CPR and continued lifesaving attempts until medical personnel arrived on scene and pronounced the pedestrian deceased.

A member of EPD’s Major Injury/Fatal Traffic Investigation Team responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. Additionally, an EPD Detective and an EPD Evidence Technician responded to assist with the collecting of statements and evidence. The initial investigation indicates weather (fog) and the pedestrian’s actions (walking across Broadway in dark clothing, outside of a cross walk) are believed to be contributing factors causing the collision.

The driver that initially struck the pedestrian stopped and was on scene when officers arrived. The driver is fully cooperating with the investigation and there are no indications that drugs or alcohol played a factor in this collision.

The investigation has revealed that two other vehicles likely struck the pedestrian following the initial collision, after they were already down on the roadway. These vehicles were not located at the scene. EPD would like to speak to the drivers of these vehicles and ask they contact the department.

The decedent has been identified and the Humboldt County Coroner’s office is working to notify next of kin.

This is an active investigation and EPD is asking if anyone witnessed the collision to please contact Officer Jeremy Sollom at 707-441-4060 ext. 1315, or our Criminal Investigations Unit at 707-441-4300.

Press release from Friends of the Dunes:

Friends of the Dunes will initiate controlled burns of piles of removed invasive beach grass on the foredunes at the Friends of the Dunes Humboldt Coastal Nature Center in Manila. These piles were created as part of the removal efforts at the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center, a property owned and managed by Friends of the Dunes.

The controlled burns are scheduled to begin on January 29, 2025, and will continue as conditions allow. All activities will adhere to the guidelines and permits established by the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District. Friends of the Dunes is committed to conducting these burns only on days when smoke impacts are expected to be minimal, ensuring compliance with air quality regulations.

While efforts will be made to limit smoke exposure, some smoke will be present during the burns. For further details, please contact Justin Legge, Stewardship & Restoration Manager at Friends of the Dunes, located at the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center, located at 220 Stamps Lane in Manila. He can be reached at (707) 444-1397 or via email at justin@friendsofthedunes.org.