Today the Sequoia Park Zoo issued what might seem to the untrained eye to be an innocuous press release promoting their second annual Zoo Lights holiday event. (Two miles of lights! Wow!)

But contained within is very specific wording that should raise eyebrows in the Eel River Valley: The zoo hopes to inspire you to visit it by claiming that, for the first time this year, they plan to illuminate the “Tallest Living Christmas Tree in the World.”

Whoa, zoo. That’s Ferndale’s turf. 

Since 1934, Ferndale has lit a Sitka spruce located at the end of Francis Street to celebrate the season and they’ve historically also employed the “Tallest Living Christmas Tree” verbiage in hopes of drawing shoppers and revelers across Fernbridge. The undisputed local Christmas destination, the Cream City also hosts numerous holiday-themed events annually, including the Lighted Tractor Parade. 

Is the Sequoia Park Zoo gunning for Ferndale’s Christmas Champion status? Well, they don’t out and say that, nor do they provide any corroborating evidence that they should be awarded the title, but read the release below and judge their intentions for yourself:

The City of Eureka’s Sequoia Park Zoo is set to sparkle with the second annual Zoo Lights! Proudly presented by Eureka Lodging Alliance, this year will feature over two miles of lights, reimagined holiday displays, and the illumination of the Tallest Living Christmas Tree in the world.

“Naturally, it’s a redwood!” says Jim Campbell-Spickler, Sequoia Park Zoo Director. “We can’t think of a better way to share the Christmas spirit with our community than by decorating this iconic tree for the holidays.”

After a comprehensive climb and direct tape-drop measurement, the impressive redwood is now ready for the installation of the special holiday lights and ornaments. The Zoo plans to share sneak peeks of the process on social media and will release the official height of the tree in the days before Zoo Lights opens to the public.

In addition to the Tallest Living Christmas Tree in the world, the second year of Zoo Lights will feature expanded hours, new lighted areas, and more than a dozen holiday displays across the Zoo - including a whimsical pollinator garden, gingerbread fairy house, bear-y merry boardwalk, and more!

“We are fortunate to have the Eureka Lodging Alliance as the Zoo Lights presenting sponsor,” says Miles Slattery, Eureka City Manager. “They have been a long-standing supporter of the Zoo and Redwood Sky Walk, and their contribution to Zoo Lights this year has made some incredible expansions possible!”
 
Zoo Lights opens on Saturday, December 14, 2024 and runs select nights through January 5, 2025. Beginning November 26, Zoo Lights tickets may be purchased at the Zoo ticket booth in advance or on the night of the event. Adverse weather may require closure at any time.
 
Sequoia Park Zoo is excited to bring Zoo Lights back for another year of holiday magic, and we look forward to celebrating the holidays with our community! Visit redwoodzoo.org for event details and updates.
 
What:  Zoo Lights presented by Eureka Lodging Alliance When: Select nights December 14, 2024 - January 5, 2025             5:00p-8:00p, last entry at 7:30p

Where: Sequoia Park Zoo
            3414 W Street
            Eureka, CA 95503

Cost:   $5 per person ($4 EBT/BIC/WIC/Zoo members)

UPDATE, 12:08 p.m.: The Outpost has received a message from Garcia’s daughter. She says he goes by “Miguel,” not Michael.

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

At 6:01 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, Michael Garcia, age 47, of Bakersfield, was found in his jail cell by correctional deputies following an apparent suicide attempt. Rescue efforts were initiated and performed by deputies until Emergency Medical Services arrived. Garcia was transported by paramedics to the hospital for treatment. Garcia is currently in critical condition.

Garcia was placed in custody at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF) on Oct. 24 for assault with a deadly weapon and battery. Per policy, HCCF deputies conduct cell checks at least every 30 minutes. A cell check was completed at 5:38 p.m., and Garcia was found 23 minutes later at 6:01 p.m.

Due to the seriousness of this incident at the HCCF, the county critical incident protocol was followed. The Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) was activated following the incident. Investigators from local law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney responded to the correctional facility to investigate. The investigation is ongoing, and updates will be released at a later date.

Upon completion of the CIRT investigation, the Humboldt County District Attorney will review all facts and evidence in this investigation to determine whether any criminal liability exists.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

The Sanctuary, Arcata’s nonprofit community center, suffered extensive damage last night during the storm currently attacking the West Coast. 

A large portion of the weatherproofing on the roof was torn off by wind. There are large, leaking cracks in the ceiling, and inside the only barrier between the water and the floor are dozens of buckets and paint trays. 

But it is in better shape than it was this morning. The puddles inside are gone, and the roof is patched with a temporary cover. Building owner Katie Belknap credited the volunteers who showed up to help before she even got there this morning. Almost 30 of them brought buckets, mops, dehumidifiers, food and warm drinks and cleaned up much of the damage. Belknap is working on getting insurance money to pay professionals to dry out the building and repair the roof properly. 

Piles of roofing outside the Sanctuary. By Dezmond Remington.

The weatherproofing started coming off of the roof around 11 p.m. last night. It hit a neighbor’s home. He wasn’t able to reach Belknap, and she was unaware of the problem until 7:30 this morning. 

Belknap and some of the volunteers are not optimistic about how well the jerry-rigged roof will hold up under the rain the next few days, though they have covered the holes best they can with tarps and plastic and weighed it down with large wooden planks. Belknap was surprised by the damage; she had been on the roof recently and thought it looked to be in good shape. 

Belknap does not know when the Sanctuary might be reopened. For time being, the Playhouse in Arcata has offered to host all of their events. Belknap said that donations would be welcome if anyone wants to help with the restoration.

Volunteer Tom Becker said he was happy to help with the work. 

“I love Katie and I love this place,” Becker said. “We’re a community, and this is a great community center.”

“I wish I could get all the volunteers hot tubs at Cafe Mokka,” Belknap said, “Or at least some gift certificates so they could buy themselves some dinner.”

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Nov. 15 at about 1:30 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies were dispatched to the 1800 block of A Ave. in McKinleyville for the report of a burglary. 

The victim went outside on the morning of Nov. 15 to find her car window broken and the interior of the vehicle was rummaged through. It also appeared that her garage was burglarized.   Home surveillance video showed a white male adult making entry into the garage, and later exiting the garage with a power tool, a space heater, and other stolen items. 

Based upon the suspect description in the video, a Deputy Sheriff later located Nichoals Ford, age 37 of McKinleyville, at Pierson Park in McKinleyville around 12 p.m. on Nov. 16. Deputies had probable cause to believe Ford committed the burglary on A Avenue.  Ford was arrested and during the search incident to arrest, deputies located controlled substances and drug paraphernalia in his clothing.    

Ford was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the following charges:

• Burglary (PC 459)
• Possession of a controlled substance – Methamphetamine (HS 11377(a))
• Possession of drug paraphernalia (HS 11364(a))

Some of the stolen items were subsequently located and the items were returned to the victim. 

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

The following alert was sent to Trinidad residents earlier today:

A water conservation alert has been issued on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, due to a failed water pipe discovered and repaired this morning at the Water Treatment Plant. Due to limited storage capacity, PLEASE conserve use of potable water until further notice. The City’s water system is operating with only one of its two water storage tanks in service.

Power outages and storm-related issues over the last 24-hours have challenged the City’s ability to gain adequate capacity in the remaining tank. Water Department staff has currently stabilized production, but warns it could take several days to replenish the tank under extreme flow conditions that the Luffenholtz Creek watershed is experiencing. Additional updates will be provided on the City’s website as the storm passes and adequate storage capacity is achieved.

Subscribe through the City Website to receive (SMS) text alerts and emergency updates. Please share this message with your neighbors.

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The Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is looking to relocate and rebuild Sempervirens, Eureka’s aging psychiatric hospital.

At last night’s meeting, the Eureka City Council unanimously approved a letter of support for a county-submitted grant application seeking funding for the proposed facility, which would be built on a parking lot at the corner of Fifth and I streets, across the street from the Humboldt County Courthouse, next to the county’s Public Health Branch. 

For nearly 60 years, the 16-bed facility has been housed in the Clark Complex, the former general hospital campus built in 1906. Over the years, the building has fallen into disrepair with structural issues that have put the facility’s license and operations at risk.

Beck appeared via Zoom.

“Without a new facility, Sempervirens is limited to the number of years that it has left to provide services at 720 Wood Street,” DHHS Executive Director Connie Beck told the city council. “I think we have $2.6 million worth of maintenance that needs to be done, and no matter how much maintenance we do … we don’t meet [licensing] requirements anymore.”

Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel asked if the county had plans to expand capacity at Sempervirens’ new location. Beck said the backlog of deferred maintenance at the current facility would prevent the county from increasing the number of beds at the new, proposed location. “But there’s always room for improvement in the number of beds that we have locally, it just wouldn’t be for Sempervirens,” she added.

One such place would be Hyperion Crisis Residential Treatment Facility, located at 528 N Street, which offers a variety of inpatient and outpatient mental health services, including case management, access to housing resources and more, all billable through Medi-Cal. Someday soon, the county and Mad River Community Hospital will provide additional mental health care and crisis stabilization services for people of all ages at the Humboldt County Behavioral Health Crisis Triage Center in Arcata.

“There are a lot of additional services that are coming online,” Beck said. “There’s a really a lot happening within Behavioral Health that we’re trying to get ready for [in addition to] the services we currently provide.”

Councilmember Leslie Castellano thanked Beck and her staff for their commitment to bolstering local mental health services, reiterating Bergel’s previous point about expanding services at Sempervirens.

“I do appreciate that there will be increased capacity at Mad River, but I also think it could be useful to increase the licensing – or at least understand what might be needed to increase the licensing capacity – at Sempervirens in the future,” Castellano said. “I’m anticipating that we’ll need possibly even more services.”

After a bit of additional discussion, the council approved the letter of support in a 5-0 vote. The full text of the letter can be found here.

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What else happened at last night’s meeting? I’m glad you asked!

• The city council met for a special meeting at 5 p.m. to discuss the city’s “objective design standards” and how those rules impact neighborhood character. The presentation, led by Development Services Director Cristin Kenyon, focused on the importance of street-facing housing aesthetics and “missing middle housing,” types of housing configurations that land somewhere between single-family homes and mid-rise apartments, including duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, etc. The presentation was the second in a three-part series from city staff on neighborhood character.
• The city council also received a presentation from the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) on local unmet transit needs. HCAOG is currently seeking public input on local transit priorities. If you’ve got a public transit-related request you’ll want to take their survey – linked here.

Press release from Humboldt Made:

The Board of Directors of the beloved local non-profit, Humboldt Made, is embarking on an exciting revitalization effort to refocus on its mission of supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and community-building events like the Friday Night Market.

Since its founding in 2010 by the Humboldt County Economic Development Department and its transition to an independent non-profit in 2014, Humboldt Made has been instrumental in helping local businesses thrive both within and beyond Humboldt County. The organization is also celebrated for launching the popular Friday Night Market, a seasonal highlight in Old Town Eureka.

Humboldt Made Welcomes Interim Executive Director Rosa Dixon

Humboldt Made is thrilled to introduce Rosa Dixon as the new Interim Executive Director. A local entrepreneur and business leader, Rosa brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to fostering community-driven enterprises.

Rosa is the CEO and co-founder of Natural Decadence and Raised Gluten Free, a nationally recognized brand in the gluten-free food industry. What began as a grassroots idea right here in Humboldt has grown under her leadership into a multimillion-dollar enterprise, exemplifying her ability to blend innovation with a strong sense of community.

On stepping into her new role, Rosa shared: “I love Humboldt Made, and I have a strong desire to keep it thriving. The mission of Humboldt Made has always been near and dear to my heart, and now is the perfect time to re-engage with local businesspeople and help grow our community.”

As Interim Executive Director, Rosa is excited to build on Humboldt Made’s mission of supporting local entrepreneurs, creating opportunities for collaboration, and promoting Humboldt County’s unique businesses and products.

Meredith Maier, Humboldt Made Board Member and co-owner of Six Rivers Brewery, added:

“Coming out of COVID, there is so much opportunity for entrepreneurs in our region. Humboldt Made has always served as a springboard for people to launch their ideas, plug in with a supportive community, and network outside of Humboldt County. We are excited to bring on the next evolution of the organization.”

Upcoming Initiatives: Choose Humboldt, Small Business Saturday, and Makers Mixer

As part of its renewed focus, Humboldt Made is launching a series of initiatives to support local businesses and bring the community together during the holiday season:

Choose Humboldt Program

Support Humboldt Year-Round: Local Choices Matter

This campaign is more than just a holiday effort—it’s a year-round movement to celebrate and support all that Humboldt has to offer. Whether shopping at your local mom & pop, going local at the grocery store, dining at local restaurants, exploring staycations, or giving back through volunteer efforts, there are countless ways to embrace the Humboldt spirit.

Our goal is simple:

1. Inspire locals to choose Humboldt whenever possible.

2. Make it easy for visitors to discover and support Humboldt businesses.

Together, let’s ensure Humboldt remains the vibrant place it is all year long. Let’s keep making the Humboldt choice!

The Choose Humboldt campaign encourages residents and visitors to shop locally, dine out, and celebrate the creativity and talent of Humboldt County businesses. Highlights include:

• Thanksgiving Contest: The Choose Humboldt Made Thanksgiving Table invites residents to showcase Humboldt-made products on their holiday tables. Prizes include local restaurant gift cards and Humboldt Made gift baskets.

• Social Media Campaigns: Amplified by hashtags #ChooseHumboldt, #ChooseHumboldtMade, and #DineOutHumboldt, the campaign spotlights local businesses with curated stories, promotions, and contests.

Small Business Saturday

On November 30, 2024, Humboldt Made invites community members to celebrate and support local businesses with a fun social media campaign. To participate, shoppers simply need to visit their favorite local shops, snap a photo, and post it to social media with the hashtag #choosehumboldt. Each post will automatically enter participants into a raffle to win a curated Humboldt Made gift basket, filled with local products and goodies.

Humboldt Made Makers Mixer

To further strengthen connections within the local business community, Humboldt Made is hosting a Makers Mixer on December 11, 2024. This event offers a chance for Humboldt Made Makers to network, share ideas, and collaborate.

If you are a Humboldt Made Maker and want to join this exciting event, please email info@humboldtmade.com for more details.

Partners and Support

Humboldt Made is proud to collaborate with key partners, including RREDC and North Edge Financing, whose generous support is helping make these initiatives possible. Their shared commitment to Humboldt County’s economic growth underscores the importance of fostering local businesses.

Looking to the Future

Humboldt Made invites community members to join in this exciting journey of growth and renewal. The organization is seeking input, new board members, and committee participants to help shape its future.

To learn more about Humboldt Made, its upcoming campaigns, or the Makers Mixer, visit humboldtmade.com, follow on social media, or join the email list.

For additional inquiries, contact info@humboldtmade.com.