Shirley
Gene (Henricksen) Pinches, named after her two Uncles on her Mother’s
side, passed away on the morning of Feb. 21, 2025 while house, dog
sitting for her very dear friends, Rick & Tenaya Banko in
McKinleyville, CA. She passed away suddenly of natural causes, and
though this was a shock to us all, we are comforted knowing she was
still living independently and had her sweet dog friend, Kaycie, by
her side.
Shirley
was born on Oct. 25, 1944 to Albert & Fae (Bannister) Henricksen
in Eureka at the General Hospital. She grew up in Eureka where
she attended Marshall Elementary School and Eureka Junior and Senior
High Schools. She was in Ballet for 18 years, took piano lessons and
was very active in church activities during her youth. After
graduation, she went to work at Eureka General Hospital Physical
Therapy before moving to San Francisco to go to Beauty School while
living at the YWCA. After some time, she moved back to Eureka where
she completed her schooling and received her Beauticians License.
From here, Shirley moved to Santa Rosa, where she went to work at
the Flamingo Hotel as a hair stylist. She then went to work at
Mickey’s Beauty Salon in Santa Rosa at the time of the Grand
Opening in maybe May of 1966.
We
could go on, talking about her first marriage to George Reynolds,
from Sept. 12, 1964 - April 4, 1967. Or her second marriage to George
(Jack) Chigris, from June 4, 1968 - April 14, 1978, with whom she had
three children, John, Christian and Athena who she loved very much
and was a wonderful mother to, creating fun, beautiful and sometimes
less beautiful memories with. After all, we were children and she was
our mother and no relationships are perfect. However, she was always
there for each one of us no matter what, every single time, good or
bad. Or her third, yes third marriage, to Billy Pinches, of 28 years,
from Nov. 25, 1989 until Billy passed away on June 19, 2017. Shirley
and Billy knew each other from Kindergarten all the way through High
School and they reunited at their 25 Class Reunion!
There
is much to be said about all of these years of her life, but there
was so much more to her story than the dates and the details everyone
expects to read about. So let me tell you a little bit more about
Shirley’s amazing life…
In
the midst, during and after 1966 and beyond, I am uncertain of the
exact order in which the following took place, but it goes something
like this:
While
living in Santa Rosa, Shirley was very involved with The Santa Rosa
Players theater group where she dabbled in some acting but mostly
spent her time as a stage hand while tending to her young children
back stage with the help of the theater community. She created strong
friendships, some of which became part of the family for many years.
Around
1976, Shirley moved back home to Eureka with three kids in tow. She
worked as a telephone switchboard operator at Pacific Bell before
starting her job, that turned into a career, working for the county
as a printer in the basement of the Humboldt County Courthouse. With
the help of her parents, Shirley was able to buy the house next door
to them and started the next chapter of her life. She became involved
with the Ferndale Repertory Theater working in the sound and lighting
booth and later with the North Coast Repertory Theater in Eureka
doing the same, and also working as the stage manager. She also
volunteered at the very first Dixieland Jazz Festival and later
became the volunteer coordinator for many years. She had a true love
for music and embraced the sense of community!
Camping,
reading, photography, journaling! Shirley loved all of these
activities her entire life! She went camping with her parents and
sister, Helena, while growing up, went to church camp, went camping
with her friends and later took her children camping! Reading was
Shirley’s favorite pastime. She read everything she got her hands
on! And when she wasn’t reading, she was writing. She journaled
EVERYTHING that she did, EVERYWHERE she went, the people who where
with her, the food, names of hiking trails, dates and times! What an
incredible gift she left for those blessed enough to get to read
about her life. And Shirley, who was not the greatest photographer,
managed to capture so many wonderful memories on film, yet another
beautiful blessing.
Shirley
also loved the world of art, after all, she was married for 28 years
to a Decoy Carver who had been inducted into the California
Waterfowler’s Hall of Fame! Shirley took some painting classes,
learning the art of Toll Painting and Watercolors, and created some,
while not masterpieces, beautiful paintings worth gazing at. She was
also introduced, through Billy, to the world of the PFDA, Pacific
Flyway Decoy Association. Shirley became very involved in this
organization, first volunteering wherever she was needed, then
writing and sending out the newsletters, to being voted onto the
Board where she actively sat as a Board Member and Secretary.
Moving
on, yes, there’s more … Shirley truly lived an amazing life!
Traveling:
I
am going to turn it over to Shirley’s own words, a sweet gesture
she left for her family:
PLEASE
STOP!
Well
maybe not completely. I hope a tear or two is shed from time to time
because I am missed. But please don’t spend much time missing me
and don’t waste time mourning. I will always be with you. And I had
a wonderful time here on Earth.
Each
of you played such an important part in my life and I am so thankful
you were a part of it, and my God, what an AMAZING ADVENTURE IT WAS!
I
saw New York City when the Towers still stood. I saw Lonesome George
on the Galapagos before he died. I stood on the Equator, I sailed
through the Panama Canal, I saw amazing birds in Columbia & Costa
Rica and held a baby sloth in Peru!
These
were her words, but there was SO much more…
Washington
D.C., Florida where she swam with the dolphins and manatee,
Yellowstone, Sedona, New Orleans, Hawaii, Japan, France, Canada,
Mexico, Africa, Vietnam and many other states in the USA!!! Shirley
traveled by boats, ships, sailboats, riverboats, ferry boats, rafts,
motorcycle-taxi, small planes, big planes, really big planes, trains,
gondolas and even a hot air ballon! And she walked at least 100,000
miles in her lifetime!!! What an amazing journey through life!
Shirley
was free-spirited, had a sensations appetite for nature, collecting
rocks, feathers and other artifacts. She loved getting her hands
dirty, pulling weeds and trying desperately to turn her black thumb
green with her many attempts at gardening, as she adored the colorful
world of flowers. She craved the ocean and the wildlife in, above and
around it. Her love for the world and all of its creatures was
eternal and she breathed it all in with deep breaths and wide eyes.
There was a fascination for the little things as well, bees,
butterflies, dragonflies, and of course ladybugs, everything except
the dreaded icky, uggy banana slug! She had a true love of all things
that fly, song birds, waterfowl, raptors, owls, and she held a
special place in her heart for the ravens.
She
loved being a Grandma! Though Shirley always thought she would be
called “Granny” like her Mom, she was affectionately known as
Grandma Shirley, Grandma and Nanny. She wasn’t the doting, pinch
your cheeks kind of Grandma, but she loved taking her Grandkids on
field trips; Movies, plays, musicals, the park, the zoo and many
other great adventures…and she loved playing games. Nanny was a
good sport, probably because she had knack for winning…especially
Card Against Humanity!!! She was patient, loving and understanding,
as each of her Grandkids are all so different, and she is already
greatly missed by them all.
Shirley
was predeceased by her parents, Al & Fae Henricksen, her husband,
Billy Pinches and her big orange kitty Marmalade. She is survived by
her sister, Helena Kassel (David), her three children, John Chigris
(Lena), Christian Chigris, Athena Holling (Charlie), her four
grandchildren, Jessie Telnes (Tessa), Drew Dorris, Brendon Holling
(Megan) and Millana Chigris and her great-grandson Isaac Telnes (and
his brother Levi).
As
we remember Shirley, we celebrate a life well-lived, filled with
love, contentment, friendships, and endless memories. She loved hard,
yet quietly. Drank up life in small sips, not gulps. Was giving, yet
reserved. Shirley lived a simple, beautiful life and she will be
deeply missed but cherished forever in our hearts.
A
Celebration of Shirley’s Life will be held on June 21, 2025 at the
Eureka Elk’s Lodge at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be
made to the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association - pacifwcflyway.org
- or to a charity of your choice
###
The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Shirley Pinches’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
Mary
Dias passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, April 1, 2025
after a sudden illness. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother,
and great grandmother. She is joined in heaven by the love of her
life, Al Dias, and her son Butch.
Mary
often talked about how she was the first baby born in Humboldt
County on December 10, 1941 during the Pearl Harbor blackout. She
spent her entire life within just a few blocks of the home where she
was born and she loved the people of Fortuna and the surrounding
beauty until the very end.
Mary
enjoyed word-search puzzles, western movies and a glass of red wine
with her Fortuna friends. She enjoyed working in Humboldt County in
the retail fashion industry for Bistrin’s, McGaraghan’s and later
owned her own clothing boutique in Fortuna, Mary’s Fashion Plus.
After her husband’s retirement, they owned and operated a
commercial cleaning business in Fortuna and Eureka.
Mary’s
life was dedicated to taking care of others, both family and friends.
Her greatest love of all was her family. She is survived by her
daughter, Esther Dias Hahn and her son, Tim Dias. Also, her
grandchildren: Amanda, Amber, Natalie, Rachel, Sadie, Tanner and
Tyson. And Mary’s great grandchildren: Bentley, Cinch, Greyson,
Heyden, Parker and Raelyn.
Funeral
arrangements are being organized through Gobles Fortuna Mortuary.
All friends and family are welcome at a graveside service on Friday,
April 11, 2025 at Fortuna Sunrise Cemetery, 3315 Newburg Rd at 3 p.m.
If
you would like to make a donation, in lieu of flowers, please send to
Fortuna Fire Ladies Auxiliary, 320 S. Fortuna Blvd., Fortuna, CA
95540.
###
The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Mary Dias’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
Arcata’s city council will decide if they will approve new inclusionary zoning measures for future housing developments after passing a motion to introduce an ordinance at last night’s city council meeting.
The idea behind inclusionary zoning is pretty simple: when a new apartment complex is built, some percentage of those units must be priced less than they’re worth on the open market and reserved for low-income tenants. It’s an unfunded mandate; the property managers take a hit on the investment.
If passed, the ordinance requires all new housing developments with 60 or more units to rent 3% of their units to very low income households, 6% to low income households, and another 10% for moderate income households. How much the rent actually costs can change annually, and is determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee.
The planning commission originally recommended that the limit be set at 30 units, but the city council wound up deciding it would be 60 after a compromise was made with Mayor Alex Stillman. Stillman (who is the owner of Stillman Rentals, a local property management company) was against inclusionary zoning, but voted for it after meeting somewhere in the middle with the other city council members. Stillman was worried about the likelihood of developers building more Arcata housing if they were going to be forced to house some people in below market-rate units.
Arcata used to have inclusionary zoning requirements until 2014. Most inclusionary zoning prior to 2012 was subsidized by the city’s Redevelopment Agency, but California dissolved them that year. Several planned projects were killed because they weren’t financially viable without the subsidy. The old requirements were much lower; inclusionary zoning kicked in at five units.
There are concessions for affected developments, such as allowing them to use cheaper appliances and build larger buildings.
Arcata’s city council members hope it’ll be a way to battle gentrification and make resident’s lives a little less expensive without resorting to anything drastic.
“If we’re not going to use a mechanism like inclusionary zoning to put more of an onus on developers, and the ones with money, and the ones who are coming into (or already are) in our community to build housing [to] share in that burden of housing our community members, then we need to find a different mechanism,” councilmember Sarah Schaefer said. “Whether that’s some people up here’s favorite word — ‘rent control’ — or more aggressively pursuing land trusts, or having more publicly owned properties so we can actually have real public housing, especially in a time where there is a great concern that we might see a drying up of federal and state funding for housing. Because that is not a priority of our current administration, and that’s going to go on the developers, and I think that’s why it’s essential to have a mechanism like this in place to make the free market step up.”
College
of the Redwoods is progressing in its efforts to rebrand its
longstanding Corsair mascot, working toward a new symbol that
reflects the college’s values and strengthens its connection to the
region and local communities. Although the Board of Trustees
postponed final approval during its April 1 meeting, the college
remains dedicated to a thoughtful, inclusive, and community-driven
process.
The
Corsair, which has represented CR since its founding, has raised
concerns due to its historical associations with Mediterranean piracy
and the transatlantic slave trade. “While the Corsair has been with
us from the beginning, it lacks any local relevance and carries a
history that no longer reflects who we are as a college,” said CR
President Dr. Keith Flamer. “It is our responsibility to ensure
that our public symbols align with our values and honors the
community we serve.”
In
the fall of 2024, CR formed a Mascot Task Force and invited
suggestions from students, faculty, employees, and some community
members. Submissions were evaluated based on cultural sensitivity,
local significance, and alignment with the college’s mission. Of
the three finalists, the wolf emerged as a leading option, especially
among CR Athletics.
Additionally,
the wolf was submitted as a mascot suggestion by the Wiyot Tribal
Council, whose ancestral lands include the Eureka campus and
surrounding area. It is known in the Wiyot language as Mouralherwaqh,
meaning “wolf’s house.” The potential new mascot — the Redwood
Wolves — would reflect both the ecological presence of wolves in
California and the deep cultural ties to the land on which the
college resides.
“The
CR Board of Trustees is committed to governing on behalf of the
citizens of our District,” said Board President Dr. Colleen
Mullery. “The Board delayed action on renaming CR’s mascot to
provide further opportunities for student, faculty, staff, and
community feedback. I am grateful to Trustee Pedrotti who requested
that this agenda item be pulled during our April 1 meeting to allow
for further deliberation. I also want to thank the task force members
who already have spent time studying this question.”
To
support a thoughtful and inclusive decision, we will continue to
solicit input from employees and students. College of the Redwoods
has launched a public comment portal where community members can
share feedback on the proposed rebranding until May 4 , 2025.
As members of the British Parliament debate proposed legislation that would allow medically assisted death for terminally ill adults in England and Wales, BBC News published an article this week detailing one man’s experience with the process here in California.
The thought-provoking piece — linked here — tells the story of 80-year-old Wayne Hawkins, a former resident of Arcata, who, after suffering from chronic pain, heart failure and “a myriad of other health issues,” decided to pursue medical aid-in-dying, which was legalized in California through the End of Life Options Act of 2016. The law allows terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of six months or less and the mental capacity to make the choice to request medication that will hasten their death.
After Hawkins’ request was approved by two doctors, he invited BBC News to his San Diego home to share his perspective on the controversial aid-in-dying process and observe his final day alongside his family.
“Britain is pretty good with freedoms and this is just another one,” Hawkins told BBC News. “People should be able to choose the time of their death as long as they meet the rules like six months to live or less.”
While proponents of medically assisted death — often dubbed “death with dignity” — view the process as a compassionate option for people facing terminal illness and suffering, opponents argue that it is morally wrong. Dr. Vincent Nguyen, a palliative care specialist interviewed in the BBC’s article, asserted that aid-in-dying laws “lead to ‘silent coercion’ whereby vulnerable people think their only option is to die.”
The article’s author, Medical Editor Fergus Walsh, continues:
This isn’t just a story about one man’s death in California - it’s about what could become a reality here in England and Wales for those who qualify for an assisted death and choose to die this way.
Whether you’re for or against the proposed new Westminster law, the death of a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional time for a family. Each death leaves an imprint, as will Wayne’s.
As has long been forecast, Assemblymember Damon Connolly — former San Rafael city councilmember, Marin County supervisor and deputy California Attorney General — is entering the race to replace state senator Mike McGuire, who will be term-limited out of the office next year.
Connolly launched his campaign this morning, and he comes with some heavy-hitting endorsements, including Chris Rogers, our current assembly representative; Connie Stewart, the former mayor of Arcata and former executive director of the California Center for Rural Policy; and Arcata’s own Wes Chesbro, himself a former member of the state Senate.
Connolly’s campaign launch video, embedded above, contains footage of the assemblymember knocking on constituents’ doors, meeting with fishermen, ordering a big plate of food at Santa Rosa’s Aroma de Cafe and strolling with other people in suits. It also includes the following Shutterstock clips:
Press release for the Damon Connolly for Senate campaign:
Campaign photo.
Today,
Assemblymember Damon Connolly announced his campaign for State Senate
in District 2, the North Coast district that includes Del Norte,
Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity counties.
“These
are dangerous times. The Trump Administration is going after our
schools, our businesses, our health care, our coastline, our diverse
communities, and our very way of life. We need a State Senator who is
ready to step up and meet this moment,”
said Assemblymember Damon Connolly.
“I’m running for State Senate, because I’m ready on day one to
make sure that the North Coast is heard and respected as important
decisions are made in Sacramento.”
As
a current State Assemblymember and former County Supervisor, City
Council Member, School Board President, and California Deputy
Attorney General, Damon Connolly brings 25 years of experience to the
campaign - touting accomplishments focused on wildfire prevention,
climate action, and affordability and quality of life on the North
Coast.
The
Damon Connolly for State Senate campaign also released a campaign
launch announcement video, which can be watched HERE:
Trusted
North Coast leaders expressed strong support for Damon’s campaign.
“Damon
Connolly is one of the most effective public servants I have ever
worked with,” said
North Coast Assemblymember Chris Rogers.
“He is responsible for major climate change and wildfire prevention
reforms at the State and County levels. Damon is always focused on
the most pressing issues facing the North Coast, and he’ll be a
great Senator.”
“As
a State Senator, I always understood that my primary responsibility
was to ensure that North Coast priorities had a champion in the
Capitol. Damon Connolly will bring that kind of commitment to the
State Senate,” said
former North Coast Senator and Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro.
“At a time when the very future of our democracy is in question,
Damon can be counted on to be a true people’s representative. He
listens, and he accomplishes big things for the communities he
represents. I have every confidence he will represent every corner of
this large and diverse district with experience and dedication.
That’s why Damon is my choice for State Senate.”
“The
North Coast needs a State Senator who deeply understands the unique
challenges we face and has a proven record of getting results. That
candidate is Damon Connolly,” said
Connie Stewart, the former Mayor of Arcata. “Damon’s
entire career has been focused on issues that matter to our
community, from improving rural access to physical and mental
healthcare to defending and supporting public education.”
He
is also earning support from leading voices in wildfire prevention
and protecting public education.
“No
one has done more to protect Northern California from major
wildfires, natural disasters, and other emergencies than Damon
Connolly,” said
John Bagala, the Union President of Marin Professional Firefighters,
IAFF Local 1775.
“At every stage of his career at the City, County, and State level
Damon has worked closely with firefighters and led efforts to keep
our communities safe. He’ll be an exceptional State Senator.”
“Across
Northern California, the Trump Administration is cutting funding for
our schools and universities, making it harder to see a doctor, and
even trying to prevent our state from achieving its climate change
goals. With all the fear and uncertainty we face, Damon Connolly is
the candidate for State Senate I trust to defend our values and
protect our neighbors,” said
Marin Office of Education Board Member Patty Garbarino.
About
Damon Connolly
Damon
Connolly is the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Environmental
Safety and Toxic Materials and serves on the Assembly Judiciary,
Budget, Budget Subcommittee No.4 on Climate Crisis, Natural
Resources, and Agriculture Committees. In just three years in the
State Assembly, Damon has authored 13 bills that became laws,
improving school safety, preventing teen suicides, and expanding
access to open space..
As
a member of the Climate Bond Working Group and working closely with
Senator Mike McGuire, Assemblymember Connolly helped author
Proposition 4, the 2024 Climate Bond, which will make billions of
dollars of investments in wildfire prevention, drought resilience,
sea-level rise adaptation, and home hardening.
Prior
to his 2022 election to the State Assembly, Damon served on the Marin
County Board of Supervisors, as Vice Mayor of the City of San Rafael,
as Board President of the Miller Creek School District, and as
California Deputy Attorney General.
On April 2, 2025 at approximately 12:20 pm Humboldt Bay Fire units
responded to a first-alarm structure fire at the 5700 block of Humboldt
Hill Rd, Spruce Point Trailer Park on Humboldt Hill. Firefighters
arrived to find visible smoke pushing from the roofline of a single-
wide residential trailer. Crews quickly went to work and extinguished
the fire, successfully containing it to the kitchen area. However, smoke
damage was extensive throughout the rest of the residence.
The fire’s cause and origin were investigated by Humboldt Bay Fire
personnel. The source was determined to be a faulty electrical outlet in
the kitchen. The estimated damage to the structure is approximately
$10,000.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported as a result of the fire. The
occupants of the trailer have been displaced from their home, and
Humboldt Bay Fire is working with the Red Cross and neighbors
within the trailer park to assist the family during this difficult time.
Humboldt Bay Fire would like to remind the community of the
importance of maintaining working smoke detectors in the home.
Smoke Alarms Save Lives.
Regular maintenance and testing can be the difference in providing
early warning in case of a fire. We also want to express our sincere
gratitude to the neighbors who assisted in this incident and to the Red
Cross for their support in helping the displaced family.
