Well, take another look at Eureka, would ya? Back for its sixth year, the Eureka Street Art Festival and its brigade of artist recruits have applied even more color to Humboldt’s paint-lovin’ county seat during what has annually come to be a whirlwind week for those daring enough to involve themselves. Numerous buildings and infrastructure that would previously not have warranted a second look now proudly demand your wonderment. We say hooray.
If you’re unfamiliar with how this process works, let us briefly explain. Leading up to each year’s festival, event organizers attempt to match up artists, both local and foreign, with local businesses and/or city officials looking to spruce up a wall or surface. Dreams are discussed. Designs are refined.
Every year the festival attempts to focus on a different zone of the city. For the 2023 edition, it was decided that creative energy would be directed toward the Broadway/Highway 101 corridor, an area long-criticized for being a chaotic river of car yuck. As we approach the official end of the festival, we can report that most the murals are done, but if you find yourself rolling down Broadway this weekend you may still see a few artists hustling away and questioning their life choices.
If you can’t make the trek, however, never you fear. Your Lost Coast Outpost made a few trips up and down Broadway this week and was able to snap photos of every single 2023 entry and the artists who manifested them. We invite you to allow them into your brain by scrolling below.
The future downtown home of Marjo Lak’s Humboldt Nation dispensary lounge on Eureka’s Fourth Street has been transformed into a vibrant, psychedelic jungle thanks to the brushwork of locals Laci Dane and Blake Reagan.
On the backside of the same building, festival goers will find a different jungle entirely courtesy of Brazilian artist Edar Muniz AKA Calangoss, who honed his craft tagging numerous buildings in Salvador da Bahia.
Showing his admirable commitment to sprucing up Fourth Street, local artist Tony Diaz is painting the other side of MOCA Humboldt, a building he first painted during the 2021 Eureka Street Art Festival.
At the corner where Fourth Street magically transforms into Broadway you will now be greeted by a flock of cheery, soaring godwits conjured up by Oakland’s Liv Losee-Unger AKA ORLUarts.
Easy tigers, apparently. Modesto artist FASM was so quick in applying a pair of fierce felines to the walls of Hubbard’s German Auto that the business agreed to allow him and his daughter to produce an additional design for another their walls. Rawr.
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-CAITLIN MCDONAGH- (Victoria, British Columbia) “Here’s the Connection”
Another entry a bit off the festival’s main route comes courtesy of Canadian artist Caitlin McDonagh, who set to work this week adding a sense of whimsy to a building at the City of Eureka’s Corporation Yard.
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-EKOSAURIO- (Santurce, Puerto Rico) “The Ripped Wall” and “California”
Double duty! Puerto Rican artist Ekosaurio has two floral entries in this year’s festival: one on a retaining wall on Broadway just south of Hawthorne Street and another on the side of Synapsis on Union Street.
It’s daddy-daughter week! Festival veteran Ben Goulart is sharing billing this year with his 8-year-old child Edin. The two collaborated to come up with the design that now adorns the long retaining wall adjacent Hawthorne Street off Broadway.
Fear not! They don’t sting. A pair of retaining walls near the intersection of Broadway and Vigo Street have been jellyfied by local artist Josh Overington.
Last year Rochester-based spray paint artist Justin Suarez AKA Aerosol Kingdom added some giant wildlife to the wall of Pacific Outfitters. He has returned this year to gift Eureka with this Broadway hooter.
Tucked inside a small retaining wall on the long stretch of Broadway in front of Ocean View Cemetery, passersby will henceforth be greeted by painted “sketch”es of a handful of Eureka landmarks courtesy of local artist Kay Lopez.
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-MARK WORST- (Los Angeles) “Wings Across the Marsh” and “Impromptu Frogs”
After quickly completing the unthinkable feat of making Carpet Depot’s previously nondescript metal building a feast for the eyes — those egrets are e-great, no? — LA artist Mark Worst has also taken on a second mural. He’s currently putting the finishing touches on some frogs on Pure Water Spas’ wall down the street. (The artist that was scheduled to paint that wall couldn’t make it last minute. It happens.)
Not all of this year’s murals are vertical. Take Canadian artist Zoë Gelfant’s colorful addition to the previously color-bereft Elk River Park ‘n’ Ride as proof that even large expanses of pavement can be made more palatable with a many splashes of paint.
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-CARL AVERY- (Cottonwood) “Elements of the Lost Coast”
The most ambitious and logistically challenging entry in this year’s festival is being tackled by Yurok artist Carl Avery. To paint both sides of the Herrick Avenue overpass south of Eureka, Avery has had to work with Caltrans to divert Highway 101 motorists allowing placement for his fancy boom lift. Oh, and he can only paint in the middle of the night when traffic is sparse.
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Whoa! You made it all the way down here. Great work.
Now, one more thing: If you’d like to celebrate Eureka’s new art with its creators and fellow art appreciators, LoCO will remind you that the Eureka Street Art Festival culminates with its annual Block Party. This year, the gathering will be held Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. under the Samoa Bridge on Waterfront Drive, where attendees can expect food, beer, bands, vendor booths and live art demonstrations.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Genevieve G. Blaha, on
July 11, 2023 at St. Joseph Hospital.
Jenny was born on July 26, 1944 in Chicora, Pennsylvania to the late Frank Young and Anna Hockenberry
Young. She grew up on a farm in Chicora and was the youngest of their eight daughters and had four
brothers. Mom served her country proudly from 1963-1965 as a switchboard operator in the U.S. Air
Force, where she met her first husband, Jerry Adams. She and Jerry married in 1965 and settled in
Winston Salem, North Carolina where they had their first daughter, Tammy, in 1966. The family
traveled with the military and had their second daughter, Karen, in Newfoundland, Canada in 1967.
Jenny moved back to North Carolina, then to Oahu, HI, and eventually to Fortuna, CA for Jerry’s job out
at Centerville Beach Naval Facility in 1972. They later divorced but remained good friends.
Jenny remarried in 1974 to Elmer Blaha. The following year she was in a serious car accident and ended
up having Humboldt County’s first open-heart surgery. Jenny did make a full recovery and her and Elmer
owned and operated several businesses, including The Spot – a bar and pizza parlor on Main Street.
They were married until Elmer’s passing in 1987.
She worked for several years at Bayley Suit and
Redwood Memorial Hospital and made many good friends along the way.
Jenny met Tony Castro in 1990. He was a wonderful man, and they enjoyed nearly 30 years together
before he passed in 2019. Most of their greatest memories were built around their grandkids –
attending their sports events, camping, fishing, and riding ATV’s at Orick, Table Bluff, or Ruth Lake.
Jenny loved flowers, arts and crafts, sewing, eating dinner at Las Cazuelas on Friday nights, and going to
coffee on Saturdays (we did this every week for more than 15 years). She was an avid Golden State
Warriors fan. She enjoyed horse races, her family, and liked having her nails done by her
granddaughter, Taron. Jenny spent many years decorating cakes and cookies. When the kids were
young, she made all of their birthday cakes and threw the best birthday parties ever. Later, decorating
cookies for the holidays was a tradition and she baked cookies, made frosting, and set up tables for
family and friends to stop by and decorate their own.
Jenny is survived by her daughters Tammy (Ron) Brown and Karen Wallace, grandchildren Taron Brown,
Jayce Brown, and Cheyenne Wallace, and first husband Jerry Adams. She is also survived by sisters Alice
Mae Fontaine and Helen (Jesse) Raabe, brothers James (Mary Ann) Young, Thomas (Sherry) Young, and
Rodger (Patti) Young; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents
Frank and Anna Young, husband Elmer Blaha, loving companion Tony Castro, sisters Gertrude Landgraf,
Caroline DeLair, Ruth Kelly, Rose Miller, Mary Louise O’Donnell, and brother Edward Young.
Jenny leaves behind numerous other special people in her life including John Castro, John Castro Jr., Joni
Castro, Mindy Estes, and Marcia Norton. Thank you all for being so wonderful to her. May her memory
remain forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
Burial will be private at Jenny’s request. Interment will be in Sunrise Cemetery. Arrangements are
entrusted to Goble’s Fortuna Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Jenny’s name to
CASA of Humboldt at 2356 Myrtle Avenue, Eureka, CA 95501 – or a charity of your choice.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jenny’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
Gina Francine Bryant Parrish was born on October 10, 1956, in Eureka, CA to Meredith and
Irene Bryant and passed peacefully from this life on July 22, 2023 in Fortuna, CA after an 18-
month long battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her family.
The oldest (and only girl) of three children, Gina grew up in Ferndale, attending Ferndale Elementary and Ferndale High School,
where she made many life-long friends. Gina married her first husband, David, in 1972.
Together they had her only child, Sarah in April 1973. Gina married her second husband, Jay
Parrish on May 14, 1995. Gina dedicated her love and her life to Jay and Sarah until she
became Gaga to her grandchildren, Connor, Aidan and Lilah when they arrived in 2000, 2002
and 2006. From the moment her first grandchild entered this world, they became the center of
her world.
Gina worked in administrative positions in several medical and financial offices
throughout her life. In 2002, Gina began caring for her grandchildren full-time while their
parents were working. This was Gina’s favorite job ever! She never missed an event for her
grandchildren and one could always see her pride for them whenever they walked in a room or
she talked about what they were doing. She held a unique relationship with each of her
grandchildren and they were so blessed to have her in their lives.
Growing up in a small town
like Ferndale naturally leads to life-long friendships and Gina was no exception, having many
friendships that she cherished and that lasted throughout her life. Gina had a kind and giving
heart and never met a stranger. She helped people in so many ways, not the least of which was
a listening ear. Gina loved animals, especially cats, and was always surrounded by her sweet
pets. Many lives are better for having known Gina and her kind and giving heart.
Gina is survived by: Husband, Jay Parrish; mother, Irene Bryant; daughter, Sarah (John) Annis
Ireland; grandchildren, Connor, Aidan and Lilah; uncle Milton Mossi; brother-in-law Larry
(Kathy) Parrish; Sisters-in-law Sherry Ridenour, Connie Otis, and Cathey Bryant; numerous
nieces, nephews and cousins and many good friends who were really just family. Gina was
proceeded in death by: father, Meredith; brothers Jerry and Robert Bryant and her maternal
and paternal grandparents.
The family would like to thank Dr. Andrew Johnston, the staff at Providence Oncology in Eureka,
Dr. Walker at USCF, Dr. Dittmer and the nurses who made her last hours comfortable and
peaceful; as well as all who came to visit in her last days.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 19, 2023 from 12:30 pm-2:30 pm at 346
Oeschger Road in Ferndale, CA.
In lieu of flowers or donations, do something kind for another.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Gina’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
George Conner Martin died peacefully with his wife (Patty) and daughter (Pam) by his side on
July 13, 2023. Born in San Francisco in 1933 and raised in the Bay area by his parents Henry and
Doris Martin. As a youth growing up in Greenfield, he worked on vegetable farms and attended
King City H.S. where he met his future wife, Patty. George’s leadership and athletic abilities
were displayed as Freshman Class president, student council member, Student Body President,
and a 4-year letter winner in Football and Track & Field. Upon H.S graduation, he headed to Cal
Poly San Luis Obispo where he competed in Cross Country and Track & Field. George and Patty
married in 1953 while obtaining his degree in vegetable crops in 1955.
In 1955 George was drafted and selected to serve in the Marine Corp and attended Officer
Candidate school in Quantico, Virginia. He served three years as 1st Lieutenant of the 5th Division,
1st Marine Division and became a father when son, Steve, and daughter (Pam) were born.
Career opportunities were available, but George’s goals led the family to Purdue University and
obtain his master’s in Horticulture and PhD in Plant Science.
His first horticulture job was at the USDA Field Station in Wenatchee, Washington working on
pomological crops. In 1967 he accepted a position in the Pomology Department at the
University of California at Davis as an Associate Professor and was made Professor in 1973.
At the University of California at Davis, George pursued his wide interests in science, history,
and plant physiology and spent several years as a volunteer coach with the Universities distance
runners. His research led to the development of methods for hormone measurements in plant
organs and field use of growth regulators for growth control in apple, peach, prune, pear, olive,
and walnut. Although George was known statewide and internationally and published over 200
papers and reports but he felt his major contribution to the field was his time spent with his
graduate students.
As an American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) member his activities included:
President 1990; Chair of numerous National Committees, Symposiums and Publications; Vice-
President Research Division; Associate Editor; and organizer of 32 Symposia for the 1986
International SHS meeting. And he was the recipient of numerous ASHS awards including
Research of the Year Award Fellow of the Society.
While living in Wenatchee, WA the family spent many weekends and vacations camping, hiking,
backpacking, snowshoeing, and shooting bows and arrows as a family. The family was also very
activity in the local YMCA where they George and Patty taught classes; George was President of
the Archery Club.
When the family moved to Davis, George began riding his bike to work rain, wind, or sunshine.
George spent his noon hour running with other faculty and staff members and on weekend he
could be seen all over the county riding one of his many touring bikes (not motorized).
Weeklong rides were all over the mountains in California and Oregon. Patty even joined him on
several bike trips but wised up and began joining as the sag wagon and joining dad in the
evenings.
George and Patty became world and U.S. travelers and made lifetimes friends and associates In
Italy, France, Israel, England, Wales, and Poland while attend international meetings, yearly
ASHS meeting and sabbatical leaves. Three sabbatical leaves were spent at the University of
Bristol, 1974-75, University of College of Wales, 1980-81, and Oregon State University, 1987-88.
Mom and dad loved to explore the National Parks, Lewis and Clark Trails, the 4 Corners, and
numerous monuments. The Davis household was filled with visitors from all over the world,
UCD distance runners, graduate students, faculty and staff and farm advisors all hosted by
Patty.
After 28 years at UC Davis, George welcome in retirement by riding his bicycle from Davis to
Corvallis, OR for his last ASHS meeting. Soon afterwards George and Patty relocated to
Paradise, CA. and George pursued his interests in the world beyond science. He began reading
in the areas of history, philosophy, religion, U.S Constitution and democracy (Democratic
Republic), literature, and begin writing opinion papers.
George and Patty’s quiet lifestyle and beautiful home overlooking the Chico valley was tragically
destroyed in the Paradise Fire in November 2018. They relocated in Humboldt County where
George quickly made friends as numerous people regularly saw him walking on the Hammond
trail, in Blue Lake, Fieldbrook, Trinidad and more recently along Sutter Rd. He always had a
smile on his face and a good morning greeting as he continued his military cadence, upright
posture toward a designated turn around point. And always donning a wide brim hat and a
small black backpack.
George is survived by his wife of 70 years, Patty and their two children: Steve and his spouse,
Katherine; and Pam. He is also survived by two grandchildren: Kirstyn and her wife, Holly; and
Kyle and his partner, Sophie. He is also survived by his sister, Lynne Steele; niece, Jennifer
Steele and cousin, Taylor Steele and his wife, Kendall.
George was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Doris Martin. George’s family would
like to convey its sincere thanks and appreciation to Hospice for their loving and compassionate
care during George’s finals months. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in
George’s name to Hospice of Humboldt. A Celebration of Life in be held on September 16,
2023.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of George Martin’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com
Press release from the Arcata Fire Protection District:
McKinleyville, CA - On August 4, 2023, the Arcata Fire Protection District was notified that an unidentified person was posing as an Arcata Fire Protection District (AFPD) Fire Inspector to gain entry into an apartment around 8:00A.M. This person then ‘tested’ the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and exited the home.
The Arcata Fire logo is on all personnel clothing and vehicles.
No fire inspection personnel were on duty yesterday conducting inspections, so the motive for the entry to the resident’s home is unclear.
The Arcata Fire Protection District does perform inspections on apartment complexes in our district, but will ALWAYS be in a marked vehicle, in department identifying clothing and will have an AFPD Identification. Inspections will always be between the hours of 10:00A.M. and 3:00P.M.
If you are still unsure of the identity of the person at your door, please do not hesitate to call AFPD’s office at (707) 825-2000 to ask if we have personnel in the field doing inspections that day.
If you have any information about the imposter attempting to gain access to yours or a neighbor’s home, please contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or Arcata Police at (707) 822-2428.
After this post was published, a former employee of Redwood Harley-Davidson reached out to say he and several of his former coworkers were also taken by surprise by the dealership’s sudden closure.
“When we showed up to work [on July 25] they had doors locked, employees from other stores packing up and final paychecks in hand,” said the worker, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid professional repercussions. “The GM went around and hand-picked the people he liked to bring them to Redding while not notifying any other employees they were shutting down.”
In a phone interview he said five or six of the dealership’s employees were left suddenly unemployed when the dealership closed its doors last week. While he didn’t know for sure the closure was coming, he did have some hints.
“Approximately a month, a month and a half ago things started getting a little weird around the shop,” he said.
Weird how?
“Just energy-wise,” he said. “You can tell when things are getting to where people are telling secrets.”
Redwood Harley-Davidson was owned by Vacaville-based Wise Auto Group, which operates more than 20 dealerships across California, Arizona and Nevada.
We called the Vacaville dealership and got referred to a dealership in Reno, where the woman who answered the phone offered an explanation, of sorts.
“Basically they’re moving everything to another Harley-Davidson,” she said regarding the sudden shutdown. “They didn’t want a lot of Harley-Davidson’s nearby the same location.”
Shasta Harley-Davidson, which is roughly three hours east on State Route 299, opened its doors on July 26, the day after Redwood Harley-Davidson closed its doors, bringing a sudden end to roughly 24 years in business.
When asked about the suddenness of the closure and the lack of advanced notice to customers and employees, the woman in Reno, who did not offer her name, said, “Are you trying to make a story out of this?”
Informed that it’s already a story, she passed us to a man named Mac, who said we’d need to speak with a district manager named Matt Ensour, who was in the Redding store. However, when we called there we were told that he’d left for the day.
“Not even the district told us [the closure was coming],” the former employee of Redwood Harley-Davidson said. “Not one single employee from Wise [Auto Group] or our other Harley group or our sister stores told us.”
When he did finally find out, the story didn’t make sense to him.
“They tried to tell me it was Harley’s decision to close, but that doesn’t make sense because they delivered us brand new motorcycles three days before closing,” he said. “We had a full stockroom, and they were making us schedule customers for upgrades. They had us bring bikes in [for service] up to the day before closing.”
He has since moved out of the area in search of another job and said some of his former coworkers had to do the same, he said.
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Original post:
The exterior signage has been removed and the inventory cleared out. | Photo by Ryan Burns.
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After more than two decades in business at the north end of Eureka, Redwood Harley-Davidson closed its doors last week, leaving behind some frustrated customers and a message taped to its windows and posted to social media saying they’re moving to Redding.
“Redwood HD family, you’ve been an integral part of our journey, and we cherish every moment,” the message says. “Can’t wait to see you in Redding, where the adventure continues!”
Commenters expressed surprise, with one saying, “150 miles [away]? Really?”
One customer, Mike M. told the Outpost via email that he’s had warranty parts on order since March.
“When I would check they would tell me the parts were on back-order [and] to check back with them the end of July. I did, only to find out they closed,” he wrote.
Mike asked us not to use his last name since he expects to travel to Redding for service and doesn’t want to foul the relationship further.
The business’s website is no longer online, leaving a message that says, “This site is no longer available,” but a cached version of the website, accessed via the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, shows that the site was functioning as recently as July 20, with a banner telling customers, “Immediate Pre-Ordering Available Now!”
The phone number listed online also doesn’t function, though we managed to reach the Redding dealership via a number posted to Facebook.
Sales Manager Marcus Noy said he’s not too sure why the Eureka dealership closed. “I believe it’s a motor company decision,” he ventured, adding that we should call back on Wednesday to speak with the general manager.
Mike M. Said he’s also had a hard time getting answers.
“I can’t be the only one that they left holding the bag,” he said. “Redding, that’s a long way away. I would not have bought a bike if I knew I’d have to go three and a half hours to service it.”
Mike purchased his Harley two years ago, along with the extended service warranty.
While he’s frustrated, he said he can’t really blame the owners or the salespeople for not telling him at the time that they’d be closed in two years.
“Obviously they probably didn’t have that on their horizon either,” he said.
Shasta Harley-Davidson in Redding can be reached at 522-241-7117.
On August 03, 2023 at approximately 1:06 p.m., Officers with the Eureka Police
Department (EPD) were dispatched to Wabash and A Streets for a report of shots
heard in the vicinity. There were no witnesses to this incident and officers were unable
to locate any indication shots had been fired.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., an additional reporting party phoned EPD and stated they
had video surveillance showing at least one individual firing shots from a handgun on
Wabash between A and B Streets. After the shots were fired, the suspect fled the
scene. While this does appear to be a targeted attack, we have no information leading
us to believe anyone was struck by gunfire during this incident.
Upon further investigation, Officers located a shell casing and were able to determine
the shooter was associated with a nearby apartment. Officers maintained a perimeter
while a search warrant was obtained. At approximately 4:57 p.m., Officers, with the
assistance of the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, executed a search warrant on the
apartment. No arrests were made during the service of the warrant.
This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this shooting is
asked to contact Detective Donald Bailey at dbailey@eurekaca.gov or 707-441-4215.
While the shooting investigation was being conducted, a man drove by the crime scene yelling at officers. He lost control of his vehicle and collided with a parked car. The driver, 21 year old Miles Armstrong, attempted to flee on foot but was quickly detained by community members. EPD officers arrived on scene and took Armstrong into custody for DUI and hit and run.
