The November grand opening of the new Poletski’s Appliance Center in Eureka’s Henderson Center was celebrated not only with the business tradition of a ribbon cutting, but also a family tradition: posing the newest family addition in a washing machine (but not to wash, of course). The cutest baby with a pink bow peeked out […]
Meg Wall-Wild
Posted inMy Humboldt Life
Aaron Ostrom’s Humboldt Adventure
It’s been said that if for some reason you must leave Humboldt, you will find your way back. It was certainly true for Aaron Ostrom. Born at Mad River Hospital, he moved to Santa Rosa with his mother during second grade but found his way back to Humboldt for his senior year in high school. […]
Posted inProfiles
Joe Haddadin Builds Plate by Plate
Chances are that at some point Joe Haddadin has fed you. If he hasn’t, it’s not from lack of trying. Starting in 2005 with Joe’s Cafe, Haddadin has served up thousands upon thousands of full plates in his efforts to feed Humboldt diners, one table at a time. With restaurants up and down the coast […]
Posted inProfiles
The Kreitzers’ Old-fashioned Sweetness
John and Julie Kreitzer looked at the Golden Gait Mercantile and smiled. They were in town enjoying their honeymoon at the Shaw House. After spending several hours exploring, the Kreitzers were utterly smitten. The venerable mainstay of Ferndale’s Main Street was on the market. Marlin and Sandra Mesman opened the store’s doors for the first […]
Posted inPerfect Trips
Perfect Trips for Spring and Summer
Take that thorny problem to the nearest labyrinth and contemplate solutions as you center your mind. Let a local community garden or farm help because the best therapy is ripping up weeds. Or planting flowers and veg. Your pick. Explore the galleries that show off Humboldt in all its glory. Don’t forget the kids! Humboldt […]
Posted inProfiles
Jennifer Rudick Helps Humboldt Find its Zzzzs
Jennifer Rudick can put you to sleep but in the best way possible! The Humboldt born Rudick puts her knowledge of nighttime comfort to good use at the three Moore’s Sleep World Inc. locations. Rudick loves it when someone yells across a parking lot, “The mattress lady!” Talking to her, it is easy to understand […]
Posted inMy Humboldt Life
The Haganses Paint a Beautiful Humboldt Life
Humboldt born Duane Hagans did what many a student has done. He picked up a paint brush to earn money while attending classes in Sacramento. Duane painted buildings inside and out, working hard to support his growing family. Duane had met his wife Jacquee at Eureka High School, a textbook meet-cute with actual textbooks. After […]
Posted inMy Humboldt Life
The Nichols Brothers Bring Their Grade A Game
Sometimes good things come to an end, unless someone refuses to let that happen. Enter the Nichols brothers, Luke and Zack. When Redwood Meat Co. suddenly closed, they both recognized that this could be the death blow to Humboldt’s meat industry, aside from leaving Zack unemployed. Luke had worked there until 2012, before he went […]
Posted inProfiles
The Road Home with Trent and Tracy Shumard
Humboldt-born Trent and Tracy Shumard might look familiar to you. Maybe Tracy sold you your home; maybe Trent sold you the car in the driveway. The chance that this couple with deep Humboldt roots knows you, or someone you know, is pretty high. When teenaged Trent picked up a rag at Roy’s Auto Center (10 […]
Posted inProfiles
Rick Littlefield and growing Eureka Natural Foods
Humboldt hooked Rick Littlefield in 1975 when he drove through the big trees with his brother and a friend. They were passing through on the way to Canada and he had no thoughts of settling down, only a week of fun exploring the area. Three months later, Littlefield came back to enroll in then Humboldt […]
Posted inMy Humboldt Life
Roger Kirkpatrick’s Life Off-road
Roger Kirkpatrick’s father owned a Garberville auto shop, so of course he gave his 2-year-old son a Big A Auto Parts toolbox. The little boy grew into a teen who didn’t need to take auto shop in high school. Good thing, too, as he would have radically skewed the curve. His toddler’s toolbox had come […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
A Tale of Two Tails
Note: Names have been changed to protect the privacy of embarrassed furballs. On a chilly Sunday morning we noticed a young couple pacing up and down as they scanned for something. “Our cat is missing,” they said. The distraught couple were camping at Clam Beach and their kitty, whom I will call Pretty Boy, went […]