I read this article and comments with a very heavy heart.
My family and I moved to Ferndale about 4 years ago, so I do not have any attachments to Loleta or the meat market though I have stopped in there on occasion and Pixie has always been friendly. This said, the changes in the meat market in the last few years as the traffic increased because of the bakery have been significant with more merchandise inside and outside on the sidewalk next to the bustling bakery.
What brought me to the bakery was 3 things - they invested in bringing in baristas who really know their coffee drinks (I would also add that they currently have one of the best espresso machine's in our county), the quality of everything I have ever eaten in there and also the kindness of the people there. In this I include Jeanne, her daughters, Peter and their staff both in front and in back.
I think what they have built there is exceptional and I am sad to see another media piece that highlights the situation more leaning towards the conflict than the type of experiences I have treasured there. My daughter and I have been going there on daddy/daughter outings drawing and playing chess and drinking coffee and steamed milk and being treated to some of the best service I have experienced in Humboldt County. Many of these moments included Jeanne stopping by our table with her big smile and sparkling eyes and treating my daughter like a treasured visitor to her cafe.
My hope is that as the dust settles people will recognize that Pixie can create a new anchor point on the far end of the block (and lets not get carried away here Main Street Loleta is not much more than a block - there is no epic journey form one end to the other). With her creating more energy down there and the bakery expanding and creating more jobs and drawing more people, that more of these buildings can fill in with additional interesting activity.
Change is constant, and whenever we get attached to the way things have been, the more we end up disappointed. The more disappointed we get, the more we tend to behave poorly when relating to others. If the community is indeed so small and everyone knows each others business, then in the end they will see no one is perfect but all of these people are invested in making the town better. Sometimes people working towards the same end come into conflict during the means to that end. This is never fun and often hurts. Fortunately most of us come around and pain is not the only thing we chose to live with - we know we must find healing and forgiveness and learn from our bumps and bruises. Get back tot he golden rule and build trust where it was eroded and work together to make a society that can do right by our kids and our elders. Set fear and pain aside and pick back up love and courage.
I am sending my prayers and best wishes for the Loleta community which I have come to appreciate for the treasured memories and kind interactions I have had there. I will be hoping most of all for resilience in bouncing back from the turmoil and finding a place where you can keep working on the town you all love.
Re: “Main and Loleta”
I read this article and comments with a very heavy heart.
My family and I moved to Ferndale about 4 years ago, so I do not have any attachments to Loleta or the meat market though I have stopped in there on occasion and Pixie has always been friendly. This said, the changes in the meat market in the last few years as the traffic increased because of the bakery have been significant with more merchandise inside and outside on the sidewalk next to the bustling bakery.
What brought me to the bakery was 3 things - they invested in bringing in baristas who really know their coffee drinks (I would also add that they currently have one of the best espresso machine's in our county), the quality of everything I have ever eaten in there and also the kindness of the people there. In this I include Jeanne, her daughters, Peter and their staff both in front and in back.
I think what they have built there is exceptional and I am sad to see another media piece that highlights the situation more leaning towards the conflict than the type of experiences I have treasured there. My daughter and I have been going there on daddy/daughter outings drawing and playing chess and drinking coffee and steamed milk and being treated to some of the best service I have experienced in Humboldt County. Many of these moments included Jeanne stopping by our table with her big smile and sparkling eyes and treating my daughter like a treasured visitor to her cafe.
My hope is that as the dust settles people will recognize that Pixie can create a new anchor point on the far end of the block (and lets not get carried away here Main Street Loleta is not much more than a block - there is no epic journey form one end to the other). With her creating more energy down there and the bakery expanding and creating more jobs and drawing more people, that more of these buildings can fill in with additional interesting activity.
Change is constant, and whenever we get attached to the way things have been, the more we end up disappointed. The more disappointed we get, the more we tend to behave poorly when relating to others. If the community is indeed so small and everyone knows each others business, then in the end they will see no one is perfect but all of these people are invested in making the town better. Sometimes people working towards the same end come into conflict during the means to that end. This is never fun and often hurts. Fortunately most of us come around and pain is not the only thing we chose to live with - we know we must find healing and forgiveness and learn from our bumps and bruises. Get back tot he golden rule and build trust where it was eroded and work together to make a society that can do right by our kids and our elders. Set fear and pain aside and pick back up love and courage.
I am sending my prayers and best wishes for the Loleta community which I have come to appreciate for the treasured memories and kind interactions I have had there. I will be hoping most of all for resilience in bouncing back from the turmoil and finding a place where you can keep working on the town you all love.
Peace and Good Things,
andrei form ferndale