12 minute read
Welcome New Members
CASA of Humboldt is a non-profit agency that was established in 1991 with the goal of providing every child in the Humboldt County Dependency Court System (foster care) a volunteer advocate to stay by their side through the entire court process. A CASA volunteer represents a stable and consistent relationship with the children in foster care who often have none.
The inspiration for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) came to Seattle juvenile court judge David W. Soukup in 1976. Judge Soukup realized he had insufficient information to make a life-changing decision for a 3-year-old girl who had suffered from child abuse. These children, who had experienced abuse or neglect, needed trained volunteers who would spend time getting to know them and then speaking up in the courtroom for their best interests. In 1991, CASA of Humboldt was formed with the support of our local judges.
A CASA is a Court Appointed Special Advocate - a volunteer who goes through training to learn how to mentor children and advocate for the best interest of children and their families. CASA volunteers are legally appointed by a judge to their CASA child and spend 10-12 hours per month working on behalf of their CASA child. CASA volunteers spend quality time participating in fun activities with the child they are matched with, and in doing so while getting to know the child, they also gather information from all the important people in a child’s life and advocate for the best interests and needs of the child. At regular court hearings required for all children in foster care, CASAs report on the children’s progress and needs. This reporting is essential for judges to make the best decision for the wellbeing of the child and their future.
CASA is kicking off Super-Kid Season! Super Kid Season runs from August 8th-October 8th and it is their biggest fundraising time of the year. A “SuperKids Season” team is a group of people that come together to support local kids in foster care. They form a team and participate in a variety of fundraisers that they develop, to raise money to facilitate the CASA program. The teams can be whatever size you want; fundraising together is fun and meaningful no matter the team size! From coin cans & bake sales to CASA hosted events, there are so many great ways to raise money! Once you register your team, their staff will help you design your plan. Friendly competition is a long-standing tradition for this fundraiser and is a great motivator to see who will hold the top fundraising crown in each category. When working towards the same goal, providing every child in foster care with a CASA, everyone’s a winner! So, grab your friends, coworkers, or family members and register your team or check out their sponsorship opportunities at humboldtcasa.org.
There are hundreds of children in the Humboldt County foster care system that would benefit from a CASA. Trainings occur all year long so if you are interested in learning more, fill out an interest form at humboldtcasa.org or call them at (707) 443-3197.
Golden State Succulents originated in 2018 as Golden State Greenhouse, operating mainly as an online and drop shipping company where they sold agriculture and greenhouse supplies. Owners Marc and Michelle Oliver grew succulents at home and sometimes sold them on request as arrangements or individual potted plants. As demand grew for fresh flowers and succulent basket deliveries increased, Michelle said to Marc that they should transition to more of a local flower delivery and succulent provider. They bought a Grunman Olsen box truck and turned it into a mobile flower boutique headquarters and re-branded their business as Golden State Succulents. They started attending local events and popping up at random spots. Now, four years later and with overwhelming support from the local community and local vendors, they made the huge step of opening their own storefront at 1012 Main Street. The store will allow them to better serve their customers and the local community. They
Inside Golden State Succulents.
carry a variety of products for sale at the store, on Facebook, and online at goldenstatesucculents. com. You can find succulents, glass bird feeders, hand blown glass planters, arts and crafts kits, hand painted stepping stones, custom game board sets, signs, trays, wood turned planters, plus locally made handcrafted items from vendors such as driftwood art, soaps, and jewelry. They currently offer fresh cut flower and succulent basket delivery to the greater Eel River Valley area. You can visit Golden State Succulents at 1012 Main Street. You can reach them by phone at (707) 267–8237.
Lexi Stowe is the founder of a new small business in Fortuna called Helping Inspire. Born and raised in Fortuna, Lexi graduated from Fortuna High School in 2019. During high school, Lexi fell in love with the small town and the community that she saw in Fortuna. She did her part to help make Fortuna the outstanding town that it is by spending her time volunteering in a variety of ways at local schools through a program called Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP). She wanted to give back and support local businesses, so she learned how to write grants with YEP. Through donating and presenting those to the businesses in Fortuna and working with many kids through the schools, she found her passion for helping people succeed. For extra money, she would help family friends with jobs they needed help with. Deep cleaning parts of their homes, organizing junk drawers, yard work, child and pet care; no job was too small. When seeing the relief that her help provided others in completing a difficult task, she found a passion in inspiring others. Never did she think that she could make a career out of that. In early 2022, after becoming unemployed, Lexi made a Facebook post to find friends or family that needed help with any type of cleaning or pet care. A lot of people took her up on that offer and she decided to create a business out of it.
Lexi’s goal with Helping Inspire is to help people get past whatever roadblocks are holding them back from completing overwhelming tasks around the house. Not only does she help with the task at hand, but she also wants them to know they can succeed and feel accomplished. Whether the closet is too full to look at, the dusty blinds are too much of a stress to clean, or if your family is getting ready for vacation and need help with your furry friends, Lexi and Helping Inspire is here to help.
If you ever need a helping hand, you can contact Lexi Stowe at Helping Inspire by email at helping. inspire14@gmail.com or by phone at (707) 497-9500.
The Humboldt Association of Realtors is a trade association representing more than 455 Realtors in Humboldt County.
The Eureka Real Estate Board was formally organized on January 25, 1922 and chartered on May 30 of the same year. With a founding membership of nine brokers and 14 sales agents, the Association has grown to a current membership of 455 Realtors, 35 MLS-only agents, and 95 affiliate members.
Under the direction of a board of directors, the Humboldt Association of Realtors provides education and support to realtor members. Realtors are held to a higher code of ethics and education requirements than real estate professionals. Therefore, they promote the realtor brand encouraging education and ethics. In conjunction with the California Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors, HAR advocates for fair, affordable, and
HuMBoldt Association of Realtors
accessible housing, and property rights.
Realtors not only help Humboldt County residents achieve their dream of home ownership, they also actively participate in the community. Their committees help raise funds for local initiatives, advocate for property rights, and donate to youth. In partnership with business affi liates, HAR can add value to the community by providing community service and promoting quality of life for realtors and residents alike.
Locally, the Humboldt Association of Realtors likes to give back and create opportunities for growth with our committees. This year, Humboldt Association of Realtors will host its 26th annual golf tournament on September 16, at Beau Pre Golf Course benefi ting Food for People. This event is open to non-members and members alike, so if anyone would like to golf, they would be happy to set them up with a team and cart.
The HAR Cares for Youth Committee gives back through direct donation requests, the annual school supply/backpack giveaway, and helping fund placemaking projects for the community to enjoy!
Encouraging the community to shop locally is another way the Humboldt Association of Realtors likes to get involved. By off ering members a one stop shop for local gift certifi cates, they can choose local shops, restaurants, and experiences as gifts for their clients with ease. Many of their members purchase gifts for their clients when a home sale closes. Here’s how it works: HAR members order gift certifi cates for their clients to use at your business. HAR staff produces the gift certifi cate, which is mailed out to the clients. Gift certifi cates are usually in the range of $50-$200, sometimes higher. Once their gift certifi cate is used in your business, you need 8 only to send an invoice (email or fax) and HAR will reimburse you within a week. All gift certifi cates are authorized by the association staff member who produces and signs each of the certifi cates. A database of all distributed gift certifi cates is maintained so that they are easily tracked should a question ever come up. If you would like more information on this program, please contact Kristen at (707) 4422978 or kristenc@harealtors.com. Fortuna Chamber member businesses can participate in this program with zero cost!
The Humboldt Association of Realtors has three membership types available: Realtor member, MLS only member, and Affi liate Member. You can learn more about their membership options, committees, and more at harealtors.com.
Joanna Ortiz and Jose Luis Garcinuno selling their warm and yummy donuts at AutoXpo. LoveMiniDonuts
LoveMiniDonuts
Owners Joanna Ortiz and her husband, Jose Luis Garcinuno, relocated from their home in Chile 18 years ago. They have three children - Agustín (21) who studies at Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia, Victoria (19) who lives in Eureka and works as a waitress at Peppers in Arcata, and Antonio (19) who is going to play soccer at CSU Stanislaus in Turlock this coming school year. They decided to move to the United States so that their children could learn another language and experichildren could learn another language and experience another culture. When they’re not making delicious donuts, Joanna works as a home visitor with Early Head Start and Jose works for Green Diamond Resource Company in Korbel. They recently rescued a two-year old dog named Lulu.
About 15 years ago, Jose came up with the idea of
getting a mini donut machine. He had enjoyed watching them being made at Pier 39 in San Francisco and in Old Town Sacramento. After purchasing the machine, he started showcasing his donuts at the Humboldt County Fair and Redwood Acres Fair, as well as selling them during soccer season at Newburg Park. The profi t helped them support their younger son with soccer traveling expenses and club fees for several years. During the last year, Joanna came up with the idea of taking their mini donut business to the next level and selling them as a gourmet treat. She re-branded their business as LoveMiniDonuts and began off ering them in diff erent local businesses. The community started reaching out for private parties and local events and the rest is history. LoveMiniDonuts off ers catering with their donut machine, cooking up hot, fresh donuts for up to two hours. They also have a white display cart that can be rented for parties and events. Custom donuts are also available. All donuts are made with organic eggs and glazed with ingredients that are fresh and homemade. LoveMiniDonuts can be reached at (707) 601-0942 or online at loveminidonuts.com.
Morgan Dodson, Realtor
Morgan has called Humboldt County home since she was a child. After graduating from Ferndale High School, Morgan joined the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. She was on active duty for eight years MorGan Dodson, Realtor and did two tours in the Middle East. When her military service was over, she enrolled in an MBA program, graduating from Colorado State University in 2019. After obtaining her degree, she took the plunge and went after her longtime dream of a career in real estate. Morgan joined eXp Realty and now helps clients on the buyer and seller side to assist in their real estate experience. You can visit Morgan at her offi ce at 554 N. Fortuna Blvd. She can be reached at (707) 572-0669 or morgandodson.exprealty.com.
State Mandated
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
Tuesday 9.20.22
Fortuna Monday Club | 610 Main St.
Contact us about Group Pricing!
California law requires all employers of five or more employees to provide sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training to their employees once every two years and within six months of hire. This training is open to our members and the general public. Call us for a Member Discount of 10%!
Wyckoff’s Plumbing took home the trophy for Fortuna’s Best Chili. Photo credit: Mary Bullwinkel Redwood Prep Charter School takes home Rookie of the Year. Pictured is David Huffman, daughter Rebecca (wearing the dress), Scarlet Stoll, and Wylie Patzlaff. Photo Credit: Mary Bullwinkel
Big R’s BBQ takes the Best Beef Chili trophy. Photo Credit: Mary Bullwinkel Best Dressed Team Cornerstone Realty. Photo Credit: Mary Bullwinkel
