Fall 2020
Q U A RT E R LY N E WS L E T T E R
Michelle Bushnell
for 2nd District Supervisor Let’s make some positive changes together! I was born and raised in Humboldt County, and I love my home. I am deeply in tune with our successes and our struggles, and I have so much hope for our futures. Amongst the many concerns we all have, I think these areas deserve our attention: • Promote Economic Stability throughout the 2nd District. • Improve Rural Infrastructures. • Let’s streamline the operations of the County Planning Department for responsible business development. • We need to create solutions for supporting our elderly, the mentally unwell, and the homeless. • Let’s not forget about Veterans affairs! • More prominent presence of law enforcement and decreased response times in unincorporated areas. I’d like to bring common sense, business experience, and integrity to our local government. I am asking for your vote and want to be your voice. mbushnell4seconddistrict@gmail.com Check out our Facebook, Instagram, and web pages.
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Michelle Bushnell for 2nd District Supervisor. FPPC# 1424117
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▶ contents Contents 6
A Message from the President
7-10 Fortuna Business Spotlight 12
Chamber Meetings
12
Low-cost Firewood Vouchers Available
Special Fold-out Section Fortuna Gets a New Highway Billboard
735 14th Street Fortuna, CA 95540 (707) 725-3959 www.fortunachamber.com
Public Art in Fortuna 13
Public Art Map
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Community Member Spotlight
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Ribbon Cuttings
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Operation Celebrate Window Decorating Contest Results
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Fortuna City Council Candidate Forum
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Outdoor Dining Comes to Fortuna
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Apple Harvest
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Ollie the Otter Coloring Contest
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020-21 CHAIR OF THE BOARD Kelly Isaacson Umpqua Bank IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Seth McGrath Fortuna Grocery Outlet VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD Bailey Davy, Cornerstone Realty AMBASSADOR CHAIR Laura Morris, Coast Central Credit Union DIRECTORS Becky Giacomini, Retired Crystal Lewis, Crystal Lewis State Farm Insurance Janell Page, Clean Queen Meal Prep
ON THE COVER Bob Judevine and Peggy Fregeau with her Artist Pole at Strongs Creek Plaza. Photo by Melissa Sanderson ©2020 The Quarterly Newsletter is a publication of the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce. Entire contents are copyrighted. No article may be reprinted without written permission.
Gary Ogle, AFLAC North Coast/ Gary Ogle Insurance Services Fred Robinson, Edward Jones Melissa Sanderson, North Coast Journal Cathy Whitchurch, PC Whitchurch FINANCIAL ADVISOR Greg Thomsen Wyatt, Whitchurch & Andersen STAFF Renee Lindsay, President & CEO Suzi Dodson, Office Assistant
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A Message from the President
A
s we near the 6-month mark of the Shelter in Place order signed on March 20, 2020, many things have changed in the Friendly City. When the SIP effectively locked the community down, closing nonessential businesses, many of us were left wondering what would happen to our local businesses, our neighbors, and our economy. Here at the Chamber, we had to make modifications in how we shared resources and information and connected with the community. We created a YouTube channel to allow us to upload webinars and recorded meetings. We built a special section on our website devoted to Covid-19 resources, including a Chamber Blog. We increased our weekly email newsletter to a daily newsletter to keep up with the massive amounts of, and constantly changing, information that was generated by local, state, and federal agencies. We reached out to over 152 of our member businesses to find out how they were doing and how we could help. We connected with partner Chambers near and far, the BID, County leaders, and others to share information and ideas, identify problems, and formulate solutions. We worked with our City leaders to support our shuttered businesses with loans and no-fee encroachment permits. We continue to work with these partners on a near daily basis to keep Fortuna strong and moving forward. In this latest issue we wanted to take a minute and highlight some of our local businesses. Most you may know of, but some might be new to you. Supporting business is the mission of the Chamber and every business in Fortuna is important to us, member or not. It is the job of each of us to do all we can to help our businesses prosper and keep the
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economy going in our city. As we all work to restore a sense of normalcy in business and school activity, the recent increase in cases threatens to short-circuit the recovery and send us backward. Following the advice of our Public Health Officer and CDC guidelines now will keep us all safer and can help prevent the need for more stringent limitations on business activities in the future. Another round of closures will undoubtedly force more businesses to permanently close, eliminating much needed jobs and significantly harming the economy. Many businesses are struggling with reduced operations to serve their customers and keep their staff employed, all while maintaining a safe environment for us. We kindly ask that our community looks local first when shopping for items or searching for services. Keeping dollars local means more money for our residents, schools, police, roads, parks, fire, and more. As the saying goes, “A high tide lifts many boats.” But, perhaps most importantly, these business owners are our friends and neighbors. When a business or community member is in need, that’s usually the time we all pull together and do what it takes to lift them back on their feet. We witnessed community members organize a husky howl at night to honor first responders, come together to help our local high school seniors salvage what remained of graduation, and created a weekly cruise night to help folks connect even from a distance. We saw individuals join together to feed our emergency room workers, home bound seniors, and low income families. We are so used to witnessing these selfless acts that’s it’s almost second nature. It’s just what we do. It’s what makes Fortuna the place to be!
Fort una Business Spotlight
Edward Jones
Hec Wood has been in business as an Edward Jones financial advisor since 2005. Hec grew up in Fortuna before living and working in both Sacramento and San Diego where he specialized in the financial planning business. He returned to Fortuna because of the qualities our community presented: family oriented, the small-town feel, and a place where he could perform meaningful work in his field of expertise. Another draw for Hec was the fact there were “only three stop lights” in our friendly city! As a financial institution, Edward Jones was designated as an essential business and has remained active during the pandemic but has had to rely heavily on available technology. Hec states he is “here every day and [communicating] with clients mostly by phone and web conferencing.” He shared the importance of protecting elderly clients who are at risk. This is where the technology aspect is very effective for both client and business. “Every business is run uniquely,” Hec said. “Edward Jones is embracing technology and how clients are comfortable being served.” Along with that, the company is being mindful of when it is necessary to meet face to face. Hec stated the company is always “adapting individual clients’ situations and goals to a rapidly changing economic environment.” Edward Jones is located at 3855 Rohnerville Road and can be reached by phone at (707) 725-1112.
Clean Queen Meal Prep
Janell Page started her business two years ago. As a mother of young children, she wanted to raise them in a close knit, family oriented community. She’s been in her current location on 10th Street for a year now. Clean Queen offers clean eating meal
prep services. Customers can place orders in bulk with up to three meals a day, packaged and ready to eat, or they can come in to pick up a single meal. Healthy fast food is their premier frontrunner in addition to grab & go snacks and amazing, made to order, fresh squeezed juices and smoothies. The menu changes often, utilizing foods in season and is always fresh. “We are a healthy fast food, pop in restaurant!” They saw sales go down, but the online orders have stayed consistent and they are still doing deliveries; particularly for those who are not able to leave their residences due to immobility or fragile health. Janell states “We are able to keep our head above water.” Janell’s advice for other small businesses struggling during the pandemic: “Save money where you can to stay in business.” There is no sit in dining right now, so all orders are “to go.” The hand washing station is more active and masking is required. They have struggled to keep a reliable staff with unemployment benefits seeming so attractive. She can, however, boast that Clean Queen Meal Prep is a fun, fast paced environment! They are currently looking to expand their operations, possibly into the Arcata area, with a limited base of pick-up orders and is tentatively seeking a viable location. The restaurant is currently partner-
ing with HealthSport and Body Works, offering a 15% discount to gym members for online and walk in orders. Come in and give them a try because once you’ve tried them, you are sure to return! Clean Queen Meal Prep is located at 758 10th Street and can be reached at (707) 223-8815. For online ordering, visit cleanqueenmealprep.com.
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Fort una Business Spotlight
Stitch Witch Eel Valley Appliance
Eel Valley Appliance sells new and used appliances across Humboldt County. The Main Street location, opened in 2011, offers delivery and installation of quality major appliances, as well as servicing appliances in your home or in their shop. As Ross Huber so aptly put it, “We sell the best and service the rest.” Born and raised in Fortuna, Ross says Fortuna is the perfect location for a business because of its residents wanting to keep their money local, community support in local sporting events and activities throughout the year (like Rodeo and AutoXpo), and the sunny Fortuna weather. Since the pandemic, staff have been abiding by the policies set forth by the Governor even before they were mandated. They implemented pin pad transaction technology for minimal contact because there are customers that they need to protect during the current challenging circumstances. While they are considered an essential business, Ross and his staff are cognizant of the stress and worry their customers may be experiencing and aspire to meet their purchasing and service needs. Eel Valley Appliance regularly offers sales and discounts. Ross realizes money is tight for consumers, so they have incorporated digital price tags that scan competing businesses to ensure the best pricing for their customers. Ross says he “would love every consumer to have a very positive relationship” with Eel Valley Appliance so they are able to spread the word of their experience. Ross encourages businesses in distress to reach out to banks and government programs to utilize assets and resources available. He added, “Bob Judevine [from Redwood Capital Bank] has been a conduit for businesses in our community,” and helped them get access to essential funding. Eel Valley Appliance is located at 1001 Main Street and can be reached at (707) 725-6734. 8
Megan Boos and her family moved to Fortuna 23 years ago from Los Angeles to take advantage of the small-town environment and be involved with her children’s school activities. She was able to do this by working out of her home and felt very blended with family and school. The ability to go to the ocean or mountains often brings her the most joy and the realization that she could not have made a better choice than to settle in Fortuna. Stitch Witch offers all phases of embroidery and screen-printing transfers, patches, and customized letterman jackets. She does the purchasing, any necessary alterations, and the individual embroidery. Megan has done her craft for Humboldt County Fair and Fortuna Rodeo and says this has been the most fun aspect of her business. Megan shares the heartbreak of having to lay off an employee who has been part of Stitch Witch from its inception. This employee is like a member of their family. She was momentarily brought back on board when Fortuna High School put in an order of 150 specialized graduation bags for the 2020 graduates, but sadly, was laid off again and has since moved out of the area. “Reach out to your local banks. Redwood Capital Bank has been wonderfully instrumental” in helping navigate the maze of paperwork required to obtain a loan to keep businesses afloat during the pandemic. ”We are treading water right now.” Stitch Witch is basically an ‘on demand’ business and their reputation is mostly word of mouth and repeat business. They offer a 20% discount in a garment/embroidery package with a 12 piece minimum purchase. Megan is considering a future endeavor of a virtual business model using technology as her market. She wants everyone to know Stitch Witch is “the best kept secret in town.” Stitch Witch is located at 2249 School Street and can be reached at (707) 725-2681.
Main Street Barber
Jacob Fuller opened Main Street Barber in December 2018. Jacob offers haircuts and beard trims. Jacob was born and raised in Humboldt County and is a graduate of Fortuna High School. His grandfather was a barber in Los Angeles and later in Scotia. Jacob graduated barber college and immediately put his skills to work. Jacob said the
hygiene protocols of owning a barber shop were already quite stringent so not much had to change once his business could reopen. Upon reopening, masking was implemented and appointments were required the first month. The shop has since returned to walk in business as that is the nature of what a barber shop is all about. When asked his advice for other small businesses, Jacob said to “hang in there. Give it six months. We just need to get through it.” Although he still has concerns of another shutdown, he knows the shop is still making forward progress. Jacob’s brother will soon come onboard as a barber. This is especially encouraging because it will allow Jacob to extend the shop’s hours and stay open during lunch. He said he likes to stick to the simple plan. “Shop local and buy your products and services in Fortuna.” Main Street Barber is located at 1710 Main Street and can be reached at (707) 845-0074. Continued on next page
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Fort una Business Spotlight
Adams Oil Well & Repair
Fred Adams opened Adams Oil Well & Repair two years ago. He offers auto repair and maintenance, oil changes (quick lube), and transmission flush. Fred said this business opportunity was “just meant to be.” An opportunity presented itself and, as he said, “I grabbed it!” The building bay he now occupies had been vacant for a number of years. He leases the building and the automotive equipment in it. After the pandemic hit, all maintenance and repairs were by appointment in order to keep customers separated, cutting down on unnecessary contact. Now that some restrictions have been lifted, those in need of service and repairs can drop in during regular business hours. Staffing is a big challenge right now. Fred shared the need for qualified auto technicians to pick up some of the slack in the workload. He recently purchased a new lift for the shop so techs will be utilizing state of the art equipment. Currently, Adams Oil Well is offering their standard Buy 5, Get 1 free incentive on oil change services. In addition, all active military, veterans, and first responders benefit from a 10% discount on all services. Fred says this is honor based, so no military or first responder identification is required. “Keep coming in and let us meet your automotive needs.” Adams Oil Well is located at 103 12th Street and can be reached at (707) 682-8106.
Fortuna Fabrics & Crafts
The original Fortuna Fabrics & Crafts store opened 27 years ago by Kim Speath. Kathy Comerer bought the business 3 ½ years ago and dealt with many issues intrinsic to the location and being a bit tucked away from most Main Street advantages. For this reason, she moved the business to a Main Street corner building in December of 2019 10
and has had no regrets. This new venue allows for added walk in traffic and is a definite plus for business. Services offered run the gamut from alterations to sewing machine and spinning wheel rentals to classes in needlework, quilting, needle felting, and decorative arts painting. They sell fabric, patterns, yarn, notions, woodcraft, and art kits. Kathy reported that her roots in the community are what drew her to start her business in Fortuna. Her parents settled here in 1973 and she raised her own children here. Since the pandemic began, Kathy has had to make some adaptations to how she runs her business. Some of the vendors that she previously used were low on supplies due to
high demand, so she sought out other vendors for fabric and elastic. “You kind of have to be creative to stay in a business that’s ever evolving. If you want to have a thriving business, you have to have a thriving business community.” This means shopping local and celebrating others’ successes. Kathy said one challenge is that it is too easy to just order everything online. Spending money locally is important as it keeps the economy moving and money circulating within the community. Fortuna Fabrics has a yarn sale on now and boasts a roving section (yarn fans will know what this is) for spinning that is comprised of locally-sourced, raw fleece fibers like alpaca, wool, and angora rabbit. All Christmas items are currently 40% off. Kathy also makes and sells masks to the public at a very reasonable price ($5.00). Fortuna Fabrics & Crafts is located at 1006 Main Street and can be reached at (707) 725-2501.
NorCal Auto Body
NorCal Auto Body has been in business since 2011. Co-owners Mike Weekly and Kevin Brett worked for Bob Aldrich up until he retired and moved out of Humboldt County. They purchased the business from him with all the equipment and have continued to use their skill sets with much success. When the pandemic happened, NorCal Auto was forced to cut back on technicians and one employee was laid off. Leah, NorCal Auto’s office manager, said they were “hit super hard” and were really lacking in business. “There was a minute where we just put our heads in the sand and prayed.” She said they hung in there and it has paid off because now they are busier than ever.
The main tip she shared is to constantly be honing in on employees’ individual needs. Uncertainty of the future is stressful and “change brings stress” but it’s important to keep going and to not give up. NorCal Auto Body is in the process of closing up their current shop location on K Street but doesn’t want customers to stress because ... drum roll… they are opening their new location at 1325 Riverwalk Drive on September 1st! New equipment has been installed and they are looking to expand their team. They are also hoping to do a ribbon cutting once they open. NorCal Auto Body soon will be located at 1325 Riverwalk Drive and can be reached at (707) 7251030.
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(707) 725-9376
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Chamber Meetings
W
e sure have missed hosting our weekly Chamber meetings at the Monday Club! With the Shelter in Place order prohibiting gatherings outside of the immediate household, we’ve moved our meetings online. Some of our recent guests have been new Police Chief Casey Day, Humboldt ASAP, Edward Jones, Affordable Homeless Housing Alternatives, HumAmy Scolari, Wild Souls Ranch, giving a presentation on July 13 to members. boldt- Del Norte Film Commission, American Cancer Society, and Wild Souls Ranch. We also recently hosted three webiand our Chamber event page (members.fortunanars covering private lending options for businesses, chamber.com/events/calendar). insurance for businesses in the time of Covid, and HR issues for business owners. If you haven’t had a September 14 – AFLAC chance to catch one live, we upload all of our videos September 21 – Alzheimer’s Association to our YouTube Channel. We have some great September 28 – Redwood Coast Village speakers lined up for September and October, inOctober 5 – City Council Candidate Forum cluding a candidate forum featuring the candidates October 12 - Rotary Club of Fortuna running for Fortuna City Council. A registration link October 19 – Eddy Alexander is posted a week before on our social media pages October 26 – Sequoia Park Zoo
Low-cost firewood vouchers are available
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ow-cost firewood vouchers are available through the Humboldt Senior Resource Center (HSRC). Households with an individual 55 or older and living on a low to moderate income are eligible to purchase one firewood voucher. Vouchers are priced on a sliding scale costing between $100150 (tax included in the fee) based upon the purchaser’s household size and monthly household income. Once purchased, the voucher can be redeemed for one cord of wood at the Humboldt County Sheriff ’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP) lot in Eureka beginning August 29, 2020. For more information, contact HSRC at 707-443-9747, ext. 3232. 12
Courtesy of Humboldt Senior Resource Center
Public Art in Fort una
T
he Fortuna Chamber Art & Culture Committee was created to help support public art initiatives in Fortuna. The Artist Pole project features colorfully painted 6-foot PVC fence posts. Each pole is unique and painted by a local artist. Recently, Strongs Creek Plaza Merchants Association commissioned an Artist Pole by local artist Penny Fregeau. Bob Judevine, Vice-President & Branch Manager for Redwood Capital Bank, and Penny Fregeau sat down with me to discuss the inspiration for the project. “I love the idea of public art and have been involved in a couple of projects having to do with public art.” Bob said. When he first learned of the Chamber’s public art project, it appealed to him as a way to “promote a sense of community and stimulate
interest [in public art], potentially as a draw for people from out of town.” When he approached the Association about the idea, he received very positive feedback. Bob said they chose the “retail wing” of the plaza to help pull foot traffic over there. Bob has known Penny for a long time (they are fellow Rotarians, as is Don Jewett who installed the pole) and has been a fan of her artwork. “When Nicole [Genaro] and I talked about artists, Penny was one of three that we talked to.” They loved the idea of an historic photo of the grammar school to celebrate education and community, two things Fortuna takes pride in. Fortuna residents have a love of “local history and it creates a real personality to the town,” said Penny. Greg Rumney (oldphotoguy.com), a local collector of historical photos, supplied the photo
Back row: Art Committee Members Jenn Brown, Erin Cooper, and Renee Lindsay. Front row: Oliver Ourique, Bob Judevine (Redwood Capital Bank), Penny Fregeau (artist), Mayor Pro Tem Tami Trent, and Elizabeth Ourique.
that became the inspiration for her design. Originally from Long Beach, Penny moved to Fortuna in 1983. Her father was a craftsman while her mother, a fellow painter, is still actively painting today at age 96. Both encouraged her to be creative and she said there was never a shortage of art supplies in the Ashley posing with her completed sidewalk mural, “Complement in Chaos.” You can find her mural on house. Penny F Street between Grotto and Henderson in Eureka. describes her work as “classical realism,” having studied color theory is perfect for under John Faber. Before the pandemic anyone “who hit, Penny taught teen art classes out of loves color.” her home studio in Fortuna. She is hoping Ashley loves to get approval to start teaching again. participating You can find a collection of her artwork at in community penfrea.com. art projects A second artist pole will soon be because she installed at the Fortuna Chamber office. believes art This pole was commissioned by the Art & is therapeutic and healing. “I wanted to Culture Committee as part of the rotating have tactile elements so people could art installation project and painted by enjoy different dimensions and textures.” Ferndale native, Ashley Rose (jamesAshley achieved the different textures by roseart.com). Ashley is a mixed-media applying multiple coats of resin (liquid artist known for her vibrant, abstract floplastic), creating drips and bumps. Her deral works. She just completed a sidewalk sign incorporates acrylic paint, Swarovski mural for the Eureka Street Art Festival crystals, glass glitter, ground abalone shell, and painted a water tank as part of the gold leaf, oil pastels, and colored pencils. Samoa Peninsula Public Vault Art Project It will be on display at the Chamber office back in 2019. Her artist pole features beginning in September. daffodils, huckleberries, and other native If you are interested in placing an artist flora. Ashley said her intention was to crepole at your place of business, let us ate a piece of art that could be enjoyed know. We’d love to talk to you about the regardless of a person’s taste. This design project.
Fort una Gets a New Highway Billboard
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he Fortuna Chamber Tourism & Marketing Committee is a subcommittee of the Chamber and includes Chamber members in the media, hospitality, retail, and realty industries. Through an agreement with the City of Fortuna, the Committee receives a portion of the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) that the City collects from our hotels, motels, and RV Park. This passthrough tax is used to market Fortuna as a place to “Eat, Shop, Stay.” Since late last year, the Committee has been working with The Humboldt Connection on creating two new billboards on Highway 101 South of Kenmar. The first billboard is set to be installed in the next few weeks. Noah and Jessica Collins, owners of The Humboldt Connection, shared their thoughts on the process of creating this unique billboard. “The general concept for the project was to create a new design using classic postcard artwork as inspiration. The goal was to replace the old, rundown billboard with something bright and fresh that will grab attention from the highway. The iconic River Walk and River Lodge were chosen to represent the city of Fortuna, along with other local elements including the sunny hillside, the flowing Eel River, and daffodils at the base of our signature style redwood tree. The process began with a simple sketch to layout a rough composition. After multiple hand drawn illustrations, the final rough was transferred to the computer. Using photo references and other local details, the landscape was recreated with
a modern and bold style. Using specific design software, the artwork was completely rebuilt into vector lines, allowing it to scale without pixelation. The majority of hours were spent creating the custom typography, layering graphics, adjusting values, and adding fine details which helped the layout take shape. The final design will be printed and applied to multiple aluminum panels. The objective will be to mount the panels to create a seamless visual between the four separate sections. Custom cut additions will break the borders to enhance dimension and provide a more dynamic presentation. Vibrant colors and quality materials will allow our new billboard to have a long life at its new home.”
“Updating the two highway billboards at the entrance to Fortuna has been a long process so it is exciting to see it come to fruition. We initially reached out to several designers and sign makers, requesting proposals and looking at design ideas, before finally selecting The Humboldt Connection. Noah’s interpretation of the Fortuna mural, the Kenmar sign, and nostalgic feel of Downtown Continued on next page
Fort una’s New Billboard Continued from previous page
Fortuna was what drew me to his design over the others. Taking on this project seemed overwhelming at first, but Noah and Jessica jumped right in and their collaborative spirit made the process easy and enjoyable. I’m very excited to see it installed and hope that it encourages drivers to exit off the highway and experience all that Fortuna offers.” Renee Lindsay President & CEO Fortuna Chamber of Commerce “As a member of the Fortuna Chamber Tourism and Marketing (T&M) Committee since 2004, I’m thrilled to see the T&M Committee spend money locally to invite travelers into town with a beautiful new billboard. As the Executive Director of the Fortuna Business Improvement District, it was important to me to be able to support a local business for design, tear down, and installation of this project. FBID and the Chamber are also working together to repair and repaint the Fortuna welcome sign at the Kenmar traffic light to continue these awesome beautification projects.” Dianna Rios Executive Director Fortuna Business Improvement District
Ray’s Food Place “Fortuna” Mural
Public Art in Fort una
Fortuna Chamber Office rotating art installation
MAIN
14th St
11th St
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Fortuna Monday Club Art Pole
Park St
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8th St
Main
12th St
ROHNER PARK
Main Street Exit
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L St 9th St
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12th St
Green’s Pharmacy
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Fortuna
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Strongs Creek Plaza Art Pole
Newburg Rd
Newburg Rd
Alder & Willow Drive
Redwood Village Shopping Center
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Fortuna Blvd
Riverw alk Dr
12th Street Exit
Deer Sculptures
Strongs Creek Plaza Kenmar Rd
RIVER LODGE CONFERENCE CENTER
Lifehouse To Rio Dell 6.5mi 10.5km
North
Redwood Riverwalk Hotel
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Kenmar Exit
FORTUNA 0.5 Kilometers
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0.5 Miles
La Chaparrita Market
Fortuna River Walk
Redwood Way & So. Fortuna Blvd.
“Fortuna” Mosaic
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Communit y Member Spotlight
J
orge Matias was recently nominated for special recognition by Leadership Fortuna 8 alumni Enrique Ulloa for contributions to the community and work with autistic individuals. Jorge has lived in Fortuna since 1989. He is married with three children: Malik graduated from San Luis Obispo Cal Poly University, Levi is currently studying at San José State University, and Angélica, who finished her studies as a dental assistant, currently lives in Germany. Jorge has been married to Flor for almost six years and they enjoy gardening, exercising, and taking long walks while enjoying the beauty of our city. Jorge began working for St. Joseph Hospital in the Material Management department in 2004. In 2010, he was given the opportunity to work with Paso a Paso within the Community Investment Department as a Health Educator. Jorge said this opportunity has been the best decision of his life, saying he has had, “the opportunity to expand [his] potential in educational classes, support groups, and recreational activities for physical and mental health care in the Hispanic community.” His work focuses on working with the community and identifying low-income families with food insecurity in Fortuna, Ferndale, Eureka, and Arcata. In collaboration with Redwood Memorial Hospital and with volunteer support from his wife Flor, they collect leftover food daily after the cafeteria has closed to feed at least 50 families a week. Although his work is focused directly on the Hispanic community, food distribution is largely distributed to the most vulnerable in our community. When his son was diagnosed with autism, there was not much information about autism, much less in Spanish. His son’s mother, Angélica Matias Sánchez, knew how to navigate the system, and connected with the Redwood Coast Regional Center. It was here that his son began to have speech, behavioral, and aqua therapy that helped him a lot with his development during his early years. “Although I always supported my son by taking him to his appointments, basketball games, and soccer games, it was Angelica who never gave up on supporting him in his academic activities.” Her perseverance helped their son get ahead, enabling
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him to attend college where he is now. Jorge now helps guide and support parents in the Hispanic community who have children with special needs, referring them to existing services so that their children can have early intervention. Jorge stated that the Hispanic community has had to wait more than 20 years to have a support group in Spanish. Now, because of the support of the Redwood Coast Regional Center and St. Joseph Hospital, they have a support group in Fortuna and another one in Eureka. Having these support groups has been of great benefit to the community, giving parents a safe place to share, laugh, and sometimes cry without fear of being criticized. “We all feel connected, understood, and learn from each other. We are all one family, and we all work together to break the stigma by identifying and motivating other families so that their children get the necessary therapies as soon as possible,” Jorge said. Before the pandemic, Jorge worked as a parent mentor for the Redwood Coast Regional Center, supporting and assisting parents of special needs children at events that Humboldt Autism Alliance offered. “This was a very beautiful and unique experience since the inclusion of autistic children in social activities is very important.” Jorge’s goal is, “to integrate them into society more and more so that they feel accepted, loved, and they can live with a certain level of harmony.” A few of Jorge’s recent achievements include being nominated as a 2019 Autism Ally, recipient of 2019-20’s Humboldt County Human Rights Commission Recognition for Contribution to a Better Community, and selected as 2020’s Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council of Humboldt County Honoree. Jorge wanted to extend special thanks to the following people who support him: Supervisors Martha Shanahan and Caterina Kein, his work colleagues Enrique Ulloa, Hannah C Lippe, Brian J Olson, Haydee Hopkins, Jessica Larios, Lucy C Silveira (and the rest of his coworkers), LatinoNet, Grupo de Apoyo Humboldt, wife Flor, children Malik, Levi, and Angelica, parents, and siblings. Thank you, Jorge, for your many contributions to local families in Fortuna and Humboldt County.
Ribbon Cut tings 40th Anniversary Celebration The Chamber recently celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Kevin Elderkin State Farm Insurance. Congratulations to Kevin and his team for supporting the community. Here’s to 40 more! Pictured left to right: Kevin Elderkin, his dog Montauk, Office Manager Sally Barrows, and Insurance Account Representative Teresa Demello.
Blend Boutique Now Open Sheena Hawkins recently purchased Blend Boutique (formerly 5 O’Clock Shadow Menswear & Muse Fashion Boutique) in Strongs Creek Plaza. Sheena’s love of clothing is what drew her to the business opportunity. She is in the process of getting a new website built, but customers can access 5-oclockshadow.com until then to see current inventory and shop online. Blend Boutique has a current promotion for the first 20 customers: Spend $200 and receive 10% off for life. Blend Boutique is located at 1095 S. Fortuna Blvd.
They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. You can reach them at (707) 7258815 or by email at blendboutique707@gmail.com. 15
Operation Celebrate Window Decorating Contest Results
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Cornerstone Realty
he votes are in! Cornerstone Realty came in first place, Green’s Pharmacy came in second place, and Humboldt Equity came in third place. All students featured in these windows received a share of $1,800 in merchandise and cash. Cash donations totaling $750 received from Fortuna Grocery Outlet, Beacom Construction, Rex Bohn, and Tri Counties Bank were used to purchase limited edition t-shirts from Wild Cactus Clothing, 2020 Rodeo hats, and gift certificates at Bob’s Footlongs, Hoppy’s FroYo, Jitter Bean, Papa Murphy’s, and
Green’s Pharmacy
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Blend Boutique. Coast Central Credit Union donated $250 in Visa debit cards. Becky Giacomini, Horizon Business Products, Ferndale Jewelers, McLean Foundation, Mmmdonuts, Rocha’s Automotive, and Umpqua Bank all donated various gift cards and/or merchandise. Thank you to our generous community for helping us support our grads! We appreciate you all. If you haven’t stopped by to pick up your prize, give us a call at 725-3959.
Build to edge of the document Margins are just a safe area
Tires • Auto • Trucks • Tractors Brakes • Shocks • Alignments 260 S. Fortuna Blvd. Fortuna, CA 95540 Lisa Hummel Owner
Wendy Hummel Owner
Phone: 707-725-4120 www.hummeltire.com
Humboldt Equity
Congratulations to the following students: Darly Diaz Savanah Durrett Sierra Gomes Ryan Gonzalez Anaise Guffey Jonathan Guthrie Jasmin Gutierrez Mackenzie Hall Andrew Hansen Caitlin Hernandez Oliver Herrera Mayra Herrera Avendano Luciano Medina Clayton Moore Josue Moreno
Austin Morrison Katelynn Morss Morgan Murray Riley Nelson Randee Norwood Emmaly Purvis Julia Robertson Katelyn Rock Dustin Rockholt Petrita Rodriguez William Rogers Arianna Ruiz Chloe Sample Taryn Sanborn
We Bring The VieW Back To You 357 Main St., Fortuna, CA 95540 www.redwoodglassandwindows.com
authentic mexican food
Let us do the cooking fast & Convenient ordering view full menu on leapset
NEW Shrimp tacos & Shrimp bURRitos
B urr i to s Pr a w n s Ta c o s Ta ma les Fa j i ta s Meat OPtions: Asada (Beef steak), Pollo (shredded chicken), Carnitas (Grilled Pork), Al PAstor (Marinated Pork) Specialty Meats: Chile Colorado (SPicy Pork), Steak Ranchero, Chile verde
Mon-FRI 10am-9pm | SAT 11AM-9AM Prizes waiting to be picked up.
(707) 725-5546 | TacoLocoFortuna.com 955 Main Street at 10th, Fortuna
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Fort una Cit y Council Candidate Forum
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he November ballot will feature two City Council seats up for grabs. There are three candidates vying for those seats: Mayor Pro Tem Tami Trent, Councilmember Dean Glaser, and Mike Losey. All three candidate statements are posted on the City’s website at friendlyfortuna.com.
The Chamber will be hosting a Candidate Forum on Monday, October 5 from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm. The meeting will take place live on Zoom and will include a panel discussion and questions from the public. You can register for the Forum at fortunachamber.com/councilforum. .
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Outdoor Dining Comes to Fort una
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ith restrictions placed on restaurants to suspend dine-in services on July 15, our local restaurants began offering outdoor dining. Tents, canopies, picnic tables, outdoor lighting, and more popped up all over town. The City waived the encroachment permit fees and picnic tables were delivered by Parks & Rec free of charge. Take out, delivery, and curbside delivery is still available at most locations in case you prefer to dine in at home.
Fresh on Main Street
The Beer Garden at Eel River Brewing
Pepper’s
Las Cazuelas Restaurant & Cantina
Redwood Cafe
Double D Steak
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apple harvest
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ith festivals currently on hold in the County, the Apple Harvest Committee is busy coming up with some new ideas and activities to help us celebrate Apple Harvest in October. The Chamber has created a webpage (fortunachamber.com/appleharvest2020) that will be updated as preparations are finalized. One new event will be a Chamber-sponsored virtual scavenger hunt throughout Fortuna. Teams will go on a hunt, completing missions to earn points. The
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hunt will start on October 2nd and end on October 9th. Missions will include visiting businesses, checking in at certain locations around town, answering trivia questions, and snapping some great selfies and fun photos. At the end of the hunt, the team with the most points will win a prize. More details to come in the next two weeks! Download the GooseChase app to make sure you are ready when the hunt goes live on October 2nd.
Ollie the Ot ter Coloring Contest
We had some fun in the last newsletter asking residents to color Ollie the Otter from the GLC. These are our favorite submissions.
Jaxon Manzi, age 7
Jasmine, age 5
Elizabeth Meitner, local senior citizen
Jaden, age 11
Josslyn Manzi, age 5
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C RYS TA L L E W I S
SERVING H UMBOLDT I NSU R A N C E PRO DUC TS
Auto • Home • Business • Property • Life • Health
1336 Main Street, Fortuna | 707.725.1135 Lic # 0 D7 7118
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S ave 3 W ays
Quality Name Brands You Can Trust!
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Guaranteed Low Prices Every Day!
3
Service After The Sale!
1027 Main Street, Fortuna • redwoodappliancecenter.com Sales 725-7918 • Service 725-7919
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MIKE LOSEY CITY COUNCIL
VOTE NOV. 3
Committee Members and Community Endorsements
Mike and Annette Downey • Kent and Teri Bradshaw • Jon Sapper • Keith and Danette Demello Becky Giacomini • Mike and Sue Mendes • Milton and Sally Conley • Eric and Kelly Losey Kris and Edna Kitna • Chris and Shari Canevari • Hec and Carol Wood • Lon Winburn Joe and Karen Hardcastle • Rus Brown • Clif and Drew Clendenden (Partial List) “Our family has known Mike and his family for over forty years. Mike has been an active community member and raised his family here in Fortuna. He has been and will continue to be an excellent advocate for the businesses and citizens of Fortuna. Mike will give us the leadership we need to get through the COVID issues and beyond. We ask that you vote for Mike Losey for Fortuna City Council on November 3rd.” — Travis Fuller and Norma Luna-Fuller
“Mike has been a leader in our community for many years. He was on the Fortuna Union High School Board and worked with the district through a five-million-dollar modernization project. He served four years on the Fortuna City Council and took part in many of the projects which have made our city a better place in which to live and raise a family. Mike takes a commonsense approach in tackling problems and issues that come up and has the leadership ability that will serve Fortuna well.” — Shannon McWhorter “Having known Mike and Lisa Losey and their family for many years, it is with great pleasure that we support the election of Mike Losey to Fortuna’s City Council. Mike has served local government, both City and County, for more than 30 years and is well acquainted with the role of the City Council. He will work toward improving the quality of life in our fair City.” — Jim and Corinne Stanfield
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Mike Losey PO Box 277 Fortuna, CA 95540 • Losey4CityCouncil@yahoo.com 23
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