New park may open in McKinleyville by spring

From the Jan. 11 edition of the McKinleyville Press

school property design aerial with dimensionsBy Jack Durham
Press Editor

Sometime this spring, McKinleyville will have a new park on the south side of town.
The McKinleyville Community Services District Board of Directors voted unanimously at a special meeting Thursday, Jan. 5 to purchase three acres at the corner of School Road and Washington Avenue.
The MCSD will pay the McKinleyville Union School District $128,894 for the undeveloped site. The MCSD will most likely pay for the property using money from its general fund, A grant application with the state is pending. If the MCSD wins the grant, it would reimburse itself, thereby obtaining the acreage without any cost to the district.
After the MCSD completes a lot line adjustment with the County of Humboldt and escrow closes, work can begin on opening the property for public use. The MCSD is hoping this can happen in the spring.
MCSD Parks and Recreation Director Jason Sehon said that the first order of business is to “clear all invasive plants” including Scotch broom. The MCSD does not intend to cut down any trees, but it does need to clear the property enough so that its mower can be used about three times a year to keep the grass down, Sehon said.
The MCSD will need to consult with the County of Humboldt to determine the best location for a small parking lot, he said. Two potential “access points” have been identified – one off Washington Avenue just south of Dena Drive, the other at the south end of Oakdale Drive.
There are no immediate plans for any major recreation facilities at the park.
“I suspect natural trails will start” as people begin walking around the property, Sehon said.
There’s a possibility that the park could substantially grow and be tied into other park facilities in nearby subdivisions.
The three acres is part of a 10.3-acre parcel that’s being sold by the school district, which bought the property years ago for a campus. Later it discovered that an earthquake fault crossed the property, making it unsuitable for a new school.
The MCSD has applied for a separate state grant to purchase the remaining 7.3 acres from school district.
MCSD Manager Norman Shopay said that if the MCSD obtains a grant for the 7.3 acres, it would have to open up new property negotiations with the school district.
Both the Furtado and Santos subdivisions, under construction downhill and west of the new park, will include small park areas and trails. They may be linked to the MCSD park.
The developers of both those subdivisions will end up paying about “a couple hundred thousand dollars” in Quimby Funds, which would be available to the MCSD for park development.
The Quimby Act requires developers to provide park facilities in their subdivisions, or pay Quimby fees in lie of providing parks. There’s a formula for how large the park facilities should be based upon the number of residents in the subdivision. In the case of the Furtado and Santos subdivisions, the developers will provide a combination of facilities and fees.
Sehon said that plans for the new park will ultimately be brought before the MCSD’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and the MCSD Board of Directors.

Fictitious Business Name Statements in Humboldt County, Calif.

So you’re starting a new business and discover that you need to file something called a Fictitious Business Name Statement. Or maybe you have an existing business and you’re trying to open a new bank account and learn that you need to file a FBNS.

We can help. The McKinleyville Press prints Fictitious Business Name Statements for a flat fee of $40.

It doesn’t matter whether your business is located in McKinleyville, Trinidad, Eureka, Ferndale, Garberville, Arcata, Fieldbrook, Blue Lake, Fortuna, King Salmon, Orick, etc. If your business is in Humboldt County, and you need to file a Fictitious Business Name Statement, you can do so in the McKinleyville Press.

Here’s what you do: First, you go the the Humboldt County Clerk. Fill out the paperwork and get it stamped and dated.

Then bring us the pink copy. You can mail it to McKinleyville Press, P.O. Box 2593, McKinleyville, CA 95519. Or you can fax it to (707) 839-0795. Or you can drop it off at 1660 Central Avenue, Suite F, McKinleyville, CA 95519. If we’re not in the office, feel free to slide it under our door or use the drop box outside. You can also scan your FBNS and email to news@mckinleyvillepress.com. You can pre-pay or we can send you a bill. Once we get your FBNS, we’ll print it for four consecutive weeks. After four weeks, we’ll send an affidavit to the Humboldt County Clerk’s Office proving that it was printed. We’ll also send a copy to you for your records.

Questions? Call (707) 839-0795

Click here for a link to our contact page.

Where to buy the McKinleyville Press

Here is a list of all the places where you can buy the McKinleyville Press from either a retail outlet or a newspaper rack. When we have more time we’ll try to make a fancy shmancy interactive Google map with bells and whistles. In the meantime…

Where to buy the McKinleyville Press
(From north to south)

Trinidad

Murphy’s Market
Trinidad Chevron

McKinleyville

Arcata-Eureka Airport
Holiday Inn Express
Beau Pre Golf Course
Freeway 76 Station
Renner
76 Station at Central & Reasor
McKinleyville Post Office
McKinleyville Safeway
Niveen’s
McKinleyville Senior Center
McKinleyville Round Table Pizza
Central Sandwich
Blake’s Books
Central Market
Luzmilla’s
Carmela’s
McKinleyville Press
Shell Station
Ray’s Food Place (inside and outside)
Big Kmart
Roger’s Market
Six Rivers Brewery

Fieldbrook

Fieldbrook Family Market

Arcata

Village Pantry
Ray’s Food Place
Mad River Community Hospital
Wildberries
Arcata Co-op
Arcata Post Office
CVS
Murphy’s Market

Eureka

Eureka Co-op
Humboldt County Courthouse

Front page 1.18.12

To read the entire newspaper, please buy a copy today. We have retail outlets and newspaper racks in McKinleyville, Trinidad, Fieldbrook, Arcata and Eureka. You can subscribe by clicking here.

Coastal Flood Watch

From the NWS in Eureka:

Event: Coastal Flood Watch
Alert:
…COASTAL FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EUREKA HAS ISSUED A COASTAL FLOOD
WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* TIMING: HIGH TIDE COMBINED WITH A STORM SURGE FROM SOUTHERLY
WINDS IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE COASTAL FLOODING LATE TUESDAY NIGHT
INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* IMPACTS: ELEVATED TIDES DUE TO STORM SURGE MAY PRODUCE SOME MINOR
COASTAL FLOODING IN KING SALMON AND OTHER LOW LYING AREAS
AROUND HUMBOLDT BAY.

* LONG TERM: ADDITIONAL COASTAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE AROUND HIGH
TIDE THURSDAY MORNING AND FRIDAY MORNING. ASTRONOMICAL TIDES
CONTINUE TO RISE AND SOUTHERLY WINDS REMAIN ELEVATED.
Instructions: A COASTAL FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FLOODING ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. COASTAL RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS…AND TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT PROPERTY.
Target Area:
Redwood Coast

High risk missing person

From the Sheriff’s Department:

On 1-15-2012, approximately 5:30 p.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a possible missing person. A citizen reported her domestic partner Juliann Siple, 65 years old of McKinleyville, who frequently walks her dogs at Moonstone Beach, Trinidad. Today she dropped off Juilann Siple at Moonstone beach to walk her two dogs around 1:00 p.m. At 2:00 p.m. the citizen returned to the drop off point to pick up Siple and her two dogs. Siple was not there. The citizen drove around looking for her, but could not find her. When the citizen drove home there was an answering machine message from Siple stating she was walking home. The domestic partner drove to Clam Beach and spoke to the camp ground host who saw and spoke with Siple at 2:30 p.m. Siple was asking for directions to the Hammond Trail. The campground host last saw her walking south on the Clam Beach Frontage Road. As of 5:30 p.m, Siple had not returned home, and there was no other contact. Siple does not have a cell phone. The domestic partner called the Sheriff’s Office since it was dark, and it was out of character for Siple to not come home or re-contact. Siple has medical issues which are also of concern.
Juliann Siple is described as : 65 year old white female, brown hair, brown eyes, 5’2″ tall, last seen wearing a full white jumpsuit. She has two small dogs with her, one called Sadie, approximately 35 lbs sheep dog, the other a smaller dog with big ears named Odie.
The Sheriff’s Office is conducting a Search and Rescue looking for Juliann Siple.

Anyone with information is requested to contact Humboldt County Sheriff°Øs Office at 707-445-7251.

Wet and Windy Weekend Ahead

By Troy Nicolini
NOAA’s National Weather Service

The first in a series of strong storm systems will begin to influence northwest California Tuesday night, January 17, as strong southerly winds develop ahead of an advancing frontal system. Wind gusts up to 45 mph will occur along the coast Tuesday night into Wednesday while gusts exceeding 60 mph can be expected at higher elevations of Humboldt and Del Norte counties. At the same time, heavy rain will expand across all of northwestern California late Tuesday night into Wednesday and then continue into the weekend as multiple storm system influence the region. Total rainfall through Saturday will range from 4 to 8 inches with locally higher amounts over 11 inches in preferred locations such as the King Range, Siskiyou Mountains, and South Fork Mountain.

Check out our web page at http://www.weather.gov/eureka for more information.

Get your rain gear ready

Here comes some rain. From the NWS in Eureka:

A SERIES OF WET PACIFIC STORMS TO AFFECT NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA
TUESDAY NIGHT INTO THE WEEKEND…
HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ACROSS NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA LATE
TUESDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE INTO THE WEEKEND AS A SERIES OF STORMS
MOVE ACROSS THE REGION. THIS WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT RISES TO
AREA RIVERS AND STREAMS. RIVERS WILL BEGIN TO RISE WEDNESDAY AND
CONTINUE AT HIGH LEVELS IN MANY AREAS OF NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA
THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.
Instructions:
Target Area:
Mendocino Coast
Mendocino Interior
North Coast Interior
Redwood Coast
Upper Trinity River

Hard Freeze Warning

From the NWS in Eureka:

Alert:
…HARD FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AM
PST MONDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EUREKA HAS ISSUED A HARD FREEZE
WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AM PST
MONDAY.

* COLD AIR MOVING INTO THE REGION BEHIND A COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE
THIS MORNING AND PARTIALLY CLEARING SKIES OVERNIGHT WILL ALLOW
TEMPERATURES TO FALL INTO THE MID TO UPPER 20S LATE TONIGHT INTO
MON MORNING.

* PROLONGED TEMPERATURES THIS COLD COULD KILL CROPS AND RESULT IN
BROKEN WATER PIPES.
Instructions: A HARD FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.
Target Area:
Redwood Coast

Crabs are fat and sassy; commercial season begins Sunday

I just talked to Susan Rotwein of Cap ‘n Zach’s in McKinleyville. Cap ‘n Zach Rotwein is out on the Abundance right now dropping crab pots. At almost exactly 1 second after midnight on Saturday, Zach will pull up the first pot of crabs. He’ll deliver them to Trinidad Pier Sunday morning and they should be cooked and ready to be sold by 11 a.m. at Cap ‘n Zach’s at Central Avenue and Reasor Road in Mack Town. Due to the delay in the season, the crabs are now “fat and sassy,” Susan said. Cheers to our local fishermen and fisherwomen. Wishing you a safe, abundant and profitable crab season. – Jack

See the coming edition for more info.