PG&E WELCOMES CPUC DECISION ON ANALOG ALTERNATIVE TO SMARTMETER™

Utility Supports Meter Choice for Residential Customers

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Residential electric and gas customers who have concerns about wireless technology can now choose either a new SmartMeter™ or a traditional analog meter, following the final decision today by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) supports the CPUC’s decision and will respond quickly to customers who opt-out of the utility’s SmartMeter™ program.

            “We know personal choice is important to our customers when it comes to the meters on their homes,” said Helen Burt, PG&E’s Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer. “This final decision in support of analog meters is a positive step forward for those who have concerns over wireless technology. We understand some customers have been waiting for this decision, and we are actively reaching out to those who have expressed their desire for a
SmartMeter™ alternative.”

PG&E is installing digital, wireless SmartMeters™ throughout its service area in Northern and Central California as part of a statewide effort to helpcustomers save on their bills by offering them more control over their energy usage, improve reliability and customer service, and conserve natural resources to help the environment. As part of a global effort to modernize the energy grid and transform it into a digital network that will deliver more reliable power to homes and businesses, similar metering programs are now underway at utilities throughout the country and around the world. To date, PG&E has installed nearly nine million gas and electric SmartMeters™, on its way to about 10 million meters in 2012.

Independent studies repeatedly have affirmed the safety and accuracy of SmartMeters™. However, in response to comments from some customers, PG&E in March 2011 proposed offering them a choice to turn off the radios in their SmartMeters™, and then provided customers with the option to delay the installation of new SmartMeters™ pending the CPUC’s final decision. In December 2011, PG&E asked the CPUC to approve analog meters as another alternative to receiving a SmartMeter™, which was the central element of the CPUC’s
decision today.

Burt added, “The vast majority of our customers are already seeing the many benefits of SmartMeters™. By choosing to stay with our program, our customers will continue having control by seeing where they can save energy throughout the course of the day and making simple but effective changes around the home to save money.”

PG&E customers who want to opt-out of the SmartMeter™ program can submit their request online at www.pge.com/smartmeteroptout or call 1-866-743-0263. PG&E plans to remove the gas and electric SmartMeters™ from the homes of those opt-out customers who already have SmartMeters™; those customers who still have analog meters will be able to keep them.

The CPUC’s final decision requires customers who opt-out of the program to pay a $75 initial setup charge and a $10 monthly charge. This will cover the costs of manual meter-reading and associated operational and billing issues. Income-qualified customers will pay a $10 initial setup charge and $5 a month.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in theUnited States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to 15 million people in Northern andCentral California. For more information, visit http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.

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Humboldt Mediation Services facilitator Chip Sharpe. KLH | Eye

Note: Humboldt Mediation Services has released its compilation of ideas aired at last week’s Plaza scoping session on how to abate excessive behavior on Halloween and New Year’s Eve. These include initial thoughts of attendees – responses to “What would you like to see accomplished by this meeting?”, reports from the five subcommittees and a synopsis of ideas expressed at the Jan. 24 meeting. – Ed.

ARCATA COMMUNITY PLAZA SOLUTIONS

The Arcata Plaza as the Center of the Arcata Community

January 24, 2012

General Themes of the Participants

*We need to assure SAFETY on the Arcata Plaza

*The Arcata Plaza is a valuable RESOURCE for the entire community

*We must establish a BALANCE of control between ‘law enforcement’ and the ‘people’ using the Arcata Plaza

*The Arcata Plaza belongs to the ENTIRE community and needs to embrace ALL people

*In order to sustain the unique and positive culture of Arcata the whole community needs to be an active participant in growing an attitude of RESPECT and APPROPRIATE behavior for all citizens who use the Arcata Plaza

*Solutions regarding Arcata Plaza use need to include a ‘BIG PICTURE’ perspective—multiple avenues of use need to be addressed and problem-solved.

Small Group Brainstorms and Suggestions

*Citizen Volunteers for Plaza Clean-up and Crowd Control

*Community Education Campaign to develop respect, pride and care (vested interest) of Plaza

*Review of Plaza Conduct ‘Ordinance’

*Look at Multiple Solutions for a healthy Arcata Plaza that serves the entire Community

*Spread activity out beyond the Plaza—multiple venues   (coordinate food/music)

*Create a Plaza Event to celebrate our Community Pride (like I St.)

*Make it ‘Fashionable to be Respectful and have Fun’

*Work in collaboration with police and other community groups to create a Happy and Safe Plaza

*Look at Plaza ‘Nightlife’ interests and issues

*Continue to have meetings that bring diverse ideas together with a focus on ACTION

Personal Solution Offerings

*Create and work in small action groups designed to address specific plans that resolve Plaza issues with meetings away from the Arcata City Hall  (Private homes—D St. Neighborhood Center—etc.)

>Volunteers >HSU >SAMBA >DRUMMERS (Pat, Robyn, Oliver, Eric)

*Arcata Police will work with ALL groups (Tom)

*Positive ‘Vibe Squad’—Spread the Joy

*Main Street collaboration (Jennifer)

*Nightlife committee (Susan)

*Within 2 weeks—City of Arcata needs to facilitate another inclusive community meeting to follow-up

on what we started at this meeting

Next Steps

*Develop Action groups/committees to discuss ‘today’s outcome’

>Survey/Assessment Committee >Nightlife Committee >General Idea/Action Committee

*Information about today’s meeting, all other small committee meetings and next larger community

meeting will be posted on City of Arcata website—a Facebook page will be developed for ‘The Plaza

Study Group’—Robyn Paschall from the Samba People will take responsibility for getting the info from our large meeting to participants—The Arcata Eye will be publishing information from the large group.

Future meetings to be announced!!

REPORT FROM FIVE GROUPS

January 24, 2012

No. 1

Balance—Review of ordinance of Plaza Behavior

Clean-up group of citizens, volunteers

Campaign of education-communicate in community with respect and pride and care of Arcata

No. 2

McKinley Statue (Donate/sell to museum)

Group regarding resources

Communicate ahead of time

Off-Plaza events

Use Samba/drummers for crowd control

Review/amend town sound ordinance

No. 3

Multiple solutions number one thing

Alternative event (like I Street event)

Other venues—overflow from Plaza (coordinated event, food/music)

Process/Task Force developed to get this going

Another future meeting later

Fashionable to have fun with respect

No. 4

Community Plan now

$

Space for performers

Community Center

Close off McKinley

Volunteers collect glass bottles, other projectiles, etc.

Contact HSU student body

Local media

Report from Five Groups

Page Two

January 24, 2012

No. 5

Samba—as leaders, for crowd control, for clean-up

Ownership of community (volunteers?)

Combination of techniques (not just Police)

Create a planned/coordinated event

Survey of town for nightlife interests

Volunteer commission

Regulated entry points (wrist bands, fee)

City of Arcata

Bar/business owners

Samba/music/entertainment

Participants of celebration

Hotel Samba leads volunteer group to plan a  specific event or larger and smaller events

January 24, 2012

THE BIN

Facebook page:  Plaza Study Group, created by Hannah Joy

Robin Paschall→Main Contact Task Force (aka: Positive Vibes Squad)

HYPERLINK “mailto:aquafoxx210@gmail.com” aquafoxx210@gmail.com

SOLUTIONS/PERSONAL

Task Force—Coalition/Volunteer Effort

Peg—HSU

Robyn—Samba

Oliver—Samba

Eric—Drummer

City needs to facilitate process for another meeting (better time than 8:00 a.m.)

Meetings outside City Hall

My home

D Street Neighborhood Center

Positive Vibe Squad

Get word out to HSU

Tom/Police—work with all groups

Jennifer Main Street

Susan—sub-committee/night life

Spread the joy

EVALUATION

Task Force—Discuss today’s outcome

Survey Committee—Small group

→Assessments/Big Picture

Night life—Small group

Another general meeting/soon

>Flush out today’s ideas

Two weeks/afternoon

Who/Where/What to do from here

Communication among all

Arcata will post information

Robyn/Danger Drum Beat

Google Documents

Accessible to anyone—can be edited and changed

INITIAL ALL-GROUP GO-ROUND

January 24, 2012

Keep people safe

Spread concentration/policy shift

Sound ordinance revision

Build on positives of community

Find solution

Exploring other activities

Not happy with Halloween

Agreement for entertainment

Want balance—no free-for-all/no police state

High School perspective

Work on Plaza/workplace peace

Bar perspective/business

Property/people, safe/respect

Nighttime solution

Coalition/alcohol/drugs

Drummer/post happy atmosphere

Drummer/Police relationship

Peaceful resolutions

Keep positive atmosphere on Plaza

Agreement with using common Plaza

Access to Plaza

More coordinated activity—Police/businesses/Samba

Disappointed in overreaction—Access to commons

Peace

Protect plants and flowers

Recognize differences between attitude drummers

Creative solutions that include drummers

Balance—drumming/enforcement

Reasonable solution

Samba—creative solution

Maintain culture in safe way

Samba and protection on Plaza

Respect people who live on Plaza

Clear understanding of issues→Plan of action

Initial All-group Go-Round

Respectful party on Plaza

Teamwork

Back to balance of artists/drummers and City officials on Plaza

Drum “is not a weapon,” want safety, needs to be a common theme

Sound ordinance—Balance/safety & fun

Manage and enjoy Plaza resource

Celebrations and everyday community (nighttime economy)

HSU Police help with control

“Appropriate behavior in public places”

All people Plaza share

Keeping Plaza safe/accessible for celebration

Happy medium

Find ways to make night fun/safe

Communicate solutions with community

Keep privilege of access to Plaza year-round

Keep people off statue

Channel ideas to permanent solution

Fashionable to behave well

Move forward—festival/all-ages celebration

Look at other community solutions

INITIAL ALL-GROUP GO-ROUND

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Libidinous hussies clamor for attention in the breeding pen at Cypress Grove Chevre's Dow's Prairie goat dairy. Photos by KLH | Eye

Kevin L. Hoover

Eye Editor

McKINLEYVILLE – The goats are good to go, even hot to trot, at Cypress Grove Chevre’s (CGC) new dairy on Dow’s Prairie Road in McKinleyville.

But only figuratively. For now, they seem content to flirt and gambol inside the repurposed horse pens that their human overseers are calling the “red light district.”

There, the randy ruminants which compose the beginning of CGC’s permanent herd are making whoopee, with the first batch of kids anticipated in June.

Bob McCall and Ryan Andrus commune with one of their fuzzy charges.

“We’re going to have one of the genetically best herds in America,” says Bob McCall, CGC sales and marketing director. Each of the 195 “starter” goats was hand-picked for their high pedigrees.

CGC undertook creation of its own dairy for several  reasons. Among them, to meet booming demand for its premium cheese, and in the longer term, to help grow Humboldt’s goat scene by implementing its vision of a modern dairy that is both artisinal in quality and industrial in scale.

CGC walked away from its original plan for a multimillion-dollar goat dairy in Arcata after neighbors of the Arcata Bottom site, known as the Gilardoni Property, reacted with a combination of scare rhetoric about goat waste killing children and physically menacing company employees.

This boy made himself irresistible to the girl-goats with liberal use of urine-cologne, gaining a tousled hairdo that looks as though it was styled that way. The bling helps too.

The harsh rebuke of a proposal that the company had offered to shape in consultation with the neighbors – despite no public process being required due to its siting on land already zoned for agriculture – triggered a blowback of anguish at the missed opportunity by many who supported the dairy. It also gave fresh momentum to establishment of an open-space greenbelt around Arcata, one in which this sort of ag activity would be banned.

All that seems like a distant bad dream now, as 15 miles north of the ever-hyperpoliticized Arcata rhetoric, new hoop barns rise on the company’s tranquil, 37-acre Dow’s Prairie dairy while goats frolic in their pens.

McCall acknowledges that the bitter Arcata experience –which he called “water under the bridge” –  resulted in a better situation for CGC and its herd after all. “We’re very happy with this piece of property,” McCall said. “It has a lot more to offer than the Gilardoni Property.”

Parent company EMMI, he said, is bankrolling the new dairy and expansion of the Arcata manufacturing plant at an estimated $8.5 to $9 million, while leaving decisionmaking to local CGC management.

The rising foundation for one of the three expansive, open-ended barns.

Overseeing the new herd and dairy is Ryan Andrus, who managed a dairy in San Mateo County for five years before moving to Humboldt to take on the CGC project. Having studied environmental science and chemistry, Andrus is eager to help mature the enterprise, especially given the high-quality tools he’s been given to work with.

“There’s definitely great genetics here,” Andrus says, looking over the piebald herd. “That’s something that excites my scientific side.”

Even to the untrained eye, the handsome animals suggest quality breeding, with sleek coats, bright eyes and perky demeanor. They jostle and bah for attention, perching eagerly on fence rails to get a good view of visitors.

The excited bleating ceases as they eagerly accept nuzzles, eyes closing in bliss while receiving a hearty neck scritch, not hesitating to sneak a curious nibble on a coat cuff.

Three breeds mingle in the pens, each chosen for the distinctive qualities of the milk: Saanen, which offer high volume and long lactation; Toggenburgs, whose milk has higher milk fat; and Alpines, said to offer the most consistent quality.

“It’s all for the cheese,” McCall says.

The nascent herd’s genetic rigor will be further bolstered with use of frozen semen left over from CGC founder Mary Keehn’s early goat-breeding days. “Mary was an all-star breeder,” McCall boasts with pride. “She came out of nowhere and started winning championships. Her genetic lines are still winning championships a couple of decades after she got rid of the herd.”

The herd’s eventual size is not set, as CGC is determined to develop it in holistic fashion, using best practices and maturing the facility as needs require. The initial idea is to roughly double the herd every year.

“We’ll play that by ear,” McCall says. “That’s one of the benefits of growing the herd on your own – you can find the sweet spot in terms of your dairy, acreage and so on.”

For now, the 190 does, four bucks and lone hermaphrodite dwell in the sturdy but ramshackle former horse pens, but evidence of a modernized future is all around.

Structural parts for the three hoop barns are stacked along the muddy fields. Their stubby foundations suggest their grand scale and modernity. Each will be 365 feet long and 65 feet wide, with vinyl roofing offering natural light. Open ends will offer the goats constant access to a pasture.

A milking parlor and other support facilities are also planned. A dilapidated farmhouse which had been infested with powder post beetles is being rebuilt with $100,000 in improvements.

Andrus will need a comfortable residence to return to at night, as the life of a goat farmer is a demanding one. “It’s a very difficult business,” McCall says. “The goats have to be milked twice a day, 365 days a year.”

Still, given proper attention, the hardy goats are more or less trouble-free. “Me, myself and them, that’s all they need,” Andrus says of his raucous ruminants. “They take care of themselves.”

In Dow’s Prairie, neighbors take care of neighbors. Some have come over to offer Andrus and his wife warm greetings and housewarming gifts like fruit and baked goods.

And then there are the less-cordial Arcata neighbors, some still with an axe to grind.

The dairy’s product will be processed at CGC’s Arcata manufacturing plant, which will have to be expanded to accommodate the volume. The company will need Planning Commission approval, preceded by discussions with several of the City’s citizen advisory committees.

That could mean a reprise of some of last June’s controversy, as one of the louder Arcata dairy opponents from last June has already turned up with a critique of what turned out to be an old, discarded expansion plan dating back to 2002.

That’s why CGC is glad to have an orderly public process based on hard data and fact-finding rather than the kinds of assumptions and misinformation that ruled the discussion last year.

For McCall, the proof is in the doing, and his most pressing concern now is to create a model facility in McKinleyville – one consistent with CGC’s international reputation for a top-tier product. When construction is complete and settled into an operational groove, the company plans to open it up for scheduled tours and open houses.

“We’ve offered a lot of advice,” McCall says. “Now, hopefully, we can walk the walk and show the way.”

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Episode 1 focuses on the question that has been asked so many times before – just how big is the impact of marijuana on our local economy?  Using the resources of an economist, a banker, a business person, and yes, a grower, the show seeks to establish some working parameters to measure the impact.

Encore airdates

•         Saturday February 4th at 1pm

•         Monday, February 6th at 12pm

•         Sunday February 12th at 8pm

•         Tuesday, February 7th at 6pm

•         Saturday, February 11th at 5pm

•         Friday February 3rd 1:30pm

•         Sunday February 5th 5:30pm

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 Subject: Marijuana Investigations Case Number:  HC12-005

Date: 01-27-2012 Prepared By:  Sgt. Hanson

On 01-26-2012 at about 0930 hours the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, received a telephone call from a Detective, who works for the Reno Police Department in Nevada. The Detective in Reno, said that they were conducting narcotics courier activity on a passenger rail train in Reno. The Detective told a Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agent that they contacted a subject named Scott Porter age 35 from Arcata, California.

Christina Degiovanni

During their contact with Porter they discovered approximately $73,000 dollars in US currency in his luggage. Porter’s money was seized in Reno for possible asset seizure. Porter was released at the scene in Reno. Possible charges will be filed in the future against Porter.

Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agents then responded to Porter’s residence located in the 700 block Park Avenue, Arcata at about 1000 hours to conduct follow-up investigation. When Agents arrived at the residence they contacted Porter’s girlfriend, Christina Degiovanni. When Agents were speaking to Degiovanni they could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside of the residence. Agents then secured the residence for a search warrant.

At about 1220 hours a search warrant was signed by a Superior Court Judge from Humboldt County for the residence. When Agents searched the residence they discovered $49,000 dollars in US currency which was seized for possible asset seizure. About two pounds of processed marijuana was seized at the residence. The marijuana and currency was hidden in the attic of the residence. Agents located two rifles and a handgun in the residence.

Christina Elizabeth Degiovanni was arrested for possession of marijuana for sales, being armed in the commission of a felony and was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility in Eureka.

Michael Downey, Sheriff

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On Wednesday, January 25, 2012,  Thomas Manuel Prince, 27, of McKinleyville, was sentenced to five years in State Prison by the Honorable Judge W. Bruce Watson after pleading guilty to assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats and corporal injury to a spouse, co-habitant or child’s parent.

Thomas Manuel Prince

On September 19, 2011, Prince physically assaulted the mother of his infant child as well as a female friend that attempted to stop the attack.  Prince also threatened to shoot both women.

“I am pleased that the court saw fit to sentence Mr. Prince to State Prison for the maximum term of five years. This violent, traumatic incident left scars with its victims and will permanently affect any relationship that he has with his minor child, a child his victim was holding when Prince carried out the assault. The community and the victims of this case will be protected while he is serving his time in prison,” said Deputy District Attorney Allan L. Dollison, the prosecutor who handled the sentencing of the case.

HCSO Press Release, Sept. 21, 2011

On 09-19-2011, approximately 0430 hours the Humboldt County Sheriffs Office was notified of an assault which just occurred in the 2900 block of Little Pond Drive, McKinleyville.

When the deputy arrived he met with the female victim and her infant son. The victim told the deputy her boyfriend, Thomas Manuel Prince, 27 years poured beer on her when she was sleeping and then punched her several times in the face, choked her to the point of nearly passing out, sprayed her face with paint and threatened to shoot her with a shotgun. The victim attempted to flee from the residence with their baby via a window, but was dragged back inside by the suspect who continued the assault.

When a 50 year old female friend attempted to assist the victim during the assault, the suspect assaulted her several times, striking her in the head and face, and threatening to shoot her.

Prince also smashed all the telephones in the residence so the victims could not call law enforcement for help.

The victim was transported to a local hospital to be treated for her injuries which included several lacerations and a black eye.

The Sheriffs office is attempting to locate Thomas Manual Prince, 27 years old of McKinleyville. He is described as a white male, 5-11, 210 lbs, brown hair and blue eyes. He is wanted for threatening a crime with intent to terrorize, domestic violence, damage to a telephone, battery causing serious bodily injury, false imprisonment and willful cruelty to a child. He was last seen fleeing the scene on a bicycle.

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BLUE LAKE – On Wednesday, Jan. 25, about 5:15 a.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an alarm at the Blue Lake Museum, 330 Railroad Ave., Blue Lake. Deputies were immediately dispatched to the scene. While the deputies were enroute, a citizen called the Sheriff’s Office after hearing the alarm and told the dispatcher they could see someone was inside the museum. Prior to the deputies’ arrival the citizen saw the suspect flee on foot towards Hatchery Road. The citizen described the suspect as being dressed all in black.

Carter Daniels

When the deputies arrived on scene they saw the front door to the museum had been forced in and was damaged.  The deputies searched the area for the suspect(s) with no success.  With the assistance of museum staff, deputies were able to determine that 11 antique female Native American Basket Hats were stolen. These hats range in estimated value from $1,200 to $3,500 each. The glass case in which the hats were stored in was also smashed.

Staff and deputies immediately began notifying pawn shops, and various organizations about the stolen property and its description. At about 11:45 a.m. Eureka Police was notified by Heritage Antiques in Eureka that someone was at the business attempting to sell Native American Hats which matched the description of the stolen hats. Eureka Police responded and detained two subjects until the Sheriff’s Office could arrive on scene.

The investigating deputy interviewed the two detained men and determined that one of the men, Carter Daniels, 30, of Eureka was in possession of the stolen Native American hats. Daniels was arrested for possession of stolen property.  He was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility; his bail is set at $25,000. The officers recovered seven of the 11 missing hats. The hats are estimated to be over 100 years old and were made by the Yurok and Hoopa Tribes.

Follow-up is still being conducted on this case, and deputies are attempting to locate the remaining four stolen hats. Additional charges and arrests are posssible.

Anyone with information for the Sheriffs Office regarding this case or criminal related activity is encouraged to call the Sheriffs Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriffs Office Crime Tip line (707) 268-2539.

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APD brought multiple vehicles, including a a large, enclosed trailer to the Alliance Road residence. The house is owned by Anthony L. and Denise M. Fraga of Bayside. KLH | Eye

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GROW HOUSE WARRANT SERVED IN WESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD

 During the month of November, while responding to a noise disturbance, an Arcata Police Department officer noticed indications of an indoor marijuana cultivation at a residence in the 2500 Blk of Alliance Rd.

Patrick Michael Hawn

Twenty-seven year old Patrick Michael Hawn of Arcata was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Jail on the following charges:

·         11358 H&S- Cultivation of Marijuana

·         11359 H&S- Possession of Marijuana for Sale

·         11366.5 H&S- Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance

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Kevin L. Hoover

Eye Editor

JANES ROAD – In 10 years, Mad River Community Hospital (MRCH) will be the hub of a modern new community in northwest Arcata.

The CommunityLife Wellness Campus  is one of several projects poised to redefine not just Valley West, but north Arcata to the Mad River and west to the Arcata Bottom.

With a slate of improvements in the works for long-neglected Valley West, including landscaping, trails, trees, plus the 31-acre Mad River Parkway Business Center mixed-use development extending from Giuntoli Lane to the banks of the Mad River, yet another vast, mostly undeveloped tract of land is now primed for infill.

Mad River Properties, which owns the fields surrounding MRCH, is proceeding with its CommunityLife Wellness Campus, an ambitious project integrating a variety of new facilities – medical, educational, residential and even agricultural – across 20 acres.

Time frames for the projects are based in years, if a decade or more. But the plans being enacted now promise to develop and mature Arcata’s northernmost chunk into a modern, diverse community easily rivaling the southern/central area that springs most readily to mind at any mention of the town’s name.

The project was the brainchild and vision of Allen Shaw, now 94 years old and still living in the area, who saw the potential for such a campus when he first started building MRCH in 1969.

The Planning Commission approved the project as consistent with Arcata’s General Plan and Land Use Code in June.

The site is zoned for Public Facilities), which allows for things like hospitals, medical services, schools, childcare, residential care and sports and recreation facilities to use the site. And MRCH plans for all of these to be part of the Wellness Campus.

The core of the complex will be MRCH, with its overall design to be integrated with neighboring Pacific Union School and United Indian Health Services. And the complex includes a few new major facilities that will be major attractions of their own.

A typical building on the Wellness Campus. Courtesy LACO Associates

Among the Wellness Campus’s projected features:

• An expansion of MRCH, with a new wing just north of the existing hospital. The present hospital, most of which dates back to 1972, could eventually be repurposed as a senior facility.

• A new public health facility, possibly an Open Door Community Health Centers clinic, sited roughly between MRCH and UIHS.

• A new campus for Arcata’s acclaimed Northcoast Preparatory Academy (NPA). The top-rated high school has migrated from one temporary site to the next, and is now located at the Arcata United Methodist Church.

• An amphitheater/performance space and outdoor event area adjacent to the NPA campus. Among other things, this could host the annual Medieval Festival of Courage, currently held  on the MRP fields.

• A health/medical education facility, possibly linked to NPA.

• A senior assisted living facility, possibly occupying two or more structures, located north of Weott Way.

• A children’s daycare.

• A small farm. MRCH already has one, but it would be moved to  a new location on the eastern edge. This will continue to supply the hospital with produce and offer opportunities for community participation.

• Twelve open space areas totaling almost 16 acres. Features include an orchard and edible landscaping.

• A vast network of trails totaling more than one-and-a-half miles, with loops, spurs and a link to points beyond via Valley West through an undercrossing at the U.S. Highway 101/State Route 299 interchange east of UIHS. Drainages would be crossed via wooden pedestrian bridges.

• Parking for both autos and alternative transportation.

• A host of drainage and aesthetic improvements, including bio-swales, rain gardens, stormwater detention areas and natural berms to protect natural views.

How much and how soon all of this will be realized is unknown, though MRCH is aggressively pursuing the project, said Steve Engle, chief operating officer.

While MRCH representatives have repeatedly pointed out the challenges of maintaining an independent, local hospital in today’s difficult health care climate, Engle said the Wellness Campus plans represents a long-term commitment to local health care for Arcata.

“We’re making very ambitious plans, and Mad River Community Hospital is going to be around for a long time,” Engle said. “We’ve spent a lot of time on this, trying to do our best for the community.”

He credited MRCH CEO Doug Shaw for the project’s comprehensiveness. “The takeaway here is awareness of Doug Shaw’s vision for expanding health care in the community,” Engle said.

The project’s mission statement is “To restore community vitality and relationships by creating an essential core of well-being, medical and educational offerings in a visually stunning landscape that is environmentally grounded.”

Mike Nelson, planning director at Eureka’s LACO Associates is managing the project, while designer Julian Berg is detailing the plans. He said the public will have multiple opportunities to comment on the project during Planning Commission and City Council meetings. But those are probably a year or so off. MRCH officials note that the City of Arcata’s support for the project is crucial for its success.

Once all permissions have been obtained, buildout will take several years. Nelson said the first elements to appear will likely be the hospital expansion, Open Door clinic and NPA. “Those would be the frontrunners,” he said.

Funding for the massive project will come from a variety of sources, including grants and possibly redevelopment funds. Given uncertainties as to its final shape and composition, Nelson said it’s not possible to put a figure on the overall project.

The view from Open Door

Open Door CEO Hermann Spetzler previews the Wellnesss Capus. KLH | Eye

At the annual meeting of Open Door Community Health Centers (ODCHC) in its Ninth Street offices, CEO Hermann Spetzler ended a year-in-review presentation with brief remarks on the Wellness Campus of which ODCHC will be a key part.

“It’s a really nice, well laid-out concept,” he said.

With ODCHC building a new headquarters in Eureka, to open next year, it is anticipating major shifts in staffing locations and patient tratment from its existing North Coast facilities. How all that shakes out will help shape the clinic’s participation in the Wellness Campus.

“I think we’re five years out from this being built, and about two years from knowing the right size for the ODCHC component],” Spetzler said. “We should be able to take our three clinics – Arcata, McKinleyville and North Country Clinic – and fold them in.”

Spetzler said that medical care itself consitutes “about 10 percent of what it takes to be healthy.” The majority of personal wellness stems from a healthy lifestyle, and the new Wellness Campus is designed around exactly that.

“It’s an exciting, ambitious new medical home,” he said. “We’re in the re-engineering stage of creating a new health care model.”

Still more

In addition to the Wellness Campus, MRCH is reaching out to the community by opening satellite medical offices in Arcata.

A new Occupational Health Center at 14th and F streets will provide outpatient treatment, sports medicine, and well-child services, plus verification of Workmen’s Comp claims.

The Arcata CommunityLife Medical Center, located at 1318 H St. in the former offices of Drs. Ann Lindsay and Alan Glaseroff, providing primary care for families.

Mad River Rehabilitation Clinic has been relocated to 1703 Giuntoli Lane, Suite A.

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