Silver Lining lights up McKinleyville dining scene John Chiv/For the Times-Standard Posted:   03/27/2012 02:38:48 AM PDT At The Silver Lining restaurant in McKinleyville, you get more than just a dining experience, you are a guest of the Lakeys. Mandala Lakey owns the restaurant with her husband Damian Lakey and his twin brother Josh Lakey. What can you expect when you walk into The Silver Lining? This is how Mandala described their customer philosophy: “When someone walks into our restaurant, we want them to feel completely taken care of, so they can relax and have fun. When I train my staff, I ask them to imagine planning a dinner party for your family and friends. The care you put into the details of planning the menu, making your house beautiful and preparing everything meticulously, create a heightened desire to achieve a magical experience for everyone.” The Lakeys have owned The Silver Lining restaurant for nine years. Damian worked as a server, bartender, prep cook and line cook for seven years for the previous owners and has extensive experience in the hospitality industry. All three of the Lakeys can recall dining at The Silver Lining before a McKinleyville High dance, and often joke that the restaurant has always been a part of their lives. The Silver Lining offers a casual menu for both travelers and locals in a beautiful atmosphere overlooking either the runway or the ocean. In addition to great food, they have recently added Tuesday Night Karaoke and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. The Lakeys have enjoyed a warm reception from the public, who appreciate the addition to McKinleyville's nightlife. In September they lowered their prices, expanded their lunch menu and transitioned from fine dining to a more casual cuisine in an attempt to reach out to a community hurt by the recession. Although the Lakeys have a passion for fine dining, Mandala said this change resulted in tremendous support from their regular customers, and this new vision has created a renewed feeling of excitement around the restaurant for the owners and the staff. The Lakeys feel fortunate raising their children and running their business in the town they all grew up in. “We have always felt supported by the locals, and hope that we offer them an excellent experience in return, and that as we grow and change, and adapt with the times, that we may offer them much more to come.” To stay up to date on events and discounts, “like” them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/silverliningrestaurant or call 707-839-0304.

Wine Spot in Eureka: Where everybody knows your name

By John Chiv/For the Times-Standard

Posted: 04/02/2011 02:43:05 AM PDT

Boston has Cheers; Eureka has the Wine Spot.

Regulars will tell you the Cheers theme song is very appropriate for this new business that opened a little over three months ago in Old Town but their own tagline, “where old friends go to meet new ones” more aptly describes the atmosphere owner Kat Combs works to create everyday.

A ribbon cutting is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the Wine Spot, 234 F St.

When Art of Wine closed, there was no place left in Eureka where people could go wine-tasting. Manager Tim Hendrix, who worked at the Art of Wine, was looking for investors to open a similar business. He knew Combs and her husband Ron from Art of Wine, and although there were a few investors interested, Hendrix picked Combs.

Combs was born in Crescent City, left Humboldt and most recently lived in Calaveras County -- where she met Ron. She has run many successful businesses including a karaoke and DJ business that kept them busy traveling five counties in Central California. Ron is now retired from PG&E and works as a consultant for the energy industry. Combs had been going to wineries for years and always wanted to open a wine bar.

Both Hendrix and Combs wanted The Wine Spot to be different. The focus is on wine-tasting and wine sales but they also offer beer, water, juice and non-alcoholic wine. Hendrix wanted to “take the stuffiness and mystery” out of wine and make it more about the sharing of friends and discovery.

To make the atmosphere more inviting, art adorns the walls above the wine racks and each day, there is an additional incentive for customers to come “hang out.” Tuesdays, there is a wine seminar and game night; Wednesdays, karaoke; Thursdays and Sundays potlucks and on Fridays they spin vinyl records. On Mondays, when they are closed, the Eureka Rotaract meets there.

Customer comments indicate that the Wine Spot has achieved its goal. The clientele is diverse, ranging in age, political beliefs and why they come to the Wine Spot. According to Jessica Ponsano, “It has a family atmosphere and not a bar set-up.” For Carly Robbins, it is getting to meet different people that she would normally not encounter. Ponsano added that “it is not intimidating and snooty” and that the environment makes it very open and welcoming for people to learn about wine. She looks forward to the Monday emails with details about the week's events.

Tracy Brand echoed the feelings of her friends at a nearby table: “The owners are social. The selection here is amazing and I don't feel pressured about buying.” Angie DePew likes that she can “hang out with my adult kids and that this is not a sleazy bar.”

Listening to these customer's feelings at Sunday brunch made Combs smile. She said she wanted to create an atmosphere “where ladies can come in after work, have a glass of wine with friends and feel comfortable and relax. Everyone here feels like family. We are very open to customer feedback and the ambiance just happened naturally.”

Promoting California, especially Humboldt, is obvious in all aspects of the business. They feature wines from the best of Humboldt County wineries; all over the West Coast and are branching out to international selections. Each month, the Wine Spot features Humboldt County local artists on a rotating basis.

Since she moved to Humboldt in 2001, community has been very important to Combs. On Tuesdays and Fridays, Combs and friends feed the homeless on the corner of Fairfield and Hawthorne. The Wine Spot is just another way Combs said she can contribute to a positive atmosphere to the place she calls home. When asked if she thought a wine bar was a risky proposition in today's economy, especially Humboldt, Combs commented, “It was a little scary at times at first but it is starting to pay its own way.”

For more information on the Wine Spot, call 497-6236.

Occupy Eureka and their political agenda

http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_20221129/supervisors-vote-craft-emergency-ordinance-courthouse-issues-humboldt

An article in the Times-Standard quoting me.


 In the Times-Standard article quote, the words political agenda were left out. They are a crucial point in my opinion.


What I actually said.

I would like to thank Supervisor Smith for the suggesting an interim emergency ordinance addressing concerns from many people that have to live daily with the consequence of the actions of a few people.

This is not about freedom of speech or lack of compassion for the mentally ill or homeless. 

This is about a political agenda by some to make our Supervisors and law enforcement look bad when they are doing their best to listen to all sides and protect the rest of us who cannot enjoy public space which also belongs to us. 

This is about a few people that are disrespectful, that refuse help, and would rather use drugs and alcohol with no consequences. There are many homeless and mentally ill that would welcome food and services but their plight has been made worse by the tactics of the people who claim to be speaking for them outside this courthouse.

I have already expressed how I feel about the sexual comments and harassment and it’s mostly 1 person and he is still here because of the lack of action by Paul Gallegos and those that support Occupy Eureka and chose to encourage this behavior. I want to know who is supplying these protestors with pot and alcohol since they supposedly have no money.

It’s great that the Street Outreach Services is finally here. Why were they not here months ago? I have only seen them here twice and unless you have been through the bureaucracy of DHHS, it is difficult to explain that news headlines don’t always result in people getting the help they need.

Our District Attorney has made the job of our law enforcement ineffective by giving a free pass to the few troublemakers that have hijacked the Occupy cause for their own selfish agenda. Someone needs to remind Paul, once again, that he was elected to protect all citizens. I don’t buy his selective enforcement and interpretation of laws that protect criminals and tells law abiding citizens that we just have to deal with it.

Scene on Foot

One of my favorite things that helps me to relax is to walk.  I have met many interesting people, seen sights that can only be enjoyed on foot and discovered Eureka from a unique perspective.

I must have passed this house on E Street many times and always thought it looked very colorful and different but it was just another house, different from others, which is one of Eureka’s appeal. Houses, like people, have their own distinct character and style.

A painting in the yard of this house caught my eye. After my daily cup of coffee, I went back to the house for a closer look. It was a painting of Tsurai Beach with those letters boldly stenciled on the painting. Trinidad is my favorite place in Humboldt County and that day I was thinking of how wonderful it would be to go there. I was also thinking of the rich Native American history of Humboldt County and the local tribes.

The second time I went back there, the artist was out in the yard and introduced himself to me as “Otto”. He was very modest. Later when I found out later that he was THE Curtis Otto, the experience I had that day grew in its significance.

Art can speak volumes and touch people and open their minds. I have personal reasons why seeing that painting for me was special. For Otto, he wanted to make a statement. Otto told me he had been working on this painting for years but there was something that seemed “incomplete.” Adding the words Tsurai Beach, added that final touch for him. He said he never did like the name Trinidad, because it did not conjure up Humboldt County. “Trinidad is in Spain,” he said. “This beach and the name Tsurai  is what the Indians called the area and I wish they would change the name back because this is their land.”

I have to agree with Otto.

This happened when I first moved to Eureka. Since then Otto and I have had several conversations about many things but that day always brings a smile to my face. I learned more about Tsurai Beach and Eureka from him than I could have reading any books or doing research. But most of all Otto, thank you for reminding me that I too can make a difference—my gift is with words.

New flood insurance program offered

The Times-Standard

Posted:   03/06/2012 02:35:14 AM PST

California Meridian and Stan Smith Insurance Services have joined forces to offer a new flood insurance program to North Coast residents.

The new program can save customers as much as 50 to 60 percent, according to a press release, reducing the cost to less than $1,000 for basic  coverage.

The two agencies are also offering a program for seniors through the American Association of Retired People for their auto and home insurance.

California Meridian and Stan Smith Insurance Services offer a host of other cost-savings programs as well, according to the release, and can be reached at 269-4312 or at 509 J St. in Eureka.