A scene from the ceremony. Del Norte Triplicate / Bryant Anderson

Mary Peacock event; Grad Night party; fireworks cleanup

It can be tough moving on from grade school to middle school. The 51 “graduating” fifth-graders at Mary Peacock Elementary School and their parents made this rite of passage a little easier by going Hollywood with their “Fifth Grade Finale.”

The stage of the school’s multipurpose room was decorated with gold and black balloons Friday afternoon. With boys attired in “tuxedo” T-shirts and girls in “bling” T-shirts, the fifth-graders handed out “Oscars” to the teachers and other school staff members who had helped them along the way. That night, they did the same for their parents, then had a party with music and food.

During the daytime event, the fifth-graders’ younger peers were in the audience, no doubt looking ahead to when they’ll be moving on to the great unknown of middle school.

“It’s a nervous time for them,” Starr Blackburn said of the fifth-graders. “They’re not quite teenagers, but they’re not primary kids either.”

Curtains close on the ceremony. Del Norte Triplicate / Bryant Anderson

In addition to awarding hand-painted “Oscars,” the students read thank-you letters.

“Everything’s kind of Hollywood. It’s a fun end-of-the-year celebration,” said Starr, herself a teacher at Castle Rock Charter School.

The 'Oscar.' Del Norte Triplicate / Bryant Anderson

Thanks for saving home

We want to express our deep gratitude for all those who came to our aid during the recent fire at our home on Dundas Road. 

First, we thank our son Greg Young for getting our grandson out of danger and then bravely fighting the fire. 

A big thank you to all of our neighbors on Dundas Road who helped contain the fire that likely would have destroyed our home. 

Thank you to all the responding firefighters, EMTs and emergency personnel. Your professionalism and concern for our safety, home and possessions is greatly appreciated. Thank you all.

Steve and Cindi Young

Bess Maxwell

• Students of the Week: Ayden Ramirez-Hayes, Ruby Powlen, Mackenzie Frick, Tsuxing Vang, Chaney Pease, Pedro Garcia, Quiana Brown, Elise Hunter, Trevor Corpening, Tesa Robinson, Jilliam Surber, Jazlin Pena, Jesse Cervantez, Izabele Schrader, Dellen Thao, Kai Wuckert, Zoey Dean, Aeneas Lopez

• Students of the Month: Honey Johnson, Zion Fee Bowers, Trustin Hiter, Jenna-Jo Howell, Olivia Rice, Taylor Hawken, Andru Slavec, Rainee Hiter, Veloria Fisher, Kyle Sydathong, Ashley Kramer

• Character Counts: Tylee Surber, Karmen Lucatero

• Noteworthy: Anamaris Gamez, Dzoa Waltrip

• Mathematician: Diego Lucatero

• Study Island Math Graduate: Isabel Mejia

• Study Island Language Arts Graduates: Ninadee Mattz-Mena, Samson Brown Uptegraft, Nattis Broutis, David Slagle

Pine Grove

• Students of the Month: Trevor Dalbec, Kaleo Abasolo, Jodie Pingree, Jakob Sherer, Gabe Howard, Keara Cha, Keegan Dunn, Ben Weiland, Chase Sharp, Pablo Sandoval

• Star Artists: Kaitlyn Coltra, Larry Asbury, Stevie Tardif, Teresa Martinez, Eugena Herrera, Willie Bommelyn, Izabel Dungan, Isabella Preston, Keegan Dunn, Ivana Lopez

Rooney, McFarland

Darlene is the owner of the Tailgate Cafe. Her parents are Ron and Lori Rooney of Crescent City.

Paul is the chef for Tailgate Cafe and is the son of Kathleen Harper of La Pine, Ore.

Sarah Mattz applies labels to bottles of Kelp Help! Del Norte Triplicate / Bryant Anderson

Hambro layoffs inspired trio to start their own business, and now they’re looking to expand

A few short months ago, Kirk Sparks, his daughter Tasha, and their partner Matt Mattz suddenly found themselves out of a job, but it didn’t take long for them to bounce back.

The three, who had operated Eco-Nutrients until its parent company, the Hambro Group, laid them off late last year, approached the customers they had cultivated and set out to form Native Nutrients. 

About six months later, Native Nutrients sells liquid kelp soil amendments to farmers and distributors in California, Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Arizona, Sparks said. He is also establishing a liquid fish fertilizer plant in Coos Bay, which will be up and running in about two weeks.

“I’ve been friends with customers as well as business associates for years,” Sparks said. “They trust me. They’re just waiting for me to be starting up again.”

Sparks was one of the original investors in Eco-Nutrients when it was established in 1993. He sold his interest in the company in 2005 but continued to work as its general manager until he was laid off last December. 

Mattz had been laid off earlier that month, Kirk Sparks said. He said his daughter was laid off last October.

They immediately went about establishing Native Nutrients. Its main product, Kelp Help, is a plant auxiliary made out of bull kelp that’s hand-harvested locally, Tasha Sparks said. 

Josiah and Mariah Wise. Photo Courtesy Irene Moreno Photography

And they just happen to be siblings.

Mariah Wise and her brother, Josiah Wise, both of Gasquet, will be attending CSSSA in the theater category. The summer school will be held July 13 to Aug. 9 at the California Institute for the Arts (CalArts) campus in Valencia, Calif.

Josiah and Mariah will be honored at a reception Friday at 5:15 p.m. at the Del Norte Senior Center, 1765 Northcrest Drive.

 They will be recognized by local dignitaries and will receive special medallions emblazoned with the state seal.

The reception is sponsored by the Del Norte Association for Cultural Awareness with support from the CSSSA Foundation. Those who wish to attend but have not yet received an invitation should contact DNACA, 464-1336.  

CSSSA was created by the Legislature in 1985 and held its first session in 1987.  Each year, approximately 500 students attend from all over the state; this year, that number was chosen from more than 1,500 applicants.

Since 1987, more than 65 high school-age students from Del Norte County have attended this rigorous, month-long residential training program, having demonstrated outstanding artistic excellence in one of the seven CSSSA disciplines: animation, creative writing, film, dance, music, theater and the visual arts.

Cheryl Simonson, left, and Patti Vernelson at the event last year. Del Norte Triplicate / Michele Postal

The Del Norte Community Health Fair will feature fasting glucose tests and comprehensive metabolic panels, or chem panels, for $5, said Melody Cannon, public health program manager for the county. Men will be able to undergo prostate cancer screening at the Health Fair for $10, she said.

“There are a variety of laboratory tests we can offer through Sutter Coast Hospital,” Cannon said. “(The prices) are very reasonable and results come back very quickly.”

The fair’s theme this year is “Be Active, Be Healthy and Be Prepared.” The event from 8 a.m. to noon will be held alongside the Farmers Market at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds, and will feature 40 vendors, including Rural Human Services’ mobile kitchen, Cannon said. Other booths will be run by the Tsunami Sirens roller derby team, Building Healthy Communities and Cindy Henderson from the Office of Emergency Services.

The fair is sponsored by the Del Norte County Health Care District and presented by the Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services, Cannon said.

Following the fair, residents will be able to spend time with Dr. Mark Davis of the Humboldt-Del Norte Medical Society and other doctors at the fair’s “Walk with a Doc” event. The walk will be about 3 miles long and residents will be able to ask the doctors general questions about health care, Cannon said.