Haivyn Rae Percy was born Nov. 3, 2011, at Sutter Coast Hospital. She weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 20 inches. Her parents are Jamie Scott and Clifford Per­cy of Crescent City. Her grandparents are Teri and Randy Scott, Bobbi Langford and Mary and Newt Percy, all of Crescent City, and Vickie and Tommy Rondeau of Glide, Ore. Her great-grandparents are Sherry and the late Vestal Skaggs, Nick and Sandra Myers and Peggy Percy and the late Glen Percy, all of Crescent City.

A lucky few get to visit the offshore lighthouse others must squint to see

The views enjoyed by those who fly to St. George Reef Lighthouse include the approach from a helicopter, below, and the upward view of the 150-foot-tall beacon, above. Del Norte Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

It was carrying the day’s first load of passengers headed toward the St. George Reef Lighthouse for a tour.

A clear sky allowed for the towering cement column to be within eyeshot during the six-minute hop across the Pacific Ocean that resembled more of a lake on this temperate autumn day.

The calm was a contrast to the traditional rough conditions off the North Coast historically highlighted by the tragic sinking of the Brother Jonathan steamer in 1865. More than 150 lives lost, motivating Congress to fund the construction of the 150-foot-tall lighthouse.

It all started in Crescent City.

Yet as late as the age of 30, Dennis Desjardin had absolutely no idea he’d become a professor and researcher in the field of mushroom science — mycology — nor that he would make valuable discoveries around the world.

In 1980, the Crescent City native was a Marin County construction foreman by day and aspiring San Francisco musician by night. Yet those aspirations were waning.

After graduating from Del Norte High School in 1968, Desjardin went to San Jose State University, where he majored in math and double-minored in music and Asian philosophy.

Del Norte provides some surprises for mushroom expert

A steer tastes a porcini mushroom picked by Dr. Dennis Desjardin on Oct. 23 on private land in Del Norte County where his family has collected mushrooms for decades. Del Norte Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

The Crescent City native and San Francisco State University mycologist, with the help of advanced amateur mushroom enthusiasts Michael Wood and Dr. Fred Stevens, was plodding familiar ground in Del Norte County on a recent misty October morning, looking for rare examples to photograph and — might as well — collecting any delectable common specimens to take home to eat.

As Desjardin, Wood and Stevens headed for the woods, Desjardin’s mother, Alice Desjardin of Crescent City, and Dennis’ wife, Stanford biochemist Ann Desjardin, headed in another direction, out to the fields to collect more edible mushrooms.

The area, private farmland, is well known to both Dennis and his mother.

“I’ve been picking on this property all my life,” Alice said.

The season changes, bringing coastal wind and rain in full force. And once again, there are families in need of coats to keep them warm and dry.

Bicoastal Media Radio is teaming up with Chetco Federal Credit Union, Recology Del Norte, Lucky 7 Casino, and Crescent City’s Les Schwab Tire to host the biggest coat drive on America’s Wild Rivers Coast.

The tradition began in 1994 with KPOD radio and continues today with all Bicoastal radio stations. Last year, a record of more than 900 coats was collected.

Soroptimist International of Crescent City held its annual Christmas Bazaar on Sunday at the Howonquet Community Hall in Smith River. The facility was abuzz with shoppers checking out the wide variety of handcrafted goods, as well as enjoying a soup luncheon, cookies and music.