Business Briefs

The Fortuna Business Improvement District helps new and existing businesses in publicizing their milestones: opening, moving, anniversaries and other newsworthy events. Here are our latest releases.

April 15, 2008

Contact: Ross Gallagher, John Stibi, John Stephens

Redwood Glass and Windows
707-726-7900

New glass showroom and installers in Fortuna

FORTUNA  . . .  Fortuna’s newest home improvement company gets quite a few visitors to their Main street showroom. Some drop-ins aren’t there for new windows, but to see an art glass table and vanity that boggle the imagination.

Redwood Glass and Windows’ Ross Gallagher says the art pieces are just two of the things that set his company apart from the usual window shop.  In this case, they developed a relationship with a glass artist in Petaluma who makes the custom pieces as well as doing glass sandblasting and other jobs for them.

The table looks like someone draped a glass tablecloth over a table and then removed the table, leaving just a flowing impression behind.  The double sink is clear and seamless, making it appear as if the sink and vanity itself were entirely made of water.

Gallagher along with John Stibi and John Stephens run Redwood Glass and Windows from a new building on the north end of Fortuna’s Main Street. 

Gallagher says the art glass is a natural extension of the custom work they do in shower doors, glass, mirrors and other applications.  

“People here are just catching onto the frameless showers that you’ve been seeing in magazines for the last 10 years or so.”  He says they are experts in these thick, all glass walls and shower doors that lend themselves to etching and sandblasting and other artistic treatments.

Redwood Glass and Windows brings together the special skills of Gallagher in showers, Stibi for commercial estimating and Stephens in automatic doors along with their 30 years in commercial and residential glass.

The shop did all the glass in Fortuna’s new Strongs Creek Plaza shopping center and has already done several automatic doors for commercial buildings.   As more buildings become handicap accessible the need for retrofitted automatic doors and new self opening doors is becoming greater.

While they do specialize, Gallagher says they also do residential new construction and replacement windows and have a mobile glass repair service for residential and commercial work. They also became a licensed dealer for the Tekon brand of glass cleaning and surface protection products this month.

“And I think we have the nicest glass showroom in the county,” Gallagher smiles and says about their shop and showroom at 357 Main Street. 

Redwood Glass and Windows is located across from Parlato’s Restaurant and is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday by appointment.  They can be reached at 726-7900.

May 1, 2008

Contact: Ross Gallagher, John Stibi, John Stephens

Redwood Glass and Windows

707-726-7900

New glass company bringing art into the bath

FORTUNA  . . .  “It’s a showstopper for sure,” Ross Gallagher of Redwood Glass and Windows says about the two art glass pieces inside his Main Street Fortuna showroom.

The new glass shop features a table and a bathroom vanity that both look as if they were made of water.  Glass flows like a liquid tablecloth over an invisible surface, with just the wrought iron legs showing in the table made by a Petaluma artist.  The illusion in the vanity is equally convincing, with ripples like water in the surface and two sinks etched with lotus flowers and lily pads. 

Gallagher says the art glass is a natural extension of the custom work the shop does.   Gallagher along with John Stibi and John Stephens run Redwood Glass and Windows from a new building on the north end of Fortuna’s Main Street. 

“You’ve seen frameless glass showers in magazines for several years, but they are just catching on here in Humboldt County,” Gallagher says these thick, all glass walls and shower doors lend themselves to etching and sandblasting and other artistic treatments.

Gallagher hauls out a book of glass work done by the shop and their artist contractors and you quickly see that it’s not just about etched flowers on a shower stall.  The book shows glass kitchen backsplashes with a city skyline, etched glass room dividers and every imaginable shower treatment.

While the trio of glass men is bringing more artful uses of glass to kitchens and bathrooms, they say other trends in windows and doors are opening up too.

As more buildings become handicap accessible the need for retrofitted automatic doors and new, self-opening doors is growing. Also, new commercial construction is featuring much more glass than before. The shop recently did all the glass in Fortuna’s new Strongs Creek Plaza shopping center and has already done several automatic doors for commercial buildings. Stibi the shop’s specialist in commercial glass and Stephens who does most of the automatic doors, worked together on the large shopping center project.

To see the glass table and sink, other artistic glass treatments or to find out about commercial glass installation and automatic doors, Redwood Glass and Windows is located across from Parlato’s Restaurant and is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday by appointment.  They can be reached at 726-7900.

April 30, 2008

Contact: David Reed, FBID Coordinator
(707) 725-9261

OR         

Elaine Greddasoff, Fortuna Art Council President
(707) 768-2125

Six artists featured in Downtown Fortuna’s Gallery

FORTUNA . . . Six members of Fortuna’s Art Council feature in the latest show inside the walk-up art space in Downtown Fortuna.  No theme ties the show together, except to show the breadth of talents and styles present in the Art Council.

       A variety of fired clay pieces by Elizabeth Schmidt, miniature acrylic paintings and larger oil paintings by Mary Jane Compton and colored pencil drawings by Flora O’ Donald are teamed with paintings by Madilyn Casalino, Julie Bednar and Richard McDowell.

The Downtown Storefront Gallery is at 1137 Main Street, across from Sweet Temptations.

For information about the Fortuna Art Council and upcoming shows see their website at FortunaArtCouncil.org.  For an update on what’s happening in Downtown Fortuna Call the Downtown Fortuna Hotline 407-9494.  You can get information on purchasing art by calling the Fortuna Business Improvement District at 725-9261.

March 31, 2008

Contact: David Corkill, Cinema West
707-762-0990

 Or

Donnie Miner, manager Fortuna Theater
707-725-2121

Theater’s “digital revolution” brings new entertainment to the County

FORTUNA . . . Behind the 1930’s façade of the Fortuna Theater, a technological revolution has happened.   In November, the theater converted to all-digital projection becoming the only theater of its kind in Humboldt County.  With the switch Fortuna becomes the coast’s only fully digital movie house between Petaluma and Corvallis, Oregon.

Besides crisper pictures and sound for your next action movie or art house film viewing, the digital projection technology has opened up a new world of entertainment that the theater can offer.

David Corkill, owner of the Fortuna Theater and the Cinema West group of theaters says,

“We have great auditoriums that sit empty part of every day, and people want to see great performances that may be hours away by car or plane.  We can now show opera, concerts, and children’s programs in quality that may be better than being there,”

The special performances started with the Hannah Montana and Milie Cyrus concert film in February and showings of the San Francisco Opera performances in early March.  San Francisco Opera’s production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni on April 12 and 13 and Puccini’s Madama Butterfly on April 19 and 20 are the next ‘non-traditional’ shows to hit the theater’s screens..

Next for the theater is digital 3-D technology that should be in place by this summer. Corkill looked ahead to what audiences could expect,

“Most of the digitally animated films are being produced in 3D now, the Star Wars series is being re-mastered in 3D and we have the U2 3D concert film already coming to Fortuna,”

Corkill says he sees the advancement being an attraction for more than just the immediate Eel River Valley. And he’s already seeing theater-goers coming from Eureka and Arcata for the combination of the big screen and digital picture.

The Fortuna Theater has more about digital projection and upcoming special performances on their web site at CinemaWest.com, click the Fortuna Theater tab for schedules and details on shows.  The theater is at 1241 Main Street and has a message of scheduled movies and shows at 725-2121.

February 18, 2008

Contact: David Reed, FBID Coordinator
(707) 725-9261

OR         

Elaine Greddasoff, Fortuna Art Council President
(707) 768-2125

Fortuna Storefront Gallery February-March show

FORTUNA . . . Spring flowers mix with earthy tones of ceramics, mushrooms and carved wood, in the latest show in Fortuna’s Storefront gallery, echoing the first signs of a Humboldt County spring.

       Photographs by Jackie Wales, ceramics and oils by Benji Banderas, watercolors by Virginia Sutherland and two of Lori Barrett’s mixed media works are joined by oil paintings by Mari Avila and two wood sculptures by Bruce Hinchcliffe.

The Downtown Storefront Gallery is at 1137 Main Street, across from Linda’s Antiques.

For information about the Fortuna Art Council and upcoming shows see their website at FortunaArtCouncil.org.  For an update on what’s happening in Downtown Fortuna Call the Downtown Fortuna Hotline 407-9494.  You can get information on purchasing art by calling the Fortuna Business Improvement District at 725-9261.

February 8, 2008

Contact:Sherry Salas and Perla Pinedo, owners
L.A. Glow
725-4082

LA Glow Open

FORTUNA . . .  The co-owners of new Fortuna clothing shop “LA Glow” joke that their store started after they heard one-too-many tourists asking where they could get a sweater.
“We both work in a restaurant and visitors from Southern California would ask where they could buy some warm clothes… there was no place to send them,” says Perla Pinedo.
Pinedo and LA Glow co-owner Sherry Salas both manage a local eatery. The pair opened their women’s clothing shop on the north end of Fortuna’s Main Street last month.
That “Southern California feeling” in the name carries through to the clothes and the feeling inside.  Pinedo says they intend the shop to be “a little bit of LA style in Fortuna”.  The feel goes past the clothes; flat screen TV s inside play music videos and the walls are covered with autographed publicity photos from young musicians, actresses and models.
Pinedo says she is drawing on her life in Southern California and the styles she experienced when bringing in clothes.  Clothing and a large section of designer-styled accessories fill the front half of the shop.   The style is youthful, but Salas and Pinedo say that there are clothes for almost every age.
The shop has put a lot of attention to accessories.  Salas says they wanted to bring in, as with the clothing lines, items that were harder to find in Fortuna and Humboldt County.  Purses, sunglasses, wallets and jewelry all harmonize with the clothing on the racks.  There are a few things you wouldn’t expect to find in a clothes store too, colored contact lenses to match your outfit, for one.
LA Glow has a consignment section in the back of the store.  This area has been the real surprise for both Pinedo and Salas.
“People were excited about the consignment section before we even opened,” says Salas, “we have people who want to buy and want to sell already.” She says the consignment section will be new, or very gently used condition, clothes in all sizes from teens on up.  Already the pair has been getting in brand name clothes from Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle and Baby Phat on consignment.
“The consignment area will not have a thrift store feel to it,” says Salas,” you’ll have a hard time telling the consignment items from our new stuff.”
LA Glow is open Monday and Tuesdays 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at 569 Main Street, just ¼ mile from the Highway 101 Main Street exit. 

February 8, 2008

Contact: Felicia and Scott Thomsson, Owners
Glamorous Boutique
707-725-9933

Fortuna gets "Glamorous"

FORTUNA . . .  Right from the start, Felicia Thomsson wants you to know a few things about the philosophy of her new clothing boutique, “Glamorous”.
“You can be fashion forward and feel good about yourself living right here in Humboldt County no matter your age or size.”
And Thomsson’s definition of ‘fashion forward’?
“It’s having your own sense of style, being well put together and being aware of trends without being trendy.”
Felicia and Scott Thomsson opened the Fortuna store in November after a year of planning.  The pair had roots in Garberville and had owned two businesses in Southern Humboldt before moving to Seattle.
“We had a shop in Seattle just ten minutes from home just like here,”
But family and a desire for home brought them back to Humboldt  and after a short while, Felicia was planning another clothing store.
“It felt like destiny,” Felicia says, “we called the developers of the (Strongs Creek) shopping center and they had just one space left.”
Scott agrees that some magic is involved but says it comes from Felicia, “She has a true passion for helping people look good,” he says her understanding of people’s personal style makes his wife ideally suited to owning a clothing boutique.
That, and honesty, “she’s not going to tell you something looks good just to sell it to you.”
The shop covers a lot of ground in a small space, with up-market jeans and casual clothes from Lucky and Freedom of Choice among others, pajamas and lingerie, evening wear and shoes, even some carefully selected jewelry.
Felicia says that “careful selection” is what sets a boutique apart from just another clothes store,
“There are 1000s of clothing manufacturers out there; we sought out companies with great clothes that we can stand by.  Ones you won’t find in Humboldt County.”
Choosing from those thousands of manufacturers sometimes comes down to more than just looks.  The Thomssons have selected some clothing lines for the causes they champion too: Like the casual wear from ‘Save the Ta-Tas’ that donates to breast cancer research, a jean company that uses only organic cottons and other companies with earth-friendly policies.
So far Scott describes response to the store as a “phenomena” with news of the store rippling out through Fortuna and the surrounding communities.  With little advertising to start with, the shop was quickly discovered and Felicia would see “groups of women coming in during lunch breaks or right after work,” to see what the store was like.
For Felicia, making those women feel good about themselves and the way they look is the ultimate goal, “I’m a Retail Therapist and every woman needs a little retail therapy.”
Glamorous is in the Strongs Creek Plaza center at 1095 South Fortuna Boulevard and is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  The shop can be reached at 725-9933 or through their website at www.shopglamorous.com.

FORTUNA . . .  “Rising from the ashes” is exactly what business owner Bobie Sauers and her crew did after disaster struck her business this summer.  But Sauers says Allure Day Spa and Hair Design wouldn’t have come back as quickly or at all without teamwork and a supportive community.
The salon was shuttered after an early morning fire June 8 caused smoke and water damage to Allure and four other businesses.  Sauers along with seven cosmetologists and one skin care specialist lost nearly everything in the fire.  But in just three months the salon and day spa was rebuilt and open for business in a nearby shopping center.      
“Getting that call was devastating,” Sauers says about the first day after the fire"
“But getting the shop back together as fast as we did was because we all worked together once we found a place,”Sauers explains that all the workers at the salon were offered temporary shop space by other salon owners hours after news of the fire spread through town.  All of them kept up their regular accounts and split up Sauers’ clients so she could deal with the aftermath of the fire and finding a new location.  After Sauers landed the new space, most of the “girls” came down between appointments to work alongside Sauers putting the new place together.
“Even before we found a place they all came over to help scrub and salvage my things, even before their own,” she says, “after I found the new place we were putting down a new floor, mudding sheetrock, painting and putting in fixtures.”
In the beginning Bobie says she wasn’t even sure she would put a new shop together.  The original Allure had been a dream of hers, one that took tremendous effort and four years to build.  She wasn’t sure that she could start over again and go through all that work again.  If she did, she wondered if she’d feel at home in a new place.
“The girls said they would hunt me down if I didn’t…we we’re so close, the loss of the shop felt like a death in the family…they said they couldn’t see being anywhere else.”
That feeling of family comes through in the shops new layout.  The reborn Allure has a more open floor plan than the original salon.  There’s a waiting area with couches and tables that looks more like a living room than a hair salon.  The stations ring the space and stylists can communicate easily.  In the middle of it all is a stone topped display of make-up for sale and other beauty items.
The space is full of natural light and has a European feel with wood floors, warm wood fixtures, oversized mirrors and art evoking Italy and France.
Sauers and the crew are enjoying their new home but her thoughts keep going back to the morning of the fire and the days that followed.
“Something I’m really grateful for is the firefighters…you think they just go in and fight the fire, but they’re in there taking pictures off the walls, getting furniture in a pile and putting a tarp over it, trying to save as much as they can,”
“When I walked in and saw all they’d done I was amazed, while they’re in there fighting the fire they’re also trying to save your memories.”
Sauers also is quick to thank the community who gathered around her and her fellow stylists:  from the insurance agent who brought coffee and doughnuts while writing up the claim to the towing company that dropped off a donated truck and trailer to try and salvage equipment and several other businesses and individuals who brought food, did dump runs, helped pull out equipment or just came to see what was needed.  She says the support cemented her love of doing business in Fortuna.
After all the trials of the fire and rebuilding, the experience has brought the crew closer. Sauers says she does feel at home in the new space, “I think we did a really good job and it’s just beautiful, you want to be here.”
Allure’s new location is at 433 North Fortuna Boulevard in Fortuna’s Mid Town Plaza and can be reached at 725-0900.

February 8, 2008

Contact: Jeremy Shaw
Shaw Computer Service
725-6442

Fortuna Computer Store Gives Away Wii

FORTUNA . . . When Fortuna’s Shaw Computers found out they would only get one Nintendo Wii gaming system to sell for the entire Christmas season, owner Jeremy Shaw decided it would be a lot more fun to just give it away.
The store is giving away a new Nintendo Wii system on Christmas Eve, Monday December 24.  No purchase is required, but entrants must sign up at the store and only one entry is allowed per person.
Entries will be accepted until December 23 and the winner will be notified on December 24, in time to get the package wrapped up for Christmas.
Shaw Computer Services is located at 1655 Main Street in Fortuna and can be reached at 725-6442.

January 23, 2008

Contact:        David Reed, FBID Coordinator
(707) 725-9261

Fortuna’s Downtown businesses thank city crews

FORTUNA . . . City employees received a thank you from the businesses of Downtown Fortuna at Fortuna’s most recent City Council meeting for their work on Downtown street lights and holiday banners. 

Downtown Business Association president Glenn Reeves read a letter thanking the City employees responsible for putting up the new streetlights in time for the holidays and the Public Works crews that put up the association’s holiday décor. 

After he thanked city staffers by name Reeves added, “I would also like to note that much of this work was done in the rain,” referring especially to the hanging of the red and green banners put up in time for holiday shopping.

The City employees thanked for their efforts were: Mike Johnson, Neale Webb, Bob Natt, Craig Mesman, Aaron Atkisson, Marvin Rutledge, Joy Rocha, Mariqus Ludd, Stephen Avis,Wayne Yazzolino and Duane Rigge.

The City of Fortuna just completed the project installing 21 streetlights in the Downtown core area.  The poles are similar to poles used in Downtown Fortuna in the 1930’s and 40’s.  The upgraded lights are taller and give off more light than previous street lights.  The globes and lamps are designed to give a white light and are shielded to keep light out of upstairs windows and from lighting up the night sky.

Fortuna’s Downtown Business Association promotes the downtown area through events, advertising and group promotion.

Event News

As part of our marketing assitance to Fortuna's community events, FBID acts as the public relations firm for many activities. Here are our latest releases on Fortuna events:

May 14, 2008

Contact: David Reed, FBID Coordinator
(707) 725-9261

Fortuna hosts two events First Weekend in June

FORTUNA . . . The Friendly City is hoping two separate events June 7 and 8 will bring plenty of visitors whether their interests are bargains, wine, art or song.

      The City’s Downtown closes some of its streets for a “Citywide Yard Sale”.  Rummage sales will be brought out to Main Street and sit side-by-side with antique dealers and Downtown businesses’ sidewalk sales.  The street sale starts at 9:00 a.m. Saturday and closes at 3:00 p.m.  Main Street and parts of 10th and 11th streets will be closed to car traffic during the sale.  Many home yard sales will happen at the same time. 

      Sunday June 8, the 19th Annual Art and Wine in the Park brings local wineries, local artists, craftspeople and live jazz to Rohner Park.  Event goers may pay $15 for wine tasting from ninteen local vintners and another dozen wineries from around California.  A fine arts market, crafts booths, local foods and music by Mary Jo Casasanta and Mister Calamari complement the wine tasting.

Art and Wine in the Park happens from Noon until 5:00 p.m. in Rohner Park, one mile from Highway 101 from the Main Street exit.

      For more information about either event call the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce at 725-3959 or see sunnyfortuna.com/festivals.  To sign up for space at the Downtown Sale call the Downtown Fortuna hotline at 407-9494.

Date: May 6 2008

Contact: Kevin Johnson --OR-- David Reed, Coordinator
Fortuna Rotary Club Fortuna Business Improvement District
(707)725-9303 (707) 725-9261

Art and Wine in the Park

FORTUNA, CA . . . Fortuna officially begins summer with wine tasting, art, food and music Sunday, June 8 at Art and Wine in the Park.

The growing crop of local wines and wineries is the focus of the festival with 19 local vintners represented. Some local wine makers will be pouring their own tastes and talking to fest-goers about their products. Other local wines and several other northern California wines will be poured by festival volunteers.

Sharing the Rohner Park lawn with the cabernets and chardonnays are tents and easels holding the work of local painters, photographers, ceramicists and other artists. Booths featuring local handcrafts ring the event and feature everything from jewelry to yard art.
Local foods and produce are featured in the wine tasting area with Loleta Cheese, barbecued Humboldt-grown oysters and Fortuna-grown strawberries available. The Veterans of Foreign Wars holds their deep-pit barbecue feast in the picnic area next to the festival. The VFW serve pit barbecued tri-tip along with salads, bread and desserts from noon until four that afternoon.

Two jazz groups, Mary Jo Cassasanta’s combo and Mister Calamari entertain wine tasters and art gazers; A silent auction and a drawing for a share of 100 bottles of wine round out the afternoon.

The event takes place from Noon until 5:00 p.m. Sunday June 8. There is no admission charge to view the art and crafts or just sit and enjoy the music. Festival-goers over 21 can purchase commemorative glasses for tasting for $15 a piece at the event. More information is available through the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce at 725-3959 or the Rotary Club’s website at www.FortunaRotary.org.

April 28, 2007

Contact: David Reed, FBID Coordinator
(707) 725-9261

Fortuna hosts two events over weekend

FORTUNA . . . The Friendly City is hoping two separate events June 9 and 10 will bring plenty of visitors whether their interests are bargains, wine, art or song.

      Saturday, the City’s Downtown closes some of its streets for another “Citywide Yard Sale”.  Rummage sales will be brought out to Main Street and sit side-by-side with antique dealers and Downtown businesses’ sidewalk sales.  The street sale starts at 9:00 a.m. Saturday and closes at 3:30 p.m.  Main Street and parts of 10th and 11th streets will be closed to car traffic during the sale.  Many home yard sales will happen at the same time.  A map to home sales is available at participating Downtown businesses and the Chamber of Commerce office starting June 5th.

      Sunday, the 18th Annual Art and Wine in the Park brings local wineries, local artists, craftspeople and live jazz to Rohner Park.  Event goers may pay $15 for wine tasting from seven local vintners and another dozen wineries from around California.  A fine arts market, crafts booths, local foods and music by Mary Jo Casasanta and Mister Calamari complement the wine tasting.

Art and Wine in the Park happens from Noon until 5:00 p.m. in Rohner Park, one mile from Highway 101 from the Main Street exit.

      For more information about either event call the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce at 725-3959 or see sunnyfortuna.com/festivals.  To sign up for space at the Downtown Sale call the Downtown Fortuna hotline at 407-9494.

April 25, 2008

Contact: Glenn Reeves, Investors Trust Mortgage
725-7400

OR

David Reed, FBID Coordinator
(707) 725-9261

Fortuna Downtown hosts citywide yard sale June 7

FORTUNA . . . Fortuna’s Downtown merchants are hosting a “yard sale on Main street” as part of Fortuna’s Citywide Yard Sale on June 7.  The deadline to reserve a spot on the street is May 30 but spaces are limited and merchants encourage interested parties to sign up early.

Sellers of rummage, antiques and collectibles can purchase spaces running down Main Street for a $10 fee per 10 foot length.  Downtown businesses will also be on the sides of the street with their own sales and downtown restaurants will be selling food.

The sale is Saturday June 7 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Main and adjacent streets. 

To sign up for a space, leave a message on the Downtown Fortuna information number: 407-9494.

Date: April 23, 2008

Contact: Kevin  Johnson, Fortuna Rotary Club
(707) 725-7874

Please call the FBID office if we can assist with any special deadline constraints.

Art and Wine in the Park Seeks Artists, Craftspeople

FORTUNA, CA . . . Fortuna’s Art and Wine in the Park is looking for artists to display and sell their work at the summer festival Sunday, June 8.

The event, sponsored by the Rotary club of Fortuna, offers space to fine artists and craftspeople during the wine tasting.

There will be a judged art show as part of the fine arts area.  Selected artists will receive a share of $500 in prize money.  The show will be judged by a mix of Fortuna Rotary members and artist volunteers.

Applications for fine art and hand crafts are available on the event sponsor’s website fortunarotary.org or by calling Kate at 725-8613.

The festival continues to expand its wine tasting area attracting more local wineries.  The event also features live jazz, food booths and the Veterans of Foreign War deep pit barbecue.

There is no admission charge for the festival. Festival-goers over 21 can purchase commemorative tasting glasses at the event for $15 that come with several tastes.  More information is available through the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce at 725-3959 or the Rotary Club’s website at www.FortunaRotary.org.     

February 28, 2008

Contact: Glenn Reeves, Downtown Assoc President
725-7400

OR

David Reed, FBID Coordinator
(707) 725-9261

Fortuna Hops Down the Bunny Trail

FORTUNA … The Easter Bunny is hopping into Fortuna's Rohner Park Saturday March 22 and he’ll leave behind hundred of colored eggs and other treats with some help from Fortuna’s Lion Club and the Fortuna Downtown Association.

About 1500 colored eggs are hidden for children to find in the organized hunt.  In Several plastic eggs have special tokens inside for Easter baskets.  Children who find these special eggs will be directed to various Downtown businesses to pick up a basket full of toys and candy.  Downtown Offices and merchants will have baskets ready for parents and children to pick up that day.

The Fortuna Lion's Club Easter Egg Hunt starts at 10 a.m. Saturday March 22 in Rohner Park.  Children and their parents from Fortuna and the Eel River Valley are welcome to attend.  Hunts are held in four different age groups ranging from 0-3, 4-7 and 8-11 years old.  For more information on the egg hunt call the Downtown Fortuna Hotline at 407-9494.

February 27, 2008

Daffodil Show Announcement

Daffodils herald springtime in Humboldt County. Blooming wild on hillsides, roadsides, backyards and cow pastures, the yellow blooms brighten the end of winter.  These cup-and-saucer blooms are honored again in the Fortuna Garden Club’s Pacific Regional Daffodil Show March 22 and 23 at River Lodge.

Professional and amateur flower growers show off their best, biggest or newest specimens in hundreds of varieties.  The public is invited during Saturday and Sunday afternoon to examine the over 600 varieties display.

For more information call the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce office at 725-3959.

February 8, 2008

Contact: David Reed, FBID Coordinator
(707) 725-9261

Children’s Flower Art Displayed, Businesses needed

FORTUNA ...Fortuna will bloom with spring flowers drawn, painted and constructed by children from area schools and displayed in windows of Fortuna businesses at the end of March.  The citywide art show precedes the Fortuna Garden Club’s Daffodil Show held at River Lodge on March 22 & 23.

Children’s art will be on display from March 12 through April 1 in business windows and lobbies. 

The display is coordinated by the Fortuna Business Improvement District.  Businesses that would like to be part of the promotion may reserve art by calling the FBID office before March 1.

The business district is also seeking more participation from Eel River Valley schools. Interested teachers, schools and business owners may call the Fortuna Business Improvement District office at 725-9261 to sign up or for more information.

February 8, 2008
Contact: David Reed, Fortuna Business Improvement District Coordinator
              (707) 725-9261

Kayak and Canoe Race Will Skip 2008

FORTUNA, California . . . Canoe and kayak paddlers are being advised that the “Paddle to the Headwaters” event will not be taking place this April.
Volunteers with the race committee say the event will come back in 2009.
“We are collecting ideas for 2009 right now,” says organizer Don Brown, “we have a survey going out to paddlers and will be back better than ever in a year.”
The seven-year-old event was traditionally held in early April and encompassed two days of water sport contests: a 30-mile river marathon, 10 mile race, boat demonstrations, children’s races and exhibition sprints. 
The event’s website, paddletotheheadwaters.com will carry an online version of the survey, updates and further information on plans for next year’s event.

February 8, 2008

Contact: David Reed, FBID Coordinator
(707) 725-9261

Children's Flower Art Displayed, Businesses Needed

FORTUNA ...Fortuna will bloom with spring flowers drawn, painted and constructed by children from area schools and displayed in windows of Fortuna businesses at the end of March.  The citywide art show precedes the Fortuna Garden Club’s Daffodil Show held at River Lodge on March 22 & 23.
Children’s art will be on display from March 12 through April 1 in business windows and lobbies. 
The display is coordinated by the Fortuna Business Improvement District.  Businesses that would like to be part of the promotion may reserve art by calling the FBID office before March 1.
The business district is also seeking more participation from Eel River Valley schools. Interested teachers, schools and business owners may call the Fortuna Business Improvement District office at 725-9261 to sign up or for more information.