By lunchtime on Monday,Fernbridge Tractor ownerDick Lindsay had gathered hisemployees in the breakroom totell them the news he hadheard only a few hours earlier.

“It doesn’t look good forthe valley right now,” said asomber faced Lindsay. “Wedon’t know what happened butthings can get scary.”

With 80 percent of hisbusiness reliant on the dairyindustry, Lindsay like manyothers in the area were con-sumed by the “what ifs” thisweek.

Ryan Nilsen, a fifth gener-ation Nilsen whose great-greatgrandfather Oscar startedNilsen Company in 1896, hasmanaged the Ferndale store forfive years, providing every-thing from hay to grain tofencing to dairy farmers. Heheard about the creamery situ-ation from his father, Denny.

“Everybody in agricultureis watching it to see what willhappen,” he said. "Failure ofthe creamery would be devas-

tating to everyone."Creamery producer Jim

Regli received a call from acreamery board memberMonday morning while he wasfeeding calves at 6 am. He toowas “shocked,” and couldn’tbelieve the message beingrelayed to him.

“We’re all waiting to see ifwe get our paycheck on the28th,” he said. “If that doesn’thappen, we’ll be talking to thebanks to try and get a line ofcredit.”

That conversation, howev-er, could be a difficult one,considering the “dairy issues”over the past year, he said,referring to low milk pricesand high feed costs.

“It’s been a tough year,” henoted. “No one has any extramoney. Now we just wait andsee.”

Crescent City’s RumianoCheese owner Baird Rumianosaid his company has beendoing business with HumboldtCreamery for 50 out of the

The entire Eel River Valley is reeling thisweek after news broke abruptly Mondaymorning that Humboldt Creamery — the lifeblood of not only the valley’s economy but ahuge factor in the well being of the entirecounty— may be on shaky financial ground.

However, late Tuesday afternoon aspanic clearly had a strong hold on Ferndale,Interim CEO Len Mayer told The Enterpriseproducers’ monthly milk checks will bemailed on Friday and that cash flow “is nor-mal.

“Our financial performance today as faras cash is the same as it has always been formany, many years,” said Mayer, attemptingto reassure not only the 50 dairy families thatbelong to the cooperative, but employees,vendors, banks, a multitude of customersand dairy dependent businesses — just aboutevery commercial venture in the valley.Mayer said rumors that creamery checks hadbounced, were unfounded “as far as I know.”

Creamery officials announced shortlyafter 9 am Monday that its 24-year employeeChief Executive Officer Rich Ghilarducciresigned suddenly on Friday evening but notbefore alerting the 80-year-old cooperative of“inaccuracies in financial statements” andthat the company “should suspend its offer-ing of its Series B Preferred Securities,”according to a news release.

“We don’t know what it is,” said Mayerwhen asked what the “inaccuracies” involve.“We do know it’s serious enough for RichGhilarducci to resign immediately.”

Late Wednesday afternoon, Mayer toldThe Enterprise that by Sunday “we couldhave some pretty good information” onexactly what those “financial irregularities”

may be. Mayer said “as soon as the board hasthe information,” plans call for sharing itwith producers and the community.

Mayer sat down with The Enterprise at11:30 Monday morning, as visibly rattledcreamery board members came and wentfrom the milk plant’s Fernbridge officebuilding.

“It’s shocking,” he said. “I haven’t met asingle person who hasn’t used that wordwhen they hear about this. I know the boardof directors was shocked last night when wemet.”

With an intense effort underway to findout what the “irregularities” are, Mayer said“the appropriate authorities” will be notified“based on what we find.

“We plan to tear everything apart,” saidMayer, who has beenthe chief operatingofficer at the cream-ery since 2007.Before joining thecreamery he was theCEO of the NorthCoast Cooperative forfour years. “We haveindependent and out-side attorneys andaccountants comingin.”

Tuesday, a FBIspokeswoman fromthe agency’s SanFrancisco office saidthe federal agency“was not involved, as

BByy MMaarriillyynn DDaavviinnRedding-based Teamsters

Local 137 represents about halfof Humboldt Creamery’sapproximately 250 employees.The local represents both thecreamery’s office staff and otheremployees.

Contacted by phone mid-morning on Tuesday, Local137’s secretary/treasurer Dave

Ferndale Elementary SchoolPrincipal Paul Meyers is the act-ing head of the Ferndale UnifiedSchool District as embattledSuperintendent Sam Garamendiremains out on personal leavethis week.

When contacted by phone,

Garamendi reiterated that he’sbeen advised not to talk publi-caly by his attorney but said hewas not at his post because “he’sbeen asked to stay home.”

“We haven’t told him any-thing,” said Board President

In its announcement ofthe independent inquiry intopotentional “inaccuracies infinancial statements” at theHumboldt Creamery, thecooperative’s board of direc-tors has announced a series ofsteps the creamery will take toinvestigate and deal with thecurrent crisis.

• The Board has appointeda subcommittee of the Boardto be involved daily in theoversight of the investigation.

• The Board has made acommitment to share as muchinformation as possible underthe circumstances with theMembers of the HumboldtCreamery cooperative, alongwith the Company’s employ-ees and business partners. The

Suspended. That’s theword to describe the currentstatus of an offering to buy intoHumboldt Creamery, makingthe rounds of Ferndale and therest of the county over the pastmonth.

The two individuals hiredon contract by the creamery tomake contacts with potentialinvestors did not knowMonday morning of the week-end meltdown at the creamery.

Ferndale’s Gregg Foster,former executive director of theRedwood Region EconomicDevelopment Corporation andPatrick Cleary, owner ofKHUM, chair of the county’sHeadwaters Fund and a former

investment banker, were noti-fied of the resignation of thecreamery’s CEO and the sus-pension of the preferred securi-ties offering by The Enterpriseon Monday morning. The twoquickly descended on thecreamery’s Fernbridge officebuilding to learn of the detailssurrounding the cryptic mes-sage in Rich Ghilarducci’s letterto suspend the sale becausethere “may be financial irregu-larities.”

“I’m disappointed,” saidFoster, who now works in busi-ness development at KHUM.“You put a lot of trust in peoplewho you work with for years,

BBooaarrdd CChhaaiirrmmaann:: James Renner

DDiirreeccttoorr:: Blake AlexandreDDiirreeccttoorr:: Tom GhidinelliDDiirreeccttoorr:: Dennis LeonardiDDiirreeccttoorr && VViiccee--CChhaaiirr::

Frank LeonardoDDiirreeccttoorr && BBooaarrdd SSeeccrreettaarryy::

Gary NicholsonDDiirreeccttoorr:: Jim O’Neil

DDiirreeccttoorr && BBooaarrdd AAssssiissttaannttSSeeccrreettaarryy:: David RennerDDiirreeccttoorr:: Domingo Santos

Wildcat RodeoReport fromLakeportSee page five

SPORTS

Ferndale, California A National Trust for Historic Preservation Distinctive Destination February 26, 2009

Our 131st Year, Number 9 Price $1 (tax included)Home of D’Aguanno Masonry

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—— RRuummiiaannoo CChheeeessee pprroodduucceerr JJiimm BBeecckkeerr//SSeeee ssttoorryy bbeellooww

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(see CCRREEAAMMEERRYY//page 4)

Creamery news hard to digest

Creamery hoped to raise $5 million fromcommunity; $400,000 sold in first month Books appeared

sound during recentcontract negotiations

CEO Rich Ghilarducci abruptly resigns, warning of “financial irregularities;” interim CEO saysproducers’ monthly milk checks in the mail Friday — answers “to the puzzle” possible Sunday

Shockwaves ripple through valley as allwait to hear status of Humboldt Creamery

Shocked and stunned

Creamery unionleaders notified

School district superintendentstill absent; Meyers in charge

Creamery board acts Equity buy-in offering on hold

Nine dairymenmake upH u m b o l d tCreamery board

Rainfall in Ferndale Week ending 9 am 2/22 1.01Weather year to date, 7/1 to 2/22 19.36Last year July 1 to 2/22 27.42Average since 1971, July 1 to 2/22 29.22Average for February since 1971 6.58Average per year since 1971 42.08Percent of average as of 2/8 66%

Temperature in Ferndale DegreesHigh for week ending 9 am 2/22 70Low for week ending 9 am 2/22 36

Recorded at Ferndale Museum by Rob Roberts and Jerry Lema. Historical data from George Anderson’s files.

Enterprise staff photoFormer Chief Executive Officer of theHumboldt Creamery Rich Ghilarducci atthe cooperative’s 75th anniversary in 2004.

Enterprise staff photoHumboldt CreameryInterim CEO LenMayer on Monday atthe creamery’sFernbridge office.

Enterprise staff photoLocal 137’s business managerMike Moffat at the creameryTuesday.

(See RREEAACCTTIIOONN/page 4)

(See SSUUSSPPEENNSSIIOONN/page 4)

(See LLOOCCAALL//page 4)

(See BBOOAARRDD//page 4)

(see SSCCHHOOOOLL DDIISSTTRRIICCTT//page 5)

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CCrriissiiss mmaannaaggeemmeennttWe thought it was a bad joke Monday morning. When we

called Rich Ghilarducci over at the creamery to check it out, andwere told he wasn’t in the office, we still thought we were wastingour time running down another Ferndale rumor. But then the faxmachine rang and a news release like no other spit out.

How could this be? The hometown hero, the local boy whomade good. The man who worked around the clock with an officeoverlooking the creamery’s waste pond. The man whose companyvehicle was parked outside that unpretentious office every Sundayas he worked overtime ensuring that our valley’s way of life wasintact.

We don’t know, and apparently creamery officials don’t either,what Ghilarducci meant by his cryptic statement that “there may befinancial irregularities.” What we do know is that he abruptlywalked out, fueling speculation and doomsday talk in a worldalready teetering on economic abyss. Please, let it be minor. Please,let there be no malicious intent. Say it ain’t so.

Meanwhile, we didn’t realize that the dairymen that make upthe creamery board could move so fast. Transparency was not inthe vocabulary of the creamery prior to Friday night.Understandably so. It is a private company. Now, however, every-one is talking and available. Communication is the name of thegame. We’ve never seen a crisis situation handled so well. Thosedairymen are running dairies while right smack in the middle of atornado. We applaud them and creamery officials this week fortheir handling of the situation. They do not have answers yet, andwe are counting on them being forthright and straight with all of us.

The silver lining this week? A focus on the agriculture com-munity and how important it is to everything in our lives here in thevalley. Who hasn’t stopped this week and thought about what effectthe creamery’s demise would have on them?

PPaarrkkiinngg iissssuueessDDeeaarr EEddiittoorr::

Every once in a while some-thing gets to gnawing on me andI have to vent, so I write a letterto the editor.

Being in business for 14-plusyears in Fortuna and Ferndale, itnever ceases to amaze me howmany business owners and theiremployees feel they have to drivetheir car to work and park either

in front of or across from theirbusiness or someone else’s busi-ness. It’s like they can’t walk tenfeet, and a lot of these peoplespend a lot of money to join agym to work out but will notwalk ten feet to their job.

Fortuna was bad enough,but parking in Ferndale is at apremium. This town is not sobig that a lot of us could walkfrom home, and I have heard all

kinds of excuses, but you know ifyou stop and think about it,there is no excuse.

If you feel you have to drive,there is all kinds of parking onthe back streets like BerdingStreet. Heaven forbid if youhave to walk a block.

To those of you that aredoing this, and you know whoyou are, I feel you people areinconsiderate and selfish, when

you take parking from potentialcustomers. You know I find anice brisk walk in the rain isinvigorating, we all can use a lit-tle more exercise.

I know this will probably notdo any good, but maybe it willwake up some of you to be a lit-tle more considerate. There, Ifeel better.

JJeerrrryy AAuussttiinn FFeerrnnddaallee

JJaannee LL..((JJaaccoobbsseenn))

NNeeaallJane L.

Neal passeda w a yFebruary 18,2009 at herhome in Ft.C o l l i n s ,C o l o r a d oafter fighting a heroic battleagainst small cell lung cancer.She was born June 6, 1954 toKermit and Margie Jacobsen ofFerndale, the seventh of eightchildren.

Jane married Bill Nealwhen Centerville Beach NavalFacility was still operating.They were posted at differentnaval bases around the world.She was proud of her husband’sservice to our country.Through good times and badshe was a loyal wife and therock of their marriage.

She is survived by her hus-band of 24 years Bill, son Shaneand daughter Samantha.

She is also survived by hersiblings: Joyce Fisher(Brookings), Bonnie Schleef(Orland), Skip Jacobsen(Wilton), Merinee Duke(Bridgeville), Renee Jacobsen(Petrolia) and CindyMcWhorter (Eureka).

Jane was preceded in deathby her parents, Kermit andMargie Jacobsen and brother,Tim Jacobsen.

Jane will be rememberedand greatly missed more thanwords can ever convey.

MMaaddggeell LL.. RRyyllaannddeerrwent to her Heavenly home inthe early morning hours ofFebruary 16, 2009. She diedpeacefully in her sleep of age-related causes.

Madgel was born February6, 1921 on a cold, snowy day inElgin, Nebraska. She was thesecond daughter of Alva G. andBlanche L. (Cooper) Wilson.In June 1938, she moved withher family to Ferndale. Severalmonths later, at a dance atCamp Bauer, she met the loveof her life, Roy Rylander. Sheattended Ferndale High Schooland graduated in 1939. Royand Madgel were married onJanuary 20, 1940 in CarsonCity, Nevada. They settled inArcata and their home, built byRoy and tastefully decorated byMadgel, created a loving andjoyful environment duringtheir 69 years together.

Madgel worked as a dis-patcher for the Greyhound BusCompany in the 1940s and as abookkeeper for several busi-

nesses during the 1950s. In1962, she began working as alibrary assistant at the Arcatabranch of the HumboldtCounty library. Her love ofbooks prompted her to contin-ue volunteering there well afterher retirement.

Madgel was an excellentseamstress and enjoyed cro-cheting, making many lovelyitems for her friends and fami-ly. She and Roy enjoyed travel-ing to see family and friends intheir retirement years.

She loved ice cream,genealogy, and eating popcornwhile watching Lawrence Welkon TV. She authored the book,“Alderson Family Limbs andBranches” from her genealogyresearch. She was an activemember of the Arcata FirstBaptist Church for 50-plusyears.

She is survived by her hus-band Roy Rylander; daughtersBonnie Carter and husbandJerry; Marilyn Roll and hus-band Duane; grandchildrenLori Patch, Drew Carter, TyMettler and wife Mary, TieraMagnuson and Kari (Josh)Mikesell; great-grandchildrenAndrew, Dylan, and BryceMettler; Arieanna and KennyPatch; Darren Perreault;Jayden and Jasmine Mikesell;

Emily and Sarah DeBellis; sis-ter Minerva (Dale) Fast; broth-ers Floyd (Barbara) Wilson andSkeet (Ruth) Wilson; sisters-in-law Sally Willson and ShieraWilson; many loving niecesand nephews and lots of caringand kind friends.

She was preceded in deathby her parents and step-fatherVic Willson; sisters MarieWilson and Virginia (John)Saunders; brothers Donald,Harold, and Charles Wilson;Hal Willson and belovedgranddaughter LucindaMettler.

Special thanks to VisitingAngels staff Jeanne and Sheila;special Angel care-giversBrandy, Rachael, Jennifer, Kim,Kelly, Kellie, Susan and manyothers; Dr. Lawrence Senffnerand staff, Beverly Briggs andother medical staff at MadRiver Community Hospital;nurses at Mad River HomeHealth; Hospice nurse Angelaand Chaplain Jim.

A special celebration of lifewill be held on February 28,2009 at 2:00 p.m. at Arcata FirstBaptist Church, 1700 UnionStreet.

In lieu of flowers, dona-tions may be made to ArcataFirst Baptist Church, Hospiceof Humboldt, or your choice.

Page 2 The Ferndale (California) Enterprise February 26, 2009

Letters to the Editor(Editor’s Note: The Ferndale Enterprise welcomes signed letters, (real names only, please) with telephone numbers for verification, but reserves the right to edit them.Opinions expressed in columns, cartoons and Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the editorial opinion of The Ferndale Enterprise. Thank you letters are notpermitted. Instead they are welcome in our paid Card of Thanks classified section.)

600 Main Street, Ferndale, California 95536(P. O. Box 1066)

Telephone 707/786-4611 • Fax 707/786-4311Email: editor@ferndaleenterprise.us

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Periodicals Postage paid at Ferndale, California under Act of Congress, March 3, 1879. POSTMASTER - Send address changes

to our address. Subscriptions: $40 a year in Humboldt County; $45 elsewhere in California; $50 elsewhere in the United States;

$75 (airmail) outside the U. S.

Caroline Titus . . . . . . . . Publisher/Editor/Writer/Production/Sales/Office ManagerCaroline Blattner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ProofreaderDonna Mays . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Circulation DirectorWendy Lestina, Leanne McCulloch, Jack Mays, John Isom, Ann Roberts, DeniseGrinsell, Marilyn Davin, Emily Silver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Çontributors

Published by Cages Publishing, Inc.Caroline Titus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .President

Stuart Titus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vice-PresidentMember, California Newspaper Publishers Association

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HISTORIC FILMSFilms about past and future history will be presented by the Ferndale Museum Thursday, February 26th , 7:00 PM at the Ferndale Repertory Theatre. Admission is $7.00 per person.

Tickets are available at the Ferndale Museum, Lentz Department Store, Rings Pharmacy and

in Fortuna at Green’s Pharmacy.

Page 3 The Ferndale (California) Enterprise February 26, 2009

From theBack Pew

By Wendy Lestina

From the Back Pew Presents:The Sunday Night Supper & ShowOur Savior’s Lutheran Church Social Hall, 4th & Shaw

Full-screen theatre with Dolby “surround sound,”English subtitles for hearing impaired

Supper, 4:30; Show, 5, every Sundaynight except Easter & the month of December.

Host: Wendy Lestina

MMAARRCCHH 11:: “Because I Said So” (2007) In an effort to prevent fam-ily history from repeating itself, meddlesome mom Daphne Wilder(Diane Keaton) attempts to set up her youngest daughter, Milly (MandyMoore), with Mr. Right. Meanwhile, Daphne's other daughters, Maggie(Lauren Graham) and Mae (Piper Perabo), try to keep their mother'sgood intentions under control. PG-13.

MMAARRCCHH 88:: “The Secret Life of Bees” (2008) Haunted by the deathof her mother, 14-year-old Lily (Dakota Fanning) escapes the dreary lifeshe lives on her father's farm and heads to Tiburon, S.C., with her friendand caregiver, Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), setting off on a life-chang-ing journey of self-discovery. Based on the bestselling novel by SueMonk Kidd. PG-13.

MMAARRCCHH 1155:: “City of Ember” (2008) Bill Murray, Tim Robbins andMartin Landau star in this adventure set in Ember, a city illuminatedonly by artificial light. When the city's generator begins to fail, two teensrace to solve an ancient mystery and save Ember's citizens from dark-ness. Based on author Jeanne Duprau's enchanting children's tale, “Cityof Ember” stars Harry Treadaway and Saoirse Ronan as the two heroicteens. Toby Jones and Mary Kay Place co-star. PG.

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“The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere.”President Obama said those words aloud Tuesday night as whis-pered conversations in the aisles of the Valley Grocery, ValleyLumber, the Red Front, and the Post Office tried to pool the rumorsabout Humboldt Creamery, conversations that, pointedly, stoppedshort of articulating the question that is in each of our hearts.

What’s going to happen to us? The 50 dairies that make up the membership of the cooperative

that is the creamery are not bucolic artifacts propped up in thecountryside to attract tourists. Our dairies are the rebar in the con-struction of this community. When the dairies are struggling, thetown struggles; heaven forefend the dairies should fail.

Don Andersen was visiting with Terry Strong and me in theCream City Café yesterday morning, and he reminded us of theremark (made by the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency, Robert L.Clarke, in 1988), “When the economic tide goes out, you find outwho is swimming naked.”

We don’t know who’s been skinny dipping at the Creamery; wedon’t have the facts yet, we can’t comprehend what has become“financial irregularities.” “It’s huge,” unquotables have uttered;“It’s very bad” – we’re told enough to be scared and confused.

Lawyers can write and talk in code; journalists can report thefacts. I am neither. And so, I wonder: if, say, none of the 50 dairieswere paid, and the alternate markets for the milk were already sat-urated with product, how would the bills in town be paid? Would,for example, Frontier cut off telephone service to the entire valley?In the Great Depression, “little people” — oddballs no one paid anyattention to in the good times, eccentrics who hid cash in rustedFolger’s cans in the cupboard of their cabins — sent money intotown to help out the widows and the ill. Who would help us now?

What about the cows? And where would the workers go? Mostare extended families who have lived here for decades; they’re not“new” people. Five of the men who still milk on the dairies were atthe retirement party for my father, Doc Detlefsen, in 1983. Thesefamilies aren’t migrants; they’re people who have invested in thiscommunity with their work, their enthusiasm, and the lives of theirchildren.

This is the point where my friends and family tell me to calmdown. I’m warned that I’m way ahead of the situation, imaginingcircumstances that are highly unlikely. “You exaggerate everything;you’re always so over-dramatic.”

Reminds me of a day in October 1983, in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania. I was on a panel with Jane Pauley and Ken Blanchard(“The One-Minute Manager”). I was the last person to speak, andwhile Blanchard was talking, I studied the audience, and noticedthat their reactions to his remarks were peculiar. I discreetlymotioned for one of the conference organizers, and handed her anapkin on which I’d written: “What’s with the audience?” Shegrabbed a pen and wrote back: “Have no jobs.” There were 500 peo-ple attending what had been billed as a “management conference,”and they had all recently become unemployed. In the five minutes Ihad before being introduced, I rewrote my speech.

In my speech, I turned to the moderator of the program andsaid, “How do you plan to rebuild this economy?”

“We’re not going to be an industrial, factory-based economyanymore,” she said, with an ominous pride. “We’re going to be aservice economy.” Ken Blanchard nodded. People in the audience,following his lead, smiled and nodded.

“Really?” I asked. “And what are you going to service?”I was escorted from the podium, and later, it was carefully

explained to me how I didn’t understand macroeconomics and theevolution of the information-based, technological labor pool. “Theywill be retrained,” I was told.

Yes, now that I reflect, the entire video game industry was sub-sequently created by laid-off drill press operators.

Whatever revelations will become public in the next few weeksand months, Humboldt Creamery is a group of professional dairy-men and –women who have the skills, intelligence, faith and dedi-cation to repair the damage and rebuild the business.

That is their job.Our job is to understand that our future relies on their recovery

and success and that our help is needed now, as critically as it wasduring the floods, to aid that recovery.

When the facts are out and the damage is assessed, a town meet-ing may be in order, to ask how we can help, what we can do to sus-tain and nourish the Eel River Valley through what may be a longand arduous recession.

In the meantime, if you’re swimming without clothes, get out ofthe water and grab a towel. There’s no civic inspiration in the sightof a naked old man.

FFeebbrruuaarryy 1177:: Report of a vehi-cle vs. tree collision at Herbert andMain.

FFeebb.. 1188:: Headlight violation atCenterville and the Wildcat.

— Stop sign violation at Fifthand Arlington.

— Speed violation at Hwy 211and Substation and at Hwy 211 andPort Kenyon.

— Lane violation at Van Nessand Main.

— Lane violation at Van Nessand Main.

— Slow speed and lane viola-tion at Hwy 211 and Waddington.

— Speed violation at Hwy 211and Substation; negative DUI.

— Vehicle stopped for speedviolation at Port Kenyon andDillon; unlicensed driver cited andreleased, vehicle towed.

FFeebb.. 1199:: Vehicle stopped atBluff and Rose for lighting viola-tion. Driver was found under theinfluence of alcohol and found withillegal drugs in possession andarrested at scene. Passenger wasintoxicated and was in possessionof illegal drugs and was arrested onscene.

— Illegal u-turn in the 300

This weekThis weekdown atdown atthe FPDthe FPD

block of Main.— Monitored traffic on Grizzly

Bluff Rd.— Set up radar on Grizzly Bluff

Road.— Follow-up in the 800 block

of Waddington.— Speed violation at

Substation and Waddington; unli-censed driver cited and released.

— Speed violation on MainStreet.

— Lighting violation at Hwy211 and Substation.

FFeebb.. 2200:: Speed violation onHwy 211 and Substation.

— Vehicle stopped for speed-ing in the 800 block of Main; drivercited.

— Vehicle stopped for speed-ing in the 800 block of Main; drivercited.

— Vehicle stopped for speed-ing in the 1000 block ofWaddington; driver warned.

— Vehicle stopped for lightingviolation on Van Ness; driverwarned.

FFeebb.. 2211:: Driving on a suspend-ed or revoked license at Main andArlington.

— Speeding violation in the1000 block of Main.

— Speeding violation at Hwy211 and Port Kenyon; 65 mph in 55mph zone.

— Stop sign violation at Fifthand Arlington.

— Lighting violation at VanNess and Main.

— Report of suspicious vehicleat Ferndale Elementary; patrolcheck and interviewed two juve-niles who were waiting for parent.

— Intoxicated male urinatingin the lawn at the fairgrounds.

FFeebb.. 2222:: Lighting violation andno driver’s license on Herbert.

This ad proudly donated by The Ferndale Enterprise

HHoobbaarrtt RRaayy BBrroowwnnFebruary 27, 1933 - November 7, 2007

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Page 4 The Ferndale (California) Enterprise February 26, 2009

CREAMERY(Continued from page 1)

LOCAL(Continued from page 1)

REACTION(Continued from page 1)

SUSPENSION(Continued from page 1)

BOARD(Continued from page 1)

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Enterprise staff photoAttempts to reach Rich Ghilarducci at his homes in Scottsdale,Arizona, and Rio Dell were not successful. Ghilarducci's Rio Dellhome, shown above, in the city's upscale Grayland Heights Roadneighborhood, appeared to be unoccupied late Tuesday afternoon.The number for his out-of-state home had been disconnected orchanged, according to a message from the phone company.

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of yet.”According to the creamery’s

news release, an independentinquiry was triggered when lateon Friday the creamery’s outsidecounsel received a call from theGhilarducci’s personal lawyer.

Elliot Peters of the SanFrancisco-based law firm Keker& Van Nest, stated thatGhilarducci had resigned, effec-tive immediately, and a four lineletter warned them of possibleinaccuracies in the company’sfinancial statements and thatthey should stop offering the sec-ond round of preferred securities— an effort begun about amonth ago. Mayer saidGhilarducci had left behind hiscompany vehicle and that hisoffice appeared to be intact.

Attempts to reach Peters,who specializes in white collarcriminal and civil cases andwhose firm represented formerEnron Chief Financial OfficerAndrew Fastow, by TheEnterprise were not successful.Attempts to reach Ghilarducci orhis attorney by the creameryappeared Monday morning alsoto not be successful.

“He’s not returning my callsor anyone’s calls,” said Mayer.

Calls to Ghilarducci’s RioDell home by The Enterprisewere unanswered. Attempts toreach the former CEO at hisScottsdale, Arizona home, whichhe purchased a year ago in theTroon Village gated golf course

community for $384,000,according to assessor records,were also unsuccessful

“The board of directors wasshocked at the news contained inthe telephone call from our for-mer CEO’s personal lawyer,”stated Jim Renner, chair of thecreamery’s board in the newsrelease. “We are determined toget to the bottom of this matteras quickly as possible and to actin the best interests of our coop-erative members, employees andbusiness partners.”

“He was going along nor-mally,” said Mayer, referring tothe well respected Ghilarducci, aformer mayor and city council-man in Rio Dell, who, in the lastfive years, guided the creamerythrough major expansion withthe purchase of two plants —one in Stockton and the other inLos Angeles. He has been presi-dent and CEO of the companysince 1997. From 1985 to 1997he served as chief financial offi-cer. He is a past president of theCalifornia Creamery OperatorsAssociation and has served onthe boards of the U.S. DairyExport Council, the NationalMilk Producers Federation, theCalifornia Dairy ResearchProgram at the University ofCalifornia, Davis and theAlliance of Western MilkProducers. “He was preparingfor our upcoming board meetingand then left town on business.The next thing we heard was thephone call to our lawyer.”

Ghilarducci announced on

January 13 that 2008 sales would“exceed $130 million, which rep-resents an increase of 18 percentfrom 2007 and a record salesyear.

Meanwhile, on Mondaymorning employees were told ofthe news as they reported fortheir shifts. By 9 am Mondaymorning, creamery board mem-bers had met with or called all 50co-op members, informing themof the situation and leaving themwith many questions and fewanswers.

An outside “forensic”accounting firm was on site thisweek attempting to pinpointthose “financial irregularities.”Dan Ray of San Francisco’sHemming Morse, Inc., is a certi-fied fraud examiner and workedfor the FBI for more than eightyears as a special agent.

Also hired by the creamery isWalter F. Brown Jr., a partner atOrrick Herrington & Sutcliffe inSan Francisco. He is an attorneywho, according to his company’swebsite, “is routinely engaged bypublic and private companies toconduct internal investigations.”

Late Tuesday, when contact-ed again by The Enterprise,Mayer said “Rich’s departureand the mystery of his departureare a challenge, but we are deter-mined to come through on theother side as healthy as possible.

“People want absolute posi-tive reassurance that everythingis going to be the way it was,” hesaid. “I don’t want to misleadanyone and say, it’s going to be

exactly the way it was. We don’tknow what it’s going to be.We’re going to go through thisthing in a measured way andcome out with the best possibleresults we can.”

With word spreading in thecommunity that there may beproblems with reported invento-ry on the company’s balancesheet, Mayer said he had noknowledge of any misrepresenta-tion of inventory but did say thatcompany officials had been talk-ing this week with Dairy Farmersof America. The creameryprocesses milk from the largenationwide cooperative andturns it into powdered milk.

“Since the departure of Rich,DFA — a partner of ours — hasbeen very supportive,” saidMayer. “We’ve talked on thephone many times and they wentthrough significant turmoil nottoo long ago. We have invitedthem to participate in checkinginventories — anything theywant to do, we are supportive ofthat. They are going to sendinventory folks to our location inthe not too distant future and wewelcome them to do that.”

As to the scope of any“financial irregularities” or time-frame, Mayer reiterated onTuesday “it’s too early to tell.

“At this point we are certain-ly not planning to declare bank-ruptcy,” he said. “Whateverform the creamery exists in thenext month or year . . . the boardwill consider what is the bestpossible way.”

Mayer said he feels “every-one is pulling for us,” noting thatthe company has been in com-munication with its two lenders— CoBank and AmericanAgCredit.

The cooperative’s annualmeeting remains on the calendarfor March 31 and Mayer and theboard of directors hope to haveanswers before then.

“We’ll get some answers, I’mconfident, in the not too distantfuture,” he said.

And while the private coop-erative under its past leadershipheld its cards close to its chest,Mayer said transparency is thename of the game now.

“Our commitment, theboard’s commitment, is to beopen as legally and ethically aswe can be,” he said. “The boardhas made it clear that a big partof this whole thing is to makesure we are as transparent with

the community as we can possi-ble be.”

As for the “scrip” or equityinvestment many current andretired dairy farmers have in thecooperative and are now won-dering what it is worth, Mayersaid everything depends on “howthe business moves forward.

“We do plan on having thisthing come out on the otherside,” he said.

Meanwhile, a local Ferndaleattorney, who wished to remainunnamed to protect the confi-dentiality of his clients, said hehad received numerous callsfrom those equity stakeholdersasking about legal remedies.

“I’m advising them that atthis point it’s too soon to consid-er any legal type of action,” hesaid. “Sit back, don’t panic andwait for more information, butbe concerned and proactive inobtaining that information.”

Hawley said he was just as sur-prised as everyone else at thesudden resignation of HumboldtCreamery CEO RichGhilarducci.

“I just heard about it about20 minutes ago,” he said candid-ly from his office. “We’re com-pletely surprised and concernedabout our members, and con-cerned about their jobs andhealth and welfare.”

Hawley said that duringcontract negotiations with thecreamery, most recently for theexisting four-year labor agree-ment that took effect in 2007, itappeared that the financial

health of the company wassound. He added that a compa-ny’s financial soundness is typi-cally at the top of the agendaduring contract negotiations,and that federal law providesunions with the right to exam-ine a company’s books if theemployer claims the companycannot pay what a union wantsbecause it can’t afford to pay it.

That’s exactly what hap-pened in 2006, when Local 137’sauditor met with the creamery’sauditor in San Francisco duringnegotiations for the current2007 contract, which was ulti-mately ratified by the member-ship without either a work stop-page or a strike.

“Our position is that if thecompany is profitable itsemployees should share in that,”Hawley said. “Though it doesn’tshow on their balance sheets, we[try] to get an idea of the valua-tion of the company with itsexpansion and increased valua-tion.”

Hawley said that at that timethere appeared to be no obviousfinancial problems with the com-pany.

“They’ve always been heavilyleveraged but it seemed like itwas working out,” he said. “Lastsummer they were running atfull bore.” Hawley also notedthat the creamery business iscapital intensive. “It costs money

to buy equipment,” he said. Hawley said that Local 137

will set up meetings with itsmembers as soon as more infor-mation is available, and thatLocal 137 will soon be talkingwith the union’s Sacramento-based legal counsel.

In a worst-case scenario, heemphasized that “Our membersare creditors,” a key considera-tion should the creamery ulti-mately be sold, liquidated, orseek reorganization protectionunder Chapter 11.

“If they are heading tobankruptcy we have a lot to talkabout,” he said.

Meanwhile, Local 137’sbusiness manager Mike Moffatspent Tuesday morning inFernbridge, talking with bothHumboldt Creamery’s HumanResource Manager Renae Will,who had called to give him aheads-up about the pressrelease announcingGhilarducci’s resignation, andwith Local 137 union employ-ees working on the creamery’sproduction floor.

“They [the employees] arevery concerned but also verypositive,” he said after his visitto the Fernbridge facility. “Mytake is that there’s a positiveatmosphere with employees on

the floor and with the companyand they’re going to workthrough it.”

Moffat said Will promisedthat “as soon as we know any-

thing, you and the employeeswill know.” At the time this arti-cle was completed, no employeemeetings had been scheduled.

company’s 90 years in business.“We buy and sell milk from

each other,” said Baird whoinsisted that he doesn't want tocontribute to negativism whenso little is known about the sit-uation.

"They're a good group ofdairymen who are passionateabout the creamery,” he said.“They've survived bad timesbefore - floods and other things- I just hope they'll be fine."

Rumiano producer andFerndale dairyman Jim Beckernoted the solidarity of the val-ley.

“The milkshed is the milk-shed,” he said. “We’re all inthis together. Everyone in thiswhole county has a stake inthis thing. I am a dairymanand this is dairy related. Yeah,we’re all affected.”

Even Cream City Cafeowner Larry Horn was talkingabout the creamery Tuesdayafternoon, pointing to thearray of Humboldt Creameryice cream in his cold case.

“I just hope we can contin-ue with this,” he said, asking,like many others, if there was“anything new” on the situa-tion.

and what’s crazy for me is I did-n’t know.”

Foster called the creamery a“bright spot” in the county butwas busy emailing associates onMonday, notifying them of thesuspension. He said about adozen meetings with prospec-tive investors had been held overthe past 30 days.

The creamery’s InterimCEO Len Mayer said Mondaythat the cooperative hoped toraise $5 million to help “feed thegrowth of the company.” So far,he said, $400,000 had been com-mitted. As to what happens tothat money, Mayer saidTuesday, returning the fundswas at the “top” of a priority listfor the company.

“We had several projectsthat made sense,” he said, “andrecord sales. All kinds of goodthings. We don’t know where

we stand now.”Cleary said he was, like most

others, “stunned” by the news. “But, I’m hopeful they are

going to be okay,” he said,adding that “they’ve done somany great things.”

Cleary did confirm that thecreamery had made a request tothe Headwaters Fund last weekfor a $2.5 million investment inthe preferred securities. Clearysaid on Wednesday morning hehad recused himself as boardpresident from the meeting andfrom any conversations dealingwith the creamery’s request,since he had entered into a con-tract with the company.

The Series B PreferredEquity Securities were pitched todozens over the past month andrepresented a non-voting equityin the company. The minimumbuy in was $10,000 and divi-dends would accumulate at arate of 7-7/8 percent yearly.

Board will also work as closely aspossible with the local leaders toshare information about theimpact of this situation on thelocal community. In short, theBoard has pledged to be asforthright as possible underthese difficult circumstances.

• The Board has initiated aseries of meetings with theCompany’s key creditors toexplore all possible approachesto safeguarding the continuingoperations of HumboldtCreamery.

• The Board and keyCompany officials are reachingout immediately to the compa-ny’s business partners and tolocal community leaders. TheBoard will also be conveningmeetings of the HumboldtCreamery’s Members and

employees.• The Board has suspended

the offering of HumboldtCreamery’s Series B Preferredstock.

• The Board has pledged tocooperate fully with any and allinquiries into this matter, andhas instructed all HumboldtCreamery employees to do thesame.

“We are a family-ownedbusiness with excellent prod-ucts, talented employees, greatcustomer service, and an 80-yearhistory of excellence,” conclud-ed Board Chairman Jim Renner.“We intend to continue our nor-mal business operations whileworking as hard as we possiblycan to maintain the confidenceand support of our customers,suppliers, employees andlenders.”

SCHOOL DISTRICT(Continued from page 1)

Page 5 The Ferndale (California) Enterprise February 26, 2009

CONGRATULATIONS,CONGRATULATIONS,WILDCATSWILDCATS &&

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Come hear SpankyMcFarlane, Karen

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Ethan Craig benefit:February 28Belotti Hall

Wildcat RodeOBy Ferndale High School’s

Jessica Jackson

We held our last rodeo inLakeport on February 14 and 15.It was wet, cold, and rainy.Thankfully we had a coveredarena.

On Saturday the Wranglers,6th-8th graders, joined us. OnValentine’s day, everyone whohad some spirit dressed them-selves or their horses in pink.Even though it was rainy, every-one keep up their “tough-enough-to-wear-pink” spirit.

To start off, MorganMcWhorter achieved tenth inthe average in barrels with two16 second runs. She is workingher way up the leader boardwith continually getting points.Danielle Jackson and her horseCole did well with both runsbeing 17 seconds.

All of us girls caught at leastone of our calves and we allreceived points. Danielle and Icaught our first calves in 6- and7-second runs. On SundayMorgan caught her calf in a 6second run. Unfortunately noneof us caught both.

Morgan did well on bothher goats. On Saturday she hadan 11.68 second run and onSunday she ran in 12.35 sec-onds. Morgan is our soul playerfor the goats.

Team Roping was a toughevent for the wildcats. The Fitzebrothers had long runs, howeverstill caught both steers toreceived average points. Thiswas rodeo where no onebrought the best of their game.

In the Tie Down roping,Corey Fitze earned points onSunday, and ended up placing inthe average.

In the Poles, Morgan had anice 22 second run on Saturdayand ended up fourth in the go.Lexi and I are still trying to fig-ure out how to leave all the polesstanding. One of these days itwill come.

Our next rodeo will be ourinter-district rodeo held in RedBluff. Every year we have arodeo that coincides with dis-trict one, hence the name “inter-district.” We will be preparedfor the more rain and coldweather. Our season is comingto an end rather soon. Our lasttwo rodeos will be held inFerndale in April and May.

Thanks again to all oursponsors, including RiceConstruction, C. RennerPetroleum, Fortuna AceHardware, Like Nobody Else,Chuck Gould and Pure SkinCare.

This week is National FFAweek and our Ferndale FFAchaper is very busy holdingmany activities.

On Wednesday, we held a"FFA Fun Relay," whichwas good fun and a great sucess.A free hot dog lunch is plannedfor Thursday for all FFA mem-bers and Ferndale High Schoolstaff members. Finally, Fridaywe are putting on a treasurehunt for the school.

Also, in light of FFA week,our chapter is participating inthe "Million Can Challenge."Please donate by visiting ourcans located at the high school.Next week, we will be visitinghomes around Ferndale to col-lect cans. Tuesday we will behanging out reminder slips, andThursday we will be collecting.We appreciate all of your sup-

port!This past weekend, three

Ferndale FFA members traveledto Ukiah for the North CoastRegional Officer Screening.Brytann Busick, KerilynAmbrosini, and Abigail Tituswere put through three roundsof vigorous interviews andmany hours of waiting beforelearning that they had beenselected and slated for RegionalOffice. Seventeen FFA memberfrom the Humboldt- Del Norteand Sonoma sections ran thisyear, and 12 were chosen tomove on.

Ambrosini was slated as theHumboldt- Del Norte SectionVice President, Busick for Vice-President-at-Large A, and Titusfor Vice-President-at-Large B.Community members are wel-come to watch as these candi-

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Senior moment

Jerry Hansen on Tuesday.“When there’s no superinten-dent in the office, Paul is thesecond in command.”

Garamendi’s contract wasnot renewed in January by a 3-2vote of the board. He hasthreatened litigation for allegedcontract violations. The threetrustees are the subject of arecall effort.

Meanwhile, the HumboldtCounty Superintendent ofSchools Garry Eagles said thisweek that while he has beenapproached by a communitymember to possible mediated asolution to the ongoing dispute,the request would have to comeformally from the board beforehe could participate.

“In the past, I have beeninvolved in similar situations,”said Eagles. “I don’t just makethat offer, however. Districtsneed to ask.”

Eagles said at this point hedoesn’t know what a “mediatedsettlement” would look like.

“Everyone involved in thatwould have to believe thatthere’s some middle ground,”he said. “If the issues are this orthat, I don’t know if there’s anymediation. Outside facilitationis helpful in that it gets people tocommunicate and explore alter-natives. But there has to be awillingness and belief that thereis something that can beresolved.”

Meanwhile, a budget policycommittee meeting was sched-uled for Wednesday afternoon,past this edition’s deadline.

“We’re going to have toissue pink slips for sure,” saidHansen. “There’s a pretty gooddeficit.”

The deadline for issuingpink slips is March 15. Hansenindicated the board may have aspecial meeting next week con-cerning budget issues, beforethe regular monthly meeting onMarch 11.

Ferndale FFABy Ferndale FFA Chapter Reporter

Abigail Titus

dates and others give theirspeeches at the Regional SpringMeeting.

This year, that meetingwill be held in Ferndale for thefirst time. ParliamentaryProcdure as well as speaking

contests will be taking placeduring this weekend. Comeshow your support March 27and 28 at the Humboldt CountyFairgrounds.

Photo courtesy DeniseGrinsell

The Lady Wildcatsplayed their lastgame recently andwere honored, alongwith their parents.

From the left,Rafika Ramil, hostmom Mary AnnBansen; BrianneMiller, parents Tomand Gina Miller; JodiGrinsell, parentsDenise and Tim;Danielle Jackson,mom Renee Jackson;Alayna Renner, par-ents Dave and MaryAnne.

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Page 6 The Ferndale (California) Enterprise February 26, 2009

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humboldttitle.com1075 S. Fortuna Blvd., Suite B • 726-0212 Fax 726-0216

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N.S.G.W. FerndaleParlor No. 93Meets at the Turf Room,

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Public NoticesNotice is hereby given that theFerndale City Council will hold apublic hearing at Ferndale CityHall, 834 Main Street, Ferndale, onThursday, March 5, 2009 at 7:00p.m. for the City of FerndaleWastewater Treatment Facilityimprovement project. The projectsite is zoned Public Facility (APN’s100-162-020 & 100-161-008). TheInitial Study/Draft MitigatedNegative Declaration is availablefor public review at http://ci.fern-dale.ca.us/archive.shtml and at theCity of Ferndale, 834 Main Street,and the Ferndale Library, 807 MainStreet, Ferndale, CA. At the hear-ing, the City Council will hear andreceive any relevant oral and writ-ten testimony; no action will betaken. Written comments regard-ing the environmental findings andMitigated Negative Declarationmay be submitted to the Citythrough March 12, 2009.

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To all heirs, beneficiaries,creditors, contingent creditors, andpersons who may otherwise beinterested in the will or estate, orboth, of Nedra C. Kausen, alsoknown as Nedra Clarice Kausenand Nedra Kausen.

A PETITION FOR PROBATEhas been filed by Wesley R. Kausenin the Superior Court of California,County of Humboldt.

THE PETITION FOR PRO-BATE requests that Wesley R.Kausen be appointed as personalrepresentative to administer theestate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests thedecedent’s will and codicils, if any,be admitted to probate. The willand any codicils are available forexamination in the file kept by thecourt.

THE PETITION requestsauthority to administer the estateunder the IndependentAdministration of Estates Act.(This authority will allow the per-sonal representative to take manyactions without obtaining courtapproval. Before taking certainvery important actions, however,the personal representative will berequired to give notice to interestedpersons unless they have waivednotice or consented to the pro-posed action.) The independentadministration authority will begranted unless an interested personfiles an objection to the petitionand shows good cause why thecourt should not grant the authori-ty.

A HEARING on the petitionwill be held on March 6, 2009 at8:45 am, Department 4 located at825 Fifth Street, Eureka, CA 95501.

IF YOU OBJECT to the grant-ing of the petition, you shouldappear at the hearing and stateyour objections or file writtenobjections with the court before thehearing. Your appearance may bein person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR ora contingent creditor of thedeceased, you must file your claimwith the court and mail a copy tothe personal representativeappointed by the court within fourmonths from the date of firstissuance of letters as provided inProbate Code section 9100. Thetime for filing claims will notexpire before four months from thehearing date noticed above.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the filekept by the court. If you are a per-son interested in the estate, youmay file with the court a Requestfor Special Notice (form DE-154)of the filing of an inventory andappraisal of estate assets or of anypetition of account as provided inProbate Code section 1250. ARReeqquueesstt ffoorr SSppeecciiaall NNoottiiccee form isavailable from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner:James K. Morrison

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Superior Court of CaliforniaCounty of HumboldtCase Number PR090039Filed February 3, 20093tcg: 2-12/2-19/2-26-09

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MMeell iinnddaa KKoo rrnndd eerrAgent DRE #01035959

• Cell 599-4135• mykmeli@yahoo.com

JERRY’S LAMP REPAIR•Lamps • Lampshades • Lamp Repair

“Let’s Make a Deal Behind Door #2!”606 Main St., Unit 2, Ferndale • North East Corner of Main & Shaw

499-7502 • 786-9688

HUMMEL TIRE & WHEEL INCTIRES • AUTO • TRUCK • TRACTORS • ALIGNMENTS260 South Fortuna Boulevard • Fortuna, CA 95540

INDEPENDENT DEALERHAL & BILL HUMMEL PHONE 725-4120

Services Available In Our Area

Appliance Repair • Large Parts SupplyAll makes and models: Sears, Wards, Whirlpool, G. E., Hotpoint, Frigidaire,EEL VALLEY TV & APPLIANCEService Department • 1027 Main Street • Fortuna • 725-9547

Fortuna Feed and Garden CenterQuality Hay & Feed for all your needs

126 Dinsmore Dr • Fortuna • 725-3333

Cream City Mini-Storage 786-4110

TOO MUCH STUFF?STORE IT HERE!

Milton and Main inFerndale

Sparky’s Pet SittingReliable and conscientious care for your pets

• Bonded, licensed with excellent local references • Call or email for a free brochure Bethel Laborde•786-9291

sparkyspetsitting@suddenlink.net

MM KKCC

MCKAY’S MCKAY’S COLLISION REPAIRCOLLISION REPAIRChief Ez-liner S-21

I-car Certified•All Foreign & Domestic Vehicles • Collision Repair Specialist

• State-of-the Art Frame & Unibody Repairs181 S. Fortuna Blvd. Fortuna (Behind Fortuna Chev, Service Dept.)Patrick J. McKay Jr. Owner • 725-6483 • macbodrep@sbcglobal.net

Dataliner LaserUnibody MeasuringCCRROOSSBBIIEE CCHHIIRROOPPRRAACCTTIICC

Better Health Through Chiropractic NNaattuurraallllyy!!• Gentle Adjustments• Headaches/TMJ• Low Back Pain/Sciatica• Carpel Tunnel/Joint Pain

Dr. Michael H. Crosbie220 Wildwood Ave. Rio Dell

764-3109

Old Town Antique Lighting Gallery

!

139-B Second St., Eureka (707) 267-5439 T-F 10-5, Sat 1-5

Huffman & Carpenter, Inc.Wetland Regulatory & Hydrologic Consultants

Water * Wastewater * Stormwater Treatment *

Watershed Assessments * GIS/RSIf water touches “dirt” we can evaluate, design and implement cost

effective solutions for wetlands, wildlife, water quality or stormwater.

Call us today: 786-9384 www.nvwetlands.com

Now available locally at Ferndale Clothing Company!

Give a completely personalized gift basket. Fine wine, hobby items, sweets, or anything else that’ll make your friend or client smile! Fast, easy, & affordable gifts shipped anywhere. Rush orders okay!

Be original. Give original. Call Carole at444.2509

Send a unique basket that speaks volumes!

NOW AVAILABLE IN FERNDALE•Remodels •Home Repairs •Custom

Designs •Finish carpentryCall for a prompt, free estimate

(707) 695-3840“Specializing in the details that make a house a home.”