Eureka Mayor Susan Seaman Gives Weekly Address

This is a press release from the City of Eureka:

Hello. I’m Mayor Susan Seaman.  As I’ve shared with you in my previous communications, the City of Eureka is continuing to work tirelessly to support the health and well-being of our citizens, our community, and our economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This past week marked a special anniversary for the City of Eureka: One year since Tuluwat was officially returned to the Wiyot Tribe. The ceremony was a heartfelt moment for all of us – and it was an important acknowledgement to the Wiyot people that we recognize mistakes in our past and we are committed to strengthening our relationship as we move forward. This week, the City Council voted unanimously to include a land acknowledgment as part of our regular agenda, after engaging our local tribes to create a statement that is relevant and meaningful to everyone. We anticipate that acknowledgement to begin at the beginning of next year.

Another, quieter, program celebrated an anniversary this week. One year ago, First Five and local Family Resource Centers partnered with Supplybank to distribute diapers to families to address the important health concerns that come with a lack of access to clean diapers. When COVID-19 hit, that commitment to keep children healthy expanded, and First Five Humboldt and Changing Tides Family Services collaborated again with Supplybank to distribute a variety of additional materials needed to create safe spaces for those who care for children, including hand sanitizers, cleaning supplies, thermometers, and more. The program saw 11,000 infrared thermometers distributed throughout the state of California, and the City of Eureka’s own Little Sapling Preschool received the first one.

But physical safety is not our only concern during this pandemic. We need to continue to address mental health as often and as comprehensively as possible. While everyone is adjusting to these difficult circumstances, an additional burden seems to be falling on families. This week, I heard about two resources I would like to share with you.

Our local Sixth District PTA received a COVID-19 Grant from National PTA this fall to use in the areas of Mental Health and Distance Learning. As part of this grant, they are providing two Virtual Speaker Series, with free weekly talks to help parents cope and thrive in these unsettling times. The first series, Parenting in a Pandemic, will begin in November. If you’re struggling with the additional stresses of being a parent, you can find more information about the workshops at the district website. (https://capta6.org/parenting-in-a-pandemic).

If you have teens at home, Work2BeWell is offering a Teen Virtual Mental Health Summit sponsored by Providence Health. This free event will be held on October 28 from 3 to 5 p.m. and will showcase student voices, offer breakout sessions to discuss mental health, and highlight resources that have been clinically vetted. Register at Work2BeWell.org/summit.

Finally, another group that is facing additional stress during this pandemic are the residents of skilled nursing and residential care facilities. Many are living under a great deal of anxiety to begin with, but because of COVID regulations, went for months without visitors and are still significantly impacted by a lack of normal interaction with family and friends. The Area 1 on Aging Long Term Ombudsman continues to advocate for those who live in skilled nursing facilities – and this year they’re doing something a little extra with the “Be a Santa for Christmas” program. They’re collecting donations to buy gifts for all the residents to remind them that they’re still seen and appreciated. If you would like to donate, please call 707-269-1330.

Again, I’m Mayor Susan Seaman, and I appreciate everybody’s commitment to keeping us healthy. We’re still hanging in there at the yellow stage. Please continue to practice good habits, stay healthy, be patient with yourself and kind to your neighbors and family. We’ll talk again soon.