Families
This page introduces the families who have invested their own sweat equity and fulfilled their dreams of home ownership. Since 1991, Habitat for Humanity of the Mendocino Coast has helped seventeen families have moved into their own homes. Five more families are scheduled to build and purchase their homes on McPherson Street in the coming years. The famlies are pictured with their homes below. The family photos and stories date from the families selection, and the house pictures were taken shortly after the familes moved in. Also featured are local businesses owned by our families.
The Alcala-Martinez Family Return to top
Dick Williams Way 2000-2009
The Alcala-Martinez family has deep roots in Fort Bragg. Stay-at-home Mom, Angelina, was born at the Mendocino Coast District Hospital and has lived here her whole life. Ignacio came to Fort Bragg 16 years ago and works two fulltime cooking jobs at Mendocino Hotel and Chapter & Moon. Ignacio Jr. is an active 11-year-old sixth grader at Fort Bragg Middle School who loves math and playing soccer. Brianna Marie, in the first grade at Redwood Elementary, loves school, reading and riding her bike. Currently, she is waiting anxiously as “All she wants for Christmas is her two front teeth” to go with her sensational, dimpled smile. Curly-headed Eddie is two and full of energy.
The Bermudez Family Return to top
McPherson Street 2010-2016
The Bermudez family, including Luis & Lilia and their 3 children has lived in FB about 5 years. Luis works for H&H Logging and Lilia is busy with 2 year old Jasmine. Liliana will be in the 8th grade at Fort Bragg Middle School where she enjoys math and playing soccer. Louis is going into 5th grade at Dana Gray. He likes art, basketball, soccer and wants to be a policeman.
The Cano-Ku Family Return to top
Dick Williams Way 2000-2009
Raul came here in 1986 and worked processing urchins. Now he is a full-time fisherman. His wife, Ligia, came to Fort Bragg in 1996 and will soon give birth to their 2nd child. Raul worked to help Habitat hauling materials and build cleanups for years before applying for a home. He is the first to have completed his 500 hours of sweat equity before applying for a home.
The Canul Family Return to top
Oak Street 1992
The Canul Family came here in 1982. Silver, 17 at the time, loved to cook for his family. He started busing in local restaurants and, after picking up some skills as a cook, went for more training and went on to become Chef for Little River Inn Restaurant. Silver is now the owner and head chef of Silver's at the Wharf. You can sample some of his food there or at the Kite Fair in June. His wife, Laura, is a housekeeper at a local inn.
The Cazares Family Return to top
McPherson Street 2010-2016
Ambrocio & Margarita Cazares and their 4 girls + 2 yr. old Ambrocio, Jr have lived in Fort Bragg for 5 years, although Dad has been working here in logging with Roach Bros for 11 years. Marisol, will be a 9th grader at FBHS, enjoys volleyball and wants to be a teacher. Margarita really likes science and math and will be a freshman at Fort Bragg High School. Maria enjoys sports, spelling and math in 6th grade at FBMS and hopes to become a dentist. Andrea is in 2nd grade at Redwood Elementary and wants to be a teacher. Junior is spoiled by his big sisters!
The Chilton Family Return to top
Maple Street 1994-1998
The Chilton Family is a Habitat romance. Rick came here with his family in 1966 and Carol with hers in 1972. They were high school sweethearts. Years later after Carol's divorce, they met again, fell in love and married in their new home. Carol works for a local dentist and has started her own business, Happy Machines, to repair sewing machines. Rick, after several other cooking jobs, has settled in as Cook for the Hospital. Rick served as President and VP of the Family Association and Carol was its Secretary.
The Delgado Family Return to top
Dick Williams Way 2000-2009
Mauricio and Yanelli have lived in Fort Bragg for the past seven years; he lived and worked here for several years prior. Yanelli works at the Little River Inn as a housekeeper. Mauricio works at The Iris Gallery north of Fort Bragg. He has also had extensive training & experience in masonry, security and the lumber business. They have three children: Mauricio, Jr., 8, a 3rd grader at Dana Gray, likes school and is looking forward to dancing in a school program soon. Sister, Luz, 7, goes to 2nd grade at Redwood Elementary school. She likes to read (and she likes her daddy!) John is 4 and goes to pre-school at Redwood. He has fun at school and likes to play video games with his big brother.
The Escobedo Family Return to top
Dick Williams Way 2000-2009
Wilbert and Maria Escobedo came here in 1986 and worked in agriculture. Maria is now houskeeping for a motel and Wilbert buses, cleans and cooks at The Wharf and other venues. His Chicken Fajitas is a Habitat favorite at events. He served as President in 2002.
The Fraser Family Return to top
Dick Williams Way 2000-2009
Kevin Fraser's dad came to Fort Bragg when he was 5 and Janelle moved here in 1989. Kevin works for Walker Towing and Janelle calls herself a home engineer. Janelle folded and mailed the newsletter for 2 years singlehandedly.
The Gaeta Family Return to top
Dick Williams Way 2000-2009
Juan Gaeta came to Fort Bragg in 1986 and works as a tree faller. Irene came here in 1992 and is working as a housekeeper. Juan, nicknamed "Rambo", worked hundreds of hours on several Habitat houses before applying for his home.
The Hurtado Family Return to top
Dick Williams Way 2000-2009
Salvadore and Teresa have both lived in the Fort Bragg area for over 23 years. Salvadore is a cook at the Mendocino Hotel where he has been for 20 years plus. Teresa keeps a fully-booked schedule providing housekeeping services to very satisfied homeowners on the Coast. Their son Omar graduated from FBHS last spring and is now enrolled at College of the Redwoods where he plans to study before moving on to a four-year university. He works fulltime as a bellman and waitperson at the Mendocino Hotel. He also serves as role model for his 7 year old brother Brian, who is in the 2nd grade at Redwood Elementary School where he likes to do math problems. They all live together with Monica, Omar’s turtle who is older than Brian.
The Johnson Family Return to top
McPherson Street 2010-2016
Dan & Kristie Johnson and their three daughters moved away from one set of grandparents in Sacramento 2+ years ago to be closer to another set in Fort Bragg. Dan works for Harvest Market@Mendosas in Mendocino; Kristie works for TW’s Grill & Bar. Amanda is 14 and starts Fort Bragg High School this fall. Her unique hobby is taxidermy! Autumn is almost 12, a 6th grader at Fort Bragg Middle School and loves to write poetry and stories. Lilly, 7, is a 2nd grader at Redwood and likes to draw & color.
The Maden Family Return to top
Dick Williams Way 2000-2009
Charlie and Waldi Maden took over the Cafe Vienna where they serve Viennese and local specialties. Charlie is the past President of the Family Partners and one of the Chefs for the Kite Festival.
The Martinez Family Return to top
Dick Williams Way 2000-2009
Ausencio Martinez came to Fort Bragg in 1980 and worked in agriculture and then as a choker-setter. As logging work tailed off, he recently went back to full-year work on a ranch. His wife, Juana, came here in 1994 working in the fishery and now is a housekeeper in a local inn. Auscenscio has put in more hours than any other Family Partner in Habitat, showing up for every event and build since 1997.
The Mora Family Return to top
Oak Street 1992
The Mora Family came here in the 80's.Tony was a choker-setter for Philbrick. After an injury, Tony and his wife Rosa started a business located in The Depot called Zapateria La Mexicana where they sell Mexican goods. Tony was the first Treasurer of the Family Association.
The Morales Family Return to top
Harold Street 1991
The Morales family, Habitat's first, was picked in 1991. Joel was a grader for Georgia Pacific and Graciela a dietician at Sherwood Oaks. Theirs was the first Blitz Build to introduce Habitat to the Coast. They have followed their dream by moving on in 2000 to open the La Playa Restaurant in Casper serving Mexican food to the Coast. Graciela was the VP and Secretary of the Family Association in its first years.
The Padilla Family Return to top
Maple Street 1994-1998
Rosendo Padilla came to Fort Bragg in 1982 and worked in the fishery and then as a choker-setter for Schuster. His wife Ignacia "Nacha" came here in 1991 and is housekeeper in a local inn. Last year they had a big surprise---twins. Nacha was Treasurer of the Family Association for a year and co-chair of the Mexican Dinner Crew.
The Renteria Family Return to top
Maple Street 1994-1998
Hipolito "Polo" Renteria came to Fort Bragg in 1969 and worked as an applepicker and later as a hook-tender for Philbrick. His wife, Alicia, came here in 1988 and worked as a housekeeper. She now does prep for the pizza shop in the Boatyard. He led the Cal Trans Highway Cleanup Program twice for the Family Association and the Board.
The Rocha Family Return to top
McPherson Street 2010-2016
The Rocha family includes one Macario (Dad),two Almas and the one & only Antonio (7) who is in 3rd grade at Redwood, likes math and wants to be a soccer player. Alma #2 is 10 and a 5th grader at Dana Gray. She will enjoy jumping rope and spelling until she reaches her goal of being a teacher or a dentist. Macario is a landing man with Roach Bros. logging and Alma #1 works at the Packard House in Mendocino.
The Sanchez Family Return to top
McPherson Street 2010-2016
The Sanchez family has long roots in Fort Bragg through Mother Maria who stays very busy at home with 3 yr. old Alex and with help from three teenage girls. Juliana, not shown, will be a Senior at Fort Bragg High School looking forward to college and her dream of being an architect. She works at Cowlicks. Yadara will be a Sophomore at Fort Bragg High School where she enjoys science, tennis and soccer. Maria will start high school at Fort Bragg High School where she hones her math skills. Jose, called Pepe works as a painter with Matt O’ Halloran.
The Taylor Family Return to top
Maple Street 1994-1998
The Taylor Family: Trina was born and raised in Fort Bragg. She was a baker at the Seagull in Mendocino and since 1991 works the counter at Rossi's. She was selected for a house already partly built, leaving her little time to complete her hours. She set a local record for the most sweat equity hours in the shortest time as she was eager to qualify before her home was done---500 hours in 4 months with the help of the kids and her ex-husband, Robert.
The Vaughan Family Return to top
Dick Williams Way 2000-2009
Marvin (call me “Dale”) and Angela live in Fort Bragg with their three kids. Dale is a cook/supervisor at Roundtable Pizza and Angela is a Certified Nursing Assistant & Restorative Aid at Sherwood Oaks Health Center. Their oldest daughter, Desiree McCuiston, 16, is a Jr. at FBHS where she plays the flute, reads “all the time”, works at Mendocino Cookie Company and plans to go to Sonoma State University after graduating. Deidra, 11, is in the 6th grade at Fort Bragg Middle School. She likes science, singing (she’s been in Footlighters) and talking! She wants to be either a vet or an astronaut or both? Ty is 9, plays football, is in the 4th grade at Dana Gray, loves football, likes math and P.E. and did we mention he likes football.
