Kneeland Fire Protection District

I am a resident of Kneeland since 2007 and a retired United Methodist Clergyman from Maine. I was educated at Boston University as a hospital chaplain and pastoral counselor. I am proud to have served as a full time and volunteer firefighter in Portland and South Portland, Maine, as well as a chaplain for the Eastham, Massachusetts Fire Department. I hold a U.S. Coast Guard 100 ton Captain and 200 ton offshore Mate’s license with auxiliary sail endorsement. I also was a former dock-master for the Hinckley Yacht company in Southwest Harbor Maine. As a parish minister I served on and led numerous public service/non-profit boards in New England. As part of my ministry I led teams building fish ponds in Haiti and working for Habitat for Humanity in Maine, Massachusetts, and Bell Horizonte, Brazil. My wife Sonja Boynton, is a clinical herbalist and owner of Bluebird Herbals. I joined the KFPD board in 2011 with a specific goal of completing the construction of a Fire station at 6201 Greenwood Heights Drive.”

I am a fourth generation Humboldt County native. Graduated with a Master’s Degree in Natural Resources from Humboldt State University in 2002. I have a diverse background which includes primate research in Ghana, West Africa, teaching at College of the Redwoods and Humboldt State University, and acting as Executive Director for the Northcoast Regional Land Trust. Currently I am a project manager for Daemeter which focuses on sustainable development, particularly in Asia. I moved to Kneeland in 2013 and happy to bring my natural resources experience to the Kneeland Fire Protection District Board.

I have been a Kneeland resident for over 30 years (upper Greenwood Heights), a KFPD Board member since 2014. I am employed as Maintenance Director of a regional trucking company “ I see Kneeland as a caring, supportive, and independent community that takes care of our own needs.“ The Kneeland Fire Protection District is an example of this spirit with our dedicated volunteer firefighters trained in structure, wildland fire suppression, emergency medical, rescue response, as well as community civil defense in case of natural disasters. KFPD Board members recognize our community’s support for our volunteers and we strive to use your resources as effectively as possible with an emphasis on volunteer recruitment, professional training, properly equipped dependable equipment, and personal safety protection for those who answer the call

I was raised on my family's ranch in Kneeland of which I am the 5th generation on. I attended College of the Redwoods then Chico State University and graduated with a B.S. in Agriculture Science & Education. I taught high school agriculture at Trinity High School and then made a decision to leave education and went back to industry which led me to a position at a dairy in New Zealand and then my role as a feed manger on a feed yard in Kansas. I am now back on the ranch and work for the Humboldt County Office of Education. I am involved in harvesting timber and the daily operations on the ranch and seek to protect and preserve family lands and the legacies tied to them. Most importantly, I am excited to become involved with the community in Kneeland by serving on the KFPD board.

I have lived on Kneeland for 35 years. My daughter attended Freshwater School and I served on the board for 8 years after she left for Eureka High. She now works internationally for Doctors Without Borders. My 17 year old son, Ari, attended Kneeland School and now is a senior in High School, leaving for college next year. I was on the faculty of HSU for 26 years, retiring to play farmer with a Jersey cow, aging horse and several poorly behaved dogs. My partner, Ann Alter is still teaching at HSU. Kneeland is our home and we value our neighbors and community. My goal as a board member is to always have the safest equipment for our volunteers and to keep KVFPD solvent.