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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (June 17, 2016)
June 17, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 5A When mail delivery meant a treacherous route T he United State Postal Service established a coastal mail route between Tillamook and Asto- ria on 1870. This southern portion presented many hazards. On those stretches where there was no beach or when stormy weather prohibited its use, the carriers were obliged to travel a narrow trail over Hug and Humbug points, Arch Cape, and Cape Falcon, and, fi nally make the 800-foot ascent of Neahkahnie Mountain, where the trail was less than two feet wide in places. In addition, the carriers were often faced with horrendous gales, drench- ing rains, windfalls, and much mud. These early mail carriers were the true heroes of the coast. In the late 1800s John Gerritse took over this southerly route. John, born in Holland, ran away at sea at 15. Af- ter sailing the world several times, he jumped ship to Astoria, where he soon got a job as the mail carrier between Seaside and Tillamook. His wife, Mary, stated, “It took a week to make the round trip, bringing the mail back to Seaside.” REFLECTIONS ELAINE TRUCKE Mary took over the route in 1897. She plunged through the wilds of the Oregon rain forest, braving Northwest- ern Squalls, changing tides, and narrow cliff hugging trails to deliver the mail until 1902. Mary was fearless. Once while delivering the mail she came upon several men on the trail she fre- quented. The waved at her not to come, the trail was rather narrow and they were afraid that she would not be able to pass. Without hesitation Mary plunged onward. One man became so afraid he clambered up the opposite cliff side clinging to grass while she rode past, Mary commented in her journal, “I felt sorry for him. The other side of the trail went down 400 feet to the ocean. I did not know how to be afraid.” On more than one occasion Mary held herself together when most would have struggled with fright. Whether it CANNON BEACH GAZETTE/SUBMITTED PHOTO John Gerritse on Prince. was coming face to face with a bear or a cougar Mary held her ground. When Prince, Mary’s beloved horse was close to skittering down a cliff into the sea, Mary remained calm, slid down the 150 feet to where Prince teetered on the edge and soothed him back onto the trail. Despite Prince’s cracked ribs, and Mary’s own slide, the mail was saved! Prince was the ideal horse, as much of a friend to Mary as a human being. Sadly, Prince lost his life due to a dramatic change of tides while Mary was taking the beach trail home. The loss of her trusty stead was devastating to Mary. While Mary found another LETTERS Letters from Page 4A Protect our trees In defense of the trees. I wish to draw your attention to a letter written by Roger Dorbend to Sen. Bernie Sanders in the current issue of Hipfi sh. Why, Bernie Sanders? Because he appears to be the only candidate run- ning for a major offi ce in this state who just might care that the citizens of Ore- gon have a state forest in the future. Why, this letter? Because Mr. Dor- bend lays out the facts surrounding the current practices of the persons in charge of our state forests. Also, Mr. Dorbend supplies solutions to the fi nan- cial crisis in the state that do not include the clear cut of our state forests. More than 2,000 people in the Ne- halem Watershed approached the Ore- gon Department of Forestry in January asking them to spare the old growth section of the Homesteader Forest on the Nehalem watershed. Our requests fell on deaf ears. If you would like to see what the Oregon Department of Forestry did, go to the North Coast Forest Coalition website. If you have a weak stomach, don’t go. I refuse to believe our legislature cannot generate the funds necessary to run our counties. I have a great deal of confi dence in the human mind and I am willing to help fi nd ways to fund our state that does not include clear cutting our state forests. We need to make noise. LNG went down to defeat in Astoria and Warren- ton because Oregon citizens refused to accept LNG to pollute our waters and land. The developer who somehow bought Arcadia State Park East with- drew his plans to develop this land. Why? Because citizens of Clatsop and Tillamook counties refused to accept our state parks being used for a housing development. In short, they made noise. We all use wood and I am not against the harvesting of our trees. I am against clear cutting what is left of our old growth and second growth forests. I am also for developers, just not de- velopment of our state parks. The state parks and the state forests are mine as well as every citizen of Oregon and it is time we start defending our trees. It can be done. If you stand with me on this issue, I would like to hear from you. We need to mobilize all of us: children, adults and visitors. If you plan to visit our state to enjoy our pristine beauty, much of which relates to trees, feel free to take a stand in defense of trees. Louise Christianson Nehalem CANNON BEACH GAZETTE/SUBMITTED PHOTO Mail carriers went to great lengths in Cannon Beach long ago. Local students win arts scholarships As part of its mission to provide fi nancial resources to artists in the Cannon Beach community, the Can- non Beach Arts Association annu- ally awards scholarships to support students who are pursuing higher education in the arts. This year, CBAA had the pleasure of awarding scholarships to four different stu- dents: Lucy Swenson, James Har- kins, Kelsi Leer, and Hayley Rollins. Each student actively participates in different art forms ranging from mu- sical arts and theater to visual arts. Three of the student will soon be continuing their education in the arts by pursuing degrees at universities throughout the nation. Swenson, a multi-talented stu- dent from Seaside high school, loves to write her own music and has taken lessons in piano, guitar, fl ute, oboe and voice. She will be attend- ing Bennington College starting in fall 2016 in hopes of studying music education, composition, or music therapy. The second recipient, James Harkins, has been involved in the- ater and has been the lead in sever- al productions. He has also been an assistant director in a production of “Urinetown.” CANNON BEACH GAZETTE/SUBMITTED PHOTO Scholarship recipients James Harkins, Kelsi Ellen Leer, Lucy Swen- son and Hayley Rollins. Harkins plans on attending Old Dominion University in Virginia to continue his education in theater arts or fi lm/creative media. Kelsi Leer is a visual artist with a deep interest in animation and illus- tration. She has completed several art classes at Seaside high school such as Graphic Design and Drawing. Leer is planning on attending Clatsop Community College to study art and pursue her interests in animation. She later plans on transferring to Acade- my of Art University in California. Hayley Rollins is our fourth re- M U N I C I PA L M E M O Is published monthly by the City of Cannon Beach 163 E. Gower Street • P.O. Box 368 • Cannon Beach, OR 97110 (503) 436-1581 • Fax: (503) 436-2050 • TTY (503) 436-8097 June 2016 MEETINGS JULY 2016 5 12 21 28 City Council Regular Meeting City Council Work Session Design Review Board Planning Commission 7:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, June 7, 2016 • Reviewed the proposed Derelict Building Ordi- nance 16-04, made some minor typographical changes and had the irst reading. Scheduled for the second reading and adoption at the July 5, 2016 regular City Council meeting. • Adopted the Recology Western Oregon rate increase of 0.5% per the CPI index after a presen- tation and question and answer session with Recol- ogy General Manager Fred Stemmler. • City Attorney briefed the Council on the recent change in the recreational immunity program and Council voted to delegate the decision making / discretional authority to develop a program to maintain the city’s recreational areas to the Public Works Director. • Approved the spending of recently awarded Oregon Health Authority grant money on non- perishable medical supplies for the Cannon Beach Medical Reserve Corps. CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING / WORK SES- SION, June 14, 2016 Council is scheduled to act on /discuss the following items: • Consider the following Budget Related Resolu- tions: • 16-05 to adopt the FY 2016-17 Budget; • 16-06 to receive State Revenues for FY 2016-17; • 16-07 & 16-08 to amend the current year bud- get; • 16-09 to repeal Resolution 15-08 and establish water, wastewater and storm drain utility rates. • Consider the Sunset Empire Transit District Inter- governmental Agreement with the City for bus services for FY 2016-17. • Consider the Cannon Beach Chamber of Com- merce Visitor Information Center Agreement with the City for services for FY 2016-17. • Police Chief Schemerhorn will introduce the Police Department summer staff. • Council will review the FY 2016-17 Tourism & Art Fund grant award amounts recommended by the Tourism and Arts Commission. • Discuss time/place/manner restrictions for mari- juana businesses within the city limits. • Review the results from the Strategic Planning ses- sion held May 25th and 26th. DESIGN REVIEW BOARD - At their May 19, 2016 meeting, the Design Review Board discussed: This story and many more are an integral part of the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum’s latest exhibit “From the Vault.” One of the key artifacts is the saddle Mary wore while riding Prince. The exhibit also includes excerpts from her journal. The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is open Thursday through Monday from 1 to 5 p.m. and is located at the corner of Sunset and Spruce Street. horse the horse was never quite the horse Prince was. In 1904, the Gerritses moved to Seaside, Mary now carrying the mail from there to Cannon Beach. In 1912 she retired and a few years later she and John moved to the present day Cannon Beach. There, Mary ran a small dairy farm, though still fi nding time for good works - helping to found the library. cipient, and will be receiving the her award in recognition of her efforts to pass an Oregon bill establishing April 14th as Honorary Artists of Oregon Day. To celebrate and honor this day, Rollins worked with the Seaside High School staff and community to have 25 local artists come into the school and teach art workshops for all the students. The bill made April 14 Honorary Artists of Oregon day to celebrate art and artists, and to pro- mote art education in the state of Ore- gon and to encourage engagement in artistic endeavors. FOR YOUR INFORMATION MAYOR: Sam Steidel COUNCILORS: Wendy Higgins, Melissa Cadwallader, Mike Beneield & George Vetter CITY MANAGER: Brant Kucera Cannon Beach Farmers Market The Cannon Beach Farmers Market begins Tuesday June 14 from 1-5pm. A local duo called” Two Crows Joy” will be our opening musical entertainment. We have returning vendors as well as new vendors! Prepared food and music are from 1-5pm. Vendor are 2 - 5pm, but most open at one. Stop by and visit your favorite vendors and meet our new ones. See you at the market! Haystack Rock Awareness Program Volunteer Training: June 18th, 10-3pm Cannon Beach City Hall Volunteer with the Haystack Rock Awareness Program! Protect and inspire stewardship of the National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding tide pools at Haystack Rock. Prevent climbing in the refuge and trampling of plants and ani- mals. Educate visitors about the intertidal and seabird ecology at Haystack Rock. Training will include: How to volunteer as a Rocky Shore Interpreter Guest speakers: Joe Leibezeit – Audubon society of Portland Tiffany Booth – Seaside Aquarium & Friends of Haystack Rock USFW Representative TBD Refreshments will be provided. RSVP: HRAPVolunteer@ci.cannon-beach.or.us 2016 CITY COUNCIL ELECTION At the 2016 General Election on November 8th, two City Councilor positions will ap- pear on the ballot. The iling period for interested candidates begins on June 1, 2016 and all iling requirements must be completed by 5:00 p.m. on August 30, 2016. • All positions are non-partisan. • Council positions are elected at large – meaning candidates may reside in any area of the community. • All positions are volunteer/non-paid. • All terms will begin at the irst City Council meeting January 3, 2017. QUALIFICATIONS AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS A qualiied elector who shall have resided in the city during the 12 months immedi- ately preceding the election may be nominated for an elective city position. Nomination shall be by petition specifying the position sought in a form prescribed by the council. Such petition shall be signed by not fewer than 50 electors. Please contact Assistant City Manager Colleen Riggs at (503) 436-8052 or via email at riggs@ci.cannon-beach.or.us for additional information or for an election information packet. NOTICE OF VACANCIES CITY COMMISSIONS, BOARDS & COMMITTEES The City of Cannon Beach is seeking applications for the following vacancies: DRB 16-03, Dave Norstedt, on behalf of Wayfarer Restaurant, application for exterior modiications The proposed modiication includes replacing siding, modifying gate entry overhang and new staining and painting of the exterior. Approved with Conditions The DRB is scheduled to meet Thursday June 16th at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. PLANNING COMMISSION - At their May 26, 2016 meeting, the Planning Commission had no action items. The Planning Commission is scheduled to meet June 23, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE: Two (2) vacancies. The EPREP Committee meets regularly for the purpose of providing evacuation planning and public education regarding emergency preparedness. The committee is comprised of six at-large community members, who each serve a four-year term, and a representative of the Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District. The Emergency Preparedness Committee holds its regular meetings on the last Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m. and may schedule work sessions as needed. To be eligible to serve on a City committee, applicants must have resided within the city or its urban growth boundary during the one year immediately preceding appoint- ment; or at the time of appointment, shall have owned real property located within the city or its urban growth boundary for at least one year immediately preceding appoint- ment. Applications are available at City Hall, 163 E. Gower Street, Cannon Beach, by email addressed to riggs@ci.cannon-beach.or.us, or on-line at www.ci.cannon-beach. or.us.For more information, please contact Colleen Riggs by email or phone at (503) 436-8052.