Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2016)
OCTOBER 21, 2016 • VOL. 40, ISSUE 22 WWW.CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM COMPLIMENTARY COPY City candidates fi nd common ground Candidates fi eld questions on community issues By Lyra Fontaine Cannon Beach Gazette The three Cannon Beach City Council candidates talked housing, parking, vacation rentals, tourism, preserving the town’s village feel among administrative change and other community concerns at an Oct. 12 forum. Each agreed maintaining the small-town character of Cannon Beach would require study, commu- nity involvement and creative use of limited resources. Brandon Ogilvie, Herb Florer and Nancy McCarthy are vying for two spots on the council. While can- didates found common ground on issues like the elementary school property and marijuana shops, they expressed some differing views on For a long-term perspective on the City Council election, see ‘Cannon Shots’, page 4A housing and tourism. The forum, held at the Coast- er Theatre, was organized by Vote Smart Cannon Beach, a nonpartisan and nonprofi t group of residents. Candidates responded to the same questions by moderators Andrew Tonry and Barb Knop and audience members. A 24-year resident, Ogilvie is a contractor and affordable housing task force member who previously served on the Planning Commission, partly as chairman . He views tsuna- mi awareness, short-term rentals and affordable housing as important is- sues affecting the city. Florer, a 12-year resident, is an emergency preparedness committee member and former Port of Astoria deputy director, budget committee THE STORM OF ‘16 Cleanup in the WAKE OF A TORNADO member and planning commission- er. He said the town’s sustainability, emergency preparation and infra- structure should be addressed. McCarthy, a 15-year homeown- er and 10-year permanent resident, was a reporter and editor for the Cannon Beach Gazette and is now a freelance writer. The “infl ux of people,” affordable housing and emergency planning are signifi cant issues to her. See Candidates, Page 7A Cannon Beach Academy wins board approval Charter school could open next fall By Katherine Lacaze For EO Media Group Mark Brennan at work in front of his Manzanita Avenue home. ‘It surprises me there wasn’t more damage’ By R.J. Marx Cannon Beach Gazette M ANZANITA — Manzanita Avenue homeowner Mark Brennan was in Tigard when he saw his house on TV. “I was watching Channel 6 and I saw my house in the background,” he said Sunday. “There were four trees on it.” The tornado that tore through Manzanita Friday morning sliced through town, past the main street of Laneda Avenue and across Fourth and Fifth streets to Manzanita Avenue. The fun- nel left damage in its wake and on Sunday, contractors, utili- ty crews, and home- and business-owners were equipped with chain saws and chippers clearing out debris from the storm. See Tornado, Page 6A Damage along Laneda Avenue. PAID PERMIT NO. 97 ASTORIA, OR PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PHOTOS R.J. MARX/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE The Cannon Beach Academy saw its goal of opening for the 2017-18 school become more attainable Tues- day night when the Seaside School District Board of Directors approved the organization’s charter application without conditions. Nearly four years after a group of residents initiated an effort to create a charter school in Cannon Beach, the organization reached a signifi cant milestone with the approval of its charter. With that piece resolved, the academy’s board can move forward and begin fi nalizing fi nancial details, apply for grants, plan for enrollment, prepare the school building and start hiring staff, according to board presi- dent Kellye Dewey and board member Barb Knop. In October 2015, the district’s board approved the charter school’s application with a set of conditions, such as the school would serve at least 44 kindergarten and fi rst-grade students in its fi rst year. In March, the district withdrew conditional approv- al, stating the academy fell short on funding, enrollment and a state-ap- proved English Language Develop- ment program for English language learners. “The bulk of their application was very well done and thorough, but there were a few things that needed to be ad- dressed,” Superintendent Sheila Roley said. Roley, her staff, the district’s attor- ney and the academy’s board members worked during the past six months to address the issues that led to the condi- tional approval being revoked. The academy’s board met with the district’s Finance Committee before See Academy, Page 5A Fire district seeks captain to fi ll key role Selection committee looks at talent in ranks By Lyra Fontaine Cannon Beach Gazette The Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District is searching for a full-time employee to replace former Capt. Matt Gardner. A selection committee has been created and the district is considering internal applicants before expanding the search, if needed. The district is looking for a qualifi ed, teachable in- dividual that can eventually be brought up to Gardner’s level, Fire Chief Matt Benedict said. Gardner left the district in April and works as plant operator for the Arch Cape Water and Sanitary District. The district’s selection process will assess applications based on their skills and how they will work well with the organization. Job duties will depend on the applicant and their interests, whether it’s training, EMS, public presenta- tions, inspections or other skills, Benedict said. “My feeling is if they don’t get excited and like what they’re doing, they’re not going to excel in it,” he said. “Right now, I’m kind of doing everything, so I just need someone who can take some of the pressure off.” The district expects to hire someone before the end of 2016. Ham dinner Volunteers prepared a ham dinner and worked the kitchen to put on the 69th annual volunteer fi refi ghters benefi t on Oct. 8. “Those kids did a phenomenal job,” fi re dis- trict board member Mark Mekenas said of the volunteers. Board director Sharon Clyde said people came as far as Lynden, Washington to attend the event. Proceeds from the dinner will help purchase equipment that could save lives of individuals experiencing cardiac arrest. Cannon Beach Academy supporters helped with the event to raise funds for the school. SUBMITTED PHOTO TJ White, Mike Johnson and Steven Moon served up ham at the annual volunteer fi refi ghters benefi t dinner on Sat- urday, Oct. 8.