FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • VOL. 40, ISSUE 4
WWW.CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM
COMPLIMENTARY COPY
‘A COMR ADE FALLEN’
Jason Goodding
remembered in
Cannon Beach as
co-worker, friend
By Lyra Fontaine
Cannon Beach Gazette
Before the memorial service for
fallen Seaside police Sgt. Jason
Goodding at the Seaside Conven-
tion Center Friday, the American
Legion Post 168 in Cannon Beach
will join the Seaside American Le-
gion, police departments and other
Jason Goodding
members of the law enforcement
community in a procession that will
wind through Seaside streets.
“A comrade in uniform has fallen
in the line of duty,” Cannon Beach
Post Commander Dan O’Reilly
said. “He heroically performed his
sworn oath until the end. His sacri-
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O’Reilly’s son, Michael, a police
commander in Kent, Washington,
will attend the service representing
the Kent Police Department.
“It takes your breath away,” he
said of the shooting. “This really
hits close to me.”
When Sgt. Jason Goodding
joined the Seaside Police Depart-
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to train under Jason Schermerhorn,
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the department. The two men met
soon after Goodding moved to town,
and their wives became fast friends.
Schermerhorn, now the Cannon
Beach police chief, worked with Good-
ding all 13 years, 10 of those years in
the Seaside Police Department.
Goodding was shot while on
duty by Philip Ferry on Friday
night. He died Saturday morning,
and hundreds of people gathered
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vigil Sunday.
“All of us were his friend and
co-workers,” he said during a critical
RESTAURANT’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY
John Newman is chef,
mentor and more
By Lyra Fontaine
Cannon Beach Gazette
Ten years ago, John New-
man watched “Big Night,” and
said to his wife, Sandy, “We’re
going to do an anniversary din-
ner themed around that.”
Every year for the past de-
cade, the couple has celebrat-
ed the anniversary of their
Cannon Beach restaurant, Newmans at
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down to the “timpano” pasta dish the
characters make.
In the movie, two Italian brothers
cook an elaborate meal in hopes that
their restaurant will achieve success. It’s
safe to say that Newmans at 988, with
its French-Italian cuisine and intimate
dining atmosphere, has already done
just that.
At its 10th anni-
versary dinner
on Fri-
day, 40 guests enjoyed a six-course meal
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carefully selected Italian wines. Wine glass-
es and roses lined the white tablecloths.
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dishes like lobster ravioli and duck breast,
Newmans at 988 was named best restau-
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and has been on The Oregonian “top 10”
restaurant lists in the past few years.
“I’m very fortunate,” said Newman,
who considers the restaurant a place
where guests can relax and enjoy
debrief on Monday. “I know we’ve
been putting in a lot of long hours.”
Schermerhorn was one of the
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sponded to the scene of the shooting.
He has been assigned family liaison.
“It’s certainly a huge loss for
the law enforcement community,
and for all of our families,” he said.
“He was a big family man. He was
a great volunteer for his daughters
and other girls with basketball.”
Goodding’s family, friends and
colleagues could always rely on
him, Schermerhorn said. “And he
just had a great sense of humor.”
See Goodding, Page 10A
Fire chief
amends
suit, ups
damages
Records request yields
warnings from Fire District
By R.J. Marx
Cannon Beach Gazette
See Chef, Page 9A
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new papers in his lawsuit against the Cannon
Beach Rural Fire Protection District.
An amended complaint ups the damages
former Chief Michael Balzer seeks to more
than $677,000 and asks for the reinstatement
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Balzer also asks the court
for relief “from further retali-
ation or harassment” after his
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January 2012 until Oct. 12,
2015, when the board voted
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4-1 for his discharge. Balzer’s
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original contract term ran until
June 30, 2017.
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County Circuit Court Monday, Balzer said the
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cause of critical comments made by his wife
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“personal animus,” the amended complaint
states, and “did not constitute the good faith
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ment.”
According to the amended complaint, Bal-
zer was “unwilling and unable to restrict his
wife from speaking her mind, despite the threat
that he could be discharged if she continued to
express her opinions.”
The complaint states it is against public pol-
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his spouse’s speech, particularly when the ex-
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Performance review shows warnings
LYRA FONTAINE PHOTO/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
John Newman spruces up in front of his Cannon Beach restaurant.
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“strictly business, not personal.”
PAID
PERMIT NO. 97
ASTORIA, OR
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
See Balzer, Page 3A
Sixth annual yoga
festival has new
classes, extra day
‘Exceptional teaching’ in
a pristine place
By Lyra Fontaine
Cannon Beach Gazette
INSIDE THIS WEEK…
GOOD ROMANCE page 4
SUBMITTED PHOTO/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
Students at the 2015 yoga festival.
The sixth Cannon Beach Yoga Festival will
be the longest yet, from Friday, Feb. 26 through
Monday, Feb. 29. This is because Monday falls
on a leap year, which founder and director
Christen Allsop says is “auspicious.”
Notable new events include an Indian dance
workshop and party, a gemstone healing inten-
sive, and a marketing class for yoga profes-
sionals.
Cannon Beach Yoga Festival is different
See Yoga, Page 9A