10A • April 8, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com
Neuwirth: Recall vote ‘really close’ Fire Captain
Recall from Page 1A
The three ¿re board direc-
tors chose to ¿ght the recall
by submitting a statement of
justi¿cation and facing voters
instead of resigning.
“We would like to thank all
of the good citizens that sup-
ported a united effort to recall
three ¿re board members,”
Neuwirth said in a statement,
adding that she was “outplayed
and outspent.” “God bless the
¿re¿ghters, volunteers and po-
lice who protect us. Sorry we
let you down. The people have
voted. Enough said.”
A volunteer for 30 years be-
fore becoming chief and a long-
time member of the Cannon
Beach Police Department, Bal-
zer was locked out of his of¿ce,
met with a police escort while
Gardner resigns
he gathered his belongings and
sent home walking in the rain,
Neuwirth said in January. She
and other signatories objected
both to the ¿ring and the man-
ner in which it was done.
Departure comes
at time of recall
The dismissal
Directors defended their
actions, pointing to Balzer’s
lack of administrative and
leadership skills.
The board members stated
that the board had a “¿ducia-
ry responsibility to those who
elected them to provide a high
level of oversight, particularly
in matters of management and
administration.”
Balzer was dismissed
“when the majority of the di-
rectors, elected by district vot-
ers, became concerned about
his ability to perform the ad-
By Lyra Fontaine
EO Media Group
FILE PHOTO/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District Director Gar-
ry Smith, right, and interim Chief Jim Stearns.
ministrative skills required of
the head of a public agency,”
according to their statements.
Smith had described Bal-
zer’s ¿ring as “strictly busi-
ness, not personal.”
In December, Balzer ¿led
a civil suit in Clatsop County
Circuit Court against the ¿re
district, seeking more than
$525,000 in damages and his
reinstatement as ¿re chief. He
later amended the lawsuit to
seek more than $677,000 in
damages and the reinstatement
of his employment bene¿ts.
That suit is scheduled for a
jury trial in October.
School combines culinary training, Bible study
Chefs from Page 1A
completing his pilot’s license,
Krizo found his calling when
he took a side job cooking.
“God said, ‘Hey, you’re
not a pilot, you’re a cook,’”
he said.
After graduating from the
Culinary Institute of America
in Hyde Park, New York, he
has worked in France, Austra-
lia, Virginia, Colorado, Arizo-
na, California and now Oregon.
He was executive chef and
owner of a ¿ne dining restau-
rant, cooked more than 1,000
meals per day as a Christian
convention center chef, and
also worked as a catering and
sous chef.
Krizo said he was “blessed
with amazing experiences,”
but his end goal was to devel-
op an international ministry
and a culinary school to help
guide and support Christian
cooks and chefs worldwide.
7he nonpro¿t Christian
Chefs International began
in 1998 and currently reach-
es 2,000 members in more
than 40 countries. Open
since 2012, Christian Culi-
nary Academy is licensed by
the state and can now accept
international students. The
academy is now enrolling for
classes starting Oct. 3.
The academy has guest in-
structors, including local chef
Jonathan Hoffman, owner of
Chef’s Table, and Graham
Kerr, from “The Galloping
Gourmet” cooking show.
Christian Culinary Acad-
emy’s internships offer stu-
dents real-world experience in
the local culinary industry and
a feel for different restaurants,
Krizo said.
Students have worked at
Stephanie Inn, Newmans at
988, Wayfarer Restaurant
& Lounge, EVOO Cannon
Beach Cooking School and the
Christian Conference Center.
Culinary school is where
aspiring chefs can learn founda-
tional skills to build on through-
out their careers, Krizo said.
“You wouldn’t want a sur-
geon doing a surgery right af-
ter graduating,” he said. “No
one graduates culinary school
being a chef...that’s some-
thing you earn over many
years of experience.”
After graduation, previous
students have had no trouble
receiving job offers. “Anyone
that has ever needed employ-
ment has found it,” Krizo said.
Get Lit gathering opens with authors’ reception
Lit from Page 1A
Jess Walter will present Satur-
day night during the prime rib
dinner. A Q&A panel discus-
sion, free and open to the pub-
lic, will be Sunday morning at
the Coaster Theatre.
Walter has written eight
books, including “Beautiful
Ruins,” a notable book of 2012
by the New York Times. The
Spokane, Washington, native is
a best-selling author, National
Book Award
¿nalist
and
the 2005 Ed-
gar Allan Poe
Award winner.
Another
Washington
state author,
Jonathan
Jonathan Evi-
Evison
son, of Bain-
bridge Island, presents at Get
Lit after ¿nishing a successful
tour for his latest book “This
is Your Life, Harriet Chance!”
His critically acclaimed “The
Revised Fundamentals of
Caregiving” is being made into
a ¿lm with Paul Rudd, Selena
Gomez and Craig Roberts that
will be out this year. Evison’s
other works have received the
Paci¿c Northwest Booksellers
Association Award.
Eugene-based author Eliz-
abeth Engstrom has written 14
books and more than 250 short
stories, articles and essays. A
movie “Candiland,” based on
her 2012 novel “Candyland,”
will be released this year. The
sought-after teacher and speak-
er presents at writing confer-
ences, conventions and semi-
nars across the globe, including
a novel-writing seminar this
summer in Spain.
Full pass tickets are $85 and
may be available on-site or by
calling 206-914-1255.
Fire Capt. Matt Gardner
has resigned from the Cannon
Beach Rural Fire Protection
District.
Gardner, who was second
in command at the ¿re depart-
ment, said his decision was
not inÀuenced by the ¿ring of
former chief Mike Balzer and
a recall election of ¿re board
directors.
“It’s been an honor and
privilege to serve the commu-
nity and I wish the Cannon
Beach Rural Fire Protection
District well,” Gardner said
in a statement. “In an effort to
avoid speculation, confusion
or misrepresentation, my deci-
sion to resign from the Cannon
Beach Rural Fire Protection
District is a personal decision
and one that has nothing to do
with the current controversy.”
Gardner, who resigned in
March, began work this week
as plant operator for the Arch
Cape Water and Sanitary Dis-
trict.
“In my short time here,
Matt was absolutely criti-
cal to making my transition
easy,” interim Fire Chief Jim
Stearns said.
Other than the chief, Gard-
ner was the department’s only
paid, full-time staff member.
“The department is very
supportive of Matt and we
wish him the absolute best in
his future effort,” Stearns said.
“He left on very good terms.
We would welcome him back.”
Stearns said Gardner was
knowledgeable and familiar
with the district, personnel,
policies and procedures. “He
was my resource, my go-to
guy for everything.” Stearns
said. “He will truly be missed.”
After starting as a volun-
teer, Gardner became a train-
ing of¿cer in 2010, providing
training for ¿re¿ghters, com-
munity emergency response
and surf rescue teams.
Gardner spearheaded a
2014 effort to obtain a brush
truck so the Cannon Beach
Rural Fire Protection District
could ¿ght wild¿res more ef-
fectively.
In 2014, Gardner and Po-
lice Chief Jason Schermerhorn
were ¿rst at the hotel crime
scene where a toddler lay dead
and a second child savagely
attacked. Their mother, Jessica
Smith, was later charged with
the crime.
Gardner took on daily op-
erational tasks to help ¿ll the
void left when Balzer was
¿red in October.
In February, Gardner was
given the Clatsop County’s
High Angle Rescue Team
Member of the Year award.
Schermerhorn said he was
“very saddened” by Gardner’s
resignation. “Capt. Gardner
was a great partner between the
Fire Department and the Police
Department,” he said in a state-
ment. “We consider him part
of our law enforcement family.
Matt helped me on so many
different projects and is such a
great asset for Cannon Beach.
He was a very dedicated and
self-sacri¿cing employee.”
Dope dispensaries OK’d
Dope from Page 1A
Initiative ahead?
Among those who op-
posed lifting the ban was Mar-
lene Laws, who led a petition
drive to ban marijuana sales in
Cannon Beach. Laws and oth-
ers have pointed to the health
risks, public safety concerns
and impact on tourism.
Along with a vote on the
tax, if advocates of a ban can
gather enough signatures, it
could force a new vote, this
time to override the council’s
decision.
“We will do an initiative,”
Laws said after the meeting.
FRESH FOODS CANNON BEACH
We are looking for about a total of 30 employees!
Full and part time positions to come
on board between now and June 1st:
• 3 full time produce clerks
• 3 barista positions
• 3 deli clerk/baristas
• Numerous grocery clerks
and cashiers
WORK IN A
BRAND NEW
BUILDING!
COMPENSATION PACKAGE:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
$12-$20 hr
AFLAC Accident Policy (full paid)
Paid vacation
Paid sick time
Matching 401k
Flexible spending account program
Employee discount
Medical insurance (full time)
Bonus program (certain positions)
Cannon Beach and Manzanita locations