December 30, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 5A
Volunteer fi ghts fi res for the love of it Christmas giving
Firefi ghter says it’s a
way to ‘give back to
the community’
Christmas from Page 1A
By Lyra Fontaine
Cannon Beach Gazette
When the historic Oswald West log
cabin burned in 1991 due to an act of ar-
son, JoAnne Cremer was one of the fi re-
fi ghters on the scene battling the blaze for
hours.
It was one of the most memorable mo-
ments in Cremer’s 32 years as a Cannon
Beach volunteer fi refi ghter.
“It was the night of my birthday,” she
said. “We were there until late in the eve-
ning or early morning. It was the hottest
fi re I have ever fought in my life because
of the logs … We all worked really hard
that night.”
Cremer was recently featured as Can-
non Beach Fire and Rescue fi refi ghter of
the month, recognized for her longtime
commitment and for being “probably the
most positive person with one of the best
smiles.”
Cremer decided to join the fi re district
after living in Cannon Beach for several
years and getting to know local fi refi ght-
ers.
“I just decided it was a way I could
give back to the community,” she said.
Cremer said the “love of it” motivates
her to continue fi refi ghting.
“This is like my other job — my un-
paid job,” she said. “Once you get into an
organization like this and become so close
with everybody, it’s like having a second
family. For some of us, it’s our fi rst fami-
ly. I think that’s why I continue it, just the
love of it and wanting to continue to help
people, to try and make people’s lives eas-
ier.”
“Sometimes you have calls that aren’t
all roses,” she added.
Training
Cremer has been the Cannon Beach
Fire and Rescue safety offi cer for seven
years. She oversees the scene at car acci-
dents, fi res or medical calls to ensure vol-
unteers are wearing personal protective
equipment and heads a safety committee,
discussing policies each month.
Volunteer fi refi ghters participate in
regular Wednesday trainings. “Sometimes
the drills are really exciting,” Cremer said.
Trainings might involve “burn to
learns,” in which people donate their old
homes or motor vehicles for the team of
volunteers to burn for a period of time.
These drills allow volunteers to gain ex-
perience with handling actual fi res.
LYRA FONTAINE/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
JoAnne Cremer has been a volunteer fi refi ghter with Cannon Beach Fire and
Rescue for 32 years.
‘Once you get into an organization like this
and become so close with everybody, it’s like
having a second family. For some of us, it’s our
fi rst family. I think that’s why I continue it, just
the love of it and wanting to continue to help
people, to try and make people’s lives easier.’
JoAnne Cremer
“We might set up a smoke machine
and a ‘body’ in there that we might have
to fi nd to keep us in touch with what could
honestly happen in a real fi re,” Cremer
said. “We have mock motor vehicle acci-
dents, and sometimes in the summer we
have a mock rescue in the ocean where we
deploy our Jet Skis.”
Cremer holds certifi cations in fi re
fi ghter II, apparatus operator, emergency
medical responder and water rescue tech-
nician. Cannon Beach volunteer fi refi ght-
ers have access to courses that provide
continued education, she said.
Cremer was also a Cannon Beach life-
guard for 25 years, more than 15 years
full time. Though she remembers some
serious rescues, Cremer also recalls the
camaraderie among her fellow lifeguards.
“It was wonderful,” she said. “You’re
paid to be at the beach.”
Outdoor adventurer
For 21 years, Cremer has worked at
the same landscaping company, where
she enjoys “being able to beautify things.”
She likes walking away from a yard
and thinking, “Wow, that looks so good.”
“I love working outside, even in the
rain,” she added.
Cremer has also fi shed commercially
for sockeye salmon in Alaska’s Bristol
Bay, taught in the experimental education
unit at the University of Washington and
taught preschool in Cannon Beach —
“when it was down by the kite shop.”
Cremer grew up in Portland and
moved to Cannon Beach in 1980.
“I always wanted to live at the coast,
even as a little kid,” she said. She appre-
ciates “the close-knit community and the
amazing beauty of the beach and our sur-
roundings.”
In her spare time, Cremer enjoys tak-
ing her active dog, Sailor, on walks, hik-
ing, mountain biking and cycling.
An avid cyclist, Cremer often bikes to
Astoria and around Fort Stevens. She has
also started century riding — biking 100
miles.
“You start at a certain time and you
pedal 100 miles,” Cremer said. “You’re
out there and it’s like, ‘Yep, I’m doing
this.’”
The American L egion
helps deliver gifts that kids
wish for from the “Giving
Tree” at U.S. Bank, con-
taining cards with items that
people in the community
can purchase.
Maddy Wrege, 10, was
volunteering for the fourth
year.
“These are the most toys
we’ve had for awhile,” she
said. “I like delivering be-
cause I like seeing the peo-
ple’s expressions.”
By Friday, the presents
were delivered and volun-
teers, including police offi -
cers and fi refi ghters, helped
load and deliver food boxes
to low-income apartments
at Elk Creek Terrace and
Shorewood Apartments and
other Cannon Beach house-
holds.
Since 1977, American
Legion Vice Commander
Don Boehm has organized
the program and shopped
for food. The program be-
gan when someone donated
$5,000 for Christmas bas-
kets.
“We’ve carried that on,”
Boehm said. “We’re here for
the community. We wish to
thank all the people who do-
nate and make it known that
we appreciate their support.”
Volunteers Stacie Gil-
ligan and Heidi Lent have
coordinated the food baskets
for about seven years.
“It takes us about a week
to get it done,” Lent said.
“It’s very necessary. The
American Legion is the only
service organization in Can-
non Beach, so it felt natural
for them to take this on.”
Some items are donated
by community members,
food banks or local busi-
nesses like Bruce’s Candy
Kitchen. The rest is pur-
chased by the post’s chari-
table account, which comes
from donations and pro-
ceeds from fundraisers. It
cost about $3,500 to $4,000
to fi ll the food baskets, Gil-
ligan said.
Police Chief Jason
Schermerhorn — assisted
M U N I C I PA L M E M O
December 2016
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
MEETINGS
City Council Regular Meeting
City Council Work Session
Design Review Board
Planning Commission
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, December 6,
2016
• Adopted Ordinance 16-06, Amending Business
License Ordinance to allow Marijuana Businesses
in Cannon Beach;
• Adopted Ordinance 16-07, Repealing Chapter
9.18 of the Municipal Code which Imposed a
Moratorium on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries;
• Adopted Resolution 16-12, for the Purpose of
Accepting the Final Official Canvass of Votes from
the Clatsop County Clerk
of the November 8, 2016
General Election;
• Adopted the Affordable
Housing Report submit-
ted by the Affordable
Housing Task Force;
• Adopted the 2016 Em-
ployee Handbook;
• Appointed Karolyn Ad-
amson to serve a second
term on the Emergency
Preparedness Committee;
appointed Robin Risley
to serve a second term
on Parks and Community
Services Committee; Ap-
pointed Patrick Lathrop to
his first term on the Parks
and Community Services
Committee and reap-
pointed Tom Drumheller
to the Tourism and Arts
Commission;
• Approved the revised
process and evaluation
form for the City Manager
position.
CITY COUNCIL WORK
SESSION, December 13-,
2016
• Haystack Rock Aware-
ness Project (HRAP) Coordinator Melissa Keyser
presented the 2016 annual report for HRAP;
• Discussed the Linn County class action lawsuit;
• City Manager Brant Kucera presented an update
on the Strategic Plan goals.
by 12-year-old son Jackson
— said the offi cers help with
the program each year.
“It’s such a good partner-
ship,” Schermerhorn said.
“This is one of those things
that offi cers love to do, and
it’s great for people to see
a different side of the po-
lice offi cers. We’re actually
doing what we want to do,
which is help people, and
we appreciate the l egion for
keeping us involved.”
Siblings Silvia and
Christian Avila volunteered
for the Christmas basket
program with their mother,
Mirian Luna.
“I have time and I want to
help,” Christian said. “I’ve
always lived in Elk Creek so
I’ve experienced this from
the other perspective … I
feel like we kind of took it
for granted. This doesn’t
happen everywhere else. I
think it’s a sigh of relief for
the parents. They will buy
one or two things for each
child, but having this much
more to bulk up what’s un-
der the Christmas tree really
helps.”
A volunteer fi refi ghter,
Silvia said she decided to
volunteer because she en-
joys helping others.
“It’s what we do in the
fi re department,” she said,
“and Christmas is my favor-
ite holiday.”
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
MAYOR: Sam Steidel
COUNCILORS: Wendy Higgins,
Melissa Cadwallader, Mike
Benefield & George Vetter
CITY MANAGER: Brant Kucera
Of Interest...
JANUARY 2017
3
10
19
26
CANNON BEACH FIRE AND RESCUE
Cannon Beach Police Of-
fi cer Matthew Nunnal-
ly and fi refi ghter Brian
Smith share holiday cheer
while volunteering at the
American Legion Christ-
mas Basket program.
7:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD - The Design Review
Board meeting November 17, 2016 was cancelled.
At their December 15, 2016 meeting the Design
Review Board discussed:
FS 16-04, for Wayfarer Restaurant, Located at 1190
Pacific Drive. The applicant, Dave Norstedt, was
seeking approval for two freestanding signs for
the Wayfarer Restaurant. The signs will replace
two existing signs previously approved. Ap-
proved
PLANNING COMMISSION
- At their November 22,
2016, meeting the Planning
Commission discussed:
V 16-06, Vonada Variance
Application to Allow an Ex-
isting Entry Deck to Remain
in the Front-yard Setback
to Facilitate Placement of a
New Access Ramp at 524 N
Ash. Approved
P 16-02, Cannon Beach
Holdings LLC, Partition Re-
quest for 1371 S Hemlock,
Location of Pelican Pub.
Approved
Discussed the annual
parking management plan
review.
At their December 22, 2016
meeting the Planning Com-
mission discussed:
CU 16-05, Cannon Beach
Academy request for a
conditional use permit to
allow a temporary location
for Cannon Beach Acad-
emy Charter School at 171
Sunset. The applicant was
previously approved for a
condition use permit (CU
15-02) which has expired.
CP 16-01, City of Cannon Beach request for Zon-
ing Ordinance text amendment, specifically, the
amendment of tree removal ordnance, chapter
17.70, Tree Removal.
Discussed the annual parking management plan
review.
• The Cannon Beach Recycle Center is open Tuesday - Sunday, 8am - 4pm for resi-
dential and commercial use;
• City Hall will be closed Monday January 2, 2017 in observance of the New Year
Holiday.
• City Hall will be closed Monday January 16, 2017 in observance of the Martin
Luther King, Jr Holiday.
Haystack Rock Awareness Program’s Wish List 2017
Education:
Acorn Naturalist (www.acornnaturalists.com): Marine Algae Printing Kit QTY 1 #t-
22219 – $61.95; Fish Printing – QTY 3 Sea Star Replica #fp-9990 $12.95 per, QTY 2
Flounder Replica #fp-9996 $19.95 per, QTY 1 Salmon Replica #fp-14028 $19.95 per;
Bird Track Mold Kit – QTY 1 #mo-24439 $94.95
Nature-Watch (www.nature-watch.com): Animal Track Molds QTY 1 #248z $133.20,
Peregrine Falcon Puppet QTY 1 #431c $39.99
Beach - Volunteers
Amazon (www.amazon.com): Optics: Vortex Diamondback 10x42 binoculars QTY 6
$199.99 per; Clothing: Wantdo Unisex Outdoors Hooded Waterproof Vest Red QTY
10 $29.86 per various sizes
Englund Marine in Astoria or www.englundmarine.com: Muck Wetland Field Boots
QTY 5 $128.95 per various sizes
We are in search of beach volunteers for the 2017 season. Please contact: Lisa
Habecker, Education & Volunteer Coordinator 503.436.8064, habecker@ci.cannon-
beach.or.us
NOTICE OF VACANCIES
CITY COMMISSIONS, BOARDS & COMMITTEES
The City of Cannon Beach is seeking applications for the following vacancies:
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE: THREE (3) vacancies to fill four-year
terms. 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. The Emergency Preparedness Com-
mittee normally holds its regular meetings on the last Friday of each month at 10:00
a.m. and may schedule work sessions as needed.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: TWO (2) vacancies to fill four-year terms. One va-
cancy is open immediately, one begins January 1, 2017. The primary responsibility of
the Public Works Committee is to review all public works projects and make recom-
mendations to City Council. The Public Works Committee holds its regular meeting on
the third Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m.
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
appointment; or at the time of appointment, shall have owned real property lo-
cated within the city or its urban growth boundary for at least one year immediately
preceding appointment. 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 consideration at the February 7, 2017 City Council
meeting, applications must be returned to Colleen Riggs, Assistant City Manager, Can-
non Beach City Hall, at P.O. Box 368, Cannon Beach, OR 97110 by 4:00 p.m., Monday
January 30, 2017. Late applications will not be accepted. For more information, please
contact Colleen Riggs by email or phone at (503) 436-8052.
Brandon Ogilvie and Nancy McCarthy
will be sworn in to serve on the City of Cannon Beach City Council
at the January 3, 2017 City Council Meeting.