10A • January 13, 2017 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com
Cannon Beach beckons to bike advocate
Chamber marketing
manager has passion for
racing bikes
By Lyra Fontaine
Cannon Beach Gazette
While growing up in Seattle and living in
Portland, Matthew Weintraub entertained the
idea of living in a small, remote town — in the
mountains or on the coast — where he could
have a personal connection with his communi-
ty.
In July, this idea became a reality when
Weintraub moved to Cannon Beach for a job
as destination marketing manager at the city’s
Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s been a fast half of the year so far,” he
said.
The 7-minute bike ride to work, good cof-
fee and small-town feel are just a few things
that Weintraub enjoys about Cannon Beach.
“It’s really nice being able to walk around
and people know your name and ask you how
you’ve been, not because you’re important but
because we’re all here and we all care about
our neighbors,” he said. “There’s a sense of
community support.”
Weintraub previously lived in Portland. As
the associate regional director for the Interna-
tional Mountain Biking Association’s Pacific
Northwest region, he worked on mountain
biking advocacy, education and helping to pro-
vide access to trails.
“Being able to have a positive impact on
my recreational community across four states
… I think that’s a pretty empowering thing to
wake up to every morning,” he said.
Weintraub’s passion for racing bikes be-
gan when he was 14. In graduate school, he
started a side business for Seattle area bicycle
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Matthew Weintraub, the Cannon Beach
Chamber of Commerce destination mar-
keting manager, moved to town in July.
events, such as festivals and races. That led
him to work for regional and state organiza-
tions, then the International Mountain Biking
Association.
Weintraub holds bachelor’s and master’s
degrees in forestry from the University of
Washington. While studying ecology, climate
dynamics and tree growth, he realized his skills
were best used through policy and advocacy
work.
At the International Mountain Biking As-
sociation, Weintraub educated communities on
how recreation can financially benefit cities.
Working on destination development projects
connected him to Travel Oregon and eventually
to the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce.
‘A lot of fun’
After working on federal or statewide land
access issues, Weintraub said working in a small
community is “a lot of fun.”
“It’s nice to be able to develop a program on
your own and see it to fruition,” Weintraub said.
“There’s a high degree of fulfillment and person-
al satisfaction in that. It’s on a very real scale.”
At the chamber, Weintraub’s tasks range from
posting on Instagram to planning marketing ef-
forts for the year and coordinating arts festivals
or business after-hours events. A major part of
his job is marketing Cannon Beach to group
events like conferences.
Since Cannon Beach is at maximum capac-
ity during summer months, Weintraub said the
chamber does not advertise in the summer and
instead encourages visitors during the off-sea-
son.
“We look for other opportunities,” he said.
“We’re trying to find a way to temporally di-
versify financial benefits of tourism during the
entire year.”
In his spare time, Weintraub takes advantage
of the North Coast’s recreational opportunities
by fishing, running and biking.
Although he rides his bike throughout town,
he hopes the city will foster more recreational
opportunities and promote different modes of
transportation.
Enhancing bike paths and ensuring cross-
walks are well-marked could make a difference
for pedestrians and cyclists, he said. “I think the
answer is to create awareness.”
Weintraub also appreciates the local arts
scene.
“I have had a wonderful time exploring all of
the art galleries,” he said. “We have some talent-
ed artists here.”
He makes a point to spend time at the ocean
every day, for “more than just a fleeting glimpse.”
“I think we’re incredibly fortunate to literally
live at the edge of the continent here,” Weintraub
said. “I don’t know if I’m going to live here for
the next 65 years of my life, so I might as well
enjoy it every day I can.”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Artist Blue Bond leads two workshops in
Cannon Beach.
Learn to paint
with Blue Bond
Creative Coast, a new program of Can-
non Beach Arts Association, presents two
acrylics painting workshops with artist Blue
Bond Saturday, Jan. 14. All materials, plus
coffee and tea, will be provided.
The morning session, drawing a baby
owl, takes place from 10 a.m. to noon, fol-
lowed by a sunflower painting class from 2
to 4 p.m.. Both sessions will be held at the
Creative Coast Project Space in Sandpiper
Square and are limited to 10 participants
per session.
Further information can be found at
cannonbeacharts.org or by calling 503-436-
4426. Creative Coast hours are Wednesday
through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Creative
Coast is located in Sandpiper Square.
Community trust director Burr steps down
Dale Cramer Burr
Lower Nehalem Community
Trust’s executive director Dale
Cramer Burr left her position at
the end of 2016. An interim is
sought to run the organization
while a search for a full-time ex-
ecutive director is undertaken.
Candidates interested in the
interim position should contact
board chair, Allan Olson at allan@
nehalemtrust.org.
Staff members who will con-
tinue to lead the trust’s day-to-day
operations include stewardship
coordinator Max Broderick, office
manager Mary Corey, and garden
coordinator Karen Mathews.
Volunteers donated more than
5,000 hours of service to the trust
in 2016.
Founded in 2002, the trust fo-
cuses both on land protection in
the lower Nehalem River region
and small-scale farm operations at
Alder Creek Farm.
Development pressures on the
coast can threaten wild and natu-
ral areas, and the trust’s focus on
community conservation helps
maintain a balance between de-
velopment and open space that’s
protected forever.
The farm features a native
plant nursery, community garden,
greenhouse, ethnobotanical trail,
and wildlife sanctuary.
Yoga festival offers upcoming weekend workshops
Registration open
for annual event
Yoga instructors and practi-
tioners of all levels can participate
in yoga workshops, meditation
classes and other programs over
four days at the seventh annual
Cannon Beach Yoga Festival, to
be held Feb. 24 to 27. A line-up
of world-renowned yoga teachers
will present programs for yoga
professionals and enthusiasts.
Guest instructors include Alan
and Sarah Finger, co-founders of
ISHTA Yoga and the style’s name-
sake studios in Manhattan; Julie
Gudmestad, a certified Iyengar
yoga teacher and physical thera-
pist, director of Gudmestad Yoga
Studio in Portland and columnist
for Yoga Journal; Sarahjoy Marsh,
a yoga teacher, therapist and
founder of DAYA Foundation, a
nonprofit yoga center in Portland;
and Aadil Palkhivala, author of the
book “Fire of Love,” co-owner of
Alive & Shine Center in Bellevue,
SUBMITTED PHOTOS BY SARAH MCALLISTER PHOTOGRAPHY
Guest instructors include Julie Gudmestad, a certified Iyengar yoga
teacher and physical therapist.
Yoga Figure Drawing will be of-
fered again this year.
skeletal structures and movement
patterns in relation to the yoga
asanas.
Yoga Figure Drawing will be
offered again this year, as well
as a Saturday class on Forward
Bending to sooth the heart and
nerves and the popular Saturday
night Bollywood Dance Party,
among others.
Full Festival Passes for the
Cannon Beach Yoga Festival are
$375 for Saturday and Sunday.
Participants can also choose to
purchase a Saturday Pass for $210
or a Sunday Pass for $190. Indi-
vidual events and workshops are
priced between $30 and $175.
For a full schedule of events,
list of instructors or to purchase
tickets for the Cannon Beach
Yoga Festival, visit www.Cannon-
BeachYogaFestival.com or call
Christen Allsop at 503-440-1649.
Washington, and co-founder of in-
ternationally acclaimed advanced
yoga-asana teacher training pro-
gram of Purna Yoga College.
A variety of classes will be
offered including opportunities
for yogis of all ages and experi-
ence levels. Highlights include
a four-part series on Anatomy
Awareness in Asana, designed
to acquaint participants with an-
atomical vocabulary, musculo-
OF PLACES YOU CAN PICK UP A
COMPLIMENTARY COPY OF THE
LOTS G
Adam Miller
The life
and times
of Woody
Guthrie
The Friends of the Seaside Library wel-
come folksinger, storyteller, and autoharp
virtuoso Adam Miller, on Thursday, Jan. 26,
at 7 p.m. The musical program will tell the
story of the life and times of Woody Guth-
rie.
Guthrie wrote more than 1,000 songs in
his lifetime and his musical legacy includes
political, traditional, and children’s songs,
along with ballads and improvised works.
One of the premier autoharpists in the
world, Miller is a renowned American folk-
singer and storyteller. An accomplished
folklorist, historian, musicologist, and song
collector, he has amassed a repertoire of
over 5,000 songs.
Miller accompanies his baritone voice
with lively finger-picking acoustic guitar
and autoharp melodies.
Miller has performed at the Walnut Val-
ley Bluegrass Festival, the Tumbleweed
Music Festival, and the Kentucky Music
Weekend.
The Seaside Public Library is located at
1131 Broadway. The concert takes place in
the Community Room. For more informa-
tion call 503-738-6742 or visit www.sea-
sidelibrary.org.
We have the Sweetest Treats for your Valentine!
CANNON BEACH
AZETTE
CANNON BEACH
Cannon Beach Bakery
Cannon Beach Book Company
Cannon Beach Beach Store
Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce
Cannon Beach City Hall
Cannon Beach Conference Center
Cannon Beach Family Market
Cannon Beach Historical Center
Cannon Beach Hotel
Cannon Beach Liquor Store
Cannon Beach Property Management
Cannon Beach RV Resort
Cannon Beach Vacation Rentals
Cascade Sotheby’s Realty
Duane Johnson Real Estate
Ecola Creek Lodge
EVOO
Hallmark Inns & Resorts
Inn at Cannon Beach
Inn at Haystack Rock
Mariner Market
Martin Hospitality
Mo’s Restaurant
Picnic Basket
Pig ‘N Pancake
Purple Moon/Morris’ Fireside Restaurant
RE/MAX Coastal Advantage
Sea Ranch RV Park
Sea Sprite at Haystack RockSea Sprite on the Estuary
Surfcrest Market
Sweet Basil’s Cafe & The Wine Bar
The Land’s End Motel
The Ocean Lodge
The Stephanie Inn
The Waves Motel
Tolovana Inn
US Bank/La Luna Loca
Windermere Stellar Real Estate
SEASIDE
Providence Seaside Hospital
Rite Aid
Safeway
Seaside Outlet Center
Seaside Signal/Cannon Beach Gazette Office
GEARHART
Windermere Stellar Real Estate
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2 LOCATIONS
Downtown Cannon Beach 503-436-2641
Seaside Outlet Mall 503-738-7828
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