May 19, 2017 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 5A
How the Merchant Mariners protected our shores
M
ay 22 is National Maritime
Day, and a day on which we
should all take a moment
to thank those who protected our
shores.
Maritime Day, which fi rst became
a national holiday in 1933, is a day
of celebration and contemplation for
many coastal residents and history
buffs, for whom it is as important as
President’s Day. It is a day meant to
honor Merchant Mariners, at fi rst for
their bravery during the American
Revolution, and later for their in-
strumental roles in every single war
America has ever fought.
When many of us think of the
term “mariner,” we might think of
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,”
one of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s
longest poems, and one of my per-
sonal favorites:
“He holds him with his glittering
eye — The Wedding-Guest stood
still, And listens like a three years’
child: The Mariner hath his will. The
Wedding-Guest sat on a stone: He
cannot choose but hear; And thus
spake on that ancient man, The
bright-eyed Mariner. ‘The ship was
cheer’d, the harbour clear’d, Merrily
did we drop Below the kirk, below
the hill, Below the lighthouse top.”
supplies, and then they captured both
captains.
The remaining British soldiers
fl ed to the Margaretta; while citizens
lined the shore yelling, “Surrender to
America!”
The British replied, “Fire and be
damned!”
Jeremiah O’Brien and 40 men
armed with guns, swords, and even
pitchforks scrambled aboard the
Unity and set course for HMS Mar-
garetta. What few supplies of lumber
there were available on the ship were
used as defense against cannon fi re.
However, with out an arsenal aboard,
the crew of the Unity slammed
into the side of the Margaretta and
stormed the ship.
Jeremiah O’Brien went on to
captain a private ship called the
Machias Liberty. He captured two
more British schooners and delivered
prisoners directly to George Wash-
ington in later years.
In 1936 the Merchant Marine Act
made all American civilian ships mil-
itary personnel during times of war.
The mariners played important roles
in World War I, World War II and
even the Korean confl ict.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor
in 1941, civilian shipping vessels
REFLECTIONS
ELAINE TRUCKE
How many of you have felt your-
selves transfi xed by a mariner with a
glittering eye? The life of a mariner,
as depicted by Coleridge, was a hard
one and one that few would choose.
Merchant mariners trace their
heroic beginnings to the American
Revolutionary War, when in 1775
civilians from Machias, Maine, en-
gaged a British warship in battle.
According to “Maine: A Guide
Down East,” the Merchant Marines
got their start at a port in Maine
when HMS Margaretta arrived in
Machias with two sloops — the Uni-
ty and the Polly — carrying supplies
for British soldiers in Boston.
The British found that they were
not as welcome as they had hoped.
Citizens there had heard of the
battles of Concord and Lexington
and were in no mood to welcome the
British and their supply ships.
According to U.S. Merchant
Marine history, citizens of Machi-
as decided to strip the sloops of
were again called upon to defend
America. Merchant mariners under-
went extensive training and faced
formidable odds
bringing supplies
to allied troops.
Even here at
the coast, local
lumber shipping
vessels were
called to war,
defending from
San Francisco to
Grey’s Harbor
and Puget Sound.
According to the
U.S. Navy, sev-
eral steam-pow-
ered schooners,
fi shing trawlers,
freighters, and
even passengers
ships out of
Oregon were
fi red upon or lost at sea.
Two ships reported out of Coos
Bay that were torpedoed were the SS
George Olson and the SS Cynthia
Olson. The War Shipping Admin-
istration reports that over 1,500
merchant vessels were sunk during
World War II.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
said this of the merchant mariners:
“(Mariners) have written one of
its most brilliant chapters. They have
delivered the goods when and where
needed in every
theater of opera-
tions and across
every ocean in
the biggest, the
most diffi cult
and dangerous
job ever under-
taken. As time
goes on, there
will be greater
public under-
standing of our
merchant’s fl eet
record during this
war (World War
II).”
In 2002,
George W. Bush
amended the
national maritime
holiday to include merchant mariners
instrumental in the Gulf War. Ac-
cording to this amendment, mariners
who participated in the Gulf War
were vital to one of the largest sealift
operation since D-Day. Today, there
are approximately 450 different Mer-
chant Marine ships still in operation.
Smith, Mekenas return; Lum, Stelson elected
Cannon Beach Rural Fire and
Protection District incumbents Garry
Smith and Mark Mekenas both ran
unopposed and will remain on the
board. Smith and Mekenas will serve
two-year terms.
Smith, a fi refi ghter with 35 years
experience and six years on the board
of directors, won with 258 votes.
Mekenas, owner of Cannon Beach
Surf and the Beach Store since 1998,
fi lled a vacant board seat in 2015 and
won with 259 votes.
Seaside School District
The Seaside School District Board
of Directors showed two competitive
board races. In fi nal unoffi cial results,
in Gearhart’s Zone 3, Position 1, Lori
Lum took 75 percent of the vote over
A.J. Wahl, with 1,425 votes to Wahl’s
527 in fi lling the seat vacated by Lynn
Ulbricht. Director Zone 6, Position 2,
the other contested race, showed in-
cumbent Hugh Stelson taking 57 per-
cent of the votes, with 1,063, votes to
Karen Custer’s 775.
Two other seats
were uncontested. Mi-
chelle Wunderlich re-
ceived 1,517 votes in
Zone 7, Position 1 in
running for the vacat-
ed at-large seat of Tom
Maltman. Brian Taylor Lori Lum-
Toyooka
received 1,520 votes in
Cannon Beach’s Zone
2, Position 2.
Three seats, held by Chairman
Steve Phillips, Vice-chairman Mark
Truax and Patrick Nofi eld of Cannon
Beach were not up for election on the
seven-person board.
“I appreciate the chance to keep
working with the other board mem-
bers and the district staff to improve
educational opportunities and out-
comes for all our kids,” Stelson said
Wednesday. “The next few years are
very exciting for new facilities, but a
bit treacherous from the state funding
and PERS perspective. As usual I ex-
pect we will try to make the best of
wherever we fi nd ourselves.”
over fi ve years for fi re equipment and
personnel, to be split three ways: for
self-contained breathing apparatus;
a new ladder truck; and funding for
the department’s training and safety
offi cer. The measure passed by 72
percent.
Hugh
Stelson
Brian
Taylor
Michelle
Wunderlich
“I’m so thankful and thrilled to
be elected to the Seaside School Dis-
trict Board,” Lum said. “I feel fortu-
nate to be able to work with the ad-
ministrators, teachers and parents to
ensure the growth and development
of our children. These kids are our
future.”
Directors will begin their four-
year terms in August, Superintendent
Sheila Roley said at Tuesday’s board
meeting, as there is no July meeting
scheduled.
Seaside Fire
Seaside voters endorsed Local Op-
tion 4-186, approving $2.018 million
SEPRD
In Seaside’s Sunset Empire Park
and Recreation District, Veronica
Russell defeated Kindwyn Hoge with
74 percent of the vote for Position 1.
Hoge had said before the election she
would decline the role if elected due
to a threatening letter sent to her op-
ponent.
Other directors in the district, Mi-
chael Hinton in Position 3, Jeremy
Mills in Position 2; Edward Hassan in
Position 4 and Alan Evans in Position
5 all won seats unopposed.
District board members serve
four-year terms. Hassan and Evans,
who fi lled unexpired terms, will serve
two years and could run for re-elec-
tion in 2019.
M U N I C I PA L M E M O
MAY 2017
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
Of Interest...
JUNE 2017
6
13
15
22
City Council Regular Meeting
City Council Special Meeting
& Work Session
Design Review Board
Planning Commission
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, May
2, 2017
• Adopted Ordinance 17-06, For the Pur-
pose of Amending Municipal Code, Chap-
ter 2, to Establish Section 2.38, Emergency
Preparedness Committee, Establishing
Rules and Regulations for its Governance
and Prescribing the
Powers and Duties
of Said Emergency
Preparedness Com-
mittee;
• Adopted Resolu-
tion 17-07, For the
Purpose of Approv-
ing Changes to the
FY 2016-17 Budget
by Increasing Ap-
propriations in the
General Fund to
Allow for a Specific
Purpose Donation
from the Friends of
Haystack Rock;
• Adopted Resolution
17-08, For the Pur-
pose of Declaring
Cannon Beach as a
City of Inclusivity;
• Adopted Resolu-
tion 17-09, For the
Purpose of Adopt-
ing the Parks Master
Plan;
• Adopted Resolution
17-10, For the Pur-
pose of Endorsing
the Clean Energy
Jobs Bill;
• Adopted Procla-
mation 17-04; Declaring May 21 – 27 as
Emergency Medical Services Week;
• Accepted A-17-01, a Petition for An-
nexation of a Two-Acre Parcel at 82743
Elkwood Mountain Road;
• Continued A-17-01, an Appeal of an
Administrative Decision to Suspend the
Short-Term Rental Permit for 3523 Pacific
Street;
• Reviewed and suggested changes to the
7:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
Annual Parking Plan. Directed staff to
incorporate their comments and bring the
plan back to the June Council meeting.
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION, May 9,
2017
• Discussed implementing timed parking
along Hemlock St, and
cross streets 1st, 2nd
and 3rd on a trial ba-
sis to free up parking
during the summer
season: a goal from
the strategic planning
session last year;
•
Finance Direc-
tor Laurie Sawrey
presented the 3rd
Quarter FYE 2017
Finance Report;
•
Discussed the
proposed Construc-
tion Excise Tax as one
of the ways to assist
with the funding of
the affordable hous-
ing program; a goal
from the strategic
planning session last
year;
•
Discussed the
purchase of software
to assist staff with
tracking deadlines
and progress of the
many new grants and
programs of the city.
DESIGN REVIEW
BOARD – The Design
Review Board meeting scheduled for May 18,
2017 at 6:00pm. has been cancelled.
PLANNING COMMISSION - The Planning
Commission meeting of April 27th was
cancelled.
The Planning Commission is scheduled to
meet May 22nd for a work session and again
on May 25th.
The Cannon Beach Recycle Center is open
Tuesday - Sunday, 8am - 4pm for residential and
commercial use.
COMING SOON
Cannon Beach Farmers Market
Tuesdays starting June 13th
2:00 – 5:00pm: Fresh produce, natural meats,
wild-caught seafood, cheeses, baked goods,
honey, mushrooms, artisan food products &
flowers
1:00 – 5:00 pm: Lunch and live music, wine tast-
ing & local community groups
NOTICE OF VACANCIES
CITY COMMISSIONS, BOARDS
& COMMITTEES
The City of Cannon Beach is seeking applica-
tions for the following vacancies:
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: TWO (2)
vacancies to fill four-year terms. The primary
responsibility of the Public Works Committee is
to review all public works projects and make rec-
ommendations to City Council. The Public Works
Committee holds its regular meeting on the third
Tuesday of each month at 9:00am.
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 located within the city or its urban
growth boundary for at least one year imme-
diately preceding appointment. Council has
implemented an interview process consisting of
a set of questions particular to each committee/
board or commission and written answers must
be submitted with the application. Applica-
tions with questions are available at City Hall,
163 E. Gower Street, Cannon Beach, by email
addressed to riggs@ci.cannon-beach.or.us, or
online at . For consideration at the June 6, 2017
City Council meeting, applications must be re-
turned to Colleen Riggs, Assistant City Manager,
Cannon Beach City Hall, at P.O. Box 368, Cannon
Beach, OR 97110 by 4:00 p.m., May 26, 2017.
Late applications will not be accepted. For more
information, please contact Colleen Riggs by
email or phone at (503) 436-8052.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Wednesday, May 24
Cannon Beach Budget Meeting,
5:30 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
Thursday, May 25
Cannon Beach Planning Commis-
sion, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
Friday, May 26
Cannon Beach Emergency Pre-
paredness Committee, 10 a.m.,
City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
Tuesday, June 6
Cannon Beach City Council, 7 p.m.,
City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
Monday, June 12
Cannon Beach Rural Fire Depart-
ment Board, 6 p.m., Fire-Rescue
Main Station, 188 Sunset Ave.
Tuesday, June 13
Cannon Beach Public Works
Committee, 9 a.m., City Hall, 163
E. Gower St.
Cannon Beach City Council, 5:30
p.m., work session, City Hall, 163 E.
Gower St.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
MAYOR: Sam Steidel
COUNCILORS: Mike Benefield,
Nancy McCarthy, Brandon
Ogilvie and George Vetter
CITY MANAGER: Brant Kucera
HAYSTACK ROCK AWARENESS
PROGRAM
Why does HRAP need volunteers?
Thousands of people visit Cannon Beach
every summer, and many are drawn to our local
monolith, Haystack Rock. With a small seasonal
staff team and limited funds, HRAP depends on
volunteers to accomplish its goals. Volunteers
play a crucial role in educating the public and
visiting school groups while promoting steward-
ship of our natural treasure.
What do volunteers do? 
Volunteers do all sorts of things. Most visible
are the beach interpreters who educate visitors
about the amazing marine and bird life at Hay-
stack Rock. Some on the beach duties include:
setting up the trailer display, manning bird
scopes, guiding tidepool tours, and reminding
people about the rules of the rock. Volunteers
also help organize potlucks, update educational
materials and many other activities.
Why volunteer? 
HRAP volunteers are part of an exciting
outdoor education program! Our staff and
volunteers have diverse backgrounds and talents
making our team dynamic and interesting. Vol-
unteering is a great way to meet people from all
over and to learn more about this special part of
the world. Our program began with volunteers
in 1985 and will only persist in the future with the
help of volunteers.
I know nothing about tidepool life or birds. Can
I still help? 
Of course! The only requirements are interest
and enthusiasm! Staff is always present on the
beach to help answer questions. Many of our vol-
unteers start with little knowledge, but gain a lot
quickly by simply volunteering. HRAP also hosts
three trainings each year to help both volunteers
and staff gain the knowledge needed to be a
successful interpreter.
Until the next training, check out our links
page to find websites that provide basic marine
biology, fun tidepool tidbits, photos and seabird
information. Also check out our HRAP resource
links below.
I’m not sure about being on the beach. How else
can I help?
We can use you! Serving on a committee,
donating equipment and services, assisting with
mailing --again, interest and enthusiasm are the
only requirements.
Okay, you convinced me. How do I sign up?
Simply contact HRAP’s volunteer coordina-
tor at (503) 436-8064 or Habecker@ci.cannon-
beach.or.us.