December 1, 2017 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 5A
We’re part of a community that responds at times of need
O
n Dec. 2, 2007, the people of
Cannon Beach Community
Church were enjoying our
annual Christmas Pageant on a
Sunday morning when the power
went out just as the last angel was
walking off the stage at the end
of the worship service. So began
the longest and largest community
potluck in the history of Cannon
Beach, a six-day feast that fed more
than 2,000 people at the Cannon
Beach community shelter that week
of the Great Coastal Gale.
During previous decade, Cannon
Beach Community Church had been
preparing for such an event, work-
ing closely with the American Red
Cross, the city of Cannon Beach,
and Cannon Beach Fire and Res-
cue, developing detailed emergency
plans, including a shelter agreement
with the Red Cross, and installation
of gas-powered portable generator
hook-ups to power the church build-
ing during an emergency. In Decem-
ber 2006, we opened as a community
shelter for the first time during a
four-day power outage, a helpful
rehearsal for what came a year later.
On Monday, Dec. 3, 2007,
Community Church was the first
shelter to open in Clatsop County. A
GUEST COLUMN
DAVID ROBINSON
Lead Pastor, Cannon Beach
Community Church
portable generator provided by the
city of Cannon Beach powered the
lights and heat in the church build-
ing. Marlene Laws and my wife,
Trina Robinson, brought the first
meal Monday afternoon to begin the
week-long community potluck.
Volunteers, including members
of Community Church and residents
of Cannon Beach, ran the commu-
nity shelter in Cannon Beach. Rose
Mays stepped in to serve as com-
munity shelter director. Registered
nurses from Clatsop County Health
Department, including Margo Lalich
and Trina Robinson helped to see
that the shelter offered a healthy
environment for all guests.
Local citizens brought in food
as a grand community potluck
serving 200 to 500 people per day.
Mid-week, local restaurants began
providing food to feed shelter
guests, with food donations from
the Wayfarer, Pig ’N Pancake, Bella
Espresso, Seasons, Sleepy Monk
Coffee, Fultano’s, EVOO, Tolovana
Inn, Mariner Market, and the Arch
Cape Deli.
I recall Josh Archibald, execu-
tive chef at the Wayfarer serving up
halibut Steverino and stuffed mush-
rooms at one of the dinners. Shelter
guests broke out with applause as
food was served meal after meal at
the Shelter during this storm.
Over 75 volunteers worked 300
hours to staff the Cannon Beach
Community Shelter, including public
health employees, Coast Guard
airmen, local residents, and members
of Community Church. There was a
festive mood among the guests at the
shelter, with gratitude for a warm,
lighted place to gather during one of
the longest power outages in recent
history. Guests included senior cit-
izens, Seaside residents working in
Cannon Beach, fire-rescue volun-
teers, state troopers, public health
employees, Pacific Power linemen,
guests from hotels, low-income
families, pet owners and their pets,
and people with disabilities.
The shelter was closed on Satur-
day, Dec. 9, 2007, when power was
restored to most of Cannon Beach.
In the 10 years since the Great
Coastal Gale, Community Church
‘Our community
volunteers are like
angels walking
among us, bringing
light in the darkness.’
has made some major steps to-
wards improving services during an
emergency. We installed a gas range
that work in a power outage. We
partnered with our local ham radio
operators to install ham radio equip-
ment for use at the church during an
emergency.
We partnered with the city of
Cannon Beach to create a commu-
nity shelter agreement with shelter
supplies provided by the city and
stored at the church. Mike Clark
donated a natural gas generator
that was permanently installed at
Community Church to provide
power for light and warmth during
future emergencies. We again have
partnered with the American Red
Cross to open the church building
as a Red Cross emergency shelter in
any emergency.
As lead pastor of Cannon Beach
Community Church, I was delight-
ed with the weeklong community
potluck we witnessed 10 years ago,
and the hospitality that welcomed
people so warmly. I am grateful for
the people of Cannon Beach Com-
munity Church along with the cit-
izens of Cannon Beach who know
how to step up and generously care
for others during difficult times.
I celebrate our many community
volunteers who help others, includ-
ing those in the local church, those
who serve in emergency prepared-
ness or as community emergency
response team volunteers, and
those who volunteer with our fire/
rescue districts. There are hundreds
of people who volunteer faithfully,
helping us be more prepared along
the north Oregon coast for the next
great coastal gale, as well as for the
even bigger danger of the Cascadia
zone earthquake/tsunami. Our com-
munity volunteers are like angels
walking among us, bringing light in
the darkness.
David Robinson has been lead
pastor of Cannon Beach Community
Church since 1993. He is author
of numerous books on spirituality
including “Ancient Paths: Discover
Christian Formation the Benedic-
tine Way” (Paraclete, 2010).
OBITUARIES
William Walter Boone
David H. Burns
Hamlet
Aug. 17, 1951 — Nov. 4, 2017
Terrebonne
Sept. 24, 1941 — Nov. 20, 2017
William Walter Boone passed away peace- er young people in the community.
fully at home, surrounded by his wife and
A natural leader with a calm and quiet
children, on Nov. 4, 2017. Born on Aug. 17, hand, his tenure as chief oversaw expansion
1951, and raised in Portland, William (Bill) of the department, the construction of two
was the third child of four born to
fire stations, and steady upgrad-
ing of equipment. Over the years,
Harold and Virginia Boone. His
he helped thousands of people at
older sisters, Debra and Carol Lee,
hundreds of emergency scenes,
welcomed his arrival, and a couple
and was a comforting presence for
of years later he was followed by
those in need of help.
his brother, Daniel.
Bill grew up boating, whitewa-
Bill loved good food, and he
ter kayaking, and fishing on Or-
liked to cook. Dinner was often
egon rivers. At age 19, he spent a
the highlight of his day, whether he
summer traveling solo in Europe,
was out at a restaurant or cooking
and upon his return home, attend-
it himself, and he enjoyed teaching
William “Bill”
ed the University of Oregon in Eu-
his kids how to cook. He also loved
Boone
gene.
live music, especially the blues,
Bill worked as a cook at Rian’s
and was a regular attendee, with
Fish House in Portland in the early 1970s, his children and granddaughter most years,
where he met his wife, Deborah, who worked at the annual Waterfront Blues Festival in
there as a waitress. In 1974, Bill and Debby Portland. He was a familiar face at small live
married and moved into an old house near music venues in the area, and always enjoyed
Hamlet that underwent a slow and consistent a good show.
remodeling project for nearly 40 years. Their
He taught his children to love the out-
daughter, Wendy, was born in 1978, and their doors, wildlife, and the forest environment.
Both fondly recall time in the woods with
son, Peter, in 1981.
Bill was a dedicated parent to both chil- Dad falling trees, moving logs, cutting fire-
dren, teaching them to work hard, to be pa- wood, clearing ditches, watching animals
tient, to respect all beings, and to serve their and learning to identify their tracks, picking
community however they can. When his mushrooms, and tending newly planted trees.
young daughter finally convinced him that
He had his favorite trees, old giants that
she needed a horse, Bill cleared a pasture, he watched change and grow over the years,
taught her how to build a fence, and bought and he carried a wealth of knowledge about
her two horses. When his son, Peter, wanted the many different varieties that grow on his
a cabin, they designed and built a cabin on property. Bill loved his property, which he
skids that they could move around the prop- called “the place,” but at the same time he
erty with an old Allis Chalmers dozer.
recognized that it wasn’t just his. It belonged
Bill also coached soccer teams for both to all the living things that inhabited it, and he
kids, and spent countless hours watching was just one of those things.
games in the wind and rain. He was a great
Bill loved to fish, and enjoyed vacations
listener, and gently helped his kids with sub- in his middle and later years to Mexico and
tle advice and wise counsel as they grew up Canada to fish and enjoy life with friends and
and navigated a challenging world.
family. Despite these storied and much-en-
Bill began working construction for a joyed trips, he was just as happy to wade the
local builder soon after moving to the area, rivers at home with a fly rod. He taught his
and learned to be a skilled carpenter and son Peter to fish for salmon and steelhead,
craftsman. A natural entrepreneur, he oper- and although a good fish was always cele-
ated Charlie Creek Supply, selling building brated, he also taught his son to truly appreci-
materials, and then started Boone Construc- ate a day on the water even if no fish were in-
tion Inc. in 1976. The business successfully volved. Bill loved spending time on his boat,
weathered the economic ups and downs for and especially enjoyed an overnight voyage
40 years until his retirement in June 2016, up the Columbia River with his granddaugh-
and the many beautiful homes he built and ter, Jacqui. His children both have wonder-
remodeled for his clients can be found along ful memories of fishing with Dad, and both
learned to love the outdoors as much as he
the coast from Manzanita to Gearhart.
Many of his clients became good friends, did. Bill took up elk hunting when he and
as they found themselves connected to Bill Debby moved to the coast, and because of his
far beyond the business relationship. A ca- love for animals, he was selective about the
pable man, he was also a self-taught plumb- animals he chose to harvest. He would drive
er, electrician, sport logger, mechanic, road his son nuts by passing up legal bulls if he
builder, bridge builder, and thanks to his thought they would be old and tough, or dif-
ficult to pack out.
young daughter, occasional horse wrangler.
Bill joined the Hamlet Volunteer Fire De-
Bill had many friends from all walks of
partment in 1975, and became fire chief in life, and was loved by many. He loved a good
1991. He served as chief until he retired from story, whether he was telling or listening, and
the department in 2016, thus ending a 40-plus loved to share a good laugh. He was much
year career with the volunteer fire service. loved and will be dearly missed.
Bill believed strongly in a sense of civic duty,
Memorial donations can be made to the
and shared this commitment to public service Hamlet Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box
with both of his own children, as well as oth- 765, Seaside, OR 97138.
David H. Burns of Terrebonne, Oregon, He later became an award-winning real estate
passed away Nov. 20, 2017, following a coura- agent in Clatsop County. David was a published
geous battle against ALS. He was 76.
novelist as well; he spent his entire life writing,
Born in South Bend, Washington, on Sept. and was an avid reader.
He is survived by his loving wife
24, 1941, David moved several times
and life mate of 48 years, Susie; their
as a boy, spending time in Minnesota
two daughters, Lisa Burns Palm-
and North Dakota, before he ended
er (Aaron) and Jami Burns Barker
up living in Oregon logging camps
(Scott); two grandchildren, Sophie
as a teen. He graduated from Forest
Elle Palmer and Henry David Palm-
Grove High School.
er; a sister, Darlene Winnett (Bill) of
David was a U.S. Navy sonar
Gilbert, Arizona; a brother, James
technician during the Vietnam era.
“Bud” Burns (Donna) of Hillsboro,
Upon his discharge, he continued his
Oregon; as well as nieces and neph-
education at Portland Community
ews.
College and Portland State Universi-
David Burns
David was a beloved member of
ty. He later became a correspondent
his church and community, and will
for the Oregon Journal newspaper.
be deeply missed by his family and
He and his family lived many
years on the Oregon coast in Seaside and Can- all who had the honor of knowing him.
A memorial service is scheduled for Dec. 9,
non Beach, and he and his wife, Susie, were
business owners in Astoria during the early 2017, at 3 p.m., at Redmond Christian Church.
A memorial website can be found at https://
1980s. In the 1990s, David was the co-manager
of Osburn’s Grocery & Deli in Cannon Beach. tinyurl.com/DHBurns
Tuesday, Dec. 19
Cannon Beach City Council, 7 p.m.,
City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
Cannon Beach Public Works
Committee, 9 a.m., City Hall, 163
E. Gower St.
Monday, Dec. 11
Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protec-
tion District, 6 p.m., 188 Sunset,
Cannon Beach.
Tuesday, Dec. 12
Tuesday, Dec. 21
Cannon Beach Parks and Commu-
nity Services 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.
Cannon Beach Design Review
Board Meeting, 6 p.m., City Hall,
163 E. Gower St.
Seaside School District Board of
Directors, 6 p.m., 1801 S. Franklin,
Seaside.
Thursday, Dec. 28
Cannon Beach Planning Commis-
sion, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
Letters from Page 4A
A leader to make
us proud
Clatsop County Commis-
sioner Lianne Thompson has
earned our respect, grati-
tude and admiration. I have
observed her work tirelessly
on a variety of projects that
benefit the citizens of Clatsop
County, including econom-
ic development, affordable
housing and community
emergency response prepa-
rations.
My experience is that she
always presents herself very
professionally and passion-
ately. I particularly appreciate
her emphases on community
service built on trust, honesty
and integrity. She strives to
understand a situation thor-
oughly,and another’s point of
view, before effectively com-
municating her own, resulting
in meaningful and rewarding
collaborations.
Commissioner Thomp-
son has truly embraced her
responsibilities to the county
and its constituents by helping
to emulate the proper roles
we should expect from our
elected representatives. She
holds herself, and therefore
the county, accountable for
their actions, and has always
sought to involve stakehold-
ers rather than exclude them
from the public process.
I appreciate how she
respects the diversity within
our county with relation to
us as individuals, and within
the various business sectors
of our community. Commis-
sioner Thompson’s inclusive-
ness and compassion for a
diverse group of stakeholders
is a trademark of her interac-
tions, a sign of her strengths
and wisdom as a trailblazer,
and the type of leader that
makes our community a spe-
cial place to live, work and
show pride.
Mark Morgans
Cannon Beach
Too bright at night
The article “Good night,
night: Light pollution
increasing around globe,”
(Nov. 22, The Daily Asto-
rian) inspires us to urge the
city of Cannon Beach to keep
in mind the findings de-
scribed in the article should
it consider replacement of
street lighting in the interest
of saving money. The light-
ing that has been employed
by Breakers Point serves
as a good example of the
problems that LED lighting
presents. As the article ex-
plains, though cheaper than
amber lighting, LED beams
do not light an area as well
as the present amber street
lighting does.
Since we walk to the
beach before daylight, we
have noticed that the LED
lights at Breakers Point are
blinding, partly because
the covers are transparent
and hence fail to shield the
lights adequately and partly
because of the bright white
illumination.
In keeping with the efforts
of the city of Cannon Beach
to protect birds nesting on
the rocks by prohibiting
fireworks on July Fourth,
we suggest that the dark sky
be protected as a part of the
environment that contributes
to the ecology of Cannon
Beach. As the article points
out, wildlife is disoriented
by excessive light during the
hours of darkness.
According to a Ketchum,
Idaho, newspaper report, that
community faces a similar
challenge to preserve the
dark sky in the interests of
attracting tourism. Can-
non Beach has become an
attractive destination because
of the natural beauty of the
area. The city of Cannon
Beach should consider
strengthening the present
dark sky ordinance and study
the effects of new lighting
technology on the environ-
ment before its adoption in
the future.
Rex and Diane Amos
Cannon Beach
THE COASTER THEATRE
PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS
Cannon Beach’s Best Selection
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PUBLIC MEETINGS
Tuesday, Dec. 5
LETTERS
UPCOMING
TASTINGS
Shack Hours
Sunday - Th ursday
11am to 5pm
Friday & Saturday
11am to 5:30pm
Tasting Room Hours
Saturdays • 1 to 5pm
Dec 2 • Stranger Th ings
Dec 9 • Wine Tasting - Best Wines of 2017
Dec 16 • Wine Tasting - Holiday Favorites
Dec 25 • Christmas Day Wine Tasting!
Jan 18 • Wine Women & Wealth - Money Talk
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- 2016 Reader’s Choice Award
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Nov. 17 - Dec. 23, 2017
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Sunday shows at 3:00pm
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108 N Hemlock St
Cannon Beach, OR
Tickets: 503-436-1242
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