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May 4, 2018 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 3A ‘THE UNSUNG HEROES’ Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay celebrates 10 years By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette M ANZANITA — When di- saster strikes, communi- ties around Nehalem Bay are the place to be. It’s a strange badge of honor, but one that the Emergency Volun- teer Corps of Nehalem Bay wears proudly. The corps, which started with a handful of volunteers from Wheel- er, Nehalem and Manzanita 10 years ago, has stepped into the spotlight as one of the largest and most effective emergency preparedness groups in Oregon. On Monday, more than 100 peo- ple from around the region gath- ered in the Pine Grove Community House in Manzanita — including state Rep. Deborah Boone, state Sen. Betsy Johnson and Andrew Phelps, the director of the Oregon Office of Emergency Management — to celebrate the group’s 10-year anniversary. “Every single one of you are the unsung heroes making this (town) the gold standard of community pre- paredness,” Johnson said. “Thanks for showing Oregon how to do this right for 10 years.” The idea to form a volunteer corps came after hurricane-force winds and flooding from the Great Coastal Gale of 2007 temporarily isolated Manzanita, Nehalem and Wheeler from emergency services. “That’s when we realized emer- gency preparedness was really up to us, neighbor by neighbor,” Linda Kozlowski, the group’s president, said. “We just don’t expect to get much help.” BRENNA VISSER/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE The Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay gave out free MREs at the group’s annual meeting Monday. From there, volunteers embarked on a mapping project, which focused on preparing each neighborhood with supplies and knowledge on how to be self-sustaining in a disaster. A de- cade later, the program has 300 active members — almost a quarter of the region’s population. Starting out with no shelters, each neighborhood now has one stocked with a week’s worth of supplies. A water sanitation and hygiene program was formed, and volunteers offer classes on how to properly filter wa- ter when the utilities inevitably fail. The corps purchased 400 ham radios for emergency communications and each month holds classes on how to communicate with one. The group this year anticipates tapping into $140,000 in lodging taxes to fund a countywide wayfinding and signage project, which, if completed, will be the most comprehensive in the state. Unique approach Part of the group’s success comes from the unique approach to offer classes on a routine basis, Kozlows- ki said, which keeps people engaged. BRENNA VISSER/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE State Sen. Betsy Johnson congratulates the Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay. She also attributes a lot of the group’s success to its origins. “We started from the ground up, getting our own funding. And then we got noticed by the city. I think oth- er communities have had more of a top-down approach, where (emergen- cy management) came from the city or the county,” she said. Kozlowski also believes having a population that is mostly retired is an asset. “We are blessed with a smart re- tirement community that come from such different professional back- grounds and the time to give back,” she said. “Or maybe it’s because I have cookies at every meeting. You got to have cookies and coffee.” Whatever the reason, the effects of their efforts are extending past Tilla- mook County. It was volunteer corps members who worked with Johnson and Boone to pass a law allowing medical practitioners within 10 years of retirement, even if not currently licensed, to join Medical Reserve Corps units and be legally protected — a move that has helped encourage Medical Reserve Corps groups across the state. The team is sharing its pub- lic sanitation training and strategy with Multnomah County. “We definitely want to take this show on the road,” Kozlowski said. “There’s no point in reinventing the wheel.” And the group has had an oppor- tunity to see the fruits of its labor. When a water spout ravaged down- town Manzanita in 2016, more than 60 Community Emergency Response Team members were immediately on scene. “I remember calling and asking what could we do, what could the state do to help?” Phelps said. But he was told it was under control. To Phelps, what appears to make the area so successful is a mix be- tween an engaged citizenry and lead- ership. “If all my communities were as prepared as this community, why that’d be a home run,” Phelps laughed. “I think most emergency management (teams) are one-person shops. No matter how good that one person is, you need connected citi- zens to make it work.” Manzanita woman nominated to serve on DOGAMI board By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette Linda Kozlowski, a Man- zanita local who leads the Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay, was nomi- nated Monday to serve on the governing board for the Ore- gon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. The decision by Gov. Kate Brown was announced by state Sen. Betsy Johnson at the volunteer emergency pre- paredness group’s annual con- ference. If confirmed by the state Senate, Kozlowski will be the first member with an emergency preparedness back- ground to serve on the board. “She will be bringing a whole new dimension to DOGAMI,” Johnson said. “She will help hu- manize the work of DOGAMI by factoring in the emergency preparedness perspective.” The governing board sets policy and oversees general op- erations for the Department of Freeda C. Haggerty Wheeler May 23, 1920 — April 20, 2018 Freeda C. Haggerty, of Seaside and Cannon of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Arch Cape. Beach, Oregon, died on Friday, April 20, 2018, She is preceded in death by her husband of in Wheeler, Oregon. She was born May 23, 73 years, Dave, and grandson Matt Haggerty. 1920, to Charles B. and Lesslie Hoes- She is survived by her sister, Norma man Cooper in Merom, Indiana. Bridges of Indianapolis, Indiana; a She was the eldest of two girls, daughter and son-in-law, Terry and and graduated in 1938 from Newport John Ward of Cannon Beach; two High School in Newport, Indiana. Af- sons and daughters-in-law, David ter school, she moved to Estes Park, and Peggy Haggerty of Salem, Ore- gon, and Paul and Claudia Haggerty Colorado, where she met and married of Bend, Oregon; a foster daughter, David W. Haggerty Jr. in 1939. The couple settled in Portland, Stephanie Burk of Boring, Oregon; Oregon, where they raised their three 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grand- children. children. They moved to Tolovana A rosary will be recited on Friday, Park, Oregon, in 1975, where they co- Freeda Haggerty May 4, 2018 at 10:30 a.m., followed owned The Driftwood Inn Restaurant by an 11 a.m. Mass, at St. Peter the in Cannon Beach with their daughter Fisherman Catholic Church, 79441 and son-in-law, to whom they sold their interests in 1985. Freeda also owned her U.S. Highway 101 S., Arch Cape, Oregon. A re- own gift shop, “Something Special,” in Cannon ception will follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, Freeda requested a dona- Beach. A devout Catholic, she was an active member tion to be made to a charity of one’s choice. Moms are Sweet! Give her your favorite treats this Mother’s Day • 2 LOCATIONS • Downtown Cannon Beach & Seaside Outlet Mall CELEBRATING OVER 55 YEARS OF MAKING SWEET MEMORIES CB: 503-436-2641 Seaside: 503-738-7828 www.brucescandy.com Geology and Mineral Industries, an agency which focuses on providing earth science infor- mation to help inform land use and safety policies. “I’m just thrilled, over- whelmed,” Kozlowski said. “I think the emergency prepared- ness influence will be a huge asset.” Long road There is still a long road ahead for the volunteer corps. A mass care plan has been created, but finding grants to fund all the plans and supplies de- tailed in it will always be an uphill battle. With most funding for emer- gency preparedness aimed toward municipalities, securing government dollars can be a challenge. The corps is also looking for ways to be more sustainable. Kozlowski is working on succession planning, so that when board members — most of whom are founding members — in- evitably move on, knowledge won’t be lost and a new generation can take over. “We’re trying to find a way to not be people dependent, but position dependent. Really clearly define our roles,” she said. But no matter what the next 10 years hold, Kozlowski feels confident in one definite source of progress. “If it happened right now, in this room, you’d be better off than if you were somewhere else,” she said of a disaster. “And that’s what it is about.” Dining on the North Coast Excellence in family dining found from a family that has been serving the North Coast for the past 52 years Community fest May 12 Great Great Great Homemade Breakfast, lunch and pasta, Clam but that’s dinner steaks & Chowder, not all... menu,too! seafood! Salads! The Cannon Beach Coastal Community Festival will feature a celebrity chef “blue barrel” cooking chal- lenge, outdoor marketplace and safety fair, along with the musical talents of blues gui- tarists Mary Flower, Mark Shark and Thad Beckman. The festival is scheduled for May 12 featuring arts and crafts, food vendors and a farmer’s market. The day-long event at the city park is designed to offer a fun way to build awareness for safety and emergency preparedness. Seaside • 323 Broadway • 738-7234 (Open 7 Days) Cannon Beach • 223 S. Hemlock 436-2851 (7am-3pm Daily) Astoria • 146 W. Bond • 325-3144 NORMA’S SEAFOOD & STEAK 20 N. Columbia, Seaside 503-738-4331 Since 1976 discriminating diners have sought out this Seaside landmark. There’s a chalkboard fresh catchlist, exclusively natural Angus beef and a great regional wine list as well as local microbrews. From Steak & Lobster to Fish & Chips (and Chowder to die for) - this is worth the drive! 11am-10pm daily. Visit www.normasseaside.com LOCAL PEOPLE FOR JOHN ORR Tom Brownson Cheryl Johnson Peter Huhtala Diana Smith Tom Duncan Sara Meyer Jack Harris Janet Allen Gil Gramson Cyndy Lee Bryan Kidder Jan Coughlin Scott Lee Coreen Bergholm Walter Trumbull Kathleen Zunkel Christopher Grant Roberta Muehlberg Bill Van Nostran Darlene Mitchell Robert Adams Teresa Brownlie Dwight Caswell Nancy Weber Phil Hall Beth Holland Mike Morgan Cecilia Kidder Lanny Hatt Clyde Thompson Rosemary Burdine J. D. Welz Heidi Orr Anthony Stoppiello Tom Bender Corrinne Garrison Chris Farrar LinMarie DiCianni Florence Sage David Muschamp Paul Dueber Robert Stricklin Anne Carpenter Charles Stuart Linda Oldenkamp Tom Scoggins Brandon Oglivie Sean Fitzpatrick Carol Newman Jerome Arnold Helen Westbrook Betsy Ayres Margy Smith Stephen Berk Dana Ferguson Cathy Cruikshank Debbie Twombly Roger Rocka Diane Heintz Neal Cummings Cynthia Adamson Carl Dominey Dianne Pinkney Janet Bowler Mary MacDonald Dick Garner Janet Arnold Chuck Meyer Juanita Price Jerry Ustby Dave Kruger Jan Nybakke Mark Jovalusky Janice Horning Marilyn Faulkner Brad Griswold Janet Quinton David Pollard Joyce Hunt Tracy Erfling Kelly Green Dawn Rowden Tom Jiroudek Robert Burk Catherine Anderson Tim Liddiard Bob Moberg Jean Dominey Bob Lundy Tina Kotson Richard Adams Paul Stinnett Jennifer Rasmussen Greg Aossey Phyllis Cook Deborah McEuen David McAfee Anne McIntyre Jeff Daly Roger Dorband Kathy Patenaude Ted Messing Bob Lennon Yvonne Van Nostran Mike Bruhn Vicki McAfee David Quinton Gail Cameron John Nybakke Pamela MacDonald Charlie Holboke Joan Scoggins Mick Taylor Liz Bartell Mark Campanale Jan Mitchell Liam Dunn Elizabeth Stricklin Clark Munkel Debra Angus Christian Zupancic Tracy McDonald Tom Burdine Sandi Lundy Josh Corder Melissa Ann Westley Dave Zunkel Jennifer Aossey Constance Weisanen John Crowley Catriona Penfield Jack Guyot Carolyn Merton Ronald Woltjer Natalie Orr Victoria Stoppiello Bob Burgan Sam Steidel Rebecca Kraft Margo Dueber Nicole Adamczyk Rose Rico PamWev Jim Coughlin