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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 16, 2018)
VOL. 42, ISSUE 23 WWW.CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM LocaL Brews & lots of blues NOVEMBER 16, 2018 City Hall options all bring challenges Full cost estimate expected in December By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette As the city continues to conduct studies to estimate the costs of a new City Hall, challenges have arisen at all of the proposed sites. The council is considering asking vot- ers in a May bond issue to pay for a new City Hall at one of two locations on Gower Street or on the 55-acre undeveloped prop- erty known as South Wind that sits above the tsunami inundation zone. Conversations about replacing City Hall resurfaced at the urging of City Man- ager Bruce St. Denis, who has concerns See City, Page 6A Out-of-area fire response regulated BRENNA VISSER/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Fire chief opposes policy change Steve Cheseborough and Taizz Medalia perform at the Brews, Blues and Barbecue event. By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette Brews, Blues and Barbecues event caps off Stormy Weather Arts Festival activities By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette b lues music filled the Cham- ber of Commerce commu- nity hall as dozens gath- ered for the Brews, Blues and Barbecues event Sunday, Nov. 4. Participants snacked off an array of barbecue sliders, tacos and charcuterie spread, all accompanied by beers from local brewer. The event, which featured the musical stylings of the band Delta Blues from Steve Cheseborough, was the cap to a weekend full of activities for the 31st annual Stormy Weather Arts Festival. BRENNA VISSER/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Carly Dye and Alana Police of Pelican Brewing Co. serve up sliders at the Brews, Blues and Barbecue event Nov. 4. The Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District narrowly passed a new policy on Monday limiting how often firefighters can be sent to fight fires in other places. In a 3-2 vote, the fire district’s board de- cided that from June through October, the fire chief or other firefighters will only be able to be out on other calls 15 days out of any 30-day period, and can only be de- ployed within Oregon. Board President Garry Smith said the in- tention of the change is to act as a guideline for the fire chief, not the volunteers. Reshaping the mobilization policy was born out of concern some board members had about the amount of time Fire Chief Matt Benedict spent helping fight fires around the state and California last summer — the season, some board members argue, where the fire district needs a fire chief most. Summer is typically when the fire dis- trict sees a higher emergency call volume and faces more fire danger. The change comes after two unusual- ly active fire seasons, prompting a record number of county firefighters to be mobi- lized around the state and California. With experts predicting that longer and drier fire seasons could be the new normal for the West, some on the fire district’s board wanted to create regulations as a pro- active way to balance the needs of the state while making sure the district is covered. “My concern is just adequate staffing,” said Bob Cerelli, a board member who PAID PERMIT NO. 97 ASTORIA, OR PRSRT STD US POSTAGE See Fire, Page 6A Festival of Trees kicks off the holiday season By Katherine Lacaze For Cannon Beach Gazette One of the most anticipat- ed local events of the winter season, Providence Seaside Hospital Foundation’s Festi- val of Trees not only provides an opportunity for family fun as well as an elegant gala to kick off the holidays but will also raise money to renovate the hospital’s emergency care facilities. “Everybody looks forward to this event,” said Kimberly Ward, executive director of the foundation. “We like to re- fer to it as the premier holiday event, because it’s always the first weekend of December, and it’s a really great way to kick off the season.” The 21st annual Festival of Trees, sponsored by Prov- idence and Safeway, will take place Friday, Nov. 30, through Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Sea- side Civic and Convention Center. This year’s theme “Wonder,” is a spin off the concept of the advent calen- dar, and it encapsulates “the expectation and excitement of Christmas,” Ward said. See Trees, Page 8A PROVIDENCE SEASIDE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION Oregon Region Foundation President Laurie Kelley; Providence Seaside Hospital Foun- dation Director Kimberly Ward and development specialist/event coordinator Meaghan Triana.