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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 2018)
VOL. 42, ISSUE 24 WWW.CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM RISING FROM THE ASHES Former school may be bought School district, history center in discussion By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette CANNON BEACH RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT Firefighters who responded to the fire at Ecola Sea- foods Restaurant and Market came to visit during the business’ soft opening Nov. 21. From left, Ecola Seafoods manager Shawna Beckman, Lt. Mike John- son, firefighter Jordan Spencer, recruit Nate Wilker- son, Ecola Seafoods owner Cindy Beckman, Lt. TJ White and firefighter Silvia Avila. Ecola Seafoods Restaurant and Market reopens after July fire By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette Four months ago, Shawna Beck- man and her family were awakened to a startling phone call. “My sister’s husband is a vol- unteer firefighter and got the call,” Beckman said. “She got up and told us ‘208 North Spruce is on fire.’” It was the address of Ecola Sea- foods Restaurant and Market — the business her family had owned for 25 years. The small electrical fire caused an incredible amount of NOVEMBER 30, 2018 smoke damage, to where everything from equipment to the baby photos stored upstairs were destroyed. The fire closed down the shop for the majority of the busy tourist season where most businesses make most of their money. “We had just gotten new equip- ment, a new point of sale a month before the fire,” she said. “We were doing everything we could to keep employees on and paid through this.” But the day before Thanksgiv- ing, the market got a new start. On Wednesday, Nov. 23, the market had PHOTOS BY BRENNA VISSER/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Ecola Seafoods Restaurant and Market reopened Wednesday, Nov. 21 four months after a fire shut down operations. a soft reopening, just in time for families to get seafood for holiday meals. The business has a fresh new look, with entirely new furniture and equipment. The new restaurant does have a few homages to the past, however. A few chunks of a mural portraying a fish market, which hung on the walls of the market for 23 years, survived the fire and still hang there today. “It’s been crazy, but we have pret- ty loyal customers we hope they all come back,” she said. “It’s really brought our family closer together.” A small piece of a mural that sur- vived the July fire hangs on the wall at Ecola Seafoods Restaurant and Market. The Seaside School District is serious- ly considering selling the former Cannon Beach Elementary School property to the Cannon Beach History Center and Muse- um. Though other offers have been made in the past, this is the first time the district has publicly expressed intention to commit to a sale. Superintendent Sheila Roley said the board has shown interest in supporting the sale, and will likely vote to approve it in the next month or so. “It’s a good offer,” Roley said. “We look forward to working out the details of the sale with the historical society.” See School, Page 6A Dune grading rules proposed Height, vegetation and other factors considered By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette The planning commission has unan- imously voted to recommend a new fore- dune management plan to the City Council. The updated plan, approved Nov. 20, is the product of more than a year of work ses- sions and public testimony, guides how and where dunes can be graded for views, as well as how they should be monitored after the work is done. The revision of the plan was in part prompted by requests made in recent years by residents to remove large amounts of sand, citing issues of sand inundating their property and lost ocean views. An unprecedented request to remove 73,400 cubic yards in 2014 from a dune north of Ecola Creek made the city consider taking another look at the science and pol- icies of sand removal that had not been up- dated since the late 1990s. Substantial changes include allowing the use of native grasses in some areas to restabilize the dune after it has been graded and prohibiting all mowing and pruning of vegetation. Language requires permit hold- ers to consider the impacts on clams and other shellfish when pushing sand out into the surf. Studies show native grasses tend to create a flatter dune — which would help with views — in comparison with Europe- an beach grass, which has been used since the 1950s and produces more vertical and stable dunes. The commission also increased the dune height requirement to account for projected sea level rise. Currently, the city requires dunes be graded no lower than 4 feet above the Federal Emergency Management Agen- cy’s 100-year base flood elevation recom- mendation, which adds up to between 27 and 29 feet. PAID PERMIT NO. 97 ASTORIA, OR PRSRT STD US POSTAGE See Dunes, Page 6A NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE Playgoers off to see the wizard at the Coaster Theatre By Jonathan Williams For Coast Weekend Actors as young as 5 years old to teens and adults make a “u” shape sing- ing and bobbing as they welcome Doro- thy to Munchkinland. The actors’ energy and movement make you feel like you, too, are about to walk the Yellow Brick Road. And that’s exactly what director Pat- rick Lathrop hopes audiences see from his 27-person production of the classic 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” opened Friday at the Coaster Theatre Playhouse in Cannon Beach. Lathrop wants to stay true to the film and hopes audiences see the community values of family, love and friendship in COLIN MURPHEY PHOTO the show. Sue Neuer, left, and Emily Dante during a rehearsal of “The Wizard “What I want to establish with the of Oz.” production is what the movie gives you, which is that beautiful opening statement at the beginning — how the film is not for just the young, but the young at heart,” Lathrop said. The production is also a family affair. Coaster regular Emily Dante, who plays Dorothy, is joined by her five chil- dren. Three play Munchkins, one is a tree and another a Winkie. Seth Goldstein, who plays Uncle Hen- ry and a guard, is in the show with his daughter, Luthian, 5, who plays a Munch- kin and mini guard. Theater community The show includes actors who are new to theater, coming back to it or are regulars in Coaster productions. Many are from Cannon Beach, Seaside and Nehalem and enjoy the community aspect. See Wiz, Page 7A