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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 2018)
A3 • Friday, December 28, 2018 | Cannon Beach Gazette | CannonBeachGazette.com Conservancy volunteers help restore habitat By KATHERINE LACAZE For Cannon Beach Gazette Throughout the fall the North Coast Land Con- servancy’s Weed Warrior Wednesdays turned into Seed Warrior Wednesdays as volunteers gathered at the Circle Creek Conservation Center to roll clay, soil and seeds into “seed bombs” to be used for restoring coastal prairie habitat. “Trying to get native plants reestablished is a worthwhile endeavor,” said land steward Eric Owen, who oversees many stew- ardship activities with volunteers. The seed bombs will be planted at Reed Ranch, one of the conservancy’s Clat- sop Plains properties located between Gearhart and War- renton, west of U.S. High- way 101, that has been over- run with invasive plants, like pasture grass, scotch broom and creeping buttercups. The organization has tried sowing seeds by hand at Reed Ranch, but the sandy soil and strong coastal winds mean the seeds tend to get blown away before they can germinate. “Putting them in these seed bombs will help them get a better foothold in that habitat,” Owen said. The conservancy reg- ularly holds what have been dubbed Weed Warrior Wednesdays, which typi- cally include pulling weeds and invasive plants as they appear. Tasks also vary by season, though, and can include planting and har- vesting, as well. With plant- ing season approaching, Owen said they planned to get the seed bombs into the ground as soon as possible. At the beginning of the year, the conservancy puts together a work plan with goals they hope to accom- plish during the coming months. Often goals are determined by grant fund- ing the conservancy has received, but if other more immediate issues arise — such as damage done by ille- gal dumping or trespassing Katherine Lacaze/For Seaside Signal North Coast Land Conservancy Land Steward Eric Owen (left), works with his father and volunteer Tom Owen, of Astoria, and volunteer Krickett Wertz, of Astoria, to put together seed bombs during a stewardship activity held Nov. 21 at the Circle Creek Conservation Center. Volunteers rolled thousands of seed bombs using about 6 pounds of native plant seeds, soil and clay. — the staff can respond as needed, Owen said. For several years, the conservancy has received grant funding from the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife to help restore the Oregon silverspot butter- fl y, a federally threatened species that has diminished because of habitat loss and degradation. The Oregon silverspot butterfl y inhab- its coastal grasslands and relies on the early blue vio- let, the only plant species they develop and feed on in the larval stage. Reed Ranch is potentially a reintroduc- tion spot for the butterfl y, Owen said, which is why they have planted early blue violets there in the past. The seed bombs also include violet seeds, along with dune tansy, yarrow, dune sedge, California oatgrass, sea blush, Canada golden- rod, and red fescue. Beyond encouraging repopulation of the Oregon silverspot butterfl y, restor- ing habitat has other positive impacts. “We need healthy, work- ing habitats for our ecosys- tem,” Owen said, adding that both indirectly and directly benefi ts humans and count- less other species, as well. The conservancy has a regular core of volunteers who frequently attend stew- ardship events, although they are joined at times by new folks, area visitors, interns, or groups repre- senting different agencies, such as AmeriCorps. They value the opportunity to get involved and learn about the environment in a hands-on way, according to Penny Abegglen, a volunteer from Clatskanie. Former fi re district board member Al Aya dies at 94 Cannon Beach Gazette Al Aya, a longtime Can- non Beach Rural Fire Pro- tection District board mem- ber known for spearheading the design and installa- tion of Cannon Beach’s “mooing” tsunami warning sirens, died Friday, Dec. 21, at 94 years old. Aya, who was Dec. 11, 1924 in Portland, was a descendant of the pio- neer Honeyman Hardware family. After high school, Aya joined the Army and fought in World War II. In 1953, he moved to San Francisco, where he continued to serve in the Army Reserve and began his career as a researcher and statistician for the Pacifi c Bell Tele- phone Co. He retired from the Army in 1968 at the rank of major. After retiring from Pacifi c Bell in 1984 he moved to Cannon Beach. Aya had just moved to Cannon Beach, when an old high school friend con- vinced him to apply for an opening on the fi re dis- trict board. He was elected to the board of the Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protec- tion District, for many years serving as chairman. He spear- headed the design and Alfred Aya installation of warning sys- tem for tsunami threats, the fi rst of its kind in the United States and a model for other coastal warning systems. As a joke, he recalled in 2017, because the acro- nym for our system was COWS — an acronym for “Community Warning Sys- tem” — “that maybe we could broadcast a mooing sound,” Aya said. While part of the value is defi nitely for comedic effect, Aya said, having an unusual sound also serves as a built-in education tool. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m on Saturday, Jan. 5, at St. Peter the Fish- erman, 79441 U.S. High- way 101, Arch Cape. A reception honoring Aya will follow the Mass. Private interment is at Mount Cal- vary Cemetery in Portland. 9:22 p.m., S. Hemlock: Man comes into Pelican Brewery looking for food. Staff fed him. Dec. 8 4:35 p.m., N. Entrance: Elk on roadway. Dec. 9 6:12 p.m. Highway 101: Police are asked to check on a man walking on the highway. Dec. 10 CCB# 205283 Luxury vinyl planks and tile. you walk on our reputation Flooring Sarasue Berger Walla Walla, Washington Dec. 21, 1940 — April 6, 2018 On April 6, 2018, our beloved mother and grandmother “Nattie” died peace- fully at home. She was born in Colorado, and later settled with her family in Hill- sboro, Oregon. She is a graduate of Hillsboro High School, and served as worthy adviser for Rainbow Girls, while her future hus- band, Gary, served as master counselor of DeMolay. They met on a blind date, and he knew the moment he set eyes on her she would be his wife. They were married for 53 years at the time of his death. She was a devoted homemaker and business partner with her husband, own- ing the Cannon Beach Bakery and Geri’s Seafood and Chicken. She loved gar- dening, square dancing, painting, rodeos and playing pinochl with her friends at the Walla Walla Senior Center. In memo- riam, donations in her name may be sent to Walla Walla Community Hospice. She was preceded in death by her brother, Jerry Davis, of Hillsboro, Ore- gon, and her husband, Gary, in 2013. She is survived by her daughters, Trina Berger, of Walla Walla, Washington, and Edie Paden, of Walla Walla, Washington; grandson, Austin Paden, of Boise, Idaho; and granddaughter, Jordan Schilling, of Milton Freewater, Oregon. na: Police assist someone look- ing for their dog. Dec. 13 9:03 a.m., Logan Lane: Tools taken from a construction site are reported. Dec. 14 10:52 p.m., Elk Creek Apart- ments: Offi cer seized illegal display of license plates and leave information for vehicle owner. sault them with a candy dish. Subject cited with Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree and Harassment. Dec. 18 1:20 p.m., Sunset Boulevard: A volunteer who was terminated grew agitated and refused to leave. Subject left prior to po- lice arrival. Dec. 19 1:07 a.m., Hemlock and Harri- son: A person is charged with driving under the infl uence of intoxicants. 6:38 p.m., Elk Creek: Domestic dispute over custody arrange- ments; female sped off with child prior to police arrival. Dec. 20 12:41 a.m., 10th Street: Police assist Seaside police with a burglary. Suspect unable to be located. 3470 Hwy 101 Suite 102 • Gearhart, Oregon 503.739.7577 • carpetcornergearhart.com PAINTING Randy Anderson Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB# 89453 36 Years Experience Anderson Painting (503) 738-9989 • Cell (503) 440-2411 • Fax (503) 738-9337 PO Box 140 Seaside, Oregon 97138 www.andersonpainting.biz “Custom Finishing” CONSTRUCTION B oB M c E wan c onstruction , inc . E xcavation • u ndErground u tiitiEs r oad w ork • F ill M atErial s itE P rEParation • r ock owned and operated by M ike and C eline M C e wan 503-738-3569 34154 Hwy 26, Seaside, OR P.O. Box 2845, Gearhart, OR S erving the p aCifiC n orthweSt S inCe 1956 • CC48302 LANDSCAPING Laurelwood Compost • Mulch • Planting MacMix Soil Amendments YARD DEBRIS DROP-OFF (no Scotch Broom) Dec. 15 7 p.m., Dutch Brothers: Police assist Seaside police with ca- nine trained in narcotics. 9:22 p.m., Roosevelt: Police and narcotics canine assist Seaside police. Dec. 11 10:43 p.m., Highway 101: Elk vs. vehicle. Dec. 12 5:10 p.m., Hemlock and Susit- Installation OBITUARIES CANNON BEACH POLICE LOG Dec. 7 FLOORING 503-717-1454 4:28 a.m. 700 block 15th Street: Police assist Seaside police with a suicidal male. 34154 HIGHWAY 26 SEASIDE, OR Dec. 16 Laurelwood Farm 8:53 a.m., Highway 101: Police assist Cannon Beach fi re de- partment and Oregon State Po- lice with an overturned vehicle. 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