Members of the team working on the Cannon Beach Elementary School rejuvenation project presented the budgets of various options for the site to city council at a meeting on March 4.
Councilors were still uncertain about the path forward after the presentation, with several asking city staff to look into the feasibility of surveying city residents to gauge their opinions.
The meeting began with the presentation on the budgets for various site configurations requested by the councilors at a meeting in February.
The first option examined what size facility could be built for a budget of $5.6 million, the debt incurrence limit proposed in a voter-backed initiative on the ballot in May. Demolishing the buildings on site would cost around $500,000 and necessary site and infrastructure improvements would cost around $1 million. Planning and other soft costs would eat up around $700,000-850,000, leaving $2.65-2.87 million for construction.
With an estimated persquare-foot cost of $800-1,000 based on other municipal buildings that are architecturally designed, the $5.6 million budget could support the construction of a 2,700- to 3,400-square-foot building.
The second option examined was the cost of demolishing the school’s classroom building and renovating the Quonset hut gymnasium. De-
molishing the school building would cost $200,000-250,000 and removing the slab would cost a further $131,000150,000.
Renovation of the gymnasium would cost between $550 and $650 per square foot, bringing the renovation budget for the 7,400 square foot building to $5.4-6.2 million, and the total cost for demolition and renovation to $6.9 to $8.2 million.
Elementary renovation option budgets presented to council
Demolishing the gymnasium and renovating the classroom building would have a total budget between $5.1 and $6 million, with $335,000 to $395,000 spent on demolishing the gym and removing the concrete slab and $2.7 to $3.1 million spent to renovate the 4,880 square foot structure.
The final option evaluated by the project team was not requested by council but given the high cost of demolition the
team provided a cost estimate for renovating the gym while leaving the classroom building standing in its current state, which would cost $6.5 to $7.7 million.
After the presentation, the council discussed how they should proceed, with Councilor Erik Ostrander kicking off the discussion by saying that he would like to see a survey sent out with monthly water bills to gauge citizen
sentiment on the path forward. Ostrander said that he wanted to see if citizens would prefer to work on the project now or focus on the other projects currently underway.
Councilor Gary Hayes said that the first question for the council to consider going forward needed to be funding. Hayes said that the council needed to determine if citizens
Lots to Look Forward to Cannon Beach prepares for a full summer event schedule
PIERCE BAUGH V for the Gazette
There’s always something to look forward to in Cannon Beach and with the days lengthening and the temperatures rising, there are plenty of events on the horizon to keep visitors and locals engaged.
Cannon Beach Fat Bike Festival, May 16 to 18
Just the name “Fat Bike Festival” is intriguing enough, but many will enjoy exploring Cannon Beach on two wheels this May. The wheels will be fat — thicker than the typical bike wheel, allowing people to ride on all surfaces, including sand. There will be guided group tours and a beach party. For more information: https://www.cannonbeach. org/events-and-festivals/annual-events/fat-bike-festival/
Ride the Dirt Wave, June 7-8
In addition to the Fat Bat Festival, Ride the Dirt Wave will be hosting events at Klootchy Creek. If mountain biking is your speed, this weekend at Klootchy Creek will be packed with adventure. There are appropriate trails for all experience
levels, from heart-pumping adrenaline rides to familyfriendly trails. For more information: https://oregonridesevents. ticketspice.com/ride-thedirt-wave-
Puttz
On Tuesday, June 13th, grab your clubs — mini golf clubs, that is. Cannon Beach Putz is a citywide mini golf tournament that will be followed by a silent auction. One of the biggest fundraising events of the year, you don’t have to be Arnold Palmer or Happy Gilmore to enjoy yourself during Puttz. For more information, reach out to tolovanaartscolony@gmail.com
Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest, June 21
You don’t have to go to an art museum to see great works of art. On Saturday, June 21, mesmerizing sculptures can be found on the beach made entirely of sand when the annual Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest returns. There will be a master’s division exclusive to pros who are seasoned sand sculptors and other divisions open to those of all skill levels. In addition to sand sculp-
tures, there will be a concert, bonfire and 5K event. The Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest is one of the most special events of the year. For more information: https://www.cannonbeach. org/events-and-festivals/ sandcastle-contest/ Independence Day Festivities, July 4, While Cannon Beach celebrates Independence Day sans fireworks, there
are still plenty of activities for a memorable holiday. There will be a parade — a staple for many small-town communities to celebrate independence. While Cannon Beach doesn’t have fireworks, it does have something that many places can’t claim, puffins. The Great Puffin Watch will allow visitors to observe the unique birds that make Cannon Beach their home for part of
the year. There will be a free hotdog grill at the Cannon Beach Fire Station For those wishing to see fireworks, there will be fireworks displays at Seaside and Long Beach, WA.
Cannon Beach voters will weigh in on two initiatives relating to the city’s ability to incur debt on the May 20 ballot.
One, written by members of Cannon Beach Together (CBT), the group that successfully opposed the city’s proposal for the elementary school rejuvenation project last year, seeks to force a vote by residents to approve the city borrowing more than half the amount of government activity revenues. The competing measure, put forward by the city and approved by council last September, would codify the council’s ability to incur debt without voter approval.
Supporters of the initiative limiting debt incurrence argue that with the city receiving so much of its revenue from the transient lodging tax, it is necessary to amend the charter to give voters a say in large projects.
“Basically, the initiative, well, we learned our lesson,” said Randy Neal, a member of CBT, “maybe we need something a little bit more formal in our city charter to make sure that we get a better say in how future projects, you know, big, future, critical projects get handled.”
City staff and some councilors, however, argue that restricting the city’s ability to incur debt without a vote of the people would hamstring its ability to successfully apply for and receive state and federal grants and low-interest loans, seriously impeding the ability to achieve large projects.
“A lot of the projects that we do or have in the hopper to do rely on grants, and they rely on low-interest loans,” said City Councilor Lisa Kerr, “and if you have to go to a vote, you’re not going to get your low-interest loan because they’re competitive.”
The idea for the proposed charter amendment arose during CBT’s fight against the proposed $7.8-million renovation of the Cannon Beach Elementary School last year, which eventually culminated in the defeat of an advisory question on the project in last November’s election.
During that process, Neal and Robin Risley, a former city councilor and member of CBT, said that they became convinced that they needed to take action to ensure that voters would have input on long-term debt incurrence for other projects in the future after council approval of $25 million in bonds for a new city hall and police station.
“In the summer of 2024 it was clear the city was not going to allow a vote on any one of the multimillion-dollar projects each being financed by long-term debt,” Risley said. “A citizens’ initiative was drafted to update the city charter to require a vote in the future on critical items like these.”
Neal argued that with the city receiving so much of its revenue from the transient lodging tax, its resulting ability to finance projects without seeking bonds requiring voter approval removed voters from the decision-making process.
“Something like 80-85% of the city is run on tourism
The Cannon Beach Elementary School is the subject of ongoing discussions after a proposed renovation was rejected in an advisory vote in November 2024.
Tufted Puffins: Protecting a Coastal Icon April 17
The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum invites the public to an informative lecture on tufted puffins on Thursday, April 17 at 4:00 p.m., featuring Lisa Habecker, Volunteer and Education Coordinator for the Haystack Rock Awareness Program. Habecker will delve their fascinating behaviors, migration patterns, and the challenges they face, including climate change, habitat loss, predation pressures, and food scarcity. Despite their declining numbers in the southern range, the tufted puffin remains a symbol of resilience in the North Pacific.
Haystack Rock is home to Oregon’s second-largest tufted puffin colony, offering a unique opportunity to study these charismatic seabirds from shore. The Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP) has been
dedicated to protecting Haystack Rock’s marine and bird life for over 40 years. Through community engagement and public education, HRAP fosters a deeper understanding of the fragile ecosystem at Haystack Rock, encouraging conservation efforts to preserve this unique habitat for future generations. HRAP staff and volunteers provide on-the-beach education, lead guided tidepool explorations, and support scientific monitoring to ensure the protection of this critical environment. Attendees can also view Friends of Haystack Rock’s (FOHR) 20th Anniversary temporary exhibit, which celebrates two decades of conservation, education, and advocacy efforts at Haystack Rock. The exhibit highlights FOHR’s mission to promote the preservation and protection of intertidal life and birds that inhabit the Marine
Tufted Puffins: Protecting a Coastal Icon – Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
Garden and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge at Haystack Rock. FOHR accomplishes this in cooperation with the Haystack Rock Awareness Program
Cannon Beach, OR – The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum invites the public to an informative lecture on tufted puffins on Thursday, April 17 at 4:00 p.m., featuring Lisa
(HRAP), other partners, and the community. Visitors will explore interactive displays showcasing educational initiatives, research projects, and conservation efforts that continue to make a lasting impact on this natural treasure. This free event is held in partnership with the 12 Days of Earth Day events organized by the City of Cannon Beach’s Parks & Community Services Committee. The lecture will take place on Thursday, April 17th at 4:00 PM at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, located at 1387 South Spruce Street, Cannon Beach, OR. Seating is limited, and guests are encouraged to arrive early to secure a spot. For more information, visit www.cbhistory.org or contact the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum at info@cbhistory.org.
Habecker, Volunteer and Education Coordinator for the Haystack Rock Awareness Program. Habecker will delve their fascinating behaviors, migration patterns, and the challenges they face, including climate change, habitat loss, predation pressures, and food scarcity. Despite their declining numbers in the southern range, the tufted puffin remains a symbol of resilience in the North Pacific.
Tourist industry leaders convene at Seaside summit
At the summit, attendees were updated on industrywide and Oregon coast travel trends before spending the afternoon networking and working on ideas to leverage tourism to create better communities for residents and visitors alike.
on increasing outdoor recreation opportunities and accessibility and managing the impacts of tourism while trying to find ways to contribute to the communities.
Kristin Dahl, from Crosscurrent Collective, which facilitated the summit and helps communities from Wyoming to Alaska with tourism management, then gave a presentation on industrywide trends.
sentiment survey conducted in 2024 that showed residents of the north coast are far less amenable to visitors than people elsewhere in the state.
Haystack Rock is home to Oregon’s second-largest tufted puffin colony, offering a unique opportunity to study these charismatic seabirds from shore. The Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP) has been dedicated to protecting Haystack Rock’s marine and bird life for over years. Through community engagement and public education, HRAP fosters a deeper understanding of the fragile ecosystem at Haystack Rock, encouraging conservation efforts to preserve this unique habitat for future generations. HRAP staff and volunteers provide on-thebeach education, lead guided tidepool explorations, and support scientific monitoring to ensure protection of this critical environment.
Jeremy Strober of Heartfelt Hospitality in Pacific City welcomed the group to the summit and gave a brief overview of the plan for the day and the North Coast Tourism Management Network. Strober said that the summit was part of the network’s ongoing work that started six years ago to engage the tourist industry in discussions about ways the industry can improve north coast communities.
The network covers the coast from Astoria to Neskowin and has focused
Dahl shared data that showed that since the 1980s the worldwide pace of tourism has increased at an exponential rate, creating the phenomenon of overtourism, where visitors cause ecological, social or other issues for permanent residents of an area.
The frenetic pace of growth was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, which caused a 72% drop in tourism worldwide. The pandemic’s effects were mostly short-lived, Dahl said, with visitor numbers rebounding quickly but, in the Americas, tourism was still down 3% in 2024 compared to 2019, while in Oregon it was 6% lower.
from an economic impact study by Travel Oregon from 2023, the most recent year for which data is available, that showed that visitors to the north coast spent an average of $788 per party on visits. There were two million overnight trips in 2023, accounting for close to six million nights in hotels, in the two counties whose combined population is just under 70,000.
In total, these trips generated $862 million in direct travel spending in the area, where 22% of all jobs are tied directly to the tourist industry and 24% of the people on the street, on average, will be visitors. Johnson then shared visitation data from 2023-2024, also collected by Travel Oregon, showing that almost a quarter of visitors to the coast are day trippers and that Seaside received the largest share of visitors on the north coast. The data also revealed that 60% of visitors to the coast come from the Portland area, with an additional 20% coming from Seattle.
In response to a variety of questions asking residents to rank the positive and negative impacts of tourists on their communities on a scale of one to five, coast residents rated the positive impacts of tourism at 3.1 and negative at 3.6, versus a 3.4 positive mark statewide and 3.1 negative. Johnson said that these numbers showed that overall support for tourism on the coast was dropping.
Finally, Johnson shared the results of a tourism industry partner survey, also conducted by Travel Oregon, which found that those in the industry found keeping businesses afloat during the winter and shoulder seasons was difficult, while there was overcrowding in the summer.
Attendees can also view Friends of Haystack Rock’s (FOHR) 20th Anniversary temporary xhibit, which celebrates two decades of conservation, education, and advocacy efforts at Haystack Rock. The exhibit highlights FOHR’s mission to promote the preservation and protection of intertidal life and birds that inhabit the Marine Garden and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge at Haystack Rock. FOHR accomplishes this in cooperation with the Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP), other partners, and the community. Visitors will explore interactive displays showcasing educational initiatives, research projects, and conservation efforts that continue to make a lasting impact on this natural treasure.
After Dahl’s presentation, Finn Johnson, North Coast Destination Stewardship Manager for the Oregon Coast Visitor’s Association, delved into data for the north coast.
Johnson first shared data
Johnson said that these results illustrated that the coast was a well-known commodity among pacific northwestern urbanites, who would show up whether locals wanted them to or not.
To highlight that point, Johnson shared the results of Travel Oregon’s resident
After a short break, two panels preceded lunch, with panelists discussing improving accessibility, improving and diversifying visitor transportation options, encouraging stewardship among visitors and developing outdoor recreation opportunities.
The rest of the day was dedicated to collaborative discussions on how to increase the industry’s sustainability moving forward.
Weber focuses on education and transportation in long session
WILL CHAPPELL Gazette Editor
Oregon State Senator Suzanne Weber has been spending much of her time during the long session concentrating on issues facing Oregon’s schools and transportation network.
Weber said that she and other members of the Joint Committee on Transportation are still working to get a handle on funding shortfalls at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and that she is a fan of certain aspects of Governor Tina Kotek’s education accountability plan but wants more details.
“It’s a real aggressive acknowledgement of problems that we have in education and there are some really good things in it,” Weber said, “and there are some things that you know, of course, I question, and I think there are some things that haven’t been included in it.”
As a member of the education committee, Weber has been involved in discussions about Kotek’s proposal, which would add new metrics to the state’s student success measurements and allow the state to direct spending of portions of districts’ funding if they failed to meet success goals repeatedly.
Weber said that she liked that the state was taking a
comprehensive look at the system but said that she had questions about testing requirements and how administrators would be involved in accountability efforts and would like to see more details about those issues.
“I’m not seeing the details in the broad picture regarding it and that’s what I’d like to see,” Weber said. Weber also said that it was important to her that teachers be honored for their contributions and that she was supportive of other bills being advanced to help address the issue of chronic absenteeism.
On the transportation front, Weber said that even after two months in session, the joint transportation committee is still working to get a handle on the issues facing ODOT.
Twice a week, the committee is holding two-hour evening sessions with updates from the agency’s director and staff members, and Weber said that the sessions have been eye-opening. “We walk out of those meetings after listening to the director and the members and you just shake your head,” Weber said, “like how in the world did you get to this point without seeing where you were?”
Weber said that ODOT projects were consistently running with huge overages and that one of the issues
that staffers had identified for this was their bookkeeping software being inadequate, though it has recently been updated. The other issues facing the agency mainly relate to its revenue, Weber said, with electric and more fuel-efficient vehicles constricting the growth of gas tax revenues.
With more information still coming in, Weber said that the committee had not started to set forth a policy agenda and would wait until the hearings were complete.
“We are not gravitating towards anything currently because we’re waiting for the whole picture,” Weber said.
Another proposal before the transportation committee is the possible institution of a tire tax, which Weber said she had reservations about. Weber worried that the proposed tax would negatively impact low- and fixed-income residents and questioned the plan to use the revenue for public transit projects.
“One issue that has come forward is what everyone has heard of and that’s the tire tax. That is very contentious because that tire tax is not going to go towards our roads, it’s going to go towards mass transit and bike routes and things like that and trains,” Weber said. “All are great ideas, but it doesn’t address the existing issues.”
Get Lit at the Beach returns April 11
PIERCE BAUGH V for the Gazette
Thirteen years ago, Get Lit at the Beach, a Gathering for Readers, a weekend event that brings authors to Cannon Beach, was launched. Since then, the event has garnered a faithful following. People pour into Cannon Beach to meet the authors whose works have inspired them.
Though small compared to many other literary
events, Get Lit at the Beach has brought in well-known authors over the years, including the late great Ursula Le Guin and Brian Doyle. Its size had made it all the more special. For Get Lit organizer, Tracy Abel, it’s more personable than other book events she’s been to. “I’ve gone to other book events where you stand in line for half an hour to an hour. You just kind of get brushed through a line. The
person signs your book, and then you leave,” Abel said. Get Lit is different. Part of what makes it so special is that it’s far more intimate than many other literary events. “You can ask them anything,” Abel says of interaction with the authors who attend. “They’re really open. No question is off-limits. We also don’t have a strict program,” she says. So, an author could discuss a new book, or they could talk about their life. They might
talk about how they got into writing. “So, it’s always different,” Abel said. Terry Brooks, a New York Times best-selling fantasy author, has been a mainstay of the event and will be appearing again. Along with Brooks, authors Rene Denfeld, Shawn Speakman, Kerry Newberry, Pauls Toutonghi and Joe Wilkins will also be attending On Friday, April 11, the first day of Get Lit, with its welcome reception from
Cannon Beach named fourth safest U.S. spring break destination
STAFF REPORT
With spring break in full swing, a recent study investigated potential dangers facing travelers including alcohol-related incidents, car accidents and drownings and found that Cannon Beach was the fourth safest spring break destination in the country. The study was conducted by personal injury law firm
844SeeMike and ranked the most dangerous and safest destinations by analyzing DUI incidents, fatal accidents and water-related dangers. Cannon Beach achieved its high mark thanks to its low risk for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as its strong overall traffic and crime safety compared to other beach towns.
Cannon Beach scored a
7.4 on the overall risk index created by the study, ranking number one in the country for pedestrian safety and number two for cyclist safety. Its low hit-and-run risk, strong drowning safety and homicide risk all garnered third place finishes in the study and helped to push the city’s danger score down.
Both DUI incidents and alcohol-related fatalities
were higher risks in Cannon Beach, with the city ranking 14th in the nation for safety in the latter and 25th in the former.
The group that conducted the study postulated that the city’s outdoor recreation focus and small-town environment contributed to a more controlled setting for spring breakers that were not interested in partying.
White Bird Gallery new exhibition
Upcoming Exhibition:
April 5 - 28, 2025
Robert Schlegel: A Sense of Place artworks from the studio & catalog release (c.1972-2017)
Reception with the Schlegel Family
April 5th, 2:00 –4:00pm White Bird Gallery, Cannon Beach, Oregon
This exhibition of artworks by Robert Schlegel (1947-2021), highlights the most prevalent and reoccurring subjects the late artist worked with throughout his career. Including ongoing themes like houses, granaries, cows and more.
Schlegel most often expressed the moody environment of the Northwest
Ballot
City Proposals
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taxes and there’s no way to get any citizen input on the scope of the project, the price of the project, debt of a project,” Neal said. “You will never get citizen input on anything”
To address this issue, CBT submitted the ballot initiative last July, which proposes changing the city charter to require voter approval for the city to incur debt above 50% of government activity revenues for the most recent year, or around $5.9 million currently. The initiative includes an allowance for debt incurrence over the limit in emergency situations but does not define what would qualify.
In response, the city put forward its own initiative, approved by council in November that would formalize the current debt policy, allowing the city to borrow without charter amendment and only requiring voter approval only for bonds.
Kerr said that the CBT-proposed initiative presented several major problems for the city, chief among which was its potential impact on grant and loan applications.
City Manager Bruce St. Denis and Public Works Director Karen LaBonte have
Elementary
School Renovation
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landscape and countryside in his paintings, drawings, collages, and prints. His warm palette of deep oranges and reds is balanced with rich earth tones in regionalist compositions that reflect rural life, small towns and natural forms like valleys, hills, birds and farmlands. He was particularly drawn to the interaction of shape and contrasting line found in places where man-made structures juxtaposed the landscape. In this, Schlegel’s artwork is defined by expressive interpretations of these familiar subjects that capture the immediacy of light and provide a sense of place. Contemporary realists, like William Beckman,
also voiced this concern, saying that it would not be possible to meet deadlines for state and federal grant and low-interest loan programs if they were required to seek voter approval to put up required matching funds.
Neal contended that these concerns were inaccurate and that grant cycles were slow enough and elections frequent enough that matching requirements could be accommodated.
Kerr’s other principal concerns were that the CBT initiative did not define emergency situations and that if passed, the initiative would make Cannon Beach one of the most financially regressive cities in the state. She also said that she was concerned about the lack of trust in the government represented by the proposal and said that she felt voters had enough opportunity to weigh in at elections.
“I just think it’s so bad for the city,” Kerr said, “and my feeling is if you don’t like or think the city is doing a good job that’s worthy enough then next election just get rid of everybody.”
Kerr allowed that the city council and staff needed to do a better job of communicating with the citizens to engender more trust and pointed to the recent hiring of a communications director as a step in the right direction.
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cannon Beach Chamber. Attendees will be able to meet the authors while enjoying refreshments and hors d’oeuvres. At The Wine Shack that evening from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Kerry Newberry will be speaking. The following day, April 12, author conversations and book signings will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Surfsand Resort Ballroom.
a survey would be helpful.
Robert Bechtle, Wolf Kahn and Russell Chatham, were inspirations to Schlegel’s style. He worked both in the studio and Plein Air to create images that possess a tension residing between representational and abstract. In his most recent works, Schlegel turned to figurative subjects as an expression of our shared humanity.
Robert Schlegel became a full-time painter after receiving a Masters in Education from Portland State University and completing 32 years in the education field. During his lifetime, the artist received abundant recognition through various juried competitions and regional gallery exhibitions, including a purchase award
While Kerr, Councilor Gary Hayes and Mayor Barb Knop are all opposed to the CBT initiative and supportive of the competing one put forward by the city, Councilors Erik Ostrander and Deanna Hammond are in support of the CBT measure.
Both Ostrander and Hammond ran on platforms of brining a new perspective to the council and against the proposed Cannon Beach Elementary rejuvenation and Ostrander said that he still supports citizens having the opportunity to vote on large projects.
Ostrander said that he was skeptical about city staff’s contentions about the proposal’s negative impacts and that he believed the council would be able to define what constituted an emergency.
Ostrander said that he felt there was a lack of trust in the community for elected and appointed leaders and that giving citizens an opportunity to vote on large projects was in the democratic spirit.
“I think people should have a chance to vote on large projects, I think that’s part of the democratic process,” Ostrander said. “I think those of us, the four councilors and mayor, we were elected to represent and if we’re not effectively representing our constituents, then a vote is a way for them to really shove it in our face.”
Hayes and Councilor Lisa Kerr, who have both said they feel a lack of clarity on the public’s wishes for the projects, said that they were worried it would be difficult to create a survey that covered all the options and questions confronting the project. They also worried that a survey would receive a low response rate, after the project team said that a past survey had only received around 150 responses, or about 10% of the city’s population.
City Recorder Jennifer Barrett said that she would look into the cost and feasibility of creating a survey and return to council with her findings.
by Oregon State University and awards for the west coast annual exhibit Expressions West at the Coos Art Museum in Coos Bay, OR. His work is part of the Portland Visual Chronicle collection as well as many prominent University Library collections around the country.
The beloved Oregon artist made a big impact on the regional art community and is well missed by all of his collectors, friends and art appreciators.
White Bird Gallery 251 N. Hemlock St. Cannon Beach, Oregon 97110 503.436.2681 whitebirdgallery.com
That evening, there will be a dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with Rene Denfeld as the keynote speaker. And Sunday, there will be a moderated Q&A with authors at 10 a.m. at Coaster Theater. Tickets and more information are available at getlitatthebeach.com. Tickets for the entire weekend cost $120, and Saturday evening dinner and keynote tickets cost $75.
CLASSIFIEDS
Volunteers, Earth Day, Wild Hearts & Poetry
By PHYLLIS BERNT
Library Volunteer
Our calendars are filled with “awareness” months, weeks and days designed to bring attention to important issues. April is filled with such “awareness” times for a host of issues, from volunteerism to the environment to health to poetry. Activities involving each of these issues are scheduled at the library this month.
National Volunteer Month began as National Volunteer Week in 1974, when President Nixon issued a proclamation designating a week in April as a time to encourage volunteerism in the U.S. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush extended the week to a month.
National Volunteer Month is especially meaningful to
the library (131 N. Hemlock in downtown Cannon Beach) because the library is so dependent on volunteers. Volunteers staff the circulation desk, keep the library shelves in order, participate in library fundraisers, cover new books, select books to add to the collection, read books to children, select authors for the NW Author Speakers series and take care of a host of other tasks needed to keep the library going. Quite simply, the library would not exist without an army of dedicated volunteers. The 82 volunteers who devoted their time and talents to the library during this past year were celebrated with wine, munchies and heartfelt thanks at a Volunteer Appreciation Happy Hour on the evening of Wednesday, April 2. New volunteers are always needed and appreciated. Folks interested in volunteering are encouraged to call the library office at 503-436-1391, for email info@cannonbeachlibrary.org, or request a volunteer application through the library website (www.cannonbeachlibrary.org).
Earth Day has been observed on April 22 since it was created in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson. In early 1969, a blowout of an oil well off the coast of Santa Barbara pumped 4 million gallons of oil into the Pacific. That
Vote NO on Measure 4-235 on May 20th
Measure 4-235, if passed, will be a danger to the livability of Cannon Beach. The City is currently able to apply for very low-interest Federal loans from Business Oregon,
same summer, the industrial pollution coating the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, caught on fire—again. Nelson, hoping to force the issue of environmental protection onto the national agenda, created a nation-wide teach-in about environmental issues. Twenty million people participated in that first Earth Day, which has now become a global event involving one billion people.
Wanting to demonstrate how important protecting the environment is to Cannon Beach, local environmental groups, the Chamber of Commerce, city government and concerned local citizens expanded the observance to the “12 Days of Earth Day,” now celebrated in Cannon Beach from April 11 to April 22, with a parade, lectures and other activities and events.
The library is participating in “12 Days of Earth Day” at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, with a “Kid’s Earth Day Event.” Included will be a Bilingual Story Time with volunteers reading about planet earth in English and Spanish, and a crafting activity with participants making bugs out of organic materials. Participants will receive a free “Save the Earth” coloring book. Snacks will be provided. All ages are welcome.
April is also National Trans-
plant Month, created by the Donate Life America organization to focus attention on the importance of organ, eye and tissue donations. Add “Every Kid Healthy Week,” the last week in April, when measures to improve children’s health and wellness are highlighted, and April is the perfect time to discuss a book about a young boy with a malformed heart which will ultimately need to be transplanted.
Which is exactly what the Cannon Beach Reads Book Club will do when they meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, to discuss “The Wet Engine: Exploring the Mad Wild Miracle of the Heart,” by Brian Doyle. This will be a hybrid meeting with participants able to take part in the discussion in person at the library or virtually (contact book club coordinator Joe Bernt berntj@ohio.edu for the Zoom link).
Doyle’s son Liam was born with a three-chambered heart, which necessitated several life-saving surgical procedures. Seven years after the last procedure, Doyle finally had the emotional distance to write about his, and Liam’s, experiences in “The Wet Engine,” a group of ten loosely connected essays that recount Doyle’s reactions as a petrified parent and that discuss the many aspects of the heart, both physical and symbolic.
In true Brian Doyle fashion, the book is much more than just a list of medical procedures. For example, Doyle speaks of the heart’s use as a symbol in popular culture. Noting that the heart beats in 4/4 rhythm, the standard rhythm of most popular music, Doyle lists 20 popular songs in which the heart plays a role.
Doyle describes the heart’s structure and functions in minute, poetic detail, and acknowledges the contributions of the many doctors and scientists through the centuries and all over the world who have studied the heart. More specific to Liam’s case, the book celebrates “Dr. Dave,” Liam’s surgeon, whose hard work and dedication to his patients are described in loving detail.
Brian Doyle, who died in 2017 at the age of 60, was an award-winning author and the editor of Portland Magazine. He is a favorite of Cannon Beach Reads participants, who have in past years discussed several of his books, including “Mink River,” ”The Plover,” “Martin Marten” and “Chicago.” Bob Lundy will lead the discussion on April 16. Coffee and cookies will be provided at the library. New members are always welcome.
April is also National Poetry Month, which was created by the Academy of American
Poets in 1996 to highlight the importance of poetry to American culture. The NW Author Speakers Series is observing National Poetry Month with a talk by Portland poet and artist Daniela Naomi Molnar at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. This will be a hybrid presentation, with patrons able to enjoy the talk in the library or from home via the library’s website. Molnar received the 2024 Stafford/Hall Oregon Book Award for Poetry for her debut book, “CHORUS,” which celebrates the ability of language to overcome bodily limits, mortality and existential loneliness. Her work has been featured in The Los Angeles Times and Poetry Daily, and she has been the subject of a PBS Oregon Art Beat profile. Molnar’s artwork, which has been shown nationally and is in private and public collections internationally, uses pigments she makes from plants, bones, stones and rainwater. In her artwork and written work, Molnar deals with issues of climate justice, climate grief and intergenerational trauma. Her forthcoming work includes “PROTOCOLS,” “Memory of a Larger Mind” and “Light/Remains.” Molnar is also a wilderness guide and educator, who founded the Art + Ecology program at the Pacific Northwest College of Art.
with some loans offering principal forgiveness. These loans have had no impact on your property tax. The city has also been invited to apply for many large grants. Both of these sources of funding are time sensitive. Measure 4-235 would force the city to stop in the middle
of planning a project in order to seek voter approval. This will delay the project for 6-9 months; a delay that will increase costs and jeopardize millions of dollars in funding, while costing the city up to $13,000 for each election. It does NOT make sense to vote
for a measure that puts our city at risk for degrading infrastructure, safety, and livability. REMEMBER, you already have the power of the vote for anything affecting your property taxes. Measure 4-235 is RISKY and DANGEROUS for the livability of
Cannon Beach History Center & Museum Introduces Wednesday
Workspace: A Free Community Gathering Space
The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is excited to introduce “Wednesday Workspace,” a new community space initiative designed to provide a welcoming environment for creativity, productivity, and connection. Every Wednesday during open hours, the museum’s John Williams Classroom event space will be open for anyone to use—whether you need a quiet place to work, a space to collaborate, or simply a spot to unwind with fellow community members. This event is free and open to the public, though donations are always appreciated to support the museum’s mission. The Wednesday Workspace offers an open and flexible space where visitors can bring a laptop, notebook, art project, or simply themselves. Free WiFi will be available. The space is designed to foster community and connection, providing opportunities to meet others, exchange ideas, or simply enjoy a casual and welcoming environment. No registration is required, and attendees are welcome to drop in at any time during open
hours on Wednesdays.
“We want the museum to be more than just a place to explore history—we want it to be a gathering space where the community can come together, visit, share ideas, and create,” says Liz Scott, Executive Director.
The Wednesday Workspace is part of the museum’s commitment to foster community engagement by providing an inclusive and accessible space for both locals and visitors. The John Williams Classroom event space has been thoughtfully arranged to accommodate a variety of needs, from solo projects to group discussions.
Puffins Celebration happening April 13
The Haystack Rock Awareness Program is happy to announce our Annual Welcome the Puffins Celebration happening on Sunday April 13th in partnership with the Friends of Haystack Rock. Come join us at Haystack Rock, rain or shine, from 8am to 10am to celebrate the seasonal return of Tufted Puffins to their nesting grounds. Our talented team of interpreters will be sharing binoculars and scopes to visitors and teaching them how to spot our circus friends among the other nesting sea and shore birds. Expect an educational fun-filled morning for kids with a Tufted Puffin activity table and our interactive Tufted Puffin Predator Game where children can learn about the many natural and anthropogenic challenges nesting puffins face when raising their young. Can’t make it in person? Then follow along with the fun on our Facebook and Instagram Live accounts. We hope to see you on the beach!
Tufted Puffins in Oregon are experiencing a drastic decline. In 1988, US Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) estimated approximately 4,858 birds in Oregon; in 2021, that number was just 553. At Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach -- the 2nd largest colony in Oregon, and one of the easiest places in the northwest to see Tufted Puffins during their breeding season – there has been a noticeable drop in the number of birds returning. Data collected annually by USFWS staff and volunteers highlight the alarming decline of the iconic seabird at the rock, from 400 birds in 1978 to just 102 in 2024. In response to the decline, National Audubon Society’s Seabird
Institute – with support from Friends of Haystack Rock – created a new position to support coordination among various key players and to help leverage the limited available resources for Tufted Puffin conservation in their southern range, with an emphasis on Oregon. A new working group with representation from Friends of Haystack Rock, Haystack Rock Awareness Program, National Audubon Society, Bird Alliance of Oregon, USFWS, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State University,, Shoreline Education for Awareness, American Bird Conservancy, and others is collaboratively creating a list of priority actions to employ towards meeting a 10-year goal of ‘halting the decline.’ The strategies being discussed include not only on-the-ground conservation projects, but also outreach, education, and engagement.
“As important as it is that we continue to take action to protect the Tufted Puffin in Oregon, it’s also important for people to better understand why protecting this amazing seabird is so important”, said Katherine Luscher, Tufted Puffin Coordinator with Audubon’s Seabird Institute. “Events like Welcome Puffin at Cannon Beach allow us to build more community support and engagement for protecting puffins and other seabirds. Plus, you can’t not smile when you see one for the first – or fifty-first time.”
In early April puffins arrive at Haystack Rock. Most already have a lifelong partner and are returning to the same protected burrow they used last year to raise their young. Tufted Puffins spend about 16 weeks at the
rock. For the first couple weeks the puffins stake out their territory and clean up their burrow.
Once their burrow is ready, the female puffin lays a single, chicken-sized egg, and both sexes take turns incubating it. Incubation lasts between about 43 days. Though usually tucked inside the burrow, newly hatched puffins make appearances at the ‘Rock’ beginning in late June through mid to late August.
You may not be able to see the pufflings because activity around the rock is hectic and plentiful. But it’s fun to watch parent puffins making multiple trips to their
Workshop Wednesdays is held every Wednesday during open hours at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, located at 1387 South Spruce Street in Cannon Beach, Oregon. For more details, contact the museum at 503-436-9301 or visit cbhistory.org. Check the museum’s website for updated hours and any closures before planning your visit.
burrow with bills full of fish for their growing puffling. Pufflings leave their burrows 38 to 59 days after hatching. Under the protection of dark (to escape the ever-watchful, hungry eyes of bald eagles), all the pufflings will leave the safety of the rock and return to the open ocean, where they will spend the winter with no parental care.
Learn more about the plight of the Tufted Puffin or to donate to the cause visit, Puffins | Friends of Haystack Rock
You are welcome to use any photographs provided. Please credit Tufted Puffin photographs Ram Papish.
Salvador is a goofy and lovable German Shepherd. He came to us as a stray so we don’t know his history but we are all in love with him at the shelter. He walks well on leash and has joined our playgroup and gets along with dogs of all sizes! He especially loves the littles. He has a few health issues but they are easily manageable. Call to schedule an appointment with this sweetheart today! https://clatsopcounty.animalshelternet.com/adoption_ animal_details.cfm?AnimalUID=323003 Pet meet and greets are by appointment, so if you’d like to meet Salvador, call the shelter at 503-861-7387 or stop by the lobby to set up a time. The shelter is open 9:30 to 4:00
Sharon Clyde Cannon Beach
First Salmonberry Trail segment to open in October
WILL CHAPPELL
After ten years of building community partnerships, planning and fundraising, the first half mile of the Salmonberry Trail will open in Wheeler on October 7. Salmonberry Trail Foundation (STF) Executive Director Caroline Fitchett said that the Wheeler segment should be followed by a segment in Washington County in 2027, and another in Rockaway Beach in the near future, and that other projects are coming into focus along the path of the trail as more communities buy into the vision.
“What’s so exciting about it though Is that all these community partners see a value in the Salmonberry Trail,” Fitchett said, “and so they’re willing to extend themselves a little bit further than normal to be able to help make it happen as a partner.”
The Wheeler trail will run half a mile from downtown north to Bott’s Marsh, feature a gravel surface and be located to the north of the train tracks. Work is underway on a memorandum of understanding with the City of Wheeler and the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (OCSR) to establish a maintenance plan for the segment of trail and designs are being finalized. Staff at the foundation are referring to the Wheeler segment as the demonstration trail, as it will not only be the first segment of the 82-mile trail to open but will also be collocated next to the OCSR’s trains, helping to establish best practices for other segments in Tillamook County that will need to share space with the railroad.
Next up for trail segments will be the catalyst loop in Washington County, running 3.2 miles from Banks to L.L. Stub Stewart State Park. Volunteers have already worked to clear invasive plants from the railbed and remove rail in certain sections, while inspectors have evaluated the section’s trusses and found
them in good condition. Fitchett said that the foundation is still working with Washington County on permitting, which they hope to complete by the end of this year, which would allow construction to begin in 2026, and the trail to open at some point in 2027. Two other sections of trail, both in Tillamook County, are also in the planning stages: the 2.6-mile Rockaway Beach section and one at the Tillamook Creamery. The Rockaway Beach path, which will run from Washington Street on the south end of the city to NeahKah-Nie High School at the north, is currently through 30% of the design phase. The city government now has an application into the Oregon Department of Transportation for a grant to complete design and construct the trail.
The section by the Tillamook Creamery, whose initial planning was supported by a
grant from the Tillamook County Creamery Association will run north on Latimer Road but has been bogged down in a wetland delineation review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for several years, and Fitchett said she has no timeline for a decision.
In addition to these in -progress trails, Fitchett said that she is also in discussions with leaders from Bay City about constructing a section of the trail between the city’s pier and the Kilchis Point Reserve south of the city. Fitchett said that she has also spoken with officials from Garibaldi, who are busy with other projects but expressed interest in future involvement, and Manzanita and Nehalem, who said they would like to see a trail spur extended to connect their communities.
As for the sections of trail outside of cities, more questions and challenges loom.
In the so-called river and canyons sections, between Wheeler and L.L. Stub Stewart State Park through the coastal range, major infrastructure projects to repair bridges and trusses damaged in the 2007 storm that brought commercial operations to a halt will be needed. Fitchett said that these projects would require state or federal funding and drove the estimated per-mile cost for the trail to $1 million.
Outside of those sections, there are also two notable choke points in Tillamook County, at the curve on Highway 101 right before Barview Jetty and as the railroad tracks run on a berm across Smith Lake just north of Barview Jetty. Fitchett said that building new infrastructure to accommodate the trail in these locations would also cost millions of dollars and said that there might be a solution where pedestrians could walk along the tracks with a gate to prevent access when a train approached.
For now, Fitchett said that the foundation is focusing on completing sections of trail where community partners are available. “There’s so many miles to work on that we are trying to work on the miles that have community partners that want to build it with us,” Fichett said, “so that we have a partnership on the planning, partnership
on the construction and then a partnership on the maintenance and operating of that segment.”
With work ramping up in Tillamook County, there are also increasing opportunities for residents to get involved. Fitchett said that the foundation will be hosting hikes on the trail in conjunction with Tillamook County Wellness this summer as they did last year and are planning to begin offering volunteer opportunities to remove invasive species and clear the tracks, as they have in Washington County.
Fitchett said that citizens interested in supporting the project could also reach out to elected officials to share their enthusiasm, noting that a group of Tillamook County
residents had done just that by visiting the capitol last month to speak with legislators.
“One way (to get involved) is certainly around educating elected officials that they want to see the Salmonberry Trail built so the public can use it,” Fitchett said. “So, sending a message to your state legislator or county commissioner just letting them know that you support the Salmonberry Trail and please invest state and local dollars in the trail is helpful to move us forward.”
The foundation is also seeking $8 million from the Oregon legislature to support its various projects and is in the early stages of planning a fundraising event for the summer.
PHOTOS COURTESY SALMONBERRY TRAIL FOUNDATION.
Volunteers in Buxton planting trees along the trail.
The Reliance Creek Trestle in Washington County will have rails removed and decking and a handrail added before serving as a section of the train. Photo courtesy Salmonberry Trail Foundation
Planning work underway in the City of Wheeler for the forthcoming section of trail. Photo courtesy Salmonberry Trail Foundation
