Spring Unveiling Arts Festival coming soon see page 2
VOL. 44, ISSUE 4 FREE
CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM
February 21, 2020
City eyes team to consider major projects funds Kathleen Stinson For THE GAZETTE
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he City of Cannon Beach has been looking at the possibility of funding a variety of major projects, including a new city hall/police station and improvements in the resiliency of the its water system. Those two projects are directed primarily at preparing
the city’s residents to better survive a possible natural disaster such as a tsunami, as reported previously in The Gazette. At a Feb. 11 meeting, city staff provided the city council with a report that discussed the idea of forming a new committee for the purpose of looking at financing options for such projects. “My suggestion is that the
Council appoint another strong committee of individuals with financial credentials to investigate the financing options available to the City,” said City Manager Bruce St. Denis in the staff report. “These folks would work with staff and our financial advisor to investigate all financing options and report back to Council with analysis
and recommendations. “From there, Council could be in the position to set a course for future study.” St. Denis said in an email Tuesday, “The idea is to form a committee of Cannon Beach folks with financial backgrounds to advise council about which of the available options they should consider for funding the various proj-
ects under consideration. It has been discussed twice, but no action has been taken.” The Feb. 11 staff report states: “At the December 9 workshop you (the council) were given a brief introduction to staff’s concerns regarding the resiliency of the water supply. We have initiated a contract with an engineer who will have completed a preliminary
2020 Census is coming to Cannon Beach
Open for business
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(Top) James Paino, executive director of the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce, joins Meghan Rouna, her husband Matt, and daughter Montana, for a ribbon cutting at their new store. (Bottom) The new store is stocked with supplies for your dog or cat. Photos by Hilary Dorsey
Four Paws
celebrates store in Cannon Beach Hillary Dorsey For The Gazette
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our Paws on the Beach hosted the official grand opening of its new shop in Cannon Beach on Feb. 14, complete with a ribbon cutting, goodie bags and some discounted prices. The store had quietly opened its doors on Jan. 3 for a soft opening. “That first day, we were quite busy and the reception we have received from the Cannon Beach community has been wonderful,” said Meghan Ruona, who owns Four Paws on the Beach with husband Matt. The couple also owns a Four Paws location in Manzanita. The pet boutique carries supplies and gifts for dogs, cats
and their owners on the northern Oregon coast, including variety of leashes, collars, pet food and toys. The owners said they had always wanted to have one or two stores on the Oregon coast, although they had not considered Cannon Beach because another shop, Dogs Allowed, was in operation and they had a good relationship with its owners. “As a matter of fact, we would send customers to each other because our stock was quite different from each other,” Ruona said. “I think it was last March when Dogs Allowed closed their doors. So that is when we decided to look into opening a second location here.” Ruona said she and her husband knew Cannon Beach
n See STORE, Page 3
Kathleen Stinson For The Gazette
he 2020 Census questionnaire packets will not be mailed to U.S. Postal Service boxes, according to the Office of the 2020 Census, even if local customers do not receive mail delivery at their homes. For those who receive mail at their residence, the packets will be mailed between March 12 and March 20, as stated on the 2020census.gov website. The Gazette contacted the Office of the 2020 Census and posed several questions about how people who have no home delivery, such as many customers in Cannon Beach, will receive their questionnaires. The following information was provided by Misty D. Slater, a Census Bureau media specialist: CANNON BEACH GAZETTE: We understand that many residents along the Oregon coast have only post office boxes, so does this mean each person will be interviewed by a Census worker in person? MISTY SLATER: The Census Bureau will mail invitations to most homes beginning in mid-March with instructions on how to respond to the 2020 Census. If you pick up your mail at a post office box or do not have regular mail delivery, if you live in a remote area, or if you live in an area without internet access, a Census taker will visit your home to deliver a questionnaire or to interview your household in person. About 5% of homes (generally, those in more rural areas without home mail delivery) will receive a 2020 Census questionnaire packet delivered directly to their
After 41 years, firefighter Swendenborg is retiring F
Kathleen Stinson For The Gazette
rank Swedenborg became a volunteer firefighter for the Cannon Beach Fire District in 1978. His official retirement is this Saturday, after 41 years of service. Swedenborg said he became a volunteer firefighter “because if you live in a community, especially a small community, you should participate in that community in some manner. And the way I could participate is through being a volunteer firefighter.”
Garry Smith, president of the Cannon Beach Rural Protection Fire District Board of Directors, was a fellow firefighter with Swedenborg for 31 years. He said Swedenborg started as a basic firefighter and ultimately became the assistant chief, also serving as a certified emergency medical technician. “(Frank) was absolutely adamant that if he was in town, you could count on him to show up for a call,” Smith said. “People were amazed at the number of calls he came to. He spent untold hours helping the people in the
community. “It always gave Frank and I a huge sense of accomplishment to be able to help people in need,” he said. Swedenborg will announce his retirement during the district’s annual awards dinner on Saturday. Swedenborg said, “We have a very positive relationship between the people of Cannon Beach and the fire department of Cannon Beach. I think the camaraderie between the members of the fire department is a very
n See RETIRING, Page 3
study for us, which should be available by March 1st. “Once we review that information, which will include preliminary cost estimates, you will need to ask yourself the threshold question, ‘Should the City move forward with appropriate steps to add a significant level of resiliency to the City’s water supply system?’”
Frank Swedenborg
door by the Census Bureau. This operation is called “Update Leave,” because Census takers visit, update the home’s address, and leave a questionnaire packet. These households can choose to respond online, but also have the option to mail in the form or respond by phone. “Update Leave” is designed to occur in areas where most of the housing units either do not have mail delivered to the physical location of the housing unit, or the mail delivery information for the housing unit cannot be verified. GAZETTE: What about people who are traveling? SLATER: If residents are traveling, they can respond online, by phone, or by mail starting in mid-March. They can visit 2020Census. gov or call 844-330-2020 for English, or 844-468-2020 for Spanish, starting mid-March. GAZETTE: When will the Census workers start coming to Cannon Beach to speak with the residents? SLATER: Cannon Beach residents can expect to start seeing Census takers in midMarch dropping off the 2020 Census paper questionnaire. GAZETTE: What, if any, are the changes to the Census questions for 2020? SLATER: The 2020 Census will be the first time most people living in the United States can choose to respond online, by phone, or by mail. The results will inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP.