VOL. 44, ISSUE 6 FREE
T
he COVID-19 situation is having its effect on the hotel industry in Cannon Beach. And Greg Swedenborg, owner of The Waves Cannon Beach, said Tuesday that tourism is basically the only industry in Cannon Beach. “We are getting cancellations over a 100% more than average,” Swedenborg said. “I have already had 30 today – mostly for March and April. On a normal day, we might see six cancellations.” He said visitors are citing the new travel rules as the reason for the cancellations, as well as the restaurant closings. About a week ago, the picture looked different, he
CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM
Hotels deal with virus scare said. “People wanted to leave the city” and come to Cannon Beach. At that time, cancellations and reservations were about evening out. Then, “Last Wednesday, when the governor issued the state of emergency declaration, then the cancellation floodgates opened,” he said. “Yesterday, when the restaurant announcement came, (cancellations) spiked since then.” Swedenborg said all of his rentals have kitchens, although that is not the case for all of the hotels in Cannon Beach. “The annual budget for the City of Cannon Beach - cops, roads, everything - is $7 mil-
T
For The Gazette
he Cannon Beach City Council earlier this week passed a resolution addressing how Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s recent emergency coronavirus restrictions will be enforced in Cannon Beach, said the city’s emergency manager, Rick Hudson. Hudson said the Cannon Beach Police Department will enforce the restrictions listed in the state’s emergency resolution. For example, a restaurant remaining open to serve customers onsite and refusing to confine its food service to take-out and delivery, could be cited for a misdemeanor. “The city is required to enforce the code of the governor,” said Hudson Following is a statement, in part, by the City of Cannon Beach: The City of Cannon Beach will enforce the following actions taken by the State and County in the interest of protecting the health of our residents, visitors and the World-Wide Community of which we are all a part. •A statewide cancellation of all events larger than 25 people – exempting essential locations like workplaces, grocery stores, pharmacies, and retail stores. It is additionally recommended that Oregonians avoid
gatherings of 10 people or more. •Restaurants, bars, and other establishments that offer food and beverages for sale are restricted to carry-out and delivery only with no on-site consumption permitted. •Food service in health care facilities, workplaces, and other essential facilities will continue. •The State Government has closed K-12 schools effective March 16 through the end of the month. The City will support the efforts of the State and County by taking the following actions. •The City will be following the lead of the federal, state and county governments in terms of restrictions, closures, etc. unless there are extenuating circumstances peculiar to Cannon Beach. •All City operations will continue with the exception that City Hall will be closed to visitors except by appointment. This information will be posted on the City’s website and all entrances. •Where possible employees will work from home, but some positions require materials that are housed in the building. In those
n See CHANGES, Page 6
Cannon Beach named sixth-best U.S. beach T
ripAdvisor has ranked Cannon Beach sixth on its list of Top 25 U.S. Beaches, part of the website’s Traveler’s Choice Awards. Siesta Beach in Siesta Key, Florida was named the nation’s top beach. Bend, Oregon was named the site’s 11th-
best trending destination nationwide. Several hotels in Oregon made TripAdvisor’s Top 25 Hotels in the U.S., including Cannon Beach’s Stephanie Inn at No. 19, the Oxford Hotel in Bend at 11, and the Inn at 5th in Eugene at 14.
this goes on for three months, the City of Cannon Beach is going to lose a lot of revenue.” Claudia Toutain-Dorbec, owner of Cannon Beach Hotel Lodgings, said on Monday, “The coronavirus is a serious but temporary setback. “For the first time in 30 years of hospitality experience, I am witnessing many cancellations. With my terrific team, we are handling them with compassion. “However, as in Europe, we still have many guests who wish to get away from the crowds. They want to visit the beach for more space, to create safe social distancing
Claudia Toutain-Dorbec’s Cannon Beach Hotel Lodgings is seeing cancellations, but she said she and her staff are determined to weather the coronavirus economic downturn. Courtesy photo. lion,” he said. “The lodging tax on hotels and vacation
City outlines its changes prompted by coronavirus Kathleen Stinson
March 20, 2020
rentals is 70% of the annual budget of Cannon Beach. “If
and to breathe the fresh air. “We retrained our staff on a long list of topics,” said Toutain-Dorbec, “everything from how to properly wash their hands (we issued a poster) to creating and implementing new protocols for guest safety. “We are still in the first days of understanding the virus, but I feel positive that we can pull together to combat this challenge, with good old American fortitude and ingenuity.” The Gazette contacted several other vacation rental businesses in Cannon Beach, but only these two responded to our requests for comment.
At The Library
Library closing at least until April 1 as coronavirus cancels programs
Joseph Bernt Library Volunteer
T
his column traditionally emphasizes upcoming events, activities, speakers, authors and new titles at the Cannon Beach Library, as it did in the previous Cannon Beach Gazette. Announcing cancelled or postponed events, activities, speakers and tantalizing books added to the library’s collection, as is the case today, seems a perverse use of this regular column in our village’s journal. The board of directors of the Cannon Beach Library met March 16 and voted unanimously to close the library until April 1, when the board will reevaluate the safety and timing of reopening. A statement the board posted on the library webpage explained its decision: “This decision was not
made lightly. We are taking the necessary precautions for the safety of our patrons, our volunteers, and our staff. Please stay safe and healthy and do your part to ‘flatten the curve.’” In the posted statement, the library board asked patrons not to return checked-out library materials at this time and assured its patrons that fines will not be assessed. The board also encouraged patrons to use library e-book services during this coronavirus closure. “You will find a link on our website, www.cannonbeachlibrary.org. On the bottom of the page under ‘suggested links,’ click on ‘library to go.’ Or, download the overdrive app. Your patron number is your log-in and also your
password.” Patrons without an account may use e-book services free of charge. Use 2688 to log in and 2688 as your password, or 2689 to log in and 2689 as the password. Patrons are asked to check out only one e-book at a time, so others also may benefit from this online service. Several scheduled events have been cancelled or postponed as a result of the coronavirus. Cannon Beach Reads, scheduled to discuss Brian Doyle’s “Martin Marten,” did not meet March 18 as scheduled and announced in this column two weeks ago. If the status of the current plague improves and the library reopens in time, the reading group
intends to maintain its published schedule, with Wanda Meyer-Price leading a discussion of Geraldine Brooks’ novel “People of the Book” at the library, April 15 from 7-8:30 p.m. The discussion of “Martin Marten” will wait until January 2021. Those invited to the Cannon Beach Library’s Member and Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on April 1 should have received a notice that the luncheon has been postponed. Members and volunteers should watch their snail mail for a token of the library’s appreciation, and details about a new time and place for the luncheon. The amazing Brett Willyard was scheduled to present “There’s Magic at the Library” on March 28. Willyard’s magic show, however, also has been
n See LIBRARY, Page 2
1/2 Off First Month’s Rent!
SUZANNE ELISE ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY
Score big this March with half off the first month’s rent! Come tour our assisted living community to take advantage of this limited time offer. 101 Forest Drive in Seaside, Oregon (503) 738-0307 | SuzanneElise.com