VOL. 43, ISSUE 27 FREE
CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM
‘A tender’ tradition
‘Big-ticket’ projects eyed T
Kathleen Stinson For The Gazette
he City of Cannon Beach and its residents are embarking on a path to decide whether to spend millions of dollars from an increase in local property taxes on a new city hall and police facility. And to absorb a utility rate hike in order to ensure the community is prepared in the event of a major disaster such as a tsunami. A city staff report issued Thursday states that the existing city hall and police facility, as well as the city’s water and wastewater systems, would not withstand such an event. The projected cost of both the facility and the improved water system could cost in the $40 million range, the report states. In an effort to help the city council decide which direction to take, city officials invited the public to attend a series of meetings, which took place this week in the council chambers. The council sessions included a workshop on Wednesday at which the public was asked to provide comment. City Manager Bruce St. Denis gave a presentation on the funding options during Monday’s meeting. A third so-called “big-ticket” item open for discussion during these meetings was a proposed Cannon Beach Elementary School project - perhaps to turn the facility into an event center or park - which could be funded by transient room tax, as stated in the city’s report. However, the city’s general fund money might have to fund some or all of that project in the event the transient room tax cannot be used to pay for the work. The city staff’s report that explains the funding options of these proposed projects in detail is posted on the city’s website and was included in the work session packet. The report summarizes that the existing city hall and police station facility is in the tsunami zone, is some 60 years old and was never designed to withstand an earthquake. The
Cannon Beach Academy fifth-grader Owen Swedenborg lights the traditional lamp during the Cannon Beach Lamp Lighting Ceremony Saturday with help from his father, Greg. Photos by Joe Warren.
Cannon Beach celebrates annual Lamp Lighting
n See AGENDA, Page 3
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City spending plans stir lengthy debate T
December 13, 2019
Kathleen Stinson For The Gazette
he City of Cannon Beach may face opposition to its plans under discussion to construct a new city hall and police facility, as well as to improve its water and sewer systems. A large number of the voting residents of Cannon Beach are seniors, said Jim Litherland, a member of the city’s vetting committee for these proposals. He said he thinks “people are reluctant to go into debt” for the millions of dollars estimated to construct a new city hall and police station and also to improve the water system. “Most of the homes of any value (in Cannon Beach) nobody lives in, so what we have here are voters on fixed incomes,” he said. “The other thing is, the (proposed) city hall does not provide a shelter place” for residents fleeing damage in the low-lying areas in the event of a catastrophic event. The city instead could install utilities services at its Southwind site to house people in the event of a natural disaster, he said. “I think the likelihood of Cannon Beach surviving as it is (in the event of a tsunami) is slim.” Caleb Whitmore, president of the board of directors of
n See DEBATE, Page 4
Joe Warren For The Gazette
undreds gathered in Sandpiper Square on Dec. 7 for carols, tributes and the community’s annual Lamp Lighting Ceremony, marking the beginning of the festive Christmas season in Cannon Beach. But before the actual lamp lighting took place, local writer Peter Lindsay read a tribute to the late Betty Dueber, a business icon and community leader in Cannon Beach since the early 1960s. The tribute was written by her daughter-in-law, Margo Dueber, one of the event’s organizers. “I was too choked up to read it,” she told the crowd. The lamp lighting tradition began in 1973 amid an oil crisis that drove down the number of vacationers traveling to visit Cannon Beach Academy students sing Christmas carols during the annual Cannon Beach. To get those Lamp Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 7. numbers up, the town created a holiday celebration with a 36 years. So, the tradition is kept alive Academy students. Charles Dickens theme. with today’s Lamp Lighting Ceremony The crowd was treated to additional As part of that, the Coaster Theatre in the heart of downtown. Christmas songs by the academy put on productions of “A Christmas Since then, many other traditions students and those of Fire Mountain Carol” and shop owners dressed in have evolved. Bill Steidel and Paul School, as well as the Seaside High Victorian style. Dueber performed the town’s official School Choir. A lamp lighter would fire up 40 song, “Christmas in Our Hometown,” “This ceremony is a symbol of lamps along Hemlock - Cannon for years. This year, with Steidel in light and love and hope,” said Margo Beach’s main street - each day at 4 the audience front and center, Dueber Dueber. “I call it, ‘A Tender Cannon p.m. during the holidays, said Dueber. sang the song joined by Cannon Beach Beach Christmas.”’ She added that it continued for at least
History Center and Museum to host holiday party T
Sitting from left to right are volunteer Meagan Sokol and staff member Liz Johnson. Standing is staff member Kelly Mauer. Photo courtesy Elaine Trucke.
Hilary Dorsey For The Gazette
he Cannon Beach History Center and Museum will be hosting its fourth-annual holiday party Dec. 21 from noon-4 p.m., offering crafts, a hot-chocolate bar, face painting and more. The history center’s executive director, Elaine Trucke, said the free party is getting bigger ever year. “We are doing this for our members and community,” Trucke said. She said the party is kid-friendly and “a way to unwind.” Donations,
while welcome, are not expected, said Trucke. Festivities will begin at noon with holiday-themed crafts, a selfserve hot-chocolate bar and a photo booth. Santa will be available for photos from 1-3 p.m. Face painting will be from 1-3 p.m., and crafts from noon-3 p.m., when Kids Story Time begins. The hot-chocolate bar will be running from noon-4 p.m., as supplies last. Trucke said the museum used to do an evening Christmas party and a kids-themed party during the day. But because it gets dark around 4
p.m., the museum decided to do something everyone would like before the sun goes down. The museum will be open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., so visitors can check out its “Shipwrecks of the Oregon Coast” exhibit. Trucke said this is one of the most popular exhibits at the museum, and features archaeological work and artifacts associated with the shipwrecks. The gift shop also will be open, selling items at a 10% discount. This event is made possible by the support of State Farm, Martin North and Clatsop County, said Trucke.
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