VOL. 47, ISSUE 7
When Nature Calls
Columns & Letters
Page 2
PAGES 3-4
FREE
CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM
March 31, 2023
‘BEACH BUNNIES’
Cannon Beach Bunny Rescue shares their hopes for the town’s troubled rabbit population Miska Salemann
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For the Gazette
ome scenes from Cannon Beach seem to be taken straight out of a fairytale. On any given day, head to the lush strip of grass behind the Stephanie Inn, and chances are you may encounter a ‘fluffle’ of little bunnies, whimsically playing and grazing in the sun, with Haystack Rock sitting just behind them in the distance. Between their floppy ears and button noses, it’s hard to imagine that Cannon Beach’s rabbit population, known better as the ‘beach bunnies,’ are given anything but love and adoration from their human neighbors. But, the reality is, that the tiny creatures have not had it that easy. While many travel to the coast just to admire Cannon Beach’s wildlife, some residents consider the rabbits a pest and will do whatever it takes to keep them out of their perfectly manicured gardens.
Five years ago, local leaders were not particularly excited about their options. City Manager Bruce St. Denis told The Astorian that the “The options are to kill them or to trap them … And then kill them.” City Councilor Mike Benefeild acknowledged it would not be a pretty sight for the town’s brand, “I would love to see how the (Chamber of Commerce) would deal with the image of Cannon Beach: Bunny killing capital of the world.” A coalition of residents took to Facebook to address the issue, encouraging “responsible landowners” to take matters into their own hands by obtaining permits from the Department of Fish and Wildlife to authorize the “capture and disposal of unlimited feral rabbits year long.” Karen Anderson couldn’t take it. After working in rabbit rescue for over 15 years, she knew that the bunnies of Cannon Beach were not truly wild animals, but domes-
This bunny enjoys a snack on some local foliage. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Lincoln Back in 2018, locals had enough, and began asking the city to address what they described as the “bunny infestation.” Since the rabbits are feral, they are not protected under the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. And because they are not considered livestock either, the Department of Agriculture also won’t lift a finger.
ticated rabbits that were dropped in the area and began to reproduce. Domesticated rabbits are not designed to survive against the harsh conditions of nature and predators, let alone human opponents. Plus, without constant access to grass or hay, their molars can overgrow and cause a plethora of health complications. Not to mention, the issue of interbreed-
Projects funding options discussed at City Council Will Chappell
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Tanya (pictured on the left) contacted the team to initiate this rescue. Also pictured is Jen Ferry (middle) and Karen Anderson (right). Photo courtesy of Cannon Beach Bunnie Rescue ing. “I knew a lot about rabbits and domesticated rabbits that are loose outside, they shouldn’t be out there. They are at the whims of the elements,” Anderson explained. “Anytime I see a rabbit that is loose outside, I want to help them.” After hearing the news about potential extermination, Anderson knew it was time to intervene. “I created a petition saying ‘Don’t kill the bunnies,’ and told people about the issue and that we have a plan, so reach out to us first. That gained lots of traction and before we knew it, we had a non-profit,” she said. Hence, the origin of Cannon Beach Bunny Rescue, a registered non-profit dedicated to raising awareness about the loose, domesticated rabbits and offering nonviolent solutions to rescue as many as possible and “stop reproduction in its tracks.” On the organization’s website, visitors can find a submission form to alert the bunny rescue of any sick or injured rabbit sightings in the area. From there, Anderson mobilizes a rescue team to retrieve the rabbit and provide it with
immediate medical care. Anderson’s seen it all; from bunnies suffering from parasitic infections to one’s that have developed rare skin conditions, and most recently, a poor black bunny that lost an eye as well as the surrounding tissue on one side of her face. Sometimes, the prognosis is not good. However, for the ones that do make a recovery, the future is brighter. “What we would love to happen is for every single domesticated rabbit to be spayed and neutered and be placed in a loving indoor home where they can live life to the fullest,” she explained. Jen Ferry, who is the Vice President of Cannon Beach Bunny Rescue, has done lots of fostering for the organization. “I’ve got to see them go from tiny little babies to adults, and it’s really a rewarding experience to see them grow. They are all so different,” she pointed out. Of course, her least favorite part of the job is having to let them go when they are ready to be adopted. While bittersweet, Ferry understands that this is the best possible
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Lazy Susan Cafe: A Cannon Beach Favorite Deb Atiyeh
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For the Gazette
estled in downtown Cannon Beach next to the Coaster Theater on Hemlock Street, there is a special two-story cottage named Lazy Susan Cafe. This cozy family-owned-and-operated business is one of the favorite places to eat in Cannon Beach. Hospitality and customer service are a top priority, and it begins the moment you enter the front door, where you are greeted with a warm and friendly hello from Rosa Alvarez, the owner of the Lazy Susan Cafe. Rosa started out washing dishes and doing prep work at the Lazy Susan Cafe in 1995, working for owners Arlene Mackey and Maureen Dooley-Sroufe. About two months after starting work, the cafe was sold to Michael and Nancy Bernas. Rosa continued working as a dishwasher; eventually becoming one of the cooks. Rosa worked for the Bernas’s until 2007, when they decided to sell the restaurant and offered it to Rosa as a business opportunity. It was a very difficult decision, but she eventually decided to buy it. Rosa has poured everything into Lazy Susan Cafe, and she’s literally always there. Her work day starts at 3:00 AM baking fresh pastry; moving to the front counter
to greet the first customers when the door opens at 8:00 AM. Lazy Susan Cafe is a family-run business, with Rosa’s husband Aristeo Maldonado, Rosa’s sister Anita Alvarez, Rosa’s daughters Andrea Maldonado and Yazmin Maldonado, Yazmin’s husband Miguel Vega, and granddaughter Ximena Vega. Jaime Lily has worked at Lazy Susan Cafe for seven years, along with part-time helpers Maria and Alexa Nolazco. Lazy Susan Cafe’s omelettes are exceptional, along with their homemade quiche and the popular Eggs Benedict (featuring fresh crab in season) Their fresh-baked marionberry scones, accompanied by a latte, are a must. Lunches are wonderful, with salads made with the freshest of greens. Their lunch menu includes shrimp salad, chicken curry salad, hot seafood salad, seafood stew, and a broiled shrimp sandwich. Lazy Susan Cafe features daily specials which change seasonally. For the ultimate taste sensation, their gingerbread waffles topped with slices of fresh pear, lemon sauce and whipped cream are a supreme heavenly delight, and are hands-down the best waffle you have ever tasted. During the warmer months, outdoor seating is available in the courtyard. After just one visit, Lazy Susan Cafe will become a favorite part of your trip to Cannon Beach.
Rosa Alvarez, owner of th lazy Susan Cafe in Cannon Beach. Photo by Deb Atiyeh Lazy Susan Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch six days a
week from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (closed Tuesday)
Gazette Reporter
annon Beach City Manager Bruce St. Denis briefed city council on the debt the city would need to take on to finance two major infrastructure projects and detailed how a raise in a tourism tax could help service that debt. St. Denis presented figures showing how a 1.5% raise in the city’s transient lodging tax could help the city fund a new city hall and the Cannon Beach Elementary School event center project. The meeting drew a large crowd, overrunning the capacity of the city hall chamber, with additional citizens watching the meeting from an adjoining conference room. St. Denis, who is serving as project manager for both projects, began the meeting by discussing the elementary school rejuvenation project, which has a projected budget of $12 million. The city has already secured $4.3 million of funding for the project, leaving $7.7 million to be secured. The total annual debt service for the $12 million will be around $750,000 with $250,000 of that already funded. The city has $231,000 of transient lodging tax (TLT) funds in its annual budget that it can put towards debt service on the elementary project. Cannon Beach’s Tourism and Arts Council has also agreed to contribute $100,000 of their transient lodging tax funding towards the elementary school project. With all of this considered, the city council would need to generate an additional $168,750 annually to service the debt to build the project with a $12 million budget. The new city hall’s projected budget of $25 million has a much larger funding gap, according to St. Denis’s presentation. That budget would require $1.55 million in annual debt service from the city, of which only $900,000 is currently covered by prepared food tax revenues. St. Denis said that the city council could direct $150,000 of income from the RV park to the project’s debt service as well, but that would still leave a gap of over $500,000. The solution that St. Denis presented to the council was a 1.5% increase in the city’s transient lodging tax. Tourism projects must receive 70% of TLT funds, while the remaining 30% can go towards general city services. Cannon Beach currently charges a TLT of 8.5%, with 1.5% added by the state and an additional 1% going to Clatsop County. St. Denis showed a comparison with other communities on Oregon’s North Coast, and on average they charge almost 10%, while only Gearhart charges less than Cannon Beach. A one and a half percent increase to the TLT would yield about one million dollars in additional revenue for the city. Of this, just over $720,000 would be available for the elementary project, easily meeting the debt obligation needs. The remaining $310,000 could be put towards the city hall and police station project, although that would still leave $195,000 to generate for debt service.
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