VOL. 43, ISSUE 23 FREE
Stormy Weather 2019 inside
CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM
Carving at the driftwood Kathleen Stinson For The Gazette
October 18, 2019
S tormy Weather Arts Festival 2019
Purity of Freedo
m by Taryn Wise
“Fun” and “tradition” are two words that tell the story of the annual pumpkin carving at the Driftwood Restaurant and Lounge in Cannon Beach. Sure, carving jack-o’-lanterns is synonymous with celebrating Halloween in many places, but at the Driftwood it is special to the locals. It is a celebration of getting together with others at the start of a new season. “It started one afternoon about 15 years ago. A bunch of us thought it would be fun to carve some pumpkins into jacko’-lanterns,” said Paul Nofield, co-owner of the Driftwood. “It was really fun and we decided to make it a tradition. “We got a couple of locals together to carve them, had a couple of beers, lit them up and just admired them,” Nofield said. “Ever since I moved to Cannon Beach (about 40 years ago), Carved pumpkins on display at the Driftwood Restaurant. See more pumpkin photos inside this the Driftwood has had a really big edition. Photo courtesy Kyle Genin. Halloween party,” he said. carvings for some time. “It’s fun the Driftwood on display. “We give ing drinks. “It’s a really fun way for Nofield bought the Driftwood and weird and cool, especially for (everyone) a T-shirt, just so they can locals to see each other. in 2003, although the restaurant itself grown-ups to go and do pumpkin go home with something.” “Paul loves the locals and he is a dates back to 1944 and is in its 75th carving,” Frank said. The carving is Why pumpkin carving? great host,” she said. The Wards used year, he said. He added a large deck to “Pumpkin carving gets people out to own the Driftwood and “were also the restaurant in 2005, which provides done on the deck … people walk by of their element,” he said. “It stretches great hosts. They threw a super-awea “good venue for carving pumpkins.” and “are curious. I sat on the deck for four hours (one time) trying to make their brains to do something they some Halloween party. The Driftwood is co-owned by “Some people schedule their vacaPaul’s wife, Susie, and Christy Drum- this pumpkin what it was supposed to normally wouldn’t do. It’s really quite look like,” he said. fun.” tions to be at the Driftwood during heller. It takes place “at the end of tourist The pumpkin carving is a contest, that time,” she said. “People look “The Halloween party is our No. season” as the town transitions into too, he said. Each jack-o’-lantern is forward to it. People have been com1 party of the year. It’s a truly local winter. “We’ve worked our tails off photographed and posted on Faceing to the Halloween parties (at the event. All our neighbors, the merall summer and now we kind of get book. “Anyone can vote for the Driftwood) for years,” she said. The chants in town, all the kids make our little town back,” he said. “It’s a pumpkins, by likes.” Driftwood has photos of people at the Halloween special,” he said. locals’ event. Visitors can do it too, Misty Kawasoe is a friend of Halloween parties from “years and In Cannon Beach, “everybody (but it is) definitely focused on the Paul’s and the project and brand years ago.” virtually knows everybody,” he said. locals.” manager at Escape Lodging, which “All of our jack-o’-lanterns are lit “On the last day of October, there’s The restaurant buys about 200 manages the Driftwood. Pumpkin up at night with Christmas lights,” really not much to do.” At the party, pumpkins and anyone 21-years carving at the Driftwood is “super Nofield said. “It really is a sight to people get out and see each other and and older is invited to carve one in fun,” Kawasoe said. “It’s such a fun see. People from all over come to “have a good time.” the days leading up to Halloween, atmosphere” sitting on the deck with take pictures of them.” Don Frank, a friend of Paul’s, said Nofield said. The pumpkins stay at friends, carving pumpkins and havhe has been coming to the pumpkin
Purity of Freedo
m by Taryn Wise
32ND ANNIVER
November 1-SARY 3, 2019 Cannon Beach, Oregon
Council says no to dunes ‘graded for views’ T
Kathleen Stinson For The Gazette
he Cannon Beach City Council voted unanimously Tuesday not to continue to allow “grading for views,” said the city’s community development director, Jeff Adams. The council has not yet voted on the ordinance itself, which includes more than the portion about dune grading for views, Adams said. “…They (council) are just making their way through certain portions of the decision,” he said. “The ordinance goes into effect 30 days after adoption,” with some exceptions. The council “voted to no longer allow ‘grading for views,’ but wanted to impress that they would still allow some forms of ‘maintenance’ and ‘remedial’ grading, which we will work through over the coming weeks,” he said in an email Wednesday. “I think we still have a long way to go with these amendments. They
n See DUNES, Page A2
Q & A: Changes at Duane Johnson Real Estate C
Reprinted from The Astorian
elebrating its 30th year, Duane Johnson Real Estate is a locally owned and globally connected real estate brokerage in Cannon Beach. Established in 1990 by Johnson with the intent of exclusively serving the real estate needs of the Cannon Beach and Arch Cape areas, this year saw the agency move to the next level with an infusion of venture capital and a new operating strategy. Johnson remains the principal broker, as realtor Michael Henderson takes over the day-to-day operations. We spoke with Johnson and Henderson in their Cannon Beach office. QUESTION: You grew up in Cannon Beach? DUANE JOHNSON: No, in Portland. We moved down here in ’78. My wife, Cheryl, got the toy store, Geppetto’s, a couple of years after that. QUESTION: How did you get started in real estate? JOHNSON: I was working for a couple of guys who had it. We were on the corner of Second and Larch for about five, six years. One gentleman decided to retire and the other didn’t want to do it on his own, so we formed a partnership. When he decided to sell, we moved down the road to Midtown. I was there for five years with my partner in North Coast Properties when I decided to go on my own. I saw this building for sale from a Prineville realtor and we were very fortunate we could buy it. QUESTION: What was it like when you started? JOHNSON: I was probably here the first year by myself seven days a week. Chris Childress joined when she got her broker’s license. We started in 1989. QUESTION: There was a recession at the time. JOHNSON: We struggled at first, but by the end of January we had 30 listings, which is pretty good. People that knew us wanted to do business with us. We knew a lot of people in town. It took off. QUESTION: Did you start with a philosophy? JOHNSON: We started with the idea that we wanted to take care of each other. We help each other. We work as a team. In a small office like this, you can really do it. QUESTION: How has the audience changed in terms of the people that you see looking for homes? JOHNSON: Years ago, people were coming down and buying homes because they wanted to be here. It’s the same today, but there are people who have more money today. They come into town, they don’t want to fix a window, fix the floor, they just want everything to be turnkey. A lot of these clients work a lot of hours. The last thing they want to do is go furniture shop-
Duane Johnson, (left) stands with Michael Henderson in front of their real estate office in Cannon Beach. Photo courtesy of The Astorian. ping. They just want the key. QUESTION: Where does your territory stretch? MICHAEL HENDERSON: Cannon Beach, Arch Cape, Falcon Cove, Cove Beach, that’s our focus. We want to have the highest level of knowledge and experience in that market. QUESTION: Is there an influx of wealth as a result, and how has it affected quality of life? JOHNSON: I don’t think a whole lot. There are some nicer restaurants, upscale boutique shops, but as far as the people living here, I don’t think so. QUESTION: Where are your buyers from? JOHNSON: They’re primarily from the Portland, Seattle area. Some from Canada, depending where their dollar is. A few from Idaho. Primarily the Northwest. Through the years, people said the California people are going to come up here, “They’re dumb and they’re going to buy all the real estate.” Well, first of all, California people aren’t that dumb. And second, they don’t like our weather here. QUESTION: Michael, how did you become part of the team?
HENDERSON: I’ve always been in business marketing and management. My first interaction was when I was in action sports — skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing — as a brand manager. Myself, Duane and his son, David, sat on an ad hoc committee to the City Council to raise money and design for the new skatepark and basketball court. When it came down to the end of it and what we needed, Duane was the largest donor. Growing up in that world of skating, surfing and snowboarding, I thought the world of him for doing that. That was the first time I really got to know Duane and his family. QUESTION: How long have you been here? HENDERSON: I was 26 when I moved here in ’99. I was constantly coming here from Mount Hood to surf. And I was drawn more to the surf than the mountain. The first time I came here was when I moved from Colorado to Mount Hood. My friends and I threw on a wetsuit and went surfing at Short Sands, and I knew that this is where I wanted to be forever. I think that resonates for a lot of people. It’s such a magical
n See CHANGE, Page A3
Gower Street could reopen by the end of October G
Kathleen Stinson For The Gazette
ower Street, from Hemlock Street to Ecola Court, has been closed for “dig-out” since Oct. 1, but after paving starts next week, the road is expected to reopen by the end of the month, according to the City of Cannon Beach. “If rains happens as predicted, then paving would be delayed, but the road will reopen to traffic until weather allows us to pave,” said Karen La Bonte, Public Works director. The Gower Street pavement preservation
project will cost about $30,000, La Bonte said. The street design will not change. She said the project has been complicated by what the city discovered beneath the street. “This was a huge project simply because of what’s underground in this area of Gower,” she said. “…(T)his area was an old lumber dumping ground, so we’ve found a variety of ‘surprises’ during the dig-out. “But the main challenge has been the huge spruce tree stumps that were left behind and paved over many years ago when that street was originally developed. That led to air pockets as the stumps
broke down and deteriorated, and caused the street to sink in certain spots. “We’ve patched those areas, over the years, to address the sunken spots as they became evident. Years of patching has now led to the need for a complete repaving. “We just completed the upgrade of our Pacific Force Main last year, which was a very large project that required additional digging up of the pavement on Gower in this same area. The plan was to repave the entire street (Gower from Hemlock to Ecola Court) once that project was completed.” ABCDE Paving won the bid to do the
work, she said. The city has “worked with all impacted businesses to ensure access to their respective entrances, and parking lots have been kept open via alternative access routes clearly marked with signage so folks know how to get to those locations,” she said. The Gazette contacted the Surfsand Resort and the Wayfarer Restaurant and Lounge, which is managed by Martin North, for comment on business accessibility during the street closure, but was told no one would be available to speak by press time.