Spring Unveiling Art Festival draws crowds
STAFF REPORT
Visitors thronged to Cannon Beach in the first weekend of May for the annual Spring Unveiling Arts Festival, hosted at galleries across the city.
Ten galleries hosted events during the festival, and attendees were treated to live music, artist receptions and demonstrations, and, of course, unveilings of new pieces throughout the three-day event.
Sandcastle Contest taking place June 20-22
WILL CHAPPELL Gazette Editor
Cannon Beach voters voted to require voter approval for large incurrences of debt by the city in May 20 elections by a slim margin.
The margins on the competing ballot measures advanced by Cannon Beach Together to require approval and the city council to formalize the existing approach were tight, with 15 and 11 votes separating the responses on the respective measures.
Ballot measure 04-235, put forward by Cannon Beach Together, proposed changing the city charter to require voter approval for the city to incur debt above 50% of government activity revenues for the most recent year, or around $5.9 million currently.
The measure was put forward in response to concerns over the financing approach taken last year with the new city hall and police station, as well as the proposal for the rejuvenation of the Cannon Beach Elementary School. Supporters of the measure argued that given the city’s abundance of transient lodging tax dollars, the measure was the only way to ensure voter input on major projects that would saddle the city with debt. As of June 2, measure 04235 had received 323 yes votes against 308 no votes. Measure 04-236 was put on the ballot by the city council last November to formalize the current debt-issuance policy, allowing the city to borrow without charter amendment and only requiring voter approval for bonds or levies. Councilors argued that the Cannon Beach Together amendment would hamstring the city’s ability to meet matching requirements for grants and argued it would make the city one of the most financially regressive in the state.
As of June 2, measure 04236 had 314 votes in favor with 325 against.
COWS up and running
WILL CHAPPELL Gazette Editor
Cannon Beach’s Coastal Outside Warning System for tsunamis is once again functional after nearly a year of downtime. Installation took place in late April and early May, before live testing was conducted in the second week of May, confirming the systems operability.
Cannon Beach’s Coastal Outside Warning System (COWS) consists of seven sets of horns— five in Cannon Beach and two in Arch Cape—that warn residents of distant tsunamis that require evacuation from low-lying areas.
The system is tested with the sound of mooing cows monthly.
The previous system was installed by the Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District in the 1980s, according to City Manager Bruce St. Denis, and had reached the end of its useful life by last year. Several residents expressed concern over its absence at city council meetings in late 2024 and early 2025 Cannon Beach’s Rural Fire Protection District had maintained
the system after its installation but in 2022, found that the costs of maintenance were too high for their budget and turned responsibility over to the city. St. Denis told councilors in January that after assuming responsibility for the system, city staff had done what they could to maintain and repair it but that it had broken completely last summer and needed to be replaced.
City staff first communicated about the outage in December 2024, with a release on the city website, drawing concern from members of the public who had been unaware of the system’s outage and were worried about the lack of ability for the city to notify residents and visitors of an emergency. At council’s regular meeting on February 4, St. Denis brought three bids to replace the system to the council for review.
A new piece awaiting unveiling in the Bronze Coast Gallery.
three-piece band playing for gallery goers at Jeffrey Hull Gallery.
Trash Bash Art Fest kicks off with Trash Art Slam
WILL CHAPPELL
Gazette Editor
Heart of Cartm’s annual Trash Bash Art Festival kicked off with a gallery opening reception featuring a live art demonstration by three artists at White Clover Grange on May 15.
The three-day event continued with a Trash Tales storytelling event on May 16, and culminated with the annual Trashion Art Show on May 17. Heart of Cartm Executive Director welcomed attendees to the kickoff event on Thursday, saying that the weekend was an excellent opportunity to show off Heart of Cartm’s mission.
“We are asking you to come out of hibernation to help us celebrate the creativity and resourcefulness that characterize this community all year long,” Just said.
Heart of Cartm began in the late 1990s as a nonprofit focused on reducing waste and managing it locally and ran the Manzanita Transfer Station for two decades until 2018. Reinvigorated by a new board in 2021, the organization opened a new workspace
in Wheeler where they repurpose materials donated by community members or rescued from the roadside or rubbish piles into art, which is then sold.
The Trash Bash Art Festival, held each May, gives the group an opportunity to show off its members’ skills in repurposing and to raise funds through fun events and art sales.
At the opening reception, artists Shel Stout, Senny Siegel and Wenda Borge showcased their artistic talents in a Trash Art Slam, where each of the artists was given three hours to craft a piece out of donated materials. Artists spent the first hour choosing their materials, half an hour arranging them and an hour and a half assembling, with the help of an assistant, and audience members were welcomed to help or ask the artists questions about their process.
Attendees were also able to peruse more than 70 pieces of art that were on display in the grange, with many for sale, while enjoying donated hors d’oeuvres and drinks.
Since our beginning in 1990 we at Duane Johnson
Business as Usual
Despite construction at City Hall, Cannon Beach Farmers’ Market will still be a Tuesday fixture
PIERCE BAUGH V for the Gazette
Despite construction taking place at city hall, this year’s farmers market is back and ready for residents and visitors to enjoy all it has to offer.
this place and help you find your coastal home.
Tracy Abel, the farmers market manager, is keeping changes to a minimum despite the construction, with a goal not “to disrupt the flow as much as possible.”
The biggest change from last year will be the hours of operation; instead of being open from noon to 4 p.m. as it was last year, the new market hours will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The reason for the change in hours is to accommodate vendors who won’t have access to city hall’s parking as they did in the past and will instead be provided parking through the
American Legion. In addition to accommodating vendors, Abel believes the new hours will also be preferable for patrons. “We had a lot of people that came early last year, we found more people arriving around 11 O’clock wanting to get into the market and get lunch and shop before they went to the beach,” Abel says.
Abel is happy that the previous year’s vendors, like Malia’s Grill, River City Flower Farm and Ama Chocolates, will be returning.
The vendor requests to join the Cannon Beach Farmers Market were so high that many vendors were turned away due to a lack of available space, though there will still be the same number of vendors as last year. However, with more limited space, there will be no live music or nonprofit booth at this year’s farmers’ market. There will be limited half-hour parking available at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum. With the farmers market having been a summer staple for over a decade, Abel is “just excited we’re still able to have the market.”
The Cannon Beach Farmers Market will be held on Tuesdays, June 17 – September 9, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Public Parking Lot/Gower and Hemlock.
Jessi Just interviews artist Wenda Borge during the Trash Art Slam on May 15.
Senny Siegel contemplates how he will arrange his materials.
More than 70 pieces of art were on display at the gallery opening event.
North Coast Express debuts
WILL CHAPPELL
Gazette Editor
Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and representatives from Senator Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden’s offices gathered at the Sunset Transit Center in Beaverton on May 23, for the inaugural departure of the North Coast Express.
A pilot program from the Oregon Coast Visitors’ Association (OCVA), the express will offer two routes to the north coast departing from and returning to the transit center Friday through Sunday, aimed at giving day trippers and weekend visitors a vehicle-free way to access
the north coast. “I’m thrilled that there’s going to be a new and convenient transit option to get to the north coast without a car,” Bonamici said at the ceremony.
OCVA is partnering with ecoShuttle Charters and Tours of Sherwood to operate the routes, with 54-seat buses equipped with WiFi, charging ports and restrooms transporting customers. The two daily express routes will leave Beaverton at 9:15 each morning, with one heading to Tillamook County on Highway 6 and the other to Clatsop County on Highway 26. The southern route
through Tillamook County will first stop at the Tillamook County Creamery, before continuing north on Highway 101 to Astoria, with stops in Rockaway Beach, Cannon Beach and Seaside along the way. It will then turn around and make the same stops on its southbound trip, before returning to Beaverton, arriving at 9:15 p.m.
The northern route will first stop in Astoria before making the south bound trip on 101 to the creamery, with the same stops, and returning to Astoria before its nightly trip back to Beaverton.
Finn Johnson, OCVA’s Destination Stewardship Manager, said that the buses
on the coast would offer hopon-hop-off service to passengers, allowing multiple stops in different communities for visitors, but that passengers would need to return to Beaverton on the same bus that transported them to the coast. Additionally, OCVA is partnering with the Tillamook County Transportation District to offer riders access to the district’s route network as part of their fare.
Johnson said that the service, which OCVA has committed to operating this year and next, is aimed at reducing the challenges faced by coastal communities during the busy tourist season, especially traffic
congestion and the environmental impacts of personal vehicle use.
“Today we’re very thrilled to announce the launch of the north coast express, a new pilot service that’s going to make traveling to the coast without a car faster, more comfortable and more enjoyable than ever before,” Johnson said at the event.
OCVA’s Executive Director Marcus Hinz said that the shuttles had a combined 40 passengers booked for the second day of operations on May 24. Hinz said that the group was making a concerted advertising push for the service, especially focusing on people living near bus
lines that serve the Sunset Transit Center with plans to reach out to area neighborhood associations soon. At the press conference, after Johnson and Bonamici spoke, representatives from Merkley and Wyden’s offices spoke, as did TriMet’s Director of Public Access and Innovation John Gardner and Travel Oregon’s Allie Gardner.
Tickets for the service cost $34.99 and passengers can bring large items for an additional $10. The buses are ADA compatible, but Johnson asked that passengers with disabilities reach out ahead of time to allow staff to prepare for them.
Community activities ramp up for summer
PIERCE BAUGH V for the Gazette
It’s summer and puffins and visitors alike are flocking to the north coast, both knowing that Cannon Beach is the place to be for the longer and warmer days.
With the Fourth of July fast approaching, that means the Fourth of July parade will be proceeding through the city. Scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 4, the parade will head north on Spruce Street from the staging area between Gower and Monroe Streets, before turning west onto 3rd Street and heading south on Hemlock, ending near the American Legion. The parade welcomes children, bikes, old cars, decorated entries, walking groups and, of course, veterans to register to walk in the parade, with a $20 registration fee per entry. Cannon Beach is firework-free, but for those wanting to watch fireworks, Seaside will be having a display on July 4 from 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
While Cannon Beach may not have fireworks, it does have something many places can’t claim tufted puffins.
June Tufted Puffin Walks will be held on 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24, 25, 26 and 27, starting at 7:30 a.m. at the Gower Street/Ecola Court Beach entrance ramp and from there walking down the northside of Haystack Rock until 8:30 a.m. The tufted puffin walks are free and open to anyone. Walks are weather-dependent.
Movies in the Park will return after a successful inaugural season last year.
Theresa Plummer, one of the organizers, is excited that Movies in the Park is back for another season.
“It’s just a really great way to see your friends, your neighbors,” she said of the weekly event. With a year of experience, she feels this season will run even smoother, and she’s excited for what will be showing this year. “We’ve really put a lot of effort into having a nice schedule, in really trying to be inclusive in our
MEET CALEB!
Caleb is a smart, energetic and handsome boy who will make the perfect adventure partner. He will need an active owner who can support him mentally and physically. Caleb does great in our shelter dog playgroups, and did we mention his perfect size of 46lbs? Come meet him today!
movies,” Plummer says.
Movies in the Park will be held on Fridays from June 6 to September 26 at the city park starting at dusk. In celebration of its 40th anniversary, “The Goonies” will be the first movie to be shown for the season, which is made even more special considering part of the movie was filmed in Cannon Beach. Some other movies that will be shown include “Casablanca,” a favorite of Pummer’s, and “Grease.”
On July 4, “The Sandlot” will be showing — “You’re
killing me, Smalls.” Movies in the Park is free for all. Buskers in the Park is back for the summer season
with free concerts held on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the city park. Regional musicians look
forward to sharing songs with all those who stop by. Concerts are weather-dependent.
https://clatsopcounty.animalshelternet.com/adoption_ animal_details.cfm?AnimalUID=324895
Pet meet and greets are by appointment, so if you’d like to meet Caleb, call the shelter at 503-861-7387 or stop by the lobby to set up a time. The shelter is open 9:30 to 4:00 Tuesday through Saturday, closed 12:30 to 1:30 for lunch.
You can also fill out an application here: https://www.clatsopcounty.gov/media/16441. Be sure to date it next to the signature line (applications are reviewed in the order they are received) and put the name of the animal you are interested in at the top. You can then save the application to your computer and email it to ac@ClatsopCounty.gov or print it and deliver it directly to the shelter. H25246
(Left to right) John Gardner, TriMet’s Director of Public Access and Innovation, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Travel Oregon’s Allie Gardner and Alanna Kieffer, owner of Shifting Tides, in front of the bus preparing to depart on the inaugural service of the express’s northern route.
Bonamici addresses assembled media members at a press conference prior to the express’s departure.
CLASSIFIEDS
P.O.
Hills Lane
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
(503) 436-4114
cbbc.us
cbbiblechurch@gmail.com
Pastor Ku Khang
Sunday school: 9 a.m.
Sunday 6 p.m.
Church Services by the Sea Cannon Beach to Nehalem
Spanish-speaking Service:
Publish
Nehalem Bay
United Methodist Church 36050 10th Street, Nehalem, OR (503) 368-5612
Worship Service: Sunday 10:30 a.m.
Pastor Celeste Deveney + Sunday service 11 a.m. Food Pantry
Open Friday, Saturday & Monday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Women’s Bible Study:
Tuesday 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Men’s Bible Study:
Tuesday 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Biblical Doctrine Class:
Friday 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
ADA accessible Nehalem
Wednesday March - October 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
November - February noon to 4 p.m.
Nehalem Senior Lunches
Tuesday & Thursday served at noon email: nbumcnsl2020@gmail.com
To feature your spiritual organization on this panel:
Contact Katherine at (503) 842-7535, headlightads@countrymedia.net
Mary Gerritse, “Level Up,” James Baldwin & Fundraisers
By PHYLLIS BERNT
Library Volunteer
Summer is a busy time for the library (131 N. Hemlock).
Library staff and volunteers are looking forward to welcoming a lot of visitors and offering engaging events and activities for both adults and children.
The library is expanding its business hours to include Tuesdays in order to accommodate residents and visitors during the busy summer months. Beginning on June 3, the library will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. every Tuesday through September 30. Other business hours remain 12 to 4 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and
Saturdays.
The library is partnering with the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum to welcome Jane Kirkpatrick for two talks on June 7. Bend resident Kirkpatrick, an award-winning author of more than 40 books of historical fiction and nonfiction, has just published “Across the Crying Sands,” the first book of what will be a trilogy titled Women of Cannon Beach. “Across the Crying Sands” is based on the life of Mary Edwards Gerritse, an intrepid woman who rode a mail route between Nehalem and Seaside from 1897 to 1902. Riding her trusty horse, Gerritse braved bad weather, treacherous terrain and encounters with bears and cougars to deliver the mail.
Kirkpatrick captures Gerritse’s adventurous spirit and the hardships of homesteading on the Oregon coast in the late 1880s, and asks questions about the fictional Gerritse’s past, questions that will be answered in the next two books of the trilogy. Kirkpatrick will talk about her recent book and the plans for her trilogy at 2 p.m. at the History Center (1387 S. Spruce) and at 5:30 at the library.
Children will be busy this summer if they join the library’s summer reading
program, June 14 to August 23. The theme is “Level Up at Your Library,” and participants can level up with events that explore books, games, puzzles, the environment and new hobbies.
Events include a bilingual story time and puzzle crafting activity; a visit from the staff of the Seaside Aquarium, and their on-site animal touch tank; a Minecraft scavenger hunt; a musical story time with a musician from the North Coast Symphony; and a talk by Wendy Gordon, author of “50 Hikes with Kids Oregon and Washington.”
The summer reading program starts with a Kickoff Party and Game Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, during which children of all ages can sign up for the program. After they receive their summer reading backpack, reading log and free book, they can stay to play Twister; enjoy board games and card games; do puzzles; and munch on yummy snacks.
Children who can’t sign up on June 14, can sign up any time until August 23, by coming to the library or signing up through the library website (www.cannonbeachlibrary. org). Children do not have to live locally to participate.
The Cannon Beach Reads Book Club will meet at 7
p.m. Wednesday, June 18, to discuss “Notes of a Native Son,” by James Baldwin. This will be a hybrid meeting with participants able to take part in the discussion in person at the library or virtually (contact book club coordinator Joe Bernt, berntj@ohio.edu, for the Zoom link).
“Notes of a Native Son” is a collection of ten essays formerly published in several prominent magazines; it was Baldwin’s first nonfiction book. In these essays Baldwin explores issues of Black identity and the Black experience under Jim Crow; examines the role of the Black church; considers the treatment of Blacks in Europe; and tells stories of his own life as an aspiring writer, gay man and activist.
Baldwin argues that Richard Wright’s “Native Son,” with its portrayal of the violent and angry character, Bigger Thomas, reinforces racial stereotypes, while books like “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” though well-meaning, do not present the realities of Black life.
James Baldwin was a prolific author, essayist, playwright and civil rights and gay rights activist. Born into poverty, he considered a career as a preacher before pursuing a writing career. His experiences with the Black church influenced his writing and his
moral code.
Baldwin’s other works include the novels “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Another Country,” “Giovanni’s Room” and “If Beale Street Could Talk; the nonfiction works “The Fire Next Time” and “No Name on the Street;” and numerous poems and plays. Wanda Meyer-Price will lead the discussion on June 18. Coffee and cookies will be provided at the library. New members are always welcome.
Summer is also a time for library fundraisers, which this summer will include a library tradition and something new.
The tradition is the Annual Fourth of July Book Sale, which this year will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday July 3, Friday July 4 and Saturday July 5; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday July 6.
A committee of volunteers have been pricing and sorting thousands of donated books for this sale. Mysteries, classics, contemporary bestselling fiction and nonfiction books, cookbooks, books on gardening, travel guides, young adult books and children’s books are attractively priced for readers of all interests and genres.
Browsers will also find DVDs, music CDs and vinyl records. Patrons can find bargains all four days of the
sale, especially on Sunday July 6, when patrons can fill sizable sacks for $8 a bag (bags provided).
The Annual Fourth of July Book Sale is a labor-intensive undertaking. Volunteers are needed to organize the library for the sale, sort books, work as baggers and cashiers, and keep the sale tables stocked, among other vital tasks. This sale is a crucial fundraiser for the library. Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to call 503-436-1391 or email info@cannonbeachlibrary.org. A new fundraiser this summer is the Cottage Charm and Coastal Calm raffle. The raffle includes two tickets to the annual Cannon Beach Cottage Tour hosted by the History Center & Museum; a stay on Saturday night, September 13, for two adults in a cozy Cannon Beach cottage; a $200 gift certificate for dinner at The Bistro in Cannon Beach; and a gift basket filled with books, treats and Cottage Tour memorabilia.
Raffle tickets are $20 each; only 250 tickets will be sold. Raffle tickets are available at the library or online through the library website (www. cannonbeachlibrary.org). The drawing will take place on Sunday, July 6. Ticket holders do not have to be present to win.
Cannon Beach Library Fourth of July Book Sale:
A Fundraiser Celebrating Books and Community
The Cannon Beach Library’s Annual Fourth of July Book Sale, a beloved community tradition, returns this Fourth of July Weekend. Mark your calendar: the four-day sale takes place from Thursday July 3rd through Sunday July 6th at the library, 131 N Hemlock Street, in the heart of down-
town Cannon Beach. Come experience the THRILL of uncovering literary gems! Sale hours are Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Sunday, don’t miss our famous $8 fill-a-bag sale (bags provided).
Whether you’re a sea-
soned bibliophile, a casual reader, or a book reseller, you’re sure to leave with amazing bargains. thousands of gently used books await, including fiction, classics, mysteries, contemporary bestsellers, mass-market paperbacks, non-fiction, cookbooks, gardening books, travel guides, holiday books,
audio books, old and rare books, and a large selection of books for children and young adults. Additionally, explore our selection of DVDs, music CDs, and vinyl records. We will also sell raffle tickets for an amazing Cottage Tour retreat and for our annual quilt raffle (tickets available online).
The Fourth of July Book Sale is a vital fundraiser supporting the Cannon Beach Library, one of the oldest non-profit libraries in Oregon. Every purchase helps us continue to provide essential library resources and services to our community of locals and visitors. We need your help! Over 120 volunteer slots need to be filled during the sale. To volunteer or for more information, visit www.cannonbeachlibrary. org. Please note: The library will be closed for all regular services from July 1st through July 6th, though books can still be returned via the outside drop box.
Celebrating Coastal History and Culture All June Long
Author talks, treasure hunts, shipwrecks, live music & more
The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is pulling out all the stops this June with a packed schedule of programs celebrating local history, culture, and community. From literary luminaries and live jazz to shipwreck stories and a Goonies-inspired treasure hunt, there’s something for everyone.
The Great Cannon Beach Treasure Hunt Friday, June 6 | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Goonies with a coastal twist! Solve riddles, follow clues, and uncover hidden loot in this family-friendly adventure through the museum’s exhibits. Photo booth, raffle,
prizes, and plenty of pirate-worthy fun! Free to participate.
Author Jane Kirkpatrick’s Double Book Launch
Saturday, June 7 | 2 p.m. @ CB History Center & 5:30 p.m @ CB Library
Bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick returns with Across the Crying Sands, inspired by Oregon’s first female mail carrier. Enjoy two special author talks—plus a guest appearance by poet Dana HunekeStone. Presented in partnership with the Cannon Beach Library. Free admission.
Shipwrecks on the Graveyard of the Pacific Thursday, June 12 | 4 p.m.
Julia Triezenberg of the Columbia River
Maritime Museum shares gripping tales of shipwrecks along Oregon’s coast in this installment of the John Williams Lecture Series. Includes hands-on artifacts and maritime history. Free and open to the public.
Virtual Lecture: CG4132 Book Presentation with John Kopp
Thursday, June 26 | 4 p.m.
(in-person screening or online)
Join author John Kopp for a powerful virtual talk as he presents his book CG4132, which focuses on the 1977 Cape Disappointment Coast Guard tragedy and the evolution of surfmen. Part of the John Williams Lecture Series. Link available at www.cbhistory.org.
BELEZA! in Concert + Haystack Rock Awareness Program
40th Exhibit Opening Friday, June 28 | 4 p.m.
Wrap up the month with a world-class jazz performance by BELEZA! — John Stowell and Dmitri Matheny — plus the opening of a new exhibit celebrating 40 years of coastal stewardship by the Haystack Rock Awareness Program. Sliding scale tickets start at $5; advance purchase required.
All events take place at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, 1387 S. Spruce St, Cannon Beach, OR. Most events are free; donations help support the museum’s community programming. For more information about each event at https://cbhistory.org
Cannon Beach Library Invites Summer Readers to
The Cannon Beach Library is the place to be for Summer Reading fun, prizes, and special events! From June 14th through August 23rd, we’re encouraging summer readers of all ages to “Level Up at Your Library.” During the nine-week program, the library will host a range of free activities that explore books, games, puzzles, the environment, and new hobbies.
Our program launches Saturday, June 14th with a lively Kickoff Party and Game Day. Participants can play games, including Twister, board games, card games, and puzzles. Free snacks and other goodies
will be provided, and all ages are welcome. Each child who registers will receive a backpack and FREE BOOK. Registration is open both online and at the library, and non-local participants are welcome to join.
Other events include Bilingual Story Time and crafts, in-library Minecraft
scavenger hunt, program and touch tank with the Seaside Aquarium, Musical Story Time with the North Oregon Coast Symphony, and Author Program with Wendy Gorton, “50 Hikes with Kids Oregon and Washington.”
“We encourage both local and visiting families to come discover what our
Cannon Beach Arts Association Announces
Summer Art Camp for Kids
The Cannon Beach Arts Association is pleased to announce its upcoming Summer Art Camp for children, scheduled to take place from July 14th to July 18th. This annual camp offers a creative and educational experience for young artists aged 4 - 16 years old. Participants in the Summer Art Camp will have the opportunity to explore various art forms, including painting, drawing, jewelry making, sculpture, and more, under the guidance of experienced instructors. The camp aims to
Newport Surfrider’s 15th
annual Otter Rock and Roll kids surf event is Saturday, June 21st on the beach at Otter Rock. Otter Rock and Roll is a surfing contest for kids 18 and under, which includes a special class for beginners.
inspire creativity, encourage self-expression, and foster a love for the arts in a supportive and engaging environment.
“We are thrilled to host our Summer Art Camp once again this year,” said camp coordinator Kim Scheewe. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for children to unleash their imagination, develop new skills, and make lasting memories in a fun and interactive setting.”
The camp will run from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm daily, with all art supplies
Everybody has a chance to win wetsuits, skateboards and lots of other cool stuff. There will be a Beach Cleanup Challenge with prizes, pizza, and much more. Sign up starts May 1st. Learn more and sign up at Surfrider’s
provided. Snacks will be offered, but participants are required to bring their lunches. Registration is now open, and early booking is recommended as space is limited.
For more information about the Cannon Beach Arts Association’s Summer Art Camp and to register a child, please contact the association at artcamp@cannonbeacharts.org or kim@ cannonbeacharts.org
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity for young artists to explore their creative
website, newport.surfrider. org. Look for the Otter Rock and Roll tab. This event wouldn’t happen without the support of sponsors: Pura Vida Surf Shop, Russo Surfboards, Le Boss Surfboards, South
talents and make new friends at the Cannon Beach Arts Association’s Summer Art Camp!
The Cannon Beach Arts Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the arts in the coastal community. Through exhibitions, classes, and events, the association strives to enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike. We are located at 1064 S Hemlock St. Cannon Beach, OR 97110, phone 503-436-0744, email info@ cannonbeacharts.org.
Surf Shop, Mo’s,
and
library has to offer,” said Jen Dixon, Library Manager. “We like to say ‘no rules, just read’ so kids have a chance to read what they want and explore reading as recreation.” Participants will track their daily reading habits and earn prizes for reading, with opportunities to enter raffles for larger prizes including
gift certificates for pizza, North Coast Pinball, toys, and books. The Cannon Beach Library is committed to supporting literacy for all. To learn more about our Summer Reading Program, please call 503-436-1391 or visit our website: www.cannonbeachlibrary.org.
Beach
Bodyglove
Samaritan Health services, along with Ossies, Safari Town, Zuhg Life, Moment and Newport Surf Shops, The Surf Shop in Westport, Wa and Tasti Tiki Hawaiian restaurant.
Cannon Beach Wildlife Artist Wins 2025
ODFW Conservation Stamp Contest
Local wildlife artist and nature enthusiast Terri Neal has captured statewide recognition, winning first place in the 2025 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Stamp Contest with her striking colored pencil drawing of an American Pika. If you’re an early riser on the coast, you may have seen Terri out on the beach, camera in hand, carefully observing the delicate balance of local bird populations. As a dedicated wildlife monitor for the Black Oystercatchers at Silver Point and Western Snowy Plovers along the North Coast, Terri volunteers with both the Bird Alliance of Oregon and Oregon Parks and Recreation. But these morning outings are just the beginning, her photographs will then serve as reference material for the original works. Terri is no ordinary artist.
With degrees in biology and zoology, and a deep respect for the natural world, her chosen medium of color pencils comes alive with intricate detail and realism. She discovered her love for this medium eight years ago after taking a class at the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology. Since then, she has been a frequent and enthusiastic participant in the ODFW Stamp Contest, a prestigious state competition akin to the famed Federal Duck Stamp Contest, where artists must depict designated conservation species. This year, Terri’s winning drawing of the American Pika was inspired by hikes and field photos taken in the Columbia River Gorge. These tiny, elusive relatives of rabbits are rarely seen but often heard, known for their distinctive “meep-meep” calls in high-elevation rockslides where they dwell. As climate
change threatens their habitat, Terri’s art helps bring awareness and admiration to a species most Oregonians may never glimpse in the wild.
This isn’t Terri’s first time impressing the public and the judges. In 2020, her drawing of a Black Oystercatcher earned her both second place and the People’s Choice Award.
Beyond the competition circuit, Terri’s artwork can be enjoyed right here in Cannon
Beach. She is a board member of the Cannon Beach Arts Association Gallery, where her popular puffin illustrations are currently on display. Her work is also featured in the Tolovana Arts Colony Holiday Sale, and she is a proud member of the Oregon Society of Colored Pencil Artists, with several honors from juried wildlife art exhibitions to her name.
South Fork Forest Camp holds fire school
WILL CHAPPELL Gazette Editor
South Fork Forest Camp held its annual fire camp for its adults in custody last week, with a field training day held on May 14 to give the students a chance to practice skills in a hands-on environment.
Inmates at South Fork Forest Camp, jointly operated by the Oregon Department of Correction (DOC) and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), have been fighting fires since the camp was established in 1951, and ODF Assistant Camp Manager Dana Turner said that those in the program value the opportunity.
“It’s a privilege to be at this camp, it’s the only fenceless minimum-security camp in the state of Oregon and it’s a privilege to be here,” Turner said, “and I would say most of these guys want to be here.”
Founded in response to the Tillamook Burn, the series of four fires that leveled the majority of what is now the Tillamook State Forest between 1933 and 1951, South Fork Forest Camp is located a little over a mile and a half off Highway 6, near milepost 28, and is home to 125 adults in custody.
Those at the camp all have less than five years remaining on their sentences and are selected for the program by a committee of staff members.
All participants must have been incarcerated for at least six months by DOC, and they are selected based on a variety of criteria, including their behavior, victim profile and time left to serve.
All participants earn a wildland firefighter type II certification during the annual May camp, where they learn skills like mopping up a burned-over area, creating a
fire line, laying hose and using fire shelters. With this certification, maintained in annual refresher courses, program participants are eligible for wildland firefighting positions in the public or private sector upon release, and Turner said that ODF had hired two ex-participants this year alone.
“So, Department of Forestry, we do hire ex-adults-incustody who’ve been through South Fork, which is pretty cool,” Turner said.
During the fire season, crews typically respond to fires within a three-hour drive, according to Turner, though they can also travel farther to larger conflagrations for up to 14 days. Much of the crews’ work focuses on mop-up and line-cutting activities, but Turner said that last year they had several opportunities to participate in initial attacks as well.
Flynn Lovejoy, one of the
firefighters who has been at South Fork for a little over a year, said that he had come from Snake River Correctional Facility in Eastern Oregon and was excited to be at South Fork. Lovejoy said that he thought the opportunity could provide an “awesome segue” back into society upon his release and that he enjoys being able to fight fires while in custody.
“It’s incredible,” Lovejoy said, “being able to go out and fight fires while I’m incarcerated in prison, it’s super cool.”
While not responding to fires during the summer months, crews spend their time maintaining recreational assets in the adjoining state forests, including by making signs in a workshop at the camp. In the winter months, their focus pivots to forest management, including thinning operations, prescribed burns and other reforestation efforts.
Firefighters in the program work 40 hours weekly and earn $112 monthly, plus an additional $20 for any day spent
responding to a conflagration. They can also earn a wildland firefighter type I certification following their initial training by helping in the training of others and responding to a variety of different scenarios in the field.
At the field training day, ODF firefighters and seasoned program participants manned four stations spread across the camp’s grounds to reinforce a week of classroom learning.
At one, trainees practiced clearing burned over areas of pieces of hot wood in a safe manner to prevent flare ups, while at another they got hands-on experience cutting a fire line with the various tools of the trade. Another station saw the fighters learn the proper way to unroll and reroll hose, while the final station consisted of drilling the use of emergency shelters, used when a fighter is overtaken by a conflagration.
Trainees practice mop-up operations to prevent hot spots using several controlled burns.