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VOL. 46, ISSUE 5

Spring Whale Watching

When Bombs Hit Home

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CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM

Awarding Excellence

Chamber hosts annual awards

March 4, 2022

Paula Rager joins experienced Duane Johnson team

he Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce held a hybrid in-person/on-line event Thursday, Feb. 17th to celebrate chamber members, hear the annual “State of the Chamber” address and present special awards voted on by members, for members. The evening’s theme was “Celebrating Cannon Beach with the Moon and Shooting Stars… See You in the Sky”. The Chamber’s community hall was decorated in blue and gold. Sweet treats from Cannon Beach Chocolate Café and Rising Tides featured moons and stars, which accented the tables as well. Apportioned Cuisine prepared by Niblack Events and beverages from Pelican Brewing, The Wine Shack and Insomnia Coffee completed the bill of fare. Bistro lights, chairs and more from Cannon Beach Party Rentals, special touches from Cannon Beach Florist, Events By Erie plus a sound system provided by Paul Dueber completed the event set up. “It was a night of magic!”, exclaimed Carly Dye of Pelican Brewing, Membership Committee Chair, “Thank you to all who attended last night’s event and congratulations to all of the award

winners.” Awards and winners were as follows Excellence in Customer Service - B Boutique Individual Volunteer of the YearKyle Genin Member of the Year - Driftwood Restaurant & Lounge Outstanding Collaboration Bruce’s Candy Kitchen Tom Drumheller Excellence in Leadership - Greg Swedenborg Annual Supporter of the YearBruce’s Candy Kitchen Volunteer Organization of the Year- Cannon Beach Food Pantry The “State of the Chamber” address included introduction of

board members, staff and annual supporters, updates on committee and events work, with a special reveal of the 2022 Sandcastle Contest artwork by Donald Scott Masterson who was in attendance. The “In Memoriam” segment gave all a time to reflect on those lost in the last year. Stats on City Funded Projects, Destination Management/Marketing work, and the Visitor Information Center we also shared. Master of Ceremony and Chamber Executive Director, Jim Paino commented at the end of the night, “We always enjoy celebrating our members and it was extra special to be back to an in-person

event while still providing a way for those who aren’t ready to return to events to join us virtually.” The mission of the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce is to promote, enhance, and maintain a healthy environment for business as a year-round resort destination. This includes a desire that such an environment will be protective of the aesthetics and livability of the community. For additional information please contact Chamber Executive Director, Jim Paino by phone at 503.436.2623 or by email jim@ cannonbeach.org

Indoor mask mandate to lift March 11 Permanent rule stays

Zoe Gottlieb

Country Media

asking indoors will no longer be a statewide requirement in Oregon as soon as March 11, reflecting a downtrend in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, as well as a shift from previous guidance issued by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). In Oregon, the OHA rules requiring masks in indoor public places and schools will lift after 11:59 p.m. on March 11. Other state and federal requirements, such as those for health care settings, public transit, and other specialized settings, will remain in place for now, according to the OHA. State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger, Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Director Colt Gill, and OHA Communications Officer Jonathan Modie held a briefing Monday, Feb. 28 to take questions from the media. The OHA’s announcement does not rule out the possibility of reimposing mask mandates should a new variant arise. According to Modie, the permanent rule will remain in place but contains a component allowing the mask mandate to be

lifted or reinstated “like an onoff switch.” “I think as individuals as communities, we need to be prepared to take additional steps as the situation changes, and we face some more variants that cause more severe disease,” Sidelinger said. “But for the time being, we can move forward with individuals and individual communities making decisions based on the conditions on the ground, the conditions, the risk factors, and those around them as we all step up to protect ourselves (and) our loved ones in our broader communities.” Sidelinger acknowledged the gains Oregon has made so far in widespread compliance with state health directives and stemming the spread of COVID-19. “I think this is an important step in response to the pandemic that we have in front of us - the virus that we have in front of us. Cases are significantly declining, there are no emerging variants of concern on the horizon, and we continue to see increases in people being up-to-date with their vaccinations,” he said. The OHA has twice revised the state’s indoor mask mandate to end on March 31 and again on March 19, following a significant

decline in hospitalizations and case counts. The revisions follow a reduction of more than half in hospitalizations from the Omicron peak of 1,130 on Jan. 27, down to 528 as of Thursday, Feb. 24, according to Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU’s) latest COVID-19 forecast. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown released a statement in response to the changes in OHA guidance. “Two years ago, today, we identified Oregon’s first case of COVID-19. As has been made clear time and again over the last two years, COVID-19 does not stop at state borders or county lines. On the West Coast, our communities and economies are linked. “Together, as we continue to recover from the Omicron surge, we will build resiliency and prepare for the next variant and the next pandemic. As we learn to live with this virus, we must remain vigilant to protect each other and prevent disruption to our schools, businesses, and communities––with a focus on protecting our most vulnerable and the people and communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.” As Oregon moves to shift

masking policies back to local control, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that 70% of U.S. counties no longer face indoor mask recommendations. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky shared the following information in a Feb. 25 press briefing. “Today, (the) CDC is updating its framework to monitor the level of COVID-19 and communities. We’re in a stronger place today as a nation with more tools to protect ourselves in our communities from COVID 19. “Now, as the virus continues to circulate in our communities, we must focus our metrics beyond just cases in the community and direct our efforts toward protecting people at high risk for severe illness and preventing COVID-19 from overwhelming our hospitals and our healthcare systems. “This new framework moves beyond just looking at cases and test positivity to evaluate factors that reflect the severity of disease, including hospitalizations and hospital capacity, and helps to determine whether the level of COVID-19 and severe disease are low, medium, or high in a community.”

Judge dismisses contested election case last week Kathleen Stinson

For The Gazette

stipulated order of dismissal with prejudice and without costs or fees was filed on February 24 in the case in which the plaintiffs contested the election results of the Cannon Beach prepared food tax. Megan Miller and Josh Tuckman filed a petition alleging the 5 percent prepared food tax, which voters in Cannon Beach approved by a narrow margin, was invalid. They asked the court to order a new election.

Subsequently, the defendants in the case filed a motion to dismiss on January 14, as stated in the motion. The defendants are Tracie Krevanko, in her official capacity as county clerk for Clatsop County, and the Clatsop County Elections Division. The motion to dismiss asked the court to dismiss the petition for lack of personal and subject matter jurisdiction, as stated in the motion. “Based upon the stipulation of the parties, this matter is hereby dismissed with prejudice and without costs of fees to either side,” as

stated in the order signed by Clatsop County Circuit Court Judge Dawn McIntosh. The plaintiffs did not respond to a request for comment by The Gazette by press time. For previous articles published in The Gazette, visit https://www.cannonbeachgazette. com/news/defendants-file-motion-to-dismiss-contested-election-lawsuit/article_75b93208-885c-11ec-8b14-f78b7cd2a277. html and https://www.cannonbeachgazette.com/ news/prepared-food-tax-election-contested-incircuit-court/article_3b68d9ae-64e0-11ec-bba9-83e5e5e9fa67.html

Paula Rager

Joe Warren

jwarren@countrymedia.net

aula Rager, Duane Johnson Real Estate’s newest broker, couldn’t be happier to be living her dream on the Oregon Coast. She moved here last fall from Tacoma WA after falling in love with the coast. “It’s so beautiful here,” she said. “Every day you discover new beauty, it’s exciting.” Paula already carried a license to sell real estate in Washington when she made the move, she started selling real estate in 2008 and is now a licensed broker in Oregon as well. She looked at a couple of other real estate firms prior to coming to work at Duane Johnson Real Estate, but they didn’t stack up to the way Duane Johnson does business. “When I met the guys and saw how they do business, it was not hard to choose where I wanted to hang my license,” she said. “Duane Johnson is hands down the best. They do business right because it’s the right way to do business, and because they offer so much more personal contact, it is their personal relationships, experience on top of the very professional business practices that enticed me to want to work and grow with this company.” She’s correct. Duane Johnson is the longest standing real estate company in Cannon Beach, they offer over 125 combined years of real estate experience and four out of six of the brokers carry the title of Principal Broker. Duane Johnson, the founding broker, still works in the office and still mentors the other brokers. “Paula is such a good fit to our team here at Duane Johnson,” Broker Jeremy Youngquist said. “She’s obviously very excited and motivated, she’s willing to listen and eager to learn.” Youngquist said, that at Duane Johnson Real Estate, they instill in their brokers, things that has set them apart since the Duane himself started the company — that’s the team approach to running the business. “Paula fits that mold perfectly,” Youngquist said. “It’s a better approach because if we all work as a team we get better results, and that helps our clients better. We do things a little differently than the others, that’s why we are so successful and have been going back to the beginning, it’s been Duane Johnson’s way for a long time.” Paula hit the ground running in her new position, learning all she could about the area, and leaning on the rest of the team to show her the ins and outs of the real estate business on the Oregon Coast. Paula joins, Duane Johnson, Founding Principal Broker, Michael Henderson, Managing Principal Broker, Chris Childress, Principal Broker, Jeff Etchison, Principal Broker and Jermey Youngquist, Broker. At the time of the interview, she

n See

RAGER, Page 2

March 4, 2022

CannonBeachGazette.com

Guest Column

Cannon Beach Gazette

Seaside schools navigating new mask rules moving forward Kathleen Stinson For The Gazette

In the Seaside School District survey taken by 366 staff members, family members and students, 55.5 percent voted to not require face masks when the state of Oregon lifts its face mask requirement making it the decision of the local school districts. The Seaside school board is scheduled to make a decision whether to make face masks optional at its next

to-be-scheduled meeting in March. The district conducted the survey to gather information to make a decision, according to Susan Penrod, superintendent of schools. The Oregon Health Authority announced it is lifting its mask requirements for indoor public spaces and schools as of March 19, according to a state press release. The state has now moved that to March 11, according to the school district. Despite lifting the requirement that people wear

masks, “state officials highly recommend that people in high-risk groups continue to wear masks in indoor public settings even after the restrictions are lifted,” as stated in a press release by the Oregon Health Authority. The release goes on to state by explanation for its decision: “Daily COVID-19 hospitalizations have declined 48% since peaking in late January. Over the past two weeks, hospitalizations have fallen by an average of more than 30 a day. “Reported COVID-19

infections also have dropped precipitously in recent weeks. Over the past month, new infections have declined by more than 80%. The seven-day moving average for new cases is 84% lower than at the peak of the Omicron surge. “State officials also continue to strongly recommend universal masking in K-12 settings where children are required to attend. Those settings bring together vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, as well as individuals who are at higher

risk for severe COVID-19 illness.”

Breaking out the survey results by group, staff members voted to retain the face mask requirement by a 51-49 percent, as stated in the superintendent’s presentation to the board on February 16. Family members voted not to require masks by a 65-35 percent margin. Students voted not to require masks by 55 to 45 percent. Some of the comments made in the survey include “last time the mandate was

lifted,” there was an increase in cases and “children can still transmit (COVID-19).” The No mask comments included “my child does not like wearing the mask,” it is a personal choice and “let staff and students breathe freely.” Other comments include by staff: “Many staff are vaccinated by many students are not,” uncomfortable doing their job as staff without people/students wearing masks and “if cases increase, return to masks.” Student comments include “wouldn’t feel safe without masks.”

City looking for ways to fund project at old elementary school Kathleen Stinson For The Gazette

Cannon Beach City Council is considering issuing a bond to borrow funds to pay for the Cannon Beach Elementary School Project, to be repaid from existing revenue streams. The city plans to do this at the same time it plans to refinance two existing bonds, thus saving some on the costs of issuance. “For the Cannon Beach Elementary School project, the City is not issuing a bond that will increase property taxes (as would happen with a general obligation bond),” City Manager Bruce St. Denis stated in an email. “Instead, the City is

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borrowing the funds and will pay the debt services with existing revenue streams, including the Tourism Lodging Tax funds. Because the City is not issuing a general obligation bond that will increase taxes, the City Council may authorize the bond issue with a resolution.” Tim Ramey, of the group calling itself the “Owners and Voters of Cannon Beach” said in a recent email: “The City is scrambling to act quickly on a bond issue for the development of the new Community Center at the site of the old elementary school. Bottom line, it looks like the City will need about $5.5 million for that project and intends to initially borrow about $4.6 million in an upcoming bond issue

and any additional funding requirements would be included in a future bond issue. Note that the funds for the Community Center come from existing revenue sources - Short term rental taxes and other Hotel/ Motel taxes which must be in part reinvested in “tourism.” So this will not raise your taxes... in fact it will lower them.” Ramey also said in the email: “Here is something we hope we can all get behind to support.” St. Denis stated in his staff report: “There are approximately five years of payments left on the bonds used to purchase the Ecola Creek Forest Reserve and the bonds used to finance the expansion of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The city

is currently moving forward with a bond issue to fund the Cannon Beach Elementary School Rejuvenation Project. The timing of these events has presented an opportunity to combine a refinancing of the two existing bonds with the financing of the Cannon Beach Elementary project, which will result in a small reduction of our taxpayers’ annual tax assessments over the next five years. The refinancing should result in a total reduction of $60 to $80 for each $100,000 in assessed value at the end of the five years. “For example, if the savings is $60 over five years for a $700,000 property. - $60 X 7 = $420 savings. Council has directed staff to pursue this potential savings opportunity

that will show up on your 2023 property tax bill.” The council will vote on the matter at its March 1 meeting. The city manager said in an email to The Gazette that “the costs of issuance (COI) of a bond are relatively static. They include the fees for the bond attorney, fees for the underwriter, etc. “Those are all being paid by the CBE project. “Because of that the opportunity to refinance the bonds came up because they will pay a small part of the COI and the CBE bonds the rest. “The bonds will each have their own series number so they can be tracked.”

Spring whale watching always good in March The spring whale migration begins in March and the best whale watching sites are open at your favorite coastal parks, although trained volunteers won’t be on site. The Spring Whale Week hosted by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) and volunteers is canceled for 2022. Although the Whale Watch Center in Depoe Bay remains closed, OPRD is bringing

back the popular whale watching livestream on the Oregon State Parks YouTube channel. The livestreams are scheduled daily March 21-25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Whale Watch Center will reopen to visitors in late spring 2022. Designated whale watching sites offer the best chances of spotting whales because of their locations, usually

slightly elevated above the ocean and in areas where whales are more easily seen. Some 25,000 gray whales will pass by Oregon’s shores from late March to June on their way to cool Alaskan waters. Many will be accompanied by their calves, born during the winter in the warm lagoons off the coast of Baja, Mexico.

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Paula Rager Broker

World of Haystack Rock Library Lecture Series 2022 Wednesday March 9, at 7 p.m. Friends of Haystack Rock presents Josh D. Mclnnes Marine Mammal Research Unit Institute for the Oceans Fisheries, “Ecological Aspects of Transient Killer Whales off the California and Oregon Coast” Josh McInnes is a marine mammal scientist and graduate student at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries Marine Mammal Research Unit. He will share a presentation titled: Ecological Aspects of Transient Killer Whales off the California and Oregon Coast. Transient killer whales are important apex predators in marine ecosystems along the Pacific coast. Insights into the latest findings regarding ecology, abundance, distribution, and community structure of these whales along the outer coast and offshore waters of Oregon and California will be presented. Josh McInnes is from the

windy seaside city of Victoria BC, Canada. Josh’s research focuses on the ecology and behavior of marine mammals in British Columbia and Monterey Bay, California, with studies focusing on the foraging behavior, diet, and ecology of transient (Bigg’s) killer whales and Risso’s Dolphins. These on-line lectures will be recurring with different speakers and topics held on the second Wednesday of every month from November to May. Check it out on Facebook Live @Friends of Haystack Rock. Friends of Haystack Rock is a nonprofit organization focused on keeping Haystack Rock healthy and thriving. Our mission is to promote the preservation and protection of the intertidal life and birds that inhabit the Marine Garden and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge at Haystack Rock.

n Rager

She’s ready to spend the summer hiking and exploring in her down time. She has three dogs; she calls her kids. Her children are all grown and out of the house so she said she’s ready to embrace life on the coast. “This is so different from Washington,” She said. “Every turn is a new adventure.” Paula plans to put her prior experience to work as well as embrace the knowledge within the Duane Johnson office to offer the best experience for their clients. “When you come to me you will know more about real estate than you ever wanted to know,” she said. “That’s important to cover all the details, while protecting my clients throughout the process, I love my job.”

Continued from Page 1 was preparing an offer to give to a client who is looking at selling their coast property to move more inland and she was also preparing an appraisal for another client. “My job is to protect my clients and take them through the contract from start to finish,” she said. “They are making a huge decision in their lives, and my job is to give the client the best information so they can make the best decision.” In her spare time Paula is a runner. She’s finished a couple of 5K and 15K runs and she is headed to another 15K race in Seattle this weekend.

Cannon Beach Gazette

CannonBeachGazette.com

March 4, 2022

At the library

Library board plans largest fourth of July Book Sale, volunteers needed ednesday, February 2, at least in Pennsylvania, was a sufficiently clear day, that Punxsutawney Phil—a groundhog, woodchuck, marmot, or ground squirrel—convinced amateur folklorists and desperate weather prognosticators that the rotund rodent had glimpsed his shadow, an omen that winter would continue for six more weeks. That pushed the arrival of spring into the middle of March. As I draft this column, however, a major storm has been blasting the North Coast. March is roaring in as a lion, suggesting we will wait until the end of the month for spring to arrives when March leaves as a lamb. This should occur about the same time as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Anthony Fauci and a gaggle of politicians again give up on masking, social distancing and science. Recently media has ballyhooed the February decline in cases, hospitalizations and deaths related to Covid as justification for ending mandated restrictions on in-person education, dining and attendance at sporting and entertainment venues and other large social gatherings. This, despite a New York Times report that on February 27, Americans diagnosed with Covid numbered 65,762, that 51,936 were hospitalized with Covid and that 1,876 died as a result of contracting Covid. As a nation we seek any and every rationale to return to our normal American lifestyle, engaging with people, some fully vaccinated and others not so much, in our workplaces, schools, shopping centers, arenas, restaurants, theaters and libraries. Consider this my introduction to a genuinely important bit of news for Cannon Beach. Until two years ago, the library sponsored increasingly larger used book sales as fundraising events on and around the Fourth of July holiday weekend, that most

traditionally All-American holiday weekend, especially in Cannon Beach. Residents and visitors dressed in silly fashions and cheered on a noisy parade joyfully meandering along Hemlock from the north end of Cannon Beach, through downtown, and south by the American Legion for free hotdogs, buns and condiments for those who hadn’t already topped off with candy thrown and gathered along the parade route. Cannon Beach was famous for sponsoring this archetypal, smalltown Fourth of July celebration. And the library built a reputation for its large Fourth of July Book Sale. For two dangerous years the rises, declines and returns of the Coronavirus and its multiple variants has stepped on our town’s patriotic holiday, but the fact that large areas of the country, including Clatsop County, have been heavily vaccinated and that new therapies have emerged really has changed the calculus about carefully participating in social activities. With these improved conditions in mind, the Library Board of Directors decided at their February meeting to plan for the Fourth of July Book Sale this year as a four-day event from July 1st through July 4th at the library. Between increased donations from people cleaning their homes during the Covid hiatus and reduced book room sales, the planned sale will be huge, probably record-breaking. Past sales have required participation of more than forty volunteers to set up, work and take down the sale. Given the number of accumulated used books, a successful sale this July will require at least as many volunteers, along with incentives to encourage sales and respectful social distancing. Anyone interested in volunteering before, during or after the sale should call Jen Dixon at 503-436-1391 or email her at info@cannon-

beachlibrary.org. at www. Participation in facebook.com/ this community cannonbeachevent does not library/and require library click on posts, membership or join from although the the library library always website at encourages www.cannonpeople to become beachlibrary. members of this org and click nonprofit library the banner at managed by vol- Joseph Bernt the top of the unteers and one page. parttime paid office manager. On Wednesday, March 9, at I’ve worked at several 7 p.m., the Haystack Rock LiFourth of July Book Sales. brary Lecture Series will host Volunteering to plan the sale, John D. McInnes, who will cashier, bag books, sort and present “Ecological Aspects replenish sales tables, help of Transient Killer Whales shoppers, sell quilt drawing off the California and Oregon tickets and box unsold books Coast.” on the last day becomes a McInnes is Research Scigreat way to catch up with entist and an MS Candidate at old friends and meet new res- the Marine Mammal Research idents and visitors to Cannon Unit of the University of BritBeach. ish Columbia in Vancouver The library needs many and Director of the Transient hands to ensure these will be Killer Whale Research Project four memorable days of fun in Victoria, British Columbia. for many participants rather Transient killer whales are than drudgery for a few. important apex predators in On Saturday, March 5, at marine ecosystems along the 7 p.m., the Cannon Beach outer Pacific Coast and offLibrary’s Northwest Authors shore waters of Oregon and Series will host 11 local California. authors reading 16 of their McInnes will discuss the writings at the Fourth Annual latest findings regarding ecolWriters Read Celebration on ogy, abundance, distribution Facebook Live. and community structure of From 45 submissions these whales. received, a panel of five For more information, judges anonymously selected contact Tiffany Boothe at seafourteen poems, a short story sideacquarium@gmail.com. and an essay for authors to On Wednesday, March read at this year’s Writers 16, at 7 p.m., Wanda MeyRead Celebration. er-Price, will lead members Local authors reading at of Cannon Beach Reads in the celebration—residents a Zoom discussion of “The from Wheeler, Oregon, to Ca- Lincoln Highway” by Amor mas, Washington—include: Towles. Adria Bagadnani, ManzaThis 2021 novel debuted at nita; John Ciminello, Naselle; number one on the New York Bill Grafius, Gearhart; Karen Times bestseller list. His first Keltz, Tillamook; Phyllis two novels, “Rules of CivilMannan, Manzanita; Steven ity” (2011) and “A Gentleman Mayer, Cannon Beach; Krisin Moscow” (2016), also were ten Nekovar, Astoria; Jennifer New Yok Times bestsellers Nightingale, Astoria; Emily and named as best novel of Ransdell, Camas; Scott T. the year by several major Starbuck, Battle Ground, and media book critics. L.Swartz, Wheeler. Together, written after a Watching the Writers Read 20-year career as an investcelebration on Facebook Live ment professional, the three does not require Facebook novels completed in a decade membership. To access the by this Yale graduate with a celebration, join Facebook master’s degree in English

Call for volunteers on the North Oregon Coast to serve as Trail Ambassadors This spring, Trailkeepers of Oregon, North Coast Tourism Management Network, NCLC Cape Falcon Marine Reserve Program, and Oregon State Parks are kicking off another season of the Trail Ambassador Program to equip North Coast visitors with the information they need for a safe, informed, and positive experience when hiking and visiting the region. The Trail Ambassador 2022 season will kick-off on Earth Day weekend, April 23rd, and Trailkeepers of Oregon is currently seeking volunteers. Volunteer Trail Ambassadors are placed at some of the busiest trailheads and beach accesses on the North Oregon Coast. Volunteers will have the opportunity to table at trailheads and hike the trails on weekends during peak season. Volunteers will engage with the public to answer hiking and destination related questions, promote responsible stewardship ethics, communicate about trail conditions, seasonal beach programming, and alternative hike information, as well as direct folks to resources such as OregonHikers.org and land

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manager and partner websites. Arica Sears, the Deputy Director for the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, has been a supporter of the Ambassador program on the coast. She notes, “The Trail and Beach Ambassadors provide an invaluable asset to the visitor experience by sharing localized messages and opportunities to visitors. This program supports coastal destinations during a time when agencies are dealing with record numbers of visitors.” Trail Ambassadors communicate key safety and trail condition information integral to both keeping folks safe and promoting stewardship of our most heavily visited recreation sites. Staying on official trails, packing out waste, being responsible with pets, and knowing about other nearby options if the destination is overcrowded, are important aspects of the program. “Trail users on the North Coast have realized firsthand the positive results of OPRD’s partnership with TKO over the last several years. Our col-

laboration began with simple trail maintenance and has expanded to more complex projects and enhancements. More recently the Trail Ambassador Program blossomed in this area and quickly enhanced how hundreds of thousands of guests perceive and experience our iconic trails. The unified messaging of safety, stewardship and education is becoming standard fare during our busiest recreational season and we couldn’t be more pleased. Welcome back TKO volunteers!” says Ben Cox, Park Manager for the Nehalem Bay Management Unit. Program organizers are looking for friendly, professional, outgoing individuals who enjoy informing and helping others and possess knowledge of North Coast trails and beaches. Volunteers are required to take an online training before signing up to volunteer. For Trail Ambassador Program details and to sign up to volunteer, go to trailkeepersoforegon.org/trailamabas-

sadors. There will be an online information session to answer any questions about the program on March 16 at 6:30pm. Please register for the info session here. About Trailkeepers of Oregon Trailkeepers of Oregon’s (TKO) mission is to protect and enhance the Oregon hiking experience through stewardship, advocacy, outreach and education. They manage the popular hiking resource oregonhikers.org and work with thousands of volunteers every year on trail stewardship projects and Trail Ambassador activities across Oregon’s national forests, state parks and beyond. You can find out more about TKO’s work at https://www. trailkeepersoforegon.org/.

from Stanford, have sold more than five million copies. Towles has become a golden boy of modern fiction. Towles’ literary studies show through in “The Lincoln Highway.” I last read Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” in 1971, but I hear echoes of characters and actions from that American classic throughout “The Lincoln Highway.” Emmett Watson’s father, a failed, bankrupt farmer died young. while living on some of the richest soil in the world, land on which the bank foreclosed. Although not as lowbrow as Huck Finn’s ne’er-do-well father, Mr. Watson failed to lift Emmett in the world. Billy Watson, Emmett’s easily fixated little brother, shares characteristics of Tom Sawyer, Twain’s too-cleverby-half romantic character. Ulysses, a black war veteran estranged from his spouse, becomes a protective father figure and moral force when he joins Emmett and Billy riding the rails east to New York in pursuit of Duchess and Woolly. Ulysses hardly differs from Jim, Twain’s runaway slave who shares the raft with Huck. Duchess and Woolly, Towles’ mountebank grifters, moreover, are every bit the match of the King and Duke, the morally bankrupt mountebank grifters who target Huck’s money. The difference between the use of the Great Lakes, Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri rivers from Twain’s America before the Civil War and the use of the Lincoln Highway from after World War II is one of technology and connections. Twain employed watercraft to link the northern and southern states and markets during the era of slavery. Towles depended on a transcontinental highway to join the eastern and western states and markets as the civil rights movement, union participation and the middle class blossomed. These Zoom sessions are

open to anyone interested in reading important books and culturally significant bestsellers. To receive a Zoom invitation to Cannon Beach Reads, email Joseph Bernt at berntj@ohio.edu to be placed on the reading group’s email list. The library added 23 new books to the collection in February, including twelve mysteries, seven novels and four works of non-fiction. New mysteries added to the collection included “Robert B. Parker’s Bye Bye Baby” by Ace Atkins, “Death of a Green-Eyed Monster” by M. C. Beaton, “Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead” by Elle Cosimano, “One Step Too Far” by Lisa Gardner, “Sierra Six” by Mark Greaney and “Nothing to Lose” by J. A. Jance, Additional new mysteries added in February were “City of the Dead” by Jonathan Kellerman, “Abandoned in Death” by J. D. Robb, “The Joy and Light Bus Company” by Alexander McCall Smith, “Murder Under Her Skin” by Stephen Spotswood, “A Game of Fear” by Charles Todd and “The Bitter Taste of Murder” by Camilla Trinchieri. The seven works of fiction added were “The School for Good Mothers” by Jessamine Chan, “The Christie Affair” by Nina de Gramont, “Love and Saffron: A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love” by Kim Fay, “Shadows of Pecan Hollow” by Caroline Frost, “What the Fireflies Knew” by Kai Harris, “The Paris Bookseller” by Kerri Maher and “The Swimmers” by Julie Otsuka. “A Taste for Poison: Eleven Deadly Molecules and the Killers Who Used Them” by Neil Bradbury, “Sentient: How Animals Illuminate the Wonder of Our Human Senses” by Jackie Higgins, “Life Between the Tides” by Adam Nicolson and “How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them” by Barbara F. Walter were non-fiction titles added to the green dot shelves in February.

Death Notice R. Elaine Balla

R. Elaine Balla of Astoria died on Feb. 26, 2022. R. Elaine was born on April 28, 1929. No services will be held .

Read the Gazette Online For Free ST. PATRICK’S DAY Treats for the Little (or Big) Leprechauns in your life!

Shelter Sale at The Grange March 12, 9-3!

Downtown Cannon Beach Shasta, Nutmeg and Maddie invite you to the Pacific Grange for a sale to benefit our local shelter animals. CAA volunteers will be selling a wide variety of beds, toys, collars, leashes, kennels, clothes, treats and much much more! And talk about feeling good about shopping- all purchases are donation based and go straight to the animals at the Clatsop County Animal Shelter. Pass the word…Tell the animal lovers in your life to come see us. The Pacific Grange is located at 90475 US 101 in Warrenton.

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Response to Kerr’s letter

would like to submit this letter to the editor in response to Lisa Kerr’s letter in the 2/4/22 Gazette. In her 2/4/22 Letter to the Editor, Lisa Kerr uses terms like “propaganda,” without challenging any specific facts from citizens concerned with the effort to limit new building to smaller than average homes. Is “propaganda“ any opinion Ms. Kerr disagrees

Opinion and Letters with? Let’s debate facts, not use rhetoric and inflammatory language to attack each other. Stunningly, Ms. Kerr also asserts that there’s no correlation, “a false parallel” she says, between limiting future building to small homes and the community’s ability to encourage families and workforce housing. This is an outrageous statement from a member of the City’s Planning Commission. Building code and zoning are exactly the tools to address those

concerns. The City’s proposal (ZO 21-02) to limit homes to no more than 2,000 square feet that got the notice of many citizens would assure that Cannon Beach continues to be dominated by second homes and be a “village” of retirees. With the recent work-from-home paradigm, our community may actually be in a position to attract full time resident families, though a 2,000 square foot house is unlikely to meet the needs of

many families. A false parallel? Nonsense. The proposal allows for an additional 600 square feet for a garage OR an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). We should listen to the experts on how to address the serious issue of lack of workforce (rental) housing by encouraging ADUs and incentivizing multi-family housing without forcing full time residents to sacrifice their own livability needs like a garage. In my neighborhood there

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is a multi-generational 3,500 square-foot home where three generations have been valued long-time members of the community, volunteering for the food pantry, library, church and schools. Do we really need fewer full-time residents like them? Does their home destroy our village character? Or, should this be our future, and should we be doing more to encourage residents like this? The job of City Council and city commissioners is a

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challenging and thankless one that requires attention to mind-numbing details. Weighing the concerns of all citizens, not just the loudest, is important to the job. And finally, city leaders must lead based on the best long-term interests of the community, even if sometimes unpopular. Reacting with anger at those who may disagree with you is not a good trait for a city representative. That is divisive. Gary Hayes Cannon Beach

Be alert for landslides across northwest Oregon The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for portions of northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, including the following areas, in northwest Oregon, Coast Range of Northwest Oregon and North Oregon Coast. In southwest Washington, South Washington Coast and Willapa Hills for Monday morning through Tuesday afternoon. Heavy rain may result in landslides in areas of steep terrain, as well as debris flows in and near burned areas from recent wildfires. Debris flows are rapidly moving, extremely destructive landslides. They can contain boulders and logs transported

in a fast-moving soil and water slurry down steep hillsides and through narrow canyons. They can easily travel a mile or more. A debris flow moves faster than a person can run. People, structures, and roads located below steep slopes in canyons and near the mouths of canyons may be at serious risk. If your home, work, or route is in a watch area: - Stay alert. Track the flood watch by radio, TV, weather radio or online. If told to evacuate, do so immediately. - Listen. Unusual sounds might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together. A trickle of falling mud or

debris may precede larger landslides. If you think there is danger of a landslide, leave immediately. - Watch the water. If water in a stream or creek suddenly turns muddy or the amount of water flowing suddenly decreases or increases, this is a warning that the flow has been affected upstream. You should immediately leave the area because a debris flow may soon be coming downstream. - Travel with extreme caution. Assume roads are not safe. Be alert when driving, especially at night. Embankments along roadsides may fail, sending rock and debris onto the road.

Legislators to invest $400 million to combat homelessness David Rupkalvis Country Media

The Oregon Legislature is working to pass legislation that would infuse $400 million to help combat homelessness and provide affordable housing across Oregon. While much of the investment will happen in the larger cities of the state, funding is being made available to rural areas as well. During a press conference Thursday, Democratic leaders announced the funding package, which includes House Bill 4123. HB 4123 will create a pilot program that provides funding for cities and counties that work together to combat homelessness. In Coos County, the cities and North Bend and Coos Bay are working with the county to host one of the pilot programs. In Lincoln County, the county is partnering with Lincoln City, the city of Newport and the city of Toledo to host one of the pilots. Representative Jason Kropf authored HB 4123, which was scheduled to be voted on Thursday in the Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development. “Each pilot will establish a coordinated homeless response office,” Kropf said. “In doing so, our com-

munities will be better positioned to leverage existing resources. Pilots will be required to report back on their plans, their progress, challenges and opportunities. Houselessness does not have a one size fits all solution.” HB 4123 will provide $1 million for each of the eight pilot programs, with a goal of finding what works and doesn’t work. State Rep. David Gomberg, who represents Lincoln County in the Legislature, said the program is much needed. “As a coastal and a rural legislature, I’ve seen firsthand the plight of homelessness in our community,” he said. “In my home county, 20 percent of student in schools are categorized as homeless. What we’re talking about here is seniors, families, low-income workers and, yes, we’re talking about kids.” He said HB 4123 will find solutions because it will lead to greater cooperation among local governments. “This bill will give us the tools to work together to address our most pressing problems,” Gomberg said. “This legislation will not only yield immediate relief, it will also collect information of what programs work best. It will require the pilot programs to report to the Legislature so

we can use it to make good legislation.” Lincoln County Commissioner Claire Hall also applauded the legislation. “This program will give us a chance to make a meaningful difference in the challenge of homelessness in Lincoln County,” Hall said. “Some people think homelessness is only an issue in larger communities. That’s not true.” While the Democrats applauded the package, State Rep. Boomer Wright has announced he supports HB 4123. The package announced Thursday will include three elements - $165 million to combat homelessness, $215 to support existing affordable housing and to build new affordable housing and $20 million to help people get into their first home. Sen. Kayse Jama, chair of the Senate Committee on Housing, lauded the proposal as it was announced. “Too many Oregonians are facing housing instability or homelessness right now,” Jama said. “Our hearts and minds go to those stuck in homelessness and our on the streets in our communities. Oregonians are expecting action on this issue and that’s exactly what’s happening today.”

Jama said the legislative leaders had four goals when preparing the package. 1 - Address immediate needs around homelessness; 2 - Building investments to increase supply of affordable housing; 3 - Preventing displacement from homes; and 4 - Ensure funds are spent quickly and efficiently. To reach goal four, much of the funding is going to existing programs that have proven to be successful. For example, Project Turnkey, which provides funding to purchase and rebuild older hotels, will receive $50 million. In Coos County, Operation Rebuild Hope used a Project Turnkey grant to purchase a hotel in North Bend that is currently being rebuilt to provide housing for homeless veterans. House Majority Leader Julie Fahey, chair of the House Committee on Housing, said the goal is to make a difference quickly. “We know that homelessness and affordable housing are some of the biggest challenges facing our state” Fahey said. “We have heard from Oregonians that they want us to take action. We are making key investments into solutions of homelessness. That includes more funding in

programs that actually work. Every Oregonian deserves a safe place to sleep at night. While we are working to increase services and shelter, we also have to address some of the root causes. This package makes significant investments in affordable housing. These investments will not solve every problem overnight, but Oregonians have real problems right now.” Rep. Paul Evans said spending the money when the state has a surplus is the right thing to do. “The package is a whole is not just about policy. It’s about bringing people and ideas together for a common cause,” Evans said. “I believe this package is consistent with the lessons I learned early in life about faith. Right now, Oregonians are hurting. Though wages are increasing, the net worth of working families are lagging behind. The working poor simply do not have the tools they need. This is an issue of basic human dignity. We are supposed to do everything possible to make sure our neighbors have a safe, secure place to live.” While some elements of the package are stand-alone bills, like HB 4123, most of the funding will be in the budget package that is scheduled to be voted on in the final days of the short session.

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A proposal to invest $100 million in rural Oregon is moving through the Oregon Legislature, and Speaker Dan Rayfield said he expects the package to be approved. During a press conference Monday, Rayfield said announcements about several big packages were expected this week, as the Legislature

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rushes to get bills approved in the short session. “We will start to release a few of our packages that will hit some of those issues we’ve been talking about,” Rayfield said. Among the packages to be announced included a climate investment package, the $100 million investment into infrastructure and economic development in rural Oregon, housing, efforts to support

teachers and schools as well as a package to address community violence. Rayfield said the package for rural Oregon will benefit communities represented mostly by Republicans, and the Republicans in the Legislature led the effort to write the bill. “We allowed Republicans to lead the charge because they know their communities best,” Rayfield said. “That

was an exciting, fun thing.” Rayfield said as speaker and leader of the Democratic Caucus he often has disagreements with his Republican colleagues, but he said looking out for all the state is the right thing for the Legislature to do. “It’s value driven from the get go,” he said. “It’s about

Church Services by the Sea Cannon Beach to Nehalem

Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church 36050 10th Street • PO Box 156 Nehalem 97131-0156 503-368-5612 nehalembayumc@gmail.com The Reverend Steve Wolff Worship Service: Sunday 11:00 Adult Sunday School: 9:30 A.M. Sunday

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To feature your spiritual organization on this panel:

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Calvary Bible Church 560 Laneda Avenue, PO Box 308 Manzanita, OR 503-368-5202 calvarymanzanita@gmail.com Pastor Ryan Holloway Worship Service: 9:00 A.M. Sunday Nursery Available ADA Accessible

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March 4, 2022

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Classifieds

Please reserve your Classified ad by Noon Tuesday, before each edition. Contact Katherine at 503-842-7535, headlightads@countrymedia.net.

Public Notice

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NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING CLATSOP COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Clatsop County Planning Commission will hold its regular meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, via Zoom to consider the following: 1. Case #22-000104 / Ordinance 22-01: Clatsop County proposes amendments to the Land and Water Development and Use Code to: a. Amend Section 4.0620 to update code citations; b. Repeal Sections 5.4900-5.4979 (Arch Cape Rural Community Overlay District (RCO) and Arch Cape Short-Term (Vacation) Rentals): and c. Include short-term rentals as a permitted use in the following zones: i. Coastal Beach Residential (CBR) ii. Coastal Residential (CR) iii. General Commercial (GC) iv. Neighborhood Commercial (NC) v. Residential Agriculture 1 (RA-1) vi. Residential Agriculture 1 (RA-1) vii. Residential Agriculture 2 (RA-2) viii. Residential Agriculture 5 (RA-5) ix. Residential Agriculture 10 (RA-10) x. Single-Family Residential 1 (SFR-1) xi. Tourist Commercial (TC) xii. Knappa-Svensen Rural Community Residential (KS-RCR) xiii. Rural Community Commercial (RCC) xiv. Rural Community-Multi-Family Residential (RC-MFR) xv. Rural Community Residential (RCR) xvi. Rural Service Area-Single Family Residential (RC-SFR) 2. Case #21-000664: Comprehensive Plan Update a. Amendments to the Clatsop County Comprehensive Plan, revising Goal 7: Areas

Subject to Natural Hazards b. Amendments to the Clatsop County Comprehensive Plan, revision Goal 13: Energy Conservation To Join the Meeting: https://co-clatsop-or-us.zoom. us/j/96938108959?pwd=QjRKeVp4UVd1SWw3OWxuOFlsVEFRUT09 Dial by your location: +1 669 900 6833 US Meeting ID: 969 3810 8959 Passcode: 587994 An agenda will be posted seven days prior to the hearing at: https://www.co.clatsop. or.us/calendar. Those wishing to provide testimony on public hearings or provide oral communication at the designated time must register in advance by calling 503-325-8611 or email comdev@co.clatsop.or.us. Once registered, you will be notified when it is your opportunity to speak for a three-minute presentation. The public may also submit comments via email to be read to the Planning Commission at the designated time. Please send submissions to comdev@co.clatsop.or.us. All documents will be available for inspection by appointment at the Clatsop County Planning Division at 800 Exchange St, Suite 100, during normal business hours (M-F 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.) at no cost. Paper copies may also be obtained at reasonable cost. The full agenda packet will be posted seven days prior to the hearing at: https://www. co.clatsop.or.us/calendar. If you have questions about this matter or need more information, please contact the Planning Division at (503) 325-8611 or at comdev@co.clatsop.or.us. Publication dates: Tillamook Headlight Herald: March 1, 2022 Cannon Beach Gazette: March 4, 2022

When bombs hit home: Former Nestucca exchange student from Ukraine depicts invasion on Kyiv Joe Warren jwarren@countrymedia.net

Editor’s note: Thursday, February 24th noon - The Gazette spoke to Lena Lysenko, a former Ukrainian exchange student at Nestucca High School, via FaceTime from her hiding place after fleeing the Russian invasion of Kyiv. Pacific City resident Mike Sears has a very special tie to Ukraine. He hosted a Ukrainian exchange student, Lena Lysenko, in 2005 in his home for a year and a special bond was created, they consider each other family. She is now caught in the middle of the Russian attacks on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. Lysenko, says she lives about 60 kilometers from

n Rural

Continued from Page 4

looking at the entire state. Rural Oregon was an area we looked at. The focus was let’s get people who live in these communities, know what’s on the ground an let them lead the way.” While the Democrats leading the Legislature have complained about Republicans repeatedly forcing bills to be read fully before votes, Rayfield said proposing money for rural Oregon was not a way to stop the GOP protests. He said if the roles were reversed, he

the capital city where bombs are going off and shooting is happening as she spoke to us at the Headlight Herald office via FaceTime on Sears’ phone on Thursday around noon, it was 10 p.m. Ukraine time. The former Nestucca exchange student, is worried. She doesn’t know what her next move is going to be, and is trying to figure out where to find safety. “We have bombing and shooting happening around us all the time,” she said. “People are hiding and running to basement or hiding in bathtubs when they hear the sound of guns and bombs.” She said, even though she has heard cries of support from other countries, the only help is coming from the Ukraine army at this time.

“Only the Ukraine soldiers are fighting right now,” she said. “Our airport was hit at 4 a.m. in the morning as was other strategic places.” Lysenko said they are grateful she and a friend was able to escape the city (Kyiv) but getting out of Ukraine may prove to be an issue. “I was woken up at 5 a.m. and told to take kids and important documents and run,” she said. “It’s impossible to reach any banks or ATMs, but our cards are still working, stores are closed, so we can’t buy food.” Lysenko said she has supplies ready to move when she said officials will allow that. “All the countries around us say they support us, but no one is helping, people are dying right now,” she said.

expects the Democrats would find ways to protest, too. “There’s absolutely no strings attached,” Rayfield said. “This is about making meaningful changes across the state. I think our philosophy is to allow Republicans to protest by reading bills. What I want to do is be able to respect them.” Rayfield said in the 35-day session, there is a rush to get bills done. He explained some bills take eight days just to get out of a single committee, so there is a time crunch. But, he added, there will be time to read every bill if needed and still get the work done. He also said he expects

many of the packages to have bipartisan support, at least in specific elements. Rayfield said as a weekend of violence in Portland showed, there is a great need for an investment in community safety. “Later this week we will announce a community safety package that will be in excess of $100 million,” Rayfield said. One of the goals in the package will be to invest in proven organizations an plans that work to stop violence before it happens. “How can we really break the cycle in the front end,” he asked.

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The Cannon Beach Gazette is published biweekly by Country Media, Inc. Carol Hungerford Publisher carol@countrymedia.net

1906 Second Street, P.O. Box 444, Tillamook OR 97141 PHONE 503-842-7535 • FAX 503-842-8842 cannonbeachgazette.com Joe Warren General Manager

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LETTER POLICY The Cannon Beach Gazette welcomes letters that express readers’ opinions on current topics. Letters may be submitted by email only, no longer than 300 words, and must be signed and include the writer’s full name, address (including city) and telephone number for verification of the writer’s identity. We will print the writer’s name and town of residence only. Letters without the requisite identifying information will not be published. Letters are published in the order received and may be edited for length, grammar,

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“It’s 10 p.m. and no one is asleep, they told us to keep our light off, so that’s what we are doing.” She said when she is able to leave, she wants to go to Slovakia or Holland, but Ukraine is her home. “We have to cross Kyiv, but it’s restricted and too dangerous right now,” she said. “Even if we go there, there is no confidence it will be safe, I have no idea, Ukraine is on fire.” She and her friends are ready to move when they can. “We have no idea what to do,” she said. “We are Lena Lysenko and her children and pets hunker into a safe hoping for a special green place after fleeing Kyiv. corridor where they let people leave the country, told her that they want the got settled and got to know but right now things are too invasion to stop, when they some other students, she dangerous.” started to announce that pubcame out of her shell and reLena is also worried for licly, special cops come and ally flourished. It didn’t take her mother who is also about grab them and take them. her long to adapt to a much 60 kilometers away and also “People on both sides want more free country. is hearing bombs and shootthis to stop,” she said. “They “She was very stern to ing, she says she has spoken are against this and are fright- begin with but after a little to friends who are hiding ened of their government that while she blossomed,” Sears in bathrooms and bathtubs, they will be taken away.” said. “And she’s taken that basement and underground. She believes that at this with her into her adult life.” “Right now we are in our point, not much help is on Lysenko was selected by shelter, we keep food, water the way. to be a part of the program and blankets underground in “It’s my personal position because she tested in the top our basements, and we are that many have promised two out of 600 other students ready in case we have to run to help, but they are afraid at the time. Mike and his wife and hide,” Lysenko said. “We because they have business had hosted other exchange have heard from friends from interests,” she said. “Nobody students, but didn’t have the all over the world and are so knows what to do, we are all great experience they had happy for all the prayers and afraid they will not stop.” with Lysenko. Mike said he’s words of support.” Sears said in a phone ineven visited Lena in Ukraine She warns that all of the terview Friday morning that and keeps in contact with her information out there is fake. when Lena came to Oregon all the time. She said she has friends 17 years ago to live with he “As long as there is interin Russia who called and and his wife Pam, after she net available, I’ll be able to Lena Lysenko fleeing Kyiv before the Russian invasion. n See LENA, Page 6

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spelling, punctuation or clarity. We do not publish group emails, open letters, form letters, third-party letters, letters attacking private individuals or businesses, or letters containing advertising. Deadline for letters is noon Thursdays. The date of publication will depend on space. Email letters to jwarren@countrymedia.net

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OBITUARIES The Cannon Beach Gazette has several options for submitting obituaries. • Basic Obituary: Includes the person’s name, age, town of residency, and information about any funeral services. No cost. • Custom Obituary: You choose the length and wording of the announcement. The cost is $75 for the first 200 words, $50 for each additional 200 words. Includes a small photo at no additional cost.

• Premium Obituary: Often used by families who wish to include multiple photos with a longer announcement, or who wish to run a thank-you. Cost varies based on the length of the announcement. All obituary announcements are placed on the Cannon Beach Gazette website at no cost. Email obituaries to classifieds@orcoastnews.com

March 4, 2022

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Virtual Presentation: The Role of Red Alder in the Oregon Coast Range w/ Andrew Bluhm, OSU On March 10th, 2022 Andrew Bluhm, OSU’s Associate Program Director of the Hardwood Silviculture Cooperative will provide new insight into a common tree in the Nehalem Watershed, the Red Alder. This presentation will introduce the characteristics of red alder and summarize the ecological role that red alder plays in the Oregon Coast Range. We’ll look at how red alder fits into the big picture of PNW ecosystems then examine the red alder’s effect on diversity, site productivity, community resiliency, and ecosystem function. Specific emphasis will be placed on the function red alder has in riparian systems and it’s influence on riparian communities. In addition to a B.S. in Forestry from the University of Minnesota and an M.S. in Forest Ecology/Silviculture from the University of Georgia, Andrew has spent the last 20 years at OSU as the Associate Program Director of the Hardwood Silviculture Cooperativefocusing on the biology and management of red alder.

Other research projects at OSU have included directing the red alder management program for the OSU College Forests, managing a long-term study on alternative silvicultural practices, installing and measuring a Swiss Needle Cast research plot network, and coordinating the PNW Permanent Sample Plot network. His main duties include everything from education and outreach, data collection to growth and yield modeling and everything in between. In his free time, he enjoys exploring PNW old-growth forests in pursuit of big trees. Andrew is an expert on this foundational tree in our watershed and will have a wealth of information to share with us. Hopefully, everyone will walk away from this talk with a new appreciation for Red Alders and the roles they play in the Nehalem. The talk will be on March 10th at 7 pm, hosted on Zoom, and is free to the public. The zoom link is https://us02web.zoom. us/j/86320883649 or on the

Faceboook event at www. facebook.com/lnwc1. You can also contact the watershed council at lnwc@ nehalemtel.net. A recording of this presentation will also be posted on the LNWC’s YouTube channel with our other recorded presentations. Just search for “Lower Nehalem Watershed Council” on YouTube. Stay posted for the Lower Nehalem Watershed’s Speaker Series other great talks coming up: · April: Jon Souder (OSU), Trees to Tap: How Forest Practices Affect Oregon’s Municipal Water · May: Jessica Adele Miller (OSU), Marine Heatwaves and Impacts to Pacific Cod and Salmon · November: Kellie Carim (USDA), eDNA Tracking Lamprey in the Pacific Northwest Event Information: This event is FREE and open to the public. Find more information on our speaker series and the links for access on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ lnwc1).

New research: Likelihood of extreme autumn fire weather has increased 40% Steve Lundeberg Guest Article

The likelihood of hot, dry, windy autumn weather that can set the stage for severe fires in California and western Oregon has increased 40% due to human-caused climate change, new computer models show. The study led by Linnia Hawkins, a postdoctoral researcher in the Oregon State University (OSU) College of Forestry, covered 2017 and 2018 and looked at the role climate change may have played

in extreme fire weather conditions that accompanied recent large September, October and November fires in those states. The collaboration that included David Rupp of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute examined the weather conditions during big fires driven by strong offshore winds such as California’s Santa Ana and Diablo winds and western Oregon’s East wind. The modeling found that human influences on climate actually reduced the frequency of those winds in the two years studied. But higher tempera-

tures and dryer fuels mean the four study areas were nevertheless much more likely to have extreme autumn fire weather than they would have had without human-caused increases in atmospheric aerosols and carbon dioxide. “Over the last handful of years, California and western Oregon have experienced their largest and most destructive wildfires ever recorded,” Hawkins said. “The rapid and extensive growth of many of the fires was driven by strong, dry, offshore, downslope autumn winds blowing across fuels that

had become very parched over the summer and stayed that way into fall.” For this research, the scientists focused on conditions like those seen during recent catastrophic fires, including Northern California’s Wine Country fires in October 2017, the Camp Fire in November 2018 and the North Complex Glass fires in September 2020; Southern California’s Woolsey Fire in November 2018; and western Oregon’s Lionshead Fire in September 2020. “Anthropogenic climate change has increased the likelihood of extremely hot, dry and windy weather in autumn, but it has not necessarily increased the likelihood of fire, nor did these fires occur because of climate change,” Hawkins said. “But those fires provided archetypes of extreme offshore-wind-driven autumn fire weather for us to study.” To model a climate absent human activity, the scientists set the atmospheric CO2 and aerosol concentrations to mid-19th century levels. They performed thousands of simulations with present-day CO2 and aerosol concentrations and thousands more simulations

with CO2 and aerosol concentrations set to pre-industrial levels. The researchers then compared the likelihood of extreme autumn fire weather conditions – defined as conditions that, absent human influence, would occur once every 20 years – between the two ensembles of simulations. “We found that when CO2 and aerosols from human activity were included, the chance of extreme conditions was 40% higher in those areas of California and Oregon where recent autumn fires have occurred,” Hawkins said. “The jump was mainly because of an increase in temperature and fuel aridity and not an increase in wind speeds. In fact, we found anthropogenic climate change slightly decreased the frequency of strong, dry, offshore winds.” Hawkins emphasizes that the 40% increase in likelihood is the average across the western United States, and that the increase is smaller or larger in specific regions. She also stresses that this study examined extreme fire weather conditions as opposed to average conditions and only in one

season of the year. “What our research demonstrates is that anthropogenic climate change has already increased the likelihood of autumn wind-driven extreme fire weather conditions in the West,” she said. “Together with non-climatic factors like biomass accumulation and more and more people living in the wildland urban interface in fire-prone lands, that means overall fire risk is going up. Approaches such as we used here can guide fire risk assessments and fire adaptation efforts.” The National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration supported this research. Findings were published in Geophysical Research Letters. Sihan Li of the University of Oxford and John Abatzoglou of the University of California, Merced, also took part in the study. Steve Lundeberg is a researcher and writer for Oregon State University Relations and Marketing. He may be reached at steve.lundeberg@oregonstate.edu

$62 million in emergency food allotments for March Staff Report

Qualifying families in Lincoln and Tillamook Counties and across the state struggling to make ends meet will see additional food allotments next month. Most Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition

n Lena Continued from Page 5 hear from her and contact her,” he said. Sears may set up a GoFund-Me site, but is waiting until he is sure he can even wire money to her.

Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will receive emergency allotments in March. The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020. This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lena said that she misses her time in Oregon and still thinks of this as her home. She only hopes she will be able to see it again sometime. “It’s my home, I love Oregon,” she said. “My Dad’s home is my home, my heart is there my dearest person is there, my Dad.”

In March, approximately 386,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $62 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits. “We know that many rely on these additional emergency food benefits to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families,” Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Self-Sufficiency Programs Deputy Director Claire Sequin said. “We also know that many Oregonians are still struggling to meet their basic needs and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211 and the Oregon Food Bank for support during this difficult time.”