TRAV WILLIAMS is a photographer, and has two businesses: Broken Banjo Photography and Deer Island Studio. The latter is a full-service media agency, working nationally.
Trav is all over the place, in Nehalem, in Manzanita, working in his studio, photographing a house or on the beach for our shooting session. Take a coffee with him at the Manzanita News & Expresso and you will see how many people know and definitely appreciate him. To add to all this is Trav’s good eye, smart thinking and listening skills. Trav is immersed in our community, from the Farmer’s Market to many fundraisers.
WHY DO YOU LIVE IN MANZANITA (AREA)?
This is where I am from, and where I'll remain. I've lived all over the place; after seeing the beauty and wonders of the world, I was convinced THIS is the place to be.
WERE YOU BORN IN THE MZ AREA?
I was born 3 miles outside of Nehalem, and am settling back onto the property on which I was raised.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST HERE?
Most of us wear numerous hats here, and I love that. We are all professionals, friends, nonprofit board members, volunteers, performers, artists, and supporters of each other; our paths cross in different contexts every day.
WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE THE MOST HERE?
The fluctuating economy; it's tough to see so many friends wrestle with numerous jobs, lack of work, and personal struggles, at every stage of their lives.
HAS THE TOWN CHANGED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS?
Mostly I see changes in housing availability as 2nd homes and short-term rentals have increased in number. Business change, but that's part of any community.
RENAE SCALABRIN is a super Mom of two great kids and the wife of a local builder. She owns a boutique property management company representing three high end vacation homes in Neah-Kah-Nie and Manzanita. She is actively involved in our local school as the Parent Council President and a member of the Mudd Nick Foundation Board. She also likes to have fun with friends and have been known to sing karaoke a time or two at the Manzanita Lighthouse.
WHY DO YOU LIVE IN MANZANITA (AREA)?
My husband is a builder, and he had the opportunity to move up to build a vacation home for a long
time client from LA (where my husband was raised and I had lived for the prior 20 years). We decid
ed that Manzanita would be a great place to raise our children (then 6 and 3), and we made the lea
p to sell our home and move North.
WERE YOU BORN IN THE MZ AREA?
I was not born here. Our family arrived three years ago. But our children, who are now 9 and 6, cons
ider this the only home they know and where they will be raised.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST HERE?
I love the small town feel that reminds me of where I grew up in Iowa. I love the sense of community
that exists here. I love the beaches, the mountains, the rivers...so much beauty to behold here! I lov
e the school system. I love the food. I love the fact that we have everything we need here. Although
our community is small, we have such a diverse offering of goods and services.
WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE THE MOST HERE?
The fact that Trader Joe's is 90 minutes away. I'm working on this :). Wouldn't Warrenton be a great
place to add a store?
HAS THE TOWN CHANGED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS?
I can only comment on the last 3 years, but I have definintely seen an increase in the number of trav
elers coming to visit. As a property manager, I see more than just the summer vacationer. It is beco
ming much more of a year round destination. Yes, it rains here. But rain is beautiful too.
CAROL MILLS is a busy woman. Recreation District has become the hub of her community. Starting with the fitness classes and followed shortly with amazing friends that she has made there. She joined Friends of NCRD and now she is on the Board of Directors. They support NCRD’s programs, projects and the new pool with funds they raise. She also is involved with The North Tillamook County Women’s club, having fun while learning and supporting women and children in the
community. She has recently volunteered to help The Mudd Nick Foundation, another amazing charity that benefits children in the Neah-Kah-Nie
School District.
And her husband thought she might be bored at the coast!
WHY DO YOU LIVE IN MANZANITA (AREA)?
We knew (my husband Mike and I) we wanted to retire at the coast. I was raised considering the Nehalem bay area “the beach”, and it always was my favorite vacation area. It also helped that the house of my dreams went on the market!
WERE YOU BORN IN THE MZ AREA?
I was born and raised in Oregon and moved to the Manzanita area in the fall of 2017. Hard to believe that was only two years ago.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST HERE?
I like the people. I have never lived in a small town where everyone is so friendly. Of course, having the ocean for a neighbor is a big plus!
WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE THE MOST HERE?
I don’t like having to drive so far to a supermarket. Our small markets are great, but there are just some things you have to drive miles for.
HAS THE TOWN CHANGED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS?
It is hard for me to speak to this, having been here less than two years. I can speak to the changes since I was a child. The tsunami of 1964 wiped away George’s Dock on Nehalem Bay. This is where my childhood beach memories were made. Crab feeds on Nehalem spit with our hometown neighbors were the best times!
FRANK SQUILLO & PATRICK CONNER are the owners of Wanda's Cafe + Bakery in Nehalem. They have been consumed by their new business venture but hope to be much more involved in the community in 2020.
We have participated in many charity events by providing monetary donations, gift cards and baked goods and will continue to support locally based charities that support those that live here.
WHY DO YOU LIVE IN MANZANITA (AREA)?
We came here because like so many others, we fell in love with the coast.
WERE YOU BORN IN THE MZ AREA?
Neither my husband nor I were born here. He was born in Texas and I was born in Pennsylvania.
WHERE DID YOU MOVE FROM?
We moved here from Portland. We moved from Dallas, TX to Portland when Patrick was recruited by Nike to work at their World Headquarters but I had lived in Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York City before that. We moved into our home on December 15, 2018 in the midst of the holidays and just days before taking over Wanda's Cafe + Bakery.
We maintain an apartment in Portland as Patrick continues his fulltime job with Nike and spends his weekends here with me and our daughters.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST HERE?
The sense of community. It's what Patrick and I always talked about. Not just having a business, but having a business that means something to the community it serves and having a wonderful place to raise our children.
WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE THE MOST HERE?
I don't like the fact that so many in the area struggle with the lack of affordable housing and medical coverage.
HAS THE TOWN CHANGED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS?
Ask us the question again in 9 years!
WHY DO YOU LIVE IN MANZANITA (AREA)?
LYNNE - I like the 4 seasons we have here. I enjoy the rain, the winter, the summer is not too hot. I enjoy living small. You can travel to wherever you want, I chase the sunshine, but I enjoy it here --it's why we have all these beautiful trees.
EISHA - I enjoy Manzanita as a whole - the people, the community, it has everything I need for day to day. It's easy and accessible to everything. I have friends in Portland that think it would be so boring here, but it isn't.
WERE YOU BORN IN THE MZ AREA?
LYNNE - We moved here from White Salmon, WA, in the Columbia Gorge in 1998. I was born in Barberton, OH, and lived all over the United States - my dad was a pilot for Continental so we moved all over the place. My dad opened up the first White Rafting Company in the gorge, and he started the Inn at the While Salmon (a bed and breakfast there). Dad eventually bought property here in Manzanita and we moved here in 1998.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST HERE?
LYNNE - I'm centrally located for all my grandkids - my family is here - my business is here. I could have moved away, but I love it here.
EISHA - I love the community here - I sit in my yard at night and can see the stars, hear the ocean and not hear sirens all the time. I lived in downtown Portland, and I can go there on my days off, but I love it here. I just love the community here.
WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE THE MOST HERE?
EISHA - I don't really think about that. Guess the main thing is the lack of affordable housing here. Many people have to work two or three jobs just to manage to live here. We need to look at rezoning so affordable housing can be developed and not just turn every home into second homes. We need areas for higher density.
HAS THE TOWN CHANGED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS?
EISHA - Oh yes - we have a lot more people coming here. Manzanita is still a well kept secret for many. People go to Seaside or Cannon Beach, but many only come here because of word of mouth. Yet, in many ways not a lot has changed - we get some new building face-lifts, some roads get new pavement, but it essentially has not changed much. The heart has not changed.