2A • January 23, 2015 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com
SEASIDE CITY COUNCIL
Letters to the Editor
Angels in heaven
NANCY MCCARTHY PHOTO
Seaside’s newest city councilor, Seth Morrisey, left, is sworn in by City Manager Mark
Winstanley. Morrisey, who was elected in November, is filling the vacancy left by former
City Councilor Stubby Lyons. Lyons resigned last spring.
Seaside council sworn
in for another term
Oceanway) or move it somewhere else.”
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way to keep skateboards and bicycles off of
downtown sidewalks.
By Nancy McCarthy
“There is an ordinance that bicycles fol-
Seaside Signal
low cars, and cars do not use the sidewalk,”
said Larson, adding, “Someday I’m going
,W ZDV D QLJKW RI ¿UVWV IRU ERWK WKH to get hit by a skateboard.”
youngest and the oldest member of the Sea-
Following his short speech, Larson sat
side City Council Jan. 12.
down in his chair at the dais, which was
Seth Morrisey was sworn in as city surrounded by balloons with congratulato-
FRXQFLORUWR¿OODWHUPOHIWYDFDQWE\IRUPHU ry messages, including one that said, “You
Councilor Stubby Lyons. A few minutes rock!”
later, Don Larson was sworn in as mayor
for his fourth term, which he believes is un-
precedented in Seaside.
Councilors Dana Phillips, Tita Montero
and Jay Barber were also sworn in for their
second terms. Councilors Don Johnson and
Randy Frank were not up for re-election
last November.
Larson called Morrisey a “wonderful,
new, young asset” to the City Council.
The mayor also said he was looking for-
ward to four more years. “We’re doing our
best to make Seaside be the best around,”
he added.
NANCY MCCARTHY PHOTO
Larson said he was anxious for the
council to continue setting goals. Among Mayor Don Larson’s chair was surrounded
his priorities is the annexation of the prop- by congratulatory balloons during the
erty south of Seaside and opening a boat City Council meeting Jan. 12. Larson be-
ramp “whether we reopen it where it is (on gan his fourth term as Seaside mayor.
Seth Morrisey takes council seat for
the first time; fills Stubby Lyons’ spot
To the editor,
They say our children are the future; I look
at them as God’s angels. Children are the bright
spot in the world, but recently two of those bright
spots went out.
Two little angels were taken away in an un-
speakable manner and will never have all the
chances and happiness they deserve. Children
look to parents to keep them safe, guide them
and, most of all, love them always. Children
should always be made to feel they are the most
important gift and never feel pain, neglect or be
afraid. Kids shouldn’t have to be put through any
type of abuse. After all, they are just kids.
God took two little angels home and will be
their protector when they were too young to pro-
tect themselves.
Give your little angels all the love and protect
them from all the bad. Please don’t let another
angel be taken away.
Jenny McCollister
Seaside
Expansion suggestion
To the editor,
A suggestion for the expansion of the Seaside
Civic and Convention Center: Build a multistory
parking garage on the adjacent center parking lot,
similar to the nearby one at the time-share property,
except that the ground floor would be a large con-
vention meeting space room. Leave room at ground
level for RVs, buses, etc. Provide a second-story
walkover access from the main building as well as
a street level entrance. Leave the river alone.
Robert Kroning
Seaside
Public ‘pout’
To the editor,
Gearhart is very fortunate to have a mayor
and a council that will defend the laws of the
community as they have been put in place by
generations of caring citizens.
Now one man and his clique are mounting
an extended and expensive campaign to override
some of these laws and allow them to do what
no other citizens would be allowed to do. This
effort can only be recognized and treated as an
extended public “pout.”
Dianne Widdop, his target, is a public treasure
— she’s honest, fair, open-minded and kind as
anyone who knows her is happy to verify. Count
your blessings that she is defending Gearhart!
Sally Mannex
Gearhart
Thanks from Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots would like to take this oppor-
tunity to thank the donors of toys and monetary
value in this last collection campaign and the toy-
drop places.
We raised $1,250 to purchase toys and books.
We put smiles on the faces of a large amount of
children this past Christmas.
The toys, books and games given out not only
to children but also to senior adults total 20,871
distributed items. Remember, Toys for Tots here
on the North Coast covers Clatsop County only.
We do not distribute gifts; we collect and give
them to the area Food Baskets program, Wishing
Tree program and Giving Tree program.
The area coordinators and I want to say
thanks to all of you.
Area Coordinators:
William and Pat Kankkonen
Tim Flynn
Beverly Neubecker
Curtis and Florence Peugh
Tanya Wammack
PO3 Tricia L Lichtenfels (USCG Air Base)
SFE Kimberly Wright (ORNG Camp Rilea)
and the USS Alert.
County Coordinator:
Lou Neubecker
Seaside
Misleading headlines
To the editor,
I am troubled by the coverage in the Daily A and
the Seaside Signal about the effort to recall Mayor
Dianne Widdop of Gearhart. Headlines have been
misleading and more attention-grabbing than neces-
sary to describe the workings of the Gearhart City
Council and Mayor Widdop’s role.
Coverage has been fairly factual but, to me, at
least, slanted to give the impression that Mayor Wid-
dop, a longtime Gearhart resident and a member of
the Gearhart city government for many years, has
made unforgivable mistakes. The truth is she has
done nothing illegal, unethical, or immoral in this in-
stance. She has acknowledged her mistakes and has
apologized appropriately.
It’s not easy to be a public figure. When one takes
on this role, one learns quickly that one has multiple
constituents and can’t please them all. It’s an impos-
sible scenario, and all one can do is act in the best
interests of the agency to which one is responsible.
One must have a very thick skin to be a public figure.
What troubles me most, particularly after I at-
tended the recent Wellness kickoff in which we
discussed how to improve the health of our commu-
nity, is that city and county governments are often
painful places to work and serve because of the in-
jured feelings of those who don’t get their own way
and decide to make the lives miserable of those who
serve. The health of our larger community is dam-
aged because of the behavior of small groups who
attack committed individuals who serve the com-
munity.
As a Unitarian Universalist minister for many
years, I have experienced the misery of being at-
tacked by a small group because I made mistakes
occasionally. It grinds down one’s resilience and
causes unnecessary pain to a person who is only
trying to do a job they care about. It is particularly
troubling to me that a person with Mayor Widdop’s
history of fine performance is being treated cruelly
for no good reason.
I’m reminded of the ancient and universal wis-
dom of representatives of many religions and sec-
ular humanitarian agencies: Do justice, be kind, be
humble. Do unto others as you would have them do
unto you. Love your neighbor.
Rev. Kit Ketcham
Gearhart
7 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR 7 GNC 7 KITCHEN COLLECTION 7 L’EGGS HANES BALI PLAYTEX EXPRESS 7 NIKE 7
Providence welcomes a new cardiologist.
Providence is growing to better serve
north coast families and communities.
Heart specialist Masud Ahmad, M.D.,
is joining Robert Morse, D.O., and
the cardiology team on the north
coast. Welcome, Dr. Ahmad!
Board certified in cardiovascular
disease and interventional cardiology,
Masud Ahmad,
Dr. Ahmad divides his time between
M.D., FACC, FSCAI
Providence St. Vincent Heart Clinic-
Cardiologist
Cardiology and Providence Medical
Group-Seaside. He speaks English, Arabic, Hindi and Urdu.
When not seeing patients, Dr. Ahmad enjoys traveling,
biking and spending time at home in Arch Cape.
Call 503-717-7556 to schedule
an appointment. We accept
most health insurance plans.
For more information, visit
www.providence.org/northcoast.
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Growing to serve you
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