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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 2016)
December 9, 2016 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com • 9A Meet William Shakespeare Performances, workshops blend the Bard with modern topics By Lyra Fontaine EO Media Group In a nod to election-year tensions, the Oregon Shake- speare Festival workshop at Seaside High School tackled a play with divisive political themes. During Oregon Shake- speare Festival’s annual School Visit Program, six teams of two teaching artists perform and lead interactive workshops in Oregon, Wash- ington state, California and Kansas. This year, the pro- gram combined Shakespeare’s work with modern scenes to mark the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death. DANNY MILLER/EO MEDIA GROUP Kristin Hammargren, right, and David Huynh, actors and teachers with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, act out a sword fight in front of Sea- side High School students. Gathered in the wrestling room, in November senior students in an honors En- glish class delved into “Julius Caesar,” in which conspiring senators kill an increasingly powerful politician. Oregon Shakespeare Festival profes- sional actors David Huynh and Kristin Hammargren, returning to the school for a second year in a row, led the workshop. “Julius Caesar takes place during a very contentious and polarized time in ancient Rome,” Huynh said. As an exercise to get in the ancient Roman spirit, students played “assassins,” in which certain students slayed sen- ators with a deadly wrist tap. Huynh encouraged students to “be big and bold.” Students dramatically dou- bled over and fell onto the padded floor after their “as- sassination,” crying out as they died gruesome “deaths” during the otherwise nonver- bal game. Next, students in six groups read and acted out “freeze frames” from three different takes on the same event: a fes- tival where a character offers the crown to Caesar. To see how the point of view can alter a story, students performed the perspectives of Greek biogra- pher Plutarch and Shakespeare characters Mark Antony and Casca, who have opposing opinions. Students then an- alyzed how each person felt about aspects of the story. “I learned about what the people thought about Caesar,” Mica Paranal said after the workshop. “It was interesting how we played the assassins game.” It was Paola Campuzano’s first time participating in an Oregon Shakespeare Festival workshop. Certain classes, primarily English and drama, take part in the program. “I liked it because it summed up the play,” she said. “I read it sophomore year, but I don’t really remember it.” Donors, volunteers make Festival a success Trees from Page 1A Nineteen trees bedecked in Christmas finery highlight- ed one of the North Coast’s premier holiday events, Prov- idence Seaside’s Festival of Trees gala and dinner auction at the Seaside Civic and Con- vention Center. “People look forward to this event every year; it really kicks off the holiday season,” Ward said. “It brings magic and it brings the community togeth- er,” During the past 18 years, the Festival of Trees has raised more than $1.3 million to ben- efit community health services and programs provided by the hospital. The event was on its way to new records Saturday night as donors reached deep to help fund three-dimensional tomo- synthesis imaging equipment, a state-of-the art mammography technology that enhances early cancer detection and reduces false positive readings. JEFF TER HAR Berkley Sturgell at the Festival of Trees community event. with patients. We’re seeing that everywhere they go.” Special appeal First responders First responders were well represented, with two separate trees for charitable auction. Katie Bulletset and Jamie Daniels, sponsored by Clatsop County fire departments and emergency responders, teamed to design “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire,” a light- ed, ruby red tree decorated with a fire and rescue theme. The winning bidder received a retinue of apparel, emergen- cy tools and even a drill night with Seaside’s Fire Chief Joey Daniels. The Seaside, Astoria, War- renton, Gearhart and Cannon Beach police departments, along with the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office pooled togeth- er to come up with a memorial tree to honor the memory of former Seaside Police Sgt. Ja- son Goodding, who died in the line of duty in February. Funds raised from the sale of “Heroes in Blue,” designed by Jenni- fer Schermerhorn and Cheryl Ham and sponsored by Clatsop County law enforcement agen- cies, will go to local emergency room services, including furni- ture and furnishings for a “safe room” dedicated to Goodding. “The Sweet Side of Sea- side” won the “People’s Choice Award” when over 1,400 peo- EDWARD STRATTON/EO MEDIA GROUP Cancer survivor Jennie Breslow Vinson made a special appeal to donors before they raised money for new cancer-screen- ing technology at the Festival of Trees fundraiser for the Providence Seaside Hospital Foundation Saturday. ple voted on their favorite at the open house. The “Sweet Side of Seaside” represented the dining and desserts of the community, and was designed by Sarah Dailey and Jorjett Strumme, sponsored by the Seaside Downtown Develop- ment Association. Setting up Committee volunteers moved into the convention center Tuesday, Nov. 29, to hang lights, event Festival of Trees planning committee chairwoman Laura Freedman said. “We hang the lights on Tuesday and it takes us from Wednesday through Satur- day to get everything ready,” Freedman said. “It’s all good community people who want to make a difference.” Earlier Saturday brought in 1,400 attendees of all ages for crafts, cookie decoration and pictures with Santa. Holiday trees, designed and decorated by individuals, teams and hospital staff, featured everything from 60 bottles of wine to an opportunity to at- tend the Beverly Hills Kennel Club Dog Show with a behind- the-scenes tour with host David Frei, a Cannon Beach resident. Frei, with his wife Cheri- lyn and their two dogs, Angel and Grace, welcomed visitors in front of their tree, “Bev- erly Hills Best in Show,” de- signed by Providence Seaside Hospital Volunteer Services and Mackenna Taylor, Provi- dence coordinator for Healthy Smiles. “It’s very exciting,” Frei said. “We were here earlier with all the children, and of course the dogs and children were a big hit all around.” The couple also hopes to raise awareness of the new therapy dog program at Prov- idence Seaside, launched two months ago “It’s going great,” David Frei said. “It’s every- thing we expected. The dogs walk into the room, just like they did here, and the energy changes. And we’re seeing that One of the evening’s most emotional moments came in a special appeal presented by Jennie Breslow Vinson, di- agnosed with Stage IIB triple positive breast cancer at age 37. “To say this was a shock would be a complete under- statement,” Vinson said. “I had an almost 3-year-old son, had just begun a new dream job at a great company, and I clearly had no time for chemotherapy in my life.” During treatment, fear would grip her. “To be honest, sometimes it still does,” Vin- son said. “But now, instead of dwelling on what-ifs, I’ve cho- sen to focus on the gifts and the silver linings my cancer treat- ment and diagnosis have pro- vided me and my family.” Living in the now, appreci- ating family and being able to laugh helped her through the experience. “Perhaps the most pro- found gift I have received is the certainty and comfort that I am profoundly loved and that I will be missed when I am gone,” Vinson said. “Che- mo and cancer changed my personality by deepening my level of intention and integrity in life, defining my discipline, emphasizing my perseverance. My time is precious and I want to make the most of it.” The audience responded with a standing ovation and generous bids. JEFF TER HAR/FOR SEASIDE SIGNAL Colorful floats and costumes were the order of the day. Parade heralds start of holiday season Weather takes a break for glittering event By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal Everybody loves a parade in Seaside. Rain or shine. The rain took a short breather Fri- day, Nov. 25, for the city’s an- nual Parade of Lights. Michelle Barsness of Seat- tle said she and her family had come to watch the Thanks- giving storm and thought the parade would be “a fun addi- tion” to their vacation. They were among the thousands who lined Broad- way for the event. T.J. and Cheryl Jeffery came to the parade to Seaside from their home in Belling- ham, Washington, “just for the joy of it,” they said. T.J. has been coming to the parade for almost 20 years, and Cher- yl even longer. Locals enjoy For locals, it’s a chance to come out and catch up with old friends. “Usually in the winter, I’ve been hibernating,” City Councilor Seth Morrisey said, accompanied by family mem- bers. “I’m looking for some excitement.” Seaside’s Amy and Clay Baughman brought their daughter Brooklyn to her first parade. She was among those waiting for a visit with Santa. Kathy Lugibihl of Gear- hart said she hadn’t been to the parade in years. “I used to come, then my kids grew up,” Lugibihl said. “Then they left home and they came back, and we’re here tonight.” Seaside’s Mark Brooks carried Bronson Brooks on his shoulders, the youngster celebrating his first parade. Seaside resident and chamber ambassador Cyn- thia Miner was among those giving out cookies, hot cider and cocoa for guests to enjoy. The weather, on the cusp of a downpour, didn’t faze her a bit. “We’re excited,” she said. “This is what we’re used to.” Seaside’s Visitor Informa- tion Specialist Ken Heman manned the loudspeaker in front of the holiday tree. “It ac- tually stops raining just before the parade, and starts raining after,” Heman said. “You can tell who the true Oregonians because they are standing in the rain with no umbrellas.” Parade procession Lo and behold, shortly af- ter 7, the rain paused and the parade kicked off from First Avenue on Necanicum Drive. In the lead were students from Seaside schools, wear- ing the Gulls’ red and white and celebrating the passage of the bond to move schools out of the tsunami zone. The procession stretched down Broadway, past Finn’s, Zingers, Sharky’s and around the bend. Honking horns from Sea- side Fire and Rescue heralded the convoy to follow, includ- ing the big trucks of the Clat- sop County Sons of Beaches. Thomas the Train, Snoopy and more cartoon favorites drew cheers, along with trucks from Pacific Power, FedEx and local businesses — about 30 in all. Miss Oregon Alex- is Mather greeted the crowd, accompanied by local Miss Oregon scholarship program contestants. An ornate rendi- tion of Santa’s Workshop was followed by a manger scene presented by Seaside’s River of Life Fellowship. Seaside’s Michelle Hughes marched in Sea- hawks’ football fanwear with family members from Kenne- wick, Washington, to cheer on their favorite team. “They’re going to go to the Super Bowl, of course!” Hughes laughed. As the parade turned down Downing and the last floats moved through the crowd, onlookers gathered for the tree-lighting and carols. Voic- es rang out, singing holiday favorites including “White Christmas,” “Winter Wonder- land” and “Here Comes Santa Claus.” Santa time Who were the luckiest kids at the parade? Leilani, Leila and Keoni Durham were first in line for Santa Claus, accompanied by their parents, Mona and Brian Durham of Warrenton. Leila was looking forward to a new bed comforter and Keoni was poised to ask Santa for a toy train. Sandy McDowall of the Seaside Chamber of Com- merce estimated the parade drew about 2,000-3,000 peo- ple from “all over.” “I love the holidays in Sea- side,” McDowall said, joining the chamber ambassadors serving cider and cocoa. “There’s nothing like a lit- tle bit of ‘sunshine,” chamber President Brian Owen added. The rain did hold through the entire length of the parade. And by its end, the holiday lights shined bright on Broad- way. N e w EARN UP TO A $ 500 R E B A T E on Sigature Series window coverings and motorized control.* NOVEMBER 1 thru DECEMBER 31, 2016 * SOME EXCLUSIONS APPLY. 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