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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 2017)
February 3, 2017 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com • 5A Celebrating a center for literacy S ince I have joined the Seaside Public Library in 2012, I have enjoyed the overwhelming support our library receives both from City Council and our North Coast community. Our City Coun- cil continues to see library services and literacy for all ages with an emphasis on our children, as a priority for our town. As T.S. Elliot said, “The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man.” In contrast, I am saddened by the fact that the Douglas County Library system is closing its doors in a few short months. Operating at a 15 million dollar budget shortfall compared to their 2012-2013 budget, some hard choices had to made across Douglas County, and library services is just one of the areas that fell on the chopping block. “As a result of declining timber receipts and dwindling reserve funds, the Board is tasked with making very diffi cult decisions to ensure that basic public safety needs and other essential services for the community are met” stated County Commissioner Chris Boice. You may remember that back in 2007, another county in Oregon, Jackson County, shut down temporarily its entire library system due to a drastic loss of federal funding and timber revenues. While a temporary federal funding was extended, and the libraries opened again shortly after the closure in limited capacity, Jackson County scrambled to fi nd permanent funding for their libraries, including exploring increasing the cost of jail beds. The good news is, in 2014 voters in Jackson County approved a special library district that provided stable BETWEEN THE COVERS ESTHER MOBERG funding. The past three years the libraries in Jackson County have seen the success of this funding and they are rebuilding library services. Many library systems in Oregon, including Multnomah County, have formed special taxing districts to be independent of competing with safety and emergency funds from a city or coun- ty governance. It is a model that Douglas County may want to look into as they look at providing sustainable funding for library services. While some people look at library services as “extra,” to quote Lewis H. Steiner, “One function of the librarian, as he saw it, was to blunt the edge of these differences and to provide a means whereby the rich and poor could live happily side by side. The public library was a great leveler, supplying a literature by which the ordinary man could experience some of the pleasures of the rich, and providing a common ground where employer and employee could meet on equal terms.” Those who do not use libraries do not see that libraries are the one place all people may go for information that has overtones of an online social media controlled by the most popular opinion of the moment. Online information from the internet is often coupled with emotion and fi ltered through lenses or biases the reader is often completely unaware of. In the library, those biases are often revealed more clearly as part of the information the public receives so they can make informed opinions using the resources they select. In addition, early literacy Storytime, job searches and resume writing, teen programs, and many other needs that tie into the most basic of our community needs are served daily at the Seaside library. The good news is, most of the coun- ties in Oregon, including our county, have strong independent city libraries or library systems that are not in any way threatened by closure. Most communities recognize the value of their library as necessary for all ages in order to be liter- ate and successful as a community. I ap- preciate that in Seaside, our community sees the value in programs, materials, and services that benefi t not just individuals, but the community as a whole. A healthy, fl ourishing library is a good gauge of how the community itself is functioning and thriving. Seaside has a very healthy and fl ourishing library and I think this speaks volumes to what our community is doing as a whole. Throughout our com- munity, volunteerism is strong, people are reading, and supporting others in reading, and many services such as the food bank and homeless shelters we work together to provide as a community. Children are encouraged through SMART reading at the schools and other mentorship programs to be successful all the way up from kindergarten through high school. I appreciate Seaside because members of the community don’t look out just for themselves but for each other and I be- lieve we will continue to strengthen and develop as one community together. One can only hope Douglas County will fi nd this same strength and pull together as a county to reopen their library doors and rebuild community. LETTERS Letters from Page 4A School needs clubs Oregon environmental- ists support an immediate elimination of all fossil fuels. Use only renewable energy they say, ignoring the lack of 24/7 availability, lack of an energy storage solution, the costs of rebuilding infrastruc- ture and increased consumer costs. They do this with good intentions, because they are rightly concerned about global warming from emissions. Huge advances have been achieved by the government’s clean power program in captur- ing and profi tably using power plant emissions. Today it is feasible to eliminate Oregon’s largest source of emissions — the natural gas-fi red electrical generating plants at Port West- ward — and reduce consumer electrical bills doing it. We might actually create several hundred family-wage jobs. OK, what’s the catch? The state and Clatsop County say they are not interested in pro- cessing permits without a court order. Your elected leaders just want to talk about reducing emissions, but when they might actually have to consider anything smacking of change, they hide under their desks. Think I’m a crackpot? Ask the Clatsop County Commis- sion to give me 15 minutes on their agenda. Ask the Oregon Department of Energy and our elected state representatives to comment on proposals. Ask The Daily Astorian to publish a column about the project. Ask the environmentalists to actual- ly listen, rather than riot. John Dunzer Seaside I am a student at Broad- way Middle School in Seaside. We should have clubs at recess. There should be a drawing club, reading club and gaming club. First, we should have a drawing club. The reason why we should have a drawing club is so people can learn different techniques, like how to make your drawing look like metal, scale, fur and blood. Also peo- ple can learn to draw anything they want — like if someone didn’t know how to make a dragon, the person who knows can help them make it. The last reason why we should have a drawing club is so people can learn how to shade, or make a shadow from a person or animal. Second, we should have a reading club. We will talk about different types of books, and say what you think about the book, why you like it, and things you didn’t like about the book. You can vote on the book you want. We should read the book with the most votes, and you can’t pick the same book we already read. Finally, we should have a book list. We can recommend the book to people and to schools, and if it’s hard to read or not, and say what grade it should be, and score it one to 10. Also, we would read any type of book. Finally there should be a gaming club. Also there would be tournament with only one winner, and he would get a prize. The tournament would be on the computer. Any type of game that is approved by the school principal. To conclude, that is why there should be clubs at school. There should be a drawing club, reading club and gaming club. Johnathon Kenenounis Seaside An everyday hero retires Sunset Empire Parks and Recreation recently held a retirement celebration for one of its very long-term employ- ees, Elizabeth MacDonald. Elizabeth is, or rather was, my supervisor until a few days ago. I wanted to make sure that those who don’t know Elizabeth realize some of the things she has done to serve Clatsop County’s children and residents for almost 20 years. She started out running the day care program at SEPRD, then she oversaw the nutrition services, and ended as the supervisor for the After School Adventure Program at the newly minted Seaside Heights Elementary School. We love listening to her stories of storms and esca- pades that happened a while ago, like the fl ooding that occurred in 1994, and how she and her husband Tracy took food out to people in Jewell because they were stranded. They serve many boards and organizations, and volunteer for causes that are dear to their hearts. I’ve had the privilege to work for Elizabeth about two years now. I want to thank her for a wonderful work environ- ment, and coalescing a team that works closely together to have fun and learn with our children. I could not stand up and say all this, but I can sit and write it. Congratulations, Elizabeth, for a job well done. Gladys Klingerman Seaside Thanks for toys Toys for Tots would like to take this opportunity to thank the donors of toys and monetary value, and the toy drop places, in this last col- lection campaign. We raised $250 to purchase toys and books. We put smiles on the faces of 1,225 of children this past Christmas. The toys, books and games given to children total 6,871 distributed items: Asto- ria received 1,468; Warrenton received 1,224; Jewell re- ceived 1,089; Cannon Beach received 1,271; and Seaside received 1,819. 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 program coordinators, including Barb Roberts (As- toria), Bev Hopkins (Jewell), Maureen Casterline (Seaside) and Nancy Teague (Cannon Beach). Area coordinators William and Pat Kankkonen, Tim Fly- nn, Beverly Neubecker, Kar- en Peden, Tanya Wammack, Petty Offi cer 3rd ClassTricia L. Lichtenfels and Staff Sgt. Brad Moore and I want to say thanks to all of you. Lou Neubecker County coordinator, Toys for Tots Seaside PUBLIC MEETINGS 5 p.m., Convention Center, 415 First Ave. Thursday, Feb. 16 Seaside Community and Senior Commis- sion,10 a.m., 1225 Avenue A. Gearhart Planning Commssion, 6 p.m., City Hall, 698 Pacifi c Way. Seaside Library Board, 4:30 p.m., 1131 Broadway. Monday, Feb. 13 Gearhart Planning Commission and City Council, joint work session, 6 p.m., City Hall, 698 Pacifi c Way. Thursday, Feb. 9 Seaside Convention Center Commission, Scott Edward Taylor Sr. Dec. 13, 1957 — Jan. 17, 2017 Scott Edward Taylor Sr., age 59, of Seaside, Oregon, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, in his home, after a long battle with cancer, sur- rounded with all his loved ones at the time of his pass- ing. After 14 months of bat- tling cancer, his son, Scott Jr., was by his side support- ing him through to the very end with love and care. He was a loving man, loving father and grandfa- ther, and his family was the most important thing to him; we were always fi rst. He en- joyed spending time on the coast with his family, mak- ing memories and passing those memories on to the grandchildren, and then re- living those memories with them. Scott Sr. was born in Portland, Oregon, but grew up with a love for the Chi- cago Bears, where he lived until the age of 12 with his parents and siblings before returning to Oregon. He tre- mendously enjoyed driving truck and traveling. It was in the 1980s when he met, fell in love with and married Lorna Goheen, and the two of them moved to the Oregon Coast and made their life together raising their children. Scott Sr. leaves behind a third generation; his son, Scott Edward Taylor Jr.; grandson Scott Edward Tay- lor III; daughters Katelyn Taylor, Stacy Dailey and Su- sie Hibbs; daughter-in-law Shalynda Taylor; son-in-law Brett Hibbs; grandchildren Wyatt Hibbs, Lillian Taylor and Izzabella Taylor; broth- Seaside City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Seaside Transportation Advisory Com- mission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 698 Pacifi c Way. Wednesday, Feb. 15 Tuesday, Feb. 21 Seaside Tourism and Advisory Commit- tee, 3 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Sunset Empire Parks and Rec District, 4 p.m., 1225 Ave. A, Seaside. powered by Scott Taylor Sr. ers Rick Taylor, Mark Tay- lor Sr., Paul Taylor and Bill Taylor; and sister Yevette Taylor. He was preceded in death by a sister, Reni Taylor; granddaughter Megan; and his parents, Luther William Taylor “DUB,” and Kather- ine Louise Taylor Townsend. He will always be re- membered for the love he gave us all, as well as being a loving and devoted father, grandfather and son to his parents. And to his friends, he will be remembered as just that, a true friend. He will always be remembered for the love he had for dogs. ~You’ll be in our hearts, always and forever, Scott Sr., never forgotten. When I look out to sea, I will see you, my dear Scott, from the other part of your heart. We love you, and we miss you always, Your Family ~ Hughes-Ransom Mor- tuary and Crematory of Seaside is in charge of the arrangements. Please visit www.hughes-ransom.com to share memories and sign the guest book. Obituary Policy The Seaside Signal publishes paid obituaries. The obituary can include a small photo and, for veterans, a fl ag symbol at no charge. The deadline for all obituaries is 9 a.m. the busi- ness day prior. Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper punctuation and style. Death notices and upcoming services will be published at no charge. Notices must be submitted by 9 a.m. the day of publication. Obituaries and notices may be submitted online at www.dailyastorian.com/forms/obits, by email at ewilson@dailyastorian.com, placed via the funeral home or in person at The Daily Astorian offi ce, 949 Exchange St. in Astoria. For more information, cal 503-325-3211, ext. 257. BUSINESS DIRECTORY F LOORING Laurelwood Compost • Mulch • Planting MacMix Soil Amendments YARD DEBRIS DROP-OFF (no Scotch Broom) 503-717-1454 34154 HIGHWAY 26 SEASIDE, OR Laurelwood Farm L ANDSCAPING B oB M c E wan c onstruction , inc . E xcavation • u ndErground u tiitiEs r oad w ork • F ill M atErial s itE P rEParation • r ock owned and operated by Tuesday, Feb. 7 Seaside Planning Commission, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. OBITUARIES M ike and C eline M C e wan 503-738-3569 34154 Hwy 26, Seaside, OR P.O. Box 2845, Gearhart, OR S erving the p aCifiC n orthweSt S inCe 1956 • CC48302 C ONSTRUCTION Randall Lee’s 0% FINANCING AVAILABLE 45 Years of Experience Window Treatments, Fabric, Designer Wallpaper, Visit Our Counter Tops, All Flooring and Miele Vacuums Outlet! TWO LOCATIONS SEASIDE & HILLSBORO 2311 N. Roosevelt Dr., Seaside, OR 97138 • 503-738-5729 rlflooring @ yahoo.com • www.RandallLeesFlooring.com ROBERT CAIN LD, Randall Lee’s Flooring Outlet • 3579 Hwy 101 Gearhart • 503-738-6756 740 Ave H • Ste 2 • Seaside 232 NE Lincoln • Ste B • Hillsboro Warehouse pricing • Open to the Public • Hundreds of instock rolls & remnants • In House Binding FREE CONSULTATION • Dentures for all ages, New, Partials and Custom Dentures • Dentures for implants • Relines & Repairs • Denture repairs done same day! • Personal service and attention to detail Open Wednesday and Friday • 9-4:30 • 503-738-7710 music fi rst BUSINESS DIRECTORY