Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (March 17, 2017)
March 17, 2017 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com • 9A Gearhart looks at three potential sites for new fi rehouse Firehouse from Page 1A safety building to 12,760 square feet. Estimated costs for the building and construction run to nearly $5 million, Sweet said, with an additional $2.7 million in interest. Potential property tax in- creases were estimated at $.78 per $1,000 of assessed value. For a $300,000 home, that would fi gure $234 a year. A $500,000 home would see tax- es increase about $390 per year. Rating properties Each of the proposed sites is either owned by the city or would be available to the city at a minimal cost. Gearhart Park offers com- pacted sand for advantageous foundation and a higher eleva- tion, geologist Tom Horning said. “The park site is a good site,” he said. “High enough, and it’s near enough town to provide great services.” Disadvantages include loss of parkland and effects on neighboring homes. A public safety building would take up “about half the park,” Sweet said. “There’s obviously an aes- thetic aspect that would be negative,” Speakman said. The Trail’s End location offers a central location and the city already owns some of the land. But low elevation and con- cerns from neighbors who hope to preserve that property could be downsides. The current fi rehouse site, while built “fairly stoutly,” according to Horning, is like- R.J. MARX/SEASIDE SIGNAL Co-chairwoman Sue Lorain speaks. From left, Building Offi - cial Mark Brien, Tom Horning and Jay Speakman. ‘The time has come to upgrade our capabilities here so we can maintain a fi rst-grade fi re brigade. The need is not going away.’ Firehouse committee co-chairman Jay Speakman ly to fl ood even in a moderate tsunami. “If you’re going to relocate here, you’ll have upwards of that even though this is going to be a costly venture, the time has come to upgrade our capa- bilities here so we can main- tain a fi rst-grade fi re brigade. The need is not going away.” Fire Chief Bill Eddy made an appeal for Gearhart’s vol- unteer fi refi ghters. “Everybody talks about the equipment in here,” Eddy said. “The biggest asset we have are the fi refi ghters in our department. The amount of money that each one of these fi refi ghters is worth dwarfs what these apparatus are worth. Part of the station is for them. They’re the ones that have to come here to drill, to respond. To have a facility that’s current and up-to-date when it comes to training and all the other aspects of it — it’s needed.” 20 feet of water,” Horning said. “You can’t do anything with the equipment because it will be inundated by the wa- ter. After the town is fl ooded there will be fi res. They will break out, in a fi replace, natu- ral gas line that sparks — and if you can’t use the local wa- ter to pump onto the fi re, how will you put it out?” Community need Tuesday’s meeting ended without resolution, but the is- sue will now head to the City Council for discussion. “The ultimate decision about this will be up to the council,” Speakman said. “We have a new mayor, Matt Brown, who’s very passionate about this, and we all feel very confi dent that hopefully we can convince the population Foster, Snow to be saluted at Liberty Theatre event Program is more than a beauty contest Princess from Page 1A ASTORIA — Prominent Astorians Michael Foster and Hal Snow died in late 2016. To honor them and their legacies, the Liberty Theatre will host A Gather- ing of Gratitude at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 19. At the event, which is free and open to the public, people will talk about the roles that Snow and Foster played in the lives of many area nonprofi t organizations. “Hal and Michael did so much to Hal make the Snow Liberty’s res- toration hap- pen,” said former Liberty president, Steve Forrester. “Our board feels obliged to honor them publicly. “Hal Snow was corpo- rate secretary from the mid- 1990s until about 2006,” Forrester added. “Michael Foster was a board member from the moment we began to envision a new perform- ing space, at the Liberty or somewhere else in Astoria.” Through the Snow Fam- ily Foundation, Snow made a succession of gifts to the theater — for the chandelier restoration, the canopy man- ufacture and the box offi ce restoration. “Hal would sit back qui- etly observing, and then, when he spoke up or gently planted ideas for other to act upon, everyone listened,” said Cheri Folk, previous and current theater board member. “I loved hearing him tell of his mother work- More than beauty Scholarship funds Along with recognizing the talent of the county’s young women, Miss Clatsop County Scholarship program distributed thousands of dollars in scholarship funds. “I think the experience of interviewing with a panel of judges for 10 minutes is invaluable,” Newman said. “You have R.J. MARX/SEASIDE SIGNAL Hannah Garhofer walks the runway after her crowning as Miss Clatsop County 2017. no idea what questions they are going to ask. They are applying for a job of Miss Clatsop County. Potentially Miss Oregon, potentially Miss America.” Contestants gain self-confi dence and skills in interviewing and public speak- ing, Newman added. “Some of these girls have been competing as teens and now onstage today. In fact, all four Misses competed as teens. Seeing them grow is just amazing.” Next up for competitors: the Miss Ore- gon and Oregon’s Outstanding Teen com- petition in Seaside at the end of June. “I will be going to Miss Oregon at the end of June,” Garhofer said as she en- joyed congratulations from organizers, family and friends. “I am so thankful for this opportunity! And I cannot wait to rep- resent Clatsop County!” Fundraiser to support library reading outreach The Libraries Reading Outreach in Clatsop County program will be holding its second annual fundraiser on Thursdsay, March 23, at the Seaside Civic and Conven- tion Center in Seaside. As part of the fundrais- er there will be a Little Free Libraries live auction. Little Free Libraries are a free ex- change community library that people may place in their yards or businesses. Libraries Reading Outreach in Clatsop County is accept- ing donations of little free libraries built by community members and businesses. For more details on building and donating a little library, con- tact your local library. The ticket price of $15 in- cludes light desserts, refresh- ments, and a silent and live auction. R.J. MARX/SEASIDE SIGNAL Miss Teen Peyton Sims is crowned by Miss Clatsop County Teen 2016 Caitlin Hillman. Taryn Miller, Miss Columbia-Pa- cifi c’s Outstanding Teen 2016, at right. A look back at Seaside’s past with local author Delve into the history of Seaside on Saturday, March 25, at 1 p.m. with local author Gloria Linkey as she discuss- es her new book, “A Town Called Seaside.” The event, sponsored by the Friends of the Seaside Library, eatures book sales and signings. The town of Seaside isn’t very big. It boasts 6,500 full- time residents but gains an enormous boost in population every summer. Thousands fl ock to its beaches, restau- rants, and art galleries. P LACE Y OUR In “A Town Called Seaside,” author and histori- an Gloria Linkey will be tour guide as she takes the audience through Seaside’s origins as a summer resort town in the 1940s to the thriving tourist attraction the town has become today. Linkey’s research con- jures up beautiful images of pre-World War II bygone FREE In-Home Consultation today! Our Packages Include: • Daily Astorian • Chinook Observer • Coast Weekend • TMC Marketplace • Seaside Signal • CB Gazette • and online! Jamie Call Today (503) 325-3211 ext 231 Visitors will be arriving soon - Make sure your staff is ready! W E G ET R ESULTS ! While Linkey preserves Seaside’s past, she also demonstrates how the town has grown and changed for the better. She shows how city government and the chamber of commerce changed the town’s status from strictly a summer destination to a year round resort. Seaside Library is located at 1131 Broadway. The event takes place in the community room. For more information call 503-738-6742 or visit www.seasidelibrary.org. WHERE STYLE MEETS SUSTAINABILITY Schedule your M A DS N OW ! days, where peo- ple walked the Prom in fi ne at- tire, and went to the state-of-the-art aquarium. Fam- ilies could also spend an afternoon watching Lone Ranger serials at one of Seaside’s two movie houses as well as partici- pating in a variety of events that befi tted a summer desti- nation. ECO-FRIENDLY WINDOW TREATMENTS ARCH FREE DLESS COR PL US 25 Off % Select ries Signature Se M S The annual scholarship program — celebrating its 67th year — is far more than a beauty contest. Program director Sandy Newman said judges evaluate the “overall package,” with winners serving as ambassadors for the county at parades, charitable and spe- cial events. Judges seek “somebody who’s likable, can go with the fl ow,” Newman said. “Great speaking skills are very import- ant.” Garhofer entered her fi rst contest while an eighth-grader at Broadway Middle School in Seaside. She was named Miss Clatsop County Teen in 2013. “Over the past six years I’ve evolved into the woman I am,” she said onstage after the show. “I am so thankful for this organization.” She was chosen among four Miss Clat- sop County contestants, joined by Anna Kaim, Hayliehe Bell and Kayla Warwood. Garhofer is a student at Northwest Christian University. During her winning talent display, she tap-danced to “Emer- gency” by Icona Pop and described her platform as “Live Your Dash — Leave Your Legacy.” Garhofer also won service above self, fi tness and congeniality awards. Outstanding teen Sims wowed judges with an emotional rendition of compos- er Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” while Ramsdell’s performance of J.P. Cooper’s “We Were Raised Under Gray Skies,” and a platform of promoting school and com- munity music programs contributed to her success. ing in the ticket booth as a young girl.” Foster brought gold from his foreign travels to gild the theater’s plaster ornamen- tation. “Michael was our dreamer,” said Folk. He also fl oated the idea of creating the second-fl oor reception area that later become the McTavish Room, underwrit- ten by Shawn Teevin.” “Michael was patient in helping the board fi nd a chandelier for the McTavish Room,” said Michael Forrester. Jer- Foster ry Gustafson underwrote the purchase in honor of his wife, Marilyn. According to Forrester, “Without the contributions of Michael and Hal — fi - nancial, emotional, and in- tellectual — the restoration would have been much dif- ferent.” Other organizations that will speak are the Astoria High School Scholarships Fund, Lower Columbia Youth Soccer Association, Friends of Astoria Column, Clatsop County Histori- cal Society and the Oregon Community Foundation. Following the 3 p.m. fi n- ish of the event, there will be refreshments and con- versation in the McTavish Room. The theater is locat- ed at 1203 Commercial St. Those wanting to speak should notify Liberty The- ater Director Jennifer Crockett by calling 503- 325-5922, ext. 33. ADNES Woven wood shades with custom drapes Ask about all our eco-friendly window solutions, including wood blinds and hardwood shutters Oregon Coast 503-738-5242 Lincoln City 541-994-9954 The Best in Custom Blinds and Window Coverings SW Washington 503-738-5242 www.budgetblinds.com <*Applies to selected Signature Series ® window treatments by Budget Blinds. ® Some restrictions may apply. Ask for details. At participating franchises only. Not valid with any other offers, discounts or coupons. Valid for a limited time only. Offer good at initial time of estimate only. ©2015 Budget Blinds, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Budget Blinds is a trademark of Budget Blinds, Inc. and a Home Franchise Concepts Brand. Each franchise independently owned and operated. Franchise opportunities available.>