SEASIDESIGNAL.COM • COMPLIMENTARY COPY
OUR 111th YEAR • June 23, 2017
GRADS LOOK TO
THE FUTURE
Big bang
in urban
renewal
City takes steps to
create new district
By R.J. Marx
Seaside Signal
Seaside took the fi rst steps Wednesday,
June 7, to form an urban renewal district
that could help the city improve bridges and
schools.
Covering almost 560 acres of land along
South Holladay, Avenue S from U.S. High-
way 101 east and the southern section of
Highway 101, the urban renewal district
would make up about 21 percent of the
city’s total acreage and 22 percent of Sea-
side’s assessed value.
Funds of up to $62.4 million — more if
matched by state funds or grants — could
help build bridges, add traffi c enhance-
ments and provide infrastructure needs for
Seaside School District’s new campus in
the city’s s outheast h ills.
Urban renewal is a fi nancing program
authorized under state law and implement-
ed locally that allows for the use of prop-
erty tax revenues to grow the economy in
blighted areas.
See Renewal, Page 7A
Now a principal,
former coach
back on sidelines
Principal to lead Gulls as
interim head coach
By R.J. Marx
Seaside Signal
JEFF TER HAR/FOR EO MEDIA GROUP
Seaside High School graduates Lizzy Barnes and Bradley Rzewnicki take the walk for their diplomas.
Ninety seniors reach major milestone
By Kaelia Neal
Seaside Signal
Ninety graduates dressed in red caps and gowns
walked on to the stage Monday, June 9, while proud
families, friends and educators fi lled the Seaside
Civic and Convention Center to greet them.
Among the graduates at the 101st Seaside High
School commencement, fi ve were valedictorians
and 22 were members of National Honor Society .
Many students received awards and scholar-
ships to pursue their higher education goals. Heidi
Lent said her daughter, Kirstin, will attend Portland
State University to study communication and the
Turkish language.
“I’m really proud of her for achieving what she
has achieved. I’m looking forward to her future,”
Lent said.
JEFF TER HAR/FOR EO MEDIA GROUP
See Grads, Page 7A
If the coach on the sidelines for the
Gulls this fall looks familiar, he should
be. When Jeff Roberts accepted the job of
Seaside High School principal last year, he
also gave up the coaching leadership of the
Seagulls varsity football team. Chad Smith,
an assistant under Roberts, fi lled the role in
the fall.
At Tuesday’s Seaside School District
meeting, Roberts was named interim var-
sity head football coach for the Seagulls,
replacing Smith, who is leaving the district
for a teaching position in Douglas.
That puts Roberts back in the game as
both principal and coach, at least on a short-
term basis. “I anticipate seeing the season
through,” Roberts said.
To fi ll the varsity head coach job on a
permanent basis, the challenge is to fi nd a
candidate who can both fi ll a needed teach-
ing position and skillfully coach a competi-
tive Division 4A football team.
“I do believe we will bring somebody on
staff in the next month that is a suitable re-
placement — with some tutelage — at the
end of the year,” Roberts said.
While assistant principal, Roberts led
the Gulls for 4 1/2 years. In 2013, the team
fi nished 8-3, qualifi ed for the state playoffs
and won the fi rst home playoff game in 20
years, Roberts said.
The Seaside Civic and Convention Center was packed with family and friends.
It’s what’s up front that counts
Cars on display at
Muscle and Chrome
By Kaelia Neal
Seaside Signal
It was Christina Henry’s second year
participating in the Muscle and Chrome
car show with her burgundy 1972 Chev-
rolet Nova, which was a birthday gift
from her late father.
“My dad gave me the car, made me
promise I’d show her,” Henry said.
Henry said the annual car show is
“low-key yet extravagant at the same
time,” and “meeting new people is the
best part.”
This year, 101 vehicles participated
over the weekend. Along with showing
the cars, the two-day event offered a bar-
becue , highway cruise, a treasure hunt
downtown and awards.
Muscle and Chrome is sponsored by
Seaside Downtown Development Associ-
ation. Many people dedicate their time to
help put on the car show.
Michelle Lackey of Vancouver, Wash-
ington, has volunteered at Muscle and
Chrome for about 10 years. “We enjoy the
people,” she said. “It’s down to earth. You
can talk to anyone.”
Dave Deford, of Portland, just fi nished
his 16th year of volunteering . He said he
likes being involved, and it’s “fun to see
the same people and meet new people.”
Mark Rice from Graham, Washington,
has participated in Muscle and Chrome
for about 10 years.
“My dad was really into cars so I grew
up going to car shows with my mom and
dad,” Rice said.
This year, he brought a black 2014
Dodge SRT8 Challenger, which he
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PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
See Coach, Page 10A
bought about two weeks ago. “The new
muscle cars are really cool now,” Rice
said.
Normally he brings his 1972 black
Challenger. “I was going to drive the
older car but the weather wasn’t all that
great.”
Making the
scene at
Muscle and
Chrome.