6A • November 24, 2017 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com
A VETERANS DAY DINNER
PHOTOS BY COLIN MURPHEY/EO MEDIA GROUP
Gretchen Jolly serves up plates of spaghetti at the American Legion Post 99 in Seaside on Saturday during a Veterans Day event.
American Legion opens door to homeless, those in need
By R.J. Marx
Seaside Signal
V
eterans, including the
homeless and those in
need, knew they could
find a holiday meal and
good friends Saturday, Nov. 11, at
Seaside American Legion Post 99.
The post held its annual Veterans
Day dinner, with an open invite to
all service vets. Legion First Com-
mander Kim Wright headed up the
kitchen, accompanied by a staff of
four.
“We have got quite a few people
in our area, unfortunately, who hit
hard times,” said Wright, a retired
32-year veteran, speaking to the
sharing nature of the evening. “To-
night is for homeless veterans and
people who can use a free meal.”
The event is one of several the
Seaside Legion presents for people
in need each year, including an
upcoming Christmas holiday dinner.
Tawni Malmberg dishes up a plate of spaghetti during a Veterans Day
event at the American Legion Post 99 in Seaside on Saturday.
Post 99, with more than 240 mem-
bers, provides outreach to shelters
in the area, with special invites to
local nursing and care centers Ava-
mere at Seaside and Suzanne Elise.
Gretchen Jolly, a lifelong Sea-
side resident, joined Wright in the
kitchen. Jolly was inspired to vol-
unteer because of the service of her
grandparents, her stepfather and her
ex-husband, she said.
“This is home,” Jolly said. “I
‘Fantastic’ transition after temporary closing
‘Cadence really
good’ as food
bank reopens
grew up here, so I know so many
faces. And the people are great who
work here.”
Tawni Malmberg arrived Friday
in Seaside from Utah. Her first stop
was the American Legion, she said.
“I volunteered my time to do
some cooking tonight,” Malmberg
said. “They actually needed some-
one and I just walked in the door.”
Their efforts — including spa-
ghetti, salad, garlic bread and bev-
erages — were greatly appreciated.
“There are a lot of vets in Sea-
side,” Post member Sandra Gee
said. “I think it’s a nice thing that
this post is here for them. That they
can come in and have a dinner like
this tonight.”
Marion Gee, a Korean War veter-
an, said he looked forward to some
conversation during the evening.
“We enjoy coming down here,”
he said. “The only trouble is, the first
person who tells a lie doesn’t have a
chance.”
Holt is city’s longest
serving employee
‘Hats off’ to
lieutenant
By R.J. Marx
By R.J. Marx
Seaside Signal
Seaside Signal
Clients return to the South County Community Food Bank
after a two-week closure.
Fresh fruits, vegetables
and packaged good at the
South County Community
Food Bank after a two-week
closure.
nized,” Gooch said. “We ha-
ven’t missed a beat.”
The food bank, at 2041
N. Roosevelt Drive, was
launched with donations from
a Seaside grocery in 1981 and
incorporated as a nonprofit in
1986.
It is associated with Clat-
sop Community Action and
is an affiliate of the Oregon
Food Bank Network.
ditional patrons.
The food bank’s hours are
Tuesdays and Thursdays from
1 to 4 p.m., a reduction from
two hours of service four days
a week.
“We are going to feel it
out, to get a sense of whether
we need more or how that’s
going to go,” Gooch said. “So
far, the cadence has been real-
ly good.”
PHOTOS BY R.J. MARX/SEASIDE SIGNAL
Karla Gann served as man-
aging director of the food
bank until Oct. 27, when the
management transition was
announced by board mem-
bers.
During the two-week peri-
od of the closure, extra prod-
uct was funneled to pantries
in Cannon Beach and Gear-
hart, Gooch said, with each
location serving about 20 ad-
powered by
music fi rst
It may not be a round
number, but it’s a milestone
achievement nevertheless.
Police Lt. Bruce Holt
received special recogni-
tion Monday, Nov. 13, as
he celebrated his 34th year
with the Seaside Police De-
partment, making him the
longest-serving employee
in the city of Seaside.
“Thirty-four years I be-
gan my law enforcement
career in Seaside,” Holt
said at the City Council
meeting. “Today is my
34th-year employment an-
niversary.”
“Glad to have you on
our team,” Mayor Jay Bar-
ber said.
Expires 12/1/17
The South County Com-
munity Food Bank served a
steady stream of customers on
Thursday, Nov. 9, after a two-
week closure for what board
members announced as inter-
nal restructuring.
“This is our second day of
being open since we reopened
on Tuesday,” Board Presi-
dent Darren Gooch said. “It’s
been fantastic. It’s been over-
whelmingly positive.”
Gooch and fellow board
member Reita Fackerell
stocked shelves as patrons
selected food from neatly
stacked aisles and browsed
the freezer cases.
In the back of the trailer,
fresh fruit, vegetables and
packaged foods stood ready
for distribution.
About 30 patrons came in
on Tuesday; about the same
number were expected on
Thursday, Gooch said.
“Everybody’s been really
positive, everything is orga-
R.J. MARX/SEASIDE SIGNAL
Lt. Bruce Holt celebrated
his 34th anniversary work-
ing with Seaside Police. He
is the city’s longest-serving
employee.
“You’ve given a lot to
this town,” Councilor Dana
Phillips added. “You’ve
given a lot to this commu-
nity, and it’s a real pleasure
to have you as the longest
employee of this town.
Hats off to you.”