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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 2018)
SEASIDESIGNAL.COM OUR 112th YEAR • August 31, 2018 ‘AN AMAZING GIFT’ More than 19,000 people participated in this year’s Hood to Coast Relay. BRENNA VISSER Organ donors bond at Hood to Coast Relay By Brenna Visser Seaside Signal A decade ago, the idea of being an organ donor never crossed Nicole Andergard’s mind. “I mean, before this, I was the kid running from needles at the blood drive,” she laughed. But then she got a call about her best friend, Anna, being admitted to the hospital for kidney issues related to her autoimmune disease. The two had met in kindergarten at Warrenton Grade School, with most of their childhood memories defined by each other. Suddenly, the fear of needles didn’t seem so daunting. While talking to Anna’s parents in the lobby of the hospital, Ander- gard decided on the spot she was going to be her best friend’s kid- ney donor. Otherwise, her friend could have been put on a long waiting list. “To a certain extent, it was self- ish,” Andergard said. “I needed my best friend with me in my life.” In honor of her friend, Ander- gard competes in the Portland to Coast leg of the Hood to Coast Relay with the team “Transplant Trotters” to raise awareness about the need for organ donors. The team, started through the organ transplant nonprofit Donate Life Northwest 21 years ago, was one of 400 walking teams to par- ticipate in the 37th annual Hood to Coast Relay over the weekend. The team has hosted a revolving door of participants from around the Pacific Northwest, welcoming organ donors, recipients and their family members. Andergard has made participat- ing an 11-year tradition since the sur- gery, often competing side by side with her friend’s family members. See Gift, Page 10A ‘The Mother of All Relays’ Seaside hosts a party By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal The Toyo University Ek- iden Team led the way Saturday morning among 1,050 teams of 12, finishing the grueling over- night run of Hood to Coast with a time of 7 hours, 7 minutes and 51 seconds. They beat out groups from the Bowerman TC Men, Runlab and Pass the Turns for the iconic relay from Mount Hood’s Timberline Lodge to Seaside. Seaside Chamber of Com- merce volunteers served a steady flow of beer throughout the late morning, afternoon and into the night as teams of run- ners and walkers completed their fantastic journey. Music from the Brian O’Dell band provided the afternoon soundtrack; the band Radical Revolution performed as the event continued into the evening. See HTC, Page 10A Montero, Phillips announce re-election bids Montero, Phillips, Wright to run unopposed By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal Tita Montero PAID PERMIT NO. 97 ASTORIA, OR PRSRT STD US POSTAGE The fall race in Seaside is shap- ing up, with three unopposed city councilors bidding for reelection. Tita Montero of Ward 2 and Dana Phillips of Wards 3 and 4 announced their intent to run again for office. In the open seat for Ward 1, Steve Wright filed his election papers ear- lier this summer. “Running for my third term of of- fice I still have the same enthusiasm and excitement about the commu- Dana Phillips nity’s direction as I had when I first ran eight years ago,” Phillips said Monday. “I am excited about being part of the future Urban Renewal District, new school project and con- tinuing support of our fantastic city staff.” Phillips, who was elected in 2010 and 2014, said she was proud of opportunities to assist local citi- zens when they have had issues and raised concerns, citing her advocacy for those seeking available parking access for people with disabilities. “It is truly a rewarding respon- sibility to represent the community and I hope the voters will give me their continuing support,” Phillips said. In 2006, Montero lost in her first council bid by only one vote to Dave Moore. She was elected in 2010 af- ter the death of Moore and again ran uncontested in 2014. “It has been an honor to serve the residents of Seaside as a City Councilor since September 2010,” Montero said. “Our City Council has accomplished some good work and there is still more to do.” Montero listed workforce housing, transportation, emergency prepared- ness and urban growth boundaries as key challenges in years to come. “I believe I can continue to pos- itively contribute to resolving the needs of our community and main- taining the livability of our town for the future.” She said one of her core values is transparency. “I don’t have all the answers; listening to, working with, and valuing all members of the com- munity is so very important,” Mon- tero said. The city’s sole contested race pits Mayor Jay Barber against challenger John Chapman. Chapman arrived in Seaside in 1989 as the Shilo Inn’s entertain- ment director and entered local broadcasting soon after. After years as an employee and co-owner of ra- dio station KSWB with Cal Brady, he purchased the station in 2011. Chapman, 52, stressed family, community and business as motivat- ing his decision to run. A retired college president, foun- dation director and ordained minis- ter, Barber was appointed mayor in January 2017 after the death of for- mer Mayor Don Larson the previous month. Wright, candidate for Ward 1, was appointed to the council in 2017 after Barber was named mayor. Wright, a Seaside homeowner for six years, served on the Budget Committee and as president of the Seaside Museum and Historical So- ciety’s board of directors. See Ballot, Page 6A A trip to ‘Aladdin,’ Looking ahead to the a visit from ‘Alice’ new school year Merging climate and culture Fundraiser supports local, international programs By Katherine Lacaze For Seaside Signal By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal The Seaside Rotary is looking within and outside the community for charitable giving opportunities. They’ll be sharing their fundraising drive with members of the public at their annual charitable auction on Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center. Funds this year go to college scholarships, senior citizen programs at the Bob Chisholm Community Center and water quality efforts around the world. R.J. MARX Doug Barker and Raven Brown, co-chairs of the Rotary Charitable Auction on Sept. 22. This is the first year the Seaside Rotary has provided funds for the Bob Chisholm Community Center. The center, at 1225 Avenue A, is undergoing a refresh to its main hall See Rotary, Page 6A Campus relocation, slated for 2020, is an ever-present focal point for the Seaside School District, but administrators remain concentrated on day-to-day operations and long- term strategic planning as they head into the 2018-19 school year. Teachers returned to their re- spective schools Monday to prepare for classes to start after Labor Day, when an estimated 1,580 students — kindergarten through 12th grade — will continue their education. “The momentum of our school district right now is really strong,” said Jeremy Catt, who is transition- ing into a position as vice principal of both The Heights Elementary School and Gearhart Elementary School. “With the strategic plan- ning work we’re doing, the build- ing work on our new campus, and the reorganization of our adminis- trative staff, there’s a lot of energy and positive momentum.” With John McAndrews depart- ing as principal of The Heights, the school district began blending the administration for the two elemen- tary schools in preparation for the eventual relocation to the new cam- pus currently under construction. “It gives us a really good oppor- tunity to start merging our climate and culture at both buildings,” See School, Page 7A