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