September 14, 2018 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com • 5A
In the age of tech, visitors center takes a new role
T
he Visitors Bureau was short-
staffed recently so I — the
relative North Coast newbie
— was out at the front desks
fielding questions and phone calls
alone on one of our busiest days of
the year.
There was a couple from Arkan-
sas who left with a veritable library
of tourism-related reading mate-
rials and “Official Candy Taster”
buttons for their grandchildren.
There was a family from Washing-
ton who came out to Seaside every
year for seven years and hoped for
seven more. There were parades
of RVs in need of parking spaces,
hikers in need of trails, and walkers
in need of lunch. There were both
seasoned travelers seeking hidden
wonders and those that needed help
FROM THE
DIRECTOR’S CHAIR
JOSHUA HEINEMAN
locating the ocean itself.
It was nonstop and, honestly, it
was great fun. We have so many
resources onsite that most questions
were easily answerable given a lit-
tle digging on my part (yes, I found
the ocean). I also just generally love
talking about travel and hearing
short snippets on the daily lives of
people from all over the world. The
information exchange went both
ways.
The other thing there was:
mobile internet. Nearly every single
adult was either referencing infor-
mation from their phone or actively
using a phone during our interac-
tion. Even for my part, I instinctive-
ly went to SeasideOR.com to find
digital content when I couldn’t find
relevant guidance in print form.
Which brings me to my point.
The undeniable fact is tourist infor-
mation centers are seeing less and
less walk-in requests for informa-
tion over time. Here at the Seaside
Visitors Bureau this year, we’ve had
six extremely busy days with more
than 100 walk-in visitors. Last year
we had 14 days above that metric.
In 2015, we had a staggering 42
days. See the trend?
Meanwhile, our marketing ef-
forts bring Seaside to more people
than ever. By far. It’s not even
close. Our website alone has had
100,000 more unique readers this
year than the last. As of July, hotel
occupancy in Clatsop County has
now nudged above state and region-
al levels. The Seaside Chamber of
Commerce just wrapped a string of
some of the most successful (and
well attended) summer events in
history. Not to mention the traffic.
People are coming to Seaside in
droves.
So while the “tourist information
center” of memory is arguably a
relic from a time before information
literally was so readily at hand, I
believe the Visitors Bureau has an
important role to play with regard
to visitor experience going forward.
Those travelers that venture into
the building with the big orange
chair out front often leave with
adjusted itineraries, customized
suggestions, insider tips, and other
necessary ingredients for a remark-
able experience. More than a few
elsewhere-bound travelers have
even decided to spend the night
after a conversation with our staff
this summer.
Which makes sense. All of the
digital content in the world will
never amount to one single hour
of lived experience. And travel is
ultimately about experience. We’ll
continue to explore the best way to
provide that service to visitors in
the information age.
Got a tourism-related comment,
tip, or project? I’d love to hear
about it. Write me at jheineman@
cityofseaside.us.
A celebration of the Seaside Library
T
here’s no place like home.
Dorothy Gale in the book
the Wizard of Oz said this
phrase three times as she clicked
her heels together and wished to
be sent home to Kansas from the
mysterious yet dangerous land
of Oz. Often when people are
traveling they wish for a place
like home and there is no better
place that feels close to home than
visiting your local library. People
love the library because it truly
does feel like a home away from
home. Wander into any library,
there is a good chance you will find
a cozy area to sit with a book or
quietly work on your laptop using
the free Wi-Fi. According to Mason
Cooley, reading gives us someplace
to go, when we have to stay where
we are. But everyone remembers
their favorite book and that can give
a sense of home and belonging no
matter where you go.
BETWEEN
THE COVERS
ESTHER MOBERG
As we prepare to celebrate the
ten year anniversary of Seaside
Public Library being in the Donald
E. Larson building at 1131 Broad-
way here in Seaside, I’m reminded
of the library’s humble beginnings
in the first public bathroom in
the city. The matron of the public
bathrooms back in 1913 made sure
the bathrooms were neat and clean
and also took care of the reading
room both for visitors arriving off
the train from Portland and Seaside
residents alike. Since then, Seaside
Library has moved five or six times
in the past 105 years.
Some of the places included the
Moose building, the Soldiers and
Sailors Club during World War I,
and on Roosevelt in the building
that holds Cleanline Surf Shop.
The last location of the library
on Roosevelt was where the Surf
Shop is now. The library was built
in the 1960s and upgraded in the
1980s.
People kept using the library
more and more and the library was
outgrowing the space. Programs
included everything from baby
chicks at storytime to summer read-
ing programs but there was simply
no space for anything larger than
20 people meeting together in the
building and it was time to grow.
The library director Reita Fack-
erell started looking around for a
new place for the library and thanks
to her work and that of the Friends
of the library working tirelessly
along with numerous other volun-
teers and community members, the
idea of a new library took shape.
Thanks to this group of
library loving citizens,
a tremendous amount of
work happened to fund-
raise and promote moving the
library. In 2007, the new Library
property was purchased and the
official groundbreaking happened
on November 2007. Mayor Don
Larson was instrumental in helping
get the new library building project
going and was there for the ground-
breaking on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007.
Sadly, he passed away before
celebrating the 10-year anniversary
with us but I am sure he would have
been overjoyed to see us celebrat-
ing ten years in the building. We
honor his memory with the building
having been named in his honor
in 2017. In September of 2008
the new Library officially opened.
Hard to believe, but the Seaside
Public Library has now been open
at 1131 Broadway for 10 years and
we are celebrating that
anniversary during the
week of Sept. 18. We will
be holding a Love Your
Library event all week
with craft events, giveaway prizes,
and live music in the library. We
will also be holding an anniversary
celebration on Saturday, Sept. 22,
at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome and
cake and light refreshments will be
provided. We would love you to
come and celebrate the library both
past and present with your mem-
ories of what you love about the
library both in the current building
as well as the other building of the
past and please come and enjoy the
“Love Your Library” week long
events. You can also view our new
quilt show, “Quilter’s Choice,”
which is now on display in the li-
brary’s lobby and community room.
Esther Moberg is executive
director of the Seaside Library.
LETTERS
Vote yes
on Ballot
Measure 105
In my third-of-a-century
in law enforcement— which
includes almost 14 years as
sheriff of Clatsop County —
the most important thing I’ve
learned is this : Respect for
the law, among citizens and
noncitizens alike, is indis-
pensable to a free society.
That’s why I urge Orego-
nians, in November, to vote
“yes” on Measure 105 and
repeal the state’s, illegal im-
migrant sanctuary statute.
The statute undermines
respect for law in significant
ways. It tells illegal immi-
grants th at Oregon considers
immigration-law violations
so inconsequential as to be
unworthy of police and sher-
iffs’ attention. In doing so, it
legitimizes t hose violations
and encourages more. As
well, the statute invite the
contempt of U.S. citizens and
legal residents, whom Ore-
gon expects to, abide by all
laws.
Certainly,
immigra-
tion-law violations are fed-
eral offenses. But they are
precursors to other crimes
illegal immigrants routine-
ly commit in their efforts to
conceal their illegal presence
— crimes, like identity theft,
that harm everyday Orego-
nians at the local level.
Such crimes are well with
in local police and sher-
iffs’ purview. But Oregon’s
“hands off” sanctuary statute
works to keep law enforce-
ment from pursuing many
of the people who commit
them for the very reason that
they are here illegally and in-
nocent Oregonians, pay the
price.
Most often the common
intersection with illegal im-
migration and alleged crimi-
nals and alleged criminals is
your County Jail.
This is an additional strain
on the system which should
not be happening in the first
place. To have the ability to
work with our federal part-
ners would alleviate t he in-
consistency and stop the ero-
sion and ineffectiveness of
these sanctuary laws.
Mollie Tibbetts’ recent
murder has refocused at-
tention on the violence and
heartbreak illegal-immigrant
criminals can visit on Amer-
icans and their families.
Tibbetts’ killer “was here
because our government ne-
glected its responsibility to
keep him out,” writes Ag-
nes Gibboney (whose son,
Ronald Da Silva, also was
murdered by an illegal immi-
grant) . Oregon’s sanctuary
statute not only compounds
that neglect, but issues a de
facto invitation to illegal im-
migrants to settle in our state.
Another
pro-sanctuary
argument is that the statute
‘s repeal would make illegal
immigrants afraid to report
crimes. Oregon Sen. Michael
Dembrow, for Instance, has
argued the statute is need-
ed so if illegal immigrants
“have to call the police …
they don’t have to worry
about state law enforcement
turning them in” to U.S. au-
thorities for deportation.
More nonsense. Can any
sanctuary supporter, cite a
single instance of an illegal
immigrant being deported
for reporting a crime? To the
very best of my knowledge
the answer is no and always
has been. When people step
forward to volunteer infor-
mation about criminal activ-
ity , law enforcement officers
are not going to look a gift
horse in the mouth by inquir-
ing into their immigration
status. Certainly no prosecu-
tor I’ve ever known would
want to deport witnesses who
could help them obtain con-
victions.
More, when they provide
information that helps pros-
ecute criminals, illegal Im-
migrants can qualify for fed-
erally-issued nonimmigrant
visas (the “S,” “T,” “U” and
“VAWA” visas) or deferred
action or parole.
Illegal immigrants, with-
out disclosing their identities,
can easily report crimes via
law-enforcement agencies’
anonymous telephone and
online “tip lines.”
Last and most nonsensical
and insulting of all to the men
and women who have sworn
to preserve the peace — is
the assertion that sanctuary
repeal would unleash a wave
of profiling against Hispan-
ics.
First, all across the State,
law-enforcement
officers
undergo formal rigorous
training which includes an-
tiprofiling training. More
importantly however is this:
People who choose to devote
their lives to law enforcement
are people of uncommon in-
tegrity. From their first day
on the job, when they raise
their right hands and take the
oath, they commit themselves
to treat everyone equally un-
der the law. This commitment
is at the core of their profes-
sional being and informs all
their professional actions. I
can honestly say that I have
never witnessed an instance
of racial profiling from any
of my deputies. They serve
and protect all who need as-
sistance regardless of race,
origin or creed. Whatever the
outcome of Ballot Measure
105, they, and law enforce-
ment officers everywhere
throughout Oregon ,will con-
tinue to do their jobs with in-
tegrity and don’t believe for a
minute, they won’t.
In November, please join
me in voting “yes” on Ballot
Measure 105 to repeal the
illegal-immigrant sanctuary
law.
Tom Bergin
Clatsop County Sheriff
Repairs, cleanup
sought
To Alan Evans, Chairman,
Sunset Empire Park and Rec-
reation District Board of Di-
rectors:
I understand that the dis-
trict recently sent its depart-
ment managers on a white-
water rafting trip. I would
like to know what that trip
cost taxpayers.
I would also like to know
when the dirt around the
stainless steel perimeter of
the pool will be cleaned.
When I asked (executive
director) Skyler Archibald
about this matter he told me
that the district was looking
into an appropriate cleaning
product. That was several
months ago and the filth still
remains.
Finally, I would like to
know when the floor in the
men’s locker room will be
repaired.
Marti Wajc
Seaside
arrival of Skyler Archibald
two years ago. Archibald’s
only experience was manag-
ing intramural sports teams
for a local college. He had no
preparation for the job he is
in and has shown no desire
to learn it in the two years he
has been here. Your SEPRD
board seems to have no clue.
None of them use the aquat-
ic center. Please vote out any
SEPRD incumbent seeking
re-election. They continue to
reward Archibald for doing a
lousy job.
Archibald destroyed a
beautiful men’s locker room
last year that had six show-
er heads and a great design.
Now we have four shower
heads and an incredibly poor-
ly designed locker room with
black mold growing on the
floor of the shower stall. The
flooring installed last year
failed to adhere. As a result
we have a concrete floor that
is difficult to clean at best.
Stop by and take a look.
As recently as two weeks
ago, patrons were turned
away from the pool as no
lifeguards were available.
Apparently, not enough peo-
ple are willing to work there.
This should tell you about
Archibald’s
management
ability as well as that of the
board of directors.
The pool surrounds are
now always filthy. They used
to always shine!
Have you ever considered
attending a board meeting?
They make it almost impos-
sible for most folks to attend
by having them at 5:15 p.m.
on the third Tuesday of the
month. If they really wanted
citizen participation, these
meetings would be held at 7
p.m. to allow those with fam-
ilies to attend. They clearly
do not want citizen involve-
ment. This is just another
good reason to vote against
the ballot measure as well as
board members.
Please, wait for a compe-
tent, involved board of di-
rectors that will not tolerate
the obvious incompetence of
their current Executive Di-
rector.
John C. Huismann
Cannon Beach
Budget overrun
The Seaside Convention
Center expansion project is
being completed on budget.
The Seaside school proj-
ect is already almost 25 per
cent over budget.
Is this $23 million under-
estimate because either the
school planners are incom-
petent or they lied to us in
order to get the tax measure
passed?
I fear it is the latter. Either
way, shame on them.
Anna Perrault
Seaside
Small crabbing
miracle
My wife and I have been
crabbing in Seaside for over
20 years and have never expe-
rienced what we did this last
week. We threw three crab
pots in at the 12th Avenue
bridge near the cinemas just
before high tide. Came back
at low tide and you can see my
trap is going nowhere with a
gigantic drift log sitting on my
line. My brother tried to walk
out to free it, but the mud/sand
was too deep. Thought of cut-
ting the line but that would
have left the pot in the water
killing who knows how many
crabs in the future. Decided
to let high tide come back in
to see what happens thinking
for certain my setup would
be destroyed at best. After re-
turning, the log was gone, my
trap was free and no damage.
No keepers, but glad to have
my setup back. Small miracle!
Alec and Ronda Herold
St. Helens
Preserve
Gearhart’s
livability
The purpose of this letter
is to address certain criticisms
directed at my effort to run
for Gearhart City Council,
See Letters, Page 6A
Booster
club
Vote no in
Seaside
The board of directors of
the Sunset Empire Park and
Recreation District is seeking
to raise your taxes signifi-
cantly through a ballot mea-
sure to fund an aquatic center
addition this fall. Please vote
it down. Let me tell you why.
I use your pool at least three
times per week and I have
been doing so for the past six
years.
The aquatic center used
to be well managed until the
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