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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 2018)
SEASIDESIGNAL.COM OUR 112th YEAR • October 26, 2018 ELECTION 2018 Ballots arrive, voters weigh their options Competitive races in Seaside, Gearhart Seaside Signal PHOTOS BY KATHERINE LACAZE Photo caption:Columbia River Maritime Museum Education Director Nathan Sandel works with Gearhart Elementary School fifth-graders Joel de la Peña (from left), Brian Covey and Lucee Peterson to build keels for the class’ two sailboats. Seaside voters will be selecting a mayor and three city councilors. Mayor Jay Bar- ber and John Chapman are vying for the top seat, while Dana Phillips, Steve Wright and Tita Montero are each running unopposed. In Gearhart, in the one contested race, Jack Zimmerman is challenging incumbent Ker- ry Smith in the Position 1 City Council race. Paulina Cockrum is running unopposed. Sunset Park and Recreation District voters will decide on a $20 million bond to expand the aquatic facility, and Seaside and Gearhart voters will weigh in on the county’s $23.8 million jail bond. Gearhart voters will consider a 3 percent city tax on recreational cannabis sales. See Election, Page 6A Miniboat program at Gearhart Elementary School By Katherine Lacaze Seaside Signal T he Columbia River Maritime Muse- um’s Miniboat Program is not about creating a large, expensive toy, al- though there is fun to be had, accord- ing to education director Nathan Sandel. When implemented correctly, the program helps elementary-aged students at home and abroad create international connec- tions, learn about maritime transportation, and engage in hands-on science, technolo- gy, engineering and mathematics learning. Fifth-grade teacher Sarah Collins’ class at Gearhart Elementary School is one of four schools in the United States partici- pating in the program during the 2018-19 school year, from September through Jan- uary. The others are Richmond Elementa- ry School in Portland; Willapa Elementary School in Menlo, Wash.; and Naselle Ele- mentary School in Washington. The Pacific Northwest schools have been partnered with five schools in two Japanese cities, Choshi and Hachinohe. They will build unmanned mini-sailboats equipped with GPS transmitters, launch them into the Pacific Ocean, and track their journeys. The North American classes are also creating an extra sailboat to send with Sandel to their partner schools in Japan, whose students will add finishing touches before launching them in mid-November. Global citizenship The mission is to get the boats — which are purchased as kits and put together by the students — across the Pacific Ocean. Once the boats are launched, the students will track their movements and make predictions Gearhart Elementary School fifth-graders Blaikley Raymond, Joel de la Peña and Joel Covey work on keels for the class’ two sail- boats, which they are building as part of their involvement in the Columbia River Maritime Museum’s 2018-19 Miniboat program. using real-time data on weather and currents. Collins gave a variety of reasons she is excited her class is participating in the program – developed by Sandel in part- nership with the Consular Office of Japan in Portland, Educational Passages, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- istration. “This was a way for me to get them to think outside of their own world,” Collins said. “We’re global citizens, and this is go- ing to connect them through their own cre- ating and building.” Additionally, she said, the project will help the children build a connection to the ocean and maritime trade, important as- pects of the local economy and culture on the north coast. See Boats, Page 7A Gearhart Elementary School students Shyanne Henley (from left), Maribelle Campos-Cazares, and Jonathan Dourgarian paint two hulls during class Wednesday, Oct. 10. Study shows city’s housing disparities A lack of buildable land By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal To make more affordable and workforce housing available in Clatsop County, cit- ies will need to expand their toolkits. That could come through zoning changes, identi- fying new land for residential use, and pub- lic-private partnerships designed to meet funding goals. Kevin Leahy, executive director of Clat- sop Economic Development Resources, provided insights into the upcoming Com- prehensive Housing Study, to be delivered at two open house presentations in Novem- ber. “Every city has a unique situation,” Lea- hy said at Monday’s City Council meeting. “There’s not ‘one solution fits all’ for the county and each of the cities.” Seaside’s median home price is $293,000, Leahy said, compared to Asto- ria’s $274,000. Gearhart homes average $425,000. Cannon Beach homes median home average is $550,000 and Warrenton calculated at $307,000. “We talk about housing affordabili- ty,” Leahy said. “It’s a huge issue. Eight- six percent of housing sold in the last few years was $300,000 and up. Only 14 per- cent of housing sold was in the $200,000 to $299,000 range.” Portland consulting firm Johnson Eco- nomics leads the study, with assistance from a 20-member advisory panel that in- cludes representatives from Clatsop County and the cities, Clatsop Economic Develop- ment Resources, Northwest Oregon Hous- ing Authority, Clatsop Community Action and the local construction industry. PAID PERMIT NO. 97 ASTORIA, OR PRSRT STD US POSTAGE See Housing, Page 6A Knitters, spinners welcomed at Seaside Yarn Yes, yarn squishing is a thing By Eve Marx For Seaside Signal Even before opening, a crowd gathered at Sea- side Yarn and Fiber on North Holladay, drawn by giveaways, prize baskets, wine, snacks — and of course, knitting. “I’m a knitter and a spinner,” Kloster said. “I worked for awhile at a yarn and fiber store in Hood River where we worked with alpaca. That’s where I learned to spin and dye.” Three years ago Kloster and her husband moved to Seaside; they live walking distance from down- town. “I saw this space open up so I decided to go for it.” Offering yarn, knitting and craft supplies, Sea- side Yarn and Fiber hopes to offer experienced knitters and craft people a friendly space. There is a spinning wheel Kloster is thrilled to show newbies how to operate. “I’ll be offering knitting instruction, felting, and crocheting,” Kloster said. Handwork is an excellent way, she said, to reduce stress and relax. “Whether you’re looking for a weekend project for your next road trip, or planning out your next epic knit creation, stop by and share your excite- ment,” she said. Don’t knit? There are handmade items for sale in the shop created by local knitters. Kloster anticipates her shop will bolster commu- nity building by holding a weekly Thursday “Knit Night” from 4 to 6 p.m., as well as instruction in basic knitting, needle felt miniatures, and parties. There’s also a cozy seating area if you just want to come in and knit. Men are definitely welcome. “I’ve had inquiries about embroidery,” Kloster said. “I can respond to that because for embroidery, you can use a skinnier yarn.” She said part of the joy of coming inside her store is to squish yarn. “Yarn squishing is a thing!” Kloster declared. She’s right. It feels good. Seaside Yarn and Fiber is located at 10 N. Holla- day Drive, Seaside. Hours of operation are Wednes- day through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. EVE MARX Allie Kloster of Seaside Yarn and Fiber. For more information call 503-717-5579 or log on to www.SeasideYarnandFiber.com.