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.