OUR 112th Year
June 28, 2019 $1.00
SEASIDESIGNAL.COM
Drowning
lawsuit
could head
to jury trial
By R.J. MARX
Seaside Signal
Seaside’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit
brought by the family of an Oklahoma teenager
who drowned in Seaside in 2016 was denied in
May by Circuit Court Judge Dawn McIntosh.
The case, now in the discovery phase, could
be headed to a jury trial in Clatsop County.
L. Nicole Moore, mother of Conner Miguel
Wu Moore, 14, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, fi led a $3.6
million lawsuit against the city, claiming her
son and his cousin were not warned about dan-
gerous ocean conditions.
Yasemin Archer leads zumba dancers at SEPRD’s 50th anniversary celebration.
See Lawsuit, Page A7
SEPRD celebrates 50 years
with picnic, fi tness events
By R.J. MARX
Seaside Signal
H
ot dogs, burgers, dancing,
races and a bouncy house for
the kids. Even some of the
post-60 set were seen kick-
ing it up on the swings. The
message was fi tness as Sunset Empire
Park and Recreation district celebrated
its 50th anniversary with a party Satur-
day at Broadway Park.
The rec district’s executive director
Skyler Archibald greeted guests for the
family triathlon, zumba dancing, games
and more. “Everything’s free today,”
Archibald said. “It’s our way of saying
thank you to our supporters for 50 years
of SEPRD.”
Archibald gave a shout-out to the
workers, employees and board mem-
bers including Michael Hinton — the
board of directors’ longest serving
member — and board members elect,
Lindsey Morrison and John Chapman.
“I think it’s great,” Chapman said.
“The atmosphere of fi tness — I’m get-
ting tired just watching the dancers. It
makes me proud to be in Seaside.”
Among the city’s notables, Mayor
Jan Barber and his wife celebrated the
historic occasion of the rec district’s
anniversary.
“I often think of what it would be
like if they weren’t here for our young
people, our children and our seniors —
it’s a great program and we’re blessed
to have it,” Barber said.
The sky over Seaside lit up during the annual
fi reworks display.
City ramps
up to deter
illegal
fi reworks
By R.J. MARX
Seaside Signal
Jeff Ter Har
Karlie Kujala enjoys the fun at SEPRD’s 50th anniversary
celebration.
R.J. Marx
Levi Conner mans the grill at the SEPRD picnic.
‘I OFTEN THINK OF WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF THEY WEREN’T HERE
FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR SENIORS —
IT’S A GREAT PROGRAM AND WE’RE BLESSED TO HAVE IT.’
Mayor Jay Barber
After concerns about illegal fi reworks on
the Fourth of July, councilor Tita Montero pre-
sented ways to prepare for a
safer holiday.
Montero met with Fire Chief
Joey Daniels, Police Chief
Chief Ham and Public Works
Director Dale McDowell to get
input on what’s happening now
and get their ideas how we can
Tita Montero
affect some change.
“I was really gratifi ed to
know that a lot more was going on in the public
safety arena than a lot of us are aware,” she said
at the Monday, June 10, City Council meeting.
Lifeguards go out every day to look for pal-
lets — illegal on the beach — and conducting
patrols. Signage is on the way, listing prohibi-
tions and penalties for violations.
“There’s a lot more coordination among the
three departments than we’re aware of,” she
said. “They’re in contact with each other —
they can say, ‘There’s something in your arena
down here.”
See Fireworks, Page A7
Jan Barber’s spirit dolls combine nature, spirit
By EVE MARX
For Seaside Signal
Jan Barber makes her spirit dolls with love and
intention.
“I design them to bring encouragement, inspi-
ration, healing, and comfort,” Barber said over
tea and cookies from Dough Dough Bakery in
the fairy tale scrumptiousness of her art stu-
dio, a stone’s throw from the rocky strand of the
Cove. “As we all do, each doll has many layers,
beginning with her driftwood frame. Tucked into
each layer I’ve chosen words stemming from her
theme.” These theme words are sewn on to a rib-
bon attached to each layer of fabric. Barber ties
each ribbon off with a classic French knot. Each
word is a message of inspiration and healing.
The story of every spirit doll begins on the
beach. Barber spends hours beachcombing in
search of just the right sticks.
A recent creation, ‘She Danced to the Moon
& Touched the Stars” has these words sewn on
to her: “Love”;
“Grateful”; “She is
‘I DESIGN THEM
Rising”; “Believe
TO BRING
in
Yourself”;
“Free Your Heart”;
ENCOURAGEMENT,
“Love the Small
INSPIRATION,
Things”;
and
HEALING, AND
“Unfi nished.”
COMFORT.’
Although Bar-
— Jan Barber
ber has been mak-
ing decorative and
spiritual objects
forever, the fi rst spirit dolls were created in
November 2018.
“I was making them as gifts for friends,” she
said. The intention for each doll is to uplift a
woman’s spirit.
Eve Marx
See Dolls, Page A7
Spirit doll, by Jan Barber.