Friday, August 30, 2019 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • A5
How to keep a public pool safe and clean
SKYBOX
SKYLER
ARCHIBALD
I
t’s a likely scene, immortal-
ized in pools throughout the
world and, infamously, in the
1980 fi lm, “Caddyshack.” Kids,
adults swimming. Enjoying them-
selves on a beautiful summer day.
Then, a scream. A gasp. A look of
repulsion.
The pool clears in a rush of
fear, disgust and pandemonium
after someone spots the dreaded
“fl oater”.
Before you go any further, I
should warn you that you may
want to come back to this after
you fi nished your breakfast. I’m
here to talk about something that
doesn’t get talked about often, but
we all know pretty much stinks:
#2.
The Center for Disease Control
classifi es these incidents as F.A.C.
(Fecal Accidental Contamination)
and we’re talking about them here
because we can’t seem to avoid
them this summer at the Sunset
Pool. A normal summer, we might
have to deal with two or three
contaminations and that’s plenty
for our staff to deal with.
This summer however, we’ve
been challenged with eight sepa-
rate incidents over a seven-week
period. It’s an astonishing number
and the situation has been treated
with less and less humor each
occurrence.
Each time this incident occurs
several steps occur internally
within our organization. Life-
guards clear the pool area. We are
fortunate to have three bodies of
water so occasionally the contami-
nation only occurs in one of those,
but often there is a need to clear
and sanitize each of the pools.
The matter must be collected
and disposed of, if possible. Obvi-
ously different consistency can
make that part diffi cult and more
to come on that. The closure
effects the patrons at that time,
but also those that will be coming
later that day and into future days,
depending on the length of closure
required.
If the consistency of the con-
tamination requires it, each drop
of water in the pool must pass
through the fi ltration devices,
regardless of how much chlo-
rine is deposited to make it right.
Extra chemicals, staff costs and an
immense amount of pressure on
the fi ltration systems make these
situations more challenging.
Perhaps the worst part of these
experiences though, is the closures
that follow. Each of the eight inci-
dents mentioned previously were
accompanied by a 24-hour clo-
sure, impacting our swimming
patrons, swim lessons, classes,
etc.… We work hard to distribute
the message of the closure to our
patrons and guests, but we often
miss a few individuals, for what-
ever reason, and inconvenience
them in the process. It seems to be
that there are not a lot of rays of
sunshine in this mess.
The Sunset Empire Park and
Recreation District is fortunate
to have a number of staff who
are certifi ed with a pool opera-
tor license and thus, are trained to
respond to these incidents. Gone
are the days when we could just
fi sh the “Baby Ruth” out and
reopen. We know more about
the different germs and viruses
that could be in the contamina-
tion and understand the dangers
of not treating the potential of
E. coli, hepatitis A, giardia and
cryptosporidium.
So, what’s causing all of this?
Who knows! We are fortunate
to serve approximately 500 res-
idents and guests each day and
the summer months cause for an
increase in open swim opportu-
nities. It’s possible that there’s
a bacteria or illness that’s going
around our community and affect-
ing children and adults in a pow-
erful and uncontrollable fashion.
Our colleagues in nearby commu-
nities have also noticed an uptick
in F.A.C. incidents this summer,
so perhaps it is a virus or an ado-
lescent with a very troubling and
smelly sense of humor.
Whatever the cause, we’ll con-
tinue to work to provide safe,
clean and wonderful recreation
facilities for all of you to enjoy.
Please come visit us soon and
make sure that you use the appro-
priate restroom facilities before
you jump in the water.
Skyler Archibald is the execu-
tive director for the Sunset Empire
Park and Recreation District.
Giving credit where credit due New editor named at The Astorian
Seaside Signal
Seaside Signal
Game-makers
Late for the Sky based
in Cincinnati debuted
“Seaside-Opoly,” a
licensed collegiate
board games with
a
property-trading
theme with locations
based in Seaside. The
game is available at
Walmart.
But Leila Vernor,
a longtime Seaside
resident, alerted us to
a much earlier Sea-
side monopoly-style
game long before
“Seaside-Opoly” was
released this year.
Vernor’s husband
Oliver, mayor of Sea-
side from 1995-1998,
developed
“Sea-
side-opoly” through
Hometown Games in
Chatsworth, Califor-
nia, during his term.
“It really shocked
me when I saw it,”
she said this week
of the new game
released this summer.
The Astorian has a new
editor.
Derrick DePledge, a
veteran journalist who has
held editing and reporting
roles at the newspaper for
the past 4½ years, will lead
the newsroom.
He replaces Jim Van
Nostrand, the editor for
the past two years, who
has accepted a job as Mis-
souri state editor for Gate-
house Media, leading 22
newspapers.
“There was no question
who would be our next edi-
tor,” said Kari Borgen, The
Astorian’s publisher. “We
are fortunate to have the
combination of leadership,
experience and knowledge
of our community that Der-
Leila Vernor displays the game her husband created in the 1990s.
Business coaching for business owners
Seaside Signal
One of the most dynamic
and rewarding programs
offered for existing busi-
nesses is the Clatsop Com-
munity College SBDC
Small Business Manage-
ment Program, a program
the college has offered since
1979.
The program is a
10-month executive busi-
ness management course
for established business
owners.
Classroom
sessions
are taught by subject mat-
ter experts and designed to
improve knowledge across
topics critical to every small
business including lead-
ership and management,
fi nancial analysis, sales
and marketing, customer
service, human resources,
legal, insurance, technol-
ogy and more. anagement,
Financial Analysis, Sales &
Marketing, Customer Ser-
vice, HR, Legal, Insurance,
Technology and much more.
The 90-minute class
meets every other Wednes-
day afternoon starting Sept.
25.
Cost is $695 and includes
at least 50 hours of training
and coaching, all materials,
Send money in the
moment.
Right from your
mobile banking app.
together with
Terms and Conditions Apply.
and resources are provided.
Contact Clatsop Com-
munity College S. County
Center, 1455 North Roos-
evelt, Seaside; sbdc@clat-
sopcc.edu.
Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild of Longview Presents
“Quilting for the Art of It”
$
5
Admission
Fri, Oct 4, 10am-5pm; Sat, Oct 5, 10am-4pm
Youth & Family Link Building
907 Douglas Avenue, Longview, WA
Over 150 Quilts • Demonstration • Door Prizes
Vendors • Raffle Quilt • Country Store • Bed Turning
Featuring “Giving Back to the Community” Quilt Display
Proceeds Support: Local Veterans, Children’s Justice & Advocacy
Center & Luggage of Love
Like us on Facebook: Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild
Additional Information at: www.lolquiltguild.org
Fall Art Opportunities
Fall Groups
September 2-Dec
Mon-Wed Groups in
Open studio, Int
Pastels and all levels
watercolor
September 24-Dec
Inspiration!
Non-Members
Welcome
Workshops
Hot Ideas in
Warm Glass
Chris Kende
Sept. 7 & 14
Portraits with
Blue Bond
October 9, 16, 22
Trail’s End Art Association 656 A St.
Gearhart 503-717-9458
Info: trailsendart.org
ing a decade as a Washing-
rick brings to the role.”
DePledge, 53, has ton, D.C., correspondent
and a decade as a
served as manag-
state
government
ing editor, dep-
and politics reporter
uty managing edi-
in Hawaii. He also
tor and reporter at
spent four years
The Astorian. He
as the top elected
has written about
leader in Hawaii for
the gaps in Clatsop
the Pacifi c Media
County’s mental
Derrick
Workers Guild, a
health safety net
DePledge
labor union that rep-
and policy changes
resented 200 news-
intended to make
the criminal justice system paper workers.
DePledge and Van Nos-
more equitable. He has also
covered city government in trand both worked at the
Washington Bureau for
Astoria and Warrenton.
“At our best, we hold up Knight Ridder Newspapers,
a mirror to our community,” though at different times.
“In 35 years in the news
he said. “Our staff recog-
nizes we live in a unique, business, I’ve seen few edi-
historic place that deserves tors better than Derrick
at leading and mentoring
a newspaper to match.”
DePledge has more young reporters,” Van Nos-
than 30 years of experi- trand said. “I’m leaving the
ence as a journalist, includ- newsroom in good hands.”