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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 2019)
OUR 112th Year September 20, 2019 SEASIDESIGNAL.COM $1.00 School district tells kids ‘it’s not too late’ For some, it pays to stay By KATHERINE LACAZE Seaside Signal Anyone who has been out and about in Seaside during the past few weeks likely has noticed the white yard signs bearing positive declarations about self- worth and self-love, such as “Don’t Give Up,” “It’s Not Too Late” and “You Matter.” The Seaside School District pur- chased the signs through a grant from Vice Principal the Northwest Edu- Jason Boyd cation Service Dis- trict and started put- ting them up in late August as part of a campaign to both increase attendance and create a positive environment. “As a community, if we just have con- stant reminders that every person mat- ters, I just can’t see where that’s a neg- ative thing,” vice principal Jason Boyd said. One of the goals in the district’s fi ve- year strategic plan is that by June 2024, all students K-12 will develop social and emotional skills to be positive commu- nity members. There are three perfor- mance indicators for that goal, includ- ing “all students will attend 95% of school days,” the indicator which Boyd Construction support for the new building includes brace frames and footings six feet below the fl oor. Clock ticking as school construction moves into HIGH GEAR By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal C rews worked busily on the Seaside High School and Middle School campus con- struction site on Tuesday, Sept. 10, as members of the school construction citizen oversight committee toured the property and sur- vey progress. The campus is scheduled for a September 2020 opening. With the 2019-20 school year under- way, offi cials said the roads and parking areas were “remarkably quiet,” as crews worked both on the high school and middle school campus up the hill and the Seaside Heights addition and reno- vations, including a new gym building. After repaving of The Heights’ drive- way complete, even a new traffi c fl ow didn’t faze drivers. “I got here at 2:35 and I got a parking spot,” Seaside School District Superin- tendent Sheila Roley said. The campus will bring students from three schools located in the tsu- nami inundation zone to the new loca- tion on 89 acres just southeast of Sea- side Heights Elementary School. Two wings, connected by a corridor that will house a cafeteria, library and administrative offi ces, will house mid- dle and high school students. Project manager Jim Henry presented August milestones, including the park- ing lot completion, a reservoir pre-con- struction meeting, and interior color selection for the elementary school. In September, crews hope to com- plete roofi ng at the middle and high school before rains set in. The district will fi nalize an early work agreement with the city to allow reservoir work to begin, starting on the pump house and a new water line from the corner of Alder and Spruce up to the pump station. Construction offi cials submitted two permits for interior work at The Heights and the foundation package for the new Heights gymnasium. Interior work is scheduled to begin this winter, after completion of The Heights gym. See Schools, Page A7 Drug takeback program takes effect this month Project manager Jim Henry and Seaside School District Board of Directors President Mark Truax tour the campus. R.J. Marx photos Duct work at the middle school. Longtime Seaside mail carrier retires By EVE MARX For Seaside Signal Friday, Aug. 30 was mail carrier Mitch Gramson’s last day at work. He retired from the Seaside Post Offi ce after 31 years of service. “He’s delivered mail to every mailbox in Seaside and Gearhart,” Tony Simms, the Postmaster said. “Mitch knows everybody. He has an incredible memory for every person and every delivery.” “My plan is to rock, roll, and have a ball,” Gramson said last Thursday, his next to last day of work. He had just come off delivering his route, which at present is along Wahanna and “up the hill.” He averages about 1500 deliveries a day and works about an hour and a half on foot. He believes in the sanc- tity of the U.S. Mail. There is only one day in his 31-year career when the mail didn’t get delivered. “That was on Dec. 2, 2007,” Gramson said. “There was a huge storm. We all showed up to work but they couldn’t get a delivery truck out from Portland.” See Retiring, Page A6 Eve Marx Mail carrier Mitch Gramson says adieu to the post offi ce after 31 years of service. By EVE MARX For Seaside Signal Let’s say you, or a family member, or even a beloved pet has been taking medi- cation, but now you’re fi nished. What’s the right thing to do with the unused drugs? You already know they shouldn’t be fl ushed down the drain or toilet where they enter the water supply, nor should they be thrown into the trash where they will fi nd their way into landfi lls, ulti- mately contaminating the soil and harm- ing wildlife. The worst-case scenario of leftover drugs is they fall into the hands of humans who misuse them, abuse them, or who, by taking them, could even die. Oregon recently became the sixth state to sign into law the requirement drug manufacturers pay for and run state- wide drug take-back programs. The law, signed by Governor Kate Brown and championed by Representa- tive Sheri Schouten, ensures every com- munity in Oregon have free, convenient, access to safe drug disposal. The law goes into effect this month and programs must be operational by July 1, 2021. Seaside Providence Hospital has been taking back unused and partially used medication for three years. Which puts them far ahead of the state mandate. “Our retail pharmacy at Providence Seaside Hospital began a drug take back program in 2016,” said Mike Antrim, Senior Communication Manager with Providence. “This is a service Provi- dence has provided to the community free of charge. Anyone can come in and dispose of unwanted medications. The police station is the other Seaside loca- tion for drug take back. Using drug take- back sites reduces drug waste in our riv- ers and landfi lls. It also allows people to dispose of unwanted medication to help with the rising opioid epidemic.” Julie Owens, pharmacy manager at Seaside Providence Hospital, over- sees the packing up and mailing of the 40-pound packages of unwanted drugs that are sent via UPS to Trilogy Med- waste, a full service regulated waste man- agement company located in in Gastonia, North Carolina. Since 2016 she’s sent 11 See Drugs, Page A7
