A2 • Friday, April 10, 2020 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com
Campus construction continues,
with social distancing in place
By R.J. MARX
Seaside Signal
Work continues on new
Seaside School District
school buildings and renova-
tions, with social distancing
guidelines in place.
Building teams use
online meetings in lieu of
face-to-face meetings, proj-
ect manager Jim Henry said
Monday.
Contractors, following
Oregon Health Authority
guidelines, maintain 6-foot
distancing at both construc-
tion sites.
Availability of workers
has been “pretty good at this
point,” he said. “Most sub-
contractors have a few work-
ers who have family matters
to attend to with the new
rules and closings.”
The district has not added
any out-of-town or out-of-
state workers, utilizing the
companies under contract.
While closed to visitors,
local hotels accommodate
the construction workers and
other personnel considered
essential.
R.J. Marx
View from the road up to the middle and high school in
February.
As part of the $100 mil-
lion bond project approved
by voters in 2016 to move
students out of buildings in
the tsunami inundation zone,
high school and middle
school students will attend
classes at the new campus in
Projects: They will go on
Continued from Page A1
underground
electrical
wiring between utility
vaults.
Smaller items to be
completed include irriga-
tion for planter beds, new
street signage and cleaning
up the site.
“Our scheduled date
is still the end of May,”
McDowell said. “We
would like to finish early.
It will come down to get-
ting all of the existing
wires off of the existing
power poles so they can be
removed and the concrete
sidewalks can be finished.”
Other citywide public
works tasks moving to the
top of the list during the
slowdown include main-
tenance and painting the
city’s water pump station.
The Necanicum River
boat ramp near Quatat Park
is also seeing upgrades,
designed to dock pad-
dleboats, rowboats and
kayaks.
The dock project, part
of the city’s parks improve-
ment plan, “is another item
we decided to do now,
because we can get some-
thing done when there’s
not a lot of people here
using it,” McDowell said.
the Southeast Hills.
Crews are also working
on a reservoir and pump sta-
tion led by the city. Students
from Gearhart Elementary
School and The Heights
will merge in the renovated
and expanded building to
be called Pacific Ridge
Elementary.
In early March, the district
announced a need to replace
the entire 81,500-square-
foot roof at The Heights
rather than only repairing
areas impacted by seismic
work.
Since most of the work on
The Heights’ roof had been
planned when school is out,
the current closure may offer
an opportunity to start the
work sooner. The school dis-
trict is working with Hoff-
man Construction “looking
at all the options,” Henry
said.
April 28 remains the
schools’ reopening date
scheduled by the state, he
added.
The district has not seen
added building costs or con-
struction scheduling changes
at this time.
In February, the district
announced potential sales
of Seaside High School and
Gearhart Elementary School.
Nothing has closed yet,
Henry said, and the district is
“still working with two inter-
ested parties.”
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
A guide to local public restrooms
Seaside Signal
Got to go?
You may have to hold
it in Seaside, as the clo-
sure of the visitors’ center
restroom, the restroom at
the Turnaround and all park
restrooms restrict access to
visitors.
Three restrooms remain
open: the Oceanway/Con-
vention Center parking lot
facility, Seltzer Park in the
Cove and the restroom at
12th and Prom.
“Everything
else
is
closed,”
Seaside
Pub-
OBITUARIES
Donald Bryce Hoyer
Seaside
June 17, 1925 – April 4, 2020
Don Hoyer was born
June 17, 1925, in Asto-
ria, Oregon, to Ragner and
Ellen (Holmquist) Hoyer.
He died at home in Sea-
side, Oregon, on April 4,
2020.
After graduation from
Astoria High School in
1943, he enlisted in the
Navy and served his coun-
try in the Pacific Theater
during World War II. Upon
his honorable discharge
from the Navy in
March 1946, he
returned home to
Astoria.
While stroll-
ing
through
town he met his
classmate, Lois
Hansen, asked
her on a date and
found the love of
his life. Don and Lois were
married on Sept. 22, 1946,
at Trinity Lutheran Church
in Astoria.
Don went to work for the
U.S. Department of Com-
merce Maritime Adminis-
tration Reserve Fleet, serv-
ing as a mechanic keeping
the mothballed Navy ships
in running order.
In 1961 he was pre-
sented the Meritorious Ser-
vice Silver Medal, the gov-
ernment’s highest award
for professional excellence
by a civilian employee.
When the Reserve Fleet
left Astoria, Don went
to work with his brother
Dave at Hoyer’s Homelite
in Gearhart and Seaside.
Don was very active
in the American Legion,
40 et 8, and the Benevo-
lent and Protective Order
of Elks. He served as the
Astoria Legion Post 12
commander in 1959 and
the Oregon District No. 1
commander in 1963. He
served as the Exalted Ruler
of the Seaside Elks Lodge
No. 1748 in 1992-1993.
Don had a beautiful
singing voice, and sang
in the Trinity Lutheran
Church choir and in bar-
ber shop quartets. He was
a member of Our Saviour’s
Lutheran Church in Sea-
side since 1967.
Don loved dancing with
Lois, camping, fishing,
clamming, hunt-
ing agates and
working in his
yard. If some-
thing
needed
repairs, he was
the man to call.
Don is sur-
vived by his
wife
of
73
years, Lois; his
brother, Dave (Lorraine)
Hoyer; son Kerry (Teresa)
Hoyer; daughter Holly
(John) Baum; grandchil-
dren Aaron Hartman, Josh
(Katie Powell) Baum, Jake
(Jennifer) Baum, Megan
(Joey) Greenberg, Lacey
Hoyer (Jasper Deveraux)
and Libbi (Clint) Red-
ding; great-grandchildren
Xander, Ragner and Gavin
(Josh and Katie’s), Rori,
Laney and Quincy (Jake
and Jen’s), Avery and Iris
(Lacey and Jasper’s) and
Jack (Libbi and Clint’s);
nieces Cindy Wills, Nancy
Lane and Becky Brubaker;
nephew Jeff Hoyer; cous-
ins Wally Holmquist and
Louise Rose; and sis-
ters-in–law Dorothy Han-
sen and Nancy Sabo.
Caldwell’s Funeral &
Cremation Arrangement
Center is in charge of the
arrangements. Please sign
our online guest book at
caldwellsmortuary.com.
R.J. Marx
The
restroom
at
the
Turnaround is closed during
the city’s closure to visitors.
lic Works Director Dale
McDowell said Friday.
OBITUARY POLICY
The Seaside Signal publishes paid obituaries. The obituary can include a small pho-
to and, for veterans, a flag symbol at no charge. The deadline for all obituaries is 9
a.m. the business day prior. Obituaries and notices may be submitted online at www.
dailyastorian.com/forms/obits, by email at ewilson@dailyastorian.com, placed via the
funeral home or in person at The Daily Astorian office, 949 Exchange St. in Astoria. For
more information, cal 503-325-3211, ext. 257.
SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH Sponsored by Columbia Memorial Hospital
Coping with COVID-19: Care for your mental health
T
his is a strange and difficult time for everyone’s mental
health, to say the least. The uncertainty brought by the
coronavirus pandemic can trigger anxiety, the isolation of
social distancing can trigger depression, and the focus on
washing hands can lead to compulsive behaviors.
In a situation like this, we need to be kind to ourselves
and others by taking stock of our emotions and caring for
our mental health.
ALLISON WHISENHUNT, LCSW
Manager of Care Management
Columbia Memorial Hospital
Coping with uncertainty
One danger of uncertainty is that it leads us to create
stories and fill in the blanks. We do this all the time in nor-
mal circumstances, so it makes sense that we would fall back
on this behavior in this time of stress. The trouble is that we
often act on these stories.
For example, here and in many parts of the country,
people made up a story about running out of toilet paper.
Hoarding toilet paper became one way some people could
regain a sense of control.
If you didn’t run out to buy a case of TP, it’s easy to feel
judgment toward others who did. However, maybe toilet
paper wasn’t your item of choice and you bought extra beans,
rice, flour. Or, maybe you didn’t buy anything extra and
instead became vigilant about diet, exercise, hand-washing,
reading the news, etc.
Many of these activities are healthy—in proper doses.
However, it’s good to keep our stories in perspective with
these habits of mind:
• Recognize when you are making up a story, often with ex-
aggeration. Watch for times you are using extreme words
like “always” and “never.”
• Recognize how this story is making you feel. Are you
tense? Breathing fast?
• Fact check your story with someone you trust.
• Distract yourself with something that will prevent you
from focusing on the false story.
Focus on what you CAN control
Even in the most difficult times, you can control many
things that directly affect your physical and mental health,
including:
• What you put into your body. Healthy food and water are
the best way to support your immune system.
• How you move your body. You can walk, run, stretch, or
follow a workout video.
• Where you go and the exposure risks you create and take.
Bottom line, stay home!
• Washing your hands often and not touching your face.
You can also protect your mental health by controlling
your activities. Many people in our community have lost
their daily routines because of school closures, businesses
closing, layoffs, or being told to work from home. It’s so im-
portant right now to create your own daily schedule and stick
to it. This starts with following your usual morning routine
of waking up and getting ready for the day, including getting
dressed. After that, you may work from home or spend time
doing an enjoyable activity.
Perhaps you’d like to learn a new skill, research a topic
you’ve always been interested in, get crafty with art and mu-
sic, or try new recipes. The most important thing is to keep
your mind and body active doing things that support your
mental health.
Expressing emotion
You may be experiencing many emotions right now—
grief, relief, sadness, anxiety, anger, joy, love—and sometimes
all at once. Whatever you are feeling is okay. Allow yourself
to feel and express your emotions in healthy ways. You could
write in a journal; engage in a hobby you find therapeutic;
talk to supportive people by phone, text or video chat; or
schedule a virtual counseling session.
Limiting information overload
As with so many things, social media can be both helpful
and harmful. On one hand, it’s a way to stay in touch with
friends and family; on the other, we may feel overburdened
by the tragedy of what’s happening in the lives of acquain-
tances.
With social media, it is strongly advised you choose sites
and apps that make you happy and leave you feeling inspired.
Limit those that don’t. If you must check on friends with
social media, set a timer and sign out before you get pulled
into posts that are upsetting to you.
Be aware of how often and how long you are checking the
news. Ask yourself how it’s making you feel. If it’s anything
but good, walk away.
Science that tells us that excessive worry can weaken our
immune system. This is such a different situation from any-
thing we have experienced that our usual coping tools may
not be enough. Please find what works for you to best accept
the uncertainty and enhance your mental health which will
further protect your physical health.
Free Mental Health Resources
National Suicide
Prevention:
1-800-273-8255
The Samaritans:
1-877-870-4673
Military Helpline:
1-888-457-4838
Senior Loneliness Line:
503-200-1633
YouthLine:
Call 1-877-968-8491
Text teen2teen to 839863
Lines for Life:
Call 1-800-273-8255
Text 273TALK to 839863
Clatsop Behavioral Crisis
Line:
503-325-5724
Crisis Chat:
contact-usa.org/chat.html
Crisis Text Line:
crisistextline.org
IMAlive:
imalive.org
Veteran’s Crisis Line:
veteranscrisisline.net/get-
help/chat