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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2020)
OUR 113th Year November 6, 2020 SEASIDESIGNAL.COM $1.00 ELECTION 2020 Posalski is winner in Seaside Ward 4 race By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal David Posalski, the owner of Tsunami Sandwich Co., edged Kathy Kleczek, a for- mer transit district board member, for Ward 4 on the City Council. Posalski took 43% of the vote, while Kleczek had 32% and Adam Wood, who works at Highlands Golf Club in Gearhart, had 24%. “I would like to thank the residents of Ward 4 in Seaside for their support and trust,” Posalski said. “I look for- ward to representing them in the future. I congratulate my opponents on a great, positive race and for making the deci- sion and sacrifi ce in deciding to run. I look forward to hav- ing their help accomplishing great goals for our city.” Posalski, Kleczek and Wood competed after City Councilor Seth Morrisey, fi rst elected in 2014, said he would not seek a new term. Voters also approved Mea- sure 4-206, which authorized Fackerell, Jesse win reelection in Gearhart the Seaside School District to extend an annual property tax of $0.52 per $1,000 of assessed value for fi ve years. The taxes will be used for dis- trict operations. The measure will provide an estimated $8.1 million over fi ve years. Without the addi- tional revenue, the school dis- trict would have had to reduce staff and services. “We’d like to thank the community for their contin- ued support of our schools See Seaside, Page A5 By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal City Councilor Reita Fackerell and Councilor Dan Jesse won reelection Tues- day by substantial margins, a voter endorsement of the direction of the City Council. Fackerell was appointed to Position 2 in December 2018 after the departure of former City Councilor Sue Lorain. She defeated Bob Shortman 61% to 39%. Fackerell served as Sea- side Public Library director until her retirement in 2012. She remains active in Sea- side Rotary and the Seaside Chamber of Commerce. She said she hopes to maintain the ambiance and history of Gearhart. Fackerell thanked Short- man “for running a kind and honest campaign.” “It was an honor to be his opponent, and I wish him well,” she said. “Thank you to all the voters who sup- ported me. I am honored to serve Gearhart, whether you voted for me or not. We are all one community.” Jesse made his third suc- cessful bid for Position 4 after defeating his opponent in 2012 and running unop- posed in 2016. Jesse’s career in pub- See Gearhart, Page A5 MORE INSIDE More local election results on Page A2 and A5 Inspection reveals aging at Broadway Middle School By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal Pumpkin drop draws a crowd By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal A big crowd fi lled the Seaside Civic Convention Center parking lot Sunday, and a very, very big pumpkin. This year’s pumpkin, grown by Jim Sherwood of Pacifi c Giant Veg- etable Growers in Mulino, weighed in at 1328 1/2 pounds — about 400 pounds more than last year’s. The club specializes in giant pumpkins, tomatoes, gourds and marrow, a type of zucchini, Sherwood said. Crane operators Ben Olson and Chuck Godwin, both of Sea- side, dropped the pumpkin from 40 feet as a crowd of hundreds stood by with cell phone cameras raised. The splat could resounded across the parking lot, as fami- lies skipped away from chunks of splattered pumpkin. The drop was among Hallow- een Happenin’s events presented by the Seaside Downtown Devel- opment Association, together with Trunk or Treat, the Pet Parade, Halloween Dance Party and Witches’ Paddle. Photos by Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian TOP: Visitors search through pumpkin remains for seeds. ABOVE: The 1,328-pound pumpkin at the top of its arc. The Sunset Empire Park and Recreation Dis- trict will ask consultants to review results of a Broad- way Middle School inspec- tion report, delivered in advance of the district’s $2.25 million purchase. Things are going well as due diligence proceeds, Skyler Archibald, the rec- reation district’s executive director, said at a board workshop last Monday. “The majority of the middle school building is in the the condition that you would expect a build- ing of its age and usage to be,” Archibald said. But, he added, while there are areas in “ter- rific shape, there are areas throughout the whole school that aren’t in as great a shape as we would like.” The inspection report details concerns with structural integrity, the roof, heating and ventila- tion system, he said. The roof has been a constant work in progress with patching and repatching. “It may not be a con- cern for right now, but it’s something we should defi- nitely have in our head as far as life cycle and cost,” Archibald said. Board member Michael Hinton said the roof and the building’s older See Middle school, Page A3 Owen named to Seaside school board By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal Brian Owen, a Seaside resident and chief exec- utive officer for the Sea- side Chamber of Com- merce, was named to the Seaside School District Board of Directors Zone 6 Position 2 Monday morning. Owen replaces Hugh Stelson, who announced his immediate retirement at the board’s October meeting. “We had a resignation last month from board member Dr. Hugh Stel- son,” district superinten- dent Susan Penrod said. “As per board policy, I See Owen, Page A3 Who let the dogs out? By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal The pets were having so much fun they wanted to keep on walking. From the parade’s start at Quatat Park, more than doz- ens of pets and their fami- lies marched down Broad- way toward the Prom, costumed for Halloween fun. When it came time for them to turn right at Colum- bia Street, many of the dogs were so fi red up they were ready to keep going. “It’s a beautiful day, everybody’s happy, and the dogs look gorgeous, we’re ready to start the pet parade,” Laura Mespelt, director of the Seaside Downtown Development Association, said at the association’s booth. “The weather’s perfect, lots of pets,” Keith Chan- dler of Seaside Aquarium added, as he moved through the crowd with his dog Dobbie, who, with a time- piece on his back was cos- tumed as a “watch dog.” Other pets were pushed in strollers, carriages, dressed as bumblebees, frogs or adorned with frills and frou-frou. Dogs received prizes and goodie bags, volunteer Suzy Obenshain, said, with special prizes for best cos- tume. “I like the families, the way everybody comes and is everybody’s really excited,” she said. “It’s fabulous.” As the pets lined up for the start, there was nary a snarl or a growl. “Looks like it’s start- ing out pretty well,” Ruth Swenson said, representing the Hillcrest Inn and Hill- crest House. “We’re keep- ing everything outside and then the dance will be out here tonight.” R.J. Marx LEFT: This parade participant can’t wait to get started. RIGHT: Pet paraders march down Broadway.
