Friday, May 14, 2021 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • A5
Community leader teams help shape center’s future
SKY BOX
SKYLER
ARCHIBALD
The author, longshoreman and
philosopher Eric Hoff er wrote, “A
busy life is the nearest thing to a
purposeful life”.
While I can appreciate
moments of relaxation and even
occasional idleness, my days are
purposefully fi lled with opportu-
nities, conversations, and growth.
Though I cannot recall a time
in my employment history with
the Sunset Empire Park & Rec-
reation District in which I was
not busy, my schedule in recent
months has intensifi ed. There is
always work to do and so much
of my work revolves around net-
working, communicating and
listening.
One of those opportunities has
come about lately and has been an
energizing and productive portion
of my schedule.
The Sunset Empire Park and
Recreation District Board of
Directors has developed sev-
eral strategies and priorities since
the district took ownership of
the Sunset Recreation Center in
January.
Above all, they have wanted to
help the community become more
aware of the opportunities that
could come because of that acqui-
sition and they sincerely desire
to listen to our community and
provide services and programs
that benefi t all our residents and
guests.
The board formed three com-
munity leader teams to cor-
relate with their three priorities
in assessing the opportunities of
the SRC: recreation for all, sports
tourism and child care and youth
programs.
Those teams were formed with
Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District
Members of the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District community and district board working together at a community leader team meeting in the
Sunset Recreation Center on Monday.
strategic requested involvement
from community leaders in those
specifi c areas. The teams formed
and have been meeting for the
past few weeks. The results of
that process have been dynamic,
fruitful, and inspiring.
Team members include elected
offi cials like Seaside city coun-
cilors and local business own-
ers that have helped us eval-
uate how sports tourism can
benefi t our local economy. They
have included representatives
from local nonprofi ts like Lower
Columbia Youth Soccer Associ-
ation, Pacifi c Basketball League
and Seaside Kids Inc. as well as
local artists and photographers as
we look at what the building can
off er to enhance wellness and rec-
reation through creative program-
ming. And they have included
parents, school administrators and
other folks who serve the children
and youth of our community.
These teams have met with
open discussions and conversa-
tions about the potential of the
SRC, which has been incredibly
helpful for the board and staff .
Great ideas have been circulated
and while there are unique per-
spectives in those meetings, a few
themes have emerged:
The community needs more
space to serve both our adult pop-
ulation, especially senior citizens,
and the youth of our community.
The property is large enough
that it can accomplish several
objectives including meeting
demand for recreation and child-
care space but also potentially
meeting needs in workforce hous-
ing, offi ce space for local non-
profi ts and space for potential
business partners.
It is crucial that the district
have the right mix of recreation,
wellness, arts and culture and
youth programs available, and the
property is uniquely situated to
accommodate all those objectives.
There are many in our com-
munity that have completely sup-
ported and endorsed the property
acquisition, recognizing the tre-
mendous value and potential that
the building has.
These themes have validated
the decision to purchase the build-
ing by the district board of direc-
tors. That decision was reached
after a thorough review of the
other options available and the
condition of the building. From
my perspective, the board under-
stood the great potential of the
building and were able to eff ec-
tively measure that potential with
any potential challenges that the
property would have.
I am thankful to have the
opportunity to be busy, produc-
tive and have purpose in my pro-
fessional life and happy to work
in a community where we value
the opportunity for recreation for
all in the future.
Seaside High School Thespians induct six new members
Seaside Signal
Seaside High School’s
International
Thespian
Troupe #2977 inducted six
new members May 7 during
the end-of-the-year Thes-
pian banquet and “Addams
Family” watch party.
The International Thes-
pian Society, founded in
1929, is an honorary orga-
nization for high school and
middle school theatre stu-
dents located at more than
4,900 affi liated secondary
schools across America and
abroad. The mission of ITS
is to honor student achieve-
ment in the theatre arts. It
is similar to the National
Honor Society, but is for
actors and technicians.
SHS’s Troupe #2977
currently has 22 mem-
bers. The new members
included: David “Lucas”
Ethridge, senior: Sky-
ler Archibald, junior; Gra-
cie Klemp, junior; Isabella
Rodriguez, junior; Lillian
Taylor, junior; and Parker
Davis, sophomore.
In order to be inducted
into the society, students
must earn at least 10 points
and have been in at least
two productions. Points
are earned through vari-
ous roles and activities.
Additional Thespian honor
ranks are awarded at 60,
120, and 180 points.
Two juniors, Eliza-
beth Jesberger and Sophia
Reynolds, have earned the
next level of “Honor Thes-
pian,” which signifi es more
than 60 points accumulated
during their high school
career.
In addition to the induc-
tion ceremony, Ethridge
was honored as a graduat-
ing senior. He, along with
seniors Jude Gomez and
Hayden Spratt, will be
given Thespian cords to
wear during graduation.
David Ethridge and co-president Sophia Reynolds.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, CONTINUED
participation and outstand-
ing service. Each one brings
their unique life and profes-
sional skills to benefi t and
guide our beloved district.
You can trust in their com-
mitment to ethically and stra-
tegically collaborate with
our community to best serve
all. The community engage-
ment process has set the bold
vision for the district to con-
tinue to improve the quality
of life through inviting us all
to play. Your current direc-
tors are doing just that, fol-
lowing a sound plan that will
be in our communities best
interest.
Check out Progress-
ForSEPRD.com.
Join me in voting for
our current board, get your
mail-in ballot by the May
18, due date!
Mary Blake
Seaside
Thoughts on the
coming election
for SEPRD board
The election is near
and certain facts have not
changed.
Broadway Middle
School is still contami-
nated with asbestos, black
mold and lead paint. Noth-
ing has been done to reme-
diate these toxins and your
current board continues
to pretend that it is safe to
occupy. Where is an engi-
neering report that states
given the presence of the
above toxins, Broadway
Middle School is safe to
occupy? You will never
see such a report because
Broadway Middle School
is not safe to occupy. If it
were, any competent engi-
neering fi rm would tell you
so.
Sunset Empire Park and
Recreation District does
not have enough income
to pay for the operation of
Broadway Middle School
and continue to fund rec-
reation programming at
the levels we used to have.
Funding just utilities like
gas and electric will cost
more than $80,000 per
year.
Sunset Pool, which
is the reason the Sunset
Empire Park and Recre-
ation District was founded,
is still not being properly
cared for. Just drive by and
take a look at the building.
See for yourself.
In observing the bud-
get process, I learned
your district board wants
to heavily increase
administrative costs.
Every dollar spent on
administration is a dol-
lar that can’t be spent on
recreational opportunities
for our citizens. Not only
is the board robbing cur-
rent programs to fund the
middle school, they also
intend to hire more peo-
ple and use more dollars
that way.
Do you want to have
a board that is 80%
appointed or would you
like to have a 100% tax-
payer-elected board?
Do you want to have a
board that will continue
to spend large amounts
of your tax dollars with-
out your consent? Or,
would you prefer a board
that will listen to the
taxpayers?
The utter incompetence
of the current board is
obvious. Please vote for
John Huismann, Patrick
Duhachek, Jackie Evans,
Al Hernandez and Ste-
phen Morrison.
John Huismann
Seaside