A6 • Friday, July 23, 2021 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com Fireworks: ‘If we saw them, we took them’ Continued from Page A1 silent fi reworks or a drone display. “It would help the people of Seaside, who are suscep- tible to that kind of noise, to have a more celebratory July Fourth,” she said. Stephen Davis asked the city to enact a “no fi re- works of any kind” policy, such as Cannon Beach has done. “There are already local and state regulations in place, which are not being responded to,” the resi- dent said in a letter to city councilors. This was the second year that the coronavirus pan- demic prompted Seaside to cancel its fi reworks show, which offi cials have said brings an estimated $20 mil- lion economic impact. The city’s visitors bureau has reg- ularly provided $20,000 to $25,000 in tourism grant dol- lars to fund the fi reworks. The remaining cost — esti- mated at $50,000 — is pro- vided by donors. At last week’s City Coun- cil meeting, Police Chief Dave Ham said the police department had 19 fi re- works-related calls on Inde- pendence Day, although he recognized there were many more fi reworks illegally discharged. The police department received 88 total calls and 26 fi reworks complaints over the holiday weekend, he said, issuing citations and seiz- ing fi reworks from several groups. Enforcement boils down to a shortage of offi cers “chasing fi reworks,” Ham Lou Solitske Along the Prom on July Fourth. said. “I’m chasing so many other calls for service that are priority over fi reworks that I don’t have enough people. To go out and enforce a kid with a sparkler when I’ve got somebody blowing off rock- ets that are booming bigger than our sanctioned show — I’d have a hard time writing that ticket.” “If we saw them, we took them,” Fire Chief Joey Dan- iels said. “It’s not easy — we can take them from one group and by the time they move, there’s another group there.” Banning fi reworks on the beach could push peo- ple elsewhere, Daniels said. “Where are they going to go? I don’t want to encour- age people to try to hide from us in the woods or behind people’s houses and lighting them on the porch or in their backyards.” Earlier this month, resi- dents in Gearhart also urged their city to ban fi reworks, citing noise, threats to wild- life and pets and fi re danger. In Cannon Beach, which banned all fi reworks last September, fi nes can run to $5,000. Seaside’s fi nes are about $700, Ham said. Seaside and Cannon Beach are diff erent com- munities and bring diff erent issues, the police chief said. “It’s taken a few years for them to really get it going to where they’re citing every- body that they come across and spreading that word that it’s not welcome here. Every- thing’s outlawed.” Banning fi reworks on the beach also relies on the Ore- gon Parks and Recreation Department and the state fi re marshal’s offi ce, Daniels said. Fireworks are not allowed at any time in national parks and forests, on Bureau of Land Management lands, on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- vice properties, on all Ore- gon Department of Forestry protected lands, on state beaches, or in state parks and campgrounds. According to the state Offi ce of Emergency Man- agement, while the state fi re marshal does not have the authority to ban fi reworks, the agency’s “Keep it legal. Keep it safe” campaign sup- ports the use and safety of legal fi reworks — ones that don’t fl y or explode. Legal fi reworks are sold in Seaside once a year, before the July Fourth holiday. Those sales are giving peo- ple “a double message,” City Councilor Tita Montero said. Seeing fi reworks for sale, visitors may assume they are legal on the beach. The idea of drones and lasers may be very expen- sive as an upfront cost, but over time it is less expensive than $40,000 a year on fi re- works, Montero said. “Also it’s much more ecological, it’s an opportunity for us to have multiple occasions of light shows in our sky,” she said. She asked city councilors to form a committee to look into a ban on fi reworks and fi reworks sales. A laser or drone display could give Seaside an oppor- tunity “to do the right thing for the right reasons,” Mon- tero said. Rec center: ‘It’s meant to really lay the groundwork and set the foundation’ Continued from Page A1 the fi nal report. The park district pur- chased the former Broadway Middle School for $2.15 mil- lion in January. The school, along with Gearhart Ele- mentary and Seaside High School, was among Seaside School District properties relocated to the new Spruce Drive location outside of the tsunami inundation zone. Since the purchase, the park district has hosted the Pacifi c Basketball League, child care programs and leased a portion of the space to the Northwest Regional Education Service District, which moves in in early August. “In a design sense, the fl exibility component is more critical than trying to defi ne what could happen in the space,” Cannon Beach Mayor Sam Steidel said. Although Cannon Beach residents are not members of the park district, many use the Sunset Pool, and he envisioned future partner- R.J. Marx Suzy Fisher Reeder and Evan Eleff of Sports Facilities Advisory leads a session with community leaders at the Sunset Recreation Center. Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District Executive Director Skyler Archibald at right. ship opportunities. He asked the planners to “leave themselves as open as possible” to potential building uses using a phased approach to determining community needs. In talking to community stakeholders, Monica Steele, the assistant Clatsop County manager, said “the topic that To place a classified ad call 800-781-3214 or go to SeasideSignal.com DEADLINE IS MONDAY AT NOON 110 Announcements Looking for a full time small engine mechanic to join our team. Wheeled Mechanic is preferred but small engine repair experience is required. We offer healthcare medical and dental, paid vacation and holidays, with a starting pay range of 18-$22hr DOE (503)325-0792 SHOP LOCAL! Check the Business Directory daily to utilize the local professionals advertising in The Seaside Signal. To place an ad in our Business Directory, call 503-325-3211. Looking for a new place to live? The classified ads offer a complete section of homes, apartments, and mobile homes to fit your needs. Check daily for new listings! Sell your children’s outgrown clothes and toys with a classified ad in the Seaside Signal. Call 503-325-3211 to place your ad today! Classified Ads work hard for you! comes up every time is child care.” Steele asked the advi- sory group to consider the building for child care or a “place to get them out of the house,” particularly at the age where children are vul- nerable to depression and self-harm. Eleff said child care was a likely phase one goal. “It would be shocking to me if we don’t come back with that as a key component,” he said. “It’s a primary need. And it’s probably the fast- est way to use this building eff ectively.” The recreation center’s future is “exactly our mis- sion” of improving the Evan Eleff of Sports Facilities Advisory leads a session with community leaders at the Sunset Recreation Center. health and economic vital- ity of communities through sports, recreation and well- ness, he said. “We want to understand fi rst what you want to do, and what the opportunity is,” Eleff said. “Second, how that can and should work from an operational perspec- tive on the fi nancial feasibil- ity of covering the cost of operating and whatever else there needs to be. “It’s meant to really lay the groundwork and set the foundation,” he added. “We don’t want to produce a study — we want to produce a path forward.” MARKETPLACE 360 Garage Sales Astoria 634 Wanted to Rent LIZ DAVIS SALE Yard Sale- Two family Saturday, July 24th 9am-5pm 989 Jane Street, Astoria Responsible Elderly Employed Woman Seeks Room or Trailer to Rent. 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See photos at estatesale-finder. com Cannon Beach Large garage sale July 24th & July 25th 9am-4pm Tables, chairs, tools, glassware, dishes, chandeliers, etc. 1587 South Spruce, Cannon Beach, OR. Seaside Moving Sale July 23rd and 24th 9:30am-2:30pm Seven piece bedroom set, two sofas, dishwasher, washing machine, new golf clubs and bag, micro convection combo oven, two ukeleles, miscellaneous household items. 1960 S. Columbia, Seaside, OR. Reach the entire North Oregon and Southwest Washington coasts with our classified package options! Call 503-325-3211 for more information. www.SeasideSignal.com 651 Help Wanted Seaside Towing is hiring. Experience preferred but not necessary. Good money, 40 to 48 hrs per week. 503-941-8734 651 Help Wanted Full-Time Employment Choices Counseling is seeking a Master level Mental Health Therapist license preferred. Enjoy working with our close knit team. Proficiency in documentation, work with a variety of populations. Warrenton, OR. 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