A6 • Friday, December 3, 2021 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com
SignalViewpoints
FORTY YEARS OF
PROVIDENCE SEASIDE,
AND THE PARTNERS
WHO MADE IT A REALITY
Providence Seaside Hospital
ABOVE: Providence Seaside Hospital, 1990. BELOW LEFT: Sr. Ignatia Marie Lindekugel (right) in pastoral care at Providence Seaside Hospital, 1990. BELOW RIGHT: Remodeled lobby, Providence
Seaside Hospital, 1982.
GUEST COLUMN
MIKE
ANTRIM
T
his year marks the 40th anniversary
of Providence Seaside Hospital. But
how did we get here? The Sisters
of Providence have been part of providing
health care on the North Coast for nearly 90
years.
A look back on how we got here:
On Dec. 7, 1856, the fi rst Sisters of
Providence docked in Astoria during their
fi rst trip to the Pacifi c Northwest. This was
one of their last stops during their months-
long journey from Montreal, Canada to
Vancouver, Washington, 165 years ago.
Then 24 years later they were called
to return, and in 1880, the sisters founded
and operated St. Mary’s Hospital in Asto-
ria for 90 years.
In 1964 the Union Health District was
established under the provisions of Ore-
gon Revised Statutes, Chapter 440, for
the specifi c purpose of assuring the res-
idents of the area that there would con-
tinue to be a hospital in the Seaside area.
The Union Health District is a taxing dis-
trict, which encompasses the area from
the Astoria Country Club to the Tillamook
County line and from the ocean to just east
of Highway 53. The health district board
in 1968 asked the taxpayers to pass a bond
to provide funds to construct a new hospi-
tal at 725 S. Wahanna Road. In September
of 1970, the new Seaside General Hospital
was opened.
The Sisters of Providence were once
again called to serve the community, this
time in Seaside. In the spirit of working
with others, Providence partnered with the
Union Health District to assume the opera-
tions and management of Seaside General
Hospital in 1981.
Providence fi rst agreed to operate and
lease the hospital from the Union Health
District for 10 years. Just four months later,
the lease agreement was extended to 30
years. And extended again to encompass
our current agreement.
Because of the strong and successful
relationship with the Union Health Dis-
trict, Providence has been able to grow
and expand services throughout the North
Coast. Over the years that support has
helped increase quality health care in our
community. Most recently the Union Health
District provided key fi nancial support,
along with fundraising eff orts of Providence
Seaside Hospital Foundation, that helped
fund the remodel and expansion of our
emergency department.
Today we have more than 450 caregiv-
ers and an active and engaged service area
advisory council that volunteers their time
to assure the hospital stays committed to
providing high quality and compassionate
care to our community. We are honored to
serve the communities throughout the North
Coast and look forward to continuing this
journey together.
Mike Antrim is communication manager
for Providence Seaside Hospital.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Golf tournament
a success
On behalf of the board
of directors of the Eugene
Schmuck Foundation, I
would like to thank Matt
Brown and Jeff Mitchell, of
Manzanita Links, who made
the 2021 Manzanita Open
golf tournament possible.
Matt and Jeff graciously pro-
vided their advice and expe-
rience to help create a seam-
less, fun, and successful
event. This year the Eugene
Schmuck Foundation raised
$76,653.00 in much-needed
funds which are given
back and reinvested in our
community.
We also want to give a big
thank you to the many vol-
unteers, supporters, donors
and sponsors who have
made our foundation a suc-
cess. I am personally grate-
ful for the dedication of
my fellow board members
Corey Douma, John Durkin,
Beth Gienger, Tom Moore,
Breanna Stephens, Dave
Stephens, Karen Stephens,
Connie Vander Waal, Sally
Vanebo, Camy VonSeggern,
and, Erick White. This year
we also welcome Breanna
Stephens, Chris Bennett, and
Troy Bowers to our board.
Please join us for this
year’s Manzanita Open Golf
Tournament, planned for
May 13, 14 and 15. We look
forward to seeing you there!
David Matthews
President, ESF
Guidelines for
school sports
spectators
Dear Seaside families,
community members, and
visiting schools:
Seaside High School is
scheduled to begin host-
ing indoor athletic events
beginning December 3,
2021. As we have all year,
and in order to continue
to ensure that our students
have opportunities to com-
pete, we will continue to
follow the COVID-related
mandates issued by the
Oregon Health Authority
and adopted by the Oregon
State Athletic Association.
In order to attend Sea-
side High School-spon-
sored athletic events
during the winter sea-
son, the following cur-
rent OSAA guidelines
will be followed with zero
exceptions:
• Spectators will be
required to wear a fi tted
face covering/mask that
covers both mouth and
nose.
• Spectators will be
required to sit in desig-
nated areas and observe
physical distancing to the
extent possible.
Spectators that refuse
to follow guidelines run
the risk of having the com-
petition stopped, may be
removed from attendance,
and potentially be tre!!.
passed from venues.
Attending high school
athletic events in support
of our student-athletes is
a privilege for all specta-
tors. Our coaches, school
staff , and I arc excited
about the opportunity for
our student-athletes to
resume playing in front of
crowds that we are accus-
tomed to having at our
venues. However, the vig-
ilance required to ensure
that spectators are adhering
to mandated policies has
become more challenging
over time.
If you are asked by a
staff member to observe
the mandates outlined
above and/or other policies
please do so respectfully
and with the understand-
ing that we are fulfi lling
our job responsibilities.
Your prompt and courteous
cooperation helps protect
competition opportunities
for our students.
Thank you for your
understanding as we con-
tinue to monitor and adjust
to the guidelines issued by
our governing agencies.
We will work to implement
and communicate updated
guidelines as needed.
Other questions regard-
ing our athletic programs
should be directed to Aaron
Tanabe, athletic director, at
503-738-5586 or atanabe@
seasidek12.org.
Jeff Roberts
Principal,
Seaside High School
Sunset Empire Park and
Recreation District, board
workshop, 4 p.m., www.seprd.
com.
ry Committee, 3 p.m., 989
Broadway.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Avenue A.
Broadway.
THURSDAY, DEC. 9
TUESDAY, DEC. 7
Seaside Library Board of
Directors, 4:30 p.m., 1131
Broadway St.
sion, 6 p.m., cityofgearhart.
com.
Seaside Community Center
Commission, 10 a.m., 1225
Seaside Planning Commis-
sion, 6 p.m., work session, 989
Seaside Civic and Convention
Center Commission, 5 p.m.,
415 First Ave.
Seaside City Council, 7 p.m.,
cityofseaside.us.
Gearhart Planning Commis-
TUESDAY, DEC. 14
Contact local agencies for latest
meeting information and atten-
dance guidelines.
CIRCULATION
MANAGER
Shannon Arlint
ADVERTISING
SALES MANAGER
Sarah Silver-
Tecza
PUBLISHER
EDITOR
Kari Borgen
R.J. Marx
PRODUCTION
MANAGER
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS
John D. Bruijn
Skyler Archibald
Joshua Heineman
Katherine Lacaze
Esther Moberg
SYSTEMS
MANAGER
Carl Earl
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHER
Jeff Ter Har
MONDAY, DEC. 13
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 15
Seaside Tourism Adviso-
TUESDAY, DEC. 21
Seaside School District,
6 p.m., seaside.k12.or.us/meet-
ings.
Seaside Signal
Letter policy
Subscriptions
The Seaside Signal
is published every other week by
EO Media Group,
1555 N. Roosevelt, Seaside, OR 97138.
503-738-5561
seasidesignal.com
Copyright © 2021 Seaside Signal. Nothing
can be reprinted or copied without consent
of the owners.
The Seaside Signal welcomes letters to the editor. The
deadline is noon Monday prior to publication. Letters
must be 400 words or less and must be signed by the
author and include a phone number for verifi cation. We
also request that submissions be limited to one letter
per month. Send to 1555 N. Roosevelt Drive, Seaside, OR
97138, drop them off at 1555 N. Roosevelt Drive or fax to
503-738-9285, or email rmarx@seasidesignal.com
Annually: $51.00, monthly autopay is $4.25
e-Edition only: $4 a month
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Seaside
Signal, P.O. Box 210, Astoria, OR 97103. Postage Paid at
Seaside, OR, 97138 and at additional mailing offi ces.
Copyright © 2021 by the Seaside Signal. No portion
of this newspaper may be reproduced without written
permission. All rights reserved.