A4 • Friday, December 24, 2021 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com
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Looking ahead, partnership, perseverance, planning
SKY BOX
SKYLER
ARCHIBALD
I
t’s hard to believe that another year is
nearly complete. While 2021 measured
the same span of 365 days, as most tra-
ditional years, it sure did seem like a very
long year!
For the Sunset Empire Park and Recre-
ation District, this was a year to remember.
We are proud of our ability to continue to
provide high quality recreation programs to
our residents and guests.
At a time when the pandemic contin-
ues to threaten our health, safety, and ability
to have a “normal” year, we endured with
growth, new developments and dedication.
While refl ecting on the year past, there
were fi ve words that stood out and will echo
in my mind as we move forward to 2022:
opportunity, adaptation, partnership, perse-
verance, and planning.
Opportunity: 2021 will hold a special
place in the hearts of the district and our
community as the year when our commu-
nity acquired the property formerly known
as Broadway Middle School.
In the months since that acquisition the
building has been repurposed for commu-
nity use including child care, preschool
and utilizing the gymnasiums and been
rebranded as the Sunset Recreation Center.
We have been able to grant raise over
$125,000 for programs and the facility at
the SRC and, most importantly, the dis-
trict has preserved a valuable community
asset for the betterment of our residents and
guests.
Katherine Lacaze
Eighth-graders Mya Feeney and Liliana Miller,
with Seaside Middle School’s Builders Club,
volunteered to run games at Sunset Empire Park
and Recreation District’s Fall Fun Fest on Oct. 23.
R.J. Marx
The park district moved youth programs into the Sunset Recreation Center in June.
Adaptation: We hoped for the pandemic
to be shorter and less impactful, but the
reality is that we, like most others, are still
adapting to what has now become normal.
Now almost two years in, there have been
changes required to just about every facet
of our operations and facilities.
The real highlight though is that we have
been able to transition, respond, and con-
tinue to serve our community. Aquatic pro-
gram participation was as strong as ever
in the last year with fi tness classes, swim
lessons and lap-swim showing upticks in
demand.
Partnership: Our agency has an amaz-
ing tradition of partnership and that has
continued with too many partners to name
here. I am most proud of our collabora-
tion with the city of Seaside to celebrate the
Prom Centennial Celebration with new spe-
cial events like the 100K relay race and the
Prom chalk art contest and our partnership
with local youth sport providers to keep
kids active and healthy. We have also part-
nered with local nonprofi ts to help provide
support for the homeless at a local warm-
ing shelter. The district partners with our
nonprofi t affi liate, the Sunset Park and Rec
Foundation by providing $24,500 to fami-
lies in our community.
Perseverance: Despite the obstacles
and challenges facing us, staff , board mem-
bers, volunteers as well as our entire com-
munity have stood tall. I am so incredibly
pleased to work with a team of individuals
dedicated to serving our community and
inspiring you to PLAY!
Planning: While not necessarily the
most exciting, the district has worked hard
this year to plan for the future. We recently
completed a six-month study to help us
understand the full cost of our services and
prioritize how to serve our community bet-
ter. We also are nearing the end of a very
thorough strategic planning process to
determine the best uses for the Sunset Rec-
reation Center property moving forward.
We hope you had a great 2021 and
encourage you to come visit us soon.
Check out our annual report, to be released
early in 2022 for more information on
what we might be up to. I know you are
sure to enjoy our new family themed event,
“A Knight Out Dance” in March and the
return of our foundation fundraiser Sip
and Savor (formerly “A Sweet Aff aire”) in
May.
We are excited about the year ahead and
look forward to all that will come in 2022!
Thank you for your continued support and
patronage and we wish you and yours the
best this holiday season.
NEWS NOTES
Santa and friends
Writers Read series issues
call for submissions
The NW Authors Series is sponsoring the fourth
Annual Writers Read celebration. The committee is call-
ing writers to submit their original works. All writers and
all ages can participate. This year’s theme is “Recovery?”
Writers are encouraged to use the theme however they
wish to interpret it.
A panel of volunteer judges will select 10-12 works to
be read by their authors during the celebration. The cele-
bration will be held via Zoom on March 5. Selected writ-
ers will also need access to Zoom.
All written formats will be considered (essay, story,
poetry, prose, etc.) Limit 3 entries per author, 600- word
maximum per entry. Submissions will be accepted by
email (info@cannonbeachlibrary.org) or by mail (P.O.
Box 486 Cannon Beach, OR., 97110), though email is
preferred. Submissions should be in word or pdf format
and include a cover letter with the writer’s name, email
and phone number. Do not include your name or contact
information on the entry document — authors are anon-
ymous during the judging process. Deadline for submis-
sions is Jan. 24.
Groups team to provide giving tree
This holiday season the Sunset Empire Park and Rec-
reation District partnered with the Seaside Head Start
Program and the Northwest Regional Education Service
District to organize a giving tree for children in need.
The tree was located at Sunset Pool and community
members selected ornaments and purchased gifts for
kids, including clothing, shoes, winter coats, diapers and
wipes, toys and books.
Twenty-two of the children were associated with the
Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Educa-
tion programs of the Northwest Regional Education Ser-
vice District in the Sunset Recreation Center. The EI pro-
gram provides services and supports to eligible children
up to 3 years of age. The program also helps families
develop the skills they need to help their children learn
and grow.
The early childhood program off ers special education
services to children 3 to 5 years of age. Services include
specially designed instruction and related services such as
physical, occupational, or speech and language therapy.
Seaside Elks award scholarships
R.J. Marx
Santa with “Trigger” and “Mia” at By the Way in Gearhart.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
PUBLIC MEETINGS
A holiday wish from
a class of ‘63 alum
Contact local agencies for latest
meeting information and attendance
guidelines.
Holiday wishes to all. I may have left my
gall bladder in St. Louis, Missouri, but my
heart and soul belong to Seaside.
So many from the class of ‘63 are still
there, doing amazing work to preserve and
promote Seaside. Ky Weed, Gordon Smith
Crayton Morris, Don and Janey Olson, Joe
and Verna Dotson, Karl Marlantes, Jerry
Alto ... the list goes on.
My wish for Seaside and all who live
there is that peace will be yours in 2022.
Audrey (Powell) Haynes
Bickleton, Washington
MONDAY, JAN. 10
Seaside City Council, 7 p.m., 989
Broadway.
TUESDAY, JAN. 18
Seaside School District, 6 p.m.,
https://www.seaside.k12.or.us/
MONDAY, JAN. 24
Seaside City Council, 7 p.m., 989
Broadway.
TUESDAY, JAN. 18
Seaside School District, 6 p.m.,
CIRCULATION
MANAGER
Shannon Arlint
ADVERTISING
SALES MANAGER
Sarah Silver-
Tecza
PUBLISHER
EDITOR
Kari Borgen
R.J. Marx
https://www.seaside.k12.or.us/
MONDAY, JAN. 25
Sunset Empire Park and Recreation
District Board of Directors, 5:15 p.m.,
1225 Ave. A.
MONDAY, FEB. 14
Seaside City Council, 7 p.m., 989
Broadway.
TUESDAY, FEB. 15
Seaside School District, 6 p.m.,
https://www.seaside.k12.or.us/
Sunset Empire Park and Recreation
District, 5:15 p.m., Bob Chisholm
Community Center.
PRODUCTION
MANAGER
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS
John D. Bruijn
Skyler Archibald
Joshua Heineman
Katherine Lacaze
Esther Moberg
SYSTEMS
MANAGER
Carl Earl
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHER
Jeff TerHar
Everett Rollins and Ila Bowles were each awarded
$1,000 scholarships by the Seaside Elks Lodge.
As winners of the
“Most Valuable Student”
local scholarship, these
Seaside High School
seniors’ applications have
been forwarded to the
Oregon State Elks Asso-
ciation Northwest Dis-
Ila
Everett
trict competition. Rollins
Bowles
Rollins
and Bowles will compete
against students sponsored
by Elks Lodges in St. Hel-
ens, Astoria, Tillamook,
Lincoln City, Newport, Toledo and Florence. for further
awards.
Exalted Ruler, Rodney Roberts, said that these schol-
arships are awarded for superior scholastic achievement
as well as outstanding qualities of citizenship and lead-
ership, using criteria from the Elks National Foundation.
Seaside Signal
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