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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 2022)
OUR 115th Year Developer jumps into the bagel experience By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal Masudur Khan purchased the Gilbert Block Building late last year. This week he announced another downtown investment with the purchase of Bagels by the Sea, the iconic bagel shop at 210 S. Holladay Dr. in Seaside. The seller was Seastar & Associ- ates LLC. Kathryn and Tracey John- Masudur Khan son are members, said broker Cheryl Johnson with Realty One Group Prestige. The sales price was $1.2 mil- lion. The sale closing date was Jan. 19. “I just got it because I liked it,” Khan said. “The food is good. We’re not changing anything, just hoping to give you a little bit better experience.” For the former owners, the goal was always more than simply sell- ing a prime piece of real estate and a much-loved business, Cheryl Johnson said. “The ideal buyer was some- one invested in the community who would continue the Seaside institution of their family friendly bagel shop benefitting locals and visitors alike,” she said. “With strong local ties and his passion for Seaside, Masudur Khan was the perfect candidate. The former owners can now rest easy having left the business in his capable hands. It is truly a win for every- one, especially the community.” February 25, 2022 SEASIDESIGNAL.COM $1.00 SHOWER POWER A shower for surfers at Seltzer Park Women seek equity By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal Thirty years ago when Selt- zer Park was donated and devel- oped, the surfing population at Seaside’s Cove was only about 2% women. Today that number is more than 30%, Lexie Halla- han of Northwest Women’s Surf Camps said. Hallahan is leading a campaign to bring “shower” equity to Selt- zer Park, the area east of the Cove across Sunset Boulevard. While there’s a shower immediately out- side the men’s room where the door is open, “You’re literally looking right in at men in the uri- nals,” she said. Hallahan envisions the shower tower on the north side of the park in the open air, clearly visible from the street, with shower heads at both child and adult height. “It looks kind of like a cement round structure,” she said. “It has the possibility to put up to six fix- tures on it.” To start, two showers will be adult and two showers child height, and designed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements. The showers will have hot and cold water and a foot wash. Signs will be posted prohibiting use of soap or shampoo because that would contaminate the wetlands behind the park. Showers will be closed in the evening when restrooms are locked and reopened in the morning. Hallahan attributes the boom in women’s surfing to a number of surf movies from the 1980s, led by “Blue Crush.” “That went nationwide,” she said. “It was huge. There were R.J. Marx Lexie Hallahan indicates the area for the shower. R.J. Marx Currently the only shower in Seltzer Park, outside the men’s room. several girl surfer movies that just made it cool for women. I could see there was a real desire for women wanting to learn to surf.” Years later, she started her business, offering surf lessons to women and families. “And every year it’s booming.” Hallahan presented the plan to the Seaside Parks Advisory Com- mittee, which will recommend it to the City Council for funding, including $2,870 for the tower plus piping and installation. Hallahan presented her plan to the City Council last week. “It sounds like a great idea,” Mayor Jay Barber said. To get involved in the shower tower, write a letter of support to the City Council, Hallahan said. “The main reasons for me are accessibility and equitability,” she said. “I think those are priorities now in today’s world. We’re 32 years past that and it’s time we get it. So many people will be using it. It’s long overdue.” See Bagels, Page A3 GEARHART School district eyes mask changes By KATHERINE LACAZE Seaside Signal As the state prepares to lift its indoor masking mandate by the end of March, local school districts are grappling with the decision on whether to make masks required or optional through the end of the school year. The Seaside School District Board discussed options during their meeting earlier this month, ultimately deciding to wait until their meeting in March to make a decision based on guidance from the Clatsop County Public Health Department and data on COVID- 19 case rates at that time. “I want to make sure that all of our kids get the time in school that they deserve,” board chair Brian Taylor said. “Going to distance learning is not a very favorable thing for our kids, even if it’s just 10 days.” The Oregon Department of Edu- cation and Oregon Health Author- ity have made various updates to virus precautions for schools throughout the pandemic. Earlier this month, the state announced it would lift the mask requirement at schools on March 31. The reasoning for that hard date, Penrod said, is “to give school districts time to transition, also an opportunity for families to get their students vaccinated.” By the end of March, the health See Masks, Page A3 Plan for new playground moves forward Restrooms may not be required By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal The Gearhart Planning Commission moved for- ward with plans for a new playground at Trails’ End/ Centennial Park at their January meeting. When the former Gear- hart Elementary School was shut down, the play- ground at the former Gear- hart Elementary School was closed and equip- ment at the west end of the school transferred to the new Pacific Ridge Ele- mentary School. A local 10-year-old, Berkley Sturgell, ded- icated herself to bring- ing a playground back City of Gearhart Rendering of the proposed playground area in Centennial/ Trail’s End Park. to Gearhart, proposing a new location at Centen- nial Park, also known as Trail’s End Park, between Pacific Way and A Street off of Cottage. Sturgell launched a Quarter Mile Challenge to raise funds for the city’s play equipment fund. Sturgell’s efforts brought more than $12,000. With outside donations large and small, a total of almost $34,000 has been raised so far. Additionally, the city has more than $100,000, a portion of American Res- cue Plan funds, available between parks equipment and parks maintenance and repair. The 4,400-square-foot area on the southwest cor- ner of the 3/4-acre park would feature playground equipment and other fea- tures required to adjust said use with land and uses in the neighborhood. The playground would include swings sets, climbing bars, nets, balance beams and a two-seat carousel. Bike parking standards require there be a four- space bicycle rack. The site will be graded and re-seeded with grass to improve the surface. The hardwood nat- ural design will be low maintenance. There will be no outdoor lighting. The city will continue to develop the park with other improvements over time, Planner Carole Con- nell said. According to the appli- cation for conditional use, filed by the Planning Department’s Angoleana Brien, the proposed plan complements residential development as well as commercial development pertaining to the Gear- hart comprehensive plan. An estimate delivered in October listed a poten- tial cost of about $43,000. Installation pricing of $28,000, included in the proposal, is considered an estimate only. Lead time from purchase date is about 14 weeks. In November, the See Playground, Page A3 City staff, councilors salute retiring planner Cupples By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal Kevin Cupples attended his last Seaside City Council meeting as planning direc- tor this month. After 23 years with the city, Cup- ples retired Feb. 15. Whether a “toast or a recognition,” as described by City Man- ager Mark Winstanley, staff and city councilors had words of gratitude and good wishes for the outgoing planner. “We have been very, very lucky to have him here at the city of Seaside for these 22-plus years,” Kevin Cupples Winstan- ley said. “Kevin’s a very detailed person. We have always been able to count on the work that Kevin does, knowing that it will be correct and it’s going to provide guid- ance to the city in a man- ner that we know is very professional.” Cupples provided guidance not only as a planner but also in the area of emergency pre- paredness, Winstanley said. “Kevin is an expert in his field and truly a gentleman in the way he handles himself.” Cupples grew up in Scappoose and gradu- ated from Southern Ore- gon State University. He worked in planning for Coos County and then the City of Coos Bay before coming to Seaside in August 1998. The planning direc- tor serves as staff liaison to the Seaside Planning Commission. Department staff conduct research and prepare reports and findings to support land use decisions. The director leads a staff of three: code com- pliance officer Jeff Flory, emergency prepared- ness coordinator Anne McBride and adminis- trative assistant Jordan Sprague. “I want to thank the council and the city for giving me the opportunity to work with you all this time,” Cupples said. “I I know I’ve worked with a number of the council- ors as planning commis- sioners starting and then moving into City Coun- cil roles. I enjoy working with the city staff here.” Recently married, he said he had inher- ited property in northern Washington that needed his attention. “I really need to put that in the forefront of my family’s future and that’s really what I’m focusing on,” he said. “I’ve got lots to do. That’s really what I plan on focusing on — maybe doing a little bit of fishing and clamming.” People with Cupples’ background and expertise are hard to find, Mayor Jay Barber said. “You will be very difficult to replace.”