A4 • Friday, August 5, 2022 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com
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Vandenberg is honored at convention center retirement party
SEEN FROM SEASIDE
R.J. MARX
uss Vandenberg, general manager of
the Seaside Civic and Convention
Center, announced his retirement this
R
spring.
At his retirement party in the Seamist
room on July 28, community members and
city staff saluted Vandenberg as he prepared
to turn over the reins to Brian Owen.
As the center’s general manager since
2005, Vandenberg oversaw the day-to-day
management of the convention center that
includes administration, marketing, sales,
operations, fi scal responsibility and approval
of facility contracts.
He announced his retirement this spring.
Vandenberg said it was “tough when you
walk away.”
“I think it’s a process you go through
whenever you leave,” he said. “ I call it ‘good
relationships.’ You build relationships with
staff , you’ve got relationships with the public
and with the friends and the building. And it’s
tough when you walk away. It’s not an easy
thing to leave something that you developed
over the years. It’s an emotional time. It’s
exciting to start the new chapter.”
He and his wife, JoAnn, will return to
Southern California.
“We are back in our Southern Califor-
nia home that we’ve owned since before we
ever moved up here,” he said. “The intent
was always to go back at some stage because
of our extended family. My wife and I have
seven kids between us and 16 grandkids and
three great grandkids. They’re going to keep
me busy.”
R.J. Marx
Brian Owen and Russ Vandenberg, at Vandenberg’s July 28 retirement party.
‘IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL REALLY GOOD TO HAVE
ALL THE FRIENDS WHO HAVE COME BY AND SAID
GOODBYE. HOPEFULLY, IT’S NOT FOREVER AND I’LL
PLAN TO COME BACK AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR
AND VISIT WITH FOLKS IN THE BUILDING. BUT IT’S GOT
SOME MIXED EMOTIONS. I’M JUST VERY GRATEFUL FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN THIS GREAT CITY.’
Russ Vandenberg
Vandenberg led the center’s $15 million
renovation in 2018, paid for by an increase in
visitor room tax. Renovations and upgrades
to ballrooms, offi ces, the lobby, lighting, stor-
age and more are among the major changes
unveiled, as the facility expanded by 55,000
square feet, or 20%.
The project was noted for coming in
on-time and under budget, largely due to
Vandenberg’s stewardship and collaboration
with convention center staff and commission-
ers, contractors, management team and city
partners.
He managed the center during pandemic
restrictions and has booked groups for the
next 10 years.
Owen, who had served as CEO of the Sea-
side Chamber of Commerce since 2016, was
selected as executive director after a national
search process.
“I told Brian it’s like guiding a ship,” Van-
denberg said. “Looking ahead and making
sure the waters clear and if you see any dan-
ger signs, you fi x them before it happens.
And just to stay on course, I know it’s a cli-
che, but it’s a reality of the position. You’re
more or less the captain and you’re guid-
ing the ship and making sure it’s sailing
smoothly.”
Owen will have the option of continuing
the path it’s on, Vandenberg said. “Or maybe
you might see something diff erent with a dif-
ferent set of eyes looking at the building.”
Vandenberg said he leaves with mixed
emotions.
“It just makes me feel really good to have
all the friends who have come by and said
goodbye,” he said. “Hopefully, it’s not for-
ever and I’ll plan to come back at least once
or twice a year and visit with folks in the
building. But it’s got some mixed emotions.
I’m just very grateful for the opportunity to
work in this great city.”
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
People fi rst,
money second
I attended Monday night’s city
council meeting to support my
neighbor, Frank “Corey” Buck, in
his appeal of the conditional use
permit issued to his next door neigh-
bor for a vacation rental dwelling.
During the public comment por-
tion of the meeting, four of us spoke
about the interactions we’ve had
with the people who are renting
those VRDs and the negative impact
they’ve had on our lives, our neigh-
borhoods, and the infrastructure,
such as the increased demand for
electricity, water and waste disposal.
The issue regarding the multitude
of illegal VRDs in the area was also
addressed.
Unfortunately, the only takeaway
for the councilors was the matter
of the illegal VRDs. Not the nega-
tive impact that the licensed VRDs
are having on our quality of life,
which is slowly deteriorating. They
went ahead and denied Mr. Buck’s
appeal and approved the permit for
the neighbor after all. To say I was
disappointed would be an under-
statement. It’s like they didn’t hear a
word we said.
Recently, I received a document
regarding the new home construc-
tion across the street from me. The
owner/builder is looking to make
it into a VRD as well. Coinciden-
tally enough, he fi led his paperwork
just before the deadline took eff ect
requiring new construction to wait
two years before becoming a VRD.
I wonder how that happened.
Our city councilors have fallen
short of their responsibilities to
those they represent and serve. It
should be people fi rst and money
second. Not the other way around.
Marti Wajc
Seaside
Independent Party
nominates Laity
for state House
The Independent Party of Ore-
gon nominated Logan Laity to rep-
resent the North Coast in the Ore-
gon House of Representatives. The
Independent Party state nominating
caucus met to consider candidates
and was particularly impressed by
Laity’s policy vision, experience
working across party lines, and per-
sonal integrity.
Sal Peralta, the Independent Par-
ty’s coastal representative added:
“The Independent Party of Ore-
gon has long advocated for poli-
cies to address homelessness, hous-
ing aff ordability, and public safety.
These are key issues to us on the
PUBLISHER
EDITOR
Kari Borgen
R.J. Marx
North Coast, and we trust Logan to
be our champion in the legislature.”
Laity stated: “I entered this race
to ensure every person on the Coast
has the support we need to continue
to live here. As a candidate, I have
maintained a voice that represents
the people of our community I look
forward to representing in Salem.
Earning the nomination of the Inde-
pendent Party means that the move-
ment around this campaign speaks
for the broad views that exist on the
Coast and as state rep, I’ll bring that
vision to Salem.”
Logan Laity, a businessman from
Tillamook, is one of three candi-
dates vying for a seat in the legis-
lature to represent Clatskanie and
Astoria to Tillamook and Neskowin,
communities that make up Ore-
gon House District 32. Other candi-
dates in the race are self-described
Republicans.
The Independent Party of Oregon
represents 137,972 voters voters in
Oregon, plus independent leaning
non-affi liated voters. Laity is also
the Democratic Party nominee.
Mary McGinnis
Rockaway Beach
Signal wins awards at Better Newspaper Contest
Seaside Signal
Matthew Vann, R.J. Marx, Jonathan Williams and Emily Lindblom
contributed to the Signal award-winning design team.
Beyond egregious
To the Administration of Clatsop
County:
The following is my response to
the county’s pretext for a “customer
satisfaction survey” request.
It is beyond egregious as the
county continues to blackmail
voters with the threat of losing
$700,000 in tax revenue if Ordi-
nance 22-05, which permits short-
term rentals in unincorporated Clat-
sop County, is overturned.
Now using a publicly funded
county website under the guises of
an informational Q&A. The fact
remains that the $700,000 was “ille-
gally” gained in the fi rst place. I
might suggest that the county reach
outside its current county leader-
ship for guidance and assistance in
properly dealing with this referen-
dum. The county appears beyond its
depth in managing its way through
this issue.
As to the commissioners’ attempt
at appeasement by proposing caps,
that ship has sailed. There is no such
thing as half justice or half equality.
It is either right or it is wrong and
the county has been wrong from the
beginning when they created this
issue.
P.S. Has this “dramatic”
$700,000 number been inde-
pendently audited? I would like to
see the backup for this number, you
can redact names and locations.
Jim Aalberg
Warrenton
CIRCULATION
MANAGER
Samantha
Stinnett
ADVERTISING
SALES MANAGER
Sarah Silver-
Tecza
‘Clemency sought in 1997 double murder,’ took second place
for editorial column in the Oregon Newspaper Publishers
Association contest.
The Signal was recognized with asso-
ciate member awards from the Oregon
Newspaper Publishers Association for
work published in 2021.
In the annual Better Newspaper Con-
test, announced on July 28 and July 29
in Welches, the Signal won fi rst place for
design and second place for editor R.J.
Marx for best editorial column.
Marx received the award for “Clem-
ency sought in 1997 double murder,”
about the request for parole by Jesse
McAllister after “thrill killings” on the
beach in Seaside.
The Astorian was recognized with sev-
eral awards from the Oregon Newspaper
Publishers Association for work published
in 2021.
In the annual Better Newspaper Con-
test, The Astorian won fi rst place for Page
One design for the work of page designer
Matt Vann, editor Derrick DePledge and
former associate editor Jonathan Williams.
The newspaper won fi rst place for
graphics for the work of production man-
ager John Bruijn.
The Astorian took second place for
editorial page and third place for overall
website.
The Astorian was third for general
excellence.
Several reporters earned individual
awards.
Nicole Bales was second place for
enterprise reporting.
Erick Bengel was second place for
writing.
Ethan Myers was second place for edu-
cation coverage.
Williams was second place and Elleda
Wilson was third place for local column.
Reporters were also recognized for
their work at other Oregon newspapers
last year.
Bales was second place for education
coverage while at The Bulletin in Bend.
Abbey McDonald shared fi rst-place
awards for enterprise reporting and cover-
age of business and economic issues while
at the Malheur Enterprise in Vale, Oregon.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Contact local agencies
for latest meeting infor-
mation and attendance
guidelines.
MONDAY, AUG. 8
Seaside City Council,
7 p.m., 989 Broadway.
THURSDAY, AUG. 11
Seaside Convention
Center Commission,
5 p.m., 415 First Ave.,
Seaside.
Gearhart Planning
PRODUCTION
MANAGER
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS
John D. Bruijn
Skyler Archibald
Joshua Heineman
Katherine Lacaze
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHER
Jeff TerHar
Commission, 6 p.m.,
cityofgearhart.com.
Committee, 3 p.m., 989
Broadway.
TUESDAY, AUG. 16
THURSDAY, AUG. 18
Community Emergency
Response Team, 5 p.m.,
989 Broadway.
Transportation Advisory
Commission, 6 p.m., 989
Broadway.
Seaside Planning Com-
mission, work session,
6 p.m., 989 Broadway.
MONDAY, AUG. 22
Seaside School District,
6 p.m., 2600 Spruce Dr.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 17
Tourism Advisory
THURSDAY, SEPT. 1
Seaside Parks Advisory
Committee, 6 p.m., 989
Broadway.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 6
TUESDAY, AUG. 30
Seaside Community
Center Commission,
10 a.m., Bob Chisholm
Community Center, 1225
Avenue A.
Seaside Airport Advi-
sory Committee, 6 p.m.,
989 Broadway.
Seaside Planning
Commission, 6 p.m., 989
Broadway.
Seaside City Council,
7 p.m., 989 Broadway.
Seaside Signal
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