Thursday night’s Seaside Chamber of Commerce award ceremony was a triumph, not only those who walked away with honors for “Best retail” and “Best New Business.” After two years of the pandemic, Seaside’s businesses did not only survive, but excelled and took the city in some new and exciting directions, be it retail, dining or hospitality. Particularly heartwarming was the “Byron” award delivered to Robin Knoll. The Byron, named after a 40-year volunteer Byron Meek, is presented to the person “who has shown outstanding qualities in community service.”

For those of us who know Knoll, we recognize his volunteerism — putting up flags at Seaside businesses at every federal holiday, directing traffic during a charity run or taking on one of countless tasks. His heartfelt acceptance resonated with the audience, who responded with a standing ovation.

Inspiration came earlier in the week, as Seaside police again returned to honor the memory of Sgt. Jason Goodding, the Seaside officer killed in a warrant arrest on Broadway in 2016. The remembrance was particularly poignant in light of incidents in the Pacific Northwest and around the country, including the shooting death of Donald Sohata. It highlighted the brotherhood of men in blue, and the deadly risk that they face every day.

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