Happy Fourth!

America takes a time-out and the North Coast is bulging with visitors. They’ve come for the fireworks, parades and parties. Seaside’s July Fourth fireworks celebration, funded by donations, begins at 10 p.m. on the Prom. Western Display Fireworks is producer of the 20-minute show, as they have been for “decades and decades,” Heather Gobet, president of Western Display, said. The show, with planning and purchasing of fireworks, starts almost a year in advance, she said. Fireworks are computer choreographed and fired using the Starfire system. “It’s put together like a puzzle that has to be put together a certain way to have the desired effect,” Gobet said. Fireworks will be fired from multiple queues creating a “pyromusical element” to the show using a crew of 12.

— Turmoil in Gearhart —

Gearhart’s City Council meeting on Wednesday will be Zoom-only as the city takes security precautions after false reports of gun threats.

Conversation on private Facebook pages has drawn statements from Bowman and Clatsop County Sheriff Matt Phillips regarding “fabricated information” contained in the posts by members of the groups, designed to malign the city administrator.

The reports come in the aftermath of the city’s bond for a new firehouse and police station north of the city. Throughout the campaign, social media played an outsized role in the ongoing debate. Read more here. 

— Winstanley’s farewell —

Mark Winstanley attended his last city council meeting as city manager last week. As an Oregon State University graduate, he applied for a job with Seaside when his father-in-law notified him of a newspaper ad for a finance manager position. Winstanley started here in 1985, becoming city manager in 2001 until his retirement.

Dan Van Thiel, the city attorney, was appointed in 1969 and was possibly the only man in the council chambers Monday to have worked directly with the city longer than Winstanley.

“I’ve known this guy for a long time,” Van Thiel said. “I’ve seen a lot of city managers over the years I’ve practiced. This gentleman has represented this community with integrity. And I guess all I could say is ‘Well done.’ He is a good and faithful servant. He’s done an excellent job. He truly has. I’m going to miss him.”

Enjoy the holiday and thank you for reading the Signal and subscribing.