Welcome to the Seaside Signal. In every issue and online, we endeavor to give you the local news you need to know.

‘A good running start’

The new year began with a new administration in Seaside. Mayor Steve Wright and newly elected councilors Steve Dillard, Tita Montero and Seth Morrisey took the oath of office on Jan. 9. In remarks, Wright credited former mayor Jay Barber for setting in place a strong foundation to give the new council a “really good running start.” With some key positions open — public works director, city attorney and library director — challenges remain. Read more here.

‘Did we win?’

That was the first question from Damar Hamlin after his on-field collapse of Damar Hamlin during an NFL football game. Skyler Archibald, the executive director of the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District, reflects on the incident, the response and lessons to be learned after a person suffers a cardiac arrest.

What can those of us that aren’t on a professional football field take away from the incident? 

Everybody into the pool 

Our contributing writer Katherine Lacaze provides a glimpse of the Seaside High School’s girls and boys swim teams and the dedication of their coaches Shane and Laura Jane Spell.

When 12 seniors graduated in 2022, Shane Spell recognized they were losing a significant amount of talent. However, he said this year’s team is shaping up great. With 21 students on the roster — 11 boys and 10 girls — there is a mixture of swimmers with past experience and newcomers who are trying a high school sport for the first time.

The swim season started for the Seagulls in mid-November, and they’ve been to four meets so far.

The teams are led by captains Logan Dennis and Sophia Shipley, who were voted by their teammates based on their leadership in and out of the pool.

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