Guests and community leaders from around the North Coast swarmed Pacific Coast Medical Supply Monday evening to celebrate the completion of the remodeling of the historic Fisher Brothers’ building on Astoria’s waterfront. Mayor Willis Van Dusen, above left, performed one of his most enjoyable duties as the community’s chief executive by joining owners Holly and Norm Stutznegger, above right, wielding a giant pair of scissors to snip the ribbon. The Daily Astorian’s LADDIE WEIDOW was on hand to capture the jollity of the moment.

The winning number was 160 at the raffle during the annual Lower Columbia Hospice Barbeque and Auction in July. The winning ticket was held by Delvin and Beverly Laukala of Auburn, Wash. The prize provides them with a round-trip for two to anywhere in the continental United States plus Hawaii, a $1,000 vacation package, and a free night at a Portland airport hotel. The Laukalas have driven down from Auburn for the last three years to attend the auction with friends from Seaside. Delvin bought four raffle tickets the night of the auction.

Seaside High School teacher MARK MIZELL dropped off this photo

of Ian Shepherd, above left, of Cannon Beach and Rianna Norman, above right, of Seaside going for a swim (intentionally) along one of the mellower stretches of the Upper Klamath River. Mizell wrote about the youngsters’ Southern Oregon trip in his column published in Thursday’s edition of The Daily Astorian. Some students enjoyed the outing so much they actually asked if they could forgo the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland next time and just go rafting! The Ear, who considers the Bard’s genius to be sweet music, was very offended.

Crews begin work on the Tapiola Playground.Pacific Power’s charitable arm, the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning, has awarded a $5,000 grant to the Astoria Tapiola Park Project. Pacific Power donated construction equipment and almost a dozen journeymen volunteered one evening to dig holes and ready the ground for building the new playground, explained Mike Rick, Pacific Power’s operations manager for Clatsop County.

“This project was a priority because a new playground was needed to provide Astoria’s kids a safe and nearby place to play,” Rick said.

The Tapiola Playground after construction.A year ago, the main structure at Tapiola Park collapsed and was removed. The community worked to build a 15,000 square-foot playground, Astoria’s largest and most popular park. Local cultural and historical features were incorporated into the final design, and materials were donated and purchased. About 3,000 volunteers participated in its construction.

“From an abandoned playground with a few squeaky swings and an old teeter-totter, the entire park is now a symbol of local history and community,” said Sheila Holden, Pacific Power’s regional community manager.

Many folks who work for the Ocean Beach School District haven’t yet met the new superintendent, RAINER HOUSER, who started July 1, but they’ve already discovered that he has clout. On the first day of school, Aug. 29, he’s invited a guest to give a pep talk to staff. It’s none other than TERRY BerGEson, Washington state Superintendent of Public Instruction. In addition to friends in high places, Houser brings 16 years teaching experience, 15 in administration, plus nine years as an executive for the Washington Association of School Principals, to the job.

The Griffin Gallery, in downtown Ilwaco, Wash., opened its doors to a capacity crowd June 25. The grand opening was a chocolate and champagne affair, catered by Rebecca’s Canoe Room, and featured an eclectic mix of pastels, watercolors, encaustics, photography, metal and wood sculpture. Artists Carol Chellino, Jeff Dorgay, Chris Goodwin, Anna Lee Keefer, Jack Olson, Bruce Peterson, Jimmy Pickering, Marie Powell, Dian Schroeder and Dirk Sweringen were all in attendance to greet the 100 to 150 visitors.

Gallery owners Bruce and Wendi Peterson are also proud to show a sampling of “Forgotten Object” sculptures by Chris Bivens and watercolors by the late John Campiche, a peninsula legend for more than 50 years.

Housed in the same facility is “Wendi’s Attic,” a small antique shop featuring Wendi Peterson’s much sought-after collectibles from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s.

The Griffin Gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at 112 First Ave. S. in Ilwaco.

MEGAN COLE’s one-woman play “The Wisdom of WIT” in Manzanita during July raised $4,000 for the Rinehart Clinic. The Wheeler-based clinic has an open-door policy of providing medical care for all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

The play features an intellectual woman diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. “She finds out that her intelligence isn’t enough to get her cured,” said PATTY RINEHART, owner of the clinic. Rinehart said the play was a great success, with audience members staying afterward to discuss the issues of death and dying that were raised.

Rinehart said Cole is working with medical students in Texas on empathizing with their patients.

Send us your ears! If you have an item for In One Ear, send it to Patrick Webb, Managing Editor, The Daily Astorian, P.O. Box 210, Astoria OR 97103 or e-mail pwebb@dailyastorian.com. Include a daytime phone number for follow-up calls.