Thank you for your interest in reading The Astorian. Here are a few stories that you might have missed this week:

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Constance Waisanen, a financial adviser and engineer, has built a life and legacy on the North Coast.

She stepped up and purchased the Performing Arts Center from Clatsop Community College when it was at risk of closing, preserving the community space.

She also donated $100,000 toward Columbia Memorial Hospital’s expansion project.

“I was raised with just a really strong value that for those to whom a lot has been given, a lot is expected,” Waisanen said. “I am a financial adviser so I can see the numbers. I’ve got enough money to live the lifestyle that I want to live. I mean, I don’t have any interest in staying at Hilton hotels all over the world or taking cruises or buying a yacht or any of those frivolities …

“… I just felt like I would rather give my money away now, than when I’m dead. And so why not now?”

Read the feature by Abbey McDonald by clicking here.

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Clatsop County could join other counties and cities in Oregon in asking voters in November to approve a two-year moratorium on psilocybin manufacturing and service centers.

The Oregon Health Authority plans to issue final regulations in late December, shortly before the state begins accepting licensing applications in early January from manufacturers and people looking to dispense psilocybin.

Voters in Oregon approved Measure 109 in November 2020, which legalized psilocybin for therapeutic use for people 21 and older, the first state in the country to do so.

The temporary freeze would give the county time to review the issue and potentially adopt local time, place and manner restrictions on the operations.

See the story by Erick Bengel by clicking here.

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Astoria leaders are stressing that designs for a renovated library are conceptional and would be shaped by public feedback if voters approve an $8 million bond measure in November.

The bond would help finance a $10.6 million renovation of the 55-year-old library on 10th Street.

“I think generally we’re going to shake that clean,” Paul Benoit, the interim city manager, said, likening the process to an Etch A Sketch drawing toy. “We know sort of the general direction, but through working with an architect, engaging the public — really now knowing that we have a budget to do a project — what is it going to look like? What are we going to achieve? What does the public want to see?

“I just want to assure the public that as we go through schematic design, that there’s going to be tremendous opportunity for input.”

Take a look at Nicole Bales’ report by clicking here.

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