Despite rainy weather, lots of folks visited the historic Grayland Community Hall on April 5 and 6, to see a driftwood collectors’ exhibit and competition that included divisions for as-found and crafted driftwood, coastal photography, glass floats, and flotsam and jetsam.
The occasion was the 52nd Annual Grayland Driftwood Show, which featured not only the competition for the best beach finds and creations, but also posters created by Ocosta Elementary School children expressing their interests at the beach, live music and other entertainment on the hall’s stage, crafts, art and food vendors, along with a beach treasure hunt for tokens redeemable for incredible hand-blown Ver de Mer glass floats.
Show winners
Competition at the show was keen with judges having a tough time picking their favorites in some divisions, with others offering obvious standouts. The following individuals earned recognition for their entries:
People’s Choice Award
The number of votes earned from show attendees determines the People’s Choice Award. This year’s most popular entry came from Grayland resident Michael Montgomery, who entered his three-ft. driftwood and rock lighthouse with a working light.
Judges’ Choice Award
After judging each division in the Driftwood Show, each year the members of the judging panel choose one work as their favorite. This year’s winner of the Judges’ Choice Award was Westport resident Debra Etherington for her three-ft. heron statue, created from driftwood.
The following individuals were the first, second and third place winners in each division in this year’s Grayland Driftwood Show:
Division #1: Youth Natural Driftwood
1 – Kayden (no last name or city listed)
2 - Robert Vedder, Centralia
3 - Kino Irving, Centralia
Division #2: Youth Creative Driftwood
1 - John Vedder. Centralia
2 – Savannah Lopez, (no city listed)
3 - Brian McPherson, (no city listed)
Division #3: Adult Natural Driftwood
1- Leesa Kidd, Grayland
2 - Sam Martin, Westport
3 - Bob Bedker, Tokeland
Division #4: Adult Creative Driftwood
1 - Debra Etherington, Westport
2 - Jerry Diles, Grayland
3 - Michael Montgomery, Grayland
Division #5: Glass Float
1 - Lisa Gillespie, Ocean Park
2 - Deena G. Lane, Westport
3 - Lori Woodland, Tacoma
Division #6: Flotsam & Jetsam
1 - Lisa Gillespie, Ocean Park
2 - Jim Anderson, Forks
3 - James Mecklin, Grayland
Division #7: Youth photography: no entries
Division #8: Adult Photography
1 - Leslie Handley, (no city listed)
2 - Leslie Handley, (no city listed)
3 - Lisa Gillespie, Ocean Park
Children’s Art Contest
Elementary school-age children in the community were invited to participate in the Driftwood Show’s annual Children’s Art Contest. Awards went to five Ocosta Elementary School students this year:
Third-grader Kendall McLaughlin won the Best in Show award for her drawing of a huge sun with everything the beach has to offer under it.
Other winners and their grade levels:
Marisa Frank – 2nd Grade
Payten Slosson – 3rd Grade
Hyeseung Song - 3rd Grade
Davina Anderson – 4th Grade
