Skulls can be cool, but they can also be kinda creepy. Just ask Norah Schmidt, LEFT, who had to receive a little comfort from friend Nina Olina after taking in the taxidermied skulls on display by the Friends of Willapa Wildlife Refuge at the Columbia-Pacific FarmerÕs Market last Friday.

LONG BEACH Despite the puddles at their feet and the wind carrying icy raindrops underneath their tents, Columbia-Pacific Farmers Market vendors kept sunny dispositions Friday afternoon as the event made its debut in downtown Long Beach.

Running from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. each Friday through the end of September, the market had shoppers as early as 2:30 p.m. last week.

The first hour of the market was full of people, says Gayle Borchard, who developed the market. We had 275, possibly 300, attend on the first day.

In rain slickers and under umbrellas, market volunteers welcomed shoppers and sold Columbia-Pacific Farmers Market aprons and totes.

On site for the opening day was Nahcottas Rutabaga Ranch, selling potted plants of lettuce, celery, lemon balm, napini, rose de berne and Juliet tomatoes. Also selling plants and produce were Green Angel Farms, Alizabeth Buck, and the Veggie Girls from Glory B Farms at Grays River.

Goose Point Oysters, from Bay Center, sold fresh oysters and accompaniments; Astorias Blue Scorcher Bakery Café had a beautiful display of bread, cookies, scones and other tantalizing baked goods; and Long Beachs very own Surfer Sands kept folks warm with cups of coffee.

Other vendors that will be added over the coming weeks include: Cranguyma Farms, Long Beach Coffee Roasters, Cupcakes for Kids, Fred Johnson of Naselle, Smith Creek Greenhouse of Raymond, Naselles Silver Leaf Farm, Jacobs Creamery from Doty, and A&B Farms out of the Willamette Valley.

There are many more weeks of fresh food products to come, and Borchard says shes already satisfied with the results. Im still smiling, my feet dont quite touch the ground yet even though I was soaked.