Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

Articles written by Cora Thomas


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 8 of 8

  • Skagit River Poetry Festival will begin on Oct. 3

    Cora Thomas|Sep 11, 2024

    As the golden hues of fall arrive in the Skagit Valley, so does the opportunity to attend the Skagit River Poetry Festival: three days of poetic voices from around the nation and the world heard in La Conner. Poets and attendees will gather Oct. 3-5 here, on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples. One of the largest celebrations of poetry on the West Coast, the festival is presented by the Skagit River Poetry Foundation. The festival takes place in venues throughout La Conner. "Where...

  • Skagit poets holler and get community support

    Cora Thomas|Jul 31, 2024

    The Skagit River Poetry Foundation made the crowd holler as they hosted their summer party, Make Me Wanna Holler, on a cool Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Park on July 21. Every summer we host a music and poetry event to honor and thank our community for their support and raise awareness for our organization. As the grill and band heated up, board members and volunteers took food orders and chatted with guests as they arrived. Guests relaxed with their lunch in the amphitheater surrounded by towering firs with views of the Swinomish Channel and...

  • 'Holler' in La Conner with Poetry Foundation

    Cora Thomas|Jul 10, 2024

    The Skagit River Poetry Foundation celebrates the summer sun by "making you wanna holler" at its free, fun and family friendly "Make Me Wanna Holler" from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, July 21, in beautiful Pioneer Park. Come for live music, a barbecue and poetry open mic. The delicious food for purchase includes burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, beverages and vegetarian options. Rock the afternoon away with the Delta Promenade Band. Enjoy acoustic delta, country, ragtime and hokum blues songs on guitar,...

  • Two auctioneers work with a crowd

    Foundation auction proved 'The Force' of Skagit poetry

    Cora Thomas|May 8, 2024

    "The Force" was with the Skagit River Poetry Foundation on Saturday May 4th, Star Wars Day, as 125 community members gathered to support our nonprofit at our fourth annual auction at historic Hillcrest Park Lodge in Mount Vernon. We want to thank everyone who celebrated with us and our donors who could not attend as we hosted our Star Wars-themed fundraiser – even Darth Vader made an appearance. We are happy to announce that in only three hours the love and support of our guests raised over $...

  • Poets use the force for May 4 auction

    Cora Thomas|Apr 10, 2024

    The Skagit River Poetry Foundation invites our community to a galaxy far, far away and presents an evening fit for a Jedi at their annual auction, A New Hope: “May the 4th” (Force) Be With You from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 4 (Star Wars Day), at Hillcrest Park Lodge in Mount Vernon. This “Star Wars”-themed extravaganza will appeal to young and old alike as they take a trip through the Foundation’s history and share their mission of supporting literacy through poetry. The featured event will be the live and silent auction where attendees will bi...

  • Anne Schreivogl creates 2024 Poetry Festival poster

    Cora Thomas|Feb 7, 2024

    Last week the Skagit River Poetry Foundation revealed its 2024 Poetry Festival poster art by Fidalgo Island artist Anne Schreivogl in a ceremony at the La Conner Rotary Club's weekly meeting (Weekly News, Jan. 31). The whimsical poster sets the stage for the festival and invites people to "feel that magic ... that spark is always right there when I've attended the festivals," Schreivogl says. The festival is community driven and not a standalone event. The Foundation puts into action learning...

  • Cora Thomas|Jul 5, 2023

    The Skagit River Poetry Foundation held its third annual auction June 24 at Hillcrest Park Lodge in Mount Vernon. One hundred and twenty five supporters gathered to raise funds for their mission of cultivating literacy and changing lives through the power of poetry. It was indeed midsummer. The theme was Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The whole place sparkled and shimmered with fairy dust as the decor, those who wore costumes and auction items imbued the evening. As guests arrived, they were greeted by volunteers, then had many ch...  Website

  • Storyteller Will Hornyak performs March 14

    Cora Thomas|Mar 8, 2023

    Join Will Hornyak on a storytelling journey 7 p.m. March 14 at the Tim Bruce Performing Arts Center on the La Conner School District campus. Hornyak will share the Celtic story of "Erin's Daughters: Ireland's Hag's, Heroines, Warriors, Saints & Sorceresses" with Celtic musicians Jan Peters and Dale Russ at his side. Celebrate with us for a little St. Patrick's Day fun. Presented by the Skagit River Poetry Foundation. Donations are appreciated at the door. The event is for mature audiences age...