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Don’t let December’s rain, gray skies or fields of standing water distract you into thinking it has rained a lot. November maintained 2023’s pattern of rainfall below the monthly century’s norms. While precipitation came down 22 days, half of those were under one-tenth inch. It rained daily the first two weeks, Nov. 1-13, totaling 2.5 inches, 78% of the month’s 3.2 inches. Nov. 1-4 1.2 inches fell, which grew to 1.4 inches through Nov 8. That was the longest period of higher precipitation. Another inch fell Nov. 11-13. While there were anot...
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community has been awarded $2.8 million in three grants by the state's Department of Commerce. The Samish Indian Nation will get $1.4 million and the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe $750,000. In total Commerce awarded $52 million in grant funding to support climate resilience for 28 federally recognized tribes within Washington, as well as four federally recognized tribes with lands within the state. The funding is from Washington's Climate Commitment Act.Tribes...
This is going to be hard for our committed Republican neighbors, friends and family members to read, but being in a community and living in a democratic society obligates all of us to accomplish the difficult task of continuing to the end of this editorial. It seems we have been collectively engaged in an agonizing drama these past three weeks. The world watched and without any hesitation universally agreed that President Joe Biden’s performance in his debate with Donald Trump June 28 was a disaster. More than stumbling terribly, he was a p...
Perhaps in the entire theater world no character is as fortunate as Proteus in Shakespeare's' "Two Gentlemen of Verona." He enters in love, with Julia, and his best friend, Valentine. At play's end – spoiler alert – he is betrothed to Julia, with Valentine offering "Come, Proteus, 'tis your penance but to hear/The story of your loves discovered./That done, our day of marriage shall be yours,/One feast, one house, one mutual happiness." Go to Shakespeare's Northwest production of "Ge...
SEATTLE, WA – The League of Women Voters of the United States adopted a position in support of local news at its national convention in Washington, D.C. in June. Ninety-three percent of the 1,000 delegates from Leagues across the country voted for the position that "The League of Women Voters of the United States believes it is the responsibility of the government to provide support for conditions under which credible local journalism can survive and thrive." The LWVUS defines local news as "...
Lois Watson is the newest member of the Shelter Bay Community board of directors. Watson was appointed by the board at a special meeting June 13. Her term, through June 30, 2026, started July 1. She replaces Jan Paul, who resigned in April. The board elected Pat McGarry treasurer, replacing Paul....
If it is true for us commoners, that we are our own worst enemy, how multiplied it is for people in power, kings most of all. Shakespeare's Lear and Macbeth and Prince Hamlet, among his many royal figures, are the most well-known. This summer Leontes, king of Sicilia; takes the stage in Shakespeare Northwest's production of "The Winter's Tale." By turns tragic, comedic and romantic, the bitter cold results of Leontes (Derek Dong) jealously requires a banishment and 16 years passing to blossom...
The August primary election is here. Ballots will be mailed by Friday, July 19. Last week, Skagit County voters received the county’s official local voter’s pamphlet, mailed by the county elections office. Voters will choose candidates for the Nov. 5 elections for a U.S. senator, Congressional District 2 representative, 11 statewide offices for governor through insurance commissioner and a state supreme court justice. La Conner area voters reside in state legislative district 10. The senate seat and LD 10 Position 1 are contested. Can...
Skagit County League of Women Voter members have new T-shirts that read “LOCAL NEWS = DEMOCRACY.” They printed these ahead of their successful campaign to have the national League adopt this as a resolution in June: “The League of Women Voters of the United States believes it is the responsibility of the government to provide support for conditions under which credible local journalism can survive and thrive. “The LWVUS defines local news as accurate, in-depth coverage of government entities, including but not limited to, city council...
“Intense Heat Persists, Little Relief In Sight” was Monday’s WSU’s AgWeatherNet outlook through July 14 for west of the Cascades. Temperatures in the 80s are forecast through Wednesday for coastal areas. The end of the week summary is “60s and 70s expected.” The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory through 10 p.m. Tuesday for northern Puget Sound that included western Skagit County. The weekend after July 4 became warmer and warmer, with blue skies and temperatures reaching a record 87.5 degrees 5 p.m. Sunday for the date and 87...
Our country is in a pickle, politically, and, oddly, a vast majority of us seem to agree that our two major political parties are the primary factor. While more Republicans are enamored with their presidential candidate, Donald Trump, the polls show that most voters wish we had two different people to choose from to lead the country. Neither the Republican Party, as an institution – or its adherents – have any inclination of dealing with the deficits of their candidate, whether it is his age, his character or his criminal record. The Dem...
The La Conner tourist economy may be back on track. The June sales tax revenues of $58,778 reported to town council by the state’s Department of Revenue, are the second highest total for the month, only below 2022’s record. It is 10.6% above last June’s. This is April’s tax collection, the month of the Tulip Festival. The Special Use Fire Tax revenues, at $5,870 is 10.8% above last year’s and also the second best June. For the first half of 2023, sales tax revenues are at 44.8% of the year’s projected total while the fire truck tax is at 54.2%...
Second Congressional District Rep. Rick Larsen kicked off his re-election campaign in Skagit County June 27, telling some 30 supporters at Skagit River Brewery in Mount Vernon that this year voting will be a values election. The Democrat’s low-key remarks were twice disrupted by women bursting in and vehemently protesting his support for military aid to Israel’s war against Palestinians in Gaza. The first carried a sign reading, “Larsen sends Skagit taxes to BOMB BABIES in Gaza.” She shouted she was a Jewish school teacher, to stop the genocid...
The ancient Greek poet Homer’s “Iliad” is a 24-book epic of the Trojan War, originally told orally, the poet wandering village to village. At almost 28,000 lines, it was not recited, but must have been performed, the original rap. Fast forward almost 3,000 years to the present moment, to Glenn Hergenhahn-Zhao’s performance of “An Iliad” at the iDiOM Theater in June. This Poet walks onto a near empty stage, chairs and tables scattered about, some overturned, a dresser, large drop cloths hanging from the top of walls and on some of the furnitu...
Island Drug closed its Clinton pharmacy Monday, essentially going our of business. The company, owned by pharmacist Aaron Syring, started 2024 serving people with pharmacies in La Conner, Oak Harbor and Clinton. Syring shuttered his other two stores in January. Friday, June 28, Syring posted a long analysis on his website explaining the unreasonable rules and low payments from pharmacy benefit managers. They are hired by insurance companies to control prescription costs. His website article, “Why Pharmacies Close,” His website article, “Wh...
Tomorrow is the 248th anniversary of the Continental Congress passing the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The easy thought, the belief that the colonists rose up with one voice in kicking the Brits out and demanding self-representation and democracy is a nice story, but not completely true. The anger, energy and righteousness throughout the 1760s and early 1770s leading up to war with Great Britain came from a minority of the population. Historians estimate that perhaps 20% of people in the 13 colonies were ardent patriots working toward...
Last week the Federal District Court in Seattle entered a final decision in a case brought by the Swinomish Tribe against BNSF Railway and ordered the railway to pay $395 million to the tribe for illegal trespass across tribal lands from 2012 to 2021. This amount represents the net profit the railway made while it intentionally violated limitations contained in an easement agreement the railway signed in 1991. While the decision will likely be appealed and litigation will continue, it reflects t...
While observing vote counting "is like watching paint dry," Skagit County Elections Manager Gabrielle Clay told an audience of about 25 Monday evening at a Skagit League of Women Voters forum, the entire ballot preparation and vote counting and certification process is intricate and takes months from start to end of an election. Once voters cast their votes, a red-yellow-green step process streamlines the checking and counting of ballots. Clay reviewed a three step process for voting: Read the...
I have learned this at least by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. – Henry Thoreau, in “Conclusion” chapter, “Walden,” 1854 This issue is the 364th I have printed as the Weekly News publisher. It finishes my seventh year here. Next week, issue 365, begins my eighth year as owner of the La Conner Weekly News. It has been a great run. “Best job ever” has long been my mantra. I am blessed to ha...
June 20, 2024 -- The La Conner Town Council will hold a special meeting Monday, June 24 that will consist of a council retreat from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The retreat, at the Waterfront Café, is open to the public staff reported at the June 18 council meeting.. Mayor Marna Hanneman called the meeting today, Thursday, June 20. The June 25 town council meeting is canceled. The Town of La Conner posted its Notice of Cancelation at the same time today. Information: 360-466-3125, https://w...
The $46,949 reported in sales tax revenues to the La Conner Town Council in May by the state's Department of Revenue is the second highest 2024 monthly total, but below 2023's May collection by $1,123, 2.3%. The special use fire tax revenues were similarly down, 4.2% below May 2023, now $4,594. Hotel/motel tax collection was $11,740, 7.6% behind 2023's record May total, but also the second highest 2024 month. The May totals represent March collections and are typically the last low, pre-tourist...
Summer doesn’t arrive for another eight days, but it sure looked and felt like summer this past weekend. After two Sundays of overcast skies and rain pouring down, this week the La Conner Live Gilkey Square concert band Adrian Xavier & Ska Island and listeners were blessed with sun, blue sky, a mild breeze and temperatures almost to 70 degrees. May Sundays all summer long be warm, but not climate change induced too hot. Next Sunday it is Skagit favorite Chris Eger Band. Concerts start at 1 p.m. through Sept. 8. Bring your lawn chair. There is a...
Washington State University alumni will tell you that their classmates have fascinating careers and are doing wonderful things in every part of the state. As if to prove how varied these callings and careers are, in 2023 WSU Press published the "Evergreen Collection," essays detailing accomplishments of graduates and faculty first printed in Washington State Magazine over the last 20 years. The Skagit Valley is represented by the Roozen family and their Washington Bulb Co. The succeeding generation of ownership, after founder William, are all W...
An inch of rain May 21 led a total of 2.2 inches of precipitation over nine days and pushed the month’s total to 2.9 inches. That provided seven of the 10 days of measurable downfall. It is a marked contrast to last year’s 0.6 inches of rain. May’s rain total is 31% above the century average. This is the seventh wettest May since 2000. The six wetter years were each 3 or more inches, with only 2020’s 3 inches in the last 10 years. For the year, the 15.3 inches of rain is half an inch above the average for 2000-2024 and 8.6 inches, 78%, above 2...
Does director Alex Garland’s provocatively titled film “Civil War,” depicting exactly that in a near-future United States needlessly throw gasoline onto flames in a 2024 America that need no fanning? A newsreel playing in the background mentions the president (Nick Offerman) is in his third term. The U.S. Constitution limits presidents to two terms. Something is wrong enough that the nation is at war with itself. There is purposefully no background, no explanation. An improbable California-Texas secessionist alliance is battling the feder...
