Articles from the January 17, 2024 edition
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La Conner Drug closes Jan. 23
La Conner Drug Store, established in 1877, was recognized as the oldest continuous-running drug store in Washington State by the Washington Board of Pharmacy in 2014 – sometimes under different o...
Swinomish Channel search for missing woman unsuccessful thus far
Extreme tide changes on Swinomish Channel have made difficult the efforts by multiple agencies to find a 27-year-old Kirkland woman whose last known whereabouts was the La Conner waterfront early on New Year’s Day. “At this time,” Sgt. Brad Holme...
Marna Hanneman leads first town council meeting as mayor
A new year, a new mayor. It's been a long while – going back to January 2008 – since that sentence has applied to the Town of La Conner. Now it does. Former planning commissioner Marna Hanneman, who h...
Public safety must be a priority, state legislators say
Public safety should be a top priority for this year’s legislative session, Gov. Jay Inslee and bipartisan state legislators said on the eve of the 2024 legislative session. “We need additional officers on the street,” Inslee told reporters befor...
Building housing in the comp plan
Town of La Conner residents have two weeks to offer their two cents – or perhaps exceedingly more valuable recommendations – as possible amendments to the town’s comprehensive plan – and the development code, too. Submittals made through Jan. 31... Full story
La Conner School District report card
As we start off the 2024 year, I want to personally thank all of the parents and families of our students who every day navigate all of the obstacles in life while supporting their school-aged children. We strive to create a welcoming environment...
Thanks for great community support
“Look for the helpers, you will always find people who are helping.” The quote from Fred Rogers’ (Mr. Rogers) was his way of helping children find comfort when something bad happens. Over the last two weeks, my family experienced the truth and beaut... Full story
Reading is good for you
As a voracious reader, I was dismayed to read in the Jan. 9 edition of The Washington Post that 46% of Americans did not read a single book in 2023. Close to a million books are traditionally published each year in the U.S. Here in La Conner, we...
City of Anacortes water bill is wrong
For the past nine years I have complained in writing about the way the City of Anacortes reconciles the amount of money its wholesale (regional) customers owe for water. Last month, Anacortes billed the Town of La Conner $444 for 2021 and $5,540 for...
Healing our health care system
If you’ve been following my work in the state Senate, you’ve likely picked up on some themes. In all my work, I look at the state’s policy problems through a pragmatic lens of structure, discipline and accountability. But what’s the goal? In my view,...
GOP presidential caucus met in La Conner
Politics can get quite heated in this day and age. But on Saturday Mother Nature cooled more than campaign rhetoric. Extreme cold weather, with temperatures plunging into the low teens and below throu...
FD 13's CARES program reduces stress on 911 system
Skagit County Fire District 13 cares. In both deed and name. The district has implemented a proactive injury and illness prevention program that is providing medical care and assistance while reducing strains on the 911 system. Its coverage area...
Brayden Pedroza nets statewide hoops award
Brayden Pedroza has been a scoring machine for the La Conner High School boys' basketball team this season. He is also scoring points with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association...
Ivory Damien earns Skagit athlete of the week
Ivory Damien has a name not easily forgotten. But it is his polished game on the court that has given La Conner High School boys' basketball fans plenty of lasting memories. Damien, a guard equally...
La Conner boys, girls b-ball teams beat by 2A North Mason
La Conner had the home court advantage, but North Mason had the student enrollment edge when the schools’ basketball teams tipped off at Landy James Gym last Friday. The hosts came up on the short end of both non-conference tests, though the boys h...
66 birds/3 degrees: Go see this exhibit
As a birder and wildlife photographer I am keenly aware of the impact climate change is having on our wild neighbors. Still, when I saw Natalie Niblack's extraordinary exhibit "66 Birds/3 degrees," a...
Help for the vegetable garden novice
Now that I live in the beautiful, abundant Skagit Valley after thirty-plus years in an Alaskan coastal rainforest, I have the climate and desire to learn how to grow a vegetable garden. I turned to fellow Master Gardener Cathy Markham and asked her...
"The Empty Bowl Cookbook" poetry reading Saturday
The celebration rollout of the “The Empty Bowl Cookbook,” a new anthology published by the Madrona Project, is 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Pelican Bay Bookstore, 520 Commercial Avenue in Anacortes. Twelve writers will read their work along with other fav...
Anacortes wine festival canceled
The Anacortes UNCORKED Wine & Food Experience has been canceled because the Port of Anacortes Transit Shed Event Center has been closed to rentals, the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce board of directors announced earlier in January. The Chamber...
Bird enthusiasts to land at Maple Hall for Birding Festival
Bird lovers will flock to Maple Hall Feb. 3 and 4 for the La Conner Birding Festival. The festival marks the local return of the Skagit community’s celebration of winter birds. Art, education and family activities promise to inspire residents and vis...
Police Blotter: Skagit County Sheriff's Office
Monday, January 8 8:04 a.m. Vehicle prowl – Caller’s car was entered and gone through at about 3 a.m. Caller had ring cam video, but it did not show enough to ID anyone involved. Vehicle was unlocked and nothing was taken. Park St., La Conner. 8:54 a...
Community Calendar
NOT TO BE MISSED Jan. 20, 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Museum of Northwest Art Inside an Artist & Scientist Collaboration: 66 Birds/3 Degrees Museum of Northwest Art121 1st StreetLa Conner, WA, 98257 Jan. 20, 7 p.m. Pelican Bay Books, 520 Commercial,...
