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EDISON LOVES CHICKENS – On a sunny Sunday afternoon, Feb. 26, spectators crowded the sidewalks, watching locals march down the streets of Edison as part of the annual Edison Chicken Parade. Many participants wore chicken-themed costumes and had real chickens – and their children – in tow....
Disney and magic are synonymous. As are La Conner artist Bob Abrams and the famed mass media and entertainment conglomerate he first dreamt of joining as a pre-teen. So, it came as little surprise that Abrams, the 93-year-old former Disney illustrator, was able to work some magic of his own at the La Conner Swinomish Library last Wednesday. Abrams, a Pittsburgh native who grew up admiring the legendary Walt Disney, somehow managed to shoehorn his long and storied career into an extended...
Dave and Lynette Cram caught themselves coming and going at the La Conner school board meeting Monday night. The couple traded places as district leaders when Lynette Cram stepped down after eight years on the board and David Cram was hired as the new La Conner Schools deputy superintendent of finance, human resources and operations. The board's senior member, Cram resigned to avoid possible conflict-of-interest issues with her husband returning for his second tour as the school's fiscal chief....
Few in La Conner can remember saltwater flooding as severe as Dec. 27’s, causing nearly $2 million in damages and directly impacting two dozen residences and six businesses. Yet it was not dire enough to merit a formal Federal Emergency Management Agency declaration of emergency. And that means federal reimbursement will not be made available to those in La Conner and elsewhere in Skagit County who suffered flood damage caused by a “perfect storm” of events – seasonal king tides, low atmospheric pressure and strong westerly winds. Unfortu...
About 100 Shelter Bay residents attended the latest in a series of monthly one-hour town hall forums at the community’s clubhouse Sunday night, where a wide range of topics – including recent sanctions imposed on two board members – were addressed. Other subjects covered in prior meetings, including perhaps the sorest of subjects – the unauthorized tree-cutting at Rainbow Park in 2020 that resulted in a stiff fine imposed by the Swinomish Tribal Community Planning Department – were discussed as well. So, too, was the status of Shelter B...
You probably no longer bat an eye when an electric car passes by on the road. More novel battery-powered vehicles are soon joining the parade to help operators achieve their sustainability goals. Electric ferries are coming to Puget Sound and hybrid electric airplanes are being tested in Washington. Now, several Pacific Northwest fire departments have ordered their first electric fire trucks. Portland Fire and Rescue is scheduled to take delivery next month of the first electric fire engine in...
With March's arrival are a flurry of activities, not late winter snow but opportunities to join together in fun and games, literally, and, in one instance, to change, literally. There are also very real storm clouds hanging over Shelter Bay. The month's first joyous get together is the La Conner Rotary Clubs’ annual farmer and merchant dinner on the 6th in Maple Hall. All farmers and merchants get dinner and an evening of hearing from organizations of community plans and projects, ventures toward a more sustainable future. The La Conner Chamber...
Upon reading of the sign blight in Conway, I thought I’d go investigate more thoroughly. I went to where the proposed sign is to be put and watched the flight of the trumpeter swans as they left for the night. They don’t usually fly over the gas station, where the sign is proposed to go. They fly south along the hillside ‘til they get high enough to fly across the freeway, with Skagit Bay a couple of miles away! The sign’s only real destination has to be on their already existing 76 sign. The 10’ x 30’ sign will be just under the “76,” on pr...
There seem to be a lot of “crises” in Olympia – a housing crisis, an opioid crisis, a public safety crisis, a climate crisis. Attaching this moniker has adverse effects on people by creating a false sense of urgency and helplessness and driving otherwise rational people toward the irrational. Lawmakers better serve the public by toning down the rhetoric. Instead of stoking the flames of division and panic, legislators should offer a positive vision of hope, unity and calm. There is too much...
A few weeks ago I mentioned that lights based on light-emitting diodes (LEDs) use less energy than tungsten filament lights or fluorescent lights. LEDs also longer lasting. And, the cost of LEDs has fallen dramatically over the last 15 years, and is continuing to fall. However, those are not the only differences between LEDs and the older technologies. LEDs offer a variety of new and improved capabilities, some of which were never practical, or indeed possible, with older lighting systems. For...
The status of salmon in Washington state is not good and will not improve markedly without a substantial, sustained increase in funding, Gov. Jay Inslee’s Salmon Recovery Office State of Salmon in Watersheds report summarizes. The status: “Fourteen population groups of steelhead trout and Chinook, coho, chum, and sockeye salmon in Washington State are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.” The assessment is blunt: “No salmon species have been removed from the federal Endangered Species Act list in Washing...
Town officials have cited public engagement as a top priority going forward. Attendees at the Feb. 22 La Conner Planning Commission hybrid meeting at Maple Hall took them at their word. Much of the 45-minute session was devoted to public comments, with residents voicing concerns with Hearing Examiner David Lowell’s Feb. 8 decision to deny the appeal of a conditional use permit granted for a condominium complex at 306 Center Street behind The Slider Café. Georgia Johnson, a Center Street property owner, joined others in raising environmental is...
Burlington — U. S. Sen. Patty Murray discussed investing in value-added agriculture in Skagit County while touring the WSU Breadlab at the Port of Skagit Feb. 22. Murray, who serves as the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a roundtable discussion with Breadlab researchers and Port officials on some key federal investments to move the region forward. “I want you all to know just how serious I am about delivering federal investments to support the Port of Skagit and agricultural initiatives like Breadlab, which keep our eco...
La Conner’s tourist economy slowed a bit last fall, but not much, as the January tax revenue reports to the town council show. The Town of La Conner’s sales tax revenue of $43,391 is $1,830 higher than 2022’s total and the second highest ever for the month. The $4,333 in the Town’s renamed Special Use Fire Tax Revenue was also the second highest January ever, 5.5% above 2022. The $9,175 hotel/motel taxes collected is 12.6% below 2022 but less than $200 below 2020’s total. It is the third highest for the month. Revenues from utility programs sta...
Friends, family and fellow Town of La Conner staff members celebrated Maria DeGoede’s 20 year anniversary working for the Town last Friday – after work, of course. DeGoede was hired as the receptionist/billing clerk and began Feb. 11, 2003. She became deputy clerk before being promoted to finance director. Some 30 people came out to the Firehall Kitchen & Taphouse to surprise her. In the group were council members, the mayor, former employees and her mother, of course....
Due to a software glitch, the comparison for residents’ tax distribution from 2022 to 2023 does not include a second line item for local school districts in county tax statements. The line items for school districts were combined in 2023 giving the appearance of a larger increase than the actual increase. The 2023 current year tax amount due is correct. First half tax payments are due on April 30. Make payments online or by check and dropped in the county courthouse drop box or mailed using the tax coupon that came with the tax statement. T...
The Town of La Conner Public Works Department staff will be picking up yard waste the week of March 20-24. The crew will pick up small branches, clippings and other yard waste, but cannot take large limbs, grass clippings or anything in a plastic bag. Your one-time pickup cannot exceed one 60 cu ft. e.g. (5’x4’x3’) pile. If you live within the town limits of La Conner and want to schedule a pickup, call Town Hall: 360-466-3125 by 4 p.m. March 15th. Source: Town of La Conner...
Creative writers, whatever your age, get out your pens and power up your devices. “Seeds for the Future” is the theme of the Skagit County Historical Museum’s 3rd Annual Writing Contest. The Museum hopes to inspire writers and poets young and old from diverse communities and cultures within Skagit County to incorporate “seeds” while creating a poem or essay. The prompt: “Think of something that is being done or has been done within the county that may have a lasting impact.” The divisions: Youth ages 13 and younger; Teen 14-18 years old; Ad...
Despite a 10 a.m. tipoff, the clock struck midnight on the Cinderella La Conner Braves in Auburn Saturday. The No. 10 Chief Leschi Warriors clinched a berth at the Spokane Arena this week by defeating 15th seeded La Conner 68-41 in a loser-out state regional matchup. The Braves, who had upset bi-district favorites Auburn Adventist and Coupeville the week before, fell to a talented Chief Leschi team that controlled tempo throughout with a stifling full-court press, crisp transition game and...
They hit a roadblock in Chehalis Friday, but the path to Spokane this week is again clear for the La Conner High School girls' basketball team. The No. 6 La Conner Lady Braves fell 52-44 to third-seeded Napavine in state regional basketball action at W.F. West High School over the weekend, sending head coach Joe Harper's charges into a loser-out round of 12 matchup today at 3:45 p.m. against No. 11 Northwest Christian of Colbert at the Spokane Arena. The winner advances to the state...
Go down to the Penn Cove Musselfest in Coupeville this weekend, where there are a flood of food and activities to enjoy. On Front Street are a ton of activities. Mussel cooking demonstrations are at Coupeville's recreation hall The Blue Zone has entertainment for all ages and a 21+ beer garden. For kids, children activities are at the Whidbey Masonic Lodge For everyone is Shifty Sailors' Songs of the Sea, the town's band, performing at Front Street and Alexander. Critically, there is free...
The new exhibit opening at MoNA Saturday brought a crowd of distinguished guests, including Lilah Scanga, Bill Scanga, Dale and Leslie Chihuly, Katherine Scanga and MoNA Executive Director Stefano Catalani. The opening event was Feb. 18 from 1-5 p.m. Around 350 visitors came in total. MoNA is excited to have opened its three new exhibitions: 1) PERMANENT IMMIGRANT: Italo Scanga in the Dale and Leslie Chihuly Collection 2) GEPPETTO'S CHILDREN: Italo Scanga at Pilchuck Glass School 3) Learning...
The Stanwood-Camano Branch of the American Association of University Women is pleased to announce the opening of the 2023 Scholarship season. Applications for university students in their junior or senior year or in Master’s Degree programs will be accepted through April 29. Scholarships of $10,000 will be awarded to three applicants who are current residents of La Conner, Stanwood, Camano Island, Arlington or Lakewood areas or are high school graduates from these school districts. Applications are at:.aauwsc.org/scholarship. Source: A...
LIBRARIES, IMAGINATIONS AND COSTUMES, OH MY! – Fantasy Day Saturday saw over 1,200 people descend on the Anacortes Public Library for games, prizes, snacks, crafts and fantastical fun for all ages. Visitors dressed in their cosplay best to explore a maze, see original volunteer art and more created over the past few months by more than 100 volunteers. Staff estimates more than 800 volunteer hours went into the annual event. Librarian Diana Farnsworth, left, and Sydney Brady, public service m...
Jess Walter is in Whatcom County March 2-4 for five events for 2023’s “Whatcom Reads,” including a tips and suggestions session on writing. His 7 p.m. March 3 reading at the Mount Baker Theatre is free, but tickets are required. Information: whatcomreads.org/events/ How cold has your family been? Hopefully, they are not suffering in a difficult economic or political climate this year, or even in your lifetime, but reflect on the generations your family has been in America, or perhaps throughout its history: For how long has comfort been the n... Full story
