Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

Articles from the March 24, 2021 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 17 of 17

  • Anelia’s is closing but memories remain

    Anne Basye|Mar 24, 2021

    No one in La Conner ever met Alice Yantos, but she is about to be missed in a big way. Alice’s granddaughter Jennifer Ferry has been cooking her grandma’s signature pierogis, cabbage rolls and other Polish delights on First Street since she and Matt Farrell opened their restaurant – honoring Alice, aka Anelia – in 2014. “It’s the best Polish food we’ve ever had,” said regular customer Larry Spaboni. “The pierogis are the best we’ve ever tasted, and we’ve had them in a lot of diffe...

  • Hurricanes storm past Braves in home opener

    Bill Reynolds|Mar 24, 2021

    Last Friday marked the first home baseball game for La Conner High in three years. But the youthful Braves, whose roster includes seven freshmen and two eighth graders, did not enjoy a total home field advantage. That is because La Conner was paired against NW2B rival Mount Vernon Christian, which had already played twice on the Braves’ diamond this spring. The Hurricanes, who for a third time brought a large entourage of fans, are using the La Conner field as their home venue this season u...

  • Mike Cladoosby’s death mourned by Swinomish, La Conner communities

    Bill Reynolds|Mar 24, 2021

    The Fourth of July will not be the same here anymore. Nor will home basketball games at Landy James Gym. Mike Cladoosby, the avid, longtime Swinomish fisherman and tribal elder who launched the famed Jughead’s Fireworks Stand in the 1970s and whose unyielding support of La Conner High sports teams resulted in a seating section of the school’s gymnasium being designated in his honor, died last Friday surrounded by family members. He was 87. Cladoosby’s “extended” family, of course, is rooted on...

  • State in Phase 3 recovery: OK to eat out with friends

    Ken Stern|Mar 24, 2021

    You can now eat out with your friends – or anyone else – in La Conner and across Washington. Monday, March 22 the entire state moved into Phase 3 reopening of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery. Citing decreases in COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations and the increasing rates of people getting vaccinated against the coronavirus, Inslee announced this newly created Phase 3 on March 11. Progress in controlling the pandemic will again be evaluated on a county basis, ending the regional metrics system. La C...

  • Creating affordable housing

    Ken Stern|Mar 24, 2021

    La Conner is growing. In 2021 its housing stock will increase with developments on and above Maple Avenue. Ten homes will be built on the current ballfield. Mayor Ramon Hayes’ Maple View complex five blocks south adds four more. On Snapdragon Hill, C.J. Ebert is developing lots for another seven residences. These will all be market rate homes, selling for whatever price the developer and buyer agree to. These high priced homes will be good news for the town government, increasing the property tax base and adding stable dollars to its budget for...

  • Lundsten leaves county planning commission

    Mar 24, 2021

    Statement of resignation read March 9, 2021 I am resigning from the Planning Commission, effective immediately. I choose not to serve with a group that inappropriately and actively has sought to repress free ex- pression of ideas, by me, other Commissioners, and the public. As you know, the Planning Commission censured me for disagreeing with them in public, outside of deliberations. I am not asking the Planning Commission or the Board to remove the censure. I have protested and done my best, and I failed to convince the Commission to change...

  • Happiness, happiness, you shall pursue

    Rabbi Joshua Samuels|Mar 24, 2021

    In last year’s World Happiness Report – published before COVID-19 changed our lives in profound ways – the United States ranked 18th out of the 153 countries studied. And in a Harris poll from a few years ago, 33% of Americans surveyed indicated they were happy. This suggests that roughly 67% of us are not very happy with our lives. No doubt the numbers are probably more dim these days. These statistics are baffling considering that to many of the greatest minds ever, achieving happiness is of the utmost importance, and we are f...

  • Incrementalism: the path toward an income tax

    Mar 24, 2021

    Ron Muzzall Senator You may be familiar with the logical fallacy of the slippery slope. Simply put, it’s the idea that a certain action or effort will eventually lead to a much larger negative outcome. As a rhetorical device, most contend it is an ineffective and disingenuous basis for an argument. However, the slippery slope is not a fallacy when there is evidence. In fact, the pattern of government is one of incrementalism. Large, sweeping changes in public policy are few and far between and the system forces compromise or minor tweaks to a...

  • KEL-KAHL-TSOOT MICHAEL JOHN CLADOOSBY, SENIOR JUGHEAD

    Mar 24, 2021

    Kel-Kahl-Tsoot was the hereditary chief of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. His great grandfather Kel-Kahl-Tsoot signed the treaty for the Swinomish tribe in 1855. After his passing the name was handed down to the late Henry Cladoosby, Mike’s uncle. After Henry’s passing in 1973 Kel-Kahl-Tsoot was handed down to Mike. Michael John Cladoosby, Sr. entered this world on August 16, 1933, born to Ernest Cladoosby, Sr. from Swinomish and Lena Shelton Cladoosby from Tulalip. He was the 6th chi...

  • TARA LIN (ROSENBERGER) LITTLE

    Mar 24, 2021

    We are heartbroken that a ray of sunshine with hair the colors of the rainbow departed this earth. Tara Lin (Rosenberger) Little, 40, of Oak Harbor passed away on Sunday, February 28, 2021, at Whatcom Hospice House. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee to Lawrence Rosenberger and Cheryl Lane. She is survived by her parents, beloved daughter Savannah, son Ryan, sister Jessica, nieces and nephews. She is also survived by Nate and Marilyn Welch, her dear friends “the biscuits” Corinne, Sami, Cha...

  • Maya Masonholder March Soroptimist honored student

    Linda Talman|Mar 24, 2021

    Maya Masonholder has framed her involvements at school around sports. As a part of the state champion volleyball team, the varsity softball team and the varsity basketball teams, she lettered five times. The evolution of school sports during COVID-19 is a story in itself! She also volunteers to support other teams. Most recently she was the manager for the La Conner high school boys basketball team and filmed the boys and girls junior varsity teams. Little league baseball and little league...

  • Knowledge Bowl team wins a second place

    Bill Reynolds|Mar 24, 2021

    The award-winning La Conner High Knowledge Bowl program is used to having all the answers. And, true to form, not even 2020’a universal campus lockdowns imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has kept team members from participating at a high level. By using technology and collaborating with other knowledge bowlers across Washington state, the team has found a way to practice and compete despite the virus crisis, which forced schools to start the academic year with remote learning formats. La Conner’s Chronically Iliad entry, com...

  • Citizenship role critical in making communities civil

    Bill Reynolds|Mar 24, 2021

    At a time when the national landscape is scarred with divisions wedged by alternative facts and cancel culture embraced by both left and right, time-honored values upon which participatory democracy was founded enjoy consensus support on the local level. Though political tribalism can send a polarized electorate to respective echo chambers for spin disguised as information, there remains a “we’re all in this together” mindset when it comes to recognizing critical aspects of citizenship upon which communities rely. This is especially true in th...

  • Fish and chips at The Rex

    Ken Stern|Mar 24, 2021

    Because I saw the small sandwich board sign for “Thursday fish and chips, 4-7 p.m.” by the gas pumps at The Rex when I delivered newspapers on a Wednesday last month, I invited my new New York friends for dinner and a bit of local color, given the place’s reputation when Stuart and Joyce Welch owned it 1999-2015. Wes and Rona Whiteaker and Chanan Spadaccini revamped the place a bit when they bought it from Brian Dean in the summer of 2019. Wes was in the kitchen with a huge bowl of his corn meal batter for their Thursday special. We got there...

  • Library celebrates national poetry month

    Jared Fair|Mar 24, 2021

    Every April, organizations across America celebrate National Poetry Month. It is a great opportunity to focus on this genre of literature. One of poetry’s great contributions is that it works to expand everyday words to hold more nuance, emotion and meaning. It helps us to share our deepest feelings and connect with others in our sadness and joy. Poetry contributes to shared understanding and helps us communicate with those around us in ways that can be difficult, especially in a time of social distancing, remote learning and canceled c...

  • Skagit County Sheriff’s Office POLICE BLOTTER

    Mar 24, 2021

    Monday, March 15 2:26 p.m.: Bad dog owner – Report of a dog lunging at people. Referred to Washington State Patrol since it was in the state park. Bay View Edison Rd., Bay View. Tuesday, March 16 9:15 a.m.: How loud?? – Caller reported a loud vehicle by his mailbox at 2:00 a.m.. Dodge Valley Rd., Greater La Conner. 1:08 p.m.: Federal offense – Report of someone damaging a locking mail box, trying to get into it. Valentine Rd., Greater La Conner. 2:30 p.m.: Scam report – Caller reported a phone scam. Flats Rd., La...

  • Baby Back Pork Ribs

    Patricia Aqiimuk Paul|Mar 24, 2021

    Simple ingredients. Straightforward. Delicious results! The low temperature and slow roasting, allows the full flavors of the ribs to blend wonderfully with the barbecue sauce. Plus the added benefit of slow roasted bones for our Miniature Australian Shepherd, Chili, who is now three years old. I rinsed the bones before sharing with Chili. Ingredients Baby Back Pork Ribs, 2 pounds Avocado Oil, 2 tablespoons Barbecue Sauce, 1/3 cup Preparation Prepare the roasting pan by applying avocado oil to...