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The Town of La Conner’s hearing examiner will have another look at a conditional use permit for Brandon and Kate Atkinson’s three story condominium building at 306 Center Street. The Town of La Conner, its fire department, resident Linda Talman and the Atkinsons filed requests for reconsideration of examiner David Lowell’s May 11 decision between May 12 and 18. The Town request asks first for a reconsideration of interpretations of the municipal code for corner lot setbacks, to eliminate the 25-foot rear yard setback for more flexibility in pro...
An alliance of Anacortes arts groups has applied to ArtsWa, the state panel for designation of creative district status in the historic downtown area, a process outlined during a one-hour public meeting at the Anacortes Community Theatre May 18. “A creative district has been a dream of ours,” said Anacortes Community Theatre President T.J. Fantini, who noted that the arts are just now rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were one of the first industries to shut down,” he said, “and we were one of the last to come back.” Developed b...
The people have spoken and three newly elected Shelter Bay Homeowners Association board members vow to continue listening. Judy Kontos, Dan McCaughan and Nancy Shimeall were announced as winners at the association’s annual meeting May 21, following the tally of electronic and mail-in ballots. All three committed to fostering sustained dialogue and assuring transparency in decision making, a continuation of the examples they set in their campaigns. Then they met frequently at small neighborhood gatherings. “I’m a good listener,” McCaughan, a two...
Monday is Memorial Day, the time this nation pauses to remember those who have died, as soldiers and in support of the many wars, declared and not declared, in the almost 160 years since our Civil War ended. “These honored dead “ Lincoln declared at Gettysburg in 1863. No one loses their life in war. Those are lives ended, snuffed out too soon, before their time, unexpected and not wanted to be sacrificed. Those lives were people loved, known, neighbors, friends, family, children and parents. These honored dead were doing their job, normal tas...
This is a once upon a time story set in our place, right here. There is not a palace but a property, and a historic La Conner couple, Donna and Gerald Blades, are at the heart of it. The Blades owned an Exxon gas station on Morris and Fourth streets, where the Slider Cafe is now, and the property behind it when those lots were zoned residential. In 1986 they must have worked arduously, lobbying the town council to rezone the three lots facing Center Street, then spelled Centre – a staff sign painting misspelling, I heard – for...
The March Point Heronry is the largest heron nesting site on the west coast of the United States and provides critical genetic diversity for the health of these beloved local birds. Due to the sensitive nature of the nesting herons, the land the March Point Heronry is located on is?closed?to public access. Human disturbance can lead to unsuccessful breeding or colony abandonment. Skagit Land Trust manages the March Point Conservation Area and asks that the public please respect the closed status of this critical nesting area. However, the...
The Rotary Club of La Conner, in partnership with La Conner Elementary School, would like to thank La Conner and the surrounding Skagit Valley for your kindness and generosity for our March Community Project “Snacks for Students.” Thanks to all of you, it was a tremendous success raising $1,600 and 80 pounds of snacks. Club President Marty Pease thanks Christi King (Rotary Club) and Tammie White (Elementary School Social Worker) for sponsoring the project to stock the student pantry. With a heart for children in their learning and literacy, the...
The introductory line to the Port’s Tuesday public session on the future of the La Conner Marina was “(we) have property ready for development.” Those words are frightening to many of us in La Conner who have experienced the Town’s eager approval of outsized, inappropriate, unimaginative and even destructive developments. We have enough trouble (and virtually, no success) keeping our own administration from facilitating oversized construction projects. And now here comes the Port – after months of study and conversations with their c...
A friend thought this was worth sharing and so do I: “There’s a strange odor in the living room,” my daughter, a first-time mom with a newborn and an acute sense of smell, said. I knew at once that the crawlspace of our vacation rental had been homesteaded by some critter. Rats? Raccoons? I fervently hoped it would not be otters. Pest control confirmed that a large animal had been making a lair. Not rats. There was evidence of an entrance under the house. We closed it, blocked other potential ones and set up a surveillance camera.. That night...
Passage of national Title IX legislation 50 years ago began leveling the playing field for female athletes. Now, five La Conner High School senior girls have signed letters of intent to compete for college athletic programs next school year. Juna Swanson, Sarah Cook, Rachel Cram, Emma Keller and Emma Worgum were front and center at Landy James Gym May 17, with their friends, family members and school staff during a 45-minute collegiate athletics letter of intent signing ceremony. “This is a s...
La Conner High School track standout Ellie Marble has qualified in four events at what will be the first state 2B track and field meet in three years starting Thursday, May 26 at Eastern Washington University. She will compete at Cheney in the 300-meter hurdles, shot put, high jump and 4x200 meter relay after having helped lead the Lady Braves to a second-place team finish at bi-district trials in Chehalis last week. Marble placed second in the shot, fourth in the 300 hurdles, fifth in the high...
Summer Reading is upon us and the theme this year is: Oceans of Fun! Sign-ups begin June 1 and are available at the Library. We will have a craft activity to kick things off on June 11 from 12:30-2 p.m. Stop by and see us! Construction update There is a great deal of activity at the construction site at 520 Morris street. Tiger Construction continues to do a fantastic job and runs a very clean site. The cement ramp is being installed along the length of the building leading to the south entrance. Numerous other trenches and piles of rock are...
Sunday, May 15 3:29 p.m.: Threat with weapons – Caller was driving on I-5 and witnessed a driver and its occupants smoking off of foil. Caller followed them to the Conway Shell and confronted them. Driver exited his vehicle with a baseball bat and another passenger flashed a gun. Caller pulled away. Main St., Conway. 8:01 p.m.: Suspicious photographer – Caller reported a black SUV was in the area taking pictures and had already left. Channel Dr., La Conner. Monday, May 16 9:03 a.m.: Abandoned cars – 3 vehicles have been...
A Sunday evening meal that includes salmon is always enjoyable. I recently paired it with steamed brown rice and asparagus cooked in olive oil with fresh garlic. Kevin’s favorite part is the tail. After it is cooked, I cut it into serving size portions, with one lemon slice on each serving. We save one piece to crumble up for our Miniature Australian Shepherd, Chili. She loves salmon. Ingredients Salmon, one side Olive oil, 2 tsp Butter, 1 tbsp Lemon, ½ sliced thin Seasoning of choice Tin...
Driving to work, Rachael Sobczak passes acre after acre of her ingredients. The 12-year La Conner resident is owner of Water Tank Bakery, which opened last June at the Port of Skagit. She crafts sourdough bread, cakes and cookies from 100% locally milled flour made from Northwest grain. A baker for nearly 20 years, 10 of them with the Breadfarm in Edison, Sobczak was selling bread from her home when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Demand snowballed for product, then known as Rachael and Bread....
How best to redevelop a 13-acre section of La Conner Marina was the issue Port of Skagit officials put before town leaders and residents at Maple Hall Tuesday evening, May 17. The one-hour joint Port-Town meeting, billed as a public visioning session, was an opportunity for the community to share their long view priorities for how the marina south basin area, built in 1970, might be reshaped in the coming decade to meet the challenges of a changing economy. The Port is considering a makeover...
Monday is Memorial Day, the time this nation pauses to remember those who have died, as soldiers and in support of the many wars, declared and not declared, in the almost 160 years since our Civil War ended. “These honored dead “ Lincoln declared at Gettysburg in 1863. No one loses their life in war. Those are lives ended, snuffed out too soon, before their time, unexpected and not wanted to be sacrificed. Those lives were people loved, known, neighbors, friends, family, children and parents. These honored dead were doing their job, normal tas...
