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July’s first town council meeting on the 13th gave the 45 residents attending plenty to discuss. There were two public hearings and a discussion on policing and safety. The latter brought Skagit County Sheriff’s Office staff Undersheriff Chad Clark, Chief of Field Operations Chris Baldwin, and La Conner detachment Sgt. Jeff Willard into attendance. Administrator Scott Thomas framed the town’s need for law enforcement services as both a planning and budget issue. Councilmembers had a five page report outlining “Options for Public Safety Service...
The first in-person town council meeting in 16 months brought some 45 people to Maple Hall July 13 Council was productive, passing three ordinances, but the public hearing on public safety and the unresolved status of the easement across the new Maple Avenue park next to the Landed Gentry 10 house subdivision dominated discussion at the start and close of the three-hour meeting. Honoring Maple Park restrictive covenant Resident Linda Talman’s opening comment, that she had trouble hearing in t...
To expand on the Maple Avenue property scorecard in last week’s Weekly News, for the record: 1. La Conner buys the Maple Avenue ballfield property from the Hedlin family. 2. La Conner creates a restrictive covenant protecting for the public “in perpetuity” 24,000 square feet. 3. La Conner creates three easements; one crosses the park parcel. 4. La Conner sells the remaining ballfield property, and the easements, to Landed Gentry. 5. As Maple Field, developer Landed Gentry presents an agreement for partial extinguishment of the park-crossing eas...
To be heard by our town administration, we were told by our town lawyer, Scott Thomas, to write to La Conner Weekly News. There seems to be a blocked pathway for citizens to reach our town administrators. Citizen letters of critical concerns go unanswered. So, if letters to the editor is the line of communication our town lawyer suggests, we should expect a reply to this letter via the same route. In the matter of exchanging clear information and concerns between our town administrators and their citizens, let the echo chamber of Maple Hall be...
The future use of the Maple Ball field and the statutory warranty deed, restrictive covenant and the 4,000 square feet missing from the park are really important community matters. But, back up a bit to decisions on use of this valuable publicly acquired property. If the ballfield had to go, I do not believe that market rate housing proposed by the developer and the Town result in a valued public purpose – which of course is the fundamental reason for Town action. And this failure in purpose applies not just to the Hedlin ballfield, but...
Dear Citizens, A contract was given to the council for discussion at the last minute last week so you are probably unaware of it. That is par for the town’s inability to provide transparency. Basically, the developer has proposed some outrageous language. The Easement Release Maple Ball Field agreement the town council received from Landed Gentry and discussed at their July 13 meeting gives no apparent advantage to the town. Encourage your favorite council member to vote against signing it. The deal is – Gentry would get what they said t...
Two Town panels have their work cut out for them as they address ways to enhance leisure time opportunities for La Conner area residents. Members of the planning and parks commissions on Tuesday jointly took initial steps toward updating the parks and recreation element of La Conner’s comprehensive plan, a process they hope to complete in draft form by September for Town Council and state review. “Every year,” Town Planner Michael Davolio said last week in a memo to members of the two commissions, “the Town undertakes the task of updating one o...
The once-a-decade redistricting process is underway across the country. The Washington State Redistricting Commission needs your input. Every 10 years, after the federal census, congressional and state legislative electoral districts boundaries are redrawn to ensure that each district represents an equal number of residents. The state’s population has grown by almost 13% since 2010. Current voting-district lines will shift to reflect this growth. Will they shift in ways that are fair and representative? That depends on good processes, good d...
The Town of La Conner collected $55,900 in sales tax revenue in June, 10% and $5,000 above 2017’s $50,818, the previous highest June report. After six months, La Conner’s sales tax receipts are $283,565, 86% the amount budgeted for 2021, averaging $47,261 monthly. These are by far the highest monthly and year-to-date collections in the past five years. If the trend continues, the annual sales tax revenue will top $550,000. The 2021 town budget estimated $328,202 will be collected. That may be exceeded next month. April sales are made dur...
The two-time defending state champion La Conner High School volleyball team has had few close calls in recent seasons. But a clothes call is part of the Lady Braves game plan this summer. La Conner players are serving up a five-week “Clean Out Your Closets” campaign, collecting clean and sellable clothes and household textiles as part of an eco-friendly team fundraiser. They are asking participants to place gently-used items in bags to be collected between now and the third week in August. “We would like everything by Aug. 20,” said head co...
The top talent in women’s basketball from around the world was in Las Vegas last week. So, too, were the sport’s best fans – including a contingent from La Conner. Cathi Bassford, Katie Bassford and Lauren Reynolds were among those who flew to Vegas for the WNBA All-Star Game and an exhibition contest between the U.S. and Australian women’s Olympic teams. The three are Seattle Storm season ticket holders. The team is among the most successful women’s professional hoop franchises, having...
La Conner High School teacher Daniel Castillo believes in giving his students all the tools they need for success. And thanks to a major building trades organization, he will be able to fill their toolboxes when classes resume in the fall. The Building Industries Association of Washington recently presented Castillo a check for $2,500 to purchase tools for a new introduction to residential carpentry class at La Conner that will be part of the school district’s expanded career and technology e...
Since purchasing the Scone Lady bakery from Christie Eichler in January 2020, D.J. Gallegos and Keneisia Smart-Gallegos have gotten some puzzled looks. When customers ask Smart-Gallegos whether she is the Scone Lady, she politely says no, she is the Scone Lady’s wife. Then she introduces her husband, D.J. – Mr. Scone Lady to his bankers. Still others tell Gallegos how glad they are that his mom reopened the bakery. Confusion vanishes with the first bite. Gallegos, who met “honorary mom” Eichler when he was earning his associate degre...
There are about 200 families living full-time on Fir Island. The Goods, this year’s Skagit County Pioneer Family of the Year, were among the first of those to put down roots, arriving before Washington was a state. There have been Goods on the island since the 1870s, when settler Edward Eady Good came from New Brunswick to farm some of the richest soil on the continent. “He bought up claims and owned almost all of Section 14 on Fir Island,” says Laurie Good Olds, a descendant who has collected, preserved and studied much of the family history....
Recovering from serious injuries can be a rough road, full of bumps and unforeseen obstacles. But the Mount Vernon Elks Lodge is helping make that journey smoother. As part of its ongoing bicycle recycle project, the Elks are providing adaptive bikes for those who cannot ride traditional models, allowing them mobility and the opportunity to exercise that might otherwise not be possible. A case in point involves a young woman who was in her teens when she received life-threatening injuries that...
September 11 is a date all Americans remember, obviously, in somber terms. But this year, at least in Skagit County, September 11 will also provide a positive spin. That is the day that the Mount Vernon Elks Lodge will gift donated bicycles, host a bike safety rodeo and hold prize drawings as part of a multi-phased service project benefitting children of all ages. “We are gathering used bikes, repairing them and gifting them back to the community,” Elks Lodge bookkeeper and member Debbie Denton, a La Conner area resident, told the Weekly New...
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee authorized the state Department of Ecology to issue an emergency drought declaration for most of the state July 14. A historically dry spring and summer, followed by a record-breaking heat wave have affected water supplies across Washington, prompting the Washington Department of Ecology to issue a drought emergency for most of the state. The only areas excluded from the emergency declaration are Seattle, Tacoma and Everett. Ecology, along with the departments of Fish and Wildlife, Agriculture and Natural...
Local moms are tackling a sport once blocked to young women. La Conner High School alum Bobbi Carlson Crawford and former La Conner business owner Liz Vargas have suited up several seasons for the Mount Vernon Warriors women’s football team, whose schedule this spring included a game against the semi-pro Seattle Spartans. The Skagit County team, launched four years ago as a fundraising vehicle for area youth sports, plays what can best be described as a tough brand of flag football. “We actually play in full pads and helmet,” Vargas, a team...
Monday, July 12 8:44 p.m.: Changed their minds – Report of three vehicles trespassing. The caller stated the subjects walked to the front porch, then abruptly left. Flats Rd., La Conner. 11:11 p.m.: 4th lingers on – Report of fireworks in the area. Park St., La Conner. Tuesday, July 13 8:20 a.m.: Interesting suspicion – Report of an abandoned vehicle in the back lot of the market. The caller said there is possible stolen mail in the vehicle. Morris St., La Conner. Wednesday, July 14 1:58 p.m.: Warning given – Caller...
This recipe makes two round eight-inch cakes. It is perfect for those with a sweet tooth and a wish for cake but you realize you are out of eggs. Some folks run to the store to buy a sweet treat. Or they may stock up on all the sweets they crave when they do their weekly grocery shopping. For the most part, I simply do a bit of baking. Ingredients Sugar, 1 cup Flour, 2 cups Baking powder, 2 teaspoons Butter, 1 tablespoon, melted Milk, 1 cup Brown sugar, ¼ cup Cinnamon, 2 teaspoons...
