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The book had closed on this year’s Canoe Journey, but new chapters were written on Swinomish Channel last weekend. Tribal racing canoes were on the water as a main main highlight of the three-day Swinomish Days festival the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community hosts to celebrats traditional Coast Salish history and culture. The Aug. 9-11 gathering drew participants, spectators and guests to Swinomish and La Conner from throughout the Salish Sea region with areas in and around John K. Bob Ball Park...
An off-the-charts record: The $73,968 Town of La Conner sales tax revenue is the highest single month collection ever, for any month of any year. It is $18,789, 34.1%, higher than the July 2023 collection, which set a record last year. Records were similarly set for the special use fire tax, at $7,302. It is also its highest ever monthly total and $1,908, 35.4%, more than July 2023. The $24,180 hotel-motel tax collection is 47.1% above last year and sets a July record. These are May collections. The state’s Department of Resources reports on a...
With an unknown but relatively small number of votes left to count in state legislative district 10 (LD 10), the November races are set. State Senator Ron Muzzall’s (R-Oak Harbor), with 48.3% of the vote, leads by 1,488 votes districtwide in the Aug. 6 primary race for his legislative seat against Island County Commissioner Janet St. Clair who has 46.6% of the vote, and Camano Island resident Denny Sandberg, who has 5.9% after the Monday, Aug. 12 ballot tallies in the three county district. Muzzall has 24,359 votes; 2,390 are from Skagit C... Full story
As the state enters what is historically its toughest month of the year for wildfires, large blazes continue to burn in central and eastern Washington and smoke could be on the horizon on the west side of the state. But state officials aren't too worried – yet. Washington's wildfires have burned more acres than the last two fire seasons, but the number of overall ignitions remains low, resources aren't severely stretched and large fires are being contained. "We've made it through July, we've mad... Full story
The Town of La Conner Public Works Department is continuing their annual fire hydrant flushing and valve checking in August, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. If your water is discolored, run cold-water until it clears. If the water does not clear, call Chris Smith at 360-929-1004 or Chip Sherman at 360-840-3684 for assistance....
La Conner residents are asked by the City of Anacortes and Skagit Public Utility District to voluntarily reduce their water use by 10% due to seasonal low water flow in the Skagit River. Anacortes supplies La Conner’s water. The Washington State Department of Ecology has established minimum instream flows designed to protect fish habitat of 6.54 billion gallons per day for the Skagit River. In August, when the river’s flow levels fall below that number, Anacortes and the PUD are required to notify customers to conserve water voluntarily. The... Full story
Skagit Valley arts and cultural nonprofit organizations can request funding from the Town of La Conner Hotel/Motel tax fund for 2025. In 2023 5The La Conner Town Council granted $34,650 to nine community organizations and another $90,000 to the La Conner Chamber of Commerce. Over $217,450 was allocated for internal, Town projects, primarily Maple Hall improvements, the Morris and First street restrooms and landscaping. Last year hotel/motel tax revenues were $195,784. The 2024 budget projects $1... Full story
I just read an e-mail blurb from a Tunde Wackman who is staff at World Central Kitchens. The New York based non-profit who is working non-stop in Ukraine, Sudan and other troubled locales around the world, including Gaza and the West Bank. You may recall that World Central Kitchens is the organization that Jeannie Wedin, myself and others raised $18,000 for a few years back feeding refugees in Ukraine. Now they are distributing much-needed food to starving Palestinians. A month or so back they were in the news resulting from Israeli Prime...
Four Northern California tribes are working together on a microgrid project to improve power reliability in their remote region. The project will help the Yurok, Hoopa and Karuk Tribes avoid frequent power outages by generating their own renewable energy. Heidi Moore-Guynup, from the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe, said these tribes live along one of Pacific Gas & Electric's most unreliable power lines. "They are without power often," she said. "This could be because of a tree limb. This could be...
Back when there were only three channels on TV, and you had to change them by hand, some new cars arrived in America. To paraphrase a quote often misattributed to Mahatma Ghandi: First, Detroit ignored Japanese car manufacturers. Then, Detroit laughed at Japanese car manufacturers. Then, Detroit fought Japanese car manufacturers. Then, Japanese car manufacturers won. In 1972, according to Detroit, nobody would ever want small Japanese cars, and Japan didn’t understand the U.S. car market. T...
The Washington State Department of Health has closed recreational harvest for all shellfish species in most areas from Skagit Bay north to Padilla Bay, starting July 26 when they closed Similk Bay and Skagit Bay. On Aug. 8 Samish Bay, Guemes, Cypress, Sinclair. Vendovi, Hat and Saddlebag islands, Padilla Bay and West Fidalgo Island were added The Skagit County Health Department posted press releases announcing the closures, stating “due to recent samples of shellfish containing elevated levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins, t... Full story
The first memory from the La Conner United Methodist Church memorial garden project isn’t what anyone had in mind. Town of La Conner staff last week requested that work by volunteers in the garden cease while an arborist reviews potential damage by a backhoe to the root system of a large Norwegian spruce tree. Neighbors voiced their fears that the tree’s health was compromised and now poses a threat to nearby properties and the historic church building at Second and Benton during the public comment segment of the Aug. 6 planning commission mee...
New hire, familiar face. John Tanaka, who was its assistant chief a decade ago, is returning to Skagit County Fire District 13 near La Conner as a paid consultant to help develop long-range plans for expanded services. Tanaka's resume is filled with fire service experience. Along with his stint with District 13, Tanaka has been a fire captain in Everett, a fire response lecturer and instructor, a consultant to several other departments and consulted on a project to rebuild statewide...
Cell phones have their place. But starting this fall the La Conner Schools campus won’t be one of them. District administrators have rolled out a plan for the new school year that creates a cell phone free zone, a policy approved two years ago. School board members endorsed the plan – designed to assure fewer classroom distractions and greater student focus on academics – during their hour-long Aug. 12 meeting in the adminstrative building. “We’re not changing policy,” Board President Susie Deyo stressed. “We passed the policy in October of ’2...
Perhaps the largest gathering yet met for the 10th March Against Addiction last Wednesday, a stirring and emotional four-mile trek through Swinomish Village neighborhoods to raise awareness and offer support to combat the opioid crisis. Federal lawmakers weren’t there but were clearly in step. Seven members of the U.S. House of Representatives last week co-sponsored bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, to give tribal courts and law enforcement agencies more tools and resources to battle the nation’s devastating opi...
Artists ages 10-18, it is not too late to join the Junior Art Walk. If you have art that you made and would like to show in businesses around town, please bring it to the library by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21. Make sure your name and phone number are on the back. Summer is winding down and so is summer reading, but we still have tons of fun activities here at the library before school starts. Musicians ages 10-18, come to the library on Tuesday, Aug. 20 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for our day long song writing workshop with musician Keeth Apgar; lunch a...
La Conner's kids will show their artistic talent at the inaugural Junior Art Walk Aug. 23. The Museum of Northwest Art, participating local businesses, restaurants and galleries will open their doors to showcase junior artworks in their windows throughout the day and weekend. The art walk takes place along Morris and First streets. It will feature a colorful array of pieces crafted by budding artists ranging from ages 10-18. Young artists have been supported with supplies, space and instruction...
Skagit Symphony holds its premier community fundraiser, Art in the Garden Bash, on August 25th at Briarwood Estate from 2-5pm. Art, music, exquisite gardens, a complementary Skagit Valley strawberry shortcake with berries from Schuh Farms, a raffle of an original Roger Small sculpture and wine for purchase are winning combination for a perfect afternoon. Wander through an enchanting 10-acre garden retreat while you enjoy the sounds of Skagit Symphony and set your sights on fabulous works from...
Join the Skagit Community Band Saturday Aug. 24 at 2 p.m. for its annual Summer Concert at Gilkey Square in La Conner. As always, the concert is free. Bring lawn chairs, hats and sun screen. Source: Skagit Community Band...
YOU NEED TO SEE THEM IN PERSON – Caravan Gallery owner Linda Banaszak travels worldwide searching for local artisans' crafts to stock her store. Photographer Terry Divyak has traveled with her in search of great pictures. The zebras crossing and many others are now on display at the South First Street store....
Mark your calendars for these upcoming arts and entertainment activities. Come to Deception Pass State Park for American roots concerts at 7 p.m. Saturdays. The entertainment lineup: Aug. 17, Chumlilies; Aug. 24, Whisky Deaf Quartet. Follow signs; parking will be limited at Deception Pass due to damage from winter storms. La Conner Live 2024 Summer Concert Series continues in Gilkey Square every Sunday from 1-4 p.m. through Sept. 8 at First and Morris streets. The final weeks feature: The Walrus, Aug. 18; Cascadia Groove, Aug. 25; Pacific...
Sunday, August 4 6:50 p.m.: Overzealous humans – Report of a dog locked in a car on a warm day. A deputy responded and found the car had windows down and was parked in the shade. The dog was fine with no sign of distress. N 1st St, La Conner Monday, August 5 11:05 a.m.: Make sure it is locked – Two vehicles were broken into sometime in the past few days. Caller thought both vehicles were locked but there was no sign of forced entry. Security cameras on the property were not working and there is no suspect information. Satterlee Rd, Ana...
LISTEN AND LEARN TO BE PREPARED – Only you can prevent any fire, maybe. La Conner volunteer firefighter Natalie Baler spoke to about a dozen people at the La Conner Swinomish Library Saturday. Wrote Kathy Shiner: "Very informative. I[n] using a fire extinguisher, we were able to practice PASS, acronym for pull pin, aim, squeeze and sweep. Main take away first call 911 to get the experts alerted and on their way....
A QUIET SUMMER MORNING IN LA CONNER – Oh my gosh, it is the last month of summer! The sun is not rising as early or as high in the sky, but walk the boardwalk when the breeze is not ruffling the water, early or late and get a twofer: Rainbow Bridges above and below....
JAZZ AT GILKEY SQUARE – Sunday was not hot temperature-wise, but Midlife Crisis and the Alimony Horns warmed up an overflowing crowd at the La Conner Live! 2024 Summer Concert. During their last number the band's Jacob Yansen strutted his stuff, coming down into the crowd, blowing the entire time....
