Articles from the August 30, 2023 edition
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Tulip Valley Farms sued by Skagit County
Tulip Valley Farms proprietor Andrew Miller is back in Skagit County Superior Court, this time with farmer Larry Jensen, sued by Skagit County for Miller’s development on Jensen’s Bradshaw Road property last fall. The Aug. 8 lawsuit states that d...
Agritourism stakeholders to county: slow down, step back and try again
An adhoc Agritourism Stakeholder Working Group created in July has submitted agritourism policy concepts to the Skagit County Planning Commissioners. The group's goal is to help the county shape code...
Back in the day: Tom Robbins' lost 1974 high school commencement address
When I was the editor of the newspaper in Oak Harbor nearly 40 years ago, I was given a copy of a commencement address by author Tom Robbins that was delivered to a handful of graduates at the Off Campus School in Oak Harbor on June 7, 1974. The Off...
Sept. 2: Let's celebrate Tom Robbins
Some people, no matter how dire the situation, always see things with a glass half-full perspective. And then there's Tom Robbins. The acclaimed La Conner author, who famously quit his gig at the Seat...
Annual La Conner Rotary Club auction honors Mayor Hayes
When saluted by La Conner Rotarians Saturday night at Maple Hall, Mayor Ramon Hayes didn't speak at length about accomplishments that have marked his unprecedented four terms in office. He instead cho...
Council focuses on flood plan
La Conner leaders continue to develop a saltwater flood mitigation plan before king tide season this fall. They will meet Sept. 1 with representatives of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe at their south...
School board considering public service graduation requirement
Longtime La Conner Schools counselor Lori Buher has retired, but she is still offering timely advice. Buher suggested that the district resume its requirement that La Conner High students complete public service hours in order to graduate at the...
Expectations high for new-look La Conner High School volleyball
New La Conner High School head volleyball coach Pam Keller is succeeding a legend and her young team is following in the footsteps of the four-time defending state 2B net champions. But optimism was...
Braves football roster grows, bolstering winning chances
Sweet Sixteen. A milestone birthday, for sure. But it has added significance for the La Conner High School football program. Sweet sixteen is the number of players on the Braves’ preseason roster this year. That’s about twice as many who turned...
Collecting clippings: local resident preserves glimpses of history, pop culture
In recent years, scrapbooking has become a popular hobby. But for a La Conner area resident it has long been more than that. Anne Waldron has over time filled several of her old-school hardcover...
Closed area beaches, lakes, crabbing
The Washington state Department of Health has issued area lake and beach closures and closed recreational shellfish harvesting due to toxins. All waters around the entire San Juan archipelago from the southeast tip of Guemes Island west and north to...
Police Blotter
Wednesday, Aug. 23 12:43 p.m. Hole opened – Manhole cover was open creating a traffic hazard for vehicles. La Conner public works staff were able to fix it. Maple Ave. / Caledonia St., La Conner. 8:12 p.m. California spending spree – Person...
Marina Moorings, Port of Skagit
As August draws to an end, we can start to take stock of a season of travels. We had several marina members travel to Canada and Alaska this summer. One couple I spoke with put their fourth marker on the saloon hatch, celebrating another summer lived...
Blackberry Pie
Look for blackberries growing away from busy roads. Bring garden clippers to cut back the thorny brambles. To clean, give two quick rinses and drain immediately. Measure and gently push the berries...
Community Calendar
NOT TO BE MISSED King for a Day! Come one, come all for Tom Robbins Day from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. Dress up as your favorite Tom Robbins character “or as crazy as you want.” Festivities include a parade, food and drink, arts and shopping,... Full story
From the Editor
Monday is Labor Day. That is a quaint, almost 19th century holiday, a time when the picnics and lawn games came after boisterous downtown big city marches, the streets filled with row after row of salt-of-the-earth common men, Labor literally on the... Full story
Letter to the editor: Ag use on ag land
Since 1990 Skagit County has protected farmland with good planning and county codes. The current Skagit County code prohibits non-agricultural uses on the 90,000 acres of farmland zoned Agriculture-Natural Resource Lands (Ag-NRL). The proposed code... Full story
Letter to the editor: Canoe Journey reflections
This year’s tribal Canoe Journey brought sacred tribes to the shores of Swinomish from distant lands with their final landing at Muckleshoot, Alki Beach. The canoe journey is a tradition that has taken place for generations. The canoes were most... Full story
Musings – on the editor's mind
Some of us are quicker than others, have our priorities in better order, are more in tune with the rhythms of the season. Partly, too, it is a matter of location and timing. For me, confined to a narrow course of home and office, it has only been sin... Full story
Legal Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE FOR LODGING TAX FUNDING The Town of La Conner is accepting requests for Hotel/Motel tax distributions for budget year 2024. The 2024 Lodging Tax Fund Request for Proposal may be found on the Town website under the Finance Department at...
