Articles from the September 6, 2023 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 32
Festive celebration writes a new chapter for author Tom Robbins
A master storyteller, La Conner author Tom Robbins lent his name to another well-received work here Saturday. Only this time he did so not with his pen, but with his mere presence. And it had...
La Conner gets Braves Club grant
Hard work and perseverance paid dividends for La Conner Schools ahead of the Labor Day weekend. District officials learned Friday that their application for a 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant to support the Braves Club after-school progra...
0.5 inch rain fell in August
The almost quarter inch of rain Sunday, like the 0.43 inch of rain that fell Aug. 29-30, with. 0.4 inches the 29th and 0.03 the 30th, may end Skagit County’s summer burn ban but is not alleviating the region’s drought. The 0.5 inch August...
La Conner farm protected by County Farmland Legacy Program
Skagit County's Farmland Legacy Program has finalized two farmland preservation projects this August, permanently protecting another 60 acres of farmland from development. The La Conner farmland is...
July Skagit home sales down slightly
The median price of the 126 homes that closed in Skagit County in July was $545,000, slightly down in the five months since March. Anacortes home prices continue to influence values county wide. The...
Shellfish toxins close all Skagit beaches to harvesting
Unsafe levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins have prompted the Washington Department of Health to close all beaches in Skagit County to recreational harvesting of all species of shellfish. This includes clams, geoduck, oysters, mussels,...
Larsen brings congressional committee to Port airport
Four members of the U.S. House of Representatives visited the Port of Skagit Aug. 8 to learn more about Skagit Regional Airport and projects supported by federal grant dollars. Representative Rick Larsen (D-Everett) coordinated the visit, which inclu...
Emergency preparedness fair on Sept. 9
Emergency preparedness is serious stuff. One need only look at this summer’s headlines, from accounts of wildland fires on Maui to hurricane activity in Florida. Bracing for the “big one” or getting ready to deal with tsunamis doesn’t have...
Obituary: Merlin James "Jim" Hanson April 17, 1936 - August 23, 2023
Merlin James "Jim" Hanson, 87, died peacefully on Aug. 23, 2023 from complications of congestive heart failure surrounded by his wife Margaret (Midge) and daughters Brit, Laura and Kari. Jim was born...
Ashley Watkins promoted to head of Cougar grid operations
The vibe coming out of the Pac-12 Conference this summer couldn't have been more grim. But a La Conner High School alum is providing a rare bit of good news, especially in her hometown, ahead of what...
Students and new staff enjoy robust welcome back to school
After slogging through a spring and summer beset with budget woes, La Conner Schools officials and staff shifted gears last week to focus on what they do best – create priceless memories for local students and families. The 2023-2024 year launched...
Miniature donkeys raised as companion animals
When you drive around Skagit County, you see lots of animals: horses, cows, goats and more. One small farm on Best Road that immediately caught my attention has a sign stating JF Miniature Donkeys....
La Conner pioneer reached labor's pinnacle
Another day, another dollar. More than a familiar lament, it was truly a way of life for one of La Conner’s more famous – or infamous, depending on your political leanings – native sons. Hulet M. Wells, born in 1878 on a farm near town, toiled...
'Re Building' celebrates MoNA's permanent collection
The Museum of Northwest Art’s permanent collection takes center stage in the exhibit “Re Building: Celebrating the Role of the Permanent Collection in Building Up MoNA’s Significance, Past and Present.” That mouthful of a title identifies...
King for a day, La Conner celebrates Tom Robbins
La Conner showed its colors Saturday with a joyous celebration of famed local author Tom Robbins, named King for a Day and hailed by fans as he and wife Alexa led a parade down First Street perched...
Lawsuit filed to derail Dayton Library dissolution
On Nov. 7, some voters will decide whether to dissolve the Columbia County Library in Dayton, Washington. If they choose to do so, librarians said it would be the first time in the country that a public library is dissolved following a book challenge... Website
Oregon senators who walked off job can't run for re-election
Republican senators who walked away from this year’s legislative session will be barred from running for re-election next year, Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade announced Aug. 8. The conclusion, announced after months of speculation,...
Electric atmosphere: Shavers talks clean energy during La Conner visit
First term state lawmaker Clyde Shavers (D, Oak Harbor) brought plenty of energy to a downtown La Conner appearance last Thursday. And for the 10th District Democrat it was a case of substance...
La Conner Town Council meeting agenda, Sept. 12
The La Conner Town Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, in Upper Maple Center at 104 Commercial St. Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Public Comments (Limit: 3 minutes per person) Presentations Consent Agenda Consent agenda (Approved...
Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, SPAM!
Can Spam, the ubiquitous low-cost processed meat, be more than just a pantry staple? This intriguing question took center stage at the Tom Robbins Day Spam-Carving Contest in Gilkey Square Saturday....
Fans flock to La Conner to see Tom
Of course there is a Tom Robbins Fan Club on Facebook and of course King for a Day celebration organizer Gina McCarthy posted news of the Sept. 2 activities there and of course at least one Irishwoman came to La Conner Saturday. Gerri Roche of...
Police Blotter
Sunday, Aug. 27 10:17 a.m. Gassing off? – Report by farm owner who believes some of his vehicles are low on gas and believes someone may be stealing it at night. No suspect information and no obvious signs of theft. Caller wants extra patrols at ni...
Marina Moorings: Port of Skagit
The Port was honored to host the Tom Robbins parade this past weekend! What a spectacle! It was a lot of fun, though, and many of our guests were able to see La Conner put on quite a show. We found a...
Community Calendar
NOT TO BE MISSED Skagit Symphony begins its 2023-24 season with “Second Chances” on Oct. 21. The concert features Sandra Shen on piano playing “Stars” by Mary Howe, Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto and concludes with Mussorgsky’s...
Aquiimuk's Kitchen
Lime-marinated halibut goes under the broiler. You can substitute cod for the halibut. You can marinate for up to 3 hours. Thank you for the recent wonderful compliments, when I was out and about. I w...