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Every year, twice a year, the sun sets directly beneath the Deception Pass bridge – on the Spring equinox and the Autumnal equinox. For years it has been a kind of ritual for photographers to gather at this spot on Cornet Bay to line up their cameras and shoot the phenomenon. Some do timelapse. Some set up on the beach when the tide is low. Some stay up above the beach at a specific spot where there is an ideal opening. Every year is different. Sometimes clouds cover the sun, sometimes the cloud...
The conditional use permit to build a three-story condominium at 306 Center Street filed by Kate and Brandon Atkinson early in 2022 has been approved by Town of La Conner Planning Director Michael Davolio, an administration determination made Sept. 20 in a four-page letter. The administration rejected the challenge brought by residents Linda Talman and Debbie Aldrich, and others, that conditions of a 1986 contract rezone agreement between the Town and then owners Donna and Gerald Blades govern the zoning. The validity of the contract rezone...
The La Conner Town Planning Commission public hearing on municipal code and zoning map changes was the talk of the town last week. That talk will continue Oct. 4. Following lengthy discussions over changes sought by the Port of Skagit at La Conner Marina and several potential development regulation updates, commissioners, upon the recommendation of planner Michael Davolio, opted to continue the Sept. 20 hearing another two weeks. Those unable to attend next Tuesday can submit written comments to Town Hall by Sept. 29 for inclusion in the...
Pressing issues in La Conner, much like a jigsaw puzzle, rarely lack for complexity. They also require patience, which along with creative problem-solving skills, was much in evidence during the latest in a series of public forum events last Monday at Maple Hall. About three dozen attendees used the 90-minute session to brainstorm many key community pieces, from how best to preserve La Conner's envied quality of life to developing strategies for fostering improved communication between...
While everyone everywhere endorses the concept of truth and reconciliation, the little town of La Conner is fast becoming a tale of two cities – or two towns – as a cadre of residents are increasingly engaged, enraged and feeling isolated from the council members representing them and charged with governing. These residents want the council to stop a three-story condominium building from going up on Center Street behind The Slider Cafe. They want council to honor a 1986 rezone agreement approved by the council that year. Citizens want cou...
Two law firms looked at the situation on 306 Center and the 1986 Contract Rezone and came up with opposite conclusions. How do lay people like the rest of us decide who is right? They were both long opinions and cited case law. I believe that my guy was right but the town, which is vulnerable to a lawsuit from the developer, believes their firm to be correct. The town holds the power card. It is called the Administrative Permit. It is used for certain planning situations (Variance and Conditional Use). It gives the planner kingly powers. And so...
Remember the Birdman of Alcatraz? I am introducing you to the Birdman of Shelter Bay. I'm buying a house in Shelter Bay with different feeding areas, including a bird watering hole. I'm converting one of my patios to a seed station. About 55 years ago, give or take, I was hired to work at a sleep-away camp in New Hampshire. It was a big deal because I was the only one of my friends who could not afford to be a camper, but now I was going as a counselor. The only opening was to be the rifle...
On Monday night, last week, the town council communications committee held its third community outreach event. The 35 or so townspeople who attended sat in small groups at separate tables with six or seven at each. And then they chatted: about what they liked, preferred, and loved about our community and also about their concerns for the future. Each participant was heard by the others. There were lively exchanges, enthusiasm, laughter, mutual respect. And ideas captured on paper for a summary report. The communications committee deserves our...
By Greg Whiting What's the quickest way to significantly reduce how much you pay for energy, make the U.S. more energy independent and reduce your carbon footprint? The answer is the same for all three questions. Buy an electric vehicle, called an EV, and use it as much as possible instead of a gasoline-powered car. (Hybrids will also help, but not as much.) If you haven't driven an EV, try one. They're fun. With no mechanical inertia, and instant torque at the wheels, a subcompact EV...
The Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board announced Sept. 26 the award of nearly $76 million in grants across the state to help ensure the survival of salmon in Washington. The board also approved an additional $58 million in grant requests for 55 projects through the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration program once funding is approved by the Legislature in 2023. If approved, the combined funding would be the largest amount of money directed at salmon recovery in a single year since the board was created 23 years ago. The grants...
We are scheduling Book Moving Volunteers for Thursday, Oct. 6, Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8. If you already signed up to be a volunteer, you will get a phone call to schedule a shift to help one of those days. We'll start calling on Monday, Sept. 26. If you didn't sign up yet and want to help on any of these days, please call 360-466-3352 or email [email protected]. Saturday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m. -1 p.m. is Kids Day to Help! Show up with your parent or guardian and help move the children's book collection. Feel free to bring your...
By Bill Reynolds The intersection of La Conner-Whitney Road and State Route 20 north of town was the scene of a fatal traffic collision involving two motorcycles Sunday, Sept. 25. According to the Washington State Patrol, Robert C. Bray, 64, of Blaine, died at Island Hospital in Anacortes as a result of a crash with another motorcycle ridden by Michael Icenhour, 30, of Snohomish. Icenhour was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The incident, which is under investigation, occurred during the 39th annual Oyster Run, which draws...
Excavation started Sept. 15 for developer C.J. Ebert's Snapdragon Flats apartment buildings. Rock will be removed from the base of Snapdragon Hill, a two to three week process. The excavation will create a pad for the first triplex on Hill Street, Ebert explained in an email. Construction will start in the spring. Ebert walked the nearby streets the week of Sept. 12, passing out a flyer. He informed residents of the coming "noise and truck traffic associated with this work," offering his "sincer...
These are all the people who helped with Jim Valenzuela’s service on July 1st. La Conner Fire Department, La Conner Fire Association, Fire Chief Wood Weiss, Pastor Pat Nicholes, Skagit County Dispatch, Chaplin Pat Ellis, singers Knut Bell, Kiralee Harris, Karissa Vaifale and Lindsee Nichols; Santo Coyote, Mayor Ramon Hayes, Cathy Garcia, Debi and James Valenzuela, Beatrice Lude and the La Conner Weekly News. You can contact Mary Alice Valenzuela at 360-941-6699, 613 35th St., Anacortes. -Mary Alice Valenzuela...
The Coupeville High School football team needed just one score and 16 seconds to post an NW2B shutout win over La Conner at Whittaker Field Friday, Sept. 23. Coupeville's Scott Hilborn returned the opening kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown that opened the floodgates to a 46-0 Wolves triumph. Hilborn reeled off a 10-yard scoring jaunt that edged Coupeville 13-0 less than a minute into the game, following one of five La Conner lost fumbles. Coupeville capped its scoring onslaught when quarterback...
The La Conner High School volleyball team split a pair of matches last week but literally won the one that counted. The defending state 2B net champs were edged in three sets at 1A Nooksack Valley Sept. 20 before sweeping Friday Harbor on San Juan Island in La Conner’s NW2B/1B debut on Thursday, Sept. 22. The Lady Braves (3-1), who typically play a challenging non-conference schedule, had earlier defeated 2A Anacortes and Sehome at home. “Nooksack is a very solid team,” La Conner head coach Marble said after the team’s 22-25, 19-25, 23-25 s...
La Conner School District colors have long been blue and white. But on Friday, Sept. 29 students will add orange to the color scheme. La Conner Schools is among the first districts in Washington State to embrace Orange Shirt Day, which in Canada is a statutory holiday recognizing the impact residential schools had on indigenous students and communities for over a century. “We want to thank the La Conner School District for embracing this,” Swinomish Education Director Michael Vendiola said during an interactive Zoom program that aired last wee...
Some of the 37 guest poets and artists participating in this year’s Skagit River Poetry Festival are crossing oceans to reach La Conner. Others just have to cross the Rainbow Bridge. Canadian poet Karen Solie, flying in from St. Andrews, Scotland, is coming the farthest. Katherine Paul of the band Black Belt Eagle Scout can just stroll down the street. Her dad Kevin Paul can commute from Swinomish Village. Father and daughter will open the festival’s Thursday, October 6 program, “Welcome to Indian Country: A Reading to Celebrate our First Natio...
By Anna Ferdinand Forty people gathered on the top floor of Village books to hear local author Jess Gigot read from her new memoir, “A Little Bit of Land” on Thursday, Sept. 15, munching on puff pastry adorned with sauteed lamb raised on her farm, the Sally Best cheese from her sheep, listening to the sounds of local band, Hot Tomatoes. “The book is very relevant in terms of exploring why our regional food and farming knowledge-base is so vital,” said Gigot, who runs Harmony Fields farm with husband Dean Luce. “This is also the story of follow...
Thankful for generous friends. Sheila Klein offers pears each year, from her trees. The pears are picked and sorted into varieties. We bring boxes and take our selections home. I keep orca pears cool until they ripen, in yellow tones. Using them while they are firm, before they soften. I started this recipe with 18 medium pears, cut in half and filled an 8 quart slow cooker. The end result was two pints of pear sauce. Pear sauce is like applesauce. Ingredients Orca pears, 18 medium Cinnamon...
Father Paul Magnano has ministered in the Skagit Valley and the Puget Sound for 55 years. He is well known to longtime readers of the Seattle Times and regional publications. Magnano, pastor at La Conner’s historic Sacred Heart Catholic Church and neighboring Skagit County parishes, has appeared in print numerous times in the past five decades, most prominently in a 1993 Seattle Times article featuring members of the largest class of priests ordained in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Hailing from a...
Monday, September 19 12:53 a.m.: Ding dong ditch – Report of a male subject in pajamas that rang the doorbell at the house. Law enforcement checked the area, but the male was not located. Calhoun Rd., Greater La Conner. Tuesday, September 20 1:52 p.m.: Suspicious activity – Report of several incidents of drug abuse and traffic coming and going from the apartments. Law enforcement to conduct extra patrols in the area. Maple Ave., La Conner. 3:12 p.m.: Causing trouble – An unwanted female has a...
