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Articles from the October 27, 2021 edition


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  • Art’s Alive again in La Conner Nov. 5-8

    Anne Basye|Oct 27, 2021

    After a two-year absence, Art’s Alive returns to Maple Hall next Friday, Nov. 5. Through the following Monday, La Conner residents and other art lovers can view the work of a dozen invitational artists downstairs and more than 40 artists upstairs in the Open Show. As usual, patrons will bestow the People’s Choice award through their votes for their favorite Open Show work. “I’m excited and glad to see something happening, after a year off,” said councilman John Leaver, liaison between the Town...

  • Three vie to fill town council’s position 1

    Ken Stern|Oct 27, 2021

    Yesterday afternoon the La Conner Town Council interviewed Bill Bruch, Rich De Shon and Annie Taylor at a 5 p.m. special council meeting, part of the process for filling the seat vacated when Jacques Brunisholz resigned in August. Next week’s Weekly News will report on the interviews. Residents will be able to address council at the Nov. 9 public comment period before council discusses and votes to fill the position. The town code states that the full remaining council must vote on the replacement council position. Taylor has lived in La C...

  • ‘Prevent needless deaths:’ get vaccinated

    Ken Stern|Oct 27, 2021

    COVID-19 case rates in Skagit County are headed toward a rate of 600 new cases per 100,000 people in the next 14 day period. The Washington state Department of Health reported 574.9 new coronavirus infections per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days in the county. Skagit County has the seventh highest 14 day case rate of new coronavirus infections of the state’s 39 counties. It is one of 11 counties with an over 500 14-day new case rate but is the only county west of the Cascades and the only county of the seven with more than 100,000 p...

  • We ‘Build Back for Impact’ together

    Ken Stern|Oct 27, 2021

    This is the last week of national co-op month. The theme this year, “Build Back for Impact,” is a rallying cry for all of us, whether we belong to a cooperative or not. Many – perhaps most of us – do, as consumers, producers or workers. Credit union members – not account holders, but owners – mutual insurance company policy holders – owners, again – and, of course, members of the Skagit Valley Food Co-op and Skagit Farmers Supply are owners. So are Organic Valley farmers. The theme, as co-op websites sum up,...

  • Musings – on the editor’s mind

    Oct 27, 2021

    Have you seen Bill Bruch around town? Often? Where? When? Is Billy at the post office? Every once in a while. Is he at the fire station? Nope. Town council meetings? Not there. Oh, I know: Pioneer Park. No he is not. Maybe he is at Pioneer Market. Not shopping. On the boardwalk? No Billy there. Under the bridge, at the fish park? Nope. North of town, on the channel beach? No. Where is Billy in town? At the Tav. Didn’t see him, or the Pub, either. Is Billy at the Brewery? Nope. Dressed up with his date at Nell Thorns? Never saw Billy there, o...

  • If I ran the zoo

    Mel Damski|Oct 27, 2021

    Let’s start this column on a positive note. As a species, we continue to evolve. A perfect example is my buddy William Shatner, who spent many hours in space in a television series many years ago and, holy moly, just finished a real space mission sponsored by zillionaire Jeff Bezos. I’ve spent many hours with Shatner and never saw him expressing the ecstasy he showed after a real space mission. We’re starting to make some progress on combating climate change and we’ve been able to see a reversa...

  • Do La Conner voters want Bill Bruch?

    Oct 27, 2021

    Within a couple of weeks, four people, the current members of the La Conner Town Council, will determine which one of the three citizens who have expressed their interest in serving will be selected to sit on council. Usually, we rely on popular elections to determine who fills our legislative positions. That is not possible here because there is a vacant seat and it must be filled. So this particular “election” has four voters – the town council members. They will decide who will do the best job and who might best represent the maj...

  • Critical candidate questions

    Oct 27, 2021

    As Election Day approaches, I have two simple questions for all candidates for La Conner Town Council, including the three who are under consideration by the council to fill the term of Jacques Brunisholz: 1. Who won the 2020 presidential election? 2. Are you vaccinated against COVID-19? Your answers to these questions are important to many of us because they will reveal your view of the role of a public servant, at any level, in the United States of America. Your answer to Question 1 will tell us if you understand how American constitutional...

  • Clark article very biased

    Oct 27, 2021

    I was terribly disappointed to read the recent La Conner Weekly News article about Linda Clark and her arrest and conviction for taking a couple of dogs that she thought were being mistreated. The article was shockingly biased and presented only the facts that would present Clark in the worst possible light. There is little doubt Clark committed a crime, sure. But her only motivation (according to her guest column the week earlier) was that the dogs were being abused, and the local authorities wouldn’t intervene because one of the dog’s own...

  • The origins of La Conner’s Halloween trick or treat parade

    Oct 27, 2021

    Every year, we have a public Halloween festival – where kids parade through town in their outfits and go from shopfront to shopfront to get their candy loot. Sure, some families keep sweets at home in case anyone shows up in the evening, but trick-or-treating isn’t really a custom here. Newcomers are baffled by this. A lot of old-time residents just accept it as one of La Conner’s many quirks. Why do we have a public party instead of trick-or-treating?Only a few know the true origin story. Here it is: My grandfather and his friends got...

  • Carlson for council

    Oct 27, 2021

    I am writing to give my endorsement to Ivan Carlson for city council. I have known Ivan his whole life. His family is multigenerational in La Conner, he has strong, long and deep roots in the community. Ivan is committed to improvement of the quality of life in La Conner, he is constantly investing his time and energy towards civic minded projects. Ivan was a driving force in installing the speed signs on Maple Ave in a much needed effort to reduce vehicle speeding in residential areas of La Conner. As a council member, I know Ivan will keep...

  • Anita Hilde Lang

    Oct 27, 2021

    With the challenges of last year, memorial services for Anita Hilde Lang, a Shelter Bay/La Conner resident since 1977 and long-time realtor, were delayed. Anita passed peacefully Nov. 22, 2020, and her memorial service will be held Nov. 6, 2021, at 2:30pm at the North Cascade SDA Church in Burlington, Wash. We welcome thoughts and remembrances of her at https://www.lemleychapel.com/memorials/anita-lang/...

  • Herb Bolinski

    Oct 27, 2021

    Age: 86, Burlington, WA. La Conner Resident for 10 years.Herb Bolinski 10/16/1935 - 10/19/2021 Age: 86, Burlington, WA. La Conner Resident for 10 years....

  • Braves football ends with loss, team lays foundation for future

    Bill Reynolds|Oct 27, 2021

    Throughout a scoreless, injury-riddled season, La Conner High football players were always willing to go the extra mile for head coach Charlie Edwards and his assistants. That was true – both literally and figuratively – on Saturday morning, just hours after the Braves closed out their 2021 grid campaign with a 56-0 loss at league leading Friday Harbor. Several La Conner players showed up for the weekly “Coaches’ Mile” workout at Whittaker Field, a team tradition every bit a bonding experience as much as a fitness session. “Our...

  • La Conner volleyball team digs for big Senior Night match at home

    Bill Reynolds|Oct 27, 2021

    La Conner High volleyball opponents have been seeing – and feeling – nothing but blue this season. But tonight, pink will be added to the mix. The undefeated La Conner netters, who this fall have dropped just one set other than in weekend tournaments featuring teams from larger schools, host 1A Nooksack Valley in their annual Dig Pink-Senior Night match. First serve for the Oct. 27 event is set for 6:30 p.m. at Landy James Gym. Proceeds from the non-conference match go to the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation to help support breast...

  • Volleyball team nearly flawless in big school tournament

    Bill Reynolds|Oct 27, 2021

    The two-time defending state 2B volleyball team brought its ‘A’ game to Burlington Saturday. La Conner High School, benefiting from superb serving, strong net play and crisp defense, won 11 of 12 sets in pool play and split two matches in the main bracket against teams from larger schools competing at the annual Burlington-Edison Invitational Tournament. La Conner defeated Lynden Christian 25-19, 25-17, 28-26, edged Washington High 25-20, 25-21, 16-25, swept North Kitsap 25-22, 25-12, 25-18 and prevailed over Meridian 25-22, 25-12, 25-18 in...

  • School board chair time travels in DAR centennial celebration video

    Bill Reynolds|Oct 27, 2021

    A La Conner civic leader helping shape the community’s future has also proved adept at bringing history to life. Susie Gardner Deyo, who chairs the La Conner School Board, revisited vivid chapters of her family legacy through a 10-minute video as part of the recent centennial celebration in Anacortes of the Ann Washington chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution. The DAR is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United S...

  • Pat Paul elected Skagit historical society president

    Bill Reynolds|Oct 27, 2021

    It is often said that if you want a job done, assign it to a busy person. In that case, the Skagit County Historical Society couldn’t have found a more qualified candidate to preside over its board of trustees. Local attorney Pat Paul, known for wearing many hats – including as food editor for the La Conner Weekly News – was elected earlier in October to chair the historical society’s governing panel, which administers policies designed to preserve Skagit County’s cultural heritage. She has been a trustee for two years. Paul, an Al...

  • Former All-State netter Benson now sets standard at Bellevue College

    Bill Reynolds|Oct 27, 2021

    Justine Benson set the pace for the La Conner High School volleyball team’s state title runs in 2018 and 2019. Now she is stepping up her game even further at the college level. “I think my overall game has improved significantly,” Benson, a 5’-9” freshman setter for Bellevue College told the Weekly News Thursday. “The pace is definitely a bit faster and more intense, but it has been the most rewarding process.” Benson has clearly kept pace, helping Bellevue race to five wins in its first six co...

  • A review of the library groundbreaking

    Jared Fair|Oct 27, 2021

    The site of the new La Conner Swinomish Library hosted some exciting milestones this past month: The Library Thrift shop building was removed, the site cleared, groundbreaking ceremony held and now construction is underway with building completion expected next summer. We wish to thank everyone who celebrated the groundbreaking with us and express our gratitude for the outpouring of community support and attendance. Many thanks to the leaders who spoke and helped to express our feelings about this day. Representative Dave Paul, 10th District,...

  • Skagit County Police Blotter

    Oct 27, 2021

    Monday, October 18 4:24 p.m.: Ounce of prevention– Caller wanted to discuss safety measures that could be taken at Padilla Bay Trail south parking area. Bay View Edison Rd., Bay View. Tuesday, October 19 10:51 a.m.: Harvest/rainy season – Caller concerned about mud being left on the roadway by farm trucks leaving the fields. McLean / La Conner Whitney Rds., Greater La Conner. Wednesday, October 20 12:13 p.m.: Power tools unplugged – Caller reported a burglary of power tools from their carport. Valentine Rd., Greater La...

  • Candidates for Pos. 1 council vacancy- Annie Taylor

    Oct 27, 2021

    Years in La Conner and why applied I moved to La Conner in September of 2013. I was asked by a few people in town to apply for the vacated position on town council. Giving it much thought, knowing I would have to find someone to cover my well-attended yoga classes on Tuesday nights when the town council gathers, I decided to apply. I do feel I would bring a unique voice to the group. Community involvement; successes I have been a member of La Conner’s Parks Commission since 2017, making C...

  • Candidates for Pos. 1 council vacancy - Rich De Shon

    Oct 27, 2021

    Years in La Conner and why applied My wife, Terri, and I have lived in La Conner for almost two years. I applied for the town council position because there was a vacancy and I have always made an effort to be an asset to my community. In La Conner, after several moves, we have finally found the combination of climate and culture that has satisfied our particular desires. Community involvement; successes I spent over twenty years as a public servant, working for the Placer County Sheriff’s O...

  • Candidates for Pos. 1 council vacancy - Bill Bruch

    Oct 27, 2021

    Years in La Conner and why applied 17 years. I am well qualified for the job as a former town council member and a longtime resident and business owner. I served on the Town Council in 2016 and 2017. I was forced to resign from the Council and move out of town due to a property management job change in June of 2017. I thought the move was permanent, but it turned out to be a 4-month project and I moved back to La Conner to be an on-site Property Manager in October 2017. Community involvement;...

  • Rhubarb Apple Pie

    Patricia Aqiimuk Paul|Oct 27, 2021

    The apple I used was so huge that my husband called this an apple pie. I used the final harvest of rhubarb from our garden. Clear Jel is a product I considered buying for more than a year. my longtime friend Roxanne Wilbur recommended it. It is refined corn starch. I have used corn starch and flour as thickeners in my pies for years. I bought the Clear Jel from Amazon. It is a bit more expensive than a container of corn starch. Rhubarb is quite tart, so I take care to coat each piece with white...