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La Conner loves a winner. And the community is always up for a parade. Townspeople and tourists alike enjoyed both Saturday afternoon, turning out to honor the arrival of La Conner High School's 2B volleyball champions from Yakima. The day before they secured the program's seventh state title. Crowds gathered at Gilkey Square and lined First Street to greet the team as it rode through town shortly after 12 p.m. on Hook & Ladder fire trucks, feted with music from the pep band and cheered on with...
Votes from greater La Conner and southwestern Skagit County may determine the Position 1 State Representative winner in state legislative district 10. State Rep. Greg Gilday (R-Camano Island) led by 15 votes after Monday’s count with 34,940 to Clyde Shavers’ 34,925 votes for the Oak Harbor Democratic challenger in the three county district. Skagit County’s approximately 17,500 uncounted ballots again lagged most of the state and all big counties. The number of ballots from LD 10 precincts is not known. Shavers has received 59% of in-co...
The La Conner Town Council’s three hour meeting Nov. 8 included four public hearings. A 530 p.m. 2023 budget meeting started the evening. Three hearings, including one on the budget, were dispatched quickly. Council did not adjourn till 9 p.m., however because the 25 residents attending had a lot on their minds, first with general comments and during the hearing on amending the municipal code. The now Heart of La Conner tourist promotion icon on Gilkey Square was “deja vu times four,” said project originator John Leaver in his lead prese...
Art, appetizers and wine and lots of buzz about the quality of the show – in short, the Art's Alive opening gala Friday was "a wonderful night," observed La Conner Arts Foundation board member Sheila Johnson. Attendees savored food and beverages capably served by a crew of volunteers that included Mary Davis, Joyce Welch and Gretchen Dykers. They also examined artwork by invitational and open show artists throughout Maple Hall. La Conner resident Kathy Wyman was looking for something that w...
Just like that, the La Conner Town Council is four weeks away from approving the 2023 municipal budget. Discussions started in September. Council has already approved $173,260 for tourism promotion, awarding $112,800 to nine groups and sending $60,450 to public works for restroom and landscaping maintenance. These are the mundane, specific line items in your – if you are a town resident – $6.5 million 2023 expense budget. At council’s Nov. 8 meeting Mayor Ramon Hayes said, as he does annually, that he is being cautious, saving for coming large...
I had the most surprising and joyful experience Sunday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Florida. I flew down last Thursday for the 25th wedding anniversary celebration of my friends Dick and Lisa. It is because of Dick that I am in La Conner. His August 2016 phone call and casual but spirited assertion that "you can win that newspaper," in Vermont, not Washington, set me on the path to La Conner. Joanna Sikes praised the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art when we spoke recently. The museum was less than a block from my hotel. How could I not...
It was a surprise to discover that the Skagit County planning staff is recommending changing the zoning of approximately 70 acres of rural land at the intersection of I-5 and Starbird Road to allow a new gas station, general store, campground, farmers market, equipment rental business and a dog park. Do we really need another gas station on I-5? The I-5 corridor is under tremendous pressure to be developed and paved over. People want to live in Skagit County because it is beautiful, because we have protected our rural areas and our resource...
I have a daughter who in her early teens was happy to sit hang out, or travel with me. She usually preferred to do so in near silence. I would say something, maybe an idle comment and she would smile silently and watch the scenery. This was a little frustrating. I tried to accept it as normal for the age. However, I remained unsatisfied. I wanted to chat. I decided I needed a teaching aid, an analogy or metaphor, to illustrate the basics of communication. I found one, tennis. “Genny, have you ever thought that hanging out with someone is l...
Char Burks always seems to be on the run, whether at her Country Grounds Coffee stand at the roundabout, shifts with the Swinomish Tribal Police Department or keeping up with her kids. But in New York City recently she really stepped up the pace. Burks joined over 50,000 other runners, including her cousin, Holly Hendren, and friends Cheryl Otis and Amanda Bedker, in the field of the 2022 New York City Marathon, one of the sport's elite events. Burks finished the race in just under five hours,...
Town Council Agenda November 22, 2022 104 Commercial Street Upper Maple Center And by Zoom Information is below and on the Town Website I. Call to Order II. Pledge of Allegiance III. Public Comments (Limit: 3 minutes per person) IV. Presentations: V. Consent Agenda A. Consent Agenda (Approved without objection 5/0) 1. Approval of the Minutes: Council Meeting October 11, 2022 Finance: Approval of Accounts Payable Approval of Payroll VI. Reports 1. Administrator’s Report 2. Mayor’s Report 3. Council Committee Reports VII. Unfinished Bus...
Fire District 13 Commission Chair Bruce Shellhamer traveled over 300 miles to discover his department shares the same operational challenges with similar fire districts. “We’re not alone when it comes to staffing issues,” said Shellhamer, told commissioners at their Nov. 10 monthly meeting, providing highlights from October’s annual Washington Fire Commissioners Association conference in Spokane. District 13 has lost personnel to what Fire Chief Wood Weiss calls “career departments” that pay full salaries and benefits. “All (volunteer an...
Half a dozen La Conner residents accepted Port of Skagit Executive Director Sara Young’s invitation to coffee at the La Conner Marina last Wednesday. She hopes to reach more residents at an open house Dec. 1. Young brought Planning and Development Director Heather Rogerson, Communications Director Linda Tyler and a Power Point graphic. Dashed lines outlined the 13 acres on North Third Street north of Sullivan Slough. The Port has “amassed the pieces of the puzzle,” every property, for which the Port has a vision, Young said. “We want this pr...
When the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and Skagit Valley College partnered this year to launch the first Dental Therapy Education program in Washington state the joint program garnered national attention. Second Congressional District U.S. Rep Rick Larsen noticed. Larsen met with all six students from the first cohort of the pioneering dexwxayebus (pronounced dahf-hi-ya-buus) professional dental program and toured its new state-of-the-art lab in October. A a decade of advocacy, planning, development and implementation between Swinomish and...
Can you replace coal-fired electric generation with solar power even though the sun isn't up 24 hours a day? Are coal mines closing because of economics, or is it just politics? As mentioned in my first column, my father got a lifetime achievement award from the coal industry. I've been underground in coal mines. I grew up with positive dinner table talk about coal: The U.S. has hundreds of years of coal reserves. "Mine-mouth" generation was eliminating the need to ship coal before burning it....
The Washington state Department of Natural Resources has ended the two remaining net pen aquaculture leases on state-owned aquatic lands. DNR officials informed Cooke Aquaculture Monday that the two expired leases will not be renewed for their aquaculture facilities off Hope Island in Skagit Bay and in Rich Passage off Bainbridge Island. The company has until Dec. 14 to finish operations and begin removing its facilities and repair any environmental damage. The Hope Island lease expired in March and has been in month-to-month holdover status...
THE AWARD IS EVEN LARGER – La Conner Schools' Andy Wheeler, director of special programs, left, and ceramic arts teacher Steve DeLeon accept a $4,500 check, a gift from Epting Foundation Trustee Kathleen Faulkner, Nov. 9. See original story...
The Skagit County Historical Museum is hosting a holiday sale Nov. 18-19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Skagit City School at 17508 Moore Rd, Mount Vernon. Featuring hand crafted items by local artisans - jewelry, textiles, cards, cookies, pottery and more! Find holiday decor treasures. Source: Skagit County Historical Museum...
By Judy Booth “Get up offa that thing … dance and you’ll feel better!” – James Brown Whether you’re a six-year-old aspiring ballerina or a closeted John Travolta, Skagit Valley is chuck-full of dance performance and instruction. “May I have this dance?” begins Taylor Winningham’s introduction to dance etiquette on his Anacortes web site. His advice, while apropos, also shows his sense of humor and laid back, but very professional teaching style. After studying ballet and jazz, Winningham studied ballroom with Fred Astaire studios, competin...
Skagit County is looking for your feedback on policy options for agritourism in the community. The in-person public meeting is today, Nov. 16, at Maple Hall from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The second meeting is Dec. 6 at the Skagit County Commissioner’s Hearing Room from 6-8 p.m. For more information on the agritourism study and to take the online survey, please go to the project website: www.skagitcounty.net/departments/planningandpermit/agtourismmain.htm Source: Skagit County...
Dressing is my favorite side dish with a Thanksgiving turkey dinner. This recipe works perfectly as a casserole. Serve with turkey gravy over. This recipe can be adapted to be gluten free with your choice of bread. You may substitute a heart-healthy alternative to butter. The tart flavor comes from the apple and golden raisins. The savory flavor came from the onion and bread. Ingredients Bread, cubed, 6 cups Raisins, 1 cup Water, 2 cups Butter, ¾ cup melted Onion, 1 cup chopped Garlic...
Sunday, November 6 6:15 p.m.: Loud music – Shortly after a report of loud music, the music was turned off and remained off the rest of the night. Fir Island Rd., Greater La Conner. Monday, November 7 8:15 a.m.: Stolen license plate – A rear license plate was stolen off a vehicle during the overnight hours of Nov. 5. The vehicle was parked in a residential driveway. A stolen license plate form was submitted for record. McLean Rd., Greater La Conner. 12:11 p.m.: Abandoned pets – Report of two d...
