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The La Conner Town Council has paved the way for smoother rides around town. The panel during one of several public hearings at its Nov. 14 hybrid meeting at Maple Hall unanimously approved formation of a transportation benefit district to generate revenue for maintenance of streets, sidewalks and crosswalks. The council, by state law, serves as commissioners of the district, which operates as a separate entity. The next move, said Town Administrator Scott Thomas, is to decide how the revenue will be raised. A one-tenth of one per cent...
New Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Executive Director Nicole Roozen attended her first festival event last Tuesday, Nov. 16, the unveiling of the official poster and branded merchandise. The ceremony jumpstarts 2024 festival activities. The large crowd at Skagit Acres buzzed with excitement, and cheers erupted periodically through the evening's program, getting the festival started in the right direction. Roozen concluded her remarks with a rousing, "Let's make the 2024 Skagit Valley Tulip Festiva...
John Agen has won the District 2 La Conner school board director race with 52.9% and at least 779 votes against Janie Beasley, a past school board member. The Nov. 17 count added one vote to each candidate. The last 70 or so countywide ballots will be counted by Skagit County elections office staff Nov. 28 when they certify the results. Agen leads by 93 votes. Agen led the only contested election in greater La Conner by a wide margin since election day, Nov. 7....
As a youth, Grace Hubbard experienced history. As an adult, she helped make history. And now, having completed her first century of life, the local icon is keenly focused on the here and now, checking off a diverse to-do list of activities at La Conner Retirement Inn and the community's senior center as well as outings with longstanding friends. Shortly after her 100th birthday this month, Hubbard enjoyed dinner with one of those friends, Joan Cross, former owner of Balance Point Physical Therap...
Thanksgiving Closings Thursday, November 23 Bank: Closed Buses: No service Post Office: Closed Schools: Closed, Nov 23-24 Library: Closed, Nov 23-24 Town Hall: Closed, Nov 23-24 County offices: Closed, Nov 23-24 Trash Pick Up: No service La Conner Weekly News: Closed... Full story
This is the week we sit down with family and friends and give thanks, typically for the abundant bounty that so many Americans are privileged to have. At this time of American thanksgiving, lifting our eyes past the laden table is as necessary for our souls as it is good for the souls not attending Thursday’s feasts.. We live in, for and with the immediate world surrounding us: our home, work and community, but whether we hold it close or only hear faintly at a distance, the large world beyond our community borders exists. Many people in many p... Full story
With a degree of urgency appropriate for the planetary catastrophe we face today, Pope Francis’ latest exhortation, Laudate Deum, “to all people of good will on the climate crisis,” builds on his 2015 encyclical letter, Laudato Si’, “On Care for our Common Home.” That the pope has explicitly described the current state of the climate as a “crisis” could be viewed as affirming what climate activist Greta Thunberg said in her 2019 address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland: “Our house is on fire. I am here to say, our house is... Full story
As faith leaders, elected officials, community leaders, educators and individual residents of Washington state, we are heartbroken and horrified by the escalated violence and bloodshed in Israel/Palestine. As people of all faith backgrounds and conscience, we deeply value life and are appalled by the significant loss of human life. We condemn all targeting and killing of civilians, whether Israeli or Palestinian, of any or no faith background. Such indiscriminate violence harming innocent civilians is not only a violation of law, but also of... Full story
The ongoing emergence of low-cost energy technologies is leading to the development of a host of interesting systems that aren’t directly related to the large-scale electric grid. Read this asking yourself if and where the Town of La Conner might be able use the following. It’s become possible to use a solar array (or a solar panel mounted on, or even wrapped around, the light pole) to charge batteries mounted in a street or parking lot pole during the day. This can provide enough energy to powe... Full story
La Conner's new flood barriers are staged and in place up and down the waterfront. But the work of the Town's six-member Emergency Management Commission has only just begun. The Nov. 11 power outage here that impacted residents, businesses and those attending the annual Art's Alive celebration underscored in real time that the mission of the local advisory board is to focus on all forms of emergencies. "The commission met an immediate need by addressing flood mitigation," said Rick Dole, town...
The $7.4 million in revenues in the Town of La Conner’s 2024 preliminary budget will be the largest ever and is matched against projected expenditures of $8.6 million. The $1.2 million deficit will be covered by the $5.9 million fund balance. The year’s theme is “plan, prioritize and perform” Mayor Ramon Hayes states in his budget cover letter. Staff are prioritized with all receiving a 4.3% cost of living increase, except the unionized public works employees. Their contract is in negotiations. The code enforcement budget is $73,604. a 20.9% i...
State parks are free Saturday for Autumn Day. Visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park. Discover Pass free days apply to all DNR and WDFW lands and in day-use areas at state parks. This is the last of 2023’s 12 free days. Information: parks.state.wa.us/. Source: State Parks... Full story
There is an open position on the Town of La Conner Planning Commission. Commissioners serve six years and must be town residents. Qualified persons can apply until Nov. 29 or until the position is filled. Information: call Town Hall 306-466-3125 or townoflaconner.org/....
The loss of more than 50 points per game to graduation will be a tough task for the La Conner High School girls' basketball team to surmount this season. But second-year head coach Joe Harper, who guided La Conner to a fourth place finish at the Washington State Girls' 2B Hardwood Classic in Spokane last March, has crafted what he and assistants Scottie Miller and Roger Valentine hope will be yet another winning formula. The key terms in that equation are speed and defense. "Speed and defense,"...
Conway remains on the La Conner Schools radar. Faced with recent years of declining student enrollment, the driving force behind state funding of public schools, school district officials are resuming last year’s effort to recruit Conway students to the high school. Conway, 11 miles southeast of La Conner, has an elementary school whose graduates attend Mount Vernon High School but have the option of Stanwood or La Conner. “We’ll keep it going,” school board chair Susie Deyo said during board’s Nov. 13 hybrid study session of attempts...
The Washington Arts Commission has announced a Certified Creative District in Anacortes. The Anacortes Creative District is located in the heart of Fidalgo Island and nestled between the San Juan Islands, Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. As a part of a Washington state designation program, Anacortes joins communities all over the state in celebrating creativity. The Creative District program provides a platform for communities to expand their arts and creative economies, attract entrepreneurs, educational and cultural opportunities and ongoing e...
In this Thanksgiving week we have so many things to be thankful for here at the library. First and foremost, we are thankful for our many supporters. You are the people who make our amazing library the wonderful place of which we are so proud. Second, we are thankful for our all patrons who come to the library to visit, to study, work, play games and even just to chat with the staff. Personally, I am also very thankful for our amazing staff. You are truly the heart of this library and make it...
The Madrona Poetry Series brings Robert Michael Pyle and Abigail Prout to read Saturday, 7 p.m. at Pelican Bay Books in Anacortes. Steve and Kristi Nebel are providing music....
I tried a new product I found at the local grocery store. In the spice section, it was clearly labeled "Salmon Seasoning." It was a good decision. A plus in flavor and it had a familiar photo of Chef Phil Prudhomme, plus the ingredients listed were all natural. I jumped right into my trial baking experiment. In terms of measuring, I sprinkled an even coat of the seasoning over the salmon fillet. Ingredients Salmon fillet Butter, 1 tablespoon Olive oil, 1 teaspoon Salmon seasoning, ¼...
Now it’s official. Last month it was announced that the La Conner Schools board of directors was a recipient of two performance-based statewide honors. Last week in Bellevue, during the Washington State School Directors Association fall conference, the members were formally recognized as a 2023 Board of Distinction and for being Washington’s School Board of the Year for small school districts. The five-member La Conner board – Susie Deyo, chair, and directors John Agen, Loran James, Kim Pedroza and J.J. Wilbur and student reps Taylor Rae Cayou...
Thanksgiving is a holiday steeped in tradition, and one of the best is right here in La Conner. It is the annual free Thanksgiving Day meal at the Waterfront Café. The downtown restaurant, located at 128 South First Street in the Pier 7 Building, will be providing a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings from 12-3 p.m. Thursday. All are welcome to attend, especially those with no family in the area or who are unable to prepare their own Thanksgiving dinner. Or who simply want to spend Thanksgiving with the Waterfront Café family. A l...
Sunday, November 12 4:38 p.m. Pile up— Multiple vehicle collision with several injuries. Two car head on with both cars totaled and subjects transported to the hospital. Best Rd., Greater La Conner. Monday, November 13 1:06 p.m. Bored—Caller complained of a motorhome that speeds in the area and has visitors at all hours. No others complained on this vehicle and a deputy was unable to locate. Caller has a history of unfounded complaints. Park St., La Conner. Tuesday, November 14 11:26a.m. Pick up—Caller found a dog and wanted it picked up. C...
