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Local grocery shoppers pause and compare prices. They add up the rising costs of food and wonder how they will afford their next meal. This is how Arin Magill, director of the La Conner Sunrise Food Bank, defines food insecurity: concern about where the next meal will come from. The number of people feeling food insecure is growing locally. Magill reported the food bank’s clientele has increased 15% in the last two months. Statistics gathered by Skagit County Public Health for its “Food Security Data Report” issued in August indicate 11% of co...
Summer doesn’t arrive for another eight days, but it sure looked and felt like summer this past weekend. After two Sundays of overcast skies and rain pouring down, this week the La Conner Live Gilkey Square concert band Adrian Xavier & Ska Island and listeners were blessed with sun, blue sky, a mild breeze and temperatures almost to 70 degrees. May Sundays all summer long be warm, but not climate change induced too hot. Next Sunday it is Skagit favorite Chris Eger Band. Concerts start at 1 p.m. through Sept. 8. Bring your lawn chair. There is a...
There’s food for thought, and food for survival. Both were addressed during the 75-minute La Conner Emergency Management Commission meeting at Maple Hall last week. During their June 4 public session, commissioners invested more thought into their ongoing development of a Community Emergency Management Plan and studied the role the La Conner Sunrise Food Bank could fill should a local disaster occur. Food Bank board chair John Petrich, who has an extensive background in housing and utilities management, was the commission’s guest speaker. He...
In terms of solving a longtime housing shortage here, the town is being asked to make the impossible possible. It will take about 20 years to tell if La Conner is successful. Town Planning Commission chair Bruce Bradburn had some gripes when reviewing state and county mandates that La Conner prepare to add 124 new housing units – one-third of which would serve low-income residents – between now and 2045. Bradburn called that a “pipe dream.” “It’s fine to say we have a goal to provide more family housing in town,” he said. Town Assistant Pla...
The seating chart is a tool used in school classrooms across the country. Same with the La Conner School District’s meeting room, where board members and administrators sit in order of seniority. That being the case, interim superintendent David Cram – now the district’s finance director – slid into seat formerly held by Superintendent Will Nelson during the board’s 90-minute June 10 public study session. Nelson, who officially departs the district June 30 after three years, isn’t attending this month’s board meetings and didn’t partic...
Washington State University alumni will tell you that their classmates have fascinating careers and are doing wonderful things in every part of the state. As if to prove how varied these callings and careers are, in 2023 WSU Press published the "Evergreen Collection," essays detailing accomplishments of graduates and faculty first printed in Washington State Magazine over the last 20 years. The Skagit Valley is represented by the Roozen family and their Washington Bulb Co. The succeeding generation of ownership, after founder William, are all W...
La Conner will again serve as host and the upriver community of Concrete will receive special accolades when the Skagit County Pioneer Association holds its 120th picnic and business meeting at Pioneer Park on Aug. 1. Concrete civic leaders Jason Miller, Valerie Stafford, Fred West, John and Gail Boggs, and Marty and Adrienne Smith will receive Pioneer Spirit awards during the event in recognition of their key roles promoting Concrete’s rich historical heritage and maintaining its envied quality of life while nestled amid some of Washington s...
The Black Oystercatchers live along the rocky shores searching for marine mussels, snails and worms. They actually don't eat oysters. Their long narrow beaks makes it easy for them to find food in between the rocks and in tide pools. They also nest on the rocks above the high tide line. Our favorite spot to see them is at Rosario Beach. From the bluff you can see them flying over the water or sitting on the rocks to the northwest where they nest. It is recommended that you watch them from a...
Don McMoran’s recent promotion to full professor with Washington State University is built on a lifetime love for Skagit County and its farmers. Born on the driveway of his parents’ home on the dividing line between the Mount Vernon and La Conner school districts, he joined the WSU Skagit County Extension in 2006 as Agriculture & Natural Resources extension educator. He earned tenure a few years later and became the county Extension director in 2012. His two-year quest to become full professor was backed by community members who wrote let...
Renewable energy is a key issue for state Senate hopeful Janet St. Clair, a two-term Island County commissioner with an extensive background in public education and social work. Renewable energy also defines her campaign style. St. Clair brought her energetic, bilingual approach to La Conner on June 3, meeting at the Civic Garden Club with local Democrats. State Rep. Debra Lekanoff, D-Bow, attended and offered a ringing endorsement of her candidacy for the 10th Legislative District seat. St....
NOT TO BE MISSED Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum Porch Sale. Fabric, notions, yarns, threads, roving, patterns, books and lots more for quilters and fiber artists at really low prices! 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, June 16. 703 S. Second St., La Conner. Shelter Bay Annual Garage Sale. With more than 100 participating homes, you can find bargains around every corner! Shelter Bay Chorus bake sale, coffee and hot dogs at the Clubhouse. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 22. LIBRARIES La Conner Sw...
The La Conner Pub & Eatery was so busy Wednesday that people joked the fire department might be called to red tag the place for exceeding its occupancy limit. Turns out, members of La Conner Hook & Ladder and the local firefighters' association were already on scene – en masse. They took over the downtown tavern and diner that night for a major fundraiser, collecting half the food and beverage receipts and all of the gratuities. Nor did their five-hour serving shifts represent a hostile t...
Mark your calendars for some upcoming fun activities. June 5 fun fundraiser for La Conner Fire Association: The La Conner Fire Association invites everyone to “take over the La Conner Pub & Eatery” from 4-9 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, 702 S. First St. Come out, enjoy a delicious meal with family and friends, and help make a difference in the community. Fifty percent of food and beverage sales and 100% of gratuities will go directly to support the La Conner Fire Department. 32nd annual MoNA art auction is now live: Visit the Museum of Northwest Art...
NOT TO BE MISSED Book sale by Friends of the Central Skagit Library, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., June 7-9, at the library, 110 W. State St., Sedro-Woolley (during “Blast from the Past” celebration). Something for everyone! Cantabile Chamber Choir will perform “The Drop That Contained the Sea” at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at McIntyre Hall. Tickets: mcintyrehall.org/event/ or 360-416-7727. Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum Porch Sale. Fabric, notions, yarns, threads, roving, patterns, books and lots more for quilters and fiber artists at really...
Being prepared is no longer exclusively a Boy Scout thing. It works for senior citizens as well. That's why the Swinomish Senior Center was the site of a three-hour community disaster preparedness training program last Friday. Tribal Community Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Geer and Swinomish EMC specialist Keri Cleary led the interactive session, which focused on how to prepare for a wide range of disaster scenarios. "A disaster is anything that overwhelms your immediate resources,"...
Mark your calendars for some upcoming fun activities. June 5 fun fundraiser for La Conner Fire Association: The La Conner Fire Association invites everyone to “take over the La Conner Pub & Eatery” from 4-9 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, 702 S. First St. Come out, enjoy a delicious meal with family and friends, and help make a difference in the community. Fifty percent of food and beverage sales and 100 % of gratuities will go directly to support the La Conner Fire Department. La Conner Live 2024 Summer Concert Series takes over Gilkey Square eve...
NOT TO BE MISSED Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum Porch Sale. Fabric, notions, yarns, threads, roving, patterns, books and lots more for quilters and fiber artists at really low prices! 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, June 16. 703 S. Second St., La Conner. LIBRARIES La Conner Swinomish Library. 520 Morris St., La Conner. 360-466-3352. www.lclib.lib.wa.us. Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Storytime for Children. 11 a.m. Fridays. Tech Help. 3-5 p.m. Mondays....
The La Conner Town Council last week chose to forego the path of least resistance when dealing with future downtown traffic flow and parking. Rather than table action and extend discussion of options for S. First Street, council members voted 4-0 during their May 14 meeting at Maple Hall to convert the historic and narrow route along the town’s popular waterfront to single lane one-way traffic with parking on both sides. Councilor Ivan Carlson was absent. Town Planner Michael Davolio suggested the change go into effect this fall, which would g...
He was raised and again resides on a diversified century-old farm north of town, but more than any single crop it's been goodwill that Dean Swanson has spent a lifetime cultivating. "I've been lucky to have grown up in a community that really cares," Swanson, 67, told the Weekly News. "I had all the support I ever needed. That's why I've always chosen to give back and (my wife) Becky, who's the rock of our family, is in on that with me." Because he mastered the concept of "paying it forward"...
NOT TO BE MISSED Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum Porch Sale. Fabric, notions, yarns, threads, roving, patterns, books and lots more for quilters and fiber artists at really low prices! 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, June 16. 703 S. Second St., La Conner. 2024 Memorial Day Remembrance service, 9 a.m. Monday, May 27. The Pleasant Ridge Cemetery Commissioners invite the public to attend. Limited seating is available. Information: call Lori Buher at 360-630-0809. LIBRARIES La Conner...
A bumper crop of Northwest potatoes in 2023 is driving the price of potatoes down, but John Thulen of Pioneer Potatoes is not worried – yet. Many of the challenges cited in a March 31 Market Snapshot from AgWest Farm Credit (the new name of the former Northwest Farm Credit in Burlington) concern russet potatoes grown in Eastern Washington. Thulen agrees that overproduction in 2023 has “plugged up” processors like McCain Food USA, whose enormous processing plant in Othello produces 15% of all the frozen French fries, hash browns and tater tots p...
There are several directions town council members can take when it comes to future traffic flow and parking schemes on South First Street. The La Conner governing panel was scheduled last night to hear separate recommendations from its planning staff and planning commission for options for downtown traffic and parking as part of an ongoing update of the transportation element of the town’s Comprehensive Plan. Planner Michael Davolio and Assistant Planner Ajah Eills have proposed South First Street be converted to one-way southbound traffic w...
NOT TO BE MISSED Paths to Understanding presents The Let’s Go Together Partnership! 7 p.m. Thursday, May 16, Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon. Event is free. Walk-ins welcome. Join in the first public gathering for an evening of storytelling, music and conversation focused on strengthening our Skagit community. All, including community leaders, will speak about the importance of lifting up our common humanity. Come and join us to meet people from across the county and stand together to go into a brighter future. Let’s go together! More info: pa...
Some 13 people shared their views on the Town of La Conner's half-acre Jenson field property with Mayor Marna Hanneman Saturday at the La Conner Swinomish Library. Most had started the discussion nine days earlier at a town-organized community mingle April 25. This time Channel Drive residents Dave Buchan and Susan Macek and Pull and Be Damned resident Dana Heald came and added their perspectives. Buchan shared his concern over the dramatically declining enrollment in the local school district,...
The Washington state Department of Health announced a recall of Gibson Farms, Inc. bulk organic walnuts April 30. They were joined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in advising people to stop eating organic walnut halves and pieces sold in bulk at several stores in Washington because of possible contamination with E. coli bacteria. The Skagit Valley Food Co-op posted its own announcement on May 2. It does not use Gibson Farms walnuts in its deli or bakery foods. The Department...
