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Christmas Monday, Dec.25 Closed: Everything Bank: Closed Buses: No service Library: Closed Post Office: Closed Schools: Till Jan 3 Town Hall: Dec 22-26 County government: Closed Trash Pick Up: None Weekly News: Closed And God bless us, everyone...
The “Ins and Outs of Our Ballots and Elections” will be explained by Gabrielle Clay, Skagit County elections manager June 24 at a League of Women Voters of Skagit County voter education forum. Clay will discuss how ballots are created, the ballot handling steps after votes are collected and the systems used to validate that votes are accurately counted. The league promotes the meeting to aid first-time voters, seasoned participants and those interested in civic processes. It starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Public Utility District meeting room, 141...
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...
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Through more than a century, as La Conner has evolved to its present state as a major tourist destination, its schools have remained a cornerstone. That is perhaps best symbolized by the La Conner High School Alumni Association, the oldest active organization of its kind in Washington state and which holds its 110th annual banquet and program at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at the middle school gym. La Conner alumni from across the years will gather then to honor the graduating class of 2024 and...
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...
Residents can support the La Conner Swinomish Library through April 4 as part of Library Giving Day. Contributors join a national community that comes together annually to keep libraries vibrant. Gifts go directly to your library, making possible the youth summer reading program, a wide variety of groups and individuals in our meeting space, exciting programs like author readings and musical events, and much more. The La Conner Library Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization. Mail checks to P.O. Box 1025, La Conner, WA 98257. Donate online:...
MEET THE DAFFODIL COURT - The La Conner Kiwanis announced the 2024 Daffodil Court. These La Conner Elementary School fifth graders will ride in the Tulip Party on the Kiwanis Kid float. From left are Prince Parker Fischer; King Brennan Hockenberry; Queen Ella Jackson and Princess Georgia Brown....
Salsa, waltz, swing, cha-cha – take your pick. The La Conner Retirement Inn was hopping on Valentine’s Day to ballroom dance. The most romantic day of the year – Valentine’s Day – is celebrated at the Inn most every year – viruses allowing. Taylor Winningham demonstrated the dances with local dance student Charlotte Decker accompanied by champagne, strawberries and chocolate. Over 30 residents sipped, tapped their feet and got up on the floor to swing and cha-cha. “One of the reasons I lik...
Greg Whiting has rarely – if ever – lacked for energy. Consider that in a robust and wide-ranging professional life Whiting has variously researched, analyzed, helped develop and written about energy systems designed to both improve quality of life and protect the environment. And now, with his partner Jenelle Whitton as co-proprietor of Raven's Cup Coffee and Art Gallery on First Street, he markets beverages that, while served in a laid-back Pacific Northwest setting, are the fuel that kee...
Join a community blood drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 at the La Conner High School gym, 404 North Sixth Street. It is a collaboration between local volunteers and Bloodworks Northwest. The blood drive is organized by high school students and the La Conner Kiwanis Club. Donors must be older than 16. Minors must bring parental consent to donate. Snacks and water are included. Questions: Dorothy Downes, [email protected], or Lori Buher, [email protected]. For information on the benefits of blood donation: massgene...
This photo was taken Jan. 29, when Brad Bradford, one of the original Tillinghast bike riders, celebrated when his 5-year-old, three-wheeled tricycle's odometer hit the 5,000-mile mark. That is a lot of miles. Brad and many others bicycle around La Conner almost every morning at 10 a.m., as long as it is not raining or snowing....
Another year begins in the sweet, joyous life of one of jolly old England's finest exports, Jean Wedin. Jeannie celebrated her (I get confused) 39th or 93rd birthday. It's hard to tell because of her incredible energy for life. An affair to remember was held at the Oyster & Thistle Friday evening, Feb. 2. An astonishing 24 guests attended to celebrate Jeannie, and celebrate we did. The "Crooner-Carver" from the Swinomish nation, Kevin Paul, was there to sing a Native serenade to celebrate her...
Emergency management has been a priority here since channel flooding in 2022 swamped waterfront and low-lying areas. Attention turned last week to fears of catastrophes and disaster at the dilapidated former Moore-Clark warehouse building at South First and Caledonia streets. A fixture in La Conner since before the turn of the century – to the 20th century– and once part of a bustling hatchery fish food processing plant and longtime local industrial hub, it was constructed as a grain war...
Extracurricular learning open to all takes place at Skagit Valley College this Saturday, Jan 27. The 10th Legislative District of Washington Democrats hosts Democracy in Crisis: Taking Action, a free day of inspiration and workshops, working in concert with students from Skagit Valley College Breaking Free Club, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Skagit, FairVote WA, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 3000, Civil Survival, Fidalgo Democrats, Skagit Democrats and additional community partners and elected representatives, to...
Residents can learn about a feasibility study for a grant to allow solar and storage of energy at the La Conner’s fire department and school district campus at 10 a.m. Feb. 3 at the La Conner Swinomish Library. The presentation explores solar and storage opportunities and how they can help build resilience and support community needs. The Town of La Conner Emergency Management Commission will be available to discuss their work with emergency preparedness. Information: townoflaconner.org/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=51; [email protected] or M...
ANACORTES — Skagit Bay Search and Rescue has been granted $25,000 by HF Sinclair to support the basing of a new marine emergency response boat in Anacortes. A ceremony with a representational presenting of the donation will be held at Seafarer’s Memorial Park Tuesday Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. by the Lady of the Sea Memorial, 601 Seafarer’s Way. The public is invited. City of Anacortes Mayor Matt Miller and Port of Skagit commissioners will attend. Skagit Bay Search and Rescue is a nonprofit, volunteer organization founded in 2002 and formed under...
We hope everyone’s New Year is off to a great start, It is hard to believe that January is almost over already. Our little taste of winter made for an interesting start to 2024, but now that things are finally thawing out, come to the library for a cozy day of reading or come to one of the many programs we have coming up through Feb.. Our first armchair Travels with Teri program had to be postponed due to the snow; however, we are going to reschedule. Stay tuned to our website or come by the library to get the new date. We have tons of fun c...
When the iconic Rainbow Bridge, the often-photographed arched orange span synonymous with La Conner opened in 1957, it looked like a million. Fast forward to 2024 and the now faded local landmark requires several millions – as in dollars – to reclaim its original bright orange appeal. The estimated cost of repainting Rainbow Bridge, which links La Conner and the Skagit County mainland with Fidalgo Island and Swinomish Reservation, is about $4 million, town resident Linda Peterson learned fro...
Skagit County Fire District 13 cares. In both deed and name. The district has implemented a proactive injury and illness prevention program that is providing medical care and assistance while reducing strains on the 911 system. Its coverage area includes Swinomish Reservation and rural La Conner, Early statistics show the effectiveness of District 13’s CARES (Community Assistance Referral and Education Services) program, staffed by three full-time paid personnel. Medical officer Capt. Drew Farrell presented graphs at the Jan. 11 District 13 m...
The Center for Retention & Expansion of Child Care (C-RECC) seeks applications from Skagit County employers wanting to support their employees by opening a child care center in or near their business. This is an innovative pilot project with a March goal of selecting a partner. C-RECC will distribute up to $75,000 of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to one or more employers to jump-start employers increasing child care capacity, helping families and boosting employee retention. “We’re so grateful that these pandemic relief funds were desi...
The Town’s newest advisory panel didn’t wait long getting to work in the New Year. The six-member Emergency Management Commission, which spent much of 2023 developing and implementing immediate saltwater flood barriers along the waterfront and in low-lying areas, met yesterday afternoon at Maple Hall. The main agenda topic was their ongoing efforts to craft a community emergency management plan for La Conner. Commissioners were scheduled at their Jan. 2 hybrid session to hear from Skagit Department of Emergency Planner Joan Cromley. “We need to...
The coronavirus is still here and lurks in La Conner, in nearby movie houses, in dance halls and auditoriums and wherever people gather and however they travel. The year ended and 2024 began with Weekly News staff and freelancers, critical people all, sick with cases of COVID-19 It can happen here. The national Centers for Disease Control’s mid-December data showed about 19% of adults are up to date on COVID-19 vaccines through Dec. 23, 2023. For RSV vaccination, about 17.5% of adults are vaccinated. Almost 45% of Americans adult have gotten t...
