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It is back to the drawing board for at least parts of the controversial 306 Center Street multi-family three-story project. Town of La Conner Planning Director Michael Davolio said several planned elements of the proposed apartment/condo building have been remanded to the project applicant for revision. “We’ve noted three or four things that aren’t consistent with the approved project and we have advised the applicant of these inconsistencies,” Davolio told the planning commission during their Nov. 6 hybrid meeting at Maple Hall. Davolio...
Up again. Not a record, but the $65,603 in October sales tax revenue reported to the La Conner Town Council by the state Department of Revenue is the highest monthly collection in 2023 and topped only by four record setting months last year. This is the third month in a row that sales tax revenues are above $60,000, with totals increasing monthly The $528,778 collected to date is 86.8% of the total forecast for the year when the budget was set. It seems likely that the revenue target of $609,191 will be met if tourists continue coming. The...
Although these days some area fields are muddy with standing water in furrows, Skagit County remains in drought conditions. Future water supply is a critical question. Nick Bond, the state climatologist, visited Skagit County last Wednesday to speak on “Water Supplies in NW Washington State in Future Decades.” Compared with many places, Skagit’s outlook is not dire, yet emerging trends demand attention and adaptive measures. Bond’s key points included likely wetter winters and drier summers, issues stemming from timing for supplying water to ag...
The 534 votes counted today, Nov. 16, by Skagit County Elections Office workers did not change any candidate positions in the District 2 La Conner school board director race, nor are there changes in trends. John Agen added eight of the 18 ballots tallied for 778 votes, 52.9%. Janie Beasley's 10 votes gives her 685 and means she reduced Agen's lead by two, to 93 votes. Elections staff estimate 200 uncounted ballots remain. Almost all would have to be from the La Conner School District and Beasley would need to win about 75% of them to edge...
The one contested election for greater La Conner voters in 2023, between John Agen and Janie Beasley for La Conner School District Director Position 2 has Agen with 453 votes, 53.7% after the first vote tally Nov. 7, ahead by 68 votes. Beasley received 385 votes, 45.7%. All Town of La Conner candidates did not have opposition and won: Marna Hanneman for mayor, has 170 votes; Annie Taylor, appointed in 2021, for council position 1, has 162; and Mary Wohleb, an incumbent, 169. They take their...
Trudy Newton enjoyed a five-star horoscope on Thursday. That's nothing new for the woman believed to be La Conner's oldest resident. Hers has been a particularly blessed life and Newton's many friends here insist she generously shares those blessings daily. They, in turn, shared well wishes and congratulations of their own during a special celebration of Newton's 107th birthday at La Conner Retirement Inn Nov. 2. "She's a beautiful soul," Executive Director, Jeff Hendrickson, told the Weekly...
At the public hearing Nov. 14 on the Town of La Conner’s proposed 2024 budget be prepared to discuss the record $6.98 million in revenues and the $8 million in expendituresa, a deficit budget of just over $1 million. It is balanced by tapping the reserve fund balance of $5.5 million. As in recent years, the bulk of the projected revenue, $3.7 million comes from the four wastewater funds. These programs account for over half the costs, $4.2 million. The street fund is projected to take in $1.2 million and spend $1.3 million. The current e...
Place an order to receive four free COVID-19 rapid test: special.usps.com/testkits or 800-232-0233. COVID-19 tests are available to uninsured individuals and underserved communities. No-cost COVID-19 testing sites: aspr.hhs.gov/TestToTreat/Pages/default.aspx. No-cost COVID-19 vaccines for the uninsured: vaccines.gov. Check FDA’s website to see if COVID-19 tests’ expiration dates have been extended before throwing tests out. Go to https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19...
Collaboration was the buzz word of the day when scientists, Skagit County politicians and a Puget Sound Energy staff person shared a panel titled “government and resiliency” at the Museum of Northwest Art Saturday, as part of the exhibition “Surge: Mapping Transition, Displacement, and Agency in Times of Climate Change.” Skagit County Commissioner Peter Browning at the start named the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, the Upper Skagit and the Sauk-Suiattle Indian tribes, pledging listening and working collaboratively and in cooperation on a ho...
As in 2022, precipitation returned in October. The 2.4 inches was the most monthly rainfall since February. Over two inches fell in the Oct. 9-25 period. Another 1.2 inches came down Nov. 1-4. Still, the year’s rain deficit is nine inches. October rainfall was 1.1 inches, 31.3%, below the century average of 3.5 inches. October is typically wet: 10 years this century have had over four inches of rain, six have had five-plus inches and 6.1 inches fell in 2014. More than three inches of rain has fallen 14 years since 2000. Eight of those years h...
Skagit County Public Health is offering up to $200 in rebates for septic system inspection, pumping or riser installation to qualifying residents (one per household). A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant funds this rebate program for residents who pay a certified septic system provider to inspect, pump, or install riser to raise tank lids to the surface. All residents of Skagit County whose homes or businesses are served by a septic system require annual inspections, unless the system is conventional gravity (three-year inspection...
It is time to speak up on Town of La Conner budget and tax issues. The town council will hold four public hearings at its Nov. 14 meeting to consider: 1. Formation of a Transportation Benefit District. 2. 20-year Transportation Improvement Plan updates. 3. 2024 preliminary budget. 4. 2024 property tax levy. The public hearings will be held during the 6 p.m. regular city council meeting in Maple Hall, second floor, 204 Commercial Street. Public comments are welcome, written or oral. Submit written comments by email prior to the meeting, by 12...
Unity is a key part of the word community. That theme was stressed throughout the annual La Conner Young Life Dessert Fundraiser held Sunday night in the elementary school commons area. A wide cross-section of folks from in and around La Conner, representing the town, agricultural, Swinomish, Shelter Bay, Snee-Oosh and Fir Island communities attended the two-hour event, supporting the faith-based program that provides summer camp and monthly social and personal growth opportunities for local...
After a weeklong wait for the right tide and weather conditions, the aluminum ferry M.V. Delphinus left Monday night in a tricky operation conducted under rented klieg lights. No crane in La Conner is big enough to lower the 130-foot long, 36-foot wide, 30-foot tall aluminum catamaran into the water. Dunlap Towing barged it to Dakota Industries in Anacortes, where a Syncrolift will place it in the water. After transferring sister ferry M.V. Dorado to a barge in February 2022, Mavrik Marine...
An alarm of sorts went off at last Friday’s fall party for the Skagit County Historical Museum – on purpose. An enthusiastic crowd was enjoying itself at Maple Hall. Radio show host Mike in the Morning was master of ceremonies. Santo Coyote staff served the appetizers. The 120 or so folks showed their support for the Museum by buying tickets for five raffle items and bidding on 2024 naming rights to the East Wing. Madeline Roozen’s top bid was made in memory of her parents William and Helen Roozen, whose names will appear on the East Wing...
La Conner school board member John Agen increased his lead over former District 2 Director Jeanie Beasley to 120 votes. He now has 54.4% to Beasley's 45.1% after this second vote report Thursday from the Skagit County Elections Office staff. Agen led by 68 votes Tuesday. While county staff estimate 9,000 votes remain to be tallied countywide, it is not known how many La Conner school district ballots remain to be counted. Twelve hundred and ninety three residents have voted in this election. In 2019, Marlys Baker's win over Beasley brought out...
The application for the three-story condominiums and first floor rentals at 306 Center Street needs to be revised to meet the town’s code height requirement, Town of La Conner Planning Director Michael Davolio wrote property owner Bandon Atkinson at 10:50 p.m. Oct. 24. “[Y]our design plans appears to show an elevator shaft that exceeds the town’s 30’ height limit. This drawing will not be approved.” Davolio’s communication might have been prompted by questions at the town council meeting earlier that evening. Residents Linda Talman and Leslie...
Nearly 1,400 individuals and organizations from inside and outside Skagit County submitted comments on proposed changes to county code regarding agritourism last summer. During its Oct. 10 meeting, the Skagit County Planning Commission reviewed 1,367 written and oral comments (493 from people who do not live in Skagit County, 36% of total) and discussed next steps of the process. Twenty five comments supported the county’s Agricultural Advisory Board’s recommendation to clarify existing restrictive code rather than open new allowances or new...
Temperatures were record lows the mornings of Oct. 27-29 for their dates and have dipped below 32 degrees through Oct. 31, starting with Oct 25’s 31.2 low temperature, the first frost this fall. Oct. 27 went down to 30.8 degrees; Saturday’s 25.8 degrees was October’s coldest recording. Temperatures dropped to 26.1 degree Sunday and 26.9 degrees Monday. High temperatures hovered around 50 degrees last week. Measurements at Washington State University’s Memorial Highway station....
Help get all ballots counted quickly: Vote and return your ballot now Sign your ballot envelope Use a county dropbox Mail your ballot by Nov. 3 Election drop boxes nearby: La Conner Regional Library, 614 E. Morris Street Swinomish Indian Tribal Community: Social Services Building, 17337 Reservation Road Ballots must be in drop boxes by 8 p.m. Nov. 7. You can register to vote on election day. Voting information and register to vote at VoteWa.gov. Skagit County Elections: 360-416-1702...
Historic First Street could look different in the future as Town officials ponder proposals ranging from one-way traffic flow, occasional pedestrian only access and angled and paid parking downtown. Those are options being discussed in the review and update of the transportation element of La Conner’s comprehensive plan. A presentation on paid parking infrastructure will be made at a joint town council-planning commission meeting Nov. 28 at Maple Hall. Staff from at least one firm marketing metered parking are expected to attend. “There sho...
The Town’s saltwater flood barriers are nearly all in place ahead of king tide season, but for La Conner’s six-member Emergency Management Commission the heavy lifting is just getting started. The panel has focused primarily on short-term flood mitigation this year. It shifted attention during the second half of its one-hour Oct. 24 hybrid session at Maple Hall to long-range preparedness strategies along the waterfront. The commission endorsed a potential cooperative venture between the Town, Port of Skagit and Swinomish Tribal Community to...
The week of Nov. 6 U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Everett) will host a series of five in-person veterans forums and one veterans telephone town hall. The forums and telephone town hall are opportunities for veterans to receive updates on legislation benefiting them and their families and to get answers to questions about the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), health care, job training, housing and more. The forums are in Anacortes, Bellingham, Camano Island, Eastsound and Everett. Larsen served as a member of the Armed Services Committee for 22...
Skagit Adult Day Program, a local nonprofit which cares for dementia clients, is showing the Academy Award winning movie “The Father” 7 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 15 at the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon. This is a community awareness opportunity, in honor of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and Caregiver Month and a fundraiser. The public is invited. Anthony Hopkins, who won the Best Actor Award in 2020 for this role, heartbreakingly portrays the father experiencing dementia. Olivia Colman, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, is his careg...