Opinion
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1596
Covering the holidays
Another holiday season has come to greater La Conner. Santa jump started December, showing up at the La Conner Swinomish Library to read stories to children last Wednesday. He returned twice Saturday, first fortifying himself with pancakes at the... Full story
What's the matter with Kent? No local newspaper means low voter turnout
Perry Sobolik calls himself “an old newspaper junkie.” So he scours the press like a hawk for any scraps about his town, which happens to be the Seattle suburb of Kent. “We still get some attention down here, every once in a while,” he said.... Full story
Holiday lights evolution from candles offer an even brighter future
Holiday lights abound. As Ray Stevens said about Santa Claus, they’re everywhere! They’re everywhere! They’re all over La Conner’s homes, streetlight posts and various public spaces. The big Christmas tree in Gilkey Square dominates the... Full story
Your community newspaper and you
Dear Greater La Conner Community, Welcome to the La Conner Weekly News. If you are getting the paper for the first time, I hope you will find your community newspaper an enjoyable and worthwhile read. Valued subscribers, I hope this issue meets your... Full story
When wine and housing don't mix
I recently went out for dinner with a neighbor, a part-time, mostly-here-in-the-summer kind of neighbor. He teaches at a university, leads research and publishes interesting work on human behavior. As we waited to order he mentioned his frustration a... Full story
Check your own housing smarts here
Did you know: Jefferson County ranks 38 out of 39 counties in the state for affordability for first-time, as well as all, home buyers. Jefferson County’s vacancy rate hovers between 0-1%. The national vacancy rate is 5%. At any one moment, almost... Full story
Always think solar
The Skagit Valley Clean Energy Co-op (skagitvce.coop) is ramping up our Solarize Skagit Campaign which will start in early March 2024. SVCEC’s Solarize Campaign connects Skagit homeowners and small businesses with solarizing their homes and... Full story
If I ran the Zoo
If you are heading towards Whatcom County or Canada and you are not in a hurry, Chuckanut Drive is a wonderful alternative route. Chuckanut is a winding road that goes along the Pacific coast and feat...
Thanksgiving thanks and blessings
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 ou... Full story
Climate crisis: The world is in a catastrophe now
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... Full story
Solidarity statement for peace and justice in Israel/Palestine
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 consc... Full story
Portable public solar power's future
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 y... Full story
Tainted mail, poisoned elections
What is more American than the post office? The post office is older than the United States, established the year before the Declaration of Independence, in 1775 by perhaps the wisest and most practical of the Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin. He... Full story
Nez Perce Tribe leads Rise Up Northwest in Unity in Tulalip to save salmon
Can you imagine the Pacific Northwest without salmon? Their life cycle feeds many beings in the whole ecosystem. Salmon have been the center of spirit and community here for centuries And yet – they are at the brink of extinction in the Snake River... Full story
Focus on loving, carrying on
“When the big things seem out of control … focus on what you love right under your nose” writes Charlie Mackay in his book, “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.” And it does seem so, that the world is out of control. There are the... Full story
Free parking
It is not unusual for tourist towns to reserve a free parking lot for its visitors. For example, Sedona, AZ and Cedar Key, FL. Not to mention Anacortes and Mount Vernon locally. I think our town council should think of free parking as a form of... Full story
Thanks for supporting Young Life programs
I would like to offer a huge thank you to the La Conner Swinomish Indian Community as well as the La Conner community at large for supporting the efforts of La Conner Young Life. Last week we had our annual fundraising dessert event and nearly 100... Full story
CORRECTION
The Nov. 8 story “Collaboration critical in climate change actions,” did not correctly identify Heather’s Spore’s job title nor accurately cite her point that Spore, a biologist and environmental policy analyst with Swinomish, mentioned that... Full story
CLARIFICATION
At the Skagit County Historical Museum fundraiser Nov. 4, the East Wing 2024 naming right in honor of William and Helen Roozen was purchased by Lisette Roozen Mast, John Roozen, Madeleine Roozen Cook, Debbie Roozen Scott, Michael Roozen and grandson... Full story
Whose kids? Our kids
It is a week after the school children of La Conner and many of their parents, families and friends swarmed up First Street in the town’s annual Halloween parade. Last weekend kids of all ages were on stage at the Lincoln Theatre, performing as... Full story
Part 3 on creating EV charging infrastructure in La Conner
The need for electric vehicle charging infrastructure will inevitably increase. People who don’t want EVs now because their initial cost is too high or their range is too low will re-evaluate that... Full story
LCCSF Fund Drive
The La Conner Community Scholarship Foundation (LCCSF) began a fund drive in June that will end on Nov. 30. A service minded La Conner High School alumnus has committed to matching all contributions up to $50,000. To date, nearly 40 donors have... Full story
Paid downtown parking
In the article “Paid downtown parking an option” last week (Nov. 1), I want to make a slight correction and offer my two cents on the subject. Correction: The company making a presentation to a joint council-planning commission meeting on Nov.... Full story
First Street parking
The Problem: Vehicles parking on First Street for extended periods of time during high tourist traffic periods. Who are the primary offenders? Business owners and employees. First Street residents. Hotel guests. (All of whom should be parking off... Full story
Thank you for support, La Conner merchants
On Oct. 28, P.E.O. Chapter JG, La Conner, held a brunch and auction at Maple Hall to support women’s educational opportunities. We rely on donations from members, friends, families and merchants to help us provide the financial needs to help women... Full story