Starting a dialogue —

THE IDEAL

The face and greeting of our town are our homes, our residents, our churches and town hall. And, of course, our beloved small businesses, which give our community such pride. No box stores here! We love creativity, art, crafts, forward-thinking farmers and our progressive Swinomish neighbors, with those great hats that we so enjoy: They are creative and lyrical.

And then there is our beloved Mayor Ramon Hayes, who put so much hard work into making the boardwalk a reality. It is a major improvement! We hope for jobs, successful thriving businesses and year-round community commitment. We need to show visitors that we are a happy, smiling community that shines and works together all year round.

In a traditional, though unique town such as ours, people sweep their steps, shine the windows, clean the parlors and otherwise get ready for the day and for guests. Garbage trucks even run on time. It’s the daily routine.

THE REALITY

First impressions are important. They either welcome people or push them away.

The drive to La Conner winds through a fertile valley to the roundabout: It is the entrance to our community. Yet for two decades and more, the first impression I have is of an outdated look leading to Morris Street. Unfortunately, on Morris and on First Street are large for-rent signs and dark, dirty windows. There are too many unkempt flower beds, not fresh to the season. Let’s ask the banks, healthy businesses and all commercial businesses to take out the old overgrown evergreen and change to fresh flower beds that represents our valley and match each season.

Alas: There is a lack of vitality. More than half of the buildings have outdated facades. These are not signs of a continuity of community, either of leaders or of volunteers.

A NEW PROMISE

We need to take our blinders off: We have driven by this for so many years that we don’t even see it.

We, the people in La Conner, need to come together and demand better. We need to engage our town leaders, Chamber of Commerce, volunteers, artists, merchants, marketing professionals and more. These people are all here, but we must communicate much better among ourselves.

Let’s all step up to the plate. We need to use our talents for beautification projects. Let’s give our town a welcoming first impression sparkle to show off the jewel that we are.

A CALL TO ACTION

I, Janet Laurel, would be happy to volunteer to get our creative artists together to paint a mural.

What creative gardener would lead a group of like-minded volunteers to spruce up the flower beds?

What town planner would like to lead a group to brainstorm a development project and apply for a grant?

What sculpture or designer would design themes to show off our town and valley?

We are all architects who build our town. Let’s work together like we did for the waterfront park and move forward.

Now is the time to act. We must be a community that dreams and acts so that we will thrive for generations to come. Who will step forward, up to the plate?

Let’s hit a home run together for our community.