Two jump into new year, taking a polar plunge

This year's New Year's Day Swinomish Channel polar plunge almost did not happen. At 1 p.m. spectators Lucy Martin, Pieter VanZanden and J. Lonee were looking expectantly but the shore and water at the beach just north of Pearle Jensen Way were empty of people. Calls were made to Rick Dole and John Leaver, who in 2021 led a group of four males into the water. Ollie Iversen, an observer last year, had been called earlier. He had no solid information to share.

But then Martin's sister, Anna Rose Martin, and her friend Michelle walked into view holding a beach bag of warmed towels. Without hesitat...