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With 2016 in the past, new calendars pinned to kitchen walls, and a few business days into 2017, we’re looking back at a few of La Conner’s big stories of 2016, some of which will be impacting the new year as well. School funding woes In February, for the first time in local history, voters rejected the La Conner School District’s bid for renewed levies to replace expiring funds: one was for maintenance and operations, and another for technology. The levies would have included $1.5 million of funding for the schools for 2017 and 2018. The s...
La Conner is often the subject of film lenses, from car commercials, to state ads, to documentaries on March’s Point, to Elvis-impersonator mysteries — but one filmmaker keeps coming back to film in his hometown. Griffin Johnston, who graduated in La Conner in 2002, has recently released a new music video that takes place in and around La Conner. He has filmed in the region for his music created as “Griff J,” but Johnston’s new film was for his newest musical project, “Maxcha...
After more than 14 years of volunteer work, retired nurse Margrit Elliot, was recently honored by the king in the Southeast Asian country of Bhutan for her humanitarian efforts. Elliot was awarded a gold medal in the National Order of Merit of Bhutan, the highest civil award given in the nation. The award ceremony took place in Eastern Bhutan on Dec. 17, the country’s National Day. “Think of it like American Fourth of July and celebrates Bhutan being independent,” said Elliot. “It is usually...
A recent ruling by the U.S. Department of Justice opening the door for marijuana production on native tribal reservations in states where it’s legal is something the Swinomish Indian Senate will talk about next year. The memo from the Justice Department released December 11 allows native tribes to pursue the process of growing and selling marijuana but reserves the right for federal enforcement if regulations are broken. “At the beginning of the year, there will be a discussion,” said Swinomish Tribal Chairman Brian Cladoosby. “It is on the...
What was planned as a fun weekend with the lighted boat parade and a Seattle Seahawks game turned into one of stress and a closure for a local waterfront restaurant. “La Conner Pub and Eatery” had to close on Friday afternoon, because the owners were worried about safety after they discovered a leak in the natural gas pipes serving the building. “There were signs: smelling gas and trouble keeping pilot lights lit,” said Sherry Thostenson, co-owner of the restaurant. “We knew there was an issue and called around for help.” After some invest...
Butterscotch the Bear has been waiting around La Conner Regional Library’s “magic mail box” to see who he’ll spend Christmas with. Children’s letters to Santa mailed in the red mailbox at the library will go directly to the North Pole. Santa will write back when the letters include the child’s full name and complete mailing address. Letters must be hand delivered to the library by 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20 to make sure Santa gets them on time. Letter writers will be entered in a drawing, an...
An author, a poet, an actor, and a director walk into a fundraiser. No, it’s not the setup to a joke, but rather the beginning of a sold-out event by the La Conner Library Foundation. After selling more than 100 tickets for the “Why Books Matter” fundraiser Thursday, November 13, the Foundation collected more than $23,000 through sponsorships, in-kind donations, and $150 tickets. The list of characters mentioned were none other than local author Tom Robbins, the first Poet Laureate of Washi...
After years of being in the dark, the Rainbow Bridge may soon light the way over the Swinomish Channel once again. La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes announced the idea to the town council last week, during a roundtable discussion. The idea to rekindle the lights was originally brought to Hayes by Shelter Bay residents Ken Olsen and Chuck Norris. “I’ve talked informally with county commissioners,” said Hayes. “I’ve talked with local communities and the Port of Skagit: there was no negativity whatsoeve...
The La Conner Fire Department is gearing up for their newest addition – a custom-built fire truck for the town, expected to roll into station near the end of October. This truck has been in the works for a few years. In 2012 La Conner residents voted for a sales tax increase in to raise money for the truck and the town placed its order to have it built last year. Now it is nearing completion. “We’re very excited,” said La Conner Fire Chief Dan Taylor. “It’s been designed for our specifications and will be very serviceable for many year...
The town is poised to begin work on the third section of the boardwalk, which will run from the old Palmer’s restaurant to just south of Calico Cupboard. “It’s still on schedule,” said Town Administrator John Doyle. “Despite a pause in work, this phase should be done by about the end of the year.” The unexpected pause came in August, when some of the composite decking material was found to be defective. With the potential of cracks forming in the installed material, the town’s public works crew replaced those sections with leftover deck...
While the Museum of Northwest Art has been a fixture in the local community for more than 30 years, it now aims to enrich its support to more communities and audiences outside the museum. Changes have already happened this year to gear the museum to the shift in focus: the mission statement was rewritten, outreach programs to youth and senior groups were broadened and the admission fee was eliminated. Now everyone can see museum exhibits for free. “We really wanted to reach more of the community,” said Museum Director Christopher Shainin. “Th...
Camera crews were causing traffic detours in La Conner this week for filming of the movie La Conner PD, written by local restaurant owner Guy Vallee. The movie takes place in La Conner during the late 1970s, and stars Guy’s brother Pete Vallee, better known as “Big Elvis” on the Strip in Las Vegas. Other local talent includes restaurant owner John Vargas, Mayor Ramon Hayes, and a Renault LeCar painted just like the ones the La Conner Police Department had in the 70s. Filming began on Monda...
La Conner School District’s “report card” from the state shows that the high school and middle school received passing grades, but La Conner Elementary School was deemed to be underperforming. The scores, based on student performance two years ago, were released this week by the Washington Policy Center, which calls itself a non-partisan think tank. Both the middle and high school were rated “good” in the same report. State reports since 2011 show the state’s rating of the elementary school slowly declining, even though test scores were improv...
Most people see La Conner’s channel-side businesses as they boat past or stroll along the boardwalk. But now with artist Bob Patterson’s rendition, the town’s entire waterfront can be viewed at once. Patterson recently completed an 18-inch by 20-foot painting of the town depicting everything from Rainbow Bridge on the south, to La Conner Marina at the north end of town. It is on display upstairs at the Museum of Northwest Art. “It took around 700 hours,” the artist said. “Mayor Ramon Hayes...
Rumor has it Al Capone’s old boat has been tied up at the guest dock at La Conner Marina lately. The large vessel, with its Roaring 20s lines and teak helm that conjures up images of Old Hollywood, is the Acania, a 136-foot luxury yacht built in 1930 — at the start of the Great Depression and in the final years of Prohibition. The last 84 years have given it a checkered past, with many names and many owners since, and it was nearly destined for a scrap yard until its current owner, D...
