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Back in March of 2020, just as the coronavirus pandemic shuttered businesses, isolated families and caused a run on toilet paper, something else a little quieter was taking shape. A group of 16 quilters from around Washington state began sewing, at home, alone. They were brought together by Stanwood resident Denise Long’s vision to create a quilt and visual story of life during this challenging time. She called it “The COVID Commemorative Quilt: piecing life together during the pandemic of 202...
Now that the Thanksgiving dinner is over and done, your attention may be turning to all that is merry and bright. Or you may be thinking more like Scrooge, and “Bah Humbug” your way into the holiday season. There is no doubt, these days the holiday spirit can seem commercialized with an over- abundance of consumerism. Enough to make you wonder, “why?” and “what is this all for?” Even the stores seem to usher in the season earlier and earlier each year. If the push of a shopping blitz brings on a migraine but you don’t want to cancel Christ...
Inside the community hall of Mount Vernon’s St. Paul’s Episcopal Church gather a group of thespians, singers and dancers. It is a mid-week run through of “Pray the Gay Away,” with only five more rehearsals before opening night. The scene being worked on as I entered was one of the more serious and pivotal to this musical, examining the controversial practice of gay conversion therapy. It is being billed as “a serious musical comedy” with a musical score reminiscent of the pop ‘80s sound mixed with soulful ballads, “a full-blooded mu...
A single bald eagle circled overhead as the canoes began to land at Swinomish Monday. A good sign. It was originally estimated that upwards of 5,000 attendees and participants would converge upon the landing site, located at the three cedar hat pavilion. While there is no clear way to calculate a final number, by all accounts the estimation was not far off. Sunday, Tulalip hosted the journey with a reported 65 canoes landing on their beaches. Early Monday morning the canoe families re-entered...
It was 2:30 pm and Paisley Stewart walked home from school on Morris street. She detoured, popping into Tillinghast Postal for her daily visit. Stewart is just one of the band of school kids who come to visit Six, the mild-mannered cat who bedecks the shop counter, laying in her wicker basket or holding down the shipping scale. In October Six came home with Lucy Kelly, Tillinghast’s owner. Kelly’s other kitty companion, Maggie, had passed away in September. When she was ready to adopt ano...
No one will argue that LaConner exudes romance. This little town on the Swinomish channel offers all the right elements for a special evening out or weekend away. Its vote as “Best Romantic Spot” by Romantic Getaways of Washington State heralds this across the region and around the world. But where do the locals rendezvous for romance? A typical intimate evening might begin with dinner at the Nell Thorn Restaurant & Pub. This is Kim Broadhead’s favorite place to begin a special celebration. That is, if she has the evening off from runni...
Some people grow up looking into the heavens wondering if there is intelligent life out amongst the stars, but Dr. Kaeli Swift thought intelligence was for the birds, literally. A wildlife scientist, she studies cognitive behavior in birds, in the Corvid family. What kind of birds are in the Corvid family? Keynoting the La Conner Birding Showcase Saturday, she told the over 200 person audience that the common American crows, ravens, magpies and jays are all in the same family. Many heads nodded...
The new year has begun. Auld Lang Syne has been sung. Let’s take a glass of kindness yet: a glass of whisky. There are many varieties of whisky. Maybe some of them are familiar, while others are not. There is Scotch whisky, Irish whisky, Rye whisky, American whisky and bourbon. The list goes on. In fact, there are so many kinds of whisky Portland needed a whole whisky library to fit them all. That is correct, a library. Instead of books, these shelves hold 1,800 different varieties of spirits, m...
For many, December 31st symbolizes a closure to a year. With the ball dropping at midnight, crowds gather together to bid farewell to the old, and usher in the new. With mixed feelings this year’s end, Jo Mitchelle, LMT, says good-bye to her plant and flower shop, located in front of the Library Thrift Store on Morris street. The gate is locked with a pink sign reading “Flower Shop will not re-open in 2019”. The flower shop’s inception began roughly five years ago, after Mitchelle broke her arm in a scooter accident. Mitchelle ran Jo’s He...
No doubt about it, the holiday season comes with a flurry of activity. Adding travel plans into the mix of hustle and bustle is a recipe for stress. Airports are insane and traffic on the highways can be a headache producing nightmare. If you desire a slower pace this holiday with more time to relax and share quality time with your loved ones, why not try train travel? Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride! Traveling by train is easy and accessible. Starting with online booking, it takes only a few minutes to secure a reservation and tickets are...
Sean Skiles owns Pioneer Market, which has been a family run business for generations. Change and growth go with managing a store in a close-knit community. One change the Market fully supports is reducing waste and assisting community groups. The La Conner town council passed an ordinance banning single use plastic bags at retail stores in June. August 1st was the start date, with a waiver period of four months, making January the deadline. La Conner is the only town in Skagit County to ban single-use plastic bags. A small pebble tossed in a p...
It is my belief the intention behind Thanksgiving Day goes well beyond the mere “thank you” or “thanks for the grub” that can be said in a passing moment. The meaning of the day becomes the memories we share and the gratitude we express for each other, whether we are with immediate family, friends or family found in community. Here is a story to share what I mean. It is Thanksgiving Day. We are sitting down to dinner. There is much chatter and shuffling of plates as we pass around the dishes of our feast. Before I hand the bread basket to my d...
Art comes alive in the La Conner community this weekend, as 14 invitational artists display their work and share their craft through various demonstrations held throughout town: It is La Conner’s 34th annual Art’s Alive. Kirk Ruse, an oil painter in the show says, “art is not only a personal reflection of the artist’s spirit, but those who engage in the art somehow see a reflection of their self, embracing something outside of themselves and growing a sense of community.” His paintings can be seen at That’s Knot All, one of 12 merchants showing...
“It is a growing process. You can’t just like beer. You have to start somewhere and learn the different flavors.” – Isaac Hanson. This weekend, kick back and sample the different flavors of 12 regional craft breweries, while enjoying the perfectly paired bluesy, funk rhythms of local favorite Mary Ellen Lykins & the CC Adams Band. Yes, it is that time again, for the 4th annual Brew on the Slough this Saturday at Maple Hall. The La Conner Chamber of Commerce organizes this brewfest, bringing together local breweries, merchants and enter...
The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” — Pablo Picasso It is a rainy, Sunday afternoon. The sky is the color of metal but there is one place along Morris street that stands out, lit up with its colorful pots of cheerful flowers and its turquoise trimmed porch. It is The LUX, the new arts center at 603 Morris Street. Rebecca Strong, its creative director, is getting ready for a new art opening. She assists the two local artists, Janet Laurel and Barbara Silverm...
