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Local color – You have probably heard the repetitive booming cannons and the recorded distress calls emanating from fields in the Skagit Valley during growing season. Those artificial warnings are designed to keep birds away from berries. Unfortunately, most birds get accustomed to the sounds after a few days and quickly realize there’s no real danger preventing them from gorging on the current crop. That’s where Brad Felger comes in. His business, Airstrike Bird Control, Inc., is a natura...
Active in the Skagit Valley and nationally Sister District, a grassroots, volunteer organization with local teams throughout the nation, including the Skagit Valley, has identified a pragmatic strategy that is helping win elections. Five women from the San Francisco Bay area started Sister District on the heels of the 2016 presidential election. Their goal is “to help Democrats win critical legislative seats” and their political strategy is unusual – Sister District pairs residents in “blue states,” those with elected officials who are...
RAMPING IT UP - Tyrone McLeod of Skookum Timber, along with his dad, local legend Vern McLeod, finish the handrails on this Morris Street ramp to Dick and Nina Dorsten house on Jan. 6. A whole crew of volunteers worked all day in the wet weather to get the ramp erected. Tyrone said, “the Soroptimist had helped pay for the cost of material for Dick and Nina’s ramp”. They are the cute couple that have been walking around town for decades holding hands. – Photo and text by Don Coyot...
WHEN THE MOON AND SUN ALIGN – A king tide rose throughout North Puget Sound Jan. 5. The largest tide of the year was a result of the moon and sun being on the same side of the earth and the moon coming its closest to Earth. Last week’s tide was a potential snapshot of future shoreline conditions in the region given the anticipated impact of projected climate change, says Washington Sea Grant Coastal Policy Specialist Bridget Trosin. – Photos by Nancy Crowell (top) and Don C...
Driving through California’s Sonoma County wine country with my brother and his wife, we weren’t tourists: we drive the main highway to their wine club membership winery. Five miles from their house, Cindy said, “this is as close as the fires came.” A half hour later Phil pointed out trees green on top and brown below, telltale sign where the fires had been. And then there were chimneys on concrete foundations, hulks of burnt out cars and banner signs thanking first responders. The first two seem post war zone, the last are from a grateful comm...
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...
La Conner Schools are thriving. I feel so blessed to be in such an amazing school district surrounded by a caring, involved and supportive community. Thank you to everyone who is part of our success. As we look ahead to what we expect to focus on in 2018, a few themes come to mind. Relationships. We are a people business, and spending time strengthening our relationships is a critical priority. Both within our district as well as the larger community, we hope to build more connections. An excellent example of this is our new and improved after...
WNPA Olympia News Bureau OLYMPIA – Climate activists erected tents and teepees Monday in front of the Washington State Capitol building, on the opening day of the Legislature’s 60-day session. “We are here today in prayer,” said Paul Che Oketen Wagner. He is a member of Protectors of the Salish Sea and of the Saanich First Nation of Canada. Wagner claims under the Medicine Creek treaty of 1854, the legislative grounds are native lands. He said the group hoped to occupy the space betwe...
In 1988, after considerable lobbying effort by Indian tribes, the gaming industry and easy-money interests, Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). According to Wikipedia, the purpose of IGRA “is to provide a statutory basis for the operation of gaming by tribes to promote tribal economic development, self-sufficiency and strong tribal governments”. Of the 556 federally recognized tribes in the U.S., 220-plus tribes in 29 states own/operate 350 gaming enterprises that generate over $26.5 billion in revenues annually, or rou...
Dear Mr. Stern, An article about the Museum of Northwest Art in the January 3, 2018 edition of the La Conner Weekly News led with details about recent staff and board resignations. The tone of the article implied that the trustee resignations were due to issues surrounding an upcoming capital campaign. I am one of the trustees who resigned and I take strong exception to those assumptions. It is simply not true that that is why we left the Board. The article was also very one-sided, with no opportunity for those of us who resigned to voice our...
Dear Mr. Stern, The January 3rd issue of the LaConner Weekly News featured an article about the Museum of Northwest Art. I am one of the trustees mentioned in the article who resigned. The reasons given in the article for my resignation were inaccurate. Contrary to what was published last week, my resignation was not respective of the Capital Campaign. My resignation stemmed from concerns with management. MoNA lies close to my heart. Both my grandmother and my aunt served as trustees for the Museum of Northwest Art. Recently, the museum...
