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The Museum of Northwest Art (MoNA) has a reputation throughout the region for its many must-see exhibits. Now the downtown cultural center is itself being eyed for a new look. MoNA officials last week outlined for La Conner Planning Commissioners preliminary plans to expand services, address lingering structural issues and acquire nearby office space to continue its mission of connecting the public with Northwest art, cultures and environments. MoNA Executive Director Joanna Sikes, board chair...
At 90, a famed La Conner animation artist and painter still knows how to draw a crowd. On Zoom as well as at the easel. Bob Abrams, fondly known around town as the “Disney Artist,” was feted with a special on-line birthday reception Friday that drew well-wishers from near and far. The virtual event, which extended beyond two hours as Abrams reflected upon his remarkable career, was coordinated by Rebecca Strong of The Lux Art Center on Lopez Island. Strong met Abrams when she managed a gallery h...
The North Region, which includes Skagit County, remains in Phase of the state’s Roadmap to Recovery from COVID-19, as is every other region and county. For this region, the two key metrics increased dramatically: trending up 89% in the 14-day rate of new COVID-19 cases with 350.7 per 100,000 population. Skagit County recorded 305 cases per 100,000 residents, a 9% increase in its case rate. Whatcom County reported 494, Island County reported 184 and San Juan County’s rate was 76 per 100,000 residents. A 10% regional, aggregate reduction wil...
Voters have their ballots for the 1.45 mills replacement school levy. Some have already voted. The Weekly News supports this renewal, which decreases the tax rate from the current levy and lengthens the period to four years. Your choice is to vote “yes” to reduce the levy property tax rate or vote “no” and defund the schools. A yes vote recognizes and thanks the District’s staff, from administrators through teachers, educational aides, bus drivers and support staff for the herculean work they have done the last year under difficult circumsta...
Oprah Winfrey is quoted as saying, “The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.” Our School District is in the process of another change, which means there is an impact on our community as well. The La Conner School District has set a target date of February 1 to begin bringing students back to school. This will be a phased approach starting with pre-first grade students in a hybrid model; the details are on the La Conner School District website. We are hopeful that by the end of...
The La Conner School District is promoting a 4-year special levy to be voted upon in February. Special levies are paid for exclusively by local property taxes. In La Conner only a fractional proportion of residents actually pay property taxes, the result of peculiar demographics and highly uneven, unfair tax laws. Tribal members residing on the reservation are strongly encouraged to vote for school levies. They enjoy the benefits but have virtually no tax liability. Under federal laws, they pay no property taxes, no sales taxes, nothing....
When he hosts Town Council meetings, Mayor Ramon Hayes tries to limit his input, often choosing to defer discussion to others. But as a member of the audience at the teleconferenced Jan. 19 Planning Commission session, Hayes felt free to speak at length. He logged in to offer words of encouragement to panel members and pay tribute to outgoing Town Planner Marianne Manville-Ailles and retiring longtime commissioner Linda Talman. "I want to thank the commissioners for their service,” Hayes said at the close of a two-hour meeting that delved i...
As a parent of teens in La Conner, I would like to express deep appreciation on behalf of myself, and all of the La Conner Young Life Committee members, to the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community for their faithful support. The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community generously donated $15,000 to La Conner Young Life. This is not the only year that the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community has donated. They have been a faithful supporter to the efforts of Young Life in La Conner for over a decade. This support has been invaluable in enabling countless...
We are writing a letter to let our community know how much passing this levy means to us. La Conner School is a special place because everyone knows everyone, it is easy to get around and it is much more flexible than bigger schools. Since our school is smaller we get more one-on-one time with our teachers. The school will help provide students opportunities that do not have many. La Conner is more of a supportive community since there are not a lot of kids at our schools. We are given the opportunity to choose the classes we are interested in...
We would first like to clear up the intent of our proposed citizen’s advisory group. Barring any changes to our luck with the Powerball, we do not have any plans to purchase the Hedlin property. Our main goal is to ask the town for time and transparency as we work toward preserving more than just 20,000 square feet (approximately 25%) of the property for open space. Over the past several weeks our group has spent countless hours researching, asking questions and trying to fully understand the details and timeline behind the town’s purchase agr...
One of the things astute observers of the 45th president have not failed to notice is his self-promotion. In the questionable ethics of the twenty-first century, this is taken to be a good thing. It is thought to be necessary in order to beat out the competition. But we seem to have lost sight of the fact that throughout history self-promotion has not been thought of as a good thing, not even for business people and politicians. Donald Trump says he is the most popular president in history and that he has been the best friend to Black people...
I passed a sign on someone’s front lawn in Mount Vernon last week that read: “Dementia Joe? Heels Up Harris? Lord Help Us All.” Obviously, these people must be devastated and I am dedicating this column to them. If the election went their way, I had a plan in place to create Cascadia, including Washington, Oregon and California. The new “country” would still be technically part of the USA but with its own healthcare, its own intolerance for racism and anti-Semitism and its own support of public...
There was little doubt Town Planner Marianne Manville-Ailles would be hard to replace. Just how much so became quite apparent Sunday when her designated successor, veteran planner Kevin Cricchio, informed Town Administrator Scott Thomas that he was withdrawing from the position here. Cricchio, also planning director for the Town of Concrete, had been the choice to succeed Manville-Ailles, who is transitioning to a position with the City of Mount Vernon after three years in La Conner. “It’s unfortunate,” Thomas said Monday of Cricchio’s sudden...
Soroptimist International of La Conner (SILC) is temporarily closing their thrift store, Vintage La Conner, in compliance with a directive from their parent organization, Soroptimist International of America (SIA). They sent member chapters a directive that included this statement: “Concern for the health and safety of our members and our stakeholders has caused SIA to place a temporary pause on all SIA sanctioned face-to-face…activities,” including all club-operated thrift stores, lik...
Skagit County Public started providing COVID-19 vaccine Jan. 26 at the County Fairgrounds to eligible persons. Phase 1a and Phase 1b-Tier 1 eligibility is: Those 65 years and older. Workers in health care settings. High risk first responders. Residents and staff of nursing homes and community-based, congregate living settings where most individuals over 65 years of age are receiving assistance. People 50 years and older who live in multigenerational households. Appointments are limited to those who qualify under Phase 1a and Phase 1b-Tier 1....
Ann Wilder, a long-time resident of La Conner, WA and formerly of Grapeview, WA passed away in Anacortes, WA on Friday, January 15, 2021. She was born in St. Louis, MO, on June 20, 1932, to Paul and Norma Burgoldt. As a young child, Ann went to Catholic boarding school with her sister Jean, and later went to elementary/middle school in Minneapolis. They embraced wintertime and used to skate the river between towns. By high school, Ann was living in Connecticut and graduated from Greenwich High...
Monday, Jan. 18 11:55 a.m.: No fooling – Caller reported a delivery driver who was requesting upfront payment for delivering local goods. The caller said this is not normal and wanted to report it. The caller did not pay the driver. Skagit City Rd., Conway. 12:01 p.m.: Slipped away – Caller reported his plastic storage shed and contents stolen from his slip at the La Conner Marina. N. 2nd St., La Conner. Tuesday, Jan. 19 10:17 p.m.: Not all cracked up – Deputies responded to an alarm call. The alarm company said they were...
I have bungled this recipe a few times. It simply takes the right cut of meat and nice strips of bacon you can pull around the filet. For just over a year we have subscribed to the Butcher Box. Filet mignon is often in the beef box subscription. I used an indoor electric grill. Ingredients Filet mignon, 1 per serving Bacon, 1 per serving Toothpicks, 1 per serving Avocado oil, 2 tablespoons Cracked black pepper, to taste Pinch of salt for each filet Preparation Heat the oil in an indoor electric...
The La Conner School Board on Monday approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the school district and La Conner Education Association addressing requirements for returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement focuses on putting in place health screening, masking, social distancing and room cleaning and sanitizing standards to safely bring students and staff back to school. “This gives everybody some structure with which to work through the hybrid model,” interim sup...
