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Serving in the armed forces is one of the highest forms of service to our country. So, when veterans return home the last thing they should have to deal with is technical or bureaucratic hurdles. Our district is home to a large number of veterans. This past interim, after meeting with a number of constituents and hearing their concerns, I identified several areas where our state could do better for veterans and their families. I’m working with my colleagues across the aisle in the House and Senate to pass legislation to make sure that W...
Choose. Every day we make choices. I choose to get my news from NPR, National Public Radio. I read the local newspapers and, on Sunday, the Seattle Times. If there is a Chinese saying, “May you live in interesting times,” I have heard it called a curse and not a blessing. To us, us frogs in a pot of water slowly warming on the stove, life might seem normal. Trust me, it is not. The impeachment of President Trump is historic, but it might take 10 years for the facts to all come out and sink in. More critical to our future is climate change, whi...
I’m writing to express my gratitude to our community on behalf of the La Conner Braves Club Fundraising Council. This past Saturday, so many people – those with kids who attend the club, and those who just wanted to support – showed up for a “Taste of India” to help keep the doors wide open for the 130-plus kids who attend the after school program each day. This unique fundraising event was made possible by people who said “yes” to donating a silent auction item, volunteering or just stopping by for some delicious curry. We are gr...
To the Editor: The inadequate fishway in the jetty between Goat Island and McGlinn Island should now be rectified. Its original design was to have three feet of water, for the passage of salmon fry at any minus tide and to allow small boat passage. The miles of sanctuary waters off the Swinomish Channel, north of La Conner, Telegraph Slough and others were key control areas for survival of young salmon in their transition from fresh water to the sea. The fishway was built too shallow and would not allow fry to swim through it at any tide less t...
Allen Lowe’s new job as La Conner School District’s math teacher ended tragically with his death from a brain aneurysm Jan. 20. Staff and students in La Conner and Mount Vernon, where Lowe taught for 16 years after becoming a teacher in 2003 are grieving. Lowe’s love of working with children began as a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia in 1987-8. Lowe went to Africa as an engineer. Born in Short Hills, New Jersey, he earned engineering degrees from Stanford and California Polytechnic State University. In Africa he met his life partner Andre...
Eighty-five residents and family members packed the dining room at the Retirement Inn for its second annual Murder Mystery Dinner. “Last year’s murder mystery dinner was so successful; we just had to do it again. It’s a lot of work but so much fun to put on – we love it,” Executive Director Christina James excitedly reported. James adapts the popular Murder Mystery Dinner game to fit into the Inn’s hour dinner time frame. The audience enjoyed a delicious chicken, potato and asparagus...
It’s often said that youth will be served. But Alana Quintasket, just 27, wants to turn that notion around. Rather than be served, she wants to be among those who are of service. As in public service. Quintasket is seeking election to the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Senate seat held by longtime Chair Brian Cladoosby. He was first elected in 1985 and has been chair for the past 23 years, a time frame that has seen him assume several state and national Native American leadership roles. Durin...
Some 20 people accepted the La Conner School District’s invitation to informally gather for a coffee chat to find out “what’s happening” in the district last Thursday, Jan. 23. School Board Chair Susie Deyo and Superintendent Dr. Whitney Meissner co-hosted the evening conversation in the middle school library. Newly elected board members John Agen and Marlys Baker joined them. The topics drawing the most animated conversation were “the dissension that sprung up between the two unions and the superintendent,” asked by an elder, and the look of...
The clouds broke and the sun made a rare appearance on Sunday and I texted my dog-walking buddies and we all showed up at the off-leash dog park. Just as we were leaving our cars in the parking lot, Betsy got a text and announced that Kobe Bryant had been killed in a helicopter crash along with his four young daughters. We all went into an immediate funk, praying that his widow could somehow someday overcome this horrifying unimaginable grief. As we walked the dogs, we continued to get updates...
