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Governor Jay Inslee will soon announce his plans to end mask requirements in schools and businesses. Many have probably already forgotten an outdoor mask mandate has been in effect since September, requiring all public gatherings of 500 or more to wear face coverings. This will end the 18th, Inslee announced in a news conference Feb. 9. The August 2021 order from the state’s secretary of health requiring everyone five years of age and older to wear a mask in public indoor settings remains in pla...
Greater La Conner, within and beyond the town's boundaries, is blessed with a plethora of volunteers. La Conner’s arts and park commission members are the institutionalists the government and surrounding community are fortunate to have. Their missions are prescribed by the town’s municipal code. Members take their roles seriously, committing to them term after term and, like church choirs, bond with each other in purpose and friendship. They toil in general obscurity, their efforts and results occasionally noticed by the town council or loc...
Last week the Town of La Conner paid the City of Anacortes $6,940 for reconciliation of the water bill for 2020. I objected to this charge and requested a meeting of the town’s utilities committee to explore alternatives. Their answer was “don’t rock the boat.” They were afraid that the Anacortes finance director would impose harsh measures in retaliation. After all, according to the latest audit, Anacortes made a profit of $2,197,437 off of water operations in 2020. All I wanted was for Anacortes to follow their own procedures with regard...
Planet Earth is in trouble. Devastating flooding and forest fires, to mention only two and warmer seas are eating away at the edges of the two polar ice caps at an unprecedented rate. These events can all be attributed to atmospheric warming, confirming ongoing reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The dominant species, humanity, is largely responsible. Put bluntly: We human beings have thought of ourselves as apart from and above the rest of creation. Indeed, in so far as Christianity underpinned a theological belief...
The coronavirus pandemic continues to make its presence felt and not just in the number of new cases recorded across Skagit County over the past month. The virus crisis forced Fire District 13 to run smaller crews in early February and its three-member board of commissioners returned to a remote monthly meeting format last Friday. Chair Bruce Shellhamer logged in from a hotspot on Whidbey Island and faded in and out during the hour-long session. Those breaks were so frequent that fire chief Wood Weiss offered to provide musical interludes. “I’l...
Ron Muzzall, Senator Paid family and medical leave, while a good idea, has run into complications – the state-run fund for the program is insolvent. The Employment Security Department, responsible for collection of the taxes and payment of benefits, let legislators know shortly after the start of the 2022 legislative session that the fund will have a deficit by the end of March. Funded by a payroll tax, the program provides new parents or people caring for sick loved ones a financial lifeline, but demand has outpaced supply. Despite the...
On a special night, it was still business as usual for the La Conner High School girls’ basketball team at Landy James Gym last Thursday. The state 2B hoop team finished off an undefeated conference campaign with an impressive 87-13 romp past Coupeville following Senior Night festivities. Fans honored Lady Braves seniors Aubrie Sloniker, Juna Swanson, Rachel Cram and Sarah Cook before the hosts ran their NW2B/1B record to 11-0. “The girls came out and took care of business early,” La Conner head coach Scott Novak told the Weekly News after...
It was a win-win night at Landy James Gym Thursday for both the Coupeville and La Conner boys’ basketball teams. The visitors won on the scoreboard, closing out what is probably the program’s first-ever undefeated regular season dating to 1917 with a 79-45 victory over the Braves. La Conner had cause to celebrate, too, despite losing a second NW2B/1B decision. Braves fans had the opportunity to salute the team’s seniors marking their final home appearance. Josh Denton, Cameron Burks, Spencer Olson, Luke Marble, Haydin Dinuis, Myles Sydzi...
Funny the difference a couple days makes. With their season in the balance, the La Conner Braves rebounded Saturday to defeat Friday Harbor 48-38 at Coupeville to advance to a Northwest 2B District Tournament date with Auburn Adventist last night. With the win, the team extended its season while avenging a tough 66-41 loss to Friday Harbor earlier in the week. Senior Miles Sydzik had 12 points to lead the resurgent Braves, who knocked down eight three-pointers while improving to 6-12 overall, including two wins in three games against Friday...
La Conner High School wrestlers Delaney Cobbs and Kaliana Bill have grabbed spots in the Washington State Mat Classic at Tacoma this week. Cobbs was runner-up in the 190-pound weight class of the Northwest Regional Girls’ Wrestling Tournament in Sedro-Woolley on Saturday while Bill qualified for the Tacoma brackets by placing fifth in the 155-pound division. Cobbs lost only to undefeated No. 1 seed Alivia White of Marysville-Pilchuck in the Regional 190s title round match. The senior, 20-3 on the campaign, has suffered her only three defeats th...
La Conner School District Superintendent Will Nelson was like a student facing a big exam Monday. The administrator, hired last spring and at the helm since July 1, underwent his initial job evaluation during a one-hour executive session at the end of a special, mid-month board meeting. The board announced no action and adjourned immediately when it reconvened on Zoom. But early indications are that all went well. Nelson and board members lavished praise on one another prior to the executive session, making a lengthy review of efforts to set...
The northern elephant seal named Elsie Mae, who has been known by Deception Pass State Park officials for a few years, gave birth to a pup on Jan. 31. Officials closed the Bowman Bay area to protect the pup from human and pet interference, and to protect humans and pets from a protective mother. Elsie has been used to humans; staff are making an effort to not have the new born imprinted in the same way. Helpful volunteers are on sight to answer many questions. You might find a bird watcher with...
Sunday, February 8 8:31 p.m.: Road rage – Caller reported that 7 hours earlier a black Bronco had began following him and ended up road raging at him as the Bronco passed. Calhoun Rd, Greater La Conner. Monday, February 7 2:24 a.m.: Boat intruder– Caller reported a male in a green coat entered his boat while he was sleeping. The boat owner woke up and confronted the male, yelling at him to get off his boat. N. 1st St., La Conner. Tuesday, February 8 1:06 p.m.: Border Patrol Scam – Caller reported a phone scam. Caller said a...
A warm bread to snack on these chilly sunny days of late winter. The transition between winter and spring. Foggy mornings. Frosty mornings. Blue skies. This recipe is made in the bread machine. The bread flour choice is the espresso bread flour by the local Cairnspring Mills. This recipes makes 1.5 lb. loaf. I used an extra virgin olive oil. Normally I would use a canola or vegetable oil. But, I was fresh out, having shared my last bottle of canola oil with my sister-in-law, Karen Joe. Ingredien...
How important is it to be earnest? How important is it to be honest? How important is it to enjoy a night of community theatre, either in person or by downloading it to view at home? Very important is the last answer. Find out for yourself from the comfort of your home by scheduling watching "The Importance of Being Earnest" or see it in person in Oak Harbor's Whidbey Playhouse the next two weekends, through Feb. 27. Oscar Wilde was a subtle wit in an age of proper decorum. He would probably be perfectly at home in our 21st century social...
The La Conner Town Council may face a difficult choice at its Feb. 22 meeting: whether to green light $21,800 in already approved hotel/motel tax funds for a 11 foot tall “Love La Conner” “marketing icon” so it gets built or whether to reject the Gilkey Square location, following recommendations from the town’s arts and parks commissions citizen advisory panels. “We did not consider it artwork but as an advertising sign,” Sylvia Strong, arts commission chair told the Weekly News Sunday. “We d...
