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Well, that’s heartbreaking. Alex Ritenour...
Friday starts the 18 day voting period for the March 3 Washington presidential primary. The sharpest divide and the most critical decision to make in casting your ballot is your choosing between the 20th and 21st century. Whichever party’s ballot you cast and whichever candidate you pick, make your top priority determining if the candidate has the vision and capacity to lead this nation, and yes, still the world, into the 21st century. Now, as we enter the second fifth of this not so new century – 20 years of it is over – will y...
This is a follow up on the Jetty Fishway. As I discussed in my previous letter, the fishway in the McGlynn-Goat Island rock jetty was built too shallow for passage of salmon fry on any tide less than four feet. Washington law was violated by the Corps of Army Engineers during construction. Since RCW 75.20.060 states, among other things, that every obstruction across or in any stream shall be provided with a durable and efficient fishway (which shall be maintained in a practical and effective condition) it shall be kept open, unobstructed and...
It was an emotionally stirring evening and a Lincoln Theater filled to capacity on Saturday night. Again Stella Ireland and her theater non-profit, TASA (Theater Arts for Social Action) produced a story drama with 10 wonderful actors in “There’s No Place Like Home.” Telling stories of people who are or have been homeless: these human stories were gripping because we all have vulnerabilities and life scars that could take us over the edge. Some of the success stories of people turning their lives around were heartwarming. I thank Stella and t...
Just over three weeks remain in the 60-day legislative session. Several important issues will be considered in the homestretch, including taxes, housing, homelessness, your data privacy, gun rights, property rights, energy policies and sex education in schools. State lawmakers will also finalize supplemental operating, transportation and capital budgets. These are mid-course adjustments to these two-year state budgets. These budgets are important and reflect our priorities as a state. Capital budget As a member of the House Capital Budget...
Ambrose Bierce fought for the United States with honor and distinction in the Civil War, but the carnage and horror of the killing scarred him deeply. He became a writer of fiction of some renown, but the darkness and cynicism in his words was unique for his time. His 1906’s “Devil’s Dictionary” is an A to Z sardonic look at society. His definition of politics, as an example: “A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.” Decency has been part of the civic lexicon since the...
Our newly appointed Senator is correct on being a good listener (Feb. 5 Statehouse view). Unfortunately, his voice as the will of people will be unanswered by the majority currently in charge. We should be working together to solve problems our families and communities face, but instead, our elected officials feel that we are uninformed, stupid and that they know better. I hope and pray that this November, the people of this state revolt against the current majority and elect representatives that put the people’s interest first and not t...
The essential concept to grasp is that the Skagit Valley Food Co-op is more than a grocery store. Owned by their members, co-ops are businesses that serve and reflect their members’ values. Tony White, who took over from retired General Manager Todd Wood last Friday not only understands that dynamic, he freely confesses that long ago he “really drank the Kool Aid for co-ops. I realized the emphasis for communications with members. From that time on I was a true believer.” That lesson was learned in a 1990s master program in co-op manag...
The reason Marcus Lamb isn’t seen often at his Shelter Bay home is because he’s out making his presence felt around the globe. And doing so in a big way. Lamb, an information technology systems specialist, was recently named one of six recipients of the U.S. Secretary of State Award for outstanding volunteerism abroad based on his work in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The award honors U.S. Foreign Service officers and family members for exceptional volunteer efforts while posted overseas. Lamb was re...
“O is for openness,” “H is for Hope,” “U is for Universe” and Cate Schultz has written “Soul Primer: Building Blocks of the Soul” to share an alphabet of lessons to “A” assist you as you journey on the road toward Abundance. It is not a children’s book but has the look of one. It is a loving invitation to take better care of yourself, one lesson at a time, for 26 weeks. Lessons mean learning. Schultz offers half a year of practice: “Every week read one letter of the alphabet and enjoy the gorgeous art associated with the week’s teaching” sh...
A thirst for knowledge was quenched last week by those who regularly feast on learning. About 300 people filled the Tribal Youth Center last Wednesday night for the Swinomish Education & Awards Dinner honoring student achievement and paying tribute to former longtime La Conner School Board member Janie Beasley. Beasley, who served 15 years on the Board while juggling other local and outside leadership positions, was honored and blanketed at the event for her work on behalf of La Conner...
A crowd of 300 primarily housed people filled Lincoln Theatre Saturday night for “There’s No Place Like Home,” a moving and heart breaking staged reading of Skagit County homeless people’s own words and lives. Ten actors read on stage, dressed casually, one a young man wearing a hoodie, another, as a former pilot, wearing a stocking cap. A women emerged from a dome tent and walked onstage carrying bags of her possessions. The actors portrayed the words collected from homeless people using inflections, gestures, speaking simply, straigh...
For San Francisco Bay Ferry Mavrik Marine is building a 130-foot long, 36-foot beam and 30-foot high boat in its 36-foot high Pearle Jensen Way facility. When done, they will build a second ferry for them. But orders for 50-foot high boats requires building a 60-foot high building. The company is planning to do that this spring. Manufacturing big boats requires a big building. Mavrik plans to build twin buildings 60-feet high by 200.3 feet by 86 feet. Each will total 17,226 square feet. At its F...
The Mayor’s Roundtable ending the Feb. 11 La Conner Town Council meeting was the most future focused portion of the evening. Councilmembers gathered around a map Bill Stokes unfolded on the table. He shared the work he has been advancing with Director of Public Works Brian Lease to develop and pave First Street south of Commercial Street, connecting it to Caledonia Street. Stokes has championed the advantages of the extension, including creating a one way loop for traffic out of town, extending the boardwalk and routing traffic past the T...
