Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper
Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper
Sorted by date Results 1 - 11 of 11
Recently, the La Conner School District administration decided to not renew the contract of one of our beloved teachers. This decision was not only damaging to student morale but also detrimental to student learning. In direct defiance of a petition containing the signatures of 73 high school students and letters of support from other staff members, our principal and superintendent chose to let go of the only math teacher in the high school. A dedicated, hard-working teacher who loved La Conner and gave countless hours of her free time to help...
Patience. That word and theme has been stressed many times in editorials since mid-March. Mid-March. That was two months ago. How patient we have been these last two months. Hopefully, that has become habit. Our new habits, of patience, of social distancing, of wearing masks, of shopping local establishments with takeout orders, like muscles constantly employed, make us stronger and able to go on. And go on, using these newly strengthened muscles in these new ways, is exactly what we must do. For how long? We have to hear and accept and...
When La Conner pioneer Isaac Dunlap came west by mule train nearly 160 years ago, he could not have imagined a descendant crossing the country in jetliner cockpits nearly a century later. Nor could he have envisioned his great-grandson, longtime United Airlines pilot Clair “Toby” Dunlap, being joined by presidential candidate John F. Kennedy in the cockpit of a private plane en route from Salt Lake City to a 1960 campaign appearance in southern Oregon. Yet, even in the eyes of his contemporaries, the veteran commercial airline captain liv...
Because I write fiction set in the American West, sooner or later I knew I’d be compelled to tell an Oregon Trail story. But why any trail story? If I was going to tackle this subject, I decided to take on one of the most difficult and misunderstood narratives in American history. Isn’t everyone a bit intrigued by the Donner Party saga? We recall the story of these ill-fated travelers from high school history classes, and what do we remember? Cannibalism. Even though there’s no avoiding gruesome detail, I focused on the emigrants’ collect...
Put the Anacortes Farmers Market on your shopping schedule for this Saturday. Get out of the house and go. It is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then go to the Mount Vernon Farmers Market May 23. Or reverse the schedule: Saturday is opening day for the Mount Vernon market. When the Anacortes market opened its 2020 season May 2, the scene was very different from last year. Both markets are a festive place. As public markets, people gather to socialize, listen to music, eat prepared foods, relax and so...
An avid jogger, Todd Torgeson is about to set foot on a new career path. Torgeson, in the third year of his second tour at La Conner Schools, announced in a district-wide email on Monday his resignation as middle and high school principal in order “to explore other options.” La Conner Superintendent Dr. Whitney Meissner confirmed during a video-conferenced school board study session Monday evening Torgeson’s decision to step down at end of the academic year. She said Torgeson earned a reput...
Gov. Jay Inslee extended the State of Emergency COVID-19 order through May 31 on May 4, while allowing some businesses to open and smaller counties to apply for variances to open additional businesses. The governor’s “Safe Start” plan amends some components of the original order and allows for a start to re-open the state. The four phase framework started May 5 opening state parks for day use. Essential businesses were expanded to include existing construction meeting specific criteria, landscap...
The best things in life truly are free. And better yet when they’re also pain-free. That’s been the case at the COVID-19 testing drive-thru site at Skagit Valley College, where Sgt. Jeff Willard of the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office La Conner detachment is part of the team assembled to quickly and efficiently guide the public through coronavirus self-exam stations. Located in the large parking area east of SVC’s McIntyre Hall, the site has drawn between 50 and 200 vehicles daily since opening...
Scratch the Town of La Conner’s July 4th parade, picnic, concert and fireworks from your summer calendar. Ditto the Chamber of Commerce’s annual August Classic Boat & Car Show. There will not be a La Conner Live Summer Concert Series at Gilkey Square, either. And for the first time in 116 years pioneer family descendents will not gather for the Pioneer Picnic come August. The Pleasant Ridge Cemetery Memorial Day celebration May 25 is canceled, also. There will not be a May 31 celebration of the La Conner Marina’s 50th Anniversary. It is postp...
Chicken and Dumplings is one of those ultimate comfort foods that brings to mind your childhood. The butter makes these dumplings delicious. Cooking tip: do not overcook the dumplings as they will loose their fluffiness. Ingredients - Chicken Soup - Whole chicken, rotisserie preferred - Onion, one small - Carrots, two - Frozen peas, ½ cup - Water, 6 to 8 cups Dumplings - Flour, two cups - Baking powder, 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon - Salt, 1 teaspoon - Dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon -...
The Commissioners for Skagit Cemetery District #1, also known as Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, have regretfully canceled this year’s May 25th Memorial Day celebration, due to social distancing regulations and concerns for public safety. Families are welcome and encouraged to visit the cemetery to honor their loved ones. Flags will be placed on veteran graves, as is the usual practice. Please remember to abide by the governor’s safety recommendations. Source: Skagit Cemetery District #1...
