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Merchants and restaurateurs throughout La Conner share Julie Lennartz‘s “2021 Tulip Season has been spectacular!” assessment of business in town this month. The co-owner of La Conner Pub & Eatery reported “the week and weekend of April 12 was record breaking with the number of people we saw. Our staff worked hard, we ordered for an army and started running out of our delicious seafood late Sunday afternoon.” Other local eateries report similar experiences during April. Santo Coyote’s...
La Conner social justice leader Rosalinda Guillen painted a vivid picture of her late father, acclaimed artist Jesus Guillen, during two special presentations at the Skagit County Historical Museum last Thursday. The local museum is exhibiting the works of Jesus Guillen, whose keen, sensitive portraits of migrant farmworkers in and around La Conner uniquely capture the dignity and skill required to harvest the area’s agricultural bounty. Rosalinda Guillen added context to her father’s rich art...
Washington’s second congressional district, ours, has just over 711,000 people. Every congressional district has roughly the same population. Our representative, Rick Larsen, votes for and against all kinds of things, from funding for airports to money for zoos, whether or not zoos are in the district. He argues for blueberry farmers and inserts legislation in the Defense Authorization Act requiring real time monitoring of U.S. Navy Growler jets. On this and much more he often works with Washington’s two senators, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murph...
In approximately the summer of 2019 the Town of La Conner was approached by members of the Hedlin family with an offer to buy the 80,000 square feet parcel of land on Maple Avenue known as the Hedlin Ballfield, which the town had leased from the family for decades. This offer allowed the Hedlins to finance the purchase of another farm property, increasing their farm holdings. After looking at the deal, the town council declined the offer as it was not financially feasible for the Town. Grants...
As we dive into spring, our minds may turn to what new things it will bring. Certainly the birds will sing, and the trees will spread their pollen, and some insects will buzz, when they flap their wings. Some of us have been busy reading and writing, trying to figure out what to share, and what to keep in. Sometimes some of us struggle with all sorts of notions, and motions. How do we explain ourselves so we come off like a soothing lotion, rather than a spouter of toxic quotations? I know that I sometimes come across quite gruff, I write...
In his 1848 preface to the 12th edition of “Democracy in America,” written in 1835, French writer, social scientist, philosopher and politician Alexis de Tocqueville wrote, “It is not force alone, but good laws that give stability to a new government. After the combatant comes the legislator; the one has pulled down, the other builds up.” Should he have been here for the passage on April 20, 2021, of state Senate Bill 5038, prohibiting the open carry of weapons at public demonstrations and at the state capitol, he would have celebrated it as a...
Editor: Thank you for your editorial April 21, “A changing climate is deadlier than COVID-19.” In twin Earth Day messages, Pope Francis warned a gathering of world leaders and the global community at large that “we are at the edge” with climate change, and the time to take action is now. In both, Francis urged presidents and prime ministers to act courageously in addressing climate change and to learn from the coronavirus pandemic the need to create “a just, equitable, environmentally safe planet.” “Both the global catastrophes, Covid and cli...
Once again, our Valley faces a gravel pit project that could damage the character, safety and environmental integrity of a rural area and waterway. This time, the proposed project is the Miles Sand and Gravel mine along the Samish River, accessed off of Grip and Prairie Roads. After reviewing incomplete, outdated material, Skagit County determined the project will not have a significant impact and issued a “Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance.” Yet the value of our Valley’s rural lands and waterways cannot be overstated – no pr...
As Bob Seger eloquently expressed in song, it’s time for Americans to “Turn the Page.” Just when you thought gun ownership in this country could not get worse, it becomes totally out of control. Mass shootings are becoming commonplace. The Trump administration brought out the haters, literally speaking, as a mob descended on the U.S. Capitol. That resulted in several killings and the arrests are still happening. Two policemen committed suicide as a result of the event, and police suicides are o...
The La Conner High football team hit the ground running at Concrete Friday night. Operating out of their new Wing-T set, the Braves topped 300 yards rushing and saw four different players score touchdowns as La Conner posted a convincing 48-14 NW2B triumph in the Lions’ Den. Hal Ikebe paced the Braves with three TDs. Cole Hagen found paydirt twice and Kali Adams and Alden Schnabel each recorded a touchdown for La Conner, which improved to 2-1 on the campaign. “It was a total team win,” first-year Braves head coach Jeff Scoma told the Weekl...
Even when done virtually, there is nothing more real than the Big Climb in Seattle. Let La Conner resident Mike Ritchie explain. “The Big Climb,” he says, “is a stair climb up the Columbia Center, the tallest skyscraper in downtown Seattle. There are 69 floors of stairs, 1,311 steps and 788 feet of vertical elevation.” Ritchie and others in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will take on the Big Climb from coast to coast on May 15 as a major fundraiser benefitting blood cancer research. “Although it will be challenging,” Ritchie said, ...
The Soroptimist Honored Student for April, Annaliese Whitney, has varied talents and interests that she shares with family, friends and community members. Annaliese, a senior at La Conner High School, admitted that she is a bit of a procrastinator, but somehow she finds time for family, school, band, softball and volunteering! Her favorite classes in high school have been band, English and history. Annaliese has played the clarinet since 5th grade. She plays in the high school band and also the...
In most cases, an 80-year-old yacht that had run aground would be a candidate for the scrap heap. But not the Norwester. The iconic 76-foot vessel, once owned by legendary film actor John Wayne and a main attraction on the La Conner waterfront for several years, is no ordinary pleasure craft. Built in 1932 and having recently undergone extensive renovation for use as a high-end charter boat to raise money for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, the Norwester finds itself on life support after having hit the rocks in Prevost Harbor April 17. Becau...
Tuesday, April 20 10:12 p.m.: Watching out – Caller requested extra patrols for suspicious activity near his residence. Park St., La Conner. Wednesday, April 21 6:25 p.m.: No report needed – Caller reported a non-reportable moving vehicle accident in the parking lot of Roozengaarde. Parties exchanged insurance information. Beaver Marsh Rd., Greater La Conner. Thursday, April 22 11:39 a.m.: Failed to yield – Deputies investigated a two car, non-injury accident. The cause of the collision was failure to yield. McLean / Beaver...
Celeriac is a root vegetable that stays fresh in your refrigerator crisp drawer. Adding celeriac to mashed potatoes creates a unique flavor, a bit like turnip. When mashed, if you leave small chunks, the flavor is more memorable. Ingredients Celeriac, 1 medium Red potatoes, 3 medium Water, to cover Milk, ¼ cup Butter, 2 tablespoons Parsley, ¼ teaspoon Salt and pepper, to taste Preparation Rinse and peel the celeriac and potatoes. The amount of the celeriac and potatoes will be...
Skagit County will likely be moved back to Phase 2 of the State’s Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan for Washington’s public and economic health by Gov. Jay Inslee May 3. The county is failing both critical metrics, with at least 209 new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people the last two weeks, based on state Department of Health data. It has 22 new hospitalization from Apr. 13-26. That is more than double the hospitalization metric of five per seven days. Large counties failing both metrics, over 200 new coronavirus cases per 100,000 peo...
Washington State Journal At the end of the mostly virtual legislative session April 25, lawmakers passed a hefty $59 billion budget that funnels millions into childcare, public health, rental assistance and addressing the economic impact of a yearlong global pandemic. The budget includes a controversial capital gains tax, which would collect 7% on the exchange of capital assets such as stocks above $250,000. Democrats have targeted the revenue to fund childcare and tax credits for low-income families. “We addressed tax reform through the W...
