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Over $7,000 was raised at the second Festival of Tiny Trees Dec. 1 at the La Conner Regional Library. That includes donations received against a $10,000 matching gift announced Friday evening.“Cozy” was the ambience as 70 guests filled the library to bid on a silent auction of 21 trees, 18 inches tall, designed and decorated by a gaggle of individuals, businesses and organizations. Tree themes offered something for everyone, from traditional Jingle Bells to Betty Boop. A Beachy Blues Chr...
“AND ON THREE IT’S LIT!’ – That Santa, he’s so amazing: 1-2-3 and poof, La Conner’s 2017 Christmas Tree on Gilkey Square was lit. The Fire Department’s vintage, appropriately white, firetruck delivered him. “This evernt is our kick-off to the holiday season in La Conner,” said Chamber Director Heather Carter. This week’s sign of the times, of course. – Photo by Ken Stern...
The La Conner Rotary’s Santa Breakfast was a resounding success. By careful count, 194 people came for pancakes, eggs and sausage. Santa’s lap was occupied for almost three hours. More kids than ever, about 50, sat, plus three or four intergenerational families took photos with Santa. And about 15 dogs came for Santa photos, a new addition this year. Santa enjoyed humans and canines alike. “Huge kudos to the many club members who had a role in planning, setting up, day-of work and clean...
If life is complex – and it is – consider how much more complex ecosystems are. About those orcas not getting enough salmon, their primary food source, the editorial in last week’s paper. Scientific research finds fellow marine mammals, seals and sea lions, are feeding on salmon disproportionately. Yes, humans are taking salmon, but they are not the only mammals and maybe not the primary cause of salmon decline. So, thanks to a Facebook post responding to my editorial and a link to the Seattle Times article about ongoing research a...
Ward Phillips may be a prophet, but it is possible that his greatest role is that of a catalyst, moving the volatile mix of community and commerce forward at a faster pace than might naturally occur. If he is a prophet, offering a vision of making La Conner great-er, again, it is still up to us, the people, as elected officials, merchants, landlords, artists, teachers, parents and citizens – all of us – to take the prophet’s cry and shape it into a reality and future that is to our liking. And maybe Mr. Phillips is blowing in the w...
In what turned out to be more of a knitting circle than a book reading, Claire Swedberg led a lively discussion of La Conner area artists through the ages at Seaport Books Nov 16. The primarily female audience crowded the bookstore, asking questions and offering reminiscences, both, of artists who lived in their midst. Swedberg has written a combined biography of artists and history of mid and late twentieth century La Conner titled “In the Valley of Mystic Light.” Although Guy Anderson is central to the story, he was, in fact, never int...
In an hour-long meeting with the Weekly News Nov. 26, Ward Phillips shared his assessment of his new hometown and his vision for La Conner. Phillips, 77, “retired” to Shelter Bay 20 months ago. The life-long Washingtonian has property on San Juan Island and a 21-foot boat here. His Skagit Valley roots go back generations. Relatives include a County judge with a farm abutting the Skagit River and construction workers on the Diablo Dam powerhouse. Phillips was looking for a more relaxed experience than his Bainbridge Island home. He “remembered t...
The fire station on Chilberg Road is now solely the Town of La Conner’s. Town Council unanimously approved that Mayor Hayes sign the Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Fire Hall at its November 28 meeting. This fall the Town negotiated the $563,750 price to buy Fire District 13’s half ownership. A loan from Kitsap Bank finances the purchase for the entire amount. The Council also unanimously approved increasing the 2018 property tax levy effectively by one percent over 2016. On the income side, the La Conner Senior Center is getting a $6,856 g...
