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The new La Conner Swinomish Library is where one can find the latest word on almost any subject. And not just between the covers of books. A large turnout Thursday evening, for instance, spoke volumes about the unyielding commitment made by two civic leaders to secure funding for the construction of and multi-media operations now provided at the 5,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility at Sixth and Morris streets. Susan Macek, executive director of the La Conner Library Foundation for a...
Politics is by nature a social science. But, in Shelter Bay, questions have arisen over whether there should be a separation of politics and social gatherings, akin to that of church and state. The community’s social and recreation committee canceled a Cinco de Mayo celebration scheduled last Thursday afternoon following publication in the Weekly News the day before of an ad that invited those attending to meet candidates seeking election to the Shelter Bay Board of Directors while enjoying their favorite adult beverages. Shelter Bay Board P...
CORRECTION: The Weekly News has updated and corrected this story, below, by deleting the final two paragraphs that incorrectly stated that attorney Paul Taylor’s statements were “mistaken” and he “erred” in his stating “that the Defendants herein voted to approve the Resolution to bind the Community to the proposed terms set forth by the Swinomish Tribal Authority without an appraisal as required by the Master Lease on Wednesday, April 19, 2023” and that “the Defendants passed a resolution accepting the ten-year increase in rent without an... Full story
La Conner Schools hosted a ceremony last week that was 50 years in the making. Well, actually, more than that. The impetus for developing Whittaker Field, named for the district's late legendary teacher-coach-administrator Jack Whittaker and formally dedicated during the 1972-73 school year, began with the undefeated 1968 Braves football team. Thus, a dual celebration was there held May 3. Those attending the 45-minute program observed the golden anniversary of Whittaker Field and honored the...
As publisher of the Weekly News, I will be on a panel discussing “The Future of Local Journalism: Is It Important to Our Democracy?” Monday May 15 at the Mount Vernon high school. In the United States, where our Declaration of Independence holds as self-evident truth “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” self-evident also is the press’ central, fundamental role in the functioning of our democracy. Newspapers are baked into society's governance, hammered into the Constitution in the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respect... Full story
I hope I am not alone in my wry reaction to the half-page ad in the May 3 La Conner Weekly News titled, “Opportunity For Positive Change in Shelter Bay.” Among the several issues mentioned was the need to practice transparency. The ad was submitted by a group that, although located geographically, remained otherwise anonymous. Huh … excuse me? Curtis Kemp Shelter Bay...
Dear editor, Please advise, cannot understand. Good grief!? Shelter Bay, a community across the Swinomish Channel from La Conner, is under attack from an out-of-order insider group? One judge has already thrown out an unsubstantiated lawsuit for lack of material proof, so what can possibly be the reason this group continues to harass the board of volunteers who have been elected to steer the community to further the processes they have begun, specifically the extension of the lease on the land owned by the Swinomish Tribe. Anyone who lives...
With the completion of the Swinomish Yacht Club's kick-off of the boating season, the marina is getting ready to have many more visiting boaters. We are seeing significantly higher activity at the guest docks and the key weekends throughout the summer are filling up with reservations already. We also have 10 yacht clubs signed up to visit over the summer. They are able to reserve sections of the docks so their groups can be moored together. These are great activities which bring lots of people t...
Before Tom Hanks rode through post-Civil War Texas on his rescue mission bringing the 10-years old Johanna to her grandparents south of San Antonio in the film “News of the World,” there was Paulette Jiles’ 2016 novel. Her protagonist, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, was older than the century, having been born in 1798. He had first seen war in 1812 and lived through it again in 1846 in Mexico. Kidd was old, 72, and thoughtful and wise, not merely because he had experienced war three times, but because he was a printer in an era when every lette... Full story
You are right to remember April as dreary, damp and cold. What it wasn’t was wet. The 1.7 inches of rain was the fourth year in a row of under 1.7 inches of moisture and the seventh driest April since 2000. Rainfall was 37% below the 2.7 inches average for the century. While rain came down 19 days, 11 times it was less than 0.1 inch and 15 times less than 0.2 inches. The most rainfall was 0.34 inch April 16, one of three days of over 0.2 inches of precipitation. When it rained six of seven days April 20-26, that was only 0.64 inch and the 10 of...
“IT’S A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!!” Matika Wilbur, “Tsa-Tsique,” shared the news in a group email last weekend. Less than two weeks after launching her photography book, “Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America” to the world on the Swinomish Reservation, it reached number 11 in its initial week for hardcover nonfiction and will appear in the May 14, 2023 issue of The New York Times Book Review, the Times website states. The Swinomish and Tulalip tribal member is on a book tour, returning July 6 to Seaport Books in La Conner. Monda...
Town officials aren't turning a blind eye to the prospect of peep shows coming to La Conner. That's why, with a six-month moratorium now in place, they're hustling to enact restrictions limiting where adult businesses can operate – at a safe distance from residential areas and the school campus. But finding such a location in a town hemmed in geographically is easier said than done. Industrial zones on the north and south ends of La Conner could be designated for adult businesses. Two sites a...
Jim Ritchie passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2023. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery at 1 p.m. Following the graveside service, there will be a Celebration Of Life at the Heritage Flight Museum at Skagit Regional Airport (15053 Crosswind Drive, Burlington, WA, 98233). Arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral home.... Full story
Tommy Murdock is a state champion who never stops looking to improve. That was again the case at the Stanwood Twilight Invitational Track Meet Friday as the La Conner High School junior set new personal marks while winning his signature events. Murdock captured the 110-meter hurdles in 15.19, edging Peter Wilhite of 1A Lynden by two-tenths of a second and claimed top honors in the 300-meter hurdles with a 39.33 clocking. Murdock on Wednesday had swept both boys' hurdles contests at the NW1B/2B...
All's well that ends well. That sums up the 2023 season for La Conner High School's youthful baseball and softball teams, both wrapping up the campaign with non-league home wins over Muckleshoot Tribal School on Thursday. The Braves, with no seniors this year, finished 5-11 overall and 3-10 in conference action following a 17-6 triumph over Muckleshoot. Braves pitchers Logan Burks and Kenai Zimmerman checked the Kings on three hits and fanned four batters. Brogan Masonholder paced the La Conner...
For 30 years, Suzanne Marble has preached the power of teamwork. Now, ironically, at the end of a remarkable career that has seen her guide La Conner High School volleyball teams to over 550 wins and seven state championships, Marble is collecting a series of individual honors and awards. The most recent was induction last Wednesday into the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Hall of Fame during luncheon ceremonies in Renton. Marble was inducted as part of a 2023 Hall of...
The adult winners of the Skagit County Historical Museum 3rd annual writing contest were announced last week. They include, for their essays, Adam Lafayette, 1st place, “The Heirloom;” Glen Johnson, 2nd, “Seeds for the Future.” Poetry winners are Jay Boreen, 1st, “Seeds of Hope” and Ariel Lepore, 2nd, “Planting Development. Skagit Living from Farmer to Farmer....
The winners of the Skagit County Historical Museum 3rd annual writing contest include, Essay winners: Youths: Lily Sziebert, 1st Place, Tara Johnson, 2nd. Teens: Sidra Marshall, 1st, Amelia Zustiak, 2nd. Poetry winners: Youths: Anna Cardon, 1st. Miah Ortiz, 2nd. Teens: Jude Longmire, 1st, Kate Scheenstra, 2nd....
The Skagit Valley premiere of "The Healing Heart of Lushootseed," a documentary film, shows at the Lincoln Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Friday.. The evening starts with a red carpet reception at 6:30 pm. Feeling heartbroken by the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, Vi taqᵂšəblu Hilbert, an 83-year-old elder from the Upper Skagit Indian tribe in the Pacific Northwest, asked the spirit, "What can one person do to heal a sick world?" The answer she received was "music." "The Healing Heart of Lushootseed," a...
Two La Conner High School seniors have found a recipe for success in the culinary arts program at Northwest Career and Technical Academy . Li Bell and Kristina Hansen gain instruction and train two-and-a-half hours mornings in the academy's combo lecture hall/kitchen and commercial kitchen facility off Laventure Road near the Skagit Valley College campus in Mount Vernon.. The culinary program, taught by former greater La Conner resident Lyle Hildahl, prepares students for careers in restaurants,...
Monday, May 1 8:16 a.m.: Cow on road – Report of a loose cow on Josh Wilson Road. The animal owner got the cow back into the pasture where it belonged. Josh Wilson / Farm to Market Rds., Bayview. Friday, May 5 5:45 p.m.: Phone fraud success – A victim had her bank account, phone and e-mail hacked and lost $20,000 from her accounts. A fraudulent suspect posing to be Pay Pal accused the victim there was a $400 debt on their account. The fraudster was able to get enough information over the pho...
Red potatoes are our favorite. Asparagus is one of our favorite vegetables. A hot oven on a cool day with herbs wafting throughout the house is very pleasant. With plenty of herbs, salt is not necessary for this recipe. Ingredients Red potatoes, 3 medium per serving Asparagus, 1/3 lb. Olive oil, ¼ cup Italian herbs, 2 tbsp Garlic granules, 1 tsp Preparation Clean the asparagus and remove the hard ends. Set aside. Peeling the potatoes is not necessary, simply cut away where the potato...
