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Busy lives paused Monday as local residents took time to reflect on the past during annual Memorial Day services at two area cemeteries. Somber holiday programs drew large turnouts to the Pleasant Ridge and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community cemeteries despite cloudy and chilly conditions. Rev. Don Robinson and Anne Basye keynoted the one-hour gathering at Pleasant Ridge, site of the oldest cemetery in Skagit County and where the accomplishments and sacrifices of veterans, pioneers and Native Ame...
The Town of La Conner seeks consultants to create a master plan, the first step for development of the 3-acre industrial area west and south of its S. Third Street parking lot below the town hall to Caledonia Street. It posted a request for qualifications May 22, with a June 18 submittal deadline. The RFQ timeline lists town council review and approval for July 23 and signing the contract July 25, eight weeks from now. The plan completion deadline is Dec. 31, 2024. Funding is from a $30,000 state of Washington Community Development Block Grant...
The state's top educators want to learn why some Native American students struggle with literacy more than their peers, so they're traveling the state to hear from families. The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community gym was the second stop for Henry Strom, executive director of the Office of Native Education for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and his staff. They came from an information-gathering session in Yakima. Next, they'll talk to Native educators in Suquamish. About 50...
Being prepared is no longer exclusively a Boy Scout thing. It works for senior citizens as well. That's why the Swinomish Senior Center was the site of a three-hour community disaster preparedness training program last Friday. Tribal Community Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Geer and Swinomish EMC specialist Keri Cleary led the interactive session, which focused on how to prepare for a wide range of disaster scenarios. "A disaster is anything that overwhelms your immediate resources,"...
Caravan Gallery on First Street has long been known for its unique vibe. That likely won’t change anytime soon based on action taken last week by the Town Planning Commission. The downtown retail outlet, which enjoys a loyal customer base drawn to its one-of-a-kind collection of ethnic artifacts, statues of Buddha and other deities, glass artwork, colorful scarves and trend-setting clothing, has received commission approval to install a permanent 12-foot-by-10-foot wood gazebo in its outdoor courtyard, according to Town Assistant Planner A...
The monthly La Conner Rural Partial County Library District monthly board meeting Tuesday, May 21, proceeded pretty much like most small governmental district board meetings, from starting with approving the April meeting minutes to experiencing small glitches with new board management software used in the meeting. The April inancial report included the library’s receiving $113,139 from Skagit County, its property tax allocation for the first half of 2024. The assessment rate is 0.32% . Sarah Rabel, the library foundation director, was u...
Clark Scarboro Nov. 4, 1932-May 10, 2024 Clark Scarboro loved boats and boating from an early age. He became a highly respected boat designer and engineer. In the late 80s, he retired from Bayliner Marine, where he designed the popular 3288 model. The Scarboros moved to Shelter Bay in 1999. They loved living among and cruising with other boaters. Clark became the Commodore of the Yacht Club in 2004. Over subsequent years, he served the community as a member of the Building and Harbor committees....
Gerald Robbins Gerald Robbins passed away peacefully at his home on April 2, 2024. A fifth-generation Skagitonian, he was raised in La Conner and graduated from La Conner High School, where he achieved state championships in multiple sports. He was the drummer for the Esquires, Skagit Valley's pioneering rock and roll band and played throughout his life. In addition to his musical pursuits, Gerry worked for Dunlap Towing and attended Skagit Valley College. He was a car and motorcycle enthusiast,...
When national Head Start budget cuts announced earlier this year spelled the imminent demise of the Little Braves preschool program, La Conner Elementary School Principal Heather Fakkema reacted with sadness. But not panic. Fakkema was among those who first floated the idea of following up the Little Braves mission with a new educational concept – transitional kindergarten. Transitional kindergarten, which serves students who are at least 4 years old, has been implemented in Washington state and elsewhere to help eligible children prepare fo...
La Conner distance runner Toby Walls caught up with some of the biggest names in track-and-field on May 25. Walls and his son, Sylas, an up-and-coming middle school racer, were part of the large crowd attending the annual Prefontaine Classic at legendary Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore. Named for late Oregon running icon and Olympian Steve Prefontaine, who from 1973-75 set American records at every distance from 2,000 to 10,000 meters, the Prefontaine Classic each year...
La Conner High School senior Tommy Murdock continued to set the gold standard for the state’s Class 2B boys’ hurdlers on Saturday. For the second year in a row, Murdock swept the 110- and 300-meter hurdles events at the Washington State 2B Track and Field Championships in Yakima. Murdock capped his amazing Braves career – one in which he collected five state gold medals dating to the 2022 campaign – by leading the La Conner boys to an eighth-place finish out of 31 schools competing in the 2024 2B trials at Zaepfel Stadium. Murdock account...
While the 32nd Museum of Northwest Art’s Annual Art Auction is at the museum June 8, more than 300 of some 418 pieces of art can be viewed in person in its galleries or online. People are already making silent auction bids for those 388 works of art and another seven special experiences ranging from a glass blowing class to wine, and some pieces have been purchased. At the June 8 event, 30 pieces will be auctioned live. Additional funds will be raised through the “golden raffle,” with the winner getting her choice of almost any art item. The a...
The Skagit County Farmland Legacy Program is sharing their accomplishments with county residents in their 2023 annual report. It is inserted in this week’s Weekly News. The report provides insight into the role of agriculture in Skagit County and how protecting farmland helps us preserve agricultural viability. After protecting 425 acres of farmland in 2023, Skagit County farmland under conservation easement protection totals 14,700 acres. This includes row crops, seed crops, dairy and cattle operations, as well as silage, hay pasture, bulbs, f...
No, my obsession is no longer Donald Trump or the Mariners or preparing to vote for the Oscars. My obsession is BIRDS. I sit in my hot tub at least twice a day and I am transfixed by the bird feeders that I have in my backyard. The birds scatter when I walk by but I settle down and don't move around at all and they come back in droves. I've also placed a feeder in my front yard that I can watch while I am sitting in front of the television in my living room. This has led to a very important...
Mark your calendars for some upcoming fun activities. June 5 fun fundraiser for La Conner Fire Association: The La Conner Fire Association invites everyone to “take over the La Conner Pub & Eatery” from 4-9 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, 702 S. First St. Come out, enjoy a delicious meal with family and friends, and help make a difference in the community. Fifty percent of food and beverage sales and 100 % of gratuities will go directly to support the La Conner Fire Department. La Conner Live 2024 Summer Concert Series takes over Gilkey Square eve...
Strange as it may sound today, there was a time when having a parking problem in La Conner meant more cars were wanted on First Street to spur retail shopping – and when retail meant purchases for home use. It was also a period when home builders were being actively recruited to develop vacant lots to grow a town census that barely rose above 625 residents. The year was 1957. Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House. The space race was launched with Sputnik 1 orbiting the earth. The Fortran c...
Sunday, May 19 7:26 p.m.: More loose cows – Caller said cows damaged a fence and were roaming the yard. The caller was advised to contact the farmer (who’s also the landlord) to fix the fence and recover the cows. La Conner-Whitney Road, greater La Conner Monday, April 20 3:48 p.m.: Possible puppy mill – At least 20 dogs were found to be malnourished at the location. Animal control is currently investigating. Young Road, greater La Conner Tuesday, May 21 7:42 a.m.: Guess what? Cows loose – Cattle loose again at the intersection. The farmer...
This is the perfect, easy to prepare breakfast, if you have the ingredients on hand. We don't eat bacon every day. I rotate it in and out of our menus. I rarely have heavy cream on hand, but I was lucky. Asparagus fresh in season is our favorite. This serves two or three. Ingredients Asparagus, 4 thick stalks Bacon, 1 thick slice Onion, two slices Eggs, 3 large Heavy cream, 1 C Ceramic pie dish Olive oil, 1 T Preparation In a sauté pan over medium heat, add the olive oil. Clean asparagus by...
Memorial Day this year was cool and gray. That did not prevent people from gathering with family and friends. Outside picnics might have been few, but lots of folks celebrated, boating, home barbecuing and going out in the many ways we do on holidays. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration reported record numbers of passengers at the nations’ airports. In greater La Conner scores of people attended services at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery and the Swinomish Cemetery to honor departed military, pioneer and family members. That is how l...
Memorial Day was May 29th this year. That is John F. Kennedy’s birthday. I know that because it is also my mother’s birthday, Mary Madeline Nemunis Stern. My mother was born in 1920. She would have been 103. I believe my mother hated war. She never told me that. Nor did she ever take her five children to a demonstration against the Vietnam War or go on her own. She did tell me this story once, that in 1964 my parents were at some work-related social function of my dad’s, of course, for few women worked outside the home then. He worked for t...
Home Trust of Skagit is a community land trust that serves all of Skagit County. Currently, we are serving 28 homeowners and 18 renters. Home Trust of Skagit offers affordable homes now and preserves that affordability for future homebuyers. Our goal is to have homes in neighborhoods and communities throughout Skagit County (preferably near community transit routes) and to provide opportunities for both homeownership and affordable rentals. With a healthy mix of housing types and home sizes available, we strive to serve those earning up to 80%...
The Rexville Grange is so grateful for the many inquiries and requests to help support or join our local Grange hall. Our thanks to Anne Basye, Ken Stern and the La Conner Weekly News for highlighting the history of this unique community hall and explaining some of our current concerns (Weekly News May 1 and 8). We are so pleased to hear from many of our neighbors and new friends willing to help us grow into a bright future. Reach us at [email protected]. Thank you. Rexville Grange board president Greater La Conner...
Thank you, Maggie, for your letter addressing concerns about Glyphosate / Roundup and the considerable and the enormous dangers to our environment. I would like to support that with some additional information. In 2016, Monsanto was taken to the World Court in the Hague and found guilty of health crimes against humanity and the environment, among other things. The suit was brought by over 1,000 international organizations including the Organic Consumers Association; Greenpeace; Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights; Ecoworld of Scandinavia;...
Wind energy – both on land and offshore – has been falling in cost almost as dramatically as solar power. It’s down well over 90% since 2000. The relevant technologies are still improving. Furthermore, wind has some advantages over other forms of electricity generation, including other renewable generation systems. For instance, wind generators can be installed in far more places than hydroelectric or geothermal generation plants, both of which require very specific geology. On average, a well-...
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SKAGIT IN PROBATE No. 24-4-00255-29 PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS RCW 11.40.030 In the Matter of the Estate of CYNTHIA A. MERVYN, Deceased. The personal representative named below has been appointed as personal representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to...
