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The past intersected with present and future during Memorial Day services at two local cemeteries Monday morning. The memories of departed veterans, pioneers and tribal members were honored during separate programs at Pleasant Ridge and Swinomish cemeteries, each of which also stressed the blessings of freedoms enjoyed today and offered words of wisdom and optimism going forward. "We remember with thanks our loved ones who are buried here," Rev. Don Robinson said in remarks at Pleasant Ridge,...
Emergency repair work on the rock jetty south of La Conner will continue through June 9 to protect out-migrating juvenile salmon. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is coordinating the project, which includes placement of thousands of cubic yards of cobble and sediment on the Skagit River side of the jetty. The repairs are designed to plug porous areas that have impacted outbound salmon this spring. Until work is completed, fishers and recreational boaters must remain at least 300 feet from the construction area. Only authorized access to McGlinn...
Change and continuity were celebrated simultaneously at La Conner Schools last week. School district retirees and those not returning in the fall as well as the volunteers who invest hours of their time on campus were honored May 23 during a 75-minute open house reception in the middle school gymnasium. Six retirees who have served for a combined total of 124 years were formally recognized. So, too, were over 100 volunteers who assist with tutoring chaperoning, monitoring, speaking, reading and...
Whatever your politics and values, this year to date may have seemed generally gloomy, at least. Inflation stays persistently high, the potential of recession seems to be forever looming, wages are lower than the ongoing rising costs of everything, there is work but too few workers and then there is the persistent war in Ukraine, which appears as if it will never end. Here at home, until May, glorious May, 2023 has the general and overall feel of being cold and damp. And it has been, cold and at least gray, all the way back to the snows and flo...
Dear Editor: Your May 24 editorial (“The decisions we make,” Weekly News) suggests that concerns about sex-change interventions on minors arise from “madness and meanness” and “fear and hate,” spread by the “false prophets” of “a religion of limited vision, of control, fear and intolerance.” On February 23, the prestigious British Medical Journal published a review by its investigative team of the medical evidence. It found that medical experts and public health authorities in Sweden, Finland, France, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain a...
The Mount Vernon High School debate team debated about the positive and negative effects of social media May 15. Also on stage were Jason Miller, publisher of the Concrete Herald, Ron Judd, executive editor of Cascadia Daily News, Brier Dudley of the Seattle Times and my editor, Ken Stern. The evening, “The Future of Local Journalism: Is It Important to Our Democracy?” was organized by the League of Women Voters of Skagit County. This is a particularly interesting subject matter because the stu...
Dear Editor, Thank you for your May 24 editorial “The decisions we make.” You describe well bigotry’s basis in fear and its manifestation in cowardice. You also point your readers to pay attention and speak up. I encourage the same. An American variety of “brown shirts” that helped bring Donald Trump to power in 2016 remains active across the country, and in our own state and county. I believe that ugly political strain will continue to assault our democratic institutions unless and until enough people stand up and call it out for what it i...
The Skagit Valley Clean Energy Cooperative is a nonprofit cooperative. It was founded in La Conner about a year ago. Like any co-op (say, REI or the Skagit Valley Food Co-op), SVCEC helps people to find and take advantage of the best products in its area of expertise. SVCEC’s area of expertise is innovative energy technologies, e.g., renewable energy generation, energy conservation, energy monitoring and electric vehicles. Our (I am a member) mission is to speed up use of these technologies i...
The $36,016 reported in sales tax revenues to the La Conner Town Council in April by the state’s Department of Revenue is the second highest ever for the month, only behind 2022’s record $44,210 and only the second April above $36,000. The Special Use Fire Tax Revenues had a matching dip. The $3,594 was $802 less than last year but again the second highest total for the month. February was cold, which influenced tourist visits. It is early in the year to find trends in the reduced revenue totals. Overnight stays remained high. The $10,592 in...
La Conner Town Council members were akin to traffic cops during their May 23 nearly 90-minute hybrid meeting at Maple Hall. The council forwarded proposed local restrictions on adult businesses to state officials in Olympia while remanding for review to the town planning commission a bid by developer Greg Ellis to site tiny homes on the lots behind Pioneer Market at Whatcom and Washington streets. Mayor Ramon Hayes echoed what planning staff have previously said for restricting such businesses. “If we don’t regulate them,” said Hayes, “we o...
Lightning struck twice at the Washington state 2B track and field championships on Saturday. First, an actual lightning storm delayed the final round of action. Then, La Conner High School junior Tommy Murdock repeated as a state hurdles champion. Murdock, who captured one state hurdles title in 2022, swept the 110 and 300-meter hurdles in lightning fast fashion this time around, leading the team at Yakima. Murdock ran a personal best 15.01 in the 110s, which he needed to edge Raymond senior Mor...
Help the La Conner School District in its application for a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant by participating in a planning meeting for shaping the proposal Monday, June 5, 6:30 p.m. at the Braves Club. The district’s application will emphasize implementing school-based and community-based activities that lead to measurable student growth in reading and math, increased engagement, increased well-being and stronger family-school partnerships. This program was established by Congress to award grants to rural and inner-city public s...
La Conner Schools, which is considering installation of a campus garden, knows it cannot plant a money tree to solve the district’s present fiscal crunch. But sometimes unexpected financial windfalls appear seemingly out of nowhere without anyone having gone out on a limb to shake loose the funds. The district has received such a surprise, receiving $258,000 in federal impact aid monies, designed to assist districts with tax-exempt federal property such as military bases or Indian trust lands. The allocation wasn’t anticipated at this tim...
Kim Good Rubenstein spent her early career in Studio City, California where she met top film and TV stars like Marty Feldman. Now it’s Rubenstein’s turn to bask in the limelight. A 1973 La Conner High School graduate, she has been selected as the school’s outstanding alumnus this year in recognition of her work in the hotel and hospitality industry, as a tireless advocate in the special education field and for taking on a host of volunteer duties since coming home to the Skagit Valley, where her forebears were among the area’s pioneer...
Memorial day was Monday. This is the proper time to reflect on our "honored dead," as Lincoln called the fallen at Gettysburg. Any definition of patriotism has to start with love of country, followed by loyalty and sacrifice for one's homeland. And a hero? Add leadership, courage and bravery. These are the criteria for judging the life of Robert E. Lee. Award winning Civil War and Lincoln historian Allen Guelzo opens his 2022 biography, "Robert E. Lee: A Life," addressing the central issue of treason for one of the most iconic and central...
Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardeners hosted their annual Welcome Summer Plant Fair May 13. This was the 29th year the Master Gardeners have held the Plant Fair and again, it was a rousing success. Every year on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, the Skagit Fairgrounds in Mount Vernon transforms into a gardener and would be gardeners’ delight. More than 130 certified Master Gardeners and volunteers – plus about 20 family and friends – grew all the plants that were available for purchase, including over 3,000 tomato plants. Our greeter...
Upcoming events at the La Conner Swinomish Library: For kids, this week it is "Eat the Rainbow to Improve Gut Health!" Make and take a healthy snack and learn about your personal microbiome in your tummy. Thursday, May 25, 3-4 p.m. Hosted by April Emanuelson, F.N. P. If you missed the Seed Swap last Friday, mark your calendar and save your seeds for our next swap November 2. Friday, June 2, at 3 p.m. come to the drive-in theater in the library to watch "CARS." As an added attraction kids can...
Any chili sauce will work. I used one from Vietnam found in an Asian store or Asian aisle of the grocery store. This recipe can be simply made. Scoop and plop the Mayo and chili garlic sauce. Add the Worcestershire by two quick splashes. The lemon juice brings the entire dressing together. After you add to the shrimp salad, mix the dressing in, looking to coat the greens. This served three. Ingredients Mayonnaise, 1/2 Cup Chili Garlic Sauce, 1 teaspoon Lemon, 1/2 fresh squeezed Worcestershire...
La Conner based Tomco Marine Group, builders of American Tugs, was bought by the Kadey-Krogen Group of Stuart Florida May 18. The 36 employees at American Tugs' 28,000-square-foot facility on Pearle Jenson Way will continue to build boats there, said General Manager Troy Olason Friday. The company is still recruiting after hiring eight employees this year, he said. It builds five models ranging from 36 feet- to 48 feet that sell for $595,000 to $1.7 million and has delivered more than 250...
Sunday, May 21 8:38 p.m.: Played loud, turned down – Report of music sounds and children playing loudly. The homeowner was contacted, and the music was turned down. McLean Rd., Greater La Conner. Wednesday, May 24 11:32 a.m.: Money not warranted – A citizen advised she was contacted by phone scammers who stated she had a warrant for her arrest and needed to provide them money. She has no warrants and was advised of this scam. Kamb Rd., Greater La Conne Thursday, May 25 8:31 a.m.: Too loud for...
Summer is well and truly upon us! The sure sign at the marina is the Edmonds Yacht Club taking up literally every inch of guest dock space for their Memorial Day bash. It is a great time and we are super pleased to have them back again this year. The second sign of summer at the marina is the summer dockhands reporting for their first day of work. We have a great bunch this year, all of them high-achieving college students. Be sure to greet them if you see them around the marina or bringing...
