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Through the years Janie Beasley has been lauded locally for having shown an enduring spirit while working on the Swinomish Reservation, in Skagit County and at La Conner Schools. Now that enduring spirit is being recognized by the Seattle-based Native Action Network. Beasley, a former longtime La Conner School Board member, is among four recipients of the organization’s 2020 Enduring Spirit Award. Becky Bendixen (Unangax), Renee Swan-Waite (Lummi), and Sondra Segundo (Haida/Katzie) have also been selected for the honor. “The Enduring Spi...
The coronavirus pandemic has created a climate of uncertainty, but La Conner High seniors still have firm plans about what they will do beyond the summer. As in years past, the school’s next crop of graduates will pursue dreams taking them to diverse and in some cases distant destinations. All this despite the virus crisis that has left schools closed since March. “Our Class of 2020 remains optimistic in spite of COVID-19,” La Conner Middle and High School Counselor Lori Buher told the Weekly News last week. Buher said 32 students are earni...
Dear Ken Stern, I sold the house. I moved to Anacortes. I drove through downtown La Conner to say “goodbye.” Then it hit me! I am leaving the nicest town I have ever lived in. Yes, Shelter Bay is part of La Conner. Over the 20 years I often sat in the Catholic Church and looked at the window labeled “La Conner,” named after Louisa Conner, the founder of our little city. She also built the church! As I said “goodbye” to my old house, I realized that I loved this area. Especially the grocery, Pioneer Market. The main street. The Tavern. The many...
Thank you for the news article about the campaigns of Paul and Bruch. It was helpful to learn that, according to Bruch, Paul’s campaign is dominated by special interests: i.e., unions, tribes, environmentalists and social justice warriors. Because those are all my special interests, I now know whom to vote for. But I do not understand how that means that Paul is not working for the “average taxpayer in our district.” All these folks sure look like average taxpayers to me. Beverly “average taxpayer” Haywood La Conner...
I wonder where our humanity is during these troubling times. Are we, as a society, like a volcano ready to erupt with our burning emotional bitterness and hatred and fear? Can we begin to look within ourselves to see how we can deal with one another? Can we have a community without resentment, re-sent-meant? I will live with unresolved issues over and over. We need to acknowledge that we need others. Personal responsibility means I have to look at the part I play. I have the option to do something or let things stay the same. I, as a victim of...
I want to reply to Rane Paisley about her apparent lack of concern for the health of others in her community. I was angry last week and am still angry. I take her statements as I believe they were intended, loving or not, as a warning to avoid her and others who choose to disregard the best advice of local health professionals trying to slow the spread of COVID 19. As we decide where my wife and I can begin to go out again, it is clear to me the town of LaConner, our former home, is not that place. As a described local entrepreneur, I have to...
It speaks for the open mindedness of the editor to have printed “‘Citizen View’ COVID virus a severe ‘bug’ strain.” Several facts were misconstrued; the virus has actually killed more than any other flu viruses in the past hundred years. It has killed many younger people and children. Also, why should it be okay that older people and those with pre-existing conditions are dying? How human are we? These older people have helped build this economy that is being lost partially due to mis-management by the federal government in this situation....
Dear Editor: As I read last week’s edition of the La Conner Weekly News, I was shocked to read “A Citizen’s View” by Renae Paisley. At the bottom of the incendiary opinion of Ms. Paisley, there are the following words in italics: “Renae Paisley is an entrepreneur in La Conner who seeks to share love, truth and gratitude in these unprecedented times.” I am sorry, but those words don’t ring true for me – in fact, they seem to contradict the message of her printed opinion. Ms. Paisley’s opinion is anything but loving. Rather, it seek...
Renae Paisley’s opinion piece in last week’s paper left me both angry and disheartened. She insists that the measures initiated to help control the Covid-19 pandemic – which to date has killed more than one hundred thousand people in the U.S – are simply an intolerable intrusion on her individual freedom. “Any ordinary and healthy individual should weather the storm” she writes. That is generally true, but it is also true that an asymptomatic carrier can pass the virus on to others. “I will not be wearing a mask in the stores, n...
It is June. Gov. Jay Inslee’s March Stay Home Stay Safe emergency proclamation expired at midnight on May 31. The Safe Start 4 Phase, metric-based reopening plan is in its fifth week, with 27 of Washington’s 39 counties approved and in Phase 2. Skagit County may move into Phase 2 this week. Already casinos on tribal lands – managed by sovereign governments – have opened for business at reduced capacity. La Conner’s business owners are a diverse lot, like any community of any size. Some restaurants have been completely closed since...
Surrounded by friends and family, Gaye (Gilbert) Mathews of Mount Vernon, WA passed away from breast cancer on May 28, 2020. Gaye was born on October 7, 1950 to William and Bette Gilbert and grew up on Elford Drive in Northwest Seattle. A 1968 Ingraham High School graduate, she moved to Mount Vernon in 1971 after marrying Tom Mathews a year earlier. Gaye spent over 30 years as the ASB secretary at MVHS and was beloved by staff and students alike. After retiring in 2011, Gaye doted on her...
Over 4,200 greater La Conner Puget Sound Energy customers were without power for two hours Saturday night. Lights went out at 8:39 p.m. They came back on at 10:57 p.m. The strike was in the Peth’s Corner area, La Conner Whitney, McLean and Downey Roads, and affected 4,249 customers, said Andrew Padula, PSE spokesperson. There was no real damage to equipment but until an inspection was made power could not be turned on. Lightning was reported in the area that evening. PSE staff suspect either a line or a substation was struck by lightning. On T...
La Conner businesses have started to reopen this week, before the Washington Department of Health has approved Skagit County’s application to move into Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Stay Safe COVID-19 order for phased re-opening of Washington’s economy. Monday afternoon the Washington Department of Health received the application from the Skagit County Board of Health. This updated the 60 page application the Skagit County Commissioners, acting both in their own capacity and as the Board of He...
Hedlin’s ballfield on Maple Avenue has played host to many triumphs for La Conner youth sports teams over the decades. While the COVID-19 pandemic has sidelined practices and games there this spring, the nearly two-acre site is still scene of what some are calling a win-win situation. This after the Town Council at its video-conferenced meeting last week committed $37,000 for a one-year option to purchase the Hedlin property for future mixed-use development of a public park/play area and residential housing. The Council, which earlier this y...
Apple Pancakes. Small cubed fresh apple chunks are a great addition to pancake batter. This batter recipe is remarkably easy to follow. Plus good use of two apples that are beginning to turn soft. How many of you use the cap from the bottle of vanilla extract to measure vanilla? It works if the cap holds about a teaspoon of vanilla. The flour I use is a wheat pastry flour from our local Cairnspring Mills. Our good friend, Georgia Johnson, recommended this flour. Cairn Springs was holding a drive...
