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A La Conner High School senior class that was separated and isolated for parts of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic will join together for the school's 129th annual commencement exercises tomorrow (Thursday) at 5 p.m. at Whittaker Field. The class, which adapted to remote learning during the early portion of its high school sojourn, features 10 National Honor Society members, including valedictorian Hadley Shears and salutatorian Josie Harper. "We continue to be proud of these students for...
Continued bad news on the moisture front for 2023. Yes, May was dry. There has not been significant rain since a half inch fell May 5. Four of the five rain days came May 1-6, 0.59 inches of 0.64 inches total rain. The May 5 storm was the only precipitation greater than one-tenth an inch. This May, rainfall was 2.2 inches below, 70%, the century average. This continues local water woes. Skagit County starts the dry season with a 6.2 inch water deficit, at 8.6 inches to date, six inches below normal for this century. In 2022 May’s 2.4 inches o...
Generations of Skagit Valley College students have been tutored in acting at the Phil Tarro Theatre on the school’s Mount Vernon campus. But Thursday morning it was a real-life drama that played out on the main stage there. That is when SVC hosted oral argument hearings conducted by the three-judge Washington State Division I Court of Appeals, based in Seattle and whose docket takes cases originating in King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, San Juan and Island counties. The panel heard attorneys present arguments in two civil and two criminal appel...
The La Conner Middle School Rock Climbing Club sponsor is also rock solid in the classroom. Madison Huscher, whose carefully crafted science lesson plans take students beyond the traditional boundaries of textbooks and lectures, has been named the Northwest Educational Service District 189 regional teacher of the year. The award recognizes Huscher's outstanding commitment to teaching and her many contributions to the educational community. As a regional winner, Huscher will compete against...
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." -Albert Einstein Thursday La Conner High School seniors graduate, 47 of them. Local merchants and institutions recognize them by sponsoring the seniors’ photographs on today's back page. Take a look at these young, confident, about-to-be adults heading into their futures. That future is our future, to be shared with them but so far shaped by us, the elders reading these words. The graduates step into a world not of their making nor choosing. As they start to make choices, we already hear them voic...
What poisons have been unleashed in America? In Jewish mythology, a dybbuk is a malicious, possessing spirit, believed to be a dislocated soul. Pandora opened her jar (dubbed a box in the 16th century) out of curiosity, thus releasing all manner of evil and misery upon mortals, put into the jar by the gods to punish Prometheus for giving fire to mortals. The non-mythical Donald Trump, via his embrace of violence and untruth, has both enshrined violence and released evil and misery across our land, and by doing so become a malicious, possessing...
I’m officially old. It happened on a single day last week, Thursday, June 1. It was not a surprise. It had loomed on the near horizon for years. I’d dutifully prepared for it – watched innumerable how-to videos, talked with older friends who’d reached the same situation (and survived), waded through unsolicited voluminous mail offering to help with the transition, completed practice questionnaires, even worked with a consultant to get all the information straight before I submitted my application for society to recognize me as old: I am now...
After reading in the Weekly News about the La Conner Town Council’s decision to destroy the fish slide in Conner Waterfront Park due to money issues and other things, I have some questions. As I’m involved, of course I have some thoughts. The only real money the Town has spent so far was to hire renowned local artist/sculptor Tom Jay to design and build the slide, since then the monies spent were on some grinding wheels, epoxy-like material and paint used by John Doyle and myself, volunteering to maintain the slide and keep it looking goo...
No political party, no politician can heal the evident and destructive ills of our country. We, long ago, took God out of our schools, eliminated the Ten Commandments and crosses from public areas. Now in that void, evil has moved in. I have lived a long time and have never seen such darkness displayed, daily, by so many politicians and citizens. We are in the throes of a spiritual battle. Back to God in this country, or we will have a country not worth living in. "There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation ... one is by the sword ......
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 the U...
La Conner Fire Department volunteer firefighters conducted a series of controlled house burn trainings along with Fire Districts 2, 13, 27 and Whatcom County fire marshals in the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood just outside of La Conner on May 22 and 25. Fire District staffs will perform a live burn on June 10, restricted to professional firefighters. Controlled burns are only permitted and performed under strict supervision. The first practice burn took place May 22 and was staged in the top floor bedroom using potential fire hazards such as a...
It’s often said there’s no rest for the weary. For over three decades the Skagit Adult Day Program has been working to put that adage to rest. The organization’s mission is to provide a daytime program where adults with special needs can take part in a supportive group setting with friends, board member and La Conner area resident Jan Taylor told the Weekly News Saturday prior to a major fundraiser at Maple Hall. Caregivers gain time to recharge their batteries or complete daily chores while those in their charge are engaged in an array of su...
The La Conner Community Scholarship Foundation is undertaking a six-month fundraising drive that will provide scholarship aid to the high school’s graduates seeking support. The foundation’s goal is to raise $100,000 between June 1 and Nov. 30. A downturn in bond yields has had a negative impact on the foundation’s investment income, necessitating a bolstering of its portfolio. The Foundation grew from a 1989 Dollars for Scholars campaign launched here by then-school administrators Ken Winkes and Norm Hoffman, the local Paren...
The Skagit Valley Farmers Market at The Vinery located at Christianson's Nursery is in full swing. Every Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., everyone, including pets, are welcome to shop local produce, goods and more. The Farmers Market will continue weekly through October....
Town of La Conner planning staff want to hear from you. Residents and businesses had yellow door hangers placed on their door knobs last week that requested responses to its community involvement survey, part of the process of the 10-year update to the Town’s comprehensive plan. Feedback is sought to “ensure that La Conners continues to improve in the next 10, 20 and 50 years. Complete the survey by scanning the door hanger QR code. Or, fill it out by going to the town’s website or picking up a paper copy at Town Hall, 204 Douglas Stree...
Betty Grace Gordon 97, a longtime resident of the Skagit Valley, passed away with her loving family at her side on Monday, May 22, 2023 at her home. Family and friends are invited to Betty's graveside service on Monday, June 12, 2023, 11:00 a.m. at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery. You are invited to read the eulogy written for Betty online at www.kernfuneralhome.com. Funeral Arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home....
The newest members of the oldest active high school alumni association in Washington state were welcomed into the fold Saturday night in La Conner. Members of the Class of 2023 were feted during the 109th annual La Conner Alumni Banquet and Program at the middle school, just hours prior to departing on their senior trip to Knott's Berry Farm. "La Conner is just so special," said 2022-23 high school student body president Rachel Haley, speaking on behalf of her classmates. "We're proud to graduat...
Tommy Murdock had a leg up on the competition throughout the high school track and field campaign this spring. And a big reason the La Conner High School junior was head and shoulders above all comers was his mental toughness, Braves' head coach Peter Voorhees told the Weekly News after Murdock swept the state 2B boys' 110 and 300-meter hurdles contests at Yakima in May. A case in point, Voorhees noted, was how Murdock handled a late start time for his preliminary heat in the 110s. "In the heat...
La Conner is a cool place with its incredible dining, magic Skagit views and small town charm. It is no wonder a Guitar Festival has been added to the list of things to do. In mid-May, Maple Hall becomes home to some of the finest handcrafted and carefully sourced guitars one could imagine. "They're almost like living things" says John Carrigan of Curly Creek Guitars. "I know my child is out there and it wants to be played." Carrigan specializes in Archtop guitars, a passion he developed as a...
The Museum of Northwest Art’s annual auction, biggest fundraiser of the year, takes place at the First Street museum Saturday, June 10, but you can preview – and bid – on the over 300 works of art now, online. “Share the Magic of Northwest Art!” is the theme of the 31st annual auction, which raises funds for exhibitions, the art collection, and transformative educational and outreach programs. Tickets are $100. Saturday, start as early as 4 p.m. to browse and join in this “pre-dinner” party with its hors d’oeuvres, oyster bar and wines. Bidd...
La Conner Live's Sunday concert series in Gilkey Square enters its third week June 11 with The HIP playing its unique choice of covers under the white canopies by the boardwalk. The summer schedule: June 18, Midlife Crisis; June 25, Mojo Cannon; July 2, The Walrus; July 9, Fantasy Band; July 16 BrohamM; July 23 Chris Eger Band; July 30 Joan Penney; August 6, Lost at Last; August 13, Cosmic Sauce; August 20, Pacific Twang; August 27, Cascadia Groove; September 3 Savanna Woods and Sept. 10, Murphtones. The series opened May 28 with the Skagit...
Need a laugh or want to laugh? Go see “The Birds and The Bees” at the Whidbey Playhouse in Oak Harbor. Set on a Canadian farm, this comedy jumps right into sex, love, science, family and, of course, the artificial insemination of turkeys. There is a bee colony, naturally. Weekends through June 18. Information: .whidbeyplayhouse.com. Source: Whidbey Playhouse...
Paint a fire hydrant and add beauty to the community while supporting Fire District 13. The fundraiser is June 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at John K. Bob Memorial Ball Park, 17400 Reservation Rd, La Conner. Adopt a hydrant for $100. Payments can be made at the Skagit County Fire District 13 Fire Station #2 at 17433 Snee Oosh Rd. Source: Fire District 13...
