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Saturday's second annual Anacortes pride parade was a rainbow-plus of colors, June 16. Thousands of cheering, clapping, dancing, rainbow flag waving supporters shouted their approval from the sidewalks and curbs along the downtown Commercial Street parade route. Hundreds of happy, proud paraders ranging in age from babes in arms and strollers, to children pulling stuffed animal filled wagons to church contingents to Democrats, PFLAG representatives, motorcycle mamas, queens in drag and more, mar...
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community took filling in the gaps to a new level at the aging McGlinn-to-Goat Island rock jetty south of La Conner. The M/V SeaHorse was contracted for just over two weeks in late May and early June to remove fill material several times a day from a loading area north of the jetty to the work site to plug gaps impacting spring outbound salmon runs. The emergency repairs, designed to reduce Skagit River flow velocities through the jetty, were completed June 9. The work involved...
La Conner will again act locally while thinking nationally on July 4. The town is site once more of Independence Day festivities with something for everyone – from a holiday parade to food and beverages to live music to a fireworks display over Swinomish Channel. The fun starts with the always popular 12 p.m. parade down First Street. Parade staging is set for 11 a.m. on State Street, in front of the Port of Skagit’s La Conner Marina south basin parking area. The parade traditionally draws an array of motorized, non-motorized and even fam...
There's one excuse that will not fly for anyone parking in front of about two dozen fire hydrants on Swinomish Reservation. That being they weren't visible. Instead, you can hardly miss those hydrants anymore. By Saturday afternoon 22 fire hydrants had been adopted and most repainted – many with distinctive bright colors and designs – as part of a Skagit County Fire District 13 fundraiser. The district's Adopt-A-Hydrant campaign was coordinated by firefighter Logan James. Participants paid $10...
The weather at the start of this week is cool and a bit rainy. Wet is certainly needed, as the year's precipitation deficit is a whooping 6.2 inches as we head into the heart of the Skagit's summer dry season. A damp and cool week is a toe-in-the-water dip into a June gloom. It has been too sunny and too warm the first half of the month and many have turned off their office natural gas heating systems. Once it is gloomy though, it seems to linger. This week's and this month's weather is just that, clouds passing by, not even minutes in the...
Did you know Washington has a state dinosaur” This year, Governor Jay Inslee made it official with Parks’ very own Suciasaurus. Suciasaurus (meaning "Sucia Island lizard") is the informal name given to the first dinosaur discovered in Washington. A fossil theropod nicknamed "Suciasaurus rex" was discovered in 2012 at Sucia Island State Park. It is likely the rocks that today form Sucia Island originated much further south, possibly near what is now Baja, California in Mexico. The island moved to its present-day spot over 80 million years, wit...
Once again, I find myself in the infuriating position of responding to the news of yet another horrific mass shooting in the United States. Despite the common defensive refrain offered by gun advocates that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” the simple truth remains that people with guns kill people. And people with guns are killing more people every day and for seemingly trivial reasons. This spring alone we have witnessed several of these horrific shootings. Tragically, this list could go on and on. While much of the Ameri...
Summer arrived in the Northern Hemisphere, this morning at 7:57 a.m. Today is the solstice, the first day of astronomical summer. Today is the year’s longest day and shortest night. It will get darker earlier until the winter solstice, Dec. 21, 2023 7:27 p.m....
Ham radio operators from the Skagit Armature Radio Emergency Communications Club in Anacortes will participate in a national amateur radio exercise Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Seafarer’s Memorial Park, 601 Seafarers Way, Anacortes. Clubs across the country are participating, part of the National Association for Amateur Radio in the United States. Activities include Morse Code Keyers passed out to children, at 11 a.m.; a drawing for three FRS radio kits of two radios each at 1 p.m.; and a fox hunt, a ham radio version of geocaching. Temporary h...
When I talk with groups about solar and wind energy, people ask: “The sun isn’t up all the time and the wind doesn’t blow all the time. How can solar and wind energy power a reliable electric grid?” About 25 years ago, senior management at a major utility turned down an experimental 8 kilowatt solar project I had proposed because the transmission systems engineers told the CEO that unpredictable solar energy might destabilize the entire utility’s grid. In other words, serious industry professio...
June 6 samples of shellfish contained elevated levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning toxins, closing Samish, Guemes and Cypress islands to all shellfish species for recreational shellfish harvesting until further notice. Samples of blue mussels from Rosario Point in San Juan county on June 6 contained 118 micrograms PSP/100 grams of shellfish tissue. Samples of blue mussels from Semiahmoo Marina collected on June 6 contained 112 ug/100g. A geoduck sample from Samish Bay also came back in exceedance of state closure values. The Washington...
Anna Fleischmann Jennings died peacefully on June 8, 2023 in Mount Vernon, Washington. She was born on May 7, 1926 in Reichmannsdorf, Germany to Erhard and Barbara Fleischmann. She relayed many stories of a happy childhood, despite the tragedies that were to follow. She lost her father, brother, and many other loved ones in a war they didn't believe in. A tight-knit group of family and friends in the village, as well as her faith, helped her stay strong. Though most young women of Reichmannsdorf...
La Conner’s iconic fish slide may not be fin-ished, after all. Town of La Conner Parks Commissioner Ollie Iversen made an impassioned plea last week to town council members asking them to reverse their recent decision to scrap the slide due to ongoing maintenance and safety issues. The slide, a favorite at Conner Waterfront Park with locals and tourists alike, has been closed since last year. But for several years volunteer spring touchup and repair work by Iversen and former town administrator John Doyle kept it open. Their efforts involved g...
Way down. The Town of La Conner May sales tax revenues of $48,073 reported to town council by the state’s Department of Revenue are the third highest May report ever, but down $21,7923, 31%, from last year and $10,214 below 2021’s total. The Special Use Fire Tax revenues drop was a twin, the $4,797 also 31%, $2,188 below 2022, though again the third highest report for the month. Only the motel/hotel tax revenues set a record, the $12,701 $67 above 2022 total. The revenues are from March transactions, the DOR reporting on a two month lag. The...
The Kiwanis Club of La Conner May High School Student of the Month is Hadley Shears. She graduated in June and is the daughter of Cory and Jen Shears. Hadley has been active in school cheer, varsity volunteerism and Knowledge Bowl. Outside of school she likes to be outdoors, ski, hike and be out on the family boat. She is passionate about music, movies and art. Hadley was valedictorian of her graduating class. She will be attending Western Washington University this fall. She has not determined...
La Conner Schools administrator Andy Wheeler has quietly tended to his heavy workload here for the past nine years. But now, as he transitions to retirement, Wheeler will finally be able to toot his own horn. Never one to boast, the soft-spoken Wheeler – an enthusiastic trombonist – is headed next month to the Humboldt State College Brass Chamber Music Workshop in northern California. It's a fitting sendoff for Wheeler, who has been something of a one-man band during his tenure here, han...
The first day of summer vacation was a time of reflection for La Conner School board members, who while grappling with difficult budget issues going forward, found time at their June 12 study session to honor the achievements of student leaders and athletes and middle school science teacher Maddie Huscher. Huscher was recognized as a Regional Teacher of the Year, one of nine finalists for top state teacher accolades. “It’s a really big deal,” La Conner Superintendent of Schools Will Nelson said of Huscher’s selection. “She’s getting a l...
Change has defined the La Conner Schools Transportation Department the past year. But one thing hasn’t changed. The department continues to earn high grades from the Washington State Patrol and Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. State schools chief Chris Reykdal’s June 15 letter states the district “has again completed the inspection of school buses with exceptional results. For the past two years the results in your district have been outstanding.” La Conner Schools Director of Operations and Planning Bobby Vaughn, over...
Italian arum is a deceptively attractive invasive imposter. I fell for her ruse. The bright orange berries brought color to an otherwise nondescript area of the yard, so I let it grow. Now I wish it had never found my address as it has found its way into most of my garden beds, even in the lawn. Because it is so invasive and poisonous to humans and animals, the Washington State Department of Agriculture classifies it as a Class C noxious weed. Class C noxious weeds are described as “already widespread in Washington. In some cases, counties m...
The Museum of Northwest Art galleries are closed temporarily for construction through Aug. 4, 2023. The roof and climate control systems are being repaired. The Museum store will remain open during regular business hours, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday-Monday, 12-5 p.m. Members receive a 10% discount on purchases from the store. The galleries and education spaces will reopen on Aug. 5 with two new exhibitions. Over $370,000 was raised at the 31st Annual Art Auction June 10 in...
The nine-mile stretch of I-5 between Mount Vernon and Burlington is the backbone of the transportation network in Skagit County, powering the economy, linking local businesses to regional markets and connecting people to jobs, goods and each other. To plan for future growth, address safety and operations challenges and support the potential of the corridor and region, Washington state Department of Transportation is conducting the I-5 Skagit Transportation Study to identify and assess strategies to improve mobility, connectivity, and safety...
Kiwanis will be holding its June 24 Craft Fair 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Braves Clubhouse, 305 6th Street, behind the school district administration building. There is room for more vendors. Contact Joy at [email protected] for information....
The U.S. government’s Indian boarding school system is the focus of legislation that’s been reintroduced in the U.S. Senate. For over a century after colonization, thousands of Native American children were taken from their families and put into government or church-run boarding schools as part of a broader effort to assimilate them to adopt Western customs. While some were taken to nearby schools in their area, others found themselves hundreds of miles away from home. Cultural practices – from long hair to wearing traditional dress – were pr...
Grilled vegetables on an indoor electric grill. The surprise ingredient to grilling vegetables is white balsamic vinegar. It lightens the flavor. Splash it on but not heavily. The vegetables' flavor first comes from the grill. Use the vegetables you have on hand or shop to your preferences. Ingredients Yellow summer squash, 1 small Red onion, 2 slices Button mushrooms, 9 Orange bell pepper, a few slices Olive oil, 2 Tbsp White balsamic vinegar, 2 to 3 tsp Salt & pepper, to taste Preparation...
