Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper
Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper
Sorted by date Results 1 - 19 of 19
It has often been dark and gloomy during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Friday was not one of those times. At least not for members of the La Conner High Class of 2021 and their families and friends. It was, instead, a rare opportunity to celebrate. Together. Bright sunshine and a spectacular view of Mt. Baker greeted the class and about 500 people attending outdoor commencement exercises at Whitaker Field for what was an often emotional 75-minute program. Valedictorian Sarah Malcomson and...
The parent of a toddler will soon be feeling the heat for having left the child alone in an idling vehicle in downtown La Conner Monday, the hottest day of the year to date. That parent could face child endangerment charges, and the case is being forwarded to Child Protective Services (CPS) for review, according to Sgt. Jeff Willard, who heads the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office La Conner Detachment. Willard said a concerned person called the sheriff’s office 12:13 p.m. after seeing the child upset and alone for several minutes in an SUV wit...
He rode into town, donned a mask and saved the day. The Lone Ranger? No, but in the eyes of many the above aptly describes La Conner School District Superintendent Rich Stewart, who last summer inherited the reins of a district still reeling from prior labor and contract disputes and political fallout that had seen an almost complete turnover of the district’s board of trustees. Plus, there was COVID-19. Stewart, whose one-year tenure here ends June 30, would be the last person to label what h...
As the Museum of Northwest Art rolled into its 40th year it had become increasingly clear that the COVID-19 pandemic would once again restrict MoNA’s annual art auction. The traditional in-person excitement that MoNA depended on to support this fundraiser was, for a second year, at stake. Not knowing how the community would respond after a long and extremely difficult year fighting the COVID-19 virus, MoNA reached out to local volunteers and asked us to co-chair the auction committee with G...
UPDATE: ANACORTES — The City of Anacortes’ supply of sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) to its regional water system is now stable, the city announced in a news release June 23. Chlorine was delivered Wednesday and Thursday putting the water treatment plant at an above average level and the wastewater treatment plant at near full capacity. Residents no longer need to conserve water. The Wednesday print edition story follows. Its headline: Chlorine shortage requires conserving water Greater La Conner residents are being asked to conserve water...
Thursday was picture perfect weatherwise in La Conner, but not so for businesses on South First Street till mid-afternoon. An animal got in the guts of a South First Street Puget Sound Energy pole around 7 a.m. Businesses on First and Morris streets, including the Weekly News, received a “Power is out” email at 7:21 a.m. While some Morris Street businesses had electricity by 9:36 a.m., with notice that “The cause of the outage was bird or animal,” First Street businesses were not plugged in again till almost 2 p.m. Someone heard that 302 cus...
Next Wednesday, June 30, Washington state will fully reopen under Gov. Jay Inslee’s Roadmap to Recovery plan for public health and economic guidelines to protect residents during the coronavirus pandemic. If 70% of residents 16 and older have gotten at least one vaccination shot against the virus, Inslee will give an earlier go signal. Through Monday, June 21, 67.8% of eligible residents were vaccinated. As this paper noted earlier, Inslee bet on an aggressive vaccination campaign to drive down the infection rate. He has won his bet, even a...
For over 65 years, the Hedlin play field has been enjoyed by multiple generations of local residents playing little league baseball, softball, soccer and many other activities. It was the only venue in La Conner configured to accommodate little league baseball. This nearly two acre play field was made available by the generosity of the Hedlin Family – and aside from a lease for a utilities assessment, the only expenses incurred by the Town were property taxes and maintenance. Early in 2019 the Hedlins had an opportunity to acquire...
I have known Eric Day for several years. He is humble and has a servant’s heart – working with young people, teaching cultural ways, helping to feed people in the community, standing and speaking for justice and serving as a senator of the Swinomish Tribe. I support him for commissioner, Position 2, of Fire Protection District 13. As a Swinomish Tribe senator, Eric has been part of the decision-making that has resulted in programs that are meeting the health care and housing needs of people – native and non-native – in our a...
Concerned about student participation during the COVID-19 pandemic, the La Conner School District is holding a summer adventure camp to help students re-engage with in-person learning. Rather than concentrate on academics alone, the district is offering a STEAM theme (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). Summer Adventure Camp is for students who have finished elementary school through middle school grades. Classes start July 19 and include Skagit Safari, Aviation, Make Your Own Movie, Invention Camp and Art Academy. Younger...
“Hugo Helmer: Skagit’s Own Music Man” is the Skagit County Historical Museum’s new exhibit, now open. It celebrates accomplished accordionist Hugo Helmer, featuring his life and legacy. Helmer instructed hundreds of children throughout the region, established Hugo Helmer’s Accordion Band in the 1930s, a dance band and first marching accordion band in the U.S. Be prepared for Scandi-monium! Go to the Museum website for a schedule of performers of live accordion music in the Museum gallery by former band members Leif & Sunnie Accordion Duo, Sylv...
La Conner is one step closer to having some of its historic buildings don a more modern look. The Town Planning Commission voiced support last week for placement of small reader bar codes that when accessed would provide anecdotal and historical information about those structures, with owner approval. Deemed historical commemorative plaques, the QR codes do not require the Town’s official blessing if they do not exceed three square feet in size, according to Town Planner Michael Davolio and Mayor Ramon Hayes. Even so, they wanted c...
Summer Reading Program Your World in Color: Summer Reading 2021 at the La Conner Regional Library started this week. It is open to anyone under 18 who has access to a La Conner Library card. Our theme this year is Color! Think of all the ways you see, feel, wear, eat, use, describe and make color. Color is a great focus for summer reading because it offers so many avenues for exploration. There are many books about color and many colorful characters, like Elmer the elephant who is not gray at all. We have non-fiction books about the science of...
There truly is no rest for the weary. The La Conner High girls’ basketball team, which after playing five games in a week against top competition – the Lady Braves won four of those, losing only to 2A Burlington-Edison – and now coach Scott Novak’s charges begin state 2B summer tournament play today in Mount Vernon. La Conner faces sixth-seeded Toledo in a much-anticipated 2 p.m. matchup at the Mount Vernon Christian gymnasium on Blackburn Road. The Lady Braves enter the June 23-25 event sporting a 12-1 mark. They are seeded thi...
Saying goodbye is never easy. Because of that, La Conner schools softened the departures of those retiring or leaving the district for other jobs with a two-hour farewell celebration heavy on humor at the elementary campus Thursday afternoon. District Maintenance Director Brian Masonholder set the tone in paying tribute to his aunt, custodian Sandy Rowland, retiring after 24 years at La Conner Schools. “She’s the only La Conner Schools employee,” said Masonholder, “who has changed my diaper.” Superintendent Rich Stewart, leaving after ser...
With the elimination of most COVID restrictions, Cantabile Chamber Choir, a fixture of Skagit Valley’s live music scene since 2006, is looking forward to resumption of in-person rehearsals in September. “It’s no surprise on-line rehearsals cannot replace the experience of singing and creating beautiful harmony together in the same room. That being said, a core of musicians is eager to use the listening skills and theory we’ve been ‘pandemically studying’ in actual rehearsals this fall. I have a lovely concert in mind and am excited to be audit...
Tuesday, June 15 2:23 a.m.: Left with chargers – Deputies responded to a report of a cold theft. The caller said a male walked into the store and stole a handful of phone chargers. La Conner Whitney Rd., Greater La Conner. 6:51 p.m.: Known knockdown – Deputies responded to a report of a person being struck by a vehicle. Deputies found the caller had been struck by the door of a car leaving the driveway and knocked to the ground. The suspect had fled the scene but is known to the victim. Bradshaw Rd., Greater La Conner. Wednesday,...
Anna Cook is getting back to her roots on many levels. The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community member, a La Conner high school alum who went on to earn a degree from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, is a vocal advocate for food sovereignty through her work with the acclaimed 13 Moons project. She was drawn to the cause in great part by her family’s involvement in hosting plant workshops. Her interest grew further after starting college. Today, as a result of her affiliation with 13 Moons a...
Enjoy the strawberries and rhubarb you harvest or buy in early summer, into the winter months. A well-established rhubarb plant in your garden, produces enough stalks to create several tasty dishes. This year, to date, our rhubarb produced enough to share bundles with two friends, cook up and water bath can 5 batches of strawberry rhubarb jam and this recipe. Plus there is more rhubarb growing! Use a double crust when you bake the pie with this filling. One pint jar per pie. Strawberry Rhubarb...
