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In a ceremony Saturday, Sept. 17, Katelyn was introduced to La Conner's Channel Cove community. By Christmas, Skagit Habitat for Humanity staff and volunteers hope to have the Park Street duplex renovated for her to move in with her two children. While Katelyn and her young son only symbolically broke ground, turning a shovelful of dirt, Skagit Habitat staff and volunteers started renovating the three bedroom duplex in mid-August. They hope to finish their interior rebuild to allow a Dec. 17...
Dave Hedlin dined with friends Saturday night. And those friends filled St. Joseph's Center in Mount Vernon, where the La Conner farmer, an ag spokesman and former school board member, was feted at the 24th annual Celebrate Skagit Harvest Dinner and Auction. Hedlin was honored during the four-hour event, a major fundraiser for Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, the group he and his wife, Serena Campbell, helped found more than three decades ago. The couple was among those families who launched S...
Christmas has come early for the Town of La Conner. Town council members at their Sept. 13 meeting gratefully accepted what amounts to a gift – an offer by siblings Tom and Sybil Jenson to sell one-half acre on the southwest side of Channel Cove to the Town at a significantly reduced price on condition the property be used for the benefit of the community. The Jensons set the price at $60,000, less than one-third its assessed value. “It’s something that we can afford,” Mayor Ramon Hayes said prior to a unanimous council vote. “They mostly wa...
The La Conner Town Council voted to approve requests making public a privileged memorandum and specific email correspondence from hired outside legal counsel during a special Zoom meeting Tuesday morning, Sept. 20. The action reversed a 3-0 council vote to block access to the documents during a special session last Friday. The Weekly News is among parties that filed a public records request for the material, prepared by the Kenyon Disend law firm, in order to quote accurately and more extensively what Town Administrator Scott Thomas had...
How can the La Conner community, residents, businesses and town staff, support the town’s council so they act more effectively? They have met three times in the last week, having special meetings Sept. 16 and 19 after their regular Sept. 13 session. Their meeting this Tuesday was to reverse a poor decision they made Friday. On a small issue – opening to the public a legal memo they paid for on researching the validity of a 1986 contact refund agreement – they made the wrong decision: they voted no. Council members Rick Dole, Mary Wohleb and A...
By Courtney Flatt NWPB Northwest Public Broadcasting A first-of-its-kind climate resiliency website will help communities understand climate-related risks, the Biden administration said. The new website, launched Sept. 8, provides real-time information and predictions for local communities that are more vulnerable to disasters, such as wildfires, heat waves and droughts. The website, known as Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation, or CMRA, will help community leaders better plan for climate-related hazards, officials said. The website...
The PACT Act is a new law that expands Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This law helps us provide generations of veterans – and their survivors – with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve. The VA's will help answer your questions about what the PACT Act means for you or your loved ones. You can also call 800-698-2411 (TTY: 711). And you can file a claim for PACT Act-related disability compensation or apply for VA health care now. As for mysel...
With all the disturbing news in the world, I wanted to thank the La Conner Weekly News for the beautiful picture of Maggie Wilder smiling, with a paint brush in her hand. It made my day. Tia Kurtz Anacortes...
By Jean Walker-Wharton The celebration and dedication of new public art on Sept. 3 demonstrated the behind-the-scenes work of the La Conner Arts Commission. Sheila Johnson, chair, invited my attendance. I asked John Leaver to go for me and to express my gratitude for the commission’s dedication; and for people responsible in the inception on my property in 2005, of Tracey Powell’s and Stan O’Neil’s artisan fence structure as well as those who dismantled its 18 feet and have beautifully brought its components back to life in the last two yea...
Stephen William Barden Stephen William (Steve) Barden, age 72, of Camano Island passed away unexpectedly Sunday Sept. 4, 2022, in Rhemes-Notre-Dame, Italy. Steve grew up in Seattle and later resided many years in La Conner and Camano Island. He received a Nursing degree from BTC and enjoyed working for Warm Beach Senior Community as a nurse before retiring. Steve would always do anything for his friends, family, or community and loved spending time with them. He lived life to the fullest and... Full story
We are in the middle of Banned Books Week, Sept. 18-24. This year’s theme is “Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us.” Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship, focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books. Each year this week celebrates the freedom to read and the value of free and open access to information.. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. Five of the Top 10 Chall...
When you read this the fishing vessel Aleutian Isle will be in Mitchell Bay. Plans were to move it there Monday afternoon. The vessel was successfully lifted to the surface Saturday, Sept. 17. Crews worked through that evening to dewater the vessel. Their first efforts removed 250 gallons of waste oil. They next removed any diesel fuel remaining onboard. Throughout the raising process some fuel escaped. The U.S. Coast Guard reported that pollution mitigation strategies were effective. Responders...
The Amtrak Cascades service to Vancouver, British Columbia will resume Sept. 26. The first Cascades train to Vancouver will depart Seattle at 7:45 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 26, stop at five cities along the way and arrive in Vancouver at 11:45 a.m. Traveling southbound, Amtrak Cascades will depart Vancouver at 5:45 p.m. and arrive in Seattle at 10:10 p.m. A second daily trip will be added later. The route also offers three daily round trips between Portland and Seattle, four daily buses between Seattle and Vancouver, BC and two daily buses between...
OLYMPIA – State parks and lands have free entrance Saturday, Sept. 24, in recognition of National and Washington Public Lands Day. A Discover Pass will not be needed to park. Discover Pass free days apply to all visitor parking on Department of Natural Resources and Department of Fish and Wildlife lands and in day-use areas at Washington state parks....
The late Lea McMillan Diacos was truly a gem in her hometown of La Conner. How fitting, then, that her memory is honored here as a posthumous recipient of the Soroptimist International of La Conner Ruby Award in recognition of her steadfast support of local youth. The ruby, after all, is associated with wisdom, importance, vitality, strength, power and love. Diacos, a 1938 La Conner High School graduate, checked all those boxes prior to her passing in 2008. Her love for her community is...
After suffering successive losses to open the season, the La Conner High School girls' soccer team got on the board in a 10-2 non-conference home loss to Oak Harbor Sept. 9. Still, an asterisk is in order. The two La Conner goals were scored by Oak Harbor players on loan to the short-handed Lady Braves, who are still without their full roster due to eligibility and injury issues. Head coach Christian Warman said some players need to complete the required 10 preseason practices to participate in...
The Skagit Valley Pumpkin Festival Sept. 17 was a success for both host Christianson's Nursery and farmers across the state. From 9 a.m.-4 p.m. visitors attending enjoyed family-friendly carnival games, face painting and tractor rides while the adults enjoyed a Farmstrong Brewing beer garden. Pumpkin festival entries competed to finish among the top ten for the heaviest pumpkins. Two bonus awards included the "Howard Dill Prettiest Pumpkin" and the "Ugliest Pumpkin." Winners received cash...
A million details make the Skagit River Poetry Festival happen – and they are all coming together. Before the Festival takes place in La Conner Oct. 6-9, there are 34 poets to match to housing, pick up at the airport shuttle and feed. There are half a dozen school buses to arrange so Skagit and Whatcom County high school students can attend for free on Friday, October 7. Not to mention 220 chairs to distribute to Festival venues for a four-day whirlwind of setting up, taking down, setting up a...
Salmon steaks, ideally, are from a firm fish. There's a wild taste because it's baked with the bones in and the skin is on. I tried a cajun Louisiana fish fry mix. Baking on parchment paper makes clean-up easy. Ingredients Salmon steaks, 1 per serving Fish fry mix, 1 cup Butter, 5 tbsp Parchment paper, to fit the baking sheet Preparation Pat the salmon dry. Sprinkle on the fish fry mix, coating both sides, patting into the salmon. Set the coated salmon steaks onto the parchment lined baking...
When Bill Hayton and Laurence McCulloch moved to Pleasant Ridge, they wanted to explore hiking trails in the region. Joan Melcher made that happen. Melcher, 85, is the point person of the Skagit Audubon hiking group. For almost 30 years, she has planned 52 hikes a year and accompanied hikers of all skill levels to the trailhead and beyond. Whether it's a walk around Mt. Erie or a 2,000-foot climb to Maple Pass, Melcher makes sure everyone returns safe and sound. Almost every week, Melcher can...
Sunday, September 11 6:11 p.m.: Returned dog – A dog that was reported lost was found by its owner and returned home. Birch Ln., La Conner. Monday, September 12 10:15 a.m.: Email error – A subject received an email from a company that alerts credit card users of possible fraud. The company sent the email in error and confirmed his credit card was not used at the business. Morris St., La Conner. Tuesday, September 13 11:53 a.m.: Healthy horses – A passerby was concerned about the welfare of ho...
