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Friday afternoon, Sept. 17, the Skagit County government posted notice that the County “does not have a rol(e) in recent door-to-door ‘Elections Integrity Audit.’” The government reported “multiple reports from community members that individuals have been going door to door throughout the community asking for personal information related to voting eligibility. Most of these individuals are believed to be affiliated with an ongoing Skagit Voter Integrity Project.” The news release states that county election staff will never “come to your house...
Was the Town of La Conner’s sale of the Maple Avenue ballfield property to developer Landed Gentry illegal? A letter from Bricklin & Newman, a Seattle law firm, to Brian Gentry dated Sept. 1 and delivered Sept. 7, advises that “your purchase of the property from the Town of La Conner was likely illegal, in violation of Article 8, Section 7 of the Washington Constitution.” The Town bought the property from the Hedlin family and then sold it the same day in April. La Conner area resident Linda Clark asked the Bricklin firm to review “the applicab...
The La Conner Town Council started the process for filling the vacancy left by Jacques Brunisholz’s resignation at its Sept. 14 meeting, but the eight week schedule they agreed to means whomever they choose will be approved Nov. 9 at the earliest. That is after the Nov. 2 election and only two council meetings before the 2022 budget will be approved Dec. 14. While the only qualifications for council are being a town resident and a registered voter, council was presented by Town Administrator Scott Thomas with a 14 page packet. The town is requi...
Town and greater La Conner residents: Your answers to the 14 question survey on the purpose of the Town’s new 24,000 square feet park on Maple Avenue at Talbott Street will help shape its development. The survey was enclosed with the August utility bill. Those sent e-bills, via email, and everyone, can fill it out on the Town of La Conner’s website or print and fill out a paper copy. Residents and the town’s park commission developed the survey, using public comments and results of the 2019 parks survey. The website introduction says: “Plea...
After the wind storm Friday night, John Christianson, owner of Christianson’s Nursery, wasn’t sure about the attendance at the next day’s annual Pumpkin Festival. After he spent all morning standing up plants and saving uprooted dahlias, Christianson found the large crowd “a bit of a surprise.” He said, comparing the day to 2019’s turnout, it was as good as they could expect, especially considering the days’ forecast was for rain. But the overcast broke around noon, with bright blue sky and...
For those who read books, you know that a good book can help immensely, to make you smile, laugh, wonder, learn, improve your mood, challenge you and, yes, make you cry. Books can be the elixir to lighten a load and soothe the soul. Books help us see how big and wonderful and complex our world and universe is and how people – you – are both the same and different from other individuals, how small and insignificant humans are and how significant each of us is. Books are the key to tomorrow, however well or ill our actions may be base...
On Sept. 3, 2021 the news posted a graph showing how much military equipment was left in Afghanistan to arm the Taliban. Treason comes to mind. Anyone with common sense after seeing that graph knows the person in charge should resign or be impeached. American flags should remain at half-mast until one or the other takes place. The value of equipment left behind would be enough to build seven nuclear powered aircraft carriers, keeping any adversary from stepping on American toes for the foreseeable future. The vice president should also be...
I am writing today to bring awareness to the issue of property crimes and crimes of opportunity. This is a situation that exists throughout the county and La Conner has certainly not been immune to this activity. I encourage each citizen, household and business to take this occasion to assess your individual readiness regarding security. Some obvious measures include removing any items of value from your vehicles and making sure garage and home and business doors are locked. Other effective actions include the implementation of automated...
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for failing to uphold the Endangered Species Act Sept. 9, citing dwindling Skagit chinook salmon and Southern Resident killer whales populations. Tribal attorneys and Earthjustice will bring suit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington if the Corps granted construction permits to dike districts in the Skagit delta, but did not require hundreds of acres of estuary habitat be restored as mitigation for...
Henry T. Chamberlain Jr. passed away August 31, 2021. Henry was a long-term, part time resident of La Conner. Henry was born in Morris Bluffs, Nebraska on June 6, 1922. He joined the U.S. Army on his birthday in 1940 and served as a surgical technician. He was stationed in the Philippines, as a medic, when World War II broke out, and was attacked and captured by the Japanese Imperial Army. During his three and a half years in captivity he witnessed the Death March, was held in the infamous POW... Full story
Construction Update The La Conner Library is excited to announce Tiger Construction is mobilizing to the site of the new La Conner Swinomish Library and demolition of the Thrift Shop is expected this week. This is an exciting step forward in a series of highly visible progress on the new library. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept.29. The community is invited to this long anticipated event. The site will be blessed by the Swinomish Tribe and county and state representatives have been invited to take part. Summer R...
At its first specially called hearing to consider the 2022 budget Sept. 14 in Maple Hall, the La Conner Town Council dived right into the bulk of proposed expenditures: public works and the wastewater treatment plant. The draft budget lists a 15% increase, of $297,000 in the five public works programs parks, facilities, streets, water and drainage, with $2 million for capital water projects: replacing water mains on Channel Drive, $1.6 million, and South First Street from Commercial to Morris, $400,000. The larger project has to happen very...
There was no saving Grace in Marysville Friday. The La Conner High School boys' soccer team saw to that. The Braves won their first match of the young season with an impressive 4-0 triumph over Grace Academy, helping take the sting out of close losses to NW2B foes Friday Harbor and Mount Vernon Christian that opened the fall campaign. Cameron Burks, Isa Rojas-Gonzales, Thomas Kitchen and Christian Fix – all among a core of key Braves returnees – scored goals for the victors. Mason Wilson assisted on two scores, while Samuel...
Close losses can be either frustrating or encouraging. The latter was the case for the La Conner High girls’ soccer team at Coupeville last Wednesday. La Conner fell 4-2 in its season debut Sept. 15 despite goals by freshman Baylee Smith and senior Delaney Cobbs and strong play from frosh goalkeeper Odessa Bates. “Overall, I felt good about the match,” La Conner head coach Christian Warman said afterward. “It wasn’t perfect, but I believe we were able to prove that we are competitors.” Smith scored La Conner’s first goal of the season off a...
They say it is an ill wind that blows no good. If that’s the case, conditions at Whittaker Field Friday were plenty bad as heavy rain, fierce winds and a partial power outage made for an uncomfortable night of high school football. And that was just in the stands. Down on the field, a young La Conner High football team suffered a 61-0 blowout loss to perennial NW2B title contender Friday Harbor. The Wolverines (1-2), who opted out of last spring’s modified grid season due to a COVID-19 surge in the San Juan Islands, stormed past a La Con...
A La Conner distance runner shone through gray skies and rainy conditions at the Skagit Flats Marathon Sept. 12. Galina Free, who was a cross-country skier growing up in far east Russia, didn’t melt in the face of a strong field and the opportunity to qualify for the storied Boston Marathon. Far from it, in fact. Free, 45, who can often be seen on training runs in and around La Conner, covered the 26.2 miles course in just over three hours and nine minutes, placing fifth overall and first a...
For some, it was their first rodeo. And for the others, it might well have been the best. The 2021 Mount Vernon Elks Lodge Bike Rodeo, on Sept. 12 meshed with the grand opening of the new Little Mountain bike trails, a festive occasion years in the making. Despite rainy conditions, there was a good turnout of children and parents for the rodeo, which taught kids cycling skills like checking the air in their tires and how to use hand signals in traffic. They also had the opportunity to ride over...
It was at La Conner High School where one of the foremost archaeologists in North America started to dig what would become her life’s work. A transfer student in the late 1990s from Victoria, B.C., the future Dr. Kisha Supernant recalled, “as a sophomore, I took the world history class with Mr. (Vince) Sellen that really helped solidify my interest in archaeology.” Today, she is the director of the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology and an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Alberta. Super...
It was slow going getting new pole-mounted radar speed signs installed along heavy traffic volume on Maple Avenue and North Third Street. But, perhaps that was fitting, since the four digital reader boards are to slow traffic. And they are doing the job – noticeably increasing road safety and driver speed awareness. “I had one resident on North Third Street email me almost immediately after the signs went up and express how grateful they are for them,” Mayor Ramon Hayes told the Wee...
The work goes on to promote leisure activities here. Two local advisory boards collaborated this summer with planner Michael Davolio on initial steps to update the 2013 Town of La Conner parks plan. The planning and parks commissions have jointly reviewed the eight-year-old plan, which includes an inventory of existing and potential future parks sites and Davolio has begun drafting language for submission to the Town Council and eventual inclusion as an updated parks and recreation element in the Town Comprehensive Plan. “The parks element i...
When Gordon Skagit Farms opens its Autumn Market next Monday, Sept 27, it may be a bit more crowded than usual. The farm is featured in the October issue of Martha Stewart Living, perhaps the country’s most prominent lifestyle magazine. “Picks of the Patch” starts on page 68 and tells the story of Todd and Eddie Gordon’s journey from roadside hawkers of generic Halloween pumpkins to vendors of gorgeous, obscure, even ugly gourd and pumpkin varieties not meant to be carved at all. Two years p...
Monday, September 13 2:38 a.m.: Boat ramp MVA – Public Works reported a cold hit and run accident at the boat ramp. Wooden rails were knocked over and a mud flap left behind. Sherman Ave., La Conner. Wednesday, September 15 3:59 p.m.: Cash theft – Caller reported a theft of cash, had suspect information. Myrtle St., La Conner. Thursday, September 16 1:59 p.m.: Dog gone – Report of loose sheep dog. Deputies checked the area but were unable to locate it. La Conner Whitney / McLean Rds., Greater La Conner. 9:21 p.m.: Camp closed...
Fresh vegetables make for the best ingredients. To know the source and care of what we eat is important. “Eat clean” is a way to eat as much food in your diet, without additives and pre-made mixes. Know the source of your food. Eat healthy to stay healthy. Ingredients Corn on the cob, 2 to 4 ears Poblano pepper Tomatoes, 2 medium Red onion, 3 slices Olive oil, 3 tablespoons Salt, ¼ teaspoon Balsamic vinegar, 2 teaspoons Preparation Heat an indoor electric grill to 200 degrees. As it war...
