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La Conner businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak have until 5 p.m. Oct. 7 to apply for grants up to $5,000 through EDASC, the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County. The total fund of $20,000 is from the Town of La Conner’s CARES Act allocation. Eligible businesses must be within La Conner town limits and employ 20 or fewer employees. Priority will be given to businesses which support La Conner’s tourism industry. Eligible grant expenses include operational expenses including rent, supplies/inventory, utility bills, con...
Good teachers have a lifelong impact. Great teachers, like Arnold Torseth and Curt McCauley, leave enduring legacies that span generations. Their many contributions here will not soon – if ever – be forgotten. The two La Conner men, each of whom passed earlier this month, for years modeled poise, wisdom and expertise in multiple areas while inspiring others to achieve their dreams. They did so from different venues; Torseth in the classroom, McCauley in the martial arts studio. They...
Putting heads in beds is a big part of the tourism industry. And putting lodging tax dollars to work promoting La Conner is a big part of the local economy. As such, disbursing hotel/motel tax funds assumes even greater value during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a frequently spirited discussion during the La Conner Town Council meeting last week. The Council then approved a 2021 hotel/motel tax budget based on anticipated virus crisis revenue shortfalls. Several recipients of...
The COVID-19 pandemic has everyone’s immediate attention. Fire District 13 Commissioners and personnel, who have been on the front lines of the ongoing virus crisis, are looking to the future as well. Commission chair Larry Kibbee and panel members Bruce Shellhamer and J.J. Wilbur approved the proposed outline of a new five-year plan for fire district operations as part of a briskly paced 45-minute video-conferenced meeting last Thursday. “This is the first stage,” Fire District Capt. Ted Taylor said of the outline. “Nothing is cast in concret...
Mission Impossible. This year it has been more than the title of a popular movie or long-running TV series, say those tasked with collecting data for the U.S. Census Bureau. Census enumerators have dealt with shifting counting deadlines, uncooperative respondents, a revolving door of supervisors, spotty cell phone service, unmarked addresses and hazardous roadway conditions – all while navigating a once-in-a-century pandemic. “Every enumerator I talked to agreed in 10 years there would h...
FRIDAY HARBOR — The Friday Harbor Film Festival is going virtual this year, featuring award-winning documentaries, short films and student-made films, as well as daily live-streamed Q&As with filmmakers. All films will be available on demand for 10 days, Oct. 15-25. Q&As will be recorded for those who cannot participate via live-stream. Read about this year’s lineup at www.fhff.org. Detailed information about how to participate virtually is available on the website. Thanks to the generosity of part-time islanders and enthusiastic film f...
OAK HARBOR – State Rep. Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor) has called on the state Department of Licensing to immediately stop a proposed 25% fee increase. “Our small businesses are hurting during the pandemic. Raising fees at this time is not just being tone deaf, but it is harmful to small business owners, the economy, and jobs,” Paul said in mid-September. “If the Department of Licensing refuses to back down, then I will introduce legislation to roll back these increases in the next legislative session. “The Business and Professions Divisio...
The initial option for slowing traffic on North Third Street has hit a speed bump of its own. Hindered by expected revenue shortfalls linked to COVID-19, Town officials are backing off plans to install elongated speed bumps on the main route to and from the Port of Skagit’s La Conner Marina. “The reality is I don’t think we can afford these measures,” Town Administrator Scott Thomas said of placing speed bumps similar to those at the U.S.-Canada border crossing in Blaine as a means of improving traffic safety on North Third, long a priorit...
Two consulting firms wanting to help lead the search for a new La Conner Schools superintendent made their pitches to school board members during near hour-long Zoom presentations Monday night. Neither missed the mark. As a result, the board postponed at least until its Oct. 12 study session choosing which will lead the perhaps six months process. “I thought both firms did a good job presenting,” board president Susie Gardner Deyo said of the Northwest Leadership Associates spokesmen Mark Venn and Dr. Wayne Robertson and McPherson & Jac...
New COVID-19 cases in Skagit County continue to drop even as more county residents are again testing at the County’s Skagit Valley College public site, data from the Skagit Public Health show. The County reported 44 new cases in the Sept. 15-28 period, and 28 people tested positive the seven day period Sept. 22-28. There was not a spike of increased cases after Labor Day. While there are still fewer than 30 cases in La Conner’s 98257 zip code region, the Public Health map has been updated to Sept. 28, indicating that at least one add...
Each one of us is concerned for our country’s future. We all want to get to a better, more prosperous and peaceful place. We want blue skies, bird song and bountiful harvests. The question always is, how do we get there? The devil is in the details. More, how do we get there together? Look past November, beyond January’s inauguration and beyond the next four years. 2030 is only ten years away. And we would be remiss not to commit to 2050 or to not be concerned about the 22nd century. So, put, not your thinking caps or even your hopeful cap...
What is the purpose of this small newspaper, perched on the periphery of the continent? How does the La Conner Weekly News best serve its readers? What is the publisher’s responsibility to both you and the times? At the dawn of our country – when we were a country in name only – a series of, yes, political essays titled “The American Crisis” were published starting in December of 1776. You might know the first sentences: “These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shri...
Donald Trump is unfit to lead and he is unfit to govern anyone let alone what just four years ago was the most respected country in the world. You can pick any subject and he has failed. Every day is a ‘He did what?’ day. His despicable actions simply do not stop. And, none of them benefit the nation he supposedly governs. As I write this his press secretary is trying gloss over yesterday’s revelation that he will not necessarily respect the results of the election. I have been increasingly worried about this with each step that he has taken...
As former school board directors in the South Whidbey School District, we are writing in support of Helen Price Johnson for Washington State Senator. Helen has participated extensively in positions of service to the South Whidbey community her entire adult life. Some well-known examples include her recognition in the South Whidbey Record as a “Hometown Hero” in 2004, serving as a director on the South Whidbey School Board for two terms from 2001-2008 and her history-making 2008 election as the first woman elected to the Board of Island Cou...
To the Editor I am voting for Helen Price Johnson for State Senator for one reason – her experience. It is an easy decision for anyone aware of her work on behalf of our community for the past 12 years as a county commissioner. Now she wants to represent us all at the state level. Helen is a moderate who clearly demonstrates she is pro economic growth, pro-innovation and fiscally responsible. I admire her long-time work on behalf of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, so I have seen her land and cultural preservation values in a...
On December 27, 2018, Dave Paul drove to La Conner to talk to residents about their request for help in funding a new library. It was the holidays, he was not yet sworn in, but he was already on the job. He listened, asked questions, concluded it was a good investment of taxpayer money and then led the effort to allocate state funds to the project. As a result of his focus on the needs of his constituents, and his ability to work effectively with legislators of both parties (including Rep. Norma Smith), the La Conner and Swinomish communities...
Dear Mayor and Members of Town Council: I would like to ask that you remind the Sheriff’s Office about the code here regarding motorcades. They are basically unlawful unless permitted 45 days ahead. The town is on a slippery slope toward becoming the favorite of everyone with a cause. We have had three events since the start of summer and while they haven’t been disastrous, what recourse will we have when possibly horrible things might come? The code is here to plan to draw the line between lawful and the not lawful. The Sheriff is here to hel...
My big brother, God rest his soul, loved to play bridge, and he was really good at it. He had that kind of mind. So he won a lot. He also cheated. He thought the best players played exceptionally well – and also cheated really well. That is how he justified his own cheating. I think there is probably some small truth to professionals cheating, but I am diametrically opposed to it. My philosophy is that if you cheat to win, you are a loser, regardless of the outcome of the game. And you forfeit the right to consider yourself an honorable...
Those of us who lived through the 1960s and 70s remember the Nixon era, those who did not should read about it. I lived in Frankfurt, Germany at the time, and experienced the sad situation of young American soldiers being sent to Germany and then deployed to Vietnam. Those who survived told us later about those who did not. At the time I participated in demonstrations with American friends who spoke out about the political situation in their homeland. They called out “Nixon Murder” after President Nixon had sent troops to American towns try...
In fairness, I do not know Helen Price-Johnson’s opponent in the upcoming election. I do know Helen. I am a Walla Walla county commissioner and it has been my privilege to work side by side with Helen, for a number of years, in our roles as county commissioners, at the state level working to develop real solutions to issues facing our constituents. What I discovered early on is Helen’s willingness to set party ideology aside in pursuit of policies and legislation that benefits not only our individual counties but, indeed, the entire state. Our...
Sunday the Rotary Club of La Conner did a community service project weeding and cleaning up weeds, blackberry vines and ivy along the Benton Street Stairs. I would like to give a huge shout out to “Touch Up Landscape” owner Thomas Kahn, who happens to be my son, and his amazing partner Kaylie Brown, along with neighbors of the stairs, Bob Raymond and Dorothy Downs, all of whom are not members of Rotary but dedicated members of the La Conner community willing to go the extra mile and help keep La Conner beautiful during this devastating pan...
Call me crazy (or call me meshugganah, as I am writing this on the most solemn Jewish day of the year, Yom Kippur), but the pandemic does have a good side. Believe me, I am devastated as the numbers of dead and dying all around the globe just keep getting higher. I want this to end sooner than later and I am praying on this holy day for an end to this madness. That said, I am seeing some positives. My wife arrived on a flight from Los Angeles yesterday and today she taught her third graders, all...
Monday, September 21 6:00 p.m.: Too drunk to drive – Report of four intoxicated subjects who went into the La Conner Tavern. The caller was concerned they may attempt to drive after they left the tavern. S. 1st St., La Conner. Tuesday, September 22 5:01 p.m.: Strong evidence – Caller is the property manager. Caller had a renter report that they came home and found a window open and a chair next to it. The renter wanted to report that someone may have tried to enter their residence. Maple Avenue, La Conner. Wednesday, September 23...
Cherry tomatoes thrive in our area. I grow borage to attract bees to pollinate our garden. An abundance of cherry tomatoes allow us to share them. This recipe creates a small half pint full of flavor. Ingredients Approximately 50 cherry tomatoes Garlic clove Rosemary, two inches, fresh or dried Olive oil, ½ cup Preparation Wash and slice the cherry tomatoes. Place in a dehydrator, cut side up, and set temperature for 135 degrees. I dried them for 8 hours each, on two separate days. They...
Arnold Torseth went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, passing away peacefully in his sleep at Mountain Glen Retirement Center on September 19, 2020. Arnold was born at home in Conway, Washington to Sivert and Marit Grytbakk Torseth on March 5, 1930. He attended Conway Grade School and graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1948. He was drafted into the army and served in Korea during the Korean War. Arnold married Priscilla E. Ramsey on March 1, 1952. They would go on to enjoy...
