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Naval Air Station Whidbey came into existence during World War II, and in the seventy years since, local communities have partnered with the U.S. Navy to protect our national security. Naval personnel, active and retired, have always been welcomed here for their contributions to the region’s civic and economic life. The Navy’s role as a good neighbor has come to an end, however, as more and more people become, in military terms, “collateral damage.” Since the Navy’s introduction of the F-18 Growler, these jets roar overhead day and night, ma...
Being a high functioning, participating citizen is so much work. Damn democracy. And yet, we are too far along in history to put up with kings; anyone hankering for the authoritarianism of fascism is certainly in the wrong century. So, it is participate or perish. Most local: 2019 Town budget Town Council is weeks away, as in two, from passing the 2019 Town budget. No one appeared for the Nov. 13 public hearing at that Town Council meeting. Dan O’Donnell was the lone voice at the accompanying hearing on budget sources and property tax r...
The late Lala Ruiz was the love of her husband’s life for nearly 70 years, from their chance meeting at a dance in south Texas to her passing in early 2017. And she remains so to this very day. The memories of their remark-able life’s journey together, one which took them from the Rio Grande Valley to Arizona and eventually to La Conner, come flooding back to Tony Ruiz during his daily visits to Lala’s final resting place at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery. Those treasured memories give Tony, who recen...
When Meg Holgate and Bruce Bradburn bought the red brick building that watches over First Street and Douglas, they envisioned a studio for Meg where she could invite other artists to share their work, discuss and collaborate. As part of that process, they opened Forum Arts in its street-level floor. The idea was more serendipity than strategy, Holgate recalls now. In fact, the couple had already made their move when they learned that famed, mystic painter Guy Anderson had lived and painted...
Ed Musgrove was an architect and a good one. He got more calls to donate his talents than most, and fortunately for us, he had more talent than most to give. So that’s what he did, and if you take the time to look around La Conner, you’ll note many examples of his talent as well as results of that spirit of generosity. Ed and I came together to create and help build the public restroom on Morris Street. Ed said he would design it, and I agreed to lead the construction effort. We were following a...
Suzanne Marble and her 2018 state championship volleyball team were recognized once again Monday, this time on their home court by the La Conner School District Board of Directors at the board’s monthly meeting. Recognized first was Senior Matty Lagerwey, who won a trifecta, garnering Class 2B State Tournament MVP, Skagit County’s MVP and her league’s, the NW2B, Most Valuable Player. Joining her on the All-NW2B first team were juniors Justine Benson, Joanie Benson, and Morgan Herrera. Honor...
Folks at the Skagit County Historical Museum in La Conner are looking forward to going back in time. They’re not alone. The ghosts of Christmas Past will make more than a mere cameo appearance before an expected large crowd attending the local museum’s Holiday Gala/Annual Appeal Kick-off event Dec. 6 from 6-8 p.m. That’s because this year’s program, part of a series of Golden Anniversary festivities hosted by the museum, includes the much-anticipated opening of a time capsule that was embedded in one of the building’s walls in early 1969. Museu...
Without discussion, the La Conner School District Board of Directors unanimously approved placing a two-year levy totaling $1,749,210 before its voters at its monthly meeting Monday. The resolution states the funds will “pay part of the cost of educational programs and operations support of the District.” Draft language the Board discussed at its Nov. 5 study session stated monies are for “programs and operations which are not funded or not fully funded by the State:” Later in the meeting, when Channel Drive resident David Buchan asked an unre...
Imagine what it would be like to not have a home, never knowing when you’d be able to eat or be able to get warm. What would it be like to be constantly judged, ignored, or treated as if you didn’t matter? This is often what it is like for those who are homeless. The issue of homelessness can feel overwhelming, like there is no solution. But every single person has the power to change someone’s life. That’s why it’s important to remember that we are all human. We all have flaws and face hard...
We can ask if there is a better path that the Navy can take with its large Growler expansion. (The Growlers are the window rattling planes that fly over La Conner and Dodge Valley). Two of the ideas being suggested to the Navy by our state as mitigation: 1. Consideration of opportunities to diversify the Navy’s electronic warfare systems to other platforms, as opposed to maintaining the entirety of its systems on the Growler. Utilizing a broader array of platforms would help reduce the long-term impact of Growler operations at Naval Air S...
