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Why an SUV was in a farm field just north of La Conner and who set it on fire last Tuesday night, Nov. 22 remains a mystery, but it is certain that it was totally engulfed in flames by the time Fire District 13 and La Conner fire department trucks arrived about 9:20 p.m. FD 13 responded first to the 911 call and toned out La Conner, requesting assistance. La Conner staff initially took command, FD 13 Chief Wood Weiss reported. Two Swinomish Tribal Police cars were first on the scene after the...
After more than a decade, the Waterfront Café has a tried-and-true recipe for its popular annual community Thanksgiving meals. But this year a new ingredient was added to the mix – outdoor dining. La Conner was greeted with bright sunshine and unseasonably balmy weather last Thursday, leading numerous diners to enjoy their traditional turkey-and-fixin's and beverages on the café's deck overlooking Swinomish Channel. "I can't remember it ever being warm enough outside for people to eat out on...
The officers of the Shelter Bay Community board of directors have a hearing in Skagit County Superior Court Friday to contest a preliminary injunction imposing a restraining order against them. The court ordered the hearing when plaintiffs Roberta and Wesley Fontenot filed a motion Nov. 16 against defendants Wendy Poulton, Monte Hicks, Louise Kari and staff they direct. The Fontenots asked for an emergency restraining order, concerned over the safety of funds in Shelter Bay accounts. They asked...
Democratic challenger Clyde Shavers, a political newcomer and recent returnee to Oak Harbor, has beaten State Rep. Greg Gilday (R-Camano Island) for state legislative district 10 State Representative Position 1. His 182 vote victory, 0.24%, with 50.05% of votes in the three-county district, triggers a mandatory recount since less than 0.5% separates the candidates. Shavers gained 17 votes in the Skagit County LD 10 precincts and three more in Snohomish County precincts in that county's final count Monday. Skagit County's last 25 ballots were...
The final chapter on the fate of Brandon Atkinson’s 306 Center Street condominium project opens Thursday with the appeal to stop the project before Town of La Conner Hearing Examiner David Lowell at 2 p.m., a Zoom-only hearing. Residents Debbie Aldrich and Linda Talman are again presenting their case that Atkinson’s conditional use permit must be denied since the town council in 1986 approved a contract rezone of the property that placed conditions on its future use. Atkinson’s one page response relies on Town planner Michael Davolio’s Septemb...
Happy holiday season! Along with lights, trees and lawn displays comes this more recent tradition: the annual La Conner Weekly News subscription drive. These next three weeks your community newspaper will be delivered to every address in our local school district. Friends, neighbors and relatives of subscribers are invited to join the close to 900 households in greater La Conner who have decided that they are better off – and the community itself benefits – by their investment in their subscription to their local newspaper. This is their – y...
Art’s Alive! 2022 wishes to thank the townspeople of La Conner for their continuing support of the fine arts show. Our town attended this year’s Art’s Alive! in record numbers. Many were inspired by the perfect pieces of art now gracing their homes and businesses and we appreciate their critical eye and support. Other support came from La Conner artists. Not only was their art acquired, but local artists were the resounding People’s Choice Awards winners – Coizie Bettinger, Keith Clements, Margaret Arnett and Mark Bistranin. Thank you. Ther...
Dear Friends, I would like to provide an update for town issues from my side of the table. Regarding the north end issue, an appeal of the 306 Center Street project permit is working its way through the steps in the process. The issues are the Contract Rezone which was not honored and the Administrative Determination that we perceive to have errors. The oral arguments are Dec. 1. These arguments are the second last step. Code: Code change suggestions are being sent or already have been sent to the planner to be placed on the docket for 2023...
The United States can become energy independent. We can develop an energy infrastructure with stable prices low enough to support a modern, growing society. Although much of the discussion about energy independence revolves around increasing U.S. oil production, doing so is not sufficient to achieve America's energy independence goals. Increased domestic oil production cannot result in long-term low, stable oil prices. American production cannot stabilize oil prices, no matter how much oil the...
The spot re-zone being requested by Bertlesen Farm LLC on sixty acres north of its winery on Starbird Road is what leads to urban sprawl as urban services are extended to rural land. Both the Growth Management Act and Skagit County’s Comprehensive Plan were created by citizens and planners to stop sprawl. The goal is to not end up as Lynnwood everywhere. Be clear that the zoning request is not “like” the winery to the south – it includes a gas station, general store, campground, farmers market, equipment rental business, dog park, etc. To get...
Okay, are you sitting down? You are about to be very surprised by what this progressive liberal is about to say. I am very much in favor of the death penalty for murderers who are absolutely guilty of their crimes. Mark David Chapman murdered John Lennon in 1980 as Lennon was walking into his apartment at The Dakota in Manhattan. Chapman remained at the scene reading J.D. Salinger’s novel “The Catcher in the Rye” until he was arrested by police. Chapman is still alive. He has been interviewed by...
A colorful Love La Conner “selfie station” at Gilkey Square is an idea whose time has come. And gone. That was the unanimous sentiment expressed by La Conner Town Council last week. At their Nov. 22 hybrid meeting, members nixed the design for a marketing icon at the downtown waterfront location, saying the timing is no longer right for such promotional signage. “It was conceived during COVID-19,” Councilmember Rick Dole explained. “La Conner was empty during what would have been the height of tourist season. We’ve passed the worst of times. It...
The future is now for the fledgling Port of Swinomish. The tribal port authority, created just two years ago, was awarded an $11 million federal grant in October that will fast track its long-range goals by a decade, according to Swinomish Port Commission Chair J.J. Wilbur. He shared a glimpse of more immediate goals. “We are going to hire a consultant very soon to help advocate with state, federal and local agencies and continue to pursue funding opportunities,” Wilbur told the Weekly News. “We are also in the process of hiring a harbo...
The public is invited to attend an open house hosted by the Port of Skagit Dec. 1 to share ideas and learn more about the vision and goals for redeveloping the La Conner Marina. Port staff welcome feedback from the community as the Port looks at the future of the 13 acre commercially-zoned parcel in the center of the La Conner Marina property. The open house is 4-6 p.m. at the Swinomish Yacht Club Source: Port of Skagit...
Some 1,900 people viewed fine art in Maple Hall Nov. 11-14 during La Conner’s 37th annual Art’s Alive! Forty-seven art pieces sold, generating $50,000, including donations. Maggie Wilder sold eight paintings and Janie Olsen and Ria Harboe each sold six. The La Conner Arts Foundation manages Art’s Alive for the Town of La Conner....
La Conner Kiwanis and the local Edward Jones office are again collaborating to bring a bit of holiday cheer to the less fortunate children of La Conner and the Skagit Valley. A Giving Tree is in Scott Price’s office, 708 Morris Street. Tags for La Conner families are available, if people want to give to specific needs. Or, bring toys for the Forgotten Children’s Fund, for Skagit families. Hours are Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wrapped packages for the La Conner students must include the tag from the tree and be returned by 5 p.m. Dec. 15....
Succeeding a Hall of Fame coach is a tall order, but fortunately for the La Conner High School girls' basketball program new mentor Joe Harper stands 6'-5". He takes over from Scott Novak, who guided teams to multiple state tournament appearances and trophy finishes during three decades. For much of his tenure here he coached the Braves and Lady Braves simultaneously. Novak, a 2015 state coaches Hall of Fame inductee, remains on the faculty. His longtime protégé and coaching assistant, Dustin Sw...
The Kiwanis Club of La Conner High School Student of the Month for October was Eleanor Drews. Laurel Strong is Eleanor's parent. Eleanor is a senior and is active in the drama club, cheerleading and Green Club. Outside of school she enjoys reading, baking and singing. After graduation Eleanor would like to study biology and theatre. She hopes to continue on to veterinary school to get her DVM. Middle School Student of the Month for October was Iris Turner. Her parents are Logan Turner and Erica...
Joslin James, a senior at La Conner High School, is the Soroptimist of La Conner Honored Student of the Month for November. Joslin is the granddaughter of Barb James, a Swinomish Senator, and Bruce James Sr; and the daughter of Sonny and Lana Fornsby James. The Jameses are a Canoe Family at Swinomish. It is not surprising then that Joslin is also very involved in Swinomish culture. James participates with the Swinomish Canoe Family dancers. The group performs in their regalia at school, pow...
The Christmas season has arrived along with a variety of holiday events La Connerites can participate in this December. First on that list is the Festival of Tiny Trees silent auction at the La Conner Swinomish Library on Friday, Dec. 2, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Participants can enjoy refreshments, including wine and hard cider, and bid to buy their favorite tiny decorated holiday tree. You can preview the trees at the library until Friday and sign-up at the library or WaFd Bank on Morris Street. The...
By Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm The eyes must've been two feet tall. And they were looking right at you. For a minute, you imagined that they were following you as you sat eating buttery popcorn in a darkened room. And that was your introduction to the work of a man you loved more with every movie he made. Now meet Paul Newman in his memoir, "The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man" and follow him. In the fall of 1986, Newman sat down with "a dear friend" and they began a series of...
By Jean Markert, La Conner Swinomish Library director In this season of Thanksgiving, the library has so many things to be thankful for. We are extremely thankful for the amazing community volunteers and school district partners who helped us move our books into the new library. Every single book in our library was moved here by someone from our community. We feel extremely fortunate to have so many people who support our library. We are also thankful that we are open and can welcome everyone...
The strong flavor of fresh squeezed lemon juice goes quite well with the slightly caramelized Brussel sprouts. The maple syrup takes the edge off the tart lemon juice. The choice of mustard is yours. I have a German brand made with honey. When Brussel sprouts are in season, you should eat them often. They are packed with vitamin C. And goodness knows, we all need extra vitamin C during this season of the flu, RSV and Covid. Ingredients Brussel sprouts, 6 per serving Olive oil, 1 to 2 tsp Lemon,...
Sunday, November 20 10:19 a.m.: Attempted truck theif arrested – A female suspect attempted to steal a truck from a residential driveway. The suspect ran off when confronted by the homeowner. She was later located and arrested by deputies for attempted vehicle theft and warrants. She was booked into the Skagit County Jail. McLean Rd., Greater La Conner. 1:16 p.m.: Not enough room – Non-injury collision from two trucks passing each other and hitting mirrors. Report of minor damage to the tru...
By Maggie Wilder Not many of La Conner’s unique features were ever the result of a conscious effort to attract visitors, much in the same way a person does not add to their character by attempting to be noteworthy. I first came to La Conner in the fall of 1966, playing hooky with my high school art teacher, who used to spend summers at the Planter Hotel for a dollar a day. He thought creativity was an ever-present opportunity and paying attention was far more important that how you put paint on canvas. Every fall he told us stories about his ti...
