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News scoop: Santa's advance schedule of early La Conner visits has been leaked to the Weekly News. Parents, are these times on your calendar? Saturday morning Santa will be posing for photos at Maple Hall when the Rotary Club of La Conner holds its annual Santa Breakfast, 8-11 a.m. Dec. 7. Breakfast is $10 and $5 children, with those under 5 eating free. There is no charge for photos, but donations will help support the La Conner Rotary Club's literacy initiatives. In past years this was a...
The effort by the La Conner Community News group to purchase the La Conner Weekly News and secure its future into 2025 and beyond appears to have fallen short, but not for lack of effort. Unless an angel investor comes forward in the next two weeks, the final issue of the La Conner Weekly News under publisher Ken Stern will hit the streets and mailboxes on Dec. 18. "It's a sad day for La Conner," Mayor Marna Hanneman said. "It takes a village and when something important in the village goes, it...
History is full of mysteries and a good one focuses on a collection of old photographs stored for decades in the attic of a rural La Conner home. Steve Thein, of Landing Road southeast of town, came across the studio-quality black-and-white prints while clearing space to insulate his attic. The photos, judging from hairstyles and clothing fashions they reveal, appear to date from the early to mid-20th century. Some photos are identified only by first name, others not at all. Only a few photos ar...
Another high-rain month in November, 4.8 inches worth, with 1 inch falling the first two days. The 0.9 inch storm Nov. 1 was the highest single-day amount. Fourteen days in a row of rain Nov. 9-22 dropped 3 inches, with most of it, 1.9 inches, Nov. 17-22. The month's last large rain event was 0.4 inches Nov. 25. Seventeen of the 20 rain days were 0.1 inches or more. Six were at least 0.36 inches. Five years since 2015 November has had at least 5.6 inches of rain. Ten times since 2011 at least...
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The clock is running out on “Saving the La Conner News” . . . 3 weeks, 2 weeks, 1 week, GONE . . . say it isn’t so! . . . say it isn’t happening!! How shall we learn about town government meetings? School sport events and scores? Maple Hall events? New businesses and our wonderful current ones? Activities of fraternal organizations? Arts events? Emergency management efforts? La Conner redevelopment initiatives? The latest miracles from the Clean Energy Alliance? The vox populi in the Letters to the Editor . . . What’s on at the library a...
A good number of people have asked about the status of our recently formed La Conner Community News non-profit organization’s efforts to “Save the Newspaper.” We have been encouraged by the community interest and support demonstrated by financial pledges and donations, but have raised only a fraction of the funds needed to purchase the La Conner Weekly News and transition to a new managing editor. Even though our 11th-hour efforts have not raised sufficient funds for a purchase, we plan to continue our efforts to ensure the presence of a sourc...
I saw the announcement of a “Public forum” on Dec. 11 that is called to address “the town’s south end plan.” I see that title as an obfuscation, by the town, to hide the important process of dealing with the blight and danger present in the Moore Clark property. Reality is that the Skagit County Assessor’s Office current fair market value appraisal of the property, parcel P74496, is actually $442,300, not the $2,300,000 that the town administrator keeps quoting. So far there has been no attempt for the current owner to purchase insurance a...
The result of the presidential election surprised me and put me into a funk. I considered moving back to Canada, where I worked as a TV and movie director for 16 years, but that was a difficult decision because I have so much family in the U.S. and I love writing this column. Then I heard that the governors of California and Washington state were not at all happy with Trump and they both declared that they would continue to support women’s rights to have abortions and continue to agree with m...
The La Conner public parking lot, east of Maple Hall, occupies about an acre. It’s big enough to host a 400 kilowatt solar generation system, built in the form of a canopy covering most of the lot. Such a canopy would also provide protection from snow, rain and sun. Building a solar canopy over most of the lot would require installation of support structures and some analysis on how the power would be delivered to the grid, or whether it would be better to install batteries and keep the s...
It was a La Conner Town Council meeting that nearly wasn’t. The Nov. 26 session at Maple Hall was almost scuttled due to lack of a quorum among the five-members. Councilmembers Ivan Carlson, Mary Wohleb and Annie Taylor were absent as the 6 p.m. start time approached. Fortunately, Taylor – who Mayor Marna Hanneman said was under the weather – shook off the effects of fatigue and illness and arrived to save the day 10 minutes later. “We’ll try to make this as short as possible,” the mayor stressed, as Taylor took her seat, “so that Annie ca...
The Town of La Conner has scheduled a public workshop on Dec. 11 to hear citizen feedback on future uses of the Commercial Transition Zone, also known as the Moore Clark Area. The Moore Clark warehouse dominates the area south of Town Hall and west of the South Third Street public parking lot. Draft concepts for the area will be presented. Consultant Tom Beckwith and his team have crafted revitalization scenarios. Zoning changes will likely be made to encourage development. The meeting will be...
Sound Defense Alliance invites the public to attend an online listening session at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, to discuss how the U.S. Navy's EA-18G Growler jets based on Whidbey Island affect their lives. To talk about or hear personal experiences with the Navy's EA-18G Growler jets, go to www.sounddefensealliance.org/events and sign up as a storyteller or listener. This event is free. Sound Defense Alliance uses its listening sessions to learn about the diverse impacts the jets have on people...
Eugene "Gene" R. Marble, 85, of La Conner, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. Gene was born on May 19, 1939, in Tacoma, to Bud and Sara Marble. At the age of 7, his family relocated to Friday Harbor, where he spent his childhood and graduated from Friday Harbor High School in 1957. He pursued higher education at Gonzaga University and Central Washington University, earning a bachelor's degree in education. During his time at CWU, Gene met and married Joan Hanlon. The couple moved...
The La Conner High School girls' basketball team couldn't rebound from a slow start against 3A Ferndale in the season opener for both clubs at Landy James Gym Nov. 30. The 2B Braves trailed 21-4 after the first quarter and fell behind 28-8 early in the second period before mounting a furious comeback bid that brought the hosts to within 35-32 midway through the third frame. Ferndale closed with a 25-10 run to post a 60-42 victory. Maeve McCormick led La Conner with 19 points, 15 in the second...
Maeve McCormick scored a game-high 17 points, leading eight La Conner players in the scoring column, as the Braves evened their record at 1-1 with a 48-27 non-conference victory over visiting Blaine in girls’ hoops action Monday night. McCormick scored nine first quarter points, including a perimeter trey, as the hosts bolted to a 15-7 lead and never looked back. The team clinched matters with a 13-5 run in the third quarter fueled by five points from Faith Jenkins, a three-pointer and free throw by Shaniquah Casey, and two points each by M...
The middle school basketball game between La Conner and Conway here last week was emotional. So, too, was a special pre-game ceremony. Before the teams tipped off for what was a seesaw, down to the wire 49-46 La Conner victory, Braves coach Greg Edwards honored his mentor, the late Rich Watkins. "Rich really helped me out my first five years of coaching," Edwards told the large crowd gathered at the middle school gymnasium. "I had great respect for him." A beloved figure at La Conner Schools – h...
La Conner Kiwanis and the local Edward Jones office are collaborating again this year to bring a bit of holiday cheer to the children of La Conner. A Giving Tree is located in Scott Price’s office of Edward Jones, 708 E. Morris St. Tags for La Conner families will be available, if people want to give to specific needs. You can also drop off unwrapped toys for the Forgotten Children’s Fund, which provides gifts for La Conner and other Skagit County families. Edward Jones office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday to pick up...
There is a Chinese saying that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. For the 13 year old Mary Agnes Coyne, her three-thousand-plus mile journey to America from County Galway, on Ireland's western central coast, starts with the hardest, most reluctant step of all: being kicked out of her parents' house, and for the worst of all reasons: falsely accused of being a whore by her mother in the aftermath of her half-brother Fiach's attempt to rape her in her bed. If there is a...
Skagit Community Band with special guest A’Town Big Band will present a free concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at Maple Hall in La Conner. Enjoy an evening of holiday cheer with the SCB as they perform a program of festive and exciting holiday music. Joining the SCB will be the A’Town Big Band putting its own spin on “Swinging” holiday favorites. More info at: www.skagitcommunityband.org. Theater Arts Guild presents “The Secret Garden, the Musical” with performances on Dec. 6-8, 12-15 and 19-21 at the Lincoln Theatre 712 S. First St., Mount...
Jo Wolfe has a lot to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. The executive director of the Skagit County Historical Museum says that its recent fall party netted the museum about $25,000 – a new high for an event that is just three years old. The new fire detection system, paid for by the raise the paddle segment of last year’s fundraiser, is up and running. When problems are detected, the system alerts Guardian Security, which calls the La Conner fire department, all in a matter of minutes. Visitors and participants in museum-sponsored pro...
SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR KING COUNTY IN RE THE ESTATES OF DEAN EDWARD MILLER AND KAREN L. MILLER (HUSBAND AND WIFE) DECEASED. NO 24-4-07131-5 SEA NOTICE TO CREDITORS Glen R. Clausing has been appointed as personal representative of these estates. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the undersigned at the address stated below a copy of the...
State Route 20, the North Cascades Highway, has closed for the season due to adverse conditions and avalanche risk, Washington State Department of Transportation announced Nov. 18. The highway is closed the 37 miles between Ross Dam trailhead (milepost 134) on the west side and Silver Star gate on the east side (milepost 171)...
If I could bake a different pie each week, I would be content. On the menu for breakfast, afternoon snacks and for dessert after dinner. That's at least three slices a day! Ingredients Pie crusts, two Apples, 2 or 3 Pears, 3 Brown sugar, 1/4 cup White sugar, 1/4 cup Butter, 2 tablespoons Lemon juice, 2 tablespoons Cinnamon, 1 teaspoon Preparation Peel and slice apples and pears. Place one pie crust in bottom of pan. Layer with apples and pears. Sprinkle sugars, cinnamon, lemon juice on top and...
HEADS UP Kiwanis Annual Holiday Craft Show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, Maple Hall, 104 Commercial St., La Conner. Christmas shop with locals. Ornaments, bags, stickers, jewelry, tablecloths, toys, cards, wall art, cookies and pies for sale. Come early for the Rotary Club Santa Breakfast and stop by the vendors on your way out. Town of La Conner public workshop on the use of the Commercial Transition Zone, aka the Moore Clark Area, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, in Maple Hall, 104 Commercial St. Info: www.townoflaconner.org. LIBRARIES La...
