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What recession? Not in La Conner last weekend. A slew of activities started the holiday festivities – and the season's spending. The Christmas season began 6:30 p.m. Friday night, when all doors opened at the newly-built La Conner Swinomish Library, letting in a crowd of waiting bidders for the Tiny Tree auction. At 6:45, after remarks from Susan Macek, La Conner Library Foundation director, and library Director Jean Markert, one "Let the auction begin!" sent the audience to the bidding tables....
Shelter Bay resident Roberta Fontenot did not fair well in the preliminary injunction hearing she brought against the officers of the Shelter Bay Community board of directors in Skagit County Superior Court last Friday. While Judge Laura Riquelme permitted Fontenot to withdraw without prejudice her motion seeking an injunction against Elaine Dixon, Monte Hicks, Louise Kari and Wendy Poulton for breach of fiduciary duty, that seemed to be the only moment of the hearing that went the lawyer's...
An olive branch appeared here Thursday on a cold and wintry afternoon and in the most unlikely of settings – he appeals hearing addressing Kate and Dr. Brandon Atkinson’s bid to develop a 20-unit three-story residential complex behind The Slider Café. The 45-minute session before Town Hearing Examiner David Lowell took an unexpected turn when Atkinson indicated he might be willing for the project to undergo an historic design review. La Conner residents Linda Talman and Debbie Aldrich had filed the appeal to deny the Atkinsons a cond...
Last week was quite the start of holiday activities throughout the Skagit Valley. From Friday evening’s Tiny Tree silent auction at the La Conner Swinomish Library through a myriad of events Saturday in La Conner and holiday markets Sunday at the Vinery next to Christianson’s Nursery and at the La Conner Pub and Eatery, people were out and about, shopping and singing – a lot of singing. Did you know that the La Conner Schools volunteer students from the middle and high school music program played on Gilkey Square at 1 p.m. Saturday? Did you s...
The all-volunteer Forgotten Children’s Fund is collecting new unwrapped toys, children’s jackets and cash donations for Skagit Valley families as well as 60 families with children in the Nooksack School District that are still displaced from their homes as a result of last Novembers devastating floods. In the 47-year history of the Forgotten Children’s Fund, 2022 may prove to be the most challenging for our communities' less fortunate. Many families are now having to make the choice of rent, heat, gas or groceries. Please help us make a diffe...
By Paul Magnano Many of us have trouble speaking about the ultimate but mysterious dimensions of life. We need to rediscover the transcendent – the dimension beyond the physical, the dimension so many of us now struggle to name. For most of us these days, our only contact with the language of grace is through Bible readings at weddings and funerals. Language can be a vehicle for grace, or for disgrace, the most extreme example being the ease with which social media conveys insult and injury. I myself am not by nature pious. I write with sympath...
Although my heart aches at saying good-bye to my best friend and husband of 45 years, I am grateful for the incredible support you all have been to Jon, me and our children, over the past few months. Thank you for all the encouragement through cards, flowers, texts, phone calls and visits that were full of love, scriptures, prayers and hugs. For those who helped mow, weed-eat, blow leaves, spread bark, haul garbage, provide meals, hotel rooms and gas cards: thank you. This allowed us to enjoy every minute with Jon. Special thanks to La Conner...
The path to energy independence leads through "competition with oil," not "more oil." We've already seen such competition happen. In 1973, a sixth of U.S. electricity was generated using oil. Today, total generation has more than doubled, but almost no U.S. electricity is powered by oil. Think about that. In one of the four major energy sectors (electricity, domestic heat, industrial process heat and transportation) we are already energy independent. All U.S. electricity is produced in the US,...
By Aven Wright-McIntosh Shelter Bay residents had the opportunity to learn about their community's "complicated and unique history" last Tuesday night in the first in a series of new "Know Your Community" classes. Longtime resident, past board member and author Don Newby used photos, maps and archived materials to highlight key historical benchmarks in the first hour and addressed components of the homeowners' association (HOA) in the second to an audience of 40 onsite at the clubhouse and 90...
Bob was born February 29, 1944, in Detroit, MI to his parents, Marion Brenniman Rosso and William Rosso. The family moved west to Lake Oswego, OR in 1950, and Bob began the life he was proud of. He was a star football player at Lake Oswego HS, and then went on to work his way through the University of Oregon by working with the Bureau of Public Roads, who helped him get his BS in Business and Marketing. He then went to work for Georgia Pacific Corporation where he remained for 30 years, and was...
Some attending the late November Shelter Bay town hall forum were surprised to learn the community has retained $10,000 per month consultants for more than two years to negotiate a new master lease with the Swinomish Tribal Community. Few, if any, should be surprised now, given the release by those consultants, Dr. Wil James and Ava Goodman, of the first two in a series of educational videos addressing key Shelter Bay topics, including the lease due to expire in 2044 and rent adjustments...
Those attending the Port of Skagit’s open house Thursday at La Conner Marina lost their marbles. That was the plan, it turns out. Port consultants handed people Zip-Lock bags containing seven marbles each as they entered the Swinomish Yacht Club for the two-hour event, which offered an opportunity to share ideas and learn more about Marina redevelopment plans. Attendees were asked to indicate preferences by placing marbles in jars matching the respective Port proposals presented on illustrated placards. They ranged from pedestrian and r...
The Shelter Bay Chorus presents their winter concert, “Peace on Earth” this weekend, Friday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. at the Shelter Bay Clubhouse 1000 Shoshone Drive, La Conner. The suggested donation is $10 and masks are required. The following weekend is the Skagit Valley Chorale winter concert, “Heralding Christmas,” Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. in McIntyre Hall. Purchase tickets online at mcintyrehall.org....
Visit the Skagit County Historical Museum Thursday, Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. to celebrate the publication of Dr. Thomas Robinson’s book on the early history of La Conner. Additionally, buy any Skagit County Historical Society publication and get one of lesser value at half price. Great Holiday gifts! And lots of other great gift ideas for all ages in the museum store....
The La Conner High School girls' basketball team brought more than its "A" game to last week's home and road openers. The Lady Braves, under first-year head coach Joe Harper, bolted out of the gate with their "2A" game, easily downing Northwest Conference non-league foes Squalicum 50-23 at home Nov. 28 and Anacortes 62-42 Dec. 1. Ellie Marble and Josie Harper each scored in double figures to highlight the season debut at Landy James Gym. The hosts broke it open with a 32-11 run that buried...
La Conner and Wahkiakum are longtime foes in the athletic arena. Soon they might be allies on the judicial front. La Conner School Board President Susie Deyo raised that prospect during the panel’s 90-minute Nov. 28 hybrid meeting. Deyo asked that the board later this month support a resolution and modest financial contribution – perhaps $3,000. The Wahkiakum School District is suing the state government to extend the McCleary decision mandating basic education funding to include campus capital improvement projects. The state Supreme Court in...
The La Conner High School boys' basketball team broke into the win column Saturday with an 84-15 non-league home romp over Cedar Park Christian of Bothell, a multi-campus school with an enrollment topping 1,000 students. Isaiah Price scored a game-high 26 points and Ivory Damien added 24 to lead the victors, whose suffocating full-court pressure defense forced 21 steals enroute to a wire-to-wire triumph. The Braves shot 38 of 80 from the field – 34 of 58 inside the three-point line, mostly layup...
La Conner school board members approved a new district civility policy promoting mutual respect and a positive learning environment throughout the district at its Nov. 28 meeting. This builds on an earlier policy addressing student use of telecommunication devices as part of a campaign to curb bullying. Student school board representative Taylor-Rae Cayou said bullying issues related to uncivil behavior and mental health awareness were topics of discussion at the Washington State School Directors Association conference. “I’m excited you went (t...
Neil Bretvick was in his early 20s when he left La Conner to embark on a career as a tax accountant. Along the way he has traveled the world and attended concerts played by the biggest acts in the music industry. Even so, he insists that his hometown – where as a youth he enjoyed sledding down Maloy Hill (Second Street), smelt jigging on Swinomish Channel, swimming in the nearby Skagit River, learning to drive big farm trucks at West Shore Acres and scoring one of the more storied touchdowns in La Conner High School football history – “is still...
There were many keys to the Skagit County Historical Museum drawing a standing-room-only crowd to Sunday afternoon's program in La Conner. One was the role played by actor Kevin Tighe, star in the popular 1970s TV series "Emergency," among many highlights in a career dating to the 1967 film "The Graduate." Tighe and stage director Angela Marinella provided voices for famous authors who credited use of typewriters for much of their literary success. A key component of the 45-minute presentation w...
By April Grossruck Come on down to Skagit Cellars Winery tasting room this week to view and bid on over 50 original artworks to benefit Predators of the Heart. Bid now and come to the auction on Dec. 10, 5-7pm. Predators of the Heart is a 501(c)3 nonprofit wildlife sanctuary and education and conservation center in Anacortes. Our mission is to educate children and adults about wildlife, to build a culture of respect and compassion towards wild animals and the environment. We strongly believe...
Tuesday, November 29 1:21 p.m.: Abandoned truck impounded – A Ford F-150 was left abandoned for several days just east of Best Road. Law enforcement attempted to contact the registered owner several times and they never answered. The truck was marked for removal and after 24 hours the truck was still there. It was eventually impounded. Calhoun Rd., Greater La Conner. Thursday, December 1 9:26 p.m.: Camped overnight – A recreational vehicle was parked in the fire department parking lot ove...
Maple Hall Fireside Room 104 Commercial Street, La Conner and by Zoom. Information below and on the Town website Public comments Old Business A. Gilkey Sign B. Pavilion Permit Update C. Maple Street Park Fence D. Fish Slide Budget Update New Business Meeting ID: 898 2834 7462 Passcode: S6Qx0p...
5 Commercial Street Upper Maple Center and by Zoom Information is below and on the Town Website I. Call to Order II. Pledge of Allegiance III. Public Comments (Limit: 3 minutes per person) IV. Presentations: V. Consent Agenda A. Consent Agenda (Approved without objection 5/0) 1. Approval of the Minutes: Council Meetings of November 8 and 22, 2022 2. Finance: Approval of Accounts Payable Approval Payroll B. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda VI. Reports 1. Chamber Report 2. Revenue /Expenditure Report 3. Department Head Reports 4....
Spaghetti is one of our favorite home cooked meals. When we travel, it's the meal I cook first, upon returning home. I also make lots. Lots of sauce. It's one of those recipes I have not written up. Documenting each time I added garlic granules and Italian season are additions I can not accurately record. I am too busy, stirring and adding another ingredient. I simplified my usual standard recipe to create this simple yet tasty one. This recipe creates one large serving. Ingredients Olive oil,...
