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La Conner's favorite tourist is an early riser who also enjoys the local nightlife. Santa Claus, the renowned North Pole toymaker who makes visits to La Conner a winter priority, was in town early on Saturday to greet local children and partake in the local Rotary Club's annual pancake breakfast fundraiser. Following a ride on La Conner's vintage white 1941 fire truck, Santa appeared after nightfall at Gilkey Square for the much-anticipated Chamber of Commerce Christmas tree lighting. Whether...
Once there were two newspapers in La Conner. Soon there will be none. The pending closure of the La Conner Weekly News and retirement of its owner, Publisher and Editor Ken Stern, is the latest headline – though hardly a joyous one – from a robust local journalism tradition dating to the 1870s. The story begins, oddly enough, in Bellingham with James Power, who established himself as a politician and newspaperman of note before Washington became a state. Power published the Bellingham Bay Mail,...
Town revenue golden for ’24 The Town of La Conner’s $58,133 in November sales tax receipts raised the year’s total above $600,000, 98.5% of the 2024 budget. As in the past three years, the town will again exceed its sales tax revenue goal after December is reported. Hotel/Motel tax revenues have already beaten the budget by a larger amount in 2024, at $187,102, 33.3% above the $140,400 projection. November’s totals were $20,919, almost 10% above 2023 and the second highest November total ever, same as the month’s sales tax revenues. The same...
La Conner Schools officials joined colleagues throughout Skagit County Dec. 5 in assigning homework to state lawmakers for the 2025 legislative session. The county’s school administrators and board members asked legislators during an hour-long webinar on Thursday to explore strategies for increased funding support of crucial academic services. Anacortes School District Superintendent Justin Irish moderated. La Conner Superintendent David Cram spoke directly to the lawmakers, citing fiscal stress caused by soaring costs related to special educat...
Here is Edward R. Murrow’s “Address to the Radio-Television News Directors Association & Foundation,” 1958. For our purposes, substitute newspapers/news media for television. This might just do nobody any good. At the end of this discourse a few people may accuse this reporter of fouling his own comfortable nest and your organization may be accused of having given hospitality to heretical and even dangerous ideas. But the elaborate structure of networks, advertising agencies and sponsors will not be shaken or altered. It is my desire, if not m...
This issue of the La Conner Weekly News will be Ken Stern’s next-to-last issue. The Skagit Valley Clean Energy Alliance, and I personally, would like to thank Ken for this space, and for his encouragement and enthusiasm about this column during the last two years. The story of energy technology started millions of years ago, when homo erectus learned how to sail. We know this because fossils have been found on islands in modern Indonesia that can’t be reached without a sail or motor. A mil...
No news is bad news if we lose the La Conner Weekly News. If Publisher Ken Stern has to sell to the Adams chain of papers, we can pretty much say goodbye to local reporting. Unfortunately, the La Conner Community News group has not been able to approach the $200,000 sale price. We need to connect with one or more of those deep-pocketed philanthropists who are out there who would donate to make this a better, more informed world. If any of you have a lead, make a call, send an email. Now. We are running out of time. Jai Boreen La...
The Town of La Conner had a survey for the residents and business\people about the south end (aka transition zone, aka the subarea plan, aka the property in the vicinity of “big blue” and the old Moore Clark building, aka the freezer building. The survey asked for ratings on ideas about various categories. One of the survey categories is “access improvements” (roads, parking and paths). The highest rating possible is 5. “Extend waterfront path to Pioneer Park” received a seriously spectacular rating of 4.36 out of 5. Nothing else even reache...
The recent AP article entitled, “Biden’s broken promise on pardoning his son …” ends with the comment, “Neither Biden nor his White House staff explained the shift in the president’s thinking.” Yet seemingly overlooked was the fact that the pardon was issued directly following president-elect Trump’s choice of Kash Patel as his appointee to direct the FBI. Patel, long a loyalist to Mr. Trump, has promised that, “if Trump won the White House … he would go after Hunter and Joe Biden with a new criminal investigation.” (CNN) Patel has dismissed t...
Ken, we really enjoyed your La Conner paper that you managed for years with sincerity, openmindedness, equality and last but not least with intelligence and a commitment for truth. You spoke your mind about political, environmental and local situations after evaluating the true facts and we completely agreed with your opinion. We will miss your continuous effort to bring information and education our way. Best wishes for your next chapter in your life! Rosi and Wes Jansen Fine Feathered Friends La Conner...
The family of Eugene “Gene” Marble will hold a celebration of life for the longtime La Conner resident at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5 at Christianson’s Vinery on Best Road....
Antonio “Tony” Ruiz passed away on Dec. 3, 2024. Rosary services will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at Kern Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 27, at Immaculate Conception Church, followed by Committal Service at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery. You may share memories of Tony and view his full obituary at www.kernfuneralhome.com....
The Dec. 3 planning commission meeting featured coming attractions related to potential redevelopment of La Conner’s former south end industrial area. Commissioners previewed proposed revitalization plans for the four-acre site that will be shared by consultant Tom Beckwith and his team at a public workshop at Maple Hall tonight at 6 p.m. Beckwith guided commissioners through a nearly hour-long presentation on concepts for the once bustling industrial zone. The Moore-Clark fish feed plant with its massive Victorian era warehouse dominated t...
Better safe than sorry. That’s the mantra embraced by members of the La Conner Emergency Management Commission, which oversaw flood barrier placement along the downtown waterfront and in low-lying areas the past two king tide seasons and recently reviewed La Conner’s emergency operations center at Town Hall. “King tides are not a problem themselves,” Chairman Doug Asbe reminded commissioners during their Dec. 3 meeting at Maple Hall, “but in combination with low atmospheric pressure, winds and the inflow of fresh water from the Skagit Ri...
for battery energy storage system The Skagit County hearing examiner will hold a public hearing 9 a.m. Dec. 20 to consider a special use permit application from NextEra Energy to develop a battery energy storage system near the Port of Skagit. The project would be located on 22.6 acres, on property zoned Bayview Ridge Heavy Industrial in the Bayview Ridge Urban Growth Area and would be capable of storing up to 200 megawatt hours of energy for a 4-hour duration. The BESS would provide increased power capacity and grid resiliency for Skagit...
La Conner High School's fall sports season has ended, but the school's student-athletes are still racking up points with NW2B/1B coaches. La Conner garnered 10 all-league selections in recent post-season polling for conference honors. In volleyball, junior libero Addison Keller was tabbed for first unit All-NW2B/1B recognition. Her La Conner teammates, freshmen Nora McCormick and Abi Poulton, were second team all-league choices. Junior Maeve McCormick was an honorable mention recipient. La...
A tough loss was soon forgotten as the La Conner High girls’ basketball team bounced back from a heartbreaking 48-47 setback at 3A Mount Vernon last Wednesday to defeat Lummi in a key road test on Saturday. Maeve McCormick (13) and Abi Poulton (12) combined for 25 points in leading La Conner (2-2) to a solid 45-36 triumph at Lummi. McCormick scored nine points in the second half, helping La Conner stave off a late Lummi comeback bid. Poulton scored 10 of her points before halftime as the visitors built a 25-15 lead at the break. Nora McCormick...
If ever there was a friendly rivalry, it’s the one shared by the La Conner and Lummi Nation boys’ basketball programs. Cousins related through the Edwards family of Swinomish played key roles for both teams in the latest meeting of the non-conference foes, a 63-49 home win by Lummi on Dec. 7. Lummi’s Dyson Edwards, who played middle school hoops at La Conner, led 1B Lummi with 22 points, including three perimeter treys in the second half. His cousin, Jerome Toby Jr., finished with 16 points, 12 coming before intermission. Lummi, which earli...
What happens when you are plucked from your life in India and sent to England to live with an unknown reclusive uncle? That's the answer we find in this charming tale of "The Secret Garden: The Musical," brought to Mount Vernon's Lincoln Theatre by the Theater Arts Guild. Set at the turn of the century and opening in India with the 10-year-old orphaned and spoiled Mary Lennox (Evangeline Essex-White opening night), having lost both her parents during a cholera epidemic. This complex, nuanced...
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. 12-15 and 19-21 at the Lincoln Theatre 712 S. First St., Mount Verno...
With about three weeks left in flood season, Skagit County Dike District 1 commissioners are feeling pretty good. Fields are soggy, but no “pineapple express” storm has overwhelmed the Skagit River system. If one comes, the dikes will be in good shape – and a new agreement will help prevent future flooding by keeping more water behind Ross Dam, northeast of Newhalem. Each year District 1 invests two-thirds of its annual budget in maintenance and reinforcement of dikes on the west side of the Skagit River between Avon Allen Road and the North...
Sunday, Dec. 1 11:28 p.m.: Maybe too fast for conditions – Driver was crossing the bridge to Fir Island in the extreme fog and did not see that the road turns right just past the bridge. The driver hit the guard rail, causing significant damage but no injury. Moore and Best roads, greater La Conner. Tuesday, Dec. 3 8:14 a.m.: Still too fast – Another vehicle failed to negotiate the turn at the Fir Island bridge due to heavy fog. Minor damage done. Fir Island and Best roads, greater La Conner. Thursday, Dec. 5 10:25 a.m.: Hey, no parking – Compl...
SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR SKAGIT COUNTY NO. 24-4-00563-29 PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS (RCW 11.40.030) IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT J. GILBERTSON, DECEASED The personal representative named below has been appointed as personal representative of this estate. Any person having 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 personal representative or the...
This is a nibble holiday treat. I used a semi-sweet baking chocolate bar, or you could use chocolate chips. Wishing you and yours a happy holiday season. Be of good cheer! Ingredients Pretzel sticks, 100 to 200 Semi-sweet chocolate, 1/2 cup melted Crushed candy canes, 2 cups Parchment paper Preparation Cut the parchment paper to cover a cooling rack. Use a microwave oven in 30-second intervals to melt chocolate. Place crushed candy cane in wide, shallow bowl. Dip pretzel stick into melted...
HEADS UP 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. Join us again at Pioneer Park as we remove invasive English ivy, 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Dec. 14, rain AND shine. We’ll meet at the top of Fourth Street, near the water tower gate. More info: [email protected]. Holiday origami ornaments with Mike Berry, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Museum of Northwest Art, 121 S. First St. C...
