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"There are a lot of unique things in La Conner that you can't get anywhere else," noted Mark Hulst, director of the La Conner Chamber of Commerce last Thursday. The Swinomish Yacht Club's annual lighted boat parade may be at the top of Hulst's list. Once again, the town found every parking lot occupied, every restaurant full and, perhaps, every hotel room booked as evening descended and people from across the region crowded the boardwalk on the Swinomish Channel ahead of the 6 p.m. parade start....
Larry McCormick has been seeing a lot of dead birds. "You drive around Best, Calhoun, Bradshaw, you see them," said the La Conner resident, an avid hunter. "At one farmer's field with goose decoys out, I picked up 14 dead geese. A guy I know counted 81 dead ducks in a ditch on Best Road. It's bad." In a Dec. 8 release, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that it has retrieved more than 700 deceased birds of several species – primarily juvenile snow geese – from the Ska...
A lot of rain last month, 5.6 inches, and plenty cold: the daily minimum of 31.5 F was 6.5 F below the 22 year century average. That is a huge difference. The daily average, 38.4 F, was 5.6 F below the century average; and the daily high, 46.6 F, was 4 F below that average. Only 2005 was colder, when the daily average was 34.4 F and the daily average high a mere 40.6 F. Five minimum daily temperature records were set, early, Nov. 2, Nov. 9, then mid-month. Nov. 18-20, at 23.2 F, 23.9 F and 25.1 F, the last of nine frost morning, eight with...
This is the last week of sending the Weekly News to every address in the La Conner School District. This annual subscription drive is an economic venture: La Conner News Publishing, LLC is a single person corporation, owned by its publisher. The Weekly News is a business, aiming to be profit-making. It is not its owner’s “boat,” not a hobby business. What an odd duck industry newspapers are. Back in 1789 newspapers were so essential, so vital to the fabric of the nation that our Founding Fathers wove them into the Constitution, the only priva...
In February of 2022, I took the CEO position at Skagit Habitat for Humanity after working for eight years in homeless services. I had once been homeless and hopeless myself. I joined Habitat because I felt like I could make more of a difference by helping with the root causes of homelessness rather than just providing a band-aid. Homelessness is a housing issue. In November of 2013, I bought my very first home and it changed my life forever, so I know what a blessing being a homeowner is. Affordable housing has been at crisis levels for...
Let’s update the energy independence question: Is it possible for the U.S. to develop and maintain stable supplies of energy, which are not subject to significant price volatility or the whims of foreign governments, and which are simultaneously low enough to maintain a modern, growing society? Yes. It is a convenient truth that doing so would also substantially reduce America’s carbon footprint. Eliminating the economic ups and downs caused by volatile oil prices; achieving security of ene...
When newspapers close, communities lose and democracy declines. It is happening in Washington state. A new study by the League of Women Voters of Washington is blunt: “Local newspapers are in crisis.” Since 2004 over 25 weeklies and three dailies have closed, roughly 20% of the state’s newspapers. The impact on communities – readers and nonreaders – is significant. Citizens are “experiencing an explosion of mis- and disinformation, creating significant challenges for public health officials and others. Coverage of government agencies an...
Everyone is invited to attend Skagit Habitat for Humanity’s 41st home dedication ceremony 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 at 938 Park Street in Channel Cove. Walk over or get parking instructions by RSVPing to 360-420-3649 or [email protected]. The three-bedroom duplex volunteers have renovated is one of five homes in the 25 unit Channel Cove complex Skagit Habitat controls separately from Skagit Home Trust, the community land trust managing the development. Skagit Home Trust invites people to attend a groundbreaking ceremony 3 p.m. Dec. 20 f...
The Skagit Valley Chorale winter concert, “Heralding Christmas” is Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. at McIntyre Hall. You can purchase tickets online at mcintyrehall.org....
If patience is indeed a virtue, Skagit County Fire District 13 Commissioners and staff at manufactured home retailer Coach Corral have certainly earned their way onto Santa’s nice list this year. Commissioner John Doyle reported tangible progress in a lengthy permit process for the addition of a modular housing unit at the Snee-Oosh Road station at the panel’s meeting Dec. 8 “It’s been a rocky road with the permit process,” Doyle acknowledged, citing “bureaucratic stuff” and changes in the floor plan to three bedrooms and an office from f...
OLYMPIA — A Washington state appeals court Dec. 6 upheld virtually all of the ruling against initiative promoter Tim Eyman in the campaign finance case brought by Attorney General Bob Ferguson. After a 2021 trial, a Thurston County Superior Court ordered Eyman to pay a civil penalty of $2.6 million. The court also ordered Eyman to pay $2.9 million to cover the state’s costs and fees associated with investigating and prosecuting the case. Eyman subsequently appealed, resulting in today’s decision. The judge ruled that Eyman intentionally commi...
A growing legal movement seeks to recognize the rights of nature. Activists in the Northwest are celebrating a first here: the city of Port Townsend, Washington, recognized the inherent rights of Southern Resident orcas Dec. 5. The City’s mayor signed a proclamation Monday night, urging action by local, state, federal and tribal governments to protect those rights – and the ecosystems on which they depend. “Whereas the Southern Resident Orcas are culturally, spiritually and economically important to the people of Washington State and the world...
Communities in Washington and nationwide are experiencing an unprecedented surge in viral respiratory illnesses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID-19. As a result, local emergency departments, urgent care clinics and walk-in clinics are severely strained and many have reached full capacity. “I recommend that everyone wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask when around others in indoor spaces to protect yourself and others” says Dr. Leibrand, Skagit County Health Officer. “As a reminder, N95s and KN95s provi...
Just a handful of games into its schedule, the high school girls' basketball team is already in mid-season form. La Conner passed crisply, defended and rebounded tenaciously, repeatedly scored in transition and executed its high post-low post half-court offense to near perfection in an impressive 73-57 non-league triumph over 4A Skyline at Landy James Gym Saturday. Ellie Marble scored a game-high 25 points, Makayla Herrera registered a double-double and Josie Harper tallied 17 points – i...
The La Conner High School state championship volleyball team is truly in a class of its own. The netters were selected the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Team of the Month for November among all 2B athletics programs in the state. "It's an incredible group that worked so hard to improve every day and their hard work and determination paid off by capping their 2022 season with a state title," said head coach Suzanne Marble. La Conner captured league, district and state crowns...
Another week, another slew of post-season honors earned by the state 2B champion La Conner High School volleyball program. As expected, senior outside hitter Ellie Marble, who led the Lady Braves to their fourth state title in five years, was named the 2B Player of the Year. The 6'-0" Marble is a top Central Washington University volleyball recruit. She dominated play at the 2022 State 2B Tournament in Yakima last month, totaling 92 kills and 101 digs and was 68 of 72 on serve receive over four...
They took silver, but La Conner Middle School players in the Skagit-Whatcom-Island-Snohomish-Hoops league girls' basketball tournament here Saturday were good as gold in the eyes of coaches Robert Hancock and Jamie Lam. The local team, comprised of seventh graders, advanced through a double-elimination bracket before falling to an eighth-grade entry in the finals of the SWISH championship tourney. La Conner got off to a strong start with a convincing 42-20 win over Sedro-Woolley. "I think this...
Few people knew La Conner history as well as the late Thomas Robinson. Thanks to his exhaustive research and the editing magic of Carl Molesworth, the town's early development is between a book's covers. Robinson's voluminous manuscript, "Steamboat Town," which Molesworth, John Kamb, Jr. and other members of the Skagit County Historical Society's publications committee have pored over for about a decade, was launched in book form last Thursday. Kamb moderated the informal evening program at the...
'TIS THE SEASON FOR SINGING, AND SWINGING, TOO – Friday and Saturday the Shelter Bay Chorus (top) performed their annual holiday chorus at their community's clubhouse. The 31 member chorus sang 13 songs to the theme of "Peace on Earth." Last Wednesday the La Conner Schools middle and high school choruses and band played to a full auditorium of family, friends, teachers and fellow students. Music Director McKenzie Clark led the middle school symphonic band, above. They played selections from t...
Stroll down to the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon next Thursday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. to attend a holiday live music concert from world renowned musicians Karla Bonoff and Livingston Taylor. Their performance, titled "Home for the Holidays," will feature Christmas classics, songs from Bonoff's latest compilation album "Silent Night" and both musicians' greatest hits. Bonoff grew up in Los Angeles, California playing various instruments. At 15-years-old she was already a songwriter looking to...
Monday, December 5 11:26 a.m.: Lost dog – A gray and white pit bull got loose at a service station and the owner has not seen it since. Young Rd., Greater La Conner. Tuesday, December 6 3:37 p.m.: Cut fuel line – A fuel line on a service van parked at Astound Broadband was cut sometime last week. It appeared a suspect caused the damage to the van while attempting to siphon gas. A suspect has not yet been identified. Maple Ave., La Conner. 6:24 p.m.: Intoxicated at game – An intoxicated spect...
This is a rich dense bread and takes a good long while to bake. Persimmons are remarkably easy to work with. The skin remains firm as you scoop out the pulp. Tasty, too, when ripe. I prepared the bread pan by my tried and true method. I use shortening and apply with my fingers, covering the corners well. Ingredients Persimmons, 4 ripe Butter, ¾ cup, room temperature Sugar, 1 and ½ cups Eggs, 2 Vanilla, 2 tsp Flour, 2 cups Salt, ½ tsp Baking soda, ½ tsp Baking powder,...
