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The two-time defending state champion La Conner High School volleyball team has had few close calls in recent seasons. But a clothes call is part of the Lady Braves game plan this summer. La Conner players are serving up a five-week “Clean Out Your Closets” campaign, collecting clean and sellable clothes and household textiles as part of an eco-friendly team fundraiser. They are asking participants to place gently-used items in bags to be collected between now and the third week in August. “We would like everything by Aug. 20,” said head co...
La Conner High School teacher Daniel Castillo believes in giving his students all the tools they need for success. And thanks to a major building trades organization, he will be able to fill their toolboxes when classes resume in the fall. The Building Industries Association of Washington recently presented Castillo a check for $2,500 to purchase tools for a new introduction to residential carpentry class at La Conner that will be part of the school district’s expanded career and technology e...
Local moms are tackling a sport once blocked to young women. La Conner High School alum Bobbi Carlson Crawford and former La Conner business owner Liz Vargas have suited up several seasons for the Mount Vernon Warriors women’s football team, whose schedule this spring included a game against the semi-pro Seattle Spartans. The Skagit County team, launched four years ago as a fundraising vehicle for area youth sports, plays what can best be described as a tough brand of flag football. “We actually play in full pads and helmet,” Vargas, a team...
For years he was the face of the Pioneer Picnic, one that always bore a smile. Pat Good (1928-2008), whose forebears settled on Fir Island a century and a half ago, was a longtime mainstay at the annual picnic in La Conner’s Pioneer Park, where he prepared salmon as the main course of a luncheon that often drew more than 300 people. He did so gladly. Good was immensely proud of his Skagit heritage, part of which – a large part, in fact – was based on volunteerism and public service. “Nobody was more giving of himself,” says his s...
First there was the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020, then a hip injury this spring. But La Conner alum Matty Lagerwey, now a pre-med student at Western Washington University, remains on schedule to compete in national track and field trials within the next two years, she told the Weekly News July 5. Lagerwey, a multiple State 2B title winner while at La Conner High School, had improved her speed, recorded an 18’3” long jump, and posted a 35’-9 ¼” triple jump during her freshman indoor track season at WWU. Then came the pandemic. COVID-1...
Matika Wilbur’s fame continues to grow. The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community member and La Conner High School grad, one of the country’s leading photographers, was interviewed on national television Sunday in her role as co-host of a critically acclaimed podcast addressing key Native American issues. Wilbur appeared with Desi Small Rodriguez on a segment of the Yasmin Vossoughian Show on MSNBC. Wilbur and Rodriguez, a Northern Cheyenne tribal member, are hosts of the “All My Relations” podcast that explores contemporary and cultural Native...
July 1 started a new month and was the day Will Nelson was sworn in as La Conner’s new school superintendent at a school board meeting called for that purpose. Board chair Susie Deyo called it a very special day, “obviously,” for the school district and for Nelson. She asked Lynette Cram, the longest serving board member, to administer the oath to Nelson. “Excited” was the word most repeated Nelson said he was “super excited to be a part of the community here. I am excited to start the journey...
Recent La Conner High School graduates MacQuaid Hiller and Avery Sloniker enjoyed one last hurrah last week as they closed out their school careers here before taking the next step on their life’s journey. Hiller and Sloniker, graduated June 18 in commencement exercises at Whittaker Field, but were recognized by the school board June 28 for serving as student representatives during a year marked by on-line and hybrid instructional models employed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Board members expressed appreciation for Hiller’s and Slonike...
La Conner’s longtime field of dreams will soon become a field of memories, visible merely in the mind’s eye as the property becomes new housing and a yet to be defined public park covering a half-acre or so. Hedlin’s Ballfield, a youth sports hub here for decades, has heard its final cheers. But there is still more than a smattering of boos from those who lament loss of much of the revered rare green space along busy Maple Avenue. The Town purchased the property earlier this year and immediately...
John Allen Carr, of Carmel, CA and La Conner, WA passed peacefully from cancer of the liver in the comfort of his home on June 9, 2021. John was born in San Francisco and attended Menlo High School, where he met his beloved life partner and wife of 59 years, Judith “Jackie” (Jackson), who passed February 25 of this year. John graduated from Stanford University with a BA degree in Biology in 1963. John and Judy were married in the chapel on the Stanford campus on his 20th birthday, following Joh...
There was no state 2B Hardwood Classic in Spokane this year. But there was a state level tournament in Mount Vernon last week. And as was the case in Spokane in 2020, La Conner High’s entry advanced to the final round, earning top runner-up honors. La Conner (15-2) placed second in the girls’ Summer State 2B basketball tournament hosted Wednesday through Friday by Mount Vernon Christian. The Lady Braves routed Toledo and edged Wahkiakum before falling to top-seeded Warden 72-66 in overtime for the championship. The three-day, eight-team event p...
Jeff Scoma had a successful first season as a head football coach, guiding La Conner High to a 4-1 mark and the NW2B spring grid crown, its best showing in several years. Turns out, Scoma might have been too successful – at least as far as Braves fans are concerned. The former Bellevue High assistant was announced last week as the new head coach at 3A Stanwood, whose campus has a student enrollment approaching 1,300 students. Despite the move up in classification, it was not an easy decision for Scoma to leave La Conner. “I loved La Conne...
Mikki Gifford is looking forward to her new role with La Conner schools. Make that, roles. Gifford is the new combination middle school-high school assistant principal and athletic director, a dual post she says is ideal given her extensive background in secondary level academics and extra-curricular activities. She arrives at La Conner after 15 years with the Oak Harbor School District and more than two decades in public education. “I entered the field of education to make a difference,” Gif...
The Town of La Conner moved swiftly Friday to open a cooling center for area residents to take shelter from last weekend’s record high temperatures. The suggestion made by Robin Carneen earlier in the day was a reality by 6 p.m. June 25. The La Conner school district made its elementary school commons available Saturday-Monday, from 12-8 p.m. Drinks and snacks were brought by Scott Thomas, La Conner town administrator. He provided transportation and oversaw and managed volunteers. Thomas made “accommodations for anyone, they just need to tel...
A Good family that has had a great impact on the history and agricultural development of Fir Island and whose members have since been actively engaged in an array of public service projects will be honored at the Skagit County Pioneer Association Picnic Aug. 5 in La Conner. Descendants of William and Rebecca Eady Good, who emigrated from Ireland to North America in the 19th century will be saluted as the Skagit County Pioneer Family of the Year when the annual picnic resumes after a one-year...
LA CONNER — Take shelter from the heat today through Monday, June 26-28, 12-8 p.m., at the La Conner elementary school commons, 305 N. 6th Street. This is the entrance up the steps at the circle drive, 305 North 6th Street, across from the high school. Drinks and snacks are being brought by Scott Thomas, La Conner town administrator. He is providing transportation. Thomas will “make accommodations for anyone, they just need to tell us what they need,” he wrote in an email Saturday mor...
It has often been dark and gloomy during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Friday was not one of those times. At least not for members of the La Conner High Class of 2021 and their families and friends. It was, instead, a rare opportunity to celebrate. Together. Bright sunshine and a spectacular view of Mt. Baker greeted the class and about 500 people attending outdoor commencement exercises at Whitaker Field for what was an often emotional 75-minute program. Valedictorian Sarah Malcomson and...
La Conner is one step closer to having some of its historic buildings don a more modern look. The Town Planning Commission voiced support last week for placement of small reader bar codes that when accessed would provide anecdotal and historical information about those structures, with owner approval. Deemed historical commemorative plaques, the QR codes do not require the Town’s official blessing if they do not exceed three square feet in size, according to Town Planner Michael Davolio and Mayor Ramon Hayes. Even so, they wanted c...
Saying goodbye is never easy. Because of that, La Conner schools softened the departures of those retiring or leaving the district for other jobs with a two-hour farewell celebration heavy on humor at the elementary campus Thursday afternoon. District Maintenance Director Brian Masonholder set the tone in paying tribute to his aunt, custodian Sandy Rowland, retiring after 24 years at La Conner Schools. “She’s the only La Conner Schools employee,” said Masonholder, “who has changed my diaper.” Superintendent Rich Stewart, leaving after ser...
Anna Cook is getting back to her roots on many levels. The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community member, a La Conner high school alum who went on to earn a degree from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, is a vocal advocate for food sovereignty through her work with the acclaimed 13 Moons project. She was drawn to the cause in great part by her family’s involvement in hosting plant workshops. Her interest grew further after starting college. Today, as a result of her affiliation with 13 Moons a...
Saturday was bright and sunny, a perfect day for a doubleheader plus extra innings at Hedlin’s Ballfield. But for La Conner baseball fans, even that would not have been enough. The last inning has been played at a time-honored site and a local tradition is over. Decades of memories fleetingly intersected with the exploits of today’s youth in the two and a half hours that breezed by much too quickly on the final day of action at the historic sports venue on Maple Avenue. Well attended mor...
La Conner High School has held commencement exercises for more than a century. But this year graduation is truly the hottest ticket in town. Due to COVID-19 protocols, each graduate is allotted only eight tickets for family and friends to attend the high school’s 127th annual commencement 5 p.m. Friday at Whittaker Field. For those without tickets, the June 18 event will be livestreamed, said Principal Kathy Herrera. Still, the situation is much more favorable than it was 12 months ago. ...
Family members of the La Conner High School graduating class of 2021 will attend this year’s graduation ceremonies Friday at 5 p.m in the football stadium. Teachers and staff will be there, but few others. Attendance is limited to keep people safe from the last vestiges of the coronavirus, not quite wrung out of our community or society at large. The 54 teens – the largest graduating class in years – will graduate together, sitting shoulder to shoulder, throwing their hats in the air en masse, getting to hug and kiss each other, a...
La Conner officials are accelerating plans to curb speeding traffic here. The Town Council has bypassed a potentially lengthy cost analysis process and authorized Public Works Director Brian Lease and Town Administrator Scott Thomas to immediately begin crunching numbers on expenses related to use of digital speed signs in high traffic volume areas. The Council is leaning toward installation of at least two permanent signs, though Sgt. Jeff Willard, head of the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office La Conner Detachment and Undersheriff Chad Clark h...
Barbara Sue Fjarlie, 83, of La Conner passed away on 8 June 2021 of complications following a head injury suffered in late 2020. Barbara was born 30 June 1937 in Seattle to Gladys and George Cowen. Her family moved around the Seattle metro area. Barbara graduated from Lake Washington High School in 1955 and moved to Biloxi, Mississippi soon after to help her older sister June with childcare. In Biloxi, Barbara met a young airman, Darryl Handy, whom she later married. With Darryl, she had three...
