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Some 50 mostly masked and generally partisan western Skagit valley residents came to the La Conner Civic Garden Club last Thursday to hear State Rep. Debra Lekanoff (D-Bow) extol her colleague, State Rep. Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor) and praise the qualities of candidate Clyde Shavers. The two candidates for Legislative District Positions 2 and 1 might have gained a few votes but they definitely increased their campaign fundraising totals as State Rep. Alex Ramel (D-Bellingham), speaking last,...
You cannot tell a book by its cover, but you can tell that the new La Conner Swinomish Library is topflight by viewing the ground outside its doors. The perimeter of the building on the southwest corner of Sixth and Morris streets, recently enhanced by installation of a stunning story pole fashioned by master carver Kevin Paul and his son-in-law, Camas Logue, now has 300 native plants placed Thursday, July 21 by area master gardeners, including Weekly News photographer Nancy Crowell. It was all...
There are activities going on inside and outside of your local library. Here is this month’s update. Summer Reading The children’s summer reading program is in full swing. Children’s specialist Katryna Barber has been providing a variety of ocean themed programs and encouragement for children to keep reading throughout the summer months. The next summer program on the schedule is sea life mural painting at the library 12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30. Looking for something new to read? Check out the list of ocean themed books provided as part...
Swinomish master carver Kevin Paul's latest work, a carved and painted thematic totem story pole was installed near the new La Conner Swinomish Library entrance July 7. “It’s really a landmark,” said La Conner Regional Library Board of Directors Secretary Robert Hancock, who attended the hour-long installation and brief ceremony afterward. “It’s something that people coming to town will want to have their picture taken with.” The tall and graceful pole symbolizes unity and a reverence f...
Another election season – year – is underway. Ballots are in the mail for the Aug. 2 primary. Your best ballot casting options are the county drop boxes at the La Conner Regional Library on Morris Street and on the Swinomish Reservation at their social services building. Please vote. You are what democracy looks like. For that reason the Weekly News is once again endorsing you, citizens of greater La Conner, this election. Your most crucial votes are the statewide offices of secretary of state, U.S Senator and the 2nd Congressional...
Five years. Two-hundred-sixty issues. Today’s Weekly News is the 261st printed since I bought this newspaper in 2017. Thank you for reading your community newspaper. This issue starts my sixth year as publisher and editor. Still, as I have written before, I own it, but it is your newspaper. What have I learned, covering the community through good times and bad? I am biased as I view our most important institutions, binding greater La Conner together, as the La Conner School District, the Town of La Conner government, the La Conner Regional L...
Summer Reading is here! Oceans of Fun! Sign-ups are available at the library. We have a summer reading tracking sheet in extra large treasure map format. It includes all of our program information, summer reading book suggestions and details of activities on the following days: June 27 1:00pm–2:30pm - Sea Stars, Sea Urchins and Sea Biscuits July 4 11:30pm–12:30pm - March in the 4th of July Parade July 9 12:30pm–2:00pm - A Whale at Scale! July 16 12:30pm–2:00pm - Watercolor Salt Painting Stop by and see us! Construction...
Summer Reading is upon us and the theme this year is: Oceans of Fun! Sign-ups begin June 1 and are available at the Library. We will have a craft activity to kick things off on June 11 from 12:30-2 p.m. Stop by and see us! Construction update There is a great deal of activity at the construction site at 520 Morris street. Tiger Construction continues to do a fantastic job and runs a very clean site. The cement ramp is being installed along the length of the building leading to the south entrance. Numerous other trenches and piles of rock are...
Construction Update Construction on the new La Conner Swinomish Library is moving steadily toward an expected completion this summer! You may have noticed the large bay windows which were installed last week. They will allow natural light to pour into our sitting area as guests relax with a good book in our comfy armchairs. You may have also noticed that Tiger Construction has begun installing the siding, which will protect our new library from the elements. It is exciting to see the plans in the architectural drawings taking form. While the...
The past seven years have transformed the relationship between the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Skagit County and local tax districts like the La Conner School District, Fire District 13 and the La Conner Regional Library. As the Swinomish Senate prepares to announce its 2022 voluntary contributions to these partners, this is a good time to reflect on their importance to our shared community and all that we have achieved together. History could have turned out very differently. After a 2014 federal court decision removed close to a...
It has taken a lot of energy from multiple sources to advance from the drawing board to construction phase plans for the new La Conner-Swinomish Regional Library. That kind of energy promises to be renewable on several levels going forward. Plans to solarize the library were shared in detail during a 45-minute Zoom session last Wednesday sponsored by the La Conner Library Foundation, La Conner Weekly News, and Western Solar, the Bellingham firm tabbed to install the library’s solar energy system. La Conner Library Foundation Director Susan M...
The La Conner Swinomish Library, covered in silver insulation, looks like a jewelry box and adds sparkle to Morris Street. Tiger Construction is doing a great job. Have you noticed how tidy the worksite is? This may be the first public building in Washington state constructed using all cross laminated timber (CLT) for walls and ceilings. Vaagen Timbers manufactured CLT for the library using locally sourced wood from Sierra Pacific Industries in Washington. The La Conner Library Foundation,...
The $640,000 the state invested in the La Conner Swinomish Library, is only the project closest to home for greater La Conner residents. Before the state legislature adjourned its 60 day session March 10, it passed three budgets: capital, operating and transportation. Rep. Greg Gilday, R-Camano Island, a member of the House Capital Budget Committee, noted, “Unlike other state spending plans, the capital budget is truly bipartisan – proving that lawmakers from across the ideological spectrum can come to a consensus that benefits all W...
It was one bullet point in Rep. Dave Paul’s, D-Oak Harbor, list of projects the state Legislature funded in the 10th legislative district: “Over $640,000 to complete construction of the La Conner Swinomish Library,” noting “La Conner will finally get a 21st century library.” The funds, requested in February by Town of La Conner and library district officials through efforts initiated by Mayor Ramon Hayes, are in the $64.1 billion supplemental capital budget passed late March 10 before the Legislature adjourned. Monday Hayes noted the 10th dist...
The Swinomish Tax Authority used the same levy rate for 2022 as for 2021: $11.98 per thousand. But, the assessed value of homes in Shelter Bay and Pull & Be Damned increased from $178,838,070 to $196,284,197, an increase of $17,446,127. The Swinomish government hopes to collect $2,350,888 in taxes from Shelter Bay, Pull & Be Damned, Thousand Trails and Dunlap Towing. That’s $208,214 higher than last year. Three taxing districts will receive contributions from the Swinomish. These are: Fire District 13 at $300,000 ($100,000 more than last year),...
La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes led his dream team of advocates for $625,000 in state funds for the new La Conner Swinomish Library figuratively through the halls of the state government last Thursday. Hayes coordinated 15 minute Zoom meetings with Joe Timmons, Gov. Jay Inslee’s Northwest Washington Regional Outreach Representative and LD 10 Sen. Ron Muzzall and Reps. Greg Gilday and Dave Paul. The governor and legislators understand the setbacks in construction projects from the coronavirus p...
Happy New Year! The La Conner Regional Library is very excited for 2022. New Library Construction Construction is moving right along for the new La Conner Swinomish Library. The foundation and footings have been poured and the walls will be going up in February. The foundation work for the new library has seemed an apt metaphor for all the work so many have been lending hands to for many years. An endless array of vital behind the scenes work and project detail have been necessary before the...
Rick Dole and Ivan Carlson, III, successful election challengers, joined victorious incumbent MaryLee Chamberlain in being sworn into their La Conner Town Council positions Jan. 11. Councilmember Mary Wohleb was not on the ballot but count her among La Conner’s election winners. She was the unanimous choice to serve the next six months as La Conner’s mayor pro-tem. “This position,” Town Administrator Scott Thomas explained, “is typically filled by two council members each year. The mayor pro...
We are now ending our second year of the coronavirus pandemic. Sadly, it now includes the adjective, just: This is just the second year of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a global catastrophe that we, the people, could have ended by following the leadership of competent and courageous public health professionals, putting a vaccination syringe through its heart. Alas, we the people refused to unite. Our unwillingness to act as one makes it possible for the pandemic to roll on, mutating its way to new headlines and more preventable deaths....
The La Conner Town Council had a productive Dec. 14 meeting beyond agreeing to a five year agreement with the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office and passing the town’s 2022 budget. Their decisions started with passing a budget amendment, adding $59,240 for unplanned 2021 expenditures. Planning related activities took another $25,000; $7,343 was needed to finish the Maple Hall elevator renovations; and weather and infrastructure needs meant $26,897 for public works staff wages and overtime. Council amended the business license fee structure dic...
Construction Update It is exciting to see the heavy machinery and work trucks coming and going every day from the construction site for the new La Conner Swinomish Library. We have encountered some challenges along the way, but we are working hard as a team to overcome them and stay on track for completion in summer 2022. There are specific opportunities to support the La Conner Swinomish Library as we continue building. Please contact Susan Macek (206-719-0379) for more information about donati...
5 Festival of Tiny Trees From “Kiss Me Under the MistleJoe,” to “Skagit Valley Tree of Plenty,” 29 tabletop trees featured in local businesses created a buzz in downtown La Conner last weekend, as the holiday season kicked off with the Festival of Tiny Trees Trail. Started five years ago in the library as a silent auction of decorated tabletop trees, the event took a year off in 2020. This year a new twist featured local merchants, many of whom wanted to showcase a tree in their shops. A total of 29 trees were decorated by local businesses a...
The Festival of Tiny Trees Trail is coming to downtown La Conner Friday, Nov. 19-Sunday, Nov. 21! A new twist on what has become a much anticipated local kick-off to the holidays is back, presented by the Library Foundation and the Friends of La Conner Regional Library. Rather than an in-person gathering, this year’s Trail through downtown La Conner will feature almost 30 uniquely decorated tabletop trees available for suggested minimum donations. There will be no bidding on tiny trees as at previous years’ events. “We wanted to offer this...
The site of the new La Conner Swinomish Library hosted some exciting milestones this past month: The Library Thrift shop building was removed, the site cleared, groundbreaking ceremony held and now construction is underway with building completion expected next summer. We wish to thank everyone who celebrated the groundbreaking with us and express our gratitude for the outpouring of community support and attendance. Many thanks to the leaders who spoke and helped to express our feelings about this day. Representative Dave Paul, 10th District,...
Years in La Conner and why applied 17 years. I am well qualified for the job as a former town council member and a longtime resident and business owner. I served on the Town Council in 2016 and 2017. I was forced to resign from the Council and move out of town due to a property management job change in June of 2017. I thought the move was permanent, but it turned out to be a 4-month project and I moved back to La Conner to be an on-site Property Manager in October 2017. Community involvement;...
