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We have an exceptional candidate running this year for state senator for the 10th LD: Helen Price Johnson. If I were to list the qualifications I would want in a senator representing our district, she would fulfill each and every one. Helen is experienced. She has been our county commissioner in Island County for the past three terms. She came into office at a time of the recession as Island County’s first ever elected woman commissioner. Helen had to be strong to hit the ground running, plowing through tough times of the recession with steadin...
The first time I saw Helen Price Johnson was at a League of Women Voters salad supper. The evening featured not only salad but also the Island County Commissioners. Each commissioner gave a presentation to League members about issues, concerns and victories s/he felt were appropriate at the time. I remember being struck by Helen’s sensibility and leadership style. Her command of topics and the way she demonstrated that was stressing that although many issues were tough and critical to our way of life, working together was (and still is) essenti...
Today is the 50h anniversary of Earth Day. Conceived by Wisconsin U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and brought to life by a 25 years old Denis Hayes, Earth Day burst forth on April 22, 1970, during the then never-ending Vietnam War and two weeks before students were shot dead at Jackson State and Kent State universities as campuses erupted over the U.S. invasion of Cambodia. Our country and our planet has known massive strife. In 1970 it was also a very dirty, polluted, world. But Earth Day and follow up actions by millions of Americans of all ages...
As a prank, someone once spray-painted the word “Don’t” atop a Visit La Conner promotional sign outside town. Fast forward a generation to last Saturday when motorists entering La Conner at the roundabout were greeted by signs reading “Locals Only” and “Limited Access.” But this time it was no prank. Mayor Ramon Hayes authorized placement of the signs in response to concerns of residents about the potential spread of COVID-19 here by tourists and following a Friday news conference during which...
Do we really want things to go back to normal? Are you sure? One definition of normal is to be healthy in mind and body. Ahhh … that strikes a chord, doesn’t it? A global, unprecedented turn of events has focused the entire world’s attention away from life as normal. Now it’s on our collective health and its very personal impact as well as the dire, economic consequences to each individual on the planet when things go catastrophically awry. The COVID-19 virus is very different than anything we have ever faced before. It has certa...
Just two weeks ago, Brent Roozen was anticipating a great season for daffodils and tulips. Growing conditions were perfect and orders for field-cut flowers were strong. Social distancing and the national obsession with toilet paper and thermometers have changed the picture – not to mention the Governor’s March 23 order closing non-essential businesses and keeping Washingtonians at home for two weeks, to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Ninety percent of the Washington Bulb Company’s wholesale and retail flower orders have been can...
As a farmer and outdoorsman, I despise litter. Maybe it’s because the wind blows on Whidbey Island, but it seems we spend an inordinate amount of time picking up litter that has blown into our fields and woods: plastic bags, pet-food bags, flowerpots, cardboard boxes, even trampolines. But litter is an inanimate object, like the chair you stubbed your toe on – yelling at it doesn’t help. The real culprit is always human. Our state imposes steep fines ($50 to $5,000) for littering, but it still occurs. Whether the cause is ignorance, apa...
Just over three weeks remain in the 60-day legislative session. Several important issues will be considered in the homestretch, including taxes, housing, homelessness, your data privacy, gun rights, property rights, energy policies and sex education in schools. State lawmakers will also finalize supplemental operating, transportation and capital budgets. These are mid-course adjustments to these two-year state budgets. These budgets are important and reflect our priorities as a state. Capital budget As a member of the House Capital Budget...
Leave it better than you found it. That’s how I approach my work in the Legislature, especially on environmental issues and our state’s natural resources. We are blessed to live on the Salish Sea and it’s important that we make protecting it and the life within it a priority. Salmon have long played an important role in the ecology, economy and culture of the Pacific Northwest and of the state of Washington. They are significant to the traditions and practices of tribal nations in our state, many of which have treaty-protected fishing right...
Dear Friends and Neighbors – I am pleased to be able to share a few thoughts about the current activities of the Swinomish Tribe. Swinomish has grown in the past 20 years from approximately 500 to 1,000 tribal citizens. Our governing body, the Swinomish Senate, continues to be committed to improving the lives and well-being of our tribal members by providing the very best governmental services we can, including health and social programs, affordable housing, financial services, cultural programs, education (from early childhood through...
Patricia McEniry Love of La Conner, age 94, died at her home on November 26, 2019. She is survived by daughters: Robin (Richard Tanner) and Sheila Connolly, 9 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. No one will ever forget their “GG.” She was preceded in death by Henry Love, her husband of 60 years, daughter Ann Love Glick, and brother Michael McEniry. She was born Patricia Adele McEniry to James & Betty (Braga) McEniry on October 30, 1925 in Pasadena, California. The family moved to Seattle w...
The British Columbia government has stopped all logging in a Canadian part of the Skagit Valley, which is part of a major salmon producing stream for Puget Sound. The area is known as the “Donut Hole,: or Silverdaisy, and was an unprotected area of land between Manning and Skagit Valley Provincial parks, which are on the Canadian-U.S. border. In making the announcement, the B.C. government suspended all licenses to harvest timber in the 14,332-acre area. Doug Donaldson, British Columbia’s forests minister, says the government will transfer logg...
Now that the Thanksgiving dinner is over and done, your attention may be turning to all that is merry and bright. Or you may be thinking more like Scrooge, and “Bah Humbug” your way into the holiday season. There is no doubt, these days the holiday spirit can seem commercialized with an over- abundance of consumerism. Enough to make you wonder, “why?” and “what is this all for?” Even the stores seem to usher in the season earlier and earlier each year. If the push of a shopping blitz brings on a migraine but you don’t want to cancel Christ...
Patricia McEniry Love, 94, of La Conner died at her home on November 26, 2019. She is survived by daughters: Robin (Richard Tanner) and Sheila Connolly; nine grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. No one will ever forget their “GG”. She was preceded in death by Henry Love, her husband of 60 years, daughter Ann Love Glick, and brother Michael McEniry. She was born Patricia Adele McEniry to James & Betty (Braga) McEniry on October 30, 1925 in Pasadena, California. The family moved to Seattle where Patsy attended Lowell School, and was a pr...
The EPA shut down the public comment period on November 14 and granted a permit to Whidbey Naval Air Station that ignores the base’s polluting of public waters. The Navy would not support the request for the extension. Citizens requested an extension of the comment period on the proposed stormwater permit because the Navy withheld test results showing toxic PFAS chemicals in the water – and hasn’t released results that might reveal other pollutants. PFASs (poly/perfluoroalkyl substances) are harmful to humans, persist in the env...
It is not easy to accept that there may be a flaw in our nature that may be the underlying source of our difficulties. In our culture, it is even more difficult to accept the idea that there is “no technical solution” to problems that arise. Be it land use, energy production, medicine or farming, we insist on finding a “right” technical solution, enlisting our “scientific truths” to support our choice in the right solution. There is seldom an inkling that we cannot technically solve our problems or that technical solutions, in themselves,...
Sea level rise and storm surge caused by the changing climate disrupts salmon and shellfish harvesting that indigenous people have depended on from time immemorial. The impacts on the culture are physical to the environment, physiological to the individual and psychological to individuals and community alike. A $360,000 two year grant to the Health Department of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will advance work the tribe has done and support the creation of tools that other indigenous communities...
Those of you who know me realize I care deeply about children and education. My desire is always to be a part of the solution and work for unity. I know that the new food services director and her team at La Conner School District are working extremely hard to provide excellent services for everyone, and I realize they are being directed by the district office. Amber Fleck, a LCSD parent and employee, should not have to summon the courage to stand up at a school board meeting as an advocate for students to say that the meal portions have not...
I want to congratulate our wonderful friend Clara Duff for the magnificent letter in last week’s paper. Everything she had to say was right on and said with such grace. I am not that gracious and not a Democrat but rather a Webster Liberal. For those under 35 years of age, google “Webster.” Trump has been a disaster for the environment and for the economy. Also in every other area that I can think of; but that’s another topic for another day. Climate is always changing but as population has increased and the use of fossil fuels skyrock...
Legislative District 10 Democrats from Island, Snohomish and Skagit counties came to La Conner’s Pioneer Park Saturday, holding a salmon lunch fundraiser to buy metaphorical political bricks to elect Democrats, strengthening a blue wall they have been building since 2017. State Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski told the 75 party activists she had a two word job description: “Elect Democrats.” The 14 elected officials and candidates for office speaking to the crowd highlighted their accom...
In response to “A letter I should not need to write” Aug. 28: I have to admit, when I read the first paragraph, I thought to myself, as a flaming liberal, “Oh good, someone who agrees with me.” Here’s how that letter began: “My country is under attack. I cannot remain silent any longer. The words and actions of some of my fellow Americans are viciously tearing at the fabric of this Republic. Every day I hear, see, and read about the hatred, unfounded accusations, venomous attitudes, unfounded blame and distortions from citizens, including e...
It was while selling doors for a living that Heather Fakkema realized doors were also opening for her to pursue a career in school administration. She had by then already spent two years as a teacher before stepping away from the classroom to start a family and engage in several other ventures, including a children’s ministry. The light bulb flicked on during her time with a family-owned window and door distribution firm in Seattle. Business management introduced Fakkema to concepts her t...
New Nell Thorn co-owner and chef James Donahue has a simple ambition for greater success for the signature restaurant: make it known statewide, though he realizes that won’t happen overnight. The soon-to-be-30-years-old executive chef understands the opportunity in front of him. He and Albie Bjornberg are partners in Nell Thorn with Ted Furst, owner of Le Grand Bistro Américain in Kirkland. Furst is the majority partner, but Donahue and Bjornberg are at Nell’s full time. Furst comes up on...
August 19, 2019 La Conner teachers and support staff have the best interest of our students at heart, which is why we continue to firmly believe that our school district needs a new superintendent. Last week the La Conner School Board issued an open letter regarding the vote of no confidence against Superintendent Meissner. The leadership of the La Conner Education Association and Public School Employees unions were pleased to see the board accept responsibility for responding too slowly to this critical situation. However, we were...
Both sides in the La Conner School district turmoil agree that the administration has, at the least, not done a good job in their job of managing the staff or communicating clearly to them or to the community. Superintendent Whitney Meissner has acknowledged that she has not brought unity to the district and community. The school board realizes it took too long to respond to staff at summer’s start. The administration side hopes to repair the damage by commitments to empathy and relationship building. The unions, teachers and support staff, f...
