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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...
In the ongoing discussion around whether and how to permit agritourism activities, Skagit County residents believe preserving the county’s rural character should be a top priority. In a spring 2022 public survey on options for agritourism, 80% of respondents called this policy goal “very important” or “important.” Other goals identified as important: that agritourism relate to onsite agriculture; that agritourism uses have adequate water, septic and parking infrastructure; and that traffic and p...
Make way for the new sheriff in town. Sgt. Beau Montgomery has succeeded Sgt. Jenny Sheahan-Lee, who retired in May. His position as sergeant at the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office La Conner began June 1. Even though his roots are in eastern Washington, working in Skagit County for the last five years has given Montgomery the opportunity to spend time in La Conner both professionally, as a patrol duty, and in his off-duty time visiting. “La Conner is a great community,” Montgomery said, “I lo...
RALEIGH — Oh, boy, did I screw up my first attempt at covering a town council meeting. It was 1986 and I was spending the summer interning at a weekly newspaper in Nash County called the Spring Hope Enterprise. I had taken newswriting and reporting classes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s journalism school and served as managing editor of my high-school newspaper. But real-world experience was what I needed. The editor of the Enterprise, Ken Ripley, immediately assigned me to cover a town council meeting. I came, I s...
Hello, La Conner Community! We are excited to welcome Christina and Robyn Burdick-Good-Rubenstein as the new owners of Tillinghast Postal & Business Center. These lovely ladies are La Conner locals and will bring greatness to Tillinghast while maintaining all of its established products and services. Sadly, we are also saying goodbye to our beloved Renée in July, as she begins to take the next steps in her career. She will be missed but will be sure to stop by and visit! Thank you, Christi and Chris King...
Clyde Shavers, candidate for Washington’s 10th Legislative District, grew up in a household that was strong on public service. The duty to work for your community was clearly instilled in him by his father’s service, both in the military and the police force. Clyde has served in the U.S. Navy. Like many of our veterans, his service does not end there. He has been working in environmental law, helping protect precious resources like clean water, while serving on the boards of several non-profits that address homelessness. I ran into Clyde at...
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...
Kurt Bassford quietly goes about his business each day – whether at work, tending to family obligations or lending a hand to friends and relatives – but his example doesn’t go unnoticed at Swinomish or in La Conner. A 1976 La Conner High School alum who works for Dunlap Towing and as a commercial fisherman, Bassford twice has received honors voted by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community for his commitment to maintaining a healthy and sober lifestyle. His plaques are displayed at t...
Swinomish and Fire District 13 officials have begun taking steps for a joint community paramedicine program. “It’s still in its infancy stages,” said FD 13 Commissioner J.J. Wilbur at their monthly meeting June 9. He is also a Swinomish Indian Tribal Community senator. “We’ve had preliminary discussions about a potential partnership between Fire District 13 and Swinomish,” said Wilbur, “but it hasn’t gone to the full Senate yet. We’re still doing our homework.” Fire Chief Wood Weiss, firefighter Andrew Schram and the Swinomish Tribal po...
Roberta B. Nelson, age 83, passed away Monday, May 23, 2022 at home in Burlington, Washington. She was born Sept. 6, 1938 to Robert and Helga (Knudsen) Bell in Mount Vernon. She graduated class salutatorian from La Conner High School in 1956. On Feb. 22, 1957, Roberta married Roger F. Nelson, the love of her life, in La Conner. Roberta was a woman devoted to family and active helping others and using her gifts as a Cub Scout, Blue Birds and Campfire Girls leader. She was a member of the Skagit...
Friday Mayor Ramon Hayes called for special meeting of the La Conner Town Council on June 7 at 6 p.m. at Maple Hall and via Zoom. The agenda includes an executive session. The entire agenda was listed in the notice as: • Public Comment • Agreement with DEA for Engineering Services • Public Works - Birch Equip. Generator Quote • Intern Assignment • Resolution - Recognition of Juneteenth • Resolution- MOU -Teamsters • Revision of Personnel Policy No. 412 - Juneteenth • Letter from Student Citizen to Mayor...
The weather was iffy, but the timing couldn’t have been better when Memorial Day ceremonies at the Swinomish Tribal Community Cemetery concluded Monday morning. Almost as soon as the tribal canoe family closed the solemn 90-minute multi-denominational prayer service with its Warrior Song, two eagles and four U.S. Navy jets soared across gray skies overhead. The symbolism was not lost on Brian Cladoosby, serving as master of ceremonies. He noted how Memorial Day, like the images that filled t...
Chris Omdal stepped into his new role as the La Conner Marina harbormaster last week after career stop where he has always enjoyed meeting folks from all walks of life. That will not change here. Omdal, an avid walker, has already developed an easy rapport with boaters moored at the marina’s floating docks along Swinomish Channel. At the start of the Memorial Day weekend Friday, he donned his safety vest and walked the marina’s guest float area to meet and greet members of the Edmonds Yacht Clu...
This is a once upon a time story set in our place, right here. There is not a palace but a property, and a historic La Conner couple, Donna and Gerald Blades, are at the heart of it. The Blades owned an Exxon gas station on Morris and Fourth streets, where the Slider Cafe is now, and the property behind it when those lots were zoned residential. In 1986 they must have worked arduously, lobbying the town council to rezone the three lots facing Center Street, then spelled Centre – a staff sign painting misspelling, I heard – for...
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...
After a half-century, the Port of Skagit’s La Conner Marina is eyeing not a facelift but a full body makeover. Port officials came to La Conner’s Maple Hall last night to pitch several potential futures, including a mixed used development, with a residential component, marine services and other commercial uses. The site is the 13 acres of marina property between Sullivan Slough and the north basin. Port staff encouraged the public to attend and provide feedback at the specially called combined town council and planning commission meeting. The...
Good news is building around the Skagit Valley for commitments to construct apartments. In Anacortes, the Arts Festival organization will build apartments above the O Avenue Anacortes Cinemas it has purchased and will develop into a performing arts center. That must have been made possible in part from the City of Anacortes owning the property. In Burlington the American Legion and Volunteers of America Western Washington have teamed up, agreeing to demolish the Legion’s Post and replace it with apartments catering to various income levels w...
Citizens of greater La Conner are invited by the Town of La Conner to participate in hearings the next two weeks. The town council first holds an obligatory public hearing May 10 before applying for a $30,000 economic development planning grant. This Community Development Block Grant will support revitalizing the area around the former Moore Clark building and between Maple Hall and Pioneer Park and South Third Street and the Swinomish Channel. This is the same proposal from 2021. The goal is decent wage job development for lower income...
I would like to commend Ken Stern for his April 20 editorial calling for creating Car Free Sundays downtown. As he points out it would reduce our carbon footprint and help clean the air for not only our citizens and our children but also those coming to visit our town. But I would like to take this one step further and suggest we have Car Free Weekends throughout the tourist season, Tulips to Christmas. And replace the cars with a shuttle service that would move folks between our two municipal parking lots as well as the parking lot near Maple...
Don’t talk about the Rexville Grange in the past tense. Membership may be small and the calendar light, but this Grange is alive and well. Built in 1927, the Rexville Grange has hosted potlucks, weddings and receptions, rummage sales, art shows, dances, memorial services, service projects, polling sites and parties in its 95 years. As an official Red Cross shelter, it housed 300 people displaced by the 1990 Fir Island flood and offers its grounds to all farmers who need to keep farm machinery o...
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...
Eighteen month ago I retired from a 35 year Boeing career and purchased Tillinghast Postal & Business Center. It truly was a dream come true. Ever since I was a young girl, my dad would bring me and my family to La Conner in search of antiques at Nasty Jack’s and other antique stores. I knew one day I would live in La Conner and always dreamed of owning a business. When I made the decision to retire, Tillinghast Postal & Business Center was listed for sale and it was perfect for me. Supply chain was my expertise, so shipping, packaging, i...
The 2022 legislative session concluded on Thursday, March 10. The short 60-day session was fast paced and intense. After the COVID restrictions loosened up, I was among the first in Olympia to show up, in-person, on the House floor to debate and vote on legislation. Speaking on the House floor for the very first time was one of the most memorable moments of my life. It’s an incredible honor to fight for the values, region and people I care so deeply about. Good bills that passed Here’s my pick o...
In my work representing our community, I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many of you and your neighbors, listen to your concerns and learn about what issues affect your daily lives. It’s clear that people want bold action to support a healthy economy – one that benefits all in our community. This session, I looked for ways to support our rural economy, fund important local projects, support veterans and military families and improve public safety. I’m pleased to report that we made...
I found it concerning when I read the recent letters by Mr. O’Donnell on March 9 and by Mr. Elliott on March 16 about taxes paid by Shelter Bay. Anyone buying a home here on leased land is clearly informed that we live here because the Swinomish Nation has granted us the privilege. In any lease situation, we do not presume to tell our landlord how to use their income. But even more than that, a non-native living here should not be taking the same position (or taking the same for granted) as we would living on land that is solely part of the U...
