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Ballots get mailed to all Skagit County voters Friday. No need to rush your voting. You have till 8 p.m. Nov. 8 to deposit the ballot in a drop box. If you mail it through the post office, do that by Friday, Nov. 4. It has to be postmarked by Nov. 8 to get counted. Warning: Ballots go to Seattle before getting postmarked. The Weekly News is making its annual endorsement of you, the voters, as the most critical people in the election equation. Taking former President Ronald Reagan’s mantra, “trust, but verify,” this paper implores every voter...
What would happen if Shelter Bay didn’t pursue a new lease with the Swinomish Tribe? I think that we should start looking at the possibility that in 2044 the Tribe will take over the community and possibly the management of the community. Why wouldn’t they want to? They have proven themselves to be good managers of businesses and can probably do a very good job. One problem between now and 2044 is getting 30 year fixed rate mortgage loans. I don’t know what the mechanism would be for securing that but maybe a letter from the Tribal Senat...
Oct 6. 2022 was a landmark day in La Conner. It was truly unprecedented and unlike any other in the Americas in the last 500 years that we know of. It was brought to our attention by Mr. Jay Bowen, who was gracious in his explanation that this March from the people of the Shelter Bay Community was the first of its kind: An Anglo-Saxon community walking on foot in humility to another co-host government, a native culture. Jay was gracious and spoke to us about our walk and its significance. A huge heartfelt talk was presented by Eric Day. We...
My Mondays are a treasure these days thanks to two gentlemen I have met. Both are named Colin and both are from England. While technically neither one lives in La Conner, they meet Monday afternoons from 3-5 p.m. for a “pint or two” at their “local boozer” (The Brewing Company in this case). I don’t remember how I fell in with them but it has become a delight I look forward to. They are teaching me English as well. You might hear an Oi Mush! (sort of like hello!) upon joining the table. Colin #1, as we have designated him, grew up in a village...
During October, just three weeks from the Nov. 8 election, Republicans have reignited their misinformation campaigning in Skagit County. In Burlington, Mount Vernon and Fidalgo Island, residents are reporting the door knocking of members of the “Election Integrity Committee.” All reports are the same. The person appearing at your door will be an unassuming person warning you to not mail in your election ballot early. They will distribute Republican-only campaign literature. You will be encouraged to take your ballot to your municipal in-...
How about a better way to utilize the property at 306 Center Street? A three-story, sun blocking, non-neighborhood friendly structure with short-term rentals and inadequate parking will mean parking on the street and blocking residential homeowner’s parking. I see a project by and for developers adding expense and problems to the Town and residents of La Conner. How about single-family homes? I have been told there can be three of four homes built on this property, where families can raise children and have a yard with grass and flowers. T...
It's so important to know how our legislators have voted when we are deciding whether to re-elect or re-place them. That is really important in our 10th legislative district this year. Clyde Shavers is running against incumbent Greg Gilday. With that in mind, you need to know that Gilday voted: “No” to prohibit carrying firearms on school property or school transportation, government buildings or government property, voter registration office or ballot counting. “No” to prohibit sale of high capacity firearm magazines. “No” to expand and...
The upcoming midterm elections are the most important of our times. Today’s radical Democratic party has orchestrated more damage to America in two years then our worst foreign adversaries could have ever dreamed of accomplishing. The list is long but includes the most obvious and immediately painful intentional destruction of our energy independence creating hardships on families just to heat their homes and fuel their vehicles. The destruction of our hard earned sovereignty by failure to finish the border wall and which allows an i...
Please don’t be fooled by the recent hit piece mailer on Dave Paul. It is full of lies. Lie 1: Crime is increasing in Washington. False. Crime has decreased significantly here. Certain types of crime increased during the shutdown: domestic violence, and robberies, but overall crime has decreased. Lie 2: Dave Paul is anti-police. False. Dave Paul co-sponsored HB 1785 to ensure state troopers receive a competitive wage. Dave secured state funding to upgrade Skagit’s 911 emergency communications system, improving the safety of law enforcement off...
Dear neighbors of the Snapdragon Flats development. It appears from the town council record that the developer of Snapdragon Flats is up to his old antics of being a rude and disrespectful neighbor. I lived through his rock removal during the COVID-19 pandemic and so I am fully aware of this property owner’s poor behavior. If you find yourself in the position in which legal relief becomes necessary due to this property owner’s behavior, there is a letter which is part of the record for the permits for this project outlining numerous issues tha...
I wish Ms. Fontenot would have sought accurate information before leveling broad accusations and innuendo left and right in her Oct. 5 guest column. Her tone of condescension is offensive. Our volunteers, on the Shelter Bay Community board or directors and its committees give of their time and expertise to us. They deserve our support. Let me add my support for our hardworking staff. I assume Ms. Fontenot studied Shelter Bay lease history before buying a home here and therefore knew to expect rent increases every ten years. All residents have...
We all know in our hearts that America's children are at risk. We all know in our hearts that if God made a girl, she is a girl; and if He made a boy, he is a boy. Please, please, let us pray for this country's children to be protected from those who are changing our children from the God given natural to that which is false and deeply harmful. Let us pray for forgiveness as a nation. We have lost our moral compass on many fronts. What was once celebrated is now condemned! What was once condemned is now celebrated! Those refusing to celebrate...
The election season is upon us. Ahead of your ballot arriving in two-plus weeks, are you contemplating a better voting system? The four candidates for District 10 State Representative positions were asked to get past two person primary elections. Read all their responses on page 8. We do make changes to our election systems, though slowly, over generations. Until 1865 African Americans could not vote. White women, mostly, gained the vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1919. The passage of the Voting Rights Act universally protected...
Every year, September 21st is a day to remember. While there are 365 days in a year, each day presents us with different opportunities. That day I reflected on the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Assembly declaring the day the annual International Day of Word Peace. The theme this year was Peace among Races. There are many events around the world to mark the occasion and create awareness of the Power of Peace. Some are large and some are small events. Everyone was asked to have a moment of silence at noon in their towns across the world...
Good news. The new La Conner Swinomish Library is on the move, literally, as volunteer book brigades shuttle its precious cargo from the old library site to the new building at 520 Morris Street. A new library, what a wonderful idea realized. Take part in making it happen this week. Call to volunteer. With the library closed and the Weekly News concerned about its – and the public's – access to Town of La Conner documents, this editorial against censorship and for celebrating access to all reading material comes after September's national wee...
An open letter to towns- people, town council, town staff and project developers: The town is growing. New construction is coming into neighborhoods. We as a town have long felt that infilling is the best way to grow rather than sprawling out into the farmlands. New projects need consistent guidelines from the town government on what specific regulations would apply to their developments. The guidelines that we would ordinarily depend on for 306 Center St. project have failed. The ensuing chaos has affected our beloved community. Although we,...
La Conner Maritime Service is a second generation La Conner family owned and operated business providing marine services since 1992. We employ about 30 individuals in living wage jobs. Several of those individuals, including myself, call La Conner home. I consider it a great privilege to work and live in such a beautiful area. Over the years our business has grown and attracted new clientele to the area, many with larger boats. With this growth we’ve realized a need for indoor space to accommodate larger boats and maintain year-round work f...
By Roberta Fontenot This isn’t just about the clearcut of Shelter Bay’s Rainbow Park. This is about a legal obligation imposed upon the community’s board of directors by the state of Washington to meet certain legal standards of care when acting as representatives of the homeowners. Under the Revised Code of Washington, homeowner association board members are bound by law to act in accordance with the laws and regulations that govern the actions of officers of a corporation. This isn’t about feelings. It’s about a board that lacks the skill...
In May of 2022 Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau proposed sweeping gun control measures making it illegal to buy, sell or import handguns anywhere in Canada; a buy-back program for assault-style weapons; higher penalties for gun-smugglers and trafficking; increased red-flag laws for domestic violence offenders; and limiting guns to five rounds. “This is about freedom,” he said.” People should be free to go to the supermarket, their school or place of worship without fear,” (The Guardian). At the Seeds of Change event in Edison on Sept....
I will be writing a series of letters about La Conner residents I have met during my frequent walks around town. Today I am writing about Glen who lives on North Third Street and can be found most mornings walking from his home along Center Street to Sixth Street and back. Glen is in his nineties and when we encounter each other, we always stop and chat. He is bright and cheerful even if he is a little slow in his gait. We talk of many things. If I encounter him while he is walking back to his house, I always walk with him. Last week, he mentio...
While everyone everywhere endorses the concept of truth and reconciliation, the little town of La Conner is fast becoming a tale of two cities – or two towns – as a cadre of residents are increasingly engaged, enraged and feeling isolated from the council members representing them and charged with governing. These residents want the council to stop a three-story condominium building from going up on Center Street behind The Slider Cafe. They want council to honor a 1986 rezone agreement approved by the council that year. Citizens want cou...
Two law firms looked at the situation on 306 Center and the 1986 Contract Rezone and came up with opposite conclusions. How do lay people like the rest of us decide who is right? They were both long opinions and cited case law. I believe that my guy was right but the town, which is vulnerable to a lawsuit from the developer, believes their firm to be correct. The town holds the power card. It is called the Administrative Permit. It is used for certain planning situations (Variance and Conditional Use). It gives the planner kingly powers. And so...
Remember the Birdman of Alcatraz? I am introducing you to the Birdman of Shelter Bay. I'm buying a house in Shelter Bay with different feeding areas, including a bird watering hole. I'm converting one of my patios to a seed station. About 55 years ago, give or take, I was hired to work at a sleep-away camp in New Hampshire. It was a big deal because I was the only one of my friends who could not afford to be a camper, but now I was going as a counselor. The only opening was to be the rifle...
On Monday night, last week, the town council communications committee held its third community outreach event. The 35 or so townspeople who attended sat in small groups at separate tables with six or seven at each. And then they chatted: about what they liked, preferred, and loved about our community and also about their concerns for the future. Each participant was heard by the others. There were lively exchanges, enthusiasm, laughter, mutual respect. And ideas captured on paper for a summary report. The communications committee deserves our...
How can the La Conner community, residents, businesses and town staff, support the town’s council so they act more effectively? They have met three times in the last week, having special meetings Sept. 16 and 19 after their regular Sept. 13 session. Their meeting this Tuesday was to reverse a poor decision they made Friday. On a small issue – opening to the public a legal memo they paid for on researching the validity of a 1986 contact refund agreement – they made the wrong decision: they voted no. Council members Rick Dole, Mary Wohleb and A...
