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I’m officially old. It happened on a single day last week, Thursday, June 1. It was not a surprise. It had loomed on the near horizon for years. I’d dutifully prepared for it – watched innumerable how-to videos, talked with older friends who’d reached the same situation (and survived), waded through unsolicited voluminous mail offering to help with the transition, completed practice questionnaires, even worked with a consultant to get all the information straight before I submitted my application for society to recognize me as old: I am now...
It’s election time in Shelter Bay – Online voting closes 4 p.m. May 19. In person must be done the early morning of May 20. If you intend to mail or drop off your vote, you must travel to the office to pick up a ballot. Mailed ballots must be received by May 19, 2023. Why is this information here in the paper? Because it is not clearly communicated to the residents of Shelter Bay. Shelter Bay residents: The selection of your board representation is more important this year than ever. Shelter Bay faces several issues requiring competent, unb...
Dear editor, Please advise, cannot understand. Good grief!? Shelter Bay, a community across the Swinomish Channel from La Conner, is under attack from an out-of-order insider group? One judge has already thrown out an unsubstantiated lawsuit for lack of material proof, so what can possibly be the reason this group continues to harass the board of volunteers who have been elected to steer the community to further the processes they have begun, specifically the extension of the lease on the land owned by the Swinomish Tribe. Anyone who lives...
The Swinomish Tax Authority used the same levy rate for 2023, 2022 and 2021: $11.98 per thousand. But, the assessed value of homes in Shelter Bay and Pull & Be Damned increased from $196,279,100 to $206,399,050 over the past year. The Swinomish government aims to collect $2,440,832 in taxes from Shelter Bay, Pull & Be Damned and Thousand Trails. Three taxing districts will receive contributions from the Swinomish. These are: Fire District 13 at $400,000 for operations and maintenance, plus $90,000 impact fees from the casino, plus a medical...
It is sad that Jack and Julie Jones moved out of Shelter Bay over misperceptions (Citizens’ View, April 19). I wish for their sake the Jones had served on the board of directors and on committees. If they had they would still be here enjoying the beauty and tranquility of our lovely community, knowing their neighbors who serve care as much about the community as they do. The Shelter Bay marina, like every popular rental property, increases in value, pays off its debt and produces cash flow. The marina pays 10% of the land lease. It would pay m...
I have always said that as long as my daughter Victoria was in La Conner schools, I was happy to be mayor. That season has come to an end, and it is time for La Conner to choose a new representative to lead the community. May 15 through 19 interested candidates will have the opportunity to file with the county’s elections office for both the mayor’s position and two other town offices. As a result, the La Conner Weekly News asked me to write a short, 500-word piece on what qualities the next mayor should possess. I agreed to provide input recog...
Recently, some friends have asked us why we moved from Shelter Bay into the town of La Conner. The simple reason is, we lost trust in the board to act in the best interest of the community and we lost faith that the board would begin to act in the best interest of the community. Our trust started eroding with the outcome of the Rainbow Park fiasco. We were told it was in the best interest of the community to bail out a sitting board member to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. When we asked questions, we were told to attend...
Washington state is a crucial stopover for millions of migrating birds. The diverse landscapes, from the coast to the mountains, provide essential habitats for birds during their long journeys. Among many vital habitats, the Skagit Valley stands out as an especially important wintering ground for tens of thousands of migrating birds. As a major destination for snow geese, swans and other species, the Valley provides crucial resources and shelter during the colder months, helping to ensure the survival of these magnificent creatures. As the...
After my decision to run for the Shelter Bay Community board of directors a year ago, I set a goal to read all of the governing documents, including the association’s Rules and Regulations, cover to cover. I studied HOA educational videos and used my own funds to pay for seminars. I listened to attorneys’ lectures on the fiduciary duty of Care, Loyalty and Obedience. I familiarized myself with HOA infrastructure, liability insurance, management and current state statutes for Common Interest Communities, HOAs and Non-profit Corporations. I lea...
“We will fail, / When we fail to try” — Rosa Parks A Message From the Dark Side … . I am a woman from the “other side” as the writers put it in last week’s page 3 “Show of Support” display ad for some members of the Shelter Bay board (Weekly News, March 15). I would like to make a few observations and comments in response. A board in charge of representing nearly 1,000 homes is a huge job! I’m sure that no resident has ever demanded “perfection,” however, along with the honor and privilege of representing our communities it is also...
Hey, now here’s a curveball for you, instead of larky snark about dikes and missing fish, music is the subject of the day. No, Sloughmander is not going to miraculously re-appear, unless he does, but don’t hold your breath. Heck, some of you only know me as a mean writer, when I’m actually a mean dancer, I kick everyone else off the dance floor (not really), I mostly share the space quite nicely. Sunday music in Gilkey Square is not enough for this dancer man, the music in the Tav is okay, for coming from a box, but we have such great music...
I agree with the writer’s statement (letter: “Weekly News story misreports Shelter Bay forum,” March 8) “We live in challenging times and a plague of misinformation stands in the way of finding solutions.” The writer then went at length to explain how the Weekly News provided misinformation in several ways – quoting social media, not providing direct quotes, attributing a statement to the board president who was not in attendance, failing to tell the readers that the board members in attendance did an excellent job of addressing some of She...
There has been a lot of discussion of late, with very good reason, on the matter of the age of the president and other elected members of government. First, there was Sen. Feinstein of California, soon to retire at 89, with some noting an obvious loss of mental acuity. And, of course, most prominently is our sitting president, Joe Biden. His latest physical, according to whomever the doctor was, seemed to indicate that Biden is in the pink despite numerous health issues, as one would expect for a man 80 years old. But if we take the doctor at...
In my 16th and final year as mayor, I would like to thank the La Conner community for the opportunity to serve as your representative. Although our resources are limited, La Conner has been fortunate to attract and retain staff who are dedicated to the community and whose work ethic, in many cases, far exceeds a 40-hour work week. La Conner is also blessed with a plethora of volunteers who participate in everything from our town council, planning commission, arts and parks commissions and, with 23 active volunteers, our fire department. Its...
Fate intervened on Dec. 27. First is the fact that the day before, Monday was a municipal holiday. Secondly the Dunlap Towing stopped running their weekly ad providing the tide tables to the community in this newspaper three or four years ago. At approximately 7:40 a.m. on the 27th, my wife alerted me to flooding around our house. I tried to contact Public Works and the Town offices to no avail, I called 911. I moved quickly to move our vehicles to higher ground. Next, I went to the source of the water, which was flowing down Caledonia Street...
The Weekly News multi part series on energy transitions has spent many words telling us how we need to wean ourselves off of oil and go green. Admittedly I am no expert on these matters, but after nearly 70 years on this planet I have learned a thing or two. The author stated early on that "we can’t drill our way out of the energy crunch" or words to that effect. To this I say Baloney! We can and have drilled our way out of similar situations. Jimmy Carter pretty much said the same thing in the '70s. Must conserve, turn down the thermostat, put...
In February of 2022, I took the CEO position at Skagit Habitat for Humanity after working for eight years in homeless services. I had once been homeless and hopeless myself. I joined Habitat because I felt like I could make more of a difference by helping with the root causes of homelessness rather than just providing a band-aid. Homelessness is a housing issue. In November of 2013, I bought my very first home and it changed my life forever, so I know what a blessing being a homeowner is. Affordable housing has been at crisis levels for...
By Linda Talman La Conner’s Town Council had a barely announced special meeting on Oct. 28. The meeting was illogical. The issue stemmed from a request of a group of hopeful residents to have a special planning commission meeting Nov. 1 to look for common ground for the next year. The planning commission would have set the agendas. Pretty evil, huh? A council person who wasn't at the October planning commission meeting spoke as if he actually knew what had happened there (he didn't) and persuaded other members to vote his way. Their bad. The in...
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...
By Jean Walker-Wharton The celebration and dedication of new public art on Sept. 3 demonstrated the behind-the-scenes work of the La Conner Arts Commission. Sheila Johnson, chair, invited my attendance. I asked John Leaver to go for me and to express my gratitude for the commission’s dedication; and for people responsible in the inception on my property in 2005, of Tracey Powell’s and Stan O’Neil’s artisan fence structure as well as those who dismantled its 18 feet and have beautifully brought its components back to life in the last two yea...
By Sara Young It’s an exciting time at the La Conner Marina. The Port of Skagit, which built and owns the Marina, has been considering the needs of this important property and future opportunities for more than 15 years. We’ve had a lot of great conversations with members of the community since our visioning presentation in May 2022 during the joint meeting with La Conner’s town council and planning commission. As the Port develops a vision and plan for the site, there will be more opportunities for public input. We also want to take some...
By Frank Liddell La Conner is rich with generational wealth. I have neighbors that have spent their entire lives in this community and are descendants of families that practically built this town. I have been a La Conner resident for almost 20 years. I’m lucky to have lived here this long. I pull it off because the people I have rented from actually believe in fair, affordable rent. All of my kids have attended La Conner schools. My youngest is starting middle school this year and by the time he graduates I will have been involved with the s...
In the second paragraph of his 2015 encyclical letter, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,” Pope Francis reflects on the ways in which the human species has mistreated and abused the Earth, which he calls our “Sister, Mother Earth” in the tradition of his namesake St. Francis of Assisi. The pope then states: “We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.” This single sentence says a lot. It ack...
We are all better off when everyone who lives and works in Skagit County has a safe, affordable place to call home. Healthy neighborhoods need healthy schools. Healthy schools need kids and families. Kids and families need housing they can afford. Seniors should be able to downsize in the same community where they owned a home and still afford to buy medicine and groceries. Employers and communities thrive when workers on our waterfronts, art galleries and restaurants can afford to live near where they are employed. From first responders, to...
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...
