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The all-volunteer Forgotten Children’s Fund is collecting new unwrapped toys, children’s jackets and cash donations for Skagit Valley families as well as 60 families with children in the Nooksack School District that are still displaced from their homes as a result of last Novembers devastating floods. In the 47-year history of the Forgotten Children’s Fund, 2022 may prove to be the most challenging for our communities' less fortunate. Many families are now having to make the choice of rent, heat, gas or groceries. Please help us make a diffe...
Although my heart aches at saying good-bye to my best friend and husband of 45 years, I am grateful for the incredible support you all have been to Jon, me and our children, over the past few months. Thank you for all the encouragement through cards, flowers, texts, phone calls and visits that were full of love, scriptures, prayers and hugs. For those who helped mow, weed-eat, blow leaves, spread bark, haul garbage, provide meals, hotel rooms and gas cards: thank you. This allowed us to enjoy every minute with Jon. Special thanks to La Conner...
Art’s Alive! 2022 wishes to thank the townspeople of La Conner for their continuing support of the fine arts show. Our town attended this year’s Art’s Alive! in record numbers. Many were inspired by the perfect pieces of art now gracing their homes and businesses and we appreciate their critical eye and support. Other support came from La Conner artists. Not only was their art acquired, but local artists were the resounding People’s Choice Awards winners – Coizie Bettinger, Keith Clements, Margaret Arnett and Mark Bistranin. Thank you. Ther...
Dear Friends, I would like to provide an update for town issues from my side of the table. Regarding the north end issue, an appeal of the 306 Center Street project permit is working its way through the steps in the process. The issues are the Contract Rezone which was not honored and the Administrative Determination that we perceive to have errors. The oral arguments are Dec. 1. These arguments are the second last step. Code: Code change suggestions are being sent or already have been sent to the planner to be placed on the docket for 2023...
The spot re-zone being requested by Bertlesen Farm LLC on sixty acres north of its winery on Starbird Road is what leads to urban sprawl as urban services are extended to rural land. Both the Growth Management Act and Skagit County’s Comprehensive Plan were created by citizens and planners to stop sprawl. The goal is to not end up as Lynnwood everywhere. Be clear that the zoning request is not “like” the winery to the south – it includes a gas station, general store, campground, farmers market, equipment rental business, dog park, etc. To get...
This letter is written by four women. Two of us are professional, working artists. One is a long-time collector of fine art, who recently donated a major sculpture to the town of La Conner. The fourth is a long time gallery owner and the director of the La Conner Arts Foundation. We write out of concern for the proposed Love La Conner sign. We feel that the town is not being well represented by this ill-conceived project. While perhaps good intentioned, these kinds of projects actually degrade La Conner’s image. Attempts to promote La Conner t...
My daughter treated me to the last performance of the opera, Otello, at McIntyre Hall two weeks ago. This moving and beautifully performed tragedy dealt the cards of viciously spread “misinformation,” lies, deceit and racism in order to overthrow the Moor, Otello, to discredit his victories, honorably won, his position of power and deep domestic happiness, all for the goal personal power. Iago, our lying villain (beautifully and compelling sung), personifies, not only the evil of the 1500s in Cyprus, but of the recent political reality in this...
I attended the Nov. 8 town council meeting. There was a lot on the agenda, including proposed changes to the municipal code. I would like to suggest that in the future when there are detailed material to present and discuss, especially when language precision is important, such as amending code language, using a screen and Power Point or similar desktop publishing software that has redline and strikeout functions. There were several instances of council members having difficulty tracking the changes that the planner was discussing, even though...
Dear La Connerites, I want to thank everyone who was concerned about me and trying to help me find a home. This is my community and I did not want to leave here. Thanks to my family, who are helping me buy a house in Shelter Bay. It is a safe place to be and close to my work. Now I can continue giving people touch and helping people have better health along with bringing color into their lives through plants. Thank you to all of you who have supported me through the years. May the holiday season bring you all much joy. Joanne Mitchelle La...
It was a surprise to discover that the Skagit County planning staff is recommending changing the zoning of approximately 70 acres of rural land at the intersection of I-5 and Starbird Road to allow a new gas station, general store, campground, farmers market, equipment rental business and a dog park. Do we really need another gas station on I-5? The I-5 corridor is under tremendous pressure to be developed and paved over. People want to live in Skagit County because it is beautiful, because we have protected our rural areas and our resource...
I have a daughter who in her early teens was happy to sit hang out, or travel with me. She usually preferred to do so in near silence. I would say something, maybe an idle comment and she would smile silently and watch the scenery. This was a little frustrating. I tried to accept it as normal for the age. However, I remained unsatisfied. I wanted to chat. I decided I needed a teaching aid, an analogy or metaphor, to illustrate the basics of communication. I found one, tennis. “Genny, have you ever thought that hanging out with someone is l...
I find it useless to go to town council meetings. This it how goes. You arrive. The mayor may smile at you. You get your three minutes of time. Someone times you. The bodies at the front tables may stare at you. Or not. But they don’t respond. Not then. Not ever. (One intrepid council person does sometimes respond later in the meeting but the council, particularly the fellow who sits next to mayor, shoots him down. Almost always. In the last couple years a group has grown that wants to improve things here in terms of community involvement ...
Since 1941, Young Life has been making a difference in the lives of teenagers around the world. Young Life is in more than 90 countries, offering hope with Christian values to approximately two million teenagers each year. Young Life is for every teenager regardless of race, religious tradition or culture. A little over 20 years ago Vern and Elaine Lovelace and John Hackstadt had a vision to start a Young Life chapter in La Conner. Today 20 years later I’m happy to report that Young Life is alive and well in La Conner Young Life starts with c...
Two years ago when gas was $2 a gallon and the booming stock market was filling millions of retirement portfolios the voters voted in a Democratic president and in both chambers of Congress. Now, because of restrictions Democrats imposed to end our energy independence, gas prices have surged to as much as $6 a gallon in some states and uncontrolled spending and giveaways to buy votes have increased inflation to record highs. The only method the Federal Reserve has to attempt to counter the free money is to raise interest rates. Those increases...
Smaller government. Less taxes. More personal freedom. Personal accountability. Slowing illegal immigration at our southern border. Less government intrusion in our lives. Less government spending. Less “woke”’ nonsense. Fewer restrictions on our enumerated rights in the Constitution and Bill of Rights, in particular the First and Second Amendments. Keeping socialism in check. This is a Constitutional republic, not a mob rule democracy. Remember this when you vote. The more government can do for you, the more it can do to you. Vote Repub...
I’d like to think here in Washington, women will always make reproductive healthcare decisions with their doctors’ guidance. But as quickly as U.S. Supreme Court justices overturned settled law, our own legislators could overturn women’s rights in our state. Indeed, some are working to overturn the Roe decision nationwide. Legislators with no medical expertise are trying to dictate women’s reproductive health care. We’ve seen what happened in states that lost access to abortion. A pregnant 10-year-old Ohio girl had to travel to Indiana r...
As usual, the La Conner Weekly News was “edutaining” last week. I was intrigued by a letter from Mr. Sather about where he might be able to pump his septic tank. As a past member of the county’s solid waste advisory committee, I can shed some light on the situation. Cows have three stomachs, a very simple vegetarian diet and are a different species of mammal. These differences are significant enough to make the chances of disease and parasite transmission quite remote. The lagoons of cow manure are treated similarly to the sewage treat...
The Oct. 28 council meeting was about planning commission procedures. Marna Hanneman, the planning commission chair, was upset that at the previous planning commission meeting, which was chaired by Carol Hedlin because Ms. Hanneman was absent, the commissioners listened to a group of La Conner citizens who asked to meet with the commission to discuss issues of concerns which will affect future town plans. The commission had a quorum and, with the advice and counsel of the town planner that those meetings would need to be public and published,...
The recent purchase of the Jenson property, with its restriction requiring that the property be used for a public purpose, presents a valuable opportunity for the town and its residents. I’ve heard of a few uses of the property are being discussed, including tiny homes, green space or a park. I’d like to suggest another use: taking advantage of the purchase to provide affordable housing units in La Conner. While affordable housing is a goal in our Comprehensive Plan, it has never made its way into the municipal code and hasn’t been a priority f...
If you have ever driven down Sixth Street towards the schools, you will have seen the house, it is pretty much impossible to miss. It is very colorful and full of “yard art.” The art consists of metal, glass, ceramic and stone, and there are probably 200 pieces or more. All are whimsical, colorful and some even carry messages of peace and hope. The house itself is a joy to look at as well, colorful and whimsical, much like the owner. The trees and foliage have been carefully selected to enhance the entire property and extend all along the ama...
Voting rights, civil rights, freedom of choice. Indigenous rights, gender rights, equal rights. Free and fair elections, political accountability, rule of law. Jobs, infrastructure, middle-class economic strength. Climate action, natural disaster funds, science. Affordable health care, caps on insulin, tackle Big Pharma. Sensible gun laws, broad law enforcement training, justice. Separation of church and state, bolster public education, fight censorship. NATO, balanced immigration, geopolitical awareness. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid....
Out here in the farm community, every landowner knows if you expect to raise a good crop of anything, you have to use fertilizer. In this area, the most abundant supply comes from cows and is spread liberally with care taken not to get any on the neighbors’ house or yard, but with little concern as to what he detects through his nostrils....
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...
