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Ken served the community well

Dear Ken. Seven years ago you chose to purchase the La Conner Weekly News after the opportunity to lead the paper in Hardwick, Vermont, vanished and fortunate for our community that was. For you too, spared black flies and deep winter’s frost for maritime climes, tulips and snow geese.

You dove in, a cold plunge in many ways. Your exhaustive presence at seemingly every municipal event and otherwise, was impressive. Your walk with the printed paper to the stand on Wednesdays, even with injured leg, a folksy message of commitment. No doubt you took written and most likely verbal haranguing, though received many praises – hopefully those far outnumbering the opposite. Most importantly, you quickly became a member of the La Conner, Skagit community as a friend.

Now we are here at this juncture, which has been in the making for over a year, the La Conner Weekly News on the brink. The world knows that regional printed press is under threat, you have touted that line for long. It is widely acknowledged that an impartial journal, sharing the happenings within a bustling community is essential. For La Conner that is the sharing of news from the: school district, city council, Swinomish Tribe, La Conner commissions, Port of Skagit, calendar, ads, obits, police blotter, special interests, along with individual opinions. Crucial checks and balances.

Thankfully there is a solid movement underway to save the Weekly. But here I cannot iterate enough the importance of saving the PRINTED PAPER. As I write I am surrounded by print of various kind, all pieces I want to hand off: an article, an image, a date, an opinion, an ad. Digital links cannot fill that role, that physical piece, they assist but they do not replace.

I am putting on my Christmas list one ask, to save our printed La Conner Weekly News.

Come 2025 it won’t be you walking the paper to the boxes on Wednesdays, but if my ask does come through, someone will be. This is the strongest visual symbol of a community that is informed, accountable and genuinely thoughtful of its neighbors and the wellbeing of the place we all call home, a regional paper in mailbox and newsstand.

Congratulations Ken – thanks for serving us all so well.

Bom viagem.

Katie Carson

Greater La Conner

 

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