Wednesday, December 15, 2010

In the December 15, 2010 issue


Last minute gift guide
   Mall-weary shoppers can find excellent gifts in La Conner without busting the budget. We went hunting for cool presents that cost $25 or less and found lots of them in the local stores. 
   Walk down First Street and find stuff like colorful sterling silver rings set with Swarovski crystals for $20 at EarthenWorks Gallery. 
   Or for a stocking stuffer, how about the $9 grow-your-own boxer shorts from  Skagit Valley Styles -- just put a little packet in water and watch it turn into underwear before your eyes.
   Today's paper doesn't mention the rings or boxers, but it lists lots other wallet-friendly gift ideas.

Photo by Amylynn Richards
Yes, there is a Turkey story in the paper this week. But this gang is not in it. The fowl fugitives of La Conner were photographed strutting in the middle of First Street on Monday, apparently unaware that the town is preparing to deploy yet another turkey capturing system. (For those who missed it last month, here is a link to journalist Amelia Templeton's La Conner Turkey story on National Public Radio.)
Meanwhile, writer Janna Gage tells about the other Turkey -- The Republic of Turkey, where she and three other La Conner residents recently spent 25 days. The information in Janna's story is fascinating and at times surprising. It's a must read today's paper.
In Notes from Pull-and-be-Damned, the irreverent Jim Smith offers his "Xmas Xplanation & the Continuing Alaskan Adventures of Sarah."  
In Nuggets from Norway, local writer Mickey Bambrick, who lives in Norway part of the year, makes readers in both countries giggle over our cultural differences. This week we learn that Christmas decorations in Norway often resemble Valentines.

Richard at the gas station has written some new movie reviews -- not the long-winded kind, either. He cuts right to the chase and lets you know whether a DVD is worth renting.
The gas station is one of the places to pick up a paper. We're also at the drug store, liquor store, produce market, book store and in news stands all over town. 
 
 

Weekly La Conner High Sports capsule, Dec. 15, 2010

Braves Raves
By Amylynn Richards
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
The girls had a very busy four-game schedule last week, including a long ferry ride to Friday Harbor on Wednesday and an overnight stay in Lewis County on Friday to compete against Adna and Pe Ell.  
The girls played a home game on Tuesday, Dec. 7 against Grace Academy. “We came out strong,” says Coach Marla Quesnell, and “got our first win.” Every team member got court time in the 49-29 game.  `Team highlights: Priscilla Ponce-Venegas scored 16 points for the Braves, and Katie McKnight scored 14. Aubrey Stewart had 8 rebounds. It was “a great team win,” Quesnell said. 
On, Wednesday, Dec. 3, the girls travelled to Friday Harbor. The Wolverines won 52-32. “We struggled against their press, and hard a hard time stopping one of their guards,” said Coach Quesnell. Team highlights: Priscilla Ponce-Venegas, 10 points and Katie McKnight scored 11 points.
Friday, Dec. 10, the girls travelled to Adna. Adna won the game 60-35. Quesnell said, “we missed lay-ins and free-throws early in the game, but broke their press successfully most of the game. We played them mush closer in the second half.”  Team highlights: Samie Miller, 11 points; Priscilla Ponce-Venegas, 9 points and 9 rebounds; and Katie McKnight, 9 points.
The girls played their fourth game against Pe Ell on Saturday, Dec. 11. This was a “fun game,” said Coach Quesnell. The girls came back from a 17-2 low, to miss the win by three points, 59-56. 
The girls man-pressed, causing Pe Ell to not be on top of their game in the second and third quarters. 
When there were only four minutes left in the game, the Braves had a six point lead.  “Priscilla fouled out, and we got a look at a 3-pointer in the last 3 seconds to tie, but it didn't go down,” Quesnell said, “We had a good road trip.”
Highlights: Samie Miller, 17 points; Nikki Finley, 14 points; Katie McKnight, 10 points; Priscilla Ponce-Venegas, 8 rebounds, and did an excellent job breaking down the defense.
WRESTLING
The Braves took on 4A League Stanwood on Tuesday, Dec. 7. Coach Mike Compton says, “Although we lost 60-18, our wrestlers battled tough.” Brave winners: Brandon Drye (215 lbs.) won by pin; Dahlton Zavala (152 lbs.) by pin; and Dan Biladeau (160 lbs.) by forfeit.
The team went to Friday Harbor on Friday, Dec. 10, to wrestle a total of eighteen matches among five high schools: La Conner; Friday Harbor; Muckleshoot; Chief Leschi; and Tacoma Baptist.
Brave winners were Ashley Norton, Hunter Johnson, Sid Lease, and Dalton Zavala.
The junior varsity team had a third meet last week, at the JV Tournament held at Burlington-Edison high school. “There were a few varsity wrestlers and many big school JV wrestlers,” said Compton.
Even so, the Braves brought home some bling: Amber Drye placed second in her bracket in the girls’ division; Ben Harper placed second; Dahlton Zavala won third; and Cameron Wischhusen also won third place.    
TOP WRESTLER
Coach Mike Compton announced that the Wrestler of the Week is Hunter Johnson, who had 3 pins at the Friday Harbor meet, and won the Sportsmanship Medal. Go, Braves!
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
The boys traveled to Lewis County on Friday, Dec. 10, to play Adna and last year’s state champion, Pe Ell the following day. Coach Scott Novak reports that neither game resulted in a win for the Braves. Adna won 43-32; Landy James “scored 15 points to lead the way,” Novak said.
The Pe Ell won a very close game on Saturday 71-68. Novak reports that Landy James scored 16 points, Spencer Novak scored 15, and Kyle McKnight scored 11 point.