Tree trimming!

 

Photo by Sandy Stokes

Kevin Palaniuk and Sal Peña of La Conner Public Works Department were using a man lift to decorate the town tree at Gilkey Square. The tree was donated by a Shelter Bay homeowner.

Saturday is a big day in town

• The Rotary Club’s Breakfast with Santa is 8:30 to 11 a.m. at Maple Hall.

• The Kiwanis holiday craft bazaar and chili lunch is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the middle school

• Then Santa returns for the Big Event – the Tree Lighting at 5 p.m. (But his reindeer decided to catch a show in Seattle so he’ll be arriving in the town fire truck.)

in the November 30, 2011 issue

Photo by Karla Reynolds

STREET MUSICIANS – La Conner elementary students Matt Harper, Arlo Liddell, and Mason Schorck shared positive notes with locals and tourists alike Wednesday by performing an impromptu public concert on Morris Street, playing favorite tunes learned from band teacher Brian Fraser. Calling themselves "The Busking Boys," the local trio also hoped to get a head start on future school expenses. The front of their "promo" sign read: "College Fund or Bust."

Occupy La Crema

Photo by Don Coyote

Olympia protesters have nothing on us! Here, peacefully demonstrating their love of fine coffee, Pull & Be Damned writer  Jim Smith and La Conner Mike Heaton occupy La Crema.(OK, this really isn't in the paper today. Blame Coyote.) 

More money for dredging

The town of La Conner has committed $50,000 toward dredging the Swinomish Channel. That promise joins the $400,000 already pledged by the Port of Skagit, whose commissioners earmarked that amount for dredging in the agency’s 2012 budget.

Meanwhile, the cost estimate to remove the silt from the channel so boats can get through has climbed to $1.4 million. In today's paper.

What goes up and seldom comes down?

That's right, taxes. La Conner and other tax supported entities are setting their levy rates for next year -- La Conner's is going up to give the town a little more money. The County Assessor's Office says they'll have the tax rates for property owners throughout the county in early January. Even though property values have dropped, many owners could actually see their tax bills increase since the tax rate per $1,000 in assessed value will go up. In today's paper.

 Photo by Kirsten Morse

Beauty is where you find it. Here the old oak with its fallen leaves, a puddle and the new giant chess board combine for beautiful fall scenery at the La Conner skateboard park.

 Photo by Sue Phillipps

We have a dispatch from Paradise, where our Plant Lady, writer Sue Phillips, has been for the past few weeks. In today's paper, she writes about an island where plastic shopping bags are outlawed.

From the police blotter:

8:43 a.m.: Loose boat – A resident of Shelter Bay reported seeing an unattended fishing boat drifting along the Swinomish Channel. Deputies went out in their La Conner patrol boat and caught the drifting vessel, secured it and contacted the owner. The fishing boat did not appear to be damaged.

There's lots of good stuff in today's paper. It's in the news stands all over town and also on the counter at the Swinomish gas station, the liquor store, book store, and at the drug store and gas station by the roundabout.  Or save 15 cents per issue and call us at 466-3315 to arrange to have it delivered for $30 per year.

 

 

Braves Sports, Nov. 30, 2011

Girl's Basketball forecast...

Photo by Karla Reynolds

Hoop coach draws double duty again

By Bill Reynolds

The recession has had an opposite effect on Scott Novak.

Instead of losing a job, the La Conner High basketball coach has added one.

Novak this year will again fill a dual role as head mentor for both the La Conner High School boys' and girls' hoop programs, a task he took on previously for a three-year span.

He will succeed Marla Quesnell, who last summer accepted a coaching offer from Arlington, on the Lady Braves' bench.

Novak inherits from Quesnell a young but fundamentally sound group.

"Nine of our 13 players are either freshmen or sophomores," he says, "so we have a  very inexperienced team. But they're hard workers and competitive, and I see us getting better and better as the season moves forward."

It helps that he can draw upon a nucleus of seven talented returnees, led by versatile seniors Priscilla Ponce-Venegas, who at 5’5” can swing between the backcourt and frontline, and 5’3” point guard Nikki Finley, a crafty passer and fine perimeter shooter.

Both enjoyed superb outings a year ago during a key 51-37 triumph at Orcas.

Joining them will be 5’7” sophomore guard/forward Katie McKnight, who emerged under Quesnell as a reliable scorer and strong defender.

Sophomore guards Kelley McClung and Carly Anderson also made their presence felt as first-year players, and return to a deep and skilled Lady Braves backcourt.

Up front, La Conner will look to returning 5’8” forwards sophomore Aubrey Stewart and junior Alyssa McCormick for strength in the paint, as well as 5’7” senior Emily Anderson, who returns after a two-year hiatus.

"We have very little height," Novak concedes, "but we have above average speed and quickness. Our depth should also be a strength, especially after the first part of the season when some of our more inexperienced players have a chance to settle in."

Those newcomers are 5’6” sophomore guard Siomi Bobb, 5’10” freshman guard/forward Anna Cook, 5’6” freshman guard/forward Emma Christianson, 5’5” freshman guard Katie Novak, and 5’6” sophomore guard Lauren Reynolds, a transfer from Mart High School, in Central Texas, where she was a freshman reserve on a Mart High team that advanced to the second round of the 1A State playoffs.

Because he's juggling a full schedule, Novak this season will rely heavily on assistant coaches Randall Cook and former La Conner High standout Loran James.

That staff, mindful of likely obstacles posed by the usual suspects – Orcas, Darrington, Concrete, and Mount Vernon Christian – has already begun putting together an outline for the upcoming campaign.

"We hope to take care of the ball," says Novak, "and play tough defense. We'll also need to rebound extremely well in order to be successful."

If his players can accomplish that, Novak's job – at least this latest one – becomes a lot easier.

*La Conner will begin the year without junior post Taysha James, who is recovering from knee surgery. Novak is hopeful James, an inside scoring and rebounding presence, can return at some point in the season. 

  from Braves Raves...

By Amylynn Richards

BASKETBALL POSTPONED

The boys’ basketball game which had been scheduled for tonight has been changed to an away game at Meridian high school on Saturday, Dec. 10.

Junior varsity will play at 1:30 p.m. and varsity at 3:15 p.m.

The girls’ basketball home game against Coupeville which was scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10 has been changed to Saturday, Dec. 17. The actual game times remain the same: junior varsity at 3 p.m. and varsity at 4:30 p.m.

This leaves two games left to be played in Brave country this week: The boys and girls basketball teams host Lopez on Saturday, Dec. 2. The boys varsity plays at 4 p.m. and the girls varsity at 5:30 p.m.

COACH OF THE YEAR

It took just two seasons to turn the Braves football team around, and the other Northwest and SeaTac coaches have noticed. La Conner Football Coach Johnny Lee has been named Coach of the Year; and the Braves have been awarded the Team Sportsmanship Award.

FIRST TEAM

Senior Priscilla Ponce-Venegas has been selected to All-Tournament Volleyball First Team. She is the sole Brave to have been honored for first team. Of the eight athletes who received this honor, five of the First Team honorees are from the State Champion Rearden and second place Colfax. Colfax won the first round against La Conner and later sent Darrington to the consolation rounds as well. Darrington won third and La Conner seventh. One student from Bear Creek, which the Braves won for the Bi-District championship, was named as was an athlete from PeEll.

Senior Emily Anderson is selected for All-Tournament Second Team. Northwest League-mate Jessica Brooks also was selected for Second Team. Other members are from Rearden, Bear Creek, Kittitas, Adna and Brewster. League mate and Darrington Logger Brandy Hadaway was sele3cted for Honorable Mention.

ALL-LEAGUE FOOTBALL

The Northwest/Seatac 2B All-League team has been announced. Three Braves have been named to the 14 member honorary First Team All-League Offense team: Senior Landy James has been named as receiver; senior Nate Parker as offensive lineman; and junior Dahlton Zavala as running back.

Second Team All-League Offense: senior Cameron Wischhusen, offensive line; sophomore Wil James, offensive line, and sophomore Skylar Krueger, quarterback.

All-League Honorable Mention Offense: senior Bobby Poulton, receiver; sophomore Sean Hulbert, running back.

First Team All-League Defense: senior Nate Parker, defensive line; sophomore Wil James, linebacker; senior Landy James, defensive back.

Second Team All-League defense: senior Cameron Wischhusen, defensive line; sophomore Sean Hulbert, defensive back; sophomore Hudson Zavala, defensive back.

For All-League Honorable Mention Defense team: senior Bobby Poulton has been named defensive back; and junior Dahlton Zavala as linebacker.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

The seventh and eighth grade boys middle school basketball teams went to Orcas on Tuesday, Nov. 22. The seventh grade Braves won 43-2, and the eighth grade Vikings won by just three points 38-35.