In the December 22, 2010 issue

Photo by Bill Stokes

In the heart of La Conner, Gilkey Square at the waterfront end of Morris Street is aglow in lights that Teresa and Rick Ward put up.  Merry Christmas.

A large gift for La Conner students

    School Counselor Lori Buher shares the good news: The La Conner Community Scholarship Foundation, which provides college money for local high school graduates, received a gift of more than $300,000 from Dorothy Furlong, who died in 2008.  Dorothy, who graduated from La Conner High school in 1932, was a descendant of John and Bessie Cornelius who settled on Pleasant Ridge in 1868. 

Food Bank has a name

     La Conner writer  Mary Evitt tells us about the food bank run by volunteers each Monday behind the Methodist Church is now officially called the La Conner Sunrise Food Bank. It was named for Kevin Sunrise who for five years quietly distributed food to people who needed it from his home on Myrtle Street until he and his wife Amy Han had to shut shut down their unofficial food bank in June. La Conner United Methodist Church Pastor George Lockwood helped them find the volunteers to take over.

 From the Police Blotter:

7:02 p.m.: Harassment – A caller reported that a person he has a no contact order with had driven past him and honked the horn, 900 block Maple Ave., La Conner. The caller was concerned this might be a violation of the court order. The deputy checked; no violation.  (Yes, this really happened here!)

How do you use a parking lot puddle?

You dig it up and plant a garden! Writer Amylynn Richards has the story about a plan in La Conner School District to solve a drainage problem beautifully -- with a rain garden. Runoff that pools in an area of the parking lot near the Middle School will water native plants and give local students experience in eco-friendly landscaping. 

Did you know that in Norway they don't put up Christmas trees until Dec. 23? Mickey Bambrick tells us all about it in her Nuggets from Norway.

And in Notes from Pull and be Damned, Jim Smith brings us "Jimmy Shimmy's favorite yuletide story." 

Holiday Closures

Christmas Day, Saturday, Dec. 25

Banks: Most close early Christmas Eve, Friday, Dec. 24.

Buses: No service Saturday.

Schools: Closed until Jan. 3.

Town Hall: Closed Thursday, Friday and Monday.

County government offices: Closed Friday and Monday.

Post Office: Open regular hours Friday. No delivery Saturday.

Trash Pick Up: Regular schedule.

Pioneer Market: Close at 6 p.m. Friday, closed Saturday.

The paper costs 3 quarters in news stands all over town. You can also pick it up at the drug store, liquor store, gas station, book store and produce market. Better yet, subscribe and get it at home!