in the November 16, 2011 issue ...

Swinomish channel in dire straits

Writer Adrian Sharpe has the story on the problem with Swinomish Channel filling in with silt and the local effort afoot to dredge it. For more than a century the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintained the waterway, which is very important to the local economy. But federal budget cutback have ended that.

We are not not silly.

(But some people affiliated with this establishment might be... )

This is Don Coyote's new Whalebarrow. 'Nuff said?

(where does he keep getting those flamingos?) 

And don't forget the Melbow 

Columnist Mel Damski says this new greeting, which has led to reckless elbow bumping all over town, is a way to prevent the common cold, among other things .... (Oh how I wish we were kidding)


Here's some good news:
Music students in honor performance

By Scott McDade

Five student musicians were selected to represent La Conner at this fall’s Honor Music Festival, held last Friday at Lynden Christian High School. 

Singers included Lauren Aguilar, Soprano; Zoe Fejeran, Alto; and Hayden Schmidt, Baritone. Instrumentalists were Grace Kim, Trumpet; and Sara Peterson, Clarinet.

The annual festival, which is organized by the San Juan Music Educators Association, gives leading student musicians a chance to perform with other top notch vocalists and instrumental players from schools all over Skagit, Whatcom and San Juan Counties.

The day-long event was composed of three groups, each led by an outstanding guest conductor. The band, choir and orchestra rehearsal sessions began at 9 a.m. on Friday and ran all day.  At 7 p.m. the performers gathered for a full evening concert for parents and friends. 

The festival included a particularly moving Veteran’s Day tribute to all attending service personnel and veterans. At the end of the concert, the choir, band and orchestra joined forces to perform Mansions of  The Lord, a hymn in honor of fallen comrades.

 Photo by Scott McDade

Also ... You'll want to read about the Town Council's plans for your money in the 2012 town budget story in today's paper.

From the Police Blotter:

1:53 p.m.: Lucky Day – La Conner business turned in a found wallet. The wallet had an ID card so deputies tracked him down and returned his wallet just as he was being released from jail.

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