In the January 26, 2011 issue

 2008 file photo by Anna Ferdinand

History, news & darn good bread

Dick Fallis: 1926 – 2011

Richard “Dick” Fallis, the historian, author and former newspaper publisher who helped put La Conner on the National Register of Historic Places, died at his La Conner home a few days shy of his 85^th birthday on Thursday, Jan. 20.

Dick was a publisher of the historic Puget Sound Mail, which was the oldest continuously published newspaper in Washington State until it closed in 1983 after a run of 103 years. Later was the “Breadman of Mount Vernon,” after he opened the Bridgside Bread Co. downtown.  

He was also the driving force behind several works of public art, including granite sculptures by  artist Tracey Powel of Jasper Gates in downtown Mount Vernon and “The Embrace,” to honor his wife Bernice, at the Cancer Care Facility in Mount Vernon.

A celebration of Dick’s life is planned Saturday, Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland Ave., Mount Vernon.

 Photo by Ryan Hiller

LIONS & TIGERS & BRAVES, OH MY! – And Seahawks and Bulldogs and Cubs! Mix them all up and you get the Skagit County Monster Band, made up of young musicians from Concrete, Burlington-Edison, La Conner, Anacortes, Mount Vernon and Sedro Woolley high schools. The 100-plus member ensemble filled the La Conner High School Landy James Gym with more music than anyone ever imagined possible during the basketball game Saturday night. 

  

 Photo by Maggie Wilder

One of the most venerated Northwest artists, La Conner's Clayton James, is preparing to celebrate his 93rd birthday and his first exhibit in town in many years on Feb. 5 at Gallery Cygnus.  Anna Ferdinand profiles the master beautifully in today's paper.

 From the Police Blotter: 

11:29 a.m.: Citizen assist – A dog inside a vehicle wouldn’t unlock the car door so his owner could retrieve her purse and car keys locked inside, South First Street in La Conner. Deputies had to come and get the door unlocked. (This is better than the stuff we make up!)

 The paper is on sale in the usual places -- the liquor store, drug store, produce market, gas station, book store and even in the newspaper office at 313 Morris Street right next to the Station House.
(Subscribers have it brought to them.)

Weekly La Conner High Sports capsule, Jan. 26, 2010

 

Braves Raves

By Amylynn Richards

ALL-STATE SOCCER

The All-State Soccer teams were announced on Monday, Jan. 24. Selected for the 2010-2011 2B All-State First Team are Kelsey Crawford, forward and Sydney Hartwick, midfield. Selected for Second Team are: Nikki Finley, forward and Sammie Messman, defender. “I am very proud of this year’s results,” says girls soccer coach Amy Freeto, “This is the most players that we have ever had representing us on both first and second teams and this is a great final accolade for the season!”

 GIRLS BASKETBALL

On Tuesday, Jan. 18, the girls hosted Friday Harbor; the Wolverines won 46-38. “The first half of basketball was the best half we have played this year; we were up 1 at halftime,” reports Coach Marla Quesnell, “The second half we struggled from the field a bit.  It was disappointing to lose, but I was thrilled at times with the execution on offense and aggressiveness on defense.”

Team highlights: Nikki Finley was the team’s high scorer with 12 points; Priscilla Ponce-Venegas had 7 rebounds; and Kelley McClung had 6 rebounds.

On Friday, Jan. 21, Cedar Park Christian hosted the Braves. The Braves won 48-26. Coach Quesnell was pleased with the good team effort, and that every team member had the chance to play. Team highlights: Samie Miller was the Braves’ high scorer with 16 points; and Aubrey Stewart had 6 rebounds.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The boys hosted Friday Harbor on Tuesday, Jan. 18. The game was much anticipated by Braves sports fans; both teams were undefeated prior to the game. The Braves took down the Wolverines 72-38. Team highlights: Mike Wilbur and Landy James tied for high scorers, each put 13 points on the score board; and DJ Carr scored 12 points and made six rebounds.

On Tuesday, Jan. 14, the boys traveled to Cedar Park and came home with a 67-35 win. Brave highlights: Landy James scored 25 points; Garrett Wilbur, 11 points; Sten Mejlaender, 8 rebounds; and DJ Carr pulled down 8 rebounds.

The boys were cheered on to a 64-42 victory over Chief Leschi by a “Monster Band” with more than 100 young musicians lead by Brave band leader Brian Fraser. Fraser had filled nearly half the stands with band members from six area high schools.

During the game, Mike Wilbur excelled, racking up 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Landy James scored 17 points; DJ Carr 6 had rebounds; and Kyle McKnight, 4 rebounds.

The Braves are 8-0 in league and 12-2 overall.

WRESTLING

The Braves hosted Concrete and Darrington on Thursday, Jan. 20. Darrington won 60-24 against the Braves, and Concrete won 57-18.  Scoring for the Braves were Hunter Johnson by forfeit versus Darrington,  Ashley Norton with a pin versus  Concrete, Dahlton Zavala and Dan Biladeau with two pins each, and Cameron Wischhusen who won by injury default versus Concrete and by pin versus  Darrington.   

On Saturday,  Jan. 21, nine Braves competed among  16 larger school junior varsity teams at the Lake Stevens Cavelero Tournament. La Conner was the only 2B team in attendance. Most all weight brackets were complete, with sixteen wrestlers competing for first, second and third places. 

The Braves earned third place overall, just behind Lake Stevens and Snohomish high schools.

“We were without several of our team members due to injuries,” reports Coach Mike Compton, “the kids wrestled very well and we came home with two Champions: Travis Silva and Cameron Wischhusen. Silva ad Wischhusen each earned the championship by taking down four opponents by pin.  Dahlton Zavala won second place; Dan Biladeau, William Zeimantz and Nathan Parker placed third in their divisions; and Sid Lease and Robert Duckworth earned fifth overall.

WRESTLER OF THE WEEK

With many athletes performing so well under the pressure of much larger teams, Coach Compton had a difficult time choosing the wrestler of the week. Ultimately, Coach Compton chose Dahlton Zavala because “Dalton had a great week with two pins on Thursday and three first round pins on Saturday before finishing second” overall.