Week of May 5th

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

What you can find in this week's copy:

Blacktop Omelet - Most eggs were goners when the La Conner Elementary School students held their annual science fair experimental egg drop. Some students were shocked at the outcome. Pictured here from left are Gavin Brown, Luke Lowry, Katie Wilkins, Bryce Bolsinger, in back, Elijah Porter, under a hat, Daniel Rapada, in front, and Kennedy Miller. 

[Photo by Amylynn Richards]

Our Miss Brooks -- 1950's sitcom on school stage - Scott McDade

Our Miss Brooks, one of the most popular comedies of all time, returns to La Conner auditorium this week for five performances, Thursday through Sunday. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. There are two matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. 

You can order tickets--$5 a seat-- in advance by calling the District Office (360) 466-3171

Wild 'N Crazy Birds - This is the good ship Tangywasser, owned by Gary Baugh, who, with his brother Bill, put on feathers to become the Flying Flamingo Brothers, delighting spectators for Saturday's Swinomish Yacht Club opening day boat parade on Swinomish Channel. The parade theme was "Get Your Flamingo On," and the Baugh brothers' creation took first place.

[Photo by Steve Elston]

A new way to hire teachers: Let the kids decide - Amylynn Richards

Applicants for teaching jobs in La Conner School District need to impress more than just school administrators--they have to pass muster with students. As part of a new program this year, 19 high school students were included on panels to interview prospective teachers for four positions at the middle and high school.

Tribe and state team up for island park - Sandy Stokes

The on-again, off-again purchase of a small island for a state park near La Conner is back on the State Parks and Recreation Commission agenda this week. Recommended for commission approval on Thursday is a deal that would make the state and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community co-owners of the 97-acre property that is presently in private ownership and lies within the boundaries of the Swinomish Reservation.

 Now Showing - This work of art is the "Slippa Quilt" and part of the Collaborative Journey exhibit on display now at La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum.

[Photo courtesy of the museum]

Fireworks Fund

The goal this year to raise money for this year's Fourth of July fireworks show was $4,700. Marci Plank from the Chamber of Commerce says the show is for certain, with $4,705 donated total by:

• Dunlap Towing
• WAVE Broadband
• Shelter Bay Community
• La Conner Country Inn
• La Conner Pub & Eatery
• La Conner Yacht Sales
• La Conner Weekly News
• Nell Thorn Restaurant
• Pionner Potatoes & Thulen Farms
• Olive Shoope & Ginger Grater
• Garry and Zayna Cline
• Corky and Carol Erikson
• Dana and Charles Heald
• Janis Hatch
• Liz Theaker
• Rotary Club of La Conner
• Soroptomist International of La Conner
• Swinomish Yacht Club

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Week of April 28

In this week's La Conner News:

Pick up a copy to get more news, photos, and articles!

Flyboys -  These La Conner Middle School students were in the airplane building class and are now in the after-school Advanced Aviation Club to fly their planes in the gym. Displaying their class projects are, from left, Jacek Knudson, Keith Carlton, and David Thomas.

 [Photo by Sammie Bisson]

Soaring in the classroom - Alexander Kramer

Students at La Conner Middle School are busy cutting, gluing, and even flying planes they make in class. Middle school Vince Cicotte, a 13-year veteran of La Conner schools, has been teaching kids to build and fly model airplanes for almost a decade. It started years ago, when Cicotte brought a remote-controlled plane to school to fly during his lunch breaks.

Measles threat worries schools - Sandy Stokes

An outbreak of measles in British Columbia and its spread to Seattle prompted La Conner School District to send a letter home to parents on Monday, urging them to make sure their children's immuinzations are up to date. According to the county Health Department, more than 70 cases of measles were confirmed in British Columbia. At least one Canadian measles victim traveled to Seattle, potentially infecting others. 

Boat Parade Saturday

Saturday, May 1 will offer proof that summer is approaching. Dozens of boats, some of which may be sporting retro yard ornaments, will liven up the Swinomish Yacht Club's annual Opening Day Boat Parade. The parade is themed, "Get Your Flamingo On," which leaves room for lots of imaginative boat decor. It starts at 3 p.m. snd cruises from the La Conner Marina, past the town's waterfront to Shelter Bay.

 

 Oops! - Soaking wet in pouring rain, the pink baton slipped out of Concrete runner Greg McIntosh's hand, as his relay race teammate DJ Mitchell stands horrified in the background during Friday's track meet. With Concrete knocked out of the race, Dylan Christie of Crescent, center, and La Conner Braves Sten Mejlaender, right, ran neck-and-neck the rest of the race and finished within milliseconds of each other. Nobody was hurt by the flying baton.

[Photo by Amylynn Richards]

The greenest home in town - Alexander Kramer

For years, La Conner residents Gary and Leigh Giovane have been eco-conscious, looking for greener options in their daily lives. Very soon, they will take a greener step. This week the Giovanes will have solar panels and solar water-heaters on their house.

 

Fireworks Fund

In order to save this year's Fourth of July fireworks show, $4,700 must be raised. So far, about $4,305 has been donated by:

• Dunlap Towing
• WAVE Broadband
• Shelter Bay Community
• Palmer's Restaurant
• Nell Thorn
• La Conner Weekly News
• Liz Theaker
• Janis Hatch
• Thulen Farms
• Pionner Potatoes
• Charles and Dana Heald
• La Conner Country Inn
• La Conner Pub and Eatery
• Swinomish Yacht Club
• Rotary Club of La Conner

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Paper is on sale in stores and newsracks in La Conner, WA. Or it can be mailed to any address in the United States.

Don't miss a single issue!

To subscribe or for ad rates, please call us at (360) 466-3315.

Week of April 21st

In this week's La Conner News:

Pick up a copy to get more news, photos, and articles!

Bye-Bye Blossom - Alas, with the topping of the tulip fields, we have to wait another year for the spectacular blossoms that bring thousands of visitors to Skagit Valley.

[Photo by Sammie Bisson]

Tulips brought the world to our doorstep - Fred Owens

Adrian Jansen and Andrew Boyton came from Spalding, England to view the tulip fields in the Skagit Valley. "It looks just like the fields back home," Boyton said, "except we don't have mountains in the background." The British visitors were among more than 30 delegates from six countries attending the World Tulip Summit held here last week.

Looking Under - This inspection crew was giving the Rainbow Bridge a thorough checkup from top to bottom and end to end recently.

[Photo by Alexander Kramer]

Rainbow Bridge gets a check-up - Alexander Kramer

A crew of county and state inspectors recently combed over the Rainbow Bridge to check the 53-year-old bridge's overall health. This was "part of a regularly scheduled in-depth inspection," said Jerald Dodson, who works for the Washington State Department of Transportation's Bridge Preservation Office.

Swinomish Earth Day Saturday Sunday

 EDIT: Due to schedule conflicts, the Swinomish Earth Day is now set for this Sunday.

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community will celebrate the planet with an eco-conscious community event everyone is invited to attend. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. volunteers can come help out at the Swinomish Community Center on Reservation Road. Old electronics such as televisions, computers, and monitors can be dropped off for recycling. The LCHS Earth Club will also be selling "salsa bowl" planter boxes with tomatoes, cilantro, onions, garlic and peppers. Proceeds will buy fresh produce for families that can't afford it.

  

Check out 'Notes from Pull & Be Damned'. 

More local writers are available in the paper, so subscribe today!

Police Blotter 

An 80-year-old "Tree-of-Heaven" recently fell due to old age, strong winds, and finally a saw. In its place stands the sculpture of an eagle by Everett artist Lance Carleton.

Fireworks Fund

 In order to save this year's Fourth of July fireworks show, $4,700 must be raised. So far, about $3,200 has been donated by: 

• Dunlap Towing
• WAVE Broadband
• Shelter Bay Community
• Palmer's Restaurant
• Nell Thorn
• La Conner Weekly News
• Liz Theaker
• Janis Hatch

 

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Paper is on sale in stores and newsracks in La Conner, WA. Or it can be mailed to any address in the United States.

Don't miss a single issue!

To subscribe or for ad rates, please call us at (360) 466-3315.

Week of April 14th

In this week's La Conner Weekly News:

Tense Moment - It was the fourth inning, and the bases were loaded, when La Conner Braves' Kyle McKnight ran past Friday Harbor's third baseman Roy Taylor during their April 6 baseball game

[Photo by Amylynn Richards]

Tulips, tourists and a happy town - Sandy Stokes

Thousands of tourists converged on La Conner. Their cars spilled out of the pay parking lots on both ends of town and lined nearly every residential street. And cash registers all over town were making sounds that are music to merchants' ears.

Breathtaking - Can you blame all the visitors who drive for hours for a glimpse of what our local bulb farmers grow nearby? And we get to live here.

[Photo by Kirsten Morse]

 

What? No fireworks? - Alexander Kramer and Sandy Stokes

 La Conner's Chamber of Commerce is soliciting donations to pull together the $4,500 needed for this year's 4th of July fireworks display.

Older Jim Smith (Notes from Pull-And-Be Damned) and Mickey Bambrick (Nuggets from Norway) can be found here.

Don't forget to pick up this week's issue for the latest from our entertaining local writers.

Equine Eyewear - It's too soon to say whether this is the next fashion fad. On Saturday, this miniature was the only horse in town wearing sunglasses. The bespectacled equine was delighting crowds during the Kiwanis Not-So-Impromptu Parade.

[Photo by Annabelle Vergne]

Tulips: Resilient beauties - Alexander Kramer

As last weekend demonstrated, each year, huge crowds of tourists come to view snow geese and spring tulips. This year is no different, even though April, the Tulip Festival month, began with less-than-nice weather.

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Paper is on sale in stores and newsracks in La Conner, WA. Or it can be mailed to any address in the United States.

Don't miss a single issue!

To subscribe or for ad rates, please call us at (360) 466-3315. 

Week of April 7th

In this week's La Conner Weekly News: 

Glorious Color -- This stunning view at Tulip Town is one of the attractions that lure visitors to Skagit Valley every spring. 

[Photo by Sammie Bisson]

 Refinery explosion jolted local residents - Amylynn Richards

The Deadly blast at the Tesoro refiery on March Point near Anacortes was felt all the way to Shelter Bay. The explosion occured at 12:40 a.m. Friday, April 2 as employees performed routine maintenance in a highly flammable are of the refinery...

Growing Pains: Library needs more room - Alexander Kramer

The La Conner Regional Library is feeling cramped, and the hunt is on for a new space. In the past few months, the library's staff and Board of Trustees have been talking about the possibility of moving to a larger space...

Happy Hitter -- La Conner Brave's Tommy Peth hits a good one and runs for home during ;ast week's baseball game against Shoreline Christian.

[Photo by Amylynn Richards]

Local tulips draw international delegation - Fred Owens

Throughout the world, the tulip is a treasured flower. In Europe and Asia, gardeners cultivate tulips and gather for festivals this time of year. In Canada, the blooms come later, in May, and in Australia and South America, it is time for blossoms in October...

Older Jim Smith (Notes from Pull-And-Be Damned) and Mickey Bambrick (Nuggets from Norway) can be found here.

Don't forget to pick up the latest stories by these hilarious local writers.

Egg Hunter -- Ian Hamilton of La Conner plans his egg-hunting strategy during the La Conner Firemen's Association Easter Egg Hunt held in Pioneer Park on Saturday.

[Photo by Amylynn Richards]

Police Blotter

Friday April 2 

1:50 p.m.: Suspicious -- Caller reported unknown car was parked in their driveway, 200 block Maple Ave. in La Conner. The deputy contacted owner, who was shopping in La Conner, and the car was moved.

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Paper is on sale in stores and newsracks in La Conner, WA. Or it can be mailed to any address in the United States.

Don't miss a single issue!

To subscribe or for ad rates, please call us at (360) 466-3315.