Week of June 30th

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Booze burglars are back - Sandy Stokes

It happened again. Someone broke into the Station House Bar & Grill on Morris Street and stole eight bottles of hard liquor during the pre-dawn hours of Friday, June 23. Chef Grace Courthwaite was the first person in to work that day, and noticed glass all over the floor in the bar area from a window at the back of the building that had been busted out.

Summer Saved - Skagit County Sheriff's Deputy Mart Steiner delivered new bicycles to Logan and Luke Lowry on Monday. The children's bikes were stolen and destroyed by bigger kids on the day school let out for the summer.

[Photo by Alexander Kramer]

Deputy puts wheels back on summer - Alexander Kramer

On the last day of school, the summer celebration turned to grief for two La Conner Elementary students, who stood by helplessly while two older kids stole their bicycles right in front of them. Logan Lowry, 8, and her brother Luke, 7, were playing at school on June 16, when two 12-year-old boys came up and took their bikes.

Community Skateboard Park Fund

As of June 30, the La Conner Skatepark Fund is at $3,824.24 (after a few expenses for the upcoming party). The most recent donation was from the La Conner Booster Club. (Earlier numbers near $5,800 were an error from miscommunication).

For information about the park and ways to support the campaign, you can check out the Facebook page, or call Town Hall @ (360) 466-3125.

This Sunday, from 6-10 pm is a Fourth of July Party on the deck at the south end of First Street. This is a fundraiser for the Skate Park; food, music, beer, wine, and firework-viewing seating will be available (bring your own chairs).

Wholesale Berries - Nate Youngquist of Youngquist Farms brought colorful flats of fresh-picked raspberries and strawberries to the first farmers market for bulk buyers held at the Skagit Valley Food Co-op parking lot last week.

[Photo by Fred Owens]

A farmers market for wholesale buyers - Fred Owens

Skagit farmers have started meeting bulk buyers under a bridge in Mount Vernon. The Puget Sound Food Network with the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, opened a weekly wholesale farmers market last Thursday in the portion of the co-op parking lot beneath the Riverside Drive viaduct. The market is designed for restaurants, grocery stores and institutional buyers. The location underneath the Riverside Drive overpass means farmers don't have to set up a canopy to keep the sun and rain off their produce. Plus, it's very close to the Kincaid Street exit on Interstate 5.

Reporter's notebook--
Surprise encounter with Louisa's kin  - Janna Gage

Shortly after last week's paper with the story about Louisa A. Conner's recently discovered memoir rolled off the press, the great-great-granddaughter of the town's namesake just happened to show up in town. Cindy Abrams, who lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, picked up a copy of La Conner Weekly News at La Conner Fruit & Produce Market. On the front page was the story I had written about Louisa A. Conner's account of her adventures in Colorado from a memoir that the Conner family in Colorado knew nothing about. "I've visited the hotels John and Louisa Conner started in Colorado. They are still there. But this memoir blew me away!" exclaimed Abrams.
The third installment of Louisa A. Conner's memoir is also in this week's paper, on page 4.

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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!

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Week of June 23

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Sun power shines in La Conner - Alexander Kramer

La Conner is seeking investors to finance the town's proposed solar project at the wastewater treatment plant. To let people know, Town Administrator John Doyle arranged a public workshop with industry professionals. Mike Nelson, the representative for Silicon Energy, the state's only manufacturer of solar panels, talked about the benefits of using solar energy and explained the state and federal incentives for people to invest in them.

Bubbly Outlook - Merissa George took a break from bubble blowing to take a peek through one of her soapy creations.

[Photo by Amylynn Richards]

Council to consider marketing position - Sandy Stokes

The La Conner Town Council will consider hiring a "Facilities Event Coordinator" to attract more bookings for Maple Hall, the Garden Club and Pioneer Park. Councilwoman Cindy Tracey and Councilman Stuart Welch, who make up the council's facilities committee, want their coleagues to approve a proposal to spend up to $7,500 for a person to book events during the remainder of the year.

Sky Eyes - A bald eagle watches the world from a lofty porch.

[Photo by Don Coyote]

Community Skateboard Park Fund

As of June 23, the La Conner Skatepark Fund has collected a total $5,863.72! The most recent donation was from the La Conner Booster Club last week.

For information about the park and ways to support the campaign, you can check out the Facebook page, or call Town Hall @ (360) 466-3125.

Tonight at 6 pm there is a Skate Park Meeting at Maple Hall. Plans for Fourth of July will be discussed.

Hop into Summer - The school year ended on a high note for Andre Knudson, Ketelina O'Brien and Shannen John, who participated in a sack race during the La COnner Elementary School play day last week.

[Photo by Amylynn Richards]

From L.A. Conner's Memoir - Janna Gage

In Louisa A. Conner's recently discovered personal memoir, we learn how the woman La Conner was named for arrived here. The story continues...Swept out of Missouri by the Civil War, John and Louisa arrive in St. Joseph, Missouri, ready to venture west with 30 other families. 

"At noon on Saturday, Aoril 15, 1865, we joined the other campers. The two-wheeled cart behind our wagon contained our bedding, camp chairs and a table that folded down from the side. We corralled the cattle at night or let them graze, with always some one of us on watch..."

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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 June 16th

Town Council gets a pay raise - Sandy Stokes

 The Town of La Conner will pay its elected council members $150 oer month and should let them pay for their own health insurance benefits, according to an order by the town's Salary Commission. A five-member commisison was appointed by Mayor Ramon Hayes in February to establish compensation for La Conner Town Council members. The commission's order takes effect this month and is not subject to council approval. Council pay is set at $150 per month, the commission decided, and the mayor's salary is $500.

Grads - Members of La Conner High School's Class of 2010 stepped into their futures through cedar arches at their graduation ceremony last Thursday. Among them were Kristen Cook, left, and Skyler Hardy.

[Photo by Amylynn Richards]

  

Community Skateboard Park Fund

As of June 18, the La Conner Skatepark Fund has collected a total $5,863.72! The most recent donation was from the La Conner Booster Club.

For information about the park and ways to support the campaign, you can check out the Facebook page, or call Town Hall @ (360) 466-3125.

Solar power crash course

Wondering whether putting solar panels on your home's roof is a good idea? The town of La Conner is sponsoring a public workshop for homeowners and businesses at  Maple Hall at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 17. Town Administrator John Doyle has arranged an informational evening with experts in the field of photovoltaic electricity generation on hand. There will be information on financial incentives for homeowners.  

Golf carts could be street legal in town - Alexander Kramer

The Town Council may decide to make it legal for residents to putt around La Conner in golf carts. A state law that took effect last week allows municipalities to designate golf cart zones on street with speed limits 25 miles per hour or under. The law, Senate Bill 6207, allows towns to set their own rules regarding golf cart use. Last Tuesday the Town Council directed Code Enforcement Officer Bill Stokes to do the necessary research for a possible ordinance allowing golf carts in La Conner.

Historic find: L. A. Conner's memoir - Janna Gage

La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum received a box from a descendent of Louisa A. Conner. Inside was a small quilt made by Louisa, and the quilt was offered as a loan for display at the museum. The box also contained some photographs, a christening gown, and nine-page memoir. Apparently transcribed from Louisa Conner's own words, the memoir spans the period from her birth to her arrival in the little settlement that would become the town name for her. This is the first in a series that explores the contents of the recently discovered personal memoir of Louisa A. Conner, who died in 1932. 

Louisa A. Siegfried Conner's story begins on April 6, 1843, when she was born to James C. Siegfried and Mary C. Willet, on her father's farm near Hanover, Pennsylvania. Louisa Siegfried was four when her family, which grew to include her sister Mary Catherine and brother Francis, moved to Libertytown, Marlyand. The children's mother died in 1853 when Louisa was 10...

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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 June 9th

What can be found in this week's paper:

Boys & Girls Club closing for summer - Alexander Kramer

The grade books will be closing soon with the approach of summer, and so will the local Boys & Girls Club due to a lack of funding. "The La Conner Boys and Girls Club has a budget of $100,000 for the year, which allows us to stay open for four days a week, but only during school," said Kim Grams, the La Conner branch's executive director.

Congratulations, La Conner 2010 Seniors!

This week is the Graduation issue, and on the back are all the senior photos, as well as the local businesses that send their support.

The festrering fire fiasco - Sandy Stokes

Fire District 13 and the Town of La Conner have been sending letters back and forth, and it seems they've both dug in their heels. The town, which oversees La Conner Volunteer Fire Department and Fire District 13, are co-owners of the La Conner fire station near the roundabout on Chilberg Road, just east of town. In the most recent letter volley, the Town Council reject Fire District 13's request to amend their operating agreement concerning the fire station, and then the Firs District 13 commission gave six months notice it was cancelling the agreement. 

 Facing Forward - La Conner High School seniors-to-be Isabel Sible and Katherine Jensen had fun with face paint during the Spring Thing on Friday.

[Photo by Amylynn Richards]

Solar power crash course

Wondering whether putting solar panels on your home's roof is a good idea? The town of La Conner is sponsoring a public workshop for homeowners and businesses at  Maple Hall at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 17. Town Administrator John Doyle has arranged an informational evening with experts in the field of photovoltaic electricity generation on hand. There will be information on financial incentives for homeowners.  

Community Skateboard Park Fund

As of June 10, the La Conner Skatepark Fund has collected $2,320.50 from various donors, and help from the La Conner Seniors.

For information about the park and ways to support the campaign, you can check out the Facebook page, or call Town Hall @ (360) 466-3125.

Slack Tide - The La Conner waterfront and its canopy of clouds is reflected in mirror-like water during the still before the tide change.

[Photo by Don Coyote]

Creativity stuffed into 'Hole in the Wall' - Alexander Kramer

Hole int he Wall is more than the place where Swinomish Channel opens into Skagit Bay. It is also the name of a creative collection of writings by La Conner High School students. The fifth edition of "Hole in the Wall," the anthology, has just been released. 

Hole in the Wall is available for $5 through the high school office, 466-3173.  

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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 June 2nd

 In this week's paper:

Full jail means criminals roam free - Sandy Stokes

Police blotter readers will recognize this line: "The jail was too crowded, so the man was booked and released." That begs the question: How many people does the Skagit County Jail hold? The quick answer: There are 180 prisoner beds. On Tuesday, there were 188 inmates in the jail; four more were being housed in Snohomish County, and another 38 were serving sentences at home wearing ankle bracelets for monitoring.

Toddler Owl - This hatchling owl, still covered in down, was found on the ground near the Swinomish Channel on Tuesday afternoon. It appeared the young bird had fallen from a nest in the rafter of the old Moore-Clark building. The owl has taken to Anacortes abd turned over to a Wolf Hollow Rehabilitation Center volunteer, who planned to transport the little animal by ferry to the rehabber's facility in Friday Harbor.

[Photo by Bill Stokes]

Community Skateboard Park Fund

We're still working on getting the official numbers for donations to the fund, and will keep a running tally until we raise the full amount. For information about the park and ways to support the campaign, you can check out the Facebook page, or call Town Hall @ (360) 466-3125.

Orange Eating - One of the "how to be a kid" lessons offered in the middle school's musical production is the proper way to eat oranges, as demonstrated by Ariana Bolton, Rachel Hastings, Madisom Smith, and Tess Bruland. The performances are 7:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.

[Photo by Scott McDade]

Have some lessons in kid-style living - Scott McDade

Ever wonder why kids have more fun? You'll find the answer on stage next week! The madcap musical, "How to Eat Like A Child (And Other Lessons in NOT Being A Grown-Up)," will be presented at 7:30 p.m. next Monday and Tuesday, June 7 and 8, in the La Conner school auditorium. Admission is free. 

Eyes leave road, crash ensues - Amylynn Richards

A La Conner High School senior ran a stop sign and hit a pickup driven by an Anacortes man Friday. According to the Washington State Patrol, Derek Reinhardt, 18, of La Conner, failed to stop his 1997 Jeep Wrangler at the intersection of  Young and Best roads at about 6:22 p.m. on Friday.

No accord between fire district and town - Sandy Stokes

La Conner and Fire District 13, which surrounds the town, are at impasse. The Town Council unanimously rejected the fire district's proposed changes to the operating agreement concerning the fire station the town and district co-own. Then the district's fire commissioners gave the town six months notice that it will terminate the agreement. 

 [Editorial cartoon by A. Atoms Mousey]

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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.