August 11, 2010

Dusk on the Swinomish Channel, looking away from the setting sun.

 [Photo by Don Coyote]

Town & Fire District bury hatchet for now -- Sandy Stokes

The Town of La Conner acquiesced to the demands of Fire District 13 on Tuesday during a joint meeting of the elected governing boards of the two agencies. The Fire District is changing the operating agreement concerning the La Conner Fire Department, which is co-owned by both agencies.

MOTH TRAPPER -- Ron Lake sets traps all over Skagit County during his annual hunt for gypsy moths.  [Photo by Fred Owens]

Hunt for the dreaded Moth-zilla -- Fred Owens

Ron Lake has been trying to trap gypsy moths for four years. How many has he caught?
"None, so far" he said. "and that's a good thing."
Lake, who works for the Washington Department of Agriculture, is part of a team that sets 22,000cardboard traps around the state. Gypsy moth larvae, fuzzy little caterpillars, are voracious and strip leaves off plants, killing them. The state works hard to keep them away because they are a major threat to agriculture.

FEMA Flood Map meeting on Thursday, Aug. 12

La Conner, Skagit County and federal officials will be at Maple Hall at 6 p.m. tomorrow to answer questions about the newest versions of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
Most of La Conner is in a floodplain, and most residents pay into the federal flood insurance program -- annual premiums are usually much higher than homeowners insurance. The maps essentially determine who has to pay. FEMA will take public comments on the maps through September and then they will become final.

ANTIQUE AUTO -- Members of the Horseless Carriage Club of America were driving through La Conner last week in cars more than 100 years old. Scott and Nancy Taylor of Sequim were here for a buggy ride. [Photo by Kane Stokes]

This week's issue, with these stories and many more, 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 August 4th

Golf carts street legal in La Conner - Alexander Kramer

Residents can now drive golf carts in La Conner, provided they register with the town first. On Tuesday, July 20, the La Conner Town Council unanimously passed Ordinance 1050, which authorizes the use of golf carts within the town. This was spurred on by a state law that in June allowed municipalities to create golf cart zonez on roads in their control with speed limits 25 miles per hour or lower. Town Code Enforcement Officer Bill Stokes wrote the ordinance that was presented to the Town Council last week, after he spent a month researching and talking with other cities with golf cart zones.

On Kiket Island - Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire was on hand for the dedication of the state's newest park, which is co-owned by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Here Gregoire stans with Mike Cladoosby, and his son, Tribal Chairman Brian Cladoosby.

[Photo by Amylynn Richards]

Private ceremony marks dedication of Kiket Island - Amylynn Richards

Swinomish tribal officials treated about 200 guests including Governor Christine Gregoire to a seafood lunch on Kiket Island for Friday's dedication of the state's newest park. After two years of negotiations, which nearly fell through, the State Parks Commission's $14 million purchase of the 84-acre property has the land now co-owned by the state and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Now the island is part of Deception Pass State Park and is open for limited public access, with a permit issued by the tribe.

View from Kiket - Deception Pass Bridge, wearing a veil of fog, as seem from the beach on Kiket Island, the state's newest park purchase.

[Photo by Amylynn Richards]

Town and Fire District meet - Sandy Stokes

After months of tensions escalating with each letter going between the two agencies, the La Conner Town Council and Fire District 13 Commissioners will sit down to talk face-to-face next Tuesday. The two entities have been haggling over their operating agreement for the La Conner Fire Station, which is co-owned by the town and fire district, which surrounds the town. Fire District Chief Roy Horn said the Aug. 10 meeting will be held at the district's Snee-Oosh Road fire station. Initially, the town announced it as a 6 p.m. meeting.

Read the Town Council and District 13 letters in full here.



 New Pavilion at Swinomish - Alexander Kramer

Construction has begun on a welcoming pavilion and park for next year's Canoe Journey Landing, which will be at Swinomish. On the waterfront across from La Conner's Gilkey Square. the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is building a facility on 37 acres to accommodate 7,500 people and about 100 canoes from tribes throughout Washington and British Columbia. "The park and pavilion are a long-term goal," says Aurelia Washington, coordinator of Canoe Journey, Paddle to Swinomish 2011, to be held July 25 to 31. "Of course, we want to get as much done before next July for the Canoe Journey," she said. Construction on the pavilion is expected to start this November.

 Avid Walkers - La Conner residents Nina and Dick Dorsten stand in front of their Morris Street home where the garden is bright with summer blooms. The Dorsten's greet everyone in town on their daily walks, hand-in-hand.

[Photo by Marci Plank]

--------
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 July 28th

See the letters between District 13 and La Conner here.


 Heart defibrillators recalled - Sandy Stokes

The defibrillators used by rescue workers in Skagit County to resuscitate heart attack victims have been recalled. The recall affects about 80 automatic external defibrillators purchased by the Skagit County Emergency Medical Services for every fire department and first responder in the county. In the recall notice, Cardiac Science and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have said there is a possibility that the defibrillators, which are used to shock an irregularly beating heart into a normal rhythm, could fail during a resuscitation attempt.

Rural Decor - John Christianson, who owns the nursery down the road from this roundabout at Best and McLean roads, made the traffic circle attractive, as well as functional.

[Photo by Sue Phillips]

A hero--in a roundabout way - Sue Phillips

The landscaping at the roundabout at Best and McLean roads is anything but drab. During this year's Tulip Festival, the planting beds at the roundabout were ablaze with the most incredible display of tulips, luring some motorists out of their way just to drive past them. Now, a rust-colored display of vintage farm equipment is the centerpiece of a landscape featuring flowering shrubs and annuals and a young tree that will be magnificent in coming years.

Wedding photo - Thomas Nelson Ovenell married Hattie Elizabeth Callahan in La Conner on June 2, 1890.


106th Pioneer Picnic in Pioneer Park - Dan Royal

The Skagit County Pioneer Association will gather for the 106th time next week for its annual picnic and meeting to be held at Pioneer Park. The picnic, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 5, at Pioneer Oark will feature live music, a car show, historic photos of Skagit County and the families who are being honored this year, according to association president Sue Kelder of Mount Vernon. Everyone is invited to attend, and there is n charge, but anyone who would like to join the Pioneer Association can register and pay $2 for an annual membership and receive a colorful badge, ribbon and information.

 Braves Cheerleaders - The La Conner High School Cheer Squad for the coming school year won lots of awards at the NCA CheerLeadership Camp held in Ellensburg last week. In their camp photo, next year's cheerleaders standing in the back row, from left, are Kaylee Dykes, Maggie Benetti, Hailey York, Jillian Bruce, Ashley Norton. In the center row, from left, are Hilary Edwards, Gracie Garcia, Kristin Dorr, Amanda Handstad, Carly Crawford, Aiyana Guzman and Dianne Quintasket. Back-to-back in front are Katherine Jensen, left, and Isabel Sible.

--------
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 July 21st

Fire District and Town in toxic stink fight - Sandy Stokes

Town and fire district officials are feuding and fuming. Letters have been flying back and forth between the Town of La Conner and Fire District 13--but the town council and fire commissioners haven't even talked to each other. Now, according to the last missive from the fire district, there is no need for a meeting; the town--with its 325 taxpaying households and 100 small businesses--can just pony up several thousand dollars to buy out the fire district's half of the station they co-own.

Honda commercial fouls afternoon traffic - Alexander Kramer

A film crew recently caused a traffic jam for La Conner motorists on the Rainbow Bridge. Late Monday afternoon, traffic was slowed so that a crew from Lodestar Films, Inc. could film on the bridge. The crew was able to stage their equipment in Pioneer Park, adjacent to the bridge. According to film crew location manager Ken Coble, the crew was "producing running footage for Honda commercials for local dealerships. These were random shots, not a specific shot for one commercial." These types of shots are edited and spliced together in several different commercials.

Cool move - This is Will Davis demonstrating the summer art of boogie boarding on a Slip 'N Slide. The third-grader's family owns Queen of the Valley Inn  near La Conner.

[Photo by Kristen Morse]

Town eyes cuts to police service

The La Conner Town Council is schedule to consider a new contract for police services that would cut in half the number of officers assigned to the town to save money. Mayor Ramon Hayes said he's been negotiating with the Skagit County Sheriff's Office to provide 100 hours of dedicated service per week. The town wants to spend about $301,000 he said, and the county has proposed a price of $325,000 for the service. 

Softball champs - This is the South Skagit Little League All Star Team, which included five La Conner girls, Kahneesha Casey, Chloe Fullington, Matty Lagerway, Sarah McCormick and Ashley Watkins, with their Mount Vernon teammates, Kailey Hanger, Shay Kendrick, Annie McRoberts, Rosie McRoberts, Samantha Silver and Savannah Verdugo. Their coaches are Jeff McRoberts, Maury Kendrick and Jay Silver. The girls won the District 11 Championship and then went on to the state competition.

[Photo by Candace Charles]

Feeding the hungry here at home - Reverend George Lockwood

An effort is underway to continue the La Conner food bank that has been run informally, out of the home of Kevin Sunrise and his wife Amy Han for the last five years. A group of caring citizens has been meeting over the last month to gather information on how to take over the food bank and keep it running for our local residents. Kevin's food bank has served an average of about a dozen individuals and families each week, and the need continues. The clients are estimated to be about 50 percent Hispanic and 25 percent Native American, with the remaining composed of Euro-Americans and other ethnic groups, including elderly people, young families, and residents of the Shelter Bay community.

 --------
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.

July 7 2010 edition

 

(If the page looks weird today, it's because Alex is off this week.)

Canoe Journey: A colorful flotilla of traditional Coast Salish canoes came through the channel along the La Conner water front and visited Swinomish as paddlers from throughout Washington and British Columbia make their way to Neah Bay for the 2010 Canoe Journey. -- Photo by Ann Smock, courtesy Swinomish Kee Yoks

Former Mayor Wayne Everton died

Many in La Conner are mourning the death of Wayne Everton, who died on Thursday, July 8, at the age of 83. Wayne was La Conner's Mayor from 2003 to 2008 and was instrumental  in establishing the La Conner Weekly News. He is survived by his wife Bev of La Conner and sons Mitch of Anacortes and Mark of California. Here at the paper, we remember him most for his quick, witty comments and deadpan humor.

A hippie-era artist's colony

By Anna Ferdinand

I was just a child when my mother led me through fields, up and over a forest ridge and along wood-plank walkways to Fishtown. 

We stayed in the small wooden cabin of Tim Skinner, perched on the waterfront where the Skagit River met the bay ....

This is the start of the piece on the "Fishtown and Skagit River" exhibit at the Museum of Northwest Art, woven into a colorful word picture of the time and place in a way that only Anna Ferdinand can tell the story. 

 Fishtown, 1979 -- Photo by David King 

on exhibit at Museum of Northwest Art

The paper is on sale in the red news boxes along Morris and First Streets and also at the gas station, drug store, book store and produce market. Inside you'll find our local talent: Jim's Pull & Be Damned, Mickey's Nuggets from Norway, Anna's wine find, and of course, the ever-popular police blotter.