in the March 7, 2012 issue

Fire authority idea still percolating

An idea to combine La Conner, Fire District 13, Anacortes and Guemes Island fire departments into a single agency is moving along. Officials from the four fire departments have been meeting monthly to gather information from each other and from agencies that have successfully merged. Next they'll start talking about how to make a regional Fire Authority work, especially regarding how to pay for it. 

Very busy weekend

Photo by Marci Plank

There were several grand opening and ribbon cuttings in La Conner on Saturday, this one at Pelindaba Lavender. There are new art galleries in town, as well.

Photo by Don Coyote

The new Blackfish Gallery grand opening

Photo by Don Coyote

Several people braved the chilling morning to take a guided tour of the town's newly installed 2012 Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition. Kelly Wynn, who chairs the Arts Commission, led the tour. Here glass artist Lin McJunkin stands with her sculpture, Kelp Totem, installed outside the Quilt Museum.  

Photo by Don Coyote

Artist Stephen Rock was describing his work to create Brush Pile, his sculpture of giant artist's brushes and a pen made of logs. This is installed near Town Hall near the town parking lot. 

New neighbors building a future in La Conner

Writer Adrian Sharpe interviewed our new neighbors and tells us all about the families who will be working on their new Habitat for Humanity homes in the Channel Cove development starting Saturday.

A duplex will be built with the new homeowners doing much of the labor. Jennifer and Roman Rodriguez and their three children will live in one of the duplex units; Salvio and Victoria Hernandez and their two children will live in the other.

Photo by Kirsten Morse

The driver of this car told Sheriff’s Deputies he was traveling at 10 miles per hour when he struck this pole off Chilberg and Hulbert roads near La Conner. Officers didn’t believe him. The 22-year-old driver, who is a La Conner resident, was not injured in the one-vehicle crash, but he was arrested for driving without a license and for a previous outstanding warrant for the same offense. 

From the Police Blotter:
3:23a.m.: Observant neighbor – A group of people were seen scaling a security fence on Dodge Valley Road, near La Conner. The group was seen removing something from the residence by a keen-eyed neighbor, who called the cops. But it was determined that the fence hoppers had permission to be there. They just didn’t have a key. The Sheriff’s Office does encourage neighbors to always call police about any suspicious activity.

Pick up a copy of the paper, which is already in the usual places and in the news stands today. Or subscribe and have it brought to you. 466-3315. 

Braves Sports, March 7, 2012

Photo by Melissa Reynolds

Drawing first blood hurt Braves' State title bid

By Bill Reynolds

Spokane hasn't always been kind to La Conner during its many trips there in search of a State basketball championship.

Now add a wardrobe malfunction to the list of bad breaks that have stymied the Braves' quest for that elusive first title.

It's often been a story of blood, sweat, and tears for La Conner during three dozen State appearances, but perhaps no more so than this past week.

The Braves were leading eventual tourney champ Colfax 21-19 at halftime of their opening round game Thursday when La Conner was assessed a controversial – and, in the minds of many, bogus – technical foul for allegedly failing to properly swap out a bloodstained jersey.

Blood from the cut on an elbow of a Colfax player had rubbed onto the uniform top of La Conner scoring leader Landy James, making the change necessary.

Game officials insisted before the second half began that James leave the floor and don a new jersey.

Which he did.

James and his younger brother, Jamall, also a member of the Braves' team, briefly left the court and switched uniforms. All was good.

Or so everyone thought.

During the sometimes heated five-minute discussion that ensued – involving coaches from both teams – officials assessed a technical against La Conner because the two players hadn't exited all the way to the Braves' locker room to exchange jerseys.

The penalty, resulting in a Colfax trip to the free throw line and Bulldog possession, was for the uniforms being switched "within the confines of the arena," according to courtside observers privy to the confab in front of the midcourt scorer's bench.

Colfax converted a foul shot and scored on its next two possessions to seize command at 24-21, pretty much negating a 17-7 La Conner run that had come at the end of the first half.

Although a Landy James drive to the rack allowed the Braves to briefly regain a 33-32 lead early in the final stanza, momentum had clearly swung Colfax's way.

The Bulldogs closed with a 13-6 spurt triggered by physical post Justin Berarducci, who was to play a big role in Colfax's upset win over Northwest Christian in Saturday's tourney finale.

La Conner, 22-4, was eliminated from the trophy round Friday with a hard-fought 39-37 loss to Dayton, the second straight day the normally high-scoring Braves failed to break the 40-point mark.

La Conner head coach Scott Novak lamented afterward that the Braves' only prolonged shooting slump of the year came at Spokane.

The Braves shot just 14 of 43 from the floor and two of 16 from behind the three-point arc in their 46-38 loss to Colfax.

La Conner didn't help its cause at the foul stripe, either, converting just eight of 17 charity tosses.

Landy James (12), Spencer Novak (12), and Mike Wilbur (10) finished in double-digit scoring for the Braves. Bobby Poulton (2) and Sean Hulbert (2) rounded out the La Conner attack.

Poulton also led the Braves with eight rebounds, continuing his string of fine all-around performances in the post-season.

La Conner held Colfax shooting star Brandon Gfeller to 11 points on four-of-12 shooting.

Berarducci and Jay Hart added 11 and 10 tallies, respectively, for the victors.

La Conner, despite having taken an early 8-2 lead Friday, hit only 14 of 41 field goal attempts against Dayton. The Braves again struggled from the perimeter, missing all but two of their 18 three-pointers.

James again paced La Conner, netting 17 points. Wilbur chipped in 11 points, while Novak (7) and Hulbert (2) also landed on the scoring column.

Garrett Turner (16) and Hayden Fullerton (11) led Dayton, which likewise struggled (13 of 39) from the floor.

Despite the twin losses at Spokane, La Conner did add to its State-best total for State Tournament appearances.

Unfortunately, this year's tourney also marked the final go-rounds for La Conner seniors Wilbur, Poulton, Landy James, and Jared Fohn, who formed the nucleus of a Braves' squad that both started and ended the year among Washington's elite 2B programs.

And while a trickle of blood might've helped thwart La Conner at Spokane, Braves' fans say there's no denying the heart of a club that went undefeated in league play and defeated 3A Sedro-Woolley on the Cubs' hardwood.

In a related note:

*The annual Erik Tjersland Memorial-La Conner Alumni Basketball Tournament tips off this Friday, March 9, at Landy James Gym, with four teams vying for the 2012 crown. Games are set for 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:15 p.m., and the 8:15 p.m. title contest.    

Photo by Karla Reynolds

Lady Braves hope to sparkle on softball diamond

By Bill Reynolds

The La Conner High girls' softball team is out to prove a rebuilding season can be Bliss-ful.

New Lady Braves' head coach Michael Bliss greeted a short roster with just one senior – Jazmin Snyder – to early season workouts this week on the La Conner campus.

La Conner will try to rebuild this spring after heavy graduation losses following a deep State playoff run a year ago.

"We have a young team," concedes Bliss, "but I think that can work to our advantage because if we stay together we have a chance of being a strong team not only this year but in the years ahead."

In many ways, Bliss is blessed.

Lacking depth, La Conner can still take the quality versus quantity approach.

The Braves can do so even at arguably the most important position on the diamond – in the pitcher's circle.

"Pitching," he says, "will be one of our strengths, as well as our infield play."

Bliss can count on polished hurler Emma Christianson to tame opposing lineups, blending a lively fastball and array of off-speed pitches with an ability to consistently find the strike zone.

"I definitely look at Emma as a leader because she's our number one pitcher," says Bliss. "I also think she has the ability and character to be a leader."

Bliss, who will be joined in the La Conner dugout by veteran assistant coach Peg Seeling, says he also sees that leadership role being shared with La Conner's small but skilled corps of returnees.

"I view them as strong leaders," says Bliss, "and I look forward to seeing how each of them develops over the year."

Two of those key returnees will be coming back from injuries, and eager to rediscover the groove.

Hayleigh Summers was on the shelf last year, while third baseman Taysha James was recently cleared for softball after sitting out the basketball campaign with knee issues.

Madison McCoy, Kaitlyn Cultee, Siomi Bobb, Kelley McClung, and Snyder bring versatility and experience to the table. Bobb and McClung will be transitioning from the hardwood, having played for La Conner High's girls' hoop team that qualified for Regionals.

They will be joined by another La Conner basketball team member, sophomore first baseman Lauren Reynolds, a transfer from Mart High School, in Central Texas.

"At this point," Bliss says, "I'm happy with the team and where we are as a group. I think these players have what it takes to compete."

As far as La Conner's competition goes, the first-year mentor is embracing a time-honored coach's mantra.

Bliss is going to take things one game at a time, if that.

"I think each team we play will present new challenges," he says. "As cliché as it sounds, our approach is going to be to take it one inning at a time, one day at a time, and focus on right now."

in the Feb. 29, 2012 issue

Big news that didn't make it to print:

State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, announced last night that the State Senate's proposed budget includes $750,000 in bond funding to go towards the first phase of La Conner's boardwalk.

The first phase of 2,700-foot-long boardwalk along the town’s waterfront will connect Gilkey Square with the Palmer’s Restaurant building.

Next: The State House of Representatives, will consider this plan before a final budget makes its way to the governor's desk to be signed. (Our Reps are Barbara Bailey, 360-786-7914, and Norma Smith, 360-678-3604.)

 Photo by Bill Stokes

Look at the monster that washed up with high tide – La Conner’s Public Works crew had to work on Sunday using a backhoe and a loader to pull this huge stump from under the gangway at the town’s public boat launch off Sherman Street. When the tide went out, the walkway was high in the air, and in danger of being damaged.

Photo by Adrian Sharpe

This is "Brush Pile" one of 7 new sculptures in the La Conner's new Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, which will open on Saturday with a guided tour by Mayor Ramon Hayes and some of the artists starting at 11 a.m.  This wood sculpture, depicting giant artist’s brushes and a pen is on display near La Conner Town Hall and the town parking lot. Created from logs by artist,  Stephen Rock, the sculpture was installed on Monday by Rock and his brothers, who are loggers.

Smelt Derby drew fish and fishers

Young anglers didn't leave disappointed on Saturday. There were actually smelt in the channel  for the Rotary Club's 47th Annual Smelt Derby. For years the schools of the little silver fish have been elsewhere during the fishing derby. Though there weren't buckets full of them, there were enough to keep the fishing interesting.

Photo by Don Coyote

This happy fisher is Ashleigh Mason of Bayview

Photo by Don Coyote

Sporting fashionable fishing attire is Abigail Adams of Burlington

Photo by Don Coyote

Smelt weren't having much fun, though. They were stapled to cedar shingles to be measured as the La Conner Sea Scouts did the judging.

Photo by Don Coyote

New artist co-op opens at Pier 7

Writer Adrian Sharpe has the story on the brainstorm of Lisa Judy, granddaughter of the La Conner’s Pier 7 buildings owner, Jerry Blades, to open an artist's co-op in the historic building. Artists can share expenses and have gallery as well as work space. Here fabric and tattoo artist Akasya VerSoy, with her fur buddies Boodah and Chyna, stand outside the new co-op with Lisa.

From the police blotter:

6:43 p.m.: Auto yelling – Often, people will yell out their window as they drive by, but a man on Morris Street in La Conner decided to give car hollering a new twist. Intoxicated, the man stood in the roadway yelling at the traffic.

or how about this one...

9:37 a.m.: Squatter – A complaint was lodged about an unwanted lodger on Maple Avenue and Hill Street in La Conner. Deputies responded to a tip that a tent was set up on private property. The owner of the humble abode told officers that he had moved to the location after being evicted, but has since found four walls to call home and will remove his pop-up. No charges were filed.

Find all this and so much more in today's La Conner Weekly News, on sale in the usual places and in the quarter-eating red news stands. Or stop by our office and have a piece of chocolate with your paper.

Braves Sports, Feb. 29, 2012

Photo by Karla Reynolds

Braves to battle Colfax in state tourney

By Bill Reynolds

La Conner High Basketball Team head coach Scott Novak believes you've got to play the best to be the best.

That's why he slated tough non-league games during the holiday break at Adna and Toutle Lake, where the Braves earned a hard-fought split four hours from home.

Novak's scheduling now seems brilliant, in hindsight.

La Conner, 22-2, makes a seven-hour trip this week to Spokane, where the Braves will face one of the state's top 2B players in Colfax star Brandon Gfeller.

Gfeller, a versatile 6-3 guard, leads Colfax against La Conner in tomorrow's first round of the 2012 State 2B Boys' Basketball Tournament, with tipoff at the Spokane Arena set for 3:45 p.m.

Gfeller scored 18 points, three above his season average, in Colfax's recent 76-38 Regional romp past Oroville.

He also grabbed six rebounds and dished off five assists for the Bulldogs, whose 13-3 league record was good enough for second place in the Bi-County loop.

Brady Ellis led Colfax, 19-5 overall, with 20 points, while three-point specialist Kyle Johnson hit three straight first period treys to help bury Oroville early.

Novak considers Johnson, a 5-11 guard who averages 13 points per game, a consistent deep threat.

Colfax, which placed fifth at last year's State tourney, also returns 6-3 lunch bucket forward Justin Berarducci, who regularly scores 11 points per outing.

"He's a skilled, hard-nosed player," Novak says of Berarducci, who pretty much symbolizes head coach Reece Jenkin's Colfax roster.

Many, including Novak, compare Colfax's style to that of La Conner's.

"They're very similar to us," he said Sunday, following the WIAA tourney draw, "in that they are very guard oriented."

The Braves' three primary perimeter shooters – Landy James, Spencer Novak, and Mike Wilbur – all scored in double figures during La Conner's Regional triumph Friday over Mossyrock.

From the Braves' perspective, there should be few surprises at this year's tourney.

The field includes both Adna and Toutle Lake, whom La Conner played during the regular season, and Northwest Christian, winners of five of the past six State crowns.

Photo by Melissa Reynolds

Tradition trumps new State format; Braves enter elite eight

By Bill Reynolds

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

When the La Conner Braves in 1947 earned the first of their more than three dozen State Tournament berths, they featured a high scoring frontliner named Landy James.

Fast forward to 2012 and La Conner is again going to State and again will be led by Landy James – this time the namesake grandson of the iconic Hall of Fame coach for whom the Braves' gym is named.

The current James scored a game-high 22 points, including four straight perimeter treys, as La Conner, 22-2, advanced with a 67-60 Regional comeback win Friday in Mount Vernon over Mossyrock.

One thing that has changed is tomorrow's state tourney format.

An eight-team bracket has replaced the former four-day, 16-team tournament.

The Braves qualified for this year's elite eight by downing a club whose top player ironically bears the name of another storied La Conner hoops family.

Mossyrock's Riley Alvord recorded an impressive double-double – 14 points, 11 rebounds – including an offensive putback that gave the Vikings a seemingly safe 23-12 lead midway through the second period.

"Alvord is probably the best player in District Four," Braves' head coach Scott Novak acknowledged, "and Mossyrock is a really great team."

But, as things turned out, Mossyrock was not quite good enough to best a refocused La Conner squad coming off its poorest outing of the campaign, a double-digit Bi-District title loss to Bear Creek.

After a quiet opening frame, James helped trigger a 21-13 second quarter La Conner run that allowed the Braves to lead Mossyrock by four,  29-25, at the break

James hit three treys during the spurt, which was triggered by back-to-back acrobatic driving bank shots by La Conner point guard Mike Wilbur.

Wilbur, another third generation Braves' standout, was nothing short of sensational. He joined James in double-figure scoring, finishing with 19 tallies, and dished off three assists.

One of those was a pinpoint Wilbur pass to Sean Hulbert for the bucket that enabled La Conner to reclaim the first half lead at 24-23. 

Backcourt partner Spencer Novak added 17 points for the victors, including three treys---two coming in the decisive second half.

The Braves, who were stymied a week earlier by Bear Creek's length and double-teams out of an active two-three zone, rebounded with perhaps their finest outside shooting effort of the year.

La Conner drained 11 of 16 shots from beyond the three-point arc.

That allowed the shorter Braves to yield post-ups down low to Mossyrock, which found itself on the short end of three-for-two exchanges while trying to make up a deficit that reached 10 points (52-42) when Wilbur hit his last trey early in the final stanza.

As has become a recent pattern, Bobby Poulton, Sean Hulbert, and Jared Fohn emerged as unsung heroes for La Conner.

Poulton scored seven points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

He also erased Mossyrock's initial 2-0 lead, countering an Alvord jumper with a three-pointer that set the tone for La Conner's hot shooting the entire night.

"Bobby definitely does the blue collar work for us," said coach Novak, who also praised the work of Hulbert and Fohn inside against Mossyrock's bigger frontline. "We were undersized against Mossyrock, but our guys really battled."

The Braves also helped themselves at the charity stripe, converting 12 of 15 foul shots.

That was another factor helping La Conner offset Mossyrock's 35-24 edge on the boards.

But the number that ultimately mattered most Friday night was 39 – the amount of times in school history the Braves have now been part of the state tourney field.

Photo by Melissa Reynolds

Pe Ell pulls plug on Lady Braves' season

By Bill Reynolds

You couldn't blame the La Conner High Girls Basketball Team for being in a foul mood Saturday night.

First, they learned technical difficulties had nixed the previously scheduled webcast of their Regional Tournament contest five hours away in Longview.

Then, once the game got under way, La Conner couldn't seem to catch a break.

The Lady Braves were forced into 13 turnovers and earned just one trip to the free throw line in a tough, physical 45-31 elimination loss to Pe Ell, abruptly ending upset-minded La Conner's season with a fine 17-8 mark.

Pe Ell had come into the game having lost 48-46 to Adna (22-2), a club coached by La Conner alum Jeff Beasley and 48-40 victors over La Conner in a late December non-league test at James Gym.

La Conner was hopeful Saturday the Adna game had taken something out of the Lady Trojans.

It hadn't.

Pe Ell played aggressively on the defensive end, and a loosely called game worked in its favor.

The Lady Trojans held La Conner to 14 of 43 – 32 percent – shooting from the floor, and just three of 16 from beyond the three-point arc.

Katie McKnight, who led the Lady Braves with nine points, was one La Conner player who managed to break free of Pe Ell's defensive vise.

McKnight hit four of seven field goal attempts and meshed one of La Conner's three outside treys. 

Aubrey Stewart added eight points and 10 rebounds to continue her string of solid post-season outings for the Lady Braves.

Nikki Finley (5), Anna Cook (4), Kelley McClung (3), and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas (2) also landed in the La Conner scoring column.

Finley and McClung each drained three-pointers for the Lady Braves, while the versatile Ponce-Venegas was awarded the team's one and only foul shot attempt on the night.

Ponce-Venegas, McKnight, and Cook also dished off assists for La Conner – not an easy task as Pe Ell defenders were able to quickly seal off passing lanes.

Lady Braves' head coach Scott Novak, who had hoped to take two La Conner teams to State this week, consoled players and fans afterward.

Among those was his daughter, Katie, a freshman shooting guard among the deep nucleus of players returning next year for La Conner.

Coach Novak could, however, take solace in knowing the Braves' boys team had secured a State berth tomorrow, Thursday, at 3:45 p.m. in Spokane opposite the Colfax Bulldogs.

As for the La Conner girls, Novak knew beforehand their potential route to Spokane would be much tougher – and longer.

Both figuratively and literally.

"We knew going in," he conceded last week, "that it wasn't going to be an easy road as far as getting to State."

As a third seed to Regionals, the Lady Braves were sent Saturday to Longview. That meant the team had to bus Friday night, immediately after the boys' Regional win in Mount Vernon over Mossyrock, to the Centralia-Chehalis area in an attempt to cut down Saturday's travel time.

In the end, though, La Conner fans preferred focusing on how far the team had come since November in terms of its development.

The Lady Braves finished a surprising second in Northwest 1A/2B standings to Friday Harbor before enjoying its two-week playoff run.  

Breaking News!

Green light for La Conner boardwalk!

Official word came from Olympia last night:

Haugen announces proposed funding for major district projects

            OLYMPIA – The Senate’s proposed capital budget funds a number of projects of major importance to the 10^th Legislative District, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen said today.

“These projects will improve our communities and at the same time provide jobs that are dearly in demand,” Haugen said. “They not only promise a better future for our community, they will provide real jobs and wages that our residents and our communities need today in these difficult economic times.”

One project preserves and opens to the public a 60-acre property owned by Seattle Pacific University on Whidbey Island...

...Another key project in the proposed budget provides for the first phase of a project to transform the La Conner waterfront with a 2,780-foot-long boardwalk that travels over existing structures, on uplands and across new areas over the water.

“This is a 30-year dream that wouldn’t have been possible without the work of Sen. Haugen, and it’s finally going to be realized,” said La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes. “I’m at a loss for words almost. La Conner has been talking about the boardwalk for 30 years.”

“The commitment that Sen. Haugen has had over the years to the district and the Town of La Conner is just amazing,” Hayes said. “She has been a friend of La Conner, and we appreciate it.”

Hayes said the project will create family-wage paying jobs and boost tourism and the level of economic activity exponentially. “The folks of the town of La Conner also benefit in a huge way, gaining waterfront access, but this is first and foremost about jobs and economic activity.”

In contrast to the state’s operating budget, which uses tax revenues to fund the operation of state government, the capital budget uses bonds to pay for physical improvements to buildings, facilities and public lands.