January 21

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LA CONNER WEEKLY NEWS VOL. 7 • NO. 40

LA CONNER, WASHINGTON

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Feds to fund La Conner flood dike study

By Sandy Stokes After years of lobbying by town officials, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to fund a study aimed at building a dike to protect La Conner from flooding from the Skagit River.

Under the Corp’ dike proposal, if the study proves the project to be feasible, it would be built in 2018.

And the agency is ready to fund $100,000 for the feasibility study, which will begin this year.

If the engineering study costs exceed that first chunk of money, the town would kick in for half the overage.

Should the plan move forward, a new levy would be built, mostly with federal money, along the northern edge of La Conner, connecting to existing dikes on agricultural land.

Mayor Ramon Hayes, Town Administrator John Doyle and council member Jacques Brunisholz have been working for years to get a so-called “ring dike” built.

The Army Corps cites a 2009 letter the mayor submitted as impetus for its decision to fund the study to kick off the project.

At last week’s council meeting, Hayes and Doyle told the council that part of the reason the federal agency looks kindly on the town is that La Conner has been setting

aside money in anticipation that it would have to construct its own flood control project. This year the flood control fund is expected to reach over $188,000.

That the town is committed, Hayes said, weighed heavily in La Conner’s favor.

Also, Doyle said, the Army Corps received funding, and La Conner’s dike is something that can be built fairly quickly — by government standards — and has the potential to directly benefit hundreds of people.

“It looks like a win for them,” Doyle said. “It’s a manageable project and will save a whole community.”

With the study starting this spring, a final decision on going forward could come by the end of the year.

Should the project get the goahead, the majority of the cost would be paid by the Army Corps.

La Conner’s share of the cost would be 35 percent. According to a report by the Army Corps, the total cost is projected to be around $4.6 million.

Even if the dike is built and gives the town added protection from flooding, town officials have said that it is not expected to lower the premiums that homeowners pay for federal flood insurance.

State Lawmakers make some odd proposals

By Cooper Inveen WNPA Olympia News Bureau Would your legislator ever consider decriminalizing heroin possession? Or maybe turning the Supreme Court justices’ elections partisan? What about allowing teenagers to taste alcohol?

The 2015 legislative session is just getting started, but already some proposed bills are likely to turn a few heads.

Sixteen Republicans and three Democrats have sponsored House Bill 1051, which would require Supreme Court justices — but no other judicial officer in the state — to declare a partisan affiliation when running for election. One sponsor, Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, has called the bill more of a poke at the Supreme Court than a genuine attempt to pass legislation.

The bill comes in response to the Supreme Court’s 2012 McCleary decision, which requires legislators to pass fundamental reforms to state education funding. The bill’s sponsors believe the Supreme Court violated the separation of powers by telling legislators explicitly what to do, and therefore “should be considered partisan like the Legislature,” according to the bill’s first section.

Sen. Jan Angel, R-Port Orchard, has sponsored Senate Bill 5008, which would amend the state definition of a “beverage” to exclude beer and other malt drinks. The proposal is all about the container, though not the liquid inside. The bill would allow business owners to sell beer in a new type of container with a recyclable lid.

That type of bottle is prohibited under current law.

HB 1004, co-sponsored

by Rep. Larry Springer, DKirkland, and nine others, would allow community colleges and universities to hold alcohol tastings for those over the age of 18. It would also allow people between the ages of 18 and 21 to taste alcohol in relevant courses, such as viticulture.

Rep. Sherry Appleton, DPoulsbo, co-sponsored HB 1024, which would remove the felony classification from drug possession charges, reducing them to simple misdemeanors.

The bill is set to be presented to the House Public Safety Committee

on Jan. 16, but Appleton believes it’s too early to predict how the proposal will do.

“I expect that moving this through the Legislature will be a big challenge, and I can’t predict whether we’ll make it this year or not,” she said via email. “What I hope to accomplish is to improve on the situation we now have, which finds us with people still incarcerated in our state for simple possession.”

Appleton’s identical bill last year never made it to the House floor. But proposing the same bill multiple times is not uncommon in the Legislature.

“All ideas need to start (Continued on Page 2)

FAMILY BIRDS – A Fir Island couple checks out the neighborhood from a perch near the North Fork bridge. This eagle pair tends a large nest along the Skagit River.

– Photo by Don Coyote

Tribal land tax exemption taxes county staff

By Sandy Stokes Staff at the Skagit County Assessor’s Office worked through the holiday weekend to come up with the new levy rates for property taxes in the La Conner area.

Under the state’s property tax calendar schedule, the levies were to be finished and provided to the County Treasurer by last Thursday, Jan. 15.

But they weren’t.

Removing 931 parcels from the tax rolls in the La Conner School District threw a big wrench into the system, and the Assessor’s Office had to stretch the deadline.

On Tuesday, “I think we’re real close,” said County Assessor Dave Thomas. He was able to release preliminary numbers his staff has compiled so that residents can get a rough idea of what their coming tax bills will look like.

Most property owners in the La Conner School District will pay hundreds of dollars more this year in property tax, because

the tax bills from the now exempt homes in Shelter Bay and in the Pull and Be Damned Road areas will be spread among the remaining taxpayers.

But that doesn’t mean residents whose homes are on reservation land leased from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community get off tax free — the Swinomish Senate has said it will levy its own tax on those properties at the same rate it taxes “fee simple,” or privately owned, land within the reservation boundaries.

But much of the tribal taxes will go toward tribal government services.

Although the tribe has pledged to provide funding for the school district and Fire District 13 and the La Conner Library this year, the tribal contribution does not fill the funding gap left by the now tax exempt properties.

So property taxes will soar for everyone in the La Conner area.

Hardest hit will be property owners in unincorporated areas including Pleasant Ridge and Channel Drive on the east side of

the Swinomish Channel – their taxes will go up and estimated $1.14 per $1,000 in assessed value since they’re picking up the school and fire district tax burdens.

This taxing issue is the result of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in July 2013 that all buildings on land held in trust by the federal government for tribes are immune from state and county taxes, regardless of who owns them. This was a Thurston County case, and the window to appeal the ruling expired last summer.

Shelter Bay was developed on leased reservation land in the 1960s and homes there have been subject to personal property taxes, which generated about $1.8 million last year in money that supports the schools and other public services.

Although it’s taking longer to finalize the levy rates this year, the 2014 property tax bills will come in the mail around Valentine’s Day, like they do every year, said County Treasurer

Katie Jungquist. “That’s our goal, to hit them on Valentine’s Day,” she teased.

Once the numbers are set, it just takes a few days to get the bills out, she said.

Taxing numbers

These are the estimated levy rates for the 2015 La Conner area property tax bills, based on this year’s assessed valuations. The numbers are preliminary The levy rates are not expected to be certified until next week. They still have to be reviewed by the County Assessor and County Treasurer and checked for accuracy.

Here are the 2014 tax rates per $1,000 in assessed value for affected communities, and the new estimated rates.

Town of La Conner: Old rate $13.25; new rate $14.13 Unincorporated areas east of the channel: Old rate $13.36; new rate $14.50 Swinomish reservation fee simple: Old rate $13.16; new rate $14.28

HUNTING SEASON – Some people come here just to look at the snow geese. For others, it’s time to stock the freezer. This was the scene the other day north of La Conner Marina.

– Photo by Don Coyote

PAGE 2 • LA CONNER WEEKLY • JANUARY 21, 2015

• OBITUARY •

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The national anthems of Japan, Jordan and San Marino each have only four lines.

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Published each Wednesday at La Conner, Washington by La Conner News, LLC

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Website: www.laconnerweeklynews.com Entered as Periodicals, Postage Paid at U.S. Post Office at La Conner, WA 98257 under the Act of March 3, 1879 (USPS 363-550) Subscriptions by mail $30 per year in Skagit County & $35 elsewhere in USA. $25 On-line only Postmaster: Send change of address to La Conner Weekly News, PO Box 1465, La Conner, WA 98257 Member of Washington Newspapers Publisher’s Association Copyright Š2015

• On Feb. 2, 1847, the first woman of a group of pioneers commonly known as the Donner Party dies during the group’s journey through a snowbound Sierra Nevada mountain pass. The disastrous trip west ended up killing 42 people and turned many of the survivors into cannibals. • On Feb. 6, 1891, members of the Dalton Gang stage an unsuccessful train robbery in California — an inauspicious beginning to their careers as serious criminals. Bob, Emmett and Grat Dalton were only three of the 10 Dalton sons. The majority of the Dalton boys became law-abiding citizens, and one served as a deputy U.S. marshal. • On Feb. 5, 1918, the steamship Tuscania, transporting over 2,000 American soldiers bound for Europe, is torpedoed and sinks off the coast of Ireland by the German submarine U-77. • On Feb. 4, 1938, Walt Disney releases “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,â€? his first full-length animated feature production. Naysayers, including his wife, warned him that audiences wouldn’t sit through a cartoon fantasy about dwarfs, but the film quickly grossed $8 million, a staggering sum during the Great Depression. • On Feb. 3, 1953, French oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau publishes “The Silent World.â€? Three years

By Samantha Weaver later, the film version was released to world acclaim. The film, which revealed the hidden universe of trop• It’s not known who made the folical fish, whales and walruses, won lowing sage observation: “The best Best Documentary at the Academy way to lie is to tell the truth — carefulAwards. ly edited truth.â€? • On Feb. 7, 1984, while in orbit • In a survey conducted by the Cum170 miles above Earth, Navy Capt. berland Farms chain of convenience Bruce McCandless becomes the first stores last year, more than half of human being to fly untethered in space respondents said they would rather when he exits the U.S. space shuttle have jury duty for a week than give Challenger and maneuvers freely. up coffee for the same length of time.

McCandless orbited Earth in tangent A whopping 69 percent would rather with the shuttle at speeds greater than give up alcohol than coffee for a week.

17,500 mph. • Finland once banned Donald Duck • On Feb. 8, 1990, singer-songwriter comics because the title character Del Shannon (“Runawayâ€? and “Hats doesn’t wear pants.

Off to Larryâ€?) commits suicide while • You might be surprised to learn in the midst of a comeback. Shannon’s that World War II played an important widow would later file a high-profile role in the rise of popcorn as a favorite lawsuit against Eli Lilly, the manusnack at the movies. During the war, facturer of the antidepressant Prozac, the U.S. was cut off from many sug- which Shannon had begun taking ar-exporting nations, causing shortag- shortly before his suicide. es and rationing on the home front. The Š 2015 King Features Synd., Inc. scarcity of sugar resulted in a dearth of candy being offered at the box office, causing popcorn sales to skyrocket. • If you live in Georgia, keep in mind (Continued from Page 1) that it is illegal to have a picnic in a somewhere,â€? said independent graveyard in that state. pollster Stuart Elway. “If they • Given the rise in foodie culture, it’s no wonder that there are a plethora of know it’s not going to pass this cookbooks available covering every time, maybe next time or five imaginable kind of comestible. How- years down the road it’ll gain ever, you might be surprised to learn traction. There’s a lot of (bills) just how far back the recording of food preparation goes: One of the earliest that take two or three sessions known recipes was written on cunei- before they ever make it further form tablets and has been dated almost along.â€?

4,000 years ago to around 1700 B.C. Among other interesting bills • Those who study such things say is a measure to outlaw breedthat a giraffe can go longer without based dog bans, which some dog water than a camel can. owners believe unfairly target • People who are indigenous to the high altitudes of the Andes have more certain breeds without the science blood than do people who live at sea to back up the bans. Another level — 3 quarts more. proposed bill would create an advisory committee to set East *** Thought for the Day: “I love dead- Asian-medicine standards. lines. I like the whooshing sound they The fate or future of any of make as they fly by.â€? — Douglas these proposals rests with the Adams

King Features Weekly Service

MOUNT VERNON

By Mickey Bambrick For the first time in several years, the Norwegian kroner is dropping in value against the American dollar. This has everything to do with the price of gasoline going down, as Norway is one of the world’s largest exporters of oil.

We have several Norwegian relatives that work on offshore oil rigs, but even with the industry tanking a bit, their jobs are secure.

Lars, the husband of one cousin, has been working on oil platforms for over 25 years. He works two weeks straight, 12hour shifts, then gets four weeks off and comes home.

The company he works for flies him to the nearest city to his rig, then takes him in a

January 19, 2015

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helicopter out to sea. Lars works with guys from Montana, Texas and Thailand, who fly to Norway every four weeks for work, then fly home again after their two weeks are done.

Lars says that it’s normal to have people from around the world working on Norwegian platforms.

This killer commute is worth it because the money’s so good.

Some Americans were making upwards of half a million dollars a year working on Norwegian oil rigs, but that’s when the dollar only bought about five kroner.

Now that it can buy nearly eight kroner, those guys just got hit with a huge drop in pay and now are earning closer to three hundred grand a year.

It’s hard to feel sorry for them, though.

Their work schedule, however, is tough on marriages. Most of the women I went to language school with in Norway have husbands that work on oil platforms, and all their husbands were previously divorced.

Most of them found their new wives via the internet, and mostly from Thailand, as apparently, the Thai ladies don’t complain a lot about their schedule.

Lars says life on the platform is pretty good as they have a movie theatre, an internet cafÊ, the best food available, laundry service, maid service, and nearly everything they could possible want or need — and it’s all free.

He said there’s more going on out on the rig at any given time than there is in his hometown in Norway.

Of course, he doesn’t talk much about the dangers of working on a rig and how many lives are lost every year in that industry. One guy we know saw one of his coworkers violate a safety rule as he stood under a container being loaded onto a ship, and when the ocean heaved and sent the ship up, he got flattened between the container and the ship deck.

About a hundred people work on the platform Lars is on, just off shore from Bergen. They do test drilling to see if they can find oil, and if they find it, he sets the pipes in for production.

The money coming out of all that oil is both a blessing and a curse for Norway. They are investing it all to guarantee cushy retirements for all Norwegians, but they can’t let it get incorporated into today’s economy or it will upset the balance, as there’s just so darn much of it.

Last I heard, Norway has zero national debt and at least $150,000 to the good for every single Norwegian citizen. Their kroner may be currently deflated, but they’ve still got plenty of money in the bank.

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KERN

Nuggets from Norway

January 19, 2015

ROBERT J. CRIM 1922-2015 Former La Conner resident Robert J. Crim died on Wednesday, January 7 at the age of 92.

Born in Yakima, to Walter and Kathryn Crim, on August 12, 1922, Bob was the third youngest of four brothers. Growing up his family lived in Yakima, Deep River, Alberta, Canada, Seattle and Mount Vernon. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1940. Bob attended business school until he enlisted in the Army in 1942.

He was stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska serving in communications at the outposts of Fairbanks, Moses Point east of Nome and on the islands of Adak and Attu.

In 1945, while in Alaska, he married his first wife, Evalee. At war’s end the newlyweds moved to Mount Vernon, where they made their home. They had two daughters, Julie and Debbie.

Evalee preceded him in death

in 1964, and Bob remarried in 1965 to Marian Nystrom Schopf, adding thee young sons to the family. His new, larger family settled in La Conner.

Bob made his career in banking and was the manager of the National Bank of Commerce in La Conner for many years.

He also worked as manager of the Sedro-Woolley and Mount Vernon branches. His last office was in Bellingham, which is where he retired from banking after 30 years.

Bob loved the outdoors, hiking with his family and friends, hunting, but most of all fishing.

His favorite places to fish were the Skagit River and Deep Creek, Cook Inlet, Alaska. However, he would fish almost anywhere if the conditions were right and the fish were running.

His favorite fishing buddy was his wife, Marian. With a big smile, she still tells the family of her 60+ pound salmon, which was bigger than his.

Bob was preceded in death by his oldest brother, Walter Crim, second brother, Richard Crim, and his first wife C. Evalee O’Neal Crim.

He is survived by his wife Marian Crim; his brother Harvey Crim; his daughters, Julie O’Neal and Debbie O’Neal; his sons, Gary Schopf, Randy Schopf and Stan Schopf; 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, plus Molly and Sparkee.

Bob is also survived by his adopted extended family and people very special to him: Gary and Debbie Murphy, John and Linda Cavnar, Ann Hall and PJ McGuire and Leslie Boswell.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to your local humane society, Disabled Veterans or any pediatric cancer research hospital.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 7 at First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, 495 E. Bakerview Road, Bellingham, WA 98226.

Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, WA.

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JANUARY 21, 2015 • LA CONNER WEEKLY NEWS • PAGE 3

LIBRARY NOTES

Last Week’s Answers (1/14/15) Last Week’s Answers 1/14/15

By Joy Neal Director We have Legos @ the Library, Tuesday, Jan. 27 from 3 to 5 p.m. Bring your kids and have a fun afternoon building and creating. Legos provided. If you prefer something more adult and intellectual, join the book club that meets at the library. Their next meeting is Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. Drop in and check them out. They welcome visitors.

We have some new books that have arrived. Maybe you would be interested in checking one out.

The Color Master by Aimee Bender: A traumatic event unfolds when a girl with hair the color of golden wheat appears in an apple orchard; a woman plays out a fantasy with her husband and finds she cannot go back to her old sex life; an ugly woman marries an ogre and struggles to decide if she should stay with him after he mistakenly eats their children; and two sisters travel deep into Malaysia, where one learns the art of mending tigers who have been ripped to shreds. In each of The Color Master’s 15 remarkable stories, Aimee Bender holds a funhouse mirror up to reality, proving, once again, that she is one of the most intelligent and imaginative writers of our time.

Cruiser by David Poyer: Newly-promoted to Captain, Dan Lenson’s first glimpse of his command is of a ship literally high and dry. The USS Savo Island, which carries a classified, never-before-deployed missile defense system, has run aground on an exposed sandbar off Naples.

Captain Lenson has to relieve the ship’s disgraced skipper and deploy on a secret mission — Operation Stellar Shield — which will take his ship and crew into the dangerous waters bordering the Middle East.

Private India: City on Fire

by James Patterson: When Jack Morgan opens the Mumbai branch of Private, the world’s most elite detective agency, he hands the reins to top agent Santosh Wagh. Now, in this teeming metropolis of over 13 million people where the guilty have everywhere to hide, Santosh goes on the hunt for one elusive killer. a killer who is targeting seemingly unconnected women and placing strange objects at their death scenes in a series of chilling rituals. As the Private team races to find a link that will lead them to the next victim, an unseen menace threatens to destroy the agency from within, and plunge the city into chaos.

With countless lives hanging in the balance, Santosh must confront the demons of his past . . . before Private India meets an explosive end.

Keep it Simple A creative approach to a balanced life.

By Kate Morgan

My sister’s young children have been acting up more than usual, and it worries me because my sister and her husband are not getting along. My sister drinks a lot, and her husband is fed up. Is there anything I can do to help the kids?

The barometer for how well — or not well — a family is functioning is seen in the behaviors of the kids in the family.

They are more in tune with their intuition, and even though they may not understand their family’s dysfunctional dynamics, they take on the stresses of the family and often act them out.

When my son was two, I was worried about his behaviors because he was so obstinate with me. When I asked my preschooltrained friend about this, she informed me that children who act out in the safety of their own homes are displaying normal behaviors. They act out because they can.

When she asked how he behaved in public, I told her, “like an angel.” And therein lies the difference. If a child acts up outside the home, it is typically because he or she does not feel safe enough to do so in the company of their parents, and because children are feeling beings, they have to let the steam off somewhere.

Do the kids whine and hit each other while out in public or display aggressive behavior toward strangers? Instead of wondering why your children are behaving like “brats” or lashing out at them for new behaviors that seem out of character, have a heart-to-heart about what may be happening in their lives.

The writer is a life coach in La Conner and welcomes reader questions or comments.

Contact her by email at katemorgangrace@gmail.com

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If I ran the zoo By

Even though I always looked like my father, comparisons usually ended there.

We had very little in common.

He was a scholar with no interest in sports. I was a jock, who really struggled with my studies.

He was patient and sedentary, an avid reader and crossword specialist. I can’t sit still. I’m impatient, and I can only read newspapers, magazines or listen to books on tape when I’m on a long road trip.

Leo is very much on my mind this week because it’s my father’s Yahrzeit, the Jewish anniversary of his passing. He died 18 years ago, at the age of 79.

His father, Paul Damski, was a famous boxing promoter in Berlin, and the sporting DNA obviously skipped a generation.

Leo never once came to one of my games, from Little League to high school football, wrestling and baseball. Paul would drive 20 miles from Manhattan to watch me wrestle on Long Island and then go out and play golf the next morning.

Despite economic challenges, Leo was a shirt-off-his-back, pick-up-the-check kind of guy, qualities that he inherited from his more successful, more expansive father.

My father was happy sitting in his jewelry store all day, schmoozing with customers and reading Michener novels and doing the crossword puzzle when nobody was around. His world revolved around my mother Rachel, and he had very few friends or interests that didn’t include my mom.

He was easy going and had a very bearable lightness of being.

Even now, my mom, almost 94, is understandably suspicious and untrusting — after all, she lived through the depression and the holocaust and Kristallnacht before escaping in 1938.

Dad left Germany three years earlier, before things got really ugly, and if anything, he was trusting to a fault. He loved the creative side and social aspects of owning a small town jewelry store, but the business challenges eluded him.

He was a great listener and happy to schmooze or offer a fair price to a customer, but my mother had to often step in to look after the bottom line.

His favorite hobby was collecting coins and stamps.

During my sophomore year of college, I wrote a short story entitled The Stamp Collector. It was about a man who escaped from real world problems by subverting himself in his stamp collection.

My professor liked the story, but unfortunately my father came upon some files in one of my drawers and read the story.

I’m sure he was very hurt, but he couldn’t really bring himself to discuss it with me, but he told my mother and she told me.

Before there was Google, there was Leo. You could ask him anything about world history, and he would have a ready answer. He had gotten a solid enough education in German gymnasium — their high school — and he continued to self-educate himself. After he arrived in New York, he had to work to help support his parents and younger brother and wasn’t able to apply to college.

After working as a traveling salesman, Leo ended up working in an airplane parts factory as part of the war effort — although he was now an American citizen, he had a punctured ear drum and wasn’t able to serve, so this was his way of contributing to the country that saved his immediate family from extinction.

His father Paul got out of the boxing business — he said it was mob controlled and didn’t want any part of that. So he opened a jewelry business in midtown Manhattan.

He invited Leo downtown one day, saying he had a surprise for him. There on the front window of the 46th Street jewelry exchange was the sign “Paul Damski and Son.” Leo was no match for his charming and powerful father, so despite my mother’s warnings, he joined Paul in the jewelry business.

Eventually my mother convinced him that he needed to break away, and together my parents opened a store in Long Island, where they had moved so that we kids could grow up with some trees around us.

He settled into what must have seemed like an idyllic life, especially knowing how tragically early life ended for his whole extended family in Europe.

He was proud of his kids but left us to navigate on our own.

My mother was his world, and his only escape was the fellowship of his Masonic Lodge. Otherwise, it was all about life’s simple pleasures.

He would do the Sunday “New York Times” crossword puzzle in ink, and he would fill it out as if it was a form, from top left to bottom right, almost never having to jump ahead to look for an easy one further down on the puzzle.

When he died, there was his last puzzle, in ink, half-finished, by his bedside. I’ve framed that puzzle, and it is one of my most prized possessions.

Now that I’m mellowing out, I’m finding more Leo in me. I definitely inherited his schmoozing gene, and my family always says that I’m a pushover when it comes to any kind of negotiation.

My love of music is definitely from my dad. We would drive around and listen to WNEW and play a game to identify the singer, whether it was easy, like Sinatra, or challenging, like Dinah Washington.

When Sirius Satellite radio replaced my 40s on 4 Channel with the Billy Joel Channel, I wanted to burn their house down, but luckily some other old coots must have complained, and it was Bye, Bye Billy Joel and Hello Benny Goodman.

I finally got brave enough to attempt crossword puzzles and on-line Scrabble, even though I’m lucky if I can finish the Wednesday “New York Times” puzzle — in pencil, with a wellused eraser.

The greatest gift my father gave me was his incredible curiosity and fascination with the way the world works. It’s why I’m glued to NPR and BBC, read a lot of newspapers and constantly think how nice it would be to call Leo to discuss how this all came to be.

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PAGE 4 • LA CONNER WEEKLY NEWS • JANUARY 21, 2015

SPORTS

WORDS OF WISDOM – Braves head coach Scott Novak and his staff go over the game plan during a break in last week’s action at Friday Harbor. La Conner had few answers, however, for a height advantage enjoyed by the Wolverines. Friday Harbor claimed a 52-37 triumph.  – Photo by Karla Reynolds

Braves look to rebound after Friday Harbor loss

By Bill Reynolds The La Conner Braves gave it their best shot at Friday Harbor last week.

They did so repeatedly, in fact.

Trouble was, few of those shots fell in a hard-fought defensive tussle between the two league title contenders.

La Conner hit just three of 23 trey attempts while dropping a 52-37 decision to the hosts, who switched defenses early in the contest, settling on an active zone.

It proved La Conner’s downfall.

The Braves, to that point, had done a good job against Friday Harbor’s man defense. Opting for a zone seemed to play into La Conner’s hands, given its deep roster of reliable outside shooters.

But appearances in this case were deceiving.

With its length and athleticism, Friday Harbor was able to extend that zone, thus challenging shots and denying passing lanes.

Only Wilson Crawford and

Scott Lindeman were able to find the range. Crawford drained a pair of treys. Lindeman added another. “We had attacked zones pretty well all year,� Braves head coach Scott Novak said afterward. “So it surprised me that we didn’t shoot better at Friday Harbor.

For some reason, we went cold and couldn’t hit. I didn’t expect that.�

He had expected a tough game, though. “I’d seen Friday Harbor three or four times this season and knew they’re a real good team,�

Novak said. “They can do a lot of different things and do them well.

But, against us, they definitely played the best I’d seen them play all year.�

Peter Strasser, arguably Friday Harbor’s top player, led all scorers with 13 points.

John Gustafson and Gabe Lawson added 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the victors, who remained unbeaten in seven NW2B starts and improved to 10-2 overall.

No one reached double digits

for the Braves.

Shots were tough to come by, even for those who were hitting.

La Conner post Zach Harris meshed his lone attempt but had limited touches due to foul trouble and the Wolverine zone.

Erick Reinstra was able to exploit a couple seams, going two-of-five from the floor and dishing off an assist.

But Taylor Ebersole, held to just three shot attempts the entire game, had to get his points at the charity stripe, hitting all four of his freebies.

Ebersole and Cameron Hansen each finished with a pair of assists, tying for team high honors.

Hansen topped the La Conner point parade with seven tallies.

The Braves, sitting at 9-3 overall and 5-1 in conference action, quickly regrouped for a busy slate this week.

After facing Mount Vernon Christian late Tuesday, La Conner travels tomorrow (Thursday) to Cedar Park Christian and sails on Saturday to Orcas Island.

“Cedar Park is always a tough place to play,� said Novak, “and when you go out to Orcas you never know what can happen. “Those,� he stressed, “can be a couple tough venues.�

He and the Braves are hoping Friday Harbor feels the same about La Conner when the two meet again in a Feb. 6 rematch at Landy James Gym. “We know that when you’re La Conner, you’ll always have that target on your back,� Novak said.

Now Friday Harbor — for a change — will be the one looking over its shoulder.

La Conner, meanwhile, intends looking ahead — one game at a time.

Game at a Glance

LA CONNER           9    7    8   13 – 37 FRIDAY HARBOR  13  12  15  12 – 52 La Conner – Hansen 7, Lindeman 6, Crawford 6, Reinstra 6, Ebersole 4, Finley 3, James 3, Harris 2.

Friday Harbor – Strasser 13, Gustafson 12, Lawson 10, Cooper-West 7, Jangard 4, Bower 3, Stromburg 2, Rivercomb 1.

1. The Equalizer ........................ (R) Denzel Washington 2. This Is Where I Leave You ... (R) Jason Bateman 3. The Maze Runner ......... (PG-13) Dylan O’Brien 4. Guardians of the Galaxy ................................ (PG-13) Chris Pratt 5. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes .............................. (PG-13) Gary Oldman 6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ................................ (PG-13) Megan Fox 7. 22 Jump Street ...................... (R) Channing Tatum 8. Left Behind .................... (PG-13) Nicolas Cage 9. Maleficent ............................(PG) Angelina Jolie 10. The Good Lie ............... (PG-13) Reese Witherspoon

Top 10 DVD, Blu-ray Sales 1. The Equalizer ........................ (R) Sony 2. Guardians of the Galaxy ................................ (PG-13) Disney 3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ................................ (PG-13) Paramount 4. The Maze Runner ......... (PG-13) FOX 5. Frozen ..................................(PG) Disney 6. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes .............................. (PG-13) FOX 7. How to Train Your Dragon 2 ..................................(PG) FOX 8. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug ............................ (PG-13) Warner Bros.

9. The Expendables 3 ........ (PG-13) Lionsgate 10. Maleficent ..........................(PG) Disney Š 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

January 19, 2015

Top 10 VOD Movies

King Features Weekly Service

The brainy bunch scores again

By Mickey Bambrick The Somewhat Clean, La Conner High School Knowledge Bowl team, was in top form again last Wednesday in the last of three district tournaments.

Somewhat Clean came in third place overall, by a narrow margin, behind their nemeses from Sehome and Arlington high schools.

In all, 53 teams from 19 different high schools in the Northwest competed in Anacortes.

The larger 4A schools like Kamiak in Mukilteo, Lake Stevens, Monroe, Jackson High in Mill Creek and Cascade in Everett couldn’t hold a candle to our hometown team.

All the larger schools placed

• SCHOOL LUNCHES •

January 23 through 29 FRIDAY, JAN. 23 Early Dismissal 11:30 Half Day No lunch served MONDAY, JAN. 26 Sausage Pizza, Caesar Salad, Apple Slices, Milk, Juice.

MONDAY, JAN. 27 French Toast, Potato Puffs, Sausage Pattie, Peaches, Milk, Juice.

TUESDAY, JAN. 28 Ken’s Chili, Cinnamon Roll, Cheese Stick, Grapes, Milk, Juice.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29 Chicken Egg Rolls, Whole Grain Rice, Cucumber Slices, Melon Wedge, Milk, Juice.

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well below La Conner’s incredible 2B ranked Somewhat Clean team.

Each participating high school sends between one to six teams to the competitions. La Conner’s two other teams, Totally Awesome and Too Fresh, came in 46th and 47th respectively but still managed to beat out teams from the larger 4A, 3A and 2A ranked schools.

Each team starts by answering 50 multiple-choice questions.

Based on their results, they are then placed in rooms with two other teams of similar ranking.

Somewhat Clean team members were a bit nervous when they started the first round in room 6.

The higher ranking their score, the closer they get to room number 1. And in the end, after two oral rounds, they worked their way up and found themselves in familiar territory again in room 1 facing their previous opponents from both Sehome and Arlington high schools.

All three district tournaments this year have had the same three teams in top positions in room 1 for the final round.

The competition was fierce.

So much so that the facilitator could barely get out the first few words of the question before one of the teams buzzed in.

Once a team buzzes in, the reading of the question stops, and the team has to answer based on the information they have at the time. It was incredible to watch, as time after time, a team buzzed in before they could not possibly know what the question would be, and yet, they gave a correct answer to get the point. “In a flock of chickens...� and the buzzer went off. Sehome’s team answered “pecking order,� and they were correct. The rest of the question, which they didn’t hear was “a hierarchy develops in which some of the birds are dominated by others. This is known as what kind of order.�

Good guess or incredibly insightful?

Another question started with “Where was George Washington‌â€? and this time it was La Conner’s Somewhat Clean team that buzzed in with the answer “Valley Forge,â€? and they were correct.

The final round in room 1 went quickly as the facilitator never had to finish reading many of the questions. Arlington took first place with 97 points, Sehome finished with 91 points and La Conner came in third with 90 points. It was an exciting victory for them all.

Somewhat Clean and La Conner’s Too Fresh teams move on to the Regional Tournament on Feb. 24 in Bellingham, where they will only compete against other 2B ranked schools in the Region — namely Granite Falls and Darrington.

Coach Sally Schroeder is proud of her team and said, “We should do quite well.� The public is always welcome to attend and cheer on their hometown heros.

Lady Braves finish with flourish at Friday Harbor

By Bill Reynolds First impressions aren’t always the most important.

Just ask the Friday Harbor Lady Wolverines.

They didn’t see a whole lot special from La Conner in the early going of their key NW2B girls’ hoop matchup last Friday.

The Lady Braves struggled to a slim 12-11 lead late in the opening frame.

Perhaps a little wobbly after a long ferry ride, La Conner gave Friday Harbor repeated open looks in the first quarter. The Lady Wolverines took advantage, hitting several uncontested shots.

It was a different story later on.

La Conner remained undefeated by doubling the score on the hosts in the second half, turning what had been a close game into a convincing 58-31 Lady Braves romp. “We played much better in the second half,� acknowledged La Conner head coach Scott Novak, who saw his club improve to 6-0 in league action and 12-0 overall. “We took better care of the ball, got good looks, and knocked down our shots.�

The key stat was turnovers.

La Conner had committed 10 miscues in the first half. The Lady Braves turned the ball over just three times after the break.

As has been their forte this year, the Lady Braves took pains to make the extra pass and create high percentage shots.

Katie Novak and Nakiya Edwards logged four assists apiece, while nice interior passing by Ashley Watkins led to a pair of La Conner scores.

Balance was again the main ingredient in La Conner’s winning recipe.

The inside scoring tandem of Anna Cook and Adiya Jones combined for 28 points and a dozen rebounds.

Perimeter players tallied another 30 points, with Novak and Edwards draining five deep treys between them.

Edwards, who meshed a trio of

three-pointers, joined Cook and Jones in double-figure scoring.

Cook paced the victors with 16 points to go along with five boards. Jones added 12 points on five-of-seven shooting, plus seven rebounds.

Edwards chipped in 11 points.

Point guard Kamea Pino notched a season-high nine points — seven coming during a decisive 16-8 third quarter La Conner spurt — while also passing off for two assists.

Novak had six points, all on treys.

Emma Christianson rounded out the Lady Braves’ attack with four points, matching her team best total in steals.

Friday Harbor, by contrast, had only three scorers land on the point parade.

The Lady Wolverines suffered their first NW2B setback in seven outings. “It was just a total team effort,� an elated coach Novak said of the big win. “The great thing about this group is they complement each other so well. Everybody finds a way to contribute.�

La Conner faced a tough challenge late Tuesday when the Lady Braves resumed league action opposite Mount Vernon Christian. “We’re getting better,� Novak said on Sunday, “but so are they.�

La Conner wraps up the week with visits to Cedar Park Christian and Orcas Island. The Lady Braves are at Cedar Park tomorrow and sail for Orcas on Saturday.

A CASE OF SELF-PRESERVATION

trump situation if West has all four of them, so he begins by leading a low spade to the ace, on which West plays the three and East the eight. When declarer next returns a trump and East produces the ten, South must choose between playing the jack or the king.

This is a very common problem, but, unfortunately, there is no invariable rule to rely on. More often than not, the king is the better play, but in a particular case the jack might be the right play.

It certainly is in this deal, where playing the jack guarantees the contract, while playing the king jeopardizes it. Obviously, if the finesse wins, South has the contract firmly in tow. As a matter of fact, he is sure to make at least 11 tricks.

And what if the jack should lose to the queen? In that case, declarer is still in good shape. Whatever West returns, South is sure of at least 10 tricks consisting of four spades, four clubs and two diamonds.

But note what happens if declarer does not finesse the jack and plays the king instead. If he next concedes a trick to the queen, East will shift to a heart to sink the contract. And if instead South attempts to run his clubs right away in order to discard a heart, East ruffs the third club, and his heart return again puts the contract down one.

A safety play is basically a protective measure. Declarer assumes an unfavorable lie of the cards and tries to deal with that possibility the best way he can.

Here is a typical case. West leads a diamond against four spades. Declarer wins with the ace and notes that if the opposing cards are divided unfavorably, he could lose three heart tricks and one or two trump tricks.

South can do very little about the

Game at a Glance LA CONNER            12  18 16 12 – 58 FRIDAY HARBOR    11   6   8   6 – 31 La Conner – Cook 16, Jones 12, Edwards 11, Pino 9, Novak 6, Christianson 4.

Friday Harbor – Kincaid 12, Galt 10, Wood 9.

Adult polar bears usually eat just the skin and blubber of a seal. They leave the meat for cubs and scavengers. One seal will sustain an adult bear for 11 days.

Š 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

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PAGE 5 • LA CONNER WEEKLY NEWS • JANUARY 21, 2015

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

By Janet Saunders

COMING UP

Wednesday Jan 21

7 a.m. – Conservation District Meeting: The Skagit CD January 20 board meeting has been rescheduled to Wednesday, January 21 at 7 a.m. For more info, call Cora at 428-4313.

Thursday Jan 22

6 to 7 p.m. – Telephone Town Hall: Republican representatives Norma Smith and Dave Hayes hold an hourlong community conversation. Join the

• Senior Lunch Menu •

for Tuesday, Jan. 27 Taco Salad Cookie Lunch is served at 11:45 a.m. at the La Conner Senior Center at Maple Hall. Donation is $3 to $5 for seniors 60 and over, and $6 for younger folk.

La Conner Senior Center Calendar Tues., Jan. 27

104 E. Commercial

• 8 - 9:15: Rise & Shine Yoga • 9 - 11:30: Stone Soup Discussion Group.

• 9 - 11:30: Mah-jongg. This game keeps your memory alert.

• 9:30 - 11:30: Canasta.

• 10 - 2: SHIBA health insurance counseling.

• 12 - 12:30: Senior Services Hot Lunch. Donation of $3.50 - $5 requested of seniors. $6 for others.

• 12:30 - 2: Joy Neal visits to tell us whats new at the library.

• 2 - 4: Memory Care Support Group.

• 2 - 4: Creative Non-Fiction Writing Class with Claire.

• 3 - 3:45: Yoga for Every Body.

Classes and programs open to all ages.

Contact person: Janna Gage, 466-3941

Friday Jan 23

8 a.m. to noon – Cost of Poverty Experience: Workshop in Skagit Valley College cafeteria. Free; register by January 16 at SkagitVolunteerCenter. org. More info: email IsabelaO@ communityactionskagit.org.

10:30 a.m. – Story Time: For children from birth through age 5 and their caregivers. Share books, interactive rhymes, songs, baby sign language, dancing and bubbles. Come make friends and have some fun! Free. La Conner Regional Library.

Saturday Jan 24

11 a.m. to noon – Food Forests: Learn how to transform a landscape into a layered perennial food system. $8 fee.

Reservations required: 466-3821. More info: www.christiansonsnursery.com.

10:30 a.m. – Energy workshop: Three speakers will share cost-saving energy efficiency ideas and information on utility rebates available. Free and open to all at Shelter Bay Clubhouse.

Sunday Jan 25

1 to 3 p.m. – Art Walk at Riverbend Clinic: Take a guided tour of the fine art by local artists located at Skagit Regional Clinics’ Riverbend Clinic, 2320 Freeway Drive. Free. Part of the mayor’s Wellness Challenge. More info: (360) 814-2325.

2 p.m. – Family Concert: The Skagit Symphony Orchestra presents a 45minute program featuring selections from “Lord of the Rings” and Brahms’ “Hungarian Dances No. 5.” Adults $10, children & students free. McIntyre Hall.

More info: call (360) 848-9336.

Monday Jan 26

1 to 3 p.m. – Look Good, Feel Better: Cancer patients learn how to cope with skin changes and hair loss using donated cosmetics and skin care products. Pre-registration required; call (425) 404-2193. Skagit Valley Hospital Cancer Care Center.

2 to 3 p.m. – Food Bank: La Conner Sunrise Food Bank is located in the Garfield Masonic Lodge at 602 S. Third Street, behind the Methodist Church on the hill. All are welcome: those who need groceries and those with food to share.

© 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

6 to 7:30 p.m. – Infectious Diseases: Mark Wallace, MD, presents and discusses infectious disease issues including bacteria, vaccinations, flu, colds, Ebola, and drug resistance. Skagit Valley Hospital. Free. Pre-registration required; call (360) 814-2424.

Thursday Jan 29

5 to 8 p.m. – Opening Reception: New featured exhibit “Doctor, Doctor: A History of Healing in Skagit County” showcases items from dentistry, surgery, vintage medications and veterinary medicine. Skagit County Historical Museum. More info: www.skagitcounty. net/museum.

Friday Jan 30

10:30 a.m. – Story Time: For children from birth through age 5 and their caregivers. Share books, interactive rhymes, songs, baby sign language, dancing and bubbles. Come make friends and have some fun! Free. La Conner Regional Library.

Saturday Jan 31

11 a.m. to noon – Terrariums: Learn how to create an artful collage of natural materials to make a living world in a container using found or purchased plants and materials. Reservations required: call 466-3821. $8 class fee.

More info: www.christiansonsnursery. com.

1 to 4 p.m. – Gail Harker Open House: Stop by to view the work of Level 3 Certificate in Art & Design students and learn about their artistic journey. Gail Harker Center for Creative Arts at 12636 Chilberg Road. More info: 466-0110 or www.gailcreativestudies.com.

Monday Feb 2

2 to 3 p.m. – Food Bank: La Conner Sunrise Food Bank is located in the Garfield Masonic Lodge at 602 S. Third Street, behind the Methodist Church on the hill. All are welcome: those who need groceries and those with food to share.

Wednesday Feb 4

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Spaghetti Feed: At La Traviata Restaurant, 201 Morris St. $10. Sponsored by Kiwanis; proceeds benefit the kids of La Conner. Held the first Wednesday of each month.

Friday Feb 6

10:30 a.m. – Story Time: For children from birth through age 5 and their caregivers. Share books, interactive rhymes, songs, baby sign language, dancing and bubbles. Come make friends and have some fun! Free. La Conner Regional Library.

HELP OUT

Light

Bob Bob Skeele Darkness is most often a friend, offering us a place to hide, to abide against unseen enemies and time’s demanding claim.

But the dark’s greater fame is as a sibling, a brother or sister, to light, the contrast of black and white, an accolade to gravity and the revolving spheres; and more, light’s power, its might, to help the blind: to see the beauty of the sun’s rise over the Cascade mountains on a fall day; to see the light dancing on the Skagit’s surface as the eagles forage along the shore; to see the blue glow from the night’s orb as it makes its smooth way from east to west; and closer by, to see the warm light in your friend’s eyes in anticipation of a pleasant stay; to see the soothing light of discovery when awakened to something new about yourself; to see the joyful light that comes from the experience of genuine love, both in its giving and its receiving; to see the ecstatic light of the moon’s reflection on the water as it races up the shore into your body setting your heart and soul afire.

1. LITERATURE: What is Hagrid’s first name in the Harry Potter book series?

2. HISTORY: In what modern-day country did the ancient Etruscan civilization once thrive?

3. U.S. STATES: What is the state capital of New Hampshire?

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Where was President Lyndon Johnson sworn into office?

5. MOVIES: What was the name of Roy Hobbs’ baseball bat in “The Natural”?

6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What kind of animals would a cryptozoologist study?

7. MYTHOLOGY: Who was Castor’s twin brother?

8. INVENTIONS: Who is credited with inventing blue jeans?

9. TELEVISION: In what sitcom series was the character of Frasier Crane introduced?

10. WORLD GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital of Portugal?

Answers 1. Rubeus 2. Italy 3. Concord 4. Aboard Air Force One, following the assassination of President John Kennedy.

5. “Wonderboy” 6. Legendary animals like the Loch Ness monster or Bigfoot 7. Pollux 8. Levi Strauss 9. “Cheers” 10. Lisbon

CLUBS

DAR: The Daughters of the American Revolution, Ann Washington Chapter, meets at the Good Shepherd Hall, Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, 1511 East Broadway at 11:30 a.m. For info: (360) 629-9937or 466-3430.

DRAGON BOAT CLUB: The North Puget Sound Dragon Boat club, dedicated to cancer awareness, fitness and fun through paddling, meets monthly at the Skagit Valley College, Oak Harbor Campus, and goes paddling every Saturday. New members and visitors are always welcome. For info, contact Cathie Harrison (360) 678-9003.

EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOC.: Come meet others with the same passion for flying and related activities. Meet on the second Saturday of the month at Skagit Regional Airport at 10 a.m. For more info, contact Cheryl Andrade at: (360) 630-5545.

FIDALGO ISLAND QUILTERS: Fidalgo Island Quilters Guild meets the first Monday of each month at Westminster Presbyterian, 9th St. and M Ave., Anacortes. The Suns afternoon group meets at 12:30 p.m., and the Stars evening group meets at 7 p.m. For info, visit www.fidalgoislandquilters.com or contact juneco47@gmail.com, (360) 333-9311.

GARDEN CLUB: La Conner Civic Garden meets each month at the Garden Club building on S. Second Street.

Visitors are always welcome. For more info, call Susie Deyo at 466-3258.

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY: The Skagit Valley Genealogical Society meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Burlington Community Center, 1011 Greenleaf Ave., Burlington.

For more info, call 424-4427, or email genealogy0715@gmail.com or visit www.rootsweb/ancestry.com/~wasvgs.

KIWANIS: The Kiwanis Club of La Conner meets 7:50 a.m. each Wednesday at La Conner Retirement Inn. Community members are welcome to attend and enjoy a free breakfast. For information, call Secretary John Thein at 466-0358.

LA CONNER ROTARY: The La Conner Rotary Club meets at 6 p.m. every Monday at the Farmhouse Inn at Highway 20 & La Conner-Whitney Road.

LIBRARY FRIENDS: The Friends of the La Conner Regional Library meets the third Monday of each month at 9 a.m. at the La Conner Retirement Inn. LIONS CLUB: Burlington Lions meet at 7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month at the Farmhouse Inn on La Conner-Whitney Rd. Call Rock White at 755-1362 or Jerry Hedbom at 7570107.

LIONS CLUB: Mount Vernon Lions meet at 7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant at 100 East College Way, Mount Vernon.

For more info, call Robert Foster at 4241888.

SEA SCOUTS: Winter meetings of the Sea Scouts are held at the W. T. Preston Sternwheeler in Anacortes on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. Call Skipper Jim Taylor for more information: 299-9040.

SEWING GUILD: The La Conner Neighborhood Group of the American Sewing Guild meets monthly. For info, call Gale Thomas, 466-2027, or Sue Donaldson, 466-3032.

SOROPTIMISTS: The La Conner Soroptimist International Club meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at the Swinomish Yacht Club, 310 N. First St. For info, contact President Maureen Harlan at 466-3626.

TOPS: La Conner TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets each Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Hope Island Fire Station. For info, call 293-7347.

WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS: Skagit Widowed Support Services (SWSS), a group for those who have lost a spouse, meets to socialize on the third Monday of each month for lunch at 11 a.m. at the Farmhouse Inn on Highway 20. Prospective members are always welcome. For info, call Zerma, 4663525, or Mary, (360) 848-1872, or visit skagitwss.org. For info on next Grief Group Workshop, call Terri, 336-3037.

Put your listing in the Community Calendar: Please email your event notice to News@LaConnerNews.com.

Deadline is NOON FRIDAY for inclusion in the following Wednesday’s paper.

There is no charge to list events that are free or affordably priced, open to the public or sponsored by non-profit organizations.

January 19, 2015

SEND ADIYA TO ITALY: La Conner High School junior, Adiya Jones has been chosen to travel to Italy this summer to play basketball representing Team USA. She is asking for donations to reach her goal of $4,000. For info, call (360) 913-7851.

HELP BELLA & FAMILY: Soroptimist of La Conner is collecting gift cards and donations to assist little Bella Hamerly and her family as she receives treatment at Children’s Hospital in Seattle. Drop gift cards or donations at Vintage La Conner, Tuesday through Sunday, 11 to 5 p.m. For more info, call Dixie Otis at (360) 202-1271 or email silaconner@ gmail.com.

RECYCLE ELECTRONICS: Help the La Conner Kiwanis earn cash for youth by recycling empty inkjet cartridges, used cell phones, laptops, PDAs and Palm Pilots, iPods, digital cameras, video games and video game systems. Dropoffs are located at the Shelter Bay Office, Key Bank, Washington Federal, La Conner Drug, Swinomish Administration Office and La Conner Potlatch.

SUNRISE FOOD BANK: The Food Bank is open between 2 and 3 p.m. on Mondays in the Garfield Masonic Lodge at 602 S. Third Street, behind the Methodist

Church in La Conner. Volunteers needed: program coordinators, teachers, drivers, workers as well as writers and photographers to tell their story. To volunteer or make a donation, call Aryn at (360) 941-2067 or write P.O. Box 922, La Conner, WA 98257. For more info, visit LaConnerFoodBank.org

KFWS • MindGym

The Poet’s Place

Wednesday Jan 28

King Features Weekly Service

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You might want to check out the explanation you were given for a sudden shift in your duties. There’s a possibility that you haven’t been told all the facts that you deserve to know.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Having confidence in your abilities is important, especially when you could be facing a new challenge, whether it’s in the workplace or in a personal relationship. Good luck.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A new work-related opportunity might not be all that it seems. Before making any decisions, you might want to check with others who have had some experience in that area.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A situation involving someone close could benefit from your timely intervention. Avoid being judgmental. There’ll be plenty of time later for those “little talks” you like to have.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Travel could be a surprise element in that new project. Be prepared for other previously undisclosed aspects that also might come to light as you proceed with the work.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Try to balance your work-related responsibilities with the time you’re spending on your recently revived social life. An old friend might be planning to return after a long absence.

BORN THIS WEEK: Your sensitivity makes you aware of the needs of others. Have you considered a career as a counselor?

Tuesday Jan 27

12:30 to 2 p.m. – New at the Library: Library director Joy Neal tells of new library offerings and shares any news about funding and budget concerns.

Free. La Conner Senior Center.

January 19, 2015

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You need to be certain that all the right conditions are in place before you take that first step. It can’t hurt to listen to good advice from those who have your best interests at heart.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Be careful not to get involved in other people’s disputes unless you know the facts behind the disagreements. That’s the best way to be assured of making wise and honest decisions.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You still need to be careful about how you’re going to spend those energy reserves you finally got around to restoring. Best advice: Avoid overdoing it. Let things take their course.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your aspect continues to favor travel — alone or with that special person. So if you’ve been putting off making those getaway plans, it’s still a good time to get started on them.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Those so-called golden opportunities that continue to dazzle the Lion still need to be carefully checked out. Be suspicious about anything that looks like the “perfect” prospect.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Changes at the workplace could make it more difficult to do things the way you prefer. But the wise Virgo who shows some flexibility could find it paying off in a big way.

conversation by phoning (425) 2490219. To ask a question, press the star (*) on your keypad. More info: call (360) 786-7884 or (360) 786-7914.

Life on the Ridge

by Mickey Bambrick

My Christmas gift from my husband this year was a weekend away to visit one of my best friends in California. We try to see each other once a year, and it’s always wonderful when we do.

Dani came up to visit me just weeks after my son was born.

She likes to say he saved her life because right before she was to fly up, she discovered a swollen lymph node and not wanting to bring any infectious diseases to a newborn baby, she actually went to the doctor.

Turns out she had cancer and it got caught early enough that the treatments worked, and she’s still around, 16 years later. She beat the odds and is now an overcomer.

I met Dani at my first job out of college. We were both working as data analysts, but it grated on her that I was her supervisor. She knew she was smarter than me, but I was the one with the degree, so I got the job. Having me as her superior motivated her.

While she was busy raising two boys and working full time, she started going to college, and she not only got her bachelors degree, but her masters as well. It took years, but she did it. She is now the Mental Health Program coordinator for the Madera County Office of Education.

When I visit Dani, we never leave her house. She has two side-by-side recliners that are perfectly suited to non-stop discussions. Her husband, a retired police chief, usually waits on us both, makes the food, and brings us beverages. We talk and we talk and we talk.

This past weekend we got on the subject of how differently kids are being raised today, compared to when we were young. She grew up in Southern California, me in Washington, but our parents’ mentalities were shockingly similar.

We both were raised with the “children are to be seen and not

heard” mentality, and when we misbehaved, we got a leather belt to our bare bottoms. Our parents said things to us that damaged our self-esteem, but as another friend likes to say, “every kick is a boost,” and we rose above it.

Dani sees a lot of children in her line of work that are mentally ill or come from extremely dysfunctional backgrounds.

It’s a heartbreaking job for her sometimes, but she loves it because she knows she’s making a difference.

In college, she told me, she learned about “The Resiliency Theory,” which resulted from a study looking at the lives of adults that had emerged from horrific childhoods and why some people are able to make something of themselves and others end up in prison or abusing drugs or alcohol.

The difference, they found, is that the kids who were able to overcome their circumstances had one person in their life that “believed” in them and encouraged them. Often, it was a teacher, as they spend more time with kids than some parents do. We both shared stories about teachers that had made a difference in our lives.

Dani said sometimes all it takes to change a young life are the words, “I believe in you,” so she says them often. She’s all about helping others to be overcomers, too.

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PAGE 6 • LA CONNER WEEKLY NEWS • JANUARY 21, 2015

Q:

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BIRD BYTES

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printed, and it is not scarce.

Fine Feathered Q: Friends Hairwork Jewelry

I have inherited a brooch that contains human hair. My grandmother toldSUPPLY me that the hair NATURE STORE / WILD BIRD belongs to a distant relative and has been in the family since the 1850s.

Wild Bird Seed • Feeders What can you tell me about this type NaturedofInspired andMissoula, Art item? —Gifts Winlow, Montana www.fine-featheredfriends.com Human hair was used to finefeatheredfriends@wavecable.com make jewelry and St. other items (360) 421-1773 • 101 N. First throughout the Victorian era. Especially popular were hair wreaths, often crafted of hair from deceased family members. In recent years, prices for many of these keepsakes have risen dramatically. For example, a brooch often can sell in the $500 to $750 range, and an ornate framed hair are being sought by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. If you wreath are from the 1880s recently sold for $1,500. For additional informainterested in learning how to respond tion, you might want to get a copy of “Collector’s Encyclopedia of Hairto spilled oil and protect Swinomish work Jewelry” by C. Jeanenne Bell Channel and Reservation boundary and published by Collector Books.

A:

Marine Oil Spill Response Volunteers

waters including Shelter Bay Marina, Volunteers will receive a *** series of trainings: please attend this meeting:

Q:

I have a copy of Newsweek,

Habitat & Access Jan. 21, 6:30-8:30 PM at which was the commemorative issue published after the death Safety & Communications St. Paul Spiritual Center, of Lady Diana. It is still sealed and Boom SettingHow Techniques Reservation Road. was never opened. much is it

worth? 8—Hour Mary, De Land, Florida HAZMAT Training Contact Myk Heidt 360-466-1538 at SITC.

A:

I contacted several magazine collectors, and they seem to agree that your issue of Newsweek would sell in the $10 to $15 range. Keep in mind that millions of copies of that issue were printed, and it is not scarce.

Your hometown newspaper...

• LEGAL NOTICE •

© 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

*** I have a bowl marked Dedham and wonder where it originated and if it is worth keeping. — Sam, Morgantown, Virginia The company was founded in Chelsea, Massachusetts, as the Chelsea Keramic Works. The name was changed to Dedham in 1895 after relocating to the town of Dedham, near Boston. Early pieces, especially ones signed by the artist, are especially desirable. Your bowl, depending on size, style and condition, could be worth several hundred dollars.

Q:

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*** In 1950, I received a Teddy Trucker toy made by Fisher-Price. I do not have the original box, but the toy is in almost pristine condition. I have been offered $75 for it. What do you think? — Steve, Palm Desert, California According to my references, your toy, No. 711, was introduced and marketed in 1949. Values I’ve seen are in the $225 to $575 range.

Do the math.

Q:

A:

Write to Larry Cox in care of KFWS, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 328536475, or send e-mail to questionsforcox@aol.com. Due to the large volume of mail he receives, Mr. Cox cannot personally answer all reader questions, nor do appraisals. Do not send any materials requiring return mail. © 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

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King Features Weekly Service

Q:

January 19, 2015

Q:

Project Description: New Single Family Residence, 2,159 sq. ft., within shoreline zone, meeting applicable setbacks.

Proponent: Rich Berentson, 11089 Carmichael, Anacortes, WA 98221 Project Location: 148 Swinomish Drive, Shelter Bay Decision: The Swinomish Department of Environmental Protection has determined that this project will not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment.

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required under SITC Title 19-01.080(A).

Comments must be submitted by: 4:00 PM, 10 days after publication.

No action will be taken on this notice for 10 days after publication.

Any comments on this declaration should be submitted to the contact person listed below.

Responsible Official: Scott Andrews, Environmental Compliance Mgr. Address: 11430 Moorage Way, La Conner, WA 98257. Phone: (360) 466-7280.

Date: January 13, 2015 Scott Andrews, Environmental Compliance Manager Published in La Conner Weekly News, January 21, 2015.

• LEGAL NOTICE •

SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR SKAGIT COUNTY No. 15-4-00005-5 PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS (RCW 11.40.030) In the Matter of the Estate of RUTH E. GILBERTSON, Deceased The personal representative named below has been appointed as personal representative of this estate. Any person having claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the personal representative or the personal representative’s attorney at the address stated below, a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the personal representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.

Date of first publication: January 21, 2015 RONALD D. GILBERTSON Personal Representative SKAGIT LAW GROUP, PLLC JOHN T. BURKE, WSBA #37952 Attorneys for Personal Representative P.O. Box 336/227 Freeway Drive, Suite B Mount Vernon, WA 98273 Published in La Conner Weekly News, January 21, 28 and February 4, 2015.

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P.O. Box 1465, LaConner, WA 98257 or call: 466-3315

King Features Weekly Service

Tues., Jan. 27 - 6 p.m.

Upper Maple Center 1. Opening Ceremonies a. Roll Call b. Call to Order Hairwork Jewelry *** c. Flag Salute*** Hairwork Jewelry I Dedham have a bowl Dedham I have a bowl marked d. Review and marked Approval of a brooch I have inherited aI have broochinherited and and wonder where it originatwonder where it originathuman hair. My ed and Agenda that contains humanthat hair.contains My ed if— it Sam, is worth keeping. — Sam, if it is worth grandmother told meand that the hair keeping. grandmother told me that the hair e. Approval of Minutes Morgantown, Virginia Morgantown, Virginia belongs to a distant relative and has belongs to a distant relative and has f.

Approval of Accounts PayThe company was founded in The company was founded in been the in the family since the 1850s. been in the family since 1850s.

Chelsea, able Chelsea, Massachusetts, as theMassachusetts, as the tell me about this type What can you tell meWhat aboutcan thisyou type Chelsea The name Keramic TheKeramic name ofWorks. item? —MonWinlow,Chelsea Missoula, Mon- Works. g. Approval Payroll of item? — Winlow, of Missoula, wasinchanged to Dedham in 1895 after was changed to Dedham 1895 after tana tana 2. Reports relocating to the town of Dedham, relocating to the of Dedham, was used to town Human hair was Human used tohairnear a. Boston.

Community Comments near Early pieces, especially Boston.

Early pieces, especially make jewelry and other items make jewelry and other items ones signed by the artist, ones signed by the artist, Report are especialb.are Administrator’s especialthroughout the Victorian era.

Espethroughout the Victorian era. Espe- ly desirable. Your bowl, ly desirable.

Your bowl, depending depending Mayor’s Report hair wreaths, onc.size, cially hair popular wreaths, were GREEN HERON – Photo by Rosipopular Jannsenwerecially style and condition, could be on size, style and condition, could be of hair from deceased worth d. Council Committee often crafted of hairoften fromcrafted deceased several hundred dollars.Reports worth several hundred dollars. family members. Infamily recentmembers. years, In recent years, 3. Unfinished Business *** for many of these keepsakes*** prices for many of prices these keepsakes 4. New Business have risen dramatically. For have risen dramatically.

For example, Ina 1950, I received a Teddy In example, 1950, I received Teddy a. Cindy Verge from the a brooch oftentocan sell in Trucker the $500 to a brooch often can sell in the $500 toy made Trucker

by Fish-toy made by Fish$750framed range, and framed hair Tulip Festival Present $750 range, and an ornate hairan ornate er-Price.

I do not have the original er-Price. I do not have the original heron, as it is often seen along

By Rosi Jansen wreath fromsold the 1880s soldis inbox, wreath from the 1880s recently but the toy is in almost pristine Poster & Brochure box, recently but the toy almost pristine for $1,500.

For additional Most of us see great blue shores and waterfor edges $1,500. with For additional informacondition. have been condition.informaI have been $75 b.offered 2015 ITribal Ratesoffered $75 mightofwant a copy tion, youstreams. might want tion, to getyou a copy and herons all the time, but we often vegetation, marshes for it. What do you think? — Steve, fortoit.get What do of you think?

— Steve, 5.

Community Comments “Collector’s Encyclopedia of Hair“Collector’s Encyclopedia of HairPalm Desert, California Palm Desert, California Also, it displays the same overlook the smaller and rarer Jewelry” Jewelry” by C.work Jeanenne Bellby C. Jeanenne Bell 6. Miscellaneous According to my references, patient behavior work as its larger According to my references, green heron. and published and published by Collector Books. by Collector Books.

Mayor -toy, Council Roundtable yourintroNo. 711, was introyour toy, No. 711, was It is approximately 19 inches relative when feeding, although duced andValues marketed in 1949. Values *** duced and marketed in 1949. *** tall, with reddish brown and blue it displays an assertiveness that I’ve in the $225 to $575 range.

I’veofseen are in the $225 toseen $575are range.

I have a copy Newsweek, I have a copy of Newsweek, green feathers and has orange- we saw in action.

Do the math.

Do the math. which was the commemorawhich was the commemoraSWINOMISH INDIAN The heron on tive theissue photo is tive yellow legs. Juveniles have light published Write after to the death published afterissue the death to KFWS, Larry Cox in care of KFWS, Larry Cox in Write careTRIBAL of COMMUNITY Lady Diana. still sealed and one we saw in Bellingham.

WeIt is of spots. of Lady Diana. still sealed and It is P.O. Box 536475, 32853P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FLDEPARTMENT 32853- Orlando, FL was never How or much was up never opened. How much opened. is it 6475, 6475, or send e-mail to OF questionsa small The green heron holds its neck watched as it picked sendis it e-mail to questionsworth?

— Mary, De Land, Florida ENVIRONMENTAL worth?

Mary, De Land, Florida forcox@aol.com. Dueforcox@aol.com. to the large vol- Due to the large volthe—shore, close to its body and looks more piece of bread from mail he receives, Mr. Cox cannot I contacted magazine col- ume PROTECTION ume of mail he receives, Mr.ofCox cannot I contacted col- several andseveral magazine stocky than the more familiar threw it further into the water personally answer all reader questions, and they seem to agreeall reader personally answer questions, lectors, and they seemlectors, to agree TRIBAL ENVIRONMENTAL after repeating thisthat several times, great blue heron. nornot do send appraisals.

Do not send any that your issuesell of Newsweek would sell Do nor do appraisals. any your issue of Newsweek would POLICY ACT (TEPA) materials in the $10intomind $15 range.

Keeprequiring in mind return front ofrange.

The green heron’s habitat is had lured a fish right materials mail. requiring return mail. in thein$10 to $15 Keep DECLARATION OF millions of copies of that issue were that millions of copies that of that issue were similar to that of the great blue its beak! © 2015 King Features Synd., Inc. printed, and it is not scarce.

NON-SIGNIFICANCE

• LEGAL NOTICE • January 19, 2015

January 19, 2015

King Features Weekly Service

LA CONNER TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA

DETERMINATION OF NON-SIGNIFICANCE (DNS) Date: January 21, 2015 Application File #: LU15-01 SH Applicant: Lisa Judy/ Gerald Blades Location: 128 S. First Street, La Conner, WA 98257 Description of Proposal: The applicant proposes to replace wood plank decking with 1” micromesh decking panels in the restaurant seating area and install ADA ramping on two west side entrances and exists.

Lead Agency: Town of La Conner The lead agency for this proposal has determined that it does not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment with mitigation measures. An environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required under RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c). This decision was made after review of a completed environmental checklist and other information on file with the lead agency. This information is available to the public upon request.

This DNS is issued after using the optional DNS process in WAC 197-11-355. The lead agency will not act upon this proposal for fourteen (14) days after the date below.

Comments must be submitted by February 5, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.

Public Hearing - Hearing Examiner: Date: February 22, 2015 Location: Upper Maple Center Time: 3:00 p.m.

Responsible Official: John Doyle, Town Administrator. Phone: (360) 466-3125. Address: P.O. Box 400, La Conner, WA 98257. Email: administrator@townoflaconner. org You may appeal this determination in writing to the La Conner Hearing Examiner. The written appeal and the $405 Hearing Examiner fee must be filed with the Town Clerk no later than 10 days (LCMC 15.135.220) following the DNS notice. The appeal must comply with the procedures of LCMC 15.12.130 - Appeal of Administrative Decisions. You should be prepared to make specific factual objections.

Published in La Conner Weekly News, January 21, 2015.

• LEGAL NOTICE •

ORDINANCE NO. 1125 Notice is hereby given that the Town Council of the Town of La Conner, Washington, passed Ordinance No. 1125 at the January 13, 2015 Town Council meeting. A summary of Ordinance No. 1125 is as follows: An Ordinance Amending the 2015 Budget Complete copies of Ordinance No. 1125 are available at La Conner Town Hall, P.O. Box 400, La Conner, WA 98257.

Dated this 14th day of January, 2015 Maria DeGoede, Town Clerk Published in La Conner Weekly News, January 21, 2015.

• LEGAL NOTICE •

SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR YAKIMA COUNTY In Re the Estate of NORMAN R. NASHEM, JR. Decedent.

No. 14-4-00026-4 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The Personal Representative named below has been appointed as Personal Representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the Decedent that arose before the Decedent’s death must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Personal Representative or the Personal Representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the Court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (a) Thirty days after the Personal Representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (b) Four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim will be forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060.

This bar is effective as to claims against both the Decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.

Date of first publication: January 21, 2015.

JOHN J. FILLIOL, Personal Representative Attorney for Personal Representative: J. ERIC GUSTAFSON, WSBA #5163 Address for Mailing or Service: LYON WEIGAND & GUSTAFSON PS 222 North Third Street P.O. Box 1689 Yakima, WA 98907-1689 Published in La Conner Weekly News, January 21, 28 and February 4, 2015.

• LEGAL NOTICE •

NOTICE OF APPLICATION The Town of La Conner is processing a permit application for the following project that may be of interest to you. You are invited to comment on the proposal.

Date: January 21, 2015 File Number: LU15-01 SH Project Applicant: Lisa Judy/ Gerald Blades Project Description: The applicant proposes to replace wood plank decking with 1” micromesh decking panels in the restaurant seating area and install ADA ramping on two west side entrances and exists.

Project Location: 128 S. First Street, La Conner, WA Environmental Review: The Town of La Conner has reviewed the proposed project for probable adverse environmental impacts, and will issue a Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) for this project using the optional DNS process in WAC 197-11-355.

Date of Permit Application: January 16, 2015 Date of Determination of Completeness: January 20, 2015 Required Permits: The following local, state and federal permits/approvals are needed for the proposed project: Town of La Conner: • Shoreline Permit Existing Environmental Documents: SEPA Checklist Consistency Overview: This property is located in the Commercial Zone and Urban Commercial Environment of the La Conner Shoreline.

The proposed improvements are consistent with the allowed use in this zone.

Preliminary determination of the development regulations that will be used for project mitigation: Town of La Conner • §10.10 - Shoreline Master Pro gram • §13.10 - State Environmental Policy Act • §15.35 - Commercial Zone • §15.135 - Administration and Enforcement Public Hearing - Hearing Examiner • Date: February 12, 2015 • Time: 3:00 p.m.

• Location: Upper Maple Center Comments: Comments on the above application must be submitted in writing to John Doyle, Planning Director, PO Box 400, La Conner, WA 98257-0400, by 4:00 PM on February 11, 2015. Anyone submitting comments will automatically become a party of record and will be notified of any decision on the project.

If you have any questions concerning this project, contact John Doyle at (360) 466-3125, ext. 17.

Published in La Conner Weekly News, January 21, 2015.

• LEGAL NOTICE •

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FOR THE COUNTY OF SKAGIT In the Matter of the Estate of DAVID NEUMILLER, Deceased.

Case No. 14-4-00411-7 PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS RCW 11.40.020, 11.40.030 The Personal Representative named below has been appointed and has qualified as Personal Representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving or mailing to the Personal Representative or the Personal Representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim, and filing the original of the claim with the Clerk of the Court.

The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the Personal Representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(3); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice or within four months after the date of filing a copy of this notice with the Clerk of the Court, whichever is later. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and RCW 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the probate assets and nonprobate assets of the decedent.

DATE OF FILING COPY OF NOTICE TO CREDITORS WITH CLERK OF THE COURT: 01/16/15 DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION: 01/21/15 Michael Neumiller Personal Representative Attorney for Personal Representative FELICIA VALUE WSBA No. 27635 PO Box 578 La Conner, WA 98257 (360) 466-2088 Published in La Conner Weekly News, January 21, 28 and February 4, 2015.

The year 1666 was much feared throughout Western Europe because of its triple sixes, “666,” which represent the “Number of the Beast.” While the world did not end, London was nearly destroyed by the Great Fire.

JANUARY 21, 2015 • LA CONNER WEEKLY NEWS • PAGE 7

News Briefs

CLASSIFIEDS

To run an ad, please stop by the office (313 Morris St., Suite 4B), call 466-3315, fax 466-1195 or email production@laconnernews.com BEFORE NOON ON FRIDAYS. LEND A HAND: Errands - chores - companion. Relocation specialist. Call Gem Tartaglia at (360) 770-9015.

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The Library THRIFT SHOP 520 Morris St. • 360-399-1154 Wed., Fri. & Sat., 11-5 Sun.: 12 noon - 3

Donations of used books, home furnishings, garden items when open.

(No clothing, electronics, sofas or other large furniture and NO DUMPING PLEASE).

All proceeds go towards building a new La Conner Library!

The Library Thrift Shop sends a heartfelt thanks to all of you who generously donated your used items towards the future building of the La Conner Library.

With your support, we are “Getting There”!

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of 42.7 degrees was the second warmest on record and trailed only 1999,” said Washington State University AgWeatherNet meteorologist Nic Loyd. “The 10th was a particularly balmy day, as the temperature at Mount Vernon reached 66 degrees, which is a station record for December.”

Temperatures were briefly below normal early in the month, as Moxee fell to just 7 degrees on the 2nd. Cold conditions returned at month’s end, as Pullman dropped to 4 degrees on December 30.

December was also a reasonably active time period, as Long Beach recorded rainfall on all but three days from December 4 to 29. However, the wetter periods just before and after mid month corresponded to the warmest days in December, which meant most of the precipitation fell in the form of rain.

“Unfortunately, mountain December unusually mild snowpack showed little imA meteorologist withsubscriptions WashNew can ington State University says that provement during December, there too! continued to be be entered online while December began and ended as a mismatch between cold with cold temperatures, nearly weather and precipitation,” said all of the days in between were unusually mild. As a result, the AgWeatherNet Director Gerrit final month of 2014 was notably Hoogenboom. “It’s not too late warmer than normal, which is for the mountains to recover, but the long range outlook does consistent with most of 2014.

“Prosser’s mean monthly high not look promising for heavy snowfall at high elevations.”

The Legislature is considering a bill sponsored by Rep. Dave Hayes, R-Camano Island, to add a third District Court judge to Skagit County.

“The population of Skagit County has grown significantly over the years. But the growth of the bench in the District Court has not,” said Hayes. “They originally allocated two District Court judges, and they still maintain only two judges.”

Skagit County District Court Judge David Svarin said caseloads have increased tremendously in the past 16 years. “When I started in 1999, the caseload for District Court was 19,000. Currently, the caseload for District Court is running about 30,000, and commensurately, it has gone up for the municipal courts that are part of the system,” Svarin told the House Judiciary Committee last week.

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Sea Mar Clinics fined

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that his office is recovering $3.35 million from Sea Mar Community Health Centers, stemming from allegations Sea Mar improperly billed Medicaid for thousands of dental appointments.

After a 2½-year investigation, the false claims unit of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit raised concerns that Sea Mar had overbilled Medicaid more than $3 million for dental services between 2010 and 2014.

The Attorney General’s Office alleged that fluoride treatments, which could have been performed by dental assistants as part of a patient’s regular six-month checkups, were instead billed as stand-alone appointments with a dentist or hygienist.

Fluoride treatments should be billed on a fee-for-service basis, usually between $13.25 for 6to 19-year-olds and $23.41 for younger children. Bills from Sea Mar instead were sent to Medicaid as “encounters,” indicating patients were seen by a dentist or hygienist, with a typical fee of $180. Medicaid billing rules dictate that in order to bill for an encounter fee, the dental service provided must require a dentist or dental hygienist to warrant the higher cost.

The false claims unit alleged that Sea Mar’s billing for these appointments also exceeded the number of dental exams allowed per patient under Medicaid, without any documentation of the findings of such exams or that the exams were actually performed.

College magazine honored

Skagit Valley College’s (SVC) e-magazine, “Currents,” recently received a Gold Medallion Award at the District 7 conference of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR).

The award recognizes graphic design achievement in the category of Best Newsletter, print or online.

The NCMPR Medallion Awards are the only regional competition its Cards kind that Cash forofGift honors excellence Merchants would loveexclusively for you to among and slide your public unwanted relations gift cards into a marketing professionals twodrawer and forget about them. at According tocolleges.

CardHub.com, in the past 10 year years over $45 billion gift cards “Currents” is a in quarterly have never been redeemed. magazine that is effort, designed to With a little bit of you can foster engagement business swap your unwanted with gift cards for cardscommunity you’ll actually use ... or even and leaders, elected turn them into officials, ascash. well as donors, CardHub offers few tips: of SVC. supporters, anda friends • On CardHub, you can either sell the Using a unique quarterly theme, card at a discount or list it on Facebook “Currents” showcases variety for less than the amount ona the card. of Thiscollege is helpful programs, if you have a people, card for a storeinitiatives. that’s not a major or if and It isretailer a joint there’s an odd amount on it.Public effort between theleft SVC • You can give the card to someone Information else as a gift. Office and SVC Foundation.

• Collect the cash and use it to pay down debt.

District 7 consists of • Swap for aand cardtechnical you do want on the community colleges CardHub Facebook page. in• Use Alaska, Idaho,storeMontana, the card. Every likely has Oregon, the something Washington, you’d want. Butand beware: It’s difficult provinces to spend the exact amount Canadian of Alberta, on a giftColumbia, card, so you might end up British Saskatchewan paying for something additional just and Yukon Territory. use up every last cent on the card. Ask

Cash for Gift Cards Merchants would love for you to slide your unwanted gift cards into a drawer and forget about them. According to CardHub.com, in the past 10 years over $45 billion in gift cards have never been redeemed.

With a little bit of effort, you can swap your unwanted gift cards for cards you’ll actually use ... or even turn them into cash.

CardHub offers a few tips: • On CardHub, you can either sell the card at a discount or list it on Facebook for less than the amount on the card.

This is helpful if you have a card for a store that’s not a major retailer or if there’s an odd amount left on it.

• You can give the card to someone else as a gift.

• Collect the cash and use it to pay down debt.

• Swap for a card you do want on the CardHub Facebook page.

• Use the card. Every store likely has something you’d want. But beware: It’s difficult to spend the exact amount on a gift card, so you might end up paying for something additional just use up every last cent on the card. Ask if the store will give you the last few dollars back in cash. Some will.

Cnet.com also has some good ideas for handling unwanted gift cards: • Try Cardpool.com. Its site says you can “Buy gift cards for up to 35 percent off or sell gift cards for up to 92 percent cash back.” Cardpool holds the card until it’s sold, but will send you the cash within a day. Certain cards can be turned into Amazon.com gift cards, and at an increase in the amount you’re offered.

• Review a few sites online to see what each one offers and where your best deal is. Others to consider are GiftCardGranny.com and CardCash. com.

• A Coinstar Exchange kiosk is the best if you need cash immediately ... if you’re willing to take 60 percent to 85 percent of face value. Coinstar machines are easy to find; there might even be one in the lobby of your bank or grocery store. Apple Store, L.L. Bean, Starbucks, Ticketmaster, Best Western and Victoria’s Secret are just a few of the 150 cards that Coinstar will take.

However, the kiosk will require some identification when you take your slip to be cashed at the counter. Check the locator page to find out if there’s an Exchange kiosk in your area.

David Uffington regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply3@gmail.com. © 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Special-Needs Pets DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I saw a social-media post today about a bobcat that was considered “special needs” and couldn’t be released back into the wild. What exactly is defined as special needs in an animal? — Darla J., Jacksonville, Fla. DEAR DARLA: “Special needs” defines any animal, domestic or wild, that requires additional care beyond what might be considered normal for its species. That need could be due to a physical injury, illness or emotional/ behavioral problems.

We most often hear about behavioral problems in dogs, especially those that were abused or abandoned. But other pets and wild animals also can have behavioral issues. It takes a lot of attention, patience and skill to care properly for these animals.

Likewise for animals that come into shelters and rehab facilities that have been injured or are ill: Their emotional/behavioral issues often go hand in hand with their physical issues.

People looking to adopt a pet from a shelter often are told that a dog or cat has special needs, or has specific issues that must be addressed. While responsible shelters do their best to rehabilitate a pet prior to putting it up for adoption — including fostering the pet to more experienced volunteers who can help reduce behavioral issues — prospective pet owners need to be aware of a pet’s health and behavioral needs and be prepared to address them.

A special-needs pet will need more attention from its new family. That usually includes specific medical treatment, with more veterinary visits and a medication routine that must be met, plus more training and attention than a healthy pet might need. Owners must be prepared to dedicate extra time and expense to such pets. It’s often worth the effort.

Send your questions or tips to ask@ pawscorner.com. © 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

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PAGE 8 • LA CONNER WEEKLY NEWS • JANUARY 21, 2015

New ferry system chief Aqiimuk’s sails toward reform

.

Kitchen

By Patricia Aqiimuk Paul, Esq. This is the stove top version of my baked pork chops with potatoes. I began with boneless pork ribs. You could substitute pork chops. Photo was taken before the mushroom soup is added.

Pork Ribs ‘n Potatoes

Ingredients Boneless pork ribs, two per serving Potatoes, one large per serving ½ onion, chopped Dried parsley Black pepper Olive oil 1 can cream of mushroom soup Broccoli, if desired

Preparation In a heavy, large fry pan, add a tablespoon of olive oil.

Heat the pan and add the ribs, browning each side. While browning add the chopped onion. Once fully browned, add the peeled and sliced potatoes. Sprinkle with dried parsley and black pepper. Spread the can of mushroom soup over all. Cover the pan and reduce the heat. Cook 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are done and meat is no longer pink. If you are adding chopped broccoli, add at the same time you put in the potatoes.

Skagit Co. Sheriff’s Office

POLICE BLOTTER

Department of Corrections, but Sunday Jan 11 3:53 p.m.: Seemed odd were unable to find him. – A census worker was asking Thursday Jan 15 a La Conner resident about a 10:45 a.m.: Alarm – An neighboring home. alarm was accidently activated at Washington Federal bank in La Monday Jan 12 1:51 p.m.: Reported theft Conner.

4:35 p.m.: Info please – A – A resident of N. First St. in La Conner reported a wallet missing hunter wanted assurance that it’s legal to hunt outside La Conner from a purse.

Town limits with a property Tuesday Jan 13 owner’s permission. (Hey, geese!

4:11 a.m.: Double crunch Hunting is illegal in town.) – There was a rollover accident Friday Jan 16 near the North Fork Bridge on 11:04 a.m.: Arrest – A woman Fir Island Road near Rexville.

Then a vehicle stopping to assist was arrested in La Conner on a felony warrant issued after a struck the guardrail. previous property crime in La Wednesday Jan 14 Conner.

9:37 p.m.: Theft – The father 5:02 p.m.: Shoplifting of a Conway woman’s child took – Employees at Pioneer Market several credit cards while she suspected people who had already was out of her house. Deputies left the store of shoplifting. looked for the guy, who also had Deputies are investigating. a felony arrest warrant from the

Saturday Jan 17

1:49 p.m.: Arrest – Deputies recognized a fellow with two outstanding arrest warrants for driving on a suspended license.

He was booked and released with a new court date.

Sunday Jan 18

Read all about it in the

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4:12 p.m.: Assault – After a dispute reportedly between two adult brothers, deputies arrested a man for assault, 900 block Maple Ave., La Conner.

4:29 p.m.: Rescue – Two people who got into a dingy because their boat was taking on water were brought to shore by the fire department near the south end of the Swinomish Channel.

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By Cooper Inveen WNPA Olympia News Bureau Washington’s new ferries chief, Lynne Griffith, is plunging into reforms that aim to set the state’s troubled ferry system on the right course.

In making her debut comments to the Legislature last week, Griffith called America’s largest ferry system “a marine culture that is rich with history and tradition� but critically in need of changes and strong legislative support. “I want to take the best parts of that culture and move forward in a new direction,� she told the House Transportation Committee on Monday, Jan. 12.

Griffith included labor, maintenance and funding gaps as issues that need immediate attention. And key lawmakers seem to agree. “She’s restructuring upper management and encouraging senior staff to make decisions,� said Lars Erickson, communications director at the Department of Transportation. “With that empowerment comes a higher level of accountability, and I think that’s something that taxpayers, customers and employees are really looking for.�

Griffith had no maritime experience prior to signing on with Washington State Ferries (WSF), but her many years heading Pierce Transit and Vancouver’s C-TRAN gives transportation officials confidence she’s up for the challenge. “I think she’s going to make a lot of really positive changes,� said House Transportation Chair Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island. “I think her attitude and demeanor is calming some of the chaos of everyone running around trying to get things done. You need to have a calm hand, and we didn’t have a very calm hand during the crossover.�

The “crossover� Clibborn is referring to was the time in between former Director David Moseley’s retirement last April and Griffith’s appointment.

During those five months, WSF was headed by interim director Capt. George Capacci, whose managerial tactics were called into question following a series of cancelled departures and labor conflicts, as well as a complete electrical failure aboard the Tacoma vessel last July.

Capacci was considered a top contender for the permanent ferries chief position.

However, after members of the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots wrote state Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson, claiming Capacci pushed an “anti-labor agenda� that harmed morale, Capacci withdrew himself from consideration.

The letter urged Peterson hire former Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg instead, although he was eventually rejected as well.

One of Griffith’s first moves as the new ferries chief was to create seven new management positions while requiring four senior staffers to reapply for their positions. Capacci’s current job — the deputy chief of operations and construction — is being eliminated. “The new WSF management structure allows us to be leaner and flatter,� Griffith said via email. “The transformation of the leadership does eliminate two deputy chief positions, but Captain Capacci is welcome to apply for any of the new management positions.�

With around 56 percent of deck, maintenance and masters staff being over the age of 55, Griffith wants to begin training as many new employees as possible to fill the spots retirees are leaving behind.

Making sure new employees are properly trained is of the utmost importance, the ferries chief noted. Coast Guard regulations require that a ferry refrain from launching if the specified number of staff are not on board. If someone doesn’t show up and no replacement is found, the trip is cancelled.

One of the main issues with having such a diverse fleet is that a single worker may only be trained to work on a certain type of ferry. With a new Olympicclass vessel already on the water — and two more to follow in the next two years — at least three other older boats are being replaced, and the types of vessels

ferry workers are expected to operate become more consistent.

Even new ships require occasional maintenance. Other than weather problems, pulling ferries out of circulation to undergo work and inspections is the largest cause of missed sailings.

Griffith attributes this to not having replacement vessels to fill the void.

One solution would be to add a fourth Olympic-class boat to the fleet, since the other three are replacing older boats expected to be retired soon. Those three ships the Olympic vessels replace would turn 60 within the next 10 years.

With the ferry system struggling to acquire the funds to get maintenance and construction projects up and running, its success depends on finding a new revenue stream. The state Senate is currently negotiating a transportation package said to include significant increases to ferry funding, and Gov. Jay Inslee’s budget proposal includes a large transportation boost. “The decision this year will be whether to build a fourth 144-car ferry, because we have a third going onto the line now. And if you never shut down the building line, you actually get a better price per-ferry,� Clibborn said. “So that decision will be made this year, either through the new budget or a revenue package, but it will need that new revenue stream.�

The governor’s transportation budget would allocate $890 million to ferry and terminal maintenance, as well as an additional $86 million to replace the terminal buildings at Coleman Dock and Mukilteo.

Both buildings are considered particularly vulnerable to seismic activity.

Another $86 million would also be included if the state decides to construct a fourth Olympic class vessel.

Revenue for these budget projections would have to come from somewhere, and with the governor’s budget also including a freeze on ferry fares, that source is unlikely to come from within WSF. Inslee is proposing a carbon-emissions tax to help fill the void, but whether a tax increase would pass the Republican-controlled senate remains uncertain. “If you’re raising taxes to pay for education, will you be able to raise the gas tax to pay for transportation that same session?�

Clibborn asked. “I’m rooting for both, but what might happen is one could be held hostage to the other as part of the politics. I think we have the capacity to do it; I just don’t know if we have the political will.�

Washington State Ferries facts

By Cooper Inveen WNPA Olympia News Bureau

• Washington’s ferry system is not only the largest in the country, but it’s also the largest vehicle ferry system on Earth: over 10 million vehicles carried per year. • The ferries are Washington’s single largest tourist attraction. • Washington’s ferries are the single largest state contributor to carbon emissions, but an eventual conversion from diesel to liquified natural gas aims to change that. • Washington ferries boast a 99.5 percent reliability rating. Only one in every 200 voyages is delayed or cancelled. • The largest vehicles in the fleet can carry up to 2,500 people and 202 vehicles. • There are more than 400 Washington ferry departures per day.

Want to learn more? Check out ferry plans, publications and statistics at Washington State Department of Transportation’s website: http://www. wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/Planning/planspublications.htm

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