Anacortes Newcomers & Visitors Guide 2011

Anacortes Visitors and Newcomers Guide to a Special City and Island in NW Washington

2011 go a n a c o r t e s . c o m

JOBS JOBS TAXES TAXES

450 full-time, family-wage jobs for local residents 450 full-time, family-wage jobs for local residents $20 million in annual state and local sales tax $20 million in annual state and local sales tax

HOPE HOPE HELP HELP

$100,000 in annual charitable contributions $100,000 in annual charitable contributions 2,350 volunteer hours in the local community last year 2,350 volunteer hours in the local community last year

SKAGITPUBLISHING 1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274 P: 360.424.3251 • F: 360.424.5300 Restocking: 360.416.2171 ©2011 by Skagit Publishing | All rights reserved.

EDITOR

Jack Darnton jdarnton@goanacortes.com

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Mark Dobie mdobie@skagitpublishing.com

DISPLAY ADVERTISING MANAGER Deb Bundy dbundy@skagitpublishing.com

ADVERTISING OPERATIONS MANAGER Sarah Hickman shickman@skagitpublishing.com

WRITERS

Kimberly Jacobson, Joan Pringle, Elaine Walker

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kimberly Jacobson, Joan Pringle, Scott Terrell, Frank Varga, Elaine Walker

COVER DESIGN/LAYOUT Ashley Crerar

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Ashley Crerar, Jody Hendrix, Erika Jennewein, Christina Poisal, Patricia Stowell

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Stephanie Harper sharper@skagitpublishing.com Leah Hines lhines@skagitpublishing.com Marcus McCoy mmccoy@skagitpublishing.com Michelle O’Donnell modonnell@skagitpublishing.com Kathy Schultz kschultz@skagitpublishing.com Katie Sundermeyer ksundermeyer@skagitpublishing.com Paul Tinnon ptinnon@skagitpublishing.com

MAPS

Fine Edge, Anacortes, WA goanacortes.com

Welcom s e t r o c a e to An However you’ve arrived, whether on a scenic flight, ferry ride or pleasure boat cruise, or on a drive through beautiful Fidalgo Island, you’ve felt the change of pace and already experienced some of what’s wonderful about this special place.

You’re invited to “Coast In and Hang Out” — as our chamber of commerce puts it — and discover even more, whether you’re here for a long weekend or looking to put down roots.

Anacortes used to be known as the Gateway to the San Juans. Not anymore.

Sure there’s a state ferry terminal here that can take you to the islands, but this historic city has long been a destination all its own. Our guide can help you discover, or rediscover, all the things that keep people coming back here.

As a seaside community, Anacortes has long been tied to the waters surrounding Fidalgo Island. We still work and play on the water, and you’ll find so much to do. The whale watching here is world class, and the kayaking, boating, sailing, fishing, crabbing and scuba diving opportunities are hard to beat.

Anacortes has a long history of preserving open space and boasts wonderful parks and preserves. The Anacortes Community Forest Lands are one of the city’s treasures: 2,800 acres forever preserved from development. A trail system stretches more than 50 miles for use by hikers and bicyclists.

The arts are another ingredient that make this such a vibrant place. You’ll encounter wonderful murals and sculptures around town, and there are numerous galleries, concerts and community theater productions. We celebrate it all at the town’s biggest annual event, the three-day Anacortes Arts Festival that begins the first Friday in August.

Strong schools are important to Anacortes residents. Levies pass regularly, the most recent with a whopping 76 percent yes vote. Test scores here are consistently above the state’s average.

Our hospital enjoys strong support as well and recently completed a major expansion and renovation. Not many cities our size have such excellent health care facilities, and even fewer support a museum and library at the level Anacortes does.

It adds up to a special place indeed. Welcome, and enjoy your stay whether it’s a day or a lifetime.

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Table of CONTENTS Anacortes History ....................... 5 Tribes, Museums, Tours Recreation ................................. 10 Viewpoints................................. 16 Maps .....................................17-19 Fidalgo Island, Anacortes Arts............................................. 20 Events ........................................ 22 Anacortes Today ....................... 24 Weather ..................................... 32

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to link to our Skagit County Visitor website. For Anacortesspecific information, visit www.goanacortes.com

Guemes Island .......................... 33 Advertiser Index........................ 34

Chandler’s Square A Community Within a Community Chandler’s Square Retirement Community is located within walking distance of the charming Anacortes downtown corridor.

The magic of Chander’s Square is more than its location.

The atmosphere of the community is relaxed, comfortable, cheerful, and energetic.

Chandler’s Square truly offers an alternative environment from the standard retirement community.

IT IS A SLICE OF HEAVEN ON EARTH!

360-293-1300 1 3 0 0 “ O ” Av e . A n a c o r t e s w w w. ch a n d e r s q u a r e. c o m

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Anacortes

HISTORY & HERITAGE Rich natural resources and navigable waterways attracted Native Americans to the Anacortes area long before the first European explorers and settlers arrived Coast Salish peoples thrived on the rich natural resources of Fidalgo Island for 10,000 years before Spanish explorers such as Carrasco and Narvaez started mapping the area in 1790 and 1791.

European settlers staked their claims at Fern Prairie, now March Point, in the 1850s. They raised fruit, hops, cabbage, cauliflower seed and cattle. By 1873 the island was home to nine white women.

In 1876, Amos Bowman and his wife moved to the Ship Harbor area. When Bowman established a post office in 1877, he gave it the Spanish-sounding name Anacortes, a version of Annie Curtis — his wife’s maiden name.

In the boom year 1890, the population jumped from 200 to 2,000 fueled by speculation the town would become a transcontinental railroad terminus. Land prices jumped from $50 an acre to as much as $3,000 for a corner lot. But the bubble burst the same year when the railroad selected Seattle. Hundreds departed, leaving behind many of the beautiful buildings that give downtown such charm today.

Incorporated in 1891, Anacortes recovered as salmon and codfish industries grew. By the early 1900s hundreds of people worked at a dozen fish-processing plants, and Anacortes called itself the salmon canning capital of the world. Dances were held whenever the fishing fleets came home. Trident Seafoods, Sugiyo and SeaBear still process fish today.

Lumber was another vital industry. In 1911 Fidalgo Bay had 13 shingle and lumber mills. They thrived until goanacortes.com

resources grew scarce in the 1950s, and the last mill closed in 1992. Clear cuts were gradually replaced by secondgrowth forests.

A new industrial era began in the mid-1950s, when Texaco and Shell built refineries on March Point. Today the facilities, now operated by Shell and Tesoro, fuel the regional economy.

Fidalgo Island’s beauty has long been inspirational to artists. In 1962, a few creative souls founded the Anacortes Arts Festival, now one of the most prestigious festivals in the Northwest. In 2011, the city hosts its 50th Arts Festival. Another thriving arts group is the Anacortes Community Theatre, founded in 1963.

The community’s tradition of land preservation dates back nearly a century. As early as 1913, citizens began donating key tracts, including the land that now comprises Washington Park, to preserve them for future generations. Today, more than half the area inside city limits is either park or forest, and 2,800 acres in the Anacortes Community Forest Lands are permanently preserved by easements.

In the late 1960s, marinas and pleasure boats began to replace waterfront mills and canneries, and tourism and boat-building industries grew. Developers began building upscale developments, most notably in Skyline. These amenities, as well as the arts scene, recreation and natural beauty, attracted well-heeled retirees, allowing Anacortes to evolve into the diverse city it is today.

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MUSEUMS

W.T. Preston Snagboat

Anacortes Museum

Maritime Heritage Center

The Preston is a historic sternwheeler and a retired U.S. Army Corps of Engineers vessel that once cleared debris from Puget Sound waterways.

The Anacortes Museum restored the craft, now permanently displayed ashore.

Admission is $2-$3. The snagboat and nearby Maritime Heritage Center are open weekends in April, May, September and October; and daily except Wednesdays in June, July and August.

Once a Carnegie Library, the Anacortes Museum offers revolving and permanent displays about the colorful people of the past and how they worked and played. An exhibit celebrating the building’s centennial, “1910: A Look Back 100 Years,” runs through April. A new exhibit exploring the relationship between people and the native plants of Fidalgo and Guemes islands opens in May. Open daily except Wednesdays; admission is free. A research library with in-depth resources is open weekdays except Wednesdays. Appointments are preferred.

The Maritime Heritage Center, formerly the Snagboat Interpretive Center, now has a greater focus on the history of the community’s fishing, boat building and marine transportation industries. The exhibit “The Wawona and the Age of Sail,” with artifacts salvaged from the vintage codfish schooner, continues through autumn.

713 R Ave. (360) 293-1916 http://museum.cityofanacortes.org

1305 Eighth St. (360) 293-1915 http://museum.cityofanacortes.org

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703 R Ave. (360) 299-1984 http://museum.cityofanacortes.org

goanacortes.com

History TOURS Cap Sante Boat Haven esplanade

Behind the snagboat, this attractive waterfront walk offers a glimpse of Fidalgo Bay’s history in a series of interpretive displays.

Walking tour of historic downtown Anacortes

The Anacortes Historic Preservation Board has charted a leisurely stroll past historic buildings and places that enhances appreciation of the sites.

Brochures are available at the Visitor Information Center, City Hall and http://museum.cityofanacortes.org/ AHPB/documents/WalkTourBrochure. pdf.

ANACORTES INN

For Information Call: (360) 293-1915 or Check our Website:

museum.cityofanacortes.org Anacortes Museum 1305 8th Street • Anacortes, WA

Exploring the history of Fidalgo and Guemes Islands through: • Educational Programs • Exhibits • Research Library • Special Events

The Carnegie Gallery 8th Street & M Avenue Gallery Open Year-Round Mon. - Sat., 10-4 Sunday 1-4, Closed Wednesday SPECIAL EXHIBIT "Island Plants & People: A Twisted Path"

• New Look • Deluxe Continental Breakfast • 44 Units • Seasonal Heated Pool • Air Conditioning

• Wireless Internet • Microwaves & Refrigerators • Coffee Maker in All Rooms • Convenient to Downtown, Restaurants & Marinas • Open 24 Hours a Day

www.anacortesinn.com 3006 Commercial Avenue Anacortes, WA 98221

1-800-327-7976 (360) 293-3153

The W.T. PrESTon & Maritime Heritage Center 9th Street & R Avenue Open weekends: April - October Open Daily: June, July, August Closed Wednesday SPECIAL EXHIBIT "The Wawona & the End of the Age of Sail"

ARTIST

Bill Mitchell Teachers usually punish children for drawing on walls, but 50-odd years ago a second-grade teacher tried a different tack with Bill Mitchell, a precocious 7-year-old who checked out art books and carried a sketch pad.

She gave him a whole wall to fill up.

Today Anacortes still offers its walls to its well-known artist, historian and generally quirky character, especially downtown, where passers-by are occasionally startled and often charmed to encounter his nostalgic and distinctive life-sized murals of local characters.

Mitchell’s subjects, more than 120 of them, come from all walks of life — fishermen, mayors, dancers, storekeepers, bar patrons, children, pets, musicians, boaters, church leaders and editors. One mural is a self-portrait of the muttonchopped artist, seated in his trademark three-wheeled 1954 Autoette, which doubles as a wheelchair.

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Cheerfully eccentric and frequently cantankerous, Mitchell attacks his art and historical preservation projects with a missionary zeal. The first mural, of Fred White and his Safety Bike, went up in front of Marine Supply & Hardware on May 2, 1984, two years before the Vancouver Expo.

Mitchell decided murals would be a good draw for visitors and followed the fair’s theme, transportation, so many of his murals feature trains, boats, cars, carts, trucks and wagons.

They have proven wildly popular, collecting just enough snubs from art critics to keep them controversial.

Tourists are frequently seen posing for photos with the murals, and pranksters occasionally embellish them with mustaches or hats — stunts Mitchell minds only if adhesives damage the mural’s finish.

A list of murals is available at the Visitor Information Center at Commercial Avenue and Ninth Street. goanacortes.com

TRIBES SAMISH INDIAN NATION

The Samish Indian Nation once stretched over a seven-county region of Northwest Washington.

The tribe had more than 2,000 members in 1847, but raids from northern tribes and epidemics of European diseases wiped out more than 90 percent of its people by 1855. Despite this, 113 Samish were present at the signing of the Point Elliott Treaty.

Samish status as a federally recognized tribe was lost through a clerical error in 1969 when it was left off a Bureau of Indian Affairs list. The tribe regained recognition in 1996 and since then has played a growing role in Anacortes. It operates the Samish Longhouse Preschool, the Samish Gallery of Native Arts, the Fidalgo Bay RV Resort, a new Health Services building and a beautiful administrative building with carved cedar posts.

Today, tribal enrollment stands at about 1,450.

The Samish Canoe Family occasionally hosts large Coast Salish canoe journeys, usually at the resort, goanacortes.com

where they greet visiting paddlers with drums, prayers, songs and a feast.

On special occasions, Samish blessing ceremonies honor such things as a new story pole, the naming of a baby orca or the christening of a new canoe.

These moving and inspiring events are always followed by the hospitality of a potlatch.

The Samish Indian Nation is governed by a seven-member elected Tribal Council led by Chairman Tom Wooten, who oversee the tribe’s welfare and its natural and cultural resources.

SWINOMISH TRIBE

The Treaty of Point Elliott established the Swinomish Reservation as a permanent homeland for the Swinomish, Kikiallus, Samish and Lower Skagit tribes. The 8,155-acre reservation is located on a small peninsula of Fidalgo Island, across the Swinomish Channel from the town of La Conner.

The Swinomish are historically a fishing people, thanks to the abundance of salmon, which were pre-

served and stored for winter consumption. Today, the tribe carefully guards this and other treaty-protected resources.

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is the principal employer on the reservation, and the services it provides include a fish-rearing and hatchery facility, a fish processing plant, a tribal water system, social services, the Swinomish Tribal Health Center, a Housing/Utility Authority and the Northwest Indian College/work training program. Its greatest economic driver, the Swinomish Casino, sits next to Highway 20 at the bottom of the twin bridges spanning the channel.

In 2010, the Swinomish entered a partnership with Washington State Parks that resulted in pristine Kiket Island becoming a protected site, now known as the Kukutali Preserve, within Deception Pass State Park.

The tribe now has about 900 enrolled members. The governing body is the 11-member Swinomish Indian Senate, led by Tribal Chairman Brian Cladoosby.

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RECREATION The pristine waters of Fidalgo Island delight boaters, fishermen, kayakers and whale watchers, while the island’s parks and forests tempt hikers, bicylists, rock climbers and nature lovers.

WHALE WATCHING

The breathtaking scenery and varied wildlife of the San Juan Islands draw thousands of visitors to the area each year for close encounters with nature, especially orcas.

Three pods of Southern Resident orcas, the J, K and L pods, have a 150square-mile home range centered in the San Juans. These sociable mammals often delight boaters with their company, especially in summer and fall.

Two charter companies provide whale-watching excursions from Anacortes. Cruises, usually five to six hours, depart from Cap Sante Boat Haven and are offered spring through

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fall. Both outfits offer guaranteed sightings, meaning you can go out another day if your boat is one of the few that doesn’t spot an orca, gray, minke or humpback whale.

And there is much more to see in the San Juans, including 80 wildlife preserves, rugged shorelines, historic sites, bald eagle nests, barking seals, chattering cormorants and, in early spring and late summer, goldenskinned stellar sea lions.

• Island Adventures: 1801 Commercial Ave.; (360) 293-2428 or (800) 465-4604; www.island-adventures.com.

• Mystic Sea Charters: 819 Commercial Ave. Suite E; (800) 308-9387; www.mysticseacharters.com.

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KAYAKING

Kayaking is a great way to get out on the waters of western Skagit County and the nearby San Juan Islands, whether for a quick paddle or a trip lasting several days.

Paddlers can enjoy beautiful vistas and see wildlife from a different perspective while gliding quietly along a shoreline or exploring a secluded cove.

Anacortes businesses offering kayak rentals, instruction and hourly and multi-day tours include the Sea Kayak Shop, www.seakayakshop.com, and Anacortes Kayak Tours, www. anacorteskayaktours.com.

A major Northwest kayaking event is the Deception Pass Dash held each goanacortes.com

December. Close to 200 kayakers race from Bowman Bay in Deception Pass State Park through the pass as the tide changes from flowing into the inlet waters to ebbing back out to sea. More information can be found at www. outdooradventurecenter.com.

The Hole in the Wall Paddling Club, www.holeinthewallpaddlingclub.org, is made up of local kayakers from the region who encourage safe kayaking.

MARINAS ANACORTES MARINA

2415 T Ave. (360) 293-4543 www.anacortesmarina.com

Anacortes Marina offers annual leases but no transient moorage. The marina has covered and open berths with power and water. Other amenities include restrooms with showers, laundromat, 60-ton lift, fuel dock and pump-out station.

Fidalgo Bay Resort RV by the sea Waterfront Clubhouse • 148 Full Hook-up Sites • Upgraded WiFi • Store/Gift Shop • Small Boat Launch • Laundry Facilities • Park Model Cottages Open Year Round Online Reservations at www.fidalgobay.com 1-800-727-5478 4701 Fidalgo Bay Rd., Anacortes, WA Owned & Operated by the Samish Indian Nation goanacortes.com

t )PVS 4FSWJDF t /P 4NPLJOH 'BDJMJUZ t 'SFF 8JSFMFTT *OUFSOFU t 8BSN BOE 'SJFOEMZ 4UBČ t (SPVQ BOE $PSQPSBUF 3BUFT t &YQBOEFE $POUJOFOUBM #SFBLGBTU t 'SFTI #BLFE $PPLJFT &WFSZ /JHIU #OMMERCIAL !VE s !NACORTES 7! s 0HONE &AX THEMARINAINN COMCAST NET s WWW MARINAINNWA COM ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011 |

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CAP SANTE BOAT HAVEN

1019 Q Ave. (360) 293-0694 (360) 661-5000 after 5 p.m. www.portofanacortes.com

The marina owned and operated by the Port of Anacortes is located on the west side of Fidalgo Bay within walking distance to downtown. The marina provides permanent and transient moorage with close to 200 berths for guest moorage. Floats have power and water. Other accommodations include restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, fuel dock, pump-out stations, boat launch and free public Wi-Fi.

SKYLINE MARINE CENTER

2011 Skyline Way (360) 293-5134 www.skylinemarinecenter.com

At Flounder Bay on the west end of the island, Skyline Marine Center provides guest moorage, a launching

hoist and fuel and pump-out services.

The facility also has restrooms, showers and laundry facilities.

GOLF SIMILK GOLF COURSE

12518 Christianson Road (360) 293-3444

This course sits between Fidalgo and Similk bays, giving golfers unique views, but also sometimes bringing light breezes into play.

The 18-hole, par-72 public course plays as long as 6,200 yards. It is among the oldest golf courses in the county, having opened in 1929.

TENNIS

The Anacortes Tennis Club holds clinics throughout the year for beginning, novice and intermediate players.

It has been teaching basic techniques, tactics and strategies for this lifetime sport for eight years.

For more information, contact the

We chose Windermere We made a great choice.

Anacortes Windermere Real Estate/Anacortes Properties 3018 Commercial Avenue 360/293-8008 ANACORTESPROPERTIES.COM 12

Mount Vernon Windermere Real Estate/Skagit Valley 1030 E. College Way 360/424-4901 WINDERMERESKAGIT.COM

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Friday Harbor Windermere Real Estate/San Juan Island 100 First Street 360/378-3600 WINDERMERESJI.COM goanacortes.com

Anacortes Parks and Recreation Department at 293-1918.

Anacortes Middle School M Avenue and 22 Street Six courts

Clearidge Park

Blakely Drive (Skyline) Two courts

Fidalgo Elementary School 13590 Gibralter Road Two courts

swimming Fidalgo Pool and Fitness Center

1603 22nd St. (360) 293-0673 www.fidalgopool.com

The 25-meter-by-25-yard pool has a water slide, 1-meter diving board and climbing wall. The average temperature is 83 degrees.

The pool’s weekly schedule includes family/open swims, lap swims, water aerobics, swim lessons, aqua arthritis and aquatic therapy sessions, water walks, preschool and prenatal swims and pool rentals.

The center also includes an upstairs fitness center with Nautilus equipment, free weights, treadmills, Stairmasters and exercise area for aerobics and other classes. goanacortes.com

Hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and noon to 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

The pool was constructed in the early 1970s. It is funded by admission fees and property taxes paid to the Fidalgo Parks and Recreation District.

FARMERS MARKET

611 R Ave. (360) 293-7922 www.anacortesfarmersmarket.org.

Anacortes’ Depot Arts Center is bustling each summer with folks stocking up on fresh vegetables, fruits and berries, artisan cheeses, fresh bakery goods and more at the Anacortes Farmers Market. Look for fresh fish, jam, honey, coffee, tea and fudge.

Plants and fresh and dried flowers are also offered. Craft items include ceramics, photography, kitchen acces-

sories, jewelry, garden art, knit-wear, soaps and lotions and hand-spun yarns and clothing.

It is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturdays from mid-May through mid-October at the corner of Seventh Street and R Avenue — close to downtown and the Cap Sante Boat Haven.

FOREST LANDS

The Anacortes Community Forest Lands is a city treasure.

The 2,800 acres are forever preserved from development under the Conservation Easement Program.

They include forest lands, wetlands, meadows, Mount Erie, Sugarloaf Mountain and Cranberry, Whistle and Heart lakes.

The semi-natural trail system stretches more than 50 miles for use by hikers and bicyclists with some trails also open to horses and motorcycles.

Bicycle Sales • Service • Rentals

Trek • Giant • Specialized Anacortes 360.588.8776

Burlington 360.757.7910

SkagitCycleCenter.com ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011 |

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Maps are available at City Hall, the Visitor Information Center and from local merchants.

The Forest Lands are overseen by city staff and the nonprofit Friends of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands. The group provides outreach and education from adult field seminars to youth day camps, and stewardship with maintenance and habitat restoration. More information on the organization is at www.friendsoftheacfl.org.

PARKS

• Washington Park, a 220-acre jewel on the far west end of Fidalgo Island on Sunset Avenue, has day use and overnight camping facilities for tents and RVs, a boat launch, picnic shelters, playground, showers and laundry facility. A 2.3-mile loop road around the park can be walked or driven.

• Volunteer Park at 1915 13th St. is the city’s sports center with a fastpitch/Little League field, two regula-

An unexpected find.

Open Every Saturday

Rarely will you discover a jewelry store of this caliber anywhere... let alone in such a beautiful community.

We invite you to come in.

Celebrating our 81st Anniversary all year long!

J

May 14th - Oct 15th from 9AM - 2PM

ewelers since 1930

7th St and “R” Ave

Anacortes

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7TH & COMMERCIAL • ANACORTES • 293-6469 • TOLL-FREE 1-888-293-6469 • OPEN MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 9:30 TO 6PM

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goanacortes.com

tion baseball fields, a soccer field and basketball court. The park also includes a playground and walking paths.

• Storvik Park at 1110 32nd St. is home to the community-built Our Town Our Park playground. The nearly 9-acre park also has a Little League field, two basketball courts, picnic tables and barbecues.

• Causland Memorial Park, dedicated to Anacortes veterans, is at 710 N Ave. Built in the 1920s, the 2-acre park’s unique appeal comes from decorative rock and black and white mosaic structures and walls. The park includes a bandstand, amphitheater, terraces and picnic tables.

• The Ace of Hearts Rotary Park at 38th Street and H Avenue has a fenced off-leash dog area complete with watering station and wash-off hose.

• The John and Doris Tursi Park, east of the Anacortes Airport on Pennsylvania Avenue, includes a pavilion made of raw cedar logs, enhanced wetland area, nature trail, picnic tables, playground and zip line.

• The Ben Root Skate Park at 2313 R Ave. has a 7,500-square-foot concrete skate area, lights, seating and nearby restrooms. Each summer, the park brings skateboarders from all over the region for the annual Skatefest.

• Kiwanis Waterfront Park, 1708 Sixth St., is a 2-acre park overlooking the Guemes Channel.

• Rotary Park, 701 T Ave., is a 1.5acre park running along the shoreline east of the Cap Sante Boat Haven.

ORGANIZATIONS

• Friends of the Forest: Regular office hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at 619 Commercial Ave., Suite 32. (360) 293-3725; www. friendsoftheacfl.org.

• Old Anacortes Rowing/Sailing Society: Meets Friday mornings at San Juan Lanes, 2821 Commercial Ave. www.oarss.org.

• Puget Sound Anglers Fidalgo Chapter: General meetings are third Tuesdays at Village Pizza, 807 Commercial Ave. www.psafidalgo.org.

goanacortes.com

DID YOU KNOW? • Noted Anacortes artist Alfred Currier created the artwork for the first set of new street banners that brighten Commercial Avenue from spring through fall. The Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, which funds the banner program, now uses student art — a suggestion from Currier himself.

• The Anacortes Sister Cities Association maintains strong ties with four sister cities: Lomonosov, Russia; Kisakata, Japan; Sidney, British Columbia; and Vela Luka, Croatia. Travel and cultural exchanges, often involving students, are common. www.anacortessistercities.com • The 2010 America’s Cup winner, BMW Oracle, was built in Anacortes

by Core Builders. The 90-foot trimaran won the 33rd edition of sailing’s premier event by routing defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland in two races off the coast of Valencia, Spain.

• The Port of Anacortes’ main warehouse at the marine terminal has come a long way from storing salmon coming from Alaska in its early days.

Today the newly dubbed Transit Shed Event Center at the north end of Commercial Avenue is a go-to venue in town for weddings, dances, fundraising galas and even a Quinceañera, a coming-of-age ceremony given to girls on their 15th birthday.

Port of Anacortes Welcomes You

Cap Sante Boat Haven 950 Slip Public Marina Summer Concert Series Anacortes Airport Hangars Available Marine Terminal Facilities Deep Water Wharfage Rent our historic Transit Shed with 400 Person Capacity Commercial Property Leasing Call for Availabilty

P.O. Box 297, Anacortes, WA 98221 360-293-3134 www.portofanacortes.com ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011 |

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VIEWPOINTS CAP SANTE

Cap Sante provides the most scenic overview of the city itself. To get there from downtown, take Fourth Street east to the top, turn right and follow the road up to the park. There, you will be treated to a view of the city and the San Juans to the west, refineries and bays to the south and a stunning view of Mount Baker to the east.

SUNSET BEACH

The San Juan Islands and ferry traffic make for great views at Sunset Beach in Washington Park. To get there, take 12th Street and follow it west as its name changes to Oakes Avenue, then Sunset Avenue, until it ends in the park. The beach is down to the right, below the playground.

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Washington Park’s Loop Road also offers great views. The first section offers views to the southwest, with a nice area with picnic tables at Green Point.

At Fidalgo Head, there is a landmark madrona tree and beautiful views of Skyline, Mount Erie and Burrows Island.

MOUNT ERIE

Arguably the best viewpoint on the island is atop Mount Erie. To get there, take H Avenue south and continue as it turns into Heart Lake Road. Past the lake, turn left into the park. A steep drive or long hike rises about 1,000 feet to a park donated to the city of Anacortes by the Anacortes Noon Kiwanis Club. Several pullouts near the top provide access to views in

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different directions, with a sweeping outlook that stretches from the North Cascades to Mount Rainier and back around to the Olympics. Hikers can get views to the north.

The best viewpoint is just beyond the access to the monumental cell tower at the top.

The crystal blue Salish Sea studded with its gem-like green islands will startle your eyes and feed your soul.

DECEPTION PASS STATE PARK

There are scenic spots inside the park at Pass Lake, Rosario Beach and Bowman’s Bay. But the iconic photo spot is at the pullout on Highway 20, where visitors will find one of the bridge’s most scenic aspects. goanacortes.com

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| ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011

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Happy Valley Rd

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M Av

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H Av

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20th St 20th Pl

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5th St

6th St

7th St 7th St

Chamber of Commerce

Anacortes Fire 15th St Department

18th St

5th St 6th St

Altair-Americus Anacortes Memorial Park

14th St

Volunteer Park

17th St

35th Ct

G

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14th St 15th St

37th Ct

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13th St

3rd St

9th St

12th St 13th St

Port of 3rd St Anacortes

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9th St

Av

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6th St 8th St

3rd St

Post Office

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Dr

5th St

7th St

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2nd St

P

1st St 2nd St

Railroad Av

4th St

Kiwanis Waterfront Park

N

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Anchor Cove Marina

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ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011 |

19

ARTS With numerous galleries, musical events, community theater productions, quilt activities, public art and ongoing art classes, it’s clear that Anacortes takes its arts seriously. And that’s without considering the town’s biggest annual event, the three-day Anacortes Arts Festival, which draws about 90,000 visitors each year.

• Anacortes Arts Festival, Aug. 5-7, takes up Commercial Avenue from the waterfront to 10th Street. Highlights include 250 artisan booths, working artists, live music, food, entertainment, children’s activities and a juried fine art show. Pre-events include a gala dinner and the Art at the Port opening celebration.

• What the Heck Fest, an indie music event that brings in dozens of talented and creative bands, is July 15-17. Performances, many of them free, are at several venues and pubs.

• Brewgrass and Jazz Walk — five or six pubs and restaurants band together for these annual musical celebrations of jazz, blues and bluegrass. Brewgrass is typically in November. Watch for Jazz Walk in conjunction with a new wine festival.

• Cap Sante Marina Summer Concert Series — Enjoy free and family-friendly rock and blues concerts Friday

20

| ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011

nights, July 22 though Aug. 12, with one more concert to be announced, at Cap Sante Boat Haven.

• Garden Art Fair, April 30 and May 1 at the Depot Arts Center, offers inspiration and creative embellishments for indoor and outdoor gardens. It’s the Depot’s main annual fundraiser.

• Quilt Walk, showcases the stunning fabric art of the Fidalgo Island Quilters. Quilts are displayed throughout April at many shops and businesses participating in the walk.

• Anacortes Community Theatre, 918 M Ave., has delighted audiences for 46 years. The 2011 season includes “Romeo and Juliet,” “Oklahoma!,” “The Servant of Two Masters,” “Whose Wives Are They Anyway?,” “Chicago!” and “Over the River and Through The Woods.” Call 2936829 or visit www.acttheatre.com.

• Arts on the Avenue exhibit features sculptures along southern Commercial Avenue Maps are at each sculpture and at the Visitor Information Center.

• Arts in Anacortes, a guide to 300 pieces of publicly displayed art, is at the Visitors Center, Parks and Recreation at City Hall and anacortesartscommission.com.

• First Friday Gallery Walks are 6-9 p.m. first Fridays goanacortes.com

at Scott Milo Gallery, Anne Martin McCool Gallery, Texture Gallery, Opulence Hair Salon and Day Spa, Anne Martin McCool Gallery, Insights Gallery, Adrift, Anchor Art Space and the Depot Arts Center.

ORGANIZATIONS

• An-O-Chords chapter of Barbershop Harmony Society: Meets Thursdays at Island View Elementary School, 2601 J Ave., (360) 293-0396.

• Fidalgo Island Quilters: Meets first and third Mondays at New Hope Community Church, 1319 35th St., www.fidalgoislandquilters.com.

• Fidalgo Youth Symphony: (360) 421-2527, www.fysmusic.org.

• Harmonaires: Meets Thursdays at the First Assembly of God Church, 29th Street and J Ave., (360) 293-2017 or (360) 293-6525.

At the Framemaker

Discover Affordable Quality in the Latest Styles For Women and Men Offering a great selection of clothing & accessories

Regional Fine Art And Custom Picture Framing 420 Commercial Ave., Anacortes 360-293-6938 www.scottmilo.com

An enticing selection of common and uncommon plants Thousands of roses, rare perennials, new annuals, rhododendrons, fruit trees & vegetable starts Open Daily

(360) 293-9888 520 Commercial Ave. • Anacortes goanacortes.com

15806 Best Road • Mount Vernon

360-466-3821

www.christiansonsnursery.com Vintage Home & Garden Gifts ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011 |

21

EVENTS Teenage skateboarders, art lovers and leather-clad bikers can all find at least one major Anacortes event that will tickle their fancies APRIL

• Spring Wine Festival, April 9 at the Port of Anacortes Transit Shed Event Center with tastes from dozens of wineries from around the state. www.anacortes.org.

MAY

• Anacortes Waterfront Festival, May 21 and 22 at Cap Sante Boat Haven, includes free boat rides, music, radio-controlled boats, kids activities, a marine swap meet, booths and food. www.anacortes.org.

JUNE

• SkateFest, June 4 at Ben Root Skate Park, includes music, competitions and demonstrations.

• St. MerryFest, June 10-12, has carnival rides, food, entertainment and fireworks at St. Mary Catholic Church, 4001 St. Mary’s Drive.

22

• Bark in the Park dog festival, June 11 at Storvik Park, includes demonstrations, contests and booths.

JULY

• Old-fashioned July 4 celebration, town photo, patriotic parade and picnic — complete with sack races and pie-eating contests. Fireworks display over Fidalgo Bay. • Kids-R-Best Fest, July 9, is a free event with inflatable toys, games, food, entertainment and more at Storvik Park, between 29th and 32nd streets.

• Shipwreck Day Flea Market, July 16, fills several blocks downtown with booths filled with plunder.

• What the Heck Fest, July 15-17, features a lot of exciting young bands from local labels at several venues. www.whattheheckfest.com.

| ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011

AUGUST

• Anacortes Arts Festival, Aug. 5-7, is the city’s biggest annual event with art and activities for young and old. www.anacortesartsfestival.com.

SEPTEMBER

• Anacortes Antique Machinery Show, Sept. 10, brings about 2,000 visitors to check out tractors, trucks, engines, saws and steam boats.

• Oyster Run, Sunday, Sept. 25. The largest motorcycle rally in the Pacific Northwest, it draws thousands of bikers to Anacortes. www.oysterrun.org.

October

• Oktoberfest beer festival, Oct. 8, features samples from 30 Northwest breweries at Pier One, First Street and Commercial Avenue.

goanacortes.com

goanacortes.com

ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011 |

23

Anacortes TODAY

Anacortes is a vibrant waterfront city with solid infrastructure and a wide range of health and social services.

Over the years, residents and public servants have worked hard to create a community that supports industry and the family-wage jobs it brings, while also guarding the island’s abundant natural resources.

The quality of life has been a magnet, particularly for the well-educated retirees who form a large percentage of the population. But it has also attracted industry, from the refineries that have been here 50 years to the thriving shipbuilding industry that has grown more recently.

DEMOGRAPHICS AND CITY FACTS Population: 14,557 in 2000, an estimated 16,800 today Persons younger than 5: 5.5 percent Persons 18 and over: 76.6 percent Persons 65 and older: 20.8 percent High school graduates 25 and older: 89.3 percent Bachelor’s degree or higher: 27.8 percent Owner-occupied housing: 68.8 percent Source: U.S. Census Bureau and the Washington State Office of Financial Management, Forecasting Division

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| ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011

goanacortes.com

GOVERNMENT INFORMATION CITY OF ANACORTES

904 Sixth St. P.O. Box 547 Anacortes, WA 98221 Phone: (360) 293-1900 www.cityofanacortes.org

Anacortes has a strong-mayor system of government.

The City Council meets in regular sessions on first and third Mondays, and in study sessions on second and fourth Mondays. The council sets policy, determines building codes and enacts ordinances.

Mayor Dean Maxwell, now in his fifth term, is the city’s chief executive.

He presides over council meetings and makes sure public policy is enforced.

He also manages the city, doubling as city manager, and runs the city’s regional water utility.

Auto • Home • Life • Business

1005 8th Street • Anacortes 360.708.6233 (cell) 360.424.5309 (office) 360.848.5066 (fax) lpetty@farmersagent.com

Leileah Petty Insurance Agent

PUBLIC SAFETY ANACORTES POLICE DEPARTMENT 1218 24th St. (360) 293-4684 Emergencies: 911 www.cityofanacortes.org/police.asp

The department provides 24 hours a day, seven days a week patrol and emergency response service. The office is staffed 8 a.m. to 5. p.m. weekdays.

There are currently 25 commissioned police officers working and six noncommissioned support staff.

• Animal Control: Call 911.

• Auxiliary Patrol: Officer Emerson Nordmark at 293-4684; www.cityofanacortes.org (click on the Police then Citizens Auxiliary Patrol options).

Deli & Catering Home of the Fidalgo Cookie!

Celebrating our 30th Anniversary!

ere algic atmosph Original, nost , Great service Great food e locals!

Just ask th

Monday-Saturday 7am-4pm 502 Commercial Ave • Anacortes

360.293.7383

www.Gere-A-Deli.com goanacortes.com

ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011 |

25

ANACORTES FIRE DEPARTMENT

1016 13th St. (360) 293-1925 Emergencies: 911 www.cityofanacortes.org/fire.htm

The Fire Department office in the main station is open 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. weekdays except holidays.

Emergency response is provided by three EMTs and 18 firefighter/paramedics. A minimum of four firefighter/ paramedics or EMTs are on duty at any given time during a 24-hour period.

NEW RESIDENT MOVE-IN PHONE NUMBERS Garbage and sewer: City of Anacortes (360) 293-1909 Recycling: Rabanco (800) 942-5965 Natural gas: Cascade Natural Gas (360) 293-5164 Water: City of Anacortes (360) 293-1909 Electricity: Puget Sound Energy (888) 225-5773 Voter registration: (360) 336-9305

ANACORTES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 819 Commercial Ave., Suite F (360) 293-7911 www.anacortes.org

TRANSPORTATION SKAGIT TRANSIT

Skagit Transit also offers Dial-ARide service for people whose disabilities and conditions prevent them from traveling on fixed routes.

WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES (888) 808-7977 www.wsdot.wa.gov

Washington State Ferries provides passenger and car service from its Anacortes terminal to Orcas Island, Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, and Sidney, British Columbia, Canada.

The terminal is located at the end of Highway 20, 3.5 miles west of downtown Anacortes. Citizens of the United States and Canada need to have either a passport or an enhanced driver’s license to enter or depart the United States by sea.

GUEMES ISLAND FERRY (360) 293-6356 www.skagitcounty.net

Skagit County provides ferry service for passengers and vehicles from Anacortes across the Guemes Channel to Guemes Island. The dock is located at Sixth Street and I Avenue. The crossing takes five minutes.

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4000 Airport Road (360) 299-1829

The Port of Anacortes operates the airport at the northwest end of Fidalgo Island. The airport hosts corporate and private aircraft and offers space for business tenants. San Juan Airlines operates several flights a day to the San Juan Islands, Bellingham and other destinations. Charters and scenic flights also are available. For information and reservations, call San Juan Airlines at (360) 293-4691. Other services at the airport include fuel, hangars, tie downs, aircraft service, flight instruction and maintenance and modification.

INDUSTRY

Major industries include two large refineries on March Point, several boat building and repair businesses and three seafood processing plants.

Shell Puget Sound Refinery and the Anacortes Tesoro Refinery employ close to 800 people from maintenance workers to engineers. Both plants, which were constructed and opened in the 1950s, convert crude petroleum into fuels.

One of the largest boat building and repair businesses in Anacortes

DID YOU KNOW? • In 1915, with 11 of the 41 salmon canneries in operation between Blaine and Olympia located in Anacortes, the city was proud to be the salmon canning capital of Puget Sound. Today images of some of the early labels have turned downtown trash cans into street art.

(360) 757-4433 www.skagitransit.org

Skagit Transit provides bus service in Anacortes Monday through Saturday. Route 410 includes stops at the Guemes Ferry terminal and Washington State Ferries terminal.

Route 49 runs from 10th Street and Q Avenue downtown to Island Hospital.

SKAT runs buses throughout Skagit County and offers connector service to Bellingham, Everett and Whidbey Island. The main transfer location for most Skagit Transit routes is at 105 E. Kincaid St. in downtown Mount Vernon. There is a park and ride lot east of Anacortes at March Point.

ANACORTES AIRPORT

• Anacortes has almost one-half acre of parkland per household, one of the highest per capita parklands ratio of any city in America.

• Thrift shops operated by Anacortes service clubs return more than $250,000 a year to the community.

• Some estimate up to one-fourth of Anacortes residents are descended from immigrants from another fishing village: Vela Luka, on the island of Korcula, Croatia. The Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble has celebrated that heritage for more than 30 years.

| ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011

goanacortes.com

leases waterfront land at the Port of Anacortes’ marine terminal. Dakota Creek Industries, established in 1975, employs close to 200 workers. The company specializes in construction and repair of steel and aluminum vessels up to 400 feet.

Additional marine businesses in the city include North Harbor Diesel, San Juan Yachts, Cap Sante Marine, Cortland Puget Sound Rope and Northwest Yachts.

The three seafood processing companies are Trident Seafoods, Sugiyo USA Inc. and SeaBear. Together they employ more than 300 workers.

Trident opened in 1973 and is part of a corporation that harvests, processes and markets seafood. Sugiyo introduced surimi-based seafood products to Americans. Surimi is fish paste that with snow crab meat and other ingredients is turned into imitation crab SeaBear, which has its roots in a backyard smokehouse, smokes salmon and other seafood and ships to customers across the country.

THE PORT OF ANACORTES 100 Commercial Ave. (360) 293-3134 www.portofanacortes.com

Major Facilities: The 950-slip Cap Sante Boat Haven, Anacortes Airport, 30-acre marine terminal Governance: Five commissioners, elected from five individual districts, who serve four-year terms and an executive director.

Major Tenants: Dakota Creek Industries, Cortland Puget Sound Rope, Northwest Marine Technology, Micro

Kenneth Killpack DDS Russell Borneman DDS 1218 29th St Suite A Anacortes, WA 98221 360.293.8451 Mercury Free Since ‘83

Aerodynamics, Transpac Marinas and San Juan Airlines.

MEDIAN HOME PRICE

Anacortes — $285,000 Skagit County — $220,000

(Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service, year-to-date December 2010)

MEDIA RADIO STATIONS

KWLE 1340, Anacortes. Adult contemporary music, local news and sports, 1340thewhale.com.

NEWSPAPERS

Anacortes American, weekly, 901 Sixth St., Anacortes, (360) 293-3122, www.goanacortes.com.

Skagit Valley Herald, daily, 1215 Anderson Road, Mount Vernon, (360) 424-3251, www.goskagit.com.

TELEVISION/PUBLIC ACCESS

Channel 10, Anacortes. City’s government access channel broadcasting City Council and Port of Anacortes Commission meetings, public notices, community events and related programming.

Pat, Vikki, Quinn, Dave & Derek

LIBRARY ANACORTES PUBLIC LIBRARY

1220 10th St. (360) 293-1910 http://library.cityofanacortes.org

The Anacortes Public Library offers much more than books — it is also a thriving community center, a showcase for art, a computer lab and a venue for films, music, lectures and events.

DON’T GET YOUR MERCURY “SILVER” FILLINGS REMOVED!

Unless your dentist practices the safe mercury removal protocols recommended by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. Find a safe mercury free dentist at www.IAOMT.org today!

Appliance repair in your home by factory trained appliance technicians.

and more!

HOMETOWN SERVICE, WAREHOUSE PRICES. We service most major brands!

1820 Commercial Ave. Anacortes, WA. 98221

360-293-5129

Now celebrating its centennial year, the library was a vital public institution even before it officially opened in March 1911.

The 1910 Carnegie Library building served Anacortes readers and researchers more than 50 years, until the library moved into the old hospital building at Ninth Street and M Avenue in 1968. That facility served the community 35 years.

In 1999 a group of citizens began working to replace the cramped old building. The community passed a bond in 2000 and the spacious new $6.9 million facility opened in January 2003.

Since then, the community has lavished the facility with resources, such as artwork, a bequest from the Manieri family for a jazz collection and an anonymous gift for a maritime collection. Numerous volunteers also help with library tasks, raise money, put on programs and sell books in the FriendShop.

• Friends of the Library: Meets second Thursdays in the library. Call Beverly Reed at (360) 293-4149.

• Anacortes Public Library Foundation: call Cynthia Harrison at (360) 293-1910 ext. 23.

MOVIES ANACORTES CINEMAS

The Hardware Store with More!

Hardware Electrical Automotive Rentals

OVER 65,000 ITEMS!

Housewares Paint Lawn & Garden and so much MORE!

Sebo’s Hardware

360.293.4575 • 1102 Commercial Ave

Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 7am-6pm, Sun 8am-6pm 28

| ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011

Three screens 415 O Ave., Anacortes (360) 293-7000 www.farawayentertainment.com/ anacortes.html

SHOPPING/RETAIL

Most of Anacortes’ stores are along Commercial Avenue, from just past the roundabout at the entrance to town to near the Guemes Channel.

The arch at 10th Street welcomes you to Historic Downtown Anacortes, which is filled with locally owned shops, art galleries and restaurants.

Anacortes has a wide range of service and retail businesses, including two major grocery stores, several drug stores, two large hardware stores, a lumberyard and a furniture store. Two auto dealerships are in the commercial area along Highway 20 at the eastern goanacortes.com

edge of town.

The nearest shopping mall is Cascade Mall in Burlington, which is about a 30-minute drive.

SOCIAL SERVICES THE ISLANDS CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS 2900 T Ave. (360) 293-2911 www.theislandsredcross.org

The chapter has been chartered since 1918, offering disaster preparedness, health and safety classes and services to the disadvantaged.

THE SALVATION ARMY 3001 R Ave. (360) 293-6682

Assists people with food boxes from its food bank, rental assistance, energy assistance and gas for transport in a medical emergency.

HEALTH CARE ISLAND HOSPITAL

1211 24th St. (360) 299-1300 www.islandhospital.org

Publicly owned Island Hospital takes pride in offering big-hospital services at its small acute-care facility.

With 43 beds, it is the smallest hospital in Washington with Level III Trauma care accreditation.

The hospital recently was honored as a national “100 Top Hospitals’’ for performance improvement by Solucient, a national heath care information corporation.

The hospital’s main entrance is at 1211 24th St. The Emergency Department’s entrance on 26th Street is best reached from Commercial Avenue. A certified ER physician and trained emergency nurses are on duty 24 hours a day.

Also known as Skagit County Public Hospital District No. 2, Island

ANACORTES 100 FOOD BANK 512 Fourth St. (360) 293-6445

ANACORTES FAMILY CENTER 1011 27th St. (360) 293-2993 www.anacortesfamily.org

The emergency shelter provides nine temporary housing units for homeless families. During a stay limited to 90 days, residents receive support from a case manager as they build the skills they need to transition out of homelessness.

GENTRY HOUSE ADULT DAY CARE 1208 Seventh St. (360) 293-4466

Gentry House offers a safe, nurturing and fun place where people with Alzheimer’s disease and similar conditions can stay for a few hours while their family members get a needed respite from the demands of caregiving.

goanacortes.com

CAP SANTE COURT RETIREMENT 360-293-8088

1111 32nd Street • Anacortes www.CapSanteCourt.com

LOGAN CREEK RETIREMENT 360-428-0222

2311 E. Division • Mount Vernon www.LoganCreek.com

STUDIO, ONE & TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS • DELICIOUS MEALS • TRANSPORTATION • HOUSEKEEPING • ACTIVITIES

BEAUTY COMFORT CONVENIENCE

The Finest in Full Service Retirement Living ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011 |

29

“

Hospital serves western Skagit County, north Whidbey Island and the San Juan Islands. The main hospital campus and a family care clinic are in Anacortes, and a clinic is on Lopez Island.

Medical staff includes more than 100 physicians and health providers.

Since it was built in 1962, Island Hospital has grown with the community. A major renovation and expansion project was completed recently, largely funded by a $30.5 million voter-approved bond.

The hospital’s spectrum of services includes inpatient and outpatient surgery, a Birth Center, home health care, acute and critical care, respiratory care, lab services, physical therapy and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.

Diagnostic imaging includes MRI and CAT scanning, Dual Energy X-ray, DEXA scanning, mammography and nuclear medicine.

OTHER SERVICES: • Island Health Resource Center, 1211 24th St., (360) 299-1397, offers support and education such as free

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s

a tV

SHIBA insurance counseling, support groups, Lifeline personal response system, diabetes education, health classes and free/low-cost screenings.

• The Cancer Care Center, 2511 M Ave., Suite G, (360) 299-4200, is accredited by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.

Physicians and nurses have specialized cancer care training and certification. The center offers chemotherapy, medication administration and blood product transfusion.

• Island Hospital Sleep Wellness Center, 1110 22nd St., (360) 299-8676, uses American Academy of Sleep Medicine standards to help patients get to sleep.

• Prenatal Care Center, 2601 M Ave., (360) 299-6973, provides maternity and infant care for low-income families.

• Island Hospital Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation, 715 Seafarers Way, Suite 100, (360) 299-1328, has 17 physical, occupational and speech therapy professionals.

” in Anacortes! n u F t s “Mo d an ” e lu

capsanteinn.com • 15 Restaurants Within 5 Blocks • 10 Minutes to Ferry Terminal • Walk to Antique Stores & Galleries • Oversized Deluxe Rooms With New Beds, Carpet & Paint • Hair Dryers, Refrigerators & Microwaves • HD Flat Screens

906 9th St. • Anacortes

360-293-0602

Call Toll Free:

800-852-0846

Located in Historic Old Town Across From The Marina 30

| ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011

• Island Hospital Auxiliary: Meets 1 p.m. first Mondays September through June in the hospital’s Cypress Room, (360) 588-8549, (360) 299-9931 or www.islandhospital.org (click on Auxiliary).

• Island Hospital Foundation, 211 24th St., (360) 299-4201, www.islandhospitalfoundation.org.

SENIOR CENTER ANACORTES SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER

1701 22nd St. (360) 293-7473 www.skagitseniors.org

The center offers a variety of activities for the senior population, including exercise classes, group games like pool and bridge, art lessons, information sessions and wellness activities.

It also serves lunch on weekdays.

Suggested donation for seniors 60 and older is $3-5; lunch charge for everyone else is $6.

EDUCATION ANACORTES SCHOOL DISTRICT 2200 M Ave. (upstairs) (360) 293-1200 www.asd103.org

The Anacortes School District has an early childhood education center (for birth to preschool), three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. It offers an alternative program at Cap Sante High School, a community college partnership through Running Start and assistance for families who home school with the Anacortes Home Education Partnership.

The district is also home to the regional Deaf and Hard of Hearing program for kids from preschool through high school.

The district’s enrollment is around 2,500 students and its budget is about $26 million. The district is overseen by an elected five-member board.

Unlike many other districts that place students in schools based on where they live, the Anacortes School District has open enrollment. Families can request which school they want goanacortes.com

their child to attend.

Test scores are consistently above the state’s average.

The district was awarded a rating of 8 (on a scale of 1-10) by Great Schools, a nonprofit group working to improve K-12 education by inspiring parents to get involved. It rates schools based on state standardized test scores as compared to comparable districts throughout the state and against state average scores.

Cap Sante High School is an alternative program offering different options for students in grades 9-12 who “have not found success in a traditional school setting,” the program’s brochure states.

Running Start is a partnership between Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon and area high schools. It allows eligible high school juniors and seniors to take college-level courses tuition free. Students get high school and college credit for completed classes.

Anacortes Home Education Partnership is a K-12 school dedicated to the needs of home schooling families.

The program offers classes in all major subject areas as well as one-on-one assistance and online learning opportunities.

SCHOOLS

• Whitney Early Childhood Education Center 1200 M Ave. (360) 293-9536 • Fidalgo Elementary School 13590 Gibralter Road (360) 293-9545 • Island View Elementary School 2501 J Ave. (360) 293-3149 • Mount Erie Elementary School 1313 41st St. (360) 293-9541 • Anacortes Middle School 2202 M Ave. (360) 293-1230 • Anacortes High School 1600 20th St. (360) 293-2166 • Cap Sante High School (alternative, grades 9-12) 1600 20th St. (360) 293-2166

goanacortes.com

• Anacortes Home Education Partnership 15510 Rosario Beach Road (360) 299-8995

NORTHWEST CAREER AND TECHNICAL ACADEMY 1606 R Ave. (360) 766-6282 www.nwtech.k12.wa.us

The Northwest Career and Technical Academy offers a satellite campus in Anacortes that focuses on marine skills technology. It is a partnership between Skagit Valley College and county high schools.

The center is a place where students can gain marine skills, enter the work force and have living-wage jobs.

The facility includes four primary labs with adjoining teacher offices and physical and visual connections to a central project area that links to a covered outside work area.

Visit www.nwtech.k12.wa.us.

HIGHER EDUCATION SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE www.skagit.edu

Offers two-year degrees in nearby Mount Vernon, about 20 miles from Anacortes.

WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY www.wwu.edu

The nearest four-year college, about 40 miles north in Bellingham.

ANACORTES SENIOR COLLEGE www.seniorcollege.info

The Anacortes Senior College, which offers classes in fall, winter and spring terms to adults 50 years and older, works to provide enjoyable learning experiences and social networking for seniors.

Most of the two-hour classes meet for six weeks. Cost is $25 to join the college and $25 for each course.

Experience the sweet & spicy flavors of Thailand

Now Serving Beer and Wine, Hot & Cold Sake

Best of Anacortes 2011

~ Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch and Dinner ~

360-293-4004

www.ThaiSeasonAnacortes.com ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011 |

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WEATHER STATISTICS

WEATHER Anacortes and Fidalgo Island have a well-deserved reputation for some of the finest weather in Western Washington. With a mere 26 inches of average rainfall and mostly or partly sunny skies at least 230 days of the year, Anacortes is an ideal location for anyone looking for a home with a mild climate and unlimited recreational activities.

Lying at the eastern edge of the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, Anacortes is sheltered from the heavier precipitation of some of its neighboring cities.

Everett to the south and Bellingham to the north get an average of 10 inches more rainfall than Anacortes. And just 15 miles east in Mount Vernon, the average rainfall is 32 inches a year.

Spring on Fidalgo Island seems to last forever. It begins in February when the daffodils and tulips start pushing their way through the soil, and it doesn’t end until July.

During those five months the weather can be very unpredictable — warm and sunny one day with temperatures in the 70s, then pouring rain and wind the next.

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| ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011

Weather statistics provided by the Western Regional Climate Center

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

High

Low

Rainfall

45 48.5 52.3 57.8 63.6 68.2 72.1 72 67.3 59.1 51 46.3

34.5 36 38.1 41.6 45.7 49.6 50.4 52.6 49.9 44.5 39.5 36

3.55 2.47 2.29 1.81 1.55 1.36 .90 .99 1.47 2.64 3.83 3.82

Summers are dry and warm and offer some of the best weather in the country for July through September. Summer temperatures are typically in the 70s, with very little humidity. Rainfall is minimal, with July and August averaging less than an inch.

Winters are typically short and mild, with temperatures rarely dipping much below freezing. Average yearly snowfall in the city is just 5 inches. However, there are rare arctic breakouts that can send temperatures plummeting into single digits.

Even though Fidalgo Island is relatively small, it still has a number of micro climates. The west side of the island has beautiful sunsets, but can be cooler with more fog and wind than other areas. The southeast end of the island is the driest, with an inch or two less rainfall than the downtown area. The downtown corridor generally has the warmest temperatures.

But no matter where you live on Fidalgo Island, you’ll be in one of the best climate zones of the Northwest. goanacortes.com

Photo by Richard Mitlyng

GUEMES ISLAND A scenic five-minute ferry ride takes you away from Anacortes to Guemes Island, where the pace is even more relaxed.

You can stay for an afternoon and enjoy a bike ride and a stop for lunch at Anderson’s General Store, which has a cafe with fine ales on tap and is also a good spot for local information. Or you can make a long weekend of it at Guemes Island Resort, one of the last of the old-time fishing resorts that used to dot Puget Sound.

The island is relatively flat and only five miles long. Cyclists can pedal off on several loops that cross the island’s pastoral center on the way to scenic saltwater views. A 15mile journey lets you see almost the whole island.

In the winter, birding is popular. Bring binoculars.

The highest point on the island is Guemes Mountain. goanacortes.com

There’s a nice hike up to the top, and from the summit, about 700 feet, the views are stunning. The Save Guemes Mountain campaign recently raised $2.2 million to purchase and permanently protect the 70-acre top of the mountain.

Guemes Island Resort is at the island’s north end. The crabbing nearby is excellent, and the resort offers crab pots, aluminum skiffs and sit-on-top kayaks for guests to use.

Adjacent to the resort is Young County Park, a good launch site and picnic spot.

Guemes Island today is a mix of full-time residents and folks with vacation homes and cabins. The population can swell to 800 or so in the summer. There are a few art galleries — and many artists.

Linetime.org, operated by residents, provides information on the island (ferry, tides, etc.) and community issues.

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Directory of Advertisers CHANDLER’S SQUARE ..................4

BURTON JEWELERS ....................14

GERE-A-DELI ................................25

ANACORTES INN............................7

COMPASS WINES.........................15

DR. KENNETH KILLPACK .............27

ANACORTES MUSEUM ..................7

PORT OF ANACORTES.................15

DAVE’S ANACO.............................27

FIDALGO BAY RESORT ................11

UPSTAGE ......................................21

SEBO’S HARDWARE ....................28

MARINA INN..................................11

SCOTT MILO GALLERY ................21

CAP SANTE COURT .....................29

WINDERMERE ..............................12

CHRISTIANSON’S NURSERY.......21

CAP SANTE INN............................30

SKAGIT CYCLE CENTER ..............13

OUTLET SHOPPES

THAI SEASON ...............................31

ANACORTES FARMERS

AT BURLINGTON .......................23

MARKET .....................................14

ANACO BAY INN ...........................34

FARMERS INSURANCE ................25

An elegant affordable European-style Inn with large comfortable rooms.

Conference Room • Business Center • WiFi • Kitchens • Continental Breakfast Non Smoking Inn • Fireplaces • Security • King/Queen Beds • Laundry • Hot Tub RESERVATIONS: 877-299-3320 • www.anacobayinn.com 916 33rd Street, Anacortes WA 98221 • 360-299-3320 34

| ANACORTES Visitors & Newcomers Guide | 2011

goanacortes.com

Center for health & wellness for West Skagit & the San Juan Islands!

Island Hospital is one of the most innovative and recognized small hospitals in the U.S. Island offers a Level III Emergency Department, state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging and a full range of high-quality services from the Birth Center to Home Healthcare.

• Cancer Care Center

299-4200

• Cardiopulmonary Rehab

299-4242

• Diagnostic Services, including Mammography, DEXA

299-1315

• Family Birth Center

299-1331

• Fidalgo Medical Associates

293-3101

• Home Health Services

299-1302

OUR PROMISE

Your best healthcare experience begins at Island Hospital. We always place your emotional and medical needs first and foremost.

Anacortes Family Medicine

299-4211

IMMEDIATE CARE!

• Island Surgeons

293-5142

• Lifeline

293-7563

Same-day appointments available!

Walk-ins Welcome!

2511 M Avenue, Suite B • Anacortes

• Outpatient & Inpatient Surgery Center

• Island Health Resource Center

• Sleep Wellness Center

• Island Hospital Foundation

• SHIBA Helpline (Free insurance counseling)

299-1397 299-4201

• Island Prenatal Care Center

299-1300 299-8676 299-4212

293-6973

Main Switchboard (360) 299-1300 1211 24th Street / Anacortes • islandhospital.org