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Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Police Blotter - 4/14
Tuesday April 6
1:23 p.m.: Stumbler – Caller reported a drunken man stumbling around Morris Street, La Conner, and worried he might stumble into traffic. A deputy located the man, who gave a false name and asked for a ride home. The deputy recognizes the 31 year old man, who has several warrants, and he was arrested.
5:17 p.m.: Court Violation – Caller reported her ex-husband violated a court order by watching their son’s baseball practice in La Conner. She claims the order only allows the father to come to games, not practices. Deputy told the couple to go back to court to get it clarified.
Wednesday April 7
12:05 a.m.: Suspicious – Caller reported seeing a red car parked outside of the Snow Goose produce stand near Conway. The caller was suspicious because they saw the dome light on. The car was never located by deputy.
7:27 a.m.: Trespassing – Deputy saw a man and woman who appeared to be drinking alcohol while walking around on Morris Street in La Conner. When the deputy tried to contact them, the pair ducked into the women’s public restroom. The man was cited for trespassing, having been in the women’s bathroom. The pair was banned from the bathrooms for 60 days, after another ban had been lifted April 1.
Thursday April 8
3:18 p.m.: Warrant – Deputy spotted a 28 year old man and a 29 year old woman he knew had outstanding warrants walking by Pioneer park in La Conner. The deputy was aware they had warrants for driving without licenses, and the woman for theft. The jail was too crowded, so the pair was booked and released.
3:25 p.m.: Low wire – Power lines were reported hanging low along La Conner-Whitney Road due to strong winds. They weren’t broken or arcing, and the power company was notified.
5:13 p.m.: Bang-bang – A caller reported hearing three shots on Morris Street in La Conner. The deputy was unable to locate the source of the noise.
Friday April 9
8:41 a.m.: Drug Problem – A La Conner High School student was found in possession of drugs at school. Deputy arrived to take care of the situation.
9:09 a.m.: Angry Texting – Two 13 year old, La Conner Middle School girls were threatening each other and using vulgar language through text messages. School will talk to the parents.
12:09 p.m.: Ditched Car – A car was reported in a deep ditch along Dodge Valley Road near La Conner. The deputy arrived to find car partially submerged in water in an 8-foot ditch. The driver, a 49 year old La Conner woman, said she drove around a curve when she encountered bicyclists on the road. She had overcorrected her steering, and ran off the road. No one was hurt.
3:02 p.m.: Bad move – Despite signs forbidding it, a motor home drove down South First Street in La Conner and side swiped two parked cars. The motor home driver, a 49 year old Ferndale man, said an awning came loose and hit the cars. The man had no license, and was also cited for failing to secure a load.
3:59 p.m.: Assault – A 43 year old La Conner woman was reported slapping a 16 year old La Conner girl while watching a softball game in La Conner. They are acquaintances, and the woman said the girl “disrespected her.” Neither of them wanted to pursue charges.
7:22 p.m.: Bullies – Report of 7 and 8 year olds bullying on 4th Street in La Conner. Deputy spoke to parent.
7:34 p.m.: Party – A party was reported on 900 block Maple Avenue, La Conner. Deputy arrived and arrested a 50 year old La Conner man for an unrelated warrant for assault. The jail was crowded, so the man was booked and released.
9:32 p.m.: Warrant – Deputy located a 36 year old La Conner man at 900 block, Maple Ave., La Conner. The man had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, but was booked and released because the jail was too crowded.
11:45 p.m.: Alarm – Alarm was heard from Pioneer Market in La Conner. Everything was secure.
Saturday April 10
1:58 p.m.: Traffic Enforce – Caller was upset that cars were blocking Fir Island Road near Conway, saying drivers were looking at geese. The man said it took him two hours to get home. Deputies say it was more likely tulip tourist traffic.
Monday April 12
9:03 a.m.: Lost Property – Shoreline woman reported losing her wallet in Downtown La Conner. If anyone finds a wallet, please contact Town Hall.
1:23 p.m.: Stumbler – Caller reported a drunken man stumbling around Morris Street, La Conner, and worried he might stumble into traffic. A deputy located the man, who gave a false name and asked for a ride home. The deputy recognizes the 31 year old man, who has several warrants, and he was arrested.
5:17 p.m.: Court Violation – Caller reported her ex-husband violated a court order by watching their son’s baseball practice in La Conner. She claims the order only allows the father to come to games, not practices. Deputy told the couple to go back to court to get it clarified.
Wednesday April 7
12:05 a.m.: Suspicious – Caller reported seeing a red car parked outside of the Snow Goose produce stand near Conway. The caller was suspicious because they saw the dome light on. The car was never located by deputy.
7:27 a.m.: Trespassing – Deputy saw a man and woman who appeared to be drinking alcohol while walking around on Morris Street in La Conner. When the deputy tried to contact them, the pair ducked into the women’s public restroom. The man was cited for trespassing, having been in the women’s bathroom. The pair was banned from the bathrooms for 60 days, after another ban had been lifted April 1.
Thursday April 8
3:18 p.m.: Warrant – Deputy spotted a 28 year old man and a 29 year old woman he knew had outstanding warrants walking by Pioneer park in La Conner. The deputy was aware they had warrants for driving without licenses, and the woman for theft. The jail was too crowded, so the pair was booked and released.
3:25 p.m.: Low wire – Power lines were reported hanging low along La Conner-Whitney Road due to strong winds. They weren’t broken or arcing, and the power company was notified.
5:13 p.m.: Bang-bang – A caller reported hearing three shots on Morris Street in La Conner. The deputy was unable to locate the source of the noise.
Friday April 9
8:41 a.m.: Drug Problem – A La Conner High School student was found in possession of drugs at school. Deputy arrived to take care of the situation.
9:09 a.m.: Angry Texting – Two 13 year old, La Conner Middle School girls were threatening each other and using vulgar language through text messages. School will talk to the parents.
12:09 p.m.: Ditched Car – A car was reported in a deep ditch along Dodge Valley Road near La Conner. The deputy arrived to find car partially submerged in water in an 8-foot ditch. The driver, a 49 year old La Conner woman, said she drove around a curve when she encountered bicyclists on the road. She had overcorrected her steering, and ran off the road. No one was hurt.
3:02 p.m.: Bad move – Despite signs forbidding it, a motor home drove down South First Street in La Conner and side swiped two parked cars. The motor home driver, a 49 year old Ferndale man, said an awning came loose and hit the cars. The man had no license, and was also cited for failing to secure a load.
3:59 p.m.: Assault – A 43 year old La Conner woman was reported slapping a 16 year old La Conner girl while watching a softball game in La Conner. They are acquaintances, and the woman said the girl “disrespected her.” Neither of them wanted to pursue charges.
7:22 p.m.: Bullies – Report of 7 and 8 year olds bullying on 4th Street in La Conner. Deputy spoke to parent.
7:34 p.m.: Party – A party was reported on 900 block Maple Avenue, La Conner. Deputy arrived and arrested a 50 year old La Conner man for an unrelated warrant for assault. The jail was crowded, so the man was booked and released.
9:32 p.m.: Warrant – Deputy located a 36 year old La Conner man at 900 block, Maple Ave., La Conner. The man had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, but was booked and released because the jail was too crowded.
11:45 p.m.: Alarm – Alarm was heard from Pioneer Market in La Conner. Everything was secure.
Saturday April 10
1:58 p.m.: Traffic Enforce – Caller was upset that cars were blocking Fir Island Road near Conway, saying drivers were looking at geese. The man said it took him two hours to get home. Deputies say it was more likely tulip tourist traffic.
Monday April 12
9:03 a.m.: Lost Property – Shoreline woman reported losing her wallet in Downtown La Conner. If anyone finds a wallet, please contact Town Hall.
Notes from Pull & Be Damned -4/14
By Jim Smith
If we compare our little town’s problems to our big country’s problems, it seems pretty mundane; nevertheless, many of us are very serious about the decisions we have to make soon on three disputed town issues:
(1) Surveillance cameras are on tap to be installed at undisclosed locations, but residents are not in agreement with either the installation or the suggested locations.
(2) The town is planning a bike trail down Maple Avenue, angering some residents who may lose trees and privacy in their front yards. And,
(3) The La Conner Library needs more space for meeting rooms and computers, but doesn’t have a site to locate the needed building.
Whatever the solutions, the town is hoping they will all be brought to fruition through the magic of stimulus funds heading our way (we hope) one of these days. As a responsible Pull & Be Damned creative problem solver, I’m offering the following ideas to help La Conner during its hour of need. And, don’t worry, I’m not asking for one stimulus buck in compensation for my expertise:
(1) If La Conner really needs surveillance cameras, I say locate them across the street from the public restrooms, monitoring who goes in and how long they stay – and not just because of the “hurry up in there, I’m standing in line and gotta go” issue.
We will quickly find out if any illicit overnight camping is going on there and immediately dispatch toilet deputies. The town will charge the culprits a fair rate for sleeping bag space and use of laundry and bathing facilities. (Otherwise, the deputies will see to it that their next camp site is in Pioneer Park.) It’s a win-win solution in these days of the “lesser” depression: the town treasury will benefit from the extra income and the campers will appreciate the reasonable recreational rates.
(2A) As to the bike trail location, I think the proposed trail is poorly located. The town should try thinking “inside the box” and direct bicyclists through downtown. True, it’s a congested area, but only for cars. There’s plenty of room for today’s skinny bicycles to squeeze between cars that are barely moving anyway. From there, the bikes could follow a new rustic trail on the proposed boardwalk (on the town’s back burner) along the Channel and under the bridge and up through Pioneer Park. No need to cut trees or dig up grass or anything. Simple and cheap! Just a few signs to indicate a “Self-Guided Bicycle Trail.”
(2B) Another cycling solution would really expand horizons. This would entail putting the bike trail on top of the proposed “ring dike” (also on the back burner) on the perimeter of flood-threatened La Conner with the trail running along the wild and scenic Sullivan Slough.
Granted, this would doubtless upset the Hedlins and the Crams whose farmland the cyclists would be rolling through. So to sweeten the deal, the town itself could be given to the farmers in exchange for the trail rights. The concerned farmers would be appointed Emperors for Life for their contributions to the health of the community.
The town would then be renamed “Cramfield,” “Hedlinville” or “Sullivanland.” Again, no big expenses involved once the dike is built. And it would be quite an adventure for the cyclists, not to mention the town and the new emperors.
(3) Now, for the expanded library site challenge. Obtaining land is always expensive in La Conner, so the success of the library project depends on the cooperation of major land owners. For instance, Vaughn Jolley has expansion plans of his own for the former Moore Clark industrial property. His plans have been languishing in recent years and the property is currently reverting back to its original industrial use.
This residential/commercial property is ripe for a stimulus package. I propose adding this property to the Historic District with no height restrictions (to encourage development). Make the new La Conner Library a grand showplace with several floors, high ceilings and globe light fixtures hanging over large oak library tables.
Install state-of-the-art computers, color printers and copiers capable of producing books and posters that will satisfy the literary needs of the community and others in the greater Northwest. Include small apartments for poets (Robert Sund Poet’s House) who come for the biennial Poetry Festival and, like the rest of us newcomers, artists and musicians, never want to leave the “Magic Skagit”. Make it a library of La Conner and Swinomish culture that will survive and thrive for a thousand years as the Swinomish Slough ebbs and floods at its doorstep.
In other words, dream big crazy dreams. And don’t forget, there’s no charge for Pull & Be Damned stimulus advice.
If we compare our little town’s problems to our big country’s problems, it seems pretty mundane; nevertheless, many of us are very serious about the decisions we have to make soon on three disputed town issues:
(1) Surveillance cameras are on tap to be installed at undisclosed locations, but residents are not in agreement with either the installation or the suggested locations.
(2) The town is planning a bike trail down Maple Avenue, angering some residents who may lose trees and privacy in their front yards. And,
(3) The La Conner Library needs more space for meeting rooms and computers, but doesn’t have a site to locate the needed building.
Whatever the solutions, the town is hoping they will all be brought to fruition through the magic of stimulus funds heading our way (we hope) one of these days. As a responsible Pull & Be Damned creative problem solver, I’m offering the following ideas to help La Conner during its hour of need. And, don’t worry, I’m not asking for one stimulus buck in compensation for my expertise:
(1) If La Conner really needs surveillance cameras, I say locate them across the street from the public restrooms, monitoring who goes in and how long they stay – and not just because of the “hurry up in there, I’m standing in line and gotta go” issue.
We will quickly find out if any illicit overnight camping is going on there and immediately dispatch toilet deputies. The town will charge the culprits a fair rate for sleeping bag space and use of laundry and bathing facilities. (Otherwise, the deputies will see to it that their next camp site is in Pioneer Park.) It’s a win-win solution in these days of the “lesser” depression: the town treasury will benefit from the extra income and the campers will appreciate the reasonable recreational rates.
(2A) As to the bike trail location, I think the proposed trail is poorly located. The town should try thinking “inside the box” and direct bicyclists through downtown. True, it’s a congested area, but only for cars. There’s plenty of room for today’s skinny bicycles to squeeze between cars that are barely moving anyway. From there, the bikes could follow a new rustic trail on the proposed boardwalk (on the town’s back burner) along the Channel and under the bridge and up through Pioneer Park. No need to cut trees or dig up grass or anything. Simple and cheap! Just a few signs to indicate a “Self-Guided Bicycle Trail.”
(2B) Another cycling solution would really expand horizons. This would entail putting the bike trail on top of the proposed “ring dike” (also on the back burner) on the perimeter of flood-threatened La Conner with the trail running along the wild and scenic Sullivan Slough.
Granted, this would doubtless upset the Hedlins and the Crams whose farmland the cyclists would be rolling through. So to sweeten the deal, the town itself could be given to the farmers in exchange for the trail rights. The concerned farmers would be appointed Emperors for Life for their contributions to the health of the community.
The town would then be renamed “Cramfield,” “Hedlinville” or “Sullivanland.” Again, no big expenses involved once the dike is built. And it would be quite an adventure for the cyclists, not to mention the town and the new emperors.
(3) Now, for the expanded library site challenge. Obtaining land is always expensive in La Conner, so the success of the library project depends on the cooperation of major land owners. For instance, Vaughn Jolley has expansion plans of his own for the former Moore Clark industrial property. His plans have been languishing in recent years and the property is currently reverting back to its original industrial use.
This residential/commercial property is ripe for a stimulus package. I propose adding this property to the Historic District with no height restrictions (to encourage development). Make the new La Conner Library a grand showplace with several floors, high ceilings and globe light fixtures hanging over large oak library tables.
Install state-of-the-art computers, color printers and copiers capable of producing books and posters that will satisfy the literary needs of the community and others in the greater Northwest. Include small apartments for poets (Robert Sund Poet’s House) who come for the biennial Poetry Festival and, like the rest of us newcomers, artists and musicians, never want to leave the “Magic Skagit”. Make it a library of La Conner and Swinomish culture that will survive and thrive for a thousand years as the Swinomish Slough ebbs and floods at its doorstep.
In other words, dream big crazy dreams. And don’t forget, there’s no charge for Pull & Be Damned stimulus advice.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
March 24th
Notes from Pull-And-Be Damned -- Jim Smith
A couple of decades ago, when La Conner Drug Store moved from its long-held site on First Street, right downtown, to the “Early American Strip Mall” at the entrance to town, it introduced us to a new style of life.
At the time, I thought the world was coming to an end. The location of the old drug store midway between where I lived on Morris Street and the La Conner Tavern was an important stabilizing influence in my life. Many others in town felt the same way.
In my mind, to have to walk or drive to the edge of town to shop for medication, notions, lotions, souvenirs, or school supplies was – how do I say it – strip-mallish sickening.
We were an old-fashioned community, struggling to keep the town from becoming like every other town in the rapidly modernizing Puget Sound. Save the Farmland and Don’t Californicate La Conner, we argued. Our life here centered around familiar inefficiency and we wanted to preserve it.
The relocation of La Conner Drug, I feared, would not only be disruptive, but it would open the door to endless updating, streamlining, and complete dismantling of the authentic, if somewhat funky, La Conner style.
I feared this could happen because old-time fishermen – like Ralph Meeks and Archie Billy – informed me of the dire consequences that resulted from another La Conner modernizing project.
It happened back in the 1930s, after the stone jetty was constructed across the mouth of the Skagit River. When the salmon swam up the Channel, as usual, and arrived at the new man-made “fish hole” that led into the river, they stopped there, schooled and went no further. As a result, the great Swinomish Channel salmon run (that I was 30 years too late to witness) came to an abrupt and terrible end.
A similar scenario could happen to me and other loyal La Conner Drug patrons, I thought, if owner and druggist Fred Martin moved off First Street, leaving us small town fish confused, refusing to swim to the upscale facility that was as foreign to us as the fish hole in the new jetty was to the salmon.
After the new drug store opened, however, I was surprised to find that it was comforting to walk in and see Pharmacist Martin still there in his white coat, calmly dispensing drugs behind the gleaming new prescription counter and greeting me by name.
The new drug store was still a little too Pharma-Save-ish for my taste, but my fears had been exaggerated, and in a short time I adapted (more or less) to the look and feel of modern times.
But that was then; this is now!
When I stepped up to the pharmacy counter last week, I was assaulted by a large, thin-screened TV hung over the prescription counter, showing pseudo-pharma-patients talking to pharma-fans about pharma-health issues.
After I speechlessly handed the pharmacist my prescription, I backed up and fell into a seat to wait my turn and was forced to watch commercials on the new “Pharmacy Health Network.”
This time, I thought, the drug store has gone too far and “I’m madder than hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” Right then and there, I whipped out my ball point pen and wrote a serious Note of Complaint to the modern times management.
Okay. Well, I’ll give them one more chance. If they can put that screen to good use, I’ll be fine. By good use, I mean good movies. Old ones, preferably, for the comfort and distraction of old folks like me who sit in the prescription waiting area.
Let’s face it, people who sit there are not feeling all that good. They need entertainment, not NutraJoint sales pitches. And it wouldn’t hurt to have the occasional truly useful health infomercial – like directions on how to use an enema bag when you’ve got the modern time “stucks.” Or the healing properties of the occasional hot toddy for stressed-out seniors, etc.
Otherwise, I’d say the world is coming to an end.
------------------------
Nuggets from Norway: The Tantes… -- Mickey Bambrick
Within a few weeks of being settled in our home in Norway, we invited my husband’s three “Tantes” (aunts) over for dinner. I was pleased they were our first dinner guests since they are all such fine old ladies.
They couldn’t have been more impressed with our place, and how “koselig” (cozy) it was.
They wondered how I knew what to ship over since I didn’t know what furniture I’d end up with and it seemed to them everything matched perfectly. They thought our living situation was more than a miracle (it was – we lived rent-free). So they were just shy of genuine shock over the whole situation because nothing is free in Norway.
They squealed for a very long time over every decorative detail, and again at dinner over all the things they tasted (I made American food).
Tante Kari had never eaten yams in her entire life (she’s 81) and she wondered if I added food coloring to them to get them that orange. I was glad they were so pleased with the food since it was a genuine challenge to make that dinner.
I had shipped over my beloved Cuisinart food processor so I could make some of my favorite things like Potato-Cheese soup, which needs to be pureed. I discovered too late that it was a waste to bring that machine.
The electrical converters I brought to deal with the voltage differences between America and Europe only go up to 85 watts and that food processor sucks at least 110, so it blew a few fuses before I gave up trying to use it.
I served the worst looking soup in my entire life as I tried to puree it with a hand mixer but the carrots just wouldn’t mush up like the potatoes. I apologized for its appearance, but it still tasted good so I was off the hook for presentation.
Then I made a Lemon-Blueberry bread for dessert that is to die for; but I wasn’t used to the difference in Celsius vs. Fahrenheit ovens and I cooked it too hot so that the top burned and the innards were raw.
I was quite frustrated with the whole mess but I served it anyway because I had no other options since all the stores are closed on Sundays.
Fortunately, I had some Vanilla Sauce.
The Tantes all smothered their bread with the sauce and then raved about how good the dessert was. Like I said, they are fine old ladies.
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