the northern elephant seal known as Elsie Mae returns to Anacortes and Fidalgo Island.  Elsie Mae has been a star: regularly crashing weddings sunning in people’s front yards and even becoming the subject of a calendar Elsie Mae tends to arrive in Island County in February if she’s going to give birth like she did in 2022. Then she’ll leave for a month before arriving between April and June for her molt, according to the Salish Current When Elsie waddles up to shore to molt — which involves her skin shedding similar to a snake — a network of 50 volunteers through the Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network is activated for “Elsie watch.” The watch typically starts between 5–6 a.m as volunteers spread out across six beaches to see if Elsie has come ashore One or two will stick around throughout the day to make sure people and dogs don’t get too close to the seal “We want to give her respect and space,” Norton said noting Elsie is a wild animal that weighs around 1,200 pounds she returns to the ocean where northern elephant seals spend 80% to 90% of their lives WTD is published online Mondays and in print Fridays. Have a suggestion for a "What's the Deal With?" inquiry? Email us at newstips@cascadiadaily.com Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext Email newstips@cascadiadaily.com or Call/Text 360-922-3092 An ambitious 14-month research voyage on board a 48-foot sailboat launches this weekend from Cap Sante Marina. The Around the Americas Expedition will circumnavigate North and South America aboard the 48-foot sailboat, One Ocean The voyage will launch on Saturday and the public is invited to watch sharpWhere: Parking Lot (next to Dock B)Cap Sante Marina The mission focuses on scientific research and community outreach to raise awareness about ocean health Building on Captain Mark Schrader’s original 2009–2010 journey the expedition will compare oceanic changes over the past 15 years Skagit Valley College students played a crucial role in preparing the vessel for its journey and will be supporting the project throughout its course One of the key projects involves researching kelp forests along the coastlines of North and South America Collaborators include the University of Victoria The primary onboard research will be the first-ever comprehensive pole-to-pole study of giant and bull kelp spanning from Alaska to Patagonia—a continuous 27,000 nautical miles of open-source research The expedition's route will overlap approximately 40 kelp forest sites selected from satellite imagery and environmental conditions affecting kelp ecosystems in regions where they are known to thrive The expedition will also conduct supporting research with atmospheric and oceanographic instrumentation on board The crew will deploy SWIFT buoys to collect wave and ocean/atmospheric data for researchers ocean enthusiasts and school students to follow All research will be open sourced and shared on a constant stream through social media sites and YouTube educational videos (#OneIslandOneOcean)  The education platform partner is Exploring By The Seat Of Your Pants Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants opens the frontlines of our changing planet to all students through the passion immersive technology and visual storytelling of the scientists and adventurers who are smashing the boundaries of what we thought was possible The journey  and education videos will be free for classrooms everywhere A whale watch company with a spare vessel is operating the demonstration of passenger-only ferry service from Anacortes to the San Juan Islands until June 30 Free foot ferry lasts for five fortnights with state funding For the next 10 weeks, people can travel to and from the scenic San Juan Islands for free as the archipelago tests the waters of county-run, passenger-only ferry service State money is paying for a twice-daily roundtrip between the three most populous islands and Anacortes using a chartered whale watching tour boat The boat trial grew out of frustration with unreliable state ferry service in recent years But even if the county’s walk-on ferry proves popular it’s unclear how it could be sustained permanently “Until people in San Juan County feel that they can count on the [state] ferries like they did 10 years ago,” San Juan County Council Chair Kari McVeigh said McVeigh rode along on the inaugural round trip between Friday Harbor and downtown Anacortes The foot ferry made intermediate stops at Orcas Landing and Lopez Island in each direction Ridership was light during the opening weekend of service due to the short-notice startup and limited pre-launch publicity Captain Brian Goodremont steered the 55-foot tour boat Sea Lion across sun-splashed seas at about the same speed as the state ferries — 17 knots — on an unusually warm Good Friday to inaugurate the service “I think it is mostly going to be islanders that use this service,” said Goodremont the contracted passenger-only ferry operator “As we get closer to peak season for visitors — once school is out — I can see visitors using it as an alternative.” As part of the same state-funded pilot project, San Juan County also contracted with a different local tour company for emergency interisland water taxi service which will sail only when the state interisland ferry is expected to be out of service for more than four hours That standby water taxi contract similarly expires on June 30 In recent weeks, state ferry system leaders have told the public and their overseers in the state Legislature that the car ferries have turned the corner on reliability. Washington State Ferries Chief Steve Nevey and his deputy told a state Senate panel last month that crewing is back to pre-pandemic levels and cancellations significantly reduced “We’re clearly going in the right direction,” deputy John Vezina testified But it’s been tough for our customers and we are aware of that.” The San Juans to Anacortes passenger-only ferry pilot project was designed with the needs of ferry-dependent islanders at the top of mind but the service should be appealing to visitors from the mainland The foot ferry terminates in downtown Anacortes at the Cap Sante Marina where islanders can walk to a wide variety of businesses Daytrippers headed to the San Juans can park at the marina for free unlike at the state ferry Anacortes terminal The Sea Lion vessel is certified for 49 passengers but Goodremont said it will be limited to 35 riders for the time being so that everyone has access to the heated Orcas Island resident Sooz Stahl was pleased to hear about the new county-run ferry as she waited in the sun for the state ferry to take her to her job running the post office on neighboring Shaw Island.  “They should support ways and plans for people to get here and to visit the islands without a car.” Stahl said she was unsure whether she would use the walk-on ferry during its 10-week tryout The county-provided service skips Shaw Island because the isle lacks a public dock suitable for the passenger-only ferry A potential drawback of the foot ferry for visitors is that there is no public transit or Uber/Lyft on the islands but Orcas Landing and the Lopez dropoff at Odlin County Park are a good distance from the main attractions of their respective islands Traditional taxis are available on San Juan and Orcas islands Bikes can be brought on board the passenger boat with prior reservation For travelers going between Friday Harbor and the mainland the walk-on ferry takes longer than WSF because of the intermediate stops Bellingham was proposed as the mainland terminus for a San Juan Islands passenger-only ferry run But San Juan County officials considered only Anacortes as the mainland landing this time around because the point of the state funding was to backstop the state ferry service The temporary passenger-only ferry is fare-free because the state is footing the bill Jay Inslee awarded the county $1.5 million in discretionary emergency relief funds last September after hearing a litany of complaints from islanders about missed appointments stranded schoolchildren and other disruptions caused by cancelled state ferry sailings the state Department of Commerce denied the county’s request to spend leftover grant funds after the state’s fiscal year ends on June 30 so this walk-on ferry service could be extended into peak tourist season in July Passengers who use the free foot ferry will be surveyed to provide the county with data that it can then use to make the case for a permanent service An ongoing passenger-only run would require a big subsidy if the fares were to be kept reasonable McVeigh said San Juan County does not currently have the deep pockets to shoulder those operating costs San Juan Safaris’ contract to operate the grant-funded temporary foot ferry costs $7,647.50 per day which adds up quickly to more than half a million dollars for the ten-and-a-half week duration of the pilot project Earlier this year at the Legislature, San Juan County council members testified in support of a bill dubbed the Mosquito Fleet Act to launch new locally operated walk-on ferry routes across Puget Sound But that proposal was stripped of funding last month and then died in the state Senate at the beginning of April Senate Transportation Committee Chair Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) said the state government is not in a position to subsidize new ferry services in the near to medium term “The (2025-27) budget is really focused on making sure that our mainstay Washington State Ferries service is healthy strong and sustainable,” Liias said in late March.  “We want to make sure that the service we’re providing is top notch again and we’re investing to get there Passenger service in the future makes sense but for now we’re focused on the core of WSF service.” another option would be federal grant funding But McVeigh observed the chances of getting that look grim given the current budget-slashing tenor in the nation’s capital A third option would be to turn to local voters for approval to create a county transit district with taxing authority McVeigh said it is very premature to go down that path We want to see how our constituents feel about this.” the council chair from Friday Harbor said people should try out the limited-term passenger service and let the county know what they think “It’s a free ferry ride for now,” McVeigh said Did you find this story useful? If so, share it with a friend, a family member or colleagueand ask them to subscribe to Salish Current (it’s free) for more stories like this Help keep the local news flowing — support nonpartisan, fact-based, no-paywall local journalismwith a donation to the Salish Current — news for people Correspondent Tom Banse is an Olympia-based reporter with more than three decades of experience covering Washington and Oregon state government Most of his career was spent with public radio's Northwest News Network but now in semi-retirement his work is appearing on other outlets A STRONG COMMUNITY NEEDS A STRONG LOCAL PRESS.Help us revive local journalism led by PaperBirds Studio with support from the Downtown Anacortes Alliance hand-crafted lanterns and glowing sculptures will light up the streets of downtown Anacortes in a dazzling procession Everyone is welcome to participate—bring your own lantern or create one at a community workshop beforehand This enchanting parade is a highlight of Anacortes Earth Day bringing people together to illuminate the night in a shared expression of creativity and environmental awareness Location – Downtown Anacortes on Commercial Ave between 4th and 8th Street Privacy Policy San Juan County is piloting a free daily passenger ferry service between Anacortes and the San Juan Islands through June 30.  Seven days a week, twice daily (once in the morning and once in the evening), community members can take a ferry between Friday Harbor, Orcas, Lopez and Downtown Anacortes via Cap Sante Marina. Interested passengers must request a booking through the San Juan Safaris website Passengers should arrive 30 minutes before the departure time listed on their confirmation email but passengers must note this in their reservation request due to limited capacity The ferry operates in two round trips: from Friday Harbor There is no direct service from Anacortes to Friday Harbor Funded by state money from the Governor’s Office, the county is also tapping Outer Island Excursions and Pintail Marine to provide emergency inter-island passenger service and emergency barge service over the next two months. Those services will be available when the Washington State Ferry inter-island boat experiences service disruptions. More info here San Juan County Council Chair Kari McVeigh said in a news release that the service should give locals “peace of mind” knowing there are options for them to get home if ferries are canceled.  “We’ve set up a strong pilot program through which to serve our community and learn about how we could manage something like this in the future,” said Council Vice-Chair Jane Fuller in the news release “I see this as a first step in learning how to solve our transportation needs locally.”   Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext Join us starting at 5:30 pm in old town Anacortes for some great Jazz music at 6 local venues From Django to Cuba and back to Anacortes Coinciding with the First Friday Art Walk in Anacortes concert times are staggered to allow walking between venues in order to see more art and hear more music Visit www.jazzatthelibrary.com for more information Anacortes girls tennis traveled up to Blaine and swept the Borderites in a dominating appearance at Blaine High on Tuesday The Seahawks won 12 out of 13 sets played to secure their third Northwest Conference victory of the season.   Blaine forfeited its fourth singles match because of a lack of players due to sickness so Anacortes held a 1-0 lead in the match before a ball was served.  Anacortes’ top singles player Mikiah Dunham defeated Blaine’s Ana Tuski The Seahawks continued their singles dominance with Sophia Read beating Borderites’ Sophia Van Loo Blaine’s Avery Larson gave Kendall Lee a run in their first set but Anacortes picked up another two-set win with a 6-2 finish.  Gallery: Anacortes girls tennis beats Blaine For the Seahawks’ top two doubles teams Brooklyn Bush and Abby Cross took down Blaine’s Bea Dickson and Carly Saunders Sara Cambron and Carter Bowman of Anacortes defeated Hailey Johnson and Mia Thukaram of Blaine Thukaram took a racket to the eyebrow and had to be replaced by Blaine singles player Sophia Van Loo Anacortes closed out the set winning 6-2.  The Borderites were able to avoid a complete sweep with Ainsley Ellis and Jade Butler Barros forcing a third set against Anacortes’ third doubles team of Inara Spatefore and Courtney Doyle 3-3 NWC) will stay on the road against Oak Harbor at 4 p.m Zen Hill is a sports intern at Cascadia Daily News by Jennifer Smith Richards and Jodi S. Cohen, ProPublica These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story the federal government was deep into an investigation of alleged racial discrimination at a school district where students called a Black peer racial slurs and played whipping sounds from their cellphones during a lesson about slavery Department of Education in March suddenly closed the California regional outpost of its Office for Civil Rights and fired all its employees there the OCR abruptly terminated its work with a school district that had agreed to take steps to end discrimination against its Native American students The same office that helped craft the agreement to treat indigenous students equally made a stunning about-face and decided in March that helping Native American students would discriminate against white students as the Trump administration has dismantled the Education Department one of its biggest targets has been the civil rights arm Education Secretary Linda McMahon is “reorienting” what’s left of it Part of that shift has been ordering investigations related to the administration’s priorities such as ending the participation of transgender girls and women in girls’ and women’s sports After hearing that a transgender woman from Wagner College in New York competed in a women’s fencing tournament at the University of Maryland last month the head of the OCR launched a special investigation into both schools and threatened their access to federal funding interviews with more than a dozen current agency attorneys and public records requests to school districts and other targets of investigations across the country ProPublica has documented how the Trump administration has radically reshaped the OCR Only 57 investigations that found a civil rights violation and led to change at a school or college were completed in March Only 51 were resolved by finding violations in April The Biden administration completed as many as 200 investigations a month Leadership under President Donald Trump also has made it easier for the OCR to drop discrimination complaints quickly 91% of cases closed by the office were dismissed without an investigation according to internal case data obtained by ProPublica 70% of cases are dismissed because they don’t meet criteria to warrant an investigation With more than half of the Education Department’s civil rights offices closed and the division reduced to a fraction of its former staff families’ pleas for updates and action have gone unheard who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation told ProPublica that their caseload went from 60 to 380 as they absorbed cases previously handled by employees who worked in offices that had been closed Some remaining employees have not been able to access documents As with civil rights divisions in other federal agencies that the Trump administration has fundamentally altered the OCR has worked for decades to uphold constitutional rights against discrimination based on disability and it’s the most dangerous it’s ever been Unable to do the work,” said Michael Pillera who until recently was an OCR attorney in Washington He is now with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law discrimination based on sexual orientation or mistreatment of students with disabilities now requires permission from Trump appointees thousands of discrimination investigations are idled even ones that were nearing a resolution when Trump took office again and now we are back to square one because they are closed,” said K.D. the mother of the Black California student who said her daughter has been called racial epithets by her classmates She emailed the agency more than a month ago to try to get an update on the investigation ProPublica is identifying her by initials to protect her child’s privacy “I never would have imagined that something so essential would go away,” she said Education Department spokespeople did not respond to questions and requests for comment sent over several weeks about changes in the civil rights division The OCR attorney who said they are working through 380 cases said the job is now “impossible.” “The people who remain are doing all they can asked not to be named for fear of retaliation said the administration’s new vision for civil rights enforcement has harmed families “We were sort of the last bit of hope for them,” he said “and now they’re calling and emailing and saying I thought you all were going to help me.’” grinding work undertaken by OCR attorneys is starkly different from the high-speed investigations that the Education Department announces in press releases every few days historically one of the government’s largest enforcers of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has been known for being a neutral fact-finder Its investigators followed a process to determine whether complaints from the public met legal criteria for a civil rights claim then carried out investigations methodically The vast majority of investigations were based on discrimination complaints from students and families and a large share of those were related to disability discrimination The lengthy investigations sometimes were a source of criticism The agency didn’t share details of the investigations until they were completed and the agreements often involved federal oversight going forward Investigations being publicized now have largely bypassed the agency’s civil rights attorneys according to Education Department employees McMahon and OCR head Craig Trainor created what amounts to a shadow division The Trump administration has ordered more than a dozen investigations in the past three months on its own These “directed investigations” are typically rare; there were none during President Joseph Biden’s administration The investigations have targeted schools with transgender athletes gender-neutral bathrooms and initiatives that the administration views as discriminatory to white students OCR attorneys told ProPublica they’ve been given prewritten letters to send to targets of these investigations Some letters describe transgender girls as “biological males,” which is ideologically pointed language that OCR attorneys say they’ve never used before who led OCR under former Presidents Barack Obama and Biden and departed the office in January “And they’re not even attempting to appear like neutral arbiters of the law.” McMahon and Trainor created ways to divert complaints and investigations away from the OCR’s legal experts entirely The administration made an “End DEI” portal that bypasses the traditional online complaint system and seeks only grievances about diversity the diversity portal submissions are not routed to OCR staff No idea,” said the attorney who said he struggles with being unable to help families “That avoids us interfering with the games they’re trying to play if they silo off the real civil rights lawyers.” McMahon then announced a “Title IX Special Investigations Team” last month to work with the Department of Justice and appointed Trainor to it It launches its own investigations into schools that include transgender girls in athletics In an internal memo to the new team that was obtained by ProPublica Trainor defined the special team’s purpose: “To effectively and efficiently address the increasing volume of Title IX single-sex sports/spaces cases expedite those investigations and resolutions and collaborate seamlessly with DOJ to conclude investigations that go to DOJ for enforcement.” There’s no indication that more complaints related to transgender students are coming from the public in what appears to be the first case assigned to the Title IX team the group notified the University of Maryland and Wagner College that it would investigate each school The investigation began after Fox News and other media reported about a fencing tournament at the University of Maryland in which a transgender player from Wagner competed Trainor signed the notification letters himself A Wagner College spokesperson declined to comment A University of Maryland spokesperson declined to comment about the investigation but said the tournament The public used to be able to see what the OCR was investigating But an online database that is supposed to list all investigations underway hasn’t been updated since Trump took office about 12,000 pending investigations were listed Among them were two related to a family’s complaints that their California school district discriminated against students with disabilities including by barricading them inside what it called a “reset” room But then the OCR closed its California office and fired its employees Nothing was being done to stop the practice and protect kids,” Genevieve Goldstone the parent of the Del Mar Union School District student who filed the disability discrimination complaint “My federal complaints were meant to protect more kids and stop the abuses in the district.” The district said it could not comment on the pending investigation but said it participated in more than a dozen interviews with an OCR attorney It also said it conducted its own review of the allegations and determined that they were unsubstantiated OCR attorneys say they have been repeatedly blindsided by public announcements about policy changes and investigations To find out what Trainor and McMahon have launched on their behalf they check the Education Department’s website daily for press releases Those statements sometimes quote Trainor preemptively saying a school “appears to violate” civil rights law The attorneys worry they will have no choice but to find against schools that have already been excoriated by the department publicly in a press release announcing an investigation into a transgender athlete participating in girls’ track and field in Portland Public Schools in Oregon “We will not allow the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational entity that receives federal funds to trample on the antidiscrimination protections that women and girls are guaranteed under law.” who asked not to be named for fear of losing her job said the administration is misinterpreting civil rights law Conservative groups with complaints about diversity or transgender students have been able to file complaints directly with Trainor and get quick results — another norm-breaking way to operate outside of the OCR’s protocol America First Legal, a group founded by Trump deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller that considers itself the “answer to the ACLU,” emailed Trainor a few days after Trump’s “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling” executive order The order directs schools to stop teaching about or supporting diversity “AFL respectfully requests that the Department of Education open investigations into the following public-school districts in Northern Virginia for continuing violations of Title IX,” the letter read listing five districts that have policies welcoming to transgender students Senior leadership in Washington opened the cases the following week America First issued a press release headlined “VICTORY.” The group declined to comment further Remaking the OCR isn’t just about increasing caseloads and reordering political priorities The Trump administration now is taking steps to roll back OCR’s previous civil rights work Last month, Trump issued an executive order that directs all federal agencies to stop enforcing cases involving policies that disproportionately affect certain groups — for example when Black students are disciplined more harshly than white students for the same infractions or when students with disabilities are suspended more than any other group even though they represent a small percentage of student enrollment Trump’s order requires the agencies to “assess all pending investigations and consent judgements” that consider disproportionate discipline and “take appropriate action.” Complaints made to the OCR that students were unfairly disciplined could be thrown out; existing enforcement actions or monitoring of schools that had disciplined students disproportionately could be revoked The OCR under Trainor did this in Rapid City South Dakota — even before the executive order the office had signed an agreement with Rapid City Area Schools after an investigation found that the district’s Native American students were disciplined far more harshly than white ones They also were kept from enrolling in advanced courses The OCR said that when speaking with an investigator the superintendent of schools at the time said that Native American students in her district had higher truancy rates because they operated on what she termed “Indian Time.” She said “I recognize those comments are horrendous,” Swigart said in an interview with ProPublica She noted that the OCR investigation was opened in 2010 and that she first spoke to an investigator in 2022 the district promised to examine its practices and make things right; the OCR would monitor its progress The district also brought in a new superintendent the OCR abruptly terminated that agreement based on its differing interpretation of civil rights law The OCR’s new view is that equity and diversity efforts discriminate against white students the most severe breach of the OCR’s mission and methods to date “Native students in Rapid City just lost a layer of protection,” the Lakota People’s Law Project announced on Facebook “Native students are still being pushed out of classrooms and denied opportunities.” said the OCR’s decision to abandon the agreement was “another cycle of the federal government failing to uphold its promises.” who works for the nonprofit Sacred Defense Fund affiliated with the Lakota group in Rapid City the school district said it has completed much of the work — including broader access to educational opportunities and an improved behavior tracking process — and plans to continue it even without federal oversight But it also said this week that under the OCR’s new directives “we must shift our approach.” The district did not elaborate on what will change It’s unclear whether the OCR has ended agreements with other districts or colleges Education Department spokespeople did not respond to questions from ProPublica Some subjects of the OCR’s new directives and investigations have capitulated that Trainor targeted for allowing a transgender basketball player from an opposing team to compete responded by voting to support the state athletic association excluding trans players altogether Denver Public Schools was the first target of one of Trainor’s “directed investigations” in late January — over the existence of one all-gender multistall bathroom on one floor of a Denver high school According to communication obtained by ProPublica through public records requests the district called out the OCR for “continuing to take a different approach with this case without explanation a case with no complainant who is awaiting any form of relief or remedy.” wrote to an OCR supervisor that the way the investigation is being handled “appears to be retaliatory.” at least half a dozen lawsuits have been filed to try to stop the dismantling of the Education Department and its civil rights functions — among them suits by Democratic state attorneys general and from the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers A recent suit by the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates on behalf of children and their parents — all of whom have pending complaints alleging discrimination — claims they’re suffering from the OCR’s “abandonment” of its core mission citing the “End DEI” portal and seeking a halt to such anti-diversity efforts sued to try to restore what has been cut from the OCR so the agency can fulfill its mandate “cherry-picked investigations appear to be the only matters the Department is currently pursuing.” Those lawsuits are pending The government has argued in the NAACP lawsuit that the group lacks standing and in the other it has not filed a response Several OCR attorneys told ProPublica that they hope these groups and school districts continue to push back they will continue to try to work on behalf of the public to uphold the nation’s civil rights laws “I have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep my eye on the long game,” said a fourth OCR attorney “Hopefully we’re still here and can help rebuild in the future.” Republished with permission. Read the original article.  The Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show featuring Trawlerfest promises an impressive in-water selection of over 200 new and pre-owned boats informative classes for both new and seasoned boaters plus exciting rendezvous-style evening events The show runs from May 15-May 17, 2025 at Cap Sante Marina Get your tickets and register for Trawlerfest seminars before they are sold out! Click here for more information General Admission: $15 per day; Unlimited pass: $20 all 3 days; Discounted Military Ticket $10 available on-site only; 17 and Under: Free Read Next: Düsseldorf Boat Show 2025 Set to Be Biggest Yet Seminars run Tuesday May 13 – Saturday May 17 Note: Purchase of seminar ticket includes general admission to boat show on the day of seminar Below are just some of the informative seminars to attend. Click link above for the full program Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen Boating may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site Copyright © 2025 Boating Firecrown Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited For sailors who’ve ever daydreamed about swapping the rig and sails for twin diesels and a comfy pilothouse May 13–17—just might be the place to start exploring the trawler lifestyle Hosted by our sister publication Passagemaker and held in conjunction with the Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show TrawlerFest blends an in-water boat show with an impressive lineup of educational seminars More than 200 new and pre-owned cruising boats will be on display and plenty of knowledgeable folks who know what it takes to go the distance under power it’s the seminar schedule that truly shines Whether you’re a lifelong sailor curious about passagemaking on a different kind of hull or you’re already thinking about your next chapter afloat hands-on knowledge for every kind of cruiser The seminar series runs May 13–17 at Seafarer Memorial Park while the boat show at Cap Sante Marina opens May 15 and runs through May 17 (10 a.m Seminar tickets include same-day access to the boat show Whether you’re actively boat shopping or just starting to imagine life without the mainsail >> Click here to view the full seminar schedule and register FERNDALE — Anacortes boys soccer scored three goals in the final 10 minutes to open its season with a 3-0 victory against Ferndale Thursday “It was an evenly matched game,” Ferndale coach Rigel Weis said We had a chance before they scored the first one but soccer can be cruel sometimes.” One of Ferndale’s best opportunities came in the 68th minute when Ryder McCllelan had a diving header miss wide left of the net.  “Ferndale had a couple good shots but Ashton (Gere) is a wall in the goal so it is hard to get around him,” Anacortes coach Ross Ramsdell said Gallery: Anacortes boys soccer blanks Ferndale Anacortes senior Riley Walgamott received a through ball pass and snuck the ball underneath the goalkeeper for the first goal of the game Owen Foley nailed a free kick from 20 yards out into the upper left corner to make it 2-0.  we gave Owen the freedom to go for it and that was as good as it gets,” Ramsdell said “Riley decided he wanted to finally finish and scored two goals Walgamott battled through a couple of Ferndale defenders and fired a shot with his left foot into the upper left corner to end the game.  Anacortes (1-0) next plays at Kingston at 3 p.m while Ferndale (0-1) will host Squalicum at 7 p.m “I made sure everyone got some playing time tonight so we can have an idea of everyone’s potential tonight.” Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext ANACORTES — The screaming began on a crisp October morning three years ago in a forested residential area on the outskirts of Anacortes Breanne Kozera recalled racing outside as her mother-in-law shouted at three escaped wolf dogs from a neighboring exotic animal compound who pulled the family’s chihuahua-terrier mix from the neck and legs as it died The episode in 2021 represented an inflection point in a decades-old dispute pitting neighbors and Skagit County officials against the nonprofit Predators of the Heart wildlife operation that had bred and raised hybrid wolf dogs Kozera’s parents joined neighbors in a Superior Court suit alleging the facility threatened their safety and caused a public nuisance.  is challenging a Skagit County Superior Court decision to uphold a denial of a special-use permit the facility needs to operate as an animal preserve cougars and wolf dogs among its 56 species the facility could be forced to close and the animals may be euthanized The Washington Court of Appeals has scheduled briefings on Thursday “It has been one legal thing after another,” Carr said Carr said she has abided by all regulations under her exhibitor license from the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) since taking over in 2020 from her estranged father said she has not talked to her father since he was locked out of the property after the board of directors fired him for improper animal husbandry sexual harassment and mismanagement of funds “What we strived for in the past four years is to make things right,” said Carr who was in charge when Kozera’s dog was killed.  Carr said the difference now is she and her crew do not abuse animals an allegation against Coleburn when he was fired Carr said she carefully follows USDA dietary recommendations and “gives these animals a forever home so they don’t have to be euthanized I rescued the animals from my dad — as hard as it is to say.” said a court order prohibited him from addressing allegations tied to running the facility he launched in 1998 as a traveling exhibit to promote caring for animals and delivering anti-drug-and-alcohol messages to youth Coleburn was in charge when the first hint of trouble occurred in 2012 at the Anacortes Community Forest Land a city park partially bordering the wildlife compound.  it took three officers to capture a wolf dog that escaped Predators of the Heart The animal then damaged the interior of a city transport vehicle on the way to the compound Skagit County commissioners passed a dangerous animals ordinance that was more restrictive than Washington state regulations specifying the cougars and wolf dogs Coleburn owned who said he moved the facility to the current location in 2001 because of restrictive Anacortes city codes for exotic pets the case was dismissed on procedural grounds for failure to prosecute Coleburn launched a Howling with Ambassadors Airbnb with tours costing $200 per person Visitors howled with the wolf dogs and entered enclosures to pet and take photos of them Some residents complained the enterprise disrupted the unincorporated neighborhood with traffic and noise Tensions escalated in 2017 when a man walking his dog in the adjacent community forest accidentally entered the facility along a maintained trail with no fencing or signage Two wolf dogs broke free from Coleburn’s leashes and killed the neighbor’s border collie/retriever “I cried over that,” Coleburn said in an interview Neither will the son of David and Meg Mourning whose grandfather had taken the dog for a walk submitted a statement to Skagit County last year saying he was afraid to walk his new dog in the woods because of the incident “I’ve had panic attacks triggered by the sound of wolf calls,” the boy wrote as part of the county special-use permit case Then came the fatal attack on Kozera’s pet on her parents’ 5-acre property that prompted the city of Anacortes to close the community forest briefly who said she began working with animals at age 12 testified during the permit case that she euthanized the wolf dog because of Skagit County demands to keep it in a six-sided enclosure and to muzzle the animal whenever it was moved “That was a decision that we had to make for her mental well-being,” Carr testified Court documents also show Carr also blamed the incident on an unleashed dog digging a hole under the fence to allow her animals to escape but provided no substantive evidence in the hearing to support the allegation Carr said she has since added two layers of fences and dig-barriers to keep her wolf dogs from escaping The hybrids stay in six-sided enclosures overnight when no one guards the compound and I want to do right by the animals,” she said of the facility that looks as clean as a municipal zoo as observed by CDN on a tour for journalists In her special-use permit application who lives a quarter-mile above the compound sued Predators of the Heart as leverage to buy its 10-acre property Carr said the dispute amounts to a wealthy landowner — Welch is chairman of commercial real estate advisory firm AXCS Capital — against a small nonprofit.  In a statement to a county hearing examiner overseeing the permit case Welch said four couples sued in response to the attack on Kozera’s pet The plaintiffs declined interview requests through Alison Caditz a Seattle lawyer representing the neighbors She said the suit is in the discovery phase.  “The safety issues that have been going on for over a decade have continued,” Caditz said “Every time we hear this isn’t going to happen again Carr invited more controversy when saying she might have to euthanize 80% of her animals if Predators of the Heart closes Hannah Thompson-Garner of the Seattle-based Northwest Animal Rights Network questioned Carr’s motives saying accredited compounds are well equipped to rehome the animals.  She also said her animals have become too accustomed to humans and the cougars and many of her wolf dogs are too old and sickly to be uprooted Carr acknowledged in the county permit case that Predators of the Heart had euthanized nine of its 24 wolf dogs a year after a veterinarian put down the hybrid that killed Kozera’s pet.  Carr testified the nine wolf dogs had exhibited mental stress in their enclosures or were elderly and suffered from medical issues Carr told CDN she also had to euthanize an elderly wolf dog in August Talk of euthanization got the attention of the California-based nonprofit Animal Legal Defense Fund Fish and Wildlife Service to investigate Predators of the Heart for violations of the Endangered Species Act contending Carr’s hybrid wolf dogs are federally protected gray wolves and therefore cannot be harmed An official said the agency does not comment on activities by the Office of Law Enforcement or correspondence it receives Animal Legal Defense Fund lawyers based their conclusions on a federal lawsuit of another Washington game farm Genetic tests taken for the case found four animals bred at Predators of the Heart and sold to the private zoo were gray wolves.  Carr said her wolf-hybrids are “domesticated” and she handled them humanely while following USDA guidelines. USDA exhibitor licensing does not require college degrees to handle wild animals who said her first exotic animal was a skunk had planned to go to school to become a mechanic Carr said she and her staff have undergone two-year training programs sanctioned by USDA to handle big cats She also has a zoologist on staff who has a master’s certificate in wildlife management the wolf dogs rushed to a fence to greet Carr “We never force our animals to do anything they don’t want to do,” she said while addressing each wolf dog by its name.  Whether the animals are gray wolves is not part of the Skagit County cases The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says on its website that wolf-dog hybrids have no federal or state legal status for special protection A WDFW spokesman said the agency does not regulate Predators of the Heart because it is not a wildlife rehabilitator or game farm.  “We typically do not regulate private zoos maintaining domestic or exotic animals though those may be subject to other state allow people to own wolf dogs but sometimes with restrictions local jurisdictions like Skagit County can declare the practice illegal even if the state doesn’t Wolf dog ownership has been controversial because more than 100 people — including 82 children — have been injured from attacks between 1982 and 2023 according to a national database kept by the Washington state nonprofit Animals 24-7 Carr offered Airbnb tours until early 2022 when Skagit County officials said she needed a permit for the enterprise Although her permit application included hosting tours Carr said she no longer wants to offer on-site visits which had brought in almost $900,000 in one year Carr plans to secure grants for virtual educational tours and use her USDA Class R license to become a wolf-hybrid research facility.  The nonprofit organization would need about $600,000 annually to function Predators of the Heart currently relies on donations from the public and sponsors. Carr regularly features the wolf dogs in TikTok videos to garner support is donated primarily by Walmart through a third party Her animals eat 6,000 pounds of meat and 1,200 pounds of produce per week “Our motto is if we can’t provide an animal with a really good life Carr said Predators of the Heart provides community service by rehoming exotic pets confiscated by animal control officers the military and local law enforcement.  The facility is subject to annual USDA inspections Inspectors have not cited Predators of the Heart for violating the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) during the past six visits Records show the compound has been inspected 20 times since 2015 managing attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund described USDA standards as “minimal” and “meager.”  He said only facilities sanctioned by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums or Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries are legitimate A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture did not answer questions about the criticism from Waltz “When we find issues that bring facilities out of compliance with the AWA regulations we work hard to bring them back into compliance as quickly as possible.”  Carr has changed the name of her nonprofit to Because We Matter Exotic Rescue to distance herself from the previous operation But she hasn’t been able to get far away from her dad Coleburn opened Northwest Wildlife Sanctuary in March 2023 in a 2,500-square-foot building next to Deception Pass State Park It’s about 20 minutes away from Predators of the Heart He said he lives in a 7-by-7-foot room inside a converted sports bar that houses 60 species Coleburn said his two wolf dogs live in an enclosure outside He charges $149 per person for 90-minute tours The website says Northwest Wildlife Sanctuary is licensed and inspected by the USDA but so far the business is not listed in the agency’s database of sanctioned exhibitors Carr said it has been difficult to escape Coleburn’s shadow “I’m tired of being held responsible for his actions.” who got a $50,000 settlement from the nonprofit’s insurance company after losing her dog that she buried among cedars and blackberry brambles The uneasiness over the 2021 incident continues to haunt her with a 6-year-old daughter and new dog playing in the yard.  ‘Is it going to happen again?’” Kozera said “Is today the day my other dog is taken?”  Elliott Almond is a regular Outdoors contributor to Cascadia Daily News A previous version of this story did not state the correct status of the 2015 lawsuit The story was updated to reflect this change at 11:28 a.m Nick LaLonde is best known in Skagit County for his artisan bakery showcases a different skill set: fine dining.  described Tide & Taste as a contemporary ingredient-focused restaurant where “cuisine and community converge.” The downtown Anacortes eatery opened on Jan formerly the home of American-style cafe The Nest In addition to paying tribute to Skagit County’s bountiful ingredients Nick said Tide & Taste was inspired by the kind of food he and his wife like to eat From the cocktail list to the oysters and champagne every detail at Tide & Taste “is just me and Nick in a nutshell,” Kami added Nick has a background working in fine dining establishments in New York; Austin he moved to Anacortes to open Good Bagels with his brother Tide & Taste is LaLonde’s way of translating his fine dining repertoire to Anacortes’ laid-back atmosphere and palate and the experience is complemented by an atmosphere Kami described as “sexy “We just wanted to make the kind of place that we wanted to hang out at that we felt like we couldn’t really find around here,” she continued.  Standout menu items include crusted cod with carrot which uses fish from the Olympic Peninsula The cod is also used in croquettes that Kami compared to an elevated version of fish and chips Other notable items include tagliatelle with house-made pasta and Dungeness crab and strip loin au poivre with local delicata squash “That is going to lend itself to a menu that changes a lot which is really exciting … The dish you had the week before may be slightly different because of what the farmers have given us.” And while Tide & Taste’s main dining area caters to multi-course dinners, the LaLondes are also building out a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge upstairs. Diners can follow their progress at @tidetaste on social media Tide & Taste is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at 414 Commercial St. in Anacortes. Reservations are strongly recommended. Info: tideandtaste.com Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext The Anacortes girls tennis team won 12 out of 13 sets April 22 on its way to beating Blaine If you have attended an Anacortes boys basketball game this season and wondered where standout Davis Fogle is he transferred to AZ Compass Prep School in Chandler The 6-foot-7 senior combo guard transferred to the Southwest school as a 4-star and played his first game with the Dragons on Oct The Gonzaga commit is the third-ranked Class of 2025 recruit in the state of Arizona and is the 10th highest-rated recruit in Bulldogs history He led the Seahawks to two state tournament appearances in 2023 and 2024 “We usually go after a list of kids that potentially need prep school,” AZ Compass Prep coach Pete Kaffey said “We heard (Davis) was interested in going prep and asked our recruiter to reach out and watch film on him According to the school’s website AZ Compass Prep is a preparatory school focusing on academics arts and athletics for students and families seeking a pre-professional career experience without sacrificing post-secondary education opportunities The school opened in 2008 and has had more than 40 basketball players compete at the Division I level and three players drafted into the NBA — Tyty Washington Jr Maxwell Lewis of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jabari Walker of the Portland Trailblazers The Dragons compete against other prep schools across the country and games are usually aired on ESPN Although Fogle transferred to a new school he says his schedule has not changed much from his Anacortes lifestyle Fogle is now playing with people he met about six months ago it is more like cross-town rivalries and everyone plays for their hometown,” Fogle said “It is cool playing with the kids you went to school with since first grade he told his parents he wanted to try a prep school several prep schools had contacted the athlete about joining their programs but he did not join because his junior year had already begun at Anacortes “I chose (AZ Compass Prep) because the coaching staff and player development is really good here,” Fogle said “Also the gym is open 24/7 and has really competitive practices I am playing against the best players in the country and getting ready for Gonzaga.” Even though Fogle has enjoyed his stint in the desert it has been stressful living in a house by himself in Chandler Fogle began playing basketball at around 5 years old who played at Southern Illinois University and one season professionally in Japan before becoming a head coach in Kodiak the 18-year-old basketball star is without family and friends alongside him “The toughest thing is being in a new environment because I didn’t know what to expect at all,” Fogle said “It is definitely tougher not having your family or friends here … but this is the stuff I wanted and will help me in the long run.” AZ Compass Prep has helped Fogle become independent off the court and more team-oriented with his squad “(Davis) is one of the hardest working kids I have been around,” Kaffey said “He is a great teammate and one of our captains He is a big guard who can score in transition really well play off the ball and can play multiple positions.” Fogle has utilized every moment to train in the gym on the basketball court and in the classroom to prepare for a similar scene at Gonzaga.  “I just know I could have stayed in Anacortes and been comfortable,” Fogle said “What is my end goal and the best situation to get me there Fogle dropped a team-high 19 points and led the Dragons to a 76-33 victory against Skyline Prep Fogle hopes to finish the season with a Chipotle High School Basketball Nationals title he hopes his success can help him give back to his family “I was telling an NBA guy that Davis is always the first one on the court and always in the gym working out,” Kaffey said “He is a kid that has potential to do some things at Gonzaga and be an NBA player one day.” Two ports in Northwest Washington are navigating an ever-changing landscape as federal funds meant to help improve operations have been frozen Tens of millions of dollars meant for creating new jobs and developing energy transition plans at The Port of Bellingham and the Port of Anacortes are frozen And while both ports are working with Washington’s federal delegation to figure out what’s happening The grants were awarded in October 2024 through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program The Port of Bellingham received $1.5 million to develop a port-wide energy transition action plan while the Port of Anacortes received $63.8 million to facilitate a public-private partnership between the port and local maritime industry The pause in funding is a result of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office he directed federal agencies to immediately stop disbursing grants and loans under the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act as well as pausing grants for environmental programs through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law A federal judge barred Trump from pausing federal spending and extended a temporary restraining order on Monday, Feb. 10, stating that withholding the funds was “likely unconstitutional and has caused and continues to cause irreparable harm to a vast portion of this country,” according to National Public Radio The order directs the Trump administration to restore funds that were appropriated through the two Biden-era laws In a House of Representatives subcommittee hearing on maritime infrastructure on Feb Rick Larsen (D-WA) called the grant freezes “a dumb move the public affairs administrator for the Port of Bellingham that the port had received notification on Feb the grant funding portal was back open and “available for drawdown.” Then on Tuesday Hogan then sent a follow-up email nearly 30 minutes later saying the port’s $500,000 EPA grant for reducing diesel emissions through replacing engines on private-owned commercial marine vessels had been paused.  The Bellingham Shipping Terminal project, also financed in part through a $6.85 million federal grant, and the design work for the rail reconnection project which netted $17.93 million in federal funds have not been impacted by the funding freeze The funds were distributed by the Department of Transportation executive director at the Port of Anacortes said over the phone his staff is checking the federal funding portal every few hours to see if the funds for the port’s electrification project and property development have been released.  “It’s impacting our community,” Greenwood said Some of our private partners here were going to be hiring upwards of 50 people to start implementing some of these grant awards that they have Similar to the Port of Bellingham’s experience Greenwood said Anacortes’ grants were paused then unpaused and frozen again within a four-day period the Port of Anacortes is unable to start moving forward with their five private partners to build electric boats replace diesel equipment with electric motors and purchase equipment Greenwood is very aware of the impact of inflation driving the cost of redesigning if the funds remain frozen “We were going to move the needle growth-wise for Anacortes and now we’re on hold,” he said “This is a national issue but it’s also a local issue for us.” ANACORTES — It was roughly 14 degrees outside when Skagit Commons residents Charles and Shelly Parks received a phone call: Their neighbors’ pipes had burst the couple ran to help stem the freezing flood — and so did the rest of their neighbors Shelly recalled a “brigade” of people “sopping up their water and people were carrying furniture out.” By early next morning someone had even laundered the “mountain” of leftover freezing towels.  In most American neighborhoods, this level of camaraderie might seem unusual. But Skagit Commons is a cohousing community, defined by The Cohousing Association of the United States (CohoUS) as an “intentional collaborative neighborhood” combining private residences with common spaces “designed to support an active and interdependent community life.” “What I learned that night is, if something happens to me, I’ve got a community of people that will run to me. Like, they will literally run,” Shelly said. She now owns a cohousing consulting business, serves on CohoUS’s board of directors and is helping form a new community, 4th Corner Commons and pitch in on everything from cleaning to activity planning Many communities are intergenerational; at Skagit Commons Communal living isn’t without challenges — but as Americans spend more time alone than ever, cohousing proponents envision an alternative American dream Grace Kim is an architect with Schemata Workshop the Seattle architecture firm behind Skagit Commons She believes cohousing promotes an intentional collaborative way of living that can “hopefully permeate out into the rest of our communities.” worked our way into a society where Americans are very independent individual and we have tried not to rely on one another,” she continued “And I think that there’s a big loss.” Cohousing originated in Denmark around the 1970s and nearly 200 active communities exist across the U.S The model is neither financial nor legal; rather it’s a “descriptive term that emphasizes the active participation of residents in everything from design to governance” per CohoUS.  a small group of households (including the Parks) decided to form a cohousing community in Northwest Washington they’d purchased a 4-acre property from retired Anacortes veterinarian Bill Testerman who wanted to pass on his land to “something special.”  fronted seed money for early development and worked alongside Schemata and other cohousing professionals to bring Skagit Commons to life Parks noted that Skagit Commons is legally registered as a homeowner’s association, albeit with far fewer restrictions dog park and parking spots placed on the property’s periphery the property was designed to promote interaction and eco-friendliness.  At the heart of the development is a “common house” where residents come together for meals The 6,000-square-foot building features a kitchen Skagit Commons also encompasses 15 townhomes and 15 “flats,” with flats ranging from one-bed/one-bath to three-bed/two-bath floor plans Kitchens are placed at the front of each home allowing neighbors to socialize through the window while washing dishes Private spaces like living rooms and bedrooms are removed from public view.  “I always think about ‘community outside your door,’” Kim said you can have that sanctuary of privacy … and yet you’re immersed in the life of the community.” residents get to know not just their neighbors but their pets adult children and even their body language Resident Peg Boettcher said if someone needs a lemon so that folks will do much more than just take you to a doctor’s appointment,” she continued “They will sit with you while you’re going through surgery but that’s something that has developed really naturally.” Shelly discovered cohousing after Googling “better housing for seniors”; in 2017 she left her career in continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) to found her consulting business She and Charles downsized from a two-story house in Edmonds to their 600-square-foot flat shortly after Charles retired.  Shelly worried how these dynamic shifts might impact their 35-year marriage Charles is “thriving more than I’ve ever seen since we’ve been married.” and I didn’t even know that,” Shelly continued He’s the one that will stand up and go ‘I’m gonna see what’s going on in the common house.’” cohousing makes it easier to connect with others “We don’t have to do the chit-chat of catching up,” she said chose cohousing because their “big old house” in Seattle wouldn’t be sustainable in retirement The couple had been together for 20-plus years when they moved in — but in 2023 they got married in the common house “with everybody supporting us and cheering us on.”  “We were able to commit to this community and work for the community and that brought together our intentions for life,” Boettcher said and I wanted to make those explicit … I am Many cohousing communities, including Skagit Commons Interconnected groups called “circles” oversee everything from finances cleaning and maintenance to parties and social activities but we don’t track people’s time or hours,” Shelly said “We expect people to step up and get the work done.”  This model works because cohousing is highly intentional: Prospective residents make a significant financial investment and may even move states to join the right community One Skagit Commons resident moved to Washington from Virginia fronting 20% of his home price before meeting neighbors in person Shelly noted that prospective residents cannot “just call up the phone and say I’m going to join.’” In Skagit Commons’ development stage residents could act as “explorers” for a 30- to 90-day period attending meetings and events to ensure the group would be a good fit Boettcher recalls sitting in on a meeting about the introduction of natural gas on-site “I could tell by the tone of the conversation that there had been tension and that people weren’t completely crazy about it but they’d come to a civilized conclusion and they were able to resolve it and go forward,” Boettcher said “And that means more to me than all the unicorns and rainbow and glitter about ‘Now you’ll never be lonely again!’” Cohousing isn’t without challenges: Boettcher noted many residents haven’t had experience with communal living “since college reaching consensus takes much longer than majority rule “We have to constantly remind ourselves that most of the decisions that we make are not set in stone and we’re just going to try it out to see if it works,” Boettcher continued Shelly said disagreements usually stem from the four “Ps”: parking But parenting isn’t an issue at Skagit Commons: Kim said Skagit Commons is unique for having exclusively attracted residents over 55 “they’ve created a really good social network for themselves as they age.” Still, Shelly said cohousing needs young people to survive. Some members of 4th Corner Commons are “super committed” to bringing in families with kids — but in a housing crisis “We all had to put 20 percent of our home price down by the time we got a construction loan,” Parks said They don’t have the kind of money to put down to do that.” But despite hurdles, multigenerational cohousing communities do exist across the country. There are ongoing conversations about how to make cohousing more financially accessible including by retrofitting existing developments.  As one in five U.S. adults experience daily loneliness, cohousing’s appeal isn’t limited to a singular demographic Shelly believes the model’s benefits go beyond the individual: “We have to come together,” she said “especially with all that’s going on right now.” “I might not be able to control the world out there but I can have some control of what’s happening within my community,” Shelly continued “And that’s where you have to start to make change anyway.” A previous version of this article misstated the name of the new cohousing development forming in Bellingham An early Mondaymorning earthquake was felt by many in Anacortes the quake measured 4.5 and occurred at 5:02am The earthquake was centered about six miles from from the southeast corner of Orcas Island.  more than 5,000 people had reported to USGS that they felt it ShakeAlert notified residents of the San Juan Islands as well as communities along the I-5 corridor in Skagit and Whatcom counties The Ports of Anacortes and Bellingham have received millions of dollars from the federal government to pursue projects related to the Clean Ports Program The program has goals over time to reduce diesel pollution in near-port communities create a foundation for a transition to zero-emission operations and ensure community engagement and emission reduction planning are port industry standard practices The Clean Ports Program is run through the Environmental Protection Agency The Port of Anacortes will receive $63.8 million to fund a major switch of port equipment to battery electric power with another $1.3 million going toward additional planning work The funds will allow the port to purchase a range of new battery electric equipment including five tow tractors “This major federal investment will enable the Port of Anacortes to electrify its operations and bring in much-needed new cargo handling equipment that will help the Port expand,” Sen “Boosting the Port’s efficiency and capacity will create 50 new high-paying jobs and maintain payrolls for over 1,000 locals currently employed by the Port and its tenants.” Patty Murray said she would continue to fight for federal dollars to go toward investments for clean energy “The Port of Anacortes is an important part of Washington state’s maritime infrastructure and a huge mover for Skagit County’s economy — these federal resources will help ensure the Port can more quickly implement its zero-emissions strategy while creating local jobs,” she said The Port of Bellingham received a $1.5 million planning grant that will help it develop an energy transition plan focusing on resiliency and long-term emission reductions The funding is part of the Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition which funds climate and air quality planning activity to help port stakeholders reduce pollution and transition to zero-emission operations over time The Port of Bellingham also received funding in early September from Washington state through the Department of Transportation to electrify the port The $2.8 million grant came through the Climate Commitment Act and will be put toward a project to allow ships docked at the shipping terminal to plug into the port’s electrical grid The Port of Bellingham has also received millions in federal funds for the shipping terminal modernization project and extending the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line to the terminal More than $2.9 billion was awarded to 55 applicants across the U.S Anacortes and Bellingham were two of six ports in Washington to be selected for the funding ANACORTES, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A California teenager who made over 300 false threats across the country including to a high school in Skagit County was sentenced in federal court today.adButlerLazyLoad("757491724492715784",100,["662102","662102","662102"],"177027"); The U.S. Department of Justice announced that 18-year-old Alan Filion will spend four years in prison for making interstate threats to injure people Filion made over 375 swatting and threat calls between August 2022 and January 2024 The calls included one to Anacortes High School in October 2022 where he threatened to carry out a mass shooting and claimed to have planted bombs throughout the school His other targets included religious institutions government officials and numerous individuals across the U.S Filion was arrested in January 2024 after threatening a religious center in Florida The Anacortes Police Department provided assistance to the FBI and the U.S Secret Service in investigating the case.adButlerLazyLoad("1149507058043419399",100,["662102","662102","662102"],"177027"); Jason Upton is a reporter and afternoon news anchor at KGMI Feel free to send any story ideas or news tips to jupton@pnwmediagroup.com No injuries were reported in either incident The cuts have resulted in laboratories having limited testing for some infectious diseases and early childhood learning programs left unsure of future funds The dog had fallen into the cave and its owner also got stuck while trying to rescue it WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – When Dave Vitt founded Kulshan Brewing Company in 2011 WWU will bring its 13-game win streak into the national softball tournament Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again a group of 11 girls gather after school in the Anacortes High cafeteria they fold the lunch tables and move them away to create the only “bowling alley” in the area Anacortes had a bowling alley within city limits that had opened in 1904 The community’s rich bowling history spilled into Anacortes High School when it founded a girls bowling team around 2000.  leaving the Seahawks as the only team in the conference without an alley in their town “I bowled in leagues at [San Juan Lanes] so it was devastating to see it close as a coach and a league bowler,” Anacortes High bowling coach Teresa Syms said The San Juan Lanes lot remains empty after the previous buyer tore half of it down and tried to convert it into storage units was determined to keep a girls bowling team at the school “(Erik Titus) didn’t want to give up and we were willing to find out how to keep it,” Syms said Syms borrowed a few carpet lanes from the Skagit Valley United States Bowling Congress and began setting up her own “bowling alley” in the high school cafeteria after school She had one bowler compete in a six-week season she returned those carpet lanes and got used ones from Evergreen Lanes in Everett bowlers have the opportunity to work on homework and participate in a club until 3:30 p.m tears down the lunch tables and sets up the lanes and other drills.  the Seahawks have made it to state the past two seasons “It is exciting to see we don’t have a bowling alley but we can still make it work.” Senior bowler Morgan Gudmundson said she was outraged when San Juan Lanes closed down “I had a lot of memories there and I cannot say this is a close second,” she said of the team’s cafeteria workaround “It does give us a good advantage because it helps us focus on our form.” Syms typically sets up around five individual drills and the bowlers partner up and take turns for a certain amount of time the bowlers rotate until they finish all the drills and complete practice around 4:30–5 p.m The first drill consists of a 40-foot carpet lane with 4-pound rubber bowling balls and plastic pins to get a feel of bowling in an alley the bowlers practice their form with a pin-shaped weight that helps them follow through straight.  bowlers use a ball about the same size as a baseball with holes in it Bowlers can use it to see their rotation of the ball New bowlers also practice with a clock worksheet to learn how to position their hands and fingers before releasing the ball the girls who have their own balls can roll them on carpet tiles to observe the path and if they have proper follow through “It was very new and weird to me at first,” senior bowler Laney Brown said I wouldn’t know what to do if I wasn’t here.” The Anacortes High bowling team also goes to Riverside Lanes in Mount Vernon on Wednesdays to practice and host their home matches Riverside Lanes is the closest alley to the high school 3 miles closer than Oak Harbor’s Oak Bowl and Mario’s Pizza The Seahawks bowling team has driven the 30 minutes to Riverside Lanes since 2021; Syms knows the manager of the alley.  Syms said Riverside Lanes helps her teach the bowlers who have bowled in the cafeteria for their entire high school career how to knock down spares and other skills only a lane can provide “It is tough because I wanted to be on the lanes every day as a freshman,” senior bowler Trinity Erickson said “We live far away and I understand that now.”  The Seahawks hope to finish this season as the top team in the district or have one of the top three individuals not on the winning team so they can advance to state once again