Anacortes born USA 17 arrives in San Fran

Posted here are photos I took in September 2008 of the BMW Oracle at Lovric's boatyard. Click on link below to see latest news on this America's Cup winner with roots in Anacortes.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/27024279/detail.html?taf=fran

Anacortes "weather station"

This was the scene in my back yard Wednesday morning. During weather "adventures" such as this it's nice to have a sense of what might lie ahead. Fortunately, we have a live "weather station" at Anacortes Middle School. Click on the link below for details.

http://www.ams.asd103.org/weather.htm

Stormclouds over NAS Whidbey's P-3 community

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/news/116173499.html
U.S. Congressman Rick Larsen made official this week rumors that the Navy has decided to send new P8-A "Poseidon" aircraft to Hawaii and Florida rather than Whidbey Island. Larsen said in a press release that he "is not happy" with the Navy's decision, and Oak Harbor Mayor Jim Slowik suggested it is "too soon to panic" about the decision. NAS Whidbey currently serves as home base for several P-3 (pictured above) squadrons, but this aircraft is scheduled for retirement. One estimate is that the P-3 squadrons represent about one-third of naval aviation activities at the air base. Many active duty Navy personnel live on Fidalgo Island, and the air base definitely provides a "ripple effect" on the local economy. See the link above for an article in the Whidbey News-Times. Click on the photo to link to Congressman Larsen's website.

Investing in the future

There was a genuine sense of excitement in the air Friday as Anacortes Mayor Dean Maxwell hosted a groundbreaking event at the city water treatment plant in Mount Vernon. This $56 million project, which will take about two years, was prompted by the need to update a Skagit River facility built in 1970. Elements of the project include: a new treatment facility with state of the art pre-treatment; a transfer pumping station; a new chemical facility; a ground level storage tank; improvements to the plant's electrical power supply and distribution services. Among those "turning a shovel" at the event were the mayor, Public Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer, three Skagit County commissioners, the mayor of Burlington, Anacortes City Council members and numerous project contractors. Also on hand were former city public works chiefs Bob Hyde and Jim Pemberton. Maxwell emphasized that in addition to protecting jobs among city water service customers (such as two refineries and NAS Whidbey), there will be temporary jobs during the two-year construction period.