Tales of the Magic Skagit

I recently aired a Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast episode about the life of Laurie Wells, whose parents, Hiram and Alfreda, settled in Mount Vernon in 1877.During the interview a reference was made to “Ridgeway” as the name of the area where the Wells' family home was located. I recalled that the Skagit County Historical Museum's archivist, Mari Anderson Densmore, had written about Ridgeway in her book, “Lost Cities” of Skagit — Rediscovering Places of Our Past, and I wanted to share that bit of our history with you all. So, here is my reading of “Ridgeway” from Mari's book. 

It started with five acres, two parents' determination that their kids would grow up with a connection to the natural world…and a pony named Stormy.This year, Lang's Horse & Pony Farm is celebrating half a century of connecting Skagitonians with the beauty of our Magic Skagit surroundings as uniquely experienced on the backs horses and ponies. In this Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast episode we learn the story of Lang's Horse & Pony Farm from the daughter of its founders, Lola Lang. Lola recallsf how her parents, Dolores and Harry, settled on a piece of land off Little Mountain Road and through additional purchases of neighboring acreage created “a place that anyone could come experience ponies and horses within the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.” It's a heart warming story of how a business model can grow out of doing what you love and wanting to share that joy with others.

I love places that love their history…and Whidbey Island is certainly one such place. In addition to the postcard perfect beauty of Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, located just a scant 23 miles from my front door, the town of Coupeville is the location of a wonderful museum that embodies the passion for local history of its island community.In this episode of Tales of the Magic Skagit, I talk with the Island County Historical Museum's executive director, Dalva Church, about the museum's origins, her journey to its directorship, and current and upcoming exhibits (including a celebration of Whidbey Island's maritime history) that are taking place in the wake of its recent renovations, as well as future aspirations. For the benefit of first time visitors, Dalva also explains how best to tour the museum. 

If you want a vivid reminder of just how hospitable the Magic Skagit can be, show up at the Lincoln Theater in downtown Mount Vernon at 7pm on Thursday, May 8, 2025 for a public gathering of your friends and neighbors through a program known as "Let's Go Together." The free event offers music and fellowship with the simple agenda of connecting people through the power of face-to-face relationships.Let's Go Together invites people of all cultures, faith traditions, ethnic identities and socioeconomic situations to work together for the common good, and it is one programmatic element of an organization called Paths to Understanding (PTU), which provides a vision, preparation, and practical support for wisdom communities to build meaningful relationships with their neighbors.In this Tales of the Magic Skagit episode, we talk with Viveka Hall-Holt, PTU's events coordinator, about the history of her organization and the journey that led her to its mission of "bridging bias and building unity through multi-faith peacemaking." If the 24/7/365 news cycle leaves you feeling anxious about the state of the world, Paths to Understanding offers a way of engaging locally in building community. As Viveka relates, "When we are in deep community, that makes us feel most alive -- and that is the truest way of being."

This Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast episode encompasses two topics, which while seemingly unrelated at first consideration, actually have a common theme: the past, present, and future of the Skagit Valley as viewed through an artistic lens.We start this episode off with Laynie Moran, the Skagit County Historical Museum's Collections Manager, who is heading up a first ever art contest and exhibit with the unlikely theme, "Everyone's a Critic." This upcoming exhibit could, however, also be called "Everyone's an Artist," since the goal of Laynie's project is to showcase art from anyone in the county, regardless of age or skill level, to contribute a work of art of their own creation. The only criterion for the entries, whatever the chosen medium, is that they adhere to the theme "The Past, Present, and Future of Skagit County." Entries are due by June 1, 2025, and the exhibit opens and voting begins on June 20. Details and registration forms are available at the museum and its website, www.skagitcounty.net/museum.On the subject of Skagit Valley's past, we turn next to Ann Maroney, the office and store manager at the museum, to learn about its current exhibit on the life of Lawrence (Laurie) Wells. In describing Laurie's life, it's hard to know where to begin. He was a largely self-taught artist whose works captured the beauty of his Skagit Valley home through an astonishing number of paintings across a variety media and styles. But he and his wife, whose love story is part of the exhibit as well, were also active in the early grange and socialist movements of the early 20th century. In addition, Laurie could justifiably be called the godfather of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, thanks to his promotion of the Magic Skagit's bulb farms and his landscape design skills in showcasing them decades ago.Suffice it to say that the museum's current exhibit, "Laurie Wells: A Skagit Original," is a multi-layered tribute to an individual whose deep and abiding love of where we live combines works of art with a glimpse into lesser known aspects of Skagit Valley history that will appeal to the eye, heart, head, and soul. And with the exhibit to come in June, Skagitonians of all ages are invited to celebrate Laurie Wells' legacy in a way he would have undoubtedly appreciated: through art.

Sedro-Woolley has long held a very special place in my heart as a 12-year resident of the Magic Skagit. My very first impression of the town was that it had seen better times, but as I got to know it better over the years I came to appreciate its grit and resilience.One person who understands those civic attributes far better than me is its mayor, the Honorable Julia Johnson — and in this Tales of the Magic Skagit episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Mayor Johnson about her Sedro-Woolley story, how she learned its history growing up, and how she sees its future.There's a lot going on in the “Gateway to the North Cascades,” and listening to this podcast you'll come away with not only a sense of the town's dynamism, but also Mayor Johnson's aspirations for the place she left at various points in her interesting life, but always chose to return to.Here's to the 3 1/2 percent! You'll understand that statement by the time you reach the end of this chat with Sedro-Woolley's mayor, Julia Johnson. 

“Elevated accommodations” is how Alia Rossi, the general manager for the Kulshan Hotel, describes Sedro-Woolley's new hospitality venue. And while that may sound like a marketing catch phrase, even a cursory look at the hotels rooms and reception spaces will dispel any comparisons with your typical chain hotel.In this interview with Alia, we'll learn about her history in the hospitality business, the origins of the Kulshan Hotel, and the role its locally-based owners believe it will play in the life of the place I like to describe as “the little town that could.” To learn more about the Kulshan Hotel (whose design was created by Meyer Sign, thank you very much) go to https://www.thekulshanhotel.com . You'll be impressed!

“. . . but now I know this path is only one of the many that opened before me on that morning in Dorothea.” -- Italo Calvino (Invisible Cities)"A coffee shop should be a place for new exploration, new pathways in ones life," is how Conor Mahoney describes the experience he and his wife Ashley want to create for those who walk through the door of their downtown Mount Vernon venue. If that seems like a big expectation to lay on a brand, then the first thing you need to know about Dorothea Coffee is that it isn't your typical coffee shop. Venture in and order a latte and you're going to be disappointed -- but only for a very brief time. You'll likely come around with your first "pour over."In this first episode in our new Tales of the Magic Skagit series, "A Bite of Skagit," we'll learn about how one couple's coffee explorations led them from Seattle to 1st Street Mount Vernon to share their discoveries with the rest of us. If you really, really love coffee, this TMS episode just might redefine your relationship with this ubiquitous brew. Consider yourself warned.

In Part 1 of our two-part series, we learned about the life of Bow native Wick Peth and how he became a nationally recognized bull fighter in the professional rodeo circuit. Along the way we also learned a little bit about the history of the Peth Family, courtesy of Wick's son and daughter, Dan and Liza. We kick off Part 2 with Skagit County Historical Museum executive director Jo Wolfe explaining how the Wick Peth exhibit came together, and the museum's goal of not only sharing his story but the story of rodeo in the Skagit Valley as well. We finish up the interview with Dan Peth and Liza (Peth) Bott telling us some great anecdotes about traveling with their famous dad, and of the way he has shaped their lives.

I first heard of Wick Peth a few years back at the Skagit County Fair. There was a bull on display named "Little Wick," and I was curious about his name. That's when I learned that the Magic Skagit was home to an individual who was famous to anyone who loved rodeo: Wick Peth, a professional bull fighter. As a student of Skagit Valley history, the name Peth was certainly familiar as one of the earliest immigrant families to the valley. Wick's grandfather was John J. Peth. But I wanted to know more about Wick. Thankfully, the Skagit County Historical Museum also wanted to tell his story, which is the subject of the current exhibit at the "top of the hill" in La Conner. In addition to sharing the life and career of Wick Peth, the museum's exhibit also recounts the history of rodeo in the Skagit Valley. I had the great pleasure of doing an interview at the museum with executive director Jo Wolfe, and two individuals who know Wick's story in a way very few do: his son and daughter, Dan Peth and Liza Bott. In this first of our two part series on the life and legacy of Wick Peth and Skagit Valley rodeo, Dan and Liza recount their memories of their famous father and offer a glimpse into the agricultural life of the valley from decades ago.

Back in August, I had the great honor of hosting the Meyer Sign Fair History Booth at the 2024 Skagit County Fair. In the midst of the interviews we recorded with fairgoers, participants, and performers, one of the folks visiting our booth at the Evergreen Classic Pavilion presented me with a copy of an article written in the 1920s by Violet Eldred Dynes recalling her childhood memories of the fair. What little I've learned about Ms. Dynes is that she was born on March 25, 1907 in Sterling, which exists today as an unincorporated community in Sedro-Woolley. Her parents were Frank Emery Eldred and Gertrude C. Burwell.  In her article, “The Good Old Days,” she reminisces about what she refers to as the “Burlington Fair” around 1920 — at which point Violet would have been in her late teens or early 20s. She would go on to marry Joseph William Dynes in 1926, and the couple had several children. The family would eventually move to British Columbia, which is where Violet passed away in 1996 at the age of 88. Here, then, is her story. 

In the first of our three part series, "A Conversation with Tom Williams," we learned about the Marine Captain's extraordinary family, his childhood in what was once known as Peking, and his subsequent path to Annapolis and the Marine Corps. In this, part two, of my conversation with Tom, we learn about his two tours of duty in Vietnam in the years before and after the infamous Tet Offensive in 1968. We end our discussion at a pivotal point in Tom's life: a viewing of what was one of the first serious films about the Vietnam War: "The Deer Hunter." The effects of that experience on Tom's life and career will be the subject of our upcoming final interview conversation.

You know you're speaking with someone from a career military family when the simple question, "Where are you from" momentarily stumps them. In the case of Tom Williams, Marine Corps Captain, ret., the places and events that formed the backdrop of his childhood could easily comprise a Forrest Gump sequel -- albeit with a higher functioning main character (although Tom might smilingly demur). In any event, there is no question that Tom Williams had a fascinating family life -- one that ultimately led him to follow a family tradition to Annapolis and the Marine Corps. Semper fi, Mac!

It was such a thrill to once again be amazed by "The Magic of Sterling" at the 2024 Skagit County Fairgrounds. His performances both thrill and inspire...and they make me believe in goodness, which is where the magic really lives. You can see that in the faces of the young and young at heart. Don Wick and I were able to interview the man behind the magic on the final day of the Fair, and we quickly discovered that the story of Sterling's career is every bit as magical as his stage performance.

Just a few days before the opening of the 2024 Skagit County Fair, one of our beloved Meyer Sign/Tales of the Magic Skagit followers, Ree Coslor, responded to an invitation to our followers to come visit Don Wick and me at the Meyer Sign Fair History Booth and share a favorite memory of the Fair with us. Ree wrote, "I can tell you quite a bit about the old Grandstand shows, as my dad was the MC every year in the 60s." Of course, there was no way in heck that I was going to let an opportunity like this slide past, so I encouraged Ree to drop by and tell her story. This is what she had to say to Don and me, and it's one of the best Fair memories we've recorded to date. If this doesn't make you smile, you may want to consider professional counseling. Just sayin'.

On our last day of interviews at the Meyer Sign Fair History Booth during the 2024 Skagit County Fair, Don Wick and I were delighted to chat with a variety of folks who make the Fair the best annual venue in the Magic Skagit.  Our first interview was with the director of Skagit County  Parks & Recreation, Brian Adams. We learned about Brian's background and career at Parks & Rec, and his aspirations for the Fair's future. Our second interview was with one of our very favorite Fair entertainers, the beloved Wren the Juggler. We talked with Wren about how he got his start in juggling, and what makes the Skagit County Fair particularly special for him.  One of the things that Don and I had been missing during this year's Fair was the opportunity to talk with 4H kids. We finally got our chance when Miss Kylie Fitzgerald stopped by to tell us about the pleasures of raising a very special breed of sheep. Don's and my fourth interview of the day was with Madelyn Loy, who bears one of the most unique job titles of anyone we've interviewed to date: Noxious Weed Coordinator. Madelyn shared her organization's outreach efforts at helping rid our Magic Skagit of problem plants, and why this matters to an agricultural community. Our final interview of the day was especially heart warming. We were joined by another 4H youth who we first interviewed two years ago when she was 9. This was our third interview with a very special young lady named Savannah Pippin, who brought us up to date on her adventures in archery and her aspirations to become an astrophysicist. We plan to continue these annual conversations with Savannah as she continues to grow in grace. I'm still smiling.

On Day Three of the 2024 Skagit County Fair, Don Wick and I once again had the pleasure of interviewing some remarkable folks who each make a unique contribution to the Fair's success.  We started our interview series with Ron Stubbs, whose Hypnotic Mayhem has delighted and mystified audiences for more than three decades. But Ron is also a “talent buyer” for casinos throughout the country. You'll learn more about this talented gent (who grew up within walking distance of Don Wick's childhood home) and get some some insight into how hypnosis works from a guy who started off as a sceptic.   Our next interview was with Robert Demarais, who in addition to being the owner of Sound Cedar, a major sponsor of the Fair, has recently founded the Skagit County Fairgrounds Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping fund the operations of our beloved Fairgrounds through grants and donations.  For our third interview, Don and I were pleased to interview Kristen Keltz, who seven months ago became the president of the Skagit Tourism Bureau after having served as the CEO of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce for fourteen years. We wanted to learn how one goes about promoting our beautiful Magic Skagit, but  we also wanted to know about Kristen's own history with the Skagit County Fair and her lifelong relationship with it.  If you've ever fantasized about running away and joining the circus, you'll find Don's and my fourth interview of Day Three to be especially interesting. Jason Barker, the ringmaster of Vuelta La Luna, brought his entire troupe with him to tell us their history and describe their unique talents. Meet Eros, Miss Ella, and Kendra — and discover how they came to embrace circus life. Our fifth interview was with Caitlin Villaroman, a volunteer with Sardis Raptor Center, which started as an all species    rehab organization and has since evolved into a rescue center for raptors ranging from bald eagles to eurasian eagle owls. Her participation at the Fair is part of her organization's education efforts. Young and old alike come away from Caitlin's daily presentations with a new appreciation for the amazing birds that call Sardis Raptor Center their home.  Please note that the sound quality of these recorded interviews is a bit rough. Don and I were competing with the 4H and FFA lifestock auction that was going on in the Pavilion where the Meyer Sign History Booth is located. Think of it as the ambient background of the Fair, and it certainly won't detract from your admiration of the folks we were fortunate enough to speak with today.  They're a part of what makes our Skagit County Fair a cherished annual event!

Welcome to the first Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast from the 2024 Skagit County Fair. Don Wick and I co-host the Meyer Sign Fair History Booth, and for our third year running we look for opportunities to sit down with folks at the Fair with good stories to tell. On Friday, August 9 (Day Two of the Fair), we start off with an interview with three members of an Anacortes-based West African drum ensemble led by certified Ghanian Master Drummer and flutist, Saeed Abbas. Joining Don and I for this interview is our Skagit Valley Youth History Project intern, Morgan White — herself a percussionist with Mount Vernon High School. Our second interview is with Jason Miller, the owner and publisher of a great upper Skagit newspaper, the Concrete Herald. We'll learn a bit about Jason's story and how the town of Concrete is doing. Our third interview is with Maddy Van der Kooy and Deb Eiderness, who are both involved in programs that provide resources and outreach to farmers dealing with stress — a more serious problem than you might think unless you're trying to make a living in farming in the 21st century. Our fourth interview is with the amazing cowboy comedian and trick roper Leapin' Louie, who is a new and fantastic addition to the Fair's entertainment lineup. You'll discover that his passion extends way beyond a humorous cowboy schtick. Don and I wind up the day with an interview with Skagit County Commisioner Ron Wesen who shares his own history and love for our annual Fair. We'll be back tomorrow with more interviews for Day Three. Keep it magic, y'all!

Perusing the books in the gift shop of the Island County Historical Society Museum in Coupeville, I came across “A History of Whidbey's Island” by George A. Kellogg. The author's name was immediately recognizable to me as the grandson of Dr. Joseph C. Kellogg, one of the original recipients of donation claims lands on the island in the early years of white settlement in the mid-19th century. George Kellogg was born on Whidbey Island at the close of that century, but only lived there for the first seven years of his life. His bio on the book's back cover describes him as a “teacher, salesman, musician, historian, advertising man, corporate leader, and storyteller.” Following a career in advertising and corporate management in Chicago and New York, he retired to yet another island — this one off the coast of Georgia — in 1959, but frequently visited friends and relatives in Coupeville. Kellogg's book was the culmination of research for a master's thesis in Northwest history (which he never completed), and much of the material was gleaned from a collection of weekly columns published in the Oak Harbor Farm Bureau News. In the book's foreword, Kellogg refers to his work of nearly 200 pages as “only an attempt to write an informal history of a pioneer community.” But what drew me to the book was the sense of intimacy in the telling of this history. It was clear that although you could take the boy out of Whidbey Island, the many years between Kellogg's birth on the island and his death in 1983 never succeeded in taking Whidbey Island out of the boy. This Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast episode is a reading of Chapter 1 of “A History of Whidbey's Island,” in which Kellogg recounts the finding of Deception Pass by the island's namesake, Joseph Whidbey, ship's master on Captain George Vancouver's vessel, Discovery. Over the course of the next year I plan to read other chapters from Kellogg's book, which was first published in 1934 by the Island County Historical Society and is currently in its fifth printing. Kellogg graciously granted the Society not only his permission to reprint his work, but to use the royalties to further its work. From my perspective, it's arguably the best $14.95 I've ever spent. 

This is my love letter to county fairs everywhere...but most especially the Stanwood-Camano and Skagit County fairs. I originally wrote this during the throes of the Great Pandemic of 2020, when our beloved Skagit County Fair was suspended due to quarantine. I don't miss those days one bit.

Frances Negranza joined the Skagit County Parks & Rec Department a year and a half ago as the assistant to long time fairgrounds manager Aric Gaither -- and I immediately took a shine to her, as the old folks say. For one thing, she has the same name as my cat. She also got her start in county fairs at the same annual venue I took my kids to: the Santa Clara County Fair in California. But most important, what has endeared Frances Negranza to me is her unwavering devotion to the institution of county fairs as a community gathering, a source of affordable family fun, and an event that fosters agriculture and animal husbandry among youth through programs like Future Farmers of America (which Frances belonged to as a high schooler) and 4H. In this Tales of the Magic Skagit episode, we'll learn about Frances' background and her role with the Skagit County Fairgrounds -- which includes far more than an annual August event -- and we'll get a sneak peak into this year's Fair attractions. In keeping with the 2024 Skagit County Fair theme, "Have You Herd, Skagit's Goat Talent," you'll get some insight into the talents that Ms. Negranza brings to the Magic Skagit's beloved Fair.

Ed Marlow has lived in Sedro-Woolley since the mid-1940s, ever since his parents moved here from Forks, Washington. One of his earliest ambitions was to become a "hot rod mechanic," but he eventually ended up as a boiler tender on a Coast Guard ship. Along the way, he discovered photography and hair cutting -- and it was the latter pursuit that would define his professional life for the next 30 plus years. For Ed, barbering meant more than cutting hair. It was more about getting to know people and their stories, and he amassed a large collection of photographs that his clients shared with him recording the life of his community from the early days of the logging industry. In this podcast episode, our Skagit Valley Youth History Project intern, Morgan White, and I talk with Ed about his life as a "tonsorial artist." But remember, what happens in the barbershop stays in the barbershop.

If you've driven along Division Street in West Mount Vernon, you've probably noticed a building that looks like it might have once been a ‘50s-style diner, just a block east of the intersection at Wahl (McLean). These days, however, it's home to a Mexican restaurant called Cocina Sabores — the “flavorful kitchen” en Engles. Here in the Magic Skagit we have an embarrassment of culinary riches when it comes to Mexican food. In this podcast you're going to find out why Cocina Sabores deserves to be counted as one of those riches, and we'll learn about the family behind them.

JoEllen Kesti is the executive director of the Sedro-Woolley Museum and president of the museum's board. Her own history with Sedro-Woolley goes back several generations to her great-great-grandparents. In this interview with JoEllen we'll learn a little about her family history and a lot about how she became involved with her hometown's museum, and what's been going on there since her tenure as director/president began a couple of years ago. And believe me, there's been a lot going on, as you'll quickly discover in this podcast episode.  You'll also appreciate JoEllen's description of the Sedro-Woolley's Museum mission of enriching a community's present by connecting it with its past. “When children come into the museum, everyone feels special when they can tie themselves to something they encounter here.” 

If you're traveling east on Division St. from West Mount Vernon, the first message you encounter as you cross the Skagit River is plastered large and load on the side of a historic brick building: Make Art Not War. Welcome to Sri Dee Arts, a cornerstone business on First Street, right across the street from another venerable Skagit Valley business, the Skagit Valley Food Co-op. Morgan White, our Skagit Valley Youth History Project intern and I are here at Tri Dee Arts to learn about the business and its owner, Summer Houlihan, who we've finally cornered for this interview. And this is going to be a special one, not only because Tri Dee Arts is a very special part of our community, but also because I'm letting Morgan conduct this Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast on her own. She's earned it.  Whatever you thought you knew about one of downtown Mount Vernon's anchor retail establishments, you are most likely going to learn something new -- starting, perhaps, with the story of how Tri Dee Arts got its name.

I've recently been working on a tribute to the beloved Skagit Valley historian, Dick Fallis, whose stories of local history appeared in the Skagit Valley Herald, The Argus, and the Puget Sound Mail, which he once owned. This is a reading of his story entitled, “Founding Women, Pioneers, Remembered on Mother's Day,” from the book Bridgeside: Selected Stories of Dick Fallis, Skagit County Historian.  While this story may seem a rather unlikely Mother's Day tribute from more than 40 years ago, I think you'll find it entertaining nonetheless.

The Magic Skagit has an embarrassment of culinary riches when it comes to the cuisine of Mexico, and a lot of different types of venues to choose from. There are fancy dine-in restaurants, food trucks, mercados and carnecerias, periodic street fair food stands, and even the occasional gas station take-out option. While most of these sources of the south-of-the-border foods so beloved by Americans across the country share fairly similar menu options — staples such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, etc. — closer inspection often reveals significant differences between even these classics. Also revealing are the menu exceptions, which can tell you a lot about the influences of region and family of origin on their signature recipes.  With this in mind, there are two very important things you need to know about Tepic Mexican Restaurant in Burlington when it comes to appreciating its menu. The first is the origin of its name, and the second is the history of its owners, Francisco Cervantes and Juan Banuelos-Torres. In this Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast episode, Juan and Francisco share the history of their restaurant, including their friendship since childhood, and the influence of their home state of Nayarit, Mexico on the food they serve. Spoiler alert: seafood is a big deal. Viva pescado, amigos!

Melissa Stowe's fascination with a local utopian socialist community known as Equality Colony goes back to her childhood in Bow, Washington. Her family had one of the last of the late 19th century town's buildings on their property. Her curiosity about Equality Colony's history grew as she did, and as a thirteen year old she placed third in a statewide history project based on her research into that history…which included interviews with one of the last colony members. In this Tales of the Magic Skagit episode, “They Called the Town Equality,” Meyer Sign's newest Skagit Valley Youth History Project intern, Sayer Theiss, and I talk with Melissa about her connection with the story of Equality Colony, and what she learned about the history of one of Western Washington's experiments in socialism. 

The Skagit Valley Chorale was founded in 1984 by Joan Penney with the support of the Skagit Valley College Foundation. Under the current direction of Dr. Yvette Burdick it numbers 80 some singers. Skagit Valley Chorale's twice annual and highly popular performances are its "Heralding Christmas" concert, presented shortly after Thanksgiving and featuring classical and contemporary choral works along with a variety of seasonal favorites, and its "Celebrating in Song" concert, presented in the spring and featuring classical choral works as well as a variety of choral music by contemporary composers representing the diversity of world traditions and cultures. With its Celebrating in Song 2024 concert just a few weeks away, I talk with Dr. Burdick about her musical journey -- and how it led from the woods east of Clallam Bay to McIntyre Hall and the artistic leadership of a beloved choral group. We also talk about the history of Skagit Valley Chorale and what it takes to be a part of it. Our discussion takes a historical turn with the topic of the upcoming concert, which features the choral works of Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians and an homage to the dawn of the Age of Television. Suffice it to say that the music you'll be hearing on May 4-5 at McIntyre Hall will be a one of a kind experience.

I first met Sgt. Brent Thompson of the Mount Vernon Police Department when I enrolled in the MVPD's Citizens Academy -- a twelve-week program designed to teach folks in our community about how local enforcement works. It's an experience that I recommend for anyone who lives here -- and if you believe that a community gets the law enforcement it deserves, I'm pretty sure you're going to feel better about where you live as a result. But there is another role that Brent Thompson plays. He happens to serve on the board of the Mount Vernon High School Scholarship Foundation -- and it is in that capacity that I interviewed him about the foundation and a particular scholarship drive that he is championing to honor members of his graduating class (Class of '93) who are no longer with us. One of these is very near and dear to Meyer Sign: Gregg Collins. In this interview with Brent we'll talk about the MVHS Scholarship Foundation and what it was like to be in high school in Mount Vernon in the early '90s -- and pay our respects to those in Brent's class who have gone on before us.

In this concluding segment of our interview with tsee sqwal al qwal (Lora Pennington), we talk about the origins of Treaty Day as a celebratory event among the Coast Salish Tribes that signed the Treaty of Point Elliott on January 22, 1855 — and how it was that a startled Indian Agent granted government permission for tribal communities to once again gather and observe their sacred traditions, renew millennia old relationships, and reaffirm their treaty rights.  Lora also shares some very special memories of her grandmother's “bestie,” better known to the rest of us as Vi Hilbert, tawhk-sh-blu, and how that relationship with the person who helped renew the Lushootseed language.  This podcast marks the final installment of our series, "Treaty Day."

Sugar Mama Cafe's website sums up the mission of this new gem in Anacortes, Washington's culinary crown: "Sugar Mama is a place to meet with friends and relax. To enjoy a scrumptious dessert paired with a delicious glass of PNW wine. To share a plate of savory treats with your favorite date. To relax in a comfy chair with a good book and a latte. To catch up with your bae on the weekend. To sip a local beer and bask in the summer sun on our deck. Let Sugar Mama pamper you and your favorite people! You deserve it!" In this interview with Sugar Mama Cafe co-owner Natalie Clark, we'll learn how her initial love of grunge and coffee while a teen in Texas led her, her wife and their son to Anacortes and the creation of a love-drenched and scratch-made cafe given to "elevated cooking." Get ready to smile and drool.

In part one of our Treaty Day series, “January 22, 1855,” we considered the history behind the Treaty of Point Elliott. In part two, "Why We Celebrate,” we looked at the treaty's aftermath. We conclude this series with an interview with tsi sq́ʷalʔalq́ʷal (pronounced: tsee sqwal al qwal), also known as Lora Pennington — an elder with the Upper Skagit Tribe. Due to the length of the interview — and trust me, it was just to good to leave anything on the cutting room floor — I've divided it into two segments. We start this first segment with a live recording of a native flute invocation from Mathew Cladoosby, and a short interview with the artist about his instrument and music.  With Mathews' flute still lingering, we'll turn to tsee sqwal al qwal for her perspective on the significance of the Treaty of Point Elliott as a member of one of the signatory tribes, and how she has experienced its legacy in her own life.  As always, thanks for listening. 

This episode of our Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast series marks an important first: it's the first time our Skagit Valley Youth History Project intern, Morgan (Go Bulldogs!) has been involved in an interview. I think you'll agree that she added some additional zest to the conversation. Which is saying something when your interview subject is none other than Señor Ramon Rivera, the man whose business card reads: "Mariachi Educator, Latino Leadership, Ptrumpet Artist, 2023 Washington State Teacher of the Year." As you might imagine, Morgan and I embarked on a lively discussion with Ramon about the origins and traditions of mariachi music, which took us into Mexican history and culture as well. Along the way we also discussed the challenges and rewards of teenagers and high school, and the importance of music in our lives at any age and circumstance. Oh...and one other thing. At the end of the Interview Ramon did "the big reveal" on what his Latino Leadership group has in mind for this year's Cinco de Mayo. You just might suffer from a case of the "vapors" -- but just remember that you heard it first on Tales of the Magic Skagit, y'all!

This is the story of the creation of an artwork that is destined to be a part of our Magic Skagit for many years to come: Valley or Our Spirits. In this podcast episode I speak with artist and Upper Skagit Elder Jay Bowen about what is arguably the most recognized piece of public art in Mount Vernon, given its location in the city's riverside plaza. We discuss the artwork's inspiration, the collaboration between Jay, metal sculptor Milo White, and glass artist Lin McJunkin in bringing it to life, and the message Jay hopes people will take away from what is not simply a piece of art, but a dose of medicine.

The current exhibit at the Skagit County Historical Museum is a tribute to the barbershop as not only a place for tonsorial care, but also as a repository for local history. In this interview with SCHM executive director Jo Wolfe and archivist Mari Densmore, we'll learn about the inspiration for the exhibit, discover interesting facts about the history of barbering, and pay our respects to local barbers who helped preserve our Magic Skagit history while cutting our hair and shaving our whiskers. As it turns out, just a little off the top reveals much more than you might have imagined about our lives as Skagitonians.

Ellen Gamson is the Executive Director of Mount Vernon Downtown Association, a role that she evolved into just as the organization she was instrumental in creating evolved as well. In this Tales of the Magic Skagit interview with Ellen, you'll learn a little about her own Magic Skagit story and the mission of the Mount Vernon Downtown Association (MVDA). She'll also recount some of the more significant happenings in Downtown Mount Vernon since the pandemic, and what to expect in the year ahead.

It's Stave Five, the final chapter of Charles Dickens' story of Christmas redemption. Scrooge awakens from a nightmare in a graveyard to find himself alive and in his own bed…with the bedcurtains still intact. But Scrooge isn't the same person he was when he went to bed, and the world no longer looks the same to him as well. For Ebenezer Scrooge, Christmas is not only the day of birth of a very special child, but a day of re-birth for him. In the words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us every one!”

In Stave Four of Dickens' “A Christmas Carol,” we are brought into the eerie presence of the Ghost of Christmas Future — the literary character that most scared the bejeezus out of me as a young reader. And more than six decades since discovering the joy of reading Charles Dickens' holiday classic, I still get creeped out by the ghost that was depicted as the love child of the grim reaper and a spectral Dementor from Harry Potter fame. The Ghost of Christmas Future gives Ebenezer Scrooge an insight into death, seen from the viewpoints of both despair and nobility. But it's the glimpse of his own demise that completes the transformation of Scrooge's soul that began with the visit of the very first ghost in the story.

This is the third chapter, or “stave” as Charles Dicken called it, of “A Christmas Carol” — in which we meet the affable but short-lived Ghost of Christmas Present. In the company of this Ghost, Ebenezer Scrooge travels the breadth of the British Isles and beyond in the space of a single night…only to discover a horror that the Ghost has hidden in his robe. Pay particular attention to Dickens' use of language in describing the Christmas street scenes of Old London. Reading the great writer's depictions of food are enough to make you “bilious” regardless of whether or not you've recently eaten.

In this second part of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," we meet the first of the spirits that Marley's ghost had foretold would visit Ebenezer Scrooge: the Ghost of Christmas Past. Dickens pulls off the literary feat of creating a description of this gentle but persistent spirit that reflects the attributes of memory itself. We also attend the ultimate office Christmas party, and we discover the secret heartache that has "haunted" Scrooge throughout his life.

Between now and Christmas Eve I'll be reading a chapter a day of the Charles Dickens holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol” — a timeless tale of love and renewal in keeping with the story of Christmas itself. Dickens divided his yuletide novella into five parts, which he referred to as “staves” rather than as chapters. I'd often wondered about the meaning of the word stave, which typically refers to “a vertical wooden post or plank in a building or other structure.”  But the word stave also refers to the five lines that music is written on. It's no coincidence, therefore, that Dicken's tale is similarly composed of five chapters. It's his way of playing with the novella form to remind us that this is a Christmas story that, like the carols song at Christmas, contains a message of new life and possibilities. Here, then, is “A Christmas Carol,” written by Charles Dickens…recited by Tales of the Magic Skagit host and producer, Michael Boss, 180 years after its publication in Victorian England. Merry Christmas…and in the words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us everyone!”

This is the first in what I'm hoping will be many future podcast episodes of interviews with Skagit Valley Vietnam veterans. The majority of these vets are in their seventies and eighties, so within the next couple of decades their voices will become silent, and their first-hand accounts of a conflict that defined a generation will be lost unless recorded. My first interview subject happens to also be a near neighbor to my Mount Vernon home. Bill Price's memories of the Vietnam War and his reflections on his experience of it don't nicely align with the narratives that some might prefer when we take up the topic of America at War -- but they are a reflection of how many folks felt who were in uniform at the time, along with many who weren't. Bill's story illustrates that war holds a lot more menace than that of the people who are shooting at you.

Ramon Rivera has a smile that immediately raises your serotonin levels. He may modestly describe himself as "a public school teacher," but the students whose lives he has touched through Mount Vernon High School Mariachi, Folklorico, and Latinos in Action know just how much of an understatement this is. In this freewheeling and delightful conversation with Ramon we learn about his background, the programs he manages, his aspirations for our kids in the Magic Skagit...and what it was like to hear his trumpet hero perform at the age of 88.

“Are you blind to the sacred teachings?” he said to them. “Have you not read this: ‘the tree the lodge builders threw away has become the Chief Lodgepole. This is what the Great spirit has done, and it will fill us with wonder?'” (Matthew 21:33-46 (First Nations Version) My wife and I had the great pleasure of attending Sunday service at Burlington Lutheran Church yesterday. Although we've worshipped with this congregation many times in the past, this particular Sunday, October 8, 2023, was especially significant. The service was devoted to the celebration of Indigenous People's Day, and the Burlington Lutheran congregation was joined by Upper Skagit Tribal elders Jay Bowen, his sister Kay Knott, and their cousin Lora Pennington. Lora gave a sermon inspired by the gospel reading from Matthew, during which she provided a cogent and compelling history of “treaty time” as experienced by not only her tribe, but all the Coast Salish people who were part of the January 22, 1855 Treaty of Point Elliot. In the space of barely ten minutes, Lora provided an insight into the nature of the treaty and the relationships between First People and New People that it set in motion nearly 170 years ago. It's a history we should all bear in mind on Indigenous Peoples' Day. 

September 2, 2023, marked the First Annual Tom Robbins Day in La Conner, WA — an event long overdue considering the decades during which its dean of letters has chosen to reside in what he has described as “this little clam-cawed outpost where I continue to follow the Charmer's pipes down oblique paths of…well, I'm unsure if there is a fitting name for it.” Robbins' description of La Conner is a tribute indeed to the hamlet along the Swinomish Channel whose upscale boho vibe belies its more rough and tumble past as a port town and steamboat landing. My wife and I were in La Conner for Tom Robbins Day, and we thoughroughly enjoyed the Mardi Gras atmosphere befitting its honoree. We even got in a wave at the King for a Day and his faithful consort, Alexa, as they cruised the parade route in a firetruck. I hope Tom got to make the siren go, but at age 91 I suspect he passed on sliding down the firepole. While getting a coffee at Beaver Tales following the parade and festivities, I noticed a copy of the August 30 edition of the “La Conner Weekly News.” I have a deep and abiding love of small town newspapers, and in picking this one up my gaze was immediately drawn to the below-the-fold headline that read, “Tom Robbins' lost 1974 high school commencement address.” I can tell you that what followed was the easiest I've ever parted with a buck twenty-five. The story that compelled me to buy the paper was by Fred Obee, a former Oak Harbor newspaper editor. Fred had obtained a copy of the commencement address that Tom Robbins had deliverd to an “alternative” high school in 1974. Reading his description of it, I couldn't help be amazed at how radically relevant Robbins' remarks still felt after just shy of half a century. This Robbinsesque moment might well have disappeared from Magic Skagit history but for Fred Obee, so I'd like to honor his sharing it by reading it to you. Here then is “Tom Robbins' lost 1974 high school commencememt address,” by Fred Obee, as narrated by yours truly. Go ahead, just try not to smile. 

Bruce McCormick (known to many as "Honker" for his love of waterfowl) passed away on Thursday, September 21, just a few months shy of his 92nd birthday. His was a larger-than-life personality that embodied so many of the things I appreciate about living in the Magic Skagit. During the time I got to know Bruce, I recorded some podcast interviews with him about pioneer history as he learned it growing up as the grandson of one of the valley's earliest White settlers. Back in May of this year, I recorded an interview with Bruce to talk about his perspective on the Skagit Valley's annual Tulip Festival, the story of Isaac Chilberg, early farming history, and finally an anecdote about his maternal uncles and their involvement in the First World War. At the time of this recording, I certainly hadn't envisioned it as my last interview with Bruce -- but having finally gotten around to editing and mixing our conversation from last May, I offer it now as the last occasion upon which we can be treated to the voice of Bruce McCormick and the stories that voice shared. I wish there had been more. I'm thankful for the ones I heard.

One of the more curious chapters of Washington State history was the incident known as The Pig War. The name seems a bit of a whimsical misnomer, since only one shot was fired in anger, and its victim was a hog. Nevertheless, it resulted in a military confrontation between Great Britain and the United States that might have led to war between the two countries, nearly half a century following the last armed clash in 1812, had not calmer heads on both sides of the Atlantic prevailed. A friend of mine, Paul Thompson (the former owner of Gentleman Gene's Pub in Mount Vernon), recently shared a story his father had written about The Pig War for a 1961 edition of the Washington Wonderland magazine. Paul was born and raised on San Juan Island, the scene of the story I'm about to relate. It's a story that has particular sentimental value to Paul, and I share it both to honor his dad's memory as well as to entertain you with an interesting piece of Pacific Northwest history. Here then is “The Pig War — A Hoggish Matter,” by Allen Thompson. 

The current exhibit at the Skagit County Historical Museum is called "I Do" -- and as its name suggests, it chronicles the evolving fashions and customs of marriage as witnessed in the Skagit Valley from the late 1800s to the present. More than just a collection of wedding attire, the exhibit offers some fascinating insights into the way we view the institution of matrimony, as well as some touching stories about the folks who wore the attire. In this Tales of the Magic Skagit episode, I talk with the museum's executive director, Jo Wolfe, and collections manager Laney Moran about the inspiration behind the exhibit and what went into putting it together. In the process, you'll learn a little about Laney's responsibilities since joining the museum a little over a year and a half ago, and Jo gives us a "sneak peak" at the exhibit that will replace "I Do" at its conclusion on September 27 ("Just a Little Off the Top").

On the last day of the 2023 Skagit County Fair, Don Wick and I interviewed Mark Howe with the Puget Sound Garden Railroad Society about the perennial joy of model trains. John Christianson shared the story of his beloved Magic Skagit nursery. Ann Ratcliff recalled her childhood on Samish Island and recounted what it took to become a Fair Princess in 1946 (or what it '45?). We learned about the mission of the Skagit Valley Beekeeping Association from member Rob Johnson...and last, but certainly not least, we closed out this year's series of Fair History Booth interviews with a fair volunteer whose epiphany many years ago on a ferris wheel ride at his first Skagit County Fair reminds us all of why our fair is such an integral part of who we are as Skagitonians. Don and I can't wait for 2024!s

On Day 3 of the Skagit County Fair, Don Wick and I had some wonderful conversations. We learned how one fair goer's traumatic experience ensured that gambling would never become a vice. We talked to a photographer with the ambitious goal of photo documenting all the county fairs in Washington. We interviewed the former mayor of Concrete, WA about the revival of a local newspaper, and we ended the day with a return interview of a young 4-H archer who is now teaching others the sport she has come to love.  This is why we come to the Fair!