-
Tuesday, April 29, 2025Statement from Governor Bob Ferguson on 2025 legislative session
OLYMPIA — Governor Bob Ferguson offered the following statement on the conclusion of the 2025 legislative session: “I want to thank our legislators, staff and my team, for all their hard work this session as we faced a $16 billion budget shortfall. I look forward to carefully reviewing the budgets line by line over the next few weeks. When that review is complete, I will share my thoughts with the public in greater detail. “Beginning with my inaugural address, I’ve emphasized that we must use realistic
Tuesday, April 29, 2025State Superintendent Chris Reykdal’s Statement on Washington State Legislature’s Final Operating Bud
OLYMPIA—April 28, 2025—Yesterday, the Legislature concluded the 2025 Legislative Session and passed their final budgets. Despite being faced with a $12 billion shortfall, legislators not only maintained maintenance-level funding in K–12 education—they made crucial investments. Our priority request to the Legislature this year was to increase funding for supports for students with disabilities and to remove the artificial cap on state funding for students with disabilities. Lawmakers did both, bringing our
Saturday, April 26, 2025Skagit Transit Long Range Transit Plan Open for Public Comment
Skagit Transit has developed a Draft Long-Range Transit Plan. This plan provides Skagit Transit with a framework for enhancing and expanding transit over the next decade to better serve existing riders and attract new riders. The plan and feedback form can be found here. Public comment on this plan is open until Wednesday, May 14th, 2025, and Skagit Transit wants to hear from you! Complete the survey available on their website, email custserv@skagittransit.org, or call (360) 757-4433 to provide feedback.
Saturday, April 26, 2025BOARD OF TRUSTEES COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT NO. 4 SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE
The Skagit Valley College Board of Trustees will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 1:45 – 2:30 p.m., in Nelson Hall, N219, 2405 E. College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. The purpose of this meeting is to meet with the NWCCU (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities) Accreditation Team. No action will be taken.
Friday, April 25, 2025Skagit County to Host Unclaimed Remains Remembrance Ceremony
The Skagit County Coroner’s Office will host a remembrance ceremony for unclaimed remains at the Mount Vernon Cemetery Chapel, 1200 E Fir Street, Mount Vernon, on Friday, May 2nd, at 11:00 a.m. The ceremony will honor the memory of 59 individuals who have been unclaimed at the Coroner’s Office since 2019. The community is welcome to join the ceremony to recognize those being laid to rest.“While we may not have known who they were in life, we will respect and honor who they are at death,” said Skagit County
Thursday, April 24, 2025Webinar series continues for federal workers to learn about Washington benefits and reemployment
OLYMPIA – The Employment Security Department, along with state and local partners, continues its webinar series for federal workers who work and live in Washington state. The next webinar is scheduled for April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon. See registration details below.Nearly 60 participants attended the first webinar on March 20. The webinars, part of the state’s rapid response efforts for large layoffs, are intended to help federal workers who were laid off, facing a furlough or expecting a workforce
Thursday, April 24, 2025Commissioners Select New Public Works Director, County Engineer
The Skagit County Commissioners are pleased to announce the selection of Michael See as the new Public Works Director and the appointment of Tom Weller as County Engineer. Michael was most recently serving as the Acting Director of Public Works, with three previous years of experience as the Assistant Director, and Tom was the Acting County Engineer and Engineering Division Manager for Public Works. “We are thrilled to have Michael and Tom continue to lead our Public Works Department,” said Commissioner
Wednesday, April 23, 2025Commissioners Approve Option Agreement to Acquire Haller Farm for Estuary Restoration Project
On Earth Day, April 22nd, the Skagit County Board of Commissioners approved an option agreement to acquire Haller Farm, a 584-acre property at the mouth of the North Fork of the Skagit River, approximately one mile from La Conner. Haller Farm encompasses the majority of the highest ranked Skagit Chinook recovery project area identified by the 2017 Skagit Estuary Restoration Strategic Assessment (“Skagit ERSA”), a strategic approach to Chinook recovery and estuary restoration jointly developed by
Wednesday, April 23, 2025County unemployment numbers for March 2025 released
OLYMPIA – County unemployment rates and employment data for March 2025 are now available on the Employment Security Department website. Visit the labor force page to view historic and current data about the unemployment rate. To learn more about monthly job gains and losses from payroll data, check out the employment estimates. Please keep in mind: Unemployment rates and employment estimates at the county level are not seasonally adjusted because the sample size is too small to accommodate the
Wednesday, April 23, 2025Skagit Valley Family YMCA Hosting Annual Chris Mang Memorial Charity Fun Run & Walk
SKAGIT COUNTY, WA – The Skagit Valley Family YMCA and Mang/Glesne family are excited to announce the Chris Mang Memorial Charity Fun Run and Walk, taking place on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at the Skagit Valley Playfields in Mount Vernon. The celebratory 5k and 1 mile fun run and walk is open to people of all ages and abilities. Day-of registration opens at 9:00am and the run/walk starts at 10:00am. Pre-registration is $20/person and day-of registration is $25. All funds will support the Chris Mang Memorial
Friday, April 18, 2025Around the Americas 14-month education and research sailing expedition to launch May 3 from the Port of Anacortes
Anacortes, Wash. – Skagit Valley College will host a launch event for the research sailing vessel (S/V) One Ocean on May 3 at 8 a.m. in the parking lot near dock B of the Cap Sante Marina in the Port of Anacortes. One Ocean will be departing on a 14-month education and research sailing expedition. The expedition will focus on ocean research, education, and community outreach to highlight the importance of education to motivate students of all ages to become future ocean stewards. The event will feature a
Friday, April 18, 2025Skagit County to Accept Glass for Recycling at All Transfer Stations
Glass will again be accepted for recycling at Skagit County Transfer Stations starting Friday, April 18, 2025. Glass recycling had been paused for eight months because a regional glass bottle manufacturing facility in Seattle closed, which meant there was no local manufacturer to purchase our recycled glass. A second regional glass recycler in Seattle has since found new markets out of state to sell the glass so they are now able to accept glass from Skagit County. Glass from households is accepted by
Wednesday, April 16, 20252025 Stormwater Management Program Plan Draft Open for Public Comment
The draft 2025 Stormwater Management Program Plan is now open for public comment from April 16th, 2025, through May 16th, 2025. The Stormwater Management Program Plan, which is updated annually, informs the public on actions the County’s Stormwater Management Program has planned for the current calendar year. The public comment period gives members of the public an opportunity to provide feedback on current and future actions being taken by the County’s stormwater program. The draft plan can be found
Wednesday, April 16, 2025Washington state unemployment rate holds steady in March at 4.4%
OLYMPIA – Washington’s economy decreased by an estimated 5,200 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in March 2025, and the monthly unemployment rate remained at 4.4%. “The unemployment rate stayed steady, and the labor force also maintained relative stability in March. Slowing job growth took a slight turn this month,” said Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist at the Employment Security Department. “March marks the third month in a row of declining employment, marking a trend of job losses in the early
Tuesday, April 15, 2025North Star to Host Inaugural Symposium
North Star will host a one-day symposium on Friday, June 6th, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Swinomish Casino & Lodge. North Star Connect is the inaugural symposium to bring together individuals from multiple professional sectors representing behavioral health, housing, social service providers, first responders, the criminal justice system, the business community, and other public and private community leaders to network, collaborate, and advance professional development. Registration is now
Tuesday, April 15, 2025Skagit County to Acquire Haller Farm for Estuary Restoration Project
On Earth Day, April 22nd, at 11:00 a.m., the Skagit Board of County Commissioners will consider approval of an option agreement to acquire the Haller Farm, a 584-acre property at the mouth of the Skagit River north fork, approximately one mile southeast of the Town of La Conner. Haller Farm includes the majority of the top-ranked Skagit Chinook recovery project on the Skagit River estuary. The option agreement allows the area to be restored to estuary, providing critical salmon habitat as well as
Saturday, April 12, 2025You’re Invited to Age Brilliantly Academy’s Spring 2025 Free Online Workshops
A Dozen Conversations to Empower You to Lead a More Fulfilling 100-Year Life Age Brilliantly(.org), the interactive community of adults of all ages who want to maximize opportunities to lead fulfilling 100-year lives, invites you to join conversations with other members on how to make your life more fulfilling. These complimentary one-hour programs are led by subject-matter experts. They take place on Tuesdays from April 8 through June 24, 2025 at 1-2 PM ET. “The true value of longevity isn't
Friday, April 11, 2025Skagit Valley College to host Clean Energy and Sustainability Fair to celebrate Earth Day April 22
Mount Vernon, Wash. – Skagit Valley College is hosting the Clean Energy and Sustainability Fair in celebration of Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22 and will focus on environmental conservation, clean energy jobs, environmental advocacy, and clean energy technology. The fair is free and open to the public and will be held 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Knutzen Cardinal Center and Tollefson Plaza at the college’s Mount Vernon campus. There will be music, crafts, and a plant sale. Highlights of the fair include
Thursday, April 10, 2025Skagit County Seeks Applicants for Housing Authority of Skagit County Board.
The Skagit Board of County Commissioners is seeking applicants to serve on the board of the Housing Authority of Skagit County (HASC). The search for a new board member comes in response to the resignation of board member Daniel Valdez, on April 7th. Mr. Valdez served two years of his original five-year term, and was named chair of the board by his peers shortly after his appointment by the County in 2023.HASC is a taxpayer-funded public agency that administers federal Housing Choice Vouchers and develops
Thursday, April 10, 2025Helping Hands volunteers awarded Washington State Volunteer Service Award
We are honored, and incredibly proud, to announce that our volunteers have been awarded the Washington State Volunteer Service Award for the northwest region. Our volunteers were sponsored for the award due to their consistent hard work and commitment to helping their community. In 2024 Helping Hands volunteers put in over 15,700 hours across six locations in Skagit County. They helped sort over 1.9 million pounds of food and helped facilitate 250,000+ visits by community members. "The volunteers who
Friday, April 04, 2025Age Brilliantly (.org) Announces Spring 2025 Online Workshops
New York, NY. April 3, 2025. Age Brilliantly(.org) is the interactive community of adults of all ages who want to maximize opportunities to lead (more) fulfilling 100-year lives. Its Academy announced the Spring 2025 line-up of online workshops that engage members in conversations focused on elevating people’s efforts now and in the future to lead more fulfilling 100-year lives. These complimentary one-hour programs take place on Tuesdays from April 8 through June 24, 2025 at 1-2 PM ET. “The true value of
Friday, April 04, 2025Skagit Valley College automotive program receives national accreditation
Mount Vernon, Wash. — The Skagit Valley College (SVC) automotive technology program has received notice of renewal of ASE Training Program accreditation by the ASE Education Foundation. SVC’s automotive technology program has been accredited at the highest level of accreditation; Master Automobile Service Technology. SVC has been accredited by the ASE Education Foundation, formally known as National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), for more than 20 years. To achieve this coveted
Tuesday, April 01, 2025Skagit County Commissioners Set Hearing on Removal of Housing Authority Board Commissioner Daniel Valdez
The Skagit County Board of Commissioners announced today it has taken action to consider removal of Housing Authority of Skagit County (HASC) Commissioner Daniel Valdez. The action comes after a review found evidence that Mr. Valdez as Chair of the Board engaged in activities which hindered other HASC Commissioners in their duties and failed to take action for appropriate accountability under state and federal law pertaining to local public housing authorities. Local public housing authorities are
Tuesday, April 01, 2025Washington State Department of Financial Institutions Encourages Focus on Financial Wellness During Financial Capability Month and Saves Week
Olympia – The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) joins federal and state agencies, non-profits, financial and credit counselors, banks, and credit unions — in celebrating Financial Capability Month this April and Saves Week April 7-11. “Financial education is extremely important for people of all ages,” DFI Director Charlie Clark said. “While money habits can be formed at very early ages, it’s important to provide financial education at all life stages to ensure people have the
