We're trying to keep this Web site focused on Anacortes, so this item isn't directly related, but the state has decided to close North Cascades Highway for the winter. It seems that heavy rain in the past couple of days has soaked the snow that fell last weekend, causing big piles of heavy, wet snow to be dumped on the highway.

Wash. DOT had closed the highway last Friday, anticipating

We've sure had a range of weather in the past few days. From snow on Saturday, to rain and wind on Sunday and today. But, perhaps thanks to our position in the Banana Belt, we haven't had it quite as bad as Seattle, say, or the Washington coast.

Burlington airport recorded a low of 32 degrees and a high of 37 degrees. That's a far cry from the 60 degrees that Burlington airport recorded this afternoon.

Did your property get reassessed lately? More than you thought it should be? My phone rings off the hook when the assessments go out. My advice? Don't panic! What many people don't know is that Washington State is one of the few "budget-based" states in the country. What that means to you, the property owner, is that