Submitted by bj bissell:

I have been mildly concerned about rising food prices and the extra markup for the privilege of shopping in Anacortes. We all know we pay a "20 Spur" "tax" for food to be brought here from the Burlington-Mount Vernon corridor.

Now, higher pricing is becoming a serious issue to my fixed income, limited budget.

So, I sent a short shopping list with a friend as she shopped at Costco.  7 items.
Results: 50% to 75% savings on the exact same food items here.

Sobering discovery.  I expected around 15% perhaps.

So, now I will be figuring out a way to by bypass most or all  major local food purchases  (with the help of my friends as I am disabled.)

I wondered if anyone else has had this same experience or if they don't care how high local prices go.  This seems to me to be a dilemma only for people who cannot afford the difference or who have not thought it through.

When last I addressed this dilemma a few years back I was told directly by both large food stores here that they did not  compete with the I-5 market at all.  I held in there with them. But now things are vastly out of kilter.  50%  seems like  usury to me.  75% is off the chart. 

From Bill Mitchell

Anacortes is a tugboat kind of town.

Before there were fishing boats in Anacortes, there were tugboats towing logs to the mills. When the cod schooners arrived in 1891, the tugs were here to meet them.
Come the canneries, tugs put in the fish traps, serviced them and hauled scows of salmon to town for canning. Tugs helped fight our waterfront fires and, at this very moment, purr

From Rick Austen:

I had the privilege of working in the city of Anacortes Fire Department from 1996 to 2006. In my 31 years in fire service, I have only met a few individuals that exemplify the highest standards in value, strength, honor, excellence, dedication and service to the Fire Department and community. Kevin McKeown is one of those individuals.

Kevin spent 180

From Loren Hoboy:

This message will serve to notify you of my resignation from City Council. I sold my house, which closed today. I am no longer a resident of Ward 3 and must resign. My original intent was to complete my term in office (Dec 31, 2007), but in this housing market we did not have an option to wait.

If you have any issues between now and the end

Stuart Janke and I have a history together dating back to 1978 when we were both in the same 3rd grade class. We started our friendship in that year, and it has remained strong ever since. I know Stuart better than almost anyone except his immediate family.