Four-year-old Braden helped Santa Claus count down to the lighting of the town Christmas tree on Friday night during the annual tree-lighting ceremony in front of the Chamber of Commerce.

State Rep. Jeff Morris will work to improve environmental protection in Washington state as the newly named member of a federal advisory committee. Morris, a longtime leader on environmental issues, was appointed to the Local Government Advisory Committee by federal Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson.

A small group gathered in the rain at the Seafarers' Memorial Thursday morning to celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of mariners, widows and children. Members of the Croatian fisnihg community here and their families placed an icon of St. Nicholas and a wreath at the base of the memorial for the ceremony.

The monthly First Friday Gallery Walk merges with the city;s annual Art Walk this weekend with more than 20 merchants and galleries showing work by local artists, such as Jennnifer Bowman, who's work will be featured at Scott-Milo Gallery. Art Walk runs from 6-9 pm Friday and continues on Saturday from 10am-5pm.

Demolition is under way Monday morning on the old Packard House, built in 1929 at 101 Fifth St, in the Cap Sante neighborhood. A 2005 survey of historic homes in Cap Sante done for the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, called this home, "One of the city's most significant properties."

A cold drizzle greets early morning risers in Anacortes on Nov. 25, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Neil Stuchal does not worry about the weather, he is busy tending to the fire and meats cooking in the enormous stove at Dad’s Diner at the corner of Commercial Avenue and 22nd Street. He knows it will be another busy day serving hungry customers, rain or shine.