With City Hall just visible in the backgtround, about 250 runners take off at the start of Saturday's Art Dash on Q Ave. The starter told the runners "Imagine police cars have blocked off the street." Volunteers stopped traffic for the runners.

The Anacortes Arts Festival, which goes into full swing next Friday, gets off to an early start tonight with a salute to Philip McCracken as Patron of the Arts. Tonight's event is the kick-off of Arts at the Port and attendees will get an advance look at this year's art exhibits.

Anacortes Fire Department got 3 grass fire calls Thursday afternoon, one right after another. One small fire at Washington Park prompted the temporary closure of the park. 

There's plenty of music this weekend, starting off Friday night with a free show by Bump Kitchen at Cap Sante Marina.

Bathers try to beat the heat at Heart Lake Wednesday afternoon as the city records an amazing 101 degrees, setting an all-time record for Anacortes. The previous record high was 95 degrees on August 10, 1931.

This barge, which we photographed in the Guemes Channel, is loaded with pilings headed for the construction of the Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver, B.C.  These pilings measure six feet in diameter and 240 feet in length.