From the Chamber of Commerce: In 1957, fisherman Tom Savidge  and his wife Marie built a backyard smokehouse and began selling smoked wild salmon to local taverns here in Anacortes. With that Specialty Seafoods was born (later renamed SeaBear after a Native American legend).

It’s election season and that means it’s also when political campaign signs are vandalized. In the past week, Anacortes Police said they received two such reports.

As expected the School Board approved budget cuts requested by school Superintendent Chris Borgen, including making $140,000 available for emergency use, if it is needed during this school year. 

City coffers are taking a hit due to lower sales tax revenue this year, particularly in the second half of the year. But, Mayor Dean Maxwell says he’s confident the city can weather the storm.

The Eleventh Man is on the Pacific Northwest Bestsellers list this week, as well as Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain. Christopher Paolini's Brisingr is on the Children's Books list. Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has dropped off the top ten Children's Books list.

It looks like the School District will need to make some more budget cuts. After trimming about $500,000 earlier this year, School Superintendent Chris Borgen is moving to make more cuts.