Looking Back

Air Jaden: Deception Pass

Vulture roosts near lake

This creature captures your attention and leaves a permanent impression. Turkey vulture in snag near Heart Lake, 2018. There were companions, which made the event even more intimidating. Beak and claws are built for serious scavenging.

Canoe Pass guardian: 2013

I was shocked once to hear my wife ask: “How many eagle photos can one guy take?” Answer: 10,000+ On a serious note, I do have my favorites, one of which is this shot from Canoe Pass Bridge near the Fidalgo Island side of Deception Pass. I rarely see eagle perched on this bluff, and […]

Familiar historic marker removed

This carved sign was removed during the recent maintenance/repair project at Deception Pass. The flip side of this sign read: To the north of this narrow passage is Fidalgo Island, so named for the Spanish explorer Lieutenant Salvador Fidalgo. To the south is Whidbey Island, second largest island in the contiguous United States which Captain […]

Newspaper anniversary, new book: 2015

It was a community celebration in May 2015 when the Anacortes American hosted a combined event: celebration of their 125th anniversary and publication of “Pictures of the Past,” a book of photos and captions by former pubisher Wallie V. Funk. The event was held at The Depot in downtown Anacortes.

Good times at Mt. Erie Elementary

From my archives. The 1960-61 third grade class at Mt. Erie Elementary School. This is the year my family moved to Springfield, Virginia after Dad took a job as assistant to U.S. Representative Jack Westland, 2nd District. I finally moved back to Anacortes in 1980.

Stone home under construction: 2004

Yes, this home was completed (see photo). No, it still does not feature a moat. Old Town Anacortes.

Evidence of one-time mental hospital

It has been six years since I took this photo of a building at the former Northern State Hospital in Sedro-Woolley. Today the Port of Skagit is working with partners to revitalize the campus under the name: Sedro-Woolley Innovation for Tomorrow (SWIFT). The campus was designed in 1912 by the same landscape architects who designed […]

AMS modernization, 1998-2000

Building remodels and new construction altered the skyline in the Anacortes School District in the Nineties and into the new century. Among them was the $11 million modernization/addition project at Anacortes Middle School. Contractor was Levernier Construction, architect Hutteball+Oremus. Superintendent was Dr. Tom Marrs. School board members were Jean Fantini, John Pope, Michael Stark, Ann […]

Olympic Peninsula: October 2004

I’ve gotta get back to this amazing place! It was October 2004 when a meeting of Washington State Boundary Review Board members took me to the Olympic Peninsula. I was with my parents so my opportunity to scramble around with the camera at Kalaloch was limited. Such a beautiful part of our incredible coastline.

Shaker Church: 2005

Old Shaker Church on Reservation Road, 2005.

Junk company storefront now gone

Now falling into the “Days Gone By” category is this building that once stood behind Anacortes Marine Hardware and Supply. This business has roots dating to 1913. Efthemios “Mike” Demopoulos emigrated from Greece to the U.S. in 1906, ultimately settling in Anacortes. He scoured county roadsides for discarded items, expanding his business after saving enough […]