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Members of the Anacortes Elks Lodge handled decorations Wednesday for a Shell Puget Sound Refinery safety recognition event. At the same time, Elks President Beau McCallum (2nd from left, front) received a $500 donation from Shell representatives Brett Woltjen and Mark Koslicki (right, front). The donation will go toward the Washington Elks Therapy Program for […]

Marathon Refinery on March’s Point, as viewed from Tommy Thompson Trail near Fidalgo Resort. The refinery was built by Shell in 1955. Its neighbor, HF Sinclair, was built by Texaco in 1958.

Since they began operations in 1955 (Shell) and 1958 (Texaco), the two refineries on March’s Point in Anacortes have been vital contributors to the local culture and economy. According to an economic impact study published by Western Washington University in 2019, the two refineries employ 841 workers with an average wage of $140,000. They also […]

Anyone who has made the Anacortes 4th of July parade a tradition will remember Andy Stevens, self-described patriot and supporter of the U.S. military. Andy, a Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, came to this area the first time by way of NAS Whidbey. He was an accomplished musician, with band credits including The Pioneers […]

Violinist Geoffrey Castle has played several venues in Anacortes over the years, but his “Celtic Christmas” has to rank high with local audiences. These photos were taken 10 years ago during a Christmas performance at the Port of Anacortes Transit Shed. Sharing the stage with Castle were the Gothard Sisters … and Santa Claus! Event […]

This Northwest still life features maple leaves from shoreline trees, mixed in beach sand with clamshells and a seagull feather. Fall can’t be too far down the road…

Indications from an unofficial vote of Anacortes City Council members Monday night are that the custom-built Tommy Thompson train will be returned from city ownership back to ownership by the Thompson Family. This one-of-a-kind train was designed, built and operated by Tommy G. Thompson, who died in 1999. The family donated the train to the […]

This impressive sunset view of coke ship “Santa Johanna” at Port District Pier 2 was taken by Anacortes teen Jaden D’Angelo, whose newest hobby is drone photography. This cargo vessel was being loaded with petroleum coke from the Shell Puget Sound Refinery on March’s Point. It’s a privilege to spotlight some of Jaden’s work. More […]

A shipment of petroleum coke from the Shell Refinery is loaded aboard the Santa Johanna, Port of Anacortes Pier 2 on the Guemes Channel.

Monday morning is bustling for the Port of Anacortes. On the Guemes Channel, crews load the Amber Star with petroleum coke from the Shell Refinery while the San Juan Enterprise prepares to take on a load. At Cap Sante Marina there is less contractor equipment in the water as a new “A” Dock moves closer […]

It was April 2003 when photographer Wayne Martin (left) stepped in front of an Anacortes Chamber of Commerce audience to be recognized as the featured artist for the 2003 Waterfront Festival. Wayne’s beautiful photograph featured Mt. Baker and tall ship replica “Lady Washington.” Also pictured here are then Shell Refinery Manager Tom Smith and Chamber […]

Petroleum coke being loaded Sunday at Port of Anacortes Pier 2 by a team composed of ship’s crew, longshoremen, LTI truckers and Port staff. Pet coke is a byproduct of the refining process at Shell Oil Refinery, one of the largest employers in Skagit County. The Port Marine Terminal consists of three centrally located piers […]