News from the Skagit County Democrats
Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for May 29, 2023
DEMOCRATIC EVENTS
1. NEW – The Skagit County Democrats Headquarters Office is closed on Monday, May 29 in observance of Memorial Day
2. NEW – The Skagit County Democrats Annual Endorsement Meeting for our local candidates is Sunday, Jun 4, at 4:00pm via Zoom
This meeting is open to members, PCOs, and Eboard. Members may vote if their membership has not lapsed by more than 30 days. Click Here for our endorsement policy, which outlines the rules for the endorsement process. Click Here for the Zoom Meeting Information for the Endorsement Meeting. You will be directed to register for this meeting so that we can send emails during the voting period. If there is more than one of you in a household, please register separately using different Email addresses.
3. NEW – Skagit County Young Democrats meet Sunday, Jun 11, 11:00am – 12:00pm, via Zoom
Click Here for the Zoom link.
4. NEW – MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Anacortes PRIDE Parade, Jun 17, 11:00am, Commercial Avenue from 3rd to 10th Street, Anacortes
Join Skagit County Democrats and walk in the Anacortes PRIDE Parade. We will be walking with Fidalgo Democrat sisters and brothers. Last year the PRIDE Parade was a great success with crowded sidewalks of families attending. We have 400 PRIDE flags to distribute to children, and PRIDE neck scarves for pets. Given the cultural struggles we are having across our Country, NOW is the time to be PRESENT to support diversity, humanity, and justice. We organize at 10:30AM in the area of 3rd Street and O Avenue. The Parade Route is Commercial Avenue from 3rd to 10th Street. Bring your family and friends. A Family Picnic follows the parade.
5. "Masking up" is now OPTIONAL for volunteers and visitors at our Skagit Democrats Headquarters Office.
6. NEW – Artificial Intelligence in Washington State campaign ads (taken from Shasti Conrad's "Friday News & Action" of May 26)
"While you may not have heard about it yet, there was a law passed this past legislative session that is about to revolutionize how campaigns are run in Washington state. Our state will be the first to require the disclosure of the use of AI [Artificial Intelligence] in creating political ads, continuing our tradition of leading the country in making sure voters understand what they’re seeing and who is paying to influence our elections. Since the GOP has already proven they’re willing to use AI to generate misleading images in their response to President Biden’s re-election announcement, it couldn’t be more important for our state to lead on this frontier of fighting misinformation."
7. NEW – Links of the Week
The Links of the Week provide in-depth pieces and resources the Editor has found to be relevant, insightful, and thorough on important issues of the day.
- Tom Hanks' Harvard Commencement Address
- Wave of lawsuits against US gun makers raises hope of end to mass shootings
- 'Murderers and criminals:' Meteorologists face unprecedented trolling from conspiracy theorists
- How I Won $5 Million From the MyPillow Guy and Saved Democracy
- John Durham’s Report Used Sketchy Intelligence That Might Be Russian Disinformation
COMMUNITY EVENTS
1. NEW – Memorial Day Observances
- Anacortes, Monday, May 29, 11:00am – 12:00pm, Causland Memorial Park, 710 N Avenue
- Concrete, Monday, May 29, 1:00pm, Forest Park Cemetery, 44826 Compton Lane
2. The monthly Planned Parenthood rally is Saturday, Jun 3, 11:00am – 12:00pm, on the sidewalk in front of the Mount Vernon Health Center, 1805 East Division Street, Mount Vernon
Bring your signs, your friends, and your family.
3. NEW – Anacortes Waterfront Festival, Saturday & Sunday, Jun 3 & 4, Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes
"The Anacortes Waterfront Festival is a free event that showcases the best of waterfront activities. This family friendly event holds many traditions for local residents and visitors . . . The Channel of Discovery displays range from canoes and a pirate ship to learning about marine wildlife education and the environment. This fun filled festival also features food vendors, food trucks, and live music and performances!"
4. NEW – Mountain Film Festival, Thursday – Sunday, Jun 1 – Jun 4, Concrete Theatre, 45920 Main Street, Concrete
"The Mountain Film Festival in Concrete, Washington, is a 4-day event with feature-length movies, documentaries, multimedia presentations, photography workshops, special guests, and more." Click Here for ticket information.
5. NEW – Blast From the Past 2023, Friday, Jun 2, 12:00pm – 8:00pm; Saturday, Jun 3, 10:00am – 8:00pm; Sunday, Jun 4, 9:00am – 4:00pm; Downtown Sedro-Woolley
This is a free event. This year the theme is 1973.
6. Join Safe and Sane Skagit for a "Wear Orange" photo, Saturday, Jun 3, 9:30am, 5800 Cains Court, Edison
Parking is available at Edison Elementary School two blocks east. "We'll be tabling all day near Tweets and i.e. Gallery to honor all those affected by gun violence this past year and celebrate 2023 major legislative successes . . . Pick up a ribbon, sticker and information or get involved."
7. Guemes Island Ferry Fare Proposal Public Hearing Scheduled for Thursday, June 8, 3:30pm – 5:30pm, Commissioners’ Hearing Room, 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon
"To access the full Rate Study Report, the 2023 Fare Proposal, and the 2023 Ferry Fare Revenue Target Report, please visit: [the 2023 Ferry Fare Proposal] page . . . The public can attend in-person or via Zoom using the following link."
8. NEW – ADA Transition Plan to Increase Mobility in Skagit County
"Skagit County is in the process of developing an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Transition Plan to guide when and where mobility improvements need to be made. An ADA transition plan is one of the federally mandated requirements for state and local governments under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act." Click Here for more information.
9. Farmer's Markets
The 2023 Farmer's Markets are now all open.
- Anacortes – Saturdays, 9:00am – 2:00pm
- Concrete – Saturdays, 10:00am – 2:00pm
- Mount Vernon – Saturdays, 9:00am – 2:00pm
- Sedro-Woolley – Wednesdays, 3:00pm – 7:00pm
10. COVID-19 Information
Click Here for the most current report and resources.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Anacortes Sunday Demonstrations
Democrats are again demonstrating in Anacortes each Sunday, 12:00pm – 1:00pm at the corner of 12th Street and Commercial Avenue. "We carry signs for Dem candidates, get out and vote signs, women's right-to-chose in healthcare and so on and so on. We need more people to show up."
2. Coffee & Cards, Wednesdays, 10:00am – 12:00pm, Skagit County Democrats Headquarters, 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon
Coffee and Cards meets on Wednesdays from 10:00am – 12:00pm. This is the group that was previously led by Carol Sullivan and is now lead quite capably by Judy Farrar. The group is a way for us to express ourselves about issues of importance to us all.
We will write messages of encouragement and support to people who are making positive contributions as well as messages of concern and opposition to people who are negatively impacting our world. This includes legislators on the local, state, and federal level as well as CEOs of corporations and other people having a significant impact in our world. We will share ideas for people to write to and issues to address.