Tales of the Magic Skagit

Sugar Mama Cafe's website sums up the mission of this new gem in Anacortes, Washington's culinary crown: "Sugar Mama is a place to meet with friends and relax. To enjoy a scrumptious dessert paired with a delicious glass of PNW wine. To share a plate of savory treats with your favorite date. To relax in a comfy chair with a good book and a latte. To catch up with your bae on the weekend. To sip a local beer and bask in the summer sun on our deck. Let Sugar Mama pamper you and your favorite people! You deserve it!" In this interview with Sugar Mama Cafe co-owner Natalie Clark, we'll learn how her initial love of grunge and coffee while a teen in Texas led her, her wife and their son to Anacortes and the creation of a love-drenched and scratch-made cafe given to "elevated cooking." Get ready to smile and drool.

“. . . but now I know this path is only one of the many that opened before me on that morning in Dorothea.” -- Italo Calvino (Invisible Cities)"A coffee shop should be a place for new exploration, new pathways in ones life," is how Conor Mahoney describes the experience he and his wife Ashley want to create for those who walk through the door of their downtown Mount Vernon venue. If that seems like a big expectation to lay on a brand, then the first thing you need to know about Dorothea Coffee is that it isn't your typical coffee shop. Venture in and order a latte and you're going to be disappointed -- but only for a very brief time. You'll likely come around with your first "pour over."In this first episode in our new Tales of the Magic Skagit series, "A Bite of Skagit," we'll learn about how one couple's coffee explorations led them from Seattle to 1st Street Mount Vernon to share their discoveries with the rest of us. If you really, really love coffee, this TMS episode just might redefine your relationship with this ubiquitous brew. Consider yourself warned.

I first heard of Wick Peth a few years back at the Skagit County Fair. There was a bull on display named "Little Wick," and I was curious about his name. That's when I learned that the Magic Skagit was home to an individual who was famous to anyone who loved rodeo: Wick Peth, a professional bull fighter. As a student of Skagit Valley history, the name Peth was certainly familiar as one of the earliest immigrant families to the valley. Wick's grandfather was John J. Peth. But I wanted to know more about Wick. Thankfully, the Skagit County Historical Museum also wanted to tell his story, which is the subject of the current exhibit at the "top of the hill" in La Conner. In addition to sharing the life and career of Wick Peth, the museum's exhibit also recounts the history of rodeo in the Skagit Valley. I had the great pleasure of doing an interview at the museum with executive director Jo Wolfe, and two individuals who know Wick's story in a way very few do: his son and daughter, Dan Peth and Liza Bott. In this first of our two part series on the life and legacy of Wick Peth and Skagit Valley rodeo, Dan and Liza recount their memories of their famous father and offer a glimpse into the agricultural life of the valley from decades ago.

It started with five acres, two parents’ determination that their kids would grow up with a connection to the natural world…and a pony named Stormy.This year, Lang’s Horse & Pony Farm is celebrating half a century of connecting Skagitonians with the beauty of our Magic Skagit surroundings as uniquely experienced on the backs horses and ponies. In this Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast episode we learn the story of Lang’s Horse & Pony Farm from the daughter of its founders, Lola Lang. Lola recallsf how her parents, Dolores and Harry, settled on a piece of land off Little Mountain Road and through additional purchases of neighboring acreage created “a place that anyone could come experience ponies and horses within the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.” It’s a heart warming story of how a business model can grow out of doing what you love and wanting to share that joy with others.

I love places that love their history…and Whidbey Island is certainly one such place. In addition to the postcard perfect beauty of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, located just a scant 23 miles from my front door, the town of Coupeville is the location of a wonderful museum that embodies the passion for local history of its island community.In this episode of Tales of the Magic Skagit, I talk with the Island County Historical Museum’s executive director, Dalva Church, about the museum’s origins, her journey to its directorship, and current and upcoming exhibits (including a celebration of Whidbey Island’s maritime history) that are taking place in the wake of its recent renovations, as well as future aspirations. For the benefit of first time visitors, Dalva also explains how best to tour the museum. 

If you want a vivid reminder of just how hospitable the Magic Skagit can be, show up at the Lincoln Theater in downtown Mount Vernon at 7pm on Thursday, May 8, 2025 for a public gathering of your friends and neighbors through a program known as "Let's Go Together." The free event offers music and fellowship with the simple agenda of connecting people through the power of face-to-face relationships.Let’s Go Together invites people of all cultures, faith traditions, ethnic identities and socioeconomic situations to work together for the common good, and it is one programmatic element of an organization called Paths to Understanding (PTU), which provides a vision, preparation, and practical support for wisdom communities to build meaningful relationships with their neighbors.In this Tales of the Magic Skagit episode, we talk with Viveka Hall-Holt, PTU's events coordinator, about the history of her organization and the journey that led her to its mission of "bridging bias and building unity through multi-faith peacemaking." If the 24/7/365 news cycle leaves you feeling anxious about the state of the world, Paths to Understanding offers a way of engaging locally in building community. As Viveka relates, "When we are in deep community, that makes us feel most alive -- and that is the truest way of being."

This Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast episode encompasses two topics, which while seemingly unrelated at first consideration, actually have a common theme: the past, present, and future of the Skagit Valley as viewed through an artistic lens.We start this episode off with Laynie Moran, the Skagit County Historical Museum's Collections Manager, who is heading up a first ever art contest and exhibit with the unlikely theme, "Everyone's a Critic." This upcoming exhibit could, however, also be called "Everyone's an Artist," since the goal of Laynie's project is to showcase art from anyone in the county, regardless of age or skill level, to contribute a work of art of their own creation. The only criterion for the entries, whatever the chosen medium, is that they adhere to the theme "The Past, Present, and Future of Skagit County." Entries are due by June 1, 2025, and the exhibit opens and voting begins on June 20. Details and registration forms are available at the museum and its website, www.skagitcounty.net/museum.On the subject of Skagit Valley's past, we turn next to Ann Maroney, the office and store manager at the museum, to learn about its current exhibit on the life of Lawrence (Laurie) Wells. In describing Laurie's life, it's hard to know where to begin. He was a largely self-taught artist whose works captured the beauty of his Skagit Valley home through an astonishing number of paintings across a variety media and styles. But he and his wife, whose love story is part of the exhibit as well, were also active in the early grange and socialist movements of the early 20th century. In addition, Laurie could justifiably be called the godfather of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, thanks to his promotion of the Magic Skagit's bulb farms and his landscape design skills in showcasing them decades ago.Suffice it to say that the museum's current exhibit, "Laurie Wells: A Skagit Original," is a multi-layered tribute to an individual whose deep and abiding love of where we live combines works of art with a glimpse into lesser known aspects of Skagit Valley history that will appeal to the eye, heart, head, and soul. And with the exhibit to come in June, Skagitonians of all ages are invited to celebrate Laurie Wells' legacy in a way he would have undoubtedly appreciated: through art.

Sedro-Woolley has long held a very special place in my heart as a 12-year resident of the Magic Skagit. My very first impression of the town was that it had seen better times, but as I got to know it better over the years I came to appreciate its grit and resilience.One person who understands those civic attributes far better than me is its mayor, the Honorable Julia Johnson — and in this Tales of the Magic Skagit episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Mayor Johnson about her Sedro-Woolley story, how she learned its history growing up, and how she sees its future.There’s a lot going on in the “Gateway to the North Cascades,” and listening to this podcast you’ll come away with not only a sense of the town’s dynamism, but also Mayor Johnson’s aspirations for the place she left at various points in her interesting life, but always chose to return to.Here’s to the 3 1/2 percent! You’ll understand that statement by the time you reach the end of this chat with Sedro-Woolley’s mayor, Julia Johnson. 

“Elevated accommodations” is how Alia Rossi, the general manager for the Kulshan Hotel, describes Sedro-Woolley’s new hospitality venue. And while that may sound like a marketing catch phrase, even a cursory look at the hotels rooms and reception spaces will dispel any comparisons with your typical chain hotel.In this interview with Alia, we’ll learn about her history in the hospitality business, the origins of the Kulshan Hotel, and the role its locally-based owners believe it will play in the life of the place I like to describe as “the little town that could.” To learn more about the Kulshan Hotel (whose design was created by Meyer Sign, thank you very much) go to https://www.thekulshanhotel.com . You’ll be impressed!

In the first of our three part series, "A Conversation with Tom Williams," we learned about the Marine Captain's extraordinary family, his childhood in what was once known as Peking, and his subsequent path to Annapolis and the Marine Corps. In this, part two, of my conversation with Tom, we learn about his two tours of duty in Vietnam in the years before and after the infamous Tet Offensive in 1968. We end our discussion at a pivotal point in Tom's life: a viewing of what was one of the first serious films about the Vietnam War: "The Deer Hunter." The effects of that experience on Tom's life and career will be the subject of our upcoming final interview conversation.

You know you're speaking with someone from a career military family when the simple question, "Where are you from" momentarily stumps them. In the case of Tom Williams, Marine Corps Captain, ret., the places and events that formed the backdrop of his childhood could easily comprise a Forrest Gump sequel -- albeit with a higher functioning main character (although Tom might smilingly demur). In any event, there is no question that Tom Williams had a fascinating family life -- one that ultimately led him to follow a family tradition to Annapolis and the Marine Corps. Semper fi, Mac!

It was such a thrill to once again be amazed by "The Magic of Sterling" at the 2024 Skagit County Fairgrounds. His performances both thrill and inspire...and they make me believe in goodness, which is where the magic really lives. You can see that in the faces of the young and young at heart. Don Wick and I were able to interview the man behind the magic on the final day of the Fair, and we quickly discovered that the story of Sterling's career is every bit as magical as his stage performance.

Just a few days before the opening of the 2024 Skagit County Fair, one of our beloved Meyer Sign/Tales of the Magic Skagit followers, Ree Coslor, responded to an invitation to our followers to come visit Don Wick and me at the Meyer Sign Fair History Booth and share a favorite memory of the Fair with us. Ree wrote, "I can tell you quite a bit about the old Grandstand shows, as my dad was the MC every year in the 60s." Of course, there was no way in heck that I was going to let an opportunity like this slide past, so I encouraged Ree to drop by and tell her story. This is what she had to say to Don and me, and it's one of the best Fair memories we've recorded to date. If this doesn't make you smile, you may want to consider professional counseling. Just sayin'.

On our last day of interviews at the Meyer Sign Fair History Booth during the 2024 Skagit County Fair, Don Wick and I were delighted to chat with a variety of folks who make the Fair the best annual venue in the Magic Skagit.  Our first interview was with the director of Skagit County  Parks & Recreation, Brian Adams. We learned about Brian’s background and career at Parks & Rec, and his aspirations for the Fair’s future. Our second interview was with one of our very favorite Fair entertainers, the beloved Wren the Juggler. We talked with Wren about how he got his start in juggling, and what makes the Skagit County Fair particularly special for him.  One of the things that Don and I had been missing during this year’s Fair was the opportunity to talk with 4H kids. We finally got our chance when Miss Kylie Fitzgerald stopped by to tell us about the pleasures of raising a very special breed of sheep. Don’s and my fourth interview of the day was with Madelyn Loy, who bears one of the most unique job titles of anyone we’ve interviewed to date: Noxious Weed Coordinator. Madelyn shared her organization’s outreach efforts at helping rid our Magic Skagit of problem plants, and why this matters to an agricultural community. Our final interview of the day was especially heart warming. We were joined by another 4H youth who we first interviewed two years ago when she was 9. This was our third interview with a very special young lady named Savannah Pippin, who brought us up to date on her adventures in archery and her aspirations to become an astrophysicist. We plan to continue these annual conversations with Savannah as she continues to grow in grace. I’m still smiling.

On Day Three of the 2024 Skagit County Fair, Don Wick and I once again had the pleasure of interviewing some remarkable folks who each make a unique contribution to the Fair’s success.  We started our interview series with Ron Stubbs, whose Hypnotic Mayhem has delighted and mystified audiences for more than three decades. But Ron is also a “talent buyer” for casinos throughout the country. You’ll learn more about this talented gent (who grew up within walking distance of Don Wick’s childhood home) and get some some insight into how hypnosis works from a guy who started off as a sceptic.   Our next interview was with Robert Demarais, who in addition to being the owner of Sound Cedar, a major sponsor of the Fair, has recently founded the Skagit County Fairgrounds Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping fund the operations of our beloved Fairgrounds through grants and donations.  For our third interview, Don and I were pleased to interview Kristen Keltz, who seven months ago became the president of the Skagit Tourism Bureau after having served as the CEO of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce for fourteen years. We wanted to learn how one goes about promoting our beautiful Magic Skagit, but  we also wanted to know about Kristen’s own history with the Skagit County Fair and her lifelong relationship with it.  If you’ve ever fantasized about running away and joining the circus, you’ll find Don’s and my fourth interview of Day Three to be especially interesting. Jason Barker, the ringmaster of Vuelta La Luna, brought his entire troupe with him to tell us their history and describe their unique talents. Meet Eros, Miss Ella, and Kendra — and discover how they came to embrace circus life. Our fifth interview was with Caitlin Villaroman, a volunteer with Sardis Raptor Center, which started as an all species    rehab organization and has since evolved into a rescue center for raptors ranging from bald eagles to eurasian eagle owls. Her participation at the Fair is part of her organization’s education efforts. Young and old alike come away from Caitlin’s daily presentations with a new appreciation for the amazing birds that call Sardis Raptor Center their home.  Please note that the sound quality of these recorded interviews is a bit rough. Don and I were competing with the 4H and FFA lifestock auction that was going on in the Pavilion where the Meyer Sign History Booth is located. Think of it as the ambient background of the Fair, and it certainly won’t detract from your admiration of the folks we were fortunate enough to speak with today.  They’re a part of what makes our Skagit County Fair a cherished annual event!

Welcome to the first Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast from the 2024 Skagit County Fair. Don Wick and I co-host the Meyer Sign Fair History Booth, and for our third year running we look for opportunities to sit down with folks at the Fair with good stories to tell. On Friday, August 9 (Day Two of the Fair), we start off with an interview with three members of an Anacortes-based West African drum ensemble led by certified Ghanian Master Drummer and flutist, Saeed Abbas. Joining Don and I for this interview is our Skagit Valley Youth History Project intern, Morgan White — herself a percussionist with Mount Vernon High School. Our second interview is with Jason Miller, the owner and publisher of a great upper Skagit newspaper, the Concrete Herald. We’ll learn a bit about Jason’s story and how the town of Concrete is doing. Our third interview is with Maddy Van der Kooy and Deb Eiderness, who are both involved in programs that provide resources and outreach to farmers dealing with stress — a more serious problem than you might think unless you’re trying to make a living in farming in the 21st century. Our fourth interview is with the amazing cowboy comedian and trick roper Leapin’ Louie, who is a new and fantastic addition to the Fair’s entertainment lineup. You’ll discover that his passion extends way beyond a humorous cowboy schtick. Don and I wind up the day with an interview with Skagit County Commisioner Ron Wesen who shares his own history and love for our annual Fair. We’ll be back tomorrow with more interviews for Day Three. Keep it magic, y’all!

Perusing the books in the gift shop of the Island County Historical Society Museum in Coupeville, I came across “A History of Whidbey’s Island” by George A. Kellogg. The author’s name was immediately recognizable to me as the grandson of Dr. Joseph C. Kellogg, one of the original recipients of donation claims lands on the island in the early years of white settlement in the mid-19th century. George Kellogg was born on Whidbey Island at the close of that century, but only lived there for the first seven years of his life. His bio on the book’s back cover describes him as a “teacher, salesman, musician, historian, advertising man, corporate leader, and storyteller.” Following a career in advertising and corporate management in Chicago and New York, he retired to yet another island — this one off the coast of Georgia — in 1959, but frequently visited friends and relatives in Coupeville. Kellogg’s book was the culmination of research for a master’s thesis in Northwest history (which he never completed), and much of the material was gleaned from a collection of weekly columns published in the Oak Harbor Farm Bureau News. In the book’s foreword, Kellogg refers to his work of nearly 200 pages as “only an attempt to write an informal history of a pioneer community.” But what drew me to the book was the sense of intimacy in the telling of this history. It was clear that although you could take the boy out of Whidbey Island, the many years between Kellogg’s birth on the island and his death in 1983 never succeeded in taking Whidbey Island out of the boy. This Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast episode is a reading of Chapter 1 of “A History of Whidbey's Island,” in which Kellogg recounts the finding of Deception Pass by the island’s namesake, Joseph Whidbey, ship’s master on Captain George Vancouver’s vessel, Discovery. Over the course of the next year I plan to read other chapters from Kellogg’s book, which was first published in 1934 by the Island County Historical Society and is currently in its fifth printing. Kellogg graciously granted the Society not only his permission to reprint his work, but to use the royalties to further its work. From my perspective, it’s arguably the best $14.95 I’ve ever spent. 

This is my love letter to county fairs everywhere...but most especially the Stanwood-Camano and Skagit County fairs. I originally wrote this during the throes of the Great Pandemic of 2020, when our beloved Skagit County Fair was suspended due to quarantine. I don't miss those days one bit.

Frances Negranza joined the Skagit County Parks & Rec Department a year and a half ago as the assistant to long time fairgrounds manager Aric Gaither -- and I immediately took a shine to her, as the old folks say. For one thing, she has the same name as my cat. She also got her start in county fairs at the same annual venue I took my kids to: the Santa Clara County Fair in California. But most important, what has endeared Frances Negranza to me is her unwavering devotion to the institution of county fairs as a community gathering, a source of affordable family fun, and an event that fosters agriculture and animal husbandry among youth through programs like Future Farmers of America (which Frances belonged to as a high schooler) and 4H. In this Tales of the Magic Skagit episode, we'll learn about Frances' background and her role with the Skagit County Fairgrounds -- which includes far more than an annual August event -- and we'll get a sneak peak into this year's Fair attractions. In keeping with the 2024 Skagit County Fair theme, "Have You Herd, Skagit's Goat Talent," you'll get some insight into the talents that Ms. Negranza brings to the Magic Skagit's beloved Fair.

Ed Marlow has lived in Sedro-Woolley since the mid-1940s, ever since his parents moved here from Forks, Washington. One of his earliest ambitions was to become a "hot rod mechanic," but he eventually ended up as a boiler tender on a Coast Guard ship. Along the way, he discovered photography and hair cutting -- and it was the latter pursuit that would define his professional life for the next 30 plus years. For Ed, barbering meant more than cutting hair. It was more about getting to know people and their stories, and he amassed a large collection of photographs that his clients shared with him recording the life of his community from the early days of the logging industry. In this podcast episode, our Skagit Valley Youth History Project intern, Morgan White, and I talk with Ed about his life as a "tonsorial artist." But remember, what happens in the barbershop stays in the barbershop.