Calendar

Tesoro refinery disaster (2010)

April 2, 2020, All Day

Refinery workers Daniel J. Aldridge, Matthew C. Bowen, Darrin J. Hoines, Kathryn Powell, Donna Van Dreumel, Lew C. Janz and Matt Gumbel died after an explosion in the Naptha Hydrotreater Unit rocked Tesoro’s Anacortes refinery on this date in 2010. The blast, caused when a heat exchanger ruptured after a maintenance restart, rattled every window in a two mile radius. It was Washington State’s worst industrial disaster in 50 years. A federal investigation found that Tesoro failed to properly test the equipment and cited a lax safety culture. The Washington State Department of Labor charged Tesoro a $2.4 million fine, citing 39 willful violations. Although the plant has paid millions to the families of the victims, Tesoro fought the state’s fine for years, until a judge overturned it in 2017.

"New Beer's Eve" (1933)

April 7, 2020, All Day

As the repeal of Prohibition worked its way through the ratification process, Congress legalized beer containing 3.2 percent alcohol, effective April 7, 1933, and many celebrated with “New Beer’s Eve” parties on April 6. However, in Anacortes, the beer ordinance didn’t kick in until April 11. With the Depression at its worst, many believed repealing Prohibition would rouse the economy and raise tax revenue, and others just thought it would raise spirits. But by this time the majority agreed that Prohibition had failed. The 21st Amendment was ratified Dec. 5, 1933, and Prohibition was officially over.

Curfew tightened (1968)

April 14, 2020, All Day

Anacortes City Councilmen unanimously tightened curfew regulations for youngsters on this date in 1968. The curfew for children 16 and younger was set at 10:30 p.m. seven days a week – previously they had a 1 a.m. limit Fridays and Saturdays. Only 17-year-olds retained the 1 a.m. weekend curfew.

Horse breaks Commercial Avenue (1909)

April 14, 2020, All Day

The Anacortes Creamery Co. presented the City with a bill for $25 for injuries sustained by the company’s gray horse, which broke through the planking on Commercial Avenue between Second and Third streets on April 14, the Anacortes American reported. As a result, the council passed a resolution condemning Commercial Avenue from Third Street to Railroad Avenue and ordered Street Supt. Baker to close it to wagon traffic at once, pending the improvement of the street. Commercial Avenue had been “paved” with old-growth planking in 1890.

Earwigs infest Anacortes (1922)

April 24, 2020, All Day

Anacortes residents were warned in April 1922 about an epidemic of European Earwigs infesting six city blocks of the town. A survey made by the county horticulturist E. D. Hunter revealed the information, sending the town into a panic about the garden pest. With 50-90 eggs laid by any one female, the pest had the potential to spread rapidly. The local Boy Scouts troop would take on the challenge of exterminating the bugs, using a poison concoction of 1 gallon of lime sulfur solution, 1 gallon black leaf 40, 1 pound arsenate of lead and 35 gallons of water.

CANCELLED - Anacortes Arts Commission Regular Meetings

April 8, 2020, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM @ Anacortes Public Library

Public is always welcome. MISSION STATEMENT: The Anacortes Arts Commission supports excellence, vitality, diversity, and accessibility of the arts as essential to the quality of life for all Fidalgo and Guemes Island residents by fostering a community cultural vision through the acquisition, placement and maintenance of public art and by promoting participation, innovation and partnership in all the performing, visual literary arts.

Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee Meeting

April 2, 2020, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM @ Planning Director's Office, City Hall

City Council Public Works Committee Meeting - CANCELLED

April 6, 2020, 5:00 PM @ City Hall Main Conference Room

City Council Meeting

April 6, 2020, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM @ City Hall

City Council Public Safety Committee Meeting

April 7, 2020, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM @ City Hall Mayor's Office

City Council Planning Committee Meeting

April 13, 2020, 5:00 PM @ City Hall Main Conference Room

City Council Meeting

April 13, 2020, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM @ City Hall

City Council Public Works Committee Meeting

April 20, 2020, 5:00 PM @ City Hall Main Conference Room

City Council Meeting

April 20, 2020, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM @ City Hall

City Council Planning Committee Meeting

April 27, 2020, 5:00 PM @ City Hall Main Conference Room

City Council Meeting

April 27, 2020, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM @ City Hall

City Council Finance Committee Meeting

April 8, 2020, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM @ This meeting will be conducted telephonically.

City Council Finance Committee Meeting

April 22, 2020, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM @ This meeting will be conducted telephonically.

CANCELLED - Anacortes Forest Advisory Board

April 2, 2020, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Anacortes Senior Activity Center

Teen Writing Group

April 1, 2020, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM @ Anacortes Public Library

A professional writer leads this group of aspiring authors. Each session participants will learn something new about the writing process and have the chance to share their creative writing with the group. Call the Children's Department to join the email list.

Cruising the Panama Canal

April 1, 2020, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM @ Anacortes Public Library

Doug and Gay Woods will share photos and information about the Panama Canal cruise they took in November 2019. The cruise began in San Diego and ended in Ft .Lauderdale with several stops along the way. Doug and Gay are both retired librarians and have lived in Anacortes for over 11 years.

Pajama Storytime

April 2, 2020, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Anacortes Public Library

The first Thursday of each months means wearing your pajamas to the library! Your librarians will be reading to you in their favorite jammies with their stuffie friends. Don't miss a chance to get extra cozy at the library with friends and check out a bedtime story.

Hiking the Camino Trail

April 8, 2020, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM @ Anacortes Public Library

For some, hiking the Camino de Compostela is a spiritual act; for others a challenge or adventure. Whatever the motivation, traveling the Camino trail is an experience that can change your appreciation of life. Join this group of friends for their personal accounts of physical effort, happy discovery, and special moments along the "Way."

CANCELLED - Anacortes Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Regular Meeting

April 14, 2020, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ City Hall

Public welcome - meet in main floor conference room

Coffee With Laurie

April 22, 2020, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM @ Anacortes Senior Activity Center

Museum Advisory Board Meeting

April 7, 2020, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM @ Anacortes Museum Research Library

Museum Advisory Board Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month at 9AM in the Museum Research Library

Anacortes Historic Preservation Board Meeting

April 8, 2020, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM @ Anacortes Museum Research Library

Anacortes Historic Preservation Board Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month at 4 PM in the Museum Research Library (Address: 1305 8th Street, Anacortes, WA 98221).

Candace Wellman presents new book: Interwoven Lives

April 22, 2020, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM @ Anacortes Library

In this companion work to Peace Weavers, her previous book on Puget Sound’s cross-cultural marriages, award-winning author Candace Wellman depicts the lives of four additional intermarried indigenous women who influenced mid-1800s settlement in the Bellingham Bay area. She describes each wife’s native culture, details ancestral history and traits for both spouses, and traces descendants’ destinies, highlighting the families’ contributions to new communities.

HACS Meeting

April 2, 2020, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM @ Planning Director's office

Planning Commission Meeting

April 8, 2020, 6:00 PM @ City Hall Council Chambers

Planning Commission Meeting

April 22, 2020, 6:00 PM @ Council Chambers - City Hall

Coffee With Karl

April 14, 2020, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM @ Anacortes Senior Activity Center

Join CSO Karl Wolfswinkel with the Anacortes Police Department to discuss police matters affecting our community and nation. April's Coffee With Karl event will include a visit from APD's Narcotics K9 Unit. Can't make it this month? The event takes place on the second Tuesday each month at the Anacortes Senior Activity Center.