Mariner Win Highlight Of Fun Afternoon

Deb and I spent a sunny afternoon at Safeco Field with our nephews, Ethan and Connor watching the Seattle Mariners beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3

Before we arrived at the game, we all made a prediction of what the final score would be and Deb hit it on the nose. The tickets that we had were incredible as we were right on top of the action. I would encourage everyone to get out to see the team this year. It looks like things are moving in the right direction as the team tries to rebuild into a contender.

Community Wide Garage Sale In Maple Valley

The Maple Valley subdivision of Belmont Woods will be having a community wide Garage Sale this coming weekend, June 3rd and 4th from 9am to 3pm. Belmont Woods is in North Maple Valley, second left from the Chevron Station as you come in from Renton and points North.

This Blog Turns 6

Barers Of Maple Valley turns 6 today! You can find my first ever post by clicking here

WSU Makes Desirable Campus List

If you surf the Internet, you can see that "lists"are a popular drawing card. The Huffington Post has named my Alma matter Washington State University the number 12 college to "visit even if your not a student". It is right after Yale and arch rival University Of Washington. The report says "Most campus buildings are red brick and can be characterized as utilitarian, a fitting style for the land-grant university work ethic and standards of fiduciary prudence. Washington State University is located in Pullman, a dynamic center of higher education, research, and culture nestled among the beautiful rolling hills of southeastern Washington" Some of the other beautiful college campuses in our state, that are not on the list would be Western Washington University, The Evergreen State University, and Whitman College.

Vancouver Canucks Going To NHL Finals

The Vancouver Canucks, adopted home hockey team by many in the Pacific Northwest, has advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Canuck's edged the San Jose Sharks in double OT last night to earn the teams 3rd attempt to play for the Cup, named after Lord Stanley, to whom the cities largest park is also named. The Canucks have never won the Cup and their last trip to the finals was 17 years ago.

The Original B. Barer And Sons

From the Whitman College Archives. This is the business from which B. Barer And Sons would evolve. Thank you to Jeff Reynolds for finding this picture.

Mariners Win Behind Pineda Shutout

Rookie Sensation Michael Pineda pitched 7 innings of 2 hit ball as the Seattle Mariners shut out the San Diego Padres 4-0. It was the 4th win in a row for the improving Mariners. Mariner Mike Wilson had 2 RBIs.
It looks like the Mariner rebuilding effort is showing some progress.

The KUJ Wake Up Song

The KUJ wake up song, when Charles Luce, Jr wrote KUJ owner Verne Russell to tell him about his Mom enjoying the KUJ sign-off, Russell sent a tape of the sign-off along with the "Wake-up Song" which was played every morning at the time when KUJ started it's broadcast day.

The Lost KUJ Sign-Off Lost No Longer

Thank you to Charles Luce, Jr for finding this. From the 1960s through the '70s Legendary Walla Walla area broadcaster Verne Russell signed his pioneer radio station off with this audio.

KUJ carried the broadcasting of, at one time, The Seattle Pilots and the Walla Walla Minor League team, which Russell eventually purchased. It also had CBS network news and programming along with local Djs playing easy listening music. The sign-off would occur at 10:00 or whenever a game that was broadcasted, would conclude.

Good Bye To Leonard Donin

Word has been received that retired Portland retailer Leonard Donin has passed away. Donin was the oldest living athlete to have played on a University Of Oregon team, a former basketball and baseball star, he would have been the first Oregon letterman to live to be 100. To us, he was known as the father of my Aunt Carol, who married my Dad's brother Arny. Although I have known Mr. Donin for 40 years, I did not know until recently of his impressive athletic achievements. As a matter of fact, I did not know that he was an athlete at all. He was a very soft spoken, humble man. As soft spoken as he was, he was also very engaging and it was easy to converse with him. Mr. Donin would have been 100 tomorrow and a party had been planned to honor him.

Spring Has Sprung In Maple Valley

Spring has been alternating with Winter hear in the area. I took this picture from our front yard last weekend.

1968 Game of the Century

I had just starting following sports when I watched this game on TV one Saturday night. When UCLA played Houston in what was at that time, the futuristic "Astrodome" now an outmoded concept. I did not realize it was the first college basketball game to be broadcast nationally. The game was on an independent network called TVS.
The Houston Cougars upset the UCLA Bruins 71-69. The Bruins would come back in the post-season and wallop Houston 101-69.

More Wenatchee--The Applewood Grill

Saturday night after the meeting, we went out to look for a neat place to catch some dinner. We thought that the Applewood Grill, located by the Convention Center, near a sky bridge that leads to a park, would be a great choice, we were not disappointed. In a town with many unique restaurants, we found that the Applewood had a vibrant menu of wood fired pizzas, chicken dishes, and micro beers making it a perfect place to unwind. I had the barbecue chicken pizza and Deb had the Buffalo chicken pizza and both were delicious. The Applewood Grill is located at 29 Columbia in Wenatchee.

State Dems Meet In Wenatchee

Politics can be fun, Deb and I headed East last weekend so I could attend the Washington Democrats State Committee meeting in lovely Wenatchee. Wenatchee is locatated just East of the Cascade Mountains, although small, has a lot of charm and character (bottom picture is Bob's Classic, a diner across from our hotel). It is located at the Confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers with a population of about 30,00o.

We arrived Friday evening at the Coast Hotel, a little late to enjoy much of the hospitality suites, we went to Roasters at the top of Hotel, I had never heard of a small town having a night club on the top floor.

Wenatchee is in the middle of it's annual Apple Blossom Festival, while I went to the meetings on Saturday, Deb went to a parade and poked around town.

Before every State Democratic meeting, there is a luncheon, this time it was a Trivia Luncheon. Each table was a team. At my table was Jennifer Sutton, Aaron Belenky, Rob Dolin, Steve Zemke, Dan Lambert and Barbara Gellar. Every table of given sheets of questions and whoever could answer the most would win prize for each member. Our table, which included two 5th District Democrats, took first prize. Not bad! We each got a bottle of wine for our victory. Hopefully, I didn't leave anyone out.

The State Committee meeting concluded once again, with Aziem Underwood singing his "Salt Off The Fries". Amidst happy hand clappin' members, relieved that another meeting could have a little silliness.

May Day Is "Pay Day" For Bin Laden

A US airstrike claims the life of Osama Bin Laden on May 1st 2011.