My Dad Helped College Place Expand

First off, this article from late 70s or early 80s contains a huge error, my dad, Alan Barer, never owned Miller Supply, but did own the building.  My Uncle Dave was owner to the Big Y, a retail center, between Walla Walla and College Place 

At the time, College Place had a small retai footprint, mostly businesses along College Avenue, many owned by Walla Walla College, which is now a university.

The eventual annexation, which would go all the way East to Myra Road, helped diversify the city's retail offerings.

Thank you to brother, Steve for sending this. 

Farmers Market Up And Running

We visited the Maple Valley Farmers Market today (Saturday, May 20, 2026. It runs Saturdays from 9am till 2pm until the end of October.

Stan Barer Was Sworn In By Supreme Court Justice

 I just learned this today (May 29th, 2026).  My cousin Stan was sworn in to the bar by legendary Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. This is from an article in the Union-Bulletin archives, sometime in the early 1960s. 

 Douglas was a graduate of Whitman College in Walla Walla, while Stan graduated from Walla Walla High School before going on to the University Of Washington.  Steve posted this in the Barer Family Group on Facebook. Stan, himself, would have an amazing career in Politics, law, and business.

Issaquah Burgermaster Opens

We had dinner last night at the new Burgermaster.  It used to be the Triple X in Issaquah.

It was the second day, I believe, since its opening, but the food and service were great.

Tragedy In Our State

In Longview, a chemical explosion has killed a worker and left nine missing. 

Jack Nicholson Sings?

A memory of my senior year of high school.  Not necessarily, a high school thing, but that was the year the movie was released. 

Tommy, one of the first, if not the first Rock opera's had already played on stage, by the Who.  A movie version with Ann-Margaret, Oliver Reed, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Jack Nicholson, and Who members Roger Daltry and Keith Moon got  mixed reviews from fans of the band.

Jack Nicholson had this memorable singing solo in the production. 

Memorial Day 2026