Happy New Year!

Seahawks Earn Number 1 Seed

The Seattle Seahawks beat the St.Louis Rams 27 to 9 earning number 1 seed  in the NFC Playoffs.
This gives the 'Hawks a first round bye and home field advantage throughout.  If the team can win the next to playoff games, it will advance to the Super Bowl.  In addition, the Seahawks are the NFC West champs. 
In 2005, the Hawks earned the number 1 seed and went to the Super Bowl, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Top Ten Personal Blog Stories For 2013

What a great year, we spent more time on TV than any year that I can remember and Dasher got into the act too.  So even though I gave the top story away in an earlier post, here is my list of top 10 stories for this year....


10.  Visit to Olympic National Park over Labor Day Weekend and a visit to Seaside the weekend after.

9. We dog sat Charlie in July, staying at our friend's stately home on Lake Sammamish.  The weather was sunny and perfect.

8. Dasher does not win Q-13 TV's Pick A Pet competition, but was picture was used to promote the next week's competition.

7. Deb and I make 3 separate appearances on KING 5's New Day Northwest to promote our business, The UPS  Store.

6.  Dasher's picture, painted by Jeanne Romano, a customer at our store, who was formerly a TV comedy writer, was hung in the Alki Gallery.

5.  This blog finishes 15th for Best Neighborhood Blog in KING 5's Best Of Western Washington competition,  not bad when you consider 62 blogs were entered.

4. We visited the Price Is Right set to be in the studio audience for a taping of the show in February, although we did not get picked to be contestants, we are able to see ourselves on TV when the episode aired in the Spring.

3. Dasher is the cover picture in Jeanne Romano's Artisan Tails.  A book featuring water color pictures that she had painted of dogs.

2. Dasher passes his certified dog therapy test.  He would begin work helping children become better readers in Bellevue's Reading With Rover program.

1.  Paul McCartney in Safeco Field!

OOPS!

Someone forgot to read the fine print in an attempt by 49ers fans to intimidate the 12th man.

Top Blog Story Of 2013--Seeing Paul McCartney In Concert



 

Paul McCartney became the first rock act to ever perform at Seattle's Major League Baseball stadium Safeco Field on July 19th of this year, it happened to be on my birthday and my wife surprised me with tickets, just hours before the concert started,  you can read about it here.

Former Seahawk Jon Kitna Back In NFL

Jon Kitna, who played quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, Cincinatti Bengals, Detroit Lions, and Dallas Cowboys, has resigned with the Cowboys as their 3rd String quarterback.  The 41 year old Northwest native has not taken a snap in the league since 2011.  Kitna has been working as head football coach and math teacher at Tacoma's Lincoln High School, his alma matter.  Kitna, a graduate of Central Washington University, played for the Seahawks from 1997-2000.

Barers Of Maple Valley Wishes You A Merry Christmas

Nirvana Elected to Rock And Roll Hall

Seattle based grunge band Nirvana will become the 4th act from this area to enter the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  The previous Seattle inductees are The Ventures, Jimi Hendrix, and Heart.  The group popularized the "Grunge" sound, often known as the Seattle sound.  Other groups that emerged out of that genre include Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. 
The band's lead singer Kurt Cobain sadly died in 1994.  The surviving members of the band appeared as guests on stage at Paul McCartney's concert in Seattle last summer.  The band has sold over 75 million copies of it's music making it one of the most successful rock acts ever.

Snowfall in Maple Valley

About an inch fell here last night.

America's Top DJ Larry Lujack Dies

SeaTac Media blog reports the death of former Chicago top 40 DJ Larry Lujack.  In his long career at WLS in the Windy City, Lujack was the "gold standard" that most aspiring D Js look up to.  Lujack worked at KJR early in his career and also KRPL, a Pullman-Moscow Top 40 station.

Outdoor Holiday Home Decor In Maple Valley

This house in Maple Valley's Belmont Woods has a "putting green" made out of Christmas lights.

Christmas Card From The White House

A pop up White House along with an autograph from each member of the Obama family.  Sure they send out a millions of them, but it's still fun to get.

For Those Who Mix The Holidays

Although it probably will not be popular with many observant Jews.  The Chanukkah Tree Topper was presented on The Shark Tank last night.  Shark Damon John made a deal with the Mori and Marina Chowalki for a licensing deal that will likely get the item presented in the right places.

John Curley Leaving Sammamish City Council

John Curley, local TV celebrity, is leaving the Sammamish City Council.  Curley defeated Tom Vance in 2009 for his seat on the non-partisan body. At the time, very little was known about Curley's political viewpoints.  However since hosting radio talk shows in a number of time slots, listeners as welll as Sammamish residents are aware that his views tend to be conservative. 
Curley made his fame as the host of KING TV's Evening Magazine.  He also works as a charity auctioneer  Curley talked about his time on the council and his departure with KIRO FM morning host Dave Ross.  He spoke about long meetings and a little frustration with his fellow councilors.  He also spoke about it on his own show.

Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson Is A Hero Off The Field Too

Did She Grow Up Like Nancy?

 

 

 

 

 

One of KHQ's most memorable news promo's was shot in either 1970 or 1980 and featured a little girl longing to grow up to be like the Spokane station's evening news anchor, Nancy Goodspeed. So far, I have been unable to find a video, but found a print ad here. Now that the little girl has grown up, did she turn out just like Nancy Goodspeed? 

An Old UB Clip With Edward P Morgan And Bob Garred

National radio figures Edward P. Morgan and Bob Garred are among the Walla Walla natives featured in the Union-Bulletin clip from the 50s.  A few decades later, the UB would devote a whole section of locals who had national recognition.

Cougs Going To New Mexico Bowl

For the first time in 10 years, the Washington State Cougars are going to a bowl game.  The team learned yesterday that it will play the Colorado State Rams in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.  The Cougs finished the season with 6 wins, making it eligible for post season, however, with a 6-6 record, a bid was far from certain.  According to the Spokesman-Review, the Rams are the only college team in the nation to boast both a 3000 yard passer(Garrett Grayson) and a 1500 yard runner(Kapri Bibbs). 
The game will be played at 11am on December 21st in Albuquerque.  It will be televised on ESPN.

It's Football Not Hockey!

Philadelphia vs Detroit game is being played in blizzard conditions

The Stencil Building--Walla Walla

 

The Stencil building stood on Main Street in Walla Walla.  I believe it reflected the best of it's time.  Originally, or at least at one time a hotel, it was torn down in either the late 1960s or the early 1970s.  I found this image on the Bygone Walla Walla blog.

Mariners Sign Robinson Cano

The Seattle Mariners, who whiffed trying to sign Prince Fielder and Josh Hamilton in previous off-seasons have announced the signing of Robinson Cano.  The former New York Yankee 2nd baseman is a five-time all star and a five time winner of the Silver Slugger Awards.  He has also won two Gold Gloves for best fielder in his position.  The USA Today hailed Cano's signing as sign the Seattle Mariners are "back in business."  Cano is a native of the Dominican Republic.

So Long Nelson Mandela

How To Be A Fan--49ers Style

Area talk radio is having a good laugh about a memo to San Francisco 49s season ticket holders released by the team.  The Seattle Seahawks head to the Bay Area for a rematch with their division arch-rivals Sunday. 
In last September's game, the Seattle fans came under fire for being cheering while the opposition was drawing up plays.  Apparently, 49er officials it's time for their fans to "pay us back."

Walla Walla's West Side Downtown 1960s

Another treasure from the Joe Drazan blog, the northwest corner of 4th and Main in downtown Walla Walla in what is commonly today known as the "Barer Building"  our family business B. Barer And Sons was behind it on 4th and Rose.  My dad eventually bought the building and later would sell it to a wine maker.  The part of the buildings on the left would be torn down to make way for a Goodyear Tire Store in the early 1970s. I'm not sure if the Fabric Outlet, which my Dad and his uncle owned, had started, my guess is that it hadn't. 

Sarkisian Now A Trojan

ESPN 710 reports UW head football coach Steve Sarkisian is leaving the program to assume the head coaching duties at USC.

Marshawn Lynch 67 Yard Run Against New Orleans Saints

Marshawn Lynch really wasn't on the radar screen of most Seahawk fans until this play-off game against the defending NFL champion New Orleans Saints in January of 2011.  I was in the stands for that game and it was just amazing.  If you notice, the announcer is not really focused on the play until he realizes that noone can bring Lynch down.  Lynch has enjoyed rock star fame in this town ever since and shows no sign of slowing down.   This week will have the rematch of the Seahawks against the Saints on Monday Night Football.

Mariner's President Armstrong Steps Down

Chuck Armstrong, who many hold as the reason for the team's continued on-field woes, has stepped down from his position as President of the Seattle Mariners.  Armstrong has been running the organization since 1993 when a group of prominent local business leaders along with the Nintendo Corp Of America (headquartered in Redmond) bought the team to prevent it's relocation.  Armstrong also served as president when California real estate developer George Argyros owned the team in the early 1980s.  When Indianapolis businessman Jeff Smulyan purchased the team, Armstrong stepped down. 
Armstrong ran the organization when the team set the one season win record at 116 and during the  miracle run of 1995, however, many blogs and sports talk show hosts have vilified him for not doing enough to pull the team out of a twelve year slump.  
He is also credited with the team drafting Ken Griffey, Jr,  universally agreed to be the best Mariner of all time.

Go Cougs!

The Washington State Cougars take on the Washington Huskies tonight in the 2013 Apple Cup.

Happy Thanksgivukkah

The Jewish Holiday that usually comes up close to Christmas is this year occuring on the same day with Thanksgiving.

Cougs Earn Bowl Eligibility

For the first time since 2006, the Washington State Cougars became bowl eligible with a 49-37 win over the Utah Utes.  Although a bowl invitation is not guaranteed, a team cannot play in a bowl game unless it has 6 or more wins.  This season with more Pac 12 schools  attaining bowl eligibility than available bowl games, it is imparitive for the Cougs to be Washington in this year's Apple Cup.  The annual cross state rivalry will be played Friday in Seattle.

Barers Of Maple Valley Dispense Shipping Wisdom

For the third time this year and 4th time overall, we were on KING5's New Day Northwest with Margaret Larson. This time we spoke about holiday shipping.. A big Thank You to Margaret, Producer Su Ring and Intern Marty, for helping our presentation run smoothly.

Meeghan Black Leaving KING 5

The Seatac Media blog has announced that Meegan Black will be leaving the KING 5 week day feature show Evening Margazine as well as the station.  Black has been with the station since 2000.  She did weather at first, then became the morning traffic reporter in 2006.  Her last show will be Wednesday. 

50th Anniversary--The Kennedy Assassination

More World News from ABC


 

The first president that I can remember was John F. Kennedy, he was young, vibrant, and represented a look to the future.  I have very fuzzy memories of some of his speeches. 
I also remember the dark day when he was shot.  I was real little, we lived on Leonard Street in Walla Walla.  My mom said the president had been shot.  When I got to school I remember kids saying "the President has been shot, I think he's dead"  I remember the TV stations showing round the clock coverage and the general dark mood of the nation.  Then a couple of days later, the man who was accused of shooting the President was also shot.  My parents told me not to celebrate, because it was a case of someone taking the law into his own hands.  I remember Jackie Kennedy being a symbol of beauty and fashion, which she remained being after the president's death. 
Three other assassination attempts on presidents, thank God, have been unsuccessful.  Gerald Ford was the target of two, both by women.  Ronald Reagan was actually hit and somehow survived. 
President Kennedy's brother Bobby was assassinated in his attempt to be elected president.
Bobby was attempting to continue, what seemed to be an unfinished chapter in American history.  As more information would come out about the Kennedys, America love affair waned a little, especially those who opposed them politically. Ted Kennedy made an attempt, but was never able to shake the image of Chappaquiddick.   Instead he made his mark as an effective U.S. Senator. The president's Caroline Kennedy is now Ambassador to Japan.  John F, Jr was killed in a plane crash in 1999.

Kaci Aitchison Voted Top Local TV Personality

A survey by KING 5 TV of the best local TV Personalities in Western Washington, has turned up a winner from a rival station.  Q-13's morning co-anchor Kaci Aitchison finished first in that portion of the annual competition, which features, businesses, personalities, and institutions primarily of the Seattle area.  Aitchison is a U-W graduate and a native of the Northwest.  She has been with Q-13 since 2009.

Ex Seahawk Coach And GM Mike McCormack Dies

Mike McCormack, a football guy who helped build two NFL expansion franchises, has  died.  Although not on the tip of the tongue of most Seahawk fans, McCormack was General Manager during some of the Seahawk's greatest years.  The Seahawks went to the play-offs 4 times during his run. He coached the 'Hawks after original coach Jack Patera was fired.   He had previously coached at Philadelphia and Baltimore (Colts).
When Ken Behring bought the team in 1989, he fired GM McCormack in favor of bringing in his own football people, a decision that  most fans would consider a disaster as the organization would hit some of it's lowest points. 
McCormack would go on to serve as president and general manager of the expansion Carolina Panthers.  He retired in 1997.   In his playing days, McCormack was a lineman for the Cleveland Browns.  He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 1984

KIRO Evening Voice Leaves

Andrew Walsh, a former producer for Dave Ross who was given his own evening show about a year ago,  has left the station for a new gig. A plain spoken amiable everyman, Walsh described himself as a Liberal, but did not seem to be grounded in ideology.  Over the air, he seemed like a young man who had constructed a station in his garage and was having lots of fun.  He related well to his producers Nick and Sean.  For a while, he was teamed up with John Curley, but that ended when Curley was given a daytime spot.  He was fun to listen to and we wish him well in his new endeavors.

Barers Of Maple Valley Finishes 15th

Barers Of Maple Valley finished 15th out of 62 blogs in the category of "Best Neighborhood Blog" for KING 5 TV's "Best Of Western Washington". The winner of best neighborhood blog was "West Seattle Blog".  For  a list of winners in your favorite catagories, click here.

The UPS Store To Make Another Appearance

Deb and I will be back on New Day Northwest on KING 5, representing The UPS Stores in the Seattle area.  It will be our third appearance on the show this year and 4th overall.  We will give advise on how to make shipping easier during the holidays. Our segment will air on Monday November 25th. sometime between 11am and noon on channel 5 and 105 in the Seattle area.  Margaret Larson is the host. 

Veterans Day

Mazel Tov Cousin!

We traveled to Olympia for my Cousin B's Bat Mitzvah.  This is the Olympia Temple.  A reception was held afterwards at the local country club.

McGinn Concedes

Mayor McGinn has conceded defeat in his attempt to win a second term as Seattle mayor.

Vintage Walla Walla Picture

My parents bought their Palouse Street house from Mr. Garred in the mid 1960s.  Mr Garred's son Bob was a well known broadcaster.

New Mariner Skipper Named

On the same day that Seattle has picked a new mayor, Seattle's baseball team has picked Lloyd McClendon to guide it through the 2014 season and beyond.  McClendon most recently has been the hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers.  He also managed the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2001 to 2005, one of Baseball's most hapless teams at the time. 

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered Part 2

When thought of as a radio market, the city of Walla Walla is not only mostly overlooked, it can be the subject of ridicule  However, a closer look at radio history for the town reveals an impressive roster of talent, some who grew up there and some who used their experience at the area's stations as a stepping stone to bigger things.
At the head of the list is Walter Brattain, whom is  co credited with the invention of the transistor. Transistor radios were definitely the rage in the 60s and 70s.  Brattain was a professor of physics at Whitman College in the town.  Bill Yeend, Burl Barer (my cousin), Dale Unruh, and Bob Larson were Walla Wallans who succeeded in the Seattle market.  Kent Phillips was a Whitman Student who spent his out of class hours spinning wax at KUJ, before becoming one of Seattle's longest running morning jocks at 101.5.  Dana Wagner had just graduated WSU when he took a $400 a month gig at XT-97 on his way to being a Las Vegas morning weatherman . Danny Murphy was on KTEL before becoming a children's show TV host on Spokane's KXLY. Bill Anderson would leave his name behind and become Adam West, Television's iconic Batman.   
Walla Walla native Edward P. Morgan was an ABC radio news anchor from 1955-1969, winning the George Foster Peabody award.  I remember listening to Morgan while at the family dinner  table and being shocked to find out he was from the town that I had lived in.
Last, but not least, national reporter Bob Garred grew up in Walla Walla.  He is pictured in the article above.  He grew up in the Palouse Street house that his parents sold to mine in the mid 1960s.  I can not find out much about him, but heard that he died at a very young age.  I had thought that he worked at Mutual Radio, however, all that I could find from the few articles on the Internet was that he worked for CBS. His father was the owner of Walla Walla Drug.   I want to thank Joe Drazan for the information on Mr. Garred.  He also found out the correct way to spell his name.   Joe also has this poster on his blog from the late 1970s version of KUJ

This became a pretty big hit on facebook.   I was also inspired by Sara Van Donge's article in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.

Original Pancake House Open In Maple Valley

The Original Pancake House is open at Four Corners in the spot where the Washington Liquor Store and before that, Hollywood Video was located.  The actual address is 26820  Maple Valley Black Diamond Road SE in Maple Valley.  It offers breakfast type fare exclusively.  The owners, Blake Williams and Ryan Medford also have the franchise in Puyallup.   We had dinner last weekend and found the food and service excellent.  One of the area's newest restaurants, it is a great addition.

Dasher On The Tube

We sent Dasher's picture in to Q-13's pick a pet contest (where viewers can vote for their favorite pet from pictures on the web site),  he didn't win, but they used his picture to promo the next week's contest.  Here we are watching Dasher's picture come up on MJ McDermott's weather forecast.

Deli Patron Serves Baloney

Our family was on a long drive from LA to the Bay Area to visit family when we decided to grab lunch in a roadside deli.  This was the early 1980s so the details in my mind are a little sketchy.  A portly man with a beard was holding court inside.  We sat near him and he said that he was John Black, a TV writer who had penned many movies, as well as episodes of Star Trek and Bonanza.  My brother Danny is a huge Star Trek fan, and we were excited to meet a Hollywood insider.
Mr. Black said that he was a Jewish Holocaust survivor, who changed his name when he entered the U.S.  He also dished stories about well known Hollywood figures.
Fast forward to a few months ago,  my brother, Danny who now lives in LA went to a lecture by John DF Black, who did write episodes for Star Trek.  He said the man that we met some 30 years ago was not John Black but an impostor.  He had done this many times and had irked the real Black.  In 30 some years, we accepted his stories as the truth and many turned out to be.  It provided context for the actors that he spoke about.  In reality, we stopped in for lunch and was served a baloney sandwich.

Happy Halloween

More Fall Colors

Beautiful Belmont Woods in Maple Valley.

Fall Colors In Maple Valley

Taken in Belmont Woods around the corner from our house.

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered

This shot of former Walla Walla Rock DJ, Dave "Rockin" Cochran of KTEL appeared in a recent addition of the city's paper, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. It was from a column by Sara Van Donge about radio from the past, my cousin Burl Barer was also mentioned. The Gallery was a department store in what was then (July 8, 1973), Walla Walla's brand spanking new Eastgate Mall.

 

 

From My Nephew Connor

They call these wordals. Not sure if the spelling is correct.  Connor did one for everyone in the family.  Here is mine.

Cards And Sox Will Meet In World Series

The first time I followed the World Series, the St Louis Cardinals met the Boston Red Sox. The year was 1967. The Cardinals won that series 4 games to 3. This year, Boston and St. Louis will meet for the 4th time in Major League Baseball history.

Legendary Coach Don James Dies

Don James, the University Of Washington's winningest football coach has died.  His record while coaching the Huskies was 153-58-2.  His marquee season was in 1991 when his Dawgs was 12 and 0 and shared the national championship with his alma matter Miami.  James coached at the U-Dub from 1975-1992 and guided the team to 6 Rose Bowls. 
He will be deeply missed. 

Current Dasher From Artisan Tails

The most current picture of Dasher, from Jeanne Romano, is a watercolor of Dasher as he looks now.  More pet pictures can be found at Artisan Tails.  Jeanne is a former TV comedy writer and a resident of Bellevue.