Bobby Darin - Beyond The Sea (Live and Funny)

Back when performers where multi-talented.

An Evening Of Basketball In Portland

Only a week ago, NBA basketball in Portland.

The Stylistics

We enjoyed watching this concert in Kent a couple weeks ago.

Tahoma High School

This is the brand new campus for Tahoma High School, just past the 4 Corners area of Maple Valley at  23499 SE Tahoma Way, Maple Valley, WA 98038.

Trio Of Adam West Fans Want To Rename A Walla Walla Park

 

Jonathan Grant, Adam Lore, and Don Roff, Adam West super fans who were behind establishing a day in his honor, are now moving to change the name of a Walla Walla park.  Menlo Park is not far from the house on Alvarado Terrace where West, then known as Bill Anderson lived with his family as a child.
West, who died last year, would go on to play one of TV's most iconic characters, Batman.
The three fans have been researching the history of the park tucked away in an eastside residential area.
So far, they have found no historical significance to the Menlo Park name.  

Two Cultural Icons Have Made Washington Home

Here in the Northwest corner of the US, we are excited to hear about natives and current residents who made an impact on our culture and in two consecutive days, I've found out about these two historical figures. 
Charlie Hall of Bainbridge Island was a student at the University Of San Francisco when he invented the waterbed.  The mattress was full of water and thought to add significant comfort to one's sleep.  The idea took off, but eventually fell out of favor.  Hall thinks it is due to cheap knock offs.  Hall says that for the 50th anniversary of his invention, he is coming  out with a new improved version of the iconic bed.
Naomi Parker Fraley of Longview died Saturday.  She has recently been recognized as the figure depicted during World War II as Rosie The Riveter.   Rosie was the symbol of women doing what was then considered men's work to help America's war effort.

This Year's Super Bowl--Eagles vs Patriots

The big game features New England defending it's title against the Philadelphia Eagles.  One thing we've learned, no lead is safe against the Patriots.

Looking Down On Portland

The historic Pittock Mansion was closed, but we were able to enjoy the view.
We visited Portland to watch a Trail Blazer game.  It was the first NBA game that I had watched in person since the Sonics left town.

Blazers Lit It Up

The Mavs hung in, but the Blazers had the hot hand.

NBA Basketball

We're in Portland watching the Blazers play the Dallas Mavericks.  Portland is doing well so far

WSU campus mourns the loss of Tyler Hilinski

There has got to be a missing piece to this puzzle. 

Former Washington Governor John Spellman

Former Republican Governor John Spellman has died.  Spellman, who was elected during a Republican landslide in 1980, served one term.  He was defeated in 1984 during tough economic times in our state.
Spellman was King County's first executive, a position much like a mayor.  He was the face behind building the Kingdome, which brought major league baseball and NFL football to Seattle.
Spellman was the last Republican that this state has elected.

WSU Rocked By Quarterback Hilinski Suicide

Tyler Hilinski,  WSU quarterback in waiting, was found dead today of a  self-inflicted gun shot wound.  Hilinski, who showed flashes of brilliance filling in for starting quarterback Luke Falk, was found in his apartment.  Police were called after he failed to show up for practice.
Fans on social media are expressing their shock and sadness.

Ken Norton, Jr Will Be Seahawks Defensive Coordinator

Ken Norton, Jr. will be the new defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks.  He had previously held that position with the Oakland Raiders.  He was with San Francisco as an assistant coach last season.  He at one time was the linebacker coach for the Seahawks under Pete Carroll.
Sources say that Norton is the only player in NFL history to win 3 consecutive rings.
Nortons accomplishments as a player and a coach are quite impressive, however they are somewhat overshadowed by his father, the late Ken Norton, Sr, a boxer who beat Mohammed Ali.

The Stylistics

Deb and I attended an R and B/soul concert at the Showare Center in Kent.  By far, my favorite of the band's that performed were The Stylistics. The group's lead singer has a voice as smooth as silk. The band, formed in Philadelphia in the late 60 s had such 70s hits as Betcha By Golly Wow, Break up to Make Up, and Stone In Love. 
The other headlining band was The Whispers.  James "JJ" Walker, who starred in the 70s sitcom Good Times, was the host.
The performance was part of the OMG Heart And Soul Tour.

Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr

Dyn-no-mite

You may not recgnize the face, but you would know the voice.  James Walker played "JJ" in the 70s sit-com, Good Times. 
Walker was contributing his stand up comedy prowess, hosting a concert at the Showare Center at Kent which featured the Stylistics and The Whispers.

Keith Jackson: A Tribute

A wonderful and warm tribute to arguably the most famous Washington State University graduate. 

Keith Jackson Dies

Legendary College Football Announcer Keith Jackson has died.  He was 89.  Jackson was a graduate of Washington State University and was proud of his Cougar roots.

 

Howard Cosell's Grandson Impersonates Him During Tim McCarver's Sports B...

This brings back memories, Colin Cossell delivers a spot on impression of his grandfather, the late Howard Cossell.

Seahawks Will Travel Far In 2018

 

 

 

 

It has been announced that the Seattle Seahawks will play the Oakland Raiders in London in the 2018 season.  The game will be played on October 14th.

King County Jury Duty--Prepare To Wait

Getting called to jury duty can be frightening.  When you show up either downtown or to the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent (above) where I was sent, you don't know what or how things will take place.
I arrived at the Maleng Center on time yesterday and reported to the jury room.  We were presented with a number of forms to fill out.  One was a "juror biography" where we wrote about ourselves, where we lived, where we were born, our education, etc.  Upon completion, we go to a waiting area, not unlike a bus terminal.  It was big, but not old nor unpleasant.  There was a buzz through the room for a period of time until a film presentation came up on the screen. It basically outlined the process.
Afterwards, a judge came up to the room to outline the history of picking juries in the area.  At one time, it was a 30 day obligation, then a two week,  now if you are not picked on day one, you are released. 
It was a sit and wait situation for another half hour.  People in the room were on their smart phones and laptops. Some were reading paperback books.  A woman came up to the front of the room to say that a judge needed 70 people for a jury pool for a particular case.   One by one, names where read from 1 to 70.  My name was not picked.   Obviously from that 70,  12 jurors would be picked.
Those left in the room waited another couple hours to see if another case would need jurors.  Most of the people were back on their smart phones and laptops.  I became fascinated with a post on facebook on sayings people use  but can't stand when right around noon, it was announced that there where no other cases that day and we were free to leave. 

Walla Walla Native Seeks Washington State Republican Chair

The race to succeed Susan Hutchison as chair of Washington's Republican Party includes a man with Walla Walla ties.  Lance Henderson, whose dad served on the Walla Walla City Council in the 1980s has announced his desire to seek the post.
Henderson published an independent newspaper in Walla Walla known as the Blue Mountain Review many years ago.  Although it would an unabashedly Conservative slant, it included an op-ed page from a strident Liberal. 
Henderson later served as executive director of the Washington State Republican Party.  He recently was involved in helping Maine Conservative Governor Paul Le Page win election in Maine.
Henderson's Father, Jim and Grandfather, Babe both served as golf pro's at Veteran's Memorial Golf Course in Walla Walla.

Jerry Van Dyke Star Of My Mother The Car

Jerry Van Dyke, younger brother of beloved TV Icon Dick Van Dyke has died in Arkansas,  Van Dyke did star in the ill-fated sitcom "My Mother The Car".  Reportedly, Van Dyke turned down the role of Gilligan in the show "Gilligan's Island" which became a comedy classic.
Van Dyke received 4 consecutive Emmy nominations for playing the dim witted assisted coach in the early 90s hit "Coach". 
Van Dyke also guest starred in a number of 1960s comedy shows and had a bit part in The Dick Van Dyke show as Rob Petrie's brother. 
Van Dyke was 86.

Former Astronaut Dead At 87

Astronaut John Young, who was the first Gemini pilot and would go on to walk on the Moon has died at 87.  Young flew a total of 6 space missions, he would go on to serve NASA as chief of the astronaut office.  He retired in 2004 after 42 years in the NASA program.

Record Number Of Posts In 2016

For the 3rd straight year, I set a record for blog posts in Barers Of Maple Valley.  The blogs saw 383 posts, almost 40 more than last year.  Much of it was attribute to a trip to Israel as well as better mobile app devises.  Thank you for reading this blog in 2016!

Walla Walla Paper Does Feature On Goldberg

The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin recently did a feature on TV writer-novelist Lee Goldberg.  Goldberg, a cousin of mine, has a new novel  called True Fiction.
 Lee's connection to Walla Walla is his mom, the late Jan Curran, my Uncle Dave's daughter, who graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1955.  UB writing Annie Charnley Eveland, who wrote the article on Goldberg, formed a long distance friendship with Curran, herself a newspaper feature writer. 

New Year's Eve At Semiahmoo

Bellingham based band The Atlantics rocked the New Year's Eve party at Semiahmoo,
The resort is about 2 and a half hours north of Seattle.  Balloons dropped from the ceiling at the stroke of midnight as we welcomed the New Year.

CNN's Randi Kaye Reports From Pot Party

CNN reporter Randi Kaye became a social media celeb when she was assigned to report from a legal recreational marijuana party in Denver on New Year's Eve.  

Ironically, pot is legal in the "mile high city".  Although Kaye was not shown consuming the drug, her exposure to it raised some eyebrows from critics and some viewers.  Apparently,  Kaye had done a report in an earlier assignment and was said to exhibit symptoms of a "contact high".

A New Year's Weekend In Semiahmoo

The was bitter cold, but sunny as we spent New Year's weekend at the Semiahmoo Resort.  Looking across the water into Canada in this picture.

Happy New Year!!