WLS Anchor, Cougar Classmate Kathy Brock To Retire

After 27 years including the last 24 as 6pm Anchor at WLS in Chicago, Pasco native Kathy Brock is leaving the rigors of the newsroom.  The 58 year old Brock announced that she will retire from Chicago's ABC affiliate after her June 27th newscast.  Brock also anchored the station's 10pm cast.
Brock and I worked together from 1980-1981 in the Cable 8 closed circuit newscast at WSU, part of the school's TV news class led by Glenn Johnson.
After graduation, she started with  Tri-Cities TV (KEPR)  like her sister, Kerry.  Kerry Brock would go on to anchor at KOMO 4 in Seattle, by coincidence, also an ABC affiliate.
Before her Chicago job, Brock also worked at KUTV in Salt Lake City, before that, she had worked in Boise.
Brock is a graduate of Pasco High School and had family in Walla Walla.
I know Kathy as a very hard worker with amazing focus.  We congratulate her on a wonderful career and wish her the best in retirement.
Thank you to pugetsound.media for the heads up on this.

Blog Mitzvah Barers Of Maple Valley Turns 13

Since my 10th "blogversary", I have quit marking anniversaries of this blog, but felt my 13th year was worth mentioning.  This blog is the ultimate ink blot, I get an idea, I post it.  

Once again, you can find my very first post by clicking here.

 

ABC/Disney Cancels Roseanne After A Racist Tweet

Roseanne Barr whose show's return was a success and brought the term "reboot" into pop culture has had her show cancelled after a tweet using racist language to criticize a former Obama aide, and other Democratic figures.
Barr had already deleted and apologized for the tweet, but ABC was not having it.  The actress/comedian had been known for outrageous behavior like singing the Star Spangled Banner off key and grabbing her pants afterward. 
It's not known what's in store for Roseanne going forward, but you can't help but feel bad for the performers and staff of the show, who are jobless for her Barr's reckless behavior.

Moonlight Over Mt. Si

The Moon starts to appear over Mt Si as we all sit by the campfire. 

Memorial Day Weekend Barbecue

Deb and I were hosted by the Todd's for a barbeque at their house on the bank of the Snoqualmie River.  After we went for a walk, my friend took this picture of Dasher and I with Mount Si looming in the background.

NHL Expansion Vote Won't Be In June

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman (pictured) has stated that reports that the League  vote on expansion could happen this June are untrue.  Bettman said that a vote will probably take place in fall or early winter at the latest. 

No doubt, some will blame the newly passed Seattle Head Tax for the delay.  However, I don't that had anything to do with that and no one has said anything yet that hints a halting of expansion plans.

Memorial Day

Donna Kelley--From Tri Cities To CNN

Since Walla Walla had only 3 commercial radio stations for much of the time that I was growing up, Tri Cities stations were prevalent in the market.  The Tri Cities, at the time, was about the three times the size of Walla Walla and had what seemed to be, a much younger populace.
Donna Kelley worked for KORD (although I cannot find a link to confirm that) and went on to become a news anchor at CNN.
Since Donna and Kelley are both common names, I did not make the connection for at first. 
KORD was an AM/FM radio station that played adult contemporary music.  The FM station could be heard very clearly in Walla Walla. 
As far as last updates, Kelley went back to her native Montana, working at KBZK as an anchor and  executive producer in 2007 after a 6 year retirement.   She had also previously worked in the Spokane market.

Former Seahawk Cliff Avril Says Carroll May Have Lost Locker Room After Super Bowl Loss

Former Seahawk Defensive End Cliff Avril has been in the news after an interview on the NFL Network Reporter Dave Dameshek.  Avril said that Pete Carroll's decision in the 2015 Super Bowl  to have quarterback Russell Wilson throw instead of give the ball to Marshawn Lynch in the closing minutes may have cost him the locker Room as well as the game and title. 

The comments caused attention because Avril had not been known for speaking or attracting the type of controversy that players like Michael Bennett and Richard Sherman had garnered.  

Avril, who was forced to retire this last season after a neck injury, said the team felt that a second straight Super Bowl victory could have easily led to a third and beyond, but that the decision to pass, which led to an interception by the Patriots, icing the defeat, made many members of the team lose confidence in the coach.

Avril is scheduled to start  at Sports Radio KJR as a mid day co-host with Jason Puckett in early July. 

Fox Pointe Houses Rising

A few houses are up the Fox Pointe development near Belmont Woods in Maple Valley

Expansion Golden Knights Going To Finals

The State Of Nevada's first Major Sports Franchise, The Las Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League , are going to the Stanley Cup finals in their first year of existence.  The Golden Knights beat the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 to become the first expansion team to go to it's  sport's championship finals since the St Louis Blues, also an NHL team, did it in 1968.  The Golden Knights were beat the Jets, 4 games to 1.

This should elevate excitement in our area for Seattle's possible NHL expansion team, which is scheduled to be announced next month.

Bothell Block Party And Brewfest

The Band "Sisters" was amongst the entertainment at the Bothell Blog Party and Brewfest.  The first outdoor festival of the year that we have attended.

Fund Set Up For Family To Move Into House

A couple weeks ago , we returned home to find the KIRO 7  news team setting up to do a report near  our house. Upon walking the dog, we talked with the reporter and cameraman.

It had been discovered that a house newly purchased by a family in a nearby cul-de-sac  was found to be contaminated by Meth.  Apparently an operation was occurring in our own neighborhood several years ago.  

The family needs extensive work to be done in order to move into their own house. 

A gofundme page has been started for the family to raise 11K plus needed to decontaminate the house  and perhaps pay the expenses of the family of 5 living elsewhere.  So far, the fund has raised over  $7,000.

The family encourages new home buyers to purchase a $50 meth inspection kit, even though it is not required.

Pictured above is KIRO 7 reporter Jessica Oh.

38 Years Ago Today--Mount St Helens Erupts

Right in our own state of Washington, Mt. St Helen's blew it's top on May 18, 1980.

Ariela & Libe Barer Insta Live - 03/08/18

These two Barers (sisters) have burgeoning acting careers.  Are they related to me?  Looks and personalities seems to indicate that they may be.  Anyway, this video is a lot of fun.

Amanda Knox Interview

She's either the victim or the beneficiary of a great injustice. Amanda Knox of Seattle served time in Italy for murder while  she was a University of Washington exchange student.  

Zak Burns and Gee Scott, who host KIRO Nights weekdays at KIRO FM 97.3, interviewed Knox.  You can hear the interview by clicking here.

Bummer

Major League Baseball reports that Mariner 2nd Baseman Robinson Cano has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for a banned substance.

Dad reads a story from his book.

During what would turn out to be my Dad's last years, he published a blog, with content of his memories  of family tales and history.  For his 80th birthday, my two brothers and I took stories from the blog and had them published into a paperback book.  

On a visit to Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs area), I believe my brother, Steve, filmed a few clips of my Dad reading from various passages in the book.

This story, about my Grandparents meeting is appropriate as today marks 25 years since I first met my wife Debra.

Margot Kidder Dead At 69

Margot Kidder, the sultry voiced Canadian born actor who played Lois Lane in the Superman movies series of the 1970s has died of unknown causes.  She was 69.  Kidder had spoken of her struggles with Bi Polar disease and a breakdown was reported in 1996 when she was found hiding behind bushes. 

Kidder lived in Livingston, Montana.

Grand Central Hotel

This sign stands above a bar just off Front Street on Sunset Way in Issaquah.  It gives the town a historical flair.

Ex Seahawk Coach Chuck Knox Dies

Chuck Knox, who led the Seattle Seahawks during one of it's most successful periods has died at 86. Knox coached the team from 1983 to 1991. He led the Seahawks to their first playoff berth in 1983,  a season where they came within  one game of making the Super Bowl.

The Seahawks would make 4 trips to the playoffs under Knox.  His conservative style of  running the ball more and passing less, earned his style the nickname of "Ground Chuck".  

Before coming to Seattle, Knox also coach in Los Angeles and Buffalo. After leaving the Seahawks, he  returned to coach the Rams.  

I briefly met Knox at my cousin's wedding in 1994.

 

Happy Mother's Day

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered 24--Walla Walla Rock DJ Dave "Rockin' Cochran" Memorialized

Death brought Dave Cochran perhaps more recognition than during his time working nights at the old radio shack at 2nd and Tietan known as KTEL.  Cochran was sort of a Clark Kent, who turned into Superman behind the mike.
He had a great voice, a great knowledge of the music and , besides, he was Rockin' Cochran.  I suggested to UB feature writer Annie Charnley  Eveland an article on Dave after hearing of his passing.  After some quick research, she wrote the incredible article that you see at the top.

My Brother The Model

In the late 1960s, my father, while partners at B. Barer And Sons, opened his own business, The Fabric Outlet.  It was located on Main near 4th in Walla Walla and eventually expanded to 4th and Main.  My mother loved to sew, so she would be able to work at the store and did most of the buying.  My Dad's uncle and partner at B. Barer, David Barer, was also a partner, but as far as I know, didn't participate in the store's operation.
The picture above is from a newspaper advertisement for the store, featuring my brother, Steve.  The price of 3.88 per yard seems a little pricey to me for the period.
  The store did well for a few years, but new buyers habits and my mom's illness forced it to close a few years later.

In Memory Of

A bouquet of flowers that we sent to Bangkok in memory of my Uncle Phil, who passed away last Saturday.  Phillip Granek was my Mom's brother. 

Bygone Walla Walla Page Recognized

Joe Drazan's amazing Bygone Walla Walla page took a break from history to recognize the present, as it's been rewarded by the Walla Walla School District 140 with it's Partners In Learning award.
Drazan is a former Whitman College Librarian and frequently posts pictures of Walla Walla's history from throughout the 20th Century, kindling memories as well as educating.
Many of the pictures are submitted by readers.  
This is the second year in a row that Drazan has received the honor.

Mariner Hurler Throws No No In Native Country

Things seem to be looking up for the Seattle Mariners this season as they are 20-14 out of the blocks.  Mariner James Paxton, known as The Big Maple due to his Canadian heritage pitched a no-hitter in Toronto, becoming the first Canadian native to ever pitch a no hitter in Canada.
Dick Fowler is the only other Canadian to pitch a no-hitter.  Fowler pitched for the Philadelphia A's in 1945.
The Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-0 to begin a seven day road trip.

Down Memory Lane

Even though we both lived in the Seattle area, our engagement notice appeared in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin on June 12, 1994.  At the time, I had only lived in the area for 5 years.  It has now been almost 29 years.

The Lake Wilderness Arboretum

The Lake Wilderness Arboretum in Maple Valley is a great place to walk the dog or find tranquility.

Very Funny

Pranksters altered the speed limit sign between Patrick's Faire and Belmont Woods in Maple Valley.

Fade To Black Returns

We celebrated our friend's at Pogacha Restaurant in Issaquah.  We watched Fade To Black play a great mix of R and B,
Funk and much more.  We had seen the band there last summer.

Happy Cinco De Mayo

Maple Valley Awards Senator Mullet

The City of Maple Valley has award Democratic State Senator Mark Mullet (fourth from left), along with Republican House members Paul Graves and Jay Rodne, keys to the city.  Mullet's recognition was for writing a bill to change the state law and allowing the city to annex the long controversial "donut hole", a parcel of unincorporated land inside the city.  This allowed the building of the new Tahoma High School on the site.  It was Mullet's first the first big bill that he introduced in his first term.
Mullet may be one of the Mavericks in the legislature, often not following party lines.
Graves and Rodne were also honored for work that they have done for our town.
Thank you to the Maple Valley Reporter for the tip and the picture.

Mount Kiluea Erupts

Hawaii's Mount Kiluea has erupted sending ash into residential area's and causing over  10,000 people to evacuate.  An amazing feat when you consider that last January, a false misile alert sent panic through the state.  You have to wonder if citizens would take dire warnings a little less seriously.

Prior to the eruption, the area had been subject to earthquakes in the last few days..

Ichiro Transitioned Into Front Office

Iconic Mariner Ichiro Sazuki has been offered a front office position for at least the rest of this season, apparently as a way to gracefully allow him to leave the team roster, according to the Seattle Times.

Roxy Theatre

There has been a lot of talk on the Walla Walla page on Facebook about the Roxy Theatre.  Growing up in Walla Walla, there were 3 standing movie theatres.  The Liberty, The Capitol, and The Roxy.
The Liberty was the only one that was operating.  The Capitol reopened and then closed again.  It had many different incarnations before shutting down for good.
The Roxy had closed either before I was born or while I was very young.  The empty building stood for years before it was finally shut down to make room for what was then Seafirst Bank.
The Roxy left a lot of great memories for Walla Wallans.  My dad mentioned it a couple of times  in his blog.
Photos are from Joe Drazen's Bygone Walla Walla blog.

Seattle's Rachel Belle Returns From Attending James Beard Awards As Nominee

Seattle radio personality Rachel Belle and her producer, Andy Mason have just returned from New York where they attended the James Beard Awards,  which are given to people in the Food and Restaurant field .  Belle and Mason were nominated for the podcast Your Last Meal, a feature available on the KIRO website and I-Tunes.  On the podcast, Rachel talks to various celebrities about what they would want for a last meal.
Sadly, Belle and Mason didn't win the award, but considering there were a handful of nominees out of probably thousands of  podcasts,  they can hold their heads high, having rubbed shoulders with the best in their field and knowing that there is always next year.
Rachel's radio feature, "Ring My Bell" is heard weekdays at 6:30 pm on KIRO 97.3 in Seattle.

Fleetwood Mac Channel Launches Today

For the month of May,  Sirius XM channel 30 will feature the Iconic Rock Band Fleetwood Mac.  The launch scheduled for 2pm Pacific Daylight Time.  

The band was started in Britain in the late 60s and went through many line up changes when Americans Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined the band in 1974.