Doobie Brothers And Santana At White River

I knew that I wouldn't get a good shot of the performers, so between acts, I wanted to show how much fun the folks attending the concert were having.  We were even tossing a couple beachballs around.

The White River Amphitheatre opened in 2003.   Taking backroads, it is a relatively short drive from our house.

Santana At The White River

We had a very enjoyable afternoon  and evening at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, enjoying two classic rock bands, The Doobie Brothers and Santana.

Although the weather had been miserable for most of the week, it couldn't have been much better for the show.

Santana, who played at Woodstock is booked to join many other popular bands at a festival celebrating the 50th anniversary of the legendary rock event in August.

Former Seahawk Owner Behring Dies

Ken Behring, the former owner of the Seattle Seahawks, has died at 91.  Behring bought the Seattle Seahawks, at a time when the team's popularity was quite high.
Behring, however, was not well liked.  He lived in the Bay Area of California and was a real estate developer, at a time when Seattle did not have warm feeling toward developers or what was perceived as many Californians moving into the area. Behring was often shown on the Seahawk sidelines during the game in a golf shirt, while Seattle fans were used to the previous owners, who were seldom or never seen. It was not long that Behring became the symbol of California conspicuous consumption.
Owning the Seahawks from 1988 until 1997, the team went through some of it's worst years and fan support waned.  Behring decided he wanted a new tax supported stadium.  When it appeared he would not be able to get  that, he attempted to move the team to the LA area.  A move that failed when community leaders persuaded Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen to buy the team.  The rest is history.
Although Behring is remembered as one of the least popular sports figure in Seattle history, his charitable contribution are reported to be quite significant.

Big Weekend Concert

We will be watching legendary rock group Santana this week at the White River Amphitheatre.  The Doobie Brothers will also perform.

Walla Walla History For Today

The Royal Motor Inn as a brand new motel and restaurant in my home town of Walla Walla. This picture was taken in the Spring of 1967.
 It was considered a destination place upon opening, but eventually, the restaurant was torn down and the place had many different renditions.   I'm not sure if a motel is operating at the site today. You can find memories of Walla Walla at Bygone Walla Walla.

Whatever Happened to Judy Strangis from Room 222 and Electra Woman & Dyn...

Judy Strangis pulled off the remarkable feat of making a minor part memorable, at least to me.  Strangis played the shy teenage high school student, Helen Loomis in the ABC comedy/drama Room 222.

At an impressionable age, it was my favorite show at the time.

The show, about a teacher and his peers and students in a Los Angeles High School,  began it's run as a comedy with a laugh track and eventually transitioned into a drama with contemporary issues.  

Hotel California By Eagle Eyes

More from Saturday night, Eagle Eyes, an Eagles tribute band played Hotel California to wrap their performance.  Of course, they were called back for an encore.  

Word has been received that the band will return to Bake's Place in Downtown Bellevue in late September.

Eagle Eyes Plays Bellevue

Last Night Deb and I joined 8 other family and friends at Bake's in Downtown Bellevue to watch Eagle Eyes, an Eagles tribute band hailing from Vancouver Island in Canada.

The band, consisting of 4 members not only played the songs of the Eagle, but basically, transformed themselves into the band, arguably the most popular American group.

I found it amazing that a band could assemble, where each member can not only sound like, but can copy their appearance and mannerisms to the point that you forget the fact that they are indeed a tribute band.  It is indeed, a special skill.

The band pretty much covered the Eagles songbook, save for Desperado,  the band saying that a piano would be needed to cover that classic.

Work Continues On Maple Valley Highway

Work has been going on for most of the spring on widening and improving Highway 169 in Maple Valley.  The work on the city's main arterial, will add an additional lane in each direction from Witte Road Southeast in the Lake Wilderness shopping area to Southeast 240th Street.
The work also includes sidewalks, a bike path, turning lanes, and a retention wall.  There is also a bike path.
While the work may make a quicker commute for now, work is taking place to build at Southeast 240th Street (below), which may continue the cycle of growth and the problems it brings to the city.

Parents brawl at Little League game after call by 13-year-old umpire I ABC7

Youth baseball is a huge commitment, however, hopefully things like this are rare.

Benicio Bryant Singer sings "The Joke" AWESOME | America's Got Talent 20...

This Maple Valley native has some "pipes" as they say in the business.

Walla Walla Elks Building Meets Wrecking Ball

This will really make me feel old.   The Elks Club on Rose Street in Walla Walla has been torn down. This is the same Elks Club that forced our house of worship to relocated in the very early 70s. I remember when it was brand spanking new, having just moved from it's location on 4th street, downtown.  

The building was torn down to make way for a new housing development.   At last report, the Elks are looking for a new location.  The forced relocation of Congregation Beth Israel, led to a better synagogue on Alder and Roosevelt. 

Thank you Joe Drazan, blogger at Bygone Walla Walla for the picture and the tip on this story. 

Happy Father's Day

Maple Valley Farmer's Market

The Maple Valley Farmer's Market has started and will run every Saturday from 9am until 2pm throughout the Summer.  It is located on the  playground at the Rock Creek Elementary School.
 Not only can you buy great stuff, but you can meet your neighbors.  My wife and I were there yesterday and I snapped this picture.

Meeting Washington Icon

At Alta Barer's memorial, there was a man that I could not wait to meet.  Dan Evans was governor of Washington from 1964 to 1976, basically, from when I was in 1st grade almost through my freshman year at WSU.  

He is a Republican and I'm a Democrat. I always wanted to see him defeated.  After 3 terms, he declined to run for a 4th term.

He would later serve a US Senator, replacing the iconic Scoop Jackson after his sudden passing.

Time passes and I now consider Evans one of our state's greatest public servants.  By meeting him, I later realize that I have met or seen in person, every person who has served as Washington governor during my 62 year lifetime.   I thought for a while that I had met every US Senator from Washington that served during my life, but later remembered that I had not met the late Brock Adams, who served one term.  Adams, ironically, was once law partners with my cousin, Stan Barer.

Jay Inslee To Debate

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has qualified for the Democratic Presidential Primary Debate to be held on June 26th.  Inslee, the first serious presidential candidate from this state in over 40 years, qualified by hitting the 65,000 donor threshold.

Area Experiencing Heatwave

Temperatures spiked to 94 degrees in Maple Valley as the area experienced a record breaking heat wave.  Cooler temperatures are predicted for today.

Hard to believe only 4 months ago, there was a heavy snowfall.

Bob Robertson Honors Featured On Puget Sound Media

For many years, Bob Robertson, known as the voice of the Washington State Cougars, also was the radio announcer for Tacoma Minor League baseball.  Last August, he was honored at Cheney Stadium for his service to Tacoma baseball.
A report on the event was recently featured on the Puget Sound Media blog.    You can watch the heart warming video by clicking here.

Puget Sound Media Blog Has Branded Merchandise

My newest coffee mug is emblazoned with the Puget Sound Media insignia.  Yes, the Puget Sound Media blog has "merch".  You can check it out by clicking here.
My guess is that soon, they will have a weekly podcast.

Maple Valley Celebrates

We enjoyed the last hour or so of Maple Valley Days.  The rides continued a little after the festival closed.  This year the weather worked in it's favor.

Alta Barer Honored At Fairmont

Former KING 5 TV anchor  and Stan Barer family friend Jean Enersen, pictured above, was emcee at a beautiful tribute to my late cousin, Alta Barer.  Alta, who was married to my cousin Stan, passed away last month after a long, but quiet, battle with cancer.
The service began with an incredible singing performance by the Puget Sound Company. Speakers included, University Of Washington President Ana Marie Cauce, Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, Former Governor and later US Ambassador to China, Gary Locke, and Changdong Xu, chairman of the WRSEA.
Both my brothers and their wives were among the guests.  Also attending were my cousin Lee Goldberg and his sister, Karen Dinino, from Los Angeles.
The Tribute took place at the Fairmont in Downtown Seattle.

Dasher On The Hill!

Dasher climbed on a mound on Maple Valley's pipeline trail to survey his land.

A Sign Of The Times?

This is no joke, it may be fun, but it actually exists. A new version of the old board game Monopoly encourages players to cheat to win, as long as you don't get caught.

It comes with handcuffs, so it looks like fun, but what does it say about our culture?  

Trip To Sunriver 6--Vistiting Oregon Colleges

I had never visited the campus of either Oregon's Pac 12 Universities, University Of Oregon (top picture) nor Oregon State  University (bottom picture).  One difference between Washington and Oregon is that in Washington, the two largest Universities are on opposite sides of the state.  In Oregon, they are very close.  

We decided to check out both campuses on the return from Sunriver.  Students were getting graduation pictures taken at both campuses.  Students also loved Dasher.  

In spite of the proximity, you can sense the difference in philosophy between the two institutions.  

I can now say that I have visited campuses of all the original Pac 8 schools.  

Now, only University of Arizona is the only school of the Pac 10 that I haven't visited, as I have been on campus at ASU.  

After it was the PAC 10 for about 3 decades, the conference became the Pac 12, after admitting Colorado and Utah, so that leaves 3 colleges in the top western athletic conference that I have not been on campus or have driven past  (as in the case with USC).

Holzhauer Reign Comes To An End

James Holzhauer's incredible run on Jeopardy has ended.  A Las Vegas sports gambler, Holzhauer won 32 consecutive games, amassing almost 2 and a half million dollars. He lost to librarian Emma Boettcher, who bet even bolder in the final Jeopardy round.  He was very close to breaking the 15 year record of all time money winner Ken Jennings.
Holzhauer's run and unorthodox style, made Jeopardy compelling television and for the first time, I set Jeopardy on our DVR.
Now, I'll watch tonight to see if Boettcher will go on a similar run.

Mitch Delivers Touching Interview With Author Steven Elliott

Mitch Levy, once the host of Sportsradio KJR's morning program has once again shown that he can deliver a great human interest interview on his now, once a week podcast.
On this week's show, Levy interviews Steven Elliott, the author of War Story.
To back things up, there is a sports angle to this story.  In 2004, Pat Tillman of the Arizona Cardinals, quit football to volunteer for US Army.  Of course, at the time, the country was mourning 9/11.   He was later reported to have been a war casualty.  First reported to be a victim of an enemy ambush and then revealed to be a victim of "friendly fire."
Steven Elliott is reported to be one of two soldier that may be responsible for Tillman's death.  Elliott has gone through life carrying the guilt of someone who most likely snuffed out the life of someone considered an American hero.
You can hear Levy interview Elliott, now a resident of Olympia about 40 minutes into the podcast by clicking here.

Trip To Sunriver 5--An Evening In Bend

After a day at the pool, we went down to the road to Bend.  It is a charming town that has experienced a lot of growth.  We had dinner at the Deschutes  Brewery.
The Deschutes River flows through the town and is surrounded by a variety of parks.

Trip To Sunriver 4--The Lava River Cave

Monday was cold and rainy, in other words, a great day explore the Lava River Cave, just outside the Sunriver Resort.  It is the longest such cave in Oregon at 5211 feet.  

 It has some narrow passages and  low ceilings, so it can be challenging.  There is a metal walkway at the beginning, but that ends quickly.  

The bottom picture is at the end of the cave.  The walk back is much easier because you know what to expect.

40 Years Ago, Sonics Win The NBA Title

I working at KTEL the station carrying the Seattle Supersonics in Walla Walla, when the team won it's only world championship.  I was so excited, I broke open the mike and yelled "Alright Sonics!" at the final buzzer.

Trip To Sunriver 3: Arrival At The Resort.

Scenes from Sunriver Resort, near Bend, Oregon.  Dasher is right at home on the deck overlooking the golf course. Bottom, the resort had stunning views of Mt. Bachelor.