Mount Rainier Peeking Out

Never a bad time to see The Mountain and from Druids Glen golf course on a cloudy day, it's even prettier than when it's clear 

Kraken In First At The Break

 By virtue of a 3-1 victory on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night (January 28th), the Seattle Kraken, in its second year of existence, goes to the NHL All Star break in first place in the Pacific Division.  Not bad. 

Conrad Becomes Washington State Democratic Chair

 The Washington State Democrats have reorganized and for the first time in 6 years, have picked a new party chair.  Shasti Conrad has become the first woman of color to take the position, as well as the youngest.    According to the Seattle Times, she is the first Indian-American  to be elected party chair in the country.  Conrad was elected unanimously, according to the Cascadia Advocate, a Democratic blog. 

Conrad is the former chair of the King County Democrats and has been a part of many presidential campaigns.  

Go Kraken

 In it's second year in the NHL, the Seattle Kraken sit at second place in the Pacific Division.  Tonight (Saturday, January 28th, 2023) at Climate Pledge, they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets.  

Summer Fun in the Great NW - 2011

Fun in Seattle in the summer, if your a summer person, like me, this old radio promo will 

brighten your spirits during the long winter.  

I've Been Away

Sorry about the lack of posts.  We have been away while some home repairs have taken place

KJR Seattle - Kacie Sommers 1997

I don't think that I have every mentioned this lady, Kacie Sommers. I listened to her on KJR-Fm in the 90s.  Kacie found me on Facebook and offered a friend request.  I was totally starstruck.  I guess she had seen me commenting on a KJR nostalgia site.  We fast became real friends.

Kacie, today, does the Seattle Radio Greats site on Facebook.  I try and help her when I can.  It's really fun. 

Braving The Snow

Football and snow are mixing as Buffalo and Cincinnati face each other in the AFC Divisional.

Pat O Day History - How the Hydroplane Races started at Seafair- 2010 Al...

The late Pat O'Day recalls the start of the Hydroplane races that once symbolized Seattle.

Iconic Pop Music Figure David Crosby

 David Crosby, a member of two different bands figuring prominently in rock music history and perhaps the most famous of the original configuration of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, is dead at 81. 

Crosby first band was the Byrds, a pioneering folk-rock band from LA.  He would go on to form another band, with Stephen Stills of the Buffalo Springfield and Graham Nash of the British group, the Hollies.  Another former member of the Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young would later join that band. 

Crosby was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

Sawant Not Running For Reelection

My Northwest has announced the controversial Seattlecity councilwoman Kshana Sawant will not seek reelection.    Sawant barely kept her position after a recall attempt two years ago.

Night Court Is Back

Reboots of old shows have become part of the current day TV landscape with varying success.

 Night Court, a unique, quirky, comedy show from the 80s is back with Dan Fielding as the only returning character. 

I watched a little of the first show and the jokes did not always land.  I want to give it a little bit of a chance because it took me a while to warm up to the original version of the show. 

Celebrating Martin Luther King Day

Today we remember the great civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr.
 

Kraken Set Record

 The Seattle Kraken, only in their second season, became the first team in NHL history to sweep a 7 game road trip.   Tonight (Saturday, January 14th) the team beat the Chicago Black Hawks 8-5. 

Go Seahawks!

 

It's Blue Friday--Go Seahawks!

 Seahawks face the San Francisco 49ers tomorrow (Saturday, January 14th 2023)  at Levi's Stadium.  Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 pst. 

Lisa Marie Presley Has Died

 Just like her dad, Lisa Marie Presley has died at a young age. Unlike her dad, she did live to be 54..

 Presley died today (Thursday, January 12th, 2023).  The death was announced by her mother, Pricilla.  Lisa Marie had been hospitalized after apparently suffering a heart attack at her home.

    One of the last living connections to her famous father, Presley lost a son, Benjamin, to suicide in 2020.  

Barers Of Maple Valley Breaks Post Record

 Barers Of Maple Valley posted a record of 435 times in 2022, breaking the record of 416 from the previous year by a whopping 19 posts. It is an average of 1.1 posts per day.

Some will say that it is because we did a lot in this past year, while the more skeptical may say it's because we didn't do a lot.  To look at the pages of posts from 2022 you can start here.

Aftermath Of Windstorm

A huge windstorm swept the area yesterday (Monday January 9th, 2023), causing power outages throughout the region and some property damage to a number of homes.  

This fence, along the pipeline trail in Maple Valley, is one off many that were felled.

Seahawks In The Playoffs

The Seahawks are in the post season after beating division rival Los Angeles and an unlikely victory by  the Detroit Lions (the team the Seahawks eliminated), playing for pride, over the Green Bay Packers, eliminating them from post season.

Showing Support

Buffalo fans show support for Demar Hamlin, the Bills safety who had a heart attack on the field during the Monday Night Football game.

Father And Son Road Race

You can see and hear my Uncle, Arny Barer and son Sam Barer as they take the 1964 Lotus for a drive at Pacific Raceways. In memory of Arnold J Barer.

Last Blue Friday Of Regular Season--Rams Visit Seahawks

 Seahawks chances for post season are slim, but still there. They take on the Rams at home.  

Go Seahawks!

The '83 Wave Spectacular Remembered On 40th Anniversary

I have wonderful memories of this event.  The '83 Wave Spectacular (which was actually in December of '82) at the Seattle Center.  At the time I worked at KYYX, which had just switched from a safe top 40 mellow rock format to a cutting-edge New Wave music, the previous summer.  

As an employee of the station, I got in for free.  I don't remember how many days that I attended, but I do remember seeing bands like Missing Persons, The Greg Kihn Band, and Oingo Boingo. 

Being from Walla Walla, I had at the time, seen very few rock concerts. The idea of being in a room with famous people was a wild concept. 

From a business standpoint, this event, from what I heard, was not a money maker.  The admission price was perhaps a little high for fans of the genre, many whom decried the commercialization of their passion. 

Seattle area historian Feliks Banel did this great report on the 40th anniversary of what I figured was a forgotten event. 

Together Again!

 

After my Dad's passing in 2016, my Uncle Arny (on your left) was the only living person in this picture.  Now that he is gone, this picture, which is on my bookshelf, is even more touching.  Perhap, they are enjoying coffee up there somewhere. 

Goodbye Uncle Arny

 My Uncle Arny passed away Monday (January 2nd, 2023), he was an attorney in Seattle for decades before recently retiring. 

He was my Dad's brother, graduating from Walla Walla High School in 1953, moving to Seattle to go to the University of Washington, where he would get his law degree.  One of his school pals was Wes Uhlman who would go on to become the mayor of Seattle.  

Uncle Arny would come to Walla Walla as I was growing up and was very engaging. He drove a red convertible and to me, represented the big city.  He met a Portland school teacher, Carol and married her in 1967.  They would have two sons and 4 granddaughters. 

Uncle Arny and I shared a love of progressive politics, and family history. He was an avid contributor to the "Barer Family Group" on Facebook.  Like my dad, he had a love of classic cars. A hobby that he also shared with his son, Sam.  He loved gatherings of family and friends.

Uncle Arny and Aunt Carol were always there for me as I moved to Seattle.  When Deb and I started dating nearly 30 years ago, I introduced her to them at the Newport Cafe in Kirkland.  

Uncle Arny and I would talk about once a month, and he would always tell me what a wonderful wife that I had.  You can see the obit in the Seattle Times by clicking here.

Seahawks Regain Winning Form

 The Seattle Seahawks, who have really struggled down the stretch, seemed to get their winning form back, beating the New York Jets 23-6.  The victory eliminated the Jets from this season's playoff contention, while keeping the Seahawks chances, thought minimal, alive. 

Popular Radio Host Dori Monson Dies

 The Seattle Times reports that veteran KIRO FM radio host Dori Monson has died, he was 61.  He at one time was part of the Seattle Seahawks radio broadcast.

Monson was also a girls basketball coach.  He coached the Shorecrest High School girls' basketball team to its first state title in 2016.  

Monson was an outspoken conservative who I disagreed with vehemently many times. I still find his passing shocking and will keep his wife and three daughters in my thoughts and prayers. 

You can read Dori's Wikipedia by clicking here

Happy New Year!