Jan Thanks The City

I do remember seeing Jan's well done letter to the editor, soon after her appearance in 1979.

Return Of Jan Goldberg Curran

My cousin Jan Goldberg Curran got to do what many dream about, return to her hometown as a hero. 

She had her first (I think) book published and returned to her native Walla Walla for a book signing.

I lived there at the time, so I have no idea why I failed to attend. 

My brother, Steve, found this ad in the UB archives.

By coincidence, the event was exactly one year before the eruption of Mount St Helens.

Go Seahawks!

 

Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers today (October 11th, 2026).

Mike Ditka--Legendary Coach

Mike Ditka, whom with one Super Bowl victory coaching the Bears, became a legend has died.  Ditka let the 1985 Chicago Bears to a title with a team considered to be one of the greatest of all-time

Loaded with personalities like Walter Payton and William "The Refrigerator" Perry, the Bears compiled a 15-1 regular season.  

In his playing days, Ditka was a tight end, considered the man who revolutionized the position.  It was at one time, mostly a blocking position into a pass receiving threat.  He played for the Bears, and the Dallas Cowboys. 

Ditka was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988, he was the first tight end to be inducted. 

Mike Ditka was 86,
 

Queensryche 2

Queensryche has been considered by many a thinking person's heavy metal band. 

Whereas, many bands of their genre, sang about sex, drugs, and partying, their songs and imagery had been more conceptual.

Back in the 1990s, I was introduced to bass player, Eddie Jackson, as I worked with his mom and sister, at the time, in Redmond. I mentioned to his sister, Dolly, at a later time, how friendly he was.  She replied, it was because he remembered what is was like when he was a fan

Queensryche Plays Hometown

 One of the most successful bands to come out of the Seattle area, Queensryche played at Snoqualmie Casino last night (Thursday, October 8th, 2026). The band endured some critical lineup changes over the years, but still has bassist Eddie Jackson 

Be advised, this video is loud, ear protection is recommended. 

The Mariners And Walla Walla Sweets

Walla Walla radio legend Beven Roth, an obvious sports nut, began a tradition of bringing a bag of onions to Mariners announcers Dave Niehaus and his, then sidekick, Ken Wilson. 

In 1980, as the team was beginning to make a name for itself and get fans into the Kingdome, the team's home at the time, there was a Walla Walla Sweet Onion Night.

The late Jim Buchan wrote a column about it.

Thanks go to brother Steve for digging this up.

Remembering October 7th

 

Survivor 50 Idol Challenge

 

 Survivor 50 Challenge from early February 2026.This video had to be cut, to meet You Tube copyright rules, you miss our posing with former Survivor player, Kelly Wentworth.

Back To Back Interceptions In Seattle

 I'm right on never seeing back to back interceptions in a game on the first two plays from scrimmage.  It had never happened before in the NFL.  

Absolutely amazing. 

The 12s Make Noise

 The loud crowd makes it hard for the offensive team to concentrate; this makes fans feel like they have a hand in the results of the game.  This does not always go over well with fans of the visiting teams.

Yesterday's game was exciting as the Seahawks intercepted on the first play from scrimmage.  In decades of watching football, I don't remember that happening. The joy was short lived because, on the next play, the Seahawks would throw another interception to the Chargers. I've seen back to back fumbles and, of course, back to back turnovers, I just don't recall ever seeing back to back interceptions. 

The two teams combined for 30 penalties. 14 committed by the Seahawks.  A couple of Seahawk penalties, extended Chargers drives, leading to scores. 

After all of that, the Hawks won 30-23. 

Crowd Spills In For Game

 The concourse of Lumen Field as fans arrive for the Chargers vs Seahawks game. 

Blue Thunder 2

 

Blue Thunder Plays For Seahawk Fans

 Some Charger fans enjoyed it too.  It was a capacity crowd at Luman Field as the Seahawks were able to bounce back from a defeat a week ago.

Beat The Chargers!!

 

Braiden Bell Loses Blazer Gig

 Braiden Bell, picked to succeed Kevin Callabro as Portland Trail Blazer play by play, is out of a job after boyhood indiscrete tweets were unearthed.  Media Maven has the story.  Click here. 

NBA Expansion Possibly Delayed

New wrinkle in the process of bringing the NBA back to Seattle. It's not from here though, it's from the proposed Las Vegas team.  Former Sonic fans have already been extemely skeptical as to whether this will happen.  

Brodie Brazil, a YouTube sports reporter elaborates.  

 

Blue Friday Again

 Seahawks look to get back on track this Sunday against the Chargers.

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered 41--Mike Cherry Calls Baseball

  

Mike Cherry, in 1973, was named radio announcer for the Walla Walla Padres in 1973. The games were broadcast on KUJ.  

This articles was sent by my brother, Steve.  

Cherry would later serve the area as county assessor.  He was a Democrat, but was married to the daughter of a prominent Walla Walla Republican. This probably did much to get him elected in a mostly Repubican Walla Walla County.  Cherry would later resign his position in mid-term.

Cherry did set me up to interview for a job at KUJ, but I was close to graduation and planned to leave the area to go to college. 

Passengers And Crew Save Flight After Pilot Stabbed

This is a major miracle.  A rogue co-pilot stabs fellow pilot, but somehow, the plane, which was to go to Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, was able to make a safe landing in Saudi Arabia. 

Word is, Israeli soldiers and former soldiers, some with flight training, were able to take control of the flight. 

 

Islander Baseball In Walla Walla

 For one year, the Walla Walla Northwest League baseball team was the Walla Walla Islanders.  They add an odd agreement with the Hawaii Islanders, which itself was Pacific Coast League Minor League team. 

One of the stars of that team was Kurt Russell, who also was a movie actor, appearing, primarily, in Disney films.  He would eventually become a much bigger name, in movies, not baseball. 

Thank you to my brother, Steve for this article from the 1973 Walla Walla Union-Bulletin Progress Addition. 

I did not remember that the team won its division that year.  I do remember the announcers bragging about the attendance. 

When the 1973 Northwest League season started, the team would then have switched its affiliation to the San Diego Padres.  They would be the Walla Walla Padres for several seasons..

Acting In A Little Theater Production

My dad acted as a hobby.  One of his roles was as the mailman, Charlie in the Walla Walla Little Theater play,  On Golden Pond.

Steve found an article in the Union-Bulletin archives.

Dan Wilson Out As Mariner Manager

 It's now official, after a season that started with high hopes and ended with great disappointment, Dan Wilson will no longer manage the Seattle Mariners. 

Final Inning Of Rick Rizzs Career And Good Bye Speech

Whether you watch the speech in its entirety or fast forward it, it speaks for itself.

 

Issaquah To Honor Rick

 Rick Rizzs has been getting plenty of love as his career as Mariner broadcaster comes to an end, but another big surprise awaited him after he threw out the first pitch in last night's game (Saturday, September 26th, 2026). 

Issaquah mayor Mark Mullet announced that Issaquah will name a street after Rizzs, so he will be remembered for all time. The street will be known as Rick Rizzs Road.  Rizzs is a resident of Issaquah. 

Go Seahawks!

 

Mariner Fans Reach Out To Retiring Announcer Rick Rizzs

 I couldn't get past this video of Rick Rizzs, now retired announcer of the Seattle Mariners, without being touched. 

Rizzs, was indeed, the voice of baseball for decades in the Seattle area. 

Blue Friday

 

Seahawks will try for 3 and 0 this Sunday (September 27, 2026), as they take on the Washington Commanders.

The Arboretum

Lake Wilderness Arboretum is a great place to relax and enjoy the beauty of Maple Valley. For more, click here

Sunsets By Mike

 Another great Google collage. 

Barbara Streisand Does Avinu Malkeinu

 

I love the Barbara Streisand version of this prayer.

Yom Kippur Begins

 

            G’Mar Chatima Tova

Seahawks Play Cardinals

 

Go Cougs!

 Washington State hosts the Duquesne Dukes at Martin Field today (Saturday, September 19th, 2026).

Seahawk Great Fredd Young

 Seahawks fans are saddened to learn about the passing of Fredd Young.  Young was a hard hitting linebacker and special teams player from the mid 1980s.  

His hard hitting play helped make Seahawk football appointment TV.   He was a four time Pro Bowler.  

Young was also named one of the Seahawks 50 greatest players. 

Young was drafted by the Hawks in the third round from New Mexico State in 1984.

Fred Young was 64.

Peter Max

The icons of my youth are disappearing.  Peter Max, whose loud and brightly colored art was emblematic of the counterculture has died.  He was 88.

Brandi Carlile Pays Tribute To Dolly

At the 2026 Americana Honors & Awards program.  Maple Valley's own Brandi Carlile sings this amazing rendition of a Dolly Parton classic. 

 

Colors Are Turning

The beautiful reddish color of the trees near our house, indicate that Fall is arriving.

Jamie Lee Curtis Pays Tribute To Rob Reiner

 Jamie Lee Curtis paid tribute to the late Rob Reiner at the Emmys

Brodie Brazil Talks MLB In Portland

Great interview with Craig Cheek of the Portland Diamond Project, an attempt to get MLB to give Portland an expansion team. 

I think it would be a big positive for the Mariners, as far as maybe one shorter road trip and a little more competition. 

 

Gabel Started In Astoria

Astoria is a town that is very attentive to honoring its history and what a proud history it has. 

In its downtown, there is a plaque honoring a theater where iconic actor, Clark Gable made his acting debut.

Gabel was not a native of the Northwest or is particularly associated with the area. It is still a fact that the town can be a source of pride to the town.

Fun With The Dog On Cannon Beach

 Oliver met a friend while chasing the ball on Cannon Beach, just down the road from Seaside.

Happy Rosh Hashana!

 

A Must Visit For Us At Seaside

Our bench on the Prom

Fort Stevens Shipwreck

This is what's left of the Peter Iredale, which went aground in 1906.  

It is in Fort Stevens State Park near Astoria, Oregon.

It is a great attraction for visitors.

Seahawks Win Opener

The team looked flat to me. Too much celebration, of the Superbowl victory and maybe, the starters sitting out during the three exhibition games.  Quarterback Sam Darnold was injured in the team's first offensive series.

Nonetheless, the Seahawks were able to eak out a 13-10 victory over the New England Patriots to open the 2026 NFL season.

We watched the game from The Times, the repurposed old theater in Seaside, Oregon.

Go Seahawks

The World Champion Seattle Seahawks play game one today. (Wednesday, September 9th, 2026).

Sun Setting On The Pacific

From Mo's in Cannon Beach

Burl Featured In Old News Article

Steve found this day in the life of Burl Barer in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin archives.

Go Cougs

The Apple Cup, Cougs vs Huskies is being played today (Sunday September 6th, 2026).  I don't remember ever watching college football on Sunday, save for, maybe bowl games.  

The game has started!  Go Cougs!
 

RIP Tucker Budzyn

 

Tucker Budzyn, who helped redefine how pets are portrayed on social media, sadly passed away from complications of cancer.  The passing was announced by his "mom's" tearful video.

Tucker, a beautiful golden retriever, was portrayed as a mischievous human-type child, who instigated trouble and mayhem mostly aimed at his doggy parents.  

The videos, shown on various platforms were daily, bringing laughs and smiles to followers, who wanted levity in their lives. 

In addition or inspired by Tucker, other shows with similar concepts would emerge, such as, A Guy and A Golden. 

Tucker was eight years old. He was reported to have over 27 million followers!

WSU Emblem On National TV

Game Day is back on ESPN and so is the WSU emblem.  

I couldn't find Ol' Crimson, in edition to Ol" Crimson, this was held up in front of the camera.

September 2023

 Vacations, football, baseball.  A great video with highlights of the summer of 2023.

Gloria Steinem--Gender Equality

 Gloria Steinem one of the most iconic leaders in of the women's rights movement, beginning primarily in the 1960s, has died.  She was 92. 

Steinem, as one of the first of high profile rights leaders, really figuratively, pushed the boulder uphill for changes we now take for granted.  She was one of the founders of Ms magazine.

Steinem was borin in Toledo, Ohio.

Looking At Angel Sale

 You Tube sports commentator Brodie Brazil gives his take on the sale of the Los Angeles Angels.

LA Angels Are Sold

 Perhaps, this isn't the best news for our Seattle Mariners, but the Los Angeles Angels have been sold to Stan Kroenke, the man who purchased the St Louis Rams, moved them back to LA and brought a Super Bowl championship to the city. 

The team was sold at a valuation of 4 Billion dollars, a record for an MLB team. 

Under Arte Moreno, the Angels, who play in Anaheim have had 11 straight losing seasons. Kroenke, who built a stadium complex where his Rams play is sure to put the team back in contention. Where the team will play in the future is another concern. 

The Angels began play in 1961, originally playing in Los Angeles.  For 7 years, they were the only American League baseball franchise on the West Coast. There was no interleague play at the time, so the team had to travel 1500 miles to get to its nearest rival.  

The team began playing in Anaheim in 1966, renaming itself the California Angels.  The team would eventually call itself the Anaheim Angels, until it once again became the LA Angels, while staying in Anaheim. 

Attempt To Recall Seattle Mayor Stops

 A move to recall the recently elected Seattle mayor will not go forward. Recall is a way to subject an elected office holder to another election, before his or her term has expired. 

In Washington, a recall petition needs to be approved by the courts in order to go forward.  Many in Seattle are opposed to Mayor Katie Wilson's approach to governing.  But Wilson has only begun her term and there is no evidence of her misfeasance, malfeasance or violating her oath of office.  The Cascadian Advocate has more.  Click here.

Maple Valley Dishtowel

One of the cool Maple Valley souvenirs at the Tahona Living Store at the Lake Wilderness Shopping Center.

Former Cougar Coach Bill Doba

 Bill Doba, who guided the WSU Cougars from 2003 until 2007 has died. He was 85.  

Doba was 10 and 3 in his first year as Cougar head coach.  He would share coach of the year honors that season with Pete Carroll, then with USC.  

Doba would compile a 30 win 29 loss record during his tenor as HC.  That included 3 Apple Cup victories over the Huskies. 

Jaye P. Morgan Dies

 Jaye P. Morgan, a singer and actor who for the most part, has been out of the public conscience for decades, but gained the most fame as the saucy judge on the Gong Show has died.  She was 95. 

The Gong Show featured amateur entertainment, most of it bad, and three judges.  If the judges couldn't stand anymore of an act, they would hit the gong. 

Longtime game show producer Chuck Barris hosted the show. 

Her real name was Mary Margaret Morgan, but adopted Jaye P, after the historical banker, when she became class treasurer in school. 

Morgan's death was reportedly from a fall.  She was in a Longview Hospital at the time of her death. 

Final Concerts On The Green 2

 Atomic Pop does Come On Eileen in the final Concerts On The Green for 2026.

Concerts On The Green Has Season's Final Concert

 Atomic Pop did the last show for Issaquah's Concerts On The Green series.  This one is Walking On Sunshine. 

Dolly And Brandi Carlile Performing Together

 In honor of Dolly, here she is with Maple Valley's Brandi Carlile. 

Family Announces Dolly Death

I wanted to post this touching message from Dolly's nephew. 

Dolly Parton Dies

Reports say Country Music legend Dolly Parton has died 

Parton, considered by most an American treasure, was 80 

Cal Raleigh Has Three Homer Night

In what has seemed to be a nightmare year for Mariner Cal Raleigh, he may be back on track. Raleigh hit a career high 3 homeruns last night in a 9-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. 

 

Calkins Leaves The Seattle Times

Matt Calkins, a longtime sports columnist for the Seattle Times, has left the paper after one of his columns was not run.  Calkins had written about transgender athletes competing in women's sports. 

Calkins said that was one of several columns that the Times had refused to publish.  

Boogie Boulevard 3--Turn The Beat Around

 

Boogie Boulevard 2--Lady Marmalade

 Doing one of the more unique numbers from its time, Boogie Marmalade wows the crowd. 

Boogie Boulevard Entertains Maple Valley

 In what was sadly, the last in the season of  Maple Valley's Music & Movies In The Park series for this season, Boogie Boulevard played two great sets of 70s dance music for an adoring crowd. 

All that and to top things off, the rerun of the classic ET at Lake Wilderness Park last night (Thursday, August 20th, 2026),

Esther Barer Featured

One of brother, Steve's finds.  From the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin archives. An article about my Grandma Esther Barer.  This was from 1958, I was her only grandchild at the time.  Therefore, I get a mention by name, in the article.

Heart--Let Me Roll It

As 50 years have gone by since my high school graduation, I heard this band  for the first time right about that time. Even though this video is over a decade old, the band still tours. 

Nancy Wilson handles the vocals on this number. 

Here is there cover of the Paul McCartney and Wings song, Let Me Roll It.  The song has great hooks. 

 

Diaz Bobblehead

By coincidence, last month when we visited Dodger Stadium, it was Edwin Diaz bobblehead night. The big coincidence is that he once pitched for the Mariners.

Diaz also closed the game for them 

Pitcher Who Underwent Pioneering Surgery--Tommy John Dead

 Tommy John, who old-timers like me, will remember as a great pitcher, but today is better known for undergoing an arm surgery that has prolonged his career and the careers of many pitchers to follow has died.  He was 83. 

To hear a pitcher is undergoing Tommy John Surgery is both good news and bad news, good news in that it can allow that pitcher to resume his career at a similar level and bad because of  the amount of time missed during the procedure and recovery. It generally sidelines a pitcher for 12-18 months. 

Maple Valley Concert 4--Just The Two Of Us

 

Maple Valley Concert 3--Lucia Flores-Wiseman Woman In Madrid

 A great look at last night's crowd and an outstanding capture of sound from last night's (Thursday, August 13th, 2026) concert at Lake Wilderness Park. 

I believe this is Lucia's signature song. 

Maple Valley Concerts 2

One of the cool things about Lake Wilderness concerts, is watching the wooden rafts float in the lake 

Ain't No Sunshine--Lucia Flores-Wiseman Plays Lake Wilderness

 It was a homecoming for Lucia Flores-Wiseman, who played to a large crowed at Lake Wilderness Park, in her hometown of Masple Valley.

Flores-Wiseman, last year was a finalist on the voice, wowing the judges with a four-chair turn in her first appearance.

The Maple Valley Music and Movie In The Park, is a limited summer series taking place in the summers on Thursdays. The setting is one of the best that I've seen for a park concert, the rising hill, and the view of the lake behind the stage. 

Seahawks Featured On Hard Knocks

Look familiar? That's the Seahawks practice field. It is featured on the HBO series, Hard Knocks, a reality show about NFL training camps 

The program features a different team each year. This is the first Super Bowl champion to be featured since 2001, when the Baltimore Ravens were coming off a Super Bowl victory.

Harmonious Funk Band Plays Issaquah

 After a week away, we were back at Issaquah Concerts At The Green, watching the funk rock band, Harmonious Funk Band.  Here they are playing the Stevie Wonder classic, Superstition. 

Walla Walla Historical Figure

I've been back for a week, but still have more to share.  Peopeomoxmox, Chief of the Walla Walla tribe, has a statue across Rose Street from the city hall.

My Father 1979

From my cousin, Laurie.  My Dad enjoying the beach in Seaside, 1979.