Exploring Maple Valley

Last Sunday Deb, Dasher and I took a ride around the Maple Valley country side.  We decided to walk down the Cedar River Trail, starting across the street from the Landsburg Dam and Cedar River Watershed.  We walked above the banks of the river found a tree with the ground eroded beneath it(bottom picture)..
Also a house with picnic grounds and a volleyball court (middle picture).  In the top picture, Deb is posing with Dasher by the river.  It made for a fun afternoon.

Traffic Reporter Taylor Engaged

King 5 Morning News Traffic Reporter Tracy Taylor has announced her engagement.  Taylor is one of Seattle's most popular media personalities, starting with her days reporting traffic on Sportsradio 950  KJR.  She has been with KING TV for over 2 years now and also has a blog where she has spoken openly about her life off camera. According to Tracy's facebook posts, a summer wedding in 2013 is planned.

Issaquah's Triple X--A Fun Place Spend An Evening

On a warm Friday night, we stopped at the Issaquah Triple X.  The Triple X is a landmark, the  large barrel with the XXX is clearly visable from the highway and has been for decades,  The interior is a salute to the early 60s when the drive-in was popular.  There is plenty of outdoor seating, so on that rare summer evening when the temperature has been over 90 throughout much of the day, you can enjoy a rootbeer float under the stars.

Meet Ken Levine

Part time Mariner announcer Ken Levine will be signing copies of his book "The Me Generation By Me" Monday August 20th at the Mariner team store.  Levine, also a TV writer, will be at the store from 5 until 7.  A ticket to the game is not needed to get in.  Levine rotates with several other announcers  as sidekick to Rick Riczz as the Mariners have not found a replacement for the Late Dave Niehaus.  In addition to Ken's book, you can also get Ichiro gear at half price.

Congratulations King Felix

Mariner Ace Felix Hernandez became the first on the team to pitch a perfect game.  A perfect game means that not only did the other team not get a hit, but no batter from the opposite team reached first base. It was only the 23rd perfect game in baseball history.  It was also the Mariners' second straight one run victory on the Tampa Bay Rays.  The Mariners came from behind last night and beat the Ray's 3-2 with Eric Thames walk-off single.

Goertzen Passing Devastates City

When someone is on TV for decades, they can seem almost like part of your family and that couldn't be more true than with Kathi Goertzen. Goertzen co-anchored the KOMO evening new for the better part of 30 years, her pairing with Dan Lewis was one of the longest running news teams west of the Mississippi.
Kathi was a classmate of mine at Washington State University although I really didn't meet her until years after we graduated.  I asked if she remembered me, she said I looked familiar.  We lived in the same dorm in our freshman year. She was in the Com. Department and so was I.  We didn't have any classes together and we where always going in different directions when I saw her.
But one thing for sure is that I was proud of her.  In a time when local news anchors seemed to be just pretty faces, she brought a real articulate, thinking dimension to the evening news.
When her fight began with her brain tumor, she brought her viewers along, sharing her deepest feelings, because as much as her viewers thought of her as a member of the family, she must have had many of the same feelings about them.
Kathi is gone now and a city that only two years ago was devastated by the passing of another longtime broadcaster Dave Niehaus is now in mourning again.

A Warm Weekend

Maple Valley's most popular park and public beach, Lake Wilderness was packed as temperatures were in the 80s this last weekend.  I rode my bike over to get a little sunshine as the cooler weather could be arriving soon.

Kenny Loggins Rocks The Northwest

Kenny Loggins entertained a packed house in a twilight outdoor concert at the Snoqualmie Casino.  From the soft  and sweet "Danny's Song" to the riveting "Danger Zone" Loggins had the audience dancing, clapping, and singing along.  He even though in his Christmas song "Celebrate Me Home" although the holidays seemed the furthest from the minds of concert goers in the middle of August.   Loggins was born in nearby Everett, Washington, although he was raised in California

Marvin Hamlisch Dead

It was only two months ago that I saw Marvin Hamlisch in concert.  He was principal pops conductor of the Seattle Symphony.  He also held the same position in Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and a few other cities.   I thought it was a real treat to see him perform.  He had after all won every major award for his composing and arranging.  It was a very entertaining evening, so I was totally shocked to hear of his death today.

Blue Angels Roar Again

Those are not bugs or dots, but a futile attempt to capture the Blue Angels in flight.  We watched the air show which is part of the annual Seafair festival at a party in Mercer Island.

TO Signs With Hawks

He's been out of football for more than a year and is 38 years old, but Terrell Owens is now a Seattle Seahawk. The talented but troubled wide receiver will be playing for his sixth NFL team.  He started his career with the San Francisco 49ers.  In a nationally televised game, Owens caught a touchdown pass in Seahawk Stadium, then pulled a pen out of his sock, autographed the ball and gave the ball to someone in the stands.  Although the incident has now been largely forgotten, local sports talk radio will undoubtedly try to hammer it back into the Seattle sport conscience.
A 6 time Pro Bowler, Owens also had stints with Philadelphia, Dallas, Buffalo and Cincinatti.

Issaquah Art Walk

This is just a piece of the gigantic artwork that was on display at the Issaquah Art Walk.  The Art Walk is set on Front Street. It takes place on the First Friday of the month from May until September.

A Puget Sound Summer Evening

Taken last Wednesday, the Moon rises over Issaquah.

ATTENTION MICROSOFT INTERNS

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!
The UPS Store in Crossroads, now newly remodeled, can pack all of your belongings including bicycles and ship them anywhere in the world.  We are open Monday through Friday 8:30-7 and Saturday 9:30-3:00.  Located at 15600 NE 8th St B-1 Bellevue, WA 98008.  We look forward to meeting all of you.

Auburn Drive-In Fun Place To Watch A Movie

Every summer, we try to spend a weekend evening at the Valley 6 in Auburn.  Drive-ins were a part of American culture in the 60s, but went out of favor with the advent of home video players. 
It is fun to watch a movie under the stars.  You can bring your own food and your dog.  Many people park their trucks or SUVs backwards and bring sleeping bags, assuring their confort.  Talking during the movies is little problem as long as your car friends don't mind.
Deb and I usually try to pick a B-type movie as watching people and having a picnic is almost as much fun as the movie.There are 6 screeens, usually showing two pictures a night.  Last weekend, we saw "The Watch", a silly comedy with Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn. 
The Auburn Valley 6 is located at 401 49th St NE Auburn, WA 98002.

Proposed Arena Clears First Hurdle

The King County Council, in a 6-3 vote, has approved a binding "memorandum of understanding" to a proposal by Bay area financier Chris Hansen to build an indoor facility in the event that an NBA team be available to move in.   The proposal will now go to the Seattle City Council which will undoubtedly be a much harder sell. The Seattle PI reports that the City Council would like more taxpayer protection as well as request that Hansen's group relinquish some of their profits to help build more roads to ease congestion around the area.

Review--Ken Levine's Latest Book

Part time Seattle Mariner announcer and full time TV writer Ken Levine has a new book out.  The Me Generaton By Me is a fun loving autobiography of growing up in the 60s.  Levine, who grew up as the son of a radio advertising sales in the San Fernando valley, presence a much different view of the decade of the 60s than the stereotype seen in movies like "Forest Gump" and "The Doors".  The whole decade was not all about hippies, psychedelics, and dropping out. 
Levine presents his unique view as an outsider (he was not really about joining cliques in school) of events like the meteoric rise of The Beatles, The Batman TV show, being a contestant on The Dating Game (which he was) and his experiences working in an LA record store and his visit to the set of Rowan And Martin's Laugh-In.  Levine's  writing style that helped make shows like Frasier, Mash, and Cheers popular, make this book a very entertaining read.   The book in either paperback or Kindle is available on Amazon.

Celebrating Summer

One of my favorite summer songs Summer Breeze by Seals And Crofts, this video was filmed by a fan of the song in Penticton, BC.

Sayonara, Ichiro

Ichiro Suzuki, arguably Baseball's first Japanese superstar, has been traded from the Seattle Mariners, where he began his American baseball career, to the New York Yankees.  Ichiro, one of very few sports figures to go by his first name only, was signed by the M's whose fans were reeling from the departure of Alex Rodriguez in 2001.  Now he will be A-Rod's teammate. 
Icharo, was already a Japanese baseball star when he came to the M's, but fairly unknown in this country.  In his first year the M's won a whopping 116 games, until today, Ichiro was the last Mariner from that team to still be on the club.
It had become clear in recent years that his skills were diminishing and with his contract running out, Ichiro's future had become a hot topic in Seattle sports conversation.

Same Store Different Look!

Here is a sneak peek of The UPS Store 4156 at Crossroads in Bellevue.  We regret that we had to close yesterday and Friday, but we confident that you will love our new look.  Reopening is planned for tomorrow around noon.  The UPS Store in Crossroads is at 15600 NE 8th B-1, Bellevue, WA 98008

The Great Wheel

This weekend, we celebrated my birthday, which was actually on Thursday, by going on the Seattle Great Wheel.  That's the new ferris wheel on the Waterfront.  I took the picture above.  Earlier in the evening, we enjoyed dinner at The Spaghetti Factory.

In Memory--Today We Are All Coloradans

5th LD Democrats Endorse Three Candidates For 1st

The 5th District Democrats have voted to endorse Darcy Burner, Suzan Del Bene, and Laura Ruderman in a sign of unity and to send a message that either of these candidates reflect the values of the district. Democrat Steve Hobbs, who had not actively appeared at any meetings of the 5th was not considered.
Ruderman, amid controversy of a negative ad campaign financed by a PAC which was formed by her mother, was present at the meeting as was Del Bene.  Although, Burner did not attend, her partisans seemed to be in full force.  Burner's husband Mike attended, although he did not speak in her favor.
A sole endorsement for Del Bene did not receive the required votes, however the next motion which did pass included her with the two other candidates.

Longtime Walla Walla Prison Warden Dies

If I mention I'm from Walla Walla anywhere else in the state or beyond, they most likely would bring up the state prison.  The image that Walla Walla has had is a big prison with a few houses all around. 
Of course that would be totally inaccurate, but the Penn was the biggest and sometimes only news maker in town growing up.  Superintendent Bobby Rhay ran the prison from 1957 to 1977.  He was the youngest prison warden in the nation when he got the job.  He was the man in charge as the prison was experimenting with various reforms in the 60s and 70s.  He seemed to weather the storm with grace.  In his early years, he was also a gifted athlete and a war hero.  Bobby Rhay passed away last month at 91 

Ethan On The Mound

My nephew, Ethan Wagner prepares to pitch to this batter in the Northwest Regional Baseball Tournament  in Enumclaw. Ethan's Woodinville team had two big victories yesterday, but finished in the quarterfinals today.  We were happy to host the Wagners, as Enumclaw is just a short drive from Maple Valley.  We wound up today eating lunch at the new Brewhaus in Maple Valley, Hop Jacks.

The UPS Store In Crossroads Will Have New Look

It started this week, The UPS Store in Bellevue's Crossroads neighborhood is undergoing an extensive remodel.  You never seem to to realize how organized things are until they get disorganized.  The store is planning to stay open during all or most of the remodel although customers may have to put up with the noise of hammers and drills as well as a little, oh let's say a lot of sawdust.
The remodel will last for two weeks and I know customers will be pleased with the end result.

Illness Claims Issaquah Leader

Barers Of Maple Valley is sad to learn of the passing of former Issaquah City Council member Maureen McCarry.  McCarry was suffering from ALS and had resigned from the council last year.  The Issaquah Press credits her work in bringing a branch of Swedish Hospital to Issaquah and preserving land in the Squak Mountain for wildlife habitat and trail access, an area now known as McCarry Woods.
She is on the right in the above picture.

Northwest League Baseball--The Walla Walla Islanders

Walla Walla would get Minor League Baseball in 1969, the same year Major League Baseball first came to the Seattle (The Pilots).  At first, the Walla Walla Bears were affiliated with Philadelphia. When that tie ended, Walla Walla began an unusual affiliation with a Pacific Coast League team, The Hawaii Islanders.  The season before, Hawaii had the Bend Rainbows in the Northwest League. In the picture above, actor Kurt Russell, who at the time was appearing in Disney films, was trying to make a second career as a baseball player.  Tom Trebelhorn, would later have success as a manager in the "bigs".  Team Owner, Verne Russell (no relation to Kurt) is also pictured on the left in a tie.  The team played at Borleske Stadium.  It was a great place to spend a summer evening. 
The next season,  the team would begin a long affiliation with the San Diego Padres.

My Nephew On The Hill

My nephew, Ethan, who pitches in the Woodinville Pony League, recently had this picture published in the local paper. You can read the story here.

Happy 4th Of July

Pat O'Day does a 4th Of July fireworks show as only he can.

Democratic Hopefuls for 1st CD Debate

Five Democratic Candidates for the open seat in the newly formed 1st Congressional District met at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Wednesday night to debate policy and show why they alone should carry the Democratic Banner.  The debate was the idea of Scott Williams and was sponsored by the 5th, 45th, and 48th Democrats.  Enrique Cerna was the host and Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times and Jerry Cornfield of the Everett Herald were on the panel.  Questions were taken from the audience as well as the two journalists.  While their views on policy were similar, there was plenty of difference in style.  My analysis:

1.  Laura Ruderman  A natural politician, she seems almost destined to serve in congress some day,  She is excellent on articulating the issues.  Served in the Washington State Legislature, so she would seem to have a leg up on making policy.  She is known as a tireless doorbeller.  Her early roots are on the East Coast and many people find her somewhat abrupt.  Healthcare seems to be her favorite issue.

2.  Steve Hobbs  A pleasant surprise, he also has legislative experience, currently serving in the State Senate.  He says that he is a lifelong resident of Snohomish County.  Considered rather Conservative, Hobbs says that he has endorsements from many different sides.  Hobbs was also very comfortable discussing issues.  He received a smattering of boos for saying that he supports charter schools, a stand that may be his undoing.  Hobbs says that Democrats need to have a moderate like him to keep the seat Blue.

3. Suzan Del Bene  A former Microsoft executive and a founder of other high tech companies, she did public service as director of the state Department Of Revenue.  She ran against Dave Reichert in 2010 for the 8th Congressional District, but it was a bad year to run as a Democrat, espessially against an entrenched Republican incumbant.  She is warm and apealing in a "one on one" situation, with excellent eye contact. It should also be noted that she has the endorsement of Governor Gregoire.  Wednesday's debate however was arguably not her best performance.

4. Darcy Burner  Without a doubt, the voice of the disenfranchised.  If you want to "rage against the machine", Darcy is your vessel.  The favorite of a network of political bloggers known as Netroots, she was this year's keynote speaker at Netroots Nation. She ran twice against Reichert in the 8th District, almost beating him on both occasions.

5. Darshan Rauniyar, In a perfect world he would be a great candidate.  A naturalized U.S. citizen from Nepal, he champions himself as the "non politician" saying that the American dream is dying.
He is involved in local business, however, in Wednesday's debate, I did see him as someone who would nescessarily be an agent of change. Although it may be difficult in today's political climate.

Surgery Scheduled For O'Day

Northwest radio icon Pat O'Day is scheduled to go under the knife tommorrow to remove a benign brain tumor.   O'Day traveled by ferry to Anacortes, last Monday to be checked out after memory and motor loss.  At first it was feared that he had a malignant tumor, however tests showed it to be benign.   O'Day is said to be responding well to medications to lessen the effects and should make a full recovery.

Democratic Candidates For !st Congressional District To Debate

The five Democratic candidates vying to replace Jay Inslee in the newly redrawn 1st Congressional District will face each other this Wednesday June 27th in a debate sponsored by 5th, 45th and 48th LD Democrats.  Suzan Delbene, Darcy Burner, Darshan Rauniyar, Laura Ruderman, and Steve Hobbs will spar over the right to carry the Democratic banner into the hotly contested race.  Both Del Bene and Burner have run for Congress in the past, Burner taking on Dave Reichert in the 8th CD in 2006 and 2008 and Del Bene doing the same in 2010.  Ruderman is a fomer member of the State House Of Representatives, while Hobbs in currently in the State Senate. Rauniyar is a newcomer, positioning himself, of course, as the outsider. 
The debate will take place at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center at 16600 NE 80th in Redmond from 7:30 until 9pm.  There will be no admission charged but donations will be asked for to cover expenses.

Seaside V

The Gearhart Golf Links is Oregon's oldest golf course.  It is just 2 miles north of Seaside in the town of Gearhart.  According to it's web site, the course opened in 1892.  I did not play on it this time, but have in the past.  The clubhouse contains the pro shop, a bar, a restaurant, and a hotel.

Theatre Crowd Steals Show At Rock Of Ages

We went to see the movie "Rock Of Ages" last night in the Issaquah Movie Theatre and found the crowd more entertaining than the movie.  The movie, a musical salute to '80s "Hair Bands", stars Tom Cruise as an veteran hard partying rock and roller and Alec Baldwin as a struggling Sunset Strip night club owner.  It borrows from High School Musical, Grease, and Bye Bye Birdie.  However, those shows all had an original soundtrack.  Rock only uses popular songs from the 80s. 

A group of viewers made things interesting by wearing 80s garb and antics such as raising up I-phone simulated cigarette lighter during slow songs as kid would do during concerts. Rock Of Ages may be out of theatres soon, but the audience should get "Oscar consideration".

Trip To Seaside IV

Dasher enjoyed running on the beach.

Trip To Seaside III

The Seaside Golf Course was just around the corner from where we stayed.  I played 9 holes with my cousin the morning after we arrived.  The Course is steeped in tradition, my Grandmother played there when I was little and our entire family would go in the summer.

Seattle Times Editorial Writer Spars With Sports Talk Radio On Sonics Arena

More audio at MyNorthwest.com

The Seattle Time's Bruce Ramsey has some valid opinions, but does not seem to be in possession of correct facts in this interview Mike Salk and Brock Huard on 710 ESPN.

Trip To Seaside II

Tucked away on "U" Street on the far north end of Seaside, Ken and Sons brings back memories of the neighborhood grocery stores that were so common in my childhood.

Pete Nordstrom Was Involved In Previous Sonic Ownership

One of the named partners in the attempt to bring an NBA team back has sports ownership experience, Pete Nordstom said in an interview with KJR morning man Mitch Levy, was in the ownership group led by Howard Schultz that sold the team to Clay Bennett.  Nordstrom said that although there were 58 investors in the Schultz group, a strong board of nine were able in assisting with team decisions.  A "perfect storm" situation took place that prompted the sale of the team to the Bennett group.  Nordstrom said that he voted against the sale, feeling that it would result in the teams relocation. Nordstrom said that the investors voting in favor of the sale thought that Bennett would want to and be able to keep the team in Seattle.
Erik and Pete Nordstrom, along with Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer are partners with Chis Hansen in an attempt to build an arena that would bring an NBA team back to Seattle.

Trip To Seaside

This soda fountain on colorful Broadway in Seaside Oregon, looks like something from an Annette Funicello-Frankie Avalon movie.  Broadway, the Seaside main street has all sorts of tourist delights as it runs from the state highway, to the turnaround at the beach.

Hansen Reveals Investment Partners

In an interview with Sportsradio 950 morning personality Mitch Levy, Chris Hansen revealed his partners in the endeavor to build an indoor sports arena in hopes of bringing an NBA team to Seattle.  Hansen said that Microsoft Executive Steve Balmer and Erik and Peter Nordstrom of the well known Seattle based retailing family.
Hansen also said he was aware that Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn was going to New York to meet with NBA Commissioner David Stern despite rumours to the contrary.

Ron And Don Drive Seattle Afternoon Radio

It's easy to dismiss Ron and Don.  They can be sophomoric and annoying. It is hard to tell sometimes if they are joking or not.  They had been rumoured to on KIRO's chopping block since they started the afternoon drive time program in 2006.  But they hang in.  If you get beyond their schtick, which includes rimshot sound effects for some silly one-liners, they know what people in the area are talking about.
I think that what works for the pair is their talent for involving listeners  in the show. Several times they have given descriptions of fleeing criminal's cars, allowing for tips that turned into arrests.  Most of their topics deal with local events, and while most talk show invoke politics, Ron and Don are rarely, if ever political.  It looks like Ron Upshaw  And Don O'Neil, who are a well traveled pair are going to be pulling the Seattle afternoon drive for a long time,  perhaps going down in broadcast history as Seattle's guilty pleasure.

State Convention III

Savings banks in the shape of President Obama's head were on sale at the Washington State Democratic Convention last weekend.