Seaside Memories

This house across 7th street from the apartment where we usually stayed is where my Grandmother Barer's friends from Portland had a summer place.  I became friends with the son who was close to my age and my sister was friends with their daughter.  They also had a teenage daughter

Enjoying A Summer Concert

We're at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery enjoying Boz Scaggs. Michael MacDonald is also playing.

Seaside History II

Located on Broadway in Seaside, Phillips Candies has seen two centuries turn.

Orange Moon

This captures the color of the moon if not it's beauty.  The color comes from the haze that has hung over the area for the past week.

Raymond Washington Statues

The city of Raymond on Highway 101 in southwest Washington has amazing statues along the highway and throughout the town depicting people and wildlife.
We pass through on the way to Seaside and back.  This picture was taken in the park.

Pop Icon Glen Campbell Dies After Battling Alzheimer's

Glen Campbell, a singer whose music blended pop and country with appeal crossed generational lines has died.  Campbell was the voice behind hits like "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and "Witchita Lineman".  Also, "Gentle On My Mind" was a favorite for those maybe not into hard rock or the psychedelic music that dominated the charts at the time. 
He hosted "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour", show that began as a summer replacement for the Smothers Brothers in 1968 and would go on to be a hit show on it's own.   My most vivid memory from the show was a clip of the Beatles from their famed "Rooftop Concert" singing "Get Back".  At the time, it was rare to see the Fab Four on TV.
Many know that Campbell also temporarily replaced Brian Wilson while the Beach Boys were on tour in 1964. 
In 2014, suffering from Alzheimer's, he brought a camera crew to film his "I'll Be Me" tour.

Seaside History

This was Mr Boxer's house on the Prom in Seaside.  In the 60s and 70s he would hold Shabbat services on Satuday morning for Jewish residents and visitors in the area. 
The services were held in a room in his garage.  They were entirely in Hebrew and were attended by men only.  My Grandfather would often attend.  I attended on time in the later years. I found it too orthodox for me.

Unlimited Hydroplane World Water Mile Speed Record Run

I met Russ Wicks when he was a customer at The UPS Store in Bellevue. He autographed an edition of Wired Magazine where he was on the cover.

Kam Signs Extension

The Legion Of Boom will stay intact this season as Safety Kam Chancellor has signed a 3 year 36 million dollar extension to his contract that should keep him a Seahawk through 2020.  Chancellor, of course polarized 'Hawk fans two years ago when he began a hold out that extended into the first two games of the season.

Josh Kerns Leaving KIRO FM

 

Long time KIRO 97.3 news reporter Josh Kerns has announced on his Facebook page that he is leaving the station.  He is starting a consultancy firm  known as Cypress Point Strategic.

Seattle Haze

Smoke from wild fires from Canada have cast a haze over the Puget Sound area, but has added a spectacular copper color to the Moon.

Seattle Will Elect Woman Mayor This Year

Seattle has always been known as a cutting edge town.  In 1926, it elected the first woman mayor of a major city in America, Bertha Landes (pictured above).  Amazingly, now that women mayors are fairly common, not one has served the city since Bertha's single term. 
That will change this year as former federal prosecutor Jen Durkan leads a field of three other women after last Tuesday's primary.  Durkan, the daughter of a well known state legislator is in a big lead over Cary Moon, with Nikkita Oliver behind by a couple percentage points.  Former mayor Mike McGinn and veteran legislator Bob Hasagawa finished far behind the pack.

Signing Books

Seattle area author musician spoke to a full house last night at the University Book Store in Seattle. about My Oh My The Dave Niehaus Story. 
The book was a labor of love covering the life of the late Mariner announcer. 
I read the book and would recommend it to every Mariner fan.

Costco Founder Jeff Brotman

Jeff Brotman, founder of the Issaquah based retail giant, Costco and community leader has died.  Brotman, 74, died in his sleep at his Medina home.
 He was a major contributor to the Democratic party and held a fundraiser last fall for Hilary Clinton.  He was also a benefactor of the University Of Washington.   Brotman and his wife were major donors to the Seattle Art Museum and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. 
Brotman was serving as Chairman Of The Board of Costco at the time of his death. 

Cousin Tod Goldberg's Book Sparks TV Series

Tod Goldberg has announce that the folks behind the British Gangster Series "Peaky Blinders" have created a TV series based on his Gangsterland book.  The book's sequel "Gangster Nation" is to be released this fall.  No details have been released on the proposed series.  Tod is a son of my Dad's cousin Jan.  He would visit us in Walla Walla in the summers as we were growing up.

Going Strong At 90--Happy Birthday, Brakeman Bill!

With so many of the great local characters slipping away from us, it was great to read Brakeman Bill's 90th birthday.  Bill McLain had a children's program in the 60s and 70s on KTNT which later would become KSTW.  Because the Tacoma based station had no network affiliation at the time, it was broadcast in cable across the state. 
Brakeman Bill would wear overalls and a hat reminiscent of a train worker.  His sidekick was a hand puppet named Crazy Donkey. 

Clear Summer Nights

Clear nights in Maple Valley reveal a beautiful crescent moon.

Washingon Enacts Tough Crack Down On Distracted Drivers

Will it make driving safer or is it an overreach? Washington's new distracted driving law can be looked at from 2 perspectives.  While most people agree that texting or looking at your phone while driving is dangerous to both the driving and other vehicles, drivers are no longer allowed to hold a cell phone, drink coffee milk or juice, smoke a cigarette, or fix their make up. Many people think that the law has gone too far.
While drivers will say that it goes too far, the intent is to make the highway safer.  People need to remember that when you drive, your not only responsible for your own safety, but the safety of your passengers and other drivers and pedestrians.  It also means when they say "don't drink and drive", it means to not drink anything when you drive.

50th Anniversary--Summer Of Love

This summer marks the 50th anniversary of the "Summer Of Love".   It is a period that in retrospect, would define the decade.  It may be the most polarizing times in our nation's history next to the Civil War.  The Viet Nam war was raging and with TVs in every living room, the horrors of war were brought home. 
Many disaffected youth headed for the parks of San Francisco, where they grew long hair, did drugs and listened to rock music. 
There were many different things that were going on at the time that from an outside perspective, would tend to be lumped together.  It was for the most part, the beginning of the "counter culture", Hippies gathered all over the country, but the central spot seemed to be the Haight-Ashbury District of San Francisco.  Bay area based bands like the Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead became popular.
 Of course, the Beatles at that time, released "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", a total departure from anything that group had done.  As a matter of fact, there had never been any work quite like that album.  It gave birth to what is known as a concept album. Songs that can be fit together to tell a story or reflect an idea.
People remember the Summer Of Love with either affection or disdain, depending on their perspective.  Celebrations have been taking place in San Francisco with exhibits and events.

Dasher And Doll

Both Dasher and his toy are in a nearly identical pose.

Celebrating A Mariner Win

Reporter Angie Mentink and Mariner Ben Gamel are soaking from a Gatorade shower after Gamel scored the winning run against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning.

On Our Deck

This gas fueled fire pit was a 60th birthday present from family and friends.

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered Part 18--Mariner Crew Gets Sack Of Onions

KTEL carried the Seattle Mariners games in the their early days.  They also carried the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Super Sonics as well as Wa-Hi sports and occasionally, maybe WWCC sports.  When I worked at the station in the late 70s, Bevan Roth was the salesman and engineer. 
Bevan had been there since the 50s and he was a huge sports fan.  He would get his name (and the station's name) on the Mariner network by bringing a bag of Walla Walla sweet onions (known as Walla Walla Sweets) to the team  broadcasting crew(at that time, Dave Niehaus and Ken Wilson) when attending a game in Seattle. 
I think that he continued to do that after he left the station. 
In 1980, I worked for KNOI in Pullman and they also carried Mariner Baseball, Roth, at that time, worked for KEXI, a Milton-Freewater Oregon station.  Once again, I heard that Roth had brought the Mariner crew a bag of Walla Walla Sweets.
Many years later, I got to meet Dave Niehaus at the Fred Hutchinson Luncheon.  I asked Dave if he remembered Bevan Roth.  He sure did.

The Jet City Players

More McMenamins

I love the way the property is laid out.  There is plenty of outdoor seating. Something unique to the Seattle area.

Memories Of The '60s--The Beatle Cartoon

So most people my age may remember The Monkees TV show, but how many remember that The Beatles had a cartoon series.  It ran from 1965 to 1969 on ABC TV.   Reruns later ran on MTV in 1986.
The speaking voices of the 4 Beatles was provided by two voice actors.  The songs were real Beatles songs.  The band itself was not involved in the project, although their voices were used in the previously recorded music. 
The show consisted around two episodes, each framed from a Beatles song. There was a "follow the bouncing ball" singalong in the middle.  The intro to each show played their music while the group was depicted running from it's crazy fans.  A phenomenon we know as Beatlemania, which was rampant at the time. 
The Beatles were reportedly initially not fond of the TV show, but later came to like it.  The cartoon, I believe, went a long way toward cementing the band's place in American culture.  Most of the Beatles songs that I knew were the ones that I had heard on the cartoon.
The Beatles would eventually release the movie "Yellow Submarine" which was also animated.

Larry And Diane Rock At Mike's 60th

Bellevue Crossroads UPS driver Larry Hays arrived at my birthday party with guitar in hand along with his friend Diane, who belted this Janis Joplin tune.

More Of McMenamins

There the grounds of McMenamins are really neat. Tavern On The Square is the prime eating spot.

Jet City Players Headline 60th Birthday Surprise

Thank you to my brother, Danny for this great picture!   My wife drove my to the Bothell Village for what I thought was dinner with my in-laws.  I was determined that it would be a quiet dinner.  Boy, was I wrong!
Yes, my in-laws were there, but so were my brothers and friends as my wife had planned a surprise party.  She told me that she had planned it for months. 
The Jet City Players performed, they are a danceable pop band with a rock edge.   The lead singer is the lovely Marcie J.  We were also treated to Larry Hays playing guitar while his friend, Diane sang some rock and roll.  A great time was had by all.
Deb and I spent the night at the Bothell McMenamins Anderson School. 

McMenamins Anderson School

A great place to stay! We spent the night here after last night's party.

Summer Breeze - Seals & Croft #1 Hit(1972)

Enjoy your summer!

Maple Valley's Lake Wilderness Elelementary

School is out for the summer and apparently, the originally structure for Lake Wilderness Elementary School is gone forever.
Students will attend classes, starting this fall, in a new facility, which I believe is seen in the background.
Things work quickly in the Tahoma School District.

Heritage Distilling--BSB

The radio commercials say "you can't spell baseball without BSB".  Heritage Distilling commercials have been all over the radio. Heritage Distilling is one of the vendors at Safeco Field where the Mariners play.
  BSB stands for "Brown Sugar Bourbon". I am not a bourbon drinker, but I decided to try BSB when we attended the game last Sunday. I had it mixed with club soda and it was real good. 
On my next visit to a Mariners game, I hope to bravely try the grasshoppers.

Mariner's Cano Is All Star Game Hero

Robinson Cano's 10th inning home run propelled the American League to a 2-1 victory in the 2017 All Star Game. The Seattle 2nd baseman joined Ken Griffey, Jr and Ichiro as the only Mariners to be named MVP in the mid-summer classic.  Cano has been battling injuries this season as has the Mariner's other all star, Nelson Cruz. This year's game was played in Miami.

Maple Valley Council Discusses Golf Course

Maple Valley's city owned golf course may be in for some changes.  The Covington-Maple Valley Reporter said in an article that Lake Wilderness Golf Course that improvements to the facility were discussed at the Maple Valley City Council's June 26th meeting. City Manager Laura Philpot reported that the course is now breaking even.
 It is now the only course within the city limits.  The restaurant on the course, reportedly, is losing money.  That is no surprise as the city and nearby Covington have seen a flurry of new restaurants.  Changes discussed have included upgrading the course and making the restaurant available to only golfers using the course at the time.

Happy Together Tour

The Cowsills rock Snoqualmie Casino.  The Turtles will headline.

The Turtles

Howard Kaylan now a Seattleite, actually for many years a resident of the area, performs for his adopted hometown for the first time in years.  The Turtles once again headlined the Happy Together Tour, which this year also featured Ron Dante (voice of the Archies), The Cowsills, The Boxtops, The Association, and former 3 Dog Night singer Chuck Negron.

The fun took place at Snoqualmie Casino.

Go M's

Felix Hernandez is on the mound for the Mariners and I just missed a foul ball.

Celebrating 22 Years!

Today is our 22nd anniversary. Deb and I married at the Grand Atrium at the Washington Mutual Tower  in Downtown Seattle on July 8th, 1995.

Friday Night Entertainment

Issaquah is rocking to Fade To Black at Pogacha's.

Old Tri Cities Radio

Jaynie Jones posted this on Facebook.  From the Vintage Tri Cities page, the KALE news car.

The Rocket's Red Glare

We watched fireworks yesterday on the shores of Lake Sammamish.

Cool Dogs

Dasher hunts for a ball, while friend Charlie watches from the shore on a sunny 4th of July.

Happy 4th Of July

A Beautiful Summer Day

Mt Rainier adds a lovely touch to this picture taken in the 4 Corners area of Maple Valley.

Housesitting At Lake Sammamish

Watching Dasher's buddy Charlie on the shores of Lake Sammamish.

Late Actor Adam West Will Be Honored In His Hometown

September 19th will be designated "Adam West Day" in Walla Walla.  The honor comes weeks after the passing of West, a native of the town.  Jonathan Grant (below in Batman costume appearing before the WW City Council) spearheaded the move.  Grant, the Front office manager of the Whitman Hotel (above) says he met West several times on visits to Walla Walla. Grant also credited Adam Lore for his help in getting the project underway.
  Grant is planning to screen the original Batman movie starring West on that day.  Proceeds will support Camp Rainbow, a free camp in Idaho for children suffering from cancer and blood disorders that West supported.  There is still talk of an Adam West statue to be located somewhere in town. Thank you to the UB in Walla Walla for reference!

Smyly No Go For 2017

ESPN reports sidelined Mariner pitcher Drew Smyly will undergo Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss the rest of this season.

Seattle Times Writer Stone Tells Of New Niehaus Book

A book is out on legendary Mariner broadcaster, Dave Niehaus, according to Seattle Times Sports columnist Larry Stone. The name of the book is "My Oh My: The Dave Niehaus Story".
Stone said the book was written by Seattle based musician, Billy Mac, a fan who journeyed to the press box in the team's early days, wishing to meet the broadcaster.  Mac had proposed the idea of a book to the late announcer, who nixed the idea thinking that no one would be interested.  After the Niehaus passing, Mac took on the project with the blessing of the Niehaus family.  You can order a copy of the book by clicking here.

Walla Walla Institution Will Close

News sources have announced that Walla Walla General Hospital will stop operating on July 24th.  The hospital, run by Adventist Health, has been on South Second Street since 1975, after moving from Bonsella Street near Whitman College. 
There had been a plan to transfer services to Providence St Mary, the city's other hospital, but unexpected regulatory changes would have potentially caused delays and prohibited the move. 
Providence St Mary Medical Center will be the town's only hospital. It was formerly St Mary's Hospital and was my birthplace.

Installed Just In Time

Temperatures in the Seattle area spiked into the high 90s this weekend.  We were lucky. We had just installed air conditioning last Monday.  Bellevue based PMG made the installation.