A Review--Turn That $#!+ Off!

Daniel Solzman gives his hilarious take on pop culture in this hilarious, contemporary book.  Solzman, a stand up commedian and  apiring screen writer turns his sharp wit toward sports, politics, and TV entertainment.  A great read as Solzman uses his Seinfeld like analysis and Don Rickles like wit to slice and dice the issues of our time. You can also read Daniel Solzman on his blog The Kentucky Democrat by clicking here.  Solzman's book is available on  Amazon.

Democrats Meet In Harmony

The Washington State Democrats met in Shelton at the Little Creek Casino last weekend and did something you seldom hear Democrats doing, they agreed to agree.   There was very little or no debate as the meeting streamed along.  All four representatives to the Democratic Central Committee were reelected by acclamation after being nominated (in one case from a former opponent) and seconded from the floor. One time Congressional candidate, George Fearing, spoke on how the state's Democrats were the finest in the nation.  An impassioned Roger Erskine,  spoke of  Washington AG and Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Rob McKenna attending a meeting of ALEC, a right wing PAC.  No doubt reelecting the President was at the top of everyone's agenda.
Aziem "The Dream" Underwood defeated Jennifer Sutton for 8th Congressional District e-board rep.  The newly realigned 8th district now stretches across the Cascades into the more conservative Eastern Washington, making it a real challenge to defeat sitting Congressman Dave Reichert.

What A Week!

First came snow, then more snow, then ice, then branches snapping, trees falling, and in some places, electricity out for days.  It was the  Maple Valley Snowstorm of 2012. It started on Sunday January 15th.  We were lucky, although Maple Valley was somewhat remote, our power stayed on and none of our property was damaged.

Barers Of Maple Valley Learns Of Loss

In the world of blogging, basically, free form journalism, nothing can be more satisfying that the approval from a member of the family of someone that you are writing about.  I was very fortunate to receive a comment from the son of former KLSY "Lights Out" host Randi Thomas.  It was very touching when I read that the comment was in past tense.  A Google search confirmed what I had feared, that Randi (above right) is gone.
Randi (her radio name), started about the same time that I did at KYYX, the early 80s.  We were board operators playing music for the Seattle on-air personalities, who taped their shows.  Randi also had an on air gig with KJUN, a country station out of Puyallup.  Over time, working the odd hours that encompass working in radio, we would go out for drinks usually with Rosemary Smith, another good friend.  With the burden of her other job, Randi would often call me to fill in for shifts that she was unable to or too exhausted to pull off.  She was a happy, outgoing girl with a deceivingly sharp sense of humor and an undying devotion to her craft.
Many years later, I crossed paths with a colleague who, by coincidence knew of her. He told me that she was working at KLSY, an adult contemporary station in Bellevue.  My friend Garry and I went over to the station and joined her for breakfast at The Keg.
My wife is an AC radio fan and when we were dating in the early 90s, we would listen to "Lights Out" on KLSY, which Randi was hosting at the time, she would play love songs and read listener dedications, I believe it was the show that earlier rocketed Delilah to radio fame.    I think my last contact with her was by e-mail sometime in the late 90s. I told her that I had gotten married and she e-mail the reply "you should have me dedicate a song to your wife". 
Randi, who actually left us in May of 2011, was dedicated to her craft and will be missed.

2012 Super Bowl--The Rematch

Dangerous Ice Storm Hits The Area

People in the Maple Valley area awoke to snap and crack as freezing rain made the snow crunchy and icycles formed on the trees. The above picture was taken from the front door of our house.  Driving and walking became super hazardous as branches snapped, trees fell and roads became even more slippery.  Thousands of people in the area have no power, so far, we have been lucky.

Did KING 5 Break Up The Party?

An angry inner tuber suprises KING 5 reporter Meg Coyle by interrupting her report to accuse her of   causing the police to  show up at Queen Anne Hill to stop the sledding.  The video was posted on you tube and facebook generating passionate comments from both sides of the fence.  Others thought it was just funny.

Three days of steady snowfall, including a pile on of several inches this morning have pretty much shut down the Seattle area.  I snapped this picture from our front door in Maple Valley.

Our Backyard

Snow covers the ground and the trees.  More expected today and tomorrow.

Winter Arrives In Maple Valley

A blanket of snow covers our driveway and street.

Remembering Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mullet Will Challenge Pflug For Senate Seat

In 2009, Mark Mullet was elected to the Issaquah City Council without opposition, now Mullet would like to represent the new drawn 5th Legislative District in the State Senate and will have to face a twice elected incumbant.
The Issaquah Press reports that Mullet, a Democrat, has announced that he will challenge two term Senator Cheryl Pflug.   Pflug is a Republican in what is widely considered a conservative leaning rural district.  It will not be the first time that Pflug a Maple Valley resident and an RN, has faced an elected official.  In 2004, Pflug defeated Sammamish Mayor Kathy Huckabay.  Sammamish will no longer be part of the 5th if the state's new redistricting plan is implemented. 
Mullet is the owner of a Zeek's Pizza Franchise in the Issaquah Highlands, he also owns a Ben And Jerry's. He is  a former manging director for the Bank Of America.  His Father, Steve, was formerly the mayor of Tukwila.

WSU's Glenn Johnson To Begin Retirement

Spokane TV station KHQ reports that after 30 plus years, veteran Communications Professor Glenn Johnson will begin retirement. The reports says that Johnson will remain on campus to teach a Broadcast Management class and to advise students.
There is little doubt that Johnson, who arrived on campus in the fall of 1979, revolutionized the already heralded department.  Bringing real life experience from working as an anchor in Sacramento, Johnson turned classrooms into working news shops.  With tough love and integrity, he earned the respect and lifelong friendship of nearly the entire department.
With a rich "made for broadcasting voice",Johnson became the stadium announcer for the WSU Cougar Football  and Men's Basketball teams.   Some of Johnson's catchphrases like "and another Cougar first down" and "NO GAIN" (in an even deeper voice) are unforgettable. 
He is currently mayor of Pullman as well as doing having a hand in everything in the region.  Some of the more well known Cougar graduates who were in Glenn's class include WLS anchor Kathy Brock and ESPN's Cindy Brunson.

Billy Butler To Receive Hutchinson Award

Kansas City Royal designated hitter Billy Butler has been chosen to receive the 47th Annual Fred Hutchinson Award.  The award goes to the Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the competitive spirit of the late Fred Hutchinson, a Seattle native and former Cincinnatti Reds manager.  The award will be presented at the annual luncheon at Safeco Field.  Baseball legend Cal Ripkin, Jr will keynote the ceremony.  The luncheon will raise money for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Dr George Ball, Distinguished Whitman Professor Dies

I met Dr. George Ball when he attended High Holiday services at the Shul in Walla Walla, he was not Jewish, but was Professor Of Religious Studies at Whitman College and wanted to get a first hand look at the services. He would attend often in years to come, sitting in the back, barely noticed.   Dr Ball was a familiar sight to townspeople, a balding figure on a bike, not the hippest or coolest of bikes, but something seemingly out of the early 60s, before Sting Rays and 10 speeds would hit the streets.  He was often  seen looking through dumpsters for things to recycle.  According to the Seattle Times, his academic career was rather nomadic, before finding a school that was tolerant of what was seen at the time as radical views.  He landed at Whitman College in 1960 where he established the Religious Studies Department, he would stay for 20 years and after his retirement taught Introductory Religion classes and counseled students.  He can be seen in this video the TLC reality series, A Wedding Story conducting the wedding of Trading Spaces Host Paige Davis and her husband. 
Dr Ball was featured in this Seattle Times feature 10 years ago.   The Times reported that Dr. Ball passed away last Sunday.

Happy New Year!

2011--As Seen From Barers Of Maple Valley

So where did it all go?  The year passed by so quickly, and yet a year that was ending so darkly managed to pick up on a positive note in just a couple of weeks.  As we do every year, we look at the good, the bad, the sad and the glad of 2011

JANUARY   In spite of a losing season, the Seattle Seahawks win the division and got the daunting task of facing the 2010 Super Bowl  Champion New Orleans Saints in round 1.  My friend, Louie called with an extra ticket, so I was able to join him and his family at what was then called Qwest Field.  Marshawn Lynch ran for an electrifying 62 yard touchdown and the Seahawks upset the Saints 41-36! 
The 5th District Democrats reorganized and Jim Baum was picked to chair.  I was picked again to represent the 5th on the State Central Committee.
For the second year, I attended the Hutchinson Awards at Safeco Field.  Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson was the recipient.

FEBRUARY  We will start with what was not on the blog, for the first time in six years, I did not blog episodes of The Apprentice. It was nice to where I could just watch and not have to worry about a write up. We took at winter trip to the Palm Springs area, where a cancelled flight made us arrive too late to see a show with my Dad and Jean.  The weather was not great either, we did have the penthouse of the Trend West property and it had a hot tub on the deck.
  I wrote on the guest book of "Outlaw Radio" and got my name mentioned several times by the host.  It was during "Charlie Sheen" controversy time and I stated my opinion on the situation on the "so called" guest book, then I listened to the show.  My Cousin, Burl, appears weekly on the show heard every Saturday at 3:00 pm Pacific Time.
I wrote about the Covington eatery 2Seven2, which had live music and great food.  Unfortunately, the restaurant was gone in a few more months.

MARCH  The Cougar Men's Basketball team did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament, but made accepted an invitation to the NIT, they went to the semi-finals. 
The family got together at Newcastle Golf Course to celebrate my Uncle Arny's 75th birthday,  the Sunday brunch was highlighted by a good natured "roast" by my uncle's two sons, Joe and Sam.  Former Seattle Super Sonics owner and international billboard magnate Barry Ackerly passed away as did film legend Elizabeth Taylor.

April  I get a letter from a reader saying he may have a tape of the KUJ sign off from the 1960s, I had readers asking about it since I had written a nostalgia piece about the station in July of 2009.
 The Seattle Mariners won their opening day game. 
For the second year in a row, a KJR traffic reporter left the station.  Nina Hajian took a job as morning co-host in Sacramento.  Seattle Seahawks tapped Alabama Left Tackle James Carpenter as it's first pick in the NFL draft.

May  Word gets out the Osama Bin Laden has been killed by U.S. Forces, America celebrates.  The coveted KUJ sign off is found and posted.  We have a yard sales at the house and end the month spending an afternoon at the Mariners game with nephews Ethan and Connor.

June  KIRO TV sent a crew to film at The UPS Store in Crossroads,  Debra is interviewed,  the segment is for a morning show known as "Better Northwest".  The segment aired in early July.
Also Barers Of Maple Valley had a record 576 hits in one day as Hockey fans were excited about the Stanley Cup Finals.

July We watched the Little River Band at an outdoor concert at the Snoqualmie Casino.
My nephew Ethan's Little League team went deep into the play-offs.
 My wife surprised me with a birthday party at Lake Sammamish Park.
The Seattle Seahawks announced that they will not renew quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's contract.  Hasselbeck wound up going to the Tennessee Titans.  Fans were not pleased.

August  We watched the GoGos at an outdoor concerts at the Woodland Park Zoo.  Vacationed in Long Beach Washington and attended Cousin Jessica's Bat Mitzvah.

September  We took the in-laws for their first visit to the wineries in Walla Walla over the Labor Day Weekend, this blog adapts a new lay-out, and Rusty retains his title as "Savvy Senior" at the University Village "Fido Fest". 

October  Pop Culture Icons Steve Jobs and Al Davis pass away. 
We visit the Cedar River Watershed and get a guided tour on a random Sunday drive.
 I wrote several nostalgia pieces on Walla Walla. 

November  Connor Halladay turns in a brilliant performance to lead the Washington  State Cougars to a victory over Arizona State, unfortunately, Halladay would suffer a serious injury in the next game. Sports Radio KJR announced that it would simulcast on FM, making it possible to hear the broadcast more clearly in Maple Valley.  We watched the Beatles tribute band Creme Tangerine perform at the Crossroads Mall food court.

December  The moment we dreaded, our precious Golden Retriever who brought us so much joy, got his angel wings.  Customers at the store who adopted Rusty into their hearts, sent flowers, cards, thoughts, prayers and well wishes that gave us strength in a time of great loss.  On Christmas eve, Deb surprised me and the rest of our family with a new Golden puppy and now we go into 2012 with a new beginning.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Anderson To Seek Lt Governor Position

The Sno Valley Star, is reporting that Washington State  5th District House Member Glenn Anderson will now be seeking the office of Lieutenant Governor, a post that has been held by Brad Owen since 1996.  In Washington, Lt Governor has few duties and is not really considered a stepping stone to the position of Governor.   Anderson's decision to seek statewide office may be partly due to the uncertainty of redistricting.

5th District's Glenn Anderson To Hang It Up

The Sammamish Review reports that Glenn Anderson will be leaving the Washington State Legislature where he represented the 5th in the House Of Representatives.   Anderson has represented the district since 2000.   He ranked 13th in seniority in seniority. Anderson's representation, although very unpopular with progressive leaning constituents, has rarely been challenged in the mostly conservative,   primarily rural district representing South Eastern King County.  He did face a tough race in 2008, a Democratic year across the nation, to then upstart David Spring.  A rematch between Anderson and Spring, 2 years later, proved to be a landslide victory for Anderson.

Dasher Joins The Family

It's all smiles again at our Maple Valley home as 6 week old Dasher joined our family.  Deb had been working at getting the dog secretly for a few weeks and surprised me this last Saturday with the beautiful pup.  Dasher has been adjusting well to his new home.