Veteran Maple Valley Council Member Jonas Will Resign

The Covington Reporter has just announced that veteran Maple Valley City Councilwoman Victoria Laise Jonas will resign her seat in late June because she will be leaving the city.   Jonas was elected to the Council in 1999.  At the time, Maple Valley had only been incorporated for a couple of years.
Since then, the city has seen rapid commercial growth, however Jonas will be most remembered for her work with the city's food bank and it's weekly seasonal Maple Valley Farmer's Market, which she co-founded.  Jonas will continue to operate the market this year, commuting from her new home in Key Peninsula.
Known for her dedication to public service, she has been a volunteer for the "Maple Valley Make A Difference Day" committee and is on the Lake Wilderness Arboretum Foudation.  According to The Reporter, she is the longest serving elected official in Maple Valley history.

Seattle's Ballmer Buys Clippers At 2 Billion

Former Microsoft owner Steve Ballmer has ventured on his own to buy the LA Clippers for an NBA record 2 Billion dollars.  It is an ironic twist that the purchase of the Clippers team would ever set a record, they were for a long time the "spare tire" of the NBA.  They had long considered the worst sports franchise of all time.  In the past, when the Lakers had the best record in the NBA, the Clippers, playing in the same city, had the worst.
Recently, though, the Clippers have put together a formidable team and with the recent controversy over Clipper owner Donald Sterling's comments, they have become a lucrative purchase. 
Ballmer was recently involved in attempts to bring the Sacramento Kings to Seattle, that attempt failed when a local group stepped up to keep the team in California's capital city.

Husky Basketball Great Bob Houbregs Dies

Sort of lost in the shuffle of local news was the death of legendary Husky basketball player, Bob Houbregs.  You may think it funny that I, being a Cougar, would write about a U-W player from the 50s, but I learned about Houbregs the same way I learned about Washington football great Hugh McIlhenny, from my dad's U-W annual.  Houbregs and McIlhenny were huge sports stars when my Dad was at the U-Dub. 
Back to Houbregs, he lead the Dawgs  to what remains their only Final Four appearance and is one of only two Husky basketball players to have his jersey retired, the other is Brandon Roy.  He was also the only Husky basketball player to win NCAA player of the year and be a consensus  All-American.  Finally, he was drafted number 3 by the Milwaukee (now Atlanta) Hawks, to this day, the highest a U-W basketball player has been picked.

Ken Schram Dies

Ken Schram, who worked in KOMO TV, then KOMO radio, but always with KOMO, at least as far as I can remember, has passed away after battling internal infection.  This report by KOMO's Eric Johnson, sums up the career from one of Seattle best known media personalities.

Barers Of Maple Valley Celebrates 9 Years

9 years ago today, I started this blog, not knowing what to write or why.  Now, with over 2352 posts, we are still going strong, updating almost everyday. 
The blog description, "my views of home, family and world events" sound so corny and yet, I have been able to combine personal stories, along with topical news. 
The most popular post since the blogs inception on May 29th, 2005, was a story about the Vancouver Canucks going to the NHL finals, written in May of 2011. 

Steve Barer's Volunteer Work Lauded

My brother Steve was recently awarded the Blue Mountain Humane Society's "Volunteer Of The Year" award.  His work with helping socialize dogs to prepare them for adoption was featured in this article in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.    The humane society is one of Walla Walla's most well known non profits so this is a towering achievement. 
Steve's wife, Dawn is a registered vet technician.  Steve has always loved animals.    You can read the UB article by clicking here.

Ballmer's Flirtation With Clippers Could Damage Seattle's NBA Prospects

Not long ago, the Seattle Super Sonic's return seemed close enough to touch, now, with word that former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has met with the Sterling family in hopes of purchasing the LA Clippers, it seems more distant than ever.   The Sterlings have been ordered to sell the team after Donald Sterling received a lifetime ban from the NBA after racial comments he made were secretly recorded and broadcast.  Ballmer, one of the world's wealthiest people has long desired ownership in the NBA and in fact was a major partner in Chris Hansen's attempt to get the Sacramento Kings to move to Seattle a year ago.  If Steve Ballmer turns out to be a major player in the LA Clippers sale, it would obviously send a message to the sports world that NBA basketball is not in the cards for the Puget Sound region in the foreseeable future.

Ken Schram Ailing

Reports have surfaced that veteran local TV personality Ken Schram has gone into hospice care.  Schramm worked many decades for KOMO 4 in Seattle, presenting editorials, hosting a community talk show, and doing commentary on KOMO radio.  Toward the end of 2012, it was announced that the company was buying out his contract.

Enjoying The Beach

Our dog Dasher relaxed by a raging bon fire built at the beach at Ocean Shores.  We spent the Memorial Day weekend on a getaway with 2 other couples.  We stayed at the Polynesian, had the bon fire Saturday night.  On Sunday, we played golf (the only time it rained during the week end.), then went to the Quinalt Casino, where we had dinner at Emily's.  Monday, we let Dasher run free at Taurus Beach, where Dasher could run without a leash. All the predictions were for a wet weekend, but except for Sunday, the weather was fine.

Happy Memorial Day

Seattle Seahawks Visit President Obama at White House

President Obama puts politics aside to congratulate the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

Veteran Newsman Calls It Quits

Dan Lewis of KOMO 4 TV gave his last evening newscast today. Eric Johnson put together this emotional tribute.  Lewis had anchored for 27 years.  The newsteam of Lewis, the late Kathi Goertzen and weatherman Steve Poole were the third longest running TV news team in the country.  Barer Of Maple Valley wishes Dan the best in retirementt.

Sea & Ski Tanning Lotion Commercial

To get everyone ready for Summer, here is a vintage commercial for tanning lotion Sea And Ski.

Seahawks Visit Other Washington

The World Champion Seahawks are being honored today for their Super Bowl victory and will meet the president in a celebration at the White House.

20 Years Ago

This is the great Rosario Resort Orcas Island.  20 years ago from last Thursday, Deb and I went up to spend a week end to celebrate one year together.  That is where we became engaged.  Orcas Island is one of the San Juan Islands in the Northwest corner of Washington state.  It is accessible by ferry, sea planes and private boats.  The ferry ride there and back is beautiful. 

Casey Found In Evergreen State

So rumor that Casey Kasem were true were half right, it looks like.  Yes he was in Washington, but from what I have read, he was not getting treatment on an Indian reservation.  The word is now that Kasem and his wife Jean were visiting friends in Bremerton when Kitsap County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the house.  Kasem looked like he has getting appropriate care, what ever that is and did not seem to be under duress.  Reports have also said that Kasem's daughter has been granted conservatorship over Kasem, who is suffering from Lewy Body Disease.
So the messy saga over an American staple continues.

34 Years Ago Today: Mt St.Hellens Erupts!

I was attending WSU at the time.  Pullman was directly in the path of the falling ash. It was like snowfall.  The sky was pitch black. 

The View Salutes Retiring Walters

Barbara Walters, one of the first women to be a TV journalist, is retiring from daytime television and from a spectacular career that has spanned almost 6 decades.  She was honored on The View by Oprah Winfrey introducing an amazing parade of present and past female TV hosts who came by to pay tribute.

President Opens 9/11 Museum With Talk Of Hero

President Obama spoke at the opening of a memorial museum at Ground Zero, the site of the 9/11 today with a moving speech that began by honoring a man with a red handkerchief who lead victims to safety.  Obama revealed that the man was named Welles Crowther, who could have survived, but gave his life to rescue other victims.  The speech can be seen here.

The Search From Coast To Coast For Kasem

It's sad, depressing,  international radio icon Casey Kasem, is reportedly missing from a facility where he had been getting treatment for advanced Parkinson's Disease.  In failing health for years, Kasem has been involved in a well documented battle between his wife, Jean and his children from a previous marriage.   There are rumours that the former host of American Top 40, has been getting treatment at an Indian reservation somewhere here in Washington. 
American Top 40, debuted on July 4th in 1970, Kasem would countdown the 40 hottest selling records on the Billboard, he would sprinkle anecdotes about the records and artists with in the program.