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