I have a pair of suggestions for summer reading — one authored locally, the other by a national figure with global perspective.
Next time you are picking up a hanging basket or selecting a ripe melon at Yakima Fruit Market and Nursery in Bothell, pick up a copy of Karen Bagnall Poage’s illustrated “Grown in Washington.” In celebration of the market’s 70th anniversary, Karen has compiled a memorable collection of shopping tips, recipes and seasonal suggestions, writing under the catchy guise of Miss Red Delicious. Photography by Royal Cardon is overly tantalizing, the subjects equally unique.
Ms. R.D. sprinkles this slender, full-color booklet with “just enough history” of the market, snippets “plucked” from her monthly newsletter “The Grapevine” plus a month-by-month rundown of the crops available.
This harvested tidbit from the newsletter speaks volumes about the Poage family’s stewardship of this authentic local institution:
“Over the years, hundreds of local teenagers have worked at the market (including our own offspring), saving their earnings to finance dreams and educations. I can’t tell you what a blessing it is to work alongside kids. It’s both a challenge (‘I need three days off to get ready for prom!’) and a joy for us, as they discover what having a job is all about. These kids are the crop we produce — I look in their faces and see the future, and I know that part of us goes into it with them.”
For some timely analysis on the condition of America, the selection of Daniel Schorr’s “Come to Think of It” is inspired no doubt by my lifelong interest in journalism. This is a collection of Schorr’s observations on politics and American life over the years from 1990 to the present — “a peerless commentary on the politics and history of our time.” Schorr is the last of the Edward R. Murrow legendary television team still fully active in journalism.
Every aspiring historian or political-science major in college would do well to digest this review of Schorr’s frequent commentaries as heard on National Public Radio, locally over KUOW and KPLU.
Arts go live
Bothell’s family friendly The Park at Bothell Landing will be the scene of LiveARTS Bothell this weekend. The resurgence of appreciation of the arts gets under way with a preview fund-raiser Friday. You’ll find details and schedules — even parking suggestions — at www.liveartsbothell.com. While you are taking in the event, envision how nice it would be to see the park expanded for more public events. The suggestion of planting a five-story city hall just north of the landing would permanently preclude growth of much-needed public space in downtown Bothell.
SubBlurbs
• Bothell High football coach Tom Bainter and assistant Bill Christiansen will lead the coaching staff for the West team in the annual East-West All Stars football game July 3 in Spokane. With them will be Bothell grads Cory Burk, a linebacker, and Johnny Hekker, a quarterback-kicker. A face from across the line during 4A Kingco play, defensive lineman-tight end Justin Mann, will represent the Falcons of Woodinville. Six other Kingco seniors were picked for the annual classic.
• The Rev. Roy Coulter and his wife, Sharon, came from Portland last month to join in the Northshore Rotary’s 50th anniversary celebration. Father Coulter was rector of the Kenmore Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in the 1960s and ’70s and served as club president in 1961-62. While in the area, he met up with longtime friend and famed martial arts instructor Takiuki Kimura of Woodinville. Takiuki, now 84, lives with son, Andy, and daughter-in-law, Monica, and is best known for his association with legendary martial-arts personality Bruce Lee. Yes, that Bruce Lee.
• Jim Geiszler retires from teaching this month after 35 years, most at the Secondary Academy for Success (SAS). He’s been mentioned often this year in this column as the math teacher who instigated the very successful Music Project at the school. “I won’t go away though,” Jim reports. He is leading the effort to organize a nonprofit to keep the program alive as it brings in Seattle’s best professional jazz and blues performers to work with and coach students at SAS. Jim reports that the Music Project is privately funded for 2008-09 with hopes of taking the extracurricular program to more schools in the Northshore School District.
• We note the recent passing of Wayne Keener, a member of another Bothell pioneer family. In 1945, at the age of 8, Wayne first worked at his dad’s specialty meat market on Main Street, Keener’s Fine Meats. By 1963, the family meat business had become K & N Meats, one of the largest independent meat producers in the Northwest with Wayne as CEO.
• A very unofficial and unscientific survey of neighborhood lawn and garage sales the past few weeks showed that most proceeds are going to fill gas tanks.
• Here’s an unsolicited suggestion for an auction item for your favorite charity event: hit up wannabee sports magnet Clay Bennett for two tickets and bus fare to Oklahoma City for a 2009 Raiders, nee Sonics, home NBA basketball game. Second place prize: four tickets.
John B. Hughes was owner-publisher of the Northshore Citizen from 1961 to 1988 and is active in local nonprofit organizations.
