by Dave Markwell

Last week, I “celebrated” my 41st birthday.

I am rapidly approaching “farts dust” old, though, I may already be there and am just too old to know it. My age is incomprehensibly ancient to my 11-year old son. “Mannn, 41 – that’s OLD!” He says while walking away, shaking his head, trying to imagine someone this old still being able to use the toilet, unassisted. Unbeknownst to him, he’s at the top of my list when the day comes that I need a little extra help. Payback is gonna be sweet.

I stopped caring about my birthdays a while ago. For me, 40 was the only milestone worth noting and even then it was used mainly as a reference point to how much closer I am to death than birth and, truthfully, it is simply easier for me to count by tens. I’m not that strong in math. Since I am likely past the halfway mark of my life, I try not to think about it too much.

Through the years, I have had my fair share of birthday parties. I have whacked piñatas. I have pinned donkey’s tails. I have had cake, ice cream, pizza and shots. I have gone to church. I have danced and I have sung, poorly, on both accounts. I have eaten well. And I have thrown up. One year, I blew the candles out with my nose. My guests focused their appetites on the ice cream. One year, I went fishing with my Grandpa. One year, I went fishing with my buddy, Andy, and wound up on a drunken exodus through several small bergs in Eastern Washington. I have celebrated in different states and different countries. Last year, my wife had a surprise party for me. The party was a month after my birthday. I had long forgotten about my birthday and I was SURPRISED!! (Note: This is genius.)

This year I was back to my standard indifference. I need no reminders of my aging. I am very familiar with it.

As genuinely ambivalent as I was about my birthday, an unexpected vehicle presented several little gifts that were very welcomed and much appreciated: Facebook. I received “Happy Birthday’s” from many different people. I am not a Facebook junkie and generally don’t post my own minutiae. I don’t often reply to other people’s posts and I don’t play any games. But, I’ll tell you, after my birthday, I am a believer! Facebook allows for wonderful “arm’s length” relationships that have no heavy investment, yet feel good. We have all shared the different times in our lives with many different people. It is nice to be connected or reconnected with these people. I have known lots of folks over the years and have liked most of them! But, life is busy and/or moves on. It is a challenge to remain in contact with everyone. Facebook is a nice consolation. The laundry list of people who commented on my birthday included: elementary school friends, middle and high school friends, relatives, college buddies, and old work buddies. All of these people have shared a time in life with me. We are connected in memories and yearbooks. This has value. Visiting the profile of the guy who sat behind you in English class for four years is great. It is nice to see his kids and how he is doing. I wouldn’t call him on the phone, that’s too personal, but I am happy for him and our time spent together. Facebook makes possible a new kind of, slightly voyeuristic, relationship. It shrinks the world and that’s good.

With this in mind, I thank all my friends for their well wishes and wish good things for them and appreciate the electronic sharing of their lives with me. From now on, I will send “Happy Birthdays”, because I know that, no matter how long it’s been since I have actually seen or spoken to some of my “friends”, every one of us likes to hear or read “Happy Birthday” wishes to us. My note will be sincere and filled with genuine hope for a good day. “Happy Birthday” just feels good. No matter how old we are.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

Faith Callahan is known to many Des Moines residents as a lively – and outspoken – advocate for saving the Mt. Rainier Pool, where she regularly participates in water aerobics. So no one will be surprised if there’s a big turnout for a party in her honor at Wesley Terrace on Saturday, Oct. 24, when Faith celebrates her 105th birthday.

But Faith already has enjoyed an early birthday present – a long wished-for ride on a Harley-Davidson 100th anniversary Heritage Softail® Classic motorcycle. The legendary American motorcycle manufacturer produced its first model just one year before she was born.

“I liked it very much,” she says of the ride around the Wesley Terrace parking area, “except I could just barely reach around Bill (Larson, who took her for the ride on his motorcycle) because he was in his leathers. When he asked me if I wanted to ride some more, I said ‘no.’ There will be a big birthday party in a month and I didn’t want to be thrown off before then.”

But, adds Faith, “It was a very smooth ride.”

She was born Oct. 22, 1904, in Milbank, S.D., and grew up near Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of a Methodist minister who normally made his rounds visiting parishioners with a horse and buggy. In 1910, her father bought a motorcycle to make his calls, but eventually went back to the horse and buggy because it conveyed a “better message” for a pastor.

Faith is a 16-year client of Larson, who does business as William C. Larson Financial Advisor in West Seattle. On her 103rd birthday, Larson recalls, “I told her about this motorcycle and she said, “I’d love to see it.’ I said, ‘I’ll come by and show it to you. Maybe we’ll take a ride on it.’”

But while he saw Faith again on her 104th birthday, they didn’t go for a ride, “so I made sure that we did it this year, and Glenda (his wife) and I saw her on Sept. 1,” he says.

Faith “is a very giving person, and always has a smile,” he adds.

Her answer to the inevitable question, “What is your secret to a long life?” is simple. “Exercise [these days the water aerobics] and eating normally,” Faith says. Genes played a role, too. “My parents lived very long lives, and I have always been fairly healthy.”

Faith lives at Wesley Homes with her daughter and son-in-law, Blythe and Ed Stanton.

by Janet Grella

As most people know, this Saturday (July 18th) will be the “big” birthday day for Des Moines, with celebrations from morning to night, culminating in The Waterland Parade (a sanctioned Seafair event), but not without an immense amount of work on the part of a group of very hardworking volunteers.

I was pleased to join their last meeting on July 15th as they efficiently and effectively tied up all loose ends.

The committee is chaired by Waterland Parade vetern Anna Bjorneby and co-chaired by a very capable Fran Woodward. Other volunteer committee members include BJ Bjorneby, Lila Thomsen, Donna Hake, KB Beisle, Jerry & Cathy Reese, Pat Nardo, Jack Kniskern, Joel Girouard and Joe Spears.

DECORATING DES MOINES:
While most of us are enjoying our day at the Marina with all the birthday activities and the Farmers Market, Joel Giroudard and his band of merry balloon artists will be creating magical balloon arches and decorating the reviewing stand, located on Marine View Drive across from EC Computers.

STAGING:
Parade participants should gather at the main parking lot at Highline Community College off 240th at 4pm. There will be signage and balloons directing participants to the staging area. Staging experts from the Seafair Marshalls as well as Lila Thomsen and her group of local volunteers will help assemble the parade participants for their trek down 240th to Marine View Drive!

KIDS PARADE:
The parade will start with the Junior Parade at 5:30. Anybody under the age of 14 can join the fun! There is no pre-registration for this event. Participants should meet in front of Vickie Bergquitst’s State Farm Insurance office at 230th and Marine View Drive at 4:30. (Behind Taco Time). The ‘Red Robin’ from Red Robin’s restaurant will be leading the Junior Parade down Marine View Drive.

PARADE AGAINST HUNGER:
The Des Moines Food Bank will follow them, collecting much needed food and money starting at 240th at 5:45 pm. Bring your non-perishible food for them to collect.

THE WATERLAND PARADE:
The big 50th B-day parade will start promptly at 6pm. This year there are 63 entries and over 600 participants. Among the VIPs and participants will be the Seafair Pirates–batten down your hatches when they appear. Miss Seafair and the Seafair Princesses, and the Award winning surprise float built by Jerry and Cathy Resse (it won the “Best Float” in Kent’s Cornucopia Parade just last weekend). Plus you’ll see the staff of Waterland Blog live blogging and taking pictures of the crowd from their perch atop an Airport Towing tow truck. They’ll be three marching bands from Mt. Rainier, Kennedy and Sumner High Schools.

There are over 50 volunteers that will make sure this Waterland Parade go off without a hitch. From the VIP reception at Landmark on the Sound, to the volunteer “Pooper Scoopers” for the horse drawn carriage, Des Moines and its volunteer community has come together to culminate in a spectacular 50th Birthday celebration.

And a word of advice from the chairman of the Parade Committee – “If someone tells you to do something – listen to the police!”

And a final word for participants…plan a way back to the college, as the parade ends at city hall.

Our readers need to reach out to the volunteers who started this parade proccess in January of this year and thank them for a ‘job well-done.’

Sponsors of the parade should also be thanked:

• Bjorneby’s CARSTAR (a WLB Advertiser!)
• Hertz Rental Car
• Pete’s Towing
• Emerald City Balloon

The City of Des Moines has released the list of road closures (download PDF file here) for Saturday’s 50th Birthday/Waterland Parade, and here’s the scoop:

50th Anniversary Parade – NOTICE OF ROAD CLOSURE
Saturday, July 18, 2009 – 3:30PM to 8:00PM:

Marine View Drive South and South 240th Street in Des Moines will be closed on Saturday, July 18, from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., for the Waterland Grand Parade – a Seafair event celebrating the city’s 50th anniversary.

The street closures will be on Marine View Drive from South 216th Street to South 240th Street, and on South 240th Street from Marine View Drive to 16th Avenue South.

Traffic will be detoured on 16th Avenue South, Kent-Des Moines Road, and 24th Avenue South.

For more information, contact City of Des Moines Public Works at 206-870-6522.

EDITOR’S NOTE: To see photos from Des Moines’ 50th Birthday & Waterland Parade (on 7/18/09), click here. To read our firsthand account of being in the parade, then hanging out with the Seafair Pirates, click here.]

by BJ Bjorneby

Many people have asked “What is the Kids Parade like?” “Is there a theme?”

We tell them it’s anything the kid wants it to be. It can be a kid walking his dog or riding her bike. Remember the playing card in the spokes trick? Or the crepe paper in the spokes? It can be the Cub Scout Troop marching or the T-Ball team showing off. And that’s just the stuff we older people remember from our early parade memories.

No, there is no theme, other than maybe Happy Birthday which is the theme of the Grand Parade but not necessarily for the Kids.

We Hardcore Paradies think of Kids Parades as the “Minor Leagues” where kids get the chance to experience the thrill of having hundreds of people see their ingenuity and skills displayed. It’s a chance for bragging rites of having been “in a parade”!

Kids parades are what keeps big parades happening year after year.

They grow up and become “Paradies” like us and keep millions of people happy to be able to go see a parade.

The City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department announced Monday morning (July 13th) that the 50th Birthday Run & Walk has been canceled due to low registration.

As we previously reported, the 2.5-mile Fun Run/Walk was scheduled to wind through Des Moines along the parade route right before the big birthday parade on Saturday, July 18th. The race was scheduled to start at Highline Community College, and was to end on Marine View Drive in front of the QFC grocery store.

Here’s the notice we received by email from Shelby Borden:

I have breaking news from the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department.

We are sad to report that the Des Moines 50th Birthday Run & Walk has been CANCELED!! The reason for cancellation is because of low enrollment!

We do apologize and if there are any questions please call: (206) 870-6527.

EDITOR’S NOTE: To see photos from Des Moines’ 50th Birthday & Waterland Parade (on 7/18/09), click here. To read our firsthand account of being in the parade, then hanging out with the Seafair Pirates, click here.]

The sun is shining (well, most of the time…) and summer has officially arrived in the Northwest!

And to celebrate the season and its 50th birthday, the City of Des Moines is (as most folks already know) hosting a series of family-friendly events on Saturday, July 18th, which will include:

• A visit from the tall ships Merrie Ellen and W. N. Ragland
• A wooden boat exhibit
• Strong man competition
• Classic car show
• Children’s fun zone
• Sock hop
• Seafair-sanctioned parade featuring the well-known Seafair Pirates

Des Moines has been a regional destination for the Puget Sound region since 1904 when Redondo Beach was the Northwest’s premier resort, drawing thousands visitors annually. Today, that beach town feeling still exists. Visitors can smell the sea air, dip their toes in the water, stroll along the boardwalk and enjoy the area’s charming shops and restaurants. To celebrate its 50 year heritage (Des Moines officially became a city on June 17, 1959), the city is hosting a series of events throughout the summer, including the Seafair festivities, to capture the feeling of the nostalgic getaway.

Need more evidence of the city’s fun and quirky personality? Look no further than this year’s strongman competition in which feats of strength will be demonstrated by both men and women via a tire flip (100 feet total distance), axle clean and press, farmer’s walk (max weight carried for 200 feet) and keg loading (minimum 4-5 kegs loaded on to a 50 inch platform within 60 seconds). Last year, 40 competitors competed in five events and anticipation is high for this year’s competition.

Visitors will also be treated to sailboat races, a 50th birthday fun run, and performances from the Wenatchee Youth Circus – considered to be one of the top four non-professional groups in the country. Most events will be free, including the classic car and wooden boat show, Seafair parade, and the strongman competition. Minimal costs are associated with other events, such as tours of the Merrie Ellen and W. N. Ragland ($5) and tours of a new 68 foot Ocean Alexander yacht.

Festivities include:

FRIDAY, JULY 17th:

• Wenatchee Youth Circus (Des Moines Field House; adults: $7, kids: $5; 5 pm)
• Dinner & Tour of Tall Ship Merrie Ellen (Des Moines Marina; adults: $20; 7 pm)

SATURDAY, JULY 18th:

• Strongman Competition (South Marina; Free; 10 am-3 pm)
• Waterfront Farmers Market (South Marina; Free; 10 am-4 pm – look for The Waterland Blog’s booth!)
• Classic Car & Wooden Boat Show (North Marina; Free; 10 am-4 pm)
• Children’s Crafts & Activity Station (South Marina; Free; 10 am-4 pm)
• Clowns Unlimited Fun Zone (North Marina; $10 all day; 10 am-6 pm)
• Food, Community Vendors & Beer Garden (North Marina; 10 am-9 pm)
• Tours aboard the Tall Ships Merrie Ellen and W.N. Ragland (North Marina; $5 each; 10 am-4 pm)
• Wenatchee Youth Circus (Des Moines Elementary; adults: $7, kids: $5;10:30 am and 2 pm)
• Carfitti Teen Car Painting & Car Raffle (North Marina; 11 am-3 pm)
• Offshore Boat Races (North Marina; Free; Noon)
• Sailboat Races (North Marina; Free; 2 pm)
• 50th Birthday Fun Run & Walk (Run: Highline Community College, Walk: Marine View Dr. S; starts at 4:30 pm, participants check in at 2:30 pm)
• 50th Birthday Seafair Parade (Marine View Dr. S; Free; kid’s parade: 5:30 pm, main parade: 6 pm)
• Entertainment Stage featuring Pony-Boy All Star Band and Danny Vernon’s Illusion of Elvis (North Marina; performances at 11 am and 1 pm)
• Sock Hop Dance (North Marina; Free; 7:30-10:30 pm)
• 10th Annual Federal Way Symphony Garden Tour featuring speaker Carolyn Jones (Local Gardens and Des Moines Beach Park; tickets at www.federlwaysymphony.org; lectures at 11 am and 2:30 pm)

Many more community events are scheduled throughout the summer such as a Jazz & Blues Series (7/22-8/19), and the Jobies Community Carnival (8/15).

For more information, call (206) 870-6527 or visit www.desmoines50th.com.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: To see Photos from the 2009 50th Birthday/Waterland Parade, click here. To read our firsthand account and see photos of what it was like for us to be in the parade (then hang out with the Seafair Pirates, click here.]

by Pat Nardo

The best laid plans of mice and…Murphy’s Law.

Your parade, Des Moines, has progressed to a level of substance with a flow of applications, invitations and additional support and help from in and out of the community. No matter how well intentioned or how good the scheduling of events may be, things can and ultimately will go wrong. We are working to avoid “glitches” along the way and anticipate changes to content and timing for this enormous task.

We don’t have a movie-like ability to predict “coming attractions” but it would be nice to be able to share our excitement with our friends and spectators as to what to expect on July 18th. The 50th anniversary of the Des Moines Parade will have many elements. At the beginning and to open this event, we will have the Junior Parade, followed immediately by the now famous, Rainier High School Band. They have always been a treasured part of our parades back in Waterland days and this year will be no exception. Our parade directors, Anna and BJ Bjorneby, will follow behind The Rainier Band in a shiny white Mercedes and should draw a well-earned applause from those of you who know these valued members of our Des Moines. They have and continue to give both of their time and, yes, money to this event.

The Junior Parade element will be “on the march” at 5:30pm under the watchful eyes of Dave and Jeanie Markwell, who also have invested much of their time to cultivating these young community leaders to develop into the solid citizens that they will become. Our route begins at 227th and Marine View Drive and, as in the past, will end at 216th. You can expect to see our Mayor, Bob Sheckler, some council members and other honorees. Watch for the Seafair Pirates, a hydro escorted by Seafair Commodores along with the Seafair Clowns to lighten your spirits. Many of our VIPs will be appearing in vintage or classic cars and there will also be a few cars interspersed within the parade as well.

Early on in our parade, you will see the food bank volunteers and you are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item; little to ask for such a grand parade and worthy cause.

Alan Secord, in charge of the Seafair Marshals, will see to it that all runs smoothly from beginning to end and we thank him for his time and value his efforts as a selfless volunteer. This applies to all of our Seafair personnel, for whom we are profoundly grateful.

At this writing, it is planned to have our reviewing stand near the Bill’s Barber Shop and it will be decorated by the Emerald City Balloon Company. In addition, an archway of balloons is planned as an entry way for the parade participants. Much has been said about the parade here, its beginning and passage, but what about the ending?

Now I sit back and think…”If anything can go wrong?”

Not if we can help it!

The city’s 50th Birthday is shaping up into quite a full day, with a 2.5-mile Fun Run/Walk scheduled to wind through Des Moines along the parade route right before the b-day parade on Saturday, July 18th.

The race will start at Highline Community College, where the parade starts, and will end on Marine View Drive in front of the QFC grocery store.

Everyone is invited to participate in this fun event, which is targeted at families.

Make sure to take advantage of the pre-registration prices; course maps are available now at the Des Moines Field House.

WHAT: Des Moines 50th Birthday Fun Run/Walk

WHEN: Saturday, July 18th, check-in begins at 2:30pm; Race starts at 4:30 pm sharp

WHERE: Starts at Highline Community College & ends at the QFC parking lot

COST: $20 if registered by July 1st, $25 July 2nd until race day!

REGISTER: Registration by phone 206-870-6527 or stop by the Field House at 1000 South 220th Street in Des Moines

by Pat Nardo

Hard times are upon us and it seems we are just beginning to come out from under the pall of gloomy economical news, heading into a new era of, we hope, prosperity.

Gloom and doom notwithstanding, we are frantically and loyally making preparations to celebrate the great event of our city’s 50th anniversary. Des Moines will be 50 years old in July and a staunch cadre of volunteers, city, parks department workers, marina employees and staffs, small businesses and, yes, individual citizens like me are doing our best to make this a truly memorable event.

A major obstacle confronts us that must be overcome, that of finance. Money we just don’t have, or very little to do all that might be done. Donations are sorely needed for so many items that constitute the cost and preparations for city wide events including our parade and time is not on our side with only just over one month to begin “showing our stuff” to all who will witness our civic pride.

The small businesses in our town, even though they are, mostly, not doing as well as they would in normal times, have given enormous support.

Of the “big businesses” within our boundaries, two of our banks are to be commended for allowing the prominent display of our 50th anniversary poster on their premises, while the other two…well, they claim “corporate policy” prevents the posting of advertising except “in their back room”.

As I leave each of these two banks with undelivered 50th anniversary posters, I wonder, “Why would a large corporation establish itself in our community without caring or supporting a golden anniversary?” It also occurs to me that they could use a little public relations expertise. Our good friends at both the Key Bank and Bank of America, however, gladly accepted and quickly placed our proud posters where customers could see and know these banks cared a good deal for Des Moines. When you visit either bank, let them know we appreciate having them in our city.

Back to the generosity of our smaller merchants; EC Computers owner, Patricio Mendoza, has offered to provide the much needed trophies for our parade awards. The Print Place has given us help in reducing printing costs of leaflets and handouts to advertise our celebration. Jerry and Cathy Reece are providing a “surprise” float and it will be part of our parade as well. Our most important, local sponsors and benefactors are:

• Bjorneby’s CARSTAR on Hwy 99 and 220th, who also are parade developers
• Hertz Auto Rental
• Our good friend Gary Peterson of Pete’s Towing

In addition, Anna Bjorneby is our CEO for the parade and she has a good grasp of all that is needed and Fran Woodard is our chief whip. “BJ” Bjorneby calmly oversees the progress and occasionally adds to the strength of the crew.

Without these two, there might not be a parade!

Most of the applications for parade participation are in and we will soon know the number of units and their classification. As judging chairman, I have a competent staff and forms for scoring just about all categorizes that we anticipate and one that is designated as “OTHER”, just in case we can’t identify its species.

Photo of Pat and Marianne Nardo by Michael Brunk

We at The Waterland Blog offer a heartfelt Happy 80th Birthday to Des Moines’ own Pat Nardo, whose birthday was Sunday (April 26th)!

He, the perennial young man, who cheers on Des Moines with all appropriate vigor, bumped into a couple of Waterland reporters the other day.

Our reporters asked: What college are you going to? What’s your major?

But instead of answering, as Pat ran off for football tryouts, he said “I’m busy. Talk to my wife.”

What’s the secret to living so healthfully and long? we asked the graceful Marianne.

“Wholesome food,” she said.  “I make it for him.”

“And lots of laughter.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Pat said, between wind sprints. “I asked her out one day, and she laughed!”

Marianne and Pat are going on 55 years together!

Carry on, you beautiful two. You lift us all.

And thanks Pat for all your contributions and energy towards helping us launch this website!

EDITOR’S NOTE: To see photos from Des Moines’ 50th Birthday & Waterland Parade (on 7/18/09), click here. To read our firsthand account of being in the parade, then hanging out with the Seafair Pirates, click here.]

by Janet Grella

It’s official – Des Moines’ Waterland Parade has become a Seafair Sanctioned Community Event!

This means that the Seafair Marshals will be on hand to help with the organization of the parade. It also means parade favorites the Seafair Pirates, the Seafair Clowns and the Keystone Cops will be in our very own Waterland Parade, which will be held Saturday, July 18th.

It will start with a Junior Parade at 5:30pm, where kids 14 and under can participate. They will be followed by a truck from the Des Moines Food Bank to collect food donations.

The Grand Parade will start promptly at 6pm with floats, drill teams and bands. Local businesses and organizations are encouraged to participate.

The parade is part of a summer of outdoor fun scheduled by the city to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Des Moines. And who better to run the parade than parade veterans Anna and BJ Bjorneby. Anna was the parade organizer three times in the 80s.

As co-chairs along with “volunteer extraordinaire” Fran Woodward, Anna and BJ are now seeking sponsors at any level, as well as volunteers and participants.

Interested in joining the fun? Call Anna at 206-571-5568 or 824-1400; or Fran at 253-303-1098.

The Waterland Blog will be participating in this event that is uniquely part of the the Waterland Community. We’re working on exactly what we plan to do in the parade, so if you have any ideas on what grown men and women and our young intern can do to amuse the crowd click here.

We encourage everyone to participate through sponsorship, volunteering or joining the parade!

Des Moines is turning the big 5-Oh this year, and the festivities begin March 21st with a full-blown black tie gala shindig at Highline Community College featuring entertainment from Joey Jewell, an Entertainer who sings like Frank and Dino, with the sensibilities of the Rat Pack.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Des Moines’ 50th Birthday Black Tie Gala featuring Dinner, Entertainment, Dancing and Silent Auction

WHEN: Saturday, March 21st

WHERE: Highline Community College

COST: $75 per person, or a table of 8 for just $560 (that equals just $70 per ticket). All proceeds fund the 50th Birthday Celebration.

TICKETS: Available at the Parks & Recreation Office, Corky Cellars, downtown WaMu branch or from Birthday Steering Committee Members. More info at http://www.desmoines50th.com/

VIDEO: Here’s a sneak peek video of Joey Jewell to give you an idea of what to expect: