Belting out tunes helps feed hungry in Seattle
Whenever the OSL treasury needs replenishing, Graham holds a concert. She's a professional singer who writes her own songs and lyrics. She has also impressed Peter Morton, another former Eastsider and a retired Boeing executive. Morton and his wife, Marie, and Graham crossed paths on Whidbey Island, where Graham now lives.
"Beverly manages to turn her songs into engaging social commentary that will make you alternately laugh and cry," Morton said.
Morton has been peppering friends with e-mails about Graham's benefit concert at Benaroya Hall in Seattle at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $25.
Walking tall
Membership in this team didn't come easy for Morgan Wong, Mari Jo Fraser and Bill Furrer of Bellevue, Jennifer Herlihy of Newcastle and Colin Rines of Redmond. But once on the team, they didn't quit. They all finished the Seattle Marathon's Half Marathon (13.1 miles) race Sunday.
The five were members of Team Transplant, a group of about 90 men and women who have had heart, liver or kidney transplants at the University of Washington.
Herlihy, Fraser and Rines all had liver transplants. Furrer got a new heart and Wong received a kidney.
Another group of Eastsiders made the race a family affair.
Fred Slover, 72, lives in the Bridle Trails area of Bellevue and finished first in his age division for the Half Marathon Walk. His daughter, Deborah Ferguson and her husband, Gary, and granddaughter Caitlyn Ferguson also completed the race. Caitlyn is a senior at Bellevue Christian High School.
Making waves in Hollywood
Brendan Dearie, a customer service rep at TalkingRain Beverage Co. in Preston, was challenged recently by a request from California.
Paramount Pictures wanted a pallet of TalkingRain Sparkling Water for the cast and crew making a new movie version of "The Bad News Bears." Someone had brought a case or two to the set. Folks asked for more and couldn't find it. Hence the call to Preston.
"I checked every Costco in Southern California, got together with our shipping department and was finally able to get them the product," Dearie said.
Royal dressing
Mary Ellen and Bill Hundley smiled proudly through Ballet Bellevue's recent production of "The Sleeping Beauty." They supplied the special effects for the prologue.
It started last year when Ballet Bellevue Artistic Director Viktoria Titova added the prologue, or christening scene, to the annual production. With guest artists needing their airfare prepaid, there was no money left for the essential prop — a bassinet.
Board member Jackie Halstead managed to get a frame produced for free, but elegant fabric was beyond the troupe's budget. So Mary Ellen Hundley pulled her wedding dress out of the closet. The dress was made of organza and lace embroidered with crystals and pearls: fitting wear for a bride or a princess. The bridal outfit was draped over the frame and Princess Aurora had an elegant bassinet.
The Hundleys, who have been longtime supporters of the ballet, loaned the bridal gown and veil again this year. What better way, they said, to celebrate their anniversary. They were married Nov. 29, 1967. The final performance was on Monday — Nov. 29.
Sherry Grindeland: 206-515-5633 or sgrindeland@seattletimes.com