Spotlight

The Seattle Times archive photo Kevin Calabro, the voice of the Sonics on radio and television, broadcasts the team’s exhibition game versus the Sacramento Kings in October 2002.

When the NBA season resumed in late July, absent from the microphone was legendary broadcaster Kevin Calabro. The play-by-play announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers decided not to return to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic that turned everyday life upside down.

In the Pacific Northwest, Calabro’s best known as the Voice of the Seattle SuperSonics from 1987 to 2008. When the team relocated to Oklahoma City, Calabro was offered a chance to move with the team, but he elected to stay in Seattle with his family.

Since the NBA shutdown in March, Calabro and wife Sue have spent a good share of their time at their second home along Lake Chelan’s south shore.

Foothills Magazine caught up with Calabro in July while he was at his Lake Chelan home and he agreed to an email interview.

How long have you lived in the Lake Chelan area?

We bought a house with a community marine in 2006 on the south shore about 12 miles from Chelan. It is a second home. We live in Seattle as well.

Kevin Calabro

Age: 64 City: Seattle/Chelan Job: Former play-by-play an nouncer for Seattle SuperSonics, Portland Trail Blazers, ESPN Radio TV, TNT, NBA TV Personal: Married to Sue 38 years; four children: Anthony (and wife Stephanie), Nick, Lauren and Joey Hobbies: Hiking, backpack ing, paddleboarding, cycling, archery, stargazing, boating, fish ing, winter skiing and gardening

SPEED ROUND

Best NBA player you’ve seen play:

Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kareem AbdulJabbar, Julius Erving, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James — they’re the best I’ve seen.

All-time Sonics lineup:

Gary Payton, Gus Williams, Jack Sikma, Shawn Kemp, Spencer Haywood

Favorite season:

Love the summers in Chelan!

First concert:

Adam Smasher and Pure Funk 1970, at the Westlake Beach Club in Indianapolis

Cats or dogs?

We love dogs and cats equally, but they’re different. Our dog of 15 years, Buck, passed a couple of years ago. Broke our hearts.

Favorite dessert:

Cherry pie made with cherries from the two trees we have here at the house.

Trail Blazers photo/Bruce Ely Kevin Calabro mans the mic during Trail Blazers Fan Fest in October 2016.

Provided photo Calabro and wife Sue have owned a home on Lake Chelan’s southshore since 2006.

Your profession has taken you all over the country. Why do you choose to live in North Central Washington?

We picked Lake Chelan because it’s a unique ecosystem — a 55-mile long glacial lake ringed with moun tains and with spectacular weather.

What’s the perfect day for you and your wife when you’re in Chelan?

A perfect day begins around 6 a.m. with a coffee in our hands look ing out over the lake. For me, it’s a hike in the morning or late evening with my wife. I also get down to the lake every other day and paddleboard regardless of the wind or boat wake. I like to cycle up to the top of 25 Mile Creek Trail as well, but you have to get out early to avoid the heat. We also like to get up to Echo Valley for a hike or to the Columbia bluffs.

I’ve heard you play quite a bit of golf at the Gamble Sands course near Brewster. Tell us about your golf game.

I golf about once a week, usually at Gamble Sands, but any of the local courses are excellent in my view. And I’ve played them all. I play to

What’s the best part of being an NBA broadcaster?

The best part of the job of an NBA announcer is the front-row seat.

And the worst part?

The worst part is the travel — flying late nights between cities after games and arriving at 3 in the morning. And most of the time not unpacking.

Why did you decide not to go back to work when the announce ment came the NBA season would resume after a four-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic?

I decided not to return to Portland to minimize our potential exposure to COVID-19 and I wanted to take a year off to see if retirement appealed to me. Month one has been pretty good.

Chelan is the hometown of current NBA player Joe Harris. What scouting report can you provide on Joey Buckets?

The scouting report on Joe Harris is respect his ability to shoot the 3 standing still or on the move. I’m really proud of the way he has worked at improving his all-around game. He has learned that shooting the 3-ball well can make a guy and his family a lot of money in this league.

The loss of the Sonics franchise to Oklahoma City in 2008 was a tough blow for a lot of us in the Pacific Northwest. What was it like for you?

I just didn’t believe the Sonics were going to leave. When they did, we were prepared to stay in Seattle. I had four kids in four different levels of public school with so many friends. We didn’t want to take them away from those relationships. And we didn’t know anything about OKC. So we decided to stay. I got plenty of work as a freelance announcer. I even did Seattle Sounders soccer their first year and hosted a sports talk show on KIRO.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Seattle is an NBA city. How soon do you think before we see anoth er NBA franchise in Seattle?

I don’t have any doubt that the NBA will be back in Seattle. I don’t know when.

And the obvious follow-up question: what are the chances of you again taking up the mantle of “Voice of the Seattle Sonics”?

If it’s in my career lifetime, I’d sure love to give it another crack.

If you could time travel, which three NBA stars of yesteryear would you choose to see play in person?

I’d want to time travel and see Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Bill Russell play in person. F

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A decade of masterful gardening

Community Education Garden has blossomed

Jaana Hatton photos Left: Coneflowers are a good example of what type of flowers grow successfully in the Wenatchee area. Above: The Community Education Garden is well tended to by Master Gardeners, each responsible for a specific section.

The late Homer McNeill had a vision. It grew from a seedling of an idea into a fully blossoming real garden. It is thanks to Homer that we have a beautiful Community Education Garden in Wenatchee.

It has naturally taken more than one person to create the fully functioning gardens — divided into separate sections — that are both demonstrative and teaching tool. Visitors to the gardens along Western Avenue in Wenatchee are welcome to visit the horticultural “school,” either to enjoy or to get ideas for their own gardening projects.

Birds, bees and even bunnies enjoy the plentiful gardens.

Luke Hollister photo The WSU Chelan County Master Gardeners began developing the Community Education Garden 10 years ago. The garden is on the northwest corner of Western and Springwater avenues in Wenatchee.

The local Master Gardeners keep it tended

Who are the Master Gardeners? They are a group of community-minded volunteers who have taken the same university-level course in horticul ture. Their mission statement reads: “To educate and inspire individuals from Chelan and Douglas counties to develop sustainable environments and garden practices.”

In 2009, the Master Gardeners first had to remove some vegetation at their new site to plant another type. Large birch trees along Western Avenue were taken down and the following year, the group planted other, utilityfriendly trees in their place.

In 2010, the rose garden and eight raised beds for vegetables were established, among other tasks. Currently the rose garden is abloom with more than 20 varieties of roses.

In 2011, the native plant garden was completed. According to Master Gardener Kate Bratrude, it is currently under improvements.

Jaana Hatton photo

Bratrude has been garden manager since 2009. She makes sure everything is taken care of and volunteers are comfortable with their tasks.

“It’s a role that fits me,” she said. “I was the manager of nurses in my previous work.”

She grew up on a farm in Iowa and has a good feel for gardening. With that, and a heart for community service, she is happy overseeing the Community Education Garden’s well-being.

In 2013, Homer’s Garden, in the center of the venue, found its shape. That same year, Homer McNeill passed away following a brief illness. He was 88.

The Butterfly Garden — shaped like a butterfly wing — also took shape in 2013, with plants that attract pollinators. In the midst of the flowers you will also find a long bench, seemingly made out of a log, in the image of a huge, green caterpillar. Master Gardener Al Murphy built it specifically for the Community Education Garden.

June McCann, a Master Gardener, joined the program at that time.

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Jaana Hatton photo Gardens are a wonderful place for outdoor art. Local artist Anne Gibbons created this joyfully dancing Winnie the Pig metal sculpture.

with the common interests,” she said. “I helped plan and start Homer’s Garden.”

Barb Rooke, another Master Gar dener, joined the program at the same time as June.

“It was a friend’s suggestion,” she said.

She has stayed on and is famous for her enthusiastic weeding.

Each volunteer brings his or her own special skill or preference and that’s how the garden thrives.

In 2015, among other things, the Winnie the Pig Garden was estab lished. Its undeniable highlight is artist Anne Gibbon’s metal sculpture of a dancing pig. All the plants in the “Winnie” garden bear farm- or animalrelated names.

The large pergola was built in the same year. It shades the outdoor area where educational events are held.

“There are six Eagle Scout projects in the education gardens,” Kate said. “One of them is the book exchange kiosk, which is also used for the annual seed exchange.”

Each year has seen some improve ments or additions and many educational events — except in 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak put a stop on the Community Education Garden’s outreach functions.

“We missed the dahlia planting

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Jaana Hatton photo Master Gardener Kate Bratrude works a section of the gardens.

Jaana Hatton photo This caterpillar bench, built by Master Gardener Al Murphy, is an invitation for visitors to sit and enjoy the flowers.

Luke Hollister photo Rows of squash and peppers grow at the Community Education Garden in late July.

Luke Hollister photo A poblano pepper, surrounded by various other pepper friends, ripens in the late July heat at the garden.

this year, as well as the Tomato Gala,” Kate lamented.

The reduced community participa - tion has caused reduced funds. For now, they are holding back and stick- ing to the very basic functions within the budget.

Angell Clark is this year’s graduate in the Master Gardener program. It has been an unusual apprenticeship for her with the virus concerns over- shadowing every activity.

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“We have a farm in Chelan and I wanted to learn more about horticulture.”

Angell Cl rk

Master Gardener program graduate

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“I was an elementary school teacher before. We have a farm in Chelan and I wanted to learn more about horticulture. I also want to give back to the community,” Angell said while weeding under the sunflowers.

The Education Garden isn’t just all about flowers, but vegetables as well. The raised beds, like the garden sec - tions, each have a designated caregiv- er. This year, Master Gardener Mike Adams harvested 30 pounds of mixed greens from the beds and the produce was donated to the Lighthouse Minis- tries.

The Community Education Garden is ADA accessible, free and open dur- ing daylight hours. It’s a great place take a look at landscaping options or relax at sunset while the sunflowers gently sway nearby. The caterpillar bench is for adults, too. F

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