The fourth and final show of Newcastle’s 2015 Concerts in the Park series is Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Contributed
Soul Purpose will wrap up Newcastle’s Concerts in the Park series this Wednesday.

Soul Purpose, a soul and classic rock band, will take the Lake Boren Park stage at 7 p.m.

The concert will last about an hour and a half, and is at Lake Boren Park, 13058 S.E. 84th Way. Attendees should get there early to take advantage of food vendors selling their offerings.

Newcastle’s Concerts in the Park series continues Wednesday when vocalist Kellee Bradley takes the Lake Boren Park stage.

Concerts begin at 7 p.m., but attendees should get there early to take advantage of food vendors selling their offerings.

After Bradley’s performances, there is only one concert left. Soul Purpose, a soul and classic rock band, takes the stage Aug. 12.

All concerts last about an hour and a half, and are at Lake Boren Park, 13058 S.E. 84th Way.

Contributed
Off the Hook will play Newcastle’s Concerts in the Park on July 29.

Newcastle’s Concerts in the Park series continues Wednesday when Off the Hook, a classic funk and soul band, brings its brand of “old skool kool” to Lake Boren Park.

Concerts begin at 7 p.m., but attendees should get there early to take advantage of food vendors selling their offerings.

After Off the Hook’s performance, there are two more concerts in the series. Vocalist Kellee Bradley performs Aug. 5 and Soul Purpose, a soul and classic rock band, takes the stage Aug. 12.

All concerts last about an hour and a half, and are at Lake Boren Park, 13058 S.E. 84th Way.

Later this month, the city’s slate of summer events continues with its annual Concerts in the Park series.

For the second straight year, The Fabulous Roof Shakers, a blues band featuring artists from Seattle, Detroit and San Francisco, will kick off the concert series July 22.

Off the Hook, a classic funk and soul band, brings its brand of “old skool kool” to the park July 29, followed by vocalist Kellee Bradley on Aug. 5 and Soul Purpose, a soul and classic rock band, Aug. 12.

Concerts begin at 7 p.m., but attendees should get there early to take advantage of food vendors selling their offerings.

All concerts last about an hour and a half, and are at Lake Boren Park, 13058 S.E. 84th Way.

The city of Newcastle’s annual Concerts in the Park series kicks off this month, starting with The Fabulous Roof Shakers (at left), a blues band, July 22.

Off the Hook, a classic funk and soul band, brings its brand of “old skool kool” to the park July 29, followed by vocalist Kellee Bradley Aug. 5 and Soul Purpose, a soul and classic rock band, on Aug. 12.

Concerts begin at 7 p.m., but attendees should get there early to take advantage of food vendors selling their offerings.

All concerts last about an hour and a half, and are at Lake Boren Park, 13058 S.E. 84th Way.

By Greg Farrar
Diamond Award winners for 2014 are (from left) Chris Ware, Margaret Strong, Christina Corrales-Toy, Jaime Greene, David Vaisar, Mary Elworth, the Coal Creek YMCA represented by Sara Biancofiori and David Harris.

Whether it’s his suave British accent, his kind, carefree attitude or the shoulder-length hair, something about David Harris just says “rock star.”

The man behind the music at festivals across the Eastside, including Newcastle’s Concerts in the Park and Newcastle Days, knows how to put on a show, and he was recognized for it with the top honor at the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 Diamond Awards ceremony.

Newcastle Mayor Steve Buri presented Harris with the Mayor’s Award on Nov. 20 in a glitzy evening affair at The Golf Club at Newcastle. Buri described Harris as a person that “makes things happen,” and thanked him for managing the sound of and helping bring bands to Newcastle’s community events.

“He’s a huge asset to everything we’ve done over the last 10 years to build a sense of community with Lake Boren Park as the center,” Buri said.

The Mayor’s Award is intended for a person who consistently volunteers his or her time and resources to make a positive difference in the Newcastle community, said Doug Kunkel, a Newcastle Chamber board member.

Harris’ role in working both behind the scenes and at the sound controls of community events made him an easy choice, Kunkel added.

“David brings an abundance of experience and enthusiasm to the table when helping organize community events,” he said. “His past experience as the chairman of the planning committee for the very large Issaquah Salmon Days festival makes him an expert resource for us to turn to for advice and ideas, which he’s happy to share.”

In a short acceptance speech, Harris, who frequents the community to visit good friend Newcastle resident and Yes drummer Alan White, expressed his admiration for the city.

“I’ve always had a great passion for Newcastle,” Harris said. “This is a really great community.”

Harris wasn’t the only one that walked away with a diamond-shaped trophy; the chamber handed out awards in six other categories.

It was a big night for the Coal Creek Family YMCA, whose staff members won two awards.

?Jaime Greene, the Y’s director of Healthy Living and Community Engagement, walked away with the Dennis Yarnell Inspiration Award, while the entire Y staff won the Customer Service Award.

Newcastle resident Chris Ware, owner of Newport Hills’ Dolce Vita Salon and Nail Spa, won the Business Award, and Margaret Strong, a teacher at Hazelwood Elementary School, won the Education Award.

There were co-winners in the Youth Award category, as both Newcastle residents David Vaisar, an Eagle Scout who helped improve the city’s trails, and Mary Elworth, an active library volunteer and a member of Newcastle’s Teen Leadership Board, took home trophies.

Newcastle News reporter Christina Corrales-Toy also won the Community Leadership Award.

The Newcastle Diamond Awards is an annual ceremony that recognizes community members who do good things in the greater Newcastle area. The recipient of a Diamond Award is chosen based on his or her contribution to the community.

Winners and nominees demonstrate dedication, integrity and caring, with a passion for doing what needs to be done.

Contributed
Steve Kelly, lead singer of the Neil Diamond tribute band Cherry Cherry, performs. The band plays Aug. 6 at Lake Boren Park.

Newcastle’s Concerts in the Park series continues Wednesday when Neil Diamond tribute band Cherry Cherry takes the Lake Boren Park stage at 7 p.m. 

After that there is just one show left in the series. Crumac, a trio that plays traditional Irish music, plays Aug. 13.

The Golf Club at Newcastle and the Coal Creek Family YMCA are the main sponsors for the free series. Concerts begin at 7 p.m., but attendees can arrive as early as 6 p.m., when kettle-corn vendor Tastyz and the Maximus/Minimus food truck begin selling their offerings.

All concerts last about an hour and a half, and are at Lake Boren Park, 13058 S.E. 84th Way.

Contributed
Shelley & the Curves, specializing in dance and pop music, will perform at Lake Boren Park July 31.

The city of Newcastle’s Concerts in the Park series continues Wednesday, July 31 with a performance by Shelley & the Curves.

The band will take the Lake Boren Park stage at 7 p.m.

This year’s lineup is:

• July 31 — Shelley & the Curves (dance, pop)
• Aug. 7 — Geoffrey Castle (high energy Celtic violin)
•  Aug. 14 — Shaggy Sweet (pop, rock, blues)

Crowds can gather at Lake Boren Park as early as 6 p.m., when food vendors will be on site.

This year’s free event is made possible by the city of Newcastle, The Golf Club at Newcastle and the Coal Creek YMCA.

Contributed
The Fabulous Roof Shakers perform from 7-8:30 p.m. Aug. 8 at Lake Boren Park

The schedule for the 2012 free outdoor concerts at Lake Boren Park is set as Seatown Rhythm and Blues take the stage for the first installment of the community event tonight at 7 p.m.

All live performances will be from 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays from July 18 to Aug. 8 Crowds often begin gathering as early as 6 p.m. for community picnicking. Food vendors, including Buns gourmet natural burgers and Tastyz kettle corn and shaved ice, also will be on site.

Seatown Rhythm and Blues, The Mainstreet Band, Threshold and The Fabulous Roof Shakers are the bands scheduled to perform.

Outdoor concerts are provided for families every summer at Lake Boren Park.

View the schedule and each of the bands’ websites by going to the city of Newcastle website at www.ci.newcastle.wa.us and click on the provided link.

The schedule for the 2012 free outdoor concerts at Lake Boren Park is set.

Live performances will be Wednesday evenings from July 18 and through Aug. 8 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Crowds often begin gathering as early as 6 p.m. for community picnicking. Food vendors, including Buns gourmet natural burgers and Tastyz kettle corn and shaved ice, also will be on site.

Seatown Rhythm and Blues, The Mainstreet Band, Threshold and the Fabulous Roof Shakers are the bands scheduled to perform.

Outdoor concerts are provided for families every summer at Lake Boren Park.