Angle Lake Shore Club

Storm Debris Clean Up Options

2012-02-03T18:02:00.000-08:00

The weather prediction for Saturday and Sunday this week is for clear skies and mild temperatures – conditions guaranteed to bring on Spring Fever! However before you consider heading out for a leisurely beach stroll or a relaxing round of golf, please note this weekend is the last opportunity to take advantage of the free King County special wood debris-recycling event aimed to help area residents dispose of green debris generated from the recent ice storms.

Dates: February 4-5, 2012

Location: Kent’s Russell Road Park

24400 Russell Rd., Kent

Hours: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Details: This events are open to King County residents only. No contractor or commercial loads at the Kent location. The collection sites and events are exclusively for wood debris from the recent storms. Stumps, logs and limbs no longer than six feet in length are allowed. Please place material on a tarp or sheet of plywood for ease of removal.

Restrictions: No brush, leaves, grass clippings, sod, soil, construction or other debris.

People bringing wood debris are reminded to secure their loads.

Remember - It is illegal to burn yard debris on your property

For Every Dark Cloud...

2012-01-29T10:18:00.000-08:00

In a recent article in the Seattle Times titled ‘Next-Door Nemeses’, author Diana Wurn went on to explain how no-good neighbors can devalue your property as much as ten percent when you’re trying to sell. And for those who are simply expecting a peaceful environment to call home, living next to a bad neighbor can be a harrowing experience.

However, I feel a positive side to every negative situation is possible, if only you make the extra effort. For me, I’ve discovered this to be true of the neighbors within my immediate area.

The recent snow and ice storms had created a treacherous situation in my neighborhood. The area was without electricity for nearly three days. Getting out and around was difficult while remaining indoors without power to heat our homes was not too comforting either. The evening of the first day without electricity, the neighbor next-door approached me asking if I would care to borrow her generator. Seems she was headed over to a relative for the night and was concerned that my family and I would be left to deal with the cold. She cautioned us that one of her daughters who had also lost power would be by the following day to pick it up but she encouraged us to use it for the night. Early the next day a fairly new neighbor on the other side of the street from us who we’ve only met once also went out of his way to walk down our icy drive to our house and ask if we needed anything from the grocery store as his vehicle was well equipped to get it around.

Later that same day another neighbor on the south end of the lake called to inform us that their power had been restored and ask if ours had, too. When we confirmed it hadn't he immediately extended an offer to us for the use of a second generator and he and his brother even delivered it to our home within hours! Additionally we received calls from other neighbors on the west side of the lake offering us use of their spare rooms to stay with them and from the north end we received a call of concern asking us to confirm if anyone had a chance to check in on the safety of the elderly in the area. The behavior I had witnessed of these neighbors and their display of genuine concern during this time of need helped to warm my heart and instill an increased sense of the caring community that I live in.

Another recent incident concerns a home nearby where the owner has recently become deceased and currently no legal ownership claim is established on the property at this time. This situation has created an opportunity for a few individuals to occupy the property as ‘squatters’ and concern over illegal drug activity has increased. On the surface, this certainly can be identified as a bad situation – but dig a little deeper and what is revealed is an opportunity surfacing for my community to build an even stronger cohesion among us.

The issue was brought to light when a young couple who had just recently purchase a home next-door to the subject property sent an email to the ALSC blog address asking that nearby residents be alerted to nefarious activity occurring at the adjacent vacant property. The letter contained information outlining the concerns, recommending actions residents could take to best help local law enforcement confront the issues, and included details regarding new partnerships forming between the residents and city agencies to identify and address potential code infractions in effort to combat concerns over potential dangerous chemicals being stored on the property.

As the Times had reported, bad neighbors can certainly have a negative impact on your property values and/or quality of life at home. Living in a community like Angle Lake where an active social organization like the Shore Club exists and affords opportunity for neighbors to become better acquainted with other neighbors is something no longer commonplace in today's society. A community where we are no longer strangers living side by side but in many cases where we have actually become good friends. A community where friends work together to resolve differences whereas strangers would have otherwise failed, where working together as partners problems are more easily resolved than working them alone. For me, I find the good neighbors in this community to be priceless.

Planning for Snow Travel

2012-01-15T08:56:00.000-08:00

With snow beginning to fall in our area, blanketing yards and thoroughfares and making surface travel a bit more difficult - it’s probably a good time to inform our blog viewers about the City of SeaTac Snow Plowing Schedule and Road Closures.

Road Maintenance Officials with the City of SeaTac have compiled a list of priority roads that will be plowed during times of heavy snow and/or icing to assist drivers in safe navigation throughout the city. The following links provide access to the Priority List or a Visual Map detailing which roads will be cleared and de-iced.

As a reminder, the following roads within SeaTac will most likely be closed when unsafe conditions (snow and ice) are present:

• So. 180th Street east of Military Road So. (aka: Levitz Hill)

• So. 200th Street west of 28th Ave So

• 37th Place So east of Military Road So.

Vehicle operators will need to choose alternate routes during times of road closures. Additional road closure information can be access through the King County Road Alert website.

Seasonal Serenity and Solitude

2012-01-11T19:03:00.000-08:00

Winter time around the lake. Normally a quiet, peaceful time for most folks to relax, recuperate and reinvigorate. But au contraire for several neighbors who are actively participating on or leading various community committees. The following presents a brief overview of the community interests being served, a point of contact for each and current information and status about the initiatives.

200th Street Light Rail Station:

Clyde ‘Fuzz’ Hill

An Ad-Hoc Committee consisting of residents, business and property managers was formed this past Summer. The team has been meeting regularly since October to review proposed requirements and design features for the new station scheduled to open in 2016. The group had toured existing stations, met with the creative art teams and spent many hours addressing concerns and offering suggestions to Sound Transit Staff for inclusion into the design/build requested proposals. A comprehensive packet of recommendations from the committee is expected to be delivered to the City Council by March. Please send any comments, questions or concerns you may have regarding this project to the blog to be forwarded to the committee for additional consideration.

Celebrate America:

Steve Beck

If you attended the Shore Club Christmas Party you may recall the announcement made regarding a grass roots effort formed to create a city wide event to recognize our wounded military service men and women and to celebrate being American. The team has secured individual stakeholders to manage 10 separate events to be held at various locations throughout North SeaTac and Valley Ridge Parks, near Angle Lake and including the PacWest Ball Fields and Community Center grounds with the plan to converge on Angle Lake Park in the afternoon to honor our military personnel through ceremony and family fun activities via an old fashioned picnic. The group is working diligently to secure necessary funding to help seed this first year of what is planned to be an annual function. If you’d like the chance to perform good deeds for your community while paying respect to our returning military service personnel, we urge you to consider volunteering your talents and join this committee.

Vision 2015:

Jim Todd

While relatively unknown to most but I suspect not for much longer is the somewhat obscure collective body that has been brainstorming future uses for the variety of City owned and currently un- or underdeveloped properties. The two significant components that are starting to surface in response to the failed town center concept include a proposal for a mixed use International Complex at 154th, something akin to the Pike Place Market concept and an Artist Community near 200th Street with a Sculpture Garden installed on the Hughes Property at South Angle Lake. Both centers leverage the light rail stations and take advantage of the enhanced bus transportation available in these areas. Send your contact information to the blog to receive additional detail about the proposed used for these and other city owned properties.

These are just three of several active community focus groups that are underway or being formed. Please email the blog if you'd like to be involved, informed or have ideas to share.

Go Jump in the Lake this New Year's Day!

2011-12-28T08:49:00.000-08:00

A polar bear plunge is an event held during the winter where participants enter a body of water despite the low temperature. Sometimes they are held to raise money for a charitable organization, sometimes they are held for no more reason than to celebrate the New Year by doing something out of the ordinary. Jumping into frigid water in the middle of winter qualifies in my book as something ‘out of the ordinary!”

Plunges are now held throughout the United States. Boston is recognized as being among the earliest known US event (1904) whereas annual events in Seattle had begun as early as 1993. And while the “Plungapalooza” event in Maryland is considered the largest polar bear plunge in the United States with an estimated 12,000 people participating our event at Angle Lake on New Year’s Day is still relatively new (est. 2009) and quite small in comparison (10 swimmers) but we still hold hope that someday we’ll grow to tens upon tens entering the water! (By our calculation that would make anything more than twenty participants a pretty darn big deal!)

Angle Lake Manor Club Beach

3417 So 194th

Sunday, January 1st, 2012

Gather at 11:30 am – Plunge at 12:00 pm Sharp

Regardless whether you have the ‘courage’ to enter the water or whether you join to cheer on the participants (or gawk and ridicule them) past events have proven to be a great time and a great way to ring in the New Year.

We are also excited to announce Mike’s Community Cup, a local family owned coffee house as a new commercial partner this year who will be supplying delicious steaming hot coffee and warm cocoa for all who attend. Mike’s Community Cup located at the triangular juncture of Military Road and 42nd Avenue is well known in SeaTac as a community centered business that not only contributes to the vibrancy of the City by providing outstanding food, beverages and excellent service, but also finds creative ways to provide financial support to many non-profit youth services within our community. Please help us express appreciation for their support of the Polar Bear Plunge and the many other fine works they perform in our city by visiting them often.

Hints and Safety Tips:

Dress Up in costume over your swimsuit to add whimsy
Come Early. Parking is limited. Carpool or come by boat.
Anyone with heart problems should consult your health care provider before participating. If you don't participate, you’re still welcome to join us and watch.
Do Not Drink. Alcohol does not warm you up. It accelerates hypothermia.
Do Not Stay In The Water Longer Than 15 Minutes. Body heat is lost 25 times faster in the water than in air.
Keep Your Outer Clothing On until swim time and remove any wet clothing before getting back into dry clothes.
Have Fun!

Invite your friends to join us via our Facebook Events Page.

Season's Greeting from the ALSC!

2011-12-24T09:44:00.000-08:00

Two Thousand Eleven was certainly a record year for the Shore Club. A record in the number of total events produced, record increased number of attendees for several of the events, and I’m sure that a new record was set regarding the weather, too! Every one of the seven outdoor events in 2011 were free from rain and bathed in sunshine!

A Look Back Recap

The Third Annual Polar Bear Plunge got a boost when the Shore Club became an official sponsor of the event. What had started out as a simple idea by two Manor Club neighbors is poised to become another favorite annual event open to all within the community. View a video recap of the Polar Bear Plunge here.
The Angle Lake Fishing Derby, a multi-decades old spring tradition provides a platform for expert anglers to showcase their catch and their prowess. This year included a record overall number of triploid trophy trout pulled from the lake and brought in for recording. Another video featuring the fishing derby can be viewed here.
The Fourth of July Celebration on Angle Lake, saw a new champion take the runners trophy, repeat champions returning to first place in the dock decorating competition and a redesigned fireworks show that wowed the crowd with many ‘mini finales’ including an unexpected bonus show!
New this year, the Angle Lake Clean Sweep was an opportunity for members to gather at the western shoreline to give some much needed cleansing around the City owned Hughes property. The turnout was good for a first year event.
The Floating Tapas, in addition to the volunteer hosted stations we invited two local restaurants for an opportunity to showcase their cuisine and introduce themselves to the neighborhood. A new record was set regarding the number of bodies that can fit onto a single pontoon boat and still remaining afloat!
The Horse N Round Classic enjoyed a record number of teams participating for a record purse for the winning teams.
The Annual Members Only Christmas Party was attended by over a hundred participants who feasted on a delicious catered meal while taking advantage of the opportunity to catch up with their neighbors.
And finally, the Christmas Cruise. This third year saw a double fold increase in the number of decorated boats participating in the parade and the inclusion of Santa was an enormous hit with young and old alike.

2011 ALSC Board Members

The Board Members of the Angle Lake Shore Club hope you had the opportunity to enjoy one or more of these annual events. As you can see from the list above we are striving for continuous improvement and would appreciate any feedback. Please drop us an email at anglelakes@gmail.com letting us know what you liked, what could be improved, and/or share your favorite memory, etc.

As 2011 comes to a close, each of your club board members would like to wish you and your loved ones a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

2011-12-18T08:34:00.000-08:00

And when it comes to describing the Christmas Cruise on Angle Lake, the photo below is priceless in explaining the amount of fun that was experienced for young and old at this year’s event.

The ‘Young at Heart’ enjoying their visit with Santa

Surprisingly the weather was relatively mild for a mid-December evening which may have been a key factor to why we witnessed so many neighbors hosting bonfires on their beaches. However, we’d like to think it was mainly because of the elaborately decorated boats, six of them in all, throwing a bright glow across the waters of the lake, drawing folks away from their TVs and easy chairs like drawing moths to a brightly burning flame. Or admittedly, perhaps it was because everyone was anxious to get a visit with the Father of Christmas himself, Santa Claus.

Whatever reason accounted for encouraging folks to leave the warmth of the indoors and to gathering with their neighbors, family and friends in the dark of night, they had done so and had did it with great fervor, making this a most wonderful closing event of the year for the Angle Lake Shore Club and the community. All told many, many stops were made around the lake with over 40 gift bags distributed by Santa to the visiting youth.

Of course we’d like to thank the captains who had invested many hours and personal expense to decorate their boats. With special recognition to: Gordon/Joyce Densmore; Bruce/Sandy Goulet; Brice/Pattie Lenz; Lonnie/Annie Goulet; Jim/Robyn Todd; and our principle organizers Bruce/Kathy Bryant. All you’re efforts were clearly appreciated based on the many compliments and kind comments that viewers expressed. And to Santa, you really had your game face on this night! We hope you’ll continue to find time in the years to come to bless us with your presence. You are an asset to this community.

And finally, thank you to everyone who made the effort come out; build the fires; encourage the crowds to gather on your shore, greet us and invite us onto your docks and beaches to help spread holiday cheer. You are the reason why we do this and it is you who help to make this so much fun! Thank you for being an active partner and taking an active role within your community.

Photos with Santa are available viewing and can be accessed through the right side ‘Additional Links’ menu, under the ‘Shore Club Photo Album’ link. If you have photos to share, please email them to the blog address at anglelakesc@gmail.com or contact Clyde Hill within the Shore Club phone directory.

Santa Clause Is Coming To Town!

2011-12-13T18:11:00.000-08:00

Of course we are all very familiar with the annual journey that Ole’ Saint Nick endures every 24th of December on Christmas eve, but did you know that Santa Clause is also scheduled to make a special visit to the Angle Lake Community this coming Friday, December 16th!

As the elves up north prepare the sleigh and the reindeer continue to rest up for the big trip on Christmas Eve, Santa will make an additional visit to Angle Lake via pontoon boat instead. He will be parading with a group of other festive boats decked out in holiday lights, broadcasting Christmas music and spreading cheer with all who gather along the lakeshore.

When: Friday, December 16th

Where: The Waters of Angle Lake

Begin: 6:00 PM End: 8:30..ish… or when we get too cold, or tired, or the adult fluids go dry...

The route planned will depart from the Todd Residence (3910 So. 192nd, Post 78) at around (UPDATE) 6:00 PM travel first to Drew & Debbie Clark's beach straight across on the NW side of the lake. From there, we'll work our way counter-clockwise around the lake. The trip includes additional scheduled layovers in the Manor Club Neighborhood at the Patton’s dock (4-12), followed with a stop at the Partridge Beach (4-17) and then over to the southwest corner of the lake for a visit at the Condos.

If you are unable to make it to any of these predetermined locations, no need to pout or cry! All you need to do is to bring yourself, the youngins, and a flashlight down to the water’s edge or end of the dock and flag us down as we approach. We’ll sail in so Santa can have a quick visit with the kids, learn of their Christmas dreams and wishes and capture a digital photo to share via email with the parents. Depending on how many stops are made along the way, a full lap around the lake could take a couple hours so watch for us, waive, flash your Christmas or porch lights as a sign of welcome for our special guest and his hapless but well intentioned elf helpers.

A super huge thank you to Julie Hill who helped bundle the gifts bags for the kids and special recognition to Bruce Bryant; Jim Todd; Lonnie Goulet; Steve Beck and Bruce Goulet for all the effort it took to pull this event together to spread heartwarming cheer to all within our community.

We wish a Very Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Reports of Mail Theft

2011-12-05T21:02:00.000-08:00

The past few weeks mail theft has become a serious and growing problem for our neighbors in the area between 41st Avenue and 46th Avenue so along Military Road South and along 46th Avenue South to South 188th street. Day after day numerous pieces of mail has been removed from both unsecured and locked mailboxes and end up littering the streets the roads.

Mail theft is more than a nuisance; it is a serious crime, yet it is assumed that many residents don’t report mail theft for such reasons as:

they don’t know how
they got no feedback/outcome from earlier reports
they are not sure what’s missing if anything
they are not sure what all is involved; they are not sure it’s worth the trouble.

Stolen mail is often a thief’s first step into an even worse crime: identity theft, which is the fastest growing crime in the US today, one that takes its victims hundreds of ugly hours researching damages, resolving billing disputes and restoring credit ratings.

If you are a victim of mail theft, you are urged to first submit a crime notice through the King County Sheriff's Office Online Reporting System and follow that up with a report to the United States Postal Service.

For added protection you should also consider performing the following additional actions:

Call your bank and have a “watch” put on your account. All major banks and credit unions will have this capability and most will also have the added protection of adding a supplementary password added that must be given for any access to your account.
Call all your credit card companies and also put a watch on your accounts. If you’re ultra-paranoid, you can get your credit card company to issue you a brand new account # and card which you should be able to get within 3-5 business days.
Contact the credit reporting agencies to put a “Fraud alert” on your credit file. Calling each one individually is a pain in the back side, however if you file a fraud alert through Transunion, they will automatically notify and process fraud alerts to Experian and Equifax also.

And finally, if you witness any suspicious activity of individual(s) loitering around or tampering with mailboxes or if you observe anyone improperly discarding mail along the road – don’t hesitate to call 911! The few minutes you take to make a report may save a neighbor from years of grief caused from identity theft.

Last Call To Reserve Your Spot

2011-11-27T10:19:00.000-08:00

We have nearly reached capacity seating for our upcoming Members Only Christmas Party. We’ll be accepting requests up until Wednesday for a guaranteed reserved spot for you and your guest(s), after that tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis until sold out. At the time of this writing, there were just 14 spots remaining.

The evening will kick off with socializing, snacking on delicious hors d’ oeuvres and a limitless supply of refreshments will be served up by our extremely congenial and highly entertaining bartenders, Bruce and Sandy Goulett. We’ll hold a short meeting at around 5:00 PM to introduce new members; elect officers; recognize outstanding volunteers and present the awards for Mr. and Ms. Christmas! At the completion of the meeting, attendees can expect to feast upon a delicious Italian Cuisine catered by Bakeman’s Restaurant:

Appetizers

Marinated Asparagus
Antipasto
Roasted Veggies
Prawns w/ cocktail sauce

Dinner Menu

Italian Bread, Rolls and Butter
Caesar Salad
Caprese Salad
Rigatoni w/ meat sauce
Penne Pasta Alfredo w/ Chicken
Meatballs and Italian Sausages
Chicken Piccata

Tickets are just $30.00 per person and include virtually everything anyone could possibly need to create a wonderfully memorable evening spent with friends and neighbors.

2011-11-23T18:47:00.000-08:00

Kick off your holidays by spending a day at the Tyee Holiday Bazaar. In operation now for more than 25 years and drawing over 3,000 attendees in 2011, this bazaar is recognized as one of the largest annual bazaars in the area. And each year it just keeps getting bigger and better!

Gift options galore available to choose for purchase from over 150 merchants featuring hand crafted items, collectibles and commercial products. Shoppers can browse a large selection of fresh cut trees to find the perfect Christmas tree to take home for the holidays, have their picture taken with Santa, and peruse an array of mouth watering foods to choose from or warm up with steaming hot espresso drink. There’s even a kid’s activity center planned to keep the little shoppers entertained.

All this will take place on one day only:

Saturday, December 3rd

9:00 am until 4:00 pm

Tyee Educational Complex

4424 So. 188th, SeaTac

Admission is Free

Neighbor Needs Help....

2011-11-18T18:18:00.000-08:00

The following email landed in our email in basket asking folks along the lake shore to keep an eye out for a stray Adirondack chair.

The request is as follows:

"I custom built a couple of Adirondack chairs a few months back , one for me and one for my lovely wife. They both have arms that resemble FISH.

Well a couple weeks ago the wife said "Shouldn't we bring them chairs in from the beach?" and my response was "nah they'll be fine besides I want them to turn a nice soft timeless grey color (cedar does that ya know).

Needless to say during the recent wind storm wouldn't you know it HERS BLEW AWAY INTO THE LAKE!!!

Now you know I'm in some big trouble now. Soooo if you happen to see her chair on yer beach I would reeeally appreciate it if you could possibly give me a call."

Thank You
Dave and Randi Milam
Post 11 206-755-9041

The Event of the Year!

2011-11-13T16:42:00.000-08:00

The Angle Lake Shore Club Christmas Party will be held on Saturday, December 3rd. Invitations were mailed last week and response so far has been great. To ensure the best experience possible, we are capping ticket sales to the first 100 members only. If you plan to attend, we ask that you RSVP no later than Monday, November 21st as tickets are selling fast.

The Christmas Party is a great opportunity to visit with familiar neighbors, make new acquaintances, and share fun stories of the great times that were enjoyed during the various club events throughout this past year! We will be providing a delicious catered Italian Themed Dinner with an open bar included in the ticket price of just $30 per person. Yes, you read that right... An entire evening of socializing; delicious dinner; live holiday music and refreshments, all for only $30 each!

We will continue the fun contest tradition we had kicked off last year in voting for the couple that most represents Mr. and Mrs. Christmas. The definition is left open for the crowd to decide: Most Active Member; Longest Club Tenure; Most Congenial; More or all of the above – you help decide! You might elect to come dressed in your best interpretation of ‘Holiday Spirit’ and if you receive the most votes you’ll be awarded a valuable prize!

This is a private party for current Angle Lake Shore Club Members Only and their guests. If you are not currently an active member, no worries! We are accepting new membership applications alongside Christmas Party ticket purchases. Membership enrollment form along with party times and location detail is available by clicking here.

Should you have any unanswered questions or if you’d like to assist with set up, clean up or general operations, please contact your volunteer hostess, Julie Hill at (206) 355-6460. Hope to see you all at the 2011 ALSC Christmas Party.

Holiday of Hope

2011-11-08T17:35:00.000-08:00

The following post was submitted to us by ALSC Member Pattie Lenz

As the holidays summon forth our giving spirit, we would like to invite you to join us in helping financially strapped families from our area, to make Christmas special for their children.

We are organizing a "Holiday Of Hope" gift shop. The shop will open December 17th for parents/ caregivers to come and select unwrapped items for their children. Last year (thanks to your help) we were able to provide 193 families with gifts for their children. Our goal this year is to provide 600 gifts. We even have a list of gifts to make it easy if you are interested. We are excited to make this event happen again and I hope you want to join in and help us.

Here are ways to get involved:

Purchase or provide money for a gift or two. Toys for children 0-11 or gift card ($25.00) from Target Stores, Ulta Cosmetics or Old Navy for youth 12-18.
Prepare cookies or provide cocoa/ coffee for attendees and volunteers.
Organize a toy drive in your place of business
Volunteer to help set up the toy shop or assist parents in shopping. (the location this year will be at The Angle Lake Family Resource Center at 4040 So. 188th Street)
Refer a local family you know that needs help.

Please bring your toy/ gift to the family resource center no later than December 12th. Let the goodness shine through! May your generosity bring the joy of the season alive in your heart!

For more information or a copy of the gift list call:

Kirsten Brown, Seatac Family Resource Center 206-816-3240.
Coleen Brandt-Schulter, City of Seatac 206-973-4815

Thanks so much for your past generosity and wonderful participation!

This Is Only A Test...

2011-11-07T07:06:00.000-08:00

In the 1960s and 1970s, emergency signals broadcast over television and radio stations conjured up visions of nuclear attack. Today, those same warnings are more likely to mean that a severe weather condition is upon one's community. But the message is still the same: how people can get information about plans for their safety.

At 11 a.m. PST on Wednesday (2:00 p.m. EST), the entire United States will participate in the federal government's first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. As residents watch television or listen to radio, they will hear the familiar "emergency tones" that will let them know what they could do in case there was an actual emergency. The test is expected to last up to 3½ minutes. During this period, regularly scheduled television, radio, cable, and satellite shows will be interrupted as the system is being tested.

The test is being conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as part of their ongoing efforts to keep the nation safe during emergencies and strengthen its resilience against all hazards.

The national Emergency Alert System is an alert and warning system that can be activated by the president, if needed, to provide information to the American public during emergencies. NOAA's National Weather Service, governors, and state and local emergency authorities also use parts of the system to issue more localized emergency alerts. The test is an important exercise in ensuring that the system is effective in communicating critical information to the public in the event of a real national emergency.

Similar to emergency alert system tests that are already conducted frequently on the local level, the nationwide test will involve television and radio stations across the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, and the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.

The exercise is also intended to encourage the public to use the event as a reminder that everyone should establish an emergency preparedness kit and emergency plan for themselves, their families, communities, and businesses.

Visit www.FEMA.gov for more information about how to prepare for and stay informed about what to do in the event of an actual emergency.

Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

2011-11-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Are you prepared to enter the Dark Days of Winter? Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, November 6 at 2 AM. Remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday, November 5, else you’ll miss out on that extra hour of sleep!

In addition to changing your clocks, we’d like to remind you that this is also the perfect time to check your smoke detector batteries and change them if necessary. Smoke detectors that run on 9 volt batteries or hard wired smoke detectors with battery backups need to be changed annually to ensure they will work when you need them. Please avoid tossing the used batteries in the garbage but dispose of the batteries properly by turning in at a Recycling Center near you.

Some Facts About Smoke Detectors:

Smoke detectors that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in saving lives and reducing fire deaths and injuries.
Having a working smoke detector cuts the risk of dying in a home fire by 40-50%.
Numbers of homes with smoke detectors that do not work outnumber homes without smoke detectors at all.
Nearly half of all smoke detectors do not work due to missing or dead batteries.

Some Additional Facts About DST:

Ancient Civilizations adjusted their schedules based on available sunlight. Later in history, schedules instead became standardized based on time keeping devices where time did not falter. It was Benjamin Franklin who is attributed to resurrecting the idea of adjusting time in a light-hearted 1784 satire. Although Franklin's facetious suggestion was simply that people should get up earlier in summer, he is often erroneously attributed as the inventor of DST. Adoption of Standard Time did not materialize in the United States until November 18, 1883, before then time keeping was a local matter.

Modern DST was first proposed by New Zealand entomologist George Vernon Hudson, although many publications incorrectly credit William Willett of the idea. Germany led the way in adopting the modern DST during World War I on April 30^th, 1916 as a measure to save on coal consumption during war time. The U.S. Congress originally enacted DST in 1918 but then repealed the act in 1919 and it was not until the Uniform TimeAct of 1966 that provided standardization in the dates of beginning and end of daylight time in the U.S. but allowed for local exemptions from its observance.

The law as it was originally written required states that observe DST to begin it at 02:00 local time on the last Sunday in April and to end it at 02:00 local time on the last Sunday in October. The law was later amended in 1986 to move the uniform start date for DST to the first Sunday in April (effective 1987). The latest amendment, part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, extends DST by four or five weeks by moving the uniform start date for DST to the second Sunday in March and the end date to the first Sunday in November (effective 2007). However, the Department of Energy is required to report to Congress the impact of the DST extension by December 1, 2007 (nine months after the statute took effect) which the department has not done and the report is now grossly overdue. If the DST extension failed to save energy, Congress may revert back to the old schedule set in 1986! And believe it or not, there is actually an organization (standardtime.com) who has been attempting to eliminate Day Light Saving Time altogether since 1998!

Help Teach A Child To Read

2011-10-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

Learning How to Read Begins in Children's Ears

Most people think children learn how to read through their eyes. But reading is actually learned through the ears. Parents lay a foundation for success in reading by talking to a child, reading books to her, and playing auditory games such as rhyming. The more books you read, the bigger his vocabulary becomes. A bigger vocabulary allows her to recognize lots of words while she reads. If you've read books to him about cheetahs and warthogs, it's more likely he can read those words when his teacher gives a homework assignment about the Serengeti Plains.

Learning to Read, Reading to Learn
A child will normally learn how to read through the following sequence:

From birth to age three, children listen to lots of words spoken and learn how to talk.
Children, aged three to four years old have growing vocabularies, and they learn how to rhyme.
In first grade children are taught how to blend letter sounds together to "sound out" words and memorize sight words. They begin reading simple sentences.
Second and third graders learn how to read "chapter" books and read fluently with comprehension.

For children who are being raised in homes where English is a secondary or non-existent language, these individuals can find themselves lacking some important auditory tools:

Can't rhyme due to minimal vocabulary
Don't know the short vowel sounds - caused by an inability to hear differences in short vowel sounds. (Short vowels: a-apple, e-elephant, i-igloo, o-octopus, u-umbrella)
Can't put word parts together to make words - a skill used in sounding out new words.
Slow recall of letter sounds, sees the letter w but can't remember what it says.

Absence of these critical auditory skills increase the difficulty in learning to read which in turn compounds the overall learning challenges. A team of local volunteers has formed a tutorial group whose goal is to help overcome these learning difficulties by bridging the language gap created by the absence of English in the home place.

Volunteers gather at Fellowship Bible Church each Wednesday from 5:30 until 7 PM throughout the school year to read to children or listen to the child read and offer coaching over the rough spots. Additional volunteers tutor students on various school subjects to help them accelerate and succeed in their classes.

As you can imagine, demand for this assistance in our community is at least twice as great as there are volunteers to support them. If you are interested becoming a volunteer tutor or know others who would be, please share the FLYER with them and ask them to join in each Wednesday evening – you’ll be surprised by the gratitude you’ll receive from appreciative individuals learning from you!

Stockings For Our Soldiers

2011-10-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

Members of The Senior Program at the SeaTac Community Center are collecting donated items to be placed into hand sewn stockings and shipped to our brave young men and women in uniform serving their Country half-way around the world. The drive will run through November 8. All items collected at the SeaTac Community Center will be brought to Operation Support Our Troops Northwest for packing and shipping.

When choosing items to donate, please consider many smaller items to be better than a few large items. For example, a package of ten snack-sized bags of chips is better than a single family size bag of chips. This way, the items can be distributed to more soldiers. A list of recommended items needed include cocoa and cider packets, 6 inch candy canes, packaged cookies, microwave popcorn, gum, breath mints, peanuts and lip balm however, our troops are thankful for anything we send. Additionally, cash donations are always needed to help offset the shipping costs. For further information, call 973.4690

Alternate Routes Required

2011-10-10T21:58:00.000-07:00

Typical peak periods of construction and road closures occur during summer months, however a few projects taking place this fall will have an impact on local commuter's travel plans:

Southbound I-5 Onramp at 200th Street

Detours will be in place during temporary construction forcing closure of the I-5 southbound ramp at South 200th Street / Military Road South for I-5 concrete pavement rehabilitation. Closure will be weather dependant requiring a maximum of 5 single nights between October 10 – November 18, 2011. Mon-Fri closures will be scheduled from 8PM to 5AM & Sat-Sun 8PM to 10AM.. Detour will be on Military Road South, North to South 188th Street and the Southbound ramp to I-5.

Additional Major Construction Detours in place within the Region:

154th Street between 24th and 32nd Ave South

The City of Seatac recently announced that full road closure of South 154th St between 32nd Ave S and 24th Ave S will continue to remain in effect until December 31st. During this time only emergency vehicles and local traffic will be allowed to use a portion of South 154th St. Please refer to the detour map for alternative routes while traveling in this area.

SR 99 - Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement

A nine-day closure of the State Route 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct will mark the beginning of the end for Seattle’s double-deck highway. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will close the majority of the viaduct until 5 a.m., Monday, Oct. 31.

During the closure, crews will demolish large sections of the southern mile of the viaduct, and complete temporary connections to a new SR 99 bridge now under construction on the west side of the viaduct in SODO. When 99 reopens on Halloween, a “construction bypass” will be in place. WSDOT has just released this video to provide an example of what this will look like for commuters passing through this area:

November Election: Proposition 1

2011-10-05T19:37:00.000-07:00

After several earlier efforts at incorporation were attempted, a mail-in vote for incorporation of the City of SeaTac on March 14, 1989 passed by 52.4 percent. It created a council-manager form of government with a largely ceremonial mayor chosen from the city council. The newly created city’s first mayor, retired pilot Frank Hansen, was fond of explaining that there were two factions on the first council and that he was chosen because he was an outsider to both.

It seems that history of turmoil and bickering continues today as some form of dissenting opinions are still thriving and generating controversy with allegations of election fraud, mishandling of funds, and the attempted use of eminent domain to take private property for economic development. Justification for a team consisting of citizens and council members to undergo a fourth time attempt to overturn the city’s current council-manager form of government in favor of a strong mayor-council arrangement.

Weighing The Claims

We hope the following information will help you to cast an informed decision on Proposition 1 in November.

Arguments For the Mayor-Council Form

This is the form of government that is familiar to most Americans because it is patterned after our traditional national and state governments (***). There is a separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches. There is a claim of checks and balances.
Also separation of powers provides healthy independence, debate and creative tension. Separate legislative and executive branches provide the best opportunity for debate and consensus building.
By electing, rather than appointing a mayor, political leadership is established. The city has a political spokesperson who has a high degree of visibility.
Some argue that an elected mayor will have a higher standing and greater voice in regional affairs of the city.
In most cities the mayor is vested with the veto power, and can serve as a check on an unpopular council decision.
A professional administrator can be hired to assist the mayor in the management of the city's operations thereby freeing the mayor to concentrate on political leadership or to offset weaknesses in the mayor's management background or experience, but the mayor is still ultimately responsible.

Arguments Against the Mayor-Council Form

The office of the mayor gives too much power and authority to one person. It permits an incumbent to make decisions based largely on political considerations, and to use the office to further personal political objectives.
The qualities needed to win an election are not the same qualities needed to manage a modern city. A mayor while politically astute may not always possess the necessary management training and experience.
If an elected mayor proves to be incompetent or worse, he/she cannot be removed until the end of their term, or through an expensive and divisive recall election process.
A separately elected mayor may resist requests from the council. The mayor may attempt to isolate the council by controlling staff, information, and reports; "turf wars".

Additional Resources:

A quick comparison snapshot between the two forms of city government is available on the MRSC web site.
Voters Pamphlets containing For; Against; and Rebutted statements

2011
2009
2001
1996 (Seattle Times)

(***) Editor's comments: The claim is that the Mayor-Council form of government is the most familiar form to most American's - follow this link for some surprising City Government statistics.

Lost and Found

2011-09-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

We've received a couple emails recently from residents regarding an item that was “found” (or more appropriately “left behind”) and a few items that have turned up “lost” (or may in this case have been “borrowed” without the owner’s prior knowledge)…

These folks have taken the right next steps by contacting the ALSC Blog to report the items for inclusion in the Lost & Found pages … however that is only part of the solution! We’d like to ask you, our readers, to please periodically check the Lost and Found pages so that you are aware of things that have turned up missing (this may even include those things that you were not aware you were missing, like the case with the glasses below!).

You can also help to be a part of the overall solution by marking your property with you fire post number, or address, or phone number, or some other unique identifier… no, I’m not suggesting you put your post number on the outside side of your sunglasses but things like boats, paddleboards, dock furniture, etc is a good start to easily reunite items with their respective owners.

LOST: Two plastic gray Adirondack chairs and swim noodles from Post 13.

FOUND: One pair women’s sunglasses left behind at the Standridge’s during the ALM Community Yard Sale. Pelican Paddle boat that is currently tied up to the Warner’s dock.

More Horses And A Larger Purse

2011-09-06T22:19:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, September 10th is the date for the second annual Angle Lake Classic Horse ‘N’ Around Race at Jones Beach starting at 11:00 AM and running until 5:00 PM. Volunteers are finalizing plans and race preparations while co-conspirators Jim and Judy are busy concocting new games of skill for race participants to compete in. Just as last year, these games are going to be as much fun to watch as they are going to be to compete in! Should prove to be a great time for all involved.

This year the field is being increased to a maximum of 12 teams competing for a total prize purse of $1,125.00! Payout will be $600 for 1st; $300 for 2nd, $150 for 3rd and $75 for 4th place finishers. Early entrants scheduled to compete will include the 'Rise and Shine'; Little Darlins; and the Wakawakas! A few spots are still open however team registration will close Thursday mid-night or when all available positions are filled.

Even if you should choose not to compete in the race, there is no room for ‘spectators’ at the Angle Lake Classic Horse ‘N’ Around Race as you can choose to participate in a scrumptious $5 Barbeque Lunch, or take part enjoying a refreshing beverage from the no host bar stock full of options, or embark on a winning spree by placing bets on your favorite ‘horse’ in their quest for victory! Even though we’ll be playing with Monopoly money, as spectator or competitor alike, you’ll be eligible for some nice WIN, PLACE or SHOW raffle prizes depending on how wisely you play the odds.

Come on down to Jones beach this Saturday for a great day at the races!

Swim Competition Coming To Angle Lake

2011-09-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, Blue Wave Aquatics hosted the 2009 National 5K Swim here at Angle Lake and it is reported to have been such a huge success that the group is returning to our neighborhood to sponsor the 1st Annual “Last Gasp of Summer” Competitive Race on Saturday, September 17th.

The LAST GASP OF SUMMER is advertised as a fun and challenging race with one and two mile events sponsored by Blue Wave Aquatics, Sanctioned by Pacific Northwest Association of Masters Swimmers, Inc for United States Masters Swimming (Sanction No. 361OW-05). The competition will include four events: 1 mile wetsuit, 1 mile non-wetsuit, 2 miles wetsuit, 2 miles non-wetsuit. Organizers indicate about 35 swimmers have signed up so far and they are hoping for a field of over seventy to compete on race day.

RACE DAY SCHEDULE
Saturday, September 17th
8:30 AM Pre-Race Check In for Both Events
9:30 AM Mandatory Meeting for ALL Swimmers
10:00 AM Start of 2 Mile Race
10:30 AM Start of 1 Mile Race
11:30 AM Awards
12:00 PM Picnic Lunch

Anyone living on the lake who is interested assisting the event by ferrying officials around the course on your power boat on race day is encouraged to contact Scott Lautman at (206) 669-6695 or the Event Director, Paul Havick at (253) 720-1201. All volunteers will be invited to join them for lunch at the conclusion of the Awards Ceremony.

(Blue Wave Aquatics is a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) corporation)

Spend Some Time In Jail!

2011-09-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

The public is invited to the dedication and open house for the new Southend Correction Entity on Thursday, September 8 from 2 – 4 pm at its location at 1801 S. 200th Street. The jail, also known by the acronym SCORE, will be the first multi-jurisdictional jail in the state. Situated on vacant property owned by the Port of Seattle, the single-story, 813-bed facility which will house both male and female inmates on misdemeanor and felony charges will serve the needs of several Washington cities, including Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, SeaTac, Renton and Tukwila. The facility will begin receiving inmates in September and will be in full operation by mid-October.

Facility Name: South Correctional Entity (SCORE Jail)

Construction Budget: $54 million

Number of Beds: 813

Area (square feet): 163,830 GSF (including courtyards)

Opening: September Full Operation: October 2011

It's a Garden Party and You're Invited!

2011-08-30T15:05:00.000-07:00

As reported earlier this summer in the ALSC Blog, resident master gardener Rebecca Johnson is looking to organize a Gardening Club within the Angle Lake Community. Ms. Johnson extends an invitation to all interested prospective gardeners to gather at her house located at post 15 this Thursday, September 1st from 11 am until 1:00 pm for a kick off and planning party.

Guests will become better acquainted with one another while touring her gardens, visiting over lunch, comparing gardening stories and planning for future Garden Club meetings. Participants are encouraged to bring a sack lunch. Please respond with an RSVP to vedettes_rj@hotmail.com or phoning (206) 852-1952.

Picture Perfect Lake Living

2011-08-25T17:04:00.000-07:00

The committee resources responsible for the Horse “N Around Classic are busy ironing out the plans for the September 10th event, securing the location and thinking up a whole new set of games to challenge this year’s contestants. It’s sure to be another entertaining hit! Have you registered you team yet? Better hurry, spots are filling up fast. Contact Judy Williams or Lonnie Goulet for further details.

But before we get too far ahead of ourselves – here’s an opportunity to look back at exciting times enjoyed through life on the lake! Our resident photographer TaniRae Standridge has recently shared a collection of photos the 4th of July and the Tasty Tapas. To view these photos simply click on the following hot links:

To view our entire photo collection, simply choose the ‘Shore Club Photo Album’ located under the Additional Links heading on the right side of this page. If you have photos that you’d like to share, please email them to us at anglelakesc@gmail.com

Volunteers Needed For Back To School Fair

2011-08-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

The 5th Annual Back to School Resource Fair will be held at Valley Ridge Park in SeaTac on Aug. 18th, and Organizers are seeking additional volunteers to help out area kids.

While SeaTac is a city rich in diversity and culture, it continually ranks among cities with the highest poor health indicators along with the third lowest household income in King County with many families living below the poverty level. Available services do not meet even the basic needs of residents in the areas of health, employment, attainable housing, and nutrition. Many households are immigrant families with children. Our local schools report that over 70% percent of students enrolled in the federal lunch program.

The vision of the Back to School Resource Fair is to build support in the community that strengthens families and enhances the academic success of underserved youth, specifically to provide 1300+ students with the necessary school supplies to start school ready-for-success.

WHEN: August 18, 2011 from 10:00am – 2:00pm

WHERE: Valley Ridge Park, located at 4644 South 188th Street

ATTENDANCE: Over 800-1000 families who live in and whose children attend school in SeaTac.

Pulling off an event of this size requires a lot of help. Organizers are seeking volunteers to help set up tents at 8:30am and tear down tents at 2:30pm and additional volunteers to help with back packs, cooking hot dogs, cleaning up the area all day to keep it nice for everyone.

Your help would be greatly appreciated and please consider bringing a friend to help, too!

Deadline Wednesday, August 10th

2011-08-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

Tasty Tapas Registration will close on August 10th or when the list of enrolled reaches the maximum 140 participants – whichever comes first! Angle Lake Shore Club Members may purchase tickets for them and their guests by contacting Lonnie Goulet or Judy Williams.

Tasty Tapas

August 13, 2011

4:00pm Start; 7:00pm at Dessert

Your ticket will include appetizers, beverages by each station host and will provide you with water transportation, if needed. In addition, we are excited to announce that we are trialing a commercial concept by welcoming one of SeaTac newest and most highly acclaimed restaurants – Mango Thai Cuisine and Bar – will be sponsoring one of the tasting stations. We are eager to share Mango Thai with our lake area residents and their friends. After sampling a few of their delicious hors d'oeuvres offerings, we’re confident that you’ll want to make Mango Thai a regular choice when dining out. So don't delay, contact Lonnie or Judy Today!

Music in the Park at Angle Lake

2011-07-30T12:16:00.000-07:00

This is a reminder that the Sunday Evening Music in the Park concert series at Angle Lake is now in full swing and we just received notice that the series has been extended with a final performance concluding on August 14th. Boat parking will continue to be an available option if you chose to arrive by water, otherwise overflow parking for land transportation will be available courtesy of the Alaska Airlines Group in their corporate headquarters parking lot immediately north of the park.

Whichever method you prefer to arrive by, be sure to bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets to sit on, some snacks or refreshments if you choose and prepare to kick back and enjoy a lazy summer evening filled with music. Please take note that the audience area is surrounded by tall fir trees – where the shade can be considered a blessing during hot summer days or a source of discomfort during the cooler evenings! So be sure to also bring a jacket if you're susceptible to chill… otherwise you might likely find yourself sitting wrapped up that blanket you brought instead of sitting on it!

Attend Tasty Tapas For Free!

2011-07-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

What can possibly be better than Tasty Tapas? Attending Tasty Tapas for free!!! Interested? Then all you have to do is call Jim Todd and let him know that you’re interested in hosting a station! Seriously folks, due to unfortunate circumstances we have come up short and are now desperately seeking two additional stations.

If you've already attended either of the first two Tasty Tapas you know how much fun it is to go to various locations to sample delicious hors d'oeuvres while engaged in great conversation with neighbors from our community and their invited guests. Now consider how much more fun it can be when everyone is coming to you, giving you the opportunity to show off your culinary skills and your bar tending prowess. Maintaining the maximum number of visitors to no more than thirty per stop helps ensure a quality experience for the guests as well as the station hosts.

Hosting a station is relatively easy and can be made even easier by recruiting extended family to help or even collaborating with your immediate neighbors to pull it off as a group effort. Host volunteers are provided a generous budget to help cover all food and beverage costs. Hors d’oeuvres don't need to be elaborate but should be relatively simple snacks that are enhanced when partnered with a complimentary beverage.

With the Tasty Tapas scheduled for Saturday, August 13^th our time is short. We are targeting to have all locations identified no later than Friday July 29^th. If you do decide to host or just need additional information, please contact Jim Todd for further details.

Angle Lake Clean Sweep

2011-07-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

Volunteers from the Angle Lake Community will gather at the public park boat launch and set out at 9:00 AM for the first annual Angle Lake Clean Sweep event. The City of Seatac Parks and Recreation Department will provide garbage bags and trash collection tools to the group in support of their effort to scour the public spaces on the southwest end of the lake to rid the area of the litter. If you've traveled this end of the lake recently, you no doubt realize what an enormous job this is going to be to gather all the trash that has accumulated in this area. However, the burden may be significantly lessened on each individual if enough folks volunteer to help.

DATE: Saturday, July 23rd

TIME: 9:00 AM until NOON

PLACE: Angle Lake Park

The team will be split up into groups where walkers will be assigned to concentrate on the surface areas, while waders and snorkelers will be committed to clearing the shallow waters of the shoreline and three adventurous individuals decked out in scuba gear will gather debris from the deep! Boat transportation is available to carry anyone who is interested catching a ride to the park and back or if anyone has any larger items they need help in delivering to the park by boat they should call Judy Williams to arrange for pick up.

Although the bulk of organized effort will be focused mainly on the SW end of the lake, it is not intended to discourage residents from taking their own initiative in forming teams to collect litter from neighborhood streets in their area and bringing it to the park collection point prior to 12:00 noon where the City will assist in disposing of it.

This is a good opportunity to get out in some nice weather, teaming up with your neighbors in doing great things for the community. At this time the only thing missing is YOU! Won't you please consider joining us.

America’s Night Out On Crime – August 2nd

2011-07-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

National Night Out is a program designed to generate support and participation in local anticrime efforts, by strengthening neighborhood spirit and continue building police-community partnerships. Neighborhoods throughout SeaTac are invited to join forces with thousands of other communities nationwide for the “29th Annual National Night Out Against Crime”.

From 7:00-10:00 PM on Tuesday, August 2, residents in neighborhoods throughout SeaTac and across the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights, and spend the evening outside with neighbors, friends, and police. Many neighborhoods throughout SeaTac will be hosting a variety of special events. For information on events in your area please contact Officer Doug Reynolds, Community Crime Prevention Officer at 206.973.4904.

If you’re already planning to form your own neighborhood Night Out activities we encourage you to register your event by completing and email the following ELECTRONIC FORM no later than July 23rd. Registering your event before the deadline will enable SeaTac Police and Fire Officials to schedule a visit to your location for an opportunity to share additional valuable information on how to effectively combat crime in your area and share other promotional goodies with your group (while supplies last!).

Let’s all plan to collect in the streets with our neighbors on Tuesday, August 2nd prepared to have a good time and to send a message to criminals letting them know our neighborhoods are organized and are fighting back.

"It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like..."

2011-07-10T19:43:00.000-07:00

“ …Election Time!”
You may have noticed campaign signs popping up like weeds along the roadside? And with a strong likelihood that many more will surface in the remaining weeks leading up to the City Council election you can sure tell it’s beginning to heat up for a very active election season in SeaTac! That is because four of seven seats are up for election plus the proposition for an elected mayor will make another attempt at passage again this year on the November ballot.

The council positions and candidates are as follows:

Position 1: Gene Fischer (incumbent); Barry Ladenburg
Position 3: Terry Anderson (incumbent); Othman Hiebe; Sandra Cook-Bensley
Position 5: Dave Bush; Michael Kovaks
Position 7: Mia Gregorson (incumbent); Erin Sitterley

A few candidates have indicated that it takes some serious cash to fuel an election where campaign budgets can run around eight to ten thousand dollars per candidate to purchase yard signs, leaflets, postcards, postage, etc.. To cover these costs, candidates will normally solicit their supporters for donations whereas other may hold fundraising events.

In the case of candidate Mia Gregorson, she is inviting all potential supporters to join her for a fundraising dinner which will provide guests with the opportunity to meet with other supporters and discuss the future of SeaTac. A minimum $10 cover charge gets you in the door and provides you dinner, all other contributions above that amount goes toward her campaign expenses. Gregorson’s Re-Election Dinner will be held at Pabla Punjabi Palace 15245 International Blvd. on Friday, 6 – 8 PM.

Elections are one of those liberties that are still not common practice in many other parts of the world. We urge you to take advantage of this unique right, encourage you to invest time to research the issues and the candidate backgrounds and to fulfill your duty as a citizen by voting for the candidate(s) you feel will best represent your interests in local government affairs.

Seeking Your Feedback On The 4th

2011-07-06T21:40:00.000-07:00

This past Monday, July 4th the citizens of the United States of America took time to honor and celebrate the historic declaration of separation from the rule of the British Empire, which created the birth of our independent, self governed nation. To honor this occasion, numerous volunteers from the Angle Lake Community planned, organized and executed family friendly events hosted throughout a fun filled day and climaxed with the big fireworks display over the lake.

We’d like to acknowledge the herculean effort undertook by the many volunteers and recognize and thank the lake area residents for their financial donations and the additional funding from the citizen’s of the City of Seatac. None of this would have been possible without the generous support from each of these organizations.

And now, in effort to wrap up this event, we’d like to receive input and feedback from you regarding the celebration events! We’re asking you to leave your comments right here on the BLOGSITE or by clicking this LINK to complete a brief online survey. The survey will remain in effect until Wednesday, July 13th.

Your responses will remain anonymous if you wish, however, feedback is taken more serious if the author is identified - whichever you choose your input is greatly appreciated!

NOTE: To leave your mark - click on the comments link below, enter in what you wish to say in the comments box, type the validation phrase, choose an identity, then Publish Your Comment and your good to go!

Celebrate America's Freedoms

2011-07-02T21:27:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous day Saturday turned out to be! Sunshine and a high temperatiure of 81 degrees recorded at SeaTac, the first time since September 3, 2010. Welcome summer! Hold the confetti for now though, a slight downturn is on the way for Sunday. But don’t fret, July 4th still looks great! Look for a few morning clouds, then lots of clearing with highs in the mid 70s. Any clouds that remain should have bases well above the range of fireworks, so viewing should be excellent-much better than last year!

Independence Day Schedule of Activities
10:00 AM - Parade at the Angle Lake Manor
11:00 AM – Run Around the Lake starts at Post 36 on Military Road. (11:00 start for Walkers / 11:30 for Runners)
01:00 PM – Judging of Decorated Docks and Prize Awards
03:00 PM – Swim Races for Awards and Prizes
05:00 PM – Boat Races for Awards and Prizes
10:00 PM – Fireworks Show

The Board Members of the Angle Lake Shore Club wish to remind our neighbors that discharge of private fireworks is prohibited within SeaTac City Limits and encourage you instead to take the money you would have spent on personal fireworks and donate it to support the Big Show!

Have a Happy and Safe Independence Day Celebration.

Let’s Hear From You For A Change

2011-06-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

Last weekend the City of Seatac; SeaTac Rotary Club; Southwest Chamber of Commerce; and the Matt Griffin YMCA in a collaborative effort produced the 16th Annual International Festival at Angle Lake Park.

As promised there was a weekend full of staged entertainment, a variety of arts and crafts booths including a handful of food vendors were present, however the Cultural Village failed to materialize. With this 16th annual occurrence of the International Festival now a part of local history, we’d like to hear from you by asking that you leave comments here on the BLOGSITE or click this LINK to complete a brief online survey.

Your responses may remain anonymous if you wish, however, feedback is taken more serious if the author is identified - but whichever you choose your input is greatly appreciated!

NOTE: To leave your mark - click on the comments link below, enter in what you wish to say in the comments box, type the validation phrase, choose an identity, then Publish Your Comment and your good to go!

A World of Entertainment Awaits You!

2011-06-23T06:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday, June 25 - 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Sunday, June 26 - 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The International Festival at Angle Lake Park will again be offering a rich and culturally diverse line up of staged entertainment throughout the weekend. The festival will also host a slew of arts and crafts booths with a variety of food vendors offering ethnic dishes.

New this year is the concept of the Cultural Village where a collection of different groups will display their artifacts, offer entertainment and share special traditions of their originating country, religion or culture. An expanded children’s play area will be operated by the Matt Griffin YMCA staff where kids can have a blast playing on the 3 giant inflatable toys, compete in different games each day and participate in a making a dream catcher or bracelet. Face painting will also be available. Purchase of a $5 wrist band is required.

And finally, the City has arraigned an area reserved for boat parking for participants wanting to commute to the festival via watercraft. Boat mooring will be offered on the south side of the swimming dock and on the view platform next to the boat launch. We encourage all residents living on the lake to take advantage of this opportunity in an effort to help relive car parking congestion at the park.

Live Entertainment Schedule
Saturday
Noon - New Age Flamenco (Latin, Mediterranean Jazz)
1:00 p.m. - Inochi Taiko (Japanese Taiko Drums)
2:00 p.m. - Halau Hula Pulamahiaikalikolehua (Hawaiian Youth Dancers)
2:30 p.m. - Oasis Dancers (Belly Dancers)
3:00 p.m. - Correo Aereo (Latin American Music)
4:00 p.m. - Orgullo Hispano (Youth Hispanic Dancers)
4:30 p.m. - Phillapino Youth Dancers from Tukwila Elementary
5:00 p.m. - Halau Hula Pulamahiaikalikolehua/Na Leo O Hawaii (Hawaiian Dancers)
6:00 p.m. - Smilin’ Scandinavians (Polka Music)
7:00 p.m. - Spirit of Ojah (African Music, Reggae)
Sunday
Noon - Zumba Party Workout! (Instructor Lynne Deines will lead a free Zumba session)
1:00 p.m. - Boys of Greenwood Glen (Irish, Bluegrass & more)
2:00 p.m. - Ranger & the Rearrangers (Gypsy Jazz with a twist)
3:00 p.m. - Little Bill & the Blue Notes (Blues Band)
4:00 p.m. - Cory Wilds (Traditional Rock, Blues & Jazz)

Bargains Galore (While Supplies Last!)

2011-06-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

Becky Johnson sent us notice that Teufels Nursery is closing their Kent store and is offering amazing values on plants in effort to reduce inventory. As of June 16th they were still expecting to be open a couple of more weeks. Currently available for sale are fabulous red maples, dogwoods, grasses, ferns, hostas and many shrubs (plus much more). Gallon pots are as low as $2.00. They are open 7:30 am - 4pm (and this Sunday). Take the Kent-Demoines Rd down into the valley; take a left at Meeker, and another immediate left at Frager Rd. They are at the end of the road (not far).

Any Angle Lake Gardener should check it out before stock is depleted!

Great Day for a Garden Tour

2011-06-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

If you were able to participate in the Highline Historical Society Garden Tour this past Saturday then you already know how awesome the tour was. If you weren’t able to attend, well then you missed a good one!

One Garden Tour Volunteer, Marge Murtha, reported from Becky Johnson’s SeaTac garden spot on Angle Lake that an estimated 140 very friendly and extraordinarily appreciative people came to visit her beautiful garden. The crowd included a lot of friends from her Master Gardeners Association, The Highline Garden Group and people from the area who had heard about it thru the "grapevine" so to speak. Becky gave away dozens of beautiful established tomato plants to many who attended. And the best news of all was that her friend Cisco Morris stopped by to visit before his scheduled appearance at Furney's Nursery that day. Marge said "Becky did a beautiful job in preparing for this tour and was totally inspired by the response".

At the time of this writing, indication is that Becky still has nine well established tomato plants she is offering for free, while supply lasts. If you are interested claiming one or if you’re interested in joining other like minded gardeners in forming a neighborhood gardening group, please write to her at anglelakegardeners@gmail.com

Highline Historical Tour This Saturday

2011-06-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

The Highline Historical Society together with the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden and numerous volunteers will open the gates to some beautiful gardens in Normandy Park, SeaTac and Burien. This self-guided tour visits five gardens throughout Highline and will include musicians, artists, raffles and a plant sale. Ticket holders also will be allowed private access to the organic kitchen garden that supplies the gourmet Copperleaf Restaurant in SeaTac. Other tour features include a plant sale at the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden and discount coupons and other specials provided by tour sponsors.

Angle Lake Shore Club member Rebecca Johnson’s garden will be featured in the SeaTac portion of the tour. Becky informs us that she will be giving away tomato plants (4" pots), many varieties to tour participants. Anyone that wasn’t able to attend the tour is welcome to any remaining tomato plants after the tour has finished.

Date: Saturday, June 11

Time: 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM

Tickets for the tour are $15 in advance, with group rates of $12 per person if bought in groups of four or more. Tickets will also be available the day of the tour for $18. Tickets can be purchased at Herr Backyard Garden Center, 107 SW 160th Street; Burien Bark, 13258 1st Avenue S; and Lavina Mays, 17824 1st Avenue S. Tickets also can be purchased by credit card by calling 241.5786.

Visit: www.highlinehistory.org for more details.

Community Garage Sale

2011-05-28T12:58:00.000-07:00

June 10th and 11th are the dates set for the annual Angle Lake Community Garage Sale. Times announced are from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

Our friends at the Angle Lake Manor Club are coordinating this event. They will be purchasing advertising in the Little Nickel; Highline Times and posting on Craigslist to help promote the event. The Angle Lake Community will be described as the area between 188th Street to the North; 200th Street to the South; International Boulevard to the West; and Military Road to the East.

This event is expected to draw hundreds of value hunters into our area seeking bargains. If you’ve been thinking about selling some of your excess goods, don’t put it off any longer! There is no cost to you to participate.

Thai 'ing One On

2011-05-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

Submission by Fuzz Hill, ALSC Blog Site Manager on special assignment.

The misses and I found ourselves child-free Wednesday afternoon so we figured we deserved a nice dinner together away from the home. “You want to try Thai” she asks me, followed up with the question if I wanted to try old Thai or new. She was referring to the two local Thai restaurants out on International Boulevard, the older looking establishment near the 7-11 south of 188th street and the restaurant located in the new WallyPark Complex next to SeaTac Airport. "We" decided to try the new one called Mango Thai Cuisine and Bar.

Mango is the newest and most exciting Thai restaurant in the Seattle area. Opened for only a short time, Mango has already received quite a few favorable mentions in the Yelp Reviews. My wife and I found the décor to be very elegant with earthy over tones, the dining experience divine, and the linen napkins made it all the more exquisite. The meals served were ample enough to share family style. We ordered the Pad Thai with Prawns of course, accompanied with the Yum Nua Rare Beef Salad on the side of the Combo Plate containing wontons, fresh rolls and prawn rolls. The staff were highly attentive and friendly; dish preparation and display delighted the eye; the freshness of ingredients pleased the pallet; the menu prices were moderate running between 8 – 15 dollars per plate. The lunch combinations menu offered twelve different exciting meal pairings with the majority being offered at less than $10 a plate.

Nearing completion of our dinner meal the Manager approached us to ask how we enjoyed the food. His sincerity was genuine as latter into our conversation we learned that he, Pak, is the proprietor of this family owned restaurant and introduced us to his daughter who tends the bar. Pak revealed the he was a major contributor in establishing three prior locations jointly operated with other family members, with this fourth restaurant being his first solely independent location. Pak mentioned that much of his current clientele consists mainly of transient business travelers and expressed how he is looking forward to serving the local residents who he enjoys building lasting relationships with through repeat business.

Pak has an established policy that any employee of Alaska Airlines is given a 10% discount off their bill. Pak extends this discount offer of 10% off to any patron who dines with them and mentions the Angle Lake Shore Club. Mango is open Monday through Sunday from 11 am until 10 pm.

เพลิดเพลินกับอาหารที่ดีคืนนี้

Community Volunteers Needed!

2011-05-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

It takes a considerable amount of effort to throw a party for the entire City of SeaTac and their guests! A lot of planning and energy is required to stage the 4th of July Celebration - organizing the parade, coordinating the Foot Race Around the Lake, including the other water based races for swimming and boating! Let alone the enormous amount of activity necessary to pull off one of the largest fireworks displays in the South Seattle area!

Although only supplemental funding is received from our city government (which we are truly grateful for!) the rest of the planning, coordinating, managing, preparing and executing is all firmly placed on the shoulders of community volunteers!

Committee Leaders are fully engaged in the planning of each of their respective events and additional assistance is always needed (and appreciated) to help in executing these activities. However, where help is needed immediately is in the area of fundraising. Every year we require a small army of volunteers (aprox 24 individuals) to help canvas the neighborhoods surrounding the lake. If a single resident could solicit donations from 20 homes in their immediate neighborhood this would definitely help to make light the work and will assist us to complete the fundraising cycle in record time!

PLEASE contact us if you can help assist in this area. We will provide all necessary training, materials and identification credentials to help you succeed in these efforts. Email us at anglelakesc@gmail.com or contact any ALSC or ALMC board members for additional information.

Where Our Wild Things Are

2011-05-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

Want to know how to attract butterflies to your yard? How to care for your yard in a way that helps the wildlife found in and around Angle Lake? You will learn this and more at the Backyard Wildlife Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 14 at Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Ave. S. This event is free.

The festival will offer a variety of activities and educational opportunities centered on how to attract and support wildlife through garden and landscape practices, and creating and preserving wildlife habitat in our region. Local celebrity gardener Ciscoe Morris will be this year’s keynote speaker, There will also be a workshop on efforts to certify the Northwest as the first wildlife habitat region in the country. Participants can also learn how to create their own certified backyard wildlife habitat.

For more information, call 206-285-8707, Ext. 109 or visit the National Wildlife Federation website.

Gardening Club Looking To Take Root

2011-05-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

During the last Fishing Derby Barbeque, a number of avid hands-in-the-dirt gardeners shared their passion for gardening and came to a unanimous determination that a gardening club should be formed where like minded dirty types can share tips, ideas, seeds and cuttings as well as make new friends and learn something new. If you love gardening, belonging to a community of people who share your affinity for digging in the dirt is a wonderful pastime.

Becky Johnson is hoping to locate local gardeners who would be interested in helping to form a gardening group comprised of neighbors in the Angle Lake area. Please contact Becky Johnson at vedettes_rj@hotmail.com or 206-852-1952 with ideas about frequency, format, name, etc

A few things to consider when starting a garden club

What are you going to be called
Where should you meet. You might want to check with a locally owned garden supply store and see if they have an area you could use.
How often you want to meet
What format the meetings should take, do you want a speaker every month or every other month etc)
Decide on a committee (you are better off having 4 keen people than 8 that just moan & talk and don't do anything)
Have fun, learn, and make some new friends!

King County Master Recycler Composter Program

2011-04-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

Joint Manor Club and Shore Club Meeting

May 3rd at 7:00 PM

Todd Residence 3910 S. 192nd Street (Post 78)

The Angle Lake Shore Club in partnership with the Angle Lake Manor Club will host a joint membership meeting on May 3rd at 7:00 PM where invited representatives from the King County Solid Waste Division will present information on recycling to assist increasing awareness of the benefits of recycling and reveal new methods to help increase waste reduction.

The King County Recycle More program provides a thorough introduction to residential composting and recycling standards for King County residents. The presentation walks through what recycling and composting looks like in King County, data around King County’s recycling efforts, explain why we should recycle more, share ideas on how we can recycle more, the basics of what we can and cannot recycle, and useful resources where one can research these topics further.

Information will be available at the meeting for you to take home for future reference:

Food scrap tip cards, in English and Spanish
Curbside recycling and food scraps one-sheets, in English and Spanish
Recycle More Facebook tip cards
Go Green card
Compostable bag samples
Your Recycling, Yard Waste, Food Scraps, Garbage magnetic guides

Light snacks will be provided plus we plan to raffle off a couple of the nice compostable containers, either stainless steel or ceramic. No purchase necessary, must be present to win.

We encourage all residents to attend this meeting for an opportunity to visit with your neighbors and together discover the numerous new opportunities we can take advantage of to reduce our disposal expenses while improving our environment.

You Say Tomato, I Say Tomahto!

2011-04-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

Regardless which way you pronounce it, we say Becky Johnson has a great offer for you to help in raising funds to benefit a local non-profit while also scoring some very nice tomato plants to own. Becky has raised tomatoes in her greenhouse at Fire Post 15 and is selling them to raise funds to benefit the Master Gardener Foundation. See the list below regarding the varieties grown, although at this date some may already be sold out. Most plants are available in gallon pots @ $5.00. A few will be in 4" pots at $2.00. If you are interested purchasing any number of these plants, please email vedettes_rj@hotmail.com, or phone 206 852-1952 to place an order and arrange for pick up. Additional varieties may be available if you order before 4/29 so that they can be retrieved from other gardeners greenhouses. Thanks for your support!

A note about Master Gardeners

The WSU Extension Master Gardener program began in 1972 in King County, Washington. The program now exists in all 50 states and many other countries. The King County Master Gardener program is one of the largest in the world.

Master Gardener volunteers are trained para-professionals who work in the community as horticulture advisors and resources for home gardeners. Originally focused on diagnosing plant problems, the program now also offers proactive educational programs that address critical issues such as water quality protection and safer pest management practices. Master Gardeners work with all citizens, including children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

Tomatos, Tomahtos, Tomatoes – so many varieties to choose!

Applause Hybrid: Earliest Big tomato. 8-12 oz. Det. 66 days
Balconi red: cherry good for 12”pot or hanging basket
Balconi yellow: cherry good for 12” pot or hanging basket
Bitonto: Hybrid cherry. Det. 55days. Container.
Black Cherry: Likes greenhouse. Ind./Cordon 65 days
Black Plum: Heirloom. ind. 72 days
Broad Ripple: yel/or. Currant. Ind. 75 days
Container Choice: 8 oz fruit. Container. Det. 69 days
Dombito: red beefsteak. 9-10 oz fruit. Det. 69-80 days
Dona: French heirloom. Med. Sized red fruit. Ind. 75 days
Gold Rush currant: orange mini cherry. Indet. 75 days
Golden Rave: grape/roma. “Romanita”. 2” fruit. Ind. 67 days. Split res.
Ildi: yellow cherry, slightly pear-shaped. High yielding. 53dys
Jaune Flammée: small golden fruit. Good for drying. Ind. 70-80 days
Legend F1 Hybrid: blight tol. Det. 100 days
Maskatka cherry: Container or basket. 1 ½” fruit. Det. 90 days
Mater Sandwich: slicer. 10-16 oz fruit. Stake well! Ind. 75 days
Mexico Midget: red mini cherry (currant). Indet. 60-65 days. Split res.
Micro Tom cherry: 5-8” tall. 85 days
Orange Banana: Sauce/slicing. 3-4” fruit. Ind. 85 days
Patio F Hybrid: det. Only 2’ tall. 2” red fruit. 70 days
Red Currant: 1/3” fruit. Ind. 70 days
Rosada F1 Hybrid: grape split res. Best in greenhouse, ind. 95 days
Solid Gold: grape. Golden yellow. Ind. 65 days
Sun Gold: or. Cherry. Sweetest tomato. Ind. 95 days
Super Marzano VFNT Hybrid: Large red paste. Ind. 70 days
Sweet Hearts: grape. 1 ½” fruit. Ind. 65 days
Sweet Million F1: 1” cherry. Ind. 75 days
Sweet Pea. Red teeny-tiny currant. Ind. Cont. 62 days. Hanging basket.
Sweet Treats Pink Cherry: Ind. 110 days
Tamina: Red. Early ripening. Heavy bearing 2 ½ oz fruits. Ind.
Tomaccio: sweet raisin. bred for drying. Ind. Tall!
Tumbling Junior F1: gold/yel cherry. Det. 100 days. Hanging basket.
Tumbling Tom Red: Cherry. Container or hanging basket. 70 days
Tumbling Tom Yellow: Cherry. Container or hanging basket. 70 days.
Vilma cherry: Container. 20-24” tall. 95 days. No pinching.
White Currant: Ind. 70-75 days
Window Box Roma: Container! Det. 70 days.
Yellow Currant: Ind. 70 days
Yellow Pear: Pear/cherry. Ind. 75 day maturity. Best just past yellow.

Be sure to get your order in right away for the best possible selection.

Another Fine Day for Fishing

2011-04-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

The Annual Angle Lake Fishing Derby was hosted by the Shore Club and held on Sunday, April 17^th this year. I have to suspect that the rather long, cold winter of 2010-2011 might have played a role to help build one of our largest attended derbies to date, that or there is a sudden surge in popularity and interest toward the sport of fishing!

An estimated crowd of nearly two hundred area residents and guests gathered on the shores at Steven’s beach to view the haul from the lake. The total count participating in the fishing competition appeared to be down from previous years but the actual number of large trout brought in for measurement was definitely up! When faced with a four way tie for largest fish, each of the four fish initially measuring in at 18 ½”, a re-measurement was ordered. Three of the four still came in at the original measurement – however a fourth was re-declared to come in at eighteen and five-eighths inches! After close inspection to ensure there was no attempt at increasing the length of the prize trout by flattening from foot stomping – Doug Newsom was declared the overall winner of the 2011 Angle Lake Fishing Derby. Congratulations to Doug and all the other class winners. Please enjoy the enclosed picture slideshow recapping the day's activities.

The Angle Lake Shore Club would also like to thank everyone, fishing or not, for your generous financial contribution and support for this event. Your active participation is why this event continues to be a huge success and a cherished neighborhood activity to look forward to year after year.

Community Events This Week

2011-04-20T17:56:00.000-07:00

Looking for something to do this week? The following are two events being hosted within our neighborhood you should consider checking out:

Thursday, April 21st – SeaTac Health and Wellness Fair

Tyee Campus Small Gym 5:30 – 7:30 PM.

Come browse the exhibits to discover how to adopt healthy habits for the whole family. Learn how to prevent diabetes, prevent obesity, and choose healthy food. Additional information regarding medical, dental, counseling services and more will be available at the fair.

Saturday, April 23rd – Egg Hunt

Angle Lake Park 9:00 AM until eggs are gone

Grab the wee one’s and head off early to the park for the annual Egg Hunt. The event start at 9 am sharp and doesn’t take much longer than a two minute egg to finish. You provide a basket and the SeaTac Firefighter’s will supply the candy! This event is intended for children 10 years and under. So hop to it!

Fishing Derby This Sunday!

2011-04-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

According to the various forecasts, weather folks are predicting partly sunny skies with a slight chance of rain and temps sitting about the half century mark this Sunday. Not a bad day at all to do some Spring fishing, winning, dinning and socializing!

The big day kicks off on Sunday at 7:00 AM on the shore of Shirley Steven’s place with an offering of warm drinks and muffins. Once you’re done fueling up on the morning refreshments it’s game on for participants to compete in their respective age category where the largest fish will be eligible for a merchandise reward. Landing the largest fish overall will net you 100 clams cold cash! Only one winner will be awarded per category prize.

Steven's Beach - Post 60

Fishing Contest 7:00 AM - 12 Noon.

Lunch, Awards and Raffle Drawings 12:00 – 2:00 PM

If you weren’t successful bagging the biggest fish prize, no worries because your derby ticket or tickets will be used as your entry into the prize rich raffle drawing. After recognition has been given to the fishing competition winners for the biggest fish in each age group, we’ll break for a Barbeque Lunch and after which we’ll hold a raffle for all ticket holders for a chance to win an item from a sea of prizes! Top Raffle Prize is a 32” LCD Flat Screen TV! We’ll also be selling and renewing Shore Club Membership at the event. Please refer to the FLYER for additional information.

Boat Found While Selling Derby Tickets

2011-04-10T16:17:00.000-07:00

While out selling Fishing Derby Tickets Saturday, Roger Hartje at Post 39 informed me that a rather nice polypropylene fishing boat had washed up on his beach last summer around the Fourth of July and is still resting there almost a year later.

I recall this having been listed for several months in the Lost & Found Section of the web site with apparently no success so I figured I’d try to post this as a blog story front and center with a photo in hope that someone might claim it…. As you can see by the photo, it appears to be water tight as it’s doing a great job holding water!

If you know who this boat belongs to, please refer them to the Hartje Beach at the end of the drive at Post 39. If you haven't yet had a chance to purchase Entry / Raffle Tickets for the Angle Lake Fishing Derby next Sunday, April 17th - email us at anglelakesc@gmail.com and we'll send someone over with tickets for purchase.

First Trout Plant of the 2011

2011-04-06T21:09:00.000-07:00

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website reveals that 6,000 Rainbow Trout were planted in Angle Lake on March 21, 2011. According to the department this equates to about 3 fish per pound and the batch originates from the Puyallup Hatchery.

Landing one of these small fry is not going to net anyone the top derby prize of $100 however there’s a great possibility one or more of them Trilpiod Trophy Trout may still be lurking in the waters out there somewhere and reeling in one of those will not only give you the thrill of the catch but also a good chance of bagging a hundred clams, too!

2010 WDFW Catchable Trout Plant

Date	Species	Number	Fish per pound	Hatchery	Notes
March 09	Rainbow	5,000	3.50	Puyallup
March 11	Rainbow	5,000	4.50	Puyallup
April 05	Rainbow	442	0.70	Trout Lodge	Triploid Trophy Trout 1.5 lbs each
May 03	Rainbow	147	0.70	Trout Lodge	Triploid Trophy Trout 1.5 lbs each

2009 WDFW Catchable Trout Plant

Date	Species	Number	Fish per pound	Hatchery	Notes
March 30	Rainbow	5,263	3.80	Puyallup
March 30	Rainbow	4,025	3.50	Puyallup
April 13	Rainbow	450	0.67	Trout Lodge	Triploid Trophy Trout 1.5 lbs each
May 11	Rainbow	150	0.67	Trout Lodge	Triploid Trophy Trout 1.5 lbs each

A Note about Triploid Trout

Angle Lake is one of 108 lakes and ponds throughout the state that will be stocked with 50,000 triploid trout that average 1½ pounds each. These trout, purchased by the Department from private growers, are sterile rainbows that have the potential to grow to trophy size if abundant food is available, and if not harvested the first season after stocking. These fish are not “genetically modified,” but are sterilized by heat- or pressure-treating the eggs after fertilization. Some triploid trout fry are stocked in areas where natural reproduction of hatchery trout could adversely affect native species.

A Meeting With The Interim City Manager

2011-04-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

The Officers of the Angle Lake Manor Club have invited SeaTac Interim City Manager, Todd Cutts to speak at their next upcoming meeting for an opportunity to present an overview of the various projects and activities the city has recently completed, is currently undertaking, and are being planned for. After the presentation there will be a period where audience members can ask questions, offer comments or suggestions and for Cutts to respond to. All Lake area residents are welcomed to attend.

When: April 5th from 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Where: Matt Griffin YMCA, Safeco Room

3595 S 188th Street, SeaTac, WA 98188

This is a great opportunity to hear firsthand how your city is continuously striving to improve the quality of life for all residents and to become better acquainted with neighbors from all sides of the lake during the social hour immediately following Cutts presentation.

NEWS ALERT: High Tide Warnings For Friday

2011-03-31T19:12:00.000-07:00

The Washington State Department of Inland Waters has issued a High Tide Warning for all Seattle area interior waters including Angle Lake. The warning will remain in effect through Saturday, April 2nd. Those who live in a location that is prone to tidal flooding should be prepared for flooding over the coming days. Minor shoreline flooding will occur during Friday morning’s high tide and may elevate to moderate flooding during the next high tide in that evening. The city of SeaTac is hosting a sandbag filling station on the northwest corner of the City Hall Parking Lot. Effected residents may claim up to 100 sandbags each in an effort to assist in reducing damages to property due to flooding. Refer to the city flyer for further details.

It is not unusual for the lake to experience higher than normal tides in the spring but when compounded with the excessive amount of rain recently, the upcoming tides are expected to be astronomically high and are anticipated to exceed the highest recorded watermark set on April, 12th, 1947 when tides were measured at 14 feet 8.5 inches above the average water line.

Residents are being asked to relocate all boats, beach furniture and other property at least 20 feet away from the beach to prevent any items from being inadvertently carried away. An additional reminder, all beach property should be labeled with the owners post number for easy identification in the event that items become misplaced. Do not park your vehicle in a location that is prone to tidal flooding. Do not drive through flood waters. Since the water may be deeper than you think it is, the public should, therefore, keep away from the beaches during this time.

2011 Angle Lake Fishing Derby

2011-03-29T09:31:00.000-07:00

Gather your gear, grab your pole, get in your boat, and bring your fishing license to the 2011 ANGLE LAKE FISHING DERBY. Yes indeed, it’s that time of year again when our Shore Club volunteers will be heading out to sell tickets to the annual Fishing Derby for your chance to hook the top prized of $100 for landing the largest fish! Of course the fish must be unfrozen, have clear eyes and not be cleaned to be eligible!

However, if you are not the lucky winner of the top cash prize no worries, your ticket or tickets will be used as entry into the prize raffle drawing. After recognition has been given to the fishing competition winners for the biggest fish in each age group, we’ll hold a raffle for all ticket holders for a chance to win an item from a sea of prizes! Top Raffle Prize? A 32” Flat Screen TV! The more tickets you buy, the better your chance at winning!

But what if you don’t fish and you’ve traditionally never been a favored sole with Lady Luck? Well believe it or not, those same ticket(s) you purchased also act as your admission to the Barbeque Lunch, too! From Noon until 1:30 PM we’ll be serving up Hot Dogs and Hamburgers along with traditional picnic sides for you to fill up on.

So let’s recap: Purchase of a ticket entitles you to light refreshments of coffee, juice and muffins in the morning; entry into the fishing competition; a chance to win a fabulous raffle prizes; a hosted lunch AND a chance to mingle and visit with neighbors and guests!

Steven's Beach - Post 60

Fishing Contest 7:00 AM - 12 Noon.

Lunch, Awards and Raffle Drawings 12:00 – 2:00 PM

We’ll also be selling and renewing Shore Club Membership at the event. Please refer to the FLYER for additional information.

Plenty Fireworks Over The Subject Of Fireworks

2011-03-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

As anticipated, the public and council comment sections of the Regular Council Meeting held on Tuesday, March 22nd were filled with much discussion centered on the public funding of the 4th of July Fireworks over Angle Lake.

The meeting opened as usual providing an opportunity for the public to offer comments on the state of city affairs. An estimate of ten individuals spoke in favor of the city contributing public funds to cover a portion of the fireworks show, one individual spoke against using public funds to help finance the show citing that fireworks do not equal patriotism and in light of city personnel losing jobs due to budget cuts, this is simply considered an inappropriate use of tax payer dollars. At the point the meeting progressed to the approval of the $5,000 to $35,000 Purchase Requests, Council Member Rick Forschler requested again this year to move the line item for the Angle Lake 4th of July Fireworks show to unfinished business for further discussion.

Community came together to offer their comments and opinions over the subject of Fireworks

During Unfinished Business, Council Member Forschler again cited that city government has certain obligations such as providing roads and public safety, however, financing fireworks is not an appropriate use of public funds. CM Forschler suggested that a fireworks fundraising collection be organized or commercial sponsorship be sought out instead of using city funds and suggested that he would try to help in this effort. He recommitted his challenge to the other council members that he would pay a seventh of the requested $10,000 if the rest of the council members would pay in an equal portion, and if they failed to match the offer, he went one further by saying he was still willing to contribute a small portion as a private citizen, not as a representative of the city.

Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher indicated that he was in favor of supporting the fireworks “one last time” respecting the earlier interests supporting a public fireworks venue when the fireworks ban was first implemented. However, DM Fisher expressed frustration over not understanding why this comes up at the last minute each year and does not appear to come through the budget process (editors note: the Fireworks request has been included in each of the last four year Parks and Recreation Budget, however policy requires that it be reviewed and approved prior to being spent).

Council Member Pam Fernald claimed that she cannot understand the reasoning behind the city financing fireworks when the city itself had decided fireworks within city limits to be illegal. However, City Attorney Mary Mirante Bartolo cited that to the best of her recollection the Ordinance had been amended authorizing public displays by certified technicians under permit – additional research would be needed to confirm this. It was then motioned that the vote over the firework expenditure be postponed to the next council meeting scheduled for April 12th.

With this delay, I would expect a larger group from both sides of the issue to turn out in force to voice their opinion on the matter. Whether city funds will be provided this year is still yet to be seen, however the fireworks show will still go on as hosted by the Angle Lake Shore Club. It just may be a significantly smaller show unless we find an interested commercial sponsor(s). Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated.

Show Of Support For Supporting The Show!

2011-03-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

This coming Tuesday, March 22nd, the Regular Council Meeting agenda will include a request for a city contribution of $10,000 to help fund the Angle Lake July 4th Fireworks Show. The city council will be requested to approve this appropriation of city funds for the show. If you’ve had the opportunity to view past shows, I am sure you will agree that this is one of the best displays in the South King County area! And if you’ve enjoyed the show nearly as much as the voices contained in the attached video – then we urge you to offer your comments of support at the 6:00 PM beginning of the City Council Meeting encouraging the Council Members to approve the appropriation of City funds to cover a portion of the July 4th fireworks show over Angle Lake.

A Look Back On The 2010 Approval Process

The April 13, 2010 Regular Council Meeting Minutes state that the Angle Lake July 4th Fireworks Show was included in the list of $5000 - $35,000 Purchase Request items. Council Member Rick Forschler requested the fireworks funding item be removed and placed under Unfinished Business to be discussed in the later portion of that evening’s council session.

When the discussion came up later, Interim City Manager Todd Cutts reminded the council that the contract for funding was for one year (2009) and that tonight’s item is to approve funds budgeted for 2010. CM Forschler stated that funding a fireworks show is not an appropriate use of public funds. He stated he would be willing to pay 1/7 of the cost personally if the other CMs would pay the rest.

CM Ralph Shape clarified that when the City originally banned fireworks, the Council felt it was appropriate to provide a fireworks display. He also reminded the council that the Angle Lake residents pay a good portion of this show in addition to City funds. Mayor Terry Anderson stated that the number of fireworks throughout the City has decreased by providing this show. And CM Tony Anderson stated that this is a great example of a private/public partnership.

A motion for move was made by Shape, seconded by A. Anderson to approve $10,000 for the Angle Lake July 4th Fireworks Show. Motion carried with Forschler and Gregerson voting no.

High Water Mark Not So Ordinary

2011-03-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

You might have noticed recently through all the rain we’ve endured that it seems the water level of the lake is a little bit higher than has been in recent years. In checking back in with our ALSC President, Lonnie Goulett, he informs me that the lake is actually eight and a half inches above the Ordinary High Water Mark (If you’re not familiar with OHWM, refer to our earlier blog post for more detail on that). Eight and a half inches does sound impressive, no? If I were to step into an 8.5” deep puddle that would pretty much extend clear to the top of an ordinary dress sock… surely enough water to get your shoes wet if not soak the bottom of your trousers too! But how much water is that exactly for a lake the size of Angle Lake?

Well, first off let’s forget ‘exactly’ and agree to settle on ‘close enough’. Using the excellent search engine at Google, I discovered Associate Professor Dr. Mark Leipnik's Web page Hydrology Lab #1 Units which describes an acre foot measurement of water is equal to 325,851 gallons… If Angle Lake is measured at 100 surface acres and we are currently measuring 8.5” above OHWM, a quick exercise in mathematics reveals that we are currently twenty-three million, eighty-one thousand, one hundred twelve and one half gallons of water over the Ordinary High Water Mark! That’s a lot of water!

How we arrived at this estimate: 1 acre foot divided by 12 = 27,154.25 gallons per inch X 8.5 Inches = 230,811.125 X 100 Acres = 23,081,112.5 gallons of water! Please note, to our knowledge, no actual brain cells were harmed in generating this calculation.

Drop, Cover, and Hold On...

2011-03-12T19:04:00.000-08:00

Recent events have showcased the increasing role that Social Media tools are playing in delivering nearly instantaneous widespread distribution of news and information to the masses. From igniting and organizing citizen revolt in Egypt to supplying astounding images and vital communication links from the recent tragedy that has struck the island nation of Japan. Information is being delivered at lightning speed – however not all information is valid yet is still effectively spread around the globe with the same unprecedented rapid rate of speed.

“Just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean its true” has never been more applicable than when considering the recent viral email being distributed in the wake of the New Zealand and Japanese earthquakes expounding the virtue of adopting the controversial “Triangle of Life” method to survive an earthquake. The theory holds that when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside tends to crush these objects, but the remaining height of the object acts as a kind of roof beam over the space or void next to it, which will tend to end up with a sloping roof extending out from it. It is this space that self proclaimed rescue expert Doug Copp terms the triangle of life. The larger and stronger the object, the less it will compact; the less it compacts, the larger the void next to it will be. Such triangles are proclaimed to be the most common shape to be found in a collapsed building and offer the best protection for individuals.

Sounds reasonable, however, the email warns the reader that most everyone who simply resign to 'ducking and covering' when a building collapses are crushed to death and that people who get under objects, like desks or cars, are also crushed. This encourages earthquake victims to dispose of conventional wisdom and training of duck, cover and hold, to instead seek out areas which offer a triangle of life space. The major fault of this wisdom is that a) this fails to consider that the “Drop, Cover and Hold on” method is a US based recommendation per US building codes where buildings virtually never ‘pancake’ b) the majority of individuals who suffer from injury during an earthquake are caused from objects and/or debris falling on them. During major quakes, often times heavy objects may shift around or topple over – thus removing the probability of providing any triangular spacing for protection and instead can end up seriously injuring the individual instead of protecting them! Sheltering under a table is still the best option to help prevent injury from falling debris.

Although it is an unfortunate and devastating event for communities to endure the effects from major seismic activity, it also should serve as a reminder and opportunity for others living in earthquake prone regions such as our own to become better prepared for when earthquakes strike. Please don’t let this opportunity pass by without taking necessary action now and please be sure to reference only reputable agency websites as your valid source of information.

Ready To Start Saving Daylight?

2011-03-10T16:42:00.000-08:00

As a reminder, Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday - just in time to make us all discombobulated for St. Patrick's Day! In the US, Daylight Saving Time starts on the second Sunday in March of each year and ends the first Sunday in November of each year.

You may have asked yourself, “Why do we put ourselves through this every year, and why does daylight need saving, anyway?” And if so, I am here to help provide some answers! Daylight Saving Time (the proper name for this spring-and-fall clock change thing) is all about longer summer days. And living on or near a lake, who doesn't appreciate longer summer days?!. The "saving" comes in because, with an early sunrise, people generally sleep through part of their lovely summer day, in effect wasting daylight (in fact, "The Waste of Daylight" was the name of a 1907 booklet handed out by William Willet, an early proponent of Daylight Saving Time).

The Daylight Saving Time 2011 time change is fairly simple: Most anything computerized, from a cell phone to a laptop, jumps ahead all on its own. Most other watches and clocks need to be reset manually, so we can inevitably forget to change one and confuse ourselves the next day. But even with this slight inconvenience, we have it pretty easy -- in 1916, the first implementation of Daylight Saving Time in England consisted adding 20 minutes every Sunday in April. Less of a shock to the system, I suppose, but then it's no surprise that the month-long ordeal was ultimately changed to a single time change in March instead.

Since the 1970s, energy conservation has been the primary reason for the summer time change -- later daylight means we turn on the lights later, saving energy. The 2011 time change will be observed in different parts of the world, though not at the same times. The European Union, for example, springs forward on March 27, so you'll have to subtract an hour from the time difference for two weeks, unless you live in Arizona, Hawaii or one of the US territories, in which case there is no 2011 time change. Simple, right?

And if it seems like Daylight Saving Time starts early every year, you're right -- sort of. Beginning in 1986, Daylight Saving Time started on the first Sunday in April and ended on the last Sunday in October. But in 2007, Congress revised the dates to the current March-November calendar in order to extend the energy savings gleaned from earlier rising.

So come this Sunday morning as you struggle to wake up from the effect of losing that extra hour of precious sleep – keep in mind that we always seem to adjust, overcome and forget about the time change ... at least until November.

Good Turnout for Transit Open House

2011-03-05T08:32:00.000-08:00

Sound Transit held the first open house for the S. 200th Street light rail extension on March 2nd at City Hall. Approximately 150 members of the public attended. Participants were offered information on the proposed route, station elements and public art plan, as well as being invited to submit comments and questions. It is very encouraging to see lake area residents investing their time to get involved and learn more about the proposed changes in their neighborhood. The Sound Transit Board is expected to deliver a project ‘go or no go’ decision in May. If the vote favors moving the project forward an additional public outreach event can be expected in early fall of this year.

Design is underway for the extension of Link light rail between the SeaTac/Airport Station and S. 200th Street. This project will extend light rail approximately 1.6 miles from S. 176th Street to S. 200th Street, where a station and park-and-ride will be located. For more information, consult the project webpage or contact Rachel Wilch, Community Outreach Coordinator for Sound Transit at rachel.wilch@soundtransit.org or Soraya Lowry, Program Manager for the City of SeaTac at slowry@ci.seatac.wa.us.

Sound Transit Open House

2011-02-23T07:49:00.000-08:00

OPEN HOUSE FLYER

200th Street Station Open House

Wednesday, March 2nd from 5:00 until 8:00 PM

SeaTac City Hall, Council Chambers

The S. 200th Street light rail extension project will consist of nearly 2 miles of track and a new Link station located near S. 200th Street and 28th Avenue South. Funding to extend the Sound Transit Central Link light rail south from the SeaTac/Airport Station to S. 200th Street was approved by the region's voters in November 2008. In addition to elevated train platforms with covered waiting areas; the project will make several additional enhancements to the area including off-street parking for commuters, improvements to 200th street to better accommodate a bus loop for local bus routes, and kiss-and-ride passenger drop off area. As with other stations along the Link Light Rail route, the 200th street station will integrate the uniqueness of the neighborhood and environmental surroundings into the structural design and public art.

The extended station had originally been targeted for a 2023 opening, however with changing conditions, the Sound Transit organization is assessing whether it may make sense to accelerate plans to accommodate an operational station to be ready as early as 2015! A “Go/No Go” decision to accept the accelerated plan is expected this spring.

As part of the decision process, Sound Transit is hosting an Open House in the SeaTac City Hall Council Chambers on Wednesday, March 2nd from 5-8 PM where the public can express opinion, offer suggestions and get any concerns addressed or questions answered. This is your opportunity to help influence and shape the uniqueness of your neighborhood station. We encourage you to invite your neighbors to come join you at this meeting to ensure your preferences heard.

Picture Perfect Mornings!

2011-02-20T08:12:00.000-08:00

Don’t you just love these CRISP, clear winter mornings in the month of February? In case you are not an early weekend riser, here are some scenes of what you missed while your eyelids were closed!

A full moon in February is named a "Snow Moon". The photograph above was taken on the morning of the 19th. Note how much the trajectory path dipped into the south on the following morning below.

And although the Moon over the water is an impressive site - I never tire admiring the majestic image of Mt Rainier standing vigilant watch over the Valley.

If you have a particular favorite photo that you've taken from the Angle Lake Area, please email it to us and we'll share them with your neighbors in future postings. Enjoy the day!

(P.S. clicking on the individual photos will reveal a larger version)

Grab Your Planner, The Dates Are Set!

2011-02-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

The Angle Lake Shore Club board members met on Wednesday, February 16th to kick off the 2011 season. The group welcomed new board member, Steve Beck, into the role as Advisor. This position was formerly held by Shirley Stevens, a fifteen plus year board member veteran and one of the prominent icons in our community (no pressure Steve!). We introduced a new position to the board, Action Committee Chairman, which is being filled by another new member to the board, Russ Austin. Please join us in welcoming our new and returning board members for 2011!

Click on the "About Us" link at the top of the page
to familiarize yourself with ALSC Board Members and the positions they hold

Included among the many new and exciting events we are considering to bring to light this year was the selection of dates for our annual main events. The dates are as follows:

SUN APR 17 Angle Lake Fishing Derby
MON JUL 04 Independence Day On The Lake
SAT AUG 13 Floating Tapas
SAT SEP 10 ALSC Classic Horse n’ Around Race
SAT DEC 03 Members Only Christmas Party

In addition to the list of events above, we will plan to continue our “Middle of the ‘L’ Social Hours” during the summer months and potentially introduce a few new civically responsible events for members to participate in. HINT: The dates of our annual event will remain listed on the lower right column of the blog for reference throughout the year. Additional events and dates will be announced through blog posts and through our quarterly newsletter.

The enthusiasm level of your 2011 Board is through the roof. They are looking forward to delivering a host of quality social events to the neighborhood and are eager to greet you there.

Kick Off Planning for 2011

2011-02-13T07:29:00.000-08:00

Your volunteer board members of the Angle Lake Shore Club will be gathering this Wednesday, February 16th to kick off event planning for 2011. The team will be meeting to establish the dates for our regular annual activities and to start discussing the possibility of adding maybe one or two more organized events.

Before we begin, we’d like to ask you – our members – for your feedback. If you’ve attended any of the events we’d like to hear about your experience; if you have recommendations for improvements we’d like to hear about that; if you have any suggestions for additional events and/or activities to consider please use the comments option below this post or email the blog team at anglelakesc@gmail.com.

Some additional ideas for consideration that do not necessarily need board involvement but only requires a resident to lead the effort from your immediate neighborhood are:

Improving Community Safety by forming a Block Watch. Become better acquainted with your neighbors by creating a neighborhood directory containing contact information. Host a quarterly meeting to come together to discuss current concerns. Invite local law enforcement to offer suggestions and assistance in forming and strengthening your block watch.
Clean Sweep. Whether it’s a result of inconsiderate pedestrians and/or motorists discarding trash in a high traffic area, or created from an excessive wind on trash collection day – litter is an unpleasant situation that will not go away unless someone takes the necessary action to clean it up. Take an assessment of your area to determine if it is littered with trash and consider teaming up with your neighbors to make light the work.

The preceding ideas are not only opportunities to improve the quality of life in your neighborhood but also opportunities to become better acquainted with your neighbors. We hope you’ll consider taking the necessary lead to implement the required actions.

City of SeaTac Negotiating Franchise Renewal

2011-02-08T22:09:00.000-08:00

Although there seems to have been no public announcement released indicating such activity taking place, a local resident has written the ALSC Blog to inform us that the City of SeaTac is conducting a series of meetings with Comcast concerning renewal of the non-exclusive franchise agreement. It was mentioned that a second meeting is scheduled for sometime next week.

Included information indicates that Interim Assistant City Manager, Jeff Robinson, is leading the renegotiation effort for the city. An email sent from the ALSC Blog to Mr. Robinson inquiring about a detailed status pertaining to these ongoing negotiations has gone without response. An extensive search of the City Website has produced no recent information regarding this renewal activity either.

Using the City of Seattle Comcast Franchise Renewal Page as a model, according to the website a Cable Franchise Agreement is what sets the terms for a cable provider to operate within city limits. It is a tool to help protect consumers, maintain a minimum level of service quality, establish or expand current level of benefit for Senior and low income discounts, a means to establish use of free cable modem service to non-profits, and free cable to schools and City buildings and other notable benefits. It is revealed a favorable source of revenue to the city in which the City of SeaTac 2011 Preliminary Budget showed forecast revenue at $250,000.00 generated from Franchise Fees charged to Comcast.

If you are a subscriber of Comcast Cable Service or you benefit from the reduced rate services negotiated through the previous Franchise Agreement, we encourage you to contact Jeff Robinson at (206) 973-4812 and offer your feedback for consideration in negotiating renewal terms. Additional details will be posted when they are revealed.

Dinner, Dance and Dole

2011-02-03T09:13:00.000-08:00

If Dining, Dancing and Romancing with your sweetie sounds like a perfect way for raising some much needed cash for local student enhancement programs then the Rotary Club of SeaTac is hosting the perfect gig for you!

You and your significant other are invited to the Rotary Valentine’s Dinner and Dance. Lace up your shoes because, as the name suggests, there will be dancing to musical favorites from as early as the 20’s and running all the way through to the 80’s! You may also consider wearing your favorite stretch pants, too because a delicious dinner featuring your choice of Beef or Chicken will be delivered to your table. A decadent dessert auction will complete the meal but the excitement doesn’t end there! Raffle tickets will be sold for chances to win some wonderful wines; gorgeous gift baskets; and fabulous weekend getaways!

Rotary’s Valentine Dinner/Dance

SeaTac Community Center

Saturday, February 12th

6:00 PM until 10:00 PM

If you're interested attending, you must act now as tickets must be purchased no later than February 7th. Tickets are $45 each for Dinner and Dancing. Auction Purchases and Raffle Tickets are not included in the cost of the event tickets. For information on how to purchase tickets or receive additional information please email Dave Bush at dbush@windermere.com or by telephone at 206-669-7263.

A Sweetheart Deal For You and Your Valentine!

2011-02-01T16:48:00.000-08:00

You may have learned recently that Cedarbrook Lodge, located at 18525 36th Avenue South in SeaTac, has been rated the No. 1 hotel in the US, according to the TripAdvisor® 2011 Travelers’ Choice® Awards. In addition to top hotel, it also won honors as No. 2 Bargain in the U.S., No. 6 Best Service in the U.S. and No. 17 hotel in the world!

What makes Cedarbrook Lodge a top world class place to stay beyond great service and exquisite interior furnishings is that the lodge is located on 18-acres of restored wetlands creating a unique secluded wooded emersion for guests while in actuality being only minutes away from a major urban center. Ultra-comfortable guest room accommodations offer total relaxation, free parking, WiFi, Northwest continental breakfast, shuttle service and complimentary amenities including 24-hour grab ‘n’ go snacks such as Cedarbrook’s signature malt balls and individual servings of Häagen-Dazs® ice cream certainly help too!

If you’re wondering what it would be like to experience these World Class Award Winning accommodations firsthand, here is your chance! Through special arrangement for Angle Lake Shore Club Members, Cedarbrook Lodge is extending a special $109 rate when using the booking code ANGLE for overnight stays beginning Feb. 11 through Feb. 14. Take advantage of this rare offer by treating your Valentine to a romantic overnight stay and getaway at the Cedarbrook Lodge.

Major Incidents Call For CodeRED Calling

2011-01-30T09:09:00.000-08:00

When disaster strikes and wide spread communication is needed, the City of SeaTac relies on the CodeRED Emergency Notification System. This tool is an ultra high-speed telephone communication service capable of dialing up to 50,000 phone numbers per hour and delivering recorded messages to a live person or an answering machine, making three attempts to connect to any number. However, this system is only as good as the telephone number database that supports it. If your contact information is not in the database you will not receive a call when an urgent message is sent.

All individuals and businesses are encouraged to visit the City website, create a secured CodeRED Account and add contact information in order to receive these critical emergency communications. Required information includes a street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes) for location purposes and a primary phone number. Alternate numbers such as cellular phones and other non-traditional phones as well as email and text addresses may also be entered.

Are You Prepared To Receive The Call

Next week the City of SeaTac Fire Department will be utilizing the CodeRed Emergency Notification System to call the entire community. This call will give city personnel the chance to operate the systems as if there has been a community wide disaster. The message that is being delivered directs recipients to the City web site to add additional contact numbers, and it also asks that recipients spread the word by mentioning the system to family, friends and neighbors. Questions about the CodeRed Program should be directed to SeaTac Fire Department at 206.973.4520.

Shoreline Management Plan Nearly Approved

2011-01-20T13:07:00.000-08:00

It was recently reported in the Highline Times that the Burien Shoreline Management Plan that was derived with the ‘help’ of residents from Three Tree Point and Lake Burien along with their hired attorneys could ultimately wind up being rejected by the state Department of Ecology. I am happy to report that may not be the case for the SeaTac Program.

The Shorelands and Environmental Assistance representative, David Pater, has informed us that the SeaTac SMP has been accepted by the Department of Ecology with final approval being conditioned on the SeaTac City Council agreeing to revisions correcting a few minor typographical errors. As I understand it, if the City returns written agreement to these changes then the SMP is approved and this will bring closure to the long arduous process of creating an acceptable plan. Congratulations to all who have been involved in getting this approved.

History:

Beginning in January 2008 the City began the process of updating its Shoreline Master Program as required by State law. During this time the City created a Citizen's Advisory Committee which met throughout 2008 and 2009 and the recommendations derived from this committee were incorporated into the draft SMP document and regulations. Additional input was received through two separate open houses and numerous Land Use and Parks Committee meetings. The SMP was approved by the SeaTac City Council in July 2010 and forwarded to the State at that time for review. It is expected that the SMP will receive final approval in this first quarter of 2011.

OMG watz OHWM?!

2011-01-17T18:23:00.000-08:00

If you live along the shores of Angle Lake you might have heard the term “ORDINARY HIGH WATER MARK” (OHWM). This line of reference is an important marker in relation to meeting setback requirements when developing new or expanding existing structures toward the shoreline.

The term “ordinary high water mark” is used in the Washington State Department of Ecology Shoreline Management Act (RCW 90.58.030 – 2c):

"Ordinary high water mark" on all lakes, streams, and tidal water is that mark that will be found by examining the bed and banks and ascertaining where the presence and action of waters are so common and usual, and so long continued in all ordinary years, as to mark upon the soil a character distinct from that of the abutting upland, in respect to vegetation as that condition exists on June 1, 1971, as it may naturally change thereafter, or as it may change thereafter in accordance with permits issued by a local government or the department…”

In the case of Angle Lake the OHWM is a line around the shoreline defined by an elevation of 350.54’ above sea level. For building purposes, this line is typically established through licensed survey services but just in case you happen to be curious about where the OHWM falls along the shoreline and you don’t wish to spend the money for your own survey, today is your lucky day.

ALSC President Lonnie Goulet reports that he recently had a topographical survey of his property completed and has marked the OHWM with a couple of posts located at each end of his bulkhead located along the shoreline. As of 3:00 pm on the 17th of January 2011 the water level is approximately 2.5” above the OHWM for Angle Lake. If anyone would like an update as to the current level of the lake in relation to the OHWM please feel free to contact Lonnie and he will be glad to take a reading in the event you would like to mark this line on your shoreline.

Not A Seahawks Fan?

2011-01-15T09:03:00.000-08:00

What a week it's been for the NFL Seahawk Football Fans. It seems no matter where you turned for News or Entertainment, there is always a mention of the Seahawks. From stories on National News covering Marshawn Lynch’s incredible touchdown run and the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network reporting a small tremor as a result. Out on the internet with the YouTube video controversy about the 20 oz cup holding the exact same amount of beer as the 16 oz cup but selling for a dollar fifty more and even on our city sidewalks where hordes of fans gathered for a chance to cheer the team on as they head out of SeaTac for what we hope to be another win against the Chicago Bears!

But what if you’re just not into football? Well… It Sucks To Be You!

Nah, just kidding. There is another option for quality entertainment for you to enjoy. The Highline Historical Society is offering a free performance of “Eleanor Roosevelt: No Ordinary Woman” this Sunday, January 16th at 2:00 PM.

The production will outline Eleanor’s transformational journey from her shy, awkward childhood, to the White House, and later to the United Nations. Eleanor Roosevelt has emerged as one of the most influential civil rights advocates of the 20th century. In addition to the play, the presentation will include discussions on evolving attitudes toward the equality of women, civil rights, human rights, politics and freedom. It is reported that this program is suitable for middle school students and up.

The presentation will take place at SeaTac City Hall, 4800 S 188th Street, in SeaTac. Adminssion and Parking are Free however, charitable donations will be accepted.

Seahawk Fans - Rally Friday at Valley Ridge!

2011-01-13T07:12:00.000-08:00

This just in from the Seahawks Training Center: Seahawk fans are invited to help send off the team to Chicago from five points along the bus route to SeaTac Airport on Friday afternoon. Key locations will be overpasses in Renton, Tukwila and at our own Valley Ridge Park off 188th right here in SeaTac!

It is reported that free coffee and donuts will be available at the park and that fans will be given various Seahawks items (12th MAN Flags, rally cards, rally towels, etc.) to wave to the team buses and various passersby in a display of their 12th MAN spirit. The Sea Gals, Blitz and Blue Thunder are expected to be on location to join the fans in a show of support.

Organizers are encouraging people to start gathering by 1:00 PM in the park in preparation for the caravan of team buses to pass by at around 1:45 PM. Come join with neighbors in support of today's hottest Seattle Sports Team, have some fun, and get some free stuff!

GO SEAHAWKS!

Family and Friends Headed Your Way This Week?

2011-01-11T13:57:00.000-08:00

Ok. So maybe you’ve just moved to your home or perhaps you lived here for years. You’re enjoying the benefits and amenities of living in SeaTac – taking advantage of its centralized location with convenience to everything: Lake; Parks and Playfields; Festivals and Performing Arts… while your friends and relatives have taken advantage of using your front yard as their personal, convenient airport parking lot?

Perhaps in today’s fast paced environment this is one of the last remaining opportunities to reacquaint yourself with distant relatives or refamiliarize yourself with long absent friends or found it an effective way to be introduced to friends of friends (of friends?).

Seems like everyone is searching to save a buck or two here and there in today’s challenging economic times! Well here may be an offer that will not only help your lawn rehabilitation efforts while also helping to save some money for those people looking for cheap parking. The only requirement is that their destination includes a stop to Soldier Field in Chicago to help support our Seahawk’s! SEATAC PARK.com is offering Free Parking for all fans travelling to the playoff game this weekend. Further details are available on their blog site.

(If you’re a business owner and would like present a money saving offer to the residents of the Angle Lake Neighborhood – send us an email and we’ll be happy to work with you – especially during these winter months when we are news deficient!)

Car Prowler Alert!

2011-01-06T17:21:00.000-08:00

The blog team received notice today from our neighbors located in the area of Post #22 that on the evenings of January 4th and 5th a total of three cars are known to have been broken into.

Not an Actual Thief - Added for Dramatic Impact Only!

If possible, please keep your driveway and porch lights lit. Well lit areas tend to detour criminal activity. Please keep a watchful eye out for any suspicious activities. For your safety, do not try to intervene or apprehend any burglary suspects on your own, but do immediately call 911 and report any concerns.

Our best defense against these criminals is to remain alert and look out for each other. You can also keep track of police activity in your neighborhood through the following online crime reporting web site:

http://www.crimereports.com/

They're At It Again!

2011-01-04T17:39:00.000-08:00

Now that the polar bears and super hero's have returned to the warm and cozy confines of the indoors, that can only mean that not far off in the future hordes of people will again be expected to be roaming the rails wearing little more than a great big smile during the Annual No Pants Subway Ride on Sunday, January 9th!

The No Pants Subway Ride is an annual event organized by New York City prank collective Improv Everywhere. In this event, members of the group enter a subway car at consecutive stops without pants in the middle of winter. Participants pretend that they do not know each other and if asked, claim that they simply "forgot" their pants. The first No Pants Subway Ride took place in 2002 with seven riders and has grown since then. In 2010 over 1,200 people participated in New York and over 1,000 more participated in 21 other cities around the world. Seattle celebrated the event for the first time last year and an even larger crowd is expected this year.

For more details regarding this event, please refer to the Emerald City Improv Website. Additional “coverage” is available online at the Highline Times and SeaTac Blog. In case you were wondering… No, I am not planning to ride, I’m still thawing from New Years Day!

2011 Polar Bear Plunge!

2011-01-02T07:49:00.000-08:00

The weather for the first day of 2011 proved to be nothing less than spectacular. The skies were cloudless and a bright blue. The air temperature was a crisp 24 degrees… yep, you read that right, twenty four degrees – perfect for any polar bear! but for humans?

The stage was set to greet the polar plunge participants and onlookers. Pattie Lenz pleasantly surprised us by welcoming all onto her property next door to the Manor Beach to enjoy a nice fire burning with an offering of Mimosas to help kinder the spirits. The Five Corners Starbucks Coffee House in Burien provided fresh brewed coffee and cocoa fixings to go with homemade cookies provided by TaniRae’s mother in law!

Over thirty guests were on hand to witness a total of ten swimmers join hands and rush into the frigid waters of Angle Lake. The goal, to swim to the dive platform! While a few came short of this goal, six actually made it there and back and for this they were awarded a special prize in recognition of this achievement – a Polar Bear Sucker. (read into that however you wish!)

Photo by Nicholas Johnson

We’d like to thank Bryce and Pattie for their hospitality in helping host this event. A note of appreciation to the SeaTac Fire Department for being onsite to ensure that all swimmers who went into the water did in fact come out again! Thanks to both the SeaTac Blog and Highline Times for dispatching photographers to capture the images of this event and to our commercial sponsor Starbucks Coffee for providing the warm beverages. Additional photos of the event may be viewed HERE.

Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Ready to Make the Jump into 2011?

2010-12-26T08:15:00.000-08:00

With Christmas now just a recent memory, you might still consider it to be a bit too early to start thinking about next year. However it may just take these extra days for you to muster the necessary “courage”(?) to participate in the next big community event - the Third Annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge hosted by our friends over at the Angle Lake Manor Club.

Angle Lake Manor Club Beach

3417 So 194^th

Saturday, January 1^st, 2011

Gather at 9:30 am – Plunge at 10:00 am Sharp

Earlier this year nine brave (?) swimmers entered the frigid waters of Angle Lake with the goal of ushering in 2010 with a big splash (and we’re pretty sure that nine of them also made it out of the water, too!). Now with two years experience in the bag, the plan is to expand this event by welcoming all Lake Area Residents and their guests to join together for this family fun celebration. A small gift will be awarded to the first 25 participants that meet the Polar Cub Club requirement of swimming to the platform and back. Interested swim participants are encouraged to come in costume (i.e. Togas, Tutus, Tiaras and/or Crowns!) or in the least, gender appropriate swim attire is required!

Hot Coffee and Cocoa will be available for participants and spectators to enjoy before the plunge. We gratefully acknowledge our friends at the Starbucks Coffee Company at Five Corners in Burien for their generous donation!

Hints and Safety Tips:

Dress Up in costume over your swimsuit to add whimsy
Come Early. Parking is limited. Carpool or come by boat.
Anyone with heart problems should consult your health care provider before participating. If you don't participate, you’re still welcome to join us and watch.
Do Not Drink. Alcohol does not warm you up. It accelerates hypothermia.
Do Not Stay In The Water Longer Than 15 Minutes. Body heat is lost 25 times faster in the water than in air.
Keep Your Outer Clothing On until swim time and remove any wet clothing before getting back into dry clothes.
Have Fun!

Seasons Greetings!

2010-12-23T07:22:00.000-08:00

(A Letter From The Editor)

Sitting here in the calm of night, peering out the window at all the surrounding Christmas light, I reflect back on the year we had – the fun at the Fishing Derby; the excitement of the fireworks show on the Fourth of July; the tasty treats and surprise entertainment with the Floating Tapas, the camaraderie and display of athleticism at the Horse’n’around Classic, the stories and the many, many laughs exchanged during the Christmas Party, and the challenges we endured making our way around the lake on the Christmas Cruise.

I consider how fortunate I am to live in this active community of ours and am thankful for the many opportunities afforded to me to become acquainted with such wonderful neighbors. I cherish these memories and the new friendships made that I am confident will stay with me through my lifetime… and suddenly it occurs to me, all these recollections and relationships were accumulated within just a single year! And then I begin to get excited thinking about what the next year will bring!

(click on the photo)

I am sending a deep felt and sincere Thank You to all my neighbors for welcoming my family and me into your extraordinary community. I look forward to gathering with you again soon and meeting more of you next year.

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas. A Safe, Happy and Prosperous New Year!

A Christmas Story (Based on True Facts!)

2010-12-18T18:46:00.000-08:00

Santa’s (Last Resort) Christmas Helpers took to the water on Friday, December 17th to help spread yuletide cheer with our lakeside neighbors. The flotilla included the traditional two holiday barges operated by Captains Jim Todd and Bruce Bryant who were accompanied by their respective First Mates Robyn and Kathy and each with guests onboard.

Shortly after setting sail, the group had the misfortune to be visited by some guy named "Murphy" and suffered the ill effects of his infamous "Law". As luck would have it, the Bryant Vessel was running low on battery power to run the onboard lights and the Todd Ship propulsion system was beginning to fail. But not to fear, the Christmas Spirit, mixed with a little ingenuity from the commodore staff, had the boats tethered together in no time so that the Bryant Boat with it's plentiful engine power propelled the two barges through the night and the Todd Craft with ample electrical supply was able to light both along the way. But the combined girth made it too challenging to navigate onto the beaches to visit with the revelers waiting at the various bonfires. The crew became increasingly troubled with the idea that the many neighbors who tended to bonfires on the beach would not be rewarded with a visit from the helpless elves bearing holiday enthusiasm and succulent treats.

But as something akin to the situation that Santa faced on that dreaded foggy evening, without notice a small zippy fishing boat with colorful lights circling it's rim came rushing out of the darkness toward the group. Everyone began to question who it could be and not until they were along side the barges was it known that the dingy was under the command of Russ and Patti Austin. It proved to be the perfect solution – the barges would pass by the beach as close as possible sharing holiday greetings and Christmas music while Russ and Patti nimbly cruised up with an offer of homemade almond rocca ® to those friends who waited patiently on the beach. The goal of helping spread Christmas Cheer was ultimately fulfilled due to good neighbors coming together to deliver a solution.

The Christmas Cruise Captains, First Mates and their guests wish to express their great appreciation for the people who turned out on the beaches, their participation truly made the event very enjoyable. Next year we hope to continue to add more boats and be able to make more stops along the way. Photos of the cruise are available for viewing HERE.

Christmas Cruise Friday, December 17th

2010-12-09T18:16:00.000-08:00

If you missed your chance to make merry at the annual ALSC Members Only Christmas Party, the Shore Club is presenting another opportunity to welcome in the holiday season as the Lake Community will join together Friday, December 17th at around 7:00 PM for the Third Annual Christmas Cruise!

We encourage all interested Boat Owners to decorate your vessels with 12 volt lights and ornaments and join together with other boaters in the middle of the “L” to form a flotilla for travel along the lakeshore. Onboard you’ll enjoy the festive lights and music, sing Christmas carols, share snacks and imbibe in holiday spirit(s) of your choosing. If you have room on your boat to carry additional passengers, please email the blog team and let us know how many extra seats you may have.

For those folks who are more interested participating from dry land, we encourage Shoreline Participants to build a beach bon fire signaling the traveling group to stop by and share some merry with you! Who knows, our substitute Santa’s may present you with a special treat – provided you’ve been especially good this year of course! Or if there’s space available, you may be invited on board to help spread cheer to other stops along the way.

It would be an extra special holiday gift to the Angle Lake Shore Club Board if we can get maximum turn out for this event!

This is it – the final Shore Club event for the year, let’s make it a fun one.

Plenty Reason to Celebrate!

2010-12-06T19:13:00.000-08:00

The days ending November and leading into December were highlighted with a couple significant events which lend good cause for celebration!

Monday, November 29th. The many weeks of campaigning, meetings, petitions and conversations concluded with the City Officials conducting a Special Council Meeting to deliver a final vote for approval of the 2010 Comprehensive Plan. After some additional debate and discussion, the council voted to approve all items included in the draft plan except for Map Amendment 4. By way of unanimous vote the council decided that the Lindstrom proposal for a rezone to Industrial would be denied and the property will remain with the current Medium Density Residential designation. It was mentioned that the decision was heavily influenced by the strong collective voice that was presented by the neighborhood. Thank you to all area residents who had invested their private time to support opposition in preventing this particular map amendment change from occurring.

Saturday, December 4th. The annual ALSC Members Only Christmas Party was held this year at the home of Jim and Robyn Todd. Several of the more tenured residents commented frequently on what a wonderful job the Todd’s have done in renovating this house into the exquisite home it is today. The party was well attended by what seemed to be nearly one hundred guests enjoying a full hosted bar, tasty hors d’oeuvres and delicious buffet dinner served by Bakeman’s Restaurant. The evening included a brief Shore Club meeting to recap the years events, the year’s best and worst list (weather topped both lists!) and recognition of service to Shirley Stevens and selection of Mr. and Mrs. Christmas. The party was scheduled to end at 8:00 PM but the guests were so wrapped up into having fun it was well past that time when the bar was finally shut down and folks began heading home… “Time really does fly when you’re surrounded by such wonderful neighbors and having the time of your life!” For those of you who attended, we hope you had an equally wonderful time. Photos of the event are available for viewing HERE.

Holiday Events For This Week

2010-11-28T09:36:00.000-08:00

Christmas Tree Lighting: The annual tree lighting ceremony will be held on Thursday, December 2nd at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers at SeaTac City Hall located at 4800 S. 188th Street. What better way to get in the holiday spirit than by bringing your family and friends to help us light this year’s tree? Live musical entertainment will feature crooner Daniel Quintero and the ABC…123 Preschool students. Bring a camera and get your picture taken with Santa. Refreshments will also be available.

Tyee Holiday Bazaar: Gift options galore will be available for purchase at over 150 merchants featuring hand crafted items, collectibles and commercial products. Shoppers can browse a large selection of fresh cut trees for the perfect Christmas tree to take home for the holidays, have their picture taken with Santa, peruse an array of mouth watering foods to choose from or warm up with steaming hot espresso drink. There’s even a kid’s activity center planned to keep the little shoppers entertained. Saturday, December 4th, doors open at 9:00 AM.

Members Only Christmas Party: Jim and Robyn Todd will open the doors to their home at 4:00 PM for ALSC members to visit with neighbors, make new acquaintances, and reminisce about all the fun times that were enjoyed during the various club events throughout the past year! Included in the price of admission are hors d’oeuvres, catered Prime Rib and Grilled Salmon dinner, an open bar plus a fun contest to vote for the best dressed couple representing Mr. and Mrs. Christmas.

Stay Tuned for upcoming details on the ALSC Christmas Cruise being held later in the month. If you own a party barge, we would really like to hear from you! Please email the blog team for more information on how you may help us with this fun event.

December 4th - ALSC Members Only Christmas Party

2010-11-25T17:22:00.000-08:00

The Angle Lake Shore Club Board came together on Thanksgiving Eve at the Todd’s Residence to finalize plans for the 2010 Members Only Christmas Party. Jim and Robyn Todd provided a tour of their lovely home to reveal a wonderful foyer to great incoming guests, capacity to support dining on two floors, two rooms for mingling and visiting with an additional room for the buffet line to serve the catered dinner from.

Later in the evening, the Board and a few extra volunteers painstakingly conducted a blind taste test to help ensure that a perfect crowd pleasing red and white wine choice is offered to guests at the hosted bar. Photos of this tasting may be viewed by clicking here. It certainly appears that no detail, no matter how small, has been overlooked to help ensure only the best experience is delivered for participants the gathering.

Saturday, December 4th beginning at 4:00 PM.

Hors d’oeuvres will be offered from 4:30 until 5:30
Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM.

Festivities will wrap up at 8:00 PM.

Also, as a reminder, a special prize will be awarded to the couple interpreted as the best representation of “Mr. and Mrs. Christmas”. Please Note: If you haven't yet made your reservations to attend this Holiday Party there are currently a few spaces remaining. Contact Julie Hill at (206) 355-6460 for more information or bring a completed form with your payment to the party.

Snow Plowing Schedule and Road Closures

2010-11-23T13:52:00.000-08:00

Western Washington is certainly experiencing the effects created by the 2010-2011 La Nina Conditions and as a result - it’s probably a good time to inform our blog viewers about the City of SeaTac Snow Plowing Schedule and Road Closures.

As a reminder, the following roads within SeaTac will most likely be closed when unsafe conditions (snow and ice) are present:

So. 180th Street east of Military Road So. (aka: Levitz Hill)
So. 200th Street west of 28th Ave So
37th Place So east of Military Road So.

Vehicle operators will need to choose alternate routes during times of road closures. Additional road closure information can be access through the King County Road Alert website.

Comprehensive Plan Available for Public Review

2010-11-21T12:12:00.000-08:00

RCM RESCHEDULED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

NOVEMBER 29th

Only days remain before decisions are expected on the 2010 Comprehensive Plan and the four proposed map amendments. It appears that amendments 1 – 3 will pass without issue; although some contention still persists with regard to Map Amendment 4.

City Planning Staff recommend approving the zoning change to Industrial in Amendment 4 with certain conditions including a revocation clause. However, impacted neighbors surrounding the property are not pleased with this recommendation and as a result have turned out in droves to voice their opposition at two separate Regular Council Meetings.

The Council is scheduled to deliver a final determination on all items related to the 2010 Comprehensive Plan at the Special Session rescheduled for Monday, November 29th. A copy of the Council Packet containing full details and correspondence letters relating to the Comprehensive Plan is available online now for public review. A quick overview of Map Amendment 4 is on page 176; complete details starting on page 240; with supporting documents beginning on page 307. (Note: The “Neighbors For a Better Environment” petition packet was not included in the Council Packet and a copy has since been sent directly to all Council Members).

Please remember, if you plan to deliver any in person comments to the City Council, you must sign up prior to the start of the 6:00 PM meeting.

FREE Influenza Shots This Saturday

2010-11-19T06:44:00.000-08:00

King County Public Health will offer FREE flu vaccinations for adults and children at Highline Community College in Des Moines this Saturday, Nov. 20th, from 10am to 1pm.

WHAT: FREE Flu Vaccine Clinic (Downloadable Flyer)

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010 from 10am – 1pm, or until vaccine supply is exhausted.

WHERE: Highline Community College (Student Union Building), located at 2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines, WA 98198.

Influenza spreads readily from person to person in schools, workplaces and homes. Everyone over 6 months of age should get the annual flu vaccine to prevent sickness, unnecessary healthcare visits, hospitalizations and deaths from influenza. Health Department Officials recommend that people receive vaccination doses early as soon as vaccine is available for full protection throughout the flu season. This year, a single flu vaccine will be administered to provide protection against the H1N1 flu virus that caused outbreaks last year and 2 other flu viruses that are expected to cause illness this season.

Final Determination Expected November 23rd

2010-11-17T16:31:00.000-08:00

Only a few days remain before the date when decisions are expected to be made on the 2010 Comprehensive Plan and the four proposed map amendments. It appears that amendments 1 – 3 will pass without opposition; although some contention still persists with regard to Map Amendment 4.

As reported earlier on this blog site, Map Amendment 4 requests that an revision be made to the city land use master plan to designate the property at 19740 Military Road South from Medium Density Residential to an Industrial zoning. City Planning Staff have recommended approval of the zoning change with certain conditions including a revocation clause. However, impacted neighbors surrounding the property are not pleased with this recommendation and as a result have turned out in droves to voice their opposition at two separate Regular Council Meetings. Additionally, a group identifying themselves as “Neighbors For a Better Environment” had activated an online petition from Nov 2nd to Nov 16th where a total of 63 signatures and various comments were collected to be turned over to the City Council for consideration, plus several flyers have been circulated to impacted neighbors alerting them to a possible change in zoning. The Highline Times has also picked up on this story and has published the following report on the front page of the November 19, 2010 edition.

The Council is scheduled to deliver a final determination on all items related to the 2010 Comprehensive Plan at the next Regular Council Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 23rd. Please remember, if you plan to deliver any in person comments to the City Council, you must sign up prior to the start of the 6:00 PM meeting.

Tyee Holiday Bazaar December 4th

2010-11-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

Kick off the holidays with a visit to the Tyee Holiday Bazaar, recognized as one of the largest annual bazaars in the area. And each year it just keeps getting bigger and better!

Gift options galore will be available for purchase at over 150 merchants featuring hand crafted items, collectibles and commercial products. Shoppers can browse a large selection of fresh cut trees to find the perfect Christmas tree to take home for the holidays, have their picture taken with Santa, peruse an array of mouth watering foods to choose from or warm up with steaming hot espresso drink. There’s even a kid’s activity center planned to keep the little shoppers entertained.

All this will take place on one day only:

Saturday, December 4th

9:00 am until 4:00 pm

Tyee Educational Complex

4424 So. 188th, SeaTac

Admission is Free

ALSC Christmas Party December 4th

2010-11-11T19:34:00.000-08:00

The annual Angle Lake Shore Club Christmas Party is scheduled for Saturday, December 4th. If you plan to attend, we ask that you
RSVP no later than Sunday, November 21st.

The Christmas Party is a great opportunity to visit with familiar neighbors, make new acquaintances, and share the fun times that were enjoyed during the various club events throughout the past year! We will be providing a delicious catered Standing Rib Roast and Salmon Dinner with an open bar included in the ticket price of $25 per person. New for this year is a fun contest to vote on the best dressed couple representing Mr. and Mrs. Christmas. Come dressed in your best interpretation of ‘Holiday Spirit’ and if you receive the most votes you’ll be awarded a valuable prize!

This is a private party for Angle Lake Shore Club Members Only and their guests. If you are not currently an active member, no worries, we are accepting new membership applications alongside Christmas Party ticket purchases. Membership enrollment form along with party times and location detail is available by clicking here.

Should you have any unanswered questions or if you’d like to assist, please contact your volunteer hostess, Julie Hill at (206) 355-6460. Here’s looking forward to seeing you at 2010 ALSC Christmas Party.

Regular Council Meeting - November 9th @ 6:00 PM

2010-11-09T05:39:00.000-08:00

Several emails have been received indicating some East Lake Neighbors are planning to sign up prior to the 6:00 PM Regular Council Meeting to deliver comments of opposition to the proposed zoning changes included in the Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment 4.

If you have time available, I urge you to join with your neighbors at City Hall this evening to deliver your opinions regarding these changes. If a previous speaker or two has already stated your same comments, simply take the podium, address the council by identifying yourself, provide your address and state that your are in agreement with the previous comments and that you are opposed to the changes proposed in Map Amendment 4.

If you haven't already signed our online petition, we are still collecting signatures at: www.thepetitionsite.com/1/MapAmendment4/

THANK YOU for taking the time necessary to help preserve the quality of our neighborhood.

(The following information was extracted from the City of Seatac Website)
Audience participation is encouraged at all Council Meetings. If you wish to speak, please sign up on the Public Comments sheet located on the table at the entrance of the Council Chambers. Public Comments are solicited by the Mayor at various times during the Council Meeting.

The following suggestions will assist you in presenting precise, well-organized comments:

Be courteous and polite.
Speaking to the Council: When you are recognized by the Mayor or his/her designee, go to the podium, speak directly into the microphone, state your name, spelling your name, (title and organization, if appropriate), and your address for the record.
Purpose: What is the idea you wish to present? Begin with an "I" statement outlining your idea, such as "I am here to support/oppose/call attention to..."
Reason: Why are you making this point? This is an important step so the Council is aware of the reasons for your concern.
Summary: What condition will be changed or improved if your viewpoint is adopted?
Action: State what you would like the City Council to do in response to your viewpoint.

Note: The Mayor may terminate comments that continue beyond the allotted time, constitute a personal attack, are slanderous, or are otherwise inappropriate.

Fall Back to Standard Time

2010-11-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, November 7 at 2 AM. Remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday, November 6, else you’ll miss out on that extra hour of sleep!

Some facts about smoke detectors:

Smoke detectors that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in saving lives and reducing fire deaths and injuries.
Having a working smoke detector cuts the risk of dying in a home fire by 40-50%.
Numbers of homes with smoke detectors that do not work outnumber homes without smoke detectors at all.
Nearly half of all smoke detectors do not work due to missing or dead batteries.

Signatures Needed for Online Petition Opposing Map Amendment #4

2010-11-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

Click the Photo Above to Access the Online Petition

As reported in the prior blog post, a total of 30 signed petitions were turned in on the night of the Comprehensive Plan Open House which indicated the signees were in favor of the proposed Map Amendment #4 changes from Medium Density Residential to Industrial. Reclassifying this parcel to Industrial will provide the property owner, Mr. Lindstrom, the opportunity to proceed ahead with his plan of locating a towing yard operation on the undeveloped portion of 19740 Military Road So.

An online petition drive opposing the changes proposed in the Comprehensive Plan – Map Amendment #4 has been created by a band of local citizens referring to the group as “Neighbors for a Better Environment”. The group encourages all impacted residents who oppose the rezoning of this parcel to Industrial to sign the petition online at: www.thepetitionsite.com/1/MapAmendment4/.

All signed petitions will be compiled and delivered to City officials prior to the November 23rd Regular Council Meeting where a final decision is expected if approval will be granted for this proposed amendment.

Comprehensive Planning Update

2010-10-28T20:56:00.000-07:00

Photo from David A. Clark Architects, PLLC

Last Tuesday I had attended the Land Use and Planning (LUP) Committee Meeting at City Hall. My interest was to listen in on a report delivered by Senior Planner Mike Scarey to the LUP Committee providing a recap of the Open House and Public Comment and learn if any decision had been reached pertaining to the Comprehensive Plan amendment proposal for the Lindstrom property along Military Road.

The opening comments delivered by a committee member announced that there were twenty-seven individuals signed up to speak against the Map 4 amendment proposal and only four in favor. It was recognized as being the largest turnout in city history. The slide presentation by Mike Scarey however indicated that only 14 people actually spoke against the proposal and 3 spoke in favor. Mr. Scarey acknowledged the delta between his presentation and the earlier claim and committed to look into the reason for the discrepancy. Additionally, the presentation indicated that 14 letters were received opposing the proposal whereas 30 signed petitions were submitted stating 'no objection'. I was surprised to hear that so many residents were in favor of the proposal.

During the time since the meeting, I have had the opportunity to inspect electronic copies of the petitions and have drawn my own conclusion on these documents. I note that over 20% of the petition signatures were obtained from the residents that occupy the complex that Mr. Lindstrom owns; an additional 27% reside outside the impacted area or failed to indicate their current location of residency; and nearly half of the total respondents identified themselves as being non-owners. When considering I had only heard feedback from homeowners within the immediate impacted area and whereas it appears Mr. Lindstrom may have set his focus on a different population set, this has helped me to understand why a difference of opinion may exist regarding the level of acceptance to this particular amendment proposal.

The following scheduled activities will occur at the Regular Council Meetings leading up to the completion of the Comprehensive Plan:

November 2nd: Planning Commission will deliver their recommendations to the Council
November 23rd: Council will take action to finalize the Comprehensive Plan

Public comment is always accepted at the beginning of each Regular Council Meeting provided that you sign up to speak before the meeting begins and comments will be limited to 3 minutes for each speaker.

Moving, Shaking and Shaping Up

2010-10-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

A read through the City Manager’s Weekly Update reveals that there are quite a few projects that are either planned, going through permitting or currently under construction within the SeaTac city limits. Actually twenty three major developments plus an additional seven Port of Seattle projects. The full list can be accessed here. The following is a list of changes planned in the Angle Lake area as indicated on the map above:

PORT/SOUND TRANSIT PROJECTS
(Projects Proposed within the next 2-4 Years)
4A. Port of Seattle Consolidated Maintenance Facility
5A. Port of Seattle Consolidated Airport Warehouse Facility
6A. South Employee Parking Lot – Phase I

PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
8. Wally Park 18613 International Blvd.
Construction of a parking structure of approximately 1,600 parking spaces and at least 13,800 sq. ft. of retail/mixed use/service use. Construction is ongoing. Garage screening has been installed

22. Hampton Inn 18850 28th Ave. S.
The property owner has submitted a revised site plan for only one (1) hotel of 220 rooms instead of two hotels. A building permit has been issued. Grading of the site is underway.

SEPA/OTHER APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED
9. Patterson Place Mixed Use 3712 S. 188th St.
Proposed mixed use project with 243 Multi Family units and 5,900 sq. ft. of commercial use. Project on hold.

18. Angle Lake Estates Proposed 10 Lot Subdivision
The SEPA appeal and variance request was denied by the Hearing Examiner. The preliminary plat was approved. The HE decision regarding the preliminary plat has been appealed to the City Council. The appeal has been dropped based upon the signing of a “Settlement Agreement” between the appellant and property owner. The Shoreline Substantial Development Permit (SDP) was issued and approved by the Department of Ecology.

23. Residence Inn Hotel 19518 International Blvd.
Proposed 150 room hotel under site plan review. Council has approved access to the Hotel from the Angle Lake Park access road. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2012.

Yard Waste Collection Event and Food Drive

2010-10-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

Our mild late summer-like weather may have delayed our seasonal change to fall like conditions – however, the SeaTac yard debris collection event will be held as previously scheduled. Have your grass, leaves and branches composted for free. Limit 3 vehicle loads per household. No rocks, sod or dirt. No materials larger than 4 inches by 8 feet long. See the event flier for complete details of what is and is not accepted.

Date: 10/23/2010 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Location: Tyee Educational Complex Parking Lot

4424 S. 188th Street

Free to SeaTac residents only; must show proof of residency

FOOD DRIVE FOR HIGHLINE AREA FOOD BANK
Food drive will also be occur during the Yard Debris Collection Event. Bring canned and non-perishable food, diapers, toilet paper, soap, pet food and laundry detergent. Paper bags and monetary donations are welcome too!

Planning Commission Open House and Public Hearing

2010-10-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

When: October 19th

Open House: 5:00 - 6:00 PM

Hearing: 6:05 - 7:10 PM

Where: Council Chambers, SeaTac City Hall, 4800 S. 188th Street

The City of SeaTac Planning Commission is hosting an Open House on October 19th from 5:00 – 6:00 PM. The purpose is to allow city residents an opportunity to review and discuss in detail any of the proposed 2010 Comprehensive Plan Amendments with City Planning Resources. Of particular note is the proposed impact on the East Lake Residents along Military Road across from Fire Posts 29 – 31 (refer to our previous blog post for additional detail and recorded comments).

The Planning Commission Meeting will begin immediately following the Open House where the scheduled time from 6:05 until 7:10 PM is reserved for Public Hearing which will allow Public Comments regarding revisions to the Comprehensive Plan to be heard during this time.

We encourage all impacted residents to express their opinions and/or deliver comments to the Planning Commission by sending email to Mike Scarey (mscarey@ci.seatac.wa.us) prior to the meeting; by hand delivery of written comment at the Open House; or be verbal delivery during the Public Hearing. This is your opportunity to let your stance be known before Amendments are approved and finalized.

SeaTac Crime Reporting Website

2010-10-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

Knowledge is power. Having knowledge about the latest, up-to-date information regarding police incidents in the area is a powerful tool to help citizens combat crime in their neighborhoods. The SeaTac Police Department and the King County Sheriff's Office have recently begun posting crime incidents onto a new interactive crime information mapping website. The company contracted to host the site is CrimeReports. Written police reports are logged onto the interactive map, allowing citizens in our community to access and view police incidents in their area. The site is accessible by clicking here or by entering http://www.crimereports.com into your internet browser address bar.

The CrimeReports map displays icons depicting the type of crime having occurred at the indicated location. Some of the icons displayed represent: Theft; Vehicle Theft; Theft from Vehicle; Assault; Robbery; Breaking and Entering (burglary); Drugs; Property Crime; and many others. Clicking the icon will reveal a short description of the incident and even provide the police case number/police agency generating the report. Users may also generate mapping for a particular location; sort by type of crime; or enter a set period of days. In addition to criminal events, the site displays registered sex offender information generated by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Clicking on the sex offender icon will open a window with the registered offender’s picture, information and a general block address in the city.

The CrimeReports network offers a suite of easy-to-use software tools empowering police and residents make informed decisions to help improve the safety of their neighborhood and community.

Make a Difference in Your Community

2010-10-13T18:37:00.000-07:00

October 23, 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of Make A Difference Day, the nation's largest day of community service where millions of people across the nation will unite in a common mission to improve the lives of others. Discover how you can join in and truly create change on this historic Make A Difference Day!

By utilizing the tools and resources provided by USA Weekend and the HandsOn Network, you can search the database to find out about local volunteering opportunities. Or if service is part of your life blood, become a service leader and lead your family and friends to make an impactful difference in their communities!

To create and register a volunteer project happening on October 23 or join an existing project in your community, visit the
Make A Difference Day website.

Proposed East Lake Zoning Change

2010-10-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

The Comprehensive Plan is the City’s “blueprint for future growth and development.” It contains a future land use map, as well as goals and policies that provide guidance to the City as the area grows and changes to meet the challenges of a growing region.

The owner of the undeveloped property at 19740 Military Road (across the street from fire posts 29 through 31) has submitted a proposal to change the SeaTac Comprehensive Plan designation on this parcel from the current Residential Medium Density to that of an Industrial assignment. If the proposed amendment is approved, this will allow a future rezone from UM-3600 to I (Industrial), enabling the property owner to proceed ahead with their plans to develop this land for use as a automobile tow yard.

While the owner’s motive behind this request to develop this parcel into a revenue producing lot is understandable, some area residents are against this proposed rezoning as it does not integrate well with the existing surrounding residential environment. Other opinions also consider this move would not only place additional traffic on Military Road, but would increase the overall noise level within the neighborhood resulting from normal tow yard operations, in addition to increased levels of Interstate 5 traffic noise as a consequence from the removal of all the trees and natural vegetation that currently dampen the freeway sounds.

The Planning Commission and the City Council will continue to review this proposed amendment during their meetings throughout the fall. The Planning Commission will also hold a Public Hearing on the Final Docket of proposed amendments and host an Open House tentatively scheduled for October 19. Comments from residents (either pro or con) may be submitted via email to Mike Scarey (mscarey@ci.seatac.wa.us) prior to the Public Hearing date or delivered in person. Please note that the Public Hearing date is subject to change, so please call the department of Planning and Community Development at 973.4830 to confirm final meeting dates.