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

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!

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

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!

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

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

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.

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....

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!

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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!

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

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:

• 4th of July
• Tasty Tapas

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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..."

“ …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

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

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

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!

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)