Dive In to Fight Hunger

A Reason to be Freezin’
Please consider joining the ‘courageous’ few who’ll symbolically dive into the new year by literally diving into the frigid waters of Angle Lake for the annual Polar Bear Plunge. Original justification for this act was simply because it was a crazy, wacky thing to do. However, a more sensible reason has been added to this event with the purpose to support a food drive to help reduce hunger in our area. 

We are encouraging all participants and spectators to bring cash or check donations to be given to the Tukwila Pantry to assist their effort in providing meals to members in community who suffer from hunger.

When you think about it, $50 in the average family household may produce a couple meals at best but according to the Tukwila Pantry website, they have the ability of turning $50 into 500 meals! That’s an incredible use of limited resource. However, the website also reports that the Tukwila Pantry Emergency Food Bank operations serves nearly three thousand households representing some nine thousand individuals. That requires a lot of $50 contributions and that is where we all can help by offering any size of financial contribution. 100% of your donation will go to the Tukwila Pantry to serve toward these needs. Non-perishable packaged food donations will also be accepted.

A Chance to Win
To encourage participation a raffle drawing will be held for a chance to win one of several Angle Lake Shore Club T-Shirts being offered. Simply by showing up to the event at the Manor Club Beach on New Year’s Day will entitle you to one raffle ticket for a chance to win; Showing up in costume (regardless if you’re planning to plunge or not) will earn you a second ticket; bring a donation of one or more dollars or a non-perishable food item and you’ll receive one raffle ticket for each item; and finally – taking the Plunge will earn you another TEN TICKETS for an additional TEN CHANCES to win a prize! 

Angle Lake Manor Club Beach
3419 South 194th Street
January 1st, 2013
  • 11:00 AM Gates Open, Light Refreshments Offered
  • 11:45 AM Raffle Prize Drawings
  • 12:00 PM The Big Plunge
  • 01:00 PM Conclusion
There will be a fire burning to warm by and hot coffee and other refreshments will be available for participants and spectators to enjoy before the plunge. A small commemorative gift will be awarded to all participants that enter the water. Special recognition will be given to each participant that achieves Polar Cub Club status be swimming to the dive platform and back!

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 30 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!

So Long 2013...

Click Here for a Holiday Message from the Board
One Year Is Done and a New Year has Begun
by Fuzz Hill

As I sit here in the still of the night
Just a few days before Santa takes flight
I begin to look back on the events of this past year
All the fun times, new friends, and all the cheer

We kicked off 2013 with a dip in the lake
The water was frigid and made dippers shake
But it was all done for good reason
To fill food bank shelves emptied this season

Peter Cotton Tail visited the lake not by trail
But by boat of course, in his hand was a pail
Full of eggs to hand to kids who were waiting
At the end of their docks busily contemplating

The lake was stocked with fish in the spring
For anglers to compete during our yearly fishing fling
Attendees enjoyed lunch and a chance for a prize
And fishing secrets were shared among the wise

Next thing I realized we were approaching July
Preparing for a parade, races and fireworks for the sky
While we were disappointed with our contracted pyrotehnicians
Our volunteers performed their tasks like highly skilled magicians

But before July was finished
Lake trash was diminished
By the volunteers of the Clean Sweep
Where garbage was piled waste deep

We plied through the water to various stations serving tapas
Traveling on boats loaded with neighbors; friends; mommas and papas
Coming together at the very last stop for dessert
To exchange stories, share laughs and watched a few flirt

Our Members Christmas Party was again a huge success
Everyone looking a million bucks outfitted in fine dress
The drinks were fantastic, the food was delicious
Our annual meeting was held to discuss club business

Merely a week later we were welcoming St. Nick
Traveling to docks around the lake by holiday ship
Visiting community children and to capture a pic
Seeing the joy in the kids faces was really a kick

So the year is almost over, the end is in reach
I’d like to remind you, January 1st at Manor Club Beach
We’ll gather and greet 2014 with great cheer
And look forward to yet another great year!

Happy Holidays from the
Angle Lake Shore Club Board.

Do You Believe In Santa?

We know of at least 70 children who do! And our online photos prove Santa had a blast meeting with each and every one of them.
After frigid temperatures the week before the weather was relatively mild for a mid-December evening which may have been the 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 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 just because everyone was anxious to get a chance to visit with the Father of Christmas himself, Santa Claus.

Whatever the reason for encouraging folks to leave the warmth of the indoors to gather 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 over 70 gift bags were distributed by Santa to the visiting youth.

We’d like to recognize and express appreciation to the Goulet Brothers who had invested many hours decorating their boats.  With additional recognition to our principle organizer Jim Todd for coordinating the scheduled stops; Julie Hill for procuring and preparing the gift packages with help from Rosalyn Rombauer and Debbie Beck; to our club photographer Tani Rae Standridge for the many fine photos capturing all the fun had by everyone from small to tall. Additional thanks to Sandy Goulet, Pam Reith, Beverly Prellwitz and Fuzz Hill, the additional deck hands supporting the event operations. All you’re efforts were clearly appreciated based on the many compliments and kind comments that participants expressed.  And to Santa, the guy that everyone came out to see, you really had your game face on this night! You are a real 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 involved 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 ‘ALSC Photo Album’ link.  If you have photos to share, please email them to the blog address at anglelakesc@gmail.com.

THIS JUST IN!

We’ve received confirmation from Santa’s peeps that he is headed to Angle Lake this Saturday evening to make special visits around the Lake.  All neighbors with young children are invited to come to the following locations to meet with Santa, share with him your Christmas Wish List, get your photo taken and each child will receive a special gift bag presented by the Angle Lake Shore Club. 

Scheduled Stops with Site Contacts
5:30 PM     Marlys Patton 3771 So 194th Street (Jill @ 824-7058)
5:50 PM     Jean McGarah 3431 So 194th Street (Jean @ 824-5440)
6:15 PM     Angle Lake Mobile Home Park (Brian @ 604-1748)
6:45 PM     Curits Steinke 3228 So 198th St Post 3 (Kerry @ 824-2550)
7:10 PM     Steve Newsome 3514 So 198th St Post 12  (Dina @ 265-3333)
7:45 PM     Chau Murphy @ 19635 Military Road South Post 31 (Keith @ 242-0671)
8:15 PM     David Gutierrez @ 19003 46th Ave So Post 54 (Maritza @ 595-1698)
8:40 PM     Harvey Picket @ 3780 S 191st Pl  - Post 77 (Phyllis @ 242-9221)

All times are approximate and the event is subject to cancellation or delay due to any inclement weather. We’ll be posting updates throughout the evening on our Twitter (@AngleLakeSC) and Facebook (AngleLakeSC) Accounts.

Witness the joy in each of the children’s eyes as captured in Last Year’s Video!

A Picture-Perfect Party

If you were fortunate to have attended the ALSC Members Christmas Party Saturday, December 7th you surely agree it was a tremendously entertaining evening that was enjoyed by all who attended.
If for one reason or another you’re having a difficult time recalling all the fun – relive the moments flipping through our online photo album containing candid shots from the party including images from our photo booth.

The Club wishes to give recognition to Julie Hill for her expert planning and execution of this event and express our gratitude to Jim and Robyn Todd for opening their home for the party and all the volunteers who help load in, set up, and clean up when all was done. Thank you.

Upcoming Holiday Events

Please mark your calendar and make plans now to join one or more of these entertaining Angle Lake Shore Club events being hosted in the month of December! 

Saturday, December 7th - 4:00 PM: Members Christmas Party 
Neighbors Jim and Robyn Todd open their home and welcome the active members of the Shore Club to join them for an evening of socializing, munching, imbibing, singing and much laughter! Featuring mouthwatering hors d’oeuvres, fully catered dinner, hosted bar, and hired entertainment. The annual members meeting will also be held to nominate board members, hold elections and share information about the 4th of July Fireworks Show for 2014. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door. 

Saturday, December 14th – 6:00 PM: Santa's Christmas Boats Cruise
Santa Claus will again make a special early visit to the area to join the parade of pontoon boats decked out with holiday lights traveling the shores of Angle Lake spreading festive music and Christmas cheer. We'll be pausing at spots around the lake to greet gathered revelers, provide photo opportunities and Santa will offer a small gift to the all the good children present.  Please check our Facebook Page for any schedule changes and for the latest list of locations and approximate times where Santa will be visiting. In the case of inclement weather, the event may be rescheduled or canceled. Please contact Jim Todd if you’d like to ride as a passenger on any of the boats. This event is free and open to all neighbors and their guests.

Wednesday, January 1st- 11:00 AM: Polar Plunge
We'll be jumping into 2014 with a big SPLASH! The Polar Plunge at the Manor Club Beach is where we'll be “Freezin for a Reason!”  We’re asking spectators and plunge participants to consider bringing donations of non-perishable food items and/or cash-check contributions to benefit the Tukwila Pantry and for a chance to win ALSC Branded Apparel! Keep an eye on the ALSC blog or check our Facebook Page for further details leading up to the date. This event is open to ALL within the community; donations are encouraged but not required. 

Pivotal Decisions Ahead

ALSC President, Lonnie Goulet, will deliver status regarding the 4th of July Fireworks show to members present at the Christmas Party and reveal options being considered to help ensure success for future displays over Angle Lake. 
Each year at the Members Only Christmas Party the club holds a final board meeting for the year. It is the one time out of nine scheduled meetings where the majority of active members attend.  It is at this meeting when new members are introduced, volunteer recognition is given, past successes and upcoming events are discussed and board nominations are voted on and positions filled. 

Last year the meeting included a poll of the membership present on whether or not to stick with the long standing fireworks contractor due concern over their poor performance earlier that year.  After weighing consideration for the many prior years of outstanding performance and the extraordinary value realized beyond what other contractors were offering, the membership expressed continued confidence in Eagle Fireworks by delivering a unanimous agreement to continue with them.

However, anyone who attended the 2013 fireworks on July 4th realizes that the deterioration of the show was not just a onetime fluke and ultimately resulted in the board firing Eagle Fireworks, assessing numerous monetary penalties against them for failure to deliver with clear indication that there will be no further contract opportunities between Eagle Fireworks and the Angle Lake Shore Club to produce future shows.

You may also have learned by now, Eagle Fireworks was not only contracted to furnish the materials for the fireworks display but also to supply the floating platform in which to launch the show from.  Eagle was one of the very few contractors to provide this additional service.  Since Eagle is no longer a viable consideration for our future shows, several options will be presented at the Holiday meeting that are targeted to help fill this gap. If you have an interest in the success of our future 4th of July firework displays, it is highly suggested that you plan to attend this meeting to become informed about what is being considered. 

In addition to this crucial board meeting, the Christmas Party will of course offer an opportunity to visit and get caught up with neighbors over deliciously catered hors d’oeuvres and full buffet dinner, hosted bar and live entertainment.  An invitation is available for download through this LINK.

Holiday of Hope: Toy and Gift Drive

The following information was submitted to us by ALSC Member Pattie Lenz and is addressed to everyone within our community.

As the Christmas Holiday nears our spirit of generosity tends to increase for many of us. It is during this time of year, we wish to extend an invitation for you to join us in helping financially strapped families from our area, by helping to make Christmas special for their children. The need is great and is growing each year.
Here are some examples of how to get involved: 
  • Purchase or provide money for a gift or two. Toys for children 0-11 or gift card ($25.00) for youth 12-18 from Target Stores, Forever 21, Sports Authority or Old Navy 
  • Organize a toy drive in your place of business
  • Volunteer to shop or assist parents with shopping
  • Refer a local family you know that needs help.
Please bring your toy, gift card and/or monetary donation to the Angle Lake Family Resource Center located at 4040 So. 188th Street by December 2nd.  They will be accepting donations between the hours of 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.  

For more information concerning the Holiday Of Hope, please contact Emily at the Angle lake Resource Center by phoning 206-816-3240 or by email at fre-vista@lcsnw.org. 

Club News and Invitations

This past week, the Shore Club completed the task of mailing out the Fall Newsletter and the Annual Member’s Christmas Party Invitations. If you are a member who is in active membership status or a recently expired member, both mailings should arrive to you per your preferred delivery method (either by way of snail mail or by email).

Else, if any of the following apply to you, please complete the ALSC Membership and Events Form, include any payment or special instruction and mail it in for assistance:
  • I am a current member but have not been receiving any Shore Club Mailings
  • I am a current member who would rather receive email instead of USPS mailings
  • I am a current member who has changed their email address
  • I am no longer current but would like to reinstate my membership 
If you have recently moved inside our Angle Lake boundaries and would like to consider becoming a member of the Shore Club, please contact our Welcoming Committee to schedule a visit to receive more information about Club Membership benefits and to receive a packet of valuable discounts available from local area businesses.

More Long Term Road Closures

The electronic message boards have been out for weeks, however for me, it didn't really register what the message was actually attempting to convey. I had just assumed it was alerting motorists that Levit’s Hill was closed and drivers should seek an alternative route. It wasn't until the new Llama Road * was opened that I realized the closure notice was announcing the renovations for Military Road that are scheduled to begin November 6th!  

Closure of Military Road between So. 176th and So. 166th Streets will be in effect 24-hours a day through the duration of the project (approximately 18 months). Only emergency services, postal service, solid waste collection, school bus pickups/drop-offs, deliveries and local traffic traveling to residences accessed off of Military Road South will be permitted. 

Similar to the earlier Military Road improvements that occurred between So. 176th and So. 186th, the goal is to improve traffic operations and increase the safety of motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The street improvements include widening the roadway to provide two general purpose lanes, a two-way left turn lane, bicycle lanes, curb, gutter and sidewalks. In addition, street lighting will be installed, new storm drainage infrastructure will be constructed, and the pavement will be resurfaced. The existing traffic signal at So. 176th Street will be modified and a new traffic signal will be added at So. 170th Street. Overhead utility lines will be relocated underground and poles will be removed. A Highline Water District water main will also be replaced. 

I was not living in the area when the improvements were made to Military Road between So. 176th Street and So. 186th Streets. I am anticipating the end result to be the same but I’m also assuming the headaches and hassles will no doubt be equal, as well. It’s going to be a disruptive inconvenience endured until April of 2015 for anyone who normally travels this route.

(Note: * "Llama Hill" is just our reference the road is officially labeled So. 178th Street).

Breaking News: Mail Theft

Reports are coming in from several residents on the south and east sides of the lake regarding mailbox break ins having occurred this morning (Thursday, October 31) along 198th Street and all down Military Road.  If you were a victim of this crime – please report it to the King County Sheriff via the following web site:


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 Inspector 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.

Local Ballot Drop Off Option Available

It's Election Time!
Unless you've been out of town for any substantial period of time, else you have been living in absolute isolation – you no doubt already have an awareness of the impending elections scheduled to conclude on Tuesday November 5th.
An all too common scene during election season!
If you've traveled virtually any major thoroughfare in SeaTac, you've undoubtedly passed a vast number of yard signs and billboards promoting a pro or con position on Proposition 1, certainly a good indication of the importance and impact of Proposition 1 on the area. With the amount of flyers, cards and letters being stuffed into personal mailboxes almost daily is further evidence of significance of this issue and the willingness of each side toward investing thousands of dollars to promote their position.

As an additional noteworthy sign of significance of the election in this area, the King County Department of Elections will locate and operate a temporary ballot drop-off van in the parking lot of SeaTac City Hall in effort to supply additional convenience to area voters and provide an opportunity for voters to return the mail ballots without incurring postage costs. The van will be staffed with County Election personnel and will collect the ballots from voters.

Ballot Drop-Off Vans will be available during the following dates and times: 
  • Saturday, November 2nd 10 AM – 5 PM
  • Monday, November 4th, 10 AM – 5 PM
  • Tuesday, November 5th, 10 AM – 8 PM (Election Day)
As of Saturday, October 26th, only 1,152 ballots have been returned from the 12,104 registered voters.  If you’re a SeaTac registered voter, please be sure to submit your ballot before 8 PM on Tuesday, November 5th.

Got Drugs?

The City of SeaTac is participating in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, encouraging all residents to locate expired or otherwise no longer needed medications in their homes and bring them to City Hall this Saturday October 26th, between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM for a responsible means of proper disposal.
With public participation at an all-time high after six prior events in three years, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its national, tribal, and community partners will hold a seventh National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at thousands of sites across America on Saturday the 26th.  These Take Back Days give the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs.

Prescription drugs that languish in medicine cabinets create a public health and safety concern because they are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.  Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high; almost twice as many Americans (6.8 million) currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those abusing cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, and inhalants combined, according to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Americans participating in DEA’s six previous Take-Back Days turned in nearly 2.8 million pounds—almost 1,409 tons—of prescription drugs, most recently at more than 5,800 sites operated by over 4,300 of DEA’s law enforcement partners.  Please consider taking advantage of this FREE service to rid your home of unnecessary prescription drugs.

Temporary Closure of South 188th Street

Construction Alert – 
Between the hours of 6 and 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, all lanes of South 188th Street will be closed at the intersection of 28th Avenue South in SeaTac. No east/west traffic will be permitted through the intersection for about four hours.  

Sound Transit contractor, PCL Civil Constructors, will close the road to safely move large construction equipment across the roadway.  Detour signs will be posted to help motorists and pedestrians navigate safely around the construction work zone and local business access on South 188th Street will be maintained.

The recommended detour is as follows:
  • (In blue, on the map) Eastbound traffic on South 188th Street will be detoured right on 28th Avenue South, left on South 192nd Street and left on International Boulevard to return to South 188th Street.
  • (In green, on the map) Westbound traffic on South 188th Street will be detoured left on International Boulevard, right onto South 192nd Street, right on 28th Avenue South to return to South 188th Street.

PLEASE NOTE: The potential is high for eastbound drivers familiar with the area to diverge from the recommended detour route and elect to continue eastbound on So 192nd Street, choosing 32nd or 37th Avenues to connect back with 188th street instead of the recommended International Blvd route. Therefore traffic in the North Angle Lake Neighborhoods may become unusually high during the closure.  

Levitz Hill Update

Gone for years now from the corner of So 178th Street and Southcenter Parkway sat the location of Levitz Furniture alongside the recently removed iconic landmark Levitz sign that was anchored high on the hillside above the old store location and now, the hill itself is witnessing the removal of the former 21 percent grade roadway which is being replaced with a less extreme slopped grade, the result of the So. 178th Street Realignment Project. Any familiar reference to Levitz will now only exist in memory.

Extremely favorable weather conditions have resulted in a reduced construction period and the new roadway is nearly complete. However before the new thoroughfare will open to general traffic the old South 178th Street will be closed from the period of September 30th through October 30th, for the final paving and utility tie-ins. Detour routes will be maintained around this area throughout the closure period. 


When complete the new roadway will intersect Segale Drive C and Southcenter Parkway and is scheduled to be open to traffic on or around November 1st, depending on suitable weather conditions just in time to support the extra Christmas volume coming in and out of this area.

Christmas Anticipation

Christmas Time.  For the faithful, Christmas is a joyous time to celebrate the birth of their savior and for the majority, it's a time to gather with friends and family. However at this particular time of year – Back to school is top of mind for most children, more so than making up this year’s Christmas wish list. If you were an elf in Santa’s workshop, the gift building business would not start to peak for several more weeks; but for Julie Hill, she’s already been heavily engaged in planning for the upcoming ALSC Members Only Christmas Party scheduled for December 7th this year. 

Julie has also been frantically searching for the ideal location to host the party this year. Unfortunately the leads this year have been few and considerations have been even fewer. Julie is still yet to find a member who’s willing to step up and commit to hosting the party this year.  If a member home is not secured by the end of October, the party will then need to be hosted at a rental location off lake which will result in an increase in expense and unfortunately will most likely create a rise in the admission price.


To host the party at your home all that is required is to have enough space to accommodate 80-100 people everything else is managed by the Christmas Party Team.  Volunteers provide all the necessary tables and chairs; set up; decorations; manage all the catering, refreshments and entertainment and also thoroughly clean up afterward – the only thing the host/hostess will need to provide is an open door and a warm welcome toward all the guests.

If you’re interested in having your home considered as the location for this year’s party, please contact Julie Hill at (206) 355-6460 or respond via email to anglelakesc@gmail.com

All That Is Needed Is A Cool, Cloudy Day!

In my opinion, this has certainly been an incredible summer, weather-wise. For as long as I can remember the sun has been brilliant, the air and water temps warm and the reasons to remain indoors working on a computer have been far too few. For me, great weather means pushing all other tasks and chores aside (like uploading photos to online albums!) and heading outdoors instead. I hope that you too had taken every advantage to get outside and enjoy everything the lake has to offer – swimming; diving; floating; boating; sailing; paddle boarding; water cycling; knee boarding; tanning; bonfire ‘ing; or whatever else it is you do to relax and have fun with your family and friends. 

I hope too that you’ve taken the opportunity to participate in the wonderfully entertaining spring and summer time events the Shore Club produces and offers to the community. With the cooler temperatures today (Saturday, Sept 14th) I've finally finished uploading the pictures taken during the Fishing Derby; 4th of July; and Tasty Tapas as captured by our club photographer Tani Rae Standridge. If you were unable to attend, click on the preceding links to witness the fun times you missed! If you were one of the fortunate to attend, return to reminisce about the great times we all had! If you have any additional photos to share, please feel free to email them to the club at anglelakesc@gmail.com.

Obscure Little Park Gains National Visibility

Michelle Janson, a reader of the Angle Lake Blog, shared with us a recent post discovered on a national web site, Red Tricycle. The mission of Red Tricycle is simple: to help parents have more fun with their kids. Their website Redtri.com is an awesome community of moms building and maintaining a curated list of the best weekend activities; recommending mom-tested local picks from playgrounds to date night spots with sweet insider tips on sales & deals on mom, baby & kids gear.

The following article was created by West Seattle author, Erin Cranston and published on RedTri.com.

See SeaTac from another Angle: Jet Over to Angle Lake Park
It’s an unfortunate fact for most of us urbanites–hear the name SeaTac and you’re envisioning impossible check-in lines, incessant jet noise and whiny kids after a long flight. But what if we told you SeaTac also equals hours of water fun, picnicking on rolling green hills and breathing in cool lake breezes? Literally a five-minute car ride from the airport, the city named after its biggest commodity also hosts a park complete with a scenic, swimmable lake, a shaded playground, green space ready for spreading a blanket, and the biggest, splashiest, most totally awesome spray park south of the Ship Canal. Grandma’s flight delayed? Forget the cellphone lot–check out Angle Lake Park for a kid-tastic new angle on SeaTac!

Park it at the Gate
View Looking East
From the road (International Boulevard to be exact), you can hardly tell there’s a park, much less a tree lined 102-acre lake, surrounded as it is by office parks and hotel chains. Angle Lake Park sits at the west end of the lake and has 10 acres of green grass and lots of room to kick a soccer ball, spread a picnic blanket, or relax (at least the parent version of it) in the shade of the many towering evergreen trees that dot the landscape. As you walk east towards the lake, don’t miss the view of Mount Rainier, popping unexpectedly out of the trees.

Insider Parking Tip: The parking lot fills quickly on nice days, but don’t despair! There is an overflow lot three driveways south of the park, a very short walk away. Just turn left out of the lot and look for the signs immediately to your left.

Splash Down
"King of All That Is" spray park.
Hands down we think this is the coolest spray park south of the Ship Canal. The central point of this King of All That Is spray park is a 50-gallon, bright red bowl–accurately named the Mega Splasher–that slowly, silently fills with water, 20 feet above teenagers and tots alike. As the bowl fills, watch the braver kiddos begin to line up under its splash zone, and then get ready for the tidal wave—the bowl slowly tips, and those carefully collected gallons of water wash down towards the sea of kid-manity, completely drenching the ones who dared to stay. It’s great entertainment for you and a cool thrill for the bravest of splashers.
Besides the awesomely entertaining Mega Splasher–the only one in Washington–there are smaller tipping bowls that also spin by kid power, a spray circle, spray guns and various gentle ground sprayers, including four “flowers” that send a sweet spray two feet in the air, and can be turned on with little toes. The spray area is surrounded by a low cement wall, perfect for parents to sip their iced lattes and steer clear of the sun. Bathrooms and water fountains are right next to the spray zone, just the right distance for the potty-trainers who just gotta go.

Insider Mega-Splash Zone Tip: Keep an eye on your tots and steer them away from the Mega Splasher—because of the amount of water, we suggest this area for kiddos 5 and up.

Cool Your Engines
Roped of Toddler Swim Area
Good news for your little fishies-the average summer temperature of Angle Lake is 66F, with temps getting into the mid-70s in August. Even better news –despite the warm temps, the water quality stays pretty darn good. Sold! Besides the tempting water temperature, your kiddos will love the sandy beach (don’t forget the bucket and shovel) and you will love the roped off toddler swim area (which does get muddy on busy days) and the lifeguards, on duty daily from 1-7pm through Labor Day. The lake is also great for your fisher-kids (it’s stocked with rainbow trout every year), and there is a boat launch for the sailors in your crew.

Insider Beach Tip: If you have some kind of shade–tent, umbrella or canopy–bring it! There isn’t one bit of shade by the lake and the sun can get pretty intense if your kid is trying out for Water Baby status.

Pilot Picnic
New Shelters Nestled Among The Firs
The City of SeaTac has recently (as in early August) completed a park renovation, which included adding a spray park, new landscaping, and two more large picnic shelters, each with two grills, available to rent by calling the SeaTac Community Center at 206-973-4680. There are also nine first come, first served picnic tables with grills dotted throughout the park, a large bandstand overlooking the lake, and acres of grass under majestic evergreens, all great places to park your picnic basket and make a day (or evening) of it. And if you’ve got a lil’ airplane buff, you’re likely to see an airliner making its way skyward while you munch.

Insider Picnic Tip: If you want a grill, get there when the park opens. It’s a popular place for birthdays and BBQs, especially on hot days!

Deploy the Slides
Playground Equipment for Those Who Wish to Stay Dry
Tucked in a shady spot on the north side of the park is a small playground surrounded by benches. The littlest ones in your crew will appreciate the toddler area with a covered slide, while older kids will line up for the small zipline and the whisper-ma-phones that would make Dr Seuss proud.


Editors Note: If you haven't taken the time yet to explore the upgrades and/or played in the spray zone - come and see the new amenities that are drawing others from miles away.  Summer will only be here for a few short weeks longer.  

Early Memories of Angle Lake

An Unauthorized Reprint from the Highline Historical Society Project: 

A Gladys Solberg Oral History

My family moved to Angle Lake in 1935. My father bought the property on the north end of Angle Lake from Noble Urch. The property was a long narrow lot, 40 feet width at the waterfront and 1000 feet in length. There was a house, which was partly built but there was no indoor plumbing, and lots of work ahead to complete the house. We had a well on the top of the hill behind our house and the water was piped down to our house. No water pump was needed, because the water ran by gravity. A few days after we moved into the house (October 30, 1935), we had some very cold weather and the water pipes froze! My poor dad had to get the pipes thawed out - not a very welcome start to our new home.

My father was a longshoreman, and he worked on the Seattle waterfront. It was very hard work in those days, as the ships were loaded by hand. My brother, Erling, was 16 years old and started attending Highline High School as a sophomore. I was 10 years old and started at Angle Lake Grade School in the 5th grade. The school was an old wooden building (built in 1887) with three classrooms and a basement lunchroom. Mr. Mansfield was the principal and he taught the 5th, 6th and 7th grades, all three in one room. Marion Stewart taught 1st and 2nd grades, and Mrs. Bullock taught 3rd and 4th grades. There was a bell tower on the school and a long rope hung down in our classroom. The bell would be rung for recess and lunch times. A new Angle Lake Grade School was built in 1936, close by the old school. I went to the new school for 6th and 7th grades. Harold Mackey was the new principal, and he was there for many years. He taught 6th and 7th grades. There were 27 students in the two grades. I went to Highline High School beginning in 8th grade. I graduated from Highline High School in 1943.

The Angle Lake Presbyterian Church was located on 192nd South and close to Des Moines Way. I went to Sunday School there, and also to a Young Peoples group. There were two truck garden farms along 192nd South. The DePiano and Manzo families had these farms. There was also a mushroom plant, located where the airport was built (1944). Mr. Kelley owned the mushroom plant. Mr. Pomeroy worked and managed the mushroom plant for Mr. Kelley. My brother worked at the plant occasionally, when he was going to high school.

The only store I remember along Highway 99 in the Angle Lake area was Malmberg's Store. It was a combination gas station and grocery store, located at 188th Street. In those days 188th South was a two-way gravel road. There was a gravel pit and county road equipment located where Tyee High School is now. They kept the gravel roads in the area graded and maintained. I walked to Angle Lake Grade School, which was about 1 mile distance. Other children walked even further to school. There were school buses for Highline High School. Our bus for the south end area traveled many miles, from Angle Lake to Des Moines and around, to pick up students. We were on the bus for about an hour to get to school. Seth Campbell was in charge of buses at Highline, and supervised their upkeep. Mr. Campbell lived at Angle Lake.


At the south end of Angle Lake there was a resort for swimming and picnics, called The Plunge. Robert and Eupha Reeploeg owned and managed the resort. It was very popular for swimming. There was a large slide, a trapeze and high dives. They rented out rowboats and canoes. There was a lunch counter selling hot dogs, hamburgers, pie and ice cream cones all day long. This was part of the large dance hall where dances were held Sunday evenings during the summer. I worked there part-time during the summer when I was in high school. On Sundays I often worked all day, and until midnight when the dance was over.

There were several fruit trees on our property; apples, pear, plum and cherry trees. The former owner, Mr. Urch, planted the trees. My mother and father planted strawberry and raspberry plants. They also planted a large vegetable garden each year. Mother canned some of the fruit and vegetables. They also rented a frozen-food locker and froze some of the berries and vegetables. The lockers were located at Carlson's Market, on Highway 99 and 158th South, where Lewis and Clark Movie Theatre was later located.

I was fortunate to grow up living on Angle Lake. In the summer we could enjoy swimming and boating. And many winters in the 1930's and 1940's it was cold enough for the lake to freeze over for ice skating.

Editors Note: As a child I would love to sit and listen to stories as told by my elders. This interest in oral history has continued into my adulthood where I am particularly drawn toward the stories of the earlier years in my community, listening to the way things were ‘back in their day’… the story above turns out to include a particular item of interest to me personally with the mention of Seth Campbell who lived on Angle Lake. It just so happens that I currently occupy the cabin that he and his wife Katherine (Kitty) used to call home way back then. I invite anyone with family lineage dating back to the early days of Angle Lake to capture, preserve and freely share your stories here through our community blog.  

Touch A Truck

Is there a child in your family that has an enormous love for big trucks and large vehicles? If so, then we encourage you to check out the City of SeaTac Touch-A-Truck event. Kids of all ages will love to climb, run around, sit in and even honk horns of many types of trucks and vehicles. 

Parents, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles are also invited to come touch and explore the emergency vehicles, construction and dump trucks that serve the SeaTac community and meet the people who operate them. Vehicles from Fire, Police, Parks & Recreation and Public Works Departments, along with others from local companies will be on-site. Display booths and refreshments will be also available to enjoy.

When: Saturday, August 24th
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Place: Tyee Educational Complex 

This event is free and fun for all ages. Hoses and water will be provided. Bring your own bucket and wash mitt. OK, kidding about that last part however this is a FREE event.

Tapaless On Angle Lake?!

We would not dare think of it!
Last year during Tapas we were visited by Gilligan and his fellow castaways; Cleopatra came back from the dead to join us with her minions; and we even had a Tropical Island populated with Pacific Islanders float onto the scene – one can only imagine who, or what, might appear this year!


Tasty Tapas returns again to the waters of Angle Lake this Saturday August 17th. The cost is $25 a head and is open to all active status Shore Club Members and their invited guests. If you’re not familiar, Tapas is a reference for small dishes or appetizers typically served with drinks. The Shore Club however elects to have them served at four individual shoreline locations that are accessed only by boat.

Each of four groups is assigned to an individual location initially where guests will be served appetizers and treated to a choice of refreshments then rotate to the next station every 45 minutes. Witnessing the rush of boats crisscrossing each other to get to the next station is almost as much fun as visiting with familiar friends and neighbors and meeting new guests. At 7:00 pm all the groups make their final port of call for dessert and coffee and perhaps a nightcap or two as well.  

2013 Tapas Hosts
Station #1:  Jim and Robyn Todd
Station #2:  Bonnie and Marjorie Warner
Station #3:  Helen Svenson
Station #4:  Nick and Rosalyn Zilkowski  
Station #5:  Pickets, Densmores and Langenbachs

Scheduled Dockings
4:00  First Station
4:45  Second Station (first rotation)
5:30  Third Station (second rotation)
6:15  Fourth Station (third rotation)
7:00  Dessert Station (fourth rotation)
8:30 Water taxis to depart dessert station (or later if the hosts approve and guest want to stay)

Group Leaders
Guests will be assigned to any one of the following:
Group #1 Steve Beck
Group #2 Bruce Bryant
Group #3 Lonnie Goulet
Group #4 Jonathan Standridge
For last minute assignments or changes, please contact Kathy Bryant for assistance.

Notice of Cancelation

While many firmly believe that the Horse-N-Around Race and Family Picnic event is among the best activities hosted by the ALSC, after 3 years, it became apparent that the event was just not drawing the spectator crowd necessary to sustain the event from a financial aspect.  

Feedback from the teams that have competed in the races indicate that we have been successful at tweaking the competitiveness and challenge aspect of the event to making it very appealing to competitors.  However more is needed to successfully encourage a greater number of families and spectators to participate in the event.

The members of the board have thoughtfully discussed the future of this event and what could be done to increase spectator attendance. However more time is needed to brainstorm and form ideas that will increase the turn out for this event. Therefore the ALSC Board has voted to cancel the Horse-N-Around Race for this year in consideration of introducing a retooled event for next.

We welcome any comments on this subject.

More Road Closures

As an update to our earlier alert, this construction activity has been postponed a few days and will now go into effect on Tuesday, August 13. Sound Transit’s contractor PCL Civil Constructors, will close the northbound lanes of 28th Ave South between “little 28th Avenue South” and South 192nd Street west of the Angle Lake Neighborhoods.

Unlike the previous announcement, this closure will remain in effect for the next three years. Northbound traffic will be routed alongside southbound traffic to share two lanes on 28th Avenue South. All east/west movements will be maintained through existing intersections.

Access to driveways along 28th Avenue South will be provided by temporary access cuts through the median. Early construction activity will include utility relocation, and then move into construction of columns and elevated trackway.


For more information on this activity, or if you would like to receive the most current information about the South 200th Link Extension, please visit the Project website: www.soundtransit.org/S200thstreet  or contact Jennifer Lemus at 206-398-5314.

South 200th Street Temporary Closure

Sound Transit Community Outreach had just sent us notice that their contractor, PCL Civil Constructors will close all lanes on South 200th Street at the intersection of ‘little 28th Avenue South on Saturday, August 3rd from 10 am until 2 pm.  This closure is necessary to safely relocate large construction equipment across the street to the new construction site on the north side.  

The recommended detour route is to use 28th Ave South and South 192nd streets to navigate around the closure.  Refer to the Construction Alert for route map and additional details.

National Night Out, Tuesday August 6th

On Tuesday, August 6, 2013, neighborhood residents throughout SeaTac will take a stand and give neighborhood crime and drugs a going away party!


Each year on the first Tuesday in August, 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 and police.  Some neighborhoods host special events such as block parties, cookouts, visits from police, and anti-crime rallies. This is all in the spirit of getting to know neighbors and local police, in order to prevent crime in the community.

National Night Out is designed to:
  • Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
  • Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts
  • Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
  • Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
National Night Out also showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight to build a safer community.

The Angle Lake Shore Club encourages all neighbors within our community to consider participating in some way in this activity. For more information about this annual event, please visit the National Night Out Website or contact Community Crime Prevention Officer Rich Rowe at 206.973.4904.

Third Annual Clean Sweep Saturday!

Members from the Angle Lake Community will gather at the public park boat launch at 9 am to collect trash bags, tools and instructions before setting out for the third annual Angle Lake Clean Sweep Volunteer Event!


DATE: Saturday, July 27th
EVENT: 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM
VOLUNTEER LUNCH AND RAFFLE PRIZE DRAWING
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING

The City of SeaTac Parks and Recreation Department will provide garbage bags and distribute trash collection tools to the group to assist in their effort to scour the public spaces on the southwest end of the lake to rid the area of the litter. If you travel this end of the lake frequently you may have noticed the positive impact the team had on the area last year however the since the area is often used by the public who does not seem to understand the concept of 'pack it in/pack it out' but who instead prefer to throw their empty cans, bottle and trash into the brush and/or lake - the area does not stay clean for long. Hence we'll be returning to this area to collect the new trash that has accumulated and seek to expand our efforts now to the dock and swimming area of the public park. We anticipate this will be a very big job, however the more hands that turn out to help the less burdensome this will be on each of us individually. We are also expecting to have resources expand out into the public right of way of our local streets to collect trash and debris along the roads.

Volunteers will be split up into groups where walkers will be assigned to concentrate on picking up litter on shore and roadsides, while waders and snorkelers will be committed to clearing the shallow water of trash and the adventurous individuals decked out in full scuba gear will gather debris from the deep!

Although our waders, snorkelers and divers will concentrate their effort mainly on the SW end of the lake, it is not intended to discourage residents from taking their own initiative in collecting litter from their area and bringing it to the park collection point prior to 12:00 noon where the City will assist in disposing of it. Please contact Judy Williams if you are aware of or need assistance with any large items (dock materials excluded).

Immediately following the event, participants will gather at the Angle Lake Manor Beach where the Angle Lake Shore Club will serve them lunch as a display of appreciation for their volunteer efforts. Additional prizes will be awarded through random drawing – must be present to win.

This is a good opportunity to get outdoors to enjoy some nice weather, teaming up with your neighbors in doing great things for the community and receiving a free lunch and possibly win a valuable prize!

One Disappointment After Another

Needless to say, many of our lake area neighbors expressed disappointment after learning the life of one of our resident American Bald Eagles was suddenly shorted due to an unknown cause of death. This disappointment was followed by further dismay when yet another Bald Eagle was discovered deceased in another area of the Lake.

We all shared high hope in turning both eagles over to the US Fish & Wildlife Services that their forensic investigations would reveal the true cause of death resulting in positive corrective actions be made to help ensure no further similar occurrence would be repeated.

Unfortunately, it is with further disappointment that I share the following letter received from Special Agent Amanda Cook regarding the studies inconclusive results:


July 23, 2013
Salutation,

I received the forensic lab final exam report last week and have been finishing my report. The results were inconclusive.  The cause of death could not be definitively determined from the analyses conducted.  Thin body condition was noted in both birds was suggestive of chronic problems such as lack of food access or environmental contaminants.  

Crop and stomach contents were negative for toxic substances including organophosphates, carbamates, pentobarbital and strychnine. Also, the birds showed no clinical signs of toxicity caused by anticoagulant rodenticides. The lab also tested for lead, with negative results.  

The lab cannot test for every toxic substance, but they did test for the most commonly used ones. The key that we may have been missing in this case was the rodent carcass that was discarded.  

The lab worked very hard and conducted numerous test. Sorry the results were not more conclusive.

Amanda Crook
U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service 
Office of Law Enforcement
Special Agent
14852 NE 95th Street
Redmond, WA  98052

Yays and Boos for the 4th of July

Not my intent to rehash negative remarks about the late start to the fireworks show or the issues that prevented our contractor from producing a well timed, contiguous performance but I’d like to bring up a couple different items for community awareness. 


Let’s start with the negative so we can get that out of the way. Each year the Shore Club Board receives a fair portion of email on the subject over residents and members who disregard the law and continue to set off their own personal fireworks throughout the day and into the evening. I may be mistaken but from my viewpoint this seemed to have been one of the quietest Independence Day’s I’ve witnessed on the lake. Perhaps it is because of a down economy, or that people are relying more on the public display than setting off their own, or perhaps it is because of the presence of law enforcement patrolling the shoreline by boat and gaining a reputation now on issuing citations and/or confiscating illegal fireworks – or perhaps it’s a combination of all of this that has caused the change but regardless, the email still expresses concern over the activity of personal fireworks being discharged. To that we can only say that the Shore Club is a social club not a governing authority. We do encourage our members to contribute to the public display instead of spending their money on private fireworks… but ultimately we leave the responsibility of policing to city law enforcement and officials.

This year we had also received new complaints about the use of ‘Sky Lanterns’ and the concern for the fire hazard they present when getting caught in the tall trees ringing Angle Lake, with especially heightened concern since it has been so dry lately.  Although not considered a firework a recent internet search reveals that the City of Des Moines voted to ban sky lanterns just this year.  We have to agree, while beautiful to look at, the risk of fire is just too great and we encourage everyone to discontinue any further use of these devices.

And now for the positive news – again a special shout out to all of our volunteers who make celebrating the 4th of July on Angle Lake one of the best rewards that life can offer, and to think it happens year after year to boot!  We’ll reserve name recognition for the fall newsletter but I did want to reinforce that we couldn’t have hosted the Bud Jones Memorial Run or the Swimming/Boating Races, or the Kiddies Parade, or the Home/Dock Decoration Contests or even the fireworks show without the tremendous hours and effort each of our volunteers put into these events.  Also giving recognition to those who traveled door to door to homes in the area collecting fireworks donations – to all we say “THANK YOU” your efforts are truly appreciated.
   
And finally, we’d like to recognize and express appreciation to the owners and managers of the Angle Lake Mobile Home Park for providing the Shore Club Fireworks Contractors use their property at no charge as a staging area to prepare for the big show. With the Coluccio property no longer available for our use, available land that is accessible yet isolated is nearly non-existent so we really appreciate their offer for us to use their land to help ensure that our show is assemble in a safe environment. 

We hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July – and hope you’ll join us in our next upcoming ALSC events: 
  • Saturday, July 27th - Angle Lake Clean Sweep
  • Saturday, August 17th - Floating Tapas 

Continue visiting the Blog for further details.