Freshwater Shark Experiment

The Washington State Department of Ecology released a press announcement Friday, reporting that Angle Lake in SeaTac has been selected to host "an in-depth study into the breeding and habits of several species of fresh-water sharks." Two hundred sharks are to be released into the lake including blue sharks, hammerheads, and a few great whites. The experiment is designed to determine whether the sharks can survive the significant fluctuation in temperature experienced between the cold winter and hot summer climate of the South Puget Sound Region. The study is being sponsored by a federal government grant of $1.3 million to determine the effects that climate change will have on the sharks. 

A representative from the National Biological Foundation was quoted as saying that there would probably be a noticeable decline in the populations of other fish in the lake because "the sharks will eat about 20 pounds of fish each per day, more as they get older." City of SeaTac officials were said to have protested the experiment, afraid of the hazard it would pose to fishermen and swimmers, but their complaints have been ignored by the federal government. Furthermore, it’s stated that fishermen will be forbidden from catching the sharks. Anyone caught in possession of a shark will be arrested and face up to five days in jail and/or be charged with a $250 fine.

The report concluded by again quoting the National Biological Foundation representative, who said that "We can't be responsible for people if they are attacked. Besides, anyone foolish enough to swim in Angle Lake probably deserves to be eaten anyway."

For further details about the study, please visit the National Biological Foundation Web Site at: nsf.gov/dir/index

(Postscript:  This is an April Fools Joke)

Hope Heart Institute Cares about Women in SeaTac with this Special Offering

It is incredible that this class is offered free to women in our area. I recommend it with all my heart! Pun intended.

I was invited to partake in this 2 hour class held once a week for nine weeks. I was stunned by how much I didn't know about women's health and how to spot and prevent common threats like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and more. They even taught us the new CPR method which is much easier than the one I learned years ago.

I signed up as I care for my aging Mother in Law and thought I should be better able to help her, but I found that this class is going to help me make better choices and be a better-informed friend in need.

If you are available to attend or care about women friends who might be able to, this class is a must. They even provide free blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and Body Mass Index screenings. And they don't charge a dime! In fact, they even offer snacks. Healthy ones, of course!

The next 9-week session begins April 28th. Feel free to call the Global to Local office where the class is held for more information, Mary Kathleen 206-890-9676. They even offer classes in Spanish beginning March 30th and Somali beginning April 29th.

The generosity and knowledge of the teachers will warm your heart, and have you marveling that such valuable help is offered freely in our own little city.

by Tani Rae

Easter Bunny - RSVP by Friday, March 25th!

Click Here to View the PHOTOS!

Easter Sunday, March 27th between the hours 9:00 and 11:00 AM, the Easter Bunny will visit Angle Lake, hoping from dock to dock with his basket full of eggs ready to hand out treats to any eagerly awaiting children and their families.

If you have small children at home and/or will have grandchildren visiting on Easter Sunday and would like to ensure a special visit from the Easter Bunny, please contact Rosalyn Rombauer no later than Friday, March 25th to request a stop. Send email to ros.rombauer@gmail.com providing your name, contact phone number, address (post number) and indicate of how many children are expected to be present.

Also Note: If you have a gift basket that you wish to have personally presented to your child by the Easter Bunny, please have these baskets delivered to Ros before the deadline of Friday, March 25th as well.

Hope you have a most pleasant Spring!

Join the Local Farm Fresh Food Movement right here at Angle Lake!

Take a look at Farmigo! You may be as thrilled as 27 of your neighbors who have already jumped on board. It is a new concept in grocery shopping that launched in Seattle in October of 2015. Check out the story on KING 5 NBC.

What is Farmigo? It is an online farmers market that delivers right to Angle Lake!  The food is fresh, local and organic. The produce couldn’t be fresher as it picked the day before delivery. 

Here's how it works: you order online from dozens of local farmers, fishers, bakers, and food makers. Then Farmigo delivers your order to our community pickup site near Angle Lake Park.

It's fresh, delicious, and you order exactly what you want each week.

It’s easy to try:

1. Join our food community by clicking https://www.farmigo.com/market/anglelake-seatac.
2. Browse the online marketplace of delicious produce, fruit, meat, fish, dairy and pantry goods.
3. Place your order every week by midnight Sunday. 
4. There are no membership fees or minimum order requirements.

Pick up your order each Wednesday after 5:00 pm. Special pickup times are possible. It’s kind of like a party, with neighbors greeting each other, swapping cooking tips and sharing the taste tests your host offers each week.

Here is an incentive to get you started. 

Prices are already 15% less than grocery organics, but you can get 20% off your first order by entering the coupon code LOCAL20 at checkout.

This is a great way to help lower the carbon footprint and bring farm fresh food to the table without having to drive miles to a PCC or Farmers Market. 

Text or call Tani Rae 206-300-5740, if you have questions.

What Will Happen to Fire Station 45?

Help decide the fate of the (soon to be retired) 200th St Fire Station

By Jim Todd

As many of you know our local fire crew is set to move into a brand new station just east of the 200th St fire station. The city is trying to decide what to do with the Old station when it becomes empty. Should it be sold and demolished to make room for new development? Should it be sold for a new use? Should it be retained and used in some new way for residents? These are some of the questions being asked at City Hall.

I have talked with Mayor Forschler and others at the city and the mayor expresses some interest in finding a creative new use for the property. He suggested that it could be helpful to hold a brainstorming session and try to come up with a use that our citizens could get behind. We've started to solicit ideas and want to get together and talk about what could be done. So far I've heard 3 basic ideas. One would be to use it as a senior drop in center open to all. Perhaps grab a cup of coffee, join a card game or chat with friends. Another is some form of art space. Perhaps art studios for the space or combining studios with a gallery and or taproom to look at art while grabbing a beer. The 3rd is really interesting and different. The Society for Creative Anachronism (the group into recreating the middle ages) would love to build a castle with medieval shops on the lower floor and living spaces above.

The point is that it is time to put on your thinking cap and suggesting a use that would give the area a little fun and excitement! This spot is near the center of the Angle Lake Station Area and is designated for uses that are transit oriented. That means it should be a desirable destination for people to access without a car. Yes there still will be cars and an 1100 spot parking garage next to the station. The long range plan is to foster development into some sort of an urban village of residences, businesses and amenities that is vibrant. The other factor is that we live in a city full of hotels and lacking interesting things for the many of hotel guests to do. If whatever ends up at the station ends up with a tourism focus there could be development money available from hotel taxes.

So bring ideas! If you'd like to be involved in the discussion please contact Jim Todd at jimmijett@gmail.com. We hope to hold a brainstorming session in the next couple weeks.