Don't Look Directly at the Banana Sun!

A solar eclipse is one of nature’s grandest spectacles. By following these simple rules, you can safely enjoy the view and be rewarded with memories to last a lifetime. Looking directly at the sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse (“totality”), when the moon entirely blocks the sun’s bright face, which will happen only within the narrow path of totality. 

Angle Lake is NOT in the path of totality. The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun (also referred to as the banana sun) is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses”.

Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun; they transmit thousands of times too much sunlight. Look for the ISO 12312-2 stamp that indicates the item is compliant with the international safety standard for such products.

• Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched or damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.
• Always supervise children using solar filters.
• Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright sun. After looking at the sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the sun.
• Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.
• Similarly, do not look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses as the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury.
• Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device. Note that solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics.
• Outside the path of totality, you must always use a safe solar filter to view the sun directly.
• If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.

Note: If your eclipse glasses or viewers are compliant with the ISO 12312-2 safety standard, you may look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through them for as long as you wish. Furthermore, if the filters aren't scratched, punctured, or torn, you may reuse them indefinitely. Some glasses/viewers are printed with warnings stating that you shouldn't look through them for more than 3 minutes at a time and that you should discard them if they are more than 3 years old. Such warnings are outdated and do not apply to eclipse viewers compliant with the ISO 12312-2 standard adopted in 2015.

Toodaloo Tapas?

This year’s ALSC Tasty Tapas Float Around could be the last one ever. 

The event has been going on for eight consecutive years now and has always been very well attended. Locating stations however, has gotten more and more difficult. Organizer Jim Todd invests numerous hours each year reaching out to neighbors in an effort to secure host locations.  This year’s event was at risk at having to be canceled had it not been for one last neighbor and one ALSC Board Member agreeing to host at the very last minute. 

If you have not yet signed up for the Tasty Tapas Float Around, our late summer lakeside main event, you must act now to reserve a spot. Open to ALSC Members Only and their invited guests. Cost is $30 per person.

Tasty Tapas – Saturday, August 12th. 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM

Click the image above to download the Order Form

During years prior, Tapas had been attended by notable guests including Gilligan and his fellow castaways; Cleopatra returned from the dead to join us with her minions; a group of gondoliers gathered to give out goodies to arriving guests; and even a Tropical Island populated with Pacific Islanders floated onto the scene – one can only imagine who, or what, might attend this year!

Tasty Tapas has proven to be an evening full of fun, food, and a great opportunity to meet with neighbors and make new friends. Participants will be assigned to start at one of four dining stations set up around the lake for guests to visit only by boat. Each of the four locations will present a themed selection of appetizers and liquid libations to tickle your taste buds. Throughout the evening at set intervals, groups will receive a signal to depart for another station until all four stations have been visited. Be sure to pace yourself and save room for the grand finale fifth station where all participants will come together to enjoy a bonfire, dessert and coffee where all can mingle.

You are encouraged to take your own boat around the course (No drinking and driving please!) For those who do not have a boat, cannot find a ride or require assistance, there will be pontoon boats acting as taxis to ferry tasters from stations to station. If you require a pickup please contact Sandy Goulet at BSonthelake_at_gmail.com.