On a clear day...

Here are a couple of links to some great pictures taken by Mark Qvale from his radio controlled airplane flying over the lake on Father's day and this morning, June 28th. Thanks for sharing Mark and Karen!

Taken Fathers Day
Taken June 28th

Boat parade info:

This year the Mayor, CAO and several council members will, once again, be joining us for the boat parade. For their float we’ve chosen a Thunderbirds theme for the Mayor’s boat in celebration of our new team in town. Please meet at Michelle McDowell’s dock at 8:40 and line up and stay behind the Thunderbird’s boats in a straight line. After assembling please remain in that line for one full turn around the lake. We need to be close to the front of every dock so people can truly see all of your hard work and close in to the park so Mark Hendrickson can do commentary on the boats in the parade. If there are people not participating, please have them out on the docks as the Thunderbirds have some gifts to toss. After returning to Michelle McDowell’s dock please remain so the medals can be given out to the winning boats and to cheer on your neighbors who have won.

Fireworks funding:

Thanks to all of you who have sent in your LMCA dues and fireworks money. It is very much appreciated! To those of you who haven’t…it isn’t too late! Please print the attached form and join us in supporting a safe and exciting 4th of July.

We’ve had some concerns about noise lately prompting one LMCA member to send this:

The lake is a good neighbor. She is quiet before 9AM and after 6PM.

Many residents are up and out of the house before 6:30 AM for work. To sleep in, have a quiet cup of coffee or enjoy a peaceful dinner is an earned luxury. Summer is here and some of us will have guests or take vacation time and stay home. Please be good neighbors and be conscientious about when you or your workers are making noises that the neighbors can hear.

Membership Drive

To make it easier on everyone we thought it best to combine our membership drive with the fireworks donation. That way you can send just one payment and be in good stand for another year. If you’ve already sent your membership and contributions thank you. To renew ones membership with LMCA, dues are just $30.00 for households that abut the lake ($20.00 if you are 65 or older) and $20.00 for those living within the lakes watershed.

As a member in good standing, you will receive all copies of the newsletter and a voice on the concerns of the lake and surrounding area. Please complete and return the remittance form with your check payable to LMCA. This will allow us to update our records more accurately. Also, if you have new neighbors, email Kathy Curtis their names and address via kcurtis33@comcast.net so we can double-check that we have them on our mailing list. Also, print out a copy of this newsletter and hand it to your new neighbor and invite them to get involved.

Name ___________________________________________
Address ___________________________________________
Phone ___________________________________________
Email ___________________________________________
Membership:
New ___Renew ___Lakefront (30.00) _____ Senior (20.00) ____
New ___Renew ___Associate (20.00) _____
4th of July Celebration Donation ________
Total =======

Mail to:
LMCA
PO Box 7578
Covington, WA 98042-0044

Donations Needed

It took all our 4th of July funds to cover last year’s annual show. This year the account balance begins at a mighty $15.93. We need everyone’s help if we are going to make this year’s display a reality. As in past years, we need to collect $6,000 from the area residents. That means we would need $42.00 from every household if all 145 homes contributed. Unfortunately not everyone does. If you’re planning a large party, ask your attendees to pitch in too. Every little bit helps, and we retain our long standing tradition of an outstanding fireworks show on the lake. Please mail your contribution, along with your membership dues to our PO Box 7578, Covington, WA 98042.

Corporate Donors Needed

The fireworks last year were amazing and we hope our community residents will generously donate once again to bring Lake Meridian another fabulous display for this July Fourth celebration. Many of you may not realize that our community must raise half of the money to put on the display. The City of Kent funds the other half. We are hoping that you will not only write out a personal check, but if you know business owners in Kent, you might be willing to ask for their support, too. We have a form letter we can provide to you, and we would really appreciate any size donations from the community. If you need a copy of the letter asking for a fireworks donation, please contact Ellyn Ricker at 253-631-2021.

Our Aging Belle

The board assessed the structural condition of our beloved Meridian Belle and determined she is unsound. Unfortunately, she requires much more than cosmetic work. Her decking and railings have rotted to the point of being unsafe and she is in bad need of a thorough paint job. She also needs a stronger motor. To repair her properly, the Belle would need to be pulled from the water and we are not sure she will hold up structurally; also, none of the members has a trailer large enough for this task. The time and expense involved in restoring the Belle isn’t feasible for the board. Sadly, after weighing all options, we have decided the best course of action will be to dismantle her. We will save what we can in case another Belle is built some day, and dispose of the rest of her pieces. None of us is happy with this decision and we didn’t make it lightly. We will all miss seeing her lead the boat parade on the 4th of July. The Belle won’t be dismantled until summer. We will discuss the state of her condition at the General Membership meeting. If anyone has the time, money and desire to consider the enormous task of restoring her, we would love to hear from you.

Meridian has High PCB Levels

Lake Meridian was reported as having high levels of PCBs in a report by the Department of Ecology titled Washington State Toxics Monitoring Program: Contaminants in Fish Tissue from Freshwater Environments in 2006 which was published in February of 2008 and can be viewed at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0803002.html.

The manufacture of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB's) was outlawed in the United States by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1977 following evidence that PCBs cause cancer and other harmful health effects. Since the banning, new evidence suggests PCBs also disrupt the endocrine system and lower intelligence levels of children exposed in the womb. Nursing infants are also at risk. During lactation, maternal fat stores provide about 60 percent of the fat that goes into breast milk, whereas 30 percent comes from mother's diet and ten percent is newly synthesized in the breast. By virtue of their ability to lactate therefore, mammalian females are
able to excrete the toxins that have accumulated in their body fat. PCBs are introduced into mother’s milk in this way.

This leaves us with two questions “Where are they coming from?” and “How do we clean them up?”. Some have speculated that increased development in the area has stirred up old soils and that the PCBs have remained in those soils and are now, through run off through yards and from the holding ponds, flowing into Lake Meridian. Others have suggested that pesticides used on lakeside yards are the culprit. These would have to be illegal pesticides created before the 1977 ban. Some say the PCBs have always been in the lake.

The shoreline master program which is being revised this year by the City of Kent can state the cleanup of the Lake as a goal but this is not law. The City will, however, be looking at ways to improve the water quality in the lake. The lower zoning approved last year may have been the first step in achieving healthier water in Lake Meridian.

Erv Rausch Passes

Ervin Rausch was born on April 20, 1919 and passed away on Thursday, April 10th. Erv was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota and was an avid pilot, beginning in high school. Erv flew in the Army Air Corps, retired as a Captain from United Airlines, flew as a corporate pilot for Puget Power and kept a plane at Crest Air Park for many years – encouraging his sons to fly, too.

Erv married Sally in 1948 and they moved to Lake Meridian in 1963. Erv loved boating, hunting, fishing, scuba diving and sailing. Erv and Sally were charter members of the Lake Shore Club (pre LMCA) and participated in the “Booze Cruises” on the Meridian Belle. Erv and Sally loved to travel and visited Europe, Asia, China, Mexico and numerous other spots.

Erv will be greatly missed by all who knew him as he was a kind, gentle, funny and generous man. In the neighborhood he collected four legged pals with his doggy bones, children with his ready smile and large candy bars, and adults with his great cocktails and conversations. Erv is survived by his wife, Sally, and three sons Mike, Bill, Tom and their families.

LMCA Annual Picnic

Since last years turnout was a success the LMCA picnic will again take place on the City of Kent’s National night out. The date this year will be Tuesday, August 5th, 6:30 PM at Michelle McDowell's, 25860 136th Avenue SE. Please join us and city officials to celebrate this evening.

Will the Fireworks Go On?

LMCA has two issues that must be addressed before the fireworks can go on. Adding to the monetary issue we always face is the inability to find dock space where the barges
can be loaded. Before the Brothertons moved they made the loading of the fireworks docks a part of their yearly celebration. Last year Susan Stroomer graciously offered up her dock. We
appreciated her taking her turn and heard from some neighbors that watching the process of the fireworks being loaded was as exciting as the fireworks themselves. This year we are looking for someone else to take their turn. The best scenario is someone with plenty of dock space and a steep enough drop off to easily get the docks started on the journey to the center of the lake.

The floating docks are towed and tied to the dock a week or so before the 4th. The tubes for the
fireworks are loaded a few days before the 4th and the actual charges are not loaded until the morning of the 4th. The Pyros need a way to walk down the side of the house to the docks and the ability to access a bathroom. The second issue, M-O-N-E-Y, has become a more and more difficult one as the years go by. Each home would have to contribute $42.00 to pay last year’s fireworks bill. With higher costs this would cover a slightly smaller show.

Unfortunately, not every home contributes to the show. Many have large yard parties, enjoy the
show but do not donate. These two issues have left us asking if we can continue to provide a fireworks show year after year. Things you can do to help are:
1. Volunteer to collect fireworks donations in your neighborhood
and the neighborhood off the lake behind you.
2. Talk to business owners you know and ask if they would be interested in sponsoring the fireworks show. With a large enough donation the City of Kent might be willing to name the show after them and include their name in all written materials.
3. Put out a donation can at your party. Explain to the people attending that the fireworks are paid for with the donation of Lake Meridian residents. Collect those donations and turn them in for next year.

If you would like to volunteer to collect fireworks donations or to have the fireworks dock at your house this year please contact Michelle McDowell at 253-639-0124.