O.L.A.E. Newsletter
Volume No. 11

Issue No. 01

O.L.A.E.’s gift to Edmonds
Veterans Plaza a go!
We have just received notice that we will be allowed toput some sort of “dog/plaque” feature in the new
Edmonds Veterans’ Plaza. The Plaza was approved
by City Council last year in June and the designconcept was approved by City Council in the January
20, 2015 meeting after public comment.
A copy of the concept is available if you would like andif you email o.l.a.e@comcast.net we will send out thePDF. It is a stunningly beautiful concept with fivemarbled walls, representing each arm of the Military,along the north ends of the Public Safety building witha waterfall separating each arm.
There will be square blocks for folks to sit on and on
the South side where the current military dedication
can be found, there will be a garden and a sitting area.
We have yet to be part of the design process so weare uncertain what we can design (dog sitting, dog
laying, tombstone, plaque, etc.).
There is a great article in National Geographic dated
June 2014 about “Hero Dogs – A Soldiers BestFriend”. The article discusses how dogs have been
involved with the military dating back to the days ofBenjamin Franklin who suggested the use of dogs forfighting against the Indians. In 1835, during theSecond Seminole War, reportedly the U.S. Militaryused bloodhounds to track Native Americans. Dogs
were said to guard soldiers during the Civil War andboth sides used dogs during World War I and II. In
Vietnam, an estimated 4,000 dogs were employed tolead jungle patrols. At the height of the wars inAfghanistan, it was reported that more than 2,500
dogs were in service. Currently, more than 500
canines are actively deployed.
Dogs of course, have been a fascination of humans
for year and much of it boils down to the dog’s
extraordinary sense of smell. A dog’s nose is up to
100,000 more acute than a human’s sense of smell.
The selflessness of the loyal dog and their ability towant to hunt makes these bonds wonders of nature. It
has also been proven that dogs also help Military
Veterans’’ returning from war.
So, we are EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE that we will be
REQUESTING DONATIONS for this very special

Date: Spring 2015

Published Quarterly

project. Many of us who have visited Veteran’sMemorial Plazas all over America have never seen
canines honored so we are pleased to hopefully be
the first in the nation. All donations are tax-deductible.
Visit www.olae.org for all the details about our
wonderful group.

Serious Planning of Marina
Beach and Off-Leash!!!!
This is an exciting time for the City of Edmonds as amaster plan design was adopted and approved by CityCouncil last year. The Parks Department is working
with the firm Walker Macy, ltd., to complete a Masterplanning process for Marina Beach Park.
Why is this plan needed? Through the City’s Parks,
Recreation and Open Space Plan as well as theStrategic Action Plan, the restoration of the Edmonds
Marsh has been highlighted as a high priority by theCitizens of Edmonds. The best way to accomplish therestoration of the Marsh, which would include bringing
back the salmon habitat in the Marsh, the day-lightingof Willow Creek, would have to occur. There havebeen lots of environmental, feasibility, and stormwaterstudies that can be found at the City’s website
http://www.edmonds.gov and one can look for things
like the PROS plan under the parks and recreation
department or the stormwater study under public
works in the governmental sections. One can alsoemail diane.buckshnis@edmonds.wa.gov as she canprovide you the links or talk to you about it.
The best way to see a current update is to go here:
http://edmondswa.swagit.com/play/04072015-1291/#0
Click on ITEM #6 to watch the current presentation.
To get a greater view of the Options click on this link
http://www.edmondswa.gov/agendas.html and look for
Item #6 and click on the second item Site Context.
The City has held many stakeholder meetings(O.L.A.E.’s representatives were Julie Nealey, Ann
Aldrich and Diane Buckshnis) and one open house
regarding the Marina Beach Master Plan. Two more
open houses will occur and those dates are at theconclusion of this piece. Currently there are three
options as when adding the required buffers to Option
A and B, both areas of Marina Beach were totally
disrupted and in the case of Option A, the dog park
will be gone. We will try and get this option andinformation in out bulletin board in the next week.

To all you dog park lovers – pay attention as
Option A’s conceptual rendition WILL TOTALLYREMOVE THE DOG PARK because of the 100 footbuffers that are needed for grant funding.
Option B’s rendition cuts right in the middle of Marina
Beach and this path is longer and apparently,
according to environmentalist, is better for salmon
recovery as it meanders up to the Marsh. Because ofthe buffers, this rendition will definitely impact thequality of park use at Marina Beach.
Option C – Given recent public input regarding thebuffers this option was created and has been reviewed
by the planning board and it takes the creek rightdown the middle of the area where the old pipeline
use to be. This seems to be the most equitable for all
current users of Marina Beach as well as the OffLeash Area; having said that, concern was voiced by
two Council Members regarding parking and theremoval of parking because of this option.
BUT
PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IS A PROCESS!
thTwo additional open houses will occur on May 6 fromth6-7:30 and the second is June 17 same time andboth are at the Library’s Plaza Meeting room. These
open house meetings are very important as there aresome vocal citizens that feel we need to relocate thedog park to a place where the dogs do not haveaccess to the Puget Sound. So, if you love this park, it
is important that if you make your voice to be heard toeither come to the open houses, or come to any
Council Meeting and speak your opinion. Council
Meetings are very Tuesday at 7:00 and audience
comments are generally right in the beginning or email
Council Members.
Remember – this is a normal
governmental process and everyone opinions.

Business Matching Funds
Special thanks (again) to Dr. Alan MacGill and Dr.
Janiine Babcock for donating to O.L.A.E. and allowing
the Gates Foundation to match their Yappie Clubdonation. This is a wonderful benefit and O.L.A.E. will
gladly fill out the paperwork if you have a corporationthat matches your donations.

About US
O.L.A.E. (Off-Leash Area - Edmonds) became a nonprofit organization in August 2005, to fulfill our mission
to steward and maintain the off-leash dog area inEdmonds. We always need volunteers and financial
donors. Please visit www.olae.org to learn more about
us and our mission.

Become a Member
There are a lot of good reasons to become a member.
Member dues go towards promoting and improving
our dog park. Members will receive a subscription to
our quarterly newsletter which provides information on
upcoming events, news and educational features. All
donated funds are TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
Off Leash Area Edmonds (O.L.A.E.)
P.O. Box 1562
Edmonds WA 98020 - 1562
EIN #16-1730771
Please check one: □ New Member □ Renewal
Please print clearly:
Name: _______________________________
Address: ______________________________
City, State, Zip: _________________________
Evening Phone: _________________________
Email:_________________________________
Dog(s) names: __________________________Can we email you the newsletter: □ Yes
Contact me to help volunteer:□ Yes
Annual Membership□$ 10 Individual□$ 20 Family□$ 50 Sassy Supporter□$100 Barking Lounge(free advertising on O.L.A.E. website).
□$200 Yappie Club Level(free advertising on O.L.A.E. website & newsletter).
Make check payable to O.L.A.E. Thanks!
Current Yappie Club Sponsors:
David and Heather Revell in loving memory of Riley
All the Best Pet Care (www.allthepetcare.com)
Bailey and Banjo (baileyandbanjo.com)
Blue Collar Dog House (www.bluecollardoghouse.com)
Edmonds Westgate Vet Hospital (www.evwh.com)
Celtic Cowboys (www.ccbbq.com)
Rebecca Lucan (http://www.rebeccaluncan.com)
FIND USPawsitive Points (http://www.pawsitivepoints.com/)
ONJolene Otter from Quilts from the Heart
Stella and Floyds (www.stellanfloyds.com)
Wash’nWag’n Mobile Pet Service
Dr. Alan MacGill and Janiine Babcock
Alicia Brattin
Jennifer Lill and Eric Johnson.
TailorPetServices Pet Services LLC
Note: O.L.A.E. is not responsible for any illness or injury incurred duringpark visit. For information, please visit www.olae.org and look under rules
and responsibilities.