April 2020

Connections

FR

ISSAQUAH HIGHL ANDS

EE

!

By Community, for Community April 2020

NEW! Neighbor to Neighbor Directory How You Can Help Neighbors in Need Ideas for Safe Family Fun in the Highlands #wegotthisissaquah Photo by Shubha Tirumale, 2015.

W H AT ’ S I N S I D E ?

5 Highlands Council 7 Highlands Youth (HY) 8 IHCA Operations & Board Elections 10 IHCA 2020-21 Budget 12 Wish You Were Here 13 Volunteer of the Month 14, 19 What's Happening 15 Feature: Stronger Together

20 21 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 Census News 29 City News Merchant of the Month 30 The Smart Home 31 Get Involved Ask Kari Home Organization Holidays in the Highlands Issaquah Highlands Travels

School Spotlight Paying for Public School Emergency Preparedness Directory

ECRWSS POSTAL PATRON 2550 NE Park Drive Issaquah, WA 98029

PERMIT NO. 83 ISSAQUAH, WA U.S. POSTAGE PAID PRSRT STD

2

April 2020

Issaquah Highlands Connections

1% LISTING FEE! FULL SERVICE FOR 1%

WHY PAY MORE AND RECEIVE LESS? YOUR BEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS HERE! LOW INVENTORY & HIGH DEMAND = THE RETURN OF A HOT MARKET! SOLD FOR $1,795,000

SOLD FOR $1,120,000

SOLD FOR $1,080,000 (5k Above)

Summit Park 5 bed / 4.25 bath / 4,655 SF seetheproperty.com/319373

Pine Crest 3 bed / 2.5 bath / 3,040 SF seetheproperty.com/317639

Magnolia 3 bed / 2.5 bath / 2,793 SF seetheproperty.com/326181

SOLD FOR $2,479,000

SOLD FOR $1,100,000 (Full Price)

SOLD FOR $985,000

Harrison Drive 4 bed / 3.5 bath / 4,760SF seetheproperty.com/287460

Ichijo - Sun Ridge 4 bed / 2.75 bath / 2,890 SF seetheproperty.com/325100

Vista Park 4 bed / 2.5 bath / 2,365 SF seetheproperty.com/326096

SOLD FOR $1,065,000

SOLD FOR $1,150,000 (Full Price)

LISTED FOR $390,517 (Pending)

LISTED FOR $675,000

28th Avenue 4 bed / 2.5 bath / 2,922 SF seetheproperty.com/335198

Chesapeake Landing 4 bed / 2.5 bath / 3,040 SF seetheproperty.com/331337

Ingram Street 3 bed / 2 bath / 1,106 SF seetheproperty.com/337435

Hickory Lane 3 bed / 2.5 bath / 1,590 SF seetheproperty.com/340370

SOLD FOR $656,000 (56k Above)

Sold 56k Above Listing Price!

Park Drive

3 bed / 2 bath / 1,540 SF seetheproperty.com/339413 SOLD FOR $685,000 (35k Above)

Sold 35k Above Listing Price!

The Brownstones 3 bed / 2.75 bath / 1,467 SF seetheproperty.com/339366

RED CARPET SERVICE

CHOOSE YOUR AGENT BASED ON RATINGS & METRICS

Listing Preparation Services

MATT JENSEN

•

Pre-inspection prior to listing

•

Free staging consultation #1 staging services Free AHS home warranty Dynamic marketing for highest listing exposure Negotiation strategist Contract technician Highest quality:  Photography  Videography  Aerial photography

• •

• • • •

Example: www.seetheproperty.com/335058

MATT JENSEN, CNE Branch Manager | Owner

206-909-8200

matt@mattjensenre.com IssaquahHighlandsRE.com

•

Most number of homes sold in Issaquah Highlands by a single agent.

•

•

#1 Agent in Issaquah Highlands 2008-2019 consecutively.

Highest percentage of homes sold over list price.

•

Prominent Issaquah Highlands office location.

• •

Owner at The Agency Northwest.

16 year Issaquah Highlands resident.

CALL 206-909-8200 TODAY FOR A FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION & CUSTOMIZED SELLING STRATEGY!

THE SMARTER WAY TO SELL YOUR HOME!

Issaquah Highlands Connections

April 2020

EDITOR’S NOTE This Connections issue is like so many others we’ve produced, focused on our mission to bring people together. We pride ourselves in how we fill this paper with stories about our wonderful community groups, events and all the activities that bring us together. Of course, you see today’s irony: we’re now dealing with ‘physical distancing’ and a stay-at-home order.

We got this Issaquah Highlands! In keeping with our mission, Connections news continues to present unique and creative ways to help this community stick together. We are physically apart during the challenge facing Issaquah Highlands and the world, but we are working around it. For instance, in this issue of Connections we bring you valuable ideas and solutions designed to help keep our community together.

Editor Nina practices physical distancing by working from home, using online meeting software with coworkers.

The inside section, “Stronger Together,” describes opportunities for having fun with your family and for managing the challenges of this difficult time, such as the Neighbor to Neighbor Service Directory, as well as advice and ideas from your Highlands neighbors and local businesses. And it’s a section you can remove and save.

Thank you to our community volunteer writers, the IHCA, HFN, all the Highlands Council team for the great content inside these pages. I hope it will help sustain you, dear reader, as you weather this storm. When these clouds clear, I hope I will see all of you at Blakely Hall or another venue in the Highlands. I look forward to shaking your hands again!

Attentive, personalized, & gentle dental care Dr. Ray Besharati DDS DMD General and Cosmetic Dentistry

We partner with you to attain your dental health goals using leading-edge treatments that improve lives and smiles.

Call us to schedule your appointment today!

(425) 996-0457

About the Cover: In 2015, Highlands resident and volunteer photographer, Shubha Tirumale, took this photo at Village Green Park from atop a fire truck ladder. Highlands Council staged this “Peace Mob” to help the community through another difficult time.

Nina Milligan | Editor of Connections, Highlands Council Communications Manager Highlands Council is the publisher of Connections, producer of community-wide events such as Highlands Day, owner and manager of Blakely Hall, liaison with the greater community. The mission of Highlands Council, and therefore, Connections News, is “to foster the development of a vibrant and caring community committed to service, diversity, and well-being.”

Marcel Dore, State Farm Agent 2405 NE Park Drive Issaquah Highlands, WA 98029 425-391-0200 Marcel@MarcelsAgents.com

2520 NE Park Drive, Suite C Issaquah Highlands 98029 (425) 996-0457 RayBesharati.com

And I am your neighbor!

Issaquah Highlands is my home and the location of my business. As we share a community, I understand your insurance needs and would like to help you get the coverage you need.

3

4

April 2020

FREE, NOW ONLINE! Find some calm during this otherwise stressful time!

Everyone is welcome.

Fridays 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Join the video chat using the Zoom Meeting link provided at issaquahhighlands.com/events

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Free graduation announcements in the June issue of Connections.

Submissions due by May 8.

(Issaquah Highlands residents only.)

Submit at issaquahhighlands.com/got-a-grad

Issaquah Highlands Connections

April 2020

5

HIGHLANDS COUNCIL

COVID-19 and Our Community in Crisis School closures, physical distancing, and service interruptions have and will continue to create hardships for our neighbors in Issaquah Highlands in the coming days, weeks, and possibly months. We know many of you are looking for ways to help in big and small

by Christy Garrard ways. Highlands Council has Executive Director, created a directory of neighbor Highlands Council and to neighbor services specific Dahlia Park Resident to Issaquah Highlands. If you need assistance with childcare, errands, or other personal services during this challenging time, or you are willing to make yourself available to a neighbor in need, visit issaquahhighlands.com/neighbor-toneighbor.

Following the proclamation from the governor of Washington prohibiting large public gatherings and placing restrictions on smaller gatherings, Highlands Council needed to cancel or postpone a variety of community gatherings and programming. The “Rootedness” art exhibition featured in the March issue of Connections, along with its companion programming, is rescheduled for the end of May. Many of our community groups are finding virtual ways to connect.

See the What's Happening section of this issue for more information or issaquahhighlands.com/events.

The Highlands Youth (HY) Advisory Board Flashlight Egg Hunt is canceled this month. The HY was also planning a May 2 Parents Night Out. This, too, is canceled.

Sadly, we made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Highlands Day festival. Yes, it is not until the end of August,

Sign up to help neighbors in crisis or find help at issaquahhighlands.com/neighbor-to-neighbor. Background photo by Shubha Tirumale, 2015.

but the financial investment and bulk of production planning happens in the spring. Given the uncertainty of the length of time the coronavirus will be among us, and the reality that the necessary sponsorship money from local businesses is not available due to this crisis, our board of trustees and staff made the decision to shift the focus of our efforts this year.

We are optimistic that summer will bring wellness and a return to normalcy to our area. Highlands Council has an exciting lineup of smaller, fun, summertime events, including the return of Neighborhood Pop-Up Parties, the new monthly Food Truck Fridays community dinner series, Bingo Night, the Fourth of July Picnic in Village Green Park, and Open Mic in Village Green Park, just to name a few.

Until then, please support each other. Sign up to help a neighbor in need as part of our new Neighbor to Neighbor Directory. Follow our official social media, subscribe to the weekly community e-letter, and visit our website, issaquahhighlands.com, regularly for updates regarding the impact of COVID-19 in our community and changes to the community social calendar.

Stay well,

Christy Garrard

Executive Director, Highlands Council

6

April 2020

Issaquah Highlands Connections

What's more fun than having a party at a candy store??

Try something new for your next party!

Candy Mache hosts candy parties for kids and adults Go to

www.candymache.com for more info.

Parties include – candy games, candy art projects, special treats, shaved ice, goodie boxes & a coupon for a free shaved ice!

Book now, space fills up quickly!

Stop by or call 425-394-4480 to reserve your date 1836 25th Ave. NE, Issaquah, WA 98029

(Issaquah Highlands Next to Zeek's – turn south on 25th Ave NE)

(425) 394-4480

For the latest news - follow us on Instagram & Facebook www.candymache.com

Bulk Candy • Packaged Candy • Drop-In Craft Time • Shaved Ice • Italian Soda's • Custom Candy Gifts (Gumball Necklaces, Candy Corsages) • Specialty Chocolates • Candy Art

Current circumstances have necessitated the reimagining of our annual Nourish Every Mind events. In lieu of our in-person community gatherings, we invite you to engage with us over the coming weeks via digital platforms to learn how we are working to provide resources that will support our students now and when they return to school.

While we will miss the energy that comes from bringing our community together, our focus, now and always, is to support the students and families in our community.

Your support is crucial to our ability to continue our work. You generously fuel our ability to remain agile, which allows us to be most effective in providing what is needed for our kids. Please like our Facebook page (facebook.com/ISFDN) and consider making a gift today at isfdn.org/donate.

www.isfdn.org

Issaquah Highlands Connections

April 2020

7

HIGHLANDS COUNCIL

New Graphic Designer and Social Media Coordinator Highlands Council is excited to announce Katie Cannon has joined our team as Graphic Designer and Social Media Coordinator.

In January, Highlands Council posted an open position and welcomed applications for

by Nina Milligan Graphic Designer and Social Communications Manager, Media Coordinator. Graphic Highlands Council and design professionals from Starpoint Resident around the Eastside applied.

New Blakely Hall Specialist at Highlands Council

After a thoughtful selection process, Highlands Council hired Issaquah resident, Katie Cannon. Katie brings many years of not only graphic design experience, but experience at top media organizations including MSNBC and NBC. Katie started work at Highlands Council on March 2, joining the communications team in Blakely Hall.

Katie’s primary focus will be to design marketing material for the various programs and events produced by Highlands Council. It is a challenging task to create imagery that appeals to many different people in such a diverse community. These designs must not only be compelling, they must also scale from small thumbnails and Connections ads, to large street banners and kiosks. Katie is already showing her talents in many of the ads and images you will see in this issue of Connections!

by Lindsey Pinkston, Community Program Manager and Wisteria Park Resident Katie Cannon, Highlands Council's new Graphic Designer and Social Media Coordinator, joined the team in March.

the community with up-to-date information on news and goings on in Issaquah Highlands.

Katie is an 11-year resident of Issaquah and lives with her husband, Doug, and 12-year-old son, Rowan. They are active in the community and normally can be seen at Rowan’s sporting events and dining around town.

We are excited to announce that Kim Ngo was promoted to Blakely Hall Specialist. Kim started with Highlands Council in May 2019 as an administrative assistant and does an outstanding job of supporting hall renters and staff. In her new role, she will focus on all things related to Blakely Hall, including rental contracts, facility maintenance, and overall guest experience.

Congratulations and thank you, Kim!

You will also see Katie’s work online where she will manage Issaquah Highlands’ official social media channels, providing

HIGHLANDS YOUTH - HY

Celebrating 50 Years of Earth Day A Brief History and a Message for the Future

Today, we are constantly bombarded by environmental campaigns, natural disasters, and political turmoil surrounding the massive issue of climate change. However, as we prepare to mark 50 years of Earth Day this year, we must remind ourselves of where the largest secular observance in the world found its roots.

by Jonah Foss HY Board Co-President, IHS Junior, and Manchester Court Resident Earth Day founder, Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, came up with the idea for a national day to focus on the environment after witnessing an oil spill in Santa Barbara, California in 1969. Recruiting like-minded Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey as his cochair, and Harvard graduate Dennis Hayes as his national coordinator, the trio built and organized the foundation for the first Earth Day. In conjunction with the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970, the first Earth Day was monumental in its rare bipartisan political agreement, enlisting support from people of all walks of life.

The movement for Earth Day went global in 141 countries in 1990 and went on to add 51 more countries by the year 2000.

(Read more about the history of Earth Day at earthday.org/ history.)

Like the first Earth Day, our community has a diverse population of people who are grounded in creating a

Highlands Youth (HY) Board left to right: Vernika Jain, Anika Mehta, Sophia Hashmey, Highlands Council Executive Director Christy Garrard, Jonah Foss, Joseph Bone Mazak, and Zoe Parsons.

difference. Grassroots movements and climate strikes should inspire us to change our habits, however insignificant they may seem, in order to motivate generations to confront what should be one of our world’s foremost issues.

With the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, let us remind ourselves and others around us of these words spoken by Dr. Jane Goodall: “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.”

8

April 2020

Issaquah Highlands Connections

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

A Message from the IHCA Executive Director In keeping with state policies during the coronavirus emergency, the following changes are in place with the Issaquah Highlands Community Association. The safety of our community and our team is our No. 1 priority.

by Sarah Hoey IHCA Executive Director

The IHCA office at 2520 Park Drive, Suite B, is currently closed. IHCA office employees will be available during normal business hours via email and phone. In-office work will be limited to administration tasks that cannot be handled remotely.

Based on the governor’s recent decision to issue the “stay at home” order, IHCA landscaping and maintenance services will be suspended until further notice. General landscaping and maintenance are considered non-essential services

according to this new order. Pooper Trooper services will continue to empty the community dog waste receptacles/trash and other essential vendors are on call for emergencies as needed.

In coordination with the City of Issaquah to reinforce physical distancing rules and hopefully lessen the spread of the COVID-19 virus, IHCA parks were closed starting March 23. Please note that the trails throughout the community remain open at this time. We ask your help as community members to do your part in preventing the spread of this deadly virus. Please go to issaquahwa.gov for additional COVID-19 updates and actions taken by the mayor.

The IHCA team is still available remotely during normal business hours and at the 24-hour emergency phone line (425-223-8887).

These decisions do not come lightly, and we will do everything in our power to return to normal services as soon

IHCA 2020 Board Elections Candidate Statement of Interest Forms Due by May 15

by Sarah Hoey, IHCA Executive Director Statement of interest forms for Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) Board of Directors candidacy will be available online and by mail for districts 2, 4, and 6 the last week of April. Candidates for this year’s district elections will be considered for the official ballot if they submit their statement of interest forms by May 15.

Election results will be announced at the IHCA annual meeting on June 24.

The IHCA will use VoteHOANow.com again this year as an online voting service. Please keep an eye out for additional voting instructions in June, when the official ballots go live for your voting districts. Voting will open the first week of June and close on June 19.

 The IHCA board district map can be found at issaquahhighlands.com/learn/issaquahhighlands-community-association-ihca/ihcaboard-of-directors.

Your vote counts! The June Connections issue will have full details on each candidate to assist you in the voting process.

Highlighting IHCA Board Districts Jim Young , Board District 5 Jim Young has lived in Issaquah Highlands for over 14 years and has served the past eight years on the IHCA Board of Directors. Currently, Jim serves as the Board President.

The IHCA Board of Directors is comprised of Issaquah Highlands homeowners from seven board districts who have been elected to the board by Issaquah Highlands homeowners during annual board elections. District 5 has 555 homes (pink in the board district map below) which includes Crofton

at Village Green, Concord Commons, Manchester Court, Starpoint, Division 28, Cottages, Division 46, Outlook, Altyerre, Laurel Crest, Roanoke Ridge, and Valais Hudson neighborhoods.

Thank you, Jim, for serving your community!

Have a question for your representative? Email the board at any time at ihcaboard@ihcommunity.org.

as possible. We thank you for your continued patience during this time.

IHCA meetings will be held remotely through April.

Additional information about remote meetings will be forthcoming for committee and board members.

We will require that all architectural modification requests be submitted electronically for processing until further notice.

Please email us directly to request a work order or with any other questions you may have, and we will assist you promptly (contact Blair at blair.k@ihcommunity.org).

I will continue to prioritize the community's needs and the staff's safety as we move forward. We wish you all good health as we move through these difficult times.

Sincerely,

Sarah Hoey

IHCA Executive Director

Ask the IHCA RV Street Parking / Home Security System Permits  There has been a recreational trailer parked in front of my house a few times now for a week. I read through the Issaquah Highlands rules and regulations and saw that recreational vehicle parking is not allowed. This latest time, it seems to be staying since it has its levelers down and wheel chocks in place. I am almost certain I have seen this trailer in another place in the Highlands. Is there any enforcement of this violation? It's an eyesore and taking up valuable parking space.

Parking on any public roadway is enforced by the City of Issaquah. Illegally parked or abandoned vehicles can be submitted online to the city at their “Report a Concern” tracker, issaquahwa.gov/requesttracker.aspx.

 As a homeowner, am I required by the IHCA to get a permit if I want to use a home security company for my home security monitoring? If yes, where do I find the application?

If no, can I just go ahead and hire a company like Ring, ADT, or SimplySafe, to have one installed?

We do not require you to get permission, however the City of Issaquah and Eastside Fire and Rescue may require you to register and obtain a permit. Please go to their website at issaquahwa.gov.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

April 2020

9

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Landscape & Irrigation Updates

Maintaining the "Green" in our Living Green ® Community Landscape: Our landscape contractors are on a regular schedule to visit each site they maintain. We will mow lawn areas on a weekly basis until it gets hot later this summer and grass growth slows down.

Crews may do some edging where plants have started to

by Lyle Dickey encroach on paths. They may IHCA Landscape Manager apply fertilizer to turf and bed areas to maintain the health and vitality of the turf and a variety of plant species.

You may see crews spot-spraying weeds in various areas to control them. We are a “green” community, so only green pesticides are used, unless otherwise approved by the IHCA. Most of the weed control is done manually by our crews.

This is only achieved through consistent maintenance by our contractors and job performance monitoring by IHCA staff.

The Highlands is looking very good as I drive around doing my odd jobs and managing our contractors and in-house staff. I am very proud of all the people behind the scenes who make this place beautiful. Thank you all very much!

such as our parks, trails, and several ponds where you can sit and view wildlife, or just have some peace and quiet while practicing physical distancing.

Irrigation: The irrigation staff was very busy last month and will be busy most of this month turning on the many irrigation systems in our care. At this point, we are only checking for leaks and making repairs where problems were spotted in the start-up evaluation. It usually takes about six weeks to finish all the systems the IHCA maintains and cares for. For the time being, the systems are all shut off.

ARC TIP OF THE MONTH

Exterior House Painting Approval No application or ARC review is required for repainting any part of the house with the original or existing color scheme. Prior ARC approval is required for new colors or any exterior color changes for houses, fences, decks, trim, doors, and roofs. Color chips (samples) must be submitted with the application along with a detailed description of where the colors are to be applied (trim, body and doors, etc.) and a photo of the home. The ARC Committee will consider the color schemes of surrounding homes in the immediate neighborhood to determine the consistency of the selected colors.

The start-up repairs should be done in time to turn everything on for the summer months. During the summer, crews will do the daily repairs on items they see malfunction during start-up, or those reported to the IHCA. This usually keeps the crew busy all summer. But if no repairs need to be done, there are always upgrades and improvements needed.

Well, that’s it for me. Soon it will be time to go play in the sprinklers! (I love that I can say that.)

Please see issaquahhighlands.com/covid-19 for any changes to landscape and maintenance schedules resulting from the coronavirus emergency.

Please get out and enjoy what the Highlands has to offer,

RULES REMINDER

Paint Standards: Paint of both trim (fascia boards, railings, and doors) and body (siding) must be maintained on a regular basis to avoid degradation in the form of peeling, cracked, missing, see-through or sun-faded paint. Repainting must take place when 15% of the total area demonstrates degradation.

Fencing Standards: All fencing material must be maintained on a regular basis to avoid degradation due to rotting posts, ground settlement (leaning of panels or posts), and damage caused by natural elements.

• Gates must latch.

• Painting standards apply to fencing material, whether stained or painted.

LEARN MORE!

These homeowners do a great job keeping their lawn edged and tidy in preparation for spring growth!

These tips and rules reminders are only a subset of IHCA guidelines and regulations. For complete standards, visit our website, issaquahhighlands.com/ learn/issaquah-highlands-community-associationihca. Questions? Call the IHCA at (425) 427-9257.

10

April 2020

Issaquah Highlands Connections

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Issaquah Highlands Community Association 2020-21 Master Budget Dear Issaquah Highlands Homeowners: The 2020-21 Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) master annual assessment will remain at $936 as of July 1, 2020, when ratified.

The IHCA Finance Committee (comprised of IHCA Board Treasurer Dan Vradenburg, Bosedevarahatti Shivakumar, Jason Bone, Alex Garrard, Melody Greene, John Knappenberger, Michael Petty, and David Ngai) and IHCA board members reviewed the 2020-21 budget prepared by the IHCA Staff. The IHCA is a non-profit organization and our budget is developed according to Washington State Law and IHCA Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&R’s).

2020-21 IHCA BUDGET Professional Services 2%

Office Rent 2%

2019-20 Assessment 2020-21 Assessment

Semi-Annual

$936 $936

Monthly

$468 $468

$78 $78

Legal 1%

Income:

$ 3,543,811

Expenses:

Landscape, Utilities, and Operations $ 1,995,000

Community Management and Administration $ 1,038,851 Accounting $ 209,960 Total Expenses $ 3,243,811

Capital Reserves Contribution

$

Landscape & Utilities 44%

Taxes 1%

Administration 18% Reserve Contribution 8% Accounting 6%

2020-21 Budget Overview

Contingency 6%

Insurance 2%

The Finance Committee works throughout the year analyzing monthly financials, including a yearly forecast. The committee started preparing and reviewing the 2020-21 operating budget at their meeting in January. The draft 2020-21 operating and reserve budgets were presented to and approved by the IHCA Board of Directors at the February 19, 2020 board meeting.

Annual

Bad Debt 1%

Repairs & Maintenance 13%

Landscape & Utilities Accounting Community Management

Repairs & Maintenance Reserve Contribution Contingency

300,000

Income includes annual base assessments, late fees, shared-costs income, non-member income, interest, and other income. The unit count estimated for the 2020-21 budget is 3,459, including the addition of the Westridge North single-family homes, the latest Polygon/Taylor Morrison Homes Corporation residential development.

The operating expenses increased $52,000 (2%) over the last year’s budget. The increase is partially offset through an increase in base assessment revenue from additional unit absorption of Westridge. The reserve contribution increased slightly and provides the community with a strong financial position to fund future major projects.

IHCA 2020-21 Budget Ratification Meeting Wednesday, April 22 at 5:30 p.m.

See issaquahhighlands.com/events for details The IHCA 2020-21 budget ratification meeting will be held remotely on April 22 at 5:30 p.m. There is no increase in assessments in the 20/21 IHCA master budget. Please see the Issaquah Highlands website calendar for instructions, which will be posted one week prior to the meeting. Due to the coronavirus, in-person attendance at IHCA meetings will not be available until further notice.

Per the revised code of Washington (RCW) and the IHCA governing documents, a quorum is not required at the meeting for the budget to be ratified. The budget will be ratified unless 75% of the entire membership votes via email or USPS to reject the IHCA budget approved by the IHCA Board of Directors.

If you wish to reject the IHCA 20/21 master budget, please email your rejection vote directly to budget@ihcommunity.org, or mail your reject vote via USPS to 2520 Park Drive Suite B, Issaquah ,WA 98029. Your email or USPS vote must indicate your name, address, and written rejection or 'no' vote.

UPS, FedEx and DHL delivers are not allowed at this time due to our office closures.

All votes via email and USPS must be received no later than April 21, 2020 by 5 p.m.

Notable Expenses Increases: • Landscape Contract: Vendor rate increases and Westridge added.

• Landscape/Maintenance Wages/Benefits: Additional staffing of one full-time employee between Landscaping and Maintenance; need to increase rates to salary survey just conducted to remain competitive; 10% medical insurance increase.

• Holiday Lighting: Absorbed all costs for Village Green large tree lighting.

• General Liability Insurance: Added new equipment and vehicles.

• Employee Benefits: Benefits plan increased for all employees.

• Contingency Expense: Adjustment for full buildout completion per five-year projection.

Notable Expenses Decreases: • Office Rent: Administration moved to smaller location, decreasing rent by 69%.

• Admin Wages: Staff reorganization.

• Maintenance Shop: Estimated operating costs decreased based on actuals.

• Computer/Professional Services: Overall reduction based on actuals.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Annual Assessments Worker's Comp - Operations Medical Insurance - Operations 401K Expense - Operations Ops Travel, Meals, & Training Maint - Communications,Computer,Misc Contra-Dedicated Operations TOTAL REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE

2019-20 2019-20 2020-21 Ratified Year-End Forecast Approved Budget Budget $936 $936 6,050 6,050 7,000 29,000 29,000 26,100 4,050 4,050 4,900 3,100 3,100 3,100 1,000 1,000 1,100 (28,000) (28,000) (28,000) 408,074 408,074 440,800

April 2020

11

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Issaquah Highlands 2020-21 Approved Budget For the Fiscal Year July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 Issaquah Highlands 2020-21 Approvedof Budget IHCA Board Directors Approved February 19, 2020 For the Fiscal Year July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 IHCA Board of Directors Approved February 19, 2020

Annual Assessments

2019-20 Ratified Budget $936

2019-20

2020-21

Year-End Forecast Approved Budget $936

OPERATING FUND INCOME Late Fees / NSF Fee & Fine Income Escrow & Resale Cert Fees Collection Legal Fee Income Interest Income Owner Base Assessments Management Fees - High Street Center Operations Income - Non-members Other Income Shared Cost - High Street Center Shared Costs Agreements Income TOTAL ASSOCIATION INCOME

3,000 15,000 30,000 18,000 35,000 3,172,104 28,500 7,000 1,255 5,000 163,474 3,478,333

2,750 15,001 30,000 18,150 37,173 3,238,092 29,354 6,417 1,255 164,154 5,000 3,547,345

3,000 15,000 30,000 18,000 36,000 3,237,624 29,355 500 1,255 5,000 168,077 3,543,811

EXPENSES LANDSCAPE & UTILITIES Utilities - Storm Water Fees Garbage Electric - Streetlights, Feature Electric Landscape - Contract Monthly Landscape - Non-contract (goats) Irrigation-Water Irrig Elec Park & Supply Pumps Irrig Maint & Repairs Landscape Supplies Landscape Equipment Safety Equip & Supplies Equipment Rental Irrig Non-Potable Maint/Mgmnt Dedicated Staff Wages - Landscape Payroll Taxes - Landscape Worker's Comp - Landscape Medical Insurance - Landscape 401K Expense - Landscape Landscape Travel, Meals, & Training Staff Uniforms & Equip Landscape Communications,Computer,Misc Contra-Dedicated Landscape TOTAL LANDSCAPE & UTILITIES

25,000 26,000 41,000 411,459 95,000 164,800 27,000 25,000 115,000 11,000 10,000 12,000 6,000 380,000 30,000 21,500 77,000 8,330 6,100 16,000 2,500 (43,000) 1,467,689

25,000 26,000 41,000 426,713 95,000 164,800 27,000 25,000 115,000 11,000 10,000 12,000 6,000 380,293 30,000 21,500 77,000 8,330 6,100 11,680 2,500 (43,000) 1,478,918

25,000 26,000 41,000 431,000 98,000 164,800 27,000 25,000 115,000 11,000 10,000 12,000 6,000 423,500 34,000 22,500 90,300 10,500 6,100 16,000 2,500 (43,000) 1,554,200

REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE Pet Waste Service Supplies Holiday Lighting - Contract Signs Expense, Maint. & Repair Maintenance & Repair Professional Services-Park Inspections Parks/Trails Lighting Maint. & Repair Maintenance Supplies Landscape - Fleet Equip, Repair & Maint Landscape Shop Utilities & Other Drain Line Cleaning Dedicated Staff Wages - Operations Annual Assessments Payroll Taxes - Operation Annual Assessments Worker's Comp - Operations Worker's Comp - Operations Medical InsuranceBUDGET - Operations 20-21 APPROVED Master for Connections Medical Insurance - Operations 401K Expense - Operations 401K Expense - Operations Ops Travel, Meals, & Training Ops Travel, Meals, & Training Maint - Communications,Computer,Misc Maint - Communications,Computer,Misc Contra-Dedicated Operations Contra-Dedicated Operations TOTAL REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE TOTAL REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE

50,000 50,000 50,000 23,000 23,000 30,000 3,500 3,500 4,000 22,100 22,100 37,100 4,600 4,600 4,600 6,000 6,000 6,000 31,000 31,000 43,400 40,000 40,000 40,000 2019-20 2019-20 2020-21 48,974 48,974 17,500 2019-20 2019-20 2020-21 Ratified15,000 15,000 Approved Budget 15,000 Ratified Year-End Forecast Year-End Forecast Approved Budget Budget 138,000 138,000 166,000 Budget $936 10,700 $936 13,000 10,700 $936 $936 6,050 6,050 7,000 6,050 6,050 7,000 29,000 26,100 129,000 29,000 29,000 26,100 4,050 4,050 4,900 4,050 4,050 4,900 3,100 3,100 3,100 3,100 3,100 3,100 1,000 1,000 1,100 1,000 1,000 1,100 (28,000) (28,000) (28,000) (28,000) (28,000) (28,000) 408,074 408,074 440,800 408,074 408,074 440,800

ACCOUNTING ACCOUNTING Dedicated Staff Wages-Accounting Dedicated Staff Wages-Accounting Payroll Taxes - Accounting Payroll Taxes - Accounting Worker's Comp - Accounting Worker's Comp - Accounting Medical Insurance - Accounting Medical Insurance - Accounting 401K Expense - Accounting 401K Expense - Accounting Contra-Dedicated Accounting Contra-Dedicated Accounting TOTAL ACCOUNTING TOTAL ACCOUNTING

203,000 203,000 17,700 17,700 900 900 34,000 34,000 6,000 6,000 (66,540) (66,540) 195,060 195,060

203,000 203,000 17,700 17,700 900 900 34,000 34,000 6,000 6,000 (66,540) (66,540) 195,060 195,060

213,000 213,000 17,000 17,000 900 900 39,300 39,300 6,300 6,300 (66,540) (66,540) 209,960 209,960

COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT Occupational & Technical Training Occupational & Technical Training Company & Management Training Company & Management Training Other Admin - Dues/Subs., Computer, Misc Other Admin - Dues/Subs., Computer, Misc Dedicated Staff Wages - Community Admin Dedicated Staff Wages - Community Admin Payroll Taxes - Community Admin Payroll Taxes - Community Admin Worker's Comp - Community Admin Worker's Comp - Community Admin Medical Insurance - Community Admin Medical Insurance - Community Admin 401K Expense - Community Admin 401K Expense - Community Admin Mileage/Parking Reimbursement Mileage/Parking Reimbursement Legal Services Legal Services Legal Collection Services Legal Collection Services Audit & Tax Services Audit & Tax Services HR/Payroll Services HR/Payroll Services Computer/Professional Services Computer/Professional Services

27,100 27,100 7,000 7,000 2,600 2,600 350,000 350,000 25,300 25,300 1,150 1,150 67,500 67,500 10,500 10,500 500 500 20,000 20,000 18,000 18,000 10,500 10,500 26,360 26,360 31,500 31,500

22,762 22,762 7,000 7,000 2,600 2,600 316,252 316,252 25,300 25,300 1,150 1,150 67,500 67,500 10,500 10,500 500 500 20,000 20,000 18,000 18,000 10,500 10,500 26,360 26,360 31,500 31,500

28,500 28,500 7,000 7,000 2,900 2,900 306,500 306,500 22,000 22,000 900 900 71,100 71,100 8,600 8,600 500 500 20,000 20,000 18,000 18,000 11,000 11,000 26,360 26,360 27,000 27,000

ACCOUNTING Dedicated Staff Wages-Accounting Payroll Taxes - Accounting Worker's Comp - Accounting Medical Insurance - Accounting 401K Expense - Accounting Contra-Dedicated Accounting TOTAL ACCOUNTING Annual Assessments Worker's Comp - Operations COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT Medical Insurance - Operations Occupational & Technical Training 401K Expense - OperationsTraining Company & Management Ops Travel, & Training Other AdminMeals, - Dues/Subs., Computer, Misc Maint - Communications,Computer,Misc Dedicated Staff Wages - Community Admin Contra-Dedicated Operations Payroll Taxes - Community Admin TOTAL REPAIRS MAINTENANCE Worker's Comp & - Community Admin Medical Insurance - Community Admin ACCOUNTING 401K Expense - Community Admin Dedicated Staff Wages-Accounting Mileage/Parking Reimbursement PayrollServices Taxes - Accounting Legal Worker's Comp -Services Accounting Legal Collection Medical Insurance - Accounting Audit & Tax Services 401K Expense - Accounting HR/Payroll Services Contra-Dedicated Accounting Computer/Professional Services TOTAL ReserveACCOUNTING Study

Contra-Dedicated Staff Comm Assn COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT Committee / BOD Expense Occupational & Technical Training Public (Community) Relations Company &Expense Management Training Computer (Hardware) Other Admin - Dues/Subs., Computer, Misc Software Licensing Dedicated Supplies Staff Wages - Community Admin Payroll Taxes - Community Admin Photocopies Worker's Postage Comp - Community Admin Medical Insurance Office Electric, Etc. - Community Admin 401K Expense - Community Admin Rent, CAMs, Office & Storage Mileage/Parking Communications Reimbursement Legal B & OServices Taxes Legal Collection Property Tax Services Audit & Tax Services Bad Debt Expense HR/Payroll Services Prior Year Expense/G&L Fixed Assets Computer/Professional Services Directors & Officers Insurance Reserve Study Property, Auto Insurance General Liability, Contra-Dedicated Bank Fees - NSF Staff Comm Assn Committee / BOD Federal Income TaxExpense Public (Community) Contingency ExpenseRelations Computer Expense (Hardware) TOTAL COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT Software Licensing Supplies TOTAL EXPENSES Photocopies Annual Assessments Postage NET INCOME BEFORE RESERVE CONTRIBUTION Office Electric, Etc. Rent, CAMs, Office & Storage 20-21 APPROVED RESERVE FUND BUDGET Master for Connections Communications RESERVE INCOME B & O Taxes Reserve PropertyContribution Tax Interest Income - Reserves Bad Debt Expense Capital Assessment Prior Year Expense/G&L Fixed Assets TOTAL RESERVE INCOME Directors & Officers Insurance General Liability, Property, Auto Insurance RESERVE Bank FeesEXPENSES - NSF Street Trees Rotational Replacement Federal Income Tax Mailboxes Upgrade 2018-19/2019-20 Contingency Expense Common Area Signs -MANAGEMENT Replaced Yr 1-2 TOTAL COMMUNITY Light Poles - Repair/Replace Handrails/ Asphalt Repair/Repalce TOTAL EXPENSES Spilt2/25/2020 Rail Fence Replacement Common AreaBEFORE Park Refurbishments NET INCOME RESERVE CONTRIBUTION Irrigation - Master Common areas TOTAL RESERVE EXPENSES 20-21 APPROVED BUDGET Master for Connections

CASH FLOW - RESERVE FUND

203,000 203,000 213,000 17,700 17,700 17,000 900 900 900 34,000 34,000 39,300 2019-206,000 2019-20 2020-216,300 6,000 Ratified (66,540) Year-End Forecast (66,540) Approved(66,540) Budget Budget 195,060 195,060 209,960 $936 $936 6,050 6,050 7,000 29,000 29,000 26,100 27,100 22,762 28,500 4,050 4,050 4,900 7,000 7,000 7,000 3,100 3,100 3,100 2,600 2,600 2,900 1,000 1,000 1,100 350,000 316,252 306,500 (28,000) (28,000) (28,000) 25,300 25,300 22,000 408,074 408,074 440,800 1,150 1,150 900 67,500 67,500 71,100 10,500 10,500 8,600 203,000 203,000 213,000 500 500 500 17,700 17,700 17,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 900 900 900 18,000 18,000 18,000 34,000 34,000 39,300 10,500 10,500 11,000 6,000 6,000 6,300 26,360 26,360 26,360 (66,540) (66,540) (66,540) 31,500 31,500 27,000 195,060 195,060 209,960 2,270 2,270 2,340 (54,120) (54,120) (54,120) 5,500 5,500 5,500 27,100 22,762 28,500 7,300 7,300 7,300 7,000 7,000 7,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 2,600 2,600 2,900 37,500 37,500 34,000 350,000 316,252 306,500 19,500 19,500 19,500 25,300 25,300 22,000 16,500 16,500 16,500 1,150 1,150 900 17,000 17,000 14,000 67,500 67,500 71,100 5,000 10,500 10,500 8,600 276,200 237,880 84,400 500 500 500 10,000 10,000 13,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 150 150 150 18,000 18,000 18,000 13,000 13,000 13,000 10,500 10,500 11,000 12,000 6,000 14,000 26,360 26,360 26,360 0 0 31,500 31,500 27,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 2,270 2,270 2,340 48,000 58,826 60,000 (54,120) (54,120) (54,120) 700 700 700 5,500 5,500 5,500 20,000 28,000 20,000 7,300 7,300 7,300 70,000 40,000 212,221 5,000 5,000 5,000 1,120,510 1,026,929 1,038,851 2019-20 2019-20 2020-21 37,500 37,500 34,000 Ratified 19,500 Year-End 19,500 Approved 19,500 Forecast Budget 3,191,333 3,108,980 3,243,811 Budget 16,500 16,500 16,500 $936 17,000 $93614,000 17,000 287,000 463,347 300,000 5,000 276,200 237,880 84,400 2 10,000 10,000 13,000 150 150 150 287,000 287,000 300,000 13,000 13,000 13,000 25,000 37,731 25,000 12,000 6,000 14,000 00 20,700 00 312,000 345,431 325,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 48,000 700 65,000 20,000 24,400 70,000 10,600 1,120,510 48,750 3,191,333

58,826 700 65,000 28,000 24,400 40,000 10,600 1,026,929 48,750 3,108,980

10,100 287,000 43,350 2202,200

10,100 463,347 43,350 202,200

60,000 700 66,950 20,000 25,150 212,221 10,900 1,038,851 69,600 26,700 3,243,811 24,535 82,150 300,000 142,650 448,635

109,800

143,231

(123,635)

IHCA 2020-21 Budget Ratification Meeting Wednesday, April 22 at 5:30 p.m.

Will be held remotely — check issaquahhighlands.com/events for details one week prior to the meeting

2/25/

2/25/

12

April 2020

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Dear Neighbor, Wish You Were Here 5th District Town Hall We learned a lot about this year’s legislative session at the 5th District Town Hall meeting in February, where Senator Mark Mullet and Representatives Lisa Callan and Bill Ramos spoke about their work in Olympia and answered submitted questions. It was great to hear from them directly!

Photos by Radu Cracut.

Hands-On History We had a great time celebrating Valentine’s Day with friends from the Issaquah History Museums at their HandOn History program! We decorated sugar cookies, made Valentine cards, and got to view historic Valentine cards from Issaquah’s past.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

April 2020

Wei Geiger

by Lindsey Pinkston Highlands Council Community Program Manager and Wisteria Park Resident

APRIL VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to Wei Geiger, our volunteer of the month for April! A resident of the Grand View Park neighborhood, Wei has been a valuable volunteer in Issaquah Highlands, working to help others increase their well-being both physically and mentally, as well as sharing her spirit and culture.

Wei started leading the weekly Meditation Group at Blakely Hall in November 2017.

“With high tech filling our lives today, we are buried by lots of information, and many other things demand our attention,” Wei said. “This class uses moving meditation and sitting meditation to exercise balance, flexibility, toughness, and calmness, teaches and practices how to deal with your busy life, and how to find moments to relax the mind.”

From Meditation Group members: “I am so pleased that Wei is being recognized! She is a dedicated, caring teacher who gives of herself and her knowledge each week for her meditation group, welcoming new members and providing a sense of community. We are lucky to have her!”

– Kay Pilcher “Wei Geiger is not just an outstanding meditation leader, but a genuinely caring person. I am so grateful Wei gives of her time to help all of us lead less stressful lives.”

– Laura Metze Wei is always trying to introduce a positive feeling during our classes. I’m so happy to have come to know her. Wishing her the best and feeling proud of her achievement!”

– Satish Joshi Wei is so passionate about helping people relax through meditation, when it became unsafe for the group to meet in person last month, she worked with members of the group to make the class available live online for all members of the community to participate. Find the link to join the online meditation group on Fridays at issaquahhighlands.com/ events.

Wei’s passion for community building in Issaquah Highlands extends beyond Meditation Group – she is always willing to lend a helping hand or offer ideas. In January, Wei volunteered to lead a Chinese dumpling workshop as part of our Lunar New Year events so the community could learn how to make Chinese dumplings and appreciate their cultural significance. Over 50 attendees and volunteers came together to enjoy an evening of culture, live music, new friends, and dumplings!

13

Wei and her husband celebrate Issaquah Highlands 20th birthday in 2018.

Thank you, Wei, for sharing your kind heart and passions with our community!

Inspired to get involved in the Issaquah Highlands community?

Visit issaquahhighlands.com/volunteer to discover all of the different ways you can get involved in our Issaquah Highlands community or contact Lindsey Pinkston at lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org.

Wei (third from the right) and volunteers enjoying dumplings after leading the 2020 Lunar New Year Chinese dumpling making workshop at Blakely Hall.

14

April 2020

Issaquah Highlands Connections

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS

Please Check Our Community Calendar for Updates issaquahhighlands.com/events Due to the coronavirus pandemic, most community group gatherings are on temporary hiatus. Some groups will meet virtually, with more information provided on our website calendar or in their Facebook groups.

Kids & Families Family Game Night

Enjoy an all ages night playing board games with friends and neighbors! Feel free to bring a favorite game and snack to share.

Library-2-Go

The King County Library will bring the Library-2-Go Book Mobile to Blakely Hall. Bring your library card and browse the curated collection of books – check out your favorites and return any KCLS library books you’ve finished! Free fun for all ages.

Minecraft Mania

Join fellow elementary and middle school Minecraft enthusiasts from novice to expert as we share our knowledge of the Minecraft world including Redstone, building, surviving the night, and more. You’ll need a laptop with licensed Minecraft loaded on it. Club leader is Quinn Ryan at boxcargriz@gmail.com and parent leader is Tim Ryan at dadtime@gmail.com.

Toddler Playgroup

Moms, dads, caregivers and their children are invited for fun, friendship, support and socializing. Contact katiels84@gmail.com. Search Facebook for Issaquah Highlands Toddler Playgroup.

Arts & Cards Figure Drawing Group

Bring what you need to draw and join a group of artists for weekly sessions to draw from a nude model. The Short-Pose Session meets from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. with poses ranging from 1 minute to 15 minutes in length. The Long Pose Session meets from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. with a single pose repeated in 20-minute sittings. There is no formal instruction. Attend one or both sessions - the cost per session is $10, cash only. See issaquahhighlands.com/ events/ for more information.

Bridge Club

Grab a partner or come solo to play a little Bridge!

Bring your own beverage of choice and a snack to share.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned bridge player, you are welcome to join us.

RSVP: Ed Tellman, etellman@pobox.com.

Knit for Life®

A network of volunteer knitters in area hospitals, providing physical and mental support in a nontraditional therapeutic environment to cancer survivors, patients and caregivers through knitting. We teach anyone with any skill level. You don’t have to bring anything but yourself. We have all the supplies you will need. Contact: Elaine.Eckert@yahoo.com.

Open Mic

Join us for an all-ages evening of fun and entertainment from local talents. Come to sing a song, play music, read poetry, tell a story, perform stand-up comedy, etc. Or, just join the audience and support your neighbors! For more information, please contact Dino Go at kabalen.geo@gmail.com.

Photography Meet Up

Enjoy monthly meetings with guest speakers, share and discuss your work with others, and participate in an online community throughout the month.

Contact ihpc@outlook.com.

Poker Night

Whether you are a novice or a salty vet looking for some steep competition, you will love our monthly group Texas Hold ’em tournament! Contact Henry at hlh1969@hotmail.com.

Rovin’ Fiddlers

Drop in on our jam sessions. We welcome guitars, flutes, whistles, banjos, mandolins, autoharps, dulcimers, stand up bass, and percussion. All abilities welcome. Contact Martha at mclnev@yahoo.com.

Yarns & Threads Group

All knitters, crocheters, and stitchers are welcome. For more details or questions, please contact Cathie Coulter at Catherine.coulter@ihmail.com.

Fitness Issaquah Highlands Hiking Group

The Issaquah Highlands Hiking Group is open to all ages to connect with other hiking enthusiasts and go on planned hikes in the beautiful northwest. For more information and details on our next scheduled hike, join our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/ nwhiking.

Special Interest Book Club

April's Book: A Gentleman in Moscow

The book club is a great place to meet neighbors, socialize and explore a variety of books.

Email lindsey8@gmail.com or join the Facebook group at facebook.com/ihbookclub.

Bunco Night

Come roll the dice with friends and neighbors at Bunco Night! Please bring $5 for the prize pool and a snack or drink to share. No experience necessary. For more information and updates, join the Facebook group: Issaquah Highlands Bunco.

IH Business Networking Group

Kick off your month with a new spin on the standard practice of networking, based on knowing that the more we connect and share, the more we all grow! This new monthly group will blend the best parts of other networking meetings while being inclusive, connectionbased, and most of all, valuable for all members. Social with refreshments from 9:30-10 a.m., meeting from 1010:45 a.m. No obligations, just genuine connections! For more details, please visit issaquahhighlands.com/events.

Telecommute Tuesdays

Discover how to find moments to relax the mind. The group practice exercises that promote balance, strength, and calmness. Learn techniques to help deal with stress and strain of a busy life. Free to attend and open to all!

Questions? Contact ih.meditation@gmail.com.

Do you work from home? Do you want a little motivation to work from home once each week?

Telecommute Tuesdays were designed for you! Head on over to Blakely Hall on Tuesdays for free wi-fi, coffee and treats and the beautiful setting of our community hall. Questions? Contact Lindsey.P@ihcouncil.org or 425-507-1107.

Mountain Biking Group

Toastmasters

The Issaquah Highlands Mountain Biking Group is open to all ages to meet other mountain bike enthusiasts while exploring some of the amazing local mountain bike trails! For more information and details on all planned rides, join us on Facebook at “Issaquah Highlands Mountain Biking Club.”

Say it better with Toastmasters. Share your interests and goals in a positive, supportive environment. Let us help you expand your knowledge and horizons. Guest are welcome to join a meeting to see what it’s about – it’s one hour of fun, and you won’t be put on the spot!

Learn more at https://ihtm.toastmastersclubs.org.

Tai Chi Fitness Group

Travel Night

Meditation Group

The ancient Chinese martial art, tai chi, will be offered every Wednesday at Blakely Hall. Participation is free; a donation of a nonperishable food item for the Food Bank is encouraged. Contact: taichifitness_IH@outlook.com.

Zumba Fitness® Class

Zumba Fitness is the Latin and world rhythm and dance based fitness party that will change the way you think about working out. Grab your workout clothes, your water bottle, and join the party! Free class but please bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the food bank! Contact: zumbawithcindy@gmail.com.

Whether you’ve traveled around the world or are planning your first adventure, Travel Night offers monthly and informative evenings at Blakely Hall as a way to share and learn about different countries and individual experiences. The bulk of the evening will be unstructured, get-acquainted time so we can all share and learn about travel. Please bring a snack and/or beverage to share. Join our Facebook Group for more info: Issaquah Highlands Travel Night.

Get Involved Neighbor to Neighbor Services Directory

Join our directory to connect neighbors in need with neighbors looking to help. Learn more at issaquahhighlands.com/volunteer.

For more ways to get involved, including the urgent needs of local non-profits in our community, please visit issaquahhighlands.com/volunteer.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

April 2020

15

W

hen news broke that physical distancing was going to be government mandated and the school district was preparing to close, Highlands Council was following social media and taking in your concerns about childcare, job security, and your health. Our team quickly created a web form so residents could sign up and offer their services to a neighbor for free or fee, and we turned those entries into an online directory resource for finding solutions to the problems brought on by social distancing. The Neighbor to Neighbor Services Directory was launched and within a couple hours, there were offers to help in every category. The list grows daily, with more than 125 residents listed at the time of publication.

Next, our restaurants were forced to close and offer takeout and delivery only. Inspired by an infographic from an area shopping center, our team designed our own “Highlands Delivers” infographic as a quick, one-stop resource for supporting our local eateries, listing the order-placing apps they use. Highlands Council will keep this graphic updated for you at issaquahhighlands.com/ highlands-delivers.

Pull out this month’s centerfold feature as a communityspecific resource (hint, it includes the handy “Highlands Delivers” graphic). Use the Neighbor to Neighbor Services Directory often; so many in our community want to help you – let them. You don’t have to feel isolated when practicing physical distance. For operational updates from the IHCA, HFN, Highlands Council, and Blakely Hall, visit the community COVID-19 updates page at issaquahhighlands.com/covid-19.

And if you are reading this and don’t have internet access – contact Highlands Council by phone and we will help connect you to the appropriate resource: 425-507-1107.

Stay well neighbors and keep in touch!

– Christy Garrard

Executive Director, Highlands Council and Dahlia Park Resident Photo by Shubha Tirumale, 2015.

16

April 2020

How to Cope with Coronavirus Isolation

Kari O’Neill, MSW, LICSW Clinical Social Worker and Issaquah Highlands Resident

Kari O’Neill is an Issaquah Highlands resident, a licensed independent clinical social worker, and long-time volunteer writer of our popular Ask Kari column in Connections. As we practice physical distancing, we reached out to Kari for advice on how to cope with feelings of isolation and anxiety during this challenging time.

Here is what I would say to our neighbors at this time of high levels of anxiety and stress: • We will get through this. Human beings are much stronger, kinder, and more resourceful than we realize in the moment.

• Choose one resource for information, such as the CDC, to help streamline all the information that is coming at you.

Choosing one source helps keep the information clear and can prevent us from feeling overwhelmed by multiple sources that may have conflicting information presented to us.

• Limit the frequency of your news/social media updates to a few times a day versus every hour, all day long. Staying online all day will most likely lead to cycling thoughts of anxiety and fear in us.

• Remember that having some anxious thoughts on a daily basis is normal, especially now as we have a lot of information coming at us. Accept that anxious thoughts will pop up and we just need to use some corrective thinking to help stabilize ourselves. Here is an example.

Your first thought is “I am afraid that if I get sick, I will die.” The second, corrective thought could be: “I am surrounded by outstanding healthcare resources that I can access if I need care.”

• Build out your coping mechanisms – activities or things that offer comfort to you. Anything that typically brings you joy or comfort, access that activity and repeat over and over at this time for stabilization and comfort. See the sidebar for ideas.

Try These Activities to Bring You Comfort Take a bath or shower Make your favorite meal and share it with others Drink a cup of tea Hug your family Light a candle or use aromatherapy Read Watch your favorite TV shows or movies Take a walk Exercise Dance to your favorite music Play a board game Garden Call a friend and check in on them

We asked our Facebook followers to share their appreciation for neighbors already making a difference during this difficult time. Here's what we heard from you!

We want to recognize the neighbors in our community who are doing good for others in a time when many of our neighbors are in crisis.

That's why we're launching our "Thank a Neighbor" web form where you can share your story of thanks with Highlands Council. We will share these "feel good" stories across our official media and show these generous neighbors our community's appreciation. We'd especially like to hear the stories of individuals receiving help from someone contacted through the Neighbor to Neighbor Services Directory.

Find the "Thank a Neighbor" web form linked on our Neighbor to Neighbor Services Directory page at issaquahhighlands.com/neighbor-to-neighbor. Entries may be shared in our community's official print or digital media.

Sylvia Chin, who was advocating for school closures for weeks and bringing the community information from her own family and friends in China. It took a lot of courage for you to speak out, Sylvia, especially when you were being challenged by neighbors about your perspective!"

– TERESA COWAN

Johnna Masterson, who always goes above and beyond, and for organizing meals for those families in need."

– LYNN CRANE

Michelle Enebo, who organized a GoFundMe so Swedish [medical] staff can have lunch brought to them."

– ANDREA MORETSKY

Issaquah Highlands Connections

HOMEBOUND IN THE HIGHLANDS Ideas to keep your family entertained while practicing physical distancing

 Clear your clutter Johnna Masterson, resident and owner of Inspired & Organized, has provided numerous tips for organizing various spaces of your home in her Home Organization column in Connections.

Find these tips in 2019 and 2020 archives of Connections online at issuu.com/ihconnections.

 Try a new recipe In November 2019 Connections, residents from various cultures shared some of their favorite recipes made at celebratory times of year, like these Vietnamese bánh bao. This issue was about how food brings people together.

Find these recipes at issuu.com/ ihconnections (pages 1519) and try making them with your family.

 Plan your next big exterior home projects Does your home need exterior painting or fence repair? Are you considering making changes to your landscaping?

Most of these projects require IHCA ARC approval. Find ARC guidelines and applications at issaquahhighlands.com.

 Explore local trails** Issaquah Highlands has miles of trails perfect for the whole family. Just be sure to practice recommended physical distancing as you go. Find helpful trail maps at issaquahhighlands.com/ explore/maps-and-webcams.

 Plan for a future vacation Dreaming of that next vacation? The Issaquah Highlands Travel Night group is full of knowledgeable world travelers who would love to offer ideas, answer questions, and provide tips for your future travel plans. Join their Facebook group: Issaquah Highlands Travel Night.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

 Join Book Club (online) The Issaquah Highlands Book Club has an active Facebook group and plans to meet virtually through video chat. April's book is "A Gentleman in Moscow." Find the entire list of this year's books and more information about Book Club at issaquahhighlands. com/organizer/book-club.

 Get out in the garden** Issaquah Highlands is fortunate to have two locations for community garden p-patches: at Sunset Walk and Vista. Reserve your garden patch using the form at issaquahhighlands.com/ community-garden or contact Lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org. Community gardens are currently open to gardeners only.

 Try a new restaurant** Many local restaurants are offering takeout and delivery services. See the infographic to the right to see which restaurants are operating now in Issaquah Highlands. Please see issaquahhighlands.com/highlandsdelivers for updates. The Issaquah Chamber of Commerce also has a running list of local restaurants still operating at this time at issaquahchamber.com/covid19.

 Host a "physically distant" block party** Digitally invite your neighbors to participate in a casual "block party," where each family can interact with neighbors from their own driveway, sidewalk, patio or balcony to maintain physical distancing. Use this opportunity to check in with your neighbors and find out who might need help during this difficult time.

Follow us on social media for new #HomeboundintheHighlands ideas for your family each week. **These activities may become more restricted or disallowed if additional physical distancing mandates are implemented. Stay informed at coronavirus.wa.gov.

April 2020

17

18

April 2020

HOMEBOUND IN THE HIGHLANDS

Issaquah Highlands Connections

GRAND RIDGE PARK

DISCOVER COMMUNITY TREASURES, BIG & SMALL A few years ago, Central Park resident and community volunteer, Chelsea Musick, started a Photo Treasure Hunt column in Connections. The idea was to highlight the unique points of interest in our community and encourage residents to explore all that our community has to offer.

GRAND RIDGE PARK

Gr an d

Rid

ge D

r

HARRISON PARK

MAGNOLIA PARK

NE n

iso

rr Ha Dr

NE o rris Ha

E

th

30

eN Av

Map dated 2018

NE Magnolia St

t nS

WISTERIA PARK

SUMMIT PARK NE ne

28th Ave NE

Na tali eW y

BLAKELY HALL

NE

25th Ave NE

St

NE Mulberry St

ph

Da

GRANDVIEW PARK

KIRK PARK

VILLAGE GREEN PARK

LOGAN PARK

SHOPS AT VILLAGE GREEN

DAPHNE PARK

VILLAGE TRAIL PARK

NE Julep St

THE GREENS

BARK PARK

24th Ave NE

BLACK NUGGET PARK

TENNIS

ROANOKE WOODS PARK CENTRAL PARK

DAHLIA PARK

ATHLETIC FIELDS

College Dr

GRAND RIDGE ELEMENTARY

tsura NE Ka

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

ASHLAND PARK

15t hA ve N

Black

E

FOREST RIDGE

13th Ave NE

FIREHOUSE PARK

Falls Dr

F NE

VISTA PARK

D rk Pa

12th Ave NE

90

PINECREST PARK

SUNSET PARK

r

10th Ave NE

GRAND RIDGE PLAZA

BROWNSTONES PLAZA

Highlands Dr NE

9th Ave NE

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

NE Blakely Dr

NE Ave 8th

NE Discovery Dr

YWCA

NE Ellis Dr

Nugg

et Rd

St

COVID-19 NOTE: IHCA and City of Issaquah parks are closed. Do not enter the parks as you walk (all scavenger hunt locations on this page can be seen from outside the parks). Trails remain open at the time of publication. Remember to participate in recommended physical distancing as you walk. See updated recommended guidelines at our website, issaquahhighlands.com/covid-19.

NE Park Dr

You can view past Photo Treasure Hunt columns and find even more points of interest in the May 2018 issue of Connections, pages 15-18, online at issuu.com/ihconnections.

NE High St

In Chelsea's words: "[In 2016], I walked by the little weather station near Grand Ridge Elementary. It’s a small thing, hidden back from the road, and most people may not realize what it is. I looked at it and wondered how many people noticed it as they passed by. That got me thinking – big or small, there are so many things and spaces scattered throughout the Highlands that we may not notice (or even know about). My goal is to find them and share them with the community."

H

7th Ave NE

WEST HIGHLANDS PARK

TAG US! Take a photo of your family on your community scavenger hunt and post to Instagram using #issaquahhighlands.

Your photo could get shared on our official Facebook or Instagram pages.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

April 2020

19

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS

Governance Mtgs* IHCA Architectural Review Committee Tuesday, 4/7

IHCA Finance Committee Tuesday, 4/14

Highlands Fiber Network Advisory Group Monday, 4/20

IHCA Board of Directors Wednesday, 4/22

IHCA Budget Ratification Meeting Wednesday, 4/22

City Meetings City Meetings covering Issaquah Highlands topics will be listed at IssaquahHighlands.com/ events.

Special Dates April Fool's Day

Free graduation announcements in the June issue of Connections.

Submissions due by May 8.

(Issaquah Highlands residents only.)

Wednesday, April 1

Autism Awareness Day Thursday, April 2

Passover Begins Wednesday, April 8

Submit at issaquahhighlands.com/got-a-grad

Good Friday Friday, April 10

Easter

Sunday, April 12

Earth Day (50th Anniversary) Wednesday, April 22

Ramadan Begins Thursday, April 23

*Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all governance meetings will occur virtually until further notice. More details will be posted to issaquahhighlands.com/events when made available.

For the latest details, see IssaquahHighlands.com/events For daily updates, follow us on:

Subscribe to our weekly e-letter at IssaquahHighlands.com/connect *All Events are FREE unless otherwise noted.

20

April 2020

Issaquah Highlands Connections

CENSUS NEWS

Everyone Counts!

Don’t know who to count on your census form?

By now you received your 2020 census mailer and many of you already completed your form. Others are delayed by questions about who to count on their form.

Very simply, everyone who lives and sleeps in your

by Nina Milligan household most of the time Communications Manager, on April 1 is to be counted on Highlands Council and your form, even if they are Starpoint Resident from somewhere else. For instance, residents who are here temporarily on a work visa are still counted. Regardless of immigration status, anyone who lives under your roof most of the time is counted in your household’s census form.

Not sure about who to count? Here are a few examples of whom to count:

Mary Lou Pauly

“As mayor, I am acutely focused on making sure our community, every one of us, is counted in the upcoming 2020 Census. This once-in-a-ten-year count determines where the more than $675 billion of federal funding will be invested in schools, hospitals, roads, and other important programs. An inaccurate or undercount in our community can mean receiving fewer resources. Our city will be working hard to promote participation, and you can help by completing your census form early, asking neighbors and friends to participate, and helping us get the word out on ‘Count Me In.’”

Issaquah Mayor

“Children under the age of 4 years old are at the greatest risk of not being counted in the Census. An accurate count of all children is incredibly important to ensure our youth have access to the health, education, and community resources that they will need for the next ten years.”

Ron Thiele ISD Superintendent

• Full-time residents, with a green card or not • Someone living here on a long-term visa and lives with you most of the time • Child who boards away at a private high school

“Citizens participation in the 2020 census can directly impact the fire department.

Communities change and grow over a ten-year period – your input can lead to more effective and efficient emergency response times, rescue operations, and allocation of funds for operational and disaster preparedness resources. Information about how many people live in a town and where they live is critical for emergency response.

• Brother living with you on a work visa But there are others in your family whom you do not count: • College-aged children who live away from home (they should be counted at college) • Child who lives with their other parent and visits you (they should be counted on that parent’s form) • Parents visiting from India or other international location (don’t count visitors) • Parents visiting from New York or other U.S. location (they count at their home address) Want to know more about whom to count?

Visit 2020census.gov/en/who-to-count.html.

It is important to count everyone. Numbers from the census help determine funding for schools, roads, hospitals, and more. Census numbers, especially regarding children, help schools make plans for the future.

Census numbers also help local organizations get funding for valuable, often lifesaving services.

Jeff Clark Eastside Fire & Rescue, Fire Chief

Eastside Fire & Rescue encourages citizens to provide vital census information to ensure we are positively impacting the communities we serve."

Who Counts?  Some Fast Facts from Census.gov

• Newborns: Babies born on or before April 1, 2020, should be counted at the home where they will live or sleep most of the time, even if they are still in the hospital on Census Day. • Traveling on Census Day? If traveling on April 1, 2020, count yourself where you live and sleep most of the time.

• Multiple Residences: If you own multiple residences, count yourself where you live and sleep most of the time. If you divide your time equally between residences, count yourself where you are staying on April 1.

• Moving? Make sure to count yourself just once. Count yourself where you will be living on April 1.

Looking for local summer camps?

See the full listing of upcoming summer camps at Blakely Hall at issaquahhighlands.com/camps *Highlands Council does not endorse any of these organizations.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

April 2020

City Council Supports Climate Commitments

21

CITY NEWS

Provided by the the City of Issaquah, Office of Sustainability The theme for Earth Day 2020 is “Climate Action.”

In March, the Issaquah City Council passed a resolution in support of the King CountyCities Climate Collaboration (K4C) Joint Climate Commitments. These commitments help chart a course for joint actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and accelerate progress towards a clean and sustainable future. The City is a founding member of the K4C which helps coordinate and enhance the effectiveness of local government climate and sustainability actions.

In 2014, Issaquah adopted greenhouse gas emission reduction targets of 25% by 2020, 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050, with a base year of 2007. The City is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and updates its carbon inventory every five years. In the last update, the 2017 Carbon Inventory showed that the City is not on track to meet its 2020 goal. Although the City’s per capita emissions decreased 30%, our total carbon emissions increased 5% from 2007 to 2017. The largest source of GHG emissions is from buildings at 62%, followed by transportation at 38%, which is mainly from passenger vehicles (see chart to the right).

The Joint Commitments in conjunction with City Comprehensive Plan policies have helped support several recent City initiatives: • Legislation to assist Puget Sound Energy (PSE) retire coal-fired electricity generation • Signing on for PSE’s Green Direct program, procuring 95% renewable energy for municipal operations • Implementation of the Sustainable Building Action Strategy The City is working with partners on a Community Convening on Climate, which will be held on May 2 at the Issaquah Senior Center. The community will help identify recommendations to the City of Issaquah and community leaders for a course of action to address climate change.

Highlands Council wants to showcase your business! Each month, we will choose one Issaquah Highlands-based business to profile in our print and digital media, for free!

Selected Merchants of the Month will receive: • Printed profile in one monthly issue of Connections • Feature on Merchant of the Month web page with link to your business site • Feature in one weekly official Issaquah Highlands e-letter • One shoutout on official Issaquah Highlands Facebook and Twitter Questions? Contact Nina Milligan, Highlands Council Communications Manager at nina.m@ihcouncil.org.

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day with the City of Issaquah!

See issaquahwa.gov/EarthMonth for more information.

Homestreet Bank Cameron Canaan, Business Banker

About the business: Homestreet Bank offers services for all of your personal and business banking needs. Business remains open at time of publication. Online services also available.

Why did Cameron join Homestreet?

"HomeStreet being a community bank and in an area where the community works to build each other up, it was a no brainer."

Location: 909 Northeast Ellis Dr, Issaquah Contact: (425) 677-2210 Cameron.Canaan@homestreet.com homestreet.com

Submit your business for consideration at issaquahhighlands.com/merchant-of-the-month

22

April 2020

Issaquah Highlands Connections

SMART HOME

HFN COVID-19 Notice and System Upgrades

by Jeremy Fallt HFN General Manager

HFN and their partners continue to take precautions to ensure the safety of our workers as well as our community members. We continue to ask that anyone with any in-home HFN appointments please reschedule if they or anyone in their home has been exposed to COVID-19 or is exhibiting any cold or flu-like symptoms.

Highlands Fiber Network: Fiber to the Home, Community Owned Issaquah Highlands was designed as an innovative, highly connected, urban village enjoying traditional neighborhood design.

The “Covenant for Community” was created to fund it, attached to land titles. The Covenant states that each home purchase must include a connection to the network ($250 one-time fee, required at closing). And each home is required to subscribe to the minimum connection (10/10mbps), which is currently $50/month.

Most apartment rentals in Issaquah Highlands provide the option to join the network, with the same hook up fee ($250) and the same monthly rates.

HFN and its partners are working to ensure the best possible user experience for everyone, especially in these times with the changing scope of our home lives.

HFN’s High Speed Fiber Optic Network is fast, reliable, and competitively priced. Our current offerings include 10/10mbps ($50/month), 100/100mbps ($60/month), and 1000/1000mbps speeds ($70/month).

For rates and information

As part of our commitment to providing the highest quality service, we’ve been proactively upgrading parts of the network in recent months. The last of this recent upgrade work will take place in March and will double the capacity of the network connectivity in and out of the community.

Highlands Fiber Network Customer Service: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week highlandsfibernetwork.com (425) 427-0999 support@hfnservices.com or see highlandsfibernetwork.com/support

Usage rates continue to remain well within the design limits of our network, even with recent increased utilization. These network upgrades ensure we can continue to provide the fast and reliable service to our community, today and into the future.

Direct questions about the Covenant for Community to: Jeremy Fallt, General Manager, HFN jfallt@hfn.org 425-394-4184 While the HFN office in Blakely Hall is temporarily closed, please reach out to Jeremy directly using phone or email.

Questions? Please contact Jeremy Fallt, HFN General Manager, at jfallt@hfn.com or 425-394-4184.

Issaquah + Everett

Y A W D BROA REACH N I H T I W 2020-2021 SEASON MAMMA MIA!

The ultimate feel-good show

HELLO, DOLLY!

The universally acclaimed classic

DEATHTRAP

Broadway’s longest-running comedy thriller

MAKING TRACKS

A powerful tale of triumph and perseverance

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’

The Fats Waller Musical Show SPONSORED IN PART BY

2

Box Office (425) 392-2202

Special COVID-19 Notice: Connection speed upgrades do not require a home visit; they are done remotely.

l VillageTheatre.org

Fiber to the home, community owned!

Issaquah Highlands Connections

April 2020

23

GET INVOLVED

Giving Back is Easy Make it Your Family’s Quarterly Commitment The statistics are devastating: 1 in 7 Americans struggle with hunger, and about a third are children.

Hunger affects nearly every aspect of life, even beyond the immediate and obvious effects on physical health. It

by Elizabeth Super makes it difficult for children to Crofton Springs Resident concentrate in school, and for adults to maintain adequate job performance. In Issaquah, where our community is viewed as seemingly affluent, the need is hidden – more than 9,700 people live in poverty and 16,500 people are food insecure.

This is where you come in!

The Issaquah Sammamish Food Project is a program that supports the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank. It’s an easy way to give back, and it makes a significant impact to address food insecurity in our community. The Food Project is coordinated by one of the Issaquah Highlands volunteer neighborhood coordinators, Susan Super. (She also happens to be my mom, so I’m very proud to support this effort.)

Here’s how it works: Every two months, the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank provides a list of non-perishable food items needed for their shelves. Neighbors fill one (or more) green tote bags of the needed items (just grab an extra item or two while doing your own shopping). It’s a great way to involve your kids as well.

On the designated day, you leave the green tote bag on your front porch, and the neighborhood coordinator picks up your bag, leaving an empty green bag and list for the next pick-up (two months later). The neighborhood coordinator brings the bags to the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank. Each filled green tote bag is estimated to provide ten meals to the community’s residents who are food insecure. It’s that easy!

The Food Project is looking for volunteers to serve as

Issaquah Highlands kids getting involved in the Food Project.

neighborhood coordinators! Simply recruit 5-10 neighbors in your community to participate with you as donors, supply them with the green tote bags and lists, and send a reminder prior to the porch pick-up.

Questions? We’ll hold an online informational session on April 23 at 6:30 p.m. with representatives from the Food Project and the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank. Join us via the link at issaquahhighlands.com/events to learn more about the program and how you can get involved.

The next Food Project collection date is June 13. As a

community, we can help provide what is needed! Visit issaquahsammamishfoodproject.org for more information.

We hope to see the neighborhood filled with green tote bags full of food items soon!  Urgent Needs! Find out how you can help the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank and other local non-profits during this time of crisis on our website at issaquahhighlands.com/volunteer.

24

April 2020

Issaquah Highlands Connections

ASK KARI

Ask Kari!

Please enjoy this month a “Best of the Best” from Ask Kari.

Come back next month for a new Q&A. Dear Kari, My daughter is 17 and depressed. She says that she “can’t do anything right and feels like giving up.” She is hard to talk to, and nothing I seem to say or do helps. I have tried reminding her that she is special and that everything will turn out all right, but I get nowhere with her. What can I do to make her happy?

- Worried Mom

Kari O’Neill, MSW, LICSW Clinical Social Worker and Issaquah Highlands Resident Dear Worried Mom, You sound like a caring mother who is trying to support her daughter to the best of her ability. It does sound like your daughter is suffering from depression and needs outside support. I recommend she see her primary care physician for a checkup and see if she needs an antidepressant. I also recommend she make an appointment with a therapist for additional support. A therapist can help your daughter explore her feelings and thoughts at a deeper level, and evaluate where her challenges are coming from, then put together a care plan to hopefully help your daughter’s mental health improve. I often suggest to both my young patients and their parents the importance of connecting with each other on a daily basis. You can do this by acknowledging when your child enters the room and giving them a hello and a hug, follow this up by asking about their day. Even if your child’s response is minimal, keep engaging them. It all adds up to demonstrating to them that they matter to you. And, as much as possible, have dinner together each night (no distractions: no television, no phones, no electronics). Many families are missing genuine connections today, which can lead to many people feeling like they are all alone and don’t matter. By simply taking the time to look at our loved ones, hear them speak, and respond back, we can build stronger families and stronger spirits in our children.

-Kari Dear Kari, I am so upset at how people behave in public. Last week, I was parking my car in the parking lot at the local grocery store when a woman yelled at me from her car about “moving too slow.”

Get more advice from Kari on page 16 on how to cope with isolation during the coronavirus outbreak.

She then proceeded to park her car and come over to me and yell at me again “for being stupid and selfish.” I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to yell back at her. I didn’t, but I wanted to. How should crazy people like this be handled?

- Scared of the Crazies Dear Scared of the Crazies, I am sorry that this happened to you. I bet it was scary to have a stranger feel like they can berate you in public. I know that I would be scared and upset. It sounds like you decided to walk away from the incident and made a good decision. In fact, it was the best decision you had. A stranger yelling at you is never a good thing but responding to them and escalating the incident could make matters even worse. You do not know what they have going on in their mind or if they are using substances, so I recommended remaining clear from crazy, irrational behavior. I know your first reaction may be to respond in a manner that seems to protect yourself and your character, but I recommend walking away and saving yourself and your day. Engaging with someone who is out to be terrible and upset others is not worth your time. Shake your head and walk away, knowing that you are making a smart choice to move away from the incident and finish your day in peace versus confrontation. Doing so keeps the power of the incident with you versus the offending party.

-Kari I love to hear from our readers. Email your Ask Kari questions to kari@ihcg.co.

All questions will be answered in upcoming columns.

About Kari: Kari O’Neill, MSW, LICSW, is a licensed independent clinical social worker and is a resident of Issaquah Highlands.

This column is for entertainment purposes only. If you are in crisis and in need of support, please contact the Crisis Clinic at 866-427-4747.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

April 2020

25

HOME ORGANIZATION

Your Organized Life Home Electronics

by Johnna Masterson Central Park Resident and Owner of Inspired and Organized

Spring is here at last!

Beautiful flowers bring color and life to our gardens, and the bright sunshine is finally warming our faces.

To me, it always feels like a brand-new year starts right around this time. We can take advantage of this surge in energy by using some of it to keep moving forward on our home organizing projects.

This month, we will tackle something every household deals with: electronics.

Electronics are a huge part of our society. We are surrounded by televisions, gaming systems, phones, Bluetooth devices, home security systems, toys, and more.

And almost every device needs its own special charging cord and accessories. Wouldn’t it be great if someone developed a universal system? Until that happens, I am here to give you some tips to tame the cord-clutter.

Step one: Every time a new device comes into your home, take the cord and label it immediately. You can use a label maker or plain white electrical tape. By doing this, you will drastically reduce your miscellaneous cords. Next, go through the cords you already have. Start small. Label the cords you know well and work out from there. While you do this, choose one place for all your cords and accessories.

Every time you have a few minutes, go there and start sorting a little more. You’ll be to the bottom of that crazy pile in no time at all.

Next, I want you to choose a place in your home that will act as a “family charging station,” where multiple charging cords are connected to one main charging device. I use a product called All Dock, but there are many options out there. Once everything is set up, make a rule that cords will never be removed. Believe me, it comes in handy. The family charging station also helps if you set (or want to set) boundaries around electronics. It’s especially helpful if you have your family earn screen time, or if you are a family that restricts phone use at night. It becomes the area where all these devices can “rest and recharge,” and it supports

WHERE TO:

RECYCLE YOUR HOME ELECTRONICS

Keep your charging cords organized with a designated "family charging station." Photo by Johnna Masterson.

our seemingly constant battle of establishing healthy device usage habits.

Eventually, all these cords and electronics will come to the end of their lifecycle. Whether that means they break, we upgrade, or they stop working properly, we should have a plan in place to recycle or dispose of them properly.

Recycling our electronics reduces clutter in our homes, conserves natural resources, keeps reusable materials out of landfills, and ensures that the hazardous materials they

contain do not contaminate our air, water and soil. See below for a few ways you can be mindful and responsible when ridding your home of old electronics.

I hope these tips help you feel less overwhelmed and give you ideas on how to help your family, the environment, and those in need. Stay tuned, because next month I have some fun ways to succeed in our next area – clothing!

Recology

Secure the Call

recology.com/recology-cleanscapes/Issaquah Request a special item pick-up of small appliances and electronics weighing less than 60 pounds. You must request this pick up in advance and will need to place the item(s) on top of your blue container on pick-up day.

securethecall.org Collects old, unwanted cell phones and distributes them to individuals that are at high risk for needing emergency services.

1 Green Planet 1greenplanet.com Their rule is “if it’s over 70% metal and/or has a cord attached, we can recycle it!” Most items are free to recycle at their Renton drop-off location, and they offer secure data destruction. If you have a large load, you can schedule a pick-up. See their website for additional paid options.

Best Buy BestBuy.com You can recycle up to three small items per day. See their website for limitations.

SecondWave Recycling secondwaverecycling.com Proceeds from recycled phones, tablets and laptops are donated to charity partners like St. Jude’s and the Wounded Warrior Project.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence ncadv.org/donate-a-phone Partners with Cellular Recycler to receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of refurbished cell phones, laptops and video game systems.

Resources compiled by Johnna Masterson.

26

April 2020

Issaquah Highlands Connections

HOLIDAYS IN THE HIGHLANDS

Once Upon a Ramadan Moon New moon, new month, new beginnings. This month, the moon will be born on Friday, April 24, marking the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, year 1441 in the Muslim lunar calendar.

“Oh, you who believe, fasting

by Nada Alwarid has been prescribed upon you, Issaquah Highlands Resident as it has been prescribed upon those who came before you, so that you might attain piety/God consciousness.”

– Qur’an [2:183] God honored this month with this 30-day fast because He chose it to reveal the final testament – the Qur’an – to Prophet Muhammed through Gabriel, affirming and completing the message of prophets and messengers preceding him, in the Abrahamic lineage.

Able-bodied Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining physically from all food and drink and spiritually from illtalk, unfavorable actions, and impure intentions. Instead, their souls are to be soaked with acts of worship: prayers, charity giving, community building, etc. The true challenge in fasting during Ramadan is the spiritual aspect: the struggle against oneself to maintain patience, despite life’s misfortunes.

Children, pregnant, nursing, and menstruating women, the elderly, travelers, or those with chronic health conditions cannot fast.

Ramadan’s spiritual goals align with Pope Francis’ call in his Ash Wednesday speech to give up internet trolling for Lent this year: "[It] is a time to give up useless words, gossip, rumors, tittle-tattle, and speak to God on a first name basis…We live in an atmosphere polluted by too much verbal violence, too many offensive and harmful words, which are amplified by the internet. Today, people insult each other as if they were saying 'Good Day.'" Iftar, breaking fast at sunset, is quite a solemn moment.

The chatter of an “iftar party” is drowned by the observer’s connected state of being to God, as he or she make a short supplication while breaking fast (typically on a date or a sip of water). It is a profound moment of appreciation for not only having the means and food to break one’s fast, but also the ability to voluntarily hold a fast. The fact that so many people around the world are already in a constant state of hunger, do not have the religious freedom to fast, or aren’t blessed with good health to observe it, is not lost on many Muslims. In many ways, it is also a practical lesson in counting one’s blessings and not taking things for granted.

Muslims account for 1.9 billion of the world’s population.

They are a rainbow of races and ethnicities. And hence Ramadan’s cultural traditions and foods can look different.

This diversity is also reflected in our Issaquah Highlands microcosm.

Congratulations Alec Zimmerman Spartan Award Winner

Colonel Jon-Paul Mickle recently presented Alec, a junior, with the Spartan Award from the Airforce ROTC program at the University of Washington. This humbling honor is awarded annually to a ROTC cadet for leadership in all aspects of life.

Way to go, Alec!

Submitted by Renee and Eric Zimmerman

Wishing you and yours a blessed Ramadan.

“Ramadan Mubarak!”

(Top) An iftar dinner party at Blakely Hall in 2019. (Bottom) The diversity of the Muslim population means the foods at an iftar party can also be very diverse. Photos provided by Nada Alwarid.

They are a rainbow of races

and ethnicities...This diversity is also reflected in our Issaquah Highlands microcosm.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

April 2020

27

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS TRAVELS

Maia Travels Around the World South America: From the Magnificent to the Violent

by Maia Esbensen Roanoke Woods Resident

Welcome back to my article series about my family's yearlong, worldwide trip! In this article, you can read about our trip to South America, which I loved because of its character.

I feel like South America has kept its culture and has not become touristy – it is still unique and different from any other place in the world.

South America is not perfect, but that is okay and that's part of why I liked it.

Santiago, Chile

My family debated a lot about whether to go to Santiago or if we should rewrite our plans. This was because there were violent protests in Chile. Santiago is the capital city, so that was where the violence was mainly happening. After much going back and forth, we decided to go. Changing our plans would have meant losing money to go somewhere else. Also, we had made plans to meet up with my grandparents there.

We boarded the plane on the morning of October 22. It all seemed peaceful when we arrived. Our Airbnb host said we would be fine in our neighborhood, which was good news but not enough to completely forget we were in a war zone.

The president had called a state of emergency; we all still had doubts. I don’t think any of us slept well that night. Thoughts of violence, corruption, and lack of food all nipped at us in our sleep.

All the streets were somehow marked with the presence of the army. On some streets, large groups of men in full body armor and large rifles stood like statues that could awaken in seconds and everything would turn into chaos. We saw vehicles transporting prisoners, and other vehicles that sprayed throat-burning tear gas that made you enter a world of misery. The last vehicle sprayed high-blast water at people.

One day, with my grandparents, we decided to go to Valparaíso. We had lunch there and then got back in the car to go back to Santiago. We started driving along one road in Valparaíso. We stopped at a traffic light, and I turned to look out of the window. Every other person was wearing a mask. I knew something was wrong.

I learned what masks meant – people who wore masks expected tear gas and violence. They wore masks so that the tear gas maybe wouldn’t hurt so bad, and the masks would cover their faces so no one could see who they were.

As we pulled up to a large intersection, everyone in the car knew what was going on. Car horns beeping, pots banging and people chanting – these were all signs of a march happening, and we were right in the middle of it. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the water cannon. People near it were fleeing everywhere, but most people just went on chanting.

The pots banged in my ear. My dad, who was driving, said this was not good and we had to get out of there. People started to pick up rocks. Expecting the worst, I closed my eyes and lowered my head below the window. Finally, we maneuvered out of the large mass of people and sped down the road.

The television news was one of the primary ways we saw the destruction. On the last night of our stay, my mom and I sat transfixed in front of the TV, the news blaring on about the fire that we could see out our window. A subway station and a supermarket were set on fire, along with lots of other important buildings. We could see the red glow of the subway station and it looked even worse on TV. We watched stunned by the horribleness of it all.

Iguazu Falls in Argentina was “like something out of a dream.” PC: Moon/Esbensen

Iguazu Falls, Argentina

After a visit to Buenos Aires, we flew to Iguazu Falls. When I first saw the falls, I stopped and stared. The water cascaded downwards, struck the bottom hard and was launched into the sky, creating a refreshing mist. The falls were as large as two football fields. All the water in the falls, below the falls, and above the falls was white with froth. At the second lookout, we were down by the lake looking up at the falls instead of looking down. It looked like something out of a dream. The falls was enormous. After the white, there was turquoise blue. There was a little island in the middle of the lake that had a blanket of trees and bushes in all shades of green. As if it could not get any better, there was also a bright, shining rainbow that stretched over the falls and the little island. I made a mental camera in my mind and made a “click” sound with my teeth, wanting to preserve it in my mind forever.

Patagonia

After Iguazu Falls, we headed down to Patagonia and its snow. El Calafate was our first stop in Patagonia. El Calafate is the town nearest the Moreno Glacier. On the first day, we drove down to the glacier. As the big blue-white mass peeked over above the hills in the distance, an excited squeal exited our mouths. The glacier was incredible! If you were lucky, you could see a large chunk of ice plummet into the water, creating an enormous splash! As the sun squeezed its way out from the clouds, it would shine through the ice, making it look even more blue and chilling.

There was a little town called El Chaltén, famous for a tall, skinny mountain that towers over the already small town, making the town appear miniature. There are several trails and treks you can take to get a picturesque view.

During one of our hikes, we had to climb a practically sheer cliff that was covered in snow. My heart was pounding so loud it felt like it would pop right out of my chest. We made it though, and it was surely a hike I will never forget. The hikes were great until you got close to the end, then you just felt like collapsing onto the ground. My feet felt like they were being stabbed every time they touched the earth. As soon as we stepped inside the Airbnb, I fell to my knees.

Maia braves hiking the cliffs in Patagonia, challenging at any age.

PC: Moon/Esbensen

Walking on my knees for the rest of the afternoon was my go-to way to get around.

South America was fantastic! Join me next month to read and learn about our travels in Asia.

Update March 20: Maia and her parents took one of the last flights out of Morocco on March 15. They are adhering to the national lockdown in Spain.

Editor’s note: Visit issaquahhighlands.com/blog to enjoy more of Maia’s journal about her family’s trip to South America, including the beaches of Morro de São Paulo and Atacama Desert in Chile.

28

April 2020

Issaquah Highlands Connections

SCHOOL SPOTLiGHT | April Congratulations Issaquah Highlands ISF Grant Recipients Congratulations to Highlands residents, Brandy Falk, Dean of Students at Challenger Elementary, and Kim Goodman, fourth grade Grand Ridge Elementary teacher, recipients of Issaquah Schools Foundation “Spreading the Love” grants. ISF provides educator grants because of your generous donations. These grants pilot innovative solutions to benefit students across ISD. Interested in donating to “Spreading the Love” grants? Visit isfdn.org/ spread-the-love-2020.

End of Year IHS PTSA Angel Donations Needed The IHS PTSA Angel Program assists families in need.

Towards the end of the year, donation needs change, helping students through spring to graduation, allowing more time focus on academics. Monetary donations go a long way, making IHS families breathe easier. Senior Extras: caps and gowns, yearbooks, senior pictures, and the Senior All-Night Party are important, well-earned milestones for Issaquah seniors. The Angel Program wants to ensure qualified students don’t feel burdened by costs when participating in these cumulative IHS experiences.

Information: IssaquahHighPTSA.org/Page/Programpages/ Angel%20Program.

written and produced by Tracie Jones, Wisteria Park Resident

IHS Senior Scholarships The Issaquah High School PTSA awards multiple $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors who’ve displayed personal and academic growth throughout high school.

Scholarships are available for tech/vocational schools, as well as community colleges and universities. Applications are due April 20 to the IHS office or by email. Info and forms at IssaquahHighPTSA.org. Questions, email IHPTSAscholarships@gmail.com. The IHS Booster Club awards senior scholarships, too. Every spring, scholarships valued at $1,000 are awarded to select IHS graduating seniors. Applications, forms, and requirements can be found on the booster club website, IHSBoosters.org. Don’t delay – applications are due April 24.

Seniors: Community Service Hours Due for Graduation Promotion Recognition Time to finish those last few commitment hours! Seniors: report volunteer hours using our online forms to receive graduation recognition. IHS PTSA program is designed to recognize student service contributions throughout our community. Graduation recognition deadline: May 1.

Interested in sharing inspiration from community service activities? Questions? Email IssyHighCommunityService@ gmail.com.

ISD Resources Available for Students and Their Families During school closures, the Issaquah School District is providing resources for families that need them, including laptops and hotspots, two meals per day for students, and no cost childcare for specific groups of critical workers. To learn more or to take advantage of these services, please visit issaquah.wednet.edu or call (425) 837-7000.

Support ISF! Current circumstances necessitate ISF to reimagine their annual Nourish Every Mind events. In lieu of in-person community gatherings, they invite you to engage with ISF over the coming weeks via digital platforms to learn how they are working to provide resources that will support our students when they return to school. This extended break will certainly have an impact on students. ISF is working with the district and community partners to support kids during this time and upon their return to school. Your support is crucial to their work. Please like ISF’s Facebook page (facebook.com/ISFDN) and consider making a gift today online at isfdn.org/donate.

King County public and private schools, including Issaquah School District, are closed through April 24. Information provided at the time of publication may no longer be accurate. Check each school's individual websites for updates.

Taking care of the community, inside and out Swedish cares about the health and well-being of our patients, caregivers and community. With the continuing spread of COVID-19 within the U.S., we are working closely with the CDC, as well as state and local health authorities to care for affected individuals while ensuring the safety of our caregivers. We encourage everyone to limit personto-person contact to help stop the spread of this virus within our communities. Visit Swedish.org for more information and helpful tips to take care of yourself and your loved ones.

SWEDISH ISSAQUAH 751 NE Blakely Drive Issaquah, WA 98029 425-313-4000 swedish.org/issaquah

Issaquah Highlands Connections

April 2020

29

PAYING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL

The Need for a Schools Foundation Bringing Opportunity and Innovation to Our District The state provides funding for basic education, but I have yet to meet anyone who wants just the basics for their student. We want them to have an exceptional education, and the way to make that happen is supplemental private funding for our schools.

by Carolyn Kennedy Director of Programs, Funding for our schools is Issaquah Schools Foundation comprised of four general parts. and Summit Park Resident

1. Federal & state funding for the basics, including teacher salaries 2. Bonds & levies to build & renovate schools and fund curriculum 3. PTSAs that provide support unique to the needs of their school 4. The Issaquah Schools Foundation (ISF), which funds grants and programs that would otherwise not be available to the over 20,000 students in the Issaquah School District ISF started in 1987 by offering grants. Teachers often look for new ways to get the best out of students, and those ideas need funding that isn’t available elsewhere. The Foundation believes innovation is essential and provides funds to explore and implement new ideas in the classroom. Foundation grants often transform these ideas into programs and solutions that can ultimately be implemented across the district, multiplying the benefits to students for years to come.

Grant requests this year ranged from world language books and flexible seating options in the classroom, to Google Expeditions, a portable planetarium, a music artist, and even a life-size forensic mannequin. While these are just a few examples of current grants, past grants have included requests for Bee-Bots (providing coding basics to kindergarteners), a marimba set (at our very own Grand Ridge Elementary), a guitar making class, and an academic support program

Shop Dine Play www.downtownissaquah.com 232 Front Street North Issaquah WA 98027

eventually launched districtwide.

Technology Education & Literacy in Schools (TEALS) was an innovative idea brought to the foundation several years ago with the desire to bring computer professionals into the classroom to teach computer science. The Foundation helped launch the program in the Issaquah School District, and after piloting here, it grew exponentially. It is now run by Microsoft and supports 21,000 students in 625 high schools in the U.S. and British Columbia.

It’s an amazing example of what supporting an innovative idea can do.

While I have you intrigued about the support for innovation, I want to point out that the Foundation also creates access to needed resources. Even in a seemingly affluent area such as ours, there are families in need. Almost 2,000 families in our district identify as being eligible for the free and reduced lunch program. It’s hard to concentrate when you are hungry, and hard to participate if you don’t have the needed materials.

ISF helps students with basic support, such as food during the school day and backpacks with school supplies.

Whether you have a student at one of our community schools, or wish to support the child on your block, strong schools make for strong communities. Funding for the ISF and PTSA help provide programs designed to support student success and give them the exceptional education they deserve.

This is the last in our series "Paying for Public School." Also see January-March Connections at issuu.com/ihconnections.

Wine+Art Issaquah Pub Crawl Keep Issaquah Beautiful Day Flowers on Front Street Fenders on Front Street Gas Station Blues Confluence Music Festival Issaquah Goes Apples Farm Fresh Zombie Walk and More...

Volunteer opportunities available.

Donations are tax deductable.

Corporate donation matching welcomed.

(Top) Brooke Moore's class at Grand Ridge Elementary.

(Bottom) Molly Bankson's and Sarah Fulghum's classes at Grand Ridge Elementary.

MAY 16: FIESTA JULY 18: CARNIVAL OCT 24: ZOMBIE Check-ins start at 6pm at the Historic Shell Station

Tickets and information at downtownissaquah.com

S P O N S O R E D BY

30 April 2020

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Neighbors Helping Neighbors Coming Together in Times of Crisis This past February served as a reminder of the importance of community. Our neighbors in downtown Issaquah suffered life-changing loss due to the flooding of Issaquah Creek. A call for help was issued, and help came.

by Amanda Keverkamp CERT Team 9, Crofton Springs Resident

Over the course of a few days, Issaquah residents volunteered 400 hours, working shoulderto-shoulder with City teams to provide relief to flood victims. Issaquah Highlands residents were among those who worked tirelessly. They worked the front lines, filled sandbags, and cleaned up debris after the flooding subsided.

It was incredible working alongside Highlands residents, battling rain and wind during an evening shift to help fill sandbags under a single generator-run spotlight. Some were CERT volunteers, others were parents and children, and all were neighbors whose hearts ached for those experiencing crisis. At one point, our entire group was made up of Highlands residents.

Issaquah Highlands community, you should be proud! We can’t rest on our laurels, though, as our neighborliness is about to be tested yet again.

I write this article as public health departments of Seattle and King County announce the ninth coronavirus (COVID-19) death in King County.

In the initial 72-hours after the first death was announced, the region saw immediate reaction by people concerned by the unknown. An already-depleted supply of sanitization products was completely wiped out. People heeded the warnings of the CDC and King County Public Health to prepare as they would for an extended storm event and made quick work of clearing store shelves of Clorox wipes, Lysol spray, toilet paper, water, and canned goods.

But not everyone was so lucky. We passed aisles that previously had hand sanitizer and antibacterial soap, Clorox wipes and Lysol spray, only to see neighbors standing frozen in disbelief that there was nothing left.

“

As people tried to pepare for the virus emergency, empty store shelves left some neighbors in disbelief. Photo: Amanda Keverkamp.

It’s time to check-in on our neighbors. Put care packages together for those who are self-quarantined (soup, orange juice, and a box of Kleenex go a long way). If they are quarantined for the recommended 14 days, they might also need toilet paper.

Other ways to help include picking up groceries, walking a neighbor’s dog, mowing a neighbor’s lawn, and sharing childcare.

Emergency preparedness is all about preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. I hope we don’t follow the trend China experienced. Thankfully toilet paper and canned goods will keep (in fact, do save them for another rainy day).

No matter what has happened in the days and weeks since writing this, Issaquah Highlands, let’s commit to come together. Let’s help each other through whatever life throws at us, be it flood or illness.

A time is coming soon when our neighbors might need our help yet again. As of right now, I’m not sure what the next days and weeks will bring, but I do know that together we are stronger.

Emergency

preparedness is all about preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.

Visit issaquahcitizencorps.org for more information.

CERT Team 9 is the Issaquah Highlands-based group of volunteers.

Specializing in the Unique

Fine Jewelry-Estate Jewelry Custom Design Jewelry and Watch Repair We are a multidisciplinary group of therapists who provide comprehensive mental health services in a comfortable and supportive environment.

Individual, couples, and family counseling Parenting support & education Depression & anxiety Work & career issues Life transitions & grief counseling

Contact us at (425) 677-8686 or issaquahhighlandscounselinggroup.com

YOUR TRUSTED PROFESSIONAL JEWELER FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED 1440 NW GILMAN BLVD M4 - ISSAQUAH, WA

425-270-3411 | WWW.MARLOWSFINEJEWELRY.COM

Issaquah Highlands Connections

April 2020

RENTAL FACILITIES

DIRECTORY NOTE: All community offices and Blakely Hall are currently closed to the public.

Contact staff members by email or call each office's main line for assistance.

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION 2520 NE Park Drive Suite B Monday–Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm

MAIN PHONE: 425-427-9257 | AFTER HOURS: 425-223-8887 | IssaquahHighlands.com Governing Body Responsible for:

Property Management Enforcement of CCRs, Rules, Regs

Architectural Review

Common Area Landscape

Board of Directors ihcaboard @ihcommunity.org Jim Young, President Rossie Cruz, Vice President Dan Vradenburg, Treasurer Greg Underwood, Secretary Bryan Shiflett, Director Shiva Bosedevarahatti, Director Ben Rush, Director

Funded by:

Annual IHCA Assessments Neighborhood Assessments

Blakely Hall is Issaquah Highlands’ award-winning community center that feels like a luxury lodge. With a variety of meeting, art & dining spaces, an outdoor patio, and adjacent park, it accommodates groups from 20 -200. See BlakelyHall.com for more information or contact us with your questions.

Fire Station #73 Meeting Room Homestreet Bank

Conference Room 909 Northeast Ellis Dr. | 425-677-2210 homestreet.com/branches/issaquah-branch

YWCA Family Village

Community Rooms 930 NE High St. | 425-270-6800 ywcaworks.org/locations/family-village-issaquah

CONNECTIONS Connections: By Community, For Community Connections News is a nationally recognized monthly community newspaper written mostly by volunteer-resident writers, edited and published by Issaquah Highlands Council. Connections helps Highlands Council fulfill its mission to develop a vibrant and caring community committed to service, diversity, stewardship and well-being.

Join the Connections Team Highlands Council is always looking for volunteer contributors. Contact Nina Milligan, Communications Manager, at nina.m@ihcouncil.org.

HIGHLANDS COUNCIL Blakely Hall 2550 NE Park Drive Monday–Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm*

MAIN PHONE: 425-507-1107 | IssaquahHighlands.com Blakely Hall Social Programs

Community Garden Connections Newspaper issaquahhighlands.com BlakelyHall.com

E-Letter Official Social Media

Blakely Hall

2550 NE Park Drive 425-507-1107 | kim.k@ihcouncil.org | BlakelyHall.com

1280 NE Park Drive 425-313-3200 | eastsidefire-rescue.org/Facilities

Sarah Hoey, Executive Director | sarah.h@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1120 Barbara Uribe, Senior Accountant and Benefits Coordinator | barbara.u@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1123 Kristyn McKinnon, Accounting Manager | kristyn.m@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1117 Soledad Ruiz, Account Receivable Specialist | soledad.r@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1119 Blair Krieg, Community Manager | blair.k@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1121 Debbie Orosco, Community Manager | deborrah.o@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1134 Lyle Dickey, Landscape Manager | lyle.d@ihcommunity.org Matthew Hendrikse, Maintenance Facilities Manager | matthew.h@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1137 Billing Inquiries | payments@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1119

Responsible for:

31

Governing Body

Board of Trustees hcbot@ihcouncil.org Gary Ashby, President David Ngai, Vice President/Treasurer Ami Desai-Mehta, Secretary Kimberly Kapustein, Trustee Philip Nored, Trustee Jimmy Ochiltree, Trustee Anna Preyapongpisen, Trustee Larry Norton, President Emeritus

Funded by:

Sponsorships/Grants & Advertising Community Enhancement Fees (1/4 of 1% on sale of home) Retail/Commercial pays by the square foot, Rental Apartments by the door Christy Garrard, Executive Director | christy.g@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1110

Submit an Announcement for “Milestones” See your announcements published in the new life “Milestones” section of Connections. We accept birth/adoption, graduation, marriage, obituary and culturally-recognized life milestone announcements for Issaquah Highlands residents only. See submission form and guidelines at IssaquahHighlands.com.

Interested in Advertising in Connections?

For more information, contact Nina Milligan, Communications Manager, at nina.m@ihcouncil.org .

More information, ad packets/pricing, editorial calendar and electronic archives can be found here: issaquahhighlands.com/ connect/connections-news/ Opinions expressed either by paid advertisers or editorial content do not necessarily reflect the views of Highlands Council or this newspaper.

Highlands Council reserves the right to accept or refuse submissions, and to edit content. We also reserve the right to refuse advertising or content that in our opinion does not reflect the standards of this paper.

Nina Milligan, Communications Manager | nina.m@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1111 Michele McFarland, Controller | michele.m@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1108 Lindsey Pinkston, Community Program Manager | lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1109 Kim Ngo, Blakely Hall Specialist| kim.k@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1107 Vicki Grunewald, Communictions Specialist| vicki.g@ihcouncil.org Katie Cannon, Graphic Designer and Social Media Coordinator | katie.c@ihcouncil.org * Excluding holidays and private event closures.

HIGHLANDS FIBER NETWORK

Customer Service: 425-427-0999 | HighlandsFiberNetwork.com Jeremy Fallt, General Manager | jfallt@HFN.org, 425-394-4184

Governing Body

Board of Directors Tim Underwood Larry Norton Charlie Herb Allen Enebo Howard Kapustein David Ngai

  

@issaquahhighlands @IssHighlands @issaquahhighlands Sign up for our weekly e-letter at issaquahhighlands.com

GET INVOLVED Getting move involved in our community is a fun and easy way to meet people and contribute to the participatory culture of Issaquah Highlands.

Visit issaquahhighlands.com/volunteer/ for more information or contact Lindsey at lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org or 425-507-1109

EMERGENCY Emergency: 9-1-1 Issaquah Police (non-emergency) 425-837-3200 WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife 425-775-1311

Emergency Contact Number For after-hours emergencies not involving police and fire response or gas or water main breaks, contact IHCA at 425-223-8887

32

April 2020

Issaquah Highlands Connections

The Market Is Hot, The Time To List Is Now! Listing commissions starting at 1%, 2% and 3% options too New listing!

NEW LISTING! 1529 24th Ave NE

$989,000

$1,325,000

MLS#1567289

$885,000

MLS#1552829

4 Bed / 2.5 Bath / 2,640 Sqft / Buchan greenbelt hole

3 Bed / 2.5 Bath / 2,254 Sqft / Burnstead greenbelt home

Sold for $35,000 Over List Price!

1489 29th Pl NE

Multiple Offers!

2492 NE Ivy Way

MLS#1573413

4 Bed / 2.5 Bath / 3,214 Sqft / Captivating views

Multiple Offers!

SOLD!

1873 NE Kenyon Ct

$700,000

Sold for $40,000 Over List Price!

2317 23rd Lane NE

2048 32nd Ave NE

1733 27th Ln NE

MLS#1551921

$775,000

3 Bed / 3.75 Bath / 1,710 Sqft / Loaded with upgrades

MLS#1504969

3 Bed / 2.5 Bath + bonus loft / 2,080 Sqft / Seattle views

$1,525,000

MLS#1554791

$725,000

4 Bed / 4 Bath / 4,340 Sqft / View and basement

All Cash Sale!

All Cash Sale!

2430 NE Iverson Lane

1545 24th Ave NE

$30,000 Over List!

MLS#1554117

4 Bed / 2.5 Bath / 1,440 Sqft / Corner lot

MLS#1518922

$785,000

5 Bed / 3.25 Bath / 3,660 Sqft / Central Park view home

MLS#1524988

4 Bed / 2.5 Bath / 1,890 Sqft / Open concept parkside home

CALL (206) 890-6347 TO BUY OR SELL A HOME Preferred placement on Zillow & Trulia Open Houses/Brokers Open Unlimited Color Flyers Individualized Property Website Social Media Campaign Full Internet Exposure for your listing Professional HDR photography Virtual Home Tour 2 Listing Agents = Highest Level of Service Aerial drone photography

Professional move in/out cleaning as client gift Free staging consultation Zero pressure, 100% friendly, in home consultation designed to inform you about your options Local office next to SIP! Whole house staging Professional video production with narration Zillow video walk through RELOCATION CERTIFIED SIRVA, CARTUS, ALTAIR & MORE

Krista Mehr

Lynn Crane

Joey Dalupan

Krista Owen

Lisabet de Vos

Owner/Broker

Broker

Broker/Handyman

Broker

Broker

lynncrane.re@gmail.com

jdalupan@hotmail.com

206.890.6347

kristamehr@gmail.com

425.241.3225

206.437.0142

425.891.1545

photogbykrista@live.com

206.482.7211

ldv@lisabetdevosre.com

Carla Domingues Broker

425.614.6834

carlad47@outlook.com

Visit our NEW Issaquah Highlands Office located at 1114 NE Park Dr. - right next to SIP Wine Bar