September 2014

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ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY NEWS www.issaquahhighlands.com | facebook.com/issaquahhighlands

September 2014

Issaquah Schools Foundation • Halloween Preparations WHAT’S INSIDE? 4 7 8 11 15 16 19 19 20 20

Highlands Council Blakely Hall Art Gallery School Feature IH By Design Grand Ridge Plaza What’s Happening HFN News Sportshound IHCA Community IHCA Landscape

22 23 25 25 26 27 28 29 29 30

Ask Kari Volunteer of the Month School Spotlight Wits & Tidbits City of Issaquah Fitness & Health Living Green Photo of the Month Fashion Resident Profile

Photo by: Julie Clegg / julieclegg.com

BACK TO SCHOOL!

ECRWSS POSTAL PATRON 2550 NE Park Drive Issaquah, WA 98029

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

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September 2014

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Connections

FROM THE EDITOR Back to School: A “Story Problem” If you drive your car five miles an hour faster than the speed limit through Issaquah Highlands, how much faster will you arrive home (or going the other way, at the office)?

Only two miles separate Grand Ridge Plaza and the furthest diagonal point in Issaquah Highlands, Magnolia Park. If you drive at the speed limit of 25mph (the limit in almost all of Issaquah Highlands), you would arrive home in 4.8 minutes (not including stop lights/signs/giving way for crossing pedestrians at sidewalks). Now figure how long it would take you to travel that same distance at 30mph. You will find the difference to be insignificant.

However, the difference in safety is significant. Issaquah Highlands was built to be a pedestrian friendly and to be home to lots of families. “Doing the math” on those two factors = lots of people, many of them children, on and near our streets.

Now that you know the numbers, is it worth it to speed through Issaquah Highlands?

No, it’s not worth the risk.

Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest and brought it out of social media where it is all the chatter, let’s celebrate the season that goes by the name, “Back to School”. Please enjoy in these pages your fellow residents sharing their reflection of summer (Wit and Tidbits) or their anticipation of the school year (community quotes in feature story). Also see a new section, “Issaquah Highlands,

By Design” where resident Sierra Womack presents a series of stories explaining Issaquah Highlands’ origins. Welcome new members of Highlands Council’s Board of Trustees and meet our new resident/gardener/writer, Sarah Lally Brown, in the Living Green section. These are just a few of the great stories we have collected for you this month.

The cover was shot again by our own, Julie Clegg. Resident Issaquah High School students brought their school colors to Central Park for a “spirit photo” on a perfect day in August. The challenge was to convey action and emotion in a still shot. Julie combined props, colors and facial expressions to stage a scene that definitely says, “GO ISSAQUAH!” Doesn’t it make you want to go watch an IHS football game?

‘See you there!

Nina Milligan, Crofton Springs 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.

September 2014

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September 2014

Issaquah Highlands Connections

HIGHLANDS COUNCIL

New Look, Better Access to Resources: Busier than Ever at Blakely Hall, YOUR COMMUNITY WEBSITE YOUR Community Center

by Christy Garrard, Highlands Council Executive Director, Dahlia Park Resident

by Christy Garrard, Highlands Council Executive Director, Dahlia Park Resident

We hope by now you have browsed the NEW IssaquahHighlands.com. Launched in June, we love the new look and feel, but it is still a work in progress. Let me know what you like and what you feel is missing. Our goal in community building is to provide an online resource that you want to use weekly; keeping in mind this is NOT the IHCA website, so homeowner information and documents will still be found on IHWebsite.com. From the HOME page you can get to the IHCA website quick and easy.

Busier than ever. That is how Highlands Council answers the question, “How are things at Blakely Hall?” Blakley Hall will be closed for Labor Day and that will be the last “pause” the building has until…. Thanksgiving! From the regularly occurring weekly clubs and groups to the monthly gatherings the hall is busy enough – but add to that the special events and fun seasonal activities, too!

New to the Community? The September 18th Resident Orientation is for YOU and for anyone who has questions about IH living. Meet the community managers from the IHCA and the staff of Highlands Council as we outline the community structure, explain governance in an urban village, describe the various ways to connect with neighbors and if interested, volunteer.

The presentation is approximately one hour and then we take questions from the audience and one-on-one until all are answered.

Overloaded with Stuff? Mark your calendar for the 2nd of our two annual Community Garage Sales, Saturday, September 20th. The IHCA publicizes the event. You put up (and take down) signs to your location. If the weather is dry expect a BIG turnout of bargain hunters.

Halloween in the Highlands is coming!

Costume Swap! While you are organizing for the Garage Sale set aside old Halloween costumes and dress up clothes for the annual Costume Swap, Sunday, September 28th from 2pm – 4pm at Blakely Hall. Drop off your old looks at Blakley Hall beginning September 8th, Monday – Friday between 8am – 5pm and receive a pass to come back on the 28th and pick out a new look!

LEARN CONNECT EXPLORE LEARN Still trying to figure out the difference between the IHCA (HOA) and Highlands Council and why there even is a Highlands Council? Thought you moved to the ‘burbs but discovered it is an Urban Village and want to understand the difference? The LEARN menu offers answers to these questions.

Or maybe you want to use Blakely Hall for an upcoming event. The LEARN menu provides a simple online inquiry form that will get you a prompt response from staff regarding Blakley Hall availability and applicable rates.

CONNECT New to the area and want to meet other like-minded neighbors? Trying to recall where you read that thing about that person, place or event? The CONNECT pages will provide details about clubs, groups and meetings, give you access to a blog-style news section and present and past issues of Connections News that are easy to read on any mobile device. The CONNECT page also links to subscribe to the weekly community e-letter and LIKE the official Issaquah Highlands Facebook page for daily postings about notices and events from Highlands Council and on behalf of the IHCA. Both are vital to connected living in Issaquah Highlands.

Not sure who to contact about volunteering in the community? Under CONNECT you will find a Volunteer web form that will ask you a few simple questions about your interests. That web form comes straight to me and together we will find just the right role for your interests, talents, and time.

EXPLORE Family or friends visiting soon? Find a plethora of downloadable community maps on the EXPLORE page! Wondering if you have explored and tried out every park and playground in IH? The Parks and Trails page will provide a count for your comparison! Finally, web cams! Find the Park Drive and 25th Ave Web Cam and links to a really cool series of web cams throughout Issaquah. Great resources when the weather turns cold and the roads get icy.

We at Highlands Council will keep adding and enhancing the information weekly. You can email me your feedback at Christy.G@IHCouncil.org. In the meantime – go check out the COMMUNITY CALENDAR and be amazed at how much there is to do in IH this fall for all ages!

THRILL ISSAQUAH! Join the community zombie horde and FLASH MOB to Michael Jackson’s THRILLER at the Halloween in the Highlands Festival, Saturday, October 18th at NOON. FREE weekly rehearsals begin on Sunday, September 14th through October 12th from 5pm – 6pm at Blakely Hall. From elementary students to retirees our zombie horde is diverse! Beginners are MORE than welcome to learn this fun, but complex dance! If you just need a refresher or just love to hang out with fellow zombies – please join!

What’s NEW? Check out the centerfold section of each Connections for the complete list of What’s Happening in Issaquah Highlands. Peruse the Calendar at IssaquahHighlands.com. Sign up for the weekly Community E-Letter. Use all three to keep up to date on What’s Happening.

Wednesday Playgroup and monthly Pet Club are both back from a summer hiatus.

Bridge anyone? Resident Penny Storie is launching a monthly Bridge Club in September. The first game night will be Monday, September 8th from 7pm – 10pm at Blakely Hall. RSVP required by September 5th to pennystorie@msn.com. In October and following months, Bridge will be played the first Monday of each month.

Also new this month at Blakely Hall are toddler dance classes hosted by Emerald City Dance, elementary age tutoring services managed by Best in Class Tutoring, and children’s etiquette classes taught by Etiquette Northwest. These offerings from outside vendors, like Tiger Mountain Music Together toddler music classes, are fee-based and require registration. See their ads in this issue or visit their websites for more information.

On top of all this, Highlands Council staff is re-decorating the interior of Blakely Hall at the end of September and into early October. New paint colors and updated furniture are planned for this very well-loved and very well-used community center.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

September 2014

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HIGHLANDS COUNCIL

Highlands Council Welcomes New Trustees Highlands Council welcomed its newest members to the Board of Trustees at its July 30th meeting. Familiar to many in Issaquah Highlands, Stuart Johnson of the Ashland Park neighborhood fills the homeowner position opened by John Thompson. Jody Turner fills the High Streets Association seat vacated by Susan Terry. Many thanks are owed to John and Susan for their service.

The Highlands Council Board of Trustees is a self-perpetuating board, which means that the members of the board entertain nominations and then vote to confirm new members. The Board meets quarterly unless circumstances require additional meetings. Larry Norton (a homeowner) is currently serving as President of the Board. Meetings are open to the public, details posted on not only IssaquahHighlands.com but also in the weekly community E-Letter distributed on Thursday afternoons.

organizations, including both developing and selling software outside the company, as well as supporting the internal needs.

Stuart plans to use his knowledge, background, and experience to help the Council work on neighborhood activities, as he feels the Highlands-wide activities, such as Highlands Day and Green Halloween, have matured nicely and are working well.

Stuart’s term runs until 2016.

Jody Turner

Jody is responsible for Business Development and Physician Relations for Swedish Health Services in East King County.

In her role, Jody manages relationships with employed, affiliated and independent medical practices in the region and is a connection point for providers, community organizations and businesses to Swedish. Jody joined Swedish in July 2011 to help open the Issaquah Highlands campus and launch the physician relations program for the newly formed medical staff.

Prior to joining Swedish, Jody worked as a Physician Liaison at Washington Imaging Services, Assistant Director of Program Development at Stanford University and started her career in marketing and campus recruiting with Bain & Company, a management consulting firm.

Stuart Johnson

Stuart and his family moved to the Issaquah Highlands eight years ago and both Stuart and wife, Cyndi, have been active volunteers ever since. Stuart joined the IHCA Finance Committee and a year later became the IHCA Treasurer, just as the community was transitioning out of Port Blakely’s governance. He served on the IHCA Board for seven years until retiring from the board, a year ago, as Vice President.

Stuart’s committee assignment was the Covenant Committee.

The Covenant Committee serves the IHCA Board of Directors in enforcement of Due Process Requirements outlined in the IHCA Governing Documents. The Committee convenes hearings, as needed, to review disputed Sanctions levied by the IHCA against homeowners for violations of the Governing Documents. Stuart has maintained his membership in that committee even after leaving the board.

Stuart is planning to retire from The Boeing Company next March, after 34 years. His Boeing career focused on Information Technology, with the last 24 years managing a variety of IT

Jody and her husband Andrew are residents of Olde Town in Issaquah. They have two children, Jack (8) and Dillon (6) and love to run, mountain bike and hike as often as possible in the Issaquah Alps. Jody currently serves on the Board of Directors for ISC Gunners FC and is a Board Member and Vice President on the Parent Committee at the French American School of Puget Sound. Jody is a proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and a loyal Irish football fan.

Jody’s term runs until 2016.

Highlands Youth One Year Later - Applications Now Being Accepted

by Christy Garrard, Highlands Council Executive Director, Staff Leader for HY, and Dahlia Park Resident A year ago in September we accepted applications for a Highlands Council teen advisory board. Middle and High School applicants went through and interview process and thirteen students were selected to the inaugural team. The thirteen were almost evenly split in gender and grade level and represented a wide range of ethnicities and cultures that mirror the make-up of IH. There first assignment was to volunteer at the 2013 Green Halloween® Festival.

Next we met at Blakley Hall to assess our leadership strengths and learn about team building. The session was professionally facilitated by resident Deanna Carlisle. That afternoon, resident and former school teacher, Adam Gervais, took the students through a SocraticSeminar style exercise to allow them to create a mission statement and begin to consider what they would call themselves. It was a great day bonding and learning.

By January the students had refined their mission statement, named themselves, designed a cool logo, and began to plan the first HY event riding the wave of the Seahawks success! They accomplished more as a newly formed group of teenagers than some executives in corporations achieve in that short of time!

Since the beginning of this year the HY has hosted a Teen Tailgate Party to celebrate the Super Bowl, a very fun and high energy

Flashlight Egg Hunt, and were featured on KING 5’s Evening Magazine as they built the first nest of the week as part of Art Outside, Highlands Day Festival.

Attendance for their events, planned by teens for teens, have averaged 50 – 80 students.

Two of the inaugural HY board members are leaving – one to go to UW, the other relocating with family. The students serve two-year terms with the option to reapply until they graduate providing they are interested and in good standing with the group. If you have a student with leadership gifts that would like to apply for a board position have them contact me at Christy.G@IHCouncil.org. Student applicants must be in middle or high school and be residents of Issaquah Highlands. Deadline for applications is September 15th.

Current HY members include: Aadit Desai Mehta, Alexandra Morrey, Chloe Kilzi, Domonique Bolar, Jaydn Eigner, Larissa Kolsinski, Megan Kilzi, Rachel Rosewater, Robyn Davidson, Sahar Kazemi, Sean Davidson. Outgoing members: Bhavya Chhabra and Huston Warrick

Mission Statement: The Mission of the HY Board is to unify Issaquah Highlands youth through meaningful and fun social experiences; creating lasting memories and building pride in our community

It is not too early to book your holiday party at Blakely Hall!

With enough space to accommodate 200 guests in a cocktail/buffet format consider your community center as the ideal location for seasonal celebrations.

• Monday – Thursday: $100 per hour • Friday after 5pm, and all day Saturday and Sunday: $150 per hour • Complimentary set up time included in your rental • Janitorial fee required when hosting 50 or more guests (including children)

Visit IssaquahHighlands.com for photos, more information and to inquire about availability.

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September 2014

Issaquah Highlands Connections

HIGHLANDS COUNCIL

Halloween in the Highlands, formerly the Green Halloween® Festival.

Different Name, Same Great Day!

by Christy Garrard, Highlands Council Executive Director, Dahlia Park Resident

One week after Highlands Day, still in July, it began to feel like fall inside the Highlands Council offices even though it was near 90 degrees outside!

First, emails and phone calls from Highlands Day vendors were inquiring how to sign up for the October Green Halloween® Festival. If you have lived in IH for a while you know the annual fall festival is a wonderful community tradition. Sponsors and Vendors were eager to sign up!

Preparations must begin immediately.

Next we realized that our traditional date, the last Saturday in October, conflicted with Issaquah High School’s Homecoming Dance. If you have a high school student you know the dance is really an all- day affair of primping, pictures, dinner… and then the dance. And WE know that the majority of our festival volunteers are high school students. The date would have to change.

Finally, we learned that the national Green Halloween® program, a trademarked event that we have supported and been supported by for years, is on hold for 2014. The festival title will have to change.

Halloween in the Highlands Saturday, October 18th, Noon to 4pm Grand Ridge Plaza At press time the following plans are underway for Halloween in the Highlands: • ZOMBIE TROLLEY! Ride the FREE, old-fashioned trolley to and from the festival.

The Zombie Trolley will stop at various Park Drive locations between Blakely Hall and Grand Ridge Plaza.

• THRILLER Flash Mob! Rehearsals begin this month and everyone is welcome to participate, no matter your skill or age! Dress in your Zombie-best and pay homage to Michael Jackson with a festival opening performance of THRILLER! • E XCITING Carnival Games and Rides! Appropriate for little goblins to grown-up ghouls there will be plenty for every age to enjoy. Tickets and Unlimited-Fun Bracelets will be sold on the venue; cash and credit cards accepted.

Start planning your Halloween look; everyone comes in costume – adults and kids alike!

Consider volunteering, we will have about 100 3-hour shifts to fill on festival day (must be age 14 or older). Follow the festival on Facebook/IssaquahHighlands for exciting announcements, reminders, and updates about Halloween in the Highlands and general community happenings.

For vendor or volunteer information visit the Halloween in the Highlands page on www.IssaquahHighlands.com

All photos by : Julie Clegg / julieclegg.com

Issaquah Highlands Connections

September 2014

BLAKELY HALL ART GALLERY

Now Showing: Carol Ross The Blakely Hall art gallery, in collaboration with artEAST is proud to present the works of Carol Ross, one of the artists showcased in Blakely Hall’s Grand Landscapes show in August. The gallery is open during Highlands Council office hours, Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm.

Artist Statement, Carol Ross: “In second grade a teacher gave us an assignment to “look closely at something you haven’t looked at before”…so walking home that day, I studied a shrub called ‘Scotch Broom’ that filled a lot by my home.

From a distance I saw one thing and up close it was so different. This teacher taught me to ‘look’ at the world, not just move through it. And in looking I fell in love with color and shape and the emotional response I found. Depending on the light, the angle, the purpose with which you look at something….you see different things. Sometimes I see a landscape in a very realistic way…other times I am looking at the shapes and the colors and my focus changes. I always paint from Photographs that capture me in some way.

It might be the narrow strip of buildings on a horizon line, phone lines across a dark cityscape…or even the way the clouds seem to position themselves in the sky as if they are neighborhoods that houses could perch on. The one thing that catches my eye becomes the “Important Thing” in the painting. I hope you have a chance to come see my paintings…and find the ‘Important Thing’ that I was trying to capture in them…then go out in your neighborhood and look closely at something you haven’t looked at before. “

Artist Talk & Reception Saturday, September 6th 6:30pm at Blakely Hall Exhibit shows at Blakely Hall through Sunday, September 21

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September 2014

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Back to School!

by Nina Milligan, Highlands Council Communication Manager, Resident Crofton Springs

Issaquah Schools Foundation - Humble Beginnings Top quality schools have brought families to Issaquah for decades now. Why does the Issaquah School District rise above the rest? I would venture to say that the Issaquah Schools Foundation (ISF) makes a big difference.

Newcomers to Issaquah may take this fundraising, program-building powerhouse for granted. ISF raises well over a million dollars each year for our schools. The Foundation supports numerous unique programs such as National Board Certification scholarships for our teachers, the VOICE Mentoring program for our struggling students, and TEALS for technology literacy, just to name a few.

What role did you play in the Foundation?

Maureen and I agreed that only one of us would serve on the board. I served for one three-year term as President, intentionally serving just one term. I think it is healthy for an organization like the Foundation not to become a club but to be reinvigorated regularly with new ideas, energy and spirit. Maureen remained very much involved and we both continued to participate in activities for many years.

However, what is now a powerhouse had humble beginnings. It was simply about buying a new classroom rug. It turns out that you can’t just do that.

The Issaquah Schools Foundation was founded in 1987 by John and Maureen Shaw. John is an important member of our Issaquah Highlands family. John worked on behalf of Port Blakely to complete the development of Issaquah Highlands, ushering in Grand Ridge Plaza, Swedish Hospital and its future expansion, Bellevue College and more.

Two years ago John’s daughter Kelly D’Ambrosio, her husband Patrick and twin daughters Lauren and Jane, were looking for a place to settle down. They chose Issaquah Highlands.

Their choice exemplifies the nexus of qualities that the Issaquah Schools Foundation and Issaquah Highlands combine to make our community a top pick for so many families. Let’s find out more!

The idea for ISF grew from wanting to meet the unmet needs of a single classroom to meeting the unmet needs of all the classrooms in the School District.

- John Shaw, ISF Founder Nina interviews Issaquah Schools Foundation Founder, John Shaw: What triggered the creation of the Issaquah Schools Foundation?

Front from left to right: Maureen with twin, Jane and John Shaw with twin, Lauren. Back row left to right is Patrick D'Ambrosio, Kelly D'Ambrosio, Katie Shaw, John Shaw, Kayla Avenell, David Avenell.

Nina talks with John’s daughter, Kelly:

My wife Maureen and I were visiting our son’s kindergarten class when we noticed that the children were sitting on an old and tattered rug for story time. Besides the expected glitter and glue, there was dried stuff on it that we didn’t even want to identify. When we volunteered to replace the rug, we were told they could not accept direct gifts. We would have to make special arrangements with the District. It was while meeting with the then District finance officer about the steps involved that we started discussing the concept of a foundation.

Why did you move to Issaquah Highlands?

How did you get things started?

Maureen and I reached out to the Mercer Island Schools Foundation for information, which was freely and enthusiastically provided. Then we presented a proposal to the Issaquah School Board. They quickly concluded that a foundation was not necessary.

Having a great school district hugely impacted our decision to move back to Issaquah! We did not want to look to private institutions for a sound academic experience. Having been a teacher myself, my biggest concerns were class size (student/teacher ratio), the curriculum being taught and parent/teacher support of the schools.

That must have been discouraging!

How did the Issaquah Schools Foundation directly influence your decision?

Oh yeah! But not long after that conversation, the school district became embroiled in a financial scandal regarding an enormous budget deficit. Under scrutiny for the scandal, the school called us (the same District finance officer we had met with) wondering if we were still willing to spearhead the creation of a school foundation.

‘Nothing like a little scandal to get things moving!

We gave a little snowball a push in the snow and it has grown to be a giant ball.

- John Shaw, ISF Founder Was there always the momentum we enjoy today?

Once the school board and the district leadership embraced the idea of a foundation, they never looked back and provided enormous help and guidance. With their help, we attracted an amazing group of well-established school volunteers to serve as the initial board of directors. That group deserves all the credit for the success of the Foundation, along with each and every Foundation board member since.

We moved to the Forest Ridge neighborhood just over a year ago. Patrick and I wanted to buy a home where we could envision ourselves for a long time. I wanted a neighborhood where my children could play that was close to restaurants and shopping. Pat and I also hoped for nearby trails for walking our dog. Oh, and it had to be close to I-90, too! Bingo: Issaquah Highlands!

To what degree did the quality schools influence your decision?

I grew up in the Issaquah School District and enjoyed the positive effects of the Foundation.

Two years ago I was fortunate to attend the ISF Nourish Every Mind luncheon (prior to moving back to Issaquah) and was so impressed. The After-School Homework labs, which provides teacher-led, free tutoring for middle school and high school students especially caught my attention.

How did the early years of the Foundation impact family life at the Shaw home?

My parents were constantly volunteering in our classrooms, holding positions in the PTA, organizing walk-a-thons and other fundraisers, helping to clean up schools, coaching sports teams, and they knew all of the staff and administrators on a first name basis. In short, they were very present. They always showed up and “walked the walk”. And they would get my brother, sister and me to help with little projects for the Foundation, like affixing ISF stickers to the items the foundation provided to the schools.

What does the future hold for you and your children?

I look forward to my daughters going to Kindergarten at Clark Elementary School in a few short years and can’t wait to follow in my parents’ footsteps as an active member of the PTSA and as a school and district volunteer. That is a gift from them that I hope to pass along to my own girls.

*Kids in cover photo: Clockwise from the top: Tyler Milligan, Mohammed Osman, Emily Yoon, Larissa Kolasinski and Jadyn Eigner.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

September 2014

Student’s View on Back to School Aidan and Joey Aiden says, “Seeing my teachers” and his little sister Joey, “Can’t wait to see my friends!”

Tiffany “Joining student council.”

Nicholas “Finally going to kindergarten and being a big boy.”

Josh Zhanson (IHS, 11th) “What I am really looking forward to this school year is…..All the friends I’ll get to see again! Of all the AP classes I’ll be taking!

Hoping they’re going to be “A P”-iece of cake!”

Asia “Being at one school all year long.”

Aadit Mehta (Open Window School, 8th) “What I am really looking forward to this school year is teaching a football elective to younger middle school students. This school year will be my best year yet because as an 8th grader, I will have a lot more freedom and can make a lot more choices for myself.”

Bhavya (Skyline Graduate 2014) “What I am really looking forward to this school year is learning about subjects that I want to learn about. This school year will be my best year yet because I have the opportunity to thoroughly integrate myself in this new community. I’m entering University of Washington as a Junior.”

Connor “Meeting my new teacher.”

Dillyn “Nothing excited me this year…[but] I’m going to middle school [next] year!”

Ananya Sahoo (PCMS, 7th) “This school year will be my best year yet because I’m not a little 6th grader anymore! I look forward to learning new things, buying new school supplies, and meeting all my friends again!”

Gracie “Just not being bored all day long.”

Jade

“Making new friends and finally seeing my old ones.”

Larissa Kolasinski (IHS, 12th) “This year is my senior year (Senior Power)! All of my classes are going to be really fun and I get to participate in all the senior only activities!

And my sister is going to be a freshman so we will both be at the same school and on the same cross country and track team! I really look forward to seeing all my friends when school starts again because I get to see them every single day! I also am excited for cross country season and I can’t wait to dress up in spirit gear and cheer at all the football games!”

Sahar Kazemi (IHS, 12th) “This year will be the best year yet because it’ll be my senior year! It’s really the year where we all figure out what the future holds for us and it’s going to be a blast to be with everyone for our last year together. I’m really looking forward to our school spirit. We go insane during our games!”

Megan Kilzi (PCMS, 7th) “This will be a great year because I am not the youngest grade anymore; I’m in the middle! And I am going to be in leadership (I’m soooo excited)!”

Francesca “Getting closer to graduation and finally finishing high school.”

Priya Sidhu (IHS, 11th) “I am really looking forward to all of the extra-curricular activities that I get to participate in this year, including choral groups, swim team, and track and field. This year will be my best year yet because I will finally be old enough to drive myself to where I need to go, and as a result, I’ll be able to manage my time better!”

Parent’s View on Back to School Renee “I look forward to all the school sports, families getting together to cheer on the kids, and living school again through the eyes of my boys as they make great memories.”

Ami “After enjoying yet another wonderful summer with my kids, I look forward to having moments of reflection, contemplation and stillness.”

Kari “The hopefulness that a new school year brings; new classes, new friends, new experiences shared with others, new hopes and dreams.”

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Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Connections

September 2014

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ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS BY DESIGN

Owning Your Community: The Successes of Participatory Design

by Sierra Womak, Wynhaven I moved to Issaquah Highlands not too long ago. My first visit to the community felt like entering a storybook, almost like Universal Studio’s back lot. The homes were pristine, the sidewalks were teeming with families and cheerfully active people, where everything from the grocery store, to the dentist’s office was within ten minutes walking distance.

Through my time living in this community, I have learned a lot and have begun to appreciate the participatory design and sustainable urban planning that went into making this village.

The Issaquah Highlands is a thriving and functional community because it was designed with a thoughtful participatory design approach. It’s a lively, tight knit community that was purchased, planned, and built over the short timespan of twenty years by Port Blakely Communities.

Port Blakely, residents, and the City of Issaquah worked as a team to make the Issaquah Highlands what it is today.

Participatory design is a fairly new term in the design world, and is gaining momentum as of late. This type of design is collaborative and provides feedback and communication between the designer and the client in an effort to meet all sides of the clients’ needs. Whether it’s architecture, interior design, or urban planning, the designer and client work closely together to anticipate the needs of the ultimate user.

Over the past forty years, this design approach has been used in architecture, interior design, and urban planning. Issaquah Highlands is a remarkable example of urban participatory design, where the community has a voice when it comes to how this neighborhood is planned and built.

In 1989, Port Blakely, a generations-old, local timber company, purchased two thousand two hundred acres of land on the edge of the Sammamish Plateau. The land was known as Grand Ridge and included mining land and forest. Their initial vision was an urban village “…that emphasized the principles of new urbanism: walkability, sustainability, economic vitality, and community building.” (Port Blakely) The land was zoned the way majority of King County is zoned, which is one house per five acres of land. For Issaquah Highlands, one quarter of that land was annexed by Issaquah, making it city land and taking it out of King County.

At the same time, the development rights from the approximately 1,400 acres in King County were removed and added to the land now in the city of Issaquah. This process is referred to as a Transfer of Development Rights. After this process, the land in King County had no development rights and was deeded by Port Blakely to King County parks, creating the massive Grand Ridge Park. The land in the city of Issaquah had all of the development rights condensed into about one quarter of the land and space. This set the stage for Port Blakely and the city of Issaquah to enter into an agreement in which the city zoned the land

as an “urban village,” allowing for dense development. This was the first step in the planning process for the highlands.

With this zoning, Port Blakely worked closely with the City and the people of Issaquah to collaborate about their intentions for the land. Throughout a five year process from 1990 to 1995, Port Blakely kept the community informed by holding numerous community meetings, having open houses, sending out mailers, taking surveys, holding hearings, and providing focus groups to make sure the community’s input was taken seriously.

Once building came on line, a new builder would often hold a town hall meeting for the people of the community to communicate the details of their plans. During such a meeting, the community could express concerns, desires, ideas, etc. This kept Port Blakely, the builders, as well as the people of the highlands on the same page, and kept everyone connected and happy during this process.

The tale of the participatory design in the Issaquah Highlands doesn’t end here. Next month, I’ll be discussing disagreements during the design process, the high priority of sustainability within this community, as well as the purpose of the Urban Village Development Commission. Stay tuned!

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Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Connections

September 2014

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September 2014

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Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Connections

September 2014

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The Faces of Grand Ridge Plaza, September 2014

by Jennifer Hagge, Grand Ridge Plaza Property Manager

Who is inside? The people of Grand Ridge Plaza are neighbors who are looking forward to meeting you. Stop by and say, “Hi!” Read here about their personal side to glean perfect icebreaker greetings for your visit.

Jos A. Bank – Chris English

Strolling through Grand Ridge Plaza, on the hunt for a new suit and you walk into Jos A. Bank. As soon as you enter the store you are greeted by Chris English, dressed in the latest men’s fashion, and happy to make your shopping experience enjoyable! Chris is a dedicated sales associate by day and the lead singer of Scinite, an 80’s rock band, by night.

You may have seen him around town. His band has performed at both the Issaquah and Sammamish City Hall. Chris likes to get to know his customers, hear unique stories and exciting adventures. When not at the office or on stage you will find Chris writing music or cooking up some crazy idea for a future show.

Regal Threatre – Kurt Swedberg

A blockbuster just released, you have your popcorn and soda and now all you need is your 3-D glasses. You are greeted by Kurt, a member of the Regal Floor Staff team. Kurt is a long time resident of Issaquah and a proud graduate of Issaquah High School, class of 1999. Working at Regal since 2000, Kurt enjoys interacting with patrons, he considers ‘his customers’ and thinks of himself as being in the movie business. When not manning his post, Kurt enjoys weekly trips to Little Therapeutic Riding Center, watching TV and is a huge fan of WWE wrestling. A true film aficionado, his favorite movie is the Back to the Future trilogy; great cast, story line and action scenes – he gives it two thumbs up!

Jimmy John’s – Joey & Ben

Freaky Fast…answering the phone, taking orders, making sandwiches and always having a great time!

Joey and Ben are the Manager and Assistant Manager at Jimmy John’s. Joey joined the JJ’s team in 2008 and Ben started in 2012. Both have worked their way through the ranks, starting as delivery drivers, and thanks to hard work and dedication, earning their current positions.

Customer service is job one, greeting hungry patrons with a welcoming ‘hello’! They still get a kick out of people being so surprised with how fast they really are.

When not behind the counter, Ben enjoys relaxing at home with his girlfriend and Joey spends his off hours plucking on a guitar he built from scratch.

Doing Business Doing Business in Issaquah Highlands is a special section on IssaquahHighlands.com Check out all the businesses in Grand Ridge Plaza, Shops at Village Green, Swedish Hospital, and Discovery Heights, as well as those in the Home Occupation Districts.

A great resource for “shopping local”!

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Issaquah Highlands Connections

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS Artist Reception

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Artist Reception: Saturday, September 6, 6:30pm Blakely Hall

Free and open to the public. Please join artist Carol Ross for a discussion about her abstract painting process. Light fare provided.

Book Club

A 4th Thursdays atA7pm Do you enjoy reading AND sharing with friends? The book club is a great place to meet neighbors and explore a variety of books. We take turns hosting—all opinions are welcome! Please bring a snack to share. Dates sometimes change, so be sure to email lindsey8@gmail.com to get on the distribution list.

NEW! Bridge Club

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Monday, September 8th (thereafter, the first Monday of each month) 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Grab a partner or come solo to play a little Bridge! Bring your own beverage of choice and a snack to share. Everyone is welcome. RSVP by September 5th to Penny Storie: pennystorie@msn.com

Chinese Heritage Club

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Sunday, September 7th, 12:00 - 4:00pm A Blakely Hall

This club promotes and preserves Chinese cultural heritage awareness among the next generation for many local families. We welcome everyone interested in a neighborhood celebration for many traditional Chinese/ American festivals right at Issaquah Highlands.

Contact Hailain (lian_lhl@hotmail.com) or 425-633-0242.

Costume Swap Collection

September 8-26th between 8am - 5pm Blakely Hall

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Donate a costume – receive a pass to the Costume Swap on September 28th!

Costume Swap

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Sunday, September 28, 2:00 – 4:00pm Blakely Hall

Donate your child’s old costumes during the collection and receive an admission pass to the Costume Swap in exchange for your donated costumes/s!

Cub Scout Issaquah Highlands Pack 680 K

Garage Sale

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Community Wide!

Saturday, September 20th, 9:00am – 4:00pm

One of two annual garage sales in Issaquah Highlands, these are the only occasions which a garage or yard sale is permitted. The IHCA advertises the event; you provide signs to direct shoppers to your home/garage. Contact Whitney for more information at Whitney.W@IHCommunity.org

IHCA 2014 Annual Meeting September 24, 2014, 7:00 p.m.

IHCA Offices, 1011 NE High Street

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Mondays from 1:00 to 3:00pm Swedish Medical Center, Main Lobby

Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor, Tanya Parieaux, we are a network of volunteer knitters in many area hospitals, providing physical and mental support in a non-traditional 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

Latino Club

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Movie Night: September 11th, 6pm Located @ Alicia Spinner’s House

The Latino Club welcomes everybody who would like to celebrate and learn about Latino traditions. There will be activities for kids, adults and seniors. Open to all – join the fun! Interested? Contact Alicia Spinner alispinner@yahoo.com. Mexican Independence.

NEW! Little Mandarin Group

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Every 2nd and 4th Monday mornings Beginning September 8th, 10:00 – 11:30am Blakely Hall

Young children are uniquely suited to learning a second language. “Little Mandarin” will give young children the opportunity to learn mandarin through telling stories, singing songs and playing games. Witnessing your children learn another language is exciting! Welcome parents and their kids (newborns to 4 years) to join the group. Dates sometimes change, so be sure to email lian_lhl@hotmail.com to get the details.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS IHCA Architectural Review Committee Tuesday, 9/2, 6:00 pm IHCA Office

Communication Committee Thursday, 9/25, 10:00 am Blakely Hall

IHCA Finance Committee Tuesday, 9/9, 5:30 pm IHCA Office

Highlands Youth Advisory Board Monday, 9/29, 4:00 pm Blakely Hall

Event Planning Committee Tuesday, 9/16, 4:00 pm Blakely Hall IHCA Board of Directors Wednesday, 9/24, 5:30 pm IHCA Office

Join us for a Seminar on how to tell if and when parents need home care and alternatives to home care. Participants will receive a useful home assessment worksheet that will help identify any care needs from family members or from home care providers. Mike and Patty Davis, Certified Senior Advisor will be presenting. Refreshments will be served.

Kindly RSVP: info@abc-eastside.com. http://tinyurl.com/ HC-seminar!

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September 18th, 7:00 - 8:00pm Civilized Nature

The Pet Club is a friendly gathering for those who enjoy learning and sharing information, stories, and experiences about animals. Enjoy seminars, discussions and activities about nutrition, health, behavior, training, social responsibility, safety and play. Bring your ideas for what you would like to discuss and share. IHPetclub@gmail.com

Photography Club

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Third Saturdays, September 20th, 10:30 - 11:30am Blakely Hall Enjoy monthly meetings with guest speakers, share and discuss your work with others, and participate in an online community throughout the month. Open to everyone, even if you don’t live in the Issaquah Highlands. IHPC will focus on creating opportunities for members to display their work.

See the Flickr Group (http://www.flickr.com/groups/ihphotoclub/) and contact the group’s coordinators to join the club. Scott Moffat and Ravi Naqvi at ihpc@outlook.com

Playgroup Returns!

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Begins Wednesday, September 10th, 10am and continues every Wednesday Blakely Hall Moms, dads, caregivers and their children (newborn - 4 years old) are invited to come to the Issaquah Highlands Playgroup for fun, friendship, support and socializing. We talk, laugh, sing, play, read stories and blow bubbles! We hope to see you there! Information, contact Alicia alispinner@yahoo.com. We are also on Facebook! www.facebook.com/IssaquahHighlands.coopplaygroup

Poker Night

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Thursday, September 25th, 7:00pm Blakely Hall

Love watching the World Series of Poker on TV? Want to win a chance to go to Vegas and play on TV against the world’s best players? Join us the last Thursday of each month for a $40 buy-in, No-limit Texas Hold ‘em tournament! If you are a novice wanting to network or a salty vet looking for some steep competition you’ll love our monthly club! Contact Henry hlh1969@hotmail.com.

Come join Cub Scouts – A year round values-based program for boys grades 1-5 and is considered one of the premier organizations that help youth build character and prepares them for adulthood. Scouting is learning by discovery and discovery by doing. It’s fun, friends, and family where skills are learned, confidence is built, and stories are born. For more information or if you would like to join Cub Scouts, please contact Pack 680 via email at scoutpack680@gmail.com or join us at our next meeting.

Community Garden Committee Monday, 9/15, 7:30 pm Blakely Hall

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Wednesday, September 24th, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Blakely Hall

Pet Club

Agenda: Approval of Minutes; Introduction of Board Members; Adjournment

Knit for Life

Options for Aging Parents

Meetings are subject to change.

See Calendar at issaquahhighlands.com for more information or date changes.

For City of Issaquah governance meetings, see http://issaquahwa.gov

Want to Start a Club?

Contact:

Brianna Eigner, Blakely Hall Manager brianna.e@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1107

Are you getting the Community E-Letter on Thursdays?

Sign up at issaquahhighlands.com

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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS Public Speaking Class Youths and Adults A T

Russian Highlanders

Saturday mornings 9:30-11:30am Lower Community Room, YWCA Family Village All ages 8 years and older are welcome! Let your voices be strong and mighty! Join professional mentors and learn the importance of developing solid communication skills. Drop-ns are welcome, or register with David Hall at orator@live.com or 425.427.9682

Resident Orientation

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Thursday, September 18th, 7:00 – 8:30pm Blakely Hall

Is for anyone who has questions about IH living. Meet the community managers from the IHCA and the staff of Highlands Council as we outline the community structure, explain governance in an urban village, describe the various ways to connect with neighbors and if interested, volunteer. The presentation is approximately one hour and then we take questions from the audience and one-on-one until all are answered.

Rovin’ Fiddlers

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Every Tuesday, 7:00 - 9:00pm Second & fourth Tuesdays Issaquah Highlands Fire Station First, third & fifth Tuesdays Issaquah Valley Senior Center

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Tennis Group - Ladies Meet Up

A The IH ladies tennis group is a non-competitive group so all levels are welcome - even if you haven’t played in a while and are feeling a bit rusty. Meet and connect with other IH women tennis players and come to have fun and stay or get fit! We also have a Facebook group page. Please join us there too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/570656519667143/.

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Sundays, September 14th - October 12th 5:00pm – 6:00pm Blakely Hall

Our musical group consists of musicians with varying backgrounds and abilities, playing a variety of genres, including traditional old-time (often with a Northwest flavor), Irish and other Celtic, Quebecois, Scandinavian and more. Besides fiddles, we welcome guitars, flutes and whistles, banjos, mandolins, autoharps, dulcimers, standup bass, and percussion. We try to learn new tunes by ear in a traditional manner; however, sheet music, including melody and chords, are usually provided. Club contact is Ken Neville ken_w_neville@yahoo.com

Running Club

Russian Highlanders is a club for those who live here, just moved in or planning to move to our beautiful community.

Meet other Russian-speakers in your community for friendship! Gather with others who share the same goals and interests as you. Join Russian Highlanders Facebook page to see what activities are planned -- dining out, movies, kid play dates or just go out to have a fun. The possibilities are endless... http://www.facebook.com/ groups/rusisshigh/ Please follow the FB page for schedule changes or location of meetings.

Thriller Flash Mob Rehearsals K T A

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See Facebook for monthly event information

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The Highlands Running Group is a community for Runners who share in the passion of group runs! Weather permitting, we will typically meet up in front of the tennis courts at Central Park on Saturdays at 8:00 am. If you are interested in joining us or have questions, please contact Joey at jbc224@cornell.edu, so he can add you to the distribution list.

See Facebook - Issaquah Highlands Running and Multi-sport

Join the community zombie horde rehearse to perform Michael Jackson’s Thriller at the Halloween in the Highlands Festival, Saturday, October 18th at NOON. FREE weekly rehearsals welcome everyone from elementary students to retirees! Beginners are more than welcome to learn this fun, but complex dance! If you just need a refresher or just love to hang out with fellow zombies – please join!

Wine Club

Workout Warriors

A The club formerly known as Issaquah Weekend Walkers is now the Issaquah Workout Warriors. They now also meet up during week and hit the Zumba class, too!

Sundays 7:30am, Zeek’s Pizza (hills) Tuesdays 7:00pm, Zumba class Wednesdays 7:30pm, Zeek’s pizza (flats) Thursdays 7:30pm, Zeek’s Pizza (combo) Saturdays 9:00am Zumba class

The facebook group is now open so check in out and join in the fun! https://www.facebook.com/groups/531023903643201/ Check facebook for any schedule updates, but don’t worry about rsvp – just show up read to workout! Group contact is Michelle Champley at mchampley@gmail.com

Yarns & Threads Group

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Wednesdays & Fridays, 9am - Noon Blakely Hall

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

Zumba Class

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Tuesdays (7:00pm) & Saturdays (9:00am) Blakely Hall *Cancelled September 30th*

Get Ready - Get Fit - Go! Ditch the workout and join the fitness party at Blakely Hall! 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! For additional information, email (Cindy) at zumbawithcindy@gmail.com

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Friday, September 12th, 7:00pm Blakely Hall

Come out and meet your fellow wine lovers in the Highlands! Are you a wine enthusiast, connoisseur, or just a fan? We usually get together the second Friday of each month to discuss and enjoy wine. If interested please send an email to Dianne at danielsondd@yahoo.com for details.

Please RSVP the Tuesday prior to the event.

See the NEW Community Calendar at IssaquahHighlands.com Programming is appropriate for the following groups.

A Adults T

Teenagers

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Kids

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Fun for the whole family

CALENDAR HOLIDAYS

Labor Day

Monday, September 1

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

Wednesday, September 17

Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day

National POW/MIA Recognition Day

National Grandparents Day Sunday, September 7

Fall Equinox

Patriot Day

Rosh Hashana

Saturday, September 6

Thursday, September 11

Friday, September 19 Observance Tuesday, September 23 Thursday, September 25

Native Americans’ Day Friday, September 26 SAVE THE DATE

Halloween in the Highlands Saturday, October 18

Issaquah Police Town Hall Thursday, October 23

Telecommuter Meet-up Friday, October 24

OTHER FUN THINGS

September Birthstone Sapphire

September begins on the same day of the week as December every year, because there are 91 days separating September and December, which is a multiple of seven (the number of days in the week). No other month ends on the same day of the week as September in any year.

“September” comes from Latin for “seven” septem, because it was originally the seventh of ten months on the oldest known Roman calendar. (Wikipedia)

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Issaquah Highlands Connections

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HIGHLANDS FIBER NETWORK

Judicious Internet Viewing

This article appeared in Connections a few years ago, and is still timely…

- Frank Pineau Issaquah schools will open September 3rd, and children will be using the Internet and the Highland Fiber Network for homework projects again! There is a staggering assortment of research and recreational opportunities on the Internet, including inappropriate and inaccurate web sites. How can we protect children from these sites? The first step is clear communication about household values and rules and the importance of verifying facts.

Information found on the Internet that is valid and accurate should be supported by reliable references. Government and educational sites generally supply factual information. Many articles and blogs on the Internet are inaccurate; so only use those with verifiable references. Legitimate organizations, such as The American Heart Association, Encyclopedia Americana and major newspapers, can usually be relied on to provide information supported by facts. Wikipedia content is generally accurate, but be aware the general public authors it.

Always consider the reliability and trustworthiness of all information.

The inappropriateness of a website is much more subjective and personal. Most software programs have “parental controls” allowing for the control of content, and key on specific words or key phrases. Look for these items under System Preferences, or in the programs themselves.

As you hear in the news, many children don’t understand the potential dangers of social networking online and need parental guidance and involvement to supplement their burgeoning skills.

Communication, trust and involvement are often sufficient, but it’s always a good idea to check on their activity occasionally.

HFN’s super-fast, affordable and practically limitless Internet service guarantees that the Internet is wide open for you and your family! This makes monitoring and helping children use the Internet wisely (without being the Internet cop!) even more important.

Depth – Devoted Dynamics

by Aadit Desai Mehta, IH Sportshound, Eighth Grade, HY Board Member Their primary wide receiver for most of the season. A slot cornerback.

A special teams stud. A starting cornerback for a portion of the season. 1,739 snaps from what was already the weakest link for the champions. Three starters on the defensive line. If I told you that one NFL team lost all of that in free agency, your reaction would most likely be, “They’ll be terrible next year!”

Well, not the Seattle Seahawks. One of the main reasons the Seahawks won the Super Bowl wasn’t because of their thrashing running game or pinpoint passing game, or even their suffocating defense, nor was it because of the Legion of Boom. It was because of their depth.

We’ve all heard about Russell Wilson being a third-rounder, and Richard Sherman being a fifth-rounder, rising up to become among the best at their respective positions. That’s fantastic. Pete Carroll, Paul Allen, and John Schneider all deserve credit. But there were many more unheralded stories that went untold. Here are a couple cases. When Brandon Browner, the aforementioned starting cornerback was suspended for the rest of the season, the Seahawks didn’t scramble to find a replacement. Instead, they relied on their “Next man up” mantra, and sixth-round pick Byron Maxwell stepped up and earned himself a starting job.

When the offensive line was decimated by injuries, Michael Bowie, a seventh-rounder, and Alvin Bailey, an undrafted rookie free agent (UFA), stepped up and shouldered the load for a unit responsible for protecting Russell Wilson and opening holes for Marshawn Lynch.

(Note: Bowie has since been cut.) Jermaine Kearse, a homegrown UFA out of the University

of Washington, and Doug Baldwin, another UFA, both stepped up and elevated a once called “pedestrian” unit to above-average, even with the Seahawks prized acquisition Percy Harvin injured.

This year, that depth will be tested. Players who have been injured, such as Korey Toomer (reportedly looking fantastic this offseason) and rookies like Cassius Marsh (a rookie out of UCLA with a relentless motor), Justin Britt (he is pushing for a starting tackle job) and Paul Richardson (the team’s second-round blazer) will all have to contribute. They may not all become starters immediately, but they will need to play a key part this season for the team to be as successful as last season.

Other rookies that could make an impact this season are Kevin Norwood, Kevin Pierre-Louis, and Kierro Small.

Tiger Mountain Music Together

Sign up for a free trial class now!

Offering Music Together® classes for babies and pre-schoolers.

Classes held right on your doorstep at Blakely Hall and Swedish/Issaquah.

www.tigermountainmusictogether.com

This season, many have their doubts about the Seahawks. The most common argument is, “Look at what they lost in free agency,” and, “The last time anybody won back to back Super Bowls was in 2003-2004.” Well, the Seahawks would like to thank those people for their doubts; they use them as motivation. As one of many 12th men (and women) residing in the Issaquah Highlands, I carry my share of skepticism. But I also maintain that they could go all the way again. So: Go ‘Hawks!

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Issaquah Highlands Connections

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Back to School Safety and Etiquette It’s hard to believe summer is almost over and the kids back in school!!

While the weather is still good, many children and their parents will be walking or riding their bikes on the sidewalks. This means it can be pretty crowded at times. For the safety of everyone, please be sure to follow these sidewalk etiquette guidelines:

• Pick a side and stick to it – The unofficial guideline is that sidewalk traffic mirrors lane traffic. In this country that means stay to your right.

• Observe the 2-person rule – It’s nice to walk with your friends, but you can’t use the entire sidewalk. Unless, of course, you are traveling with small children or someone you need to protect on both sides.

• Be aware of personal space – Be mindful of umbrellas, book bags, wheeled cases and other extensions of your personal presence. No one wants to be “clipped” by your stuff.

• Keep pets on a leash – At all times.

It also becomes an issue when bicyclists take to the sidewalks and even though they are allowed to ride there, riders need to be considerate. Children that are learning to ride bicycles or are very young and/or inexperienced probably need to ride on the sidewalk (understanding that they have to yield to pedestrians). More experienced riders probably need to stay off the sidewalks when they get crowded. Riders need to follow the same etiquette listed above.

Some other basic considerations bicyclists should have if using the sidewalk are: • Go slow – This is the chief of all rules for riding on the sidewalk. You should never ride faster than a relaxed jog. The sidewalk is built for pedestrians, so you should not be going faster than them. Pedaling fast down the sidewalk is a good way to get hurt or hurt someone.

• Yield to pedestrians – if you come up behind people walking, be very polite and wait for a good time to ask them to let you pass. Never come up behind them yelling, ringing a bell or anything else that could startle or scare them. You are trespassing on their terrain so be courteous.

• Check every cross street and driveway – This is the dangerous part! Drivers are used to pulling all the way up to the road before coming to a stop and turning onto the street you’re following. Make sure when coming up to a driveway or cross street that you slow down and check to make sure a car isn’t coming. They aren’t looking for fast moving vehicles to be coming off the sidewalk, so you have to be watching for them!

• Only cross the street at crosswalks – A good way to get hit by a car is to come darting off the sidewalk into the street randomly. Again, remember that drivers aren’t looking for people to jump off the sidewalk into traffic randomly. If you need to cross the street, wait until you get to a cross walk and do it there. Remember the tip – make eye contact with the driver prior to entering the street. This way you know they are aware of you. This is especially an issue here at the school, Central Park, and by Zeeks so be aware!

• Be willing to walk your bike – If you regularly ride on the sidewalk, there are going to be lots of times where the best decision is to get off your bike and walk for a bit. This is usually due to congestion. When there are just too many people around that you risk hitting one of them, it’s time to walk. Constantly keep it in your mind that you can get off your bike and walk if things seem “iffy”.

Let’s all be safe and happy this school year!!

Signature Landscapes Grand Award for Swedish Issaquah Signature Landscape Services, Inc., one of five maintenance vendors at Issaquah Highlands, is proud to recently win the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals Grand Award in the Commercial Maintenance over $10,000 category. As many residents will recall, the Swedish Campus at Issaquah Highlands was completed in the Fall of 2011.

Also of note is the designation of the Swedish/Issaquah campus as a Five Star EnviroStar facility. The staff at Swedish/Issaquah worked hard to qualify for the 5-Star EnviroStar rating. The landscape was designed with sustainability in mind. Through the efforts of the development’s landscape coordinator, Liesl Zappler, a fully organic Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program was initiated on the property for long term landscape management care (Issaquah Highlands has had an IPM program in place since 2007 and applies it to all sites under IHCA management). Swedish/Issaquah is a beautiful site, well-maintained, and a showcase for the future in sustainable commercial and public area landscaping. View the entire article in the June edition of Northwest Landscape Professional at:http://www.mcamgmt.com/WALP/June%20 2014%20NWLP-web/index.html (see pp. 10-11 for Swedish Hospital) Signature Landscape Services is one of five maintenance vendors at Issaquah Highlands, with several others hired by condominiums or commercial properties. Signature’s tenure at Issaquah Highlands dates from January, 2011. The company is notable for its commitment to environmental stewardship through staff development and low-impact maintenance practices.

Signature Landscape Services is also a King County five star EnviroStars company (incidentally, another Issaquah Highlands vendor, PlantScapes, is also a five star EnviroStar company).

2014 Goat Program Sets New Acreage Record The very dry start to summer had a big impact on the forage value of grass and other vegetation in our goat-maintained open spaces. While they ate the grass down very well, they left more straw than usual. Dry straw is not as appealing as the usually greener grass to the goats. A result of this is both herds covered more ground more quickly, munching

their way across some 19 acres. Usual production is closer to 15 acres. While we ordinarily do not favor quantity over quality, the goats homed in on everything green in their tracts. Weeds and brush were favorite targets and were generally munched down quite nicely.

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ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Another Open Space Brush Management Season is Underway The rhythm of life continues in open spaces across and around Issaquah Highlands. With the approach of Fall, the timing is optimal for certain woody brush control, including the felling of unwanted volunteer trees (and landscape trees that have overgrown their space). Regular readers recall this is the time of year when IHCA groundskeepers are working on their mileslong circuit of buffer areas and larger open space tracts to bring order back to these spaces. New residents are urged to remember that Issaquah Highlands is a vast community surrounded with 1,200 acres of open spaces. For the available budget, it is not possible or even desirable to visit every mile or acre every year. Instead, we visit them in a rotation, allowing things to grow some until we return, taking the brush and trees back down again. We do almost all of this work with no herbicides whatsoever and timing is key our success.

For 2014, our focus will include the huge Division 70 slope (along 30th and Harrison) and Village Trails Park, among others. Also, the quaking Aspen along the trails in Dahlia Park will need to go. Large, fast-growing and with aggressive roots we have removed quite a few already but the balance will all go this year. Replacement trees will be better suited to the narrow planting spaces and close proximity of houses, utilities and streetlights.

IHCA 2014 Annual Meeting September 24, 2014, 7:00 p.m.

IHCA Offices, 1011 NE High Street Agenda: Approval of Minutes; Introduction of Board Members; Adjournment

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ASK KARI Dear Kari, I need some advice on to how to deal with a colleague at work who texts and calls me late at night. I think that she is lonely and needs some kind of social connection, but I have a full work schedule and a home life and I am growing tired of feeling like I need to respond to her. Plus, my wife is not keen on her contacting me anymore. How can I get her to stop leaning on me for support?

- Not Feeling Friendly Dear Not Feeling Friendly, It sounds like your co-worker is lonely and is leaning on you for support. I suggest that you establish your professional boundaries as soon as possible before she causes challenges both at work and home. I recommend that you do not respond to her calls and texts. Instead, practice your normal professional behavior with her and communicate with her only as needed for work. Hopefully, she will begin to understand that you are not available to serve as her support system and will turn her attention elsewhere.

- Kari

Dear Kari, I have a teenage daughter that loves fashion. Unfortunately, she is drawn to wearing outfits that show off more of her body than I would like. She thinks that I am “too conservative”. I feel that she is sending out the wrong message to others through her choice of clothing. How can we come to an agreement of peace within our family?

- Buttoned Up Mom Dear Buttoned Up Mom, I know that it can be tough to navigate allowing our children the room to develop their own sense of self while also protecting them. I suggest that you let your daughter know that you appreciate her sense of style but also want to protect her from other people making judgments on her simply based on her choice of clothing. Encourage your daughter to develop her own sense of flair by picking a piece of clothing or an accessory that becomes her special signature statement of style.

- Kari

Dear Kari, My husband and I went to a party in our neighborhood recently at our good friends’ house. I knew almost everyone in attendance and I was having a good time until the hosts decided that we needed to play an adult game of spin the bottle. I found myself in a position that was very uncomfortable, as I know all these people very well, and by no means did I want to kiss them. I was shocked that my friends would suggest that we entertain ourselves by engaging in such a game. My husband and I left pretty soon after the game started, but now I am struggling with how to interact with everyone who was at the party and participated in the game. Our kids play together, how can I look at them knowing that they engaged in kissing someone other than their spouse? I am so confused by this, I truly don’t know what to do or how to feel about the situation at this point. Please help me figure this out.

- Neighborly Confusion Dear Neighborly Confusion, My goodness, you went to quite a party! I do not recommend that adults engage in such behavior, especially when they are so closely connected by their home location and their children’s activities. No good will come from it. You made the right decision by leaving the party early and ending your involvement in a potentially very uncomfortable situation. I recommend that you treat your friends as you had prior to the party; they are the same people even if they engaged in behavior that you did not agree with or wanted to participate in. Since you left the party early, you don’t really know how far anything went (nor do you probably want to know), so I would move forward and ignore this unique social situation as a one-time only occurrence.

- Kari Kari O’Neill, MSW, LICSW, is a licensed independent clinical social worker and 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.

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VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Bhavya Chhabra Volunteer of the Month – September 2014 The Issaquah Highlands is awesome. Be part of it.

Really, that’s what this entire volunteer of the month speech boils down to. Not because it’s cheesy, or cliché, or something I’m obligated to say, but because it’s true.

In 2005, when we first moved to the Issaquah Highlands, I was in 4th grade. Being a 4th grader was hard. Learning about math and grammar and history really does tire an eight-year-old out. Combine that with a new community where everyone knew each other and you had yourself a very intimidated kid who wanted to make friends and have a voice. I started exploring the community. Because that’s what community is: A place to make friends and, more importantly, connections with the world one lives in.

Now coming up on the 2014-2015 School year, at 17 years old, I’m going to the University of Washington. These past years have been a journey that I still plan to continue well into the future. Growing older with the Highlands, I did whatever I could to make sure that I had made a difference. I have been in the Highlands Soccer Club for nine years now, evolving from a player to a coach. I served as the Co-President of the HY, a growing teen voice for the community in its inaugural year. I involved myself in ways I didn’t think I was capable of: including being a DJ at HY events, a representative

for HY for King 5 Evening Magazine, and donning a stretch suit for Grand Ridge Plaza. Specifically, the HY means so much as a communication device to and between the growing teen voices in our community. It’s an avenue to make a ton of friends and to be part of a bigger cause: A means through which I felt myself essential to the community.

4th grade me would be proud.

Belonging is a feeling that everyone is familiar with and, at some point, is a feeling that many strive for. I am so content and privileged that I was given the opportunity to be part of this community in such a big way. I think I speak for everyone when I say that, now, we always have a constant stream of things to take care of: For me, as a student, it was grades, being in clubs, volunteering in drives and after-school activities, sports, resumes, jobs, thinking about college, and hanging out with friends, among a myriad of other responsibilities. Volunteering in the community gave me solutions, connections, and experiences, while having a gigantic effect on the people around me. I’m happy to say, that I’m a resident as well as a participant in this community.

I think the Issaquah Highlands is well named, because whenever I’m here, I feel like I’m on top of the world.

Bhavya Chhabra Volunteer of the Month takes time for a quick picture at Highlands Day.

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SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT

by Leslie Warrick, Ashland Park

First Day of School September 3, 2014 Did you know that your MS or HS student will be attending school 45 minutes later on Wednesdays? Some education advocates have been patiently waiting for this, as the push to get ESHB 2261 implemented has been a long journey. In the Washington State Legislative Session in 2009, it was mandated that the minimum instructional hours in WA State public schools be increased for students in grades 1-12. According to RCW28A.150.220(2), districts must meet 1,000 hours of instructional hours for grades 1-8, and 1,080 hours for grades 9-12. The Issaquah School District has decided to implement these changes one year ahead of schedule and to encompass more grade levels than what the state law requires. This Issaquah School District Administration made this decision in the collaboration with the Issaquah School Board and the Issaquah Education Association; now that’s teamwork! You can visit the Issaquah School District website for more information about this topic at www.issaquah.wednet.edu Issaquah PTSA Reflections Art Competition It’s not too early to start on your Reflections project! The 2014-2015 Reflections Art Contest theme is “The world would be a better place if…“ Entries from all grades and all abilities are welcome in the following six categories: Visual Arts, Literature, Dance Choreography, Film Production, Photography and Music Composition. Student entries will be collected soon after school begins in October.

Great Schools Happen Because of You! What makes a great school district? Community support is crucial in maintaining the excellent schools that Issaquah is renowned for! Don’t forget, there are three ways you can support your schools to kick-start the school year. First, join your PTSA – your PTSA funds educational programs that our state does not pay for. In addition, the PTSA is the strongest and largest advocacy group which advocates for the welfare of our students in Olympia. Second, donate to the Issaquah School’s Foundation. All in for Kids Annual Fund Campaign this is this Fall. The final thing you can do is, learn about VIS (Volunteers for Issaquah Schools) and their important work in supporting education. Visit their website at www.visvote.org for more information.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

Attention Middle School and High School Parents: Increased Instruction Hours – Wednesdays!

Grand Ridge Elementary 9/2 9/3 9/23

9/26

Meet Your Teacher/Welcome Back Social: 3:00 – 5:30pm First Day of School Curriculum Night: Grades 3-5 6:00-6:45pm Grades 1-2 7:00-7:45pm Picture Day

9/2 9/3 9/4 9/18

Meet the Teacher Day – check website for details and time First Day of School for Grades 1-5 First Day of School for Kindergarten Curriculum Night 6:00pm – 8:00pm.

9/3 9/12 9/16 9/18

First Day of School Back to School Family BBQ, 5:30 - 7:30pm Curriculum Night, 7pm PTSA First Meeting, 12:30 - 2:00pm in the PCMS library

Clark Elementary

Pacific Cascade Middle School Issaquah High School

9/3 9/4 9/5 9/9

First Day of School – Modified Schedule (check online for schedule) Picture Day First Home Football Game –vs-Skyline at 7:00pm Curriculum Night at 6:30pm

Grand Ridge Elementary Meet Your Teacher on September 2 from 3:30pm – 5pm.

Attention GR parents/guardians: you don’t want to miss this year’s “Welcome Back” event for all parents and students.

The “Meet Your Teacher” event will start at 3:00 until 3:30.

The 2014-2015 GR PTSA hosts a Welcome Back Social immediately following.

WITS AND TIDBITS

Exchanging Plowshares For Polygons

by Tami Curtis, Two-Slides or Summit Park

The concept of childhood is a relatively recent one in the past 100 years or so. With a few exceptions since the industrialized era, we’ve created a cultural expectation that children under the age of 15 should indulge in long periods of leisure time without much responsibility, schedule, or hard work. We now raise our children to spend their summers exploring, experiencing and getting lost in thought, more than laboring in drudgery. In general, apart from some perfunctory chores like unloading the dishwasher, running some loads of laundry, making beds and caring for the family pet, kids don’t spend their summertime working to feed hungry mouths. In the Highlands, however, summertime is spent feeding hungry minds.

If I went door-to-door in my neighborhood and asked what kinds of activities parents lined up for their kids the past few months, there would be reports of pool memberships, vacations with the grandparents, and Science Camp. I would find an assortment of leisure activities paired with educational activities. In place of mucking stalls or picking crops on a farm, kids are learning HTML and marine biology. Twelve-year-olds are more likely to be found logging on to an online Spanish course instead of chopping logs for firewood.

Highland parents seem to waste no time finding activities that bring fun and learning together in ways that will hopefully benefit their children’s development and future. We all know our darlings are capable of whiling away the summer toggling between Xbox and Netflix (pushing every parent’s buttons in the meantime), and wasting every brain cell lodged between their ears.

Some would say our culture has had enough of long luxurious childhood summers and would prefer to return to an era of minimal idle time. Some would claim that we have overindulged several generations of children who grew up to be lazy and unprepared young adults. Will it be that within the next generation our youth will exchange repose for recitals, leisure for learning, and fun for photosynthesis workshops?

I’m not convinced either extreme is the way to raise kids. Complete and constant engagement in academic pursuits can be stressful and is suitable for a minority of agile minds. Let’s go with a farming analogy. In working with crops, farmers periodically set aside their fields for fallow time to regenerate the soil’s nutrients, so the next season they will bounce back with abundance. Let’s say our minds work the same way as these fields. If we push them too hard

our “crops” become weaker and less abundant. If our children are given no time to relax, they may experience “crop” burn-out. Studies show that great creativity comes under circumstances where the mind is peaceful and not randominzed in multitasking. We all do our best thinking in the shower after all, right? It would be nice to spend the entire summer in a state of creative receptiveness -- as if we were in a two-month-long shower -- but that is easier said than done.

Being engaged in creative thought is a discipline unto itself and requires diligent practice. The other extreme of allowing our kids to do absolutely nothing over the course of summer seems erroneous too. After all, when we leave a field fallow for too long, it gets overrun by weeds and stubborn to return to planting condition. This fall when our students return to school, our teachers will know which “fields” were had been worked too hard season after season, and which ones were choked with brambles from lack of attention.

One of the most disputed topics amongst Highlanders is childrearing and how to best prepare our children for a productive future where they can positively contribute to society. Very few parents want their children rising at 5am, working their fingers to the bone all day just so they can collapse in bed exhausted and awake the next morning to do it all over again. Yet most parents know that leaving kids to their own devices means they’ll be on some electronic device all day “doing nothing”. Whether engaged in computer camps or backpacking, geology or GeoCaching, Highlanders typically put a lot of time and thought into their own approach to childhood. This September, will your children look back at summer having tilled their fields with vigor, or let them run rampant and become overgrown?

A two-slide park resident (Summit Park), Tami Curtis is mother of two middle school boys and can be seen running all over the Highlands with Lacey Leigh. Her very supportive husband, Glenn is a great fan and sounding board of her Celtic band, The Fire Inside.

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ISSAQUAH CITY NEWS

Reminder: Speed Cameras Along Second Avenue Southeast

A heads up to drivers: The speed cameras along Second Avenue Southeast will be reactivated Sept. 3, 2014, in conjunction with the first day of school, to increase safety and reduce speed violations near Issaquah schools.

The program was not active this summer, as the cameras only operate during school days from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. The cameras monitor both directions of traffic along Second Avenue Southeast near Clark Elementary School and Issaquah High School.

Only vehicles that exceed the school zone’s speed limit of 20 mph are photographed and videotaped.

Get Ready for Salmon Days!

Soon, our community will be teeming with activity as we host more than 150,000 people — and thousands of fish — for the Issaquah Salmon Days Festival.

Salmon Days, presented by the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, celebrates the annual return of salmon to our lakes, streams and historic downtown hatchery. Join us for the festival from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 4-5, 2014. Admission is free.

Salmon Days draws visitors to our community from throughout the Pacific Northwest to experience hatchery thrills and exhibits, browse works from artists and craftspeople, sample delicious Foods of the World, listen to live music, catch the Grande Parade, play on the Field of Fun and, of course, see salmon in Issaquah Creek.

Use #SalmonDays to share your festival experiences.

To learn more about the festival, visit the Salmon Days website at salmondays.org.

Before the $124 infractions are mailed to the registered owners of speeding vehicles, the Issaquah Police Department reviews and confirms each violation.

The infraction is a non-criminal offense that, like a parking ticket, is not part of the violator’s driving record. Those who receive an infraction have the option of paying the fine in full, requesting a hearing or submitting a “declaration of non-responsibility.”

For more information, visit us online at issaquahwa.gov/police.

Farmers Market: Convenient Parking Now Available Convenient parking is now available for our Issaquah Farmers Market visitors!

A parking structure near the market is now open. Visitors can park on the first and second levels of the structure, which is on the Costco corporate campus adjacent to the market.

A pick-up and drop-off location is available for customers’ convenience near the market entrance on 10th Avenue Northwest.

Our market is open from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 11 at the Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave. N.W. For more information, go to issaquahwa.gov/market.

Have a Concern? Report It!

Are you concerned about a potential code violation? Would you like to report an abandoned vehicle? It’s easy!

Visit issaquahwa.gov and click on “Report a Concern” to report a variety of issues with the City of Issaquah. As we work on your request, you’ll receive updates and can track the status of your submission.

See something on the go?

You can also download our iPhone mobile app by searching “Citizen Request Tracker” via the app store.

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FITNESS & HEALTH

“Back” to School

by Erick K. Harada, DPT, Highlands Physical Therapy School time is here! After a summer full of running around the outdoors and sleeping in the grass comes hours of sitting in class in one position. This increase in sitting can be quite the surprise to your middle and low back. This month I am providing all the Highlands’ students with chair and classroom exercises to help prevent all the chair worming and get you focused on class.

Chest and shoulder stretch

Lumbar Rotation

1. With fingers interlaced behind back, straighten arms and turn elbows in until stretch is felt. Hold 5 seconds.

1. Arms crossed, gently rotate trunk from side to side in a small, pain-free range of motion.

2. Perform every 30 min.

2. Perform 10 times each side.

Heel spurs: Is that why you’re limping?

by Dr. Michael Upton, Issaquah Highlands Chiropractic Just the thought of a heel spur makes one imagine a coral like spike trying to poke through the bottom of their heel. If you have ever had one then you know what I mean.

But they are not spikes or spurs at all! It is an inflamed piece of simple connective tissue, much like heavy packing tape, that goes from the balls of the feet to the bone that comprises the heel (called the calcaneus). When this heavy, thick, strong material becomes inflamed, it takes on a new name - plantar fasciitis. This is what is commonly referred to as a heel spur.

Lumbar Extensions 1. Arch backward to make hollow of back deeper.

Hold 3 seconds.

2. Perform 10 times.

3. Perform every 30 min.

Let’s try to understand what this ligament-like structure does: It supplies our foot with its arch by providing tension between the balls of the feet and the heel. When the plantar fascia breaks down, is not adequately developed to start with, or is acutely injured, you will discover the pain commonly called a heel spur.

This pain is typically found where the plantar fascia connects to the front of the heel bone. Over a period of years, continual stress causes an increase of calcium deposits between this ligament and the bone. In fact, this calcium deposit can build to the point where they can be seen on x-rays. Typical symptoms include limping (due to the exquisite pain at the front of the heel) and pain that is easily found by simply poking at it with your finger; you will know when you hit the right spot!

So your heel is really sore for several weeks, and you find a very tender, small area of pain and you may even be limping, what do you do?

There are actually several things. Icing the painful area speeds recovery. Placing supportive shoe inserts (such as donut shaped padding) around the heel to help shift the stress points. These treatments should get you feeling better over period of 6 to 12 weeks.

The purpose of these exercises is to prevent your body from tightening up in one position.

Perform these regularly throughout the day but make sure not to overstretch. If you have persistent or sharp pain with these exercises, make sure to stop. If they continue beyond 24 hours, contact your local physical therapist. Good luck studying!

What do I prefer to use? Cold Laser! It’s easy to apply, has no known side effects, and typically gives quick relief by reducing inflammation and decreasing the amount of time needed to properly heal. Three to four applications should do the trick!

The choice is yours. Be sure to get a proper diagnosis in up front and then go from there.

Girl Scouts Donate Mosaic to YWCA Family Village Issaquah

The members of Girl Scouts of Western Washington Troop 50614 demonstrated their commitment to making the community a better place with a piece of permanent artwork donated to the YWCA Family Village Issaquah.

The troop worked with residents of Family Village Issaquah to create a beautiful mosaic out of recycled stained glass as part of their Girl Scout Silver Award project. Entitled The Four Seasons Tree of Life, the 4-by-10-foot artwork was designed by Sammamish mosaic artist Cheryl Smith.

Smith specializes in leading groups of volunteers in the creation of large scale mosaic installations. She trained members of the Girl Scout troop in the art of mosaic, and the girls then worked side-by-side with residents, teaching them how to safely handle the glass and place the pieces on the design.

More than 200 residents joined the artistic effort, including kids and adults of all ages!

“The inter-generational and cross-cultural interactions as the scouts and residents worked together were precious,” Smith noted. “You could feel the enthusiasm of the residents throughout the day as they created the mosaic. That’s why I love what I do – bringing people together, in community, to create a lasting piece of art they can take pride in.”

The Four Seasons Tree of Life is a permanent piece of outdoor art hanging on the patio wall near the playground at the YWCA Family Village in the Issaquah Highlands. The work was dedicated and unveiled in August.

Thanks to Girl Scouts of Western Washington Troop 50614: Abbie Stamper, Amanda Delgado, Carolina Delgado, Chase Dalzell, India AndrewsShank, Isha Kshirsagar, Lane McIntyre, Mahathi Allepally, Matisse McCoy, Maya Rajavel, and Sahana Sundar.

Girl Scouts and Cheryl Smith pose with the finished mosaic.

YWCA Family Village Issaquah residents working to create The Four Seasons Tree of Life mosaic.

Girl Scouts and Cheryl Smith pose with the mosaic as installed at the YWCA Family Village Issaquah in August 2014.

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LIVING GREEN

Stealing from Neighbors

by Sarah Lally Brown, Community Gardener, Resident Two Slides Park Neighborhood I planted my first vegetable garden in the Highlands Vista Garden plot this past spring. It started with a bare rectangle of dirt and right now is a riot of tomatoes and onions, lettuce and beans and peppers and all sorts of tasty things. I had no idea what the climate was going to be like, what plants would work well, or what path the sun and the wind were going to take when I planned my patch. But I didn’t have to guess about any of those things. Because I have a plot in a community garden.

Walking slowly on the paths in the early spring, I spotted a fantastic cold frame with just enough room for an early crop of salad fixings. That told me there would be enough sun early in the season to get a jump start on plants if I protected them. Then I saw a neighbor with grape vines trellised from pots in a line...I never thought of doing that! One plot was a carpet of strawberry mounds. There were lots of tall stands of overwintered kales and other brassica. Even in early spring there were signs of garlic and spring onions coming up strong. Because of the power lines above, gardeners can’t use metal in their plant supports.

This sounds simple, but it removes the vegetable lover’s staple: the tomato cage. I walked past each plot looking at new and interesting ways to use PVC pipe to make structures of all sorts.

With all of these great ideas I set to work. I used ½-inch PVC pipe to make a hoop house over a third of my patch. Underneath plastic went ten tiny tomato plants and four pepper plants to keep warm. Then the rest of my patch started filling up with rows of Walla Walla Sweet onions, a long stand of snap peas and pole beans, early kale, lettuce, and flowers to tempt pollinators. Once the nights were warm enough I settled on lashing bamboo together to hold up my newly uncovered tomatoes.

I didn’t do everything right this time. I learned that what I thought was nobody liking squash was really me putting my squash plants in too early. I assumed corn was impossible and didn’t plant any, but the plot next to mine has some late-planted stalks that are growing like gangbusters. I also have learned that I probably should have used PVC instead of bamboo because my tomato plants are falling all over the place under the weight of their fruit.

Shortcomings aside, my family has been eating fresh onions and lettuce and just now the most divine tomatoes. We harvested a pillowcase full of snap peas.

My kids can’t wait to topple the potato tower and dig through it. I know that much of the hard work in my plot has been mine, but I owe my real success to the gardening neighbors around me.

Sarah begins a monthly series on gardening for our Living Green section with this article. Come back next month for more!

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Let’s Talk Fashion – DIY that Worn Out Shirt

by Sree Dadisetty, Forest Ridge, Fashion Blogger

Military! Military!!! This trend is everywhere and all the stores are filled with military collections. I have been a fan of this trend for years now. It’s a staple in my closet.

The shirt for this DIY I have owned for more than a year now.

It’s gotten a lot of use, giving it a natural, worn-out look. Admiring the embellished tops in the store, I decided it’s time give my military, worn-out shirt a makeover. I know DIY’s are intimidating, but trust me on this one - it’s a lot of fun.

Things needed: • Military shirt • Assorted Rhinestones • Jewel-It Embellishing Glue • Jewelry Tool – Holder

Step1: Make sure you have all the above-mentioned items.

Step2: Iron shirt collar and make sure there are no wrinkles.

Step3: Before gluing the rhinestones on the shirt, simply place the stones on the collar and get a feel of how they look before you actually glue them. You may have to try couple of different arrangements before you can finalize on one.

Step 4: Once you have an idea, start by gluing the bigger stones and work your way to the smaller ones. Repeat the process on the second side too. Remember these two sides need to look alike.

Voila!! There you go: in just in four easy steps you can take your worn out shirt from rag to fab. So don’t throw away your old clothes yet. See if you can re-use them. Suddenly you have very unique pieces and the satisfaction of creating something new.

Issaquah Highlands Photography Club Photo of the Month Scott Moffat’s “Intersections”

A big thank you to our judge, Steve Gaidos and winner of last month’s challenge! Steve chose this month’s winner for its excellence in the category “Contrast”.

“I liked several of the shots that were submitted for contrast. And for various reasons, the selection was difficult,” Steve explains.

“I chose Scott’s ‘Intersections’ as this month’s winner and think his title is well chosen. There are interesting perspective intersections throughout the shot with straight lines of white, grays and black, all of which are hard and artificial in contrast with each other and with the natural surroundings, seen through the window. It’s almost like a fortress against nature where the benches let you see and contemplate the outside world but where the artificial is some sort of refuge from it. Congratulations, Scott.”

August’s Photo challenge is “Curves”, visit http://bit.ly/ihpcinfo for details. IHPC meets the 3rd Saturday of every month, 10:30am at Blakely Hall. On September 20th their guest speaker is Irfan Soomro of Magic of Light - Fine Art Photography.

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RESIDENT PROFILE: CHRISTIAN SANDHOP

Monthly resident profiles are produced by Nina Milligan, Resident and Communication Manager for Highlands Council

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DIRECTORY ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

HIGHLANDS COUNCIL

1011 NE High Street Suite 210 Monday–Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm

MAIN PHONE: 425-507-1107 IssaquahHighlands.com

MAIN PHONE: 425-427-9257 IHWebsite.com Responsible for:

Property Management Enforcement of CCRs, Rules, Regs

Architectural Review

Common Area Landscape ihwebsite.com

Funded by:

Annual IHCA Assessments Neighborhood Assessments

Responsible for:

Governing Body

Board of Directors Jim Young, President Andrea Gregg, Vice President Walt Bailey, Secretary David Ngai, Treasurer Dan Eyman, Member Jitendra Vats, Member Dan Vradenburg, Member

Community Events Blakely Hall Community Center

Facility Rentals

Community Garden Facebook E-Letter Connections Newspaper www.issaquahhighlands.com

Governing Body Board of Trustees hcbot@ihmail.com Larry Norton, President Linda Hall, Treasurer Philip Nored, Secretary Patrick Byers, Member Ray Besharati, Member Stuart Johnson, Member Jody Turner, Member

Governing Body

Board of Directors Larry Norton Allen Enebo Tim Underwood Charlie Herb

Funded by:

Emergency: 9-1-1 Issaquah Police (non-emergency) 425-837-3200

Christy Garrard, Executive Director christy.g@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1110

Rachel Garrett, Director of Community Operations rachel.g@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1115

WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife 425-775-1311

Nina Milligan, Communications Manager nina.m@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1111

Erika North, Community Manager erika.n@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1121

Brianna Eigner, Blakely Hall Manager brianna.e@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1107

Russ Ayers, Landscape Manager russ.a@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1130

Michele McFarland, Finance Manager michele.m@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1108

Crystal Bentley, Office Manager crystal.b@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1119

Julie Clegg, Creative Coordinator julie.c@ihcouncil.org

Joon Chang, Accounting Manager joon.c@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1117

Vyvian Luu, Administraive Assistant vyvian.l@ihcouncil.org

COMMUNITY SERVICES AT BLAKELY HALL

Escrow Payoffs | accounting@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1123

Frank Pineau General Manager FPineau@HFN.org Support: 425-427-0999 HighlandsFiberNetwork.com

Sponsorships/Grants Advertising Community Enhancement Fees (1/4 of 1% on sale of home) 12¢ per sq. ft. retail/commercial

Sarah McKee, Executive Director sarah.m@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1120

Homeowner Account Inquiries payments@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1119

HIGHLANDS FIBER NETWORK

Blakely Hall 2550 NE Park Drive Monday–Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm

Notary Service by Appointment • Per signature fee applies • Fax Sending & Receiving • Fax sending, local $.50 per page • Fax sending, long distance $1.00 per page • Fax receiving, $.50 per page • Limited B/W Photocopying, $.05 per page • Lost & Found

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

Weekly E-Letter: Sign up at issaquahhighlands.com

RENTAL FACILITIES Blakely Hall

Award-winning Blakely Hall has a feeling and comfort of a lodge.

It is a wonderful place for parties with 70 or more guests, fund raisers, galas, and any type of reception. Blakely Hall can accommodate up to 230 guests. In addition to the atmosphere Blakely Hall will give you, there is a patio with outdoor seating and BBQ grill that is available for rent.

Blakely Hall Meeting Room

The Conference room is perfect for your meeting or seminar. It is private. It can accommodate up to 46 guests. A screen is provided as well as comfortable conference chairs and tables that can be configured to your liking. There is a wash station, and a countertop to place your refreshments.

To inquire about booking facilities at Blakely Hall, please contact Brianna at 425.507.1107 or email brianna.e@ihcouncil.org

Fire Station Meeting Room

The Fire Station 73 meeting room is great for community or group meetings. It comes with tables and chairs. It can accommodate up to 85 guests in a meeting setting or comfortably 30 guests. There are two whiteboards for writing down your ideas and agenda.

There is also a television with a DVD player for your instructional videos. Because this is a city building they do not allow religious, partisan, or for-profit meetings to take place in this facility. To inquire about booking the Fire Station Meeting Room, please contact Fire Station #73 at 425.313.3373.

CONNECTIONS Connections is published by the Highlands Council. Our mission is to foster the development of a vibrant and caring community committed to service, diversity, and well-being.

Ads are due by the first Friday of the month for the following month’s publication.

For best results with newspaper printing:

Connections is printed and mailed every month to every Issaquah Highlands residence as well as local Issaquah residents and businesses. For article submissions and advertising sales, contact Nina Milligan at nina.m@ihcouncil.org or 425-507-1111

• Please avoid small text in color or reversed out of color.

Size

BW Color

• 85 line screen and 300 dpi for photos.

Mini (text only): 3” x 3”

$50

• All process color ads should be converted to CMYK.

Rectangle Vert: 3” x 4.625”

$75

$150

• Acceptable art for use by our production department includes TIFF or JPEG files.

Rectangle Horz: 4.625” x 3”

$75

$150

• Convert all Photoshop files to JPEG or TIFF before sending.

Square: 4.625” x 4.625”

$125

$195

• DO NOT send Quark, Illustrator, Publisher or other native files.

Quarter Page: 4.625” x 6.25”

$150

$275

Half Page Vert: 4.625” x 13”

$275

$495

Half Page Horz: 9.625” x 6.25”

$275

$495

Full Page: 9.625” x 13”

$595

$950

• Do not use a built black of CMYK combined. Instead, please setup all black as “K” only.

• Convert all RGB files to CMYK before creating PDF.

ON-LINE ADVERTISING AVAILABLE! Content and advertising in Connections does not necessarily reflect the opinions/views of the Highlands Council or staff.

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September 2014

Issaquah Highlands Connections