February 2015

CONNECTIONS FR

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

February 2015

Rendering by: Vyvian Luu

ROOFS UP ROOTS DOWN An Update on Community Development

WHAT’S INSIDE? 4 4 5 6 9 11 12 12 13

Highlands Council Art at Blakely Hall Doing Business Roofs Up, Roots Down Sports Volunteer of the Month IHCA Landscaping Wits & Tidbits Community Pull Out Map

14 17 19 20 21 23 24 25 26

What’s Happening HFN News Fashion Ask Kari Living Green School Spotlight Fitness & Health City News Resident Profile

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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February 2015

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Connections

FROM THE EDITOR Dear Neighbors, When my family moved into Issaquah Highlands in 2004 development was in its early stages. It felt more like an encampment than a neighborhood.

Construction was in every direction. Many houses were bought just as investments and quickly sold.

Then came the lull of the Great Recession. Already a large community, Issaquah Highlands languished before reaching its planned capacity.

We are once again growing at full speed. Grand Ridge Plaza and last year’s residential construction were just the beginning. In various stages of planning and building are over 700 homes plus over a million square feet of commercial/institutional space. That doesn’t even include Lakeside, the development to the north of High Street where you now see only the phase I apartments under construction.

In these pages you will learn all there is to know about current development in the Highlands.

Highlands Council Board of Trustees President, and ten-year resident, Larry Norton interviewed a dozen people and researched all the remaining undeveloped properties to bring you an up-to-date report.

But that’s not all you will find inside. There’s the hike of the month, winter garden planning, Volunteer of the Month, the Resident Profile, What’s Happening and much more! Each month Connections brings you a wide variety of stories so there is a little bit for everyone and an eclectic mix for those of us who like it all.

As our community expands, it deepens its roots. These roots enrich of our neighborly experiences, our living together, the sharing of diversity, and strengthening of relationships. These roots create a generational community, a place where roofs are not just assets, but rather our homes.

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.

The view on the cover is from Ellis Drive into The Brownstones south of Dicks. More at IssaquahHighlands.com./connect.

February 2015

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February 2015

Issaquah Highlands Connections

HIGHLANDS COUNCIL

Roofs Up, Roots Down

by Christy Garrard, Executive Director for Highlands Council and Dahlia Park resident In 2005 Port Blakely as the Master Developer of Issaquah Highlands founded Highlands Council, to help YOU put roots down as the roofs were going up. It made sense to create a community-building organization to help connect neighbors in this densely populated urban village. I thought it was time to revisit our Vision and Mission Statement and remind us all what Highlands Council does to fulfill the mission and help us feel connected, like roots, into this very special place called Issaquah Highlands.

Vision Statement

The Highlands Council will create a community that embodies the values of its residents and serves current and future generations.

We achieve this through the guidance of our Board of Trustees, made up of homeowners, business leaders, and representatives from multi-family housing here in Issaquah Highlands.

The staff listens to IH residents and business owners and strives to accommodate the suggestions and needs put forth to The Council.

We embrace the diversity in our urban village and encourage residents to lead clubs and groups that meet the needs of a specific ethnicity, stage of life, or special interest. Our centerfold section of each issue of Connections highlights The Council’s ability to support these meetings with promotion, a free place to gather, and consultation as needed.

Stewardship is a high priority for Highlands Council. We are gifted with beautiful Blakely Hall by Port Blakely and we recently wrapped up minor renovations to keep this nearly 10-yearold community resource in top shape; a community center you can be proud to visit and use.

We also feel a responsibility to steward the future generations of IH residents by guiding the HY, Highlands Youth Advisory Board, in building foundational relationships with their neighbor peers and overall pride in community. The HY, under my direction, plans events and service opportunities for teens by teens.

We are a vibrant community! Examples of our vibrancy shows on Highlands Day in the summer, and the Halloween Festival in the fall with energy and community spirit.

The feeling of well-being is what we all strive for isn’t it? Feeling valued is just one way to foster well-being and Council does this by recognizing a Volunteer of the Month and celebrating volunteerism each spring with a special party just for those who serve the community. We highlight residents in monthly profiles and club leaders to share with you what super-cool neighbors we have doing really unique things in their lives. Well-being is a physical thing, too. We support resident led fitness groups all year long, including Mountain Biking, Running, Workout Warriors, Ladies Tennis and ZUMBA exercise classes! And well-being is spiritual. We work closely with many faith-based organizations to provide a place to worship, celebrate, learn, and fellowship.

We are a caring community where neighbors help neighbors and support a variety of local nonprofits that make the area a better place to live. Highlands Council is very involved with the Issaquah School District, Issaquah Food Bank, Eastside Baby Corner, artEAST, Life Enrichment Options and many more.

If you are feeling like you are not rooted I encourage you to find a club or group that interests you. If you don’t see what you are looking for, call me! Let’s talk about how we can help you connect and deepen your roots in this fertile urban village soil. You will find my contact information on the back page of this paper and at IssaquahHighlands.com.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Highlands Council is to foster the development of a vibrant and caring community committed to service, diversity, stewardship and well-being.

Discovery West

DevCo provided rendering creatively altered by Vyvian Luu. Read more on Page 7.

ART AT BLAKELY HALL

Abstract Art in Blakely Hall – New Artist

Gretchen Van Dyke’s work joins the other artists in the abstract art show now on display in Blakely Hall. Her work investigates space and landscape and displays her keen interest in the places where the water meets the land; where the trees, branches and leaves meet the sky; and where city and industry meet rivers and hills. She derives forms and colors from landscapes that create memories and reside in the human psyche.

Gretchen lives and works in Seattle, commuting between city, river, industry and island. She responds not just to what she sees but to the spaces between the visible elements: spaces between forms, the spaces between physical locations, the spaces between social/cultural interactions. Her inspirations come while moving around the city and interacting with neighbors, co-workers, artist community, island projects, and family.

Working in the landscape brings her face-to-face with the life cycle of birth, growth, and death. Gretchen shares, “I spend a significant amount of time outdoors watching and feeling the seasons, feeling the elements and witnessing trees, plants, and birds as they change and move each year.”

Issaquah Highlands Connections

February 2015

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DOING BUSINESS IN THE HIGHLANDS

AGAVE Expands and Commits to 10 More Years at Grand Ridge Plaza

by Christy Garrard, Executive Director for Highlands Council, resident of Dahlia Park and HUGE Agave Fan!

Freddie and more info here

Our beloved Agave Cocina & Tequilas is under expansion. I recently asked General Manager and Owner, Federico Ramos, to tell us about what Roofs Up and Roots Down means to him and his family.

Freddie: As you know it has not been easy but we are really happy to be where we are at this point not only as a successful business but also in the need of expanding. All, of course, thanks to everyone’s wonderful support over the years; including Port Blakely, Highlands residents and Highlands Council, helping us build our brand. We are so happy to say that it was in the Issaquah Highlands where Agave found its nest and grew as a company.

Why are you expanding?

Freddie: Mainly the reason for the expansion is because I would see how guests would suffer this time of year every time someone would open those front doors and also to provide a bit more room for guests to wait. I tried to come up with different ideas over the years to solve this issue but it would get too pricey.

Then Regency Centers came along and we shared our dilemma. They were supportive of the idea to do something this big but by that same token it made sense to renew our lease before investing this type of money. So the great news is we all have Agave to enjoy for another 10 years!!

That is wonderful news! How much more seating will the expansion include?

Freddie: It’s about 20 more seats.

What can customers expect from the expansion?

Freddie: To not be afraid of those seats and not have to wait as long for a table and or have a bit more space to wait for a table.

When will it be complete?

Freddie: Hopefully by the end of April.

How much are you investing in the project?

Freddie: LOTS!! We estimated about $160k but I know we are already about 15% more than that; grrr, construction!!

We appreciate your investment in our community. What is cool about the expansion?

Freddie: The cool part about the project is that guests can take a lot more advantage of the lovely weather in Seattle because there will be space heaters and we will be able to open the doors up at any time; turning indoor dining to open-air dining.

With the expansion we can see the Ramos families roots grow deeper into the community. I can’t wait to try out the new seating on the first sunny day post construction.

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February 2015

Issaquah Highlands Connections To Lakeside Apartments

Roofs Up, Roots Down Future Building Brings Changes to the Landscape

by Larry Norton, President of Highlands Council’s Board of Trustees and Crofton Springs Resident

The convenience and excitement found in dense cities with the quality of life found in the suburbs is what makes Issaquah Highlands a unique place to live. Our environmentally sensitive urban village is complete with safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, and many recreational opportunities that provide an ideal place for you and your family to put down roots; a place where you can truly live, work and play. We have watched the roofs go up over the years. With build out almost complete, this issue brings the reader up-to-date on current development and what we know at press time about future development in Issaquah Highlands.

NE High St.

Although it seems longer, it was just fourteen months ago that we cut the ribbon to open Grand Ridge Plaza. The landscape of Issaquah Highlands would never be the same. Finally the stores and restaurants we’d all been waiting for were a reality. “The Center has helped complete the vision that Port Blakely had for Issaquah Highlands”, says Craig Ramey, VP of Regency Centers. “The residents of Issaquah Highlands have really supported our businesses, connecting the residential with the retail”.

Grand Ridge plaza has a very different feel from other nearby retail centers. Its store designs, layout and street grid support the vibe of urban village design.

HomeStreet Bank will break ground on a new financial services center in early 2015. The bank will be located to the north of the Safeway Gas Station on Highlands Drive and NE Ellis Drive, behind the Safeway Grocery Store. HomeStreet Bank is one of the largest community banks based in Washington State.

Agave Restaurant is expanding! See page 5 for the story.

NE Park Dr.

GRAND RIDGE PLAZA

MIXED USE

NE Ellis Dr.

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SWEDISH HOSPITAL ISSAQUAH

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8th Ave NE

According to Dr. Rayburn Lewis, CEO of Swedish Hospital Issaquah, the current hospital building was designed to expand internally.

The focus in the next 12-36 months will be maximizing the use of space currently available under their roof to bring more clinic space, additional physicians, and improved or expanded services to its patients; deepening its roots.

NE

y ver sco

ERY COV DIS GHTS HEI ST WE

Swedish Hospital Issaquah

360 HOMES

7th Ave NE

Polygon NW is in the planning and permitting stage for putting more roofs up and roots down on a piece of the 63 vacant acres west of 9th Ave NE. Initial plans, currently named Westridge, call for single family homes adjacent to West Highlands Park as well as on the lands immediately to the west of Swedish Hospital. More in the middle of that parcel will be a group of 200 townhomes. Building will likely begin in early 2016 with the 72 homes adjacent to Swedish being built first. The commercial piece of the 63 acres has yet to be planned. Now owned separately, it remains a great opportunity for office/commercial growth and the prospect of more new jobs.

POLYGON BROWNSTONES

THE FORMER MICROSOFT PROPERTY WEST HIGHLANDS PARK

The Former Microsoft Property

Highlands Drive NE

9th Ave NE

Grand Ridge Plaza

TBD

NE Blakely Dr.

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SWEDISH HOSPITAL ISSAQUAH

A top priority, according to Dr. Lewis, is to improve the parking situation at the hospital for patients, visitors, and staff. The hospital now offers valet parking for a nominal $5 fee, while self-parking remains free. The hospital plans to add an additional approximately 100 spaces of parking at the corner of Discovery Drive and 7th Avenue NE. In the meantime, a small community advisory committee has been assembled by Dr. Lewis to help Swedish plan for the 10 acre parcel of land immediately in front of the hospital. It will likely bring more healthcare and wellness services to our community.

To I-90 and Downtown Issaquah

Issaquah Highlands Connections

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GRAND RIDGE ELEMENTARY

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February 2015

NE Park Dr.

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NE High St.

BELLEVUE COLLEGE

SUNSET PARK FOREST RIDGE

10th Ave NE

ICHIJO SUNRIDGE

PINE CREST

Bellevue College East Campus

According to City of Issaquah Economic Development Director, Keith Niven, an initial preliminary plan was presented to the city in 2013; “many decisions are yet to be made and there is nothing new to report at this time.” However, On January 16th, 2015, the Bellevue Reporter ran a story regarding a possible partnership between Bellevue College and Washington State University that would benefit the eastside. This may explain the delay in announcements for the property in Issaquah Highlands; only time will tell.

Harrison Street & Grand Ridge Drive Custom Homes DISCOVERY HEIGHTS

Discovery Heights

Talk about Roofs Up and Roots Down! DevCo, Inc. continues to build apartments, deepening its company roots in the community and providing an opportunity for new residents to put down their own. Over the past few years, we have seen the Discovery Heights buildings popping up on the Southern slope of lower Grand Ridge. Built, owned and operated by DevCo, Inc. Discovery Heights apartments have provided a variety of apartment living space. The first three stages have been well received and continue to be mostly full.

During this past year, DevCo began the construction of Discovery West (See page 4). This complex is hard to miss as it rises out of the ground on the West side of Highlands Drive near Swedish Hospital and Proliance Surgery Center. Complete with an indoor pool, a play area and under building parking, it brings more than 200 new apartment homes to Issaquah Highlands. The leasing office plans to open its doors in July 2015, offering a mix of standard and luxury units.

et Stre n o s arri To H

Windermere agent Joe Coakley, formerly a Port Blakely employee and now representing Taylor Development, has deep roots in Issaquah Highlands. He reports “strong demand and interest in both Harrison Street and Grand Ridge Drive neighborhoods.” Joe also reports “considerable interest from within Issaquah Highlands by residents interested in building their dream home. There are only eight remaining unsold lots in Harrison Street today priced from $325,000 to $550,000; ranging in size from 8428 sf to 15,111 sf. At Grand Ridge there are only 14 remaining lots ranging from 1.97 acres to 3.6 acres, priced from $425,000 to $550,000.

But Wait! There’s More!

Just west of the Sunset Walk pond, at the corner of 10th Ave NE and NE Falls Drive, lies a residential parcel. Its owner, Bennett Homes, has not finalized their plan for building there.

Across Falls Drive in the next block of 10th, behind Dick’s and Marshalls, is the vacant building site that had originally been designated for a hotel. Currently for sale by its owners, the future will bring us an answer as to what will be built there.

And the roofs continue to pop up from the ground like mushrooms in the area of housing.

Residential developments totaling 864 units under various stages of construction include: Polygon’s Brownstones – 176 attached homes Toll Brothers Pine Crest Neighborhood – 81 detached homes Ichijo on High Street – 12 townhome units Ichijo’s Sunridge Neighborhood – 35 detached homes Discovery Heights West – 200 apartments PLUS *Lakeside – 298 apartments (NOT part of the Issaquah Highlands Master Development), brings the total number of new residential units to 1,182!

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February 2015

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Connections

February 2015

Fun for Anyone in the Wild West

Sportshound Shares His Sources

Though the days are getting longer now, it sure is hard to tell! During these long winter nights, you might be looking for a little home-based entertainment. We asked Josh to provide a couple choices, a movie or a game, for which he chose to compare two wild-west themed suggestions.

I love sports - watching, analyzing, debating, discussing, writing and occasionally, even pontificating, whether it’s the Super Bowl, the MLB World Series or the NBA Championships.

by Josh Zhanson, Junior at Issaquah High School, Resident of Central Park

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by Aadit Desai Mehta, IH Sportshound, Eight Grade, HY Board Member

Research is a critical component for any story. In response to recent requests, I am happy to reveal a few of the sources that I tend to use to explore and investigate material for my monthly columns. While there are many, many online websites as well as offline sources and publications, I do have a few favorites.

NFL.com: Among all sports, football is my favorite. I tend to visit NFL.com the most, since it provides comprehensive coverage during the season as well as in offseason. I spend several hours a week, viewing and reviewing the website. In addition to providing extensive NFL coverage, it also provides fantasy football coverage and has the most prominent online fantasy football system. There is also a TV channel, NFL Network, which has both fantasy and NFL news. I really like this channel because unlike most other networks, it is completely dedicated to the NFL. ESPN.com: ESPN.com is probably the most comprehensive website with regard to coverage of all sports. In addition to coverage of the “core three” (NFL, NBA, and MLB) it has coverage of soccer, rugby, poker, lacrosse, and many college sports as well. It has many writers and reporters providing in-depth coverage for all of the sports they cover.

Movie

Game for Many Players

We’ve all heard of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, the classic 1966 spaghetti western with everybody’s favorite directional forest, Clint Eastwood. After the successes of previous movies A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More, director Sergio Leone was approached about making a follow-up to these Western movies.

Leone wrote a bit of himself into each of the titular characters in his adaptation of his screenwriter’s script; being an avid history buff, Leone wanted to depict the Civil War as being an absurd, inconsequential conflict to many in the Wild West who were nonetheless affected greatly. Violent and filled with morally ambiguous characters, Leone may have been mocking the romantic Western genre, but his expert camera work builds tension and suspense wonderfully. And who can forget that famous title theme, so reminiscent of circling vultures, tumbleweeds in the dust, and a healthy dose of glare from the sun.

With lots of gunplay, backstabbing, and old-fashioned Western fun, this remains the most influential film on the Western genre to date and perhaps one of the best movies, period.

Bang! is a board/card game for 4-7 players, though I’d say it’s probably best with around 5-10. It perfectly captures the fastpaced, double-crossing, scum-bagging folk of the Wild West. With a hilarious cast of parody Western characters to choose from for your own persona, each with a special ability, a robust bang-miss system and a variety of gameplay implements to keep the action fresh and quick, Bang! is perfect for parties and big game nights. In my own personal experience, this is really one of the fastest, most dynamic card games with a few overpowered cards and gambits that are bound to become legendary with your group. The rules are pretty simple: first, everybody picks a random character, like Bart Cassidy, Vulture Sam, or Willy the Kid, and is dealt a random role, kept secret, except the Sheriff. The Sheriff, aided by a Deputy or two, wins if he kills all the Outlaws and the Renegade. The Outlaws win if the Sheriff and his Deputies are dead, and the Renegade wins if he’s the last one standing. Problem is, nobody knows who anybody else is until they kill them, a perfect setup for intrigue and lying shenanigans. Play equipment cards for combat bonuses, play Bang! cards to shoot others within range, play Miss! cards to dodge bullets, and when your health reaches zero, you’re dead! Each card has stylized Western illustrations, and there are two expansion packs to deepen the game.

Bang!’s core deck comes in a container shaped like a bullet, to emphasize how much of a blast it is to play.

Available by Amazon Instant Video and for sale in DVD and Blu-ray; Netflix on DVD and Blu-ray.

Bang! is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, and other games stores.

ESPN.com has many reporters for each individual team, including Terry Blount who covers the Seahawks. Similar to NFL.com, it also has fantasy football coverage, in addition to other fantasy sports as well. It also has two different TV channels offered by known providers such as Comcast/Infinity, DISH, etc. although those tend to focus more on showing the actual games. Plus, it publishes a magazine, which I really like because it is a lot more light-hearted than other sports magazines.

Seahawks.com: This is the official Seahawks website that I frequently visit when I am looking for in-depth Seahawks news. One of my favorite aspects of this website is that it frequently brings together articles and analysis of the Seahawks from all over the web.

Another thing I like is that being the official website, they have inside access to a lot of different situations that other websites don’t, and that way they can provide a lot of additional content.

Sports Illustrated: This is the most popular sports magazine in the U.S., and has been around for over 60 years. I like this magazine especially because it is published weekly, as opposed to many other magazines. While the sports websites offer a plethora of content at a basic level, Sports Illustrated gives fewer articles, but really goes in depth with analysis.

It conducts extensive interviews with players in all sports, and almost always has multiple feature articles. It also gives season previews, team by team, for the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL. Most of the feature articles give a very personal perspective that we wouldn’t be able to see or feel otherwise.

Seattle Times: Although it has a great website, I still prefer reading the physical newspaper!

My favorite thing is something they started this year - a special four or five page article dedicated just to the Seahawks game, in which they give great analysis.

Books: Some of my favorite sports books are 100 Things Seahawks Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die by John Morgan, Notes From A 12th Man by Mark Tye Turner, and The History of The Seattle Mariners by Michael Goodman.

VS. New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks Sunday, February 1, 2015 University of Phoenix Stadium 3:30PM Pacific Time, on NBC

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February 2015

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Connections

February 2015

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VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Adam Brown Volunteer of the Month – February 2015 Thank you very much! I feel very honored to be recognized as Volunteer of the Month at the Issaquah Highlands!

A little background about how I got involved with volunteering at IH: I was introduced to Blakely Hall Poker Night about 3-4 years ago from a friend, Kyle Reynolds, who lived in the Issaquah Highlands. He’d always told me about this poker tournament at Blakely Hall and how much fun and welcoming it was, and that I should check it out. Little did I know Kyle was actually the Tournament Director/Organizer of the tournament himself.

Eventually Kyle had some obligations that required him to step down from his director/organizer duties and had asked myself, Henry Honig and a few others to step in and assume the role.

Since Henry and I enjoy a great game of poker, we both happily agreed to help out.

Since taking on these roles, I’ve enjoyed greeting and meeting our club members as they arrive for the tournament, asking their name and just engaging with them in conversation to make them feel welcome and wanting to come back because they had a great time. Of course, this is a poker tournament so there’s some

competition, but for the most part it’s a night to get together and enjoy some fun, interesting and great people to play poker and socialize with.

If you’ve never been to one of our tournaments, please stop by and say hello and check it out. You’re always welcome.

I also want to say thank you to the Issaquah Highlands and Blakely Hall for letting us use the facility to enjoy nights like this one. This night wouldn’t be possible without this facility being available. Of course, I would also like to thank Henry Honig for his continued support and I couldn’t do what I do without his expertise, thanks Henry!

Thanks again for the honor, if feels great and I truly appreciate it!

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February 2015

Issaquah Highlands Connections

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Annual Mulching Campaign Underway

by Russ Ayers, Landscape Manager, IHCA

While things are still cool and windows still closed your community association will be refreshing bark mulch in selected neighborhoods in the coming weeks and months, depending on weather. Rain plays havoc with the schedule – it slows things down or can even bring the process to a halt. One result is we may move the work to larger common areas and parks to keep the overall project on schedule. Similarly, dry weather allows us to cover more ground more quickly. Predicting where we will be on a particular day or week is nearly impossible.

As in years past we will commence at the bottom of the hill and work our way upwards and eastwards. Supplemental neighborhoods will get their annual mulch installed in areas NOT mulched last year.

The blower trucks are very loud so you will want to avoid their work areas as much as possible.

Blower trucks are also very large so anything you can do to facilitate their progress down your street is appreciated. Vehicles parked at or near corners can make it very difficult to get around!

Without the blower trucks we would be forced to hand-spread and haul the bark mulch. This would approximately double the price (or cut the amount by half, seriously diminishing its utility). Among its many benefits bark mulch helps maintain root zone moisture and temperature for better plant health, it discourages weeds and helps reduce erosion. Our annual mulching campaign replaces the 1,500 cubic yards of mulch lost to decay, raking, dogs (some love to kick it into the street) and erosion. Bark mulch is a key part of our integrated pest management and water conservation plans so its annual replenishment is an important part of our operation

WITS AND TIDBITS

Drawing the Curtain on the Economic Slump

by Tami Curtis, Two-Slides or Summit Park

We just bought drapes for our dining room last week. We’ve lived in our house nearly eight years. It became time to draw the curtain on our northern exposure. Why, you ask, did it take us so long to make this divisive move? Do we have some fascination with interior design, fabric tone, pattern, and texture that could not be satisfied with available textiles these past 96 months?

Hardly.

While we can spell feng shui, we can’t claim any affinity for interior fashion. Our dining room is not one of those well-appointed spaces that appears untouchable and exquisite. It’s resembles a storage unit for music instruments and a practice den. We have a xylophone, music stand, electric piano, assorted PA cables, and other band equipment taking up residence in our formal dining room. We are not formal people, hence, you can count on one hand the number of times we eat at the Big Table each year.

We are not exhibitionists. For seven years that Big Table faced a wasteland; a few empty lots waiting for someone’s dream home. No need for curtains. No need for modesty when facing a distant passersby. Only the deer peered in while munching the grass on the empty lots. Today, we look upon Tyvek wrap of someone’s soon-to-be dream residence. Seven other new homes stretch up the hill and across the street. Big Table and its infrequent occupants are now ready for drapes.

In 2012 I wrote an article entitled “Paradise Lost” explaining how I teetered on the edge of a massive double-standard with my interest in having the empty lots surrounding the north side of my house to remain vacant – forever. Having purchased a home in the Issaquah Highlands we were guilty of occupying what used to be an empty lot, and before that, a full-fledged forest. We were not going to be the last to move in, but it would be nice if those lots stayed empty.

ABOUT THE COVER

We took residence on 30th Ave. NE in 2006 embracing a utopia of neighbors, sidewalks, and organized infrastructure. Selfishly we wanted our elbowroom to remain for years to come despite the For Sale signs posted on each vacant lot. In 2006 we left the “Archipelago of Sammamish” nick-named thus because its neighborhoods were like islands with no connections. Our kids could ride their scooters around our 22-home subdivision, but ran the risk of being pancaked by passing cars on the surrounding shoulder-less roads if they ventured out.

This month’s cover combines a rendering of The Brownstones by Polygon Homes with the artistic talents of our Creative Coordinator Julie Clegg and our Graphic Designer Vyvian Luu. The team chose this setting because it exemplifies Issaquah Highlands design.

Densely built townhomes feature live-work layouts with separate business entrances on the mall. The pedestrian mall provides two equally important elements to the Urban Village design: a public pathway that connects important neighborhoods as well as a place to hang out and be social.

At the last minute, after the Seahawks claimed the NFC Championship, Vyvian drew in a few 12’s in preparation for that very big day in February: Superbowl Sunday!

We came to the Highlands embracing the connectedness of all the playgrounds and paths that wove our neighborhoods safely together. We would no longer fear a tête-à-tête with trucks just to play with a friend a half-mile away.

For several years in Summit Park we existed with a false sense of security that no one would build on “our empty lots”. The economic slump reinforced that brazen presumptuousness. There was little new construction. No one would want to purchase an empty lot when the bargain foreclosure deals could fill a book. Our view of Mt. Baker was secure. Well, all that posturing slumped when we saw the first “Sold” sign stuck in our Mt. Baker lot in 2012. A year later, a lovely family moved in, and a year after that some friends relocated nearby from another Highlands neighborhood. We softened our pioneer spirit and started to embrace what was always scripted to be a full and robust neighborhood.

Putting in curtains in our dining room is a good sign. No, not because passersby will no longer have to avert their eyes feigning ignorance of the goings-on in that room. It’s a sign that economic recovery is afoot with this new construction, that perhaps our house value will rise, and that with these eight new homes maybe our community will continue to flourish. While our drapes are blocking out the gaze of those who peer in, and our outward glances, there’s an overriding sense that this growth is a good thing. It was planned, it was meant to be, and it will be a good thing.

This is Tami’s last column, having written for Connections as a volunteer for over two years. We have enjoyed her take on life in the Highlands and will miss her contributions greatly. If you or someone you know wishes to write for Connections, let us know!

All contributors are community volunteers!

Quotes from residents about Roofs Up, Roots Down In the early years of development, Geoff’s desire was, “let’s get some roofs tops going”.

Regarding the west side of 9th, Geoff’s sees “mixed use, condos and office uses”. “A corporate tenant would be wonderful.” – Resident Geoff Walker, interviewed by Larry Norton

“We are Roots Down definitely. We love the shops, the Park & Ride, the community spirit; having lived in Sammamish before where there were no parks for the kids within walking distance, no trails, just tons of huge spread out homes. We love the accessibility to I-90.” – Lynne Trowern, resident “I would say we are Roots Down in IH because we enjoy the shopping and dining, and our great neighbors, and we really wouldn’t want to leave. We’ve also taken advantage of the community features and clubs – like the community garden and the book club- which engages us further with our neighbors.” – Lily Aguilar, resident “Issaquah Highlands is the answer to my search for a place to put down roots. After spending 10 years abroad in France, I returned to my native state in search of a small community that was walk-able, unpretentious, and close to nature.” – Dawn Noland, resident and founder of the Telecommuter Brown Bag club “From a real estate perspective, the Issaquah Highlands is a shining example of what to do right!”

– Cary Porter, The Cascade Team Real Estate

13 • February 2015 Issaquah Highlands Connections

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY MAP PULLOUT SAVE AND SHARE

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February 2015

Issaquah Highlands Connections

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS Art in Blakely Hall

Divorce Care Classes

Little Mandarin Group

The artEAST Abrstract Artists show continues in Blakely Hall. New to the show is Gretchen Van Dyke’s work focusing on space and landscape. See in her work where water meets the land; where the trees, branches and leaves meet the sky; and where city and industry meet rivers and hills. She derives forms A and colors from landscapes that create memories and reside in the human psyche.

Sponsored by Timberlake Church, DivorceCare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Don’t go through separation or divorce alone. See www.divorcecare.org Childcare provided. Facilitators: Craig and Kara Richards.

Karamurphy@live.com (425) 869-4400.

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.

Open 8:00am – 5:00pm, M-F Blakely Halll

Book Club

4th Thursday at 7pm

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.

Bridge Club

February 2nd, 7:00pm – 10:00pm February location has moved.

Please contact Penny Storie at pennystorie@msn.com for new location

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 to Penny Storie:Apennystorie@msn.com

Chinese Heritage Club February 28th, 7:00pm Blakely Hall

** Rescheduled for Chinese New Year Celebration**

February 15th, 6:30pm Blakely Hall

The Entrepreneur Club

February 10th, 12:00pm - 1:00pm Blakely Hall

February 2nd, 10:00-11:30 am Blakely Hall

ESL Classes (English as a Second Language)

February 21st, 10:30am Blakely Hall

Mornings 9:30am -12:30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday **NEW EVENING CLASSES** Contact Andi for information

Free classes hosted at the Family Village sponsored by Renton Technical College. Please contact Andi Wolff at awolff@rtc.edu or 425.235.2352 (ext. 2117) to register.

Highlands Soccer Club

Cub Scout Issaquah Highlands Pack 680

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

Sundays at 3:30pm Beginning in April Issaquah Highlands Central Park

This recreational soccer program is volunteer-led and open to boys and girls, ages 3 to 9. The 2015 Spring Registration is open now through the 2nd week of February. The season runs 12 weeks in both the Spring and the Fall. Season starts April 26. $110 Program fee includes uniforms. Registration & Info: www.hsclub.org.

Knit for Life®

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

COMMUNITY MEETINGS HC Board of Trustees Meeting Tuesday, 2/3, 12:00 - 2:00pm

IHCA Board of Directors Wednesday, 2/25, 5:30 pm IHCA Office

IHCA Architectural Review Committee Tuesday, 2/3, 6:00 pm IHCA Office

Communication Committee February meeting date/time TBD, Blakely Hall

IHCA Finance Committee Tuesday, 2/10, 5:30 pm IHCA Office Highlands Fiber Network Thursday, 2/11, 5:00 pm Blakely Hall Community Garden Committee Monday, 2/16, 7:30pm, Blakely Hall

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)

Are you a small business owner or an entrepreneur looking to kick off a business idea? This is an opportunity for IH entrepreneurs to gather and be a resource for each other.

Join us to meet like-minded entrepreneurs, learn about what’s working for others and bounce ideas for freedback.

It’s never easy to operate under limited resources so here’s a chance to extend your network of support. See you at our next luncheon meeting at Blakely Hall. Contact Joanna Yuan joayuan@yahoo.com.

2015 is Year of the Sheep in Chinese calendar with New Year’s Day on February 19th. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important Chinese festival and marks the beginning of spring. Highlands’ musicians, including highly skilled adult musicians as well as juniors from elementary and middle schools, will present a Chinese and Western musical feast. Traditional Chinese New Year music (GongXi Song, Happy New Year etc ) and Ode to Joy, The Lark, One Thousand Years are all on their list. They will play Chinese folk instruments such as PiPa and Chinese Guzheng together with violin, cello, bass etc.

There will also be karaoke singing time. Come and join us for some music fun! All are welcome!

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

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.

February 9th and 23rd, 10:00 – 11:30am Blakely Hall

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

Hosted by Timberlake Church. Programming just for moms.

Professional speakers, fun events, and opportunities to connect with friends and meet new people. Your kids receive their own, age-specific programming. Course materials fee: $150 for all sessions, through June. www.timberlakechurch.com/mops.

Photography Club 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 A

Playgroup

Every Wednesday, 10:00am Cancelled February 18th 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

Pokemon Club

Thursday, February 5th, 6pm Blakely Hall

Bring your Pokemon cards to trade and play the Pokemon board game. This is a club open for kids 7 and up.

Facilitated by Evan Spinner and his mom, Alicia Spinner. If you have questions, contact Evan Spinner at evanspinner@icloud.com

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

Issaquah Highlands Connections

February 2015

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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS Poker Night

Telecommuters Club Brown Bag Lunch

February 19th, 2015, 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.

Public Speaking Class For Youths and Adults

Saturday mornings 9:30 - 11:30am Family Village Lower Community Room

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-ins and guests are always welcome. Contact David Hall at orator@live.com or 425-427-9682.

Rovin’ Fiddlers

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

February 20th, 2015, 1:00pm - 2:00pm Blakely Hall

Are you a part-time or full-time telecommuter living and working in Issaquah Highlands? Bring a sack lunch and join us to share ideas and experiences. Our February meeting will feature Robert Heuer leading a discussion on mindfulness (finding quiet in our ever-connected, devicefilled world). Contact Dawn_Noland@comcast.net subject line: Telecommuter Brown Bag if interested or with your questions.

Wine Club

February 13th, 2015, 7:00pm Blakely Hall

Volunteering Opportunity The Crofton Springs Neighborhood Committee is currently seeking two compassionate and qualified residents to fill the two current Committee vacancies.

The Committee meets quarterly and the time commitment is minimal. If you are interested in driving decisions for the betterment of your neighborhood, please contact Erika North at erika.n@ihcommunity.org.

We look forward to your participation!!

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.

Yarns & Threads Group Fridays, 9am - Noon 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

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

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

Zumba Class

Tuesdays (7:00pm) & Saturdays (9:00am) Blakely Hall

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

Russian Highlanders

See Facebook for monthly event information

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.

See the Community Calendar at IssaquahHighlands.com

CALENDAR Valentine’s Day

Chinese New Year

Tu Bishvat/Tu B’Shevat

Presidents’ Day (Washington’s Birthday)

SAVE THE DATE

Rosa Parks Day

Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras

Grizzly Guys Annual Build It Night

National Wear Red Day

Ash Wednesday

HOLIDAYS

Groundhog Day

Monday, February 2 Wednesday, February 4 Wednesday, February 4 Friday, February 6

Saturday, February 14

Monday, February 16 Tuesday February 17

Wednesday, February 18

Thursday. February 19

Purim Celebration Wednesday, March 4

Thursday, March 12

Volunteer Appreciation Friday, March 20

OTHER FUN THINGS

Though Mardi Gras (AKA Fat Tuesday), or Shrove Tuesday, is most notably celebrated in New Orleans it marks a day important around the world for Christians. This is the day before their Lenten season begins. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, named for a smudge of ash marked on the forehead. It is a period of fasting and reflection not unlike fasting events in other religions. Some in the U.S. mark this season as a time for giving. It ends on Holy Saturday, or the Saturday before Easter Sunday.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

February 2015 • 16

Did You Know?

Issaquah Highlands has:

22 Parks 10 with Play Areas

4 Tennis Courts 5 Basketball Courts 5 Soccer Fields 4 Picnic Areas 3 Baseball Fields 2 Off Leash Dog Parks 130 Commmunity Garden Patches

Issaquah Highlands Connections

February 2015

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HIGHLANDS FIBER NETWORK

Changes in Your Home Can Damage Your Fiber Network!

by Frank Pineau, HFN General Manager and ISOFUSION, HFN’s ISP

Don’t lose your HFN Internet or phone service, even for a short while, because of damage to your fiber network that can be avoided! While the fiber optic cable in the Highlands Fiber Network is maintained by the HFN management team, it is the responsibility of the resident to ensure proper consideration is made for the fiber in their yard and home. Unsuspecting residents have occasionally found that a simple project has damaged the fiber in their home or yard, resulting in costly repairs. While these situations are few and far between, being aware of the potential for fiber damage can help you avoid these problems. Damage to the optic fiber in your home or yard is not only expensive to repair, but will usually interrupt your Internet service and your HFNVoice service.

To ensure continuous and reliable service, the optic fiber in the Highlands Fiber Network is brought from the data centers in a protective conduit to fiber vaults in the various neighborhoods, then to service access points on each lot, or in each building. Fiber protected by the conduit is much less likely to be damaged than unprotected fiber. The fiber wiring from the service access point, while protected by plastic sheathing, is more vulnerable to damage. The builder is responsible for proper installation of the pathway for the fiber from the access point through the yard, into the crawlspace, up to the media cabinet in the home.

In addition, each builder is responsible for proper installation and testing of the Ethernet cable from the media cabinet to the various jacks around your home. Some builders run the fiber through the yard and under the home, or building, in a protective conduit, reducing the exposure to damage. Sadly, in the past some builders failed to do this correctly. You can, however, take steps to minimize the risk in either case.

One source of damage is from cable, satellite or other service providers who install or repair wiring in the media cabinet inside your home. If they are not careful, they can tear out or damage the fiber. It is a good idea to point out to any technicians that might be working on wiring in your walls or media cabinet that you do have fiber optic service and that it should remain connected and operational. If damage occurs from these service provider’s work HFN technicians will be dispatched to correct the issue. In most cases you will be able to bill these service providers for the work needed to repair your fiber network if they damage it, but its best to inform the service provider doing the work to take the necessary precautions up front so no damage occurs.

Flooding within the home can also cause problems if water gets into connections or inside the media cabinet. Any time you have overflowing water, be sure to check that it hasn’t flowed within the walls and damaged wires or connections and that no water has gotten to your media cabinet. If you think that you might have a problem, please contact Customer Support and we can check it out for you.

Cats, raccoons, rodents, and other small animals seem to really like the taste of the plastic sheathing on electrical wires and fiber, so it is important to make sure that they can’t get into or under your home or into the service access point in your yard, or building. During winter months, small animals may look for a warm place and find it in your wiring! Regular pest control and maintaining covers that prevent animal access to your home can help you avoid any of these problems. It is important to make sure that the access points in your yard are intact so that animals are unable to get to the wires inside.

If you are thinking about remodeling your home, it is a good idea to make sure that any structural changes won’t damage network wiring in your walls or crawlspace. Don’t hesitate to call, or email, HFN Customer Support and a technician will come to your home to determine whether there is a potential for network damage. For some changes that you want to make, you may need to have a professional re-route your wiring.

Landscaping changes are another potential source of wiring damage. Digging in the yard can break fiber and lead to expensive repairs. Burying service access points can also be a problem. The search for buried service access boxes by utility companies has cost some homeowners hundreds of dollars. Installing or repairing sprinklers, planting new garden areas, installing play equipment in your yard or any other activity that involves digging or bringing in large amounts of dirt or rocks should be done very carefully. There is a free service available to all residents to locate all of the utility services in your yard, just call 811 to reach the Northwest Utilities Underground Location Center and they will assist you. Alerting service technicians who work on your wiring, maintaining your home and yard, and planning changes carefully will help you to avoid temporary loss of your super-fast HFN Internet and HFNVoice phone service.

If you have any questions about activities that might affect your HFN service, please contact Customer Support at 425-427-0999 or support@hfnservices.com. We’re available 24/7 and our goal is to keep your electronic communication moving at some of the fastest speeds in the Northwest! HFN can give you low-cost Internet speeds up to 1Gigabit and the least expensive, most dependable phone service available. For more information, please contact Customer Support and we’ll be happy to set you up!

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February 2015

Issaquah Highlands Connections

NOW OPEN IN ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS!

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Meet Dr. Madhuri Vanama Dr. Vanama is a gentle, caring dentist who practices using state of the art materials and equipment. She is well versed in the latest procedures and continually seeks out advanced education. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California, and has had her practice in the Seattle area for 10 years.

959 NE Discovery Drive • Issaquah, WA 98029

425.295.7975 • www.discoverydentalwa.com

Issaquah Highlands Connections

February 2015

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Let’s Talk Fashion: and Fitness!

by Sree Dadisetty, Forest Ridge, Fashion Blogger

Tracking Device: FITBIT FLEX ($99) http://www.fitbit.com/flex

The other day I was reading a fashion magazine and came across an article about looking stylish at the gym. What caught my eye was the clothing. While the models looked impeccably toned and dressed to perfection, their clothing just did not look comfortable.

According to the article just because you are drenched in sweat and are going to look like crap anyways doesn’t mean that you can wear just anything to gym! This got me thinking: is looking good at gym a necessity or a nuisance?

Fitness tracking devices were all the rage this holiday season and there are so many options to choose from. But since I have a very tiny wrist to accommodate, my options were limited.

Fitbit Flex is still my favorite, but if you are looking for something fancy check out Tory Burch Fitbit accessories collection. They are to die for. http://goo.gl/tBgfIv

If you ask this question, the fashionista in me I would say “yes” to a pretty, tight T-shirt and even tighter tights in the name of fashion, even though I do not feel 100% comfortable in them. But if you ask the athlete/mountaineer in me I would say forget fashion and go with what’s functional. What I learned pretty early on in my training for a Mt Rainier climb is that functional and comfortable clothing is key to any fitness activity. Style is a plus but not a necessity. Here are few examples of my favorite fitness gear that are first and foremost functional. That they are also stylish is just an added bonus Shoes: GEL-Kayano 20 ($160) http://goo.gl/DQ19MO There are things you should invest in: Shoes are definitely something worth in . For years I always bought any shoes that were on sale without thinking about the support they provided. But when I started training for my Marathon couple of years ago, for the first time in my life I went into a specialty running shoes store and I had an epiphany. I can never go back to buying just any running shoe anymore. ASICS Kayano is my favorite shoe. It changed the way I ran and is worth every penny I spent on it.

Rain Jacket: THE NORTH FACE VENTURE JACKET ($99) http://goo.gl/9XK55y No outfit in Seattle is complete without a rain jacket and a workout outfit is no exception. Be there a drizzle or a downpour, this jacket will take good care of you.

The iconic Seatown Sock is from Stridline, a Seattlebased company started by a couple of Issaquah natives who vowed as Issaquah High School lacrosse teammates to start a clothing company together!

T-shirt: MARMOT MIRAGE T-shirt ($45) http://goo.gl/AJXAkB The three important things you need to keep in mind when buying a T-shirt are moisture wicking, quick drying and sun protective fabric.

Give this magical fabric a try and I bet you will never go back.

Socks: SEATTLE SOCKS ($14) http://www.strideline.com/category-s/1842.htm Do you guys know that in 2009, two Issaquah High School graduates pooled their graduation money to start Strideline, a sock company that features iconic city skylines? Show some love for this Issaquah’s very own entrepreneurs.

Valentines Day In Issaquah Highlands

6:30am – Wake-up with a latte at Caffe Ladro 7:30am – Pick up flowers for Mom at Safeway 9:00am – Email love notes to siblings and best friends 9:15am – Share a holiday tweet or post (@IssaquahHighlands) 10:00am – Brunch at Agave OR 11:00am – Lunch at Zeeks 11:00 am – Work off calories hiking to Summit Park 2:30pm – Restore energy with a Clover® Brewed Coffee at Starbucks 3:00pm – Pick up a bottle of bubbly at BevMO! 3:30pm – Get a Cookie Cake for the kids at Mrs. Fields/TCBY 5:00pm – Too early for dinner? Walk the shops at Grand Ridge Plaza 6:00pm – Meet a sweetheart or friend for dinner (Bai Tong? Big Fish? MOD?) 8:00pm – Take in a movie at Regal 10:00pm – Chat about the movie over a Big Red IPA at The RAM

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Issaquah Highlands Connections

ASK KARI

Dear Worried Mom, You sound like a loving mother, who is concerned about her daughter’s happiness. Your daughter may be experiencing a natural shift in how she communicates with you as a result of adjusting to being on her own. She may be finding her way and pressed for time due to her college classes, as well as social activities. If you think neither of these things is true and a natural shift of growth is not occurring with you daughter, ask to visit with her in person. Check and see if she appears to be eating, grooming, interested in talking about things that she cares about. If she is doing fine with all of these actions, then she probably is not depressed. But, if she appears lethargic, lacks self-care, is under or over eating, then I recommended that she see her primary care doctor for a wellness check, as she may be depressed and needs additional support from a health provider.

- Kari Dear Kari, I kissed my boss at the holiday party and I have felt uncomfortable with him ever since. We have always gotten along well and both are single. But, neither of us has spoken about the incident since it happened. Should I try and bring it up to him or do you think he just wants it to be a one-time deal since he has not said anything to me?

- Kissed and Confused Dear Kissed and Confused, Without knowing how long you have worked together and in what roles each of you hold, this is a hard question to answer. You stated that both of you are single, which makes the option to pursue a relationship a possibility if both parties are interested. You will have to talk to your boss privately and ask him what he thought about the “holiday party-kissing incident”. If he seems disinterested in talking about the kiss, take that as a clue that it was a one-time experience that is not to be repeated and move on. But if he responds genuinely sweet and potentially nervous about the incident, I suggest that you both take a chance and talk about whether there seemed to be a connection that should be pursued. If the connection is there, you will not need to force it. Just by initially starting this conversation you will be given all the clues you need in regards to his feelings on this matter. Good luck!

- Kari

Dear Kari, Help, I am feeling so lonely and defeated about finding love. I am looking for someone to share my life with, but I can’t seem to find the right person. I have tried dating online, going to local bars or sports activities, but I still have not been able to meet anyone who is of interest to me or vice versa. I have even gone on a few blind dates this year. I am tired of spending holidays alone. I want to have a Valentine this year, what am I doing wrong?

- Looking for Love Dear Looking for Love, I do believe that it can be hard to find love today. We as a society communicate so much through technology that we have lost some of our in-person opportunities to meet people and have natural connections occur. You did not state you age or relationship history, so I will just make some general suggestions.

First, think about what you want in a partner. Follow this up with what you offer a potential partner. This should take some time. The list should have 3-5 things that matter most to you in regards to who you are, how you live your life and what most speaks to your heart.

Second, make sure that you are out in the community doing things, taking walks, volunteering, meeting friends. Being out and about lets us see the world and allows us to be part of the world. All of this leads to opportunities to meet people of interest, including potential romantic partners. Third, if you do meet someone of interest, talk with him or her by phone, no texting. Texting does not allow us to hear the human voice and respond to it appropriately.

Often communication gaps can develop in this setting, along with unreasonable expectations about how often someone should be contacting us through text. A bond naturally formed is far superior to one that is force-feed (e.g. by constant communication via text). Fourth, remember that real relationships take time to develop, but chemistry is usually there from the beginning. Chemistry is needed to make the connection last and will not go away even with the passage of time.

I wish you good luck in your journey and I wish you future love.

- 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.

#GOHAWKS

Dear Kari, My daughter is in college full-time and seems stressed out every time I talk to her. She used to seem so happy; now I feel like she either doesn’t want to talk with me or something is going on in her life that she is hiding from me. What can I do to help her? She is so special to me; I want to help her see that she is loved, talented and should be happy about life?

- Worried Mom

Issaquah Highlands Connections

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LIVING GREEN

Better to be Proud of a Small Garden Than Furstrated by a Big One

by Sarah Lally Brown, Community Gardener, Resident Two-Slides Park Neighborhood

Did you know that our last spring frost is forecast with a 50% probability for April 22? For many years I’ve been going by the mythical rule that tomato plants need to have night protection until Mother’s Day. This year that is May 10. Pretty close! There’s a lot you can do before April though, if you want to have a vegetable garden this year. Were you thinking of trying out a community plot in our neighborhood?

Now is the time to start planning.

There are 130 active plots in our neighborhood. Applications for plots have been coming in since the first of the year; there may still be openings in February.

Would you like to try growing 20 pounds of carrots in 24 square feet?

You can, if carrots are your thing. One of the plots near me is 50% strawberry plants. I prefer a mix of one-thirds tomatoes, one-thirds greens tented by tall beans, and the last third a mix of things that strike my fancy. Invigorated by a challenge? The Vista gardens reside in the glorious sunshine provided by a path laid clear for high-lines overhead. We trade reckless amounts of light for the unusual requirement of no metal plant supports. All of those fancy tomato cages you’ve seen? Nope. Let your skill run wild with PVC-pipe, bamboo stakes, and twine. Make something amazing. My bamboo structure was fantastic until the plants got too big and wrestled the whole thing to the ground...I’ve complained about this already. Better luck this year! I was cleaning

out the garage last week and found the heads of seed garlic I meant to plant in November but forgot about. Let’s put those in the ground now and see what grows.

Sometimes it just happens. You put everything into it and invest in a growing cycle and at the end it’s a bust. My biggest disappointment last year was with potatoes. A friend offered to help me do spring tilling in the garden, no small feat, in exchange for a share in a potato tower. I built a brand new set of wooden squares and picked out seed potatoes and thought everything was in place. Throughout the summer the leaves grew higher and I stacked one after another frame on top and filled with dirt to hill the potatoes. It looked fantastic! At the end of the summer the boys were so excited to harvest “Jeff’s Potatoes” and we toppled the towers with gleeful hands to find….nothing.

Well, barely nothing. I think there were 12 small potatoes growing in the entire hill. I had read up on the process and knew that we weren’t under- or overfertilizing, we were properly watering, everything should have been great. Yet the spud bonanza did not materialize. I rinsed each wooden frame and stacked them up and next year we will try again.

Perhaps with some Russian Fingerlings or a Yukon Gold. Maybe it was the potato type? Who knows?

The seed and plant catalogs are coming.

We’ve passed the dark days of winter and things are on the upswing. What are you looking forward to planting this year? What is on your garden menu?

Electronic Recycling…Helps Your Community and the Environment

by Jayme Busser, InterConnection – a Cleanscapes Partner

Many of us find ourselves enjoying our new electronics from the holidays yet wondering what to do with the old ones? Do you have small items like cell phone chargers or printer cartridges gathering dust in your desk drawer?

Well dear reader get ready to clear the clutter, there is an easy way to recycle these items in our local community.

In 2012 Recology CleanScapes and local Seattle nonprofit InterConnection partnered up to provide an electronics recycling drop off location for the Issaquah community and surrounding areas.

Founded in 1999, InterConnection is a nonprofit electronics recycler with a mission to spread computers and technology in our community and to underserved communities around the world. Thanks to this partnership people can drop off their used electronics at the Recology CleanScapes Store in Gilman Village. InterConnection then collects these items and delivers them to their facility in Fremont.

Each electronic device goes through a series of steps including 100 percent, secure data destruction. They wipe or destroy hard drive data on all computers and laptops for FREE. All reusable hard drives are immediately updated with industry leading software. InterConnection’s standard wiping process is Department of Defense 5220.22-M and NIST 800-88 compliant.

Re-use is always the first choice, but some electronics are too damaged or are too outdated to be refurbished. If that is the case then the hard drives are put into an industrial shredder, while the rest of the parts are separated and recycled appropriately. If the device can be reused, then the data is wiped off. The device is then cleaned, refurbished and IC Certified, meaning it has

passed the 6 stage quality control process. Items are then sold at a discounted rate to individuals who have a low household income including families and students as well as to other nonprofit organizations.

Thanks to the Issaquah community of recyclers, InterConnection received 273 laptops and 364 desktops from the Recology CleanScapes store in 2014.

As a result, roughly 95 low income families and students were helped. According to the EPA, recycling that amount of laptops and desktops is the equivalent to saving the annual greenhouse gas emissions from 120,301 passenger vehicles for a year or the CO2 emissions of 3,064 railcars worth of coal burned.

If you have any used electronics lying around your house, please help InterConnection’s mission and drop them by the Recology CleanScapes store in Gilman Village. Monday – Saturday from 10am - 6pm or Sunday from 12pm – 5pm.

Accepted Items: Laptops, Tablets, Cell phones, Desktops, LCD Monitors, CRT Monitors, TVs (Max 32”) Servers, Printers, Ink & Toner, Mice, Keyboards, Cables, Hard Drives and RAM. Thank you to all the residents who have supported this recycling opportunity. Together, we have helped many individuals and families in our local area and around the globe. For more information on InterConnection please visit www. interconnection.org or call 206-633-1517.

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SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT

by Carolyn Kennedy

Issaquah School Foundation

Issaquah School District

http://www.isfdn.org

FEBRUARY EVENTS

http://www.issaquah.wednet.edu 2/16 2/16 - 2/20

Presidents Day Second Winter Break

Grand Ridge Elementary

Challenger Elementary

http://grandridgeptsa.org

2/27

Pacific Cascade Middle School

http://challengerpta.org

2/2 - 2/13 2/25

Clark Elementary

http://pacificcascadeptsa.org

PTA Drs. Seuss Book Swap 6:30 – 8:00pm

http://clarkpta.org 2/13 2/13

2/26

PTSA Board Meeting, 8:00am Dads at recess, 11:30am

PTSA Meeting at 12:30

Issaquah High School

Endeavour Elementary

http://issaquahhighptsa.org 2/13

http://endeavourptsa.org 2/3 2/4 2/6 2/26

Box Tops contest Book Swap, 5:30 – 7:30pm

Student banking day Movie Day Popcorn Friday Science Fair, 6:00pm

PTSA meeting, 9:30am

**Be sure to check individual web sites for details and updates

Issaquah Schools Foundation Advances Education for Highlands Students Highlands students will benefit again this year from donations to the Issaquah Schools Foundation. This fall’s All in for Kids Annual Fund Campaign, which raised more than $450,000 for the Foundation, will support new and ongoing programs for Issaquah students.

Through grants to classroom teachers, the Foundation is providing additional opportunities to Highlands students.

At Grand Ridge Elementary School, music teacher Alice Badgley is introducing her students to world music with new acoustic marimbas purchased with a Foundation grant.

Since 1986, the Issaquah Schools Foundation has driven community resources to help all students achieve their academic potential. The Foundation bridges the gap between state funding for basic education and the resources needed to prepare students for future success.

“The marimbas are exciting for students,” Badgley said.

“They give students a hands-on opportunity to experience other cultures and rhythms.”

Book Swap

Highlands students with special needs will benefit from a Foundation grant to Clark Elementary, where special education instructor Katie Carey is purchasing laptop computers for her students. Using software tailored to individual learning styles, these laptops will help challenged students rise to their peers’ grade level in reading and math.

“Measurement gathering and data analysis are essential in fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, meteorology and engineering,” Cecil said. “This new equipment sets the standard for science education technology and provides students the opportunity to practice real science experimentation.”

“Great schools and great communities truly go hand in hand,” said Foundation Executive Director Robin Callahan.

“Our community’s response to our fall fundraising campaign once again demonstrates our commitment to providing great schools for our students.”

Both Grand Ridge and Challenger are having a book swap in February. These events are a great opportunity to get different books into the hands of each student. At Grand Ridge, students drop off their gently-used books in designated collection stations at the school. The total number of books collected will determine the number of new-to-them books each student can select to take home on the night of the event. The number of books anyone donates does not determine the number of books a student will receive during the Book Swap event; it is an entirely free event for all students, regardless of ability to donate books. If you have older students with books they no longer read, consider donating them to the book swap. Every year there is a need for higher level books for the 4th and 5th graders. So, ask your middle school student if they have books they no longer need/want and know that the book swap is a great opportunity to pass them along!

SAVE THE DATES

Highlands students, like all students in the Issaquah School District, are impacted every day by donations to the Foundation. Across the district, the Foundation funds programs like afterschool homework labs in all middle and high schools, financial literacy curriculum for all eighth graders and the VOICE Mentoring Program for students at every grade level. For elementary students, the Foundation provided a powerful new writing curriculum at every school.

Tricia Vannoy-Cecil, a science teacher at Issaquah High School, is another advocate of hands-on education. A Foundation grant funded her purchase of LabQuest2 technology, a set of touch-screen sensors used to collect and analyze data.

Issaquah High School Performing Arts Department presents

Beauty and the Beast

March 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th at 7:00 pm and March 7th at 1:30 pm Ticket Prices: Adults $12, IHS students with ASB card $8, Elementary Students & Seniors $8 Come enjoy the timeless magic of Beauty and the Beast!

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FITNESS & HEALTH

Hiking in February

by Shelly Hawkins, Crofton Springs Neighborhood

“It’s quite complicated and sounds circular, but...”

Larry Page, Cofounded Google with Sergey Brin February’s hike takes you on a treasure hunt to locate six jewels: Black Nugget Park, Kirk and Grandview Parks, Magnolia Park, Logan Park, and the Village Green. Although the hike starts and ends at Trailhead Vista, you don’t have to start and end the hike there. The hike follows a circular route, which means you can start the hike at any point along the loop and end up where you started. Total distance: 1.83 miles.

Black Nugget Park Park features: Western view, basketball court, play area, picnic tables and benches, tennis court, walking paths, and grass field.

Directions from Trailhead Vista (across NE Park Drive from the entrance to Central Park): Walk a short distance north from Trailhead Vista. At the dog waste station, follow the gravel path along the western bank of the stormwater pond. The path ends at Black Nugget Park’s basketball court. (Distance: 0.12 miles)

Magnolia Park: Park features: Western view, covered picnic area, open field.

Directions from Kirk and Grandview Parks: Continue north on 25th Avenue NE, which becomes NE Magnolia Street as it turns east up the hill to Magnolia Park. (Distance: 0.32 miles) Logan Park: Park features: Grass field and concrete tunnels.

Directions from Magnolia Park: Retrace your steps back down NE Magnolia Street until you reach 30th Avenue NE. Turn left and walk south on 30th Avenue NE, which passes by Logan Park. (Distance: 0.38 miles) Village Green: Park features: Fenced grass field surrounded by a concrete sidewalk. If the Village Green shops are open, you’ll be able to fuel up at TCBY or Zeeks Pizza.

Directions from Logan Park: Continue south on 30th Avenue NE. Turn right on NE Park Drive, which heads west down the hill to the Village Green. (Distance: 0.25 miles) Trail’s end at Trailhead Vista Directions from the Village Green: Continue west down the hill on NE Park Drive to Trailhead Vista. (Distance: 0.30 miles) Happy Hiking!

Kirk and Grandview Parks Park features: Western and northern views, play area, gazebo, walking path, huge grass field (perfect for sledding on snowy days, and kite flying when it’s warm and windy), water fountain, and bathroom facilities. (The water is turned off and the bathroom is locked in the winter.)

Directions from Black Nugget Park: Walk east along the roadway to the south of Black Nugget Park’s basketball court. Continue walking east up the hill to 24th Avenue NE. Cross the street and continue east on the path leading farther up the hill. Turn left on 25th Avenue NE and continue north to Kirk and Grandview Parks. (Distance = 0.46 miles)

See Full “pull out” map of the community on Page 7.

Issaquah Highlands trail map: http://www.issaquahhighlands.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Walking.pdf

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ISSAQUAH CITY NEWS

Something for Everybody on Our Boards Your community needs you! Our volunteer boards and commissions do important work — but they can’t do it without you.

Serving on a City board or commission is a fun, interesting and impactful way to make a difference in our community.

We’re now accepting applications for all boards and commissions.

Our boards and commissions cover a broad range of topics

— arts, economic development, environmental issues, growth and even international diplomacy.

There’s something for everybody.

To apply or learn more about our boards and commissions, visit issaquahwa.gov/boards.

Following the interview process, the Mayor chooses among the candidates; appointments are confirmed by the City

City Council Approves State Park Annexation Issaquah’s boundaries will soon expand to include Lake Sammamish State Park.

In a unanimous decision Dec. 15, 2014, the Issaquah City Council annexed the park into Issaquah.

The park will continue to be owned and managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Annexation will mean enhanced police service for the park, better coordination of long-range planning and streamlined permitting for park projects. The annexation will take effect on Feb. 1, 2015.

The annexation area includes 380 acres in the park and boat launch area. Smaller portions of the park, including the Hans Jensen area, are already within City limits.

Human Services Grants: Fostering a Healthy Community As part of our efforts to foster a healthy community, the City provided $291,000 to human services grant recipients for 2015-16.

Council. Terms for board members and commissioners start in May 2015.

Questions? Contact the City Clerk’s Office at clerks@ issaquahwa.gov or 425-837-3000.

Free Gardening Classes The City of Issaquah, Cascade Water Alliance and other member cities are offering free gardening classes to help you have beautiful, healthy landscapes while using water efficiently.

Topics include food gardening, plants and landscapes, irrigation, lawns and design.

Whether you are a first time gardener or looking to learn new techniques, there is a class for you.

Classes will be held from February to April in Issaquah and our surrounding communities. Please visit cascadewater.org for class descriptions and to register.

Questions? Contact OfficeofSustainability@issaquahwa.gov for more info.

In Issaquah, we strive to be a community where every person is considered essential, and where meeting basic human needs is considered a shared responsibility.

Second Saturday Film Series

We support our community’s human services needs by working with local and regional agencies.

Join us for a free Valentine’s Day showing of “The Way We Were” at 7 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Eagle Room at City Hall,130 E. Sunset Way.

These agencies are dedicated to providing high quality services to their customers. Together they help us meet the needs of the community. To see a complete list of recipients, visit issaquahwa.gov/humanservicesgrants.

Open Houses: Pickering Barn & Tibbetts Creek Manor Father-Daughter Dance We invite you to tour Pickering Barn and Tibbetts Creek Manor as you plan your upcoming event.

You can show the facilities to family, friends and vendors; measure and plan for decorating ideas; and ask our staff answer your rental questions. No appointments are necessary for these open houses.

Tibbetts Creek Manor is a great location for wedding ceremonies, receptions, corporate meetings, seminars, retreats and celebrations.

To learn more, visit issaquahwa.gov/tibbettscreekmanor Pickering Barn is a premier site for wedding ceremonies, receptions, auctions, corporate meetings, seminars, celebrations, sales events and trade shows.

To learn more, visit issaquahwa.gov/ pickeringbarn Open houses at both locations will be on the following dates: • Saturday, Feb. 14: 9-11 a.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17: 4-6 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 20: 3-5 p.m.

Celebrating its 15th year, our FatherDaughter Valentine Dance is for girls, grades 1-5, and their dads or a caring adult! Come casual or formal, but come ready to have a blast!

Refreshments will be provided, and photo packages are available.

Join us from 7-9:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Issaquah Community Center, 301 Rainier Blvd S. The cost is $20 per couple in advance, or $40 per couple at the door. There is no cost for more than one daughter!

Register at issaquahwa.gov/parks.

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RESIDENT PROFILE: NICHOLAS CHIN During the lazy days of the recent holiday season, I was catching up on Facebook notices. It was there that I was introduced to Nicholas Chin, son of Sylvia and Sam Chin of the Davis Loop neighborhood. Highlands Council Social Media Maven, Christy Garrard, had shared a video of Nicholas’s winning piano performance, a win that earned him a place at the prestigious Crescendo International Competition Concert at Carnegie Hall in New York this February.

Nicholas masterfully played “The Lark” by Russian, Glinka Balakirev. Nicholas was only 12 years old (now 13). I was blown away. Christy and I decided then and there to introduce all of you to Nicholas.

Are you ready to play at Carnegie Hall? I don’t think you are ever ready until the day you perform. You always can improve something, and you do that by practicing and practicing!

Do you get nervous before a performance? I always get nervous during performances. In fact, I think it’s impossible not to be. But if I am, as my dad says, I “think of everyone as a huge gummy bear...” He also says, “Just enjoy the moment.” Sometimes I just pretend I am playing at home.

When did you begin to play the piano? I started to play piano when I was six years old. I really didn’t care about it when my mom sent me to my first piano lesson, but I ended up liking it anyway! Also, our family friend in Canada is really good at piano, and I guess he was part of my inspiration to start playing.

What do you like best about the piano? The thing I like the best in piano has to be when you finally get everything right. It just feels really satisfying and relieving.

What does it take to “get everything right”? My songs are usually five to seven pages long. I have to practice one to two hours every day for about two months to finally get everything right.

What’s the hardest part about playing the piano? The fast parts of a song are the hardest. But it is

also hard to do the emotional parts. You have to get those right, too. Like the sad part. You don’t have to be sad, but you do have to feel the sadness.

What kind of music do you like to listen to in your free time? I don’t really like listening to classical music as much as listening to pop, rock, and rap music.

Nicholas will perform the winning piece “The Lark” again at the Chinese New Year Celebration at Blakely Hall on February 28, 2015 at 7:00pm.

Are any other members of your family active musically? We all are! Sometimes I play my

violin with my sister playing the piano, and sometimes she plays the bass with my piano. Sometimes my mom sings along with songs I play. It’s really funny, even sometimes a little embarrassing…

Was there ever a time that you thought of quitting? There was a time, last summer,

when I thought I was going to quit playing the piano. I was so busy with swimming team and everything. I went to my very last piano lesson, then I went home and started playing the piano.

I realized I was better at piano than swimming. So I quit swimming.

Monthly Resident Profiles are written and produced by Nina Milligan. Photo credit: Nina Milligan

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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

Community Events Board of Trustees Blakely Hall Community Center hcbot@ihmail.com Governing Body

Facility Rentals Larry Norton, President

Community Garden Linda Hall, Treasurer Board of Directors Facebook Philip Nored, Secretary Jim Young, President Dan Vradenburg, Vice President E-Letter Patrick Byers, Member Connections Newspaper Ray Besharati, Member Walt Bailey, Secretary www.issaquahhighlands.com Stuart Johnson, Member David Ngai, Treasurer Jody Turner, Member Daniel Eyman, Member Jitendra Vats, Member Funded by: Linda Liaw, Member 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

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

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

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

Collene Cordova, Accounts Receivable Specialist collene.c@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1119

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

OPEN, Accounting Manager TBD, 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

Governing Body

Board of Directors Larry Norton Allen Enebo Tim Underwood Charlie Herb Emergency: 9-1-1 Issaquah Police (non-emergency) 425-837-3200 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

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.

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 Size

BW Color

Mini (text only): 3” x 3”

$50

Rectangle Vert: 3” x 4.625”

$75

$150

Rectangle Horz: 4.625” x 3”

$75

$150

Square: 4.625” x 4.625”

$125

$195

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

ON-LINE ADVERTISING AVAILABLE!

We reserve the right to accept or refuse submissions and edit to content and length.

We also reserve the right to refuse advertising that in our opinion does not reflect the standards of the newspaper. Opinions or expressed either by paid advertisement or editorial content do not necessarily reflect the views of Highlands Council or this newspaper.

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

For best results with newspaper printing: • Please avoid small text in color or reversed out of color.

• 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. • 85 line screen and 300 dpi for photos.

• All process color ads should be converted to CMYK. • Acceptable art for use by our production department includes TIFF or JPEG files.

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

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

Content and advertising in Connections does not necessarily reflect the opinions/views of the Highlands Council or staff.

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