July 2018

Connections

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ISSAQUAH HIGHL ANDS

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By Community, for Community July 2018

Photo: Scott Moffat

W H AT ’ S I N S I D E ?

5 Feature: 2018 IHCA Annual Report 8 IHCA News, Goats, Homeowner Tips, Etc. 10 Highlands Council 10 Highlands Youth - The HY 11 20 Years of IH 12 Living Green 13 Volunteer of the Month 14 What’s Happening

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Blakely Hall Art Gallery Doing Business Development News Ask Kari Traffic Corner Fitness & Health Photo Treasure Hunt Highlands Fiber Network Emergency Preparedness Directory

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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Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Connections

FROM THE EDITOR

Hello Summer!

Summer is finally here! Many of us will be heading into a summer of fun and vacations. For the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA), this is no time for a break.

Summer is the high-season for our community association.

With sun and heat comes a vigorous growing season, for our landscape team and, on top of that, July marks the beginning of the IHCA fiscal year. If this year is like most, the hot real estate market will trigger purchases and sales bringing many new residents to be welcomed to the community by the IHCA.

Here I am enjoying time with IHCA’s Erika North at a community event in 2017. After 10 years of service in Issaquah Highlands, Erika retires this month.

In this Annual IHCA Report issue you will find the past twelve months of accomplishments and improvements as well as answers to your questions and concerns from the IHCA annual survey. Learn about the scale and scope of the IHCA’s responsibilities; It really is an impressive organization. I am grateful for their quality work in maintaining our community.

In addition to the IHCA report, Connections brings many local stories for you to enjoy.

Read about how Girls Scouts designed new traffic safety signs for the community or about a neighbor who summited all five volcanoes in Washington. And we have all the latest news about new development in the Highlands.

About the Cover: The cover photo was taken by community volunteer, Scott Moffat. Scott is a long-time resident of Manchester Court and runs the Issaquah Highlands Photography Club.

When we asked him to send a drone camera into the sky for aerial photos, he was as eager as ever to do it.

Thank you, Scott, for this fabulous photo, and for the other aerial shots we have used in many other important situations this year.

Happy summer, everyone!

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

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Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Connections

July 2018 •

Our Home, Our Future, Our Commitment.

THE 2018 IHCA ANNUAL REPORT Issaquah Highlands...By the Numbers

3,284

Current number of IHCA member homes (approx.)

Total home sales (July 2017 - May 2018)

by Sarah Hoey, IHCA Executive Director “Our Home, Our Future, Our Commitment” is the slogan used as we celebrate Issaquah Highlands 20th year as a community.

Issaquah Highlands was recently named by Seattle Magazine in the “Best of the Burbs” issue. It is IHCA’s mission to ensure that we continue to evolve our management approach with the community’s needs in mind. The IHCA staff and Board of Directors are dedicated to bringing 20 more years of professional oversight.

Total build out of homes per the development agreement

You do not know your district’s IHCA Board representative.

The IHCA is managed by a volunteer board of seven homeowners.

The survey responses indicated that you wish you knew which board member represented your board district. We updated IssaquahHighlands.com with this information.

The time of the IHCA Board of Directors monthly meetings does not always work for you.

The volunteer directors set the time of the meetings. All IHCA Board meetings are open to the public and any homeowner may address the board by contacting me (425-507-1120 or Sarah.H@ihcommunity.org) at least seven days in advance to be added to the agenda.

You are not sure where to find the IHCA Board of Directors meeting notices.

Per the governing documents, official board of directors meeting notices with date and time are published monthly in this paper which is sent via 1st class mail to every residential and commercial door in Issaquah Highlands. We also publish meeting dates and times in the weekly e-letter and on the community calendar at IssaquahHighlands.com.

Thank you to those who completed the spring survey.

Your feedback is important to us! Your comments and concerns are addressed in this issue and we welcome your continued input!

ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF Through improved efficiencies we have reduced the size of the IHCA administrative staff by 1.5 employees even as the community continues to grow. IHCA welcomed Kristyn McKinnon as our new Accounting Manager, and Debbie Orosco as our new Compliance Coordinator.

Kristyn McKinnon Accounting Manager

Debbie Orosco Compliance Coordinator

A big thank you to all the IHCA committee members: Thank you to the IHCA Board of Directors and committees, HFN, Highlands Council and the City of Issaquah (especially the Land Development department, City Council, the Mayor’s office, and the Issaquah Police Department), Issaquah School District and many, many others.

We are all dedicated to upholding the original vison for this beautiful community and carrying it forward into the future.

ARC Committee: Ben Rush, Yang He Lee, Bertan Aygun, Jennifer Regis, Walt Bailey, and Sean Alexander Finance Committee: Dan Vradenburg, David Ngai, Alex Garrard, Mike Petty, Jason Bone, Melody Greene, John Knappenberger Covenant Compliance Committee: Larry Norton, Lisa Soboslai, Bob Bailey, Rob Knight, Rossi Cruz Builder ARC: David Meade, Dennis Riebe

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COMMUNICATIONS In the IHCA annual survey, you gave us a lot of feedback regarding our communication methods. The IHCA uses the Highlands Council official media to distribute information including this publication, the weekly e-letter, social media sites and our website, IssaquahHighlands.com, saving the IHCA money in employment costs and staff time.

Fifty percent of those surveyed said it was easy to find the homeowner-related information you need at IssaquahHighlands.com. We are constantly partnering with Highlands Council and learning from your feedback new ways to improve the website user experience.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

You would like to reach the IHCA on social media.

The IHCA does post on social media using officially administered pages by Highlands Council. Industry standards deem it inappropriate to monitor and respond to HOA related questions on the multitude of unofficial sites. The board of directors continues to monitor the ever-changing practices of social media in community association management and will adjust as appropriate.

Search Made Easy! The governing documents of the IHCA are being converted from pdf to webpages on IssaquahHighlands.com. Soon you will be able to search key words and find the related guidelines you seek quickly!

ACCOUNTING AND TECHNOLOGY The seven-member volunteer Finance Committee is actively involved in ensuring the financials are presented fairly, costs are monitored and minimized, policies are established, and budgets are reasonable; all leading to the utmost confidence of the board and the community regarding financial affairs.

We completed another “clean” audit and maintain strong controls over the accounting environment.

Accounting Department By the Numbers (2017-18): • Cash deposits are analyzed regularly to attain the highest interest yield while maintaining 100% insurance • Over 50% of our deposits are invested in certificates of deposit • Interest income for 2017-18 is estimated to be $65K, $10K greater than last year • 84% of our homeowners pay via our auto debit payment program; keeping our cash flow even throughout the year and lowering our delinquency to near zero!

IHCA is proactive in protecting your data from malware. We continue to partner with industry leaders to apply the most effective software available.

LANDSCAPING & IRRIGATION We are grateful that the community and board of directors support the landscaping department efforts and empower our team to implement cost saving techniques and approve capital projects. IHCA Landscape Manager, Lyle Dickey, is creating a master landscaping plan to prioritize enhancement projects and works closely with the City of Issaquah regarding plant material choices. The board of directors allocates over $100,000 annually to the reserve funds for these landscape improvement projects.

IHCA Landscape Manager, Lyle Dickey (right) working with Dan Caldwell from Eastside Land Care, a landscaping company currently contracted by the IHCA.

The IHCA landscape team completed so much behind the scenes on behalf of the community. Last year, they: • Installed 980 tons of gravel by machine, wheelbarrow and shovel to improve pedestrian paths.

• Planted 112 new trees, 4,000 groundcover plants and 500 various sized shrubs in the common areas.

• Installed a more pedestrian friendly landscape on the Park Drive center islands in front of Grand Ridge Elementary as part of the traffic and pedestrian safety campaign launched in January.

• Managed 27 acres of open space slopes with the help of our annual goat program.

• Installed 14 new irrigation controllers that are monitored from a central location, saving on labor cost. These smart controllers track weather data, water use, and notify management of possible water leaks.

• Installed 18 new master valves to mitigate component wear and water savings, reducing runaway water leaks and labor cost.

• Upgraded the non-potable irrigation system filters to clean the pond water used to irrigate landscaping throughout the community.

• Collected 16 million gallons of water from rain and street surface runoff and then used for irrigation.

Five thousand total trees in streets, parks, and pond open space are beginning to age, and become susceptible to disease, infestation, breakage and may cause property damage. We continue to monitor and notify residents if trees need to be removed and replaced.

The IHCA landscape crew installed new plantings in the center islands on Park Drive to improve pedestrian visibility.

Pedestrian paths in the community were spruced up with 980 tons of new gravel, installed by the IHCA landscape team.

Lyle Dickey Celebrates 10 Years with the IHCA! Lyle Dickey began working in the community as a builder landscaper over 12 years ago. Lyle has since dedicated himself to this community for the past 10 years and was promoted to landscape manger in 2016.

Lyle’s leadership has improved efficiencies and reduced costs by upgrading the existing irrigation system. This community looks so beautiful because of his expertise, leadership and dedication.

There are many more common area upgrades in the planning stage and the IHCA team is working closely with the board of directors to prioritize and fund ongoing landscaping upgrades. Everything we do is our commitment to the community to continue living green.

Some IHCA common areas need extra landscape attention.

There are many reasons why areas of landscaped spaces maintained by the IHCA look less than perfect. Some spaces experience a lot of pedestrian traffic. Some areas need to be replaced with new plants due to aging or disease. Most new plantings happen in the fall as it is the ideal season to plant in the PNW. The IHCA has an internal landscape team and also works with several landscape contractors. The IHCA staff evaluates the quality of work by our contractors and adjusts the service providers as necessary to ensure we are meeting our high community standards.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

July 2018 •

MAINTENANCE

You’re not sure who to call if you see overflowing trashcans in IHCA common areas.

The IHCA manages the receptacles in IHCA owned parks and increases monitoring during the busy summer months. If you see overflowing trash cans, please call the IHCA at 425-427-9257. If you have a new trash can location suggestion, please let the IHCA know!

Through process improvement in the past year, the maintenance team has saved the community money and increased efficiency. In 2017-18, the team: • Added Pedro Galvez as a part-time maintenance team member, splitting his weekly time with the landscape crew.

• Purchased a portable power washer to clean foot paths and common area sidewalks.

Please report graffiti to the IHCA office so the team can remove immediately.

• Replaced multiple electrical outlets for holiday lighting, replaced light fixtures on pathways, and lighting in gazebos; using LED bulbs whenever possible. Please report pathway lighting outages directly to the IHCA. • Purchased a portable leaf vacuum, drastically reducing manpower hours.

• Used reserve funds to paint common area fencing.

You continue to be frustrated about the amount of dog waste not picked up by owners.

The IHCA replaced 48 of the 54 dog waste stations this year and adds more each year as needed. We place small signs in grassy “problem areas” as a reminder to pick up after your pet. Pooper Troopers is a pet waste removal company contracted by the IHCA. They remove over 19 tons of dog waste every year! If you find a station low on poop bag inventory, please contact the IHCA office at 425-427-9257.

Maintenance Facility Update: The new 3,000 square foot maintenance facility (pictured below) is almost complete. This new facility will allow us to securely store equipment, materials, and the vehicle fleet which services this community. We are working with Puget Sound Energy to establish service. Construction is expected to be completed on this project later this year.

FUTURE IHCA OFFICE SPACE UDPATE The IHCA currently rents office space from Regency Centers. Regency Centers inherited IHCA as a tenant when Port Blakely sold the building to Regency Centers.

Our current rental space, although suitable, is larger than we need and the commercial rental rate in this region is very high. This prompted the IHCA Board of Directors and the Executive Director to start thinking about where the administration offices could relocate. We considered off site, in another town, in a temporary housing structure, or to build a new office.

Last year, the IHCA identified a small parcel of land owned by the Association and currently zoned commerical on Park Drive, across the street from Caffe Ladro. The board of directors authorized the survey, geotech report, architectural concept, and civil engineering services to investigate whether this parcel was a viable location for a future IHCA administration building. After our investigations, this parcel was deemed unbuildable therefore the project was stopped.

The board of directors will continue to discuss the future location of the IHCA administration and report decisions to the community.

COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & COMPLIANCE Your Community Management team includes Senior Community Manager Erika North, Community Manager/Project Manager Jessica Dorsey, and Compliance Coordinator Debbie Orosco. The team’s main functions include community management, project management and compliance.

In the 2017-18 fiscal year, the Community Management team worked hard to meet resident needs: • 300+ ARC applications reviewed: Managed by Senior Community Manager, Erika North, the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) reviewed over 300 applications, sometimes as many as 50 applications per meeting!

• New Reminder Program: The Reminder Program was implemented, in response to resident feedback, to work with homeowners regarding lawn and alley landscape issues before the violation process.

• Updated compliance management software: We are using a new software system to improve compliance tracking, implement statistical analysis, and reduce staff time.

• Compliance notices by email: In response to many of your requests for electronic communication, this summer we are implementing emailed copies of compliance notices. Per the governing documents, official notices must still be mailed, but our hope is that an instant email copy will help improve communication to homeowners.

Erika North works with ARC Committee members to review ARC applications.

Learn more about how the community management team works on page 8.

Jessica Dorsey, Matthew Hendrikse (Landscape Supervisor) and Lyle Dickey (Landscape Manager) discuss IHCA park drainage plans.

Perceived strictness of the community rules is a hot topic.

When asked if you thought the IHCA rules for the community were too strict or not strict enough, it was almost a 50/50 split in opinion. The board of directors expects the IHCA staff to enforce the communitywide standards established to maintain the appearance of our community. As our community grows the rules and standards will be reviewed by the board of directors and amended as necessary.

Erika North:

Thank you for over 10 years of dedication!

Please join us as we celebrate Erika North’s retirement!

Friday July 27, 6:00 pm Blakely Hall

Let’s send her off with a moment of gratitude for all her efforts.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Light refreshments will be served.

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Issaquah Highlands Connections

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

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Your Community Managers Work for You!

by Erika North, IHCA, Senior Community Manager

Your Community Management team serves the community in many ways. Primary functions can be broken down into the three sections below: Community Management The IHCA Community Managers (CMs) serve all residents in the Issaquah Highlands. They work alongside the landscape, maintenance and accounting teams to ensure operations of the IHCA are running smoothly.

Your CMs work closely with IHCA committees, acting as liaisons to help facilitate monthly meetings and coordinate correspondence and follow-up.

Architectural Review Committee (ARC), consists of seven members. This Committee reviews owner’s applications to make changes to the exterior of their homes or yards. Over 300 applications were reviewed in 2017/2018 by Erika and the Committee, sometimes as many as 50 applications per meeting. I manage this committee.

Covenant Committee, which has five members, is managed by Jessica Dorsey. This Committee meets monthly to review homeowner violation appeal applications.

Managing these committees entails hours of administration by your CMs. We work with owners to receive, complete, log and track applications. We create meeting packets and agendas, take minutes, record committee decisions in official records, and finally follow up with owners on applications and appeals. Besides the IHCA committees, CMs also work with neighborhood committees for Crofton Springs, zHome, Dahlia Park, and Grand Ridge Drive.

Finance Committee: One of the greater and more challenging tasks of your Community Managers is preparing the 15 neighborhood budgets on an annual basis. The CMs produce the budgets with input from the neighborhood committees.

The annual budgeting process includes several months of preparation, research, meetings, and reviews. The budgets are then reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee and

Over 300

applications were reviewed in 2017/2018 by the Committee, sometimes as many as 50 applications per meeting.

Board of Directors, and finally sent to the owners for ratification.

Neighborhood budgets consist of operations costs such as waste management and landscaping, but most importantly each budget includes a reserve fund for neighborhoods’ long-term maintenance and capital asset replacement. Your CMs spend many days with the IHCA contracted reserve specialist, analyzing every asset in every neighborhood to assure adequate funds are being accumulated in each reserve account with the goal of ensuring homeowners are not burdened with devastating special assessments.

Project Management In addition to general community management, your CMs manage operations, maintenance and capital projects at the 15 neighborhoods. Most of these neighborhoods look and function like condominiums but are legally single-family homes. Some are attached, like the Row Houses on Park Drive at Crofton Springs, and some are detached, like the homes on Grand Ridge Drive. Your CMs manage landscaping, small repairs like trellis staining, and large capital projects like roof and siding replacement.

Between these 15 neighborhoods your CMs manage 689 units, 470 of which are attached. Your CMs coordinate maintenance and project calendars, notify owners of work, inspect assets, maintain a network of reliable and trusted contractors and business partners, and carefully balance fiscal responsibility and owner’s best interests.

Jessica Dorsey also provides management assistance for some IHCA operations and reserve projects, including drain line cleaning, fence maintenance, and parks and play equipment replacement.

Compliance The IHCA Board of Directors assigns the compliance department to enforce IHCA standards and rules to maintain the prestigious ambiance of our community. After reviewing the statistics from this fiscal year, an average of only 3.2% of homes receive violations each month (out of 3,284). The graphics above provide an overview of enforcement notice statistics from 2017-18.

City of Issaquah AND Issaquah Highlands Rules Reminder

No Fireworks Kudo’s to the Dahlia Park homeowner (Jim!) who thoughtfully refilled the doggie station bags with some from another station when one had run out, ensuring that people could clean up after their pets!

Thank you!!

Use or discharge of firecrackers and other fireworks is not allowed.

Thank you for doing your part.

ARC Tip of the Month Did you know… Changing the color of your home requires ARC approval? No application or review is required for re-painting any part of the house with it original or existing color scheme. Prior ARC approval is required for new colors or any changes in exterior colors for house, fences, decks, trim and roofs. Color chips (samples) must be submitted with the application along with a detailed description of where the colors are to be applied (trim, body and doors, et al.), along with a photo of the home. The ARC will consider the color schemes of surrounding homes in the immediate neighborhood to determine the consistency of the selected colors.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

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ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

They’re Ba-a-ack!

Submitted by IHCA Staff

Approximately 75 goats will return to Issaquah Highlands for a few weeks in July. They will be maintaining about 25 acres of our steeper and less-accessible slopes. They are here to eat their way across these large, steep slopes and turn unwanted grass and weeds into fertilizer.

As well as being highly efficient, we like the goats because their antics are endearing and entertaining. They have quite the following.

But…PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE GOATS. SOME PLANTS ARE POISONOUS! This cannot be overemphasized. Please allow the goat herder to carefully monitor what the goats eat.

Also… PLEASE LEAVE YOUR DOGS AT HOME. Dogs must be on leash anytime in the public in Issaquah Highlands, especially when near the goats. Best if you avoid the goats when out walking the dogs. Goats see wolves instead of friendly dogs and can stampede out of control. This can result in fatal injury to the goats and extensive property damage.

Enjoy the goats, but please remember these tips!

Photo from IHCA Archives

Adopted Updates to the Community Wide Standards (CWS)

by Jessica Dorsey, IHCA Community Manager

Below are changes to the Community Wide Standards adopted by the IHCA Board of Directors on May 23, 2018. These changes will be enforceable as of 07/01/2018.

NEW INTRODUCTION: The maintenance standards and guidelines below must be followed on all portions of residential lots, including front yards, side yards, alleys and inside fences.

NEW: Walkways and Driveways: All paths, stairs, walkways, porches, patios and driveways must be free of weeds and moss.

NEW: No excessive use of yard items such as pots or yard art.

And the following standards have been added to with the highlighted items: Turf should be free of bare patches, weeds and moss Vegetation shall not encroach on sidewalks, trails, driveways, or any pedestrian right-of-way.

Dead trees and/or shrubs should be removed immediately and then replaced during appropriate growing season (spring or fall). Dead is classified as more than 50% of the plant is without leaves or exhibits dead foliage.

Yard waste (leaves, twigs and branches) and other debris or rubbish should be removed and appropriately disposed of and not stored within the yard.

Undeveloped Lots: lots must be kept mowed as needed during spring and summer months to maintain a vegetation height no greater than 8 inches.

Mowing Lawns and Controlling Vegetation

by Lyle Dickey, IHCA, Landscape Manager

Landscape: The landscape crews will be busy in July with the day to day tasks of mowing lawns and maintaining shrub beds. The crews will also work two days per week on vegetation control on all our open space slopes and pond areas. In conjunction with the goats, this work will be done throughout the month of July and into August.

Irrigation: The irrigation crew will be busy doing regular repairs and troubleshooting irrigation issues. If time allows, they will upgrade irrigation components. Otherwise this can be done in the off season. There is not a lot happening in irrigation, which is a good thing.

I hope you will get outside and enjoy the weather which is so nice this time of year.

Summit Park “Two Slides” Renovation Update Submitted by IHCA Staff

The ongoing renovation to the Summit Park slides has been delayed while waiting for parts fabrication. Broken parts were discovered after digging commenced which require replacement before the project continues. Please anticipate the newly renovated slides opening between mid-July to mid-August this year. Thank you for your patience as we invest in the improvement of this park.

This renovation is necessary as a permanent solution to the problem of maintaining the vegetation that was supposed to stabilize the hillside, but is constantly eroded by weather, use,

and the steep grade of the hill. The project includes redefining the path to the top of the hill and installing a new poured-in place rubber “fall zone” around the existing slides.

Please call the IHCA with questions at 425-507-1113 or Jessica.D@IHCommunity.org Photos (Left): The “Two Slides” of Summit Park in 2017, before renovation.

(Right): “Two Slides” after renovation (a rendering).

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Issaquah Highlands Connections

HIGHLANDS COUNCIL

Summer Break? No Way!

by Christy Garrard, Highlands Council, Executive Director and Dahlia Park Resident Expect exciting mechanical rides and giant inflatable attractions, great food from six food trucks, over 70 vendor booths and roving live entertainment.

But what birthday party is complete without party games? We are planning interactive traditional party games for cool prizes from the stage for ALL ages – not just the kids!

The days are warmer, and the pace feels slower for most during the PNW summers – but not at Highlands Council; our community building efforts are hotter than ever!

Pop Up Parties Continue Pop Up Party winners for July are Vista Park on Tuesday, July 10 and Logan Park on Tuesday, July 17! Highlands Council will arrive with the Party Wagon and be ready to party from 6:30pm-7:30pm. These parties are a great way for neighbors to meet one another while enjoying FREE ice cream treats and games.

FroYo with a Cop Bring the family to TCBY/Mrs. Fields on Wednesday, June 11 between 7pm - 8:30pm and introduce your kids to Officer Ryan Smith of the Issaquah Police Department! TCBY will offer 20% off your treats during the event. Enjoy Officer Ryan’s super friendly personality while getting to know about law enforcement public safety. Bring your questions! You will also see Officer Ryan at Highlands Council is coming to a neighborhood near you! In May we brought the Highlands Day festival on August 25.

Highlands Day is a great way to wrap up Nate Perea returns this year as Candidate Forum moderator. the summer, re-connect with your neighbors, OR volunteer for the community! If you want to help on festival day, 3-hour shifts are available with excellent benefits including a food truck meal voucher, commemorative t-shirt and more! Sign up at IssaquahHighlands.com/Highlands-Day.

a pop-up party to West Highlands Park!

Fall Programming Summertime is also the season we start organizing fall programming. The Highlands Youth Advisory Board is working on adding more teen events, our community groups are establishing themes for their monthly gatherings, and Highlands Council staff is preparing NEW ways to help you engage with each other with more adult-oriented programming.

Look for more information about these opportunities at the Highlands Council booth on Highlands Day and in the September issue of Connections.

Highlands Day Festival An annual summer tradition and the biggest event of the year, Highlands Day will be Saturday, August 25 from noon – 4pm at Blakely Hall and the Village Green Park. This year’s theme is Happy Birthday – celebrating 20 years as a community!

We look forward to connecting with all of you this month!

Congressional Primary Candidate Forum 2018 is another big election season especially with an open race in our 8th Congressional District, the first since 2005. Join us on Tuesday, July 24 at 7pm at Blakely Hall for the first in our series of Candidate Forums, resident volunteer supported with media sponsor Issaquah-Sammamish Reporter. You provide the questions.

We get the answers. See more at issaquahhighlands.com/events/

HIGHLANDS YOUTH - THE HY

The Impact of Upperclassmen

by Allen Aby, HY Advisory Board, Co-President, Rising Senior at Issaquah High School The transition from elementary to middle school is not an easy one; having to navigate one’s way through a larger campus, adjust to a new schedule, and handle loads of homework and exams. This change is all the more difficult when you don’t know many, or any, of your new classmates.

After attending Grand Ridge Elementary for kindergarten through second grade and completing my elementary school years at Endeavour Elementary, I went to Pacific Cascade Middle School and suddenly had to mingle with students from Grand Ridge, Sunset, and Sunny Hills. Though I recognized a few kids among the sea of foreign faces, my first week was quite lonely. The silver lining to the beginning of the school year came in the most unexpected place: my math class of only 7th and 8th graders.

Ever since my teacher told the class that there was a 6th grader in their midst, those towering giants made an effort to be my friend from the first day. Throughout my 6th grade year, that math class was my sanctuary, where I truly felt a sense of belonging. That many of the 7th graders in that class are still my close friends speaks to the lasting impact of their initial welcoming gestures.

I also credit my love for cross country and track over the past five years to the inclusive spirit of the upperclassmen on the team. The upperclassmen paid so much attention to the underclassmen, cheering us on at middle school meets and encouraging freshmen to train with them over the summer and hang out together. They had no reservations about seeming uncool by hanging with freshmen, but rather embraced the opportunity to guide the future of the team. These boys took me under their wing back in middle school and remain my best friends today.

The atmosphere which the senior class engendered in our school and community is the same atmosphere we want to create at the HY and improve with every event we produce.

Our goal is that our events will be a sanctuary of belonging for our peers, much like my math class and the track team was to me. In the future, the HY Advisory Board hopes to host more, smaller, monthly events throughout the year, such as casual sporting events or special interest gatherings, where our teens can meet more frequently than our annual, seasonal events and meet peers with similar interests.

Standing, left to right (Issaquah Highlands students labeled “IH”): Matt Wilkinson (IH), Nick Rodgers, Jordan Crist (IH), Barry Diedericks, Dil Thiagarajan (IH), Jared Putney, Kennan Schrag (IH), Sid Thiagarajan (IH), Allen Aby (IH), Jonah Foss (IH), Alex Darragh, Luke Darragh, Lucas Dolliver, Trevor Jordan (IH) Sorority squat, left to right: Sam Griffith, Luke George (IH) Crouching, left to right: Dan Constantinescu, Nathan Streams, Davis Carmichael, Spencer Haas (IH), Cody Tenace

The unification of our teens mandates a change in attitude on the part of the high schoolers of Issaquah Highlands. We must continue the tradition of inclusivity established by this senior class and look out for our younger peers, taking an active role in embracing and guiding them, building upon the legacy left by the class of 2018.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

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20 YEARS OF ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS

More Than an HOA

by Kathryn Dean, Kirk Park Neighborhood The Issaquah Highlands Community Association is like the hum of a welloiled machine, often unnoticed until there is a problem like a landscaping fine or painting reminder. Then we take to Facebook to commiserate about the unfairness of it all, while forgetting the benefits of living in a community with high standards.

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The IHCA is a non-profit community association whose goal is to maintain our property values through adopted rules and restrictions as well as taking care of our common areas

As the Highlands

has grown and changed over the past 20 years, the IHCA has, too.

such as parks, roadways, and building exteriors. They create a cohesive look to our community through the CCRs (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions). Membership in the IHCA is automatic as a homeowner and your HOA dues depend on what type of home you live in, and in which neighborhood.

We live in a diverse community made up of many different types of housing

and neighborhoods. From apartments to townhomes, condos to single family dwellings, 1000 square feet to 5000 or more, the Highlands has a home for everyone. Since different neighborhoods and home types have different needs, a Board of Directors volunteers to oversee the affairs of the IHCA. The directors are elected by the homeowners in their district. A director from each district ensure that decisions are made and rules enforced that benefit the entire community. Just recently, districts 2, 4 and 6 elected their board members.

As the Highlands has grown and changed over the past 20 years, the IHCA has, too. Sarah Hoey, our current executive director, says that the IHCA is so complex; it is unlike any other HOA that she has managed in her 15 years of experience. “We work very closely with all City of Issaquah departments and other entities such as Regency Centers, King County, Highlands Council, local businesses, multi-family housing, etc.” Among other duties, Sarah provides oversight and planning between for new builders to ensure that the building and architectural process maintains the design guidelines and standards for Issaquah Highlands.

It is the oversight of the IHCA that keeps our neighborhood’s aesthetic and values true to the original intent of Port Blakely when establishing our urban village.

Erika North, Senior Community Manager for ten years, has seen the

area change greatly in her time with the IHCA. But through the changes, the original vision has stayed much the same. “Although the area has changed so much in the past few years, the core values remain the same. I think what impresses me the most about Issaquah Highlands is the community involvement and the protection of the environment,” Erika reflects.

As inconvenient as a painting reminder or landscape fine may be, enforcing the rules is just a small part of what the IHCA does. Let’s step away from the keyboard and instead take a walk to enjoy our beautifully maintained neighborhoods. Maybe even a walk down to High Street where someone in the IHCA office would love to talk with you in person.

More information about the IHCA staff, board, and homeowner’s rules and regulations can be found at issaquahhighlands.com This is part 6 of a 7 part series about the history of Issaquah Highlands, conceived and produced by volunteer writer and resident, Kathryn Dean to help celebrate Issaquah Highlands 20 year anniversary. The first residents moved into their homes in 1998.

Pioneer Views

EDwin & maria teresa

P I L a P I L Of the first residents in Issaquah Highlands, the Pilapils are the only ones who still live in their original house.

With very little to see at the time (just one model home and a few framed-up houses) Edwin and Maria Teresa Pilapil put down roots in Issaquah Highlands 20 years ago, in June 1998. Their lot/home just happened to be lot #1.

u

Why did we choose to buy a home in Issaquah Highlands?

Our agent explained the neighborhood concept and vision and we were sold. It has been great to see that vision and concept come to fruition over the past 20 years.

v

When we first moved to IH, we expected: A great community with lots of potential.

We also wanted to be in an area where we knew we could stay awhile, plant our roots and raise our son. (The Pilapils found a home for their son in the Highlands, who still lives here, raising his own family.)

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20 Years later, we think Issaquah Highlands is: Exactly what we were looking for and more. The retail and the hospital were great additions to the community.

x

IHCA Executive Director, Sarah Hoey, wears many hats. On this day in May, Sarah met with the Grand Ridge Elementary School Crossing Guards to discuss pedestrian safety.

What are your hopes for the future?

More retail offerings and more schools for the future generations.

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• July 2018

Issaquah Highlands Connections

LIVING GREEN

Together, We Can Create a Better Energy Future

“

by Renee Zimmerman, Ashland Park Resident, Community Projects Manager for Puget Sound Energy I’m grateful Christy Garrard asked if I’d be interested in submitting monthly articles for our LIVING GREEN section of Connections, especially since I currently work at Puget Sound Energy (PSE).

PSE is Reducing its

When we decided to move into Issaquah Highlands over 18 years ago, there was one thing my husband and I knew for sure: Port Blakely built a special community…a place where we all call “home” because of its vision and values related to sustainability.

PSE plans to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2040

One of the numerous aspects many of us Highlands Residents embrace focuses on the intentional stewardship of our environment.

That’s where I come in every month with this section….to provide you with information on actions YOU can readily take to help protect the environment we all cherish….TOGETHER.

Carbon Footprint:

By the early 2030s, PSE plans for 100 percent non-coal generation

As we enter the summer months, being outside in nature is something many of us love to do.

Nature is something many of us take for granted, but if we want to enjoy it for years to come, protecting the environment becomes everyone’s responsibility. Taking care of it now will help our future generations, which was a large part of Port Blakey’s vision for our community.

At Puget Sound Energy, we’re already doing our part. PSE has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2040.

When it comes to transportation, this year alone, PSE converted 60 fleet vehicles to a gas/ electric hybrid, reducing each of the van’s carbon foot print by 20 percent. We also support our state’s goal of getting more electric cars on the road and are investing in the development of cleaner alternatives to diesel and other fuels for commercial and industrial uses.

PSE is working to use less coal in Washington State and is going to retire two Colstrip units

by July 2022. We also plan to shut down the Centralia Power Plant in 2025. These steps will help PSE move closer to 100 percent non-coal generation by the early 2030s.

From hydro power to the three large wind farms here in Washington, PSE has been leading the way to cleaner and more affordable energy for years. PSE produces enough wind energy to power 200,000 homes. At Snoqualmie Falls and Baker River, we turn water into energy.

We know our customers (that’s YOU!) care about the future of the beautiful environment we live in and enjoy here in Issaquah Highlands, and we need everyone to help us make a difference.

Everyone can help by making simple changes like using LED lightbulbs and efficient appliances or signing up for PSE’s Green Power, Solar Choice and Carbon Balance programs. Interested in helping us make this happen? Learn more about the ways PSE is working with customers to create a better energy future at pse.com/TOGETHER.

Author Renee Zimmerman is a resident of Issaquah Highlands for over 18 years. She works for Puget Sound Energy, our electricity provider, as their Community Projects Manager.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

July 2018 •

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

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Bryan Bell: July Volunteer of the Month

“

by Bryan Bell, Resident of zHome Neighborhood

Over the course of

a year, the amount of energy a zHome uses is the same as the amount its solar panels generate.

Below Bryan Bell tells us why he likes to live in and volunteer to help his neighborhood in so many ways. Not only does he participate on the zHome Neighborhood Committee, but he is a “take-charge” kinda guy who has stepped forward to oversee specific projects ranging from giving a tour of the neighborhood to the Washington State Governor, Jay Inslee, to overseeing the rebate program for the community solar panels, to helping his neighbors with parking issues, and so much more. Thank you, Bryan, for all you do!

- Erika North, Issaquah Highlands Community Association My role in volunteering in our neighborhood is intimately linked to the home we purchased here.

My wife Karin and I were “late bloomers” when it came to buying our first home in 2014. In our late 40s, we’d been renting an apartment in Issaquah since 2003 when we finally decided that this town was where we wanted to put down permanent roots. After researching the various neighborhoods in Issaquah, we settled on the Highlands as our exclusive choice. We liked its “new urbanism” concept of compact walkable neighborhoods built around community rather than cars.

It also helped that Issaquah Highlands had a community-owned fiber network! We took many long walks through the Highlands scoping out the various homes for sale. We’ve probably walked every square inch of the community! During one of those walks we stumbled upon the zHome neighborhood. The 10 homes in the neighborhood were built to achieve net-zero energy usage: over the course of a year, the amount of energy the homes use is the same as the amount its solar panels generate. We hadn’t really considered environment-friendly features when deciding what we wanted in a home, but the more we researched zHome, the more important these features became to us. Now we’re convinced of the importance of building green homes.

“

July Volunteer of the Month Bryan Bell, with his wife Karin Weekly, in their zHome, Issaquah Highlands.

All of us regularly e-mail the group to discuss zHome concerns. I worked hard to get a deep understanding of our home’s technologies. Over time, I started to become a resource myself for my neighbors, especially for a few new ones that moved in after us. As a result, I was voted to serve on the zHome Neighborhood Committee that works with the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) to manage our neighborhood’s shared resources.

At the same time, I became involved with one of the key groups involved in building the zHome neighborhood: Built Green. It started with their request to interview us for our zHome-owner perspective in the white paper they produced about the success of the project. That went well, so Built Green continued to come to us when TV, radio, and newspapers wanted report on the project by touring the inside of a zHome.

In 2016, Built Green asked me to serve on their Executive Committee, on which I’ve served ever since.

Karin and I have twice given presentations about living in a zHome at the annual Built Green Conference. In the past year, we’ve had two school groups tour our home and in February we were honored by a visit from Washington State Governor Jay Inslee!

Everything I can do to keep our neighborhood wonderful is an investment in our own future.

- Bryan Bell

You’d think that living in a net-zero energy home would require sacrifices in comfort. It’s quite the opposite. The energy-efficient features of our home make it the most comfortable place we’ve ever lived. For example, the air-tight and well-insulated envelope of our home coupled with its geothermal hydronic heating system in the floors keep the temperature comfortable in every corner: no drafts and no hot or cold spots!

Karin and I love living in our zHome and continue to say just that to each other every day, even four years later. We want to live our entire lives here. So, I confess to selfish motives in volunteering to improve the zHome neighborhood: I want to continue to live in a nice neighborhood! The best way I can see to do that is to get in there and get involved. Everything I can do to keep our neighborhood wonderful is an investment in our own future.

Some of the best resources in maintaining our home has been our nine other neighbors. When we first moved in, they were invaluable in helping us figure out how our home “worked.”

Thanks to Erika North at the IHCA for her many hours of help. Thanks to Nick Nied, formerly with Ichijo and construction manager on the zHome project, for all his expertise over the years.

Thanks to Leah Missik at Built Green and David Fujimoto at City of Issaquah for involving me in their projects. Thanks to my fellow zHome Neighborhood Committee members Max Propylev, Eugene Shamshurin, and James Crosetto for their sage advice. No less thanks also to each of my other wonderful zHome neighbors: Gordon & Kathy Francis, Tony Fabela, Brad Verheiden, Eric & Shirley Njos, Satya & Shruti Malugu, Tatyana Shamshurin, Kurt Kester & Radhika Bhisey, and Kuldip & Rani Singh. All of you make volunteering for our neighborhood a pleasure!

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• July 2018

Issaquah Highlands Connections

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS Knit for Life®

Travel Night

A club for kids with special needs focused on acceptance and inclusion. A safe and fun place where kids can be themselves.

Contact Alicia Spinner at alispinner@yahoo.com. Also see facebook.com/ClubInclusiveBlakeyHall/.

A network of volunteer knitters in 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.

The bulk of the evening will be unstructured, get acquainted time so we can all share and learn about travel. Light snacks are provided but feel free to bring a beverage (perhaps a bottle of wine you’re your favorite country!) to enjoy. Join our FB group for more info: “Issaquah Highlands Travel Club” or email: IHTravelClub@gmail.com.

Library-2-Go

Open Mic

Kids & Families Club Inclusive

Resumes September 13

Tuesday, June 17, 3:30pm - 4:30pm Blakely Hall

The King County Library will bring the Library-2-Go Book Mobile to Blakely Hall. You bring the family and your library card and peruse the curated collection of books. Checkout your favorites! A FREE, fun, afterschool activity for all ages.

Next visit: August 14.

Minecraft Mania Resumes September 11

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

Movies for $1

Tuesdays & Wednesdays June 26 - August 22, 10am Regal Cinemas at Grand Ridge Plaza

Regal’s Summer Movie Express is back for nine weeks this summer – each Tuesday & Wednesday this community film festival will feature G- and PG-rated movies for $1/person.

See movie schedule at issaquahhighlands.com/events.

Toddler Playgroup Resumes September 5 Newborn to Age 4

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

Arts & Cards Art in Blakely Hall

Utsav! A Celebration of Asian Indian Culture Blakely Hall Exhibit runs July 17 - Setpember 12

In this exhibit, artists celebrate the beauty and unique culture of India, inspired by the richness of the community. For more information, see page 17 and visit arteast.org.

Utsav! Opening Reception Thursday, July 19, 6-8pm Blakely Hall Panel Discussion with Utsav! Artists Wednesday, August 1, 6pm Blakely Hall

Bridge Club

Monday, July 9, 7pm Blakely Hall

Grab a partner or come solo to play a little Bridge! Bring your own beverage of choice and a snack to share. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned bridge player, you are welcome to join us. RSVP: Ed Tellman, etellman@pobox.com.

Every Monday, 1pm Swedish Medical Center, Main Lobby

Resumes September 28

Join us for an evening of fun and entertainment from local talents. Come to sing a song, play music, read poetry, tell a story, perform stand-up comedy, etc., or just join the audience. All ages are welcome to participate! For more info, contact: Dino Go at kabalen.geo@gmail.com.

Photography Meet Up Saturday, July 21, 10:30am Blakely Hall

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

Poker Night

Thursday, July 26, 7pm Blakely Hall

Whether you are a novice or a salty vet looking for some steep competition, you will love our monthly group for $40 buy-in, No-Limit Texas Hold ’em tournament! Don’t forget to join us on Facebook for all the latest info and results at our “Issaquah Poker” group page. Contact Henry at hlh1969@hotmail.com.

Rovin’ Fiddlers

Second & Fourth Tuesdays, 7pm Issaquah Highlands Fire Station 73

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

Yarns & Threads Group

Every Friday, 9am Meeting at Swedish Hospital through August 30 All knitters, crocheters, and stitchers are welcome. For more details or questions, please contact Cathie Coulter at Catherine.coulter@ihmail.com.

Let’s See Where It Takes Us! Resumes September 12

Fitness Taichi Fitness Club Every Wednesday, 6:45am Blakely Hall

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

Hatha Yoga Class Resumes September 8

Join us every Saturday for free Yoga! Hatha Yoga Classes are for anyone interested, including neophytes wanting to try yoga for the first time, the experienced looking to improve, and anyone in-between. Yoga class will be led by Melanie and her mother, Deyin. For more information, contact deyiny@microsoft.com.

Meditation Group Resumes September 7

Discover how to find moments to relax the mind. Group leader, Wei Geiger, teaches exercises that promote balance, strength, and calmness. Learn techniques to help deal with stress and strain of a busy life. Free to attend and open to all! Questions?

Contact ih.meditation@gmail.com.

Zumba Fitness® Class Every Saturday, 9am 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 nonperishable food item to donate to the food bank!

Contact: zumbawithcindy@gmail.com.

World Cultures Chinese Heritage Club Resumes September 23

This club promotes and preserves the unique Chinese cultural heritage awareness among the next generation. All are welcome. Contact Bowbow.Gu@outlook.com for more details.

India Culture Club Resumes September 9

This club highlights the arts, culture and festivals and is open to all who want to explore and learn about India!

Contact: CulturalClubIndia@gmail.com.

Jewish Club

Resumes October 4

L’Chaim! Come and join us as we experience different aspects of Jewish culture together. All are welcome!

Contact: Anya Lvova at anna.lvova1@gmail.com.

Latino Club

Resumes September 9

The Latino Club welcomes everyone who would like to celebrate and learn about Latino traditions. Dinner is potluck (food might not have been prepared in a commercial kitchen.

Enjoy at your own risk.) Contact: alispinner@yahoo.com.

For the latest details, see IssaquahHighlands.com/events

Issaquah Highlands Connections

July 2018 •

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS Special Interest

Save the Date

Book Club

Tuesday, July 17, 7pm Blakely Hall Book: The Life She Was Given

The book club is a great place to meet neighbors, socialize and explore a variety of books. Email lindsey8@gmail.com or join the Facebook group at facebook.com/ihbookclub.

Crush the Hill 5K Run/Walk Benefiting Children’s Hospital

IHCA Architectural Review Committee

See page 18 fo more information and registration.

IHCA Finance Committee

Saturday, August 18, 8:30am Central Park

Highlands Day Festival

Saturday, August 25, Noon – 4pm Village Green Park and Blakely Hall

Entrepreneur Meetup Sunday, July 22, 7:30pm Blakely Hall

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 feedback. Here’s a chance to extend your network of support. For more information, contact: Johnathan Chu johnnychu@outlook.com.

Wine Club

To volunteer or for vendor information see IssaquahHighlands.com/highlands-day

Don’t Miss This Froyo with a Cop

Wednesday, July 11, 7-8:30pm TCBY

Have a “cool” time with neighbors and the Issaquah Police Department! Get 20% off all yogurt purchases at this casual family friendly evening, courtesy of TCBY.

Friday, July 13, 7pm Blakely Hall

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

Please RSVP the Tuesday prior to the event.

Women in STEM Friday, July 13, 7pm Blakely Hall

Governance Mtgs

Candidate Forum Tuesday, July 24th, 7pm Blakely Hall

Get to know the candidates running in the 8th Congressional District for the U.S. House of Representatives. We gather your questions in advance. Submit yours at issaquahhighlands.com/event/candidate-forum

Meet others in the community who work in the STEM fields and share your love of science, tech and learning new things.

Club format: discussion group. Bring your favorite recent STEM-related news article or research study to discuss, or present your latest data analysis project, Arduino project, or other shameless amateur or professional geekery.

Contact: Tonya Lane at radiazen@gmail.com.

Tuesday, 7/3, 6pm IHCA Office Tuesday, 7/10, 5:30 pm IHCA Office

Highlands Fiber Network Advisory Group Monday, 7/23, 5pm, IHCA Office

IHCA Board of Directors Meeting

Wednesday, 7/25, 5:30pm, IHCA Office Meetings are subject to change.

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

City Meetings Urban Village Development Commission (UVDC) Meets the first & third Tuesday of each month at 7pm City of Issaquah, Council Chambers For more information see issaquahwa.gov

Holidays Independence Day Wednesday, July 4

Tisha B’Av

Sunday, July 22

Office Closures:

IHCA Office, Blakely Hall, Highlands Council and HN Offices will be closed July 4, 2018 for Independence Day.

Have a great idea for a new community group?

Contact Lindsey about getting started!

Lindsey.P@ihcouncil.org or 425-507-1107

For daily updates, follow us on:

*All Events are FREE unless otherwise noted.

Subscribe to our weekly e-letter at IssaquahHighlands.com/connect

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• July 2018

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Happy 4 of July!! from Candy MâChé th

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Candy Themed Parties Hawaiian Shaved Ice & Ice Cream Novelties Seasonal Bulk Candy Custom Party Favors Specialty Chocolates Retro Candy www.candymache.com For the latest news - follow us on Facebook

“Lisa has proven herself to be a creative, thoughtful, and inclusive community leader.

Both in and out of her role as a school board director, Lisa’s passion for public service and public schools is impressive and I have no doubt she will make an outstanding representative for the 5th Legislative District,” - Senator Patty Murray Paid for by Friends of Lisa Callan (D), PO Box 2095, Issaquah, WA 98027

Issaquah Highlands Connections

July 2018 •

17

BLAKELY HALL ART GALLERY UTSAV! – A Celebration of Asian Indian Culture Issaquah is full of diverse neighborhoods with many thriving cultures. At ArtEast, we believe that art is an expression of identity, and sharing it with others builds community across boundaries of culture, generation and beliefs. Inspired by the richness of the communities we serve and live in, ArtEast is celebrating the beauty and unique culture of India throughout the months of July, August and September. Our cultural exploration of India will feature art, music, dance and traditions of India to encourage awareness, appreciation and connection amongst all people in our community.

Our partnership with the Issaquah Highlands Council and the support we receive from local community leaders such as the India Cultural Club and Downtown Issaquah Association ensure that our unique programs continue to offer a nurturing environment for local and regional artists – bringing outstanding content, stimulating conversation and relevant cultural education to the Issaquah community.

This series of connected events will begin with two exhibitions, one at Blakely Hall, the other at ArtEast Art Center. Throughout the quarter we will have classes, hands on demonstrations, summer camps and a full day of celebration; UTSAV! On Saturday, September 8 in downtown Issaquah.

Utsav! A Celebration of Asian Indian Culture Exhibition Dates: July 17 - September 12 at Blakely Hall

India, a country with an amazingly diverse and rich culture, is often called a country of festivals, with every day being a reason to celebrate among the multi-ethnic populace. As part of a series that explores our connections to the environment, the earth, and the community, ArtEast invites artists of Asian Indian descent to submit artwork that depicts celebration, while highlighting any of the multitude of art forms and techniques that have originated from the vastly varied and unique cultures of the Indian subcontinent. The intent of this exhibition and related events is to help increase awareness and appreciation of the diverse richness of our communities.

Dates to Remember Utsav! Opening Reception at Blakely Hall Thursday, July 19, 6-8 pm August 1 - Panel discussion with Utsav! Artists at Blakely Hall August 25 - Highlands Day - Rangoli and Henna demos and hands-on art projects Plus many events in downtown Issaquah and the ArtEast Art Center, including: September 8 – Utsav! Celebration Downtown Issaquah – this day-long event will include food trucks, artist booths, a fashion show and dance presentations. Stay tuned for more information coming in next month’s issue of Connections.

Two works from the show by Ekta Gupta, “Illusion” (top) and “Land of Vedas” (bottom)

DOING BUSINESS

Sip Restaurant Welcomes New Owners

by Nina Milligan, Communications Manager, Highlands Council

After 12 years of original ownership, Sip Restaurant and Wine Bar came under new ownership in June this year. Welcome Le Li and his wife Yulin Bai to Issaquah Highlands!

Lei Li settled on Sip Restaurant after looking at 10 other locations including Bellevue, Seattle, Renton, Kent and Auburn. Li has been in and out of the restaurant business since 1990. He and his wife own two other businesses in the U.S., a design and consulting firm, and a sushi restaurant.

The new owners of Sip Restaurant Yulin Bai and Le Li (center) are joined by Leia Garriss, assistant business manager (left) and Celinda Norton, general manager and wine steward (right).

When asked why they went in search of another restaurant and why did they choose Sip, Li smiles when he says, “My wife does not like sushi.” He goes

on to say that they both enjoy dining out a lot, especially for Western cuisine. And they like restaurants with cozy atmospheres, like Sip. Li and Bai began their search for another restaurant about a year ago, made an offer on Sip in December and closed the purchase in May. They were attracted to Sip Restaurant not only because of its cuisine and atmosphere, but also its location in Issaquah Highlands, which provides a “safe environment” and “high quality residents.” They like the Highlands so much, they are considering moving here, too.

What will they change about Sip? Not much! Li’s favorite dinner, when it is available, is the seared scallops served with a seasonal sauce. Bai is the wine-lover of the pair.

Regulars at Sip will be glad to hear that the VIP program will also remain very much the same. Li explains that in his homeland China, “they take VIP programs very seriously.”

Current members of the loyalty VIP program at Sip will need to get new cards, but otherwise can expect much of the same, earning points and invitations to special events.

Welcome changes will be a few new dishes, but more importantly, Li and Bai plan to open Sip for lunch. Next time you are in the neighborhood, stop by and say “hi” to general manager, Celinda Norton, who Li and Bai wish to share their sincere thanks for her hard work.

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• July 2018

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Connections

July 2018 •

19

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

by Nina Milligan, Communications Manager, Highlands Council

Westridge Plat Approval Scheduled for July As the final parcels are built out, Issaquah Highlands gets closer to fulfilling its vision as a dense, urban village. This summer we are watching the townhomes of Westridge (Polygon Northwest Homes) go up north of Discovery Drive, while tucked away in the southwest corner near Swedish, $1M+ single family homes Westridge South, also by Polygon NW. Both are virtually swept off the market as soon as they are put up for sale.

Pointing to depths of up to 35 feet of the site’s loose, silty sediments of “Vashon Recessional Outwash” above the underlying dense, more stable “Fraser to Pre-Fraser Undifferentiated Sediments,” Steve Crawford, Director of Capital Projects for the Issaquah School District, explained the underlying reasons for abandoning the pursuit of the site.

“Slope stability factors are less than what is required,” Crawford said. The school administration concluded that, “from a slope stability standpoint, this is not a site recommended for a school.”

You can learn more at the Issaquah School District website, a section dedicated to capital projects: issaquah.wednet.edu/district/departments/CapProjects

Central Park

Westridge townhomes can easily be seen from Highlands Drive as they spring up, 4-6 units per building.

When complete, there will be 222 townhomes in Westridge.

When complete, Westridge will consist of 222 townhomes, 10 of which will qualify as “affordable” for limited-income buyers. North and west of the townhomes, Polygon proposes to build another 72 single-family, market-rate homes. The permit application to begin working on these single-family homes is currently under review by the City Council, who could make a final decision in July.

Caught up in that application is the fate of High Street, which was originally built back when this entire section of Issaquah Highlands was planned as a large corporate campus. Changes may be made to High Street to accommodate residential uses. The builder and the City Administration propose converting a portion of High Street into a promenade park, redirecting vehicular traffic to a new road parallel and to the east. Watch for City Council discussion on this matter to continue at the Land and Shore Committee meeting on Thursday, July 5 at 6:30.

Still to come: Polygon Northwest is expected to build 38 condominiums just east of West Highland Park, all of which will qualify as “affordable” for limited-income buyers, plus a group home for Life Enrichment Options (LEO).

New Elementary School in the Highlands?

The Issaquah School District reported at the June 13, 2018 meeting of the School Board that it will no longer pursue the City-owned property west of Swedish Hospital and the Westridge South neighborhood in the Issaquah Highlands. The District had hired arborists and geotechnical experts to survey the site. It was the geotech report that brought the project to a close.

“

Mayor Mary Lou Pauly employed very large scissors for the Central Park Pad 1 ribbon cutting on March 17, 2018 with the ISC Gunners FC and other community members joining in the celebration. PC: Shubha Tirumale

On June 14 the City of Issaquah Planning Policy Commission held a public hearing and reviewed the 2018 Park Strategic Plan for parks, trails and open space in the City of Issaquah.

Of note for Issaquah Highlands is the completion of Central Park. The area west of the newly lighted artificial turf fields is referred to Pad 4. The following is proposed for Pad 4: “Improve, maximize, and activate existing undeveloped Pad 4 park land in accordance with the Central Park Master Site Development Plan updated in 2016. Public outreach demonstrated the community’s desire to create an open grass lawn area with additional picnic shelters and education area. Pad 1 parking area construction should be included with Pad 4 development to achieve economy of scale benefits. Prior to construction, final design for the Pad 1 parking lot and the Pad 4 concept will need to be completed.”

Watch for news about the long hoped-for bike skills park. The skills park was requested by the community and partially funded by Port Blakely. Design work is expected to begin soon.

Custom Home ARC Supports Building Standards

ARC Review Process

Provided by John Shaw, Heartland (Port Blakely Contractor)

Port Blakely retains

certain rights and still owns one single-family residential lot in Grand Ridge Drive. Port Blakely will manage the Custom Home ARC (CHARC) until it elects to delegate responsibility to the IHCA

The Issaquah Highlands Development Agreement (DA) signed in 1996 by the City of Issaquah and Port Blakely, Inc. (Port Blakely) defined development regulations and standards in Issaquah Highlands.

This agreement was replaced with City regulations, effective March 19, 2018.

While all of Port Blakely’s obligations as Master Developer under the DA have been satisfied, Port Blakely retains certain rights and still owns one single-family residential lot in Grand Ridge Drive. Port Blakely will manage the Custom Home ARC (CHARC) until it elects to delegate responsibility to the IHCA, which currently manages the ARC review process for all other new construction and remodels at Issaquah Highlands.

Port Blakely expects to delegate CHARC responsibilities to the IHCA by the end of 2019.

The CHARC provides design and execution oversight to new construction to ensure adherence to the architectural standards of the custom home neighborhoods of Harrison Street and Grand Ridge Drive. The CHARC supports lot owners and their architects, landscape architects and builders to achieve their goals as they navigate the complex custom home building process and meet the architectural standards.

SITE PLAN PROCESS 1

2

3

4

ARC

Joins

DSD

Collaborative Meetings

1

2

Conditional

Joint

Review & Comment

ARC ARC/DSD

Orientation Meeting with Applicant

ARC/DSD

3

Submit PDF to ARC

ASDP/SDP

Approval by

Submit

ARC

Pre App Package

CITY

DSD/ Applicant Mtg

Review & Comment

DSD

Review Process

ASDP/SDP to CITY

Wet Stamp

ARC/DSD

ASDP/SDP

CITY ASDP/SDP

Approval

ANY CHANGE

BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS 5 Schedule Meeting with ARC

6 Architectural Plans

Conditional

ARC

ARC

Meeting

Submit PDF to ARC

ARC Approval

ARC

Wet Stamp

Submit Building Permit to CITY

CITY

CITY

Review Process

Approval

ANY CHANGE

LANDSCAPE PROCESS 7 Schedule Meeting with ARC

8 ARC Landscape Package

DSD IHCA

Conditional

ARC/DSD

Joint Meeting

Submit PDF to ARC

ARC Approval

ARC

Wet Stamp

9

Submit Landscape Permit to CITY

CITY

Deposit a Copy to ARC

CITY

Review Process

Approval

ANY CHANGE

Homes have been completed and occupied on 90 of the 130 custom lots. An additional 28 homes are expected to be completed and occupied during 2018 and 2019. Homes on the remaining lots will be completed and occupied in later years. Full build out is anticipated by 2024.

SIGNAGE & VENDING CARTS/FOOD TRUCKS PROCESS 10 Email PDF to ARC

Signage Package

ARC

ARC

Conditional

Electronic Review

Submit PDF to ARC

ARC Approval

Final Approval Letter

Submit Signage Permit to CITY

CITY

CITY

Review Process

Approval

ANY CHANGE

SITE/BLDG CONSTRUCTION PROCESS 11 Pre-Con Meeting with ARC

Framing Field Review

Conditional Approval

Siding/Color Review

Conditional Approval

Blder’s Notice of Completion/ Inspection Request

ARC/IHCA

Final Field Review

ARC

ARC

Construction & Admin Punchlists

ARC

Back-punch

Final Completion Letter

Deposits Returned

LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS 11

The Architecture Review Committees (ARC, BARC, CHARC) follow a lengthy process of approvals.

Landscape Pre-Con with ARC & IHCA

Soil/Plant Prep

Final Inspection

NOTE: Numbers correspond to High Street Properties Standards

ARC

ARC

Punchlist

Back-punch

Blder’s Notice of Completion/ Inspection Request

ARC

Final Completion Letter

CITY Issues Certificate of Occupancy

4/16/2018

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Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Dear Kari, My mother and I recently had a fight and she told me that she never loved me. I cannot believe at 43 years old, my mother has said such unkind words to me. We have always had a hard relationship, and I questioned if she has liked me all my life, but never if she loved me.

How can a mother even say this to their child? Where do I go from here? Do I pursue talking with her about her hateful words, or do I just let it go and never speak to her again?

- Unloved in Issaquah Dear Unloved in Issaquah, I am sorry that your mother spoke to you in such an unkind and unloving manner. A parent should never speak to their child in this way. Words that are said during conflict can live forever, especially in the parent/child relationship. Without knowing more details about the history of your relationship with your mother, your childhood/adult life, and her childhood/ adult life, I will make some general recommendations. Ask to speak to your mother privately and in person. Prior to meeting with her, reflect on the conversation in which she said her hurtful words and consider the context that she said them in (e.g. was she yelling at you and exasperated, and blurted out the hurtful words, or did she calmly say them to cause you deep pain while she watched). Either way, prepare yourself for a hard conversation. Let your mother know that her words were piercing to you, and that she cannot speak to you like this again if she wants to have a relationship with you moving forward. If you feel unsafe following through with my recommendations alone, I suggest you consider bringing in a counselor for additional support. Best wishes and wellness to you.

-Kari Dear Kari, I just graduated from high school and I am the only one staying local in my friend group.

All my friends are leaving at the end of summer to go to college somewhere else. I feel like such a loser for saying I am going to stay home and working at my boring job, maybe go to community college. I don’t even know if I want to go to community college. How can I stay here and not look like a loser to everybody?

- Depressed Grad

July 2018 •

ASK KARI

21

Dear Depressed Grad, First, congratulations on your graduation. Please remember that we need everybody in our world, people who go off to college and learn new skills, as well as those who stay local and work in jobs that provide services and care to others. You seem to feel that college is the only option for new high school graduates, and everything else is a failure. It’s not. Learning to cook good food and serving it to others matters; taking care of peoples’ children matters; delivering mail to people in a community matters; I could go on and on. I recommend you consider what you are naturally good at (there should be three to five things), and map that out into career possibilities. Pursue learning more about those possibilities by meeting with a career advisor to coordinate a further plan (this can be done at a local trade school or a community college, even if you do not decide to pursue attending that school). I am hoping that after doing so, you will gain confidence in yourself as that also matters in life, not just your job title. Good luck! You can do this.

-Kari I love to hear from our readers.

Email your Ask Kari questions to kari@ihcg.co.

All questions will be answered in upcoming columns.

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

This column is for entertainment purposes only.

If you are in crisis and in need of support, please contact the Crisis Clinic at 866-427-4747.

TRAFFIC CORNER

Girl Scouts Design Pedestrian Safety Signs

by Lindsey Pinkston, Administrative Assistant, Highlands Council

This spring Girl Scout Brownie Troop # 44569 gathered at Blakely Hall to design replacement signs for the community in support of the traffic safety program begun in January. At that time, Highlands Council staff created a slate of a-board signs to distribute throughout Issaquah Highlands reminding drivers to slow down and allow pedestrians to cross our roads safely. We also designed signs to advise pedestrians on safe crossing techniques.

After discussing traffic safety and what it means to them, these scouts took the original sign designs and rendered them in colors and designs that they thought best illustrated what pedestrian safety means. We hope you not only enjoy their artistic contributions, but also heed their advice: Slow down, and drive like you live here!

Girl Scout Troop 44569 discusssed what it means to drive and walk safely, then worked together to illustrate their ideas for new signage in Issaquah Highlands.

22

• July 2018

Issaquah Highlands Connections

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Looking for a fun idea for a team-building event, a private party or a kid's birthday?

Invite Shirin to lead an Indian cooking class at your home (or other location)!

Shirin will bring all that’s needed for the class, set everything up and have your group cook a delicious, homestyle Indian vegetarian meal! Each participant will take home a spice box with samples of all the spices used in the class, including some of Shirin's own homemade spices.

Classes are typically 4 hours long and $55 per person.

Schedule a class today!

Shirin Subhani (206) 523-6711 shirinsubhani@hotmail.com @shirinscookingclasses

Issaquah Highlands Connections

July 2018 •

FITNESS & HEALTH

Resident Reaching New Heights Summiting all Five of WA Volcanic Peaks

Interview with Tim Underwood, Magnolia Park Resident, Mountain Climber When Highlands Council learned that Issaquah Highlands resident, Tim Underwood, recently completed climbing all five of our state’s volcano summits, we just had to know more.

Tim and his family have lived in the Highlands since 2004.

Tim is a software engineer and co-founder of the company, Eluvio, which rents office space in Blakely Hall. His dog is a friendly fixture at Blakely Hall, a six-year-old Shih Tzu Bichon mix named Murphy. Tim lives with his wife, Molly, their four-year-old daughter, Nora, and their son, Evan, almost two-years-old in Magnolia Park.

Highlands Council Communication Manager and Connections Editor, Nina Milligan, recently interviewed Tim about his summiting adventures.

Nina Milligan: Why hike all of Washington’s volcanic summits?

Tim Underwood: Because it’s fun!

NM: When and how do you train for such strenuous endeavors?

TU: I try to get out hiking, climbing, or trail running several times per week. Tiger Mountain is one of my favorite places to train because it is so close. You can usually find me heading up the Cable Line trail to the West Tiger peaks or trail running the Tradition Plateau trail or the main West Tiger 3 trail.

I also join fellow climbers every Wednesday night after work to hit up one of the I-90 peaks (e.g. Mount Si, Mount Teneriffe, Granite Mountain, etc.).

NM: What do you like the best about mountain climbing?

TU: I love being out in the mountains and I love the physical challenge.

NM: What do you like least about hiking mountain summits?

TU: Weather turning bad makes climbs less fun. When I climbed Glacier Peak we originally had a sunny forecast but on summit day we woke up to heavy rain and wind, which made for a very wet and cold climb. Also, too many people on popular climbing routes can cause problems by creating bottlenecks. The most recent time I climbed Mount Rainier on the Disappointment Cleaver (DC) route we got stuck for about two hours at the top of the cleaver waiting for all of the teams in front of us to cross over a crevasse. Many teams were turning around due to the long wait time, and because it gets very cold standing around, doing nothing on a mountain!

NM: Is it scary?

TU: Nope.

NM: What’s next in your hiking ambitions?

TU: I have a long list! There are many great non-volcanic peaks in Washington that I would like to climb (e.g. Mount Olympus, Mount Stuart, etc.) as well volcanic peaks in Oregon (Mount Hood) and California (Mount Shasta).

And at some point, I might start tackling some of the Seven Summits (Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, etc.).

NM: What is your advice for those inspired by your story who might also like to reach such heights?

TU: Go join the Seattle Mountaineers and take their Basic Alpine Climbing or Glacier Travel course so you can learn how to be safe in the mountains.

Issaquah Highlands resident, Tim Underwood, completed his goal this spring of hiking all of Washington’s volcanic summits. From top to bottom, what he thinks is the easiest to the most difficult: Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Glacier Peak, Mt. Baker and Mount Rainier (which he has summited three times).

23

24

• July 2018

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Photo Treasure Hunt Every month we publish a photo of something (or somewhere!) in the Highlands. While some months are easier than others, all photos are of something accessible to the public. It is up to you to guess where the photo was taken.

Last month’s photo was of the wonderful new fields at Central Park. The improvements were definitely worth the wait. I love walking along the updated path and watching all the activity on the new field. It has been a popular new destination in the neighborhood!

July 2018 •

25

HIGHLANDS FIBER NETWORK Can I Cut the Cable and Still Get TV, Movies, Sports, Etc.?

by Frank Pineau, General Manager, Highlands Fiber Network (HFN)

Here in Issaquah Highlands, nearly all of our residents are connected to the Highlands Fiber Network (HFN), our community-owned, state-of-the-art fiber to the home internet connection.

HFN is fast and reliable, but many residences still pay for a connection to our local cable company for TV programming.

While HFN does not provide a video channel feed per se, we’ve found many of our subscribers have dropped their cable subscription and still get TV programming through HFN internet streaming.

Here at the HFN labs, (actually, just my office), we’ve conducted extensive research*, looking at how our network is constructed, who provides programming and how, and what changes are expected in the market. We discovered a few things: Our goal was to have one remote, integrated DVR, and local channel feeds all in one place.

We finally came up with a solution, which you can see in operation in Blakely Hall: • We installed an Apple TV unit to our big TV in the main hall, with a WIFI connection to our network.

(Amazon Firestick is another option.)

• We subscribed to YouTube TV DirecTV Now and downloaded the apps to our Apple TV. ◦◦ I believe they both have free trials. ◦◦ Both services run about $40/month, no contract.

Correct guesses were submitted by:

Kuldip Singh Johnna Marie Thanks to everyone who participated!

This month’s photo is below. Can you identify the location in this picture?

◦◦ Both include local TV stations. ◦◦ Both have extensive programming and sports networks, but their channel lineups are different. ◦◦ Both have a cloud-based DVR included. ◦◦ Both the Apple TV and Firestick have other streaming apps, such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, iTunes, etc. for other movie options.

Video products run very well over our HFN network, but I suggest our 100mbps plan for the best performance.

Please note that none of these streaming video products are affiliated with HFN. Subscriptions are separate from, and in addition to, your HFN monthly billing. Also, any support for these products and services are outside of the HFN customer care. (We’ll make sure your HFN internet connection is good, though).

If you’d like to see a demonstration of these video products, please contact me to schedule at time. I’d be happy to walk you through our set up here at my office.

Highlands Fiber Network Customer Service can help you get the most out of your Network. They are available 24/7 at 425-427-0999, www.highlandsfibernetwork.com or support@hfnservices.com. *In addition to the recommended set up above, we tested using an antenna to access several local channels. The antenna works for many location in the Highlands (though not all) and needed to be rotated between channels. We also tried a Tivo Bolt ™. That gave us Netflix™️ and other streaming movie channels but accessing local TV channels was problematic.

Also, some resident locations in the Highlands are not situated in an area where an off-air antenna would even work.

DirecTV™️, Dish™️, are other options, but can be restrictive in mounting locations, and costly.

If you think you have the answer, please email it to IHPhotoHunt@gmail.com along with your full name. Please be as specific as possible when emailing your response.

Responses will be accepted until July 12th. Those with the correct answer will see their name published in next month’s issue of Connections, as well as have their name entered into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Bai Tong. Everyone who responds with a correct guess will be entered to win. Every correct guess is an entry!

The Photo Treasure hunt is coordinated by volunteer Chelsea Musick of the Central Park neighborhood.

Fiber to the home, community owned!

26

• July 2018

Issaquah Highlands Connections

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Know Before You Go

by Amanda Keverkamp, CERT Team 9, Resident of Crofton Springs It’s summertime, the season for road trips, camping, and travel.

Stay safe while having fun this summer with these travel tips: 1. Before you leave, check out disasters and weather-related emergencies common to your destination.

2. Download the FEMA App from iTunes, Google Play, or FEMA.gov and take advantage of National Weather Service alerts, get safety reminders, and in the case of the unthinkable, locate available emergency shelters.

3. Keep an eye on the gas gage. A wrong turn or power outage could ruin any trip.

Always keep your vehicle’s fuel level above half full.

(Right) Highlands Youth (HY) Advisory Board members were simulated disaster victims for CERT trainees to practice their new skills. In this photo, Allen Aby. (Left) Bridgette Scheppat, pictured here getting instructions from Bob Otis, also joins the Issaquah Highlands CERT Team 9.

4. Make sure the emergency kit in your car is up-to-date with items like a first aid kit, hand crank or battery powered cell phone charger, flashlight, jumper cables, protein bars, blankets, etc. Also think about including a water purification system. This could be as simple as a LifeStraw or purification tablets.

5. Don’t let spotty coverage slow you down! Tuck a map in the glove compartment to make sure you always know where you are going.

6. If you plan on spending some time out on the water, make sure everyone wears a lifejacket that fits.

Planning a staycation instead? Members of the Issaquah Citizen Corps will be hosting informational booths at the Issaquah Farmers Market on July 14 and 28, August 18 and September 8. Visit with your neighbors and learn how to protect your family in a disaster with emergency preparedness information and skills. We’ll also be at Issaquah’s Down Home 4th of July Celebration and Heritage Day, National Night Out on August 7, and Highlands Day on August 26. Hope to see you there!

Issaquah Highlands CERT Team 9 of the Issaquah Citizens Corp welcomes the following new members from the spring training course: Jamie Rosen, Bridgette Scheppat and Tanya Lane.

Issaquah Highlands Connections

July 2018 •

DIRECTORY

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

HIGHLANDS COUNCIL

IssaquahHighlands.com Responsible for:

Property Management Enforcement of CCRs, Rules, Regs

Architectural Review

Common Area Landscape

Funded by:

Annual IHCA Assessments Neighborhood Assessments

Governing Body

Board of Directors ihcaboard @ihcommunity.org Jim Young, President Rossie Cruz, Vice President Dan Vradenburg, Treasurer Walt Bailey, Secretary Rob Knight, Director

Sarah Hoey, Executive Director sarah.h@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1120 Erika North, Senior Community Manager erika.n@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1121 Barbara Uribe, Senior Accountant and Benefits Coordinator barbara.u@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1123 Kristyn McKinnon, Accounting Manager kristyn.m@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1117 Soledad Ruiz, Account Receivable Specialist soledad.r@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1119 Jessica Dorsey, Community Manager jessica.d@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1113 Debbie Orosco, Compliance Coordinator deborrah.o@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1134 Lyle Dickey, Landscape Manager lyle.d@ihcommunity.org Matthew Hendrikse, Maintenance Supervisor matthew.h@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1137 Billing Inquiries payments@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1119

MAIN PHONE: 425-507-1107 | IssaquahHighlands.com Responsible for:

Community Events Blakely Hall Community Center

Facility Rentals

Community Garden Facebook E-Letter Connections Newspaper issaquahhighlands.com

Board of Trustees hcbot@ihcouncil.org Larry Norton, President David Ngai, Treasurer Ami Desai-Mehta, Trustee

Governing Body

Board of Directors Larry Norton Allen Enebo Tim Underwood Charlie Herb

Funded by:

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

Christy Garrard, Executive Director christy.g@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1110 Nina Milligan, Communications Manager nina.m@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1111 Michele McFarland, Controller michele.m@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1108 Vicki Grunewald, Graphic Design & Digital Marketing Coordinator vicki.g@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1109 Julie Clegg, Creative Coordinator | julie.c@ihcouncil.org Lindsey Pinkston, Administrative Assistant lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1107

WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife 425-775-1311 Emergency Contact Number For after-hours emergencies not involving police and fire response or gas or water main breaks, contact IHCA at 425-223-8887

COMMUNITY SERVICES AT BLAKELY HALL

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

facebook.com/ issaquahhighlands Sign up for our weekly E-Letter at issaquahhighlands.com

RENTAL FACILITIES

Fire Station #73 Meeting Room

Blakely Hall is Issaquah Highlands’ award-winning community center that feels like a luxury lodge. With a variety of meeting, art & dining spaces, an outdoor patio, and adjacent park, it accommodates groups from 20 -200.

See our webpage for more information or contact Lindsey at Highlands Council with your questions.

Homestreet Bank

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

YWCA Family Village

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

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

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

Join the Connections Team Highlands Council is always looking for volunteer contributing writers, photographers and graphic designers. For more information, contact Nina Milligan, Communications Manager, at nina.m@ihcouncil.org.

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

Interested in advertising in Connections?

We welcome media sponsors at any time during the year.

Governing Body

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

Sponsorships/Grants & Advertising Community Enhancement Fees (1/4 of 1% on sale of home) 12¢ per sq. ft. retail/commercial | $50/door per year for apartments

Blakely Hall

2550 NE Park Drive 425-507-1107 | Lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org | BlakelyHall.com

HIGHLANDS FIBER NETWORK

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

MAIN PHONE: 425-427-9257 | AFTER HOURS: 425-223-8887

CONNECTIONS Connections printed and distributed monthly, free of charge, to every address in Issaquah Highlands (residences and businesses).

We also distribute through local gathering spaces, such as coffee shops and the Metro Park and Ride. Circulation: Approximately 4,500 Display ad pricing begins at $75/month. Discounts available for 3, 6 and 12 month contracts. Online advertising is also available.

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

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

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

27

# 1001927

July 2018

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Aimee Holy - Broker 314 - 6 0 0 - 7 5 61 j c l e g g72@ g m a i l .c o m

a i mee ho ly@ya hoo.com

@g ma i l.com Highlands Homeowner Krista Mehr

Lynn Crane Brueckman

Issaquah Highlands Homeowner

Aimee Holy

Sean Meade

Joey Dalupan

Terron Watson

Carla Domingues

Broker/Handyman

Broker

Broker

jdalupan@hotmail.com

terronwatson.re@gmail.com

carlad47@outlook.com

hlands Office located at 1114 NE Park Dr. - right next206.898.3044 to SIP Wine Bar! 425.614.6834 206.437.0142

Owner/Broker Broker ane Brueckman - Broker 206.890.6347 207.561.0412 1 - 0 412 kristamehr@gmail.com lbrueckman@gmail.com

ma n@g ma i l.com

Aimee Broker Broker Holy - Broker 314.600.7561 314 - 6 0 0 - 7 5 61 425.941.9934

seanmmeade.re@gmail.com a imeeholy@ya hoo.com

aimeeholy@yahoo.com

VisitOffice our NEW Issaquah Highlands Office located Park Dr. - right next to SIP Wine Bar Highlands located at 1114 NE Park Dr. - right next to at SIP1114 WineNE Bar!