Connections
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ISSAQUAH HIGHL ANDS
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By Community, for Community October 2017
Happy diwali Photo by: Julie Clegg
W H AT ’ S I N S I D E ? Feature: Diwali Highlands Council New at Blakely Hall HY Highlands Youth Volunteer of the Month IHCA News, Homeowner Tips, Etc. 14 IHCA Comms Info 14 Living Green-Grow a Row 15 Development News 5 9 9 10 11 12
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Twenty Years – End of DAs What’s Happening Issaquah City News Arts and Entertainment Halloween Play, Dean Ink by Jack Blakely Hall Art Photo Treasure Hunt Highlands Fiber Network Doing Business
Ask Kari Fitness and Health School Spotlight Emergency Preparedness Culture Through Cuisine - India 31 Directory 25 25 26 29 30
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
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
FROM THE EDITOR
Dear Reader,
In Issaquah Highlands, many cultures are evident every day. Pass by Grand Ridge Elementary at 9 am and witness the diversity through both sights and sounds. Shop at Safeway or dine in any of our ethnic restaurants and savor the variety. Explore the calendar at Blakely Hall and discover many newcomers to the US from lands far away creating community with affinity groups that meet regularly. This month you don’t even have to wander from your own cozy fireside coffee to immerse in the East Indian culture and the celebration of Diwali. The India Culture Club is one of the most successful clubs in Issaquah Highlands. You will see why in this issue of Connections. Enjoy Diwali stories sprinkled throughout from the feature story to Culture Through Cuisine.
Enjoy the diversity of Issaquah Highlands at Blakely Hall.
About the Cover: The community Diwali celebration on October 21st is the creation of this team of ladies, the core of the India Culture Club (ICC). They have worked tirelessly for months to create a beautiful and meaningful Diwali event at Blakely Hall. Our staff photographer, Julie Clegg, created this shot, with the help of Blakely Hall Manager, Brianna Eigner. The ICC team was invited to attend their meeting at Blakely Hall in their Diwali finest dresses so that we could capture one of the most vivid elements of their celebration. Much of community life is centered at Blakely Hall. The Hall not only serves cultural clubs and groups, but is also an art gallery and will once again be home to Sunday church services with our new tenant, Summit LIFE Church. Blakely Hall also is the office for Highland Council, the nonprofit I work for, whose mission is to build community in Issaquah Highlands. I hope you enjoy this decidedly cultural issue of Connections. I hope it inspires you to become acquainted with the diverse lifestyles and points of view. Certainly, Issaquah Highlands makes that very easy – Just look around! 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
WELCOME TO
ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS RECEPTION & ORIENTATION MEET NEIGHBORS / LEARN GOVERNANCE / BUILD COMMUNITY
REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, 7PM BLAKELY HALL - 2550 NE PARK DRIVE RSVP BY MONDAY, OCTOBER 2ND BRIANNA.E@IHCOUNCIL.ORG 425.507.1107
ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM
Issaquah Highlands Connections
October 2017 •
Photo by Julie Clegg. As seen on the cover, members of the India Culture Club (from left to right): Sohini Saha Bandyopadhyay, Aditi Sanghi, Darpan Marwah, Rakhi Rastogi, Juhi Jain and Ragini Gupta.
by Issaquah Highlands India Culture Club Diwali is perhaps the most well-known of the Indian festivals celebrated throughout India. The word ‘Diwali’ is derived from a Sanskrit word which literally means “a row of lamps.” Thus, it is the festival that is well known for the light and brightness it spreads everywhere. Diwali celebrates the victory of the good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. This year, Diwali is celebrated October 17 - 21. Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that is enjoyed by most Indians, regardless of faith: Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs. In northern India, Diwali celebrates Rama’s return from fourteen years of exile to Ayodhya after the defeat of Ravana.In Southern India, Diwali commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakasura, also known as Naraka Chaturdashi. Numerous Gods in the Hindu pantheon are worshipped during the Diwali period by different Hindu communities in various regions. All prayers, rituals and celebrations in Hinduism begin with the worship of Lord Ganesh. During the Diwali, all rituals begin after the worship of Lord Ganesha, too. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for wealth, prosperity, luck and prosperity. In Bengal, Diwali is associated with the goddess Kali. The festival is a time for cleaning the home, creating beautiful rangoli designs, wearing new clothes, exchanging gifts (often sweets and dried fruits), preparing festive meals, decorating the home with lights and enjoying fireworks*.
Diwali is celebrated for five days. On the first day of Diwali, called Dhanteras, it is auspicious to spring clean the home and shop for gold or kitchen utensils. On the second day, people decorate their homes with clay lamps and create design patterns called rangoli on the floor using colored powders or sand. The third day is the main day of the festival, when families gather together for Lakshmi Puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi, followed by mouth-watering feasts and fireworks festivities*. The fourth day is the first day of the new year and devotees perform Govardhan Puja in honor of Lord Krishna. On the last day of the Diwali celebration, called Bhai Dooj, brothers visit their sisters, who welcome them with love. Indians all over the world celebrate Diwali with equal gusto and enthusiasm. Indian associations and communities organize Diwali events and celebrations and people get together to relive their memories of the festival back home by creating a similar atmosphere. People who have travelled thousands of miles away from home and family for work keep themselves grounded in their culture and traditions by celebrating festivals together. It is a wonderful way to teach children morals and experience the joy of celebration. This wonderful festival of lights is symbolic of the triumph of good over evil. In today’s world, it is a much needed opportunity for all of us to look within, uproot the negatives inside us, and light the lamp of positivity. *Use or discharge of firecrackers, sparklers and other fireworks is not allowed, per City of Issaquah Code 08.12.100.
Photos provided by India Culture Club (ICC). From left to right: A Diwali earthen lantern (Diya), a Diya lamp decorated with flowers instead of lanterns at Diwali 2015 in Blakely Hall, and a traditional rangoli pictured in an ICC member’s home.
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Quiz Test Your Diwali Knowledge 1. Another name for Diwali is: A) Holi B) Baisaikhi C) Deepavali D) Onam
2. What is the literal meaning of "Deepavali"? A) Row of Light B) Colored lights C) Brightness of lights D) None of these
3. Diwali is also known as the: A) Festival of Lights B) Festival of Winters C) Festival of sweets D) Festival of colors
4. The Diwali festival lasts for: A) 2 days B) 5 days C) 7 days D) 1 day
5. What event from Ramayana does Diwali symbolize? A) The Birth of Lord Rama B) The Return of Rama and Sita after 14 years of exile C) Killing of Ravana by Lord Rama D) Marriage of Rama & Sita
6.What do Diwali lamps signify? A) Triumph of good over evil B) Hope C) Thanksgiving D) Enlightenment
Issaquah Highlands Connections
Created by Issaquah Highlands India Culture Club
7. What country does Diwali originate from? A) Turkey B) Sri Lanka C) Fiji D) India
8. Which deity is associated with Diwali? A) Lord Ganesha B) Goddess Lakshmi C) Goddess Kali D) All of the above
9. What is Diwali called in Southern India? A) Naraka Chaturdasi B) Naraki Chaturthi C) Deepavali D) None of these
10. What is the name given to the first day of the Diwali festival? A) Dhanteras B) Bhai Dooj C) Diwali D) Antarawali
11. Diwali commemorates the killing of which demon by Lord Krishna? A) Narakasura B) Kamsa C) Hiranyaksha D) Ravana
8. D 9. A 10. A 11. A
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Answers: 1. C 2. A 3. A
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Don’t Miss This Year’s Diwali Event!
Celebrate Diwali 2017 with India Culture Club on Saturday, October 21st! Live entertainment, Indian food and games. Free & open to all. See page 8 and issaquahhighlands.com/events for details.
Issaquah Highlands Connections
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Celebrating Diwali, From India to Issaquah Highlands by Monisha Chauhan, Crofton Springs resident Diwali, for me, is just not a festival. It’s happiness, laughter, a breeze of new beginning, a start of a connection. The whole year we are so busy, running our routine, but when Diwali comes, the whole community stops worrying about day-to-day chores and starts working towards celebration. The senses are exposed to fireworks and light, to sweets and dresses. Words aren’t enough to describe the power, the spirt it gets us going in, all comprised in one festival. The light, the color, and the brightness that it brings. The continuous ringing of the doorbell as the guests keep coming and going. The endless exchange of gifts and outpouring of love and hugs from our elders. The giggles, the laughter, and the running around in the streets with friends! Diwali has a charm of its own. Growing up, the celebration started well before Diwali with grand dinner parties and hanging lights all around the balcony. We decorated the house with flowers and colorful streamers, and filled the kitchen with lovely aromas of holiday foods. My mom and auntie celebrated by donning their best Indian attire (bindi, bangles, bright sarees). My brothers and I used to get new clothes and toys for Diwali. Pooja (prayers) started five days before Diwali day and firecrackers, without fail, found their way before that! Streets were lit up and you could see rows of Diyas (oil lamps) on the thresholds of every house. Endless food and sweets were decorated in and outside of shops. Diwali hasn’t been the same since we moved to USA. In Washington, it’s dark, cold and rainy during the month of Diwali. After moving to a new country, making new friends took a while. With great enthusiasm, when I first tried my traditional rangoli (powder paint laid out in intricate designs) here, I soon figured out that we needed a twist on our tradition. Now we use plastic pre-made rangoli, something like floor stickers --at least it’s rain and wind-proof. After moving to Issaquah Highlands, Diwali is much better than before. We host and attend several parties around Diwali time. We try to do the best with the time we get as there are no U.S. government holidays during that time (we get lucky sometimes when Diwali falls on a weekend). Although we are miles apart from our relatives, we have made a family with our friends here. The community also organizes a Diwali event at Blakely Hall to celebrate the occasion and to connect new families. In our own little way, we do our best for our friends and family to keep our Indian traditions alive in this corner of the world. Photos by Monisha Chauhaun. Top left: Monisha with her husband, Rajeev Singh Chauhan, and daughters, Vaanya and Vanshika Singh Chauhan. Top right: Monisha’s youngest daughter, Vaanya, holds one of the traditional Diya. Bottom: Flowers are another colorful icon of the Diwali celebration.
Traditional Diwali The following is the traditional menu Monisha Chauhan (see story above) serves her family for Diwali. Read more about Diwali cuisine and try Monisha’s recipes for Chole and Besan Ladoo in Culture Through Cuisine on page 30.
STARTERS
Samosa Pakoras Mathi Served with fresh Green/Red (sweet) chutney
MAIN COURSE
Chole* Mutter Paneer Mixed vegetables Dum Aloo Nan or Paratha flatbread Jeera Rice Dahi Vada Boondi Raita Cucumber/Onion Salad
SWEETS
Besan Ladoo* Coconut Ladoo Gujiya
DRINKS
Mango Lassi
*See Monisha’s recipes for Chole and Besan Ladoo in Culture Through Cuisine on page 30.
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
Issaquah Highlands Connections
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Highlands Council is Hiring!
HIGHLANDS COUNCIL
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by Christy Garrard, Executive Director of Highlands Council and Dahlia Park resident Highlands Council is hiring a part-time administrative assistant. The perfect candidate for this position is highly organized, enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, and is flexible to working on a variety of projects during each shift. The Administrative Assistant will provide office and facility oversight delivering seamless customer service to residents and the public. In addition to administrative duties and special projects, they will also
participate as a Highlands Council team member to deliver high quality community events such as Highlands Day. The typical weekly schedule will be 10am-2pm, Monday – Friday, 20 hours per week. Submit resumes to me via email at Christy.G@IHCouncil.org, or stop into Blakely Hall and introduce yourself. The application deadline is October 15th, 2017. Interviews will be scheduled in early November with a start date of January 1st, 2018.
Veteran’s Day Highlands Style by Nina Milligan, Veteran’s Day Event Producer, Highlands Council
Save the date for Friday, November 10th to commemorate Veteran’s Day with your neighbors at Village Green and Blakely Hall. This fourth annual event gives us a special opportunity to thank those who once served our country, offering to do whatever it took to keep us safe. Once a year is not enough to express our gratitude, but it’s a good place to start. Based on traditions we are developing at this community event, the program will again be short and sweet. We will enjoy inspiring words from Dr. Paul Dean of Kirk Park neighborhood. Children from Scouting and K-Club will bring their own special expressions of thanks. We will get to meet our community’s veterans from all branches and various deployments.
NEW AT BLAKELY HALL
Summit LIFE Church, Welcome to Blakely Hall by Pastor Will Forrest, Lead Pastor, Summit LIFE Church, Issaquah Highlands Summit LIFE Church is new to Issaquah Highlands and we consider it a privilege to be your neighbor! We recognize life was never intended to be lived in isolation, but in community, and we are excited to be a part of this community. Jesus said that He has come to give life and give it to the fullest (John 10:10). We believe that He meant an abundant life centers on the person and the work of Jesus. This work of Jesus invites us to be in genuine community with God and with each other. Summit LIFE Church is a place where you can join us as we explore and engage in this abundant life that Jesus offers.
Summit LIFE Church Blakely Hall Sundays, 10am We are convinced that this abundant life can be found by anyone. Summit LIFE Church invites you to come check out what this invitation to abundant life looks like. Regardless of whether you have a church background or not, we welcome you to join us at Blakely Hall on Sunday mornings @ 10 am. You will find that Summit LIFE Church is made up of real people who explore and engage in a very real faith together. Together we will explore faith, discover community and encourage each other as we journey toward the abundant life that Jesus promised, reaching our God-given purpose and potential!
Top: Pastor Will Forrest and wife Tiffany (far right) gather with the people of Summit LIFE Church. Bottom: Will Forrest holds up the “love” with other parishioners.
The ceremony begins at 9:30am so gather ‘round at 9:15am. The formal presentations conclude at 10am, leaving time for all to meet and greet one another at a reception following in Blakley Hall. Take a moment to shake a vet’s hand. Introduce your kids to a vet. Share your stories of family members who have served. Or simply sit back and enjoy joining your neighbors to honor our veterans.
Veteran’s Day in the Highlands Friday, November 10th, 2017 Village Green Park / Blakely Hall Rain or Shine Indoors if rain
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
HIGHLANDS YOUTH - THE HY
Diwali - The Festival of Lights by Anika Desai Mehta, Member of the Highlands Youth Board, The HY As a child growing up in the US, I have yet to celebrate an authentic Diwali in India, with my extended family. However, I’ve enjoyed visiting temples, helping my mom cook traditional Indian delicacies including delicious sweets, making Diwali cards by hand and lighting colorful diyas! Diwali, also referred to as “Divali” or “Deepavali” is one of the largest festivals in India and celebrated by Hindus worldwide, who comprise more than a tenth of the world’s population. Hinduism is a major religion of India, and is considered by many to be the oldest religion in the world. Diwali is a national holiday in India and several other countries with significant Hindu population, such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Malaysia & Singapore. Typically, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November, but the exact date varies according to the Hindu lunar calendar. The day after Diwali marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. Last year, Diwali was held on October 30th and this year, it falls on October 19th.
Diwali is commonly known as the “festival of lights” since oil lamps, called diyas, are lit in and around houses, to attract Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune. These diyas are filled with ghee (clarified butter) or oil, and a cotton wick is used to bear the flame. Diwali also commemorates the Hindu Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana, as well as Lord Krishna’s triumph over the demon Naraksura. Diwali denotes the celebration of different historical events, but they all symbolize the victory of good over evil, light over darkness. In addition to lighting diyas at home, the celebration also includes colorful designs of “rangoli”; it is a pattern made on the floor using materials such as colored rice, colored sand or flower petals. It is a unique type of art work that is practiced throughout India. Since we’re away from our family in India, we get together with our close friends to celebrate this auspicious occasion. Creating a variety of Rangoli patterns using flowers has been fun, too. My favorite childhood memory is celebrating this festival with sparklers*! One day, I hope to visit India to experience an authentic Diwali celebration, along with my extended family! *Sparklers and all other fireworks are forbidden in Issauqah (IMC 18.12.010)
The Desai-Mehta family in their Diwali traditional dress. From left, Ami, Tushar, Aadit and Anika in the front.
Issaquah Highlands Connections
October 2017 •
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
Rob Knight | October Volunteer of the Month I spent a lot of time looking for a community that I wanted to invest and build a life in. Therefore, when I chose the Issaquah Highlands I knew that I wanted to get involved and somehow contribute to the community. Engaging and contributing is one of the attributes I learned during my 20-year career in the Air National Guard. Volunteering as a Director on the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) Board gave me that chance to make a difference. It gave me the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself and to use my civic responsibility, training and diversity for the greater good. I believe that volunteering begins where our passions lie and calls us to be a positive change in the world no matter how big or small. By allowing our actions to be led from a place of passionate intention, I have found that all the time and effort is worth it. Volunteer of the Month, Rob Knight, Director, IHCA Board of Directors. Working with other board members who are committed to the cause makes our impact that much bigger. I am passionate about having a clean and safe community for all of us that live and visit the Issaquah Highlands Community. Through serving as a volunteer, I have learned a great deal about how the Issaquah Highlands organization strives to be effective and efficient in serving their community. I am honored and humbled to be recognized for my service. Thank you.
IHCA Board of Directors meets monthly Fourth Wednesday, 5:30pm IHCA Office - 1011 NE High Street
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Be Safe - Protect Your Family Against House Fires by Erika North, Senior Community Manager
October is fire prevention month so this is a good time to review safety tips with your family members to protect them and to safeguard your home. A small flame can turn into a huge blaze in less than 30 seconds. Even more devastating, an average-sized home can fill with black smoke and become engulfed in flames in only three minutes! Does your family know how to prevent a fire in your home? Would you or your child know what to do in the event of a fire? Fire Prevention Tips: • Install smoke detectors – Place them on the ceilings of rooms on every level of your home, including the basement. Test the batteries once a month and replace them every six months (or when they “chirp”). Replace the entire detector every 10 years. • Keep fire extinguishers on hand – Place at least one fire extinguisher on each level of your home (the kitchen should have an all-purpose extinguisher for grease and electrical fires). • Cook smart – Never leave food that is cooking unsupervised. Avoid placing towels or oven mitts close to stove burners. Turn off all appliances when you are finished using them, and turn pot handles on the stove inward, to avoid catching your clothing on them (or to avoid children’s curious hands.) • Use candles safely – Never leave a candle or lit cigarette unattended. Keep these items out of a child’s reach and far away from curtains or furniture. Always extinguish candles and smoking materials before going to bed (or even if you simply feel tired, as you could fall asleep as they are still lit!) • Celebrate cautiously – Water Christmas trees daily to avoid fires from the lights and dried needles. Inspect lights and cords every year for damage before using. • Warm up safely – Avoid using artificial logs in a fireplace and check your chimney and fireplace for damage often. Never leave your home or go to bed with a fire still burning. • Be cautious with electricity – Throw away appliances that spark, overheat or have frayed cords. Do not overload outlets or power strips with appliances. Do not place cords under rugs. Avoid placing lamps close to drapes or bedding. • Hide matches and lighters – Purchase child-resistant lighters only and keep them out of your child’s reach. Explain the dangers of playing with these types of items. • Prepare for an emergency – Place your local emergency phone numbers in a prominent place in your home, such as on the fridge or next to the phone. Clearly mark your address outside of your home so emergency personnel can find it easily. Plan Your Escape You and your family need to be prepared with a pre-designed escape plan before the unthinkable happens, your home catches on fire. As a family, go through each room and identify two feasible exits in case one is blocked by a fire. Also, place escape ladders outside of upper-story rooms. Once you have a plan, decide on a meeting place outside, such as the mailbox or fence post where everyone will gather once they are out. Make sure the location is far enough away from the home so that the fire cannot cause injury to you and your family. Practice your escape plan by setting
off the smoke detector. Time your family to see how long it takes everyone to get out of the house from one of the pre-determined escape exits. Make sure you have family members designated as the pet rescuer or as the person who assists a small child out of the home. Hopefully you will never have to use this plan, but practice makes perfect in case you do! In the Event of a Fire... Should the worst occur, remember the following to escape a burning structure: • Cover your nose and mouth with a moistened shirt or towel to prevent fumes from entering your lungs. • Crawl on the ground to the nearest escape exit. • Feel all doors (not metal doorknobs) before opening them to make sure they are not hot. If they are, use an alternative exit. • Do not gather personal belongings while trying to exit – these items can be replaced; YOU cannot! • Once you have exited, stay outside and wait for emergency personnel. • If your clothing catches on fire, STOP, DROP and ROLL: Stop moving, drop to the floor, cover your face and roll on the ground. Please be safe and review this information with your loved ones!
ASK THE IHCA
by Sarah Hoey, Executive Director, IHCA
Below are the most common questions we received via the Ask the IHCA webform. Keep the questions coming! BIRDS/PESTS NESTING IN HOME STRUCTURE Q: What are my options for deterring pigeons from my roof and walkways below? Is there a recommended way to work with the IHCA prior to handling things myself? In single family homes, it is the owner’s responsibility to address all manner of pests affecting the lot. For Supplemental Neighborhoods, the IHCA is typically only responsible for addressing termites in exterior walls. Therefore, if you are experiencing a nuisance from pigeons we recommend you seek professional assistance from a pest control company. GRAND RIDGE PLAZA PARKING/IHCA FLEET Q: We noticed IHCA trucks are taking up more and more spaces in the center parking area by your office building. Couldn’t they be parked further off site in the evenings when people would like to go to the restaurants nearby? And how are restaurants supposed to increase customers if there is no place to park with so many “reserved” spots for other businesses? Hope this can be discussed. The IHCA rents office space for administration staff, and as part of our lease with Regency Centers we are allowed to park our fleet in the lot, too. We have tried to store our fleet off-site but the fleet was vandalized. The IHCA is in the process of building a maintenance facility which will allow us to securely park our fleet in another location. I am hoping that this construction will be completed by the end of the year.
RESIDENTIAL TREE REMOVAL Q: We have a couple trees inside our fenced yard that have grown too tall and large. My neighbor and I have concerns about roots potentially damaging the foundation in the future, and also the height and size of the trees touching the side of our houses. We would like to remove them. My question is, do we need approval to remove them? Regarding overgrown trees in residential lots, this and all changes to landscaping require pre-approval. The process is simple. Just complete and return the form found at issaquahhighlands.com, scroll to Architectural Guidelines and Forms. Include photos of the trees you wish to remove. We can respond immediately to the application (no need to wait for the ARC monthly meeting).
Issaquah Highlands Connections
October 2017 •
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ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Fall: Leaf Clean Up and Tree/Shrub Replacement by Lyle Dickey, IHCA Landscape Manager
Fall in the Issaquah Highlands is a very pretty season, when all the leaves are changing colors on the trees and plants. It is a great time of year to take a walk and enjoy all there is to see. Fall is also a very busy time in the Highlands for the landscape crews that keep this place looking so nice. The crews will all be involved in leaf cleanup on all the streets, neighborhoods, as well as the many trails and parks. With all the cleanup, you may notice more noise from blowers and other machines that are used to make the leaf cleanup and removal more efficient. This part of the cleanup will last about two months from mid to late September until the mid or end of November. The landscape crews try to address the street cleanup at least once per week and will address main trails and parks once per week as well. There are also some trails and parks that are not heavily used. These we try to be service once per week, but some may be skipped due to cleanup in other heavily used areas. These areas will be addressed on the next maintenance visit. There are approximately 4,000 trees and 60,000 shrubs in the Highlands. This is a lot of plant material but without it, the Highlands would not be the same beautiful place it is today. I love all the trees and plants here and take great pride in the care and maintenance of them; please get out and enjoy it all. Fall is also a great time to do tree and shrub pruning, as well as plant and tree replacements. The IHCA in-house crew and other contractors will start to do tree and plant replacements throughout the community beginning in October and working through the end of November. They will be involved in tree and groundcover replacements in many areas. We replace approximately 60 to 80 trees per year and this will continue for the foreseeable future. There are many reasons some trees need to be replaced. This year we will be replacing several trees that have been damaged by vehicles, storms, or did not survive last winter or this summer. We also have several trees that need replacement due to weak root systems or tree disease. The other trees we replace are trees that have caused major infrastructure damage and need to be replaced
with an appropriate sized tree for the area. The trees in the Highlands are a very important part of this wonderful community. It takes a lot of work to care and maintain them but it is all worth it for the shade, the beauty and the enjoyment they provide us all. There are also many shrubs and groundcovers that will be replaced. There are many reasons we have to replace the plants and groundcovers, some are the same as the trees. The two main reasons for replacements are age of plant material and foot traffic. Some of the plants have reached their lifespan or simply do not do well here anymore. The foot traffic also can destroy groundcover, but we are trying to come up with different ways to deal with that, so it is a work in progress. Through our efforts we will keep the Highlands looking its best for years to come.
The Rainy Season: Gutters and Drains As a homeowner, it is important to know how daily rain effects storm water runoff and the soils around your home. Development and construction bring with it an intricate maze of pipes, inlets, outlets, roof tops, driveways, patio spaces, lawns and gutters. Being underground or out of sight, many of these important drainage aspects are often neglected.
By code, each lot developed has a threshold of impervious surface (surfaces which water cannot penetrate such as patios, driveways and rooftops). These limits are also a contributing factor to the amount of open spaces within Issaquah Highlands. The remaining areas must remain permeable surfaces - open space, grass or landscape areas that freely drain surface water. When surface water isn’t draining properly, permeable surfaces will reach a super-saturated state especially with prolonged periods of moisture. A super-saturated state is the point at which soils can no longer hold any additional moisture and the water will collect on the ground surface, follow crevasses in the soils or seep into foundations. When soils reach this super-saturated state it becomes viscous, like thick pudding, and unable to hold form. Yard drains will help disperse the water and it is typically the responsibility of the homeowner to keep these lines clear and freeflowing. When rain hits impermeable surfaces, it must have somewhere to go. Rain water hits your rooftop and is directed to your gutter then into a storm drain system. Some homes, depending upon the soils where they are built, may have more extensive drainage systems. Catch basins have the ability to collect larger volumes of water and provide for sediment and debris to settle out of the storm water for cleaner water flow through the drain lines. The hidden storm water infrastructure within Issaquah Highlands captures this storm water and redirects it, rather than allowing it to settle into the soils. Many of our neighborhoods drain into ponds as part of the storm water collection system. With each home connected to the next, and then tied into the greater infrastructure, it is critical that each homeowner does their part to ensure that their ‘piece of the puzzle’ is functioning and flowing.
ARC Tip of the Month: Did you know… Lighting that is not part of the original structure and/or changes in original lighting that are not compatible in style, scale, and color to the original lighting must have ARC approval. This includes all walkway and landscape lighting not installed by the original builder. Lighting shall not be directed outside the homeowner’s property lines or towards adjacent homeowners’ windows except to light adjacent sidewalks or paths. (Holiday lighting displayed during the holiday season is exempt.)
Any blockages in the drain lines may cause the water to back up and saturate the surrounding soils. A super-saturated state will have long-lasting effects on the soil including compaction and oxygen depletion leaving it virtually impossible to sustain turf and landscape. Recently the Association has observed lack of yard drain line cleaning leading to the failure of retention walls in our community. It is optimum for homeowners to have their gutters and drain lines cleaned before the rainy season begins. Typically, this is late fall. It is also a good practice to re-inspect the gutters and catch basins after the last of the autumn leaves have fallen to ensure clear passage ways for the water to flow. Thank you for doing your part to keep our community draining properly.
Issaquah Highlands Use Restrictions & Rules Reminders Decks, Patios, Porches: Decks, patios, and porches are not to be used as storage areas. They must be kept neat and orderly. Permissible items to be displayed or used on balconies, patios, and porches include outdoor furniture, patio lighting, planters (artificial flowers/plants are prohibited), and BBQ grills. Furniture and patio lighting used on decks and patios shall be limited to a type especially designed and manufactured for outdoor use and kept orderly and in good repair. Thank you for doing your part.
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
LIVING GREEN
Grow a Row
by Emily Komoni, IH Resident and Girl Scout Troop 46554 Leader Girl Scout Troop 46554 has had an extremely successful gardening summer, thanks to the support of our fellow Issaquah Highlands gardeners. Over the course of the summer our troop has grown, harvested, and donated about 300 lbs. of fresh produce to the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank. When we started this project, our troop toured the Food Bank where we learned that tomatillos were the most requested item, and something they rarely had donated. We knew right then that we wanted to focus on growing tomatillos. We were generously donated tomatillo starters that we passed out to our neighbors, who then agreed to plant them in their garden beds and tend to them for us. Just last week alone our troop delivered over 700 tomatillos to the Food Bank.
Reaching the IHCA staff through the appropriate channels will help us facilitate your requests. The IHCA team is here to help and has the community’s best interests at heart. IHCA company policy requires that all voicemail and emails be returned within 1 - 2 business days (except holidays). The IHCA does not monitor social media.
CALL US: 425-427-9257 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM VISIT US: 1011 High Street, Suite 210 (in Grand Ridge Plaza) Need immediate assistance? Call 425-223-8887 (24 hours) In case of emergency, call 911!
(Call IHCA when emergency clears)
For IHCA staff directory, visit issaquahhighlands.com
With support from Highlands Council & the Community Gardeners of Issaquah Highlands
Girl Scout Troop 46554 Donated 300 lbs. of Produce to the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank Summer / Fall 2017 While making a delivery to the Food Bank in downtown Issaquah, our girls were bought inside to learn just how much of a difference these tiny fruits make. The volunteers at the Food Bank shared with us that on the few occasions that they have tomatillos in stock, they are only able to give each client 3-4 tomatillos because the supply is so limited. The week of our donations, they were able to bag up 10-15 tomatillos for each client to enjoy. The volunteers shared with the girls how excited their clients’ faces are when they see that there are Tomatillos available. We could not have made this happen without you, our neighbors, who signed on to participate in our “Grow A Row” campaign. Your generosity and willingness to help has shown these young girls that they are never too young to make an impact, and that one tiny green fruit can truly make a difference. We are so proud to be a part of the Issaquah Highlands community.
Issaquah Highlands Connections
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DEVELOPMENT NEWS
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“Lots” Going on in the Highlands by Nina Milligan, Highlands Council, Communications Manager
City of Issaquah continues its work on Central Park’s Pad 1 to replace the grass baseball field with artificial turf designed for soccer, lacrosse and baseball. New spectator spaces, LED lighting and temporary additional parking are also in this year’s upgrades.
This summer, the City of Issaquah purchased land adjacent to and west of Westridge South from King County. The next step is to apply city-specific zoning and then annex it into the City. The land is zoned mineral (mining), a legacy from historic uses. The Issaquah School District has requested zoning compatible for a new elementary school.
Regency Centers, the owners of Grand Ridge Plaza, have begun construction on a new retail building at the corner of High Street and 9th Ave NE. One of the tenants is confirmed: OrangeTheory Fitness.
Polygon Homes (owned by William Lyon Homes) continues construction on their model homes in Westridge South, located south of Discovery Drive at 7th Ave NE. Details and floorplans are online here: lyonhomes.com/washington
20 YEARS OF SUSTAINABILITY
End of DAs – Planning for Unbuilt Lands and Future Redevelopment by Nina Milligan, Highlands Council, Communications Manager
September 18 was the official end of Issaquah Highlands’ development “build out period” but Issaquah Highlands is not done yet. Issaquah Highlands is a master-planned community that was designed in 1996 in a collaboration between Port Blakely Communities (aka Grand Glacier LP) and the City of Issaquah. This collaboration was formalized in a contract, or Development Agreement (DA) that specified a term of 20 years, or the “build out period”. The DA governed land use and building standards such as the number of residences, building design, sustainability, housing affordability, pedestrian friendly infrastructure, parks and more. The DA assured the values and aspirations of Issaquah Highlands would be fulfilled in the built environment including parks, trails and plazas. Building density and height were controlled. Environmental protections were put in place.
Now that the “build out period” has expired, either party in the DA contract may terminate the agreement. In this case, Port Blakely Communities requested to terminate the agreement and determine what replaces it by the end of this year. This is happening even though several properties are unbuilt. How will the values and priorities of Issaquah Highlands be preserved into the future? The staff at the City of Issaquah have proposed a combination of regulations to manage future building and redevelopment in Issaquah Highlands. Some are from the Issaquah Municipal Code (IMC), some from the Central Issaquah Development and Design Standards, and many are taken directly from the original DA. These include our Guiding Principles and Urban Design Goals, Home Occupation Standards, parks, trails and plazas. All of this is intended to “retain the character of [our] Urban Village.” In April, the City of Issaquah met with the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) and Highlands Council to discuss options involved in terminating the DA. City development officials came to Blakely Hall on April 20 to explain to the public in a “Community Meeting” what was involved and solicited ideas and concerns. Beginning in August, the City of Issaquah began conducting meetings at City Hall starting with joint meetings between the Urban Village Development Commission (UVDC) and the Planning Policy Commission. (See past issues of Connections News for more background information.) On September 28, the Planning Policy Commission conducts a Public Hearing to determine a recommendation for the City Council. Tentative Meeting Schedule to Complete Transition from Issaquah Highlands Development Agreement to City Code Governance Issaquah City Council Land and Shore Committee Thursday, October 5th & 25th, 6:30pm Thursday, November 2nd & 9th, 6:30pm Issaquah City Council Monday, December 4th, 7pm
For 20 years, Issaquah Highlands has all been zoned simply as Urban Village. The Development Agreement (DA) that specified unique uses (residential, retail, etc.) will be terminated at the end of the year. The City of Issaquah proposes replacing the DA with zones that match what is already there, or already planned.
Past meetings can be viewed in entirety online. See ci.issaquah.wa.us and click on Your Government – ICTV. (August 1 and 15, and September 20 were joint meetings between the Planning Policy Commission and the Urban Village Development Commission (UVDC), and the September 28 was the public hearing with the Planning Policy Commission.
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS
Kids & Families Club Inclusive
Thursday, October 12, 6pm Blakely Hall
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/
Library-2-Go
Tuesday, October 10th, 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. The Book Mobile will return to Blakely Hall on November 7th and December 5th.
Minecraft Mania
Tuesday, October 10th & 24th, 5pm Blakely Hall
Join fellow elementary and middle school Minecraft enthusiasts from novice to expert as we share our knowledge of the Minecraft world including Redstone, building, surviving the night and more. You’ll need a laptop with licensed Minecraft loaded on it. Club leader is Quinn Ryan at boxcargriz@gmail.com and parent leader is Tim Ryan at dadtime@gmail.com.
Toddler Playgroup Every Wednesday, 10am Blakely Hall 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
SCRATCH-ing the Surface Tuesday, October 3rd & 17th, 5pm Blakely Hall
A club for kids interested in coding and pursuing a future in computer science. For elementary and middle schoolaged kids. You’ll need a laptop with SCRATCH program downloaded. Contact is Sharon Godavarthi. Parent contact: Rajesh.godavarthi@gmail.com. See sharongodavarthi.Wixsite.com/mysite or IssaquahHighlands.com/events for more information.
Arts & Cards Art in Blakely Hall
“Fantastical Worlds” Showing September 6th -November 8th
artEAST is delighted to present Fantastical Worlds, at Blakely Hall through November 8th. This exhibition features 17 Pacific Northwest artists, who have been jury selected from and open call for art, that attracted nearly 100 submissions. Fantastical Worlds indulges our imaginations with artwork that offers an escape from reality that is extravagantly fanciful and takes the viewer on a magical mystery journey. There is a broad array of artwork that includes images of imaginary creatures and habitats, as well as distorted viewpoints from our own planet.
Bridge Club
Monday, October 2nd, 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 or Andrew Shanafelt, shanafelta@issaquah.wednet.edu.
Knit for Life®
Every Monday, 1pm Swedish Medical Center, Main Lobby
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
Open Mic
Friday, October 27th, 6:30pm Blakely Hall
Please come and join us for an evening of fun and entertainment from local talents. All ages are welcome. We welcome those who wish to play music, read poetry, tell a story, or perform a standup comedy routine. Please remember this is a family event and everyone is expected to show respect to performers and audience. Performers are limited to 2 songs or 10 minutes, whichever comes first. For more info, please contact: Dino Go at kabalen.geo@gmail.com.
Photography Club
Saturday, October 21st, 10:30am Moving to the YWCA* for October Meeting
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, October 26th, 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
Every Tuesday, 7pm Either at the Issaquah Highlands Fire Station 73 or Issaquah Senior Center
Drop in on our jam sessions. We welcome guitars, flutes, whistles, banjos, mandolins, autoharps, dulcimers, stand up bass, and percussion. All abilities welcome. Contact Sue at bellesue@comcast.net.
Yarns & Threads Group
Every Friday, 9am Blakely Hall Moving to Swedish for October 6th only
All knitters, crocheters, and stitchers are welcome. For more details or questions, please contact Cathie Coulter at Catherine.coulter@ihmail.com
For the latest details, see IssaquahHighlands.com/events *YWCA room assignments will be posted at issaquahhighlands.com/events/
World Cultures
Chinese Heritage Club Sunday, Oct 22nd, 4pm Blakely Hall
This club promotes and preserves the unique Chinese cultural heritage awareness among the next generation for many local families. We welcome everyone who is interested in a neighborhood celebration for many tradtional Chinese/American festivals. The club meets monthly at Blakely Hall. Contact bowbow.gu@outlook.com.
India Culture Club Diwali Festival of Lights! Saturday, Oct 21st, 1-4pm Blakely Hall
Celebrate Diwali, a festival of lights, with India Culture Club. This special event features Indian dance performances, kid’s arts & crafts, Indian food trucks and traditional Indian games. Open to all! Event is free, but RSVP is required. Please register with Brown Paper Tickets through IssaquahHighlands.com/ events. More info on pages 5-8.
Latino Club Day of the Dead
Thursday, November 2nd, 6pm Blakely Hall
This year’s Day of the Dead celebration at Blakely Hall includes an alter display November 1st – 3rd for a shared cultural experience for the community. The evening of November 2nd is the celebration where we honor loved ones, community leaders and even pets who have passed. Bring a photo or a note for the alter. See more details at issaquahhighlands.com/events/ and on page 10.
Travel Club Night
Wednesday, October 11th, 7pm Blakely Hall Let’s see where it takes us! TOPIC: Snow Birds!
Join local snowbirds Bob Swearingen and Mary Hall who will tell you all about the charming desert playground of Palm Springs, California and other delightful places in the beautiful Coachella Valley. 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 from your favorite country!) to enjoy. We hope to see you there. Join us on Facebook.com/ issaquahhighlandstravelclub or Email ihtravelclub@gmail.
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 Classes Saturday Every Saturday, 10:30am Cancelled October 21st Blakely Hall
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
Issaquah Highlands Connections
October 2017 •
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS Running Club
Every Saturday, 8am Central Park Tennis Courts
Please contact Joey at jbc224@cornell.edu, so he can add you to the distribution list. See Facebook - Issaquah Highlands Running and Multi-sport
Yami Yoga Classes Sunday Every Sunday, 7:45am Blakely Hall
Join these free yoga classes for a systematic organized teaching as it is supposed to be, as opposed to treating yogasanas as mere exercises. Yoga guru Kiran Balijepalli will not only teach correct physical posture, but also explain the conceptual basis for these different yogasanas. No prior experience required. Please bring your own yoga mat and do not eat anything for at least two hours before (except drinking coffee/tea/milk/water). Contact: srik.satya@gmail.com
Zumba Fitness® Class Every Tuesday, 7pm 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! For additional information, email zumbawithcindy@gmail.com.
Special Interest Book Club
Location & Dates vary
The book club is a great place to meet neighbors and explore a variety of books. Date and location sometimes change, so be sure to email lindsey8@gmail.com to be added to the Facebook group.
Entrepreneur Club
Sunday, October 8th & 22nd, 7:30pm Moving to the YWCA* for October Meetings
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
NEW! Ladies Lunch Bunch Thursday, October 26th, 11am Blakely Hall Potluck Style; Adults Only
Good friends. Good food. Good times! Looking for an opportunity to meet new neighbors and make new friends? You’re invited to join our ladies’ potluck lunch group. We hope you can join us! Please bring an appetizer or salad to share along with an appetite and a sense of humor. (Food shared is not prepared in commercial kitchens. Consume at your own risk.) Contact Melissa melissadwatts@yahoo.com
Meaningful Movies
Wednesday, November 29th, 6:30pm Blakely Hall MOVIE: TBD
Meaningful Movies brings the greater Issaquah community together through education and advocacy, using the power of social justice documentary films and discussion. For more information, see meaningfulmovies.org/.
Toastmasters Club
Every Wednesday, 7am Swedish Medical Center 2nd Floor Conference Center
Join us to improve your communication skills. To find out more, visit the club website at toastmastersclubs. org or drop in any Wednesday as a guest.
Wine Club
Friday, October 13th, 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.
NEW! Women in STEM
First Meeting, Friday, October 13th, 7pm Blakely Hall
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
Don’t Miss This! Candidate Forum: Mayoral Race Wednesday, October 18th, 7pm Blakely Hall
Governance Mtgs IHCA Architectural Review Committee
Tuesday, 10/3, 6pm IHCA Office
IHCA Finance Committee
Tuesday, 10/10, 5:30 pm IHCA Office
Highlands Fiber Network Advisory Group Monday, 10/16, 5pm, IHCA Office
IHCA Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, 10/25, 5:30pm, IHCA Office Meetings are subject to change. See Calendar at issaquahhighlands.com for more information or date changes.
City Meetings End of Development Agreement City Council Land and Shore Committee
Thursdays, October 5th & 25th, 6:30pm Tentatively City Council Chambers For City of Issaquah governance meetings, see http://issaquahwa.gov and Issaquah City News in this issue.
Hear directly from the candidates Mary Lou Pauly and Paul Winterstein who are running for Mayor of the City of Issaquah. Learn their positions on issues affecting our community. The forum is moderator-lead and driven by community-generated questions. Submit YOUR question by using the form at IssaquahHighland.com/events or submit a question in person before 7pm the night of the event. This is the final forum in this series of forums sponsored by Issaquah Highlands Council. The Issaquah Sammamish Reporter has provided media sponsorship. **Highlands Council does not endorse any candidates
Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day
HY Halloween White Out Party
Halloween
Friday, October 20th, 7pm Blakely Hall For Middle and High School Students (Student ID req’d)
Wear all white in black lights for this fun Halloween celebration just for teens! Tour the haunted room, play VR, chew at the creepy buffet and paint pumpkin jack-o-lanterns. $5 tickets at the door, but free when preregistered by October 15th at issaquahhighlands.com/events/
Holidays October 9th
Diwali
October 19th October 31st
October is National Fire Prevention Month
For daily updates, follow us on:
Resident Orientation Reception Thursday, October 5th, 7pm Blakely Hall
Free and all are welcome. Read more on page 5.
Shop Local Saturday Bazaar Saturday, November 25th, 11am to 5pm Blakely Hall Read more on page 24.
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Subscribe to our weekly e-letter at IssaquahHighlands.com/connect
*All Events are FREE unless otherwise noted.
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ISSAQUAH CITY NEWS
Join Us At Salmon Days! Salmon Days is back October 7-8, 2017, 10am-6pm daily. Admission is free. Join the party and choose your own adventure!
Voter registration closes on October 9th and ballots are mailed on October 18th. Once you’ve completed and sealed your ballot, you can return it by first-class mail or by the King County Elections drop box at Issaquah City Hall, 130 E. Sunset Way, until 8pm Election Day, November 7, 2017.
Salmon Days, presented by the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, celebrates the annual return of our iconic fish to local lakes, streams and the historic downtown hatchery.
Hear from Issaquah City Council and Mayoral candidates in the City of Issaquah Candidate Forum found on YouTube at youtube.com/cityofissaquah. To learn more about the candidates, how to complete your ballot, and more, refer to the elections office’s My Voter Guide online at kingcounty.gov/elections
Salmon Days draws visitors from throughout the Pacific Northwest to see fish in Issaquah Creek at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, browse handmade arts and crafts, sample delicious Foods of the World, listen to live music, catch the Grande Parade, and play on the Field of Fun! The event is a major fundraiser for the chamber of commerce and more than 70 other nonprofit organizations. To learn more at salmondays.org
Salmon Days Shuttle
9am - 7pm Pick up at Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride $4 per person Kids under 10 ride FREE
Voters: You’ll receive your ballots soon!
Over 150,000 attend Issaquah’s Salmon Days each year.
Halloween Safety Tips! Watch for little ghosts and goblins on Halloween, as your neighborhood transforms into the haunting grounds for dozens of trick-or-treaters. Drivers need to be extra careful of children dressed in costumes. Many costumes are difficult to see at night, or include masks that limit the wearer’s visibility. In the excitement of Halloween, some of our littlest ghouls and goblins may also forget the rules of road. Helpful driving tips for a safe Halloween include: • Watch your speed and stay below the posted limit. • Avoid distractions, including cell phones, the radio and music players. • Never text while driving. • Watch for children, and pay attention to what’s happening on sidewalks and the roadway. • Be extra careful when pulling in and out of driveways. • Don’t assume that children can see you or are paying attention. You need to take responsibility. • Be cautious around vehicles that have stopped in the roadway — and don’t pass. They could be dropping off children. Parents, keep your children safe on Halloween by: • Dressing them in costumes that fit well and are outfitted with reflective tape. Avoid masks that will distort or impede vision. • Give them a flashlight or glow sticks. • Remind them that they should look both ways and cross only at corners or crosswalks.
Beware of trick or treaters; They are often in dark clothing, and not very tall. Photo: SEAA
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Family fun and Fishy Trips by Susie Sharp, The Brownstones
Fall technically started on September 22nd but Salmon Days in Downtown Issaquah marks the beginning of fall season for me. My favorite attraction is Dock Dogs. My girls’ favorites? They used to be enthralled by the spawning salmon, but now it’s all about the great music and shopping. October 7 and 8 over 150,000 people will celebrate the return of the salmon to Issaquah Creek. This family event is an Issaquah tradition with attractions and vendors galore, most sporting a salmon-style flair. This year’s theme is “Spawn Your Own Adventure!” Salmon Days began in a rather humble way in the 1970’s but has gained in popularity and size since then. The very first was called the Salmon Festival and it opened on October 3, 1970. Not surprisingly, the Salmon Hatchery was the star, but another main attraction involved a water fight amongst seven fire station crews. Crofton Springs resident, Larry Norton, recalls being involved in those early days. He and his two little girls started to attend the event in the late 1970’s. They enjoyed the parade and local vendors. He even considered running a booth one year to sell his favorite home-made brownies. But in those days, no one was paying $2 for decadent gooey treats!
Larry was also involved in the parade in a variety of ways over the years – from the Chamber of Commerce’s float to organizing behind the scenes with his brother. Nowadays as a Highlander, he and his wife take the shuttle bus from Issaquah Highlands, which makes the day even more relaxing. Why worry about parking and heavy traffic when you can ride a shuttle bus? A fun story about Salmon Days fame involves spreading the word by balloon. Bundles of balloons advertising the 1987 event were released from Memorial Field. One made it, courtesy of the jet stream, to Newman Grove, Nebraska. The family reached out to the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce to inform them of the balloon’s adventure. As a result, they were invited to serve as Grand Marshalls for the Grande Parade in 1988. Moving on to 2006, the Salmon Days’ festival reported 36 musical bands, over 269 arts and crafts vendors, not to mention 41 different types of food. This year I encourage you all to mark your calendar for October 7th and 8th 2017. Have an adventure with your family. Ride the shuttle, watch the salmon, enjoy the music and a little retail therapy. For further information please check salmondays.org/ . Life is all about these moments.
Salmon Days 2017
Spawn Your Own Adventure Downtown Issaquah | Front & Sunset Streets October 7-8, 2017 Saturday and Sunday 10am – 6pm Friday Carnival Only 3pm – 10pm Take the shuttle from Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride - see page 18
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October 2017
Issaquah Highlands Connections
FALL READING The Dark Witch And The Farm Girl - Written by: Lizzie Dean | Edited by: Hawani Harper Characters: N1: Narrator #1 N2: Narrator #2 Alissa, Seth, Mama, Papa and a Witch Chapter one N1: “Twas a dark and stormy night” N2: “Twas? Really, Well, art thou stop it!” N1: “Come on. I want to be more like Shakespeare, bring out my poetry side.” N2: “Well Shakespeare’s better than you so why don’t you just tell a fairy tale WITHOUT Shakespeare.” N1: “Fine, (sigh) Once Upon a Time I was too cool for school and you were a nerd.” N2: “MMMM that never happened. For your information, I was actually the most popular girl in my junior year of high school.” N1: “Really! Well I won 15 football games for my team in high school. Oh, wait! Make that 31 counting senior year.” N2: “Okay well, I’ll just tell the story then. Once upon a time there was a sassy narrator who WOULDN’T TELL THE STORY!!!!!!” N1: “Fine. I’ll tell the story but in a few moments, I need to freshen up… (N2 gives him a glare.) Okay, okay I was just kidding grumpy pants.” N2: “GRUMPY PANTS!!!! Oh, you’re going to get it this time Robert!!” N1: “KATHY!!! You said my first name was not part of the plan!!” N2: “PLEASE Just start the story before I start it for you.” N1: “Once Upon a Time…” Chapter two N1: “There was a village called Alopagis…” N2: “Alopagis?” N1: “Do you want me to tell the story, or what? (N2 gives a questioning look) Fine. I’ll change it.” N1: “Once Upon a Time there was a girl. Her name was Alissa. She was 11 years old. She had a father, or papa as she calls him, a mother, and an older brother named Seth. Seth was 15 and helped on the farm. They had 3 cattle, 2 cows, 6 chickens, 1 lamb, 2 horses, 1 foal, and a farm dog. Alissa helped her mother with dishes and cleaning the house. She also helped get the cherries, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and Brussels sprouts when ripe.” N1: “One day a witch came to town. She was a hoarder, very wicked and was known for eating people. When Alissa heard of this she thought,” Alissa: “My life is so boring if I could get rid of this witch I’d be a hero!! Then everyone would love me and I’d be famous!!” N1: “She started imagining the banners and flags they’d be making for her.” Chapter Three N1: “So that night Alissa snuck out to get the witch. She soon found trouble…” Alissa: “Ow, Ow, Owwwww!!! If you’re going to keep tugging on something you could at least pull on my arm.” Witch: “Oh well. Pulling your ear is more fun. Besides, you’ll be dead soon anyhow.”
Alissa: “Oh please Mrs. Witch! Oh please, please, please! Don’t eat me.” Witch: “Well, how come” Alissa: “Well, because I’m a nice little girl I have a father, a mother, a brother, and a little farm dog named peanut.” Witch: “So you have a family? Take me to them NOW!!!!” N1: “So Alissa was forced to bring the witch to her house where her family slept soundly not aware of a thing” Witch: “Child, take me to your room” Alissa: “I have a name.” Alissa grumbled Witch: “Now sit down. It’s alright. I won’t hurt you.” (At this point, Alissa hesitantly turns and sits down, when she does this the witch grabs a piece of rope and duck tape and ties her down.) Chapter Four Witch: “Finally that little girl is out of my way. She’s so annoying, but she is too young to eat. I guess I could use her as a servant. As for the rest of her family they’ll be cooking by morning.” N1: “When the witch went downstairs, Alissa tried and tried to get free. After 3 minutes of kicking and squirming she ran to her brother’s
“Now on the count of 3 you will run to mom and dad and shake them as hard as you can. If you have to, spill water on there faces. I will go downstairs and tackle the witch long enough for you to get mom and dad down there. Okay 1, 2, 3!!!!” Chapter Five N1: “So Seth ran downstairs and Alissa ran to her parent’s bedroom” Alissa: “Papa! Papa wake up! Please! The witch is downstairs! I know you won’t believe me but please, please come. Bring your rifle and mama, too! (And so, Mama and Papa run downstairs to see Seth on top of the witch) Witch: “Get off of me you scoundrel!” Mama: “Oh my gosh! What happened Alissa?” Alissa: “Long story” Papa: “Should I shoot her?” Seth: “Wait! I have an idea.” (Seth grabs the boiling pot and dumps it on the witch and she turns to ash.) N1: “And they lived happily ever after” N2: “That was a cute story”
Glossary Alissa (Ah-lis-ah) Alopagis (Ah-lop-ah-gis) Cattle (Cat-tol) a baby cow Foal (fōl) a baby horse Glare (gl-air) a mean look Hesitantly (hez-int-lee) nervous to do something Hoarder (hor-der) someone who keeps a lot of things that aren’t useful Rifle (ri-ful) A type of gun Senior (seen-yor) the last year of high school Shakespeare (sha-k-spere) a very famous poet
About the Author Elizabeth Dean, or Lizzie as people call her, is 10 years old and in the fifth grade and an Issaquah Highlands resident. She likes to sing and dance, write and read, and in her free time she likes to climb trees. She loves fairy tales, fables n’ all, but she loves to write them too. She plays outside almost every day and hangs out with her neighbors. Lizzie is a very big-spirited girl and loves to make new friends. She had a lot of fun writing this story and hopes you enjoy it too!!
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Dean, 10-year-old Issaquah Highlands resident and aspiring playwright, wrote this play to share with the community. bedroom.” Alissa: “Seth, Seth wake up!!” Seth: “Go back to sleep Alissa” Alissa: “Seth NO!! The Witch - she’s downstairs and is going to eat us all!” Seth: “You were just dream-” Alissa: (Interrupting Seth) “No! I have proof! Come halfway down the stairs with me and you’ll see her.” Witch: “Oh that won’t be necessary.” (Now the witch ties both Seth and Alissa up in Alissa’s room.) Alissa: “See what you’ve done!! If you had listened to me the first time we wouldn’t be in this situation.” Seth: “Wait! I have an idea. Can you grab my pocketknife in my right pocket?” Alissa: “Yeah. Here.” Seth: (Grabs the knife and cuts both of them free.)
N1: “I know. Aren’t you impressed?” (He looks over and raises eyebrows) N2: “Oh, stop it silly!! The kids are watching.” (She blushes.) N1: “And now, off to the next story.” N2: “Oh, another story! Well, we better get to it.” N1-N2: “Until next time, kids!!” The End
About the Editor Hawani (14) is also a Highlands resident. She has enjoyed reading and writing from an extremely young age, so when she found out that Lizzie was writing a play she jumped at the chance to edit it. Aside from reading and editing, Hawani enjoys theater, photography, and singing with the church band.
Issaquah Highlands Connections
October 2017 •
INK BY JACK
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by Jack Tillman, West Highlands Park, @artastrophe
BLAKELY HALL ART GALLERY Fantastical Worlds! Continues ArtEAST’s Fantastical Worlds, featuring 17 Pacific Northwest jury selected artists, continues at Blakely Hall through November 8th. Stop by Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm. Fantastical Worlds indulges our imaginations with artwork that offers an escape from reality that is extravagantly fanciful and takes the viewer on a magical mystery journey. There is a broad array of artwork that includes imaginary of creatures and habitats, as well as distorted viewpoints from our own planet.
The artists are (from left to right): Sue Clancy, Krister Eide, Ted Larson, Vikram Madan, Judith Rayl, Charlotte Ricker, Maja Sereda and Season Yoshida. Those artists not shown below include: Elise Antonio, Alice J. Becker, Tatyana Brown, Jan Fagan, Eileen Marie, Mike Mallory, Peter Christenson, Wanda Hickman and C J Elsip.
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
Issaquah Highlands Connections
October 2017 •
HIGHLANDS FIBER NETWORK
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.
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Are You “Information” Ready for an Emergency? by Frank Pineau, General Manager, Highlands Fiber Network (HFN)
Last month’s photo was a wonderful little pond and gazebo in the Crofton Springs neighborhood, just north of NE Kenyon Ct. A community trail runs east to west along here between Black Nugget Park and 17th Ave NE. The pond is actually a Highlands innovation for stormwater management. This neighbhorhood park is quite the hidden gem!
Being prepared for an emergency is always prudent, however it’s not something we all think about every day. In light of the recent hurricanes in Texas and Florida, and the earthquakes in Mexico, we are thinking about keeping our data / information safe and backed up. Here are a few issues to consider. Power Outages: While the HFN network is prepared for extensive power outages, if the power at your home is out, you still will be without Internet and possibly phone service. Cell phones will generally still work, though must be recharged somehow. An Uninterrupted Power Supply, commonly referred to as a UPS can be purchased locally (Best Buy, Fry’s) and can supply power to your HFN portal, routers and cordless phone equipment. These stay connected, and kick on when needed. They come in various sizes, and can supply power for several hours.
Correct guesses were submitted by: Hailey Palm
Sarah Games
Thanks to everyone who participated! This month’s photo is below. Can you identify the location in this picture?
I have a cell phone external power supply that will fully charge my cell phones. One is even solar powered. Many work by plugging them into your car. I also have a “Jumper Battery” from Costco used to start dead vehicles. What I really like about this particular unit, is it has a 110v outlet, 12v outlet like in your car, a USB power port, and an air compressor. Equipment Damage: Most people I know have all their contact numbers and other very important information on their cell phones and portable devices. If they become lost or damaged, you could lose that information just when you need it most. If you haven’t already, set up cloud storage for contacts, calendar and other important information. Google Docs, Apple iCloud and Dropbox are cloud storage services that can be accessed by you anywhere. Try and set it up so if your cell phone was damaged, you could simply replace it, and reconnect to all your information. I also use an app called “iPassword”, which stores all my credit card information, passwords and other valuable information on the cloud. In addition, for my MacBook laptop, I subscribe to an off-site backup service, which makes continuous backups of all my important data to the cloud also. While you get your emergency kits ready for the winter season, check on your technology readiness, too. Even a small emergency could be much easier to bear if your technology is still working.
Fiber to the home, community owned!
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 October 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 Ben and Jerry’s. 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.
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
DOING BUSINESS
The RAM Raises $18,390 for ALS Research Local beer lovers enjoy more than 18,000 pints for a worthy cause Thanks to beer aficionados across the Puget Sound, The RAM Restaurant & Brewery raised $18,390 for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) research. For the fourth consecutive year, The RAM participated in the Ales for ALS fundraising campaign, and brewed a unique beer to raise money for the cause. One dollar from each pint of their IPA 4 ALS sold during the month of August was donated to the ALS Therapy Development Institute, the world’s leader in ALS research. The Issaquah Highlands restaurant sold 1,038 units (pints), which was the 4th highest total out of all the locations in the company.
The Ales for ALS program was created by Loftus Ranches and Hopunion in Yakima, WA. It provides a promising and experimental one-of-a-kind hop pellet blend to a select handful of brewers throughout the U.S. to create their own special brew. Since the program’s inception in 2013, participating breweries have collectively raised more than $1.25 million for ALS research. The RAM tapped its 2017 IPA 4 ALS small batch seasonal release at all locations. According to The RAM’s Director of Brewery Operations, David Leonard, the aromatic hops produced “dank tropical fruit with pungent citrus notes” that had equal appeal for beer lovers and hops aficionados. Cheers to all who enjoyed a pint for the cause! What is ALS? Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to paralysis, due to the death of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain. • There is no known cure for the disease. • The average person survives only 2 to 5 years following diagnosis. • About 5,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. • There are about 30,000 people in the U.S. diagnosed with ALS today. • The worldwide population of ALS patients is estimated at 450,000. About ALS Therapy Development Institute The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) and its scientists actively discover and develop treatments for ALS. It is the world’s first and largest nonprofit biotech focused 100 percent on ALS research.
Halloween Candy Buy Back Benefiting Operation Gratitude Sending Care Packages to the US Military Bring your extra candy in right after Halloween. You get a $1/lb and a solder gets a care package! Highlands Kids Dentistry 2525 B NE Park Drive Issaquah Highlands
Issaquah Highlands Connections
Dear Kari, I just moved to Washington and I don’t know anyone in town. I do not have the best social skills, but I am interested in developing them to connect with others. What do you suggest I do to break out of my shell and meet new people? - New in Town Dear New in Town, First, I want to compliment you on being interested in meeting new people in your new town. Your desire to connect with others is a good first step in developing your social skills. To begin, I suggest starting the process of connecting with others by saying hello to everyone in your neighborhood when you pass them by. Then after doing so on a regular basis (e.g. 2-4 weeks), begin to take it a step further and stop and engage in a small conversation with your neighbors around basic topics (the weather, where someone works, how long they have lived in the neighborhood, if they have children or pets, recommendations for services, etc.). Also, consider joining the Facebook page for your neighborhood to learn about community events and group activities that are happening near you. Finally, consider volunteering, as this gets you out of your home and into an activity that benefits both you and others (search ‘volunteer/ Issaquah’ for opportunities or check in with the Highlands Council staff at Blakely Hall). Good luck, you can do this! -Kari
Dear Kari, Help, I am finding myself more frustrated then ever when I am driving around town. Each day I feel my temper getting hotter at the terrible drivers I engage with when I am going to and from work. There are so many terrible drivers in this town! Do you have any suggestions for me to have a better day? - Done Driving Dear Done Driving, This is a very hot topic, no pun intended. There are a lot of cars moving around our city on daily basis, which can cause stress for most people. I suggest that you make your travels in your car as soothing as possible. First, try and listen to music that makes you feel good (or no music if silence works better). Try and remind yourself that there are both good and bad
Is Sitting the New Smoking?
October 2017 •
ASK KARI
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drivers on the road each day, and that you will likely encounter both; thinking this thought can lead to acceptance vs. frustration. I know that encountering a bad driver leads one to feel heated, but I do not recommend engaging with them in an aggressive manner. Instead, go back again to the previous frame of thought, “There are both good and bad drivers and I accept them both”. Follow that up with redirecting your thoughts again to the good music that you were listening to. -Kari
Do you have a question for Kari? We love to hear from our readers. Please email your Ask Kari questions to askkarioneill@gmail.com. All questions will be answered in upcoming columns.. All personal information will remain confidential and not be published. Kari O’Neill, MSW, LICSW, is a licensed independent clinical social worker and a resident of Issaquah Highlands. This column is for entertainment purposes only. If you are in crisis and in need of support please contact the Crisis Clinic at 866-427-4747.
FITNESS & HEALTH
by Marlie Cross, Issaquah Highlands Resident
As a former Health Coach, I am frequently sifting through mounds of articles featuring wellcrafted statistics on latest trends on how to be healthy. It has been arduous to navigate around the trolls of marketing to find the seeds of true wellness wisdom. After seeing outrageous articles spouting extremes that invoke fear in the reader by drawing parallels to things like heroin and sugar, it has become my mission to uncover the truth about how to be healthy. Working from home in the Highlands with recent hamstring injury leaving me couchbound, it has been difficult to stay active. I decided to investigate: Could sitting be the new smoking? I think not, and here’s why. The argument starts that sitting for long periods of time contribute to high blood pressure, obesity, and even cancer. What they don’t tell you is that there are limited controls around the participants in these studies, and it is a multitude of lifestyle factors that contribute to our overall health. Are the participants eating Cheetos or carrot sticks? We need more information. Whether it is school, work, or a mobility issue like my recent injury, our modern-day lifestyle requires us to sit most of the day. The “healthy” alternative that is frequently offered? Stand. But the only substantiated health benefit of standing over sitting is that you burn slightly more calories, about 10 per hour. On top of that, standing for long periods can do some harm, including: alignment issues, knee pain, swelling in the feet, and overall fatigue. Not exactly a winning solution. What’s the real issue? Stagnation. It’s movement in general that helps increase blood flow to keep a healthy body and mind. To villainize one body position over the other is silly, especially when adding in the guilt factor to those of us to don’t have a choice to be bottom side down for hours at a time. What’s the solution? Motion. And it doesn’t have to be major to have huge benefits. Sitting all day? Overtight chest muscles can cause back pain, so try doing a few chest stretches and take a quick walk. I take my dog for a quick stroll to Black Nugget Park at lunchtime to break-up the hours of sitting. Standing all day? Give your joints a break with hip and ankle circles, or even take a sitting break! Have you noticed how many benches there are throughout our Highlands community? I have found several great spots to sit and enjoy the beauty of Issaquah while resting my legs between bouts of walking. And don’t forget your hip flexors. Regardless of sitting or standing, the small
Sitting well is easy in Issaquah Highlands, especially with all our view benches. Author Marlie enjoys a sitting break at Grand View Park with pal J.J.
muscles between our hips and thighs that help lift our legs up are regularly over tight. Give these a good stretch to keep your hips and back well-aligned. Sitting is not going to undo all the wonderful things you do to keep yourself and your family healthy. I’m officially revoking the sin of sitting and replacing it with the benefit of balance and motivation of movement. Take care and sit well.
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT Issaquah School District
Grand Ridge Elementary
10/5 10/11 10/23 10/25
10/4 10/11 10/16 - 27 10/20 10/28 10/30 10/31
issaquah.wednet.edu
Equity Advisory Board Meeting School Board Meeting Teacher Work Day - No School School Board Meeting
Issaquah School Foundation
isfdn.org
Challenger Elementary challengerpta.org 10/6 10/13
Color Fun Run Popcorn Friday
Clark Elementary
OCTOBER EVENTS
clarkpta.org 10/15 10/27 10/27 10/30 - 31
Clark Sounders Night Orange Ruler Walk-A-Thon Family Bingo Night PTA Book Fair
Endeavour Elementary endeavourptsa.org
10/3 PTSA Board Meeting 10/4 Taste of Washington Day 10/5 Walk-A-Thon 10/6 Popcorn Friday 10/25 Spooky Spaghetti
grandridgeptsa.org
Orange Rule Fun Run After School Movie, “Trolls” BoxTops Contest Reflections Due Falloween Celebration Vision and Hearing Screenings Vision and Hearing Screenings
Issaquah Middle School issaquahmiddleptsa.org 10/17 10/19 10/25
Mid Trimester Picture Retakes PTSA General Membership Meeting
Pacific Cascade Middle School
pacificcascadeptsa.org 10/16 - 20 10/17 10/27 10/30 10/31
PTSA Book Fair Mid Trimester Vision and Hearing Screenings Reflections Due ASB Social
Gibson Ek High School GibsonEk.org 10/17
PTSA General Membership Meeting
Issaquah High School
issaquahhighptsa.org **Be sure to check individual web sites for details and updates
Reflections Art Competition – Within Reach!
Don’t forget to finish-up, and turn-in those last minute, original Reflections masterpieces. Reflections deadlines are quickly approaching throughout October! Students may submit up to three entries, in any combination of the six categories, including Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts, Film/ Video, and Choreography/ Dance, tailored around the theme “Within Reach.” Reflections due dates vary from school to school. Be sure to check your school’s PTSA website for further information, dates, and links to applicable, individual category rules.
Gift-A-Book Donation Programs
“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” Let’s continue celebrating reading by supporting imagination, creativity, and literacy within our schools! It’s as easy as gifting one book at a time! Donating to Gift-A-Book programs helps support schools by building our ISD libraries, from elementary to high school, encouraging reading, creating a sense of pride, and providing accessibility to new titles, for all students. Donations are recognized with personalized bookplate labels, including honoring special individuals, and commemorating important events. For more information, library wish lists, and recent librarian news, check your local PTSA website, and individual librarian websites.
Volunteering Opportunities There are many ways you can volunteer to help kids in school. Here are a few ideas for you. • Issaquah Schools Foundation Voice Mentoring Program VoiceMentorProgram.org • Volunteer of Donate to the PCMS All Student Body (ASB) school-wide party October 31st, 2017, PacificCascadePTSA.org • If you are interested in celebrating art with the Grand Ridge Elementary Art Docent Program, please contact Angela Bizzari, at grptsaartdocent@gmail.com. • Volunteer with ISD - Many available volunteer opportunities can be found to suit every interest, activity, timeframe, and personality. See issaquahvolunteers.hrmplus.net/Home.aspx. Or contact your local school office.
10/3 10/12
HS and Beyond Planning Night PTSA General Membership Meeting
ISD has Apps for that…
For all new families, middle and high school students, the Issaquah School District has two app tools available for mobile devices to view teacher assignments, grades, attendance, lunch balances, and so much more! ISD has its own app anyone can download, for Apple or Android devices, along with the Skyward Access app. Simply search “Issaquah School District” and “Skyward Access” in the Apple or Google Play app store, and follow the prompts. They’re simple and easy to navigate. Download, and get started today!
The ISD Equity Advisory Group
The Equity Advisory Group (EAG) works to advise the district on ways to improve equity in our increasingly diverse district. The committee represents multiple voices and perspectives from different ethnic/racial, religious, class, and other groups. EAG believes the cultural diversity of our district is one of our greatest strengths, and every community has unique and critical contributions. What are we working on? Our group recommended three areas of focus to the district: Family partnerships, hiring and retaining diverse staff, and cultural competence professional development/training for ISD staff. Next committee meeting will be help October 5th, 2017, at 9:00am, at Issaquah Valley Elementary, in Portable 5. For more information, want to join, please contact Rosann Rankin RankinR@issaquah.wednet.edu.
How Do We Prepare Kids for Tomorrow, Today? FUTUREMAP
The Issaquah Schools Foundation, in partnership with the Issaquah School District, proudly developed FutureMap, an online portal that connects our students to our local business community. FutureMap helps define post-secondary paths for students through work-related experiences. FutureMap helps Issaquah School District students, families, and local business communities build a brighter future for our graduates. By integrating FutureMap program into the Foundationfunded Career Cruising platform, students utilize detailed career assessments and resources to connect the dots between their skills, interests, abilities, education, and future plans. FutureMap is currently seeking businesses and individuals from diverse professional backgrounds to become online career coaches and guest speakers in this program. Interested in volunteering your time, and learn more, visit ISFdn.org/futuremap, or contact Valerie Korock at valerie@isfdn.org.
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SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT
by Tracie Jones, Wisteria Park
Get Involved at Clark Elementary!
The Clark Elementary PTA is planning many fun events throughout the school year, and would love your help and attendance Friday, October 27th: Orange Ruler Walk-a-thon is our primary fundraiser for the year. Tax-deductible donations are collected for the PTA general budget, raising necessary funds for school-wide programs and classroom enrichment! Family Bingo Night – Are you feeling lucky? Bingo Night is your chance to play Bingo while enjoying pizza, family, and friends, while supporting Clark PTA. Learn more about volunteering at ClarkPTA.org, or email us at info@clarkpta.org. A small amount of your time can make a big difference!
Subscribe to Receive Text Messages & Alerts from Clark PTA Subscribe now to receive time-sensitive updates via text messaging from Clark PTA. Text the keyword Clark PTA to 31996, and receive texts throughout the school year to remind you of upcoming PTA events, along with important school information, and timely updates. For more information, visit ClarkPTA.org.
Grand Ridge Elementary BoxTops for Education
Clipping BoxTops is an easy way to directly benefit and impact our kids’ education. Grand Ridge Elementary PTSA will be collecting BoxTops for Education October 16th through October 27th, 2017. BoxTops can be found on participating General Mills products, each worth .10¢, with all proceeds supporting GRE school-wide programs. Collections take place daily, with grade-level competitions, and a school-wide winner. In addition, General Mills offers other unique opportunities to earn BoxTops for GRE at their website, www. BoxTops4Education.com, through additional offers, and digital / online coupons. So, let’s start clipping! For more information, GrandRidgePTSA.org.
PCMS PTSA Text Alerts to REMIND
The PCMS PTSA is on Remind! Keep up with news and volunteer opportunities throughout the school year, texted right to your phone! Remind is a quick and easy way to stay informed regarding important PTSA events and announcements. We promise not to send a lot of messages, but we will send 1-way texts publicizing volunteer opportunities and sharing announcements when we need to get the word out quickly (for example, if we are at risk of having to cancel an event due to an insufficient number of volunteers). Follow this link to sign up, visit PacificCascadePTSA.org, or text @ptsare to 81010.
PCMS Scholastic Book Fair
The PCMS Scholastic Book Fair is an annual literacy event provides students with new books they want to read, and features a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books at every reading level. Please make plans to come to our Book Fair, and become involved in shaping your child’s reading habits. This week-long event will be held October 16-20, 2017 at the PCMS Library. Sales will open for 30 minutes before and after school, as well as during student lunch periods (M/T/Th/F 11:15am - 12:45pm, and W 12:30 - 2:00pm). We hope you will be able to stop by during the day, or do some shopping at our Family Night. Remember, purchases earn Scholastic dollars, which enables Mr. Fleming, our school Librarian, to get more books for the library. Questions, please contact Marion Zidar, at Marion.Zidar@comcast.net, Book Fair Chair. See you at the Fair!
Pre-Order Clark Elementary Yearbooks
There’s no school year just like YOUR school year! Here’s your chance to order Clark’s annual yearbook, today! Pre-orders only are available until October 31st, for only $16. After the date, a limited number of extra copies will be available for $24. Unfortunately, no guarantees after October 31st, 2017. Two ways to pre-order: Order online through the Clark PTA website, or complete an order form, and place in the PTA mailbox. More information can be found at ClarkPTA.org.
Lend a Green Thumb to Grand Ridge & Endeavour School Gardens
School gardens are a wonderful way to use playgrounds as classrooms, connecting students with the living, natural world. Grand Ridge and Endeavor Elementary Schools have a vibrant learning gardens - planted, maintained, and harvested by students. Our school gardens require regular care, nurturing, and attention throughout the year from student gardeners and parent volunteers. Do you have a green thumb? The PTSA would love to have a few more parent volunteers. For more details, EndeavourPTSA.org and GrandRidgePTSA.org.
Grand Ridge Elementary PTSA’s Fall-O-Ween Celebration Calling all witches, ghosts, princesses, and pirates, everyone is invited to celebrate the season of Fall-O-Ween, October 28th, 2017, 6:00 – 8:00pm, at Grand Ridge Elementary. Join the PTSA, friends, and families for a spooky dance party, ghoulish games, and much more! School-appropriate, family-friendly costumes are encouraged, but certainly not required. Admission is free. Parents, please join the party by volunteering! The festivities need volunteers to ensure everyone has a wonderful time, and the event run smoothly! For more information, and volunteer sign-ups, visit GrandRidgePTSA.org.
IMS New Family Ambassador Program Welcome to IMS! For new families, transitioning to a new school and community can be overwhelming for both parents and students. The Issaquah Middle School PTSA would love to ease the transition by matching families with experienced IMS parents to simplify the process and answer questions. To be paired with a New Family Ambassador, visit www. IssaquahMiddlePTSA.org, and click on “New Family Ambassador Program” to share information about your family. Information is confidential, used for matching with an experienced parent. We look forward to meeting everyone, soon! Current families can also make a difference for new families to the Issaquah School District and IMS. Please consider volunteering for this new and key role! As an Ambassador, experienced parents will serve as a contact person to answer questions, helping new and returning families feel welcome at IMS. Any questions or comments about the program, feel free to email Chair Wendy Shah, at Wendy@eShah.com, or visit IssaquahMiddlePTSA.org.
Grand Ridge Elementary After School Movies
After School Movies are back at Grand Ridge Elementary! The PTSA will feature “Trolls,” (PG) on Wednesday, October 11th, 2017, immediately after school. All After School Movies are open to grades K-5, pre-registration is required, no later than Monday before the movie’s date. First 100 to reserved get spots. Unfortunately, no exceptions. Movie times generally run two hours, from 1:30 -3:30pm. Light snacks and beverage are provided. A $10 donation is requested, per Grand Ridge student. Visit GrandRidgePTSA.org to register, and volunteer sign-up opportunities. Once your child’s spot is reserved, parents will receive a confirmation e-mail. For questions and comments, please email Jessica Russi, at jess_russi@yahoo.com. We look forward to seeing you at the movies!
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
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EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Skake, Shake, Shake!
by Amanda Keverkamp, CERT Team 9, Resident of Crofton Springs objects inside our homes can be as or more dangerous than the structure itself. FEMA and the Washington State Emergency Management Division suggest you take 30 minutes to walk through your home to identify these hazards. Recommended things to look for include: • Water Heater Securely fasten the tank to wall studs with heavy-duty metal strapping. • Tall Furniture Strap bookcases, china hutches, and armoires to the wall to keep from tipping. • Heavy and Breakable Objects Relocate heavy or breakable objects that are sitting on high shelves. • Electronics Strap down computers, TVs, stereos, microwaves, and other small appliances. • Hanging Lights and Objects Secure hanging lights, ceiling fans, and other objects. • Mirrors and Framed Objects Securely fasten or relocate mirrors, heavily-framed pictures, and artwork hanging over beds and furniture. • Cabinets Use latches to keep kitchen, bathroom, and garage cabinet contents inside during the shaking. • Chemicals Relocate poisons, toxins, or solvents that are in high or dangerous locations.
On October 19, at 10:19am people across the nation will drop, cover, and hold on during the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill. Earthquakes strike suddenly and without warning. And the Pacific Northwest is due for a major one. Participating in drills like the Great ShakeOut and repeatedly practicing skills like drop, cover, and hold on will help make these lifesaving techniques our automatic response when the earth unexpectedly shakes. If an earthquake happens while you are at home, you’ll want to make sure you won’t also have to duck away from falling objects or other potential hazards as you are dropping for cover. Unsecured
• Chimney If your home has a chimney, check for loose bricks and brace or replace masonry chimneys. • Foundation Consult with professionals to confirm that your home is securely fastened to its foundation. There are excellent – free – tools to help walk you through preparing. FEMA’s Earthquake Home Hazard Hunt and Washington’s Prepare In A Year chapter, Home Hazard Hunt are excellent resources. Visit mil.wa.gov and click the preparedness tab or fema.gov and type in earthquake home hazard hunt in the search bar. Visit www.shakeout.org/washington to learn how to join in this year’s Great ShakeOut drill.
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CULTURE THROUGH CUISINE
Culture Through Cuisine – India by Vanshika Chauhan, Crofton Springs
A big part of the celebration of Diwali is its food. A famous food item to make is Panjabi Chickpeas (or known as chole in Hindi). My mom makes this every year as her signature Diwali dish, and every year the taste gets even better! When I asked how she learned to make the Chickpeas, she told me it was a family recipe that was taught to her by her mom, and her mom learned it from her grandma, and so on. The taste always reminds her of her childhood in India. She still remembers how happy she got when she and her mother cooked this dish and the aromas filled their home. My mother is originally from Delhi, India, where cooking chickpeas is very popular, not only on Diwali. Believe it or not, there are over 30 ways to cook chickpeas! Due to their popularity, cooking chickpeas are not hard in America. You can find them in any grocery store. A dish that is harder to find here, but was one of my mom’s favorite dishes was all the sweets she found on the streets of India during Diwali. A big thing she misses from home is the Diwali-themed street food and all the lights the neighbors put up. She also misses her grandma’s cooking. Her grandma was the first to introduce her to her favorite Indian food; Dahi Vada, another dish of The Festival of Lights. She says the recipes she uses to make Dahi Vada and Panjabi Chickpeas have changed over the course of her life, due to her forgetting parts of the recipe, and having to change some ingredients because they’re not in America. My mom’s favorite time of year is Diwali because of all the food, happiness, lights, and that it reminds her of home.
Chole Dry chickpeas (white choley) Oil Hing Anardana powder Red chili powder Water Chana masala powder Salt
2 Cups soaked overnight 1/2 Tbsp 1/2 pinch 1/2 Tbsp 1/2 tsp 2 Cups 2 Tbsp To taste
In a pressure cooker, add oil, Hing, and a few seconds later add anardana powder, red chili powder, two cups of soaked chickpeas, 2 cups of water, chana masala powder and salt. Close the cooker. Turn on heat to medium high and after 3-4 whistles, turn it off. Let the steam release. Reserving the liquid, drain the chickpeas.
Oil Coriander seeds Dry red chilis Cumin seeds Ginger garlic paste Green chilis Onion Tomatoes Salt Turmeric powder Chole masala powder Garam masala powder Anardana powder
2-3 Tbsp 1 Tbsp, Crushed 1-2 1/2 tsp 2 tsp 1-2, Chopped 1 Cup, Diced 1 Cup, Chopped To taste 1/2 tsp 1 tsp 1/2 tsp
Garnishes/Optional: Onion, thinly sliced; Cilantro leaves, chopped; Tomatoes, thinly sliced; Ginger, finely chopped Heat 2 –3 tablespoons of oil in a pan. Temper with cumin seeds, dry red chilies and crushed coriander seeds. Add finely chopped ginger garlic paste, chopped green chilies and sauté well. Add finely chopped onion and mix well. Sauté and cook till onion turns soft. Add chopped tomatoes and mix well. Add, turmeric powder, chole masala powder, garam masala powder, anardana powder and mix well. Cook till the tomatoes turn mushy and leave out oil from the sides. Add salt to taste Add the cooked chickpeas and mix well. Add the reserved water and mix well. Cook in medium flame for 8-10 minute still the water dries up. Garnish (optional few drops of lemon juice). Serve chole hot with roti or bhatura.
Besan Ladoo Gram flour (besan/chickpea flour) Ghee (clarified butter) Powdered sugar Saffron strands (optional) Cardamom / Green elaichi powder Garnishes: Sliced Almonds or Sliced Pistachio (Optional)
1 Cup 1/4 Cup 1/2 Cup 5-7 1/4 tsp 1 Tbsp
In a Kadhai (an Indian cooling bowl), mix gram flour and Ghee over a low heat. Stir constantly to avoid lumps. The secret of the recipe is constant stirring. When it releases an appetizing smell, it is ready. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool. Add powdered sugar, green elaichi powder and mix thoroughly. Then make it into small balls. Place nuts on the top. Mouth-watering Ladoo’s ready to eat!
Issaquah Highlands Connections
Issaquah Highlands Connections
October 2017 •
DIRECTORY
ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
HIGHLANDS COUNCIL MAIN PHONE: 425-507-1107 IssaquahHighlands.com
MAIN PHONE: 425-427-9257 | AFTER HOURS: 425-223-8887
Responsible for:
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 Jim Noel , Director Rob Knight, Director
Community Events Blakely Hall Community Center Facility Rentals Community Garden Facebook E-Letter Connections Newspaper issaquahhighlands.com
Award-winning Blakely Hall has a feeling and comfort of a lodge. It is a wonderful place for parties with 70 or more guests, fund raisers, galas, and any type of reception. Blakely Hall can accommodate up to 200 guests. In addition to the atmosphere Blakely Hall will give you, there is a patio with outdoor seating and BBQ grill that is available for rent.
Board of Trustees hcbot@ihcouncil.org Larry Norton, President Patrick Byers, Vice President Ami Desai-Mehta, Trustee Philip Nored, Secretary Jody Turner, Trustee Fred Nystrom, Trustee
Funded by:
Christy Garrard, Executive Director christy.g@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1110
Barbara Uribe, Senior Accountant and Benefits Coordinator barbara.u@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1123 Joon Chang, Director of Accounting joon.c@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 Lyle Dickey, Landscape Manager lyle.d@ihcommunity.org Billing Inquiries payments@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1119
Blakely Hall
Governing Body
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
Sarah Hoey, Executive Director sarah.h@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1120 Erika North, Senior Community Manager erika.n@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1121 Bonnie Ervin, Administrative Assistant/Compliance Coordinator bonnie.e@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1135
HIGHLANDS FIBER NETWORK
Blakely Hall 2550 NE Park Drive Monday–Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm
1011 NE High Street Suite 210 Monday–Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm
Frank Pineau General Manager FPineau@HFN.org Support: 425-427-0999 HighlandsFiberNetwork.com
Governing Body
Board of Directors Larry Norton Allen Enebo Tim Underwood Charlie Herb Emergency: 9-1-1 Issaquah Police (non-emergency) 425-837-3200 WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife 425-775-1311
Nina Milligan, Communications Manager nina.m@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1111 Brianna Eigner, Blakely Hall Marketing Manager & Special Event Consultant brianna.e@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1107 Michele McFarland, Finance Manager & Office Administrator 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
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
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 facebook.com/ issaquahhighlands Sign up for our weekly E-Letter at issaquahhighlands.com
RENTAL FACILITIES
Blakely Hall Meeting Room
The Conference room is perfect for your meeting or seminar. It is private. It can accommodate up to 46 guests. A screen is provided as well as comfortable conference chairs and tables that can be configured to your liking. There is a wash station, and a countertop to place your refreshments. To inquire about booking facilities at Blakely Hall, please contact Brianna at 425.507.1107 or email brianna.e@ihcouncil.org
Fire Station Meeting Room
The Fire Station 73 meeting room is great for community or group meetings. It comes with tables and chairs. It can accommodate up to 85 guests in a meeting setting or comfortably 30 guests. There are two whiteboards for writing down your ideas and agenda. There is also a television with a DVD player for your instructional videos. Because this is a city building they do not allow religious, partisan, or for-profit meetings to take place in this facility. To inquire about booking the Fire Station Meeting Room, please contact Fire Station #73 at 425.313.3373.
CONNECTIONS Connections: By Community, For Community Connections News is a monthly community newspaper written mostly by volunteerresident 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. NEW! 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. 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-2/ 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.
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Issaquah Highlands Connections