Somerset Sun June 2023

Somerset Community Association Board of Directors

Directors are elected at our annual general meeting and serve a three-year term. Our President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer are chosen aer election to the Board. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact us at info@somerset98006.org.

Leena Porwal President president@somerset98006.org

Shilpa Reddy Vice President

Allan Yeung Secretary secretary@somerset98006.org

Marie Vieth Treasurer treasurer@somerset98006.org

Chloe Chen CRC crc@somerset98006.org

Kristen Iversen Membership, Volunteers volunteering@somerset98006.org

Tim Zhuo Website webmaster@somerset98006.org

Johannes Grad Communications info@somerset98006.org

Sue Sander Landscaping

Yiyi Guo Events

Jeff Hu Social Media

Yiding Zhou Member at Large

Lida Li Member at Large

Somerset Sun Newsletter Advertising BABYSITTING!

Do you need babysitting? Or do you know of anyone in the Somerset neighborhood interested in babysitting? Then please contact us at info@somerset98006.org

The Somerset Sun will privately facilitate between parents and Somerset babysitters.

CONTENT DEADLINES:

August 11, 2023 - Fall issue

November 10, 2023 - Winter issue

February 9, 2024 - Spring issue

May 10, 2024 - Summer issue

Sizes and Rates (same for Color or Black & White):

Business Card (3”w x 2”h) $25

Quarter Page (4”w x 5¼”h) $140

Half Page Horizontal (8”w x 5¼“h) $300

Half Page Vertical (4”w x 10½”h) $300

Full Page (8”w x 10½” h) $550

There is a 10% discount for Somerset residents or advertisers who make a 3 issue commitment.

Thank you for your interest in advertising in the Somerset Sun. Together, we are neighbors helping neighbors.

Community Improvement Initiatives and More

Dear Somerset Residents,

This year, the Somerset Community Association is proud to have a diverse Board of Directors. We believe that having a Board that represents the varied demographics of Somerset is essential to effectively serving our community and ensuring that all voices are heard. Our Board members bring unique perspectives and experiences to the table, which allows us to make informed decisions that benefit everyone in our community, and we will continue to prioritize inclusivity and representation in our leadership.

In order to make our community even stronger and more efficient, the Board has decided to consolidate our Ambassadors Program into Block Groups and the Covenants Review Committee. We believe that we can better serve our community by strengthening these existing committees and ensuring that our efforts are streamlined and effective. Block Groups will continue to be responsible for connecting residents with their neighbors and fostering a sense of community within each block. Meanwhile, the CRC will continue to handle remodel applications, views, and other covenant-related matters. We are committed to ensuring that all our residents feel supported and connected within our community.

Speaking of community, I am excited to announce that our annual July 4th community parade and picnic is just around the corner! This beloved tradition is a highlight of the year, when Somerset comes together as a community to celebrate. The Bellevue Police Department will be joining us for the parade, which begins at the Somerset Recreation Club at 11 AM on 7/4, and ends at Forest Hill Neighborhood Park, where the SCA will host a picnic with food, games, and several attractions like a bouncy house and the Bellevue Fire Department’s popular showering of the crowd.

Thank you for your continued support and participation in our wonderful Somerset Community Association. As always, we welcome your input and feedback. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. If you are interested in volunteering for one of the SCA’s committees or events, please sign up on our website, somerset98006.org or email volunteering@somerset98006.org

Best regards,

Leena Porwal President, Somerset Community Association

This year is again an election year in Bellevue. Though my term is up, I have decided not to seek a fih term and therefore I will leave office at the end of this calendar year. As my time as a Bellevue official is coming to an end, I’ve been reflecting on my years in office. It has truly been an honor, a privilege, and a joy to serve as a Bellevue public official these last 20 years (14 years on the council and 6+ on the planning commission). During those years, the City has substantially grown in size and has changed, including adding many high-rise buildings, changing our population demographics (making us younger, more diverse, and more educated), and adding tens of thousands of jobs. We’ve also added many acres of new open space, finished the Downtown Park, opened Meydenbauer Bay Park on the shores of Lake Washington, opened new parks in Bridle Trails, Newport Hills and elsewhere, and a new park is planned in Eastgate where people can learn to swim, play pickleball, or simply walk in the woods or daydream in a meadow. Through all these changes, Somerset has remained a wonderful neighborhood for all types of families, where people know each other.

City Council Update Council

Corner

those amongst us who may need a little help. The commitment of our residents to serving and improving our community is a tradition that continues to flourish. We may be a big city now, but we still have the heart of a smaller town. I’m grateful to have played a small part in making our City stronger and more robust and in helping to build our amazing community.

Although I have chosen to not run for a fih term, I know that our city will be in good hands because of all of you. I encourage everyone reading this, my last article, to consider how you can continue the tradition of making our community stronger, more welcoming, and a safe place for the next generation to thrive. There are many opportunities to get involved, from the Somerset Community Association, to the schools, to non-profits, to places of worship, to community organizations, to the City of Bellevue. At the City, we offer many opportunities to create involved residents and future leaders. These include completing the Bellevue Essentials course, becoming a police volunteer, being part of our neighborhood mediation program, joining a city board or commission, and many more. You can view these opportunities at https://bellevuewa.gov/ volunteering. Our engaged volunteers oen become the best future leaders.

My service in Bellevue started with volunteering for the Covenant Review Committee for the SCA and serving as a room parent and PTSA board member at Somerset Elementary. I’ve also served for many years as a Somerset girl scout volunteer and as a volunteer for the Somerset Rec Club (Go Stingrays!). During the 21 years I’ve lived in Somerset, my husband and I have raised our three daughters, the youngest of whom graduates from Newport this June. I feel so fortunate to have raised my children here and to be part of this wonderful neighborhood.

The City has changed but many of the things we treasure in Bellevue and in Somerset have stayed the same. Bellevue continues to be a great place to live and continues to live up to the motto of being a “City in a Park.” Bellevue continues to be a safe place for all and a place where businesses choose to locate and to invest. Most importantly, it is a place where our residents and other stakeholders work together to make our city better and stronger and to care for

As ever, as my time as an elected official comes to an end, I remain excited for the future of Bellevue and can’t wait to see how our City will continue to blossom in the years ahead. Thank you for all of your support over the years. I have cherished being one of your “Somerset representatives.” And please remember to vote in the local elections this year. There are four council seats up for election and those candidates will help guide the city in the years ahead.

Jennifer Robertson is a 4-term member of the Bellevue City Council and a municipal attorney with the Bellevue law firm Inslee Best Doezie & Ryder. She and her husband live in Somerset and they love visiting with neighbors as they walk their Rhodesian Ridgeback, Coulson, around the neighborhood.

The Somerset Community Association would like to thank Jennifer for her many contributions to the Somerset Sun, her continuing support of the Somerset community, and her years of service to the City of Bellevue.

Jennifer Robertson

Somerset in the 1st Quarter

We can’t classify markets as “buyer” or “seller” markets the way we used to. Why? The current housing shortage would make this a sellers’ market by default, but buyers have been priced out of the market due to rapid price growth in the last three years and rising interest rates. This has resulted in a larger pool of inventory than we have been used to, which makes it look like a buyers’ market.

The demand hasn’t disappeared, and in many cases it has shifted to different price points or areas, thus creating the market-category confusion. The recent rise in interest rates took a big bite out of a buyer’s monthly mortgage budget. (In fact, 62% of first-quarter Somerset buyers relied on a mortgage to purchase their new home.) Many buyers have decided to wait until interest rates go down. But does it make sense to wait?

Let’s say you purchased a median-sales-priced home in 2019 for $1,157,500. If you sold it for the median sales price in the first quarter, you would have made $502,500 in just 4 years of appreciation, or $125,625 per year. Could you have sold it for more if you sold at the peak of the market in 2022? Perhaps, but you also would have been forced to buy at the same peak.

My experience as a real estate broker tells me that waiting for the “perfect” conditions to buy or sell likely not the best strategy, because it will keep you on the sidelines forever. Let’s discuss how to make the current market work for you!

*Information and statistics derived from NWMLS for residential properties in Somerset.

4th Annual Somerset Sun Cover Contest!

Do you have a budding artist at your house? We are inviting our Somerset children to share their creative talents by entering our cover contest. The winning entry will be featured on the cover of the Fall issue of the Somerset Sun. Other entries may be included inside the same issue. (We reserve the right to use another cover should we not receive a sufficient number of appropriate submissions.)

This year’s theme: What makes a good neighborhood?

Guidelines:

• Participants should create their artwork on 8-½ " x 11" unlined white paper.

• Participants must be residents of Somerset between the ages of 5 and 12.

• Artwork should be scanned and emailed to: info@somerset98006.org. If you need help scanning, contact us at the same email address and we will help.

• All entries must include the name and age of the artist, and the email must be signed and sent by the artist’s parent/guardian.

• By signing, parents grant permission for their children’s artwork and first name to be put online and printed in the magazine.

• One entry per person.

• All entries must be the artist’s original, previously unpublished work.

• Deadline for entries is August 14, 2023.

I’m here to help with your tax, wealth, and estate planning needs

Last year’s winner!

How to Host a Block Party in 10 Easy Steps

Somerset block groups are an important way for neighbors to meet each other, socialize and potentially work together to address issues of mutual concern. The City of Bellevue will provide support for your block group event. Signs, flyers, banners, information for police and fire department visits and more are available through the Bellevue Neighbor Link site (search “Bellevue Neighbor Link Party” in Google or at bellevuewa.gov). You can also reach out to Carol Ross (cross@bellevuewa.gov).

Your Somerset Community Association (publisher of the Somerset Sun) will also reimburse you for up to $100 for expenses related to your block party. Just email your receipts to treasurer@somerset98006.org. Here is our suggested game plan for hosting your block party this summer:

1. Form a team: Talk to your neighbors to see if block parties were hosted in the past, and who was involved. Join or revive that group. If you can’t find any existing groups, just recruit a few people and start a new team.

2. Pick a date: This is actually the hardest part. There is no perfect date, just pick something that works for everyone on your team. A Saturday evening in the summer will be a good starting point.

3. Decide who will be invited: this can be just your block or cul-de-sac, or a 4-block area, or whatever makes sense geographically. Don’t make it too broad, or it will become unwieldy. The goal is to bring together your immediate community.

4. Decide on the kind of party: Oen everyone brings a dish to share. Does anyone have a grill you can roll out onto the street? Then your team can serve hot-dogs. Ice cream is always great; all

you need is a cooler and a small block of dry ice from the QFC meat department. You can borrow a 10 gal water dispenser from the Somerset Community Association. Find some fold-up tables and encourage people to bring camping chairs. Lawn games are great for kids.

5. Decide on the location: Nothing beats a cul-desac, but you can also pick a driveway or a quiet side street. If you need to have the party on a street then get a road-closure permit. The city will even reimburse you for up to $50 if you need to rent road barricades.

6. Contact the city as shown above and order your sandwich boards and flyers, and road closure permit if you need one.

7. Walk your invited area and hand out the flyers. Note: only the post office may put materials into mail boxes, and actually a personal invitation is much more effective anyway. Ring the doorbell, and if no one is home, leave the flier by the door. When you see people out on walks, check if they are from your block and hand them a flyer.

8. Keep it simple: A simple block party is better than no party. Once you have some experience you can think about inviting the Police department or a fire truck, or even having a bouncy house.

9. Enjoy your party! This is also a great time to exchange contact information and start a neighborhood email list if you want,and invite people to help plan the next block party.

10. Be sure to send pictures to the Somerset Sun! We would love to show the community all the fun parties from this summer. And don’t forget to request your $100 reimbursement from the Somerset Community Association.

Night of Learning: “Don’t Fall Prey to Becoming a Victim!”

In April this year, about 35 neighbors gathered at Newport Way Library to attend an event in the “Neighborhood Learning and Connection” Series by the City of Bellevue in conjunction with local neighborhood associations.

SCA Board member Allan Yeung started the event by giving a brief introduction to the mission of the Somerset Community Association and thanking the City of Bellevue, Bellevue Police Department and Newport Library for making the event possible.

Mark Heilman, Neighborhood Outreach Manager for the City of Bellevue, welcomed residents and introduced the “Night of Learning'' series and other events and courses the city is offering. He then introduced the two speakers of the evening: Ruby Daly, Crime Prevention Officer, and Lucas Porter, Police Officer from the Factoria Sub Station.

Ruby Daly started her talk by introducing the “Neighborhood Watch” program, with the main goal of establishing and improving communication among neighbors. This allows for stronger social connections as well as rapid exchange of information when a crime occurs.

Officer Porter then gave an overview of common neighborhood crimes, and focused especially on package the and the tactics criminals used. Both speakers recommended residents learn about the Amazon locker service, and pointed out that lockers are available on SE 37th Street and in the Factoria area.

Ms. Daly then focused on car break-ins and the “modus operandi” of criminals. One reminder

was to only keep that portion of the registration in the car that does not show your address.

Officer Porter reminded the audience of the triangle nature of crime: the victim, the perpetrator and the opportunity. Residents’ focus should be on reducing the opportunity, e.g by installing locked mailboxes, and by signing up for informed delivery from USPS, which is a free daily email with images of your letters, and then promptly collecting anything important. The speakers also introduced CPTED: Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. The goal is to establish “natural surveillance” by, among other things, pruning bushes and trees and removing concealing shrubs.

Ruby Daly reminded residents to trust their instinct: don’t hesitate to call 911, even for non-emergencies. The dispatchers will automatically transfer you, or put you on a brief hold if an emergency comes in. They also urged residents to install the “My Bellevue” app for a convenient way to send a variety of reports to the city. The event concluded with an extended question and answer session.

Sign up for the Somerset email newsletter on the bottom of the Somerset website (somerset98006.org) to be informed about future events like this.

Confessions of a Somerset Housewife By

In the last column, I wrote about my surprise brother and how he was coming to visit. He was here for a week with his wife and kids, and it was absolutely amazing. I felt like I had known them forever, and it didn’t hurt that he brought all my favourite Canadian treats –ketchup chips, anyone?

My brother also brought a hockey stick for my son Finn. As you may already know (ahem), hockey is quite important to Canadians. It’s a game that’s older than poutine and more sacred than Tim Horton’s coffee. So when Finn took the stick excitedly, I watched him with a mixture of fear and hope.

My new brother tossed a ball in Finn’s direction. It was no puck, but we were all watching him with our national pride on the line. It was as if it were in slow motion. Finn started wobbling back and forth like a newborn moose (trying to keep it Canadian here). My eyes widened, and I heard the breeze whispering “hockey” as I watched him get his bearings. As the ball came closer to him, Finn’s face broke out into a wide grin. He pulled the stick back, and…slapshot!

Renee Kipp

The ball ricocheted, knocking down a snow globe that should’ve been put away aer Christmas, a stack of mail, and finally landed gently in the pile of laundry I had been avoiding all week.

So, while I don’t know that Finn is ready to unleash a masterclass in Canadian ice wizardry, we all saw Finn a little differently aer that. My brother used the hockey stick to knight him as a Canadian (that’s how that works, right?) aer drizzling him in maple syrup of course. And while Finn is still partly American, he is now what my grandmother would have referred to as an arf and arf (Newfoundland Canadian for “half and half”).

And Somerset is a community of arf and arfs. We are here, but most of us have families far away. We have cultures and customs that we merge with the American ones. We have favourite treats that don’t taste quite the same here. We have uncles and aunties and sisters and brothers (even surprise ones) who remind us of those special traditions. And we all have those unspoken “hockey tests” that help to show us that our kids carry those with them, too.

Somerset Sun Summer 2023 Landscape Report

Summer’s here, and with it come longer, warmer, drier days. Our weather has enhanced the growth of grass, daffodils, plants, and trees in our yards and throughout the Somerset Community. The rhododendrons, azaleas, lavender, heather, dogwood, cherry and apple blossoms have bloomed, and the deciduous trees are full of leaves. We hope that you can enjoy our beautiful community by taking daily walks and bike rides around Somerset!

Look for signs around the neighborhood with information about the Somerset Rec Club and information about our Annual 4th of July Parade and Party at the Forest Hills Park.

Our Landscape Contractor, Dusk ‘till Dawn Landscapes (Tom Copestake) continues to maintain Somerset’s entrances and the area adjacent to Somerset Elementary School. Tom has enhanced the Somerset Entrance Area by removing the kale, trimming the daffodils, and planting impatiens. The fountain has been turned off, since it was

damaged by soap. Upcoming plans include repairing the entrance irrigation system, enhancing the Somerset sign, maintaining the property behind the entrance wall, and more.

SCA would like to encourage residents to maintain/ enhance their yards by mowing grass, trimming plants and trees, and planting colorful flowers and vegetables. Also, please do not cut down trees, because they improve your yard’s appearance, increase home value, reduce heat in your home, and attract birds that will eliminate bugs around your home. Please use organic fertilizers and avoid pesticides and herbicides (weed killers). Instead, try the “Dawn Dish Soap Recipe,” and use bark to minimize weeds.

The SCA is dedicated to taking care of our community and our environment. Please contact me any time and have a wonderful summer!

Sue Sander, Landscape Chair

The Somerset Rec Club is Open for the Season!

On Saturday May 13 the weather was fantastic and the Somerset Rec Club pool was officially opened for the summer season. It was great to see families enjoying the 4-lane heated pool, toddler pools and decks, sports courts, and the many improvements made to SRC during the off-season, including new coping and tiling on both pools, landscaping changes and the removal of a retaining wall courtesy of the City of Bellevue, newly asphalted parking lots, new fencing, and a gorgeous new staircase leading to the recently improved pickleball, tennis, and basketball court. Thanks to all the members who helped get SRC ready in the pre-season!

Families also stopped by the front desk to learn about the many benefits of membership, such as decks you can reserve to get together with family and friends to grill a summer dinner while taking in the incredible view. For more on events and activities, read on.

Memberships are still available! New members welcome! Join today at www.somersetrec.org, and follow us on FB for updates!

Summer Swim Team

This year we have 142 Stingrays and Sharkies swimmers excited to get back into the water! Our Division II Somerset Stingrays team, for kids aged 7-18,

balances community, sportsmanship, and fun with high quality instruction, individual skill development, and a competitive team-oriented environment.

Questions about Swim Team? Please contact our Swim Team Coordinators at SRCswimteam@gmail.com

Group Swim Lessons

Registration for group swim lessons, ideal for children aged 5-12, is now open! Kids are grouped according to ability and the SRC ratio of coach to student is very low for new swimmers and goes up slightly as kids become water safe. Sign up at www.somersetrec.org before all spots are filled. Lessons are priced at $150/session for members and $200 for non-members.

Group Swim Lesson Schedule: Monday – Friday 12:30-1pm and 1-1:30pm

● Session 1: June 26 – July 7 (including July 4th)

● Session 2: July 10 – July 21

● Session 3: July 24 – August 4

Group Tennis Lesson and Jr. Tennis Team:

We aim to offer Summer Group Tennis Lessons for ages 6-18 and Jr. Tennis Team. Details on our Tennis Open House will be posted on FB and somersetrec.org and dates for lessons and team will be announced aer we hire our instructors.

SRC Summer Social Events Calendar (dates tentative) Watch FB for updates!

Pickleball Family Nights: June 17, July 7, Aug 13

Come out and play pickleball with the family!

Annual Auction: July 8

Join us for a fun adult evening at the pool. We'll have dinner and raise funds for the pool. Ticket information will be available on somersetrec.org as we get closer to the event.

Pizza and Bingo: August 14

A fun night for the whole family! Dinner generally includes a slice of pizza, salad, beverage and a treat. Bingo cards are for sale during the event. RSVP information will be available on somersetrec.org as we get closer to the event.

Fun night with Dessert potluck: August 24

Generally pizza is available for pre-purchase, and you provide the dessert. Pool games for the kids! RSVP information will be available on somersetrec.org as we get closer to the event.

Movie Nights: August 11 & 12

Movies start at dusk. Bring a float for the pool, or sit in a chaise poolside. This is one of the amazing benefits of membership – watching a movie outdoors together on a gorgeous summer’s eve.

Balance Life With a Summer Wish List

We are all looking for balance in so many areas of our life - that midpoint between too much and not enough. When my daughter started her first full-time job aer college, she found herself out of balance on her weekends, which were filled with errands and chores. She was not doing the things that she wanted to do. One solution she came up with was to create a summer wish list, to recapture some of the lazy summer spirit of her youth, and invite me to join her.

The idea is to be intentional so that some of the items on your list will happen. The sad alternative is to find summer coming to an end and feel that you never took advantage of the long days, sunshine, and less hectic family schedule. There are no real rules for creating your list. You can include outings, projects, hanging out, tasks, travel, etc.

Some suggestions from the many years we have done this are:

• Give it a fun name and write it on some stationery that speaks to you.

• Hang your list in a place where you see it so that you will use it and can review it.

• You can make it super simple and easy or more intense.

• Have variety – big, small, easy, hard, weird, some that need planning, some that can be done this week.

• Don’t try to make it all at once. Add to it as you think of things you would like to do.

• Have a variety of categories – travel, finance, food, work, family, friends, hobbies, and rest.

• Pull up ideas from the past such as when you were a kid.

• List things that you have always said that you were going to do. Maybe this will help you move forward.

• Make a list for every season, not just summer.

• Carry things over to the next season or the next year if they are seasonal.

• Delete items that are no longer appealing.

• Make an individual list and a group list if there are other members in your household.

Here are some of the items on our list for the upcoming summer (yes, we have started one).

• Picking strawberries and raspberries with my grandkids and making freezer jam

• Breakfast at Blueberry Hill in Chelan (Manson)

• Taking the grandkids to the Reindeer Farm in Leavenworth

• Buying lunch with the grandkids at the pool (not packing it)

• Planting pumpkins

• Trying some of the new restaurants and bakeries in town

We tend to keep our list simple, fun, and local but yours can be more adventurous, challenging or life changing.

Yes, we are a society who over plan, overschedule, over task, and over think things but some intentionality is needed to make sure that we do fun, exciting and relaxing things too. That’s balance!

The South Bellevue Community Center website offers many activities that could belong on your summer wish list sbcc@bellevuewa.gov. Learn how to play pickleball. Join a fitness class. Participate in a mind/body program. Get a personal trainer. Take advantage of our clean, wellequipped Fitness Center. Rent our beautiful Community Room for an event. We’re here to help you make that happen!

Joan Perugini, Fitness Supervisor, South Bellevue Community Center

SCA & CRC Letter to the Community

Dear Somerset neighbors, Summer is a busy time of the year for the Covenants Review Committee (CRC), and its members have been working diligently. As a standing committee of the Somerset Community Association (SCA), the CRC is comprised of three SCA Board members and two non-board members, all of whom were appointed directly by the SCA. The SCA is kept informed of CRC activities through monthly board reports, and oversight is maintained by three SCA Board members serving on the committee.

Covenant Corner

Supreme Court case, illustrates what can result from actions to prevent an ultimate CRC decision that might — or might not — be an approval. Sending threats to obtain a particular CRC result is liable to result in unintended legal and financial consequences for those participating in or ratifying the unreasonable or arbitrary decision. If you’d like to read the Riss case, you can access it here: https://law.justia.com/cases/washington/ supreme-court/1997/63898-5-1.html.

The CRC assists Somerset residents in matters regarding interpretation and compliance with the terms of the Covenants in the Somerset area; it has a duty to consider all remodel applications that it receives. It is the CRC's responsibility to apply the Covenants in a fair and unbiased manner. This requires a delicate balancing of owners' vegetation rights, housing construction rights, and view rights.

The CRC has thoroughly researched and examined, with legal counsel, the issues relevant to the consistent application of the Covenants, including pertinent court cases. The CRC process in doing so is deliberate and more transparent than the previous norm. Each application is carefully considered by all five CRC members before they take a vote and render a decision.

In a couple of previous remodel cases, several opposing neighbors teamed up and tried to preempt the CRC decision by threatening legal action and/or the removal of SCA Board members before the CRC could issue a decision and in one instance, before the final plans were even submitted. Neighbors’ input, pro or con, on a remodel application is legitimate and useful. However, threats of legal action, threats to remove SCA Board members, and other extreme reactions in an effort to preempt the CRC from the completion of an independent and unbiased review could particularly undermine the legitimacy of the result the reactions were intended to obtain.

The Washington courts have supported this position. The decision in Riss v. Angel, a Washington

We want to assure you that the CRC acts as a neutral third party in all the applications it reviews. It acts as an advocate for all Somerset residents and for the Covenants themselves. The CRC will execute its duty conscientiously and ensure its decisions are considered sound. If, for example, an unhappy remodel applicant or a neighbor challenges future decisions in court, the CRC is confident these decisions will be found to have been made reasonably and in good faith.

The CRC members appreciate and welcome the involvement and input they receive from neighbors in all cases, and they carefully review and consider all materials received. If you have any questions about the procedures or the information in this article, please contact the CRC at CRC@somerset98006.org. Thank you for supporting the CRC process for the continued beauty and value of our Somerset properties.

Sincerely,

Covenants Review Committee Somerset Community Association

Somerset 4th of July Celebration

Mark your calendars now and save the date for Tuesday, July 4th for our 16th Annual Somerset Community Association Parade and Picnic in the Park. It’s a great day for neighbors to get together, have lots of fun and celebrate our country’s independence.

We will have prizes for the best costume (most traditional, most original, and most patriotically adorned family) and best decorated transport (bike, wagon, scooter).

We will gather beginning at 10:30am in the Somerset Rec Club lower parking lot at the corner of Somerset Boulevard and Somerset Drive (4445 Somerset Boulevard). The walking parade along Somerset Drive starts at 11:00am and the route is about 0.8 miles, ending at Forest Hill Neighborhood Park. As always, fire engine 104 and Bellevue Police will lead the parade and join our picnic. A great chance for the little ones to see a fire truck up close and high-five a policeman!

Then it will be time for BBQ hot dogs (including veggie dogs), chips, drinks, and dessert for all, hosted by the Somerset Community Association. We are planning for field games and other fun. Honey buckets with hand washing stations will be

available at the park. Things will wrap up around 1:30pm, giving us plenty of time to rest up for the evening fireworks! The city is allowing bouncy houses again, so if all goes well this popular attraction will make a comeback!

Aer the event, please share your photos with info@somerset98006.org. Like every year, we will be publishing the best photos in our fall edition.

Please bring the entire family! This is a wonderful way to celebrate and honor this great country. Donations welcome. Hope to see you there! (Check Somerset98006.org for up-to-date information.)

More great pictures on the back cover!

Good Fences and More

When I was new in the neighborhood and wanted to make some friends, I eagerly responded to a blurb in the Somerset Sun that went “Have you been welcomed yet?” I did not expect to receive, in response, a packet of regulations. I was not used to the idea that being a good neighbor had to do with the proper places for trees, boats, cars, and chickens–in Bangalore, where I grew up, nobody had boats, and we were kind of looseygoosey with chickens.

I get it now, though. The beauty of our neighborhood is no accident. We have to co-operate to keep Somerset pristine. This shared priority became clear as I interviewed Somerset residents about the qualities they valued in their neighborhood, and in their neighbors, at the Rec Club open house on May 13. Another shared value is diversity, but I heard from new folks, as well as long-time residents, that we should perhaps be putting more effort into getting to know and understand each other. There were those who said “you shouldn’t be afraid to ask a neighbor to trim a tree,” and those who were taken aback that a

By Kiran Mascarenhas, Editor

landscaping request was the first interaction they were having with their new neighbors.

Block parties, our annual 4th of July parade and picnic, activities organized by the Somerset Elementary PTSA, and events at the Somerset Rec Club are all great ways to find community and meet your neighbors. But neighborliness can also be as simple as a helping hand when someone’s doing a chore, a welcome when someone’s new, or a smile and a wave. Among the least-loved behaviors? There were a few literal pet peeves, like unscooped poop and unleashed dogs. In general, shirking your responsibility to understand and follow laws and covenants is justifiably frowned upon.

So put away those boats

And those garbage totes

Unless, of course, today’s your garbage day, And when the folks next door Are bustling to and fro Reach past that fence with a nice, friendly “Hey!”

More 4th of July Fun

Great pictures from past 4th of July celebrations. Come out and join the fun!

See page 18 inside.