January 2016

Feature: 2015 Year in ReviewVote Volunteer of the YearHighlands Council Blakely Hall ArtHighlands YouthIHCA NewsVolunteer of the MonthWhat’s HappeningLiving GreenPhoto Treasure Hunt

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2 • January 2016 Issaquah Highlands Connections

Issaquah Highlands Connections January 2016 • 3

Happy New Year, Neighbors!As last year came to a close, Issaquah Highlands was being pummeled by storms. Wind, rain and cold. Add to that distressing national and world news on the media. I was glad for the short days and my cozy highlands home. Winter hibernation – ahhh.

It’s tempting to latch onto the most recent memories as we begin to look forward to the New Year. I am grateful for my work at Connections and how it requires me to look back and gather memories from deep in 2015 to share with you. I know the year was not all happiness and sunshine for every one of us. Loss, challenge and sadness will touch ours or our

neighbor’s lives; it cannot be avoided. But the community survived and thrived in 2015. I was glad to recount the happy memories and hope you enjoy remembering them in these pages, too.

This month’s feature, 2015 Year in Review, cannot realistically be summarized in one image, one photo. We chose instead an image illustrating our strong community and our hopes for the New Year. On a cold December day neighbors gathered with very little notice, but with warmth and hope in their hearts. National events had created a sense of urgency, fear and frustration. Highlands Council’s Executive Director Christy Garrard pondered this and quickly hatched the idea of a Peace Mob. She employed her social media skills to rally together neighbors and leveraged her community contacts to get a photographer up in the air for the shot (Thank you Eastside Fire & Rescue! Thank you, Shubha for the photo!). Neighbors walked into Village Green from all directions, gathering on the lawn to form a human peace sign. Thank you also Matthew Hendrikse of River’s Edge Church, which meets at Blakely Hall on Sundays, for keeping us “in line” while we chatted and enjoyed one another’s company, waiting for the shot to be taken.

Just a half an hour’s time but a lasting memory for those who participated. We at Highlands Council endeavor to bring even more opportunities like these to our community.

Happy New Year, everyone!Nina Milligan, Crofton Springs Editor of Connections - Highlands Council Communications Manager

Highlands Council is the publisher of Connections, producer of community-wide events such as Highlands Day, owner and manager of Blakely Hall, liaison with the greater community.

FROM THE EDITOR


Working For and With You Throughout the Year


by Christy Garrard, Executive Director, Highlands Council and Dahlia Park ResidentHere at Highlands Council we are guided throughout the year by our Vision Statement, to “create a community that embodies the values of its residents and serves current and future generations” and by our Mission Statement, “to foster the development of a vibrant and caring community committed to service, diversity, stewardship and well-being”. These two statements, along with the Values and Assurances in the Covenant for Community, provide focus and definition to the work we do.

The staff at Blakely Hall works hard all year to bring valuable services and programming to our community. I couldn’t fit everything we have done here, but as we say good-bye to 2015, here are a few examples of how Highlands Council worked with the community, and on your behalf, organized by our Values and Assurances.

Working For and With You Throughout the Year


Every year we produce Highlands Day, the summer festival gathering the community together at Village Green and Blakely Hall. This year’s Luau-themed festival hosted 75 vendor booths and welcomed an estimated 3,000 attendees. Community pride shone as you all still came out, even

though it was the stormiest day of the whole summer!

The HY (Highlands Youth Advisory Board) serves as a liaison between Issaquah Highlands’ youth and Highlands Council, empowering Issaquah Highlands’ youth with a voice, a sense of “belonging” and a mechanism for positively influencing their peers and others in Issaquah Highlands. They added

five resident teens to the roster in 2015 and have been very active this year.

For the third year we supported Shop Local Saturday with a resident-planned Shop Local Holiday Bazaar inside Blakely Hall. Highlands Council helped fund the Shop Local Trolley again this year.

Blakely Hall had the greatest number of riders throughout the city!

On November 11th we honored Issaquah Highlands veterans and their families with the 2nd Annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony. Boy Scout Troop #697 presented the colors.

Blakely Hall is a wonderful community resource. In February, residents Adam and Nicole Pond hosted a Super Bowl Party for the community to support the Seahawks bid for the championship.

Each year Highlands Council and the IHCA partner to celebrate volunteerism with our annual Volunteer Appreciation event, this year held in March to coincide with Blakely Hall’s 10th

anniversary.

Highlands Council has a very productive relationship with our homeowner’s association, the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA). We were honored with a role in the recruitment and selection process for the new IHCA Executive Director, Sarah Hoey. Highlands Council meets regularly with our business leaders. This year we welcomed Toll Brothers, Prime Numbers and HomeStreet Bank to the community and helped them get engaged in community building efforts. We attend quarterly merchant meetings hosted by Grand Ridge Plaza to support our stakeholders’ roles in the community. We collaborate also with Gilman Village and the Downtown Issaquah Association to bring events, and programming and information to our stakeholders.

We exchange ideas and collaborate with other master planned communities, such as Snoqualmie Ridge. We reach out to new leaders in Issaquah, such as the new General Manager for the Issaquah Press and the new Executive Director for the Chamber of Commerce, providing an orientation to the complexity of our urban village and our philosophy of community building and collaboration.

Highlands Council represents Issaquah Highlands as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as a variety of greater community committees including: The Issaquah Nonprofit Network, Issaquah Drug Free Community Coalition, Issaquah Emergency Management Disaster Simulation Committee, and the newly-formed Leadership in the Arts Strategic Planning Committee.

Highlands Council supports local nonprofits such as YWCA, Issaquah Schools Foundation, Life Enrichment Options, Eastside Baby Corner, and artEast– just to name a few. For example, Blakely Hall continues to be the location for the Issaquah School Foundation V.O.I.C.E. mentor appreciation luncheons twice annually. We partnered with the City of Issaquah to host a fundraising Jazz concert for the Sister City Commission.

Provide meaningful opportunities to connect with the greater community

Establish community traditions that will engender pride in Issaquah Highlands and a sense of belonging


Communication in Issaquah Highlands comes over many channels. Highlands Council publishes Connections, our monthly newspaper, written mostly by resident volunteers. We also manage all the official social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Look for the cover of the current issue of Connections as the profile picture.

Highlands Council also manages the community’s website, IssaquahHighlands.com. In 2015 we merged the IHCA’s ihwebsite.com onto IssaquahHighlands.com to create a one-stop-no-password-required location for all things Issaquah Highlands. Now everyone has equal access to meeting minutes, budgets, and governing documents relating to Highlands Council and the IHCA by simply clicking on a drop down menu or button.

The Highlands Fiber Network (HFN) is owned by Highlands Council and supports its mission. Owning our own fiber-to-the-home network ensures that the system is managed on our behalf. In 2015 HFN began the process of becoming a 501c3/4 non-profit corporation.

Communication also comes in the in-person style. Twice each year we co-host Resident Orientations with the IHCA and HFN. These orientations welcome all new residents and provide a well-balanced introduction to urban village living.

Highlands Council hosted a “Meet the Mayor” coffee break at Blakely Hall so that residents could express their concerns and get answers to their questions directly from Mayor Butler.

We also hosted a town-hall style meeting with the City of Issaquah’s Parks Department to discuss scheduled upgrades to Central Park play fields.

This year our staff also held meetings with government officials, including representatives from Congressman David Reichert’s office.

We formed a team of community representatives to meet with Lucy Sloman, Land Development Manager, City of Issaquah, to discuss the Issaquah Highlands Development Agreement expiration that is

coming up soon.

We also now have a seat on the Grand Ridge Elementary Site Council. This provides another opportunity for us to engage with residents, develop relationships, and hear what matters most to you, our

stakeholders, as well as support our community elementary school.

Highlands Council supports 28 different clubs and groups in Issaquah Highlands; six of these are multicultural clubs including two new clubs in 2015: French Club and India Culture Club. Other new resident-led clubs that started in 2015 include: Bridge Club, Meaningful Movie Night, Travel Night,

Flex Worker Brown Bag Meet Ups, and Minecraft Mania.

Blakely Hall was the location for a variety of cultural celebrations in 2015 such as Chinese New Year, Purim, Easter service, Mexican Independence Day, Moon Cake Festival, Day of the Dead, Diwali,

Thanksgiving, Chanukah, and Christmas Eve Live Nativity & Candlelight Service.

Provide an orderly, regular, and informative communication system within Issaquah Highlands as well as maintaining an online network for communication within and about Issaquah Highlands

Insure an inclusive environment for governance

Highlands Council’s offices are located in Blakely Hall. We maintain regular office hours and welcome the community to stop by anytime Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm.

We meet regularly with residents interested in getting more involved in the community. Some wish to volunteer for the community, some to start a club or affinity group, some to plan a special occasion.

We provide Blakely Hall to support the IHCA’s outreach by hosting their neighborhood budget meetings and the IHCA annual membership meeting.

Provide all stakeholders a voice in community matters, an opportunity to communicate with the Council

Appreciate diversity of thought and of peoples


We work with faith-based organizations like The Rivers Edge Church and Timberlake Church as they provide opportunities for residents to connect to one another such as Mothers of Preschoolers, Divorce Care, Financial Planning, Love and Logic Parenting, and even a place to go on Thanksgiving.

Issaquah Highlands has 28 different resident-led clubs that Highlands Council supports. Through these residents can learn about another culture (Chinese Heritage Club, Latino Club) or a new hobby (Book Club, Poker Night or Photography Club), or to learn about something new (Wine or Travel Club).

Blakely Hall serves as the venue, and Highlands Council as advisors, for a variety of cultural celebrations throughout the year. We work with leaders in our cultural communities to bring their celebrations to Blakley Hall so the greater community can participate.

The HY (Highlands Youth Advisory Board) enjoyed a variety of enriching experiences beginning with the March Flashlight Egg Hunt that raised funds to aid a fellow teen resident, Samantha Harbeck, injured in a car accident on Highlands Drive. They participated in an outdoor team building day, a community art experience called The Clay Quilt Project, a College & Career Planning seminar, a Teen Halloween Party, a Poetry Slam and a Parents Night Out babysitting event. The HY members were also instrumental in the planning of Highlands Day.

We believe that all the above contributes to our quality of life. And here are a few more examples:

Blakely Hall is your local art gallery. We partner with artEAST to bring you a variety of art exhibitions. Last year’s highlights included Vikram Madan’s whimsical Journey of a Thousand Smiles, and the Pacific Northwest African

American Quilt Show.

The summer month’s fill Blakely Hall with children and learning. This year we hosted four different summer camp programs: Tech Venture Kids, Girls Rock Math, Bricks 4 Kids, and Destination Science.

Zumba Fitness is one of our longest running groups, offered twice weekly by a dedicated resident instructor. New this fall, resident-led free yoga classes began following the Saturday Zumba classes. Both are free to attend and open to

all abilities. We promote all fitness groups in Connections news.

We welcomed and helped promote the first-ever public transportation up Park Drive – Metro 628. This shuttle provides a connection to the Park and Ride and to Swedish. We expect a stop at Blakely Hall to be added in this year.

Highlands Council manages the community garden program for resident gardeners. In two locations this program boasts 130 garden patches

Highlands Council also provides leadership in emergency preparedness. This year we sent two staff members though the Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) certification and I earned Emergency Worker credentials with a desire

to provide leadership support to our community in the event of a major crisis.. We have organized the many CERT-certified IH residents, referred to as CERT TEAM 9 holding regular meetings to build relationships and plan for the

worst. CERT TEAM 9 publishes emergency preparedness information in every issue of Connections news.

Our staff, along with the staff from IHCA, was re-certified in first aid, CPR and AED use. We purchased an AED for Blakely Hall this year.

While all of the above was in progress our team was also busy planning the first quarter of 2016. We look forward to exciting art exhibitions, the 3rd annual teen Flashlight Egg Hunt, Resident Orientation, Volunteer Appreciation, Purim, and the installation of 8 Little Free Libraries in IH parks constructed by the HY and funded by Highlands Council. Building community is what we do. If you would like to join us, please contact me to discuss opportunities at [email protected] or 425-507-1110. Happy New Year!

Motivate partner participation by offering a variety of life-enriching opportunities

Make a significant contribution to the quality of life at Issaquah Highlands


Vote for Volunteer of the Year

Deadline: January 15th!IssaquahHighlands.com

Candidates for the 2015 Volunteer of the Year say…..VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

“Like many people I’m guessing, I watched the club notices in IH Connections with interest, signing up for club emails. But it wasn’t until a few years ago I finally managed to get to a meeting—for the Photography club. My attendance was marked by the unfortunate news that the club needed new coordinators to continue. Faced with the proposition of losing something I had just started, I decided to leverage my professional experience in Marketing Communications, and my personal experience coordinating gatherings and cook-offs to preserve something I feel returns value to the community.” Scott Moffat, Co-Leader of the Photography Club

Go to IssaquahHighlands.com to vote for your choice for Volunteer of the Year 2015. Enjoy remembering here each month’s volunteer - who were all fabulous!

“I’ve enjoyed greeting and meeting our club members as they arrive for the tournament, asking their name and just engaging with them in conversation to make them feel welcome and wanting to come back because they had a great time.” Adam Brown, Poker Club Co-Leader

“One of the recurring themes I’ve experienced over the eight years living here is that everyone has something to contribute to making the Highlands a better place to live and work. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure what my contribution would be. In 2008, I started the Firehouse Fiddlers and in 2012 Nina Milligan asked me to contribute to the Highlands Connections monthly publication, and I created a humor column “Wit and Tidbits.”Tami Curtis, Musician and Writer

“I had never been part of a homeowner’s association before, so when there was an opening on the IHCA Finance Committee, I realized that this was an area in which I could utilize my knowledge and experience. I applied and was accepted, and I have now been on the committee for a little over one year. I feel very fortunate to serve with other residents, as well as IHCA staff, who are committed to assisting the Board with ensuring the financial stability of our community.” Melody Greene, IHCA Finance Committee

“Volunteering in the Issaquah Highlands has meant so much to me and has shown me a passion that I love. I encourage other kids to get involved volunteering at local events and discovering the joys that come with helping others.” Robyn Davidson, HY Board President

“In every community I lived prior to Issaquah Highlands, citizen involvement was limited to voting. Issaquah Highlands is very different. Its combination of common walkable spaces, community buildings and resident organizations makes it easy to become involved and have a direct impact on our community now and in the future.” Chris Hawkins, IHCA Board of Directors

January

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VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

“When I discovered the garden, I jumped at the chance to dig in the dirt. For the past three years, I’ve worked my small patch of land and served on the Community Garden Committee. I’ve watched in amazement at how the community garden continues to bring residents together to share produce, swap tips and aid one another. I encourage all Issaquah Highlands residents to take a walk through one of the community garden patches and marvel at the amazing things your neighbors are growing. It just may inspire you too, to become a garden volunteer.” Leah Byskal, Community Garden Committee Member

“Volunteering for the community has enriched my life so I want to encourage my fellow neighbors to volunteer in whatever capacity they can. It’s a great way to meet people and create lifelong friendships.”Theora Dalupan, IHCA Covenant Committee

“When a community comes together and supports each other, the community grows and thrives well into the future. I would encourage you to volunteer and help strengthen our community. Once you meet Christy and her team, you will fall in love with the work and really appreciate the Highlands! We truly do live in a uniquely great place.” Gary Ashby, Special Event Volunteer

Kari came to Highlands Council almost three years ago now with two fantastic ways she could contribute to the community. One was to host a screening of Advance Directives: Consider the Conversation. Kari understood that many in our community faced difficult issues as their parents aged. She also conceived of the idea for the first ever ‘advice column’ for Connections. As a licensed clinical social worker, Kari knew first-hand the troubles people need help with and that many of these troubles lurk even in the most comfortable communities. Ask Kari was born, providing a forum for us and our neighbors to write to Kari about our challenges, or to learn from others. Kari ONeill, Connections Writer

“The formation of the Issaquah Highlands Yarns and Threads group was inspired by a question on the IH

Facebook page “Can someone make this for me”. After a few emails to Highlands Council to find a time in

Blakely Hall for our first meeting, the group was off and running; it has been going for nearly two years now! It

really is as simple as that to form a community group in the Highlands.”

Cathie Coulter, Knitting Club Leader

“Being a part of the HY board has been incredibly fun, incredibly rewarding, and allowed me to grow as a

leader. The HY made me feel as if I belonged.” Chloe and Megan Kilzi, HY Members

July

August

September

Vote Now!for Volunteer of the Year!IssaquahHighlands.com

November

December


“CALL OF THE CLOUDS”Clouds have found a welcome home in the human creative experience, from the earliest cave drawings to ancient Chinese ceramics to contemporary painting, photography, film, and music. Mirroring our own brief journeys, clouds’ temporal existence reflects our dreams and drives our imagination.

BLAKELY HALL ART GALLERY“CALL OF THE CLOUDS”

A juried artEAST exhibitionJanuary 15 – March 15, 2016

Blakely HallExhibit is open 8:00am – 5:00pm Monday - Friday

Opening Reception Saturday, January 236:30pm-8:00pm

Blakely HallFree and open to the public

“Insanity” by Mitchell Albala is among the special works selected for inclusion in artEAST’s show “Call of the Clouds” going on display at Blakely Hall on January 15th.

Carolyn Ross’s “Changes” was chosen to be included in the juried show “Call of the Clouds” curated by artEAST, exhibiting at Blakely Hall.

In December the Highlands Council Board of Trustees nominated and appointed Fred Nystrom as a new trustee, representing one of two multi-family housing seats per the Covenant for Community. Fred is the Executive Director for Life Enrichment Options which owns and operates a home in Issaquah Highlands for adults with some degree of developmental disabilities and their full-time, trained caregiver.

Fred spent most of his career in publishing. His experiences include: spending a decade in

marketing and sales with Sunset Magazine, and 15 years publishing travel guide books and local magazines. He was the original travel content provider for Microsoft with the launch of MSN. His background will be very valuable to Highlands Council’s communication efforts.

Fred and his wife, Mardi have lived in the Issaquah community for more than 30 years. During this time, Fred has been honored as “Citizen of the Year,” “Volunteer of the Year,” “Issaquah Parks Person of the Year” and has served on numerous boards and commissions.

Board CompositionThe Highlands Council affairs are governed by the Board of Trustees, each member with one equal vote. Two Council Trustees must be homeowners in Issaquah Highlands, two Trustees must represent retail/commercial entities, and two Trustees must represent multi-family housing. Phil Nored, owner of the Discovery Heights and Discovery West apartments occupies the other multi-family Trustee seat. Larry Norton, Board President, and Patrick Byers are homeowner trustees. Jody Turner, executive for Swedish Hospital, and Dr. Ray Besherati, owner of Highlands Dentistry represent the retail/commercial Trustee seats.

For more information about Highlands Council visit IssaquahHighlands.com/Learn/HighlandsCouncil.

Highlands Council Welcomes New Board of Trustee Member: Fred Nystrom

HIGHLANDS COUNCIL

Renew your Garden PatchDeadline: January 31st

Patches not renewed will be offered to residents on the waiting list.

For more information on the Issaquah Highlands Community Garden Program or to add your name to the waitlist visit: www.issaquahhighlands.com/community-garden .

Questions? Contact Christy Garrard, Executive Director for Highlands Council at 425-507-1110 or [email protected].

Community SurveyLet’s begin the New Year with an opportunity for you to tell us how we are doing, what is most important to you in your IH life and how we can serve you better. Find the 2016 Community Survey linked from our website at Issaquah Highlands.com, from within the weekly e-letter (subscribe at our Issaquah Highlands.com/connect) and by liking us on

Facebook/IssaquahHighlands (the one with the current cover of Connections as the profile picture.)

We look forward to hearing from you!Highlands Council

Curated by Megan Somerville, Ted Loomis and artEAST

Exhibition to Engage Community on Mental IllnessIssaquah’s artEAST invites artists to participate in The Incredible Intensity of Just Being Human exhibition.

Curated by Kate Vrijmoet, The Incredible Intensity of Just Being Human, artists examine the stigma and silence surrounding mental illness.

To learn more about the exhibition and to see submission guidelines, go to arteast.org.

The submission deadline is Jan. 24, 2016. The show is scheduled for the artEAST Art Center and Blakely Hall from April 18-July 11.

The exhibition is sponsored by the Issaquah Arts Commission.


It has been nine months since my auto accident that sent me to the hospital with several broken bones and a severe traumatic brain injury. Since then, I have completed hours and hours of therapy and I am back at school, expecting to graduate with my class of 2016. I have also recently started working at TCBY/Mrs. Fields. It has been a long, difficult journey, but

I have learned so much. Besides the obvious of realizing how lucky I am to have survived, I now know how much my community and family are willing to help and support me. It made a world of difference to all of us. If there’s any message I would give to other teens it would be to always pay attention while driving, and slow down. Life is too precious to throw away.

Numbers by Rachel Rosewater

Though you may not notice because it doesn’t showMy life’s arranged in numbers, I bet you didn’t know

The numbers of my age and height, they go hand in handTogether, they both choose where in society I standIt really shouldn’t matter what I look like on the outsideMy personality should be noticed, my feelings inside

And my weight, the numbers appear when I step on the scaleIt doesn’t say who I am or my long unwinding taleWhatever I may weigh, whether I’m skinny or fatThe numbers tell my mass and it should only be that

A grade point average on my compete screenDoesn’t mean I’m not smart, my grades are only what you’ve seenHow fast I run in PE isn’t how hard I triedAnd the rights and wrongs on assignments doesn’t show my prideMy effort, creativity, and participation never gets shownIt all comes down to numbers because that’s all people have known

Death comes also, in numbers as wellIt tells when I die of old age, but fate can’t always tellFor emotions in yourself are stronger than logic in your headOne day, you’ll seem happy and alive, but the next day, you’re dead

We are not programmed robots, only human beings The things that you may feel isn’t what others are seeingA smile on your face may actually be a frown in disguiseAnd the truths that have been told may actually be lies

You never really notice because you probably never seeLife’s arranged in numbers and that’s not how it should be

Life is Too Precious to Throw Awayby Samantha Harbeck, IH Resident Teen

Poetry Slam

HIGHLANDS YOUTH - THE HY

Samanta Harbeck’s car as it landed in the forest below Highlands Drive.

Issaquah Highlands HY (Highlands Youth) Board dedicated their fundraiser “Flashlight Egg Hunt” to Samanta’s family’s financial needs during her recovery.

Samantha Harbeck today posing for her senior photo, preparing to graduate this year.

Rooted We Are

The United States of AmericaSo powerful with global influence

One thing happens; worldwide hysteriaAll our citizens with significance

The “Land of Opportunity”, you seeLike Einstein and Muir, come and live your lifeAnd if you seek, chance shall always seek thee

Because here, we all seek to avoid strifeWe are strong in our roots; our base is firm“The bigger they are the harder they fall”

We are here, proud, strong, and without concernStanding strong, we haven’t fallen at all

America, the noble, the robust

And remain stable and rooted we must

On November 21st the HY hosted the City of Issaquah’s Youth Advisory Board for a Poetry Slam at Blakely Hall. Here are a couple of our HY Board members original poems.


The Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) Finance Committee begins preparing the IHCA 2016-17 budget. The budget will be presented to Board of Directors (BOD) for approval in late February, published on April’s Connections newspaper, and ratified at a scheduled community meeting in late April.

Finance Committee members are comprised of Issaquah Highlands homeowners who volunteer their time to serve the committee. This committee is appointed by the IHCA BOD and work directly with the IHCA staff to develop a budget recommendation to the BOD. Using their financial expertise, knowledge of community and legal requirements, and a commitment to maintaining the communitywide standards, the budget is developed using proactive group effort.

Once the budget is reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee, the committee will present the budget to the IHCA BOD for approval. After the Board approves it, an open meeting is scheduled to publicly ratify the budget. In accordance with state law and the IHCA Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs), ratification is automatic unless 75% of all members (not just those in attendance) vote to reject the budget.

There are many factors that the Finance Committee must consider when developing the community budget. These driving factors include:

• Protecting the integrity of the investment of every homeowner within Issaquah Highlands.

• Maintaining the standard of care and safety of community property and common areas.• Ensuring efficient planning for future community needs.

The Finance Committee reviews the funds needed for daily operation of the community, such as common electricity and irrigation water, grounds maintenance, management, insurance and general maintenance. These expenses are either contractual or can be reasonably estimated based on experience. The Finance Committee also reviews the income needed to maintain the reserve fund at sufficient levels. Reserve funds provide money for the repair and replacement of the community’s assets — such as playground equipment, drainage infrastructure and irrigation equipment.

Armed with this knowledge, the committee will estimate total expenses for the coming year and compare that sum to the association’s potential revenue (assessments, interest on investments and shared costs revenue). The committee will look for ways to lower expenses without compromising service and address areas where operating efficiencies may be realized.

The annual budget must also meet the legal requirements of operating a nonprofit association and address any economical and operational challenges that may lie ahead.

IHCA 2016-17 Annual Budget Development Underway

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,

planters, and BBQ grills. Furniture used on decks and patios shall be

limted to a type especially designed and manufactured for outdoor use and kept

in good repair.

Thank you for doing your part.

Issaquah Highlands Use Restrictions & Rules Reminders:

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

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 shall include all walkway and landscape lighting not installed by the original builder . (Except, of course, holiday lighting displayed during the holiday season!)

As with anything, change is often a necessity to keep things running smoothly, just like changing the oil in your car. 2015 brought about many new changes for the IHCA. We said goodbye to some familiar faces but at the same time, also welcomed many new family members. These additions meant that it was time to look at how we conduct business and determine what we can do better. And that’s just what we did.

This past year we welcomed a new Executive Director, Sarah Hoey. Sarah reorganized our Community Management

Team to include a second Community Manager/Project Manager and an Owner Services Coordinator/Compliance.

We have been experiencing a robust number of home sales throughout our community with 392 homes sold between January and November of 2015. With that comes new homeowners. We have upgraded our New Resident Welcome Package to include the Community Wide Standards, ARC Application, ACH Application, Water Wise Living in the Issaquah Highlands to name a few and information provided from our partners at Highlands Council and HFN. These packages are typically sent out within two weeks of our receipt of the closing documents from the escrow company. We also joined forces with Highlands Council and combined our websites for easier navigation and continuity.

Our Accounting Team received a “clean” audit opinion of our 2014-15 financial statements. A complete packet of audit schedules were provided to help keep the audit fees low. Monthly automatic bank debits for payment of assessments continues to trend up, ensuring timely payments and automation of the payment process – almost 80% of homeowner’s payments are now electronic.

This year did not go by without the added challenges of a very dry, hot summer, crane fly infestation in a few of the parks and the occasional wind storm. We’ve managed to restore the parks and are continually working on the common areas where the grass sustained permanent

damage. When not doing routine landscaping or damage control, our landscaping department has been very busy planting approximately 5,151 trees and shrubs and in November, we completed our 3,000th Work Order.

Not only has common area maintenance and landscaping been extremely productive this year, community-wide projects have also been in full force. Among the projects that have been started or completed this year (especially in the last six months) include (but are not limited to): Fence staining, park benches at Bark Park, deck repairs, siding repairs, mailboxes, gutter cleaning, plant replacements, as well as other general maintenance items.

One of our goals is to help educate new homeowners on what it takes to maintain their home and yard to comply with the Community Wide Standards. Last year we held two Landscape Seminars and this year we plan to increase that to quarterly seminars and hold them during times of the year that are pertinent to landscape pitfalls.

With all of these positive and proactive changes, we have only just begun to collectively move Issaquah Highlands in to the future and reflect on the 20 years of history this wonderful community has provided. We look forward to seeing even more great things take place for the IHCA in the many years to come and as always, we welcome your feedback.

The IHCA in 2015, a Year of Changes, Reflections and Accomplishmentsby Collene Cordova, IHCA Owner Service Coordinator-Compliance

Just one example of a project completed by the IHCA in 2015 – the new benches at Bark Park.


Shubha Tirumale

The beauty of the Pacific Northwest proved to be a tipping point for me on getting more serious with photography. I enjoy capturing ‘colors and life’ around places and nature, people’s laughter, joy, emotions and to just sense the sheer happiness of the wonderful people I work with – Wow, this just cannot be explained through words!

I have had the opportunity and pleasure of volunteering as a photographer in the Issaquah Highlands since 2014. Capturing those wonderful moments of Santa’s arrival in 2014 and 2015, and Highlands Day in 2014 and 2015 have been heart-warming experiences. This year the most recent experience of capturing the Peace formation from the top of a fire truck ladder at the Village Green was thrilling. Thanks to Christy, Firefighter Mike and all the wonderful people that took the time to participate for the Peace formation and cheering me – I overcame my fear of heights to scale 40 feet on the fire truck to take pictures! WOW! I will never forget that experience!

Volunteering for Issaquah Highlands Council has been extremely fulfilling for me; Special

thanks to Christy Garrard and all employees of the Council. I cannot thank the wonderful people of Issaquah Highlands enough for furnishing me with many such opportunities – I am grateful and glad that I can share and enjoy the beauty of this place with everyone in the community. Residents have always been very kind with words and encouragement whenever I share beautiful images of Highlands. It means everything to me!

I also volunteer for many other non-profit organizations but volunteering for Issaquah Highlands has been very special to my heart as Issaquah is my home away from home (Bengaluru, India); it provides me with great joy to capture moments and sentiments, at the same time spreading awareness through our communities for good causes.

Also, special thanks to Grand Ridge Plaza and Suzanne Lee for providing me with volunteering opportunities. I am humbled with all the fantastic support!

Last, but not the least, I thank my dearest husband Arun and my son for relentlessly supporting me through this journey!

Finally, I would like to encourage all that enjoy photography to continue to pursue and to capture what you love.

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH


Holiday Closures IHCA Office,

Highlands Council Offices&

Blakely Hall Closed

Friday, January 1st

Art in Blakely Hall“Call of the Clouds”January 15th – March 15thExhibit is open 8:00am – 5pm Monday - FridayOpening ReceptionSaturday, January 23, 6:30pm-8:00pmBlakely HallFree and open to the publicCurators Megan Somerville and Ted Loomis, artEAST bring the splendor of clouds and the joy of watching them to an interactive and participatory art exhibition and program. The program includes traditional and unexpected elements, from display to interactive. See more on page 12. Book ClubLocation & Dates varyThe book club is a great place to meet neighbors and explore a variety of books. We meet at Big Fish Grill.Dates sometimes change, so be sure to email [email protected] to be added to the Facebook group.

Bridge ClubMonday, January 4th, 7:00pmBlakely HallGrab a partner or come solo to play a little Bridge! Bring your own beverage of choice and a snack to share. Everyone is welcome. RSVP: Contact Julia Woo at [email protected] or Penny Storie at [email protected].

Chinese Heritage ClubCancelled in JanuaryBlakely HallThis club promotes and preserves Chinese cultural heritage awareness among the next generation for many local families. Contact: Hailain ([email protected]) or 425-633-0242.

Cub Scout Issaquah Highlands Pack 680A year round values-based program for boys grades 1-5. Scouting is learning by discovery and discovery by doing.For more information, please contact [email protected].

English Class for the WorkplaceWednesdays and FridaysJanuary 6th – March 25th9:30am – 12:00pmYWCA Family VillagePresented by Hopelink and free to attend, these classes teach English to assist adults in the workplace. Learn how to speak about your skills and experience, how to search for a job and to develop a resume and a cover letter. Practice interview skills and much more! Register by contacting Marci Williams at 425-250-3007 or [email protected].

Flex Worker Brown Bag(Formerly, Telecommuters)Next Meeting, Friday, February 5th, 1:00-2:00pmBlakely HallWe meet every other month to discuss topics of interest such as technology, distance working tips, etc. Anyone can lead a discussion. Future meetings are February 5th, and April 1st (no fooling). Contact [email protected] (subject line: Flex Worker Brown Bag) if you have questions or would like to be added to the meeting notes distribution.

French ClubThursday, January 21st, 7:00pmBlakely HallThis club will highlight language lessons, French food and wine, travel tips for visiting France, and more! Contact: Alex [email protected] or Aline [email protected]

Family History Night Tuesday, January 19th, 8:00pmBlakely Hall - FREE!Genealogy Made Easy! Contact: Steve Balkman, [email protected] 425-260-4451.

Green Genius B.A.R. From Dirt to List in 60 MinutesThursday, January 28th, 4:30 – 6:30pmZeeks Pizza (25th and Park Drive NE)Builders And Realtors @ Bars - A Workshop Series to Bridge Green Builders and Brokers. Join us for a short, non-credit Green Building workshop that focuses on connecting green building experts to Realtors and Agents. Free Education, Q&A and networking opportunities! Drinks start at 4:30, class starts at 5pm. Register at: pnwgreengenius.com/classes. See Living Green on Page 21 for more details.

Green Genius: The Future of Sustainability A Community UnConference in Issaquah HighlandsThursday, February 11th Blakely Hall1:30 – 4:30pm: CEU Accredited Class for RE Brokers and Appraisers4:30pm – 5:00pm:Happy Hour Class Attendees and IH Community5:00pm – 6:30pm:Panel Discussion: The Past and Future of Sustainability in IHAs the Issaquah Highlands looks back on 20 years of development, Highlands Council, Built Green, Green Genius and others have joined forces to deliver an event series celebrating 20 Years of Sustainability in this Built Green Community. Thoughtfully curated for real estate and development professionals and enthusiasts, all events are free and open to the public. All homes in Issaquah Highlands are Built Green; Homeowners can pick up their Built Green home certifications at this event. See Living Green on Page 21 for more details. www.pnwgreengenius.com.

India Culture Club Monday, January 25th, 7:00pmBlakely HallCome learn about beautiful India! This club will highlight arts, culture, and festivals and is open to all who want to explore and learn about India. Topics for our meetings may include preparing for a trip to India, basic overview of languages, places to visit, arts and cultural landmarks to visit etc. Let’s celebrate and share cultural riches of India in our community together. Contact Anita Ayela [email protected]

Knit for Life®

Mondays from 1:00pm to 3:00pmSwedish Medical Center, Main LobbyA 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: [email protected]

Latino ClubWednesday, January 6th, 5:00pmCelebrating The Kings’ FestivalJoin us as we celebrate the end of the holiday season by gathering together with family and friends to celebrate the King’s Day. We will have the traditional King’s Bread to share. If you would like to try it, please stop by. The Latino Club welcomes everybody who would like to celebrate and learn about Latino traditions. There will be activities for kids, adults and seniors. Open to all – join the fun! Interested? Contact Alicia Spinner [email protected].

Map Your Neighborhood SeminarsFebruary 22nd, 7:00pm February 23rd, NoonBlakely HallLearn how to organize your family and your neighbors in advance of a natural disaster or crisis at one of these FREE seminars hosted at Blakely Hall. See page 29 for more details.

Meaningful MoviesWednesday, January 27th, 6:30pmBlakely Hall, FREEJanuary’s Film: This Changes EverythingFree and open to the public, Meaningful Movies bring documentaries and guest speaker-led discussions to Blakely Hall each month. This month’s movie: “This Changes Everything”. Based on Naomi Klein’s book of the same name subtitled “Capitalism vs The Climate”, “This Changes Everything” was filmed over 211 shoot days in nine countries and five continents over four years. An epic attempt to re-imagine the vast challenge of climate change. See http://meaningfulmovies.org for more information.

C O M M U N I T Y M E E T I N G SIHCA Architectural Review Committee Tuesday, 1/5, 6:00 pm IHCA Office

IHCA Finance Committee Tuesday, 1/12, 5:30 pm IHCA Office

IHCA Board of DirectorsWednesday, 1/27, 5:30 pm IHCA Office

Meetings are subject to change. See Calendar at issaquahhighlands.com for more information or date changes.

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

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS


C A L E N D A R

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) January 4th, 9:30 - 11:30am Blakely HallSponsored by Timberlake ChurchPROGRAM COST: $150 for the 2015-16 school yearWe meet twice monthly on Monday mornings through June. Enjoy quality, positive programming just for moms. We make sure your little ones have an amazing time as well. To register, visit www.timberlakechurch.com/mops

Minecraft ManiaTuesday, January 12th, 5:00pm - 6:30pmBlakely 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 [email protected] and parent leader is Tim Ryan at [email protected].

Photography ClubSaturday, January 16th, 10:30am Blakely HallEnjoy monthly meetings with guest speakers, share and discuss your work with others, and participate in an online community throughout the month. Contact [email protected]

PlaygroupEvery Wednesday at 10:00amNewborn to Age 4Blakely HallMoms, dads, caregivers and their children are invited for fun, friendship, support and socializing. Contact Alicia [email protected] and see facebook.com/IssaquahHighlands.coopplaygroup

Poker NightThursday, January 28th, 6:00pmBlakely HallWhether 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 [email protected].

Rovin’ FiddlersEvery Tuesday, 7:00pm-9:00pmEither at the Issaquah Highlands Fire Station 73 or Issaquah Senior CenterLooking for a place to play your instrument? Drop in our jam sessions. We need more fiddles (!) but welcome guitars, flutes, whistles, banjos, mandolins, autoharps, dulcimers, stand up bass, and percussion. All abilities are welcome. We play a variety of genres from traditional old-time to Celtic selections. We play the occasional performance if you care to join us, but that is optional. For more information and to learn where we’re rehearsing each week contact Sue at [email protected].

Running ClubSaturdays 8:00am Central Park Tennis CourtsPlease contact Joey at [email protected], so he can add you to the distribution list. See Facebook - Issaquah Highlands Running and Multi-sport

Russian Highlanders See Facebook for monthly event informationMeet other Russian-speakers in your community for friendship! Join Russian Highlanders Facebook page to see what activities are planned.

Toastmasters ClubWednesdays, 7:00am - 8:00amSwedish Medical Center 2nd Floor Conference CenterJoin 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.

Travel Club NightSee where it takes you!Wednesday, January 13th, 7:00pmBlakely HallAs the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, so is the Blue Lagoon to Iceland! Come and hear two presenters share their winter and summer experiences of Iceland! Learn what Iceland has to offer and see amazing photography of Iceland’s landscape and the famous Northern Lights. You will want to travel to Iceland after attending! Stay Up to Date on Future Meetings: Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/highlandstravelclub

Wine ClubFriday, January 8th, 6:30pmBlakely HallCome 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 [email protected] for details. Please RSVP the Tuesday prior to the event.

Yarns & Threads GroupFridays at 9:00amCancelled January 1stBlakely HallAll knitters, crocheters, and stitchers are welcome. For more details of questions, please contact Cathie Coulter at [email protected]

Yoga ClubSaturdays at 10:30amCancelled January 2nd & 23rdBlakely HallJoin 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: [email protected]

Zumba Fitness ClassTuesdays (7:00pm) & Saturdays (9:00am) Cancelled January 2ndGet Ready - Get Fit - Go! Ditch the workout and join the fitness party at Blakely Hall! Zumba Fitness is the Latin and world rhythm and dance based fitness party that will change the way you think about working out. Grab your workout clothes, your water bottle, and join the party! Free class but please bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the food bank! For additional information, email (Cindy) at [email protected].

HOLIDAYSNew Years Day Friday, January 1

Kings’ Day Wednesday, January 6th

Martin Luther King Day Monday, January 18th

SAVE THE DATEResident Orientation ReceptionThursday, March 10

HY Flashlight Egg HuntFriday, March 18

Purim CelebrationThursday, March 24

FUN EVENTS IN ISSAQUAHHello! My BabyVillage Theatre, IssaquahOpens January 9th

Issaquah’s 2nd Saturday FilmJanuary 9, 2016, 7:00 pmEagle Room, City Hall; Free“Grumpy Old Men” (1993) with Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret.

Science SymposiumJanuary 8, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PMIssaquah Community CenterPresented by local high schools’ robotics clubs and the Issaquah Youth Advisory Board. The event, which is for fourth- to seventh-graders, includes engineering challenges, invention tables, robotic demonstrations and hands-on fun! Details on the City of Issaquah Calendar.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS

Family Village YWCASeeks Volunteers

ForAfter School

Homework HelpSeeking volunteers for school homework help for 1st thru 8th graders. Volunteer hours are

Monday thru Thursday 3:00pm – 5:00pm during the school year. This is an excellent opportunity

for high school students. Fulfill community service hours, supplement your college

applications and resumes, make new friends and contacts, gain valuable job skills, give back to

the community. If you have time to spare to help a student succeed, please contact Sondi Lind at

(425) 270-6807 or email, [email protected].

Community Survey!We want to hear from you. Please participate in

the Community Survey.

See IssaquahHighlands.com/survey

Vote for Volunteer of the Year at

IssaquahHighlands.comDeadline: January 15th


When did you move into your zHome?We closed on our home on July 7th, 2014. We moved in by the end of that month. We’ve been living in our new home for about 1 year and 3 months.

What is your favorite sustainability feature?The rainwater catchment system. It supplies water for our toilets, clothes washing machine, and outdoor garden hose. It feels good to know that whenever we use those items we’re not using any city-supplied (potable, drinkable) water at all.

How does the rainwater catchment system work?It uses a fascinating system of filters to ensure that our water is crystal clear. For example, there’s a “first flush diverter”, a long tube outside our house designed to capture the first few gallons of rainwater off our roof, often the dirtiest water, and divert it from the 1700-gallon cistern that holds our rainwater supply. The tube contains a floating ball inside which rises to the top of the tube as it fills. When the ball reaches the top, it caps off the tube and lets any further rainwater flow into our cistern. The tube also has a small hole at the bottom that slowly drips out the water so that it’s empty for the next rainfall. Pretty neat!

What else do you like?We also love the large number of windows and the open loft-style layout. During the day, outside light penetrates just about every square foot of our home so we don’t need to use artificial light. Instead, we spend each day washed in natural daylight. At night, moonlight often streams through the third-story windows down to where we sit on our couch in the second-story living room. Delightful!

Does everything work as you had hoped?Yes, everything works well. We’ve had no significant repair issues with any sustainability

systems. Once a year we clean the filters on our heat recovery ventilator (which provides fresh air inside our very tightly sealed house) and twice a year we clean the filters on our rainwater catchment system. Both tasks are simple, and require no tools. There’s no maintenance involved on our part for our solar panels (which provide our electricity) or our heat pump (which heats our tap water and the water in our hydronic floor heating system). (See December Connections “Living Green” for information on these systems’ HOA maintenance.)

How much do you save in energy bills?For eight months out of the year, our energy bill is $8.39 per month. That’s just the monthly “Basic Charge” ($7.87 plus $0.52 tax) that Puget Sound Energy (PSE) assesses for having an account, even if you don’t draw any energy from them. For the other four months (in the winter), we pay between $30 and $90 per month. But at the end of the year we get a refund check from PSE for the energy our solar panels supplied to their grid.

How much of a refund do you get?We received $1,176.60! PSE paid $0.15 per kilowatt hour for the 7844 kilowatt hours our panels generated during the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

What do you ‘do’ with the money you save living in the zHome?As first-time home buyers, for half of our $100K down payment we took out a 401(k) loan. The money we save living in our zHome first goes to paying off that 401(k) loan. We should finish paying that off in the next year or two. Next, our savings are going into our vacation fund. More trips to Disneyland!

Do you have to sacrifice comfort for sustainability?When we moved from our Issaquah apartment (where we’d been living for 11 years) into our zHome, we thought we might. However, we feel that our new home is considerably *more* comfortable than our old apartment. The thick, tightly sealed walls of our zHome and the hydronic heating system in our floors keep the temperature inside consistent and comfortable year round. Our house stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer (impressive considering we have no air-conditioning).In case it wasn’t clear so far, let me say that we love our zHome!

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for space and brevity.

Are your recycling and garbage containers in need of a little weight loss? Add a waste reduction resolution for a fresh start to a new year! From your morning routine to your mail stream, these simple tips will set you on the path toward zero waste.

Wake UpJust say no to disposable coffee cups! Bring your own refillable cup to the coffee shop. You’ll waste less and save money, too. Many coffee shops offer a 10 cent discount when you use your own container.

EntertainingAre you hosting a holiday gathering? Resolve to stop buying disposable dishware and utensils. Instead, invest in a set of reusable dishware for hosting. Significant amounts of energy and natural resources are used in producing, transporting and disposing items that are used once and thrown out. What a waste!

Sack LunchesIf you pack a lunch each day, use reusable containers. Opt out of single-use plastic baggies and reduce your waste by investing in reusable containers for your lunch.

Receipts / Paper BillsRefuse receipts when shopping or choose email receipts when possible. Many utility companies offer electronic billing, no paper required. Puget Sound Energy and Recology CleanScapes both offer electronic billing for utility payments. Junk MailYou have a choice when it comes to receiving junk mail. Eliminate your mail box waste by opting out of receiving phone directories, stopping junk mail, and cancelling catalogs. Visit catalogchoice.org to opt out of unwanted mailers.

The Big PictureA waste zero resolution has big potential for lasting effects on your lifestyle. Whether you adopt one, two or all of the above resolutions, your impact on the environment is something that you can feel good about throughout the entire year. Take it one step further and sign up for Recology CleanScapes’ monthly Beyond Waste Bulletin newsletter to find out the latest tips, events and happenings for a waste zero life. Email [email protected] to sign up!

zHome - Q&A with Owner Residents Bryan Bell and Karin Weekly by Nina Milligan, Highlands Council, Crofton Springs Neighborhood

LIVING GREEN

Resolution: Waste Zero by Danielle Gambogi, Waste Zero Specialist, Recology / Cleanscapes


When I first moved to Seattle almost twenty years ago, I had never eaten salmon. A coworker came back from a fishing trip and brought a bag of bright pink-orange strips that he had smoked himself. I tried a bite and fell in love with the sweet smooth texture and how it slid into rich little petals between my fingers. Over the years I have tried salmon raw, grilled, steamed, simmered in chowder, in curries, folded into scrambled eggs, and pretty much any other way you can imagine. But I didn’t really make a connection with the fish itself until I moved to Issaquah and discovered Salmon Days. We visited the hatchery with the kids to see the salmon making their way up the river, resting and then leaping over and over.

The boys are in preschool now, and they talk a lot about salmon. They can tell a sockeye from a coho from a king and which is male or female. They know every nook of the hatchery and we go there often to watch the fry grow before their journey to sea. The kids know not to walk on the edge of streams so that they won’t disturb nests of eggs. And when I eat salmon now, I think of exactly, precisely where that fish started. The hatchery makes me very aware of what eating native food means to me.

In the same way that my boys already know more about salmon at the age of five than I do at forty, I am sure many of you grew up here and already know all about the tribes that lived in this area. It’s all new to me. The hatchery also teaches a lot about native plantings that can preserve the salmon-friendly nature of your yard. Of course my mind turned to eating and by that extension, growing. The salmon have always been here. But what plants were local people eating three hundred years ago?

Thank goodness for Wikipedia, the homepages for the Duwamish and Snoqualmie Tribal People, and a fantastic paper, ‘The Traditional Foods of Puget Sound Project’ by the Northwest Indian College Cooperative Extension Office. What were people eating? Hazelnuts, elderberries, huckleberries, crabapples, wild onions, fiddlehead ferns, spruce shoots, camas, and wild strawberries just to name a few items. I already have a couple of elderberry bushes (if the deer will please stop eating them).

The plant that caught my interest the most is the camas. Camassia is a member of the lily family and has absolutely stunning wildly blue flower stalks. It also was one of the cornerstones of diet because the bulb could be roasted and eaten like a sweet potato or dried and pounded into flour to make bannocks. They are drought tolerant but actually prefer the sodden falls and springs. Goodbye potato tower. Next year is going to be the year of the Camassia.

There are 130 individual garden patch spaces over two locations in Issaquah Highlands. These patches are governed by Highlands Council and managed by a Community Garden Committee made up of resident community gardeners.

Current patch holders, in good standing with the Community Garden Committee, may renew their patch each year. The garden renewal season runs through January. All patches not renewed will be offered to residents on the waiting list in the order they were placed on the waiting list. This process begins February 1, 2016.

For more information on the Issaquah Highlands Community Garden Program or to add your name to the waitlist, visit: www.issaquahhighlands.com/community-garden . Questions? Contact Christy Garrard, Executive Director for Highlands Council at 425-507-1110 or [email protected]

LIVING GREENDelicious Tradition by Sarah Lally Brown, Community Gardener, Resident Two Slides Park Neighborhood

Renew your Community Garden Patch Now

Camassia bulbs can be roasted and eaten like a sweet potato or dried and pounded into flour.

Vista gardeners are required to contribute volunteer hours in the maintenance of the common areas in the gardens. The Community Garden Committee coordinates work parties, providing opportunities to bond with, and learn from, your fellow gardeners.

Resident gardeners built the Vista Gardens by hand, 10

years ago. They are located on the trail below Black

Nugget Park.

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDSCELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF SUSTAINABILITY

Events are free and open to Issaquah Highlands ResidentsREGISTRATION at www.pnwgreengenius.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28th

GREEN GENIUS B.A.R.(A WORKSHOP) See Flyer – This Page

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11th - Blakely Hall

THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY: A Community UnConference in Issaquah Highlands1:30 – 4:30PM RE CEU for realtors and brokers, free to homeowners

4:30 – 6:30PM Reception and Panel Discussion – The Future of Sustainability in IH

Watch for in March-Built Green Home Tour and Open House


Welcome to the 4th Issaquah Highlands Photo Treasure Hunt! Every month we publish a photo of something (or somewhere!) in the Highlands. While some months may be easier to guess than others, all photos will be accessible to the public. It is up to you to guess where the photo was taken!

Last month’s photo had a lot of people stumped. It was taken outside the entry to the Issaquah Highlands Fire Station 73 on Park Drive. The fire station was designed with some great environmental measures in mind, fitting in with the idea of “green living” in the Highlands. The display outside the station entry explains the details of the designs. Stop by and read up on our environmentally friendly our firehouse!

Correct guesses were submitted by:Maria NelsonCathy AndersonJennifer BriodyAnnie McKillopSarah VenzonTim Ryan

It’s December, so it’s time to draw a winner for this year’s MOD Pizza gift certificate! Everyone who responds with a correct guess will be entered to win. Every correct guess is another entry – so you can enter 12 times a year.

This year’s winner is: Heather Krabbe. Congratulations! Thanks for participating in the Issaquah Highlands Photo Treasure Hunt! You’ll receive an email explaining how to collect your prize.

This month’s photo is below. If you think you have the answer, please email it to [email protected] along with your full name. Please be as specific as possible when emailing your response (just the name of the building, park, street, etc. is not enough). Responses will be accepted until January 8th. 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 Café Ladro. The drawing will happen once a year in December.

You may also see hints or clues online on our Twitter (@IssHighlands) or Instagram (issaquahhighlands) accounts, so check there as well.Enjoy, and good luck!

Entry Deadline: Friday, January 8th

Photo Treasure Hunt Coordinator: Chelsea Musick, Central Park

Issaquah Highlands Photo Treasure Hunt

The cold, gloomy days of winter are a great time to maintain and upgrade your home computer network. Whether you want to install backup batteries or firewalls, set up a Netflix account or clean up hard drives, now is the time to do it. Numerous web sites provide equipment comparisons, recommendations and instructions that help determine what you need and how to do it. Wisebread.com, howtogeek.com, pcworld.com, windows.microsoft.com, support.apple.com, betanews.com and macworld.com are just a few of the sites that can give you information. Googling will give you huge lists of potential resources.

When the Issaquah Highlands encounters a disruption in electrical power, the Highlands Fiber Network is not generally affected since most of the network is on backup power systems. Wireless Internet service is still available if your wireless devices are charged and you have a back-up battery for your portal and wireless router. A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) at your portal and at your wireless router, you can continue accessing the Internet on a laptop or tablet.

Keeping computers secure is a constant concern. A firewall helps prevent malicious persons or software from gaining access to and controlling your computer from the outside. Microsoft’s web site at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/What-is-a-firewall explains firewalls well. You can install firewall software on each computer or install a wired or wireless router with an integrated firewall to your system. Protection from viruses and malware requires additional software.

HFN users are able to stream Netflix Super HD offerings at uninterrupted and higher speeds than other users due to the configuration and capabilities of the network and HFN’s peer partnership with Netflix. This gives the viewer a high quality experience that isn’t available to most US citizens! You can sign up for Netflix online or by telephone and start watching movies and TV programs right away.

Even huge hard drives get full and need cleaning and defragmenting. This not only gives you more space, it speeds up your computer. Disk cleanup deletes temporary files, old logs, caches, cookies and other files that aren’t needed. Disk defragmentation organizes the remaining files. Determining what should be kept can be confusing, so you can do it yourself or find a computer service that will do it for you.

Last, but not least, is trouble-shooting. The first step is always turning off the computer and peripheral devices, then turning them back on – twice if the first reboot doesn’t work. If rebooting doesn’t do the trick, plug your computer directly into the service outlet. If you can connect to the Internet, determine which peripheral device is causing the problem and contact the manufacturer. If you can’t connect to the Internet, contact HFN Customer Service. They generally are able to get your service working. If not, your service ticket would be escalated to Network Operations and potentially to our on-site installers.

Highlands Fiber Network Customer Service can help you get the most out of your Network. They are available 24/7 at 425-427-0999, www.highlandsfibernetwork.com or [email protected].

Winter Internet Fixesby Frank Pineau, General Manager, Highlands Fiber Network

HIGHLANDS FIBER NETWORK


Happy New Year, 2016, to all the Highlanders!

A new year, a new community, new friends, new responsibilities, everything new except that I’m still an old school girl! And maybe, my expectations are old school too.

In the middle of last year, I moved into a new community in the Issaquah Highlands and since then, it seems like I have been living all alone with my family. Sometimes, expectations are high when a person moves from the apartment complex to a housing community. You expect to see more people around; you expect to make more friends

when you are out walking or getting into your car.

But the highlands seems so deserted to me. So many houses, ample number of parks and of course, the grand shopping center, and yet we don’t see many faces. All I see are cars speeding by. I believe that it was way different in others places I have stayed in. In California and Pennsylvania, for example, people have more friendly neighbors, neighbors whom you see quite often, talk to them and call them over to your house.

For a girl from India, all this is so different! In India, whether it is an apartment complex or a colony of row houses, people know each other by their first names. I grew up in a colony of houses, a community of people where all of us were friends. We would all meet for festivals, for family functions and of course, every evening the kids would play together in the park. It was like one big family living in different houses! New recipes were shared with neighbors, new books were shared with the neighboring kids, and new clothes were always shown off in the friendly neighborhood. We didn’t care where we were from, which language we spoke, we always had something in common and so enjoyed being together. If I had expected that atmosphere in this Issaquah Highlands community, then I think I’m still new to this community!

Being a new girl on this block has, of course, made me see a lot of things that I wouldn’t have ever known before. I see so many clubs in the highlands, so many celebrations going on, and people in general always ready to participate in any cause. Maybe, the deserted look that I see here is because of the kind of people that live here. They are either elderly people; early to bed, early to rise kind; Or young birds, who are just married with both the partners working with no time for social life. And of course, in the U.S., everyone is considered a stranger! But, every stranger needs a friend and I think time alone will solve that problem.

Whatever it is, Highlanders, I am here to stay! And, maybe someday I’ll take the initiative to peep into your house, or stop you in a park, for a chat! Until then, have a wonderful start to this New Year!

As the New Year begins, so does a new chapter in our friend, Jennifer Hagge’s life. The last time we said “thank you” to Jennifer she was leaving her long term employment with our master developer, Port Blakely. We said “thank you” but not good-bye as she immediately transitioned to a new local job, Property Manager for Grand Ridge Plaza.

Jennifer Hagge has been a familiar, friendly face in Issaquah Highlands since 2006, where she has worked in a variety of capacities over the

years. From 2006-2013 she worked for the master developer, Port Blakely.

Back then, the Crofton Springs neighborhood was not yet completed, Starpoint and Village Green Park were under construction and Grand Ridge Elementary was just a dream. Jennifer was the direct point-of-contact for residents. She also supported community-wide efforts, such as the very first Green Halloween festival in 2007.

Since 2013 Jennifer has been the property manager for Grand Ridge Plaza. In this capacity, Jennifer ushered the plaza to completion as a regionally recognized shopping and entertainment center. All of us enjoy the fruits of her labor each time we discover a deal at Marshall’s or pick up last minute groceries at Safeway.

Thank you, Jennifer – You will be missed!

A New Girl on the Blockby Anita Ayela, The Cottages

Thank you, AGAIN, Jennifer!

The Highlands seems deserted to me. So many houses yet we don’t see many faces.

Jennifer Hagge, Property Manager at Grand Ridge Plaza, leaves us for professional opportunities elsewhere.

DOING BUSINESS LIFE IN THE U.S.A.


2015 was a pretty strange year, in my opinion. It feels like rationality just packed up and walked out the door. But quite a few awesome things came out in 2015. I’d like to look back (and forward) at a couple of my favorite reviews in 2015. I chose these two not only as my personal, and somewhat sentimental favorites, but because I think they reflect well the community spirit in Issaquah Highlands. And Gravity Falls is so northwest, set in a fictional town in Oregon. Here are my nominees for the best things of 2015.

Gravity Falls: I compared and contrasted this Disney XD cartoon with the board game Arkham Horror in the March issue, way back when. Now, the enigmatic visionary behind this amazing TV show, the great and powerful Alex Hirsch, is wrapping it up for good.

With the last episode looming sometime in early 2016, the flannel-clad Hirsch writes—in a tumblr post—that “Gravity Falls was never meant to be a series that goes on and on forever. It’s meant to be an exploration of the experience of summer, and in a larger sense a story about childhood itself. The fact that childhood ends is exactly what makes it so precious- and why you should cherish it while it lasts.”

When I first jumped on this show way back in 2013, I was a different person. The world was different; simpler, maybe. Gravity Falls has been with me for a good while, and I’m truly grateful for every last laugh of every last

episode of our favorite Mystery Twins, Dipper and Mabel, and this odd little series and its wonderful fanbase, with all the best fanart, fanfiction, and fan theories anybody could ask for. Thanks for three and a half years of the best summer ever in the small Oregon town of Gravity Falls. It was a great ride.

Welcome to Night Vale: For my very first Connections issue, the Halloween 2014 one, I included the podcast Welcome to Night Vale in my list of spooky media recommendations. It truly was a different fake radio show back then, and I’ve enjoyed listening to it evolve through its twice-monthly half-hour episodes. It’s still churning out new episodes, and I really think that it’s hit its creative stride. Give it a try, its particular sense of dark humor and absurd surrealism is the best in the business.

The guys behind the show also released a Night Vale novel this October, about two particularly strange residents of the town as they are drawn into a massive conspiracy by the man with the deerskin suitcase and a letter with the words “KING CITY” written on it. Truly a good read, and the graphic design job they did on the cover is probably worth the price of the book all on its own. Even better, it works as a great entry point for newcomers to the series, especially since many of the references go two ways: you’ll recognize the characters, locations, and inside jokes when you start listening to the radio show.

Happy New Year, and may 2016 be as strange as Gravity Falls and Welcome to Night Vale.

It’s that time of year again when the overindulgence of the holidays is ending, the decorations are put away and we begin to think toward a fresh start in the New Year. Many take this time to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the new one.

Our resolutions often fall into the usual self-betterment categories of exercising more, eating less, spending less, being more organized, being more disciplined, etc. Whatever they are, they tend to be areas we wish to improve or work on. Which means we start the New Year giving ourselves more work to do.

I’m going to buck the trend this year. My over-arching theme will be to relax and take more time for joy: to spend my time and energy enjoying our natural habitat and the rich artistic culture that is so available to us. Whether your joy comes from being alone in nature with the smell of fir trees, or being in a crowded music hall swept away by melody, Issaquah has so much to offer.

My new, improved New Year’s Resolutions:

Hike in Issaquah HighlandsI resolve to enjoy the many miles of hiking trails we have in the Issaquah Highlands. (I lived here for seven years before I discovered the trail and pond behind the Central Park tennis courts.) Detailed hiking maps are available on the Issaquah Highlands web page: http://www.issaquahhighlands.com/explore/maps-and-webcams/

Attend Blakely Hall Artist ReceptionsI resolve to visit the Blakely Hall Artist receptions as often as possible. Beautiful textiles, sculptures, glass work, and paintings are on display throughout the year right in the middle of our community, often submitted by our community members.

Attend School PerformancesI resolve to support our local schools by attending the concerts, plays, and musicals the students perform in. Many of us have kids involved and I am constantly amazed at the level of talent and production quality even at the middle school level. My family looks forward to the Issaquah High School musical every year. Rumor has it, this year is ANNIE!

Speaking of musicals, did you know we have Broadway quality performances practically in our own backyard? Issaquah’s Village Theatre, located on Front Street, showcases amazing talent — some actors having just come off Broadway tours.

Attend more Village Theatre productionsI recently took my youngest daughter to see My Fair Lady. The sets and costumes were mesmerizing, the singing and dancing delightful, and the acting exceptional. I highly recommend this musical and all of Village Theatre’s productions. You may be able to catch My Fair Lady in Issaquah if you act fast, (it’s showing until January 3rd) otherwise you can see it in Everett until January 31st. (I loved their production of Les Mis so much that I saw it in Issaquah AND Everett!)

Obviously, I enjoy the fine arts and am thrilled to have so many options available, but whatever your passions are, and whatever New Year’s resolutions you make, I hope that you will include things that bring you joy in the coming year and take time to experience our community to its fullest.

Looking Back to a Strange Yearby Josh Zhanson, Senior Issaquah High School, Resident of Central Park

I Resolve to Enjoy Lifeby Kathryn Dean, Vista Park

MEDIA REVIEWS

ARTS & CULTURE

I resolve to attend more Village Theatre productions and to take my favorite live theatre dates, my three daughters. Pictured here, Lizzie - age 8.


JAN

UAR

Y EV

ENTS

Grand Ridge Elementaryhttp://grandridgeptsa.org1/13 After School Movie @ 1:30 P.M.1/14 Parent Ed-Safe Kids @ 7:00 P.M - Library1/15 Last Day to Hand-in Yearbook Artwork 1/19 Coffee With Christy @ 9:30 A.M. - P81/20 Grizzly Guys “Build it Night” @ 6:00 P.M. - Commons

Challenger Elementaryhttp://challengerpta.org1/6 Parent Education1/22 Festival of Cultures1/23 5th Grade Value Village Collection Drive

Issaquah School Districthttp://www.issaquah.wednet.edu1/13 School Board Meeting @ 7:00 P.M1/18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day – No School1/25 Teacher Work Day – No School for Students1/27 School Board Meeting @ 7:00 P.M.

Issaquah School Foundationhttp://www.isfdn.org1/4 Dining Out for Kids – Zeeks Pizza

Endeavour Elementaryhttp://endeavourptsa.org1/8 Eager Reader Kick-Off1/8 Popcorn Friday1/28 General Membership PTSA Meeting

Clark Elementaryhttp://clarkpta.org1/8 Dads@Recess1/20 General Membership PTA Meeting1/27 Coffee with the Principal @ 8:30 A.M.

Pacific Cascade Middle Schoolhttp://pacificcascadeptsa.org1/12 Geography Bee1/21 General Membership PTSA Meeting @ 12:30 P.M.1/29 Career Fair

Issaquah High Schoolhttp://issaquahhighptsa.org1/15 5K Run1/20 Semester Finals Begin

by Tracie Jones, Wisteria Park

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

2016 Reflections Competition Issaquah Schools Foundation Dining for Kids

The Issaquah Reflections Committees would like to recognize and celebrate all our incredible student artists for their imagination, creativity, and artistic brilliance! This year’s theme, “Let your imagination fly…” was truly represented through hundreds of thoughtful and original entries, throughout the district. Congratulations to all of our amazing artists, photographers, film producers, musicians, composers, writers, dancers, and choreographers for their artistic achievements. These finalists will continue onward, advancing to the Issaquah District level competition.

Grand Ridge Elementary had 41 student entries for the Reflections Art Program this year. The 12 students moving on to the Issaquah District competition:

Jasmine Chang: Visual Arts, “One Loud Evening”Katherine Farr: Dance Choreography, “Imagine Dancing on Broadway”Yegna Gaddipati: Visual Arts, “Unity in Diversity”Riya Jonnala: Visual Arts, “The Magical Butterfly”Sathvik Kanuri: Visual Arts, “The Beautiful Butterfly Boat”Matthew Lou: Visual Arts, “Hidden City Under the Sea”Zoe Mockford: Music Composition, “Dance of the Bees”Emily No: Visual Arts, “Turtle Daydream”Anusha Rao: Literature “Reaching Out to Earth’s Cousin Kepler-452b”Grace Rich: Photography, “Fly High in the Sky”Joseph So: Visual Arts, “Grand Ridge in Nebula Space”Sunidhi Tumuluru: Visual Arts, “Reading Owl”

Pacific Cascade Middle School had 30 entrants for the Reflections Art Competition, with12 students moving on to the Issaquah District Competition.

Issaquah High School has 12 students moving on to the Issaquah District competition.

(See IssaquahHighlands.com for the rest of the student names.)

On the first Wednesday of every month, restaurants around the Issaquah Community partner with the Foundation to donate a portion of their proceeds to benefit our students. Join us for dinner during our next Dining for Kids night on Wednesday, January 4th, at Zeeks Pizza, located at 2525 NE Park Drive, Issaquah, 98029. Please visit www.isfdn.org for a

list of future dates and participating restaurants. Thank you for your support!

SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT


SCHOOL SPOTLIGHTGrand Ridge Elementary Auction Nourish Every Mind

Breakfast and LuncheonPlease TEAM UP with us at the Grand Ridge Auction on March 11, 2016, at the Meydenbauer Center. Funds raised at the auction will help supplement a lack of government funding for essential academic supplies, guest experts, in-class field trips and new technology in the areas of literacy, science, arts, and math. For more information, www.grandridgeptsa.org.

Save the Dates: 18th Annual Nourish Every Mind Luncheon will be on April 28th, 2016 and the 3rd Annual Breakfast, on May 4th, 2016. For more information or to volunteer, visit isfdnorg.


Reducing the Pain of Resolutionsby Becky Pelton, DPT Highlands Physical Therapy

Happy New Year in the Highlands! Now that 2016 is in full swing, many people are making good on their New Years’ resolutions. Oftentimes resolutions involve fitness goals and an increase in activity level.

Sometimes with an increase in activity, especially walking or running, you can develop an overuse injury called plantar fasciitis. This is basically inflammation of the fascia, or connective tissue, on the bottom of the

foot and is usually felt as heel pain with weight bearing activity. Here are a couple of exercises to help treat and prevent plantar fasciitis:

FITNESS & HEALTH

2. Plantar Fascia Stretch: Sit with one leg crossed over the other; grab your great toe with one hand and heel with the other and gently stretch your foot and toe away from your body. Hold this stretch for 1 minute and perform 2 times on each side.

1. Achilles Stretch: Stand on the ground and place one foot behind you, gently bend your back knee keeping your heel on the ground until you feel a stretch in the base of your calf. Make sure your knee stays over your toes as you bend. Hold this stretch for 1 minute and perform 2 times on each side.

Enjoy those New Years’ resolutions and if you have any questions or sustain any injuries, contact your local physical therapist. Have fun and stay classy Issaquah Highlands!

Dear Kari,I have a hang over from the holiday season, as my brother demanded yet again that all our family members come to his house for Christmas Eve dinner. We don’t hear from him for most of the year until early November when he sends us an email invite (a.k.a demand) that we drive three hours to his home on Christmas Eve for dinner. He got nasty this year, telling us that “we needed to attend the dinner or else”. We did, but now I am mad at myself for giving into his demands and bullying behavior. How can I prevent this in the future? - Fed Up Sibling

Dear Fed Up Sibling,Family dynamics certainly spike during the holidays, and it seems your brother takes it to a new level by demanding that you and your family members come to his home for the holiday. It sounds like he is both immature and selfish to believe that he can rule the family calendar in this manner. I recommend that you politely decline the invitation moving forward if you so choose and continue with your preferred plans without looking back. You are not responsible for your brother’s temperament. If he choses to demand people follow his requests, he will be the one who isolates himself from his family members who no longer want to engage with him. - Kari

Dear Kari,I want to change being a pushover for men, but I don’t know how. How can I make a permanent change this year that will last? I know that I settle for less than I really deserve and want in a relationship. I give in to accepting however a man treats me, even if it’s abusive or thoughtless. What’s wrong with me?- Looking For More

Dear Looking For More, Simply by noticing that something is not working in your life is a good first step to change. Now, reflect on what change would look like to you (e.g. how you would act in a good relationship, how you would be treated in a good relationship, how would you establish good boundaries of behavior that you feel are respectful in a good relationship). Then, focus on those initial few changes that matter the most to you and put them into active practice by reciting them to yourself daily. Use those few statements of desired change as a reminder to yourself each day how you want to live your life. Finally, share the statements with the men you date as the behavior that you offer and expect back. This is how change happens, by practicing it each day. Good luck!- Kari

Do you have a question for Kari? Please email her at [email protected]. All questions will be answered in upcoming columns.

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.

ASK KARI

POWERFUL QUESTIONSLast month we took a look how information is gathered based on how your brain is wired. Did you figure out if you have a preference for sensing or intuition? Once you gather information through sensing or intuition, the next step is understanding how you make decisions with it.

I invite you to think back to when you were deciding which house to buy or rent in the Highlands. Did you create a list of criteria; the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, size of the lot and location? Or were you more concerned at getting a feel for the house, the spaces, the neighborhood and see what it would be like for the kids to walk to Grand Ridge? You probably did both, however there will be one you gravitate towards first and feel more comfortable with. This will be your preference. The two preferences for making decisions or arriving at conclusions are called thinking and feeling.

Thinkers look at things objectively and impersonally. They try to keep personal bias or values out of the process. They focus on answering the question “Is it logical?” Feelers look at things subjectively and personally. They use a person-centered, value-based way of forming conclusions. They focus on answering the question “How will people be affected?” Two thirds of men have a thinking preference

and two thirds of women have a feeling preference. This can contribute to misunderstandings in close personal or work relationships. For example, my daughter has a thinking preference and my son has a feeling preference. My daughter will say things like, “Just tell them you don’t like it.” My son will respond, “I have to be careful not to hurt their feelings.”

Do you think you may have a preference for thinking? If so, here are some tips for communicating with feelers in your life:

Take time to get to know them and develop connection; challenge later

• Consider the needs of others for harmony and a positive atmosphere

• Know when to provide feedback gently and critique behaviors, not people

• Include personal needs as criteria in decision making

Here are some tips for communicating with thinkers in your life:• Be calmly objective and demonstrate your competence• Detach from situations and view them logically and

objectively

• Avoid becoming overly emotional or passionate when discussing issues

• Accept critical feedback without personalizing it

Mastering the ability to determine who has thinking and who has feeling preferences in your life and how to communicate with them more effectively, has the potential to dramatically impact the quality of your relationships.

Jennifer Molloy has 24 years business, leadership and coaching experience at Microsoft

and contributes this monthly column, providing advice for work

or home.

Are You a Thinker or a Feeler?by Jennifer Molloy, M-Power Coaching, Daphne Park

3. Heel Raises: Stand while holding onto a chair, counter or railing; lift your heels off the ground and push up onto

your toes and slowly lower back down to start position.

Perform about 2 sets of 15 repetitions.


Donate a Tree: Give a Gift to Mother NatureGive a gift to Mother Nature by donating your live, potted holiday tree.

You can drop your live tree off at our parks maintenance facility, 525 First Ave. N.W.

Trees will then be planted in a City park or open space.

To prepare for the donation, move your tree back outdoors as soon as possible after the holiday. Give the tree several days to readjust to the outdoors.

Protect Your Pipes: Recycle Fats, Oils and GreaseHelp protect your pipes — and our sewer system — by recycling used cooking oil and fats.

The impact of fats, oils and grease (FOG) is serious. If disposed of improperly, FOG can cause serious plumbing problems.

Once your feast is done, take the following steps to dispose of fats, oils and grease:

• Pour fats, oils and grease into a covered disposable container — such as glass, plastic or a sturdy zip-top bag.

• Store it in the freezer and then put it in the trash after it has hardened.

• Use paper towels to wipe greasy dishes before washing. Put the paper towels in your food waste.

• Use sink strainers to catch food waste when washing.

• Put food scraps in compost bin or in the trash.

• Our waste hauler, Recology CleanScapes, offers curbside pickup of used cooking oil.

Or drop off used cooking oil at the Recology CleanScapes Store in Gilman Village, 317 N.W. Gilman Blvd., No. 22, or other locations throughout our region.

When fats, oils and grease enter our sewer system, the substances build up along the pipes, which can cause sewage backups and overflows, as well as extensive building and property damage. To learn more, go to issaquahwa.gov/fog.

ISSAQUAH CITY NEWS

Prepare for a Disaster - Map Your Neighborhood (MYN)In a Disaster Your Most Immediate Source of Help are the Neighbors Living Around You

Neighbors who are prepared for emergencies and disaster situations save lives, reduce the severity of injuries and trauma, and reduce property damage. Contributing as an individual and working together as a team helps develop stronger communities and improves the quality of life in Issaquah Highlands.

Highlands Council and CERT Team 9 will host Map Your Neighborhood Seminars to help you understand what is involved in organizing your neighbors for a worst-case-scenario.

This seminar will teach you:• The first 9 steps to take immediately following a disaster to secure your home and

protect your neighborhood• How to identify the skills and equipment inventory each neighbor has that are

useful in an effective disaster response• How to create a neighborhood map identifying the locations of natural gas and

propane tanks for response if needed• How to create a neighborhood contact list identifying those with specific needs

such as elderly, those with disabilities, or homes where children are home alone during certain hours of the day

• How to work together as a team to evaluate your neighborhood after a disaster

Once you learn the 5 steps above you will be ready to host a meeting of neighbors on your street, circle, alley or block – YOU define how much of your neighborhood to map and organize. Highlands Council will provide FREE meeting space at Blakely Hall for you to host a gathering and get organized.

For more information contact Christy Garrard, Executive Director of Highlands Council at 425-507-1110 or [email protected].

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESSMap Your Neighborhood Seminars

At Blakely HallMonday, February 22nd from 7pm-8pm

Tuesday, February 23rd from noon – 1pm


Culture Through Cuisine – Bulgaria by Kimberly Collette, Central Park

Banista

Feta CheeseEggs

Plain yogurt (preferrably: half strained, half regular)

ButterFilo Dough

1/2 pound26 Tbsp

1 Stick (4 oz.) melted1 pkg (8 oz or 1/2 pound)

Ingredients

PreparationPut the feta cheese in a bowl with cold water for 4 hrs so that some of the salt gets released. Then, drain the water and crumble the cheese with a fork. Add the eggs and mix well with

a spoon. Then add the yogurt and continue mixing. Set aside.On a baking pan, put some of the melted butter and start layering filo dough. Layer 2

sheets, add a table spoon of melted butter, layer 2 sheets, sprinkle some butter, and so on. When you use up 1/2 of the filo dough, put 1/2 of the feta cheese mixture (spread evenly

across). Then, continue layering 2 sheets of filo dough and butter like before, until you use up another 1/2 of the half of filo dough that’s left (in other words, 1/4 of all the filo dough

that you originally started with). Then, spread the remaining feta cheese mixture.Continue layering filo dough with butter like before. Finish the last layer of filo dough

with generous sprinkling of butter.Bake in the oven at 325F for 30 min. Let it cool for 10-15 min before serving. Serve

warm with tea, coffee or best - with a cup of plain yogurt (and BOZA if you can get it!).

CULTURE THROUGH CUISINE

Adriana Stamenova left Bulgaria in 1992 to do her undergrad studies at the University of Minnesota. She was very homesick, but her parents encouraged her to stay. “They told me to give it a year. If I still did not like it then I could come home,” she said.

Adriana stuck it out. And went on to earn her MBA. She met her husband, Sasha, and they lived in Minnesota, along with their two daughters, Angelina and Anna until November 2014. Adriana considers both Bulgaria and Minnesota as home and she’s learning to love her new home here in the Issaquah Highlands.

Adriana cooks mostly Bulgarian dishes. Bulgarian cuisine is a combination of influences of many of the surrounding areas. Dishes use the best tastes and flavors from Romania, Serbia, Macedonia and Greece.

Salads are simple with cucumber, fresh onion and tomatoes. Similar to a Greek salad but with a Bulgarian twist of added roasted peppers. Beet salads are popular as well as green salads with radish. All salads are simply dressed with oil, vinegar and salt.

Soup is eaten often for dinner. Vegetable soups as well as cream-based ones. Bulgarians eat lots of vegetables and enjoy meats, too. Dishes are seasoned with cumin, dill, parsley and black and red pepper. Dinner is always ended with a serving of yogurt.

Banitsas are the fast food of Bulgaria. Banitsa shops are on every corner serving banistas of all variations. In between the paper thin sheets of phyllo dough there may be leeks, spinach, a combination of meat and mushroom. It may be sweetened with milk, vanilla and sugar or filled with shredded apples and topped with a German strudel.

The most traditional recipe includes feta cheese that has been mixed with eggs and yogurt. Adriana will make this for her family for breakfast at least once a week and sometimes as an after school snack.

The trick is the soak the brick of feta in water for about four hours. This will draw out the salt so your banitsa isn’t too salty. American yogurt is watery so Adriana likes to mix half

greek yogurt and half regular plain yogurt. She buys her phyllo dough from the grocery store freezer aisle.

Banitsa is served with coffee or tea and always a little more yogurt on the side. It is buttery and creamy. On New Year’s Eve it is baked with fortunes inside. Small papers with good fortunes and happy thoughts are rolled and tied with a special red string that symbolizes health are hid in the banitsa.

Adriana’s mom taught her to make banitsa. Her mom always cooked and cooked everything from scratch. Even as a working mother Adriana’s mother would stay up late at night after work making soups to heat up for the next day.

In Bulgaria food is hospitality. When someone comes over “you go above and beyond.” There are appetizers and desserts. Prepping takes hours. While her mother was visiting, men hired to fix a fence were in the yard. Her mother asked, “Aren’t you going to make them lunch? At least offer coffee!”

Adriana explains, “The most traditional way to eat banitsa is not only with plain yogurt but also while drinking BOZA. You can’t buy BOZA in the USA but BOZA is a popular fermented beverage in Bulgaria. It is a malt drink made from wheat or millet. It’s brown

and thick. The flavor is slightly acidic sweet with less than 1% alcohol.”


Connections is printed and mailed every month to every Issaquah Highlands residence as well as local Issaquah residents and businesses. For article submissions and advertising sales, contact Nina Milligan at [email protected] or 425-507-1111

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

Blakely HallAward-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.

Blakely Hall Meeting RoomThe 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 [email protected]

Fire Station Meeting RoomThe 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.

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

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[email protected], 425-507-1135Homeowner Account Inquiries

[email protected], 425-507-1119Escrow Payoffs | [email protected], 425-507-1119

Christy Garrard, Executive [email protected], 425-507-1110

Nina Milligan, Communications [email protected], 425-507-1111

Brianna Eigner, Blakely Hall [email protected], 425-507-1107

Michele McFarland, Finance [email protected], 425-507-1108

Julie Clegg, Creative [email protected]

Vyvian Luu, Administraive [email protected]

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDSCOMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

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

MAIN PHONE: 425-427-9257 | AFTER HOURS: 425-223-8882

HIGHLANDS COUNCILBlakely Hall 2550 NE Park DriveMonday–Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm

MAIN PHONE: 425-507-1107

COMMUNITY SERVICES AT BLAKELY HALL

HIGHLANDSFIBERNETWORK

Frank PineauGeneral Manager

[email protected]: 425-427-0999

HighlandsFiberNetwork.com

Governing BodyBoard of Directors

Larry NortonAllen Enebo

Tim UnderwoodCharlie Herb

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

IssaquahHighlands.com

IssaquahHighlands.com

DIRECTORY

RENTAL FACILITIES

CONNECTIONS


CALL (206) 890-6347 TO BUY OR SELL A HOME! Preferred placement on Zillow

Preferred placement on Trulia

Open Houses/Brokers Open

Unlimited Color Flyers

Individualized Property Website

Complete web syndication of listing

Social Media Campaign

Full Internet Exposure for your listing

Professional photography

DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGN

Temporary storage solutions for clients

Constant Contact E-Blast to agents featuring

your listing

Custom Home Book

Professional move in/out cleaning as client gift!

#1 Placement in the Connections Newspaper!

Free staging consultation

Free use of model home furniture & accessories

Zero pressure, 100% friendly, in home consultation designed to inform you about your options

“Krista was both professional and patient with my parents as they transitioned into

moving to WA. Krista worked hard for more years then she probably wants to

remember showing them potential homes in the Highlands. Krista went above and

beyond, door knocking in neighborhoods where they hoped to live. She found them

a home, negotiated the deal and they moved in next month. I personally admire

her for hard work and for not giving up when it looked hopeless. She is lovely and I highly recommended her and her services.”

Issaquah Highlands Buyer, 2015

December Client Testimonial:

To buy or sell a home call 206-890-6347

$740,000 MLS# 7838694 Bd / 3.45 Bath / Unique Garret House Guest Quarters

Sold $20,160 Above List!

$575,000 MLS# 791600 4 Bd / 2.5 Bath / Great Layout on Corner Lot!

Sold $22,500 Above List!

$679,000 MLS # 8152403Bd / 2.5 Bath / Summit Park Burnstead Duplex

Seller Got Full Price!

$619,000 MLS # 8099303Bd / 2.5 Bath / Charming Manchester Court

SOLD for FULL PRICE!

$330,000 MLS #7988472 Bd / 1 Bath / 1050 Sqft / Views of Seattle!

Sold for Full Price!

$565,000 MLS #8102443Bd / 2.5 Bath / 1722 Sqft / Tiger Mountain Views

SOLD for a PREMIUM!

Issaquah Highlands HomeownerKrista Mehr - Owner

Managing Broker2 0 6 . 8 9 0 . 6 3 47

k r i s t a m e h r @ g m a i l . c o m

I ssaquah Highlands HomeownersJames & Julie Clegg - Brokers4 2 5 .941. 6 5764 2 5 - 577-1917j c l e g g72@g m a i l .c o m

I ssaquah Highlands Homeowner Aimee Holy - Broker314 - 6 0 0 -75 61u b e r m o m m a @ ya h o o.c o m

$ 989,000 MLS# 8717823 Bd / 2.5 Bath / 3,055 Sqft / Incredible Mountain Views!

Just Listed!Burnstead Executive Series Home in Wisteria Park!

$645,000 MLS # 8492644 Bd / 2.5 Bath / 2120 Sqft / Tons of Upgrades!

PENDING on Mulberry!

$669,950 List / Sold for $679,000Highest price for an alley home in Dahlia Park!

Sold Over List Price!

I ssaquah Highlands HomeownerLynn Crane Brueckman - Broker2 07- 5 61- 0 412l b r u e c k m a n @g m a i l .c o m

Visit Our New Office in Grand Ridge Plaza!Next to SIP Wine Bar!

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

January 2016

Documents

Transcript of January 2016