Connections
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By Community, for Community June 2019
W H AT ’ S I N S I D E ? 5 Feature: Growing Up Issaquah 9 2019 Graduates 13 Wish You Were Here 15 Highlands Council 17 Volunteer of the Month 18 What’s Happening 21 Dog Talk 21 Arts & Entertainment 22 Highlands Fiber Network
35 Directory 22 Milestones 23 IHCA News, HOA Board Election, etc. 27 Living Green 27 Trivia Challenge 28 Home Organization 28 Ask Kari 29 Resident Profile 31 School Spotlight 33 Emergency Preparedness
ECRWSS POSTAL PATRON 2550 NE Park Drive Issaquah, WA 98029
PERMIT NO. 83 ISSAQUAH, WA U.S. POSTAGE PAID PRSRT STD
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June 2019
Issaquah Highlands Connections
Issaquah Highlands Connections
June 2019
EDITOR’S NOTE Every year at this time I exclaim in this Letter from the Editor my joy in collecting graduation announcements from the community. This year it has been even better - we got twice as many announcements as ever before! And a great number of the announcements were about kids who, if not born here, grew up here. These announcements are becoming a story of our legacy. Speaking of growing up in Issaquah Highlands, our guest editors, Isabell and Helen Petersen (pictured here), helped us edit this month’s issue of Connections and plan to help each month going forward. These two bright young ladies attend Issaquah High School and volunteered to help us make Connections the best it can be. Thank you, Isabell and Helen! There are several new stories to enjoy this month. The feature story reflects on how our youth fit into Issaquah’s history. Still talking about history, one of our friendly IH neighbors came to visit us at Blakely Hall bearing rocks from his yard as gifts. But not just any rocks: 50-million-year-old rocks! Details in the Resident Profile: Roger Ulrich on page 29. Back to the present, learn how to wrap up the school year, how to use natural ingredients as paint, and how to train your dog, naturally. Learn what’s coming up on the events calendar, who is running for the IHCA Board of Directors and how to prepare for the Community-Wide Garage Sale on June 15.
Isabell and Helen Petersen, are Connections newest volunteers, contributing their editing and writing skills.
We bring you this month’s honored volunteer, the last of the school year’s news, and photos from recent gatherings in Issaquah Highlands. I hope you enjoy your paper this month – there is so much community inside!
Nina Milligan
Nina Milligan | Editor of
Connections - Highlands Council Communications Manager
Highlands Council is the publisher of Connections, producer of community-wide events such as Highlands Day, owner and manager of Blakely Hall, liaison with the greater community. The mission of Highlands Council, and therefore, Connections News, is “to foster the development of a vibrant and caring community committed to service, diversity, and well-being.”
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
Issaquah Highlands Connections
June 2019
In 2018, Issaquah Highlands marked its twentieth year as a community. As we move into the next 20 years, our community’s teenagers are becoming a bigger part of our story. “Growing Up Issaquah” is a photography exhibition at Blakely Hall opening June 6. It aims to capture community life through photographs of teen lives today compared to the lives of children and teens in Issaquah at the turn of the century and following decades. In this exhibition, members of the Highlands Youth Advisory (HY) Board recreated photos found in the collection of the Issaquah History Museums that spoke to differences (and often, similarities) in their own lives. The modern photos contributed by the youth involved in this project will enter the digital archives of the Issaquah History Museums. The exhibition is on display at Blakely Hall until September 1. In this special graduation issue of Connections, many of the teens featured were born in Issaquah and are graduating high school. A record number 42 graduation announcements were submitted by proud families to share with the community. We celebrate our community’s grads and know they’re bound to make history, in big ways and small! – Christy Garrard, Highlands Council Executive Director, HY Mentor, and Dahlia Park resident
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by Sage Cowan, HY Board Member and Central Park resident Growing up in the Highlands, I don’t think I realized how privileged I was to be in such a beautiful neighborhood. Not only because I was surrounded by lush green forests but because the people who lived there positively affected who I am today. I took for granted the lovely camaraderie I had with the kids next door and the crazy adventures that would unfold every day.
a swarm of kids circling the perimeter of the cage and a soccer game would start. At first, being the only girl there, I would sit and watch since I wasn’t confident enough to go in. But surely, after a week of watching, I jumped in the next game since I couldn’t let the boys have all the fun. It was such a great experience for me to meet people and have fun outside.
After school, I would race my brother home and throw my backpack onto the couch. Then, we would burst through the door and go to all the houses on the block, summoning the kids to come out and play. Once all of our mates came outside, we would play hide and seek, kick the can, soccer, baseball and various other games. We played until our hands were covered in dirt and the bruises on our legs turned to a harsh brown. Having said “night,” we all collected our stuff and trudged back to our homes and basically repeated the same thing every day.
Sadly, as I’ve gotten older, my generation has become consumed by technology and less focused on playing outside. I do still really enjoy seeing kids playing in their neighborhood and at the cage, as it brings back delightful memories. Now, having lived here for 13 years, my family has decided to move to London to experience the culture of the people living in Europe. I know the neighborhood I live in next will not be as magnificent as living here in the Highlands, but it will help me recognize how grateful I am that my parents decided to live in such a prospering place. I hope that all kids get to experience what it’s like to have fun outside with friends and not get too sucked into technology.
Some days after school, my brother and I would head to the cage, a sporting enclosure for soccer and hockey on Park Drive at the entrance to Central Park. There would usually be
I will never forget living in Issaquah and hope that someday I come back here to visit with my kids.
Sage Cowan and her family made many fond memories outdoors in Issaquah Highlands, including playing soccer at the Park Drive soccer cage (left), hiking the Grand Ridge trail (center), playing on the playground at Central Park (right), and walking around South Pond (below).
Issaquah Highlands Connections
June 2019
by Christy Garrard, Highlands Council Executive Director, HY Mentor, and Dahlia Park resident
Alex Morrey
To be a member of the Highlands Youth Advisory (HY) Board students must apply and go through an interview process demonstrating their leadership and organizational strengths. Alex was an ideal candidate and established herself as a leader among her HY peers from the very beginning as a founding member in 2013. Alex is very conscientious. I could always count on her to follow through on any commitment or project assigned with excellence. She is a hard worker and always asks, “What more can I do for you?” when ready for another task. Alex has always been very mature and approachable. She was always prepared, wearing a smile and a great attitude when she arrived for meetings or events. Alex led the food committee of the HY and has built amazing bicep muscles from scooping ice cream at the many ice cream sundae bars at HY events over the last six years!
Aadit Mehta
Eva Konomi
Jasmine Chang
Joseph Bone Mazak
Leika Wong
Ryan Aby
HY Board member since 2013
Aadit is a founding member of the Highlands Youth Advisory Board, joining in 2013, when he was in 7th grade at Open Window School. Aadit matured from a quiet 12-year-old member of the board to a dynamic 17-year-old co-president committed to inclusivity and leading by example. It wasn’t easy for Aadit in the beginning. Because Aadit did not have that daily bonding experience with his fellow HY Board members in the classroom, he had to push himself to standout in meetings and at HY Board hosted events. Aadit kept looking for opportunities to find common ground with people and, slowly, relationships that felt more like acquaintances evolved into true friendships today. Aadit Mehta will leave a legacy to the HY Board. His leadership, work ethic, energy, ability to connect with others and creativity have set a benchmark for new member consideration for years to come.
Allen Aby
Dylan Ryan HY Board member since 2013
HY Board member since 2017
Allen’s gentle spirit and enthusiasm for building community were evident from the moment he interviewed for a spot on the Board in 2017. Allen established himself as a leader among his peers on the HY Board right away. He is thoughtful in contributing to discussions and his ideas were always on-point. No one was better on the microphone in a room full of 100+ middle schoolers than Allen, commanding control of a very chatty group of teens with more ease than a seasoned parent! He called pie-eating contests at Halloween parties and BINGO numbers while waiting for the sun to set over the Village Green for the annual Flashlight Egg Hunts. He could start a dance party with 40 K-5th graders at Parents Night Out on the spur of the moment to keep the little ones occupied while activities transitioned. Allen’s leadership, willingness to do whatever was needed, and pure joy for his role on the HY Board will be missed by us all.
Indiana Cowan (& siblings) The Cowan family has been a fixture of Issaquah Highlands since its early days. Parents Tony and Teresa have been active community volunteers both in Issaquah Highlands and the Issaquah School District. It was only natural that the Cowan kids would apply for spots on the Highlands Youth Advisory Board. One by one, as they came of the appropriate age, first Indie, then sister Sage, and finally brother Cole, would apply and be selected to the HY Board, each bringing their own strengths and gifts to the team. Indie will graduate a year ahead of her class this year; perfect timing as the whole family moves to England this summer. Indie established herself as a champion cup stacker at the summer HY-hosted Carnival Nights. Indie and Sage where leaders in all things musical. They sang at Back to School Socials at Blakely Hall, amazing their peers with talent. And when the karaoke machine came out, they opened the show, and broke the ice, with a singalong, usually to “Let it Go!” from Frozen. Cole is a worker bee! He was more than willing to do whatever was needed, from being a “jump-scare” in the Halloween Party Haunted House to facilitating Elf Academy Training games at the Holiday Parents Night Out for K-5th graders. The Cowan kids will be very missed. Their reputation for service and neighborliness has left a mark on all of us who have had the opportunity to work alongside them and call them friends.
The HY Board Welcomes Six New Members Dylan Ryan is a rising 6th grader and has lived in Issaquah Highlands his whole life. He is the brother of HY Board member Quinn Ryan. He is a competitive AAU basketball player, involved with Grand Ridge Elementary’s K-Kids service club, drama and choir, and volunteers for his church. Dylan says he wants to “develop his leadership skills, serve his community, and make new friends.” Eva Konomi will be a 7th grader next year at PCMS. She has lived in Issaquah
Highlands for 3.5 years. She, along with her sister and current HY Board member, Eleni, are active in Girl Scouts and both love theatre and singing. Eva thinks “teens need more entertainment options in our community” and hopes to bring ideas forward to provide just that!
Jasmine Chang starts at Issaquah High School next fall as a 9th grader. She has lived in Issaquah Highlands for eight years. An artist, Jasmine hopes to bring more artthemed teen events to the community where students can “let loose, be creative, and have fun.” She is also involved in Girl Scouts and Taekwondo. Joseph Bone Mazak is a rising 8th grader at PCMS and is the Issaquah Highlands Volunteer of the Month for June (see page 17)! Joseph is recognized for his endless energy and desire to be helpful, from the Highlands Day Festival to working in the Vista community gardens. Joseph says, “I hope to be able to connect with people in my neighborhood, build stronger relationships and communications to solve problems.” He has lived in Issaquah Highlands for five years. Leika Wong will be a senior next year at Issaquah High School. She has lived in Issaquah Highlands for 13 years, moving here when just 5 years old. She says, “Going to Highlands Day over the years made me feel more comfortable in the neighborhood.” She is passionate about making people feel included and that they have a place where they belong. When not making videos for her school or local nonprofits, she is an active member of the IHS swim and dive team. She also speaks Japanese and Mandarin. Ryan Aby is a rising 7th grader at PCMS and he has also lived here his whole life. Ryan enjoys running track and cross country, playing the piano, and serving at his church. He is the brother of out-going HY co-president, Allen Aby. Ryan says, “Seeing my brother serving with such joy makes me want to be a part of the HY Board, too!” Ryan recalls volunteering for Highlands Day, “you make so many new friends in just minutes!”
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
Issaquah Highlands Connections
allen ABY Issaquah HS | Logan Park resident Allen will attend the University of Washington to study Computer Science.
June 2019
kaleb AHO
Issaquah HS | Crofton Springs resident Jeremy and Ann Aho are proud to announce the graduation of their son Kaleb from Issaquah High School. Kaleb plans to attend Boise State University for Civil Engineering this fall.
ava BISHOP
amanda BROWN
Issaquah HS | The Terraces resident
Issaquah HS | Wisteria Park resident
Ava is attending Montana State University in Bozeman, MT with an interest in Political Science. She is excited to join the marching band and cheer on the Bobcats to victory!
Amanda will attend Boston University.
matthew BRUECKMAN
brendan CABRERA
Issaquah HS | Harrison Street resident
O’Dea High School | Roanoke Woods resident
Matthew will attend Montana State University in the fall.
Brendan will attend University of Washington in the fall of 2019 to study either Architecture or Business.
jordan COOPER
indiana COWAN
Issaquah HS | Magnolia Park resident
Issaquah HS | Central Park resident
Jordan will attend the University of Oregon in the fall where he plans to study Biochemistry.
Indie started the year off as a junior at IHS, and when her family decided to move to the UK next year, she became a senior and attempted to get as many credits under her belt as she could. She is hoping to complete all her credits by the end of the summer. Next year Indie will take a gap year in Brighton, UK, and travel around Europe with her family.
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ellie ENEBO
janine FONG
Issaquah HS | Pinecrest resident
Issaquah HS | Summit Park resident
Ellie will attend Boise State University in the fall where she looks forward to watching great football and studying Graphic Design.
Janine will attend Western Washington University in the fall pursuing a degree in Environmental Science.
brandon FULLMER
samika GUPTA
Issaquah HS | Roanoke Ridge resident Brandon will study Engineering at Washington State University.
Issaquah HS | Summit Park resident Samika will go to the University of Wisconsin Madison to study Computer Science.
jenna HEESACKER
kelly HODDER
Issaquah HS | Dahlia Park resident
Issaquah HS | Harrison Street resident
Jenna will study business at Central Washington University this fall and continue running competitively as a member of the CWU Wildcat cross country, indoor and outdoor track team. She’s looking forward to this exciting new chapter in life.
Kelly will graduate with honors from Issaquah High School, including being named an AP scholar with honors. She has been an active community volunteer for many years In the fall of 2019 Kelly will attend Santa Clara University double majoring in Political Science and Philosophy on the pre-law track. Congratulations Kelly!
jackson HOLLIE
emma JORDAN
Issaquah HS | Magnolia Park resident
Issaquah HS | Logan Park resident
After a very successful educational experience at IHS, Jackson will attend Seattle University to study Business.
Emma will attend Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO, this fall. She will study Environmental Science and run on the cross country and track teams.
kavya KANGESH
jordan L AI
Issaquah HS | Logan Park resident
Issaquah HS | Dahlia Park resident
Kavya will go to the University of Washington to study pre-medicine. She wants to pursue a career in the field of medicine.
Jordan will attend Gonzaga University in the fall. She is pursuing a nursing degree. Congratulations Jordan, we are super proud of you. Go Zags!
will MAURER
ella MCKILLOP
Issaquah HS | Dahlia Park resident Will plans to attend Bellevue College next year with further plans to transfer to Washington State University to pursue a Business degree.
Issaquah HS | Davis Loop resident Ella will attend Montana State University’s Honors College. She is majoring in Spanish and Education in hopes of teaching ESL in a country in South America.
aadit MEHTA
trevor MORINE
Lakeside School | Mulberry Park resident
Issaquah HS | Central Park resident
After graduation, Aadit plans on majoring in Sports Management & Sports Journalism at the University of Massachusetts Amherst this fall. He is also looking forward to proudly representing the Seahawks in the middle of Patriot Country.
An honors graduate of Issaquah High School, Trevor will attend Texas Christian University (TCU) in the fall and plans to study business and finance. “It’s been fun at IHS and BC, playing football and basketball and having built lifelong friendships!” says Trevor. We are so proud of all Trevor has accomplished and look forward to the next chapter of his life!
Issaquah Highlands Connections
June 2019
alexandra MORREY
srinidhi NANDURI
Issaquah HS | Harrison Street resident
Issaquah HS | Harrison Street resident
Alexandra plans to attend Clemson University this fall and major in Criminal Justice. We are so very proud of her and can’t wait to see where her journey leads!
Srinidhi is excited to attend Seattle University in the fall with a pre-medicine focus.
hailey PALM
william PAX TON
Issaquah HS | Crofton Springs resident
Issaquah HS | Harrison Street resident
So excited to announce that Hailey Palm will graduate from Issaquah High School in June! She will attend Washington State University to major in Elementary Education, with a Master’s in Special Education in her future as well.
William will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business and Economics with an emphasis in Real Estate.
kaden RIZ VI
ryan ROBINSON
Issaquah HS | Manchester Court resident
Eastside Catholic HS | Central Park resident
Kaden plans to pursue a career in the medical field. We are all so proud of him and look forward to seeing him accomplish his goals.
After traveling with his childhood friends to the Bahamas, Ryan will head to Washington State University in Pullman to pursue a degree in Business. We are so unbelievably proud of the amazing young man that our son has become and can’t wait to see what adventures await him.
katelyn SALDIVAR
isabelle SHARP
Issaquah HS | Ravenna resident
Forest Ridge School | The Brownstones resident
Katelyn will attend Washington State University and pursue a degree in Kinesiology.
Isabelle is going to Ithaca College, New York to study Health Sciences and Musical Theater. She is very excited to start her next chapter! Her family is gearing up to get to know Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region.
megana SHIVAKUMAR
avery STEVENSON
Issaquah HS | Summit Park resident
Issaquah HS | Black Nugget Park resident
Megana will attend the University of Washington to pursue a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology on the pre-med track.
Congratulations Avery! We are so proud of you, and all you have accomplished at IHS. A few of the highlights: watching you play volleyball, cheering you on at track meets, enjoying your orchestra performances, and being your band’s groupies. We love you and can’t wait to watch you succeed in the next chapter of your life. Avery will attend Brigham Young University in the fall.
jack TILLMAN
joe WARREN
Issaquah HS | West Highlands Park resident
Issaquah HS | Central Park resident
Jack is attending Western Washington University in the fall. He is pursuing his passion to study Archeology and Paleoanthropology. He will also continue to play the upright bass in the jazz band.
Joe will attend the University of Washington and study Economics.
grant WHITE
aubrey WISDOM
Issaquah HS | Logan Park resident
Issaquah HS | Daphne Park resident
Grant will attend the Central Washington University, Sammamish Campus.
Aubrey will attend the University of Washington. She is enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences (premajor) and the university’s Interdisciplinary Honors Program.
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teresa COWAN
larissa KOL ASINSKI
Seattle Pacific University | Central Park resident
Saint Martin’s University | Manchester Court resident
Teresa graduates with a Master’s in Educational Leadership with a Principal Certificate. This is Teresa’s second Masters, the first being an M.A. in Special Education. Teresa spent the past five years as a special education teacher and instructional specialist for Secondary Special Services. She just completed a principal internship at Issaquah MS. Teresa plans to take a sabbatical in England for a year before deciding on her next steps.
Larissa will graduate from Saint Martin’s University in Olympia, WA with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in Economics. She will continue her education in the fall at Gonzaga University working towards her MBA in Finance.
brooks MEADOWCROF T
elle O’NEILL
University of Notre Dame | Central Park resident
Washington State University | Summit Park resident
An Eastside Catholic alum, Brooks will return home to Issaquah after graduating this year with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. After a road trip from South Bend, Indiana, and stopping along the way at a number of baseball stadiums, he will begin his career at Asignio as a Junior Developer. His family couldn’t be prouder of his accomplishments and is excited about this new chapter! Congratulations and welcome home Brooks!
Elle gradutes with a Bachelor’s in English from Washington State University. Elle will be a studentteacher at Pine Lake Middle School in the fall. After, she plans on continuing her education at Washington State University to pursue a Master’s degree in Language, Literacy, and Technology.
patricia RIZ VI
nina SHARP
Bellevue College | Manchester Court resident
Whitman College | The Brownstones resident
Patricia graduates with an Associate in Arts degree. Patricia does a wonderful job raising her three kids and taking care of her family. When the time came that her youngest one would graduate soon, she decided to take time to pursue her passion for helping people by working in a medical field. Her plan after graduation is to pursue a career in mammography!
Nina gradutes with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and a minor in Mathematics & Statistics. She is a 2019 inductee to the Order of Waiilatpu Honor Society, as well as a recipient of the James F. Shepherd Award for Outstanding Economics Graduates. Nina is excited to return to the Seattle area and work as an Associate in Brighton Jones’ Advisor Training Program!
amira WALKER
theo WALKER
Grand Canyon University | Ashland Park resident
Grand Canyon University | Ashland Park resident
Amira gradutes with a Master’s in Education in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. She is currently substitute teaching in the Issaquah School District, teaching high school Spanish. Next steps are yet to be determined.
Theo graduates with a Bachelor’s in Business/ Marketing from Grand Canyon University. He is working as a customer development specialist in marketing for a Bellevue-based technology company.
Celebrating a birth, graduation, engagement, marriage, significant birthday or other life milestone? Print your announcement in Connections year-round for FREE! Submit online at issaquahhighlands.com/submit-a-connections-announcement.
Issaquah Highlands Connections
June 2019
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WISH YOU WERE HERE
Dear Neighbor, Wish You Were Here... Paint & Sip
Friends & neighbors shared great conversation and a lot of laughs while painting at our first Paint & Sip night on May 10 at Blakely Hall! Attendees were guided in painting “Sunset Mountain,” and we think every one of them turned out great.
Living Green Workshop
May 11 was a beautiful morning to make terrariums! Kids, adults, and families enjoyed assembling their free mason jar terrariums, from pebbles to succulents and everything in between, on the Blakely Hall patio. Thank you to The Grange for donating all of the supplies! Don’t miss our next Living Green Workshop - Papermaking - on June 23.
Egg Hunt Over 100 middle schoolers enjoyed an ice cream sundae bar and playing bingo until it was dark enough to hunt for the eggs in the Village Green. After the egg hunt the students returned to Blakley Hall to open their eggs, receive golden egg prizes and wrap up the evening with fun karaoke!
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
Issaquah Highlands Connections
June 2019
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HIGHLANDS COUNCIL
Highlands Day Festival: GAME ON!
Saturday, August 24, NOON – 4PM at Grand Ridge Plaza Ever since you were a young child you have played the silver ball From Bellevue to Snoqualmie, we bet you played them all But you’ve never seen a festival like this, no amusement walls The Issaquah Highlands Community sure plays a mean pin ball!
GAME SHOW! Come on down! Maybe YOU will be the next contestant on the interactive game show stage sponsored by City of Issaquah Arts Commission.
Calling all gamers! We invite you to INSERT COIN, PRESS START, and ENTER our GAME ON! Highlands Day Festival and Community Arcade, Saturday, August 24, 2019. Whether your avatar is young or old, this year’s Highlands Day Festival has arcade fun for everyone!
NEW THIS YEAR LOCATION! High Score Sponsor, Regency Centers, welcomes the Highlands Day Festival to Grand Ridge Plaza! The venue will be located between Regal Cinema and 10th Avenue on the top deck of the parking garage. THEME! Play the silver ball at a pinball table inside our retro arcade tent. Step into our VR theater and explore a whole other world! This year’s festival is multi-player - Join your neighbors and friends for a round of human-foosball, billiards or soccer darts! These are the fun new features of this year’s community celebration made possible by the generous support of High Score sponsors: The Agency Real Estate, Timberlake Church, Harborstone Credit Union, Highlands Dentistry, Eastridge Church and Safeway.
EXPANDED SHUTTLE ROUTES! This year, in keeping with the retro theme, you can leave the car at home and hop on a school bus for a free ride to the festival. School buses, sponsored by Shelter Holdings, will run a loop up Park Drive and along 25th Ave to 30th Ave and back down to the festival venue.
Get YOUR Game ON! VENDOR BOOTHS! Cash in your tokens and submit your booth application today! Deadline is August 1 or until sold out. VOLUNTEER! Great benefits, including a commemorative t-shirt, meal voucher, and gaming bracelet. 3-hour shifts available for all abilities. Must be age 14 or older to volunteer without a parent. For more information visit IssaquahHighlands.com/highlands-day or contact Christy Garrard, Executive Director, at 425-507-1110 or Christy.G@IHCouncil.org.
June Pop Up Parties: And the Winners Are Enclave / Lauren Heights and Forest Ridge / Sunridge
We are excited to be popping up in two neighborhood areas this month! Congratulations to the residents of the Enclave/Lauren Heights area – you’ve won a pop-up party on June 11. Look for the Party Wagon and the Issaquah Ice Cream Truck from 6:30-7:30pm in the green space opposite NE Hamlin Court for a FREE ice cream social! On June 25, we’ll be popping up to treat the residents of Forest Ridge & Sunridge. Join your neighbors for your FREE ice cream social in your park along NE Falls Drive. Congratulations, Forest Ridge & Sunridge! Thank you to the residents of both neighborhoods for entering our Pop-Up Party Contest. It’s not too late for YOUR neighborhood to win – enter to win at issaquahhighlands. com/contest today and check back right here, in the August issue, to see which two neighborhoods we will be popping up in next!
Highlands Council Welcomes Kim Kirschbaum to the Team! Kim Kirschbaum began on May 16 as the newest team member at Highlands Council. She will be fulfilling administrative duties at Blakley Hall, Monday – Friday middays. Kim brings a wealth of experience with a stunning and varied resume. She has worked for many years as a professional in the financial industry followed by a stint as a professional pastry chef. Kim has a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School and also studied at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University for which she interned in Vietnam, exploring international and emerging markets. Having moved to Issaquah Highlands in 2009. Kim enjoys living close to where her two daughters attend school, and close to outdoor adventures from hiking and climbing, to mountain biking and solo backpacking. Kim joins the team of six (three work only part-time) at Highlands Council, whose offices are inside Blakely Hall and open Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm.
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
June 2019
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JUNE
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
Joseph Bone Mazak I was born just outside of Kiev, Ukraine and moved to the U.S. roughly seven years ago. My parents adopted me five years ago and that is when I moved to Issaquah Highlands. Being a part of this community, the part that I like most about living in the Issaquah Highlands, is that I can meet new people around my community, and everyone is super friendly to each other, which is amazing! Another benefit about living in the Highlands is there are so many parks around the community where you can hang out! And when I was in elementary school, I was fortunate to only have to walk blocks to go to Grand Ridge Elementary School. At the bottom of the hill there’s a movie theater and many restaurants and shops that are a convenience. Also, there are so many activities the Highlands Youth Advisory Board puts on every single year and they are all amazing. And I enjoy Highlands Day, where neighbors come together, and you can be closer to your community. I moved to the Highlands five years ago when my Dad and Papà adopted me. My dad is a cosmetologist and my Papà is an executive at Holland America Group. I have a cat named Napoleon who is the sweetest thing ever. My family and I love to spend time together, hike, travel the world, and meet new people. I became involved as a volunteer in my community after my Papà was appointed to the Issaquah Joseph has been extremely helpful this year with the community garden, contributing hours of labor and his positive spirit.
Highlands Community Association (IHCA) Finance Committee and from there I spent hours and hours in the garden over the last two and a half years. I also volunteered my time at last year’s Highlands Day, preparing for the festival. I helped Mrs. Garrard with many of the hosted activities in the community since I have moved here. I spent at least eight hours at the last Highlands Day and after a volunteer did not show up for their job, I seized the moment to volunteer at the junior bouncy house, which was tons of fun! Without the encouragement of my parents and my best friends I would never have made as much progress. I feel very fortunate for the support of my family and community. It is very humbling to have the opportunity to serve. Currently, I am applying to participate in the Highlands Youth Council and my goal is to bring my A-game. My advice to the residents of the Issaquah Highlands is don’t be scared to go out of your way and help out the community. You will make new friends and build stronger relationships with people. That is how I began volunteering. Going out of your way to help, even if it’s something small, is better than not doing anything at all!! Update: Joseph Bone-Mazak was selected in May to join the Highlands Youth (HY) Board of Directors. Congratulations Joseph!
“Don’t be scared to go out of your way and help out the community.”
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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS
Kids & Families Minecraft Mania
Tuesday, June 11 & 25, 5:00pm Blakely Hall
Join fellow elementary and middle school Minecraft enthusiasts from novice to expert as we share our knowledge of the Minecraft world including Redstone, building, surviving the night, and more. You’ll need a laptop with licensed Minecraft loaded on it. Club leader is Quinn Ryan at boxcargriz@gmail.com and parent leader is Tim Ryan at dadtime@gmail.com.
Movies for $1
Tuesdays & Wednesdays June 25-September 4, 10:00am Regal Cinemas at Grand Ridge Plaza
Regal’s Summer Movie Express is back for eleven weeks this summer – each Tuesday & Wednesday this community film festival will feature G- and PGrated moveis for $1/person. See movie schedule at issaquahhighlands.com/events.
Toddler Playgroup
Every Wednesday, 10:00am Blakely Hall Newborn to Age 4
Moms, dads, caregivers and their children are invited for fun, friendship, support and socializing. Contact katiels84@gmail.com. Search Facebook for Issaquah Highlands Toddler Playgroup.
Arts & Cards Bridge Club
Monday, June 3, 7:00pm Blakely Hall
Grab a partner or come solo to play a little Bridge! Bring your own beverage of choice and a snack to share. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned bridge player, you are welcome to join us. RSVP: Ed Tellman, etellman@pobox.com.
Knit for Life
®
Every Monday, 1:00pm Swedish Medical Center, Main Lobby
A network of volunteer knitters in area hospitals, providing physical and mental support in a nontraditional therapeutic environment to cancer survivors, patients and caregivers through knitting. We teach anyone with any skill level. You don’t have to bring anything but yourself. We have all the supplies you will need. Contact: Elaine.Eckert@yahoo.com.
Library-2-Go
Tuesday, June 11, 3:30-4:40pm Outside Blakely Hall
The King County Library will bring the Library-2-Go Book Mobile to Blakely Hall. Bring your library card and browse the curated collection of books – check out your favorites and return any KCLS library books you’ve finished! Free fun for all ages. Next visit: July 9.
Meaningful Movies
Wednesday, June 26, 6:30pm Blakely Hall Movie: Understanding the Opiod Epidemic
Meaningful Movies brings the greater Issaquah community together through education and advocacy, using the power of social justice documentary films and discussion. For more information, see meaninfulmovies.org.
Fitness
Open Mic
Friday, June 28, 6:30pm Blakely Hall
Join us for an evening of fun and entertainment from local talents. Come to sing a song, play music, read poetry, tell a story, perform stand-up comedy, etc., or just join the audience. All ages are welcome to participate! For more info, contact: Dino Go at kabalen.geo@gmail.com.
Photography Meet Up Saturday, June 15, 10:30am Blakely Hall
Enjoy monthly meetings with guest speakers, share and discuss your work with others, and participate in an online community throughout the month. Contact ihpc@outlook.com.
Poker Night On Hiatus
Whether you are a novice or a salty vet looking for some steep competition, you will love our monthly group for $40 buy-in, no-limit Texas Hold ’em tournament! Contact Henry at hlh1969@hotmail.com.
Rovin’ Fiddlers
Every Tuesday, 7:00pm Issaquah Highlands Fire Station 73
Drop in on our jam sessions. We welcome guitars, flutes, whistles, banjos, mandolins, autoharps, dulcimers, stand up bass, and percussion. All abilities welcome. Contact Martha at mclnev@yahoo.com.
Yarns & Threads Group Every Friday, 9:00am Blakely Hall
All knitters, crocheters, and stitchers are welcome. For more details or questions, please contact Cathie Coulter at Catherine.coulter@ihmail.com.
World Cultures Bollywood Workout Sunday, June 9, 1:30pm Blakely Hall
Meditation Group Every Friday, 2:00pm Blakely Hall
Discover how to find moments to relax the mind. The group practice exercises that promote balance, strength, and calmness. Learn techniques to help deal with stress and strain of a busy life. Free to attend and open to all! Questions? Contact ih.meditation@gmail.com.
Mountain Biking Group
The Issaquah Highlands Mountain Biking Group is open to all ages to meet other mountain bike enthusiasts while exploring some of the amazing local mountain bike trails! For more information and details on all planned rides, join us on Facebook at “Issaquah Highlands Mountain Biking Club.”
Taichi Fitness Group Every Wednesday, 6:30am Blakely Hall
The ancient Chinese martial art, Taichi, will be offered every Wednesday at Blakely Hall. Participation is free; a donation of a nonperishable food item for the Food Bank is encouraged. Contact: taichifitness_IH@outlook.com.
Zumba Fitness® Class Every Saturday, 9:00am 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! Contact: zumbawithcindy@gmail.com.
Special Interest Book Club
Tuesday, June 18, 7:00pm Blakely Hall This month: The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion
Join the India Culture Committee for a fun-filled hip hop dance style workshop, led by Namratha Ram and Vinita Varma. The event is free for the community. Wear workout clothes, bring a water bottle, and get ready to have a great time!
The book club is a great place to meet neighbors, socialize and explore a variety of books. Email lindsey8@gmail.com or join the Facebook group at facebook.com/ihbookclub.
Travel Night
Returning August 2 Blakely Hall
Wednesday, June 12, 7:00pm Blakely Hall TOPIC: Antarctica
This month we’ll visit three distinct regions including the incredible beauty of the Antarctic Peninsula, the boundless wildlife of South Georgia, and the windblown plains of the Falkland Islands. We’ll hear the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s fateful Antarctic journey of 19141917 to his final resting place in South Georgia. Please bring a beverage/snack to share. For more info, join our Facebook group or email IHTravelClub@gmail.com.
Bunco Night
Come roll the dice with friends and neighbors at Bunco Night! Please bring $5 for the prize pool and a snack or drink to share. No experience necessary. For more information and updates, join the Facebook group: Issaquah Highlands Bunco.
Entrepreneur Meetup Sunday, June 9, 7:30pm Blakely Hall
Are you a small business owner or an entrepreneur looking to kick off a business idea? This is an opportunity for IH entrepreneurs to gather and be a resource for each other. Join us to meet like-minded entrepreneurs, learn about what’s working for others and bounce ideas for feedback. Here’s a chance to extend your network of support. For more information, contact: Johnathan Chu johnnychu@outlook.com.
*All Events are FREE unless otherwise noted.
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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HIGHLANDS
Sell $mart – Simple Strategies for a Successful Garage Sale Sunday, June 2, 1:00pm Blakely Hall
Make your garage sale count! Learn how clearing your clutter can earn you extra cash. This free workshop covers how to choose items from your home to sell (vs. Donate), how to price items and prepare them for sale. Presented by Johnna Masterson, Issaquah Highlands resident and professional organizer at Inspired & Organized.
Stop the Bleed – Save a Life! Wednesday, June 19, 6:00pm Blakely Hall
“Stop the Bleed” is a federal campaign to prepare the public to save lives by teaching techniques to help stop life threatening bleeding that can occur after everyday emergencies. Attend this free training (which is different from a first aid training course) and learn how to make a difference. “The only thing more tragic than a death… is a death that could have been prevented.”
Cones with a Cop
Thursday, June 20, 6:30-8:00pm Ben & Jerry’s
Have a “cool” time with neighbors and the Issaquah Police Department! Get 20% off purchases while hanging out with police officers at this casual, family friendly evening, courtesy of Ben & Jerry’s.
Papermaking Workshop Sunday, June 23, 1:00-3:00pm Blakely Hall
Learn how to make your own paper! Join Aline Bloch of Aline’s Cardboard for the second workshop in our “Living Green” series. We’ll provide all the materials and teach you how to make recycled paper; you’ll leave with your own custom sample, instructions, and the skills to make more at home! Families are welcome; advanced registration required to ensure we have enough supplies at issaquahhighlands.com/events.
Save the Date
Telecommute Tuesdays
4th of July Picnic & Celebration
Do you work from home? Do you want a little motivation to work from home once each week? Telecommute Tuesdays were designed for you! Head on over to Blakely Hall on Tuesdays for free wi-fi, coffee and treats and the beautiful setting of our community hall. Questions? Contact Lindsey.P@ihcouncil.org or 425-507-1107. *NOTE: Telecommute Tuesdays will pause for July and August, and return September 10.
Bring a blanket, find a spot on the grass and hang out with friends and neighbors at our first Issaquah Highlands 4th of July celebration! Enjoy live music, free hotdogs, lawn games, and ice cream (for purchase). Hope to see you as we build a new neighborhood tradition!
Every Tuesday, 10:00am-1:00pm Blakely Hall
Toastmasters
Every Thursday, 7:00am Swedish Hospital – 1st Floor Flex Space
Say it better with Toastmasters. Share your interests and goals in a positive, supportive environment. Let us help you expand your knowledge and horizons. Guest are welcome to join a meeting to see what it’s about – it’s one hour of fun, and you won’t be put on the spot! Learn more at https://ihtm.toastmastersclubs.org.
Don’t Miss This Networking with Neighbors Saturday, June 1, 10:00am-12:00pm Blakely Hall
Residents looking for the right babysitter, the ideal dog walker, a mother’s helper, tutoring, yard work, music lessons, athletic coaching (and more!) will have the opportunity to connect with resident teens (aged 13-17) offering those services in a relaxed and positive environment.
Growing Up Issaquah Opening Reception Thursday, June 6, 6:00pm Blakely Hall
Thursday, July 4, 5:00-7:00pm Village Green Park
Speed Dating in the Highlands Friday, July 12, 7:00pm Blakely Hall
Calling all single, divorced and widowed men and women aged 40-55! Join us for a fun night connecting with others, while enjoying wine and treats. $15/person, advanced tickets required. Space is limited – tickets on sale now at issaquahhighlands.com/events.
DIY Home & Personal Care Products Demo Wednesday, July 17, 7:00pm Blakely Hall
Aline Bloch of Aline’s Carboard will share her experience on how to make your own environmentally friendly cleaning products and skin care, while giving simple ideas on going “natural” at home. All registered attendees will leave with a sample of personalized skin oil and plenty of recipes to DIY at home! This workshop is best for adults or older teens. Free, but registration is required at issaquahhighlands.com/events.
IHCA Architectural Review Committee Tuesday 6/4, 6:00pm IHCA Office
Highlands Fiber Network Advisory Group
Monday, 6/10, 5:00pm, IHCA Office
IHCA Finance Committee Tuesday, 6/11, 5:30 pm IHCA Office
IHCA Board of Directors
Wednesday, 6/26, 5:30pm, IHCA Office
IHCA Annual Homeowners Meeting
Wednesday, 6/26, 6:30pm, IHCA Office
City Meetings City Meetings covering Issaquah Highlands topics will be listed at IssaquahHighlands.com/ events.
Get Involved Mooncake Festival Planning Meeting Chinese Cultural Committee
Thursday, June 27, 10:00am (rescheduled) Blakely Hall
All are invited to join in the planning process for one of our most popular community events, Mooncake Festival! We will also discuss future programs like lunar new year. Please RSVP to lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org.
Highlands Day
Saturday, August 24 – Various Shifts Grand Ridge Plaza
Are you ready to enter the game? We are seeking volunteers aged 14 or older to help at this year’s GAME ON! Highlands Day. Shifts are three hours – sign up for one, multiple, or volunteer all day! We also need help before and after the festival. In addition to a day of fun, you’ll get a commemorative t-shirt, meal voucher, ice cream voucher, and an activity bracelet to be used before or after your shift. PRESS START by signing up at issaquahhighlands.com.
Candidate Forum
Thursday, July 18, 7:00pm Blakely Hall
Get to know the candidates running for Issaquah City Council, at least two of whom are IH residents. We gather your questions in advance. Submit yours at issaquahhighlands.com/events.
Holidays Eid al-Fir
Tuesday, June 4
Flag Day
Friday, June 14
Join the Highlands Youth Advisory Board (HY) for a free opening reception for a new photography exhibition at Blakely Hall. The exhibition, “Growing up Issaquah,” is a project in partnership with Highlands Council, the HY, Issaquah History Museums, and 4Culture, and features photographs of Issaquah youth, now and in the past.
Community-Wide Garage Sale
Governance Mtgs
Father’s Day Sunday, June 16
Summer Solstice For daily updates, follow us on:
Friday, June 21
Saturday, June 15
Whether a yard sale or a garage sale, it’s a summer tradition! Sell or shop throughout the community at the semi-annual Issaquah Highlands Community Garage Sale. New this year: residents can bring their sellable goods to Village Green Park and set up shop from 8:00am-Noon! Space is limited and cannot be reserved in advance.
Subscribe to our weekly e-letter at IssaquahHighlands.com/connect For the latest details, see IssaquahHighlands.com/events
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DOG TALK
The Inches We Need are Everywhere
Training Your Dog Through Praise by John Knuth, Owner DogSmart, Resident of Discovery West
If you’re like me, the movie Any Given Sunday (1999) is one that left a lasting impression. For those of you not familiar with the movie, the narrative has all the key elements of an inspirational football story – a team in turmoil, a manipulative owner, a flashy rookie learning what it means to be a pro, a grizzled veteran hoping for one last shot at glory by mentoring the rising star, a couch looking for redemption, not to mention the obligatory, inspirational speech sure to get audiences out of their seats. Al Pacino delivers that locker room speech, which contains a phrase that resonated profoundly with me in 1999 and continues to resonate with me to this day, “The inches we need are everywhere around us.” He was describing the seemingly miniscule moments that constitute every day, which when added together can create seismic changes. I was a dog owner long before I became a professional dog trainer, so I understand that training our dogs can be really tough. It can be challenging, frustrating, tiring and sometimes even seem impossible. But I also believe it can – and should – be fun and rewarding for human and dog alike. Just like Al Pacino said, the “inches” we need to collect on our path to a happy
and mutually fulfilling life with our dogs present themselves every single day – if we are open to seeing them. All too often we react to our dogs undesired behaviors, such as jumping on visitors or swiping a piece of chicken from the kitchen counter. We think of training (regardless of methods) as: do this then do that; teach this then teach that. While that’s certainly true, we are always training when we are sharing space with our dog. Therefore, it’s worth asking ourselves how often we truly notice or reward (aka “mark”) the times our dog exhibits desired behaviors without being asked. For example, when your dog chooses to lie down on her bed instead of jumping up on the couch next to you, she is showing that she can make the right choice all by herself. The more often we praise these good behaviors, the more likely they are to become the normal behavior. When we acknowledge, praise and reward the inches of good behaviors exhibited by our dogs, they will add up to miles and miles of unprompted, wellmannered behaviors for a lifetime to come.
Author John Knuth and his nine-year-old Siberian Husky, Kaya in Village Green.
How often do we reward desired behaviors we did not ask for?
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
“Growing Up Issaquah” Art Reception All are welcome to celebrate the opening of the new exhibit at Blakely Hall, “Growing Up Issaquah.” “Growing Up Issaquah” is a project in partnership with Highlands Council, the Highlands Youth Advisory Board (HY), Issaquah History Museums, and 4Culture. The show features photographs taken by Issaquah Highlands youth juxtaposed with historic photos from the Issaquah History Museums. Special guests include Roger Ulrich and his 50-million-yearold petrified tree found in his Issaquah Highlands yard. See his story on page 29. Refreshments provided.
Art Exhibit Opening Reception “Growing Up Issaquah” Thursday, June 6, 6:00pm Blakley Hall
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HIGHLANDS FIBER NETWORK
What About My Personal Data? by Frank Pineau, General Manager, Highlands Fiber Network (HFN)
There has been quite a bit of news lately relative to data companies raking off personal data from social media. And, if you are an avid user of social media, there is a pretty good chance some of your data was indeed mined. It probably happened to me also. Without going into great detail, when we’re on social media, it’s fun and interactive to do those quizzes that ask, “Who was I in a past life? Who are your gangster team? What’s my favorite trait?” etc. Every time we op-in to one of those quizzes, we share a little more of our data as the quiz grabs personal data from your profile and hangs on to it. And, it probably grabs data from your friends, too. Then they do it, and their other friends do it, too. In addition, many apps we download to our phones or tablets require you to create a profile. Many give you the option of creating a new profile with your email address or user name, but some simply ask if you want to log-in using Facebook credentials. If you use the latter, you just gave permission for that app to grab personal data from your Facebook account. 3rd party companies can use your profile data to target your feed (and friends feed) with ads and content for their gain. There have been numerous segments on TV identifying these issues, and also several ways to check your Facebook profile and restrict what 3rd parties can view or grab. In Facebook, go to your profile settings and click on privacy. Adjust settings to your preference. Then head over to apps and do the same. You can delete or restrict what they can access. Remember, whatever you put out on any social media is forever. On the connection side, HFN never shares any data with anyone. No data on on-line activity, contents of downloaded or uploaded files. What you do or who you connect to is never monitored, logged or stored. In addition, remember HFN will always be Net Neutral and will never shape your connection for profit.
Congratulations Graduates! From HFN
Highlands Fiber Network: Fiber to the Home, Community Owned Issaquah Highlands was designed as an innovative, highly connected, urban village enjoying traditional neighborhood design. The “Covenant for Community” was created to fund it, attached to land titles. The Covenant states that each home purchase must include a connection Fiber to the home, to the network ($250 onecommunity owned! time fee, required at closing). And each home is required to subscribe to the minimum connection (10/10mbps), which is currently $50/month. Most apartment rentals in Issaquah Highlands provide the option to join the network, with the same hook up fee ($250) and the same monthly rates. HFN’s High Speed Fiber Optic Network is fast, reliable, and competitively priced. Our current offerings include 10/10mbps, 100/100mbps and 1000/1000mbps speeds. For rates and information Highlands Fiber Network Customer Service: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week highlandsfibernetwork.com (425)427-0999 support@hfnservices.com or see highlandsfibernetwork.com/support Direct questions about the Covenant for Community to: Frank Pineau, General Manager, HFN fpineau@hfn.org, 425-394-4184 HFN Office is at Blakely Hall
MILESTONES
Congratulations
Congratulations
sARAH HOEY
SUMMER GRUNEWALD
IHCA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
JUST MARRIED! Please join us in congratulating Sarah Hoey, IHCA Executive Director, on her recent marriage to Brian Pallus. We are over the moon for the happy couple!
IT's A GIRL! Parents Vicki and Calvin Grunewald, Harrison Street residents, welcomed their daughter, Summer, in December 2018. Vicki is the Graphic Designer at Highlands Council. Welcome back, Vicki!
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ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
IHCA BOD Candidates June 2019 Voting is open June 3-21. Log in to your district’s voting website as described on your election announcement, sent to homeowners by postal mail and email, which includes your unique registration code. If you did not receive your announcement, or have any other questions, please see page 24.
District 1
District 3
District 3
Candidate: Dan Vradenburg
Candidate: Rossie Cruz
Candidate: Bertan Aygun
How long have you lived in Issaquah Highlands? 7 years.
How long have you lived in Issaquah Highlands? Over 14 years.
How long have you lived in Issaquah Highlands? 6 years.
Educational Background: JD, Washington University School of Law; BA, University of Washington
Association Experience: Costco Volunteers Board of Directors 19982007; Crofton Springs Neighborhood Committee 2007-present; IHCA Board of Directors 2016-present
Educational Background: University of Pennsylvania, Masters of Computer Science and Engineering (2005)
Association Experience: I have served the past six years on the IHCA Board of Directors. Currently serve as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. Previously served for two years as Vice President and member of the Covenant and Architectural Review Committees. Why would you like to serve as a Director? As a member of the IHCA Board of Directors, my goals are to ensure Issaquah Highlands remains the most livable planned community achievable in harmony with our environment and the continued development of our community. I also strive to create a collaborative, win-win relationship between and amongst the Board of Directors and the neighborhood of Issaquah Highlands.
Why would you like to serve as a Director? I have always had an interest in being involved in our community. The Highlands is a great community and neighborhood and I will do my best to keep it going in the right direction. Maintaining our property values for homeowners is a key component for the whole community. While also preserving our diverse community values.
District 5
At Large
Candidate: Jim Young
Candidate: Ben Rush
Association Experience: IHCA Architectural Review Committee member (2014 - present). Tanglewood - Klahanie HOA board member (2011-2016); Turkish American Cultural Association of WA Board member and treasurer (2008-2013) Why would you like to serve as a Director? To continue being part of the community and contribute further to long term planning and care for IHCA as we plan to call this neighborhood home for a long time.
How long have you lived in Issaquah Highlands? 12 years.
How long have you lived in Issaquah Highlands? 12 years.
Educational Background: BA Austin College; MA John Hopkins School of International Studies; MBA Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
Educational Background: BA, Business Administration, Portland State University.
Professional Experience: Retired Partner at Grant Thornton; over 30 years of public accounting Association Experience: 1 year on the IHCA Finance Committee; 2 years as of the Finance Committee and the last 6 years as the President of the IHCA board of directors Why would you like to serve as a Director? I would look forward to continuing to add my experience to the IHCA board of directors. Working with our strong management team we have had only a total of $36 increase in our assessments in the past 7 years; including no increase in the current year. Additionally, our capital replacement reserve is funded at the 100% level which is significantly better than the national average. Ensuring that our strong financial position continues is important to me as a homeowner. It has been an honor over the last 9 years to serve our special community.
Association Experience: Member of IHCA Architectural Review Committee (ARC) for past nine years. Committee chairperson for last seven years. Appointed to IHCA Board of Directors in early 2018 for four months as interim fill-in after a board member was unable to fulfill their term. Commissioner for City of Issaquah Urban Village Development Commission (UVDC) for two years (term ended early as commission dissolved). Appointed April 2019 as commissioner for City of Issaquah Development Commission for a four-year term ending 2023. Why would you like to serve as a Director? The enjoyment of understanding how local systems and processes function. The ability to provide my input and discuss topics with my peers based on my experience. To help better my community.
What Does the Board Do? The Board has all the powers and duties necessary for the administration of the IHCA’ affairs as set forth in the Declaration, By-Laws, Articles, and as provided by law. Duties include (to name a few): preparing the budget, levying and collecting assessments, providing for maintenance operations, personnel management, and making and amending use restriction and rules. (Description is based on the IHCA By-Laws.)
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ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
2019 IHCA BOD Vacation Checklist Elections Top 10 FAQ by Debbie Orosco, IHCA Community Manager
A vacation should be relaxed and worry-free. Whether you’re going out of town for a few days or a few weeks, here are a few steps that you can take to secure and prepare your home for your absence and for your smooth return:
As we begin the new process of voting online for members of the IHCA Board of Directors, you might have questions. Here are a few:
Mail and Newspapers: Short-term: Hold mail and newspapers or ask a friend or neighbor to collect your mail. Long-term: Forward your mail by requesting a temporary mail forwarding.
1. I didn’t receive the post card with the registration code. Contact the IHCA M-F from 9am- 5pm and request your unique resignation code. You can email Deborrah.O@ ihcommunity.org or call 425427-9257
Trash: Trash cans may not be left outside while you are away. If your trip begins on Friday, trash pickup day, please arrange for your neighbor, a family member or house sitter to return your cans inside your garage. Yard and Lawn Care: Most of us have a home surrounded by green grass, shrubs, and trees. An untrimmed lawn can be a sign that you are away from home. Depending on how it looks, it also can be considered blight. Short-term: Mow your lawn and trim plants, trees and shrubs shortly before your trip.
2. What if I own multiple properties? Every lot is entitled to one vote. If you have multiple properties when you register your unique respiration code will already have your properties and the correct number of votes you are entitled to. 3. When can I vote? The voting website will be open at 9am on June 3, 2019 and closes at 5pm on June 21, 2019. 4. Can I change my online vote? The unique registration code is only good for one vote and the site will not let you back in. 5. Do I get a confirmation email on how I voted? Yes, one will be sent to your email address provided at the time of registration. 6. What if I don’t want to register? You must register with your unique code in order to vote online. 7. What happens with the information I provide at time of registration? Your information is confidential to IHCA and will not be shared or sold with any third-party companies. 8. What if there are multiple owners on a property? You must decide in your household who gets to vote. Each lot gets one vote regardless of how many owners. 9. I don’t want to vote online - can I get a paper ballot? Yes, ballots can be requested by contacting the IHCA office. Your unique registration code will be written on the ballot by a member of the IHCa staff to avoid duplicate votes. 10. May I talk to someone prior to voting regarding the candidates? IHCA team is here to help! Give us a call and we would be happy to assist. See the June Connection issue centerfold for bios and pictures of each candidate. Candidate bios are also available on the voting website.
Long-term: Arrange for a lawn service to take care of your landscaping while you are away. This not only keeps the grounds trimmed, it also brings people to your property on a regular basis helping it to not appear abandoned. Leaks: Check for water leaks before you leave. Feel the valves underneath faucets to make sure they aren’t moist. Electricity: The upcoming likely warm summer is hard on batteries. Remove them from clocks, remotes, etc. when away on longer trips. However, some thermostats require batteries, so these should be replaced before heading out. The electrical service will be left on to operate the alarm system, air-conditioning unit, dehumidifier and fans, but you can turn off the breakers to the range and oven and microwave. Unplug TV sets, recorders and other nonessentials, including the garage-door opener, then secure the overhead garage door from the inside. In addition to the above tips, the IHCA manages Community Wide Standards that were created for the enjoyment and benefit of the entire community. These standards should be maintained regardless of your absence from home. Part of community-living involves following the maintenance standards and the guidelines, which ensure that neighborhoods remain clean, wellmaintained, and aesthetically pleasing to residents, while enhancing property values. The Community Wide Standards can be found at issaquahhighlands.com
It’s Time to Pay July 2019 Assessments by Kristyn McKinnon, IHCA Accounting Manager
IHCA Assessments Reminder: The annual assessment for 2019-2020 fiscal year is remaining at $936 per year. The semi-annual Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) homeowner assessments are effective July 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. The homeowners will be mailed their semi-annual assessment statements for $468 by June 7, 2019. Monthly electronic bank debit payments (ACH): Residents on this plan will receive statements for informational purposes only and no additional payments are required (unless there are other delinquent balances, e.g., unpaid fines or late fees). For check payers: The semi-annual assessments are due by July 1, 2019. Payments not received by July 10, 2019 may incur late fees. Those on the semi-annual payment plan must pay in full all six months of the
assessment period by check or via online. One-time online payments can be made with free eCheck, or credit/debit cards which come with a fixed fee of $2.95 per transaction (rates subject to change) to the homeowner. We encourage the semi-annual payers to convert to the monthly ACH payment plan. This ensures timely payments and internal efficiency. 86% of the community residents are currently on this plan. An ACH form is provided with your billing statement for your convenience. Our bank’s online payment portal is available at issaquahhighlands.com, or at our bank’s website at MutualPayPropertyPay.com. Please direct any inquiries to 425-507-1119 or payments@ihcommunity.org.
Thank You, Jamie!
Congratulations to Jamie Portillo on his 10-year anniversary with the IHCA! Jamie is the Lead Irrigation Tech for the Landscape Department. When not at work, Jamie and his wife, Cecibel, are active in their church and like to play with their sons Samuel and Daniel at local parks. We are grateful for Jamie’s dedication to the IHCA and the community for the last 10 years!
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ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Homeowners Annual Meeting
Lyle Dickey, IHCA Landscape Manager (left), inspects an intake stream for one of our many stormwater ponds along with City of Issaquah crew.
Wednesday, June 26, 6:30pm IHCA office at 1011 High Street Suite 210 This meeting directly follows the IHCA Board of Directors meeting, which starts at 5:30pm.
Landscape & Irrigation Update
Please attend as we will be announcing the new 2019 Board of Directors election results for District 1, 3, 5 and At-Large
by Lyle Dickey, IHCA Landscape Manager
Open Space and Stormwater Ponds Landscape Update: As always there are many things to do in the Highlands this time of year. The crews are busy with their weekly tasks such as mowing and garden bed work. The in-house staff will also be performing open space, slope and pond maintenance a couple days each week. We have several open space slopes and all these slopes require different levels of maintenance. Some are cleaned up yearly and some are only monitored for ground shifting and water movement. We also have several stormwater ponds that require different levels of care. Some of the ponds are dam structures and need to be cleaned and inspected yearly with water levels being monitored by the City and the IHCA. The crews will perform invasive weed control and property line cleaning or complete slope cleanup. The goats will be arriving in the Highlands in July to give us a hoof with the slope and open space maintenance. Irrigation Update: The irrigation crews have been working on day to day irrigation repairs and system monitoring. This time of year, there is very little time to do extra work items. It is enough for them just to keep our systems maintained and functioning properly. The crews are out every day repairing irrigation breaks or leaks. When they do have a minute, they assess, repair or upgrade dry areas they find in the landscape. Based on area irrigation needs, the crews may also be transferring water from pond to pond. The crews will need to open and close valves in the street too, so drive safely around vehicles and construction workers. Well that is about it for us - so get out and enjoy this beautiful summer for soon it will be fall!
Did you know… installing air conditioning units requires approval? It is a simple process. Just complete the application (See issaquahhighlands.com ) and submit it along with a photo of where the unit will be placed and documentation of the decibel sound level (must be below 75 dBA) to Blair.k@ ihcommunity.org. There is no fee and applications for AC installations do not require ARC Committee approval. The IHCA management team can approve it for a quicker turn around.
IN THE KNOW
Kudos to homeowners who plant perennials and keep them nicely trimmed for all to enjoy.
ARC Tip
Turf Standards
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Turf must be kept at or less than a height of 4” inches.
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Turf must be edged when adjacent to any hard surface and regularly maintained.
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Turf may not grow over sidewalks.
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Turf may be allowed to go dormant in summer but if patches of grass die, they must be repaired with either sod or seed.
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Turf may be replaced with alternative landscaping on approval by ARC.
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Grass clippings may remain after a mow to encourage green lawn maintenance practices.
Thank you for doing your part.
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June 2019
Issaquah Highlands Connections
Issaquah Highlands Connections
June 2019
27
LIVING GREEN
Find Creativity in Nature
by Aline Bloch, Aline’s Cardboard, Resident Central Park Neighborhood
♫ Have you ever built a little hut in the forest out of branches and leaves? At the beach, you probably already mixed sand and water in a bucket and designed fun sculptures. Or during a rainy day, you painted rocks and leaves, or like my Grandma, you dyed your Easter eggs with onions or spinach scraps! ♫ All the way back to Stone Age, using mineral based pigments to make marks on cave walls was innovative, creative and not so complicated. It was about looking around and using what nature had to offer. Environmental art is as simple, a beautiful opportunity to reconnect with nature and express our inner creativity, using natural materials while considering environmental impacts. During a recent training with the Center for Art Education and Sustainability (CAES), I was introduced to different techniques such as how to make recycled paper, how to make watercolors out of plants, coffee and tea, or from colorful paints and inks in natural pigments. I was delighted…you know by now that I love trying new things and sharing my eco-experiments, in order to inspire you to create more sustainable art with your friends and family. Creativity is not a skill that you learn at school. In my opinion, creativity is a state of mind that requires curiosity, inspiration and a pinch of practice.
I invite you to explore the possibilities of making environmental art and crafts with your family. Go for a walk over the weekend and grab some acorns, leaves, or old branches and let your imagination do the rest.
Here are some DIY environmental art that I invite you to try at home with your kids: Coffee and hibiscus tea watercolor: My husband is a coffee lover. I emptied the content of an already used coffee capsule to do my ink. Using coffee that had been infused already would give me a lighter coffee color than if I had used fresh coffee, but it is always important for me to think about recycling (or second use items) before doing a project.
And join me on June 23 at the Blakely Hall for a papermaking workshop!
Papermaking Workshop
I used four larges capsules and only 1/4 cup of boiled water and I transferred the coffee five times to get a deeper brown color. To preserve my ink, I added a bit of white vinegar and a pinch of salt. The ink color was a light brownish and dried the same color.
creativity is a state of mind
Saturday, June 23 1:00-3:00pm Blakely Hall
that requires curiosity,
Learn how to make your own paper! Join Aline Bloch of Aline’s Cardboard for the second workshop in our “Living Green” series. We’ll provide all the materials and teach you how to make recycled paper – you’ll leave with your own custom sample, instructions, and the skills to make more at home! Families are welcome.
I am the tea lover at home, so I thought it could be a good idea to make some ink with pure hibiscus herbal tea. I poured boiled water over the tea, set it aside for few minutes then added a bit of vinegar. I drained the ink through a sieve and let it aside for 30 minutes. That ink was a bright reddish pink, which turned into a beautiful blue-violet on the paper.
In my opinion,
inspiration and a pinch of practice.
ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS TRIVIA
Every month we ask three Issaquah Highlands-related questions. Prove your knowledge of the Issaquah Highlands by emailing me the answers! Some months may be easy - other months will test your internet search skills. May 2019 answers: 1. Alice Sandstrom is the name of the woman who inspired the wall. 2. The YWCA Family VIllage at Issaquah was built in 2011. 3. The YWCA organization began in London in 1855. Correct answers were submitted by: Answering 1/3 correctly:
Joel Roy Benny Biesmans Thanks to everyone who participated!
One of the best aspects of living in the Issaquah Highlands is the easy access to the outdoors! We’re so lucky to be surrounded by miles and miles of trails This month’s questions test your knowledge of the large Grand Ridge Trail and Park: 1.
How long is the Grand Ridge Trail?
2.
How many acres is Grand Ridge Park?
3.
What’s your favorite part of the trail?
If you think you have the answers, please email them to IHTrivia@gmail.com along with your full name. Responses will be accepted until June 12th. Those with correct answers will see their name published in next month’s issue of Connections. Everyone who responds with a correct answer will be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to Habit Burger. Every correct answer is an entry! Trivia are brought to you by Chelsea Musick of Central Park Neighborhood.
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
HOME ORGANIZATION
End of School Year Craziness Organized!
by Johnna Masterson, Central Park Resident and Owner of Inspired and Organized
June is here! Can you believe it? We are finally coming up on a long-awaited beautiful summer! I am looking forward to laying on the cool grass at Summit Park, looking up at the stars and feeling that warm breeze! In Issaquah Highlands we enjoy so much of what a Pacific Northwest summer has to offer. We have hikes, parks and sports fields, local restaurants and more! But before we get that far, we need to wrap up another school year. We are at the finish line, friends!
Here are a few tips to help you navigate the end of school year craziness. There are tests, teacher gifts, parties, camp registrations and vacations to be had. And without a way to prioritize and tackle all of the June to-do’s, it can become very hectic. Let’s start by doing a brain dump. Get out a pad of paper and start writing everything down. It doesn’t have to be in order, and it doesn’t even have to make sense (to anyone but you of course!). Once that is finished, write a timeline from June 1 - 30, leaving space between each day. Now prioritize based on deadlines. Start with what is most important, and fill-in with the rest. Then reassess. If you find that you have overbooked yourself, reach out and ask for help now. It’s a lot easier to find people to step in when they are given plenty of notice. One of my favorite quotes by David Allan is, “You can do anything, but you can’t do everything”. Now let’s put a system in place to help you reduce clutter. Anytime a stack of paper comes home from school, sort it right away. Have a plastic bin ready to save what is important. You’ll be recycling most of it, so be sure to do it out of sight from little eyes or you’ll probably need a larger bin! The goal is to save only a few pieces of art or assignments, school photos, yearbooks, a copy of report cards and important documents that may need to be accessed easily. Label the bin with your
child’s name and grade level. And since we are trying to create systems that last, make a second bin and label it for next year. You’ll be ready for September months in advance! Now that the paper is tackled, let’s visit school clothes. Donate outgrown clothing to Eastside Baby Corner or the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank. There is a great need for backpacks, jackets and school supplies, so be sure to pass those along when you can. It helps you clear your closets and drawers, while giving a hand to an amazing organization that helps our community’s most vulnerable. JUNE DECLUTTER CHALLENGE: This is the perfect time of year to declutter your car. You can even tackle some of it while waiting in line at Starbucks. We spend a lot of time in our vehicles, and they can become a dumping ground. Start by removing anything that doesn’t belong - sports equipment, clothing, bags, etc. Then remove trash and do a quick vacuum and wipe down. But to take it one step further, add a few small bins to your trunk that contain snacks, hand wipes, sunscreen, bug spray, portable chargers, etc. Having things close at hand will make life a lot easier over these next few months!
What better way to de-clutter than to sell your extra stuff at a garage sale! Learn best practices at: Sell $mart Blakely Hall June 2, 2019 at 1pm And sell your stuff at Issaquah Highlands’ Community-Wide Garage Sale Saturday, June 15 8:00am – 4:00pm Details are at issaquahhighlands. com/events/
Ask Kari! Dear Kari, My father forgot my birthday and it hurt my feelings. Do you think that I should tell him how I feel or just drop it? My dad was never a great parent, but this is shameful. I have kids of my own and I cannot believe that a parent doesn’t remember the day that their child was born. - Feeling Hurt and Mad Dear Feeling Hurt and Mad, I am sorry that your father missed telling you that he loved you and that you mattered on your birthday. I hope that you were able to enjoy the day, even without good wishes from him. I understand your feelings of sadness. As a parent, I do not know how one could miss telling their child happy birthday. I suggest that you speak with him either in person or on the phone and let him know that you felt uncared for. Let him know that hearing from him on your birthday still matters to you even though you are an adult. I do not suggest that you bring up additional topics/past hurts at this time. Stay focused on the issue of him missing your birthday. When we hear about one issue at a time, it helps us remain less defensive vs. someone attacking us for years of misdeeds. Good luck! -Kari
Dear Kari, My best friend’s wife recently died from cancer. I am so sad for him, as his wife was only 40 years old. I am at a total loss for what to say and how to support him at this time. He really is struggling. What do you suggest? Do you have any resources to recommend? - At a Loss for Words Dear At a Loss for Words, I am sorry for your friend’s loss. This is and will be a very difficult and challenging time for your friend in the upcoming days and months. Tell him that you are sorry for his loss, that you cannot imagine how painful it must be to lose your life partner before you expected to. Providing your friend with a presence of caring (he talks/you listen, he cries/you comfort) is a good place to start. I also recommend that your friend seek out grief counseling support through a local hospital or with a private counselor. Wishing your friend peace and comfort at this time. -Kari I love to hear from our readers. Email your Ask Kari questions to kari@ihcg.co. All questions will be answered in upcoming columns. About Kari: Kari O’Neill, MSW, LICSW, is a licensed independent clinical social worker and is a resident of Issaquah Highlands. This column is for entertainment purposes only. If you are in crisis and in need of support, please contact the Crisis Clinic at 866-427-4747.
Issaquah Highlands Connections
June 2019
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RESIDENT PROFILE
A 50-Million-Year-Old Find
Harrison Street Resident Makes Local Ancient Discovery Roger Ulrich’s Harrison Street neighborhood property was undergoing excavation in October 2016 when his team discovered something unusual embedded in the bedrock – a large log of petrified wood. This discovery led Roger on an exciting exploration far into Issaquah’s past. WHAT EXACTLY WAS UNCOVERED? Petrified wood is a fossil that is formed when wood is buried in the ground and the plant material is gradually replaced by stone. This process takes a very long time, usually millions of years. The wood in our fossil tree was replaced by minerals including quartz and iron, and the tree is between 35 million and 50 million years old. The portion that we uncovered measured 12 feet in length and 3 feet in diameter, but the log continues down into the bedrock at an angle, so we really don’t know how big it is. We were able to remove most of the exposed fossil, but some was too hard to remove even with a jack hammer, so it remains buried in the ground. HOW DID THE PETRIFIED TREE END UP ON YOUR PROPERTY? IS THIS A RARE FIND IN THIS AREA? This petrified log was buried in a volcanic flow between 35 million and 50 million years ago. The bedrock under much of Issaquah Highlands is volcanic flow called the Tukwila Formation and is thought to have come from Mount Persis, located near the town of Index. It is not uncommon to find small pieces of petrified wood when digging in rock under the Issaquah Highlands but finding such a large log is quite unusual. HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT RESEARCHING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS FIND? I started with the geotechnical report for our building lot, which eventually led me to several publications describing the geology of this part of Washington State. I also contacted George Mustoe, a research associate at Western Washington University and an expert on Washington’s petrified wood. I sent him several samples, and he was able to determine the composition of the fossil wood (including quartz and iron) and that it was a deciduous rather than an evergreen tree. WHAT WAS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU LEARNED IN YOUR RESEARCH OF THIS DISCOVERY? This find was an excellent opportunity for me to learn about the geological history of the area we live in, including the impact of volcanic eruptions and the many ice ages since. Discovery and learning are exciting to me! WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE PIECES OF PETRIFIED WOOD YOU SAVED? The 12-foot long section we removed came out in many pieces as the fossil had broken apart during its millions of years in the ground. Collectively these pieces weigh a few tons! We reassembled part of the petrified tree by our front porch to serve as an art and conversation piece, and I am planning to use several of the other pieces for accents and furniture. The remaining pieces (several hundred pounds) will be distributed to local schools and shared with the community. WHY IS THIS DISCOVERY SIGNIFICANT TO THE HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY? Most of us walk, bike, drive and garden on the ground every day without even thinking about what Issaquah may have looked like in the past. The Issaquah History can provide us with photos and artifacts from Issaquah’s recent past, while this find provides a small window into the region’s more distant geological past. Long before the railroads were built, plate tectonics, volcanic eruptions and ice ages shaped the hills, mountains and ancient forests in our area. I think about this every time I walk the Grand Ridge Trail! This story was produced by Vicki Grunewald, Highlands Council Graphic Designer and Digital Marketing Coordinator
Issaquah Highlands resident, Roger Ulrich, found a 50-million-year-old petrified tree in his backyard when excavating for the construction of his new home. It was difficult to determine the height of the tree as it extended beyond the excavation. Roger retained over 12 feet of the tree/ rock, which came in many pieces. Some are showcased at part of the landscaping in his yard. Other pieces will be shared with the Issaquah History Museums and other members of the community. Roger brought a couple pieces into Blakely Hall in May.
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
June 2019
SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT Issaquah School District
issaquah.wednet.edu
Issaquah Schools Foundation
5 11 12&27 27
JUNE written and produced by Tracie Jones, Wisteria Park
WildWise: Coexisting with Carnivores PBSES Parent Night School Board Meetings @ 7:00 PM Last Day of School
No Events for Issaquah Schools Foundation
isfdn.org
Challenger Elementary challengerpta.org
Clark Elementary
clarkpta.org
Grand Ridge Elementary
grandridgeptsa.org
Endeavour Elementary
endeavourptsa.org
Issaquah Middle School
issaquahmiddleptsa.org
Pacific Cascade Middle School pacificcascadeptsa.org
Gibson Ek High School GibsonEk.org
Issaquah High School
issaquahhighptsa.org
**Be sure to check individual web sites for details and updates
5-7 Book Fair for Summer Reading 7 Parents Night Out 7 Artwalk 6 7 10 11
Kindergarten Concert Popcorn Friday Volunteer Appreciation PTA GM Meeting
7 Popcorn Friday 11 Incoming 1st Graders School Tours 12 Summerfest 1 5 7 12 14 17 25
PTA Advocacy Submissions Due PTSA GM Meeting Popcorn Friday Field Day Kindergarten Celebration 5th Grade Party 5th Grade Promotion
3 4 6 25 25 26 27
Track Awards and Celebration Chorus Concert Band and Orchestra Concerts End of Year Assembly 8th Grade Promotion Day Yearbook Celebration Carnival Day
4 6 12 21 24 25 27
All Choir Concert Orchestra POPs Concert All Band Concert 8th Grade Celebration Party 8th Grade Promotion Awards Ceremony All-School Social
7 11 12 17-25
Senior Exhibitions Graduation Breakfast and Rehearsal Graduation Ceremony GEHS Exhibitions
1 Prom 6 PE 5-K 7 Last PTSA Membership Meeting 12 Graduation Breakfast and Rehearsal 13 Graduation at Safeco Field 24-26 Finals 27 Last Day for All Classes
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Donate Tools4Schools Supplies Tools4School is a partnership between the Issaquah Schools Foundation and Issaquah Food & Clothing bank to provide new backpacks filled with basic school supplies for Issaquah School District K-12 students who need financial support. You can help by donating a school supply kit, backpack, or both here: https:// supplyallkids.com/#/donate/isf. If you, or someone you know needs a backpack and supplies, registration to receive one is at: http://isfdn.org/tools-for-school-registration.
Summerfest With summer fast approaching, Grand Ridge Elementary PTSA will host their annual endof-year celebration, on June 12, at 5:00pm. Families can enjoy a fun-filled, hands-on evening at the playground, with activities to get everyone running around, moving, ready for summer to start. For parents, it’s a great time to talk about vacations, connect with old friends, and say good-bye to the 2018-19 school year. The GRE PTSA looks forward to seeing everyone there! To volunteer, donate, visit GrandRidgePTSA.org.
Issaquah High School Graduation Congratulations to the graduating class of 2019, as the victory is finally here! This year’s IHS Senior Class Graduation will be Thursday, June 13, at 8:00pm at T-Mobile Park. Tickets required. The stadium will open doors for graduation guests at 7:00pm, with graduate processional starting at 7:45pm. Seating is firstcome; guests with special needs should arrive early to discuss arrangements with T-Mobile staff. For more info, connect. issaquah.wednet.edu/high/ihs/default.aspx
Immunization and Sports Physical Forms Requirements Students entering sixth grade are required to have the Tdap vaccination at 11 years old. Tdap vaccine protects adolescents against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. This vaccine replaces one tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster. Washington State allows exemption from these vaccines for medical, personal or religious reasons. Every middle school student must have documentation or required forms of this immunization before the first day of school. A sports physical / medical form, signed by your pediatrician’s office, is required for participation in all middle and high school sports, updated EACH YEAR. Contact individual schools for 2020-21 school-year forms, questions, further information, and community resources for free and sliding-scale immunizations.
School Offices Closed Over Summer Just a reminder, ISD school offices close for a portion of the summer. Most administrative staff work limited hours after the school year concludes, reopening early August, in time for registration. Therefore, please plan appropriately. For specific closures, days and hours, contact individual ISD schools for more information.
WA State Educational Certification-Working in ISD Interested in teaching? Thinking of working in our neighborhood schools as a teacher, paraeducator, administrative personnel, or educational staff associate? The easiest way to start the journey is to visit the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction website, at K12.WA.US/certification/default.aspx. Also, since 1993, Troops to Teachers helped over 20,000 veterans’ transition into education. Funded by the Department of Defense, program aims to get disciplined, motivated, and enthusiastic veterans into our classroom, k12.wa.us/certification/TTT/default.aspx. Check it out and inspire the next generation!
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Issaquah Highlands Connections
Issaquah Highlands Connections
June 2019 33 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
We Can Do This! June Installment for Your 2019 Readiness by Amanda Keverkamp, CERT Team 9, Resident of Crofton Springs
It’s hard to believe that it is already June! We’re now mid-way through our year-long quest to prepare ourselves, families, and community for disaster.
S U M M ER EV EN T S
When we think of disaster, for a lot of us, the first thing that comes to mind is earthquake. Which is why we talk about it so often in this column. Earthquakes are on our mind. However, our region, and King County specifically, is susceptible to other hazards as well.
This summer, members of Issaquah’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will be hosting a booth at the Farmers Market, as well as Issaquah’s Down Home 4th of July Celebration, Highlands Day, and Salmon Days. We encourage you to stop by for a visit and hope to see you there!
According to the King County Hazard Mitigation Plan, the top hazards for Issaquah and our neighboring cities (ranked in order) are: 1. Earthquake 2. Severe weather 3. Severe winter weather 4. Flood 5. Landslide 6. Wildfire Not even registering on the top list of ten are other hazards like terrorist events, aging infrastructure, cyberattacks on nation’s electrical grid, and more. While we regularly talk about preparing for earthquakes, our preparation can actually be modified for any one of these hazards, which is why we’re spending the year conquering one small task each month. At this mid-way point, it is good to take stock of what we’ve been able to do, and complete the tasks for the months we may have skipped. (And, if you’re just now joining us, it is the perfect time to start!) On this journey, we’ve been following the Washington Emergency Management Division’s Prepare In A Year guide. It’s a great tool, but this month we are going to modify the task slightly. The guide recommends creating an “Under the Bed” kit, which is simply an emergency kit that is stored under the bed. We’ve spent a quite a bit of time on kits, so you should be covered. Your kit may be too large to keep under the bed, so feel free to keep your kit stored where convenient and useful for you. There is one important takeaway from the “Under the Bed” chapter – they recommend storing a pair of shoes under or next to the bed on the chance that an emergency happens while we’re asleep. If, for example, an earthquake did strike in the middle of the night, having that pair of shoes within reach could save us from having to walk across broken glass or other debris with bare feet. Find past issues of Connections here: issaquahhighlands.com/connect/connections-news-archives/ This month all you have to do is get caught up with all of the previous tasks (if you are behind) and store a pair of shoes under your bed!
Issaquah Farmers Market
Every Saturday - 9:00am – 2:00pm Pickering Barn
Issaquah’s Down Home 4th of July Celebration and Heritage Day Veteran’s Memorial Field 11:00am – 2:00pm
National Night Out
August 6 Issaquah Police Department on E. Sunset Way
Highlands Day
August 24 Grand Ridge Plaza
Salmon Days
October 5-6 Downtown Issaquah Visit issaquahcitizencorps.org/training. html for details about these events and more.
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We are a multidisciplinary group of therapists who provide comprehensive mental health services in a comfortable and supportive environment. Individual, couples, and family counseling Parenting support & education Depression & anxiety Work & career issues Life transitions & grief counseling
Contact us at (425) 677-8686 or issaquahhighlandscounselinggroup.com
Issaquah Highlands Connections
June 2019
RENTAL FACILITIES
DIRECTORY ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION 1011 NE High Street Suite 210 Monday–Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm
MAIN PHONE: 425-427-9257 | AFTER HOURS: 425-223-8887 | IssaquahHighlands.com Governing Body Responsible for:
Property Management Enforcement of CCRs, Rules, Regs Architectural Review Common Area Landscape
Board of Directors ihcaboard @ihcommunity.org Jim Young, President Rossie Cruz, Vice President Dan Vradenburg, Treasurer Rob Knight, Secretary Greg Underwood, Director Bryan Shiflett, Director Shiva Bosedevarahatti, Director
Funded by:
Annual IHCA Assessments Neighborhood Assessments
HIGHLANDS COUNCIL Blakely Hall 2550 NE Park Drive Monday–Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm*
MAIN PHONE: 425-507-1107 | IssaquahHighlands.com Blakely Hall Social Programs Community Garden Connections Newspaper issaquahhighlands.com BlakelyHall.com E-Letter Official Social Media
Blakely Hall
2550 NE Park Drive 425-507-1107 | Lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org | BlakelyHall.com Blakely Hall is Issaquah Highlands’ award-winning community center that feels like a luxury lodge. With a variety of meeting, art & dining spaces, an outdoor patio, and adjacent park, it accommodates groups from 20 -200. See our webpage for more information or contact Lindsey at Highlands Council with your questions.
Fire Station #73 Meeting Room
1280 NE Park Drive 425-313-3200 | eastsidefire-rescue.org/Facilities
Homestreet Bank
Conference Room 909 Northeast Ellis Dr. | 425-677-2210 homestreet.com/branches/issaquah-branch
Sarah Hoey, Executive Director | sarah.h@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1120 Barbara Uribe, Senior Accountant and Benefits Coordinator | barbara.u@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1123 Kristyn McKinnon, Accounting Manager | kristyn.m@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1117 Soledad Ruiz, Account Receivable Specialist | soledad.r@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1119 Blair Krieg, Community Manager | blair.k@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1121 Debbie Orosco, Community Manager | deborrah.o@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1134 Lyle Dickey, Landscape Manager | lyle.d@ihcommunity.org Matthew Hendrikse, Maintenance Facilities Manager | matthew.h@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1137 Billing Inquiries | payments@ihcommunity.org, 425-507-1119
Responsible for:
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Governing Body
Board of Trustees hcbot@ihcouncil.org Larry Norton, President David Ngai, Vice President/Treasurer Ami Desai-Mehta, Secretary Kimberly Kapustein, Trustee Jimmy Ochiltree, Trustee Anna Preyapongpisen, Trustee
Funded by:
YWCA Family Village
Community Rooms 930 NE High St. | 425-270-6800 ywcaworks.org/locations/family-village-issaquah
CONNECTIONS Connections: By Community, For Community Connections News is a nationally recognized monthly community newspaper written mostly by volunteer-resident writers, edited and published by Issaquah Highlands Council. Connections helps Highlands Council fulfill its mission to develop a vibrant and caring community committed to service, diversity, stewardship and well-being. Join the Connections Team Highlands Council is always looking for volunteer contributing writers, photographers and graphic designers. For more information, contact Nina Milligan, Communications Manager, at nina.m@ihcouncil.org. Submit an Announcement for “Milestones” See your announcements published in the new life “Milestones” section of Connections. We accept birth/adoption, graduation, marriage, obituary and culturally-recognized life milestone announcements for Issaquah Highlands residents only. See submission form and guidelines at IssaquahHighlands.com. Interested in advertising in Connections? We welcome media sponsors at any time during the year.
Sponsorships/Grants & Advertising Community Enhancement Fees (1/4 of 1% on sale of home) Retail/Commercial pays by the square foot, Rental Apartments by the door
Connections printed and distributed monthly, free of charge, to every address in Issaquah Highlands (residences and businesses). We also distribute through local gathering spaces, such as coffee shops and the Metro Park and Ride. Circulation: Approximately 4,500
Christy Garrard, Executive Director | christy.g@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1110
Display ad pricing begins at $150/month. Discounts available for 3, 6 and 12 month contracts. Online advertising is also available.
Nina Milligan, Communications Manager | nina.m@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1111 Michele McFarland, Controller | michele.m@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1108 Lindsey Pinkston, Community Program Manager | lindsey.p@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1109 Kim Kirschbaum, Administrative Assistant | kim.k@ihcouncil.org, 425-507-1107 Vicki Grunewald, Graphic Design & Digital Marketing Coordinator | vicki.g@ihcouncil.org Julie Clegg, Creative Coordinator | julie.c@ihcouncil.org
For more information, contact Nina Milligan, Communications Manager, at nina.m@ihcouncil.org . More information, ad packets/pricing, editorial calendar and electronic archives can be found here: issaquahhighlands.com/ connect/connections-news/ Opinions expressed either by paid advertisers or editorial content do not necessarily reflect the views of Highlands Council or this newspaper.
COMMUNITY SERVICES AT BLAKELY HALL Neighborhood lost & found • Free Wifi • Limited Copy & Fax Services (fee-based, by appointment) • Notary Service (fee based, by appointment)
Highlands Council reserves the right to accept or refuse submissions, and to edit content. We also reserve the right to refuse advertising or content that in our opinion does not reflect the standards of this paper.
* Excluding holidays and private event closures.
HIGHLANDS FIBER NETWORK
Support: 425-427-0999 | HighlandsFiberNetwork.com Frank Pineau, General Manager | FPineau@HFN.org
Governing Body
Board of Directors Larry Norton Tim Underwood Allen Enebo Charlie Herb
@issaquahhighlands @IssHighlands @issaquahhighlands Sign up for our weekly E-Letter at issaquahhighlands.com
EMERGENCY Emergency: 9-1-1 Issaquah Police (non-emergency) 425-837-3200 WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife 425-775-1311
Emergency Contact Number For after-hours emergencies not involving police and fire response or gas or water main breaks, contact IHCA at 425-223-8887
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