Saturday August 15, from 4:00 – 9:00 pm neighborhood 1-B surrounding Ashland Park is hosting a Block Party and all our Highlands neighbors are invited! The Ashland Park Festival of the Arts is a fundraiser with proceeds going to benefit the refurbishment of our neighborhood park. Ashland was the community’s first park and it is beginning to show. We have planned a summer block party that will benefit the park. Bring a blanket and lawn chairs to spread out on our amphitheater and enjoy an evening of community talent. The Sammamish Symphony Concert Master,  Dennis Helppie has agreed to come and entertain us. We are seeking other performers, and welcome all professional or amateur talent. Artists may also sell CD’s of their work.

We are excited to offer five minute Open Mic times to children and adults who register their act in advance – dance, sing, tell a joke… any community member interested in performing may register to perform by contacting Lesile Warrick at jimandleslie@ihmail.com. This fun night will highlight the talent we have right here at home in our residents young and old in a relaxed atmosphere. Sherm’s BBQ will be open and serving box dinners to take into the park that can include beer or wine and a portion of proceeds goes to benefit the park. Zeek’s will be ready on the phone to deliver to the park and will donate a portion of the cost of each pizza delivered to the park to our park fund.

We will pass the hat and hope you will be moved to write a check to benefit our park. As this is a private park you can bring your own beer or wine. We will also have pop and water for sale. The street in front of Sherm’s and Accent Insurance will be closed during the event. Please mark you calendar to join us for this fun evening shared with your neighbors and friends. Send questions to Cyndi Johnson 1-B Voting Member at cyndij@ihmail.com or Leslie Warrick 1-B Neighborhood Captain at jimandleslie@ihmail.com. Come party with us!

An estimated 1,200 Issaquah Highlands residents and their families enjoyed a parade with gaily decorated bicycles, scooters, and pets on the Saturday, June 27th celebration of the annual Issaquah Highlands Neighborhood Picnic & Parade. Community judges awarded prizes that included local business gift certificates from Café Ladro, Le Chic Pets & Spa, and Zeek’s Pizza. There were bounce houses, turtle races, carnival games, face painting, basketball shoot, agility games and tug of war for all ages that were provided by participating sponsors. Eastside Fire & Rescue No. 72 arrived with a fire truck and visitors were delighted with touring the truck while the children adorned their heads with fire hats provided by the firemen. In addition, folks were seeking out the Segway drivers that were providing free T-shirts, proclaiming “I Love HFN”, our Highlands Fiber Network. There were many fun and informational community booths representing clubs, committees and other neighborhood groups. Each of the booths generously provided candy,  cookies, popcorn and treats to their visitors.

Rachel Rosewater wanted to show that kid’s should fundraise at the community events and raised $125 selling brownies and lemonade at her booth in support of Children’s Hospital. One lucky resident won a raffle for two box tickets to a Seattle Mariner’s game at the IHCA Voting Members booth. Volunteers at the booth recruited 26 additional community volunteers to serve as Neighborhood Voting Members and Neighborhood Captains. The weather was great for residents to enjoy music provided by Master Chorus Eastside and The Rainy City Riff Raff. This volunteer led event was produced with 75 volunteers, contributing over 350 hours. Cyndi Johnson, Resident Coordinator for this event expresses special thanks to her resident team leaders, Christie Santodomingo, Tony Bristol, Larry Norton, Umit Gokce, and Rebecca Kuno who recruited and directed all the other great volunteers.

The transformation is complete.

Marcela’s Mexican Grill is re-opening with not just a new name, but also an entirely new and mouth-watering menu. Marcela’s has been re-named Agave Cocina & Tequilas as part of an exciting re-model that involves every aspect of the restaurant. Depending on when you read this article, Agave may have already opened its doors! The new Agave Cocina & Tequilas features contemporary Mexican food in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Wallet-friendly prices and fresh flavors are all part of what makes Agave special.

Many of Agave’s menu items are meant for sharing, so you can sample several items as part of your dining experience. Time-honored favorites include a selection of quesadillas, enchiladas, salads and tacos. Enticing new dishes include corn crusted halibut tacos, smoked bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers, ceviche de camarones, masa crusted calamari, the Marcela grande burger, and pescados fritos.

Everything will be made from scratch in Agave’s kitchen, including sauces, fillings, tortillas, and guacamole. The new menu also features fresh, natural ingredients, free-range chicken and organic eggs, hormone-free beef and pork, organic rice and beans, plus wild salmon and prawns. It’s no secret that a highlight of Agave will be their tequila offerings. In fact, it’s the inspiration for the restaurant’s new name. Tequila is made from the agave plant. According to owner Julian Ramos, the agave plant has been part of his family’s heritage: “Both sides of my family are from the state of Jalisco, which is the only state in Mexico where the agave plant can grow naturally. Several of my relatives
have grown it for decades.” “My brothers and I were born and raised in the beautiful state of Jalisco,” continued
Ramos. “Part of our heritage is a deep understanding of what makes a high-quality tequila and the dynamic flavors that make contemporary Mexican food so popular. We look forward to sharing this delicious food with our neighbors
in Issaquah.”

The changes at the restaurant aren’t only in the kitchen. The interior of the restaurant has been transformed to offer a warm and inviting environment with unique architectural details. Agave’s new look includes bright colors and a fresh
spin on traditional design. The re-design was inspired by the famous Barcelona church La Sagrada Familia, which was the masterwork of architect Antoni Gaudi. The church has enormous mosaic fruit baskets atop its towers and magnificent mosaics. It has been a major tourist attraction in Spain for years. Now, part of that inspiration has found a
home in Issaquah Highlands. Located at 1048 NE Park Drive, Agave Cocina & Tequilas is open seven days a week. You can view their menu at www.agaverest.com. Watch for happy hour specials every day of the week.

Port Blakely Communities’ Judd Kirk was recently honored by the City of Issaquah for his pivotal role as a community and business leader. Judd, who as president of Port Blakely Communities began working on the Issaquah Highlands project in the early 1990’s, was inducted along with Barb Justice of the Issaquah Trolley Project into the City of Issaquah’s Hall of Fame.

The City of Issaquah Hall of Fame award honors an individual who has made an enduring contribution to the Issaquah community. Each year, the City of Issaquah inducts one or two individuals into the Hall of Fame. Judd’s contributions to the community were celebrated at a May 20 luncheon hosted by the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce. At the luncheon, Judd was praised for the impact he has had on the city. He was applauded for his leadership, economic development initiatives, and ability to engage government and individuals together to achieve a shared goal.

One of the primary examples of Judd’s capacity for creating successful partnerships was the construction of the Sunset Interchange off Interstate-90, which now connects thousands of residents in the cities of Issaquah and Sammamish to the main arterial freeway. The interchange was one of the first public-private partnerships in the region. It helped to establish an approach for multiple levels of government, as well as private companies, to work together.

At the awards luncheon, Judd was celebrated for his pioneering approach to sustainable development. In the early 1990’s, when green building was unknown in the Pacific Northwest, Judd’s leadership helped Port Blakely to established new standards for sustainable development. Today, these sustainable development practices are followed throughout the industry. “Judd Kirk’s leadership, service and civic-mindedness have significantly benefited the greater community of Issaquah over the past decade,” said Alan Boeker, who succeeded Judd as president of Port Blakely Communities. “In particular, his role as an advisory council member of the Cascade Land Conservancy, as well as the board of Urban Green, has furthered Issaquah’s interests in promoting conservation and constructing environmentally-friendly buildings.”

Since 2002, Judd has also established Port Blakely as the regional leader in the Built Green program. At Issaquah Highlands, all builders are now required to build homes to the 4-Star level of the Built Green program, as well as certification under the ENERGY STAR® program. The community now has the largest percentage of Built Green homes in the region. Through sustainable development and innovation, Judd has enabled Port Blakely, the community at Issaquah Highlands, and the City of Issaquah as a whole to capture the world’s attention. In 2004, Judd led the initiative to create the Puget Sound Energy Built Green Idea House as a demonstration that sustainable homebuilding was a marketable concept. It drew 8,000 visitors from around the world, who came to see nearly 100 of the latest green building products and techniques. Congratulations Judd!

Zeeks Pizza opened its doors June 16, and is quickly becoming a popular hangout for Highlands residents. The New restaurant features delicious pizza, a fun, welcoming atmosphere and a full bar.

Zeeks is located on the corner of 25th and Park Drive in Issaquah Highlands. Open everyday 11:00am-10:00pm. Pizza by the slice until 4pm. For delivery call 425-893-TOGO (8646) or go to www.Zeekspizza.com.