The year’s most romantic holiday is right around the corner in Issaquah Highlands. This special day isn’t just about romance, though. Valentine’s Day is a chance to show people you care and to spend time with friends and loved ones.

This Valentine’s Day, don’t get caught unprepared. Make 2010 your year to avoid the crack of dawn emergency runs to the store for a card and makeshift gift. It’s a new year and one resolution we can make is to say “no thanks” to the last-minute remainder bouquets and re-gifted boxes of chocolates. Guilty parties – you know who you are.

Here in Issaquah Highlands, it’s easy to plan ahead to make Valentine’s Day special. Our restaurants and retailers have many options for celebrating Valentine’s Day in style: Agave Cocina & Tequilas is offering a special promotion on Valentine’s Day. With the purchase of an appetizer and two entrees, dessert will be on the house. And, it’s no everyday dessert. The special “San Valentin” dessert will be available only on Valentine’s Day. The “San Valentin” features coconut-almond deep fried ice cream, surrounded by Bavarian cream filled churros… delicious! You can make reservations by calling 425-369-8900.

If you’re looking for something fun to do with the whole family on Valentine’s Day, look no further than Zeeks Pizza. Zeeks will have heart shaped pizzas, fun decorations, drink specials for the adults, and a make-your own sundae bar for the kids. They will have two seatings: the first at 5 p.m. and the second at 6:30 p.m. You can make reservations by calling 425-392-3507.

At Sip, you can enjoy a wonderful three course Valentine’s Day menu available for $50 on the 14th, as well as their regular menu. Sip is also presenting their Valentine Extravaganza: a contest for one lucky winner and their sweetheart to enjoy a spectacular Valentine’s.

You can visit any location to enter. The promotion ends February 7th. One lucky winner will receive:
• A Romantic Dinner for two at Sip Seattle on February 13th. Dine at the best table with the best view and savor a special chef’s choice sensation.

• SIP will pay your cab fare and send you over to the swanky Hotel Max for an overnight stay. Enjoy a chic and stylish room, and your specially selected complimentary bottle of wine. Check in at 4:00 pm, with free parking. Sleep in and take advantage of the 1:00 late checkout time.

• On February 14th, head off to The 5th Avenue Theatre to see the 1:30 performance of the romantic Lincoln Center production of South Pacific, winner of 7 Tony Awards.

More information visit www.siprestaurant.com.

For those of you who would like to give your sweetheart a day of relaxation and beauty, Sorella Salon & Spa is a terrific option. Consider a gift certificate, or treat your sweetheart to the Valentine’s Day special package for $95 (save $35). Included in the Valentine’s package are a maintenance facial, maintenance massage, and deep conditioning treatment and style. For more information, call 425-392-9299.

If your sweetheart is looking for a gift that will outlast flowers or candy, Curves is the place to go. Regular exercise is proven to have long-lasting benefits for health. At Curves, all it takes is their 30-minute circuit three times a week. It works every major muscle group, strengthens heart-health and burns up to 500 calories each workout. Gift certificates are available and now through February 27th, you will get 30 days free (restrictions apply). More information is available at www.curves.com.

Depending on the weather, a Valentine’s Day walk or hike in Issaquah Highlands is also a great option. Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday, which could be a nice day for exploring the trails. You can find a map of all the parks and trails here: http://issaquahhighlands.com/parks_trails.php. However you choose to spend Valentine’s Day this year, we hope it’s a special one here in Issaquah Highlands. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Imagine a world where going to the dentist no longer involves needles or drills. Then, think about the possibilities of a paperless dental office where x-rays are digital. Build on that image by visualizing the comfiest of dental chairs, each equipped with its own widescreen TV…

At Issaquah Highlands, there’s no need to imagine such a place. Highlands Kids Dentistry, which opened February 1, offers all this – and more – right in our neighborhood. Founded by Dr. Shadi Araghi, who tells us that her name rhymes with “froggy,” Highlands Kids Dentistry is unlike any dentist office you’ve ever visited.

Highlands Kids Dentistry offers the latest technology in pediatric dentistry. Dr. Araghi uses lasers instead of needles and drills for most procedures, minimizing much of the pain and discomfort associated with the dentist’s chair. The use of lasers also reduces the need for anesthesia.

Highlands Kids Dentistry also uses digital x-rays to minimize exposure, as well as an intra-oral minicam during visits. These new technologies offer safer and more precise dental care. According to Dr. Araghi, the practice was designed from a child’s point of view to create a relaxed environment – even for the most nervous of visitors. Highlands Kids Dentistry has a familiar atmosphere filled with books, toys and games. Parents can also bring their child’s favorite DVD to play on the widescreen TV that faces the dental chair.

Dr. Araghi, who is a pediatric dentist, specializes in treating children from birth to age 18. Typically,
pediatric dentists like Dr. Araghi train two to three years more than general dentists in order to gain expertise in children’s dentistry. In the case of Dr. Araghi, she practiced general dentistry for seven years before completing her pediatric residency, also at Tufts. During her residency, Dr. Araghi focused on the use of lasers, pediatric sedation, orthodontics, and on treating patients with special needs. She also completed a pediatric rotation at the New England Medical Center.

For adults in Issaquah Highlands, the best is yet to come. Highlands Kids Dentistry isn’t only about kids. The practice also offers dentistry for adults. Dr. Araghi will be joined at the practice by her husband, Dr. Ray Besharati. Dr. Besharati is also a dentist, but only treats adults. The practice will offer dentistry for adults including laser treatments and digital x-rays, as well as whitening and Microscopic dentistry, in the same relaxed and welcoming environment.

Highlands Kids Dentistry is open six days a week and offers appointments on evenings and Saturdays. All new patients will receive a $20 visa gift card as part of the welcome package and for each referral. Free teeth whitening is also offered to new adult patients. The office is located at 2520 NE Park Drive. More information is available at www.highlandskidsdentistry.com or by calling 425-996-0457.

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Image by issaquahhighlands via Flickr

Over the course of the past year, Port Blakely Communities and Issaquah Highlands have continued to achieve milestones in  development of this community. The Proliance Highlands Medical Center, Swedish hospital campus and YWCA Family Village are bringing local jobs, services and healthcare to residents. The opportunities provided by these organizations bring Issaquah Highlands closer to realizing the live/work/play urban village model. Many of you know that construction dates for The High  Streets were pushed back in 2008 due to the economy. The retail sector crisis caused by the dramatic decline in 2007 holiday  sales forced retailers to put plans on hold. As a result, our development partner in The High Streets, Opus Northwest, was unable  to proceed. Those same economic conditions that shook up financial markets and the real estate industry have continued throughout 2009. The High Streets is part of the community’s vision to blend retail, commercial/office space and housing. To give a sense of history, the concept for The High Streets was conceived in 2005. Prior to 2005, Microsoft had an option to purchase the land, as well as the land where Proliance and Swedish are now located, as part of its Issaquah holdings. When  Microsoft opted not to exercise the option in 2004, Port Blakely Communities worked with residents, businesses and local  leadership to determine new options for the land. Since 2008, Port Blakely Communities has carefully examined opportunities for moving forward with construction of The High Streets despite the economy. We have also moved forward with projects, such as Swedish, that will attract other businesses and organizations to Issaquah Highlands. Today, Port Blakely Communities is  exploring opportunities to form a joint venture with a new equity partner to develop the remaining commercial areas. Over the lifetime of Issaquah Highlands, Port Blakely Communities has successfully leveraged like-minded partnerships to fulfill the vision for the community. Consistent with this approach, we are speaking with organizations that share our values, and the values of Issaquah Highlands, to form a joint venture. We will provide additional updates to the community in the New Year and at the town hall meeting.

• New Swedish hospital to create over 1,000 jobs (pnwlocalnews.com)

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The struggles associated with this year’s recessionary economy have no doubt been shared by many and have taken a toll on families around the country; some more severe than others. Unfortunately, one does not have to look far to find local families in our community that are in desperate need of assistance. This season, members of the Issaquah Highlands Contribution Club (the“IHCC”), an organization dedicated to bringing together the families and individuals of Issaquah Highlands to support the local community in need, provided aid and assistance to 16 families from local churches and the Issaquah Food Bank through an “Adopt a Family” Program.

Together, groups of residents and local churches pulled together to fulfill wish lists and meet the needs of these local families to provide food, clothing, gifts for children and most importantly hope and a little joy this holiday season.

“Reading through the stories of these families struggling breaks your heart,” said IHCC member Anne Taylor Hartzell. “Many are single moms, struggling to put food on the table and are now forced to agonize over how to tell their small children there will be no holiday presents only adds to their stress. We had to do something to mobilize our community and provide these families with at least one day of relief from the stresses in life.”

The IHCC holiday family adoption program could not have been possible without the generous support of time and donations by our neighborhood captains, leaders from Mosaic and Alathia Churches, Starpoint Condos and the Issaquah Highlands  Community Association. The response was overwhelming as neighborhood captains began reaching out to their neighbors via email and door-to-door to fulfill wish lists, shop and wrap gifts. The impact was felt not only by those that were receiving, but also by those that were giving.

“I was blown away by the willingness of our neighbors to help out our family in need,” said Candace Powell, neighborhood captain and Highlands resident. “Going door-to-door, sharing these stories and collecting donations from neighbors is truly amazing and really emphasized for me our strong sense of community.” The adopt a family initiative brought all corners of the
Issaquah Highland’s community together to make a lasting impact on a few families this season and is just another example of how together, residents can make a meaningful impact on shared initiatives that improve the lives of our community. The IHCC
organizes other programs throughout the year and plans to partner closely with the Issaquah Food Bank and other local  organizations next year to expand its Adopt a Family program.

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WSDOT (Washington State Dept. of Transportation) Pond and landscape is complete. The 17.28 million gallon capacity pond now features a pedestrian bridge built with custom-milled cedar timbers harvested from sites in Issaquah Highlands, a paved trail that  connects to the trail system, and an extension of the bike path.

Homes for the Holidays.  It’s a powerful emotion.  And nowhere in the Northwest is this lived out more than at Issaquah Highlands. It’s a placewhere neighbors know each other and celebrate together every chance they get.  Today, you can experience this special Holiday spirit with a visit to this holiday wonderland. “Issaquah Highlands celebrates a return to a time when your neighbors were really an extension of your family. I think this is especially important during the holiday season. Our residents come together to celebrate. Last Sunday, we held our annual Christmas Festival which included horse-drawn carriage rides, live music, lots of food and a live nativity—complete with camel—and tomorrow we’ll come together for the community Chanukah Celebration which includes lighting the Pacific Northwest’s tallest candy menorah. Issaquah Highlands is just such a uniquely inclusive community,” says Genni Reilly, vice president of marketing for Port Blakely Communities, Inc., the developer of Issaquah Highlands.

Both neighborhood and home have a powerful sentimental pull during the holiday season as gatherings of families and friends amidst festive decorations remind us of our connections with one another. To visitors get a true feel for Issaquah Highlands’ warmth and charm you are invited to its popular Second Saturday Home Tour, with a Homes for the Holiday’s theme, today from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can stop off at the Issaquah Highlands Information Center to pick up a free tour map.

In honor of the season, many of the builders are offering special holiday incentives. The Burnsteads’ new home neighborhoods are collecting non-perishable food items for Northwest Harvest plus making a $5 donation for each visitor group to their model homes this weekend. For every new Burnstead home sold at Issaquah Highlands in December, the Burnsteads will donate $1,000 in the homebuyer’s name to Northwest Harvest. Bennett Homes and CamWest at West Highlands Park will donate $750 to the Issaquah Food Bank on all homes that close on or before December 31, 2009. In addition, D.R. Horton’s Vista Park collection is offering zero closing costs to all new homebuyers who close on their homes before December 31, 2009 plus a special move-in package that includes a washer, dryer, refrigerator, garage door opener, window screens, fencing, landscaping and a 10-year warranty. And John F. Buchan Homes will be offering zero closing costs on all homes that close on or before January 31, 2010.

Picture yourself touring a community where you’ll find new and resale homes available priced from just under $200,000 to well over $2 million. Buyers looking to purchase a brand new home have their choice of designs from some of our region’s most noted homebuilders, including Anderson Tedrick Homes, Aspen Homes, Atlin Investments, Bennett Homes, The Burnsteads, CamWest, Design Guild Homes, D.R. Horton, John F. Buchan, Noland Homes, Regency West and Sinclair Thimgan.

“Whether you’re looking to purchase your first home or interested in custom building your dream home, Issaquah Highlands has a neighborhood for you. The Second Saturday Home Tour is an opportunity for buyers to tour every new home, as well as most resale homes. This is the perfect month to get a true sense of how our residents come together as one community,” notes Reilly.

“Not only do we have the best residents, we also have recruited the best homebuilders,” says Reilly. “They truly care about their homeowners and the community as a whole.”

A pioneer in the sustainable building and design movement, Port Blakely set aside 1,400 acres of naturally preserved land and 100 acres of parks for homeowners to enjoy and cherish. Choosing builders that embrace their environmental sensibilities, they have continued to push the green envelope, introducing groundbreaking designs such as the 2003 Built Green® Idea Home; a 5-star Built Green, American Lung Association Certified home that features allergen-free materials; and the zHome collection—the first multi-family development in the nation that uses no more energy than it generates.

As a result, the community continues to receive global recognition for its community planning and execution.  Just this month, the National Associate of Home Builders announced that Issaquah Highlands was name a finalist for “American’s Community of the Year for 2010” as a part of The Nationals awards program.

Promoting a car-free lifestyle, the Issaquah Highlands community offers amenities like the High Street Retail Village which features popular restaurants and services like Sip! Wine Bar & Restaurant, Caffe Ladro, Highlands Cleaners, Le Chic Pet Boutique & Spa, Sorella Salon & Spa, Zeek’s Pizza and Agave Cocina & Tequilas. The village will eventually expand to become part of a destination retail center with approximately 500,000 square feet of retail space, including a 40,000-square-foot grocery store. And for those who commute to work, there is a Park-&-Ride transit center conveniently located at the community’s entrance.

“I really encourage you to come out today to explore our neighborhoods. Get out of your car. Take a hike on one of our wooded trails. Grab a bite to eat in the village. Truly get a feel for the lifestyle we offer here. There really isn’t anything else that compares,” says Reilly.

For more information on Issaquah Highlands, its neighborhoods and homebuilders, visit www.issaquahhighlands.com.

View these homes:

Information Center Hours: Wednesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

1011 NE High Street, Suite 100

From I-90: Take the Highlands Drive/Sunset Interchange (Exit #18). Follow Highlands Dr. up the hill and turn right on NE High Street. Follow the signs to the New Home Info Center.

For more info:

www.issaquahhighlands.com

206-701-0350

Washington, D.C., 2009   Issaquah Highlands, an urban village community in Issaquah, Washington, was named a Silver Award Winner and finalist for the Community of the Year Award from the National Association of Home Builders. The award will be be presented at The Nationals Awards ceremony at the International Builder’s Show in Las Vegas on January 19, 2010.   Only four communities in the nation are recognized in 2010.  Along with Issaquah Highlands, the other Silver Award winning communities are Craig Ranch, McKinney, Texas; Daybreak, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Villebois, Wilsonville, Oregon.

“Port Blakely Communities is honored to receive this recognition that reflects so positively on Issaquah Highlands’ residents, homebuilders and the development team that has created a vibrant, active and environmentally sustainable community,” said Genni Reilly, vice president of leasing and marketing, Port Blakely Communities – developer of Issaquah Highlands. “What pleases us most is the fact that now, in the community’s 10^th year, Issaquah Highlands is still receiving national recognition for its innovation, quality of life and contribution for being part of the solution to regional growth management issues.”

Located 20 minutes outside Seattle, Issaquah Highlands is a Built Green an urban village that includes more than 3,000 homes, a retail and commercial district, more than 10 miles of hiking trails, and more than 100 acres for parks, recreation and sports fields – all concentrated in only 780 acres of the total 2,200 acres. Now in its second decade, the community continues to grow. Most recently, Swedish – the largest nonprofit health provider in the Greater Seattle area – broke ground on a 20-acre hospital campus in the heart of Issaquah Highlands. In addition, the YWCA of Seattle-King-Snohomish also broke ground on a 2.4 acre Family Village that will feature affordable housing for more than 400 residents.

As the nation’s largest competition, now in its 28th year, The Nationals pays tribute to superior achievements by new-home sales and marketing professionals and communities and is presented by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).  It is the only competition of its kind that is National and International in scope. Entrants are judged by a panel of recognized industry professionals representing the many disciplines involved in creating new home communities.

For more information, visit www.issaquahhighlands.com and www.portblakely.com.

The YWCA Family Village at Issaquah, located at Highlands Drive NE and High Street NE, is an innovative, large-scale, environmentally progressive project designed to meet the Eastside’s needs for affordable housing and family services.

With 146 apartments for working families, child care and social services, the Family Village is leading the way for communities in this region and across the country to integrate affordable housing and family services into planned communities.

YWCA Family Village at Issaquah will be home to approximately 400 people – working families, people with disabilities and seniors who are seeking an affordable place to live, raise children, age comfortably, build fulfilling lives and contribute to their community.

The environmentally sustainable project will provide 146 apartments, ranging in size from studios to three-bedroom units.

The bulk of construction will occur in 2010 with families moving in the following year. The development will be a beautiful, seamless and comfortable “fit” within the existing master-planned community of Issaquah Highlands. Residential spaces, walkways and gathering areas will help foster a sense of place and neighborhood.

The YWCA is dedicated to strengthening the independence and stability of all community members.
• Parenting classes, job training, computer education and more.
• High-quality affordable child care with an estimated 150 spots for infants to school-aged children.
• Community meeting and outdoor gathering spaces, specifically requested by the Issaquah community, with safe pedestrian access to a King County transit hub.

• The City of Issaquah, through agreements with Port Blakely Communities which developed the Issaquah Highlands master-planned community, donated the parcel of land. The value of the land and in-kind support provided by the City exceeds $7 million.
• The YWCA is launching a $12 million capital campaign to help build and operate Family Village.
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donated $1 million.
• Eastside cities contributed $1.5 million through their housing coalition.
• King County provided $2.25 million through direct support and credit enhancement.
• Washington State Housing Finance Commission awarded $12.6 million in federal stimulus dollars and $4 million in a tax credit equity allocation.
• The State Department of Commerce Housing Trust Fund joined in with $4 million.
• King County Housing Authority brings its ability to issue bonds and rent subsidies for qualified households.

For more information on the project and to keep up to date on the construction by subscribing to our RSS feed, please visit: www.ywcaworks.org

The YWCA’s mission is to advance the quality of life for women of all ages, races and faiths, and their families. In support of this mission, the YWCA provides services to meet critical needs, promote self-sufficiency, reduce violence,
eliminate racism and achieve equal opportunities for all people. These values are the foundation of the YWCA Family Village at Issaquah.

Read More about the YWCA Family Village.

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This year Alathia Community Church, with the help of many generous community leaders and sponsors, is putting on a Christmas festival for the community. This year our theme remains “Give a Life Changing Gift for Christmas.” Adults and children alike will love the free concert put on by jazz recording artist Gail Pettis. Festival attendees will witness a living nativity complete with an angel perched atop a 4 story building and a stable including an 8 foot tall camel.

The festival will also include hay rides, pictures with Santa, as well as Christmas themed crafts and activities for the kids. All proceeds raised from this year’s festival will be donated to World Vision— and used to help people trapped in poverty and/or desperate social situations. World Vision is an impressive Non-Government Organization (NGO) that helps about 100 million people in nearly 100 countries on 5 continents. They focus on child sponsorships, food aid, clean water, HIV and aids prevention, emergency relief, resolution of humanitarian crises, and microfinance programs. Building on our success last year we are encouraging our neighbors to consider giving $75 to World Vision. A $75 dollar donation provides a needy family a goat for Christmas. A goat nourishes a family with fresh milk, cheese, and yogurt, and can offer a much-needed income boost by providing offspring and extra dairy products for sale at the market. It even provides fertilizer that can dramatically increase crop yields. I invite you and your family to consider giving a life-changing gift this Christmas. You can learn more by visiting the information booths at the festival or by visiting www.worldvision.org.

Governor Christine Gregoire and Issaquah Mayor, Ava Frisinger, spoke at Oct. 12 Groundbreaking Event to celebrate construction of first new hospital built in King County in 25 years. During her remarks, Gov. Gregoire noted that Issaquah/Sammamish is “the only community of its size in Western Washington without a hospital.”

The Swedish/Issaquah groundbreaking event took place on Oct. 12. The new campus will be developed in two phases. The first phase is the opening of a medical office building and outpatient center in 2011. And, the hospital — phase two — will open in early 2012 with 80 beds.

To see an informational video about the new Swedish Hosptial, click here!

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