A little drizzle did not keep Issaquah Highlands families from enjoying this year’s Egg Hunt festivities! Hosted at Blakely Hall and the Village Green on April 11, over 1,000 people, (mostly children) scooped up over 7,000 stuffed
plastic eggs over the course of three age specific hunts! The event began at 10am and there was plenty to do while waiting between egg hunts. The Issaquah High School Jazz Band and Icon Church volunteer musicians kept the crowd energy high on the damp and cloudy day with great music. Other activities included a visit and picture with the Easter Bunny, (played for the third year in a row by IHS student and resident, Alec Jacobs), face painting, coloring table, carnival games, and giant inflatable slide and bounce house. The big hit of the day and new this year, was the farm animal petting zoo!
The event was closed by a lovely ballet exhibition inside Blakely Hall. Local MK Ballet Studio dancers performed to a standing room only crowd. Every child was mesmerized by the beauty of the costumes and graceful dances. “I know every little girl was tugging on their daddy’s sleeve and saying ‘I want to do that too daddy!’”, said Pastor Paul Dean of Alathia Community Church. Pastor Barry Odom of Mosaic Church was the emcee for the event. Barry awarded the Annual Coloring Contest winners from three age specific drawings. The winners are: 0-PreK: Miranda Schafer, K-2nd: Ang Pima Chin, 3rd-5th: Anna Gretchen Robertson. Winners can pick up their prize at Blakely Hall during normal business hours by May 15.
Port Blakely Communities, Highlands Council, and local business sponsors, Accent Insurance, and John Thompson Real Estate provided the financial resources to get the event into production. Ticket sales covered the remaining
costs with all proceeds benefiting Eastside Baby Corner (www.babycorner.org). No homeowner dues were applied to the production of this community event and of course, the event was 100% volunteer run!
Alathia Community Church, Icon Church, and Mosaic Church wish to thank everyone for volunteering, including members of the respective congregations, community members, and most importantly, the hardworking students
from Skyline High School, Issaquah High School, Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus, and Issaquah Middle School! “All of the students had a great time while working very hard to keep the event on schedule and maintain a safe environment.” Volunteer and Event Coordinator, Christy Garrard also adds, “Most of the students arrived at 7am to help set up and were the last to leave at the end of the day; we could not have done it without their help!”
The churches are also grateful to the residents who donated candy and toy prizes for the egg hunt and to Clif Bar for donating 1,000 Clif bars for free giveaways. Special thanks to Wyldlife, a middle school branch of Young Life, for hosting the concessions for the event. Everyone enjoyed the Krispy Kreme donuts, hot coffee and hot chocolate.
The Egg Hunt festivities ended at noon for the elementary set but Blakely Hall and Village Green came alive again after sunset when Wyldlife hosted a middle school flashlight egg hunt for over 100 area students! This event was another great example of the success of the urban village development concept. Residents, their friends, and family enjoying the holiday in the park, just steps from their front doors.
Tags: Accent Insurance, Alathia Church, Blakely Hall, Icon Church, Issaquah High School, Issaquah Middle School, Issaquah School District, John Thompson Real Estate, MK Ballet, Mosaic Church, Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus, Port Blakely Communities, Skyline High School, YoungLife
Good News from the Issaquah School District! In a final decision on boundary lines affecting elementary school children – all of Issaquah Highlands elementary-age children, including those at West Highlands Park, will remain together at Grand Ridge Elementary. The Issaquah School District recently approved new school boundaries that will impact Issaquah Highlands residents. The revisions, which will come into effect in the 2010-2011 school year, were initiated to address shifting and growing student populations across the district. Other aspects of the revisions included the planned elementary on the Sammamish Plateau and the conversion of the Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus to a middle school.
Grand Ridge Elementary School was included in the revisions, which will affect a total of 16 schools in the District. While no elementary age children from Issaquah Highlands will move schools, children from the Overdale Park community who currently attend Grand Ridge will be moved to Clark Elementary School, and West Highlands children will be moved from Clark to Grand Ridge.
It is anticipated that these changes will ease over-crowding at Grand Ridge, which will likely experience a reduction in attendance from approximately 800 students to approximately 500 students. Traffic issues on Park Drive in the area of Grand Ridge Elementary may also be alleviated as fewer students will be driven by car to the school. No high school boundaries will be changed under the revisions and with one exception, no schools will split student populations when they move from elementary to middle and high school. Older children from Issaquah Highlands are scheduled to go to Pacific Cascade Middle School and then attend Issaquah High School.
All revisions are posted on the District’s Web site where families can input their Zip code to determine which school students will attend.
Bhartiyam invites you, your family and friends to our Diwali Celebration. There will be a cultural program, lights, diyas, ramleela, live music, and puja followed by dinner. We would be honored to have you with us. It will be a great chance to cherish your rich culture and heritage.
Date: October 25, 2008
Time: 5:00–9:30 PM Sharp
Venue: Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus
24635 SE Issaquah Fall City Road
Issaquah, Washington 98029
Attire: Semi Formal / Traditional
You may purchase tickets online at www.bhartiyam.org
For further information or to participate in cultural activities, please visit www.bhartiyam.org or contact Ravi Chhabra, ravi.chhabra@bhartiyam.org. Diwali (also called Deepavali,) is a major Indian festival/celebration. Known as the “Festival of Lights,” it symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind. The Sanskrit word Deepavali also means array of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness. The celebration focuses on lights and lamps, particularly traditional diyas.
Diwali is the day when God Rama returned to Ayodhya after his 14 year exile after vanquishing king Ravana, the 10-headed demon-king. As the lunar New Year is the darkest night of the year, people put out rows of lamps to help Rama find his way back home. All across India, people decorate their houses and streets with rows of oil lamps and strings of white lights. On the day of Diwali, many wear new clothes, share sweets and light firecrackers. The Indian business community usually starts their financial new year on Diwali and new account books are opened on this day. The illumination on Diwali also signifies end of darkness which stands for ignorance and beginning of knowledge symbolized by lights that shall enlighten all. Please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali or www.bhartiyam.org for more information.
