November 2015 Vuecrest View Newsletter

The 520 (floating) bridge will be closed from 11 PM on Friday, November

November 2015 Vuecrest View Newsletter Call for Meeting Hosts Board meetings are held the first Thursday of every month. They begin at 7 pm and usually finish in 1-2 hours. The next meeting will be on December 3rd at the home of Jonathan and Laura Kagle at 9342 Vineyard Crest. Please consider volunteering to host a meeting. All you need are a few extra chairs and a welcoming smile! If you are interested in hosting, please contact: secretary@vuecrest.net <mailto:directors@vuecrest.net> . Annual Meeting Highlights The annual meeting was held on November 11th at Grace Lutheran Church. Combining those in attendance plus proxies, a quorum was reached. The 2016 association budget was approved, with a $300 yearly assessment (down from $365 in 2015). Two neighbors, Mark Lapsley and Kathleen McKenna, were on the ballot for the two open seats on the Board of Directors, they were both elected! Congratulations Mark and Kathleen! A hearty welcome to our new secretary, Nyla Wang. Block Watch All of Bellevue has had its share of petty crime, mostly car prowling, and Vuecrest is no exception. We must be alert to this uber-mischief in our neighborhood! Volunteers are needed for Block Watch. All that is asked of volunteers is that they keep an eye out for suspicious activity in their block, and share pertinent information with your neighbors (Please, no active patrol!) Visit our website at www.vuecrest.net <http://www.vuecrest.net> , click on "Block of Watch Signup," then fill out and submit the form. Neighborhood Enhancement The City of Bellevue has grant money available for neighborhood enhancements. Just use your imagination to think of the many ways we might make Vuecrest more functional and beautiful. If you have an idea that you feel merits exploring, contact Marilyn Arensberg, who is coordinating this project, and she will be happy to work with you. You can reach her at jimarensberg@comcast.net. Solicitors and Safety King County requires that all dogs and cats are licensed, with annual renewals. It has come to our attention that faux "pet license" people have been making the rounds of some Bellevue neighborhoods and asking that dog and cat license fees be paid on the spot. Please request to see official ID, and if you have any uncertainty about the legitimacy, contact the Pet Information Line at 206-296-7387 or pets@kingcounty.gov <mailto:pets@kingcounty.gov> and request a form to pay by mail or on-line (http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/pet-licenses.htm). FYI: Certain large cities have become the targets of "knock-knock" crimes, where supposed "gas" or "electrical" workers, in "uniform", ask permission to check your appliances, thus gaining access to your home for potential burglary. I do not know if this has been happening in Bellevue, but regardless, never let strangers in your home without full cognizance of who they are and what their purpose is! Tid-bits! The 520 (floating) bridge will be closed from 11 PM on Friday, November 20 until 6 AM on Monday, November 23. Plan your travels accordingly. At our annual meeting, a neighbor spoke with gratitude in having a "Vial of Life" for a recent medical happenstance she suffered. "Vial of Life" is a small plastic tube in which you write notes about your medical history, current medicines and allergies. This small tube is then stored in your refrigerator door. If 911 is ever called to your home, they will immediately look for this vial which will give them all necessary information with regard to your medical history. This can be a true life saver if by chance you are alone at home, and unable to relay pertinent information. The tube is sold at Bartell's for 99 cents and includes a small front door sticker directing First Responders to check your refrigerator for the vial. We tend to be dull "stay-at-homes" but decided to catch a movie on a recent rainy afternoon. Bridge of Spies, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Steven Spielberg, is based on the true story of the hostage swap of Gary Powers for convicted Soviet spy, Rudolf Abel, in the late 1950s. It is a riveting, historical drama and much to our delight, lacked all the violence, foul-language and ultra-special effects that seem to permeate most movies these days. The acting is certainly Oscar-worthy. It was just a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and we recommend it! (Beware: popcorn will set you back almost as much as your ticket!) Remember, this is YOUR newsletter. Please send any items of interest to us, David and Mara, at: dtpit@uw.edu Thanksgiving is a day of thanks for all - may you share the love and warmth of your friends and family.