March 2016 Vuecrest View Newsletter

                       Downtown Livability: Stakeholder Exhibits & Open

                           March 9th 5:30-7pm Bellevue City Hall

Don't miss it! Our annual neighborhood event will be on March 19th at

I see early jonquils poking their little yellow faces through the dirt,

"In Dublin's fair city, where girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes

That's it! Too much fun! SPOILER ALERT: Don't forget to PAY YOUR TAXES!

       If you drive a car, I'll tax the street;
      If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat;
      If you get too cold, I'll tax the heat;
     If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.     (The Beatles - "The Tax

 At 9630 Hilltop are the Wangs, a family of five. Zelin, a businessman

One of their fondest memories of their early years in Vuecrest is the

      Mara

March 2016 Vuecrest View Newsletter Monthly Board Meeting for April 2016 The April Board Meeting will be at the home of Neema and Rahul Desai, 9322 Sunset Way. As usual, it will be held on the 1st Thursday of the month (April 7th) at 7 pm. Please join us and see our Vuecrest elected representatives in action. Everyone is welcome. Downtown Livability: Stakeholder Exhibits & Open House March 9th 5:30-7pm Bellevue City Hall Concourse As part of the Planning Commission's on-going work on the Downtown Livability Land Use Code Update, residents, developers, designers, and other interested parties are invited to exhibit their own concepts and provide feedback in an open house format regarding how recommendations from the Citizens Advisory Committee process may affect livability in Downtown Bellevue. The event will take place from 5:30-7pm on Wednesday, March 9 in the Bellevue City Hall Concourse. It will provide a chance to chat with Planning Commissioners, staff, and others about livability ideas prior to the regular Commission meeting later that evening. All are welcome to interact as attendees at this idea-sharing event without an RSVP. For more details: <http://www.bellevuewa.gov/planning_commission.htm> http://www.bellevuewa.gov/planning_commission.htm Patti Wilma and Emil King, planning managers for the City of Bellevue, attended our recent board meeting on March 3rd and gave an excellent presentation on height changes that would affect the development of the properties adjacent to the east border of Vuecrest (Northwest Village). The height of the buildings and the density of people will impact all of us in Vuecrest, and if our voices are to be heard, this Planning Commission meeting on March 9th is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to learn more. A Bellevue Planning Commission meeting will follow the Livability meeting. This is open to the public for those who wish to stay. Egg Hunt Don't miss it! Our annual neighborhood event will be on March 19th at the Esplanade (Entrance at Park Road). Festivities begin at 11 a.m. sharp with an egg hunt for the 5 and under age group. This will be followed by ages 6-10 and then 11 and up. There will be a prize for the finder of the golden egg! This is a great time to meet your neighbors and their kids. Coffee will be available for parents and friends (and maybe even a jelly bean or two). All Vuecrest owners and residents are invited. The Easter bunny will make a guest appearance. "Here come's Peter Cottontail, hoppin' down the bunny trail, Hippity-hoppity, Easter's on its way" (1949 song by Nelson & Rollins; 2 years later they wrote another big hit: Frosty the Snowman) TID-BITS! I see early jonquils poking their little yellow faces through the dirt, and our man, Jose, helps to give their slender stalks some elbow room. And by our door - lavender daphne buds redolent of the sweet fragrance of nature's own perfume, teases our senses to Think Spring! It's been an easy winter, not too cold, (though perhaps a wee too wet). All in all, just enough for our new winter clothes to be "sported and outed". And, of course, great snow pack in the mountains means water for our green summer yards. So, it's all good- Time to stretch the body parts and welcome this new season! Where to go? GO GREEN! On Saturday, March 19, 10-3PM the Center for Urban Horticulture (CUH) will have its annual Plant Sale and Potting Party ( <http://www.mgfkc.org> www.mgfkc.org) and if you have a little extra free time, why not volunteer to help at the sale! Sign up on their web-site. *** On the eastside, Wells-Medina Nursery is unloading truckloads of bare-root roses and bedding plants and their wonderful staff always has great ideas about shade vs. sun, or dry vs. wet. ***It's not officially spring in the NW until you've taken those "I can't believe they aren't photo-shopped" pix at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Mt. Vernon, which runs the whole month of April . So, follow the advice of Tiny Tim (aka Herbert Khaury 1932-1996) and. Tip-toe thru the.you know whats! ( <http://www.tulipfestival.org> www.tulipfestival.org). Ready for some TV & tunes? KCTS Channel 9 will have a wonderful special, "The Carpenters" on Saturday, March 19 at 7PM. They were a dynamite group from the 60's-70's with big hits too numerous to mention (though I do recall that "We've Only Just Begun" was sung at a wedding of mine. oh so long ago). If that was your era, watch it and melt into one big soppy puddle of sentimentality. *** Tikkies going on sale soon for Billy Joel at Safeco Field on May 20, and if you're Born in the USA, don't miss seeing "The Boss", Bruce Springsteen on March 24 at Key Arena (Tickets avbl now). ***The Village Theater in Issaquah will debut "My Heart is the Drum", a musical that takes place in Africa, where a poor young Ghanaian woman has great hopes for a university education and longs to experience life in a large city. It runs from March 17 to April 24 and tickets are avbl. at <http://www.villagetheater.org> www.villagetheater.org . It sounds warm and wonderful; me thinks we'll go see it. Perhaps reminiscent of what we all felt some years ago as a newly minted young adult, waiting anxiously for life to unfold. Forsooth! "Brush up your Shakespeare! Start quoting him now! Brush up your Shakespeare and the women, you will WOW!" (Cole Porter, 1948). 5th annual Shakespeare Festival on Orcas Island from March 30-April 2. It's all things Shakespeare.BARD none - hahaha! Street theater, medieval costume parade, dance party! Can you play the flute? Are you a harpy? (no 2 cents needed here from the spouse) Then please- sign up to play at intermission of their "Midsummer Night's Dream" production! Too far to travel? No need to circle the "GLOBE" (hahaha again!). Our local Bellevue library will introduce "A Winter's Tale" on March 11 and 18 from 10:15 - 12:15 in room A. It's a tale of Kings and Queens and spoiled royal urchins. (Except for the fancy titles, it sounds pretty typical of most households). Enjoy the drama and comedy. As ole Bill used to say: "all's well that ends well". Looking for ways to entertain the kids (or grandkids!) on spring break? Attention all budding cinematographers! SIFF (Seattle Film Festival) is holding 2 "spring-break" camps at Seattle Center where 10-13 year olds can work with experienced mentors and learn the process of making a short film. Week 1: April 4-8, Week 2: April 11-15. Sign up your little rascals! *** On Saturday, April 30, 11-4PM, Kelsey Creek Farm Park in Bellevue is holding their annual Sheep Shearing (for free!) and there's SO MUCH MORE: pony and tractor rides, face painting, fiber crafts, and great snacks. It is a terrific event ( I know! I go!) Call 425-452-7688 or google it for details.*** "And They Called it Puppy Love." (Paul Anka - 1960) Swoon all over again at the 2016 Annual Kennel Club Dog Show at CLINK on March 12-13, as over 2000 pooches strut their stuff and vie for honor of Top Dog. (I wonder what breed holds the title for "Most Wags per Minute".that's the one for me!). Get "pup-close and personal" as the groomers coif and primp their precious darlings.*** Not to be outdone by those spittle-smacking, jowl-jiggling, potty-drinking dustbags of canis familiaris is the Eastside Humane Society's "Kitty Literature" program. It's a great opportunity for the young hesitant reader to practice reading aloud to shelter cats. ( I mean, have you ever known a feline to be judgmental when spoken to?? Let's get real; they don't even know if you're saying their name.and they don't CARE! I've been reading to my fuzzy-faced furrball for a decade but with minimal success -one or both of us always falls asleep before I even turn the first page. At this rate, I'll never know if Scarlett gets Rhett, or poor hapless Anna.does she catch Count Vronsky? or the train..?? Oh, such great drama being foiled by somnolence). So, YES! read to those pusses! Mon-Wed 3-6PM, starting March 31. Sessions are 20", prrr. register on-line. =^..^= *** Who can't love the annual Cultural Fair at Crossroads, March 12-13! Booths galore from all around the world! Presentations, demonstrations, eat-a-nation ( I just made that one up), folkloric dancing, cultural exhibits, ethnic shopping. Great fun for the whole family! It's just Crossroads doing what Crossroads does best.being a harmonious microcosm of international terrestrials. GO! Be a part of it! Don't forget - you're ethnic too! Our local Girls Scouts will be making a pitch to your "sweet" side in the next several weeks. Think: Thin mints! Tagalongs! Samoas! What's in it for you? Little bites of confectionary heaven! What's in for our Scouts? 100% of the net revenue stays with the local Scout council and is used for camps, outings or community enhancements thru their Take Action/Service projects. And they earn that "Cookie Business" badge! (My cousin was a Girl Scout leader for over 50 years. When she retired she was teaching the grandchildren of her original troop members! All generations still gather at her home in the Czech Republic every year for their own mini-jamboree). Have you heard that kids in Washington state aren't learning cursive in school anymore? It's true! Why not perfect your own skills and inspire them. That hen scratch is for the birds! Lake Hills Library is presenting an "Art of Calligraphy" workshop on Sunday, March 29 at 3:30PM where you can practice strokes and swoops and loops and curves and bolds and fades and.whatever!!! Pens provided, just bring a steady hand and you can set free your own inimitable flourish! (Your 4th grade teacher would be so proud of you!) Need a little calm and tranquility in your life? Even just a few moments of quiet time can restore our "get up and go" if it just "got up and went"! The Seattle Japanese Garden opens for the season on Tuesday, March 1 and will be open 10AM - 5PM Tuesdays-Sundays in March. The official garden opening and first viewing, with Shinto blessing ceremony, tea service and historic photo display is 11-3PM on Sunday, March 6, located at 1075 Lake Washington Blvd E. in Seattle. Admission is $4.-$6. Call 206-684-4725 or <http://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org> www.seattlejapanesegarden.org for more information. Mid-winter doldrums got you whining??? Well. start WINE-ing instead! Join the downtown Issaquah Wine-Walk on the first Friday of April and May. Groove to live music, snacks, art happenings and local "boutique wines" poured at various vineyard-inal oases as you parchedly mosey along. Remember "The Days of Wine and Roses (Mancini/Mercer 1962)? Well, roses are so "February", and now it's March! So just do wine - What a great way to adjust that attitude! <http://www.downtownissaquah.com> www.downtownissaquah.com for details. Wine more = whine less! Philanthropy; don't resist- it always makes us feel good! Consider this wonderful fundraiser: the Kiran Anjali Project that benefits impoverished young girls in India in need of education. Join me for a luncheon and event on March 17th at 11AM at the Bellevue Westin. The original funding established The Wings School in Bangalore, which proudly graduated its first nine girls in May, 2015 and there are currently 150 younger girls enrolled, fighting against strong odds, to follow in their footsteps. The Wings School offers education in a community where girls are typically undernourished, leave formal education at age 12, and are likely married before the legal age of 18. Prior to enrolling, a young girl's parents must sign an agreement that they will not engage in an arranged marriage for their daughter prior to graduation. You'll be inspired, informed, and entertained as you enjoy a delicious Indian lunch. Make your heart happy in offering real hope for nutrition, education and a path out of poverty for these girls. I hope you'll join me and help create a child's future, made possible by you. Register at: <http://kaproject.org> http://kaproject.org and click "events". "In Dublin's fair city, where girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone." (Irish folk song - 1884). Let's not forget the Holiday of the Month - St. Paddy's Day! (Did you hear the one about poor old Murphy? He swallowed a spoon and hasn't stirred since- ) Here are some other options besides searching your back yard for 4-leaf clovers. Get your green on and join the great Irish Festival (in partnership with the Irish Heritage Club) at Seattle Center on March 12 -13. Food, games, marketplace, music, genealogy workshops etc. Or just saunter down BelFair to FX McRorys on Thursday, March 17 for a pint o' green beer (Guinness and Harp) as strolling musicians and bagpipe bands entertain from 11AM to 10PM. What Irish repast could evoke sweeter memories of Ye Ole Shamrockville than corned beef and cabbage. No cover, just come and enjoy! That's it! Too much fun! SPOILER ALERT: Don't forget to PAY YOUR TAXES! (You KNOW how much you'd miss your little Vuecrest homestead if you had to trade it in for concrete walls and metal bars). Need some help? (I know I would if I didn't have a husband who can add and subtract -what do I know about 1099, 401-K, WD-40, 10-4, 4-10, K-1...or was it K-9??). Once again, our Bellevue library to the rescue! Get free individualized tax preparation assistance by trained volunteers. Just bring picture ID, documented proof of social security number, last year's tax return and any current tax documents. No charge, no appointments, first come, first served. Wednesdays and Thursdays thru April 14, 10AM -4PM in room #3. (I have a soft spot for you, my dear neighbors. If you forget to pay up, I PROMISE to bring you warm cookies on visitors day). If you drive a car, I'll tax the street; If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat; If you get too cold, I'll tax the heat; If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet. (The Beatles - "The Tax Man" 1963) New to the Vue! Please welcome these 3 new families to Vuecrest. At 9630 Hilltop are the Wangs, a family of five. Zelin, a businessman and his wife Lin have a son, Elliott who is studying at Bellevue College. Two younger daughters are finishing up the school year in Shenzhen, China with their mom. Elliott enjoys skiing, football and other outdoor activities. Grandma Fengqin lives with them 6 months a year and enjoys working in the garden. At 9623 Vineyard is the Liang family from Taizhou, China. Their daughter Nancy is a 9th grader at Bellevue High and likes to read and play video games. They enjoy gardening, particularly flowers and trees. They are currently working on a "do-it-yourself" eco-friendly watering system for their yard. Feel free to share any ideas you may have. Mr. Liang is a ping-pong player and a member of a local table-tennis club. They have volunteered to help with the Easter Egg hunt, so you can meet them there. Mr. and Mrs. Gao from Shanghai are renting a home at 924 Sunset Way while they look for a home to buy in the Bellevue area. They have a 12 year old son and a 10 year old daughter, who enjoy sports and music, particularly playing drums and the guitar. Let's hope they find the right home in Vuecrest so they can be our neighbors for a long time! Vintage Vuecrest- Every month I plan to highlight a Vuecrest family that has lived here a long time. I think we'd all enjoy hearing their memories of the "early years". What a delight to meet our new/old neighbors Mardi and Tim Myre! They are new to us, but old to Vuecrest. They moved into their lovely rambler at 9664 Hilltop Road in 1981. Mardi was a stay-at-home mom to their 4 daughters while Tim was a P. E. teacher for the Seattle School district and did part-time landscaping to supplement their income. They had looked at many other houses around Bellevue but quickly bought this one when the seller said he was willing to carry the loan. Banks were charging a whopping 18% interest at that time, more than what the Myres' budget could manage. When they moved in, the exterior of the home was in need of fresh paint, so thrifty Tim went to Ernst and picked up some cans of the free mismatches. The only color he could find in quantity sufficient for the job was a peach tone. They liked peaches on a tree, so why not on a house, too! It didn't take long for Mr. Boncutter, who lived across the street, to inform Tim that he really shouldn't continue painting because that color was not "acceptable" by Vuecrest standards. Good neighbor Tim complied, returned the freebies and repainted his abode in a more neutral shade. Their home is still an "original" though they have updated the interior thru the years. One of their fondest memories of their early years in Vuecrest is the "Birthday Parade". When a birthday came around for each of their 4 daughters, they would invite all their little friends to come over and ride their bikes up and down Hilltop Road (very few cars then). Mardi recalls that Anne Kellogg would lead the parade, like a majorette, with a flag. Soon other families joined in or brought chairs to the side of the road, waving and cheering as the Birthday Entourage passed by. The parade grew bigger and noisier with every lap. As the girls grew older, they even took turns racing the "Hilltop strip" with Tim's go-cart. After several parade laps, all the neighbors would come to Mardi's for cake and ice cream and to catch up on neighborhood chatter. It's clear the Myres have very fond memories of their early years in Vuecrest, but they are equally excited to meet new people and watch the neighborhood grow and change. And how lucky we are to have them! Tim does the fine job of landscaping and maintenance for all of the public esplanades and pathways here in Vuecrest; and he does an EXCELLENT job! Next time you see him, give him a (green) "thumbs up" for all his hard work! Got some Tid-bits for me??? Know of an event? Garage sale? Lost ferret? Free fondue pot? Our Newsletter is YOUR newsletter, so keep in touch! Send your ideas to <mailto:dtpit@uw.edu> dtpit@uw.edu. Let's celebrate spring with a gentle Gaelic blessing: "May the hand of a friend always be near you". Mara