whispers - whcca.org
TRANSCRIPT
Inside the Summer Issue:
WHISPERING HEIGHTS / COLLINGWOOD / SHALOCH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
WWW.WHCCA.ORG 4957 LAKEMONT BLVD SE, PMB 342, BELLEVUE WA 98006
Whispers August 2021, VOLUME 27, ISSUE 2
President’s Message - How We Can Create A Strong Community?
Just when you thought things seemed a bit normal again with our May rains, mother nature
hit us with a scorching start to Summer 2021! Time to re-think having A/C! This midyear check-in brings some wonderful news for our neighborhood. We nearly have a full slate of
Board Members, our Block Captain program is doing good work, and with the redistribution
of the printed Whispers newsletter (you’re reading it now) we are once again receiving
Dues payments from our residents!
While many of our board members have stepped up to pitch in, I would like to personally
recognize the near heroic actions taken on by Michele Vossler! She has really jumped in
this year to keep us moving in a positive direction and she has done a heck of a job getting our Emergency Kits updated and re-stocked! Getting this organized had to be like herding
cats, near impossible! Thanks Michele and everyone else who has pitched in this year!
Continued on page 3, “President’s Message”
The Hot Sheet 1
Our Streets and Comcast 1,3
2021 Highlights 1,3
Rants. Raves & Tips 2
Message from the Board Pres. 1,3
Dues payment list 2021 2
WHCCA Board & Info 4
Dues Payment Form 4
The Hot Sheet! www.whcca.org
Winter Snow & Plowing
Long-term residents of Whispering Heights
and Collingwood may have noticed that
plowing of 46th Way between 150th and 164th
has not occurred as often as it used to occur.
It was found that the City of Bellevue
changed the plowing priority of 46th Way from a “Primary Neighborhood Loop” to a
“Secondary Neighborhood Loop” (see http://
apps.bellevuewa.gov/gisdownload/PDF/
Transportation/SnowRoute_11x17.pdf for a
map of the City’s plowing priority). This
decision was appealed earlier this spring and
notice was received on June 14th that 46th
Way has been changed back to a “Primary
Neighbor Loop”. The map on the above link
has not yet been updated. Following is the feedback from our City:
I am happy to inform you that we have
process your request and have converted SE
46th way from 150th to 164th as a primary neighborhood loop from a secondary arterial.
Please be aware that this classification does
not change our priority in regards to snow removal or our response to routes but
hopefully this will help your neighborhood.
Our priority is still 75% of our snow removal
fleet on primary routes and 25% on
neighborhood loops.
This is another example of your WHCCA at work to support you.
Back to School Social We will celebrate Bellevue School District & Issaquah School district resuming in person learning and to wish all our children a wonderful school year. School resumes Wednesday September 1st for Bellevue schools and Tuesday Aug 31st for Issaquah schools. We will likely have the gathering a day or two before then. The date, time, location and details will be firmed up soon and posted on our web site, www.WHCCA.org. We would love a couple event volunteers; minimal time commitment.
Neighborhood and Yard Clean Up Weekend coming soon!
This Fall, before the rains start, we will focus on beautifying our common areas and helping any neighbors in need with their yardwork. The Board is looking for Scout Troops willing to pitch in, and one-time event volunteers who would be willing to help coordinate this event. If you would like information on helping with the event, OR if you are in need of help with your yard, email us at: [email protected]. Please visit www.WHCCA.org later this summer for details on this event. There will be donuts!
Questions? Suggestions? Ready to volunteer?
Three board positions open.
Contact the WHCCA board at
Cover art by Heather McCrone
WHCCA 2021 EVENT CALENDAR
These events are a work in progress!
• Back to school social — End of August
• Neighborhood cleanup— September
• Annual meeting TBD
Comcast and WHCCA
Many of you may have noticed that Comcast had crews in our area making cable
improvements that required digging up our streets and sidewalks. This was noticed on 46th Way and 158th Street. Contact was initiated with the City of Bellevue and we have learned
the following:
“The City requires full concrete sidewalk panel replacement to ensure there is not
subsequent differential settlement and meeting ADA standards of a 2% maximum cross-
slope. The temporary asphalt provides a stable hard surface for ADA accessibility until full restoration of the concrete panel has been completed.
The City requires a grind and overlay of the affected travel lane or lanes if the street was on
the grind and overlay list or no-cut list based on previously overlay or pavement restoration.
The parking of vehicles or other work performed that damages/kills vegetation requires that
such vegetation be restored. However, this may affect more mature vegetation where it
Continued on page 3, “Comcast”
Mailbox enclosures needing work
About 20 years ago, WHCCA volunteers
made a major effort to repair/ refurbish the
enclosures and install the standardized green boxes. Mailbox owners paid to
support the cost of this work. Since then,
many owners, either on their own or with
their neighbors, installed locking boxes.
Many of the enclosures with cedar shake
roofs are starting to show their age. With
WHISPERS, PAGE 2
Rants, Raves & Neighborhood tips, By Howdy Neighbor
buildup of moss on them and need to be
repainted or shakes replaced. Cleaning off
the moss (see below) will probably be
adequate for some; others need to have their shakes replaced.
This is not a WHCCA funded effort to
undertake this work but rather a call for
people to voice their interest and volunteer
to assist with their own and possibly other
enclosures. The association is also
interested in identifying individuals who
might be willing to do this kind of work on a
paid basis. (Any high school or college
student?) Please contact me at the email below if interested.
I have recently recycled some of the better
shakes from a neighbor replacing their roof
and these can be made available on a first
come basis. There will be some cost
involved as some materials will need to be
purchased.
Cleaning moss
I can assist you in determining if it makes sense to clean the roof or if the shakes
need to be replaced. Cleaning can be
accomplished by scraping moss off with a
putty knife and using a wire brush. A light
pressure wash might also help.
Replacing the shakes If shake replacement seems needed, we
would ask that one of the mailbox owners take
on the responsibility of coordinating the cost
with their neighbors. Costs will probably be on
the order of $50 if they do the work and
recycled shakes are used. $200+/- if new
shakes are used. Costs for labor by others will
depend on who we line up to do the work.
If you would like to get in line for work on your
enclosure and/or volunteer to help with the
effort, please contact me.
Dick Lee
New Dues Payments for 2021
Jack & Helen Akamine
William & Katie Audycki
Jane & Irv Becker
Steven & Lingling Becker
Elizabeth & Ralph Bevins
Ray Bigley & Nancy Gigante
Steve & Sheila Boyd
Larry & Donna Brickman
Patrick & Gayle Bryan
Angi & Stephen Butterworth
Michelle & Rob Cash
William, Tony, & Katherine Chace
William Chappel
Qiang Chen & Hongmei Yei
Arlene Cheng
YM & D Chien
Steve Christ
Jim & Frances Claypool
Phyllis & Paul Davis
Bev and Joe Dawson
Hao Ding
Don & Ingrid Durenberger
John Economus
Peter Eng & Margaret Li
Alise & Larry Fetsch
Dennis & Janet Fleck
Cameron & Carlyn Forrest
Jeff & Jane Gao
Pearl Grantham
Leonora Hansen
Will & Karen Hargreaves
Patrick or Stephanie Hauge
Zijie He
John & Kris Henn
Dr Tad & Elena Hsie
Pam Intoni
Lan Ji & Austin Zhang
Carol & Wayne Johnson
Praful & Kalpana Kachola
Hung-Yen & Shiu-Mei Kao
Richard & Kay Kim
Barbara & Tomothy King
Martha & Paul Koshiyama
Bobby Larson
Janet & Steven Lee
John & Liz Lee
Ben Listwon
Yi Liu & Ping Guo
Nan Lu
Jing Lu & Cheng Qiu
Charles & Mei-June Luo
Patricia Mainella
Daniel Antonio Garcia Manzato
Sudheer Maremanda
Ann Marten
Donna & Jeff Martin
Rob & Farel McClure
Brian McConnel
Doug & Judy McDonald
Julie & Paul Mezs
Sherrin Minaee
Carol Mix
Pete & Marian Monwai
Walter Mor
Charlie Mullen & Carol Wilson
Shelly & Joan Muth
Stella Nieman
Arnold Nordsieck
Jim & Viki O'Connor
Hiroshi & Mie Ohno
Tin-Fook Ong & Daphne Huang
Louse Ono & Nate Nduchi
Kathy Osler
Gene Paek
Eddie & Hannah Park
Jim & Laurie Phillips
Kelly & Amy Raber
Deepa & Raghu Rao
Richard & Setsuko Reeves
Rick & Joan Rehrl
Bryon & Diane Richards
William & Suzanne Rittenhouse
Wendy Romanchuk & Ron Czarney
Ruth & Stuart Rosen
Marty & Duane Schaff
Jack & Rhonda Schwisow
John & Celia Sekijima
Paul Senio
Vickie & Jon Shimada
Evan & Christine Shultz
Andy Siow
A huge thank you to everyone who has paid their 2021 Dues for WHCCA!
Virginia Skordal
Lisa Smith
Robert & Linda Sorensen
Lauren & Peter Sreibers
Jo & Herbert Stier
Richard Swaisgood
John & Diane Thompson
Joanne Tittle
Hiep & Yen Tran
Ken & Cara Viafore
Doris & Vince Visaya
David & Michele Vossler
Haiying Wang & Ying Zhong
Bruce & Laura Warren
Max & Yvonne Wheat
Diane Woltz
Jeff & Suusie Yamane
Dorina Wai Ha & Samuel Man Sing
Ye
Xucheng Huang & Jing You
Tony & Jana Yuen
Richard Zhao & Ping Ping Meng
Don’t see your name and it
should be there? Email the
board at
WHISPERS, PAGE 3
Many thanks to our
Newsletter Distribution Team!
The Whispers distribution team deserves
many kudos for helping distribute our newsletter!
We always need more volunteers! Take a
walk around the neighborhood delivering
newsletters! Please contact Carol if you
are able to be part of our “permanent”
distribution team! ([email protected])
Distribution Leader: Carol Stuckey
Delivery Team:
may be more appropriate to restore said plants with 1- or 2-gallon size of plants for
improved plant establishment versus what
would be a 5 or larger gallon sizing. Any
grasses damaged will need to be restored to a uniform grade before re-sodding or
seeding. Given this is now in the summer
months sod would be more appropriate;
however, depending on heat or other
conditions, may not survive and need subsequent replacement. This is
something you may help us with should any
vegetation restored not survive – let us
know so we may follow up with Comcast especially leading into the fall months, when
gasses may die back or go dormant until
the rains return.”
If you see replaced vegetation/grass that has not survived (or hasn’t been replaced), please contact Rick Logwood at [email protected]
(Continued from page 1, Comcast)
We were thrilled to finally have our first in
person event in over a year and a half! The
Annual Fourth of July Parade. Turn out was
amazing and we received donations for a
local food bank in desperate need. Keep an
eye out for future events…. Ice Cream
Social, Fall clean up, and more.
We could still use your assistance with a few
things…. Please evaluate your yards! If it’s
in disarray, please clean it up. If you aren’t
capable of doing so or just don’t know how,
reach out to a board member or a neighbor.
When I grew up my parents had me mowing
the yard and pulling weeds. Is it fun, not
really….although many folks find it relaxing
and therapeutic. We have way too many yards that are in disarray (tall grass,
overgrown shrubs/weeds) and that is not
acceptable. Please, take pride in your home
and your neighborhood. Again, we are here
to help, not judge…so please reach out for
assistance. We have some amazing green
thumbs around here! I’d recommend
starting with your Block Captain… not sure
who it is? Check it out on our website.
This year is shaping up to be on track towards a bit of normalcy. What a relief…. We look forward to seeing you out and about this Summer!
-Jason Cook
(Continued from page 1, President’s Message) WHCCA Financial Report
A hearty thanks to all of you who have sub-
mitted your 2021 dues. A list of 2021 dues
payers as of June 30 is included in your
newsletter. It is not too late to send your dues check in if you haven’t done so –
please see page 4 for the form to be mailed
back with your dues check.
As of June 30, we have received a total of
$6,726. This total represents $5,691 in 2021
dues payments, $400 in dues payments for
2020, and $635 in donations above the $50 annual dues.
A major effort was undertaken to restock the
Emergency Kits, replacing material that ex-
pired. The City of Bellevue has stated that
we need to be able to take care of ourselves
for a period of time (potentially two weeks) following an emergency such as an
earthquake. Thus, your WHCCA updated
the Emergency Kits located in each of the
18 Blocks. It is very important that you know
who your Block Captain is, make sure that
she/he has your email address and phone
number(s) so that they can check on you in
case of an emergency, and where your
Block’s Emergency Kit is stored.
I would like to thank Gayle Brown-Frisch for
her many years of volunteer efforts as our
WHCCA Treasurer. Her attention to detail is
noteworthy, and she has served us nobly.
When you see her, please thank her.
Yours in service,
Dennis Fleck, WHCCA Treasurer.
Jeff Mendoza
Gigi Skordal
Phyllis Davis
Christine Shultz
Don Durenberger
Janet Fleck
Dennis Fleck
Jay Reyna
Tim Rausch
Trish Rausch
Jeff Johnson
Lori Johnson
Dana Lindstadt
Larry Brickman
Donna Brickman
Joanie Muth
Julie Brown
Barbara Unger
Sarah Burke
Carol Stuckey
Updating our Emergency Kits
Michele Vossler ordered over $3000 of new and replacement supplies for the WHCCA Emergency First Aid Kits. Block captains took the existing kits to Michele’s house July 7-9 to replace expired items, and to ensure the kits had a full comple-ment of 28 items to be used in case of a disaster striking our neighborhoods.
Kudos!
The sprinklers at the Whispering Heights entrance are fixed and operational. Thank you to Dennis Fleck for working on the repairs! The sprinklers will now water the island and keep the ailing trees alive.
Garbage, Recycle and Compost Cart
Placement per City of Bellevue
The city would like us to place carts out
by 7 a.m. on your scheduled service
day. Place carts at least 2 feet apart and at least 3 feet away from other ob-
jects like cars, trees or mailboxes. Allow
at least 14 feet of overhead clearance.
Per City -Do not block sidewalks or
bike lanes. Remove carts by 6 p.m. on
your collection day. And… wheels to
the curb!
USPS Mailboxes and You.
The Post Office requires that we do NOT park within ten feet of our mailbox
stations so the mail trucks can easily
get to the mailboxes without getting out
of their trucks. They will just drive on
past if blocked. Not if, but WILL drive
past. If you have workers or guests at
your home, please make sure they ob-
serve leaving space by the mailboxes.
WHISPERS, PAGE 4
COMPLETE & MAIL this form with check payable to “WHCCA” and mail to this address or hand deliver to your block captain:
NAME __________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS _______________________________________________________________
PHONE _____________________________________
Dues enclosed $_______________ ($50 suggested) I am also enclosing an additional donation of $_________________.
___ Please check this box if you would like to provide WHCCA with your email address in case we need to send all households a time-sensitive email instead of going through your Block Captain. Please note that ALL emails will be kept confidential by WHCCA and not shared with anyone outside the Board. In the event we need to communicate with all households, we will use the “BCC” feature so that your email is not displayed to others.
Your email address(s) (Please print carefully): ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Activities you might be interested in helping with: WHCCA Board of Directors _____, Spring Egg Hunt_____, July 4th Event _____,
Emergency Planning ____, Neighborhood cleanup_____, Block Program _____, Newsletter distribution _____, Back to School Social _____
Summer Block Parties ____, Translating newsletters into another language _____ (which language? ________________________)
WHCCA Treasurer, PMB 342
4957 Lakemont Blvd. SE
Bellevue WA 98006
Our City of Bellevue
Neighborhood Liaison
Carol Ross can be reached by phone at 425-452-7917, and by email at
2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers
President: Jason Cook,
4625 159th Avenue SE, [email protected]
Vice President: Karen Fusaro Secretary: Michele Vossler Treasurer: Dennis Fleck Board Members at large
Larry Brickman Peter Eriksen Jing Ju Benjamin Listwon Thomas Uphill We need 3 more Board Members! We are striving for a diverse, inclusive group of representatives from a variety of blocks in Whispering Heights, Collingwood and Shaloch. Minimal time commitment! We meet just 4 times a year. Are you interested in learning what’s involved? Drop us a line at [email protected].
EVENT HELPERS WANTED!
Summer Block Parties August Back to School Social: TBD Fall Neighborhood cleanup: TBD Garage Sale: TBD Egg hunt: 2022 Guidance and funding is available for all events. Questions? [email protected]
WHCCA ADJUNCT FUNCTIONS*** Emergency communications:
Vacant—need volunteer
Emergency planning: Jason Cook (& liaison to Bellevue)
Neighborhood Block Program: Larry & Donna Brickman
Neighborhood Database/Dues Karen Fusaro
Landscape: Need volunteers
Garden club: Need volunteers
Web site: Thomas Uphill, [email protected]
Whispers distribution: Carol Stuckey [email protected]
Whispers editor: Janet Fleck, [email protected], 425-643-7878 ***Board email: If you don’t see a specific email address, send your in-quiry to [email protected].
Bellevue Emergency Mgmt Coordinator: [email protected] or facebook.com/Bellevue OEM
Utility Emergency (24 hr): Bellevue City Utilities - 425-452-7840 Puget Sound Energy - 888-225-5773
Covid-19 Information: WA Dept of Health: 800-525-0127 Public Health King County: 206-477-3977
Please copy any correspondence to our WHCCA Emergency Planning liaison Jason Cook, [email protected].
”Like” us on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/MyWHCCA
Dues payers– we appreciate you!
Thank you for helping keep our WHCCA
events available to our community! Half was
through 2021!
The suggested 2021 annual dues is $50 per household.
July 4th Event!
After a one-year hiatus, WHCCA was delighted to host our Annual Independence Day Celebration and 2nd Annual Food Drive at Lattawood Park. About 75 neighbors of all ages gathered in the picnic shelter to enjoy refreshments, music and juggling, to visit with each other, and to watch the Kids Parade through the park. Neighbors donated 390 items and $100 to the food drive for Renewal Food Bank, which benefits families here in Bellevue.
Photograph by J Fleck
Neighborhood
Little Free
Library!
The Rosens have
installed a Little
Free Library! It’s
on 158th between
46th Way and
47th Place. Take
a book, leave a
book. Check it out!