As we welcome 2026, let’s take a moment to reflect on our successes from the past year. Highlands Council hosted 65 community events, including exciting first-time gatherings such as Ladies Singo Night, Movie on the Green, the Puzzling Challenge and our End of Summer Community Picnic.
The Highlands Council team (left to right):
Betty, Lindsey, Maddie and Carol.
We also supported residents in launching five new community groups at Blakely Hall and made a major transition from Connections newspaper to this beautiful glossy magazine, bringing community information and stories to life in a fresh new format.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to continue building community with you in the neighborverse. This year, you can look forward to a continuation of the Are You Ready? emergency preparedness workshop series, two movies at Village Green Park this summer and a variety of other programs designed to build connections.
From all of us at Highlands Council, we wish you a joyful new year filled with friendship, good neighbors and meaningful community connections.
Welcome to the Team—Betty Lee!
I’m thrilled to introduce Betty Lee, the new community engagement coordinator at Highlands Council. A longtime Issaquah Highlands resident with a passion for community, Betty brings to our team a wealth of experience and knowledge from working in the parks and community services field.
In her new role, Betty will be managing most of our 50+ events each year. She will also coordinate with our community group leaders and assist with our social media.
Outside of work, Betty is the proud paw-rent of Chewie, her Yorky-Pomeranian. She loves watching and playing sports, taking advantage of the area’s outdoor activities and making music (she plays nine instruments!).
Be sure to say “hi” when you see Betty at an upcoming event or stop by Blakely Hall to meet her.
Cultivating Community: Garden Season Approaches
As the new year begins, Highlands Council and the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) are preparing for another successful gardening season. Our neighborhood is home to 170 garden patches spread across three locations: Vista, Sunset Walk and Westridge.
The Vista Gardens, located along the paved path between Park Drive at Trail Head Vista and Natalie Way, were the first gardens established in Issaquah Highlands. With slightly larger patches than other sites, seasonal fees are $150 per patch.
Across Park Drive from Fire Station 73, the Sunset Walk Gardens feature raised concrete beds and cost $125 per season.
The Westridge Garden, at the corner of Westridge Southeast and 6th Avenue Northeast, also offers raised concrete beds and two ADA-accessible patches. Seasonal fees are $125 per patch.
January is the renewal period for current gardeners, who will receive email notices to secure their patches for the 2026 growing season. In February, any available patches will be offered to those on the waitlist. Interested in joining the community garden? Submit the form to get on the waitlist for 2026.
Resilience Hub Progress Report
We are pleased to share that Blakely Hall is now equipped with backup power, giving us the capability to serve the community during a power outage. Thanks to Highlands Fiber Network (HFN) for allowing us to use their generator, essential power needs at Blakely Hall can now be met.
While the entire facility cannot be powered, the generator supports key functions such as:
- Lighting in select areas
- Restroom facilities
- Heating and hot water
- Select electrical outlets
- Refrigerators for safe storage of medication and breast milk
We envision Blakely Hall as a safe and welcoming space during power outages and other emergencies, offering neighbors a warm place to gather, recharge basic electronics and enjoy games or movies together.
Resilience Hub operations depend on several factors, including volunteer/staff availability, city emergency response and supply inventory. For the most up-to-date information on available services, please check our official social media channels, website and signage posted outside Blakely Hall.
Lindsey Pinkston is the executive director of Highlands Council and a Wisteria Park resident.
As published in the winter 2026 issue of Community Connect magazine >>>
