Congratulations to Starpoint resident Nina Milligan for being recognized as November’s Volunteer of the Month in Issaquah Highlands! Thanks for everything you do, Nina!
To me, volunteering is a selfish act. I always receive way more than I give.
One of the main reasons we moved to Issaquah Highlands was the prospect of being active members of the community. Volunteering is a big part of that, but not the only part. Knowing our neighbors is the other.
Issaquah Highlands is designed for neighbors. Homes gathered along tidy courts or parks, no tall fences, walkable destinations, local restaurants and stores, and Blakely Hall. You don’t have to “volunteer” to invite neighbors over for a holiday party or for an emergency preparedness gathering. But there are many ways you can volunteer and enjoy the power of working with others. We moved here in 2004 wanting to be part of it all!
From the beginning we helped to host neighborhood gatherings such as the Crofton Springs summer potluck. And I volunteered with Highlands Council’s Community Development Committee (CDC), helping to shape quality of life and belonging in Issaquah Highlands. The friendships I made there continue today. Next, I was appointed to serve on the City of Issaquah’s Urban Village Development Commission (UVDC), which I did for eight years. We reviewed builder applications, approving or recommending for approval construction permits for all Urban Villages, including Issaquah Highlands.
Volunteering in my neighborhood continues today in Starpoint, where we moved to in 2019. I just love helping neighbors get to know one another! We gather Starpoint neighbors together a few times a year, simply sliding downstairs to Zeeks Pizza to share longer-than-elevator-ride conversations.
And then there’s Blakely Hall: What a fantastic resource for the community! Back in the day, a couple neighbors and I started a monthly movie night there. We even put on a red-carpet Oscar Night for the greater community. And then there was Travel Club, started and expertly run by a handful of neighbors with me as an active member. I made several good friends through this group.
As an employee of Highlands Council at Blakely Hall, I enjoyed fostering volunteerism in Issaquah Highlands. While in that role, I started and now volunteer for the Candidate Forums at Blakely Hall. And I still volunteer at the City of Issaquah. After the UVDC, I was a city councilmember, chaired the Transportation Advisory Committee, and now am a member of the Planning Policy Commission. These engagements help keep me informed about what’s going on and provide valuable learning opportunities.
Rob and I moved into Crofton Springs in 2004. Tyler joined us full time as a junior at Issaquah High School, class of 2015. We lived off the hill for a couple years but moved back after realizing we spent all our time here anyway. Now we enjoy a lovely Starpoint condo, with a patio that has a magnificent view of Tiger Mountain. We like how easy it is for us to get into Grand Ridge Park for a woodsy walk, or to walk to the store or movies. Issaquah Highlands is a village in a city, and we like that!
Milligan family on the Grand Ridge Trail in June 2021. (L to R) Rob Milligan, Zia, Hollis, Hilarie (daughter), Luella Letson, Nina Milligan, Zoey Johnston with Tyler Milligan (son).
Are you inspired to get involved in the Issaquah Highlands community?
Opportunities are available!
Click here to discover all the different ways you can get involved in our Issaquah Highlands community, including opportunities to join boards and committees, as well as urgent needs at local nonprofits.
Questions? Contact Lindsey Pinkston, Highlands Council Executive Director.
