More than 300 residents gathered at the lawn at City Hall on Saturday to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The crowd engaged in a moment of silence, followed by a Bellevue Police and Fire Department Honor Guard ceremony and a rendition of the National Anthem by the Two Scoops musical combo.

The event was put together by Neighbor Link, a city program established in 2009 to foster strong ties between individuals and their neighborhoods. A total of 20 neighborhoods were honored during the gathering for participation in food and school supply drives among other charitable fundraisers.

Special recognition was given to four neighborhoods for outstanding projects.

The award for outstanding collaboration was given to Forest Ridge, Forest Ridge Estates and Oakedale Drive at Forest Ridge for working jointly on a people and pet food drive.

Monthaven was successful in re-energizing the neighborhood association and was recognized for collection of food and diapers, a community cleanup, Block Watch program and neighborhood directory.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Newport Neighbors partnered to maintain a community pea patch on church property. All proceeds from the plot were donated to the food bank, inspiring many of the other pea patch owners to donate portions of their harvests as well.

The prize for the highest participation was awarded to the Crofton neighborhood, a small area of 100 homes that collected the most food for the second year in a row. The champion food drive motivator in the neighborhood was 5-year-old Kate Scott, working together with her mother and grandmother.

For more information on the Neighbor Link program, contact Julie Ellenhorn at City of Bellevue, 425-452-5372.