SAPOA Newsletter
Winter 2003

SUNSHINE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 824, SEQUIM WA 98382-0824          


Presidents Message

    In my formative youthful years and up through middle age I looked forward to late October and early November.  The cool crisp mornings meant the time for pheasant, quail, and deer hunting had arrived in my then Nebraska home.  Time shared with my father in the field was a precious commodity.  That was then.  Now my armament is a 35-mm camera and the field could be my front yard.
    
    This morning a covey of quail scurried across the yard soon to be followed by a magnificent four point buck.  Both just a few yards from our front door and this was not a rare occurrence.  Later that day a short neighborhood walk in that same crisp November air reminded me of just how fortunate we are to live in such a splendid spot.  Peaceful, quiet, great water and mountain views, and friendly neighbors who care.  Yes it is great, but there are some problems in paradise.
  
     Loose and roaming dogs continue to be a nuisance and have in two cases caused significant personal injury.  Growth brings more traffic and speed laws are more often being ignored.  Littering along Diamond Point Road and Sunshine Acres streets seems to be on the increase.  Summer drought and nearby Miller Peninsula wildfires got our attention.  Let's tackle these problems now before they get out of hand.
    
    Please continue to report loose and or aggressive dogs to the Clallam County Sheriff.  Yes, they likely will tell you to deal with the problem yourself since they currently have no animal control division.  However, County Commissioner Steve Tharinger and Sheriff Joe Martin, as part of their recent political campaigns, have promised to readdress the issue.  So, keep the dog control pressure on and all drivers please slow down.
Everyone picking up in front of their own lot and any adjoining vacant lots can solve the community litter problem.  Also if you could use the exercise, and who can't, assist along Diamond Point Road by taking a walk with a trash bag.

    Individuals willing to participate in an Emergency Response Training program can diminish the wildfire danger.  See the separate newsletter article for more details.  Remember; in the San Diego/Los Angeles fires several lives were lost when residents tried unsuccessfully to flee on single access roads such as Diamond Point has.

    It all boils down to everyone being part of the solution and not part of the problem.  Make the effort!  Everyone benefits.
Disaster Awareness Emergency Preparedness Training

December 8, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fire Station, District 3 volunteer Bob Rhoads will conduct training for local residents.  The meeting is geared toward educating residents in emergency preparedness for their homes and families and to offer further training for individuals willing to serve as coordinators for the area in disaster situations.  Interested parties may contact SAPOA Director Dan Abbott at 582-3824 for further details
Amateur Radio Emergency Service

Clallam County Emergency Management is looking for Diamond Point individuals who currently are licensed Amateur Radio (HAM) Operators or are willing to be trained and then be licensed.  Those individuals would man the radio station recently activated at our local volunteer fire station near the airport.  Their mission would be to provide communication links with District 3 Sequim Fire Headquarters, Olympic Medical Center, and Clallam County Emergency Operations in Port Angeles.  Interested parties should contact Rich Golding at 360-683-9309
Junk Cars

In the Fall SAPOA Newsletter it was reported that the junk vehicle abandoned at the makeshift park and ride at the intersection of Diamond Point Road and Highway101 was being addressed by Amber at Pope Resources.  Well it turns out the true property owner is Allen Forestry and Tim Allen is working on the issue.  Mr. Allen assures us that, although progress is slow he is working with Clallam County and once he receives the proper paperwork, will have it legally towed.  Please bear with us and it will happen.
Red Warning Light

Several residents have inquired about the red light near our SAPOA reader board and the near by water tower.  Aquarius Utilities in Poulsbo who provide water service to Diamond Point residents but not Sunshine Acres residents, tell us it is an overflow warning device for the tower.  It is designed to alert their users of the problem and for them to contact Aquarius at 360-779-1565.  
Mussel Beach Road Fund

The target is in sight!  The Mussel Beach Road repair fund is growing and with scheduled dues payments should reach our target funding level of $120,000 by the end of 2004 or early 2005.  However your SAPOA Board of Directors and the Mussel Beach Road Committee believe that if we could reach that target sooner we should be able to secure the repairs at lower cost than waiting one more year.  Therefore we are encouraging those who are able and would be willing to prepay their 2004-2005 dues. These additional funds will provide increased ability for negotiating with contractors and the possibility of starting work during the summer of 2004.  Please use the form below if you elect to prepay those dues
2003-2004 Board of Directors

Elections are over and the new SAPOA Board of Directors has been installed.  Many thanks to Marydee Countryman who served for 6 years, 3 of which were as SAPOA Secretary, and to Dennis Allen and Frank Hagel.  What ever SAPOA has succeeded in over the past could not have happened without them.  The new Board of Directors members are Kathleen DeStefano, Dan Abbott, and Jack Nielson. The full list of Directors is as follows:

Dave Taney                  President               142 Rhododendron Dr.        582-0709
Everett Stauffer            Vice President       990 Madrona Way                681-4278
Irma Martin                    Treasurer               223 Fleming Drive                681-2156
Kathleen DeStefano     Secretary               272 Madrona Way                683-0722
Lew Morello                   Director                 20 Conifer Court                    683-7665
Jack Nielson                  Director                 221 Manzanita                       683-3765
Dan Abbott                     Director                 442 Madrona Way                582-3824
Plat 1 Architectural Representative

Plat 1 is still in need of a volunteer willing to be elected and serve as the Architectural Representative for the plat.  That person should be a full time resident of Sunshine Acres Plat 1.  The primary duties of the position is to review new home construction plans and plans for additions and or remodel plans for currently developed lots.  The purpose is to assure lot owners that their proposed construction will comply with Plat 1 Covenants and to prevent later conflicts.
SAPOA SEMI ANNUAL MEETING

January 24, 2004

Gardiner Community Center

Meeting 1:00 p.m.

Please Attend-Please Participate

Potluck Precedes at 12:00 Noon

Agenda Items

SAPOA Financial Status Reports

Collection Agency Contract

Mussel Beach Road Funding

Boat Launch Lease Agreement

Disaster Awareness-Emergency Response

Community-County Issues

Animal Control Issues

Miller Peninsula State Park Development
Cut Here-----------------------------------Cut Here---------------------------------Cut Here

Prepayment  2004-2005 Dues

Please find enclosed Check #_________ in the amount of $100.00

Our current mailing address is correct _______yes _________no

The correct mailing address is: __________________________

City ______________________State___________Zip________

Please mail to:  SAPOA, PO BOX 824, SEQUIM WA 98382-0824

Cut Here--------------------------------Cut Here-------------------------------------Cut Here