Sunland North Newsletter October 2025
Kathy Gross, editor, information@sunlandnorth.org
Website: https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1655, Sequim, WA 98382
Business Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Upcoming Sunland North Board Meetings
Homeowner Association (HOA) monthly Board business meetings are open for all owners to attend. The Board meetings always include a separate “Owner Comment Period” in which owners are encouraged to participate. The meetings are also a good way to find out what is happening in the neighborhood and how our volunteers handle different aspects of our shared HOA life. The meetings (except the Annual Meeting) will be held at The Gathering Place, 135 Fairway Drive.
The Sunland North Board Meeting schedule for the third quarter of 2025:
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- October 8, 2025, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Annual Owner Meeting). This meeting will be in the ballroom of the Sunland Golf Club
- November 5, 2025, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- December 10, 2025, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Note: Sunland Owners Association (SLOA) is a separate, overarching HOA that includes several other divisions, the pool and tennis courts, and all the individual homes in Sunland; their Board meeting schedule is separate from Sunland North Division 17.
A Few Friendly Reminders
Outside Contractors
The Sunland North Division 17 HOA is responsible for the exterior maintenance of the Sunland North units. If you should receive any calls from outside contractors offering their services (for example, roof repairs, landscaping, lawn care, exterior painting, or irrigation system maintenance), please inform them of that fact. The HOA does not endorse any company or contractor to its residents.
Fire Prevention Month
October is fire prevention month. This is a good time to check those smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Do the batteries need to be replaced, and are they still operating? It is also a good idea to have propane fireplaces checked for leaks and servicing.
Annual Sunland North Holiday Party
Please “save the date” of December 3rd for our annual holiday party. More details about the party will be forthcoming in a future email from the Board Secretary.
Did You Know
Per a recent New York Times article, 25 years of research has shown the one quality most “super-agers” share, as described by neuroscientist Ben Rein:
“People who socialize more are more resistant to cognitive decline as they get older,” Dr. Rein said. And, he added, they “have generally larger brains.”
Rein is also the author of the forthcoming book, Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection.
With the advice of Dr. Rein in mind, the Sunland North HOA, at no extra charge to you, provides a range of opportunities to greet, assist, and get to know your neighbors. There are monthly informal summer socials at the beach-side “Sunny Shores” cabana; an annual December holiday party; opportunities to be a part of ad hoc volunteer work groups to tidy up the Open Space that surrounds us, or to take the lead on HOA activities such as oversight of the landscape contractor or reviewing owner requests for changes to the exterior of their units, etc. You can observe your board and committee heads at our monthly board meetings and take the opportunity to interact with others who share an active interest in making this a fine community in which to live.
So, if you want to prove you have a generally larger brain and want to fight cognitive decline–or if you just want to have some fun getting to know a few more of your neighbors–find out more about what the Sunland North HOA is doing and how we do it. You can start by attending the upcoming Sunland North annual meeting on Wednesday, October 8, at 2:30 PM in the Sunland Golf Course Ballroom, 109 Hilltop Drive. Our meetings are generally short and sweet, and well worth the investment of your time.
In Case You Didn’t See It
From: Judy Gamble, Office Administrator
SunLand Water District (Ofc. Hrs. 9-1, M-F)
Dear Customers:
In case you haven’t heard, we’re proud to share that at the 2025 Evergreen Rural Water Fall Conference held last month in Kennewick, our district’s drinking water was recognized as the Best Tasting Rural Water in Washington! Water from our two reservoirs took home both 1st and 2nd place honors in the competition!
And it gets even better. One of our dedicated water team members will now represent our district, and all of Washington, at the Great American Water Taste Test at the National Rural Water Rally in Washington, D.C. in February 2026
We are proud of our team for their hard work and commitment to delivering safe, reliable, and high-quality water to every household.
Next time you pour yourself a glass, know you’re drinking award-winning water!
President’s Report
Gerry Hatler
It’s almost time for our next annual meeting. We’ll be having it in the Golf Clubhouse Ballroom on October 8th.
I want to thank all the volunteers who have made our association successful. Because we are self-managed and volunteer-supported, we have been able to keep our HOA dues well below the rate of inflation, so you can see the benefit and value of our volunteers and why we have continuing needs for more volunteers. We have folks who have been volunteering since they moved into the community and have served on the Board as well as Committee Chairs and Committee members. We also have many new homeowners who bring new talents to our community.
If you haven’t considered volunteering, now would be a good time for the upcoming year. There are many opportunities, like the Architectural Control Committee, where decisions are made on requests for changes to the exteriors of our homes. These decisions make sure we have a cohesive look and feel to our community. Or, the Exterior Maintenance Committee, where we evaluate the need for ongoing repairs and hire contractors to maintain the value in our homes. The Natural Habitat Committee seems to have the most volunteers when the need arises to do storm cleanup and poison hemlock control. Don’t forget about the Board of Directors, who make forward-looking decisions that affect all of us. A few of the others include the welcome committee, the newsletter, and a variety of social committees like the Holiday Party and the Happy Hour Parties.
As you can see, there is a great variety of opportunities that allow you to be a real part of the community and meet your neighbors.
Treasurer’s Report
Betty Gwaltney
As we approach the end of the year and start looking forward to 2026, our HOA finances continue to remain strong. Our spending in 2025 is so far under budget, which, if it continues, we will be able to add more to our reserves than planned. Our recent reserve study showed that we are 29% funded. However, since we budget each year for the cost of repainting units – instead of using up existing reserve dollars, our actual percent funded is 37.5%. Also, we have earned over $22,600 in interest on certificates of deposit and savings accounts so far this year! And over the last three years, since moving more funds to certificates of deposit, we have earned almost $75,000 – without our owners having to write a check! A recent comparison of several of the Sunland HOAs showed that Division 17 had the lowest quarterly assessments. Thank you for your support as we continue to thoughtfully manage our resources to maximize benefits for all.
From the Secretary
Susan Hamman
Insurance
How Can I Keep Insurance Costs Low?
Sunland North’s first townhomes were built 26 years ago. Since that time, there have been regular changes in home ownership. Updates to a unit may or may not have taken place, and that includes appliances.
Water damage is one of the most frequent types of home insurance claims. Our insurer, CAU, covers immediate and direct damage claims–but not claims due to maintenance issues not being addressed by the homeowner.
As with all of us, appliances have a life expectancy. Do you know the age of your appliances? When were they last inspected or maintained, by either you or someone else? Keeping your appliances in good repair is your responsibility, and an important component in keeping our HOA insurance costs down. Interior leaks from dishwashers, washing machines, and ice makers can lead to floor and wall damage that may not be covered by insurance.
Multiple claims by the HOA can lead to increased insurance costs for all of us and/or loss of coverage for everyone.
The chart below shows average appliance life expectancy*:
| Appliance | Low Expectancy | High Expectancy |
| Refrigerator | 10 years | 15 years |
| Washing Machine | 10 years | 15 years |
| Dryer | 10 years | 15 years |
| Water Heater | 10 years | 15 years |
| Microwave | 5 years | 10 years |
| Electric range | 13 years | 20 years |
| Propane range | 15 years | 25 years |
| Freezer | 12 years | 20 years |
*Chart adapted from Red Star Home Inspections
Other items to check for leakage in your home are toilets (valves, flappers, seals), sink faucets, and shut-off valves under sinks. Do you know where the water shut-off valve is to your house in case of a sudden outburst of water? Without that knowledge, your unit (and potentially the adjacent unit as well) can be flooded very quickly.
As we head into cooler weather, your responsibilities also include making sure outside hoses are removed and outside faucets are protected with insulated hose bib covers. We are at that time of the year when freezing temperatures can be upon us very quickly—don’t let yourself be caught off-guard.
NOTE: Information about the HOA’s insurance coverage can be found on www.sunlandnorthownersassociation.com/ownerinfo/insurance/
Landscaping Report
Volunteer Landscaping Coordinator, Tom Steffen
As will be reported at our 2025 Annual Meeting, I have completed my fourth year as Landscape Coordinator and continue to enjoy working with Paul West (and his crew), who is the owner/operator of Cutting Edge Landscaping, our landscape contractor. I have also relied on the support of the Board and owners who care for our plants, lawns, trees, and irrigation systems. I am particularly indebted to John Lewis, who is a valuable resource for strategizing and analyzing data, especially concerning irrigation and water consumption. Throughout our HOA, a growing number of owners are investing their time and money in renewing the landscaping around their property, and many lend a hand to neighbors who are limited because of a lack of mobility or a shortage of tools. This year, I’ve received a record number of affirming emails from owners who have asked me to express their thanks to our landscaping crew for the outstanding job the crew provides in taking care of our lawns and plants.
Irrigation
Since the beginning of spring, we have invested in our irrigation systems by repairing broken sprinkler heads, backflow preventers, control boxes, and water lines. Two irrigation plumbing companies have made a total of twelve service calls, which cost nearly $4,600.00. Our HOA is supplied with irrigation water via an elaborate network of 67 control boxes, over 4,500 sprinkler heads, and approximately 650 valves in underground boxes.
Sunland Water District and Conservation
Sunland Water District continues to be a good resource and partner, supplying us with safe and available water. This summer, at the District’s expense, it has supplied multiple crews and many hours of labor to eliminate large roots growing near water lines, meters, and backflow preventers throughout our HOA. And we are continuing to be good partners with our water district by doing our best to conserve irrigation water usage whenever possible; conservation is possible when we fix leaks and closely monitor gallons used. As a result, thanks to the analysis of John Lewis, our projected irrigation water savings will be approximately 2,300,000 gallons, which is a 28% savings compared to 2024.
Trees
We have an extensive and varied collection of trees in our HOA. This year, the tree experts we have employed for years made five visits to prune and thin out several deciduous trees, remove a few large evergreen trees that were damaged or diseased, and grind stumps in four locations. The total cost came to just over $4,700.00.
Pruning and Island Hedges
Summer pruning has already transitioned into fall pruning; our contracted crew stays busy almost year-round. Thanks to Mother Nature and the extra efforts of several owners, our escallonia hedges are looking better than ever. Most of the approximately 400 bushes that died over the last two winters have been removed. Let’s hope for a mild winter.
Moles/Voles/Shrews/Field Mice
Tunneling just under the roots of many of our lawns are small creatures with large claws, with an estimated metabolism that is 60 times the rate of a human’s. Several owners have reported success in trapping voles, or maybe shrews, totaling over 100. Moles continue to be very elusive. Maybe they’ll all move to our surrounding meadows in 2026.
Please continue to use the Landscaping Link/Portal on our website to report concerns, request assistance, and ask questions about landscaping issues. Thanks for your support.
Consequences of Trees Being Misplaced in Landscaping
An example (photos below) of tree roots planted by our well-meaning developer reaching the point where the roots were endangering the water lines. The roots have displaced the housing for a valve, almost to the point of bending it. The Sunland North Water District agreed to remove the roots at their expense, though we may lose the trees that were affected as a result. Sunland North Division 17 HOA has planned in its budget for replacement trees. However, replacement trees will be a different type and in a different location.
Meet Your Neighbors
Cynthia Lyon
Cynthia moved to Sunland from Birch Bay in 2022 – first living on Mendel, then moving to Cascadia Loop when she was 99 years old! And then on June 24th of this year, she celebrated her 100th birthday! Wow! So many changes and events she has been a witness to – party line telephones, getting their first television, getting their first car – a used (~1940) Buick, going to college during WWII – no men on campus, raising 4 children, and so many more adventures! She’s worked at Zales jewelry stores, worked in the Pro Shop at a golf course – which meant she could play golf 3-4 times/week, and spent lots of time knitting and sewing. At 100, life is a bit slower, but she has Bella – her 20-year-old kitty to keep her company and her daughter who also lives in Sequim, and a son who visits often. While her health kept us from celebrating this 100-year milestone with her – I promised we would do it next year for the 101st!
Homeowners Association (HOA) Office Hours: Monday—Friday, 9 am – 3 pm
We want to remind all new and current residents of the Sunland North (Division 17) Homeowners Association (HOA) Office Hours, except in an emergency. Contact information for each Board and committee chair member is on the Sunland North Website (https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com/about-us/); or use the generic “Contact Form” on the website (https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com/contact-us/).
Sunland North does not have paid administrative staff, and people may be away from home or otherwise occupied; anticipate at least a few days for a response.
2024-2025 Sunland North Board of Directors
President: Gerry Hatler, president@sunlandnorth.org
Vice President: Mark Anderson, vicepresident@sunlandnorth.org
Treasurer: Betty Gwaltney, treasurer@sunlandnorth.org
Secretary: Susan Hamman, secretary@sunlandnorth.org
Board Member-at-Large: Beverly Stern, member-at-large@sunlandnorth.org
Thank You!
Volunteers are central to the running of Sunland North. While we do hire contractors for landscaping and repair work, the management of the contracts and much volunteer labor go into keeping our homes in proper repair, our landscaping well maintained, HOA insurance researched and renewed, debris picked up from the natural habitat area, and countless other chores. Remember to thank your Board members, coordinators, and committee members for their ongoing support and the volunteer time they donate to our community – we couldn’t do it without them, and you.
Kathy Gross, editor, information@sunlandnorth.org