Sunland North Newsletter October 2026

Kathy Gross, editor, information@sunlandnorth.org

Website: https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1655, Sequim, WA 98382
Business Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 3 PM

2025-2026 Sunland North Board of Directors

President: Susan Hamman, president@sunlandnorth.org
Vice President: Mark Anderson, vicepresident@sunlandnorth.org
Treasurer: Betty Gwaltney, treasurer@sunlandnorth.org
Secretary: Lawrence Charters, secretary@sunlandnorth.org
Board Member-at-Large: Tom Steffen, member-at-large@sunlandnorth.org

Fire Prevention Month – October 2026

Sunland North owners received several communications over the past few months about preventing water damage in their units. Equally important is preventing a fire in your unit. Here are some tips to reduce the risk of fires that could destroy your unit and affect adjacent ones!

• Detector Maintenance
  • Regularly check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for proper function; replace or check batteries annually.
  • Replace detectors at least every 10 years due to sensor degradation.
• Appliance Servicing
  • Ensure heat pumps and propane fireplaces are serviced and in good working order.
  • Clean dryer vents as dryer fires are a common and devastating household fire source.
• Lithium-Ion Battery Safety
  • Be aware of the risks associated with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (phones, tablets, laptops, e-bikes, tools).
  • Damaged or incorrect charging can lead to overheating or explosions.
  • Unplug devices when fully charged or at the manufacturer-recommended percentage.
  • Strictly follow recharging instructions.
• Cooking Safety
  • Never leave cooking unattended, whether on the stove or in the microwave.
  • Keep a fire blanket (e.g., Rapid Off Fire Blanket, available at Costco or Amazon) or other smothering tool readily available for grease fires.
• Fire Extinguisher
  • Maintain a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to operate it.
  • Once a year, check that the status gauge still points to green.
• Electrical Safety
  • Avoid overloading electrical circuits.
  • Do not use damaged electrical cords.
  • Plug appliances directly into wall sockets; extension cords are for temporary use only.
  • Consider a fire detector device (e.g., “Ting” https://www.tingfire.com/) to monitor electrical circuits for fire-causing anomalies.
• Candle Safety
  • Never leave candles unattended or near flammable materials.
  • Consider using battery-operated candles as a safer alternative.
• Smoking Safety
  • Smoke outside your unit.
  • Put cigarettes/cigars out completely.
  • Use proper ashtrays.
  • Never smoke in bed.
  • Do not smoke near medical oxygen.
  • Handle e-cigarettes safely.

Upcoming Sunland North Board Meetings

Homeowner Association (HOA) monthly Board business meetings are open to all owners. Meetings include a separate “Owner Comment Period” in which owners are encouraged to participate. These meetings are 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 will be held at The Gathering Place, 135 Fairway Drive.

The Sunland North Board Meeting schedule for the next quarter of 2026:

• October 14, 2026, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please note: This is the annual meeting and will be held in the Sunland Golf Club Ballroom.
• November 11, 2026, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• December 9, 2026, 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; its Board meeting schedule is separate from Sunland North Division 17.

Sunland North Board of Directors Operating Principles

1. We will operate with respect for each other, all owners, and our Sunland and other community neighbors.
2. We will approach all issues that come before the Board with a willingness to understand alternative perspectives.
3. We will operate as provided for by Division 17 Governing Documents and the relevant law.
4. We will strive for openness and transparency, among board members and between the board and all owners. Board meetings will be open to Division 17 members and will include a period for homeowner comments. Executive (Directors only) sessions will be limited to discussion of certain subjects permitted by law. All votes will be taken in public sessions.
5. We will always try to ensure clear communication by providing information through our regular Board of Directors meetings, a Division 17 website, and periodic communications such as e-mails and the Division 17 newsletter.
6. We hope that the community will remember that we are serving as volunteers and not place undue expectations upon us.
7. We hope that the community will assume our best intentions, until proven otherwise, and that they will raise issues and ask questions in a supportive manner that encourages understanding and resolution, rather than defensiveness on anyone’s part.
8. As a member-owned organization, we anticipate that every community member will contribute to the ideal operation of Sunland North/Division 17, whether it be serving on the board, serving on a committee, or in other ways volunteering their labor and best thinking for our combined well-being.
9. To facilitate a smooth transition, incoming board members will strive to educate themselves on the issues, past board actions, our governing documents, and the effective and efficient operation of homeowner associations generally.
10. To facilitate a smooth transition, outgoing board members will provide documentation of their role, any outstanding issues, and their recommendations for incoming board members.

Winterizing Your Unit to Prevent Claims and Damage

Leaving your Sunland North home for an extended period this winter? Take proactive steps to prevent major water damage should a pipe break when no one is immediately available to notice or respond. Winter is the most vulnerable time for pipes to freeze or rupture.

The following preventative actions help keep your unit safe and greatly reduce the risk of an insurance claim on the HOA insurance!

• Turn off the hot water heater to prevent leaks and/or malfunctions; flip water heater switch in the electrical panel to “off.”
• Turn off the water coming into the unit.
• After turning off the main water shut-off valve, test a sink spigot to make sure the water has stopped running.
• Drain the pipes and flush toilets.
• Disconnect outside hoses and use hose bib covers to prevent freezing.
• Set the heat to no less than 55 – 60 degrees in the unit.
• Turn off the propane to the fireplace.
• Open all cabinet doors where there may be a water source to allow air circulation and heat (kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks).
• Disconnect all battery chargers (computers, laptops, e-bikes, etc.), including uninterrupted power supplies; lithium-ion charging devices can overheat and cause a fire.
• Lastly, have someone with a key check your unit at least once a week! If a water break runs continuously for more than 14 days, it is unlikely insurance will cover any of the damage.

Sunland North Annual Holiday Party

Mark your calendars! Our Sunland North Annual Holiday Party is coming up on December 2, 2026! Join your friends and neighbors for an evening of holiday cheer, good company, and plenty of holiday fun. We’re also looking forward to our annual raffle!

Calling All Talented Creators!

This year, we’d love to feature the talents and creativity of our Sunland North community by asking for donations of handmade items to be included as raffle prizes.

If you’re proud of something you create, why not donate it as a raffle prize? Whether you knit, sew, paint, carve, bake, craft, build, or create something special in your own unique way, your handmade item could bring joy to one of your neighbors.
And there’s a bonus: you’ll receive credit for donating your creation, so everyone will know who made it!

Let’s make this year’s raffle a wonderful showcase of the creativity and talent right here in Sunland North.

Save the date: December 2, 2026

Bring your holiday spirit and, if you’d like, something you’ve made with pride! More details about the party and raffle donations will be shared soon.

Let’s celebrate the season together! Questions? Contact Kathy Mahnerd via information@sunlandnorth.org.

Cloudy Backup Needed

Sunland North has a cloud-hosted email system (@sunlandnorth.org) and a cloud-hosted website (https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com/). We are looking for a volunteer who can serve as a technical backup in case our current volunteer decides to abandon the modern world and go live with the penguins in the Galápagos Islands. Skills required: familiarity with cloud-hosted services, familiarity with web-based network administration controls, and an antipathy for attacks on Internet information systems. Contact secretary@sunlandnorth.org for more information.

Insurance

A letter was sent out on August 17, 2026, to all unit owners stating that the Community Association Underwriters (CAU) insurance water damage deductible will increase from $10,000 to $30,000, effective October 14, 2026. The deductible increase also affects per unit ice damming, sprinkler leakage, and sewer backup.

The CAU deductible is the unit owner’s responsibility where the incident occurs.

Please reach out to your personal insurance agent to discuss this change and its impact on your HO-6 policy. Your obligation to pay the deductible may be offset by your HO-6 Policy, subject to your own deductible, if you add building coverage.

We’ve previously sent out information to unit owners about ways to be proactive in detecting leaks before they become sudden outbursts of water. Check with your insurance provider to see if you may obtain a discount in your personal insurance by installing water sensor detection devices or interior water shut-off valves. Some insurance companies may offer a discount if you install such devices.

Seven owners reported small leaks in their unit after installing water sensor detection devices. Being proactive prevented these small leaks from becoming major water problems to both the owners and the HOA!

Landscaping Report – Tom Steffen

We have enjoyed a mild and sunny summer, and I’m looking forward to a beautiful fall. I have completed my fifth year as Landscape Coordinator and enjoy working with Paul West (and his crew), who is the owner/operator of Cutting Edge Landscaping, our landscape contractor. I continue to receive affirming emails from owners who express their thanks for the quality work our landscaping crew provides. I am grateful for the ongoing support of the Board and owners who care for plants, lawns, trees, and the occasional sprinkler head that needs adjusting. Throughout the 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 tools.

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. Details will be shared at our annual meeting in October. We have a new irrigation plumber who has been assigned the state-mandated work of annually certifying our backflow preventers.

Sunland Water District and Conservation

Sunland Water District continues to be a good resource and partner, supplying us with safe and reliable water. At the District’s expense, it has supplied crews that have eliminated large roots growing near water lines, meters, and backflow preventers throughout our HOA and repaired issues concerning meters and manifolds. As a result of leaks, faulty controls and settings, we were unable to match last year’s record irrigation water reduction. Conservation is an ongoing goal, and we will work at lowering irrigation gallons used in 2027.

Trees

We have an extensive and varied collection of trees that require professional attention and intervention. Details will be shared at our annual meeting in October.

Pruning and Island Hedges

Our contracted crew stays busy pruning almost year around. Thanks to mother nature and the extra efforts of several owners, our escallonia hedges are looking better than ever. We continue to remove diseased and dead plants, and, when necessary and advised, some are replaced. Let’s hope for a mild winter.

Moles/Voles/Shrews/Field Mice

Tunneling just under the roots of many of our lawns and plants are voles, 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. Moles, much larger than voles, continue to be very elusive and more destructive. Let me know if you have had success or have employed a professional that has been successful in removing moles.

Washington State University Extension Service information on voles: https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/product/vole-management-in-home-backyards-and-gardens-home-garden-series/

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.

Homeowners Association (HOA) Office Hours: Monday—Friday, 9 am – 3 pm

New and current Sunland North (Division 17) HOA residents, please note the HOA Office Hours, except in emergencies. Contact information for Board and committee chair members is on the Sunland North website (https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com/about-us/), or use the generic “Contact Form” (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.

Another Example of the Beautiful Place We Live

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.

A special thank you to Sarah Miller for her hard work in cleaning up the tree next to the bench on Blakey Boulevard. And another thank you to Daphne Walters for her assistance in organizing this issue of the newsletter.

Kathy Gross, editor, information@sunlandnorth.org