Dec - Sudden Valley

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SUDDEN VALLEY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION 

December 2007 w w w . s u d d e n v a l l e y . c o m Vo l. 33 No. 12 

Board 

approves 

committees 

Timothy Newcomb 

Views editor 

Russ Harlan, Sudden Valley 

Community Association 

Board of Directors president, 

said during the board’s monthly 

meeting Nov. 26 that the 

board is working on another 

format to allow SVCA members 

to interact with board 

members. Harlan said that he 

understands the desire to have 

interaction with the board and 

wants to create an environment 

for that outside of the regular 

business meeting. He will announce 

more information as it 

is decided upon. 

Dave Wareing, general 

manager, during his report to 

the board, said that he continues 

to interact with the Lake 

Whatcom Management Team. 

The SVCA board has requested 

to sit on the management meeting 

and is awaiting final word 

on the outcome of that request. 

Wareing said that the 

SVCA has been unable to find a 

qualified accounting manager 

for the price SVCA is offering 

to fill the association’s vacant 

position. 

After a closed session, Wareing 

reported that the board 

agreed to his proposal to restructure 

the accounting office 

from one accounting manager 

and two clerks to a mid-level 

accountant, a junior accountant, 

a clerk and a quarter-time 

controller. 

He hopes to fill both open 

accounting positions and the 

controller slot after Jan. 1. In 

the meantime, Andy Schwartz, 

past-SVCA treasurer, has been 

Community speaks at AGM 

Su d d e n Valley Vi e ws | TIMOTHY NEWCOMB 

The barn was packed Nov. 3 for the Annual General Meeting. The SVCA members turned down the majority of proposals. 

Invitation from the board to join in planning chats 

Naomi Bunis 

SVCA secretary 

With the results of the 2007 

Annual General Meeting very 

clear, we need to move ahead 

and design a dues increase that 

will be understood and accepted 

by the whole community. With 

that in mind, the SVCA Board of 

Directors has planned a series 

of opportunities for you, the 

voters, to speak to us and let us 

know what you want. It is our 

hope to have a Special General 

Meeting in early- to mid-February. 

The board must choose 

exactly what we must maintain 

and who we must replace. We 

need to discover how to run 

the valley without the infusion 

of money the rejected dues increase 

would have provided. 

For this, we need your input. 

Timothy Newcomb 

Views editor 

The Sudden Valley Community 

Association members 

weighed in with a resounding 

“no” vote on a proposed dues 

increased, negated other proposed 

measures and welcomed 

two new board members at the 

Annual General Meeting Nov. 

3 in the dance barn. 

package to move the valley housekeeping measure, passed 

See BOARD on page 3 A record turnout of 1,185 ahead,” he said. “We knew it with only 79 percent of the vote. 

See AGM on page 4 

We will be holding informal 

“chats” at the rotunda 

with several board members on 

hand to listen to your suggestion 

and concerns. There will 

be one town hall-style meeting 

at the barn where we will break 

down into small groups where 

you can sit with members of the 

board and work with us on the 

solutions to the dilemma we 

find ourselves facing. 

The board will then go to 

work and finalize the numbers 

for the increase and have one 

more opportunity to meet with 

you to get your buy-in. (It is our 

intent to schedule the chats on 

a recurring basis in order to involve 

community members by 

eliciting their feedback as well 

as to provide them with information 

on current board activities. 

We anticipate doing this on 

voted in the election, still only 

36 percent of eligible voters. 

Measure 5, to approve the 

2008 dues be set at $907.84 for 

a developed lot, was turned 

down by 73 percent of the vote. 

It needed 60 percent to pass. 

Russ Harlan, SVCA president, 

said that he was disappointed 

in the vote. “The board 

put together a very ambitious 

a bi-monthly basis, if demand 

warrants.) 

Then, and only then, can 

we schedule the general meeting. 

It will take at least a week 

to get the materials printed and 

then a few days to get the ballot 

packets prepared and mailed. 

There must be at least 30 days 

and no more than 50 days between 

the postmark on the 

election packet and the general 

meeting. So, in order to have an 

general meeting by the middle 

of February, we need to have all 

the input we can get by the end 

of the year. This will allow N&E 

to get their work done by mid- 

January. We need to move fast. 

This is an open invitation 

to all of you, especially those 

of you who were so opposed to 

the proposal we made, to come 

to the table and work with us. 

was ambitious going into it, 

but the facts and reality of 27 

years with one dues increase 

is a large step to get over. It 

appears to have been to ambitious, 

but we felt sticking band 

aids on major issues was not 

the way to try and correct past 

ills. The membership has spoken 

and we have heard it!” 

Measure 1, a simple tax 

This is the only way we will get 

to a workable solution. 

We will hold a town hall/ 

work session at the barn from 

1 to 4 p.m. on Dec. 8. The chats 

at the rotunda will be on the 

evenings of Dec. 10, 11 and 12. 

Please put these dates on your 

Measure 2, to move net 

proceeds from the Byron Tract 

sale into the Emergency Capital 

Reserve Fund, was rejected 

by 54 percent of the voters (630 

against vs. 545 for). 

Harlan said that he believes 

that the voters didn’t 

understand fully the issues behind 

the measure. “The board 

didn’t do a good enough job in 

calendar and plan to attend one 

of these events. We need to hear 

from you. We cannot be good 

representatives without your 

feedback. The vote was very 

strong feedback and now we 

want to engage you in the process. 

See you soon.

Page 2 

Le t t e r s t o t h e Ed i t o r 

History tells us that a dues 

increase is necessary 

EDITOR, The Views: 

I decided to take a different look at 

the dues increase than those I’ve seen 

presented in various forms and tried 

to express that at the Oct. 6 Town Hall 

meeting. I repeat my thinking here for 

those who were unable to attend or unwilling 

to listen at that time. 

Given SVCA’s history of only two 

dues increases since 1981, I thought it 

logical to use the 1980 and 1981 dues 

amounts to compare to the current 

proposed dues increase. Those years 

were after the turmoil of the association 

taking over from the bankrupt 

developer. Applying the historic inflation 

rate (from the U.S. Deptartment of 

Labor, Bureau of Statistics website) to 

those two years and comparing to the 

proposed dues increase was quite revealing. 

The 1980/81 inflated rates are 

$812.02 and $778.70 respectively – only 

$60.82 & 94.14 less than the proposed 

dues of $872.84! 

That’s less than $8 a month above 

inflation. Let’s face it, our community’s 

demographics has changed over the 

years. We have far more permanent residents, 

more children, more cars, more 

houses, more crime, more requests for 

building and modifications all increasing 

the demand for higher levels of service 

than in 1981. 

The $8 sounds like a bargain to me 

and the board and the GM and his staff 

should be commended for doing so 

much with so little. I want to support 

the staff with the funding for higher 

wages, more staff, materials and skills 

to do what they need to make our community 

work more effectively given 

our current demographics. I also want 

to support alternative approaches to 

generating revenue to help minimize 

future dues increases and have a sustainable 

future. They get my vote supporting 

this dues increase! 

Penny Carter 

Editor’s note: This letter was intended for 

the November issue, but was not received 

by deadline. 

Where are we going and 

how are we getting there? 


During last night’s SVCA board 

meeting, the board allowed time for 

“open” resident comments, and then 

entered into a dialogue with all those 

present. The purpose of the board 

meeting, as stated by the president, was 

“Where are we going?” 

The board is to be commended for 

allowing this special meeting to focus on 

considering the next steps to establish a 

new 2008 budget and dues proposal. I 

heard clearly stated a request for a 17 

percent rate of inflation increase based 

on 2002 through 2007 cost-of-living increase 

above the current dues amount. 

The new budget would be based on 

the priorities of resident security and 

adequately maintained, safe roads in 

the valley. Further, this new proposed 

bare-bones budget for 2008 should be a 

clear and fully defined statement, lineitem 

by line-item covering revenue and 

capital expenditures including depreciation 

or cost-replacement for all budget 

line items. This new budget should include 

all income and operational costs 

of the golf course, the marina and the 

recreation center and pool. The new 

proposed 2008 budget should be compared 

item-by-item with the current 

2007 budget for full understanding of 

the proposed increased costs. 

Then, following the 2008 budget 

approval by the property owners in 

early 2008, the board will propose upgrades 

to the budget for consideration 

and approval at the Annual General 

Meeting next November for the 2009 

budget and dues. 

I hope the board will take this sensible 

approach and begin to build a 

strong and trusting relationship with 

the property owners of Sudden Valley. 

Curry Miles 

Let’s keep the dialogue in 

good taste 


Last month’s letter to the editor, 

“Concern over turnover” was not in 

good taste, to say the least. The statements 

were motivated by a personal 

vendetta that does not belong in the 

Sudden Valley Views. 

We should be concerned over some 

of the recent departures of long-term 

employees who will be, and have been, 

very difficult to replace. For me, these 

folks were friends, as well as employees 

of SVCA. They worked hard for us 

all, and I take this opportunity to thank 

them, and wish them well in their future 

employment or retirement. 

If we are concerned about this type 

of event, then I suggest that we talk to 

those people directly, or request exit 

interview information, rather than create 

some giant conspiracy theory that 

includes all recent departures into one 

group. 

We don’t need hatred from others 

mixed in with our selection process for 

the people we elect as board members. 

It won’t take much of this and we will 

be lucky to find anyone that will put 

up with it and attempt to serve on the 

SVCA board. 

Nor do we want our over-worked 

and underpaid employees attacked by 

feuding, petty residents who want to 

Su d d e n Va l l ey Vi e ws 

see their hatred in print. 

James F. Huthert 

Editor’s note: The Views will be taking a 

stricter approach to editing letters that can 

be viewed as personal attacks. 

We do need positive 

change in Sudden Valley 


We do need a dues increase to cover 

the deficit that this board got us into. 

It could be a reasonable amount this 

year and then a sustainable amount 

each year for five years. Before we do 

that, we need to know how much the 

board overspent. 

I believe that we have to stop the 

financial bleeding to the tune of about 

$200,000 per year. 

We can move the physical fitness 

equipment to the center area of 

the adult center. We could convert the 

Yoga room to a meeting room with TV 

for viewing sports, etc. Members used 

to pay dues, receive a key and viola no 

General manager’s report 

This report was prepared by Dave 

Wareing, general manager, for the 

SVCA Board of Directors. 

Continuing Community Contacts 

– A significant volume of contacts with 

community members continues. 

Government and Organization 

Contacts – I have continued to maintain 

a close interface with the Lake 

Whatcom Management Team and attend 

team meetings on a regular basis. 

I recently attended the joint council and 

commission meeting in Bellingham 

with the board and most recently attended 

a County Council Natural Resources 

Committee meeting addressing 

the Lake Whatcom Work Plan for 2008. 

I also continue to work with a variety 

December 2007 

employees were needed. 

We then could give the recreation 

center back to the children with a “certified” 

recreation director and a few part 

time employees. The recreation center 

should be open after school and any 

day they are not in school. If the children 

have a place to hang out maybe 

the vandalism would decrease. The recreation 

center, though run down, used 

to be a great place for children. It was 

so roomy that it even had a miniature 

golf course inside. 

Let’s prevent the financial mess 

from happening again. If the board 

wants to spend over $25,000 that is not 

part of the budget it should have to be 

voted on at a special meeting by the 

members present. We should be notified 

in advance in the Views so that 

the pros and cons are given before the 

vote. 

We should develop a good working 

environment for the employees. 

How about bonuses and recognition 

for productivity? 

John A Spreitzer 

of outside entities, businesses, contractors 

and vendors regarding association 

business. 

Committees and Commissions 

– When possible, I have continued to 

work with the Disaster Preparedness 

Committee on community preparedness 

issues. I have also been working 

on an updated version of the Disaster 

Preparedness Manual for the valley. 

Special Projects – There are two 

remaining major capital projects for the 

year. The projects are as follows: 

• Recreation Center Renovation – 

The renovations to the recreation center 

are nearing completion as the year 

See GM on page 4 

Cl a s s i f i e d s a n d Ne w s De a d l i n e s 

Classified ads cannot be published without evidence of payment. See the Classified 

Ads page for size and payment information. Submit classified ads and payment 

at the Clubhouse Front Desk, 4 Clubhouse Circle, Bellingham, WA 98229. 

The deadline for classified advertising and news items for the January 2008 

issue of The Views is Wednesday, Dec. 19, at noon. 

DISPLAY ADS: For display advertising contact Mitze Kester at 360-510-6464. 

The deadline for display advertising for the January 2008 issue of The Views is 

Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 5 p.m. 

Editorial a n d Le t t e r s Gu i d e l i n e s 

Submissions for The Views should be e-mailed to Timothy Newcomb at 

svviews@lyndentribune.com or submitted to the Views’ box at the SVCA office. Mailed 

submission should be sent P.O. Box 153, Lynden, WA 98264. Both print and digital photos 

are encouraged with all submissions; digital photos can be e-mailed as an attachment. 

Photos will be returned upon request. Letters should be limited to 300 words and include 

an address and daytime phone number. Any property owner in good standing may submit 

up to three letters in each 12-month period. All submissions are subject to editing by 

The Views’ editor. Anything submitted after deadline cannot be guaranteed placement. 

Placement is based on relevance, timeliness, and space availability. 


Sudden Valley Community Association 

4 Clubhouse Circle, Bellingham, WA 98229 

 

Administration Offices 734-6430 

Hours: 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday 

Dave Wareing, general manager, gm@suddenvalley.com 

Barbara Parker, office manager 

Rosemary Tate, administrative program manager, rtate@suddenvalley.com 

Kira LaRock, administrative assistant, frontdesk@suddenvalley.com 

B.J. Newmon, receptionist, reception@suddenvalley.com 

Architectural Control, Anthony Cavendar, acting AC manager, acm@suddenvalley.com 

Accounting, acctmgr@suddenvalley.com 

Gil Martinez, accounts receivable, gilm@suddenvalley.com 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

President, Russ Harlan; Vice-President, Chuck McGroddy; Secretary, Naomi Bunis (secretary@suddenvalley.com); 

Treasurer, Calece Cass-Healy; Members: Barbara Audley, 

Arthur “Mac” Carter, Benjamin Brigham, Laura Weide and Curt Casey; N & E Representative: 

Dee Spreitzer; ACC Representative: John Gordon. 

Su d d e n Va l l ey Vi e ws is the official publication of the Sudden Valley 

Community Association. Published monthly, it has a circulation of 4,100. 

Publisher: Sudden Valley Community Association 

Editor: Lynden Tribune and Print Company 

Managing Editor: Timothy Newcomb, 360-354-4444, svviews@lyndentribune.com 

Advertising Manager: Mitze Kester, 360-510-6464 

Pro Shop, Greg Paul, 734-6435, pro@suddenvalley.com 

Recreation, Kalene Drummond, 312-5177, recdesk@suddenvalley.com 

Maintenance, Mike Conour, acting maint. director, 734-6430, x232, maintenance@suddenvalley.com 

Golf Maintenance, Bryan Newman, superintendent 734-6430, x333, bryann@suddenvalley.com 

Security, Gordon Johnson, cheif, 734-6430, x221, chief@suddenvalley.com 

non-emergency phone: 734-6430, x222 

24-hour cell phone, 319-8200 

Dispatcher (after 5 p.m.), 715-2490 

The Views is published monthly for a subscription price of $12 per year by the Sudden 

Valley Community Association. 

POSTMASTER: Please send address changes (Form No. 3579) to Sudden Valley 

Community Association, 4 Clubhouse Circle, Bellingham, WA 98229. 

The acceptance of an ad in The Views does not constitute approval of the Sudden 

Valley Community Association. Comments expressed in The Views are not necessarily 

the opinions of the SVCA, its officers or board of directors, but are solely those of the 

writers. No non-advertising portion of The Views is subject to pre-publication review by 

anyone but the editor.


SVCA president’s report 

The weather has turned 

cooler and we are now into the 

winter months where it gets 

darker earlier! The first power 

outage had Gates 1, 2 and 5 in 

the dark for about 10 hours in 

mid-November – a reminder of 

how much we rely on that little 

convenience called electricity. 

We had a record turnout 

for the 2007 AGM, and for all 

those who attended and voted 

– thank you! I am sure no one 

was surprised with the turnout, 

given the issues we had 

to deal with. The results didn’t 

turn out as a lot of people had 

hoped, so we will re-evaluate 

what has to be done and move 

ahead. That is how a community 

works together to resolve 

financial issues such as the 

SVCA faces. 

There will be several community 

meetings in the next 

few weeks where everyone is 

invited to participate and provide 

input. The proposals we 

presented at the AGM were 

very ambitious, admittedly. We 

presented a proposal that was 

attempting to overcome the effects 

of 27 years with only a single 

dues increase. Those many 

years of deferred maintenance 

have left the valley with deteriorating 

facilities. We wanted 

to not only step up to that but 

move ahead – all at one time. 

Was it a good objective? Yes, 

it was. Was it too much at one 

time? Apparently so. 

Now we want to hear from 

more people throughout the 

community. We want everyone 

to come to the table with 

their suggestions and ideas for 

what they would like to see in 

the valley. No one single person 

has all the right answers, 

but with everyone’s input we 

can come up with a proposal 

that will work and will allow 

us to maintain the services 

we presently have and build 

towards a better future in the 

valley. 

One of the problems we 

face is the changing work force 

situation in Whatcom County. 

With more and bigger companies 

relocating here, it has 

become difficult to retain staff 

and find new employees as the 

need arises. The SVCA has been 

understaffed and underpaid 

for many years, and that is one 

area we have to strengthen. 

This will allow us to maintain 

our facilities and continue to 

provide the services we presently 

have. 

We are on a fast track to 

put together a Special General 

Meeting for very early in 2008. 

We have to do this within that 

time frame, as we do not have 

the funds to allow us to operate 

as we presently are very far 

into 2008 without depleting the 

minimal operating reserves we 

have. This means December 

will be very busy for the board, 

community members attending 

meetings and the N&E 

Committee in preparing for the 

special general meeting. Approximately 

2,500 to 3,000 total 

volunteer hours go into putting 

together a general meeting! For 

those of you who have never 

been involved in the process, it 

is very work intensive. 

I would also like to inform 

everyone that there is a very 

aggressive plan being presented 

for approval by Whatcom 

County and Bellingham that 

would severely impact development 

in the entire Lake 

Whatcom Watershed. Parts of 

this plan heavily affect Sudden 

Valley and include proposals 

that would alter our access in 

and out of the valley. If you 

are not familiar with this plan, 

I suggest you get involved by 

researching such sites as the 

www.lakewhatcom.wsu.edu/ 

web site or watching the Bellingham 

Herald and attending 

meetings as they are announced. 

I hope everyone has a 

happy and safe holiday season. 

I look forward to seeing 

many of you at the upcoming 

community meetings we will 

be announcing. 

Russ Harlan 

SVCA Board President 


Page 3 

Board 

Continued from page 1 

hired on a 60-day contract to 

oversee the transition in the 

office and help close the 2007 

books. 

Wareing said that while the 

new structure will cost slightly 

more, the accounting office will 

add “a lot more professional accounting 

prowess” and be able 

to protect itself from one person 

leaving and leaving the association 

without an accountant up 

to speed on SVCA issues. 

• The addition of a new 

heating, ventilation and air 

conditioning system in the recreation 

center is now complete. 

A new coffee shop in the center 

is expected to be open for business 

in early December. 

• The SVCA is now mailing 

out letters to owners of disorderly 

houses notifying them 

of the necessity to upgrade their 

property or face consequences. 

• Wareing also reported 

that the golf course driving 

range upgrade is now complete. 

• In an effort to update the 

current five-year road plan required 

by SVCA by-laws, the 

board agreed to hire Wilson Engineering 

at a cost of $15,000 to 

do the work. In a prior agreement, 

Virgil Reed, then-SVCA 

maintenance director, agreed to 

do the legwork for Wilson Engineering 

at a cost savings to SVCA 

of $12,500. However, with Reed 

now on long-term disability and 

no longer employed by SVCA, 

Wilson Engineering will charge 

the full $15,000 to do all the work 

themselves without updated 

notes from SVCA. The report 

will last for at least two years. 

• When the SVCA security 

camera project was shifted 

from a closed circuit system 

with single-site viewing and 

recording to a camera-based 

security system that allows 

network viewing and recording 

for greater usefulness and 

effectiveness, it found that the 

SVCA computer system – in 

its current state – was not adequate 

to host the service. Wareing 

requested that the board 

allow him to investigate the 

possibility of upgrading the 

SVCA network to a wireless 

system to house the security 

system before reverting back to 

the closed circuit scenario. 

• The board authorized the 

payment of $4,000 to Express 

Personnel as a placement fee 

for the hiring of Barbara Parker, 

the new office manager. 

• The board approved the 

replacement of a utility pole 

that was blown down in the 

wind in Area Z. A new metal 

pole – as per regulations because 

the pole is within 200 feet 

of Austin Creek -- with new 

wiring with restored electrical 

service pole will be replaced at 

a cost not to exceed $3,000. 

• Calece Cass-Healy, new 

SVCA treasurer, recommended 

approval of her seven-member 

finance committee. The committee 

includes Cass-Healy, 

Dee Spreitzer, Andy Schwartz, 

Leah Keefer, Penny Carter, Earl 

Settlemeyer and Jessica Staten. 

Lance Hillengass, Dan Marantette 

and Lisa Jackson are alternates. 

• Naomi Bunis, SVCA secretary, 

recommended approval 

of her Communication Outreach 

Committee. The committee 

includes Curt Casey (board 

member), Curry Miles, Marlene 

Harlan, Bill Audley, Dixie 

Doran, Jerry Peel and Elisabeth 

Huthert. 

• Spreitzer, Nominations 

& Elections Committee chair, 

gave a report of the Annual 

General Meeting results for certification. 

The final numbers are 

found in the related article on 

page 1. She also recommended 

for approval the committee of 

Spreitzer, Lee Langdon, Brenda 

Sample, Gary Gallant and Hillengass. 

• Barbara Audley, Disaster 

Preparedness Committee chair, 

recommended Russ Harlan, 

Gordon Johnson, Perry Sikes, 

Bill Audley, Lou Manrique, 

Dave Ralston (fire chief) and 

Wareing to the committee. 

Public owner comments: 

• Owen Ward is concerned 

that the SVCA members be 

aware of the proper snow procedures 

in the valley. Wareing 

assured Ward that proper procedures 

are in place. 

• Richard Cochinos is concerned 

about the upkeep of the 

recycling area near the marina. 

• Hillengass requested that 

board meetings be videotaped. 

Harlan said that there are not 

enough resources to video the 

meetings. However, an audio 

tape is made. 

• Dennis Jones encouraged 

the board and members to remain 

informed on water quality 

issues in the Lake Whatcom 

watershed. 

• Miles requested a business 

plan for the recreation 

center. Wareing said that one 

would be available to the board 

in early December. 

• Pat Loken requested finance 

committee minutes be 

available to the members. 

• Laura Weide, board 

member, was absent with notice.

Page 4 

AGM 


explaining the details of each 

issue,” he said. “We were to 

‘big picture’ in our presentation, 

thus people didn’t get the 

real issues behind each of these 

(measures 2 and 4).” 

Measure 3, authorizing the 

board to sell or trade unrestricted 

lots not needed for the Density 

Reduction Program (DRP) 

now that there are 1,400 lots in 

that program, was defeated by 

63 percent (720 against vs. 417 

for). 

Harlan said he doesn’t 

believe the majority of people 

understand the cost in lost revenue 

from dues that the Density 

Reduction Program places 

on current dues payers. 

“People see the open space 

and take it for granted, like it is 

just ‘there’ and no one has to 

pay for it,” Harlan said. “Yes, 

it would nice to keep putting 

lots into open space, but are 

all the people who voted these 

measures down willing to keep 

GM report 


draws to a close. The new heating, 

ventilation and air conditioning 

(HVAC) system has 

been completely installed and 

is now fully functional. With 

the installation of the HVAC 

system, we have now made 

the building more comfortable, 

healthier and more usable. We 

are now down to a bit of painting, 

the installation of a few 

remaining doors, the final electrical 

and life safety upgrades 

and modifications required by 

the county. The coffee shop is 

also nearing completion and 

the vendors are preparing to 

initiate coffee, smoothie and 

health drink service in the recreation 

center. The project is on 

budget and will be competed 

by year’s end. 

• Security Cameras - The 

security camera system project 

has been temporarily placed 

on hold while technical experts 

examine the current technology 

infrastructure to determine 

the best way to proceed. There 

are presently three cameras 

installed in the clubhouse and 

they are working very well. 

The remaining cameras will be 

installed once some technical 

issues are resolved. 

Disorderly Houses – We 

are now processing complaints 

and mailing letters to the owners 

of disorderly houses in the 

community notifying them of 

the necessity of bringing their 

houses up to an acceptable 

standard. 

Driving Range - Renovations 

to the golf course driving 

range are now complete. 

Administrative Focus 

2008 Revised Budget – I 

have had the opportunity to 

review the 2008 budget and 

believe that reductions can 

be made in a number of areas 

without seriously damaging 

the association’s ability to effectively 

maintain its facilities 

and the services member of 

the community have come to 

expect. 

I will be ready to make 

such recommendations at the 

proper time. 

Dave Wareing 

general manager 

Su d d e n Valley Vi e ws | TIMOTHY NEWCOMB 

Russ Harlan, SVCA president, directed the Nov. 3 AGM. 

paying for that? My guess is 

if they really understand the 

direct relationship of density 

reduction lots to the associated 

costs the answer would be 

no.” 

Harlan said the goal of 

1,400 lots in the DRP set by 

past boards on the recommendation 

of a member committee 

has been met and that number 

was set because it showed 

the delicate balance between 

open space and lost dues. “The 

board didn’t want to stop adding 

lots, just not at a high rate 

and only when it would benefit 

the valley,” Harlan said. 

If more lots get taken off 

the dues paying rolls, either by 

Sudden Valley or other governmental 

agencies angling 

to stop all growth in the Lake 

Whatcom Watershed, the impact 

on current dues payers 

will be even greater, he noted. 

Measure 4, an effort to 

transfer extra money in the 

DRP to the Capital Reserve Account 

to fund capital improvements, 

was narrowly defeated 

55 to 45 percent (632 against vs. 

519 for). 

Measure 6, which sought 

approval of the 2008 budget 

based on the dues increase 

failed by 73 percent. State law 

requires 50 percent of eligible 

voters -- not actual voters -- to 

reject the measure, so the budget 

passed. However, since the 



dues increase did not pass, the 

budget becomes unfundable 

and is thrown out. 

“The board now has to regroup 

and start new and more 

meetings with community 

members on where do we go 

from here,” Harlan said about 

the dues increase. “There is no 

big pot of money sitting someplace 

to carry the valley into 

the next year and the future.” 

The SVCA now reverts 

back to its passed deficit budget 

of 2007, which the association 

does not have enough 

money to fund. “Our reserves 

are way to thin for an association 

our size as it is, and now 

we have a major reserve sitting 

in a DRP that can only be used 

to buy lots that will result in 

costing us more lost revenue,” 

Harlan said. “We have a major 

educational program to tackle. 

We want everyone to come to 

the table here, not take potshots, 

but to provide input, 

ideas and suggestions.” 

New Board 

A new Board of Directors 

was also put into place at 

the AGM. With four positions 

up for reelection and two current 

board members running 

with two new entries, all four 

candidates were voted in. The 

top three candidates received 

three-year terms. The other 

term was for one year. 

New candidate Laura 

Weide received 839 votes, 

new candidate Curt Casey 730 

votes, incumbent Ben Brigham 

722 votes and incumbent Mac 

Carter 539 votes. Carter will 

serve the one-year term. 

SVCA treasurer Andy 

Schwartz and board member 

Roger Bull did not run for reelection. 

In a board organizational 

meeting that followed the 

AGM, Harlan, Chuck Mc- 

Groddy (vice president) and 

SVCA members had the opportunity to vote in person on Nov. 3 

Naomi Bunis (secretary) were 

appointed back into their positions 

on the executive committee. 

Calece Cass-Healy was 

voted in as the new treasurer 

and the fourth member of the 

executive committee. 

Weide was nominated for 

secretary, but a 6-3 vote by the 

board selected Bunis for the 

role. 

N&E Committee 

After taking nominations 

from the floor during the AGM, 

three Nominations & Elections 

Committee positions were voted 

upon with both in person 

and common proxy ballots. 

Floor nominees Lance Hillengass 

(286 votes) and Gary 

Gallant (281) were selected to 

two-year terms. Floor nominee 

Dee Spreitzer -- later voted 

N&E chair -- received 258 votes 

and a one-year term. Incumbent 

Wayne Woods received 

90 votes and was ousted from 

his seat and Cal Scheidegger 

received 48 votes. 

The common proxy ballot, 

given by one SVCA member to 

another who would be present 

at the AGM to vote the ballot 

as he or she wished, played a 

major role in selecting the N&E 

members. 

Owen Ward controlled 103 

common proxy ballots and Curry 

Miles controlled another 48. 

Su d d e n Valley Vi e ws | TIMOTHY NEWCOMB


A message from Architectural Control 

When trees are 

your neighbors 

Anthony Cavendar 

Acting ac director 

Sudden Valley is known 

for many things, including its 

lush forested setting within the 

watershed of spectacular Lake 

Whatcom. One of the most endearing 

aspects of life in our 

valley is the opportunity to 

enjoy the company of trees and 

the beauty they provide. With 

the winter season approaching, 

windstorms and heavy 

rain are guaranteed to have an 

impact on our trees. Saturated 

soil and high winds contribute 

to the potential for tree failure, 

making it important to identify 

trees that may be hazardous to 

homes and personal safety. 

There are several criteria 

used to identify when a tree is a 

“hazard.” First, there must be potential 

for tree failure. While tree 

health is best assessed by a certified 

arborist, there are signs that 

can indicate disease or defects in 

a tree. These signs include: 

• Significant lean of the 

tree and/or uplifting of roots 

from the ground. 

• Large wounds, cracks, 

and cavities in the tree. 

• Increased activity by insects 

and woodpeckers and/or 

the presence of conks (shelf 

mushrooms) on the tree. 

While these are good indicators 

of tree disease or defect, 

not all trees will fail when these 

indicators are present. 

Another criterion for determining 

whether a tree is 

hazardous is the ability to hit 

a target and the potential to 

cause serious damage to the 

target. Potential targets include 

homes, vehicles, roadways and 

power lines. If a tree is failing 

but will fall into an unoccupied 

forested area it would not 

be considered a hazard. Damage 

from a falling tree or its 

limbs can vary widely, but correlates 

with tree size, scope of 

failure and proximity to a target. 

Small limbs falling from a 

healthy tree rarely cause major 

damage to property and would 

not be considered an immediate 

hazard. 


Association architectural 

control staff is available 

to assess and respond to 

situations involving hazardous 

trees. All tree removal 

or trimming in Sudden Valley 

requires a written request 

(forms are available at the administrative 

office or online at 

www.suddenvalley.com) and 

subsequent approval from the 

Architectural Control Committee 

(ACC). The AC staff is authorized 

to provide immediate 

approval only when a hazardous 

tree presents an imminent 

threat to life or property. 

For more information regarding 

hazardous trees, tree 

removal contractors, arborists, 

or the tree removal and trimming 

approval process please 

contact the AC department 

staff at 734-6430 or at acm@ 

suddenvalley.com. 

AC staff Kaci Radcliffe and 

Alisyn Maggiora contributed to 

writing this article. 


Page 5 

Se c u r i t y Re p o r t 

Sudden Valley security statistics and activity for the month of October 2007. 

OCTOBER TOTALS YEARLY TOTALS 

Agency Assist 

Alarms 

Animal Calls 

Arrests 

Assaults 

Burglaries 

Checks House/Welfare 

Citations 

Citizen Assists 

Domestic Violence 

Evictions 

Fire/Aid Calls 

ID Checks 

Noise Complaints 

Prowlers 

Shots Fired 

Thefts 

Vandalism 

Traffic Stops 

Total Mileage 

19 

4 

48 

0 

1 

0 

35 

35 

35 

0 

0 

17 

11 

18 

0 

0 

3 

7 

32 

5,593 

226 

16 

504 

24 

3 

22 

212 

440 

1307 

11 

6 

132 

230 

230 

9 

7 

26 

104 

235 

44,147

Page 6 

Women’s Club holiday gala next 



How to select poinsettias 

The SVWC made its annual shopping trip to Seattle in November. 

Carolyn Leeper 

SVWC 

The Sudden Valley Women’s 

Club Holiday Gala Luncheon 

will be an old-fashioned 

elegant Christmas celebration 

with music, carols and gift exchanges. 

Members are encouraged 

to invite friends to join 

in on the fun! The event will 

be held at the Bellingham Golf 

& Country Club, at noon, on 

Dec. 12. Cost for the luncheon 

is $19 plus a gift for exchange 

($10 limit). Reservations are required. 

A box will be available 

for Toys for Tots donations. 

The November special 

Alderwood Mall Nordstrom’s 

trip was a smash hit, with a full 

motorcoach of Sudden Valley 

women attending. 

Nordstrom’s personal 

shoppers gave fashion tips, 

showing a wide variety of 

items from coats and suits to 

belts, shoes and jewelry. A 

lounge was available throughout 

the day with coffee and 

cookies and storage for coats 

and bags. 

The Women’s Club does 

not meet in January. 

Coming Events: February, 

“Champagne & Chocolates 

Brunch & Valley Art”; March, 

Fashion Show; April, Performance 

Luncheon. There will 

be a day trip in May. Other special 

events are announced from 

time-to-time. 

Membership in the Women’s 

Club is $15 for the year 

and new members are always 

welcome. Besides the monthly 

Women’s Club luncheons, 

there are sub-groups such as 

the book club, bridge, arts, gardening, 

lunch bunch, etc. 

For more information 

about the Women’s Club, call 

Sara St. James at 647-4523. 

To make your reservation 

for any event, call Linda E. 

Miller at 756-6941. 

Happy 

Holidays 

from all of us at 

Sudden Valley Views! 

Mary Ann Crawford 

Master gardener 

The time of year has arrived 

when we see poinsettias 

(Euphorbia pulcherrima) for 

sale in even the most unusual 

places. Propagation of 109 varieties 

has become so evolved 

that unusual colors and variegation 

are available to suit even 

our home design. The Aztecs 

called poinsettias “Cuetlaxochitl.” 

During the 14th through 

16th centuries the sap was used 

to control fevers and the bracts 

(modified leaves) were used to 

make a reddish dye. The poinsettia 

was first introduced to 

the United Sates in 1825 by Joel 

Robert Poinsett, first U.S. ambassador 

to Mexico. It is well 

suited to sub-tropical climates 

and today it can be found cultivated 

in gardens as an ornamental 

that requires minimal 

care. 

When selecting a poinsettia, 

look for plants with dense 

foliage all the way to the soil 

line – this represents a healthy 

plant. The plant should be two 

times taller than the diameter 

of the container with the bracts 

showing no signs of wilting, 

breaking or drooping. Poinsettia 

health is diminished when 

placed in crowded displays 

with reduced air circulation, 

or, sleeved in paper, plastic or 

mesh. This is how the majority 

of plants are sold, so examine 

and select your plant carefully 

and choose those with small 

tightly clustered center buds. 

Examine the plant’s soil: it’s 

best to avoid waterlogged soil, 

particularly if the plant appears 

wilted. Such a condition 

could signify irreversible root 

rot. Avoid wind and cold exposure 

when transporting. 

Once home, place your 

plant in indirect sunlight for 

at least six hours per day away 

from warm or cold drafts 

from radiators, air registers 

or open doors and windows. 

Ideal room temperatures are 

between 68-70 degrees in the 

day and 55 degrees at night, so 

consider moving the plants to 

a cold room at night to maximize 

bloom length. Check the 

soil daily and water the plant 

when the soil feels dry to the 

touch. Remove from a decorative 

container before watering. 

If you leave the plant in the 

sleeve, punch holes so water 

can drain into a saucer. Allow 

water to drain into the saucer 

and discard excess water. Don’t 

fertilize your plant when it is in 

bloom. The plants can be difficult 

to induce reflowering after 

the initial display, and requires 

a period of uninterrupted long, 

dark nights for around two 

months in autumn in order to 

develop flowers. Check www. 

urbanext.uiuc.edu/poinsettia 

for excellent detailed instructions. 

The poinsettia has long 

been rumored to be toxic; in 

fact, it is the most widely tested 

consumer plant on the market 

today. This common misconception 

occurs because most 

plants of the spurge genus are 

toxic and because the name 

of the plant seems to refer to 

the word poison. As with any 

non-food product, however, 

the poinsettia is not meant to 

be eaten. Doing so may sometimes 

cause diarrhea and vomiting 

in animals and humans, 

so it is best to keep away from 

toddlers and curious pets. If 

stems are broken, a milky sap 

is exuded may cause mild skin 

irritation for those with sensitive 

skin, so wash thoroughly if 

this occurs. 

Please Recycle This Paper



Page 7

Page 8 



Treasurer’s report 

(Includes: balance sheet, operations by department 

and summary of profit and loss) 

Happy 

Holidays 

from all of us at 

Sudden Valley Views! 

(2,679) 

$472,917


Recreation programs 

for December 

Kalene Drummond 

Acting recreation manager 

Programs may be cancelled 

due to insufficient registration. 

For updates, details 

and registration information on 

the following programs, please 

contact the recreation center at 

312-5176 or 734-6430 ext 245. 

• Toddler Programs (Ages 0-5) 

Wee Wigglers Story Time: 

Each week will be a different 

interactive story for children 

to learn and grow by. Tuesday, 

10:30 a.m.; Family Fun Zone. 

• Youth Programs (Ages 7-17) 

Limited Afterschool Program: 

Monday – Friday 3–6 

p.m.; Family Fun Zone. 

Youth Scrabble Club: Saturday, 

Noon – 2 p.m. 

Youth Chess Club: Saturday, 

2–3 p.m. 

Youth Advisory Council 

(Ages 8-11): Help design programs 

and events for your age 

group. Fourth Monday each 

month; 4-5 p.m. 

Home School Connection 

Be a block captain 

Barbara Audley 

SVCA board member 


Association is seeking 

to organize a Neighborhood 

Disaster Preparedness Team 

throughout the valley to be 

ready when an emergency 

strikes. 

Part of that effort is to 

identify a block captain or key 

contact person for each block 

or small contiguous group of 

blocks. This person or family 

would know their neighbors, 

have contact information 

(home phone, cell phone(s), e- 

mail, etc.) and would be aware 

of any special circumstances, 

such as long trips away or serious 

medical conditions. 

The block captain would 

be integrated into a communication 

network presently 

being developed so that if an 

emergency happens, the block 

captain could contact a central 

SVCA person or the SVCA 

could get in contact with that 

block captain. 

If you are willing to serve 

in that capacity for your immediate 

neighborhood, please contact 

Barb Audley, chair of the 

SVCA Disaster Preparedness 

Committee, with your contact 

information (name, house and 

mail address, phones, e-mail, 

etc.) and proposed neighborhood 

description (street names 

(Ages 6-17): Home schooled 

youth come together and socialize, 

play games, read, or 

just have fun; Mon-Fri, 12–1 

p.m.; Family Fun Zone. 

Coming Soon … Babe 

Ruth/Cal Ripken Baseball Sign 

Up. 

• Teen Programs 

Teen Advisory Council 

(Ages 12-18): Help design programs 

and events for your age 

group. Fourth Monday each 

month; 4-5 p.m. 

TNT: Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m.; 

Call the recreation center for 

details. 

• Adult Programs 

Game Night Ages 20+: 

Play ping-pong, shoot pool, 

play scrabble and more; Thursday, 

6–9 p.m.; recreation center. 

Adult Recreation Advisory 

Council: Fourth Monday 

each month; 6:30–7:30 p.m.; 

Call recreation at 734-6430 ext 

242 to join. 

and house numbers). 

We anticipate a short 

meeting sometime this winter 

to get organized and make sure 

everyone is informed about 

processes. Then, we will periodically 

check electronically to 

make sure the network is still 

in place. Hopefully, we will 

never have to use this system 

in a real emergency. But we do 

need to be prepared! 

Please pass this request 

on to friends and neighbors 

throughout the valley. We need 

lots of volunteers to keep each 

block captain’s area small and 

nearby. Thank you in advance 

for your participation. 

Audley can be contacted 

at 647-1693 or via e-mail at 

barbaudley@yahoo.com. 


Page 9 

Scouts offer Christmas disposal 

For over 20 years the Boy 

Scouts of Troop 19 and the Cub 

Scouts of Pack 19 have been active 

in the community by conducting 

an annual service project 

picking up and disposing 

of Christmas trees throughout 

Sudden Valley and other parts 

of Bellingham. 

This project has traditionally 

been the primary source 

of donations to the Scouts of 

Troop and Pack 19. These funds 

have been instrumental in supporting 

the troop and pack to 

continue their service, providing 

a healthy activity to the 

youth in the area. In past years, 

the scouts with their parents 

would drive street to street 

throughout the valley picking 

up trees that were left for scout 

pick-up at the curb. 

In 1999, Sudden Valley 

management asked that this 

activity be restricted to picking 

up trees from a central location. 

They no longer wanted 

the youth going door to door. 

Older Lane became the drop 

site for the Sudden Valley trees. 

Since changing to the Older 

Lane drop site, the scouts have 

continued to pick up over 

1,000 trees from Sudden Valley 

residents each year. The donations 

that once accompanied 

the trees when picked up at 

curb side have all but dried up. 

The troop and pack no longer 

collect the funds necessary to 

support their operation and, in 

fact, lose money if you factor 

in the cost of disposal, fuel and 

man power. 

Before moving to Sudden 

Valley area residents may 

have been accustomed to being 

able to put their tree at 

curb side and have their local 

trash company dispose of it. In 

Bellingham, the waste disposal 

company charges for curb side 

disposal of Christmas trees at 

a cost of $5.75 per every three 

feet of tree. 

Gone are the days when 

the scouts could just burn the 

discarded trees to dispose of 

Boy Scouts Troop 19 and Cub Scouts Pack 19 will dispose of 

Christmas trees as fundraiser for the group. 

them. Environmental concerns 

have moved us to a better, environmentally 

friendly approach. 

The scouts collect the trees and 

have them chipped. The chips 

are recycled by donating them 

to Bellingham Parks and Recreation 

for use in our neighborhood 

parks. 

In an effort to gain community 

support and understanding 

of this activity, the 

local scouts will be changing 

the locale of the Christmas tree 

pickup this year. 

The event will be held at 

the Sudden Valley Mall next to 

ReMax on Saturday, Jan. 5 from 

7 to 10 a.m. 

Drop off times are only 

Friday, Jan. 4, from 3 to 7 p.m. 

and Saturday, Jan. 5 from 7 to 

10 a.m. Donation envelopes 

will be available at the drop 

location, the Sudden Valley 

administration office and other 

supportive Sudden Valley 

businesses. 

As a reminder, donations 

from this service event 

greatly assist the operation of 

the scouting program in our 

community. Without these donations, 

Troop 19 and Pack 19 

could not provide the quality 

experience the boys deserve. 

For more information on 

the Christmas tree disposal, 

please call Ward Naf at 303- 

6671.

s 

Page 10 



s 

De c. 2007 

Su n d a y Mo n d a y Tu e s d a y We d n e s d a y Th u r s d a y Fr i d a y 

Sa t u r d a y 

1 

Ad u l t Center 

9 a.m. Yoga 

2 


10 a.m. Beginner’s Bridge 

6:30-8 p.m. Yoga 

3 Ro t u n d a 4 Ad u l t Center 5 Ad u l t Center 6 

1 p.m. Bible Study 

12:30 p.m. Bridge Club 

7 p.m. Card Club 

9 a.m. ACC 

6 p.m. Poker 

7 

8 

The Second Helping 

Bo o k Cl u b 


9 a.m. Yoga 

9 Ad u l t Center 10 Ro t u n d a 11 


6:30-8 p.m. Yoga 

Bo b’s 

6 p.m. LW Kiwanis 





9 a.m. Disaster Preparedness, 

Fire training room 

12 Ad u l t Center 13 

6 p.m. Poker 


7 p.m. Coffee House 

14 

15 


9 a.m. Yoga 

16 



6:30-8 p.m. Yoga 

Bo b’s 


17 

Ro t u n d a 

18 Ad u l t Center 


Ro t u n d a 

4 p.m. Finance Comm. 




9 a.m. ACC 

6 p.m. Poker 

Bo b’s Bu r g e r 

5:30 p.m. Chicago Bridge 


7 p.m. Pinochle Club 

21 

22 


9 a.m. Yoga 

23 

Ro t u n d a 

BOARD MEETING 

7 P.M. 

24 

30 31 

Bo b’s 


25 

26 




9 a.m. Disaster Preparedness, 

Fire training room 


6 p.m. Poker 


7 p.m. Partner Bridge 

29 

WECU now open in Sudden Valley 

Whatcom Educational 

Credit Union is now a part 

of Sudden Valley. WECU has 

opened its newest location at 

2275 Lake Whatcom Boulevard 

(in the Sudden Valley strip 

mall). 

The Sudden Valley branch 

is open from 11:30 a.m. until 7 

p.m. Monday through Friday. 

With 12 branches and 

over 51,000 members, WECU 

is Whatcom County’s largest 

not-for-profit, member-owned 

financial cooperative. Now 

serving all county residents, 

WECU offers a full range of 

personal and business banking 

products and services. Further 

information is available at 

www.wecu.com. 

Barn Theatre plans auditions 

The Barn Theatre is holding auditions for H.M.S. PIN- 

AFORE, a Gilbert & Sullivan musical, at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday 

and Monday, Jan. 20 and 21 in the dance barn. There are roles 

for adults, teens and children 6 and up. There will be 10 performances 

opening Thursday, March 27, and running three weekends 

(March 28 through April 13). The musical is a hilarious story 

with delightful characters, great music, colorful costumes and 

spirited choreography. For more information, call 756-9916.



Page 11 

Classifieds 

CLASSIFIED RATES: $6.00 per month for up to 25 words. $7.00 for 26-40 words, 

$8.00 for 41-60 words. 61+ words, $1.00 for each additional 20 words. Payment MUST 

be made prior to publication. DEADLINE for classified advertising for the January 2008 

issue is Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 12 noon. Make checks payable to “Sudden Valley Views.” 

Please send ads and payment to: Sudden Valley Views, Attn: Classified Ads, 4 Clubhouse 

Circle., Bellingham, WA 98226, or deliver to the Sudden Valley Clubhouse front 

desk. For questions about classified ads, contact the front desk at 360-734-6430. 

Re n t a l s 

Pe t Se r v i c e s 

Se r v i c e s 

Se r v i c e s 

Re a l Es t a t e 

Family or friends visiting? 

Holidays? Accommodation 

needed? Three BR two bath 

condo available. $100 per 

night. 2 night minimum. Call 

604-272-1885. 

Brand new 3 bedroom, 2 bathh 

Sudden Valley home near golf 

course. With use of community 

beaches on Lake Whatcom. No 

pets, no smoking, no garage. 

Laundry/utility room with 

W/D. $1,100 month. Call 509- 

670-5900. 

Deluxe Condo. Deluxe 2 BR 

Condo on 6th Green, Lake 

view. Close to all amenities. 

Full equipped, 2 TV’s, NS, NP. 

$90/day, $575/week. 2-Day 

minimum. Call 604-984-0675. 

3 bedroom condo near everything. 

Fully equipped. Deck 

with Lake Whatcom view. N/ 

S N/P rates on application, 

dependent upon season and 

duration. Please call 360-738- 

3435. 

Deluxe 3 BR, 2 BA lake view 

condo on 7th tee. Bright end 

unit close to adult centre and 

family pool. Fully furnished 

and equipped, NS, NP. Call for 

rates, 604-988-1959. 

Lake Whatcom Area Guest 

Suite. Charming guest suite 

location in the Lake Whatcom 

area. Large mother-in-law 

quarters off a private home 

with full kitchen, private entrance 

and bath located in a 

serene forest setting. Sleeps 4; 

pets allowed, Mini continental 

breakfast included. Nightly 

$70, $365 weekly. More details, 

call Vicki @ 360-739-6665. 

Kitty Kare - Cats & Dogs. I 

provide loving, affordable care 

for your precious “furry kids” 

while at work or away. My care 

services are for cats and petite 

dogs (dogs April through Oct. 

only), and includes feeding, 

waste removal, walks, playtime 

and lots of love and cuddles. 

I have been a pet owner and 

caretaker for many years and 

can offer excellent references 

and testimonials. Call Sara at 

Kitty Kare @ 360-647-4523 for 

rates and a no-charge in-home 

consult. Long term rates available. 

Dog Training. Does your dog 

pay attention to you? Come 

when you call? Walk without 

pulling? Learn how to train 

your dog in a positive, fun 

way. Private and group obedience 

classes in Bellingham and 

Sudden Valley area. Call Linda 

Larkin at Ridgeview Dog Training, 

360-595-2131. 

ridgeviewpetservices.com. 

Ridgeview Petsitting. I know 

how important it is to be sure 

your pets are safe and well 

cared for while you are away. I 

have been successfully providing 

loving, mature, responsible 

in-home pet care in the Valley 

for years. Let me feed, walk, 

and play with your companions 

while you are away. I have 

25 years animal care experience, 

including pets with special 

medical needs. Call Linda 

Larkin at Ridgeview Petsitting, 

360-595-2131. Free consultation 

visit. Excellent SV references. 

ridgeviewpetservices.com. 

Whatcom Window Washers. 

Gutter cleaning sepcial! 

Clean your gutters before they 

overflow. Now offering SV 

residents 10% off gutter cleaning 

and pressure washing services. 

Friendly, professional, 

and prompt. Please visit www. 

WhatcomWindowWashers. 

com. Call today for a fast, free 

estimate. 360-920-0122. 

McLean Construction 419 Sudden 

Valley, Bellingham, WA. 

98229 PH: 738-0281. House 

remodels, interior & exterior 

decks, garages. Licensed bonded 

insured. email:mcleanconstruction@comcast.net. 

“Mr. Wizard” Handyman! I do 

tile work, pressure washing, 

gutter cleaning deck repairs, 

painting, minor electrical and 

plumbing repairs. Call Dave 

(ex-teacher). 360-595-9158. 

Piano lessons from a veteran 

instructor new to SV. “Private 

lessons with a personal touch.” 

30-60 min. lessons. Call Poul at 

393-6211. 

ATTA BOY Window, Gutter 

& Pressure cleaning now offering 

WINDOW DEFOGGING. 

Get the entire house looking 

spectacular in one day. Newly 

developed pressure washing 

technology allows efficient 

cleaning of vertical surfaces, 

i.e. siding, saves you money. 

360-756-1551. 

FALL CLEAN-UP! Hauling, 

weeding, raking, etc., yard debris, 

brush, leaves, branches, 

garbage, junk, remodel left 

over, consturction clean-up, 

furniture, appliance removal. 

All your property clean-up 

needs! GREAT RATES. Fast 

service. Free estimates. 220- 

3841. 

Christmas lights. I’ll help you 

safely put up your Christmas 

lights this season. Call Dave, 

595-9158. 

Clean Sweep. Pay now or pay 

big money later. Don’t risk falling 

off your roof. Let us do it 

for you. Gutter and debris 

cleaning and moss removal. 

Your roof is important to us. 

The AFFORDABLE roof people. 

Call (360) 815-3656. 

Call the Sudden Valley Community 

Association office at 734-6430 to place a 

classified ad. 

Buildable lot for sale in area 

of nice homes in Sudden Valley 

- Div. 3, Lot 51, 11A Little 

Strawberry Lane. Contact 604- 

731-3472. 

Brand new 3 bedroom, 2 bath 

SV home with all the bells and 

whistles! Walking distance 

to golf course. 2-story ceiling 

with open loft and wrought 

iron railings, tiled kitchen and 

bath, cherry cabinets, large 

wood cased picture windows 

and deck. $265,000. Call Eva 

(owner/agent) at 509-670-5900, 

John L. Scott. 

Recycling news 

Sanitary Service Company 

(SSC) is now allowing 

recycling customers to recycle 

clean, non-hazardous plastic 

containers through the company’s 

home and business recycling 

services. The list of new 

plastics to be accepted includes 

containers and tubs, like those 

used for deli and dairy products, 

single-serve food and 

juice “cups” and buckets up to 

1-gallon in size without metal 

handles. 

SSC Recycling Manager 

Rodd Pemble said recycling for 

plastic tubs and single-serve 

food and juice “cups” is the 

single most common request 

the company has had over the 

last decade. “We know the addition 

of these items to our 

recycling program is going to 

make a lot of customers happy 

– especially those that consume 

or use dairy products.” 

For questions or a detailed 

list of acceptable items and 

how to prepare them for recycling, 

call SSC at (360) 734-3490 

or visit www.ssc-inc.com. 

Wa n t e d 

I buy your ULID, non-buildable 

or hard to build lots. 360- 

510-2299. 

Call the Sudden Valley 

Community Association 

office at 734-6430 to place 

a classified ad.

Page 12 

Su d d e n Va l l ey Vi e w s 


BUYING OR SELLING YOUR PROPERTY IN 

BELLINGHAM, COME TO OUR BELLINGHAM OFFICE @ 

1200 Lakeway Dr. Ste 1 

Bellingham, WA 98229 

360-650-1010 360-733-3700 

www.sunmarkproperties.com 

Open 7 Days a Week 

BUYING OR SELLING YOUR PROPERTY IN SUDDEN 

VALLEY , COME TO OUR SUDDEN VALLEY OFFICE @ 

1850 Lake Whatcom Blvd. 


Best Wishes to You and Yours 

This Holiday Season. 

Beverly Thompson 

Realtor 

Realtor of the month 

email: sunmarkproperties@msn.com 

Katharine Carey 

Realtor 

Judy Fox 

Realtor 

Matthew V. Matulovich 

Realtor 

For all your Real Estate Needs, 

360-733-3700 or Fax: 360-647-6028 

1850 Lake Whatcom Blvd., Bellingham, WA 98229 

or visit our Website: www.sunmarkproperties.com 

Cameron Locker 

Realtor 

John Kelleher 

Realtor 

Come on in and enjoy 

a cup of coffee 

and the view from 

our lakeside office. 

Azam Nader 

Realtor 

Patricia Scott 

Realtor 

Marilynn Livingston 

Realtor 

Benny Ho 

Realtor 

On-Site Property Management: 

Judy Fox 360-733-3700 

LOW BANK 

WATERFRONT 

B e a u t i f u l l a k e f r o n t 

c o n t e m p o r a r y w i t h 

fabulous lake views from 

every room. This 4 level, 

4 bedroom home has 

a large family room, 

living room, den, dining 

room, wine cellar, 300 

sq. ft. workshop, hot tub. 

$888,000 

With Sincere Appreciation 

For Your Business & Friendship 

Happy Holidays 

From All Of Us At Sun-Mark! 

NEW PRICE 

MTN., LAKE & 

GOLF COURSE VIEW 

Beautifully updated, bright and 

sunny, 1 level condo located on 

6th green. This 2 Bd, 1.5 Ba has a 

lovely fireplace, sunny, private 

deck & is in walking distance to 

all Sudden Valley amenities. This 

condo is in turnkey condition. A 

must see!! $194,900 

Office Space 

FOR RENT 

at Sun-Mark 

For Information 

Call 360-441-2900 

SUDDEN VALLEY 

CHARMER 

Cute chalet style rambler in 

a quiet wooded area. Large 

private deck, large great room 

with freestanding wood stove, 

open beam ceilings and lots 

of windows w/winter peek-aboo 

views of Lake Whatcom. 

$181,900 

Judy Fox 

Prop. Mgr. 

Sudden Valley 

PRIVATE LOCATION 

Very attractive 3 bdrm, 2 bath 

home with open floor plan, 

vaulted ceilings, skylights, 

propane fireplace. Large 

yard nicely landscaped with 

two ponds. Private location 

in quiet neighborhood. All 

the Sudden Valley amenities 

including championship golf 

course, fresh water marina, 

swimming pools and walking 

trails. $245,000 

Sun-Mark Properties 

RENTAL DEPARTMENT 

WE NEED RENTALS! 

We have applicants on file, so give us a call. 

Judy at Sun-Mark Properties 

360-733-3700 

or FAX: 360-647-6028 

UNFURNISHED HOUSES: 

185 Sudden Valley Drive: 2 bedroom, 

1 bath, new carpet, covered carport. 

Rent $850 Deposit $850 

76 Marigold Drive: 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 

2-car garage. Fantastic view. 


2 Whispering Cedars: 4 bedroom, 

3 bath, executive home on 1 acre lot 

(furnished or unfurnished). 


We need more 

rental 

inventory 

Patricia Scott 

Prop. Mgr. 

Bellingham 

FURNISHED CONDOS: 

Ridgefield #27: 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 

washer/dryer. 


Ridgefield #23: 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath, 

washer/dryer, great view. 


BELLINGHAM OFFICE: 

360-650-1010 Fax 650-1030 

Fairhaven: Beautiful furnished studio condo 

available January 1st. 


H Street, Blaine: 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath, 3 

fireplaces, on 10 acres, pets ok. 


AFFORDABLE CONDO 

Your opportunity to own your own home at a 

great price! Private gated 10 member condo 

complex. 2 story unit with private patio area, 

spacious master, updated kitchen & laundry 

room. $134,900 

Residential . Commercial . Refinance 

Call Us: Bellingham Office: (360) 650-1050 

Sudden Valley Office: (360) 733-4109 

www.glaciermortgage.com 

Conventional . VA . Bankruptcy . Low Credit Score 

Self Employed, No Income Verification Program 

Fixed and Adjustable Rate Loans Available 

BUYING OR SELLING YOUR PROPERTY IN 

BELLINGHAM, COME TO OUR BELLINGHAM OFFICE @ 

1200 Lakeway Dr. Ste 1 


Open 7 Days a Week 

*Pre Licensing 

*Correspondence Course 

*Continuing Education for Realtors 

360-676-4050 

1200 Lakeway Dr. • Bellingham, WA 98229 

BUYING OR SELLING YOUR PROPERTY IN SUDDEN 

VALLEY , COME TO OUR SUDDEN VALLEY OFFICE @ 

1850 Lake Whatcom Blvd. 


360-650-1010 360-733-3700 

www.sunmarkproperties.com 

FERNDALE GEM 

Fall into your new home. 

Quality all around. This home 

is one of the most popular 

models in Malloy Village. 

Come home and relax. All 

yard maintenance done for 

you. Low homeowners dues 

$85/mo. Stands alone near 

open space and includes builtin-vac. 

$289,900 

email: sunmarkproperties@msn.com

Dec - Sudden Valley

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