It seems about half our community didn’t get their recycling picked up by SSC yesterday. This isn’t an HOA issue, but we thought you’d like to know that SSC was called this morning and said they’re going to send the pickup driver back today.
Bottom line: You can leave your recycle bins out again today if they were inadvertently missed yesterday.
Stay safe and be well.
Thanks to excellent neighbor Richard Drath for this timely tip!
The Board of Directors serving Sea Links Community Association will hold four (quarterly) meetings this year. The following dates have been confirmed by Joe Black, President:
| Meeting Designation | Planned Date |
| Quarter 1 | March 12 |
| Quarter 2 | June 18 |
| Quarter 3 | September 17 |
| General Meeting | October 24 |
| Quarter 4 | December 3 |
The above dates should now appear in the calendar on the Sea Links website.
All meetings are open to Association members. Our goal is to post a reminder notice and an agenda a few days before each quarterly meeting. Sea Links Board meetings are conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.
Starting this year, meetings will be gaveled to order at 6:30 PM, 30 minutes earlier than past practice. This change was made to give us time to tidy up the meeting room before the church closes up at nine o’clock.
Birch Bay Bible Community Church (4460 Bay Rd. Blaine, WA. 98230)
We look forward to seeing you at our meetings, starting with the Quarter 1 meeting this Thursday, March 12th.
Unless you don’t get out much, by now you’ll have noticed that the stop signs you requested are now in place: One each at the eastbound and westbound approaches to the main entrance off North Golf Course Drive, and another at the intersection with Birch Bay Lynden Rd.
Several have written to express their appreciation for these additions, which were undertaken in large part based on your concerns and feedback to recent posts to this website. Please keep it up: If you can suggest changes that might make life better for us all, let us know. Even better, if you’re willing to volunteer to help Steve and his all-volunteer Maintenance cohort keep our streets and gates clean, tidy and safe then consider giving him a call at the number listed for him on the Board’s contact page.
Your Sea Links Board
Our friend and former neighbor Ray Huff is now out of the hospital following double bypass heart surgery, but he’s not yet out of the woods. Shirley Sell has been keeping many of us in touch with Ray’s kids in this difficult period, and I know she’d be happy to fill you in on the latest if you give her a call.
We continue to wish Ray our best.
I’m writing this to thank all those who took the time to share their thoughts on the role stop signs play in making driving (and walking) in our community safer; and also to summarize what you said.
Firstly, of six written and two verbal responses, no one thought we have too many stop signs. A few expressed skepticism that adding new signs would automatically result in safer driving behavior, but most agreed that enforcement is a separable concern; that without clear, visible markers at key intersections, monitoring and enforcement aren’t even feasible.
Some folks broadened the scope of the original post to include the stop sign at Birch bay Lynden Rd. (should be replaced) and the stop sign at the back gate (too often ignored). Others stressed the need to enforce the existing, well-posted 20 MPH speed limit – notably on the east side of North Golf Course Dr. One person suggested repainting the stop lines (and the “STOP” word) in lieu of new signs.
Based on this feedback a near-term plan has been developed to improve the stop sign situation, both at the front entrance and at BBL Rd. Stay tuned for more detailed information on this plan, expected next week.
As final note, our dear friend and former neighbor Ray Huff has been admitted to Salem Deaconess Hospital for treatment following an apparent heart attack. For many years before moving to Oregon to live with his family, Ray was tireless and always cheerful in making contributions to our little community. Our thoughts are with Ray, as are our hopes for his rapid recovery following surgery.
We regularly hear concern expressed by community members on the free-for-all that seems to have developed at our main entrance, off Sea Links Drive. Concerns vary, but most residents are concerned with motorists not stopping before entering the intersection; and with the very real risk such behavior presents to pedestrians, children and other motorists.
An unscientific survey suggests that the majority of Sea Links residents approach the intersection with caution and consideration. But multiple independent accounts confirm that a handful of regular commuters don’t care who their sloppy driving habits endanger: They’re determined to sail through the stop sign at Sea Links drive, cut the corner (esp. northbound) and then…’damn the torpedoes’. Pedestrians on North have had to scramble for their safety. This cannot continue.
Is this a significant concern for you? We want to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts, in confidence, on the Sea Links website Contact page. There are steps we can take to make things better. We’d like your support to do so.
While Birch Bay was beautiful and sunny for much of today (Monday), Weather Underground is predicting a small chance of snowfall starting early tomorrow and tailing off toward dinner time. What we actually get will depend on a swing of just a few degrees of air temperature either way, and of course the timing of any precipitation.
Since there’s a clear trend toward warmer temperatures for at least the balance of the week, we’re not planning to call in the snowplow for such a brief event. Once the precipitation turns to rain, the whole slushy mess should be gone within a few hours.
Just a heads up from your diligent and frugal Maintenance Committee!
No, it isn’t St. Patrick’s Day yet!
The little green flags you’ve reported seeing scattered along our roadway, labeled “H.D. FOWLER CO.”, were placed by our new snow plow contractor (Evergreen Coast) to reduce the risk of inadvertent damage in any future plowing:
We’re obviously pleased that our contractor is exercising this level of preventive care with your property. Who knows, it could snow again!
The snowstorm that passed through here couldn’t have happened on a worse morning: Not only did it snow hard, but we had swirling winds that helped to stack it up in places that day.
The snowplow showed up about 7am and started to clear the roads. They were nice to put us as a priority that day. After the week’s clean-up I have a few observations that I want to share:
I also saw positive things that week. On the first morning Board members were out walking the neighborhood, offering a helping hand where needed.
Our neighborhood also has a handful of teens that took advantage of no-school days and were out shoveling driveways for a small fee. It was nice to see happy Residents and happy kids having fun. If we do have more snow days this winter and you’d like to engage the teens in our neighborhood call me (907-738-7619) and I’ll give them your name and how to reach you.
Thanks,
Steve Skannes (Maintenance)
As planned, Sea Links roads were plowed starting at around 7:00 AM this morning (Wednesday). A quick drive-around indicated that while the contractor did an adequate job, there was room for improvement. We want to thank the three Residents who took the time to contact us with comments. Here are a few excerpts:
Main takeaway seems to be, “We liked the timely plowing, but we can’t have our driveway entrances and mailboxes blocked afterward.”
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts and suggestions. We value your feedback!
There’s rain in the forecast beginning late Thursday, and we’re hoping that will take care of any remaining snow. As the weather warms it’s going to be more important than ever to keep our drains clear of debris. For three days leading up to last night’s dumping we salted by the drains with hopes that would help keep the liquid flowing. Still, if you see a blockage forming in a drain near you please take a few minutes with your shovel to break it up.
The lakes that can result from repeated thaw-freeze cycles have to be seen to be believed!
You might have noticed that Sea Links’ vehicle gates are locked open. This is by design, the goal being to reduce the chance of someone sliding into them (esp. at the back, with the slope) in these icy conditions. They will return to normal operation once roadway conditions have improved.
Speaking of hazardous surface conditions, our maintenance coordinator assessed the roads first thing this morning; based on his findings the back hill was scheduled to be salted – also the front gate entrance and other perilous areas.
If you observe other potential weather-related or safety issues please drop us a quick note via the Contact page of our website. Stay safe and stay warm!