Harker Center Remodel
As we reported in our last newsletter, your SVEA Board of Directors is working on a strategic plan to address the needs of the homeowners. To refresh your memories, the homeowner survey we took in October 2005 showed the following top priorities for our homeowners: fitness and exercise facility, bathrooms near the Harker tennis courts, an outdoor hot tub, and better community meeting and event facilities at the Harker Center. We put a high priority on keeping all homeowners informed of this important project, and you will continue to see regular updates on the web and in this newsletter.  In addition we have visited 17 out of 25 homeowner association meetings to discuss our plans, and also talked about it at this year’s annual owners Barbeque.  One of the most important first steps we will take is working to make sure that all SVEA owners have clear input to the plans as they progress, and long-term visibility of the progress. So far, we have had a positive response; homeowners have called us with their feedback, suggestions and offers of help. Your input and ideas are very important to us, so please, feel free to call our office anytime at 208-622-7420.

The Community School Lawsuit against SVEA
We are pleased to be able to report that the litigation initiated by the Community School against the Master Association to adjudicate whether the School’s Sagewillow campus was part of Elkhorn has been successfully concluded. A settlement was reached in early August between the School, the Master Association, the Sagewillow Owners Association and the Dumke Trust. The settlement provides in part that the School’s Sagewillow campus is part of Elkhorn and subject to the Master Declaration just like all other property in Elkhorn. The settlement will be implemented by the School recording a Notice of Addition of Territory restricting use of the Sagewillow campus to a non-residential elementary school, or as a residential development. Regardless of how the property is ultimately developed it will be required to obtain approval of the Master Association’s ADC.

Places To Go and Things To Do
From great music, gallery walks, and art festivals, to bird watching, dance and climbing camps, Ketchum/Sun Valley offers activities for all kinds of interests. Check out the Ketchum Farmers Market across the street from Atkinsons’ Market on Tuesdays from 2:30-6pm., or visit Meadows Park during the Renaissance Fair (August 26-27). You can also visit the SMOKEY Mountain Rendezvous (September 1-4, 2006). Go to www.visitsunvalley.com/calendar/ for more information about upcoming events in the area or call the Chamber at 800-634-3347.

Just a Reminder!
The Elkhorn Golf Course is private property. It would be appreciated if all owners and guests respect the rules and use this property for golfing only. For those looking for an area to play please consider utilizing the Harker Center Park. For those of you walking your dogs please use the bike path or the open space areas, and always pack a bag or two and clean up after your pet. Thank you for respecting your neighbors and Elkhorn.

Amenity Cards
Please remember that valid amenity cards are required to gain access to SVEA pools, tennis courts, and to reserve a tee time at the Elkhorn Golf Course. Please check your current card to affirm that it is still valid before visiting the amenities. Our office at the Harker Center is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday, excluding holidays, to assist you with updating or acquiring an amenity card.

Harker Center Park
Some of you may not know that SVEA has a small park that is available to all owners and resident guests. The Park is located behind the Harker Pool and offers horseshoe pits, a basketball court (1/2 court), a volleyball court, play structures for toddlers, and picnic tables with umbrellas. Bring the kids or grandkids by for a fun time in a very pleasant setting.

Tennis
Our Tennis Pro, Bill Van Deinse, and his staff are here and operating the Harker and Village courts in full force, until mid September. Be prepared for construction disturbances this summer and fall at the Village Courts. Construction continues on the Elkhorn Springs project and that work will likely create noise, traffic, and dust that may impact play.

Tennis Court Damage
For the benefit of the few owners and guests who like to play tennis early in the morning or late in the evening, we do not want to be forced to lock the tennis courts after staffed hours. However, we have had several instances where children have been using the tennis courts for skateboarding, biking or other activities that can easily damage the surface. Please be aware of this problem if you have unsupervised children or grandchildren.

War on Weeds
We are actively pursuing the demise of our noxious weeds; Knapweed, Dalmatian Toadflax, and Thistle are being targeted. If you have noticed weeds on any of the open space trails or hillsides, please give us a call with the locations. Thank you to all who have already called with weed reports. Also, take a few minutes and check your own property for weeds. If you would like more information about the noxious weeds that are creating serious problems in our beautiful area, please go to the Blaine County website: http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/noxious-weeds/index.html  or call 208-823-4017.

Board Member Applications
If any of you are at a point in your lives where you would like to volunteer for a very worthy cause, we are always accepting applications for Board Members. You can fill out an application online at www.elkhorn-assoc.org (click on Board of Directors) or receive one via mail by calling SVEA at 208-622-7420.

Pools-Spa
The Elkhorn swim season is in full swing. As many of you know, we have had unexpected maintenance issues this season and we greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation with the schedule changes that have occurred.

Trash Cans/Recycling
Please be sure your trash cans are properly stored. They must be screened from view and should not be on the street except on the day of trash pick up. If you are an out of town owner please make arrangements to have your trash cans properly stored. A trash can stored in view of adjoining properties may constitute a violation.

Recycling may be easier than you think! To set up a recycling service, contact Clear Creek Disposal at 726-9600. Clear Creek Disposal offers a wide variety of recycling services to accommodate your household needs; they also provide recycling services for condominiums as well. Currently in the valley, glass, newspaper, cardboard, magazines, junk mail, aluminum and tin cans, plastic bottles (#1 & #2), rechargeable and alkaline batteries, car batteries, inkjet and laser toner cartridges, used oil, antifreeze, paints, yard waste, and tires are among the common items recycled. You can also drop off your own recycling at the Blaine County Resource Recovery Center, located at the Ohio Gulch Transfer Station, which accepts a variety of materials for recycling. The BCRRC is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; call them directly at 788-0880. For further information on recycling and community environmental projects please contact the Environmental Resource Center at 726-4333 or visit www.ercsv.org.

Path Safety Ambassadors Sought
The Sun Valley Police Department is looking for volunteers interested in the "Path Safety Ambassador" program. Whether walking, running, or bicycling, Ambassadors will encourage safe, courteous usage on the path system. These volunteers will be a "force multiplier" to assist in getting the word out about proper Path Etiquette. If you regularly use the path system and would like to volunteer, please call Sun Valley Police Chief Daggett at 622-5345.

News From The Sun Valley Fire Department
We cannot help you if we cannot find you!!!!!!
This is the case for most households in the City. Your house numbers are not visible from the street. Remember, we are looking for you in times of stress, and often at night in the dark. Many homes have nice little engraved stones in the driveway that look nice in the summer. In the winter they are buried and not visible at all. Please put all number monuments at least four feet off final grade. Please put numbers on the house where they can be seen from the street. Make sure the numbers are on a contrasting background so we can see them in the dark. This is a State Law. For all of us handling emergencies, for all of you, please let us do our jobs in the timeliest manner, so the out come for these emergencies can be the best there is. Please call us and I will come out any time to advise you on how to best display your address. E-911 will not help out much if we cannot find you.
Respectfully, Chief Jeff Carnes

Firewise Landscaping-Communities at Risk
In the fall of 2001, the City Of Sun Valley was recognized as being at a great risk for devastation by wildfire, by the Bureau of Land Management. This allowed us to begin, and complete a fuel mitigation process around many of your homes. The next step involves educating you all in the proper types of roofing materials to put on your houses and limiting wood shake use. The type and placement of your landscaping can do a lot to predict the "Survivability" of your property. Traditionally we have all enjoyed the look of living in the mountains. This involves extensive tree placement for both shading and screening of adjoining properties. The Fire Department is faced with the challenge of placing limited resources on select properties to attain fire protection. We have found that properties that follow the Fire Wise landscape design criteria are far easier to defend than those properties where the mature landscaping has put large amounts of fuel contiguous to the hillsides and open space areas. All landscapers in the region are aware of the guidelines in the Fire Wise program and can be consulted if requested.

Chimney Cleaning
Don’t forget now is a good time to get that chimney checked and cleaned if necessary. The wrong time to have a chimney fire is when the chimney is loaded with flammable by products from the fires we all enjoy in the fall and winter months. The local chimney sweeps can access your situation and mitigate any problems prior to them getting out of hand.

Fire Department
As many of you know, the Sun Valley Fire Department has 2 full time administrative employees and 25 paid on call firefighters/emergency medical technicians. We are truly a community Fire Department staffed by members of the community to serve a community we all care about deeply. New members are always being interviewed for positions. Stop by or call Chief Jeff Carnes for more information at 622-8234.

News From Elkhorn Springs
Elkhorn Springs has completed its first building in Phase I, Hillside Terrace North, and residents started moving in last month.  The second building in Phase I, Hillside Terrace South is nearing completion and we hope to have residents moving in this fall.  The Phase I Paired Homes are nearly complete and we anticipate residents will start moving into their new homes in late August.  We anticipate framing Phase II buildings, Creekside Terrace North and South this fall.