May 2009

Dear SVE Property Owner,

Don't you just love Spring? The landscape has turned green and nowhere is it lusher than in Swiss Village East. It makes us feel good all over. And it makes all of us get excited about beautification.

Beautification can start in your backyard. The annual township cleanups have been scheduled for May 9 in Custer Township and July 18 in Kearney. Just set large items out at the curbside and the township will pick up the items at no charge. Please no hazardous waste.

We've already made some improvements. We have added a picnic table in the park overlooking Cedar River. We are in the process of
contracting out the construction of a pavilion in the children's park.

More is to come. Saturday, May 23 has been designated SVE Beautification Day. We will only have success if everyone joins in. Here's a list of planned projects:

Repair of mailbox stands - Contact Ken Thomas 231 587-8983
Varnishing of mailbox stands - Contact Sue Williams 231 587-5878 or Sharon Koppe 231 587-4720
Set up of volleyball court - Contact Allen Wolf 248 687-9656

If you can't make it on May 23, contact Sue Williams. There will be plenty of things which can be done on other days.

As one might expect, the recession is having its impact on Antrim County. Many of the major area businesses have shuttered their doors. The latest victims are Second Chance in Central Lake (manufacturer of bullet-proof vests) which will close by year end and Tapawingo's Restaurant in Ellsworth. On the bright side, our very own John Apfel, who built most of the log homes in SVE, has purchased and re-opened the Blue Sky Grill (formerly the Windmill on Mancelona Road). And Heidi and Troy Manning are involved in a community farming initiative in Bellaire.

On January 19, SVE performed a community service day as part of President Obama's National Day of Service. We collected food, clothing, linens, and money and donated it to the Lighthouse Resale shop and food pantry in Mancelona. Thank you to everyone who participated.

In the midst of all the economic turmoil, remarkably, Swiss Village East is going strong. Several property owners are making major improvements. Properties continued to sell at a reasonable pace. Whether this will continue is anyone's guess.

If you haven't received any emails from us this year, it means we don't have a valid email address for you. With the growing cost of snail mail (U.S. Mail) and the amount of work involved with printing, labeling and stuffing envelopes, we will continue to depend on email as the main method of communication. If you don't have an email address, please get one or ask a relative or friend if you can use their email address to receive mail from SVE. Creating a free email account is easy. One of the best can be found at www.gmail.com and you can get free access at any local library. If you don't give us an email address, you can miss out on some great opportunities like the one described below.

The following information was shared in March with people for whom we have a valid email address….

We have an exciting development. We are exploring opportunities to partner with Shanty Creek and we have found Shanty Creek to be receptive.

Specifically, SVE owners in good standing were invited to a "Shanty Creek Property Owners Only" event the weekend of May 2. The event includes free golf at any of their golf courses, a 60's party, prizes and more. Also, Shanty Creek will add your contact information to their distribution list UNLESS YOU INDICATE THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE CONTACTED BY SHANTY CREEK.

The information we would provide to Shanty Creek is contained on the attached document. Please email corrections to Lonnie at petrock@torchlake.com.

Finally, our email informed SVE Owners that Shanty Creek had an excellent season pass offer going on until March 31 (only $198 for an unlimited pass for next season).

Shanty Creek has agreed to add Swiss Village East property owners to their distribution list for notices such as this. This can be a significant benefit for owners in good standing in that deals such as the one above are not communicated to the general public. If you do not wish to be included please let me know by May 15 (email AllenWolf@yahoo.com).

Please note that the SVEPOA Board is providing this information to you as a service and has initiated this communication with Shanty Creek on your behalf. Board Members do not receive any benefits from publicizing Shanty Creek's offerings other than that which you receive. A successful Shanty Creek is also good for SVE.
 

Best wishes,

SVE Board of Directors -
Allen Wolf -- President, Peter Wendling -- Vice President, Lonne Petoskey -- Treasurer, Bill Law - Secretary, Ken Thomas, Sue Williams, Pat Olson, Wayne Koppe, Sharon Koppe, Bill Wolz