Village residents and their guests are cordially invited to visit the Laguna Woods Village Community Center to experience the newly installed 2025 Laguna Woods Art Association exhibit—a highly anticipated and well-regarded showcase of artistic talent.

This special exhibition features art association members who bring their creative visions to life in the Clubhouse 4 art studio, sharing their talents, passions and artistic joys with the community.

Whether expressed in acrylic, mixed media, oil, watercolor or another medium, the works on display span a diverse range of themes—from spectacular natural landscapes and evocative still life to bold statements, intriguing curiosities and deeply introspective portraits. Each piece is sure to inspire, captivate, charm, amuse or provoke thought in its own unique way.

Where to Find the Exhibit

More than 140 works of art adorn the first- and third-floor hallways and alcoves of the Community Center. Each piece is accompanied by a placard listing:

• The artist’s name and contact information
• The artwork title, medium and dimensions
• Price (if available for sale; otherwise marked NFS)

Vote for Your Favorite Artwork Now!

Until Monday, March 3, residents and guests are invited to vote for their single favorite piece in the exhibit.

• Find the artwork number in the bottom left corner of the placard.
• On an official ballot (available in the lobby), write the number of the one piece that speaks most to you.
• Drop your completed ballot into the ballot box in the lobby.

Winning Selection

The winning artwork will be announced in “What’s Up in the Village” on Friday, March 7.

We invite you to take your time and immerse yourself in this inspiring exhibition during Community Center hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Enjoy the incredible talents of our local artists!

For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.

Your smartphone can be a lifesaver in an emergency. Here are some simple but crucial steps to enhance your preparedness:

1. Receive emergency alerts. Sign up for CodeRED (Village) and AlertOC (Orange County) to get critical updates on wildfires and other emergencies. Enable Government Alerts in your phone’s settings (under Notifications on iPhone; Wireless Emergency Alerts [WEA] on Android).
2. Set an ICE contact. Add an “in case of emergency” (ICE) contact to your phone—someone local who knows your health history and can respond quickly.
3. Save essential contacts. Store key contacts, including family, doctors, pharmacy, police, fire and local hospitals.
4. Keep your smartphone charged. Always charge your phone and consider a backup power pack for emergencies.

Your Smartphone Can Protect Important Documents

Wildfires can destroy irreplaceable records and photos, but your smartphone can safeguard them. Scan and store copies of:

• Driver’s license, passport and Social Security card
• Medication list and health insurance cards
• Insurance policies and other essential documents
• Family and pet photos for identification

Need help? Watch YouTube tutorials or visit the Village computer clubs (Mac Club for iPhones, PC Club for Androids) on the third floor of the Community Center (24351 El Toro Road). Volunteers and scanning equipment are available to assist you.

This simple step ensures your most important information stays secure—no tech expertise required!

For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below. 

The Laguna Woods Free Tax Program has been serving the Village community for more than 25 years. This program, operated under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance initiative, is managed and supported by the IRS. Through this partnership, the IRS provides oversight and certification for Laguna Woods Village resident volunteers, enabling them to offer free tax preparation services to the community.

Last year, 1,200 residents benefited from this valuable program.

Free tax preparation services are available by appointment on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays on the third floor of the Community Center (24351 El Toro Road).

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit thepcclub.org, email taxes@thepcclub.org, or call 949-391-9718 and leave a message.

For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.

Stay informed about local disasters, emergencies or events by utilizing the following resources.

CodeRED Emergency Alerts

Village Management Services (VMS) relays county messaging to keep residents informed of potential dangers. In emergencies or situations requiring urgent communication, the CodeRED system delivers brief, critical alerts via phone, text or email to Village residents.

To enroll in CodeRED, visit lagunawoodsvillage.com, click “Sign up today” under the red and black CodeRED icon located at the bottom right corner of any page, and complete the form. Residents can also register through the resident portal.

AlertOC

Residents can also enroll in the county’s mass notification system, AlertOC, at ocgov.com/about-county/emergency. This service delivers time-sensitive messages directly to your home, mobile or business phone, with options for text and email notifications.

Orange County Fire Authority

Stay informed about local fires by visiting OCFA.org or following the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) on social media at x.com/OCFireAuthority for timely updates and information.

For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.

Join Community Bridge Builders for the premiere of “Making the Invisible, Visible” on Monday, February 24, at 4 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at 23822 Avenida Sevilla.

What is the most pervasive yet least acknowledged social prejudice—one that influences our lives, beliefs, culture, and attitudes? Ageism. And why should we care? Because its consequences can be profound.

The film sheds light on the realities of ageism through four compelling vignettes. Following the screening, interactive workshops will provide an opportunity to discuss these scenarios and explore ways to challenge age-related biases.

Have you ever experienced subtle but unmistakable ageism?

• A nurse calls you “sweetie” at a doctor’s visit—even though you’re 82.
• A salesperson ignores you in favor of a younger customer.
• You’re passed over for a part-time job because the company prefers a “youthful” image.
• More alarmingly, ageism can influence medical decisions, potentially leading to the denial of necessary treatments based on assumptions about lifespan or frailty.

Created by Village residents, “Making the Invisible, Visible” empowers older adults to recognize and address the impact of ageism. Join us on February 24 to be part of this important conversation. Together, we can raise awareness, advocate for change and build a movement toward a more inclusive society.

Admission is free. A cash bar and refreshments will be available.

For more information, contact Community Bridge Builders at lwcommunitybridgebuilders@gmail.com.

For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.

Please join us for a contractor town hall on Thursday, February 27, from 9 a.m. to noon in Clubhouse 5 at 24262 Punta Alta. The Laguna Woods Village Manor Alterations Division and the City of Laguna Woods are cohosting this informative event to help members and contractors navigate the mutual consent and variance processes.

The VMS team will share helpful information about—and listen to your experiences with—both processes; City of Laguna Woods representatives will share information about city permit requirements.

Members may email manoralterationsfeedback@vmsinc.org to suggest topics to cover or share feedback regarding the town hall.

For more information, call Josh Monroy at 949-597-4366 or download the flyer by clicking the Download PDF button below.

For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.

Presidents’ Day, a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February, originally was established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington. The holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents’ Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents, past and present.

Transportation

Transportation will run on the holiday demand response schedule. There will be no fixed-route service.

Plan-a-Ride service will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for all residents. Boost (Lyft) service will be available from 7 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. Call Transportation at 949-597-4659 to schedule all rides.

Trash and Bulky-Item Pickup

There will be no interruption in trash or bulky-item pickup service. 

Contractor Hours

Work is permitted from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (quiet work only from 7 to 8 a.m.).

To view Presidents’ Day hours in the Village, download the pdf by clicking the button below. 

For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.