The November VMS resident satisfaction survey results are in, and residents can read the survey report online at lagunawoodsvillage.com/vms-survey-results. This valuable input will enable VMS to continuously improve and meet its strategic goal of providing exceptional service.
The VMS board of directors and VMS Inc. thank all residents who took the time to submit feedback.
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
Why is the grass greener in Laguna Woods Village? Residents enjoy stunning, well-maintained landscaping, thanks to our dedicated in-house crews who provide exceptional service at a significantly lower cost than outside contractors.
Specifically, in-house maintenance is more cost-effective for both turf and shrub bed services.
Turf maintenance costs:
Shrub bed maintenance costs:
Further, VMS operates its own plant nursery, with inventory ranging from about 46,000 to 51,000 plants, at an average cost of $6.17 per plant from 2022 to 2023. The average quoted cost for the same plant assortment from three local wholesale nurseries is $8.56, or 39% higher.
Also, VMS operates its own green waste processing center for $135,000 per year, generating usable mulch worth $360,000. Without the center, VMS would have to contract with CR&R to haul away the 35,000 cubic yards of green waste generated annually from shrub bed maintenance, turf removal, tree trimming and removals at a cost of $2.12 million. The total yearly benefit to the community is $2.34 million.
Detailed information on Landscaping Services’ benchmarking comparisons can be found on pages 31-36 of the full VMS Benchmarking Report, available online.
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
The last day for Landscaping Services Department to pick up Village Christmas trees is Friday, January 10. All discarded trees will be ground into mulch and used in the shrub beds and slopes throughout the community.
Contact Resident Services at residentservices@vmsinc.org or 949-597-4600 48 hours prior to placing the tree by the curb. Please be sure to remove all tinsel, ornaments and lights from the tree before placing it adjacent to the street or at the curb.
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
Clubhouse 1
January 10 (second Friday monthly)
10 a.m.
Members free, guests $15
The National Council of Jewish Women is hosting a post election discussion on January 10. Sara Wallace Goodman, PhD (Department Chair, Chancellor’s Fellow and Dean’s Professor of Political Science) will discuss the ramifications of the presidential election and will lead a discussion of the expected consequences.
A Touch of Love Works is a non-profit organization in Orange County committed to helping people experiencing homelessness. We will be collecting clean, slightly-used coats, jackets, sweaters, hats, scarves, gloves for men, women and children.
Contact Muriel Asch 949-374-3833/morshar2@yahoo.com for more information.
Wednesday, January 1, is an observed VMS holiday. View Village facility operating hours during this time by downloading the PDF below.
There will be no service on Wednesday, January 1.
There will be no trash or bulky-item pickup on Wednesday, January 1. When a holiday falls on a weekday, collections will be delayed by one day each for the remainder of the week.
No contractor work is permitted Wednesday, January 1.
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
No more sitting on the sidelines while your friends have fun dancing to current pop culture line dances. This class feels like a party! Learn several dances, including the merengue, salsa, cha cha, rumba, bolero and tango. On Thursdays starting January 9, Latin line dance classes will take place in the Clubhouse 1 Main Lounge from 9:30 to 11 a.m. The class is free and no RSVP is required.
If you use a wheelchair, you are warmly encouraged to join in the dance from your chair. Please wear comfortable, safe dance shoes. No high heels are allowed on the dance floor.
Call 949-597-4273 or email recreation@vmsinc.org for more information.
For more Village news, click on the tag “Recreation Events” below.
Join in a joyful journey through the beautiful dances of Polynesia. In this class, learn low-impact island dances from Tahiti, Samoa, New Zealand and Hawaii. Whether you’re new to dance or already love moving to the rhythm, this class is all about having fun while lifting your spirits and energizing your body and mind.
On Mondays starting January 13, learn Polynesian dance from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Clubhouse 5 Fitness Room. The class is free and no RSVP is required. Please wear comfortable, safe dance shoes.
Together, attendees will create joy, laughter and connection through dance!
Call 949-597-4273 or email recreation@vmsinc.org for more information.
For more Village news, click on the tag “Recreation Events” below.
El Toro Water District (ETWD) has noticed an increase in wipes being flushed down toilets in Laguna Woods Village. Unlike toilet paper, wipes do not break down in the sewer system. This can lead to clogged sewer pumps and costly repairs to ETWD’s infrastructure. In addition, when wipes mix with grease in the sewer pipes, it can cause sewer back-ups in the home and potential service disruptions. We kindly urge all residents to dispose of wipes in the trash rather than flushing them. Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to keeping our community’s sewer systems running smoothly. For additional information, please check out ETWD’s winter 2024 newsletter.
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
Clubhouse 5
January 9 (second Thursday monthly)
6:45 p.m.
Members free, guests $15
The Chicago Club is open to all residents and serves as a social and fundraising group. You do not have to be from Chicago!
Our goals are to promote harmony and social interactions in our Village. The Chicago Club donates to various charities and organizations, raising funds through dues, entertainment and trips. All residents are welcome to join the Chicago Club and participate in its activities. We look forward to seeing you and your friends at our next meeting.
Annual membership is $40. MEMBERSHIP PERKS: 12 FREE ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS HELD MONTHLY IN CLUBHOUSE 5 AND A $10 DISCOUNT ON EACH DAY BUS TRIP.
Visit the Chicago club website or Contact Bernie Frogel at information@thechicagoclublwv.com for more information.
Clubhouse 1
January 7 (first Tuesday each month)
6 p.m.
$10
Rock the Village events showcase Village musicians who have cover bands in the rock-blues-soul-R&B. We emphasize local village musicians. Each month is a different band or jam session where residents can dance and socialize!
For more information, contact Carmen Pacella at 714-326-7044 or Allmusiciansclub@yahoo.com
