Ring in the new year with dinner and dancing Wednesday, December 31, at Clubhouse 5. Doors open to welcome guests at 4 p.m., dinner by Martinez starts at 5 p.m. and Sensation performs from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
The menu features a choice of roast pork loin, chicken cordon bleu or vegetable lasagna. The GRF no-host bar will provide beverages and cocktails, and complimentary champagne will be served at 9 p.m.
Tickets are $70 per person in the Clubhouse 5 office. Credit card/check only; card fees apply.
On Saturday, January 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center enjoy an evening of laughter, stories and musical comedy from Vicki Lawrence and “Mama.” Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, comedienne, star of “The Carol Burnett Show” and creator of the beloved “Mama,” brings her sidesplitting two-act performance to Laguna Woods Village.
Great news! The City of Irvine and OC Waste & Recycling extended the license agreement for the Irvine Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center for up to one additional year while a new permanent location is identified. The center will continue operating at its current site until further notice.
Be sure to tune in to Village Television (TV6) for special movie feature presentations. Movies screen at 2 and 6 p.m. Closed captioning is available for all showings. To view a list of this month’s movies, click here.
Click the links below for movie synopses and featured casts, and to watch previews.
Ting Internet and Laguna Woods Village is making steady progress in bringing fiber connectivity to every manor. This upgrade will improve reliability, increase speed and support the services residents rely on today and in the future. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as construction continues.
To help keep everyone informed, below are answers to some of the most common questions we receive.
TV Transition and Why Cable Is Going Away
Why is cable programming going away in the first place?
For many years Laguna Woods Village has offered traditional cable service as part of the community’s amenities. While cable has served residents well, the cost of providing it has increased significantly. Much of this growth comes from fees cable companies must pay to major broadcast networks. These agreements have risen far faster than inflation, and these costs are passed directly to subscribers.
For a community of this size, these rising fees would require either significant assessment increases or reductions in other services. After careful review the boards determined that maintaining a custom cable system is no longer sustainable.
In response the community is transitioning to DirecTV Stream. It offers a familiar live TV experience but delivers programming through the internet rather than aging cable infrastructure. DirecTV Stream provides cleaner picture quality, fewer interruptions and a more resilient system that can grow with future technology. Streaming also protects the community from continued increases tied to broadcast network contracts.
As fiber installation moves across the Village, DirecTV Stream will become the community’s exclusive TV option beginning in the third quarter of 2026.
Costs
What will this cost me?
Residents will pay $40 per month for internet service that delivers up to 2,000 Mbps upload and download speeds, and $25 per month for DirecTV Stream, which includes more than 100 channels and local networks. Residents may subscribe to additional DirecTV packages if they choose.
The combined $65 per month will first appear in the January 2027 assessment fee.
With Ting Internet and DirecTV Stream, residents will no longer pay West Coast Internet, set-top box rental fees or programming fees currently included in assessments. On average, residents will pay a similar amount in 2027 compared with 2026.
Timeline and Activation
When will my fiber internet be activated?
Your activation date depends on construction progress in your neighborhood. Once your area is prepared with mainline fiber, Ting will email and call you within 60 days that crews will prewire your building and soon after schedule your installation date. Until then, simply monitor your inbox and voicemail for updates.
When should residents stop paying West Coast Internet?
Residents should continue paying West Coast Internet until Ting officially activates service in the home. The full transition to Ting Internet is expected to begin in late summer 2026. Ting will notify residents when it is time to cancel West Coast Internet. Ting Internet will be provided at no cost until 2027, when it will be included in the monthly assessment.
Installation, Routing and Resident Preferences
Do I have any say in installation?
To ensure safe and consistent installation in every building, fiber is being placed according to Laguna Woods Village standards. While some residents may prefer customized routing or alternate placement locations, all installation teams must follow HOA-approved guidelines. These practices protect community buildings, infrastructure and long-term service quality.
Please confirm that Resident Services (residentservices@vmsinc.org, 949-597-4600) has your current phone number and email address. Ting will rely on this information to schedule your appointment. Ting will contact you directly when it is time to install service.
Internet Equipment and Wi-Fi Coverage
What is an Eero unit?
The Eero 7 router creates a strong and reliable home Wi-Fi network. It can operate as a single unit or with additional units as a mesh system to reduce dead zones. It connects to your internet equipment, plugs into a power outlet and provides stable Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home.
Will I need to pay for any extra equipment?
No. Eero units can service homes up to 2,000 square feet. Per the Village contract with Ting, units greater than 1,500 square feet will receive two units.
Internet and TV Choices
Can I keep my current internet provider?
Residents may continue using West Coast Internet only until the fiber network is fully installed and verified across the Village. After that point West Coast Internet will no longer operate in the community. All manors will use Ting Internet once the system is complete.
Can I keep my current internet or TV service?
Residents will not be able to keep their current cable TV service once the community-wide transition is complete. DirecTV Stream will become the Village’s exclusive TV option in December 2026.
Residents who prefer a different TV experience may still use other internet-based streaming apps over the new fiber network.
DirecTV Stream and Gemini Devices
What is DirecTV Stream?
DirecTV Stream delivers live TV and on-demand programming over the internet. It offers a cable-like experience without a dish. It uses Gemini devices and also works on most smart TVs.
A Gemini device is a small streaming box that connects to your TV and home Wi-Fi. It provides the familiar channel guide, remote functions and DVR options associated with DirecTV. It replaces traditional cable boxes and does not require a satellite dish.
EMF Concerns and Router Placement
Should I be concerned about electromagnetic fields?
Some residents have raised concerns about electromagnetic fields from Wi-Fi routers. Federal guidelines classify standard home Wi-Fi devices as safe for residential use, including in senior living settings. Installation standards list the living room as the preferred router location. If that is not practical, Ting will work with the resident to determine the best placement within routing standards.
How is router placement determined for better Wi-Fi coverage?
Wi-Fi works best when the router is placed near where most devices are used. Every home is different, so placement may vary. Ting installers follow HOA-approved standards for fiber entry and equipment placement. Homes up to 1,500 square feet will receive one Eero 7 router; homes over 1,500 square feet will receive two units to reduce dead zones.
Roles of Ting, VMS and Residents
How do Ting, VMS and residents each play a role in the fiber installation process?
Ting installs fiber according to Village-approved guidelines. VMS is responsible for delivering the long-term infrastructure determined by the GRF board. Residents want consistent, reliable service. Installation standards are designed to meet these goals and protect community buildings.
If residents have concerns about installation quality, they should contact lagunawoodsvillageconstruction@ting.com. VMS and Ting will review concerns together.
Keep an Eye Out for Ting in Your Neighborhood Ting will host pop-up events throughout the Village now through January 2027. These informal gatherings offer chances to meet the team, ask questions and learn more about the coming transition. Construction-Related Questions Website: tinginternet.com/lagunawoodsvillage Email: lagunawoodsvillageconstruction@ting.com
Written by Ting Internet and Village Management Services on behalf of the GRF board of directors.
AlertOC is Orange County’s official emergency alert system, designed to reach residents quickly when important information needs to be shared. During events that may affect community safety, public health or daily life, authorized officials use AlertOC to send messages by phone, email or text. The goal is to make sure people receive timely and reliable updates when they matter most.
Most traditional landline numbers are already included through the county’s 911 database, but many residents rely on mobile phones or internet-based phone services that are not part of that system. This is why registering is important. Emergencies do not always happen when you are at home, so adding your cell number helps ensure you receive alerts wherever you are. Contact information is kept secure and is never shared or used for anything other than official notifications.
The service does not replace other emergency communication methods, but it adds an essential layer of protection by delivering information directly to you. If a call is missed, the system will try again or leave a message, which helps ensure important updates get through.
Signing up is simple. Visit the AlertOC website and enter your contact details. If you have questions, call 714-628-7054 or email alertoc@ocsheriff.gov.
Laguna Woods Village uses its own Everbridge system to send Village-specific updates to residents. This includes information about gate access, utility interruptions, facility closures, traffic impacts and other notices that apply only to our community. When Orange County issues a major emergency update through AlertOC, Village staff relay the same information through our Everbridge system so residents receive it quickly in a familiar format. We may also add instructions that apply specifically to Village properties.
Although the two systems use the same technology, they complement each other:
AlertOC is the official countywide source for wildfire, flood, earthquake, evacuation and public safety updates.
Laguna Woods Village Everbridge provides community-focused messages and passes along county emergency information.
Enrolling in both systems gives you the broadest protection. AlertOC ensures you receive county-level information directly from public safety officials. The Village Everbridge system adds timely local updates and practical details that help residents understand what an emergency means inside the gates.
Together, they offer an important layer of reassurance for you and your household.
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
United is seeking qualified applicants to fill one seat on the Golden Rain Foundation (GRF) board of directors with a term ending in 2027. Applicants must be United Mutual members.
How to Apply
Nominations are open now. To obtain an application and instructions, visit the concierge at the Laguna Woods Village Community Center (24351 El Toro Road). The concierge will notify Corporate Secretary Makayla Schwietert (949-268-2295) or Assistant Corporate Secretary Paul Nguyen (949-268-2383) of your arrival and provide the necessary paperwork and answer any questions.
Completed applications and candidate statements are due to Ms. Schwietert or Mr. Nguyen no later than 5 p.m. Monday, December 15. Interviews will take place on Friday, December 19, at 11 a.m. in the Community Center board room and virtually via Zoom.
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
The United Laguna Woods Mutual Board of Directors invites United residents to its next monthly town hall on Friday, December 12, at 2 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center/Clubhouse 3, Room 2 (23822 Avenida Sevilla).
Disclaimer: The majority of United Laguna Woods’ Board of Directors may be present at the town hall meeting to facilitate discussion and dialogue among the United Laguna Woods’ membership. The Board of Directors hereby provide notice of the town hall meeting as an open meeting of the Board of Directors under Civ. Code § 4920(a) given a majority or more of the directors may be present at the same time. No United Laguna Woods business will be acted on during the town hall meeting, and the purpose of the town hall meeting is to discuss items relating to United Laguna Woods raised by its members attending the town hall meeting. Therefore, the notice of the town hall meeting set forth will constitute the agenda for the open board meeting in compliance with Civ. Code § 4920(d).
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
Follow these tips to know what belongs in each bin to help reduce waste and contamination.
Recyclables
Cardboard boxes (flatten before placing in the bin)
Shopping catalogs
Plain holiday cards and paper envelopes (no glitter or foil)
Plastic bottles, cans and glass containers
Organics
Small amounts of green waste (natural wreaths, garlands with no ribbons or wire)
Uneaten holiday foods
Small amounts of cooking grease (soak with paper towels before placing in the organics container)
Trash
Envelopes with plastic padding
Bubble wrap
Wrapping paper with glitter or foil
Bows and ribbons
Polystyrene foam
Never dispose of hazardous materials (e.g., batteries, paint, etc.) or electronic materials (e.g., old holiday lights) in trash or recycling containers. Place electronic waste in your designated bulky item collection location and call WM Curbside at 800-499-7587 for free hazardous waste collection.
Prevent Organic Waste Generation
Plan portions carefully to avoid over-preparing food.
Donate excess edible food to local pantries or shelters.
Use leftovers creatively—soups, casseroles, and sandwiches make great next-day meals.
Freeze leftovers before they spoil.
Share or exchange extra baked goods with neighbors and friends.
Greener Holiday Tips
Reuse gift bags, bows, and ribbons next year.
Avoid metallic or glittery wrapping paper.
Donate gently used decorations.
When in doubt, keep it out—help prevent contamination!
