Fresh Farmers Market Is Tomorrow

Experience the season’s bounty and partake of fresh produce, herbs and flowers at the Village Farmers Market. Please note: The date of this event has been rescheduled to Saturday, August 5, from 9 a.m. to noon at Garden Center 1.

Garden Centers Club members will sell their produce and donate all the proceeds to the Florence Sylvester Senior Center Meals on Wheels program.

The Garden Center 1 entrance is located at 23742 Moulton Parkway past the Gate 12 entrance, before the Santa Maria intersection. The event is free to attend; only cash will be accepted. Please call 949-597-4659 for fixed-route bus transportation. For more information call 949-235-7825.

For more information and for a map of Garden Center 1, click the Download PDF button below. 

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

Business Plan Updates

Laguna Woods Village members are included in the many months of budget preparation. The upcoming budget meetings to review Version 3 of the GRF, United and Third business plans will be presented live on Village Television (TV6) and via Zoom.

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

Assessments Made Easy With EZPay

The Golden Rain Foundation and your housing mutual offer you the opportunity to make your monthly homeowner’s assessment payments automatically through the auto-debit EZPay program. This can be accomplished by providing your written authorization to transfer funds from your checking or savings account on the 6th of each month.

Your payments will be made without fail and with no chance of incurring a late charge resulting from a delay in the mail service. On vacation or out of the area? It’s not a problem with EZPay. If you would like to have your payments made automatically, the following information will help you to get EZPay set up:

EZPay forms: Find the EZPay authorization form at lagunawoodsvillage.com > Residents > Financial Services or request one from a customer service representative in Resident Services at the Community Center. The form authorizes Laguna Woods Village to withdraw funds to pay your monthly assessment fee.

Withdrawal date: EZPay withdraws on the 6th of every month, unless the 6th falls on a weekend or holiday, in which case it will withdraw on the next business day. 

How to set up a new EZPay account: Complete and sign the EZ Pay authorization form and attach a voided check to the application.

How to update information for a current EZPay account: Complete an EZPay authorization form updating the information that has changed. If your account number has changed, provide a new voided check with the form. 

How to cancel the EZPay account: Find the cancellation EZPay form at lagunawoodsvillage.com > Residents > Financial Services or request one from a customer service representative in Resident Services at the Community Center. Complete and sign the form.

How to turn in the new EZPay, updated EZPay or EZPay cancellation forms:

  • Email: ezpay@vmsinc.org (Remember to scan the voided check with the application.)
  • Mail: Laguna Woods Village, Attn: Manor Payments, P.O. Box 2220, Laguna Hills, CA 92654-2220 
  • In person: Give it to a customer service representative at the Community Center or place the application and voided check (if required) in an envelope, and place the sealed envelope in the drop box located on the wall outside of Resident Services. 

Turn-in date: Forms must be turned in before or by the 25th of the current month to be effective the following month (i.e., turned in September 25 to be effective October 1). If you are a new owner and escrow paid the first month assessment for the manor, the EZPay will be effective the second month.

Confirmations: Due to the volume of forms received each month for new and updated account information, the Financial Services Department cannot send out individual confirmations upon receiving forms. Assume that the application will be processed if you sent it in prior to the monthly deadline. If a payment was not withdrawn the following month after you turned in the form, please contact the accounts receivable specialist at 949-597-4217. If you get a voicemail message, please leave your name, phone number and manor number, and explain you are inquiring why an EZPay withdrawal was not made.

General EZPay inquiries: ezpay@vmsinc.org or 949-597-4217 

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

Imposter Information Sheet

The Department of Landscaping Services has received calls from residents in both United and Third mutuals stating that someone was distributing information sheets about a red stake program. Landscaping Services did not distribute this letter and is in the process of putting together a program similar to the one outlined in the handout, but the program still needs to go through the approval process with the Landscape committees and all boards. Once it is approved, more details about the program will be announced, but it will not involve red stakes.

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

Motorist Safety Reminders

  • Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs—including prescription medication that may impair safe driving.
  • Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather.
  • Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
  • Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop, too.
  • Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk—there may be pedestrians crossing that you cannot see.
  • Always be aware of posted speed limits.
  • Be extra cautious when backing up—pedestrians can move into your path.

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

United Community Space Finishing Touches

United’s highly anticipated community space, located next to building 695 within cul-de-sac 9, is almost complete! On Wednesday, August 2, project equipment and supplies will be delivered via a semi-truck. This delivery may cause some traffic congestion on Avenida Sevilla and within cul-de-sac 9 for up to five hours. Security traffic specialists will collaborate with Landscaping Services staff to monitor and manage area traffic flow if needed. 

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Venue Update: Pillars of Brain Health

Learn the latest on brain health at the next Optimal Aging Lecture Series Thursday, August 3, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Please note: This event, previously scheduled for Clubhouse 7, has moved to Clubhouse 3, Dining Room 2. 

Vice President of outreach and advocacy at Alzheimer’s Orange County Patty Barnett Mouton will present the topic to help you:

  • Identify the pillars of brain health
  • Review age-related changes in memory and learning
  • Explore and reduce possible risks and threats
  • Outline practical steps to protect brain health

No registration is required. For more information, contact Social Services at 949-597-4267 or click on the orange “Download PDF” button below.

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

Jul/Aug 2023 Village Breeze

The July/August Village Breeze cover features a stunning water lily photographed by the Village’s own Mark Rabinowitch.

Inside this issue you will:

  • Glimpse more beautiful photos captured in the Village.
  • Find the path to good health and social interaction by experiencing fun fitness classes offered through the Recreation and Special Events Department.
  • Go behind the scenes with the volunteers who provide free tax preparation services in the Village.
  • Learn how to conserve our reservoirs for future dry years and keep Village water costs down.
  • Gain tips to recognize and avoid common scams.
  • Boost your tech savvy with a helpful aid for digital literacy.
  • Explore Pacific Marine Mammal Center, a coastal treasure supported in part by Village volunteers.
  • Discover how the Foundation of Laguna Woods Village’s new initiative can help you and your loved ones.
  • Get the latest news from your boards of directors and a behind-the-scenes peek at more Village departments.
  • And much more!

Where to Find the Village Breeze

The Village Breeze is delivered to every manor via the United States Postal Service’s Every Door Direct program. However, if delivery misses its mark at your door, you can find copies available throughout the Village:

  • Clubhouse 1 fitness center
  • Clubhouse 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 offices
  • Community Center: Concierge desk, fitness center, Recreation office
  • Equestrian Center office
  • Garden Center 2 office
  • Golf pro shop, par 3 office
  • Tennis clubhouse
  • Village Library
  • Resident Services

For more Village news, click on the tag “The Village Breeze” below. 

Concerned About the El Toro Interchange?

Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) is holding upcoming public scoping meetings for the I-5/El Toro Road interchange project—one in person (July 26) and one via Zoom (August 3). At each, a court reporter will record comments; otherwise, residents are welcome to submit comments via mail (Emily Czaban, ICF, 49 Discovery, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92618 ) or email (ELToro@dot.ca.gov or D12.ELToro@dot.ca.gov with the subject line “I-5 El Toro Road Interchange Project”) no later than 5 p.m. Friday, August 25.

Residents are encouraged to share any concerns they may have regarding the potential future improvements to the I-5/El Toro Road interchange under consideration by OCTA and Caltrans. Concerns might include noise, traffic, aesthetics, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, impacts on businesses and adjacent properties, and other environmental issues, during and after construction.

Find more information on the project and the scoping meetings via the links below:

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

Beware Foreclosure Scams

Foreclosure rescue and mortgage modification scams are a growing problem that could cost you thousands of dollars—or even your home. Scammers often make promises that they can’t keep, such as guaranteeing to “save” your home or lower your mortgage, usually for a fee, often pretending that they have direct contact with your mortgage servicer.

Read tips for avoiding these types of scams and more information at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the State of California Department of Justice

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

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