The VMS Recognition of Excellence awards are presented each year in spring and fall to outstanding employees who demonstrated excellent customer service, achieved great results on projects and went above and beyond their regular job duties. 

Recipients are nominated by their department directors, managers or supervisors.

The following employees were recognized in spring 2023:

• Makayla Schwietert – Corporate Secretary, CEO’s Office
• Paul Nguyen – Assistant Corporate Secretary, CEO’s Office
• Mandy Webb – Intermediate Account Clerk, Financial Services
• John Sanchez – Transportation Coordinator, General Services
• Gaby Espinoza – HR Generalist Benefits, Human Resources
• Nicole Sarmiento – Recruiter, Human Resources
• Marcie Viveros – HR Supervisor, Human Resources
• Timothy Osborn – PC Technician, Information Services
• Daniel Simoncelli – Network Administrator, Information Services
• Joshua Glass – Network Administrator, Information Services
• Grant Schultz – Software Analyst, Information Services
• Jose Vargas – Foreman, Landscaping
• Jorge Munoz – Small Equipment Foreman, Landscaping
• Laurie Chavarria – Senior Management Analyst, Maintenance and Construction
• Mark Weiss – Senior Production Coordinator, Media and Communications
• Gail Ford – Golf Shop Coordinator, Recreation and Special Events
• Renee Anderson – Recreation Coordinator, Recreation and Special Events
• Shoon Aung – Recreation Coordinator, Recreation and Special Events
• Kyle Belanger – Security Supervisor I, Security

Next time you see one of these employees, you may wish to thank them for their dedication to excellence and service. 

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

If you have had a disabled person parking placard for six or more years, it will expire on June 30, 2023. SB 611 has changed the renewal process. Permanent placard holders will receive a renewal notice every six years. Instead of automatic renewal, placard holders who have had their placard for six or more years are required to sign their renewal form to receive their renewed placard. The deadline for renewal is Friday, June 30, 2023. Anyone with an expired placard after that date can be liable for a ticket.

Click here to renew your placard and sign electronically, or mail your signed renewal form to Department of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 942869, Sacramento, CA 94269-0001, or drop it off at a DMV office. Click here for more information. 

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CR&R will soon be exchanging existing organic carts with clean organic carts throughout the Laguna Woods Village community before it starts to heat up in the summer. The exchange is meant to help reduce insect-related problems within the carts during the summer months. The organic cart exchange will occur from Tuesday, May 30 to Thursday, June 1. Any remaining organics carts that are not exchanged will be replaced the week of June 5.   

During the exchange, please continue to use compostable bags when depositing your organics—it makes the organics recycling process much cleaner. Small compostable bags can be found on Amazon.com, Walmart.com, HomeDepot.com, and similar sites.  

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To ensure you have as much information as possible about SCE and why your power might be out, visit sce.com to find answers.

If you are suddenly without power or wish to know when SCE may schedule an outage for maintenance call/visit:

• Customer support: 800-655-4555
• Outage information: 800-611-1911; sce.com/outagecenter

• For general resources, customer programs, emergency preparedness, maintenance/repair/rotating outages, wildfire mitigation plan and more, from the sce.com main page, click Menu at the top of the page.
• For customers with a heightened need for power to support medical devices, Southern California Edison (SCE) invites you to consider the following three steps:

• Visit the SCE Medical Baseline landing page at sce.com/residential/assistance/medical-baseline to find out whether you qualify for a medical baseline allowance that may translate into savings for you.
• Contact SCE to advise of your critical care/medical needs and to have your account designated as such. This will enable SCE to identify the potential need in your community and collaborate with local government during large-scale emergency events.
• Update your contact information so SCE may be able to deliver critical information, particularly during emergency events.

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

Postal inspectors in Laguna Woods and across the country work hard to protect your mail. But with deliveries to more than 100 million addresses, the Postal Inspection Service can’t do the job alone. Here’s how you can help keep your mail safe from potential theft:

• Enroll online in the United States Postal Service’s free Informed Delivery program, which lets patrons preview grayscale images of incoming mail, track packages, leave delivery instructions, reschedule delivery and more.
• Use the letter slots at your post office to mail letters, or hand them to a letter carrier.
• Deposit mail in USPS blue collection boxes before the last pickup time that appears on the schedule posted on each box.
• Remove mail from your mailbox promptly after delivery, especially if you’re expecting checks, credit cards or other sensitive items. If you won’t be home when the items are expected, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail. Don’t leave it in your mailbox overnight.
• Don’t send cash in the mail.
• Ask your bank for “secure” checks that can’t be altered.
• Request the post office hold your mail if you plan to be away from home for more than three days. You can initiate a mail hold at the post office or online at USPS.com.
• Call the Sherriff’s Department immediately at 949-770-6011 if you see a mail thief at work; then call postal inspectors at 877-876-2455 (press 3).

If you believe your mail was stolen, report it immediately to Laguna Woods Village Security at 949-580-1400. Personnel also will direct you to file a report with the Sherriff’s Department and postmaster/postal inspector. Postal inspectors may determine whether your incident is isolated or part of a larger mail-theft problem. Your report may help them locate and apprehend the thieves.

File a mail-theft report by calling postal inspectors at 877-876-2455 or complete the report online at the United States Postal Inspection Service website. 

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Walking offers great physical, mental and emotional benefits. Most roadways in and around the Village have designated sidewalks, but there are other areas, such as culs-de-sac, driveways and intersections, where pedestrians must remain alert for approaching motorists and/or bicyclists.

Pedestrians and active walkers should take the following precautions when venturing out into the community. 

• Walk on the sidewalk and not the road. Stepping in front of oncoming cars or bicyclists can cause a serious accident for all involved. 
• Take extra care when walking through parking lots. These locations create unique hazards because drivers may be turning quickly or backing out of a parking space. Be sure to look for backup lights, and listen for engine noise.
• Walk with a friend. An exercise companion can add to the pleasure of your outing—and increase the safety factor. Enjoy your conversation as you walk, but don’t let it distract you from monitoring road and traffic hazards. 
• Be watchful of motorists making turns at intersections. Drivers are concentrating on their maneuvers and avoiding oncoming traffic, so they might not see you. Always look for vehicles making right turns at red lights and for vehicles making left turns. 
• Never text or look down at your phone when crossing any intersection.
• If possible, make eye contact with approaching motorists to ensure they see you.
• Try to cross the street with other pedestrians—there’s safety in numbers.
• Wait for a “fresh green” when crossing at traffic signals to allow yourself ample time to cross safely.
• Walk within designated crosswalks, and allow plenty of time to cross the street.
• Dress to be seen. Wear light, bright-colored or reflective clothing, especially if you walk at night. If you do walk when it’s dark, carry a flashlight.
• Wear comfortable and sturdy shoes that provide proper footing and reduce your risk for a fall. 
• Mind lighting conditions, especially during dawn, dusk and times of high glare or low light. Decreased daylight, shadows and nightfall make it harder for motorists to see pedestrians. 
• Walk on sidewalks. If you must walk in the street, walk facing traffic.
• Plan walking routes to avoid dangerous intersections or high-traffic areas. Look for safe, alternative routes with adequate sidewalks or footpaths.
• Stay attentive to your surroundings. Be a defensive walker who is ready for the unexpected. 
• Know your physical limitations and overall health. Use caution if you are recovering from an injury or illness, or if you are taking prescription medication that may cause dizziness. Stay hydrated. 

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

The Third Laguna Hills Mutual Board of Directors cordially invites Third members and residents to its next monthly town hall on Wednesday, May 24, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Clubhouse 2 Sequoia Ballroom. Town hall events are open meetings for Third members and residents to share comments and suggestions with Third board members. 

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