At the GRF Clubhouse Renovation Ad Hoc Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 15, at 1:30 p.m., in the Community Center board room, the interior design consultant will present options for the Clubhouse 1 beautification project for committee vote. This meeting is open, and the committee welcomes your comments.

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

Your patience is appreciated and necessary for the success of the driving range lawn maintenance and rehabilitation project. While the newly planted grass is in the rehabilitation stage, practice nets will be erected across a section of the range to provide the time needed for the grass to fully mature and still allow residents to hit balls. Using the range picker and other maintenance equipment on newly restored areas could destroy immature grass. 

The schedule below outlines when the range will be officially closed for work:

• March 20 – Range closed for the day for second preparation application
• March 27 – Range fully closed; turf maintenance and rehabilitation begins
• May 27 – Practice nets installed and open for use (residents must bring their own golf balls, as the area will be unstaffed; limit use when others are waiting)
• August 17 – Planned range reopen (tentative due to status of the new grass) 

While the range is closed, staff has arranged special pricing at local golf facilities: 

• Lake Forest Golf Center

• Oak Creek Golf Club: Must present Village resident ID to receive discount ($13 small bag [regularly $16], $18 large bag [regularly $22] and $14 chipping tube rental [regularly $16]).

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

Exercise caution when using golf cart paths and stay on the external paths marked in purple on this map. The Laguna Woods Village golf course and internal golf cart paths are restricted to golfers with tee times from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 365 days a year. Walkers, joggers, bicyclists and golf cart drivers may use the perimeter path from Clubhouse 4 to Clubhouse 2, but please be mindful of others who are using the path, which narrows in parts, as well as the risks involved in using the path during golfing hours.

Keep in mind:

• The perimeter access path is located within the golf course area of play; balls can be struck in that area.
• In general, the trajectory of golf balls hit by beginners will not go in the intended direction. This places anyone walking/driving in the area in danger of being struck.
• The path is close to the intended ball direction, and a marginally mishit shot will fly into this area.

• Always remain aware of players striking a ball and where the ball is headed.
• Stop and watch where a struck ball is headed and proceed when safe.
• Stop and cover your head if you hear “Fore!” yelled by a golfer—this means a ball has been struck and is headed in your direction.
  Remain conscious of a player about to swing and do not walk/drive your cart behind or in front of them. Doing so is dangerous and can distract a player from their game.

The collection of trees in urban/suburban settings is referred to as an “Urban Forest”; with more than 39,000 trees and more than 250 different species, Laguna Woods Village has a unique and diverse urban forest. Tree trimming is just one piece of an efficient, long-term maintenance plan of the urban forest. Most of the trees in the Village are mature trees, with many of them planted in the late 1960s. The sheer number and variety of trees in United are unique in the region and will require a long-term plan to maintain and manage the trees through the years, which is referred to as an Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP). Both United and Third have embarked on the process of developing such a plan, to ensure the beauty of the Village continues for future generations.

The proposed UFMP will take into consideration the age and condition of the inventory, develop an efficient replanting plan to maintain the inventory, as well as adapting to changes in the environment and the forecasted long-term drought conditions. A management tool will be developed that will incorporate resident input toward developing the plan. Community involvement and education is an important component of any successful UFMP program.

A short survey is available for residents to provide input on their values and needs in respect to maintaining beautiful trees in the community. Click here to take the survey online or request a hard copy at Resident Services. The survey will be open for resident input until March 15, 2023. 

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

Twice a year during the spring and autumn equinox seasons, an increase in solar flares may affect the cable television feed and cause interruptions in television services. When the sun is directly behind a satellite from the perspective of the receiving antenna, degradation of satellite reception may result in a solar outage. When the sun’s energy overpowers the signal being transmitted by the satellite, the link is disrupted for a few minutes and typically returns without issue.

As GRF provides content from about a dozen satellites, different channels may experience these sporadic, temporary outages at various times. We expect to see interruptions between March 4 and 8 lasting for up to eight minutes at a time. 

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

Please be advised that CG Landscape was on site today and will be on site Tuesday, March 7, from 6:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. to trim the trees at the Community Center. A licensed arborist will be present to ensure the work is done correctly. With a brief break in the weather and more rain potentially in the forecast, the company is trying to squeeze into a time slot during the dry weather and apologizes for the late notice.

Please do not park in any sectioned off areas during this time. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding while the tree trimming is completed. 

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

Come join the Saturday night dance party fun and boogie down to music by Da ’80s Show February 25 at Clubhouse 5. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the band performs at 6:30. The GRF no-host bar is open from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $10 at the door.

For more information, call 949-597-4382 or email recreation@vmsinc.org. 

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

Don’t leave your bicycle unsecured and vulnerable to theft in an open carport. Here are some best-practice tips on protecting your bike:

• Register your bike through the resident bicycle registration program
• Record make, model, color and, most importantly, the serial number
• Take photos and keep them in a secure place
• Invest in a quality bike lock 
• Lock and secure bike at all times

If your bike is stolen, please call Security immediately at 949-580-1400 to file a report. Also, call the Orange County Sherriff’s Department (OCSD) at 949-770-6011 (and follow the prompts to reach OCSD dispatch). 

Similarly, contact Security personnel if any suspicious persons or individuals unknown to the area are seen in the community. If you see someone and are unsure as to whether or not to call, we ask that you err on the side of caution and let Security roll out and make contact. Remember: If you see something, say something!

To discover more Village news, events, activities and classes, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.

The United Laguna Woods Mutual Board of Directors is calling for interested members to submit candidate applications to fill a vacancy following a board member resignation; the board term will end October 2023. Nominations have opened and will close on Friday, March 3, at 5 p.m. 

Interested candidates may obtain an application by visiting the Laguna Woods Village Community Center (24351 El Toro Road) and speaking with a corporate secretary, who will provide the application and process instructions. Applications will not be sent via email or other digital platforms. 

Member candidates can return completed applications and statements to the Office of the CEO at the Laguna Woods Community Center at 24351 El Toro Road by Friday, March 3, at 5 p.m. 

The board will interview candidates on Friday, March 10, at 10 a.m. in the Community Center board room.

Please call 949-268-2295 with questions. 

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