Beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, September 19, the right exit lane at Gate 1 will be closed for approximately six to eight hours while staff repair directional markings to improve roadway clarity and safety for drivers.

The work will involve removing the existing directional arrow, preparing and resurfacing the lane with a slurry coat, and painting a new direction marker.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra time and exercise caution when approaching Gate 1 during the scheduled closure.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we complete this improvement to keep Village roadways safe and easy to navigate.

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Though often well-intentioned, feeding wildlife draws coyotes closer to homes. When coyotes lose their natural caution around humans, they pose a threat to both people and pets.

Feeding birds, squirrels and other wild animals is also prohibited. Birdseed on the ground attracts songbirds but also coyotes and their prey. Squirrels, no matter how cute, can carry rabies and plague. What starts as a kind gesture quickly becomes a neighborhood hazard.

Feeding wildlife is illegal in California. Within the Village, both Third and United mutuals prohibit feeding or attracting animals, and the City of Laguna Woods Municipal Code also forbids it. Laguna Beach Police Department Animal Services responds to reports of wildlife feeding and enforces these rules.

If you see wildlife feeding in progress, call Security Services at 949-580-1400. Calls may be anonymous. You can also report wildlife feeding or leash-law violations anonymously to the Compliance Division hotline at 949-268-CALL.

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

“If the tree outside my unit is dropping leaves, should I water it?”

The short answer is no.

When heat and dry soil set in, trees often respond by shedding some of their leaves. You’ll notice that the fallen leaves usually come from the lower and inner canopy, while the outer and upper leaves remain green. This is not random damage—it’s a survival strategy.

Local trees evolved in climates with wet winters and springs followed by dry summers. To conserve water, they let go of older, shaded leaves that aren’t pulling their weight in photosynthesis. Before the leaves drop, the tree reclaims nutrients, which is why they turn yellow first.

Watering with a hose during hot weather can actually harm the tree. Shallow surface watering trains roots to stay near the top of the soil, leaving the tree more vulnerable to future heat. It can also leave moisture around the trunk, inviting rot and disease.

Instead, Village irrigation systems are designed to provide deep, occasional watering that reaches a foot or more into the soil—right where tree roots thrive.

Landscaping Picks Up Garden Clippings

Laguna Woods Village offers a weekly garden clippings pickup service. To participate, contact Resident Services at 949-597-4600 or email residentservices@vmsinc.org before noon on Thursday and provide your address to schedule a Friday morning pickup. Place your garden waste in a single, accessible pile near the curb, but not until Thursday evening. Do not dispose of garden clippings in the organics recycling bins.

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The Village is pleased to introduce a new online resident satisfaction survey that makes it easier to share thoughts and experiences year-round. This short survey replaces the once-a-year format and can be filled out anytime.

The survey is anonymous, requires no login or resident ID, and works on any device. It is available in English and other languages through Google Translate. Residents can use it to rate recent service experiences, share overall impressions, note communication preferences and offer suggestions for improvement.

To access the survey, visit the Village website, click the purple “Contact Us” button in the top menu bar, then select “Resident survey” under “We want to hear from you!”

Responses are reviewed regularly, and key trends are reported to executive leadership. Your input helps identify what’s working well and where improvements are needed. We encourage every resident to take a few minutes to participate and help shape the community’s future.

Please note: This survey is for general suggestions and feedback only. It is not monitored for emergencies or urgent issues. Do not use this survey to report injuries, hazards or time-sensitive matters.

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