幫助颶風受害者

When disasters strike, collective efforts of people coming together inspire hope for those affected. Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused widespread devastation, and the road to recovery will be lengthy, challenging and expensive. Rebuilding communities requires contributions from various groups—from government agencies and nonprofits to caring private individuals.

If you have items to donate, time to volunteer in support of a nonprofit, or cash to give and have questions, email the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Donations Unit. To find a list of trusted organizations, additional information on donations and other resources, visit National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. Be cautious of scams or calls from non-reputable organizations claiming to collect donations. Always verify the legitimacy of any organization before making contributions. Click 這裡 for more disaster relief guidance from FEMA.

Make a Cash Donation

Donating money to reputable disaster relief organizations is the quickest and most efficient way to provide assistance. Financial contributions enable these organizations to address immediate and evolving needs effectively. Moreover, cash donations circulate within the local economy, as supplies are purchased from local businesses and residents are paid to aid in rebuilding efforts. This helps the affected area’s economy recover faster.

While other forms of donations may be well-intentioned, unsolicited goods often don’t match the needs of disaster survivors and can overwhelm relief workers, who then must manage these donations rather than focus on recovery efforts. Before sending supplies, check to see what is needed and where.

Volunteer Your Time

Volunteering with a trusted organization is another powerful way to contribute if you are interested and able. Established organizations in disaster-affected regions are well-positioned to identify where volunteer efforts are most needed, and can align your skills and training with their needs in a safe and effective manner. When volunteers work under the guidance of these organizations, they become a crucial part of helping survivors rebuild their lives.

If you’re interested in volunteering in areas affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, visit these state-specific sites:

Focus on Long-Term Support

Volunteer and donation needs will persist for months, and even years, after these disasters. Consider visiting the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster to explore ways you can continue to help in the long term.

欲了解更多村莊新聞,請點擊下面的標籤「村莊裡發生了什麼事」。

更好的服務,更低的成本

鄉村管理服務 (VMS) 提供的服務水準高於其姊妹社區,但其社區預算佔用比例較小,人員配置也較精簡。同樣,在預算使用情況相當且人員配置更精簡的情況下,VMS 的服務品質通常也優於週邊城市。

雖然 VMS 比其姊妹社區更有效地利用技術,但與該地區的城市相比仍有改進的空間。

拉古納伍茲村的整體行政職能與姊妹社區羅斯莫爾核桃溪和休閒世界海豹灘以及附近城市阿里索維耶荷、噴泉谷、拉古納海灘、拉古納尼格爾、森林湖、拉帕爾馬、洛斯阿拉米托斯、蘭喬聖瑪格麗塔、聖胡安卡皮斯特拉諾和維拉公園進行了對比。

有關一般行政基準比較的詳細分析,請參閱完整基準報告的第 4 至 7 頁,可在線獲取 這裡.

欲了解更多村莊新聞,請點擊下面的標籤「村莊裡發生了什麼事」。

村裡的臨時投票中心

11 月 2 日星期六,上午 10 點至下午 4 點,表演藝術中心/俱樂部會所 3 號停車場將設立 2024 年總統選舉彈出式投票中心,村民可以在此登記投票、投票、投遞郵寄選票、使用無障礙選票標記設備並獲得語言幫助。

彈出式投票中心僅對拉古納伍茲村居民開放。

表演藝術中心/俱樂部會所 3 位於塞維利亞大道 23822 號。 

11月5日選舉的更多投票選擇

投遞箱: 從10月7日至11月5日晚上8點,選民可以將填妥的選票投入位於拉古納伍茲市政廳(24246 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA 92637)外的投票箱。該投票箱將全天24小時開放,直到現場投票結束。選票將由橙縣選民登記處定期收集,並可透過以下方式追蹤: www.ocvote.gov/vlt。投放箱重 1,000 磅,固定在地面上。

投票中心:11月2日至11月5日期間,選民可親自前往拉古納伍茲市政廳投票。橙縣選民登記處工作人員將負責解決選民登記問題、登記新選民、提供補選選票並協助處理其他投票相關事宜。此外,也將提供雙語協助。

      拉古納伍茲市政廳投票中心
      24264 El Toro Road, 拉古納伍茲, CA 92637
      11 月 2 日至 11 月 4 日,上午 8 點至晚上 8 點 
      11月5日上午7點至晚上8點

其他投票箱和投票中心將分佈在橙縣各地。所有地點及開放日期/時間的列表請訪問 www.ocvote.gov/voting.

欲了解更多信息,請訪問奧蘭治縣選民登記處網站: www.ocvote.gov 或致電 714-567-7600。 

欲了解更多村莊新聞,請點擊下面的標籤「村莊裡發生了什麼事」。

秋夜音樂:黛比·布萊克威爾·庫克

會所5
2024年10月17日 
下午 6:30
$20

Debbi Blackwell 的演唱風格涵蓋 R&B、爵士、靈魂樂、流行和標準音樂,定會讓您嘆為觀止。她是一位屢獲殊榮的歌手、演員和作家,其單曲在歐洲廣受歡迎,並曾在 Studio 54 演出。千萬不要錯過這場獨一無二的活動。演出收益將捐贈給我們的拉古納山高中戲劇藝術學生獎學金。

如欲了解更多資訊或有任何疑問,請聯絡 Estelle DiNunzio 917-837-8741 或者 EDiNunzio@msn.com.

ETWD 發布 2024 年秋季簡報

Be sure to read the latest news and updates from the El Toro Water District’s (ETWD) fall 2024 newsletter. This edition tackles keeping pace with rising water costs, proposed potable water usage charge increases, the 2024 water quality report and more.

點擊下面的橙色下載 PDF 按鈕即可下載和/或閱讀最新的 ETWD 電子報。

欲了解更多村莊新聞,請點擊下面的標籤「村莊裡發生了什麼事」。

加州機動車管理局修改老人政策

加州機動車管理局 (DMV) 宣布,70 歲及以上的駕駛員,如果其駕照在 2024 年及以後到期,將不再需要參加筆試。部分駕照在 2024 年到期的客戶的續期通知可能會註明需要參加筆試,但客戶在辦公室訪問時可免除筆試。 

這項政策變化也存在例外。駕駛記錄符合以下任何一項的駕照續約客戶仍必須參加知識測驗:

  • 執照到期前兩年內曾發生兩次或兩次以上事故 
  • 駕照到期前三年內發生過三次或三次以上事故 
  • 駕照到期前兩年內被暫停酒駕駕駛
  • 在駕照到期前兩年內違規扣分超過一分(有扣分記錄的駕駛員將有資格參加線上學習課程,該課程提供英語、西班牙語和中文版本)

仍需前往辦公室進行視力檢查並更新照片。 DMV 鼓勵客戶在線上申請續期,網址為 dmv.ca.gov 以最大程度地縮短在辦公室完成流程所需的時間。此外,DMV 正在透過線上、自助服務終端、電話或郵件/業務合作夥伴處理以下事務:

  • 簡單的車輛登記續期,未超過截止日期或需要更改地址
  • 無需親自前往即可更新駕照
  • 索取車輛登記記錄副本,以顯示車輛的所有權歷史
  • 索取駕駛執照記錄副本,以顯示駕駛員的駕駛歷史
  • 補辦遺失或被竊的駕駛執照

客戶也可以使用網站的 服務顧問 功能來了解他們完成 DMV 任務的選項。 

欲了解更多村莊新聞,請點擊下面的標籤「村莊裡發生了什麼事」。

拉古納山車輛管理處將於 10 月 18 日關閉

Despite Village residents championing a letter-writing campaign and staging protests, as well as seven state assemblymembers and four state senators sending a signed a letter to California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Director Steve Gordon asking him to prioritize the constituents of South Orange County and reconsider the closure of the Laguna Hills office, the agency remains firm in its plans to permanently close its Laguna Hills branch, located at 23535 Moulton Parkway, at 5 p.m. on Friday, October 18. 

According to the state agency, “the Laguna Hills office … does not meet the current needs of the DMV.”

This closure will pose a significant challenge to older adults in South Orange County. While many transactions are available online, some still require in-person appointments. Both are critical for seniors and, after October 18, these transactions will require trips to Santa Ana, San Clemente or Costa Mesa.

欲了解更多村莊新聞,請點擊下面的標籤「村莊裡發生了什麼事」。

三、2024年聯合選舉結果

第三屆拉古納山互助保險公司和聯合拉古納伍茲互助保險公司 2024 年選舉選票統計已經完成。 

第三互助

以下是Third Mutual董事會選舉結果,依得票數排序。得票最多的前三名候選人將進入Third Mutual董事會。 Third Mutual新任董事會成員為Craig Wayne、Robert Mutchnick和Ruth Johnson。

  • 克雷格·韋恩——總票數1,122票
  • 羅伯特·穆奇尼克——總票數 1,072 票
  • 露絲·約翰遜——總票數1,025票
  • Egon Garthoffner – 997 total votes
  • Donald Hauptman – 632 total votes

新第三任董事會董事將於 10 月 3 日星期四上午 9:30 在位於 24351 El Toro Road 社區中心的公司總部參加年度會議。

聯合互助銀行

以下是聯合互助保險公司董事會選舉結果,依得票數排序。得票最多的前四名候選人將進入聯合互助保險公司董事會。新任聯合互助保險公司董事會成員為珍妮‧科斯特洛 (Jeanne Costello)、查爾斯‧普拉特 (Charles Prater)、瑪吉‧布萊克威爾 (Maggie Blackwell) 和瑪麗‧柯林斯 (Marie Collins)。

  • 珍妮‧科斯特洛 – 總票數 1,296 票
  • 查爾斯·普拉特——總票數1,113票
  • 瑪姬·布萊克威爾——總票數997票
  • 瑪麗·柯林斯——總票數851票
  • 安東尼·利伯拉托雷——總票數632票
  • Pardiss Broomand – 總票數 616 票
  • 艾倫·迪金森——總票數608票
  • 阿巴斯·穆罕默迪 – 總票數 482 票

新聯合董事會成員將於 10 月 8 日星期二上午 9:30 在位於 24351 El Toro Road 社區中心的公司總部參加年度會議。

欲了解更多村莊新聞,請點擊下面的標籤「村莊裡發生了什麼事」。

基準評估

The September 13 edition of “What’s Up in the Village” first announced a new VMS benchmarking report (“衡量和比較 VMS 的成功”), which aims to guide the community’s managing agent in improving performance, practices and strategic planning, and help members understand how VMS costs stack up against for-profit companies, government entities and age-restricted sister communities.

This comprehensive report contains a great deal of information and analysis that deserves attention and repeated reviews. To help members with those reviews, in this and subsequent editions of “What’s Up,” similar news articles will break the report into smaller, easy-to-digest topics that make a big impact.

Comparing Monthly Assessments

Assessments are always at the tops of members’ minds—and rightfully so. However, benchmarking data finds in favor of the Village.

Third and United mutuals together are by far the largest representation, with 12,425 homes, compared to the next-largest community with half the number of homes and a total basic assessment that is more than twice that of United’s and almost twice that of Third’s.

Below is an analysis of assessments that just may surprise you. For example, did you know that:

  • Over 10 years, when the consumer price index (CPI) increased by an average 3.1% annually, United’s average assessment increase was only 2.9% per year?
  • For nine of those same years, Third’s average assessment increase was below the rate of inflation?  The exception was in 2022, when it increased by almost 16% due to an unexpected extraordinary increase in the total assessed value of the mutual’s properties and the resultant huge increase in property insurance costs.
  • For those same 10 years, GRF’s total assessment increase was only 2% compared to the CPI’s increase of 35% due to new residents paying a trust facilities fee upon the purchase of a manor, similar to an initiation fee at a country club?
  • 51% of United’s assessment goes to building reserves (28%), Maintenance & Construction (13%) and Landscaping (11%)?
  • 51% of Third’s assessment goes to building reserves (22%), Insurance (18%) and Landscaping (11%)?

點選 這裡 to view and/or download the complete document, “VMS Benchmarking Report – September 2024.”

Find further details specifically about assessments on pages 8 through 15 of the report.

欲了解更多村莊新聞,請點擊下面的標籤「村莊裡發生了什麼事」。

即時聊天(點擊關閉視窗)