by Pat Licata-REALTOR, Lake of the Woods, VA

Terralis Gibson, Manager of the new Locust Grove Wal-Mart opening this summer, will be the guest speaker at the Civic Club’s meeting to be held in the Woods Center at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, May 21st.  Mr. Gibson lives in nearby Spotsylvania County and has over twenty years of retail experience.

The Wal-Mart Corporation, while quite large, strives to be a good corporate partner with the communities they serve.  Last fall, Wal-Mart implemented a pilot program for career mentoring at Locust Grove Middle School.  Wal-Mart executives come to the school and work with twenty-one 8^th grade students that have future plans to attend college.  The curriculum addresses goal setting, college prep, college planning, and how to pay for college.  Wal-Mart is to be commended for their Locust Grove Middle School mentoring program. Hopefully this will be first of many partnering projects with Orange County in the future.

In October of 2008, a team from Wal-Mart came to a Civic Club meeting and talked about building a store in Orange County.  The meeting was held in the Clubhouse’s Great Hall and nearly two hundred people attended.  There have been many bumps in the road over the last five years, but the promises of the meeting in 2008 will be fulfilled this summer with the opening of the Locust Grove Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart is the first “big box” retailer to build a store in Orange County.  The easiest way to hold down real estate tax increases is to expand economic development.  The Locust Grove Wal-Mart will create as much revenue for Orange County as a two cent increase in the real estate tax rate.

Come out and meet Mr Gibson on Tuesday May 21^st at 7:30 pm in the Woods Center in Lake of the Woods.  The first “big box” retailer in Orange County is a significant event for shoppers and for tax payers. There will be time for questions at the  end of Mr. Gibson’s presentation. I know I am not alone in being thankful that my trips to Culpeper and/or Fredericksburg will be fewer, and that I am keeping my money in Orange County with the opening of the new store this summer. Thank you for coming to Orange County, Wal-Mart!

This blog post is an edited version of an article written by Jim Hopkins, Civic Club Director.

It’s another beautiful day at the lake!

Pat Licata, Lake of the Woods REALTOR

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by Pat Licata-REALTOR, Lake of the Woods, VA

The Lake of the Woods VA Community Open House, where the gates were open to visitors to view the community’s amenities and available homes being held “open” for the day on Sunday, May 5th, was, by all accounts, a huge success! Prospective residents came from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and many other states to gain more insight into our amenity-rich gated, recreational community located approximately 60 miles from Washington, DC.

80 properties were available to view, including homes backing to either of our two lakes or our PGA golf course, interior-lot homes, and vacant lots in various locations on which dream homes can be built.

In addition to homes and lots, visitors had an opportunity to enjoy a fabulous brunch or dinner at our Clubhouse overlooking the pristine lake, catch a horse show at our Equestrian Center, and/or meander through the golf Pro Shop located in the Woods Center, which also boasts Fareways Café, open from 7am-4pm daily.

REALTORS reported great traffic, and several sellers of the homes held open received contracts from people viewing the properties at the Open House.

Lake of the Woods Association hosts two Community Open House opportunities per year: in the Spring and in the Fall.  Call me today at 540/735-7998 for a personal tour of homes meeting your criterion, our amenities, and the main lake (by boat).

“It’s another beautiful day at the lake!”

Pat Licata, REALTOR

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by Pat Licata-REALTOR, Lake of the Woods

Looking for a fun way to spend a Sunday evening without traveling far from Lake of the Woods? The Germanna Foundation will be presenting “Sunsets at Salubria,” a new concert series that features six of our region’s best bands.

From May through October on the first Sunday of each month, the concerts are being held on the grounds of the historic Salubria manor on Salubria Lane off of Route 3. The gates will open at 4:00 pm, with the music beginning two hours before sunset.

“We invite music and history fans of all ages to bring a picnic supper, folding chairs and enjoy the evening ‘rocking the boxwoods’ with music by recent recipients of Washington Area Music Awards (WAMIES),” states the website, http://www.germanna.org/.

Admission is $15.00 for adults, $5.00 for Germanna Foundation members and students. Children under 12 are free.

All proceeds will support the Germanna Foundation’s research and restoration projects at historic Salubria.

Pat Licata, REALTOR

Licata on the Lake

It’s another beautiful day at the lake!

by Pat Licata, Lake of the Woods VA REALTOR, and Secretary of LOW Civic Club

Tim Leroux, Director of Operations for LEAP (Local Energy Alliance Program), will be the guest speaker at the Civic Club’s April 16th meeting at 7:30pm at the Woods Center, just in time to help us all save some money this summer! LEAP is a nonprofit organization that partnered with REC to bring an energy efficiency pilot program to Lake of the Woods. LEAP will provide a free, in-home energy review to any resident requesting one; REC will offer rebates of up to $600 to homeowners performing specific weatherization/energy efficiency work on their homes.

Please join us at the Woods Center on April 16th at 7:30pm to learn more about this great initiative. If you are unable to attend and want to learn more, click here.

If you aren’t comfortable with, or don’t have access to, the web, call 1-800-991-5483.

As always, the Civic Club, a membership organization, is open to all members and tenants.

It’s another beautiful day at the lake!

Pat Licata, Lake of the Woods REALTOR

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by Pat Licata, Lake of the Woods VA REALTOR

Lake of the Woods VA will be hosting a Community Open House on Sunday, May 5, 2013, from 1-4pm. Visitors will be directed to the Clubhouse by Security. At the Clubhouse, volunteers will assist visitors in finding homes for sale in which they have an interest in viewing and will be provided information regarding the properties, as well as a map showing the locations of each listing chosen. In addition, the map will include the location of our amenities, many of which will be staffed by volunteers or staff members.

A private, gated community, Lake of the Woods offers anything and everything you could possibly want. Home to two lakes (the 550 acre main lake and a 35 acre “fishing lake”), a golf course, an equestrian center, a fire and rescue department, and a church and co-op preschool all within the gates, Lake of the Woods simply has it all. Whether your passion is boating, water skiing, kayaking, golfing, horseback riding, or simply taking in the breathtaking views from the clubhouse while enjoying a fabulous meal, from your own deck or yard, or from one of the beaches, you won’t be disappointed! Perhaps you prefer a game of bridge or volunteering your time and talents…Lake of the Woods offers more than 60 clubs and/or organizations from which you may choose to become involved.

Located in Orange County, we are fortunate to enjoy low real estate taxes. Coupled with home prices ranging from the low $100,000s to over $1,000,000, Lake of the Woods is the perfect community for both full-time residents and weekend/seasonal owners. But don’t take my word for it, please come see for yourself! Call me today at 540/735-7998 for a private tour of Lake of the Woods by boat and by car so that you may experience why we love Lake of the Woods!

It’s another beautiful day at the lake!

Pat Licata, REALTOR

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If fun, laughter, a little exercise, and commradierie are on your New Year’s resolution list for 2013, then please allow me to present the perfect opportunity: The Lake of the Woods Fun Bowling League! One of the many reasons my husband, John, and I moved to Lake of the Woods was because of the plethora of clubs and activities based inside our gates. We have certainly been pleased with the immense variety of options.

Last year in early spring, Marion Pronk, Carolyn Graham, and I had the honor of being guest judges of the first karaoke contest at the Fun Bowling League’s annual banquet. What became quite clear quite quickly was that this group sure knows how to live up to the “fun” in the league’s name and has many amazingly talented participants. While some of the contestants were serious about their craft, others simply enjoyed the spotlight. And it truly was a fun event!

The show started off with a preview of what was to come, starring the “The Bowlettes”, Judy Flynn, Pat Shrader, Joan Trotter, Nancy King, Debbie May, Dorothea Barnes and Cathy Edwards, who sang These Boots are made for Walking.  The 1st place winners were “The Strikers” – Pat Shrader and Debbie May, singing Boot Scootin’ Boogie. It was evident that tremendous thought and effort by the banquet committee went into getting it right. The hard work of committee members Judy Flynn, Linda Brooks, Carolyn Holland, Jeanne Stoll, Barbara Eamigh, Cheri Stephens, and Cathy Edwards was appreciated by everyone. I’m confident that this year’s banquet will be just as entertaining!

This evening also brought back many fond memories of my childhood participation in a bowling league at Tyndall Air Force Base in FL, where I received the dubious honor of receiving an award for most spares two years in a row! Bowling was not a career option for me. But it was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed looking back at friends about whom I hadn’t thought in decades.

The league’s season runs for 24 weeks beginning on the first Thursday in October and culminates with the banquet held at the Clubhouse. Joey and her excellent staff, as usual, will contribute to making the event a great finale! This year, in lieu of a karaoke contest, a variety/talent show will be featured.

AMF in Fredericksburg is the location where 26 teams, each comprised of five participants, bowl three games every Thursday from 1:30-approximately 4:30pm during the season. But many participants don’t end  the fun there each week; they extend their fellowship by heading back to the lake for a great meal at the Clubhouse.

So if you’ve got time and $12/week to spare, strike it rich by having fun and joining the Lake of the Woods Fun Bowling League! There are openings for full teams, as well as individuals. Contact Linda Brooks, Secretary, at 540/972-1485, for additional information or to join.

Until next time…It’s another beautiful day at the lake!

Pat Licata, REALTOR

Licata on the Lake

By Boggs Wright, President, Civic of LOW

Delegate Ed Scott will provide an update on the recent General Assembly session at the Tuesday, March 26 meeting of the Civic Club. The meeting will be held at 7:30 pm in the Woods Center.

The 2013 General Assembly session concluded on February 23, and members will reconvene in early April to act on any gubernatorial amendments or vetoes. According to Delegate Scott’s website “The 2013 General Assembly is notable for its work on education, transportation, and healthcare”.

Delegate Scott, a Culpeper resident, has represented the 30^th District since 2004. He serves on the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, Appropriations, Science and Technology, and Transportation Committees.

The Civic Club of LOW is a membership organization whose meetings are open to members and tenants alike. Meetings always include ample time for questions and answers.

Pat Licata, REALTOR

It’s another beautiful day at the lake!

Licata on the Lake

Cause 4 Paws, an Orange County-based feline rescue group primarily based out of Lake of the Woods VA, resumes its monthly yard sale from the lower level of the Holcomb Building this month. The sales are held on the 3rd Sunday of each month, beginning in March. There’s always a great find to be had, so please test your luck o’ the Irish by stopping by from 11am-3pm on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th! If you are interested in donating items, cat food, time, or money, any and all will be gladly accepted and most appreciated. Donations are tax deductible. For those of you with a Lake of the Woods home for sale, this is a perfect opportunity to de-clutter. Thining of selling your Lake of the Woods VA home? This is a great opportunity for you too! OR if you buying a home in Lake of the Woods, consider shopping for a treasure or two at the yard sale…you can’t believe what we have! Please contract Trish -8951 or Mary Kay -5764.

Thanks for your support! A special thanks to those who helped us raise money at the Lake of the Woods Clubhouse fundraiser on Sunday, February 24th!

Until next time…It’s another beautiful day at the lake!

Pat  Licata, REALTOR

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Always wanted to have great family photos taken but just haven’t gotten around to actually doing it? Here’s your chance!! On Sunday, April 14th, Katherine Weeks, a wonderfully talented photographer, is offering “Spring Mini Photo Sessions” to Lake of the Woods residents. The package includes a 30 minute session, an 11×14, two 8×12, and three 5×7 prints from the online gallery of great shots Katherine took. The cost is only $125, and sessions are limited, so reserve yours today! For more information, and to see Katherine’s work, visit her website at daydreamphotographybykatherineweeks.com and/or email her at katherine@daydreamphotographybykatherineweeks.com.