On Wednesday, March 11th at 7PM in the Clubhouse Great Hall , Crystal Hale, Director of the Orange County Department of Social Services, will be our monthly Civic Club speaker. In addition to being charged with ensuring all federal and state mandated human services programs are provided to the citizens of Orange County, Crystal also has a passion for addressing additional social issues such as the opioid epidemic. The Epidemic Intelligence Council (EpIC) is a local council that meets monthly to discuss the opioid crisis and the impact it has in Orange County. This council is comprised of a cross-section of leaders from Orange County, concerned citizens, health professionals, family members and individuals with direct experience, media, and a number of other concerned individuals. Crystal currently serves as the facilitator of EpIC and; along with all participants of the group, she is committed to helping to educate the community, provide resources for those in need, and diminish the ugly stigma of addiction. While Crystal enjoys her work with EpIC, she points out that the great progress made is a result of the overall group effort.
Ms. Hale will provide insight on the opioid epidemic to include a brief history as well as what it looks like from a national, state, and local perspective. Crystal will focus on the importance of eliminating the stigma of addiction and will also touch on the progress made, the additional work currently underway, and what the future holds.
Crystal is a life-long native of Orange County and currently lives with her husband, two teenage children and various pets on the family farm. She graduated from Orange County High School and earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration from The University of Mary Washington. After spending over ten years working for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in various management positions, Crystal accepted an opportunity to work with the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) and shifted her focus to the human services field. She served as Director at Rappahannock County Department of Social Services prior to coming to Orange County Department of Social Services in 2017 and is thrilled to serve her hometown community.
Back by popular demand…On Wednesday, February 12, at 7:00pm in the Clubhouse Great Hall, two guest speakers will address the art of organizing and decluttering our homes and methods for removal of the items in order to accomplish an easier way of life. Even if one’s home is the perfect fit, there still may be items that can be “released” for simpler living. For many people, the stress comes from not knowing how to take the first step of thinking through what should stay or go, and for others it may be not knowing how to sell or where to donate items no longer needed or wanted.
Linda Clevenger, Professional Organizer and Owner of Organization Direct, will be our first speaker. Linda has been helping homeowners downsize, right-size, purge, and eliminate items from their homes for over 12 years. She helps clients walk through the process of making decisions regarding the need to keep items and how it will impact life both now and in the future. As the spouse of a disabled Veteran, she is passionate about helping other Veterans and those who struggle with the day to day task of living a clutter-free life.
Cathy France, owner of CopperStone Auctions and Estates, will provide options for the sale of items no longer wanted or needed. CopperStone’s offerings include estate sales from the home, consignment and auction services, and complete buyout of a home’s contents. And of course, the option always exists to donate items to organizations such as the LOW Lions.
There will be time allotted for questions, and we hope to see you there!
Does a friend, loved one, or family member living with dementia? The Civic Club invites you to become a Dementia Friend!
Kay Close RN, BSN, LALA, Executive Director at Trinity Senior Village and Dementia Friend Champion, will lead a one – hour informational session at the Civic Club meeting on Wednesday, January 22, at 7pm in the Clubhouse Great Hall.
What Makes You a Dementia Friend?
You become a Dementia Friend by attending a one-hour informational session to learn the five key messages about dementia, what it is like to live with the disease, and how to turn your understanding into action that supports people living with dementia.
Dementia Friends…….
Is a global movement that is striving to create more dementia friendly communities by changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. Developed by the Alzheimer’s Society in the United Kingdom, Dementia Friends is underway across the United States. By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects people, each of us can make a difference for someone living with dementia.
Join a growing movement of people who are helping fellow community members living with dementia. A little support can make a big difference in their lives. We hope you’ll become a Dementia Friend by joining us on the 22nd…it’s easy and rewarding!
The Orange County Board of Supervisors is the main legislative body for the county and is comprised of five members who are elected by the voters of the county and serve four-year staggered terms. Each November, a supervisors’ meeting is held in LOW to provide residents a convenient first-hand look at how their local government decisions are made.
The Board of Supervisors will conduct their regular business meeting on Wednesday, November 13th, at 6:00 p.m. in the Great Hall at the Clubhouse. Having a supervisors’ meeting in LOW is a tradition in part because the meetings are well attended. To maintain that tradition, the Civic Club has elected to forgo its regular monthly meeting and encourage increased attendance at the supervisors’ meeting.
On November 13th, the supervisors’ meeting will include a message from Cliff Wilks, President of Lake of the Woods Board of Directors, and a presentation of a Working Draft of the Capital Improvement Program for FY2019 – FY2023. Bryan David, our County Administrator, will report on the supervisors’ Two-Year Strategic Priorities and their Legislative Priorities for the next session of the Virginia General Assembly.
At 7:00 p.m., the supervisors will provide time to receive public comments. Anyone wishing to address the supervisors during the Public Comment must sign-in on the forms that will be located on a table outside the Great Hall. The forms will be submitted to the Chief Deputy Clerk, and speakers will be called in order. After Public Comment, the supervisors will recess for dinner with the Lake of the Woods Board of Directors.
We look forward to seeing you at the Board of Supervisors meeting on November 13th. Before or after the meeting, consider having dinner at the Clubhouse. The view of the lake from the Clubhouse is spectacular.
The Civic Club will host a forum between Delegate Nick
Freitas and Ann Ridgeway on Tuesday 10/15 at 7pm to 8pm in the lower level of
the clubhouse.
Each will give an opening speech and then followed by written questions submitted by the audience.
This will be a good opportunity for you to see and hear from the two candidates running for Delegate to represent Orange County and the 30th District which includes Madison and some of Culpeper County.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Norther Virginia or even Maryland or DC, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar, and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
Please plan to attend the Civic Club meeting on Wednesday, October 9th, at 7pm, in the Great Hall of the Clubhouse. Recently re-elected BOD President Cliff Wilks will have an update for us on BOD goals for the new fiscal year, as well as updates on current projects. There will be time allotted for questions, so please bring yours.
Mr. Wilks is beginning his final year of a three year term as a LOWA BOD, his second as President. He was elected to the LOWA BOD in 2017 by the membership, and subsequently elected by the Board as Vice President in his first year, President in his second year, and re-elected as President in this, his third and final year on the board. Cliff had been an active member on LOW committees from 2012 until being elected to the BOD. He has won two LOWA awards: Outstanding Service Award in 2015, and Outstanding Committee Chair award in 2016.
The 2019-2020 Board of Directors are President, Cliff Wilks, Vice President Jennifer Zukowski, Treasurer Walt Diercks, Secretary Pete Brown, and Directors Heidi Brown, Carl Clawson, and Benita Forrest.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Norther Virginia or even Maryland or DC, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar, and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
Please join the Civic Club on Wednesday, July 10, at 5:30 PM, as we host a reception for the LOWA Board of Directors candidates in the Great Hall of the Clubhouse. We encourage you to mingle with the candidates from 5:30 to 6 PM, with a forum beginning at 6PM. Each candidate will be allotted five minutes to deliver his/her message to the audience. A cash bar will be available, and light hors d’oeuvres will be served.
The Lake of the Woods Board candidates are Pete Brown, Paul Conrad, Benita Forrest, Adrien (Terry) Terrenoire. and Jennifer Zukowski. The candidates will be vying for three Board of Directors vacancies on the seven-member Board. LOWA will mail ballots to lot owners near the end of July, and the balloting will conclude September 2nd at the Association’s Annual Meeting. Electronic voting will also be available. So if you would like to sign up to vote electronically, stop by the Holcomb Building to register.
The reception for the candidates is open to all members of the community. Please plan to attend so you may become better acquainted with the slate of candidates. We look forward to seeing you there.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
Please join the Civic Club on Wednesday, June 12th, at 7pm in the Lake of the Woods Clubhouse, as Joseph M. Kirchgessner, a Senior Partner with Woehrle Dahlberg Jones Yao PLLC, will discuss estate planning and trust creations. You’ll learn what is important to think about and what information you’ll need in order to create these very important documents. Time will be allotted for questions at the end of the presentation.
A Fredericksburg area native, Mr. Kirchgessner
joined the firm the Spring of 2015 after having worked at a boutique
employment law firm in Washington, D.C. He advocates for his clients in a
variety of matters, including Domestic Relations, Estate Planning,
Business/Employment, and Criminal matters.
After graduating from Courtland High School in 2005, Mr. Kirchgessner
went on to attend Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA.
He graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. Following a
sixth summer of coaching a local swim team, he then worked for a small
law firm in Fredericksburg, VA that focused on workers’ compensation
cases for about two years before attending law school.
Mr. Kirchgessner
attended St. Louis University School of Law and graduated in the Spring
of 2014 with a concentration in Labor and Employment Studies.
Mr. Kirchgessner
is an experienced litigator and has participated in hundreds of trials
throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, including successful jury
trials for both criminal and estate planning matters.
In his spare time, Mr. Kirchgessner is an avid swimmer, cyclist, and traveler. He currently serves as President of the Ron Rosner YMCA in Spotsylvania County and is active in the Fredericksburg Area Bar Association, among other charitable efforts in the Fredericksburg community.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
We hope you join in the celebration of Independence Day on Saturday, July 6th, at Lake of the Woods!
11AM to 2PM there will be a car show, with the Flag Raising Ceremony starting at 12PM. Following the Flag Raising Ceremony will be the Family Patriotic Parade on the Point at 1pm.
The Festival on Clubhouse Point will feature rides, treats, and fun for the family from 12 to 4pm. Don’t miss the Water Ski Club Show from 6 pm to 7:30pm, and the finale of the evening…fireworks from the top of Veterans Dam starting at 9 PM (or dusk)! Please be extra careful around the lake that day, as there will be parade activity, road closures, and lots of traffic on the roads, as well as on the lake itself. Happy 4th (on the 6th), everyone!!! Time and activities are subject to change visit the LOW Calendar for any updates.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
The Lake of the Woods Civic Club will hold its Wednesday, May 15th meeting at the Germanna Foundation’s Visitors Center, which is located adjacent to the Germanna Community College’s main campus about three miles west of LOW. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm. The meeting is open to all Lake of the Woods residents.
Germanna Foundation’s Executive Director Timothy Sutphin will tell us about the over 300-year history of the Germanna community, plus current and future plans for The Germanna Foundation.
Germanna Foundation’s Archaeologist Eric Larsen, Ph.D. will discuss this summer’s archaeology and the ongoing work on the Fort Germanna and Enchanted Castle sites. They hope to uncover secrets of the fort that was commissioned by Lt. Governor Alexander Spotswood in 1714 and settled by German colonists.
Lt. Governor Spotswood of Virginia, built two forts, Fort Germanna in the north and Fort Christianna in the south to protect the British Empire on the western frontier. At Fort Germanna, Spotswood populated the fort with Germans from the Siegen area of Germany who were skilled miners. He used their expertise in mining to develop an iron industry for the Virginia colonies. After the Germans had migrated out of the area, Spotswood then build his “Enchanted Castle” on the site and established the short-lived county seat of Spotsylvania County.
At Fort Germanna the confluence of multiple cultures came into play; these include Native Americans, the English, the Germans as settlers, and the enslaved as the imported labor for Spotswood after the Germans migrated west.
This is a great spring opportunity to join your neighbors and tour the Visitor Center and the new Hitt Archaeology Center. The area around Germanna and Lake of the Woods is rich in centuries-old history.
We look forward to seeing you on May 15th at the Germanna Visitors Center at 6:30 pm. There will be time allotted for questions, so please bring yours!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
