Hello, Team LMOA!

LMOA Staff and Volunteers had their final planning meeting this week, and we are ready to celebrate Independence Day with our community safely! Thank you to our sponsors, Pepsi and Food Lion! I have included the schedule in this announcement below. This GM Corner is dedicated to tips on ensuring a fun and safe celebration. We will include more practical information in the Plan Your Month email this coming Monday. Thank you for reading this update carefully!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE LMOA INDEPENDENCE DAY FEST SCHEDULE

Safety on July 4th

• 5K Spirit Run: Bunker Park, parts of the Golf Course, and the surrounding area will be busy on July 4 from about 6 AM to 9 AM while the 5k takes place. Runners and walkers will be on Bunker Blvd., the golf cart path, Spoon Terrace, and Locks Road. Please drive slowly if you are in that area during the event and adhere to the signage and instructions from volunteers. Thank you!
   

• Swim Across the Lake: Registration for Swim Across the Lake is closed. If you check in for the event on July 4 but decide not to swim, please make sure you let an event volunteer know so that they can mark you off the list. They need to know you are safe so they don’t look for you in the water. Beach 3 will be CLOSED on the morning of the 4th but will reopen shortly after Swim Across the Lake ends.
   

• Stars & Stripes Forever Parade: Lineup is at the Ashlawn Clubhouse at 5:30 PM and leaves at 6 PM down Ashlawn Blvd. Vehicles will turn right on Jefferson Drive. Walkers will loop around and return to the clubhouse for free popsicles from Food Lion (thank you, Food Lion!). If you are participating in the parade, please read the instructions down below!
  
  STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER PARADE INSTRUCTIONS

Safety on July 5th

• Boat Parade: Spectators, please gather on beaches 1 & 3 or your waterfront property and let the water fight begin! Water guns are encouraged, but please do not use water balloons. These are prohibited! Boaters who don’t want to get wet can wave a white flag. Please do not squirt them if they are waving a white flag. We have gotten feedback that the use of water hoses can be painful, so please be careful not to use the “jet” setting.  If a cove is crowded with swimmers, it may be skipped to maintain safety. We apologize if your cove gets skipped. 

Safety on July 6th

• EMTs: The Lake Monticello Rescue Squad will be set up in the cul-de-sac on Edgewater Drive and there will be lifeguards on the Main Beach.
   

• Beach 3 CLOSED July 6: Fireworks will be set up on July 6 at Beach 3. For this reason, Beach 3 will be closed the entire day. Fireworks start after dark around 9:15 PM.
   

• Guests: The gates will not be open to the public for events and fireworks. All guests must be registered by a resident by July 2 to avoid delays at the gates. the events and fireworks are for members and guests only. To register guests, please call the Main Gate at 589-3215 or email [email protected]. You can also add guests under your member account at LMOA.org.
   

• Racks and Slips at Beach 3: The Marina has contacted all slip and rack renters at Beach 3 with instructions. Please do not forget to move your watercraft on time. Thank you!
   

• Firework Viewing: Watch the fireworks from the Ashlawn Clubhouse lawn, the Main Dam, the Main Beach, or on the water from a boat. It is also possible to buy a $15 ticket to watch from the pool (tickets sold Monday, July 1 by the Sharks at the pool from 6:30 - 8 PM) or from the Ashlawn Clubhouse Deck (tickets sold for $10 by Bunker Bistro at the Ticket Booth on July 6). Viewing is not allowed from the Marina Point property (this is private property of the condo owners).

Firework Viewing From a Boat:

1. 30 minutes before sunset, turn on your navigation lights. Navigation lights include your port side (red)  and starboard side (green) lights as well as your anchor/stern light (white). Do not use your docking lights (the bright lights that look like headlights). These are ONLY for docking your boat and adversely affect other boaters’ night vision when away from your dock. Do not have other lighting on your boat as it can obscure the important navigation lights.
    

2. After sunset. ALL boats operate at 'slow speed' which is 5 mph or less.
    

3. Kayakers and other non-motorized boats. When out at night, you must also have a 360-degree white light on your boat so that other boaters can see you. A flashlight can be used, or a simple LED lantern. It is best to stay close to shore away from motorized boats.
    

4. All boaters and passengers must have a life vest (PFD) on board.
    

5. While watching the Fireworks from the water, please stay well away from the Fireworks Safety Zone (marked by a line of red buoys), as there still might be ash that may land on your boat (and may not be fun to clean up). The Fireworks Water Safety Zone goes into effect when the fireworks arrive around noon on July 6. The safety zone will be located at the mouth of Monroe Cove, with a 500 ft. radius from the middle of Beach 3. This almost closes off the passage in and out of Monroe Cove. VWST will be enforcing this safety zone (see photo).
   
   

Parking: The following plan ensures the safe passage of emergency vehicles.
 

1. There will be no parking allowed on Jefferson Drive. Residents may park in their yard provided the vehicle is totally off the roadway.
    

2. Parking will be restricted to one side of the street (see diagram in the instructions file). There will be NO parking on the ODD sides of Stonewall Rd., Ashlawn Blvd., Edgewater Dr., and Lakeview Cir.
    

3. There will be NO parking on the EVEN side of Club Ln. Residents may park in their yard provided the vehicle is totally off the roadway.
    

4. Vehicles parked on Ashlawn Blvd. and Edgewater Dr. should be facing Jefferson Dr.
    

5. Vehicles parked on Stonewall Rd. and Club Ln. should be facing Edgewater Dr.
    

6. Handicap parking will be at the end of Ashlawn Blvd. 

Enjoy a safe celebration! Stay tuned for more information on Monday!

Tom Schauder
LMOA General Manager