Hello, Team LMOA,

If you are itching to dive into spring cleaning, mark your calendars for the Community Yard Sale and Bulk Trash Pickup in April. These annual events are always a hit with our community. It not only saves you a trip to the dump, but it is also a fun opportunity to find new treasures by reusing or upcycling items your neighbors are letting go of. For more details, please continue reading this week’s official news update from LMOA:

Office Closures: We would like to inform our residents that LMOA Offices will be CLOSED Monday morning March 17 until 11:30 AM due to a staff training. Thank you for your understanding!

Community Yard Sale: If you are planning to hold a yard sale on your property on April 12 from 8 AM - 2 PM, we would love to include you on the Community Yard Sale map. Just fill out this form HERE. The map will help buyers plan a route for the day. Please keep in mind that LMOA only promotes the event internally. Also, if you want to dispose of yard sale leftovers, please bring them back indoors until the week of bulk trash pickup or regular trash day, which are just a week later for your convenience!

Bulk Trash Pickup: Our trash and recycling partners at Green For Life (GFL) will conduct our annual curbside Bulk Trash Pickup from Monday, April 21 through Thursday, April 24. Follow these guidelines to ensure you get the most out of the event:

• Find your assigned service day on the map here.

• Feel free to put your items out one day early. People love to pick up scrap metal and reusable items before GFL arrives.

• GFL crews will start at 7 AM on Monday in the designated service area. If an area is not finished on its day, don’t worry - the crew will start the next day to finish before moving on to the next area. Friday will be an overflow day if needed. Due to the high demand for this service each year, crews will not come back for items if the whole street has already been done.

• You can set out standard household items like small furniture, trash bags, leaf bags, and small metal items like toasters, small TVs, etc.

• All items will be taken by hand, not by machine. Keep this in mind when putting items at curbside. Limit them to a maximum weight of 50 lbs each and a length of 5 feet.

• Excluded materials are computers, printers, monitors, and similar equipment, mattresses, box springs, large appliances (e.g., washers, dryers, water heaters, dishwashers, stoves, refrigerators, freezers, A/C units), and any motorized equipment, including items containing freon, rocks, concrete, dirt, tires, soil, sod, tree stumps, and any type of construction or renovation debris, including insulation, lumber, drywall, landscaping timbers, and friable asbestos, free liquids, paint or paint cans with paint in them, spray paint cans, motor oil, lead-acid/wet cell batteries, biohazardous materials, needles, and any other medical waste, combustibles, toxic and/or hazardous wastes, any material excluded from the disposal site, and all flammable products (e.g., petrol, chemicals, propane tanks) dead animals, fecal matter, or manure.

• HINT: Some of these excluded items can be dropped off at Pleasant Grove Park, 1730 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, on April 26. Car tires can be dropped off 9 - 11 AM or until the truck is full. All car tires must be off their rims, with a limit of 12 per resident. Hazardous waste collection is from 10 AM - 2 PM. Your Proof of Fluvanna County Residency is required and does not include businesses.

Women’s Golf Breakfast: This annual kickoff event is a fantastic way to learn more about the amazing female leagues we have at Lake Monticello. The season starts in April, and there are so many great options to explore! Join this fun group of women for breakfast downstairs in the Ashlawn Clubhouse on March 20 from 9:30 AM to 12 PM. It’s just $5 for former players signing up for a league, and it’s totally FREE for new players who want to learn more. You can also check out the attached Women’s Golf Flyer here more details on the exciting opportunities available. All ages are welcome!

Boat Slip and Rack Payments Due: The marina team would like to remind boaters that slip and kayak rack rental fees were due March 1st and are now considered past due. There is a grace period until March 31st, so if you would like to keep your rack or slip, please contact the Marina. Payments can be made over the phone by calling (434) 589-1692, or stop by Thursday- Monday from 10 AM-4 PM. If not paid by March 31, your spot will be given to someone on the waiting list.

Job Opportunity: Arlene Benzmiller is retiring after 12 years of dedicated service at LMOA's Main Gate. We will miss her warm smile and kind words of wisdom, but we are excited for her as she embarks on this new chapter in her life. Thank you, Arlene, and congratulations! As a result of her retirement, there is now a full-time day shift position available at the Main Gate. Additionally, LMOA is looking for an Operations Technician and a Police Officer. If you are ever interested in working at Lake Monticello, please check out Careers at lmoa.org to join the team that keeps our community running smoothly.

Help! Volunteers Needed

Our community thrives thanks to the countless volunteers who serve on our board, committees, and workgroups and help run our events. You make Lake Monticello a better place to live! Some upcoming events that are seeking your help are:

!!Peggy Kirk Bell THIS WEEKEND!! 80 young ladies from all over the country have traveled to Lake Monticello for the Peggy Kirk Bell Tournament, which takes place this Saturday and Sunday (March 15/16). This event means a great deal to our community and the participants, and we still need volunteers like you. If you can spare at least two hours this weekend, please email [email protected] today. Thank you!

Fluvanna Habitat will be having their Annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, April 26. If you are interested in playing in the tournament, you can find information on registration on their website: https://fluvannahabitat.org/news/. Or If you are a business that would like to sponsor the event or you are interested in volunteering to help with the event, please contact Kellie O’Connor at 434-589-3752 or [email protected].

Volunteer Water Safety Team: Do you like being out on the water, helping your neighbors, and ensuring a safe and fun summer at Lake Monticello? If so, you may be interested in joining the Volunteer Water Safety Team! Their mission is to promote and enhance the safety of LMOA members and guests while on the waters of Lake Monticello through education, outreach, and presence. Their slogan is 'neighbors helping neighbors'. No boating experience is necessary; they will teach you everything you need to know! Join them for their season kick-off event on Saturday, March 29 from 9 - 11 AM for a light breakfast and update session. It will be held at Ashlawn Clubhouse. Meet current volunteers and learn more about this fun volunteer opportunity. Email [email protected] for more information and to let them know you will be joining them.

Lake Monticello Beautification Corps needs your support on April 5 to help clean up Lake Monticello Road. Together, you'll tackle the challenge of clearing roadside trash from the Route 53 roundabout to South Boston Road. Gather at the Ashlawn Clubhouse at 9 AM, LMBC is providing safety vests, gloves, and trash grabbers, and trash bags. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the outdoors, and remember to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. The cleanup will take about 2 to 3 hours.

This Weekend's Events

Lake Monticello Swim Team: Joining the swim team at Lake Monticello is one of the most rewarding experiences you can offer your child. The team will host its season kickoff this Sunday, March 16. Additionally, LMST will hold its annual “Swing or Swim” Golf Tournament, an important fundraiser for the team. This 4-person Captain’s Choice tournament will take place at the Lake Monticello Golf Club on May 17, 2025. For more details about the kickoff and the tournament, please click here.

Annual 'Leprecoin' Hunt: Join the Young Residents and Families Committee and hunt for gold on March 16 at 3:30 PM sharp – the hunt moves quickly, so please be on time! They’ll be at Lafayette and Ashlawn parks, dividing the kids into grade-level groups to ensure everyone has a great time (please note, kids should be 13 or under). As you explore the parks, search for coins and trade them in for delightful prizes like candy and toys! This event is another great collaboration with the Student Government Association at FCHS, providing high school students with a great volunteer opportunity. YRF is always in need of enthusiastic volunteers. If you’re interested in joining the committee or volunteering for this fantastic event, please reach out via email at [email protected]. They’re a welcoming group that loves organizing wonderful free community activities, and they’d be thrilled to have you with them!

Free Wellness Clinic: On Saturday, March 15, registered dietitian Cynthia Moore, RDN, will be hosting a new workshop titled “Building Strong Foundations: Nutrition, Movement, Sleep, and Stress for Better Health.” She invites you to join a discussion and presentation focused on making small adjustments in the foundational areas of nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress to enhance your overall well-being. “Improving your habits in just one of these areas can elevate your mood, boost your physical health, and help protect you from early disease,” she explains. The class will take place from 3 PM to 4:15 PM in the Ashlawn Clubhouse, Terrace Room B, located downstairs. To reserve your complimentary spot, please email Cynthia at [email protected].

Newcomers & Old Friends: The monthly meeting will be on March 16 at the Ashlawn Clubhouse from 3:30 – 5:00 PM.
 

Wildlife Tips for March

Brought to you by Tish O’Conor of the Wildlife Committee

• March is a month with nature days to celebrate: the first day of spring, daylight savings time, International Day of Forests, and World Wildlife Day. Many migratory birds are flying north again to their breeding grounds.

• Mark your calendar for a program by the Virginia Wilderness Committee to be held at Ashlawn Clubhouse on Sunday, March 23 at 2 PM. Ellen Stuart will discuss native plants and their benefits for our yards and natural habitats. Our Wildlife Committee sponsored this program.

• Bearwise.org tells us that in March, some black bears leave their dens to stretch their legs and then go back to sleep. Other bears leave their dens for good. Bears emerge skinny, groggy, and thirsty. They eat lightly at first and look for old berries, acorns, and winterkill carcasses. Now is a good time to make sure anything around your property that could possibly attract a hungry bear is stored out of sight, smell, and reach.

• Learn how to select a tree for your property that will have the best chance to survive. Charlottesville Area Tree Steward Tim Maywalt, discussed best practices for planting and demonstrated how to care for your newly planted tree and your other trees for the long term on March 11. You can still watch that program by visiting the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards – Promoting the Urban Forest website, which provides past presentations and helpful advice.

Have a good weekend,

Tom Schauder
LMOA General Manager