Hello, Team LMOA!

Can you believe the summer is almost over? Kick off the last week of summer at Groovin’ at the Grove tomorrow. Meet your neighbors at Pleasant Grove Park and enjoy live music by the Lake’s very own Jefferson Speedboat! For details and more official news from LMOA, such as new staff, pavement repairs, and free boat rides, please continue reading!

Groovin’ at the Grove & Art in the Park: Don’t miss this season’s final edition of live music, food trucks, and cold beer at Fluvanna County’s Pleasant Grove Park from 4-7 PM on Saturday, September 13. Listen to a blend of rock, folk, and blues performed by Kenn Herrington on guitar, Thom Bronez on keyboards and vocals, James Schoenster on bass and vocals, Scott Murdoch on rhythm guitar and vocals, and Steve Waller on drums and vocals, and grab dinner at food trucks Arepas on Wheels or Tasty Vittles’. Also at Pleasant Grove on Saturday the 13th, discover Art in the Park - an event with local artisans and artists, kids’ activities, and food trucks from 10 AM - 3 PM. These and other Fluvanna County events can be found at findfluvanna.org.

New Hires: We are happy to share an exciting update! Due to some key team members retiring or pursuing new opportunities in August, we look forward to welcoming several new team members in September. We sincerely thank everyone who applied for the open positions—your interest was abundant, with many great candidates applying. We are pleased to introduce Rick Hayden to the Marina, Manager Tim Myer at Facilities & Operations, Officer Mark Foster at LMPD, Megan Fitzgerald as Executive Assistant, and Melissa Kalinosky as Communications Assistant. This brings our team close to full staffing, with only an Operations Technician needed in F&O! Please visit CAREERS at lmoa.org for more info!

Budget Planning Kickoff: Please join us on September 16 at the Fairway Clubhouse at 2 PM to review the proposed fee schedule for 2026. This is one of several budget planning sessions scheduled for this fall, with the goal of having the Board approve the final draft in November or December.

Limited Parking at Ashlawn Clubhouse: Next week, repairs will be made to the Ashlawn Clubhouse parking lot. The schedule below will help you know what to expect and where to park on specific days:

• Monday - Tuesday: Work is scheduled to be done in the upper parking lot between the front entrance of the clubhouse and the courts. Please park on Ashlawn Blvd. or on Edgewater Dr. and enter the building through the back only. Member Services will have a lower back door open (nearest to Edgewater Dr.; look for the sign). 

• Wednesday: Work is scheduled to be done on Edgewater Dr. Please park in the upper parking lot or on Ashlawn Blvd. You can use the front doors.

• Thursday: Work is scheduled to be done on Ashlawn Blvd. Please park in the upper parking lot or on Edgewater Dr. You can use the front doors.

Paper Pool Passes: At the September Regular Board Meeting, scheduled for the 25th, the LMOA Board of Directors plans to amend a Resolution Proposal that was passed in early spring of 2025 regarding the new pool check-in process. They are expected to revise the proposal so that paper pool passes can continue to be accepted at the pool indefinitely, as these were sold with the understanding they would not expire.

Free Boat Rides for Kids! Do you have children in your family who are dying to see Lake Monticello from the water? Then here's their chance! Your neighbors and the Young Residents & Families Committee are excited to treat you and your kiddos to a free boat ride on September 21, 2025! All boat rides begin at 4 PM, and we’ll share the location once you’re paired with a volunteer boater. Please use THIS FORM to reserve your spot! 

Celebrate Wildlife!: The Wildlife Committee has reached its goal - Lake Monticello is a Wildlife Habitat Certified Community! LMOA invites you to celebrate this achievement with the committee on October 11 at the Ashlawn Clubhouse from 12 - 2 PM. We hope to be on the lawn if the weather is nice, but we will move indoors if necessary. Come and enjoy educational activities, and learn how your community became a certified wildlife habitat. At 1 PM, the  Wildlife Center of Virginia - a teaching and research hospital for native wildlife located in Waynesboro -  will talk about common wildlife issues and tips for co-existing with wildlife, with a particular focus on White-tailed Deer. Stay tuned for the full schedule! Also on that day, there is a Fall Festival at Pleasant Grove Park. Be sure to combine these two great events for a day of fun and education!

Learn About Stormwater Management: On October 10 at 2 PM, Meghan Sobbott from the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District will discuss the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) at the Ashlawn Clubhouse. She’ll also cover Best Management Practices (BMPs) that homeowners can implement to address water runoff and improve water quality. These measures include rain gardens, permeable pavers, rainwater harvesting systems, and native plantings, all of which can help reduce pollutants like fertilizers and sediment from entering Lake Monticello, potentially causing algae blooms. The Newcomers and Old Friends Gardening Club and Wildlife Committee are sponsoring this program, and the LMOA’s Facilities & Lake Operations Committee plans to collaborate with TJSWCD to continue educating the community on solutions to private property drainage issues. 

Fireworks Survey: We have received lots of great feedback through the fireworks survey! There is still time to let us know what you thought of the rehearsal that took place on August 28, 2025. Planning for next year’s Independence Celebration will start this fall, beginning with the formation of a workgroup. Use the 2025 Fireworks Survey to submit feedback and/or sign up for the workgroup. The group members will help organize the community events on July 3-5, 2026. 

Fall Catch and Keep Event: The Lake Monticello Fishing Club invites you to support our fishery in a fun way. If you are a Lake Monticello resident, you can take part in the Catch & Keep Tournament set for the morning of September 20, with a rain date of September 27. The tournament has two categories: Small Bass and White Perch. Simply catch and keep all largemouth bass 15 inches or less, or any size of white perch. No need to register beforehand - just bring your catch to the Marina between 9 AM and 12:30 PM. Feel free to enter one or both categories. This event is brought to you by the Lake Monticello Facilities & Operations Department and the Lake Monticello Fishing Club, with prizes of $75, $50, and $25 for the top three catches in each category. If you have any questions, you can reach out to [email protected].

Beach Bonfire: The date for the Beach Bonfire has been set for November 15. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more info!

News From Jacie Dunkle: “Tonight, come to Bunker Bistro and listen to Ian Gilliam & The Firekings on the patio starting at 6 PM with $5 cover charge. Classic Road, a local classic rock duo, will be at the bistro next Friday, September 19 at 6 PM. Saturday the 20th is Beach Night with Hungry Harddluck Heroes, a Jimmy Buffett tribute Band, at 6 PM!  There is a $10 cover charge- wear beach attire! We are looking for evening dishwashers and a full-time line cook. Email us your info to [email protected]!”

Job Opportunities: Our Public Safety Team has multiple openings at the moment. If you are interested, please apply to the following:

Security Professional Access Control 

Security Professional Residential Patrol 

Security Shift Supervisor Unarmed Part Time

WATER SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK
brought to you by the Volunteer Water Safety Team

Did you know...

There is definitely a right way and a wrong way to use fenders on your boat. Here are the six most common errors when using boat fenders:

1) The line attaching the fender is too small. This can cause premature failure of the eyelet on the fender due to wear. Use a line size that almost completely fills the hole.

2) Tying the fender too high on the boat allows it to swing excessively while docking and may not be in the right place when you dock. Tie your fender to your boat as near to the boat's deck as possible.

3) Improperly inflated fenders can cause damage to your boat. Overinflated fenders are too hard and can actually damage your boat when pressed against the dock. Underinflated, and the fender provides insufficient cushioning between your boat and the dock. Proper fender inflation pressure is marked on the fender.

4) Fenders at the wrong height prevent them from actually protecting your boat. Be sure they hang where you need them most, between the widest point of your boat that will contact the dock and the dock itself.

5) Too few fenders may leave too much area for your boat to contact the dock, resulting in damage to your boat. A good rule of thumb is one fender for every 10 feet of boat length plus one more fender. So a 20-foot pontoon boat needs 3 fenders. And finally,

6) leaving fenders deployed (hanging on the outside of your boat) while underway is unsafe because; 

a) they can cause damage to the boat's hull and coating while swinging back and forth when going fast, 

b) if it becomes free, the lines can become a hazard to your boat (and other boats) by getting wrapped around the propeller or sucked into the jet drive, damaging the lower unit of the motor or the jet drive impeller, and 

c) is considered poor seamanship. 

Practice good seamanship and use your fenders correctly. For more tips on safe boating and good seamanship, see the Volunteer Water Safety YouTube Channel.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kind Regards,

Tom Schauder
LMOA General Manager