Forest Lakes Community Newsletter

JULY 2025

Keeping in the Loop

DEER and ANTS!



Deer Population and Community Impact – Join the Discussion


Deer have become a familiar presence throughout Forest Lakes—roaming through our yards, gardens, and crossing our roads. While often seen as a natural part of the landscape, their growing numbers are creating real concerns for our community members and the environment. Across Virginia, tick-borne illnesses are increasing and incidents involving deer - such as vehicle collisions and damage to landscaping and gardens - are on the rise. These issues are especially

severe in suburban neighborhoods like ours, where traditional methods of population control are limited. Beyond

property damage and health risks, high deer populations can disrupt local ecosystems. Deer can hinder forest regeneration and displace native species, including ground-nesting birds.


In response to these growing challenges, the Forest Lakes Board of Directors is evaluating deer population management strategies to control and stabilize the deer population. One option under consideration is an urban archery program under Virginia's Deer Management Program. To learn more, you may visit Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fishereies website.


Please join the conversation at the upcoming Board meeting on Wednesday, July 25th at 6:00 PM in the Pavilion. Your input is welcomed and encouraged.





Imported Fire Ants - What to do if you spot some


Imported fire ants have been found in Virginia and Albemarle County. Should you suspect you've got a fire ant mound on your property, do not disturb. Please refer to this FACT SHEET on what to do and who to contact. Help stop the spread of these aggressive and venomous ants. For more information follow this link.
 
 


Pool Notes


  • As you can see from the picture above - our annual 4th of July bash was well-attended! Congratulations to the bellly-flop winners and ALL of those who entered the contest. You make it so fun for the rest of us! In addition to our usual raffle of free room rentals and Timberwood gift certificates, we added one additional prize (thanks to a suggestion from a brilliant resident July 4th morning!). One of our winners won the opportunity to come into the north pool on next July 4th morning before anyone else and pick any seat they want for their family. Cool huh? So next year, hang on to your tickets even tighter!
  • South Pool will close at 3:30pm this Wednesday, July 9th for the last home swim meet of the season.
  • Early morning swim continues on Tuesday/Thursdays 6:30-7:30am and Saturdays 9:30-11 at the South Pool.
  • Planning a party at one of our pools? Please contact the FLCA office before you send those invites out! 434/973.4596.

Office Notes


  • Our wonderful and outstanding-in-every-way FLCA Admin, Grace Elliff, had her last day with us on July 4th and we (I) miss her already!! The very, very best to Grace as she moves on to STAB to work in their Athletic Department. There is good news though - Nicole Haseltine will be joining us on Monday, July 14th and we know you'll love her too. Come in and say hello! Nicole will use Grace's old email FLADMIN@forestlakes.net - only the signature name will change.
  • As of this writing, the office email and website are still down. We think we figured out what was wrong the evening of July 3rd....we'll be working hard to get everything up and running asap. But it may not be until mid-week until this is accomplished.
  • The FLCA office will be CLOSED THIS FRIDAY. If you have an absolute emergency, please call Philip at Community Group at 434.984.0700.

Membersplash


  • Still haven't updated your Membersplash account from last summer? You'll need to do this if you want to use the pools. Updates include adding or deleting residents in your household, updating pictures of young children, and update those swimmers who are rising 6th graders to "Independent Swimmer". Once this is done (if indeed you had some updates) then agree to the 2025 Pool Rules. This tells us you've updated your account and the FLCA office staff will, in turn, approve your submission as long as it matches our records we have on file. Please pay no attention "unpaid" or "waitlist" on your account. New to Forest Lakes? You'll need to create an account. For Memberspash directions and link, click HERE



FOURTH FRIDAY, July 25th

South Pool, 7-10pm


Let's try this again and hope for better weather! Adult-only happy hour(s) by the pool! This time, bring your own drink and a snack to share! Please NO GLASS! Forest Lakes will provide soft drinks, mixers, water and baskets of chips for dipping.



SATURDAY OUTDOOR YOGA


Join yoga instructor Tarti Djakaria tomorrow on the south field for another season of outdoor yoga! Class starts at 10:45am and is $15 for drop-in or $75 for 6 classes. For more information, contact Tarti at tdjakaria38@gmail.com




Swim Lessons - Sign Up


Central Virginia Swim is back to teaching our kids how to swim! You can sign up on their website HERE is the link!



Other Events That You May Be Interested In.....Click Below


Albemarle Farmers Market - Saturdays, 8:30am


Men's Workout Group


Charlottesville Band Concerts


Invasive Plants Update – Help Wanted

 

The volunteer invasive plant group continues to be active, reviewing the PRISM site reports, educating members on control methods, and planning future work. We recently coordinated with the HOA to have an extensive mass of invasive Autumn Olive (more info) removed near the basketballs courts and surrounding paths. This work is underway and will eliminate a massive seed bank, slowing the spread of this highly invasive shrub. 

 

Most of our work will be done in late fall and winter, but some invasives should be acted on NOW, including our “Invasive of the Month”, Japanese Stiltgrass (more info), which is prevalent in many of our common areas. See photo. If you have it in or around your yard, please act now and either pull it or mow it to the ground before it goes to seed in late July. See photo above.

 

Our group is now 13 members strong, but we could use many more folks given the daunting task of protecting our forests and tree canopy. If you’d like to help, please contact John Oliver at johndoliver@comcast.net. Thanks!

TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL NEWS


Here is news for you as we close out June and move onward to JULY!!!

PICKLEBALLERS: The net anchors were supposed to be fixed on Tuesday, July 8th, but repair has been moved to July 10th. Courts will be closed most of that day. Thanks!

Junior tennis opportunities have increased!
  • Please open this attachment to see the new additions to the program. We have had plenty of daytime tennis, but I am adding daily afternoon options. 
  • Note: I am not offering Wednesday's but if there is demand, just email me. 
  • Bring all levels at the same time now that we have a full team of assistants. 
  • Registration is still ongoing for each week of July. Email me if your child would like to participate! 
July 11
  • Our Forest Lakes Junior travel team will visit Farmington CC Friday, July 11 from 10 am-12 pm. 
  • You can register via email or register on Playtomic. 
July 18
We will host our 2nd USTA Forest Lakes round robin. Email me if you wish to play. Events for BG 12-18’s. Need to have USTA membership. 

Adult tennis news
  • Our current schedule is on Playtomic, so please visit the classes/courses tab and see what we have. 
  • Some new classes to remind you of are the Monday Coached Match play sessions from 6:30-8 pm. We are also adding a Wednesday 2.5-3.0 Coached Match Play 630-8 pm starting July 9! 
Refurbished courts
  • I see a lot of bookings on our newly refurbished South courts. We are still in the process of cleaning some things up, so we appreciate your understanding. 
  • I also would like to remind all to please clean up after yourself before you leave the court. 
  • Pick up your trash and balls, do not leave anything behind for others to deal with 
  • Do not draw (sidewalk chalk, etc) on the courts! 
  • North court reminder: Remember to groom and line the claytech courts at north (the entire court) and then hang them back on the fence using the bunges or hooks. Also, reminder to not use our liners or any of the court equipment as play toys and draw in the clay with them. Please let us know if you see anyone doing something inappropriate. 

Thanks again so much for being so active on the courts! Loving the action. Come hang out on the deck under our new tables and umbrellas!

Rob Johnston

Director of Racquets Forest Lakes Community Association

Johnston Tennis Academy

(434) 974-5567

jtaforestlakes@gmail.com

JULY Dates to Remember



July 25 Fourth Friday South Pool 7-10



Looking ahead to August.....


August 10th Back to School Party North Pool 6-8


August 13th Adjusted Pool Hours will begin (start of school)

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES

The next regular FLCA Board meeting will be Wednesday, July 23rd at 6:00pm in the Pavilion. Agenda is available on the web 1 week before the meeting.




NOTE: web links above will not work while the website is down!
 

Top Dog of the Month


Lady Breylant

(...you can call her Lady)




7.5 year-old tri-color rough collie



Lady loves living in her neighborhood of Copper Knoll.


Despite her size, Lady is afraid of her own shadow! But she's not afraid of her very best friend, Rocky Labron and ALL of the neighborhood cats.

“What was important wasn't the fireworks, it was that we were together this evening, together in this place, looking up into the sky at the same time.” Banana Yoshimoto, Japanese writer


Forest Lakes Community Association1828 Pavilion Circle Charlottesville, VA 22911 US

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