Forest Lakes October 2025 Newsletter

Forest Lakes Community Newsletter

OCTOBER 2025

The newsletter comes out via email the first Friday of each month.

Keeping in the Loop

BUDGET 2026

The 2026 budget process is underway with first budget meeting held on September 23rd. Developing the budget is one of the most important, and time-consuming, responsibilities of your Board of Directors and it is not taken lightly. Every line item in the budget reflects careful thought and consideration, ensuring that we keep costs as low as possible in this time of high inflation while upholding the quality of life we all cherish in Forest Lakes.

There are three major elements involved: The annual operating budget covers "everyday" needs, such as landscaping, community management, utilities, insurance and many other detailed items. The capital spending plan covers major long-run maintenance and improvements (which are funded from our separate replacement reserves account and are based largely on projections from the independent reserves study). Homeowner assessments are set to cover the annual budget spending plus the fixed annual amount that has been established to deposit into the replacement reserves fund for major capital project spending.

A draft budget and draft list of capital expenditures from the September meeting are now available on the Forest Lakes website under password-protected documents. We encourage all homeowners to share their comments or suggestions regarding the budget, including any specific items they wish to add or remove. Please reach out to the FLCA office preferably before the next budget meeting on October 22nd, and our staff will ensure your input is communicated to the Board.

There will be a community input session during the October 22nd Board meeting from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. You are welcome to attend, share your thoughts, and leave if you wish—there's no need to stay for the entire session. Please note that, due to the focus on the budget, we will not have time for general Q&A. A budget work session will follow any community input. This meeting on October 22nd is expected to be the final budget meeting.

FOREST LAKES FALL FEST

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4th (tomorrow!)

NORTH FIELD

3:00 to 6:00pm

LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS OF

The Unsuitables

Order Up! Food truck will be on-site

Bring a chair or blanket along with your favorite snacks and beverages (or grab a bite from the food truck) and spend an afternoon dancing with your kids, friends and neighbors!

Hope to see you there!

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

** South Entrance: This week focused on installing storm structures, curbing and gutters. Next week will continue focus on curbing along the north side of Ashwood Blvd, paving the north side of Ashwood and final grading of the median. Preparation for walking trails will begin. This project is slated to wrap up late November.

** Teakwood Sewer Easement: Expect sewer pipe to be laid starting from the Holly Hills end towards Teakwood Drive in mid-October. Roadwork on Teakwood Drive will begin late October. Dates have not been set - they are still waiting for the pipe to be delivered. Once we know dates, Teakwood residents will be notified.

** Airport Trunk Sewer Upgrade Project (along Lake Hollymead): This project will begin in late summer 2026. There will be a community meeting with Albemarle County Service Authority at the Forest Lakes Pavilion on Tuesday, November 11th at 6:00pm. We urge residents to attend, especially those in Cove Trace, Amberfield and Steeplechase as many of these homes will be affected by the construction. This is a great way to ask questions and learn about this project which will take about 8 months to complete.

HOA Coupon Books - Going Away!

2025 was the last year that coupon books were mailed to homeowners. We've found that the majority of residents now prefer using automatic payment options, which are more convenient and efficient. Eliminating coupon books will result in a significant cost savings for the association. Now is a great time

to make note of your account number for future payments. If you prefer to mail your payments, be sure to include your account number on your check, and double-check the correct mailing address. Don't have your account number? No worries - the

association office is happy to assist you. We understand this change may take some getting used to, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Starting in January, payments will also be

accepted at the association office (checks only). For payment options, click here.

Deer Management Information Session

As many of you are aware, the FLCA Board has been discussing the potential for a deer cull in Forest Lakes. To help residents better understand this issue, we will be holding a Q&A session on Tuesday, October 14th at 6:00 PM in the Pavilion. Tony Shifflett, of Rangeland Wildlife Management will provide an overview of the

proposed culling process and answer any questions you may have. This is a great opportunity to learn more and make an informed decision. A community vote will take place in January, and the details will be included in the Annual Meeting packet, which all homeowners will receive in December.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RUN FOR THE BOARD of DIRECTORS?

If you would like to run for the 2026 Forest Lakes Board of Directors, please contact the FLCA office. You will be given a candidate form that will need to be completed and turned into the office by Monday, December 1st in order to be on the printed ballot. Questions? Please call the office at 434.973.4596.

Holiday Markets

The 2025 Holiday Markets will be at the South Parking lot on Saturday November 22nd and Saturday December 13th from 9:30-1:00. Vendor lists will be in the November and December newsletters.

Poker Night, October 23rd 7-9pm

Pavilion

Interested in a night out playing a friendly game of poker? Join co-hosts Jason Syms and Hunter Lynn on Thursday, October 23rd from 7-9pm Forest Lakes adult-aged residents only. Please RSVP to hunterlynn3@gmail.com or jasonsyms@hotmail.com if you'd like to attend!

GYM NOTES

Please remember that the gym is a shared community space. We ask that all users show respect for others by keeping the area clean and organized. Kindly return all equipment - such as weights, balls, resistance bands,

Bosu balls, steps, etc. - to their proper places after use. If you move it, please put it back. When everyone does their part, all residents benefit from a safe, orderly and welcoming environment to work out in. Thank you for your cooperation!

A new weight bench is on order, as a side note!

SHRED DAY and BULK PICK UP

Fall Shred Day has been scheduled for Friday, October 10th from 10am - 1pm in the FL North parking lot. Please remove all binders and clips from your papers. You may stay with your items to be shredded or simply leave them with the operators.

Fall Bulk Pick up is scheduled for Saturday, October 11th. Please have your items out on your curb the night before. For details on what will and will not be collected, please click HERE.

NOTE TO WORTH CROSSING AND TIMBERWOOD SQUARE RESIDENTS: There will be designated areas for your items to be placed. Worth Crossing, will be at the south end of the parking lot. Timberwood Square will be outside each trash corral. Signage will be placed in these spots.

HALLOWEEN IS COMING!

Trick or Treating will be here before you know it! While we have no set-in-stone times for trick or treating in Forest Lakes, our first ghosts and goblins start around 5:30pm and the mummies and skeletons wrap it up by 8:30pm.

We need volunteers for judging our annual Halloween Decorating Contest on Saturday, October 18th. Call Nicole at the FLCA office, 973-4596, if you'd like to be a judge!

PUMPKIN DROP OFF

Help feed farm animals and donate your pumpkins! Please no painted, waxy or overly rotten pumpkins. You can drop them off at the designated truck that will be at the South Parking Lot on November 7th, 8th and 9th. The piggies thank you! Oink.

OUTDOOR YOGA

SATURDAYS

SOUTH FIELD - through October!

Join instructor Tarti Djakaria for

outdoor Yoga

10:45am

cash or Venmo

$15/person

Punchpass $75 for 6 classes

for information, contact Tarti at

tdjakaria38@gmail.com

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

Men's Workout Group

Charlottesville Band Concerts

TENNIS NEWS

Hello Everyone!

It’s been a pleasure meeting all of you at the tennis courts this past month. Forest Lakes has such a great tennis community of all ages and abilities.

October starts off with a great event this Saturday October 4th. The In The Pink Womens Doubles sponsored by the Martha Jefferson Hospital. Proceeds go to Women’s Cancer research. So come out and cheer on your favorite team. Matches are from 9:00-Noon.

Junior clinics will continue in October - Session 2 begins October 20-Nov 14th

**Beginners ages 6-9 Monday and Wednesday 4:00-5:00.

**Advanced Beginner & Intermediate ages 10-12 Monday and Wednesday 5:00-6:00.

Tuition: $128

**High School Training ages 13-17 Tuesday and Thursday 5:00-6:30.

Tuition: $168

Adult Monday Night Ladies Point Play 3.0-3.5 ability 6:00-7:30pm.

This is a drop in class. No registration necessary. $10

Private, semi-private, small group and team lessons available upon request.

Tip of the Month: What’s Your Plan? When playing doubles make sure whether you’re receiving or returning think of where your serve or return are going to go. Are you going to poach so serve down the middle. Your partner will have a better opportunity to pick off the return. If you're receiving the serve, where are you trying to go with your return? Give you partner a heads up so they can look for a poach or get ready for a volley if you’re going down the line. Don’t just get the serve or return in and then start the point!! You have lost the chance to get on top of the rally. This is not a skill. It’s a mental discipline!!

Hope to see many of you on the courts this month. Email me with questions and/or to register for Junior Clinics or private lessons.

Best in Tennis to All

Coach Don

dpaitrick@comcast.net

Autumn Olive - Invasive of the Month

Autumn Olive is another plant brought to us by good intentions, but that is now growing out of control in our community. You can see Autumn Olive throughout the woods, near the basketball courts, and along many of our paved trails. It was originally brought to the US from Asia for erosion control and as an ornamental, but it’s now plain that its disadvantages far outweigh any positive effects.

Fast growing, the Autumn Olive “shrub” can reach 20 feet high and 30 feet wide. It has wavy green leaves whose underside has a silvery sheen, small, aromatic creamy yellow flowers that bloom in the spring, and small, round, reddish fruits seen in the fall. Each plant can produce as many as 200,000 seeds that are dispersed by birds and mammals, so it spreads quickly and widely! It outcompetes our native plants by shading them out and changing the chemistry of the soil to be less favorable to them, making our ecosystem less diverse. This loss of diversity is bad for animals as well, since the fruit of the Autumn Olive is less nutritious, having more carbs and less fat and protein that most natives.

This aggressive invader is hard to destroy once it is entrenched. Since it germinates quickly, Autumn Olive actually spreads more if it is knocked around by a weed whacker. New plants are easy to remove by hand, but larger plants need more intensive efforts that include cutting and placing herbicide, sometimes repeatedly.

What you can do:

1. Don’t buy Autumn Olive Plants or seeds. Believe it or not, they are still for sale!

2. If you see small shoots growing, pull them immediately.

3. Cutting and herbicide applications for larger plants, but this should be done only after learning the proper technique.

Join the Forest Lakes Invasive Plant group (FLIP). Email John Oliver for details at johndoliver@comcast.net and join some invasive workdays to be planned later this Autumn.