October is National Fire Prevention month. Special Projects and Sustainability Services is kicking off monthly reminders for Villagers to be fire safe. The Villages has a wonderful Emergency Preparedness Committee and an Ad Hoc Fire Safety/Firewise Committee that regularly reminds Villagers to be prepared for disasters and fires. 

Each year the Villages Association sends out a questionnaire to document that homes have working smoke alarms and CO² detectors. This is to comply with Policy Apo 408—Smoke Detectors Installation, Maintenance, Repair and Replacement.

Smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month simply by pushing the test button. Replace smoke alarms when they are ten years old or don’t respond to testing. 

With the Association Board announcing that Homeowners Association (HOA) rules will soon be scrutinized and more closely enforced throughout The Villages, Public Safety Director Matt Hidalgo reminds Villagers of the rules that are frequently violated—such as the parking rules. 

Rule 2.17.1

Residents must have all vehicles registered with Public Safety—make, model, license plate, and your vehicle’s color. Once registered, Public Safety will place a bar code on your car for convenient entry into The Villages.

Rule 2.17.2 

All registered vehicles must remain on the owner’s property, whether this is your garage, carport or driveway. Cribari and Del Lago Villages and Montgomery Circle are limited to a single parking space.

Rule 2.17.2 (A,B, & C) 

Due to the limited parking in Cribari and Del Lago Villages and Montgomery Circle, common-area parking is permitted, but limited to 48 hours. If you choose to park in these designated areas, please make sure you move your car within the 48-hour period. 

If a carport is part of your home, please make certain that only permitted items can be found there. As part of Rule 2.08.5, only vehicles, bicycles, mopeds, golf carts, ladders, and small collapsible handcarts are allowed.

If you have questions regarding The Villages parking rules, please stop by Building C, call or send an email to publicsafety@the-villages.com.   

The last of our new technology tools rolls out into the palm of your hands—The Villages Golf & Country Club mobile app (a.k.a. Member App). This mobile app displays at a glance The Villages’ top events and information, including The Villager Online news and push notifications. With a tap, you can quickly get to popular interests, news, numbers and important content as well as another convenient way to book a tee time or make a dining reservation.

Tailored Member App content and functionality that differs from the Member Portal

• Notifications (Bell icon top right) – Once a notification’s released, the alert comes across your mobile screen and, if missed, a red circle icon will appear at the top right of the Bell indicating the number of notifications you have.
• Profile – Settings (green gear icon) takes you to important options to activate or opt-out. To increase your connections to your community, we encourage you to tap options to green to make options active—especially Add App Notifications.
• Alert Us – This tile connects you to Public Works, with submitting a Work Order at your fingertips. Alert Us also is the place to contact Public Safety and give your guests gate access.
• Member ID – This QR Code will be another way to make a purchase at The Villages. It’s coming soon!

Ready for you to download!

Option 1: Tap the appropriate button (Apple, App Store; Android, Google Play) on your mobile device.

Option 2: Go to the Apple App Store or to Google Play Store and type The Villages Golf and Country into the Search bar. Make sure it has our Bell Tower logo. Once downloaded and installed, your login is required. Please log in to the app with the same login credentials that you use for accessing the new Member Portal.

Option 3: Open the camera app on your phone and scan this QR code.

Need Assistance?

If you dont have access to the Member Portal, go to the Villages Support site and fill out the I Still Need Help form.

If it’s a download issue, go to the Support site and view our Video Tutorial Downloading the Member App.

Or attend the next WOW session. WOW sessions will be ongoing on an as-needed basis.Thank you for being a valued member of The Villages community.

We hope you enjoy the extra convenience of The Villages online!

How do we dispose of Tetra-Paks and refrigerator cartons?  Garbage or Recycling Bin?

Tetra Paks and  refrigerator cartons often are used to sell all types of milk, juice, soup, tomato sauce, dairy products, etc.

 Place both in the recycling. Tetra-Paks are identifiable by the smooth and glossy plastic carton and shiny metallic lining on the inside. When recycling, Tetra-Paks should not be flattened, as this can lead to them being misidentified and improperly sorted by the sorting machinery at the processing facilities. Refrigerator cartons (such as milk and juice) contain more paper than a Tetra Pak carton. Empty the cartons of any liquid or residue and, if possible, remove any plastic or metal caps or spouts before recycling. Remember to recycle right!

The Maintenance Services Department’s general work hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you experience a maintenance emergency during those hours, please call the office right away at 408-223-4670. Even if you are certain the emergency is your responsibility, Maintenance Services can provide a list of contractors that are familiar with The Villages and may be helpful for the repair.

If a maintenance emergency occurs outside of the general work hours or during a holiday, please call Public Safety at 408-223-4665. The Public Safety Department will contact the Maintenance Area Supervisor and/or the appropriate contractor. Together, they will all help to resolve your maintenance emergency.

I want to share what’s driving us toward our future at The Villages Golf and Country Club. We’re undergoing significant organizational change, transitioning from decentralized dysfunction to centralized excellence. Embracing the philosophy of Right Skills, Right People, Right Seats, we are aligning with core competencies and reviving The Villages Guiding Principles.

Our mission is to lead with purpose, focusing on core services and embracing technology for a 21st-century experience. We’re committed to service excellence, taking responsibility, and doing the right thing—even when no one is looking. We’re committed to transparency and facing hard truths as we move forward. The next series of GM Corner messages will introduce the Villages team.

Join me on the last Wednesday of each month at Fireside Chats in the Clubhouse for open discussions. These meetings, along with our regularly scheduled forums (Executive Round Table), provide platforms to share the evolution of The Villages, setting new standards, and collectively raising the bar. Together, we will reshape a community that excels and sets a new pace.

                        —Theresa Ostrander Villages General Manager