Residential Customer Daphne, AL 36526
*****************ECRWSS****
The Lake Forester • October 2016 • 1
The Lake Forester
Your Community...Experience it!
October 2016
Volume 26, No. 10
Presidents Comments
… ts r a e H l l u F , s e y Clear E
next several decades. The money wasn’t there and our amenities deteriorated.
Submitted by: Steve Sasser LFPOA President
We’ve been waiting for it since January, but alas, football season has finally arrived. It doesn’t matter what colors you wear, or what battle cry you chant. Here in the South, we’re marinated in football long before we can walk. Ideals like rivalry, loyalty, and competition seep into our persona and before you know it you’re a fan. The funny thing is, you don't have to be born here. It’s infectious. You just get caught up in it. I think it’s about pride, about being proud of being a part of something bigger than ourselves. I’ve spent a great deal of time, especially recently, talking with some of my fellow board members and management about how few of our members realize what they are actually a part of living in Lake Forest. We are big and we are unique. We’re the only bundled neighborhood in the state of Alabama in which the homeowners actually own all of the common grounds, pools, golf course, tennis courts, stables, and even a yacht club. That’s why we’re a POA and not an HOA. We own and operate property on a scale that is unprecedented in this state. There is no neighborhood anywhere near us to compare our amenities to. On top of that, we have over 3100 homeowners
PRESRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 5 Foley, ALA 36535
Steve Sasser in our association. We are Lake Forest! Lake Forest was incorporated in 1971. The concept and vision of Artis James of Diamondhead Corporation, the original developers of Lake Forest, were realized in the 70’s with an all-inclusive bundled community with a lavish country club, swim and racquet club, yacht club, pools, stables, and golf course. I saw it all for the first time in 1979 and it was grand. Unfortunately, lots did not sell as quickly as projected and the control and direction of the neighborhood remained in the hands of the developer instead of the POA for far too long. The developer had one objective: to sell lots. This meant that dues stayed low to attract buyers. That worked for a while, but our amenities aged and they needed maintenance. The money wasn’t there to perform the needed maintenance. The POA dues did not support the amenities. That’s the short story and the theme of what played out for the
General Managers Report, Page 2
Here we are in 2016. We still own just about all of the common areas and amenities we started with. Some of the development and structures did not survive the decades of neglect, and thankfully, we were able to hand off our roads and sewer system to Baldwin County, and eventually annexed into the city of Daphne. Our board of directors has grabbed this bull by the horns and we’ve turned it around. We take tremendous pride in this neighborhood, our community, and we’re starting over. Call it Lake Forest 2.0 if you like. We’ve got control of our covenants, and we’re cleaning up our bylaws. This gives us the foundation to build our future. H is t o r i cal l y a nd currently Lake Forest residents are apathetic to the business and government of their neighborhood. We have over 3100 homeowners and at a typical stated meeting if we have three residents participate, that is a big crowd. Currently, we are a board of seven people and we make every decision that governs this neighborhood with almost zero input from our members. We’ve made it a mission to change that. We’ve got ideas and we’re making plans for the future of this community
and we want you involved. We want you to realize that you are owners of an eighteen hole golf course, six tennis courts, three pools, horse stables, and a yacht club. You employ close to fifty people and contract Vision Golf and Association Management to manage it all. You own a nonprofit corporation that grosses nearly three million dollars every year! It’s not your fault and you’re not alone. Historically, Lake Forest has not communicated efficiently or effectively with members, advertised plans and progress with the community, nor marketed features to our area. We’re on the brink of remedying that problem. We’ve realized it for years, but it has taken some time for us to be able to present solutions that we feel will be tangible and effective. Step #1: deploy our new Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ LakeForestDaphne. Step #2: launch our new website www.lakeforestdaphne. com (coming soon). Step #3 Embrace the physical and mental presence of Lake Forest members that are invested in the future of our community. Step #4: make our future happen. At our annual meeting in March, we’re going to make history and we’re going to celebrate it. For the first time in Lake Forest history, our membership is going to vote on covenant amendments. Our covenants are a legally binding contract between homeowners and our POA. The POA can only enforce what our homeowners agree to in the covenants. Currently, we all agree
when we purchase our homes to the covenants that were written in 1971. With a 2/3’s vote we’ll agree to covenants that we amend in 2017. Does that peak your interest in coming to some meetings? If that doesn’t, maybe you’ll get interested in the plans we’re making to demolish and reconstruct the 19th hole and yacht club. I did mention a celebration. Our annual meetings have gravitated from explosive to somber in recent years. We’re calling an audible, and we’re going to throw a party at the yacht club. Let’s get together and take care of business, then let’s loosen up and enjoy each other’s company for a while. We’re going to get back to the roots that brought this neighborhood out of the dirt. Lake Forest will be what we make it. For far too many years our property was exchanged for nearly wholesale prices and the result was a membership that wanted to pay very little and expected very little in return. They got exactly what they bargained for with structures and amenities that they could not sustain. That’s not the future this board of directors or management sees for Lake Forest. In fact, Vision Golf has put together a reserve study of our properties accessing the current values, expected lifespan, and replacement costs of everything we own. We’ve never had that data until now. We want to plan for our future, and once we get all of our amenities up to date, we want to be able to maintain them, and then replace them as necessary.
Inside Lake Forester
New Chief Operating Officer Page 3
Boaters Chili Cookoff, Pages 3
The Fishing Hole, Page 8
That’s enough future talk for now. Let’s talk about today. We’ve broken ground on the Montclair pool site renovation. It’s going to look fantastic, and we’re going to get control of the site erosion that has been contaminating Tiawasee and D’Olive Creek for forty years. We’ve just contracted HMR to start master planning for the replacement of the 19th hole building, and to design and oversee our replacement bulkhead at the Yacht Club. I’ll step out on a limb and say by the time this article is published, we will have entered a lease agreement with the City of Daphne for our boat launch that will bring tremendous improvements to the entire marina facility. Now that we have a new logo, we’re working on replacing all of our dilapidated signage throughout the neighborhood. All the while, we’re making plans to renovate the Ridgewood pool next year. This is all happening— right now. Again, there are seven of us volunteer board members making all of these decisions almost with zero input or participation from the rest of the membership. Friends, we can do better than that. This BOD believes in the bright future of this neighborhood, and it is so much bigger than us. We’re proud. You can call us fans of Lake Forest. Let’s all get on the same team. We want you to take some ownership in your neighborhood. Please join us in making Lake Forest the best it has ever been. We hope to see you soon.
Lake Forest Yacht Club, Page 9
2 • The Lake Forester • October 2016
GENERAL MANAGERS
Submitted by: Rob Wright LFPOA General Manager This will be my last newsletter for Lake Forest. Vision Golf has another challenge they wish for me to take over, so it is with sincere sorrow that I will be leaving Lake Forest. It has been just short of six years ago that I started at Lake Forest. I remember when I first started, the Yacht Club had openings in its kitchen floor, a deck that was more splinters than wood and you could fire a cannon in the Yacht Club and not hit a soul. The driving range was a two-tier, unirrigated field and the fairways were tight. The tennis hard courts were cracked; the clay courts were watered by a mix of three different systems from three different eras. There were three swimming pools that looked like the ones the warden sent the prisoners to and water was leaking faster out of the pools faster than
t r o p e R
Rob Wright, CCM, CAM we could put it in. The local bank managers all took eight hour lunches when we asked to talk to them and we were over six hundred thousand in debt. Starting in December of 2010 I was blessed to work with a Board that was willing to make some hard decisions. Those Boards, led by Mary Ann Hampton, Ed Kirby, and Richard Kersey were like salmon swimming upstream day after day to get to the promised land. Incredible progress was made by those Boards, which also included Ray Sturch, Tony Dees, Bill
Menefee, Marie Bidney, Travis Stone, Karen Bowman, and Shane Weldon. They worked with the incredibly talented staff at Vision Golf in Ft. Myers, Fl. The progress also took a great staff that included Erik Tanner, golf course superintendent, Tim Gressett, golf pro, Collin Farrell, assistant golf pro, Mike Albrecht in tennis, harbor master, Billy Harrell, Nadine and Curtis at the Yacht Club and a fantastic office crew of Ruth Partain, Debbie Gee, Missy Hoover and Stephanie Cochran. Together, all of us turned the community around. That Board eliminated the debt, brought reassurance to an uneasy community, realized the value of and brokered a relationship with the city, and stopped the slide of home values. It was a fantastic ride working with a group of people with the strength to pull a multi-million dollar operation out of the hole. In March of 2015 I was again blessed
as Lake Forest entered its next and a different phase of existence. That group of Board members lead by Steve Sasser, Victoria Phelps, Art Anderson, Tonya Halterman, Butch Adams and again Mary Ann Hampton, Ed Kirby and Richard Kersey, joined by David Dueitt and Dave Sumner is a team capable and able to bring a strong vision to this next phase. The Yacht Club is packed with members and has received four straight 97’s from the Health Department and has a deck that is the envy of the Eastern Shore. There are community events like Breakfast with Santa, The Easter Bunny Brunch, BOGO Burger Wednesday, Karaoke Friday and Family Buffets on Thursday. The golf course has received tremendous support from the Board; it has fairways as wide as they’ve ever been, a rebuilt driving range, renovated bunkers and a new cart path at the signature 17th Hole. Two of the three pools are the equal of the pools of the finest clubs in the South and while the clay courts are aging, the courts now have a new watering system,
redone hard courts and the entire area has been re-sodded. This Board is driven to improve the communications to the members and is planning to offer an updated set of covenants that will help maintain the integrity of the community and help drive up home prices. Both Board groups have had the wisdom and vision to work with the City of Daphne to bring about new roads, clean, grassed medians, a Central Park with a walking trail and now miles of sidewalk. I wish to thank the Boards lead by Mary Ann Hampton, Steve Sasser and the managing partner of Vision Golf Management, Simon Coulls, for the opportunity to be part of bringing this great community back from the well of blackness to the edge of greatness. With that said, the memories I take from here will be of the people. The Board members for their tireless commitment with zero pay and even less thanks, to Simon and the team at Vision that shared their expertise, gave their guidance and provided support that no other
management company would be capable of providing. Special thanks goes to a staff that stayed through a period of uncertainty, years of no pay raises, and a level of effort and support that I know will bring tears to my eyes in the years to come. Last but not least but especially, you, the members: The Senior Couples, the LGA, the MGA, the mafia golf group, the Garden Club, the Women’s Club, the Boaters, and the Swim Team. All of you have played a major role in the revival of Lake Forest and were always there to support my efforts for which I thank you. I encourage you to remember that this is one of the most desirable places to live in the South and each of you have made it this way and need to do what it takes to keep it this way, now, and in the future. Those are a lot of words, even from me but Lake Forest will always be in my heart. So, until next time… Rob Wright, CCM, CAM General Manager
This free monthly magazine includes: • Dining Guide • Local Events • Music Listings • Calendar and more...
Taken By: Steve Sasser
Rob Wright receiving a memento of appreciation from Lake Forest accompanied by several members of the management team. Rob served as General Manager of Lake Forest for 6 years and he recently received a new appointment with Vision Management to serve near his home and family in Florida.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac October 2016
Temperature 69° (4° above avg.) Precipitation 1.5” (1.5" below avg.) Oct 1-7: Sunny; cool, then warm; Oct 8-12: T-storms, then sunny, warm; Oct 13-18: Scattered t-storms, warm; Oct 19-25: Sunny, warm; Oct 26-31: T-storms, then sunny, cool.
pick up your copy today!
The Lake Forester • October 2016 • 3
“NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER”
Submitted by: Simon Coulls Managing Partner Vision Golf and Association Management
Simon Coulls
Simon Coulls, Managing Partner fo r Vis i o n Golf and Association Ma n ag e me n t , t he management company for Lake Forest, announced recently that Rob Wright, previous GM, has been moved back to Florida near his family. The GM position has been changed to Chief Operating Officer (COO) to reflect trends in leadership and management plus a growing scope of work
needed to serve Lake Forest.
Dr. David Dyson has accepted our appointment to serve as COO for at least three months. Dr. Dyson has worked with me over 10 years as executive coach and consultant helping me improve two communities and Vision Management. He has worked with Lake Forest on plans and performance in recent years, so it's a natural
transition to have David work with us because he knows us and wants to help us "become the best we have ever been." Dr. Dyson has worked in association management for 30 years. He has earned degrees in business from Auburn, Masters in Management at Birmingham-Southern College, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Vanderbilt University. He also
completed summer management institutes at Harvard University and CarnegieMellon University. He is the co-author of Professionalism Under Stress and Patriotism in Ac t i o n , p lu s workbooks on Planning, Empowerment, Motivation, and Leadership.
Dr. David Dyson Chief Operating Officer Office: 251.621.4722 COO@lakeforestpoa.org
Autumn is here! “The Boater’s” Chili Cookoff Sunday, November 13th
Fall is in the air and it’s time for Chili! The Lake Forest Yacht Club, Inc., aka “The Boaters”, will be hosting a Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, November 13th at 4:00 p.m. at the Lake Forest Yacht Club. Any type of chili is welcome. Beans or nobeans, red or white chili, hot or mild, we don’t care! No cost to enter, just cook it up, put it in a crock pot and come on
down to the YC. Your pot of chili must be on the table no later than 3:55 p.m. (set-up any time after 3:30). JUDGING WILL BEGIN AT 4:00 P.M. Bring your own ladle and any side accoutrements you may want like chips, onions, cheese, table decorations
favorite People’s Choice chili!!
(your table space is 3’ wide). We provide bowls, spoons & napkins. CASH PRIZES will be awarded for: 1st, 2nd, 3rd places and a People’s Choice Award Cooks, bring your friends & family to help
“Floor Medic is the one I call for carpet cleaning!” Rob Wright
General Manager, Lake Forest
taste and vote!!! Sound good? Wait till you taste some of these fine pots of chili! If you are not a cook, please come to sample & eat bowls of homemade chili for only $5.00 per person! (Under 10 free)
Co n t a c t Kathy Anderson at artandkathy@bellsouth. net or call 776-2624 to enter ahead of time. If you don’t know until the last minute, come on down anyway, there’s always room for more CHILI POTS!
You will be able to secretly vote for your
Hope to see you there!! The YC bar will be open! *WE WILL BE COLLECTING FOOD ITEMS FOR PRODISEE PANTRY. PLEASE BRING A COUPLE OF CANS OR BOXES OF FOOD TO DONATE
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4 • The Lake Forester • October 2016
LAKE FOREST DIRECTORY A Covenant Restricted Community Visit our website www.lakeforestpoa.org Office Hours........................................................................................... 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Adminstration Office ......................................................................................... 626-0788 Dr. David Dyson, Chief Operating Officer ........................................................ 626-0788 Food and Beverage Director ............................................................................ 626-9329 19th Hole .......................................................................................................... 626-4520 Golf Pro Shop ................................................................................................... 626-9324 Yacht Club ........................................................................................................ 626-9329 Marina ............................................................................................................... 680-6190 Stables ...................................................................................................... 251-210-8819 Tennis ............................................................................................................... 626-9696 Vision Management ................................................................................... 239-561-1444
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PROPOSAL AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI BOARD OF DIRECTORS CURRENT: Section 6.1. Composition. The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall consist of nine members who shall be Full Voting Members of the Corporation, in good standing, and shall be elected by the members of the Corporation at the annual meeting of the membership.
Steve Sasser (2013-2018), President s.sasser@lakeforestpoa.org
Victoria Phelps (2015-2020), Vice President vjphelps@lakeforestpoa.org
Mary Ann Hampton (2015-2020), Treasurer maryann@mahamptonlaw.com
David Dueitt (2016-2021), Secretary d.dueitt@lakeforestpoa.org
David Sumner (2016 -2021), Sergeant at Arms d.sumner@lakeforestpoa.org
PROPOSED AMENDMENT: Section 6.1. Composition. The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall consist of seven members who shall be Full Voting Members of the Corporation, in good standing, and shall be elected by the members of the Corporation at the annual meeting of the membership.
Richard Kersey (2016-2021) george_kersey@yahoo.com
Ed Kirby (2016-2021) e.kirby@lakeforestpoa.org
Editor Missy Hoover ~ 626-0788 Articles should be emailed to lakeforestcc@lakeforestpoa.org no later than the 10th of each month. Call if you have any questions. LAKE FORESTER A monthly newsletter for all LFPOA members NEED AN AD PLACED? ~ CALL Frank at 928-2321 Deadline for all articles is the 10th of the month prior to publication.
WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE...
We are super excited to announce that we recently launched our new Facebook page. It is live and ready to go! We want to encourage our residents and members, young and old alike, to check out our Facebook page, give it a “like,” share it with friends/ family, get notifications and share their ideas and provide suggestions.
http://www.facebook.com/LakeForestDaphne As it officially appears on Facebook: Lake Forest – Daphne, Alabama
251-621-9413 6890 US Highway 90 Daphne, AL 36526
251-340-3933 3952-D Airport Boulevard Mobile, AL 36608
Edible Arrangements®, the Fruit Basket Logo, and other marks mentioned herein are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements, LLC. © 2014 Edible Arrangements, LLC. All rights reserved.
The Lake Forester • October 2016 • 5
Written By Lura Kauffman Photos:
Taken by: Linda Locklin Submitted by: Lura Kauffman Our first meeting for the 2016-2017 year was held on September 8, 2016, at the Lake Forest Yacht Club with 22 members, 3 new members and 3 guests present. The Inspiration was given by Judy Baust. Janet Pruitt introduced Donna Aplin for her talk on Butterflies. For more information of this topic she recommended the book Butterflies of Alabama and said that the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is the Alabama state butterfly. There are 24,000 species of butterflies in the world, 84 species in Alabama and over 40 species in Baldwin County. Butterflies vary in size. The
First Place Flower - Plumeria grown by Linda Locklin
Lake Forest Garden Club smallest is ¾ inch wide and the largest has a six inch wingspan. A group of butterflies is called a flutter. There are four stages in the life of a butterfly including the egg, caterpillar, pupa and adult butterfly. Eggs hatch in 4 to 7 days depending on the temperature. Caterpillars can barely see; they can only tell light from dark and cannot form an image. The caterpillar stage lasts two weeks then the caterpillar forms a pupa or chrysalis where it grows and changes for ten days. When it emerges from the pupa its wings are wet and they dry as they expand outward. The adult butterfly lives from two to six weeks. Each species of butterfly has a specific host plant on which it feeds and lays its eggs. The Gulf fritillary likes purple passion flower plants and lays eggs on the flowers in full sun. The zebra long wing likes the yellow passion flower plant and lays eggs in the shade. Milkweed is the host of the monarch butterfly. In general, butterflies prefer flowers that are blue, lavender, purple, orange, yellow, pink and white.
Butterflies need shelter, nectar, water, sun, shade and rocks for basking, host plants and cover. Butterflies sense and taste with their feet; the taste receptors in their feet can taste the sugar in nectar. They feed on nectar, pollen, tree sap, carrion, rotting fruit, dung, decaying flesh and minerals in wet sand. They like puddles (water, salts & minerals) and pastures (manure, clover & weeds.) Woodpeckers help butterflies by creating wounds in trees which causes sap to flow and butterflies feed on the sap.
A butterfly’s body temperature must be 6 degrees in order to fly and they fly at ten to twelve miles per hour. They have ultraviolet vision with 6,000 individual lenses. Flowers have ultraviolet patterns that direct butterflies to nectar. They see red, green, yellow, purple and blue. The Monarch butterfly is the only butterfly to migrate. They travel from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico (2,000 miles) and travel 25 to 30 miles per day. They fly down to Mexico in September and October and back to the Great Lakes in March. Pesticides
are
the
greatest killer of butterflies, so whenever possible, rid your garden of pests without pesticides. Ms. Aplin gave out
included herbs, roses, floral arrangements, camellias, beneficial insects, native plants and hydrangeas.
Baust and Sylvia Dowdle. Door Prizes were awarded to Judy Simpson, Judy Baust, Peggy Sheffield, Ruth Grose,
President Dana Sawyer, speaker Donna Aplin and First Vice-President Janet Pruitt an excellent sheet of natural pesticide recipes and two hand-outs on butterflies and their hosts. See a member if you would like a copy.
Hostesses are still needed for several meetings. Please see Sue Crank to sign up. The new committee chairmen were announced.
After delicious refreshments provided by this year’s officers the business meeting was held. The minutes and Treasurer’s report were approved as presented. Janet Pruitt announced speakers’ topics for the coming year which
The Horticulture Awards were announced by Chairman Judy Simpson. First Place – Linda Locklin (plumeria); Second Place – Beth Kornmeyer (dotted horsemint) and Third Place – Lura Kauffman (cleome.) The 50/50 was won by Judy
Rebecca Trosclair and Dianne Foster. Please join us on October 6, 2016, at 10 a.m., at the Lake Forest Yacht Club for our speaker on Herbs from the Mobile Herb Society. All members are invited and new members & guests are always welcome! We look forward to seeing you!
Rally for a Cure 2016 Results Winners are as follows:
Submitted By Connie Bono, President of the LFLGA On Labor Day, September 5, 2016, we had forty-six players come out to play a four-person scramble for a very good cause. Thanks to all your support, the LGA will be donating $500.00 to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation.
Flt A 1st Gross: Alex Lochren Chris Lepkowski Chip Lovejoy Doug Noonan 1st Net: Steve Scarcliff Don Dixon J.R. Allustun Blaine Mitchell
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Flt B 1st Gross: Linda Sturch Kelly Pitts Rob Pote Rose Marie Theis 1st Net: Jeff Dull Audry Mascharka Glen Geiger Lois Phelps Closest to Pin on Hole #9: Jane Woolford
Closest to Pin on Hole #13: Alex Lochren Closest to Pin on Hole #17: Charlie Cummings We’d like to give a special “Thank You” to all the LGA ladies, along with Tim, our Head Golf Pro, and Collin for helping us in organizing this event. We are looking forward to next year.
11 N. Section St. Fairhope, AL 36532
Bernice Price, CRS Senior Sales Associate Lake Forest Resident
Cell: 251-455-3788 eFax: 251-888.767-7756 bprice29@bellsouth.net www.Bernice.FairhopeHomeSearch.com A Lake Forest Resident selling Lake Forest Homes for 20 years!
6 • The Lake Forester • October 2016
Sun
Mon
Tue
October 2016
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2 YC - Taco Sundays (2 tacos w/ chips & salsa) Only $6.95 4 - 7pm
3 YC& Golf - Closed
4
5 YC - BOGO $8.95 Burger Special!
6 YC - Prime Rib Buffet, 5pm - 8pm, Only $15.95
7 YC - Karaoke/ Live music 7pm - 10ish $.50 wings too!
8
10 YC & Golf - Closed
11
12 YC - BOGO $8.95 Burger Special!
13
Golf - Ladies Inter-Club Tournament
*LFPOA Work Session Meeting 7pm 19th Hole
14 YC - Karaoke/ Live music 7pm - 10ish $.50 wings too!
15 Golf - Special Dog Fight event
19 YC - BOGO $8.95 Burger Special!
20 YC - Country Buffet 5pm -8pm, $9.95
21 YC - Karaoke/ Live music 7pm - 10ish $.50 wings too!
22
28 YC - Karaoke/ Live music 7pm - 10ish $.50 wings too!
29
**Margaritas only $3.50
9 YC - Taco Sundays (2 tacos w/ chips & salsa) Only $6.95 4 - 7pm
Columbus Day
**Margaritas only $3.50 16 YC - Taco Sundays (2 tacos w/ chips & salsa) Only $6.95 4 - 7pm **Margaritas only $3.50
17 YC & Golf- Closed
23 YC - Taco Sundays Only $6.95 4 - 7pm **Margaritas only $3.50 Golf - MGA Tourney/ Fall Social ____________________ 30
24 YC & Golf - Closed
18
YC - Mexican Buffet 5pm - 8pm, $9.95
*LFPOA Stated Board Meeting 7pm, 19th Hole
25
26 YC - BOGO $8.95 Burger Special!
27 YC - Catfish & Chicken Buffet 5pm -8pm, $9.95
____________________ 31 Halloween
LAKE FOREST
“Fall” is officially here - Finally. What a great time to be outdoors. As temperatures start dropping the growing season starts slowing down and the playing conditions are at their peak. I look forward to seeing more and more of our local golfers enjoying the golf course. We continue to have golfers, that normally play other courses, remark about how nice the Lake Forest course is compared to other courses they play. Our course is among the top in condition and
Need a Place to Park your Boat, Car or RV?
A special note; our annual Men’s Club Championship was rained out in September and the reschedule date is November 19th and 20th.
By Tim Gressett, PGA Lake Forest Yacht & Country Club Head Golf Professional
The Pro's Corner
NEED STORAGE?
Tim Gressett, PGA
playability compared to any course in Mobile or Baldwin County. We are very proud of our course and if you haven’t played Lake Forest in a while, come out and I know you will be pleasantly surprised. Here are a few events that are coming soon; Wednesday, October 12th – Ladies Inter-Club Tournament, Saturday, October 15th – Special “Dog Fight” Event, Sunday, October 23rd – Men’s Golf Association Tournament and Fall Social.
Stop by the Lake Forest Pro Shop for great deals on ever ything you need to master the game. Balls and tees are always in stock, along with equipment you need to score a hole in one. For more information, call 626-9324.
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The Lake Forester • October 2016 • 7
Lake Forest
Women’s Club gourds.
Written By: Lura Kauffman Photos Taken & Submitted By: Lura Kauffman
Our first meeting of the 2016-2017 year was held on September 17, 2016 at the Lake Forest Yacht Club with 17 members and one guest present. The tables were beautifully decorated by our hostesses with fall flowers, burlap and fall
The Inspiration was given by hostesses Martha Thomas and Dianne Foster as well as Gail Richards Co-Chairman of the Club. The Inspiration included memorable quotes by women: “A woman is like a teabag, you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.” (Eleanor Roosevelt) and “No one ever died from sleeping in an
Hostesses Martha Thomas and Dianne Foster. Not pictured is hostess Dino Salmi who was unable to attend.
unmade bed.” (Irma Bombeck) Next Judy Baust c o n c lu d e d with her own special Inspiration selections.
Martha Thomas reminded members to sign up as hostesses for this year so that each month would be filled. Co n n i e Maho ney reminded everyone of the hostess guidelines and the importance of having 20 members at each luncheon. She stressed the importance of calling members about the meeting and taking reservations in a timely manner so that the required number are able to attend. The new chair pads for the banquet chairs were also discussed. After a delicious luncheon of chicken salad, potato salad, pasta salad and fruit followed by pecan cobbler for dessert the 50/50 drawings were held. The winners were
Door prize winner Kathy Springman with her prize orchid
Nancy Randolph and Brenda Perry. Half of the 50/50 proceeds are reserved for our Women Helping Women Fund for Prodisee Pantry and Brenda Perry generously donated her winnings to the Fund as well. The Door Prize, a lovely orchid, was won by Kathy Springman. Everyone enjoyed
their lunch and social time with friends and we are looking forward to meeting again next month. The October meeting will be October 20, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Lake Forest Yacht Club. All members are invited. New members and guests are always welcome! Please join us for a good time!
Medicaid & the 5 year look back
By: Drew Wenzel, Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana, PC
88 Homes closed in Lake Forest by Elite Real Estate Recently Sold Homes:
Medicaid was established by the Social Security Act and is administered by each state individually. The program is designed to assist the poor and those with high medical costs. It was established by congress as a “safety-net” for people who have no other way to pay for their health care and for long-term care. Medicaid is always a last resort. When state money is scarce, these services may be vulnerable because this program is often under-funded and over-burdened. Accordingly, the state and the federal government are often tweaking Medicaid programs to deal with the rising cost of long-term care and the people that desperately need it. The last significant change to Medicaid with respect to long-term care was The Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005. The new law made Medicaid eligibility much more difficult. The most important change was the extension of look-back period for the transfer of assets from three years to five years prior to applying for Medicaid coverage. Thus, upon applying for long-term care Medicaid benefits, the Alabama Medicaid Agency will review the applicant’s financials from the previous five years in order to determine whether the applicant “gifted” assets, which might have otherwise been spent on long-term care. If the applicant would have qualified but for the transfer of assets, Medicaid will assess a penalty period for which the applicant will be ineligible for long-term care benefits.
“Thank you Lake Forest for choosing Elite Real Estate” Call today to get your “ELITE” results!
251-517-0488 Rachel Romash - Owner/Broker Jessica Mott - Realtor Amie Combs - Realtor Rebecca Romash - Realtor Donna Savage - Realtor Jennifer Barnhart - Realtor Angie Fagan - Associate Broker Sarah Gatson - Realtor Melissa Wilson - Realtor
For example, let’s assume that the average costs of skilled nursing care in Alabama is $5000.00 per month. If an applicant is found to have gifted $100,000.00 in the last five years prior to applying for Medicaid long-term care benefits, but otherwise fully qualifies, the applicant will be forced to pay privately or make other arrangements for long-term care for 20 months before becoming fully eligible. This is so because the penalty is determined by dividing the amount gifted by the average cost of care. The decision of whether to enter a skilled nursing facility and the costs associated with doing often present a crisis for those with little financial resources. An elder law attorney may be able to assist with this transition and may be able to clarify the complicated income, asset, and transfer rules associated with Medicaid. It is often economical to get the facts about Medicaid and other programs that may be able to assist with long-term care planning before skilled nursing care becomes imminent. The law firm of Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana, PC has experience in representing both, individuals who object or challenge the validity of a Will, and those who benefit if the challenged Will was held to be valid and left as is. Drew Wenzel is a partner at Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana, PC and practices primarily in the areas of estate planning, estate litigation, and elder law. He was born and raised in Foley, Alabama, and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. Upon graduation, Drew was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. He served for over seven years as an aviation officer and cargo helicopter pilot including two combat tours in Iraq. Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana, PC has offices in Daphne and Foley, Alabama. The Daphne office is located at One Timber Way, Suite 101, Daphne, Alabama 36527 and can be reached at (251) 656-7845. Foley office address is 218 North Alston Street, Foley, Alabama 36535 and the contact number is (251) 948-2168. More information can also be obtained at our website, www.cwalawfirm.com and we look forward to answering any questions you may have in connection with this article. The Alabama State Bar requires the following disclaimer: No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
8 • The Lake Forester • October 2016
The Fishing Hole
COOL TEMPERATURES AND FISHING HEATS UP
By Billy Harrell Harbor Master
October is finally here and the water temperatures have dropped into the low 80’s to upper 70’s. The bay and rivers have finally cleared up after all the rain we got this year and salinity of the water is about 8 ppt in D’Olive bay and the causeway. This means flounder are on the points to the Tensaw River and the redfish are all along the causeway and trout are moving everywhere to keep up with the migrating shrimp. What this really means is by the end of the month, our first cold front should move thru. That means cooler water and better fishing as fall arrives to the Delta. Along with cooler days the fishing action will definitely heat up on the north end of the bay. These fish can be caught in a number of ways including
Billy Harrell
fishing a shrimp on a Carolina rig along the edges of drop offs, throwing jig heads with scented grubs, such as gulps along the same drop offs, the ole bass technique of using spinner baits along grass banks and the trusty popping cork with a live shrimp. Flounder will start their migration from the rivers and channels down the bay for deeper water for the fall and winter. For flounder fishing make sure you fish your baits on the bottom with a finger mullet or bull minnow.
Another great way to catch trout and redfish is to look for diving birds and ease or drift into them casting toward the divers. Also, look for the telltale signs of fish slicks or greasy spots on top of the water which means the trout are feeding as well on little minnows and shrimp. Redfish will be in their usual spots too, over oyster beds and shells and along the points of rivers and channels the dump into larger bodies of water. This is my favorite time of the year to fish because the conditions are perfect and the temperature is pleasant to be out on the water. Now is the time to get out and enjoy the delta because if you are not catching fish, you are not fishing.
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Till next month, keep a tight line. Billy Harrell Harbormaster
YOU’VE GOT
Pray for our Country Daphne Chapel 27409 U.S. Hwy.98 Daphne, AL 36526 (251) 625-2900
Elberta Chapel 25102 State Street Elberta, AL 36530 (251) 986-3071
Jubilee Memorial Gardens 27896 State Highway 181 Daphne, AL 36526 (251) 625-2900
Fairhope Chapel 19698 Greeno Rd. Fairhope, AL 36532 (251) 990-7775
Foley Chapel 2551 S. McKenzie St. Foley, AL 36535 (251) 943-2391
Memory Gardens of Fairhope 19412 Greeno Rd. Fairhope, AL 36532 (251) 990-7775
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mail!
We appreciate the efforts of our residents to improve the image of Lake Forest. One way this can be done is by replacing old and dilapidated maiboxes. If for any reason you would like to purchase a mailbox like the one pictured above, or have a leaning Vandalet Mailbox straightened, please email tomasinawerner@gmail.com or call 626-0227. This service provides removal of the old post and box, installation of the cast iron post in concrete and placement of the house number on the mailbox.
The Lake Forester • October 2016 • 9
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10 • The Lake Forester • October 2016
Lake Forest Yacht Club
ROCK-TOBER AT THE YACHT CLUB
Submitted by: Trey Waites
Food & Beverage Director
Trey Waites Fall is in the air and it feels great! We certainly hope the season change is treating you well. Why not hop on over to the Lake Forest Yacht Club, where we plan on having loads of fun this month! BOGO burgers are on the menu Wednesday nights. This is quite
the popular night and it’s cost effective to feed your entire family! Wow, isn’t that great news! Here at the Yacht Club, we always serve our burgers up fresh! Our delicious, mouthwatering burgers are homemade and handpattied. Don’t forget about our Friday special, $.50 wings, along with a maz i ng ka r ao ke styling. Our Thursday buffets will be: October 6th: Prime Rib $15.95
Our Taco Sundays will be on for one more month, in October. The special consists of two tacos, chips and salsa for $6.95. While you’re at it, why not wash down that taco with a refreshing Margarita on the rocks for only $3.50. You won’t find a better or more beautiful view overlooking Mobile Bay than right here at your local, friendly Yacht Club. So, come one, come all to the Yacht Club where it’s always time for a hot meal and cold drinks!
October 13th: Mexican $9.95 October 20th: Country $9.95 October 27th: Catfish & Chicken $9.95
LET ME SELL YOUR HOME With the backing and resources of the most productive real estate network, who better to sell your Lake Forest home, than one of your neighbors? Barbara Rogers offers award winning service, real estate expertise since 2005, and more than 45 homes sold in Lake Forest alone!
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WE SELL LAKE FOREST Amanda Madden 251-786-5223 John Madden 251-259-6166
OVER 100 HOMES CLOSED IN LAKE FOREST INCLUDING THESE RECENT SALES: • SOLD 121 Penny Lane • SOLD 109 Beechwood Circle • SOLD 248 Ridgewood Drive • SOLD 124 Wildoak Drive • PENDING SALE 119 Michael Loop
• SOLD 101 Beechwood Circle • SOLD 106 Hope Drive • SOLD 520 Parkwood Avenue • SOLD 108 Kingswood Drive
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The Lake Forester • October 2016 • 11
We Service All Brands No Hidden Fees “This is the Air Condi�oning and Hea�ng company that I call first!” Rob Wright General Manager, Lake Forest Property owners Associa�on
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12 • The Lake Forester • October 2016