As we said in our last print, “what a month we’ve had.” Alas, we find ourselves saying again, “what a month we’ve had.” While this coronavirus pandemic seems to be coming to no conclusion soon, there is perhaps no better time to be a “Lake Forester.” While many in Daphne anguish in the idea of being “locked down,” as it were, in their homes, this does not have to be the case for those fortunate enough to call themselves residents of Lake Forest, one of the largest subdivisions in the United States! I am proud to both remind and inform residents of the extent to which the amenities of Lake Forest go, as well as the fact that some of them are still in operation, albeit in a limited manner for your safety, regardless of the situation in the world. Living in Lake Forest can even be compared to living in your own small town. Rest assured that when this extraordinary pandemic is made more manageable, your Lake Forest amenities, such as free access to three swimming pools, a well-sized tennis facility and racquet club, marina, and horse stables, will be fully available and working for the good of residents, full-steam ahead. These amenities can be enjoyed by you and your family for the low, low price of… free -- as it is included in your monthly Home Owners Association (HOA) fee. I personally cannot think of another place like Lake Forest, with its winding roads, beautiful greens, and thriving tennis program, not to mention the proactive and involved community. Regarding the golf course, there is no green fee, and a golf cart for 18 holes will only put you down $25. As an aside, congratulations to Linda France, who scored a hole-in-one recently! Don’t be afraid to head to the Lake Forest Facebook page to congratulate her! May the greens continue to serve you and others well. The Racquet Club is usually found bustling with clinics, lessons, summer camps, and the occasional aimless player who is trying out a $25 racquet they bought from Dick’s. The Yacht Club features karaoke, rock-n-roll bingo, dinner specials, live music and boasts one of the prettiest views on the Eastern Shore. The 19th Hole features great food, great member prices, and a seriously juicy cheeseburger to satiate your post-tennis or post-golf hunger. Lake Forest features three swimming pools, two of which were recently renovated: Montclair and Ridgewood. All three high-quality pools are accessible, free of charge, to Lake Forest residents. Hold your horses, we have stables? Yes! The Stables is a wonderful place that offers parties, trail rides, boarding and more. It’s no wonder that, as written in the Lake Forest Blog Anchor and Roots, property value here is booming. Perhaps other people are catching on to the appeal of that juicy cheeseburger at the 19th Hole. Or maybe people are looking to score a hole-in-one on the lucky greens. Or maybe, just maybe, there is something drool-worthy about the prospect of sipping on wine at the Yacht Club while watching the sunset. With clubs such as the Women’s Club, to Men’s Golf, to Gardening, alongside all of the wonderful aforementioned amenities, it’s clear that Lake Forest is something unique - a crown jewel of the Eastern Shore. You should be proud to be a homeowner -- a resident -- a neighbor, in Lake Forest. Co-written by Graham Canton Michael Albrecht, Director of Communications and Marketing Lake Forest Marina Boat Channel Dredging Update "City of Daphne Will Begin Project April 2020"4/1/2020
 Friends, Neighbors, and Local Associates, This information is written to provide our community with positive news and important updates for our Waterfront Parcel, Marina Boat Channel Access and Boat Ramp which is located adjacent Mobile Bay at the end of Yacht Club Drive. Boat Channel Project Dredging Information as follows:
Project updates will be made available. The POA is currently exploring and researching operational, repair, and other maintenance options for “our POA” boat storage areas, marina, and piers, that when completed and combined with renovations of our Yacht Club will pair nicely with the City’s investments to the parcel and boat channel. Cost benefit Analysis has been requested from Management and will be considered for future planning. Specific Project Questions can be answered by the Environmental Program Manager - Ashley Campbell at the City and by contacting District 3 - Councilman Joel Coleman; or District 5 - Councilman Ron Scott; or District 6 - Councilman Robin LeJeune. Much appreciation goes to all our City Leaders and Officials that have done the hard work to restore the boat channel and who have helped make this lease agreement become truly “Mutually Beneficial” for Lake Forest and for Daphne. Sent on behalf of LFPOA Board of Directors It is with great pride and sincere appreciation that we give the community of Lake Forest our highest and most heartfelt thanks. Our Trunk or Treat Haloween event was tremendous. Our fellow neighbors showed up with holiday spirit and made the event a blast and one to remember. The costumes, decorated trunks, and tight sense of community were amazing and we are looking forward to growing this event in the years to come. A special thanks to Eve Gray for all of your time and hard work. It is people like you that play a major role in growing our home neighborhood with your contagious and positive spirit.
We are thrilled with the momentum of pride from our homeowners in Lake Forest. The median clean up effort showed us the power of friendship and what we can do when we work together for the greater good. The momentum is real and before long the number of participants will grow as we gather and use our strength for neighborhood empowerment and enrichment. This coming Saturday, we are having a community wide yard sale. Our homeowners will have the chance to participate in a mass yard sale that will bring people from all over the Eastern Shore and beyond. It’s a perfect time to work in tandem with the neighborhood to sell what you no longer need. It’s also a great opportunity to put a little extra cash aside for the upcoming Christmas season. Be ready, the yard sale buyers are marking their calendars. Finally, the cooler months are here. The Chilli Cookoff is scheduled for Nov. 17th at the Yacht Club. Bring the family and meet your friends at our Yacht Club for this seasonal and wonderful event. The chili will be hot and ready--Don’t miss out out on a perfect family day on the bay. A Surge in Value Surpasses the rest of DaphneHow is Lake Forest doing? Lake Forest community in Daphne, Alabama has been around since the 1970’s and the question comes up about how is it doing. All of Baldwin County has seen tremendous growth in the last seven years with new neighborhoods popping up in areas that used to be farmland. So how has Lake Forest competed? Quite well, actually.
Lake Forest has numerous recreational facilities as part of its common amenities, including golf, tennis, three swimming pools, a yacht club and riding stables. Over the past seven years the Lake Forest Property Owners Association has taken many steps to improve life in Lake Forest and maintain the common properties. The Board has very intentionally worked with the City of Daphne to improve Lake Forest, such as adding curbs and gutters to the main thoroughfares, adding sidewalks that before did not exist, turning the older nine hole golf course into a park, and improving bay access for boaters. With the support of the City, Lake Forest looks better than ever. Beginning in 2011 the Board of Directors of Lake Forest has made strides to improve the Association with one of its stated goals of improving property values, which were not doing well at the time. The Board hired professional managers, Vision (now Icon), to improve managing the Association. Much of the common properties had been long neglected in Lake Forest and had fallen into disrepair. Since 2011, the Board has improved tennis courts, renovated all three swimming pools, and the golf course is in the best shape it has been in for years. The Board has also very deliberately sought to enforce architectural rules regarding houses that were not well maintained. The Board employs a full-time architectural director and enforcement has seen a decrease in neglected-looking homes. Steve Sasser, President of the Association, says “We still have a way to go with architectural enforcement – we have literally thousands of homes in Lake Forest – but we have made a big dent in enforcing the covenants.” So is it working? The short answer is “yes!” According to the Baldwin County Association of Realtors, which keeps statistics on home sales, Lake Forest is far surpassing the rest of Daphne in home prices. Home sale prices have gone up 57% from 2011 to 2018. Compared to the rest of Daphne which as seen an increase of 29% in home values during the same time period. In 2011 the average home sale in Lake Forest was $104,530.00. In 2018 that numbered had jumped to $163,878.00, an average increase of $59,348.00. In Daphne as a whole, the average home value in 2011 was $222,207.00 and in 2018 the values have gone up to $258,810.00, an increase of $58,603.00. So, while Daphne values are doing quite well, Lake Forest is doing even better. Another factor used to determine the health of property values is average time on the market. In 2011, the average length of time for a Lake Forest house to be on the market was 131 days. In 2018 that number dropped to an average of 52 days. In Daphne as a whole, in 2011 a house was on the market an average of 171 days and that number has decreased to 93 days.  Let us replace that "I can't" voice in your head with "I will." Feel like taking a break from your normal day? You'll be surprised how relaxing it is to just knock a ball around.The benefits of tennis are extraordinary and should be explored by everyone of all ages. Keep young and live your life to the fullest! The physical and mental advantages are endless and can greatly improve your quality of life. Here are a few of the terrific health benefits of the game: IMPROVED BALANCE, FLEXIBILITY, AND AGILITY How do you keep a ball in play? By stretching and reaching, that's how! Oh yes, and by showing up. Once your feet hit the court and start moving the benefits are immediate. By playing tennis on a regular basis, you will quickly notice great improvements in agility and flexibility. All fitness levels reap the same benefits and rewards - BETTER HEALTH. "I took the ladies beginner class in 2018. I confess, I was bit intimidated but after just a few minutes, I was having so much fun! After 2 weeks, I’ve not only met a ton of new friends but increased my flexibility and balance enough to add a yoga class into the mix. I can’t thank the pro, Mike Albrecht, enough. He really knows how to get you moving." Jennifer, 43 FIGHT AND PREVENT DISEASE Want to promote overall health, fitness and resistance to disease? Want to help keep your lipid profile in check and keep your cholesterol low? Want to lower your blood pressure, improve metabolic function, fight osteoporosis and add some aerobic exercise to your life? Reach for that racquet and the game of tennis as a defense. Tennis can decrease your chance of suffering from stroke, hypertension, and cardiovascular issues. We’ve all heard someone say, “It’s too late, I’m too old,” when it comes to tackling something new. This mindset is far from true. You don’t see many 60, 70, or 80-year old people playing football or running down the soccer field but many retirees pick up tennis, continue tennis, and further enjoy the game that keeps them moving and feeling young. Our tennis programs are based on building the fundamentals of tennis and reprogramming you for a lifetime of healthy living, sport, and friendships. “I’ve been playing for 3 years. I never thought I’d play tennis after my knee replacement but I got an invite in the mail for a ladies beginner class and thought, why not?! I had been sedentary for a year (too long) after my surgery and was feeling sluggish and old. Best decision ever! I play twice a week now and my health has never been better.” Sharon, 64 WEIGHT CONTROL Did you know that playing tennis for one hour burns about 600 calories, making it as effective as jogging or an indoor cycling class, WOW! The discipline of tennis challenges your body to burn those unwanted calories from last night’s free pie from O’charley’s or that irresistible milkshake from the drive thru. Keeping it real here ladies- As adults, there is a game that can be fun and advantageous- Oh, for the love of tennis! “After my second baby, I had to do something. All I did was work and be a mommy. I needed something for just me. A friend told me about the ladies class so I gave it a try. Haven't put the tennis racquet down since. I love it! I’ve lost 15 lbs. and met other working moms that have become such a support system for me. I love my tennis friends.” Lindsey, 35 MENTAL-COGNITIVE HEALTH - STRESS RELIEF How about improving your critical thinking, mental alertness, and emotional state? A little vacation for your brain! The problem with elliptical, running or weight training is you still have the ability to let your mind race, “ What am I going to cook for dinner? How many calories am I burning? I have a huge deadline at work.” The list goes on. When you play tennis, your mind is forced to focus on the task at hand instead of your stresses and endless to-do-list. Boost your brain power by hitting the court. For those who may be suffering from not getting a full night’s sleep, It helps restore that too. We have many players with testimonies on how tennis has helped them regain a full and refreshing night’s sleep. “After my first tennis lesson I felt mentally refreshed and physically renewed. Before tennis, I started to feel like an old model car- now I feel like a remodeled human. I love tennis.” Kathy, 67, retiree THE PERFECT SOCIAL ACTIVITY Being able to socialize with opponents and partners is a huge benefit of the game. Share your interest and goals with others who are on your level striving for self improvement and advances in their physical, social, and mental goals. Overall health, wellness and happiness is key to a balanced life. It’s never too late to get into the game of empowerment and health and one that is physiologically rewarding. Want to get better acquainted with the basics of the game? Mike Albrecht is a USPTA Elite Professional for over 20 years, holds a degree in Professional Tennis Management and Marketing from Methodist University. During his 17 years at Lake Forest, he has offered new player clinics and private lessons. These programs have produced well over 1000 new players to the game. Get a sense of our club’s programs and Mike’s passion for introducing tennis to all ages and levels. SAVE THE DATE March 5th-- 10:00 AM Ladies beginner class This class is offered twice a week for 5 weeks. This class is for beginners and taught as though you’ve never held a racquet. At the end of 5 weeks you will have the fundamentals necessary to be able to play a real match. What do you need? A pair of sneakers or tennis shoes--That's it! You don’t even need a racquet for the first few weeks. We will provide one for you. This class is free for Lake Forest residents and only $50 for non-residents. We will have a light social and raffle at end of the 5 week session to show our appreciation and to celebrate your new and exciting achievements.  Having great friends is largely a matter of being a great friend. In spending time with friends we fill up our lives with great conversation, support, and fun. We don’t just live when we have healthy friendships, we thrive. Treat friends like you do your favorite plants and watch your friendships grow into something beautiful and unique. More than ever our friends are important and studies show that women with strong friendships live longer. We encourage one another to be our best and support each other with great care. In today’s digital abyss, it’s easy to lose sight of authentic friendships. Too often,we see robotic stares in the faces of women who are out and about doing their daily tasks. With just a little effort, we as women can push back and connect with intention to avoid losing ourselves in today’s friendship frenzy of technology. I urge women off all ages to branch out from this idea and physically join groups that infuse a sense of community and authentic laugh-out-loud fun. Do something different! Grow your branches with other women who strive for friendships that take more than a stroke of a key to earn. Coddle your friends, court your friends, learn your friends, love your friends and root friendships with great care. Water your friends! Lake Forest Women's Club will have Master Gardener, Karen White, share her expertise on air plants. Topics will include what they are, how to care for, and how to use in your home. These special plants will bring years of enjoyment. Mark your calendar for February 21st. Event starts at 11:00 AM. A delicious lunch will be served! Contact Fay at Mr.redmon@sbcglobal.net to RSVP by Friday February 15th Guest and new members are welcome! (Please see Groups and Organizations on our website for more info on how to get involved) |
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