7 minute read
Friday, Dec
by Julia Hutt, LOW Veterans Club by Sandie Frame, Member, LOW Players
Thanksgiving is a time to gather, be thankful, and overindulge. Across the nation and in many chow halls around the world, those in military service will be walking past decorated paper turkeys and sitting down to the best culinary specialist’s pumpkin pie. If a service member or veteran is spotted on the street, the heartfelt phrase “Thank you for your service” is at times respectfully mentioned. One expression can contain a magnitude of representation. In 1989, and many years prior, this was not as readily said or spoken to veterans and members serving in the Armed Forces as it is today. There was an unearned stigma attached to the military that was sadly not far removed from the Vietnam War. Operation Desert Shield in 1990-1991 and Operation Desert Storm in 1991 were a shift towards the legacy of patriotism that lives on to this day.
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In 1775, 247 years ago on Nov. 10, the Continental Congress of the United States authorized that “two Battalions of Marines be raised,” with the objective of safeguarding the ships of the American Navy serving overseas. The order came in time for the first Marine combat action in March of 1776 when a party of Marines charged an island in the Bahamas and seized control from the British. The United States Marine Corps was born and battle-scarred.
The dawn of Nov. 11, 1918, was off to a foggy start for fighting that continued until 11 AM Paris time; 2,738 men lost their lives on that last day of World War I. This day would evolve in 1947 to become Veteran’s Day in the United States.
The Veterans Club extends its apologies to the community for canceling the Veteran’s Day ceremonies outside due to inclement weather. The club is happy to invite its members, spouses, and guests to the annual holiday ball on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Clubhouse; further information will be available through email. For information about the club, contact Club President Mike Ferguson at 571-235-5313, email at colmferguson@msn.com, or visit our website at www.lowvets.club.
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Tonight begins the last weekend of Scrooge the Musical. Most dates are pretty well sold out, but there are a few isolated seats as I write this. If you want to come, we will try to seat you, but it would be best if you already have a ticket. Walk-ins are welcome. We will do our best to find everyone a place.
Remaining performances are Nov. 18 and 19 at 7:30 PM, and Nov. 19 and 20 at 2 PM. The price for an adult ticket is $29; for students - $24 and, for kids under 12 - $15. Tickets can be purchased online at www.lowplayers. org or by calling me, Sandie Frame, at 540-972-6385.
This is a reminder that the Players will be leading the singing, accompanied by the Pick & Sing group for the annual tree lighting ceremony at the Clubhouse on Dec. 2. We hope the community will join us for this event. Also, our quartet and quintet will add to the holidays festivities when they entertain for the Lionesses and LOWLINC.
For a brief heads-up: We will be doing a musical this coming spring. We have obtained the rights to perform Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods in mid-April.
We invite anyone interested in live theater to attend one of our meetings. We meet the second Wednesday in the Community Center, classroom 1, starting at 7 PM. There will be no meeting in December; come join us in January.
Lake of the Woods Volunteer Fire & Rescue
Sweetbriar Park Pavilion and Bocce Courts Chili-Tasting!
LOW F&R is sponsoring an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class starting on January 4, 2023. Limited # of students. Cost: $750.00 (reimbursed if you join LOW Rescue Squad and become certified) Email emtclass@lowfr29.com to register or for more information
Christkindlmarkt
Please come out to our annual Christmas Market on Saturday, Dec. 3rd 9 AM-3 PM, Community Center ********
We have a wonderful array of vendors selling their wares in time for your Holiday shopping! Some of the great crafters participating in the event are: • 3 Crafty Sisters • Keepin it Glassy • Ginny’s Mia Bella Candles • Wreaths and more • Sweets, Treats, and Coffee • Jewelry by JKO • Santas Soap
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by Lee Frame, District 5 Supervisor
Dec. 6 is the due date for the 2022 personal property tax, and the second payment on the 2022 real estate taxes. Here is some interesting information on the assessed real estate values and real estate taxation in Orange County. As of 2022, total assessed value of all the real estate in the county is about $5.1 billion. Of that amount, $1.8 billion is land, and $3.3 billion is value of buildings. As a comparison, the total real estate value in Lake of the Woods is about $1.3 billion, with $323 million in land and $934 million in buildings. For the area outside LOW, 38% of the total value is in the land and in LOW 26% is in the land. There is not much farmland or forested land in LOW, partially explaining the difference.
Not all of the county real estate assessed value is taxed. Many years ago, Orange County adopted land use taxation for land that is actively farmed or harvesting timber. That reduces the taxable value for the land, but not the improvements on the land, and helps to keep farming in the county financially viable. Also, by state law, land that is placed in conservation easements also receives land use taxation. Land use taxation reduces the land value available for taxation in the county by 27%. This amounts to about 9.3% of the total assessed real estate value.
Another reduction in taxable real estate is tax-exempt properties, which include both land and buildings. Tax exemption applies to government, churches, educational institutions, and charitable organizations. Most of this is Orange County-owned real estate. Tax exemption applies to about 9.6% of total assessed real estate value. As a result of the land use and exemption, only about 81% of real estate or $4.1 billion is subject to real estate taxes. There are no tax-exempt properties in LOW, however the land and buildings owned by the LOW Association have assessed values of zero, and are not taxed separately. State law assumes that the market value of homes in homeowner associations reflects a greater value because of access to association-owned properties and amenities. Therefore, LOWA properties are taxed indirectly through the tax on LOW homes.
In the past, I have heard complaints that LOW taxpayers are paying more than their share of the real estate taxes in the county. This is not the case. LOW assessed home value represents about 30% of the taxable real estate in the county. The population of LOW represents about 25% of the county. These percentages would appear to indicate that LOW taxpayers pay a higher share of real estate taxes, What is not taken into account is the number of homes in LOW where the owners do not reside in LOW, do not show up in census population numbers, and yet still pay county real estate taxes. The actual percentage of real estate taxpayers in LOW is somewhat greater that the population percentage. As an approximation of non-resident homeowners in LOW, the water and sewer bills are sent to 447 addresses outside the 22508 zip code.
If you have questions about county government, or want to let me know your feelings on specific issues, you can contact me at lframe@ orangecountyva.gov.
