Christmas Lake Village Offers Free Concerts

Break out the picnic baskets, the lawn blankets and good food, the Holly Park Concert Series have officially begun! Come and take advantage of this FREE, FAMILY, event, and enjoy excellent music, good friends and getting to know some new neighbors.
Fine Wine will be serenading residents with smooth jazz arrangements of the old standards on June 28. The group consists of a baritone sax, keyboard, electric guitar and drums. If you think they don’t make music like they used to, this group is for you.

On July 26 Ty and the Tones will be rocking Holly Park with a Buddy Holly tribute and playing a variety of classic, southern, and country rock.

Special Edition will play a variety of music for villagers on August 23. This group has been together since high school and loves to play a wide range of music from 60’s to current hits.

Bob Ahlemeier from Magic with Style Productions will be back on September 27 to amaze both young and old with his illusions. If you missed Bob’s show last year, you missed something special.

All concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. in Holly Park. There will be free popsicles for both the young and young at heart. Everyone is encouraged to bring goodies to munch. The Christmas Lake Village Garden Club will be selling cookies, candy, and drinks to support their efforts to beautify the village

Holly Park Gets New Equipment and Updates

. Holly Park has something new to offer our smallest residents. The toddler play space has officially been installed and is ready for play! This play area is for children five years-old and under.
Both the new toddler area and the existing playground were adequately mulched resulting in a spongy play area for youngsters to play.

Additionally last fall other improvements were made to Holly Park such as a sidewalk connecting the parking area to the shelter house, several trees were planted and the shelter house roof was replaced. There are plans to add additional play equipment to the park later this summer.

A Message From Property Manager, Mark Kroeger

This is your first of two scheduled e-newsletters! In this computer age, we decided it was time to try it out. Although we are still printing some newsletters, we have reduced our print run by over 1300 units. We are also reducing our mailing and handling costs. As we planned for this, it became apparent that our website will probably have a changed look and be more current as well.

Our summer concert series at Holly Park kicked off for the season recently. We will be running on the fourth Thursday monthly through September. Check the website for scheduled performers.

Why does the Village have so much litter along the roads that we have to schedule a litter pick up day? Thanks to Jeff Blackwell and Larry Hess for giving some of their time on a recent Saturday morning to pick up litter.

School is now out. It is not unusual for vandalism to increase during the summer. Please keep an eye open and call the police immediately. The Santa Claus PD can be dispatched through the county dispatcher at (800) 498-7300. Lifeguards are on the beach daily from 11:00 AM -6:00 PM. Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible person of at least 12 years of age. The lifeguards have rules they are expected to enforce. Please comply with the lifeguards.

Do you listen to the rumors, stories, and explanations that you hear “on the streets”? Sometimes members come into the office checking on some of the strangest things. Consider checking with us to ensure that you are receiving the straight story.

With but a few exceptions, off road vehicles are not allowed on Village streets, or common areas! If you are riding an off road vehicle on land near your house or lot, the chances are very good that you are on someone else’s property! If you are operating an off road vehicle in your own yard, it is very possible that you are making more noise than your neighbors want to hear and that you are violating a noise restriction. Christmas Lake Village and the Town of Santa Claus have rules and laws about off road vehicles. You may be ticketed by the police AND fined by the Village.

Got CERT? CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team. This is a national program that runs through the states to the county level. Teams typically have some 8-12 members that are trained in fire control, light search and rescue, first aid, and other areas. Teams are activated in times of disaster when existing emergency personnel are stretched thin. What this means is that in time of a disaster, a tornado for example, a CERT team may be the only immediate help available. A team for each of our 12 subdivisions would not be unreasonable to ask. A CERT informational meeting was held recently at the Town Hall. If you did not attend or missed the announcement, please contact the CLV office and we will help you contact the right person. CERT teams can be a tremendous asset in such a time as they are needed. This is a great opportunity to get involved with you neighborhood.

CLV Garden Club

The Christmas Lake Village Garden Club will be having their annual Garden Party at club member Agnes Titzer’s house on June 18. Cami Pruss, owner of Evergreen Flowers and Décor will be giving the program on flower arranging.

On July 16 Pat and Kathleen Crews will be providing the program on Garden’s of the Lincoln Era. The Club is gearing up for the Lincoln Bicentennial celebration by learning all they can about what type of gardens were around during Lincoln’s years.

The Garden Club will be hitting the road in August to visit an impatiens garden in the Washington-Loogootee area. More information will be available regarding this program closer to the date.

The Club has also undertaken the planting of a garden at the Legendary Lincoln Cabin at Buffalo Run said club president Sue Fuhrman.

“According to local legend Lincoln spent the night in this cabin and we wanted to do something to improve the area and connect it to the bicentennial,” said Fuhrman.

“We planted herbs, lamb’s ear, yarrow, winter berry, and peonies,” said Fuhrman. “Everything we planted would have been around during that era.”

The Garden Club is always looking for new members and those willing to help take care of CLV’s Memorial Garden.

If you are interested in learning more or attending any of the programs please contact Sue Fuhrman at 544-3365.

CLV Red Hat Society Groups

The Reigning Dears Red Hat Society Chapter will be attending "At The Hop" on June 2nd during the Red Hat Night at Lincoln Amphitheatre. On June 6 they will have their monthly frolic visiting Angel Mounds and then lunch at Knob Hill in Newburgh. On June 30 the Dears will be marching in the parade in the Mariah Hill Sesquicentennial.

On July 7, six Dears will be attending the Red Hat Hoot in Tell City. Sue Schmidt and Sheila Johnson are local contacts for this event.

The Reigning Dears will celebrate their fourth birthday party August 15 with lunch at The Depot Restaurant in Glendale, Kentucky followed with shopping.

Lois Martin's Santa's Red Hat Ladies will be eating at Biaggi's Ristorante in Evansville on June 21. They will also be participating in Red Hat Night at the Lincoln Amphitheatre on June 2. On June 26 several of the ladies will be headed to Ellis Park for Red Hat Day. On August 16 the ladies will eat lunch at the St. Meinrad Arch abbey and then tour the abbey afterward.

Santa's Red Hat Ladies get together the third Thursday of each month to try out a new restaurant and enjoy each other's company. The July lunch has yet to be determined but if you are interested please contact Lois Martin at 544-2879.

A Message from Board President Don Vogel

Is a paperless society progress? I would like to think so and maybe a tree or two will stand a little longer with our new approach to e-mailing Santa’s Letter. Several things need to happen to make this form of communication just as effective as the printed version of the past. First we need to continue to encourage everyone to provide an email address, next you need to open the email and read it and finally be sure everyone in your household has the opportunity to become better informed about your Christmas Lake Village.

Let me take this time to urge you to get involved. Please do not rely on a Board of 9 people to make all the decisions that impact each of us daily.

I hope you were able to attend the first FREE concert in the park this past Thursday at Holly Park. Mark your calendar now for the 4th Thursday of every Summer month at 6 PM in Holly Park. Bring your lawn chairs and even a picnic if you desire. Young children can even enjoy the new additions to the playground while the musical groups are playing. Snacks are available from the CLV Garden Club booth.

Town Marshall Joey Brown is the Spencer County coordinator for the Neighborhood Watch program. An informational meeting is scheduled at Town Hall on June 12 at 6 PM. This is a very effective program to cut down on vandalism and provide a safe shelter in time of need for our children. We need volunteers to make this work. Plan to attend and see how you can become an important part of this program in CLV.

The annual meeting is Sunday, June 10 at 1 PM at the Recreation Center. A vacant board seat will be nominated and elected at this meeting. Please plan to attend. It usually lasts 1 -2 hours.

The new Board of Directors will be seated at this meeting and in the following weeks a number of standing committees including village residents will be organized. Once again we need you to step up and serve on one of the committees. Infrastructure deals with roads, drainage, easements and right-of-ways. Business Planning deals with the annual budgets for the village. Rules and Regulations include building guidelines, boating and lake usage, and park rules to name a few of their responsibilities. We really do need some degreed engineers to step forward and lend their expertise to some of our issues.

We will be appointing a committee representative of the entire village for the purpose of evaluating and revising our current Covenants and Restrictions. Many property owners have voiced their concern about issues that need to be revised within the C&R’s and this is our goal to get this accomplished and approved by the entire village. Hopefully we can complete this huge undertaking by 2009.

The Festival of Lights was evaluated and after some very strong encouragement from local businesses and residents we are making some changes to put new enthusiasm into our most recognized event of the year. Many local businesses have been invited to participate with lighted displays within the village. The route has been shortened affecting parts of neighborhoods 3, 5 and 6. We need volunteers to help coordinate the neighborhoods to get more people involved in lighting their homes and putting the WOW factor back into the Festival of Lights.

Please consider how you can become actively involved in your Christmas Lake Village. Call me or the Gatehouse to let us know where you would like to serve.

Lincoln Heritage Public Library’s Dragons & Dreams

Princesses gather your petticoats, knights grab your swords and wizards get your magic wands and rush to sign-up at Lincoln Heritage Public Library’s summer reading program.

This years’ theme is “Dragons, Dreams& Daring Deeds” and the magic begins June 7 with a kick-off party at the library. Sign-ups start Monday, June 4 through Saturday, June 9.

“We have so many exciting programs for the kids this year,” said Children’s Librarian Rebecca Rau. “There are so many different things to do with this theme.”

Birds of Prey from Patoka Valley DNR will be appearing on June 13. Silly Safari’s Jungle John will be performing June 14. Storyteller Katherine Kidd will be spinning “Fractured Fairy Tales” on June 16. On June 26, the “World’s Smallest Giant,” Michael Perry will be sharing medieval stories. Ron Mayhew will also be performing a magic workshop for ages eight and older.

There will also be story times, movies, crafts, and a chance to meet some of the Dubois County Bombers and have them sign your mitts!

The children will be divided into three groups; the Princes and Princesses (age 3 – entering 2nd grade), the Lords and Ladies (entering 3rd grade – entering 5th grade) and the Jesters and Jousters (entering 6th grade -- 12th grade).

For more information regarding the summer reading program please contact Rebecca Rau at 937-7170 or email lhplibrarian@yahoo.com. This is a great opportunity to keep the kids reading enthusiastically throughout the summer.

Santa Claus Optimist Club

The Santa Claus Optimist Club will be parking cars at Yellig Park during the June 8 and 9 softball tournament to help the parks department raise money. On June 16 members will be leading sports competitions with children during the Jay Cutler & Jon Goldsberry Fundraiser Day for the Parks Department at Yellig Park. Children will have the chance to show their skills in baseball, football, basketball, and soccer. Prizes will be awarded for winners in each category.

The Optimists are sending 27 young people to Respect for Law Camp this year. The club pays the majority of the $75 fee for each of the students. These three day camps give students entering 5th and 6th grade and exciting look at law enforcement including bomb squads, underwater search and rescue teams and police dogs.

The Optimist are still accepting applications for The Avenue of Flags. For $30 per year the Optimist will place an American Flag in front of your home on five national holidays. These holidays are Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4th, Labor Day, and Veteran’s Day. All proceeds for this program go to help the local youth become better citizens or they are used to support a Youth Cancer Camp. For more information call Bill Cherolis at 544-2722, email santaclaus@optimistindiana.org, or fill out the application found on the Optimist website.

Christmas Lake Golf Course

Christmas Lake Golf Course pro Tom Nelson, will introduce the game of golf at a Junior Golf Camp on June 12, 13, 14 & 15 for kids aged 6-14. The cost for the camp is $50 per child and will include instruction, a tee-shirt, and a daily beverage. The camp will run approximately one hour each day. The children will be divided into age groups for all instruction. You must sign up by Friday, June 8 by calling the golf shop at 544-2255, extension 2. At the camps’ completion a discounted package for a series of 9 hole rounds will be offered.

The Men’s EP Seniors Group is a great golf game for any senior golfer in the area. These men meet at 7:45 a.m. for an 8 a.m. start every Thursday morning at the course. The only thing required is a CLGC handicap and spending money.

Every Tuesday at 8 a.m. the CLGC Ladies play 18 holes. A CLGC Handicap is required in addition to a small league fee.

The Couple’s League has resumed play each Friday evening. The couples tee off at 5 p.m. and play different 9 hole formats each week. After 9 holes, dinner is served in the 19th hole. Sign-ups for golf and reservations for supper must be made no later than Friday, 3 p.m. For more information, call 544-2255, ext 2.

The week of July 9 is Take Your Daughter to the Course Week. Girls 22 and under can play for a waived green fee (cart not included) with a parent’s paid cart and green fee once during this week. Tee times required. No walk-ins eligible.

The 19th Hole Restaurant is also open daily serving sandwiches and beverages.

For more information regarding tee times or outings, contact the Golf Shop at 544-2255 (extension 2) or check out the website at
www.christmaslake.com.

Spencer County Visitors Bureau
The Spencer County Visitors Bureau held its Grand Opening Open House on May 14 in its newly decorated offices in Kringle Shopping Center.

Phillip Koch, owner of the Kringle Place Shopping Center has donated the office site for the next seven years. Furniture for the new office was donated by local businesses Jasper Desk and DMI. St. Nick’s Restaurant donated the refreshments for the open house. Door prizes were also given away, including two tickets to Holiday World among other items from local businesses.

Melissa Miller has done a terrific job of revitalizing the Visitors Bureau and bringing a fresh perspective. Whether you have lived in Spencer County forever or are a recent addition, checking out the Spencer County Visitors Bureau’s website is a great way to stay on top of local events and attractions.

For more information about what is going on in the area check out the Spencer County Visitors Bureau website at www.legendaryplaces.com or call 1-888-444-9252.

Excursions: Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari

Holiday World grows each year with amazing speed and if you live in CLV it almost seems unnatural to not go over there and see what is going on.

On opening day my girls and I found ourselves running down to the Thanksgiving section to try out the newest ride, The Turkey Whirl. As one who doesn’t enjoy a good spin I was searching the crowd for anyone who could take my children on the ride for me.

Good news! The Turkey Whirl was a perfect balance of just enough spinning without too much. And it was worth it to hear my girls laugh and see the smiles on their faces. Whether I will still enjoy it after riding it multiple times throughout the summer, I don’t know. I’m still looking for others to ride with my girls. Any volunteers?

Also new this year is the Plymouth Rock Café which is serving Thanksgiving type fare. As of this writing it has not opened but I look forward to trying out the Rotisserie Chicken sandwiches, baked apples and a big slice of pumpkin pie. For $6.99 you receive an adult entrée and two sides.

If you didn’t make it down to the Thanksgiving section last year, you didn’t get to enjoy the delightful Gobbler Getaway. Once in the cart (turkey trotter) you ride through a village in search of turkeys that have escaped. Your mission is to call the turkeys out of their hiding places by aiming your turkey caller at passing targets. The more targets you hit, the more turkeys come out of hiding. This ride can definitely be enjoyed by both young and old.

For those seeking more thrills try the Voyage. The Voyage is the world’s top “air time” wooden roller coaster. You must be 48 inches tall to ride The Voyage and have nerves of steel, but those willing to give it a shot are in for a great ride!

Splashin’ Safari also has some new additions. The big new ride is Bakuli which means “bowl” in Swahili. After climbing 72 feet up, riders get to course down through a dark steep tunnel that traverses three 90 degree curves in a four person inner tube before being flung out into a huge bowl, hence the name. It looks like great fun and I can’t wait to ride it!

For the smaller ones and those looking for not so much excitement, Crocodile Isle has had a complete makeover this year as well. The climb-on animals have all been replaced with a bright green crocodile slide and parrot umbrella spray in the lower pool. While the upper pool has a new double zebra slide.

Season passes offer the best value if you plan on visiting more than three times in one season. You get the best value when you purchase your season passes in October, a whole six months before the park even opens.

Holiday World is a great amusement park and place to spend the day with the whole family. Our family loves the shows, the rides, the friendly people, the free drinks, and the proximity to our house. We have so many good memories of days spent at Holiday World.