Laguna Woods, CA, January 29, 2010.."Let There be Light", the ad-hoc committee of Laguna Woods Village representing 1550 Southern California residents who petitioned their homeowner's association for better illumination in their senior community, will host another information forum on February 10th, 2010 in CH3 at 2:00pm.
The first LTBL meeting was held in April 2009, when residents described their experiences with the unsafe and inadequate illumination situation in United Mutual, reviewed the history of failed attempts to remedy it, and initiated the petition drive to lobby the UM Board. The September 2009 forum hosted Dept. of Energy recommended lighting consultants who informed the residents that they were sub-par according to IES-NA/Senior Living Lighting Requirements for 55+ communities, and gave suggestions on alternative solutions to this problem. Healthcare experts spoke at the third resident meeting November 2009, which presented cases and statistics of the physical and emotional dangers - especially to the elderly - created by poor illumination.
The subject of this coming event is "Inadequate Illumination – What It Means To Our Homes, Finances and Legal Issues".
Speakers Angella Conrard, Reverse Mortgage Advisor and Founder and President of the Orange County - National Age in Place Council; Marlene Bridges, Seniors Real Estate Specialist®, Sherman Smith & Associates and Immediate Past-President of the Laguna Hills and Laguna Woods Chambers of Commerce; personal injury attorney Michael Champ, Esq. and resident Steve Diamond, President of Diamond Consult Group, all professionals who have been working in our community and on elder issues for many years, will address how sub-par illumination effects property values, resale of the units, obtaining reverse mortgages and bank loans and the legal/financial ramifications of personal injuries caused by poor lighting.
Collette Siegman, Co-Coordinator with Margaret Pearlman, will close the meeting with comments on the group's goals in 2010 and the actions they will take to safeguard the interests of the community in this relevant and important matter.
