FROM PNGTREE.COM

Whats in store for the year?

FROM WIKIPEDIA -- 2026 is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States from the British Empire. The Declaration of Independence was signed July 4, 1776, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Elections

The midterm elections are scheduled to be held Nov. 3. In the federal government, the offices up for election are all 435 seats of the House of Representatives, and roughly one third of the Senate. Most states and territories will hold elections for their governors and legislatures.

Predicted and scheduled events

January 19 – College Football Playoff National Championship 2026 will be played at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida.

February 1 – The 68th Annual Grammy Awards are scheduled to be held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, honoring the best in music from September 2024 to August 2025.

February 5 – The New START Treaty is scheduled to expire.

February 8 – Super Bowl LX is scheduled to be played at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California.

March 5 to 17 – The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled to be held in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Japan. The championship game will be held, Loan Depot Park, Miami.

March 15 – The 98th Academy Awards are scheduled to be held at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, honoring the best in films released 2025.

April – Artemis program: NASA is scheduled to launch Artemis II, the first crewed mission of the Orion. Four astronauts (Reid Wiseman, Victor J. Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen) will perform a flyby of the Moon and return to Earth.

April 6 – The 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament final will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.

June 11 to July 19 – The United States will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico and will host the majority of games during the tournament, including all games past the quarterfinals of the knockout stage including the final held at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.

August 12 – A total solar eclipse is predicted to occur at the Moon's descending node of the orbit in North America and Europe. The total eclipse will pass over the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean and northern Spain.

Storage area clear-out required!

Now that the storage area has been extended, according to Don Dietrich and Chris Berry, people are using the new storage spaces as planned. However, the older end of the storage area is still burdened with immovable objects and unknown owners.

Please remove anything that is not mobile and/or is not identified by your lot number. Guidelines on the sign imply the area is only for operable boats, trailers and campers owned by members — to keep them off the street in the off season especially.

If you require help to remove anything, including bulky, immovable objects, contact the office to arrange for assistance.

Any unclaimed “junk” by summer months will be removed for disposal, including any “stuff” not identified by a member.

Re-run on lower entrance gates

FROM JAMIE GERLOFF —

Lower Entrance Gate begins operation January 5, 2026

We are pleased to announce that the new security gate at the lower entrance has been fully installed and will begin operation Jan. 5. To ensure uninterrupted access, all property owners must return the gate access form as soon as possible to receive credentials.

Access Options

Once your form is processed, you will receive an email invitation to download the app. Please be sure to enable “allow all access all the time” so the mobile pass works in proximity to the reader. (Cards were mailed in early December and now when deposits are received.)

Gate Use

• At the entrance gate, slow/stop at the first reader and wait until the gate arm begins to rise. (You only need to have your phone present — you do not need to hold it up/out to open the gate. To depart, a sensor in the road will open the gate. If you have a trailer—both in and out— sensors will open and close the gate after your entire rig passes over.)

  The gates will remain open during any circumstances that may cause the gates to malfunction, like power outages and severe weather (snow/ice/flood/etc.).
  

• A call button is available for those needing assistance or for unplanned guests. (For planned guests, you can give them a code ahead of time to open the gate. You will see that opportunity when you first open the app.)  Unanticipated guests will be instructed, from the call box, to contact the property owner for entry. As always, members without homes must be on the property for their guests.
  

• Exit gate will open automatically when approached slowly.

Vendors

We are creating an approved vendor list for regular service providers. Please contact the office to add any repeat service companies. Otherwise they will use the call box for assistance.

From the editor: I had a little trouble loading the Avigilon Alta app, so thought I would pass this along. I believe you have to have email on your phone (the email app address you send to the office) for the app to authenticate and load. Also, make sure you have the app that loads as a plain blue square with the word “open” in white.

January birthstone is Garnet

Originating from the Latin word “Garanatus” (“seed-like”), garnets resemble the deep red seeds of a pomegranate. This irony in color and meaning makes garnets not just beautiful, but symbolically rich too!

… And birth flowers are Snowdrop and Carnation

Often emerging in late winter or early spring, Snowdrops feature tubular, pinwheel-like petals. Predominantly white, snowdrops may bloom in shades of pink or yellow. Originating from Europe and Asia, they were used for their mind-altering effects in ancient Greece and for medicinal uses by European monks and midwives.  

The Carnation has become a symbol of motherly love. Since the 20th century, the carnation is a favorite flower for Mother’s Day. Due to their playful, charming qualities, meanings include fascination, distinction, and love. Different colors have different meanings:

• Light red carnations symbolize admiration

• Dark red carnations symbolize deep love and affection

• White carnations symbolize purity and luck

• Pink carnations symbolize gratitude

NOTE WORTHY

Monday, Jan. 19, 6:30 pm, Lodge, monthly association board meeting. All are welcome. The board can set up Zoom participation if you want to tune in. Call the office.

Two board positions open:

— An elected position now held by Julia Baker, a 3 year term

— An appointed position to replace the current Treasurer for 1 year

If you would like to join the Peaceful Valley Property Owners Association board to help keep our community stellar, here’s your chance!

The Annual Meeting is in April to vote on new members. Contact any board member or the office if you are interested.

…………………………………..…..…..

Monday, Jan. 19, 5 pm, Lodge, monthly Public Water Supply District (PWSD) meeting. All are welcome.

Save paper and mailing:

CLICK HERE for PWSD consent form to get bills via email or text.

CLICK HERE for PWSD  application form for water and sewer service.

Another supermoon brightens the night

FROM ALMANAC.COM

The Full Wolf Moon reaches peak illumination Saturday, January 3, at 4:03 am CST. You will see it rising from the horizon after sunset the evening of Jan. 2.

FROM ALMANAC.COM

January Meteors

The Quadrantid meteors appear in the early January sky, producing up to 25 meteors per hour at their peak. They’ll be at their best on the night of January 4 into January 5.

For the best chance at spotting them, venture out between midnight and dawn.

FROM PINTEREST

FROM ALMANAC.COM

ON FISHING

When baiting a hook, you can double down on your luck by reciting this ditty while doing it:

Fish, fish, fish, come bite 

my hook;

You’ll be the captain and 

I’ll be the cook.

When you do catch and cook your “captain,” do not consume it from tail to head: That’s unlucky on land or sea. 

MO Deer Hunting schedule

Alternative Methods open until Jan. 6, 2026

Archery season open until Jan. 15, 2026

FROM FREEPICK.COM

FROM ALMANAC.COM

Long-Range Weather

Winter will be warmer than normal, with the coldest periods in mid-December and early and late January.

Precipitation will be below normal. Snowfall will be below normal north and near normal south, with snowiest periods in mid-November, late January, and early February.

April and May will be warmer than normal, with below-normal precipitation north and above-normal south.

Summer will be cooler and wetter than usual, with the hottest periods in early and mid-June, early and late July, and early August. September and October will be warmer than normal  north and cooler south, with below-normal precipitation.

Lake Classifieds

Contact the editor to run an ad in Splash: $5 per month (a monthly publication); $50 per year; max. 5 lines in print version of the newsletter, approx. 40 ltrs per line.

2018 Bennington SX22 Pontoon with trailer; Mercury Pro XS 115 HP 4-stroke (75 hours); Bimini top and ski bar

Contact Michael 314-814-5455

Mar26

Doug August: Driveway snowplowing. Call 630-334-6107 for prices.

Feb26

The newsletter reaches 267 people through direct email, is available to anyone who accesses the PVL website, and paper copies can be picked up at both gates and the Lodge.

Organized fun

Join the Wednesday dinner club 5:30 Wednesdays. The location changes each week. Randy Fuller (or friend) posts on Nextdoor by Wednesday evening where to be the following week. People decide where to meet drawing out of a "hat.” All invited!

FROM PINTEREST