This page contains current news, alerts, updates, events, and happenings of interest to the membership. If there's something you'd like to see something posted call 314-809-5118 or click here to email Gary Hacker. If you'd like to be added to the email distribution list for the monthly newsletter, click here.
Make Your Reservations for Fall Wine Tour, Sunday, Sept 17th 12-5 PM
Posted September 8, 2017
With the onset of fall and the grape harvest season upon us, we’re planning a Sunday afternoon wine and cheese tour of Gasconade and Phelps County for Sunday, Sept 17th. Since we don’t want to have a bunch of folks drinking and driving, we will rent a party bus from noon-5 PM. We leave from the lodge at Noon and will visit Cool Cow cheese near Owensville, then work our way to Wenwood Farms Winery for a tasting, then to the Gardens at St. James Winery/Public House Brewery. We’ll stop there for wine and beer tasting and spend some time in the gardens, taking advantage of bocce, chess, cornhole, or just enjoying the weather in their beautiful outdoor gardens. Next, we head to Three Squirrels Winery for a tasting, then to Heinrichaus Winery, and then back to Peaceful Valley around 5 PM.
Good Times Bus Company in Gerald has a party bus that seats 18 comfortably. The cost is $70 per couple or $35 per individual, and includes bus rental, driver gratuity, and cheese and crackers and other snacks on the bus as we travel between stops. You’re on your own for anything you want to buy at the different stops along the way.
Before I make any commitment to the bus company, we need to get at least 14 people to commit. My cutoff for reservations is Sept 14th. If you’re interested, please contact Gary Hacker at 314-809-5118 (cell) 573-437-2619 (Home) or send an email to gary.a.hacker@gmail.com .
Posted September 8, 2017
With the onset of fall and the grape harvest season upon us, we’re planning a Sunday afternoon wine and cheese tour of Gasconade and Phelps County for Sunday, Sept 17th. Since we don’t want to have a bunch of folks drinking and driving, we will rent a party bus from noon-5 PM. We leave from the lodge at Noon and will visit Cool Cow cheese near Owensville, then work our way to Wenwood Farms Winery for a tasting, then to the Gardens at St. James Winery/Public House Brewery. We’ll stop there for wine and beer tasting and spend some time in the gardens, taking advantage of bocce, chess, cornhole, or just enjoying the weather in their beautiful outdoor gardens. Next, we head to Three Squirrels Winery for a tasting, then to Heinrichaus Winery, and then back to Peaceful Valley around 5 PM.
Good Times Bus Company in Gerald has a party bus that seats 18 comfortably. The cost is $70 per couple or $35 per individual, and includes bus rental, driver gratuity, and cheese and crackers and other snacks on the bus as we travel between stops. You’re on your own for anything you want to buy at the different stops along the way.
Before I make any commitment to the bus company, we need to get at least 14 people to commit. My cutoff for reservations is Sept 14th. If you’re interested, please contact Gary Hacker at 314-809-5118 (cell) 573-437-2619 (Home) or send an email to gary.a.hacker@gmail.com .
Road Resurfacing on Woodson to Start September 11, 2017
Posted September 8, 2017
Last spring, the Peaceful Valley Board approved a revised road maintenance program based primarily on near-term needs to replace our aging culverts that allow water to drain underneath the roads and eventually into the lake. The corrugated steel culverts, which were the technology of the day in the mid-sixties, are still subject to rust, especially if they get damaged. In some cases, the washboard nature of the steel surface led to their deterioration by allowing stones and other debris to scour the bottom of the pipes. To replace a culvert, the road surface must be removed over the top of the culvert, and then the road bed below the surface is removed to access the culvert. The old culvert is removed, then the subsurface area is readied for the new culvert, ensuring proper down slope angle to aid in drainage. Once replaced, the culvert is re-covered with the road bed material and tamped down. The replaced culvert area is then given several months to settle and compact. Prior to repaving, the road crew will add additional backfill and limestone to level the culvert cut, and then proceed with chipping and sealing the road as a whole.
Under our old road maintenance plan, we would have patched and resurfaced road areas in the most needed areas. This would have meant that we may resurface one year, then replace a culvert tearing up the surface the following year. We chose a more systematic approach where we would choose an mile+ road segment, replace all the culverts along that stretch in the spring/summer, then resurface that mile+ of road in the fall.
We currently have a little over 7 miles of paved roads within the development. This means that we will be on a 6-year cycle to resurface the roads, meaning that each mile+ of road will get resurfaced once every 6 years. Of course, we'll still patch some of the more significant damage to the roads in the other areas, but our goal is to replace all the culverts within the next 6 years and then get on a regular maintenance schedule.
The first stretch of road to be resurfaced will be Woodson from where the pavement ends at the north-east to the bridge near the entrance. This includes the spur at North Lea. See the diagram below where the white line indicates the road area that's going to be resurfaced.
Stay tuned for updates!!
Posted September 8, 2017
Last spring, the Peaceful Valley Board approved a revised road maintenance program based primarily on near-term needs to replace our aging culverts that allow water to drain underneath the roads and eventually into the lake. The corrugated steel culverts, which were the technology of the day in the mid-sixties, are still subject to rust, especially if they get damaged. In some cases, the washboard nature of the steel surface led to their deterioration by allowing stones and other debris to scour the bottom of the pipes. To replace a culvert, the road surface must be removed over the top of the culvert, and then the road bed below the surface is removed to access the culvert. The old culvert is removed, then the subsurface area is readied for the new culvert, ensuring proper down slope angle to aid in drainage. Once replaced, the culvert is re-covered with the road bed material and tamped down. The replaced culvert area is then given several months to settle and compact. Prior to repaving, the road crew will add additional backfill and limestone to level the culvert cut, and then proceed with chipping and sealing the road as a whole.
Under our old road maintenance plan, we would have patched and resurfaced road areas in the most needed areas. This would have meant that we may resurface one year, then replace a culvert tearing up the surface the following year. We chose a more systematic approach where we would choose an mile+ road segment, replace all the culverts along that stretch in the spring/summer, then resurface that mile+ of road in the fall.
We currently have a little over 7 miles of paved roads within the development. This means that we will be on a 6-year cycle to resurface the roads, meaning that each mile+ of road will get resurfaced once every 6 years. Of course, we'll still patch some of the more significant damage to the roads in the other areas, but our goal is to replace all the culverts within the next 6 years and then get on a regular maintenance schedule.
The first stretch of road to be resurfaced will be Woodson from where the pavement ends at the north-east to the bridge near the entrance. This includes the spur at North Lea. See the diagram below where the white line indicates the road area that's going to be resurfaced.
Stay tuned for updates!!
White line shows Woodson Rd. and North Lea spur being resurfaced beginning September 2017
September Newsletter available now.
Posted September 5, 2017
The September edition of the Splash Newsletter is available at the following link (September Splash Newsletter) Hardcopies of the document will be placed in the document folios next to the guard shacks at the upper and lower levels and in the Lodge next to the PVPOA Office Door while supplies last.
Posted September 5, 2017
The September edition of the Splash Newsletter is available at the following link (September Splash Newsletter) Hardcopies of the document will be placed in the document folios next to the guard shacks at the upper and lower levels and in the Lodge next to the PVPOA Office Door while supplies last.
Tech Support Day Wednesday September 13th 9 AM-Noon at the Lodge Lower Level
Updated August 17, 2017
Next tech support day is the second Wednesday in August. We're offering PVL members free technical support for their computers, phones, TVs, etc. If you want to know how to
Updated August 17, 2017
Next tech support day is the second Wednesday in August. We're offering PVL members free technical support for their computers, phones, TVs, etc. If you want to know how to
- use different popular computer programs,
- pair your phone with your car,
- use popular internet sites
- connect your DVD player to your TV
- download an app to your smart phone,
- or many other technical issues,
One side of a mid-60s sales brochure Courtesy of Tom Eilermann
Taco and PVL History Night Wrap Up
Updated August 29, 2017
On Sunday, August 27th, 40+ people showed up at the Lodge to reflect on the history of the development of Peaceful Valley Lake. In October 1995, Jim and Phyllis Verhulst invited Ray Englebrecht, one of the original developers, to their house for a slide show of PVL development. With incredible foresight, Jim and Phyllis videotaped the presentation, focusing on the slide show itself. There were incredible pictures of the original farmstead, a shed being moved up the old county road, the dam being built, the lake filling up, various views from around the lake prior to development, houses being built or completed, and pictures of the "Swiss Chalet-Style Lodge" and the boat docks. Jim provided a narrative during the video tape viewing, with additional stories shared by Ray's son Garth Englebrecht, long-term members such as the Fullers, Eilermanns, Hoernschmeyers, Kinworthys, and many others.
The video was followed by a review of some historical newspaper articles and advertisements from the Gasconade County Republican, St. Louis Post Dispatch, and the Jefferson City Sunday News and Tribune. Dates of the articles and advertisements range from the 1964 to 1990 with the articles describing the development's progress during the years, some interesting events such as parachutists from Ft. Leonard Wood and Rolla jumping into the lake. In addition, there was a speedboat race scheduled for labor day weekend 1968 as a promotion to get people out to "Storm Lake for 2 days of racing" which was postponed as someone starting shooting at the boats. To see more of these articles and advertisements click on Articles or Advertisements.
Jim Verhulst and Gus Hoernschmeyer are looking to work on a more detailed history over the fall and winter months, so if you have anything such as old pictures, videos, slides, sales brochures, etc., please reach out to Jim, Gus, or Gary Hacker.
Thanks to all that brought something to share, helped prepare and clean up, and especially Mike McKee for videotaping this event, Jim & Phyllis Verhulst for letting me transfer the videotape to DVD and for the narration, and to all that came to share their experiences.
Updated August 29, 2017
On Sunday, August 27th, 40+ people showed up at the Lodge to reflect on the history of the development of Peaceful Valley Lake. In October 1995, Jim and Phyllis Verhulst invited Ray Englebrecht, one of the original developers, to their house for a slide show of PVL development. With incredible foresight, Jim and Phyllis videotaped the presentation, focusing on the slide show itself. There were incredible pictures of the original farmstead, a shed being moved up the old county road, the dam being built, the lake filling up, various views from around the lake prior to development, houses being built or completed, and pictures of the "Swiss Chalet-Style Lodge" and the boat docks. Jim provided a narrative during the video tape viewing, with additional stories shared by Ray's son Garth Englebrecht, long-term members such as the Fullers, Eilermanns, Hoernschmeyers, Kinworthys, and many others.
The video was followed by a review of some historical newspaper articles and advertisements from the Gasconade County Republican, St. Louis Post Dispatch, and the Jefferson City Sunday News and Tribune. Dates of the articles and advertisements range from the 1964 to 1990 with the articles describing the development's progress during the years, some interesting events such as parachutists from Ft. Leonard Wood and Rolla jumping into the lake. In addition, there was a speedboat race scheduled for labor day weekend 1968 as a promotion to get people out to "Storm Lake for 2 days of racing" which was postponed as someone starting shooting at the boats. To see more of these articles and advertisements click on Articles or Advertisements.
Jim Verhulst and Gus Hoernschmeyer are looking to work on a more detailed history over the fall and winter months, so if you have anything such as old pictures, videos, slides, sales brochures, etc., please reach out to Jim, Gus, or Gary Hacker.
Thanks to all that brought something to share, helped prepare and clean up, and especially Mike McKee for videotaping this event, Jim & Phyllis Verhulst for letting me transfer the videotape to DVD and for the narration, and to all that came to share their experiences.