Daylight Savings Time is here, the weather is getting warmer and boats are already cruising the lake. It's time to clean up your lot(s) and get those golf carts and boats ready for the upcoming season.

Please remember to have your lot number on your golf cart and if you have not already done so, purchase your 2014 River Ridge boat sticker from the Security Office.

Motorboat and jet ski operators are required to carry proof of completion of the Virginia Boating Safety Course. If you do not have this you will be ticketed. This is a Virginia state law.

You can take the Virginia Boating Safety Course and get your certificate of completion, online for FREE. Click here to find out more about the new Virginia boating law and how to take the course to get your certificate.

As stated in my earlier post, all trenching and cable pulling in Moose Village is complete, and the roads are being restored. Mecklenburg Electric will be here Tuesday to work with Watson Electric on the pole work. The FS's should also be ready to set on Tuesday. Adventure Village is next on the list to receive the upgrade and Maintenance has started looking into that.

The excavating for the electrical upgrade in Moose Village is complete, and all cables have been pulled. Maintenance is now working on backfilling and getting the roads back into shape. Watson Electrical is currently setting the new pedestals and backfilling around them.

There has been a winter storm warning displayed on this site for the past 2 days and yesterday that storm dropped a substantial blanket of white on River Ridge. Throughout the night there have been reports, on the police scanner, of cars sliding off the road and getting stuck.

Our maintenance crew is currently in the process of clearing our roads to make them passible. Click on the photo to enlarge. We are expecting below freezing temperatures tonight that will turn this slush into a sheet of ice. If you do not need to go out please don't and if you do be very careful. Allow yourself some extra time.

If you are not here, it will be a good idea to have a neighbor check your property for broken water lines from the freeze. Wherever you are, please be careful and safe. We want to see you back, safe and sound, this spring.

On January 31, 2014, our propane supplier raised the price of propane. Due to this cost increase, River Ridge has had to adjust the prices for propane purchased from our filling station. The new fees are as follows.

Tank Size	Price
20 Pound	$20.00
30 Pound	$30.53
40 Pound	$40.01
100 Pound	$87.39

The River Ridge Ways and Means sponsored a FREE Spaghetti Dinner yesterday for property owners. There were about 90 property owners who showed up to enjoy a bountiful feast. I was informed by one of the cooks that the sauce was especially yummy.


I've been promised some photos of the spaghetti dinner, and will post them as soon as they are received. If anyone else has pictures of the dinner that they would like to have posted on this website you may send photos via the Entourage Box I have set up for this event. Click on the image to your left to see how this works.

Welcome 2014!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, and that Santa put lots of goodies under your tree. I have enjoyed writing this website over the years and look forward to another year of keeping the property owners of River Ridge informed.

With the new year comes the preparations for warmer weather. Spring is just a few short months away. There have been many new members joining our little community and the following information might come in handy for the newbies. If there is other information you would like to see posted on the website please use the contact form and send a message letting me know what you would like to see on this site.

River Ridge Events
Please be sure to periodically check the Upcoming Events page of this website for information on meetings, events and activities scheduled in and around River Ridge. This page is updated frequently. If you are sponsoring an event and would like to have it published on the Grapevine Now Upcoming Events page, please fill in this form and submit it for publication.

Yard Cleaning
It's never too early to start cleaning your lot(s). Please remember that leaves and yard debris are not allowed to be placed in the dumpsters. River Ridge offers an area where yard debris can be disposed of. You can place leaves and branches up to 3 inches in diameter at the brush pile. The brush pile gate is kept locked at all times and the key may be signed out from the Security Office during business hours. Please re-lock the gate when you are finished. The brush pile is located outside of River Ridge on Golf Drive on the left. The entrance is located just before the turkey shoot range. Click here for directions to the brush pile.

Boat Stickers
Boat stickers are due on January 1st, and all watercraft in River Ridge require a sticker. You can purchase your sticker at the Security Office at the front gate. Place the sticker on the bow, portside (left front) of the watercraft so it will be visible from the Security Office window when entering the back gate. See the diagram to your right.

Property owners are required to display a permanent sticker and guest are required to display a temporary boat pass to be displayed on the rear view mirror of their vehicle. Boat stickers for property owners are $10.00 per year and the guest boat pass is $15.00. If the guest boat pass is returned within 7 days, $5.00 of this fee will be refunded. Please contact the Security Office at (434) 636-5536 for questions regarding boat stickers.. Property owners are also required to have their lot number on the tongue of their boat trailer on the left hand side (same side as watercraft).

Camping Area
There is a camping area available for property owners and guests of property owners. Camping lot fees are $25.00 per night including water and electricity.

Storage Area
River Ridge offers a storage area for boats, trailers, campers, etc., located just outside the gate, for $25.00 per month. This is a good place to store items if you have more toys than your lot will hold.

Laundry Facilities
Washers and Dryers are located at the pool and at the Leisure Village bath house. The pool area facilities are only available while the pool is open but the Leisure facilities are available all year.

Propane
You can get your propane tanks refilled without having to leave River Ridge. We have a pumping station located near the maintenance building. Pay for your propane at the Security office and you will be given a receipt to take to the pumping station and someone will be dispatched to fill your tank(s).

Revised February 2, 2014
Tank Size	Price
20 Pound	$20.00
30 Pound	$30.53
40 Pound	$40.01
60 Pound	$--.--
100 Pound	$87.39

Click here for the satellite map showing the location of the areas mentioned above.

River Ridge Rules
People want to have fun while they are here but you should also be considerate of others. Everyone is expected to follow the rules at all time including guests. A brief summary of rules to share with your guests can be found on this website on the Documents page. For the safety of property owners and guests please review the River Ridge Rules (Blue Rules). Property owners are responsible for the actions of their guests while on River Ridge property.

Minors Driving Golf Carts
Minors who are at least 14 years old may operate a golf cart in River Ridge without accompaniment provided they have completed the golf cart safety program and have obtained their golf cart permit. This program is offered FREE of charge and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Please visit the Golf Cart Permits page for details and to schedule the test.

Important Phone Numbers
A list of phone numbers for River Ridge and local vendors (phone company, propane companies, cable TV, etc.) and information on utility connection can be found on the Contacts drop down panel tab located a the top of this page. There is also an online phone directory provided by Buggs Island Telephone Company for you to use by clicking on the blue BIT button located in the menu column of the website (to your left). The phone directory also includes menus for many of the local restaurants (starting on page 144).

Are you ready for the boating season?
In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly enacted a law to establish a boating safety education compliance requirement that will depend on your age and boat type. The new law applies to all public waters of Virginia. All personal watercraft (PWC) operators were required to meet these obligations by the year 2012, regardless of age. ALL motorboat operators must meet these requirements by July 1, 2016. Please see the requirement schedule below for more information.

You must complete an approved boating safety course and satisfactorily pass the test to receive your boating certificate. It's never too early to get started. You can take the course in your spare time at home online. The course and certificate are FREE of charge.

You can find more information on the boating safety requirements, exemptions, contact information, and links for the FREE online course below.

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What is the new law?
In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly enacted a law to establish a boating safety education compliance requirement that will depend on your age and boat type. The new law applies to all public waters of Virginia. All motorboat operators using a motor of 10 horsepower or greater (including boats documented by the U.S. Coast Guard) and also personal watercraft operators (i.e. jet ski) are affected by the new law. Sailboat operators do not have to meet the requirement unless the sailboat has a motor that is 10 hp or greater (whether or not the engine is running). A canoeist does not have to meet the requirement, nor does a kayaker, a rower, or operator of other manually propelled craft. See Virginia Code.

When Must I Get My Boating Safety Certificate?
The requirement for boating safety education is phased-in over several years according to the following schedule:

1. PWC operators 20 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2009.
2. PWC operators 35 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2010.
3. PWC operators 50 years of age or younger and motorboat operators 20 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2011.
4. All PWC operators, regardless of age, and motorboat operators 30 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2012.
5. Motorboat operators 40 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2013.
6. Motorboat operators 45 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2014.
7. Motorboat operators 50 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2015.
8. All motorboat operators, regardless of age, shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2016.

Learn more about the Virginia Boating Education Law.


  FREE Online Boating Course!  
Boat US offers a FREE online boating safety course approved by NASBLA (National Association of State Boating Law Administrations) and the DGIF (Department of Game and Inland Fisheries) and recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Upon satisfactory completion of the course, you will immediately receive your Boating Safety Certificate to print out or if you prefer, you may follow the directions provided on the Boat US website to receive your certificate by mail.

Course Outline
The course is divided into 6 sections each with a 10 question test at the end. You must score 90% or better to pass each section.

1. Boats and the Marine Environment
2. Boating Equipment
3. Trip Planning and Preparation
4. Safe Boat Operation
5. Emergency Preparation
6. Boating Activities

There is a brief video at the beginning showing you how to register, use the study materials provided, take the test and obtain your certificate. As soon as you satisfactorily complete the course you will have a certificate you can print out on your home printer. All study material is provided (online) at no charge. The best thing about this test (besides being FREE) is you can do it at your convenience. If you need (or want) to stop you can save your place and when you return, you will come back to where you left off.

Boating Safety Course Click here to start the FREE online course.

Lifetime Boater Card (optional)
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries offers an optional Lifetime Boater Card for a fee of $10.00. This is a permanent hard plastic card similar to your drivers license. To get card, click here to download the application from the DGIF.

Boaters who complete a NASBLA approved, DGIF accepted online course or meet the requirements are eligible for this card.

This is a waterproof card and is great for PWC operators or operators of other watercraft where there is a chance of coming in contact with water and soaking your boating certificate. This card is optional and not required as long as you have your Boating Safety Certificate in your possession.

Still have questions?
For more information regarding the new law please visit the DGIF Frequently Asked Questions page.

If you have any questions concerning any of the above information or to verify boating courses please contact the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Click here to go to their contact page for phone numbers, addresses and email addresses. I do not hold myself accountable for incorrect information posted on these websites. If you are unsure please contact DGIF to verify.

This information is permanently located in the Document Library - Boating page of this website, in pdf format, if you want a printed copy.