Town Crier Articles

Photographer unknown, 2022 Gloucester Daffodil Festival website

 

A few years ago, my wife and I were out for a Sunday drive, and we decided to go to Gloucester for a simple reason: We had never been there before. Imagine our (welcomed) surprise to discover that it was Daffodil Festival weekend.

 

The streets were filled with locals and tourists. There were beautiful daffodils everywhere the eye could see. Shops on Main Street were open and looked to be doing a robust business. There were food trucks, music, lots of little kids and their parents – we even purchased a new tag for our dog from a street vendor.

 

The festival returns this year for one weekend, April 2 and 3. Things get started with a parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday. On the Main Street stage, the group Whiskey Rebellion will play from noon to 5. Sunday’s featured musical group is Soul Expression, which will perform from 12:45 to 5.

 

Since there is very limited parking in town, you can drive to Gloucester High School and ride the shuttle into town for $5.

 

The history of daffodils in Gloucester, wrote Carol Ray in 1991, a work that was updated by Denise Rhea Carter 19 years later, is “almost as old as Gloucester County itself.” Early settlers brought with them daffodil bulbs that they planted in what turned out to be ideal weather and soil for them to flourish.

 

Around 1890, a woman named Eleanor Linthicum Smith first saw the commercial potential of daffodils. She developed a bed of the flowers and paid children 10 cents per hundred to pick them. The flowers were packed and shipped to Baltimore.

 

At its peak, Gloucester was known as “the Daffodil Capital of America.” After a decline, in 1938 the first daffodil tour was proposed by the Gloucester Rotary Club and the local newspaper, the Gazette-Journal. It was such a success that a year later a festival was added to the tour, along with a queen and her court.

 

Most, if not all, of the events attached to the festival are free and open to the public. For more information, visit this website https://daffodilfestivalva.org/.

 

 

Happy Spring!  Isn’t it great to be able to enjoy the weather and to be outdoors?  It won’t be that much longer before summer is upon us and there are things in progress now to prepare for that.

 

 

Those of you who frequent the pool will be happy to learn that at its March meeting, the Board approved the installation of a new entry system to replace the outdated and not-always-functional one currently in place.  The new system will be web-based so it will interface with a resident database.  So, for instance, if an owner were to sell their property (why would you want to leave New Town?) their pass would be inactivated.  The new system will also allow us to track usage of the facility by time and day.  That will help with planning future expenditures and maintenance items.  In addition, if there were to be inclement weather necessitating closure of the facility, this could be done remotely so no one’s pass would open the gate.  This would protect everyone who might not see emails or webpage notices.  Stay tuned for more information about distribution of new passes.  It will be done in conjunction with owner signing of the updated 2022 Pool Policies and Rules document. The Pool Committee is busy planning all of this with Chesapeake Bay Management as well as all of the other tasks that precede opening of the pool on Saturday, May 28.

 

 

A term you may have heard tossed around and not really known what it is — BMPs.  Stormwater Management Facilities or Best Management Practices (BMPs) are a key component in the effort to control stormwater runoff and protect our streams.  There are numerous BMPs throughout New Town, some of which are owned by the NTRA and some of which are owned by other parties.  BMPs owned by the NTRA have all been inspected, an activity planned for in this year’s budget.  Two locations need immediate repair and sediment cleaning.  The Board has approved contracts for this work at the Lydias playground detention basin and the Casey Boulevard BMP (the wet pond next to Abbey Commons).  

 

More significant non-routine maintenance is required at the Casey Blvd BMP and will include vegetation removal, debris excavation and site improvement to provide proper stormwater management.  This work would be replacement reserve funded.  Chesapeake Bay has proposed that the Association apply for a James City County Clean Water Heritage Grant (matching funds) for the work. The Board authorized our Managing Agent to pursue this grant application that is due at the end of September.  Additionally, the Board has requested a routine maintenance proposal to mitigate future significant repairs.

 

 

I presented to Jim Icenhour, our Supervisor on the James City County Board of Supervisors, comments submitted from a number of residents expressing concerns about different traffic and parking issues on Casey Boulevard.  By far the largest number of comments concerned the intersection with Center Street where there is a school bus stop.  There is no means to slow or stop traffic at that intersection which poses safety issues for the children going to and from the bus stop.  Mr. Icenhour presented the issue at the March 8 Board of Supervisors meeting and has met with the local representative of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).  The VDOT representative contacted me to let us know that a traffic study of Casey Boulevard will be conducted by VDOT.  Unfortunately, I can’t give you an estimate of when this will happen.  Apparently, there is a queue of requests and we’re now in the queue.  I’ll follow up with VDOT regularly and let you know when I learn something more definite.  But, we’re on the list!   And patience is a virtue.

 

PS 

 

There may be a new neighborhood – or two – in New Town’s future, pending James City County (JCC) approval of two new areas.

 

In late January, The Whitmore Company, a commercial real estate, development, and investment firm responsible for various Tidewater area developments, including Williamsburg’s High Street complex, submitted a conceptual proposal for “Manor on the Green.” It would be a residential development of three buildings containing 106 one- and two-bedroom units, with its own pool and fitness center. (An initial conceptual layout has been included in the application) This conceptual plan is currently under County review.

 

The project, which would encompass two- three- and four-story buildings, would be located on the wooded land north of Sullivan Square in the heart of New Town. As proposed, parking would be provided for 112 vehicles, screened from the Center Street right of way. The land has already been zoned as “Mixed Use,” and does not require any additional legislative changes or public hearings.

 

Based on the comments provided by the JCC specialists, the developer would then work on its site plan. At that point, adjacent property owners, including the New Town Residential Association, would be officially notified that the project is proceeding.

 

New Town Associates (NTA) is the current owner of this parcel. According to James City County’s Senior Planner, NTA has been examining the best mix of density for the land to stay within the New Town Master Plan limits and the allowed ratio of commercial and residential space (Sections 2 and 4). These discussions have been ongoing since 2020. The proposed 106 residence figure would be within this ratio.

 

Whitmore Company would be the developer and owner of Manor on the Green. While the loss of any green space would be disappointing, the land was always expected to be developed. The NTRA Board of Directors hopes to obtain more information directly from this developer soon. 

 

Meanwhile, a new opportunity exists for residents to let the JCC Board of Supervisors know their feelings about the two previously submitted land use proposals: LU-20-0002 proposed by Atlantic Builders of Virginia (ABVA) and LU-20-0003 to develop a combined total of 540-plus acres of Eastern State Hospital land.

 

The public hearing notice for April 12 states that the Board will consider “the previously postponed application to change the Comprehensive Plan land use from Federal, State or County land to Mixed Use-Eastern State and include new Mixed Use-Eastern State designation description text to address this application.” (The full agenda packet for the Supervisors meeting will be available online on April 5th.)

 

Jim Icenhour, the Supervisor for New Town’s district, has indicated that no new information or revised application has been provided by either applicant since July 2021, making it likely that the Board will further delay any action on the land-use situation. This means that the verbal ABVA commitments regarding the name of the “New Town” tract and removing any potential cut-through in Charlotte Park have not been incorporated into the proposal.

 

In the meantime, the State of Virginia's Department of General Services (realty office) has submitted a conceptual plan for the ABVA parcel that has been reviewed by all JCC offices. This plan  defines the boundaries of the two parcels and areas that must remain protected.  The State remains highly motivated to sell the property. The data in the plan should help prospective buyers with their bids as well as assist with defining subdivisions.

 

The development of either Eastern State parcel will be a years’ long process, as shown in the graphic below. There are only three opportunities -- land use, zoning, and site-plan processes -- for New Town residents and the public to express its opinion and, perhaps, influence the final decision on Eastern State. Mr. Icenhour recommended that the community continue to express its views each time the subject is raised through the JCC approval process.

 

In a pair of question-and-answer sessions with New Town residents last July, Supervisor Icenhour challenged the audience to strongly consider what the community wants, and to make sure that it is in our best interest. Do we want to limit growth so that the area doesn’t resemble the sprawl that characterizes Northern Virginia? Do we want to share amenities? Do we want the potential development to include “New Town” in its name?

 

Please call (757) 253-6762 or write to our Board of Supervisors https://jamescitycountyva.gov/212/Board-of-Supervisors to let them know how you feel about the Eastern State proposals.  You can also attend the hearing on April 12 at 5PM at 101 Mounts Bay Road or follow the hearing on the JCC website.

 

 

New Town nights are heating up, both literally and figuratively. After noticing an uptick in advertisements for evening events, I reached out to the owners of Pisco 51, a locally-owned restaurant specializing in Peruvian Cuisine. Pisco 51 is located at 4917 Courthouse St., sharing a patio with the beloved fountain, and is owned and operated by some of our New Town neighbors! 

 

Mariela Renee Becerra Harrell and her husband, John Harrel, moved to Williamsburg in 2016, returning to John’s hometown of Hampton Roads and desiring to be closer to family. The pair have an entrepreneurial spirit and immediately began building a local cleaning business from their own personal investment of money and sweat. The company, Renee’s 757 Cleaning, has continued to grow and thrive, and paved the way for what they describe as their “passion project,” opening Pisco 51. Mariela Renee is of Peruvian descent, her family hailing from Lima Independencia, and she has always dreamed of opening a restaurant that highlights authentic, fresh, Peruvian recipes, both to eat and imbibe. 

 

Pisco 51 is in the midst of transformation, first evolving from the Mexican-food focused El Patio, and now into two individual, though affiliated, dining and entertainment options. By the end of April, Pisco 51 and the adjacent performance and event space, Coliseo @ Pisco 51, will show off a new facelift, including new floors, paint, decorations, and even additional Soundproofing infrastructure.  

 

Thankfully, we don’t have to wait for the finishing touches on the restaurant or event space to start enjoying all they have to offer. While the schedule below won’t be in full effect until the second full week of April, every Wednesday already features Drag Bingo hosted by Queen Naomi Black, and the first live musical performance will occur next Thursday, April 7 by featured vocalist of “The Deloreans” Missy G and Meshell as “Mad Kitty.” For dates, times, and updates to the schedule, you can “like” and “follow” the business on Facebook and Instagram, as well as visit the Pisco 51 website. As a bonus, if you check-in and post pictures of your dining experience on social media, you’ll be treated to a free appetizer or dessert! 

 

Monday: Open Mic Night

Tuesday: Service Industry Night** featuring Latin/Bachata Music

**Special discounts for anyone in the service industry!**

Wednesday: Drag Bingo Night with Naomi Black

Thursday: Live Music Night

April will feature solo artists, May will bring duos and trios, and expect full bands to perform in June. 

Friday: Karaoke Night

Saturday: Club/College Demographic Nights with Various Dance Music as well as full-on drag shows featured on some Saturdays 

Sunday: Sip & Paint events with local artists 

 

Perhaps no one is more invested in the success of New Town businesses than those of us that call New Town home. Not only does our support stay ultra-local, with a New Town business owned by a New Town family, our proximity to Pisco51 and Coliseo @ Pisco 51 also affords us the unique opportunity to enjoy their signature Pisco Sours, an authentic Peruvian cocktail, with only a short walk home afterwards.

 

Kate Licastro: the New Editor-in-Chief of The New Town Crier, By Patti Vaticano 

 

Kate Licastro has learned that the grass is not always greener in someone else’s yard, a realization she came to when the prospect of moving out of her then-rental home in New Town became a possibility. A Metro Detroit native who has experienced residential life in a variety of places from Cincinnati to Washington State and Charlotte, North Carolina, she knows a thing or two about what makes a great community. Kate, a licensed clinical psychologist with a PhD from Miami University, moved to Williamsburg just short of the Covid tsunami with husband, Nick, whose work in the hospitality field led him to a new position at Great Wolf Lodge. In tow were their children, Liam (now 8) and Hannah (now 6), the family relocating for the third time in under 2 years. The family took the relocation in stride, in part thanks to Kate already working remotely from home in a position for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). During her 13 year tenure with VA, she first offered psychological services specializing in trauma and anxiety before moving into an organization development role, and culminating in working on the modernization of the organization’s electronic health record. Her work with leaders and teams in the throes of development and change was multi-faceted and rewarding, and she enjoyed the opportunity to travel a good deal to visit VA Medical Centers around the country and VA Central Offices in Washington DC.  

 

A city family who enjoys walking to their favorite haunts, the Licastros gravitated towards life in New Town and initially rented a home in Charlotte Park in September of 2019.  By March the following year, Covid hit and by April, the home’s owner chose to sell. “My husband and I looked at properties in Ford’s Colony and Powhatan Secondary, not wanting our children to change schools, but we came to the realization that we loved our home in New Town, a community that was perfect for us and where we wanted to live and raise our children. It was logical to buy our rental and stay where we were.”  Loving the outdoors and hiking, New Town’s trails afforded the family the enjoyment of one of their penchants and would keep them all in shape for extended jaunts, such as a visit to Acadia National Park in Maine where the family plans to spend some time this summer. “Our doctors and dentist are in New Town, I shop at Trader Joes, I sweat at Club Pilates, my favorite comfort food is a grilled cheese and fries from Paul’s Deli, I get my hair done at Silk Salon (where I have run into my next-door neighbor), and I could go on. I love it here.” 

 

So how did Kate become the New Town Crier’s Editor-in-Chief?  “As is often the case, the timing was right.” When the Committee’s need presented itself, Kate had just left her VA role where she was leading a team of government employees and contractors on change management communications to support the transition to the Cerner Electronic Health Record. Ironically, it was now time for a change for Kate, and the Communications Committee’s grave need of assistance spoke to her.  “I guess I’m a bit of a bleeding heart when there is a need! Having moved three times in under 2 years meant I didn’t have a lot of opportunities to feel ingrained in the community in our past two homes. Given that my schedule had just become more flexible, and I was able to help, it seemed like the right thing to do.”  

 

Besides having an activist mentality, Kate is a true mover and shaker.  Leaving her role with VA did not leave her stagnant.  She is now using her expertise and years of experience as an organizational consultant and change manager to man her own consulting firm, True Orbit Consulting, LLC, at trueorbitconsulting.com. The company believes “healthy organizational dynamics and practices require authenticity, foresight, skilled execution, and a healthy dose of grit,” and guides companies with services that include leadership and team development, leadership coaching, fostering emotional intelligence, navigating corporate and team changes, including advancing the practices of virtual and blended teams (teams that work both in-person and virtually). Kate notes that she is a clinician at heart and works collaboratively with her clients to identify only what will truly be of benefit to them and their teams/organizations.

 

In addition to building a new, pioneering company, while also prioritizing being available for her children outside of school, Kate still found time to pitch in and help her New Town community on one of its most important committees.  We hope Kate’s willingness to share her time and talent (in addition to everything she does as a wife, a mother, a psychologist, and a full-time entrepreneur) inspires others to give back to the community.  Volunteerism is the cherished institution of giving back to the community in which you live and thrive.  We appreciate your future consideration of opportunities to contribute your time and expertise to one of the many committees and organizations that help make New Town a wonderful place to live.

 

 

A few years ago, my wife and I were out for a Sunday drive, and we decided to go to Gloucester for a simple reason: We had never been there before. Imagine our (welcomed) surprise to discover that it was Daffodil Festival weekend.

 

The streets were fille with locals and tourists. There were beautiful daffodils everywhere the eye could see. Shops on Main Street were open and looked to be doing a robust business. There were food trucks, music, lots of little kids and their parents – we ever purchased a new tag for our dog from a street vendor.

 

The festival returns this year for one weekend, April 2 and 3. Things get started with a parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday. On the Main Street stage, the group Whiskey Rebellion will play from noon to 5. Sunday’s featured musical group is Soul Expression, which will perform from 12:45 to 5.

 

Since there is very limited parking in town, you can drive to Gloucester High School and ride the shuttle into town for $5.

 

The history of daffodils in Gloucester, wrote Carol Ray in 1991, a work that was updated by Denise Rhea Carter 19 years later, is “almost as old as Gloucester County itself.” Early settlers brought with them daffodil bulbs that they planted in what turned out to be ideal weather and soil for them to flourish.

 

Around 1890, a woman named Eleanor Linthicum Smith first saw the commercial potential of daffodils. She developed a bed of the flowers and paid children 10 cents per hundred to pick them. The flowers were packed and shipped to Baltimore.

 

At its peak, Gloucester was known as “the Daffodil Capital of America.” After a decline, in1938 the first daffodil tour was proposed by the Gloucester Rotary Club and the local newspaper, the Gazette-Journal. It was such a success that a year later a festival was added to the tour, along with a queen and her court.

 

Most, if not all, of the events attached to the festival are free and open to the public. For more information, visit this website https://daffodilfestivalva.org/.

 

 

 

We are 4 months into our new management company’s tenure, and big changes are coming in their accounting systems and technology. Who better to explain these administrative innovations then the President of Chesapeake Bay Management, Dana Neff.

 

Dana: The online portal is a real communication tool both for our company and for owners. Once an owner logs into their screen, they will have access to their account balances, payment history and will be able to track any requests that they have made to management “real time.” For example, if an application for the Architectural Review Committee is submitted, it’s status will be readily visible to the owner.  Email and other inquiries will be logged as well.               

We hope that the community will find it a useful tool, and Vantaca, our new software vendor, has interfaces that improve our flexibility in customizing association financial accounts and other information.

 

Dana: Owners have received a letter with their coupon books explaining the May 1 activation of the system. They will receive an email message, sent to their primary email of record, containing their portal username and temporary password. Once they receive this information, log in and start to use the system is my recommendation!

 

Dana: The transition of owner account information has been difficult. In some cases the owner mailing addresses for non-resident owners were not current. Lots of updating has been needed. The new NTRA assessment methodology by neighborhood also caused us to proceed cautiously to ensure that we were matching the right assessment with each property. Then there was a delay over whether new account numbers will be required by Vantaca in their new software. It turns out that there will be new account numbers, but we have found an interface so that existing account numbers can be recognized for some period. 

For those who may wish to switch to electronic payments, the new portal system also provides an easy link for owners who wish to set up a recurring payment or even pay just one time via credit card. There is no change for owners who have already done this electronically with CBM. 

 

Dana: It has been a real challenge - and one I hope to never do again! But I learned that we have phenomenal staff members who put extra effort and time into ensuring that the system will have user friendly and meaningful info for owners. They dedicated themselves to training our staff and getting it up and running smoothly. 

 

Dana: I love working with accounts and like to “keep my pencil sharp.”  The timing of this contract was a challenge for our Accounting Department and I offered to help. There are differences from Town Management in our fund balance accounting practices that are still being worked through.

 

I was “over the moon” to have Chesapeake Bay awarded the management contract for New Town Residential. I have watched the community’s development since it was farmland, visit its businesses, and I feel a real attachment to New Town. Certainly, the complexity of New Town’s neighborhoods and governing documents created a real learning curve for us, but we are getting ahead of the curve now. We are thrilled to be associated with the New Town community. 

 

 

 

Whether you are a resident or a tenant, the NTRA website is a treasure chest of information. People who say they don’t know that we even have a website don’t know what they are missing. It is the vehicle for all Association official communications. The website address is: https://www.ntrawilliamsburg.org/home/.

 

To stay informed of the information most important to homeowners and tenants, be sure you are registered on the NTRA website. It’s the source for documents, and registered users also receive eblasts from the Association. All New Town residents, including tenants and New Town Commercial Association members, may register on the site. Please be sure your contact information is current, or you may miss important news!

 

In late 2021, Chesapeake Bay Management Company became the managing agent for the New Town Residential Association. For emergencies, or to schedule an appointment, call 757 706-3019. (Chesapeake's office is located at 337 McLaws Circle in the Busch Corporate Center.) Chesapeake will soon have a new online owner portal that will replace the website ticketing system, so be sure that your single/primary email address is on file with Chesapeake Bay’s headquarters (keri@1cbm.com)

 

New to New Town?

On the website, there is a drop-down box of info titled “Newcomers info.” It can be found under the “About“ heading at the top of the home page. There is also a list of clubs to join and pool information under the “Residents” tab.

          

Additional information. Did you know?

We put the latest NTRA news on the first page that pops up after you log into the site. Check the “News and Reminders” page.

 

The monthly Town Crier articles on BOD actions are intended to provide some context/background and explanation for important topics. When warranted, we send out e-blasts, another reason to have your contact info accurately portrayed on the website.

·      We have a Facebook page. The address is below.

·      We monitor all “Report an Issue” and “Contact Us” website entries.

·      We are committed to pursuing committees’ obligations under the NTRA’s governing documents to share meeting records in a timely manner.

 

Where is information shared?  

  

Public information is available through the NTRA’s Town Crier articles and Facebook pages (https://www.facebook.com/NewTownResidentialAssociation). Please “like” our Facebook page. Please keep comments respectful. These are public pages, meaning anything commented on is seen by the general public. 

 

How can you help? The information we publish is only as good as the information that we are aware of. Share photos and information about your committee’s work or your neighborhood events. Send in ideas for topics you want to learn more about, directly in an email to (ntrawebsitecommittee@gmail.com).

 

 

The Board of Directors has laid out a plan for preventive maintenance to begin this year in Village Walk. Previously all exterior maintenance has been handled as one-off events. 

 

With the assistance of Chesapeake Bay’s VW Maintenance Responsibility tool, the Board has identified how we will handle each exterior home item that the Association is responsible for maintaining. For example, gutter cleaning will be done annually. “What, you mean my gutters have never been cleaned?” Correct. Unless a ticket identifying a problem was submitted, the Association had no routine exterior maintenance service to the Village Walk community. An RFP has now gone out requesting gutter cleaning services to be provided to all Village Walk homes by August 1.

 

What are the other big items in the preventive maintenance program? Siding repairs and power washing will be done in conjunction with an annual painting schedule by age of each building complex. Painting of two of the oldest Village Walk buildings (2015) is planned for later this year. 

 

Some owners may find that a repair to a problem will be deferred to coincide with the new maintenance schedule.  Urgent issues, such as leaks, will still be handled through the website tickets or new Chesapeake Bay portal service request system.

 

These are small but important steps to improve how the Association fulfills its responsibilities to homeowners in Village Walk. 

 

 

Trees in New Town are suffering from two infestations that need owner attention and care before more damage is done to our green space.

 

1) Crepe Myrtle White scale. This insect infestation will develop into black sooty mold.  These insects spend most of their life cycle imbedded to one tree, the exception is a phase we are probably entering into now when they hatch into walkers and can become airborne.  

 

Some immediate intervention of scrubbing these trees with soap and water and applying a root drench may put a stop to the infection. The root drench would be a Bayer or Safari product that can be purchased easily, mixed with water and poured around the base of the tree.  Here is a video to help you deal with the infection:

https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2018/08/28/how-to-treat-your-crapemyrtle-for-bark-scale/

 

Monitoring for continued improvement and re-application next season may be warranted. There is evidence of some infection in our common area trees that the Association will need to deal with as well, so homeowners should do their part now to protect their property. 

 

Getting white scale under control will help stop them from migrating to other areas of the community.  They are largely known to infest Crepe Myrtle - but have been found in other species of trees and shrubs across the Southeast US.  

 

2) Bagworms on Leyland Cypress trees.  If bagworms have infected your Leland Cypress trees to this extent (see photo 2) you may have to replace the whole tree.  These trees are relatively inexpensive and easy to find.  Spraying can be an expensive procedure (do in late spring) and could cost more than replacing the tree(s).  

 

Arborvitae can also be infected with bagworms. On evergreens, they’ll eat lots of the buds and foliage, causing branch tips to turn brown and then die. Bagworms can be removed if caught early. You have to cut off the bagworms, and all their silk, and destroy them. Otherwise, bagworms wrap silk around the twigs that they build their bags on, which could kill the tree twigs a few years from now. And bagworms can use this silk to leap to other trees and shrubs or even property. On Casey Boulevard, some bagworms have spread from foliage to house exteriors. So if you see them, remove them immediately! Help us to keep these infestations from spreading and becoming a much larger problem for the community as a whole.     

 

 

 

 

Village Walk inspections will be conducted with a separate team. These dates will be announced once the above inspection program is underway in April. 

Followup inspections for any locations with identified deficiencies will be conducted in each neighborhood after a 30 day period to allow for repair.

 

The Asset Maintenance Committee has also collected an updated list of neighbor-recommended contractors to assist with your home projects. Download the 2022 list here.  

 

Note: These dates are all weather dependent. 

 

 

Can you even believe it? New Town has been a proud fixture in the Williamsburg community for TWENTY years! In the day and age where businesses come and go and developments get bulldozed almost daily, we are so thrilled to celebrate being part of this wonderful neighborhood since 2002.

 

One of the (many) ways we plan to celebrate is with an after-hours concert series right here in New Town. These events will be free and open to the public. James City County Parks & Recreation in partnership with CultureFix went above and beyond booking some of the most exciting cover bands to go along with our “tribute” theme. This three-night concert series is our tribute to this community. We look forward to celebrating with you on the dates listed below and for many other parts of our 20-year anniversary celebration.

 

When: Wednesday, April 27th, May 4th & May 11th

Time: 5:30pm; Gates open at 5:00pm

Location: Sullivan Square

FREE, Outdoor Event 

Food & beverage will be available for purchase

 

April 27- Trial by Fire https://trialbyfirejourney.net/home - Journey Tribute Band

 

May 4 - Rapjack https://www.facebook.com/therapjackband/ - The Grateful Dead Cover 

 

May 11 - Full Moon Fever http://fullmoonfevertribute.com/ - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute band

 

 

As you probably know by now, the purpose of this feature is to provide a bit of information on a special event or place one can get to within about an hour’s travel time. Well, we’re doing you one better in March, offering you two events that you could walk to if you were of a mind. (Our mind doesn’t lean in that direction).

 

From March 3-6 at the Kimball Theatre on Duke of Gloucester Street, the William & Mary Theater, Speech and Dance department presents “A Tempest.” An adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” Aime Cesaire’s work draws on contemporary Caribbean society, the African-American experience and African mythology to raise questions about colonialism, racism and their lasting effects.

Cesaire was a world-renowned poet, essayist and dramatist, the founding editor of Tropiques, which was instrumental in establishing the use of surrealism as a political weapon. He co-formulated the concept of “negritude,” which urges black Africans to reject assimilation and cultivate consciousness of their racial qualities and heritage. Césaire held several government positions in his native Martinique, including that of mayor of Fort-de-France. He died in 2008.

 

Then, from March 31 to April 3, also at the Kimball Theatre, is “An Evening of Dance.” This annual event showcases students and their exploration and development of original choreography, performed by their peers in the Orchesis Modern Dance Company.

 

Performance time for both productions is 7:30 weekdays, 2 p.m. on Sunday. Discounts are available to “An Evening of Dance.”

 

For tickets and more information, visit this website, or phone 757-221-2674.

 

 

James City County will be offering Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training for residents in March.  This training prepares individuals with information and skills needed to help themselves and others during and after hurricanes, tornados and other emergencies. While the training qualifies graduates to become members of the county CERT, there is no obligation to join the team after receiving the training.  Each of the sessions are well presented, interesting and include hands on activities.  Take advantage of this free, interesting, and informative training by signing up on the James City County website.

 

You will be glad that you did.

 

 

Let me begin with all things financial…

 

At this time the Board has received the draft December 2021 financial statements from our new management company, Chesapeake Bay Management.  These draft statements are under review.  Several factors contributed to their delay:

Most issues, except the 2020 audit adjustments, have been fully resolved. December 2021 and January 2022 statements are expected to be released by mid-March. Slowly but surely we are closing our books and converting to new recordkeeping.

 

The Board recently hired Adams Jenkins and Cheatham to again do the NTRA’s 2021 tax return and to prepare a financial statement compilation for 2021.

 

 

Spring landscaping is underway. Virginia Lawn and Landscape crews have methodically been working through each neighborhood. Mowing will begin this month.

 

For those who may still question the fenced yards landscaping decision, the Board is acting in the best interests of the entire community given our legal constraints.  The legal review of past practices initiated in response to owner comments on the 2021 budget resulted in 2 key guidance points

This “follow the documents” guidance was reinforced by the comments made by candidates during the search for a new managing agent, and by the consultant hired to assist the Board in addressing the turnover issues identified during 2021.

 

Solving this situation requires new Governing Documents, approved by 2/3rds of NTRA members.  At some future date the Board will return to the draft documents presented in 2021and update them based on comments and lessons learned in the managing agent transition.  Unless and until 2/3rds of owners agree to changes, the existing documents remain in effect.

 

Familiarize yourself with these current Governing Documents available on the NTRA website page, https://www.ntrawilliamsburg.org/governing-docs/.  (Use the links on the left side of the page.)

 

 

It is possible some Village Walk attics may need inspection as part of the engineering evaluation.  The Board requests your cooperation if you are contacted for attic access.

 

 

Hello NTRA Neighbors!

 

Warm weather is coming and the NTRA is getting ready for spring cleaning (and hoping you are too)!  Keeping all the homes beautiful makes us proud of New Town and the area in which we live and play.

 

This year, the Board of Directors has decided to baseline the condition of all homes in New Town (originally proposed in 2020 but delayed due to the Covid pandemic) under the NTRA’s Exterior Maintenance Inspection Policy. 

 

At its February 2022 meeting, the Board amended the original policy to place responsibility for exterior maintenance and covenant inspections solely with the NTRA’s managing agent. (See Board February 15, 2022 Resolution). Based on our experience in 2022, the Board can revisit the frequency and type of future year inspections. 

 

Chesapeake Bay Management Company, assisted by members of the NTRA Asset Maintenance Committee, will begin inspecting all home exteriors starting around April 18th in Chelsea Green. These inspections will proceed neighborhood by neighborhood to make sure all homes are up to standards reflected in the HOA Master Declaration and Rules and Regulations (available on the NTRA website). The goal is for all homes to be inspected no later than July 31, 2021.

 

Please review the areas we will be inspecting as shown in the 2022 Self-Checklist for Owner Inspection of Homes document so you can make any repairs necessary prior to the inspection.  While most exterior surfaces of Village Walk homes are the NTRA’s responsibility to maintain, there are items which are solely a homeowner responsibility. Consult the new Village Walk Maintenance Responsibilities Chart. 

 

 

 

For the past 2 years during the pandemic, a lot of us have been ordering more items online than in the past, which results in a lot of extra recycling, particularly cardboard.

 

Unlike trash which is contracted for by the New Town Residential Association, James City County controls the contract with our recycling company. All complaints are to be directed to their website. Please refer to this website if you have questions about what they recycle and options of how to dispose of items they do not pickup. The website also has a printable calendar of when pickup will occur, and when dates are changed due to holidays. 

 

A few reminders:

 

 

A note on recycling glass:

 

Glass will still be picked up curbside BUT the JCC Recycling Centers (closest one to New Town is at the end of Tewning Road past Godspeed Animal Hospital) have a new program for recycling glass. The bins are purple. Owens-Illinois (OI) has started a program where they will collect the glass and transport it, at no cost, to their manufacturing facility in Toano. It will be processed into cullet which is a material necessary for making new glass.  When glass gets mixed in with regular recycling, it breaks down and is difficult to separate. OI has been making glass in James City County for over 40 years and glass making first began in JCC in 1609, so a tradition will continue. Glass is the heaviest item in the recycling bins so to be able to remove some of the weight will cut the cost of recycling for the county.

 

 

 

Do you miss playing in the dirt?  Do you wish you knew more of your neighbors? Would you like to make our New Town neighborhoods more inviting with more color in our common areas?  Or would you just like to enjoy the outdoors and have some fun?  If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then we have a new venture that you’re sure to love.  

 

Join a group of fun-loving nature enthusiasts who wish to create a sense of community through a variety of shared activities.   Beautifying our common areas with plantings is one goal, but other activities might include embarking on horticultural field trips, attending garden related educational events, or enjoying social outings, happy hours, or other forms of socialization and fun.  The “Garden” part of this initiative will focus initially on Gateway projects - focusing on high visibility locations around New Town that say “welcome” and can be enjoyed by all New Town residents. There is limited funding available from NTRA, but with volunteers supplying the energy, ideas, and labor, we can stretch those dollars.  The “Party” part will evolve in accordance with the wishes of the group and “Never Ending” refers to the notion that participants may change over time, but the Garden Party itself, once established, will continue from year to year as new projects and activities are planned.  

 

Participation is open to all residents of New Town and absolutely no gardening expertise is required, just the willingness to bring ideas, pitch in and have fun.  Interested?  Join us for an organizational meeting on March 8th, 2022 at 4:00PM. Please RSVP to neverendinggardenparty@gmail.com. Once we have an idea of the group size, we will announce a location.   Together we can make our New Town neighborhoods even more beautiful and our community more welcoming.  And please let us know if you are interested, even if you cannot attend the initial meeting. 

 

 

 

As you probably know by now, the purpose of this feature is to provide a bit of information on a special event or place one can get to in about an hour’s travel time. Well, we’re doing you one better in March, offering you two events that you could walk to if you were of a mind. (Our mind doesn’t lean in that direction).

 

From March 3-6 at the Kimball Theatre on Duke of Gloucester Street, the William & Mary Theater, Speech and Dance department presents “A Tempest.” An adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” Aime Cesaire’s work draws on contemporary Caribbean society, the African-American experience and African mythology to raise questions about colonialism, racism and their lasting effects.

Cesaire was a world-renowned poet, essayist and dramatist, the founding editor of Tropiques, which was instrumental in establishing the use of surrealism as a political weapon. He co-formulated the concept of “negritude,” which urges black Africans to reject assimilation and cultivate consciousness of their racial qualities and heritage. Césaire held several government positions in his native Martinique, including that of mayor of Fort-de-France. He died in 2008.

 

Then, from March 31 to April 3, also at the Kimball Theatre, is “An Evening of Dance.” This annual event showcases students and their exploration and development of original choreography, performed by their peers in the Orchesis Modern Dance Company.

 

Performance time for both productions is 7:30 weekdays, 2 p.m. on Sunday. Discounts are available to “An Evening of Dance.”

 

For tickets and more information, visit this website, or phone 757-221-2674.

 

 

 

James City County will be offering Community Emergency Response Team CERT) training for residents in March.  This training prepares individuals with information and skills needed to help themselves and others during and after hurricanes, tornados and other emergencies. While the training qualifies graduates to become members of the county CERT, there is no obligation to join the team after receiving the training.  Each of the sessions are well presented, interesting and include hands on activities.  Take advantage of this free, interesting, and informative training by signing up on the James City County website.

 

You will be glad that you did.

 

 

 

 

New Town Tunes is a FREE After Hours Concert Series coming to our neighborhood this spring! Mark your calendars to save the dates!

 

James City County Parks & Recreation, in partnership with CultureFix, presents a 3-Day FREE Spring After Hours Concert Series:

Dates: Wednesday, April 27th, May 4th & May 11th

Time: 5:30pm; Gates open at 5:00pm

Location: Sullivan Square

Cost: Nada, nothing, zero, this is a FREE Event

 

Line-up to be announced SOON! Stay tuned, more details to come!

You can always visit the NTCA events page to stay in the know about community events. 

 

 

 

Before we start thinking about springing forward on 2:00am Sunday, March 13th and dreaming about lounging by the New Town pool this summer, let’s take a moment to appreciate the beauty of our neighborhood blanketed by the snow. Thankfully, none of our snow events led to sustained ice or slush on our roads, thanks to the good ‘ole Virginia sun. 

 

March temperature highs in our area tend to range from the high 50s to mid 60s, with overcast skies almost half the month! While you may be donning rain boots instead of winter gear, don’t be tempted to head outside without your SPF… UV rays can penetrate clouds! 

 

Thank you to Alison Douglas, Mary Cheston, and Jim Ducibella for sharing their snaps with us!

 

 

 

New Town can be a confusing place if you have an issue or are trying to contact the responsible party for a street, sidewalk, BMP (best maintenance practices for storm water), or other public area. As a mixed use community, it is not always obvious why our homeowners association can’t fix something. 

For example, recently a homeowner asked why certain intersections around Settlers Market have no street signs. Good question, and we have reached out to James City County for an explanation. You see the Settlers Market area is controlled by CPT Settlers Market LLC including the two BMPs adjacent to Village Walk.  James City County requires street signage, and whether these intersections were included in the plans for the area is a JCC accountability issue.

 

David Carter, former LAC Chairman, has spent considerable time to outline who is responsible for the various areas around Village Walk. He notes that Village Walk’s BMPs are designed to capture, filter, and distribute rain runoff from Settlers Market shopping center and are essentially part of a larger storm water management system. So while they look like they are part of New Town, they are not.

 

The wooded areas along Casey Boulevard are another mixed accountability situation. Settlers Market owns a long stretch of the property along the hill with New Town Associates owning the lower area. The street and sidewalks are the responsibility of VDOT. So why do commercial and heavy industrial vehicles park along this stretch of Casey Boulevard? These are public roads subject to VDOT and James City County police jurisdiction. Cracked sidewalks on Casey Boulevard and elsewhere are similarly VDOT’s responsibility to maintain.

 

How can you find out who is the responsible party? Check the James City County property website for information on ownership of particular locations. As an example of what you can find through JCC, pictured below is information (courtesy of David Carter) on land on the West side of Casey Boulevard owned by CPT Settlers Market LLC. 

 

(Note: The Town Crier featured a story in May 2021 on the streets and sidewalks in New Town. See “I’ve Got a Sinking Feeling.”)

 

 

Raising the level of service for our community landscaping is a key goal for the Board and our new management company. Part of reaching that goal is for owners to also have realistic expectations – NTRA does not provide custom landscaping. An array of basic services are shared among all neighborhoods.

So what is coming this summer? The 2022 schedule for mowing has now been defined by Virginia Lawn and Landscape (VLL) as required by their contract’s turf maintenance scope of work. After discussion with our new community manager, VLL outlined the following frequencies per month:

Mowing season will begin in March and end in December at a height of 4 inches. During the heat of July and August, only 3 mows per month will be provided.  This should help to minimize lawn burn.

 

Given all the past turf damage issues with irrigation and rain, VLL will make an effort to notify Chesapeake Bay when it is too wet to mow an area. (Look for info on the website “Landscape News” feature box if have a question about possible delays in mowing.)

 

It is the homeowner’s responsibility to make sure that your property drains water including following prudent irrigation practices. Coordinate the timing of your waterings with your neighbor to minimize soaking adjacent side yards. Consider where your downspouts and condensation units are draining. If VLL experiences repeated issues with overwatering, an owner’s address may be reported to the Association for followup. Management will then contact the owner to let them know of these irrigation concerns so they can be addressed.

 

Leaf cleanup has been extended into December. (The prior statement of work called for leaf cleanups only in October and November.) Owners have complained that yards needed blowing prior to setting up their holiday seasonal decorations. So two leaf cleanups in December have been added.

 

These modifications are an effort to address community concerns and still provide quality service. If you experience an issue, submit a website ticket which goes directly to VLL as well as NTRA staff. Don’t forget paying compliments to the crew as well! Keeping staff during the pandemic has been a major challenge for most landscape companies. 

 

 

There may have been more devoted public servants than John Marshall, but one would be hard-pressed to name them. The fourth chief justice of the United States, Marshall remains the longest serving chief justice and fourth-longest serving justice in Supreme Court history.

 

Prior to that, Marshall served as the country’s fourth United States Secretary of State under President John Adams. And before that, Marshall fought in the Revolutionary War, won election to the House of Representatives, and emerged as a leader of the Federalist Party in Congress.

 

There were at least two other great passions in Marshall’s life. One was his wife, Polly. The other was his home in Richmond.

 

On Saturday, February 12 from 5-7 p.m., you and your spouse/date/companion can explore both in a Valentine’s Day special event titled “My Dearest Polly." For $25, you have access to Marshall’s home, built in 1790, as well as vignettes that explore their love through letters and stories, guided by the John Marshall House staff.

 

In addition, light refreshments will be served in the museum gift shop and are included in the price of your ticket.

 

Marshall met Mary "Polly" Ambler, the youngest daughter of Virginia state treasurer Jaquelin Ambler, during the Revolutionary War. They were married on January 3, 1783. The Marshalls had 10 children; six of whom survived to adulthood. Among them was Thomas Marshall, who would eventually serve in the Virginia House of Delegates.

 

The John Marshall House is located at 818 East Marshall Street in Richmond. To obtain tickets, visit this website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/my-dearest-polly-special-valentines-day-open-house-tickets-218503528937.

 

 

A sampling of New Town restaurants turned up precious little in terms of Valentine’s Day specials. Some places are normally closed on Mondays and were waiting for orders from headquarters whether to change that for one day. Others said it was too soon for them to determine what, if anything, they would offer. (Remember, the Crier had a late January deadline).

 

So, Dave decided to go in a different direction. Picking and choosing through the local grocers and others, here’s what will make the right impression on anyone’s honey bunny:

 

Appetizer – Publix (https//www.publix.com) is offering a “Taste of Italy” Charcuterie Box (feeds 5) for $24.99. Yes, we’re partial to food from The Boot, but any store that offers prosciutto, salame with white wine, parmigiano reggiano cheese, gorgonzola cheese, pitted olives, walnuts, white seedless grapes, naked wild honey and fresh Rosemary on one plate is too tempting to pass up.

 

Not into meat? Among other offerings, the store will prepare a mini deli fresh fruit platter (also serves 5) for $14.99.

 

As is the case with all of their Charcuterie offerings, the store requires 24 hours advance notice.

 

Main course – Fresh Market (https://www.thefreshmarket.com/valentinesday)  regularly offers some of the area’s best deals, and Valentine’s Day is no exception.

 

For less than $50 (okay $49.99), one gets to choose from two filet mignons (9 ounces each), or two crab cakes (4 ounces apiece), or two 7-ounce Chilean Sea Bass portions. You can also mix your entrée choices if you are both in the mood for something different. With that comes one pound of asparagus with diced red peppers, one pound of whipped potatoes, 8 hand-dipped chocolate strawberries, and a reusable shopping bag.

 

And . . . Another option -- Creative Cuisines (http://creative-cuisines.com/), a stone’s throw from Earth  Fare, has dinner for two for $90 plus tax and gratuity. Starting February 12 between 5 and 7:30 p.m., choose from a starter (salad, soup or beetroot tartare). Among the entrées is pan-seared sea scallops, followed by desert of triple chocolate brownie sundae or sour raspberry pie. For the full offer, including all of the sides, head to their website.

 

To drink – If you decide on the Publix appetizer option – and since you are already at Monticello Marketplace – walk the short distance from Publix to The Wine Seller (https://www.grapesbythecrate.com/). Tell the staff what you’re serving and let them pair your selection with something they recommend.

                           

 

 

A little something extra -- We’re mixing our big events here, but Trader Joe’s suggests purchasing a gift for your better half based on their astrological sign! (https://www.popsugar.com/food/trader-joes-product-to-buy-based-on-zodiac-sign).

 

Among the items available: cold brew coffee and boba (Aries). We’re not sophisticated enough to know what Boba is, but TJ’s has rarely steered us wrong. Other offerings: Almond Butter Chia Overnight Oats (Taurus), Kung Pao chicken Mochi Balls (Gemini), Fruit Frenzy Bars (Leo), Pancake Bread (Libra) and Neapolitan Joe-Joes sandwich cookies (Scorpio).

 

No matter what you decide to do, make this a Valentine’s Day your loved one will never forget.

 

Dumbfounded and shattered. The tragic death of the NTRA’s former Treasurer and Director, Rick Fisher, has left a big hole in our community.  For the past 10 years, Rick has been a fixture, yes, in many ways a pillar of homeowner involvement and commitment.

 

Rick and Ginny Fisher moved to New Town from Atlanta in August 2011. Rick formed the first Finance Committee and chaired it for 2 years before serving on the Residential Advisory Board (RAB) (2013-2020). He was elected RAB Treasurer and continued to focus on financial matters.  Ever the glutton for punishment, Rick ran for the first homeowner Board of Directors and was elected in June 2020.  The Board then elected him as Association Treasurer.

 

When he stepped down from the Board in September 2021, the workload and pace of changes had overwhelmed him. He wrote:

“I have enjoyed providing continuous service to the Community for a period of ten (10) years.  I recall an early meeting in 2011 with Bob Keith and John Wright.  At that time, the existing RAB felt it was time to have a Finance Committee and I was asked to be the first Chair.  We worked closely with Town Management to construct a new budget process. We also began the process of investing replacement reserve funds into CD’s based on a laddering approach. There were numerous other finance related accomplishments throughout the years.  I have worked closely with the new Board members to ensure that the Association remains strong and is a “first class” place to live.  The challenges are great, but with strong Community involvement and support we will meet them.”

 

Rick was a man of few words, always articulate and concise, usually.  Except for one incident Chuck remembers.  When the Finance Committee was discussing how to invest replacement reserves, the room listened as a committee member suggested the monies be invested in U.S. government bonds.  Within seconds, Rick stood up and tersely said that "No way” would he give money to “an out of financial control Federal Government."  A surprised group continued with the debate.  Later, a Wells Fargo investment advisor explained to the Finance Committee that if the Federal Government fails, then we are all in deep trouble.  There would be no social security or Medicare.  Still Rick was not impressed and stuck to "no U.S. government investments."

 

Rick was instrumental in helping to make each proposed budget clear and understandable to all NTRA owners at the annual budget meetings.  He had a compassionate approach to mitigate the quarterly dues adjustment each year.

 

But Rick was not just all about business…In 2012 Rick initiated the idea of forming a retired men’s luncheon group in New Town whose purpose was “strictly recreational/social; to know others in our community better and to have fun.” Rick enjoyed golf and tennis and as any past Board member can tell you Tuesday and Thursdays afternoons (for the Senior non-primetime discount) were off limits for meetings because of his standing golf dates which were sacred to him.

 

Two weeks before his death, Rick wrote of his service on the Board - “Our accomplishments were many.” Indeed, when you look at the institutional changes that Rick has championed, you will see just part of the rich legacy that he leaves behind.

We are all in Rick’s debt. An honest man, a gentleman, and a gentle man. Missed by all the community and so many friends.

by Jim Ducibella

 

There may have been more devoted public servants than John Marshall, but one would be hard-pressed to name them. The fourth chief justice of the United States, Marshall remains the longest serving chief justice and fourth-longest serving justice in Supreme Court history.

 

Prior to that, Marshall served as the country’s fourth United States Secretary of State under President John Adams. And before that, Marshall fought in the Revolutionary War, won election to the House of Representatives, and emerged as a leader of the Federalist Party in Congress.

 

There were at least two other great passions in Marshall’s life. One was his wife, Polly. The other was his home in Richmond.

 

On Saturday, February 12 from 5-7 p.m., you and your spouse/date/companion can explore both in a Valentine’s Day special event titled “My Dearest Polly." For $25, you have access to Marshall’s home, built in 1790, as well as vignettes that explore their love through letters and stories, guided by the John Marshall House staff.

 

In addition, light refreshments will be served in the museum gift shop and are included in the price of your ticket.

 

Marshall met Mary "Polly" Ambler, the youngest daughter of Virginia state treasurer Jaquelin Ambler, during the Revolutionary War. They were married on January 3, 1783. The Marshalls had 10 children; six of whom survived to adulthood. Among them was Thomas Marshall, who would eventually serve in the Virginia House of Delegates.

 

The John Marshall House is located at 818 East Marshall Street in Richmond. To obtain tickets, visit this website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/my-dearest-polly-special-valentines-day-open-house-tickets-218503528937.

 

 

by New Town Commercial Association Board

 

The New Town maintenance building, located at the end of Discovery Park Boulevard, is now completed and fully approved by James City County. The building is two stories, contains about 1800 sq. ft., and is located on a site of about 1.5 acres. The form of the building and the materials are consistent with the design guidelines for New Town. 

 

The building was designed and built to be a maintenance and storage facility. As such, it is not open to the public and was not designed or built to host meetings. The building and the land are owned by the New Town Commercial Association (NTCA), but the New Town Residential Association (NTRA) leases space therefore sharing in the use and costs of the building.

 

The building and the land provide many benefits to all of New Town. These include important operational and financial improvements.

 

Without a central maintenance and storage facility, operations in New Town have been inefficient. Vendors have not had a location to meet management staff. There has not been a place to direct work from, to take deliveries, or where the work crews can use restrooms. Dog station bags, traffic control items, gators, tools, salt, mulch, snow shovels, banners, holiday decorations, books and records, etc. have been kept in various locations, sometimes in New Town and sometimes elsewhere. Some items were kept in temporarily vacant retail spaces and some tools and equipment were kept outside which shortened their useful life. This new facility provides for central storage and smoother operations are already being achieved.

 

The financial benefits are significant. Both the NTCA and the NTRA have previously paid for off-site storage. This is no longer necessary.  Landscape companies working for NTRA and NTCA have needed to have their staff pick up equipment from somewhere else and bring it to New Town, with the driving time included as part of the work day. Now some equipment can be kept at this facility and the work day will start in New Town. Further, landscape companies have been very limited in their ability to store bulk materials (mulch, salt, fertilizer, etc.) on site, which has been inefficient and more expensive.  The savings from these new efficiencies will be significant.

 

The centralization of storage and maintenance functions will also improve life in New Town. As we walk, bike, and drive in New Town we will see less of the staff, equipment, and materials that are necessary to keep New Town beautiful.

 

The new storage and maintenance building and its excess land will afford New Town the ability to benefit from a central storage and maintenance facility for many years. The building can potentially be expanded so as times change and needs change, the building and land can adapt to meet many future needs.

 

Valentine’s Day local grocers, Dave’s Deals 

by Dave Holtgrieve (with Jim Ducibella)

 

A sampling of New Town restaurants turned up precious little in terms of Valentine’s Day specials. Some places are normally closed on Mondays and were waiting for orders from headquarters whether to change that for one day. Others said it was too soon for them to determine what, if anything, they would offer. (Remember, the Crier had a late January deadline).

 

So, Dave decided to go in a different direction. Picking and choosing through the local grocers and others, here’s what will make the right impression on anyone’s honey bunny:

 

Appetizer – Publix (https//www.publix.com) is offering a “Taste of Italy” Charcuterie Box (feeds 5) for $24.99. Yes, we’re partial to food from The Boot, but any store that offers prosciutto, salame with white wine, parmigiano reggiano cheese, gorgonzola cheese, pitted olives, walnuts, white seedless grapes, naked wild honey and fresh Rosemary on one plate is too tempting to pass up.

 

Not into meat? Among other offerings, the store will prepare a mini deli fresh fruit platter (also serves 5) for $14.99.

 

As is the case with all of their Charcuterie offerings, the store requires 24 hours advance notice.

 

Main course – Fresh Market (https://www.thefreshmarket.com/valentinesday)  regularly offers some of the area’s best deals, and Valentine’s Day is no exception.

 

For less than $50 (okay $49.99), one gets to choose from two filet mignons (9 ounces each), or two crab cakes (4 ounces apiece), or two 7-ounce Chilean Sea Bass portions. You can also mix your entrée choices if you are both in the mood for something different. With that comes one pound of asparagus with diced red peppers, one pound of whipped potatoes, 8 hand-dipped chocolate strawberries, and a reusable shopping bag.

 

And . . . Another option -- Creative Cuisines (http://creative-cuisines.com/), a stone’s throw from Earth  Fare, has dinner for two for $90 plus tax and gratuity. Starting February 12 between 5 and 7:30 p.m., choose from a starter (salad, soup or beetroot tartare). Among the entrées is pan-seared sea scallops, followed by desert of triple chocolate brownie sundae or sour raspberry pie. For the full offer, including all of the sides, head to their website.

 

To drink – If you decide on the Publix appetizer option – and since you are already at Monticello Marketplace – walk the short distance from Publix to The Wine Seller (https://www.grapesbythecrate.com/). Tell the staff what you’re serving and let them pair your selection with something they recommend.

                           

 A little something extra -- We’re mixing our big events here, but Trader Joe’s suggests purchasing a gift for your better half based on their astrological sign! (https://www.popsugar.com/food/trader-joes-product-to-buy-based-on-zodiac-sign).

 

Among the items available: cold brew coffee and boba (Aries). We’re not sophisticated enough to know what Boba is, but TJ’s has rarely steered us wrong. Other offerings: Almond Butter Chia Overnight Oats (Taurus), Kung Pao chicken Mochi Balls (Gemini), Fruit Frenzy Bars (Leo), Pancake Bread (Libra) and Neapolitan Joe-Joes sandwich cookies (Scorpio).

 

No matter what you decide to do, make this a Valentine’s Day your loved one will never forget.

 

by Patti Vaticano

 

New Town welcomed Anne Ingram, its new Professional Community Association Manager, late last year. Anne is the community’s chief liaison to its new management company, Chesapeake Bay Management, Inc., an Accredited Association Management Corporation (AAMC) and member of the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation of Virginia (DPOR), out of Newport News, Virginia.  Anne comes to New Town with impressive credentials, considerable experience, and a unique perspective on the work she has done in the property management field for the past 18 years.  

 

“Property management is part of the customer service industry,” she maintains; and in that light, Anne sees herself as a tireless support to the community who employs her, responding equitably to the needs of the community in a time-effective manner by managing financials, addressing maintenance concerns, and orienting and supporting the community’s Board. Her means in doing so involves establishing and remaining faithful to a preventive maintenance program for the community with a definitive and proactive schedule for assessing and meeting maintenance needs. She believes little else will prevent the need for special assessments to keep a community healthy and functioning. 

 

Anne’s method served Colonial Heritage, the previous community for which she worked, very well, supporting the community in a tornado strike for which no special assessments were necessary and again in 2019, Covid’s breakout year, when careful planning and support of the community’s Board and Finance Committee enabled the community’s restaurant to survive its long closure without emergency funding.  To be a success in her field, Anne believes a property manager must be an advocate for dynamic planning and “offer support and instill confidence in the Board, the residents, and the vendors of a community.”  When a property manager succeeds in these areas, a community is well served and all its needs are met.  

 

Her sentiments are sincere and not surprisingly, her professional history is substantial.  She began her career in the world of finance, working in William & Mary’s Development Department where she managed the stock transfers that funded the college’s endowments. In 2003, while taking courses at Thomas Nelson Community College, a professor saw a potential in her for property management and was her introduction into the field via Kingsmill’s Busch Properties. Four years later, she became a regional manager for Chesapeake Bay Management, Inc. and was later asked to be the company’s Executive Director for the community at Colonial Heritage.  Then Chesapeake Bay selected Anne to oversee the management of New Town on its behalf.  

 

Besides her certification as a Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM), Anne is an Association Management Specialist (AMS), a certification requiring 5 years of professional management experience, and a Certified Manager of Community Association (CMCA).  She is, in every respect, outstanding in the field of property management and will be an Education Presenter this coming March 12th at the Virginia Beach Conference Center for the South-Eastern Virginia Chapter of Community Association Institute’s CA Day.  The event is a very large gathering of vendors and community volunteers in the industry, and Anne, along with Susan Tarley, NTRA’s legal counsel, will speak to attendees about board training (“Board Meetings 101:  The Do’s and Don’ts”), highlighting the fact that community boards are quasi-governmental organizations whose officials are elected by community residents.  As elected officials, these board members are, thereafter, honor bound, without favoritism or mitigation, to govern the community using the community’s ratified governing documents for the collective good of those who have elected them.

 

Anne is a native of Manchester, New Hampshire but has lived in Virginia since 1989 and has been a Williamsburg resident since 1996. She is married, with two grown daughters, and loves gardening and reading in her spare time.

 

Welcome to New Town, Anne!

 

by Mary Cheston, President, Board of Directors

 

Drone technology came to New Town on December 8, 2021 with the arrival of Archi-Tec-Tonic’s drone for Eagle Construction’s inspection of Village Walk roofs.

 

On January 24th, Eagle sent the results of these inspections to the Board. Eagle identified 30 separate Village Walk addresses with “maintenance” or “installation” items to be corrected.  Minimal description was provided with Eagle’s list – e.g. “exposed nails without caulking,” “blown ridge cap shingles,” etc.  Eagle offered to repair all the items on their list “as a good faith effort to be a good partner to both the Association and our homeowners.”

 

Eagle’s “game plan” noted that only 5 homes in the neighborhood remain under warranty roof coverage due to the age of the roofs. Eagle’s offer, however, came with a condition - namely their proposal “does not trigger a new warranty or other ongoing obligation by Eagle and represents the end of Eagle’s responsibilities as to the roofs.”

 

The Board held a Special Meeting on January 26th with Village Walk owners in attendance to discuss our next steps. I presented a summary of NTRA’s experience with Village Walk roofs and outlined the number of new residences identified by Eagle with no previous problems reported to the NTRA. Owners shared their experience with past Eagle repairs and suggested ways for the Board to respond to Eagle’s offer. The Board favors having an independent engineer check on Eagle’s findings prior to any repair to determine the extent of issues with these roofs. We are exploring options for the most cost-effective way to do this. We assured Village Walk owners that the Association will not agree to any “end of Eagle’s responsibilities.”  

 

As the Board considers our final reply to Eagle, all Village Walk owners are encouraged to examine their attics and other rooms for signs of water leaks. Tickets should be submitted via the NTRA website for any found problems. Village Walk owners will receive periodic eblast notices as this situation evolves, so PLEASE be sure that your website profile information is up to date.

 

Meanwhile, the Board is also working on a chart for Village Walk owners to help clarify what exterior maintenance is a responsibility of the NTRA and what responsibilities individual owners have for their home.

 

The ARC . . .  Are You on Board? 

by Libby Flowers

 

That’s ARC  — NTRA’s  Architectural Review Committee ,  not Noah’s seaworthy ARK  .  .  .  .  but actually, they have a similar purpose-- both seek to preserve the good things created around them.

 

I stepped down from the ARC at the end of 2021, having served on the committee for quite a few years; first as a non-voting member while learning the ropes; then, as a full voting member, serving terms as Chair of this important NTRA team.  

 

I was asked to share some thoughts about ARC with Crier readers, so here goes.  

 

Here’s the most important thing to remember: If you want to make any permanent, exterior change to your home/lot, submit an ARC application. Do so before scheduling a contractor or purchasing materials. Do not risk a violation or blocked home sale by going ahead without approval. It’s easy — the application form is online. Plan ahead and submit your application with supporting documents no later than a week before the monthly meeting so ARC members have enough time to review your proposal.                

 

The ARC is comprised of three voting members who are appointed by the NTRA Board of Directors (BOD). The BOD may also appoint a fourth non-voting member, who has the same responsibilities as regular members but no vote unless a regular member is unavailable.  That non-voting member usually becomes a full voting member when a vacancy occurs. ARC meetings are also attended by a BOD member serving as ARC liaison and staff from NTRA’s management company.  

 

Committee members work hard to ensure that the community maintains the high aesthetic standards that marked initial New Town designs.  The application review process, intended to be fair and consistent, is based on established standards. Before discussion at monthly meetings (there were over 60 applications last year), each ARC member reviews all paperwork and visits the property to consider colors, materials, neighborhood uniformity and how suggested changes might affect the neighbors, streetscape, or community.  An alternative suggestion is occasionally proposed; most applications are approved.

 

Why I got involved with ARC.

While home shopping, we looked at 30 (or more) residences in the Williamsburg area. Realtors, random shoppers, merchants, websites kept directing us to New Town.  We toured cottages, town homes, detached homes and even looked into the community’s management and leadership, as advised, before purchasing a town home in Abbey Commons.  

 

New Town had a wonderful ambiance. It was traditional, but not entirely Colonial. The character of each named neighborhood was reinforced by architectural details, which lent variety to the streetscapes and unified these smaller communities of neighbors.  Homes displayed an orderly, cared-for appearance.  Hiking trails, plantings, and signage communicated a sense of careful planning and maintenance. 

 

There had been a contest to design New Town. This was envisioned as a community that would be compatible with this historic region, incorporate diverse populations and housing needs, and expand to become a walkable, self-contained village where shopping, recreation, sidewalks and friends were right outside one’s door.   

 

Architectural students were fascinated with the concept.  So were we.  We knew this would be a long-term move for us.  So, when we became homeowners in this HOA community, we were pleased to know that an ARC was in place to monitor the community’s curb appeal in the years ahead. My interest in ARC continued.  I attended a few meetings and saw how carefully committee members deliberated, balancing the needs of both homeowner and community.  I was delighted to eventually join the ARC.

 

ARC gets questions:

Do I have to read those thick HOA documents?  

Why not? Your home is one of your biggest investments.  You’ll become aware of what the community expects of its Board and residents (as well as their guests or renters); how your assessments are spent; what you can and cannot do on your own property.  Should violations occur, ignorance of the regulations is not a viable excuse since all homeowners sign documents stating they have read and understood them. 

 

Does the ARC make the rules and regulations?  

The Rules and Regulations are determined by the BOD. The ARC controls architectural guidelines and may propose new areas of concern. For example, there were no Solar Panel installations envisioned when the HOA docs were first written. When businesses began marketing them locally, ARC researched solar issues and recommended wording for our standards. It is the BOD, though, that approves or disapproves them.

 

If another New Town homeowner has made the same change that I want to make, can’t I just do that too, without an application?  

No. Approvals are for specific properties in particular neighborhoods.  Restrictions can differ from one neighborhood to another. Occasionally approvals are based on healthcare needs or particular situations. For example, during the COVID pandemic, roofing materials were in short supply, necessitating approval of some “near matches” in materials on adjoining townhomes since exact replacements could not be obtained. Also, don’t assume someone else’s change has been approved; the other homeowner may have received a violation notice.

 

Residents should know:

ARC benefits you.  The volunteers serving on all NTRA committees lend their time and talent to tasks that maintain the community we all inhabit. Lawns are mowed; repairs are completed; decisions are made that allow all of us to enjoy a tidy, enviable community. We’ve seen how the adage “a rising tide lifts all boats” has come into play in recent years as the ARC and AMC have had a greater influence on our streetscapes. Homes sell faster, and for better prices, when community standards are maintained.  

 

You can help New Town keep its shine.  All our committees could use help. Find some aspect of our communal life that is a good fit for you and volunteer to help.  

 

Final thought?

Yes . . . similar to my first.  “If you own a home in New Town and want to make a permanent, exterior change, submit an ARC application. Read the requirements. Include needed documentation. Allow time for review . . . . Come on board!”

 

by Kate Licastro

 

There are many things to love about New Town, and most of them were engineered to make New Town a place so many love to live. The thoughtful community design, with ample green spaces, porches on the front of homes, and sidewalks throughout, encourages residents to walk, gather, and generally be neighborly. Easy access to dining, retail, professional services, and entertainment allows us to leave the car at home to fulfill many needs. “Developments like New Town are designed to be walkable, sustainable, human-scaled developments—that is, communities built for people, not automobiles,” notes New Town resident Dr. Dorothy Ibes, Director of the Parks & Ecotherapy Research Lab (PERL) at William & Mary. “The essence of such communities is that they foster what has been lost in many post WWII American cities—namely daily connections with neighbors and nature, and a slower pace of life to support mental, physical, and environmental health,” shares Dr. Ibes. 

 

These shared community values highlight when there is a potential threat or concern. The threat in this case is the Casey Blvd. corridor. New Town residents old and young, new and tenured, have noticed and commented on the speed of vehicles along this thoroughfare. Lined with residential homes, Casey Blvd. hosts a childcare center and several school bus stops, while also serving as the main connection between New Town’s commercial areas. This route draws traffic not only from residents, but also employees, shoppers, and those accessing services in the community. This road separates our residential spaces and requires crossing for many of our neighbors to access the pool, playground, nature trails, and businesses. Why, then, is it so hard to cross? 

 

Residents have observed excessive speeding along the Casey Blvd. corridor. Traffic calming strategies, or specific measures taken to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety for pedestrians, are often employed in a neighborhood setting. While this roadway does employ some strategies to reduce traffic speed (e.g. limited driving lanes, room for cyclists and parked cars, speed humps), they have not been effective in achieving the goals. Other traffic calming strategies, such as lane narrowing, deliberate curves or shifts, medians and pedestrian refuge islands, and additional vertical deflections (e.g. speed humps, raised intersections), are lacking.  As a parent, I won’t allow my children to cross Casey Blvd. by themselves, as even when there is a clear path at the beginning of our crossing, we often must finish in a full-out run due to the speed of oncoming traffic.  

 

Casey Blvd. is managed by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT); change will require coordination locally and with the Commonwealth. After conversations with VDOT and the James City County Police Department beginning in November 2021, we were able to secure the radar speed indicator sign that can be seen as you’re driving East on Casey Blvd. approaching Center St. With the goal of increasing speed limit compliance and improving speed awareness, repeated studies demonstrate that when faced with this direct speed feedback, 80% of drivers will slow down, on average by 10-20%. See the VDOT Community Programs page for more information about neighborhood traffic programs. 

 

Even with improvements in speed limit compliance, many residents are still concerned about the difficulty in crossing Casey Blvd., whether on foot or in their automobiles. Visibility is   significantly limited at several intersections based on the number and type of vehicles parked on the side of the road. There have been several near-accidents when cars have attempted to turn off of Center St., Rollison Dr., or Foundation St. onto Casey Blvd. and weren’t able to see oncoming traffic. Some cars treat the intersection of Casey Blvd. and Center St. like a 4-way stop, even though there is not a required stop on Casey Blvd. The absence of stop sign leads to confusion, uncertainty, disgruntled drivers, and endangered pedestrians. Installing a 4-way stop at this intersection would likely improve the safety of all involved by automatically slowing the speed of traffic and allowing for the­ safe crossing of Casey Blvd. at a pedestrian-heavy location. 

 

The New Town Residential Association (NTRA) has identified Laura Loda, NTRA Board of Directors, to advocate on behalf of our residents and shepherd our concerns and requests through the appropriate contacts within the county and the Commonwealth. There are current speed studies underway with the inclusion of the radar speed sign, and we have increased police presence, particularly during higher traffic times. Jim Icenhour, our James City County Supervisor, is working with the county administrator to discuss this issue with the VDOT Resident Engineer. 

 

While permanent changes will likely take some time, we are moving in the right direction. Do you want to contribute to the cause? Here are two ways residents can make an immediate difference:  

It is rare to walk or drive around New Town without seeing several joggers, walkers, children, strollers, and pets enjoying themselves and enjoying the neighborhood. The safety of our neighbors and all those who visit New Town to live, work, and play will remain our priority as we navigate this process. Addressing the dangers of our roadways now will undoubtedly pay dividends as our community continues to grow. To revisit our resident Urban Human-Environment Geographer, Dr. Ibes, “left unchecked, increasing development [with] hurried commuters and residents speeding through our neighborhood will degrade the very qualities that made us all choose this beloved community for our home.” 

 

by Jim Ducibella

 

In October of 2020, Deidre P. Wells, chief civil engineer for stormwater and resource protection for James City County, wrote several letters to Ken Allen of ABVA (Atlantic Builders of Virginia). Included was information regarding the division’s August 2020 inspection vis a vis as-built record drawings that cited areas where construction was not done in accordance with plans originally submitted to the county regarding Phase 10 of Charlotte Park.

 

Among the areas cited by the county were the principal spillway structure, barrels, and vegetation for the Olive Drive BMP; and similar issues with the dam and interior basin plantings off Lot 60 on Rollison Drive, the bioretention structure on Christine Court, and the bioretention structure at the rear of Lots 61-64. Alley curbs, gutters and sealants were also a concern. Each of these citations had several components that were to be addressed by ABVA.

 

Once those corrections were made by ABVA, the company could request a re-inspection of those areas. If approved, the county would then release financial guarantees that the developer posted to guarantee its obligation to complete its work in compliance with county requirements. This action will represent the County’s acceptance of the areas.

 

The re-inspection occurred on January 12th. In keeping with NTRA policy, the Board engaged the services of Giles & Flythe Engineers, Inc., to accompany the JCC inspectors, then do an evaluation and report independently to us. The Board is in possession of the county’s punch list and items identified by a 2017 owner working group that will be reviewed by Giles & Flythe.

 

County acceptance is a significant step because it frees the developer to work with the Association to transfer ownership of the alleys, walkways, parks, and stormwater systems to the NTRA. ABVA feels it has completed the changes required by the county, but JCC highlighted several items during the reinspection that must be readdressed.

 

The Board is now awaiting the County’s inspection report. Ultimately the Association must determine if these areas are “in a condition acceptable to the Association (Master Declaration Section 4.9).” This process will be ongoing for several months with planned resident input.

 

by Mary Cheston & Chuck Stetler

 

Dumbfounded and shattered. The tragic death of the NTRA’s former Treasurer and Director, Rick Fisher, has left a big hole in our community.  For the past 10 years, Rick has been a fixture, yes, in many ways a pillar of homeowner involvement and commitment.

 

Rick and Ginny Fisher moved to New Town from Atlanta in August 2011. Rick formed the first Finance Committee and chaired it for 2 years before serving on the Residential Advisory Board (RAB) (2013-2020). He was elected RAB Treasurer and continued to focus on financial matters.  Ever the glutton for punishment, Rick ran for the first homeowner Board of Directors and was elected in June 2020.  The Board then elected him as Association Treasurer.

 

When he stepped down from the Board in September 2021, the workload and pace of changes had overwhelmed him. He wrote:

“I have enjoyed providing continuous service to the Community for a period of ten (10) years.  I recall an early meeting in 2011 with Bob Keith and John Wright.  At that time, the existing RAB felt it was time to have a Finance Committee and I was asked to be the first Chair.  We worked closely with Town Management to construct a new budget process. We also began the process of investing replacement reserve funds into CD’s based on a laddering approach. There were numerous other finance related accomplishments throughout the years.  I have worked closely with the new Board members to ensure that the Association remains strong and is a “first class” place to live.  The challenges are great, but with strong Community involvement and support we will meet them.”

 

Rick was a man of few words, always articulate and concise, usually.  Except for one incident Chuck remembers.  When the Finance Committee was discussing how to invest replacement reserves, the room listened as a committee member suggested the monies be invested in U.S. government bonds.  Within seconds, Rick stood up and tersely said that "No way” would he give money to “an out of financial control Federal Government."  A surprised group continued with the debate.  Later, a Wells Fargo investment advisor explained to the Finance Committee that if the Federal Government fails, then we are all in deep trouble.  There would be no social security or Medicare.  Still Rick was not impressed and stuck to "no U.S. government investments."

 

Rick was instrumental in helping to make each proposed budget clear and understandable to all NTRA owners at the annual budget meetings.  He had a compassionate approach to mitigate the quarterly dues adjustment each year.

 

But Rick was not just all about business…In 2012 Rick initiated the idea of forming a retired men’s luncheon group in New Town whose purpose was “strictly recreational/social; to know others in our community better and to have fun.” Rick enjoyed golf and tennis and as any past Board member can tell you Tuesday and Thursdays afternoons (for the Senior non-primetime discount) were off limits for meetings because of his standing golf dates which were sacred to him.

 

Two weeks before his death, Rick wrote of his service on the Board - “Our accomplishments were many.” Indeed, when you look at the institutional changes that Rick has championed, you will see just part of the rich legacy that he leaves behind.

• Changing the format of financial reports to be more understandable
• NTRA’s policy framework (format, numbering, etc.)

  Audit of 2020 financial records

  2021 update to replacement reserve study

  Pool resurfacing and repairs

We are all in Rick’s debt. An honest man, a gentleman, and a gentle man. Missed by all the community and so many friends.

 

 

On a chilly Sunday morning in November, I, along with fellow New Town resident, Soo Bradley, decided to bike the nearly 52 miles of the Capital Trail from Richmond to Jamestown.  For two very amateur cyclists, planning, which was mainly done over a glass of wine, had been basic with a cursory glance at the website  but generally focused on the weather and where to stop for a picnic.  Thankfully our phenomenal support crew (husbands and children) were much more prepared and kept the food and cheering in good supply.  

 

We set off at 9:15 from Richmond and arrived just after it got (very) dark in Jamestown.  The course had some hills (including a rather unfriendly one right at the start!), but generally it was fairly flat.  After we left Richmond, we passed through fields, forests, parks and with the trees holding onto the last of the magnificent fall colors, we were taken by the beauty of the area.  The weather was kind – not too cold, not too warm and, thankfully, no wind or rain. 

 

For those who are unfamiliar, The Virginia Capital Trail is 51.7-mile multi-use trail which runs from Jamestown Settlement to Richmond.  It is fully paved and there is lots to see on the way.  The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation website informed us there were 45 attractions to see on the way from museums to creeks and Belle Isle to the Virginia State Capitol Building. For the historians among us, you also pass Richmond’s National Battlefield Park.  All the attractions are only a couple of miles from the trail and make for interesting rest stops.  There are also plenty of choices for eating and drinking along the way with over 50 eateries along the route and several picnic areas.  If you are unfortunate enough to need bicycle repairs, there are repair stations along the way.  

 

The trail is well-maintained throughout, although there is currently some maintenance at the Greensprings part of the trail (around mile three), but a well signed detour is available.  If you do decide to cycle or walk all or part of the trail, it is worth perusing the Virginia Capital Trail website where you can find maps, closures and trail etiquette.