Town Crier Articles

On December 7th, New Towners started the holiday season at the second Holiday Bake-Off and Dessert Fest. They were greeted in the Legacy Hall lobby with a brightly decorated Christmas tree, and tables featuring holiday center pieces filled the room. The first part of the event was a juried baking contest with three categories:  cakes and cupcakes; cookies and bars, and a new youth category. 

 

Six New Town residents enjoyed serving as judges. About 70 attendees of all ages enjoyed watching the judging and applauded the winners.  

   

The second part of the event was the Dessert Fest during which New Towners got their sugar high tasting delicious samples from the Bake-Off’s submissions and also a wide array of other desserts from local bakeries. Sipping on coffee and tea, residents savored their desserts as they enjoyed conversation with tablemates and holiday music provided by Rick Richards.  

   

 

Join us for a Holiday Dessert Festival & Bake Off at Legacy Hall, Thursday, December 7, 6:00-8:00.  This event, which will help kick off the holiday season in New Town, includes a Bake Off and a Dessert Festival.  

 

The New Town Residential Association Activities Committee is seeking New Towners interested in competing in a baking contest featuring both holiday and non-holiday desserts. You don't need to be an outstanding baker to enter, just someone who enjoys baking.  On December 7 at Legacy Hall, Bake-Off participants will present their baked goods in three categories: bars/cookies and cakes/cupcakes, and a NEW youth category (bars/cookies/confectionary). New Town resident judges will pick winners, who will receive gift certificates.

 

New Towners who want to serve as judges or bake-off contestants need to pre-register on the NTRA website by tomorrow, December 2nd.

 

The entire community is invited to the Dessert Festival, where residents will have the opportunity to taste samples of the submitted baked goods as well as desserts from local bakeries. Coffee, tea and water will be provided in addition to the desserts, and there will be seating for attendees to relax with neighbors and new friends and enjoy the goodies. No registration is required to attend and sample! 

 

We look forward to another opportunity to gather with neighbors!  Remember, if you want to be a bake-off contestant or judge, make sure to register!

 

P.S. There will be a box at this event to collect any final donations for the Coats 4 Kids campaign (see related Crier story).

As winter approaches and the temperature drops, 53 children in the Williamsburg area will have new winter coats to keep them warm thanks to the generosity of New Town residents.  Since October, a group of New Town neighbors has collected new and like-new coats for children of all ages who are in need.  

 

How much need is there in our greater Williamsburg community? The poverty rates in the city of Williamsburg and James City County are 15% and 7%, respectively. This translates to nearly 8,000 individuals, many of whom are children. Recognizing this need, several New Town neighbors initiated Coats 4 Kids.  

 

Recently, an initial batch of donated coats was delivered to Williamsburg House of Mercy and FISH, Inc.  These organizations were selected because of their respective missions and their capability of distributing coats to those most in need.  Williamsburg House of Mercy (https://williamsburghouseofmercy.org) provides supportive and emergency services to individuals experiencing homelessness as well as to those vulnerable individuals struggling to maintain housing.  FISH, Inc. (https://fishwilliamsburg.org) is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that maintains a Food Pantry and a Clothes Closet that serve area families in need.

 

   

 

Both of these organizations were very appreciative of the coats donated through our Coats 4 Kids initiative.  Individual donations of food and clothing are also much appreciated throughout the year.  Additionally, there are opportunities at each organization for interested individuals to volunteer their time and talents. Please visit their websites for more information.

 

Thank you to everyone who contributed to Coats 4 Kids.  The final opportunity for New Town neighbors to make a coat donation will be at the December 7th New Town Dessert Fest.  If you are unable to attend this event, but still wish to donate a new or like-new coat, you can make other arrangements by contacting Gale Hyatt (ladyhappy73@gmail.com) or Eden Glenn (edenaglenn@gmail.com.)  

The season of giving and gratitude is upon us, once more, despite a year filled with uncertainty, unrest, and second-guessing for many Americans.  The world seems too political and too fractured to bear, here at home and abroad.  Finding things to be grateful for is a bit of a scavenger hunt; at best, but there’s a curious fact about scavenger hunts:  If you stick with one, you will be amazed at the haul you can make.  You just have to look a little harder, in times like these.  There are, indeed, blessings—often many and considerable—for which to be grateful.  Parts of our country have been victimized by devastating by fires, floods, and storms, these past two seasons, while Hampton Roads has enjoyed relatively peaceful and sound weather, thus far this year.  Many countries have suffered violent political unrest; but our local elections this autumn, while charged, took place as they always have, with dedicated opponents able to freely speak their mind on issues and concerns.  Fall colors finally arrived, and local merchants stocked their shelves with everything familiar for this time of year, both a comfort and a reassurance that the year’s cycle has come round, once more, and that we are all still here and all is well.  Perhaps you can celebrate good health, or the nearness of those you love. Perhaps a new companion, or a successful new job.  Perhaps you have been gifted with great abundance in some way and have been given the grace to share it. Happy is the grateful and giving heart—but it must be cultivated and nurtured.

 

Hopefully, you can tend to that garden, this Thanksgiving, and during the joyous holidays to follow.

 

 

Holiday Riddle:  What genre of music did Pilgrims like best?

 

Curious Thanksgiving Info:  The largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 3,699 pounds and measured 20 feet in diameter. The Guiness World Records holding pie was baked in 2010 by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio. It included a whopping 1,212 pounds of pumpkin, 109 gallons of evaporated milk, 2,796 eggs, 525 pounds of sugar, 7 pounds of salt and 14.5 pounds of cinnamon.

 

Historical Thanksgiving Fact:   The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 over a three-day harvest festival, including 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians. It is believed by historians that only five women were present. Turkey wasn't on the menu.

Holiday Quote:  For me, every hour is grace. And I feel gratitude in my heart each time I can meet someone and look at his or her smile.   Elie Wiesel                                                                                                                           

And listen as we pray.      Frederick W. Goadby

 

Holiday Hack:  Cooking with your Dishwasher.  Your dishwasher can steam your side veggies for the holiday. Take an airtight mason jar, add your vegetables, water, and seasonings, and you can cook them while washing a load of dishes.

For more holiday hacks like this, visit:  https://whatsupmoms.com/for-mom/thanksgiving-hacks-youll-wonder-how-you-ever-lived-without/

 

Recipe Easy-Breezy Corn Casserole Side can be made before hand and warmed at 300 degree F for 10-20 minutes the day of.  Can be frozen, as well.

Ingredients:   1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained 1 (14.75 ounce) can creamed corn 1 (8.5 ounce) package dry cornbread mix 1 cup sour cream ½ cup butter, melted 2 large eggs, beaten

Directions:   1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish.   2.  Mix whole and creamed corn, cornbread mix, sour cream, melted butter, and eggs together in a medium bowl until well combined. Spoon mixture into the prepared dish.   3.  Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

 

Black Friday Hack:   Create a strategic shopping plan to follow.  Itemize advertised deals before the holiday arrives and road map those stores offering the best coupons or offers. Then, shop early—and with a favorite buddy. Always makes for a fun time and a memorable event.

 

1. Keep the feast on the table—not under it. 
2. No pie or other desserts for your pets.
3. Yeast dough can cause problems for pets, including painful gas and potentially dangerous bloating.
4. Put the trash away where your pets can't find it.
5. Be careful with decorative plants. 
6. Quick action can save lives. Call ASPCA Poison Control Hotline (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) if the unthinkable happens
7. Visitors can upset your pets. Be aware of potential confrontations.
8. If guests have compromised immune systems, advise them of your pets so they can be prepared.  Advise them if you have exotic pets to make sure they will be comfortable having them around.
9. Watch your exits.  Pets can easily escape during the festivities—and remember:  identification tags and microchips reunite families. Get your pets microchipped!
10. Monitor your pets around holiday decorations—especially lit candles and ornamental foods, for obvious reasons.

From:  American Medical Veterinary Association https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/thanksgiving-pet-safety

                                                             

 

The New Town Residential Association Activities Committee is again sponsoring an old-fashioned fun-filled, free, fall event at the Village Walk neighborhood on the corner of Casey and Settlers Market Boulevard.  New Town adults and children as well as family and friends are invited.  Activities will include cake walks, pumpkin painting, and games including corn hole, croquet, and shark toss, races, an obstacle course, pie face showdown, and more.  New this year will be a Halloween “egg” hunt, which will kick off the festival at 2:15 across the street from the main venue.  

 

Guests will also enjoy cider and other goodies.  Come to participate or just share the good time and music.

 

Join us as we celebrate the fall season on Saturday, October 14 (rain date Sunday, October 15) from 2:00 to 4:00.  

 

We need volunteers to help run the Fall Festival.  If interested, please contact Liz Fones-Wolf at efwolf@wvu.edu.  

This summer, the New Town Women’s Lunch Club donated nearly 50 bags of classroom supplies to the Teacher Supply Shop, a program of the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (WJCC).  According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public school teachers, on average, spend close to $500 of their own money each year on unreimbursed classroom supplies. Teachers serving in low income areas spend considerably more. WJCC established the Teacher Supply Shop as a way to reduce this financial burden on our public school teachers.  WJCC accepts donations of classroom supplies from the community and then distributes these to teachers. Information about this program can be found on the WJCC website.

 

When the New Town Women’s Lunch Club learned of this opportunity, many eagerly participated in contributing supplies. Some also expressed interest in learning about other programs or needs where, together, we might be able to make a difference.  An informal grassroots workgroup of New Town women formed for the purpose of exploring opportunities for those of us living in New Town to give back to the greater Williamsburg community.  The hope is to involve not only the Women’s Lunch Group, but also other New Town neighbors and groups to participate in giving back initiatives on a quarterly basis.  

 

With colder weather approaching, one area of need is for warm coats for children of all ages. After reaching out to several organizations, Williamsburg  House of Mercy and FISH, Inc. both expressed a strong interest in receiving children’s coats and are capable of distributing these to those most in need. Our group of New Town women want to make it easier for anyone interested in making a donation of a NEW or NEARLY NEW coat to do so.  

 

Women attending the New Town Women’s Lunch may bring donations to the October, November, and December lunches.  If you would like to participate or make other arrangements to donate a child’s coat or if you would like to learn more about our giving back initiatives, contact Gale Hyatt (ladyhappy73@gmail.com) or Eden Glenn (edenaglenn@gmail.com). If you would like to learn more about the New Town Women’s Lunch Club, contact Angela Lesnett (Alesnett@verizon.net).

 

The New Town Activities Committee hosted a pool pizza party on Saturday, August 26th to celebrate the end of summer together. We were pleased with the large turnout of neighborhood families who enjoyed the pizzas with a variety of toppings, watermelon, brownies, cookies, and drinks. Everyone had a fun time visiting with neighbors and meeting new ones.

 

 

We look forward to having more events this Fall so everyone can keep in touch with each other. The next event is our second Fall Festival on Saturday, October 14 at Village Walk from 2:00-4:00.  Hope to see you there!

Our New Town Residential Association (NTRA) website was launched in March 2019. As our community grows, it’s always good to review how the site is being used. Some restructuring appeared beneficial, so a few tweaks have been made to the website layout. 

• NTRA business-related content for the site has been moved to a new tab “ASSOCIATION.”  This is an owner-access area of the website where you can find the current Committee files, Governing Documents, annual meeting packages, and financial information (now in a standalone page).

• General information for residents, including the “Report an Issue”/ticketing feature, remains under the "RESIDENTS" tab. There is a new page "Tools for Residents" to make some of the homeowner resources, like the list of neighbor suggested vendors and the Village Walk maintenance chart, more visible.  Do you have ideas for what you’d like to see linked to this page? Just let us know.

We still need volunteers to maintain the currency of our website info and to keep it relevant to the community.  Please consider sharing your skills with the Communications Committee. Writers for our monthly newsletter articles, photographers to provide new banner photos and capture events, and any techies who want to spruce up our Facebook communications are most welcome.  

Can’t find something on the new layout? Send an email to ntrawebsitecommittee@gmail.com.

 

 

 

Manor on the Green, scheduled to be completed fall of 2024, is moving along presently with sitework, including the concrete pours to support vertical construction of the buildings. Our intent was to get as much of the site utilities, including water and sewer connections in the streets along with stone for the parking lot, completed prior to the installation of the building foundations. Due to the limited space available onsite, completion of these site items early allows for construction parking and storage of materials in the future parking lot as the work continues with the buildings. 

 

Framing is now underway. The contractor, Henderson Inc. has been asked to walk the property edge and parking areas to look for trash. They are doing this daily to keep the site and surrounding areas clean. We installed the parking lot in the center of the site also earlier than typical to prevent tracking of mud on the roadways and keep dust down. We are doing the best we can to stay good neighbors during this process.

 

Challenges of being able to procure materials due to the impact of the pandemic is a constant constraint on being able to perform at the level of efficiency that we are accustomed to. We have already started to compile a list of interested individuals, a majority who already live locally, who are wishing to lease a residence at Manor on the Green. That level of interest is a testament of how wonderful the New Town Community is. In addition, we have heard from many businesses in New Town inquiring about our completion as they are encouraged by the opportunity to be supported by these future residents.