Town Crier Articles

Trees Still Grow in New Town: A Tree Primer
Posted on November 1, 2020 7:00 AM by Kathy Mullins
Categories: General, NTRA Business
Trees connect us with our past and our future.  Their roots are often far deeper than our own; their growth will yield leaves and flowers that bring pleasure to future generations. 
 
The 600-acre property beneath New Town was once farmland, with heavily forested areas, apple orchards, pecan groves, and fields of grain. Most of it belonged to the Carl Casey family. Think of the personalities, organizations, interested parties, and visionaries that came together to create New Town.
 
The late Susan Ford’s excellent summation of the design and development of New Town is recounted in archived issues of The Crier (also summarized on this website’s History of New Town). Susan described the Design Competition that attracted 99 entrants from around the world. Entry packets called for an “innovative, mixed-use planned community” that integrated pleasing environmental assets. Designers were challenged to embrace the vision of a “new urbanism-style design, with shops and businesses, restaurants and homes, all within walking distance of each other. There would be tree-lined sidewalks and bike paths, civic spaces and open spaces, cultural buildings and churches – just as towns like Williamsburg used to have.” 
 
They wanted this new community to become “a landmark development and a national model of the highest quality of the visual, social and economic aspects of town planning.” 
 
From the start, trees were important, carefully selected and strategically placed with the future in mind.  Planners learned about Native trees, visited other communities to appreciate how streetscapes and building design worked together to define neighborhoods.
 
Those residents who moved here in the early years threw their efforts and talent into preserving that bold vision. Homebuyers were attracted to the concept of this livable community, where outdoor amenities were as important as interior style. As the community continues to grow and mature it is helpful to keep that concept in the forefront.
 
Trees are a shared responsibility in New Town-accountability for caring for those on your property differs from park or sidewalk trees. For trees in common areas, think of reporting tree issues as helping, rather than complaining. The Landscape Advisory Committee (LAC) carries out many time-consuming tasks. Having residents take the time to pay attention to needs and issues really can help. Between Covid delays and weather issues, the landscape company fell behind in tree prunings this year. If residents can serve as the “eyes and ears” of the LAC, problems can be identified and hopefully resolved more quickly. Using the Report an Issue ticket system allows for issues to be directed to the proper entity. 
 
Once a ticket is submitted, what happens next depends on a number of factors and requires a great deal of communication between the parties. There are multiple entities involved in some locations. For instance, New Town’s trails have not yet turned over from the developer, New Town Associates to NTRA. Some maintenance is worked out between the NTRA and the New Town Commercial Association. Roper Park, on the other hand, has been turned over but the developer failed to remove many dead trees that NTRA must now budget for.
 
After notification, an LAC member, or in some instances, a Town Management employee, will visit the site, evaluate the situation, then recommend whether to consult the landscape company or solicit bids from vendors. Budgeting for the removal and replacement of trees is the next step, which can delay fixes especially if a tree falls unexpectedly. Trees are a budget priority for 2021.
 
As important as it is to respond quickly to reported “issues,” HOA communities are urged to keep up a regular program of maintenance for tree and landscape features. Specific New Town trees have been identified as being in need of professional attention, but in general the LAC found in April 2020 that most of the residential area trees are in good health.
 
Trees need to be pruned correctly in order to withstand heavy winds and storms. To grow and flower they will require nourishment. Insecticide treatments, protection from freezing temperatures, and mulching are all important. Removing, repurchasing and replanting a tree is more costly by far than maintaining existing ones.
 
There is a downside to calling a tree “dead” and removing it too quickly. Often the soil must be treated. The group of trees planted at the same time will no longer be the same size or age. It takes 5 to 7 years for a tree to mature and that wait may be hard for some residents.  There may be times when the ticket suggests, “tree is dead, needs to be removed” but involving a specialist can actually save the tree and money. That was evident in 2017. An arborist from Bartlett Trees with a great deal of expertise in saving trees recommended pruning and fertilizing 36 failing trees at a total cost of $500 rather than replacing all 36 trees at $500 per tree.
 
Patience, accumulated knowledge and experience, good will and an appreciation for those “roots” that bind our community to a grand vision, will go a long way to dealing with most issues.
 
*Look for next month’s article about choosing, planting and maintaining trees on your property.
 
***********************
 
TIPS FOR SUBMITTING A TREE TICKET
 
How to submit a ticket: Go to the NTRA website: www.ntrawilliamsburg.org. Explore the main MENU. Under the RESIDENTS tab you will find REPORT AN ISSUE.  Select LANDSCAPE ISSUES in the dropdown box.
 
Identify yourself, using the form provided, and include phone or email contact info in case additional information is needed. 
 
Note tree location. Is it on your property/ other private property/NTRA common area/commercial/ JCC/ developer/ unknown)? You can specify the nearest street address, intersection or other identifying landmarks.
 
What is your concern?  Here are some typical concerns about trees.
1)  Tree looks diseased or dead.  (Describe what you see or take a photo) Are there visible bugs; signs of insect infestation; mounds of sawdust at tree base; discoloration of bark or leaves; fungus, mushrooms or mold at base or trunk; dropping large branches with no new growth. If possible take a photo and include with report.
2) Tree unstable.  (roots lifting above ground, roots causing sidewalk to heave, main trunk is now leaning; tree injured by vehicle, landscape equipment; tree struck by lightning or windburst).  Did you witness injury? Specify date if possible.
3) Tree presents danger to persons or property:  Added risk because:  tree planted too close to a home or play yard; tree leaning into parking area , walking path, roof, or home exterior; tree (or large branch) has fallen across walking path; large branches rubbing on roof or home exterior
4) Tree unsightly:  State visual observations (needs pruning, has dead sections, misshapen canopy, too large for space). If cause is known, please state.  Degradation of tree appearance can result from situations already mentioned, as well as: under- or over-watering; improper pruning; sustained high wind or heavy rain; incorrect fertilization or feeding; bad or insufficient soil; infestations.
 
When should a resident initiate a ticket?   If you see something that seems wrong, submit a ticket.  Problems that continue just make the situation worse.  Early intervention may save a tree.
 
Communication Helps It Happen! Part Two - Communications FROM Your Association
Posted on November 1, 2020 7:00 AM by Mary Cheston
Categories: General, NTRA Business
Two overarching objectives govern our work on the NTRA Communications Committee – providing transparency and timeliness of information to the New Town community. 
 
The NTRA website is now 18 months old and is the primary vehicle for all Association communications. Hopefully, you have noticed the ways in which our new Board of Directors (BOD) is getting the word out.
 
How are we demonstrating transparency? CHECK OUT THE NTRA WEBSITE!
  • Adding documents to the website that the previous BOD had not made available, e.g. 
    • NTRA Financial Reports
    • Replacement Reserves Study
  • Sharing BOD meeting agendas well in advance of monthly meetings
  • Website Calendar: posting Zoom links to all public NTRA meetings (If you find a broken link, please use the meeting number and password to log in.)
  • Hosting a new dedicated Board of Directors page – all homeowner-controlled BOD bios, meeting agendas, minutes, etc. are in one location. No need to hunt for relevant decisions.
  • Providing opportunities for residents to comment: through the website ticketing system or beneath Town Crier articles.
  • Building and reorganizing our FAQs to cover common questions.
How are we promoting timeliness?
  • "Notices" page of website – putting the latest NTRA news immediately on the first page after you log into the site
  • Monthly Crier articles on Board actions – to provide some context/background and explanation for important topics (e.g. this month’s Budget Challenges piece, Opt-out landscaping, bench refurbishment)
  • Eblasts
  • Facebook posts, e.g. security situation in Charlotte Park
  • Monitoring all “Report an Issue” website entries and reporting to the BOD (e.g. we added a new “streetlight problem” category to correct confusion on which Committee/group to select)
  • Pursuing Committees’ obligations under the NTRA’s governing documents to share meeting records in a timely manner.
Where is information shared?  
 
To stay informed of the information most important to homeowners, be sure you are registered on the NTRA website:  www.ntrawilliamsburg.org. Not only is the website the source for documents, but 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. Be sure your contact information is current or you may miss important news!
 
Public information is available through the NTRA’s Town Crier articles and Facebook pages (https://www.facebook.com/NewTownResidentialAssociation). Have you “liked” our Facebook page? These public pages also mean that anything you comment on there 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. We are not mind readers.
  • Share photos and information about your Committee’s work or your neighborhood events. 
  • Send in ideas for topics you might want to learn more about, either directly in an email (ntrawebsitecommittee@gmail.com) or via the “Report an Issue” website ticketing feature.
Per Randy Casey-Rutland of Town Management, “Good communications via the website relies on NTRA Committees, the NTRA Board, and Town Management working well and working together.”
All November Articles (Text Only - No Photos)
Posted on November 1, 2020 6:57 AM by Town Crier Staff
2021 Budget Challenges
Rick Fisher, Treasurer & Board Representative to Finance Committee
 
The Finance Committee (FC) has been meeting since early August to address the 2021 New Town Residential Association (NTRA) Budget. Committees have provided input which has been evaluated and incorporated in budget reviews with the Board of Directors (BOD) during October. Forecasted 2020 year-end actuals have guided the recommendations by expense line item for 2021. 
 
The purpose of this article is to share with Owners the focus areas and the discussion that has occurred as background and preparation for the 2021 Budget Town Hall Meeting (via Zoom this year) scheduled for November 19th at 6:00PM. In light of the exterior maintenance challenges in Village Walk (see discussion below), a special Zoom presentation for Village Walk owners is scheduled for November 18th at 6PM. The BOD wishes to be completely transparent with the community.
 
Covid-19: While we don’t know when a vaccine will be widely available, we have assumed that Covid-19 will have an impact on Pool Operations in 2021, and that the NTRA will need to institute similar processes to 2020 for much, if not all, of the pool season. This comes with an incremental cost. In 2020, this cost was approximately $10K which funded a full time Pool Attendant and paid for signage and cleaning. In 2020, landscape projects and Activities Committee events, although funded, were not undertaken largely because of incremental, unanticipated Covid-19 expenses and, in the case of activities, the need for social distancing. We are investigating whether the pool contractor can provide Covid-19 services as part of their 2021 contract. Activities will, undoubtedly, continue to be impacted in 2021. However, the NTRA should be able to proceed with landscaping projects. We are assuming Covid-19 related expenses will be around $9K and will be funded from Operating Reserves.  
 
Managing Agent Audit: Industry practice is to conduct a financial audit when a Homeowner’s Association (HOA) is turned over from the Developer to the Owners.  The FC believes that an audit is prudent. This would be a one-time cost to the NTRA on the order of $7-9K. We have identified two CPA firms in Virginia Beach that are associated with the Communities Association Institute (CAI).  In order to get a firm quote, financial statements and tax returns must be provided.  Our numbers are an estimate.
 
Landscaping: The Landscape Advisory Committee (LAC) has submitted $40K of priority one projects.  The projects include: tree removal, planting new trees, tree pruning (the current landscape contract covers pruning up to 12 feet), and plantings around the pool and in the clock tower garden at Village Walk (VW). In addition, as we all know, the turf in New Town is not conducive to warm weather. The LAC has proposed that we develop a Five Year Turf Plan using a phased approach, to evaluate whether it makes sense to install warm weather grass (Bermuda) in New Town’s common areas.  A breakout of these costs is as follows:
  • Tree Removal, Pruning and Root Drenching: $15K (Quote from Arbol Tree Service)
  • New Trees and Planting: $15K (a new tree and installation is typically in the $1-$2K range)
  • First Phase of Turf Plan: $5K (Consultant and test section)
  • Planting of Perennials at Pool and in VW Clock Tower: $5K
The BOD is evaluating these costs in light of their impact on assessments. However, we have fallen behind in this area. Landscaping funds were budgeted for 2020 but no activity took place because of Covid-19 as explained above.
 
Capital Contributions and Administrative Fees: At closing, when buying a new home, the buyer or seller (if negotiated with the buyer) pays a capital contribution fee and an administrative fee. The capital contribution goes directly into the NTRA’s replacement reserves. The administrative fee goes into the operating checking account. VW has an additional capital contribution for exterior maintenance. These fee amounts have to be set in a prudent way in that they impact buyers, sellers and owners. We have surveyed other local HOAs (Ford’s Colony, Governor’s Land, Kingsmill) and believe that our fees are in line with other Associations in the area. The fees incorporated in the 2021 Budget are:
  • NTRA Capital Contribution: $700 (+$50 From 2020)
  • NTRA Administrative Contribution: $250 (+$50 From 2020)
  • VW Additional Capital Contribution: $450 (+$50 From 2020)
    • *Covers replacement of roofs, painting, gutters and downspouts, railings, brick veneer, fascia. (Note: VW home buyers pay all three fees: NTRA Capital Contribution, NTRA Administrative Contribution and the VW Capital Contribution.)
In 2021, fees will total $1,400 for new VW buyers and $950 for NTRA buyers.
 
Village Walk Irrigation: The irrigation system installed by the Developer, Eagle Homes, has been a source of dissatisfaction to owners for several years. VW irrigation and maintenance is an expense that VW owners pay for in their neighborhood assessment. The VW neighborhood assessment is paid by VW owners in addition to the NTRA assessment for townhomes and cottages. The dollar amount budgeted for 2020 maintenance and repair of the irrigation system was woefully inadequate at $1,500. Actuals for 2020 are projected at $12,000. The 2021 Budget will reflect $12,000. Focus on understanding and mapping this irrigation system will be a priority for the first quarter of 2021.  Although there are over 130 zones, no map of heads and pipes currently exists. Town Management, at the direction of the BOD, will hire an outside contractor to do this work.
 
Village Walk Painting: A quote has been received for roughly $240K to repaint all of the VW residences over a five (5) year period beginning in 2023. The painter, after inspecting the buildings, is recommending that this project begin in 2023. This is a Replacement Reserve expense which was not included in the latest 2019 Reserve Study (it should have been) and now must be included as an “add-on.” This expenditure from VW Replacement Reserves needs immediate focus.
 
Village Walk Miscellaneous Maintenance and Repair: Nothing was budgeted in 2020 for this. We have incurred actual expenses of $4.5K year to date and are forecasting that $6K will be spent in 2020.  The 2021 Budget reflects $12K for this expense. A recent needed roof repair was quoted at $3.6K. The cost of miscellaneous maintenance and repair is covered by the VW neighborhood assessment.
 
Replacement Reserve:  In 2021 we will begin to closely manage the Replacement Reserve Fund per a documented Replacement Reserve Policy and Procedure. The BOD will be involved in semi-annual reviews as we define a Five-Year Project List and gradually build up our Replacement Reserves. 
  • Background:  Two NTRA Replacement Reserve Studies have been conducted. The 2015 Replacement Reserve Study called for a 2019 end-of-year balance of $440,196 with annual contributions of $68,492. Our actual balance was $483,079, right in line. However, the 2019 Reserve Study added the Shirley Park neighborhood as well as new assets like the bridges along the walking trail.  The 2019 Study therefore recommended a Replacement Reserve balance of $563,091 at the end of 2019 or $122,895 higher than what was recommend by the 2015 Study. The 2019 Study also calls for a much higher annual contribution of $94,576. This is not unusual since each time a Reserve Study is done, there is a fresh look at the Association assets.
 
  •  Current situation: Our projected ending balance for 2020 is $562,000 or $92,497 below the 2019 Study recommendation of $654,497. It’s important, however, to understand that the Replacement Reserve Study is still very much a projection. The 2019 Study’s total funding goal over 40 years is $4,245,382.  This number represents the replacement of 176 assets over 40 years to include each item’s replacement cost and useful life.    
We believe that our projected 2020 ending balance, only 15 percent below the 2019 Study recommendation, does not represent a problem at this time for the Association. From this point forward we will build the Replacement Reserve Fund over time rather than approaching it as if we need to contribute $94,576 every year for 40 years. Our focus will be to fund to the 40-year goal of $4,245,382 with small annual but increasing replacement reserve contributions that will compound over time. This is a more reasonable approach.  Our major focus will be on needs for the next five to ten years. A Replacement Reserve Study is done every five (5) years with our next one planned for 2024. Things will change again and the 2024 Study will provide us with another recalibration point.
 
Classy New Home for Birds in Magnolia Park
Patti Vaticano
 
Charlotte Park resident, Len Scharf, has always enjoyed re-purposing things for uses other than what they were made for.  Since moving to New Town, and with the permission from building supervisors, a favorite pastime of Len's has been reclaiming pieces of house columns, here in our community, for the creation of a variety of household items from tables to decorative pedestals for ornamental items. Inspired by the book, From Bauhause to Birdhouse:  Imaginative Housing for the Feathered Community, by Leslie Garisto, Len deemed a column would make the perfect birdhouse stand for local birds.  
 
From there, Len shared his idea with neighbors, applied to the Architectural Review Committee and then the Board of Directors for approval to install it in the common area of Magnolia Park. Among the issues to be addressed was ensuring that the long-term maintenance of the birdhouse would not be expensed to the NTRA.
 
After obtaining the NTRA’s approval, Len built a double-decker birdhouse of distinction. On the foggy morning of October 19th, Len and Dave Holtgrieve dug a hole for it--and installed it in Magnolia Park. The structure, a true “house” and not a feeder, will be maintained by Len and his wife Blanche in the future. It's not only a sweet haven for feathered friends but a lovely garden focal point for we earth-pound creatures to enjoy, as well.  Thank you, Len!  
 
 
Pandemic Weekend (or Daytrip) Getaways
Crier Staff, Resident Submissions
Do you have cabin fever? As we enjoy cooler Fall weather, more people have been venturing out by driving to a local retreat or getaway destination for a break. Here are a few recent excursions from some New Town residents. Live vicariously through your neighbors or try one of these locations yourself!
 
Virginia Mountains with the Kavitz Family
Jim, Janice & Lisa Kavitz recently ventured to the Virginia mountains for a brief getaway trip. Their trip included stops in Roanoke, Va and the Peaks of Otter Lodge located by the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Beautiful!
 
They also visited Bedford, Virginia and toured the National D-Day Memorial honoring those who fought and died on D-Day in June, 1945.  Bedford hosts this memorial because Bedford lost more soldiers per capita than any other town or city in the USA during the D-Day invasion of occupied France.
 
Besides sightseeing the Kavitzes loaded up on fruit and honey from a local orchard. Then on to Blacksburg, VA and Jim’s alma mater Virginia Tech. Per Jim, “We also viewed the small duplex we rented while we were there.  Every place we have lived, Janice has planted a tree. In the yard of this duplex was the now 50-foot tall tree Janice planted some 50 years ago.”
 
Their final stop was Abington, VA and the Martha Washington Inn which is over 180 years old and served as a women’s college during the Civil War. Abington is also the home of the Barter Theater, the longest operating equity theater in the United States. This theater was started during the depression by unemployed New York City actors and was based on a “barter” system of trading crops or a hot dinner for a ticket. The Kavitzes enjoyed a varied trip well worth the 6-hour drive back to Williamsburg.
 
New Bern, North Carolina – Mary and Ric Cheston
A 3-hour drive away through rural North Carolina on the banks of the Neuse River lies the city of New Bern – city of bears and the birthplace of Pepsi Cola. Although the ability to visit Atlantic Beach motivated our getaway, New Bern proved to be a charming mix of quaint shops and local restaurants. For history buffs, Tryon Palace in New Bern was the first capitol of North Carolina and home to their general assembly after the American Revolution. New Bern’s historic district features an array of architectural styles including Victorian mansions, Georgian and Greek revival homes. 
 
Eating fresh local seafood was definitely a highlight for us. As part of its Covid-response, the city of New Bern closes two main streets on Friday and Saturday evenings for outdoor dining, adding to the festive Fall scene. Their Covid protections even included this cow at the Cow Café (see photo) known for its homemade ice cream and bovine themed gifts. 
 
The New Bern area displays a variety of lifesize fiberglass bears designed by local artists and initially installed for the city’s 300th anniversary in 2010. This attraction was so popular that about 50 bears remain and you can find them using a Bear Tracks hunt map from the Visitors Bureau. Saturday morning New Bern hosts a Farmers Market with produce and crafts from throughout Craven County. Although smaller than Williamsburg’s, it is a popular market and provided some great butter beans and tomatoes for us to enjoy on our return to New Town.
 
Getaway.house – Standardsville, VA/Shenandoah National Park - Bobbie & Alan Falquet
An article in the Washington Post about getting away during this crazy time peaked our interest.  We certainly were feeling the need for a change of scenery. Someplace not too far away, within driving distance, private, safe, close to pursuits that offer a change of place and pace….we found that through Getaway.house. Their location near Shenandoah National Park in Standardsville, VA, only 30 minutes from Charlottesville, was perfect for our mini-break.  The Scandinavian style cabins are nestled in the woods. Ours was cozy, spotless, and private and the amenities were fantastic.  We took our own food, cooking steaks on a grate over an open fire, and heated up chili on the two-burner stove. 
 
We spent our days exploring and hiking.  The trail along the Mooreman River (see photos) was beautiful and the view after reaching the summit of High Top Mountain was spectacular.  Evenings sitting around the campfire, sipping wine, and making s’mores was the perfect way to end the day. It is pricey but well worth it, plus it was an excuse to stop at Carter’s Orchard in Charlottesville for cider donuts! 
 
Berkley Spring, West Virginia – Kay Grady and Cary Garnet
On Sunday, October 4th, after being in sequestration for 206 days, Kay Grady and Cary Garnet took a "brave" pill and hit the road to Berkeley Springs, WV with a car full of household items and childhood memorabilia to give to their daughter and her spouse who had purchased their first home in Pittsburgh, PA earlier this year. 
 
It was a pleasant and easy 4 hour drive from Williamsburg, with scenic views of leaves just beginning to change, beautiful farmland in Fauquier Co. and roadside Pumpkin Patches filled with families searching for that perfect Halloween pumpkin. 
 
Upon arrival around noon in Berkeley Springs, we met up with our daughter in a bank parking lot to unload our car and load theirs up. The hardest part for all of us was that we could not HUG! Then we took a stroll through the historic downtown area looking into the many store's windows displaying lots of treasures like artwork, jewelry, blown glass, crafts and clothes. In addition to being a historic spa town, Berkeley Springs is an art town!
 
We also decided to have lunch there and chose Tari's Cafe since we could eat outside on the sidewalk. It was the first outside restaurant meal we "retirees" had experienced since March, so we were taught by the younger generation how to eat and have a conversation while dealing with a mask! It was fun to people watch (a guy with a parrot on his shoulder), see the traffic flowing by (lots of motorcycles in and out of town), eat good food and of course, to have a conversation in person with our young'uns!  (We Zoom every Sunday afternoon.)
 
After lunch, we parted ways and headed home. On the way back, we stayed on Highway 17 past Fredericksburg instead of taking I-95 and it added another 45 minutes or so to the trip. Berkeley Springs turned out to be a good day trip meet up spot for our family and we hope to go back again to see more things this charming town has to offer that we didn't have time for this trip - the Ice House Gallery, the Cat Cafe, Cacapon State Park, the list goes on...... 

Communication Helps It Happen! Part Two - Communications FROM Your Association  
 Mary Cheston, Chair, Communications Committee
 
Two overarching objectives govern our work on the NTRA Communications Committee – providing transparency and timeliness of information to the New Town community. 
 
The NTRA website is now 18 months old and is the primary vehicle for all Association communications. Hopefully, you have noticed the ways in which our new Board of Directors (BOD) is getting the word out.
 
How are we demonstrating transparency? CHECK OUT THE NTRA WEBSITE!
  • Adding documents to the website that the previous BOD had not made available, e.g.  NTRA Financial Reports Replacement Reserves Study
  • Sharing BOD meeting agendas well in advance of monthly meetings
  • Website Calendar: posting Zoom links to all public NTRA meetings (If you find a broken link, please use the meeting number and password to log in.)
  • Hosting a new dedicated Board of Directors page – all homeowner-controlled BOD bios, meeting agendas, minutes, etc. are in one location. No need to hunt for relevant decisions.
  • Providing opportunities for residents to comment: through the website ticketing system or beneath Town Crier articles.
  • Building and reorganizing our FAQs to cover common questions.
How are we promoting timeliness?
  • Notices page of website – putting the latest NTRA news immediately on the first page after you log into the site
  • Monthly Crier articles on Board actions –to provide some context/background and explanation for important topics (e.g. this month’s Budget Challenges piece, Opt-out landscaping, bench refurbishment)
  • Eblasts
  • Facebook posts, e.g. security situation in Charlotte Park
  • Monitoring all “Report an Issue” website entries and reporting to the BOD (e.g. we added a new “streetlight problem” category to correct confusion on which Committee/group to select)
  • Pursuing Committees’ obligations under the NTRA’s governing documents to share meeting records in a timely manner.
Where is information shared?  
 
To stay informed of the information most important to homeowners, be sure you are registered on the NTRA website:  www.ntrawilliamsburg.org. Not only is the website the source for documents, but 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. Be sure your contact information is current or you may miss important news!
 
Public information is available through the NTRA’s Town Crier articles and Facebook pages (https://www.facebook.com/NewTownResidentialAssociation). Have you “liked” our Facebook page? These public pages also mean that anything you comment on there 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. We are not mind readers.
 
  • Share photos and information about your Committee’s work or your neighborhood events. 
  • Send in ideas for topics you might want to learn more about, either directly in an email (ntrawebsitecommittee@gmail.com) or via the “Report an Issue” website ticketing feature.
Per Randy Casey-Rutland of Town Management, “Good communications via the website relies on NTRA Committees, the NTRA Board, and Town Management working well and working together.”
 
More History of Roper Park
June Dawkins
 
On Saturday, October 17, the NTRA Activities Committee sponsored a Town Talk on ZOOM given by David Lewes, project manager at the William & Mary Center for Archeological Research. Lora Caputo introduced the speaker to more than two dozen virtual attendees. The central topic was the history of habitation at Roper Homestead Park, but the presentation broadened to include interesting facts about James City County and the Tidewater region of Virginia and beyond. 
 
Roper Park was examined on two occasions, first in 1990, and again in 2004, when New Town Associates, LLC, commissioned studies in anticipation of a US Army Corps of Engineers permit application for construction as part of their development of New Town. Mr. Lewes’ maps showed the location of archeological ‘hotspots’ and explained how the digs were conducted. Slides showed the location of building and farmstead remains, including a well-preserved brick foundation with brick hearth outline and a ‘robber hole,’ described as an area dug out to retrieve previously used and buried material. Types of household items found in the different dirt strata included nails and other building materials and ceramic fragments, largely pearlware and whiteware, which were in popular use in the first half of the 19th century. The sites have been covered up to preserve what remains underground and markers have been placed around Roper Park to provide some of its history. The items removed from the site are in storage at the William & Mary archeological lab.
 
While most of the findings in New Town are from the mid-19th century Roper farm, Mr. Lewes said that sites of prehistoric occupation on local stream valleys, some as old as 8000 years ago, have been documented, including in an area near the commercial parking lot east of New Town Avenue. Another site of interest is behind Legacy Hall. 
 
The period following the American Revolution was a time of decline in the Tidewater as the capital was moved to Richmond, the soil was depleted by overproduction of tobacco, plantations were divided and many people went west in search of better opportunity. Much information has been lost because James City County sent many records to a central warehouse near Richmond for safekeeping. These were destroyed during the southern retreat from Petersburg to Appomattox when the warehouse storing land records caught fire by mistake as the Confederates set fire to stores of tobacco and other valuable goods to keep them out of Union hands. 
 
Military mapping from the Civil War era shows a wooded site where the Roper farmstead had been. Other items of interest on the maps are the names of local property owners. On one Confederate map is an area marked as ‘Negro’ with no name attribution.  Mr. Lewes said there were many free blacks in the region, especially in the Centerville area. Confederate maps did not include names for these landholders, but many are believed to have come from Greensprings Plantation when its owner manumitted all his slaves for religious reasons and gave them property in the Jolly Pond area, where many descendants still reside.
 
Other information that was preserved through tax, census and court records show the changing ownership, make up and value of the Roper homestead, beginning with Randolph Roper in the early 1800’s. Only the owner’s name is provided in these records, the names of other residents, both free and enslaved, is not recorded. Records continue through a man named Tolliver (Taliaferro) who developed a plan for a residential subdivision in 1912 that never came to fruition. He then sold to the Caseys, owners of property near where Blair Middle School stands today.  The Casey family held the tract until the late 20th century, and the rest is New Town history.
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
If you missed it, here is David Lewes’ presentation:  https://www.ntrawilliamsburg.org/admin2/adminfiles/filemanager.php
 
Also in response to questions about the prehistoric sites found in the New Town area, Mr. Lewes provided the following link to a report about nearby prehistoric sites that Center archeologists investigated as part of the planning process for the Route 199 project.
 
Additional information on Roper Homestead property ownership, occupation and the excavations can be found in a previous Town Crier article “History in Our Midst—Roper Park” from July 2019.

Smart Reasons for Leashing Your Dog in New Town
Patti Vaticano
 
New Town loves its pets, but they are also a frequent source of neighbor complaints – pet droppings, noise, unleashed dogs, etc. All of these situations are addressed in the NTRA Master Declaration Protective Covenants (Section 7.1(x)) and Bylaws (Section 11.1 – Animals). New Town pet owners should familiarize themselves with these requirements including those for use of the common areas in New Town.
 
In the spirit of being good pet neighbors (and avoiding all those complaints and possible penalties), here are some personal considerations for why you should keep your dog leashed and under your control.
 
  • Cars – It’s a devastating moment for all involved when a dog gets hit by a moving vehicle. Even well-behaved dogs may suddenly run in the path of a moving car or not be seen by someone backing up in a parking lot. Parking lots, sidewalks, and roadside excursions are safer with a leash. A leash is your pet’s “Life Line.”
  • Greetings and Salutations – When your pup is leashed and greets another leashed pup, the dogs are usually on good behavior. They know their people are close, and they’ll sniff to say “hi.” If there’s a hint of aggression, you can quickly pull your dog away and defuse the situation.
  • Staying Cleaner – If you’ve ever let your dog run loose in a park or other open space, only to watch in pain as they chased ducks into the muddy lake, then you know what we mean. No one really wants the extra chore of spontaneous bath time with their pooch.
  • Preventing Jumping on Others – Have you ever been at a park (not a dog park, a regular people park) and someone’s off-leash dog terrorizes a toddler eating an ice cream? It’s not that the dog is trying to scare the kid, but can you see how a 3-foot-tall person waving about a popsicle just out of reach of the dog’s face can seem like a game to the one with the wagging tail? No one is making friends with this.
  • Loss Prevention – Dogs who accompany their people on leashes are less likely to get lost. For example, you can stop your dog from chasing after a cat. They won’t go on solo exploratory missions, and you’ll know exactly where they are and what they’re doing.
  • Preventing Them from Eating Something They Shouldn’t – Garbage, offerings from strangers, and non-edibles: we all know dogs explore the world with their mouths, and some of them are very food-oriented. Eating things they shouldn’t can lead to upset tummies and worse.
  • No Accidental Puppies - Not every animal is spayed or neutered, and if a pup gets out of the house and meets up with another animal in heat, well, it doesn’t take long for new puppies to be on the way.
  • Prevents the Spread of Disease – Some dogs like to eat other animals’ “leavings,” and those can carry disease. Such dining is less likely to happen if your pet is leashed.
  • Marks Them as a Pet – Well-trained dogs are a pleasure to walk on the leash, and it identifies them as your pet. Well-behaved dogs with identification are easier to reunite if you somehow get separated.
Source: Courtesy of The Bill Foundation, Beverly Hills, California and The Valley West and Elk Valley Veterinary Hospital, Charleston, West Virginia.
 
Trees Still Grow In New Town
Kathy Mullins
 
Trees connect us with our past and our future.  Their roots are often far deeper than our own; their growth will yield leaves and flowers that bring pleasure to future generations. 
 
The 600-acre property beneath New Town was once farmland, with heavily forested areas, apple orchards, pecan groves, and fields of grain. Most of it belonged to the Carl Casey family. Think of the personalities, organizations, interested parties, and visionaries that came together to create New Town.
 
The late Susan Ford’s excellent summation of the design and development of New Town is recounted in archived issues of The Crier (also summarized on this website’s History of New Town). Susan described the Design Competition that attracted 99 entrants from around the world. Entry packets called for an “innovative, mixed-use planned community” that integrated pleasing environmental assets. Designers were challenged to embrace the vision of a “new urbanism-style design, with shops and businesses, restaurants and homes, all within walking distance of each other. There would be tree-lined sidewalks and bike paths, civic spaces and open spaces, cultural buildings and churches – just as towns like Williamsburg used to have.” 
 
They wanted this new community to become “a landmark development and a national model of the highest quality of the visual, social and economic aspects of town planning.” 
 
From the start, trees were important, carefully selected and strategically placed with the future in mind.  Planners learned about Native trees, visited other communities to appreciate how streetscapes and building design worked together to define neighborhoods.
 
Those residents who moved here in the early years threw their efforts and talent into preserving that bold vision. Homebuyers were attracted to the concept of this livable community, where outdoor amenities were as important as interior style. As the community continues to grow and mature it is helpful to keep that concept in the forefront.
 
Trees are a shared responsibility in New Town-accountability for caring for those on your property differs from park or sidewalk trees. For trees in common areas, think of reporting tree issues as helping, rather than complaining. The Landscape Advisory Committee (LAC) carries out many time-consuming tasks. Having residents take the time to pay attention to needs and issues really can help. Between Covid delays and weather issues, the landscape company fell behind in tree prunings this year. If residents can serve as the “eyes and ears” of the LAC, problems can be identified and hopefully resolved more quickly. Using the Report an Issue ticket system allows for issues to be directed to the proper entity. 
 
Once a ticket is submitted, what happens next depends on a number of factors and requires a great deal of communication between the parties. There are multiple entities involved in some locations. For instance, New Town’s trails have not yet turned over from the developer, New Town Associates to NTRA. Some maintenance is worked out between the NTRA and the New Town Commercial Association. Roper Park, on the other hand, has been turned over but the developer failed to remove many dead trees that NTRA must now budget for.
 
After notification, an LAC member, or in some instances, a Town Management employee, will visit the site, evaluate the situation, then recommend whether to consult the landscape company or solicit bids from vendors. Budgeting for the removal and replacement of trees is the next step, which can delay fixes especially if a tree falls unexpectedly. Trees are a budget priority for 2021.
 
As important as it is to respond quickly to reported “issues,” HOA communities are urged to keep up a regular program of maintenance for tree and landscape features. Specific New Town trees have been identified as being in need of professional attention, but in general the LAC found in April 2020 that most of the residential area trees are in good health.
 
Trees need to be pruned correctly in order to withstand heavy winds and storms. To grow and flower they will require nourishment. Insecticide treatments, protection from freezing temperatures, and mulching are all important. Removing, repurchasing and replanting a tree is more costly by far than maintaining existing ones.
 
There is a downside to calling a tree “dead” and removing it too quickly. Often the soil must be treated. The group of trees planted at the same time will no longer be the same size or age. It takes 5 to 7 years for a tree to mature and that wait may be hard for some residents.  There may be times when the ticket suggests, “tree is dead, needs to be removed” but involving a specialist can actually save the tree and money. That was evident in 2017. An arborist from Bartlett Trees with a great deal of expertise in saving trees recommended pruning and fertilizing 36 failing trees at a total cost of $500 rather than replacing all 36 trees at $500 per tree.
 
Patience, accumulated knowledge and experience, good will and an appreciation for those “roots” that bind our community to a grand vision, will go a long way to dealing with most issues.
 
*Look for next month’s article about choosing, planting and maintaining trees on your property.
 
***********************
TIPS FOR SUBMITTING A TREE TICKET
 
How to submit a ticket: Go to the NTRA website: www.ntrawilliamsburg.org. Explore the main MENU. Under the RESIDENTS tab you will find REPORT AN ISSUE.  Select LANDSCAPE ISSUES in the dropdown box.
 
Identify yourself, using the form provided, and include phone or email contact info in case additional information is needed. 
 
Note tree location. Is it on your property/ other private property/NTRA common area/commercial/ JCC/ developer/ unknown)? You can specify the nearest street address, intersection or other identifying landmarks.
 
What is your concern?  Here are some typical concerns about trees.
1)  Tree looks diseased or dead.  (Describe what you see or take a photo) Are there visible bugs; signs of insect infestation; mounds of sawdust at tree base; discoloration of bark or leaves; fungus, mushrooms or mold at base or trunk; dropping large branches with no new growth. If possible take a photo and include with report.
2) Tree unstable.  (roots lifting above ground, roots causing sidewalk to heave, main trunk is now leaning; tree injured by vehicle, landscape equipment; tree struck by lightning or windburst).  Did you witness injury? Specify date if possible.
3) Tree presents danger to persons or property:  Added risk because:  tree planted too close to a home or play yard; tree leaning into parking area , walking path, roof, or home exterior; tree (or large branch) has fallen across walking path; large branches rubbing on roof or home exterior
4) Tree unsightly:  State visual observations (needs pruning, has dead sections, misshapen canopy, too large for space). If cause is known, please state.  Degradation of tree appearance can result from situations already mentioned, as well as: under- or over-watering; improper pruning; sustained high wind or heavy rain; incorrect fertilization or feeding; bad or insufficient soil; infestations.
 
When should a resident initiate a ticket?   If you see something that seems wrong, submit a ticket.  Problems that continue just make the situation worse.  Early intervention may save a tree.
Board Buzz November 2020
Dick Durst, Director
 
This is called “bath by fire…”  I am the newest member of the Board of Directors for the New Town Residential Association, having been appointed to the seat vacated by Larry Burian’s resignation.  Chuck Stetler, Chairman of the Board, asked me to write this November article based on my experience working with two committees, Activities and Asset Maintenance, since we moved to New Town two and a half years ago.  
 
Community service and participation is very important—not just to me, personally, but to the long-term success of our neighborhood.  We very much enjoy the location and atmosphere we’ve found here, after having had a home in the Williamsburg area for more than 20 years.  The volunteer committees ensure that the quality of life we all enjoy will be maintained; even though the two committee charges (our “charters”) are vastly different.  That has appealed to me, since the Activities Committee is all about the “social” aspects of New Town; providing a way to enjoy the company and camaraderie of our neighbors and friends.  Together we’ve planned pool parties, Kentucky Derby celebrations, Oktoberfest, billiards, Halloween parades, the great Noon-time Talks, and several other events, all designed to bring us together as a community.  It’s a lot of work and the committee needs help to maintain (and expand) those social interactions.  COVID 19 has forced us to rethink the kinds of events we’ve done and I assume that in the future (when life returns to some semblance of social interaction in addition to social distancing) we will discover the “right” blend of those opportunities. 
 
The Asset Maintenance committee charter couldn’t be more different—our charge is to annually coordinate the “inspection” of all of the “built” assets of the New Town Residential Association, including residences of our homeowners and the shared community assets (like the pool buildings, our white fences, and our green spaces), to ensure that all those remain of a quality that is representative of a first-class community and reflect positively on our neighborhoods. 
 
As you are well-aware, many of our homes, beyond those newly constructed in Village Walk, Roper Park, and Shirley Park, are beginning to “come of age.”  Karen and I live in Abbey Commons and our home was built in 2006.  Unfortunately, in developments like ours, builders don’t always use top of the line, first-class materials and equipment, which means for all of us our own personal assets are beginning to need attention.  We’ve just replaced one of our air conditioning units, both inside and outside.  We’ve replaced the flooring in the first floor, had shingles replaced and gutter systems redone.  The paint on many of our homes are beginning to show their age.  I’ve noticed as I walk around New Town that even some of the brickwork is beginning to need attention.  My point is that the volunteer work on the Asset Maintenance committee will become increasingly important as our homes and community assets continue to age. As our committee members reach the end of their terms, it is gratifying to see others step forward to help, but we always need more.
 
There are six additional committees, all staffed by volunteers, that cover most of the aspects of our community, in addition to the Board of Directors (also, all volunteers), so there are so many ways you can contribute.  Those of us who are retired (and seem to have more time to give) also need the balance of younger residents, so that we benefit from all perspectives.  Please think about how you might help?
 
I, along with all Board members, welcome your questions and comments.  See you around the neighborhood!
 
Music Fills the Garden in Foundation Square
Max Pfannebecker
 
Continuing a budding tradition that began a year ago, residents of Foundation Square quietly held a Music in the Garden Event last month in the Children's Garden, tucked behind the Foundation Square building on New Town Ave. Joe's Day Off, led by Jim Duggan, performed in the Garden for a small crowd of just under 30 residents and neighbors.
 
"We just started a year ago before the COVID issue," says Foundation Square resident Jim Kavitz. "Last fall, for the first time, we had Phil Casey (local musician and, coincidentally, former Crier editor) in our lobby, and we all had a great time...and got in several dances. This past June, we had Phil back for another session, outside in our garden, and about 21 of our residents."
 
The event is hosted and funded by residents of Foundation Square and is not a function of the New Town Commercial Association, but Kavitz adds that they are considering inviting all New Town residents who wish to attend to their next event, likely to be held this Spring. Jocelyn Oldham, a solo singer and guitarist, has been lined up to perform at the spring event. 
 
Stay tuned for further announcements on this upcoming happening. 
Tenants: Bring Your Energy and Ideas to the NTRA!
Posted on October 1, 2020 7:00 AM by Town Crier Staff
At its September 24th meeting, the Board of Directors approved changes to five New Town Committee charters permitting the addition of New Town tenants as non-voting members of NTRA Committees. Previously, only homeowners--full Members of the Association--could serve on all Committees.
 
Tenants now join homeowners in the New Town Commercial Association as auxiliary members in a nonvoting capacity. If you are renting in New Town, you may volunteer for the Activities, Communications, Emergency Preparedness, Landscape Advisory Committee or the Pool Committee.  We’d love to have your enthusiasm working for our community. 
Communication Helps It Happen! Part One: Communicating with Your Homeowners Association
Posted on October 1, 2020 7:00 AM by Mary Cheston
Categories: NTRA Business
Now that we homeowners control the Board of Directors, many residents have ideas (and complaints) to share, and share we have!  Perhaps we were just waiting for a changing of the guard to see if things could improve? Perhaps Covid-19 restrictions have given us more time to walk through neighborhoods and observe. Whatever the reason, Town Management and individual Directors on the Board have received a deluge of emails and calls about a variety of issues, some of which are outside the NTRA’s control. 
 
So let’s focus on COMMUNICATIONS to the NTRA – how, when, who and what. 
 
1) How? The primary vehicle for reporting a problem or concern to the Association is the NTRA website “Report an Issue” feature (See Residents page dropdown box) All NTRA Committees including the Board of Directors receive the comments submitted in their subject area.
 
  • Why is this the first place residents should go? It creates a ticket, similar to an HOA work order, where both the Board and Town Management, as well as the resident, can track issues. If we send something privately to an individual, there is no traceability. Help us to improve accountability on the part of the Association by using this website system.
 
  • “I have not had timely or satisfactory responses from using this feature.” We feel your pain. Know that the delays are not due to any lack of responsiveness by the website team. Town Management controls this system. Sometimes it takes time for a Committee or the Board to provide Town Management with a reply. (Please do not duplicate your comment by sending in a separate email.)
The ticketing system is a work in progress. Some Board members recently met with Town Management to review and expedite open tickets. Several status categories were added to clarify what is happening with each ticket. Town Management has committed to improve its transparency in replying helpfully to every resident. (Residents can also close out tickets if they know the issue has been addressed.)
 
2) When? If there is a true emergency situation requiring immediate attention, e.g. the recent overflow of the pool after hours, then a call to Town Management is best. 
 
3) Who? The Board of Directors are volunteers, as are all NTRA Committee members. Their time is their own, not ours. The new Board has been looking at a wide range of issues – in just the past 90 days, they have officially met 11 times, with individual Directors also meeting separately with their assigned Committees. Distractions from calls and emails only add to this workload. Remember that the Board acts collectively, not individually, so while it may feel good to vent on our favorite Director, there is not likely to be resolution within her/his power. Send your comments to the Board through the website, and let the system work. 
 
4) What? Finally, some things that may be annoying to us are not within the Association’s purview. Complaints about median strips, trails, construction crews, and US Post Office practices should be redirected. If you contact the appropriate source and learn something about New Town that you weren’t aware of, chances are your neighbor isn’t either. Share what you learned with the Communications Committee to add to the website’s Frequently Asked Questions. Contact ntrawebsitecommittee@gmail.com We all benefit when we communicate precisely.
 
So let me take a page from “Miss Manners” book, and encourage all of us to follow communication chains. Although your friend/neighbor may now be on the Board, there is a protocol to follow to ensure that concerns from the community are shared in a timely and respectful manner.  
 
Next month, I’ll focus on communications from the NTRA. What have we been doing to keep you informed of New Town matters?
A New Town Streetlight Primer
Posted on October 1, 2020 7:00 AM by Kathy Mullins
Categories: General, NTRA Business
Among many attributes that make New Town unique are the handsome streetlights that adorn our residential neighborhoods. Myriad factors were considered when these fixtures were selected: compliance with local and state regulations; design attributes that would enhance the character and mood of the streetscape; illumination appropriate for ambience and safety concerns; satisfactory environmental criteria; capacity to add utility (adding signage or seasonal decoration); and, costs - installation and maintenance ... and more.  
 
This article will focus on the last factor, the one that generates the most questions: maintenance.  What’s involved and how can homeowners help keep the lights on?
 
Here are some enlightening facts about our streetlight assets.
 
There are approximately 225 residential streetlights in New Town.
 
The NTRA is responsible for maintaining and repairing the streetlights in New Town. In the main, this includes those on streets and alleys, in parks and within many, but not all, parking lots. Since some lines of responsibility are difficult to delineate (as in “many, but not all”), the most efficient way for oversight to function at present, is for all problem reports to be submitted through the STREETLIGHT PROBLEM reporting system on the website. (See below). Town Management will receive and review all reports, and redirect any that should be handled by the Commercial Association or another entity. 
 
Neither V-DOT nor Dominion Power is involved with maintaining or repairing streetlights in New Town. 
 
Around 2013 NTRA initiated a program to retrofit the existing decorative streetlamps for the use of energy-efficient LED bulbs. The intent was to lower costs associated with frequent bulb replacement and to conserve energy. The changeovers occurred gradually, usually when bulb replacement or other maintenance was needed. To date about 50% of the residential streetlamps have been retrofit for LED usage (lighting for the new construction in Shirley Park is LED.) The remainder continue to use older-style bulbs, such as Mercury-Halide or CFL. Other types of exterior street lighting can be found in the commercial areas and parking lots.  
 
There are regular inspections of assets requiring maintenance (dog waste bins, street lights, walking paths, etc. Town Management personnel, maintenance staff, and NTRA committees, such as the Asset Maintenance Committee, assist. Because lighting problems are more easily detected at night, residents can be extremely helpful by reporting any issues seen in a timely fashion. 
 
What should residents do when they notice a streetlight problem?
 
All homeowners should become familiar with the NTRA website which provides a simple means of reporting problems.  From the MENU, under the RESIDENTS tab, select “REPORT AN ISSUE.”  From 11 options (e.g., Pool & Playgrounds, Finance, etc.) choose the newest tab, “STREETLIGHT PROBLEM.” 
 
Fill in requested information to help speed the repair:
  • Your name and email address (in case more specific details are needed) 
  • Pole Number. An I.D. plate is attached near the base of every streetlight pole (see photo) with coded information that conveys information to the electrician. The label in this photo indicates that the street light is attached to the Phase 2 electrical panel, it is located on Casey Blvd and is the first pole in the sequence of that group. Copy this information down to include with a problem report. Tim Grueter of Town Management, says that including this number is a huge help, as is noting the address of the nearest home or intersection.
  • Describe details. For example, only one bulb is unlit, the lamp has become very dim, the light remains on all day, or several lamps are out along the street. If an outage occurred after a shovel cut a wire or a sign was inserted near the pole, include that possibility so the electrician arrives with the necessary tools. 
  • Be specific with details if you are reporting something other than an electrical issue; for example, physical damage to the light pole, broken glass in the globe or a disconnected armature. The situation may require someone other than an electrician.
Town Management works with a roster of local electricians who are familiar with our streetlights and prepared with necessary parts to service them. At least once a month, and more frequently when indicated, an electrician is dispatched to deal with repairs/LED replacement (in a batch). There have been problems that hampered repairs during this pandemic period with shortages of certain supplies, particularly retrofit units, and of personnel at distributor facilities. These issues seem to be resolving.
 
Note that this article concerns Streetlight Issues, not major power outages that might occur due to a storm or hurricane. In those circumstances, residents would report outages to Dominion Virginia Power. Report the outage using a cell phone: 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357).
 
We can all help keep the lights on. 
 
Tag at bottom of pole shows coded information needed when submitting a "STREETLIGHT PROBLEM" report
 
Streetlights were carefully selected to enhance the design elements of New Town residential neighborhoods. 
All October Articles (Text Only - No Photos)
Posted on October 1, 2020 6:00 AM by Town Crier Staff
IT’S VOTING SEASON!
June Dawkins
 
Did you know that you do not have to wait until Tuesday, November 3rd to vote in this year’s elections? And that there are several ways for you to cast your vote?  Early voting began on September 18th.  Any registered voter can request an Absentee Ballot or vote Early-In-Person at a designated polling place.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, James City County is encouraging all voters to vote from home or vote early to avoid the lines and crowding on Election Day. Here are the details:
 
STEP 1:  Check the Accuracy of Your Voter Registration or Register to Vote
You can check the accuracy of your current voter registration or register to vote for the first time online at the Virginia Department of Elections website:  https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation
The final day to register/update your information is Tuesday, October 13th.  Your registration must be received by the Registration/Elections Main Office at 5300 Palmer Lane (across from New Town off Ironbound Road) by that date.  
 
STEP 2:  Request Your Absentee Ballot
Virginia allows all registered voters to request online a vote-by-mail ballot with no excuse needed. Your request must be received by the Registrar by Friday, October 23rd and must be signed and dated.
 
STEP 3:  Cast Your Vote
 
Mail-In:  While your completed and signed Absentee Ballot must be postmarked to the Registrar by Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd, it must be received by the Registrar by Friday, November 6th.  Given that the USPS is currently seeing service curtailed in some places and is expected to experience heavy mail volumes in advance of the election, mailing your ballot two weeks in advance is recommended. 
 
Drop Off:  Completed ballots can also be dropped off in the Ballot Box at the James City County (JCC) Recreation Center at 5301 Longhill Road through Saturday, October 31st.
 
Early-In-Person:  JCC Supervisors have also designated the JCC Rec Center as an Early-In-Person Voting location, also through Saturday, October 31st.  Hours are: 
Monday-Friday 8am until 5pm and
Saturday 9am to 5pm (October 24th and 31st only)
 
Election Day:  Cast your In-Person Vote on Tuesday, November 3rd at the JCC Rec Center, which is the regular polling place for New Town voters. Polls will be open from 6am to 7pm that day with curbside voting available.
 
STEP 4:  Track your vote at the JCC website:  
 
More Virginia General Election information can be found at:
https://www.elections.virginia.gov    
https://www.vote411.org va   
Youtube: JCC County Podcast on Elections https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzPDqyZJNQA&feature=youtu.be
 
New “Opt Out” Option for Your Landscaping Services
Landscape Advisory Committee
“If anyone asks what a first-class community looks like, it is well maintained property with healthy plantings and grass.” This is what drove Kelly Mihalcoe of the Landscape Advisory Committee (LAC) to investigate options to more clearly communicate to our landscape crews when a homeowner has chosen to do their own yard work.  
 
In the past, tracking of requests to stop landscape services has been sporadic. While Town Management collects official notifications from homeowners, the landscape company might not have the latest list. Some residents have communicated directly with landscape staff.  This created confusion for all parties. Complaints have followed from both homeowners and the contractor if the activity was or was not done. 
 
The LAC wants to minimize these difficulties in meeting residents’ landscape needs. Kelly explored a variety of approaches to the situation, including posting signs for different actions, e.g. no mowing, no pruning, etc. and determined that painting symbols on the curb was the most cost-effective option for the Association. There are four different symbols that will be used depending upon what service a homeowner is declining. Kelly has volunteered to lead the painting of these symbols. 
 
The Board of Directors approved an initial trial of the system at its August meeting, to begin in 2021. (Note: the form is no required for the remainder of 2020.) The Board can revisit the program next year once some experience is gained.
 
What is involved to “opt out?”
  • Complete the opt out form and submit it to Town Management.
  • When a group of forms has been submitted, Kelly’s crew will come to paint the appropriate symbol on your home’s front/back curb. (In order to minimize workload, this painting party will be done periodically.)
  • All homeowners are asked to submit a form by December 5th for the 2021 landscape season. 
What if I change my mind or am traveling so I can’t maintain my property?
Once you opt out, you are responsible for whatever action you asked to be stopped. Town Management will no longer ask a crew to mow a home “just once” for a vacation week. By opting out, you are making a commitment to the New Town community to do this work for the rest of the year. Kelly gave the example of a recent medical incapacitation, where knowing that she was obligated to maintain her lawn, she took the responsibility to hire or ask someone else to do the tasks for several months when she was unable to do them. 
 
The LAC is hopeful that the painted symbols approach will be more effective than current practices. “This may or may not be the perfect system, but we need to implement it and adjust it as we go, if needed”, remarked Kelly.
 
For more information on this new opt-out program and to obtain a form, log into the NTRA website for a variety of resources (see Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions - Landscaping).
 
Navigating the World of Virtual Schooling!
Alison Douglas
 
A new term has started and kids are back at school, but it looks very different to this time last year - classrooms are virtual; schools are online and Zoom is the way forward.  Technology is amazing, but with the quirks of zoom calls; printer fails; Canvass assignments failing to load; navigating the myriad of different systems; as well as children missing their friends and comfort of familiar school routine, teachers, students, parents and grandparents are navigating a complicated and sometimes frustrating new way of online learning.  
 
For those parents out there reaching for the ‘help’ button at the start of a new school week, here are some thoughts from other parents and a New Town teacher to help you navigate the new way of schooling!  
 
It may not seem like it sometimes, but we should remember to congratulate ourselves on how adaptable, resilient and patient we all are.  New Town resident, Susan Schlimme is an ex-educator with three girls going through education.  She says that when it’s frustrating, don’t forget to ‘take a breath’ and remember ‘these are different times with different expectations’.  We are all learning that our expectations can change – these are strange times.  She also says that there is no right or wrong way of learning and teaching – be good to yourself! We are all doing what we can!  Easy things that she says we can do to make a difference to the school day include having easy access to the supplies your children need; and read, read, read!
 
Another New Town resident and parent, Sarah Yeneza, says that as you help your children to support the online learning and support them to understand what they are being taught, it can be fun to trawl your memory and re-learn what you think you have forgotten.  
 
Although some children feel more comfortable in a remote world, some need the interactions to build confidence and independence.  It is not the same, but Susan and Sarah’s advice both say make sure you build in lots of ‘active’ breaks (such as being outside or playing a game) to a consistent schedule (consistency should stretch to a familiar and consistent place to learn).   
 
Don’t forget that our children are learning from us as well as the teacher and the biggest lesson they are learning is how to deal with challenging times.  
 
Tips from the teacher
A final word from D.J. Montague Elementary teacher, Mrs Ford…
First of all, give yourself and your teacher some grace. Glitches happen and you are not going to mess up your child’s education or future just because you can’t get onto Zoom every so often!
 
Secondly, keep in touch.  If you are having any issues, let the teacher know – communication is key!
 
Thirdly, use the provided schedule as a guide so make the day work according to your schedule – it is not meant to mimic the hours your child would be in a classroom.  If your child works better in the morning, set aside time then to complete assignments.
 
Fourthly, read aloud with your child to help them enjoy reading.
 
Finally, although this is frustrating at times, please remember it will end.  Teachers want to be in the classroom – it’s what they do best and they’re giving it everything they have to make this work, while keeping everyone safe.  
 
Communication Helps It Happen! Part One: Communicating with Your Homeowners Association
Mary Cheston, Communications Committee Chair
 
Now that we homeowners control the Board of Directors, many residents have ideas (and complaints) to share, and share we have!  Perhaps we were just waiting for a changing of the guard to see if things could improve? Perhaps Covid-19 restrictions have given us more time to walk through neighborhoods and observe. Whatever the reason, Town Management and individual Directors on the Board have received a deluge of emails and calls about a variety of issues, some of which are outside the NTRA’s control. 
 
So let’s focus on COMMUNICATIONS to the NTRA – how, when, who and what. 
 
1) How? The primary vehicle for reporting a problem or concern to the Association is the NTRA website “Report an Issue” feature (See Residents page dropdown box https://www.ntrawilliamsburg.org/submit-a-request/ All NTRA Committees including the Board of Directors receive the comments submitted in their subject area.
 
  • Why is this the first place residents should go? It creates a ticket, similar to an HOA work order, where both the Board and Town Management, as well as the resident, can track issues. If we send something privately to an individual, there is no traceability. Help us to improve accountability on the part of the Association by using this website system.
  •   “I have not had timely or satisfactory responses from using this feature.” We feel your pain. Know that the delays are not due to any lack of responsiveness by the website team. Town Management controls this system.  Sometimes it takes time for a Committee or the Board to provide Town Management with a reply.
Unfortunately, the ticketing system is a work in progress. Some Board members recently met with Town Management to review and expedite open tickets. Several status categories were added to clarify what is happening with each ticket. Town Management has committed to improve its transparency in replying helpfully to every resident. (Residents can also close out tickets if they know the issue has been addressed.)
 
2) When? If there is a true emergency situation requiring immediate attention, e.g. the recent overflow of the pool after hours, then a call to Town Management is best. 
 
3) Who? The Board of Directors are volunteers, as are all NTRA Committee members. Their time is their own, not ours. The new Board has been looking at a wide range of issues – in just the past 90 days, they have officially met 11 times, with individual Directors also meeting separately with their assigned Committees. Distractions from calls and emails only add to this workload. Remember that the Board acts collectively, not individually, so while it may feel good to vent on our favorite Director, there is not likely to be resolution within her/his power. Send your comments to the Board through the website, and let the system work. 
 
4) What? Finally, some things that may be annoying to us are not within the Association’s purview. Complaints about median strips, trails, construction crews, and US Post Office practices should be redirected. If you contact the appropriate source and learn something about New Town that you weren’t aware of, chances are your neighbor isn’t either. Share what you learned with the Communications Committee to add to the website’s Frequently Asked Questions. Contact ntrawebsitecommittee@gmail.com We all benefit when we communicate precisely.
 
So let me take a page from “Miss Manners” book, and encourage all of us to follow communication chains. Although your friend/neighbor may now be on the Board, there is a protocol to follow to ensure that concerns from the community are shared in a timely and respectful manner.  
 
Next month, I’ll focus on communications from the NTRA. What have we been doing to keep you informed of New Town matters?
 
Tenants: Bring Your Energy and Ideas to the NTRA!
Town Crier Staff
 
At its September 24th meeting, the Board of Directors approved changes to five New Town Committee charters permitting the addition of New Town tenants as non-voting members of NTRA Committees. Previously, only homeowners--full Members of the Association--could serve on all Committees.
 
Tenants now join homeowners in the New Town Commercial Association as auxiliary members in a nonvoting capacity. If you are renting in New Town, you may volunteer for the Activities, Communications, Emergency Preparedness, Landscape Advisory Committee or the Pool Committee.  We’d love to have your enthusiasm working for our community. 
 
A New Town Streetlight Primer
Kathy Mullins
 
Among many attributes that make New Town unique are the handsome streetlights that adorn our residential neighborhoods. Myriad factors were considered when these fixtures were selected: compliance with local and state regulations; design attributes that would enhance the character and mood of the streetscape; illumination appropriate for ambience and safety concerns; satisfactory environmental criteria; capacity to add utility (adding signage or seasonal decoration); and, costs - installation and maintenance ... and more.  
 
This article will focus on the last factor, the one that generates the most questions: maintenance.  What’s involved and how can homeowners help keep the lights on?
 
Here are some enlightening facts about our streetlight assets.
 
There are approximately 225 residential streetlights in New Town.
 
The NTRA is responsible for maintaining and repairing the streetlights in New Town. In the main, this includes those on streets and alleys, in parks and within many, but not all, parking lots. Since some lines of responsibility are difficult to delineate (as in “many, but not all”), the most efficient way for oversight to function at present, is for all problem reports to be submitted through the STREETLIGHT PROBLEM reporting system on the website. (See below). Town Management will receive and review all reports, and redirect any that should be handled by the Commercial Association or another entity. 
 
Neither V-DOT nor Dominion Power is involved with maintaining or repairing streetlights in New Town. 
 
Around 2013 NTRA initiated a program to retrofit the existing decorative streetlamps for the use of energy-efficient LED bulbs. The intent was to lower costs associated with frequent bulb replacement and to conserve energy. The changeovers occurred gradually, usually when bulb replacement or other maintenance was needed. To date about 50% of the residential streetlamps have been retrofit for LED usage (lighting for the new construction in Shirley Park is LED.) The remainder continue to use older-style bulbs, such as Mercury-Halide or CFL. Other types of exterior street lighting can be found in the commercial areas and parking lots.  
 
There are regular inspections of assets requiring maintenance (dog waste bins, street lights, walking paths, etc. Town Management personnel, maintenance staff, and NTRA committees, such as the Asset Maintenance Committee, assist. Because lighting problems are more easily detected at night, residents can be extremely helpful by reporting any issues seen in a timely fashion. 
 
What should residents do when they notice a streetlight problem?
 
All homeowners should become familiar with the NTRA website which provides a simple means of reporting problems.  From the MENU, under the RESIDENTS tab, select “REPORT AN ISSUE.”  From 11 options (e.g., Pool & Playgrounds, Finance, etc.) choose the newest tab, “STREETLIGHT PROBLEM.” 
 
Fill in requested information to help speed the repair:
 
  • Your name and email address (in case more specific details are needed) 
 
  • Pole Number. An I.D. plate is attached near the base of every streetlight pole (see photo) with coded information that conveys information to the electrician. The label in this photo indicates that the street light is attached to the Phase 2 electrical panel, it is located on Casey Blvd and is the first pole in the sequence of that group. Copy this information down to include with a problem report. Tim Grueter of Town Management, says that including this number is a huge help, as is noting the address of the nearest home or intersection.
 
  • Describe details. For example, only one bulb is unlit, the lamp has become very dim, the light remains on all day, or several lamps are out along the street. If an outage occurred after a shovel cut a wire or a sign was inserted near the pole, include that possibility so the electrician arrives with the necessary tools. 
 
  • Be specific with details if you are reporting something other than an electrical issue; for example, physical damage to the light pole, broken glass in the globe or a disconnected armature. The situation may require someone other than an electrician.
 
Town Management works with a roster of local electricians who are familiar with our streetlights and prepared with necessary parts to service them. At least once a month, and more frequently when indicated, an electrician is dispatched to deal with repairs/LED replacement (in a batch). There have been problems that hampered repairs during this pandemic period with shortages of certain supplies, particularly retrofit units, and of personnel at distributor facilities. These issues seem to be resolving.
 
Note that this article concerns Streetlight Issues, not major power outages that might occur due to a storm or hurricane. In those circumstances, residents would report outages to Dominion Virginia Power. Report the outage using a cell phone: 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357).
 
We can all help keep the lights on. 
 
Enhancements Are on Their Way through the Volunteer Efforts of Our Community
Mary Cheston
 
Notice anything new in Elizabeth Davis park? Well, it’s not really new, but refinishing has brought new life to one of New Town’s 24 wooden benches. Thanks to the efforts of Charlotte Park residents Mike Reilly and Bob Dennis, refurbishing our aging teak benches has begun. 
 
New Town’s benches were identified as an upcoming capital expense item on the Asset Maintenance Committee’s recent inspection of New Town common area property. Given an estimated replacement cost of between $24,000 to $30,000, President Chuck Stetler asked avid woodworkers Mike and Bob to look at what might be done to salvage the benches. After recruiting other neighbors with trucks to move the benches, Mike and Bob power washed, sanded and applied a special protective coating and shield which returned the bench to its natural teak color. They presented the refinished bench as a prototype for the Board’s consideration. (See photos) As an alternative to purchasing new benches, on September 14th the Board of Directors approved Mike and Bob’s proposal to refurbish all 24 of the NTRA’s wooden benches. A few benches have deteriorated to the point that they will require replacement of slats in the bench backs. Supplies for their entire project will run about $3,000.   
 
While this work has started, their efforts will largely be a winter garage project, explained Mike, since both the Reillys and the Dennises are new grandfathers. Mike and Bob are donating their labor as a service to the New Town community. (If you’d like to be considered as backup or support for these grandpas, contact Mike at mjr1947@yahoo.com or 843 450-5665).
 
Kudos to Mike and Bob for stepping up and demonstrating that New Town residents are willing to be part of the solution! Their efforts are saving the Association about $25,000. 
 
By mid-October the long-awaited expansion of the pool playground will also be starting. The Board of Directors has approved the purchase and installation of a “Whistle Stop” play structure similar to the one pictured. This equipment addition is possible through a payment by the developer, New Town Associates, to the NTRA to satisfy James City County proffers.  Many thanks to Bill Voliva and all the members of the Playground Work Group who can finally see the fruition of their 2017 deliberations.  (See the March 2020 Town Crier for the full background on this playground project).
 
The Board has also approved the installation of a birdhouse on the greens of Magnolia Park. This architectural treat is currently under construction by another New Town resident. Stay tuned for the full story in our November Town Crier issue!
 
Taking a Fall Stroll? Discover the Best Local Spots
Max Pfannebecker
 
Here we are…it’s Fall already and social distancing is still front and center in every interaction and activity. Who would have guessed?
 
Whether you’re looking to recover from the last six months of Covid-induced cabin fever or stave it off for the months to come, most would agree that a stroll outdoors, a bike ride, or a paddle on one of our many scenic blue ways is a great cure.
 
By land and by sea (or river or lake), here’s everything you could need to get socially distanced fresh air this fall, courtesy of our area Parks & Rec departments and Visit Williamsburg:
 
Local Hiking Trails
In addition to New Town’s own conveniently located hiking trails that encircle most of the residential area of our neighborhoods, here are some links to some other beautiful and SOLE-ful spots to stretch your legs.
 
Visit Williamsburg - https://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/outdoor-activities-williamsburg-va/hiking?f%5B0%5D=field_categories%3A33#find-listings
Williamsburg Parks & Rec - https://www.williamsburgva.gov/government/department-i-z/parks-recreation
James City County Parks & Rec Trail Guide - https://jamescitycountyva.gov/756/Parks-Trails
York County Parks & Rec - https://www.yorkcounty.gov/1647/Walking-Trails
 
Kayaking / Canoeing / Boating
Rental Information:
James City County Kayak Rentals (JCC Marina, Chickahominy Riverfront Park) - https://jamescitycountyva.gov/2768/Park-Fees
City of Williamsburg Rentals (Waller Mill)  - https://www.williamsburgva.gov/government/department-i-z/parks-recreation/waller-mill-park/boat-rentals
Best Spots:
Visit Williamsburg's Popular Spots - https://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/outdoor-activities-williamsburg-va/hiking?f%5B0%5D=field_categories%3A29#find-listings
Go Paddling Map - Go Paddling is a smartphone app that shows popular (and some less known) launch sites for Kayakers
 
Biking
Visit Williamsburg - https://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/outdoor-activities-williamsburg-va/hiking?f%5B0%5D=field_categories%3A27#find-listings
 
BOARD BUZZ October 2020
Jean Brown, Vice President - Board of Directors
 
Conversation: #HARDATWORK
 
You can find this phrase in my bio which is a supporting statement that this Board of Director (BOD) member has vision. Your BOD has been hard at work since day one. We began with the training for new board members, an exploration of what Town Management (TM) does for New Town Residential Association (NTRA); a review of  assets, insurance coverage, governing documents, and a check-in with committees to name a few undertakings. 
Let me highlight some of the above endeavors:
 
  • Susan Tarley of Tarley Robinson, PLC as the NTRA attorney provided instructions on the roles and responsibilities of board members.
  • TM provides management services to the NTRA. TM is hired by the NTRA Board specifically to assist the Board to fulfill its responsibilities as defined in the Association documents, including assisting the Board to educate, encourage, and enforce owner compliance with NTRA rules. Helps the Board to manage the assets, funds, and common properties and interests of the NTRA. Supports the efforts of the Board to nurture a lively, healthy, and vital community. NTRA going from a Developer’s board to a Residential board needs a management company that can provide continuity, history, an abundance of experience and professionalism in addition to the services mentioned above. TM brings that to the table for us.
  • Committee support in governance is a treasure to a thriving community. We foster good working relationships and saw the need to formulize Roles and Responsibilities of the Board of Director with Committees.
 
When it comes to transitioning everything is not wrapped in a tidy package with a pretty bow upon it. Such is the case when the Developer’s Board turned NTRA over to the residents.
 
It had come to all attention that Savannah Square neighborhood due to a clerical error resulted in the neighborhood being part of the New Town COMMERCIAL Association instead of the New Town RESIDENTIAL Association. This led to a Ballot: Approval of the first amendment to the NTRA Master Declaration and Covenants to be included during the voting of NTRA first residential board. The Association needed about 100 more votes to pass the Declaration Amendment for Savannah Square so that Savannah Square could be fully and promptly restored into the New Town Residential Association. The goal was not met.
 
Formula: NTRA has approximately 500 properties. A 2/3 vote (334 votes) is needed to pass the Amendment. Voting time, 247 votes had been cast in favor of the Amendment.  
 
The newly elected board had to put a plan into action to gain the remaining votes which was led by Angela Lesnett since electronic reminders did not gain the required number of votes.
 
  • Plan: provide each non-voting homeowner with a paper ballot and a stamped envelope to return to NTRA . New Town residents would get a doorknob bag that included the ballot.  Addresses outside of New Town (approximately 158 of the 500 New Town properties) would have the ballots mailed to them.
 
Savannah Square neighborhood is officially part of NTRA because the action taken by the BOD was successful; however, several homeowners did not sign the Savannah Square neighborhood Supplemental Declaration showing their desire to be part of the Association. To date, there are about a dozen who have not signed, so they are still part of the Commercial Association.
 
In summation, much work has been done and there is much work to do, but with the support of both our committees and residents, the BOD is very confident and engaged in making our community work!
New “Opt Out” Option for Your Landscaping Services
Posted on September 15, 2020 10:21 AM by NTRA Landscape Advisory Committee
Categories: NTRA Business
[CRIER STAFF NOTE: The implementation of this program has been delayed. The Board of Directors suspended the start date previously approved as January 2021 to consider input from NTRA Members.]
 
“If anyone asks what a first-class community looks like, it is well maintained property with healthy plantings and grass.” This is what drove Kelly Mihalcoe of the Landscape Advisory Committee (LAC) to investigate options to more clearly communicate to our landscape crews when a homeowner has chosen to do their own yard work.  
 
In the past, tracking of requests to stop landscape services has been sporadic. While Town Management collects official notifications from homeowners, the landscape company might not have the latest list. Some residents have communicated directly with landscape staff.  This created confusion for all parties. Complaints have followed from both homeowners and the contractor if the activity was or was not done. 
 
The LAC wants to minimize these difficulties in meeting residents’ landscape needs. Kelly explored a variety of approaches to the situation, including posting signs for different actions, e.g. no mowing, no pruning, etc. and determined that painting symbols on the curb was the most cost-effective option for the Association. There are four different symbols that will be used depending upon what service a homeowner is declining. Kelly has volunteered to lead the painting of these symbols. 
 
The Board of Directors approved an initial trial of the system at its August meeting, to begin in 2021. (Note: the form is no required for the remainder of 2020.) The Board can revisit the program next year once some experience is gained.
 
What is involved to “opt out?”
  • Complete the opt out form and submit it to Town Management.
  • When a group of forms has been submitted, Kelly’s crew will come to paint the appropriate symbol on your home’s front/back curb. (In order to minimize workload, this painting party will be done periodically.)
  • All homeowners are asked to submit a form by December 5th for the 2021 landscape season. 
What if I change my mind or am traveling so I can’t maintain my property?
Once you opt out, you are responsible for whatever action you asked to be stopped. Town Management will no longer ask a crew to mow a home “just once” for a vacation week. By opting out, you are making a commitment to the New Town community to do this work for the rest of the year. Kelly gave the example of a recent medical incapacitation, where knowing that she was obligated to maintain her lawn, she took the responsibility to hire or ask someone else to do the tasks for several months when she was unable to do them. 
 
The LAC is hopeful that the painted symbols approach will be more effective than current practices. “This may or may not be the perfect system, but we need to implement it and adjust it as we go, if needed”, remarked Kelly.
 
For more information on this new opt-out program and to obtain a form, log into the NTRA website for a variety of resources (see Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions - Landscaping).
Asset Maintenance Committee's 2020 Review of NTRA's Assets
Posted on September 1, 2020 7:02 AM by Asset Maintenance Committee
Categories: NTRA Business
submitted by Fred Lesnett, Chair
 
The Asset Maintenance Committee (AMC) is tasked by the New Town Residential Association’s (NTRA) Board of Directors (BOD) to conduct an annual inspection of common property (such as the pool and its amenities, playground equipment, streetlights, signs, streets), in addition to the Committee’s supervision of the annual review of homeowners’ properties.  In the first year under homeowner control, rather than developer control, the AMC has recently completed its 2020 year review of the association’s physical assets.  Results of the committee’s findings on which assets should be considered for maintenance or replacement is scheduled to be presented to the NTRA’s BOD.  After the BOD has identified an initial list of maintenance projects for consideration, Town Management will develop cost estimates for completing the work on each project.  The cost estimate for each project will be reviewed by the BOD and approval will be given on which projects will be included in the 2021 budget.  
 
Many of us feel New Town is a relatively young community with expectations that its assets have some time to go before maintenance or replacement is needed. However, the weather (sun, rain, along with the freezing in the winter) negatively impacts the stain, paint, construction materials and exposed surfaces on our buildings, fences, park benches, light posts, signs, fire hydrants, streets, pool equipment, etc.  In general, as we ride or walk around in New Town, perceptions are that our community assets are in good condition. However, a closer inspection reveals that some of these assets have become tired and weathered in their appearance. When under developer control, rather than the current homeowner control, the association’s assets were not always maintained at a level most optimal for extending their length of service and appearance. 
 
The AMC prioritized the list of assets requiring repair and restorative work by the significance of the projects and the sense of urgency to complete them. Funding has been requested of the BOD for the repair, restorative work, or replacement of identified assets in 2021 and later years. Immediate action in 2020 and 2021 is being requested for some items, like the pergola at the pool where we see significant rot and deterioration in the beams supporting the roof. Other items, such as the weathered wood benches in the park areas of New Town, have been recommended to be restored over several years as the budget permits. Recommended cleaning of the playground equipment does not have to take place immediately, but freshening up their appearance will make them more attractive to children and will ensure they last longer.   
 
It is understandable that some of the assets will not be identified as important to our community’s ongoing functioning, as others. But if their deterioration is allowed to continue, the condition of the unmaintained fences, benches, light posts, and fire hydrants will cast a perception over New Town as being weathered and tired. A program of routine maintenance of assets typically extends their life and costs our association less money over the long run. On-going maintenance of these assets instills a positive image of our community in residents and outsiders when they drive through or walk around New Town. A well-maintained community is more attractive to future home buyers when they are ready to consider purchasing a home in one of our neighborhoods. Over the next several years, work and funding will need to be at a higher level than planned if New Town’s assets are going to catch-up to the standards we have come to expect for our community.
All September Articles (Text Only - No Photos)
Posted on September 1, 2020 7:00 AM by Town Crier Staff
Ramping Up for Some Fall Fun
Activities Committee
Recently we held a Riddle Trail activity for New Town highlighting our wonderful trails. Did you notice the signs? There were riddles that had to be solved, easier on the front with harder riddles on the back of the sign for the older kids. You could pick up an answer sheet at the pool and after it was filled in, you could turn it in (virtually) for a gift card of your choice for any New Town business. It was a great way for kids to participate in a COVID safe activity while getting outside and enjoying our community! We had 12 participants with representation from each of the neighborhoods! Didn’t get in on the action? No worry, there will be more fun to come! Stay informed through the NTRA website, email reminders or on Facebook. 
 
Prior to COVID-19, we were able to gather for Noon Talks to learn something new while enjoying lunch and socializing with our neighbors. In our new safety focused world, we are still participating, but now through Zoom! Our most recent talk was with Officer McDowell from the James City County Police Department on Saturday, Aug. 29th.. (See related Crier story.) Two other talks are being planned for later this year. Check the NTRA website calendar to find details as well as all Zoom IDs and passwords.  
 
Finally, we are happy to announce a much needed, COVID aware, outdoor event! Dust off your best costume and plan to participate by walking, riding or watching the Halloween parade on Saturday October 31 in the afternoon. Dogs, bicycles, unicycles, wagons, children, adults - all are welcome! Look for further information about the Halloween Parade on the NTRA Facebook page and the NTRA website. We want to give you time to plan so further details are coming soon...

We the Activities Committee welcome comments, suggestions, questions – please contact the Activities Chair - Kimberly Kearney at OTKimberly@gmail.com or by phone at 574 360-3859
 
Planning is Key to Maintaining Safety in Our Community
A summary of New Town’s first virtual talk
Patti Vaticano
 
Saturday, August 29th, a New Town Virtual Talk sponsored by the NTRA Activities Committee took place, well attended and overflowing with expert advice and safety information. Speaker Alan McDowell, James City County’s Mid-County Safety Officer, has been with the Community Services Unit of James City County as a Crime Prevention Officer for nearly 30 years.  A native of Richmond, his career has been remarkably comprehensive with positions ranging from patrol officer and firearms instructor to S.W.A.T. and Defensive Tactics instructor, to name only a few.  Little wonder his virtual talk was filled will eye-opening information and useful tips to safeguard life in New Town. 
 
Officer McDowell began the talk by reminding attendees of the county’s free alert app, James City County Alert, whereby county officials are able to deliver emergency alerts and notifications to those who have signed up for the service.  All residents need do is search for the app online by its name and sign up as directed.  
 
Office McDowell encouraged residents to create a safer home environment for themselves and for their families by using a Personal Safety Risk Reduction Plan. This risk reduction plan consists of 6 key areas that, once assessed and addressed, significantly reduces a resident’s susceptibility to becoming a victim of crime.  Those areas are as follows:
• Drapes and Shades:  While light-weight drapes may be fine for during the day, heavy drapes will better conceal interior activities in the home during the evening hours;
• Lighting:  Lighting deters crime.  Strategically place exterior lighting and assess lighting regularly.  Keep lights clean and free of bugs, making certain lights are in clear view and not obstructed by greenery or equipment of any kind.  Install motion-sensor lights for evening and nighttime.  Sensor lights, once activated, draw attention to an activity taking place—and are far more cost-effective than leaving exterior lights on until morning;
• Landscaping:  Keep bushes and tree canopies trimmed, the latter at least 6 feet from the ground.  This is especially necessary for bushes and trees near windows or close to doorways to prevent criminals from hiding from sight.  “Natural surveillance,” is a great deterrent.  Your neighbors or people walking by will be able to alert you or the police of suspicious activity and the potential for a crime taking place.
• Spare Keys:  Keep spare keys well hidden. Using ceramics (a bunny, frog, faux-rock, etc.) made specifically to hide door keys is not advised. Criminals shop in the same stores as residents do.  They know what these ceramics hold.  It is better to bury spare keys in the ground and mark the area for quick retrieval.  If ceramics are desired, ask your neighbor to use the same –and switch keys.  The criminal may retrieve the key in your ceramic but will fail at gaining access to your home;
• Timers:  Use timers for your lights, TV, and radio while you are away from your home, but time them according to what your living schedule has been. Criminals survey homes to see what a person or family’s habits are.  Timing patterns should mimic your habits when you are at home—and remember to keep timers in working condition.  Test batteries often.; and
• Keeping Friends and Families Informed of Your Whereabouts:  Always let a family member or a friend know where you are going and when you will be returning.  A phone call or text upon leaving and returning is strongly advised.
 
In addition to the individualized safety plan above, Officer McDowell spoke at length about the importance of residents working together to make for a community undesirable to criminals.  Report suspicious behavior of individuals as soon as possible; do not wait for others to do so.  Question the appearance of strangers you have not seen in the neighborhood before. Loitering is difficult to prevent—but suspicious behavior can always be called in, regardless.  Call 757-566-0112 to do so.  Do not wait for someone else to report a street lamp that has died out. (Note: A simple phone call to Town Management or submitting an issue report on the NTRA website to report the street lamp number, clearly visible on every light in New Town, is all it will take.) In addition, work to maintain your property, keeping doors, windows, and locks in sound working order and making every effort to see that your property is well cared for.  A neighborhood with broken or compromised windows and doors, property looking neglected or rundown, or with residents who fail to challenge unusual behavior or individuals will be sure to attract criminals and become targets for crime.  Working with your neighbors in all these areas will make for a strong community where little crime occurs.
 
Some time was spent during the talk on the recent vehicle break-ins in New Town.  Officer McDowell greatly emphasized the importance of cultivating the habit of (1) keeping car windows up, (2) car doors locked, and (3) things of value out of sight—all the time.  Valuables in plain sight will draw criminals to your car, whether your car is open or not.  The best place for valuables, i. e. laptops, purses, and cell phones, is in your trunk.  In addition to keeping your car and valuables safe, Officer McDowell also stressed the importance of keeping yourself safe by observing your car as you approach it to enter.  Is a window broken?  Do you see sneakers underneath the car, indicating someone is crouching on the other side?  Try to park in well-lighted areas and keep your keys in your hand as you near your vehicle—being careful, if you have a remote access key, not to unlock all your doors.  And have a plan in mind for a potential attack as you are walking towards your car, wherever it is parked. “Advance Techniques” are key to keeping you safe.  A plan will keep you from panicking.  Without a plan, panic may make you a victim of crime.  A wise preventative is storing an old, inactive cell phone in a glove compartment as it will enable you to call 911 for an emergency you may suddenly find yourself in.  In addition, if you suspect your car or home has been broken into, call the police immediately—and refrain from destroying the crime scene by entering and touching evidence.  Call the police and keep yourself safe. It is a county service we are all paying for. Note:  Most residents do not know that 911 may be called for non-emergency issues.
 
In response to concerns voiced by participants during Q&A period, Officer McDowell also committed to ask the JCC police to monitor speeds on Casey Boulevard and watch whether drivers are heeding the stop signs at the intersection of New Town Avenue and Discovery Boulevard.
 
Free County Crime Prevention Resources
Officer McDowell shared several of the free crime prevention services available to residents through the county—and two, national data bases for conducting crime and offender searches at any local:
 
James City County Services:
Project Life Saver—free location devices for individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia;
Citizen Police Academy—a once a week, 2-hour session for 13 weeks offering citizens insight into how our police department functions;
Child ID Services;
Crime and Safety Prevention Assessments—free home assessment programs;
Rape, Aggression, and Defense (RAD) Classes--training people in the use of force to prevent abduction (www.rad-systems.com); and
RAD for Kids
 
National Crime and Offender Databases:
LexisNexis Community Crime Map (www.communitycrimemap.com)  --a national data base of crimes by their nature, date, time, and location anywhere in the United States.  Just enter your street address, and the information will appear charted on a map of your area.  Useful for trips and relocation.  Data reloads every Friday night; and
Victim Information and Notification Everyday—VINE Link  (www.vinelink.com)-- a national data base of offenders which allows victims of crime and the general public to track the movements of prisoners held by various states and territories. Notifications can be set-up to inform the public of prisoner release dates.  (VINEmobile is the app version of VINE)
 
Please feel free to contact Office Alan McDowell if you have further questions about New Town safety or would like more information about any of the programs or services listed above.  His phone number is    757-603-6026, and his email address is alan.mcdowell@jamescitycountyva.gov.
 
Board Buzz
Angela Lesnett, Director
 
This has been an unusual year, so I’m going to forego the standard September essay topic (What I did on my summer vacation) and, instead, focus on NTRA’s budget. In September, the New Town Residential Association (NTRA) will start to prepare its 2021 budget. This is important to each of us because the budget establishes the annual assessment (sometimes called HOA dues) that each owner will pay in 2021. The 2021 budget is especially significant because, as the first budget adopted by NTRA’s homeowner-elected Board, it will start to determine what kind of community we will become, as we move from being a new development to one that is aging.
 
To develop a budget, NTRA’s Finance Committee takes into account all financial aspects of the association, including both sides of the income/expense equation. On the expense side, the Finance Committee asks NTRA’s Committees to submit estimates of the funds needed to accomplish that Committee’s particular objectives in the following year. Working with Town Management, the Finance Committee considers these requests, along with the known and forecasted expenses that NTRA must incur to continue operations and maintain its assets in a manner that meets owners’ expectations for the development. In other words, the Finance Committee considers what it will cost to accomplish the things it must do plus the things it wants to do.
 
On the income side, by far the largest source of income is the annual assessment or HOA dues that each owner pays. The NTRA assesses a fee for each home based on the home type: detached homes, townhomes, and cottages. The other significant source of income is fees collected at closing on sales of both new homes and resales. As discussed at the November 2019 Budget Town Hall Meeting, the addition of new homes in NTRA will slow in the upcoming years as the development nears final build-out. This will result in a decline in income from closing fees and that income will have to be replaced with income from HOA dues.
 
If NTRA’s expenses (for both needs and wants) outweigh its income, the Finance Committee must re-evaluate and prioritize the association’s expenses and also consider what increase in the annual assessment is warranted to fund those expenditures required bring the development up to a level that the owners expect. In prior years this has resulted in an increase in HOA dues. In large part that increase was necessary just to pay for the needs of the association.
 
A new development’s assets require little maintenance at first, but more maintenance (and expense) is to be expected over time. Our pool is just one example: the NTRA pool was new in 2012 and required little maintenance. Now however, after a number of years of normal wear and tear, the NTRA must incur some expense to maintain that important asset to a standard consistent with the development.  
 
The final steps in NTRA’s budget process are the Finance Committee’s submission of the proposed budget to the Board of Directors for review, presentation of the proposed budget to homeowners at the Annual Budget Meeting (usually in late November), and the Board’s adoption of the budget which includes the annual assessment for the upcoming year. 
 
In my application for the Board election I stressed the importance of balancing current needs/expenses with expenses that are projected for the future.  I believe that balance is essential to building a strong community and maintaining property values. Thank you for the opportunity to serve on your Board and to maintain NTRA’s secure financial position.
 
As the September weather cools, I hope we can all find time to enjoy a stroll in the beautiful neighborhood that we call home and to think about what it takes to preserve it. I hope to see you (socially-distanced, of course) outside this fall.  
 
Isaias Makes His Presence Felt in New Town
Mary Cheston
Although Tropical Storm Isaias did not produce the widespread damage done to other Williamsburg communities, it did leave its imprint on Charlotte Park in New Town. According to Senior Community Manager, Tim Grueter, there were leaves and bark debris in the pool area and a few sidewalk median strip oak trees snapped and had to be removed. 
 
The most dramatic aftershock of Isaias was the felling of a 50-year old tulip tree on the property of Alice Mountjoy. This 85-foot tree clipped the deck of neighbors Chuck and Susan Stetler but luckily the damage was minor. According to Chuck, the crash came around 8 AM several hours after the tornado warnings when there was just rain in the area. The tree’s root structure had obviously weakened from the storm. This experience was also the Stetlers’ first involvement with Virginia’s homeowner’s insurance, i.e, damage to your property is your problem – even if caused by a tree from your neighbor!  
 
All the debris has now been cleared and both Alice and Chuck know the outcome could have been a lot worse. Good (landing) trees make good neighbors! 
 
Back to School From the Comfort of Your Home
June Dawkins & Mary Cheston
 
submitted by June Dawkins and Mary Cheston
 
Looking for some new educational challenges now that fall is approaching?  Here are some great opportunities for mental exercise without leaving the comfort of your home.  Many are offered by our local treasures:
 
Williamsburg Regional Library (wrl.org)
Do you have a library card? Check out the library’s website to find a wide selection of virtual programs through various platforms, such as their YouTube channel, WebEx or Zoom, and wrl.kanopy.com for movie access. The Library has its own lifelong learning online page https://www.wrl.org/find-it-online/lifelong-learning/ Informational programs range from travel to finance, even puppet shows for the youngsters. They offer links to 15 non-English language classes if you’d like to learn a new skill while housebound.
 
College of William and Mary (wm.edu)
• Osher Lifelong Learning
If you have not attended an Osher class in a while, or you would like to know more, now is the time to investigate. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute https://www.wm.edu/offices/auxiliary/osher/coursecatalog.pdf  (formerly Christopher Wren Association) now offers virtual classes at a set time.  Even though initial enrollment is over for the fall semester, many classes are still open!  Choose from one-class activities and lectures, and 3 to 6 session classes in a wide range of topics from the local history to world affairs, or self-improvement and wealth management and personal hobbies.
 
• Department of Theatre, Speech and Dance
William and Mary’s virtual fall season begins this month, with ‘Citizen: An American Lyric’ from September 17th through the 20thand continues with other performances through October and November at set dates and times. Check out their website for details and instructions for digital access. https://www.wm.edu/as/tsd/_documents/new-2020-brochure-updated.pdf
 
Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center
Perhaps you are interested in pursuing a new hobby or improving your artistic talent. The WCAC has virtual classes for adults that promise to be “just as interactive and to see each other’s work as if we were in the classroom at the Art Center.” August’s focus was on watercolor painting, but more Zoom offerings will be coming. https://visitwcac.net/classes_gen_info.cfm
 
RESOURCES BEYOND WILLIAMSBURG
 
Looking for more diverse or unusual pursuits? Among the resources to check out for intellectual stimulation that aren’t locally based are:
 
• The Great Courses thegreatcoursesplus.com
The Great Courses website has a diversity of classes that you can see online or request in catalog form.  These classes can be viewed on your schedule and cover a wide range of topics such as Economics to Food and Wine, Health and Fitness, Travel and programs for young people.
 
Wide variety of challenging topics are covered through free online courses from Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale.
 
Thinking about your next Covid-free trip or reminiscing about past adventures, this site has a variety of one-time seminars on museums, culture, art and other international historical events.
 
• Goldstar.com https://www.goldstar.com/ 
Find some fun! Break out of your shell and try something at home without the embarrassment of having to keep up with others in a classroom setting. Need some inspiration? How about: 
**Online comedy classes – both Improv and Stand-up Comedy (for all ages) 
**Piano (or another instrument like guitar)
**Ballet or Salsa dancing
**Cooking  
 
Minimize what may seem like a long, lonely fall and winter season by exploring what the internet has to offer and finding your niche. Happy Learning!
 
Ironbound Gym Restarts Community Walking Group While New Town Clubs Cope with COVID-19 
June Dawkins

With summer ending and the pool closing, many New Town residents will be making changes in how to spend their free time.  The neighborhood clubs and groups have been adapting to the COVID-19 environment, some by meeting virtually, some social distancing, others suspending activities until better times arrive, or just meeting when the mood strikes them. The two most active groups have been the Women’s Lunch Club and the Women Who Read Book Club, both of which meet virtually using Zoom until the weather improves a bit for an outside session. You can find their contacts on the NTRA website Clubs and Activities page https://www.ntrawilliamsburg.org/clubs-activities/
 
In the meantime, do you like to walk? While the weather is still favorable for outdoor exercise, Ironbound Gym is reviving its Walking Club. The Club started up again in mid-August and meets on Saturdays behind the gym, leaving at 8:22am sharp for a slow jog to Veterans Tower where they stop for some stretches.  Then it is onward to whatever part of the approximately 3-mile course you want to complete through the New Town trails and streets. 
 
Better yet, after your 10th check-in, you will receive a free t-shirt!  There may be other rewards for even greater participation, but you will have to keep coming back to find out. Check out the Ironbound Gym Facebook page for more information.
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Do YOU have a hobby or interest that you would like to share?  Want to start a new club dedicated to exploring this activity with your New Town neighbors?  Contact the Town Crier with your ideas and we can help you find like-minded residents. Email: ntratown.crier@gmail.com. (New Town Clubs operated independently of the NTRA.)
 
Asset Maintenance Committee's 2020 Review of NTRA's Assets
Fred Lesnett, Chair
 
The Asset Maintenance Committee (AMC) is tasked by the New Town Residential Association’s (NTRA) Board of Directors (BOD) to conduct an annual inspection of common property (such as the pool and its amenities, playground equipment, streetlights, signs, streets), in addition to the Committee’s supervision of the annual review of homeowners’ properties.  In the first year under homeowner control, rather than developer control, the AMC has recently completed its 2020 year review of the association’s physical assets.  Results of the committee’s findings on which assets should be considered for maintenance or replacement is scheduled to be presented to the NTRA’s BOD.  After the BOD has identified an initial list of maintenance projects for consideration, Town Management will develop cost estimates for completing the work on each project.  The cost estimate for each project will be reviewed by the BOD and approval will be given on which projects will be included in the 2021 budget.  
 
Many of us feel New Town is a relatively young community with expectations that its assets have some time to go before maintenance or replacement is needed. However, the weather (sun, rain, along with the freezing in the winter) negatively impacts the stain, paint, construction materials and exposed surfaces on our buildings, fences, park benches, light posts, signs, fire hydrants, streets, pool equipment, etc.  In general, as we ride or walk around in New Town, perceptions are that our community assets are in good condition. However, a closer inspection reveals that some of these assets have become tired and weathered in their appearance. When under developer control, rather than the current homeowner control, the association’s assets were not always maintained at a level most optimal for extending their length of service and appearance. 
 
The AMC prioritized the list of assets requiring repair and restorative work by the significance of the projects and the sense of urgency to complete them. Funding has been requested of the BOD for the repair, restorative work, or replacement of identified assets in 2021 and later years. Immediate action in 2020 and 2021 is being requested for some items, like the pergola at the pool where we see significant rot and deterioration in the beams supporting the roof. Other items, such as the weathered wood benches in the park areas of New Town, have been recommended to be restored over several years as the budget permits. Recommended cleaning of the playground equipment does not have to take place immediately, but freshening up their appearance will make them more attractive to children and will ensure they last longer.   
 
It is understandable that some of the assets will not be identified as important to our community’s ongoing functioning, as others. But if their deterioration is allowed to continue, the condition of the unmaintained fences, benches, light posts, and fire hydrants will cast a perception over New Town as being weathered and tired. A program of routine maintenance of assets typically extends their life and costs our association less money over the long run. On-going maintenance of these assets instills a positive image of our community in residents and outsiders when they drive through or walk around New Town. A well-maintained community is more attractive to future home buyers when they are ready to consider purchasing a home in one of our neighborhoods. Over the next several years, work and funding will need to be at a higher level than planned if New Town’s assets are going to catch-up to the standards we have come to expect for our community.
 
Meet Your Pool Staff (part two)
Maxwell Pfannebecker
As the summer draw to a close, we'd like to take another opportunity to recognize and show appreciation for the attendants and lifeguards who made a summer at the pool possible, even in the Covid-19 era.
 
Dominique Arthur - Lifeguard
While he originally hails from Newport News, Dominique has been a world traveler since graduating from Liberty University in 2015. Though he spends his summers on the peninsula with family working as a lifeguard, Dominique spends the majority of his year living in Istanbul, where he plays American football, teaching English as a second language (ESL), and enjoying Kokorec, his favorite Turkish dish. You'll have to look it up! 
 
Dominique works as a lifeguard at several pools, but says New Town is the busiest of them. He shared that while he loves the water, he isn't a recreations swimmer and add with a laugh "if you see me in the water, something is very wrong." 
 
Jon Rochford - Attendant
Jon is a rising junior student at Providence Classical School in James City County and has just returned to the area after he and his family lived in the Shenandoah Valley for several years. Jon is a musician and plays trumpet in marching band and has interests in pursuing drama and theater. Jon's summer plans to travel were derailed by COVID outbreak. In addition to his summer gig at the New Town Community Pool, Jon is passing his time this summer by taking art classes in pursuit of a future career in graphic design. 
 
Foundation Square Children's Garden Blossoms 
Maxwell Pfannebecker
 
For most of the spring and summer leading up to the phased reopening of gyms, the parking lot behind Ironbound Gym on New Town Avenue has been quiet, but for the Foundation Square Landscaping Committee, a group of nearly 20 members, the summer has been a bit of hustle and bustle. The group made some significant expansions and improvements to their Children's Garden.
 
The Foundation Square Landscaping Committee, led by resident, Master Gardener, and Committee President Jim Kavitz, were honored earlier this year for their notable contributions to the aesthetic of the neighborhood. The Arbor Day 2020 Award of Excellence, presented by the Williamsburg Area Council of Garden Clubs was awarded to the group in the beginning of the year FULL STORY HERE
 
The expansion includes some improvements to the existing garden as a covered seating area complete with tables and a few socially distanced chairs (undoubtedly a great spot for a small afternoon book club) as well as new planter boxes in the median areas in the parking lot and underground irrigation. The expansion was greenlighted by the New Town Commercial Association. Kavitz noted that the empty median space often ended up being littered by cans and food wrappers and felt expanding their garden would add to the beautification of the area. 
 
The existing garden, home to herbs, artichokes, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, has yielded a bountiful harvest this year so far. Kavitz reports the fig trees have yielded hundreds of ripe figs with more on the way. In the newly planted garden area the residents grew corn, squash, carrots, okra, eggplants, and beets. Unfortunately, says Kavitz, a wiregrass encroachment threatened the health of the new planters late this summer and the plants had to be removed.
 
Undiscouraged and determined, Kavitz and his band of willful and skillful gardeners have flipped the planters, acquired new quality soil and will soon be replanting cooler weather crops to include lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and more. 
 
The Committee is supported by a line in the budget, but has also raised about $900 in unsolicited donations from local residents who are enthusiastic about the garden but may be unavailable to contribute sweat equity to its success. If are interested in contributing financially to the future of the Children's Garden, we will be happy to connect you with Jim Kavitz. Send us an email at NTRA.town.crier@gmail.com
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