Town Crier Articles

Living in proximity to others can be both rewarding and challenging. As we go about our busy lives, it’s easy to overlook the people living right next to us. However, building relationships with our neighbors can have a profound impact on our lives and communities. Moreover, getting to know your neighbors can also lead to new connections and opportunities. You may discover shared interests or skills that can lead to collaboration on projects or hobbies. You can also learn about local events and activities that you may not have heard of otherwise.

 

Obviously New Town is a diverse community – young professionals, students, families and retirees all call New Town home. But with busy lives, smart phones that seem to eat more and more of our time and life in general how do we connect? 

 

Sometimes the simplest way is a common interest, or a new hobby or even responding to a need. So how do you do that?

 

 

There are many clubs and social groups in New Town. Some are: Book Clubs, Garden Club, Retired Men’s Club, Women’s Lunch Group. Just go to the NTRA website and see the link for Pool & Clubs. Other small groups exist for those who like to sew, play bunco or mahjong, or enjoy good food. Ask around to get in touch with these residents.

 

But perhaps you don’t see something established that appeals to you. Why not start a club? This month’s Town Crier highlights some residents who have started a Buy Nothing Group. Other ideas could be a Film Club, Photography Club, Quilting/Crocheting Club, Walking Clubs, Breakfast Clubs (maybe slightly different than the club from the 1985 movie) or perhaps a club for old men who stand at the stop signs and shake their fist at the cars who roll the stop sign (ok, maybe that might not be a good club). If you have thoughts about starting a new club in New Town, you can contact the Communications Committee at ntrawebsitecommittee@gmail.com for support in getting the word out to recruit members. 

 

Although existing book clubs are currently full, it’s great to hear from Stuart Dopp about a book club she is in. I reached out to her to find out about the club. 

 

New Town Bookies (no horses involved…) 

 

“New Town is full of avid readers, and it’s small wonder that bookish neighbors enjoy discussion groups and friendships with other bibliophiles. One such group is chaired by Liz Fones/Wolf, a retired WVA University history professor. Other members come from varied backgrounds, each bringing a perspective to conversations about the month’s reading choice. For instance, our discussion of Demon Copperhead — a re-telling of Twain’s Huckleberry Finn set in Appalachia in modern times — elicited varied perceptions of contemporary poverty, human striving, and our own roles in the larger world society. Most of us reread Huck, which will be useful also when we next discuss James, the story of Huck’s traveling companion, Jim. 

 

Reading about civil war in Chechnya (A Constellation of Vital Phenomena) forced us to confront unspeakable cruelty and suffering but reminded us of the human potential for goodness and loyalty. It also required research into eastern European geography and history. 

 

Other books have spurred historical/ political inquiry, such as The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson, and At the Dark End of the Street, by Danielle McGuire.  A fictional account of a rural woman having to leave her farm and vital connection with nature to follow her husband to Detroit during WWII, Dollmaker, touched all of our hearts, and we re-visited the book with the movie. A recent selection (Cave Dwellers) was fiction but a thinly disguised critique of life amongst the rich and famous — or infamous — in Washington. We could visualize the characters as a parody of politicians and values in Washington. 

 

Each book has a discussion leader, but that role is rarely needed. Everyone has ideas to contribute, and even the occasional member who didn’t finish the assignment will find pertinent elements in the conversation. There is a strong sense of humanity within the group, and most of the members participate in civic /charitable endeavors such as the Porch food drives. 

 

Truly, reading helps us to walk in another person’s shoes, to experience worlds beyond our own fortunate lives even as we enjoy our friendships. Meeting as we do in our homes limits our number, but Liz is happy to assist anyone hoping to create a new forum for mind-opening discussions of literature.” Stuart Dopp 

 

Hopefully, as we move into the holiday season, you’ll find a few minutes to ponder 2025 and think about areas you’d like to explore in the new year. Being a part of a small club in a large community can bring many benefits to you and those around you. Not only is knowing your neighbors beneficial for you, it can also improve the general well-being of the community. By building a sense of camaraderie and support, neighbors can work together to improve the quality of life in their area. Community involvement, whether it’s through events, outreach, or simply being a good neighbor, can lead to increased civic pride and a stronger community spirit.

 

NTRA Meeting Space  - 5118 Center Street or via Zoom link (see NTRA website calendar) 

• Dec. 1, 7-8, 14-15

• 12:00pm-3:30pm   

4915 Courthouse Street, located to the right of Regal New Town

You may have heard that dumping pumpkins in the wild is a good way to dispose of your jack-o-lanterns after Halloween, wildlife experts says it’s a bad move.

 

“When we introduce a food source like a rotting pumpkin into the woods somewhere, you’re bringing all sorts of animals together who sniff it out." This can cause disease in animals and make them very sick, including death. Also throwing pumpkins out is bad for native soils, and the seeds can become invasive and deadly to animals. (Not to mention that it's a violation of James City County regulations to throw anything in our surrounding woods!) 

 

So please compost at home, or contact a nearby farm or zoo that may want clean pumpkins, free of wax or other harmful additions. Do people still burn candles in them? Otherwise, while not ideal, they'll make their way into landfills. But that's another article.

 

So let's keep New Town and our beautiful woodlands looking beautiful and showing concern for our neighbors, human, and animal.

 

Happy Halloween!  

 

You may have noticed new fences at New Town’s New Town Ave entrance and around the Olive Drive stormwater retention pond (commonly called BMP). Another new fence is scheduled to be installed in the first half of November at the Rollison Drive pond. All three fences have a different appearance, and I will address the considerations and reasons for the choices made by the NTRA Board.

 

All the wooden fences along the BMPs in New Town had deteriorated to the point that a painting contractor said they were simply not worth repainting.  So what began as a maintenance activity turned into three capital replacement projects. Since the wooden fences required painting every two or three years, the Board begin looking for more durable fencing solutions.

 

We felt the existing fence style along New Town Avenue at the entrance to our community needed to be replicated, but with a material other than wood.  There are no plastic or metal fence sections commercially available that match the custom stick-built fence we decided to rebuild the fence with solid PVC planks. Although more expensive than wood this material does not require painting and reduces future maintenance to just pressure washing every few years. Also, the PVC planks will not develop the rot and deterioration that was prevalent in all of the wooden fences in our community. For those who are interested, the material used in the New Town Avenue fence is Kleer TrimBoards, (www.kleerlumber.com) The contractor was Finley Asphalt & Concrete.

 

 

For the BMP fences, the Board looking at metal fencing.  The New Town Design Standards allow the use of chain-link fences around BMPs.  This was the least expensive mental fence option. The Board liked the appearance of the aluminum fences recently installed around the Settlers Market BMPs.  This fencing was attractive and sturdy. The Board felt that this option was better than the cheaper chain-link fence. We also considered replacing the fences with white PVC boards matching what was done along New Town Avenue, but this option was simply too expensive.  Aluminum fence panels were significantly less expensive than rebuilding the existing fences with PVC boards.  In addition aluminum fences have proven durability with their factory applied coatings.  For example, the aluminum fence around the NTRA swimming pool was installed in 2012 and has been maintenance free.  This black aluminum fence was the guiding model for changing the Olive Drive BMP fence to black aluminum. The Board decided to encircle the Olive Drive BMP with fencing in light of the tragic drowning in the Olive Drive BMP about two years ago. This extension almost doubled the Olive Drive BMP fence's length.  

 

All of the current fences surrounding the Rollison Drive BMP and the Goddard School are white.  Rather than use black fencing, the Board decided that white aluminum fencing would provide a more compatible visual appearance to the Charlotte Park neighborhood and Goddard school.  This factor justified the additional cost for the white powder coated aluminum fence, Since the earth retaining wall on the east side of the BMP is lower and less steep than the Olive Drive BMP we decided to leave it unfenced.  Only the existing wooden fence will be replaced along Rollison Drive.  This work will take place in November 2024.

 

 

Several years have passed since any paving repairs or seal coating have been done to the NTRA’s alleys and parking areas and they were beginning to deteriorate.  When one neighborhood requested that their alleys be seal coated, the Board decided that it was time to evaluate at all of our asphalt surfaces.  The inspections revealed that ALL of the alleys and parking spaces needed some level of maintenance. This spring, inspections occurred and bids were received from three contractors.  The Board assisted by the NTRA manager negotiated additional repair work and lower prices from the bidding contractors.  In August the NTRA Board approved a contract with Finley Asphalt and Sealing that was executed in September.  All NTRA neighborhoods, except Shirley Park (still under developer control) have had the alleys and parking spaces repaired and maintained with a quality seal coating.

 

The current swimming pool cover is the original one from 2012 and it is beginning to show its age and is close to the end of its useful life.  The cover protects the pool during the winter and keeps the water clean.  It makes opening the pool in the spring easier and significantly reduces the yearly water costs. The NTRA Board is planning to replace the pool cover at the end of the 2025 swimming season.  

 

Remedial maintenance to the Olive Drive and Rollison Stormwater Retention Ponds (BMPs) is planned for 2025.  This work will include the removal of the small trees and brush that have the potential for weakening the earth filled dams on the sides of the BMPs.  The Board attempted to do this work in 2024, but James City County 2024 BMP support funding had already been allocated before our applications were approved.  The applications for 2025 funding have already been submitted. Assuming approval, James City County will pay for half of the tree and vegetation clearance from these BMPs thereby saving the Association significant financial expenditures.

ITS BACK!  Due to popular demand and with additional support from the New Town Residential Association Board, the Activities Committee is sponsoring a Holiday Party on Friday, December 6, between 6:30 and 9:00 at Legacy Hall, which will be decorated for the season.

 

The Holiday Party will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres from Williamsburg Catering, desserts and candies. It’s BYOB. So, feel free to bring your favorite adult beverages as well as your appetite. NTRA owners and tenants are invited to attend.

 

We look forward to kicking off the Holiday season with you and your neighbors. Be sure to RSVP by November 27th to Susan Schlimme:  skschlimme@hotmail.com. 

 

Extra help is always appreciated. To volunteer for the Holiday Party contact Susan Schlimme.  

Hey, have you read a good book recently and thought “I’d love to have a copy of that book, but they are so expensive," or perhaps a good book has spurred an interest in spending more time reading. Or maybe, you’ve decided it's time to put down that device and curl up with a good book? 

 

Have you checked one of the New Town free "Free Little Libraries"? We have four of them located throughout New Town:

1) at the corner of Elizabeth Davis and Center Street, 2) at the Main Street gazebo, 3) behind Ironbound Gym, and 4) at the intersection of Discovery Blvd and New Town Avenue. Books are free to take and return and you may add any of your own.

 

Of course, these wonderful libraries can only contain a small number of books. 

 

Well, don't despair - maybe a great book could be had for a cheap price. At your local library. 

 

“Wait, you say, I check out books from the library, but they make me return them."

 

Have you heard of the Book Nook? 

Perhaps you’ve wandered by it at the Williamsburg Regional Library (WRL) or the James City County Library and wondered what it is. 

 

 

Each item is checked by a volunteer to ensure it is in saleable condition and shelves are stocked daily by a team of wonderful volunteers. 

 

Here’s a current price list for items sold at the Friends of WRL Book Nook. As you can see, these are quite a bargain! 

 

 

And if you find that you have a collection of books, CD’s, magazines, puzzles or DVD sets that you need to part ways with but can’t bear the thought of throwing them in the trash, you can consider donating them to the Friends of WRL and let someone gain pleasure from finding a great deal and hopefully spending time curled up with that special read. 

Are you a Halloween enthusiast? Or, eagerly awaiting the outcome of this year’s local, state, and federal elections? Do you observe Veteran’s Day and, later in November, keep a traditional Thanksgiving family gathering time? Do you love the Advent-Christmas season or look forward to celebrating Hanukkah, or Kwanza, or some other holiday that usually falls in December? In November, December, and early January, will there be family birthdays, or an expected new birth, or anniversaries, or even a mid-year graduation? Will someone who has been away for a long time be coming home? Might you soon watch college or national league playoffs in some sport, especially if your favorite team is involved?

 

All of these special times may inspire New Town residents to decorate inside or outside New Town homes in ways that can help all of us catch the spirit of a season, and add visual interest to many a morning or afternoon walk! Our family always would take a pre-Christmas evening drive around my hometown to look at Christmas decorations. Perhaps you might do something like this in New Town, starting with Halloween.

 

After a holiday or other special time passes, however, there shortly comes a day when most decorations that have gone up probably should come down.

 

• October has been Halloween season; most homeowners decorating for Halloween will probably be glad to take down the witches, ghosts, and giant spiders within a couple of days after October 31. Carved pumpkins, rotten pumpkins, or uncarved ones that animals have feasted on, of course need to be trashed as soon as possible.

• General autumn decor, including intact natural pumpkins, is common at least through Thanksgiving  which is November 28 this year.

• According to New Town Rules, political signs allowed in people’s yards as early as 60 days before an election should be removed two days after Election Day.

• Our national flag (appropriate for Veterans Day) or another flag may be displayed any time provided it is bracket-mounted on the front of the house.

• Many New Towners may be starting to decorate for Christmas or Hanukkah by mid-November (or, at least think about it). New Town rules state that such holiday decor should be removed by January 7, or the day after Epiphany which is on a Monday this year. And, if you want to delay putting away decorations inside your house beyond that, it’s nobody’s business but yours.

 

• What about the host of family or friend events people may decorate for? The best approach may simply be to use common sense. When the balloons deflate, take them down. After the birthday party, don’t leave the Happy Birthday signs up for weeks. Don’t wait for the newborn to sleep through the night before the joyous announcement signs go away.

Finally, remember that decorating for any special occasion should be lots of fun, and “undecorating” might be as well. When the time comes to clear the detritus of a recent celebration, why not put out some snacks and make a party of it. After all, in New Town, isn’t purchasing for a party as easy as going for a walk!

Window bird strikes have been on the rise over the past few weeks with fall migration, but we hope it's also due to people's awareness that window-strike birds need medical attention!

 

Did you know? When birds collide with windows, if they don't die from the initial impact, they're often left concussed with internal bleeding, eye trauma, ruptured air sacs, broken bones, and more. While sometimes these birds can temporarily recover enough to fly away from a scary predator (you), they often succumb after hours or even days when their injuries go without treatment.

 

If a bird appears stunned (eyes closed, on the ground, allows handling), please contain that bird IMMEDIATELY in a box with a lid and give your nearest wildlife rehabilitator a call right away. Be sure to leave a message if they do not answer right away. While waiting to hear back from your local licensed professionals, keep these birds somewhere warm, dark, and quiet away from pets, children, and other loud noises. Do NOT attempt to release these birds, even if it sounds like they're moving around in the box or like they may have recovered on their own.

 

Better yet, make your windows bird-safe! Birds hit windows because they reflect the sky and trees on the OUTSIDE of the windows, not the inside. You must break up the reflection by placing stickers, decals, tape, or other mediums (glass paint, screening, etc.) on the outside of the windows, with no more than 2" between decals/designs so birds don't attempt to fly "between" them. Stopping birds from hitting windows is the best way to give these birds the best chance to survive, and prevent them from needing care.

 

According to the Heritage Humane Society if you have found wildlife in urgent need or rescue, please contact Wildlife Response at 757-543-7000 or Tidewater Wildlife Rescue at 757-255-8710.

This year’s Fall Festival was different.  First, it was the biggest crowd yet with an attendance of over 150 residents, ranging from seniors enjoying the mild weather, music and happy vibe to awed and grinning toddlers crawling through the colorful tunnels and gingerly stepping from box to box of the obstacle course.       

 

Second, there were mummies in Village Walk!  About a half hour after the event started, I was walking on the green with the crowd and suddenly saw two mummies swathed in white strips, making weird noises and walking towards me.  It was scary!  I heard people yelling:  “They’ve been turned into mummies!”  I was turning to run away in fear when suddenly I realized that I was in the midst of the Fall Festival’s new Mummy Wrap race.  This timed race involved two teams with the contestants creating a mummy by wrapping a volunteer in toilet paper.  The teams with the most convincing mummy won prizes.  It was great fun.

 

     

 

Less scary but equally fun were the three rounds of the Cake Walk, during which, as in musical chairs, participants marched to music around a circle of numbered fall decorated signs.  When the music stopped, cake walkers rushed to stand by a numbered sign.  Our emcee and musical director extraordinaire, Rick Byrnes, then picked a number from his hat, and the cake walker next to the number was out, but as a consolation prize won a cupcake.  The last surviving participant won a giant decorated cookie cake.  

     

New Town residents also played corn hole and croquet and painted pumpkins while enjoying popcorn and home-made frosted Halloween cookies and drinks.  Kids searched for pumpkins during the pumpkin egg hunt, played toss games, and participated in races.  NTRA Board member Ruth Burgess patiently taught little ones the best method for tossing balls into buckets and through holes, and they all came away with candy and prizes.   Other children built brick castles (ok, cardboard bricks), and competed to see which castle lasted the longest under a barrage of their competitors small bricks.  Also popular again this year was the game, Pie Face Showdown.  One little girl wearing a blue-decorated shirt, played at least six times, recruiting her dad for her last contest.  She howled with laughter each time she lost the game and was hit by the whipped cream. It was a fun afternoon for adults and children alike. There were so many great photos, that there is a new Photo Album on this website filled with memories of the event. 

     

The Activities Committee next is event is a Holiday Party on Friday, December 6, 6:30-9:00 at Legacy Hall. Look for more details in this month’s Town Crier as well as eblast reminders.

     

Please join me in thanking members of the Activities Committee, including Susan Schlimme, Mary Jo Mulligan-Kehoe,  Jon Thomas, Terri  Finn and Virginia Barch, for organizing and staffing the Fall Festival. They and 14 other volunteers, Judy and Rick Byrnes, Angela Lesnett, Kurt Schlimme, Brooke Schlimme, Reagan Schlimme, Merry Thomas, Nikki Thomas, Justin, Jennifer Morgan, Mark Reckham, Pei Han Shih and Ken Fones-Wolf, made the Fall Festival possible.   

     

We also thank the NTRA Board  for its support and our Board liaison, Ruth Burgess, who volunteers for many of our events and always cheers us on.