Town Crier Articles

Mike Youngblood Sr., of Twiddy Realty, is the new President of the New Town Commercial Association (NTCA), an inherent part of the community almost since its inception. Mr. Youngblood has been involved with New Town for 25 years and on the Commercial Association Board for “a while.” He expresses great confidence in its existing systems and solid reserves, and hopes to continue that success.

 

Other members of the incoming NTCA Board of Directors include Scott Grafton (Vice President), Leigh Houghland, Sean Hughes, and Drew Haynie. After 20 years of service, previous President Larry Salzman has stepped down, but will be on board as an advisor. As Mr. Youngblood says, “Mr. Salzman’s continued involvement will provide continuity while we embrace change.” 

 

The Commercial Association exists to represent and serve the business owners. Its members include the owners of New Town's multifamily buildings with hundreds of residential units, so therefore thinks in terms of benefitting the whole community often through the work of its Marketing and Charging Stations committees. Chaired by Scott Grafton of Ironbound Gym, the Marketing Committee and its volunteers coordinate enhancements such as programming and decorations for the holiday season. The Committee has a separate budget and professional assistance. Mason and Markwith helps to create the marketing plan, including an in-house media department. Culture Fix is their events coordinator. Some of these events are in conjunction with James City County and draw in visitors. Along with our residents, an increasing number of visitors drive electric vehicles, so the NTCA’s Charging Stations Committee is working on a long-term plan to add more facilities. 

 

There is also a single cooperative committee with the New Town Residential Association (NTRA), the Shared Amenities Managing Committee. The NTCA and the NTRA both contribute to expenses for certain joint amenities (e.g. decorations, dog station maintenance, BMP’s, some trails), so Mr. Youngblood would like to see “more direct interface and involvement between the two organizations.” Although the NTRA and NTCA use different management companies, Mr. Youngblood feels comfortable working with NTRA’s Chesapeake Bay Management while also touting mutual cooperation strategies. An amendment to the Shared Amenities Agreement which would reflect the reality of separate management companies was approved by the NTRA during its annual meeting in December 2022. The amendment will be on the Commercial Association’s agenda for consideration at its annual meeting in the last quarter of 2023. 

 

Residents have expressed concerns about the empty store fronts on Main Street, which are owned by a Connecticut company. NTCA Board member, Drew Haynie, is their local leasing agent. He has commitments for some of the storefronts, with Planet Fitness in the final stages of construction, Virtual Reality Gaming Arcade recently opened, and Zoom Room dog training’s staff is already working during construction. As we all know, most retail has suffered since the pandemic, but services are on the upswing, so perhaps we can again look forward to a vibrant Main Street.  Meanwhile, roughly a million square feet of commercial space in other areas of New Town is occupied by various businesses and government entities. There are thirty-four different owners of commercial properties, with Settlers Market being entirely separate from New Town. 

 

Of course, all of the members of the Commercial Association want a vibrant, full community that will keep their businesses active. To that end, NTCA Marketing and a group of volunteers coordinated with James City County Recreation to sponsor the summer concert series, bringing lots of toe-tapping, seat 

 

Well, we’re in the final stretch of summer, now.  For those “Summer People” out there, sadness has already set in.  Picnic baskets, pool noodles, flip-flops, and Hibachis will soon be mothballed for another year and many a constitution steeled against the cooler days ahead.  For those who are less charmed by summer months in the Tidewater, mosquito welts, sticky clothing, weeding woes, and the dreaded failure to hear the AC “click,” will be, blessedly, things of the past.  You can hear them all cheering, now.

 

But whatever your sentiments about the season, be safe and enjoy the days ahead.  Take those opportunities to see friends and family that will soon be engulfed in work and school, once more. Visit those places—seaside park and mountain trail—that will quickly offer less accommodating vistas and opportunities.  Most importantly, glory in the ever-changing Joys of the Seasons. Your favorite is never far away, and those seasons you can do without, make those favored seasons even more precious.

Riddle for the Month:  Where do you go to find a hot date?   

 

	The Months by Sara Coleridge
January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow.   February brings the rain, Thaws the frozen lake again.   March brings breezes loud and shrill, stirs the dancing daffodil.   April brings the primrose sweet, Scatters daises at our feet.	May brings flocks of pretty lambs, Skipping by their fleecy damns.   June brings tulips, lilies, roses, Fills the children's hand with posies.   Hot July brings cooling showers, Apricots and gillyflowers.   August brings the sheaves of corn, Then the harvest home is borne.	Warm September brings the fruit, Sportsmen then begin to shoot.   Fresh October brings the pheasants, Then to gather nuts is pleasant.   Dull November brings the blast, Then the leaves are whirling fast.   Chill December brings the sleet, Blazing fire, and Christmas treat

In the spring, New Town neighbors came together on May 5th to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Chelsea Green's green space common area. Neighbors enjoyed tacos with all the fixings desserts and salads. We played badminton and corn hole and had wonderful conversations in a circle that formed. It was good to connect with each other.  The children took turns and actively swung a cane at the pinata until the pinata broke open and the kids dived on the candy 

 

A raffle (gift card, courtesy of New Town Commercial Association) was won by Sue and Jim Turbish from Charlotte Park.

 

   

 

Our events at the pool have also made a splash! So far this summer, neighbors have enjoyed two lunch-time pizza parties. Pizzas with various toppings, watermelon, brownies, and beverages were available for all. The watermelon is always a big hit on hot summer afternoons. There were some groups of families that included several generations, which is always fun to see. We also had some recent newcomers in attendance; they received a warm welcome to the New Town community.  

 

Two evening socials were also held at the pool. At the June 28 poolside social, residents appreciated an inviting array of appetizers.  The large dessert tray was also a hit as was the raffle.  July 28th was another fun evening, even though it was sweltering. 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

The Activities Committee will host a final lunchtime pizza party on August 26th. We look forward to seeing you there.
 
Stay tuned for details about events planned for the fall months brought to you by your New Town Residential Association Activities Committee.

 

The proposed Westwood Park development on Eastern State Hospital surplus land is in the first stage of a long development process?  

 

New Town residents (all of us) are stakeholders—we all have a voice in what happens to this land. 

 

The development is not a done deal, but is in the stage of application for rezoning. This stage requires a comprehensive study by James City County of the environmental and traffic impact, among other things. (See JCC website on rezoning.)

 

• to protect the intersection at Rollison and Olive Drive from road access to the new development
• to add an additional buffer in the woods behind Charlotte Park
• to reduce the number of units being built at Westwood Park
• to keep New Town as a separate entity

The Association has done a great job of staying on top of this, protecting New Town (see March 2023 NTRA letter with all the details), and keeping us informed. 

 

 

• traffic will increase on Ironbound Road (busy with VDOT trucks, traffic from 199)
• traffic will increase on Discovery Park Boulevard, and expect likely cut-throughs on Casey Blvd and New Town Avenue
• more units built means more trees and natural habitat lost
• Powhatan Creek watershed is already in the “red zone” for overbuilding—what will happen with Westwood Park?

And so far the developer ABVA has not kept past promises to New Town.

 

 

Keep reading the Town Crier and announcements from the NTRA. Check your email for updates. Show up at the James City County Planning Commission public hearing, once it is announced--maybe in the fall? Stay tuned!

 

 

1. The Liberty Bell is struck 13 times, every July Fourth (It no longer is rung due to its crack, of course.);
2. Massachusetts was the first state to celebrate the Fourth of July;
3. There have been 27 versions of the American flag;
4. Apple pie has been the “go to” dessert for Americans since the 1700’s;
5. Bristol, Rhode Island, has the longest standing tradition of a Fourth of July parade;
6. Three US presidents have died on the Fourth of July--James Monroe, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson—and President Zachary Taylor fell fatally ill on the day after attending Fourth of July orations.  He died on July 9th;
7. Hawaii’s fiftieth star was added to the Flag on July 4, 1960;
8. Americans consume 150 million hot dogs on the Fourth of July;
9. Only John Hancock and Charles Thompson signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776;
10. 16,000 fireworks displays take place every Fourth;
11. The Fourth of July was first celebrated 100 years AFTER the signing of the Declaration of Independence;
12. The Star-Spangled Banner was not adopted as our national anthem until 1931; and
13. It was once considered disrespectful to keep your business open on the Fourth of July.

Mark your calendars for some great summer fun for New Town residents. All events are at the New Town Community Pool.

 

These events are organized by the New Town Residential Association Activities Committee. Volunteers to help us staff events are always welcome – if you can help on any of these dates, contact Liz at efwolf@wvu.edu

 

Bring your pool pass for admission to all of these activities.

 

The New Town Community Pool is set to open May 27th for the 2023 season. Your Pool Committee is excited to bring you a number of terrific improvements this year, in addition to continuing the very successful key card system, put into place last year. 

 

Through year-round efforts, the pool committee is happy to share that 10 brand new loungers have been added this year and the NTRA Board negotiated for additional lifeguards on weekends and holidays. In response to pool patrons’ feedback, the Committee has secured the NTRA's approval for a beverage vending machine at the pool this year and is working hard to get that in place prior to the pool opening this season. 

 

2023 Pool Rules and information has been sent via eblast to NTRA homeowners and is posted on the NTRA website’s Pool & Clubs page. May 11th is the target date for submission of the appropriate documents to Chesapeake Bay Management, whether you need to get your pool passes reactivated, or you’re a new pool pass user in 2023. You will find all of the instructions and documents here.  

 

An opportunity for new Residential Association owners to pick up passes (after appropriate document submission) at the pool is scheduled for Thursday, May 18th from 4:00-7:00pm. (Condo owners and renters in the New Town Commercial Association need to contact their own management companies to obtain or reactivate passes.)

 

Some new signage at the pool this year will help to keep the pool area secure and safe, while also informing residents of hours and events. Stay tuned for several events planned by the NTRA Activities Committee at the pool. A lot of effort, dedication and time goes into the three months of safe and fun pool days for the residents of New Town. Many thanks go to the friends and neighbors who serve on the committees and Boards to make this all possible! We look forward to seeing you at the pool throughout the season! 

 

 

Join your friends and neighbors at the Chelsea Green Park (intersection Lydias Drive and Discovery Park Boulevard) for a potluck celebrating Cinco de Mayo, a key event in Mexico’s drive for independence. 

 

The NTRA Activities Committee will set up games, break a piñata and raffle off a gift card, complements of the New Town Commercial Association.  Everyone in New Town is invited.

 

We will provide tacos and fixings and water and juice. 

 

 

 

Rain Date:  Saturday, May 6, 5:30