Town Crier Articles

Posted on May 1, 2019 2:46 PM by Rebekah Roberts

Categories: Life in New Town

Forget the misery of spring allergies and the annoying rap tap, tap of a busy woodpecker. Cast your thoughts on vibrant colors, warm temperatures, birds chirping, the mouth-watering aroma of hamburgers on the grill and lively music drifting over the community. It’s spring, it’s New Town, and it’s a jumping, jamming place! Some of the New Town restaurants showcasing live music this summer are: Paul’s Deli and Neighborhood Restaurant, Center Street Grill, Capriccio’s, Cogan’s, and Corner Pocket. Let me introduce a few of our New Town neighbors who are instrumentalists and performers. These are folks the Town Crier staff knows about. Our idea is to put neighbors in touch with one another to generate possibilities for playing. If you are a musician, contact the Town Crier to be featured in a possible future article. Meanwhile, maybe somebody featured below sounds like a player you would like to reach out to about jamming.

Ask Bob Bryne about his career as a bass guitarist. It was after the tragic death of John Denver that Bob and his wife Susan met Jim Curry who was performing at a local folk concert. Jim sang one of Denver’s songs and he sounded just like John Denver. After the concert Bob and Susan met Jim and suggested that he do a show centered on Denver’s music. Susan added that Bob played bass and was currently free and the rest is history. Bob joined Jim Curry’s band and a John Denver show was created. He played with the band for five years and during that time many members of the original John Denver's band, like Richie Garcia and Chris Nole joined the group for concerts. Bob's favorite concerts were the ones performed in the main showroom of the Las Vegas Silverton Hotel and at the University of Notre Dame (UND). He loves playing Irish music. Bob and Susan's daughter, Kati will be spending a year in Ireland on an UND service project. When in California, Bob plays bass at mass at Sacred Heart church and when in Williamsburg he has helped out the campus ministry program at William and Mary. Jamming? Good idea!

Sarah Carey and piano are synonymous. Beginning piano lessons in elementary school and continuing through college Sarah now plays at home for her personal enjoyment. One of her favorite high school memories is playing piano duo, where two baby grand pianos face one another with Sarah and the second student playing the same piece. Not limiting musical preferences to one genre, Sarah selects her music from many categories. She relishes the challenge of a difficult or more intricate musical composition especially from the classical musicians, such as Mozart and Schubert. Those are just two of the composers found in the classical music books that her son gave her at Christmas. She also is happy to listen to her daughters and son play for her. Sarah definitely passed down her music genes. One daughter played the piano superbly and beautifully through high school and the other daughter is an accomplished violist with a long running passion for the strings. Her son is of virtuoso status on the clarinet and piano and makes time to play with the Greenwich Village Orchestra. Please continue to enjoy making music, Sarah.

“I haven’t played in years!” That was the immediate response from

Bob Dennis when asked to share his musical side of life. His musical side might be a surprise. Bob played bass in ninth grade in Bruce Springsteen’s early band, the Steel Mill. That’s right…The Boss! The band was formed in 1969 and ended in 1971. Bob played with the rock band until Springsteen booked a tour out of the country. You guessed it. Bob was only15 after all and he probably anticipated his mother’s response when he asked if he could go on tour with Springsteen. It was a definite “No.” Bob stayed home but he and some friends were not sidelined. They formed a band, which performed through high school and into college. Some of the band’s work contributed to Springsteen’s debut studio album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. released in 1973. Bob credits Bruce Springsteen with teaching him a lot about music in his teen years. Whenever Steel Mill came back to town Bob and his band often played backup for it. Yep, the beat went on!

Did you know that Chuck Stetler played percussion in high school and college? He grew up in Central Pennsylvania and was a member of his schools’ marching bands, concert bands and jazz bands. He also performed at different events and venues in his hometown and neighboring communities and tells a story about one specific New Year’s Eve affair at which he was playing. He took his date Susan along, who most of you know is Mrs. Stetler, and left her sitting alone on a chair most of the evening while he performed with the band. At one point an unknown young man about Susan’s age approached her and asked, “When are you going to sing?” Chuck will tell you with a chuckle that he wished she had jumped up and said, “Now!” After college, he gave a few lessons and practiced a bit but beginning his career afforded him little time to play. That was the end to Chuck’s life as a musician. Sadly, Chuck’s drum set has gone to the ages but it only takes a box and stick to keep time.

John Marston confirms he loves music, has a wonderful piano and only “sort of plays” on it. His appreciation of music comes naturally “once removed.” John’s mother’s “big sister” in college who was also the Matron of Honor in John’s parents’ wedding was none other than Phyllis Diller of Laugh-In fame. Did you know that she was an accomplished pianist and toured with symphony orchestras? Perhaps a more plausible reason for John’s love of music is that he inherited the genes from his mother who was an excellent music teacher. As a boy John had the opportunity to be in a program sponsored by the renowned NJ Summit School of Music. A highlight of that association for John was his selection as the conductor of the youth orchestra at the elementary level graduation. He was also noticed for his exceptional voice. His paid career as part of a boy’s choir was short but it did expose him to many exciting performances and venues. One of those events was a “brief” concert at Carnegie Hall. Brief because John and some other boys were asked to leave when their paper airplanes took flight over the balcony. Boys will be boys!

The Town Crier’s own Phil Casey plays guitar, mandolin, and the cigar box guitar that his son-in-law, Matt made for him. Phil’s creativity and unique style are apparent as he performs his original songs and covers. He brings the atmosphere and culture of the Tidewater area to his music, adding some pop and rock. Listen on You Tube to his orignials “I Can Be A Panacea” and “Mobs and Kings”, or his cover of “Little Sister.” Phil works as a solo, a duo in Scrapper T Duo, and a trio with Matt in a group called Scrapper Tuesday. He performs regularly in Hampton and Newport News and his New Town gigs have included Cogan’s, Corner Pocket, and Capriccio’s. Many performances this summer will be in North Carolina but don’t despair. He’s booked to play locally at Charly’s Airport Restaurant on May 3rd, the Williamsburg Farmers Market on May 25th and June 22nd, and Craft 31 Restaurant on July 5th. Expect to see his duo return to Corner Pocket also, but no dates yet. Phil makes some sweet music for all to enjoy. Does he like jamming? Of course!

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Tornado Safety

Posted on March 30, 2019 11:43 PM by Tom Nichols, Chair, Preparedness

Categories: Life in New Town

Tornado Safety

This part of Virginia will be exposed to possible Tornado activity and damages over the next 8 months. You need to be Ready:

Know the Difference

Tornado Watch - Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss

your emergency plans and check supplies plus your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a

warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives!

Tornado Warning - A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Tornado

warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. Go immediately to your safe room.

How to Prepare for a Tornado

During any storm, listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings.
Pick a safe room in your home where household members and pets may gather during a tornado. This should be a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.
Practice periodic tornado drills so that everyone knows what to do if a tornado is approaching.
Consider having your safe room reinforced. Plans for reinforcing an interior room to provide better protection can be found on the FEMA web site.
Prepare for high winds by for the summer by removing diseased and damaged limbs from trees.
Move or secure lawn furniture, trash cans, hanging plants or anything else that can be
picked up by the wind and become a projectile.
Watch for tornado danger signs:

? Dark, often greenish clouds – a phenomenon caused by hail

? Wall cloud – an isolated lowering of the base of a thunderstorm

? Cloud of debris

? Large hail

? Funnel cloud – a visible rotating extension of the cloud base, Roaring noise (like a freight train)

What to Do After a Tornado-Check for injuries. If you are trained, provide first aid to persons in need until emergency responders arrive.

Continue listening to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions.
If you are away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so.
Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes when examining your walls, doors, staircases and windows for damage.
Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately.
Stay out of damaged buildings.
Use battery-powered flashlights, do NOT use candles.
If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly and call the gas company or fire department.
Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims.
Use the telephone only for emergency calls.
Keep all of your animals under your direct control.
Clean up spilled medications, bleaches. If you have spilled gasoline or other flammable liquids, call the fire dept. vacate areas where there is a chemical or gasoline spill.

Emergency Information:

• Fire/Police: Dial 911

• JCC Emergency Hotline: 757-875-2424

• JCC Emergency Management: 757-564-4315

Utilities:

Dominion Power: 1-866-366-4357
Water/Sewer:757-229-7421; 757-566-0112 (after hours)
Virginia Natural Gas: 1-877-572-3342

1619 - 2019: Remembering 400 Years

Posted on March 30, 2019 11:41 PM by Warren Buck

Categories: Life in New Town

This year of 2019 marks 400 years after the official beginning of the American slave trade. That year, some 23 Africans arrived in Hampton and were sold into enslavement. Many of these newly arrived Africans were scattered throughout the James River area - including Jamestown founded in 1607. Details of this arrival are still being research and studied.

William & Mary marks 2019 as a year to remember and recognize it is 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived not far from New Town. William & Mary, founded in 1693, has had an over three century relationship with African Americans; from owning enslaved Africans to build and maintain the campus; supporting enrolled students who brought their own enslaved to live with them; employing African American staff, supporting Jim Crow laws aimed at restricting the movements of African Americans and keep them separate from white Americans, enrolling African American students, employing African Americans in key administrative roles, creating the Lemon Project (a program to encourage scholarship on the relationship between African Americans and W&M), awarding African Americans Honorary Degrees, naming two dormitories after African Americans (one for the enslaved man named Lemon - the other after Associate Dean Caroll F.S. Hardy), to having African Americans on its governing body - the Board of Visitors.

The 1619 - 2019: Remembering 400 years website contains a list of events scheduled during the year. William & Mary invites community participation in these events.

The website also highlights two Board of Visitors’ resolutions important to 400 years of Remembering. In April 2009, the Board adopted a resolution that acknowledged William & Mary's role in slavery and the era of Jim Crow and established "The Lemon Project: A Journey of Reconciliation” as a long-term research project. In April 2018, the Board adopted a resolution in which members acknowledged that “William & Mary enslaved people, exploited them and their labor, and perpetuated the legacies of racial discrimination.” The Board expressed profound regrets for these activities and apologized for them.

There are other events and related experiences that are not sponsored by William & Mary, such as the “Angela Site” at Jamestown.

Know Your Neighbor: Ed Elmore

Posted on March 30, 2019 11:35 PM by Lucy Painter

Categories: Life in New Town

You may have seen our neighbor Ed Elmore walking his Dalmatian Chompsie along the trails surrounding New Town. Maybe you spotted them in town where businesses and restaurants are always happy to greet them, sometimes with a bowl of water for Chompsie on hot days.

Ed is originally from Baltimore, a fan of the city's Ravens and Orioles and the Colts who left that city years ago. He has lived since 1964 in the Tidewater area, most recently in Gloucester before coming to New Town. He left the Tidewater area for only five years in 1990-95 when his work sent him to Huntsville, Alabama.

Before his retirement seven years ago, Ed worked as a civilian for the Department of the Army in the Training and Doctrine Command in Fort Monroe and later Fort Eustis. Each day he commuted to work from his waterfront home in rural Gloucester. Wanting a more convenient, walkable and lively community where he could continue his active lifestyle, Ed found New Town the perfect spot.

Upon retirement from the Department of the Army as well as US Army Reserve, Ed has found the time to pursue the many activities he loves. He fell in love with running while a student at Christopher Newport University where he ran track. In earlier days, he competed in marathons including those in Boston, New York City, Virginia Beach's Shamrock, and the Marine Corps marathons. Today he continues to run regularly with a group of fellow enthusiasts.

Ed also loves biking, especially along the Virginia Capitol Trail, a route he loves for its safety from cars as well as its beauty. He also hikes the many trails in western Virginia, including those around Crabtree Falls near Waynesboro. He once completed a multi-day backpack hike from Front Royal to Harper's Ferry. In his "spare time," Ed is politically active and an avid reader.

Chompsie, Ed's canine companion, is one of the many Dalmatians he has rescued after falling in love with the breed years ago. Over those years he has given a home to several Dalmatians, male and female, but for the moment Chompsie is an "only child," although that may not be the case forever.

When looking for the right place to live and play, Ed - and Chompsie - have found New Town the perfect place, so say hello when you see them.

Know Your Business: The Ivy Trellis

Posted on March 30, 2019 11:31 PM by Phil Casey

Categories: Life in New Town

So, what can you find at The Ivy Trellis? Owner and operator Rosa Mann says, “All my favorites things. It’s like Oprah. Only better!”

The Ivy Trellis is a new retailer on our Main Street that opened in New Town in March, 2019. In all the variety on display, there is a logic of categories. There is home décor, home accessories and gourmet foods. Does that cover it all? Not really. You will have to go in and see for yourself because there is also the baby corner and all those handbags!

Rosa has been in the home décor business since 1994, always operating under the name of The Ivy Trellis. She started the business in Farmville, VA. (Side bar for New Town residents from other states: if you have not gone furniture shopping in Farmville, plan a day trip.) For about fifteen years, The Ivy Trellis was a full support interior decorating business, providing in-home design

Home décor products at Ivy Trellis

services, a show room for product sales and employing a support staff.

When Rosa’s husband, Ed, began thinking about sailing and retirement, she re-invented the business as an on-line enterprise, still under The Ivy Trellis banner. Then last year, she re-opened the store with a shop in Lightfoot Crossing. That shop succeeded and Rosa loved its courtyard which was a natural space for selling home garden accessories.

Experience showed a basic fact about shoppers: they like to combine eating out with shopping. And that is what led her to open a shop this year in New Town where dining opportunities are plentiful.

Additionally, the New Town store has extra storage space and that seems a good idea given all the stock Rosa includes among her favorite things. Having extra storage space will help keep the shelves out front fresh during the change of seasons and trends. Check out the pictures to get ideas for your own addendum to the Rodgers and Hammerstein tune.

The Ivy Trellis no longer offers in home interior decorating services, but Rosa is happy to offer shoppers advice. Bring in photos for a discussion. Maybe Rosa will have something in stock that works for you, or can obtain an item from one of her dealers, or she may simply help you imagine what you need, like an orange chair, so you can go out into the larger marketplace with a specific concept of what you are looking for.

Welcome to Rosa and Ed and The Ivy Trellis!

Some favorite things

Know Your Neighbor: The Johnsons

Posted on March 15, 2019 8:09 PM by Rebekah Roberts

Categories: Life in New Town

Have you met Rob and Lisa Johnson? They moved to New Town in March of 2016. They have two grown sons so Lisa says they are on their way to being empty nesters. They are also recent retirees…very active retirees.

Rob, born in the Philippines grew up in New York, Arizona, and California moving to the “less shaky suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio” after the 1971 Los Angeles earthquake. Upon high school graduation, he began an underwater trajectory joining the Navy to work on nuclear submarines. During his military career, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, served as a Navy diver in the Reserves, became an Engineering Duty Officer in shipyards, dive lockers, and the Navy’s experimental diving unit before being promoted to an admiral’s staff. His days as an experimental diver have been compared to life as an “underwater guinea pig!”

Lisa grew up in Canton, Ohio and studied art history after high school. Her first job was at the Cleveland Museum of Art before meeting Rob and marrying “into the Navy.” Navy life for the Johnsons included living in Rhode Island, Florida (twice), South Carolina (twice), California, and the Philippines. They also lived for three years in Japan and then made their final military move to Newport News living there for 13 years. Lisa was a busy mother and career woman running a family day care business, teaching classes from preschool to college level, working in a winery, serving as a bowling coach and running a youth league. After moving to Newport News, she became an historical interpreter on the 18thcentury farm at the Yorktown Victory Center; i.e. the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and then turned to the Historical Clothing Department sewing historically accurate clothing for the interpreters. She retired a year and a half ago. After being published and becoming editor of a base magazine, she is enjoying the time writing and taking art classes.

Living in Japan prompted what Lisa calls “a three-year field trip” seeing as much of the country as possible. They also have gone “cross country” several times, and now have their sights set on Europe. After retiring from the Navy, Rob became a NJROTC teacher in York County schools and retired again this year now focusing on his love of motorcycles and bowling. As a member of the PBA in Japan, he became a Silver Level coach. Besides his own activity in bowling leagues, he is now sharing his experience with the high school bowling league in York County.

Rob includes historical reenactment in his long list of interests. He joined Sykes’ Regulars, a Union Civil War unit and goes to events throughout the year. The Johnson’s sons share their father’s love of living history and became members of the Liberty Hall Fifes and Drums where they were field musicians. Their oldest son currently lives his dream job as an interpreter on the ships at Jamestown Settlement and after their younger son served in the Army and deployed to Afghanistan he soon will be graduating from Texas A&M in December.

One reason for selecting New Town for their retirement is that they like the walkable neighborhood. The Johnson’s are sincere when they say, “Since moving to Charlotte Park we’ve loved how welcoming the neighborhood is and [we] have met many incredible and interesting neighbors.” Welcome to Rob and Lisa Johnson and family!

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