Town Crier Articles

Be Ready With Your Pool Pass!
Posted on May 1, 2025 7:00 AM by NTRA Pool Committee
Submitted by Barbara Stratton, Pool Committee
 
The New Town Community Pool is all set to open Saturday, May 24th for the 2025 season, and your Pool Pass with the BLUE decal will get you through the gate for a summer of fun! This is what the 2025 Pool Pass looks like: 
 
Pool registration is underway.  (Instructions for owners and tenants can be found on the website Pool & Clubs page.) Chesapeake Bay Management staff, along with the New Town Residential Association Board and Pool Committee have worked to streamline the registration process for better efficiency and for the convenience of all residents. The accurate registration of homeowners and accessible distribution of the pool passes are the first steps in assuring New Town's residents of a well-managed, safe and clean pool facility. The electronic sign-in system has continued to be refined for quick and easy entrance and is a very important tool to monitor and track pool usage. Most importantly, it takes every patron’s support, faithfully using the sign-in system to assure the best experience for all residents. 
 
Many improvements have occurred over the last several years with increased numbers of loungers and umbrellas, equipment and accommodations for the Lifeguards, and maintenance of the pool bathrooms and deck, promising this 2025 pool season to be enjoyable and fun for everyone! Long-time pool-goers will notice some changes and improvements with the selection of a new pool management company – Clearwater Pools. Many essential tasks and responsibilities are covered by Clearwater, including monitoring water quality, management of the Lifeguards, weather decisions, and authority for the many safety concerns and regulations. Clearwater has been great to work with, kicking off a positive pool season. 
     
The safety of pool users, and especially the safety of the children is paramount in the enforcement of Pool Rules and the regulation of pool hours and usage. The Lifeguards have a big job, but also truly appreciate getting to know New Town's personalities and creating some special relationships over the summer.  
 
Stay tuned for several pool events planned by the Activities Committee – a real opportunity to meet neighbors and make new friends!
 
A lot of effort, dedication and time goes into the three months of safe and fun pool days for New Town's residents. Many thanks go to those volunteers who make this all possible; those who support the success of the pool by serving on the Board of Directors, or serving on one of the NTRA's Committees. A big thanks to our hard-working Chesapeake Bay Management team too! We look forward to a successful kick-off on May 24th and seeing you at the pool throughout the season!!
Trailblazing Scout Repairs Section of New Town Trails
Posted on May 1, 2025 6:57 AM by Mary Cheston
Categories: Life in New Town
 
Robbie Bussey, a 12th grade homeschooled Williamsburg student, has earned his Eagle Scout badge by leading a repair project on part of the trails near The Pointe at New Town apartments. (An Eagle Scout project requires an individual to "demonstrate leadership by planning, developing, and directing others in a significant community service project that benefits an organization other than Scouting. The project must be substantial, challenging, and not simply routine maintenance.")
 
In searching for a suitable Eagle Scout project, Robbie learned of the trails condition through his mother who works at Ironbound Gym. Aided by one of his Troop 103 leaders who owns a building company, Robbie then planned out the materials and work that would be needed to repair the path. While more of the trail system clearly needs attention, Robbie took on the revitalization of this trails section because it was "in the worse condition and doable in a short timeframe.” Robbie was assisted by other Scouts from his troop and their parents. After weeks of planning and coordination with suppliers, utility company, etc, they did the work over the course of 4 days. Robbie feels “a huge sense of accomplishment” for having completed this revitalization work.
 
Scott Grafton of the New Town Commercial Association exclaims, "New Town would like to give a special shoutout to Robbie Bussey and Scout Troop 103 for their amazing work on the New Town trails! We are so grateful for all the hard work and heart he put into making them better for everyone to enjoy. Let's give this young man the credit he deserves — the trails are looking better than ever thanks to his dedication and leadership!”
 
Before and after the repairs
 
   
 
 
May Is A Busy Month for New Town Activities
Posted on May 1, 2025 6:55 AM by NTRA Activities Committee
 
This weekend, May 3rd and 4th, you have two opportunities to support your New Town community and socialize as well.  And don't forget that the pool opens for the season on Saturday, May 24th. 
 
COMMUNITY CLEANUP DAY – May 3rd
 
 
Join your neighbors for a New Town clean-up.
 
Saturday, May 3rd, 9:00 am, meet at the New Town community pool.
 
Trash bags, gloves, and pickers will be provided.  Hope to see you there!
 
**********
 
WILLIAM & MARY BASEBALL GAME – May 4th
 
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME!
 
Join your New Town neighbors and take the family out to the ballgame to see
 
W&M Tribe face the College of Charleston Cougars on May 4
 
 
Private field level picnic and watch area for New Town residents with Hot Dogs and more!
 
Gates open at 12 with food, batting practice, and cornhole (gametime is 1PM).
 
Stay and watch the game in the private area, or from the stands.
Post-game running of the bases for all kids 12 and under
Group New Town photo at home plate
Door prizes and community socialization!
 
Private field level game tickets $10/person at the gate - RSVP to jthomwm@gmail.com
 
Family Fun – The April 19 New Town Easter Egg Hunt
Posted on May 1, 2025 6:50 AM by Angela Lesnett
 
In the days leading up to Easter 2025, the Easter Bunny was spotted in New Town at various school bus stops greeting children as a reminder of the annual New Town Easter Egg Hunt. On April 19th over 500 candy- and prize-filled eggs were hidden or scattered in Lydias Park (Abbey Commons) in preparation for the Easter Egg Hunt. Several dozen eager children waited at the starting line and, when the signal was given, they searched for the colorful eggs, high and low, in trees, bushes, and grassy areas. Within minutes happy children found all of the eggs, filled their baskets and bags, and claimed their prizes.
 
After the egg hunt, activities continued as excited children participated in various relay races and games, cheered on by parents, grandparents, neighbors, and the Easter Bunny. The games included a bunny hop, an egg roll, and a water balloon toss, and children’s prizes were available for selection. As a finale, children coaxed and guided a blindfolded adult to the location of certain eggs. Although the adults were sometimes confused, they accepted directions well and each of the prize-filled eggs was found. All were delighted that the Easter Bunny remained on-site throughout the afternoon, greeting New Town residents and guests and posing for photos.
 
Many thanks to the volunteers of the NTRA Activities Committee for organizing and presenting this fun activity. It was a great opportunity to meet and connect with our neighbors.
 
Thanks also to our volunteer photographers who captured these great shots of the action! To see more photos of the day, go to the Easter Egg Hunt photo album feature on this website.
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Golden Wall of New Town
Posted on May 1, 2025 6:42 AM by Janice Simmons, Foundation Square
 
Did you know there is a Golden Wall in New Town?

There are nine yellow Lady Banks roses planted along a wall on Foundation Street. The roses were named in honor of the wife, Dororetha,  of famed botanist, Sir  Joseph Banks. The roses are located directly across from Manor On The Green on Foundation Street in New Town.

Started by Nan Powell, a former resident and landscaper of Foundation Square and completed by Janice Simmons, a current resident and landscaper of Foundation Square, the flowers are a living memorial to their late husbands.  Along with my dear friend and fellow landscaper, Sherrie Carroll, we completed the wall by adding more plants to create a beautiful floral display for all to enjoy.

The Golden Wall is a tribute to Nan's husband, Jody; and Janice's husband, Hoyt, in honor of their fiftieth wedding anniversary which neither couple was privileged to celebrate.  For that very reason, The Golden Wall was created as a living memorial. 

Each plant has a specific care plan given twice a year and every limb is tied with landscaping twine carefully attaching the limbs laterally onto the wall.

It is hoped everyone will make a special effort to see the beautiful golden blooms. Winds shorten the bloom time significantly but all the more reason to watch for the beautiful flowers each spring! March 31 of this year, hundreds of tiny buds had formed on each plant waiting to mature and burst open creating The Golden Wall.

Nan and I hope all will enjoy the golden display as a perfect wall covering and backdrop for mature crepe myrtles trees.  It is truly a Golden Wall dedicated to our loving husbands and our golden memories. 
 
To me, the roses are always The Golden Wall of New Town. Although the roses have no polished green leaves or blooms in the winter, when I look at the roses, The Golden Wall is never without golden blooms!
 
If you missed seeing Spring 2025's mass of golden blooms, please see photos below.
New Town Tunes Returns WEDNESDAY!
Posted on May 1, 2025 6:40 AM by Town Crier Staff
 
FREE music in Sullivan Square starts next week.  Here is the lineup and announced food trucks/restaurants for each concert. 
 
 
May 7 — The Fuzz Band
Food Vendors: Corner Pocket, Curry in a Hurry, The Dog Father, Old City BBQ and Polar Snow
 
May 14 — Two bands: London and WOAH
Food Vendors: Bali Bali, Corner Pocket, Dominion Dogs, Don Chido and Polar Snow
 
May 21 — Wolph
Food Vendors: Corner Pocket, Curry in a Hurry, The Dog Father, Old City BBQ and Polar Snow
 
May 28 — Slapnation
Food Vendors: Bald Guys Pies, Bali Bali, Corner Pocket, Dominion Dogs and Polar Snow
 
June 4 — Wilder Horses
Food Vendors: Bald Guys Pies, Corner Pocket, The Dogfather, Old City BBQ and Polar Snow
 
June 11 — Nashville Nights
Food Vendors: Corner Pocket, Dominion Dogs, Don Chido, Hungry Arrow and Polar Snow
 
Alewerks, Billsburg, Frothy Moon, and the Virginia Beer Company will be onsite with beverages available for purchase. Note that scheduled food trucks and bands are subject to change without notice.
 
All concerts will be from 5-8 p.m., and attendees are invited to bring lawn chairs, picnic baskets and their families. 
 
 
New Town Tunes concerts are brought to you by a partnership of the New Town Commercial Association, CultureFix and JCC Parks & Recreation.
 
Public Hearing Scheduled on Westwood Park Development
Posted on April 1, 2025 12:24 PM by Mary Cheston
 
Tomorrow evening, April 2nd, the James City County Planning Commission will hold its public hearing regarding ABVA Development LLC’s construction on 80 acres of Eastern State Hospital surplus land. This project has been in the works since 2018 with formal application to James City County in 2023. James City County staff completed their review of the developer’s plans in mid-March.
 
According to its Community Impact Statement, the development will include 86 single family homes and 100 multi-family units. Westwood Park would have its own recreational facilities, including a swimming pool and trails as well as 2 playgrounds, grilling and picnic area. An additional 40,000 sq ft of office and commercial space is planned. Approximately 70 percent of the site will remain open space including wetlands.
 
 
Relevant Changes from Original Application: ABVA’s 2023 application addressed many of the concerns raised by the NTRA in the early stages of Westwood Park’s consideration. (See Town Crier - April 2021, June 2021, April 2022, May 2022, May 2023, July 2023, April 2024, February 2025) The County’s examination resulted in further refinements and conditions, a few of which are highlighted below.
 
Access to the development will be via Discovery Park Boulevard with buffer zones between the new community and New Town’s Charlotte Park neighborhood. Originally the only trail system connection between Westwood Park and New Town was proposed as the existing trail “adjacent to Discovery Park Boulevard.” The final Proffers have been modified to open the opportunity for changes if “otherwise approved by the New Town Residential Association, Inc.”
 
Significant BMP retrofit/repair to the stormwater system within New Town are being required for this development. Where ABVA had originally proposed funding “stream restoration” within the property, the latest proffers include actual repairs to three stormwater facilities within our community (the Casey Boulevard, New Town Avenue and Truist ponds.)
 
“The Developer shall prepare plans for the (i) retrofit of the Courthouse Green Dry Pond, BMP ID PC144, and the New Town Block 8, Phase 1B Dry Pond, PC243, in accordance with the recommendations of the Powhatan Creek Watershed Study and (ii) repair of the outfall of the Suntrust Wet Pond, PC173.”
 
The issuance of various stages of building permits for Westwood Park is contingent on the submittal of plans, initiation and substantial completion of these BMP repairs. The Developer is also preparing an updated water and sewer master plan for the property.
 
ABVA’s traffic impact analysis was accepted without requiring any additional improvements, including maintaining the configuration of the intersection of Discovery Park Boulevard/Casey Boulevard. Per VDOT, adjusted signal timings at the existing Ironbound Road lights have already been completed to account for future development. Further optimized timings will be adjusted on a recurring basis.
 
The JCC Staff Report recommends Planning Commission approval of Westwood Park subject to its proposed conditions and proffers. [See Agenda item 6: https://jamescitycova.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1240/files/agenda/1649]
 
Members of the public are welcome to submit written comments or speak at this April 2nd meeting. The Planning Commission meeting agenda can be found here:  https://jamescitycova.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1240/files/agenda/1649
 
The meeting starts at 6:00PM at the County Government Center Board Room, 101 Mount Bays Road. Westwood Park Rezoning is the 6th public hearing agenda item. The meeting will also be livestreamed on JCC TV: Cox channel 88 or jamescitycountyva.gov/220.
 
Approval of the Westwood Park development will require rezoning of the Eastern State public land to Mixed Use or PUB-R (as proposed by the applicant) and a change to the James City County 2045 Comprehensive Plan, so consideration by the JCC Board of Supervisors is the next step after the Planning Commission’s decision. (May 13, 2025 has been identified as the tentative Board of Supervisors meeting.) The JCC Staff Report includes a discussion of the designation “Mixed Use – Eastern State” for such a Comprehensive Plan revision. Per the Board of Supervisors’ request for a fiscal impact analysis, the staff has also concluded that the Westwood Park development would result in a “net fiscal impact to the County through the year 2050 that is positive $5,894,860.”
Roadwork in Settlers Market
Posted on April 1, 2025 12:21 PM by Scott Ellis
 
Where have the brick crosswalks gone? Are they coming back? 
 
This question has been asked many times on social media recently as some of the brick crosswalks have been taken out and replaced by asphalt over the past few months – leaving bumpy rides as cars drive across the patched crosswalks. 
 
I spoke with Jason Purse, Assistant County Administrator regarding the removal of the brick paver crosswalks, repaving in Settlers Market and future repaving of main roads in New Town. Jason was kind enough to answer mine (and many others I’m sure) questions about the roadwork mainly along Casey Blvd and Settlers Market Blvd. (He is available to answer questions @ (757) 253-6604.)
 
After a series of repairs to drainage areas, James City County contractors recently began the process of repaving roads in the Settlers Market section. As a result, the brick crosswalks have been permanently removed. Repaving for main roads in the Settlers Market area is underway and should be completed in the next two weeks.  VDOT does not allow crosswalks composed of brick pavers for high visibility crosswalks. 
 
After the completion of these repairs, VDOT will be responsible for repaving all the main roads in New Town, but a schedule is not published at this time. Other main roads are already owned and managed by VDOT, but the Casey Boulevard/Settlers Market area was not built to VDOT standards and required improvements. 
 
In case you were wondering, I also spoke with some of the men doing the repaving and they told me the speed hump on Casey Boulevard will not be replaced.  
April 19th Easter Egg Hunt with The Easter Bunny
Posted on April 1, 2025 12:20 PM by NTRA Activities Committee
Change Continues to Come to “Downtown” New Town
Posted on April 1, 2025 12:20 PM by Scott Ellis
Categories: Life in New Town
 
“Here we go again” 
 
This seems to be said a lot over the past few months, few years, maybe even a few decades. Another store is closing.
 
What stores in New Town have closed? Kays Jewelers, Victorias Secret, The Mole Hole, El Tapatio, Pisco 51, Candyland, Christopher & Banks, Claires, Corning Ware, Justice, Bath and Body Works, White House Black Market, Cogan’s Deli, and others have closed over the last fifteen years. Some of these have closed as parent companies closed or downsized. Some have relocated and can be found elsewhere in Williamsburg and some owners have retired.  
  • Joann Fabric and Craft is closing and the store on Main Street will soon be empty. 
  • Plow and Hearth has a temporarily closed sign on the doors and stock has been greatly reduced. 
  • Dollar Tree on Main Street will soon be open in the storefront previously occupied by Victorias Secret from July 2007 through March 2020. 
  • Taco Mexicali # 2 will replace Pisco 51 and is in the process of being refurbished. It should be opened within the next month or so. 
  • Cogan’s Deli & Sports Pub closed on February 13 with Iron Bound Gym expanding into the space. 
  • CrossFit 1607 gym formerly on Casey Boulevard has relocated elsewhere in Williamsburg.
All is not gloom and doom. Change is inevitable as shoppers habits and needs change, technology changes, and economies change. We are blessed to see new stores, restaurants and gathering places move into New Town. 
Over just the past few years we have seen:
  • Kelands Louisiana Seafood Grab and Go arrive on Courthouse Street, 
  • Eleva Coffee Lounge open on Courthouse Street, 
  • The above-mentioned Taco Mexicali # 2 will open soon on Courthouse Street, 
  • Schwartzy’s Cat Cove on Main Street, 
  • Great Atlantic Hot Tubs, Swim Spas and Saunas on Main Street, 
  • Cox Communications on Main Street,  
  • Planet Fitness took over the space formally occupied by American Family Fitness, 
  • Axe Republic on Courthouse Street, 
  • Zoom Room and Massage Envy on Main Street, 
  • Kung Fu Tea on Courthouse Street, 
  • K’Bola Cuban restaurant on Center Street
  • Joose Family Orthodontics on New Town Avenue, 
  • Andre Julius – Custom Suits and Accessories on New Town Avenue,
  • Fairy Hair Garden WBG Studio on Casey Boulevard, 
  • Shaia Oriental Rugs on Foundation Street, 
  • Zoom Room on Main Street, 
  • Dream Maker Bath and Kitchen on Main Street
  • And others.  
 
Could we use more shops? Certainly, we don’t like to see empty storefronts, and no one likes to see people lose their jobs. Various ideas have been posted on social media spots and there are many favorites that folks would love to see open in New Town. Craft stores, pubs, bakeries have all been mentioned. Maybe a drop off/collection site for Amazon packages so we don’t have so many delivery trucks constantly in the streets. Walking down to Main Street to pick up a package and then stopping for an ice cream or a meal might be good exercise and fresher air and a chance to meet a New Town neighbor. At any rate let’s support the businesses we have as much as possible and meet neighbors and make new friends as we do.  
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