Town Crier Articles

 

The end of summer is always poignant and sad.  The beach trips and backyard camp-outs end; corn-on-the-cob and s’mores ingredients in local markets become scarce; water shooters, pool noodles, and slip’n sides get consigned to the garage—and the dreaded (for your child, at least) notebook and backpack displays pop-up in every store in the area.  But the end of summer also begins the cooler days of fall and our hopes for the holiday season to come.  One of my most beloved books is Something Wicked This Way Comes by the author, Ray Bradbury.  I hope quoting the opening here, which beautifully anticipates the charms of arguably autumn’s seminal festival, will ease the going of summer in our hearts:

 

 

Favorite Books and Recipes Round-up!  Front Porch Chat is still looking to highlight your favorite book and/or recipe in the months ahead, so if you have a beloved book—old or new—or a rave recipe you’d like to share with your New Town neighbors, send them on in!  No takers on our BBQ Recipe request, so here’s a little ditty from resident, Angela Lesnett, along those lines:

If temps are way too high today

Try “Pierce’s.” It’s the best, I’d say.

 

Honorable Mentions: Old City Barbeque and Matchsticks BBQ Co.!

 

To brighten your day: 

Jokes:  What do you call a boomerang that doesn't come back?  A stick.

 

Funny Quote:  People say money is not the key to happiness, but I have always figured if you have enough money, you can have a key made. —Joan Rivers

 

Poems: 

—Ogden Nash

  

Historical Fact:  There were female Gladiators in Ancient Rome! A female gladiator was called a Gladiatrix, or Gladiatrices. They were extremely rare, unlike their male counterparts.

 

Curious Happening:  Aeschylus, Greek “Father of Tragedy,” lost his life when a hungry eagle dropped a tortoise on his head so the shell would break and the eagle could eat the meat. Apparently, the eagle mistook his bald head for a rock. 

 

Household Hacks:  Hot water and an Alka-Seltzer tablet for 15 minutes will clean away stubborn messes in your frying pan or skillet.

 

PC Hacks:  Alt-Tab will display all your open windows at once. Tab to the window you want—and simply lift your finger off to get to your destination.

 

Recipes: 

 

Sesame Date Rolls—thank you, resident Miranda Saumier!

8 ounces chopped dried dates-- hot water as needed

¼  cup toasted sesame seeds, divided

¼  quarter cup chopped walnuts

½  cup whole raw almonds

½  cup unsweetened, shredded coconut

1  tablespoon coconut oil

¾  teaspoon ground cardamon

¼  teaspoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pinch of salt            

 

Pet Care:  If your dog or puppy is a super-fast eater, place a tennis ball in the bowl with the food.  It will slow pup down, as it will cause he or she to work around the inedible obstacle to eat what is. 

 

 

As your newest Board Member, I want to thank the many community members who have reached out to me to express their appreciation that the vacant Board Member position has now been filled.  (In fact, I even had one gentleman offer to take me out to lunch at his expense so he could personally bring me up to speed on the problems in the community.)  Having served on two prior Boards for Associations in the past (New York City and Vienna, VA), I can certainly appreciate the amount of time and effort it takes to help out in the community … and with many of us having full-time jobs and families, it is not always an easy task to undertake.  But I stepped up to help in whatever capacity I can, and I encourage all of you to find ways to volunteer and do your part. 

 

As you know, the Board has been working for the last year on the new governing documents. The Board is required by Virginia law to follow the Association’s current documents (regardless of whether the Developer Board followed them). These documents are old, overly complex and contain errors and omissions. It’s past time for their overhaul.

 

We recognize that the new governing documents may not meet with 100% approval from all members – but we believe the new governing documents are a big step in the right direction and will benefit the community.  If these revised documents are not approved by 2/3 of the community, the current Developer documents remain in force – and keeping the current documents in force will continue to balloon our legal expenses, complicate our assessment calculations, and limit lawn service to fenced yards. 

 

On Wednesday evening August 17, the Board had a Zoom Informational Meeting for NTRA owners. Several valid questions were asked and answered regarding the new governing documents – and others were submitted via email and responded to. The slides from this meeting are available on the NTRA website along with a summary of the Board’s response to specific statements that had been widely circulated to owners. The Board posted this document to correct misleading and incorrect information. Read our explanations and form your own opinion. 

 

One question in particular that seemed to create a lot of confusion at the Informational Meeting was the threshold for calling a Special Meeting of Members. Although our legal counsel recommended a change to 20% to conform with the majority of other associations in the area and for a number of valid reasons, e.g., expense, time, etc., the Board decided to revise this proposal and keep the Special Meeting threshold at 10%.  

 

We are happy to report that the Association will not need your mortgage holder information after all. We learned of this after the Zoom meeting. So your mailed packet for the upcoming vote will only contain the Special Meeting Notice and absentee/paper ballot.

 

The proposed documents are being finalized and EzVote links will be sent soon.  Vote yes for progress and affirm that we are one community in New Town. 

More positive steps… We have now received our spring financial reports from Chesapeake Bay Management – you will recall this was a problem noted by our Treasurer, Everett Lunsford last month. The May and June reports are posted on the website, and the Board is reviewing the July data. This leaves only the reconciliation and audit corrections to our 2021 year-end records.

 

As to the financials, please keep in mind that all expenses and invoices are increasing with inflation, labor, and supply issues.  For example, a recent bill for the proposed winterization of our pool has increased by 15% in one year!  Which reminds me that during August we had an After Hours Social at the pool where I donated $120 to cover the NTRA cost of one lifeguard!

 

I see this Board working really hard to keep people happy…I look forward to meeting other New Town owners and appreciate your support as I work with my fellow homeowner Board Members to improve the community.

 

 

By, Jim Ducibella

 

The operators of The Nature Bus don’t mince words when it comes to their mission. They aim to be “a vehicle for transformative, shared nature experiences... To nurture peoples' affinity for the natural world.”

They do it in a couple of different ways. They offer private tours of a variety of nature options for groups of 10 to 16 people. Tours can last a half-day, full day, or two days.

 

They also offer Saturday tours that are open to anyone – singles welcome -- at what seems like a reasonable price. For example, a local artist will teach you how to paint nature ($30 per person), or you can go on an intimate tour of Virginia Beach, led by a historian (also $30 per person).

 

There’s yoga on the beach, a naturalist guided tour through a forest, bird watching, even a trip to Back Bay Wildlife Refuge where you can peer at the stars in the sky through a telescope, led by a local astronomer ($25 per person).

Most Saturdays, the tours leave from the REI Co-op shop, 350 independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach.  

 

“The purpose of the bus is to connect people of all ages with all of the possible nature settings and nature experiences one can imagine,” The Nature Bus owner, Suzanne Moss, told The Virginian-Pilot.

According to their website, when Moss’s daughter Mariah) was 5 years old they started a little “nature club” together. A few years ago, they expanded the club, partnering with the Master Naturalist program, to create what is now known as the Virginia Junior Master Naturalist Program.

With many years of experience, Suzanne wanted to offer nature experiences to the public at large, all ages, not just children. So, she purchased a bus, allowing her to organize nature experiences that include both local (Southside Hampton Roads) and distance destinations across all of Virginia.

 

As she writes, “there are countless reports and research studies online that disseminate all of the health benefits of connecting to nature.”

For a full report on what The Nature Bus is, and a complete guide to what it offers, visit the website https://thenaturebus.com/, and follow the appropriate links. You can also reach Moss by email or phone: info@thenaturebus.com and 757-288-9595 (text only).

 

 

By, NTRA Pool Committee

 

Whether hearing from a pool new-comer or a season regular, the feedback about pool season 2022 has been very positive! Several key improvements have added to the overall enjoyment for New Town residents. Top on the list is the great team of lifeguards we’ve had this year!  Roswitha, one of the daily pool users, describes this year’s lifeguards as friendly, kind and patient while still being punctual with the break times and effectively explaining pool rules to swimmers and parents. 

 

One of the favorite lifeguards, Fatih “Mike”(pictured under the umbrella) is originally from Turkey, but is currently attending university in Italy, majoring in Special Education with an emphasis in Autism. Fatih actually rotates among 7 pools in the area but says that the New Town pool is his favorite because of the friendly and supportive pool patrons here. Another favorite lifeguard, Tahje (pictured with the big smile) came to us from Jamaica. He is studying Physical Therapy at the University of West Indies. In these last few days while being at the pool, take a minute to thank these young men for the fine job they have done for us. Notice the lifeguard chair, newly provided this season, giving a very professional impression! 

 

This year’s major improvement of the key card system provides greater security than ever before. Another, very appreciated improvement has been the addition of the cleaning service for the bathrooms and pool deck, provided by Archie Jefferson’s Perfection Cleaning.  The umbrellas and other pool furniture were in good condition for the summer, but more loungers are already ordered for next year! 

 

A wonderful diversity of family configurations, ages and generations can be found enjoying the pool. Gayle (pictured) expressed how much she appreciates that she and her husband - great grandma and great grandpa - have a clean, safe place to bring their great grandson, always creating a fun time!! Fifteen-year-old, Jack (pictured) takes advantage of an opportunity to help his neighbor, Mary get to the pool so she can do her laps. She says she’s not sure that it’s effective physical rehab as much as it is just great, relaxing time in the water and the sun! 

Parents have found the pool and gazebo to be the perfect birthday party venue, while young working individuals and students find the late pool closing hours of 7:30 or 8:30 to create a great gathering spot. Pool time, at any time, brings neighbors together and is the best place to make a friend connection and learn about the New Town community. 

 

There are always questions and suggestions, most of which are addressed by the FAQ page on the NTRA website. Feedback is welcomed. A lot of effort, dedication and time goes into the three months of safe and fun pool days for the residents of New Town. Applause for the Pool Committee, the lifeguards, Continental Pool Management Company, Perfection Cleaning and the Association manager, Chesapeake Bay Management Company for a terrific pool season!

 

By, NTRA Activities Committee

 

The New Town Residential Association Activities Committee hosted a social at the community pool on the evening of Tuesday, August 16th which drew a variety of residents. We played "Get To Know Your Neighbor" which enabled children, students, professionals and retirees to strike up conversations with one another about their pets, neighborhood, favorite team, place of origin, etc…

 

We ate a variety of delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts, enjoyed sunny weather with low humidity, all this with great music playing in the background (provided by Rick Byrnes.) Gift certificates from Harris Teeter were awarded to winners Ellen Morgan and Mary Mitchell. We've enjoyed our socials this year and look forward to future opportunities to come together socially. If you have ideas for additional neighborhood activities, let us know in the comments! 

 

 

By, Jim Ducibella

The results of the 2022 home inspection by the Asset Maintenance Committee of the New Town Residential Association are in. As is the case with any statistic, whether the results are positive or negative are in the eye of the beholder.

 

In all, 535 homes were inspected by the team, none of whom lived in the subdivision they evaluated. The total number of homes with no deficiencies, large or small, was 247.

 

That’s 46.2 percent.

 

Encouraging, or disturbing?

 

“I think that percentage is good, considering the pandemic,” Asset Maintenance member Ed Lacy said. “I say that because before the pandemic, there was a lack of consistent evaluations. People got used to not maintaining their property as they would or should.

 

“Also, with the pandemic, there were things that people would have done but they couldn’t get contractors. There were no inspections. That also includes assets that NTRA manages. You’ve got to ‘Walk the Walk.’ I mean literally walking through New Town, the pool, walking trail, the fences we are responsible for, and evaluate their condition. It’s also about holding ourselves accountable. We must take care of our business.”

 

Charlotte Park, with 93, had the most homes cited. Then again, Charlotte Park is New Town’s largest, with 198 homes.

 

The rest of the statistics: Abbey Commons (104 homes, 43 with no deficiencies), Chelsea Green (69 homes, 12 with no deficiencies), Savannah Square (42 homes, 13 with no deficiencies), Shirley Park (23 homes, 8 with no deficiencies), and Village Walk (99 homes, 66 with no deficiencies).

 

Lacy’s experience – and he points out that he and fellow team members Charlie Olander, Bob Jeremiah, and David Magnant all have lived in New Town for only about two years – found the following deficiencies most obvious. Start with pressure washing, and mailbox and mailbox post maintenance. Then there’s paint needed for widow trims, door frames, soffits (mostly observed with peeling or very faded paint), and missing vent covers.

 

Other deficiencies include unapproved door colors, unapproved signage, and misplaced trash cans).

 

“Most residents were very receptive,” Lacy said, “although some were a little wary. Overall, I felt very positive.”

 

Magnant, who observed Village Walk, cites BBQ grills on unstable footing, plantings -- which suffered after sale of a home to someone not as skilled in plant care – and pressure washing and paint.

 

Magnant observed that the size of trash containers might present an issue for owners. Recycling cans come in two sizes, 65 and 95 gallons, and he suggests it might do well for VW residents to request the smaller ones, should they be available from Bay Disposal.

 

“Overall, I thought the area represented well,” he said.

 

Lacy observed that some guidelines were established to achieve consistency amongst different committee members, and across neighborhoods. And, as always, the committee welcomes volunteers.

 

By, Sarah Carey

 

The August 17, 2022 Zoom meeting began with the Board introducing themselves. The purpose of the meeting was to promote an understanding and explanation of why changes need to be made to all of the Association’s governing documents.

 

The current documents were written between 2004-2007 for Abbey Commons, the first residential development in New Town. The documents were drafted from the Developer’s perspective, include significant errors, and outdated Virginia statutes. The Developer had 15 years to correct the governing documents, but failed to make changes. The current governing documents are complex, outdated, not legally compliant and must be revised by our newly owner-controlled board. 

 

The Board of Directors has made it a priority to give the community time to review and understand the proposed revisions.  Electronic (through EZ vote) and absentee voting will begin in September, and there is a Special Meeting for the Member vote on October 18, 2022 at Legacy Hall.

 

Following the presentation by the Board President, Vice-President and Treasurer, about 15 participants asked questions. These questions and answers dealt mainly with landscaping issues.  The current documents prohibit mowing and pruning within fenced yards and this will not change if our documents are not amended. Landscape services will be available to all lots if the new documents are approved. (The new documents allow but do not require the Board of Directors to charge an additional fee if they determine any landscape service is more costly than to other similar yards.) Under the new documents, residents cannot opt-in or opt-out of specific landscaping such as pruning, but rather must opt-out of all services. The current system of informal full or partial opt-outs has not worked and is problematic for the landscape crews.

 

There was a question about reserved parking which the Board of Directors has agreed to research.  Another question discussed was the change in the threshold for number of Members required for owners to call Special Meetings. The Board of Directors agreed to discuss the matter with legal counsel and include the final decision in a future Q&A. (NOTE: At the Board’s monthly meeting on August 18th, the Board did vote to keep the current 10 percent threshold for Member called Special Meetings.)

 

The Board concluded by reminding owners that these changes are for the whole community, better represent the needs of our community, and will be easier to amend if needed in the future than our current documents. Please consider the whole picture and vote to approve. 

 

By, Jack Espinal

 

Homeowners in the New Town Residential Association (NTRA) are facing the most important decision that they have had to make since the day they decided to purchase a home in New Town. Over the last 18 years we have been governed by documents written for and favoring the New Town developers. There is absolutely no reason why we should continue to use those documents which consist of 27 separate, developer oriented, confusing, and contradicting governing documents that are contained in 4 ½ inch stack of paper. We are now self-governing and it is time to make a change.

 

New documents for the NTRA have been prepared, vetted by legal experts, briefed to our membership, and then edited based upon suggestions from our community. The revised documents are organized, well written, and much easier to read. When printed, they easily fit in a ½ inch binder.

 

Adoption will require a two-thirds vote of our Association’s membership-411 votes. This is a very high hurdle, but the high quality of these new documents makes this possible. Please read the revised documents, and when you do, I am sure that you will support them because of the following factors:

1. The revised documents correct the developer’s significant errors and omissions in our existing documents. 
2. Owners’ responsibilities and the Association’s Board of Directors authority is clearly outlined in the revised documents.
3. The documents are simpler and easier to read. They will reduce confusion for owners, our management company, and your Board of Directors.
4. Future changes will be easier because amendments to the three primary documents will require only a majority vote of the Association membership.
5. The revised documents better prepare New Town for the future. They provide the Association with the flexibility to deal effectively with contract costs, expansion, and other future challenges.
6. Annual HOA assessments under the revised documents will be derived from the cost to operate the Association and the cost for services provided to individual lots. This makes it easier for members to see and understand how association funds are being collected and spent. 
7. The new documents will allow the Association to provide landscaping services to all lots in our community including all fenced yards.
8. The new documents have removed any reference to the Association assuming potential maintenance obligations related to Settlers Market LLC property, e.g. the BMPs around Village Walk. 
9. All applicable Virginia Statutes and local ordinance requirements are updated and addressed in the revised documents.

As you consider your voting decision, please don’t be misled by statements that are being circulated throughout our community. Accurate information and explanations can be found on the NTRA website, or reach out to a Board member if you have questions.

 

What are the consequences of voting “no” or not voting in this election?

 

Voting ‘No” or not voting (which is essentially “no’) will have several important future consequences.   Those consequences include:

1. Village Walk and the NTRA may continue to be at risk to fund maintenance costs for property not owned or managed by your Association.
2. The NTRA will not provide mowing and pruning services to fenced areas.
3. Legal costs will continue to rise as the Association responds to challenges caused by poorly written, obsolete text.
4. The NTRA will not have the flexibility to efficiently solve future problems in our community.
5. Administrative burdens to the management company and the Board of Directors will remain significantly higher than they need to be. 

The revised documents are well written, easier to understand, and are far, far better than our current documents. They are shorter, simpler, and more compliant. 

 

We are not Developer-centric and we owe it to ourselves to move forward with documents that reflect 1) that homeowners are fully in control of our Association, and 2) how we actually live and operate as ONE COMMUNITY. This is our chance to get things right by adopting the NTRA’s Articles of Restatement, Amended Bylaws, Second Amended Master Declaration, and two new Supplemental Declarations.  

 

 

By, New Town Commercial Association (NTCA)

 

New Town Tunes is RETURNING with a Fall Concert Series in September! 

James City County Parks & Recreation, in partnership with CultureFix and New Town, will present Three Tribute Bands Over Three Nights! The free, evening outdoor concert series will be held in Sullivan Square, behind Legacy Hall in New Town. Concerts run 5:30 – 8 p.m.; gates open at 5 p.m. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the outdoors while you take in the tunes from some of our top area bands. Food and beverages available for purchase.

Save The Dates!  

Sept. 14 - DeLoreans - The Ultimate 80’s Tribute
Sept. 21 - Brasswind - The Classic Horn Band Tribute

Sept. 28 - Every Little Thing - The Ultimate Police Tribute  

https://newtownwilliamsburg.com/events-news/ 

 

 

By, Patti Vaticano 

 

The end of summer is always poignant and sad.  The beach trips and backyard camp-outs end; corn-on-the-cob and s’mores ingredients in local markets become scarce; water shooters, pool noodles, and slip’n sides get consigned to the garage—and the dreaded (for your child, at least) notebook and backpack displays pop-up in every store in the area.  But the end of summer also begins the cooler days of fall and our hopes for the holiday season to come.  One of my most beloved books is Something Wicked This Way Comes by the author, Ray Bradbury.  I hope quoting the opening here, which beautifully anticipates the charms of arguably autumn’s seminal festival, will ease the going of summer in our hearts:

 

 

Favorite Books and Recipes Round-up!  Front Porch Chat is still looking to highlight your favorite book and/or recipe in the months ahead, so if you have a beloved book—old or new—or a rave recipe you’d like to share with your New Town neighbors, send them on in!  

 

No takers on our BBQ Recipe request, so here’s a little ditty from resident, Angela Lesnett, along those lines:

If temps are way too high today

Try “Pierce’s.” It’s the best, I’d say.

 

Honorable Mentions: Old City Barbeque and Matchsticks BBQ Co.!

 

To brighten your day: 

 

Jokes:  What do you call a boomerang that doesn't come back?  A stick.

 

Funny Quote:  People say money is not the key to happiness, but I have always figured if you have enough money, you can have a key made.

—Joan Rivers

 

Poems: 

To keep your marriage brimming
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you’re wrong, admit it;
Whenever you’re right, shut up.

—Ogden Nash

  

Historical Fact:   There were female Gladiators in Ancient Rome! A female gladiator was called a Gladiatrix, or Gladiatrices. They were extremely rare, unlike their male counterparts.

 

Curious Happening:  Aeschylus, Greek “Father of Tragedy,” lost his life when a hungry eagle dropped a tortoise on his head so the shell would break and the eagle could eat the meat. Apparently, the eagle mistook his bald head for a rock. 

 

Household Hacks:   Hot water and an Alka-Seltzer tablet for 15 minutes will clean away stubborn messes in your frying pan or skillet.

 

PC Hacks:  Alt-Tab will display all your open windows at once. Tab to the window you want—and simply lift your finger off to get to your destination.

 

Recipes: 

Sesame Date Rolls—thank you, resident Miranda Saumier!

8 ounces chopped dried dates--hot water as needed

¼  cup toasted sesame seeds, divided

¼  quarter cup chopped walnuts

½  cup whole raw almonds

½  cup unsweetened, shredded coconut

1  tablespoon coconut oil

¾  teaspoon ground cardamon

¼  teaspoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pinch of salt

            

 

Pet Care:  If your dog or puppy is a super-fast eater, place a tennis ball in the bowl with the food.  It will slow pup down, as it will cause he or she to work around the inedible obstacle to eat what is. 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

            

The New Town Residential Association shall hold a Special Meeting of the Members which shall be held in-person for the purpose of voting on amending the New Town Residential Association Governing Documents.

 

Date:               October 18, 2022        

                                                                                                

Time:               7:00 p.m.  (Registration for the meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.)

 

Location:         Legacy Hall, 4301 New Town Avenue, Williamsburg, Virginia 23188

 

            The purpose of the Special Meeting is to vote on the Second Amended and Restated Master Declaration of Protective Covenants, the Amended and Restated Bylaws, the Articles of Restatement, the Consolidated Supplemental Declaration, and the Amended and Restated Village Walk Supplemental Declaration.

 

National Night Out, Tuesday, August 2nd, will be a community-police awareness-raising event observed throughout the United States, and every New Town resident is encouraged to participate. Traditionally held the first Tuesday of August, the campaign began in 1984 with neighbors simply turning on their front porch lights and sitting in their front yards or on their front porches to enhance community relationships with each other and with their local law-enforcement agencies. The event is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch in the United States and evolved from the participation of 2.5 million residents across 400 communities in 23 states that first year to 38 million residents in 16,000 communities across the United States by 2016. At its heart, National Night Out is meant to increase awareness about police programs in local communities, such as drug prevention, town watch, neighborhood watch, and other anti-crime efforts.

 

As one would imagine, the event is meant to be festive and fun with relation-building games and activities on the agenda.  Some communities even plan block parties and cook-outs with live entertainment. But it needn’t be elaborate. Planned games and activities such corn hole, lawn darts, and ladder golf will fit the bill and make for a fun get-together with neighbors known and new. So New Town, turn off your electronics, go out on your porches and join in!

 

 

To brighten your day: 

 

Quotes: When Life shuts a door, open it. It’s a door.  That’s how they work.

 

Historical Fact: Cleopatra wasn’t Egyptian.  She was actually Greek, a descendant of Alexander the Great's Macedonian general, Ptolemy.

 

Curious Happening: A woman named Violet Jessop survived not only the sinking of the Titanic, but also the destruction of both of the Titanic's sister ships, the Britannic and Olympic.

 

Household Hacks:   You can remove crayon marks from your walls with a hairdryer.  Just hold the hairdryer over that portion of the marked wall for a few seconds to soften the crayon's wax, then wipe away marks with a soft cloth.

 

PC Hacks:  Ctrl + Z is the ultimate hot key, however note that “undo” doesn't just apply to typing. If you accidentally delete or move a file, you can hit Ctrl + Z to bring it right back to where it was (Ctrl + Y will redo whatever you undid).

 

Pet Care:  Have a plan for your dog in place should anything happen to you. Make a list of important information about your dog’s lifestyle including how often they’re fed, how much they’re fed, medications, their vet’s phone number, etc. Give copies of this to someone in your life that could take care of your dog in the case of an emergency. 

 

Recipes:  

 

 

Drain the following well:

16 oz of shoe-peg corn

16 oz of Le Seur baby peas

16 oz of French-cut green beans

1 small jar of pimientos drained & diced

1 bunch of scallions trimmed & sliced thin (use green & white part of veggie)

1 quarter cup of green bell pepper, diced

1 half cup of celery thinly sliced

1 T of green parsley chopped

 

Vinaigrette Dressing:

1 third cup apple cider vinegar

1 half cup of salad oil

1 quarter cup of sugar

Half teaspoon of salt

Half teaspoon of black pepper

 

Step 1

In small saucepan, heat vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, & pepper. Stir constantly until sugar dissolves.

Cool completely. Combine all drained veggies when cooled.

 

Step 2

Pour cooled dressing over combined veggies. Mix well, cover, & marinate in fridge 1-2 hours.

Salad keeps for a week or more in fridge.

 

 

 

Do you yearn for the opportunity to have a conversation with someone – anyone – living in places from Austria to Zimbabwe? Are you dying for the chance to say hello to an astronaut orbiting the earth on the international space station?

 

It’s possible, you know, if you are an amateur radio operator, and advance to a certain level. Amateur radio operators are more universally known as “ham” radio operators. Catchy name, but that wasn’t always meant as a compliment.

 

In fact, starting in 1909 it was a pejorative term commercial and professional radio operators used for their amateur cohorts. But amateur operators turned the tables, embracing the word to the point where it became an accepted part of the lexicon.

 

Almost 800,000 Americans are licensed ham radio operators, a significant percentage of the estimated 3 million participants world-wide. While ham operating is in decline in other parts of the world, in the U.S. it continues to grow.

Williamsburg has a club – the aptly named Williamsburg Area Amateur Radio Club. It currently has about 150 members, most living locally, but also a few who moved away from the Colonial Capital but kept in touch.

 

About a half-dozen members reside in New Town, including club president Jack Espinal of Abbey Commons. A former teacher from California who spent eight years working in Washington, D.C., before coming to Williamsburg, Espinal said he grew up in the era of party (telephone) lines. If someone was talking on your shared line, you had to wait until they were done before making your call. Such circumstances helped his interest in ham radio grow.

 

“There are so many facets of ham radio that can take you in many different directions,” Espinal said. “One group even has the (special license) ability to talk to the astronauts on the international space station. We just have fun doing it.”

 

Like Espinal, Tom Nichols of Charlotte Park has long had an interest in electronics. He owned a Citizens Band (CB) radio in college. While anyone can be a CB operator today, ham radio operators need to pass certain tests to acquire their license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 

 

Passing the first test gives one a “technicians” license, which comes with access to VHF/UHF and is a great starting point for hand-held radios. Passing the second provides one with a “general” license. The reward for advancing past the third level is “amateur extra” status. The higher up you go, the more frequencies and operating privileges you enjoy.

 

“With my general class license, I can transmit and talk around the world,” Nichols said. “If I want to call someone in Argentina, talk to someone in Japan, I can do that.”

 

In the Fall and Spring, the Williamsburg club offers training for anyone interested in taking up the hobby. Members also attend three special events a year, in which they demonstrate what ham radio is all about. One is in Jamestown in the spring, tied to the anniversary of the settlement there. The second is in Williamsburg on July 4, celebrating the obvious. The third one is at Yorktown, commemorating the surrender of Cornwallis to George Washington, effectively ending Great Britain’s chance at winning the Revolutionary War.

 

“We’ll even let visitors use our ham radio to give them a feel for what it’s like,” Espinal said.

 

There’s also a serious, important component to ham radio. In the event of storms or other natural disasters, cellphones are frequently useless. The towers are down or compromised. On 9-11, it was virtually impossible for anyone in D.C. to call family or friends on their cellphones. In such an event, ham operators work with police and first rescuers to assist those who may be stranded without communication.

 

Espinal cites another example. In February 2021, storms in Texas brought about a major power crisis that resulted in shortages of water, food, and heat. More than 4.5 million homes and businesses were left without power, and at least 246 people were killed, directly or indirectly. Ham radio operators provided vital communication to the outside world.

 

In Williamsburg, the Amateur Radio Relay League holds an emergency “field day” on the last weekend of June, making sure that operations are in place to combat any emergency, such as an event at Surry Power Station. Meanwhile, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) meets regularly to ensure that members’ equipment is working and to exchange information.

 

If you are interested in becoming a ham operator, or just want more information, Espinal says to phone him at (703) 946-5787, or email him at jespinal@jespinal.com. 

 

 

The green space behind Legacy Hall in New Town is named Sullivan Square. It is named for Tim Sullivan.

 

Tim Sullivan was the President of the College of William and Mary from 1992-2005. The late 1990’s was when New Town was conceived. The College of William and Mary was, and still is, a basic component of the fabric of the Williamsburg area. As such William and Mary was informed of the planning for New Town. After careful consideration, it was decided that William and Mary, through their real estate arm, would become an investor in New Town. 

 

At that time it was not common for colleges and universities to be directly involved in land use decisions for areas near their campus. Tim believed that New Town would have an impact on the future of William and Mary and that William and Mary should have a role in the development of New Town.

 

At the meeting when Tim signed the formal agreement between William and Mary and New Town, Tim spoke before he signed. He expressed the following - The College of William and Mary has excellence in faculty, staff, and students. If the College of William and Mary wants to have excellence in faculty, staff, and students in the future we must have excellence in lifestyle. He believed that New Town could help provide excellence in lifestyle.

 

Today faculty, staff, and students from William and Mary live, work, and play in New Town. After all, Life Happens Here. Sullivan Square was named after Tim to commemorate his impact on the long term success of the College of William and Mary as well as New Town.

 

The Board of Directors (BOD) has read and considered ALL comments submitted on the draft revisions to our NTRA governing documents. We thank those owners who took the time to read through the text and to point out areas for improvement. This week we will release the final drafts for your review, followed by a Member vote. There will be an informational Zoom meeting for all Owners on August 17, 2022 to help explain the changes.

 

In September 2021, oral and written questions were received asking for explanations of the text. Many of these explanations were provided during the September 22, 2021 Town Hall video meeting (available on the NTRA website) or afterwards in the Q&A response document.

 

During the formal comment period (September to November 1, 2021), 25 owners submitted written comments and/or suggestions for changes to the text. (After the comment period had closed, an additional 10 owners sent form letters in late March/April 2022 as part of a letter writing campaign to the Board. These messages all requested that the Board include landscape services for fenced yards in the new documents as part of regular dues.)

 

The table below summarizes the substantive (non-editorial) issues raised by more than one Owner during the comment period. Landscape services to fenced yards and the potential for assuming the Settlers Market LLC maintenance responsibilities in Village Walk received the most remarks. 

 

 

 

Starting in mid-August, owners in the New Town Residential Association will be asked to vote on new governing documents – as a package. (We vote on them as a package because they all need overhaul and are interrelated. We need to keep them consistent with each other rather than have piecemeal governing documents from different decades or end up approving one document and not another possibly creating conflict among the different provisions.) 

These documents include: 

Why are these new documents needed? Our existing Governing Documents date to 2005, are antiquated, and do not reflect current statutory requirements. They also provide the Developer’s perspective and authoritative language, which no longer apply to our situation. Our new draft documents reflect the Association as it currently operates under Homeowner - not Developer - control, and as it should operate under Virginia law. They are streamlined and more user-friendly.  When an HOA turns over from the developer, experts unanimously recommend that governing documents be revised. Their purpose is two-fold: to live in the present and to prepare for the future. 

 

Several provisions of the 2021 draft documents caused concern within the community. The current Board of Directors has examined these concerns and is proposing revisions in several areas. Below is a summary of three key issues raised last year and how they were addressed. If one of these issues was your lightning rod/”cannot support”/hot button, please seriously consider the impact of rejecting any of these three revisions.

 

We recognize that not everyone will be happy with this outcome. As a whole, these texts are a big improvement, clearer and easier to administer than what is now in place. Compromise and recognizing the stake that each Member has in having a well-structured HOA will be key to the documents’ passage.  We need 2/3rds of all owners (about 407 votes) to adopt these documents. For the greater good of the community and to help us move forward with a strong and current legal framework, we ask that you support the Board’s final proposal with your vote.  

 

 

 

2021 text (Supplemental Declarations 4.1 and 4.2):

 

“3.2 Landscape Services. The Association shall provide the following landscape services to be included in the Services Assessment component of the Annual Assessments as set forth in the Declaration:

(a) mowing, edging, and trimming of grass within portions of all Lots not located inside a fenced area (see Section 4.1 below).

(b) Trimming of shrubs, trees and bushes up to a height of fifteen feet (15’) within portions of all Lots not located inside a fenced area (see Section 4.1 below). 

(c) Other services as determined by the Board of Directors. 

(collectively, the “Landscape Services”).”

 

“4.1 Fenced Yards. The Association shall provide Landscape Services to any yard outside of a fenced yard, including, front yards that are not fenced. The Association may provide Landscaping Services as identified in Section 3.2 (a) (b) and (c) to fenced yards upon request, to be funded by Individual Assessments to the Owners of Lots that have fenced yards based on an annual average cost by home type as determined by the Board. “

 

2022 final draft:

 

“3.2 Landscape Services.  The Association shall provide annual landscape services to all Lots as determined by the Board and outlined in the Association landscape contract. The Board may determine that landscape costs to an individual Lot are a burden in relation to other yards due to fencing, large landscape beds or other conditions. In this case, the additional cost will be assessed as an Individual Assessment to the applicable Owners of Lots and announced as part of the annual budget process.”

 

Rationale: The new text simplifies and reduces the size of the landscaping portion of the document. It also gives the Board flexibility to address future landscaping issues when they arise based on contract costs and other changing factors. For example, we are awaiting bids for the 2023-2025 landscape seasons that will identify what requirements landscapers will impose to care for fenced yards This specific situation will be clearer in September. 

 

IMPACT OF YOUR VOTE: 

________________________________

 

II.     Village Walk Future Obligations 

 

2021 text: (Village Walk Supplemental Declaration 3.6)

 

“3.6 Future Obligations. Should the Association assume any of the obligations of the Supplemental Maintenance Agreement dated November 20, 2012 by and among FCP Settler’s Market, LLC, Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust, FCP Settler’s Market II LLC, previously applicable to the Parcel Developer, as set forth in the Acknowledgment and Assumption of Supplemental Maintenance Agreement dated March 14, 2014, the costs of these obligations shall be assessed equally against each Owner as part of the Services Assessment or as a Special Assessment as set forth in Article VI.” 

 

2022 final draft: Section deleted. 

 

Rationale:  This provision was carried over into the new documents because it represents a present “obligation” of Village Walk owners and the Association. Over the course of a year, the Association has been unable to obtain clarification of this commitment from James City County or the principals involved in the original “Supplemental Maintenance Agreement.”  To date, the Association has not received any communication regarding any obligation associated with the “Future Obligations” nor has it ever received any billing statement. We have decided to remove the language and if a future claim is made that the Association has some responsibility for any of the maintenance costs, the Board in place at that time will need to review and determine the obligation under these new documents (Common Areas funded under our General Assessment component).  

 

IMPACT OF YOUR VOTE: 

________________________________

 

III. Additional Area 

 

2021 text: (Second Amended Master Declaration 2.3)

 

“2.3 Member Approval to Subject Adjacent Real Property to Declaration. The Association may submit any real property which is contiguous or adjacent to or in the immediate vicinity of New Town (Adjacent Property”) to the provisions of this Declaration and the jurisdiction of the Association with the approval of the owner of the property to be added, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the Members at a meeting at which a quorum of thirty-three percent (33%) of the Members is present….”

 

 

“2.3 Member Approval to Subject Adjacent Real Property to Declaration. The Association may submit any real property which is contiguous or adjacent to or in the immediate vicinity of New Town (Adjacent Property”) to the provisions of this Declaration and the jurisdiction of the Association by approval of not less than two-thirds (2/3rds) of the Owners who are eligible to vote. The approval of the Owners shall be evidenced by written or electronic ballot at a duly called meeting of the Association.”

 

Rationale: Several commenters asked that this provision be deleted to limit any further expansion of the New Town Residential Association or that the approval threshold be raised. Although this section has largely been associated with the potential future development of Eastern State Hospital’s surplus property, it applies to any real estate within a 2-mile radius of current NTRA property, e.g. the empty lot in front of the Pointe Apartments. Therefore, rather than delete it, we raised the threshold to leave the possibility to accept additional development if the property owner can make a convincing case to the community for adding it. To permit this future flexibility, our final draft approval level would be the same as required to amend the Master Declaration itself-2/3 vote of all owners. To add property to the Association is a major change that should involve all Owners. 

 

IMPACT OF YOUR VOTE: 

 

With the recent launch of Chesapeake Bay’s new administrative portal, we have received some questions about which website application to use. 

 

 

The Chesapeake Bay Management (CBM) Portal is for NTRA owners only. It is the source of information on your accounts as well as any violations or architectural requests you may have in process. In other words, if you have a money question or received a violation letter, you may personally communicate with Chesapeake through the owner portal.

 

The documents available on the portal are for ease of the user and largely relate to violations, e.g. governing documents, architectural forms, paint colors – as well as letters/eblasts sent from CBM. 

 

 

The NTRA website remains the official communications channel for our community. It is open to owners in both the NTRA and the New Town Commercial Association and provides certain access for New Town tenants. It is also the public face of the New Town Residential Association so some website features are public pages.

 

All official NTRA documents are on the NTRA website – Governing Documents, Committee agendas and minutes, policies, forms, calendar, etc.  While we had hoped that perhaps some of this material would transition to the portal, CBM’s system does not offer the robustness or capabilities that the NTRA website already has. Issue reports/tickets should continue to be submitted through the website “Report an Issue” feature. (Note – CBM’s May 2022 letter was a corporate letter sent to all HOAs and did not apply to our particular situation because Chesapeake had never managed our website.)

 

So how do we keep the website current and meaningful to users?  WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS. Our team of three website volunteers is down to one. This administrative workload is not a CBM responsibility. Luckily, the website software is intuitive and uploading documents/updating news is straightforward for anyone who works with Microsoft Office. You do not need to be a “techie” or have any programming experience to do this.  Best yet, you can volunteer from your own home/laptop. If you could help us to manage the website even if only for a few hours a month, please email: ntrawebsitecommittee@gmail.com.

 

Finally, to help minimize user confusion, CBM has updated its owner portal home page to clearly show these functional differences between the sites.

 

 

As a general rule of thumb, start with the NTRA website unless you are paying a bill or trying to stay out of trouble by clarifying/responding to a violation notice! 

 

Named after his son, Christopher, owner Gary takes pride in being able to offer the very best produce at Christopher’s Produce Market right in the heart of New Town. Stocked full of seasonal goodies, you can be sure to get only quality produce when visiting Gary.

 

Gary knows the locals and they sure do love him. While visiting the stand, a New Town resident pulled right up, stayed in her car, and asked Gary for a “watermelon with a good thump.” Gary grabbed a big, beautiful watermelon, gave it a loud thump, and handed it off to the happy customer after ringing her up. THAT is the type of easy breezy quality customer service you can expect from the locals’ favorite produce guy.

 

You can catch Gary at the Christopher’s Produce Market set up Monday through Saturday from 9/10ish-4/5ish except for Wednesdays when he opens around 1:00pm. He’s “doing public service work” of visiting the folks over at Brookdale every Wednesday morning. What a guy!

 

And what great produce! Grab your favorite peaches, tomatoes, watermelon, and more right here in New Town between Iron Bound and Paul’s Deli. Hours may vary as the cooler weather sets in, but as long as quality produce is available, Christopher’s Produce Market will be set up through Halloween and hopefully even Thanksgiving!

 

 

We had a great turnout for the July Pizza Party at the pool with over seventy residents, including lots of kids. Guests enjoyed pizza and brownies along with sunning, swimming, splashing, and visiting with friends. The kids were super excited about the free treats, and adults enjoyed the music provided by volunteer Rick Byrnes. 

 

The Activities Committee’s next event is our second Poolside Social on Tuesday, August 16. Look for more details on the website and NTRA Facebook page. We look forward to seeing you there! 

 

 

Have you seen the New Town Promotional Video? You may see several of your fellow residents! Stay informed about upcoming events on the New Town Williamsburg webpage.