Town Crier Articles

New Town Talk: Experiences from Poland in World War II and Afterwards
Posted on June 1, 2025 7:00 AM by NTRA Activities Committee
Categories: General
 
“Grace’s Story:   A Polish Family’s Experience Under Nazi Fascism and Communism, 1939-1978”
                                               
THURSDAY JUNE  5
 
11:00 AM
 
NTRA Meeting Space
 
5118  Center Street
 
Join us this Thursday for a talk by Williamsburg resident Grace Konar.  Grace immigrated from Poland to the United States with her husband, Michael and young son in 1978.  She will share family memories of the impact of World War II on her family, the Magnusenwski’s, and her husband’s family, the Konarkowski’s.  
       
The war shattered Poland and both families.  During the German occupation of Poland, Grace’s mother and several of her siblings were sent as forced laborers to Germany, while Michael’s parents struggled to survive in concentration camps in Poland and Austria.  She will also share her memories of life as a child and young adult in post-war Communist Poland and her family’s immigration experience.   
 
 
Sponsored by the New Town Residential Association Activities Committee
Free Summer Entertainment – Music and Movies
Posted on June 1, 2025 6:45 AM by Town Crier Staff
Categories: General
 
Looking for some family fun this summer?  There are a number of free local outdoor events that only need you, your chairs and some friends to make a special evening.  Of course, maybe adding a picnic from local vendors would top the night off.
 
NEW TOWN AFTER HOURS TUNES
 
The fun continues (weather permitting of course) in Sullivan Square on Wednesday evenings from 5 to 8PM.  Here’s the remaining June concert lineup including a June 18th postponed/makeup concert.
 
 
MERCHANTS SQUARE
 
SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIES – through August 31 – Enjoy cinema under the open sky (in the parking lot behind Baskin and Robbins, The Peanut Shop, and Blue Talon in Merchants Square, off N. Boundary St. and Prince George St.)  Movies start at dusk.
 
 
 
MONTHLY CONCERTS
 
The first Friday of the month, fabulous original songwriting musicians are featured right in Merchants Square at 6:00PM.
 
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
 
Safety Tips for Controlling Your Home's Heat
Posted on May 1, 2025 6:45 AM by NTRA Emergency Preparedness Committee
Categories: General
Prepared by Tricia Byrne, Chair, Emergency Preparedness Committee
 
Summer with its high temperatures and humidity is right around the corner. While it’s well known that exposure to high temperatures for long periods of time can be dangerous and possibly life threatening, there are steps we can take to prepare our homes to provide us with cool sanctuaries. Some of these preparatory steps are to:
  • Block sunlight by keeping windows covered with blinds and/or curtains.  
  • Use a powered attic fan to vent hot air from accumulating.
  • Reduce the use of heat generating appliances (stoves, ovens, washers, dryers, etc.) during the hottest time of day.
  • Ensure the weather stripping around windows and doors is in good condition.  
  • Consider the advance performance of routine air conditioner maintenance--to include cleaning filters, checking refrigerant levels, cleaning coils, etc.  
  • Stay, to the extent it’s possible, on the lowest floor of the house.     
Do not rely on ceiling or other fans as a primary cooling source. While providing comfort, they do not reduce body temperature. 
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.
 
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
PORCH Communities Welcome Center Street Condos!
Posted on April 1, 2025 12:19 PM by Eden Glenn
 
Center Street Condominiums recently joined the New Town Residential Association in its monthly food drive to benefit the hunger relief programs at Williamsburg House of Mercy and FISH. Drives are conducted the second Saturday of each month in association with PORCH Communities, a national grassroots hunger relief organization based in North Carolina. 
 
Since July of 2024, New Town residents have contributed over 7,500 pounds of food. By simply leaving donations on your porch (or by the elevator in the case of the condos), items will be picked up and delivered to these organizations for distribution to those in need in the community.
 
In addition to New Town, other Williamsburg neighborhoods participating with PORCH include Holly Hills, Rolling Woods, Holly Hills Carriage Homes, Holly Hills Town Homes, The Meadows, Brandywyne, and  Kingsmill.
 
Kudos to Joanne and Tom Kramer for volunteering to coordinate the condo collections! If any other New Town condominiums would like to join our mission, contact Eden at edenaglenn@gmail.com.
 
Reminder:  April's collection will be Saturday, April 12th.
 
Pickup of March New Town donations
A Comparative Look at HOA Assessments in Williamsburg - James City County
Posted on March 1, 2025 6:50 AM by Jack Espinal, Board President
Categories: General, NTRA Business
 
While developing the 2025 NTRA budget, the Board of Directors researched the quarterly HOA assessments for other associations in the Williamsburg, James City County area.  The Board realizes that this would likely be an apples to oranges comparison because services can vary greatly between associations.  However, the result provides information about what it costs to live in a homeowner’s association in our area.  We were also able to compare 2024 with 2025 and produce average HOA assessment increases by comparing each association’s 2024 fee with that in 2025.  This average should be less impacted by the services that a homeowner receives.  
 
The following is a summary of that research done primarily on the Mr. Williamsburg website.  A spreadsheet with the raw data is available on request.
 
 
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