Town Crier Articles

With our community growing, we thought we might benefit by starting another book club. The idea would be to meet from September through June. Also, because some may occasionally be out of town, we’d choose books at the beginning of the year so everyone could plan when they’ll be able to attend and what books they’ll read. 

By discussing and planning books upfront, we hope to get a nice mix of high-quality books. We can then mix up autobiographies, fiction/ non fiction and maybe some “ice cream and lollipops” lighter books too. 

To start off the year here are a few we’ve chosen: Heartland, Sarah Smarsh (memoir), Three Ordinary Girls by Tom Brady (non-fiction), The Second Mountain by David Brooks (philosophy), Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah (autobiography).  Please bring along your book suggestions so we can discuss them at our first gathering in September. 

So, if you’re interested in joining us, please contact Ginny Fisher, ginnyfisher258@gmail.com.  Blanche Scharf and I look forward to hearing from you. Please let us know by August 1. 

 

Christopher Starbuck was and still is providing fresh produce to local restaurants, including Paul’s, here in New Town. George Tsipas, the owner of Paul’s, approached Christopher and asked if he would be interested in setting up a produce stand on New Town Avenue between the restaurant and Iron Bound Gym. Scott Grafton of Iron Bound Gym supported the idea and so it all began! Christopher’s Produce Market is also listed in the Iron Bound Gym newsletter and on Facebook under Williamsburg Eat Local.

Hours of operation currently are 10-4 Monday-Friday, 9-5 Saturday. Closed Sunday. The second week of June hours will be extended to 5 pm during the week when Christopher’s son finishes school. There will also be more local produce available.  So walk over to New Town Avenue and support local vendors!

 

• 72 Hour Emergency Kit

• Critical Personal Documents List

• Emergency Preparedness Guide

 

Make a plan to keep your family together and safe. Are you ready?

The removal of the trees (13 of them) went pretty well.  Then the challenges began….  We contracted with a local company, Colonial Colors, to plant the replacement trees.  We knew that the county identifies the placement of trees on the approved plats, but they also indicate the type of tree (linden, oak, maple, etc.).  If a tree dies, the county statues say you must replace those with the same species, since most of our streets have a consistent type of tree in order to maintain a cohesive “look” to the neighborhood.  The county also requires that street trees be a minimum of 1.5 “calipers” (the diameter of a tree, measured at breast height: 4.5 feet above the soil).  This is to better ensure that the tree will survive, since they are a bit more mature than the typical tree you might buy at your local big box store.  

We did not have the original plats, so we worked with JCC to find the original plats, then identify the types of trees, since we began this project in the winter after the trees had lost their leaves.  It took the county several weeks to locate the plats, then identify the trees.  We petitioned the county to reconsider the original linden trees on Town Creek Drive, since the original trees did not do well (we have six to replace, plus two more that will probably not survive this year).  The soil on that street is not just heavy clay, like so much of New Town, but very moist and the lindens do not tolerate that much moisture.  JCC relented and allowed us to plant red maples, which will complement the remaining lindens.

By the time we got the information and negotiated with JCC, it was near the ideal time to plant trees to enable them to begin to put down roots before the hot season begins in Williamsburg.  We gave the green light to Colonial Colors to purchase the replacement trees.  Finally, after four months of planning, we were on the way!

But wait—Colonial Colors checked with their regional suppliers, then expanded the search -- they have been unable to find ANY trees available anywhere in Virginia, of the type and size we need.   It appears that the COVID pandemic has affected yet another aspect of our society – people stuck at home began to do lots more landscaping and one supplier told us “we have sold three years’ worth of trees in the past nine months.”  So, we’ll just wait for trees to grow and mature a bit to reach the 1.5 caliper size…except trees are at a premium and suppliers aren’t willing to leave their stock just sit in their nurseries patiently growing, when other people, not subject to the JCC rules, are willing to buy them NOW.

The Board doesn’t really have a solution for this, yet.  We are hopeful that this run on trees will subside as the pandemic gets somewhat more under control and people resume some sense of normalcy in their lives.  In the meantime, we have two “holes” waiting for oak trees on Rollison, two for maples on Center, two sycamores on Discovery Park Blvd, and seven red maples on Town Creek Drive.  We are concerned about several more trees on Rollison and are waiting a bit to see if they are just late in leafing out.

So, be patient with us and thanks for your concerns.

Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours for special events, June’s calendar seems especially full and enticing. Through August 25, the Ginter is offering what it calls “Alfresco.” It is designed to be a relaxing evening for couples or friends to spend time together while socially distanced from others in Ginter’s magnificent Garden. Food and drink are available for purchase online or in person, though reservations are required.

The Ginter’s “Flowers After Five” programs feature food, music for background strolls and dining – and several special occasions. The second and fourth Thursday of the month are also “Fidos After 5 Nights,” when the Garden partners with the Richmond SPCA and leashed dogs are allowed onto the grounds.

There’s a Juneteenth celebration that is in partnership with Project Yoga Richmond from 9-11 a.m. on the Garden’s terraced lawn.

All areas of the children’s garden are open, except for Water Play. https://www.lewisginter.org/visit/kids-learning/.

For those not familiar with Lewis Ginter, he was a prominent businessman, financier, military officer, real estate developer and philanthropist and fierce supporter of Virginia’s capital city. The city’s world-famous Jefferson Hotel was a project of his. Ginter hired renown architects to design the structure, investing between $5 and $10 million.

He also commissioned Edward V. Valentine – Richmond’s Valentine Museum is named for him and his brother, Mann S. Valentine – to create the life-size statue of Thomas Jefferson that is the centerpiece of the hotel’s upper lobby.

At the time of his death in 1897, Ginter had amassed a vast fortune, some of which went to his niece, Grace Arents. It was Arents who turned Ginter’s Lakeside Wheel Club into, first, a progressive farm known as Bloemendaal, then the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Because of ongoing Covid-19 precautions, and Garden management’s desire to adhere to Virginia standards, admission and all events require advance purchase online, with customers choosing their arrival time.

The Garden is located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue in Richmond. The phone number is 804-262-9887. For a complete listing of requirements and events, visit this website https://www.lewisginter.org/.

 

• Pay attention to the elevator’s weight limit — don’t overload it;

• Keep all contents at least 2 inches away from the cab gate and cab wall;.

• Always keep the landing doors closed unless you’re getting in or out of your elevator;

• Don’t operate your elevator if the car gate or landing door locking system seems to be malfunctioning;

• Never tamper, bypass, disable or remove door locks or any other safety features;

• Don’t operate your elevator if you hear strange sounds or if the ride seems unusual;

• Make sure the elevator completely stops before you get out or in and be sure to watch your step;

• Don’t open the car gate while the elevator is moving or put your hands or feet through the openings in a scissor-style gate; and

• Schedule regular maintenance checks with the elevator’s professional installer as well as perform self-checks between your services dates.  By way of example, when you step into the elevator, make note of the following:
  • Are all of the buttons working as they should be?
  • Does the door open and close properly?
  • Do you notice any interior damage at a glance?

Earlier this year the Board decided that it is necessary to revise and update the Association’s Governing Documents. At its March meeting, the Board emphasized its goals: understandable documents that provide a transparent assessment methodology and reflect New Town as a community with common areas and amenities shared by all homeowners. Those goals were highlighted in NTRA President Dick Durst’s April 1 “Board Buzz” article. Finally, on May 17 all NTRA owners received a letter from the Board explaining the background of this matter as well as some future actions. (That letter can be viewed on the NTRA website).

We are seeking equitable treatment of owners in our revised documents. We must strive for fairness in assessments, while recognizing that our New Town homes are not cookie-cutter units in a high-rise condo. One of several issues that must be resolved is the provision of landscape services in fenced yards. For more information, see the article in the May Town Crier (https://www.ntrawilliamsburg.org/news-articles-1/?view=blog&id=214)

Your part in this process will come this Fall. As you know, Member approval is necessary in order to change the Governing Documents. The Board will hold a town hall meeting at which you can ask questions about the revised documents and, later, vote on them. In the meantime, educate yourselves by reading eblasts, Town Crier articles, and website notices to stay informed about the issues. For example, we are already updating the FAQ page on the website

with answers to your questions. 

On a different topic, I’d like to remind owners of an existing covenant that is sometimes overlooked - - the requirement to obtain approval from the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) before commencing a project that alters the exterior appearance of your property. 

Before starting construction or installation of a patio, deck, fence, generator, or other structure, and before starting any alteration of the exterior (including changing a paint color) of any dwelling, the owner must submit an application to NTRA’s ARC and secure approval. The application form is available on the website. Other improvements that require ARC approval include awnings, changes to exterior lighting, storm doors, window boxes that are to be attached to the house or garage, large yard ornaments, play equipment, satellite dishes, and solar panels. See the ARC Procedural Guidelines for more information. Failure to submit an application and obtain approval before altering property is an NTRA violation and may result in a penalty.  https://www.ntrawilliamsburg.org/editor_upload/File/Policies%20%26%20Guidelines/4.0%20Architectural%20Review%20-%20Changes%20to%20Property/Architectural%20Review_Guidelines%20%282018%20rev%29.pdf

 

Finally, the Activities Committee is planning several fun and family-friendly events this summer. An ice-cream social will be held in mid-June and a pool party will be scheduled for July.  Also, the next New Town Talk (on Zoom) is scheduled for June 12. The title is “Williamsburg Regional Library – We’re Not Just Books” and the speaker will discuss the library’s digital collections that can be accessed with a library card.  Watch for more details on each of these events on eblasts, and Town Crier and Facebook notices.  The events will be posted on NTRA’s website calendar.

Membership in the NTRA carries with it both obligations, and benefits. Obligations include knowing and following the rules. Benefits include enjoyment of the Association’s amenities, such as social activities, our beautiful walking trails and, of course, the pool.  I hope to see you out and about this summer!

 

Did you know that under our governing documents no routine landscape services (mowing, edging and trimming of grass or trimming of shrubs, trees and bushes) are to be provided within any fenced area in New Town? This is the standard language contained in 17 of the 21 Supplemental Declarations* for the neighborhoods of our residential community. All homeowners acknowledged receipt of this information when their homes were purchased.  Yet since New Town’s early days, the Association has been acting in violation of its requirements and maintaining the entire yards of its residents, fenced or not. 

Why was this limitation put into the governing documents? Perhaps it was seen as a cost saving measure or a way to limit the number of fences in our community, the rationale is not apparent. But regardless of its origins, we have provisions in our documents that should be enforced. The courts have ruled that failure to enforce a covenant does not waive it. In fact, Article 9.3 of our Master Declaration includes a statement that failure to enforce any provision of the Declaration or its Supplemental Declarations does not constitute a waiver. Since early 2020, the Association has been advised by counsel that the services should be discontinued until our governing documents are changed.

Changing this language to accommodate the existing practice is not within the power of the Board of Directors. Why can’t the Board of Directors just pass a resolution with a new policy? The only way that our Association’s highest level governing documents (Master Declaration, Supplemental Declarations and Bylaws) can be amended is through a 2/3 vote of the Members of the Association. So to continue with landscaping, these fence provisions must be reconsidered during our future NTRA governing document revisions. 

In 2021 New Town’s landscape services are again being provided by Virginia Lawn and Landscape. In an effort to balance homeowners’ expectations for services and to provide efficient and quality service to all, it's important to understand a few basic principles of the services rendered. To begin, services are provided for the benefit of all homeowners in New Town, for single family homes with larger lot sizes, townhomes which share contiguous lots and townhomes with only common areas that are maintained along with all of the other common areas. The cost basis and time constraints required to provide services is always a challenge.

The landscape crew's time is allotted to accommodate all of New Town's over 350 acres, and this requires managing a variety of environments. One of these is fences. Depending on the fence type, trimming takes a lot of time and precision and slows crews, which often impacts the work schedule. Mow too close and you create wear patterns in the turf and the blades of grass, and even the fence posts can be problematic. Homeowners have experienced damage to fence posts from mowing equipment. They expect the landscaper to repair them. Uneven ground also makes it difficult to mow and trim grass at a consistent height and increases the risk of cutting into the ground. Because our landscaper follows recommended heights for optimum turf, and to avoid the up and down adjustment of multiple pieces of equipment, a standard setting for mowers is utilized. Trimming around flower beds and tree rings in smaller fenced areas is also time consuming and labor intensive. Oftentimes hardscape inside or adjacent to fenced areas may include rocks, boulders, or pavers with knee walls, all of these take additional time and care. Crews are trained how to handle these situations, but there's no question, this takes considerable time and effort and with the proliferation of fences in New Town, this increased work was not factored into the VLL contract with the NTRA. 

The most direct and legal resolution of this issue is to stop providing these mowing and pruning services within fenced areas. Homeowners would still be entitled to landscaping maintenance outside the fenced areas, but would be responsible for their own landscaping within their fences. The Board of Directors may need to correct this situation soon. It is certainly not an easy decision and will create turmoil. We recognize this is painful, and therefore, want to build awareness and consider options prior to strict enforcement.

How long should we give owners to make other arrangements for their fenced area landscaping? Can we provide the service as an extra amenity with conditions? One option might be to provide landscape maintenance service at an extra fee (a limited common expense assessment) to those with fenced yards. Perhaps the Association should require fences to have mulch under the fence posts so that grass is distanced from the fence in order to qualify for landscaping and reduce potential damage (currently this practice is recommended by the LAC and Architectural Review Committee for construction of any new fences.)

The ultimate solution is to consider what our policy as a community should be, and fix our documents accordingly.  What should we say about fences and landscaping in our revision to our governing documents that the Board is starting? 

 

We welcome suggestions, through comments below or email us via the website committee: ntrawebsitecommittee@gmail.com.

 

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My husband and I recently moved to New Town this year and love it so far! Along with us, we’ve also brought my home-based yarn dyeing business: The Little Foxes. ️

I am originally from NJ, but met my husband in college - he grew up in Williamsburg and his family still lives here as well. We’ve lived in northern NJ/ NYC for the past 5 years and recently bought our first home in New Town! I have been dyeing and selling yarn for almost 3 years now, along with designing knit and crochet patterns, sewing project bags, and recently started creating related accessories with resin!

    

These two businesses are collaborating as two women-owned small businesses to offer a fun package for a walk/groom/photos. I am a pet photographer (new to the area) and have purchased a townhouse in Pogonia Towns (can't wait for it to be done)! Michelle is a homeowner already living in New Town.

 

Triangle Skateboard Alliance (TSA) is a New Town based 501(c)(3) created with the mission to build and improve skate parks in and around Virginia's Historic Triangle and create a culture of service in the skateboarding community. The group is currently building a new skate park in Middlesex County slated to open this June and is working with James City County on a future expansion of the skate park located on Longhill Road at the JCC Rec Center.

 

Additionally, TSA is hosting their first youth skate camp at James City County Rec Park this June 21-15 - signup link HERE

www.triangleskateboardalliance.org or facebook at www.facebook.com/triangleskateboardalliance

 

   

 

 

Becky’s Baskets Shop is my new ETSY business, started during the pandemic. Before Covid, I had been selling my handmade pine needle baskets at street fairs and teaching classes at the Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center.  All of this came to a halt when the pandemic hit, so I had to reinvent my business for the online world. Based on my experience teaching classes, I developed kits for those who wanted to learn pine needle coiling.  I opened a small shop on ETSY in June 2020 and started selling the kits as well as some of my own completed baskets.  Eventually I added prepared pine needles and exotic wood basket centers for those who wanted to move beyond kits and design their own baskets.  I was surprised by the popularity of my little shop and now think of it as a major part of my home-based business.  I am looking forward to participating in craft fairs again this spring and summer.