Town Crier Articles

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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:

Do not rely on ceiling or other fans as a primary cooling source. While providing comfort, they do not reduce body temperature. 

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. 

 

 

 

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.”

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.)

 

 

“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.  

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:

 

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.  

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.

 

They are recent offerings/or needs from the New Town Buy Nothing group. The best part is that all of this is free. No trades, barters, or cash is ever involved. Why not check it out? It’s spring cleaning time, so what might you regift to a neighbor?

 

Administrator Gina Forster reports that the number of Facebook participants is growing, but she would like to see this be a “wonderful, thriving resource” for New Town residents.

 

How do you sign up? Simply head to Buy Nothing New Town Williamsburg on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/share/A4pgKhZ4cCACj2XV/?mibextid=K35XfP 

(Remember to answer the membership questions and agree to the rules to be accepted into the group.)

 

Buy Nothing is not just for sharing items, it's also for skills that you might want to offer. Give where you live!