Newsletter — December 2021

A very merry month of December to you! I hope the holiday season has been a blast (Grand Illumination pun intended). With New Year’s Eve nearly here, I am sending out the December newsletter early to highlight an end-of-the-year celebratory event!

• New Year’s Eve Celebration — From the Visit Williamsburg page: Join us for a FREE Community Celebration under a huge heated tent on the Lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. There will be high-energy live music with the band Revelation and large TV screens to watch the ball drop. Beverages will be available for purchase. Location: The Lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, 301 S Nassau Street Williamsburg, VA 23185
• Congratulations to Carolyn Murphy — A huge thank you goes out to our retiring Planning Director, Carolyn Murphy, who has been with the City of Williamsburg for three decades. Carolyn has now worked on 7 comprehensive plans, over 10 GIO cycles, and countless developments. Carolyn has some very well-deserved travel planned ahead and we wish her the best!
• Official W&M Bookstore Opening — On December 8th, William & Mary’s President Rowe (pictured above) officially cut the ribbon on the University’s new bookstore location. This will bring the bookstore more central to campus and serve as a splendid anchor tenant in our “Triangle Block” on Armistead Ave.
• Planned Pre-K Expansion — As you’re likely aware, our greater area has a joint school board system for both James City County and the City of Williamsburg. The lion’s share of WJCC School’s population is made up of JCC residents, with Williamsburg consisting of roughly 10% of enrolled students. Thus, decisions on school system expansion are made in collaboration with the JCC Board of Supervisors and the elected/appointed members of our School Board. Recently, the School Board passed its 10-year capital improvement plan with the intention of constructing two near Pre-K facilities, likely connected to existing schools. This will expand Pre-K access in our area in a capacity and geographic sense!

Onto the new year! I hope you have a lovely start to 2022.

With gratitude,

Caleb

*This newsletter is mine alone and does not represent the full input of Council