Category: Local

Remains of four Confederate soldiers and three amputated legs were quietly reinterred at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Williamsburg on Tuesday. The remains were discovered in 2023 near the Powder Magazine during archaeology by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Scientists are conducting DNA analysis but reburied the remains to avoid delays. The soldiers were likely casualties of the 1862 Battle of Williamsburg. Archaeology staff, the cemetery caretaker, and Army representatives attended the reburial.

A town hall meeting on renaming James Blair Middle School will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Stryker Center in downtown Williamsburg, hosted by The Village Initiative and the Campaign for Honorable and Inclusive School Names. The meeting will discuss further efforts to rename the school, named for James Blair, who was an enslaver, after a proposed name change was tabled by the school board earlier this year.

William & Mary’s Global Research Institute recently hosted a panel discussing the first 100 days of the Trump administration’s foreign policy. Experts analyzed key decisions and global implications of the period at the college. Moderator Samantha Custer noted the period was unusually prolific, ambitious, and controversial. The discussion aimed to provide historical context and understand future U.S. foreign policy shifts. Panelists suggested actions followed campaign promises and Project 2025, despite public surprise.

OAK COUNSELING CELEBRATES FIRST YEAR

Oak Counseling celebrated its one-year anniversary on May 30 in Williamsburg.
The milestone was marked with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Led by Breanne Bass, the practice specializes in counseling children and adolescents.
They place a strong emphasis on elementary and middle school-aged clients.
Del. Chad Green spoke at the event, highlighting the importance of adolescent mental health services.
Bass is dedicated to educating both parents and children about mental well-being.

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Oak Counseling Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary with Ribbon Cutting

NEWS BRIEFS FOR JUNE 3

The Langley for Families Foundation raised over $483,000 at its 11th annual Charity Golf Classic in Williamsburg.
James City County personal property and real estate taxes are due on June 5.
The Virginia DMV is warning customers about a text scam falsely claiming they owe money for unpaid fines.
Hal Feder of Murphy Business — Va Historic Triangle was named a Top Producer and received a Multi-Million Dollar Award.
Renovations to the indoor pool at the James City County Recreation Center will begin June 16 and are expected to finish by Nov. 24.
A temporary speed limit reduction to 25 mph will be implemented on Wythe Creek Road during the widening project construction.
Chesapeake Bank announced the leadership hires of Grant Garber as Director of Fraud Prevention and Nate Cobb as Director of Operations.
WATA is seeking public input until June 16 for the name of its new transfer center expected to be completed in Fall 2026.
The Williamsburg Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution held a monument ceremony, recognized new members, and honored local Eagle Scouts.

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News Briefs for June 3

VOCAL JAZZ SUMMIT RETURNS TO VIRGINIA BEACH

The 5th annual Vocal Jazz Summit is scheduled for June 5-8.
It will be held at Zeiders American Dream Theater in Virginia Beach.
The four-day event includes performances and workshops.
Established jazz artists will participate.
Jessi DiPette from “The Z” previewed the summit on 92.3 FM The Tide.
The interview provided information on how to get festival passes and individual concert tickets.

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Hometown Radio Interview: Zeiders American Dream Theater To Host 5th Annual Vocal Jazz Summit [AUDIO]

A Department of Homeland Security webpage listing localities it called sanctuary jurisdictions was deleted over the weekend. Several Hampton Roads cities including Virginia Beach and Hampton were on the list. Officials from affected cities stated their inclusion was an error. The National Sheriff’s Association president also criticized the list’s lack of transparency. The DHS page was taken down following the criticism from local officials and law enforcement groups.

WILLIAMSBURG TOURISM CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC FOR SUMMER

Visit Williamsburg is cautiously optimistic about the summer tourism season based on recent numbers.
Hotel room sales fluctuated early in the year but rebounded in April and May, leaving the year-to-date down slightly at 1.2%.
New attractions at Busch Gardens and Water Country USA are expected to help drive visitor numbers.
Visit Williamsburg is also launching a summer savings pass with discounts at over 20 businesses.
Compared to the rest of Virginia, the Historic Triangle’s performance in April was encouraging.
Lower consumer confidence means affordability and new offerings are key factors for travelers.

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Tourism Numbers Leave Visit Williamsburg Cautiously Optimistic for the Summer

W&M ALUM HIKING APPALACHIAN TRAIL FOR CONSERVATION

Elizabeth Woodward, a W&M alum, is thru-hiking the 2,198.4-mile Appalachian Trail.

She is fulfilling a childhood dream after retiring and her children are grown.

She is also raising money for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy during its 100th anniversary.

Woodward prepared physically and made arrangements for her life back home, with her husband’s support.

She started in Virginia, plans to hike north, then south, ending back in Virginia.

She is blogging her journey and is finding peace on the trail.

Her father is traveling alongside her in a camper, providing support.

She hopes to complete the hike by late September and raise $25,000.

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W&M Alum Walking Appalachian Trail to Raise Money for Conservation Efforts

DOCUMENTARIAN PHIL AUDIBERT TO SPEAK IN WILLIAMSBURG

Award-winning documentarian Phil Audibert will speak at the Stryker Center in Williamsburg.
He will discuss the art and craft of documentary filmmaking in a talk titled “Video Documentaries: From Writing to Staging.”
The free event is on Wednesday, June 4, from 11 a.m. to noon.
It is a collaboration between Chesapeake Bay Writers and the Williamsburg Regional Library.
Audibert, known for his extensive background in journalism and filmmaking, will explain how stories move from concept to camera.
He will share how diverse real-life experiences fuel compelling narratives.
The event offers inspiration and insight for writers and creators.
Registration is required via the Chesapeake Bay Writers website.

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Documentarian to Speak at Williamsburg Library