Alarmingly, every week, two newspapers close up shop for good — 2,500 daily or weekly papers since 2005. Some move to a digital platform only. This news vacuum can be filled quite easily with misinformation that spreads like wildfire.
“The Virginia Gazette,” first published in 1736, is one of the fewer than 6,500 remaining newspapers. Readers depend on it for local news as well as some articles from the “Daily Press” and other media. The goal of this new monthly column is to enhance readers’ awareness of our local vibrant community and to promote civic engagement.
The Williamsburg area can boast of several community groups whose goal is to bridge the political divide that exists in America. Depolarization begins when individuals look for alternatives to political organizing, divisive rhetoric and toxic polarization. By listening, you can usually find common ground with those who hold differing beliefs. Look for local events that the nonpartisan Williamsburg Area League of Women Voters, All Together Williamsburg and Coming to the Table-Historic Triangle (3rd Tuesdays) offer.
Check out Braver Angels and Living Room Conversations civility groups to connect with people across political, age, gender, race and nationality divides. The next “How to Host & Organize Living Room Conversations” online training is scheduled for Aug. 9.
Mixing glass wine and food bottles and jars in with your newspapers, magazines and #1 and #2 plastic bottles for curbside recycling may not be the best practice because many can break and contaminate the whole truck load of recyclables. Then the whole truck load may end up as daily cover on the landfill. So James City County now offers big purple drop-off recycling bins for glass-only at three Convenience Centers:
The glass in these containers is taken to O-I Glass in Toano where it is processed into “glass cullet” (the material needed to produce new glass bottles). As a token of appreciation for resident efforts, O-I Glass will make a donation to the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula. A win-win for all. All empty and rinsed glass bottles and jars are accepted.
Super Turf Saturday, brought to you by Virginia Tech turfgrass experts, will take place on August 6 from 9-11:30 a.m. at JCC’s Recreation Center, 5301 Longhill Road. The workshop on weed control and prevention is free but registration is required. Online at www.colonialswcd.org.
And be on the lookout: Deadly emerald ash borers are entering Hampton Roads. First appearing in Virginia in 2008, these iridescent green destructive insects (about ½ inch long) were reported in Newport News in 2020 and one was just found in Gloucester. Borers chew a D-shaped hole in the side of ash trees. Arborists can protect ash trees and future baseball bats by injecting insecticide.
Even if you are familiar with Alexander Hamilton from the hit musical, how much do you know about the actual man? In a one-hour presentation on August 6 at 4 p.m. at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Marti Londal, chapter president of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society, will examine some myths from the musical and go beyond the lyrics to help you learn more about this Founding Father. Register in advance at jyfmuseums.org/lecture-registration to attend this free program.
Over the past two years, home schooling increased in 120 of Virginia’s 132 school divisions — doubling over the past decade to approximately 62,000 students, or 5% of total public-school enrollment. The COVID-19 pandemic drove much of this increase.
Many parents, seeking summer reading for their children, may not know that the Williamsburg Area League of Women Voters — after seeking input from teachers and school librarians — donated more than $2,000 for 93 digital eBooks about famous women, elections, government and voting to Williamsburg Regional Library. Check them out (literally) from www.lwvwilliamsburg.org on the League’s website.
Shows that Williamsburg is the 4th youngest locality in Virginia with 28.5 years as median age. That is not surprising since it is a college town and the Census Bureau considers off-campus students as local residents. The median age of James City County residents is now 47.1; York County, 39.6.
Mary Ann Moxon, retired teacher, nonprofit executive director, freelance writer and longtime member of the League of Women Voters, can be contacted at mamoxon21@gmail.com.