Kingspoint Crier: June 2023
Photo © Wendy Miller
Letter from the KP Presidents
Dear Kingspoint Club Members,
Thank you to the Social Committee for organizing our make-up Memorial Day Picnic and Fun Run (see race results here). All our volunteers did a tremendous job with behind-the-scenes preparation, grilling, running pool games, and clean-up. We are so fortunate to have an active Social Committee! Thank you for organizing events that bring our community together.
The next social event will be a 4th of July Picnic at the clubhouse and pool. Fried chicken and sub sandwiches will be served at 1:00pm. Families with last names beginning A-F, please bring a side/salad to share. Families with last names beginning G-Z, please bring a dessert to share. Recommended donation is $15/family and beer and wine will be served for a recommendation donation of $4/per.
Please help our hard-working social committee by signing up to set up or clean up the event!
Pool Hours:
June 16 - August 31:
Monday - Friday: 12:00 - 6:30 p.m. (Pool Attendant 12-4:30 p.m.; Lifeguard 4:30-6:30 p.m.). Pool will close at 4:00 p.m. for home meets on 6/26, 7/3, and 7/17
Saturday, Sunday, & Holidays: 12:00 - 7:00 p.m. (Lifeguard)
Aug. 28 – 31:
3:00 - 6:30 p.m. (Pool Attendant 3:00-4:30 p.m.; Lifeguard 4:30-6:30 p.m.)
Sept. 1 - Sept. 4:
12:00 - 7:00 p.m. (Lifeguard)
Lifeguard and Pool Attendant Hours: The Club will be utilizing a combination of lifeguarded hours and swim-at-your-own-risk hours. The swim-at-your-own-risk hours will be monitored by pool attendants who will be managed by the Pool Attendant Manager, Cindy Timberlake.
Pool Attendants will manage the pool during the swim-at-your-own-risk hours: They will work during non-guarded times when the pool is open without a lifeguard on duty, when children (under 14) will need to be supervised by a responsible adult/guardian over the age of 18.
When lifeguards are on duty, non-swimming children & children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult (18+) swimmer at all times.
Swim Lessons: If you are interested in swim lessons, please contact Cindy Timberlake at timberlakecindy@gmail.com
Club Rules: The Board updated and approved the Club’s Rules. They had not been officially updated since 2012. To view the complete list of Rules, please visit the Club Rules page on our website.
Dues: Thank you to members who have already paid their dues. Just a reminder that dues have been increased to $700. Please pay in a timely manner. If you pay dues quarterly, the second payment of $175 is due now. Jim Gravgaard, the KP Club Treasurer, will be sending electronic invoices to members via email; these invoices contain a link to allow you to pay the invoice electronically. You can also send your dues via a check made out to the Kingspoint Club, Inc., P.O. Box 365, Williamsburg, VA 23187. Questions? Please contact KPWilliamsburg@gmail.com.
Capital Campaign for the Dock: If you would like to make a gift to the Capital Campaign for the Dock, we welcome your donations. Gifts may be dropped off to the Treasurer, Jim Gravgaard, at 110 Overlook Drive (please call/text 804-370-3098 to let him know) OR they can be mailed to the following address: Kingspoint Club, P.O. Box 365, Williamsburg, VA 23187.
Facilities Committee Members: Dave Stanhope has returned to the Facilities Chair position. He is actively looking for project teams and additional committee members to assist him on various projects throughout the year. Please reach out if you would like to help (KingspointFacilities@gmail.com).
Membership Committee Members: Meredith Robertson, the Membership Chair, is actively looking for more committee members to assist her in reaching out to welcome new residents. Please reach out if you would like to help (KPMembership@gmail.com).
Clubhouse News: In addition to replacing the floor in the main part of the clubhouse in May, we have completed replacing the floor in the kitchen. It is a beautiful update to a beautiful space. Come see for yourself! And, if you have a graduation, birthday, anniversary, baby shower, book club, work party, or other special event, please make a plan to book your rental today! Please contact Denise Koch at KPClubRentals@gmail.com or 757-870-0900.
Clubhouse rental rates in 2023:
KP Resident Club Member: $50 rental / 1x per calendar year
KP Resident Club Member: $150 half day ( 4 hrs.) /$200 full day (8 hrs.)
Non-KP Resident Club Member: $350 half day (4 hrs.)/ $550 whole day ( 8 hrs.)
Non-Club Members: $400 half day ( 4 hrs)/ $600 whole day (8 hrs.)
Recurring rentals for KP Club members: $25 per hour / 6 mo. contract
Website: www.KingspointClub.org It’s official–the new Kingspoint Club website is live! Be sure to check it out. You can now find everything Club related, including current and past Criers, on the website. Let’s take a fun trip down memory lane. Please share any photos that you have of activities, members, and the natural beauty of the pool, the clubhouse, the green, and the dock with (KPCrier@gmail.com). We would love to highlight the wealth of incredible Club memories we have created through the years.
Thank you,
Sarah Huber and Kim Lavach,
Co-Presidents, Kingspoint Club
Kingspoint Calendar
June 26th – Pool will close at 4:00pm for a home swim meet against Governor's Land.
July 3rd – Pool will close at 4:00 pm for a home swim meet against Windsor Forest.
July 4th — Pool Cookout at KP pool
July 17th – Pool will close at 4:00 pm for a home swim meet against Wellington.
Kingspoint Club Board
President — Sarah Huber and Kim Lavach
kppresidents@gmail.com
Treasurer — Jim Gravgaard
KPWilliamsburg@gmail.com
Secretary — Anna Thomas
KPSecretary757@gmail.com
Membership — Meredith Robertson
KPMembership@gmail.com
Facilities — Dave Stanhope
KingspointFacilities@gmail.com
Clubhouse Coordinator — Denise Koch
KPClubRentals@gmail.com
Additional Club Contacts
Social Committee Chair — MaryKate Galke
KPSocialComm@gmail.com
KP Crier Editors — Margaret Pizer and Dave Parrish
kpcrier@gmail.com
The Kingspoint Club, Inc. oversees our community’s recreational property on Northpoint Drive. This waterfront site includes a beautiful clubhouse, neighborhood pool, picnic area, dock, and a children’s play area. The KP Club operates the pool and clubhouse and organizes neighborhood social events for members. Membership in the Club is optional for residents, and includes use of the pool, boat ramp and dock. Members may also rent the clubhouse and pool for social events. Membership is required to attend some Club sponsored social events. Non- residents may also pay annual dues to use the pool and the clubhouse. For more information or to join, contact KPMembership@gmail.com.
Kingspoint Neighborhood Association June News
Happy Summer to All! We hope that everyone has something fun planned to enjoy with loved ones. We are blessed with so many opportunities to have a great time in the Williamsburg area, and the Fourth of July is always a special celebration in the community.
With children home for summer break and the pool open, we are all more mindful when driving around the community. We have more walkers and bikers than any other time of year. If you are out in the early morning or late evening, kindly carry a flashlight or wear reflective clothing so drivers can see you from a distance and give you plenty of space. Walkers should remember to walk facing oncoming traffic, and to allow space for cars to pass safely.
Neighbors have asked that we use special caution when entering Kingspoint Drive from Northpoint Drive and from Crownpoint Road. Though no sign is posted, many of us stop and look before pulling out into these busy intersections and drive a bit more cautiously than usual through our neighborhood when school is out.
Remember to visit the ‘Little Library’ in the Smith’s front yard at 103 Southpoint Drive to check out the available books for summer reading. The rule is simple: If you borrow a book, then donate a book, or return the book you borrowed. The library is there for everyone’s use and enjoyment. What a fun way to encourage our kids to read this summer!
Lisa Smith, who maintains the library, shared that there is a new selection of children’s books available. She also shared her dismay to find that someone egged the little library this past weekend. She and her husband built the library for the community and want to offer this gift of books to everyone who visits. It is very disturbing to find out that someone vandalized it. If there were other recent acts of egging or other vandalism in the community, please let me know at kpwebmistress@gmail.com. We can request additional patrols from county police if necessary.
You may already know that our long-time postal carrier, Rodney Hammond, plans to retire at the end of this month. Rodney has been an important part of our community for many years now and is legendary for his friendly, helpful service to his customers. He always goes above and beyond what might be expected to take care of ‘his family’ in Kingspoint. If you see Rodney over these final days of his service, please express your appreciation for all he has done for Kingspoint neighbors and our pets.
We have two new families in our community. Kathryn and Matt Haines and their four children are now living at 121 Kingspoint Drive. Kathryn will continue to commute back and forth to their previous residence in Chesterfield County through the end of the year as she completes her term on the School Board there. Daniel and Brittany Quinn are moving into their new home at 102 Wakerobin Road with their cat and two dogs. They expect to be living here full time by mid-July. Dan is a graduate of Jamestown High School, and his parents still live in the area. Please see their introductions elsewhere in the June Crier.
Long time KPNA Board member, and former Treasurer Brandy Belue and her family will leave us in the next few weeks for their new home in Florida. Brandy and Brian are returning to their home area to be closer to their families and their work. We will all miss them, and their daughter, Willow, because they have been an important and beloved part of our community for so many years. Brandy and her dogs are well known to other dog walkers in our community, because she always has a friendly greeting and some comment to bring a smile. Brandy has served on our KPNA Board since 2019. Please wish Brandy well when you see her during her last few weeks here in our community.
New neighbors will notice that we can hear fireworks from both Colonial Williamsburg and from Busch Gardens here in Kingspoint. Busch Gardens hosts “Summer Nights” from June 16 through August 13 with concerts each Saturday evening. Fireworks are planned on Friday and Saturdays at 9:15 PM, weather permitting.
There will be a full schedule of special events at Colonial Williamsburg on July 4, 2023, including a program of patriotic readings and music at 8:00 PM, on the Governor’s Palace Green, with fireworks are at 9:30 PM. There is a free, one day pass available for July 4 only, and you apply for it online at the link above.
As a reminder, the use, possession, display, sale or storage of fireworks is illegal in James City County. This includes fireworks that were legally purchased elsewhere. Anyone wishing to set off personal fireworks must first obtain a permit from the Fire Marshal (see FYI below for more information). The sounds of fireworks or weapons may be troubling to many neighbors and their pets. Let’s work together to maintain our peaceful, neighborly community so that it feels safe and welcoming for all.
The question of whether area residents may rent out portions of, or their entire homes for vacationers has been a hot topic in our area for the past few years. In areas of Virginia where this has been allowed, many affordable properties are purchased by those intending to rent them instead of living in them. This has been a topic of discussion for our county government recently, and you may have seen the May 27 article about this in the Virginia Gazette. This article prompted neighbors to inquire about the short-term rental policy in Kingspoint.
Short term rentals are not allowed in Kingspoint for two reasons. First, Covenant 1 states that “Lots may be used for residential purposes only…” All homeowners are bound by our Kingspoint Covenants, which follow each deed. (Find the complete list in your 2023 Neighborhood Directory.) The second reason is that our zoning is R-1. Residential Zoning doesn’t permit short term rentals. If anyone is renting a room, apartment, or their entire Kingspoint home for any purpose other than as a permanent residence (for a minimum of 30 days), they are in violation of county code. Please contact Christy Parrish, JCC Zoning Administrator at 757.253.6671 with any questions or concerns you may have about this matter.
This should be reassuring to families who don’t want vacationing strangers coming and going to short term rentals near our homes, and the various types of problems this sort of situation invites.
A major rehabilitation project to the Colonial Parkway begins in August. The project will upgrade about 10 miles of the Parkway, and will last for three years, ending at the end of June 2026. There will be disruptions and detours in various areas beginning in August.
There will be an ‘open house’ meeting about this renovation project next Thursday, June 22, 2023, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the Quarterpath Recreation Center, Multipurpose Room 2, 202 Quarterpath Road, Williamsburg. Two brief presentations and Q&A sessions will be held at 6:15 and 7:30.
Summer brings out a wide variety of wildlife in our neighborhood, which is home to many species. Neighbors routinely see frogs. turtles, lizards, and snakes as well as many sorts of birds, rabbits, squirrels, deer and sometimes even foxes, raccoons, opossums, and other creatures. Please watch out for these animals and help to protect them as they find their way to areas of safety in the ravines and around the lakes. Most of these wild areas are Resource Protection Area easements and vegetation there may not be disturbed, by law. Please be aware that many of the animals, including all snakes, are protected, as well. Learn more here.
Many of us enjoy living in community with the many animal and plant species indigenous to our area. It is a thrill to watch nesting eagles and to notice the birds and butterflies who visit us each season. Let’s help protect the wildlife that shares our community. Don’t leave pets outside unattended at night and remind children to use caution when playing outside in areas where they may encounter snakes or biting insects. Please remember, too, that any food, food containers, or standing water left out will attract various animals.
The first settlers in our area wrote that at Jamestown, “the air is alive with a buzz.” The same can be said today. Learn more here about the various insects that thrive in our area each summer, and how to protect yourself while enjoying time outside at area attractions.
The next VPPSA Household Chemical Collection will be August 12 at Warhill High School from 8:00 AM-Noon.
Many thanks to Ann Hobson and Phillip Schneider for their continued work at our neighborhood entrance. Tom Mahone and Chris Bonday are continuing their dedicated efforts to keep the grass neatly trimmed. If you are willing to join our crew of volunteers to help with maintenance chores at the entrance, please get in touch with Ann at annhobson1010@gmail.com.
If you are new to the community, or have a new family living near you, please let us know so we can visit with a copy of the Kingspoint Directory and include them in the 2023 listings. Many thanks to Mary Haines, who has joined our team of volunteers, and the KPNA Board, to help greet new families in the neighborhood.
Please visit our KPNA website for news and useful community links.
Elizabeth McCoy kpwebmistress@gmail.com
for the Kingspoint Neighborhood Association Board
FYI: Fireworks
The summer celebrations are important to all of us, and many of us have visitors this time of year. We are looking forward to the public Fourth of July special events and fireworks displays in our area.
As a reminder, the use, possession, display, sale or storage of fireworks is illegal in James City County. This includes fireworks that were legally purchased elsewhere. Anyone wishing to set off personal fireworks must first obtain a permit from the Fire Marshal.
Individuals who have purchased, or are in possession of fireworks, are encouraged to turn them in at any county fire station, or call the Fire Marshal’s office at 757-220-0626 for assistance. Anyone voluntarily surrendering fireworks will not be criminally charged.
We are all aware of the serious injuries and property damage caused by accidents with fireworks and outdoor fires, especially when the weather has been dry.
Kingspoint Neighborhood Association
KPNA Board President — Elizabeth McCoy — e.mccoy105@gmail.com
Secretary — Kenita Hill — arubahill@gmail.com
Treasurer — Karen Schneider
Members at Large — Ann Hobson, Harvey Manning, Melody Nichols, David Miller, Mary Haines
Welcome New Neighbors!
The Haines Family: Hello new neighbors! I am Kathryn Haines, daughter of Chuck and Mary Haines and a former Walsingham grad. I am happy to be back in the neighborhood after many years away. My husband Matt and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in December. We have four kids. In the fall, Khady will be a junior at VCU, Fen a senior at Jamestown High School, Nettie a sophomore, and Thaddeus a sixth grader at Berkeley MS. We also have an almost 3-year-old yellow lab named Sally.
I am in the last year of a four-year term on the Chesterfield School Board so I will be living in Chesterfield until my term is up (home on the weekends). I am also the Health Equity Manager for the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. If you are passionate about health equity, please email me at Kathryn@virginiainterfaithcenter.org. I will be commuting by train to Richmond a couple times a week once I am settled in Kingspoint full-time so I would love to get the scoop on train commuting. Matt is an IT specialist with VCU Health Systems who works from home, loves to bike and is from Chicago. We believe that it takes a village to raise kids and build strong community so feel free to reach out if you need us. I also wanted to give a shout-out to our neighbor Patrick Jones with Jones Property Solutions who did some great work on our basement before we moved in.
New neighbors, Brittany and Daniel Quinn, here. We’re moving from the Raleigh area to 102 Wake Robin Road over the next few weeks, and we are excited to connect with the Kingspoint community.
We’re newlyweds with two young dogs, and an older kitty. Our professional backgrounds are sustainability engineering (Britt) and human factors psychology (Dan). Britt leads sustainability analytics and strategy at the State of North Carolina’s Department of Administration. Dan leads user experience research and design for large agriculture automation at John Deere. Our hobbies include exercising (spinning, rowing, yoga-ing, lifting), throwing the ball to our dogs, porch-sitting (especially with a good cup of coffee), watching and conserving wildlife, and, most recently, gardening (though may need help here to turn our thumbs green…).
We are enjoying every bit of making our new home home. Over the next few weeks, we will be around the house sporadically to work on projects, after which we expect to be around full-time. Please feel welcome to swing by and say hi!
Honoring Graduates
Mary Blinn is graduating from Walsingham this year as Salutatorian. She’ll head to the University of Miami to study international relations and to row for them in the fall.
If you would like to congratulate a recent graduate in the Kingpoint Crier, please send an email to kpcrier@gmail.com.
Subscribing to the Crier
Starting this month, we are using the new website’s email list management feature to notify subscribers when a new Crier edition is published. Current Crier subscribers have been manually added to the email list. If you know someone who wants to get emails when the Crier is published online, please ask them to visit this page and sign up using the form below. You can now also unsubscribe by clicking the unsubscribe button in any Crier notification email.
If you have trouble using the form and unsubscribe link, please contact kpcrier@gmail.com and we can make your changes manually.
Your Photographs in the KP Crier?
It is always great to see beautiful pictures of our neigh- borhood. If you want your photos featured in the Kings- point Crier, then please send them to kpcrier@gmail.com. We cannot guarantee that every photograph will be featured, and we reserve the right to crop and rescale the photographs to limit the file size of the Crier.
New Crier Format
With the launch of the new Kingspoint website, the Crier will be published in this blog format. Please contact the editors at KPCrier@gmail.com with feedback, corrections, advertising requests, and more. Thanks!
Publishing in the Crier
If you have an event to share with the Kingspoint community or some news to report that you would like to see posted in the Kingspoint Crier, please send your contributions to kpcrier@gmail.com before the 20th of the month. The editors reserve the right to refuse and edit any submissions; the editors will not run any articles that overly or covertly target specific demographics or neighbors.
Facebook Page
Kingspoint neighborhood has its own Facebook page to add info, photos, items for sale, invite neighbors to a last minute movie or bbq, post last minute updates for swim meets, cancellations, etc. This page is a "Closed Group", so you will have to "request" to be added (this prevents just anyone from joining the group and posting spam). But all residents are encouraged to request an invite!
Here is how you do this: Click to go to the KP Facebook group. It will say it’s a closed group, and then in the upper right corner, under the photo, you click on ‘JOIN GROUP’. The Admin for the group will approve all KP residents!
Little Dolphins
Looking to connect with other parents in the neighborhood? Consider joining the “Little Dolphins” Facebook page. It’s a network of parents in the neighborhood with kids ranging from babies to teenagers. (Just search for "Little Dolphins Kingspoint" on Facebook). It’s a nice way to meet parents in the neighborhood with similarly aged kids. If you aren’t on Facebook, or if you are having problems joining the group, email Tracy Sohoni, tracep@yahoo.com
Neighborhood Ads
Pet Sitting: Available Daily and Holidays, 4 years experience. Yuko Sato phone: 757-634-5447
Pet Sitting: Haley Elton offers dog walking and pet sitting services. Available daily. Contact her managing agent, Norman Elton, at 757-293-8346.
Baby Sitting and Pet Sitting: Carolyn Clinton is available for baby sitting and pet sitting. 757-903-7777. Twins John and Catherine Clinton are also available for baby sitting and pet sitting. John also mows lawns. Call their mother Susan Clinton @ 757-903-7205.
Baby Sitting and Pet sitting/walking: Hello all! My name is Lexi. I am a pet sitter and babysitter who has attended a CPR class and a training course for babysitting. I have lots of experience with animals of all types and breeds. Some other services I offer are watering plants, collecting mail, or taking care of your house while you are out of town. For reasonable rates and more details call or text 757-298-8798.
Daily pet visits, walks, overnight in your home: Experience with dogs, cats, birds, giving medica- tions. Retired teacher. In business since 2016. Lisa Garber. 757-848-8331 or beastiebestiesofwilliamsburg@gmail.com.
Advertising Policy
The advertising policy for the Kingspoint Crier is as follows: business related ads are $10/ edition for a business card ($100/yr); $25/ edition for quarter page ($260/yr); $50/ edition for half page ($525/yr). We can provide an invoice if necessary. The space will be limited to a reasonable size to be determined by the Crier editors and space constraints of each edition; small ads of one, or two sentences, from residents and non-resident club members are free as a community service; non-profit and children’s ads are also free.
