Kingspoint Crier: September 2023
Photo © Wendy Miller
Letter from the KP Presidents
Dear Kingspoint Club Members,
It is official, the 2023 swim season has come to a close and Fall is officially here to stay. We hope you are enjoying the cooler days that seem to have descended upon us. We may finally be getting a well-deserved break from the summer heat. We hope you get a chance to get outside and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us in our beautiful neighborhood!
As we look ahead to 2024, the Board is putting together a Nominating Committee to help find Club members interested in filling Board vacancies. If you have an interest in being on the Nominating Committee or the Board, please reach out to KPPresidents@gmail.com to find out more information!
First Aid/CPR Class: Please email MaryKate Galke at kpsocialcomm@gmail.com to register for a family-oriented CPR and first aid training class held at the KP clubhouse. The first twelve respondents will receive confirmation of their reserved place. Aspiring babysitters welcome!
Details:
First aid/CPR for ages (12+)
Wednesday & Thursday, October 11th and 12th
6:00-8:30 PM @ the Clubhouse
12 slots available
$75 for Club members
Cash or check to Cindy Timberlake
Social Committee: Our two next events will be our annual Camp Out on the Green on October 7 (Dinner at 6 PM and movie at 7:30) and our Halloween party. These are two wonderful events to look forward to as the weather begins to cool!
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 third 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 replaced 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 Be sure to check it out. You can 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
October 7 – Camp Out on the Green (dinner at 6 PM and movie at 7:30)
October 31 – Halloween (party at the clubhouse at 4:45ish and trick-or-treating 6-8)
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
Landscape Director — Nancy McDonald
peachstreet258@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 September News
We are pleased to welcome Joseph Bailey to the KPNA Board this month. Joe and his family have lived on Glenwood Drive since they moved to Kingspoint in late 2019. Joe has already been working with us informally and will be an invaluable addition to our team on the Board. Joe and his wife Katherine have young children and will bring fresh ideas and energy to all that we do.
Many thanks to everyone who has already submitted their opinion on our survey about treating Phragmites growing in College Creek with herbicides this fall. The Conservancy’s HOA is raising money to hire a contractor who will spray the herbicide Imazapyr from a helicopter over large areas of College Creek. Drift of this herbicide could have far-reaching consequences for the Creek’s ecosystem as well as for property owners along the creek. Learn more, and find a link to the survey from the articles, “Phragmites in Local Wetlands” or “Educate Yourself About Phragmites.” A summary of all survey responses will be provided to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and the JCC Wetlands Board during the period for public comment about any permit submitted for this project.
A huge ‘Thank you!” also to everyone who has worked together to make the opening of school safe and successful in the neighborhood this year. It always requires patience and consideration to work together to get everyone to work and to school on time. Let’s continue to look out for one another. As days grow shorter, please remember to carry a light or wear reflective clothing when you are walking, jogging, or biking around dawn and dusk.
Please make your plans now to vote on or before November 7. This is an important mid-term election, and your vote is very important. Our neighborhood votes at Laurel Lane Elementary School. If you haven’t already made a plan to vote, you will find the information and contacts you need on the JCC Office of Election’s website. Here is complete information about the options available to you to vote this year.
If you have questions about the races in which we may vote this year, visit the VOTE411.org website sponsored by the League of Women Voters. If you type in your address, all the candidates and issues on the particular ballot for your address will come up. Since districts are different this year, many people may not be aware of who is on their ballot.
The Office of Elections has moved to 4095 Ironbound Road. This is behind the Courthouse, between Monticello Avenue and Ironbound Road. Any registered voter can vote absentee by showing up at the office with your ID, between September 22 and November 4, 2023.
You may also request a ballot through the mail at vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation. Note your reason for voting at home as ‘social distancing’. Completed ballots can be mailed to the Office of Elections on Ironbound Road, or ballots may be dropped off in person. Find complete details online about voting this November. New neighbors may be interested in this map of voting districts and precincts.
We find ourselves in the midst of another election season where most of us have strong opinions. It is our Kingspoint tradition to abstain from displaying political signs on our properties, right of ways or at our community’s entrance. We all want to maintain our beautiful, peaceful community free from politics. See the covenants page in your Directory for more details about displaying signs.
Please keep in mind that it is illegal to feed deer between September 1 and early January because it is hunting season and feeding is considered ‘baiting’ the deer. Many animals are on the move as they prepare to migrate or hibernate. Bears, and other animals, are attracted to many different food sources, including bird feeders, garbage cans, grills, and fruit bearing shrubs.
While Animal Control officers are available to help with family pets, they won’t remove wildlife. In most cases, it is up to the homeowner to have wild animals removed when they cause a problem. And quite often, there are laws protecting those animals that make it illegal to catch them and release them elsewhere, or to harm them in any way.
Please bookmark the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website for easy reference should unusual wildlife turn up in your yard. Cornwells Wildlife Control (757-264-6369) will safely remove a variety of animals from your property and will help you close openings to keep wildlife out of doors.
Mid-September through early November is the best time for planting new trees and shrubs because they can establish good roots before cold weather arrives. We can plant daffodils and other bulbs in October through December, and we enjoy pots of bright chrysanthemums and pansies once the weather begins to cool. Should you want to plant a native, evergreen fern that will efficiently sequester carbon year round, check out “Christmas Ferns: A Small Step Towards Climate Solutions.” Evergreen ferns are available now at local garden centers. Neighbors appreciate all efforts to keep your yard and home beautiful.
As you know, A major rehabilitation project along the Colonial Parkway began in mid-August. There will be disruptions and detours in various areas for a long time to come. Find the proposed work schedule and detours here.
Neighbors have been asking about new user fees for the Colonial Parkway in recent months. Now, one is expected to have a pass to park in any of the parking areas, use the beaches or fish, as well as to visit the various visitor centers. This is new and unusual for many of us accustomed to just hopping on the Parkway.
Your Neighborhood Association Board voted last month to install electricity and electric lights and outlets at the neighborhood entrance. We have an electrician ready to begin work soon. This entire project, including the fee for Dominion Power to run a new line out to the sign and set up our new account, will cost around $3500.00.
We are asking neighbors who have not yet supported the KPNA this year to please consider sending in your annual membership contribution of $25.00 now, as we face these additional expenses. We plan to send out a follow-up membership letter later in October to those neighbors who have not yet contributed in 2023. If you have been intending to return your membership form in your 2023 Directory, this is a good time to do so, as it will save us sending you a letter next month. We will greatly appreciate any additional contributions from neighbors to help finance this special project.
Please send your contribution, with a note stating your name and address, to KPNA Treasurer Karen Schneider. You may mail it, or you may leave it in the Schneider’s mailbox at 100 Kingspoint Drive at any time. Find details in your 2023 Neighborhood Directory.
We are extremely fortunate that severe weather has missed us so far this year. Hurricane season, which lasts until November 30, can be nerve wracking. You can sign up for JCC alerts to your phone or tablet, to stay in the loop when severe weather threatens. If you, or anyone in your family might need special help during or after an evacuation or other weather emergency, consider signing up for James City County’s special needs registry. This service allows our emergency services to know who may need special assistance due to mobility or other health issues. Call 757-259-3100 for more information.
Many thanks to Ann Hobson and her volunteers 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. We need volunteers to help spread mulch in the coming weeks.
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. Contact kpwebmistress@gmail.com to be added to our email news list. Please visit our KPNA website for news and useful community links.
Elizabeth McCoy kpwebmistress@gmail.com
for the Kingspoint Neighborhood Association Board
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, Joseph Bailey
Kingspoint Women’s Club News
The Kingspoint Women’s Club met in the clubhouse on Tuesday, September 19th to enjoy refreshments and each other’s company. Many thanks to hostesses Sherrie Chappell, Adelaide Grattan, Ann Hobson, Penny Kidd and Cathy Mapp.
Our next meeting will be a "bring a salad” holiday luncheon on Tuesday, November 14th at the clubhouse. Virginia Bendura and Mary Grogan are lead hostesses. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there. Come and join us and bring a neighbor along.
Upcoming Events
November 14: 12:00 - 2:00 @ Clubhouse, Salad Luncheon, Virginia Bendura and Mary Grogan Leads
February 20: 12:00 - 2:00 Luncheon, TBD Joyce Houff
April 28: 5:00 - 7:00 @ Clubhouse, End of Year Cocktail Party, Denise Koch lead
If you would like to be a hostess at any one of these events, please contact the lead.
We hope to see old friends back and new faces this year.
Planning Committee: Ann Hobson, Joyce Houff, Denise Koch, Virginia Bendura, Mary Grogan and Emily McDowell
Important Notice
If your power goes out, please report it right away to Dominion Energy.
Phone: 1-866—DOM-HELP or 1-866-366-4357
Dominion Energy app: The app is free on the Apple Store or Google Play
Customers can view outages on our outage map, which is also customizable. Customers can bookmark their location to see if there is an outage at their location.
Dominion work crews are dispatched to the areas where the greatest number of customers are without power, so your report helps bring attention to our outage and may speed our recovery.
New Bike Rack at the Bus Stop
Patrick Jones has installed a bike rack for our young people to neatly and safely store their bikes in the Carlin's yard at the corner of Northpoint Drive and Kingspoint Drive. The Carlins have very generously agreed to allow families to leave bikes in their yard during the school day so that the children can ride them home again in the afternoons. But Patrick recognized that we needed a better, safer way to store the bikes each day. The new bike rack is a gift from the Jones/Mountjoy family to the community. Bikes may be loaded onto the rack from both sides.
Now that we have only the single bus stop for middle and high school kids, and only two stops for the elementary children, we have more young people using this stop where Crownpoint and Northpoint meet Kingspoint Drive. Let's all work together to respect the Carlin's property by encouraging our children to store their bikes and scooters at the bike rack. It will probably be better for the bikes, too.
Please speak with Patrick or Catherine, or with the Carlins, if you have any questions about using the bike rack.
Drool in the Pool photos! Thanks to Wendy Miller for sharing the photos she took at the Drool in the Pool event. You can see all of them here. © Wendy Miller
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 neighborhood. If you want your photos featured in the Kingspoint 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.
