| Dec. 6, 2025 |
| Good morning, Historic Triangle!
A chilly December weekend is on tap for us following yesterday's snowfall.
Saturday will bring cloudy skies with highs in the mid-40s, according to Chief Meteorologist David Aldrich of WTKR News 3.
Partly cloudy conditions will persist on Sunday, but temperatures will be milder, reaching near 50 in the afternoon.
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| Meteorologist David Aldrich's 7-day forecast. (Photo via WTKR) |
| Highs will dip into the 40s on Monday and Tuesday. Overnight and morning lows will hover in the 20s and 30s throughout much of the week.
Now to the news.
-Christin
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Local commonwealth's attorneys team up with United Way to launch seasonal giving initiative for residents in need |
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| A donation bin for 'A Way Home.' (Photo courtesy of Charvalla West, United Way of the Virginia Peninsula) |
| The United Way of the Virginia Peninsula has partnered with local commonwealth's attorneys to create a new seasonal giving initiative - and they're hoping residents will step up to help.
Called "A Way Home," the program provides support for people on the Peninsula facing housing insecurity, domestic violence or emergency transitions.
Krystyn Reid, York-Poquoson's commonwealth attorney, launched the project in collaboration with Charvalla West, CEO of the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula.
Commonwealth's attorneys Nate Green of Williamsburg-James City County, Howard Gwynn of Newport News and Anton Bell of Hampton have also joined.
Reid said the concept was inspired by her early work as a prosecutor supporting domestic violence victims and vulnerable families.
"When a household is on the edge of eviction or crisis, even small gaps in basic items can make it harder to stay anchored," Reid told The Triangle. "United Way of the Virginia Peninsula has become such a force for good in stabilizing families across our region, and I wanted our office to support their effort in a meaningful way."
The initiative naturally fits in with the efforts Reid and her colleagues are striving to achieve within the community.
Commonwealth's attorneys are expected to promote justice, which happens not only through prosecution but also "prevention, compassion and helping families stay safe" during difficult times, Reid said.
At the center of A Way Home is a donation drive, which kicked off on Dec. 1 and runs through Jan. 1.
A variety of essential new items are requested, including blankets, towels, small sets of kitchen items, hygiene products and cleaning supplies. Donations of children's comfort items are also needed, including coloring books and small toys.
Organizers are hopeful residents will "shop with compassion" throughout the holiday season, keeping in mind the challenges faced by fellow community members.
Program recipients will be identified by United Way through its community partners and direct case management, ensuring the items go where they are needed.
"These essentials can make a real difference for a family working to maintain housing or rebuild after a crisis," Reid said. "It is a simple way for our community to support neighbors who are trying to stay on their feet."
For United Way, the holiday season has already been off to a busy start. A total of 285 children across the Peninsula will wake up to gifts under their tree on Christmas morning following this year's Angel Tree drive, which wrapped up last week.
The annual drive - made possible through the United Way's partnership with the Salvation Army Peninsula and Williamsburg commands, along with the Gloucester Satellite office - aims to fulfill the Christmas wishes of local children whose families are facing financial hardship.
Wish list items are written on tags and placed at designated Angel tree locations. Community members can then select a tag, purchase the suggested gifts and return them to be distributed to the children's families before Christmas. |
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| Volunteers collected toys for 285 children across the Peninsula as part of this year's Angel Tree program. (Photo courtesy of Charvalla West, United Way of the Virginia Peninsula) |
| United Way has also been hosting a community-wide food drive, established in response to the government furloughs and SNAP benefit delays last month.
More than 10,000 pounds of food were collected across 51 donation bins hosted by local businesses and organizations. Some sites are still accepting donations, according to West.
Want to help? Donations of new, unwrapped items for A Way Home can be dropped off at the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula, 101 York Crossing Road in Yorktown, Mondays through Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Jan. 1.
A donation bin is also available at Reid's office, located at 300 Ballard Street in Yorktown, on Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Residents or businesses interested in further supporting the project can also inquire about hosting a donation bin by calling United Way directly at (757) 229-2222 or e-mailing info@uwvp.org.
Reid emphasized that the list of suggested essentials for the project offers "a strong starting point," but any new household essentials would be appreciated.
For more information, visit uwvp.org. |
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Judge denies request to pause work on James City County government center |
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| A rendering of the proposed James City County government center. (Photo courtesy of James City County) |
| A judge declined to issue an injunction last Wednesday that would have paused construction on James City County's controversial new government complex.
Seven county residents initiated a lawsuit against County Administrator Scott Stevens and the Board of Supervisors earlier this month, arguing that the $178 million financing request for the center should require a referendum. |
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| Adam Kinsman, James City County's attorney, has filed a motion for the case to be dismissed. |
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| What's next: The ruling, issued by judge Jan Brodie, means construction by contractor Henderson-Gilbane will proceed, at least for now. A follow-up hearing for the case has been scheduled for Jan. 13. |
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Curbside recycling is returning to York County, but residents need to take action |
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| A TFC recycling container. (Photo by Christin Nielsen/The Triangle) |
| Curbside recycling will finally return to York County during the week of January 5, but residents who want to receive the service will need to act quickly.
Recycling bins from TFC - the previous contractor - need to be replaced with bins from the new contractor before curbside collections can begin. |
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All county residents who have recycling bins with a TFC logo must place their bin at the curb by 7 a.m. on Dec. 8. The cans should be kept at the curb all week long, as pickup may take place any time between Monday and Friday, according to a county news release. |
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| County Administrator Mark Bellamy said the shift back to providing curbside recycling marks important progress after a monthslong halt of the program, which began after the Virginia Peninsulas Public Service Authority (VPPSA) abruptly terminated its contract with TFC in September. |
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| A new pickup schedule will be shared with residents before service resumes, according to the county. For additional information and updates, visit the county's website. |
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Free holiday parking now available at Prince George Street Parking Garage |
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| The Prince George Street Parking Garage in the City of Williamsburg. (Photo by Christin Nielsen/The Triangle) |
| The City of Williamsburg is once again adjusting parking rates for the Prince George Street Parking Garage, located at 230 N. Henry Street, for the holiday season.
Through New Year's Day, Jan. 1, parking will be free for the first four hours of the day. A rate of $1 per hour kicks in after four hours. |
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| IN THE HEADLINES |
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| EVENTS THIS WEEK |
| The holiday season has arrived, and there's so much happening throughout the Historic Triangle. Check out upcoming local events on our community calendar and stay tuned to our Facebook page for exclusive additional coverage. |
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| This newsletter was written by Christin Nielsen. Thanks for reading! |
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| 📰 Sign up to receive The Triangle's weekly newsletters here.
🖥️ Visit our website to read previous articles.
📧 Want to reach out? Email christin@thetriangle.news or reply to this email. |
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