York County Meals on Wheels surpasses over 50 years of service to the community under leadership of local veteran

Plus: Williamsburg City Council considers moving forward with the construction of a new library, Rocco's Smokehouse Grill is closed after a destructive fire and more news.

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August 16, 2025 Good morning, Historic Triangle! Pleasant weather is expected as we head into this mid-August weekend.  While this morning is starting off with warm and humid conditions, highs will only reach the low to mid-80s this afternoon.  Tomorrow will be an "excellent summer day," according to Meteorologist Tony Nargi of WTKR News 3. Highs will hover in the mid to upper 80s and conditions will be less muggy, with dew points near 70.  There will be mostly sunny skies and low rain chances throughout the weekend.  Meteorologist Tony Nargi's 7-day forecast. (Photo via WTKR) Next week's high temperatures will be in the low to mid-80s. Far reaching bands of Hurricane Erin could impact our area on Thursday and Friday, potentially bringing widespread rain.  Now to the news. -Christin York County Meals on Wheels surpasses over 50 years of service to the community under leadership of local veteran A York County Meals on Wheels volunteer delivers a meal to a local senior citizen. (Photo courtesy of York County meals on Wheels) Since 1973, York County Meals on Wheels (MOW) has delivered hundreds of thousands of hot meals to local seniors. The organization continues to thrive today under the leadership of Jim McReynolds, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who has volunteered with MOW since 2000.  "Meals on Wheels helps seniors to remain independent members of society, maintain their health, manage their own affairs and live their lives with dignity," a statement on the York County MOW website says. "For family members living outside the local area, the program gives them peace of mind knowing that their loved ones are being fed and checked on." McReynolds' journey began with MOW at the same time he was retiring from the Air Force. Wanting to give back to the community, he answered an ad for the York County program in the local paper, thinking he was applying to be a delivery driver. However, after a brief initial interview, McReynolds was offered the role of Treasurer, which he held from 2000-2019.   In early 2019, he stepped into the role of Chairman of the Board after his next-door neighbor volunteered to take over the organization's treasury duties.  "It's a neighborhood kind of organization," McReynolds told The Triangle.  In addition to his work with MOW, McReynolds helps organize the annual Service Academy Day in Hampton Roads and serves as Membership Chair for the U.S. Airforce Academy Way of Life alumni group, a 501(c)(3) organization.  York County's Meals on Wheels program operates Monday through Friday, bringing hot lunches to approximately 35 to 40 seniors each day. Volunteers pick up the meals from the Peninsula Agency on Aging center. No senior is turned away due to inability to pay. Around 50% of local seniors pay nothing for this service, while others are asked to contribute a nominal amount to help sustain the program. "If qualified yet financially unable to pay, no one initially is refused service," the program's website states. "Other recipients are asked to contribute to the cost of the meal to keep this volunteer program solvent." In terms of funding, York County MOW does not receive any money from the state or the federal government and is only provided limited funding from the county. The organization relies primarily on donations from local residents and businesses. "We don't receive any funds from state or federal," McReynolds said. "Our funds mainly come from donations, whether it be individuals, churches or businesses." A Meals on Wheels volunteer greets a recipient with a nutritious meal and a smile. (Photo courtesy of Meals on Wheels America) Each meal costs the program $5.90, but seniors who contribute are only asked to pay $3 – leaving a $2.90 gap per meal that is covered by donations. "So, we're losing, on every meal, $2.90 roughly," McReynolds said. "But again, we're blessed that we have a lot of folks in the county that contribute and donate so that we can subsidize the meal cost." Those in York County interested in receiving meals for themselves or a family member can request services by contacting the program at (757) 772-0505. After calling, a representative will schedule a home visit to determine if the senior meets the program's criteria.  The organization seeks to assist seniors that live alone and are not able to cook for themselves– whether that is long-term or short-term, such as post-surgery. "We're looking for the folks that don't have anyone at home, or they can't or aren't able to cook, or they're not able to even go out and shop to cook," McReynolds said. "A lot of them maybe don't have a vehicle." Residents of Williamsburg and James City County can also access services through Greater Williamsburg Meals on Wheels. Meals can be requested from the organization by calling (757) 229-9250.  Both organizations are affiliated with Meals on Wheels America, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit network, and welcome donations and volunteers year-round.  For the York County program, in particular, McReynolds is asking for people, especially younger volunteers that can step into volunteer and delivery roles. "Most of us are already retired and not working, so we're always hunting for drivers or somebody to be on the board– younger folks," McReynolds said. Although he hopes to stay involved for years to come, McReynolds stresses that the future of this program depends on the next generation getting involved. For more information or to find out if you qualify, visit the Meals on Wheels websites for Yorktown or Williamsburg.  A MESSAGE FROM WILLIAMSBURG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Join us for a Community Back-to-School Bash! Celebrate the back-to-school season with a block party at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church on Aug. 24! Enjoy games, snacks, an inflatable and more. Open to the whole community– bring your friends and neighbors! This free event will take place in collaboration with the Williamsburg Baptist Church next door. No registration is required.   NEWS TO KNOW Williamsburg City Council urged to move forward with construction of $26M library amid ongoing regional contract negotiations The existing downtown Williamsburg Library. (Photo by Christin Nielsen/The Triangle) An evaluation committee recommended that the City of Williamsburg move forward with construction of a new downtown library building, but the logistics are complex given the regional nature of the library system. The recommendation, which calls for a new 50,000-square-foot library to replace the existing Scotland Street building, was made during a Williamsburg City Council work session on Monday. Established at the request of City Council, the Library Evaluation Committee consists of several city officials as well as the Friends of Williamsburg Regional Library (WRL) and other library staff members and stakeholders. Some background: Community input sessions and an online survey offered in May were carried out by the city to gauge resident perceptions surrounding the construction of a new library.  More than 250 local residents participated in the input sessions, and 850 people weighed in on the survey. Among survey respondents, 25% were residents of the city while the remaining 75% were citizens of James City and York County. If the new library is built, a significant number of respondents said they would like to see a larger theater and increased access to the Makerspace, an area designated for craft projects such as sewing and 3D printing.  Residents also pushed for designated silent areas and increased services and support for teens, tweens and homeschoolers. Proponents of the new building argue that the downtown library cannot continue to effectively serve the community in its existing location. Nina Simone, chair of the WRL Board of Trustees, said the current library "has reached the end of its lifespan," particularly because the population of the community has doubled since the building's last expansion. "This building will not be able to serve the next generation as an energetic community partner and tireless innovator," Simone said. "We believe strongly that we must have a vision now to ensure our continued excellence in the future." Sandy Towers, WRL's director, underscored that the downtown library essentially serves as the headquarters of the regional system. The location brings people to the area daily, which provides important benefits for the city, she said.  Regional complexities: Mayor Douglas Pons expressed support for the proposal, calling Williamsburg's library "the heartbeat of the community." Nonetheless, he added that the decision is complicated by the library's longstanding partnerships with the other two Historic Triangle localities.  The city must weigh the fact that James City County is simultaneously planning to build an additional library of its own in the next few years, Pons said. That library is expected to be integrated into the county's proposed new $238M government center. Additionally, York County has pushed back against mounting spending on the library system. In June, the county's Board of Supervisors sent out a notice stating that they would pull out of the existing WRL agreement unless the contract was renegotiated. District 1 Supervisor Doug Holroyd said at the time that the library's operating costs were getting out of hand. Some community members have also pointed out that the $26 million cited price tag for the library is only a pre-construction design estimate. Local resident Robert Wilson said at a City Council meeting last week that the final total could be in the $40 - $51 million range once equipment and debt service costs are factored in. A risky undertaking? Pons said building a new, larger library would only make sense if the other counties stayed in the contract. He argued that if the current agreement falls apart, a 50,000-square-foot library would far exceed the need of City of Williamsburg residents alone. "We are in an interesting spot when we consider this new library because we've been in this regional system for many years," Pons said. "James City County has asked to revisit the agreement with the library and York County has taken a position." "There would be more space than we would need [and] there are operational expenses that come along with that," Pons added. What's next: Towers said that all three jurisdictions will be meeting this month to carry out further discussions regarding the current library system agreement.  Nonetheless, Towers acknowledged it is "time to take a look at some of the provisions" in the contract, "to make sure it's fair for all of the parties involved."  Rocco's Smokehouse Grill to remain closed 'until further notice' following destructive fire The interior of Rocco's Smokehouse Grill in the aftermath of a recent fire. (Photo by Rocco Colafrancesco via Facebook) Rocco's Smokehouse Grill, a popular barbecue restaurant located on Bypass Road in York County, is closed until further notice after a fire tore through the building earlier this week. Crews responded to reports of a commercial structure fire at the restaurant around 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the York County Department of Fire and Life Safety.  Upon their arrival, firefighters found smoke pouring out of the back of the building and immediately located and extinguished the fire inside, officials said. A restaurant employee safely escaped the restaurant and reported the fire before firefighters made it to the scene. No other employees were on site when the fire broke out, and the restaurant was not yet open for the day when the blaze broke out. There were no injuries, but the cause of the fire is still under investigation.  Plans to rebuild: While a reopening timeframe has not been announced, the restaurant's management is dedicated to repairing the damage and eventually reopening to the public.  "Thank you everyone for all the support," a Facebook post by the restaurant's management said. "We will still be doing off site catering and will keep you up to date on the progress as we rebuild." How to help: A GoFundMe has been created to help keep staff afloat while the extensive repairs are underway. Nearly $4,000 had been donated to the fundraiser as of Saturday morning. CRIME REWIND A man disguised himself as a woman to burglarize a popular York County skating rink. (WAVY)  A former Virginia Beach teacher faced a York County judge after being accused of having child porn and making threats. (WTKR) IN THE HEADLINES Longtime Merchants Square Baskin-Robbins owner remembered for her generosity (The Virginia Gazette)  Construction delays are causing around 900 William & Mary students to need alternate housing (WAVY) Newport News sees 13% drop in overall crime, community responds positively (WTKR) 180 people were saved from Virginia Beach waters last weekend amid strong rip currents (13News Now) Virginia Beach aims to remove 'vulgar' t-shirt, booty-shorts displays from storefronts (Fox 5)  Youngkin orders investigation after allegations of school division-funded abortions (ABC 8 News)  Category 4 hurricane Erin continues to intensify, NHC says (Reuters)  LOWEST GAS PRICES TODAY All prices shown are per Gas Buddy. To check the latest prices based on zip code, click here. This newsletter was written by Christin Nielsen and Clare Gifford. 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