Weekly e-mail on Saturdays at 0500.

UPDATED: Looking for volunteers to help with some VGCA projects this Spring

Here are some projects we have identified that need to occur this Spring.  Connor and I will be focusing on getting the pool up and running so we will need some help from our amazing volunteers.  Give us a hand please beautifying Village Green!

  1. Address brick walls at entrance to Village Green

    • VOLUNTEER(S) NEEDED to pressure wash brick at entrance. Target completion date is March 31.
    • Brick and mortar work on brick at entrance — Joe O’Malley has volunteered to handle this.
    • TARGET DATE: By end of May.
  2. Fix/replace split rail fencing on access ways leading to the VGCA park

    • VOLUNTEER(S) NEEDED for this.
    • Peter Grimes has volunteered to do Prescott…we still have a couple of other areas that need to be addressed.
    • VGCA will provide materials as determined by volunteer(s).
    • TARGET DATE:  By end of May.
  3. Address cracked and raised concrete in the park.

      • VOLUNTEER(S) NEEDED to break up concrete with a jack hammer and relocate the debris.
      • Need 8 to 10 able-bodied individuals for this.
      • VGCA to provide rental of jack hammer.
      • Sidewalk leading to pool near the play equipment will be removed.
      • Two grills and concrete near the grills will be removed.
      • One grill will be relocated closer to the picnic shelter.  The other grill will be stored for future use if needed.
      • Bring a shovel, gloves, and/or a wheelbarrow.

    <li>WHEN:  Sat, April 13 11am-2pm

  4. Repair VGCA Clubhouse main waste line.

    • VOLUNTEER(S) NEEDED to break up concrete with a jack hammer and relocate the debris.
    • Need 4 to 6 able-bodied individuals for this.
    • We will rent a mini-excavator but there will still be a need for some manually digging and back filling.
    • We need to dig up about 45ft from side of clubhouse to the City’s cleanout.  Approximately 2.5ft down.
    • Bring a shovel, gloves, and/or a wheelbarrow.
    • WHEN:  Sat, May 4  9am-11am

I promise, no specialized skillset is needed to perform/lead these projects.  Just need some good old fashion time and energy.

Here are a few pics of what needs to be done.  Contact Donnie Woodruff for details if you are able to volunteer.

e

Volunteers needed to help remove pool cover Sun, Apr 28 @ 445pm

We will need about 15 strong individuals to help us remove the pool cover on Sunday, April 28 at 445pm.

Please be prompt as we will start right at 445pm and it only takes 15 mins to do.

Thank you in advance!

Annual Street Sweeping Begins April 1

It’s officially spring, and that means it’s time for the city’s annual spring cleaning! The Street Maintenance Division of the Public Works Department will begin street sweeping operations on Monday, April 1, and will continue through mid-October, weather permitting. Village Green is in Section E from the map. Section E’s scheduled dates are: May 20-24; Aug 12-16; and Oct 14-18.

Street sweeping plays a crucial role in maintaining the cleanliness of our local waterways by removing accumulated debris and pollutants, such as sand, salt, metals, petroleum products, and bacteria, before they enter the storm drains. This season, the city is deploying ten mechanical street sweepers at regularly scheduled times to clear debris from city-maintained roads. In 2023 alone, 20,085 miles of curbs were swept and 6,558 dump truck loads of debris were removed from city streets.

Please be mindful of the bright orange signs posted on major streets leading into neighborhoods, indicating temporary parking restrictions for street sweeping. In the Southeast Community, where off-street parking is limited and one-way streets are common, permanent red and white signs specify a once-per-month period when parking is prohibited for street sweeping.

On street sweeping days, ensure that vehicles, basketball goals, and other bulk items are off the streets by 9 a.m.; parking may resume after 3 p.m. Private streets, mobile home parks, and privately owned apartment complex streets are not included in the street sweeping program.

For a detailed street sweeping schedule and more information about the program, please visit the Public Works Website or call 757-933-2311.

Neighborhood vehicle/pedestrian safety awareness

One of the great aspects of our neighborhood is we look out for each other. There are times, however, where we may sometimes get complacent and forget, while we’re driving through the neighborhood, all the people who walk and bike in the same road we drive. The greatest thing we can do for our fellow neighbors is to keep our vigilance high while we’re driving through the neighborhood. How can we do that? We can follow the speed limit (25 MPH) for the neighborhood. We can, as we’re transitioning from one street to another (such as from a side street to the Village Green Parkway), think of those intersections as having an implicit yield sign. Take the time to look for other cars, families spending some time walking the neighborhood, neighbors walking their dog or opossum, or kids riding their bikes or skateboards and give them the right of way. This is especially important at night as there are many blind spots and not as well lit areas where one of your neighbors may be not visible or less visible until it is too late.

How else can we help each other? The intersections at Village Green Parkway and Baxter as well as Village Green Parkway by the Marquee/Park have seen an increase in drivers treating the STOP as more of a SLOW. Just recently someone in the neighborhood played chicken with a police officer (driving their personal vehicle at the time) at one of the intersections. Remember back to those driver training courses when you first got your license. The STOP sign is intended to allow you to have the time to determine who else may be in your direct path of motion and allow each of you navigate the intersection and get to your destination safely.

Please share this message with your friends, family, and neighbors. Let’s help keep this neighborhood the safe community it is.

VGCA: Candy donation & Easter Egg Hunt

Hello Spring…..maybe;) We are taking Candy donations to the tote on porch of 657 VGP.
Please join us March 17th at 1pm We will have sections for multiple age groups to hunt some easter eggs. We want to make this event safe for everyone. Please parents and grands as usual attend this event with your child or grandchild for some family fun. The BUNNY will hop up to the park for lots of high fives, hugs and pictures! We do re use our eggs so before leaving the park we ask that you empty your eggs and put them back in the tote provided…THANK YOU! Mark your calendar, drop off candy and bring a basket ready to fill to the top!

VGCA Events 2024

Please join me as we look forward to many events this year! Membership season is upon us. Here are just some of the events you will get to be a part of. Please consider signing your family up!

March- Easter egg hunt- come meet the BUNNY!!
April- Flowers for the park
May- First Movie Night of the season!
Cleanup the park Day
June- Summer Kick off Party!
Movie Night
July- Parade
Adult pool party
Movie Night
August- End of summer party
Movie Night
September- Movie Night
Oktober fest
October- Halloween event
Movie Night
November- Movie Night
December- Decorate the park & cookie exchange.
Presents with Santa
Christmas Decor contest

Ambassador Pass Gives City Employees, Residents Free Admission to Attractions

New to the neighborhood/Newport News and/or looking for something to do in the new year, check out the Newport News Ambassador Pass program. The Newport News Ambassador Pass program, now in its 24th year, encourages Newport News residents and current City of Newport News employees to be “visitors” in their hometown by providing passes for free one-time admission to nine attractions throughout the city. Valid for two adults and two children, this year’s pass includes a round of disc golf at Newport News Park, the Lee Hall Mansion, Virginia War Museum, and more.

Starting Dec 20, residents and city employees can pick up an “Ambassador Pass” through Feb. 4, 2024, at three locations throughout the city:

  • Newport News Tourism Office (closest), 702 Town Center Drive (Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F but closed Dec. 22-26 and Jan. 1).
  • Newport News Visitor Center, 13560 Jefferson Ave., at the entrance to Newport News Park (Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily but closed Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1).
  • Newport News Communications Office, 6th Floor, City Hall, 2400 Washington Ave (Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F but closed Dec. 22-26 and Jan. 1).

City Holiday Closings, Collections Schedules

The upcoming holidays will impact Newport News city operating hours and services. Here’s a look at how city offices, facilities, and services will be affected:

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY

City Offices, Libraries, Recovery Operations Center

Closed Friday, Dec. 22 – Tuesday, Dec. 26

Recreation Centers

Brittingham-Midtown and Denbigh Community Centers will be open Friday, Dec. 22, and Saturday, Dec. 23, until 1 p.m. All other recreation facilities will be closed.

Garbage, Recycling & Bulk Waste Collections

No collections on Monday, Dec. 25. All collections for the week are delayed by one day. Village Green will be have garbage, recycling & bulk waste collected Tuesday, Dec 26.

Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter

  • Sunday, Dec. 24, both the Adoption Center and Animal Reclaim/Surrender Lobby close at 4 p.m.
  • Mon., Dec. 25, the Animal Reclaim/Surrender Lobby will close at 1 p.m. Open Tues., Dec. 26, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
  • Monday, Dec. 25 – Tuesday, Dec. 26, the Adoption Center will be closed. Open Wed., Dec. 27, for adoptions noon-5 p.m.

NEW YEAR HOLIDAY

City Offices, Libraries, Recreation Centers

Closed Monday, Jan. 1

Recovery Operations Center

Closed Saturday, Dec. 30 – Monday, Jan. 1

Garbage, Recycling & Bulk Waste Collections

No collections on Monday, Jan. 1. All collections for the week are delayed by one day. Village Green will be have garbage collected Tuesday, Jan 2.

Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter

  • Monday, Jan. 1, the Animal Reclaim/Surrender Lobby will close at 1 p.m. Open Tuesday, Jan. 2, 8 a.m. -5 p.m.
  • Mon., Jan. 1 – Tuesday, Jan. 2, the Adoption Center is closed. Open Wednesday, Jan. 3, for adoptions, noon – 5 p.m.

Take some time to enjoy all of the holiday happenings throughout the city in the NlightN Holiday Event Series. Experience the sights and sounds of the season with FREE nightly light shows at Lights at the Fountain at City Center! And don’t forget about Celebration in Lights at Newport News Park, where you can see two miles of dazzling holiday light displays from the comfort of your car (tickets are $15-18 per car).

Sat, Dec 2 @ 9am — Clean up day around tennis courts and park

On Saturday Dec 2nd starting at 9am, we will be attempting to get the area by the tennis courts cleaned up.  There is trash on the tennis courts, large limbs in the area, and bushes and small trees that need to be removed. Our goal is to make the area easier to maintain.  A team of us improved the fields under the power lines earlier this summer (removed overgrown brush and ground several stumps) which has made maintaining those areas much easier and less hazardous too.  The goal is to do that for the area back by the tennis courts. We will need the following:

  • A couple of trucks with trailers (preferred) to make runs to the landfill with debris (bushes, tree limbs).
  • A couple of chainsaws to handle larger limbs and small trees.
  • A few axes to help with chopping down very small trees.
  • Rakes and tarps.

Thank you!

Presents with Santa

PARENTS: Please have your child present dropped off by December 9th to the tote on porch @ 657 VGP. Put your child’s name on gift at drop off. Please only one gift per child the gift must be $20 & under!!!!
Join us at the park on Sunday afternoon December 10th at 1pm. Santa will come hand out the presents! We will have a few snacks and refreshments provided. Thank you!