POQUOSON — The Poquoson Islanders rolled in their football opener Friday night, scoring 35 points in the first quarter, and finishing the evening with a 56-7 win over Southampton at Poquoson Middle School.
Senior running back Baker Green put on an offensive clinic in the first quarter, with five carries, 141 yards and four touchdowns, as Poquoson stormed to a quick 21-0 lead. Green’s first score, on the Islanders’ first play from scrimmage, was for 66 yards on a sweep left as he outsprinted the Indians to the end zone.
They would be Green’s only carries of the game. Coach Elliott Duty substituted freely throughout the game, getting repetitions for younger players, which are well-needed for his smallish squad.
“Depth becomes a problem, especially in a smaller school like ours, with only 32 (players),” saidDuty, whose team could contend for the Class 2 state title. “But it was good to execute well. I thought we blocked really well on the first few series.”
Khaleo Smith followed with an 82-yard interception-return touchdown from a Zayden Pope pass. Green would follow with three rushing touchdowns of double-digit yardage.
Ryan Burke caught a 17-yard pass from Eli Tyndall to open the second-quarter scoring, and Smith busted up the gut for a 14-yard rushing TD just before halftime. Smith added a 21-yarder for Poquoson’s lone second-half score.
There were two bright spots for Southampton. Punter Aaron Braid uncorked a high kick that traveled 50 yards in the air before rolling another 33, making for an 83-yard punt which backed Poquoson to its 2-yard line. In the fourth quarter, Pope and Xavier Tyler combined on a textbook post pattern route for a 34-yard score.
Malachi Nixon’s 73-yard interception return for a touchdown capped a dominant first half for No. 9 King’s Fork, and the Bulldogs held on to defeat Churchland 26-13 Friday night in Portsmouth in the opener for both teams.
The host Truckers were penalized for taunting before the opening kickoff, which King’s Fork returned to the Churchland 27. After a Bulldogs penalty, Darryl Wilson Jr. ran 32 yards for a touchdown.
De’Andre Artis-Boone’s 24-yard TD pass to Denosh Rodgers with 6:41 left in the second quarter capped a 70-yard drive and began the Bulldogs’ decisive flurry.
Artis-Boone threw a 31-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to Jahmel Mackey with 1:43 to go before the half, and Nixon’s pick-six and Javon Ford II’s second PAT gave King’s Fork a 26-0 lead with 19 seconds remaining before intermission.
“I just jumped the ‘out’ route I knew was coming, and good blocking got me in the end zone,” Nixon said.
After two personal fouls on King’s Fork, the Truckers gave their fans a thrill on the final play of the first half. King Hall swept left, looked like he would be forced out of bounds but reversed field to the right for a 31-yard touchdown.
Churchland’s King Hall blows by King’s Fork defenders to score a touchdown on the last play of the first half Friday. STEPHEN M. KATZ/STAFFKing’s Fork defenders celebrate their takeaway for a touchdown against Churchland during Friday night’s game in Portsmouth. (Stephen M. Katz/staff)
Though the Bulldogs couldn’t add to their lead, the Truckers couldn’t pull back into contention despite Dontavious Booker’s 2-yard touchdown run with 11:12 remaining.
“To not score in the second half was frustrating,” King’s Fork coach Anthony Joffrion said. “We will work on finishing games.”
– Reported by Gary Lassiter
Norcom uses turnovers to control Grafton
Tyrell Grant threw three touchdown passes as No. 15 Norcom defeated Grafton 38-14 in Portsmouth in the season opener for both teams.
The Greyhounds capitalized on turnovers by the Clippers to build a 38-point lead.
Grant completed 11 of 20 passes for 223 yards and found different receivers with each of his scoring throws. His team led 25-0 in the second quarter.
Matthew Outten accounted for most of the yardage on Norcom’s first drive, carrying the final 11 yards for a touchdown to cap a 62-yard possession.
After Grafton recovered a fumble at the Norcom 18, Frederico Staton Jr. nabbed the first of his two interceptions, taking it 84 yards for a touchdown.
Grant and Joedee Shelton connected on a 93-yard touchdown after the Clippers fumbled away an opportunity at the Norcom 3-yard line. Outten’s 23-yard reception gave Norcom its final TD in the third quarter.
It looked like Norcom might post a shutout until Grafton’s Owen Seaford ran 2 yards for a touchdown in the final minute. The Clippers quickly got the ball back and made it 38-14 on Luke Bryant’s 27-yard TD pass to Seaford.
The late touchdowns frustrated Greyhounds coach Anthony Hawkins.
“We need to continue to work on improving in all phases of the game in this coming week,” he said. “That was uncharacteristic of Norcom football.”
Norcom outgained Grafton 297-107 in offensive yards and held the Clippers to five first downs.
– Reported by Charlie Baumgardner
Who is the 757Teamz MVP?
Poquoson’s Baker Green only needed a quarter to earn this award.
Green had four touchdowns in the first quarter — that’s not an error, all in the first quarter — helping the Islanders roll to a 56-7 home victory over Southampton.
Green scored on runs of 66 yards, 15 yards, 32 yards and 16 yards.
Storylines
Indian River’s defense isn’t enough: The 12th-ranked Braves’ defense matched up well against Richmond powerhouse Varina, but the Blue Devils earned a 13-0 victory in Chesapeake.
Varina (1-0) took a 6-0 lead midway through the second quarter when Linwood Johnson hit DaMari Carter on a 16-yard touchdown pass.
Varina looked like it would pull away in the second half, moving inside the Braves’ 5-yard line. Indian River rose up and stopped the Blue Devils, and they missed a field goal.
Varina got the ball back and started driving again, getting to the 5-yard line. Indian River stopped them three times, but on fourth down, Johnson scored on a 5-yard run and Varina took a 13-0 lead.
The lead was too much for Indian River’s offense, as the Braves were picked off twice late in the fourth quarter.
Warwick dominates in opener: No. 5 Warwick fell behind by a touchdown when Grassfield ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown. The Raiders rolled from there, beating the Grizzlies 53-7 in a non-district game in Chesapeake.
Raiders quarterback Eduardo Rios Jr. threw for more than 150 yards and three touchdowns. Saeed (JR) Williams had two touchdown receptions, while Julio Carrecter added a TD reception and returned a punt for a score.
Ri’jon Hammond, a transfer from Woodside, led the Raiders’ rushing attack with 150 yards.
“We challenged our kids throughout the week, our offensive and defensive lines, our wide receivers and our quarterback,” Warwick coach Corey Hairston said. “They rose to the occasion.”
Hampton looks strong against Woodside: Hampton dominated offensively and defensively in defeating Woodside 31-6 in their Peninsula District game at Todd Stadium.
Veteran quarterback Khaioz Watford led the way by throwing for two touchdowns and running for another. Jamari Lumpkin and Viquan Newton had the TD receptions.
Lumpkin made a tackle in the end zone for a safety, as did Devon Anthony. The Crabbers scored on three safeties.
“We played really well,” Crabbers assistant coach Andre McGlone said. “The young guys had some jitters and we made some mistakes early, but we got things figured out.
“The kids played hard, and that’s all we ask, is that they give 100 percent effort.”
Young Warriors hold on for win: Kecoughtan broke open a close game by scoring the final 16 points in its 23-6 win over Gloucester at Darling Stadium. Quarterback Knowel Smith’s short touchdown run gave the Kecoughtan an early 7-0 lead that held up to halftime.
The Dukes turned a bad snap into a long touchdown run by their punter to pull to within 7-6 in the third quarter. But the Warriors pulled away on two touchdown runs by Malachi Marion and a safety.
Warhill duo leads Lions in opener: No. 11 Warhill rode big nights from running back Jaedyn McAdoo and quarterback Liam Francisque to a 49-8 win in a non-district game at Manor.
McAdoo returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and had touchdown runs of 35, 18 and 2 yards. Taylen Eady added two touchdowns, while Mark Hayes had another.
“I thought we played really well,” Warhill coach Jerome Rhodes said. “Our quarterback (Francisque) threw for almost 200 yards in his first start and added another 50 on the ground.
“We had a few mistakes — that happens in the first game — but we played disciplined most of the game and now it’s on to (next opponent) Matoaca.”
Warriors’ offense delivers in opener: No. 13 Nansemond River got numerous big offensive contributions in beating Bethel 41-21 in a non-district game at Nansemond River.
Quarterback Alkendric Overton threw for more than 200 yards and Melvin Brown ran for more than 100. Demonta Bassett scored twice for the Warriors, and Immanuel Ezeogu led the receiving corps with more than 65 yards.
“We beat a quality opponent tonight,” Warriors coach Alonzo Ricks said. “There are always things you can do better from the first game, but we played pretty well.”
He said it
“We’re a young team and it was our first game, so we were sloppy at first. But we got better throughout the game, and that’s what I feel we’ll do throughout the season.”
Kecoughtan coach Jeff Super, talking about his Warriors during their victory over Gloucester. He could have been talking about most Hampton Roads teams on opening night, as many coaches talked about first-game jitters and young players.
Extra points
Tristen Williams scored three touchdowns, including a 55-yard interception return, during Norfolk Christian’s 34- victory over Manteo of North Carolina.
Will Foley scored four touchdowns — two on receptions from Cooper Tyszko — as Norfolk Academy defeated Currituck of North Carolina 46-21.
HENRICO — The Oscar Smith football team’s interminable offseason finally came to an end on Friday night in a regular-season opener against Hermitage.
The No. 3 Tigers eagerly took the first steps toward erasing the haunting memory of the program’s worst season in nearly 20 years with a 39-25 victory over the Panthers near Richmond.
Oscar Smith appeared overly eager at times — committing penalties totaling 111 yards, giving up some big-play bursts and failing to convert 4 of 6 PATs. But the Tigers led from start to finish, shook off the rust and began to shake the memory of a loss to Western Branch in the Class 6 Region A semifinals on Nov. 18, 2022.
“We remember the date, we remember how it felt,” running back Isaac Huffman said. “We kept that with us, and this year we’re coming back for it all.”
Huffman finished with 96 of Oscar Smith’s 170 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns, while quarterback Jamar Wright completed 10 of 18 passes for 165 yards and a score.
Huffman took the bulk of the carries after starter Brandon Nesbit — playing in his first game after transferring from Deep Creek — left with an apparent right-ankle injury midway through the second quarter. Nesbit gained 69 yards on eight carries and scored a touchdown.
“I just knew we had to keep up the same energy, no falloff,” Huffman said. “Keep pushing and finish the game. The rest of the team had to keep our heads up and play for him.”
Oscar Smith’s defense forced three-and-outs on Hermitage’s first three possessions, and Nesbit scored on a 14-yard run to put the Tigers in front 7-0 in the first quarter. Na’Rod Jarvis then scooped up a blocked field-goal attempt and raced 80 yards for a score and a 12-0 lead with 3:29 left in the first quarter.
Hermitage — coming off a 6-5 season — pulled within a touchdown several times, but never took the lead. Oscar Smith led 24-19 at halftime
Wright threw a 33-yard TD pass to Alvin Jones, and Huffman scored on TD runs of 9, 1 and 6 yards. Huffman’s 6-yarder came with 8:10 left in the fourth quarter and gave Oscar Smith its biggest lead at 39-19.
Oscar Smith looked dominant at times on defense, but also gave up some big plays, including Yeanay’s 58-yard TD run and a 20-yard TD run by Earlonte Winston. Yeanay (six carries, 105 yards) and Winston (20 carries, 144 yards) helped the Panthers finished with 288 rushing yards, .
Most important, though, was getting back on the field and gaining experience for a Tigers team that starts only four seniors (two on offense, two on defense). A much larger test looms next week against Phoebus, which trounced Oscar Smith 56-0 last year during the regular season and then won a second consecutive state title.
The Tigers won back-to-back state championships of their own before last year’s disappointing finish.
“We needed that loss, we needed it,” said Oscar Smith assistant coach Lafonte Thourogood, who fielded postgame interviews as head coach Chris Scott deferred. “Going back-to-back and winning state titles, some of the younger guys and the older guys we get kind of complacent and think people are going to lay down because we’re so dominant.”
John Means pitched 4.1 solid innings in his first Triple-A appearance this season and Daz Cameron hit a grand slam and drove in five runs Friday night as the Norfolk Tides outlasted the Durham Bulls 12-9 before 6,138 fans at Harbor Park.
The Tides (75-48, 27-22 in second half) took a 3-1 series lead after seeing their five-game win streak come to an end Thursday afternoon. The Bulls dropped to 69-45 and 29-20.
Means, the former ace of the Baltimore Orioles who once threw a no-hitter, allowed one run on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks. He threw 72 pitches. It was his fourth rehab start this season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery and a back injury. This was his longest outing of the four starts and his second straight having allowed a lone run.
Norfolk gave Means all the support he would need with an eight-run first inning. Coby Mayo’s two-run single and Cameron’s grand slam were the big hits. Heston Kjerstad added an RBI single and Joey Ortiz an RBI groundout.
Cameron got his fifth RBI in the second inning with a run-scoring single to make it 9-0.
Durham scored its first run in the top of the third, but the Tides made it 11-1 in the bottom of the fifth on Kjerstad’s RBI groundout and Ortiz’s RBI single.
The Bulls made it interesting by scoring two runs in the sixth and three runs each in the seventh and eighth innings, but Tyler Wells closed it out for the Tides by pitching a scoreless ninth for his first save. Wells has made 20 starts for the Orioles this season.
Reliever T.J. McFarland (3-2), who replaced Means in the fifth inning, picked up the victory despite allowing two runs in 1.2 innings.
Durham starter Anthony Molina (1-2) gave up all eight runs in the first inning without recording an out.
Cameron, Connor Norby and Anthony Bemboom each had three hits for Norfolk, which finished with 15 for the game.
The teams will play again at 6:35 p.m. Saturday on a Fireworks Night.
Old Dominion began its season by overcoming VCU 3-1 (25-20, 20-25 25-18, 26-24) Friday night in the Monarchs’ Quest for the Crown round-robin in Norfolk.
With the fourth set tied at 24, Alice Munari scored kills on the last two points off Teresa Atilano assists to down the Rams.
Myah Conway had 15 kills, freshman Bryanna Jones 14 and Munari 10 for ODU. Atilano had 38 assists and nine digs, and freshman Kate Kilpatrick had 19 digs and nine assists.
VCU’s Ana Brangioni had 13 kills and nine digs.
Tribe splits opening matches
William & Mary began its season by splitting two matches at the Mountaineer Classic in Boone, North Carolina. After losing 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-19) to homestanding Appalachian State, the Tribe outlasted Tennessee Tech 3-2 (18-25, 25-15, 17-25, 25-10, 15-10).
Against App State, Maddie Meyers had nine kills and four digs for the Tribe, while Eleanor Stothoff had eight kills and five digs. For ASU, McCall Denny had eight kills and 10 digs, while Maya Winterhoff had seven kills and six blocks.
Against Tennessee Tech, Tabb High graduate Sarah Callender had 14 digs, two blocks, and nine kills, including one on match point. Also for the Tribe, Taylor Burrell had 14 kills, Lindsay Kahren had 16 digs and Amy Schwem had 18 assists and eight digs.
COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
W&M adds graduate assistant
William & Mary coach Dane Fischer announced the addition of Andrew Fish as the program’s graduate assistant.
Fischer said Fish is pursuing a master’s degree from the Mason School of Business and will take the lead on a number of our social media projects.
Fish previously worked as a student assistant at Elon, including assisting with video responsibilities in 2022, and has worked at Duke and Alabama camps. He graduated from Elon in May.
COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY
Kellam product sparks JMU over W&M
Kellam High graduate Tori Carawan had a goal and an assist to help James Madison win 4-2 at William & Mary in the opener for both teams. Winning goalie Brandelynn Heinbaugh had 16 saves.
Also for JMU, Mia Julian had a goal and two assists, while Azul Covarrubias had two goals.
For the Tribe, Jayden Moon scored and assisted on Lauren Curran’s goal.
No. 6 UVA rallies past No. 5 Penn State
No. 6 Virginia overcame No. 5 Penn State 2-1 in Charlottesville in a season opener.
The Nittany Lions went ahead in the 27th minute on Natalie Freeman’s goal, but Laura Janssen scored the tying goal off a Minnie Pollock assist in the 32nd minute, then assisted Pollock on the eventual winner in the 49th minute.
UVA was credited with two defensive saves in addition to goalie Tyler Kennedy’s six. Penn State goalie Brie Barraco made eight.
OBITUARY
Legendary R.E. Lee basketball coach dies
Paul Hatcher, the legendary former boys basketball coach at Robert E. Lee High in Staunton, died Friday at age 80 after an extended illness.
In 43 years, Hatcher’s teams combined for an 897-174 record with four state titles. Three of those teams finished undefeated.
Manipulating others could currently be tempting. As the passionate Sagittarius Moon forms a provocative T-square with pushy Mars and deceitful Neptune, we may not want to openly acknowledge having desires that aren’t universally popular. After Luna enters structured Capricorn at 9:05 am EDT, however, people might respond more calmly than we expect to when told uncomfortable truths. When the Moon then aligns with the upbeat Sun, taking practical steps to move forward should be our top priority — get some ideas ready!
Aries
March 21 – April 19
You’re capable of hard work at this time. Regrettably, as the sentimental Moon in your intellectual 9th house challenges driven Mars in your productivity zone, unusual beliefs you hold about your duties might be limiting your effectiveness. It’s plausible that you’ve lost track of whether these ideas originated from someone else’s unnecessarily rigid instructions or from your own free-floating anxieties. Either way, they’re probably out of date. Claim your authority to get stuff done in a way that genuinely flows smoothly for you!
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
Finding out what your friend group wants may be a challenge today. It’s possible that the only thing you’re sure of is that you haven’t managed to give it to them. Although you might understandably want to know what’s causing the sour mood, pushing too aggressively for answers could compound the problem as the attentive Moon in your probing 8th house irritates fuzzy Neptune in your social sector. Attempt to get an intellectually stimulating activity going — it’ll likely put a stop to unhelpful navel-gazing.
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
The most emotional person in the room could win a current family dispute — its first round, anyway. As the sensitive Moon in your relationship zone agitates theatrical Neptune in your authority sector, you’ll have to acknowledge that pure reason can’t conquer everything. Once you get past the unfairness of this reality, you can work with the world’s odd logic more constructively. Conceding on points that aren’t crucial may be just the leverage you need to make another push for your top priorities.
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
Cultural norms or etiquette could be hard for you to make sense of now. Perhaps you feel like you shouldn’t have to ask about this stuff — everyone else appears to be picking it up intuitively! Unfortunately, any problem you’re experiencing probably won’t solve itself. When the supportive Moon in your relationship zone aligns with the warm Sun in your communication sector, confiding in someone you trust should get you the guidance you need. You can’t be the only one who’s had the same concern!
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Your frustration regarding a recent financial matter could be reaching a peak. When the volatile Moon in your impulsive 5th house goads impatient Mars in your money zone, you may be tempted to break away from someone who seems to be stringing you along. Although this person might have their flaws, there are probably things you can do on your end while you wait for a more reasonable idea to emerge. Tie up all the practical loose ends that you have specific control over.
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
Asserting yourself with family may be difficult now. Perhaps it’s obvious that someone’s feelings will be hurt if you rock the boat in any way, and you’re not eager to deal with an emotional display. Be sure that you truly believe the move you’re considering is the right thing to do. No one else can create that confidence for you, but having it could make a big difference in how you decide to proceed. Whatever you choose, you must be able to live with yourself.
Libra
September 23 – October 22
Holding a secret inside could be painful at present. While the impulsive Moon in your communication zone tempts impatient Mars in your 12th House of Privacy, you potentially have a lot of intense feelings that are based on privileged information, making it hard for you to seek the sympathy you crave. Although you may need to make some decisions based on what you know, you can hide those changes in plain sight for now — a big announcement probably isn’t necessary.
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
Getting along with friends could be complicated today. While the delicate Moon in your 2nd House of Values growls at rough Mars in your social zone, you may seethe that your pals seem to be acting with disrespect toward something you take very seriously. Have you ever directly told them about your feelings on this issue, though? You can’t assume that everyone has had the same formative experiences that shaped your perspective — let them know where your frustration is coming from.
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
Getting ahead in life could seem like a high priority at the moment. What price are you willing to pay to achieve your goals? While the tempestuous Moon in your sign conspires with aggressive Mars in your ambitious 10th house, you might see how playing on people’s emotions has the potential to bend them to your will. However, stepping outside the usual boundaries can also go very wrong. Focus on building up enough of your own resources to do things the right way.
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
Carrying on an argument could be hard if you’re not willing to honestly own the less flattering parts of your present worldview. You may want the joy of a win without the discomfort of acknowledging that everything has pros and cons, including whatever it is you’re praising. After the magnetic Moon enters your sign, you’ll have an opportunity to achieve serious progress on behalf of your cause — as long as you stay grounded in reality. Avoid making promises you can’t keep.
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
Socializing could feel exhausting today. A friend or acquaintance might seem to be pushing you to reveal more personal information than you want to give. Defending yourself against intrusions, whether or not they were intended, can understandably be a drain on your energy! After the nourishing Moon shifts into your contemplative 12th house, take the first opportunity to pursue the downtime you need. Once you’re comfortable and relaxed, you may find it easier to see what’s really worth pushing back against.
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
Power struggles in a close relationship aren’t necessarily what they appear to be at the moment. While the visible Moon in your public 10th house calls out combative Mars in your partnership zone, perhaps it’s easy to blame the other person for being loud and dramatic. However, if you’ve been making little digs or leading them on with promises that never go anywhere, it’s understandable for them to be frustrated! Before you punish their anger, look honestly at your contribution to the dynamic.
A Marine pilot was killed when a F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet crashed late Thursday near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar base, military officials said.
The jet crashed just before 11:55 p.m. Thursday on government property east of the air station. The downed plane was part of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing with the Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA (AW)) 224, officials with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing announced Friday morning.
“Search and rescue recovered the U.S. Marine Corps pilot who has been confirmed deceased at the site,”1st Lt. Hudson Sadler said in a news release. Sadler is the spokesperson for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, based out of Cherry Point, North Carolina.
The squadron is a subordinate unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina.
The pilot was the only person on the plane.
News that the pilot was found dead comes after local agencies helped search for the missing aviator.
About 2:30 a.m. San Diego Fire-Rescue Department crews responded to the crash site, east of Interstate 15, sending two brush engines. The agency also sent a helicopter to help during the early morning search. The San Diego fire crews left the search scene by 6 a.m.
U.S. Coast Guard also sent a helicopter to assist with the search about 3 a.m., but low visibility led authorities to pull the helicopter back.
Sadler said the plane was taking part in routine training when it went down.
In recent years, there have been at least two fatal training-related crashes in San Diego and Imperial counties.
In May, two Learjet aircraft owned by Navy-contractor Phoenix Air were taking part in a training exercise when one crashed about a mile off San Clemente Island, roughly 80 miles off the coast of San Diego. All three people on board died.
WILLIAMSBURG — The company that is seeking to build a sports complex in Williamsburg also wants to complete a smaller entertainment venue nearby.
Earlier this summer before the Tourism Development Grant Review Committee, MEB General Contractors of Virginia Beach proposed a 53,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor multipurpose performance venue that would cost approximately $33 million.
MEB has an agreement with the Historic Triangle Regional Facilities Authority for a 160,000-square-foot indoor sports center near the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center. The authority’s membership is composed of members from the Historic Triangle’s localities — Williamsburg and James City and York counties.
The grant review committee, which met earlier this week, recommended to the Williamsburg City Council seven projects worth about $1,726,900 for its consideration for fiscal year 2024 funding. The recommendation for the entertainment venue was $100,000 for FY24, with another $100,000 earmarked for FY25 and $1 million in subsequent years.
“Our funds — the $100,000 — would be for planning,” committee chairman Chris Caracci said. “It’s seed money if the project is accepted, while other details are worked out.”
The Tourist Development Fund was created in 2017 from tax revenue “to increase patronage to restaurants, attractions, hotels and events in the City of Williamsburg through financial assistance and reinvestment in tourism products, place-making projects and public-private partnerships,” the adoption statement said.
“The city figured we would have about $1.8 million for grants this year. Our recommendations fall within the projected funds available,” Caracci said.
Other recommended grants going to the City Council include: Colonial Williamsburg Arrivals Center ($500,000), First Baptist Church vestibule ($250,000), Stryker Center Gallery enhancements ($35,000), African American Heritage Trail ($316,900) and Wayfinding phases 2,3 and 4 ($525,000). The Downtown Wayfinding Project is a plan to make it easier for visitors and residents to navigate around downtown through a signage system.
If the City Council approves the $100,000 for the entertainment venue, “then they will determine how they want the project to go,” Caracci added. “This is all we can do. A decision that follows when council makes a decision will determine what ultimately might be done.”
Unlike the athletic center, which would be funded through the authority involving the city and James City and York counties, the arts center as proposed “would be a project for the city,” Caracci said.
There would be an indoor auditorium and an outdoor amphitheater with production facilities designed between the two settings to accommodate use by both performance arenas without any duplicated services.
MEB materials presented to the committee in July said the arts facility “would be a complimentary development to the future indoor sports and events center. … The project would provide a state-of-the-art facility for local groups to perform and would provide a venue that would attract local, regional, and national acts/events to the Greater Williamsburg Region.”
Representatives from the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, Williamsburg Area Arts Commission, Virginia Symphony and Virginia Arts Festival all spoke in support of a new entertainment venue at the committee meeting.
MEB has developed a team of local development, design, construction and operational professions “that will partner with the City to develop a venue that will improve the quality of life for residents and drive economic impact through increased tourism opportunities.”
Rick Hibbett, MEB’s business development manager, declined to discuss details about the entertainment venue proposal.
