News Briefs for May 9

Theoretical Archaeology Group Conference Comes to William & Mary

William & Mary’s Anthropology department is hosting the Theoretical Archaeology Group’s  2025 Plenary Session this weekend and the public is invited to the keynote lecture at 5:30 p.m. in the studio theater at Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall Friday.

The lecture is open to the public and free to attend. Guest archaeologists are Michael Blakey, organizer of the African Burial Ground project in New York City, with a focus on the descendant communities’ needs and desires; Paulette Steeves, leading Indigenous archaeologist whose research centers the Pleistocene era and the movement of First Nations ancestors; and Krysta Ryzewski, a Detroit-based archaeologist whose community work identifies places of cultural significance from blues halls to parks.

JetBlue Adds New Flights to Wilmington and Norfolk

JetBlue recently launched its first flights to Wilmington International Airport (ILM) and Norfolk International Airport (ORF).

The new seasonal flights to Wilmington and Norfolk mark JetBlue’s first-ever service to both destinations.

Schedule between Boston and Norfolk
Operating daily from April 30-Oct. 25

Both routes operate daily. For more information and the best fares, visit jetblue.com.

WRL Hosts KidLit Festival

Williamsburg Regional Library is inviting families and young readers to the fourth-annual KidLit Festival, a family-friendly afternoon dedicated this year to celebrating children’s graphic novels.

The event will take place on Saturday, May 10, from 1–4 p.m. across the library, the Stryker Center and City Square.

Thanks to the support of the Friends of WRL Foundation, the festival will feature a special virtual appearance by Jen Wang, New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of “Stargazing” and “The Prince and the Dressmaker” at 3 p.m. in the Stryker Center.

Other highlights include a virtual cartooning workshop with award-winning cartoonist Rick Stromoski, creator of Schnozzer & Tatertoes, as well as interactive and kid-friendly activities like a costume show, a cartoon marathon, a donut-eating contest, and themed Dog Man challenges, inspired by the bestselling series by Dav Pilkey.

Families can also enjoy caricature artists, a superhero taekwondo training session, and grab a bite from the Dominion Dogs food truck, stationed on City Square throughout the event.

Learn more about the KidLit Festival, including the schedule of events, at wrl.org/children/kidlit-festival.

Poquoson to Hold Public Hearing for School Board Appointment

On May 12, the city council of the City of Poquoson will hold a public hearing during the city council meeting at p.m. in the Council Chambers, 500 City Hall Ave., to receive the views of citizens on filling two positions on the Poquoson School Board for the Eastern and Western Precincts.

Anyone who is interested in serving on the School Board should complete a Board Bank application, which can be found on the city’s website under Government/Boards and Commissions.

The completed application should be submitted to Christina Snapp, City Clerk, prior to 4:30 p.m. on May 12. Only those persons named during the Public Hearing can be appointed. View the Public Notice here.

Household Chemical/Computer Recycling Collections and Paper Shredding Saturday

The first VPPSA collection event of the year in York County will take place on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon on County Drive off Goodwin Neck Road.

Acceptable materials are those typically found in a home environment, such as household maintenance and cleaning products, paints, fuels, automotive chemicals, and lawn and garden products.

The following computer items are also accepted at this event: Computers; Desktop and laptop computers, servers, computer monitors, cell phones, computer wiring, desktop printers including multifunction printers or “All in Ones”, fax machines, and desktop photocopiers and scanners. Only the computer items listed will be accepted. Televisions are not accepted.

In addition to the services listed above, citizens have the opportunity to shred personal paperwork on-site. A shredding truck will be provided for citizens to bring up to five boxes of paperwork to be shredded. Staple and paperclip removal is not necessary, however binders, three-ring notebooks, accordion files and other metal objects are not acceptable to include in shredding materials.

At the collection, A VPPSA employee will ask city or county or residence and what materials have been brought. Proof of residency may be required. VPPSA staff will unload vehicles, drivers should stay in their vehicle unless requested to do otherwise.

Visit VPPSA.org for more information on acceptable and unacceptable materials. For more information about disposal of other items, contact the Waste Management Center at 757-890-3780 or at yorkcounty.gov/wastemanagement.

Community Leadership Service Program Seeking Applicants 

The Community Leadership Service program, a biennial 10-week program delivering a behind-the-scenes view of the Greater Williamsburg area — its leaders, civic needs, governing bodies and key organizations — is seeking applicants.

Sponsored by the Greater Williamsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, CLS is designed to inspire participants to make an impactful contribution, addressing community needs in Williamsburg, James City County and York County. Selected from a cross-section of the community, participants represent a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences.

Applications are being accepted through May 30 and space is limited. Visit CLSGreaterWilliamsburg.org to learn more.

York County Chamber of Commerce Warns About Scam

The York County Chamber of Commerce is warning members it has received notifications about a scam asking members if they want to buy the Member List.

The chamber cautions this is not an email it would send out to members. Members should not respond to the emails. If any members have questions, they are encouraged to contact the York County Chamber of Commerce office.