News Briefs for April 4

Join James City County’s 47th Annual Countywide Litter Cleanup

Volunteers are needed for James City County’s  47th annual County-wide Litter Cleanup on Saturday, April 26.

The Clean County Commission will provide bags, grabbers and vests for pick up in advance and arrange for disposal of all collected litter, the county said. No household trash or hazardous waste may be brought to the cleanup locations.

Citizens are encouraged to form teams and select a cleanup location of their choice, or, contact the Clean County Commission for cleanup site suggestions and/or to be placed on an existing team. Visit here to register, suggest a desired cleanup location or become a Lead Volunteer.

For more information on county cleanup programs, visit the website or call 757-259-5375.

York County to Hold Earth Day Tire Recycling Event

In celebration of Earth Day 2025, residents may bring up to five tires (per household) to York County’s free Tire Recycling Event on April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 102 County Drive, hosted by the Mosquito Control Division.

Tires must be off-rim, and be free of mud or concrete.

According to the county, tires retain water, and create a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

For more information, contact York County Mosquito Control at 757-890-3790 or visit yorkcounty.gov/mosquitocontrol.

Williamsburg Youth Organization to Perform at Bruton Parish House                                                      During Art Event

The Williamsburg Artists Group announced that members of the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra will perform at WAG’s art sale at Bruton Parish House on Saturday, April 12, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

WYO provides music education and performance opportunities to young musicians in the Greater Williamsburg community. WAG will donate 10% of its sales to benefit the organization, it said.

Performing will be:

• Whirly Winds — wind and brass sextet
• Lauren Kang — piano solo
• The Rockets — string quintet
• Kaelyn Lee — violin solo
• Daniel Cho — oboe solo

The WAG art sale will be held on Friday, April 11, 4-8 p.m., with refreshments; and Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with the WYO performances beginning at 12:30.

Bruton Parish House is located at 331 Duke of Gloucester St.  WAG can be contacted at Wbgartistsgroup.wag@gmail.com. The Facebook page, which showcases artists’ work, is facebook.com/WilliamsburgArtistsGroup. The website is wagartists.wordpress.com.

Virginia DMV to Host REAL ID Appointment-Only Event in Hampton

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles announced it will host a REAL ID appointment-only event this Saturday, April 5, from 2-6 p.m. at the DMV Hampton Customer Service Center to assist customers ahead of the upcoming Transportation Security Administration enforcement deadline.

Beginning May 7, individuals traveling domestically by air or entering certain federal facilities will need a REAL ID or another federally accepted document.

Appointments are required to attend, and customers are encouraged to start their application online before visiting the DMV. To book an appointment for this special event, click Online Appointments & ETickets and select ‘Hampton REAL ID Event ONLY – No Testing.’ Start your application here: VA DMV – PIN Logon

For more information about REAL ID, visit REAL ID | Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

Seniors Planning to Study Art in College Can Apply for a Scholarship from WCAC

Local graduating high school seniors who plan to study art in college are invited to apply for a college art scholarship from the Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center.

Seniors residing in the Williamsburg, James City County, and Bruton District of York County school districts, including private school and home-schooled students, can apply if they plan to study art as a major interest in college, according to WCAC.

Up to four scholarships totaling $2,000 will be awarded to those who best demonstrate an ability in art, and the minimum award will be $500.

The 2025 Scholarship Application forms and portfolio information are available online at visitwcac.net/scholarships.cfm and must be mailed to the scholarship committee by Saturday, May 3.  Details, provided on the application form, include portfolio and recommendation requirements and mailing information.

The 2025 Art Scholarships are sponsored by Ron and Patricia Rapoport.

Williamsburg Premium Outlets to Host Spring Artisan Market

Williamsburg Premium Outlets announced that it will be hosting a family-friendly Spring Artisan Market featuring handmade goods, local art and fresh seasonal finds. Saturday, April 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Shoppers will be able to explore over 50 unique artisans and crafters featuring handcrafted treasures, home goods, candles, jewelry, wood crafting and more. Families can also enjoy free children’s activities and face painting throughout the event.

The market will be located on the outdoor sidewalk between Reebok and Adidas at Williamsburg Premium Outlets.

For more information, visit the website.

Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation Completes Acquisition of Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.

Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation announced that it has completed its previously announced merger with Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. Tuesday.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, each share of Sandy Spring common stock was converted into the right to receive 0.900 shares of Atlantic Union common stock, with cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares. Based on the closing price of Atlantic Union common stock of $31.14 on Monday, March 31, the aggregate transaction value was approximately $1.3 billion.

In accordance with the merger agreement, Mona Abutaleb Stephenson, Mark C. Micklem and Daniel J. Schrider have been appointed to the Boards of Directors of Atlantic Union and Atlantic Union Bank, effective as of the effective time of the merger