Waller Mill Elementary, Williamsburg Youth Orchestra train 14 young violinists
Good Saturday, May 17. In other news...the new regional sports center has booked events worth $41 million before it opens, boosters say. Phone threat prompts lockdown at Grafton Bethel.
Video courtesy of Williamsburg Youth Orchestra
The first class of junior violinists in the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra’s M3loDy Makers program finished their year with a packed concert at York County’s Waller Mill Elementary School last week.
The program, a cooperation between the orchestra and the Williamsburg library, is the orchestra’s elementary school outreach program. It aims to provide free instruction for students in grades 3-5, said Tanya Song, the orchestra’s executive director.
Students received custom plastic violins in Waller Mill’s yellow and purple colors produced by the Williamsburg Library’s 3D printer by the library’s program services director, Ben Strohm. Each of the students received two violins, one to use in school and one to take home for practice.
Song said the program, initially funded by the Charles S. and Millicent P. Brown Family Foundation and Paul and Linda Kligman-Try, was aimed at kids “who cannot afford private lessons (or musical instruments).”
“We approached several schools, and Waller Mill’s principal, Khrista Brownlee, really embraced it,” she added.
The low-cost, 3D printed violins were the key to making the program affordable. Strohm said he got the plans from an open source site on the internet, and has gotten the cost per violin down to around $37, about a tenth of what an entry level violin would cost.
Strohm was introduced to the concept by the late Nanci Bond, who saw a 3D-printing presentation and connected with him to refine the design along with orchestra instructors.
Fourteen students completed the 25-week violin instruction program under the direction of Jena Chenkin, a violinist who plays with the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia Symphony.
It began with 16 students, but one moved and another dropped out, Song said.
Ten of those students who are still in the eligible grades will be invited back tor Level 2 instruction next school year. Another 15 will be invited to enter the beginning Level 1 phase, she added.
The graduation concert was so well attended the group had to bring out extra chairs, Strohm said. The 7-piece program ranged from Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Canon in D, Ode to Joy and the Mississippi Reel.
The Williamsburg Youth Orchestra plans to bring the program to additional schools , Song said.
Sports Center books events worth $41 million to the local economy, boosters say
The Greater Williamsburg Sports and Event Center is about halfway to completion, but has already landed eight events for the 2026-2029 years that should generate an economic impact of $41 million for the area, Visit Williamsburg officials told us Friday.
Chief Executive Officer Edward Harris also pointed to an uptick in hotel stays last month after dips due to snowy weather and economic uncertainty in February and March.
April room occupancy increased by 2.2% in the city of Williamsburg and in York and James City counties, with the Easter break coming in 3.2% ahead of last year, he said. Year to date occupancy was down by 1.2% from last year.
Harris credited the sports sales to the work of Morgan Cordle, who recently completed her first year as Visit Williamsburg’s sports sales manager. He said she has been working trade meetings and outreach aggressively to line up events for the sports center, as well as for outdoor venues around the Historic Triangle.
Cordle spent nearly nine years as founding head coach and CEO of 757Swim before joining the tourism promotion group.
The $80 million, 200,000 square-foot center is located on nearly 63 acres next to the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center. It includes 12 basketball courts that convert to 24 volleyball and 36 pickleball courts, a climbing wall and meeting rooms.
The city is responsible for 64% of the cost, with the rest covered by the Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority, which also includes James City County and York County.
The cost of servicing the debt will be $2.5 million a year for Williamsburg and $1.5 million annually for the two counties. They are using revenue from the 1% Historic Triangle sales tax to repay the debt.
The events booked so far, according to Cordle, are:
· Phenom Hoops – 7 Tournaments from March-July, averaging 1,000 participants and 1,500 spectators (2027-2029)
· Adidas Basketball- 2 Events (1 Junior Event) May & June, averaging 1,300 participants and 2,000 spectators (2027-2028)
· Blue Silver Sports – 4 Tournaments from January -May, averaging 1,500 participants, 3,000 spectators (2027-2028)
· National Travel Basketball Association- 1 Tournament in June, 1,200 Participants, 1,800 Spectators (2027-2028)
· Hype Nation- 1 tournament in January. 1,200 Participants, 1,800 Spectators (2027-2028)
· We Build You Play- January, 1,000 Participants, 1,500 Spectators 2027-2028
· Southern Volleyball Tournaments- April, 1,200 Participants, 2,000 Spectators 2027-2028
· Cheer Festivals- 2 Events (Aug & Nov) 1,500 Participants (2026-2028)
Harris said the center’s manager, Kemper Sports, recently hired a general manager and should soon hire a sales manager to enhance sales efforts.
The area is entering its peak tourism season this summer as travelers say they will tighten their budgets due to tariff concerns and growing financial unease, according to consumer surveys by Future Partners, a leading tourism research company.
Consumers told the group they were going to use more reward points to travel, drive instead of fly and stick to tight budgets to save money.
Harris said this could actually bode well for family friendly destinations like Williamsburg.
To address consumer concerns, the group will roll out a Summer Savings pass that will offer discounts for 20-30 local merchants and Busch Gardens, Harris said. He said Visit Williamsburg is still lining up offers and discounts from local businesses and will make them available on its downloadable app.
Telephone threat locks down Grafton Bethel school
Grafton Bethel elementary school was placed on what authorities called “a precautionary modified lockdown” following a reported phone threat Friday morning.
A spokesperson for the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office said that means entry and exit to the school was restricted, but students and staff followed normal indoor routines while law enforcement and school officials investigated.
She said there wass no evidence of an active threat and urged families to stay away from the school to let law enforcement and school officials work without interruption.
Local News Briefs
EMS System
Williamsburg launched a new emergency notification system on Thursday, which city officials said would save $30,000 a year. The city will use RAVE Mobile safety, and has automatically signed up residents who use the current system. You can sign up at williamsburgva.gov/alerts.
VDOT survey for York, James City counties
The Virginia Department of Transportation is seeking public input on two improvement projects in York and James City County. You can comment online until May 30.
One project is the Lightfoot Interchange in York County:
The other is for Centerville Road in James City County:
Flags for Veterans Day
The city of Williamsburg invites the public to help place flags on the graves of veterans at the Cedar Grove Cemetery at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 22. Flags will be provided and volunteers are asked to meet caretaker Bill Brown at the flagpole of the cemetery, 809 S. Henry St.
News around the state
Virginia Beach approves 2026 budget
Youngkin signs bipartisan child welfare reforms and sets new goals for foster care
McClellan, Virginia Democrats warn of dire impact to state if proposed Medicaid cuts materialize
Local government meetings next week:
James City County meetings:
Economic Development Authority, Tuesday May 20. 4 p.m. 101 Mounts Bay Road Bldg. D conference room.
Development Review Committee, May 21. 4 p.m. 101 Mounts Bay Road Bldg. A large conference room.
City of Williamsburg
Williamsburg Area Arts Commission, May 21. 3 p.m. Stryker Center Room 127, Williamsburg
York County Meetings
York County’s School Board is set to approve a $199.4 million school budget at its regular meeting Monday May 19. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the York Hall Board Room, 301 Main Street, Yorktown.
York County Board of Supervisors, May 20. 6 p.m. Board Room at York Hall, 301 Main Street, Yorktown.
Passings
Jackson Lee Stamper, 90, May 14.