OUR TOWN PUBLISHED BY THE TOWN OF NEW MARKET

Volume 51 December 2020 Number 12

MAYOR’S CORNERand recreational activities. Immediately their conversation turned towards the community park in which we were meeting. “How about more swings? We could build a REALLY high sliding board with tubes and tunnels to go through! How about a dog park over there where it’s dark?? Then we can add more lights so they can see. Lights on the ballfields; more water foun-tains!” The list went on. As I summed up my discussion with them, they learned that all of these improvements require money. I explained that being a small town means that we have limited dollars to spend on en-tertainment and yet we have one of the most beautiful parks in the area. I informed the scouts that one of the most important responsibilities of the mayor as his/her council is not to spend more than the town can afford. Fiscal responsibility is the cor-nerstone of our future success in growing New Market. I believe I enlightened the young scouts that night. I KNOW that they taught me! Let’s listen to them and learn from their perspective. After all, they are our future leaders. Ahhh, “out of the mouths of babes.”

Two weeks ago, I was invited to speak to the Webelos scouts here in the New Market area. I was informed that these young boys and girls needed to interview a person in government so that they could fulfill a requirement before advancing to the next level of scouting. Without hesitation, I made myself available to them with the intent to impart my wisdom upon them and pro-vide them guidance as was required. Impart MY wisdom? Hah! Was I in for a life lesson that night! Yes, I did explain to them the voting procedure required to become mayor. I elaborated about the duties of a mayor as well as the governmental limits placed on the power of my office. I even answered one scout’s question with “no, you don’t have to be rich to be a mayor and no, you won’t get rich while being a mayor.” As I concluded my brief presentation to the troop, I then opened up the floor to more of their questions: “Do you get any days off? Do you have to live in New Market? What are you going to do for the town?” This one opened up our discussion about wanting to add new neighborhoods and houses for more families. In this way we can attract more businesses

TOWN OFFICE HOLIDAY CLOSINGS

The Town Office will be closed the following business days this holiday season:

Wednesday, November 23, 2020 at noonThursday, November 24th, 2020

Friday, November 25th, 2020Thursday, December 24th, 2020

Friday, December 25th, 2020Friday, January 1st, 2021

CHRISTMAS TREE PICKUP

The Town will remove and dispose of your livediscarded Christmas trees from January 4, 2021 – January 8, 2021. Please place your tree curbside for prompt removal.

NEW MARKET LIONS CLUB NEWS The New Market Lions Club is proud to announce the re-cipient of the 2020 New Market Lions Club Scholarship. Each year, the New Market Lions Club awards a scholarship to a de-serving graduate of Stonewall Jackson High School. The honor-ee this year is Maria Garcia Moreno. Maria plans to attend Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave and study to become a veterinary tech. Maria is working as an Assistant Manager at the New Market McDonalds while going to BRCC. When you see her, extend her congratulations! On November 9, 2020 the Lions Club held a drawing for our fall gun raffle. This year’s winner is Bill Wilkins. He purchased his ticket from Lion Gary Cunningham. The Lions club wants to thank all of the people who purchased tickets for this gun raffle. All proceeds from the auction benefit local Lions Club projects. The club has high quality brooms for sale. We have house-hold brooms for $11.00 and warehouse brooms for $13.00. Lion Jeff Mongold would be happy to provide you with the brooms. Contact him at 540-481-0173. The New Market Lions Club has added two new members recently. We welcome Tyler Mongold and his grandfather Sonny Mongold to our club. If you would like to learn more about the Lions and how you can become an active member in your com-munity, contact Lion Tom McNeilus at 540-333-5227. The New Market Lions Club is very interested in our local community and would like to invite applications for membership.

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LIBRARY NEWS New Market Library continues to observe Covid precau-tions for the safety of our volunteers and patrons. We are now open from 12-7 on Tuesdays and on Fridays from 12-5 for pick-ing up holds. Holds can be made using your library card through the Shenandoah County Library online card catalog. If you do not have a computer or need assistance in placing a hold, call the library 740-8650 or the county library at 984-8200. Adult programs and children’s programs at the library are not being held at this time. However, each week a volunteer reads a book for children to enjoy; the video is posted on the New Market Area Library Facebook page. The Facebook page also has videos of virtual programs held the past months. Miss Erica from the Shenandoah County library is sharing weekly sto-ries and songs. These can be accessed through the county web-site https://countylib.org/. We wish all of our patrons a healthy and happy holiday sea-son! Watch our Face Book page for updates on programs and reopening. Elizabeth Kipps is a lifelong wordsmith and resident of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Her debut novel, a retelling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses called All the Queen’s Sons was released in October, 2020, and she hosted a book signing/book release party on November 1, 2020, at Jack-son’s Corner Coffee Roastery and Cafe in New Market, VA. A synopsis of the book is found on Ms. Kipps’ Facebook page:

“All the queen’s sons have such a talent for spoil-ing their shoes, and no one can tell why. Not even the greatest detectives! Lucerne is a great queen, beloved by her people, but constantly thwarted by her own sons and the se-crets they keep. Verity Grandin is a feisty shoemaker’s daughter who just wants her family’s life back the way it was before they slaved to make shoes for six royal rebels. Add the princes themselves into the mix, and what could ensue but a merry-go-round of mischief, mystery, and mayhem? Expectations will be flipped upside down and backwards in this fresh spin on the classic fairy tale, The Dancing Princesses.”

Ms. Kipps is starting to receive book reviews from readers. She says “Reviews for All The Queen’s Sons have started to trick-le in, and it’s rather exciting. As my fellow indie authors know, reviews are basically LIFE in the unforgiving jungle that is Ama-zon. Have you read something from a self published author this year and neglected to leave a rating or feedback on Amazon or Goodreads? You should stop what you’re doing and go do it now. It is the best thing you can possibly do for this tribe of dedicated authors, and what takes you only a few minutes to do means the world to us!” The book All the Queen’s Sons is available on Amazon for $9.99, and would make an amazing Christmas gift! https://elizabethkipps.com/

RESPONSIBILITIES DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER

Please remember to do your part to keep the sidewalks open and clear for those wishing to use them this winter sea-son. In 2004 the Town Council passed an ordinance in which property owners are responsible for the removal of snow and ice from sidewalks along their property. The Town thanks you for promptly clearing your sidewalk for the benefit of not only you, but for your neighbors and the entire community as well. Please contact the town office for details pertaining to the Town Ordi-nance. If you are unable to clear snow on or along your property you will need to find someone to assist you. There are many people who offer this service. It would be wise to seek out help before the winter weather arrives. Please also maintain access to your water meter. Trimming foliage and clearing snow and ice from the lid of the meter pit can ensure proper access to your water meter. Maintaining access to your water meter will assist us with: • Emergency shutoffs (for frozen pipes) when you are away

from home or are unable to turn off the water inside your location.

• Emergency water meter maintenance.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES The onset of the Holidays often brings cold weather and snow right along with it. Whether the storm totals 1” or 12”+, winter weather presents challenges for all of us. Here are a few tips in advance of this winter season: • Be prepared: Predicting weather seems to be a challenge

even with advances in 21st century meteorology. With few exceptions winter storms are rarely a total surprise. Winter weather advisories are usually posted days in ad-vance of the storm. Use that time to restock your medi-cations, food and other essentials.

• Be careful: It may seem like an overused piece of advice, but when you travel unnecessarily on snow covered roads you put yourself and your vehicle at risk and make clear-ing roads that much more challenging. For those of you who do have to travel, plan ahead and leave yourself extra time to get to your destination.

• Be patient: Removing snow from streets takes time. Storm duration, temperature and sunlight all affect how quickly streets are cleared. Often it’s not until the sun returns and day time temperatures exceed 32 degrees that frozen snow and ice on streets can completely be removed.

• Be helpful: After the snow has stopped, please help keep your neighbors and friends safe by clearing the sidewalk(s) that fronts your property. It’s not only the right thing to do; it’s also required by town ordinance.

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REVERSE CHRISTMAS PARADE The Town of New Market will be reconstructing our tradi-tional Christmas Parade this year! Due to Covid-19 health and safety concerns, along with the Governor’s executive orders, we will be hosting a REVERSE Christmas Parade this year. Instead of the parade filing down Congress Street, the parade will be a lineup of floats in the New Market Community Park from 5pm-7pm on December 5, 2020. All spectators will be able to drive through the park to view the floats and see the new Christmas lighting added to the park this year. This will be a drive thru event ONLY. For more de-tailed information, or on how to participate please see our web-site www.newmarketvirginia.com.

NEW MARKET POLICE DEPARTMENT The holiday season is among us, and your friends at the New Market Police Department are dedicated to making your safety a top priority. Every year, millions of people travel to spend time with family and friends for the holidays. The New Market Police Department will once again be par-ticipating in the annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over cam-paign. While deterring drunk and drugged drivers from getting behind the wheel, speed enforcement and seatbelt enforcement efforts will be a focus as well. Help prevent crashes by driving smart, buckling up and nev-er driving drunk or drugged so you can make it to your destina-tion safely.

AMERICAN LEGION HASSLER-SUTPHINPOST 166 – (540) 740-8653

Ronald Thompson – 540-246-7901

The Legion is now open from 4:00 p.m. until, Tuesday through Friday. For further information you can call the Legion or e-mail Commander Ronald Thompson, at thomps548@gmail.com. Call in orders for take-out are available. You can call Jean-nie after 4:00 p.m. Face masks and social distancing are recom-mended. The Legion officers for the year of 2020-21 are: Commander – Ronald Thompson – 540-246-7901 Vice-Commander – Mitch Chambliss – 703-509-6958 Adjutant – Stanley Thompson – 540-379-8510 Chaplain – Wilmer Olinger – 540-740-8976 The steak suppers are held on the 1st Friday of each month starting at 5 pm . These suppers are open to the public and are held in the club room. Shrimp suppers, also open to the public, are held on the 3rd Friday of each month starting at 5:00 pm. If you have e-mail, please let Commander Thompson know, so you can receive the latest Legion updates. The commander is also scheduling another yard sale for later in the year. If you still have some items you would like to donate you can drop them off at the Legion picnic pavilion, or call the Commander for pick-up. All veterans honorably discharged after December, 1941 and Sons of a veteran, are now eligible to join the Legion. You can contact Tim Palmer at 703-863-0463 or Adjutant Stanley Thompson, for more information. Also, if you are a family member of a veteran, you can join the Auxiliary. The Legion’s meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday eve-ning of each month at 6:30 p.m. All members are welcome, even Auxiliary members. Let us schedule your party, meetings, reunions, receptions, banquet or other event in our social hall, located at 202 E. Old Cross Rd. Contact Commander Thompson at 540-246-7901, or the Post after 4:30 p.m., Tuesday Through Friday. Hope all have a Merry Christmas, and remember to wear a face mask and social distancing. We have the honor to collect and retire the colors which have served us for many years. We shall retire them with the respect they so well deserve, so if you have an old worn or torn flag, please use the drop box located in our parking lot at 202 E. Old Cross Rd. Please do not leave them in bags or boxes when putting in the drop box.

USA – “Home of the Free, Because of the Brave”

ACH AVAILABLE FOR PAYMENT OF YOUR UTILITY BILL

We know how busy our customers are and how quickly the due date comes around for water/sewer bills. We want to remind citizens that we offer the option of paying their water bill through automatic deduction (ACH) from their bank account each month. This could save writing a check, paying postage, or even a trip to the Town Office. Forms for ACH can be picked up in the Town Office or downloaded from the Residents tab of the Town’s website, www.newmarketvirginia.com. Completed forms should be returned to the Town Office. Automatic deductions will be deducted from your bank account around the fifteenth of each month. The amount due on your bill is the amount that will be deducted from your account. If you have questions or want to know more about this service, please call the Town Office at 540-740-3432.

December 2020 4 Lawn and Leaf Pickup (Final Pickup) 5 Tis the Season 5 Second Half of Personal Property Taxes and Real EstateTaxes Due 7 Planning Commission 7:30 pm 15 Water/Sewer Bills Due 21 Town Council Meeting 6:30 pm24-25 TownOfficeClosedinObservanceof Christmas

January 2021 1 TownOfficeClosedinObservanceof NewYears 15 Water/Sewer Bills Due 18 TownOfficeClosedinObservanceof Martin Luther King Jr. Day 19 Town Council Meeting 6:30 pm (Tuesday instead of Monday)

TOWN OF NEW MARKET CONTACT INFORMATIONEmergeny Services: Emergencies: 911 Shenandoah County Dispatch: 540-459-6101 Police Department: 540-740-3776 Fire and Rescue: 540-740-8904

New Market Town Office: 540-740-3432

Dispatch: 540-459-6101 (After-hours and weekend Water/Sewer Emergencies)

Town of New MarketOffice Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.(540) 740-3432 • www.newmarketvirginia.com

9418 John Sevier Road • P.O. Box 58 • New Market, VA 22844

TOWN COUNCILLarry Bompiani, Mayor • Peggy Harkness, Vice Mayor

Scott Wymer • Doug Bradley • Daryl Watkins • Bob King • Janice HannahJason J. Ham, Town Attorney

ADMINISTRATION J. Todd Walters ............................................ Town Manager Donna Lohr .....................................Administrative Assistant Chris Rinker .................................................... Police Chief Lindsey Kipps ............................................ Office Assistant Teresa Green .............................................. Town Treasurer Amber Smoot........................... Events & Marketing Director

An Equal Opportunity Community

BoxholderP.O. Box SectionNew Market, VA 22844

9418 John Sevier RoadP.O. Box 58New Market, Virginia 22844www.newmarketvirginia.com

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PAIDNew Market, VAPermit No. 10

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