Last Word

Last Word on sales tax increase, Feb. 28

Sales tax increase I don’t appreciate the sneaky way this tax hike is being motored through to support tourism and another-named slush fund. Please list the names and phone numbers of who we can call in Richmond for York, James City and Williamsburg to let our voices be heard. Thank you. Editor’s...

Last Word on sales tax, Feb. 24

Sales tax increase Instead of a 1 percent sales tax increase to feed the tourism oligarchs, how about an increase to promote affordable housing for the people who do the work that runs the tourism industry in the area? Seems like the Chamber of Commerce, JCC Supervisors and the Williamsburg City...

Last Word on Florida shootings, Feb. 21

Florida shootings A question for Congress: Why is the possession of assault weapons more important than school children's lives? Don't those children have a right, under the Constitution, to live full lives, in liberty and in the pursuit of happiness? I’m in high school and I’m scared to go to...

Last Word, Feb. 17

Shooting in Florida To all those who write in demanding rights to carry in schools, churches and other public places: do you also demand similar rights for convicted criminals, the mentally ill and those with restraining orders? Should they be allowed to build up arsenals of assault weapons? Anyone...

Last Word on harassment, Feb. 14

Looking good To whoever is decorating Lake Powell Road and Brookwood Drive with decorations: They look amazing. Can’t wait to see what you put up for Easter. This is harassment I worked at a big box hardware store. Every day, the male customers would make degrading sexual comments to any of the...

Last Word on workforce housing, Feb. 10

City taxes Here we go again, as the Williamsburg City Council looks to raise taxes after its annual retreat. The city manager can’t offer a specific reason why he anticipates a reduction in revenues from the meal and room taxes. The mayor and council members keep looking for ways to increase our...

Last Word on tourism taxes, Feb. 7

Tax for tourism I think the proposed 1 percent added sales tax for James City, York and Williamsburg is a big crock. It’s a complete, unfair burden to the citizens to have to pay this to fund tourism. Why don’t they keep doing like they’ve been doing? They’ve got taxes on the rooms and meal taxes....

Last Word about CW finances, Feb. 3

Williamsburg budget The Virginia Gazette's recent reporting on the Williamsburg City Council discussions on potential tax increases and the need to add a new position to administer the new Tourism Development Fund is very revealing. If the city ran like a business, as revenues decline, the focus...

Last Word on an angel, Jan. 31

Met my angel I had a very important doctor’s appointment the other day and stopped at a store for water on my way. I got back to my car and it wouldn’t start. I cried because I could not get to the appointment. Then my angel called, “Ma’am, Ma’am.” I looked and she offered me a ride. I had to take...

Last Word on the shutdown, Jan. 27

Williamsburg Inn On Wednesday, Last Word published a comment that said The Williamsburg Inn had been awarded the Forbes Travel Guide Fifth Star. The Inn was awarded the AAA Five Diamond designation in November 2017, one of just 120 hotels in North America to hold this distinction. However, Forbes...

Need your help to preserve history

Our times have lessons in history

The slow, peaceful pace of country life

Story focused on half of the event

Buzz Aldrin Slams 'First Man' For Not Including American Flag Scene

Measles Cases in the US Are Almost at Record Numbers

Scientists Successfully 3D-Prints Heart From Human Cells

All National Parks Will Be Free to Visitors on April 20

Portable temporary rubber strips used by VDOT

Massive Fire Breaks Out at Notre Dame Cathedral

Planning Commission reviews city's population trends at comprehensive plan meeting

The city’s population trends and future growth areas were major topics of discussion at Planning Commission’s monthly comprehensive plan meeting Wednesday. Erin Burke, the city’s principal planner, reviewed a draft of the chapter on population in the city’s forthcoming 2019 comprehensive plan....

Jared Antle's discharge date pushed back again as recovery takes a turn

On Tuesday, Jared Antle was scheduled to be discharged from the Atlanta hospital he has called home for the past seven months. Instead, Jared remains at the specialty brain and spinal injury hospital in Atlanta surrounded by his family as hospital staffers and his insurers lengthened his stay once...

W-JCC names Teacher of the Year finalists

Ahead of naming the W-JCC Teacher of the Year later this week, Williamsburg-James City County Schools announced the division's choices for the Elementary, Middle and High School level Teachers of the Year. The three finalists were chosen from the pool of Teachers of the Year chosen by each school...

NWS: Weak tornado tore through Queens Drive neighborhood during weekend storm

The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-0 tornado hit upper York County during a severe storm last weekend. There were no injuries. Starting at the Colonial Parkway near the Queens Drive interchange around 8:05 p.m. Friday, the tornado touched down and tore through the area for almost...