Saturday, December 9, 2023

Getting to Know

Getting To Know…Ben Munson, Broker With The Memorie Group

Ben Munson is a licensed real estate broker with The Memorie Group on Prince George Street in downtown Williamsburg. He also serves as president of Williamsburg Downtown, an organization dedicated to promoting the businesses and organizations that make up...

Getting To Know…Burcu Yesilcimen, Williamsburg Area Restaurateur

Burcu “Bee” Yesilcimen, a native of Turkey, and her husband, Sevan, are owners of the Mediterranean restaurants Anatolia Bar & Grill in New Town and Meyhane Kitchen & Bar in Williamsburg Crossing. Anatolia opened in Greater Williamsburg in 2018,...

Getting To Know…Sara Ruch, James City County Emergency Manager

Sara Ruch has been in the emergency management profession since 2006. She is a certified emergency manager through the International Association of Emergency Managers. She is also a certified floodplain manager, past president of the Virginia Emergency Management Association,...

Getting To Know…Senator Monty Mason

Senator Monty Mason serves the Peninsula's 1st Senate District, which includes Williamsburg as well as portions of Newport News, James City County, Hampton, York County, and Suffolk. He was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2013...

Getting To Know…Shirley Vermillion, Dental Hygienist And Founder Of 2nd Sundays Williamsburg

Shirley Vermillion is a dental hygienist at Norge Dental Center and founder of 2nd Sundays Williamsburg, an art and music festival that takes place monthly throughout downtown Williamsburg (the next event, scheduled for this Sunday, June 11, will mark...

Getting to Know…Kim Lowers, Privatization Base Manager At Dominion Energy

Kim Lowers is the privatization base manager at Dominion Energy. She works with military base customers at Fort Eustis in Newport News, Fort Story in Virginia Beach, and Fort Gregg-Adams in Prince George County. These bases are as large...

Getting To Know…Brandy Centolanza, Editor Of Peninsula Chronicle

I’m a freelance journalist who has been covering all things Williamsburg since 2001. I started out my career in Virginia as a reporter for the Virginia Gazette and won multiple Virginia Press Association Awards for my coverage of the...

Getting To Know…Danielle Lawson, Manager Of The Bicycle Co-Op of Williamsburg

Danielle Lawson is manager of the Bicycle Co-Op of Williamsburg, a project of BikeWalk Williamsburg, a local non-profit that advocates for more bike-friendly and pedestrian-friendly options in the area.  The Bicycle Co-Op of Williamsburg works to refurbish donated bikes...

Getting To Know…Ronnie Payne, Master Shipbuilder

Ronnie Payne is a welder at the HII Newport News Shipbuilding division. Payne is a Master Shipbuilder with the shipyard, with more than 40 years of service to the company. As a child, what did you want to be when...

Getting to Know…Elffie LaChance, Owner Of The Gathering Tearoom

Elffie LaChance is owner of The Gathering Tearoom, which offers the traditional afternoon tea service and experience to those in the Greater Williamsburg area. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Since I was eight...

Getting To Know…Susan Ammons

Susan Ammons spends her days promoting all Gloucester has to offer as the county’s tourism coordinator, a position she’s held since May 2022. Previously, she worked in real estate. As a child, what did you want to be when you...

Getting To Know…Tahjere Lewis

Hampton native Tahjere Lewis is a young entrepreneur and owner and operator of Aunt Carol’s Sauce. The company, which specializes in seafood sauces based on his aunt’s special sauce from his childhood, was one of the winners of Start...

Latest news

Environmental Aspects Of HRBT Expansion Project Offer Learning Opportunities

HAMPTON – When Ryan Banas was earning his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Case Western Reserve University, the required curriculum didn’t include history, archeology, or marine science classes. However, all would have been helpful in his current job as...

Virginia Peninsula Chamber Hosting Discussion On Accelerating The Economy July 18

NEWPORT NEWS-The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Christopher Newport University, is hosting an upcoming discussion on key issues impacting the region’s economic development. The event, titled “Rising Tide” and scheduled for Tuesday, July 18, will offer the...

Meet Eve Otmar, Colonial Williamsburg Master Gardener

WILLIAMSBURG-Eve Otmar, Colonial Williamsburg Master Gardener, has been tinkering in the dirt since she was a child. “I’ve been gardening my whole life,” she said. “I started gardening with my dad at home when I was a kid.” For years, Otmar...