WinConnect Winter 2024

From the City Manager’s Desk

Dear Neighbor, I am delighted to welcome you to the City’s newest publication,  WinConnect. We hope WinConnect will provide a space to explore the many happenings in our City while getting to know the people that make our City unique – our residents. We are confident that the more you know about what’s happening, your pride in our City will grow. After all, it’s not just my City. It’s not just your City. This great City belongs to all of us. It’s OUR City!

As I enter my fourth full year as Winchester’s City Manager, I couldn’t be prouder of what our City is accomplishing, thanks to our many engaged community members, City staff, and others. Although Winchester is a relatively safe community, we continue to make our streets safer by addressing speeding and distracted driving. In March, we will roll out “WinReady,” an initiative to transform public transportation in our City. Through our Neighborhood District Design process, we are working closely with residents to revitalize their neighborhoods and address blight.

In addition, the history of African Americans in Winchester is storied, and we rightly honor that history during Black History Month in February. I encourage you to check

out the many activities that are happening throughout the month on page 8 of this edition and get involved!

These are just a few of the many things we are excited about. But we can’t do it without you and our many partners, from Winchester Public Schools to non-profits, to civic organizations and religious institutions. I couldn’t be more excited about what we will accomplish together in 2024 and beyond.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me at dan.hoffman@winchesterva.gov if I can do anything for you. If you have an idea for a story for this publication, please contact Public Information Officer Sarah Frey at sarah.frey@winchesterva.gov – we welcome your thoughts. Enjoy WinConnect!

Dan Hoffman City Manager Winchester, VA

First was the transition from the horse and buggy to the Model T. Then, the Commodore 64 took the place of the typewriter. Now, there’s another upgrade coming to Winchester.

In March, the City of Winchester will roll out a new on-demand ride-sharing service called “WinReady.” Think Uber or Lyft but with a twist: the service will be operated by Winchester Transit and offered free of charge through June 2024, at least.

With WinReady, residents will no longer need to wait for a bus, transfer routes, or walk long distances to bus stops. Instead, residents will conveniently schedule a WinReady ride from an app on their phone or by calling the Dispatch Center. Like Uber or Lyft, they will be picked up at or near their location and taken directly to their destination.

WinReady is an example of a new form of public transit service sweeping the globe called microtransit. Initially developed to address dwindling public transit ridership numbers, microtransit improves riders’ experiences while utilizing public resources more efficiently

Transportation data scientist Jerome Mayaud has a creative way of describing microtransit: “Imagine Uber and a city bus had a baby.”

According to City Manager Dan Hoffman, who initially saw microtransit’s potential to transform public transit in Winchester, WinReady’s biggest impact will be lower costs for riders—in both time and money.

As Dan explained to a recent conference of local government innovators, “We’ll start measuring [WinReady] in terms of what is the cost to get to food? What is the cost to get to school? What is the cost to get to employment?”

Under the City’s existing bus system, riders wait up to 70 minutes between buses. With WinReady, the wait time should shrink to around 10 to 15 minutes. For example, it currently takes a rider

about 84 minutes to go from downtown Winchester to the Walmart on Pleasant Valley Road. Under WinReady, it will take 16 minutes on average.

“So, suddenly, for a rider of choice… (public transit) becomes a much more viable option” for Winchester residents considering public transportation, said Dan. About 650 Winchester households do not have a car, suggesting at least 30 percent of City residents would benefit from lower barriers to using public transit.

And this kind of increased mobility could bring other benefits to the community. More employees making it to work.

Less student truancy. More access to fresh foods and shopping opportunities. Less traffic congestion. And so on.

Longtime Winchester Transit customer Jennifer Murphy is excited about WinReady. “WinReady will make it so much easier to get around town, especially for those of us who can’t walk long distances. I can’t wait for the service to be up and running,” she said.

As fantastic as WinReady promises to be, the Winchester Transit team knows that the new service will only be impactful if residents know how to utilize it.

“We are committed to helping folks download the WinReady app or know how to call our Dispatch Center so they can schedule a ride,” said City Transportation Operations Manager Kenny Johnson. “We will be holding a series of public workshops in February, March, and April to ensure that our existing and new riders feel comfortable with the new service.”

As WinReady is launched, the City will reduce the number of fixed bus routes from eight to one “Loop Route” that circles the City. (The City’s existing bus route to Laurel Ridge Community College will stay the same.)

The City is also partnering with microtransit tech company Via to roll out the WinReady app, ride scheduling, and many other facets of the new service.

Initially, the service will operate from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday. The service will be limited to Winchester city limits.

City staff know that residents will likely have questions about WinReady and how it will operate. Riders can go to winchesterva.gov/winready for updates on the rollout of the new service or contact Kenny at Kenneth.johnson@ winchesterva.gov or 540-667-2230.

“We ask everyone to consider giving WinReady a try once it is operational,” said Transportation Operations Manager Kenny. “We think you’ll like it!”

Celebrating Black History in Winchester

Every February, we celebrate African Americans’ contributions to the development of our nation and society through Black History Month. President Obama stated in 2016, “Black History Month is about the lived, shared experience of all African Americans, high and low, famous and obscure, and how those experiences have shaped and challenged and ultimately strengthened America.”

Nowhere is that sentiment more accurate than in Winchester. As far back as 1898, the City directory recorded 1,760 African Americans in various occupations, including barbers, livery owners, restaurant owners, blacksmiths, grocers, nurses, and skilled masons. African Americans

Powell Gibson

Powell Gibson served the community as a leading educator, author, and poet from 1916 until he died in 1959. His son, Willard, operated a print shop behind the family residence and published The Progressive Advocate and The Virginia Informer, Winchester’s two Black newspapers with a reputation for engaging reporting and commentary.

Harry Ransom

Harry Ransom was an influential business owner, musical director, and leader. As proprietor of The Square Deal restaurant, Ransom’s Dancing Academy, and Negro Minstrels, Harry regularly hosted social events supporting community members, including African American soldiers heading to war.

ran prosperous hotels, restaurants, lunchrooms, beauty salons, and funeral parlors. They also served as doctors, dentists, ministers, and many other professions.

Like other Americans, African Americans in Winchester worked hard to build a better life for themselves and their children while investing in the City’s institutions, schools, and churches. They persisted and flourished during tough times, such as war and economic depression, and in the face of bitter racism and segregation.

Just a few of their many stories are shared below.

Photos courtesy of the Handley Library Archives and Winchester-Frederick County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau

Ruth & Boyd Jackson

Ruth and Boyd Jackson and their daughter Vivienne operated “Ruth’s Tea Room” on East Cecil Street from 1927 until the 1990s. Construction workers building the George Washington Hotel ate their lunches here, and visitors of all backgrounds and races were welcome. Ruth’s relatives, Russell and Hilda Jackson, also established and operated the Community Food Store grocery for over 50 years.

The Green Book

The legendary Negro Motorist Green Book listed four Winchester Black-owned businesses, including the Dunbar Tea Room, Mrs. Joseph Willis, Ruth’s Tea Room, and Evan’s Hotel.

Dr. John Poulson Sr.

Dr. John Poulson Sr. was the first Black physician to practice in Winchester, with a practice on North Kent Street. He later moved to Southwerk Street. Although he was not granted hospital privileges, he cared for any patient in need, White or Black.

Spotsy Poles

Spottswood (Spotsy) Poles was born in Winchester in 1886 and is remembered as perhaps the greatest baseball player in the history of the Negro Leagues. In 1911, playing for the New York Lincoln Giants, Spotsy batted .610 in ten exhibition games against Major League Baseball teams. Spotsy also served his country in World War I in the 369th Infantry Regiment. Later, Spotsy brought his Harrisburg, PA-based team to Winchester to play against a local team during a community picnic hosted by the Odd Fellows.

Roland Hayes

The Douglas School

The Douglas School was the base of Winchester’s African American academic community from its founding in 1927. In 1938 alone, of eight graduating students, one became a lawyer, one a research biologist, one a psychologist, and another the first Black Fire Marshall in Washington, DC.

The Brown Bombers

The Brown Bombers semi-professional football team helped build community pride and Winchester’s sporting tradition while winning numerous regional championships.

Black Clubs

Many Black Clubs served community members over the years, including the King Hiram Masonic Lodge (chartered in 1886 ), the Apple Blossom Chapter 196 of the Order of the Eastern Star, and many others.

Internationally renowned singer Roland Hayes sang in France, Germany, and the UK (including a performance for King George V). Roland also performed at Winchester City Hall on November 23, 1923, in a benefit concert sponsored by John Mann United Methodist Church. The City and Shenandoah University will hold a Roland Hayes tribute concert on Feb. 23 (see the following page).

Check out the next page for a schedule of events. We hope to see you there!

February 2

Douglas Night Basketball Game, Handley High School

Doors open at 5:00 p.m.

Feb. 3, 11, 17 & 25

Win-Fred Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Black History Trolley Tours

February 3, 11, & 25: 1:00 p.m.

February 17: 2:00 p.m.

February 17

St. Paul AME Church Brunch

Doors open at 11:00 a.m

February 24

Black History Month Expo, Winchester Moose Lodge

February 4

Museum of the Shenandoah Valley Presentation “Segregation to Integration”

3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

February 10

Clarke County Dramatic Reading, Josephine School Community Museum

1:30 p.m.

February 23

Roland Hayes Production, Shenandoah University Armstrong Auditorium

7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

February 25

“She Is The Narrative”, produced and directed by Desirée Dabney ‘14 Glaize Theatre

4:00 p.m.

February 29

Winchester NAACP & AAUW of Winchester

February 7

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Black History Movie “Rustin”

7:00 p.m.

February 14

Douglass Day Closing Keynote by David R. McCormick, SU Smith Library

4:00 p.m.

February 24

City of Winchester Poles Park Commemoration, corner of Woodland Ave. and Elm St.

11:00 a.m.

February 29

Handley Black Student Union History Exhibit & Performance, Handley High School

11:05 a.m – 12:05 p.m.

12:00 – 6:00 p.m. Scan the QR code for

Discussion “Barriers Broken, Barriers That Remain”, Handley Library Auditorium

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

March 2

Contemporary Masai Cultural Performance

“Uncovering Kasserian Ingera?”, Douglas School

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

City Snow Plan

Did you know the City has a Snow Plan with three components for dealing with snow and ice? The City Snow Plan falls under Plans “A,” “B,” and “C,” depending on how much snow we receive.

Plan A

Plan A is declared as soon as snow begins to fall or ice accumulates on the streets and sidewalks, creating hazardous conditions. Under Plan A, the City will begin to treat the streets and residents are asked to only drive if necessary.

Plan B

If conditions worsen, City staff and contractors will plow Winchester roadways according to the City route schedule. Residents should only drive if absolutely necessary, with snow chains or tires. Residents should also clear their sidewalks of snow and ice within 24 hours of the storm (unless over six inches of snow accumulates, in which case residents have 48 hours to clear the snow and ice).

Plan C

If conditions continue to worsen, the City will close public parking lots and will prohibit parking on streets where snow is to be removed. Under Plan C, City staff will haul snow off streets into appropriate locations.

Stormwater Utility Update

Don’t forget that all properties in the City will be charged $0.22 per 50 square feet of impervious surface per month starting in January 2024. You can learn more at www.winchesterva.gov/ stormwater.

Common Questions About Stormwater

What is an Impervious Surface?

A hard surface that does not allow water to seep into the ground such as buildings, driveways, pavements, gravel, etc.

How do I get a Stormwater Credit?

Residents can earn up to 50% of their properties’ stormwater fees each year if certain conditions are met to help offset stormwater impacts.

How do I know if I’m eligible for a credit?

Check out our Residential & Non-Residential Credit Manuals at www.winchesterva.gov/stormwater and then fill out the credit application.

If you have questions about your Stormwater Utility Fee, or any other City-provided utility service, please call our Utility Billing Department at 540-773-1358

Stay tuned to the City website and social media channels for updates on City Snow Planning when storms arrive! Also, check out winchesterva.gov/public-works/snow-policy-procedures for helpful tips on snow removal and information on City plowing procedures.

Sidewalk Shoveling Ordinance

The City Code requires residents to clear snow from their sidewalks within 24 hours of a snow storm. The only exception to this rule is if we receive more than six inches of snow, in which case residents have 48 hours to clear their sidewalks. Thank you for complying with this requirement and keeping our sidewalks safe for pedestrians!

If you have questions about the City’s snow and ice removal ordinance, please call the City’s Code Enforcement team at 540-667-1815.

If you are a senior citizen or disabled, feel free to sign up for our new “Snowbuster” program! Snowbuster volunteers deploy after snow storms to clear their neighbors’ sidewalks. Go to winchesterva.gov/snowbusters

information or to sign up.

You may have recently noticed the sea of green space when driving through Jim Barnett Park. That would be the City’s Preston Sports Complex Renovation Project (a.k.a. the “Preston Field Project”), which is nearing its “finish line.”

In our recently completed Community Survey, residents identified maintaining and improving the City’s parks and recreational facilities as one of their top priorities. City staff are committed to meeting this challenge through the Preston Field Project and many other projects, such as the recently installed Pickleball Courts at Christianson Familyland and the renovation of the indoor gym at the War Memorial Building.

From a historical perspective, the Preston Field Project is one of the City’s most ambitious sports facility improvement initiatives. The project—implemented in partnership with Blue Ridge United—consists of adding two rectangular synthetic turf fields with dimensions of 120 by 55 yards and field lighting. When completed, Preston Field will be the first world-class synthetic turf field in the Northern Shenandoah Valley specifically designed for younger athletes.

You might ask—why upgrade to synthetic turf? With more than 5,500 synthetic turf fields in the United States, millions of young athletes can practice and play on a sports field that can always be counted upon and rarely closes due to weather. Simultaneously, thousands of homes, businesses, golf courses, municipalities, and public spaces have turned to synthetic grass to provide a lush, attractive landscape solution that requires minimal resources and maintenance while saving millions of gallons of water each year.

We look forward to seeing you or your family playing on Preston Field soon!

Imagine this. It’s a frosty 25 degrees outside, with several inches of fresh snow covering Winchester’s main thoroughfares, including Cameron Street and Valley Avenue. Most City residents are snuggled up inside with a cup of hot chocolate, but not every resident.

A van stops in front of a single-story house, and City resident Bob Watkins unloads his snowblower. Bob is dutifully clearing a stretch of sidewalk for another resident, his eighth so far today, to help keep our City sidewalks safe for pedestrians after storms.

As someone who has helped his neighbors with snow clearance for many years, Bob is an original Winchester “Snowbuster.”

Fortunately, Bob’s getting reinforcements! This winter, the City is launching the “Snowbuster” program to help senior citizens and disabled residents clear snow from their sidewalks.

Thanks to a hardy group of snow-resistant volunteers, nearly 100 families will receive snow shoveling assistance through the Snowbuster program.

In addition to helping their neighbors comply with the City Charter—which requires that residents clear sidewalks on their property within 24 hours of snowstorms receiving six inches or less of snow—the Snowbuster team will help keep our sidewalks safe for children walking to school and other pedestrians.

For Karen Burroughs, a single mother of four children, “Snowbusting” is a great way to exercise while giving back.

“Shoveling is hard,” she said. “Having our own house to shovel made me realize that anybody who had surgery or anything like that could use the help. It’s good exercise, and it makes me feel good to give back to the community, especially someone who needs the help.”

Fellow Snowbuster Mike Neese has advice for any Winchester residents interested in serving the community: give Snowbusters a shot.

“It’s really not a big commitment at all,” he said. “It’s really a simple program and an easy way to get outside with your kids, especially during the winter. A strong

is so important. It’s fun, and it’s a great way to have undistracted family time. The City does a great job of matching you up with somebody that lives close by, so it doesn’t take long at all to get there.”

The City’s Snowbusters program is typically active from December to March, and volunteers are matched with residents within several minutes of their home address.

To learn more about Winchester’s Snowbusters program, scan the QR code, go to winchesterva.gov/Snowbusters, or call Communications Director Kit Redmer at 720-289-1830

To channel our inner Ray Parker, Jr.:

Photo courtesy of the Winchester Star community