From the City Manager’s Desk
Dear Neighbor, welcome back to your latest edition of WinConnect. As we turn the calendar to a New Year, please accept my belated wishes for an excellent 2025. I hope you are staying warm and safe!
Speaking of the calendar, as we look ahead to the New Year, I encourage you to check out upcoming opportunities to celebrate and connect to our community’s history and diversity. In February, the City will celebrate Black History Month to honor African Americans’ tremendous contributions to our nation. Then, beginning in March, various community groups will hold events honoring the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution as part of the “VA250” initiative. Of course, we also look forward to the 98th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in April and May. Check out upcoming Black History Month and VA250 events in the calendars found on the following pages of this magazine.
As you probably already know, the first half of the year is also known as “budget season,” when the City finalizes its financial plan for the next fiscal year, which will run from July 2025 through the end of June 2026. Through our City budget, we fund our first responders, maintain our streets, educate our children, pick up trash and recycling, and much more. I hope you will get involved by
engaging in the budget development process. To learn more about the City’s budget, check out our online budget portal at winchesterva.gov/gov ernment/budget-financials. You can also attend a City Council budget hearing to follow the process or provide a recommendation; find our schedule of public meetings at winchesterva.civicweb.net/portal
Finally, I’m proud to highlight the recent achievements of our resident-led Neighborhood Design District (NDD) Advisory Committees for Wards One and Four. As a result of their efforts, we now have a plan to redevelop two strategically chosen areas of Winchester. These areas include Ward Plaza and the surrounding neighborhood, known as “Cedar Valley,” and the neighborhood adjacent to Fairmont Avenue, known as “Cider Hill.” As these exciting revitalization efforts progress, stay informed by regularly checking our NDD webpage on winchesterva.gov.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me at dan.hoffman@winchesterva.gov if I can do anything for you. See you around!
Giving the Gift of Health Sinclair Health Clinic Changing Lives for the Better
Let’s do a thought experiment. Imagine a world where you didn’t speak the language or understand the local healthcare bureaucracy. (Okay, we all probably feel that way sometimes.) In this imaginary world, health clinics operate very differently than clinics back home.
Not only that, in this imaginary world, healthcare employees speak in jargon. What was that about “HIPAA” or “pre-authorizations?” Huh?
Oh, and you have $50 in your pocket to cover all your family’s expenses during the week. That includes food, gas, etc. Health insurance? You’re not sure what that is or how to get it.
Yet, your son or daughter is sick now. What do you do?
This “imaginary” world is too real for many Winchester residents.
Fortunately, Winchester’s Sinclair Health Clinic provides a beacon of hope for families in this situation, offering muchneeded relief.
At Sinclair, conveniently located on North Cameron Street in downtown Winchester, Executive Director Dr. Mercedes Abbet and her dedicated team deliver primary, prenatal, chronic disease, behavioral health, and pharmacy services to Virginia residents who earn less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level.
About 70 percent of Sinclair patients are non-English speakers, and 71 percent are uninsured. The clinic does not require medical insurance…or even a co-pay!
During a recent City staff visit to the clinic, Dr. Abbet noted that the Sinclair team practices “patient-focused care.” Patient-focused care, she said, means “getting to know your patients and mitigating cultural, linguistic, or economic impediments to obtaining the best care.”
Through this approach, Dr. Abbet said, Sinclair staff spend more time with each patient than in a typical clinic environment. They take the time to understand each patient’s situation, then explain to them what is happening and why a particular treatment option is essential.
Sinclair staff also help patients apply for federal programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly called “SNAP”) and financial assistance programs at Valley Health and the University of Virginia, which help patients become more self-sufficient.
Abbet also highlighted the importance of overcoming cultural taboos that may encourage patients to refuse essential care. Many internationally born patients, for example, come from societies where mental health counseling is frowned upon. The Sinclair team, using a well-honed combination of patience, empathy, and expertise, works to break down barriers and identify the best care option for patients and their families.
Sinclair Health Clinic Executive Director Mercedes Abbet stands in front of her clinic. Sinclair is conveniently located at 301 N. Cameron Street, in the Shockey Building
Sinclair’s commitment to patient-focused care also applies to their pharmaceutical services. New patients often do not complete their prescribed treatment or refill their prescriptions. In September 2024, however, the Sinclair pharmacy’s “refill rate” for prescriptions written at the clinic reached an all-time high, indicating that Sinclair’s patients more often understood -- and completed -- their course of treatment.
An important part of Sinclair’s success depends on the clinic’s robust partnerships with other local providers, such as Valley Health. For example, Valley Health provides laboratory support and diagnostic services for Sinclair patients.
Valley Health’s Director of Community Health, Dr. Jason Craig told us that “Valley Health is proud to support the Sinclair Health Clinic in its mission to provide essential healthcare services to our community. Our partnership underscores our commitment to improving access to quality care for all individuals, regardless of their circumstances. Together, we are making a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of our neighbors.”
Dr. Abbet and her team’s commitment to patient-focused care and collaboration with partners like Valley Health is achieving results. In only nine months, from January through September 2024, the Sinclair team treated 2,690 patients (including 767 new patients) through 12,900 patient visits. Over 1,000 appointments focused on prenatal services, inspiring a healthier future for Winchester’s next generation of residents.
Not only that, over the last nine months, the Sinclair team filled 25,403 prescriptions, a 30 percent increase over the
Dr. Abbet and Nurse Practitioner Nathan Lystrup, one of Sinclair’s three full-time Nurse Practitioners
previous year. That’s quite a jump! It also demonstrates Sinclair Health Clinic’s tremendous importance to the community.
Maria, one of Sinclair Health Clinic’s patients, summed it up. She said, “I am very thankful for Sinclair Health Clinic. I’m not sure where I would be without them.”
It’s safe to say Maria channeled the feelings of many Winchester residents when it comes to the Sinclair Health Clinic.
Thank you, Sinclair team! You make us proud.
Sinclair’s pharmacy is one of the clinic’s most popular services. The pharmacy is open to all Winchester residents (not just clinic patients) and offers medication at low prices, even without medical insurance
A New Chapter For South End FIre Station
In August 2022, the City took a pivotal step in safeguarding the future of emergency services by purchasing South End Fire Station. Located at Braddock and Monmouth Streets, the current building had served the community since 1958, but the wear and tear of decades of service began to outpace the ability of its volunteer owners to maintain it. The building was simply no longer suited to the growing demands of modern fire and rescue operations.
The City’s decision to invest in a new station, with an estimated cost of approximately $20 million, marks the beginning of a significant transformation for South End. But the goal wasn’t just to replace an old structure; it was to build a facility that would both honor the rich history of South End and provide for the future needs of the City’s emergency responders.
A Legacy Preserved
For Deputy Chief of Operations Brandon Krippner, this project hits close to home. Krippner joined South End Fire Company as a volunteer in 1999, eventually being awarded with a Lifetime Membership. “South End has a
near and dear place in all of our hearts,” Krippner said. He said that the City is committed to ensuring that while the new station will look toward the future.
One way the City plans to honor that history is by repurposing elements of the original building. The original fire poles will be retained and incorporated into the new building. Even the bricks from the oldest part of the station will be salvaged and integrated into the new structure.
We’re bringing over as much as possible from the old to honor the legacy and pay tribute to the volunteers who made it all possible
- Deputy Chief Brandon Krippner
Building for the Future
The new South End Fire Station will be a state-of-the-art facility, designed to meet the needs of both career and volunteer firefighters while supporting the demands of modern emergency services. The new building will span 26,000 square feet across two stories and will seek LEED Silver certification, a globally recognized symbol of sustainability for buildings. Even though the building will meet the needs of modern emergency services, it is still located in the City’s historic district and care has been taken to ensure that the building will resemble the surrounding architecture.
The design includes a spacious layout with four apparatus bays facing South Braddock Street, a two-story hose tower will provide both additional storage and a valuable training resource, and the new station was also designed with the well-being of the firefighters in mind, offering improved storage for gear and more space for training activities.
South End Fire Station, Before
The modernization of the station also includes technological upgrades, such as a station alerting system that would ensure only the units needed for a particular emergency would be alerted and woken up if the call came in the middle of the night. This will greatly improve the sleep circadian for firefighters, eliminating the disruption of waking up all station staff for every incident.
Despite the scale of the project, the fire and rescue services that the South End Fire Department has provided for decades will never stop. Construction will proceed in phases to ensure no uninterrupted 911 service within our community, with a portion of the eastern end of the existing building remaining operational throughout the process. This will allow firefighters to continue their lifesaving work while the new station slowly takes shape around them.
The Community’s Support
For many in the community, the transformation of the South End Fire Station represents more than just a physical building—it is a testament to the enduring spirit of service and community. While the station is the first to
be owned by the City government, the volunteers will still be able to serve the community, just as they always have, by helping to staff responding apparatus. In this sense, the project symbolizes a perfect blend of tradition and progress, ensuring that South End will continue to serve our community for generations to come.
South End Fire Station demolition area
Publix Coming to Ward Plaza
Launching the Cedar Valley Neighborhood Initiative
According to a January 3 press release by national grocer Publix, the company recently finalized a lease agreement with Winchester Acquisition Partners, LLC. The agreement allows Publix to construct a new 50,325-square-foot grocery store on the current Ward Plaza site at the southeast corner of Valley Avenue and Weems Lane.
The agreement between Winchester Acquisition Partners LLC and Publix represents a significant step towards realizing the Cedar Valley Neighborhood Design District (NDD). The innovative Cedar Valley initiative aims to transform the underutilized Ward Plaza shopping center and vicinity into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood using a “town-center” strategy that attracts high-end restaurants, retail, and residential development.
The recent announcement by Publix also represents a significant achievement for the City of Winchester, including the Economic Development Authority, City Manager’s Office, City Council, and City Planning Commission, considering that the redevelopment of Ward Plaza has been a high-level City priority for at least two decades. When completed, the new supermarket will bring about 150 jobs to the City when it opens, currently expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
“The arrival of Publix to the Cedar Valley Neighborhood Design District marks a significant step forward in our efforts to create vibrant, sustainable communities that foster growth and convenience. Publix is a renowned brand known for its quality service and commitment to the community, and their presence here will not only enhance the neighborhood’s appeal but also contribute to local job creation and economic vitality,” said Winchester Economic Development Authority Chair Addie Lingle.
Winchester Economic Development Authority Vice Chair James Imoh noted, “It is extremely rewarding to see two years of hard work come to fruition with the announcement of the Publix lease signing. This is only the beginning; we’re excited about witnessing the groundbreaking of our first major Neighborhood Design District project later this year.”
“We are happy to be a part of the Ward Plaza revitalization project with the opening of a new Publix Super Market,” said Publix Media Relations Manager Jared Glover. “As with all our locations, we plan to be active members of the community and look forward to providing premier service to our new customers soon.” - Publix officials also expressed excitement over the new development.
From the City, Mayor-Elect Les Veach thanked community members for providing valuable feedback on the Cedar Hill initiative and highlighted the importance of civic engagement in the neighborhood redevelopment process. Mayor-Elect Veach thanked “everyone involved in bringing this vision – our dedicated city planners, local businesses, and, of course, the residents – whose support and ideas made it possible.”
City Manager Dan Hoffman emphasized the strong internal and external team that accomplished this important goal: “I’m so proud of the city staff and all of our partners that helped make this happen. Redeveloping Ward Plaza has been a city priority for 20 years, and we are finally seeing that become reality.”
Community members can stay informed on the Cedar Valley Neighborhood Design District (NDD) Initiative as it progresses by checking the NDD page on the City website at www.winchesterva.gov/NDD.
Learning About Legacy: Winchester to Celebrate Black History Month
Every February, during Black History Month, we remember African Americans’ tremendous contributions to our national history, culture, and life. No matter our background, Black History Month is an opportunity to learn about and better appreciate African Americans’ experiences while promoting equality and understanding.
Did you know that Black History Month dates to 1915?
That’s when Virginia native Professor Carter G. Woodson invited thousands of African Americans from across the country to visit Chicago to highlight their people’s progress since emancipation. Over the years, the event grew in importance until President Gerald Ford formally declared Black History Month on February 10, 1976.
A great way to learn about African Americans’ contributions to our area is to take the African American Heritage Self-Guided Driving Tour organized by the Winchester-Frederick County Convention and Tourism Bureau and the Regional Black History Task Force. The Tour includes three stops with new interpretive markers that explain the historic significance of the site. The sites include John Mann Methodist Church, Finley’s Recreation Center, and the Evans family home. Apart from the Tour, you can check out three additional African American historic markers in Stephens City, including the Orrick Chapel, Rosenwald School, and Crossroads/Freetown.
In addition to the Heritage Tour, Winchester proudly boasts a range of Black History Month activities this year, from Gospel Tribute Concerts to trivia nights and even an essay contest. Closer to home, African Americans have lived, worked, and studied in Winchester for nearly three centuries… while helping make it the great City it is today. Over the years, members of the Black community in Winchester ran successful businesses ranging from restaurants to newspapers and built churches, schools, and nurseries. They also served their fellow citizens as doctors, nurses, teachers, soldiers, and many other ways.
Check out the following pages for details, there’s something for everyone!
Professor Carter G. Woodson
President Ford Meeting with African American Leaders
Black History Month
Douglas Bulldogs Night
Handley High School
425 Handley Boulevard
Friday, January 31
Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
“She is the Narrative”
Theatre Diva Productions
Directed by Desiree Dabney
Glaize Auditorium
620 Milwood Avenue
Saturday, February 8
6:30 p.m.
Circle Process Discussion
African Americans and Labor
Coming to the Table, Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter
Douglas School
598 N. Kent Street
Saturday, February 15
1:00 until 3:30 p.m.
Jacob Lawrence Exhibit Museum of the Shenandoah Valley 901 Amherst Street
Opens Saturday, February 1
10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
The Life and Times of Robert Orrick
Brenda Nelson
Orrick Chapel Methodist Church
5310 Mulberry Street Stephens City
Saturday, February 8 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Black Business Expo Moose Lodge 215 E. Cork Street
Saturday, February 22 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Black History Month Films: Tribute to James Earl Jones
Wednesday, February 5
7:00 p.m.
“Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings”
Saturday, February 8 4:00 p.m.
“Coming to America”
All proceeds benefit Douglas Alumni Scholarships
Calendar of Events
Douglas School State Marker Unveiling
Douglas School
598 North Kent Street
Sunday, February 2
2:30 until 3:00 p.m.
Community Quilting - Honoring the People Enslaved at Belle Grove
Belle Grove Plantation
Godfrey Miller Center
28 S. Loudoun Street
Sunday, February 16
2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
St. Paul AME Church Black History Luncheon
Laurel Ridge Community College
173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown
Saturday, March 15
11:30 a.m.
$30 - Contact: Ms. Shelia Brown
540-303-9440
Sunday, February 9
5:00 p.m.
“Conan the Barbarian”
Douglas Museum Open House
Douglas Museum
598 North Kent Street
Sunday, February 2
3:00 until 5:00 p.m.
Roland Hayes: Making History and Music
Jackson Caesar
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley 901 Amherst Street
Sunday, February 9
1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
And that’s not all! Read about the 2025 Black History Month Essay Contest on the next page!!!
Wednesday, February 19
7:00 p.m.
“Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat”
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Winchester | 181 Kernstown Commons Boulevard
Coming Your Way
Did you know that next year will mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War— and the beginning of American Independence on July 4, 1776?
Although many Americans think of the Revolution as a war largely fought in the northern colonies, it was fought throughout the thirteen colonies, in the Caribbean, and in the Atlantic Ocean. Virginians, led by George Washington, played an essential role in the conflict, culminating in the final American victory over the British forces at Yorktown, Virginia!
The American Revolution was more than just a war. It was also a Revolution of Ideas. Over the six years of the American Revolution, Virginian leaders inspired residents of our fledgling nation to accept and embrace liberty and equality under the law as fundamental American values. Over the last 249 years, Americans from all backgrounds have striven to live up to these ideals, which serve as the bedrock of our nation and Constitution.
Upcoming VA250 Events
Daniel Morgan Recognition Event / Battle of Cowpens Commemoration
Sons of the American Revolution, James Wood II Chapter
Mt. Hebron Cemetery | 305 E. Boscawen Street
January 19 at 2:00 p.m.
George Washington’s 293rd Birthday Celebration
French & Indian War Foundation
Winchester Brew Works | 320 N. Cameron Street
February 17 at 5:00 p.m.
Commemoration of George Washington’s Birthday
Sons of the American Revolution, James Wood II Chapter
George Washington’s Headquarters | 32 W. Cork Street
February 22 at 1:00 p.m.
Nelly Madison Hite
Belle Grove Plantation | 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown
Online exhibit opening Spring 2025
*Please stay tuned to the Winchester-Frederick County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau website for updates as additional events are scheduled. Please note that event dates and times are subject to change.
To commemorate Virginia’s important role in the American Revolution and the establishment of American Independence, the General Assembly established the Commonwealth-level “250 Commission” in 2020. Among other responsibilities, the 250 Commission was charged with encouraging the organizing and promotion of activities celebrating the revolutionary period at the local level.
In 2023, the Winchester City Council and Frederick County Board of Supervisors approved separate resolutions establishing the Winchester-Frederick County VA250 Committee. The Committee, comprised of representatives of local historical organizations, will support programs and events that engage community members and connect them to the legacy of the American Revolution and the ideals that spurred it.
Check out the calendar of upcoming VA250 events in our area. Join us as we celebrate the birth of our nation!
Finding a Revolutionary War Hero
Visit downtown businesses to find portraits of Revolutionary War figures, collect stamps and win prizes!
Daughters of the American Revolution, Fort Loudoun Chapter
Loudoun Street Mall Winchester
March 1 through 31
“Winchester Revolt” - A Bike Ride Through History
A 7 -mile ride with stops at historic sites
June 7 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
VA250 Information and Activity Booth
An inclusive, child-friendly learning experience about Revolutiony War history and so much more!
Kids Fest
Loudoun Street Mall Winchester
June 14 from 12:00 until 5:00 p.m.
Flag Day and U.S. Army 250th Birthday Celebration
Round Hill Fire Department
Daughters of the American Revolution, Fort Loudoun Chapter
June 14 (time TBD)
Wednesdays are busy days for Knights of Columbus volunteer Jim Carter.
That’s when he drives in from his house in Winchester to the Knights of Columbus food distribution center on North Cameron Street. There, Jim and his team load his truck with delivery boxes full of frozen meals, soups, sandwiches, and non-perishable goods to be delivered to hundreds of area residents before the end of the day.
Their mission is simple: get food to people who need it the most.
Jim and his team of committed Knights of Columbus volunteers have known for a long time that plenty of Winchester families struggle to make ends meet. Since the 1980s, the Knights of Columbus has operated a food pantry at its North Cameron Street location.
For many years, Jim and his team saw the long lines at their pantry and other local pantries, a situation that seemed to only get worse after the pandemic. Like many of us, they wanted to do more…but how?
Jim had an advantage, though. He had a pickup truck and time to help, as the 30-year Air Force veteran was recently retired from private business. The result was the establishment of Frederick County’s first – and thus far, only – food pantry delivery service.
Nearly four years later, Jim and his team deliver thousands of nutritious meals and essential personal care items every week to neighbors who have a hard time getting to a grocery store or food pantry.
According to Knights of Columbus Director Bill Melvin, the program also represents a true community-wide effort, bringing together local churches, nonprofits, service clubs, high school students, and a wide range of resident volunteers. Catholic Charities, Sacred Heart
Feeding the
Community Members Join Forces and Innovate to Fight Hunger
Parish, Highland Food Pantry, CCAP, and Blue Ridge Food Bank provide many of the staple goods delivered by the Knights of Columbus team. Donations can come from surprising sources, too. For example, just last month a local resident donated 40 crates of 30 dozen fresh eggs each! (Recipients may have noticed a significant increase in eggs and egg-based meals in recent deliveries.)
Meanwhile, each of the soup kitchen’s six volunteer teams purchase, cooks, packages hot, nutritious, and serves the Wednesday meal. NW Works employees perform warehousing tasks and fill non-perishable orders. On the back end, Stephens City Trinity Lutheran and Emmanuel United Methodist Churches help distribute excess meals and non-perishable goods to where they are most needed, said Melvin.
To volunteer as a food preparer, packager, warehouser, or delivery person – or make a financial donation to the program – please contact Bill at 540-588-1537 or wmeilge@icloud.com. Melvin noted that tax-deductible donations can be made through the Columbus Club, a registered 501c3 organization.
Although it’s not easy work – and at his age he could certainly find a volunteer desk job somewhere if he wanted it – Jim enjoys the satisfaction he receives as a Knights of Columbus volunteer.
Neighborly Advice People
“There are days, especially when it’s cold or raining, when it would be easy to stay at home. But then, I see the faces of my neighbors when I make a delivery and realize how much this means to them. Not just the food, but the friendship and comradery, as many of them rarely leave their homes. And that makes it all worth it.”
Launching an easy-to-use permitting and licensing online platform
Applying for permits and licenses is about to become much faster and easier. By the end of Winter, a new platform will be available for most of the City’s permits and licenses.
The new platform will significantly reduce the manual steps residents need to take to obtain permits and licenses. With a digital service platform, residents can apply for everything from building permits to special event applications and track them all from one easy-to-use system.
With an updated internal approval process and the ability to apply for permits online 24/7, residents may experience faster turnaround times. The new platform also has an integrated online payment system, saving everyone a trip downtown to submit payments and paper forms.
Be sure to check the City’s website, www.winchesterva.gov, for updates and training on how to use this exciting new system.
