WinConnect - Fall 2024 (September)

NEXUS OF NEWS, COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS, AND CITY HAPPENINGS

PAGE 10

Winchester’s Original Crimestoppers WPD’s Criminal Investigation Division

PAGE 5

PAGE 6

PAGE 14

Winchester and Bee City USA

A Portrait of Courage

Hispanic Heritage Month

Thomas Laws and the Third Battle of Winchester

Calendar of Events

What’s the Buzz?

FALL 2024

¡Conéctate con Nosotros!

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Contents 3 From the City Manger’s Desk 4 Infrastructure Updates Close National Avenue Until Early 2025 5 Winchester and Bee City USA: What’s the Buzz?

6 A Portrait of Courage: Thomas Laws and the Third Battle of Winchester 8 Voting in 2024 & Neighborhood Nights 9 Community Spotlight: The Winter Market is Coming to Town 10 Winchester’s Original Crimestoppers: WPD’s Criminal Investigation Division 12 Hispanic Heritage Month 14 Hispanic Heritage Month: Calendar of Events 15 Neighborly Advice 2

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From the City Manager’s Desk

D

ear Neighbor, welcome back to your fall edition

As we move into November and

of WinConnect. It’s hard to believe that another

December,

summer has come and gone, and we are already

Winchester’s impressive array of holiday-

don’t

forget

about

well into another school year! Our City comes alive in the

and winter-themed activities. On November

fall with festivals, historic and cultural events, concluding

11, we will salute our veterans by closing the City for

with the magic of the end-of-year holidays. As the trees

Veteran’s Day, and the Winchester National Cemetery

change colors and the weather becomes crisper, don’t

will host an event honoring those who have served in the

forget to take in an event or simply enjoy everything Win-

military. Then, on December 2, our Parks and Recreation

chester has to offer.

team will hold our annual Holiday Parade attended by Mr. Claus himself. Finally, don’t miss our Winchester Old

Our City’s “fall lineup” kicks off with Fiddles and Fifths, a

Town Winter Village on the Walking Mall on December

fantastic combination of blues, bourbon, and fun. We will

6-8. After all, where else can you enjoy a delicious cup of

then transition into Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated

gluhwein or kinderpunch?

from September 15 through October 15 each year. As we all know, Hispanic heritage and culture is an essential

As always, I am honored to serve as your City Manager.

part of our City; according to the 2020 census, people of

Don’t hesitate to contact me at dan.hoffman@winches-

Hispanic origin make up about a fifth of the City’s

terva.gov if I can do anything for you.

population. This year, Winchester will host an impressive array of Hispanic-focused activities, from Latin Festivals and salsa competitions to paper flower workshops. You can find a calendar of Hispanic Heritage Month-related events on page 12.

See you around town!

Dan Hoffman City Manager Winchester, VA

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W

e all know that Winchester has history around every corner, but did you know it’s also below your feet? Our city has the third oldest water

system in the United States. The original system started with wooden pipes to help water travel from the spring on Amherst Street to downtown, using gravity to help the water flow.

While our water no longer primarily flows through wooden pipes, our water and sewer systems need to be updated and replaced from time to time.

Neighbors, if there were a way to keep every road open while replacing huge sections of underground pipes, well, then you wouldn’t be reading this article. Unfortunately, that just isn’t possible.

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To replace the underground pipes, the City will close National Ave. from Piccadilly St. and Pleasant Valley Rd. to all non-local traffic from September 3 through the end of the year. To keep traffic flowing during the project, the City will establish a detour on Woodstock Ln. The City’s work on this project is being coordinated with Washington Gas as they finish their gas main replacement along National Ave. Once the utility work has been completed, the road will be repaved and open for normal traffic.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Winchester & Bee City USA What’s the Buzz?

D

id you know that, in March, Winchester officially

pollinators. When it comes to bees, most

joined 219 other cities across the United States

people think of the honey bee; but one of the

to become a “Bee City USA Affiliate?” That’s

most impactful things Bee City USA Affiliate can do is

pretty cool!

encourage residents to appreciate the broad diversity of bees that sustain our communities.”

But, you would be forgiven for not knowing what it means to become a “Bee City USA Affiliate.”

Bee City USA Affiliate cities, along with Bee City Campus sites—often universities and college campuses—

Bee City USA Affiliates, like Winchester, commit to

sponsor various activities designed to support native polli-

supporting native pollinators (like bees). They do this by

nators. Common activities include planting and protecting

increasing the prevalence of native plants, providing bee

native plants and pollinator nest sites, incorporating

nest sites, and reducing the use of pesticides wherever

pollinator-conscious practices into City policies, holding

possible.

pollinator awareness events, and promoting Bee City USA and other groups committed to conserving invertebrates, such as the Xerces Society.

Winchester’s local leaders also strongly support the City’s participation in this effort. When asked about the Bee City USA effort, City Councilor Kathy Tagnesi said: “I am honored to be the Winchester City Councilor representative on the Bee City Committee.”

Over the long term, one of Bee City USA’s strategic goals is to create a network of cities, towns and counties to create a “pollinator pathway.” Pollinator pathways are contiguous public and private land areas that support native plants and pollinators. Even the smallest green spaces,

like

small

gardens,

flower

boxes,

flower

containers, and curb strips, can be part of a pathway!

Native

hummingbirds,

Bee City USA organizer Cathy promised that Winchester

butterflies, and moths, are important to Winchester’s

pollinators,

which

include

residents would hear more about Bee City activities

biodiversity because they help plants reproduce and

very soon: “Bee City USA will be at various community

grow. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of

events, and we look forward to the opportunity to share

Agriculture, about 80 percent of flowers and 35 percent

information with other groups and organizations in the

of the world’s crops depend on pollinators to reproduce.

City.”

That means that one in three bites of food you enjoyed today might result from pollinators doing their work!

Stay tuned for more information about Bee City USA, native plants, and pollinator awareness in Winchester.

According to Winchester resident and Bee City USA

We’re just getting started!

organizer Cathy Phillips, “Bee City USA focuses on protecting our native bee species, and by extension, other

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A Portrait of Courage Thomas Laws & the Third Battle of Winchester

D

uring the Civil War Winchester was the scene of six battles and changed hands between the Union and Confederacy 72 times, more than

any other town in the country. The reason? Our City was a strategic transportation hub in the “breadbasket of the Confederacy,” as the Shenandoah Valley was often called.

In September 1964, General Philip Sheridan had recently been appointed the new commander of the Union’s “Middle Military Division,” which put him in command of the largest U.S. force ever assembled in the Shenandoah Valley. To follow up on the Union’s recent capture of Atlanta, President Lincoln and General Ulysses S. Grant wanted to keep the initiative. They ordered Sheridan to start a campaign to retake the Valley from Confederate General Jubal Early’s “Army of the Valley.”

Before striking against Early, Sheridan needed to know whether or not Early’s Army would receive reinforcements (and if so, how many?). He needed spies to help him find this intelligence.

Thomas Laws: Enslaved Man, Spy, Hero

Thomas Laws Josephine School Community Museum

much military information,” said Douglas Waller, a Civil War espionage historian.

Thomas Laws was a forty-seven-year-old enslaved Black man who lived in Clarke County with his wife, Mary. Laws

Laws agreed risk his life to act as a messenger for Sheridan

had a permit that allowed him to pass freely in and out

by passing information between the general and a Quaker

of Winchester to sell vegetables because his enslaver

woman named Rebecca Wright, who lived in Winchester.

had a home in the City. Because of his ability to move

Laws was able to conceal the messages by wrapping them

freely in and out of town, and his race, Sheridan and his

in tin foil and putting them in a small capsule that he carried

subordinates knew Laws could be an effective spy to

in his mouth. This way, if Confederates stopped him, he

share information about Early’s command to the Union.

could easily swallow the messages.

Even though Black people had played important roles in

On September 16, 1864, Laws first arrived at the home

gathering intelligence for the Union, most Confederates

of Wright on Loudoun Street. He convinced her to

“did not believe Blacks were mentally capable of disclosing

read the message from Sheridan, and she was able to

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provide information that Early would not be receiving reinforcements. In fact, she confirmed that Early would actually be sending an artillery battalion and an infantry division out of the area to help bolster the Confederate’s lines around Petersburg, Virginia.

The intelligence gathered by Laws proved invaluable to the Union’s success. With a better understanding of Confederate vulnerabilities, Sheridan launched his offensive three days after Laws returned to Clarke County,

Thomas Laws’ Grave Jonathan Noyales of the McCormick Civic War Institute at Shenandoah University

roundly defeating Early at the Third Battle of Winchester.

This battle was the last time that Winchester changed hands in the war.

A Commemoration of Thomas Laws You have an opportunity to learn more about Thomas Laws and honor his legacy! A program will be held at 3:00 p.m. on September 19, 2024, at the site of the Third Battle of Winchester. The event will commemorate Thomas Laws and his lasting impact on the battle and the trajectory of the war.

L. Prang & Co, and Thure De Thulstrup. Sheridan’s final charge at Winchester Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/92506232/

A Commemoration of Thomas Laws September 19, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.

James R. Wilkins Winchester Battlefields Visitor Center | 541 Redbud Road, Winchester, VA 2260

Sponsored by The Josephine School Community Museum In Collaboration with Shenandoah University and the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation

Special Guests Lt. Governor Winsome Sears Lt. General John F. Kimmons, 42nd Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Tracey Fitzsimmons, President Shenandoah University

Keynote Address Jonathan Noyales, Professor and Historian, Director McCormick Civil War Institute at Shenandoah University

Proclamation Vice-Mayor John Hill

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Voting in the 2024 Election The 2024 general election on Tuesday, November 5 is quickly approaching!

Here are the dates to keep in mind:

Early In-Person Voting • •

Begins September 20, 2024, at the Elections

Voter Registration Deadline

Office (107 N. East Ln.)

•

In-person voting will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.

•

Tuesday, October 15, 2024 •

Saturday voting will be available on October

•

Deadline to submit an application to receive an Absentee Ballot by mail:

26, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and on November 2, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Deadline to register to vote

Friday, October 25, 2024 •

Deadline to vote Absentee In-Person or “Early

The last day for in-person absentee voting is

Voting.”:

Saturday, November 2, 2024.

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Where to Vote Ward 1 •

Merrimans Precinct – John Kerr Elementary School – 427 Meadow Branch Avenue

•

Old Town Precinct – Christ Episcopal Church – 132 W. Boscawen Street

Ward 2 •

Virginia Avenue Precinct – Virginia Ave. Charlotte DeHart Elementary School – 550 Virginia Avenue

Ward 3 •

War Memorial Precinct – War Memorial Building – 1001 E. Cork Street

Ward 4 •

Frederick Douglass Precinct – Frederick Douglass Elementary School – 100 W. Cedarmeade Avenue

•

Rolling Hills Precinct – The Youth Development Center – 3 Battaile Drive

Neighborhood Nights This summer, the City hosted a series of “Neighborhood Nights” in the smaller parks around the City. Families from the neighborhoods around these parks stopped by to help keep things beautiful by participating in a Pickup Party, playing games, getting to know City departments like Parks and Recreation, Social Services, Fire and Rescue, Police, and Public Services, enjoying free food and snacks, and topped off their evening by watching a movie under the stars.

Don’t miss the next Neighborhood Night on September 12 at Whittier Park!

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Winter Market The

Is Coming to Town

B

e transported to a cozy European holiday market

If you know someone who needs a special message of

in beautiful, historic Old Town Winchester this

hope, good wishes, or prayer, stop by the Wishing Tree

Christmas! A village of food and crafts vendors will

area near the Godfrey Miller home, write out a wish for

be at the heart of the Loudoun Street Mall, and our many

them, and place it on the tree.

shops will be fully decked out for the holidays and offering This will be an open-air market and will be free for every-

specials for shoppers, young and old.

one to attend!

Building on last year’s tremendously popular event, the 2024 Winchester Winter Village will offer a redesigned

For more information, go to

and improved village of holiday vendors, expanded live

https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/winchester-win-

music and caroling, and even more festive holiday lights

ter-village/.

and decorations.

The event begins on Friday, December 6, with a Santa Crawl to benefit Froggy’s Closet. Purchase a ticket to participate and visit local restaurants, breweries, and bars for live music, awesome raffle prizes, and amazing discounted holiday drinks and food specials.

Then on Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 8, stroll the Loudoun Street Mall for live caroling and music, demonstrative vendors, artisan craft vendors, and a Kinder Village with Santa, the Grinch, and children’s activities. You can grab a warm serving of gluhwein, a traditional

hot

mulled

spiced

red

wine,

from

a

participating restaurant and carry it with you as you shop.

Several restaurants will also offer kinderpunch, a warm spiced cider just for kids!

On Saturday afternoon, horse-drawn wagon rides along the Loudoun Street Mall will be complimentary and firstcome, first served.

Winchester Winter Village Event Hours: Friday, December 6 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 7 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 8 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

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Winchester’s Original

Crimestoppers WPD’s Criminal Investigation Division

I

n recent years, the true crime genre has explod-

into two units: the “General Investigations Unit,” which

ed in popularity—a Google search will take you to

investigates serious felony and misdemeanor crimes and

your pick of television shows and podcasts doc-

conducts crime scene and forensic examinations, and

umenting the resolution of an (often salacious) crime.

the “Special Investigations Unit,” which gathers criminal

When watching these shows, you would be forgiven for

intelligence and investigates narcotics, gang, fire, and

assuming that investigating and solving a crime is a simple

explosives investigations.

process. Something happens: police detectives sort through evidence that conveniently pops up here and there, and…

According

voilà! The crime is solved. And usually just in time for the

commander, CID “is relentless in its pursuit of jus-

to

Lieutenant

Bielecki,

end of a 60-minute episode (with commercial breaks) or

tice…thorough

eight-episode podcast!

building partnerships within the community, and the use of

investigations,

the

internal

Division’s

cooperation,

advanced technologies” to resolve even the most Real life, however, tends to be more complicated and

complex cases. In the words of Lieutenant Bielecki, this

less tidy. Crimes occur, and it takes a top-notch team of

commitment enables CID to “stay one step ahead of

investigators, analysts, and forensic experts to determine

criminals while ensuring a safer Winchester for all.”

what happened and who was responsible. Thankfully, we have that top-notch team in Winchester! Winchester Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, or “CID,” works day and night to respond to incidents when

But how does CID achieve this lofty goal?

they occur, figure out what happened, and secure justice.

To start with, CID is staffed with many of Winchester’s Comprised of one police lieutenant, one police sergeant,

top-performing officers. To be eligible for the Crimi-

six detectives, and two crime analysts, CID is divided

nal Investigations Division, an officer must have two years of law enforcement experience. When there is an opening in the Division, interested officers submit a resume and letter explaining their interest in the position.

Officers selected to move forward in the hiring process then participate in a panel interview with supervisors and detectives from the Division. During the interview, they answer tough questions related to policing challenges they have resolved, crime scene work, and their investigative experience. They also will often be required to submit a writing sample and produce a recommendation from their supervisor that cites how they operate under pressure. Ultimately, the panel grades the CID applicants

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highly qualified,” “qualified,” or “not qualified,” and the

Finally, the CID team also works with federal law

Police Department Command Staff will decide who will be

enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, and state agencies,

selected.

such as the Virginia State Police, almost daily to track criminal trends and solve crimes. Much of this collaboration

To understand what happened at the scene of a

occurs through CID’s participation in task forces, such as

crime and identify those responsible, Winchester CID

the Northwest Regional Drug Task Force and Northwest

detectives and analysts use a range of standard investigative

Regional Gang Task Force.

techniques, such as interviewing suspected offenders and witnesses, victimology (the practice of understanding the

By employing these tactics and maintaining the highest

victim and why a crime may have happened to them), and

level of police investigative work, CID’s work is paying off

researching phone, financial, and legal records.

and helping to keep us safer. For example, last summer, CID investigated a report of possible child pornography,

CID also uses many of the most cutting-edge police

resulting in the arrest of several alleged perpetrators on

investigative techniques to solve crimes:

August 21. CID is currently investigating multiple cases ranging from auto theft to sexual assault to financial

DNA Data Bank

CID staff can enter DNA profiles obtained from persons of interest into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) at federal and state levels to look for potential matches. The Virginia DNA Data Bank contains over 400,000 offender DNA profiles.

embezzlement.

As great as our CID team is, they still need your help! If you have any tips or information regarding a potential crime, you can help them take action while remaining anonymous by calling the Winchester-Frederick County Crime Solvers hotline at 540-665-TIPS (8477) or the Win-

Forensic biology & DNA analysis

chester Police Department non-emergency line at 540662-4131. If your information leads to an arrest and conviction, you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

In addition to the DNA analysis mentioned above, the CID team examines evidence of biological material’s presence.

After the proper samples for comparison purposes are obtained, DNA analysis can be conducted on stains, and conclusions can be drawn as to whether an individual can be eliminated or included as a possible contributor to the genetic material identified.

Latent Prints

CID develops and recovers latent prints from evidence items, compares them to known exemplars, and conducts database searches.

Latent fingerprints or palm prints

determined to be of sufficient quality are searched in the Virginia Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), administered by the Virginia State Police or the FBI Next Generation Identification (NGI).

Trace evidence

Trace evidence includes fire debris, explosives, paint, hairs, fibers, glass, primer residue (PR), fracture matches,

(Left to right) Detectives Joslin, Dixon, Beatty, McCoy, Niang, and

and vehicle lamps. These types of items can link a suspect

crime analyst Ashley Boyle.

to a crime.

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E

very year, from September 15 until October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Winchester and across the country. But what’s Hispanic Heri-

tage Month all about?

First, it’s important to note that the histories of Hispan-

Independence Days across Latin America September 15th Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua

ics in America are diverse. They include the experiences

September 16th

of people with cultural, religious, and linguistic traditions

Mexico

from Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic,

September 18th

Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, among other nations from South America. It is impossible to tell

Chile

the experiences of these various groups with a single his-

September 21th

tory! That said, the diversity and breadth of the Hispanic

Belize

history in America is also what makes Hispanic Heritage Month so interesting.

Hispanic Heritage Month was first authorized in 1968, when the U.S. Congress adopted a resolution asking the President of the United States annually to issue a proclamation designating a week in September, including September 15 and 16, as “National Hispanic Heritage Week.” In 1988, Congress expanded the celebration to 31 days beginning September 15. The resolution calls “on the people of the United States, especially the educational community, to observe National Hispanic Heritage Month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

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People of Hispanic heritage have long played an important role in Virginia.

Hispanic Heritage Month also coincides with Independence

owned, and an increasing number of special events

Day celebrations in many Latin American countries—

celebrating Hispanic heritage and culture are being

including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,

organized, joining long-standing events like “Celebración

and Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile—as well as “Día de

of Winchester.” New leaders of Hispanic heritage are

la Nación Pluricultural” (October 12), which is known by

emerging in the community, like Sinclair Health Clinic’s

different titles but is generally celebrated as a holiday

Executive Director, Dr. Mercedes Abbet, and Winchester

throughout much of Latin America.

Economic

Development

Authority

Deputy

Director

Vanessa Santiago. Finally, a wide range of public and People of Hispanic heritage have long played an important

private institutions such as the J2W Foundation, Handley

role in Virginia. Did you know that from 2010 to 2020,

Library, Literacy Volunteers, United Way, Braddock Street

Virginia’s Hispanic population grew from about seven to

United Methodist Church, and the City of Winchester are

eleven percent of the state’s total population, an increase

coming together to launch new initiatives like “Leyendo

of about 43 percent?

Juntos,” a community-driven program focused on helping Hispanic families thrive and integrate into the community.

irginia also has over 6,000 V Hispanic-owned businesses, which provide jobs for nearly 50,000 Virginians.

Winchester benefits from its Hispanic heritage in many

Here in Winchester, Hispanic residents comprise nearly a

Who knows, maybe you’ll even pick up a few words of

fifth of the City’s total population, according to the 2020 census. Not only that, children with Hispanic heritage

ways—from its schools to the City’s many restaurants that serve tasty Latin American cuisine! Take advantage of Hispanic Heritage Month this September and October to learn more about this vibrant community, and check out the calendar on the next page for more information on upcoming Hispanic-themed events.

Spanish along the way!

are the largest demographic group in the Winchester Public Schools, representing 43 percent of all students. A growing number of businesses in our City are Hispanic-

Turn to page 14 for the Hispanic Heritage Month Calendar of Events

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Hispanic Heritage Month Calendar of Events

Perreo Land with DJ Casimiro

Latin Festival

September 6 (9:00 p.m.)

Brightbox Theatre 15 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester

September 7 (5:30 - 8:00 p.m.)

Braddock Street United Methodist Church 115 Wolfe Street, Winchester *Fundraiser for “Just Neighbors”

Festival de Salsa

Noche Mexicana: A Celebration of U.S.-Mexico Friendship

September 14 (5:00 - 9:00 p.m.)

Youth Development Center 3 Battaile Drive, Winchester

Celebracíon of Winchester

September 21 (12:00 - 4:00 p.m.)

Old Town Walking Mall Winchester

Gabriel Alegría Afro Peruvian Jazz Sextet

October 6 (2:30 p.m.)

Armstrong Concert Hall 702 University Drive, Winchester

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September 15 (1:00 - 6:00 p.m.)

Old Town Walking Mall Winchester

Arte Libre VA Paper Flower Workshop

September 27 (4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

Old Town Walking Mall, Taylor Pavillion Winchester

Arte Libre VA Paper Flower Workshop

October 13 (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Old Town Walking Mall, Taylor Pavillion Winchester

Neighborly Advice Nominations are Open for the Mayor’s Excellence Awards Do you know someone or a group of people doing great things in the Winchester community?

Nominate them for the Mayor’s Excellence Award

by October 31. Award winners will be recognized at the December Council meeting and on the City’s website and social media pages. Submit nominations

Skate Park Ribbon Cutting Join Winchester Parks and Recreation on Thursday, September 19, at 6:00 p.m. for a ribbon cutting of the new Skate Park at Jim Barnett Park. The new skate park is located near the Bridgeforth Field entrance to Jim Barnett Park on Cork Street.

at winchesterva.gov/meetmayor.

Trash Schedule Changes for Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Be a Neighborhood Hero: Be a Snowbuster!

Trash collection for Indigenous Peoples’ Day

We’re already preparing for the second year

to Wednesday, October 16. Please

of our Snowbuster volunteer snow removal

note that there will be no yard waste

program! City Snowbuster volunteers help

pickup collected on the 16th.

(Monday, October 14) will be moved

their neighbors by clearing the snow from their sidewalks after a storm, so they can comply with the City’s Charter (which requires residents to clear their sidewalks of snow within 24 hours of most storms).

We are looking for volunteers to serve as Snowbusters this winter! If you are interested in helping out or need Snowbuster assistance apply online at winchesterva. gov/Snowbusters.

Submit Photos for the 2025 City Calendar Submit your best photos of the City of Winchester to be included in the 2025 City of Winchester calendar (and maybe some other City promotional items, too)! This is a calendar that hangs year-round in our residents’ homes and offices to share important dates for holiday closings and trash collection changes, public meetings,

City-sponsored

events, and much more!

Submit

your

photos

at

winchesterva.gov/calendar.

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