Today’s Virginia Gazette illustrates the benefit of a local newspaper. All three main stories on the front page, plus the small photo above the masthead, feature either local stories or a local twist on stories of more national interest.
The lead above-the-fold story is about the death of Gil Granger, a longtime Williamsburg civic leader and businessman, who died Saturday at the age of 87. He was active in the community when we were in college here in the 1960s, and continued to be involved in civic affairs for the next 50 years. When he first ran for office, his slogan was “Get Involved Locally” (a play on his first name) and he always followed his own advice. In addition to his political and commercial involvement in the town, he was the face of the local Kiwanis. His son Greg is also an active member of the community, servings as a member of the Planning Commission and president of a local radio station, WMBG. In addition, he was an active alum of the Lambda Chi Alpha, Tim’s college fraternity, and he interacted regularly with the local chapter.
This story allows readers to connect to an international story by focusing on the participation of a local man, Lance Zaal, a former marine and current owner of the tour program Colonial Ghosts, in the war in Ukraine. He joined the Marines on September 11, 2001, and served on active duty from 2002 to 2006, during which he served two deployments to Iraq. After he retired at the rank of sergeant, he earned an undergraduate degree in economics and international relations from W&M and then earned an MBA at the college business school. It was during his time at the business school that he met Ivan Matveichenko, a Ukrainian national who was in the business school with him. It was a call from Matveichenko in early 2022 that eventually impelled Zaal to go to Ukraine to help his old friend train and arm soldiers in the war zone. He is currently in Ukraine to deliver more military supplies for Matveichenko's squad, made up mainly of civilians.
At a time when the US involvement in Ukraine is being used as a political football in public discourse in the United States, this story moves the focus from the international game of “gotcha” and places it squarely on the situation on the ground in Ukraine. The story was particularly poignant when it noted that Matveichenko was wounded at the end of 2022 and is not currently on the battlefield.
The last front-page story for today focuses on the newest Federal holiday, Juneteenth, which was celebrated in Williamsburg on Saturday. Again, the national right-wing narrative diminishes the importance of any history that portrays American history in anything less than glowing terms. What Juneteenth proclaims is a counter-narrative that recognizes the flaws in our national past and seeks a more just future for marginalized communities.
By all reports, this was a wonderful community celebration attended by residents of all colors. I particularly like the picture I’ve included in this article. Laura Hill, the organizer of the local interracial outreach group Coming to the Table – Historic Triangle, is front and center in this picture. But the people in the picture with her tell an extended story. The man in the green cap behind her is John McGlennon, a government professor at William and Mary, a member of the James City County Board of Supervisors, and a longtime progressive activist in the community. Next to him is Kim Hundley, a former public school educator and a new member of the county School Board and a vocal advocate for public education. The man in the blue shirt is Williamsburg major Doug Pons, a longtime progressive community activist and supporter of diversity and inclusion in Williamsburg. Vice-Mayor Pat Dent, leaning in from the side of the picture, is the retired Williamsburg Fire Chief and another ally of progressive elements in the city. Williamsburg is a blue dot between reddish York County and James City County, but the voices of progressives are well-represented in local government. One of the benefits of a small community is that it’s easy to identify the good guys.
And finally, the picture above the masthead directs the reader to turn to page three to read about a 4-man cross-country skateboarding team (I didn’t know such a thing existed) that embarked from Williamsburg on Saturday and plans to cross the country in 14 days, nearly 10 days faster than the existing record. The inside article first describes the participants, including Paul Andras – once the world record-holder in the most miles – 308 – pushed in a 24-hour period, and he currently holds the 24-hour record for the most miles skate-poled (meaning he uses a pole to help propel the skateboard forward). His teammates are described as “similarly accomplished.”
They will be using the leapfrog relay method, which the article describes this way: “[It] involved multiple team members skating simultaneously to accomplish more miles at a time. The first skater begins at the starting point, with the second skater taking the support vehicle up a certain number of miles to begin there. Once the first skater catches up to where the second skater began, they get in the car and leapfrog again, setting off at a certain distance ahead.” I had to sketch this out to understand it, but I think I get it now.
The group began the trip by dipping the back wheels of their boards in the James River, symbolizing leaving one coast. In 14 days, they hope to dip their front wheels into the Pacific Ocean in Newport, Oregon. Jack Smith (no, not the one you’re thinking about) was part of the first team that completed a skateboard crossing of America in 1976. He and his son will serve as the team’s support crew for this year’s journey.
This is not just all fun and games. The purpose of the ride is to call attention to the needs of people with so-called “invisible disabilities.” The Invisible Disabilities Association defines the term this way: “Not always obvious to the onlooker, but can sometimes or always limit daily activities, range from mild challenges to severe limitations, and vary from person to person.” Invisible disabilities include, but are not limited to, debilitating pain, fatigue, dizziness, cognitive dysfunctions, brain injuries, learning differences, and mental health disorders, as well as hearing and vision impairments.
If this interests you – or if you have a skateboard-obsessed child, grandchild, or neighbor – you can follow the team on Facebook at “The Push – A Skateboarding Relay Across America,” on YouTube @ThePush-SkateAcrossAmerica, or on Instagram @thepushskater. I checked a couple of these sites: by yesterday, they were west of Gordonsville, VA, 117 miles from their start point. One of the riders, Miles Kipper, was apparently “rocking the free world.” (Look, I don’t run the FB feed. This is what it said.) Yesterday, they apparently “pushed” 15 miles on a dead-end road and had to turn around. That had to set them back a bit. They also posted a hint — pickles help hydrate and reduce cramps. I know this is the content you came for.
I love it here. We're lucky to have such a great community.
Yes, Williamsburg is a great community!