Biographies for the 2025 Board candidates will be published in the October Talk of the Colony. Read about the candidates and save the date for one of these two in-person meetings -

November 13 | 6:30 p.m. | S&T Club

November 17 | 3:30 p.m. | S&T Club

 

Army worms have come back to this area and are quite active on portions of the golf course and FCHOA common areas.  The army worms aren’t isolated to certain areas and are widespread being found on Edinburgh, St. Andrew’s, Ford’s Colony Drive and all 3 golf courses.  As of now we have only seen them in the Bermuda grass and not in the fescue but they do like fescue and they could switch to fescue.  Thankfully cooler temperatures are on the horizon and staff does expect for the army worms to slow down later this week.  

 

If you notice brown patches in your turf, take a look to see if you notice any army worms and they are easier to see in the early morning hours when they are more active.  There are several ways to eradicate army worms and a simple Google search will show you options to consider.  It is important to treat your lawn as quickly as possible because they will do quite a bit of damage in one night.  As an example, the turf damage on Longhill Road approaching Ford’s Colony Drive inbound happened in 24 hours or less.  All of the brown turf on the Longhill Road hillside is army worm damage.  Bermuda grass will not die from army worms since they only eat the leaf and not the roots but with fescue, especially newly established fescue can be permanently damaged. 
 
COMMUNITY NEWS

 

Early voting for the November 5 election has started in Virginia. The James City County Early Vote Center is open Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. until November 1. The Center will also be open on Saturday, October 26 and Saturday, November 2. During the early voting period all voters cast their ballots at the Center located at 4095 Ironbound Road.

 

Eligible voters who need to register to vote or apply for a mail-in Absentee Ballot can complete the process online here or in person at the James City County Office of Elections which is also located at 4095 Ironbound Road.

 

 

James City County has launched an exciting effort to update the currently adopted 2035 Strategic Plan. Shaped by community feedback, the Strategic Plan Update will build a strong foundation for future investments, the provision of public services and facilities, and County work plans in the coming years.

 

You are invited to be part of it! Tune in to the newest episode of This Week in James City County and learn more. Public comments on the initial goals and areas of emphasis are open until October 10, 2024. Learn more here: https://youtu.be/m5_pDFb7mQQ. To get involved visit the James City County website: https://jamescitycountyva.gov/2708/Strategic-Plan-Update.

 

CLUBS & ACTIVITIES NEWS             

 

 

Have you recently lost a loved one or lifelong partner? Are you struggling to determine what your “new normal” will be and how to move forward? You are not alone. Come together with other members of the Ford’s Colony community who are also experiencing a sense of loss. The Grief Support Group, facilitated by Marie Phillips, a licensed professional counselor, and sponsored by the Activities Committee/Aging In Place Service group, would like to meet on Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. in the S&T Club for eight-weeks beginning October 3. Space is limited to 10 participants. If you are interested, please contact Marie Phillips at 609-206-2343 or mariephillips88@gmail.com.

 

 

The Green Team has scheduled three recycling collections for Saturday:

 

James City County (JCC) Purple Bin Glass Recycling - Bring your clean empty glass bottles and jars and they will be delivered to the Toano glass manufacturing plant. In exchange JCC will receive a donation to United Way. There will also be a limited number of purple bins to give away to residents.

 

Soft Plastic Recycling - The James City Lions Club teams up with the Green Team for soft plastic recycling the first Saturday of each month. Bring your grocery bags and other acceptable plastic (see attachment below for acceptable items) and help prevent filling landfills.

 

Sneaker Recycling - Bring your used sneakers tied or banded together and separated from the soft plastic.

 

 

Tours will start at the Chisel Run Pond dam and we’ll be walking on level ground. During this one hour tour you’ll learn about the trees and woody shrubs, their ecological significance and how they were used in colonial times. Park on only one side of Westbury Hills away from its intersection with Williamsburg West. Limited to 20 residents per tour. Register by email to RPM-CHAIR@fchoa.net 

 

 

For those that would like to sell items at the yard sale space needs to be reserved in advance and can be reserved starting September 15. 

 

Tables are $25 each/ One table per person; only 15 center aisle tables will be available. One table per person first signing up.

 

Vendors can bring one card table per table purchased. Tables will be assigned. Checks are made payable to Phyllis Eastman and dropped off to the John Pott Guardhouse, after September 15. 

 

Contact Phyllis at 757-810-5490 or reastman2003@verizon.net

 

 

The Craft Club's Holiday Craft Faire is Saturday, October 19 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the S&T Club. The S&T Club will be filled with premier examples of a variety of handmade items. A few of the vendors will be doing demonstrations to give you a backstage view of the techniques involved in the craftwork.

Come on out and you’re sure to say “Hey, will you look at that? It is just what I wanted."

 

 

This class has been changed from September 16 to October 21. Space is still available.

 

This class will provide basic lifesaving emergency procedures for Hands-on CPR and AED training. Please sign up for this class by clicking the link here .

 
FORD’S COLONY COUNTRY CLUB EVENTS

 

We are thrilled to announce a new chapter for Ford's Colony Country Club with the arrival of Up to Par Management as the new club management partner. This marks the start of a vibrant era filled with community engagement, enhanced services, and a renewed dedication to excellence.

 

More information about the new management is attached below.

 

 

Where "golf meets life." We are part of a worldwide Christian fellowship, which began in the early 1980s, and currently has over two hundred active groups throughout the United States. We study the Bible together and how these scriptures can be applied to our everyday life. We look forward to having you join us! For further information contact Mike Cochrane at coachbaba1@gmail.com

 

All events listed here are open to all Ford’s Colony HOA members. For future events and complete event information click here.

 

October 5 | Marsh Hawk Band | 3 – 7 p.m. | AleWerks Brewing Company - Benefit for Heritage Humane Society

 

October 27 | Trunk or Treat | 3 - 5 p.m. | Ford's Colony Country Club 

REFERENCE

 

Click here to view the answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Homeowners Association on the FCHOA web site.

 

Click here for a printable listing of contact information for local utilities, emergency medical facilities, FCHOA contacts, country club contacts and other emergency services near Ford's Colony. This list can also be found on fchoa.org under ABOUT US, AREA GUIDE, New Resident Docs..

 

Up-to-date information is available on fchoa.org and to view the current issue click on: Talk of the Colony.