Governor Spanberger Announces Board Appointments

Commonwealth of Virginia Office of Governor Abigail Spanberger FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, July 2, 2026 CONTACT: press@governor.virginia.gov Governor Spanberger Announces Board Appointments  RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger today announced the following board appointments.   “I am proud to appoint this exceptional group of leaders to serve our Commonwealth,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger. “I have full confidence that they will use their extensive personal and professional experience to serve their neighbors with dedication and integrity as we advance our shared mission to make Virginia safer, stronger, and more affordable for all — now and into the future.”   AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY   Milk Commission   Mark Mitchell of Glade Spring, Retired, Backcountry Farm   COMMONWEALTH   Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism   Jason Ascher of Arlington, Political Director, Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Association Chanda D. Cole of Chesterfield, Insurance Industry Professional, USAA  Lakeesha Atkinson of Portsmouth, Portsmouth School Board Jason Townsend of Mineral, Director of Agricultural Products, U.S. Africa Trade Desk Dr. Keshia A. Brown of Chesapeake, Pastor, The Mount @Chesapeake Dr. Sara Holtz of Fairfax, Adjunct faculty, George Mason University   African American Advisory Board   Hope Cupit of Bedford, CEO, SERCAP, INC. Alicia E. Smith of Norfolk, JD, Principal, Estelle Lee Solutions, LLC Commission on Men and Boys   Eldon Burton of Chesterfield, Special Assistant for Strategic Initiatives and Associate VP for Government Relations, Virginia State University Stanley Meador, Secretary of Public Safety Dr. Jeffery Smith, Secretary of Education Carrie Chenery, Secretary of Commerce & Trade Marvin Figueroa, Secretary of Health & Human Resources   Council on Women   Jennifer Siciliano of Charlottesville, Chief External Affairs Officer, UVA Health Shantell Rock of Prince William County, Senior Paralegal, Akin Gump   Latino Advisory Board   Mario Flores of Fairfax, Principal Government Relations Advisor, Navy Federal Credit Union Juan Santacoloma of Chesterfield, Community Outreach Specialist, Chesterfield County Public Schools Robert Vendel of Keysville, Managing Partner, Vendel Partners LLC Christian Martinez Lemus of Stafford, Research and Policy Analyst, CASA Yesy Amaya of Manassas Park, Council Member, City of Manassas Park Anita Nadal of Glen Allen, Assistant Professor and Faculty Fellow for Community Engagement, Virginia Commonwealth University   LGBTQ+ Advisory Board   *Kellen MacBeth of Arlington, President & Founder, Equality Arlington Trong Nguyen of Providence Forge, Director of Talent Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness, Department of Motor Vehicles Sabrina Temoche of Loudoun, Student, George Mason University Bryan Price of Danville, Program Manager, Virginia Rural Health Association Michael Aho of Falls Church, Adjunct Faculty, George Mason University Susan Park of King George, Proposal Manager, Bechtel   EDUCATION   A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership   Dr. Tashika Griffith of Fredericksburg, President, Germanna Community College   Board of Education   *William Robinson of Crozet, UVA Partnership for Leaders in Education Executive Director, UVA Darden School Foundation Dr. Aaliyah Samuel of Fairfax, Education Consultant   Commission on School Construction and Modernization   Juan Durvelle Young of Caroline, Licensed Insurance Agent, Nexus Wealth Builders   Education Commission of the States   Joy McManus of Alexandria, Retired Allan Scott Fleming, Executive Director, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia   Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia   Beau Dickenson of Harrisonburg, Social Studies Supervisor, Rockingham County Public Schools & Virginia Social Studies Leaders Consortium Carolyn Dull of Staunton, Retired, City of Staunton Dr. Taneisha Brown of Richmond, Senior Advisor to the President, Virginia State University   Institute for Advanced Learning and Research   Ben Davenport, Jr. of Chatham, Chairman, First Piedmont Corporation   Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation   Lana Real of King William, Paralegal, Upper Mattaponi Tribe Sue Gerdelman of James City, Retired Ervin Jordan of Charlottesville, Associate Professor, University of Virginia Jim Wheaton of Williamsburg, Clinical Associate Professor, William & Mary Law School   Legislative Advisory Council to the Southern Regional Education Board   Delegate Shelly Simonds, 70th House District Delegate Lily Franklin, 41st House District Senator Lashrecse Aird, 13th Senate District Delegate Margaret Franklin, 23rd House District Delegate Briana Sewell, 25th House District   The Library Board   Dr. K.T. Vaughan of Harrisonburg, Hal F. and Barbra Buckner Higginbotham University Librarian, Washington and Lee University Stanley Reid of Fairfax, Retired, Strategic Sciences LLC Laura Blevins of Abingdon, Southwest Virginia Regional Director, Office of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine Suzy Palmer of Richmond, Retired Academic Librarian, Longwood University   New College Institute   Teddy Martin of Bassett, Chief People Officer, GENEDGE (A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership) O. Randolph Rollins of Martinsville, Attorney-at-Law, O Randolph Rollins PLC   Norfolk State University Board of Visitors   *Dr. Harold Watkins of Richmond, Clinician, Nexus   Radford University Board of Visitors   Stacey Brayboy of Alexandria, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, March of Dimes   Roanoke Higher Education   Christen Brooke Miles of Roanoke, Vice President, HR and Community Engagement, RGC Resources, Inc. Shaenita Leann Horton of Roanoke, District Senior Manager, Wells Fargo Bank   Science Museum of Virginia   Tram Nguyen of Richmond, Co-Executive Director, New Virginia Majority Craig Group of Charlottesville, Professor of Physics, University of Virginia Gina Burgin of Henrico, Deputy General Counsel, Dominion Energy Adam Spanberger of Richmond, Engineer, L3Harris Technologies, Inc   Southern Regional Education Board   Senator Lashrecse Aird, 13th Senate District Jenna Conway, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Virginia Department of Education   Southern Virginia Higher Education Center   Grey Watson of Halifax, Executive Director, Sentara Health   University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors   Charles Shackleton McDaniel of Washington, D.C., Vice President, Hilldrup   Virginia Commission for the Arts   Dr. Sylvio Lynch of Richmond, Planner/Secretary of History and Culture Commission, City of Richmond Ashley Webb of Roanoke, Executive Director & Curator, Historical Society of Western Virginia Rowena Federico Finn of Virginia Beach, Artist & Educator, Self   Virginia Museum of Natural History   Christine Louise May of Augusta, Professor of Biology, James Madison University Dr. John Almarode of Waynesboro, Professor of Education, James Madison University   FINANCE Treasury Board   G. Robert Vaughan of Salem, Senior Vice President, Finance & Treasurer, Carilion Clinic Maria Tedesco of Richmond, President and Chief Operating Officer, Atlantic Union Bank   Virginia Resources Authority   Rodney Hathaway of New Kent, County Administrator, New Kent County   PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY   Scientific Advisory Committee   Robert Miles of Richmond, Special Agent Forensic Scientist Supervisor, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation   Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority   Dr. Lucretia Mason-Underdue of Portsmouth, Therapist, Magellan Health   TRANSPORTATION   Aerospace Advisory Council   Yiannis Papelis of Norfolk, Executive Director of Virginia Institute for Spaceflight and Autonomy, Old Dominion University Erik Rison of Richmond, Senior Manager, State Advocacy, Government Operations, The Boeing Company Dr. Christopher Goyne of Charlottesville, Professor, University of Virginia Kurt D. Eberly of Arlington, Director of Space Launch Programs, Northrop Grumman Evan Koppel of Loudoun, Director of Sales, Atlantic Region, United Airlines Roosevelt Mercer of Norfolk, CEO & Executive Director, Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority Air and Space Center Board of Directors   Robin McDougal of Reston, Founder/Chair, The Pearl Project Institute for Innovation in STEM Literacy Donna Speller Turner of Virginia Beach, President, Advantage Business Strategies, Inc. Gerard Hall of Chesapeake, Senior Program Manager, MCH Consulting Services William Coleman of Henrico, Senior Program Manager, CommonSpirit Health Aviation Board   Don Long of Charlottesville, Attorney, Flora Pettit PC Maggie Ragon of Staunton, Commissioner of Revenue, City of Staunton Board of Commissioners of the Virginia Port Authority Malcolm P. Mitchell, Jr. of Portsmouth, Founder, Digital Handshake, Inc. Yogi Singh of Richmond, Partner, 1850 Investments David Hallock of Richmond, President, Two Capitols Consulting *Maurice Jones of Norfolk, CEO/Founder, MJConnects   Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission   Lisa Cuba of Accomack, Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer, Forbright Bank Jeff Walker of Northampton, Retired Airline Pilot, Continental Airlines   Commonwealth Transportation Board   Grindly Johnson of Richmond, Consultant/Lobbyist, Perception Charles Payne of Fredericksburg, Managing Partner of Fredericksburg Office, Hirschler Law Jim Moye of Mineral, Senior Vice President, American Bankers Association Marianne Moffat Radcliff of Richmond, President, Kemper Consulting C. Dulany Morison of Loudoun, Co-Owner, Stoke Farm LLC   Medical Advisory Board for Department of Motor Vehicles   Lauren Holleman Grawert of Arlington, Chief Medical Officer, Aware Recovery Care Passenger Rail Authority   Patricia H. Doersch of Falls Church, Attorney, NADA Prescott Sherrod of Virginia Beach, CEO, PEMCCO INC. Amanda Pratter of Woodbridge, Director of Policy Advocacy, Gilead Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads   Rodney Nickens of Chesapeake, Political Consultant, R&N Strategies LLC Joe Harmon of Portsmouth, Coordinator of Secondary Performing Arts, Portsmouth Public Schools   VETERANS & DEFENSE AFFAIRS   Board of Veterans Services   *Sonja Lemott of Stafford, Retired, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency *Vonzell Mattocks of Prince William, Director, Northern Virginia Regional Commission Donna Lewis of Virginia Beach, Speech Language Pathologist, SECEP Carrie Ricci of City of Fairfax, Former General Counsel, United States Army   Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations   Meredith Burns of Arlington, Veterans Services Program Manager & Senior VSO, Navy Mutual Aid Association Robert Pryor of Henrico, Military Outreach Representative, Office of Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan   Veterans Services Foundation Board of Trustees   *Steven Arango of Vienna, Lawyer, Jenner & Block *Col. Matt Scalia of James City, Retired, U.S. Army   *Denotes reappointment ###

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Colonial National Historical Park saw a dramatic decline in visitations last year, new data shows

Plus: Meals taxes are up in York County. James City County's FY2027 budget is set to be adopted tonight.

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May 12, 2026 Happy Tuesday, Historic Triangle! Our day started off with chilly temperatures in the 40s, but much warmer weather is on the way. Afternoon highs will rise into the 70s today and tomorrow. Scattered showers are likely overnight on Wednesday into Thursday morning, according to WTKR News 3 Meteorologist Myles Henderson. The rain will usher in a cooldown on Thursday.  The 5-day temperature trend. (Image by Meteorologist Myles Henderson) Temperatures will pick up again this weekend, with highs in the 80s by Saturday. As a reminder, James City County's budget for the upcoming fiscal year is slated to be adopted tonight. Residents will have one final opportunity to comment on the proposed budget during the Board of Supervisors' regular meeting, which begins at 5 p.m. Now to the news. -Christin Colonial National Historical Park saw a dramatic decline in visitations last year, new data shows Yorktown Battlefield. (NPS photo) Colonial National Historical Park (CNHP) experienced a steep decline in visitation last year, according to recently released National Park Service tallies. The federally protected site, which is home to Yorktown Battlefield and Historic Jamestowne, only drew about 1.6 million visitors in 2025, down from 2.5 million in 2024.  The data paints a picture of steadily declining visitation over the past five years. In 2021, the park logged more than 3.1 million visits.  National parks across the Commonwealth and the nation were impacted by NPS layoffs, reductions in operating hours and challenges related to the longest-lasting government shutdown in history. Still, the drop in visits at CNHP was more dramatic than at any other national park we analyzed.  Shenandoah National Park, for instance, recorded 1.68 million visitors in 2025, down from 1.72 million the year before. But visitation was still higher last year than in 2021, 2022 and 2023, even though 15 park employees were laid off amid federal cuts. NPS began requiring entrance fees in 2023 for all visitors recreating at Colonial National Historical Park, including the parkway. Locals widely criticized the policy, with many arguing the charges could negatively impact tourism and deter residents from visiting the park.  Total recorded visits to CNHP were down by more than 42% in 2025 compared to 2022, before the mandatory entrance fees went into effect.  Per the fee policy, people who visit the park or use the parkway for any activity other than commuting must pay for a standard pass, which costs $15 per person, per visit. Annual passes are available for $45. The entrance fee applies to adults and teens aged 16 and older, though some individuals, including seniors and military members, qualify for discounted or free annual passes. An additional $15 entrance fee is also charged for each adult who enters the Preservation Virginia portions of Historic Jamestowne, which includes the James Fort Site, Archaearium, Memorial Church and Dale House Cafe. Last year, about 9 million fewer visits were cumulatively recorded at national parks throughout the U.S., meaning the drop in visitation at CNHP accounted for a significant portion of the overall nationwide decline.  Conversely, a few national parks in Virginia saw increases in visitation in 2025, including Assateague, which drew 2.3 million visitors, up from 2.2 million in 2024. George Washington's Birthplace drew 72,000 last year, up from 59,000 the year before. Local leaders have expressed optimism in an anticipated resurgence of tourism for the nation's 250th anniversary in 2026. Impacts to Colonial National Historical Park remain to be seen. In August 2023, NPS initiated a Colonial Parkway rehabilitation project that was initially scheduled to be fully completed by June 30, 2026, ahead of the semiquincentennial Independence Day celebrations.  That timeline has been pushed out, with park officials announcing earlier this year that construction will still be underway well into the fall. According to the most recent NPS update, the final segments - which include Hubbard Lane to Penniman Road and Newport Avenue to Route 199 - are not expected to be completed until November. "The Colonial Parkway is now expected to fully reopen by late fall 2026," the park service stated in a news release. "This extension allows time to complete additional infrastructure needs and deferred maintenance projects, as well as rework in certain areas to meet NPS standards for aesthetic craftsmanship and historical integrity." Busch Gardens Williamsburg also experienced a drop in visitation in 2025. Marc Swanson, the park's CEO, attributed the decline to reduced international tourism as well as volatile weather during traditionally busy times of the year. In a call to investors in March, Swanson said he was working on a plan to attract more guests and drive revenue in the coming months.  An NPS spokesperson did not respond to our request for comment when asked about the decline in visitation at CNHP. NEWS TO KNOW Meals tax to increase in York County amid adoption of FY2027 budget Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown. (York County) The York County Board of Supervisors adopted a $314 million budget for the 2027 fiscal year that includes a 2% increase to the meals tax. In brief: Proposed by County Administrator Mark Bellamy, the budget maintains the current real estate tax rate of 78 cents per $100 in assessed value. Still, reassessments in the county are up by an average of more than 11%, meaning many homeowners will still face higher tax bills. The supervisors approved an ordinance that raises the meals tax from 4% to 6%. Effective July 1, 2026, prepared meals served in the county will come with a 13% total tax rate when the state and Historic Triangle sales taxes are factored in. No changes were made to the personal property tax rate, which stands at $4 per $100 of assessed value. Bimonthly sewer rates are set to rise from $54 to $57 for residential customers, and the majority of customers will see a $1 per month rate increase for garbage and recycling services. Supervisor Doug Holroyd of District 1 acknowledged that the meals tax hike has become a "hot topic" among Historic Triangle residents. But the supervisors felt the increase was necessary to avoid raising property taxes, he said.  "It isn't just residents who contribute" to the meals tax, Holroyd said. "Every visitor, every tourist that comes into the county and dines... helps contribute to it. So it helps spread that load out." Opinion: As James City County budget adoption looms, disconnect between supervisors and residents is apparent A rendering of the new James City County Government Center, currently under construction. (James City County) James City County residents are feeling the pain as local cost-of-living increases continue to pile up. The Board of Supervisors appears to be disconnected from their day-to-day reality, writes guest columnist Tommy Turner. Below is an excerpt. by Tommy Turner The board does not count taxes the way residents count taxes. Residents count cumulatively. They live in one household. The bills arrive in one envelope or one inbox. The property tax goes up. The meals tax goes up. The water bill goes up. The ambulance fee goes up. The sales tax has been higher than in any other Virginia county for seven years. Each piece is small. The pile is large. Residents have been doing this addition for months. They are doing it at kitchen tables and on the way to work and during the part of the night when the bills don’t let them sleep. The board counts categorically. Each tax is a separate conversation. The meals tax is presented in staff calculations of “96 cents for a couple” dining out. The property tax is presented as a “three-cent reduction” from the prior rate. The new admissions tax is presented as a credit-rating instrument that “would play very well with the rating agency.”  The utility increase, the ambulance fee, the speed-camera revenue, the regional sales tax surcharge — each is its own line, in its own meeting, defended on its own merits, compared to its own narrow set of jurisdictions. Nowhere in the budget deliberations does any supervisor request a single number representing what a typical household actually pays this year that it did not pay two years ago. That number does not exist in the board’s deliberations. It exists in residents’ kitchens. If you watch enough of these meetings, you start to notice why the board’s math diverges so sharply from the residents’ math. The supervisors say so themselves, on the record, in their own words. On May 12 at 5 p.m., at the Government Center on Mounts Bay Road, the board will have a public comment period, during which the question facing residents is the total. Residents will need to add. The board still won’t. Read the full opinion piece here. This newsletter is written by local journalist Christin Nielsen. Thanks for reading! The Triangle is made possible by the generous donations of our readers. Donate here to help us keep going. Sent to: godlyman@alexanderofyork.com Want to change how you receive The Triangle? Update your preferences here or unsubscribe here. The Triangle, P.O. Box 7004, Williamsburg, VA 23188, United States