YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1978 w w w. j a m e s t o w n n e w s . c o m
weekly edition
Dec. 10-16, 2025 Vol 47 No 50 | 1 Section | 6 Pages
Have you ever wanted to spend Christmas in a castle, like several of the movies on Hallmark Channel? If so, this is your year. Renaissance Church is presenting Christmas at the Castle Dec. 21 at Castle McCulloch, one of the Triad’s most unique historical landmarks. “Families once came here searching for treasure [gold] … now we gather to celebrate the joy Christ brings and to make memories that last for years,” said promotional material. Beginning at 9 a.m., events will be repeating until 1 p.m. Guests can hear live carolers
and musicians filling the castle grounds with Christmas cheer. There will be Kids’ Christmas crafts and multiple locations for professional family photos around the historic castle and bridges. Of course, Santa Claus will be on hand. Have your photo taken professionally with the jolly man in red. Free hot cocoa and warm holiday treats are also available. Being sponsored by a church, there is a sacred component to Christmas at the Castle. “There will be a live nativity and a short message every half hour,” said Mark Meeks, Renaissance Church communications director. The traditional candlelight Christmas moment, adapted
for daytime, will also add to the special meaning of the season. Meeks said there will be a giveaway for four season passes to Carowinds. The best part? Everything is completely free — including parking. The exception is the food trucks serving coffee and doughnuts will charge. “We were looking for a place to gather while waiting for our new building to finish,” Meeks said. The church worked with Castle McCulloch owners to come up with this event. “We had done Easter at the [City Lake] Park last year,” Meeks continued. “It was a great event for us. We are hoping for 2,500-3,000 people to come to the Castle.”
Graphic courtesy Renaissance Church
By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com
Spend Christmas at the Castle
With its castle walls, stone walkways, water features, and wooded grounds, Castle McCulloch creates a picture-perfect backdrop for a Christmas festival the entire family will never forget.
Come discover a place where history, family, and the message of Christmas come together in a celebration made just for the Triad. Castle McCulloch is located at 3925 Kivett Dr. in Jamestown.
Board approves fence height variance By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com Jamestown’s Board of Adjustment held a rare meeting Dec. 3 to determine whether a variance should be granted to J.C. Hohenstein, 208 Newberry St., for fence height relief to increase the rear fence height from 5 feet to 8 feet. Hohenstein’s driveway is off East Fork Road, not Newberry St. The current Land Development Ordinance fence
height regulation in Jamestown is a maximum of 5 feet for residential properties adjacent to a road, but Hohenstein said since his property slopes downward below the East Fork roadway, a 5 feet fence is “ineffective.” He wishes to replace the current nonconforming 7-foot fence, which was erected before he purchased the property, and extend it to cover the entire property line. The meeting was a quasisee fence, page 2
Water treatment method to temporarily change By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com It is that time of year again. No, not the Christmas season but the yearly switch of the town’s water treatment method. Each year Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority, the town’s primary source for water, temporarily switches from chloramines to free chlorine. This year the change is scheduled to begin on or about Dec. 7 through April 2026. Jamestown’s water customers recently received notice of the change. “While chloramine disinfection is the preferred method of water treatment, it is a weaker disinfectant,” reads the notice. “PTRWA will follow the
recommendation to switch back to free chlorine for approximately five months to reduce the likelihood of bacteria growing in the water system. “Some customers may experience the temporary taste and odor of chlorine in the coming months. This is a normal part of the process and will not affect water quality. At the conclusion of the maintenance process when chloramines are resumed, the taste and odor of chlorine will simply disappear.” Greensboro, High Point, Archdale, Burlington and Reidsville are members of PTRWA and are all planning to switch. Jamestown water customers who have questions may contact the Town at 336-454-1138.
Christmas on Main offers fun for everyone By NORMA B. DENNIS FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com If you want to purchase some lastminute Christmas gifts or just share a bit of Christmas enjoyment you need look no farther than Jamestown’s Christmas on Main. On Dec. 13 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., 17 businesses along Main Street and other nearby locations will make those final purchases easier while providing lots of fun for the entire family. This year, the Jamestown Business Association, which coordinates Christmas on Main, is creating a spectacular Saturday event highlighting local businesses, family fun, shopping, food and music. As you visit participating merchants, be sure to get your card stamped at each one to be eligible for a prize drawing. Cards may be found at participating businesses. Activities include an Ugly Christmas Sweater contest. Snap a selfie at Second Chance Closet and post it to the Christmas on Main Facebook page. You could win a prize and you
will have a cute photo to share with others. A coloring contest is available for children 13 and under. Blank template designs can be found on the Jamestown Business Association Facebook page and website and can also be found at Magic Feet Dance Studio. Creativity and uniqueness will be considered in the judging. Entries must be submitted by Dec. 13 at Magic Feet Dance Studio. Magic Feet and Kisses 4 Kate, at the Jamestown Shopping Center, will feature bouncy houses, a bouncy maze and snow station and craft vendors. Look for Christmas cookie decorating sets to purchase. ZenfulU will host special fairytale guests that will give you a warm welcome and provide great photo opportunities. Don’t forget to stop by FurnitureLand South from 1 to 4 p.m. to meet Santa. You also will find a hot chocolate station, letters to Santa station and craft station at this location from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit all participating merchants on Dec. 13 to participate in select event
promotions and activities or stop by from now until the 13th during regular business hours to have your card stamped. Completed cards may be dropped off at any stamp location by the end of the event. Businesses participating in Christmas on Main include Magic Feet Dance Studio, Kisses 4 Kate, Full Moon Oyster Bar, Primrose Aesthetics, Under Pressure Massage & Bodywork, The Soap Lady, Kindred Coffee, The Deck, Barrel & Co., Simply Thai, Second Chance Closet, Black Powder Smokehouse, Southern Roots, Emerge Skin Studio, ZenfulU and Craft Vendors, First Baptist Church Vendor Market and FurnitureLand South. A map showing the location of each business can be found on the stamp card. A trolley will take guests from one location to another. There also will be a shuttle to and from FurnitureLand South. Join your family and friends for a fun-filled Saturday spectacular at Christmas on Main, Dec. 13 in Jamestown.
Winter WonderPark New mayor, Council to be sworn in Dec. 16 returns to City Lake Park Dec. 16 is the final Jamestown Town Council meeting of the year, a time when several outstanding items are resolved. This year, outgoing Mayor Lynn Montgomery will swear in the new Town Council members. Following the ceremony, Jim Gibson and Jim Westmoreland will take their seats on the Council and Susan Dicken-
son will take over mayoral duties. Dickenson’s first duty is to preside over the election of a mayor pro tem, then appoint representatives from the Town Council to the Planning Board, Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee, Transportation Advisory Committee and Piedmont Triad Regional Council. She also will appoint a Council liaison to the Guilford County School Board. see council, page 2
By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com City Lake Park turns into a Winter WonderPark this holiday season with several events for the entire family. Each Friday and Saturday night for three weeks the Park will be glowing with festive holiday lights and seasonal decorations. The festivities began Dec. 7 with Reindeer Games with Santa and continues Dec.
12-13 with Santa and his Elves and Dec. 19-20 with How the Grinch Stole Winter WonderPark. Santa will visit on Dec. 13 and the Grinch on Dec. 20. This is the third year of the WonderPark and is full of new excitement. In addition to the “Polar Express” train and carousel, there will be free crafts, which vary by night, snowsee winter, page 2
Photos courtesy City of High Point
Scenes from last year’s Winter WonderPark.
Everyone likes good news and the Jamestown News wants to print a column focused on sharing good things seen happening in the community. To make the column work, you need to participate. Email ndworddesign@gmail.com with your observations of a person or group being helpful to others. Norma Dennis will print them on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
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By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com