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
December 3-9, 2025 Vol 47 No 49 | 1 Section | 6 Pages
Compiled By Norma B. Dennis and Carol Brooks Thursday nights in black and white • The Jamestown Public Library will show classic black and white movies on Thursday nights in December starting at 6:30 p.m. Featured will be Holiday Inn on Dec. 4, White Christmas on Dec. 11 and Scrooge on Dec. 18. Popcorn, snacks and drinks will be provided. • The Polar Express will be shown on Dec. 20 at 10:15 a.m. Hot chocolate will be provided and wearing of pajamas is encouraged. Christmas activities on Dec. 7 The Jamestown Christmas Parade begins at 3 p.m. followed by Kids ‘n’ Klaus at the Jamestown Public Library from 4-5:30 p.m. The library event will feature Christmas stories, songs and crafts and a visit to see Santa in the library’s auditorium. Friends of the Library will sell holiday baskets and some sweet treats. A tour of Mendenhall Homeplace will begin at 5 p.m. Parade live video Can’t make it to the Jamestown Christmas Parade on Dec. 7? Not a problem — just crank up YouTube where the parade will be broadcast live. Search for Jamestown NC Events (@JamestownNCEvents-rp2dv) on YouTube. Library Wish Tree Once again the Wish Tree at the Jamestown Library is up and waiting to be decorated with ornaments picturing items donated by library patrons and selected from a wish list. Materials purchased for this event are award winners, patron requests, replacement items and staff suggestions. Consider donating a book in honor of someone as a gift or in memory of a favorite book lover. Each donated item will include a bookplate recognizing the donor and the person to be honored. Have an event that you think needs to be included in About Town? Email Norma B. Dennis at ndworddesign@gmail. com or Carol Brooks at cab1hp@gmail.com
Planning Board to continue zoning amendment discussion By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com The Jamestown Planning Board will have their regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 301 East Main Street. The public is invited to attend. At the Nov. 10 meeting, the Board voted 3-2 to reject a rezoning amendment “To rezone approximately 6.53 acres +/from Main Street (MS) and Commercial/ Main Street Transitional (C/MST) to Conditional Zoning-Residential/Main Street Transitional (CZ-R/MST) the properties include 207, 209, 301 West Main St. (Parcel #160256, 160266, and 160265) currently zoned as Main Street and 305 West Main St. (Parcel #160261) currently zoned as Commercial/Main Street Transitional.” The parcels lie in part across from James-
town Elementary School. Burkely proposes a development of up to 138 units of a multifamily residential community. This is within both the West Main and Town Center Future Land Use designations and within walking distance to downtown shopping and entertainment. Burkely’s proposed plan includes a mix of mansion or manor-style apartments fronting West Main Street and three-story apartment buildings toward the rear of the site. The design of the buildings would be compatible with the Jamestown National Register Historic District in which it is located. They would look like large single-family homes. All parking would be behind these apartment buildings. The Board voted to continue the public hearing to December for more discussion. A copy of the proposed amendment is on file in the Town Clerk’s office for inspection by all interested citizens.
Lydia’s Bridge to star in indie film By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com A short indie feature film is being planned about Jamestown’s most famous “resident” — Lydia. While Lydia is not, and never has been a resident of the town, her story is well-known. In September, Speaks Film & Media Productions LLC, of Winston-Salem, spent time filming at what has become known as Lydia’s Bridge, the old railroad underpass beside East Main Street. “The feature script is currently being written by a local screenwriter and see lydia, page 2
Photo by Carol Brooks
The tunnel has been cleaned up for a pedestrian walkway.
Pedestrian hit, killed at Dillon/Bales Chapel intersection By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com High Point Police responding to a traffic accident on Dillon Road at Bales Chapel Road at 6:30 p.m. found Ostin Roca, 26, lying in the road. He was declared dead at the scene. Roca, who was dressed in black, was hit by a hit-andrun driver, but a witness
on the scene followed the car and called 9-1-1. Police soon found the car and Tyrone Purvis was cited for misdemeanor hit-and-run. Neither speed nor impairment were factors in the incident on Purvis’ part because police determined Roca was already lying in the road when he was hit. There was no evidence he had been struck by another vehicle.
New career and college pathways announced By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com Guilford Technical Community College and Guilford County Schools have established a way to help high school students. They have created five short-term workforce pathways for the high school students through the col-
lege’s Career and College Promise program. The pathways are tuition free. Rising juniors and seniors can apply for fall 2026 programs in Aerospace Manusee pathways, page 2
Photo courtesy Historic Jamestown Society
The New Parlor decorated for the holiday season during previous Candlelight Tours.
Mendenhall Homeplace to hold open house Dec. 7 By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com Jamestown-area residents have become accustomed to the Christmas Candlelight Tour at Mendenhall Homeplace. This year, however, the Historic Jamestown Society, which staged the Candlelight Tour for several years, has switched things up, offering a Mendenhall Homeplace Open House Dec. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. Guests are invited to come to the over 200-yearold holiday-decorated Richard Mendenhall house following the Jamestown Christmas Parade, Tree Lighting and Kids ‘n Claus at the Public Library. “Come for family photo opportunities inside Mendenhall Homeplace and outside with our historic Christmas sleigh at the barn,” said Elizabeth Greeson, one of the organizers. It is the same sleigh Santa Claus just rode in the Christmas Parade. “Also come with your family to warm around
Photo by Elizabeth Greeson
The front entrance to the Richard Mendenhall house.
the fire pit, share cider, hot chocolate and roasting marshmallows. Traditional musicians are invited to join for a jam circle around the fire for everyone to join in and sing Christmas Carols.” If you have never been to Mendenhall Homeplace, this is your chance to get a taste of how the family lived in the early 1800s. It is a day of festive holiday fun beginning at 3 p.m. with the Christmas Parade. Mendenhall Homeplace is located at 603 W. Main St., across from the entrance to High Point City Lake Park.
Turkey giveaway helps four nonprofits By NORMA B. DENNIS FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com For several years Ryan Richards has used the Thanksgiving season to provide turkeys to nonprofit organizations to aid in their ministries. Richards understands many of the problems people have in life. He had a difficult childhood and as an adult was homeless at one point — living in his car and later a motel room — and facing two brain surgeries. When he was back on his feet, he found himself with the option of buying a house or growing a business. His teenage daughter agreed he should start a business and Richards currently lives in an apartment, in year four of a five-year business plan. His company, Jamestown Logistics, has proven to be successful and Richards serves as a middleman for companies that need to ship their products. “I provide a service so companies can focus on other details of running their business and I can find truckers to haul their goods,” Richards explained, simplifying his job description. He is now in the process of locating his company to the heart of Jamestown, opening in the former “Jamestown News” location. “At first I did not understand why I had so many problems in life,” Richards said. “But I realized I made it through so I could help someone in the future.”
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.
Photo by Norma B. Dennis
Ryan Richards, owner of Jamestown Logistics, believes in the concept of “giving back” to others in his surrounding community.
This year, his annual turkey giveaway included four organizations: Fish & Loaves Mission Program, ProjectFive2, Greater Piedmont Adult & Teen Challenge and CityServe of the Triad. He coordinated the project with Alex see turkey, page 2
50¢
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