Embracing our Heroes" by Arline Goldstein is the cover for the 2021-2022 calendar featuring the work of local artists celebrating our Hometown Heroes. You can purchase this calendar to make a donation to Celebrate Park.
Thank you for being a part of the St. James Renaissance! Our unique and special town has an auspicious history, but it has so much more. It has spirit and pride and a desire to look back while looking forward. It has young and growing families, valued seniors, those who have been here for generations, and those who have just chosen to live and work in our wonderful hamlet because of who we are and what we stand for.
Our treasures are many as "St. Jamsers". We are a living history community. Buildings still stand and are a reminder today of the blessings of small town life and the importance of preserving our heritage. We were the "most happening" town in the early 20th century. Vaudeville lived along-side serious theater and the New York political scene came to St. James as well.
Happily, in the year 2017, the town became energized. It was also the year Celebrate St. James Past-Present-Future was founded as a nonprofit entity. It's mission is to preserve and celebrate St. James' rich history and inspire an appreciation and knowledge of the arts in our community. In the spring of 2019, Lake Avenue was designated as an Historic and Cultural Arts District.
This year, 2020, will always be remembered as the year when a pandemic changed our lives. In St. James, our hometown heroes saved our lives. They worked tirelessly and selflessly, and Celebrate St. James was there to assist as a conduit for the town government, local food banks, hospital and nursing homes, and through individuals supporting local businesses and our first responders. During this unprecedented time, we were apart physically, but never closer together in our resolve. Simultaneously, the long-awaited work of reconstructing the sidewalks and roads on Lake Avenue was begun and is now almost completed. While inconvenient, this project was necessary in the name of progress for our Lake Avenue Historic and Cultural Arts District and our economic growth.
On Wednesday, November 4th, Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim and the Town Board joined CSJ in a groundbreaking ceremony commemorating the construction of Celebrate St. James Park at the site of the former Irish Viking Bar. This park will highlight our past, present and future. The money raised by CSJ through donations from the community will build the park which will forever stand as a testament to what local government, community minded organizations and hometown residents can accomplish together.
Warmly,
Natalie Weinstein
President
Our treasures are many as "St. Jamsers". We are a living history community. Buildings still stand and are a reminder today of the blessings of small town life and the importance of preserving our heritage. We were the "most happening" town in the early 20th century. Vaudeville lived along-side serious theater and the New York political scene came to St. James as well.
Happily, in the year 2017, the town became energized. It was also the year Celebrate St. James Past-Present-Future was founded as a nonprofit entity. It's mission is to preserve and celebrate St. James' rich history and inspire an appreciation and knowledge of the arts in our community. In the spring of 2019, Lake Avenue was designated as an Historic and Cultural Arts District.
This year, 2020, will always be remembered as the year when a pandemic changed our lives. In St. James, our hometown heroes saved our lives. They worked tirelessly and selflessly, and Celebrate St. James was there to assist as a conduit for the town government, local food banks, hospital and nursing homes, and through individuals supporting local businesses and our first responders. During this unprecedented time, we were apart physically, but never closer together in our resolve. Simultaneously, the long-awaited work of reconstructing the sidewalks and roads on Lake Avenue was begun and is now almost completed. While inconvenient, this project was necessary in the name of progress for our Lake Avenue Historic and Cultural Arts District and our economic growth.
On Wednesday, November 4th, Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim and the Town Board joined CSJ in a groundbreaking ceremony commemorating the construction of Celebrate St. James Park at the site of the former Irish Viking Bar. This park will highlight our past, present and future. The money raised by CSJ through donations from the community will build the park which will forever stand as a testament to what local government, community minded organizations and hometown residents can accomplish together.
Warmly,
Natalie Weinstein
President
Our mission is to preserve and celebrate St. James' rich history and inspire an appreciation and knowledge of the arts in our community.
An Important Message from Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim
"Hi Natalie, Well, no artists walk this year. In the early days of Covid, emails from your organization gave me the only info I had as to how Smithtown was doing with your letters from the Supervisor. Hopefully, the enclosed check will help you keep the lights on a few days. Hope to see you in 2021." From: C.S.
176 Second Street, St. James NY 11780
celebratestjames@gmail.com
631-984-0201