Earth Day at Celebrate St. James

visit burke veterans park on lake avenue to see the kindness rocks!

THE KIDS, THE ROCKS, AND THE WEATHER - AMAZING!

​Saturday morning’s rain left us all wondering if the Kindness Rocks project for our Earth Day event would even get painted and “planted?”
 
While the event was planned for the area around Burke Park on Lake Avenue, it was decided to bring the “painting party” indoors to Uniquely Natalie.  Committee chair, Christine Pacinello, and her dear husband, Nick, primed the rocks – which were specially ordered from Mexico – set up the brushes, paints, marking pens, egg cartons, and hair dryers.  Ever prepared, Christine, a veteran educator, brought along story books to read, which were all enjoyed by the children, ages 3-10.
 
What an adorable group of kids and warm, friendly parents and grandparents!  They were engaged, having fun, and learning what they could do to help be “greener” and more caring of our planet.  They got it!  Their messages of how to be kind to our planet, such as “Pick up Garbage,” “Plant Seeds,” “Keep our Earth Clean,” “Go Green,” and “Love the Earth,”  were adorable and memorialized on their rocks, which were then “planted” in Burke Park on the side of Celebrate St. James headquarters located at 459 Lake Avenue, also the home of Natalie Weinstein Design Associates. 
 
The children were also treated to a very special visitor, as well.  Artist and environmentalist, Susan Buroker, brought along one of her Scruppets – an 8’ high manned puppet who represented the Miller’s Pond Project and spoke about the need to purify our waterways.  (See Susan at the Smithtown Historical Society on May 4, and at the Celebrate St. James Art Walk on May 5.)
 
By the time we were finished, the weather finally cooperated.  The sun shone on all as the children headed back to Burke Park to place their Kindness messages to our earth, promising to do one special thing – or more – to make a difference! Here is a comment from Janet Inzerillo, one of the Moms who attended:
 
“It was wonderful meeting you on Saturday at the “kindness rocks” earth day event.   Thank you for hosting the event.  My daughter had a wonderful time learning how to care more for the earth while having fun doing it.   She is now an avid advocate for the earth in her everyday life.  It was also wonderful meeting others in our community and learning about the history of St James.  We are looking forward to future Celebrating St James events!!!!”

Please join us for some of Celebrate St. James’ upcoming events and visit our new Historic Calderone Movie Theater Museum at Uniquely Natalie, 176 Second Street.  Next will be ART WALK on May 5th, transforming Lake Avenue into a pedestrian mall with many genres of artists on display and entertainers performing, and the summer music series, “Sunday Nights at the Gazebo,” free concerts – funded in part by a grant from Suffolk County department of Parks -  on June 30, July 14 and 28, and August 11 and 25 – to name a few.  Save the date for the Cottages to Castles House and Garden Tour on September 6, the Celebrate St. James “A Night to Remember” Gala on September 18, and World Singing Day on October 19, which will be a town-wide event.  ​