 You may have seen a new piece of artwork on the block recently. Located at 454 Lake Avenue, Sweet Soul Bakery has graced St. James with an eye-catching mural on the side of their building. For those wondering…why a blue elephant? Does it have deep meaning? It does! Meet Ganesh, the Hindu God of "wisdom, success, wealth and new beginnings and the patron saint of small businesses”. Is it a happy coincidence that Ganesh the elephant has a very close spelling and sound to Ganache, a rich, dark chocolate topping? Ganesh is also found on the Sweet Soul Bakery logo and seems to be the perfect symbol for this new vegan establishment. Perhaps Ganesh will emanate luck for all on Lake Avenue!
Sweet Soul Bakery is the highly anticipated and exciting new addition to St. James’ culinary repertoire. A pure vegan bakery, some of their delectable items include Mini Cheesecakes, Cookies, Salted Caramels, Blondies, Brownies, ‘The Raw Cookie’ (Rawkie), Energy Bites and their best seller The Breakfast Bar. Sweet Soul Bakery has been selling their gluten free, dairy free, soy free and plant based goods at popular specialty stores on Long Island including Batata Café, Cornucopia Health Foods and Plant Wise. Their new bakery store is a testament to their very successful and unique approach. Celebrate St. James warmly welcomes Sweet Soul Bakery to our hamlet and wishes them great success! Sweet Soul Bakery is located at 454 Lake Avenue at 3rd street. Join them for their GRAND OPENING Saturday November 16th 11:00-3:00 with live music. There will be a heated tent on the outside of the building. For more info and pictures of their desserts go to: http://www.sweetsoulbakery.com.
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 Pictured here are honorees Jennifer Paley Ambro, publisher of The Smithtown News, Joseph Buzzetta, founder of Competition Imports, Smithtown Town Supervisor, Edward R. Wehrheim, Robert Prufeta, Senior Vice President of Solomon Page Healthcare, and John Prufeta, CEO and Chairman of Medical Excellence International, along with Natalie Weinstein, President of Celebrate St. James (third from the left) and Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone (middle). Celebrate St. James held its inaugural gala, A Night to Remember, on September 18 at Flowerfield in St. James. The gala, which honored five friends of St. James, marked the largest fundraiser to date in the community’s efforts to support the revitalization of downtown St. James.
The honorees of the evening (pictured above) were chosen for their significant contributions, both personally and professionally to the St. James community. They are trendsetters, leaders, and mentors. They are humanitarians and innovators. They have risen to the top of their professions and have chosen to give back to our community. Accolades were given all around town, including the Smithtown News “…The gala signaled that the revitalization of downtown St. James is underway and that the momentum is building. It’s been a long time coming, but this is going to happen. And, Celebrate St. James has been a driving force to make sure that momentum does not ebb. Therefore, The Smithtown News once again commends Celebrate St. James for its dedication and unwavering commitment to downtown revitalization and for throwing a bash Wednesday that was a great night for a significant purpose…” as well as Nissequogue Village Living “The gala was the beginning of a community coming together to continue the work of reawakening Lake Avenue which has now been designated an Historic and Cultural Arts District. Many local groups and businesses showed their support of our community and for the flourishing hamlet we will once again become. The funds raised at the gala will be used to build a new park on Lake Avenue at the site of the old Viking Bar, and add an Historic Clock Tower Kiosk surrounded by benches and tables for chess and checkers. This landmark is just the beginning of Celebrate St. James’ effort to bring economic growth to our community through our history and cultural arts. This night to remember will not soon be forgotten”! Celebrate St. James would like to thank ALL of our sponsors, as well as the community for your outrageous show of support for this event. Funds raised at the gala will finance the renovation of Burke Veterans Memorial Park, including a new historic clock tower kiosk. More to come on those plans SOON! 
Artists lined the streets of Lake Avenue that was turned into a pedestrian mall, from the railroad south to Woodlawn. Nearly 2,000 visitors strolled the avenue, enjoying the exhibits, demonstrations and performances.
Jack Ader, our in-house graphic designer and a Vice-president of “Celebrate St. James” designed a magnificent brochure where a visitor could easily find their favorite artist while admiring the art of other artists, and to be on time to catch the entertainment going on at one of the two venues where scheduled entertainers were performing. Many thanks to Karen Bella, Dance Magic Dancers, Alexandra Calabro”s String Quartet, Willy & The Poor Boys - The Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute Band, Danny Kean, Smithtown High School East’s Jazz Ensemble, and Larry Wurtzel’s “Stars of the Future”, who performed “Suessical the Musical”. All the entertainers donated their talents to perform and we are grateful to them for sharing their talents at ART WALK. 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.
 Here’s what he had to say:
“I'd say history has a special way of repeating itself and the proof is what has unfolded in the hamlet of St James. A renaissance is upon us, as local leaders in the fine arts join forces with our Chamber, Civic groups and community organizations. The community is working together as one force with a vision to restore St James, preserving its historic roots and charm for generations to come. We are at the dawn of a revival. And I am so thankful for the people of St James, whose energy and synergy has become my inspiration as we begin redevelopment.” Wow! Looks like the forces have aligned. Each week the local papers have been supportive by publishing news and progress of coming events. Everyday more people are stepping forward to volunteer. The excitement is clearly mounting, but there is much work to do and a long road ahead. The cause, however, is worth the effort. The preservation of the values of community and small-town life are what we want and need to pass on to future generations. We can only do this by learning about and learning from the past – and what better way than learning together?
The small east wing of Sherrewogue, which stands just off Harbor Road in the Village of Head of the Harbor, is the oldest part of the house and is thought to have been built as early as 1688. In 1688, Richard Smith, the patentee, deeded the dwelling house, uplands, meadow and creek that on the east side of Stony Brook Harbor to his son Adam. Adam (c1649-1726) lived here throughout his life and called his home Sherrewogue, an Algonquin word meaning "a place in the middle" since his home was midway between Stony Brook and Nissequogue. In 1698, at a town meeting it was voted that Adam should dam the Stony Brook and build a gristmill, and he did this creating the Stony Brook Gristmill that is still standing and functioning on the Stony Brook today. Sherrewogue was passed in direct line from father to son until 1826, when Adam's great-grandson, Nathaniel Smith, (1755-1826) having no child of his own, left his house, mill, and millstream to his nephew, Nathaniel Smith II(1782-1840). Sherrewogue remained continuously in Smith family ownership until 1935, when Mrs. Devereux Emmet sold the property.
When the federal government opened the St. James Post Office in 1856, it did so in Richard Smith's General Store located at the intersection of three Sisters Road and Moriches Road. Richard Smith didn't have the Post Office for long since he was killed in a tragic accident. Ebenezer Smith succeeded him as Post-Master and the Post Office was relocated to his store on the northeast corner of Moriches Road and Harbor Hill Road. The St. James General Store became the hub of the St. James Community. Here the residents could purchase yard goods, kitchen wares medicine, shoes, horse medicine, tobacco, groceries, hardware, and much more. It was the deluxe department store of its day. Since the Post Office was located here, the store became a central meeting place where towns folk gathered to wait for mail and catch up on the local gossip. Besides being a general store, Post Office, and community centers, taxes, were collected here. The store has the unique distinction of being the oldest, continuously operating general store in America!
The oldest surviving school house in St. James was build in 1808 on land that was given by Ebenezer Smith. The money needed to erect the school building in 1808 was raised by eight subscribers who contributed English pounds, shillings and pence for the building's construction. When converted into dollars at the 1808 rate of exchange, it amounted to a little over $35.00. Of the eight subscribers, four were sons of Richard Smith IV, and two others were Peter Jayne and Ebenezer Jayne, skilled mechanics and carpenters from the landing who most likely constructed the school house. The children of these subscribers attended this school in Nissequogue. In the late 1920's , when the Village of Nissequogue was established, the school was no longer being used for school purposes and the building was sold by Smithtown School District #1 to the Incorporated Village of Nissequogue to be used as its Village Hall.
The St. James Episcopal Church was build in 1854 by local Episcopalians who wanted a church close to home. Before this Church was erected, they had to travel to Setauket or Islip to worship. the congregants chose the name St. James in honor of James Clinch of New York City, the man who was the primary benefactor of the church, and whose daughter was married to John Lawrence Smith of Smithtown. The name of St. James seems to have been a popular one with the local residents of the community surrounding the church, so much so that when the federal government opened its first post office in the area on June 9, 1856, it called the postal district St. James.
by Natalie Weinstein, Allied ASID, IDS  Children’s events have been a sure hit as Celebrate St. James Past – Present – Future, winds down its community outreach in our inaugural year. From cookie decorating, holiday art projects, storytelling and carol singing with the Smithtown High School East choral ensemble, professional puppet shows with Sesame Street characters and another with a holiday theme, Studio 455 on Lake Avenue played host to smiling kids as young as 14 months and their proud parents and grandparents. It’s a wonderful end to a first year of planning and working hard to bring St. James’ unique and special history and culture to a new generation of families. It all begins with the children, even as young as 14 months. An added treat was getting to know the talented kids from the choral group at Smithtown High School East. They not only participated in our children’s holiday special, but in the gathering sponsored by and held at TD Bank, Lake Avenue. Thank you, Francine, our amazing bank manager, for all your efforts on behalf of the St. James community and thank you Mark Hegreness, Smithtown High School East choral teacher, for inspiring and directing truly terrific young people. Plans are continuing in the new year for an art auction to be held at TD Bank (Thanks again, Francine) conducted by Marlin Art Galleries. The next meeting of the Celebrate St. James Past – Present – Future committee will be on Tuesday evening, January 9, at 7:00 at 455 Lake Avenue. Please join us. It promises to be a great year for St. James! Please join us! Contact/RSVP, Celebrate St. James Past – Present – Future Phone: 631-862-6198 Email: [email protected] |
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