We welcome a furry of new members in this newsletter! Businesses see the value in joining their local Chamber as becoming a partner in a professional organization!
July 4th kicked off the summer season and the Chamber added a nice addition to the Independence Parade. We brought back our favorite brass band the ‘Wholly Brass Band’ they rode on the top of our Chamber Partners’ vintage fire truck, ‘Hook & Ladder Party Company! Thank you Chamber Directors Rose & Robert Rodriguez!
Congratulations to our long standing member Ecolin Jewelers, who celebrate their 50th anniversary in business. Owners, Linda and Russell Baker began their business in 1971 and have been involved with the Port Jefferson community through all of their growth. An icon business in their lighthouse building the Chamber wishes them much future success for another 50 years!
Hey have you seen the new lights in Chandler Square! Through the efforts of a PSEG grant and the merchants in the square there are new outdoor lights that were strung across the square and created a ‘lit’ canopy for nighttime festivities! Your Chamber was the administrator and organizer, but the initial idea was from our Chamber Partner Simple Good, owner Melanie Gonzalez.
There she blows! YUP in cooperation with the PJ BID and the Chamber we will be hopefully moving forward with a NEW and colorful large mural of a North Atlantic Humpback whale. Thanks to the Bruce Passrelli, owner of the Harbor Square Mall, we have permission to paint this mural on the south side of the mall in the walk-through alleyway! Our muralist/artist/designers Jennifer Hannaford and Linda Alfin will be producing the mural and will start in September!
Please see the offer promotion from our Chamber Partner - Island Federal!
Please enjoy the poem submitted by a proud mom. Her son moved to PJ from Hawaii and fell in love with our Village! He gave us permission to share! Seasons of Port Jeff, by Mark Walsh.
Seasons of Port Jeff (by Mark Walsh)
When the summer heats up, then so does the port
Crowded on weekends when many cavort
Up and down they stroll, every shop surveyed
“You, Me, and Tea”, and Thomas Kinkade
Cave made of salt, alkaline water store
Knickknacks and specialty shops galore
Ice cream eating tourists in shops and resorts
Steam Room, Fifth Season, the marina’s Danford’s
When the Fall arrives, and things start to slow
Port Jeff FREE library’s where students will go
The village becomes a more quiet affair
Occasional selfie in harbor’s Big Chair
The ferry is packed with commuters inside
Frequently crossing to the sound’s other side
City commuters on a train car confined
Until they reach home, the last stop on the line
Fall turns to Winter as the weather gets cold
And a new Port Jeff will begin to unfold
No more cold beer, and now hot coco’s the drink
As visitors skate on the ice skating rink
In Village Center, we escape from the freeze
Upstairs we marvel at displayed Christmas trees
To this, every guest will attest is best
Long awaited, the Dicken’s elaborate Fest.
My favorite season in Port Jeff is the Spring
The flowers are blooming and birds start to sing
The lights are alight on the famous marquee
A new season starts in Main street’s Theater Three
For a dog-friendly village, nary a bark
As they stroll on leashes through Harborfront Park
New cycle begins, farmers’ market debuts
As the crowds return and Port Jeff is anew
For many Port Jeff is a fun place to play
Escape from daily life, a short getaway
I suppose for us, this can also be true
For years, not just hours, but still passing through
Like seasons of Port Jeff arrive and then go
Port Jeff is a season for us, and I know...
...as the seasons of life call us to go roam
Port Jeff will be a place we proudly called home
