St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshals - Kerry Reilly DeJesus and Mario Mattera
The St. James Chamber of Commerce will hold their 36th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2020 along Lake Avenue beginning at 1 p.m.
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2020 Grand Marshals Mario Mattera And Kerry Reilly DeJesus It is with great pleasure that the Board of Directors of the St. James Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce their selection of Kerry Reilly DeJesus and Mario Mattera as Grand Marshals.
Kerry Reilly DeJesus has been a resident of St.James for the past 21 years. She has dedicated many years, months, weeks and days to the St. James community, schools and our children. She is more than just a volunteer, she is a valuable asset to our community. The following is a list of all the things Kerry has volunteered to do throughout the years.
For two years Kerry was the Family Living Chairperson at Mills Pond Elementary and held the position of Vice President of the PTA for 2 years and went on to hold the position of President for 2 more years. Kerry volunteered countless hours as a Girl Scout leader for two troops – both of which received their Silver Awards. Kerry was a Cub Scout leader for six years until her troop moved up to Boy Scouts. Kerry also taught three religion classes a year receiving her 20-year Service Award. At Nesaquake Middle School, she was president of the PTA for three years and Spiritwear Chairperson for six years. At Smithtown High School East she was president of the PTA for six years. She also held the position for 3 terms as Recording Secretary plus a 2-year term as vice president. Kerry has also held a 2-year term as Council President for the District. She also stepped in as president again when someone else needed to step down. She held two 2-year terms as Vice President for Council as well.
Around town Kerry has volunteered at Deepwells with the Haunted Mansion, run programs to support our troops, (her son Ralph is currently serving our country as a US Marine) and I am sure I have forgotten other selfless acts of kindness Kerry has contributed to our community.
Along with all this volunteering, Kerry works full time at Stony Brook University Hospital. She is a loving wife to her wonderful husband Ralph, and has raised four beautiful children. I think Kerry represents someone our town can be proud of and thankful for. She is always willing to give a helping hand along with her contagious smile. The St. James Chamber Board is very pleased to give Kerry the honor of being our Grand Marshall for 2020.
Mario R. Mattera is a 55-year life-long resident of St. James. Loving husband to Terry of 26 years. Loving father to Jessica and Jayme. Number 1 Fan to the Smithtown East Varsity Whisperettes Kickline. Besides his volunteerism and involvement in the St. James community, he is a Board Member of the Community Association of Greater St. James. Mario was appointed to the Smithtown Executive Advisory Board representing St. James. He is also a board member of the Suffolk County Water Authority, and the Suffolk County Consumer Affairs Plumbing, Licensing and Fire Protection. He is a Suffolk County Work Force Housing Committee member; and volunteers for Helmets to Hardhats for our returning Veterans. Mario is the Plumbers Local Union #200 Chairman for the Political PAC fund for Suffolk County and board member for the New York State Apprenticeship Committee.
His accomplishments and awards are as follows – 2019 Labor Leader of the Year - Gold Lion Award recipient - Order Sons of Italy in America; 2017 Theodore Roosevelt Award from St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center; 2016 Community Service Award from the Ward Melville Heritage Organization; 2012 Labor Leader of the Year - PBA Columbia; and volunteered with the Long Island Housing Partnership for the Hurricane Sandy Relief Program for Boilers and Water Heaters. He is a Business Agent for the Plumbers Local Union #200, Ronkonkoma.
Our stars aligned when Mario joined the Community Association of Greater St. James. With his knowledge and expertise he was able to guide the way for the future of St. James. His energy and passion and getting the right infrastructure for St. James was very important to him. By replacing water mains and gas mains, and getting the funds for a dry sewer main from Senator John Flanagan, was critical and important for the future of Our Town!
We are so proud to have these two unsung heroes in our hamlet with all that they do and have done and continue to do for our community.
We are happy to honor Kerry Reilly DeJesus and Mario R. Mattera as Grand Marshals of the St. James Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The Parade will kick off at 1 p.m. starting at the Smithtown High School East Parking lot on Woodlawn Avenue traveling to Lake Avenue and continuing to the St. James Gazebo at the Railroad station where our Grand Marshals and our Court of Honor will watch the parade from the reviewing stand.
The parade lineup is fabulous so be sure to attend the best and biggest parade around. For additional information contact the St. James Chamber at 631-584-8510 or email: info@stjameschamber.org
Princesses & Princes
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Avianna ManningAvianna Manning is an amazingly smart, entertaining and funny two year old whose smiling Irish eyes will steal your heart away. She recently became a big sister to her baby brother, Patrick. Her Irish roots date back to her great-great-grandmother, Katherine Gilnagh, immigrating from Ireland to New York on the RMS Titanic in 1912. Avianna loves animals, reading, running and dancing. She has been taking swim lessons since she was three months old and is also involved in soccer and dance. She is the daughter of Timothy Manning and Alexandra Busa. Avianna’s mother’s entire family has resided in St. James since the early sixties. Her great-grandfather, Angelo Busa, owns a building on Lake Avenue which formerly housed Angelo’s Meat Market, a staple in St. James throughout the eighties and nineties. Avianna is very proud of her Irish heritage and her family’s history in this beautiful town and would like to wish the people of St. James a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Gleeson Girls;)
Juliana Cating GleesonJuliana Cating Gleeson is a fun-loving, smart 8 1/2 year-old who is attending her first year in St. James Elementary as a 3rd grader. She is a White Tiger Kempo practitioner in karate and plays basketball.
Juliana is an avid Swimmer, loves the beach, boating and fishing.
She enjoys Rock climbing walls and zip-lining! Also, loves drawing, reading and summer camp! She and her family are parishioners of Saints Philip and James.
Juliana’s great great grandfather on the Gleeson side immigrated from Ireland County Wexford, town of Ballygow.
Jayden Cassidy Gleeson is an energetic, funny girl who just turned 6 years old in;)
Jayden Cassidy Gleeson February and entered kindergarten this year is St. James Elementary!
Jayden received the great honor of the “Yes” Award this year in school for showing “Respect, Compassion and Courage”. She is a White Tiger Kempo practitioner in karate and participates in lacrosse. Jayden enjoys dancing & singing, drawing, reading, playing with big sister & friends, boating & fishing! She and her family are parishioners of Saints Philip and James.
Juliana’s great great grandfather on the Gleeson side immigrated from Ireland County Wexford, town of Ballygow.
The Gleeson girls are the granddaughters of John Sr. Gleeson Grand Marshal of our Parade… following in their grandpa footsteps!!
The Kiel Girls
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The Kiel Girls - Violet and SamanthaSamantha Keil (age 9) is a 3rd Grader at St. James Elementary. Her favorite subjects in school are Art, Reading, and Recess. She loves science and outer space. She likes to ride her bike and play basketball and badminton. She has been in Girl Scouts for four years and enjoys working with her troop to complete crafts and journey badges. Her hobbies include building Legos, coloring, and taking pictures. She also loves her new puppy.
Violet Keil (age 6) is a 1st Grader at St. James Elementary. Her favorite subjects in school are Music, Reading, and Recess. She likes to ride her bike and play volleyball and basketball. She loves the ocean and sea turtles. She is a good swimmer and makes big canon ball splashes in the pool. She has been in Girl Scouts for two years and enjoys working with her troop to make the world a better place. Her hobbies include playing with her new puppy and watching movies.
Daughters of Norman and Cara Keil and granddaughters of Norman Keil Sr. and Jeanne Keil, local business owners of Norman Keil Nurseries, a wholesale nursery in St. James.
The Sherlock Girls
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The Sherlock Girls - Sydney and MiaMia Sherlock is 8years old and a 3rd grader at St. James Elementary school. She is a 4th year Girl Scout and has marched in parades before with our troop. I am a proud leader of this troop. With her troop she has also done a beach cleanup, helped beautify the gardens at her school, done multiple food collections for those in need.She loves taking dance and playing piano. But some of her favorite things are riding bikes, playing with friends, and visiting new places with family.
Mia is kind and compassionate.
Sydney is soon to be 6years old and a kindergartener at St. James Elementary School. She is a daisy Girl Scout who loves to dance, play piano and soccer. Sydney has joined her older sister Girl Scout troop as a tag a long for the past few years and taken part in most of the events. She is always making others laugh. Some of her favorite things to do are play with Barbies, color and play with her sister and friends
Kayla Moore
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Kayla MooreKayla is a 6th grader at Nesaquake Middle School and is transitioning nicely. She has been a student at Saint James Elm since Kindergarten. She’s been a Daisy, Brownie and a Girl Scout in our local troops for many years. She attends Religious Instructions at Saints Philip and James and volunteers regularly at the Peanut Butter and Jelly Gang program who gather once a month to make sandwiches to feed the homeless and hungry on Long Island.Kayla will be a 6th year camper at Ivy League Camp in Smithtown this summer. Her favorite hobbies include; art, singing, dancing, playing Roblox and is a master slime maker. She is very sweet, kind and funny. Kayla’s Dad, Brian Moore, was born and raised in Saint James for over 50 years. Kayla’s late grandfather, John Moore, was the former Chief of the Nissequogue Fire Department and the former Mayor of the Village of Nissequogue. You may recall that our daughter, Kayla Moore, was a parade princess last year and absolutely LOVED it! The large bucket of candy was almost gone by the time we made it onto Lake Avenue. Should you have an opening for Kayla to participate in the parade again this year it would be greatly appreciated (even if she isn’t a princess again) and she would be thrilled!Kayla is a 6th grader at Nesaquake Middle School and is transitioning nicely. She has been a student at Saint James Elm since Kindergarten. She’s been a Daisy, Brownie and a Girl Scout in our local troops for many years. She attends Religious Instructions at Saints Philip and James and volunteers regularly at the Peanut Butter and Jelly Gang program who gather once a month to make sandwiches to feed the homeless and hungry on Long Island. Kayla will be a 6th year camper at Ivy League Camp in Smithtown this summer. Her favorite hobbies include; art, singing, dancing, playing Roblox and is a master slime maker. She is very sweet, kind and funny. Kayla’s Dad, Brian Moore, was born and raised in Saint James for over 50 years. Kayla’s late grandfather, John Moore, was the former Chief of the Nissequogue Fire Department and the former Mayor of the Village of Nissequogue. Kayla’s face is like the map of Ireland; with her bright blue eyes and a face full of freckles. We always tell her that “A face without freckles is like a sky without stars.”
Tuzinkiewicz Boys;)
Ethan TuzinkiewiczEthan is a 4th grader at St. James Elementary. He loves to play on his iPad during the weekends and loves playing with his friends and spending time with his brothers. Ethan also enjoys wrestling, chess, piano, and camping with the Royal Rangers.;)
Benjamin TuzinkiewiczBenjamin is currently a 2nd grader at St. James Elementary. He loves to play with his brothers and friends and play Fortnite and other games on his iPad. Benjamin also enjoys wrestling, chess, piano and the Royal Rangers. ;)
Daniel TuzinkiewiczDaniel is a 1st grader at St. James Elementary. He loves to watch Woody Woodpecker on his iPad, play with nerf guns and take lessons in wrestling, chess, and piano like his brothers. He’s also a Royal Ranger. He’s looking forward to camping this summer and visiting the city.