Renovations, repairs continue at SJCCA
The St. James City Civic Association building has recently undergone some improvements including repaired bathrooms, plumbing and ceiling tiles.
“The building needed repairs for a number of years and we just decided to get it done,” association president Debbie Barnum said. “We worked up a budget, received a very generous donation and got to work.”
Barnum became president of the association a year ago.
“We moved to Florida 19 years ago from Albuquerque, New Mexico,” Barnum said. “I remember we went to Punta Gorda after Hurricane Charley to see what the damages were and a friend of ours who lives on Matlacha suggested we check out Matlacha and Pine island.
“When we came to Pine Island the first time, we went north into Bokeelia and then south to St. James City,” she continued. “My husband and I were maybe a block from this building when we fell in love with this place, purchased a lot and built our house. Two years ago we moved here full time.”
Barnum went to a few SJCCA meetings, was elected to the board, became secretary and then elected president in January 2016.
“The SJCCA was founded by the Hobby Club,” Barnum said. “It was their sharing hobbies that got the association started. In the early 1960s they were meeting in Matlacha, outgrew that location and began meeting in St. James City. As the group grew they decided to build this building. It was the Hobby Club’s founding members that spearheaded the need to form a community organization.”
The club held chicken dinners and “covered” dishes meals to raise the funds to build the St. James Civic Association. Club members have a 50+ year history of helping those in need.
“At our meetings we were just talking and talking about the needed repairs,” Barnum said. “Finally we came to the conclusion we needed to get started. The association didn’t have all of the funds but we received a very generous donation from Myrtle Orzalli in the memory of her husband Jack. They have been long-time members of the Association. Myrtle is a bridge player here and with those funds we were able to renovate the men’s room, did some repair work in the ladies room, and like so many construction projects, once we got into it, we learned we needed all new plumbing.”
Funds from the association were used to replace all of the acoustical ceiling tiles in the building, and install LED lighting, new fans and new switches.
“And now the Golden Brush ladies are going to paint the interior,” Barnum said. “We are planning to replace the cabinetry in the main hall. I suspect they are original to the building and homemade. They are just worn out and need to be replaced. So those things are on the agenda.
“Someone said the purpose of our club is to promote friendship and the sharing of hobbies, crafts, card games and other creative ideas,” Barnum said. “Our 50 years of history is filled with memories and traditions. I hope we keep the thread going for the next generation.”