St. James City Civic Association welcomes Hamby as new president
On Dec. 14, 2024, Cena Hamby took over as president of the St. James City Civic Association.
Hamby said although Hurricane Ian caused much damage to the St. James City Civic Center, there was a formal board decision not to ask for help, for at least a year, from a community who had already lost so much.
“How could we ask our neighbors to help us out, when they were simply trying to put roofs back over their heads,” Hamby said.
Extensive hurricane damage to the center included the roof, ceilings, floors and doors, she said. Even the trees outside the building sustained damage. The 1.8-acre property also contains a children’s park, managed and leased by the Pine Island Kiwanis Club, that was hit hard, she said.
“We also have an exercise area with equipment used often by surrounding neighbors. People walk their dogs because we have a huge park. Now that we’ve started we have replaced our roof, and starting next month we’re putting in epoxy flooring. With the new board, we’re focused on putting in the proper materials so never vinyl flooring again,” Hamby said.
In spending a bit more on quality materials, the board is trying to protect the community building, she explained.
“We’re doing things right and spending the money to do it,” she said.
Some additional renovations include new ceilings and insulation as well as painting parties, which provided free labor, led by a professional painter who stumbled onto the center during a yard sale event, where Hamby showed him a room in the center in desperate need of a makeover.
“He painted that room and he did all kinds of other painting for us. I feel like, what Ian took away, we’ve gotten back in many other ways,” Hamby said.
Everything Hamby has asked for, she said the community has found a way to get for the center, such as plywood, an exterior door and access to their shuffleboard equipment.
“The shed door, which had the shuffleboard equipment in it, had not been opened since Ian. Someone came and fixed that and now shuffleboard is starting in a week. Every single thing I’ve asked for, the community has come back with.
“Common adversity unites us — that’s what happened to this island. I felt like before the hurricane, we were four different townships, and now I feel like we’re Pine Island,” Hamby said.
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