Chadakoin River To Be Dyed Green For St. Patrick’s Day
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The Chadakoin River will once again be changed into the color of a shamrock to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
On Saturday, Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce officials are inviting the public to the Jamestown Area Medical Associates parking lot at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate St. Paddy's Day with the dyeing of the Chadakoin River green.
Bill Stevenson, Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce vice president, said starting in 2001, city officials dyed the Chadakoin River green on St. Patrick's Day. However, about the time the Downtown Jamestown Development Corproation merged into the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, the tradition stopped.
"We started turning the river green in 2001 and we did it for a number of years," he said. "With us going back to it, only four cities in the country turn their river green -- Chicago, Indianpolis,Tampa and us."
Stevenson said chamber officials, along with Jamestown Board of Public Utilities officials, are dedicating the re-emergence of turning the river green in memory of the late Randy Peterson, who was a 38-year employee of the BPU, where he managed the water department for a number of years. Stevenson said Peterson was the one who helped city officials with the "right formula" for turning the river green, which is not hazzardous to fish or aquatic life in the Chadakoin.
"When we decided we were going to turn the river green, I went to Randy at the water department and talked to him about it. He came up with the right formula to do it," Stevenson said.
Lee Harkness, Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce coordinator, said they received so many request from local residents to turn the river green again that they decided to do it this year.
"It is a kid-thing," Harkness said. "We had a lot of people request that we do it because their kids really like it."
Harkness said in the past, the St. Paddy's Day celebration in the city used to include a parade. However, because the South Main Street Bridge is only one lane, chamber officials decided not to do the parade again this year. However, it is something that could return in future years.
"With the bridge being down it would have been complicated (to do the parade, too)," Harkness said. "Our idea is to start with the low-key turning the river green Saturday and build it up over the next couple, three years. Our idea is to build it back up to where it once was and to have a parade again."
The green dye in the river is only expected to last for about an hour.
Other events in the city for St. Patrick's Day include the St. Patrick's Dash walk/run that will start around 9 a.m. at Northwest arena, located at 319 W. Third St., Jamestown. This the ninth annual St. Patrick's Dash, which is a three-mile course.
The 15th annual St. Susan Center Basket Fair is also happening Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jamestown Community College Physical Education Complex. More than 140 baskets is expected to be available at the event, including one with a stay at the Athenaem Hotel, which includes meals and gate passes; gift certificates from local restaurants and businesses; soap baskets; tablets; tools; emojis; and many more. This year's grandprizes include a "Pot Of Gold" of $500 in cash; a 55-inch Samsung Smart TV; and a pair of green kayaks with life vests. Music will be provided by Primetime DJ Services and St. Susan's will again be operating the Comfort Cafe, offering favorites like pulled pork sandwiches, tossed salads with chicken, mac and cheese, potato soup and more.
For more information, visit stsusancenter.org or call 664-2253.
The Jamestown Vietnam Veterans of America will also be hosting a fundraiser starting at 2 p.m. Saturday for Hunter's Heart.
Hunter Vergith was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, which is a congenital heart condition consisting of five heart abnormalities, when his mother, Lauren Russell of Jamestown, was 30 weeks pregnant.
The fundraiser will be held at the Jamestown Vietnam Veterans club room, located at 41 Bigelow Ave. A St. Paddy's Day dinner will be served for $8 a plate. The meal will include corned beef and cabbage or ham and potatoes. There will also be a meat raffle, a wheelbarrow of booze raffle and a 50/50 drawing. Musical performances include Scroggins from 3-6 p.m. and Dr. Doug from 7:30-11:30 p.m.