Greg Lindquist, JRC Executive Director; Denise Jones, TRC Chief Financial Officer and Associate Executive Director; Matt Hanley, City of Jamestown; Tiffani Conti, JRC Event and Programming Associate; Patricia Eckwahl, Lutheran Director of Marketing and Tom Holt, Lutheran President and CEO.

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation (JRC) has announced that The Resource Center and Lutheran Jamestown will come together as co-sponsors of “Jamestown’s Snowball Express” Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration on December 6.

According to JRC Events and Programming Associate Tiffani Conti, the Resource Center has been an exceptional partner for downtown events over the past nine years, including the annual Christmas Parade. She adds that the JRC is also honored to have Lutheran Jamestown join the effort in providing a signature event for Jamestown during the holiday season.

The Resource Center has been supporting people with disabilities in Chautauqua County, and their families, since 1959. Lutheran Jamestown has made itself a resource for both seniors and youth with special needs.

Additional support for the annual parade will be provided by the City of Jamestown and its various departments, the Board of Public Utilities and the Jamestown Gateway Train Station.

Any businesses and organizations interested in participating in the parade are asked to register by November 25.

More information on “Jamestown’s Snowball Express” Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration will be available at www.jamestownrenaissance.org.

The annual Downtown Jamestown Holiday Parade attracts thousands of people each year. (Photo courtesy of jrconline.org)

JAMESTOWN – Organizers have selected the theme for the 2013 downtown Jamestown Renaissance Corporation. The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation announced on Friday that the theme for this year’s parade is “Jamestown’s Snowball Express.” According to JRC Events Coordinator Tiffani Conti, the event’s planning committee has decided on the theme to help connect the story of The Polar Express with Jamestown’s refurbished Gateway Train Station.

The 2013 parade will be held on Friday, December 6, 2013, in downtown Jamestown. All businesses and organizations interested in participating in the parade are asked to register by November 25.

Registration forms are available online at www.jamestownrenaissance.org.

The singular organization will continue to focus on implementing the Urban Design and Neighborhood Revitalization plans, a robust slate of downtown events and developing the downtown area. The consolidation took effect recently, with DJDC board members invited to become members of the Jamestown Renaissance Corp. board.

The new structure will also create a more efficient organization that still addresses the needs of downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods. The DJDC’s focus on downtown revitalization is a natural fit with the Renaissance Corporation’s charge to implement the Urban Design Plan. The DJDC will remain in existence as a single-purpose entity that owns the Jamestown Gateway Station. Former DJDC Executive Director Lee Harkness will now serve as the General Manager of the Station.

Other staff will include Peter Lombardi as the Renaissance Corp. Executive Director, Tiffani Conti will serve as the Jamestown Renaissance Corp. events and marketing associate, Jim Goodling will be the Renaissance Corp. downtown project associate, Mary Maxwell is the new neighborhood project associate and Frank Besse will serve as office administrator and assist with a wide range of special projects.

According to Renaissance Corp. co-chair Lillian Vitanza Ney, the creation of a unified organization will set the stage for a united vision and mission, synergy of efforts, greater efficiencies, and the achievement of a high level of performance towards the renaissance and the vibrancy of Jamestown.