by Rachel Hunter
North Country shoppers can show their support of St. James School in Gouverneur by “shopping local” at the 2023 St. James School Holiday Craft Fair and Book Sale on Saturday, December 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at St. James School, 20 S. Gordon St., Gouverneur. Admission is by donation.
The annual fundraiser, organized by Michelle Fuller, is a beloved annual tradition for many Gouverneur-area families as a kick-start to the holiday shopping season, providing an opportunity to purchase items from artists, artisans, crafters, vendors, and other small businesses. At the same time, shoppers can show their support for St. James School, a private elementary school where faith and education come together. St. James School is a Catholic elementary school providing an excellent education for children in preschool through sixth grade. Joined together in a community of faith, St. James challenges students academically, while encouraging them to embrace the values that Jesus taught: faith in God, prayer and service, love and respect for self and others, compassion, responsibility, integrity, peace and justice. The St. James School opened its doors for the first time in September 1960 under the direction of Fr. Robert McCarthy, and served three grades. More than 60 years later, St. James continues to take great pride in its school. “The school embodies faith, labor, hope, and love – a faith that seeks to spread and deepen the Good news of Jesus; a hope that opens the heart to things greater than this world; and a love for one another and for our children that is a response to God's love for us. With a mindful eye to our proud past and an affirmation of a present grounded in faith, we look to a future animated by hope.”
The 2023 St. James School Holiday Craft Fair and Book Sale will feature over 40 crafters and vendors, with items available for purchase including: soap products, baked goods, pies, loaded teas, cross stitch and handmade crafts, wooden signs, wreaths, painted pictures, towels, jewelry, homemade washcloths, quilts, resin crafts, ceramic items, handpainted greeting cards, books, handmade ornaments, maple products, flat stone pictures, crocheted items, saw blades, hot pads, cutting boards, Joy Stevens’ family signs, and more.
Lunch (pizza and hot dogs) will be available for purchase.
Santa Claus will be on site to visit with the local children and hear their Christmas wishes, starting at 12:30 p.m.
There also will be a silent auction to benefit St. James Catholic Church.
All North Country residents are encouraged to stop by the 2023 St. James School Holiday Craft Fair and Book Fair on Saturday, December 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. James School, 20 S. Gordon St., Gouverneur. For more information on St. James School, call 315-287-0130.