Christine and Jamie preparing to move back east

After three and a half years in Los Angeles, Christine and Jamie are packing up for a move back across the country.

They are in the process of buying a house in Schenectady, N.Y., and expect to close the purchase and move in during the last week of June.

Their decision to move was spurred by their wish to own a house (prohibitively expensive in L.A.) and their desire to be closer to family. They focused their search on New York State because it's the one Eastern state where Jamie's company, Skybound Entertainment, is set up to have employees. And they zeroed in on the Capital District for its affordable suburban neighborhoods and its easy highway access to many of their relatives. They will be about 3 hours from Christine's parents, 4 hours from Jamie's mother, and only about 45 minutes from Andy and Wren's home in Middleburgh, N.Y.

The couple are no strangers to Upstate New York: They met while students at Rochester Institute of Technology. And while the area gets more winter snow than Christine's native New Jersey, it's comparable to southern New Hampshire, where Jamie grew up.

Merry Christmas! How we're celebrating in December 2023

Merry Christmas to all our extended family from here at Birch Street Headquarters in New Jersey. Please share glimpses of your own celebrations!

The season began early for Christine and Jamie, who traveled in mid-December to Cape Cod for the annual family gathering at the home of Jamie's mom and step-dad, Bonnie and Jay (pictured at far right).

Christmas arrived just a bit early for Dan and Julie, as they were joined by Andy and Wren on the 23rd and 24th. They had a Christmas Eve-Eve feast and exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve morning. The newlyweds would spend Christmas Day with Wren's dad and family on Long Island before heading back to their farmstead upstate.

In memory of Owen

Our family is saddened by the passing on July 16 of Owen, beloved husband to Ellen and to the late Tish; loving father of son Gerrit (and fiancee Erin), daughter Elizabeth, stepdaughters Lindsey (and husband Adam) and Jessica (and husband Scott); proud and loving grandfather of Gerrit's children, Nolan and Josie, and of Lindsey's daughter, Audrey; and brother of Austin.

A large gathering of family and friends attended a funeral mass July 28 at Our Lady of the Cape Church in Brewster, followed by a luncheon where they shared their memories of Owen. 

Donations in Owen's memory may be made to the American Heart Association.

Owen was born in New York City on January 6, 1952 to the late Dr. Austin S. and Mary. After graduating from Fordham University, he began his career in insurance and sales. He went on to start Printex, a successful business on Cape Cod, where he raised his family.

Owen was a caring and loving son, husband and father, and family was everything to him. He loved his life on the Cape, long walks on the beach, spending time with family and friends and sitting by the fire on a cold winter's night. He was a great storyteller and a big Three Stooges fan, and was often found at Buncey's in Dennis on a Friday night. He spent his past few years traveling, and always looked forward to his yearly Maine vacation with his wife and long-time friends. He will be greatly missed and will continue to live on in all of his relatives and friends.

Brien's St. Patrick's Parade watch party returns!

After a three-year gap caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Brien once again hosted a party at his apartment along the route of the Yonkers St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 18.

The parade was back to full strength, lasting a good two hours and drawing big crowds. And the family gathering filled Brien's apartment for the whole afternoon.

Genevieve joined the festivities along with the newest family member, Liam, and his big sister, Bea. Owen and Ellen were down from Cape Cod, and Mary came from her home in New York's North Country. Kathy and Robert were there, and Dan and Julie crossed the river from New Jersey, So did Shanna, Rick and Lucy. Kevin came up from Manhattan to join his parents, Kevin and Kathy, in the walk over from their Yonkers house.

As in its pre-pandemic heyday, the parade included units from Yonkers, the big city just to its south, around the metro area - and from Ireland. Many of them likely had marched in the New York City parade the day before. 

A very 2020 Christmas get-together

Keeping up holiday tradition as well as possible under the circumstances, Kathy hosted a virtual version of the annual Yonkers Christmas party on Dec. 27. Family members Zoomed in from up and down the East Coast to exchange Christmas greetings as well as wishes for a much better 2021.

In this checkerboard version of a family photo, we see (top row) Austin in Florida, Dan & Julie in New Jersey, Kathy in Yonkers, and Genevieve with Jack (and John off-screen) in Manhattan; (2nd row) Kevin, Kathy and Kevin in Yonkers, Vivien, CJ and baby Austin in New Jersey (Charlie was napping), Andy and Wren in Middleburgh, NY; (3rd row) Ellen and Owen on Cape Cod (with Lizzie offscreen), Beatrice upstairs from her mom, Christine (with Jamie offscreen) in New Hampshire and Marie in Virginia; and (bottom row) Kelsey and Patrick in northern Westchester (visiting Kelsey's parents), Brien in Yonkers and Mary (with Roger offscreen) in Malta, NY. Also taking part but not captured in this screenshot were Shanna, Rick and Lucy. 

Josie, Nolan celebrate big birthdays

With their birthdays just two days apart, it makes sense for Josie and Nolan to combine their celebrations, right?

Brother and sister marked important birthdays this week - Josie's first (July 19) and Nolan's fifth (July 21)!

2019 Christmas family snapshots

We hope everyone in our extended family had a wonderful Christmas season. Here are just a handful of photos from the holidays. We'd love to post more if you send them our way (birchstreetweb@gmail.com). Happy New Year to all!

Lucy's first Christmas, with mom Shanna and dad Rick

Charlie with cousins Bea and Jack

Christmas on the Cape with Nolan (aka Capt. America) and Josie

Josie's first Christmas

Bea and Jack with grandma Kathy

Andy and Shannon with Julie and Dan on Christmas Day

Christine and Jamie playing with a Christmas gift from Julie and Dan

Holiday season family gatherings begin

At least two big family gatherings took place on the Saturday before Christmas. Kevin and Kathy hosted the annual Yonkers Christmas party, which featured the first appearances by the family's newest members: babies Lucy and Jack, and Owen's bride, Ellen.

(Click images for larger view)

Meanwhile, Bonnie and Jay hosted their annual Cape Cod gathering of their extended family.

Christine and Jamie joined Jamie's mom and stepdad, sisters and cousins and other relatives in the festivities.

Christine & Jamie - The Wedding Photos

Jamie and Christine's wedding photos - the complete set of professional pictures documenting the day - are now available in an online album for her family and friends to view.

The couple will choose their favorites for a keepsake album, but you can see the entire set of proofs by CLICKING HERE. Enjoy!

Congratulations newlyweds Owen & Ellen!

Updated 10/19 with more photos, videos

Owen and Ellen were married on Sunday, Oct. 13 in an afternoon ceremony at Our Lady of the Cape RC Church in Brewster, Mass.

Ellen and daughters	With this ring...

Just Married!

A happy crowd of family and friends then joined the couple for a reception at Wequassett Resort in Chatham.

It was a wonderful, joyous gathering, with fine food and plenty of dancing. Click the links below for more photos - and a couple of video clips of the dancing!

  

Were you there? Have photos to share? Please send them to birchstreetweb@gmail.com

The following evening, the new Mr & Mrs were headed to Europe for a honeymoon on a Viking River Cruise.

Owen posted this photo from Amsterdam and wrote: "I'm guessing this is what it looked like for my earliest traceable ancestors when they made the trip to New Amsterdam and started our American family. Thanks for making the trip, guys!"

Hugh & Dolores revisit honeymoon sites

Updated 10/3 with more photos

After attending granddaughter Christine's wedding on Cape Cod, Hugh and Dolores jaunted over to Nantucket, where they had celebrated their honeymoon in 1954.

After taking a ferry from Hyannis to the island, they "walked around town a bit and had dinner at The Ship's Inn, where we stayed 65 years ago," Hugh writes.

The Ship's Inn no longer has a hotel, so the couple stayed at the Jared Coffin House. "It's one of the few three-story buildings allowed, been built during the Whaling Days prosperity," Dolores writes.

Jared Coffin House

"Nantucket was lovely and memorable as we remembered - still mostly unspoiled," Dolores said. During their stay, "We had a wonderful all-island tour, and that was the best."

But there have been some changes over the years, Dolores reports: "Traffic! Like Rehoboth Beach in August, with cobblestones!" And the meals, she said, were expensive and pretentious. "We have had meals in Europe, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand, and none of those places were so full of themselves." She added that The Ship's Inn's food was the best of the bunch.

Thankfully, she added, "The scenery is still free!" Here are a few of her photos of the sights.

The oldest house on the island—dated 1659

Sankaty Lighthouse, on the east coast of the island. It was moved back from the land's edge a few years ago due to erosion.

The tip of Nantucket, from the small plane that carried Hugh and Dolores to Boston for their flight home.

Congratulation to Newlyweds Christine and Jamie!

Christine and Jamie were married on Saturday, Sept. 21 in a beachfront ceremony at Red Jacket Resort in South Yarmouth, Mass. More than 100 family members and friends gathered to witness the wedding and enjoy a joyous reception, with dinner and lots of dancing.

Anticipation	All set
Jamie sees...	...Christine approach

The ceremony was beautiful. The couple recited their self-written vows, and the officiant offered prayers and read "words of wisdom" for newlyweds that were submitted by family members.

The weather was absolutely perfect for the occasion: Brilliant sunshine, warm air, a gentle breeze.





Below are just some of the reception photos, and links to video clips - but click the buttons above to see the full collections!

The couple's first dance

Wedding party and friends

Hava Nagilah!

Sharing cake

Father-daughter: Christine and Dan

Father-daughter: Jamie and Paul

Mother-daughter: Jamie and Bonnie

Dance party!

Dance Party Videos:

Cousins!