Sag Harbor Sign Re-Illuminated As Joyful Crowd Celebrates

SAG HARBOR, NY — Hope was born again for scores of teary-eyed supporters as the iconic Sag Harbor Cinema sign was lighted, once again, on Saturday night.

The moment held deep meaning for many who worked tirelessly after a fire swept through the village in December, 2016, to see the damaged sign resurrected from the ashes.

"The sign lighting was not only satisfying, but very emotional for so many of us," said April Gornik, Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Chair.

She reflected on how remarks by New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele "brought tears to many eyes, including mine. I was so glad that he mentioned how fantastic is always was, coming back from a trip, to drive down Main Street and see that welcoming glow from the sign. Most people I know would detour a few extra minutes just to have that incredible feeling, knowing that you were back home — back to the best place and community ever."

County, town, and village officials were among the crowd in attendance for the ceremony at the Cinema to reignite the sign —and fundraising efforts — while celebrating the hopeful re-opening of the Sag Harbor Cinema within the next six months, Sag Harbor Partnership members members said.

The Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce encouraged Main Street storekeepers to stay open late for the sign lighting ceremony.

Before the event, Gornik reflected on the momentous re-lighting of the beloved sign. "Initially we were thinking we could wait until the Cinema opened to light the sign, but Memorial Day weekend felt like the perfect opportunity to celebrate not only the start of summer, but how far we have come on this journey," she said.

The building façade will soon be finished, thanks to the crew from ConRac Construction, she said, adding that thanks for the sign repair is due to "our wonderful volunteer heroes, Twin Forks owner Chris Denon, metalworker John Battle, and neon artist Clayton Orehek, who have gone the distance to repair the sign for all of us for free."

She added: "It would be wrong to withhold the sign from all the people in this community who have been so generous in getting us this far. We hope this re-inspires visitors and residents to help open the Sag Harbor Cinema Art Center this fall, free and clear of debt, fulfilling our promise to the community to bring the Cinema back."

Cinema Board Treasurer Susan Mead added, "Part of saving the Sag Harbor Cinema has always been to help keep Main Street intact, so we're looking forward to celebrating this momentous occasion with Main Street merchants."

While progress on construction is going apace and the goal of reopening the Cinema is still slated for 2019, it is estimated that an additional $3 to 4 million is needed before the Cinema can be fully functional. The final round of fundraising will be put toward the expansion of the new third floor, seats for all three theaters, film and sound equipment, restoration of historic fixtures, café and concession equipment and supplies, computer equipment and salaries, the Sag Harbor Partnership said.

After the fire ravaged the village in 2016, the years since the fire have shown that dreams do come true — when a community comes together with faith, resilience, and vision. And nothing could symbolize hope rising from the literal ashes more beautifully than the sight of the now refurbished, and iconic, Sag Harbor Cinema sign.

The sign was saved after a devastating fire raged through the village on that brutally icy morning.

But in the face of tragedy, the community came together after the fire; hands and hearts were joined as the theater was reborn — and now, the sign lives on, completely refurbished.

"We were recently sent this picture of the last part of the sign to be fixed, the 'Harbor' part, lit up," said the Sag Harbor Partnership in its newsletter.

After the fire, the sign was stored at Twin Forks Moving and Storage; the "Harbor" part of the sign was even more mangled than the "Sag" portion, and it took more than a year to see it illuminated once more, the Partnership said.

Residents mourning the loss of the Sag Harbor Cinema after the devastating fire ravaged the village found a ray of hope when the beloved and iconic neon sign from the movie theater was saved.

"As a lifelong resident of this town it was so sad to watch this develop over the day," said Sandi Kruel. "My heart broke — but watching the brave men and women who came together without a blink of a eye tells the real story of the magnificent town."

For Kruel, and many others, the sign has long symbolized a jewel of hope salvaged from the ashes.

"We were all hoping the sign could be saved," she said. "Actually, my brother-in-law Rick Kruel worked on it just a few years back in the restoration, so to see just that little piece of history saved and no one being hurt —it was a true Christmas miracle for Sag Harbor Village. Once again we are forever grateful to be able to call this place home. I hope and pray we rebuild as close to the original as we can for the sake of tomorrow's children."

Months of fundraising and donations commenced and in June, 2018, the Sag Harbor Partnership hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center. After months of dedicated fundraising, "the revival of this historic cinema is now becoming a concrete reality for Main Street," a release said.

In December 2017, just days before the one-year anniversary of a the fire, an $8 million fundraising goal was been met that meant the iconic institution would live again. The goal was reached with the award of a $1.4 million state grant and an anonymous $500,000 donation, representatives said.

The property at 90 Main St. was purchased by the Sag Harbor Partnership in early January, 2018 for $8 million.

Video courtesy April Gornik and Margaret Garrett.