The goal of James Lane Post is to give back to the community, to celebrate journalism, and to tell the stories that uplift the East End — the place we love and call home.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, as journalists we watched in horror as we did our best to keep the public informed, all while navigating uncharted waters.
What we discovered was the coming together of a community like never before. East Enders were there to help their neighbor. From donations to local food pantries, obtaining PPE and meals for hospitals, to delivering groceries to those who were too at risk to leave the house, everyone worked together to make this difficult time a little easier for those who needed help. We have witnessed an abundance of good behind the scenes to aid the greater community. We are here to shine a light on these stories.
James Lane Post will cover East End life. The content in both our digital and print publication will appeal to all East Enders. Each issue — written by award-winning journalists — will include style, dining, arts & culture, real estate, events, philanthropy, and act as an overall guide to what’s happening on the East End. We are here to be a resource to the community.
“The name was inspired by the lane that overlooks Town Pond in East Hampton. James is also my father’s name. He co-founded the Independent Newspaper in 1993 and has taught me everything I know about this business,” says Jessica Mackin-Cipro, Co-Publisher and Editor. “My husband, Joe Cipro, and I were also married on James Lane. I felt like the name represented us, and the community, well.”
Jessica was previously the Executive Editor of The Independent Newspaper. She has won numerous journalism and social media awards, and recently led The Independent to the wins of almost every major New York Press Association (NYPA) award in 2019 including Newspaper of the Year, Stuart C. Dorman Award for General Excellence, and the Past Presidents Award for General Excellence. As a Springs School and East Hampton High School alum, she is rooted in the East End community, has a great knowledge of the area, and hopes to continue serving the community through James Lane Post.
Ty Wenzel, James Lane’s Marketing Director and Co-Publisher, has been a fashion editor of Cosmopolitan Magazine and a fashion coordinator for Bloomingdale’s. She was also a writer for countless publications including The New York Times and New York Post and has published a memoir. She is an award-winning writer, designer, and was previously the Marketing Director at The Independent. Prior to The Independent, she was the Senior Marketing Director for Corcoran on the East End and will be leading the real estate section of James Lane Post with profiles and features about real estate professionals, builders, interior designers, and landscapers that make the East End the beautiful region that it is.
“I have been in the real estate scene on the East End for a decade and have a sincere passion for the sector that makes us all drool with the architecture, design, and landscapes,” says Ty. “My goal has always been to bring that to life in some way; James Lane Post will bring the beauty of the region to life with my experience as a writer and designer for every denizen of the Hamptons, whether they are summer visitors, year round, or new transplants. In today’s atmosphere, we can all use more beauty in our lives.”
Christine Prydatko joins James Lane Post as SVP of Business Development. Christine, a branding expert, is a partner in Simple Vodka, a spirits brand with a giveback model that provides 20 meals for each bottle sold to those in need through local and national hunger relief organizations. She is a member of the World Economic Forum among other communities and has worked extensively on events, sponsorships, and partnerships.
“Through events, I’m excited to create something intimate for the community we love,” she says.
As deemed safe, James Lane Post will host intimate, curated events across the East End. For our launch, we are proud to be part of community initiates like Southampton Hospital’s Hamptons Holiday Shop, the Holiday Farm Lights Tour at Spirit’s Promise Equine Rescue in Riverhead, and the East Hampton Chamber of Commerce’s 28th Annual East Hampton B&B, Inn, Restaurant & Attraction Tour.
The James Lane team is delighted to be working with contributing writers, photographers, editors, colleagues, and friends like Bridget LeRoy, Zachary Weiss, Heather Buchanan, Lisa Tamburini, Rob Rich, and Nicole Teitler. You can find their wonderful work in the pages of our first issue. We hope to continue to grow this community of great talent in the coming months.
The e-commerce portion of our website — www.jameslanepost.com — will eventually be used to promote the East End’s small businesses by selling a selection of items. James Lane branded handmade items, currently available, include artisanal soap and handmade jewelry. A James Lane jam and seasoning salt has been created by Chef Joe Cipro — a private chef who previously worked in the kitchens of Topping Rose House and Della Femina Restaurant. Free delivery will be offered on the East End. You can find James Lane at the Holiday Artist & Makers Walk in East Hampton on December 18 to 20 and on our website www.jameslanepost.com.
We want to take our combined expertise and create something beautiful and resourceful . . . to tell the stories of those who are helping the community and celebrate the diversity of the East End. We have a deep love and respect for the East End as our home.
We hope you’ll read along. And we wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe holiday season.
– The James Lane Post Team
We dedicate our first issue to all of those lost in 2020 and in loving memory of
Edward Cipro & Özay Batirbek