"Please help save our beautiful Mashashimuet Park!" said Diane Schiavoni, who is leading a fund-raiser to restore the park's grandstand. She announced on Facebook that she will kick off the initiative by offering a donation for a bundle of shingles worth $150; she hopes community members will do the same. Any amount is appreciated, she wrote, with hope for "many more years of watching our great school teams compete at our local park!"
The fund-raiser comes in response to the rift between the Sag Harbor School District and Mashashimuet Park board, which has left the community on tenterhooks as to whether the two entities can together finesse the financials for a new contract for use of the park by school sports teams. Those interested in donating can make checks payable to Park and Recreation Association of Sag Harbor, mailed to P.O. Box 1653 in Sag Harbor 11963.
"I'll tell you, we can't let our children go anywhere else," said Gabe Schiavoni, who is supporting his wife's work on the cause. "This means more to us than anything. I spent half my summers playing up there."
Gregg Schiavoni, who is a cousin of Diane and Gabe Schiavoni, and who is president of the Mashashimuet Park board, said yesterday that there will also be a 5K run on Sept. 11 and a raffle to help raise money for the grandstand. More information will be forthcoming.