Annual harbor fireworks in trouble

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The 29th annual mid-July fireworks display at Three Mile Harbor, which formerly benefited the Boys & Girls Harbor summer camp before it closed, is in danger of not happening this year.

What began as an event to raise money for a charity has now become a charity in its own right, as community members begin the breakneck process of trying to raise between $25,000 and $30,000 just to provide the annual Grucci fireworks display over the harbor.

Three years ago, after the camp closed and the property’s owners began negotiations to sell their property on the south side of Three Mile Harbor to East Hampton Town and Suffolk County, The Giving Tree Foundation took over the benefit to raise money for a variety of regional charities.

Nick Krauss, a partner in the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, was one of the organizers of the fireworks display for the past two years, which had been renamed Rock the Harbor. The event included a benefit concert at the main house at the Boys & Girls Harbor property, and while Mr. Krauss said that it was profitable the first year, last year the organizers actually lost money on the event. He said that he had been willing to continue organizing the fund-raiser this year, but he had not been asked to help.

“I just want to see it continue as a great fixture in East Hampton. It’s a local East Hampton tradition,” he said. “No one asked for my help or support so far this year. I don’t know what happened. I really hope they’re going to continue it.”

In the meantime, Ross Perchik, an East Hampton architect who runs the annual East Hampton Sandcastle Contest in Amagansett, heard earlier this spring through friends in the fire department that the fireworks were in trouble. He has been working furiously to try to raise money just to continue the tradition of fireworks over the harbor, without the attendant party. His effort began with a benefit dinner at Michael’s restaurant in Springs this past weekend.

“As it stands now, there are no more fireworks,” he said this week. “We are doing some fund-raising and approaching individuals, but we can’t raise the money we need by grassroots efforts.”

Mr. Perchik added that fund-raising for the sand castle contest is down 50 percent from last year, making this an unlikely climate in which to raise enough money for something as non-essential as a fireworks display.

He said that he is looking for corporate sponsors and has already notified Grucci, East Hampton Town and the fire departments of his intent to hold the fireworks display, but without the money, he could be forced very soon to pull the plug on an event that is just six weeks away.

Mr. Perchik said he remains hopeful that he will be able to create a great event for the fireworks’ 30th annual display next year.

“I just found out about this a couple of months ago. We would certainly have much more time for next year. This is not my day job, but if I had a year, it would be no problem,” he said.

In the meantime, the Giving Tree Foundation is planning a second annual Rock the Farm benefit on Maggie Kotuk’s farm in East Hampton on July 26.

“Right now there’s a big line-up. There are some big names we’re working on, but we won’t announce them until right before the concert,” said Mr. Krauss.