Letters

The eye-catching photo and caption “Diving In: East End high school swim team ready to begin new season” [Sports & Outdoors, January 7] immediately reminded me that not all students on the East End have access to a pool where a team might practice.

I look forward to reading of the success of the Bonackers/Hurricanes who are able to compete this year. At the same time, it saddens me that the Town of Southampton does not have a public indoor swimming pool.

The article mentions that the students on the team are from Sag Harbor, East Hampton and Bridgehampton. Swimmers are known for their dedication, shown by getting up at zero-dark-thirty to swim before school, and doing two-a-day practices in preparation for a meet.

Adding a commute of 60 minutes or more to that grueling schedule makes it impossible for students from Southampton, Hampton Bays and Westhampton to have the opportunity to be on a swim team.

The article also stresses that the seniors on the Hurricanes are eager to compete so they can achieve times that colleges want. What a tremendous advantage to those students over their peers who don’t live within commuting distance of a pool!

But there is hope! With robust community support, the town has dedicated property at 344 Magee Street to Southampton Town Aquatics Recreation, a nonprofit organization. STAR will provide a place for children to have swimming lessons, for swim teams, for fitness swimmers, for all to enjoy the soothing effects of water on aches and pains. There also will be dry land exercise space.

We envision people of all ages, sizes and colors becoming safer and healthier in a welcoming, supportive, safe STAR AquaCenter.

All community members can help move this project forward. Please visit the website staraquacenter.org. Watch an inspiring video about the joys of swimming, join the mailing list, and, if possible, make a donation. With continued support from the community, we can bring STAR AquaCenter to life.

Terese Wildrick

Secretary

STAR Corp.

Hampton Bays