Race On To Save Great Bonac Fireworks Show

EAST HAMPTON, NY - The (fireworks) show must go on

So say a group of residents who are digging deep in their pockets to help pay for the beloved Great Bonac Fireworks Show, which was cancelled this year.

The Clamshell Foundation, founded by Rossetti Perchik, who died on May 7, normally sponsors the event. It was Perchik's personal financial contributions that were primarily responsible for "making the fireworks happen," the Foundation said.

But with his death, the fireworks are in danger of becoming just a memory.

"In following with Rossetti's wishes, The Clamshell Foundation will solely be focusing its efforts on the premiere fundraising event, The Sandcastle Contest, to ensure we can continue giving out annual scholarships to East Hampton High School students and to help protect our local waters and beaches," a release from the Foundation said.

One hundred percent of all profits go back to the community. The 25th Annual Sandcastle Contest will take place on August 6 at Atlantic Avenue Beach in Amagansett from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

But the fireworks are a tradition in East Hampton, with legions of families looking forward to the glorious display. To that end, a GoFundMe page, The Great Fireworks Show, has been created, and has so far garnered $4,820 of its $60,000 goal.

Supporters include East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell, who wrote on Facebook. "Let's all chip in and save this great tradition of fireworks in Three Mile Harbor. If you have ever spent a summer in East Hampton you know the Great Bonac Fireworks is the best show to see. By boat or by land. from any point along the harbor or on Maidstone or Sammy's Beach. We lost Ross, we can't lose the event he maintained for all of us for all of these years."

The fundraiser was organized to keep the fireworks show going, the GoFundMe page reads. "Rossetti Perchik, who founded the Clamshell Foundation passed away this spring. He has kept the Fireworks show going all these years. They will end unless we can raise 60,000 for the Clamshell Foundation to pay for the cost to put on the show."

There's an urgency, with only 19 days to raise the money to make a commitment to Grucci Fireworks, the page said. "Otherwise the shows will be over. It would be a shame to see all of Rossetti's hard work for all these years come to an end. As a comunity we need to pull together and raise the money to keep it going in his honor."