By Connor Adams Sheets
Thousands of baseball fans and neighborhood residents flooded the commercial center of Douglaston Saturday afternoon for Douglaston Community Day, a first-time event aimed at celebrating the community and raising funds for charity.
The festival was hosted by the Douglaston Chamber of Commerce and Strawberry’s Sports Grill, which former New York Mets and Yankees star Darryl Strawberry opened at 42-15 235th St.
The huge crowd flocked to the celebration to enjoy good food, music and games and to get their Mets gear signed by former Amazin’s, including Kevin Mitchell, Bud Harrelson, Barry Lyons, Terry Leach and, of course, Strawberry himself.
Strawberry, who began to plan the festivities with the Douglaston chamber a year ago when his eatery opened to the public, also brought his friend Joey Fatone from the musical group ‘N Sync and former New York Jets player Sean Landetta, all in the name of raising money for The Darryl Strawberry Foundation’s Fight Against Autism, his charitable organization, the chamber and Lady Lions basketball.
Nicholas Greenberg, a Roslyn, L.I., resident who volunteered at Douglaston Community Day with his family, said it was a great time and that it felt good to support an important cause.
“I was helping on the speed pitch. You hand them balls and they see how fast you can throw them,” the 12-year-old said. “I liked helping because I want to help fight autism. It was a fun day. I really liked the water balloon fight and the speed pitch.”
Chamber President Dorothy Matinale, who owns Station Realty, said the day, which also featured a dunk tank, raffles and dance performances, was a major success, especially given that this was its first year. It is slated to be an annual event.
“Oh, my God, there have been thousands of people. The street’s been full all day long. The response has been everything positive, everyone’s having a great time,” she said. “Strawberry’s came to us at the chamber and said, ‘How can we do something to give back to the community?’ and the chamber’s board members and I came together with them and it went from something small to something tremendous.”
Flushing resident Chris Wuest brought the whole family to Douglaston Saturday, where he said they had a great time.
“There were a lot of people. I was surprised, I wasn’t sure what the turnout would be. I guess Darryl Strawberry can get a lot of people to come down,” he said.
Reach reporter Connor Adams Sheets by e-mail at csheets@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
