By Kathianne Boniello
With bubbles wafting through the bright Saturday morning more than 50 happily shouting children shattered the quiet of 27th Avenue to announce the seventh annual Community Unity Day to the Two Coves community of Astoria.
The event, which began with the children’s parade down 27th Avenue to Hellgate Park at 26th Avenue and 2nd Street, featured food, a double-Dutch contest, clowns and a game between teams in the Michael S. Insel Two Coves Junior Baseball League.
“This means a lot to me,” said Joseph Garcia, who grew up in Two Coves and now coaches the Junior League Rugrats. “We never really had a Little League here, and now we’re teaching these young kids about baseball.”
Baseball and fun were the central themes of the day, said organizer Martha Gotwal, public relations director for Goodwill Industries, a sponsor of the event.
“It’s a celebration of the community and the youth of the Two Coves community,” she said, “a day for the community to be happy.”
Co-organizer Gail Harris said the Community Unity Day event was also a way to recognize the accomplishments of the community. This year, Harris said, there are new lights to illuminate the baseball field at the recently refurbished Hellgate Park.
“Every year we have new things going on in the community,” said Harris, a Queens Village resident who started organizing the event in February.
Harris’ work seemed to be paying off as dozens of children, ready to play ball in their uniforms, ran back and forth across the park taking turns getting their faces painted, eating hot dogs and flying kites.
Carlos Rosado, coach of the Bulldogs junior league team, said the Community Unity day was a way to showcase the benefits of the league, which works with 7 to-10-year-olds.
“It’s like an opening day,” Rosado said. “It lets us give the public a chance to see the games, and how we take care of the kids.”
Alex Ramos, 11, a pitcher with the Bulldogs, had only one thing in mind after the parade.
“It was fun,” he said. “I’m happy.”
Kristine Santana, 11, said the Community Unity day was important for the junior baseball league players.
“Today is a good day for all the teams to get together and root for each other,” the third basemen said.
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
