BREWSTER

John Frates (left) turns over a check for $200,000 to Brewster Superintendent Dr. Jane Sandbank and to Dr. Stephen Jambor, President of the Board of Education during a ceremony last week at the BHS Performing Arts Center. ERIC GROSS A huge check for $200,000 was presented to officials of the Brewster School District to thunderous applause.

Last week’s presentation at Brewster High School’s Athletic Awards ceremony before more than 750 students and their parents culminated a five-year project by members of the Brewster Sports Foundation and the Fields of Dreams Committee that raised the money for the school’s new turf field, approved in October by special referendum.

Residents not only authorized the spending of $3,475,000 for the construction of the synthetic turf field, new bleachers, field lighting, and a number of high school infrastructure improvements, but also $25.6 million for a modernization project that addresses the health, safety, and educational concerns of students at the Henry Wells Middle School.

The field project cost is also being offset by a one million grant from the C.V. Starr Foundation.

John Frates, president of the Brewster Sports Foundation, expressed delight that voters saw fit last month to approve the referendum: “My executive board— consisting of Mike Biondi, Laura Donelan, Lisa McPartland, Ken DaRoss and Jim Hogan— and I are pleased to be working with a community that treasures education and realizes its benefit to our future. We pledge to continue to work with Superintendent Dr. Jane Sandbank as well as members of the Board of Education in prioritizing future projects needed with private money. Our goal is to accomplish these projects.”

Board of Education President Dr. Stephen Jambor told the gathering that the successful referendum was a “total team victory. We couldn’t have done it without the help of a lot of our friends and we really appreciate it. Guts, desire, and determination have paid off.”

Dr. Jambor said the generous check demonstrated that “citizens who had a vision and were willing to put in ‘people power’ can reach for the sky and bring home dreams for all of us. We are eternally thankful.”

Dr. Sandbank was also elated: “Thank you everybody. The community has joined together for the future of our children.”

In addition to the construction of the synthetic turf field, two bleachers containing 1,400 seats, a press box, field lighting, a scoreboard, and lacrosse netting will be installed. The project is expected to be completed by December 2010.

—Eric Gross