Mastic Beach Conservancy Secures $50,000 for Shoreline Restoration
Proceeds from the sold-out Bivalve Ball will fund oyster seeding, trail development, and invasive species removal along the Long Island South Shore.
By Carolina Wood ·
The Mastic Beach Conservancy raised $50,000 at its fifth annual Bivalve Ball on Saturday, September 26.
One hundred thirty attendees filled the Mastic Beach Property Owners Clubhouse for the event, which serves as the organization's largest yearly fundraiser. The funds will support oyster and kelp seeding in Narrow Bay, horseshoe crab monitoring, and native plantings. The money will also cover invasive species removal, the Ecology Art Lab, and the development of public blue and green trails around the Mastic peninsula.
Maura Spery, president of the Mastic Beach Conservancy, noted that the group started as volunteers with rakes and a vision for the shoreline. She stated that the recent gathering demonstrated community support for that vision. Spery explained that every dollar raised returns to the water, marsh, and programs that engage neighbors.
The evening recognized two entities for their contributions to local environmental efforts. Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, received the Environmental Leadership Award. Balloon Mission, a volunteer-driven nonprofit, received the Community Impact Award, which founder Cynthia Seibold accepted. Local artist Jessamyn Go handcrafted both awards and serves as the Conservancy's Ecology Art Lab Director.
Esposito was honored for four decades of advocacy in New York. She co-founded Citizens Campaign for the Environment in 1985 and has led campaigns on drinking water, toxic remediation, and renewable energy. She chairs the New York Clean Water Coalition and was named a top ten influential Woman of Water in the United States in 2020.
Balloon Mission was recognized for its work to prevent balloon litter from entering waterways. Seibold launched the country's first post-event balloon collection program in 2023. The initiative began with three elementary schools and one public library. It now operates through more than 100 organizations across twelve states and accepts mailed balloons from residents nationwide.
The Conservancy has grown from a neighborhood cleanup group into a partner for state and federal agencies in five years. Its advocacy helped secure millions in funding to make Violet Cove a county park. It also secured a National Coastal Resilience Grant for salt marsh habitat in southern Mastic Beach. These wetlands absorbed storm surge during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit works to protect 6.5 miles of publicly accessible waterfront parkland in the Mastic Beach and Shirley Conservation Area.
