Masone Beach opens Saturday

This weekend, the Village of Island Park will kick off another summer of fun at Masone Beach.

The village will officially open its beach Saturday after the last day of school on Friday, and residents — adults and children alike — are invited to attend a grand annual event that is expected to begin sometime between 11 a.m. and noon, after the annual Jimi Gubelli 5K run/walk. According to village trustee Henry Hastava, villagers are welcome to join in the festivities that will include a cookout, live music, games and prizes.

“The winter may be a lull time,” said Hastava, who is also the commissioner of Masone Beach. “But there’s a lot of hard work put into the summer program. I’ve got a place in my heart for it.”

Island Park residents say they have a place in their heart for Jimi Gubelli, a village resident who died of a heart attack in December, 2008. The third annual 5K run/walk named in his honor will begin at 9:30 a.m., and will start and end at Masone Beach.

A former member of the village fire department, Gubelli was well respected and lived his whole life in Island Park. “He was always laughing,” said Felicia Nicholas, a member of the Island Park Civic Association who helped organize the race two years ago. “He always tried to organize events and bring the people together.”

Hastava echoed those sentiments: “He was a devoted guy,” he said.

Nicholas said that the money raised from the race will be given out to three Island Park students as scholarship money. Last year, the money was spent for two scholarships. There will also be trophies awarded to the overall winners of the race: men and women who place in the top three for their age groups will receive awards, and ribbons will be given for the various age groups as well.

“The drive of the race is to bring the community together,” said Nicholas. “We strive each year to make it better.” Last year, Nicholas estimated the racing crowd was approximately 300, and she hopes that between 400 and 500 participants show up this year.