RYE/KITTERY, ME—
Beginning at about 1:30 p.m. on February 26, well-known accordionist and “Creekman” Gary Sredzienski will swim four miles in icy water (roughly 35 degrees “warm”) to raise funds for the preservation of historic lighthouses. While Gary swims in local waterways year-round, this route has particular significance, bringing attention - and funding - to the nonprofit American Lighthouse Foundation and its local chapter, Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses. Gary will start out swimming from Odiorne Point (Rye, NH) to Whaleback Lighthouse (Kittery, ME) to Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (New Castle, NH) to the Kittery Point Town Dock behind Captain and Patty’s restaurant on Pepperrell Road (Route 103).
Gary has been swimming all his life and has done three other long distance winter swims for charities. In his spare time, he pursues his other calling as a professional accordion player, having picked up the instrument at the age of 9. He performs 1960s surf rock, traditional ethnic, and original accordion compositions with the Portsmouth-based group, the Serfs, and he also hosts a radio show, “Polka Party,” weekly on WUNH-FM in Durham.
Following the swim on February 26, Gary and his band, the Serfs, will play at a celebration party upstairs at Captain and Patty’s restaurant in Kittery Point. The 5 p.m. party is sold out, but the public can still come to the restaurant to dine downstairs and listen to the music during the party.
The funds raised will be split evenly between the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF), and the foundation’s local chapter, Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses (FPHL). ALF, a nonprofit organization based in Rockland, Maine, cares for 23 historic lighthouses in the Northeast. FPHL cares for Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse in New Castle, NH, and Whaleback Lighthouse in Kittery, Maine. Whaleback is in dire need of restoration that will cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
See www.portsmouthharborlighthouse.org for more information about the event, and to find out how to donate in honor of Gary’s incredible commitment.
Photo caption: Gary Sredzienski playing his accordion at the top of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse. Gary will swim four miles from Rye, NH to Kittery Point, ME on Feb. 26 in order to raise money for this and Whaleback Lighthouse. (Photo by Jeremy D’Entremont)
Beginning at about 1:30 p.m. on February 26, well-known accordionist and “Creekman” Gary Sredzienski will swim four miles in icy water (roughly 35 degrees “warm”) to raise funds for the preservation of historic lighthouses. While Gary swims in local waterways year-round, this route has particular significance, bringing attention - and funding - to the nonprofit American Lighthouse Foundation and its local chapter, Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses. Gary will start out swimming from Odiorne Point (Rye, NH) to Whaleback Lighthouse (Kittery, ME) to Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (New Castle, NH) to the Kittery Point Town Dock behind Captain and Patty’s restaurant on Pepperrell Road (Route 103).
Gary has been swimming all his life and has done three other long distance winter swims for charities. In his spare time, he pursues his other calling as a professional accordion player, having picked up the instrument at the age of 9. He performs 1960s surf rock, traditional ethnic, and original accordion compositions with the Portsmouth-based group, the Serfs, and he also hosts a radio show, “Polka Party,” weekly on WUNH-FM in Durham.
Following the swim on February 26, Gary and his band, the Serfs, will play at a celebration party upstairs at Captain and Patty’s restaurant in Kittery Point. The 5 p.m. party is sold out, but the public can still come to the restaurant to dine downstairs and listen to the music during the party.
The funds raised will be split evenly between the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF), and the foundation’s local chapter, Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses (FPHL). ALF, a nonprofit organization based in Rockland, Maine, cares for 23 historic lighthouses in the Northeast. FPHL cares for Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse in New Castle, NH, and Whaleback Lighthouse in Kittery, Maine. Whaleback is in dire need of restoration that will cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
See www.portsmouthharborlighthouse.org for more information about the event, and to find out how to donate in honor of Gary’s incredible commitment.
Photo caption: Gary Sredzienski playing his accordion at the top of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse. Gary will swim four miles from Rye, NH to Kittery Point, ME on Feb. 26 in order to raise money for this and Whaleback Lighthouse. (Photo by Jeremy D’Entremont)
