Article published in 27 East’s The Sag Harbor Express, by Cailin Riley, on November 3, 2026. All photos sourced from original article.
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When Southampton Town closed on a $7.5 million deal to purchase the Redwood Anchorage Marina at 40 South Redwood Road in Sag Harbor in January, it was significant in more ways than one.
Buying the marina from longtime owner Gerald Schwenk, the town prevented it from falling into the hands of a developer who likely would’ve turned it into a high-end destination, squeezing out the local, middle-class boat owners who valued the 60-slip location for its affordable docking rates. The purchase also was a win for the health of the bay, and for local community members and schoolchildren as well.
On Monday morning, elected officials — including Suffolk County Legislator Ann Welker, State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni, Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore, Southampton Town Councilman Michael Iasilli, and Sag Harbor Village Mayor Tom Gardella, Deputy Mayor Jeanne Kane, and Trustee Ed Haye — as well as representatives from Cornell Cooperative Extension, and other supporters of the project, were on hand at the marina for the official ribbon-cutting, which was followed by a tour of the facility.
The Sag Harbor Village Board worked out an agreement that allows Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Marine Program to operate out of the building on the marina property, where members of CCE’s “Back to the Bays” team will offer education and stewardship programs out of the space, partnering with Sag Harbor Village in those efforts.
The facility will offer programs and activities focused on marine science, STEAM art and education, habitat and shellfish restoration, citizen involvement workshops and stewardship opportunities, and more, all in the name of enhancing the natural coastal and marine resources in the area. Indoor and outdoor classrooms, touch tanks and aquariums, an early education area, a learning lab, work spaces and more are all part of the facility.
Back to the Bays is aiming to raise $100,000 before the end of the year to help fund other necessary improvements and renovations to the building, in order to maximize its offerings to the community.
The specific way the ribbon-cutting was conducted was creatively on brand. Carolyn Munaco, a resident artist and educator with CCE’s Marine Program, made a giant papier-mâché creation of an oyster shucking knife, which was used to “cut” the burlap ribbon, also decorated by Munaco with a shell pattern as well.
Kane had championed the project for years, dating back to former Mayor Jim LaRocca’s administration. She said she was thrilled to see it finally come together, and was one of many people who pointed out that it never would’ve happened without the willingness and patience of Schwenk, who was not in attendance on Monday.
Back in January, when the deal was announced, she praised Schwenk for his steadfastness and patience in seeing the deal through.
“He had multiple bids, for $10 million, $9 million,” she said. “So I would definitely praise Gerry for his patience and persistence in reaching the goal that he had put out there. He wanted to preserve the marina as it is today, so it would be available to locals to be able to dock their boat at an affordable and fair level.”
Everything that will happen at the building on the property, with CCE’s programming, is another huge added bonus.
Kimberly Barbour is the Back to the Bays director and a senior resource educator with CCE’s Marine Program. She spoke at the ribbon-cutting about how the contributions of so many people and groups were key in bringing it all together.
“There is support and vision for this space and a shared belief that we must keep working diligently to protect and restore our local coastal and marine resources,” she said. “And educate and engage the public along the way, which is ultimately what brought this new center to life.”
The Back to the Bays program and its goals for the new center got a big boost in the form of some private local support as well. Rory McEvoy and Grainne Coen, owners of Kidd Squid Brewery in Sag Harbor, worked alongside community activist Shawn Sachs to create “Brew for the Bays,” a fundraising event at the brewery, which benefited the Back to the Bays program and its fundraising efforts for the center. McEvoy brewed a new IPA specifically for the Back to the Bays program, and the beer has sold out multiple times.
Coen and McEvoy were on hand at the ribbon-cutting, as was Sachs, who spoke about why they were all eager to get involved.
“These guys are like our Seal Team Six for the bays,” he said of the CCE Marine Program leaders. “And we need to help them.”
He announced that someone had come forward, anonymously, with a $25,000 matching donation, which will be a big boost toward the $100,000 Barbour said they are hoping to raise.
“The bay is big, and it needs a lot of help,” Sachs added. “To me, this is the perfect definition of how a public private partnership happens. At a moment in time when people are a little disillusioned with all that’s going on, this is a success. I think everyone here should be really proud of what we put together.”
Gardella, in his comments, summed it up similarly.
“This shows that when we work together for a common goal, we can make it happen,” the mayor said.