A Field of Dreams! The crack of the bat on a warm spring afternoon, boys in their baseball uniforms pitching and fielding balls, stealing bases, and sliding into home! parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors coming together to watch and celebrate the wins or comfort the losses. Young men learning about the importance of teamwork, discipline, commitment and sportsmanship. This, quite simply, is what baseball and kids is all about.

A Field in Need

The Longmeadow Diamond Club, a group of parent volunteers committed to long-term financial support of Longmeadow High School Baseball, is embarking on a major community-wide initiative to restore our own field of dreams: the Russell Field Baseball Diamond at LHS. Russell Field is well used, by the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams as well as American Legion, Mickey Mantle and adult summer leagues. Over the years, the infield has greatly deteriorated, resulting in conditions dangerous to players. The town budget funds only minimal maintenance, and the many additional hours of volunteer time and expense to groom and repair the baseball diamond before and after games is no longer enough.

The Project

The work has already begun this fall and the new field will be ready in time for the spring 2007 season. The infield will be completely replaced: the soil conditioned and laser-leveled, pitcher’s mound and home plate areas rebuilt, and the infield replanted with hardy Kentucky bluegrass. A comprehensive field maintenance plan will be put into place. The cost of restoration is $18,100. We have already reached a third of our goal.

Will You Help Us?

As a town of Longmeadow resident, baseball lover or business with an interest in the Longmeadow baseball community, we ask for your support in helping us make our dream a reality.

Here is your chance to win a new 2007 Hyundai Sonata SE valued at $18,800 for just $100. Your odds are great with only 500 tickets to be sold. All proceeds will benefit the Field of Dreams Restoration Fund.

Drawing date: May 26th at the Longmeadow Baseball Field. Need not be present to win. No prize substitutions. Taxes and fees are the sole responsibility of the winner.

A minimum of 300 tickets must be sold or all funds will be returned. A maximum of 500 tickets will be sold.

Car courtesy of Gary Rome Hyundai. To purchase a ticket, contact Bob Michael at 565-2586. For information on the car, log onto GaryRomeHyundai.com

Just as well the new Hyundai Santa Fe is a sturdy vehicle, with the accolades being heaped upon it.

The glamorous newcomer has now been named Recreational SUV of the Year by New Zealand 4WD Magazine, New Zealand’s leading publication in the specialist market.

Distinct from Utility SUV of the Year, this award normally goes to the vehicle with greater off-road ability, but the magazine says the Santa Fe demonstrates superior all-round performance and simply cannot be ignored.

The diesel version of the stunning new off-roader has already been named SUV of the Year at the NZ Automotive Awards by AutoTrader Magazine.

In the important business market, Santa Fe was chosen as National Business Review’s SUV of the Year.

And the diesel was recognised as the most efficient large lifestyle/leisure vehicle with its victory in this week’s EnergyWise Rally.

This on top of the vehicle’s success in the Fair Go Ad Awards, where its compelling TV commercial featuring the cute surfing toddlers was given Best Ad Award by the programme’s biggest-ever margin.

Hyundai is only now delivering vehicles to New Zealand customers who have had to wait for their new Santa Fe as its popularity pushed orders beyond availability.

“We are honoured the new Santa Fe is being recognised by the major media of New Zealand so soon after its introduction,” commented the Managing Director of Hyundai Automotive NZ, Philip Eustace.

“We always knew this model would be something special, especially for New Zealanders, but its instant popularity even caught us a little by surprise.”

Five different models cover diesel and petrol options of the South Korean masterpiece, which is available with five and seven-seat options for New Zealand families.