Valley Stream Basketball League chips in

A large check was presented to Mayor Ed Fare, center, on June 7 by Valley Stream Basketball, Inc. Vice President Sal Dilapi, left and President George Dascher presented to check with Gabrielle, left, and Danielle who play in the league.

Brian Croce/Herald

Officials from Valley Stream Basketball, Inc. presented Mayor Ed Fare with a check for $6,500 on June 7 at Village Hall to cover expenses for the upcoming season.

Of that, $3,000 is for upgrades at the basketball courts in Hendrickson Park while the other $3,500 is to pay a non-resident fee that was enacted in March. The village board passed a resolution that requires non-resident participants for all team sports played at the village’s recreational facilities to pay an $18 fee.

President George Dascher said the league raised prices for the first time in six years, but rather than charging non-residents an extra $18, the league charged each player an additional $10.

Dascher has been running the summer league for the past 19 years and said he does not accept any sponsors because the league is not about making money, it’s about the kids. Dascher, as well as vice president Sal Dilapi and all of the league’s coaches, work with the league on a volunteer basis.

There are an estimated 60 teams signed up for this summer with kids from all over Long Island. Dascher said that kids who live in Nassau or Suffolk County are allowed to join the league, or kids who live in Queens and attend a Nassau County school.

The village is to repair cracks in the courts and repaint the lines within two weeks of the check presentation, Dascher said.