Two Young Greenport Grads To Unveil Kickstarter Campaign At Maritime Festival

It all began with a bus ride and a dream.

Estefany Molina, 22, and her friend and business partner Alexa Suess, 19, are two Greenport High School grads who hope to launch a new quarterly magazine, [BAHYT], that will be based on the East End and focus on "creative projects and innovative ventures developing between the East End and New York City, with a focus on emerging art," Molina said.

"Our goal is simple: nurture what's here and reinvigorate all that this beautiful setting has to offer. [BAHYT] Magazine: art, music, technology, culture, food, and business in one beautiful package."

She added, "[BAHYT] is the phonetic spelling for bight, which means the long gradual end of a shoreline bounding a body of water as well as the slack of a rope distinguished from the ends that helps untie a knot. We really enjoy the the double meaning," Molina said.

Molina, a recent School of Visual arts graduate, and Suess, a graphic designer, both grew up together in Greenport and attended Greenport schools from kindergarten through high school graduation.

"We've always known each other and were aware of each other. We were sort of involved in the same drama club/indie scene at school, but we were doing different things," Molina said. "The idea for the magazine had be stirring in me for several years now since I started college, and I thought she would be the perfect person to team up with because she was the editor of the school paper and because she was a graphic designer; she filled in gaps in skills and aesthetics that I otherwise lacked or did not have. She has a different perspective while at the same time being much in tune with what to magazine had to be."

This May, Molina said, "The urge to do something was brewing inside me again. Alexa and I just so happened to run into each other one day at the Jitney stop in Manhattan; we were both going home. After picking up some coffee I decided I should just pitch the magazine idea to her. So I sat next to her, we started talking, and the ideas starting flowing. We were both in sync with what this publication had to be."

According to its mission statement: "[BAHYT] Magazine is the result of the gulf between New York City and the East End of Long Island as well as the divide between the North and South Forks. [BAHYT] aims to bridge these gaps connecting art and culture between these three centers to reinforce our sustainability and community," the description on Kickstarter reads. "It aims to foster new talents and budding thoughts relevant to the dynamic millennial movement."

The magazine will celebrate "homegrown and artisan values" that are rooted in craft and technology. "From backyard breweries to established artisans, our goal is to create a magazine of features with an emphasis on sustainability and emerging artwork," the site says.

With 18 days to go, the pair has raised $801 of their $5000 goal on Kickstarter.

The fledgling business owners have also started a Facebook page. 

"We are really trying to do something new and invigorating in our village, and really bring what we have out to the world as well as bring new, innovative thoughts and projects to light. Perhaps, that way, we may stir up some exciting artwork and projects to develop on our little neck of the woods. This could be really good for so many people throughout the island as a means to really showcase their work and hopefully, can work as a sort of inspiration for our community," Molina said.

The duo will host a two-tent pop-up show outside the movie theater during this weekend's Maritime Festival, where  17 artists from Greenport to New York will be showcased.

"It's really exciting stuff," Molina said.