SALEM – A waterfront restaurant in Salem is doing its part to help Norwood Boy after the health department closed his ice cream stand’s fundraiser.

Twelve-year-old Dan Doherty was selling homemade ice cream to raise money for his brother’s hockey team, the Boston Bear Cubs, a program for athletes with special needs. Someone reported his surgery to the health department, and the department sent him a letter prohibiting him from participating in the surgery.

“I don’t understand it. There are so many lemonade stands out there and they’re not shutting down,” said Dan Doherty. “It’s really disappointing that one has been shut down.”

“We knew we had to do something”

“We saw the article and knew we had to do something,” responded Matthew Mattera, owner of Longboards Restaurant in Salem. “Being a small family ourselves, we’re always trying to set up stands; we build lemonade stands, make rocks and try to sell those. We value small businesses.”

Ten years ago, Longboards started as a small general store and ice cream shop called The Hungry Whale. Mattera said Doherty’s story touched her deeply. The restaurant has set up a donation jar at its booth and will donate 25% of the proceeds from its signature dessert, the Bazookie.

“It’s a half-baked cookie that’s baked in a skillet, then we put some ice cream, Hershey syrup and caramel on top,” Mattera smiled.

While WBZ-TV was there, customers were already coming in because they had heard about Doherty’s story. At least one table ordered several Bazookies and added more to the glass.

“We’re happy to help raise some money. We’ll donate it to him,” Mattera said.