Riverhead
BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO
Chalk on the walk
‘Maddonari’ artist Joanne Giveron of East Patchogue works on a street painting in front of Atlantis Marine World last Saturday afternoon to promote the East End Arts Council’s 14th annual Riverhead Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival. The event takes place this Sunday, May 30, from noon to 5 p.m. on East Main Street – and Ms. Giveron will be there, as she has been every year since the festival began. See calendar for details.
Riverhead’s annual Memorial Day parade will be held on Monday, May 31, at 10 a.m. It will start at the corner of Pulaski Street and Osborne Avenue and make stops at the war memorial at Court and West Main streets, St. John’s Cemetery and Riverhead Cemetery. Then it will circle back to the start location for the closing ceremony.
Congratulations to St. Isidore School kindergarten teacher Kathleen Tysz for winning the “best showcase exhibit” at the MESTRACT Curriculum Initiative Showcase for her book “All Because I Can (ABC)”. She has been recognized by County Legislator Ed Romaine for her years of service to MESTRACT and the educational community. All the families of St. Isidore are so proud of her accomplishment.
The Riverhead Garden Club thanks Felix Perennials in Riverhead and Carl Gabrielsen Farms in Jamesport for their generous donations to the club’s plant sale on May 15. The event was a huge success. Proceeds will fund RGC’s scholarships for high school graduates.
A memorial/exhibit event for James Edward (“Jimmy”) Booker will take place on Saturday, May 29, at 1 p.m. Richard Wines and Carol Booker Joynes would like to share with the community the story of a true son of Riverhead who made it to high places despite his family’s most humble origins. This story is very important to our community’s African-American population and in many ways is the next chapter to a story covered by the News-Review in June 2007, which mentions how Jimmy’s childhood home was designated a town landmark. Another story was also published in the News-Review in August 2009, about how Hallockville Museum Farm opened a special exhibit featuring Jimmy’s parents’ story as pioneers in the Great Migration. The memorial will take place at 1185 Northville Tpke., on part of Mr. Booker’s late parents’ farm. Jimmy died recently in Harlem after a distinguished career that included service as a civil rights adviser to President Lyndon Johnson. The event will be hosted by his sister, Carol Booker Joynes, who will tell the remarkable story of the Booker family, and will include a special exhibit on Jimmy’s life. For more information about the memorial/exhibit on May 29 or about Mr. Booker, call Carol at 727-8292.
Happy wedding anniversary wishes to John and Pat Kurpetski, who will celebrate their 45th on May 30; and to Cheryl and Rich Miller, who will celebrate their 35th, and Mark and Wendy Gajowski, on June 1. Be sure to celebrate.
Happy birthday wishes to Dennis Kenter, Skip Beal and Patrick Flammia on May 27; Bill Koch (who turns a handsome 91), Terry Barty, Bo Goodale and Barbara Langhorne, May 28; Anne Podlas, May 29; Barbara Warner, Julie Miller and Shirley Brown, May 31; Sue Harvey, June 1; and Allyssa Francis, June 2. Hope your day is special.
Get well wishes to Hannah Woodson and Ernie Heppner.
Due to an early deadline in observance of Memorial Day, please send me any news you would like to share for next week’s column by tonight, Thursday, May 27.
Remember to hang your flag on Memorial Day and take a moment to reflect on those who died serving our country and for those who are still fighting for our freedom today. God bless.
