Riverhead: Congrats to our NJROTC drill team

The Riverhead Care Center was the recipient of many holiday donations. Teens at The Loft at Riverhead Free Library donated homemade pillows, the Riverhead Women’s Club donated over 300 pairs of socks and the Women of the Moose donated stationery and pens to the residents. What a wonderful display of generosity and holiday spirit. Everyone at the center thanks the community and wishes all a happy new year.

Congratulations to the Riverhead Middle School Science Club on winning first place ($500) in the Downtown Riverhead Holiday Window Decorating Contest.

The Riverhead NJROTC drill team won first place overall at the Southold Drill Meet held at Mattituck High School in December. The Riverhead team competed against nine other schools from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The team is now qualified for a spot in the Northeast Championship Meet to be held in May. This is the fourth consecutive year the drill team has qualified for the Area Four Championship Meet. Outstanding performances during the meet include: varsity color guard, first place, led by Michael O’Brien; varsity academics, first place, led by Matthew Mulvaney; varsity personnel inspection, second place, led by Corrine Matlak; varsity unarmed platoon, second place, led by Matthew Mulvaney; varsity armed platoon, third place, led by Amanda Gallo; first-year cadet color guard, first place, led by Patrick Kruszon; first-year cadet personnel inspection, first place, led by Perla Leon; and first-year cadet academics, second place, led by Nicolas Deschamps.

During the holidays NJROTC members, along with the Rotary Club, helped assemble and distribute Christmas food baskets to local families in need. NJROTC’s annual inspection and review will be held Thursday, Jan. 13, at 9 a.m. in the high school gym. A drill meet will be held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 17.

St. Isidore School will be hosting its annual open house on Friday, Jan. 28. There will be open registration for pre-K (3- and 4-year-olds), and kindergarten through 8th grade. Visit the school, ask questions and learn about the programs that are offered. St. Isidore has smart-board technology in every classroom, co-ed sports and music programs, and offers early-morning care and after-school care. The school is Middle States-accredited and provides students a family-oriented Christian atmosphere.

First Baptist Church of Riverhead will be hosting its 26th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 17, at 8 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Wind Watch Hotel in Hauppauge. Tickets are $50. For more information and reservations, call 727-3446. Keynote speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts III, president of SUNY/College at Old Westbury and senior pastor of the nationally renowned Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem.

Happy birthday to Dale Messina and Tony Naugles on Jan. 13; Mary Ann Trojanowski and Ty Brian Paddleford, Jan. 14; Corale Marie Bloss, Karen Paulick, Frank Stepnoski and Mark Gajowski, Jan. 15; Logan Kurpetski (who turns 7) and Ariana Mielnicki (who turns 21), Jan. 16; Tristan Krajewski (who turns 14), Heather Howell and Jason Cobb, Jan. 17; Scott Kubacki, Jan. 18; Fran Friszolowski, Sarah Paulos, Marissa Kess and Becky Hubbard, Jan. 19. Be sure to celebrate.