Community

Flanders: Community Festival at Phillips Avenue School

Memorial Day is a day that was first enacted following the Civil War to commemorate soldiers on both sides who had lost their lives during the conflict. It is now 2011 and it has turned into little more than the official start of summer. I hope everyone had a great weekend and enjoyed themselves but I hope everyone said a little prayer of thanks to the men and women who have given their lives defending our country.

A message from Mrs. Rogers and Dr. Hudson at Phillips Avenue Elementary School: “It is often said that ‘schools are the heart of a community.’ Well, each of those schools within a school district also has a ‘heart,’ and that heart must be nurtured and cared for if it is to be wide enough and strong enough to embrace its mission. That mission involves a strong educational offering that nurtures every child’s potential. This mission needs the support of a ‘community’ that cares about every one of the students whom the school teaches and nurtures. The Riverhead School District celebrates this sense of community, and Phillips Avenue School is leading the celebration with its upcoming Community Festival on Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the back field of the Phillips Avenue Elementary School, 141 Phillips Ave. Rain date is Sunday, June 12. Children 2 and under are free and the cost for everyone else is just $5.”

There will be performances that include Chip Bryant, a popular vaudevillian silent clown; the drum band Hip Pickles, the ReDancers, the Riverhead High School cheerleaders, the always-inspiring Riverhead Martial Arts Center and the Riverhead Building Supply Singers. In addition there will be a Carnival of Fun: rock wall climb, football throw, bounce house, face painting, hula hoop contest and much more. The fire department, library, Parks and Recreation Department and businesses such as Home Depot, Planet Fitness and more, will have booths and share information with the community. There will also be food, ice cream and a chinese auction. Everyone is invited!

The Friends of the Big Duck and the Flanders Village Historical Society thank everyone for helping to make their craft fair/flea market a success. Don’t forget the 80th birthday celebration on June 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Big Duck Ranch. Free admission, prizes, refreshments and fun for the whole family.
Reminder: Please park in the designated parking areas. Flanders Road is posted as a bicycle path, even though the signs are very small and far apart. Plus it’s dangerous to try to park on the main road and cross the street. The The Friends will have parking areas clearly marked.

Don’t forget, the Friends of the Big Duck will have their general meeting on Tuesday, June 7, at 7 p.m. at the David Crohan Community Center, with a guest speaker from the Southampton Landmarks and Historic Districts board. Everyone is invited.

Get well wishes to Adele Ambrose from all your family and friends who love you so much! Feel better.

For a column that was due immediately following last week’s, it’s longer than I thought it would be. Thank you to those who sent me news right away. I could not do this without you. Have a great weekend and please remember to drive safely.