Riverhead News: ‘Fact or Fantasy’ adult summer reading club

Members of the Riverhead Garden Club learned a lot about table design recently. Guest speaker Susan Strauss set up three card tables and an eight-foot table with china and glassware in various colors and designed floral pieces to best fit different occasions. Susan is a Federated Garden Club of New York State master judge, an accredited FGCNYS 2nd district speaker and an antique dealer. She has also given lectures and done design programs for Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Riverhead Garden Club is sponsoring a field trip to visit two gardens — Bridge Gardens and Madoo — Friday, July 11. The cost is $20. Bring a bag lunch. For more information, call Nancy Binger at 722-3578.

RGC’s educational outreach with Girl Scout Troop 1108 concluded June 11. The scouts received Certificates of Achievement and pins for their community service with the Star Garden at Roanoke Avenue Elementary School.

On June 24 Riverhead’s Board of Education recognized its recent retirees. Each was presented with a plaque and certificate recognizing their many years of dedicated service. They are Janice Schumacher, teacher, 29 years; Patricia Cajigas, physical therapist, 28 years; Carl James, head custodian, 54 years; John Luce, custodian, 16 years; Ronald Johns, custodian, 10 years; Renee Garcia, custodian, 10 years; Dorothy Grasso, secretary, 14 years; Ellen Rausch, senior clerk typist, 25 years; Sue Arnau, cook, 30 years; Gail Edwards, bus driver, 23 years; and Wendy Turbush, special education aide, 10 years. Also recognized for her service to the BOE was Anne Cotten-Degrasse — six years as a school board member and four years as school board president.

Belated birthday wishes to Isabella Floege, who turned 2 June 21. A Cinderella party was held for her June 22 at Red Creek Park, attended by family and friends. Everyone had a great time.

Marilyn Blumstein celebrated her 82nd birthday with a pizza party June 21 at Riverhead Care Center. Attendees included her daughter Sharon, as well as her other children, family and friends. Sharon is president of the Family Council at RCC.

Happy wedding anniversary to Mary and Andy Mitchell, their 4th, on July 4; Gen and Bernie Hettrick (53rd) and June and John Behr on the 7th; Laurie and Kevin Zaneski on the 10th; Wanda and Ziggy Wilinski on the 15th; and Joan and Tom Troyan on the 16th.

Happy birthday to David Sparrow and Peter Krajwewski on July 3; Ron Rowe, Alex Raynor (who turns 7) and Matthew “Firecracker” Naugles (who turns 11) on the 4th; Robert Bugdin Sr. on the 5th; Bob Taylor and Sandra Hynda on the 6th; Nancy Gassert and Sue Cheshire on the 8th; Connie Kwasna and Sydney Coalson on the 9th; Andre Kosianowski and Erik Boyle on the 12th; Jeremy Carey (who turns 9) on the 13th; Joe Gadzinski, Karen Turbush and Kurt Harrison on the 14th; Jesse Sherman, Steve Beal, Dee Muma and Jacob Wilkinson on the 15th; and Mary Ellen Harkin and Andrea Fischer on the 16th.

Be sure to join the adult summer reading club, “Riverhead Reads: Fact or Fantasy,” at Riverhead Free Library. Pick up your free reading kit at the reference desk, select which book you’ll read (or listen to) and receive a chance to win prizes in the weekly raffle drawings. For more information, call 727-3228.

‘Fizz Boom Read’ and “Spark a Reaction” are the summer reading program themes for children and teens this year at RFL. The program began June 30 and runs through Aug. 9. Those who complete the program will be invited to an evening with the “Mad Scientist,” aka Professor Soda Pop, on Wednesday, Aug. 13.

Get well wishes to Harold “Bo” Goodale and Andre Aleksandrowicz.

Fly your flag this Fourth of July and enjoy America at its best.

Contact Riverhead columnist Kathy Berezny at 727-6148 at [email protected].