Flanders News: Volunteers collect 544 pounds of food to donate

Happy Thanksgiving! I know I’m a week early but since I don’t have a column next week I wanted to send well wishes to you and your family. I can’t wait to host this year! My daughter will be home from college, my family will be here and all will be right in my world for that one day. I hope you get to spend the day with those you love. 

My friend and Flanders resident Glenn Abramowitz wants to let you know that Riverhead Faculty and Community Theatre’s production of “Godspell” will be held Nov. 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. at the Jamesport Meeting House. For tickets ($15 in advance; $20 at the door), call 631-987-7209 or visit brownpapertickets.com/event/884564. RFCT has been awarding scholarships to Riverhead seniors for 30 years. The shows are normally held at the high school, but due to construction there they have been nomads.

A food drive for veterans was held late October through mid-November by the student government at Riverhead High School. Together with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the AARP Riverhead volunteer team, 544 pounds of food was collected. The food will be donated to Helping Hands, who will then distribute it.

Another food drive was recently held at Peconic Pediatrics in Riverhead, where I work. Our office collected approximately 100 pounds of food for Island Harvest. During the season, please donate what you can to a local food pantry. So many are struggling and every little bit helps. Special thanks to my new friend, Mrs. Brady, who donated five bags of food to our office.

Congratulations to each of the 59 members who were inducted Nov. 13 to Riverhead High School’s National Honor Society. You and your family should be very proud.

The Town of Southampton Youth Bureau will host a teen open-rec night for students in grades five and up on Friday, Dec. 5, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at SYS, 1370A Major’s Path. Come play dodgeball, basketball and kickball. Admission is $5 per person. There will also be music, and snacks will be available for purchase. Transportation is available — $2 round trip. For more information, call 702-2425, visit southamptontownny.gov/youthbureau, or find them on Facebook.

The holiday lighting of the Big Duck will be held Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. There will be caroling and a visit from Santa. Also, the Friends of the Big Duck will be hosting a tour of the L.I. Duck Farming Exhibit. Refreshments will be served.

Congratulations to a couple members of my family this week. My cousin Shayleigh Tribuzio made her confirmation Sunday at United Methodist Church in Southampton. May God bless you always, Shayleigh! Congratulations also to my cousin Rob Tribuzio, Shayleigh’s dad, who will marry Brittney Beardon this Saturday, Nov. 22. I wish you and your family much happiness forever. I love you all.

Happy birthday to Heather Allen (Shayleigh’s mom), Joe Czulada, Linda Gatz and Elizabeth McBurnie on Nov. 21; Dave Flynn and Mark “Markie” Dunleavy, Nov. 23; Sharon Green, Nov. 26; Maribeth Vail, Nov. 27; Andrea Pekar, Nov. 28; and my friend Connie Tobin, Nov. 30.

That is all for this week. If you see me around this weekend I may be floating on air because my baby girl will be home from college Tuesday. I really have a lot to be thankful for. Thanks to those of you who read my column or call or email me with news. I couldn’t do it without your support and for that I’m very grateful.

Wait, I have one more thing to be thankful for! As I was finishing up this week’s column Sunday night I encountered a little bit of a scare and had to call the Flanders Fire Department. A HUGE thanks to the men and women who answered my call and stuck around for over an hour and a half to make sure everything was OK. Special thanks to Sue Tocci and Phil “Pop” Tocci, who came by first to make sure I wasn’t overreacting. Turns out it was nothing but I’m so glad I called. I’m thankful my family is safe and thankful for my friends and volunteers. You all rock!

Contact Flanders columnist Tanya Doherty at 727-8687 or [email protected].