Community Columns

Riverhead News: Local photographs taken prior to 1935 wanted

Mary Stackpole

The Glenwood Recreation Club held a memorial service in their newly renovated clubhouse May 28 in memory of its fallen soldiers. Sixty club members attended. Glenwood resident David DeJohn donated an American flag, which has flown over the White House and now proudly flies in the Glenwood community. Thanks to Mr. DeJohn for his gift.

Riverhead author Dottie Coakley will discuss her book “Chattanooga Girl” Friday, June 10, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Diliberto Winery in Jamesport. The novel is set in 1976 upstate New York and is about high school football and migrant farm workers in a tale of murder, mystery and love. From 5:30 to 7 p.m. you are invited to purchase pizza and beverages. Signed copies of the book will also be available for purchase.

The Town of Riverhead will celebrate its 225th birthday in 2017. Committees are now being formed and Shirley Sinclair is looking for photographs taken prior to 1935. She would also like to create a calendar using pictures of old Riverhead to sell at the Riverhead Country Fair in October. If you have any to share, call Shirley at 631-727-6392. Please label the photos with names. She is hoping families will want to share their memories and is looking forward to hearing from the community.

Dark Horse Restaurant will sponsor a chicken barbecue Sunday, June 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Grangebel Park to benefit the restoration of First Congregational Church of Riverhead. You can either picnic in the park or take your dinner home. Cost: $15 in advance; $18 the day of. Rain brings the event inside the church’s fellowship hall. Call 631-727-2621 for more information.

Police officer Byron Perez will lead the 31st annual “Say NO to Drugs” march, sponsored by the Riverhead Community Awareness Program, on Friday, June 10. He is also the guest of honor and keynote speaker. A 2003 graduate of Riverhead High School, he teaches the monthly Life Skills lessons to a class of fifth- and sixth-grade students who are new to this country, in their native Spanish language. The march will begin at 9:30 a.m. in front of Pulaski Street School. It will then head south on Roanoke Avenue and west on Second Street, returning to Pulaski Street School via Griffing and Hallet avenues. Come out and support the students.

The Riverhead Key Club, a high school service club, held its installation dinner May 18. Cara Saccente installed the officers for 2016-17: Sarah Brennan, president; Abygaele Brophy, vice president; Cathryn Farrell, secretary; and Shannon Zeltmann, treasurer. Woody Orenstein of Kiwanis International and Harry Wilkinson of Kiwanis Club of Greater Riverhead also attended. Club adviser Louise Wilkinson does an excellent job with the students.

Riverhead Elks Lodge 2044 held its annual Flag Day ceremony June 4. Students in grades 1-5 wrote an essay on “What the American Flag Means to Me.” The event celebrates the birth of the flag and the history of the seven flags from 1775 to 2016. The essay winners are: Grades 1-3: 1st place, Connor Downey, 2nd grade (Mrs. DaCunto); 2nd place, Roksolana Stetsiv, 2nd grade (Mrs. Moloney); 3rd place, Rory Mojo, 3rd grade (Mrs. Kruger); and 4th place, Paulina Chocon, 3rd grade (Mrs. Ellis-Smith), Jacob Ohlbaum, 1st grade (Mrs. Conlan), and Jason Haack, 2nd grade (Mrs. Moloney). Grades 4-5: 1st place, Caden Lesiewicz, 4th grade (Mrs. Messina); 2nd place, Michael Lodi, 4th grade (Mrs. Hudgins); 3rd place, Paul Romon, 5th grade (Mrs. Belmonte); and 4th place, Zach Lull, 4th grade (Mrs. Messina) and Elias Torres, 5th grade (Mrs. Martin). All students were given a small flag and a certificate from the Elks and the Town of Riverhead. Supervisor Sean Walter and council members Tim Hubbard, Jim Wooten and Jodi Giglio also attended. Exalt Ruler Theresa Hubbard and the lodge members did an outstanding job on the history of the flags.

Happy birthday to Joe Zito and Henry Ashby on June 9; Frank Greenwood, June 11; Joan Edwards, Fran Schaefer, Marlene Iberger Cindy Hynds and Evan Kito, June 13; Richie Terry, Anna Enlund and Freddie Lorenz, June 14; Connie Kenter, June 15; Laura Feuerman, June 16; Jill O’Kula, Jim Redmond, Savion Williams, Allen Smith and Ann Duprey, June 18; and Jorge Ortiz and Liz Stokes, June 21.

Happy anniversary to Kevin and Amanda Cheshire, their 7th, on June 13; and Cheryl and Nick Luparella, their 42nd, Louise and Harry Wilkinson, their 43rd, and Joe and Pat Gadzinski, their 48th, all on June 22.

Remember to fly your flag on Flag Day, June 14.

Top photo: Mary Hayes Stackpole. (Credit: Suffolk County Historical Society)

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