Riverhead

The 47th annual Riverhead Fire Department Installation and Dinner Dance was held May 22 at department headquarters on Roanoke Avenue. Congratulations to ex-Chief George “Gio” Woodson for his years of service as chief of the department. Not only did he receive recognition from the Riverhead Fire District, but from Town Supervisor Sean Walter, County Legislator Edward Romaine, Senator Ken LaValle’s office, Southampton Town Supervisor Ann Throne Holst and Baycan Fideli of the Riverhead Fire Department Association as well. Top-10 responder awards went to: Skip Beal, Josh Berezny, Andre Ceckowski, Tim Corwin, Richie Ligon, Vinnie Golembeski, Robert Szczepanick, Steve Beal, Frank Darrow and Kevin Brooks. Top honors and firefighter of the year was awarded to ex-Captain Kevin Brooks, 3rd Assistant Chief, for his lifesaving actions using the Heimlich maneuver to rescue a choking victim. Most outstanding company of the year recognition went to Reliable Hose Company No. 1. The banquet committee included Commissioner Edward Carey, Captain Joe Goetz and 3rd Assistant Chief Kevin Brooks, who all did a fine job this year. A huge thank-you to Flanders and Cutchogue fire departments for having their members on standby in Riverhead as the banquet was in progress.

Patriotic Memorial Day cards were made for soldiers and veterans by the teens at Riverhead Free Library. Thirty-two were mailed here in the USA and abroad and 150 were sent to the veterans at Northport Veterans Hospital just in time for the holiday. God bless all those who serve our nation every day.

Vail-Leavitt Music Hall on Peconic Avenue in Riverhead will celebrate an evening of live music on Thursday, June 10, 7-8:30 p.m. Kicking off the show will be Tigers on Trains (Mason Maggio and Christian VanDeurs, Riverhead High School graduates who are now sophomores in college). This duo has garnered quite a bit of positive attention on the Internet over the past year, during which time they have released two albums on iTunes that have been well received. Also performing will be Stealing Lucidity (Riverhead High School seniors Katie and Courtney Blasl). These girls have developed a local following through their appearances at Martha Clara Vineyards last summer. All profits will be put into a special account at the Vail to underwrite future concerts and most importantly to pay the musicians. It is an important lesson for young artists to learn that musicians, like artists in other media, should be compensated for the benefits and enrichment they offer to the public. Tickets are $5 in advance; $6 at the door.

A “Just Say No to Drugs” march will be held tomorrow, Friday, June 4, at 9:30 a.m. at Pulaski Street Elementary School. This year’s honored guest and keynote speaker will be former New York Jets football player Bobby Jackson, who also led the Riverhead Community Awareness Program’s very first march in 1986. We urge the community to come out and support the students as they wear their “Drug Free Body” T-shirts. Following the march and a short ceremony on the steps of the school, the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1742 will once again generously serve a picnic lunch to all the students.

Happy birthday wishes to Angela Francis on June 3; Morgan Topping and Keith Schroeher, June 5; Karen Skop, June 6; Kristina Bugdin, who turns 44, with lots of love from your father, Charles, also on June 6; Bill Sanok and Edith Linnen, June 7; Dante Henderson, June 8; and Joe Zito, June 9. Be sure to celebrate.

Happy wedding anniversary to Greg and Robin Hulse, who celebrate their 28th on June 4; Megan and Jimmy Nikolis, their second, June 7; Izzy and Jeanne Doroski, their 30th, Kathy and Joe Berezny, their 35th, and Hattie and Sonny Turner, their 58th, June 8. Be sure to celebrate your special day.

Congratulations to David and Amy Campbell, and big brother, Tyler, of Riverhead, as they welcomed a new addition to the family, Cayden Michael, on April 12 at Southampton Hospital. Cayden weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 20 inches long. The proud grandparents are Michael and Louise Griffin of Riverhead and David Campbell of Calverton. The entire family is delighted with their new bundle of joy.