Calverton: Riley news and events, Civic meeting May 11

Many good things are upon us. The lilacs will be the first order of business. Pick them now as they are only here for a short time. To help the lilacs absorb water and not wilt right away, bang up their stems with a hammer. Don’t be shy, squish those stems!

The hummingbirds and barn swallows are back and are so cute in their own ways. As I mentioned last year, you can make your own nectar for the hummingbirds by mixing one part sugar with four parts water. Bring to a boil, let cool and fill your feeders. It is inexpensive and they will adore you for it. As for the barn swallows, they are the best mosquito-eaters in the world — slightly messy with their nests but so well worth it.

The highly anticipated Art-in-Action will take place this Friday, May 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Riverhead High School gym. There is much talent in our district and there is lots to see. All are welcome.

The fourth-graders at Riley Avenue Elementary School will be singing their hearts out at their annual spring concert on Monday, May 16, at 7 p.m. at Riverhead High School. All are invited. Five students from Riley will be attending Brookhaven National Lab’s science fair on Saturday, May 7. They are: Liam Levesque, Grace Albinski, Skip Weaver, Siena Kahler, and Angelina Graziano. Good luck!

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week this week, Riley Avenue Parents Association will once again be hosting a breakfast for all of Riley’s amazing teachers. A big thanks to the association for their thoughtfulness.

There will be all kinds of Mother’s Day festivities going on at Riley this Friday, May 6, such as teas, parties and lots of mommies roaming the halls.

Birthdays at Riley include Lisa Falco, who celebrated April 28; Tom Crabb, April 29; and Gail Kappenberg, May 10. We hope all of you had, and have, really great birthdays!

Happy birthday to Wayne Rambo from Calverton on May 10. We hope your birthday is fantastic. From your wife, Patty, your children and all your family and friends, have a simply wonderful day.

River Road neighbors Shirley and Everett Robinson held a fun party for their children last Saturday. Rashad, their oldest son, will take over the helm as executive director of colorofchange.org, the largest online civil rights movement (nearly one million members). He is one of the youngest civil rights leaders in our country. And their youngest son, Jamar, and his wife, Christina, who live in Vermont and have two beautiful children, are going to be opening a takeout barbecue restaurant on July 4 in Jamaica, Vt. We wish everyone much success!

Stop by Baiting Hollow Congregational Church’s yard sale this Saturday, May 7, and get yourself some really great things. Remember, the sun shall shine so no need for a rain date.

Calverton Civic Association will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, May 11, at 7 p.m. at Riley. All Calverton residents are urged to attend.

If you need to drop off any news for me, my farm stand opens up this weekend, and there I shall be till November.

Happy Mother’s Day. Keep being great moms, grandmoms, and aunties. We love you all so much. This is a special Mother’s Day for my daughter-in-law, Jaime, as it is her first! She is doing a great job being a new mom to my granddaughter, Julia. Thank you, Jaime!

Take care, bye.