Community Columns

Riverhead News: ‘Battle of the Books’ team takes 7th place

Congratulations to Dianne Marie (Weiss) Niemeyer and her husband, Staff Sgt. Gary Niemeyer, on the birth of their son, Chasyn Garrett, on Aug. 19. Chasyn weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 18 inches. Dianne is a 2003 graduate of Riverhead High School. Gary is in the U.S. Army and is stationed in Fort Stewart, Ga. Proud grandparents Kathy and Ricky Muller are simply delighted with the new addition to their family. 

This year’s Riverhead Library “Battle of the Books” team, Grim Fairy Tales, did a great job at the county level, placing seventh out of 39 libraries at the Stony Brook challenge. Participating team members were Dominic Bossey, Lila Bowe, Evelyn Kennedy Jaffe, Philip Kenter, Josie Manucha, Keely McCabe and alternate Ben Eager. The team also includes Marie Berry, Tabitha Rios, John Foley, Max Heilman, Lily Kutner, Cesar Palencia, Kaitlin Schmidt, Daniel Slattery and Danica Teresky. Their coach, Joyce Tienzo, and assistant coach, Annie Kromhout, are truly proud of them. Supervisor Sean Walter and Town Board members acknowledged the students’ hard work with certificates of appreciation Sept. 9 at the library.

Also on the 9th, Mr. Walter and Town Board members presented Thelma Booker with an “80th birthday” proclamation and acknowledged all the volunteer service she has done for the betterment of the town. Thelma is on the library’s Board of Trustees, currently serving her sixth year.

September is library card sign-up month. The staff is working hard to ensure that every child has his/her own card. Library cards are free to those living in RFL’s service area. Proof of residency is required (along with a parent or guardian’s signature for children). Any child who signs up this month will receive a special prize from the youth services department. Also during September, all past-due fines for students in grades K-12 will be forgiven.

The Riverhead Garden Club invites you to its luncheon Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the East Wind Conference Center. Tickets are $42, which includes a floral demonstration. There will also be a chinese auction and raffles. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. For tickets and more information, call 722-4288. The club is a dedicated group of men and women who love gardening and are involved in civic beautification, garden therapy, children’s programs, grant scholarships and so much more. Monthly meetings are held the first Tuesday. If you’re interested in joining email [email protected].

Happy birthday to Greg Meyer on Sept. 11; Steven Block and Ann Vonatzski on the 12th; Brad Van Houten, Laura Van Houten and Cheryl Armstrong on the 13th; Linda Berezny and Vannie Tuthill on the 14th; Shannon Zeltmann and Valerie Miles on the 15th; Karen Ball, Sharon Murphy and Gene Downs on the 16th; Caroline Bugdin, Keith Fleischman and Zachery Bogdanski on the 17th; Fred Gamble, Patrick Lynch and Kevin Brooks on the 18th; Edwin George on the 19th; Harold Goodale Sr., Diane Collins and Tincy Groover on the 20th; Barbara Pelis and Pamela Hogrefe on the 21st; Tommy Reichel and Dolly Hartmann on the 22nd; Frank Rotenberg and Katelyn and Joseph Ogeka on the 23rd; and Patti White and Christopher Rachubka on the 24th.

Happy wedding anniversary to Joe and Dot Szot, their 54th, on Sept. 11; Thomas and Carrie Ann Gallo on the 15th; Mary Ann and Scott Hughes on the 17th; Dave and Amelia Lantz (15 years) on the 19th; Dennis and Pat Hamill on the 21st; Sharon and Thomas Anderson (40 years) on the 22nd; Barbara and Martin Lennon on the 23rd; and June and Peter Cybulski and Marie and Jimmy Barnes (26 years) on the 24th.

Larry Judd, former longtime commander of American Legion Post 273, was honored Sept. 6 at the 20th annual pig roast fundraiser for all his hard work and dedication to the legion. Current commander Mike Pankowski, along with the other officers and auxiliary members, has named the pavilion the Laurence Judd Pavilion. Larry was truly surprised and became emotional during his speech, with his family there to support him. On behalf of Supervisor Sean Walter, Councilman John Dunleavy and Councilwoman Jodi Giglio presented Larry with a proclamation for his years of dedicated service to the legion and other various organizations in Riverhead.

Be sure to take a moment today, the anniversary of 9/11, to remember those who perished. God bless the families.

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