Community Columns

Riverhead News: Fire department honors top responders

Riverhead Fire Department held its 52nd annual installation and dinner dance May 15 at East Wind Caterers. Commissioner/master of ceremonies William Kelly Sr. installed Chief Joe Raynor, 1st assistant chief Kevin Brooks, 2nd assistant chief Pete Jackman and 3rd assistant chief Tim Corwin. Guests included Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter; councilmen Dunleavy, Gabrielsen and Wooten; Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine; Police Chief Dave Hegermiller; and representing Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo was his aide, John Galla. The top 10 responders for 2014 were: Robert DiLavore, 227 points; Vinnie Golembeski, 237; Skip Beal, 246; Ray Atkins, 247; Jamie Brooks, 263; Frank Greenwood, 282; Frank Darrow, 290; Keith Lehr, 306, Robert Szczepanik, 307; and top responder Bruce Edwards, 334. The Firefighter of the Year award went to Dennis Kenter of the Fire Police Patrol Co. for saving the life of a woman who was choking by performing the Heimlich maneuver. The Company of the Year award went to the Fire Police Patrol Co. No. 1. Also, ex-chief Joe Gadzinski was recognized for 50 years of service. The banquet committee was comprised of Commissioner Kelly, Captain Jason McCue, and ex-Captain Brian Cybulski, who all did a fine job putting together the evening’s festivities. Congrats to all!

May 1 has been declared National Sweet Adelines Day by the mayor of Albany. Peggy DiSunno, director of the Long Island Sound Chorus, had the pleasure of directing a “mass sing” on the steps of the Capitol. Choruses from New York and New Jersey traveled to Albany for their annual competition, at which the LISC came home with second-place medals in the small chorus division. Congratulations!

Leo Jasinski was in complete surprise when 90 people wished him a happy 90th birthday May 10. Neighbors, fellow Riverhead firefighters and Grummanites, as well as relatives from Long Island, Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts and upstate New York, all came together to help him celebrate. Leo also received a nonagenarian award from the Town of Riverhead. Happy birthday, Leo! Sto lat!

Congratulations to McGann-Mercy High School 10th-grader Angelika Osiniak of Riverhead, who received an award May 14 from the Long Island subsection of the American Chemical Society. This award is given for outstanding scholastic achievement in high school chemistry. Angelika was nominated by her chemistry teacher, Marion Sarafin. The award was presented at Nassau Community College.

Belated happy birthday to Patrick Cuccia, a senior at Riverhead High School and a wonderful grandson, who turned 18 May 25, with love from your grandmother.

Happy birthday to Bo Goodale, Terry Barty and Barbara Langhorne on May 28; Theresa Gallo (from Ron) and Barbara Warner, May 31; Keith Schroeher, June 5; Karen Skop and Krissie Bugdin (“May your day be filled with love and peace” — from your dad, Charles), June 6; Bill Sanok, June 7; Dante Henderson, June 8; and Joe Zito and Henry Ashby, June 9.

Happy 50th wedding anniversary to John and Pat Kurpetski on May 30; Cheryl and Rich Miller (40 years) and Wendy and Mark Gajowski, June 1; Carol and Jim Lee (30 years), June 2; Robin and Greg Hulse (33 years), June 4; Megan and Jimmy Nikolis (7 years), June 7; Izzy and Jeanne Doroski, Adam and Nicole Williams and yours truly and Joe Berezny (40 years), June 8; and Ann and Antonio DeGrasse (32 years), June 10.

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