‘Just say no!’: Pulaski Street students march against drugs and alcohol in annual Riverhead CAP march

Cheers, music and booming chants of “Just say no!” drew people to their windows and to the streets of downtown Riverhead, where hundreds of Pulaski Street students marched against drugs and alcohol.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Riverhead CAP’s annual march against drugs and alcohol.

Fifth and sixth grade Pulaski Street students marched down Main Street and Roanoke Avenue this morning with handmade signs and banners, outfitted in shirts that proclaimed in bold lettering: “Drug Free Body.”

Roanoke Avenue Elementary and St. David’s School students lined the curbs of Roanoke Avenue to cheer them on.

The march ended with a rally at Pulaski Street School, where Roanoke Avenue physical education teacher Samantha Heidtmann was the keynote speaker.

Heidtmann was one of only six teachers nationwide to receive the 2014 National All Star Teacher of the Year Award from Project Fit America.

Riverhead was the first district in New York State to participate in the Project Fit program, a national fitness initiative that provides teacher training, mobile indoor fitness equipment and a comprehensive fitness curriculum.

“Samantha has been a great role model at Roanoke,” said Roanoke Avenue principal Thomas Payton. “And now she’s not only a great role model for Pulaski Street but for all of Riverhead school district.”

Photos by Peter Blasl