Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the debut of the children’s television show “Sesame Street.”

The show, intended by its creator to help underprivileged pre-schoolers prepare for kindergarten, by teaching them the ABCs and how to count, went on to become the most widely viewed children’s program in the world. It was first broadcast on Nov. 10, 1969.

Creator Joan Ganz Cooney hired puppeteer Jim Henson to create puppet characters for the show, to interact with live actors in short segments. Henson developed Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, Grover and Big Bird.

Sesame Street, set in a fictional New York neighborhood, features ethnically diverse characters — which was novel when it premiered — and over its lifetime, has not shied away from complex social issues, such as HIV, autism and homelessness.

Over the years, Sesame Street has filmed in Riverhead several times, at locations including a day care center, the library and the aquarium.

The longest-running show on PBS, it has won a record-setting 192 Emmy Awards.

A special 50th anniversary celebration show will air Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. on HBO.

Even the House of Representatives is taking notice of this milestone with a resolution recognizing Sesame Street for its “enduring contributions…to the national goal of preparing every child to be ready for school” and “producing award-winning programming that has transformed the lives of millions of children and families in the United States and globally.”

NY-01 Rep. Lee Zeldin — who at age 39 is young enough to have watched Sesame Street as a preschooler— is one of 129 cosponsors of the measure saluting the iconic children’s show for its accomplishments.

Of course, Sesame Street taught kids about voting, too. Speaking of which, Tuesday is Election Day.

This is a local election year, when voters cast their ballots for town and county offices.

Riverhead voters will elect a supervisor, two town council members and two assessors in contested races. The town clerk, tax receiver and a town justice are running unopposed for re-election.

Here’s what the ballot looks like this year:

RiverheadLOCAL hosted live-streamed debates this past week. On Tuesday, the five candidates for town council in the race for two open seats met for a lively, one-hour discussion, covering a wide range of issues. On Wednesday, the two town supervisor candidates squared off. You can watch the full video recordings of the debates at these links: town council and town supervisor.

Election Day is a holiday for certain government offices. Town hall is closed. Schools are closed. County government offices are closed, as are N.Y. state courts. The stock market and banks are open Tuesday and public transit systems will run on a regular weekday schedule. The Riverhead library will be open as usual.

Things to do this week

Vote! Polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. 9 p.m. Find your polling place here.

Journalist and professor of journalism Karl Grossman will give a presentation on the history of Jews on the East End, including Riverhead, at the Suffolk County Historical Society Thursday evening beginning at 6 p.m. Grossman’s East End roots include his paternal grandparents Herman and Stephanie, who settled in Sag Harbor more than a century ago. Admission is free for members of the historical society; nonmembers: $5. Wine and cheese will be served. Registration is required. Call 631-727-2881 ext. 100.

Riverhead Faculty and Community Theatre is back next weekend with “Bright Star.” Shows are Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church will host a fall festival on Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m. at Polish Hall.

Also on Saturday, the Riverhead Elks Lodge will host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. The event runs from 5 to 10 p.m. and will feature dinner, music, a cash bar and raffles.

Choose spaghetti with meatballs or clam sauce: $25 per person. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m., raffle drawing takes place at 8 p.m. Raffles can be purchased without a dinner ticket, and you need not be present to win.

The VFW is hosting a pancake breakfast on Sunday from 8 to 11:30. $10/adults, $5/kids. Veterans eat free! The VFW is located at 620 Parkway Street, Riverhead,

Riverhead Cheer is having a chinese auction Sunday at the Riverhead Moose Lodge. The event runs from 2 to 5 p.m.

This week’s meetings

Here’s the lineup of government meetings in Riverhead this week:

Monday
Riverhead Industrial Development Agency, 5 p.m., Town Hall
Environmental Advisory Committee, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall

Tuesday
Riverhead Central School District facilities planning community forum, 7 p.m., Riverhead High School. Room 133

Wednesday
Town Board meeting, 2 p.m., Riverhead Town Hall. Public hearing on proposed town operating budget for 2020.

Riverhead Fire Commissioners, 5:30 p.m., Fire Department Headquarters

Thursday
Town Board work session, 10 a.m., Riverhead Town Hall
Planning Board, 7 p.m. Riverhead Town Hall. Public hearings include site plan for office and retail uses on Main Road, Aquebogue site and site plan for 7-Eleven convenience store on West Main Street.

Friday
Alternative Transportation Committee, 10:30 a.m., Riverhead Town Hall

In case you missed it

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