Around Town: January 1

Happy New Year to all! Hope 2023 will be a happy, healthy, and wonderful year.

Every year we tend to make resolutions and we tend to put them to the wayside after a few weeks. This year try to focus on you, your family and those you care about by taking time for yourself and others, whether reading a book, taking a walk, an exercise class, writing a note, making a call, texting, or emailing someone to brighten their day. Family and friends will be happy you care enough to reach out and remembering them. Also, remember those in a nursing care facility by dropping a card to any resident to brighten their day too. In the year 2022 I have been blessed to meet four new friends and we have become pen pals. So, this year I will focus my energy on writing lots of cards and letters, reading, walking, taking a course and remembering self-care as a gift to myself.

The North Fork Country Kids Animal Rescue is looking for volunteers to foster senior cats and kittens. If you are interested in helping the fury friends check out northforkcountrykids.org. Virginia Scudder can use your help this new year so check it out and see if you are able to help her. 

The Long Island Cares Mobile Food Pantry will be at the Riverhead Free Library on Thursday, January 5 from 11 am to 12 noon. This program supplies emergency food, fresh produce, and frozen meat. No identification is required, no registration and this is a walk-up service only. Also, Island Harvest Food Distribution food assistance for seniors (6o years and older) and Veterans will be held in the Riverhead Free Library parking lot from 9 am to 11 am on Monday, January 9 while supplies last. 

The Riverhead Free Library will honor the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. with a day of service expo on Saturday, January 7 from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. Discover dozens of ways to honor Dr. King. Speak to representatives from community organizations to find ways to volunteer with children, families, seniors, and animals in Riverhead. This is presented by the Riverhead Anti-Bias Task Force. 

On Sunday, January 15 at the Riverhead Free Library will hold a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 3 pm to 5 pm with special guest speaker, the Rev. Charles A. Coverdale, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Riverhead. This presentation is hosted by the East End Voter Coalition. 

Start off the new year with a Blood Donation hosted by the Flanders Fire Department and FRNCA on Saturday, January 7 from 10 am to 2:30 pm at 19 Firehouse Lane, Flanders. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome. For more information call 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybc.org. Any further questions you can email Kristen at KReutter@nybc.org.  Be sure to eat, drink and bring your ID with photo. All presenting donors will bbe entered in a weekly raffle for a chance to win an Apple or Google watch and receive a McDonalds voucher. Remember donating blood is the gift of life!

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary #2476, 620 Parkway Street, Riverhead is hosting a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, January 8 from 8 am to 11:30 am. Menu includes pancakes, fried eggs, home fries, sausage, coffee, tea and juice. Adults $10 and children $5 under 12 years old. 

The January meeting of the Greater Jamesport Civic Association will be on Saturday, January 21 at 9:30 am on Zoom. Members will receive the log-in information via email. The Civic Association welcome others who wish to attend by emailing them for a link to the Zoom meeting. Their email is gjamesportcivic@gmail.com.

The Southampton Youth Bureau’s Chess Club will ne held on Tuesdays beginning January 3^rd from 5 pm to 6:30 pm at the Flanders Youth Center, 655 Flanders Road. Students are taught to challenge themselves, build self-confidence, meet new friends, reduce stress and learn strategy and discipline through the game of chess. This program is free and open to grades K-8. For more information or to register, please call 631-702-2425 or visit www.southamptontownny.gov/YBpayment.

F.A.S.T.at the Flanders Youth Center is an opportunity for young children in grades K-4 to participate in Fun Activities with Snacks and Time to do homework. Students will have the opportunity to make new friends, learn social skills and participate in social-emotional growth activities. This program meets every Monday beginning, January 9 at the Flanders Youth Center, 655 Flanders Road from 4 pm to 6 pm. For more information or to register, please call 631- 702-2425 or visit www.southamptontownny.gov/YBpayment.

The Southampton Youth Bureau will be sponsoring two sessions of the Basketball Clinic at Southampton Youth Services (SYS), 1370a Majors Path every Friday from 5 pm to 7 pm, (January 27 through March 24 and April 21 through June 2). Program will not be held on February 24. Clinic is opened to grades 7 through 12 and cost is $25/session for residents and $35/sessions for non-residents. Space is limited and preregistration is required. For more information or to register online, please call 631-702-2425 or visit www.southamptontownny.gov/YBpayment.

Happy birthday wishes to Bobby Hartmann and Lisa Kwasna on January 1; Muriel Froehlich on January 3; Millie Roth on January 4; Kobe Wilkinson on January 5; Dennis Hamill on January 6; Jesse Goodale IV, Jane Kaelin  and Jessica LoPresti on January 8; Lori Hulse and Joseph McCarthy on January 9; Mary Eliot on January 10; Lauren Reichel, Richie Gadzinski and Kerri Cybulski on January 11; Karen Heppner on January 12; Tony Naugles and Adam Wilinski on January 13; Mary Ann Trojanowski and Brian Connelly on January 14.  Enjoy your day.

Get well wishes to Christine Floege, Hal Goodale and Ellen Kramer.

Be sure to hang your flag to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on Monday, January 16. This holiday is an official day of service and celebrates the civil rights leader’s life and legacy.

Got news to share? Send it to Kathy by email to jberezny@optonline.net, write to her at 124 Kings Drive, Riverhead NY 11901 or call her at 631-727-6148. “Around Town” will appear on RiverheadLOCAL on the first and third Sunday of the month.