Students rally against substance use and abuse during 36th annual CAP ‘Say NO To Drugs’ march

Hundreds of enthusiastic Riverhead students concluded their year of learning about the dangers of substance use and abuse during the 36th annual Riverhead Community Awareness Program (CAP) “Say NO To Drugs” march this morning. 

The march brought together Pulaski Street School students and teachers, CAP student mentors and volunteers, elected officials, police officers, school administrators and community members — all donning “Drug Free Body” tee shirts — at the conclusion of the year’s CAP program in the district. The march included two laps around the school’s campus rather than throughout the neighborhood, like in previous years. 

The honorary guests at this year’s march were three members of the New York State National Guard Counterdrug Task Force. Students also marched with local government officials including Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, Supervisor Yvette Aguiar, Council Member Bob Kern and Riverhead Board of Education members Colin Palmer, Matt Wallace and Virginia Healy.

“Staying educated and motivated, being an active citizen and good friend, and choosing to be drug free are all important lessons and decisions we need to make to meet our goals,” Sergeant First Class Jessica Alese of the Counterdrug Task Force told the crowd gathered on the school’s lawn after the march. “I promise you, to accomplish the many things that I have done in my life and especially in the military, I needed to follow all those same rules and lessons.”

Aguiar and Kern presented CAP Executive Director Felicia Scocozza with a proclamation declaring June 9, 2023 “Say No to Drugs Day” in the Town of Riverhead. Peter Ganley from Rep. Nick LaLota’s office presented the members of the Counterdrug Task Force with certificates of congressional recognition.

Riverhead School Superintendent Augustine Tornatore presented awards to the winners of the 2022 CAP art contest, the theme of which was “Healthy Choices, Healthy Me.” 5th grader Julia Viola and 6th grader Maria Calderon Pacheco took home $100 gift certificates for Tanger Outlets for winning the competition.

“When I was talking to the class, we discussed about how at times we have anxiety, at times we have stress and especially as we’ve come out of the pandemic there’s been a lot that’s been going on,” Tornatore said. “And unfortunately sometimes instead of turning to somebody for help people end up turning to drugs or alcohol or cigarettes. And at the end of the day, that is never ever the best option.”

“So just remember that you have a tremendous amount of people here at Riverhead who love you and care about you and want what’s best for you,” Tornatore said. “So just remember whenever you’re in need, please reach out whether it’s to your teacher, to your administrator, to somebody in the cafeteria, to security guards, to your bus drivers. There are people all over the district who will do anything for you.”

Students enjoyed a picnic lunch served by the Riverhead Moose Lodge after the ceremony.

RiverheadLOCAL photos by Alek Lewis