Around Town: September 17, 2023

Frank Palamara and Virginia Nolan recently came back from a trip to Norfolk, Virginia August 23-27, a reunion for all those who served on the USS Little Rock. At 98 years old, Frank had a great time at the reunion and enjoyed some celebrity status. Frank Palamara consented to an interview with the Association and his oral history of questions and answers may be read in its entirety at https://www.usslittlerock.org/oral-histories/oh_palamara_frank.html. You scroll down the page when opened and hit on Franks last name which is Palamara. What an exciting military service and public life Frank shared with the moderator Frank Berglas and it’s really an interesting read. Frank enjoys his community in Riverhead and spends time in Arizona too. What a marvelous life he has lived and he is looking forward to his 100^th birthday!

Congratulations to St. John’s Roman Catholic Church in Riverhead on their new beautiful 3 Manual Allen Organ delivered and set up this week to bring spectacular sounds of music to the parishioners at the church. May you enjoy the grand and impressive organ for many years to come. 

Historical Photographs of Flanders exhibit opened on September 14 and runs through November 30 hosted by the Flanders Village Historical Society which can viewed at the David W. Crohan Community Center, 655 Flanders Road (Route 24) in Flanders. The Community Center is open on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm, but depending on other scheduled programs visiting times may be limited. This exhibit of photographs chosen not only for the historical interest, but also for their quality and artistic value. For more information, contact the FVHS Secretary Janice Young at 631-284-3737. 

The North Fork Breast Health Coalition’s 25^th anniversary 5K Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness will be held on Sunday, September 24. Registration begins at 7:30 am to 8:45 am and the opening ceremonies start at 8:45 am and 9:00 am the walk begins. Join the walk that will take you through the Tangler Outlet Center in Riverhead while enjoying refreshments, giveaways, raffles and fun too. Registration fee is $35 and you can register in person on the day of the walk or visit the website northforkbreasthealth.org to register under “events”. If you cannot walk but wish to donate, please visit the website. The first 300 entrants will receive an official walk gift bag and you must be present to receive the gift bag. 

Anyone can be a friend. Who are the Friends of the Riverhead Free Library? They are volunteers from various surrounding communities. Their purpose is to promote the resources and services of the library, sponsor programs of general interest and generate financial support for the library. The Yellow Barn Bookstore is staffed solely by volunteers, and located in the historic Perkins Carriage House, which sells gently used donated books at affordable prices generating significant income utilized by the library. Barn hours are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 am to 2 pm and will be open on Saturday, October 28,10 am to 2 pm. Join for $10.00 for an individual and attend their monthly meetings on the second Monday of every month at 1 pm. Check out the library website www.riverheadlibrary.org and view the announcements, upcoming events and opportunities to help with ongoing projects. A great way to meet new friends too.

For 40 years, Riverhead Community Awareness Program Inc. (CAP) has helped Riverhead students make healthy choices and note the risks associated with substance use through CAP’s preventive education services and community initiatives. Won’t you join the CAP team of Pulaski Street School taking the training offered during the day or evening and no experience is necessary. You would be a part of being a volunteer helping to facilitate the “Too Good For Drugs Program” at Pulaski School with Peer Leaders teaching lessons to help students making healthy decisions. For more information, call Cynthia at 631-727-3722 or visit the website at RiverheadCAP.org. 

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office will be holding an Open House and Family Day on Sunday, September 24 from 11 am to 3 pm at the Yaphank Correctional Facility, 200 Glover Drive in Yaphank. Enjoy games, music, food trucks, giveaways, scavenger hunts, tug of war games, temporary tattoos, truck and cart rides, bounce house, child, Senior ID cards, exciting demonstrations, and interactive exhibits. A fun filled day for the whole family.

Anyone being an artisan or crafter that would like to be a vendor at this year’s Riverhead Country Fair along the Peconic River and Main Street held on Sunday, October 8, 10 am to 5 pm please check out the website www.riverheadcountryfair.com. Looking forward to the entries like farm and garden products, fruit and vegetables floral competition, homemaking, basket weaving, cake decorating needlework, home brewing and wood carving. Bring your talent to the fair and enter the competitions. Donna Young and her volunteers are working hard making this fair a success. Rain or shine. 

Southampton Youth Court is a great way to earn community service credits and build your college resume. High School students from local schools working together to hold real trials for juvenile offenders, where all the facts of the case are heard and the jury decides on a disposition, or “sentence” for the offender to repair the harm that they have caused to the victims. Cases range from trespassing, driving without a license, underage drinking to harassment, possession, and theft among others. Students grade 9 through 12 living or attending school in the Town of Southampton can participate. Those who are interested in becoming an attorney, improve public speaking skills, learning about the justice system, building their college or job resume or just to enjoy community service are invited to join. General youth court meetings are held on Mondays from 6 pm to 7 pm at the Southampton Town Justice Court, 32 Jackson Ave. Transportation may be available upon request. New member training will be held on Monday, October 2. For more information or to register, please call 631-702-2425 or visit www.southamptontownny.gov/youthbureau. 

Registration is now open for the Town of Southampton Youth Bureau’s, “Youth and Government” program. Youth and Government is sponsored by the Alliance of NYS YMCAs and is a national program that involves teens in state-organized, model government programs. Students in grades 9 through 12 will have the opportunity to practice experiential civic engagement and learn about the democratic process. Youth will discuss and debate issues that affect citizens of New York State and will get a chance to deliberate in the chambers of the NYS Legislature at a state conference in Albany. This program begins on Wednesday, October 4. Meetings held the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the Hampton Bays Community Center, 25 Ponquogue Ave. For more information or to register, please call 631-702-2425 or visit www.southamptontownny.gov/youthbureau.

The Southampton Youth Bureau is currently accepting new member registrations for their “Teen Views” program. Participants will learn how to interview, create creditable stories, film, and edit videos and produce content for television and other media. Program begins Thursday, October 5 and pre-registration is required. Meetings will be held on Thursdays from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the Hampton Bays Community Center, 25 Ponquogue Ave. Teen Views is open to grades 7 to 12 and community service credits are available. For more information, please call 631-702-2425 or visit www.southamptownny.gov/YBpayment or register directly online.

Happy birthday wishes to Arlene Doroszka who turns 100 years old and known for her beautiful roses that bloom at her East Main Street home. You can google Downtown Riverhead Historic Trail and check out her virtual tour by pressing #16 Young-Doroszka House and enjoy the brief history Arlene speaks to of her home and life in in Riverhead; Caroline Bugdin, Deborah Kulka-Maclellan and Zachary Bogdanski on September 17; Patrick Lynch, Kristin Halpin, Kasia Klimiuk. Marc LaMaina and Kevin Brooks on September 18; Edwin George on September 19; Diane Collins and Tincy Groover and Virginia Scudder on September 20;  Dhonna Goodale, Barbara Pelis, Hal Goodale and Pamela Hogrefe on September 21; Tommy Reichel on September 22; Frank Rotenberg on September 23; Patti White and Christopher Rachubka on September 24; Dennis Kenter on September 25; Nick Luparella, Jr. on September 26; Jeanne Doroski on September 27; Karin Galea and Kathy Berezny turns 70 years old on September 28; Randy Smith and Jeff “Doc” Greenberger on September 29; Nicole Hynds, Isabella Luparella and Jayme Seal on September 30. Enjoy your day. 

Happy wedding anniversary wishes to Mary Ann and Scott Hughes on September 17; Dennis and Pat Hamill on September 21; Sharon and Thomas Anderson on September 22; happy 50^th anniversary to Barbara and Martin Lennon on September 23; happy 35^th anniversary to Marie and Jimmy Barnes on September 24; Kathy and Bob Kukawski and a happy 24^th anniversary to Ellen and Nes Kramer on September 25 and a happy 43^rd anniversary to Frank and Pat Doroski on September 27. Be sure to celebrate.

Have a happy and a blessed Yom Kippur 2023!

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” is published by RiverheadLOCAL on the first and third Sunday of the month.