Denise Civiletti
Denise Civiletti, editor and copublisher of RiverheadLOCAL is a lawyer, journalist, news junkie and digital media maven.
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Denise Civiletti
Tularemia in Suffolk: My first-hand account of the rare disease known as ‘rabbit fever’
“Rabbit fever” sounds whimsical — cue the Elmer Fudd jokes — but it’s no laughing matter. Last year, it nearly killed my husband.
Denise Civiletti
A parade and fireworks: no better way to celebrate the Fourth of July as a community
A parade is one of those things that brings the community together, an event that makes everyone smile, and reminds that us in many ways, Riverhead is still a small town.
Denise Civiletti
I saw the racist video. I knew exactly what it was. And I said nothing.
The racist video depicting the Obamas as apes was vile. But silence in the face of dehumanization carries its own moral weight.
Denise Civiletti
In Riverhead, the public record is disappearing in plain sight
Riverhead’s loss of meaningful Town Board minutes is not a minor change. It is a blow to open, accountable government — and to local history.
Denise Civiletti
A rechargeable battery caught fire in my kitchen. Here’s what I learned.
A rechargeable hand warmer caught fire while charging overnight, filling our house with smoke. We were lucky. Here’s the lesson I learned.
Denise Civiletti
A fresh face, a fast clock
Halpin is positivity in motion at Town Hall. But Election ’26 is already underway, and this supervisor term is a one-year sprint.
Denise Civiletti
We wish you a Merry Christmas
A Christmas message from Denise Civiletti and Peter Blasl.
Denise Civiletti
An attitude of gratitude: a Thanksgiving reflection
It’s a lot easier to be angry than grateful. The algorithms know, so rage bounds. Gratitude takes work. And it requires all of us to focus less on the material and more on the intangible.
Denise Civiletti
In the wake of tragedy, grief, regret, and blame
How quickly tragedy can change everything. And almost just as quickly, people rush to judge and assign blame.
Denise Civiletti
When an election is this close, patience — and math — will decide the winner
With just 21 votes separating Jerry Halpin and Tim Hubbard in the Riverhead supervisor’s race, the action moves to Suffolk’s Board of Elections. Here’s what happens next — and how I think it will likely shake out.
