Community Corner
Top 10 Feel-Good Stories of the Year
You know those stories that give you a good feeling in your heart, or make your eyes swell up with happy tears? Well, these are those kinds of articles. Here are the top 10 stories from the past year that will make you smile!
1.
After a winless 2009 campaign, the McGann-Mercy football team notched its first victory of the 2010 season on Sept. 25. The Monarchs' 26-20 overtime victory over Wyandanch elicited a single word from head coach Joe Read: "Awesome!"
2.
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The Riverhead post office on West Main Street was remained the Private First Class Garfiled M. Langhorn Post Office in honor of a Riverhead native who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for giving his own life to save his friends during the Vietnam War.
3.
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Jeb Ladoucer, former Riverhead resident and novelist, introduced his latest thriller, Sparrowbush, a dedication to a former Riverhead High School teacher, Morris Diamond.
4.
Liz Strebel, who ran the Riverhead Grill from 1973-1999, reopened the E Main Street restaurant in mid-December to great fanfare. Strebel renovated the down-home diner and hopes to pack the seats as she did during her 25+ years of operation. So far, so good.
5.
Lisa Lawler of East Hampton discovered a stranded gray seal on Main Beach and contacted the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation. The seal, later named Amelia, was underweight and wounded. After six months of recovery the foundation's team released the healthy seal back into the ocean with a farewell ceremony.
6.
The Riverhead Free Library's teen program enabled youths to thank veterans through a letter writing campaign. The letters will be sent to the Northport Veterans Administration Medical Center and more will be sent overseas during Christmas and Valentine's Day. Most of the letters thanked the veterans for their bravery and wished them well.
7.
Iloveriverhead was created with the intention of promoting downtown Riverhead and helping with economic development. The foundation is less than two years old, however they managed to host a dinner for 65 people at the Suffolk County Community College Culinary Arts Center to celebrate the fall harvest in Riverhead.
8.
Joe Edler, a 37-year resident of Aquebogue was named the new commander of Riverhead VFW Post 2476. The former commander, Gene McShery moved to Florida and post members appointed Edler as their new leader. Edler served his dues as a color guard sergeant, jr. vice commander and sr. commander.
9.
The Annual Long Island Council of Churches Thanksgiving Dinner had over 175 volunteers, allowing hundreds to receive a whole Thanksgiving meal. The event, which was held in the Riverhead Middle School cafeteria, is a tradition that dates back to the 1920s.
10.
The Phillips Avenue Elementary School held its annual Christmas toy drive with help from the Flanders Riverside Northampton Community Association. It is a 15 year old tradition performed by the Giving Tree, a program at Phillips Avenue School, which offers underprivileged students necessities such as winter clothes, school supplies and Christmas gifts. This year more people than usual donated to the program.
