Greenport

Anyone who knows me, even a little bit, will not be surprised by my lead-in piece this week. This is one happy household after the NCAA National Championship game last Monday. People had them out as of the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight and said they’d never make the Final Four. Alas, they did and the Duke Blue Devils are the 2010 National Champs. My sincerest sympathies (not really!) go out to the Doucett, Duell and Swain families, Tim McLaughlin and Gavin Dibble, who will have to put up with me for the next year.

Southold Town’s fifth annual Relay for Life is just around the corner. If you’d like to be a part of a community event that celebrates cancer survivorship and raises awareness and are interested in joining a team or creating a new team, please be at the next meeting on Monday, April 19, at 7 p.m. at Mattituck High School. For questions or further information, contact Deb VanDuzer at 734-5050.

You can tell it’s springtime and people want to get rid of those winter doldrums, get out of the house and start socializing. We’ve got quite a few events taking place in the next week or two.

First on the list is the much-anticipated Greenport Idol on Friday, April 23, in the Greenport Schools’ auditorium at 7 p.m. It’s simply amazing how much talent we have in our community! In years past, this event has been held solely to honor the memory of Dr. Dennis Claire, a GHS English teacher who was taken from us much too soon. This year it will also honor the memories of Mike Brown and Corey Freeman, much-loved recent GHS graduates who left us heartbroken when they lost their lives this past winter. Tickets are now on sale for $10 each at the school and will be available at the door on the night of the event.

Next up is the annual chinese auction sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of the East Marion Fire Department. It will be held at the East Marion Fire Department Hall on Saturday, April 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be refreshments and a white elephant sale as well.

There’s the Poetry Slam, sponsored by Congregation Tifereth Israel and North Fork Reform Synagogue, at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 25, at the Greenport synagogue on Fourth Street. Poets of all ages can register by calling Sylvia at 765-6182 or Paula at 477-6530. Judges will be Tammy Morgan, Poppy Johnson and Jerry Case.

If you thought basketball seasonat GHS was over, you’re mistaken. On April 24 at 7 p.m., we’re going to mix it up with an alumni/faculty basketball game. You’ll see the likes of Ryan Creighton, Mike Murphy, Sam Carey, Gerald Crenshaw and a host of other talented individuals take to the court for a game to benefit the Mike Brown and Corey Freeman scholarship funds. I, for one, am thrilled at the thought of seeing all this talent in one gymnasium once again. Young or old, tickets for this event are $5 and available at the door on the night of the event. It’s going to be great fun for a great cause.

Belated birthday wishes go out to Lara Lorene Hunt from her grandparents Della and Kenny Watson. Lara turned 9 years old on April 4.

Celebrating this week are Carol Mills and Joe Leonard on the 15th; Tammi Volinski, Charlie Manwaring, Lisa Israel and Bill Bogardus on the 17th; my nieces Caitlyn Tooker and Justine Parker on the 18th; Alyssa Andrews, Pat Barszczewski and Bill Rhinow on the 19th; and Mary Saetta on the 20th.

The happiest of anniversaries is wished this week to Anita and Chuck Czartosieski on April 19. Nancy and Jim McAllister will celebrate their 52nd anniversary, also on the 19th, and Erin and Chris Doucett celebrate eight years of wedded bliss on the 20th.