Community Columns

Greenport News: CAST’s Youth Council reunion

Coach Dorrie Jackson would have been proud to see the turnout of his former football players at Skipper’s Restaurant July 4. I’d say approximately 100 people gathered together in memory of a great man. Players represented all three decades that Dorrie coached football at GHS. His son, Gary, and daughter, Sherry Jackson Burkinshaw, were on hand to witness the tribute to their dad. The food was delicious, the company was even better and the highlight of the event was watching old football films from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s and reliving the glory days of GHS football. The event was the brainstorm of Bill Fuccillo (Class of ’74), who funded the entire evening. A great big thanks to Bill, Bobby Heaney (Class of ’67) and Craig Geier (Class of ’72) for making it happen. You guys did a wonderful job.

A reunion of the 1960-1970 Greenport Youth Council of CAST is being planned for Aug. 15. A program will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. at Greenport High School and will include an opening reception, honoree ceremony, dinner and music of the ’60s and ’70s. If you or anyone you know was involved with the CAST’s Greenport Youth Council from 1960-70, call director Linda Ruland at 477-1717.

If you see a bright light generating from the south, fear not. It’s just former Greenporter John Raynor (now residing in Texas) beaming with pride. You see, on July 1, John’s daughter, Alison, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Broderick “Brody” John tipped the scales at 7 pounds, 10 ounces. Mother and son are now resting comfortably at home in upstate New York.

Jim and Marie Dinizio’s family members gathered en masse in Evansville, Ind., last weekend to witness the nuptials of their granddaughter, Kaleen O’Connell, daughter of Teresa (née Dinizio) and Kip O’Connell, to Andrew Layer. No fairy tale princess could have looked more beautiful than Kaleen did on her wedding day. I wish the two of them a lifetime of happiness together.

Our son Jeff had quite a year this past year. He got married to a wonderful woman in September, got his masters physician assistant degree in December and saw Duke win the NCAA basketball championship in April. I’m not sure there’s much more that could top all that but, as he’s leaving his 31st year and turning 32 on July 17, his dad and I wish him even better and brighter days in the upcoming year.

Also celebrating is my second son, Dean Karavas, along with Cheryl Pope, Craig Geier and Joey Stevens on the 16th; Sara Flythe, Georgia Young, Vivian Dennington Stein, Karen Letteriello and Tammie Berry on the 17th; Richie Hubbard, Sally Blados, Billy Doucett, Liz Powe, Chatty Allen and Zack Riggins on the 18th; Jim’s uncle Bill Dinizio on the 19th; Charles Cisterino, my dear friend Stephanie Gorga and Kyriakos Seas on the 20th; Bill Kart, Jeff Corazzini, Jill Dinizio, Tina Leonard, Emily O’Brien, China Leanord, Karen Jimenez, Melinda Hanold and Chris Bondarchuk on the 21st; Alexis Hubbard on the 22nd; Jerry Urban and Amber Warner on the 23rd; Warren Jensen (the son, not the dad) and Betty Capon on the 24th; Melissa Simpson Martinkat, Sally Jacobs, Ali Lauber, Gabby Pope and Robin Walden on the 25th; Jane Ratsey Williams, Matthew Stepnoski, Pat Urban, Dawn Jacobs, the Crump brothers Kevin and Keith and Nancy Charland on the 26th; Matthew Brown and Frank Van Sickle on the 27th; Jennifer Walters, my cousin David Wilburn and Carl Volinski on the 28th; and two more cousins, Kevin Heaney and Laura Pinter, and Dr. Steve Chierchie on the 29th.

I’m wishing many more years of happiness to Bev and Jim Sage, who will be married 39 years on the 18th; Karen and Kevin McLaughlin, who will celebrate 32 years of wedded bliss on the 22nd; Darline “Mope” and Rob McGinness, who have chalked up 27 years of married life on the 23rd; Linda and Greg Wallace, who will celebrate anniversary number 11 on the 24th; my sister-in-law and her husband, Joy and Ralph Navarro, who will be married 19 years on the 27th; and Karen and Mike Sage, who will celebrate their 42nd anniversary on the 28th.

R031209_Dinizio_R.jpgContact Greenport columnist Joan Dinizio at [email protected] or 477-9411.