Community

Greenport

Can you believe it? May has packed her bags and is on her way out the door to make room for June. Time sure does fly by these days!

Shortly after he arrived in Greenport, high school principal Len Skuggevik shared something with me under the vow of secrecy. I kept my word. However, the American Cancer Society let the cat out of the bag.

When Len was a teacher at William Floyd High School, a yearly event was Mr. Skuggs walking around with a — how shall we put it — “unique” haircut. If the kids raised a certain amount of money, he’d agree to let the lucky winner of a raffle shave his head. This tradition has been carried to GHS for Relay for Life. Raffle tickets are on sale now for $1 each, and the winner gets to shave Mr. Skuggevik’s head any way he or she sees fit during the Relay for Life on June 5. If more than $1,000 is raised, Mr. Skuggs will keep the haircut until Monday for the entire student body to see. Tickets can be purchased from senior Alex Angelson or at the high school office.

The Greenport Fire Department will hold its annual service in special memory of fallen firefighters Richie Sycz and Bruce Bellefountaine, two of Greenport’s own who lost their lives fighting a fire 33 years ago, on Sunday, June 13, at 7 p.m. at the Third Street firehouse.

Just a reminder: The Friends of Floyd Memorial Library are in the midst of their annual membership drive. Membership forms for individuals and families are available at the library desk.

Belated birthday wishes go out to Cassie Shedrick, who turned 16 on May 24.

Celebrating this week are Alan Damiani on the 28th; Patsy Dinizio on the 29th; Sean Sepenoski on the 30th; Jayme Blasko, Anthony Dinizio (grandson of MaryAnne Dinizio), Steve Yoskovich Jr. and Kim Corwin on the 31st; Bruce Alfero on June 1; and Brynn Dinizio, who will celebrate her 5th birthday on the 2nd.

A special round of applause goes out to Pat and Bill Volinski, who celebrate 50 years of wedded bliss on May 28. Also celebrating on the 28th are Heather and John Romanelli. Lori and Kevin Quillin toast their 30th anniversary June 1.

As we head into Memorial Day weekend I’d like to share with you the poem “It is the Soldier” by Charles M. Province: “It is the Soldier, not the minister, who has given us freedom of religion. It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to demonstrate. It is the Soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the Soldier, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote. It is the Soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.”

Let’s all pause for a moment or two to give thanks to the men and women who gave their all in the name of all the freedoms we enjoy today … and don’t forget the Girl Scout/Boy Scout Memorial Day dockside service at the railroad dock at 8 a.m. on Monday.

I have an early deadline for next week’s column, which I’ll be sending in shortly after dinner this evening, so if you have something you’d like to share, call or e-mail me sometime today.