Community

Cutchogue-New Suffolk: Free Throw Championship at Cutchogue East gym

At the Kaelin home in Cutchogue, months of planning and secrecy came to an end Jan. 2 with a shout of “Surprise!” Jane Kaelin and her fiancé Gordon Shanks had traveled from Greensboro, N.C., to a delayed Kaelin Christmas on Jan. 1, along with Jane’s sister/bridesmaid Mary and her fiancé, Todd Johnson. Jane’s sister/maid of honor Carey and bridesmaids Erin Dorothy and Jill Pierce recognized this as a perfect opportunity for a bridal shower. Peg Kaelin and Cathy Gordon Shanks, mothers of the bride and groom, arranged for Cathy and her sister, Bobbie Gordon Gray, to be there.

It was a true Kaelin family affair. Adam, Erin P. and Jocie Kaelin provided food and decorations. Aunt Jane, Fred, Michelle and Freddie IV moved furniture. Carol McCaffery and Susie Smith housed the food and decorations. Uncle Dan and Aunt Martha Jones picked up Gordon’s mom and aunt at  MacArthur Airport. (They didn’t know each other so Dan and Martha held up Jane and Gordon’s engagement picture.) For the next few days, they dined with their host, Mimi Colombo. The family is grateful to the Rev. Bob Griffin and the Cutchogue Presbyterian Church congregation for the use of their parking lot; to the Cutchogue Fire Department for giving ex-chief Fred Jr. and the other men a “retreat” during the bridal shower; to Erin D. and Ray Giustizia IV for keeping the bride and groom away; to the groom for keeping the secret for months; and to the Kaelin sisters and Aunt Bobbie.

A flu bug prevented Bridget Kaelin Eriole and daughter Maya from attending, but best wishes were extended by phone. The very happy couple returned to North Carolina with gifts that included a book of recipes collected from generation to generation and a beautiful hand-sewn pillow from Jane’s great-grandmother, Clara Krause Jones.

Boys and girls are invited to compete for prizes in the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship on Saturday, Jan. 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Cutchogue East gym. No registration required. For more information, contact Bill Flatley at 298-4451.

Mary Agria received an early gift for Christmas. The prepublication review of her new novel, “Garden of Eve,” due out in April, said: “Inspired language … a lyrical account of a widow’s struggle with loss and renewal … Beautiful characters who are as remarkable and truthful as her setting.” Mary is happy, to say the least.

Win prizes and challenge the master at the fifth annual Family Scrabble Festival, Sunday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m. in the community room of Congregation Tifereth Israel in Greenport. Teen, preteen and adult players are invited to compete — and can even challenge master Scrabble player John Williams, director of the National Scrabble Association, who has played as many as six contestants at a time. The entrance fee is $5 per person. There will be free refreshments and a 50/50 raffle. For more information, call the synagogue at 477-0232 or program director Adrianne Greenberg at 477-0813.

Check the calendar of events for a host of children’s activities and live music being offered at Cutchogue–New Suffolk Library.

Have a good week!