Community

Cutchogue-New Suffolk: Car wash and bake sale fundraisers

Members of the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council and the community gather to watch the dedication of the new village garage on Cutchogue Village Green Sunday. The garage was built by the historical council to house 20th century historical memorabilia, including a Model T Ford donated by Parker Wickham, who died several weeks ago.
KATHARINE SCHROEDER PHOTO | Members of the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council and the community gather to watch the dedication of the new village garage on Cutchogue Village Green Sunday. The garage was built by the historical council to house 20th century historical memorabilia, including a Model T Ford donated by Parker Wickham, who died several weeks ago.

The Southold-Mattituck-Greenport NJROTC unit is No. 1 in the nation — the culmination of 37 years! There were some rough times after its first instructor, Chief Petty Officer Joseph Conlon, passed away in 1978. Chiefs Jim Clasen and John Sumwalt came on board in 1981 and stuck with the unit for 20 and 22 years, respectively. Major Grigonis knew when he took over in 2001 that there were trying times ahead. Thanks to the efforts of the Stype and Conlin families, the unit persevered and, through legislation submitted by Congressman Tim Bishop, was able to march on and add its first female officer, NC1 Felicity Turner.

Maj. Grigonis credits former commanding officers Kyle Hruz, Krystyna Surozenski, Abbie Pacholk, Tyler Cande, Lauren Solo, Bobby Haase, Kate Dacimo, Sean Brodarick, Steve Conlin, Sarah Conlin, Kate Mullen, Bruce Grattan and others for playing a part in this award. Also, kudos to Battalion Commander Billy Goggins, who never once wavered, faltered or gave less than 110 percent! The SMG NJROTC Unit is grateful to the administrations, faculties and staffs of all three schools and to the community for its support!

According to the major, the cadets of this unit know something about legacy. Admiral Ron Horton (Southold, Class of 1978) graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982. Major Mike Libretto, a Mattituck graduate, attended Norwich University on a Marine Corps scholarship. Then there are Captain Kyle Blakie, Senior Chief Petty Officer Eric Podeyne, Pam Kehl, Mark Osmer, USMC Staff Sergeants Eddie Deptola and Pete Foster, Lt. Matt Krupski, Lt. Kyle Hruz, Southold Town Police patrolmen Billy Helinski, Greg Simmons, John Helf, Rich Jernick and Bill Brewer — and so many others.

Accolades to Kyle Clausen, who has been accepted into the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s Summer Aim Program.

Early birds are welcome at the Cutchogue Fire Department Panthers’ Relay for Life Team yard and bake sale at the firehouse on Saturday, May 21, at 7 a.m. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. Rain date is May 22.

A car wash fundraiser will be held at CFD on Sunday, May 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to 2 p.m.at the Cutchogue Fire Department. As the Mitzvah project for his Bar Mitzvah, my son Greg has been raising money for the Friends of John Tardif, a wheelchair-bound 13-year-old from Cutchogue. If any of your children have played sports with his siblings Joe, Brian or Katie you may have seen John on the sidelines cheering for their teams. His above-ground pool provides him with a therapeutic outlet, but getting him into the pool has become a challenge for his mother. Proceeds from the car wash will help purchase a mechanical lift to move John from his chair into the pool. Your support will be greatly appreciated!

Five generations of the Midgley family gathered recently when William Midgley of Cutchogue made a visit to St. Augustine, Fla. With Mr. Midgley are (from left) his daughter Sandra Midgley, great-granddaughter Alicia Carmine holding her son, Parker Haley, and granddaughter Sophie Benonis.
COURTESY PHOTO | Five generations of the Midgley family gathered recently when William Midgley of Cutchogue made a visit to St. Augustine, Fla. With Mr. Midgley are (from left) his daughter Sandra Midgley, great-granddaughter Alicia Carmine holding her son, Parker Haley, and granddaughter Sophie Benonis.

Third-grade Brownie Troop 156 delivered just over 400 old CDs and DVDs to Martha Clara Vineyard as part of its recycling project. The disks will be used to keep birds from eating the grapes and troop members will return to the vineyard at harvest time to help install them. During the summer, you can still help this effort by dropping off old CDs and DVDs at the Mattituck or Cutchogue libraries.

Thanks to parent volunteers with the Mattituck-Cutchogue Friends of Music, judges, teachers and students enjoyed dinner at the NYSSMA competition hosted by the school music department. Special thanks to servers Kim Boomer, Mary Kelly and Jenn L’Hommedieu and Cutchogue East’s fifth- and sixth-grade band director Joe Hinton.

Newcomers are welcome at Cutchogue New Suffolk Library’s book discussion on “Dark Noon” by Thomas Clavin on Thursday, May 19. Call 734-6360 to learn more about and register for the Living Environment Study Jam, Friday, May 20, 6-7:30 p.m. Food Fun for Kids, grades 2-6 will be held Saturday, May 21, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Adult CPR will be taught Tuesday, May 24, 6-9 p.m. and child/infant CPR on Tuesday, May 31, also 6-9 p.m. There is a fee of $35 for each session.

Have a good week!