Greenport News: Saying goodbye to the interim principal

When the school year comes to a close for 2014 with winter break, Greenport High School will suffer a tremendous loss. Interim secondary principal Robert Feeney, who has served since September, will be leaving us. There aren’t enough adjectives in the dictionary to describe this incredible man. We all want to chain him to his desk so he can’t leave (I believe someone even went so far as to try and close the school’s safe when he was inside!) but all good things must come to an end. Mr. Feeney, I know I speak for everyone at the high school when I say thank you for four fantastic, memorable months. You are the best. 

Athletic director Jim Caliendo asked me to get the word out that he’s declaring Tuesday, Jan. 6, as “Purple Out Day.” What does that mean? Your hometown Porters basketball teams will host the Southold Settlers that evening (JV at 4:30; varsity at 6:15) and he’d like everyone who attends to wear purple. I like that idea!

Congratulations to senior Willie Riggins III, who has been named Greenport Rotary’s Student of the Month for December. Way to go, Willie.

If you’ve got a little extra time on your hands tomorrow (Dec. 12), stop by the conference room at ELIH between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and check out the hospital auxiliary’s sale of fun fashion accessories.

Belated anniversary wishes to Alice and Taylor Jester, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 28.

If you see any of the following folks during the next couple of weeks, be sure to wish them a happy birthday: Leslie Parker, Dantré Langhorne and Laura Riggins on Dec. 11; Shawn Cutts and Courtney Weber on the 12th; MaryAnn Dinizio on the 13th; Kyle Tuthill on the 14th; Nicole Wallace and Craig Richter on the 15th; Cassandra Kalin, Jeanine Bishop and Billy O’Brien on the 17th; Francine Biggs, Adan VanEtten, Brenda Jensen and my buddy Michael Petroski on the 18th; my cousin Brion Heaney and Laurie Citera on the 19th; Kim Cronin on the 20th; James Bondarchuk, Pastor Garret Johnson and Elizabeth Berg on the 21st; Mike Mazzaferro and Bryan Weingart on the 22nd; Jeannie Jimenez Claudia Berry and Della Watson on the 23rd and Maureen Gonzalez and Bruce Urban on the 24th.

Happy anniversary to RuthAnn and P. J. Corazzini, who will celebrate 24 years of marriage on Dec. 12.

This time next week our son, Jeff, will be an official graduate of the Touro College physician’s assistant program. To say that Jim and I are extremely proud of him would be the biggest understatement of the decade. Congratulations, Jeff!

There is an early deadline for my final column of the year, which I’ll be sending in early on the evening of Dec. 18. My next column won’t appear until Jan. 15, 2015. If you’ve got something you’d like to share with the community, now would be the time to pick up the phone and call me.

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