Community Archives - Riverhead News Review

Riverhead Highway Santa delivers 500 toys for students in need

Nicole Wagner — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000

Riverhead Highway Superintendent Mike Zaleski continued his tradition of spreading holiday cheer by dropping off nearly 500 toys for Roanoke Avenue Elementary School students on Monday.

Mr. Zaleski played Santa for the fifth straight year with the hope of helping every student in need receive a gift during the holiday season. As a 31-year member of Riverhead’s highway department, Mr. Zaleski said he is happy to use his longtime municipal status as a platform to give back to those in need. He was reelected highway superintendent this November.

“It’s really a good thing,” Mr. Zaleski said. “And I’m very humbled, because every year it grows more and more.”

His son Ryan attended school in Riverhead, and Roanoke Avenue Elementary principal Thomas Payton left an indelible mark on Mr. Zaleski as an attentive school administrator.

“Mr. Payton would literally wait for my son and walk him in to school every day,” Mr. Zaleski said. “So I never forgot something like that.”

The principal keeps a list of local children in need throughout Riverhead’s grade schools—including Aquebogue, Riley Avenue, Roanoke Avenue and Phillips Avenue—and helps distribute the toys throughout the district.

“[They] make sure all of the children in need get something,” Mr. Zaleski said.

Roanoke Avenue Elementary School assistant principal Andrea Lopez told the Riverhead News-Review the school is “extremely grateful” for Mr. Zaleski’s generosity. When dropping off toys Monday afternoon, Ms. Lopez couldn’t help but notice the big smile on Mr. Zaleski’s face.

“Receiving all of this for our families and our parents, it really makes their holiday,” she said. “It’s the most gracious thing that he could do. You know things are tight nowadays, and it lifts up the spirits of everybody and makes that bridge between our school and the community that much tighter.”

When collecting the toys, Mr. Zaleski asks that people donate a variety of toys for students in grades 1 through 4—dolls, trucks, board games, paint sets, you name it. This year, roughly 500 toys were donated by community members with the help of Riverhead Moose Lodge 1742, All Suffolk Car Clubs and Fink’s Country Farm.

Riverhead Highway Superintendent Mike Zaleski ran a 5K on Dec. 13 as part of his 2025 toy drive donation to Roanoke Avenue Elementary School. (Credit: Courtesy Mike Zaleski)

The toy donation is accompanied by an annual 5K that Mr. Zaleski runs—something residents are likely familiar with from his years of running in town. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Zaleski ran a 5K to support healthcare workers and has run several others in support of local food banks since.

The route Riverhead Highway Superintendent Mike Zaleski ran Dec. 13 as part of his 2025 toy drive to benefit Riverhead elementary students. (Credit: Courtesy Mike Zaleski)

Mr. Zaleski consistently goes above and beyond for his community, with over a decade of educational, interactive elementary school visits displaying highway department equipment like snow plows and dump trucks. His efforts earned him and the Riverhead Highway Department the Riverhead News-Review’s 2024 Public Servant of the Year award.

“It’s just all ‘do good to feel good,’” Mr. Zaleski said of his efforts. “That’s basically my motto.”

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100 years and counting at Riverhead Baptist Church

Ana Borruto — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:56:38 +0000

The Riverhead First Baptist Church received a proclamation from Riverhead Town officials on Dec. 2 in celebration of its 100th anniversary. Incorporated in 1925, the historic church led today by the Rev. Charles A. Coverdale was recognized as a “community pillar” that has made an “immeasurable impact” on not only parishioners, but the entire Riverhead community.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard remarked on the “warm and inclusive” environment the Riverhead First Baptist Church has cultivated over the last century. He also commended the Rev. Coverdale for his over four decades of dedication to his pastoral duties and outreach programs for the youth and families in the Riverhead community.

“You’ve helped so many people and people in need. We don’t always show up at the pew, but sometimes, we need that pew,” Mr. Hubbard said. “We have to show up, and you give us guidance, assistance and help, and it’s very important for the community.”

Recently Riverhead Town officials adopted changes to its Community Benefit Zoning Use District code, which inches the Riverhead First Baptist Church closer to finally bringing its decades-long affordable housing proposal to fruition.

The room erupted in applause after the town board’s decision in September, as the code amendment has received overwhelming support from community members who have backed the Family Community Life Center project since it was first proposed by Pastor Charles and Shirley Coverdale in 1988.

In collaboration with builder Georgica Green Ventures, LLC, the mixed-use, transit-oriented development proposal also known as The Northville Commons calls for the construction of a 10,000 square-foot community center and 80 affordable apartment units on nearly 13 acres of the First Baptist Church’s land on Northville Turnpike.

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Community Calendar of Events: Dec. 11, 2025

Riverhead News-Review — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:59:00 +0000

Fundraisers

Saturday, Dec. 13, 1:30 p.m.: Basket raffle hosted by the Aurora Dorcas, Chapter #70, O.E.S., at Elks Lodge, 1239 East Main St., Riverhead. Donation: $10. Funds go to the group’s high school scholarship pool. Doors open noon, auction begins 1:30 p.m. Information and tickets: 631-375-0315.

Holiday

Saturday, Dec. 13, noon: Party with Santa in community room at Veterans Memorial Park, 11280 Great Peconic Bay Blvd., Mattituck. Door prizes, winners chosen at 2:30 p.m. Hot chocolate, snacks, potato chips. Santa arrives 1 p.m. by fire truck. Snow machine, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Free. Information: mattituckparks.gov.

Saturday, Dec. 13, 3-5 p.m: Oysterponds Historical Society Holiday Social, at the Village House, 1555 Village Lane, Orient, Food, drink, caroling, crafting and shopping at the Beach Plum Shop.

Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 13-14, 10:30 a.m.: Santa Comes to Town aboard a LIRR Greenport Scoot, Railroad Museum of Long Island, 440 Fourth St., Greenport. Santa will give out gifts to kids; one lucky child will win the Lionel Polar Express “O” gauge toy train set. Drawing held Sunday, Dec. 14, 2 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 14, 5 p.m.: Menorah Lighting with friends and neighbors on the first night of Hanukkah, Mitchell Park, Greenport. Following lighting, reception at Congregation Tifereth Israel, 519 Fourth St. Vodka, latkes, jelly doughnuts, music. Everyone is welcome. Information: greenportvillage.com.

Saturday, Dec. 20, 2-4 p.m.: Holiday Crafts and Letters to Santa at Little Red Schoolhouse, 101 Front St., Greenport. Holiday craft decorating; drop off letters to Santa. Blank letters available. Refreshments served. Information: greenportvillage.com.

Through Dec. 20: Beach Plum Holiday Shop at Old Point Schoolhouse, 1555 Village Lane, Orient. Unique gifts, decorations, ornaments, art, crafts and Oysterponds Historical Society merchandise available for purchase. Proceeds benefit OHS. View each day’s hours of operation: oysterpondshistoricalsociety.org.

Fridays-Sundays, through Dec. 28, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: Gingerbread University at Hallockville Museum Farm’s Naugles Barn, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead. Blank canvas cookies to decorate however you choose. 75-minute decorating session. Fun for the whole family. Pricing packages, registration: hallockville.org.

Meetings

Thursday, Dec. 11, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Cutchogue Civic Association’s meeting and holiday get-together, Sannino Vineyard, 15975 County Road 48, Cutchogue. Meeting, 5:30-6 p.m.: election of directors, vote on bylaw amendments. Tickets: $15, members; $25, nonmembers. Includes glass of wine, cheese and dessert. Limited spaced, reservations required: cutchoguecivic.org.

Saturday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m.: Southold Peconic Civic Association ‘Cell Service in Southold,’ Peconic Recreation Center, 970 Peconic Lane. Discussion topics: proposed Town Code changes, facts about cell towers, next steps. Guest speakers: Heather Lanza, Tanya Negron. Free. Information: spcivic.org.

Music

Saturday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.: The Lysander Piano Trio plays ‘Dreams and Apparitions’ program, Jamesport Meeting House. Part of the 1731 Series, which brings internationally acclaimed musicians to the North Fork. Artists’ reception after concert. Tickets $20: jamesportmeetinghouse.org.

Sunday, Dec. 14, 4 p.m.: ‘Help is on the Way,’ a tribute to cabaret singer Nancy LaMott performed by Rusty Kranskywith Jeff Wentz on piano, Jamesport Meeting House, 1590 Main Road. Tickets $20, at the door. Information: jamesportmeetinghouse.org.

Saturday, Dec. 20, 6 p.m.: Special holiday music performance with The Realm, hosted by CAST at 53930 Main Road, Southold. For all ages. Free entry, registration required: TheRealm.givesmart.com. Info: castnorthfork.org.

Sunday, Dec. 21, 4 p.m.: Carols and Cookies, a North Fork holiday tradition at Jamesport Meeting House, 1590 Main Road. Familiar song favorites, new seasonal discoveries and a sing-along. Post-concert cookie reception. Free; donations gratefully accepted. Information: jamesportmeetinghouse.org.

The natural world

Thursday, Dec. 11, 6-7:30 p.m.: Nature-based Solutions: Community Engagement workshop with NFEC president Mark Haubner, Unitarian Universalists of Southold Meeting House, 51900 Main Road. Discover passions for environmental issues, nature-based solutions. Free. Information: UUSouthold.org.

Saturday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m.-noon: Seed Starting Workshop at The Vine Church, 43960 CR 48, Southold. Join ReWild / North Fork, SPCA and Corn Schmid to learn to grow a butterfly garden using native seeds. Free seeds available or bring your own. Required registration: ReWildLongIsland.org.

Saturday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m.: Winter Wonders of the Night Sky with Randall DiGiuseppe, Custer Observatory, 1115 Main Bayview Road, Southold. Explore and navigate the winter night sky. Participants advised to bundle up. Tickets: $5, adults; $3, children; free, members. Registration: custerobservatory.org.

Tuesday, Dec. 16, 8-10 a.m.: Tuesdays with Tom at Indian Island County Park in Riverhead. Looking to spot some winter ducks, yellow-rumped warblers and great blue herons. Free. Registration required: northforkaudubon.org.

Theater

Friday-Sunday, Dec. 12-14: Northeast Stage presents “Lessons from Hollywood,” a new play by James A. Pritchard, Holy Trinity Church Hall, 768 Main St., Greenport. The holidays go south in every way. Adult content for mature audiences. Fridays, Saturdays: 7 p.m.; Sundays: 2 p.m. Tickets $25: northeaststage.org.

Saturday, Dec. 13, 5 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 14, 1 p.m.: Open house and performance, “Home for the Holidays,” North Fork Community Theatre, 12700 Old Sound Ave., Mattituck. Festive dance, singing and scene work from community members of all ages. Free. Reservations not required. Information: nfct.com.

Ongoing events

Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Peconic Amateur Radio Club open house meeting, Custer Institute and Observatory at 1115 Main Bayview Road, Southold. Stop in to see the station and learn about Amateur Radio and how to provide communication service to the community.

First and third Tuesdays of each month, 6-8 p.m.: Southold Together gathers at Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., 42155 Main Road, Peconic. A casual, agenda-free opportunity to connect with others who care about a positive, progressive future for Southold Town. To find group, look for American flag. Information: southoldtogether@gmail.com.

Last Wednesday of each month, 2-3 p.m.: Caregiver Support Group hosted by Family Service League, Acadia Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation, 1146 Woodcrest Lane, Riverhead. Free. Funded by Suffolk County Office for the Aging. Registration required: Call Beth Signore, LCSW, at 516-406-1085.

Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 7 p.m.: Southold American Legion Post 803 hosts Bingo at 51655 Main Road, Southold. Card sales begin at noon Tuesday, 6 p.m. Thursday. All welcome. Information: 631-765-2276.

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: North Shore United Methodist Thrift Store, 260 Route 25A, Wading River. Bargains galore. Information: 631-929-6075.

Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon: The Riverhead/Jamesport Homemakers meet at the George Young Community Center, 446 South Jamesport Ave., Jamesport. Knit, crochet and sew for charity. New members welcome. Information: 631-765-1768.

Fridays through December, noon-3 p.m.: Greenport Farmers’ Indoor Market at Little Creek Oyster Farm & Market’s annex next to Pip’s, 216 Main St., Greenport. Fresh and preserved produce, cheese, bread, eggs and more.

Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Orient Congregational Church Thrift Shop, 23045 Main Road, Orient. Clothes, jewelry, furnishings and more. Donations accepted. Information: 631-323-2665.

Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Indoor Farmers’ Market at Twin Fork Beer Co., 807 Raynor Ave., Riverhead. A mix of local vendors offering the best in fresh produce, artisanal foods, handcrafted goods and unique crafts. Information: twinforkbeer.com.

Saturdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Docent-led tours at Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead. Tickets: $15, adults; $10, seniors and children. 631-298-5292, hallockville.org.

Saturdays, 8 p.m.-midnight: Stargazing at Custer Observatory, 1080 Main Bayview Road, Southold, weather permitting. Suggested donation: adults, $5; under 12, $3. 631-765-2626, custerobservatory.org.

Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Blacksmithing demonstrations with Tom Barry at Village Blacksmith Shop, 101 Front St., Greenport. 631-477-2100, eastendseaport.org.

Sundays, 1:30-4:30 p.m.: Docent-led tours at Southold Indian Museum, 1080 Main Bayview Road, Southold. Tickets: $10, adults; free, children and K-12 students. Email to arrange tours Monday through Friday. Information: indianmuseum@optonline.net.

Last Monday of every month, 7 p.m.: USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 18-08 meeting, Southold Town recreation center, 970 Peconic Lane, Peconic. Information and registration: uscga1808@gmail.com.

Fourth Thursday of each month, 6-7 p.m.: Well Spoken Writers Club holds Open Mic for Writers at Mugs on Main, 33 Main St., Riverhead. Information: email wellspokenwriters@gmail.com.

Exhibitions

Through Dec. 13: ‘Fluid Patterns: Water and a Changing Climate,’ a new East End Arts juried group exhibit at Andy Tarshis Fine Art Gallery, 133 East Main St., Riverhead. Jurors: Marta Baumiller, Rainer Gross.

Through Dec. 13: ‘Artability on Tour,’ East End Arts in collaboration with Spirit of Huntington Art Center, at 11 West Main St., Riverhead. Group exhibition of work by differently abled students across Long Island. Opening reception Thursday, Nov. 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Light refreshments served. Free. Registration: eventbrite.com.

Through Dec. 17, 1-4 p.m.: ‘150 Years of Jewish Community on Long Island,’ the Weathervane Gallery at Suffolk County Historical Society Museum, 300 West Main St., Riverhead. Historic Torahs, books, documents and artifacts collected around Long Island.

Through Dec. 20: ‘Warp, Weft, Shuttle,’ celebrating 50 years of Long Island handweaving from Paumanok Weavers Guild, the Gish Gallery at Suffolk County Historical Society Museum. Opening reception: Saturday, Oct. 18, 1-3 p.m.: includes light refreshments. Tickets: free, members; $5, nonmembers. Registration: 631-727-2881.

Through December: ‘Imagination,’ featuring works by Donald Garside, at the Mattituck-Laurel Library art gallery. Information: mattitucklaurellibrary.org.

Through Jan. 19: ‘Breathe Deeply,’ a collection of serene, meditative small works in different mediums, Alex Ferrone Gallery, 25425 Main Road, Cutchogue. Drop your anxieties at the door. Free artists’ reception Dec. 6, 5-7 p.m. Collecting nonperishables for CAST at gallery. Information: alexferronegallery.com.

Through January: ‘Good Ground Arrives at Southold,’ with featured work by Mike Meehan and the Good Ground Artists, the Lucy Hallock Folk room at Southold Free Library during regular library hours. Artists’ reception: Friday, Dec. 12, 5-7 p.m., light refreshments. Information: southoldlibrary.org.

Fridays, Sundays: 2-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Red Barn Exhibition, Oysterponds Historical Society campus, 1555 Village Lane, Orient. Pictures, tools, and equipment of farming, fishing, winter activities and early transportation. Tickets: free, OHS members; $10, non-member adults.

At the libraries

Our local libraries host a variety of events for all ages. For calendars and more information:

Riverhead Free Library, 631-727-3228, riverheadlibrary.org.
Mattituck-Laurel Library, 631-298-4134, mattitucklaurellibrary.org.
Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library, 631-734-6360, cutchoguelibrary.org.
Southold Free Library, 631-765-2077, southoldlibrary.org.
Floyd Memorial Library, Greenport, 631-477-0660, floydmemoriallibrary.org.

CALENDAR POLICY

The calendar is a sampling of in-person events planned by local nonprofit organizations. Events must be open to the general public and be not-for-profit, nonpartisan and nonsectarian in nature. Send information about in-person events to calendar@timesreview.com; the deadline is Friday at noon. In-person, virtual and online events may be posted at northforker.com/submit-event.

The post Community Calendar of Events: Dec. 11, 2025 appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Riverhead PBA treats local kids to ‘Shop with a Cop’ shopping spree

Ana Borruto — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 19:18:33 +0000

Excitement and holiday cheer filled Target aisles as kids splurged on their favorite toys during the second annual ‘Shop with a Cop’ Riverhead PBA event on Monday, Dec. 8.

With support of the Riverhead Target on Old Country Road and the Suffolk Credit Union, the law enforcement organization was able to host around 30 kids and their families.

Two Riverhead police unions, the Riverhead Police Benevolent Association and the Superior Officers Associations, funded each child’s $100 shopping spree. Dozens of participating police officers helped with pushing shopping carts while the kids eagerly pulled various stuffed toys, games, electronics, Hot Wheels and other fun off the shelves and into their baskets.

The purpose of the event is to build a stronger connection between children in the Riverhead community and the town’s police force. The Riverhead Police Department also builds relationships through its school resource officer program with the Riverhead Central School District, as well as with its National Night Out summer event.

“We look forward to hosting this event each year and continuing to grow the bond between the Riverhead Police Department and the community we all love,” the Riverhead PBA said in a social media post.

Below are photos from the event, courtesy of Riverhead PBA vice president John Morris.

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Roanoke Avenue Elementary School lights up for the holidays

Brendan Carpenter — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:07:36 +0000

Roanoke Avenue Elementary School officially welcomed the holiday season last weekend with a new tradition: lighting up a giant Christmas tree for the school with the help of the Riverhead Fire Department.

The celebration on Saturday, Dec. 6, also featured the school’s annual wreath sale, the lighting of its giant wreath and hot cocoa.

“It’s the start of the holiday season,” said principal Thomas Payton. “This is a magical time of year, particularly for elementary kids, and this kicks it off.”

(Credit: Brendan Carpenter footage/Angela Colangelo edit)

The annual wreath sale has been a staple for the school since 2011, a year after Mr. Payton became principal. The sale acts as a fundraiser for the school’s PTO, with all of the money going back toward helping the students.

The school’s fourth-grade singers showed off their voices, belting out three holiday tunes, led by Lily Kutner, the school’s music teacher. Following the special concert, parents joined their kids and looked up to the window above the main entrance, counting down from 10. At the end of the countdown, the window was illuminated by the school’s giant wreath, lit up with multicolored lights.

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Karla and Carlos Vasquez were all smiles at their school’s holiday celebration. (Credit: Brendan Carpenter) Madison Grigg and Amethyst Marshall braved the cold weather to celebrate with their friends. (Credit: Brendan Carpenter) Principal Thomas Payton thanked families for coming out to continue the annual tradition. (Credit: Brendan Carpenter) Music teacher Lily Kutner led the fourth-grade singers. (Credit: Brendan Carpenter) For the first time, the Riverhead Fire Department helped light up a Christmas tree for the school. (Credit: Brendan Carpenter) PTO members Cleydi Amaya, Melissa Mapes, Lindsay Raynor and Karma Marshall helped put together the festive event. (Credit: Brendan Carpenter

Mr. Payton said the wreath was originally donated by a former student’s parent. They asked if they could hang it up, and it turned into a beloved holiday tradition.

This year’s celebration featured for the first time the help of Riverhead Fire Department, which is located directly across the street. Students, parents and administrators were happy with the surprise addition, taking pictures in front of the tree.

Families also took photos next to a blow-up Frosty the Snowman.

After the festivities were over, everyone lined up for hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies from the PTO, warming up holiday-style on a chilly winter night.

“We have the wreath that will be lit through the holiday season. Now, a tree, for the first time, is going to be lit through the holiday season,” said Mr. Payton. “I think that this signifies the holiday season for our students.”

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How Dr. Stanley Katz transformed cardiac care on the North Fork

Brendan Carpenter — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In the early days of Peconic Bay Medical Center’s cardiac catheterization lab, Dr. Stanley Katz would sit overnight with patients he’d just treated, to make sure they were comfortable, to answer their questions and to be their advocate.

Andrew Mitchell, PBMC’s former chairman and CEO, still vividly remembers those nights.

“There are many patients today who’ve gone through heart attacks and been brought to the hospital,” Mr. Mitchell said. “They’re alive today because of what Stanley did.”

Early years and the path to medicine

Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, medicine wasn’t something Dr. Katz ever imagined for himself. He recently celebrated his 79th birthday, but still recalls wanting to be what many boys dreamed of: a professional soccer player.

“Medicine was the last thing on my mind, because I would get queasy in biology class and passed out at my cousin’s bris,” the silver-haired surgeon recalled in a sit-down with the Riverhead News-Review. “But then I desperately wanted to get out of South Africa. It was, at the time, Apartheid era.”

Dr. Katz uses his platform to not only save lives, but also teach the doctors of the future, too. (Credit: Courtesy Peconic Bay Medical Center)

Many of his friends were taking the medicine route for the same reason — a path out of the country. One was already in a program, and when Dr. Katz tagged along to observe a lab, he surprised himself. He didn’t pass out. That realization nudged him toward medicine.

After graduating from the University of Cape Town and interning in Israel, Dr. Katz came to the United States at 26. He spent his 20s and 30s training at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. He then directed the cath lab at what’s now NYU Langone Hospital in Mineola for nine years before being recruited in 1991 to North Shore University Hospital as chief of cardiology — a position he held for 26 years.

When Dr. Katz started at North Shore in 1991, the hospital was performing 100 stent procedures a year. A decade later, that number had grown to 3,000.

A pilot’s mindset

Outside the operating room, Dr. Katz has another passion: flying. For years, he has piloted a multicolored, four-seat Cirrus out of Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach, a hobby he picked up in his 50s.

He sees a familiar rhythm between the cockpit and the cath lab.

“When I’m doing a procedure, I’m looking at the monitor, but I’m also looking at the EKG and the blood pressure, and I’m listening to the patient’s respiration,” he said. “It’s the same with aviation. You have to be multitasking and monitoring many different parameters all at the same time. There’s a certain risk-taking with flying and the same with interventional cardiology.”

For him, it’s not the thrill but the problem-solving discipline that connects the two.

Coming to the North Fork

In 2016, on the verge of turning 70, Dr. Katz was told the hospital where he worked wanted to move toward younger leadership. Around the same time, PBMC was in talks to join the Northwell system. He knew Mr. Mitchell, who hoped the merger would bring the hospital its first cardiac catheterization lab.

The two spoke, and Dr. Katz expressed interest in coming out himself to help make that a reality. They had dinner, discussed the opportunity and Dr. Katz was hired that year.

“I think what he really set out to do, and what he accomplished, is … establish a standard of care that the people on the East End of Long Island deserved,” said Mr. Mitchell, who retired as CEO in 2022 and has since helped raise millions of dollars for the hospital.

The cath lab first opened in an interim operating room on the second floor in 2017, before plans began taking shape for the permanent home of the program: the Kanas Regional Heart Center.

Mr. Mitchell still recalls watching Dr. Katz sit overnight with patients, just as he had done decades earlier — a hallmark of his approach.

“One of the things that I believe really makes a difference in the care of the patient is if they have some kind of medical advocate, because they don’t know enough to ask the right questions,” Dr. Katz said. “So when I take care of a patient, I act as their advocate. I spend time going over everything with them so that I earn their trust.”

Building programs and raising standards

Once the program got going, it grew quickly and gained credibility. In 2023, PBMC’s cath lab was ranked as one of the top 100 labs in the country — out of more than 1,700 nationwide.

Since Dr. Katz came aboard, the hospital has also built a credible electrophysiology program — putting in pacemakers and defibrillators — and expanded its interventional cardiology capabilities. PBMC became a level three trauma center in 2017, and its next goal is becoming thrombectomy-capable for strokes.

Looking ahead, Dr. Katz would like to see PBMC become a tertiary hospital, where heart surgeons can perform open-heart procedures. That would eliminate the need to transfer patients west of the medical center.

Mentorship and legacy

PBMC president Amy Loeb, who succeeded Mr. Mitchell, credits much of the hospital’s cardiac program growth to Dr. Katz’s influence. She said he commands deep respect, and that it’s clear from speaking with him how patient-centered he is. She describes him as an extraordinary individual.

Alongside his clinical work, Dr. Katz has made it a priority to mentor the young doctors who work beside him.

“One of Dr. Katz’s famous sayings that I love is, ‘Just say yes,'” Ms. Loeb said. “What he has taught those coming behind him is to have that mentality that you must figure out how to find a ‘yes’ for patients. He’s probably trained more interventional cardiologists on this island than anyone else. His fingerprints are literally all over this island and country.”

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Community Calendar of Events: Dec. 4, 2025

Riverhead News-Review — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:59:00 +0000

All ages

Sunday, Dec. 7, 4 p.m.: Tea time in honor of Frances H. Mims with the Rev. Natalie Wimberly, at Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church, 614 Third St., Greenport. Tickets: $10, adults; $5, children.

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 7-8:30 p.m.: Pet loss support and memorial group, held at The Giving Room, 56215 Route 25, Southold. Free. Limited space. Registration required: fostersandferals@gmail.com.

Fundraisers

Saturday, Dec. 6, 5:30 p.m.: Ten-Squared Art Show and Sale in honor of Amy Worth, at CAST, 53930 Main Road, Southold. Preview: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Reception, refreshments: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Numbers given at the door starting at 5:30 p.m. First come, first served. All works $100; a quarter to the artist and the rest to CAST. Information: castnorthfork.org.

Holiday

Friday, Dec. 5, 4 p.m.: Tree Lighting at Orient Beach State Park, 40000 Main Road. Santa lights tree with Orient Fire Department at 5 p.m. Hot chocolate, snacks, Christmas carols. Bring canned goods and winter coats for those in need. Information: 631-323-2440.

Friday-Saturday, Dec. 5-6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Christmas Fair and Bake Sale, North Shore United Methodist Church, 260 Route 25A, Wading River. Unique items, all lovingly handcrafted, sewn, knitted, crocheted, etc. Gifts, decorations, ornaments, large variety of homemade treats! Information: 631-929-6075.

Fridays-Sundays, Dec. 5-28, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: Gingerbread University at Hallockville Museum Farm’s Naugles Barn, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead. Blank canvas cookies to decorate however you choose. 75-minute decorating session. Fun for the whole family. Pricing packages, registration: hallockville.org.

Saturday, Dec. 6, 3:30 p.m.: Christmas Tree Lighting on the Cutchogue Village Green. Presented by Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council. Victorian-Dickens theme: carolers, treats, tours and a visit from Santa. Mattituck High School select chorus performs. Information: cutchoguenewsuffolkhistory.org.

Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: ‘Old Tyme Christmas Fair’ at Mattituck Presbyterian Church, 12605 Main Road. Cookies, baked goods, homemade gifts, wooden items, a visit from Santa and more! Café lunch available. All proceeds support church mission work. Information: mattpres.com.

Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: ‘Wooden Wonderland’ Holiday Artisanal Craft Fair, Suffolk County Historical Society Museum, 300 West Main St., Riverhead. Historic galleries come to life with holiday arts and crafts. Live woodworking demonstrations, raffles, more. Vendors offer locally made, hand-crafted gifts.

Saturday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m.: Tree Lighting and Remembrance at North Fork Animal Hospital, 58605 Route 25, Southold. A brief blessing, readings and the lighting of the Pet Memorial Tree. Bring a photo of a pet you wish to honor. Photos displayed through Jan. 6. All are welcome. Information: fostersandferals@gmail.com.

Saturday, Dec. 6, 3-8 p.m.: 2025 Holiday Extravaganza, Town Parking Lot, 4 West Second St., Riverhead. Goat on a Boat Puppet Theater and kids’ craft at 3 p.m., bonfire all night, hot chocolate, Merry Market, Parade of Lights, tree lighting. Rain date: Dec. 7. Information: riverheadchamber.com.

Saturday, Dec. 6, 5-8 p.m.: Santa’s Bazaar Nite hosted by Mattituck Chamber of Commerce on Love Lane. Visit from Santa via fire truck at 5 p.m. Southold Mother’s Club’s “Polar Express” train to Greenport and back. Pictures with Santa. Music, carolers, food, beverages and fun. Restaurants and shops will be open for more shopping. Information: mattituckchamber.org.

Fridays-Sundays, through Dec. 7: ‘Pop-Up’ Christmas Shop in the Carriage House at Cutchogue Village Green, 27320 Main Road. Unique decorating items and gifts for the holiday season. Proceeds benefit Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council & Museums. Fridays: 11 a.m.-6; Saturdays, Sundays: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 8, 4-6 p.m.: After school snacks, crafts and story time with Santa and Mrs. Claus hosted by Southold American Legion Post 803 Auxiliary, 51655 Main Road, Southold. Free, open to the public. Suitable for kids 8 and under. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Saturday, Dec. 13, 3-5 p..m: Oysterponds Historical Society Holiday Social, at the Village House, 1555 Village Lane, Orient, Food, drink, caroling, crafting and shopping at the Beach Plum Shop.

Lecture

Saturday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m.: ‘Run Up to the Revolution,’ presented by Southold historian Amy Folk, Floyd Memorial Library, 539 First St., Greenport. What was happening on the East End before the American Revolution. Light refreshments. Free. Information: floydmemoriallibrary.org.

Meetings

Sunday, Dec. 7, 4-6 p.m.: North Fork Audubon Society’s Volunteer and Partner Appreciation Reception, Roy Latham Nature Center at Inlet Pond County Park, 65275 Route 48, Greenport. An evening of gratitude, celebration and reflection. Registration required: northforkaudubon.org.

Music

Saturday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.: ‘Holiday Songs Around the World: A Global Music Celebration,’ performed by East End Jazz at Jamesport Meeting House. Features international holiday and winter musical traditions. Tickets $20: jamesportmeetinghouse.org.

Sunday, Dec. 7, 4 p.m.: Long Island Baroque Ensemble performs early Christmas music with ALBA Consort in ‘Welcome Yule!’ at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 768 Main St. Greenport. Reception to follow. Donations at libaroque.org and at the door.

Sunday, Dec. 14, 4 p.m.: ‘Help is on the Way,’ a tribute to cabaret singer Nancy LaMott performed by Rusty Kranskywith Jeff Wentz on piano, Jamesport Meeting House. Tickets $20, at the door.

The natural world

Friday, Dec. 5, 8-9:30 a.m.: Friday Morning Birders with NFAS president Peggy Lauber at Cedar Beach, 3690 Cedar Beach Road‌, Southold. Explore shoreline and nearby habitats in search of wintering waterfowl, gulls and other coastal species. Free. Registration required: northforkaudubon.org.

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 7-8:30 p.m.: A to Z of Gardening with Native Plants with Derek Gerson at UU Meeting House, 51900 Main Road, Southold. Join ReWild and SPCA to discuss plant choices, design ideas, how to support local butterflies and birds in the garden. Free. Light refreshments. Free seeds. RSVP requested: NancyDR@ReWildLongIsland.org.

Theater

Friday-Sunday, Dec. 5-7, 12-14: Northeast Stage presents “Lessons from Hollywood,” a new play by James A. Pritchard, Holy Trinity Church Hall, 768 Main St., Greenport. The holidays go south in every way. Adult content for mature audiences. Fridays, Saturdays: 7 p.m.; Sundays: 2 p.m. Tickets $25: northeaststage.org.

Ongoing events

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: North Shore United Methodist Thrift Store, 260 Route 25A, Wading River. Bargains galore. Information: 631-929-6075.

Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Orient Congregational Church Thrift Shop, 23045 Main Road, Orient. Clothes, jewelry, furnishings and more. Donations accepted. Information: 631-323-2665.

Saturdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Docent-led tours at Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead. Tickets: $15, adults; $10, seniors and children. 631-298-5292, hallockville.org.

Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Blacksmithing demonstrations with Tom Barry at Village Blacksmith Shop, 101 Front St., Greenport. 631-477-2100, eastendseaport.org.

Last Monday of every month, 7 p.m.: USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 18-08 meeting, Southold Town recreation center, 970 Peconic Lane, Peconic. Information and registration: uscga1808@gmail.com.

Fourth Thursday of each month, 6-7 p.m.: Well Spoken Writers Club holds Open Mic for Writers at Mugs on Main, 33 Main St., Riverhead. Information: email wellspokenwriters@gmail.com.

Exhibitions

Through December: ‘Imagination,’ featuring works by Donald Garside, at the Mattituck-Laurel Library art gallery. Information: mattitucklaurellibrary.org.

At the libraries

Our local libraries host a variety of events for all ages. For calendars and more information:

Riverhead Free Library, 631-727-3228, riverheadlibrary.org.
Mattituck-Laurel Library, 631-298-4134, mattitucklaurellibrary.org.
Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library, 631-734-6360, cutchoguelibrary.org.
Southold Free Library, 631-765-2077, southoldlibrary.org.
Floyd Memorial Library, Greenport, 631-477-0660, floydmemoriallibrary.org.

The post Community Calendar of Events: Dec. 4, 2025 appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

What to expect at Riverhead’s 2025 Holiday Extravaganza

Riverhead News-Review — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Winter is slowly but surely creeping over Long Island, and with it, the warmth of the season’s festive times follows. This year, multiple town organizations have pooled together their resources to create fun for the whole family in the 2025 Riverhead Holiday Extravaganza. The event will be held at Riverhead Town Hall at 4 W. Second St. on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 3 to 8 p.m. Rain date is Dec. 7.

The festive evening kicks off at 3 p.m. with the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce’s “Goat on a Boat Puppet Theater” — followed by a craft for kids afterwards.

(Credit: Bill Landon file photo)

A bonfire fueled by Carrick Tree Services’ donated firewood will roar the entire evening. And, throughout the night, the Peconic Bay Power Squadron and their volunteers will serve up free hot chocolate donated by the Riverhead Moose Lodge.

With cocoa in hand, enjoy by the fireside the Riverhead BIDMA’s running of East End Merry Market, complete with holiday food, drink and artisan vendors for those looking to shop local for distinctive gifts.

From the Downtown Riverhead BID latest newsletter, so far the list of vendors is extensive: A Book Place • Agnes’s Pierogis Heavenly Taste • AT&T • Bad Smoothies • Barbara’s Sweet Treats • Bella’s Empanadas • Brix Cannoli • Cigar Nowhere • East End Arts Council • El Amor del Caribe • Light Up Inc • Loide Candle Co. • Mugs on Main • North Fork Brewing Company • Nutrabolt • NY Marine Rescue Center • Petals & Pearls Handmade • Rowan Craft Boutique • Sassy Sips Mobile Bar • Serene Studio By Kayleigh • Soronko Kitchen and Bakery • Soul Creations Apothecary and Herb Farm • Speech Therapy For All • Stay Salted • Surfrider Foundation • Taking It Back Food Services • Teaga Photo/David Arteaga • The Mack’s Crafts / Jeanette Alexandra • The Perfect Pickle • The Suffolk • Top Gun Cigars & Lounge • Ubergeek Brewing • And More!

All the while, the Riverhead Free Library Mobile SLED Library offers another fun and interactive experience for the kiddos. From the annex building next to the town hall, East End Arts will have more yet more crafts and live music.

A crowd favorite — the Parade of Lights headed by the Riverhead Lions Club — is expected to take place a bit later than years past, this time at 4:30 p.m. The parade will begin on Ostrander Avenue, head west on Main Street, North of Griffing Avenue, before finishing at Riverhead Town Hall. Then, the town’s tree will be lit at 5:30 p.m.

(Credit: Bill Landon file photo)

Santa Claus will take time from his busy schedule to feature in the parade and then sit for a meet and greet photo op at the Santa House on site.

The evening is sure to be a jolly good time for all who come on down.

For more information, visit the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce site at riverheadchamber.com.

The post What to expect at Riverhead’s 2025 Holiday Extravaganza appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

December blood drives in the Town of Riverhead

Riverhead News-Review — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0000

A total of five blood drives will be held throughout Riverhead during the month of December. They are as follows:

On Monday, Dec. 1, from noon to 6 p.m., community members can start the month of giving by participating in Riverhead Free Library’s blood drive, held in its Grand Room and Lobby, located at 330 Court St. in Riverhead.