Mr. Kenna replaces long-time president Steve Shauger, who recently stepped down after 10 years at the head of the board. 

Director of Operations for the Hyatt Place Hotel and the Preston House Hotel, both in  downtown Riverhead, Mr. Shauger is still on the board, but said he does not plan to run for president in regularly scheduled election to be held in June. 

Mr. Kenna, who owns two restaurants in downtown Riverhead — Cucina 25 and Craft’D — has been a member of the BID board for seven years. 

“I want to keep everything moving forward,” Mr. Kenna said, citing downtown beautification efforts and other BID projects.

Mr. Kenna defeated Lisa Pickersgill Wednesday night in the election to fill Mr. Shauger’s seat. Ms. Pickersgill is the daughter of the late Ray Pickersgill, who died in 2020 and was instrumental in building up the Riverhead BID. She owns the Robert James Salon on Main Street. 

There were only seven votes cast Wednesday, according to Mr. Shaugher. The group will hold its annual meeting in June, where any qualified candidate in the BID district can run for president.

The BID consists of two classes of voters. Class 1 is owners of commercial property within the BID and Class 2 is commercial tenants renting property within the district. The 13 members of the BID’s Management Association, referred to as directors, are appointed by the Riverhead Town Board. 

Mr. Shauger said that he is stepping down early in order to dedicate more time to training Mr. Kenna.

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The BIDMA will continue to hold its popular “Alive on 25” events on Fridays — a change from Thursdays — that was first made last year. 

Alive on 25 shuts down Main Street for a street fair with live music on several stages, food, games, vendors and other pop-ups including classic car shows.

“People are happy with the switch to Fridays,” Councilman Tim Hubbard said, noting that the Friday event is popular because many people are off on Saturday.

The first of four planned Alive on 25 events will also feature fireworks to celebrate the Fourth of July. 

That event is usually extremely popular, according to Kristy Verity, the executive director of the BIDMA, who said subsequent Alive on Five events toward the end of summer draw smaller turnouts. 

The scheduled dates for Alive on 25 are June 30, July 14, July 28, and Aug. 11. A rain date is also planned for Aug. 18.

Several other events are planned for the downtown area this year.

• The BID lineup calls for Reflexions: Art in the Park, cohosted with the East End Tourism Alliance, to take place at Grangebel Park on Saturday, June 17; Friday, July 21; Saturday, Aug. 19; and Saturday, Sept. 30 in conjunction with an Oktoberfest celebration.  

• The Cardboard Boat Race, co-hosted with the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 5.

• The popular Halloween Fest is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21, with a rain date of Oct. 28. Mr. Hubbard said he was “shocked” at how many people attended the Halloween Fest, which kicks off with Coffin Races on Griffing Ave. and also features trick-or-treating and a costume parade down Main Street.

• The final event is the annual Holiday Parade and Bonfire co-hosted with the Riverhead Lion’s Club on the riverfront on Saturday, Dec. 9.

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Mr. Shauger, general manager of the Hyatt Place East End, is president of the BIDMA, a position he’s held since July 2016, after serving on the board since 2013. 

Ms. Verity is BIDMA’s executive director, a position she’s held since July 2019. Her background is in marketing, public relations and event planning. 

“Excellent choices,” said Councilman Tim Hubbard, who is the Town Board liaison to the BIDMA. “Those two single handedly put together the Alive on 25 concerts,” adding “It’s a massive undertaking every year and they are always hands on with everything they do.”

Mr. Hubbard said the events bring visitors to downtown Riverhead who might then come back to explore the town further.

“The businesses all feel that anything that can generate people in the downtown area is a great thing,” said Connie Lassandro, president of the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce. “All the events they’ve had bring a lot of camaraderie and community spirit to the area. It’s something that’s welcomed by the businesses and by the community at large.”

The chamber has actually taken over running the Cardboard Boat Race, although Mr. Shauger and Ms. Verity still help out, Ms. Lassandro said. 

“They are very compassionate about the town,” she added.

The Business Improvement District is a taxing entity that represents businesses in downtown Riverhead, and consists essentially the Riverhead Town Board members. The district’s management association — BIDMA— is appointed by the Town Board to run the day-to-day activities of the BID. 

Events produced by the BIDMA include Alive on 25, which is easily its most popular and takes place four times each summer, including a fireworks show in July.

More recently added events include an “Oktoberfest” that features beer, food and live music and the Halloween Fest, which begins with coffin races in the afternoon, and concludes with a Halloween Parade at night.

Previous Winners

2021: Dawn Thomas
2019: Allen Smith
2018: Dashan Briggs
2017: Richard Ligon
2016: Tom Lateulere
2015: Susan Wilk
2014: Carl James
2013: Dennis Cavanagh
2012: Ed Romaine
2011: George Woodson
2010: Robert Brown
2009: Barbara Grattan
2008: Liz Stokes
2007: Michael Reichel
2006: Gary Pendzick
2005: The Riverhead Ambulance Corps
2004: Richard Wines
2003: Ken Testa
2002: “KeySpan Coalition”
2001: Ed Densieski
2000: Judge Richard Ehlers
1999: Barbara Blass
1998: Vicki Staciwo
1997: Lenard Makowski
1996: Buildings & Grounds
1995: Jack Hansen
1994: Jim Stark
1993: Rick Hanley
1992: Lawyer Jackson
1991: Andrea Lohneiss
1990: Monique Gablenz
1989: George Bartunek
1988: Patricia Tormey

Editor’s Note: There was no Public Servant of the year named in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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