🌱 Center Moriches-Eastport Daily: Riverhead Town Square + DSS

Happy Saturday, Center Moriches-Eastport! It's me, Diane Witek, your host of the Center Moriches - East Port Daily. Here are the top 3 stories in Center Moriches - East Port today.

First, today's weather:

Periods of rain. High: 49, low: 40.

Here are the top stories in Center Moriches-Eastport today:

1. Officials in Riverhead have been focused on the development of downtown Main Street for the past few years, until last year when they decided to demolish and build “town square.” The buildings designated for demolition are the former Swezey’s Home Furnishings store and a building that housed Twin Fork Bicycles. The non-profit Long Island Science Center acquired the former Swezey’s main building with the goal of expanding the Science Center and even building a planetarium as part of the museum. The LISC received a $1.12 million state grant for the project earlier this month. (Riverhead News Review)
2. The former Kmart building will become the new home for the Suffolk County Department of Social Services. The Suffolk County Legislature approved the leasing of the former Kmart site located at 893 E. Main St. The former Kmart site’s landlord — the Feil Organization — is converting the building from retail to office space for the county. (Riverhead News Review)
3. Peconic Bay Winery, was closed for eight years. The vines were tended by other wineries when the tasting room closed to the public in 2013. In May, that changed. Under new ownership, the winery, now called Peconic Bay Vineyards, recently opened up its tasting room to the public. “There were a lot of wide eyes walking in here and just seeing the space again,” said tasting room manager Evan Ducz.“People were really happy to see it open and I mean, it looks beautiful.” (Northforker)

From my notebook:

• Suffolk County Sheriff: "At a recent Sheriff’s Office Explorer meeting, Explorers participated in a Christmas challenge. Explorers had four police related scenarios they had to compete in, in order to win prizes." (Instagram)
• Suffolk County Sheriff: "Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. and the members of the Sheriff's Office would like to wish the residents that we serve a Merry Christmas!" (Instagram)
• Suffolk County Parks: "From our pine barrens to our beaches we hope that you were able to get out and enjoy the many beautiful parks here in Suffolk County this year! As the year comes to a close, we want to wish you a happy Holiday Season and a joyous New Year." (Instagram)
• Center Moriches Free Public Library: "Celebrate the season with holiday reads on libby! Download the app today! #cmorlibrary, #libby." (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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• Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services. (Visit website)
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Events:

• Save 15 Percent On FTD’s Christmas Collection. FTD Flowers. (Dec. 25)
• New Year’s Eve Gala in the Grand Ballroom. Located at East Wind Long Island, 5720 NY-25A, Wading River. (Dec. 31)
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Announcements:

• Behind The Scoreboard – Horses Can Guide The Blind. (Details)
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• Dental Receptionist. (Details)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Diane Witek

About me: Impassioned Writer, Website Designer, Social Media Marketer and newly proclaimed Baker. Lover of nature and animals of all kinds.