🌱 Riverhead Daily: Kids' Kindness Project + Missing Girl Found

Hello, people of Riverhead! It's me, Diane Witek, your host of the Riverhead Daily.

First, today's weather:

A couple of morning showers. High: 41, low: 35.

Here are the top stories in Riverhead today:

1. Riverhead elementary school students took part in the weeklong Great Kindness Challenge recently. According to the Riverhead Central School District, students at Calverton's Riley Avenue Elementary school participated in special themed days, quotes of the day, and activities of the day — all focused on spreading kindness throughout the school community. (Riverhead Patch)
2. Wading River Fire Department made history this year with the installation of a woman as its chief of department. Denise Gluck is one of only a handful of women to ever serve as chief of one of Suffolk County’s 106 all-volunteer fire departments. Gluck is also the first female fire chief of any of the fire departments serving the Town of Riverhead. (RiverheadLOCAL)
3. Marc Dern, 35, an Amagansett man died following an altercation between him and Kevin Somers at an East Hampton home Saturday night, police said. According to Suffolk County Police homicide squad detectives and East Hampton Town Police, the incident took place at 10:40 p.m. on Lincoln Avenue; a 911 call came in regarding an altercation between two men. Somers, 45, of Amagansett, was transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital where he was pronounced dead; Dern, 35, who lives at the home, was not injured, police said. (Patch)
4. Maria Mete, a 13-year-old who was reported missing from the Little Flower Children's Services facility for almost a week, was located unharmed, police said. She has run away in the past and no foul play was suspected, police said. (Riverhead Patch)
5. A proposed site plan for an expanded tasting room and other improvements at Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard wasn't approved at a recent Riverhead Planning Board meeting. Resident near the Sound Avenue vineyard were opposed to outdoor live music and other proposals. (RiverheadLOCAL)
6. Emmanuel Rivera, a 40-year-old Bellport man, was driving a 2001 Toyota Camry westbound on Montauk Highway, near Old South Country Road, when the car left the road and struck a tree at about 2 a.m., killing his girlfriend in Brookhaven early Saturday, Suffolk police said. Major Case Unit detectives charged Rivera with driving while intoxicated, his vehicle was impounded for a safety check, according to police. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to contact the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6553. (Patch)

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From my notebook:

• Riverhead Books: "Treating ourselves to some pleasure reading 📚🥰 What are you reading this weekend? #bookrecommendations #reading #tbr" (Instagram)
• NY Marine Rescue Center: "Today is the last full day to order apparel supporting our FLOAT - For Love Of All Things campaign. We are so grateful to all that have supported the NYMRC and our partnership with FLOAT. We will receive be receiving an $8 donation for e..." (Facebook)

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• FREE WEBINAR | “Siena and the Palio.” (Feb. 8)
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• Valentine's Day Dinner at Union Sushi & Steak. Union Sushi & Steak, 40 Bowden Square, Southampton. (Feb. 12)
• The Laramie Project. The North Fork Community Theatre, 12700 Sound Ave, Mattituck. (Feb. 25)
• Online - NCNW LONG ISLAND CROSS COUNTY SECTION Meeting. (Feb. 26)
• Audition Notice. The North Fork Community Theatre, 12700 Sound Ave, Mattituck. (Feb. 28)
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— Diane Witek

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