🌱 Riverhead Daily: Helping Others, Despite Setback + Elf Release

Rise and shine, Riverhead! It's me again, Diane Witek, your host of the Riverhead Daily. Here are the top 4 stories in Riverhead today.

First, today's weather:

A shower early in the morning. High: 42, low: 29.

Here are the top stories in Riverhead today:

1. A woman named Santia said after a fire broke out at CubeSmart on Dec. 15 in a unit right behind hers, she lost everything she had, including Christmas gifts for her children. After the fire, CubeSmart found Santia another unit in Riverhead. But still, she had all the items that make up a life and home — and despite the setback, she wants to continue helping others by sharing diapers and baby supplies with those in need. (Patch)
2. There is a lot going on in Riverhead from Operation Holiday to Christmas Eve dinner at Desmond's. See what's happening in the Riverhead area this weekend. (Riverhead Patch)
3. There are a number of houses available, see 4 new properties on the market in and around the Riverhead area. Happy house hunting! (Riverhead Patch)
4. Sheriff Errol Toulon stated that zero inmates in both county jails have tested positive for the coronavirus. "I have seen firsthand how quickly infectious diseases can make their way through the correctional system," he said. "Since the start of this pandemic, my goal was to implement as many protections as possible to keep our staff and inmates as safe." (Riverhead Patch)

Today's Riverhead Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Riverhead!

Today in Riverhead:

• Christmas Eve Dinner at Desmond’s. (4 p.m.)
• Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols. (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Suffolk County Sheriff's Office: "John Basile is a student at Suffolk County Community College who was the recipient of The New York State Sheriff's Institute's 2021 Criminal Justice Scholarship that was presented on Tuesday by Sheriff Toulon." (Facebook)
• Spirit's Promise Equine Rescue Program: "Santa’s making sure our Equine Reindeer are strong enough for take off on Christmas giving them lots of treats! We hope you’re enjoying the Christmas cheer!" (Facebook)
• Rotary Club of Riverhead: "Annual holiday food basket project accomplished! Riverhead Rotarians along with the RHS interact club and RHS NJROTC assembled and distributed 150 food baskets and a festive poinsettia to local families in need." (Facebook)
• Suffolk County Sheriff's Office: "ELF ON THE SHELF UPDATE Dec.23, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (Riverhead, NY) As Christmas approaches, friends and colleagues of the Elf on the Shelf rallied in front of the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead for his release." (Facebook)
• The Long Island Pine Barrens Society: "LIPBS TV HIGHLIGHT: Middle School Kids Go To College Don’t miss a recap of the Society’s Middle School Kids Go to College program. See all of the great projects that students of the Patchogue-Medford School District put together." (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Save 15 Percent On FTD’s Christmas Collection. FTD Flowers. (Dec. 25)
• Add your event.

Announcements:

• Animal Communication Sessions. Holiday Gift Certificates. (Details)
• Behind The Scoreboard – Horses Can Guide The Blind. (Details)
• Add your announcement.

Loving the Riverhead Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

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• Send me a news tip or suggestion at diane.witek@patch.com.

That's it for today! See you tomorrow morning 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.