🌱 Riverhead Daily: Riverhead Town Square + Kmart To Social Svcs

Happy Saturday, neighbors! It's me, Diane Witek, your host of the Riverhead Daily. Here are the top 3 stories in Riverhead today.

First, today's weather:

Periods of rain. High: 48, low: 38.

Here are the top stories in Riverhead 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's Office: "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." (Facebook)
• Riverhead News Review: "A festive scene in Jamesport. #jamesport." (Instagram)
• Suffolk County Sheriff's Office: "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!" (Facebook)
• Spirit's Promise Equine Rescue Program: "The Christmas Spirit is in full swing at Spirit's Promise! We hope you've enjoyed the holiday season with us and are gathering by the fireplace at home!" (Facebook)
• The Suffolk Theater: "You got anything going on in January? Because we sure do! Check out what's coming up next and start the new year off right. 🙌 #countrymusic." (Instagram)
• 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)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday! See you all tomorrow for your next update.

— Diane Witek

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