Merry Christmas and a safe, happy New Year to all, give thanks for all you have, and can do for your family and friends.

The Riverhead Fire  Department Auxiliary Ladies enjoyed Christmas luncheon December 2, Saturday at Jerry and the Mermaids Restaurant on Main St., Riverhead, 11 ladies and honoraries enjoyed camaraderie and delicious lunch and dessert including celebrating Kathy Schaeffer and Marie Madigan's birthday this month.  We received a pretty ornament from Becky and a beautiful scarf from the auxiliary Christmas committee.

Note: Great gift idea, is a new smoke alarm for the holiday.

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy, healthy, safe 2024 New Year. May it be more peaceful and full of joy.

2023 Riverhead High  School Auxiliary scholarship winners

Haleigh Miller, Jeremy Carey, Caitlin Brennan

Congratulations and best wishes in your academic goals. 

Winner of our Scholarship Raffle

Kenny Sawler, congratulations and thank you to everyone that supported us in our fundraiser.

Have a safe and happy, healthy holiday. Take care to share peace and goodwill with friends,  family and neighbors. It's a season to reflect on all the good things that we are so thankful for.

We had a December meeting with holiday refreshments after of hot cocoa and Christmas desserts everyone brought to share.  It was nice to get together and do a little socializing before the holidays and enjoy the camaraderie and good wishes. We even played a game of left,  right, center that Marie Madigan won a prize for thanks to Kathy Berezny and Peggy Sparrow for organizing and decorating.  

Our Christmas luncheon was a big success with 16 attending, members and honorary members enjoying lunch at Pulaski Street Grill, the members received a refrigerator magnet and bookmark commemorating our 90 years as an auxiliary crafted by Barbara Wooten and each received a favor of candy cane, candy kisses, and a story of the candy cane made by Chaplain Kathy Berezny  

Christmas luncheon December 10, at Pulaski Street Grill in Polish town at 12:30, make sure you RSVP with Kathy Berezny or Peggy Sparrow, if you wish to participate in a grab bag gift worth $10 optional.

December 14, 7:30 meeting at the firehouse will be short with cocoa and desserts afterwards, Let Kathy Berezny or Peggy Sparrow know if you are bringing a dessert.

Our Honorary member Karen Fleischman has passed away Friday, August 12, 2022

Viewing at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home Sunday 8/14/2022 3:00-7:00  Auxiliary Service by our Chaplain Kathy Berezny Sunday at 3:30, members asked to wear white or Auxiliary shirt and dark pants  

Funeral Mass at St. Isidore Church  Monday 10:00 and burial at St. Isidore's Cemetery  

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. 

February 2022 meeting this year started off with Kelli Naugles draping the charter for Louise Leja, our departed Honary member. Kathy Berezny our chaplain led with a prayer and we all said the "Our Father", may she Rest In Peace.  We all have fond memories of Louise.  
 

Our beloved member Louise Leja has passed away December 24, 2021. 

The  Ladies Auxiliary mourns the passing of honorary member Mary Punda on 10/26/2021.  Our Charter was draped by acting President Kelli in her memory at our November meeting and will remain for 30 days.  Chaplain Kathy recited a prayer and we all said the Our Father for her.

The Auxiliary will do a service at Mcglouglin's Funeral Home on November 18 at 6:30  all members are requested to come.

Stay safe and well, wash your hands often, wear a mask, socially distance for safety.

Contact Chaplain Kathy Berezny if you know of members and family that need cards or calls.

Joyce Montag was recently recognized with a proclamation from the Town of Riverhead for 70 years as a member of the Riverhead Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, which she joined on June 13, 1951. Joyce was presented with a proclamation at the Sept. 21 town board meeting, where the board thanked Joyce for her service in the auxiliary, an organization that aids firefighters with fundraisers and moral support. Her husband Marty Montag, Ladies Auxiliary President Kelli Naugles, Treasurer Barbara Swislosky, Chaplain Kathy Berezny and members Barbara Wooten, Connie Kenter, Peggy Sparrow all attended the ceremony, along with auxiliary honorary member Patricia Gadzinski and her husband Joe. Kelli Naugles presented Joyce with a beautiful bouquet of flowers as a token of appreciation for her years of service.

***Congratulations Joyce***

Mary Dabrowski celebrates 50 years of being in the Ladies Auxiliary, she received Proclamation from the Town of Riverhead Supervisor Yvette Aguair for her years of service on 4/20/2021 at Riverhead Town Hall.   She got 50 year Proclamation from Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio to recognize her milestone in the Auxiliary.  She also received her 50 year pin, a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and gift card from the Auxiliary.  

Thanks to Kathy Berezny for arranging the recognition from the town. 

 *** Congratulations Mary  ***

2021 Caroline Bugdin received Proclamation from the Town of Riverhead Supervisor Yvette Aguair and 

Councilman Ken Rothwell for 60 years of service on 1/19/2021.  Her first meeting was April 13, 1960. 

She also received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the Auxiliary. 

Thanks to Kathy Berezny and Peggy Sparrow for arranging the recognition from the town.

*** Congratulations Caroline***

Call an officer regarding any questions 

Scholarship application--pick up copies in break room at firehouse, or contact Connie Kenter

Riverhead Ladies Auxiliary History 2017 - 2018, A little of what we have done over the year.

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Riverhead Fire Department celebrates their 86^th year of existence in 2018 and the auxiliary’s goal is to aid and assist the fire department when called upon. Our June 2017 Scholarship winners were Janelle Carey (granddaughter of Carol Carey) and David White a son of a Fire Police Patrol Member.

The Ladies Auxiliary stepped out to the First Congregational Church and did a memorial service for our member Joan Fleischman’s son Russell, Jr. in March 2017 and again on the passing of Marie Madigan’s husband Bob in June 2017 at the McLaughlin-Heppner’s Funeral home. It was also a sad time for the passing of our honorary member Nina Campbell who had been a member since 1986 in March 2018 at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home and again in April 2018 on the passing of Billee Friszolowski who had been a member since 1947. We draped our charter at the April monthly meeting of the auxiliary for Nina and again for Billee. At our April meeting we had a cake made by Past President Pat Gadzinski to celebrate the life of Billee as she had a private service and the ladies wanted to take time to reminisce the life of Billee with old newspaper articles and a picture of her at one of our Xmas Parties. A few auxiliary members helped Richie Campbell at the firehouse after the funeral service for his wife Nina setting up, serving and cleaning up helping the Patrol Company members who were in charge of the reception afterwards. Peggy Sparrow took the lead along with Fran Friszolowski, Joanne Krajewski, Connie Kenter, Kathy Schaefer, Marlene Iberger and Kathy Berezny and made it very special serving the members, Richie’s family and friends.  These were two wonderful members who served on fundraisers and so supportive of the auxiliary all the years they were a part of this organization. They will both be sorely missed.

At our June meeting 2017 we handed out our Calendar Raffles for all the members to sell chances by October 31.  Chairs Peggy Sparrow and Kathy Berezny took the helm on this fundraiser and did quite well  selling 450 raffles We also decided to include the honorary members and asked them to sell chances, the fire companies we asked to sell chances, as well as the, Exempts and the Ironmen. Barbara Swislosky sold a lot of tickets on a bus trip that summer when two fire companies took a boat trip to toast the five bridges. A special note that Splish Splash, thanks to our member, Fran Friszolowski was able to get the tickets made up for free a very nice donation to our raffle . That was a great help in holding down expenses.  A group of ladies helped with the Antique Apparatus Dinner chaired by Butch Densieski in September to help serve and clean up that evening and Butch encouraged us to bring raffle tickets to sell which was a nice added touch for the auxiliary to be able to sell more raffles.

The fire department held their annual bowling get together at Wildwood Lanes in November and the auxiliary sponsored a team consisting of President Barbara Wooten, Secretary Becky Collins, Barbara Swislosky and past member and President Cheryl Luparella who filled in the very last minute. They truly had a great time and did quite well bowling too!

December was a pretty busy month as some of the auxiliary members helped with the Children’s Party on Dec. 16 serving food and assisting with the affair. Barbara Wooten donated a “hanger snowflake” to their decorations. Several members including Louise Leja and Barbara Wooten were instrumental and they even helped out the Association double feed when the Patrol Company had their dinner at the Dec 12 meeting. They were also asked to assist at the Chiefs dinner where they served and helped the committee. As you can see the members are busy, busy.

Our annual Christmas Party was held on the second Wednesday of the month and we went to the old Doc’s Tavern now called Pulaski Grille. It was a nice group of members plus some honorary members Joanne Krajewski, Caroline Bugdin and Joan Fleischman enjoying some Christmas spirit. Our President Barbara Wooten so talented and creative decorated handmade ornaments (Xmas Balls) for all the members commemorating our 85^th year. Naturally, all of our honorary members received one via mail. We sent cards to the Firemen’s Home on the Hudson for the residents (100 of them made by Cheryl Luparella who graciously donated them and sent out by Connie Kenter), we made a donation to “Operation Small Change” that allows those residents to have a few dollars for personal items, our usual donation every year and we delivered gifts via Connie Kenter and Kelli Naugles to the Stony Brook Burn Center.

We started a new project, putting together 12 individual fruit baskets (filled with fruit, crackers) to fire department members and auxiliary members who recently had surgery, in a nursing home or just not feeling well. We felt we should say thank you to those fire dept members who have served our community and department as dedicated volunteers and enjoy a little something at the holiday time. Needless to say, the response was positive from the recipients.   Joanne Krajewski and Fran Friszolowski helped Barbara Wooten deliver for the holiday. Naturally a personal note was attached to the baskets as our way of saving thanks for what they do. Chaplain Berezny of course wrote them making each one feel just a little extra special. Once again, the ladies’ auxiliary just before Easter decided that we put together 15 baskets for the holiday filled with candies, fruit and cookies and Barbara Wooten made a palm cross to go with each of them. Naturally a small note was attached to the individual saying thank you for your service and commitment to the Riverhead Fire Department written by Chaplain Berezny. Barbara Wooten and Kathy Berezny delivered the baskets to those and again the response was overwhelming positive that we are thinking of them. For both projects Barbara made beautiful bows and wrapped the baskets in cellophane to give that added touch. This Christmas 2018 we hope to finish up the fruit basket project with another 12 or so members to receive.

Karen Fleischman our honorary member was diagnosed with colon cancer and we sent her a card and palm cross as a reminder to her we are thinking of her. We think of all the honorary members and Chaplain Berezny sends out honorary cards mostly every month to keep in touch and let them know what the auxiliary is up too. Connection is important and each card is a personal touch individually written to each one.

Gina Hubbard graciously chaired the Chili Soup Supper on March 10 along with Becky Collins. This was a “first” for this type of fundraiser and she served 200. As an added touch she had a big Chinese Auction Gifts that were awesome and so the fundraiser was quite successful. Butch Densieski made his delicious kielbasa stew and clam chowder added to the menu.

A group of auxiliary members supported the Ironmen’s spaghetti dinner fundraiser on April 7 and again the bowling tournament for fun was going to be held on April 18 but due to low responses from the fire department it was cancelled. The auxiliary members were ready to roll and were quite disappointed. Hey, there is always next year!

The annual Memorial Service was held on Sunday, May 6 with Chaplain Berezny reading the Firemen’s Prayer and this year we had two members Nina Campbell and Billee Friszlowski who passed away. President Barbara Wooten went up with Richie Campbell and Fran Friszolowski to light the candles in their memory. Each one received a rose and a basket of flowers in fond remembrance. A feed was held after and the auxiliary was asked to help serve the firemen and guests. Barbara Wooten, Gina Hubbard, Kathy Schaefer, Marie Madigan were on hand helping.

At our May meeting the officers were installed by 2nd Asst Chief Bill Kelly, Jr. and they are: President Barbara Wooten, Vice President Gina Hubbard, Secretary Becky Collins, Treasurer Barbara Swislosky, Sgt – at – Arms Carol Carey and Chaplain Kathy Berezny.

Three scholarships for 2018 will be presented at an awards night by our President Barbara Wooten. The recipients who received are: Emma Leja (granddaughter of Louise Leja), Jared Polak (grandson of Fireman Bruce Edwards) at the Riverhead High School on May 31.  Mercy High School held their awards night on May 17 and they presented to Philip Kenter (son of Fireman Dr. Phil Kenter).

The Annual Installation and Dance of the Riverhead Fire Department was held at East Winds on May 18.

It’s a big year for the ladies’ auxiliary. Marlene Iberger turns a whopping 90 years young on June 13 and we will have a cake in her honor of being 90 at our dinner meeting at Phil’s Waterfront in Aquebogue.

Joan Fleischman is a 60-year member (1958) and will be presented with a few proclamations from our Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, Senator Ken LaValle, Town Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith and County Legislator Al Krupski.

Michele Lynch recognized for 16 years as our treasurer of the auxiliary who did an excellent job keeping the books in perfect order.

We received donations from our honorary members to keep those letters, cards a coming that reflect all our doings as an auxiliary. Even though stamps and cards are going up in price…it will not affect our honorary members in the years to come.

Ramona Moore came back after a year of absence and we continue to send cards to her, Karen Fleischman, and Kathy Berezny who had a hip replacement on Dec 15. If you know of someone who is sick please contact the Chaplain Kathy Berezny and we will be sure to send out cards. We need to care about our members in their time of comfort.  

All honoree members received their membership cards and names and address sheets after the May meeting to have in case they want to send someone a card.

Respectfully submitted:  President Barbara Wooten & Chaplain Kathy Berezny

CHARTER MEMBERS

Marion Baiser, Georgiana Benjamin, Hattie J. Bucholz, Annie Carter, Mae Carlson, Lucy Case, Emily Cheshire, Libby Corwin, Marjorie Corwin, Rose A. Gallagher, Elizabeth Gassert, Margaret Gondola, Mae M. Hajek, Vivian Hajek, F. Imogene Harris, Katherine Hubbard, Cornelia Hubbard, Matilda Hubbard, Julia Kobylenski, Louise Kozofsky, Mary Mickolajczyk, Elizabeth Panewich, M. Alice Penny, Grace M. Peterson, Mary Polinski, Stella Romanski, Blanche Rutkowski, Dorothy Smith, Edith Smith, Herminie Walters, Margaret Welch, Nellie M. Weller, Betty Werner, Josephine White, Eva M. Young, Addle Zaleski.

OBJECT

The object of the organization is to aid and assist the Riverhead Fire Department when called upon. The auxiliary has a significant function in the department.

HISTORY

At the suggestion of two firemen, Stanley Polinski and Frank ?Chukka? White it was decided the wives were to organize a Ladies Auxiliary. In 1932, the first meeting was set for January 25. Mrs. Harold Downs presided as temporary chairlady.

On that date, they nominated and voted on their first slate of officers. They were: Mrs. Harold Downs, president; Mrs. Harry Penny, vice president; Mrs. Rudolph Hajek, secretary: and Mrs. William Hubbard, treasurer. They had approximately 54 members: by 1939 they increased in number to 95 members. At the meeting, it was decided to hold meetings on the second Wednesday of the month at 8 pm. The first bylaws were adopted in February 1932.The auxiliary started out financially with the aid of the firemen. As the years went by, they earned their own money by having card parties, cake sales, rummage sales and helped the firemen at state tournaments and bazaars.

In 1933, they formed a parade team. They wore hats and capes; by 1948 they went to a suit uniform.

Besides their fundraisers, the ladies organized a coffee committee to aid men after a fire. They had an annual picnic and a Christmas party. Their biggest event was the firemen's association dinner every year during wartime; they donated cakes and their time to the U.S.O.

The auxiliary has grown and prospered over the years and with increased fundraisers they became self-sufficient.

Over the years, the Ladies Auxiliary has traditionally served our firemen whenever they could and will continue for future years.

This History penned in 1986 by then Ladies Auxiliary Secretary Cheryl Luparella