North Fork News

Tech. Sgt. Briggs Honored

The Riverhead Town Board has renamed Lewis Street to Dashan J. Briggs Way. The name change was officially announced at a dedication ceremony at Millbrook Gables Park on Saturday, July 13.

The tribute comes a year after Tech. Sgt. Briggs and six other members of the 106th Rescue Wing were lost during their mission in Al-Qa’im, Iraq.

“By making this street renaming official, we are saying to the Briggs family that Dashan will not be forgotten, that Riverhead will always remember his sacrifice on behalf of our country,” said Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith.

Briggs had been awarded, along with 12 local Air National Guard members, with the NYS Humane Service Medal in 2011 for his services during Hurricane Irene.

A 2007 graduate of Riverhead High School, Briggs grew up on Lewis Street with his grandparents. In 2010, he joined the Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing and was deployed to Afghanistan as a munitions system specialist.

Tech. Sgt. Dashan Briggs is survived by his wife Rebecca Briggs and their two children, Jayden and Ava, who reside in Port Jefferson Station.

Author Talks At Historical Society

The author-historian Bill Bleyer will offer highlights from his latest book, “Long Island and the Sea: A Maritime History,” at the Suffolk County Historical Society’s Book & Bottle series on Thursday, July 18, at 6 PM. Bleyer’s talk will touch on the development of submarines and torpedoes, the landing of Pan Am Clippers in Port Washington, and the world’s most innovative whaling captain, among other topics.

The following week, the society will present Christopher Verga, who will talk about his book, “Saving Fire Island from Robert Moses: The Fight for a National Seashore,” at 6 PM on Thursday, July 25.

The Book & Bottle series is free for society members and there is a $5 charge for nonmembers. The events include wine and cheese and a book sale and signing. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 631-727-2881, ext. 100.

Health Workshops

Peconic Bay Medical Center/Northwell Health is holding a series of free caregiver workshops, starting with “How To Protect Your Assets” with attorney Brian Tully on Wednesday, July 24, at 11 AM. Additional programs will be offered through November.

For more information or to register, call 631-548-6259. All workshops take place in the Caregivers Center multipurpose room at Peconic Bay Medical Center at 1300 Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead.

The medical center is also holding a talk on nutrition Wednesday, July 17, with a talk on nutrition from noon to 1 PM in Conference Room A and B at the center. All talks will be led by a certified dietician. Call 631-548-6395 to sign up and to learn about upcoming talks in the series.

Annual Raffle

The auxiliary of Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital is holding its annual raffle with its $50,000 grand prize. Tickets are $100, and there will be 65 different cash prizes awarded at the East End Seaport Museum Maritime Festival in Greenport on September 22. For information, call 631-477-5463.

Suicide Prevention

Community Action Southold Town is sponsoring a free talk to learn about suicide prevention, Joe’s Project, and other support services for families and friends affected by suicide.

The talk will be presented by Robyn Berger-Gaston of the Family Service League’s Riverhead Family Center and will take place from 7 to 8:30 PM on Thursday, July 18, at the 1840 Schoolhouse Museum on Front Street in Greenport.

To register, call Helen Lopez of CAST at 631-477-1717 or by emailing her at hlopez@castsoutholdtown.org.

gmkotz@indyeastend.com