A year in review 2022

Out with the old and in with the new; let’s all say goodbye to 2022. Now is a better time than ever to review the last 12 months. Here is to good health and prosperity in 2023!

JANUARY

During the start of the New Year as local officials made new plans, we printed photos from the annual Christmas Parade of Lights; there was also an old-time Christmas event at West Manor School, a successful Winter Wonderland on Main Street, and we continued to seek nominations for our Person of the Year.

FEBRUARY

This month, we celebrated our very worthy Inspiration Award Winners: Miriam Gillies and Gerry Sapanaro, who jointly won for all their community efforts. The chamber also announced their St. Patrick’s Day grand marshal as Kenneth Johnson, and Arthur Gerhauser was selected as the new chamber president.

MARCH

This month, we expanded our paper for the first time, making it larger than it has ever been. We featured a local resident who makes maple syrup on the front page and recognized the grand marshal. We also featured the Moriches Field Brewing Co. for a grant they received and Helping Makes U Happy collected over 1,200 boxes of cereal.

APRIL

Kenneth Johnson made it to the front page with photos from the St. Patrick’s Day parade; more land was preserved by the town; Eastport South Manor released their val and sal; and there was a small artisan market in the Moriches.

MAY

As the weather began to warm, we featured a review on Ocean Day Spa; movie and concert nights made a return; and the chamber readied for the Memorial Day parade. Camp Zoo returned to the Long Island Game Farm, and we featured the annual Easter egg hunt.

JUNE

This month’s front page had Long Island marine farmers on the front page harvesting seaweed. We also featured Jimmy Osborne, who celebrated 25 years in business in the Moriches. The Boy Scouts cleaned up Kim Hardwick’s legacy garden, and two more parcels were preserved in East and Center Moriches. Also, the Waterdrinker Family Farm’s Tulip Festival attracted thousands.

JULY

At the Long Island Game Farm, it was the Bobo the giraffe’s birthday and he graced our front page donning a birthday hat. Silly Lily had a commercial code change; the Honor Flight took off and the Memorial Day parade commenced.

AUGUST

We had the annual Veteran Fishing Trip on the front page, and we also had photos of the Waterdrinker Sunflower Festival. We reviewed the Ultimate Ice Cream shop, which has a $41.50 cone; and Eberhard Nurseries celebrated 80 years in business. This month, we also helped you back-to-school shop!

SEPTEMBER

School was in session and we did a story on Smile Farms, which started to sell hot sauce as a product of their pepper harvest. Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck had furry visitors from Paws of War, and we remembered the life of Chet Wilcox.

OCTOBER

Pumpkins made it to the front cover from Waterdrinker Family Farms, and Sonnie Betts, a local from East Moriches, performed in “Ragtime.” There was a Mass rock dedication at the Clarke Homesite in Manorville ,and we printed photos from the third annual Keith Romaine Memorial Snapper Derby.

NOVEMBER

Only a few months ago, we celebrated the huge draw of the Moriches Fall Festival; we met the Veterans Day grand marshal, Rev. Fred Miller; and we prepared for holidays in the Moriches. St. John’s installed the new pastor, Fr. Patrick Riegger, and South Bay Bible went under new leadership with Matt Horne.

DECEMBER

Closing out the year of 2022, the Eagle Scout paver project took the front page, and our freelance writer Patricia Kaloski asked the age-old question: real or fake Christmas tree? We offered recipes compiled by the community and we had photos from the Veterans Day parade.