Riverhead students celebrate healthy lifestyles with CAP’s 38th Annual ‘Say No to Drugs March’

Pulaski Street Intermediate School students, faculty and staff, with peer leaders, local dignitaries, community and family members, wearing “Drug Free Body” t-shirts, marched around downtown Riverhead Friday morning, in Riverhead CAP’s 38th annual Say No to Drugs March led by New York Islanders All-Star Kyle Palmieri. 

Local residents and workers at the businesses along the parade route lined the sidewalks to wave to and encourage the ebullient marchers passing by and support their purpose in marching. 

At the conclusion of the march, the participants gathered on the front lawn of the school for an assembly where speakers included Pulaski Street Principal Laura Arcuri, Riverhead CAP Executive Director Felicia Scocozza, incoming Riverhead Central School District Superintendent Bob Hagen and Riverhead Town Council Member Denise Merrifield, who presented the participants and Palmieri with proclamations from Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard and the Riverhead Town Board.

Arcuri said Pulaski Street students, teachers and staff, families and community members are “all united in a powerful message: We choose health. We choose hope. And we choose to say no to drugs.”

“This March is more than a tradition,” Arcuri told the students. “It’s a celebration of our commitment to make positive choices. Through the CAP program, you’ve learned valuable skills, how to set goals, make healthy decisions and to stand up for yourselves and others. These lessons will serve you well, not just today, but throughout your lives,” she said.

Merrifield reviewed the history of the CAP program, which dates back to 1979, and its involvement in Riverhead schools, which began in 1983.

She presented Palmieri’s biography as a professional ice hockey player and his accomplishments dating back to his years as an amateur player.

Palmieri, a 2009 NHL first-round draft pick, has spent 16 seasons in the National Hockey League, playing with the Anaheim Ducks, the New Jersey Devils and the Islanders, recording 527 points, 270 goals, 257 assists, Merrifield said. 

“He is one of just 22 active American skaters to appear in at least 900 NHL games,” Merrifield said. 

“Mr. Palmeri represented the United States at the World Cup hockey in 2016, the Men’s World Championship in 2012 and the World Junior Championships in 2010 and 2011. He won a gold medal in 2010,” Merrifield said.

“Palmeri also appeared in 68 career Stanley Cup playoff games, tallying 32 points, 18 goals, 14 assists, and helping the Islanders reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.”

Merrifield said Palmieri is a dedicated member of the Long Island community. He and his wife Ashley founded the Kyle Palmieri Foundation and, driven by a mission to give back to active and veteran service members and their families, the foundation supports military nonprofits and brings veterans to the New York Islanders home games free of charge, she said.

Merrifield, a retired Suffolk County prosecutor,  was followed to the microphone by Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, who told those assembled that the CAP March is a “must come-to” annual event.

 “Why are we here?” Tierney asked the students. “Because it’s vitally important that you all have a wonderful summer — a healthy, happy and safe summer — and that you keep in mind that you stay safe, that you trust people you should trust, and that you do not accept anything from anyone you don’t know, Tierney said. 

Last year, Suffolk County had 16 homicides. “In a community of 1.5 million, that’s pretty good,” he said. “One homicide is too much, but that’s pretty good. 

“We also, unfortunately, had about 450 drug overdoses, which is terrible. That’s at least 450 families that are going to suffer an unimaginable tragedy,” Tierney said, “So that’s why we make a big deal about this, because we see the potential of all these wonderful kids. We want them to fulfill that potential, and we are going to do everything we can as a community to make sure that these kids not only have a happy and healthy summer, but go on to have great, enriching, fulfilling lives.”

The new superintendent of schools, who officially takes office July 1, spoke of how much he enjoyed the march.

“It was just an amazing experience. I had a great day,” Hagen said. “I got to go into a classroom. I got to speak with kids. They asked me a whole bunch of questions. They were not shy, they were not bashful. And during our walk, we got to speak to a lot of different people,” he remarked. 

“One of the things that kept on resonating through my mind was the fact that community is everything, and when we talk about the Community Awareness Program, what we’re really talking about is not only what we’re doing here today, but also …the way in which we make decisions when nobody’s watching,” Hagen said. 

“But what I want to leave you here with is that you have an opportunity to take this with you, and you’re going to be in a position where you have to make a decision, and then when you make that decision, what you really want to do is think about that person that is so important to you,” he said. It could be a parent, a guardian, a grandparent, a teacher. “Would that particular person be supportive of your decision, or would they be disappointed? Make sure that you’re going in the right direction and making a good choice, and I promise you that will lead you into a great, prosperous future,” Hagen said.

“Someone like Palmieri is somebody who has made good choices, that’s the reason for his success,” Hagen told the children. “Your success is based upon your individual decisions. And from me to you, that’s the opportunities we’re going to give you, and we’re going to make sure that you prosper going forward,” he said. 

“I’m so happy to be here. I’m very excited to start here in Riverhead,” Hagen said. 

The school awarded certificates and prizes to the CAP art contest winners, 6th grader Honora Rooney and 5th grader Briella Belcher.

Scocozza introduced CAP peer leaders and youth coalition members who are graduating from high school this month. They each introduced themselves gave brief remarks about the goals they’ve set and worked to achieve all through high school and the goals they’ve set for the future.

The Riverhead High School marching band performed for the event and a Riverhead High School NJROTC color guard led the march.

Riverhead Moose Lodge 1742 prepared a picnic lunch for the participants and the Pulaski Street PTO provided ice cream for everyone. 

Riverhead Town Board members Ken Rothwell, Bob Kern and Joann Waski attended the march and assembly, in addition to Merrifield. Riverhead Board of Education members Virginia Healy, Erica Murphy and Cynthia Redmond were also on hand for the events of the day, as were members of CAP’s board of directors,  Brian Stark, Jean Lipinski, Beth Hanlon and Jo-Ann Tavano-Foss.

Editor’s note: This article has been amended to correct the names of the art contest winners, Brielle Belcher and Honora Rooney.

RiverheadLOCAL photos by Emil Breitenbach Jr.