{"id":124624,"date":"2025-02-10T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/?p=124624"},"modified":"2025-02-10T16:24:04","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T21:24:04","slug":"2024-people-of-the-year-awards-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/2025\/02\/124624\/2024-people-of-the-year-awards-ceremony\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 People of the Year awards ceremony: in their words"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Riverhead News-Review&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/category\/people-of-the-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2024 People of the Year<\/a> awards were handed out in a ceremony Thursday night at Southold American Legion. As honorees received their awards, they took to the mic telling inspiring stories, thanking all their supporters, sharing how they heard the news of their honors \u2014 many via text \u2014 and vowed to keep up the work they were recognized for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once again, the editorial board who made these selections was proud to present the awards and spend time with so many who make Riverhead a wonderful community to live and work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Photos by Ana Borruto<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Community_MarkMcLauhlin_AB_web-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-124629 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Community_MarkMcLauhlin_AB_web-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Community_MarkMcLauhlin_AB_web-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Community_MarkMcLauhlin_AB_web-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Community_MarkMcLauhlin_AB_web.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Community Leader of the Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting with the 2024\u00a0Community Leader of the Year, <a href=\"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/2025\/01\/123627\/mark-mclaughlin-2024-community-leader-of-the-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mark MK McLaughlin<\/a>, who has been referred to as &#8220;an exemplary employee&#8221; by his boss Jodi Giglio and an \u201camazing guy&#8221; by Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard and who even won Riverhead Chamber of Commerce\u2019s Business Person of the Year last year, Mr. McLaughlin said he has put his all into everything he does since he recovered from a medical event in 2020.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mark McLaughlin 2024 Community Leader of the Year\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2L_v3LuuPWc?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Credit: Angela Colangelo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Educator_Patrick-McKinney_AB_web-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-124636 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Educator_Patrick-McKinney_AB_web-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Educator_Patrick-McKinney_AB_web-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Educator_Patrick-McKinney_AB_web-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Educator_Patrick-McKinney_AB_web.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Educator of the Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For being a morale-booster and advocate for his Riverhead Charter School students in the face of adversity, his hands-on approach, innovation and achievements made without a blueprint, Patrick McKinney was named Riverhead News-Review 2024 <a href=\"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/2025\/01\/123367\/2024-educator-of-the-year-dr-patrick-mckinney\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Educator of the Year<\/a>.\u00a0He said he plays just a small role in Riverhead Charter School&#8217;s success, highlighting the work by the teachers, staff, students, parents and administrators.<br><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Patrick McKinney 2024 Educator of the Year\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fxZ8fdopFKE?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Credit: Angela Colangelo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_RasheenMooreMikeHeigh_AB-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-124631 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_RasheenMooreMikeHeigh_AB-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_RasheenMooreMikeHeigh_AB-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_RasheenMooreMikeHeigh_AB-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_RasheenMooreMikeHeigh_AB-1536x1017.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_RasheenMooreMikeHeigh_AB-2048x1356.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Sportspeople of the Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being a PAL coach is selfless. It takes time out of your life. Results are earned only through hard work and dedication. Building a football program from the ground up isn\u2019t for everybody but Riverhead has the right people in place leading the way. For their efforts in and dedication toward the PAL football program, Rasheen Moore and Mike Heigh have earned the nod as 2024\u2019s Riverhead News-Review <a href=\"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/2025\/01\/123696\/2024-sportspeople-of-the-year-mike-heigh-and-rasheen-moore-pal\/#:~:text=2024%20Sportspeople%20of%20the%20Year,Rasheen%20Moore%20%2D%20Riverhead%20News%20Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sportspeople of the Year<\/a>. In their speeches they assured us that what they&#8217;ve accomplished is only the beginning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"2024 Sportspeople of the Year Mike Heigh and Rasheen Moore\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8oM2CMj1_WU?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Credit: Angela Colangelo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-PS-Mike-Zaleski-Hwy-Dept_AB_web-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-124632 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-PS-Mike-Zaleski-Hwy-Dept_AB_web-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-PS-Mike-Zaleski-Hwy-Dept_AB_web-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-PS-Mike-Zaleski-Hwy-Dept_AB_web-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-PS-Mike-Zaleski-Hwy-Dept_AB_web.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Public Servants of the Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Town Councilman Ken Rothwell was thrilled to hear that\u00a0Riverhead Highway Department\u00a0Superintendent Mike Zaleski and his staff were being honored with the <a href=\"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/2025\/01\/123598\/people-of-the-year-mike-zaleski-and-riverhead-highway-department-staff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Public Servants<\/a> of the Year award for 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe loves where he works and lives, and he wholeheartedly deserves this recognition but I know that Mike would not accept this alone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In his remarks, Mr. Zaleski shared what his 31 years working in the department have meant to him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mike Zaleski and Riverhead Highway Dept  Public Servants of the Year\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_s44_5fcqWY?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Credit: Angela Colangelo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>2024 <a href=\"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/2025\/01\/123368\/2024-businessperson-of-the-year-gabriella-volpe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Businessperson of the Year<\/a> Gabriella Volpe of Caruso&#8217;s was unable to attend the ceremony. Executive editor Brendan O&#8217;Connor accepted on her behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Kevin-Davis-Tom-Najdzion_ab_web-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-124635 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Kevin-Davis-Tom-Najdzion_ab_web-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Kevin-Davis-Tom-Najdzion_ab_web-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Kevin-Davis-Tom-Najdzion_ab_web-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/timesreview-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/02\/R0213_POY-Kevin-Davis-Tom-Najdzion_ab_web.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>People of the Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The resumption of Riverhead&#8217;s annual Polish Fair was in large part thanks to the hard work of two community leaders: Polish Town Civic Association president Kevin Davis and Tom Najdzion, president of the Riverhead Polish Independent Club, which runs Polish Hall. For working together to revive the long running festival, the duo was  honored as the News-Review&#8217;s 2024 <a href=\"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/2025\/01\/123698\/2024-people-of-the-year-kevin-davis-and-tom-najdzion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">People of the Year<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kevin Davis and Tom Najdzion 2024 People of the Year\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZXr6j1O3yfs?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/suffolktimes.timesreview.com\/2025\/02\/2024-people-of-the-year-award-ceremony-in-their-words\/\">Click here for the Suffolk Times 2024 People of the Year speeches.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Riverhead News-Review&#8217;s 2024 People of the Year awards were handed out in a ceremony Thursday night at Southold American Legion. As honorees received their awards, they took to the mic telling inspiring stories, thanking all their supporters, sharing how they heard the news of their honors \u2014 many via text \u2014 and vowed to keep&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2042,"featured_media":124626,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1743,35,14223],"tags":[16575,16185,16266,17521,15420,17451,240,1839,16364,15301],"coauthors":[16601],"class_list":["post-124624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-story","category-news","category-people-of-the-year","tag-gabriella-volpe","tag-kevin-davis","tag-mark-mclaughlin","tag-mike-heigh","tag-patrick-mckinney","tag-rasheen-moore","tag-riverhead","tag-riverhead-highway-department","tag-riverhead-polish-hall-independent-club","tag-tom-najdzion"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.4 - 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