MORICHES CHAMBER UPDATE

Hometown Heroes Project

The Chamber of the Moriches was proud to help support a Hometown Heroes Program started by three eighth-grade students from Center Moriches Middle School. 

Addison Raupp, Kristin Luna, and Adrianna Loesch came up with the idea to honor our veterans in a very special way. 

As part of their eighth-grade project, they teamed up with the Hometown Heroes Program to recognize the service and sacrifices made by our servicemen and women. 

Participants in the Hometown Heroes Banner Program will be able to honor their hometown hero who is currently serving or has served in the U.S. military, and is or was a resident of Center Moriches by sponsoring and purchasing a custom banner. 

The banners will be displayed on the light posts along Main Street.  At this time, the students have raised over $4,000 to help sponsor the banners. 

Boy Scout Troop 23 has volunteered to put up the banners and the chamber will help maintain the banners. 

The chamber would also like to thank Rich Raupp, father of Addison, for his exceptional direction and unwavering commitment in steering this project to its successful completion.

A huge thank you to Addison, Kristin, and Adrianna for initiating the Hometown Heroes project, a heartfelt tribute honoring our veterans.

“Your dedication to recognizing and celebrating their sacrifices is truly commendable,” said chamber president Jackie Osborne.

The banners will be displayed by Memorial Day. 

New business: The chamber would like to welcome new businesses, including PAL Football, Chris Vazques, Michele Moodt, Brian Levey; Samantha Bisagni, Compass Realty; Kelly from KCollections Photography.

Brookhaven Coalition of Chambers

Every year, our chamber selects a member who exemplifies outstanding dedication and commitment to their community to be honored as our Member of the Year.

This year we are proud to present Roseanne (Ro) Gencarelli, from Moriches Bay Deli, with our Member of the Year Award!  

Gencarelli’s service on the chamber’s board has been exemplary, demonstrating outstanding dedication and leadership.

Gencarelli is also president of the Seatuck Rotary. At a dinner hosted by the BCCC, we were able to honor Gencarelli with several awards.

“We are immensely grateful for Ro’s invaluable contributions and the remarkable job done in furthering the mission of our chamber,” Osborne said. “We also appreciate the positive impact that she has had on her community. Congratulations!”

Meet this year’s Irish Princess: Allie DeMatteo

Allie submitted the winning essay for our 2024 Irish Princess. Allie DeMatteo is a current senior at Center Moriches High School and is the valedictorian of her class. Outside of school, Allie is a member of the senior dance company at Stage Door School of Dance. She was selected to be a member of the 2023 New York All-State Choir. Allie is a working actress and is represented by DDO Artists Agency. This fall, Allie will be going to college to pursue a BFA in musical theater.  

COMING UP: The Chamber of Commerce Spring Fair will be held on Sunday, June 9. If you would like to be a vendor, please sign up on our website moricheschamber.org. There will be vendors, live music, food trucks, and more. 

The next chamber meeting will be held at the Moriches Community Center on Frowein next to the high school on May 14 at 6 p.m. Thank you to Oasis Rehabilitation and Nursing for sponsoring our meeting.