Excitement In Greenport As Countdown Begins For All-Class Reunion

GREENPORT, NY — After months of anticipation, the big day is almost here: Porter pride is shining strong as a crowd of alumni readies for the Greenport High School All Class Reunion Saturday.

The popular event, which elicits organized by the GHS All Class Corporation, a 501c3 charitable organization, will be held on July 21 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the 5th Street Park in Greenport.

"'Porter Pride People' are starting to descend on Greenport Village," GHS All Class Corporation President TK Krumenacker said. "I know many of the committee chairpersons are running extra strong to the finish, to get things together."

"This is our fourth event and it is expected to be another success with new items, old items, and some surprises for the alumni," Krumenacker added.

New this year is a "Best Class Tent Contest," he said. "We invited classmates to rally together and decorate a tent that represents their class year," Krumenacker said.

The winning class will receive a $300 gift card from Andy's. "Hopefully, all the classes can follow them down to Andy's after the event," he said.

During the winter and spring, organizers held a pre-event, a "stepped raffle," that helped raise start-up funding, Krumenacker said. He sent a shout out of thanks to the businesses that contributed gifts to the raffle, including Front Street Station, First and South, Bob's Discount Furniture, Peconic Cruise Line, Cross Sound Ferry, Hampton Jitney, the George D. Costello Sr. Memorial Skating Rink, and The Blue Inn at North Fork. Other raffle prizes include handmade items, a large bag of tools from Riverhead Building Supply, and a Dream Green raffle ticket for a possible $50,000 win.

Scores of yard signs have been sold and are placed along the fence line of the park, he said. "The memorial signs look amazing and will be displayed the fence line," he said. “Special thanks to Patty Hocker with the designs."

A Peconic Landing shuttle will start looping between the Polo Grounds on Moores Lane at 10 a.m. to the park. "If you are walking along the different roads, just wave to the shuttle bus and they will pick you up," Krumenacker said. A passenger drop off area will be located on Johnson Place between 5th and 6th Streets.

"You must understand that this event is not just some picnic," Krumenacker said. "It is an event that takes much effort to be as successful as we have been three times now. Our corporate structure, dedicated officers, committee chairpeople, committee members, volunteers and 'Porter Pride People' make this event worth it all."

Volunteers are still needed, even for an hour of service; just walk up to anyone and ask where help is needed, including the VIP welcome tent, merchandise tent, food tent, and maintenance committee.

Guests are asked to use recycling bins throughout the park, he said.

The last All Class Reunion, held in 2016, brought out a joyful crowd. But sadly, some from that day will be missing from this year's event. "The GHS All Class Corporation is sad to have lost some amazing and valuable people in our organization, including Danielle Harrison-Meraz, welcome tent chairperson, Gary Lillis, welcome tent committee member, Billy Rempe, music committee member and Jean Wetmore, former Greenport High School truant officer," he said. "Many alumni have passed through the 'purple and gold' gates as well."

GHS logo merchandise will be on sale at the event, which will feature live music, DJs spinning dance tunes, food, raffle items, a 50/50 raffle . . . and "fellowship with Porter Pride in stride. Wear your purple and gold and let's fill this park,'" Krumenacker said.

Patch courtesy photos.