Riverhead - Riverhead Supervisor Phil Cardinale wrapped up the Downtown Riverhead Summer Photo Contest with a resounding "Great Success and Thank You to the organizers and the participants, who took great photos all summer. A special thanks to Nancy Swett from the I Love Riverhead.com effort who worked particularly hard to make this first annual photo contest a tremendous sensation."

Swett commented, "This contest attracted people of all generations to downtown Riverhead this past summer. Some amazing photographs were taken that really showed the love that people have for our downtown. It was a collaborative, creative effort that used online social media, traditional local press and the mailing lists of our local organizations in an exciting new way. With other revitalization efforts under way, we will help breathe new life into our downtown. "

The photo contest was initiated by the Downtown Roundtable and coordinated by Swett and her www.ILoveRiverhead.com social networking site with the goal to highlight the positive images, sights and activities of the downtown area. A panel selected finalists and the public voted on finalists through an online voting system for the public to select winning photos (set up by Lisa Jacobs, Director of the Riverhead Free Library and a technical whiz). The finalist photos are viewable at http://www.iloveriverhead.com/photo-contest/ and all photos entered are viewable on Flikr at http://www.flickr.com/groups/riverheadphotocontest/

Winners were announced at the Riverhead Country Fair on October 11, 2009 and included Riverhead's Next Generation, 17-year-old Kaitlyn Ferris, a first place winner in two categories ("Arts & Culture" and "People & Events"). Ferris is a Riverhead High School student specializing in photography through the BOCES program. Kaitlyn plans to attend college next year and continue her photography at the next level.

The first place award overall was a tie between two photos by Michael McLaughlin, a part time Riverhead resident, that highlighted "Grangebel Falls" of the Peconic River downtown and "Main Street." Jenny Intravia placed first in the "Water Category" with "Peconic Riverfront".

Contest rules did not define "downtown Riverhead," however all images captured the essence of what makes downtown Riverhead unique and interesting. Photos were uploaded onto Flikr by contestants from July 1 to August 31 and featured cash awards and prizes in several categories. A special exhibition of winners will be arranged.

"The Downtown Roundtable is motivating a group of downtown non-profit organizations," Cardinale stated, "Including the East End Arts Council, Riverhead Free Library, Business Improvement District, Long Island Science Center, Chamber of Commerce, Townscape, Suffolk Historical Society, and Vail-Leavitt Music Hall to revitalize downtown Riverhead through programming that encourages people to engage in activities downtown. I encourage people to access iloveriverhead.com for information on planned activities, a calendar of events and views of recent activities."