All this week Erin Geismar will be profiling people she meets in Mattituck, from community leaders to residents she bumps into around town. 
 Caren Heacock Age: 58 Occupation: Pastoral Care Assistant, Mattituck Presbyterian Church 
 How long have you lived in the area? It’s going on 30 years. 
 What made you join the Mattituck Presbyterian Church? My husband and I had tried out several churches. We decided on this one because Pastor George made a visit to our home and he asked, ‘May I pray with you?’ He was the only pastor to do that. That was an important thing to me. 
 What are a few ways the church is involved in the community? We have a team leaving for Haiti on a mission trip. . . . We have building projects there, we built a clinic. . . . We’ve been going down there for over 25 years. In fact, one of our church members was one of the first to go down there three days after the earthquake. There’s also John’s Place. Every week we provide shelter for the homeless. We also have an active youth group. 
 What is your role? As the pastoral care assistant, I visit the homebound, visit nursing homes, hospitals. I’m about to officiate my first wedding -- that’s a big thing. I’m a shepherd for the church. I kind of do it all. I clean the bathrooms sometimes. I preach sometimes. I got my master’s in divinity from the Luther Rice Seminary based out of Atlanta. 
 What made you go for your master’s? After I had joined the church, I became the shepherd coordinator and the youth director. Then I started counseling, and when I started that, I thought I should go back for my master’s. You don’t have to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church for all these roles, so that’s why I’m able to do them. 
 And what did you do before that? Secretarial work, just to pay the bills. 
 What is your favorite thing about Mattituck? The wonderful people. I love to walk the beaches. Sunrise on the bay -- there’s nothing like it in the world. It’s close enough to things that you don’t feel like you’re in the boonies, but it’s small enough that it’s not a big city feel. You don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything, all you have to do is walk down Love Lane. 
 Is it the kind of place where you know all of your neighbors? Yeah, pretty much. More so in Mattituck, I think, than in other towns out here. That’s the nature of Love Lane, it’s more intimate. You’re bound to run into someone you know when you go to the post office, where in Southold, the post office is separate from the main shopping area. So here you have more of a chance of pausing to say hello. 
 Define Mattituck. It’s a very caring community. A lot of people really care about each other. If there’s a crisis, people come together. They take care of each other, even if you’re not from here.

All this week Erin Geismar will be profiling people she meets in Mattituck, from community leaders to residents she bumps into around town. Caren Heacock Age: 58 Occupation: Pastoral Care Assistant, Mattituck Presbyterian Church How long have you lived in the area? It’s going on 30 years. What made you join the Mattituck Presbyterian Church? My husband and I had tried out several churches. We decided on this one because Pastor George made a visit to our home and he asked, ‘May I pray with you?’ He was the only pastor to do that. That was an important thing to me. What are a few ways the church is involved in the community? We have a team leaving for Haiti on a mission trip. . . . We have building projects there, we built a clinic. . . . We’ve been going down there for over 25 years. In fact, one of our church members was one of the first to go down there three days after the earthquake. There’s also John’s Place. Every week we provide shelter for the homeless. We also have an active youth group. What is your role? As the pastoral care assistant, I visit the homebound, visit nursing homes, hospitals. I’m about to officiate my first wedding -- that’s a big thing. I’m a shepherd for the church. I kind of do it all. I clean the bathrooms sometimes. I preach sometimes. I got my master’s in divinity from the Luther Rice Seminary based out of Atlanta. What made you go for your master’s? After I had joined the church, I became the shepherd coordinator and the youth director. Then I started counseling, and when I started that, I thought I should go back for my master’s. You don’t have to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church for all these roles, so that’s why I’m able to do them. And what did you do before that? Secretarial work, just to pay the bills. What is your favorite thing about Mattituck? The wonderful people. I love to walk the beaches. Sunrise on the bay -- there’s nothing like it in the world. It’s close enough to things that you don’t feel like you’re in the boonies, but it’s small enough that it’s not a big city feel. You don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything, all you have to do is walk down Love Lane. Is it the kind of place where you know all of your neighbors? Yeah, pretty much. More so in Mattituck, I think, than in other towns out here. That’s the nature of Love Lane, it’s more intimate. You’re bound to run into someone you know when you go to the post office, where in Southold, the post office is separate from the main shopping area. So here you have more of a chance of pausing to say hello. Define Mattituck. It’s a very caring community. A lot of people really care about each other. If there’s a crisis, people come together. They take care of each other, even if you’re not from here.

News

People of Mattituck: Caren Heacock

Mattituck

Newsday

HLMATT09  cropped

Homepage Trending

Halloween events on LI

2026 LI Voters Guide

Wallet Watch

Working Moms

NEWSDAY TV SHORTS

Vertical videos

NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland takes a look back at the Kings Park Psychiatric Center.

Picture This: When Kings Park had a psychiatric hospital

The cost of living on Long Island is causing some Gen Zers to live at home with their parents. Newsday real estate reporter Rachel Weiss was more.

Cost of living keeps Gen Z at home with parents

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa heads to Hair we Share to see the process of turning donated hair into wigs.

LI Works: Giving wigs to those in need

Nassau and Suffolk counties have implemented a combined $57 million in technology upgrades to streamline the voting process.

New voting machines at Long Island polling places

Laura Otton, perinatal mental health therapist and owner of Therapy for Motherhood, talks to NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland about the logistics of returning to work after having a baby.

Working Moms: Negotiating a return to work

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed steps into the vineyards at Bedell Cellars to get an inside look at the action, the artistry, and the fresh flavors shaping Long Island's latest vintage.

Out East: Harvest time at Bedell Cellars

Rori Zura was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at the age of 33. Today, she helps others as a cancer exercise specialist. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Breast cancer survivor helps others take charge of their recovery

The report identified over half a million hateful posts on X between January 2025 and June 2026, with monthly growth of 75%. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

Anti-South Asian rhetoric surging on some social media platforms, report says

Liberty Water has applied to raise rates in three of the areas it serves on Long Island. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

Liberty seeks water rate hikes of $21-$28 a month for some Nassau customers

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa visits Co-Owner, Dough & Co. Pizza to try the Apple Bay Pizza, which is exclusive to their Oyster Bay location.

Trendy Bites: An apple pie ... pizza?

<a href="https://www.newsday.com/video/newsdaytv-top-stories">Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories</a>

Newsday TV

NewsdayTV Top Item

Hochul, Blakeman on the issues ... Suit vs. Gurney's over damaged Lamborghini ... FeedMe: Halloween rainbow doughnuts ... Weekend weather outlook

Hochul, Blakeman on the issues ... Suit vs. Gurney's over damaged Lamborghini ... FeedMe: Halloween rainbow doughnuts

News - megaslot

Newsday has the most up-to-date stories on Long Island & NTC. Join us & stay current with news articles on sports, business, health, technology & more.

Stay logged in.