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🐝 1,000 Pounds of Tuna Every Day

🐝 1,000 Pounds of Tuna Every Day

Inside the Seafood Empire, Peconic Landing Does It Again, Stitching With Purpose

Thomas Loncar
February 17, 2026

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In today’s North Fork Buzz:

Inside the Seafood Empire
Peconic Landing Does It Again
Stitching With Purpose

Ready, Set, Go!

The Lowdown

Inside the Seafood Empire 🐟

Winter hits different at Braun Seafood Co. Instead of the July free for all where lobster rolls fly out the window and parking becomes an Olympic sport, February brings chowder steam, familiar faces and just enough breathing room to actually sit down.

Behind the scenes sits the warehouse, the engine room, where in the summer about 1,000 pounds of tuna get carved up every single day. Only the top tier makes it to the retail counter. The rest heads out to more than 700 wholesale accounts across Long Island.

In 2019 a fire destroyed inventory and freezer space. Then came COVID. Normal businesses might tap out. Braun’s set up in trailers for a year and a half and somehow grew, becoming a critical food lifeline as people flooded east.

Now the march toward the future is on. New POS in the market. Online ordering nearly ready. A wholesale app so chefs can fire in midnight requests that hit Braun in real time. Because in summer traffic, nobody wants their halibut aging gracefully on Montauk Highway.

What began decades ago as a fish market has evolved into something closer to a seafood ecosystem. There’s a fleet of raw bar boats, a food truck heading into another season, and this summer Braun will supply the hospitality tents at the U.S. Open.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

Peconic Landing Does It Again 🏆

Peconic Landing has once again landed in the top five senior living communities in the entire country for wellness, making it two years in a row at the top of the class. And because good news apparently travels in pairs, president and CEO Robert J. Syron was also named one of the nation’s top five wellness executives, earning a Pinnacle Award from the International Council on Active Aging.

Back in November, U.S. News & World Report ranked both The Bluffs rehab center and The Shores skilled nursing facility among the Best Nursing Homes for 2026. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Stitching With Purpose 🪡

Inside The Bellwether, Elizabeth Talerman and Stephanie Pinerio are turning needle and thread into something bigger than décor. Their new project invites customers to bring in clothing to be hand embroidered with one of three statements: Love Wins, Love Thy Neighbor, or ICE Out Now.

Talerman says recent events both nationally and here on the North Fork left her feeling heartsick and wanting to respond in a way she knows how, with craft, visibility and community support.

Each piece is $50, and the impact goes further than the stitch. All proceeds, plus 5% of every order, benefit OLA of Eastern Long Island, which provides advocacy and resources for Latino families across the region.

Get the full story 👉 Northforker

Big Boat Problems 🚢

Life on Fishers Island comes with one unbreakable rule: if the boats don’t run, nothing runs.

So when ferry officials started talking about aging infrastructure at a recent Town Board work session, ears perked up fast. The tiny island community of about 250 year-round residents, is staring down two big-ticket needs: a replacement ferry and a boat ramp that engineers say is on borrowed time.

The ramp isn’t some backup sitting around for decoration. It’s the go to when winds kick up from the north or west and the main landing can’t be used. It’s also the path for contractor traffic, including the trucks hauling heavy materials.

The workhorse ferry Munnatawket dates back to 1977. Maintenance now runs about $700,000 a year, and the boat simply can’t handle the size and volume of today’s deliveries. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

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Happenings: Upcoming Events

🩺 Understanding Diabetes Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your health. On Tuesday, February 24, Peconic Landing hosts Dr. Silvana Obici for an informative, engaging talk on understanding diabetes, reducing your risk, and living well after a diagnosis. More Info

✍️ Nameless Writers Salon #13 Cozy up at Sound View on Thursday, February 26, as the Nameless Writers Salon returns with its latest theme, “To Be Human Is To Love.” alon-style readings, big feelings, and thoughtful conversation, all guided by rotating hosts Kara Hoblin and Gianna Volpe. More Info

👗Formal Dress Drive If your closet is hiding a prom-era masterpiece (or two), here’s your cue to let it shine again. Starting Saturday, March 1, CAST kicks off its Formal Dress Drive, collecting gently loved gowns to help local students show up to prom feeling red carpet ready. More Info

🎤 Open Mic Night Before the summer crowds roll in, here’s your chance to grab the mic. On Monday, March 2, the Halyard Piano Bar hosts a curated open mic led by singer-songwriter Julia King. Bringing together poets, musicians, and writers it’s intimate, a little brave, and the kind of night where you might hear someone’s next big thing before anyone else does. More Info

🀄 Mahjong Has your group chat has been talking about learning Mahjong? Presented by NOFO Live, this laid back meetup on Tuesday, March 3 at The Shoals serves up tiles, tea, coffee, and nibbles. Beginners can jump into open play with basic knowledge, or snag a seat at the Mahjong 101 table for a no stress intro and all the questions. More Info

✍️ Media Retreat and Writers Workshop If your notes app is full but your brain feels empty, this one’s calling your name. March 6 and 7, The Shoals hosts a two day Creative Retreat led by Kristen Oliveri, built to help you reconnect with your voice, shake loose the stuck stuff, and leave with actual clarity. More Info

🎷 Voices of Vision On Saturday, March 7, the Jamesport Meeting House joins forces with East End Jazz for a Women’s History Month concert spotlighting an all-star lineup of female musicians. The night celebrates the women who’ve shaped, and continue to shape, the sound of jazz. More Info

🎲 Casino Night Odds are your poker face could use a little exercise. On Saturday, March 7, the Greenport Teachers Association turns the Greenport American Legion into a full-on casino floor with cards, chips, and high spirited bragging rights on the line. More Info

🌸 International Women’s Day Retreat Head over to The Heart of It on Sunday, March 8 as they host an International Women’s Day Retreat focused on female empowerment, creativity, mindfulness, and real deal connection. More Info

🥂 Spring Ahead Brunch Losing an hour of sleep? You’ve earned a refill. On Sunday, March 8, Rose Hill Vineyards is hosting a Spring Ahead Brunch in their barrel cellar, complete with a glass of Sparkling Brut or a Mimosa along with family style classics, starring the best seasonal produce from Lombardi’s Love Lane. More Info

^{_{Nothing in this section is sponsored. They’re just fun things you need to know. We’ll always let you know when something is sponsored}}

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships