Together With

Good Morning, North Fork! We’re here to save you from opening 14 browser tabs trying to figure out what’s going on.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

• Southold’s Justice Court Debate

• Dinner at the Market

• America’s 250th Birthday

Ready, Set, Go!

P.S. Happy Birthday to Barb Hazard! 🎂

Sponsored By Douglass Marine

Get your bearings with Douglass Marine 🚤

Ready, Set, Launch: Early Season Boating Tips

The days may be getting warmer, but the water temperature is still cold. Be safe and be prepared!

Due to the extra cold winter and ice formation, Coast Guard aids to navigation (aka buoys) may be off station. Make sure you’re being extra mindful of your position and surroundings!

It’s still early in the season; not all local aids have been put in the water yet.

As of May 1, the cold water life jacket season has ended, putting us back into regular Coast Guard and NYS life jacket regs. (Meaning, children under the age of 12 must wear a life jacket at all times on any boat under 65 feet, unless they are inside a closed cabin. Anyone on a jet ski/tube/water ski must have a life jacket on.)

Call ahead to local fuel docks! All businesses have not opened for the season yet.  

And as always, make sure your TowBoatUS membership is in good standing.

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The Lowdown

Southold’s Justice Court Debate 🧑‍⚖️

A burst pipe during this winter’s deep freeze accidentally kicked off a much bigger conversation in Southold: where exactly should the town’s Justice Court live long term?

Since the flooding at Town Hall, court sessions have been operating out of the Peconic Lane Community Center auditorium, the former school building many locals know from rec programs, meetings and emergency shelter use. But after a few months of the temporary setup, town officials started floating the idea of turning the entire building into a dedicated courthouse.

That idea hit a wall pretty quickly.

At a recent Town Board work session, the town’s engineering consultant estimated it would cost about $4.6 million to renovate the Community Center into a compliant court facility, more than the estimated $4 million price tag for building a brand new Justice Court from scratch.

Councilwoman Jill Doherty pushed back hard on reopening the conversation, arguing the town has already spent years reviewing alternatives and that taxpayer money would go further with new construction. Supervisor Al Krupski questioned whether the town should get a second opinion, while others pointed out the Community Center is heavily used by local residents and recreation programs.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

Dinner at the Market 🍽️

Lauren Lombardi the culinary director behind Lombardi’s Love Lane Market has officially launched Dinner at The Market ,a new intimate dining series where longtime customers gather around one table for a seasonal multi-course meal that feels a lot more like being invited into someone’s home than going out to dinner.

And honestly, that’s kind of the point.

The first dinner in April brought together a small group of regulars for mushroom ravioli, wood-fired chicken and pistachio tiramisu, all served inside the cozy Love Lane market space.

The next dinner lands Thursday, May 7.

On the menu this time around: gem lettuce with local radish and goat cheese, asparagus risotto with lemon and Parmigiano-Reggiano, scallops with leeks and salsa verde, plus a crostata al limone to finish things off.

Get the full story 👉 Northforker

America’s 250th Birthday 🇺🇸

For nearly 30 years, sisters Joan Tyrer and Carol Scott have quietly been the engine behind Southold’s Fourth of July parade, organizing floats, wrangling marchers and somehow pulling off one of the North Fork’s most classic small town traditions largely by themselves.

Now, as the country heads toward America’s 250th birthday celebration, they’re officially passing the torch.

This year, a new group of organizers, including Southold Town Clerk Denis Noncarrow, members of Griswold Terry Glover American Legion Post 803 and even some of the team behind Cutchogue’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, is stepping in to help carry the event forward.

The parade returns Saturday, July 4 at noon, running down Main Road from Boisseau Avenue to the Legion post.

Beyond the parade itself, Southold’s patriotic makeover is expanding across town.

The Southold Salutes military banner program, which honors local active duty and retired service members, is adding 10 new banners in Southold this year, plus another 10 in Cutchogue. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Tick Season 🕷️

If it feels like everyone suddenly has a tick story again, there’s a reason for that.

According to the CDC, tick bites across the Northeast are hitting their highest levels for this point in the year in nearly a decade, and experts say this winter’s cold, snowy weather may actually be part of the problem.

Wait, snow helps ticks? Apparently, yes.

Dr. Andrew Handel of Stony Brook Children’s Hospital says snow acts like an insulating blanket, protecting ticks from harsh winter conditions and helping more survive into spring. Which means once temperatures warm up, they come back active and hungry.

Emergency room visits tied to tick bites jumped sharply this April, according to CDC data, with the Northeast seeing 183 tick related ER visits per 100,000 people compared to 131 at the same time last year. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

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Sponsored by the Greenport PTO

Party Like It’s 1999 🎉

Greenport PTO is bringing back the 90s with The 90s Rewind Fundraiser. An adults only night that leans all the way into the decade (yes, flannel counts as formal). It’s their second annual “field trip fundraiser,” which is really just a great excuse to get out, dress up, and pretend it’s 1999 again.

Enjoy a full night of music, food, and the kind of nostalgic chaos that happens when you put a room full of adults in denim, neon, and throwback playlists. It’s 21+, so no kids just a proper night out with your friends who definitely still remember their AIM away message.

Behind it all, it’s a fundraiser that goes right back into the school community, helping make those extra experiences happen for local students.

So dig out the old school fits, make a plan with your crew, and go be part of it.

Get your tickets 👉 Here

Animal of The Week

Meet Prince 🐾

Meet Prince, the kind of dog who doesn’t just enter a room, he makes an impression. At around 2 years old and 43 pounds, he’s got that just right, medium sized presence. But the real story with Prince isn’t just how he looks, it’s the quiet, thoughtful soul behind those eyes.

He’s a gentle, sensitive guy who’s still figuring things out. Prince can be a little unsure when meeting new people or navigating new situations, but give him a little time and a lot of kindness, and you’ll start to see him open up in the best ways.

Prince bonds deeply and loves hard, and he’s looking for someone who understands that trust is built, not rushed. His ideal setup? A calm home without young kids or cats, where he can keep building confidence at his own pace. He gets along with other dogs and would thrive with someone who sees the beauty in a dog coming into his own.

If you’ve got a little patience, a lot of heart, and an open spot on the couch, Prince might just be ready to claim his throne.

Questions? Call North Fork Animal Welfare League at 631-765-1811

If you are interested in volunteering and helping animals like Prince, contact Sherri at [email protected]

Trivia Time 🧠

Your brain deserves more than scrolling and skimming. Each week we’ll hit you with one question designed to make you pause, scratch your head, and maybe argue with whoever’s sitting next to you. Think of it as a quick mental pit stop: a chance to flex your random knowledge, test your memory, or finally use that obscure fact you learned in 7th grade.

Just click one of the multiple-choice answers to see if you got it right!

Find more info on the answer at the very end of the newsletter

Last Week’s Results

Last week we asked: What historical event does Cinco de Mayo commemorate?

Answer: Mexico’s victory at the Battle of Puebla

59% of you got it right. For the 41% that missed it, no shame, this one trips up a lot of people.

Local Spotlight

Baseball Bus Trips ⚾️

The Town of Southold Recreation Department is bringing back its annual baseball bus trips, giving local families a chance to catch some big league action without big league planning. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, May 19 at 10 AM, with seats available to Town of Southold residents only due to limited space.

This year’s lineup includes the Mets vs. Marlins on Friday, July 31, and the Yankees vs. Braves on Friday, August 7. Family friendly prices, no parking headaches, and two solid excuses to spend a summer Friday at the ballpark.

^{_{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}}

Live Music + Fun Breakdown

Wednesday

Greenport American Legion | Adult Roller Skate | 5-9 PM
Shelter Island Slice | Trivia with Think Inc. | 6 PM
Eastern Front Brewing | Bingo with Michelle | 6-9 PM
Andy’s | Trivia | 6:30-8:30 PM
Clam Bar at Alize | Trivia with Pam | 6:30 PM

Thursday

The 1901 Grill at Goat Hill | Trivia with Think Inc. | 6 PM
Greenport Harbor Brewing (Pec) | Trivia | 6-8 PM
Bridge Lane | Trivia | 6:30-8 PM
Taps & Corks | Karaoke | 7-10 PM
Southold American Legion | Bingo | 7 PM

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THANKS!

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships

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