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Good Morning, North Fork! If you’re having trouble opening links in today’s newsletter, try switching off WiFi and using cellular data. There seems to be a hiccup with Optimum that’s preventing some links from loading while connected to WiFi…because of course there is 🙃.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

• Zoning Reset

• Sports Hub

• Water Warning

Ready, Set, Go!

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The Lowdown

Zoning Reset 🔄

After a year of feedback, frustration, and one very ambitious draft, Southold Town is changing course on its sweeping zoning overhaul, opting to break it into smaller, more manageable pieces instead of pushing one massive update all at once.

Planning Director Heather Lanza told the Town Board this week that the original “do it all at once” approach just wasn’t realistic, especially after the town parted ways with its outside consultant. The new plan: tackle priority areas first, with housing leading the charge.

What’s on deck? Community housing (a big one), updates to the “big house” law, and potential changes to hotel and marine zoning. Work is already underway on short term rentals, cell towers, and battery energy storage systems, the latter still under a moratorium while new safety rules are developed.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

Sports Hub ⚽️

What started as a simple idea between two friends is turning into something much bigger.

Laurel natives Joe Aiello and Francis Buonaiuto launched the Aldrich Sports League in 2023 with a goal of bringing people together through sports. Three years in, it’s no longer just a league , it’s evolving into a full on community sports hub and even rebranding dropping “League” from the name.

The expansion shows up everywhere. Their Sunday 5-on-5 soccer league, once capped at around 10 teams, is adding a second conference this year to make room for more players while keeping things competitive. ”

Off the field, the group continues to lean into community impact. Their annual basketball and pickleball fundraisers help support local scholarships, with events like the Community Kids Basketball Tournament set to grow again this year.

And then there’s everything new: A first ever golf tournament, a weekly running club, a pickleball league, a charity driven powderpuff football event, and even an e-sports team built around Rocket League, with practices, coaching and tournament play already underway. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Water Warning 🌊

Another year, another warning, at a press conference Stony Brook researcher Dr. Christopher Gobler laid out what’s happening in Long Island’s waters right now: toxic algae blooms, shellfish closures, and oxygen starved “dead zones” that are actively harming marine life.

In 2025 alone, more than two dozen lakes and ponds saw harmful blue green algae blooms, while multiple marine areas were shut down due to dangerous toxins. In one Southold case, shellfish contamination reached levels that could have caused severe illness, or worse if consumed.

And 2026 isn’t off to a better start. Several creeks in Southold and parts of Shinnecock Bay are already closed again due to rising toxin levels, even after a colder winter that would normally slow things down.

The bigger issue? Nitrogen pollution, largely from outdated septic systems, continues to fuel these conditions.

There’s also a newer concern creeping in: Vibrio vulnificus, a potentially deadly bacteria that’s been moving north along the East Coast.

There are signs of progress, though. Local aquaculture, especially oysters and seaweed, is helping pull excess nitrogen out of the water naturally. And Suffolk County is ramping up funding to replace aging septic systems, with new programs that could cover nearly the full cost for homeowners.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

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Happenings: Weekend Preview

Friday

📺 Friends Trivia Night The One Where You Actually Know All the Answers, or at least think you do. Clovis Point is turning into a full on Central Perk situation with Friends themed trivia, where deep cuts and iconic one liners could win you bragging rights. More Info

🎨 Bananas & Other Matters A new solo show by Adam Straus opens at the North Fork Art Collective, with an evening reception that sets the stage for his sweeping take on the American landscape. More Info

🫕 Cheese Fondue A cozy night unfolds at Sannino Vineyard, where the Village Cheese Shop brings bubbling pots of cheese fondue into the mix. Enjoy a full spread of “all the fixins” for dipping, alongside a flight of three wines that keeps things moving between bites. More Info

🩺 Rheumatology 101 An approachable look at arthritis, osteoporosis, and autoimmune conditions takes shape at Peconic Landing with Dr. Christopher leading the conversation. Geared toward adults and seniors, the talk breaks down common rheumatologic issues into clear, everyday language, with practical insights that make the topic feel far less clinical. More Info

Saturday

🩺 Health Fair Turns out wellness is a little easier when it’s all in one room. The Mattituck Laurel Library is hosting a lively, drop in style health fair with local vendors, screenings, and practical tips for feeling better without overcomplicating it. More Info

🥂 PCS Spring Soirée The kind of night where the wine flows, the dance floor fills up fast, and the auction bids get a little competitive. Head to RGNY Vineyards for an elegant evening of cocktails, local bites, live music, and both silent and live auctions, all in support of Peconic Community School. More Info

🎻 Original Takes on Traditional Music Head over to the Jamesport Meeting House to get a dose of old time soul when the Mudflats String Band brings its North Fork take on traditional Americana to the stage. Drawing from southern Appalachian fiddle tunes, Celtic roots, and African banjo traditions, the group layers rich harmonies and twin fiddles into something that feels both timeworn and freshly polished. More Info

🍒 Fruit Disco Ball Painting Things get a little funky at Veme Studios with a painting session that turns everyday fruit into full on disco icons. This hands on workshop walks through oil painting basics: color mixing, layering, and that glossy, light catching shine. More Info

🖼️ Edges: Works on Canvas and Paper Marsh grasses and shoreline reeds take center stage at the Silver Sands Boathouse, where Edward M. O’Hara opens a new body of work rooted in the East End landscape. Using natural pressings layered with washes inspired by dawn, dusk, and open sky, the pieces hover between abstraction and representation, all circling the idea of the “edge” where land meets water. More Info

🥂 Sparkling Wines in the Vines Bubbles meet the vineyard at Sparkling Pointe with a master class that goes beyond the glass. The experience pairs a guided vineyard walk and behind the scenes tour with tastings of the three classic Champagne grapes, poured both still and sparkling. More Info

🧀 Cheese Fondue Things get cozy at Pindar Vineyards with a fondue setup courtesy of The French Picnic. Enjoy warm, melty cheese with all the classic fixings, plus a glass of wine. More Info

Sunday

🍸 Prohibition on the North Fork History with a side of bootlegging? Starting at Hallockville Museum Farm, where historian Amy Folk unpacks why the North Fork was prime smuggling territory and Twin Stills Distillery pours samples with a little behind the still look. Then the night slips over to The Old Mill Inn for passed period canapés, three Prohibition-era cocktail options, and live jazz in the very kind of setting that feels like somebody should definitely be speaking in code. More Info

🍖 BBQ Brunch & Wine When brunch decides to go a little rogue, you get BBQ and wine sharing the same table. Happening at Tuckers Taproom, Chronicle Wines and Lenz Winery are teaming up for a smoky, sippable spread. More Info

🎨 Art Lab in the Cottage Tucked just beyond the main house at Hotel Moraine, the Cottage turns into a laid back creative hideout with Artfully Long Island and Petite North Fork. These Art Lab sessions lean are hands on, thoughtfully curated projects, good materials, and just enough guidance to let things take shape. More Info

🥂 Bubbles & Beyond Sparkling wine steps out of celebration mode and into the spotlight with an interactive tasting. Suhru & Lieb Vineyards, the experience breaks down how bubbles are made, how they evolve, and why they deserve more than just a quick toast. More Info

🖼️ Artist Talk Film meets fine art as Boris Torres brings his cinematic eye to an intimate artist talk at Sound View, followed by a look inside his studio. Known for transforming movie stills into quiet, emotionally layered paintings, his work lingers on light, gesture, and the in between moments that often go unnoticed. More Info

🍩 Wine & Doughnuts Sweet meets structured in this unexpected pairing, at Pindar Vineyards, three wines are matched with three distinctly crafted doughnuts from NoFo DoCo. More Info

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

Local Spotlight

Team 870 Wins Big Again 🤖

There’s something about a group of local students quietly building something extraordinary after school, and then going out and beating the best of the best.

That’s exactly what Southold’s Robotics Team 870 just did, taking home first place at the New York Tech Valley Regional and earning the Creativity Award for their robot design. Not only did they dominate the competition, but they did it with a level of innovation that stood out among some of the top teams in the state. Two regional banners later, this isn’t just a good season, it’s a statement.

Next up Houston, where they’ll go head to head with the top robotics teams in the world at the FIRST World Championships.

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

Live Music + Fun Breakdown

Thursday

One Woman Winery | Tim Siciliano Trio | 3-6 PM
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

Friday

Corey Creek | Julia King | 4-8 PM
Main & Mill | Deanna Hudson | 5-7 PM
Tuckers Taproom | Jason Dorsa | 5 PM
North Cliff Vineyards | Just E | 5-8 PM
Little Fish | Gene Casey | 6-9 PM
Touch of Venice | The Libations | 6-9 PM
One Woman Winery | Alex Minasian Duo | 6-9 PM
Southold Social | K + R Music | 6-9 PM
Jamesport Farm Brewery | Trivia | 6:30-8:30 PM
Clovis Point | FRIENDS Trivia | 6:30-8 PM
Clam Bar at Alize Brewing | Frank Palmeri | 7-10 PM
Lucharitos | Karaoke with DJ Henry Eau | 9 PM

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships