Together With

Good Morning, North Fork! Mondays are for fresh starts and well timed distractions. This is the latter.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

• A Tequila Story

• Vigils and Walkouts

• Youth Lead Environmental Efforts

Ready, Set, Go!

Sponsored By Sophie’s Rest

Where good food and good times never rest 🍕🍻

Craving a local gem with history and flavor? Look no further than Sophie's Rest in Southold. Nestled at 730 Main Bayview Road, Sophie's is renowned for its thin cracker crust pizzas that locals can't get enough of. But that's not all, Tuesday night prime rib is a tradition you won't want to miss. With a cozy atmosphere and friendly staff, it's the perfect spot to unwind, and savor delicious food. Whether you're a longtime resident or just passing through, Sophie's offers a taste of local charm and culinary delight. Stop by or call 631-765-5700.

Website

The Lowdown

A Tequila Story 🥃

This winter, a quiet but meaningful launch connected the North Fork to Jalisco, Mexico as part time Orient resident Sofia Paloma Juárez introduced Casa J Tequila, a super premium spirit rooted in both craft and personal history.

After years building luxury beverage brands and launching ventures of her own, Juárez felt pulled to reconnect with her Mexican heritage and the father she’d grown up largely apart from. Time spent together in Jalisco, bonding over family recipes, culture, and artisanal tequila, sparked the idea to create a brand that honored that lineage while carving out space for women in a spirits category still largely marketed toward men.

The tequila itself is produced in small batches using traditional methods and agave sourced from Jalisco’s lowlands, resulting in a spirit meant to capture the place and memories that inspired it.

Get the full story 👉 Northforker

Vigils and Walkouts 🕯

Friday morning, more than 80 Greenport High School students walked out of class as part of a National Shutdown calling on Congress to stop funding ICE. By evening, nine separate vigils were held across the East End to honor people who have died in ICE custody or during enforcement actions over the past year.

The Greenport walkout was organized almost overnight by senior Nicholas Dowling, who said the goal was simple: make it clear that students are not okay with what’s happening and want change. Some students marched with signs through the village; others quietly left school and dispersed.

That same message carried into the evening vigils, organized by longtime advocate Anita Boyer. At each location, participants observed a moment of silence, heard prayers and poetry, and listened as the names of those who died were read aloud.

Speakers emphasized empathy, nonviolence, and sustained community action.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

Youth Lead Environmental Efforts 🌱

The North Fork is full of kids who notice things, and are ready to do something about them.

They’re the ones wondering why oyster shells end up in the trash instead of back in the water. The ones frustrated by dog waste left along trailheads. And the ones heading off to college thinking hard about how to protect the place they grew up.

Last fall, the Southold Town Conservation Advisory Council shifted its focus toward education and civic engagement, opening the door for deeper youth involvement. One of the first results was the creation of a Youth Environmental Task Force, spearheaded by Mattituck High School junior Trevor Fitzgerald and made up of students from all four Southold Town high schools.

The group met for the first time in December and again in January, where students shared concerns and zeroed in on projects they want to tackle by the end of summer. Top priorities include cleaning up and better marking town trails, addressing litter and dog waste, removing invasive species, and expanding oyster shell recycling to help build a community oyster reef at Cedar Beach.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

^{_{Stories with a ($) require a third party subscription}}

Happenings: This Week

Thursday

🔥 Fired Up Game day is getting a head start at Léon 1909 with a Hearth BBQ Night. Hearth grilled ribs and BBQ chicken take center stage, bringing all the smoky, saucy, crowd pleasing favorites you’d want for the Super Bowl, just a little ahead of schedule. More Info

🎤 Take the Mic If you’ve been craving a night that feels a little more alive, Open Mic at The Halyard is serving poetry, prose, and song in one, curated lineup. Hosted by Julia King, this is your chance to hear local poets, authors, and singer-songwriters share what they’ve been working on, and maybe even add your own voice to the mix. Interested in reading or performing please email [email protected]. 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

Winter Workshops 🎬

The North Fork Arts Center is leaning into winter with two hands on workshops built around storytelling, performance, and connection, both kicking off February 14.

✍️ How People Talk: 6 Week Screenwriting Workshop
Led by Tony Spiridakis and Bill Finkelstein, this six week workshop zooms in on dialogue, the kind that feels real, revealing, and worth listening to. Using scenes from films that shaped their own work, the focus is on what works, why it works, and how great dialogue carries story, character, and tension.

🎭 6 Week Acting Workshop
Actor and educator Diogo Martins leads this welcoming, all-levels acting workshop designed as a progressive exploration of storytelling through monologue and scene work. Whether you’re brand new, brushing off the cobwebs, or actively working, the emphasis is on growth, confidence, and finding truth in performance.

Whether you’ve been writing scenes in your head, itching to get back on stage, or just looking for a creative outlet this winter, these workshops offer a reason to show up, learn something new, and be part of the local arts community

North Fork Chili Cook-Off Winners 🔥

Cold weather didn’t stand a chance at this year’s Chili Cook-Off, where local restaurants and fire departments brought their best bowls, and bold flavors to the table. After a full day of sampling, judging, and very tough decisions, the winners are in:

🍽 Restaurants (Judges & People’s Choice)
🥉 Silver Sand Motel
🥈 Dawg Daze BBQ
🥇 Ellen’s on Front

Fire Departments 🚒

People’s Choice
🥉 Matituck Fire Department
🥈 Greenport Fire Department
🥇 Southold Fire Department

Judge’s Choice
🥉 East Marion Fire Department
🥈 Greenport Fire Department
🥇 Southold Fire Department

Congrats to all the winners, and to everyone who brought the heat.

^{_{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

Monday

The Watershed | TBA | 6-9 PM
Ram’s Head | Bingo | 6 PM

Tuesday

First & South | Jazz E | 5-8 PM
Eastern Front Brewing | Trivia with Emily | 6 PM
Front Street Station | Music Bingo | 7 PM

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign Up

Want your business in the North Fork Buzz? Lets Chat

Did I miss something? Let me know at [email protected] 

THANKS!

Thanks for reading the North Fork Buzz today. Like what you read? Send it to a friend!

Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships