Together With

Good Morning, North Fork! The 4th of July falls on a Friday this year (yes, this Friday), and The Buzz team will be off celebrating with grilled things and chilled drinks. That means there will be no newsletter this Friday.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

• CPF Funds

• Shakespeare In The Park

• Fireworks + Parades

Ready, Set, Go!

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The Lowdown

Greenport Wants CPF Funds 💰

Things got tense at Thursday night’s meeting between Greenport Village and Southold Town officials. At the center of the simmering debate: how to spend the millions collected through the Community Preservation Fund (CPF) a 2% real estate transfer tax meant to protect the East End’s land, water, and community character.

A new state law says 10% of CPF revenue must go to “disadvantaged communities.” That includes Greenport.

Mayor Kevin Stuessi says the village has been paying into this fund for 30 years and hasn’t seen a single dollar. Now he wants money for historic preservation and water quality projects, two things Greenport desperately needs.

But Southold officials? They’re sticking to tradition: farmland and open space first. Water quality? They've handled it through other funding sources.

After lots of back and forth, both sides agreed:
- Form a working group
- Identify “shovel-ready” projects in Greenport
- Hold a CPF-specific work session soon

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

Othello Under the Stars 🎭

Northeast Stage is back this summer with Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Othello, a story full of love, jealousy, betrayal, and some of the juiciest drama ever written. Think Bravo-level tension, but with swords and iambic pentameter.

Catch the show at 7 PM this July in Greenport, Southold, Riverhead, Westhampton Beach, and Patchogue. It’s totally free, totally outdoors, and totally worth bringing a blanket and some snacks.

The cast is working with cue scripts, a throwback method where actors only get the last line before their own. That means no stage directions, just vibes. It gives the show an energetic, spontaneous feel that’s different every night. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Come for the Wine, Stay for the Jazz 🍷

Once a humble shed with a few stools and a whole lot of charm, One Woman Wines & Vineyard in Southold has officially leveled up.

The new tasting room opened quietly in December 2024, and it’s been buzzing ever since. Set in a beautifully revamped red barn just steps from the original shed. With a full bar, indoor seating, patio tables, bathrooms, and even a café serving Italian coffee and fresh-baked treats.

Owner Claudia Purita, who’s been growing grapes and doing it all since day one, started dreaming about this space back in 2007. Life got in the way, but the vision never left. And now, with her daughter Gabriella at her side, the dream is very much a reality.

On Friday nights, the tasting room flips the script and becomes The Half Note, a cozy jazz club in honor of Claudia’s late husband, Frank Purita.

Get the full story 👉 Northforker

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Happenings: This Week

Monday

🌭 Hot Dog Eating Contest Think you can inhale unlimited dogs in 10 minutes? PORT’s Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest is back and it’s bringing the heat (and the meat). We’re talking prizes, bragging rights, and the kind of fame that only comes with eating an absurd amount of processed meat in front of a crowd. Register in person or by email. Contest kicks off at 8 PM. More Info

Tuesday

🎪 Carnival & Fireworks The Greenport Fire Department Carnival is back July 1–5 at the Polo Grounds on Moores Lane, and it's bringing all the small-town summer magic: rides, games, funnel cake, and fried everything from 6–10 PM each night. Catch the sky lighting up with fireworks on Wednesday and Saturday. Proceeds support Phenix Hook & Ladder and Relief Hose companies. More Info

Thursday

🍖 Dawg Daze BBQ Pop-Up Get your napkins ready Dawg Daze BBQ is popping up at Biggie’s every Thursday, starting this week. Think smoky, saucy, finger-lickin' goodness served fresh weekly. Come hungry and get your BBQ fix. 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}}

Fireworks + Parades

This Friday is the 4th of July, and we’ve got your guide to all the local fireworks, parades, and patriotic fun. Here’s where to catch the action:

🎆 Wednesday, July 2- Catch the fireworks show at Greenport Fire Department’s Annual Carnival at Moore’s Lane Polo Grounds.

🎉 Friday, July 4- The 27th Annual Southold Village Merchants' July 4th Parade kicks off at Noon on Main Road, marching proudly from Boisseau Avenue to Tuckers Lane.

 🎉 Friday, July 4- New Suffolk’s Annual Parade, kicks off at 11 AM at the corner of Tuthill Road and New Suffolk Road. From there, it winds through the village in classic hometown fashion before ending at New Suffolk Beach for refreshments and a good old-fashioned reading of the Declaration of Independence.

 🚤 Friday, July 4- The Peconic Bay Sailing Association invites boaters to join their 4th Annual Boat Parade. Gather near Buoy N4 at 11:30 AM for a 12:00 PM kickoff as a festive fleet cruises through New Suffolk Harbor.

 🎆 Friday, July 4- Catch the Mattituck Sanitation Fireworks show at the Cutchogue Skunk Lane Causeway.

🎆 Saturday, July 5- Catch round 2 of the fireworks show at Greenport Fire Department’s Annual Carnival at Moore’s Lane Polo Grounds.

🎆 Saturday, July 5- Celebrate in style at Peconic Bay Vineyards’ 4th Annual Fireworks Show. Reserve a table for dinner and drinks ($145), or go casual, park your car ($20), bring a picnic, and claim your spot on the grass.

🎆 Saturday, July 12- The Orient Harbor Fireworks return for a spectacular summer night show over the water.

🎆 Saturday, July 12- Don’t miss the magic of Shelter Island’s fireworks show on at Crescent Beach.

Live Music Breakdown

Monday

Minnow | Jon Divello | 5-8 PM
The Watershed | Erin Chase | 6-9 PM
PORT | DJ Chilly | 9 PM

Tuesday

First and South | Helen Hooke & Gene Casey | 6-9 PM
Piano Bar at Sound View | Rob Europe | 6-8:30 PM

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THANKS!

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Tom Loncar- Publisher