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🐝 Dream Big Don't Build

🐝 Dream Big Don't Build

A Century of Big Plans, AI in the Classroom, Nominations Are Open

Thomas Loncar
March 03, 2026

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Good Morning, North Fork! Reading this counts as being productive. We don’t make the rules.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

A Century of Big Plans
AI in the Classroom
Nominations Are Open

Ready, Set, Go!

The Lowdown

A Century of Big Plans 🏠

For decades, the northern stretch of East Marion’s Cove Beach has been the kind of place people dream big about, and then don’t build on.

Now, the 100 plus acres known as Cove Beach Estates have sold for $23.45 million. The Real Deal reports the buyer is Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan. It’s the latest chapter for land that’s seen more stalled plans than shovels in the ground.

Seller Raoul Witteveen, says conservation, not construction, defines this sale. Witteveen, a longtime preservation advocate, had already placed 69 acres under Peconic Land Trust stewardship and scaled development plans back from 36 homes to just 10.

In the early ’90s, Annie Leibovitz circled it by plane with broker Enzo Morabito. They spotted it from above, but foreclosure drama kept the deal from landing.

Go back further and it gets even wilder.

In 1893, Saint Thomas Episcopal Church bought the land for $4,485.50 to run a summer home for nearly 200 children at a time. By the 1950s, there were plans for a ferry terminal to Old Saybrook. Billy Joel and Christy Brinkley owned 70 acres briefly in the mid-’80s but never filed plans.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

AI in the Classroom 🤖

Artificial intelligence isn’t creeping into North Fork classrooms, it’s already there. The real question local districts are asking isn’t whether to use it, but how to use it without letting it take over the thinking.

Greenport Superintendent Beth Doyle says the goal is balance. AI can support brainstorming, revision and research, but students still need to be the ones doing the actual work.

Southold is framing AI like the internet: a powerful tool, not a shortcut. Superintendent Anthony Mauro says structure is fine, but letting AI complete assignments crosses a line.

Mattituck-Cutchogue started with faculty first. Director of Curriculum Ilana Finnegan says much of the early focus has been easing fear and clarifying responsible use, especially around privacy. Students are using AI, but not nearly as much as people might assume. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

A Century of Civic Muscle 💬

The League of Women Voters is marking Women’s History Month with a reminder that democracy doesn’t run on autopilot.

On Thursday, March 5, the League of Women Voters of the Hamptons, Shelter Island & North Fork will host “LWV: History, Mission and Future” at Peconic Landing’s auditorium.

The program is open to members, prospective members and anyone in the Shelter Island or North Fork communities who’s curious about how to get more involved locally. Expect a walk through the League’s 100 plus year history, a breakdown of its nonpartisan mission and a look at where it’s headed next.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

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Happenings: Upcoming Events

🍽 3rd Annual Pop-Up Dinner If your ideal Friday night involves farm fresh plates, local wine, and a room buzzing with good energy, this is your move. On Friday, March 13 at Lenz Winery, Chef Davie Cichanowicz teams up with CAST’s program chefs and the rising star students of the North Fork Culinary Program for a farm to table dinner with curated wine pairings. More Info

🥶🍀 Leprechaun Leap Cold water, big cheers, and questionable life choices for a great cause. On Saturday, March 14, brave souls take the plunge at Miamogue Point for the Jamesport St. Patrick’s Parade Fundraiser Polar Plunge, then thaw out properly with live music and an extended happy hour at The Watershed. More Info

🥧🍷 Pi Day Pairing Math never tasted this good. On Saturday, March 14, Main & Mill turns 3.14 into a full on flavor equation with iconic Briermere Farms pies paired perfectly with Main & Mill wines. More Info

🩺 Meet the Doctors Ever wondered who’s behind the exam room door in Mattituck? On Monday, March 16, the Mattituck-Laurel Library hosts an afternoon with the physicians of Stony Brook Medicine, offering a chance to put faces to the names caring for our community. More Info

🌶️ Flavors of India This your passport to bold flavor, no plane ticket required. On Wednesday, March 18, Flavor Fork hosts a hands on Flavors of India cooking class that makes bold, comforting dishes feel totally doable, no culinary degree required. More Info

✍️ Nameless Writers Salon #13 Cozy up at Sound View on Thursday, March 19, as the Nameless Writers Salon returns with its latest theme, “To Be Human Is To Love.” salon style readings, big feelings, and thoughtful conversation, all guided by rotating hosts Kara Hoblin and Gianna Volpe. More Info

🍽️ Dinner at the Market Some dinners deserve stretchy pants. On Thursday, March 19, Lombardi’s Love Lane rolls out its very first Dinner at the Market, with Lauren Lombardi and her market crew debuting a killer, thoughtfully planned menu right in the heart of Love Lane. More Info

🌾 The Finances of Farming Behind every farm stand bouquet and sweet corn haul is a spreadsheet that tells the real story. On Thursday, March 19, the Cutchogue Civic Association hosts The Finances of Farming at the Cutchogue New Suffolk Library, with a panel discussion led by Dan Heston of Peconic Land Trust. More Info

🌅 Spring Equinox When the light shifts, so should you. On Friday, March 20, New Moon Wellness brings a Spring Equinox yoga and sound healing experience to Sound View, blending breathwork, a warming yang-inspired flow, and a closing crystal sound bath as the season officially turns. More Info

🤠 Country Barn Dance Dust off those boots, the barn’s about to get loud in the best way. On Saturday, March 21, Hallockville Museum Farm hosts a Spring Country Barn Dance with live music and traditional dancing led by famed caller Chart Guthrie, who’ll have beginners and two-stepping pros spinning in no time. 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}}

Local Spotlight

Best of the Best Nominations Are Open 🏆

If you’ve ever had strong opinions about the best lobster roll, workout studio, or go to happy hour on the North Fork, your moment has arrived.

Nominations are officially open for this year’s Dan’s Best of the Best North Fork, the annual reader driven roundup that shines a spotlight on the local businesses people love most. From restaurants and wineries to wellness, retail, and beyond, this is where loyal customers turn into loud supporters.

The process starts with nominations (that’s happening now), followed by final voting later in the season, so if you’ve got a favorite spot that deserves some recognition, now is the time to show them some love.

Local businesses, consider this your friendly nudge to rally the regulars.

^{_{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

Tuesday

Eastern Front Brewing | Trivia with Emily | 6 PM
Front Street Station | Music Bingo | 7 PM

Wednesday

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships