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🐝 Dream Green

🐝 Dream Green

Preserving Plum Island, Revamped Repair Shop, National Stroke Care Honor

Thomas Loncar
July 21, 2026

Together With

Good Morning, North Fork! If you ever waited for a song to come on the radio so you could hit "Record," congratulations, you learned patience early.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

Preserving Plum Island
Revamped Repair Shop
National Stroke Care Honor

Ready, Set, Go!

The Lowdown

Preserving Plum Island 🏝️

Suffolk County is officially making a play to acquire Plum Island once the federal government declares the property surplus.

County Executive Ed Romaine announced the county is preparing a business and operations plan ahead of the expected closure of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, the federal research facility that's operated there since 1954.

The move has the backing of the Preserve Plum Island Coalition, a group of roughly 130 organizations that spent years fighting to keep the island from being sold to private developers.

The coalition called the announcement a "hallelujah moment" and says county ownership could open the door to conservation, research, education, and carefully managed public access.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

Revamped Repair Shop 🔧

Eastern Tire in Cutchogue is entering a new chapter with new ownership and hundreds of thousands of dollars in upgrades already underway.

New owner Elmer Carrillo has taken over the longtime repair shop, while property owner Justin Mirro has already invested about $350,000 into renovations.

Carrillo, who also owns LI Wrap Pros in Mineola, says the goal is simple: provide reliable repairs, tires, brakes, and maintenance with customer service at the center of everything.

Mirro hopes to transform the building at the front of the property into a coffee shop and eventually host Cars & Coffee gatherings, giving classic car owners another reason to cruise out on a weekend morning. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

National Stroke Care Honor 🏥

Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital is adding another milestone to its growing list of achievements.

Just four months after earning its Primary Stroke Center designation, the Greenport hospital has received the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Rural Recognition Bronze Award, recognizing hospitals that meet national standards for rapid stroke diagnosis and treatment.

The award highlights the hospital's ability to deliver fast, evidence based stroke care despite the unique challenges of serving a rural community, where longer travel times and limited access to specialists can make every minute count. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Learning to Sail ⛵️

For one week each summer, Dering Harbor becomes an outdoor classroom where New York City middle schoolers trade sidewalks for sailboats.

Through New Initiatives, a free program run by the Shelter Island Yacht Club and Hudson River Community Sailing, up to 18 students spend the week learning to skipper small sailboats while building confidence, independence, and friendships along the way.

The days are filled with hands on sailing lessons, life on the water, and a slower pace that's a world away from city life. Some students return year after year, while others dream of becoming sailing instructors or even owning a boat of their own one day.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

Monarch Waystation 🦋

ReWild North Fork is hosting a free Monarch Waystation Garden Tour & Talk on Thursday, July 23, from 4 to 6 PM at Custer Preserve in Southold.

Visitors will get a guided tour of the preserve's certified Monarch Waystation, learn why native milkweed is making a comeback, and pick up simple ways to create pollinator friendly spaces at home.

Last winter's monarch population jumped 64% after years of steep declines, giving conservationists plenty of reason for optimism. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

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Happenings: Upcoming Events

🥂Summer Soirée An evening of great food and good company, awaits at the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund's Summer Soirée on Thursday, July 30. This year's celebration honors local conservation legend Russ McCall. More Info

💐 Flower Arranging Workshop Fresh flowers and a little creativity go a long way at this hands on workshop hosted by the Cutchogue New Suffolk Library at North Fork Flower Farm on Thursday, July 30. Pick your blooms before learning the basics of floral design with guidance from the farm's staff. More Info

🥃 Bourbon & BBQ Smoky barbecue meets exceptional bourbon at Tucker's Taproom on Thursday, July 30 for a special pairing dinner featuring Woodford Reserve. More Info

🤠 Line Dancing Kick off the weekend with boots, and music at Southold Historical Museum's Line Dancing in the Barn on Friday, July 31. More Info

🍷 Summer Benefit & Auction An evening of cocktails, fine wine, live music, and friendly bidding awaits at the Oysterponds Historical Society Summer Benefit & Auction on Saturday, August 1. More Info

🎭 Musical Theater Camp Young performers can turn big ideas into original productions at the North Fork Arts Center's Page to Stage Musical Theater Camp. Designed for ages 7–12, with two sessions running August 3–7 and August 10–14. More Info

👕 Clothing Swap Give your closet a fresh start at the North Fork Environmental Council Clothing Swap on Monday, August 3, at Borghese Vineyard. Bring 3–5 gently used items and trade them for a few new to you finds. More Info

📸 Basic Portrait Photography Aspiring photographers ages 12–18 can sharpen their skills with Madison Fender during this hands on summer workshop series at CAST beginning Tuesday, August 4. More Info

🎉 National Night Out Meet the people behind the badge at National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4, at Tasker Park. Hosted by the Southold Town Police Department, this community evening brings neighbors and local officers together for family friendly activities. 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

Dream Green 💰

The ELIH Auxiliary's 2026 Dream Green Extravaganza is officially underway, with just 2,999 tickets available. Each $100 ticket helps support Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital while putting you in the running for one of 65 cash prizes. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or at participating North Fork retailers, making it easy to join in wherever you are.

The winning tickets will be drawn on Sunday, September 27 at 4:30 PM during the Maritime Festival at the ELIH Auxiliary Opportunity Shop in Greenport. You don't have to be there when the numbers are called, but you do need a ticket to have a chance.

^{_{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}}

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships

🐝 Dream Green

Preserving Plum Island, Revamped Repair Shop, National Stroke Care Honor

Together With

Sponsored By Sail NoFo

The Lowdown

Preserving Plum Island 🏝️

Revamped Repair Shop 🔧

National Stroke Care Honor 🏥

Learning to Sail ⛵️

Monarch Waystation 🦋

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

Sponsored By Pure & Peaceful

Happenings: Upcoming Events

Local Spotlight

Dream Green 💰

Live Music + Fun Breakdown

Tuesday

Wednesday

THANKS!