Together With

Good Morning, North Fork! Happy holidays, Friends! Whether you’re wrapping gifts, unwrapping leftovers, or just trying to remember what day it is, we’re wishing you a season full of happy moments, good company, and a little extra peace. The Buzz is taking a few days off to spend time with family (and “research” cookies), but don’t worry, we’ll be back in your inbox Monday with all the North Fork goodness you need to know.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

• ADU Rewrite

• Scaling Oysters

• Take a Shot at Cancer

Ready, Set, Go!

P.S. Happy Birthday to Alex Georgoulakos 🎂

Sponsored By Main Roots Salon

Good Hair Days Start Here 💇‍♀️

Need a trim, a tone, or just a good ol’ fashioned blowout? Head to Main Roots Salon in Southold, where great hair and good vibes go hand in hand.

This cozy, modern spot is owned by local hairstylist Kerry Conrardy, who opened the salon with one goal: make great hair feel easy and fun.

Specialties include:
– Blowouts that actually last
– Sunkissed highlights and bold color
– Curly cuts, braids, and kid-friendly trims
– A vibe that’s relaxed, not rushed

Whether you’re going full glam or just need a touch-up before your wine tasting weekend, they’ve got you. And the best part? The vibe’s as fresh as your post-cut mirror selfie.

Instagram | Facebook

The Lowdown

ADUs Without the Headache 🏠

Greenport Village may be cracking open the door (and the garage) to more attainable housing.

Village leaders are gearing up to rewrite local code so accessory dwelling units can be created in existing accessory buildings, (garages with lofts, backyard cottages, or that empty space collecting cobwebs) without needing Planning Board or ZBA approval.

The proposal would allow ADUs as of right, as long as they meet safety codes. The goal: help working residents stay put, not create more weekend crash pads.

The committee also floated a bigger move: allowing multi-family homes in all residential districts, undoing years of zoning changes that quietly nudged Greenport toward single-family only living.

Meanwhile, Southold Town is eyeing similar ADU changes of its own, aiming to simplify approvals, cut red tape, and even offer interest free loans to help homeowners build. A public hearing is expected in the new year.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

Scaling Oysters 🦪

Eight years ago, Peter Stein launched Peeko Oysters out of the old fishing station, moved his family east, and got to work. Fast-forward through a pandemic, a booming oyster appetite, and a lot of early mornings on the bay, and Stein is now quietly rewriting the rules of oyster farming on Long Island.

Here’s the thing: everyone wants local oysters, but most small oyster farmers don’t want to be farmers and packers and marketers and delivery drivers at 1 a.m. That’s where Stein’s big idea comes in.

Instead of every grower doing everything, Peeko now works with small one and two person oyster operations in a contract growing model. Peeko supplies the seed, the farmers grow the oysters, and Peeko handles the messy middle: sorting, counting, packing, marketing, and delivery.

One partner nearly doubled production in a single year, and got his nights and weekends back.

But Stein didn’t stop there.

He also installed a FlipFarm system, a high-tech floating basket setup from New Zealand that lets oysters be flipped, cleaned, and harvested at lightning speed. What used to take hours now takes minutes. Trays that once wrecked backs can be rotated in seconds. Same crew, same boats, way more oysters.

Oyster farming cleans the water. It creates year-round jobs. It keeps working waterfronts working. And now, it’s helping smaller growers stay afloat instead of burning out.

Get the full story 👉 Northforker

Suffolk’s Digital Bookshelf 📚

If you’ve been “reading more” this year and that reading happened on your phone while waiting in line, you’re not alone.

Suffolk County library users just hit a record breaking 4 million digital checkouts in 2025 through Livebrary, that’s ebooks, audiobooks, and other digital reads flying off virtual shelves at a pace of more than 11,000 items a day.

Thanks to 24/7 access through the Libby app, Suffolk readers have been borrowing everything from beach reads to thrillers to kids’ favorites.

The most-borrowed title of the year? Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, proving once again that romance reigns supreme. Romance topped the genre charts, followed closely by mystery, thrillers, fantasy, and plenty of reads for kids and teens. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

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Trivia Time 🧠

Your brain deserves more than scrolling and skimming. Each week we’ll hit you with one question designed to make you pause, scratch your head, and maybe argue with whoever’s sitting next to you. Think of it as a quick mental pit stop: a chance to flex your random knowledge, test your memory, or finally use that obscure fact you learned in 7th grade.

Just click one of the multiple-choice answers to see if you got it right!

Find more info on the answer at the very end of the newsletter

Last Week’s Results

Last week we asked: In the classic song “The 12 Days of Christmas,” what is given on the 9th day?

Answer: Ladies dancing

45% of you got it right, For the other 55% no worries, with that song, it’s basically a festive memory test disguised as a carol.

Happenings: Weekend Preview

Friday

🎄 Holiday Light Stroll Bundle up and get ready to stroll through pure holiday magic at the Mattituck Holiday Light Stroll. Expect a neighborhood glowing with 200+ holiday inflatables, over-the-top decorations, plus snow and fog machines for full winter wonderland vibes. Best of all? 100% of proceeds benefit the North Fork Animal Welfare League. More Info

🧠 Holiday Trivia Keep the holiday cheer going with a festive Trivia Night at Clovis Point Vineyard. Gather your smartest friends, sip some wine, and put your holiday knowledge to the test, how many questions can you get right? More Info

Saturday

🥂 Caviar Experience Caviar dreams and Champagne wishes are on the menu at the New Year Caviar Experience at Sparkling Pointe. Enjoy a guided journey through world class caviar selections with all the classic accompaniments, perfectly paired with a flight of four prestige sparkling wines. More Info

🔄 New Year’s Reset Kick off the new year at Chronicle Wines’, New Year’s Reset. The workshop is led by Yvonne Lieblein, blending storytelling, music, and science backed insights to help you create resolutions that actually stick. You’ll sip a glass of Chronicle wine while writing up to three intentions, then seal them in an envelope to be mailed back to you on July 1. More Info

Sunday

🎶 Music & Magic The holidays are going out with a standing ovation at Holiday Revels at the North Fork Arts Center. Led by the incredible performers of the Long Island Baroque Ensemble (LIBE), this festive afternoon blends timeless holiday favorites with fresh new works, all performed by a dazzling mix of singers, instrumentalists, and even circus artists. More Info

🍫 Chocolate Pairing Treat yourself at a chocolate pairing at Pindar Vineyards. Enjoy three gourmet chocolates from Chocology Unlimited, thoughtfully matched with three Pindar wines. 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

Holiday Giving 💕

The holidays brought some meaningful local love to the North Fork Breast Health Coalition, thanks to a generous donation from the Peconic River Sportsman’s Club.

At its December holiday gathering, the club presented the Coalition with $22,700, funds raised through its annual “Take a Shot at Cancer” fundraiser, a September clay shooting event that’s become a beloved tradition. Two other organizations, the Babylon Breast Coalition and Lucia’s Angels, also received matching donations, bringing the total given this year to $68,100.

Now in its 11th year, Take a Shot at Cancer has raised more than $400,000 for breast cancer support across Long Island. For the North Fork Breast Health Coalition, that support stays close to home, helping local residents access education, screenings, and care right here in the community.

^{_{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

Greenport Harbor Brewing (Pec) | Holiday Karaoke | 5-7 PM
First & South | TBA | 5-8 PM
Little Fish | Christmas Karaoke with John Khoury | 7 PM
Clam Bar at Alize Brewing | Karaoke with DJ Henry Eau | 7-10 PM
Front Street Station | Music Bingo | 7 PM

Friday

Raphael Winery | Lydia Von Hof | 1-4 PM
Corey Creek | Jeff LeBlanc | 4-8 PM
Suhru & Lieb | Zach Glassman | 5-7 PM
Main & Mill | Deanna Hudson | 5-7 PM
Tucker’s Taproom | Jason Dorsa | 5-8 PM
Eastern Front Brewing | Bruce MacDonald | 6 PM
Ram’s Head | Trivia with Think Inc. | 6 PM
Southold Social | K + R Music | 6-9 PM
Touch of Venice | Alex Alexander | 6-9 PM
Little Fish | Gene Casey | 6-9 PM
The Clam Bar at Alize Brewing | Gissel Garcia | 7-10 PM

Saturday

Raphael Winery | Audawind | 1-4 PM
Corey Creek | Haig Mathosian | 1-5 PM
Bedell Cellars | Erin Chase | 1-5 PM
Pindar Vineyards | Earthtones | 1-5 PM
Jason’s Vineyard | Emy McB | 1-5 PM
Terra Vite Vineyard | Jeff LeBlanc | 1:30-4:30 PM
Clovis Point Vineyard | Perfect Strangers | 1-5:30 PM
Jamesport Farm Brewery | TBA | 2-5 PM
Hotel Moraine | Love’s Crossing | 5-7 PM
Greenport Harbor Brewing (Pec) | The Realm | 5-8 PM
Tucker’s Taproom | Steve’s Off the Couch | 5-8 PM
Little Fish | Emy McB | 6-9 PM
Eastern Front Brewing | Kat & James | 7 PM
The Clam Bar at Alize Brewing | Sahara | 7-10 PM

Sunday

Tucker’s Taproom | Karl Blessing | 1-4 PM
Raphael Wine | Danny Casey | 1-4 PM
Bedell Cellars | Kelli Baker | 1-5 PM
Corey Creek | Gene Casey | 1-5 PM
Pindar Vineyards | Acoustic Soul | 1-5 PM
Jason’s Vineyard | Mike Taylor | 1-5 PM
Clovis Point Vineyard | TJ Brown | 1-5:30 PM
Jamesport Farm Brewery | TBA | 2-5 PM
Greenport Harbor Brewing (Pec) | Mile 0 Band | 3-6 PM

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THANKS!

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships

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