Together With

Good Morning, North Fork! The Buzz is doing a little holiday schedule shuffle, this week and next, you’ll only see us Monday + Tuesday while we swap the inbox hustle for family time, cookies, holiday cheer, and zero regrets about seconds.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

• 55 Years of Service

• Gleaning Season

• Mattituck Mushrooms

Ready, Set, Go!

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The Lowdown

55 Years of Service 🤝

After more than five decades of combined service, the Southold Town Board closed the book on an era.

At Tuesday’s final meeting of the year, longtime Town Board member and Fishers Island Town Justice Louisa Evans took her final bow after an incredible 31 years of service.

She wasn’t the only one being celebrated. Also heading off into their next chapters are Kevin Webster, chair of the Tax Assessor’s office since 2005; Town Trustee Elizabeth Peeples; and Councilman Greg Doroski, bringing the group’s combined service total to 55 years.

Newly elected officials will be sworn in on January 2, officially ushering in a new chapter. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Gleaning Season🥦

Last Thursday, Southold High School’s National Honor Society students headed out to Wesnofske Farms in Peconic to keep a feel good tradition alive, gleaning fresh produce and putting it directly into the hands of neighbors who need it most.

The annual trip, now in its 12th year, started after English teacher and NHS advisor James Stahl heard about gleaning on the radio and thought, why not here? With the help of fellow teacher Jason Wesnofske and his family’s farm, the idea quickly became a beloved hands on service project students actually look forward to.

About 25 students lucked out with sunshine as they harvested Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and romanesco cauliflower. A dozen buckets of freshly picked veggies were loaded onto the tractor and delivered straight to CAST’s food pantry in Southold. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

A Big Win for Horseshoe Crabs 🦀

In a whirlwind of end of year decisions, Governor Kathy Hochul signed one bill that environmentalists are celebrating, and vetoed another that left many on the East End disappointed.

First, the win: Hochul officially signed the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act, banning the use of horseshoe crabs for bait and biomedical research in New York State. The ban will roll out gradually over the next four years, with a full stop on harvesting by 2029. Conservation groups are calling it a huge victory for a prehistoric species whose numbers have dropped sharply on Long Island.

But not all the news was celebratory. Hochul once again vetoed legislation that would have restored state recognition to the Montaukett Indian Tribe, marking the seventh time a New York governor has blocked the measure. The Montauketts lost recognition more than a century ago following a 1910 court case tied to the seizure of their ancestral lands in Montauk, including burial grounds overlooking Lake Montauk.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

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Happenings: This Week

Monday

💐 Holiday Arrangement Head over to Rowan Craft Boutique for their Holiday Arrangement Class. Slow down, get cozy, and create a beautiful seasonal arrangement to take home. More Info

🎉 Christmas Onesie Party Slip into your coziest Christmas onesie and head out to The Watershed for a holiday party. And because one reason to celebrate isn’t enough, they’re also throwing a birthday bash for musician Erin Chase. 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}}

Happenings: Upcoming Events

❄️ Polar Plunge Bundle up, bring your crew, and get ready for a splash of icy fun on Thursday, January 1 at the Ram’s Head Inn for their Annual Polar Plunge. Come for the adrenaline and the bragging rights then settle into some warm drinks. More Info

🥞 Pajama Party Brunch Roll out of bed on Thursday, January 1 , keep the PJs on, and show up ready for comfort food, and a morning that feels like a sleepover at First & South’s Pajama Party Brunch. More Info

🎭 Auditions If you’ve been waiting for your moment to step into a bold, history-making production, this is it. The North Fork Community Theatre is calling all performers: auditions are coming up for the prizewinning musical 1776 on Saturday, January 3 and Sunday, January 4. More Info

🧘 Breathe In, Stress Out Join North Fork Bodies in Motion for a one hour Authentic Qigong Meditation session designed to reverse the effects of stress and promote self healing on Friday, January 9. Learn breathing techniques, sitting and standing meditations, Tai Chi/Qigong self-healing practices, and anxiety-reducing exercises, all with a focus on mindful awareness. No experience necessary, bring a folding chair and water. Cost is $25 and pre-registration is required. 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

Mattituck Mushrooms Gets the Snail 🍄🐌

Mattituck Mushrooms just earned Slow Food East End’s Snail of Approval, and it’s basically the gold star for doing things the right way, thoughtfully, sustainably, and without cutting corners.

What makes it extra special? This all started with creativity, not farming. Founders Agathe and Anthony are sculptors, and their four acre Mattituck property became an unexpected home for mushrooms that now show up all over the North Fork, from market stands to restaurant plates.

They keep things refreshingly simple: solar-powered operations, clean well water, no chemicals, no shortcuts, no forcing nature to move faster than it wants to. Everything is seasonal, waste gets reused, and packaging won’t outlive the planet. Slow food in the truest sense.

The Snail of Approval isn’t about being flashy, it’s about care, patience, and community. And Mattituck Mushrooms checks every box. Proof that when you grow food with intention, people can taste the difference.

^{_{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 | Erin Chase | 6-9 PM
The Ram’s Head Inn | Bingo with Benji | 6 PM

Tuesday

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

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THANKS!

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships