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Good Morning, North Fork! Quick clarification from last week: the Southold Zoning Update Advisory Committee is set to drop its report by October. Notice we said report, not draft. That means no new zoning update just yet, just the committee’s take on where things stand.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

• Budget Bust

• Neighbors Talk

• Rescue Drill

Ready, Set, Go!

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The Lowdown

Budget Bust in Mattituck 🚫

Mattituck Park District tried to pass a 2026 budget with a 28% tax hike. Voters said “no thanks.” Final tally: 143 against, 86 in favor.

That hike would’ve brought in an extra $176,300 to pay for things like new playground gear and smoother parking lots across the district’s nine parks.

A scaled-down budget proposal should hit the ballot in the next few weeks. If that one doesn’t fly either, the fallback is a 2% increase (the state tax cap). ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Rescue Drill, No Dummies Hurt 🌊

Sunday morning was smooth sailing for a big training day at Truman’s Beach. Southold, Greenport, and East Marion Fire Departments teamed up with the Southold Town Police for a joint water rescue exercise.

Southold got to show off its new boat, cruising out into the Sound for a simulated rescue near Coffee Pot lighthouse. Travel + response time? About 40 minutes start to finish.

Best part: every “victim” (a.k.a. training dummy) was recovered without a hitch, and the crews wrapped it all up under picture-perfect skies.

Get the full story 👉 Southold Fire Department

Neighbors Talk 🗣

The Cutchogue Civic Association rolled out results from a community survey that pulled in a hefty 75% response rate, at their summer get-together at McCall Wines.

What’s keeping folks up at night? Land use, zoning, development, and the environment. Also on the list: housing, waterfront issues, and local government.

Neighbors chimed in on everything from too much development to not enough affordable housing. Others wanted to know where the Community Preservation Fund’s millions are really going.

Then came the big-picture question: what’s the role of a civic association anyway? Leaders say their mission isn’t to pick sides but to inform and connect. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Orient’s Naturalist 🪲

Step into two upstairs rooms at the Oysterponds Historical Society and you’ll find the life’s work of one man: Roy Latham. Born in 1881, Roy had only a fourth-grade education but somehow became the East End’s go-to naturalist, his expertise respected by the Smithsonian and the American Museum of Natural History.

When he wasn’t farming potatoes or hauling fish, Roy was documenting everything: birds, bugs, shells, plants, even Indigenous artifacts. His tally? 10,000 birds, 30,000 artifacts, and 100,000 insects (including a moth and a fly that still carry his name).

The exhibit Orient’s Naturalist runs through October 31. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

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Happenings: This Week

Monday

🩸 A Different Kind of Pint Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. (Peconic) is trading beer pints for blood pints. From 12–6 PM, they’re hosting a community Blood Drive, it’s a chance to roll up your sleeve, save a life. More Info

Tuesday

🎪 Circus Splendiferous The Peconic Community School is bringing the wow factor with Circus Splendiferous. Expect jaw-dropping aerials in a lively outdoor show, then stick around as the kids get up close and hands-on in a workshop with the performers. More Info

🧘‍♀️Float & Breathe First the gong, then the calm. Sound View invites you to let stress drift away as waves of sound ripple through the air at their Floating Sound Bath. You can float in the pool on a lounger or sink into stillness by the water’s edge while the vibrations do their work, melting tension, clearing the mind, and restoring balance. More Info

Wednesday

🏌️Golf & Good Deeds Back for its 45th year, the Southold & Greenport Rotary Golf Classic tees off at Island’s End in East Marion. For $245, you get the works: green fees, cart, driving range, lunch, cocktail hour (with apps, of course), dinner, raffles, prizes, and a goody bag. Best part? Every dollar raised goes right back into supporting local charities. More Info

🧘‍♀️ Relax & Reset Feeling drained? Stressed? Or just in need of a reset? Sound View is offering Reiki + Sound Therapy, a powerhouse combo that melts tension, balances your energy, and leaves your spirit glowing. Think of it as a full recharge for your mind, body, and soul. More Info

🍷 Get Your Blend On Here’s your chance to play winemaker no lab coat required. Aldo’s Coffee is teaming up with RGNY for a hands-on session where you mix, swirl, and sip your way to a one-of-a-kind red blend.

You’ll work with RGNY’s estate-grown wines, learning the art of balance and how to make a wine that’s all you. Take home your very own bottle and some serious bragging rights. More Info

🖼 Paint & Sip Wine in one hand, paintbrush in the other, that’s the vibe at Hallockville’s Paint & Sip. Certified art instructor Ginger Baer will walk you through the strokes (no experience needed) while you relax inside the rustic beauty of the historic Naugles Barn. More Info

Thursday

🍽️🍷 Food & Wine Classic Mark your calendar Northforker’s Food & Wine Classic is back, at Borghese Vineyard with more flavor, more fun, and more of everything you love. Over 55 farm-to-table spots, top vineyards, craft brews, and live music by “In the Groove”. More Info

🔮 Set Your Path Crystals, oracle cards, and a dose of intuition, that’s Amy Ippolito’s recipe for guidance. In a Crystal Intuitive Reading at Sannino Vineyard, she’ll tune into your energy, shed light on what’s going on in your world, and help you chart your next steps. 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 Business

A+ for Teachers 🍷

Jason’s Vineyard thinks teachers deserve more than apples, they deserve wine. All week long, show your teacher ID and snag a back-to-school deal that’s actually worth grading: buy one, get one half off on tastings and glasses, plus 10% off bottles. It’s Jason’s way of saying cheers to the folks heading back to the classroom. Because lesson plans are better with a little wine on the side.

^{_{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

Minnow | Jon Divello | 5-8 PM
Billy’s by the Bay | Tetra | 5-8 PM
Piano Bar at Sound View | Jazz on the Half Shell | 6-8:30 PM
Mitchell Park | Gunk | 7:30-9:30 PM

Tuesday

Pindar Vineyards | Haig Mathosian | 4-8 PM
Billy’s by the Bay | Alessandro | 5-8 PM
First and South | Jazz EJ | 6-9 PM
Piano Bar at Sound View | Brandon Gurba | 6-8:30 PM
Townsend Manor | Rick Rempe | 6-9 PM
Eastern Front Brewing | Trivia | 6-9 PM

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships