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🐝 More Than 1,200 Oysters

🐝 More Than 1,200 Oysters

New Suffolk Waterfront Turns 20, ELIH New Medical Director, Mattituck Park District Budget

Thomas Loncar
August 13, 2025

Together With

Good Morning, North Fork! Yes, it’s another newsletter. No, it’s not boring.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

New Suffolk Waterfront Turns 20
ELIH New Medical Director
Mattituck Park District Budget

Ready, Set, Go!

The Lowdown

New Suffolk Waterfront Turns 20 🎉

In 2005, the folks in New Suffolk pulled off something pretty epic, they bought the land at 650 First St. so it wouldn’t get turned into a giant boat storage facility and parking lot. Instead, they turned it into the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund, a volunteer-powered nonprofit dedicated to keeping the waterfront beautiful, public, and buzzing with community life.

Now they’re celebrating 20 years with a very classy Summer Soirée on August 21 at Minnow at the Galley Ho. Picture this: more than 1,200 oysters from Peeko, Peconic Gold, and Oyster Ponds Shellfish Co., wine from Bedell and McCall, hors d’oeuvres by Minnow, and a live auction where you could walk away with a stay in an Italian villa, a private boat cruise, or a McCall Wines burger night for you and 30 friends.

Get the full story 👉 Northforker

Greenport to Southold 🗣️

Greenport’s not mincing words. At an August 11 special meeting, village officials and business leaders made it clear they’re not thrilled with parts of Southold Town’s proposed Zoning Update. Their fear? More chain stores, fewer customers downtown, and even fewer chances to build affordable housing.

They’re calling out missing mixed-use zoning, oversized lot requirements, and the town’s lack of plans for the 31-acre former Skyway Drive-In site, a prime spot that already has sewer and water access.

Other hot-button issues on their list: spot zoning, keeping industrial jobs safe, capping hotel development on the waterfront, and using the sewer district as a tool to favor housing over competing commercial projects.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

Dr. Alison Madden Takes the Helm 🏥

After 42 years with Dr. Lloyd Simon at the helm, Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital handed the Medical Director reins to Dr. Alison Madden on July 21. She’s a New York native, an OB/GYN turned hospital administrator, and, after years in big-city health systems, she’s here for ELIH’s small-town vibe and physician-led approach.

In just a few weeks, Madden has mapped out a to-do list that’s nothing short of ambitious:
-Become a Primary Stroke Center
-Keep more cardiac and trauma patients local via telemedicine
-Expand palliative and ambulatory services
-Add a “Fast Track” ER lane for minor cases
-Start a weekly OB/GYN clinic in Mattituck (with a new urologist joining this fall)

She’s also tackling big-picture challenges, like the housing shortage for hospital staff and the rising cost of care, while working to integrate ELIH’s records with the larger Stony Brook system for smoother patient experiences.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

$35–$40 a Year for Better Parks 💰

Mattituck Park District is asking voters to weigh in on a bigger budget, $925,500 for 2026, up $176,300 from last year. That means a 28% jump in tax revenue and about $35–$40 more per year for the average homeowner.

Where’s it going? Think nine parks worth of upgrades, ADA-compliant features, refreshed playgrounds, dock improvements, better lighting, and fixing plumbing and heating systems that have been limping along for years.

The district also plans to bump rental rates 15% and bring in more cash from events and new amenities. Maintenance costs alone are up 85%.

Key dates:

Info meeting: August 13, 7 PM, Veterans Memorial Park
Budget vote: August 21, 3–8 PM, Veterans Memorial Park ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

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Dogs of The Week

Meet Miley & Wiley 🐾

Miley and Wiley are a dynamic duo of three-year-old sisters who have been inseparable since day one. These two first landed at the Southold Animal Shelter as young pups but quickly found a loving home where they spent two happy years. Life had other plans, though, and now they’re back, ready to turn the page and find their forever family.

Miley brings the fun with her playful spirit and big personality, while Wiley balances things out with a calm, gentle vibe. Together, they’re the perfect team, and they’re hoping to stay that way. These sisters need a home that can welcome them both, giving double the love and twice the loyalty.

If you’re ready to add some sisterly love to your life, swing by the Southold Animal Shelter, Miley and Wiley are waiting to meet you.

Local Business

Rowan Craft Boutique Birthday Bash 🎉

Rowan Craft Boutique is celebrating a major milestone, its very first anniversary! Since opening its doors just one year ago in Southold’s Feather Hill Village, the boutique has blossomed into a vibrant hub of creativity, craftsmanship, and community spirit.

To mark this special occasion, Rowan Craft Boutique is hosting a festive birthday bash on Friday, August 15th, from 6-9 PM. The event promises an evening full of fun for all ages, featuring face painting, cotton candy, DIY spell jar workshops, craft stations, lively music, and plenty of surprises. It’s the perfect opportunity for friends, families, and craft lovers to come together and celebrate the boutique’s journey.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time visitor, this anniversary celebration is not to be missed.

American Beech Turns 10 🎊

American Beech is celebrating 10 years of making waves in Greenport. What started as a cozy boutique hotel with a killer restaurant and that iconic Tree Bar has grown into a local legend, beloved by both North Fork regulars and weekend visitors.

To celebrate a decade of hospitality and all the memories made, American Beech is throwing down this Friday, August 15th, right where the magic happens, the Tree Bar.

Over the past 10 years, American Beech has been more than just a place to stay or grab a bite, it’s been a cornerstone of community and celebration. So if you’ve ever crossed through their doors, raised a glass, or danced under those string lights, this party’s for you.

Here’s to 10 years of good vibes, great friends, and many more to come. Don’t miss it.

^{_{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}}

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Tom Loncar- Publisher