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🐝 Parking Frustration

🐝 Parking Frustration

Parking Permit Debate Rolls On, The Artist Behind the Beer Cans, Battery Storage Debate

Thomas Loncar
July 10, 2026

Together With Tim O’Keefe

Good Morning, North Fork! Some things just make every day sweeter. Honey is one of them.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

Parking Permit Debate Rolls On
The Artist Behind the Beer Cans
Battery Storage Debate

Ready, Set, Go!

The Lowdown

Parking Permit Debate Rolls On 🚗

Greenport residents hoping for a break from the village’s paid parking program got some clarity this week: resident parking permits aren’t happening this summer.

At a special Village Board meeting, officials said they’re actively exploring a permit program for village residents, but the technology, vendor selection process, and implementation timeline make a 2026 rollout unrealistic.

The discussion comes as frustration grows among year round residents who say they shouldn’t be paying the same parking fees as seasonal visitors, especially when parking near their homes. Village leaders acknowledged those concerns but also pointed to the program’s growing financial impact.

Since launching, paid parking has generated meaningful revenue for the village. Officials estimate the program could bring in roughly $165,000 annually, money they say is helping fund long needed road, sidewalk, and infrastructure improvements without relying entirely on higher taxes.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

The Artist Behind the Beer Cans 🎨

If a can of Greenport Harbor beer has ever made someone stop and stare before taking a sip, there’s a good chance East End artist Scott Bluedorn had something to do with it.

For the past decade, the Sag Harbor based surrealist has been creating the artwork that appears on many of the brewery’s cans and bottles, blending sea monsters, local landmarks, maritime history and a healthy dose of imagination into some of the North Fork’s most recognizable beer labels.

Now, through the end of July, visitors can see those works up close at Greenport Harbor Brewing Company’s tasting room gallery, where a special exhibit explores both the artwork and the stories behind it.

Get the full story 👉 Northforker

Battery Storage Debate 🔋

Battery Energy Storage Systems are back in the spotlight.

Republican Assembly candidate Stephen Kiely held a press conference on Oregon Road in Cutchogue this week, calling on Albany to halt efforts that could give a state agency greater authority over where battery storage facilities are built.

Kiely’s criticism centered on proposed legislation that would place Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) under the jurisdiction of the state’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES), the agency that already oversees large scale renewable energy projects. He argued the move could weaken local zoning authority and make it easier for projects to move forward despite community opposition.

Joining Kiely were local officials and activists from across New York who warned that expanding ORES authority could undermine local control over land use decisions. Several speakers also raised concerns about battery safety, farmland preservation, and the impact of large scale renewable energy projects on rural communities.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

Photo of the Week

📸 submitted by Brynn O’Grady

Tag @NorthForkBuzz or email us at [email protected] to get your photos in The Buzz!

Local Spotlight

Voting Now Open 🛹

A lot can happen in a split second at a skate park. One perfectly timed click can capture a trick at its peak, a hard earned landing, or the personality that makes a local skater stand out. Now, the spotlight shifts from the photographers behind the lens to the community deciding who takes home top honors.

Voting is officially open for the Greenport Skate Park Photography Contest, a celebration of the photographers and skateboarders who came together to showcase the creativity, talent, and energy found at the park. The contest features everything from action packed shots that seem to freeze gravity to portraits that capture the people who make the skate scene what it is.

You can cast one vote in the Portrait category and one vote in the Action category, with voting open through Sunday at 11:55 PM. Every vote helps recognize the photographers who donated their time and talent to document a memorable day at the Greenport Skate Park.

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

Foodie Friday 🍽

This week we’re resharing one of our all time favorite family traditions a summer Low Country Boil.

Picture this, giant pot bubbling with shrimp, mussels, clams, sausage, corn, and potatoes. Once it’s cooked, everything gets dumped onto a newspaper covered table for the ultimate summer feast. It’s messy, it’s casual, and it’s best enjoyed elbow to elbow with family and friends.

What You’ll Need

1 Really Big Pot
1 Tbsp seafood seasoning (Old Bay or Zatarain’s), or more to taste
5 lbs red potatoes
3 (16 oz) packages cooked kielbasa sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
8 ears fresh corn, husked
5 dozen little neck clams
5 lbs mussels
4 lbs large shrimp (we leave the shells on, but you do you)

How to Make It

Fill your really big pot about ⅓ of the way with water, season generously, and bring to a boil over outdoor cooker or stovetop.
Add potatoes and cook for 5 minutes. Toss in the sausage and cook another 5 minutes.
Break corn ears in half, add to the pot, and cook for 5 more minutes.
Add the clams and mussels. Cook for another 5 minutes or until the clams pop open.
When the potatoes are nearly tender and clams are almost all open, add the shrimp . Cook for about 3 minutes or until shrimp are cooked through, yet tender.
Drain, pour everything out onto a newspaper covered table, and dig in!

A boil is summer’s way of saying: pull up a chair, roll up your sleeves, and enjoy the season.

What summer traditions do you have?: Email us at [email protected] and tell us all about 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

🍽 Foodie Friday Wants Your Recommendations

Had an incredible meal on the North Fork recently? Don't gatekeep it.

Maybe it was a standout lobster roll, an unforgettable dessert, a hidden gem, or a dish you're still thinking about days later. Whatever it was, we want to hear about it. Send us a quick blurb about your experience, what you ordered, and why it's worth trying. Your recommendation could be featured in an upcoming Foodie Friday edition of North Fork Buzz.

Share the good stuff and help fellow food lovers in the Buzz fam discover their next great meal!

Live Music + Fun Breakdown

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THANKS!

Thanks for reading the North Fork Buzz today. Like what you read? Send it to someone that loves a low country boil.

Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships

🐝 Parking Frustration

Parking Permit Debate Rolls On, The Artist Behind the Beer Cans, Battery Storage Debate

Together With Tim O’Keefe

Sponsored By Timothy O’Keefe Licensed Real Estate Sales Person with Signature Premier Properties

The Local Advantage 🏠

The Lowdown

Parking Permit Debate Rolls On 🚗

The Artist Behind the Beer Cans 🎨

Battery Storage Debate 🔋

Top Stories From The Week 📖

Sponsored by Zeifman Orthodontics

Photo of the Week

Local Spotlight

Voting Now Open 🛹

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

Foodie Friday 🍽

What You’ll Need

How to Make 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

Live Music + Fun Breakdown

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

THANKS!