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Good Morning, North Fork! Happy Monday, or as we like to call it, ‘Act Like You’re Busy’ Day

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

• Baby Birds

• Yellow Bags

• The Privé

Ready, Set, Go!

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The Lowdown

Baby Birds Incoming 🐦

Memorial Day weekend = beach towels, burgers… and baby birds? Yup.

Piping plovers, those adorable, sand-colored shorebirds with big eyes and tiny legs are about to start hatching just as we all flock (pun intended) to Long Island’s beaches. They’re federally threatened, NY State endangered, and have been nesting here for over 10,000 years. So yeah, they were here way before your cooler and beach umbrella.

Here’s the deal: plover chicks can walk minutes after hatching (impressive), but they can’t fly for a month (less impressive). Instead, they do a “hide in the sand and hope for the best” routine when scared, which makes them vulnerable to dogs, beachgoers, and fat-tire bikes rolling through.

Pro tip from the pros (like Jennifer Murray at Turtleback Environmental Ed Center): If the first round of eggs doesn’t make it, the plovers will keep trying well into August. That means longer beach restrictions and more stress for the birds. Best-case scenario? Everyone fledges and flies off by July 4. ($)

The Yellow Bag Debate 🚮

If you live in Southold, your garbage has to wear yellow (literally). The town’s “Pay-As-You-Throw” (PAYT) system means you can only toss trash using official yellow bags you buy yourself. It’s meant to cut down on landfill waste and boost recycling. But lately? It’s also been fueling some serious side-eye.

Yellow bag prices jumped 33% on March 1, 2025. That’s not sitting well with residents who already pay hefty property taxes, including the Peconic Bay Preservation tax. Add in the town’s well-funded transfer station, and locals are asking a fair question: where’s all that money going?

Local outlet Small Town Values is launching an investigation to get answers. They’re looking into whether the yellow bag program actually works, how waste management dollars are being spent, and if there are better, more balanced solutions that don’t make residents feel like they’re paying twice to take out the trash.

They’re also inviting locals to share their experiences and opinions, because this isn’t just about bags. It’s about transparency, sustainability, and whether Southold’s waste system is truly working for everyone.

Big Pipes, Big Plans 🚰

The Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) is cooking up two major water main projects on the North Fork, and they want to hear from you. Yep, it’s public comment time.

What’s Happening: Two water main extensions are on the table:

• Pipeline 1: From Flanders/Riverside to Laurel

• Pipeline 2: From East Marion to Orient

Why? Because the North Fork’s water supply is riding a bit too hard on the Upper Glacial Aquifer, which is shallow, prone to contamination (hello pesticides, chloride, and PFAS), and dangerously close to getting salty (literally, not figuratively).

Why You Should Care:

• Water demand’s rising, even with conservation efforts.

• Orient once shut this idea down — but now they’re dealing with saltwater and PFAS in private wells.

• SCWA has 60 wells serving 9,500 customers — and they’re getting a little overwhelmed.

A Little History:

• SCWA held a “groundbreaking” in 2023. One problem: Riverhead hadn’t given them permission yet. Awkward.

• The route was tweaked to avoid Peconic Bay Blvd. Now it runs up Route 105 and over to Sound Avenue.

• The Orient line would snake through a bunch of side streets — and yes, residents are paying attention this time.

Speak Your Mind: SCWA is holding three public scoping sessions in June:

1. June 4 @ 6 PM – SCWA HQ, Westhampton Beach

2. June 10 @ 6 PM – Riverhead Free Library

3. June 12 @ 6 PM – Floyd Memorial Library, Greenport

Prefer your feedback in writing? Send your thoughts to [email protected] or mail ‘em in by June 25. More info: scwa.com

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Happenings: This Week

Tuesday

🚗 💵 Car/Cash Giveaway 2025 The Eastern Long Island Hospital (ELIH) Auxiliary’s annual Car/Cash Giveaway is back, offering you the chance to drive away in a 2025 Jeep Compass or take home $20,000 in cash!

Every ticket purchased helps support Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, funding vital programs and services that benefit the local community. Drawing is at 10 AM. More Info

🗳️ North Fork, It’s Voting Time head to the polls to weigh in on school budgets, Board of Ed seats, and a few extra spending proposals. It might not be as flashy as a presidential election, but trust us, these votes hit close to home. Think teachers, programs, and the future of our local schools.

Greenport: 2-8 PM in the elementary school gym
Mattituck-Cutchogue: 3-9 PM in the junior-senior high school gym
New Suffolk: 3-9 PM in the New Suffolk Common School
Oysterponds: 2-8 PM in the school gym
Southold: 3-9 PM in the high school gym

🧘‍♀️ Breathe In, Let Go Ready to release what’s weighing you down? Join Mary Cognat for a Transformational Breathwork Session that’s more than just deep breaths. Mary will help you move stuck energy, quiet the noise, and tap into your higher self. It’s like hitting the reset button for your soul. You’ll leave feeling lighter, freer, and more connected. More Info

Wednesday

🎉 Greenport Village Employee Appreciation Greenport BID is raising a glass to the hardworking Village employees with a day of well-earned appreciation. The celebration kicks off with free box lunches from Blue Duck Bakery from 12–1:45 PM, a midday thank-you for those who keep the Village running smoothly.

Then from 5–8 PM, employees are invited to Happy Hour at Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., where the first two rounds are on the house, and happy hour pricing lasts all night long. Food and drinks will be provided by Greenport Harbor Brewing, American Beech, Blue Duck Bakery, and 1943 Pizza. More Info

Thursday

🍽 Flavor Fork Grand Opening Greenport’s about to get a whole lot tastier. Flavor Fork opens its doors at 402 1st Street. Bringing chef-curated Grab & Go meals, local North Fork favorites, and a pantry stocked with globally inspired sauces, spices, and kitchen must-haves. More Info

🌿 Succulent Driftwood Design Workshop Create your own piece of “Living Art” at this hands-on workshop at The Halyard. Using handpicked succulents, air plants, preserved mosses, and florals, you’ll design a stunning arrangement on a natural driftwood base, each one as unique as the shoreline itself. More Info

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Local Business

The Privé at Southold Social 🍸

The Privé is Southold Social’s chic outdoor lounge, and it's serving up a full weekend lineup you’ll want on your calendar. All starting this Thursday, May 22.

🦪 Thursdays – Live Oyster Shuck Night. Slurp the East End’s best while you sip and socialize.
🎷 Fridays – Jazz under the stars, limited-edition bites, and cocktails that make you forget what day it is.
💃 Saturdays – Socialite Saturdays bring glam, DJ sets, and the dangerously delicious City Girl Delights menu.

Chic, seasonal, and oh-so-social, The Privé sets the tone for a perfect weekend. 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}}

Live Music Breakdown

Monday

The Watershed | Erin Chase | 6-9 PM

Tuesday

First and South | Jeff LeBlanc | 6-9 PM
The Piano Bar at Sound View | Jon Jazz E Guitar | 6-8:30 PM

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THANKS!

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Tom Loncar- Publisher