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Cameras Stir Debate, Rites of Spring, 20 Years Still Running

Thomas Loncar
April 15, 2026

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Good Morning, North Fork! Consider this your daily dose of “oh, that’s good to know.”

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

Cameras Stir Debate
Rites of Spring
20 Years Still Running

Ready, Set, Go!

The Lowdown

Cameras Stir Debate 📹

Southold’s use of Flock license plate reader cameras is back under the microscope, with residents pushing for more transparency, and in some cases, outright removal.

At an April 7 Town Board meeting, community members raised concerns about privacy, data storage, and what they see as creeping surveillance.

Town officials, however, framed the technology as a limited, practical tool. Police Chief Steve Grattan emphasized the cameras only capture still images of license plates and basic vehicle details, no facial recognition, no live tracking. Instead, the system flags vehicles tied to things like missing persons or stolen cars, sending alerts directly to dispatchers.

The cameras, 11 in total, have been installed across key roadways since 2022, funded partly by grants and county support. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Rites of Spring 🎹

The North Fork’s Rites of Spring Music Festival is back for its 11th season, and it’s going bigger than ever.

Led by pianist Paolo Bartolani, this year’s festival stretches across both forks with 26 concerts and eight distinct subprograms, all tied together by a theme that leans into the local setting: Sea, Soil & Soul. The idea is simple, music doesn’t just sit in a concert hall here, it moves through vineyards, barns, museums, and open spaces.

Bartolani, who moved from Italy more than a decade ago, built the festival around that exact concept.

The season kicks off April 18–19 with the now traditional Piano Marathon at the Jamesport Meeting House, featuring Stony Brook students and faculty.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

20 Years Still Running 🏃‍➡️

One of the North Fork’s feel good traditions is hitting a milestone this spring.

Peconic Landing’s John May Mile and 5K returns on Saturday, May 9, marking its 20th year of bringing the community together.

The setup is simple: a one mile walk for those taking it easy, a full 5K for those not, and a finish line that turns into a laid back barbecue and raffle scene.

What keeps people coming back isn’t just the course, it’s where the money goes. Since 2005, the event has raised more than $400,000 for the Greenport Fire Department, helping fund equipment, training, and the volunteers who show up when things go sideways.

This year also adds a moment of recognition. During the 10:30 AM awards ceremony, Cutchogue’s Paul Romanelli will receive the Older Americans Champion Award for his decade of service on the Eastern Long Island Hospital Foundation board and broader community impact.

Get the full story 👉 Patch

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Animal of The Week

Meet Hercules 🐾

Meet Hercules. He’s the kind of cat who walks into a room like he already owns it, and honestly, you’ll probably agree with him pretty quickly. At five years old, this black and white gentleman is serving full cow print chic, complete with golden green eyes and a perfectly placed ink smudge mustache that gives him a permanently distinguished look. Big, solid, and unapologetically present, Hercules is a full-lap commitment, and very much worth it.

Personality wise, he’s not here to play hard to get. Hercules bonds fast, follows you from room to room, and has a way of making even the most ordinary moments feel like you’ve got a loyal sidekick. He’s affectionate without being over the top, confident without being pushy, just a genuinely good hang who wants to be near his person. The kind of cat who quietly and successfully becomes the center of your daily routine.

Questions? Call North Fork Animal Welfare League at 631-765-1811

If you are interested in volunteering and helping animals like Hercules, contact Sherri at [email protected]

Trivia Time 🧠

Your brain deserves more than scrolling and skimming. Each week we’ll hit you with one question designed to make you pause, scratch your head, and maybe argue with whoever’s sitting next to you. Think of it as a quick mental pit stop: a chance to flex your random knowledge, test your memory, or finally use that obscure fact you learned in 7th grade.

Just click one of the multiple-choice answers to see if you got it right!

Find more info on the answer at the very end of the newsletter

Which Founding Father is best known for the quote, “Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”?

Last Week’s Results

Last week we asked: In a bizarre European cargo heist that made headlines last week, thieves made off with 12 tons of what?

Answer: KitKats

74% of you got it right. You clearly know your way around both international crime news and the candy aisle. Respect.

Local Spotlight

Rent A Team 🧤

There’s something about a spring Saturday where the to do list starts to feel a little… ambitious. Yard cleanup, garage overhaul, maybe finally tackling those gutters you’ve been ignoring since November. Good news: you don’t have to do it alone this time.

Southold baseball is stepping in with a fundraiser that’s helpful and community driven. On Saturday, May 2, local student athletes are offering up their time and energy in exchange for donations, showing up ready to work and probably moving a lot faster than the rest of us would.

For $100, you’ll get four players for an hour, or three players for $60, ready to jump into everything from raking leaves and weeding gardens to washing cars, mulching, or cleaning out the garage. Just keep the power tools off the table and you’re good to go.

It’s the kind of event that works for just about anyone: homeowners looking to get ahead of the season, families who want to support local athletes, or honestly anyone who’s been putting off a project a little too long.

^{_{Nothing in this section is sponsored. They’re just fun things you need to know. We’ll always let you know when something is sponsored}}

Live Music + Fun Breakdown

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THANKS!

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships

Death and Taxes