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🐝 Room to Grow

🐝 Room to Grow

What’s Next for the Candy Man, What Faith Welch Started, A Hometown Homecoming

Thomas Loncar
August 11, 2026

Together With

Good Morning, North Fork! Nobody knows how many reusable shopping bags they own. We just know it’s too many and somehow never enough.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

What’s Next for the Candy Man
What Faith Welch Started
A Hometown Homecoming

Ready, Set, Go!

P.S. Happy Birthday to John Sinning! 🎂

The Lowdown

What’s Next for the Candy Man 🍫

Orient’s old Candy Man has a new owner, a fresh coat of paint and plenty of neighbors wondering what comes next.

The property and adjoining parcel recently sold for a combined $945,000 to two companies owned by attorney Don Jayamaha. His current vision for the larger building: a convenience store with groceries, everyday essentials and, yes, candy.

With the Orient Country Store closing at 3 PM and the nearest full service market about seven miles away in Greenport, residents say they’d welcome a spot for later day groceries, prepared dinners and grab and go food. Bicycle repair, and maybe rentals, would be another welcome addition. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

What Faith Welch Started 🎓

Faith Welch the 18 year old graduated from Greenport High School this year has a résumé that would be impressive at any age.

Her curiosity increasingly turned toward Black history and race, including research into slavery right here on the North Fork. She studied at Harlem’s Schomburg Center, helped organize local Juneteenth celebrations and became a youth ambassador for Coming to the Table North Fork.

That work earned some serious recognition, including the Princeton Prize in Race Relations, The Suffolk Times’ 2025 Community Leader of the Year honor and a spot among Newsday’s 2026 Extraordinary Seniors.

Now she’s trading Greenport for Barnard College, with law school and a career in New York or Washington potentially ahead.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

A Hometown Homecoming ⚓️

Ryan Harned left Cutchogue in June as Mattituck High School’s No. 2 graduate. Less than two months later, he sailed back into Greenport aboard the U.S. Coast Guard’s 295 foot tall ship Eagle.

Harned headed straight from graduation to the Coast Guard Academy’s grueling Swab Summer.

Weeks later, Harned boarded the Eagle for a crash course in life at sea: four hour watches, firefighting, engine-room repairs, knot tying, survival suits, nighttime lookouts and even the occasional jump off the side of the ship for a swim.

Then came a pretty great payoff. As the Eagle rounded Bug Light and entered Greenport Harbor Friday morning, Harned got to point toward shore and tell cadets from around the country, essentially, that’s home.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

Help Fill a Backpack 🎒

Summer still has a little gas left in the tank, but back to school season has officially started.

CAST is collecting new school supplies through Aug. 17 for its annual School Supply Drive, which provides backpacks packed with essentials to K-12 students across the North Fork and Shelter Island.

Last year, CAST handed out 531 fully stocked backpacks to local students.

This year’s biggest needs include backpacks, construction paper, composition books, loose leaf binders, lunch boxes and pencil cases.

Donations can be dropped at collection bins at 36 businesses across the North Fork and Shelter Island or delivered directly to CAST in Southold.

Get the full story 👉 Northforker

Thunder Road Stables Officially Opens 🐎

Debra Rothwell spent her childhood galloping instead of skipping to gym class, saving pennies for model horses and riding anyone else’s horse whenever she got the chance.

Now she has 107 acres and about 50 real ones to keep her busy.

Rothwell and her husband, Ken, officially opened Thunder Road Stables in Jamesport Saturday, six months after purchasing the former B.J. Farms property for $3.5 million.

The name comes from one of Debra’s favorite Bruce Springsteen songs, which naturally played as she cut the ribbon on a dream decades in the making.

A former elementary school teacher and stay at home mom of 25 years, Debra decided that with her two sons grown, it was finally time to chase something of her own.

The couple kept the farm’s six person staff and its existing horse boarding operation, while spending months repairing fences, painting barns and getting acquainted with the decidedly less romantic side of horse ownership: hay orders, feed and endless chores.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

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Happenings: Upcoming Events

Thursday, August 20

🍽 Gala Dinner A special evening of dinner and recognition will celebrate two groups who have made a lasting mark on Hallockville Museum Farm. The Trubisz Family and The Tuesday Crew will be honored for their incredible history of support, service, and dedication. More Info

Friday, August 21

🎭 Teenage Wasteland The awkward, hilarious and unforgettable teenage years get the spotlight as veteran actor David Dean Bottrell brings his acclaimed solo show to the North Fork Arts Center. More Info

Saturday, August 22

🍗 Chicken Barbecue A North Fork tradition is firing up the grills for year 69. The Cutchogue Fire Department Chicken Barbecue returns home to the firehouse grounds, served under the tent and back in its traditional format. More Info

💕 An Evening for Couples Date night gets a little more creative at The Shoals with welcome cocktails, food truck bites, and a thoughtfully curated Shadow Box Workshop. More info

⛵ Private Charter Wine tasting is heading out on the water as Bedell Cellars teams up with Hannah and Erick of East End Charters for an extra special cruise aboard the Bonnie Lynn. More Info

Thursday, August 27

🌽 Savor the Summer Flavor Summer produce is getting the Chef Rob treatment at the Mattituck-Laurel Library. Watch as he whips up Buttermilk Zucchini & Corn Fritters followed by Chocolate Strawberry Banana Paninis topped with sliced almonds. More Info

^{_{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}}

Local Spotlight

Room to Grow ✨

Sometimes the next step for a small business is simply finding the right space to grow into.

Rowan Craft Boutique is opening up a large downstairs area inside its shop to another local business looking for a home base. The space comes with a kitchenette and full sink, and could be a fit for an artist, photographer, music instructor, or another creative small business.

Sometimes a small business doesn’t need a huge storefront to take its next step, it just needs the right room in the right place. Rowan is hoping its downstairs space can be exactly that for another local business.

^{_{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}}

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships