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Good Morning, North Fork! Whether you’re procrastinating productively or productively procrastinating, you’re in the right place.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

• Short-Term Rental Rules

• ICE Activity

• History Scholarship

Ready, Set, Go!

Sponsored By Party Animal North Fork

Where North Fork Parties Begin 🎉

Party Animal North Fork’s Super Bowl Collection = Your Watch Party MVP 🏈

February is coming in hot, one minute you’re yelling at the TV, the next you’re lighting candles for dinner plans. Whether it’s a full-on, rowdy Super Bowl watch party or a low-key night with just the snacks and the scoreboard, Party Animal North Fork’s Super Bowl Collection has everything needed to show up like a champion.

Their featured picks are modern, festive, and and actually cute (yes, even for football). Consider this your sign to upgrade the paper plates, level up the vibes, and host like the MVP you already are.

Website | Instagram | Superbowl Collection

The Lowdown

Short-Term Rental Rules 🏡

Southold Town is inching closer to a major shift in how short-term rentals are handled, and it could mean a dramatic reduction in their numbers.

A proposal first introduced in 2024 may soon head to a public hearing, outlining a permit system that would legalize short-term rentals while capping them at 1% of the town’s housing stock.

Short-term rentals of fewer than 14 days have technically been illegal in Southold since 2015, though the town has struggled to enforce the ban. In response, the Town Board created a Short-Term Rental Task Force, which recommended redefining short-term rentals as stays of fewer than 30 days and issuing permits through a lottery system. To support enforcement, the town has also rolled out new monitoring software that tracks rental activity in real time.

If the proposed 1% cap is adopted, just 125 short-term rental permits would be allowed townwide, an estimated 87% reduction from current levels. The town is weighing whether that cap should be applied townwide or broken down hamlet by hamlet.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

ICE Activity 🗣️

Federal immigration enforcement activity early Wednesday morning in Greenport left at least three men detained, one man on the run, and a community shaken.

According to eyewitness accounts and advocacy group OLA of Eastern Long Island, federal agents carried out operations at multiple locations, including the Greenport North Ferry dock and Ludlum Place. Around 6:30 AM, witnesses say agents in unmarked vehicles approached a man at the ferry dock and detained him without incident. OLA later identified him as Hugo Leonel Ardon Osorio. Two additional men, identified as Martin Zambrano Diaz and Alexandro Rivera Magana, who neighbors say live in Greenport, were also taken into custody. OLA stated the three men have reportedly lived locally for more than two decades and are not believed to have criminal backgrounds.

Roughly an hour later, a second encounter unfolded on Ludlum Place, where witnesses said federal vehicles attempted to stop another man driving a truck. According to neighbors, the man exited his vehicle and fled on foot, ultimately escaping.

Southold Police Chief Steven Grattan said local police were not notified ahead of time about the federal activity and were only contacted after agents were already operating in town.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

History Scholarship 📚

North Fork students with a passion for history have a major opportunity on the table, and it comes with a pretty serious scholarship check.

The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation is offering its 2026 Honorable Peter Fox Cohalan Scholarship in American History, a renewable award worth up to $40,000 for graduating seniors in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The scholarship is designed for students planning to pursue history related fields, including political science, economics, sociology, or American studies.

To apply, students must submit a 10 page academic writing sample focused on Long Island history and how it connects to New York State and U.S. history. The application also requires two recommendation letters from history or American studies teachers, a 500 word academic style personal statement, and an official transcript. Each high school can nominate up to three students. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

A 181 Year Tradition 🎉

Greenport Village is preparing to host its 181st annual George Washington Birthday Parade, stepping off Saturday, Feb. 14, at 1 PM. The tradition dates back nearly two centuries and remains one of the community’s most recognizable winter events.

For 154 of those years, the parade has been organized by the Greenport Fire Department. The parade honors George Washington, who visited the area in 1757, long before the American Revolution, when the village was still known as Winter Harbor.

Over time, the parade has grown into a signature Greenport tradition. Families line the sidewalks, children wave from bundled-up shoulders, and the sounds of marching bands, bagpipes, and fire engines echo through the streets.

Once the parade wraps, the celebration continues at the firehouse, where longtime traditions carry on with homemade clam chowder, friendly games, and displays of historic parade photos. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

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Happenings: Weekend Preview

Friday

🧘 Breathe In, Stress Out Join North Fork Bodies in Motion for a one hour Authentic Qigong Meditation session designed to reverse the effects of stress and promote self-healing. Learn breathing techniques, sitting and standing meditations, Tai Chi/Qigong self-healing practices, and anxiety-reducing exercises, all with a focus on mindful awareness. No experience necessary, bring a folding chair and water. Cost is $25 and pre-registration is required. More Info

🍛 Around the World in Curry Four countries, four curries, dine in or take out Friday and Saturday at Grace & Grit. Chef Adam is hosting an Around the World in Curry pop-up that travels through India, Japan, Jamaica, and Thailand, serving up a taste of each stop along the way. More Info

🔍 Penning, Pitching & Promoting Curious what it really takes to bring a whodunit to life? Authors Marcia Rosen and Claudia Riess share their experiences writing murder mystery series, covering everything from creating memorable characters and blending fact with fiction to pitching to agents and promoting your work once it’s out in the world. More Info

Saturday

🌸 Galentine’s Flower Arranging Enjoy a chic afternoon with your favorite people at The Shoals. Hosted by Laurel Floral Design, this hands-on workshop invites you to sip, snip, and style your own floral arrangements. More Info

🏈 Snacks & Sparkling Kick off game day early at Sparkling Pointe with Super Bowl Snacks and Sparkling Wines, happening Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy classic Super Bowl bites with an elevated twist, paired with a flight of four sparkling wines for the perfect pre-game warmup. More Info

📚 Author Talk Head to Floyd Memorial Library for an author talk with Caroline Sutton as she discusses her book Eyes on the Soles of My Feet: From Horseshoe Crabs to Sycamores, Exploring Hidden Connects to the Natural World. More Info

❤️ Valentine’s Crafts Valentine’s creativity is on the menu at Jamesport Vineyards with a hands on Paint & Sip. Paint your partner, paint a Valentine’s Day gnome, or design pressed flower jewelry, all while enjoying a glass of wine. More Info

🍷🍩 Wine & Doughnuts Some pairings just make sense once you try them. Wine & Doughnut Pairing at Pindar Vineyards brings together three wines and three of NoFoDoCo’s handcrafted doughnuts for a tasting that’s fun and absolutely worth the curiosity. More Info

Sunday

🥣 Soupy Sundays Head to Chronicle Wines for a cozy lineup featuring hearty winter soups from Grace & Grit, fresh loaves from 1610 Sourdough, and your favorite Chronicle wines by the glass. More Info

🛍 Winter Artisan Fair An afternoon of local shopping is coming to Hallockville Museum Farm. Hallockville’s Winter Artisan Fair will fill the historic Naugles Barn with local vendors and handmade finds, perfect for browsing, gifting, and supporting North Fork makers in the heart of winter. More Info

🏈 Field Goal Kicking Contest Bragging rights are on the line at the Sophie’s Rest Field Goal Kicking Contest. Step up, take your shot, and see if your leg has what it takes to earn local glory. More Info

🚗 Safety Check Keeping little passengers safe is the goal as the Mattituck Fire Department and the Southold Town Police Department team up for a Child Car Seat Safety event. Stop by to get guidance, ask questions, and make sure car seats are installed and used correctly for maximum peace of mind. More Info

🎶 Winter Moon Fresh from the stage of The Metropolitan Opera’s Porgy and Bess, the Jamesport Meeting House welcomes back soprano Taylor Burgess, for Winter Moon: A Tribute to the Harlem Renaissance. More Info

🍷 Paint & Sip A little art, a little wine, and something to take home. Paint & Sip is happening at Pindar Vineyards with a Valentine’s Day Love Bird theme. Join Maggie of Wine of a Kind for a glass painting workshop where you’ll paint two wine glasses and leave with a set made for future date nights. More Info

📚 Book Club Thriller fans, this one’s for you. The next Wine ’Round the North Fork Book Club meeting at Pellegrini Vineyards features bestselling author Chris Pavone in conversation with local author and former U.S. Army captain T.R. Hendricks, alongside A Book Place. 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 + Fun Breakdown

Thursday

Eastern Front Brewing | Sonic Gumbo | 5-8 PM
Greenport Harbor Brewing (Pec) | Trivia | 6-8 PM
Taps & Corks | Karaoke | 7-10 PM
Southold American Legion | Bingo | 7 PM

Friday

Corey Creek | Gene Casey | 4-8 PM
Suhru & Lieb | Jeff LeBlanc | 5-7 PM
Main & Mill | Danny Palladino | 5-7 PM
Touch of Venice | Julia King | 6-9 PM
One Woman Winery | Nathan Peck Cherokee Trio | 6-9 PM
Southold Social | K + R Music | 6-9 PM
The Watershed | TBA | 7-10 PM
Greenport Harbor Brewing (Gpt) | Open Mic Night | 7-10 PM
Lucharitos | Karaoke with DJ Henry Eau | 9 PM

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THANKS!

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships