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🐝 Summer Toll Proposed

🐝 Summer Toll Proposed

$6.1M Land Grab, The New Rules of Farming, Rules That Shaped the North Fork

Thomas Loncar
April 01, 2026

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Good Morning, North Fork! Trust your instincts today. Or at least double check them.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

$6.1M Land Grab
The New Rules of Farming
Rules That Shaped the North Fork

Ready, Set, Go!

P.S. Happy Birthday to Brandon Zeidner! 🎂

The Lowdown

$6.1M Land Grab 💰

Southold Town is considering two land deals totaling nearly 50 acres, with $6.1 million in Community Preservation Fund (CPF) money on the table.

The first: a 35.92-acre stretch of Pellegrini Vineyards in Cutchogue. The town would spend about $2.5 million to purchase development rights on roughly 30 acres, keeping it farmland, permanently. The property already sits next to nearly 200 acres of preserved land, making it a natural add to the open space puzzle.

The second: a 13.65-acre undeveloped waterfront parcel near Reydon Shores in Southold. This one comes with a $3.6 million price tag, split 50/50 with Suffolk County. Plans call for transferring ownership to the Peconic Land Trust, with future use as a nature preserve. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Osprey Pole Goes Up 🦅

Southold Jr.-Sr. High School’s environmental club installed a 30 foot osprey nesting pole on campus March 20, turning a classroom idea into a full-on conservation project. What started with students watching eagle livestreams quickly turned into emails, planning, and a lot of persistence.

Club adviser Stephanie Berberich said students drove the effort, looping in administrators, asking questions, and pushing the project forward until it got done.

The pole, installed with help from North Fork Woodworks and Latham Sand and Gravel, gives local ospreys a safer alternative to nesting on utility poles.

Next step: a live camera feed from the nearby elementary school so students can track the nest in real time.

Get the full story 👉 Northforker

The New Rules of Farming 🧑‍🌾

The potato era that once defined the North Fork is long gone, and today’s farmers are figuring out what comes next.

At a recent panel at Hallockville Museum Farm, local growers made one thing clear: the old wholesale model isn’t cutting it anymore. Rising costs, cheap competition, and shrinking margins have forced a shift toward direct sales, agritourism, and niche products.

Back in the 1950s, Long Island had roughly 75,000 acres of potatoes. Today, that number is a fraction of what it was, with farmland increasingly replaced, or repurposed, into vineyards, specialty crops, and consumer facing businesses.

Farmers like Joann Zilnicki have lived that shift firsthand, going from large scale potato production to smaller, diversified operations that include CSA programs, livestock, and on-farm experiences. Others, like the Schmitt family, turned a backyard tradition into a full fledged brand (hello, horseradish).

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

Deegan Takes the Spotlight ☘️

Nicholas Francis Deegan was named the First District’s Irish American Person of Distinction at Suffolk County’s annual Irish American Heritage Celebration on March 24, honored by Legislator Greg Doroski for a lifetime of community involvement.

Deegan’s story starts in Dunlavin, County Wicklow, Ireland where he grew up on a farm as one of twelve children before making his way to the North Fork in 1973.

Since then, he’s built a reputation in construction, but around here, he’s just as well known for everything outside of it. Decades of youth soccer coaching, time as a park district commissioner, and steady involvement in local civic life.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

Rules That Shaped the North Fork 📜

After more than two decades helping guide how Southold grows and doesn’t, longtime town planner Mark Terry is stepping into a new chapter.

Terry, who retired last August and launched his own consulting firm, played a key role in shaping major policies, from subdivision rules to waterfront planning, that still define the North Fork today.

One of his biggest legacies: conservation subdivisions. These projects require developers to preserve large portions of land, often 75% or more, while reducing the number of buildable lots. Now, those rules are about to be tested with several large proposals in Cutchogue and beyond.

Looking ahead, he’s turning his attention to Greenport, where he’s advising on waterfront planning and ways to make housing more attainable, like converting existing structures into affordable rentals.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

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Animal of The Week

Meet Stanley 🐾

Meet Stanley, your future head of farm security, part time toy assassin, full time personality.

At just over a year and a half old, Stanley already carries himself like he owns the place (and honestly, he kind of does). He’s a confident, watchful guy who takes his role as “overseer of the property” seriously, whether that’s keeping an eye on the yard, supervising your daily routine, or making sure no suspicious squirrels get too comfortable.

But don’t let the tough exterior fool you. Behind those observant eyes is a soft spot for chin scratches and behind the ear rubs, and once you’re in his circle, you’re in. Stanley loves to play, and his athleticism and sharp instincts make him a natural fit for a farm or outdoor setting where he can stretch his legs and put that high prey drive to good use.

He’s up to date on vaccinations, neutered, and fully litter box trained, basically, ready to move in and start running things immediately.

If your barn, backyard, or home could use a smart, capable, and slightly opinionated sidekick, Stanley is ready to clock in

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

If you are interested in volunteering and helping animals like Stanley, 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

In a famous 1957 April Fools’ Day broadcast, the BBC aired a segment showing Swiss farmers harvesting food from trees, but what exactly were the trees “growing”?

Last Week’s Results

Last week we asked: In Peter Rabbit, what is the name of the farmer who owns the garden?

Answer: Mr.McGregor

80% of you got it right, The other 20% Peter made it out of the garden, your answer did not.

Local Spotlight

Summer Toll Proposed 🚧

Summer traffic on the North Fork is already its own seasonal tradition, right up there with rosé, beach chairs, and someone making an illegal left turn on Route 25. But if a new proposal being floated by Southold Town officials moves forward, getting out east on a summer weekend could soon come with a price tag.

According to early discussions, the town is reviewing a plan that would create a weekend toll for vehicles entering the North Fork between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The idea, officials say, is to help preserve quality of life during the busiest months of the year, when traffic can stretch for miles and patience tends to disappear somewhere around Aquebogue.

Under the proposal, drivers heading east past a checkpoint at the intersection of Cross River Dr. and Route 25 would pay $20 per vehicle on Fridays after 12 PM and $25 on Saturdays and Sundays. Southold Town and Riverhead Town residents would be exempt with a permit, and officials are also said to be exploring a pre-registration “fast pass” lane to keep backups from getting even worse at the toll point itself.

^{_{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

BBC April Fools’ Day Hoax