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🐝 The Bell-To-Bell Ban

🐝 The Bell-To-Bell Ban

Remembering Ettore “Ito” Pennacchia, Phone Free Schools, Living History

Thomas Loncar
August 12, 2025

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Good Morning, North Fork! This email is basically the Ted Lasso of your inbox.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

Remembering Ettore “Ito” Pennacchia
Phone Free Schools
Living History

Ready, Set, Go!

The Lowdown

Remembering Ito ❤️

If you ever ate at A Touch of Venice in Cutchogue, chances are you saw Ettore “Ito” Pennacchia in motion, stirring sauce, plating pasta, maybe even scrubbing a pot when no one was looking. Last Tuesday, the beloved chef and co-owner passed away at 77, leaving behind nearly four decades of meals and memories.

Ito wasn’t just about the food, he remembered your favorite table, your go-to cocktail, and probably slipped you an extra appetizer or two when you weren’t looking. He was humble, funny, and delightfully unpredictable.

From Brooklyn to the North Fork, Ito’s passion for food and people never cooled. His legacy is more than the recipes he perfected, it’s the community he fed, the traditions he created, and the family, that he loved.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

Phone Free Schools 📱

Starting this fall, it’s goodbye to hallway TikTok scrolls and lunch table Snap streaks, New York’s new “bell-to-bell” ban on smartphones and other internet-enabled devices is here. The rule, baked into the 2026 state budget, covers every public, charter, and BOCES school in the state.

No phones during the school day, not in class, not at lunch, not even in study hall, unless you’ve got a medical need, a translation requirement, a caregiving responsibility, or an emergency. Schools must also make sure parents can still reach their kids and that the rules aren’t enforced unfairly. The state gave schools some wiggle room on how to enforce it. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Living History 🇺🇸

The Village Green in Cutchogue went back in time this weekend as volunteers from all over Long Island gathered to reenact the Battle of Oyster Ponds, 250 years after colonial fighters stopped British troops from raiding North Fork farms.

The full-day throwback included everything from military drills and field maneuvers to weapons demos and historic house tours, all capped off by a spirited battle between local Patriots and the British Prince of Wales 23rd Regiment of Foot.

Kids got in on the action too, learning to march and handle muskets, while the camp cook kept the troops fueled with hearty colonial stew.

With around 60 spectators cheering on the action, the battle ended in a tactical draw, but the real win was the chance to relive and celebrate Long Island’s rich Revolutionary history, muskets, black powder, and all. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Artists Unite 🎨

On July 26, North Fork Contemporary brought together a powerhouse panel of artists and arts leaders to dive deep into what creative leadership looks like in today’s turbulent world. The lineup? Ukrainian-born artist and curator Emilia Kabakov, Israeli-Ukrainian artist Zoya Cherkassky-Nnadi, Guild Hall’s Andrea Grover, and James Snyder from The Jewish Museum.

The conversation didn’t shy away from the art world’s growing pains: the commercial grind that often overshadows true creativity, the lack of fresh artistic movements, and the shrinking influence of artists in society.

Even as museums overseas face budget crises and authoritarian interference, the U.S. enjoys the unique advantage of private funding, keeping the doors open for artistic freedom.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

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Happenings: Upcoming Events

🧘 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 on Friday, August 22. 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

❤️ More Good + NoFo Pilates Pilates in the park? Yes. Doing it for a good cause? Double yes. Stacey Krumenacker is leading a light, feel-good Pilates class in Mitchell Park on Saturday, August 23. It’s donation based and every dollar goes to help a 76-year-old dad who’s the full-time caregiver for his profoundly disabled daughter, now also battling lymphoma. Pilates has been his lifeline. Let’s help keep it that way. More Info

🍽️ 10 Mile Dinner Paumanok Vineyards is throwing a dinner on Saturday, August 23 that’s as local as it gets, every ingredient comes from within 10 miles of the vines. Chef Tom Schaudel is bringing the magic with a hyper-local tasting menu, each course perfectly paired with Paumanok wines, all at one long communal table. More Info

🎶 Real NYC Blues When veteran bassist and producer Mike Griot says he’s bringing real NYC blues to the North Fork Arts Center, he means it. On Saturday, August 23 listen to top-tier musicians from the city (and beyond), an intimate venue, and a sound that’ll stick with you long after the last note fades. More Info

🎪 Circus Splendiferous The Peconic Community School is bringing the wow factor with Circus Splendiferous on Tuesday, August 26th. Expect jaw-dropping aerials in a lively outdoor show, then stick around as the kids get up close and hands-on in a workshop with the performers. More Info

🍽️🍷 Food & Wine Classic Mark your calendar for Thursday, August 28th. Northforker’s Food & Wine Classic is back, landing at Borghese Vineyard with more flavor, more fun, and more of everything you love. Over 55 farm-to-table spots, top vineyards, craft brews, and the live music by “In the Groove”. More Info

🦈 JAWS Turns 50 It’s been half a century since JAWS changed the way we look at the water, and the North Fork Arts Center and the East End Seaport Museum & Marine Foundation are marking the occasion with a screening you won’t want to miss. After the film, hang tight for a live Q&A with Pat Mundus, daughter of Montauk’s legendary shark hunter Frank Mundus, the man behind the inspiration for the movie’s unforgettable Quint. More Info

🚗 Classic Cars The 35th Annual Southold Troop 6 Car Show cruises into the Peconic Lane Community Center on Saturday, August 30. Expect 150+ show-stopping rides, dash plaques for early birds, 75 trophies, and plenty of small-town charm, all to support local Scouts. 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

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Tom Loncar- Publisher