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🐝 The Bird That Inspired The Cuckoo Clock

🐝 The Bird That Inspired The Cuckoo Clock

Raising Shell, Orient Groundwater, A Real Cuckoo

Thomas Loncar
October 28, 2025

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Good Morning, North Fork! Rise, shine, and read we promise it’s worth the blue light exposure.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

Raising Shell
Orient Groundwater
A Real Cuckoo

Ready, Set, Go!

The Lowdown

Raising Shell 🦪

When life gives you canceled Shellabration… you throw your own oyster party.

After organizers called off the beloved shellfish fest for the first time in over a decade, Little Creek Oysters said, “Shuck it, we’ll handle it.” Enter Raise Shell a brand-new, village-wide seafood crawl running Dec. 5–7, the same weekend Shellabration was set to take place.

Here’s the buzz: Friday kicks off with a celebration at Little Creek’s new oyster hall on Main Street. Saturday and Sunday, the whole village gets in on the fun — oyster tastings, seafood specials, live music, and a few surprises sprinkled in.

Tickets go on sale Nov. 1. The best part? All proceeds benefit Cornell’s SPAT program, which helps restore shellfish to local bays. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Orient’s Groundwater 🚰

Saturday morning at Poquatuck Hall was standing room only and no, it wasn’t a pancake breakfast. The Orient Association packed the house for a deep dive into Orient’s most precious resource: its groundwater.

The good news: Orient’s aquifer is holding steady.
The bad news: it’s thin as a crepe and sitting way too close to the surface for comfort.

A multi-year study by CDM Smith found the hamlet’s water use is sustainable, but the aquifer’s fragile makeup makes it vulnerable to PFAS “forever chemicals,” nitrates, and saltwater intrusion. With rising seas, experts say Orient could lose up to 20% of its freshwater by 2100.

Some residents want the Suffolk County Water Authority to run a pipeline east, arguing public water could protect health and property values. Others worry that once the pipe comes, so does development

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

A Real Cuckoo 🐦

No, your clock isn’t broken, there’s an actual common cuckoo hanging out in Riverhead. And it’s got birders losing their feathers.

This European wanderer, the same bird that inspired the “cuckoo clock” somehow ended up on Roanoke Avenue and The Woods at Cherry Creek Golf Course, making it the first-ever sighting in New York (and only the third on the East Coast).

It all started when a golfer spotted the bird, snapped a photo, and sent it to his birder nephew. One quick ID later, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology sent out a rare bird alert, and by the weekend, binoculars and telephoto lenses lined the fields like paparazzi at the Oscars.

Experts say the young cuckoo probably got blown off course by last week’s nor’easter, trading the African savanna for Suffolk County fairways. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Art Lab on the Lawn 🎨

The paintbrushes aren’t going into hibernation just yet. After seven months of creativity under the sun, Art Lab on the Lawn is sticking around through February, and moving into Hotel Moraine’s cozy seaside cottage for the winter.

This community-favorite pop-up, dreamed up by Artfully Long Island, Petite North Fork, and Hotel Moraine, has been a hit all year, giving kids (and kids at heart) a place to make one of a kind art from recycled and upcycled materials.

Starting November 16, Art Lab will host two smaller indoor sessions each month with limited spots to keep things calm and creative.

Get the full story 👉 Petite North Fork

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Happenings: Upcoming Events

🥘 Potluck Here’s your chance to eat and learn, join East End FoodCRAFT for a Tour & Potluck at Treiber Farms on Wednesday, November 5. More Info

🤼‍♀️ GRUDGE in Greenport Get ready to rumble, Championship Entertainment Productions is bringing GRUDGE in Greenport to the Greenport American Legion on Saturday, November 8. Expect high-energy matches, big personalities, and all the ringside drama you can handle. More Info

🎁 Holiday Market Get a head start on your holiday shopping at The Heart of It’s Holiday Market on Sunday, November 9. Browse unique finds from local vendors and small businesses, while you browse the kids can dive into the DIY gift stations. More Info

🛼 Roller Skating Party Lace up those skates and get ready to roll. The Southold PTA is hosting a Roller Skating Party on Sunday, November 9 at the GDC Roller Skate Rink. Whether you’re a pro on wheels or just there for the snacks and nostalgia, it’s the perfect way to spend a Sunday. More Info

👗 Fashion Show Dinner & Auction The East End Lions Club is rolling out the runway for their 22nd Annual Fashion Show Dinner & Auction. Enjoy dinner, a dazzling show, and a chance to snag some great auction finds, all while supporting neighbors in need. More Info

🧘 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, November 14. 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

🍷 Blanc & Franc Summit Join Long Island Wine Country at RGNY for the Blanc & Franc Summit on Friday, November 14. It’s an evening dedicated to the grapes that put the East End on the map: Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Sip your way through a curated tasting from top local producers, snack on seasonal bites and local cheeses, and soak up some insider wisdom from an expert panel who know their way around a vineyard. More Info

🔥 Supper on the Farm Gather under the farm lights for a cozy fall evening as Fyr & Salt hosts Supper on the Farm at 8 Hands Farm on Saturday, November 15. This rustic feast features grilled pork with wood-roasted apple chutney, served alongside mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and carrots. More Info

🎟️ Southold’s Hottest Ticket The Southold Fire Department is bringing the party and the prizes to their Annual Raffle & Cocktail Party on Sunday, November 16. Only 450 tickets are up for grabs at $100 each, get your ticket from any Southold Fire Department member before they’re gone. 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}}

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships