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🐝 The Pen and Paper Era

🐝 The Pen and Paper Era

Festival of Trees Winners, Southold Goes Analog, Forever Chemicals

Thomas Loncar
November 26, 2025

Together With

Good Morning, North Fork! No Buzz tomorrow! We’re taking a day to give thanks, eat too much, and curate something fun for Friday. Wishing each of you a Happy Thanksgiving, may your plates be full and your pants stretchy.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

Festival of Trees Winners
Southold Goes Analog
Forever Chemicals

Ready, Set, Go!

P.S. Happy Birthday to Joe Piccininni 🎂

The Lowdown

Festival of Trees Winners 🎄

If you felt a little extra sparkle in the Peconic air last weekend, it was coming from CAST’s 6th annual Festival of Trees at Treiber Farms, a full on holiday extravaganza that brought out more than 2,500 neighbors and raised over $175,000.

Here are your 2025 champs:

Judge’s Choice Tree (Tie!)
• “The North Fork: The Place to Bee” by North Fork Buzz 🐝
• “Cosmic Cowgirl” by The Outpost by touchGoods

People’s Choice Tree
• “Handmade For the Home” by the Daniel Gale Foundation

Judge’s Choice Wreath
• “Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice” by Clarke’s Garden and Home

People’s Choice Wreath
• “Shuck the Halls, Toast the Gulls!” by Little Ram Oyster Company

Between the auctions, holiday market, and Santa photo ops, the event was buzzing start to finish. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Southold Goes Analog ✍️

Southold is officially back in the pen and paper era. After a ransomware attack knocked out town systems Monday morning, staff unplugged everything, found a ransom note (still unopened), and started improvising like it’s 1974.

Town Supervisor Al Krupski says things are “better than yesterday,” but the fix won’t be quick. Suffolk County’s cyber team, Emergency Management, NYS Homeland Security, and basically every tech person within a 30-mile radius are now involved.

Police Chief Steve Grattan says officers are ready for anything, they’re just writing things down the old-fashioned way. And every department is figuring out how to function without the digital tools they’re used to.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

Forever Chemicals🚰

A year long Suffolk County survey just found that more than half of the private wells tested around Marratooka Pond, James Creek, Love Lane, and the stretch from Mattituck High School to Route 48 contain dangerous levels of PFAS “forever chemicals.”

New York’s safe limit is 10 parts per trillion. Some Mattituck wells came back at 607 ppt. Yes, 60 times the limit.

The county is urging everyone on private wells in the affected area to get tested. They’ve waived the $100 fee for residents inside the survey zone. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Fill Plates Not Landfills 🥦

If you’ve ever wondered what happens to all the extra farm veggies, bagels, sandwiches, or prepared meals that don’t get sold each day, here’s the very feel good answer.

Food Rescue US–North Fork, led by powerhouse duo Anne Howard and Stephanie McEvily, has quietly built one of the most impactful food waste fighting, neighbor helping networks on the East End.

Their motto says it all: Fill plates, not landfills.

Volunteers (about 25 of them) use the Food Rescue app. They pick up unsold but perfectly edible food from 25+ local donors, and deliver it same day to food pantries and agencies around the North Fork.

Get the full story 👉 Northforker

Student Voices Hit the School Board 🗣️

New York State now requires every school board to have at least one student representative sitting at the table (non-voting, but absolutely heard). And across the East End, those students are stepping up, and speaking up.

Student board members from Greenport, Mattituck, Southampton, Westhampton Beach, East Hampton, and more gathered in Water Mill for the League of Women Voters’ “Running and Winning” program to swap stories, share what’s working, and get a pep talk from leaders who once started exactly where they are.

Students talked about everything from tech bans to dual-language struggles to mental health, fundraising, schoolwide surveys, and the very delicate art of presenting unpopular news to a room full of adults in suits.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

New Heritage Trail 🧱

Mark your calendars and polish your mittens: the Southold Historical Museum is kicking off the 2025 holiday season in a big way. At this year’s 26th annual Candlelight Tour & Tree Lighting (Friday, Nov. 28, 3–6 PM), the museum will debut its brand new ADA-accessible Heritage Trail, a $200,000 Suffolk County Jumpstart project that finally links all of Maple Lane’s historic buildings into one beautiful, walkable path.

Don’t miss the 4 PM ceremony unveiling new dedication bricks along the Heritage Trail, honoring loved ones and local stories now literally set in stone on the Maple Lane Campus. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

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Happenings: Weekend Preview

Friday

🎄Candlelight & Cheer The holidays are officially lighting up in Southold. Join the Southold Historical Museum for its annual Candlelight Tour & Tree Lighting. Wander through twinkling historic buildings, catch live demos, and say hi to Santa in the barn. More Info

🎁 Country Parlor The Hallockville Museum Farm is transforming its historic barn into a holiday wonderland for the annual Country Parlor Folk Art & Gift Show. Shop handcrafted gifts, artwork, and festive décor made by local artisans and craftspeople. More Info

🛍 Holiday Gift Boutique Shop for a cause at Betty’s Holiday Gift Boutique, running Friday-Sunday. Discover unique gifts, festive finds, and local treasures, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the North Fork Animal Welfare League. More Info

🤹‍♀️ NFCT Variety Show Got a talent? A weird talent? North Fork Community Theatre wants to see it. Auditions for the 21st Annual NFCT Variety Show are happening Friday and Sunday. More Info

🎨 Collage Workshop Tap into their creative side at the Collage Workshop at Chronicle Wines, where artist in residence Diana Aliberti will lead participants through crafting their own one of a kind artwork. More Info

Saturday

🎄 Holiday Wreath Workshop Get in the holiday spirit at Corey Creek with a festive wreath making workshop. Sip wine while crafting your own custom wreath, and enjoy complimentary red wine sangria and locally made antipasti by Lauren Lombardi Events. More Info

🌅 Gallery Show Head over to The Giving Room for a special Gallery Show. This exhibit centers on the healing hope found in each Sunrise over the Peconic Bay, a reminder of renewal, gratitude, and the quiet magic of our coastal mornings. More Info

🥂 Winter Truffle Tasting Indulge in the season’s most luxurious flavors at Sparkling Pointe’s Winter Truffle Tasting. Savor the earthy richness of fresh black winter truffles featured in elegant small bites, perfectly paired with four prestige sparkling wines. More Info

🎁 Holiday Makers Market Kick off the season at Greenport Harbor Brewing Co’s, Holiday Markers Market. They’re turning the brewhouse into a festive little wonderland with local artisans, makers, and merchants showing off their best goods. Add in GHBC’s craft brews, and live music, and you’ve got a merry little shopping day on the North Fork. More Info

🍽 Taste of Iberia Basso is breaking in their new space with Taste of Iberia, an all you can eat and drink celebration of bold flavors and festive vibes. More Info

🎨 There’s No Place Like Home Local creativity takes center stage at the Art Opening & Holiday Gift Sale at North Fork Arts Center. A festive exhibition curated by local gallery partners. Inspired by Wicked: For Good and The Wizard of Oz, the show invites guests to celebrate hometown talent and discover one of a kind holiday gifts crafted by local artists. More Info

❄️ Winterfest Winter magic takes over the Ram’s Head Inn during their Winterfest & the Christmas Tree Lighting. Enjoy live Christmas singalongs, get sketched by a talented caricature artist, sip hot cider, mulled wine, or hot chocolate, and dive into a festive cookie decorating station. More Info

🎄Wreath Workshop Holiday creativity is in full bloom at Jamesport Farm Brewery’s wreath decorating workshop, Craft your own festive wreath while enjoying a pint. More Info

Sunday

🐶 Holiday Pet Photos Bring your furry friends to the Cutchogue New Suffolk Library for Holiday Pet Photos with Santa. Join photographer Judy McCleery of The Puparazzi Pet Photography and capture your pet’s best holiday pose in front of a festive winter scene. More Info

🥫 Food Drive Main Road Biscuit is on a holiday mission with its Stuff the Truck Food Drive, and they’re aiming for overflowing. Drop off cans, dry goods, and unopened toiletries to help pack the truck to the roof. Once filled, the haul heads straight to the Mattituck High School Food Pantry. 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

Wednesday

Friday

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships

🐝 The Pen and Paper Era

Festival of Trees Winners, Southold Goes Analog, Forever Chemicals

Together With

Sponsored By Pure & Peaceful

The Lowdown

Festival of Trees Winners 🎄

Southold Goes Analog ✍️

Forever Chemicals🚰

Fill Plates Not Landfills 🥦

Student Voices Hit the School Board 🗣️

New Heritage Trail 🧱

^{_{Stories with a ($) require a third party subscription}}

Sponsored by Corey Creek Tap Room

Happenings: Weekend Preview

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Live Music + Fun Breakdown

Wednesday

Friday

THANKS!