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🐝 Which Year Counts

🐝 Which Year Counts

Coach “Pick” Remembered, 50 Years (Give or Take) of Music, Mom's Night Out

Thomas Loncar
February 18, 2026

Together With

Good Morning, North Fork! This is your five minute tour of what’s happening.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

Coach “Pick” Remembered
50 Years (Give or Take) of Music
Mom’s Night Out

Ready, Set, Go!

The Lowdown

Coach “Pick” Remembered ❤️

The North Fork is mourning the loss of beloved educator and Mattituck-Cutchogue volleyball coach Kelly Pickering, who passed away on Sunday, Feb. 15, at age 49.

Known simply as “Pick” to generations of students, Ms. Pickering spent more than a decade coaching volleyball in the district, shaping setters, blockers and plenty of confident young leaders along the way. She also coached softball and was recently honored as Coach of the Year at the League VII awards dinner in December.

Beyond the court, she served as a longtime guidance counselor at Cutchogue East and, this year, stepped into a new role as part-time dean of students.

No details have been released yet regarding services. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

50 Years (Give or Take) of Music 🎻

The Shelter Island Friends of Music is gearing up to celebrate its 50th anniversary, they just need to settle one small detail: which year counts.

Founded in 1977 but hosting its first concert in 1976, the beloved Shelter Island nonprofit has been quietly delivering world class classical music to audiences from both Forks for nearly five decades.

SIFM has grown from five concerts annually to nine planned for 2026. The board expanded. The programming stretched. The “classical” label loosened up, without sacrificing rigor. .

Concerts are held at the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, with receptions afterward that regulars know are half the charm. Performers mingle. Conversations flow. Audiences meet the next generation of artists dedicating their lives to an exacting craft.

Get the full story 👉 Northforker

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Animal of The Week

Meet Maisel 🐾

Meet Maisel an 82 pound gentle giant with a heart even bigger than her paws.

Maisel recently had her left eye removed due to glaucoma and has made a full, happy recovery, she’s feeling great and ready to soak up all the love. She’s calm, affectionate, and the kind of loyal sidekick who’s happiest just being near her people.

Maisel is healthy, fully vaccinated, microchipped, and officially ready for her forever home. If you’ve been waiting for a sweet, steady best friend who will adore you back tenfold, Maisel is your girl.

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

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

A group of nineteen Buddhist monks recently completed a 108-day, 2,300-mile “Walk for Peace” that ended in Washington, D.C. Where did their journey begin?

Last Week’s Results

Last week we asked: Cupid is the Roman god of love. What is he known as in Greek mythology?

Answer: Eros

88% of you got it right, The other 12% must’ve skipped Greek Mythology 101.

Local Spotlight

Mom’s Night Out 💅

Moms, this is your sign to hand off bedtime duty. On Friday, February 27, Nicolette’s for the Home is hosting a feel good Mom’s Night Out where the vibe is simple: sip, snack, shop, and enjoy 20% off storewide while you browse.

The standout moment of the night: an Air Plant Terrarium Bar led by Imaginariums by Elissa, where you’ll build your own glass terrarium step by step, layering stones and sands, picking an air plant, and adding a crystal that “feels right” for a little extra intention. It’s calming, creative, and you’ll leave with a living centerpiece you can brag about making yourself.

And because self-care is on the itinerary too, Christina DeMartino, PA-C of North Fork Skin & Laser will be offering free aesthetic consults, with a 15% Botox discount for anyone who books that night.

RSVP by Thursday 2/19, grab a friend, and make a night of it.

^{_{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}}

Live Music + Fun Breakdown

Wednesday

Thursday

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships

Walk for Peace