North Fork Sun

06/18/2026

🎭 BIG DREAMS FOR NFAC 🎭

From the Obama administration to Greenport's historic theater, new North Fork Arts Center executive director Alison Omens is bringing big ideas and boundless energy to the next chapter of NFAC.

From world-class performers and arts education programs to film clubs, cabaret nights, piano karaoke and stronger community partnerships, Omens sees NFAC as much more than a movie theater.

"I always feel that we can create magic together," she says.

Read Sun correspondent Deborah Wetzel's profile, in which Omens outlines her vision for making NFAC an even stronger cultural anchor for the North Fork. 👇

Explore the North Fork Arts Center and its future under new executive director Alison Omens, filled with optimism and innovation.

06/18/2026

Talk about Strawberry Fields Forever!

Nobody pre-games like the Mattituck Lions Club and their fruit-loving North Fork peeps. Hulling Night 2026 was the strawberry festival equivalent of Tom Waits' "Sunday paper on a Saturday night" — getting tomorrow's goodness ready a little early.

The berries are hulled. The countdown is on. Nothing left to do but smile! Here are some of our favorite faces.

(Photos by Chris Francescani, Jeremy Garretson and Anna Gambone, w late game assists from Jason Taggart)

06/17/2026

⛳️ Behind every birdie, bogey and dramatic Sunday finish at this week’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills is an army of volunteers making the championship possible. More than 3,000 men and women — almost two-thirds of them from Long Island — are serving as marshals, ticket scanners, merchandise staffers, scoring assistants, transportation aides and crowd managers, helping keep one of golf’s biggest events running smoothly. Many spend long hours on their feet in the sun, often for nothing more than the chance to be part of golf history. Sun Special Projects editor Brendan O'Connor is on the course this week, capturing all the excitement.

06/17/2026

⚓ Rock? Check. Dock? Check. Next stop: restoring the lighthouse itself.

Greenport's iconic Bug Light has reached a major preservation milestone with the completion of the first phase of a multi-year restoration project. New pilings, docks, ramps, shoreline stabilization and site cleanup have transformed the historic offshore landmark and restored safe public access.

It's the latest chapter in a story that began when the original lighthouse burned in 1963 and local volunteers helped bring it back to life in 1990. The milestone will be celebrated with a ribbon-cutting on June 25.

A North Fork icon is getting the care it deserves.

Discover the milestones in Bug Light's restoration. Attend the ceremony on June 25 to commemorate this exciting achievement.

06/17/2026

For years, neighbors called it a "zombie house."

Now, after renewed code enforcement scrutiny, a long-troubled Mattituck property owned by the family of Southold Town Councilman Brian Mealy has undergone a sweeping cleanup. But questions remain about why documented enforcement efforts appeared to stop after Mealy took office, and where the councilman - whose voter registration lists the Grand Ave. address - is living.

Explore the dramatic changes in the Southold Town Councilman property cleanup after years of enforcement actions and complaints.

06/16/2026

How should Southold spend future CPF dollars? Will new SEQRA rules weaken local control? ⚖️ What do New York's new immigration laws mean for local government?

Those were among the key questions addressed Tuesday as state lawmakers Anthony Palumbo and Tommy John Schiavoni joined the Southold Town Board for a wide-ranging discussion on issues that could shape the town's future.

Stay informed about the Southold CPF updates and what they mean for local development and environmental conservation efforts.

06/16/2026

🍞❤️ From a health struggle to a thriving North Fork business.

When Carissa Hope was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease in her 20s, she found herself searching for answers — and eventually discovered what she calls a “magic loophole” in sourdough. Today, the founder of NoFo SoDough is turning out artisan loaves, cookies and her beloved chocolate chocolate cupcakes for local favorites like Barrow Food House and Bread and Butter & Bottle.

Read Sun editor Jaymee Sire's latest dispatch about one baker transformed a personal challenge into a growing East End success story.

Get an insider look at NoFo SoDough's baking process, from sourdough loaves to chocolate chocolate cupcakes, made fresh each week.

06/15/2026

📂 Good news for anyone who relies on Southold Town records: Laserfiche is back.

The online document management system was taken offline following the November ransomware attack that triggered a multi-agency investigation and disrupted town operations. According to the Town Clerk’s office, the system has now been restored and is once again accessible to the public.

The cyberattack drew assistance from the FBI, Homeland Security and multiple state and county agencies. Now, a key piece of the town’s digital infrastructure is back online.

The restoration of Southold laserfiche back online marks a key step in the town's recovery from the recent cyberattack.

06/15/2026

🍻 Beer alone isn't enough anymore.

As younger consumers drink less alcohol and hard seltzers, canned cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages gain popularity, East End breweries are adapting. Think live music, food pairings, waterfront dining, poetry readings and community events.

"We're partly in the entertainment business," says Eastern Front Brewing's Doug Pearsall.

Sun correspondent Joseph Finora Sr. examines what's on tap for the region's evolving craft beer industry.

Discover the North Fork microbreweries landscape, highlighting new trends and the resilience of local craft brewing amid challenges.

06/14/2026

📚🎶 An afternoon of poetry followed by live music? Count us in.

Eastern Front Brewing Co. in Mattituck will host the inaugural North Fork Juneteenth Poetry Fest on June 20, bringing together writers, readers and community members for a free event celebrating the power of words and storytelling.

No cover charge. No minimum. Just poetry, conversation and a pint if you're so inclined. Reader sign-up begins at 2:45 p.m. Poetry readings run from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by live music.

Experience the joy of spoken word at the Juneteenth Poetry Fest. Participate or listen on June 20 at Eastern Front Brewing Co.