Get out and enjoy all the North Fork has to offer today — here are five highlights: 1. San Simeon by the Sound nursing facility in Greenport will host a special reception from 4:30 to 6:30 for Caregiver Appreciation Day. The event is part of National Older Americans Month. Refreshments, hors d’oeuvres and spa services will be available. Call 631-477-2110 or go click here for more information. 2. Catch “Mozart’s Sister,” a 2010 French film showing at Floyd Memorial Library as part of the Greenport library’s spring film festival. The film about Nannerl Mozart, Wolfgang's elder by five years and…

Cinco de Mayo happy hours are starting up or are about to start up Saturday afternoon on the North Fork and Shelter Island. Here are a few places to offer specials in honor of the Mexican holiday: 1. Old Mill Inn, Mattituck: Mixologist Kim has been hard at work behind the bar. Ask her for a Fuzzy Worm, a Nazi Taco or a Salty Chihuahua, or one of the bar's rare tequilas.  2. Four Doors Down, Mattituck: This eclectic bar on Route 25 offers $3 margaritas and tequila specials, half-priced nachos and quesadillas, happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. and the Kentucky Derby on TV. Live music from local band …

1. North Fork Idol Open Mic hosted by Cowboy Kevin: Enjoy musical talent of all ages Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Jason’s Vineyard in Jamesport. North Fork Idol is an open mic where prizes are awarded based on applause, so bring your friends and make some noise. Food and snacks are available, great opportunity for networking and auditions. 2. Peconic Community School Open House: The North Fork Education Initiative is founding the Peconic Community School, a multi-age K-8 independent school and will host an open house on Friday at 7 p.m. at the East End Arts building in Riverhead. The group is still…

The North Fork is a very earthy place. And with Earth Day coming up on Sunday, the following organizations are offering these ways to pay tribute to Mother Nature: 1. New Suffolk Civic Association Annual Spring Road Clean-up, April 21 at 10 a.m.: Join your friends and neighbors for a little fresh air and exercise during a Saturday road clean-up starting at New Suffolk Beach. A pair of work or garden gloves and strong, comfortable shoes are recommended. 2. Celebrate Earth Day at Mashomack on Shelter Island, April 21 at 1 p.m: Celebrate Earth Day weekend on Shelter Island. Head to the Mashomack…

With great weather and clear skies on the horizon for the next couple of days, take a minute to review these highlights from our calendar of weekend events: 1. Reception and Art Show Featuring Dolores Castrucci: A wine and cheese reception for an art show at Town & Country Real Estate in Southold featuring the works of Dolores Castrucci will be held on April 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. Castrucci of Southold is known for her oil paintings of beautiful North Fork landscapes. 2. Stargazing and Wine at Sherwood House: Join the staff of Sherwood House Vineyards for a whimsical night of wine and stargazing…

If you have the day off on Tuesday, maybe you’d like to see what’s on the table at Southold Town Hall. Work session begins at 9 a.m.: 1. Southold Town Highway Supervisor Peter Harris will discuss road issues regarding South Harbor Road and other road ends at 9 a.m. 2. Police Chief Martin Flatley will take the stage at 9:30 a.m. to talk crime stats. 3. Whether or not Greenport Village should install parking meters and the issue of the summertime Greenport Farmers' market fees will come in to play at or around 10 a.m. 4. Should the Town hire a historic preservation intern? Find out around 11 a.…

It's not every day that one gets to see grammy-award winning musicians and other bands of note right here in our backyard. Which is why, with Winterfest's Jazz on the Vine in full swing this sunny weekend, you should try making it out to one of a dozen shows happening at local vineyards this weekend. Here are five — click here for the full calendar of events. 1. Mike Pride and From Bacteria to Boys, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m., Martha Clara Vineyards, 6025 Sound Avenue in Riverhead. Mike Pride is an eclectic musician who performs jazz, punk, metal, and alternative rock. He mans the drums in his quartet…

1. East End Arts along with Little Folk's Music and Fantasic Theatrix will be running classes Feb. 21 through 24 at Brecknock Hall in Greenport beginning at 10 a.m. each day. Call 631-369-2172 and check out littlefolkfirst.blogspot.com. 2. If you're closer to Riverhead, East End Arts is also holding an interactive theatrical workshop this week at its Main Street campus, 10 to 11 a.m. for ages 8 to 10, 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. for ages 5 to 7. Cost: $48 EEA members / $72 non-members. 3. It might be a mild "winter" but Greenport's ice rink is still open and going strong with open skating, classes …

Don't miss out on deals at local stores, specials at wineries and all sorts of opportunities to meet Santa this weekend: 1. Haven't gone shopping for the pet yet? The Feed Bag in Cutchogue is holding a one-day-only sale on Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with everything in the store at 20 percent off regular price. The deal does not apply to grooming rates. 2. Santa Claus will be making his first few early appearances this weekend at the Mattituck Shopping Plaza and in Greenport on Saturday. Click here for details and to find out other dates and times of Santa meet 'n' greets. 3. Like …

A handful of North Fork restaurants will serve all your favorite Thanksgiving fixings this coming Thursday if you've not made plans to cook. Others will offer Thanksgiving Eve specials on Wednesday — and the Love Lane Kitchen will be open for breakfast before turkey and football hit local households. 1. The Soundview on Route 48 in Greenport will serve a four-course Thanksgiving Day feast from 12 to 9 p.m on Thursday. The menu includes not only turkey with all the trimmings but also selections of rib, pasta and seafood dishes. Reservations are booking fast, so calls them today at 631-477-0666…

Enjoy one of the last non-holiday-focused weekends left of the year at local wineries, art galleries and nature preserves: 1. From Nov. 4 throughout the winter, Shinn Estate Vineyards will stay open on Friday evenings until 8 p.m. for a special evening of wine, cheese and  Joan Bernhardt will conduct palm readings from 5 to 8 p.m. for $20 per session. Glasses of wine and cheese plates are $5 each. 2. Inlet Pond County Park in Greenport hosts an informational session Friday at 6 p.m. on how you can help save cold-stunned sea turtles. It's a special presentation by the Riverhead Foundation for …

If you have an event or business to promote, poetry to write or a message to get across to the community, there's really no better way to do it than to sign up as a North Fork Patch blogger. Blogs are only lightly edited — we want your own unique voice and style to come through — and can serve as free advertising and great exposure if you're in business or government. If you have an opinion you want to express, blogs can be more effective than letters to the editor — they are posted as they come in and can sit on the home page of the site for quite some time. And if a blog is really well-…

The Board of Elections provided North Fork Patch with a sample ballot for this year's general election happening at various polling locations on Tuesday. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Click here to find out where your voting location is for your district. Click here for our comprehensive Election 2011 topic page, with candidate profiles, opinion polls and more. A list of North Fork voting locations are as follows: Fishers Island Community Center Orient: Poquatuck Hall East Marion Fire Department Greenport Methodist Church Greenport Fire Department Greenport Public School Southold Fire …

Town supervisor, council members and trustees. And lest we not forget about town justice and tax receiver. These positions in local government will be up for grabs on Nov. 8, and here are some reasons why we think you might be interested in paying attention. Be sure to click here to find all aspects of Election 2011 covered in-depth. 1. We are profiling everyone running for office. Individual stories matter. Each person running has their own unique qualifications and motivations. We're compiling a record of these stories and hope you keep coming back as you make your decision. 2. There are …

Want to get out of the house Saturday night? Here are five classy and interesting events happening right here on the North Fork: 1. Shakespeare: In the Company of Players is a unique mixture of scenes, soliloquies and snippets honoring and illustrating the beautiful language, timeless truth and spirit of Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies. The play takes place at the Jamesport Meeting House at 7 p.m. Admission is $18 and includes a wine-and-cheese reception. All proceeds go to support the Jamesport Meeting House Preservation Trust and Northeast Stage’s annual free Shakespeare-in-the-Park. 2…

North Fork Patch documented some spooky stories throughout the month  — and there's more if you go looking. 1. Ghosts from Greenport dairy farm days: Patch contributor Sandy Martocchia described how she thinks her Greenport home — once a dairy farm — is haunted by spirits from the former occupants, with ghostly footsteps and mysterious phone calls. 2. Haunted in Southold: Full-bodied apparitions appear and candle holders fly across the room at this woman's haunted Southold home. 3. East End haunts from Montauk to Cutchogue: A former Newsday writer releases Ghosts of Long Island books in e-…

From benefit dinners to parades for kids, celebrate Halloween 2011 in the following ways: 1. Orient United Methodist Church will have a potluck Halloween supper on Friday at 6 p.m. Bring only a covered dish to the church. Kids should dress up! 2. Harbes' Middle Earth night corn maze is still scaring the wits out of people young and old on Sound Avenue in Riverhead. The maze opens at 7 p.m. throughout the weekend and costs $9. Bring flashlights and wear appropriate shoes. 3. Soundview Inn's annual Halloween costume party is a legendary good time and draws some of the best costumes around the …

There are plenty of opportunities for Halloween scares and fundraising opportunities this week: 1. Support the Southold Rotary during a scallop dinner at the Soundview Restaurant Soundview Restaurant, 58775 Route 48 in Greenport on Tuesday at noon. It's only $25 to enjoy a plate of those delicate morsels and raise money for a local institution. 2. Run a 5K on Saturday to support the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation. The 14th Annual 5K Run for the Ridley starts at 9 a.m. on Main Street in Riverhead, goes through a quiet residential neighborhood and finishes on …

Whether on the water or encompassed in woods, North Fork Parks are still great to visit during the fall. Here are five — feel free to let us know what your favorite is in the boxes below. Orient Beach State Park: Check out this park as its pristine maritime forest changes with the weather. Stroll along the expansive beach, now peaceful without too many tourists, in the cool breeze off of Gardiners Bay. Dam Pond Preserve: Fall is a great time to hike the trails around Dam Pond Preserve, a county-owned park in East Marion. The trails are tucked away just off the Orient-East Marion causeway. …

Start the day by thinking about what lies ahead during the week — from coverage of elections to a dramatic sailboat race — before the big Columbus Day Weekend. 1. We begin our run-down of candidates this week with a few profiles of those in the running in Election 2011 for seats for Southold Town Supervisor, Council, Trustee, Justice, and Tax Receiver. Click here for coverage of this weekend’s Southold Democratic gathering in Mattituck with Steve Bellone as guest speaker. 2. There’s plenty of high school soccer happening throughout the week, starting with Wyandanch @ Mattituck Boys Soccer, …