North Fork News

Korean Voyage

Mia Vasile-Cozzo of Cutchogue was one of five SUNY Oneonta students who traveled to Seoul, South Korea, over spring break for a short-term cultural immersion program called “The Philosophies of Peace.”

Vasile-Cozzo, who studies biology, explored philosophical, cultural, social, religious, and historical aspects of, and issues surrounding, the notion of peace.

The students visited Confucian temples, met with monks at Buddhist temples, visited the demilitarized zone between South and North Korea, learned about the current political situation involving the two Koreas and their relationship with the U.S. and China, and met and spoke with a North Korean defector.

Students were also introduced to various aspects of Korean history and culture, visiting palaces, museums, and cultural sites, and attending contemporary and traditional Korean dance and music performances.

They also visited Sungkyunkwan University to meet with students and faculty, attend philosophy classes with their Korean peers, and participated in a traditional Korean barbecue dinner.

The Days of Steam

The Suffolk County Historical Society will present “Railroad Steam Locomotives on Long Island 1898-1955,” a talk by railroad historian Edward Koehler on Saturday, March 23, at 1 PM.

Koehler will discuss early Long Island Rail Road locomotives, the steam engines of the period when the Pennsylvania Railroad owned the LIRR, and the varied other steam locomotives that served on short lines in Queens and Brooklyn. His talk will be followed by a panel discussion. Admission is free.

The historical society is at 300 Main Street in Riverhead.

Mashomack Preserve Activities

The Nature Conservancy will host several outdoor activities at Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island throughout March, where the trails are open daily from 9 AM to 4 PM.

In honor of the vernal equinox, the trails will be open on Wednesday, March 20, from 7 AM to 7 PM for self-guided walks. There will also be a session for those interested in becoming a bluebird or tree swallow volunteer on Saturday, March 23, from 4 to 5 PM.

The conservancy will also host a “Rare, Big, and Odd Tree Tour” on March 30 from 1 to 3 PM, during which hikers can view different forest types, as well as find fall tulip trees, a huge white oak, a healthy elm tree, and an American Chestnut.

Peconic Healing Center

The Peconic Healing Center at 125 East Main Street in Riverhead will have an open house on Sunday, March 24, from 2 to 5 PM.

Visitors can meet PHC team members, take a tour of the facility, check out new products for sale, and receive a free 20-minute salt lounge session.

Mattituck-Cutchogue Library

The Mattituck-Cutchogue Library will host a Legos program for children in fourth through sixth grades, on Thursday, March 21, at 4 PM. Children can design their own creation and then see it on display. The event is free, but registration is required.

The library will also host “Cooking Demo: Tex-Mex Celebration” on March 21 at 6 PM, where Chef Rob will show attendees how to prepare his taco stew and chicken quesadillas served with mango-pineapple salsa. The fee is $5 per person, and those interested can register at the circulation desk.

The library will also host a free screening of the film “The Mercy,” which tells the story of the amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst and his solo attempt to circumnavigate the globe, on Friday, March 22, at 1:30 PM.