North Fork News

Algae Bloom In Laurel Lake

Health officials have asked residents not to swim or wade in Laurel Lake in Laurel after Stony Brook University confirmed the presence of a new cyanobacteria bloom, more commonly known as blue-green algae, in the waters.

Blue-green algae are naturally present in lakes and streams in low numbers, but can become abundant and form blooms in shades of green, blue-green, yellow, brown, or red, which will produce floating scums on the surface of water or cause the water to take on paint-like appearance. Contact with waters that appear scummy or discolored should be avoided.

If contact does occur, rinse off with clean water immediately, and seek medical attention if any of the following symptoms occur after contact: nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; skin, eye, or throat irritation, allergic reactions, or breathing difficulties.

Riverhead Park Upgrades

Riverhead Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith announced on June 6 that the town would invest $250,000 in park upgrades.

Projects that will be funded include the Police Officers Memorial Park tennis court, the Reeves Beach restroom facilities, and the Stotzky Park handball court, as well as playground equipment. The town board adopted the supervisor’s proposal for improvements. For more information, visit www.townofriverheadny.gov.

Mattituck-Laurel Library

The Mattituck-Laurel Library will present “Learning the MELT Self-Treatment Method,” which is designed to reconnect whole-body communication using specialized techniques with a soft body roller, on Thursday, June 13, at 6 PM.

The library will also screen “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” in which a boy in Malawi helps his village by building a wind turbine. The screening will be held on Friday, June 14, at 1:30 PM.

It will also hold “Say Cheese or For Maggio,” in which attendees can learn about and taste various Italian cheeses, on Friday, June 14, at 6:30 PM.

The Friends of the Library will meet at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, June 18.

The library will present “Health Insurance Counseling” for seniors and other Medicare-eligible persons, sponsored by the Suffolk County for the Aging, on Tuesday June 18, from 1:30 to 3 PM. The counseling is free, and an appointment can be made through the circulation desk.

For more information, visit www.mattitucklaurellibrary.org.

Southold Historical Society

The Southold Historical Society will host the opening reception for the “Tale of the Whale” exhibition at Horton Point Lighthouse on June 22 at 11:30 AM.

The exhibition, which was put together by volunteers Vivian Eyre and Robert Travis, will be on view at the Nautical Museum in the lighthouse.

The event is open to the public. The suggested admission to the museum is $5 per adult and $10 per family.

gmkotz@indyeastend.com