Fall 2025 Newsletter

Fall has arrived! Orient Association is your local source for keeping you updated on important issues and happenings in Orient and Southold. Read on to get the latest on our upcoming Water Forum, Election News, Water Report Fast Facts, an Update on Southold’s Zoning Process, and a reminder about Emergency Preparedness.

Orient Water Forum

The Orient Water Forum will take place on the morning of Saturday, October 25th from 9:00 to 12:30 in Poquatuck Hall.

The OA recently published the Orient Water Resources Study, a three-year long project evaluating the quantity and quality of our drinking water and the health of our bays.

With the information gathered, the Orient Association is furthering conversation on the three major issues facing Orient:

• Forever Chemicals and Other Contaminants of Concern in Orient’s Fresh Water

• Sea Level Rise and Saltwater Intrusion in Orient Wells

• Public Water: Does Orient Need It?

Experts from the United States Geological Survey, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, the NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation, the Suffolk County Water Authority, CDM Smith, Shelter Island, and the Town of Southold will discuss these challenges in a slate of three panels.

Each panel will be approximately one hour long.  Moderators will ask questions that are prepared in advance, and if there is time, will take questions from the audience. If you have would like to submit a question for us to put to the experts on these topics, please send by them to: [email protected]

If you plan to attend, please RSVP here.  This will be a very important discussion on the current and future health of water in Orient.

Orient Water Report Fast Facts  

We’ve summarized some salient key facts about Orient’s water resources. Gleaned from the report commissioned by the Orient Association in 2022 which was completed by a team of hydrologists and water planners at CDM Smith, a global environmental engineering firm. These facts are helpful to guide Orient residents and local officials as we all care for our limited and fragile water resources.

Check Out Orient’s Water Fast Facts

2025 Elections—Every Vote Counts!

In collaboration with all the North Fork Civics groups, the Orient Association will be hosting a Candidates Forum on October 14th at the Southold Town Recreation Center on Peconic Lane from 6:30-9:00.  Candidates for Town Council (Town Board), Town Board of Trustees, Town Clerk, Superintendent of Highways, Town Justice, Town Board of Assessors and County Legislature will be there for a Q and A discussion.  All candidates will have the opportunity to introduce themselves.  Questions will be directed to the Town Board, Trustees and County Legislature candidates.

If you would like to submit questions for Town Board, Trustees or County Legislature candidates, please use this link. Please get in touch by October 5th.

Please RSVP for the event here. If you cannot attend in person, the forum can be viewed on the East End Beacon’s YouTube channel here.

Early voting at the Southold Town Recreation Center starts on October 25th, and ends on November 2.  Election Day voting is at Poquatuck Hall on November 4th.

In addition to voting on these local offices, there will be two propositions on the ballot: a NY State Amendment to Allow Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County on State Forest Preserve Land; and a Suffolk County Proposition to extend term limits to avoid special elections in order to comply with New York’ s Even Year Election Law. Find out more about these two propositions here.

Southold Town’s Zoning Update Program—Status Report

In April, the Town unveiled the Public Review Draft of the proposed Land Use and Zoning Code.  This Draft Zoning Update revamps the structure of the current zoning code and proposes new zoning descriptions and new zoning restrictions on certain properties.  The expressed purpose of this update is to improve clarity and usability, update terminology and to help implement the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.

Since its introduction, the Draft Code has been the subject of numerous public workshops in Southold’s Hamlets including Orient as well as meetings of various groups such as the Town’s appointed Zoning Update Advisory Committee (ZUAC) and the business, agricultural and environmental communities.  As of mid-August, Southold Town has received a large volume of public comments on the Draft.

The Town has just issued their latest progress report as follows:

• All public input has been compiled

• A new draft of a table that describes potential land uses in each zoning category has been created including the restoration of retail and restaurant uses in General and Limited Business zoning districts

Use this link to view public input and the new zoning-use table:

https://southoldzoningupdate.com/latest-news

Town staff is preparing a revised working draft of the Land Use and Zoning Code that incorporates the changes-to-use tables, and is assessing the received public input. This working draft will be used by the Town Board to review policy issues and further revise the draft code, after which further community input will be requested.

While no specific timetable has been stated to accomplish these steps, staff assures that there will be ample opportunities for public review and input on the next version of this draft code.

Most likely, a new draft will be available in late 2025/early 2026.  The Orient Association alongside our North Fork Civic Coalition colleagues will continue to monitor the progress of this project and report to our members.

Click here for or more information on the Zoning Update.

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency situations can arise unexpectedly, but being prepared can make all the difference to you and your family.

During an emergency, the Orient Association e-blast will act as a source of information for Orient residents. Make sure you sign up to receive Orient Association emails by going to the website at orientassociation.org and pressing the subscribe to OA news icon in the upper right-hand corner. The website also contains an “Emergency Preparedness” tab for additional information on preparedness and response including how to create a family disaster plan and build a household emergency kit.

The Orient Association strongly encourages residents to prioritize their emergency preparedness strategies; we can help! Planning ahead is the key to safety. By thinking through the challenges and taking steps to prepare now, it will help you be more in control when an emergency occurs.

Orient Village Halloween
October 31 from 4 – 6pm

Trick or Treating will take place on Village Lane, from Main Road to King Street starting at 4pm and ending at 6 pm.

The Orient Village Halloween Committee is looking for helpers!  

We need decorations and decorators, candy givers, and, of course, trick or treaters!  If you do not live on Village Lane, we can assign you a place to set up and give out candy.

Please reach out to Miriam at the Country Store for more information, assignments, or questions, or email [email protected].

Thank you for your continuing support of the Orient Association. As we enter the fall we continue to uphold and sustain the interests of the Orient Community. Please use our website to learn more, renew your membership, and to share your thoughts and concerns.

Tony Asch
President, the Orient Association