Looking Ahead to 2026

As we look ahead to 2026, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County is entering the year with clarity, intention, and focus.

In 2025, our organization operated under the theme “Above and Beyond.” It was a year that asked a great deal of our staff, as they adapted to changing state and federal priorities, deftly pivoted around funding changes, and responded to evolving community needs. Through it all, our team did what they do best: they showed up, adapted, and continued to deliver high-quality, mission-driven programs across every program area. Their commitment and resilience defined the year.

As we move into 2026, the landscape continues to evolve. Funding environments are tightening, systems are growing more complex, and organizations like ours are being asked to do more with less. In response, our strategic focus for 2026 is intentionally simple:

Back to Basics.

At the heart of this strategy is one guiding question: Is this on mission?

In 2026, CCE Suffolk will prioritize work that is clearly aligned with our core mission: education, agriculture, youth development, community health, environmental stewardship, and applied science that directly serve the residents of Suffolk County. This means strengthening our foundational programs, being thoughtful about new opportunities, and ensuring that our time, energy, and resources are directed where they create the greatest impact.

“Back to Basics” does not mean doing less. It means doing what matters most. It means simplifying where possible, clarifying priorities, and supporting our staff so they can focus on delivering excellence in the work that defines who we are as an organization.

As we enter 2026, our commitment is to remain focused, fiscally responsible, and deeply mission-driven, so that Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County continues to be a trusted, effective, and resilient partner for our communities now and into the future.

“As we move into 2026, every decision, big or small, will begin with one question: Is this on mission? If it is, we move forward with purpose. If it’s not, we permit ourselves to let it go.”

Vanessa Pino Lockel, Executive Director

CCE Suffolk

Thank you 2025

Walk/Run a 5K Anytime at the

Suffolk County Farm

Visit our new Welcome Center for a 5-mile trail map and take a scenic walk around the Suffolk County Farm. Take in the open fields, farm animals, and peaceful views along the way. It’s a perfect self-guided activity for families, visitors, and nature lovers.

A Tribute to Caroline Kiang: Educator, Mentor, Friend

As a colleague said the other day, the unthinkable happened. Caroline Kiang has passed.

I had the pleasure of knowing Caroline as an educator, a mentor, and a friend. Let me share a few words with fellow Master Gardeners.

Caroline, the educator.

Master Gardener Training was rigorous for our 2005 class with 18 lengthy weekly sessions led by gardening professionals from all over New York state. Some of you recall the gigantic self-made binders of gardening materials and frequent exams.

When I completed training, I began to understand why the Suffolk Master Gardener program was so highly regarded. Caroline, who started the program in 1977, worked tirelessly to promote our mission as “multipliers” spreading the word about best garden practices. Her advocacy of the program, as well as its Master Gardeners every year for 35 years, gave us purpose and credibility wherever we volunteered. Caroline gave the 1500 plus Master Gardeners she trained opportunities to flourish. Be assured. Whether you graduated in the Class of 1982 or the Class of 2012, Caroline remembered you.

Caroline, the mentor.

Although most of us knew her as the dedicated Master Gardener program director, Caroline wore other gardening hats. Every year she described an additional project or a new collaboration that extended the reach of Community Horticulture beyond the Master Gardener program. Here are just a few.

Caroline was chosen as the President of the Perennial Plant Association, a national organization of horticulture professionals and growers. In this role, she worked with perennial industry leaders to address nationwide concerns.

Caroline was deeply committed to teaching children about gardening. During the summertime, Caroline offered training to classroom teachers through the SCOPE program. Caroline designed “Out of the Classroom and Into the Garden” to give generations of teachers exactly what they needed for a successful school garden. Decades later, one of Caroline’s SCOPE participants found her way to the Master Gardener program. Jill Skelly said Caroline’s class “was instrumental in helping me create an action plan for the Park Avenue School Garden, now in its 15th year. Everything from how to scout a location to how to deal with administrators to get everyone on board.”  

When a USDA “Healthy Gardens, Healthy Youth” program came looking for Cornell Extension staff to conduct research in local schools, Caroline adopted the Riverhead Charter School where she collected data on eating habits, implemented a garden, and offered a curriculum to empower children to make healthier eating choices.

When Caroline retired from Cornell Extension, she joined OLLI, the adult education program at Stony Brook University. She took multiple courses every session. Soon Caroline became an OLLI teacher offering a variety of gardening programs. Then, of course, she found herself on the strategic planning committee charting OLLI’s direction and development.

In short. Caroline set the bar high for all her endeavors. She brought people and gardening matters together to make a difference in the lives of individuals and their communities. The Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators, Seed to Supper training and Coastal Gardening projects are my attempts to follow Caroline’s outstanding example.

Caroline, the friend.

We delivered joint workshops at national conferences. Together we explored gardens near and far: Bridge Gardens, Long House, Bayard Cutting Arboretum, the High Line, Cornell (University) Botanic Gardens, Swarthmore College gardens, Longwood and Chanticleer.

Caroline’s husband Bruce typically propagates hundreds of vegetables in their basement every winter. By May, Caroline knew they needed to find another home. She was on the phone asking if I wanted to join her delivering trays of seedlings to area school gardens. Of course.

When the Shinnecock Nation wanted to offer an after-school gardening program for teens, she reached out and said let’s do this together. And we did.

It was usually over lunch that I experienced part of what made Caroline so remarkable. Caroline knew people as well as she knew plants, perhaps even more, and cultivated both so well. She was a sincere and careful listener. Caroline also possessed an incredible memory. She could remember everything and everyone, plus their grandchildren. This is no exaggeration. When we had lunch three weeks ago, Caroline was Caroline inquiring about the day job as well as my family. There was a sparkle in her eye when she recalled a Master Gardener, a nursery grower, a colleague or a friend. Clearly, we all meant a great deal to Caroline who wove us together into the tapestry of her life.

A New York Times article described Caroline as “dynamic and ebullient.” https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/25/arts/an-answer-to-gardeners-questions.html

She never lost those qualities. And Caroline was so much more to those of us who had the good fortune to know her.

-Roxanne Zimmer

Master Garden Program

CCE Suffolk Marine Team Honored by Discover Long Island for Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail App

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s Marine Program was recently recognized by Discover Long Island with the Industry Advancement Award for the Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail App, a digital initiative that highlights the region’s rich seafood heritage, connects consumers to establishments serving and selling locally harvested fish and shellfish, and supports local fishermen, aquaculture, and coastal businesses.

The award was presented at Discover Long Island’s annual gala, celebrating innovative projects that advance Long Island’s tourism, economy, and cultural identity. The Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail App stood out for its unique approach to connecting residents and visitors with local seafood at dock-to-dish restaurants and fish markets carrying the freshest local fish and shellfish, as well as marine-related destinations across the island.

Developed by CCE Suffolk’s Marine Team, the app serves as both an educational and economic tool—showcasing Long Island’s maritime traditions, promoting sustainable seafood, and strengthening connections between consumers and the local seafood industry. By making these resources accessible in one interactive platform, the app helps elevate awareness of Long Island’s coastal communities and the people who depend on them.

“This recognition reflects years of collaborative work by our Marine Program staff and partners,” said the Marine Team. “The Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail App not only supports tourism but also helps tell the story of our local seafood industry and the importance of protecting and sustaining our marine resources.”

The Industry Advancement Award underscores CCE Suffolk’s ongoing commitment to innovation, community engagement, and economic development. Through programs like the Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail App, the Marine Team continues to bridge education, sustainability, and local impact—ensuring Long Island’s seafood heritage remains vibrant for generations to come.

For more information about the project and to download the Seafood Cuisine Trail app, go to:

Our team wrapped up the holiday season with lots of laughs, festive spirit, and great company



From ugly sweater fun to holiday trivia, it was a perfect way to celebrate the season, unwind together, and appreciate the teamwork that makes our work so special. Cheers to the holidays and to an even brighter year ahead! 

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