There used to be a bumper sticker you’d see around here that urged everyone to “strive for excellence,” not a bad admonition, though I’d prefer “strive for beauty.”

Home sales on the South Fork have dropped 17 percent in the first half of 2019 compared to last year, according to a report from the Town and Country real estate agency.

The prices below have been calculated from the county transfer tax. Unless otherwise noted, the parcels contain structures.