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2026 Elections Announcements Upcoming

Riverhead Town Supervisor Debates Set

October 6, 2026October 6, 2026 East End Beacon

Three Riverhead civic associations are holding debates in the upcoming weeks for the two candidates running for Riverhead Town Supervisor — incumbent Supervisor Jerry Halpin and Councilman Ken Rothwell. Mr. Halpin, a minister, was elected as a Democrat last fall and has been in office less than a year, but is facing re-election this year due to the phase-in of the state's new even year election law. Mr. Rothwell, a

Candace Hall, Rev. Natalie Wimberly, Liz Welch, Anne Smith and Brian Mealy discuss fostering a Beloved Community.

Announcements Upcoming

Pastor Natalie Wimberly to Receive Southold’s Helen Wright Prince Award Thursday

October 5, 2026October 9, 2026 East End Beacon

Pastor Natalie Wimberly has been inspiring the North Fork community from the pulpit at Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church in Greenport for the past decade. This Thursday, she will be honored by the Southold Town Anti-Bias Task Force with the Helen Wright Prince Award for her commitment to educating North Forkers in a celebration at Peconic Landing at 6 p.m. The community is invited to attend. Pictured Above: Candace Hall,

Announcements Upcoming

Rural & Migrant Ministry Center in Riverhead to Host Open House Oct. 3

October 2, 2026October 2, 2026 East End Beacon

Rural & Migrant Ministry (RMM) will host "Cultivating Justice & Growing Together," an open house fundraiser, on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 2 to 6 p.m. at its Amandla Rural Worker Education Center at573 Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Center. Through an interactive, open-house style gathering, guests will have the opportunity to engage with RMM's grassroots programs, connect with community members, and enjoy cultural music.

Editorial Featured Housing Opinion

Editorial: Don’t Barge Ahead With Southold Down Payment Program

September 29, 2026October 1, 2026 East End Beacon

When we first heard that Southold Town was planning to expand its proposed first-time homebuyer down payment assistance program, we thought the logic made a lot of sense. Loaning new homeowners a large enough down payment to avoid paying for pricey private mortgage insurance does give them more long-term economic stability. But, like so many things, the devil in this program is in the details, and after discussing its current

Pictured: Kevin Shea, at right, in rehearsal for a new production of "The Guys" in Greenport, about an FDNY Captain eulogizing the men he lost on September 11.

Column Letters

Letter: Firefighter Kevin Shea Responds to Attacks from Riverhead Town Board Members over 9-11

September 23, 2026September 29, 2026 East End Beacon

(Editor's Note: At the Riverhead Town Board's July 21 meeting, Mr. Shea, a retired FDNY firefighter who suffered severe injuries while responding to the World Trade Center, initially called the plane crashes 'accidents' and later clarified that he had intended to say 'incidents.' Councilwoman Waski and Councilman Ken Rothwell both immediately criticized Mr. Shea's choice of words, and Ms. Waski also later lambasted him on social media (see her post).

Photos Recent Upcoming

Greenport Maritime Festival Rescheduled to Oct. 16-18

September 21, 2026September 26, 2026 East End Beacon

Due to this weekend's impending nor'easter, the 36th Annual Greenport Maritime Festival will move to October 16 to 18, the organizers announced on Sept. 21. It had originally been scheduled for Sept. 25-27. "Following consultation Monday morning among the Greenport Business Owners Alliance (GBOA), Village of Greenport, Southold Town Police Department and festival partners, organizers agreed that moving the festival now is the most thoughtful course given the developing weather

2026 Elections

League of Women Voters To Hold First Senatorial District Debate

September 20, 2026October 1, 2026 East End Beacon

The League of Women Voters of the Hamptons, Shelter Island and North Fork is holding a virtual debate for the two candidates for New York State's 1st Senatorial District on Monday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. State Senator Anthony Palumbo, a Republican, is facing challenger Christopher Murray, an attorney and environmental and civil rights advocate. It takes place live on Monday, Sept. 28, 7-8 p.m. on Southampton Town's SEA-TV YouTube channel,

Greenport Recent

Five Displaced, One Hospitalized After Fire At Driftwood Cove in Greenport

September 17, 2026September 26, 2026 East End Beacon

A fire this afternoon at the Driftwood Cove Apartments in Greenport has left five residents displaced, with one transported to Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital for smoke inhalation. The Southold Town Police Department says it received reports of a fire at the Driftwood Cove Apartments, located at 1000 Ninth Street in Greenport, at around 2:30 p.m. "Southold Town Police officers and Greenport Fire Department personnel responded and located a

Peconic Bathtub Recent

The East End Goes All In on International Coastal Cleanup Day

September 17, 2026September 21, 2026 East End Beacon

The 37th Annual International Coastal Cleanup is this Saturday, Sept. 19, and volunteers are taking to the beaches across the East End to collect tons of trash and keep the beaches beautiful and safe for marine life in the months ahead. The International Coastal Cleanup is a global effort, under the international umbrella of the Ocean Conservancy. More than 100 countries participate. Numerous state beaches on the East End are

Announcements Recent Southampton

Southampton Buys Former Gas Station Site By Wildwood Lake

September 17, 2026September 17, 2026 East End Beacon

Southampton Town announced this week that it has purchased a long-abandoned Northampton gas station property on Lake Avenue adjacent to Wildwood Lake, a move the town says removes "decades-old blight and a potential environmental hazard." The town closed on the $420,000 purchase on Aug. 26. The third-acre property had been the site of a gas station and auto repair shop, built in 1950, which had been defunct for decades. The

Announcements Riverhead Upcoming

Hallockville Seeks Scarecrow Makers, Beautiful Pumpkins and Food Entries for Country Fair

September 16, 2026September 18, 2026 East End Beacon

Hallockville Museum Farm is issuing a call for entries for a Preserve, Produce and Honey Contest at its 45th Annual Country Fair on October 3 and 4. The Country Fair planners also have something else up their sleeves — straw! — for a new scarecrow making contest to be held during the fair. Food Contest Call for Entries Local growers, cooks and beekeepers are invited to enter the contest to earn bragging rights