Week in Review: Communities in Crisis

Hampton Bays Reels from ICE Raids, Food Crisis Goes Into High Gear, Suess Declares Victory in Southold

Author

Beth Young
November 16, 2025

Southampton

Town Hears From Community in Shock Over ICE Raids

As residents of Southampton Town search for answers as to why federal immigration officials were scouring Hampton Bays and Westhampton last Wednesday morning, seemingly randomly taking Latino people from public locations, representatives from the Latino advocacy group OLA say parents are not sending their children to school, going to work or venturing out to shop for groceries in fear of what could happen to them.

2025 Elections

With Vote Soon to be Certified, Suess Declares Victory in Southold Council Race

Democratic Southold Town Board candidate Alexa Suess declared victory in her race Friday evening, as her lead over her closest Republican competitor, Chris Talbot, increased to 147 votes in the Friday afternoon tally including absentee ballots from the Suffolk County Board of Elections.

Volunteers from Food Rescue US’s North Fork chapter picked up excess winter squash from Krupski Farms to distribute to multiple food banks and churches and little pantries in Southold Town, Riverhead and Flanders on Monday.

Members of Southold’s new emergency team addressing food and heat shared some of the issues facing residents at the Southold Town Board’s Nov. 5 work session.

Southold Emergency Team Addresses Need for Food & Heat

Community Rallies to Help

Southold Town is putting together an emergency response team to address the need for food and heat in the community, as North Fork community non-profits and volunteer groups work to provide food to those in need.

Despite this week’s deal to end the federal government shutdown, uncertainty continues over the future of the federal SNAP ‘food stamp’ program and local food pantries are seeing a noticeable increase in demand for their services at a time of year that many working families are already under financial stress.

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Redevelopment

As Pace of Riverside Redevelopment Accelerates, Southampton Receives Major Grant for Sewer

As several recent steps have moved forward the redevelopment of Riverside, Southampton Town has received a $19 million grant for its Riverside sewage treatment plant through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

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Our Voices

Dave’s Desk@Ditch: The Illusion of Separateness

By Dave Davis

When you think of the word ‘separation,’ what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For some, it might be the division of two or more objects, each being placed into a different group based upon certain attributes. For others, it may represent a legal connotation; something that might take place prior to a more binding agreement. Then there are those who view the concept of separation as something that is altogether illusory, arbitrary, and merely a state of mind. 

Peconic Dish: The Perfect Ending for a Holiday Feast

By Alison Boyd-Savage

When the last of the glorious North Fork peaches have disappeared from the farm stands, local pears show up as a sweet consolation prize. They come in many varieties and generally stick around until Thanksgiving. The pairing of pears and chocolate is always a hit, which inspired me to create an irresistible upside-down cake that’s perfect when served warm. This easy-to-make dessert is sure to delight your family and guests during the holidays.

Arts

"Fluid Patterns" Explores Our Complicated Relationship with the Waters Around Us

The new juried show, "Fluid Patterns" at East End Arts' gallery in Riverhead "began with a stark local fact," according to the show's organizers.

"East End Arts Council, a community gallery since 1977, must relocate due to rising flood risks. The gallery itself is now a canary in the coal mine — a symbol of shifting environmental conditions that affect communities around the globe."

UPCOMING EVENTS

A Great Week for the Arts

Monday, Nov. 17

The Business of Mattituck

Local entrepreneurs share their stories at the "The Business of Mattituck," a presentation organized by the Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association on Monday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mattituck Park District headquarters at Veterans Beach.

Saturday, Nov. 22 & Sunday, Nov. 23

CAST Festival of Trees

The Center for Advocacy, Support & Transformation, the North Fork’s far-reaching provider of safety net and self-sufficiency programs, will host its Sixth Annual North Fork Festival of Trees on Nov. 22 and 23 at Treiber Farms in Peconic. 

Saturday, Nov. 22

Steve Israel Reads from “The Einstein Conspiracy”

Steve Israel, owner of Theodore’s Books and former U.S. Congressman, discusses his new historical thriller, “The Einstein Conspiracy” at Greenport’s Floyd Memorial Library.

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ON THE AIR

Behind the Headlines

At this week’s Behind the Headlines on 88.3 WLIW-FM, Beacon editor Beth Young joins a panel discussing the recent federal immigration sweeps through Hampton Bays and Westhampton with OLA Executive Director Minerva Perez

Keep Independent News on the East End

The Beacon is able to provide all of our content online free of charge thanks to support from our readers. Be a vital part of keeping our community informed!

Words

“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace — only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.” — Anne Lamott

See you next Sunday,

Beth

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