Week in Review: Election Season Kicks Off

Debates Take Shape, North Fork on Short-Term Rentals, Patriot Begins Removing Waste from Calverton

Author

Beth Young
September 28, 2025

Election Season Kicks Off

East End Debate Schedules Take Shape

Project Vote reminded voters of the importance of making their voices heard in a nonpartisan 2020 project at the Jamesport Meeting House.

Most debates are now set in the calendar for this fall’s local elections in the five East End Towns. Here’s what we know to date.

On The North Fork

Riverhead GOP Agrees to Just One Election Forum

Incumbents (l-R0 Bob Kern, Timothy Hubbard and Ken Rothwell will only participate in one debate

The Riverhead Town GOP has agreed to have its Town Council and Supervisor candidates attend just one Meet the Candidates forum this fall, hosted by the Greater Calverton and Wading River Civic Associations on Oct. 16.

The Greater Jamesport and Heart of Riverhead Civic Associations have decided to go ahead with their candidate forums without them.

North Fork

Greenport Closes Short-Term Rental Hearing, As Southold Town Postpones Review of its Code

After receiving a smattering of comment Thursday evening, the Greenport Village Board has closed a public hearing on a proposed new code requiring permits for short-term rentals.

Board members said they expect to discuss the comments from the public hearings at their next work session Oct. 16 before holding a vote.

Riverhead

Patriot Recycling Begins Removing Waste from Nursery Property in Calverton

Tractor trailers from Patriot Recycling could be seen arriving at the Youngs Avenue entrance of a former nursery in Calverton on Monday, after Riverhead Town announced Friday that it had reached an agreement with the owner of the property to remove the material beginning Sept. 22.

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North Fork

An Overnight Roundabout at Greenport Intersection

When flashing highway department signs recently began advertising “Traffic Circle Ahead: Begins 9/22/25” at the intersection of County Road 48 and Route 25 in Greenport, they weren’t kidding.

Local Summer Calls for the Tomato

By Alison Boyd-Savage

Tomato season will soon be a fleeting memory. With the deadline looming, I headed to Hodun Farms in Calverton where luscious U-pick tomatoes at bargain prices attract hordes of diehard canners from as far afield as Brooklyn and Queens. One couple, who were making their second trip, loaded up their truck with five bushels of fruit. They would be making enough sauce to see three generations of their family through the winter. With more modest goals in mind, I purchased a half bushel, to slow roast and turn it into sauce and soup.  I was assured at the farm that fruit would be available through the first half of September and maybe beyond. 

On the Air

Behind the Headlines

On this week’s edition of Behind The Headlines on 88.3 WLIW-FM, Beacon editor Beth Young joins a panel discussing the cannabis shop in Southampton which opened without complete permitting, the political dynamics surrounding candidate engagement in Riverhead and recent changes in COVID vaccine accessibility in New York State. Tune in on the air at 10 a.m. this morning, or online at the link below.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Something for Everyone

Sunday, Sept. 28

Bill McKibben in East Hampton

Writer, activist and environmentalist Bill McKibben comes to Guild Hall in East Hampton with a powerful message: In the past two years, with surprisingly little notice, solar energy has suddenly become the mainstream, cost-efficient energy choice around the world.

Friday, Oct. 3

Final Mattituck First Friday

Love Lane will be closed to traffic this Friday evening for the last time this year, and will be filled up with the community spirit, with shops open late, food, local craft beverages and artisanal items for sale by street vendors.

Saturday, Oct. 4

Riverhead Tunnel To Towers Benefit Concert

The Riverhead Moose Lodge benefit concert for Tunnel to Towers features live music by The Joe Nocco Band, Joe Hampton and The Kingpins, and Just Friends.

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

“Wild is the music of the autumnal winds amongst the faded woods.” — William Wordsworth

See you next Sunday,

Beth

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