Week in Review: Storm Cancels Weekend

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Author

Beth Young
September 27, 2026

On the Forks

More Coastal Flooding, Downed Trees and Bands of Rain Expected as Storm Continues

The New Suffolk Waterfront at high tide midday Saturday

A Coastal Flood Warning is still in effect until 6 p.m. today as the nor-easter continues to batter the East End.

The National Weather Service is still calling for moderate to locally major coastal flooding at times of high tide through Sunday evening, with the Coastal Flood Warning still in effect through Sunday at 6 p.m. Two-and-a-half to three feet of inundation are expected during times of high tide.

Areas of "major" flooding forecast by NWS include the much of the north side of the South Fork, facing the Peconic Estuary, along with Flanders and the northwestern part of the estuary, in Aquebogue and Jamesport, with the worst of this round of high tides expected Sunday morning.

In addition to the coastal flooding, the National Weather Service was predicting an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain as of its last briefing Saturday evening.

“The rain that we’re getting is coming in bands, which means you will have periods of drizzle and periods of heavy rain,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine in a briefing Saturday morning. “The danger of the rain is that it’s going to continue all night, all day Sunday and into Monday. It loosens the soil, and combined with the wind, our concern is that trees will topple and with them power lines.”

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Peconic Bathtub

Maritime Festival Moved to October

Due to this weekend’s nor’easter, the 36th Annual Greenport Maritime Festival will move to October 16 to 18. The Sag Harbor American Music Festival has also been rescheduled from this weekend to Oct. 1 through Oct. 4.

Elections

Rich Schaffer Returned to Suffolk County Democratic Chair Post With 57.2 Percent of Votes

Rich Schaffer wins the Democratic Party Chairmanship Sept. 22. |. Team Schaffer Facebook photo

Incumbent Suffolk County Democratic Party Chairman Rich Schaffer was returned to his seat running the county party Tuesday evening, after facing a grassroots challenge from Southold Town Democratic Party Chair Kathryn Casey Quigley.

Town News

Riverhead’s Tentative 2027 Budget Does Not Pierce the Tax Cap

For the first time in four years, Riverhead Town’s tentative budget, unveiled by Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin on Thursday, does not pierce the New York State tax cap limit.

Southold Considers Public Comment Time Limits

If you’ve ever been to a Southold Town Board meeting, you might notice that members of the public are able to talk at length without being asked to stop. This practice is in stark contrast to other neighboring municipalities, which generally have strict time limits on public speaking.

Housing

Southold Town to Hold Community Housing Forum

Southold Town will host an update on its proposed Community Housing Fund programs this Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall with the town’s Community Housing Team.

Environment

Grant Will Help Quogue Wildlife Refuge Restore Areas of Pine Beetle Damage

The scars left by the southern pine beetle in the Quogue Wildlife Refuge may soon begin to heal, thanks to a new forest restoration grant from New York State that’s part of a series of DEC-funded invasive species removal projects throughout the state.

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East End

League of Women Voters holds State Senate Debate Monday, Voting Rights Forum on Wednesday

Election law experts David Becker and Jerry Goldfeder.

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.

The League chapter is also hosting a virtual discussion for the public on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 6:30 p.m., titled “Voting Rights and the 2026 Midterms: Election Challenges, Threats and Integrity,” featuring two prominent election law experts—David Becker and Jerry Goldfeder.

Both events can be sea on Sea-TV Southampton’s YouTube channel.

Environment

Southampton Buys Former Gas Station Site By Wildwood Lake

Southampton Town announced last 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.”

Opinion

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

To the Editor:

Like many people, I generally focus my energy on public service and strengthening our community despite this age of hyper-connectivity, social media polarization, and non-stop news that take a toll on our mental health. In an unexpected way, I have local leaders Joann Waski and Ken Rothwell to thank for bringing me back into the public conversation via a libelous post.

Dave’s Desk@Ditch: A Tale of Two Towns

By Dave Davis

As many of the regular readers of this column will recall, in May of this year, I exited the space I’d been renting for some 10 or so years, due to the unexpected passing of my landlord. Rather than stressing out, trying to im- mediately secure another place prior to the peak sum- mer season here on the East End, I opted for a far more, slower-paced retreat — returning to the farmhouse upstate where I’d cared for my aging father a few years ago

Peconic Dish

Cherry Tomatoes are Still a Highlight of the Fall Garden

by Alison Boyd-Savage

Late summer has blessed me with a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes, which look set to fruit well into the fall. These little nuggets of sweetness are such a joy, and so much easier to grow than heirlooms or beefsteaks. They are so good in a simple sauce, flavored with good olive oil, garlic and basil, tossed into spaghetti. It all comes together very quickly, and you can add fresh mozzarella or burrata for a heartier dish.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, Sept. 28

MLCA on “Upgrading your Outdated Septic System

Oct. 1-4

Sag Harbor American Music Festival Rescheduled

Oct. 3 & 4

Hallockville Country Fair

Our October print edition will be on newsstands throughout the East End later this week
All words in and on The Beacon are always generated by human beings. Guaranteed.

Words

“The human heart is like a ship on a stormy sea driven about by wind blowing from all four corners of heaven.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

See you next Sunday,

Beth