Ryan Benitez, a former East Hampton Town building inspector, admitted Thursday to accepting bribes in exchange for expediting building permits and certificates of occupancy in 2024 and early 2025.
Town Aims to Buy 38.3 Acres of Former Wainscott Sand Mine
East Hampton Town wants to buy 38.3 acres of the Wainscott Commercial Center, the 70.5-acre former sand mine at 104 Wainscott Northwest Road, just north of the 7-Eleven gas station in Wainscott, and it’s willing to spend over $36 million to do it.
October 1, 2026
Former Building Department Employee Pleads Guilty to Taking Bribes
Six months after her arrest, Evelyn Calderon, formerly of the East Hampton Town Building Department, took a deal in a Riverhead court Wednesday, pleading guilty to 10 counts of bribery and official misconduct. She was sentenced to 840 hours of community service, five years of probation, and a $29,200 fine.
October 1, 2026
Police & Courts
LTV Studios in Wainscott will be the site of a forum on the controversial Flock Safety cameras as well as the proliferating use of drones and the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency on Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Sep 24, 2026
A man was reported to be “crying in the road” on North Main Street on Sept. 14, but police were unable to find him.
Sep 24, 2026
Nor’easter Left Its Mark on South Fork
A nor’easter that as late as Sept. 23 was expected to largely miss Long Island instead spun up the coast, veered west, and impacted the East End last weekend with inches of rain and wind gusts that reached over 80 mile per hour, downing trees, pushing boats aground, flooding low-lying areas, and leaving 450 residents without power by Monday.
Oct 1, 2026
Two Sag Harbor Properties Reimagined
Long-simmering plans for the Sag Harbor building nicknamed Fort Apache, at 2 Main Street, and the Water Street Shops on Long Island Avenue came into focus this week at a village planning board meeting, when a first look at a new layout was offered.
Sep 24, 2026
Government
The East Hampton Village Board discussed prohibiting swimming pools at inns in the historic district last week, but Mayor Jerry Larsen suggested tabling the matter pending resolution of a lawsuit brought by the Huntting Inn in 2024, after the zoning board of appeals refused to approve its application for a pool, spa, and patio.
Sep 24, 2026
Rich Schaffer, the Suffolk County Democratic Committee’s controversial chairman, on Tuesday retained the position he has held for 26 years, fending off a challenge from Kathryn Casey Quigley, chairwoman of the Southold Town Democratic Committee.
Sep 24, 2026
Proposed East Hampton Town legislation that would automatically deny building permits that had not been reviewed within 90 days from the submission of a completed application will be the subject of a public hearing next Thursday, but it has already raised legal questions.
Sep 24, 2026
“We accept,” Mayor Jerry Larsen told Rachel Cooper, executive director of the Ladies Village Improvement Society, when she detailed a proposal that would see the planting of more than 30 new trees, many of them cherry trees, in Herrick Park.
Sep 24, 2026
Arts
Celebrating a Visionary Architect
“Dear Mazie” at The Church in Sag Harbor celebrates the first known Black queer architect to practice in the United States, and work by other artists, architects, and designers who reflect her influence.
Oct 1, 2026
“Fresh Paint,” the Parrish’s single-artwork series, features a new work by Chase Hall, whose medium, hot coffee on canvas, has technical challenges and political resonance.
Oct 1, 2026
The Southampton Cultural Center will host a classical piano recital, an interactive sing-along with East End Jazz, and a new film by Ginew Benton.
Oct 1, 2026
“East End Collected” will return for its ninth iteration at the Southampton Arts Center with work by 29 local artists.
Oct 1, 2026
Villages
Item of the Week: The 1993 Film Festival Catalog
This guide, with a cover featuring paintings by Eric Fischl, is from the first annual Hamptons International Film Festival here. Here’s a quick story of its start.
A Promising Alternative to Combat Beech Leaf Disease
The antifungal pesticide Broadform, previously banned by the D.E.C., has been found to be effective against beech leaf disease in a far lower dose. Arbortech, a fungicide that is injected rather than sprayed, has also shown some effectiveness with less of an environmental impact.
Hamptons Whodunit Will Investigate Savannah Next
Hamptons Whodunit, the festival that brings mystery and thriller fiction authors as well as true crime experts to East Hampton Village each spring, is expanding from its local origins with the first true crime weekend in Savannah, Ga.
Sports
Long Island Books
Food
News for Foodies 10.01.26
Frankie’s Fabulous Italiano is offering half off the price of pasta on Mondays, and the same for appetizers on Wednesdays, pizza on Thursdays, and chicken Parmesan on Sundays.
Oct 1, 2026
News for Foodies 09.24.26
Of note this week: Drink specials at Lobster Roll, happy hour at Lion’s Nook Bar and Grill, Locals Night at Inlet Seafood, and happy hour and pasta specials at Frankie’s Fabulous.
Sep 24, 2026
News for Foodies 09.17.26
A panel discussion on East Hampton’s new farms, Oktoberfest at Rowdy Hall, paella dinners at the fish farm, and fall specials at Bell and Anchor.
Sep 17, 2026