On July 11, I performed at the Cherry Grove Community House. It was my 72nd consecutive year dancing and dressing up. “I’m Still Here.” It was a very special show with a brilliant cast who supported me at every level. My two special guests were the talented Daniel Reichard and Seth Sikes. The cast included […]

Things got quieter after the Invasion in Fire Island Pines. The weekends are filled with homeowners, guests, day-trippers, and lots of hopefuls. The water taxis are busy shuttling people back and forth to the Grove and Pines, attending parties, dinners, and tea dances. We enjoyed the food and the service at The Bistro. I thought […]

Last Ferry, First Lady once again brought exceptional cabaret, theater, and music to Fire Island’s historic stage. Something old, something new, something borrowed, and yes, something blue. The “something new” was a beautiful baby grand piano, generously donated by Evelyn Danko, and it was played publicly for the first time at the Cherry Grove Community […]

Two weeks ago, as Kismet faced a precarious weekend forecast, earlier threats of rain faded into pitiful drizzles on our island. Canadian fire smoke drifted into an atmosphere heavy with heat and moisture. Mindful of the 13-hour blackout and thunderstorm two years ago, Pine Walk homeowners decided early to cancel their annual block party.   […]

Summer is undoubtedly the best season. In Davis Park, it’s the season of sun, fun, and sand, but sadly, there’s the scourge of skeeters we can’t seem to avoid. They’re here with a vengeance! Please be sure to dump standing water to keep them from breeding, and thank Vector Control, Kathie Howe, the Davis Park […]

Summer is in full swing at Ocean Bay Park, and it seems everyone is making the most of it. Beautiful beach days have given way to backyard dinners, family celebrations, and evenings spent catching up with neighbors. It’s been one of those summers that reminds us why we love this community. If you haven’t already, […]

Craftsman hobbies can be an important part of people’s lives. For Bobby Burns, his passion for carpentry started in the twenty-teens, during the construction of Hudson Yards. Since then, Burns has spent his free time creating live-edge epoxy tables, cutting boards, charcuterie boards, birdhouses, and Little Free Library boxes. As chief engineer for Warner Bros., […]

Ten years ago, as the Patchogue Arts Council (PAC) planned an exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, curator John Cino approached the Patchogue Medford Library (PMLib) with the idea of using its exterior south wall as a temporary canvas. Although there may have been some initial hesitation about what Cino calls […]

Every other summer, the Cherry Grove Community House and Theater becomes more than just a movie house. It becomes a place where history is remembered, cultures are celebrated, and stories once hidden find new audiences. Established in 2015, the Cherry Grove Archives Collection Film Festival (CGACFF) has become one of Cherry Grove’s signature cultural events and […]

We celebrate Mel Brooks, who turned 100 on June 28, 2026. Born in Brooklyn, New York, the legendary comedy filmmaker and EGOT winner, originally named Melvin Kaminsky, was raised in a modest, hardworking Jewish family. During his youth, he had an above-average sense of humor for a child and was known in his neighborhood for […]

On June 4, 2026, the Bay Shore community lost Deanna Watts, a local activist, historian, writer, beloved church elder, mother, and grandmother, who died surrounded by her family and loved ones. Her legacy will outlast any physical lifespan and endure as a lasting memory. Born on July 20, 1940, to Herman and Inez Neal of […]

Chris Bogia is a New York-based artist and co-founder of the Fire Island Artist Residency. On Saturday, July 11, his exhibition, “Walks,” a sister show to “Fire Island Sun” at Mrs. Gallery, which was on view in June, opened at Carrington Cottage. The exhibition, curated by Jesse Firestone, brings together mixed-media works, fictional house signs, […]