Shoshanna McCollum, Author at Fire Island News & Great South Bay News

The West Islip High School Environmental Club recently welcomed representatives from Save the Great South Bay for an engaging and educational visit focused on protecting local waterways. During the presentation, the representatives discussed how oyster farming and reseeding initiatives play a vital role in restoring water quality and strengthening the ecosystem of the Great South Bay.

West Islip Environmental Club Welcomes Save the Great South Bay

Posted on January 6, 2026

Edith Lieber of Ocean Beach and Manhattan peacefully passed away at the age of 101, surrounded by her loving family, on December 30. A service to celebrate her life will be held at Greenwich Village Funeral Home, located at 199 Bleeker Street, on January 11, beginning at noon. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to the Jazz Foundation of America. A formal obituary will be published in Fire Island News when our publication season resumes on Memorial Day Weekend. May her memory always be a blessing.

Memorial Service for Edith Lieber (1924-2025)

Posted on January 5, 2026

The Great South Bay News and Fire Island News are looking for interns to work in the editorial department of Long Island’s South Shore region’s leading news and lifestyle publications.

Fire Island News

Great South Bay News and Fire Island News Seeks Interns for 2026

Posted on January 4, 2026

The news that an adult male deliberately jumped to his death from the Fire Island Lighthouse tower at 1:45 p.m. on August 29, the Friday before Labor Day Weekend, shocked the Great South Bay community and the greater Long Island area. He chose the tallest lighthouse on Long Island for this act of suicide. He bought his ticket before jumping off the observation platform. Suffolk County Marine Bureau officers and the West Islip Fire Department responded to the incident. To this day, his name has not been publicly disclosed by authorities. However, about a month after the incident, the publication learned that he was a cousin of one of the contributors to our sister newspaper, the Fire Island News, making him part of our extended family. The man was 59 years old and had spent his life in public service with Suffolk County. We withhold his identity out of respect for his grieving loved ones. If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that resources are available to help. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Hotline at 988 before making such a desperate decision.

Great South Bay & Fire Island Departures of Note: 2025

Posted on December 31, 2025

The first day of November started with about 30 first responder units, 60 volunteer actors, and other emergency service agencies participating in a mass-casualty incident drill at the Sayville Ferry Terminal. Onlookers might have thought the worst, but the Suffolk County Police Department and media outlets helped spread the word to avoid misunderstandings.

Sayville

A First Responder Drill in Sayville Prepares for Real-Life Events in the Great South Bay and Beyond

Posted on December 29, 2025

Veterans Day is taken to heart in the Great South Bay neighborhoods. We all have someone close to us who served in one of the branches of the U.S. Military Armed Forces. How we express our appreciation to them is as varied as the men and women who can proudly call themselves veterans. On Nov. 5, Canine Companions Long Island Chapter held its annual Salute Independence gala at Captain Bill's in Bay Shore.

Kismet

Veterans Day on Great South Bay with Canine Companions

Posted on December 28, 2025

It was a mild and tranquil Christmas Day on Fire Island, as all who stayed here over the holiday can attest. However, after the holiday bliss, residents who live here year-round woke up to no electricity as early as 2 a.m. this morning. The outage appears to extend from the Atlantique community through the western half of Ocean Beach. PSEG Long Island has not responded to our questions about the cause of this outage. Power was restored at approximately 12:15 p.m. Over the past nine hours, affected households used their emergency power generators, if available—those who did not waited it out.

Power Outages and Ferry Service Suspensions Greet Fire Island the Day After Christmas

Posted on December 26, 2025

John Philpotts-Kerr, age 65, was seriously injured on Sunday afternoon, December 21, while handling fireworks inside his residence at 138 Pine Neck Ave. in East Patchogue. The firework unexpectedly detonated in his lap, injuring his groin. He was transported via medevac helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital for emergency treatment of burns and other serious physical injuries.

East Patchogue Man Injured in Firework Accident

Posted on December 22, 2025

The Girl Scouts from across Suffolk County gathered to flip the switch on the annual Girl Scouts of Suffolk County(GSSC) Holiday Light Show on Nov. 28 at Camp Edey, at 1500 Lakeview Ave., Bayport. The highlight of the show will be “Girl Scout Way,” an area where the five winning creations from the 2025 Girl Scouts Holiday Light Design Contest will be on display. Each design was drawn by a Girl Scout, and the groundkeepers at Camp Edey custom-built them, with creations ranging from six to twelve feet tall. Local design-winners include: Olivia Castelli of Patchogue, Ciara Weisbecker of Babylon, and Amani Bradley-Coleman, Sienna Lebron, Teresa Cortez, Natalia Ciborowski, Kaylee Jimenez, Kiera Green-Wilson, Maggie Ericson, Bomi Oyewo, and Hanmi Oyewo of Lindenhurst. Launched more than 20 years ago, the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Holiday Light Show has grown into a Long Island tradition — transforming the scenic grounds of Camp Edey into an “Enchanted Forest” of lights. The show remains on display through Dec. 21.

Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Holiday Light Show 2025 in Bayport

Posted on December 18, 2025

In the heart of December, the holiday edition of Great South Bay News is on its way to newsstands, and we are confident it will enrich your celebrations.

Holiday Cheer is Here with Our December Edition of Great South Bay News

Posted on December 17, 2025

Fifth-grade students at Manetuck Elementary School in the West Islip Union Free School District kicked off the holiday season with a festive, hands-on activity, designing and decorating their own gingerbread houses alongside guests on Dec. 12.

Gingerbread Galore at Manetuck School in West Islip

Posted on December 16, 2025

Hanukkah this year began on the evening of December 14, and continues through December 22—the first full day of winter. While some villages and hamlets opted for an early start, festivities in the Great South Bay neighborhoods that land within the holiday itself.

Hanukkah in Our Great South Bay Neighborhoods

Posted on December 15, 2025

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