Behind the Dunes News » Fire Island News & Great South Bay News

A little over 50 years ago, the Suffolk County Farmland Preservation Program was launched based on a first-in-the-nation concept: the sale of “development rights.” Then-Suffolk County Executive John V.N. Klein was pivotal in 1974 to the inception of that program.

Behind the Dunes

Suffolk County Legislature Unanimously Passes “Working Waterfronts” Conservation Bill

Posted on October 24, 2025

In July, I had the honor of being invited to Edith Mendelsohn's hundredth birthday celebration. While interviewing our Fire Island centenarian population is always important, this was a rare opportunity for our Behind the Dunes section. Mendelsohn built a livelihood around the Fire Island real estate market and has a lifetime of knowledge to share.

A 100-Year-Old Perspective on Fire Island Real Estate with Edith Mendelsohn

Posted on October 2, 2025

The quiet waters, hidden under the small bridge by the Blue Point Brewery, barely elicit a glance. But if you peek over, under Patchogue Village's West Main Street to the south side of Montauk Highway, a fish or two might be lumbering near the surface before swimming.

Carriage House Offers Patchogue Village a River Walk Development Centerpiece

Posted on September 24, 2025

The summer season is winding down, and construction season has begun. Blue Bay Contracting provides comprehensive construction services for island residents seeking to build, renovate, or enhance their homes. Now is the time to plan for next season. Blue Bay should be the company at the top of your mind to fulfill your dream build or renovation.

Blue Bay Contracting: From a Bike & Wagon to a Premier Fire Island Construction Company

Posted on September 23, 2025

Exclusively listed by Sydney McCoy and Susan McCoy, Luxury Fire Island Homes.

Behind the Dunes

The Storied Legacy of “The Gables” in Seaview: Cursed or Coincidence?

Posted on September 20, 2025

Riverhead Building Supply is hosting “Building on the Beach,” a pair of events designed to connect Fire Island residents and trade pros with the latest products, trends, and ideas for coastal living. The dual events give Fire Island homeowners and building professionals two opportunities to discover what’s new in home improvement, without ever leaving the beach.

Fire Island Pines

Home Improvement Returns to Fire Island with “Building on the Beach” Events Hosted by Riverhead Building Supply

Posted on September 13, 2025

Lt. Michael P. Murphy Navy Seal Museum.

Renee Guerrieri and LoDuca Associates of Blue Point

Posted on September 10, 2025

Help Wanted

HELP WANTED: Do You Have the Right Stuff? Great South Bay News Seeks Contributors

Posted on September 2, 2025

With fewer people around the island during the off-season, we can take our time showing homes during the cooler months. Buyers who come to see homes when the sun isn’t at its peak aren’t just browsing; they’re serious. Off-season showings offer a different lens on island life: streets are quieter, the beaches are less crowded, and the beauty of Fire Island’s year-round charm begins to shine through. Agents are now emphasizing features like winterization, off-season rental potential, and cozy interiors built for comfort beyond summer. While the drop in foot traffic means fewer spontaneous leads, agents turn to digital marketing and virtual tours to keep interest alive. Fall buyers are thinking about next summer or even a permanent escape from the mainland. For sellers, it’s a unique opportunity with fewer competing listings, more serious buyers, and a chance to showcase the island’s off-season appeal.

How do property showings and open houses change once the Fire Island summer crowds thin out?

Posted on September 2, 2025

In 1903, State Supreme Court Justice William Jay Gaynor of Park Slope had a summer home built on what would later be known as Wilmot Road in Ocean Beach. It was the first home on the block and one of the first in the area, predating the establishment of both Stay-a-While Estates — which developed around it by 1912 — and Ocean Beach, which was settled in 1908. The three walks in the Stay-a-While community were absorbed into Ocean Beach when it was incorporated in 1921.

An Ocean Beach Oasis Where Fire Island’s Famous Once Visited and Played is Now on The Market

Posted on September 1, 2025

Enjoy Labor Day Weekend with the last issue of Fire Island News for the 2025 season at the beachside or on your breakfast table, with 64 pages of rich summer reading. Here, you will find the latest news updates, events happening on Fire Island and in the Great South Bay neighborhoods over the weekend and into September, as well as thoughtful essays on a range of subjects.

Fire Island News Closes Out 2025 Summer Season with Labor Day Weekend Edition

Posted on August 28, 2025

Along Ocean Breeze Walk in Ocean Beach, a vibrant, colored mosaic mural by mosaic artist Wendy Erdmann captures the wonders of Atlantic Coast sea life and Fire Island culture with the iconic red wagon and bike, which bestows the distinction as the land with no cars.

Fire Island’s Magnificent Mosaics: The Craftsmanship of Wendy Erdmann

Posted on August 23, 2025

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