Features News » Fire Island News & Great South Bay News

May arrives at the Great South Bay with familiar signs of the season—the days are longer and friendlier, boats are returning to the water, and communities are easing into the peaceable rhythm of late spring. It’s a time when neighbors reconnect, when outdoor spaces fill again, and when our calendars begin to hum with the quiet anticipation of summer’s respite. However, May has yet another layer of significance: Mental Health Awareness Month. Once observed more quietly, it has become an increasingly visible part of community life across the South Shore, marked not just by clinical messaging, but by active conversation, education, and, perhaps most importantly, connection.

OP ED: May and its Meaning During Mental Health Awareness Month

Posted on May 9, 2026

A golden hue lit the flora blue at Mama Farm land and the surrounding acres as Rowan Loren dug up purple, white-tipped tulips, coaxed from seed on the three-quarter-acreage she and partner Christian Roarke rent in Brookhaven. Roarke was working the soil nearby to grow the specialty herbs he sells to Flynn McGarry, the owner and chef of Cove NYC. Besides tulips and daffodils, there were other colorful blooms that would wind up in wedding bouquets and cheery vases.

Features

Flora Blue: Tilling the Land Regeneratively for Gorgeous Blooms and Herbs

Posted on May 4, 2026

The March 2026 edition of Great South Bay News will be on newsstands before the weekend, just as the vernal equinox arrives. What better time to catch up on some worthwhile reading?

Dining

Great South Bay News in Springtime

Posted on March 18, 2026

Immigration enforcement (ICE) activity has been on the rise along the South Shore of Long Island. Many of these immigration arrests involve neither undocumented people nor criminals, but groups that have been delegalized through the Trump administration’s latest policies.

Features

Dreams Deferred: Navigating Immigration De-legalization Status on Long Island

Posted on March 5, 2026

Our deceased loved ones regularly send us messages and signs from the Other Side. One of their favorite ways to commune with us is to use nature and natural phenomena to show that they are still around. As you stroll along the Long Island Coast—bay or oceanside, pay attention to your surroundings to see how Souls-in-Spirit communicate. If you celebrate a special occasion like a birthday or wedding, look for signs from your deceased loved ones. They never miss an important event and like to make their presence known by sending a dragonfly, ladybug, dove, praying mantis, hummingbird, cardinal, or butterfly your way. These winged wonders have other symbolic meanings, and souls who have crossed over may be trying to deliver a deeper message to you.

Features

Signs from the Other Side: Animal Messengers

Posted on February 8, 2026

The last election cycle made headlines across New York when the Working Families candidate, Maria Delgado, was unaware that she was on the ballot for the Huntington Town Supervisor race. This has led many to question how her party vetted Delgado and whether her candidacy was used to split votes from the Democratic challenger. However, her candidacy highlights a larger regional issue: voter disengagement.

Features

Great South Bay Ghost Candidates: A Symptom of Low Voter Engagement

Posted on January 28, 2026

Charity begins at home, as the saying goes, and that's why your support on Giving Tuesday is crucial. While national and international charitable organizations can make a difference across the country and around the world, your donation dollars can go further when you keep them local. Smaller not-for-profits in our own community use your support to make a measurable difference right in our neighborhoods. This list includes some of our favorites that our sister publication covers regularly because of their sincere desire to make our corner of the world a better place.

Features

Local Non-Profits to Consider for Giving Tuesday

Posted on December 1, 2025

One of the most painful aspects of life is mourning a loved one's passing. Receiving signs and messages from the Other Side can be a great source of comfort, giving us the strength and will to go on without them. These heavenly messages prove that death ends a life but not our relationship with a deceased loved one.

Day in the Life

Signs from the Other Side

Posted on November 25, 2025

November feels nostalgic along the Great South Bay, as the cool, salty coastal breezes blend with the scent of smoky fireplaces inviting us home. Our latest edition of Great South Bay News honors these cherished autumn traditions.

Books & Authors

TOUCHDOWN! The Rites of Autumn are Celebrated in the November Edition of Great South Bay News

Posted on November 12, 2025

2026 is a mayoral election year for the Incorporated Village of Ocean Beach. With seven candidates vying for four seats on the Ocean Beach Village Board, this is one of the more competitive races in recent memory. The election is scheduled for June 5 at the Ocean Beach Community House from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Election Day on the Great South Bay: The 2025 Guide

Posted on October 23, 2025

Help Wanted

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

Posted on September 2, 2025

Over the last eight months, as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to slash the federal bureaucracy, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has targeted the National Park Service (NPS) with unprecedented funding disruptions and staffing reductions. These abrupt cuts have sown chaos across the National Park System, and Fire Island National Seashore (FINS) has not emerged unscathed. FINS staff are stretched thin and existentially stressed; the Fire Island Lighthouse renovation has been delayed by years, and the seashore has been pushed into unprecedented territory.

National Park Service Cuts Push Fire Island National Seashore Into Uncharted Waters

Posted on August 31, 2025

More from our sister sites

A Mastic Beach teen was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing his family’s dog and downloading child pornography.

Long Island Press

Mastic Beach teen accused of having sexual relations with dog

MTA blue and yellow Access-a-Ride van parked in lot

Op-Ed | Accessibility takes priority for the MTA

Schneps Podcasts

Nathan Manske, Thank You For Coming Out

Ann Northrop (second front right), Andy Humm (second from left), and Bill Bahlman (fourth from left) with upcoming "Gay USA" co-hosts Chris Cooper (far left), Jay W. Walker (third from left), Cathy Marino-Thomas (middle front) and Mick Meenan (far right)

Ann Northrop celebrated at farewell party after 30 years of ‘Gay USA’