History News » Fire Island News & Great South Bay News

The embodiment of this spirit of giving is Santa Claus, who appears in every mall with long lines of eager kids waiting to visit his North Pole kiosk. But what can historic children’s letters to Santa tell us about our faith and compassion in some of our most dire situations?

History

Santa Claus’s Christmas Gift of Hope for Long Island Children During the Depression Era

Posted on December 24, 2025

Educational philosopher Maria Montessori famously said, “Play is the work of childhood and toys are the tools of childhood.” However, is childhood a brief stage of life or a state of mind shaped by nostalgic memories of youth?

Oakdale

Vintage Toy Shopping and Chasing Childhood Nostalgia

Posted on December 23, 2025

Saturday, December 13 23rd Reenactment of the Flying Santa at Fire Island Lighthouse Santa arrives at the lighthouse for his commemorative reenactment of the historic event at the Fire Island Lighthouse, off Field 5. A great photo opportunity, this event offers the chance to form lifelong memories with your little ones! Arrive early and dress for the weather; temperatures and wind can be intense during the off-season months. This event is FREE to attend. For more information, visit fireislandlighthouse.com

What’s SUP Santa? Things to Do This Week, In the Heart of December, Along the Great South Bay

Posted on December 12, 2025

In 1960, on Long Island, the remains of a thriving Native American tribal community were uncovered during excavation for a model airplane strip on Beach Drive in West Islip, near the Captree Bridge along the shores of the Great South Bay.

Long Island’s Local Native Americans and the Thanksgiving Proclamations

Posted on November 26, 2025

The once extravagant William K. Vanderbilt Estate, Idle Hour, has been an eyesore to the community since Dowling College closed its doors nine years ago. Plagued by vandals and delinquent activity, the once architectural jewel of Gilded Age Estates has been a burden to the surrounding community and remained unutilized until recently.

Oakdale

Dowling Campus to be Used for Police Training, but Still Faces an Uncertain Future

Posted on November 19, 2025

During a routine inspection of the Smith Point Bridge on November 16, Michael Martino, spokesperson for Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, announced a three-ton vehicle limit for the drawbridge that connects Shirley to the eastern end of Fire Island, including Smith Point County Park, via the William Floyd Parkway, and has been in service for 66 years.

Weight Limits Imposed on Smith Point Bridge Prompted by ‘Structural Deterioration’

Posted on November 17, 2025

Christopher Verga, an American history instructor at Suffolk Community College, a reporter with Schneps Media, and a Bay Shore resident, has authored several books previously reviewed in this publication. They include Saving Fire Island from Robert Moses, coauthored with Neil Buffett; and Cold War Long Island, coauthored with award-winning journalist Karl Grossman (also a frequent Schneps Media contributor), who provides the foreword to Verga’s new release, Nazis of Long Island.

Books & Authors

Great South Bay News Columnist, Christopher Verga, Releases His Latest Long Island Historical Book, “Nazis of Long Island: Sedition, Espionage & the Plot Against America”

Posted on November 16, 2025

It’s time to think of those who fought for our freedom. To celebrate this year’s Veterans Day holiday, Canine Companions, a non-profit organization that trains service dogs to help with children and veterans in need, is coming together to host their annual “Salute Independence” event in Bay Shore.

Kismet

Canine Companions to Honor Veterans in Salute Independence

Posted on October 30, 2025

The phrase final resting place is used to describe a cemetery and the people buried in it. However, in many cases within the Islip town, the word final may have a few caveats.

Raising the Dead: Abandoned Cemeteries of the Town of Islip

Posted on October 22, 2025

Sagtikos Manor is a place of Suffolk County history, and sometimes history includes hauntings.

Sagtikos Manor: A Central Site for Paranormal Activity?

Posted on October 19, 2025

Bill Bleyer's latest book is about the Roosevelt family. The Pulitzer Prize-winning and Press Club Long Island Journalist Hall of Fame winner, and resident of Bayville, has written numerous books about Long Island. They include George Washington’s Long Island Spy Ring and Fire Island Light House, reviewed in this newspaper. His latest tome, The Roosevelts in New York City, introduces readers to the family members noted and those lesser known, their personal lives and “private interactions” as interesting as the places in which they “lived, worked and worshiped.”

Books & Authors

The Roosevelt Family: Acclaimed Long Island Journalist and Author, Bill Bleyer, Pens His Latest History Book

Posted on October 11, 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

More from our sister sites

Santa visited Timothy Casey's extended family in Williston Park.

Long Island Press

Operation Santa spreads Christmas cheer

Capitol flash bang photo during Jan. 6 riot

NYS lawmakers push bill mandating public schools teach history of Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol

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Schneps Podcasts

Jaimie Krass, Thank You For Coming Out

Udo Kier in "My Neighbor Adolf."

The late Udo Kier commands the screen in ‘My Neighbor Adolf’