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Preston Carter Raynor

History

Preston Raynor Reflects on 102 years as an Islip Resident

Posted on September 12, 2026

The terror of September 11, 2001, was a day that changed New Yorkers and Americans alike. On that sunny Tuesday morning, half of the 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 from Logan Airport in Boston. Within a little more than an hour, both planes would crash into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center. The remaining terrorists hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 from Newark Airport and American Airlines Flight 77 from Washington Dulles Airport. Flight 77 would crash into the Pentagon while Flight 93 would crash in a field in Pennsylvania.

The Call to Service that Fire Island Ferries Answered in the Aftermath of September 11

Posted on September 9, 2026

For more than two summers, residents and visitors in Fire Island Pines have looked across the harbor and wondered the same thing: What is happening with the old Botel?

Fire Island Pines

What Lies Beneath the Tryst: Land, the Legacy, and the Unfinished Future of Fire Island Pines Harbor

Posted on September 8, 2026

For Fire Island, after the tens of thousands of residents leave following Labor Day, the island maintains an estimated 300 to 400 year-round residents. Braving the isolated winter months for the tranquility of ocean waves and salt air, families enjoy a car-free island life. Their children, 40 in total, benefit from one of the lowest teacher-to-student ratios in New York, guaranteeing the most personalized education a public school can offer.

Transporting the Students of Fire Island School District

Posted on September 6, 2026

id that “rejection is merely a redirection of one’s destiny.” Over 50 years ago, Charles Modica embodied this mantra.

Books & Authors

Charles Modica’s “Docs On the Bay: The Dream that Became America’s Most Unlikely Medical School”

Posted on July 31, 2026

The year 2026 marks the 115th anniversary of Tennessee Williams' birth.

Books & Authors

Tennessee Williams: Collaboration, Friendship, and Betrayal

Posted on July 30, 2026

George Washington’s original 1795 letter to several East End Suffolk County citizens is a primary attraction in For the Blessings of Liberty: Suffolk County and the American Revolution, 1775-1783, an exhibit at the Suffolk County Historical Society Museum (SCHSM), which opened on May 19.

History

“For the Blessings of Liberty,” at the Suffolk County Historical Society Museum’s ’s America 250 Exhibit

Posted on July 2, 2026

Last October, President Trump, like presidents before him, issued an executive proclamation declaring Oct. 11, 2025, General Pulaski Memorial Day.

History

Was General Pulaski a Revolutionary War Intersex Hero?

Posted on June 27, 2026

If America were handing out scores for the stories it chooses to remember, LGBTQ+ ballroom culture would earn a verdict without hesitation: tens across the board.

Tens Across the Board: Why Ballroom Culture Belongs at the Center of LGBTQ+ History

Posted on June 25, 2026

For those curious about the history of their community, the presentation "History of the South Side Sportsmen's Club and Town of Islip” will explore one of Islip's most influential yet often overlooked stories. The program will take place on Sunday, June 28, at 1 p.m. at the Connetquot River State Park Preserve.

Oakdale

South Side Sportsmen’s Club’s History to Be Explored on June 28

Posted on June 23, 2026

Over the past decade, the once-proud and elegant Dowling College campus in Oakdale has had its share of trials and tribulations, including trespassers and vandals after the institution closed in 2016. Even its brief use as a Suffolk County Police Department training ground could not keep trouble away. Now the embattled Idle Hour campus is on the market again.

Oakdale

Former Dowling College Oakdale Campus is Listed for Sale Again with Limited Historic Protections

Posted on June 16, 2026

The Cherry Grove community gathered at the historic Community House & Theater to unveil and dedicate a new 60-foot Pride flag mast overlooking the Grove at the first meeting of the 2026 season for the Cherry Grove Community Association Inc. (CGCAI) on May 17.

Cherry Grove Raises New Pride Flag Mast at Cherry Grove Historic Community House and Theater

Posted on June 14, 2026

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