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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

For 60 years, Leggio's Deli on Fourth Avenue in Bay Shore has been a cornerstone of the community. In June, the deli changed hands to new owner Dennis Regan, who promises to preserve its legacy.

Dining

The Bay Shore Legacy of Leggio’s Deli Continues

Posted on October 1, 2025

At the turn of the century, Bay Shore became a hotspot for some of the nation's most successful business leaders. Maple Avenue, Ocean Avenue, and Shore Lane earned the nickname Millionaires' Row by locals. The Havemeyer sugar family, Thomas Adams, founder of Adams Chewing Gum, and Detective Agency heir Robert A. Pinkerton all had homes along the canals of Bay Shore.

Bay Shore’s Jewish History

Posted on September 22, 2025

Throughout Fire Island, on the morning of September 21, 1938, dozens of residents were enjoying the last days of the season and making preparations to winterize their homes. The Village of Saltaire had leveled the dunes months earlier to accommodate demand for a scenic ocean view for the summer guests. The dunes, which serve as barriers against storms, were overlooked due to the last significant hurricane season having occurred in 1893.

Saltaire

Using Tragedy to Push a Fire Island Agenda: The Hurricane of 1938

Posted on September 21, 2025

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

Sponsored

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

Posted on September 20, 2025

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September Still Solid: Things to Do on Fire Island and Around the Great South Bay This Week

Posted on September 19, 2025

You would want to come to the Red Shed not just for the history, but to hear Greater Patchogue Historical Society (GPHS) treasurer Steve Lucas’s ebullient discussion of the history and items in the Little Red Shed in East Patchogue.

Patchogue’s Little Red Shed and its Big History

Posted on September 18, 2025

The Fire Island beaches look as beautiful as postcards with plentiful dunes and wide expanses, in part due to massive amounts of sand used to replenish them. And summer winds have been shifting sand back to the beach ever since Super Storm Sandy and other storms took big bites out of the shore.

New York State Authorizes $1.7 Billion to Fund Fire Island to Montauk Point Storm Resilience

Posted on September 14, 2025

With less than two weeks to go before the autumnal equinox sets in, our September issue of Great South Bay News closes out the summer season for our modest newspaper family with strength and verve, thanks to the contributions of a talented team of Schneps Media writers who have a presence in it.

Sponsored

Powerful Women, Blue Point Oysters, and the State of the Beach Define the September Issue of Great South Bay News

Posted on September 10, 2025

Keith Snedecor was scheduled to give a lecture about the history of the South Side Sportsmen’s Club in late June. The Historical Society of Islip Hamlet was excited to host it, and I had planned to assign a correspondent to cover the talk. The subject was interesting, and the promotional materials displayed a picture of his warm, friendly face. The heart attack that took him on May 11, at the age of 62, shook the South Shore Long Island historical community.

Keith Snedecor, Local Historian (1963-2025)

Posted on September 7, 2025

Help Wanted

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

Posted on September 2, 2025

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