Ocean Beach News » Fire Island News & Great South Bay News

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

If you’re looking to grab a cup of coffee before catching the ferry or munch on a pastry while you relax on the beach, look no further—Kismet Coffee Company has a new location this summer. As the company’s fourth location in four years, it’s been a busy time, and they’re bringing that energy to Fair Harbor, Fire Island.

Kismet Coffee’s First Summer in Fair Harbor

Posted on August 29, 2026

Swastikas and phallic symbols, crudely drawn in colored chalk, were seen along public walkways in Ocean Beach late afternoon on August 25.

Hate Symbols and Offensive Graffiti in Chalk Found on Fire Island in Ocean Beach Village

Posted on August 28, 2026

For many people, a Fire Island house is more than a summer place. It has a name, a story, and, often, a hand-painted sign that becomes part of the home’s identity.

Seaview

A Piece of Fire Island History Finds Its Way Home

Posted on August 18, 2026

On July 26, thousands of runners and supporters converged on Fire Island for the fourth annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk, an event that has grown nearly tenfold since its debut and is now raising questions about how much the barrier island can absorb.

sports

Tunnel to Towers 5K: The The Race Draws more than 1600 Runners to the Fire Island Village, but Questions About Capacity Arise

Posted on August 14, 2026

Hurricane Belle.

LI Press

Hurricane Belle 50 years later: Forgotten, but devastating

MBrooks_011606-2

Mel Brooks Turns 100

Posted on August 1, 2026

During the July 18 Ocean Beach Board of Trustees meeting at the Village Boathouse, garbage management remained a major topic of discussion.

July 18 Ocean Beach Village Board Trustees Meeting Explores Garbage Collection, Dune Funding, and Seaview’s Low Water Levels

Posted on July 30, 2026

The subject of the Epstein files speaks for itself, but less has been said about their connection to Fire Island, where several local communities were collectively mentioned dozens of times in those sordid files. While the information in the files does not imply evidence of crimes committed locally, it does show that Jeffrey Epstein's associates communicated with the infamous pedophile while visiting our island, as well as through various incidental mentions.

Fire Island and the Epstein Files: What Connections are Revealed?

Posted on June 22, 2026

Have you ever looked out over the Robert Moses Bridge and wondered what lies below the surface of our waterways? Well, researchers at Stony Brook University in the Frisk-Shipley Laboratory can tell you using something called “acoustic telemetry.” The researchers have granted me access to their data from 2023 to 2025 for their equipment located off Ocean Beach and beneath the Robert Moses Bridge.

Acoustic Telemetry Explores Beneath the Surface of the Shores of Long Island and Beyond

Posted on June 8, 2026

The violent deaths of Hollywood power couple Michele and Rob Reiner in December, allegedly at the hands of their son, sent shockwaves worldwide.

Summer Native Son, Rob Reiner (1947-2025) and Michele Singer Reiner (1955-2025)

Posted on May 30, 2026

On April 20, after 18 months of deliberations, the Incorporated Village of Saltaire entered into a 40-year lease with the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) to manage and operate its public water infrastructure. The motion was unanimously adopted by the Saltaire Village Board of Trustees, and the agreement becomes effective June 1.

Saltaire

Saltaire Village Enters into 40-year Agreement with Suffolk County Water Authority

Posted on May 29, 2026

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