By Robert Levine The Pines Harbor was overflowing with excitement, yachts, boats, noise, cheering, horns sounding and everyone celebrating an event that has become as important to Fire Island as July 4 in America. The people were shoulder-to-shoulder as we walked from the water taxi to the dock. I had to squeeze my way through all that to get to … Full Story
Rose’s View: Having a Gay Day at the Grove
By Robert Levine We celebrated Gay Pride weekend here with lots of excitement. As we were watching the parade in New York on TV, we had a storm that was right out of the “Wizard of Oz” for 10 minutes right here in Cherry Grove. Trees, chairs, tables and other objects were destroyed and blown all over the place. We … Full Story
Ocean Bay Park
By Barbara Gaby Placilla We are just about at the midpoint of summer 2019, with approximately 70 days left, which is hard to believe. Seems like Memorial Day was just last week! And there is so much going on in and around Ocean Bay Park, it’s difficult to report it all. There’s a new kid in town, I’m glad … Full Story
Look For the Helpers
By Joey Macellaro It was 2 a.m. on Sunday, July 7, when Carol arrived on Long Island to file a missing-person report after a six-hour drive from Virginia. Her 19-yearold daughter’s suitcase had been turned over to the police after being found on the side of a walk here in Ocean Beach, and she had been missing for three days. … Full Story
Saltaire Summery
By Hugh O’Brien What the heck’s been going on here? No sooner had the last column been put to bed (the precursor to putting it to sleep) than all sorts of mayhem broke loose – micro- squalls, torrential rains, possible tornadoes, hurricane-force gusts – up and down the island, mostly up – uprooted trees, upended boats, upsurged seas, and more … Full Story
Kismet
By Bradlee White Way back, when houses had names, not numbers, I called mine “Avalon.” In Arthurian legend, Avalon was an island, home to enchantment, shrouded in midst, and far from the realities of everyday life. That was how I saw Kismet. I came here to party and play at the beach, meet new friends and, later, to get involved … Full Story
Rose’s View: Fire Island Pines
By Robert Levine Daniel McDonald, a favorite past resident of the Pines, moved to Orlando with his husband, Trent Williams McDonald. He worked as a real estate salesperson in the Pines for many years, and was a major performer in many FIPAP musical productions through the years, “La Cage aux Folles” among others. He reprised his roll recently as Georges, … Full Story
Rose’s View: Cherry Grove
Having a Gay Day at the Grove By Robert Levine Cherry Grove celebrated Gay Pride with a fantastic parade beginning on Saturday, June 22. There was a beach party, dinner parties, a dance at the Community House and fireworks in the evening. It was a long and happy day – a gay day if you will. The parade was full … Full Story
Ocean Bay Park
By Barbara Gaby Placilla Wow, July 4th! Can you believe it? Why it that the older we get the faster time seems to go? Steve and I “got out of Dodge” for a week so that I could celebrate a really big birthday and quietly sulk that I was getting older but still waiting for the “getting better” part, if … Full Story
Musical Notes
By Joey Macellaro It’s music that first brought me to the beach many years ago. I was sent with a pianist to sing in the Protestant church here in Ocean Beach for a couple of Sundays – and, as fate would have it, I never left. The sweet smell of that old church remains the same as when I was … Full Story