Winters on Fire Island are known as dreary and cold, with the occasional warm and sunny day. It’s the snoozing caterpillar to summer’s resplendent butterfly. But where people congregate—even for a few months out of the year—things happen, and we scoured the sands to bring you an update of what’s been going on in our towns during the sleepy winter season.

In Ocean Beach, a Blend of New and Familiar
Along with the salt of the sea and the fresh air, Fire Islanders can savor another distinctive aroma on the island: Starbucks coffee. Love it or hate it, the unmistakable taste of a venti Columbia Narino Supremo is now available at the Mermaid Market for $1.50 or $2.25, with prices expected to go up by a quarter after Memorial Day.
But before you declare this development the first sign of the End of Civilization, owner Brian Smith told us, in no uncertain terms, that the Mermaid will not change its décor or make its employees wear funny hats.
Smith insisted, “We’re not a franchise, we just proudly brew Starbucks coffee,” as well as macchiatos, frappuccinos, half-caf skim lattes, café mochas, smoothies (for the kids) and just about anything else you can find at the 12 Starbucks in your neighborhood on the mainland.
And as old businesses expand, new ones are popping up. You may have noticed a new clothing store next door to the Scoops ice cream shop. That’s Lilly Ashley, featuring the original “preppy-meets-SoHo” designs of sixteen-year-old entrepreneur Ashley Cline. The store had its grand opening on May 1. Look for more on Cline and her store in these pages next week.
The biggest news in Ocean Beach, however, is the completion of the Community Center. For more on the Community House, turn to page 17.

Saltaire Marina Done, Dock Next
Two major Saltaire projects continued on schedule this winter—the bulkhead in the Bay Shore Marina is virtually rebuilt, and the new and improved pumperfire department is up and running. Village administrator Mario Posillico reports that the village board is moving forward with the necessary steps to issue a bond to recoup those costs.
Next on the agenda is the rebuilding of the Saltaire Marina dock, an up to $3 million project described by Posillico as a “major financial undertaking.” A significant part of the price tag will be borne by the federal government, which is on board for a $900,000 grant through the Department of Transportation’s Ferry Boat Discretionary Fund. A bid has been accepted, the contract signed, and construction is expected to begin no later than early October. There are some logistical issues to work out, but the dock should be completed by spring 2006.
“We’re going to have to plan for how we’re going to have freight and passengers come into the village because we’re removing sole access point. We’re thinking of phasing it so that one side of the doc point is available while the other is worked on; another option is to use other communities,” Posillico said.

New Funding Option Possible for Fair Harbor’s Bay Beach
Fair Harbor as a community is considering a referendum to form a new recreational tax district to finance the ongoing maintenance of the Bay Beach.
“We’re looking to spread the cost across the entire community,” said Pat Rudikoff, who sits on the board of the Fair Harbor Community Association.
The FHCA is expected to discuss the measure—amounting to $85 annually per household—at its meeting May 27.

Kismet to Sidewalks: Who Loves Ya Baby?
Kismit’s residents can soon walk their bikes carefree with their long hard battle won. After eight years of engineering studies, financial planning, and bureaucratic maneuvering with the town of Islip, Kismet’s sidewalks will finally be getting the facelift they so desperately need. The last phase of the budgeting process ended this winter, and, according to Kismet Homeowners Association president Bill Jenks, the project is set to be put up for competitive bidding within the next couple weeks.
Kismet’s extreme makeover will cost about $1 million to $1.5 million, and, if everything goes as planned, will begin in the fall. “We should have nice smooth pavement to walk on in the spring,” Jenks said.

No News Is Good News for Dunewood
Dunewood saw a typically quiet winter. “Fortunately, nothing major happened,” said local realtor Don Goldman. It’s still a seller’s market for those looking to buy; the rental market has been slow, with a few opportunities out there for vacationers looking for a quiet place to get away from it all thinking of summer.