Blog: Fourth of July festivities on Long Island

"Anywhere there's a blade of grass, people are setting up camp," he said.

Concession manager Eddie Martinez, 46, of Central Islip, was overseeing the food orders of what seemed like endless lines of people.

"Customers sometimes aren't patient," he said dryly. During the 12 years of working concessions on the boardwalk, he said, he's had ice cream thrown at him many times.

On the Sunken Meadow beach, 42 lifeguards with Jones Beach Lifeguard watched swimmers. A little boy was led, lost and sobbing, to the guard's station.

"He does this at every beach," groaned his 11-year-old sister, Iris Santos, of Wyandanch, who came with her father to retrieve the boy.

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"We always know we'll find the parents -- usually," said Ken Bohman, a lifeguard captain.

Superintendent Mason said he considered the day a success -- despite the chaos of a car fire earlier in the afternoon.

"It's challenging, but I'm used to it," he said.

He began working at Jones Beach when he was 16 and stayed in the parks system for the next 29 years, he said.

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"This one is more culturally diverse than any other park," he said. "It's a historic gathering place for people from Brooklyn, Queens, you name it." -- ALISON BARNWELL

Perched 168 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, the retired Stemme, 68, is a volunteer docent at the Fire Island lighthouse. And for him, the Fourth of July is just another day at the office.

"I'm here every Wednesday," he said. "it's year round."

One hundred-fifty-six broad, metal spiral steps, plus another two rickety wooden flights of 14 and 12 steps apiece, take Stemme to the observation deck at the top. The structure was completed in 1858, and the light from its lamp was likely the first indication to 19th-century European immigrants that their boats were nearing New York City and Ellis Island, less than 50 miles away, he said.

For some visitors, the lighthouse, and the American flag beside it, hold special significance on Independence Day.

"When I looked out and saw the flag, it's like a reminder," said Julie Lefing, who climbed the lighthouse with a friend, Brett Streisand, of Huntington. "It definitely makes you feel good about your country." -- NATHANIEL HERZ

"I didn't expect for me to be sweating this much," Clemente said.

He's been selling ice cream and water bottles from a cooler in his push cart since 11:30 a.m.

"I've met a lot of really nice people, sold a couple ice creams," he said. "I'd probably just be sitting at home if I wasn't doing this, it's nice to be out on the beach." -- SARAH TAN

The egg toss is one of the highlights of Saltaire's annual Fourth of July field games, which also feature the tennis ball sprint and sack race.

Residents Jeff Murphy, 52, and Rhonda Kirschner, 63, were victorious in the adult three-legged race this morning for their first time in seven attempts.

"We got really pumped up, and we said, 'You know what? We can do it this year,' " Murphy said. "We went out fast, we prevailed, and we're elated."

The games have taken place for at least the last 40 years, residents said.

Out of a village of about 400 homes (or 2,000 residents), some 100 people turned out for the field games, before dispersing for the beach or to tennis courts.

"It's a great community," said Larry Shire, 50, who has a home in Saltaire and lives in Manhattan. -- NATHANIEL HERZ