Fire Island Pines has always sought to be a place of welcome. It has also benefitted from the work of LGBTQ+ trailblazers, some of whom never set foot on its boardwalks. Trailblazers Park is a visible celebration of these people and a symbol that all people are welcome. Public art, Trailblazers Park’s biggest role is to keep the conversations alive about who are trailblazers were and who is blazing a trail today.

Few institutions in Fire Island Pines are so deeply woven into the fabric of the community that life without them feels unimaginable. The Pines Liquor Shop is one such place. Though its beginnings were modest and sometimes uncertain, it soon took root and grew into far more than a purveyor of spirits. Through good times and bad, it has stood as a steady presence, always supportive of community activities and responsive to the needs of its neighbors. Straight owned and operated in the world’s premier gay resort, it has become recognized by liquor distributors as a harbinger of taste on the East Coast. Today it is a community hub, resource center and always a place of welcome.

Jim Pepper is the embodiment of philanthropy. Gifted with the mind of a generation, a strong moral compass and a bias for action, for over six decades he has done things that have improved the lives of millions of people. His abilities enabled him to be very successful both professionally and in his extensive philanthropic efforts, all the while remaining humble and avoiding the spotlight unless absolutely necessary. Simply put, Jim did what he did because it needed to be done and not for attention or glory, which he actively avoids. It is these precise characteristics that make him appealing, widely respected and loved. His is a life that has indelibly touched the so many others for the better.