Arts & Lifestyles - January 12, 2023

'Thirteen Moons: Nature Adapts and Transforms' by Anne Seelbach

Peter A. Klein, MD • Adam J. Korzenko, MD

Brett M. Dolgin, DO • Wil D. Tutrone, MD

Renee Fruchter, MD • Vanita Srivastava, DO

In celebration of Italian cinema, the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington will host a three day series at the end of January featuring new restorations of several of Italian cinema’s most enduring classics: Giuseppe Tornatore’s Academy Award winning Cinema Paradiso (1988) on Jan. 29 at 11 a.m. (brunch will be served at 10 a.m.); Bernardo Bertolucci‘s The Conformist on Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.; and Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.

The series celebrates the vibrant decadesspanning oeuvre of Italian cinema’s greatest artists, presenting the newly restored films for rare big-screen viewings. Each of the three films will feature post-film discussions, where cinema staff and program patrons will examine filmmaking techniques used in the films, the history of Italian cinema, along with the impact these films had on cinema as a whole.

In addition to the film screenings, the series will be ornamented by a live concert from Italian vocalist Mafalda Minnozzi on Jan. 29 at 4 p.m.

Titled Fotogrammi: Scenes from Life and Music by Mafalda Minnozzi, the concert will feature an intimate soundtrack inspired by the composers who accompanied and inspired her during her 35 year career in Italy, Brazil, and beyond. With a jazz sensibility and unique arrangements featuring accomplished guitarist Paul Ricci, Mafalda taps into her acclaimed albums “Cinema City — Jazz Scenes From Italian Film” and “Sensorial — Portraits in Bossa and Jazz," presenting diverse selections such as Ennio Morricone’s “Cinema Paradiso” to Jobim’s “Águas de Março,” and from Bruno Martino’s “Estate” to Piaf’s ”Hymne A L’Amour.”

For tickets, visit www.cinemaartscentre. org or call 631-423-7610.

Noun

A Doctor who is board-certified in Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery by the American Board of Dermatology. An expert in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the skin, hair and nails. A physician specialist who has completed four years of medical school, one year of internship, and three or more years of residency training in Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery.

Jerry G. Ninia, MD, RVT, FACPh Fellow American

Lovelier Legs

Studying and protecting marine life and habitats

BY LISA SCOTT

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) mission is to “conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution..."

biological and environmental information on shellfish growth, survival and spawning success, and to assess the effect on water quality, phytoplankton uptake and filtration and nitrogen cycling and removal. The results of the project will guide and support the success of future restoration efforts on Long Island.

MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK

Within the newly created Nissequogue River State Park in Kings Park, the DEC Division of Marine Resources has a state-of-the-art headquarters and laboratory to pursue these goals and ensure the conservation of our local marine life and habitats. All are welcome to visit their public lobby equipped with aquariums of local species and learn more ways to get involved and help monitor and protect marine life locally.

Shellfish have been a resource for Indigenous inhabitants of Long Island for thousands of years for a myriad of uses. In spite of massive human development over the past 400 years, shellfish are still an important resource today. Monitoring threats to shellfish and working to restore their populations and habitat is an important part of DEC’s work.

DEC Marine Resources Shellfish Microbiology Laboratory operates the only FDA-evaluated laboratory in the State for processing water samples to certify approved shellfish harvest areas. The laboratory features advanced equipment for processing and analyzing plankton, shellfish, and water samples, ensuring that shellfish harvested legally from approved areas in New York’s marine waters are safe for consumers and supports the State's commercially important shellfish industry.

Year-round, the DEC conducts water quality sampling of over one million acres of shellfish harvesting areas across Long Island and the lab analyzes approximately 13,000 water samples annually to monitor water quality trends. As a result of continuous testing, the DEC classifies shellfish harvest areas as open year-round, seasonally open, or closed year-round. Use the DEC's Public Shellfish Mapper to learn about harvest area boundaries, seasonally open dates, and water quality sampling locations: https:// on.ny.gov/shellfishmapper

Under the Long Island Shellfish Restoration Program (LISRP), the DEC in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension, Stony Brook University, and the Town of Huntington completed the stocking of 13.6 million juvenile (seed) clams and (spat-on-shell) oysters and 650,000 adult clams in Huntington Harbor in October 2020 to improve water quality and enhance shellfish populations. The LISRP completed four additional stocking efforts at sanctuary sites in Bellport Bay, Hempstead Bay, Shinnecock Bay, and South Oyster Bay.

Monitoring of sanctuary sites is conducted by the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) at Stony Brook University to obtain

Most Long Island tributaries once supported spring runs of returning alewife, a species of river herring native to Long Island. Like salmon, they split their life cycle between salt and freshwater. Alewife runs have been decimated by dams, habitat loss and declining water quality but remnant populations still exist in a few rivers and the public’s help is needed to learn more about their overall status across Long Island.

Through the Long Island Volunteer Alewife Survey, volunteers help record observations of spawning alewife and documenting existing runs is an important step for restoration efforts. Monitoring efforts start mid-March and training workshops will be announced soon for Spring 2023. Suggested sites include: Frank Melville Memorial Park/Setauket Mill Pond in Setauket, Crab Meadow East Pond (Makamah Nature Preserve) in Fort Salonga, Stony Brook Grist Mill/Stony Brook Dam in Stony Brook, and Carlls River in Argyle Park, Babylon. Visit Seatuck’s website for workshop information and how to get involved: https://seatuck.org/ volunteer-river-herring-survey/

The newly released Long Island Sound Marsh Migration Viewer is an online tool used to easily examine changes in marsh habitat along New York’s shores of the Long Island Sound watershed under various sea level rise scenarios over different time periods: http:// warrenpinnacle.com/LIMaps.

New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), Long Island Sound Study (LISS), and DEC will be hosting virtual public workshops for community stakeholders to learn more about the Viewer in early 2023. These workshops will demonstrate how to use the Viewer and will highlight an additional 47 marsh complexes that are added to the Viewer.

Whether you want to get outside to observe alewife in local rivers, sit at your desk to see changes to local marsh habitats with rising sea levels, or learn about shellfish monitoring, you have these and many other resources and opportunities available from our local DEC Marine Resources Headquarters. Check out more ways to get involved from DEC’s website: https://www.dec.ny.gov/ or contact them at 631 444-0450 or FW.Marine@dec.ny.gov. We all should be responsible, educated stewards of our beautiful island home.

Lisa Scott is president of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

Look At What Patients Are Saying!

Atrial Fibrillation, Cholesterol, Aging

Female, age 22

Allergies, Dermatology

Last year at this time my whole body was covered in hives. For years, I have been struggling with this each Fall from allergies, but thankfully, they are now gone and my inflammation has been cut in half.

Female, age 35

Reflux or GERD

My GI doc said my belly is much better. I’m not having rumbling in the stomach and do not have gastritis anymore. And the gastritis was really bad. I am no longer on proton pump inhibitors – I was taken off the medication by my GI doc. He was very impressed with the results from the lifestyle modifications. Do you know what a big thing that is?? That is huge! I was on the medications since 2003.

Female, age 70

I had been suffering with symptoms from atrial fibrillation. I would huff and puff when walking up the driveway or the stairs, because I was out of breath. This has improved dramatically. Now, I can go up and down stairs without heavy breathing, and I no longer have to pull myself up by the banister. It feels 110% better. I am so thrilled that I can even jog on the beach. I have not done that in years. Also, my cholesterol has improved so much so that I was told to stop my cholesterol medications, including the statin. The less I have to take the better. On Saturday, I will be 84 years old, but I feel like I’m 30. The changes to my diet made all the difference.

Male, age 83

Constipation, Diarrhea, Stomach issues

I have had stomach issues for years, alternating between constipation and then diarrhea. I would have constipation for four painful days, then diarrhea. Since having a smoothie a day, my bowel movements have been regular and I’m not in pain. This is great!

Female, age 81

Cravings, Weight loss

I feel really good now. I was very uncomfortable before. I felt like I was letting food control me, and I used food to deal with my stress and emotions. Now, I have taken back control of my cravings, and I am using food in a positive way instead of a harmful one. I’ve lost 28 lbs., which translates into a 17% drop in my weight, and a 7% drop in my body fat. These are HUGE CHANGES. I am no longer tempted to snack or graze on junk food.

Female, age 46

David Dunaief, M.D. Clinician, Researcher, Author and Speaker

David Dunaief, M.D.

Are over-the-counter medications really low-risk?

Recently updated FDA warnings highlight risks

MEDICAL COMPASS

What’s in your medicine cabinet?

As recently as late 2020, the FDA added a warning label to non-aspirin NSAIDs about the potential for fetal kidney damage and pregnancy complications beginning around week 20 of a pregnancy (4).

Research on NSAID complications

Stony Brook Children's Hospital becomes first certified Duchenne Care Center on Long Island

Many of us keep a supply of over-thecounter medications for pain relief, fever and inflammation. This could include acetaminophen and a variety of NSDAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium and diclofenac sodium.

In a case control study using the UK Primary Care Database, chronic users of NSAIDs between ages 40 and 89 had a significantly increased risk of a serious arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat) called atrial fibrillation (5).

BY DAVID DUNAIEF, MD

“NSAIDs” is shorthand for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are available by prescription or over-thecounter (OTC) at your local pharmacy or at any newsstand. Familiar NSAID brand names include Advil, Motrin, Aleve and Voltaren.

Americans consume more than 30 billion doses of NSAIDs a year, including both prescription and OTC use (1). As for acetaminophen, also known by the brand name, Tylenol, one quarter of Americans take it weekly.

Perhaps because they’re so easy to access and take, many think of these drugs as low risk. According to a poll of regular OTC NSAID users, 60 percent of them were not aware that they can have dangerous side effects (2).

They are so commonplace that most of my patients don’t even include them in a list of medications they take. I need to specifically ask about them.

Why be concerned about NSAIDs?

Unfortunately, NSAIDs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are responsible for 7,600 deaths annually and 10 times that number in hospitalizations (3).

NSAIDs increase the risk of several maladies, including heart attacks, gastrointestinal bleeding, stroke, exacerbation of diverticular disease, chronic arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats) and erectile dysfunction. In some instances, the cardiovascular effects can be fatal.

These risks prompted the FDA to strengthen the warning labels on nonaspirin NSAID labels in 2015, advising that those taking NSAIDs should immediately seek medical attention if they experience chest pain, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, weakness in one part or side of their body, or slurred speech (4).

Interestingly, chronic users were defined as patients who took NSAIDs for more than 30 days. Those patients who used NSAIDs more than 30 days had a 57 percent increased risk of atrial fibrillation. A Danish study reinforces these results after the first month of use (6). This is not very long to have such a substantial risk. For patients who used NSAIDs longer than one year, the risk increased to 80 percent.

Atrial fibrillation is not an easy disease to treat.

NSAIDs also increase the risk of mortality in chronic users. Older patients who have heart disease or hypertension (high blood pressure) and are chronic NSAIDs users are at increased risk of death, according to an observational study (7). Compared to those who never or infrequently used them over about 2.5 years, chronic users had a greater than twofold increase in death due to cardiovascular causes. High blood pressure was not a factor, since the chronic users actually had lower blood pressure. Yet I have seen with my patients that NSAID use can increase blood pressure.

Is acetaminophen better than NSAIDs?

The Food & Drug Administration announced in 2011 that acetaminophen should not exceed 325 mg every four to six hours when used as a prescription combination pain reliever (4). The goal is to reduce and avoid severe injury to the liver, which can cause liver failure.

There is an intriguing paradox with acetaminophen: Hospitals typically dispense regular-strength 325-mg doses of the drug, whereas OTC doses frequently are found in extra-strength 500-mg tablets, and often the suggested dose is two tablets, or 1 gram. At the FDA’s request, Tylenol lowered its recommended daily dosage for extra strength Tylenol to no more than 3 grams a day to lower the risk of liver damage.

I have patients who have exceeded this, thinking that, because it is OTC, this is “safe.” Unfortunately, this is not true and can be dangerous.

In order to be aware of potentially adverse events, you have to be your own best advocate and read labels. METRO photo

One study that showed acute liver failure was due primarily to unintentional overdoses of acetaminophen (8). Accidental overdosing is more likely to occur when taking acetaminophen at the same time as a combination sinus, cough or cold remedy that also contains acetaminophen. OTC and prescription cold medications can contain acetaminophen.

Of course, if you already suffer from liver damage or disease, you should consult with your physician before taking any medications.

In order to be aware of potentially adverse events, you have to be your own best advocate and read labels. Remember to tell your physician if you are taking any OTC medications.

If you are a chronic user of NSAIDs or acetaminophen because of underlying inflammation, you may find an antiinflammatory diet is an effective alternative.

References:

(1) Medscape.com, 2021 Oct 21 (emedicine.medscape.com/article/816117overview). (2) J Rheumatol. 2005;32;22182224. (3) Annals of Internal Medicine, 1997;127:429-438. (4) fda.gov (5) Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(16):1450-1455. (6) BMJ 2011;343:d3450. (7) Am J Med. 2011 Jul;124(7):614-620. (8) Am J Gastroenterol. 2007;102:2459-2463.

Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com or consult your personal physician.

Stony Brook Children’s Hospital is now a Certified Duchenne Care Center (CDCC). The accreditation comes from Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), a nonprofit organization leading the fight to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This accreditation makes Stony Brook the only certified center on Long Island and in the NYC metropolitan area, and one of only two centers in New York State.

According to PPMD, Duchenne is the most common muscular dystrophy in children, affecting around one in every 5,000 boys. It is a progressive disorder affecting both skeletal and heart muscles, causing decreasing mobility, and often cardiac and respiratory issues. Duchenne affects mainly boys, and its impact affects all races and cultures. The opening of the Duchenne Care Center at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital marks a new era in the level of care available to patients in the tri-state area.

“We have an extraordinary number of families affected by Duchenne living on Long Island or in the New York City area, and until now, they’ve had to travel quite a distance, even out of state, to access optimal Duchenne care,” said Rachel Schrader, Vice President of Clinical Care and Education at Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy. “We are thrilled to add Stony Brook Children’s Hospital to our growing CDCC network not only because of the amazing work they are doing, but because of the access to care it creates for so many families.”

The Duchenne program at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital is led by program director Dr. Peter Morelli, neuromuscular specialist Dr. Simona Treidler and PNP coordinator Dawn Dawson.

“Treatment to improve mobility and to delay the onset of symptoms, requires a wide variety of treatments and specialist care,” says Dr. Morelli. “At Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, we provide individualized coordinated care for each family across all medical disciplines, to minimize the stress associated with complex disease management, and to enable a faster and more efficient dissemination of information among all involved clinicians and our families.”

For more information, visit stonybrookchildrens.org/specialties-services/ clinical-programs/duchenneMD.

A fan of puzzles, SBU’s Nandita Kumari uses machine learning in her research

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF

Some day in the not too distant future, an astronaut may approach rocks on the moon and, with a handheld instrument, determine within minutes whether the rock might have value as a natural resource or as a source of historical information.

That’s the vision Nandita Kumari, a fourth-year graduate student in the Department of Geosciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Stony Brook University, has.

In the meantime, Kumari was part of a multi-institutional team that recommended two landing sites in the moon’s south polar region for future Artemis missions.

The group, which included students from the University of Arizona, the University of California Los Angeles, and the University of Buffalo, used several criteria to recommend these two sites.

They looked at the resources that might be available, such as water and rocks, at how long the areas are in sunlight and at how the features of the land, from the slope of hills to the size of boulders, affects the sites accessibility.

“These two sites ended up fulfilling all these criteria,” Kumari said. Models suggest water might be present and the regions are in sunlight more than 80 percent of the time, which is critical for solar-powered devices.

The group used highresolution data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to create a map of all the rocks and to model the geological diversity of the site. They used infrared images to gather data from areas when they were dark. They also added temperature readings.

To the delight of the team, NASA selected both of the sites as part of a total of 13 potential landing locations.

Planetary scientist David Kring advised the group during the process. Kring has trained astronauts and worked on samples brought back from the Apollo missions.

At the end of the first year of her PhD, Kumari received encouragement to apply for the virtual internship with Kring from Stony Brook Geosciences Professor Tim Glotch, who runs the lab where she has conducted her PhD work.

Putting a number on it

Kumari said her thesis is about using machine learning to understand the composition of resources on the moon. She would like to use artificial intelligence to delve deeply into the wealth of data moon missions and observations have been collecting to use local geology as a future resource.

“Instead of saying something has a ‘little’ or a ‘lot’” of a particular type of rock that might have specific properties, she would like to put a specific numerical value on it.

An engineer by training, Kumari said she is a “very big fan of crunching numbers.”

Since joining the lab, Kumari has become “our go-to source for any type of statistical analysis me or one of my other students might want to conduct,” Glotch explained.

The work Kumari has done provides “large improvements over traditional spectroscopic analysis techniques,” Glotch added.

In examining rocks for silicic properties, meaning those that contain silicon, most scientists describe a rock as being less or more silicic, Kumari said.

“It’s difficult to know whether 60 percent is high or 90 percent is

high,” she added. Such a range can make an important difference, and provides information about history, formation and thermal state of the planet and about potential resources.

With machine learning that trains on data collected in the lab, the model is deployed on orbiter data.

The machine learning doesn’t stop with silica. It can also be extended to search for helium 3 and other atoms.

Understanding and using the available natural resources reduces the need to send similar raw materials to the moon from Earth.

“There has to be a point where we stop” transporting materials to the moon, said Kumari. “It’s high time we use modern practices and methods so we can go through really large chunks of data with limited error.”

The machine learning starts with a set of inputs and outputs, along with an algorithm to explain the connection. As it sorts through data, it compares the outputs against what it expects. When the data doesn’t match the algorithm, it adjusts the algorithm and compares that to additional data, refining and improving the model’s accuracy.

A love for puzzles

Kumari, who grew up in Biharsharif, India, a small town in the northern state of Bihar, said this work appeals to her because she “loves puzzles that are difficult to solve.” She also tries to find solutions in the “fastest way possible.”

Kumari was recently part of a field exploration team in Utah that was processing data. The team brought back data and manually compared the measurements to the library to see what rocks they had.

She wrote an algorithm that provided the top five matches to the spectroscopic measurements the researchers found. Her work suggested the presence of minerals the field team didn’t anticipate. What’s more, the machine provided the analysis in five minutes.

The same kind of analysis can be used on site to study lunar rocks.

“When astronauts go to the moon, we shouldn’t require geology experts to be there to find the best rocks” she said. While having a geologist is the best-case scenario, that is not always possible. “Anyone with a code in their instruments should be able to decide whether it is what they’re looking for.”

As for her interest in space travel, Kumari isn’t interested in trekking to the moon or Mars.

While she believes the moon and Mars should be a base for scientific experiments, she doesn’t think people should focus on colonizing either place.

Such colonization ideas may reduce the importance of working on the challenges humans have created on Earth, including climate change.

“You can’t move to Mars,” Kumari said. The litmus test for that occurred during Covid, when people had to isolate.

“If we couldn’t stay in our homes with all the comfort and everything, I do not see a future where this would be possible with stringent constraints on Mars,” she added.

An advocate for women in STEM fields, Kumari said women should pursue scientific careers even if someone else focuses on their mistakes or tries to break their confidence.

“The only way to stop this from happening is to have women in higher places,” she explained. “We should also be supportive of each other and grow together.”

Harnessing the Technology of our Research

SPOTLIGHTING DISCOVERIES AT (1) COLD SPRING HARBOR LAB (2) STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY & (3) BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LAB

Nandita Kumari at the 53rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Woodlands, Texas in March of 2022. Photo by Delia Enriquez Draper from the Lunar and Planetary Institute

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2023: A BOOM or KABOOM year?

FINANCIAL FOCUS

Happy New Year to all! At the very least, we can say that we are off to a rousing start. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose a phenomenal 700+ points this past Friday. Not bad; another 7000 points and most of us will be even.

BY MICHAEL E. RUSSELL

My wife states that I always look at the glass as half empty. Somewhat true, but as I write this article, it is Happy Hour; consequently my glass is half empty!

There are so many things to write about. Where to start? Oh yeah, how about our new Congress Person representing New York's 3rd congressional district. Brought to you by Saturday Night Live, Mr. George, you can’t make it up, Santos. Let me think about his credentials. Baruch College, NOPE. Worked at Citibank, NOPE. Worked at Goldman Sachs, NOPE. Jewish, NOPE. Jew-ish — that’s correct!

Why do I write about this clown? [I don’t want to offend clowns, sorry]. I write about him because I hope they put him on the Congressional Finance Oversight Committee. A person that claimed he earned $6500 in 2020 was able to donate $175,000 to the Nassau Republican Committee in 2021 and lend his own campaign committee $750,000 in the same year. The man is a genius! How do you do that? I hope to be able to interview him for the next article. Boy oh boy, what we could learn. Alright, enough on this topic. UGH!

Starting with the bad news, it appears that Bed Bath & Beyond will have to close all of its stores — ran out of cash. They were never able to recover after the pandemic.

Sorry to digress, but speaking of clowns, it seems that Party City is also going into bankruptcy. So much for the song, "Send in the Clowns." I really couldn’t help it!

Tesla is having its share of problems. It is cutting the cost of cars to be sold in China by 30%. Hey, what about us? Elon Musk appears to have become distracted by his purchase of Twitter. He needs to hire a new CEO for Twitter to show investors that he is refocused on Tesla.

Growth stocks lost their luster in 2022. The Russell 1000 Growth Index fell by 30% versus a 10% decline in the Russell Value Index. This was the widest gap in many years. It appears that high interest will be with us for a quite a while since Treasury

yields are the highest in 20 years, thus giving us somewhat of “risk free” returns for the short term. This makes growth stocks less attractive for the present due to falling multiples. Even though the Value Index fared better, an investor should still look at only the companies that have strong balance sheets, thus weathering this awful inflation period we are in.

Companies that looked like they would grow forever made some terrible decisions. Prior to the year 2020, Amazon doubled its staff to more than 1.5 million. Alphabet [Google] increased its staff more than double to 180,000!

What do we do? The 60/40 portfolio model looks much better today than it did 12 months ago. Bond yields are much higher and stock prices are much lower. Bear in mind however, despite falling more than 20% in 2022, the S&P 500 is still trading around 17 times earnings, nearing its historical average.

Please be aware that tomorrow, Friday, brings the start of fourth quarter earnings season, with some of America’s giants — Bank of America [BAC], United Health Group [UNH], JPMorgan Chase [JPM], and Delta Airlines [DAL] — reporting results. The consensus is that several S&P 500 companies are to report fourth quarter losses for the first time in quite a while.

Even though there are more electric vehicles on the road, our giant oil companies have seen their stock prices close to double. Check out my favorite, Exxon Mobil [XOM] — $62 in January 2022, closed Dec. 31 at $110. Make sure you fill up this week!

Once again, wishing all a healthy and prosperous 2023.

Michael E. Russell retired after 40 years working for various Wall Street firms. All recommendations being made here are not guaranteed and may incur a loss of principal. The opinions and investment recommendations expressed in the column are the author's own. TBR News Media does not endorse any specific investment advice and urges investors to consult with their financial advisor.

UCP of Long Island

receives

The Board of Directors for Long Island Elite (LIE) presented UCP of Long Island (UCP-LI) with a donation of $110,000 at their holiday party in December.

“This is the largest amount of money we have raised for any organization in a 12-month period in our 20-year history. We are so very proud of our members and their support of UCP-LI’s incredibly important mission,” said Frank Morizio, LIE Board President.

The Long Island Elite was founded in 2002 and is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to fostering

donation to build adaptive playground

the growth and development of local business professionals, and emerging regional leaders. The members of LIE are leaders in the business and non-for-profit sectors who believe in the philosophy of standing together to support each other’s careers and helping those who are less fortunate. In 2014, Long Island Elite started selecting one local non-profit to be their annual charity partner each year.

“We are honored to have been chosen as Long Island Elite’s 2022 Charity Partner. Thanks to this incredible partnership, their support will help us build an adaptive playground at The Children’s Center at UCP-LI. We value the relationships made

and can’t wait to see what the future brings,” said Colleen Crispino, President and CEO of UCP-LI.

For children with disabilities, playgrounds are more than just fun; they support the development of fine and gross motor physical skills, physical stamina, and encourage increased/spontaneous interaction with peers.

“The adaptive playground will allow the children we serve to play and grow just like other children. Every child deserves to be able to play. This playground will have a wheelchair swing, a sensory play area, as well as wheelchair accessible musical instruments and chimes,” said Ms. Crispino.

Gina Marie Bettenhauser appointed 2023 President of Long Island Board of Realtors

Gina Marie Bettenhauser was installed as the 2023 President of Long Island Board of Realtors (LIBOR) during the Association’s Installation and Awards event at Oheka Castle in Huntington on Jan. 5. The event also included the installation of LIBOR Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Young Professionals Network for 2023.

Bettenhauser will serve as the 82nd President of LIBOR, a leading regional realtor trade association that

serves 30,000 real estate professionals throughout Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties. She is joined on LIBOR’s Executive Committee by President-Elect, Kevin Leatherman Secretary/Treasurer, Mary Alice Ruppert.

As a real estate professional for over three decades, Bettenhauser has found the opportunity to join her life’s passions: real estate and advocacy, and has invested in her career and industry by earning a plethora of National Association of Realtors (NAR) designations and certifications.

In the spirit of volunteerism and raising awareness for the real estate industry, Bettenhauser has served as a director at LIBOR. She is an adept leader and possesses a gift for spearheading various committees and task forces. She has served as LIBOR Education Committee

Chairperson in 2017 and Grievance Chairperson in 2019 and is a graduate of NYSAR’s Leadership Academy Class of 2022.

Additionally, Bettenhauser is involved in New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR), and NAR, where she advocates for the protection and promotion of the real estate industry through her work with government affairs and RPAC.

Bettenhauser is also extremely vested in her community of Shoreham-Wading River, where she is a member of the Shoreham and Wading River Civic Associations; has served as Chairperson on the school district’s Legislative, and Space and Facilities committees; and is a major donor to the district’s Athletic Booster Club where she currently serves as President.

COMINGS AND GOINGS

Sullivan-Pyke joins Island Fertility

Chantae SullivanPyke, MD, MSTR, FACOG, has joined Island Fertility, a fullservice fertility practice in Stony Brook Medicine's expanding network of community practices and physicians, at Stony Brook Medicine's Advanced Specialty Care Center in Commack. Dr. SullivanPyke is double board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI).

"Stony Brook Medicine is thrilled that Dr. Sullivan-Pyke has joined Island Fertility,” said Todd Griffin, MD, MBA, Interim Vice President for Clinical Services and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine at Stony Brook Medicine. “She is an experienced infertility expert who will continue the outstanding tradition of excellent care provided at Island Fertility. We know our patients will value her expertise as well as the compassionate care she will deliver.”

Before joining Island Fertility, Dr. SullivanPyke spent the past four years caring for patients at Kofinas Fertility Group in New York City, where she was the director of fertility preservation.

"I am excited to join the incredible team at Island Fertility and to continue to provide world-class fertility care to patients across Long Island and New York in a caring and welcoming environment," said Dr. Sullivan-Pyke.

Island Fertility is accepting new patients and has office hours Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 631-638-4600.

Schleifer joins Rivkin Radler

Evan H. Krinick, Managing Partner of Rivkin Radler LLP, has announced that William Schleifer of Northpor has joined the firm as Counsel in the Professional Liability Practice Group, in the Uniondale office.

Schleifer defends claims against attorneys, insurance brokers and agents, and officers and directors in state and federal courts.

Prior to joining the Rivkin Radler, Schleifer defended cases involving professional malpractice, mass tort litigation, construction accidents implicating the Labor Law, contractual indemnification, and insurance coverage disputes.

Dr. Chantae Sullivan-Pyke

Photo from UCP Long Island

William Schleifer

Gina Marie Bettenhauser

ACROSS

Artist Anne Seelbach explores the essence of environment in latest exhibit

BY TARA MAE

Nature’s beauty is at once defiantly delicate and stubbornly resilient. Elements Adrift, on view at Gallery North from Jan. 12 to Feb. 19, considers the alchemy and artistry of the natural world as expressed through Long Island artist Anne Seelbach’s oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings as well as mixed media pieces.

COVER STORY

Seelbach's first solo show at Gallery North, it consists of approximately 35 works from three different series that organically ripple outward, encompassing the serenity of the sea and the perniciously predatory impact of pollution. Elements Adrift explores the inspiration found in the environment and the toxicity inherent in careless encounters with it.

“Seelbach’s figural abstraction reflects her fascination and love of nature and interest in pointing to those elements that are polluting and deprecating it. In the past, she has tried to bring attention to that through her work,” said Gallery North’s Executive Director Ned Puchner.

Put together, each individual series transforms from island unto itself to an archipelago of artistic expression, chronicling Seelbach’s relationship with the world around her and transitioning the audience from one sequence into another.

“Some pieces are really fascinating in that they show [Seelbach] moving on…you see her moving from one series into another, and I think that is really where the excitement in her work lies. She goes from series to series and in each series, she will sort of dwell on a topic and then move on, finding new avenues to build off of,” Puchner said.

The first collection, “Troubled Waters,” follows the ebbing of natural resources as pollution flows into and interferes with sensitive ecosystems. Drawn to the seascapes of Peconic Bay off Long Beach in Sag Harbor and the Napeague Harbor at Lazy Point Beach in Amagansett, Seelbach’s work evolves to encapsulate the devolution of marine life as the disruption and detritus of humankind menaces it.

“Instead of painting traditional landscapes, I always ask the question, ‘What is happening?’ in nature, rather than painting a beautiful view,” Seelbach said. “The landscape and seascape are created by forces of nature, the change of seasons, with the rotation of the earth. This is what I try to get at.”

The vague abstraction of her fish renderings in this series came from fact, as the pollutants were actually getting into aquatic animal reproductive systems and causing deformities.

“When I started the series the fish were more realistic. I had to find a way to represent the effects of the chemicals. So, I stylized the fish form and duplicated it to create stencils of schools of fish,” she explained.

Seelbach’s fish and other animal stencils are frequently made from repurposed and up-cycled washed up or left behind bits of metal, plastic, and netting from which she rescues the shoreline.

While nature may have been shifting and changing around her, with rightful residents being harmed by invasive interlopers, Seelbach’s relationship with it remains steadfast and symbiotic, as reflected in her “Moon Paintings” series.

These works, conjured from summer trips to Monhegan Island, Maine, illuminate the serenity she found walking along the sea cliffs, gazing at the lunar lit waters below.

“I am still interested in the edge, where land, water, and sky meet…The moon shining on the sea and in tidal pools inspired these paintings,” Seelbach said. “As the sun nurtures the growth of everything by day, I suggest that the moon nurtures creative thought, ideas and possibility at night. I get

most of my ideas at night when my mind is drifting, without a particular thought.”

Primarily painted on paper rather than on canvas, the “Moon Paintings” are imbued with deep blues and other hues that convey the depth of the setting’s nighttime repose. Yet, in these works, the moon is both a light and power source, rejuvenating sea, sky, and artist.

In fact “Earth: The Elements,” the third series to be highlighted in the exhibit, was a concept that came to Seelbach as she sat on the cliffside rocks and boulders.

“They made me ask ‘What is the Earth?’ And immediately I thought of the elements. Thinking about each individual element, what it was and a bit of its history, I realized that many were acknowledged thousands of years ago, by the scientists of that time, the alchemists and philosophers,” Seelbach said.

Breaking down these otherwise immovable objects into their most basic essence, Seelbach sought to honor the individuals of the past who had understood better than to take them at face value. So, within some of these paintings, she includes the alchemical symbol of the historical elements and the periodic table designation.

Each element Seelbach selects is thoroughly, albeit abstractly, examined and expressed. Similar to the other two series, “Elements” inner complexity and vitality is amplified by Seelbach’s color palette and painting style. Rich, earthy tones and texture add dimension and definition to the paintings.

“I was really drawn to the raw energy of them, dark and muddy in certain places,” Puchner said. “In all of her art, there is a kind of an endless search for beauty in nature. Even in the study of the earth’s elements, at root is her trying to explore the minerals and elements that exist within the nature that she brings into her artwork.”

Seelbach’s art is an outlet for her observations, an investigation of the inquiries raised by striving to be attuned to the world around her. At its core, her art seeks to explore and observe rather than obfuscate.

“I paint what is. I see landscape as formed by the forces of nature, the seasons, the rotation of the planet. The question I ask sitting on the beach or a rock is ‘What is happening?’ What are the forces of nature that underly what I am looking at?” she said.

Patrons are invited to make their own discoveries about nature through Elements Adrift. An opening reception will be held tonight, Jan. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. As a complement to the exhibition, Gallery North will present a lecture on the marine ecology of New York’s waterways by Patricia Woodruff from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University on Jan. 20 at 6 pm. Gallery North will also host an ArTalk with Anne Seelbach on Feb. 4 at 3 p.m.

Located at 90 North Country Road, Setauket, Gallery North is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 631-751-2676 or visit www. gallerynorth.org.

Window decorating contest a success

The results are in for the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce's first window decorating contest in the Village of Port Jefferson. The popular contest ran from Dec. 1 to Jan. 2 with 22 businesses taking part. Shoppers voted by scanning the QR code on posters that hung at each participating business. Third runner-up was Fame & Rebel while second runner-up was The Healing Center @ Port Jeff Salt Cave. First place winner was Tabu Boutique which featured a Dickens Christmasthemed window in collaboration with The Victorian on Main, the Guzzetta family's collection of antique clothing, furniture, and toys and a Christmas angel created by the owners. Tabu Boutique received a special plaque for the store and bragging rights for the next full year. Congratulations!

'Dance Into the Unknown' by Anne Seelbach will be on view at Gallery North through Feb. 19. Image courtesy of Gallery North

Treat yourself to something sweet on chilly mornings

HEIDI SUTTON

Repeat with the remaining batter, adding 1⁄2 teaspoon of butter/oil for every crepe. If the batter thickens over time, add a little milk. You can keep the ready ones warm on a plate in the oven at low temperature. Spread each crepe with jam (or filling of your choice) and roll it from one side to the other. Dust with confectioner’s sugar before serving if desired.

waffles or homemade muffins can be just what’s needed on blustery days.

Classic Crepes

YIELD: Makes 10 crepes

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 large eggs

• 1 1/2 cups milk

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 1 cup all purpose flour

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 1⁄4 teaspoon fine salt

• Confectioner’s sugar(optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Combine first six ingredients in a large bowl. Heat an 8-inch (or larger) nonstick pan over medium heat. Add 1⁄2 teaspoon butter to coat the bottom of the pan. Pour 1⁄3 cup batter into the center of the pan and swirl to spread evenly. Once the bottom side is golden in color, flip it with a spatula and cook the other side for about 15 seconds.

Belgian-Style Waffles

YIELD: Makes 8 waffles

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 waffles

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 3/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 1/2 cups milk

• 1 cup butter, melted

• 3 large eggs, slightly beaten

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

Combine flour, sugar baking powder and salt in bowl; mix well. Combine milk, melted butter, eggs and vanilla in another bowl; mix well. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Cook batter in Belgian waffle maker according to manufacturer's directions. Serve warm with butter and maple syrup, or desired toppings.

Triple Chocolate Muffins

YIELD: Makes 12 muffins

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1⁄3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1⁄2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

• 1⁄2 cup white chocolate chips

• 2 large eggs beaten

• 1 1⁄4 cup sour cream

• 6 tablespoons packed brown sugar

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and baking soda into a large bowl. Add the semisweet and white chocolate chips, and stir. Place the eggs, sour cream, sugar, and melted butter in a separate mixing bowl, and mix well. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and stir gently until just combined.

Using two spoons, divide the batter evenly among the paper liners and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until well risen and firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and serve warm, or place on a cooling rack and let cool.

Avatar: The Way of Water is a work of art

REVIEWED BY JEFFREY SANZEL

Released in 2009, Avatar took in over $2.9 billion, making it the highest-grossing film of all time. The brainchild of James Cameron, who wrote, directed, and produced, Avatar received nine Academy Award nominations and won three: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects. It won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture and Best Director, and garnered other major awards and nominations.

Over a decade later, Avatar: The Way of Water arrives in theaters with many of the same strengths: exceptional visual artistry, extraordinary special effects, and thrilling action sequences. This time, Cameron collaborated with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver on the screenplay (with “story by” credits adding Josh Friedman and Shane Salerno).

Avatar: The Way of Water , a spectacle of the first order, is many things. It is also too long. Whether by twenty minutes or an hour and twenty minutes, this epic desperately sags in the middle. The original Avatar is a long film that runs two hours and forty-two minutes. Avatar: The Way of Water clocks in at three hours and twelve minutes. Is this too much of a good thing or just too much? The reality is that it is an unnecessarily extended three hours. That said, for the pure beauty of vision, it lands in the win column.

Much of the film plays like a reboot of Avatar, except this time underwater. As a result, it plays the assumption of an audience familiar if not fully aware of

the background. (To a certain extent, the history is referenced and recapped in the first thirty minutes.)

The story picks up fifteen years following the end of the first film. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is now chief of the Pandora tribe Omaticaya, raising a family with his wife, Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña). They have two sons, Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) and Lo'ak (Britain Dalton), daughter Tuk (Trinity Bliss), and adopted daughter Kiri. The latter was born from Grace Augustine’s (Sigourney Weaver) inert avatar. Added to the family mix is a human boy, Spider (Jack Champion), who is the son of Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang).

The Resources Development Administration (RDA) has returned to Pandora to pave the way for human colonization for a dying Earth. Na’vi avatars have been implanted with the minds and memories of deceased soldiers, with Quaritch ruthlessly leading the group. After Sully leads an attack on the RDA, Quaritch captures Jake’s children. Sully and Neytiri rescue them, but Quaritch realizes that Spider is his son and draws him in to help with his knowledge and navigation of the Na’vi.

Meanwhile, Sully and his family flee the Omaticaya forest and hide with the Metkayina, a clan spiritually connected to the sea. While initially rejected by the Metkayina, the family eventually integrates. After a series of adventures and clashes, the film builds to a staggering thirty-plus-minute climax of jaw-dropping action.

Thematically, like its predecessor, Avatar: The Way of Water addresses larger issues.

While not approached with any subtlety, the concept of wanton plundering of natural resources and the callous destruction of an indigenous people play clearly.

Likewise, the unwelcome and unwanted outside force annihilates for commercial gain. Embodied by the RDA’s almost carelessly sadistic General Ardmore (Edie Falco), the military destroys everything in its path. Whether devastating wildlife or destroying homes, the overwhelming and relentless insensitivity is always at the center.

The acting is fine—neither terrible nor remarkable. While the Na’vi are CGI-ed, the characters relate a range of expressions matching the vocalized emotions, allowing the viewer to believe them to be as real as their human counterparts. In addition, the meticulous detail accomplishes more than just ciphers but individuals with drive, humor, fears, and desires.

The filmmakers have done miraculous work in the creation of sea creatures. Particularly wonderful is Payakan, who rescues one of Sully’s children. Payakan is a Tulkun, an intelligent aquatic mammal (resembling a whale). The creators have embodied this creature with a reality that makes it noble and sympathetic. Again, the film’s strength is in imaginative worldbuilding.

At its heart, Avatar: The Way of Water wants to celebrate family and community and the ends to which we go to protect those we love. The story strives for honesty and integrity, enhanced by astonishing visuals. And while the running time is excessive (and perhaps off-putting), the final film is still a work of art. And if not great art, the film is spectacular craft.

Rated PG-13, the film is now playing in local theaters.

HOROSCOPES OF THE WEEK

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Think about all the possibilities you have before you, Capricorn. When you consider all of the positives in your life, the negatives just may fade away.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

Your name is on the lips of so many people. That is likely because you are affecting change wherever you go. Keep forging ahead because you are helping others.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

Now that spending has ceased, take a closer look at how you can budget for the new year. Make your money work for you, Pisces.

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

Aries, you are willing to take risks and never afraid to try new things. This benefits you as you seek new solutions regarding how to get things done.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, figure out a new goal to pursue and start to make a list of how to get to the finish line. You may need to recruit a few volunteers to help along the way.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

Gemini, when a project at work lands on your desk, you may be ambivalent about it. You appreciate the challenge, but already have a long list of things to do.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

Could this be the right time to think about making a career move, Cancer? The new year marks a fresh start, and perhaps you have had your eyes on a new work opportunity.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

There’s more than meets the eye this week when someone from your past suddenly pops up on your radar again, Leo. Learn all of the facts before you make assumptions.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

Virgo, try to stay in the loop around the office. Doing so might pay professional dividends that could open the door to new possibilities.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

You’ve been keeping quite busy, Libra, but don’t forget to make time to touch base with friends and loved ones from time to time. Keep those lines of communication open.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Patience is a virtue of which you are in short supply recently, Scorpio. You have no control over the timeline on certain things and that can be frustrating. Wait it out.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21

It’s time to tackle all of those tasks you have been putting since the end of last year, Sagittarius. If you need help getting organized, reach out to someone you trust.

Famous Birthdays:

Jan. 12 - Jeff Bezos (59); Jan. 13 - Orlando Bloom (46); Jan. 14 - LL Cool J (55); Jan. 15 - Pitbull (42); Jan. 16Lin-Manuel Miranda (43); Jan. 17 - Michelle Obama (59); Jan. 18 - Kevin Costner (68); Jan. 19 - Dolly Parton (77)

Trinity Bliss, as Tuk, in a scene from Avatar: The Way of Water Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios

At its heart, [the film] wants to celebrate family and community and the ends to which we go to protect those we love.

Thursday 12

Lunch & Learn

Huntington Historical Society kicks off its Lunch & Learn series in the new year with Reflections on Women in Long Island at Encore Luxury Living, 300 Jericho Turnpike, Jericho from noon to 1:30 p.m. Dr. Natalie Naylor will present an overview of Long Island women’s roles in colonial settlements, the Revolution, religion and community activities. Lunch will be served. $50 per person, $45 members. RSVP by Jan. 9 at www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Atelier art reception

Join the Atelier at Flowerfield, 2 Flowerfield, Suite #15, St. James for the opening reception of its latest exhibit, Vivid World of Denis Ponsot, in Atelier Hall from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The exhibit will run through Feb. 22. For more information, call 250-9009.

Comsewogue Library art reception

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to an artist reception for Casey Greene’s Lore & Myth in the gallery from 6 to 8 p.m. No registration is required. Questions? Call 928-1212.

Movie Trivia Night

Join the Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor for a virtual Movie Trivia Night at 7 p.m. Casual film lovers and buffs are invited to join the museum staff online for a night of cinematic fun. From Seinfeld to Star Wars, enjoy trivia about people, places, music, and famous maritime moments inspired by TV and film. Work solo, or form a team for the chance to win Narwhal Ball tickets and guest passes. $10 suggested donation. Visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Sky Room Talk

Join the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington for a Sky Room Talk titled Elvis Movies: A Closer Look at 8 p.m. Could you see Elvis Presley cast as Hamlet or Abraham Lincoln? The words “Elvis Movie” conjures up images of a Technicolor Elvis singing for surfer girls, children and animals. Elvis Presley’s better films display memorable, stellar filmmaking, and some remarkable, often believable performances by the King of Rock and Roll. Film historian Glenn Andreiev returns to the Cinema with a fresh look at those enjoyable and sometimes surprising Elvis Presley movies. Tickets are $17. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Friday 13

An evening of opera

Calling all opera lovers! St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 270 Main Street, Northport hosts a concert by Opera Night Long Island at 7:30 p.m. $10 donation,

Times

... and dates

Jan. 12 to Jan. 19, 2023

SATURDAYS AT SIX

All Souls Church in Stony Brook welcomes The Island Chamber Brass in concert on Jan. 14.

students free. Refreshments will be served. For more information, visit www. operanight.org.

Grounds and Sounds Concert Grounds and Sounds Cafe, UUFSB, 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket presents Pete Mancini and the Hillside Airmen in concert at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 per person, available in advance and at the door. Light refreshments for sale. For more information, visit www. groundsandsounds.org or call 751-0297.

Saturday 14

Second Saturdays Poetry

The Second Saturdays poetry series will be returning to historic All Souls Church via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon. Hosted by Suffolk County Poet Laureate Richard Bronson, the featured poet will be Dick Westheimer. An open-reading will follow; all are welcome to read one of their own poems. For more information, please call 655-7798. Participants can access the program through the All Souls website https://www.allsouls-stonybrook.org/

Superheroes of the Sky

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown kicks off the new year

with a family program titled Superheroes of the Sky from 11 a.m. to noon. Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds the Center’s Birds of Prey and tells you about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. You’ll be seeing and learning about Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures, owls, hawks and many more. $10 adults, $5 children ages 11 and under. Register at www.sweetbriarnc.org.

Island Chamber Brass in concert

As part of its Saturdays at Six concert series, All Souls Church, 61 Main Street, Stony Brook, will present The Island Chamber Brass in concert at 6 p.m. Stony Brook University graduate students, the group will be playing works by Stravinsky, Gabrieli, Ewald, Ewazen, and more. Free. Call 655-7798 for more information.

Sunday 15

Port Jefferson Farmers Market

The Port Jefferson Winter Farmers Market kicks off today at the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be held every Sunday through April 30. For more information, call 473-4778.

Huntington Farmers Market

The John J. Flanagan Center, 423 Park Ave., Huntington hosts the Huntington Winter Farmers Market every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through March with over 40 vendors plus guest vendors. Visit www. longislandfarmersmarkets.com.

Peace Garden dedication

Mt. Sinai Congregational Church, 233 North Country Road, Mt. Sinai invites the community to a Peace Pole and Peace Garden dedication on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday at 11:15 a.m. Refreshments will follow in Voorhees Hall. For more information, call 928-4317.

LITMA Contradance

The Smithtown Historical Society’s Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St. Smithtown will host a Contradance by the Long Island Traditional Music Association at 2 p.m. with caller Chart Guthrie and music by the Blarney Possum band (dance music from the crossroads of Appalachia and Ireland).

Basic instruction will be held at 1:45 p.m. Admission is $15, $10 members $7.50 students, children under 16 free with paid adult. For more information, call 369-7854 or visit www.litma.org.

Monday 16

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tuesday 17

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station welcomes certified life coach Linda Mazza to the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Learn how to go from worrier to warrior by reframing your state of mind. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee among other refreshments will be served. $5 per person, $3 members. Call 928-3737 for more information.

Wednesday 18

Tech Support

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station will provide hands-on help with your smartphone or tablet from 7 to 9 p.m. Be sure to bring your device and passwords. Space is limited. Sign

CALENDAR DEADLINE is Wednesday at noon, one week before publication. Items may be mailed to: Times Beacon Record News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733. Email your information about community events to leisure@tbrnewspapers.com. Calendar listings are for not-for-profit organizations (nonsectarian, nonpartisan events) only, on a space-available basis. Please include a phone number that can be printed.

up for a 15-minute appointment by calling Adult Services at 928-1212. Open to all.

Thursday 19

Community Outreach Bus

The Catholic Health Community Mobile Outreach Bus will be in the Emma Clark Library’s parking lot, 120 Main St., Setauket from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registered nurses will provide blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, and glucose screenings along with patient education and referrals as needed. Free flu vaccinations will be offered as well. The last screening will begin at 1:45 p.m. No appointments are necessary, there are no fees, and insurance is not required. Open to all. Questions? Email askus@ emmaclark.org or call 941-4080.

Vanderbilt lecture

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its Climate Change and Ecology lectures series with a presentation by Dr. Becca Franks titled What the Fishes Taught Us at 7 p.m. A leading scholar in animal welfare studies, Franks will speak about the concept of dignity and its role in thinking through our relationships with the non-human world. Tickets are $10, free for members, at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Theater

‘The Sweet Delilah Swim Club’ Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its Mainstage season with The Sweet Delilah Swim Club from Jan. 14 to Feb. 4. This hilarious and touching show features five very different but deeply connected Southern women whose friendships began

on their college swim team. Each summer they meet for a reunion at the same beach cottage in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Visiting them on four weekends over thirty-three years, we learn of their lives, loves, and losses. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www. theatrethree.com.

‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St.. Northport presents Dirty Rotten Scoundrels from Jan. 19 to March 5. Con artist Lawrence Jameson is a longtime resident of a luxurious coastal resort, where he enjoys the fruits of his deceptions–that is, until a competitor, Freddy Benson, shows up. When the new guy’s lowbrow tactics impinge on his own work, Jameson resolves to get rid of him. Based on the uproarious movie, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels boasts a jazzy-pop score by David Yazbek, who also wrote the music for The Full Monty. Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 2612900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Film

‘The Godfather Part II’

The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Best of the Big Screen series with a screening of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. Part II of the Godfather trilogy continues the saga of the Corleone Family, serving as both a prologue and a sequel, extending over a period of 60 years and three generations. Winner of six Academy Awards, the film will be introduced by film historian and librarian, Philip Harwood. Tickets are $15, $10 members. Visit www. cinemaartscentre.org.

R eligious D irectory

Catholic

INFANTJESUS

ROMANCATHOLICCHURCH

110MyrtleAve.,PortJefferson631-473-0165 Fax631-331-8094 www.www.infantjesus.org

REVERENDGREGORYRANNAZZISI,

REV.FRANCISLASRADO& PASTOR,ASSOCIATES:

REV.ROLANDOTICLLASUCA

WeekendMasses: Saturdayat5pminthe 12pmintheChapel* WeeklyMasses: 6:50and9amintheChurch, ParishOutreach:631-331-6145

SpanishMasses: Sundayat8:45amand and11:30am(FamilyMass)intheChapel* andat8:30am,10am, am,10:30am,12pm,and5pmintheChurch Church,4:00pmintheChapel,*Sundayat7:30

atSt.CharlesHospital. *HeldattheInfantJesusChapel Wednesdayat6pmintheChurch

ST.GERARDMAJELLA

ROMANCATHOLICCHURCH 300TerryvilleRoad,PortJeffersonStation 631-473-2900www.stgmajella.org

REV.GREGORYRANNAZZISI,PASTOR

ThriftShop: Monday-Thursday10am-4pm OfficeHours: Monday-Thursday9am-4:30pm Confessions: Saturday3:45pm-4:45pm WeekdayMass: 9am Sunday8am,10am&12pm Mass: Saturday5pm

BaptismandWedding arrangementscanbe andFriday10am-2pm.

madebycallingtheParishOffice.

formedbytheGospel.Westrivetorespondto HolySpirit,nourishedbytheEucharistand fullnessoftheKingdomofGod,guidedbythe areapilgrimcommunityjourneyingtowardthe

Jesusinvitation:tobefaithfulandfruitfuldisciples;tobeaGoodSamaritantoourneighborand

itsdiversities. welcomingcommunity,respectfuloflifeinall Charity...sothatinJesusname,wemaybea andtobelivingwitnessofFaith,Hopeand enemy;tobestewardsofandforGod’screation

ST.LOUISDEMONTFORT ROMANCATHOLICCHURCH 75NewYorkAvenue,SoundBeach Parishoffice:631-744-8566; fax631-744-8611

Parishwebsite:

ASSOCIATEPASTORREV.MSGR.DONALD PASTORREV.ALPHONSUSIGBOKWE, REV.MSGR.CHRISTOPHERJ.HELLER, www.stlouisdm.org

OfficeHours: Mon.,Tues.,Thurs.: PARISHASSISTANTREV.HENRYVAS REV.FRANCISPIZZARELLI,S.M.M., HANSON,INRESIDENCE

pm; Saturday: 9amto1pm; Wednesday: 9amto8pm; Friday: 9amto4 9amto5pm

MissionStatement:Toproclaimthegoodnews ClosedonSunday

ofJesusChrist’slovethroughouractiveinvolvementasaparishfamilyinworksof

familysituation.Nomatteryourpracticeoffaith. statusisintheCatholicChurch.Nomatteryour AREWELCOME!Nomatterwhatyourpresent Charity,Faith,Worship,JusticeandMercy.ALL

Nomatteryourpersonalhistory,ageorbackground.YOUareinvited,respectedandlovedat

Catholic Traditional Latin Mass

ST.MICHAELTHEARCHANGEL SOCIETYOFSAINTPIUSX 900HorseblockRoad,Farmingville 631-736-6515sspxlongisland.com SundayMasses at7amand9am

andcurrentmasstimes. Pleaseconsultsspxlongisland.comforupdates

Christian

ISLANDCHRISTIANCHURCH 400ElwoodRoad,EastNorthport IslandChristian.com 631-822-3000

PASTORCHRISTOPHERCOATS

9AM+11AM Services live&onlineSundaymornings

Congregational

MT.SINAICONGREGATIONAL UNITEDCHURCHOFCHRIST 233NorthCountryRoad,Mt.Sinai 631-473-1582 www.msucc.org

REV.DR.PHILIPHOBSON

strivetoliveoutChrist’smessagetolove Throughourworshipandbyouractionswe timethereafter,withRev.PhilHobson. onourYouTubechannelat10am, andany Wewillcontinuetoprovideour onlineservice suggested.” tothepublic “Masksarenotrequired,butare MountSinaiCongregationalChurchisopen

forallpeople. Weareafriendlywelcomingcommunity InterdenominationalRosary Wednesday:12noon

CAROLINEEPISCOPALCHURCH

OFSETAUKET

1DykeRoadontheVillageGreen,Setauket Website:www.carolinechurch.net email:office@carolinechurch.net

REVNICKOLASGRIFFITH 631-941-4245

10:00amThursdays HealingService family-friendlycommunity LetGodwalkwithyouaspartofour PRIEST-IN-CHARGE

5:00pmSaturdays HolyEucharist

HolyEucharistw/music 8:00am&9:30amSundays

CHRISTEPISCOPALCHURCH 127BarnumAve.,PortJefferson 631-473-0273 email:ccoffice@christchurchportjeff.org www.christchurchportjeff.org

FATHERANTHONYDILORENZO: Churchofficehours:Tues.-Fri.9am-12pm

PRIESTINCHARGE

yourjourneyoflifewewanttobepartofit. welcomingcommunity.Whereveryouarein andministry.WeatChristChurchareajoyful, tomakehisloveknowntoallthroughourlives togrowinourrelationshipwithJesusChristand ItisthemissionofthepeopleofChristChurch

ST.JAMESROMAN CATHOLICCHURCH 429Rt.25A,Setauket Phone:631-941-4141Fax:631-751-6607 ParishOfficeemail:

parish@stjamessetauket.org

REV.ROBERTSCHECKENBACK, REV.ROBERTKUZNIK,PASTOR www.stjamessetauket.org

SBUHOSPITALCHAPLAIN,INRESIDENCE REV.MIKES.EZEATU, ASSOCIATEPASTOR

OfficeHours:Monday-Friday9amto4pm...

FaithFormationOffice:631-941-4141X328 Bereavement: 631-941-4141X341 Saturday9am

Outreach: 631-941-4141X313

OurDailyBreadSundaySoupKitchen

FoodPantryOpen ...Wednesdays12Noonto reopeningTBD opened2-3pmeverySundayclosed....

2pmandSundays2pmto3pm

MissionStatement:We,theCatholiccommunityoftheThreeVillagearea,formedasthe

BodyofChristthroughthewatersofBaptism,

WeekendMasses:SaturdayVigil:5pm MondaythroughFriday8:30amintheChapel WeekdayMasses: St.LouisdeMontfort.

Baptisms:MostSundaysat1:30pm. Sunday:7:30am;10:00am;12noon.

PleasecontactParishOfficeforanappointment.

Reconciliation:Saturday4-4:45pm

AnointingoftheSick:byrequest. orbyappointment.

HolyMatrimony: ContactParishOfficeatleast

sixmonthsinadvanceofdesireddate.

ReligiousEducation:Contact631-744-9515

ParishOutreach:Contact631-209-0325

“Nomatterwhoyouareorwhereyouareon andstayincar andThursdayfrom2:30-4:30pm.Wearamask MiddleIsland,N.Y.OurhoursareWednesday helpthoseinneedat643MiddleCountryRoad, TheIslandHeartFoodPantry continuesto oneanother.

GraceandPeace,Rev.Phil life’sjourney,youarewelcomehere.”

Episcopal

ALLSOULSEPISCOPALCHURCH Ourlittlehistoricchurchonthehillacrossfrom theStonyBrookDuckPond 61MainStreet,StonyBrook Visitourwebsitewww.allsoulsstonybrook.org

MorningPrayer Interdenominational Tuesday:8:00am 9:30HolyEucharistwithOrganMusic Sunday: 8amVirtualMorningPrayer orcall631-655-7798

ST.JOHN’SEPISCOPALCHURCH “ToknowChristandtomakeHimknown” Rev.DuncanA.Burns,Rector Rev.JamesE.Reiss,Curate Rev.ClaireD.Mis,Deacon

OnMainSt.nexttothelibrary 12ProspectSt,Huntington(631)427-1752 &Artist-in-Residence AlexPryrodny,MusicDirector

ProgrammingForChildrenAges5-13

ComeConnectWithUsOnYour ImagineASynagogueThatFeelsLikeHome!

OfConservativeJudaism. JewishJourney.MemberUnitedSynagogue

TEMPLEISAIAH(REFORM)

1404StonyBrookRoad,StonyBrook 631-751-8518www.tisbny.org AWarmAndCaring IntergenerationalCommunity

MemberUnionForReformJudaism andFriendship. DedicatedToLearning,Prayer,SocialAction,

CANTORINTERNKALIXJACOBSON RABBIPAULSIDLOFSKY

EDUCATIONALDIRECTOR

ReligiousSchoolMonthlyFamilyService servicesat10am allotherFridays7:30pmandSaturdayB’nai SabbathServices:1stFridayofthemonth6pm, MICHAELF.TRACHTENBERG CANTOREMERITUS RABBIEMERITUSADAMD.FISHER RABBIEMERITUSSTEPHENA.KAROL RABBIPAULSIDLOFSKY,

BrotherhoodBookClub-More AdultEducationSisterhood MonthlyTotShabbatYouthGroups

Lutheran-ELCA

HOPELUTHERANCHURCHAND ANCHORNURSERYSCHOOL 46DareRoad,Selden 631-732-2511 EmergencyNumber516-848-5386

REV.DR.RICHARDO.HILL,PASTOR Website:www.hopeluth.com Email:office@hopelutheran.com

DALENEWTON,VICAR

Thursdaysfrom12:30-2:30p.m.forpickingup OurFoodPantryisopentoeveryoneon website:www.hopeluth.com. Alinkforalltheseservicesisonthe On Sundays theservicesareat9and10:30a.m.

Inanyemergency,callthepastorat “ShareGod’sMission”page. churchservicesandthroughourwebsite’s Offeringstosupportourministrycanbemadeat amessageonthechurchansweringservice. a.m.-noonorbymakingarrangementsbyleaving food.Also,donationscanbemadefrom11

516-848-5386

ST.PAUL’SEVANGELICAL LUTHERANCHURCH 309PatchogueRoad PortJeffersonStation 631-473-2236

Serviceisalsoavailableonfacebookliveatthe wearamask. Ifyouarenotvaccinatedandboostedplease PleaseenterfromMapleAvenue Parkinglotisbehindthechurch. betweentheservices withAdultBibleStudybypastor 8:30and10:30ameachweek ServicesonSundaysareat facebook.com/stpaulselca www.StPaulsLCPJS.org pastor’scellphoneTextorvoice347-423-3623 e-mailpastorpauldowning@yahoo.com

providesfreemealsinourparkinglotat1:00pm WelcomeFriends FridayPrayerGroupat10:30liveandoverzoom at9:30amoverzoom WednesdayBibleStudy churchwebsitefrom8:30am

onTuesdaysandThursdays

Lutheran-LCMS

MESSIAHLUTHERANCHURCH 465PondPath,EastSetauket 631-751-1775www.messiahny.org PASTORNILSNIEMEIER ASSOCIATEPASTORSTEVEUNGER

SundayMorningWorship

8:30am&11:00am

SundaySchool

Adult&YouthBibleStudy

tocallthechurchtospeaktothem. OurPastorsareavailableandyouarewelcome at9:45am

MayGodkeepyousafeandshineHislightand

loveuponyou

Methodist

BETHELAFRICANMETHODIST EPISCOPALCHURCH 33ChristianAve/PO2117,E.Setauket 631-941-3581 REV.LISAWILLIAMSPASTOR

SundayWorship: 10:30Am

AdultSundaySchool9:30Am

SETAUKETUNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH

160MainStreet,Cornerof25Aand MainStreetEastSetauket631-941-4167

REV.STEVENKIM,PASTOR

journey,you’rewelcomehere! Nomatterwhoyouareorwhereyouareonlife’s meetsevery2ndTuesdayeachmonthat1pm MaryMarthaCircle(Women’sMinistry) HolyCommunion 1stSundayofMonth andlivestreamedonFacebook @www.setauketumc.org Servicesarestreamedonline Indoorat10am SundayWorshipService

Presbyterian

FIRSTPRESBYTERIANCHURCH OFPORTJEFFERSON

107South/MainStreets631-473-0147 Weareanacceptingandcaringpeople whoinviteyou

THEREV.DR.RICHARDGRAUGH Website:www.pjpres.org Email:office@pjpres.org toshareinthejourneyoffaithwithus

ThepurposeofFirstPresbyterianChurchofPort NYSCertifiedPreschoolandDaycare currentactivitiesandevents. Callthechurchofficeorvisitourwebsitefor andFridays3:30-5:00pm Wednesday5:00-6:00pm takeoutbasisbyWelcomeFriendson Hotmeals,groceries&clothingprovidedona HolyCommunion1stSundayoftheMonth BibleStudy: Tuesday2pmviaZoom SundayWorshipService-10am

despair;andtoseekjusticeforallGod’speople. comforttothoseinneedandhopetothosein visitorsandthecommunityatlarge;toprovide goodnewsofJesusChristwiththecongregation, Jeffersonis,withGod’shelp,tosharethejoy&

SETAUKETPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 5CarolineAvenue~OntheVillageGreen 631-941-4271 setauketpresbyterian@verizon.net

THEREV.DR.JOHANNAMcCUNE Allarewelcome! since1660 Celebrating&sharingtheloveofGod

LEADPASTORANDHEADOFSTAFF WAGNER

Ourserviceisavailablevialive-stream. Masksoptional Worshipwithusin-personSundaysat9:30AM COMMUNITYOUTREACHPASTOR THEREV.ASHLEYMcFAUL-ERWIN,

SetauketPresbyterianPreschool allringerswelcome YouthGroup&BellChoirChristianEd., Weeklysmallgroups,BibleStudy&Adult Sundaychildcareavailable&ChurchSchool, ourfaithcomealive. imageofGodandweactivelyengageinmaking WebelieveALLarecreatedinthe Matthew25congregation WeareaCovenantNetwork,MoreLight& Visitwww.setauketpresbyterian.org

FollowusonInstagram-spc_steeple Church,est1660 LikeusonFacebook-SetauketPresbyterian www.opendoorexchange.org furnitureministry OpenDoorExchange(ODE)www.setauketpreschool.org

Quaker

QUAKERRELIGIOUSSOCIETY OFFRIENDS

ConscienceBayMeeting 4FriendsWay,St.James11780 631-928-2768www.consciencebayquakers.org

WegatherinsilentworshipseekingGod,/the

andstewardship.In-personworshipblendedwith simplicity,peace,integrity,community,equality We’reguidedbytheQuakertestimoniesof InnerLight/Spirit.

virtualworship. Monthlydiscussions,Sept.June. Religiouseducationforchildren.

Seeourwebsite. Sept.-June,11a.m.;Allarewelcome.

Unitarian Universalist

UNITARIANUNIVERSALIST

FELLOWSHIPATSTONYBROOK

380NicollsRoad,EastSetauket 631-751-0297 uufsb.orgoffice@uufsb.org

PastorMadelynCampbell

Aspiritualhomeforindividuals,couples,and minister@uufsb.org

familiesofdiversereligiousandsocialbackgrounds.

SundayService: 10:30a.m. world. Aplacetonurtureyourspiritandhelphealour

6:30PM. PraiseChoirAndYouthChoir3rdAnd4thFri. GospelChoir: Tues.8Pm Wed.12Noon LectionaryReadingAndPrayer: onSundaymornings. Orvisitwww.uufsb.orgtojoinusvialivestream Protocolsforourlatestupdate. PleasevisitourwebsiteandclickonCovid

PLEASE CALL OR VISIT YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP’S WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE.

JAN. 12 TO JAN. 18,

SBU SPORTSWEEK

2022

TOMORROW IS FRIDAY – WEAR RED ON CAMPUS! STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY

Women's basketball five-game winning streak comes to an end at Drexel

The Stony Brook women's basketball team (9-6, 3-1 CAA) battled until the final whistle on Jan. 8, but ultimately fell to the Drexel Dragons (12-3, 4-0 CAA), 81-64, inside the Daskalakis Athletic Center in Philadelphia, PA. The result marked the end of the Seawolves' five-game winning streak and their three-game winning streak to begin their inaugural CAA slate.

Graduate guard Anastasia Warren and senior guard Gigi Gonzalez led the team with 18 and 13 points, respectively. Stony Brook was not able to fend off a Drexel attack that shot 32-of-58 from the field (55.2%), en route to the win.

Drexel jumped out to an early 18-9 lead midway through the first quarter as the team from Philadelphia made their first eight shots from the field. Stony Brook would tighten up on the defensive end and surrendered just two points in the final 4:27 of the first quarter.

Offensively, Gonzalez cashed in on her two free-throws and Warren made two deep three-pointers in the closing minutes of the frame to tie the game at 20-20 heading into the second quarter.

Seawolves

Games

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Jan. 12 vs. Drexel 7 p.m.

Jan. 19 vs. Northeastern 7 p.m.

Feb 2 vs. Elon 7 p.m.

Feb. 8 vs. Monmouth 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 11 vs. North Carolina AT&T 2 p.m.

Feb. 16 vs. William & Mary 7 p.m.

Feb. 18 vs. Hofstra 6:30 p.m.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Jan. 13 vs. Monmouth 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 vs. College of Charleston 6:30 p.m. Jan 29 vs. Towson 1 p.m.

Feb. 5 vs. Drexel 1 p.m.

Feb. 12 vs. Hofstra 1 p.m.

Feb. 24 vs. Hampton 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 26 vs. Delaware 2 p.m.

In the second quarter, the Dragons rallied and found their stroke, as Drexel outscored Stony Brook 27-8 after shooting 10-of-16 (62.5%) from the field to take a 47-28 lead heading into halftime. Despite trailing in the second half, the Seawolves were relentless on the defensive end and found their touch

on the offensive side in the fourth quarter. Stony Brook outscored Drexel 26-15 in the final frame, the 26 points were tied for the second-most that the Seawolves have scored in any quarter this season.

The Seawolves knocked down eightstraight shots to cut the deficit to 16

Men’s basketball falls to Towson

The Stony Brook men's basketball team (6-10, 2-1 CAA) hosted the Towson Tigers (10-6, 2-1 CAA) on Jan. 7 and fell, 67-55, at Island Federal Arena.

Towson, who was picked first in the 2022-23 CAA Preseason Coaches Poll, led for the majority of the contest as it was paced by four student-athletes scoring in double figures. The Seawolves battled tough as they kept the game within striking distance. Stony Brook trailed 30-22 at halftime and were able to keep it at around that mark for the duration of the second half.

With 17:44 remaining, graduate forward Frankie Policelli got inside the paint and fought through contact, draining a big bucket plus a foul to cut the Stony Brook deficit to single digits, 35-27.

With 11:48 to play, graduate center Keenan Fitzmorris drained a long three-

pointer to cut the deficit to 49-40. It was the fourth three-point make of the season for Fitzmorris.

The Tigers kept their pace throughout the rest of the second half and found themselves up 65-51 with under two minutes remaining. WIth 1:57 remaining in the contest, senior guard Tyler Stephenson-Moore stole the ball and dribbled down the floor in transition, which led to a massive lefthanded slam dunk.

Stephenson-Moore provided the late spark for the Seawolves, but Towson left Long Island with a 12-point win.

Next up, the team will host Drexel on Thursday, January 12, at 7 p.m. in a nationally televised game on CBS Sports Network. The game will be a 'Red Out' and the first 1,000 fans will receive a free Stony Brook Basketball t-shirt. Tickets are on sale now.

points with 6:07 left to play to begin the final frame. Leading the charge for the Seawolves was Warren collecting eight points, including back-to-back threepointers, and junior Kelis Corley forcing two steals that led to two buckets for the squad in the fourth.

Following a layup by sophomore forward Sherese Pittman, Stony Brook was able to cut Drexel's lead to 74-60 with 3:04 to play, but were unable to catch the Dragons, as the host came out on top, 81-64.

"I'm proud of our resilience after a tough second quarter. I thought we battled in the second half but ultimately Drexel was the better team today. We have to learn from today's game and keep growing," said head coach Ashley Langford.

The team will return to the court this Friday inside Island Federal Arena to take on Monmouth at 6:30 p.m. It marks the first time that the teams will go head-tohead since Dec. 21, 2013, when Stony Brook earned a 69-52 victory. The Seawolves hold a 3-2 record overall against the Hawks.

The game will broadcast live on SNY. Call 631-632-WOLF to purchase tickets.

Content for this page provided by Stony Brook University and printed as a service to our advertiser.

#14 Anastasia Warren during Sunday's game. Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

#14 Tyler Stephenson-Moore at Saturday's game. Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

paw prints

Welcome to the 13th edition of Paw Prints, a monthly column for animal lovers dedicated to helping shelter pets find their furever home!

SHELTER PETS OF THE MONTH

Meet Mia

Mia is a spayed female pit or mastiff mix currently up for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter. Short and stout and built for play, Mia loves to selfentertain, throwing her toys all over the place and making people smile. She also loves snuggle time, going for walks and giving kisses. This lovely dog is a volunteer favorite with her goofy personality and fun-loving attitude. Mia grew up as a yard dog making her very distrustful of strangers so she needs a home that can manager proper introductions to new people until she is comfortable. Once Mia accepts someone, it is forever. Call 631-360-7575 to set up a meet and greet.

Meet Konstantin

This handsome guy is Konstantin, a 5-year-old tabby cat at the Brookhaven Animal Shelter who is constantly purring and looking for love. Konstantin arrived at the shelter after being taken out of a bad situation for his own safety. He arrived flea infested and upon an examination with the doctor it was discovered that he has a heart murmur. An echocardiogram revealed that he has Tachycardia and now takes a 81mg aspirin once every three days. It was recommended that he have a follow up Echocardiogram in 9 months. He is doing fabulous and he is hoping to find his forever home very soon. Weighing in at 11.12 pounds, he up to date on vaccinations, micro-chipped and FELV/FIV negative. If you are in the market for a new furry family member, please consider opening your heart and home to Konstantin — you won't regret it! Call 631-451-8696.

Meet Suzzie

A self-proclaimed fan of “sweater weather," this stylishly outfitted young lady is Suzzie, a two-year-old Shih Tzu mix waiting at Little Shelter in Huntington for her furever home. With her charming disposition and adventuresome spirit, she would fit perfectly into any household, upping the happiness quotient. Kind, social and just the right amount of silly, this adorable girl is hoping to find her forever home, knowing she possess all the qualifications of a best friend. She is fully grown, housebroken and gets along with other dogs and cats. Suzzie may just be the reason that the Shih Tzu is one of America’s the most popular dogs. Find out for yourself…stop by to meet her today! Call 631-368-8770, ext. 21.

Meet Brie

"Sweet dreams are made of cheese, who am I to diss a Brie?" A five-year-old Labrador mix who gets along with other dogs and cats, this ‘grate’ful girl is hoping to find her forever home, ensuring a happy new beginning to 2023. Full of texture and complexity, she pairs perfectly with an active, adventurous family, and a Puppachino! Smart, affectionate, housebroken and a truly “Gouda” girl, stop by Little Shelter in Huntington soon to meet a smooth operator known as Brie! Call 631-368-8770, ext. 21.

Check out the next Paw Prints in the issue of Feb. 9.

Meet Fergie

"Dear Diary. Here are some words to help you on the journey of your life. You’ll need a hero. And a good dog. Especially a good dog." Meet Fergie, a gentle, well-mannered seven-year-old Pit mix and canine rock star up for adoption at Little Shelter in Huntington.! Hoping to find a home with her own spot on a comfy couch, limitless treats, and unconditional acceptance, this beauty promises everlasting friendship and devotion in return. The perfect partner for a leisurely stroll followed by popcorn and a movie, Fergie knows that the simple things in life are also the best. He is fully grown and housebroken and gets along well with other dogs and cats. Stop by Little Shelter and ask to meet an especially good dog…. Fergie will be leading the pack! Call 631368-8770, ext. 21.

Meet Babs

This is Babs, a stunning little lady who is spayed, up to date on vaccines, and ready to join a family that has a box for her to play with. Please consider coming down to Brookhaven Animal shelter and meeting this lovebug! No appointment necessary. Call 631-451-8696.

PROGRAMS

Fossil Finds

Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park presents a Tiny Tots program, Fossil Finds, on Jan. 12 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. This program will connect children and their parents with nature through short walks, animal visitors, and crafts. For ages 3 to 5. $4 per child. Register at www. eventbrite.com or call 269-5351.

Snow Globe Family Workshop

The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St.. Cold Spring Harbor presents a Snow Globe Family Workshop on Jan. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. Celebrate the wonder of arctic whales in this drop-in program. Use clay, glitter, and other materials to design and create a wintry whale scene inside of a shimmering snow globe. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Admission fee plus $10 per participant. Call 367-3418.

Lunar New Year Celebration

Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with a Lunar New Year Celebration at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport on Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon. Visit the wildlife dioramas, learn Chinese calligraphy, and make a decoration that will bring good luck all year. For grades 2 to 4. $20 per child. To register, visit www. vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Pizza and Puppets!

Join Celebrate St. James at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 Second St., St. James for a Kids Community class on Jan. 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Featuring Pizza by Tano making delicious pizza enjoy, learn about the history of pizza and then create a fun puppet to take home. $20 for child and parent, $10 each additional child or adult. Register at www.celebratestjames.org.

Storytime Under the Stars

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents its next Storytime Under the Stars on Jan. 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. A live narrator will read from winterthemed picture books, with pages projected onto the Planetarium dome for families to enjoy the illustrations and follow along. Between stories, an astronomy educator will explore seasonal constellations visible from here on Long Island. All children are invited to wear their comfiest pajamas and bring their favorite stuffed animals. Admission fee is $8 per person. Purchase tickets at www. vanderbiltmuseum.org.

THEATER

'The House That Jack Built'

Theatre Three, 412 Main St. Port Jefferson welcomes the New Year with The House That Jack Built, a delightful collection of stories, specially adapted for the youngest audiences from Jan. 21 to Feb. 4 with a sensory sensitive performance on Jan. 22. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm and Aesop's Fables, the seven stories include The Fisherman and His Wife, Henny Penny, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, The Bremen Town Musicians, Stubborn as a Mule, The Lion and the Mouse That Returned a Favor, and The Tortoise and the Hare. This original musical features bold storytelling and a tuneful new score. Tickets are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www. theatrethree.com.

'Beauty and the Beast Jr.'

The Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown kicks off the holiday season with Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr. from Nov. 19 to Jan. 22. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. All seats are $25. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.

Disney's 'Frozen Jr.'

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its children's theater with Disney's Frozen Jr. on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. from Feb. 4 to March 5. When faced with danger, princesses Anna and Elsa discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. This enchanting musical features all of the memorable songs from the hit Disney film and will thaw even the coldest heart! All seats are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www. engemantheater.com.

Love

Our cute, lovable and unusual pets are our pride and joy. We’ll feature our readers’ pet photos in the Leisure Section of all 6 weekly newspapers that cover Cold Spring Harbor to Wading River, plus online and social media. Email your pet photo to loveourphotos@tbrnewsmedia.com and put “Pet Photo” in the subject line plus pet’s name, your name and town by 5 pm on Feb. 3rd. To advertise in this special feature call your account representative at 631-751-7744 for details now!

BE

Smithtown Performing Arts Center presents 'Beauty and the Beast Jr.' through Jan. 22. Photo by Jackie St. Louis

Are Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia the Same Thing?

OUR EXPERTS ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS

What causes Alzheimer’s?

Dr. Palekar: While we still don’t know how the process begins, it appears that damage to the brain starts a decade or more before problems show up. During this period, while people may be free of symptoms, toxic changes are taking place in the brain. Abnormal deposits of proteins form throughout the brain, causing once-healthy neurons to begin working less efficiently. Over time, these neurons lose their ability to function and communicate with each other, and eventually they die. As Alzheimer’s progresses, the damage spreads to a nearby structure in the brain called the hippocampus, which is essential in forming memories. As more neurons die, affected brain regions begin to shrink. By the final stage of Alzheimer’s, damage is widespread, and brain tissue has shrunk significantly.

FREE SCREENING FOR 55+

If you are age 55+ and have concerns about possible decline in memory and/or other thinking skills, we are now offering free cognitive screenings. (631) 954-2323

and families with the opportunity to plan for the future. There are also programs that can support caregivers to help reduce their burden and stress.

Any advice on prevention?

Dementia is a term that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. It has been called one of the greatest global challenges for health and social care in the 21st century.

What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?

Dr. Palekar: Dementia itself is not a disease. It’s a symptom of an underlying brain disorder. There are many possible causes of dementia, some of which can be eliminated with proper diagnosis and treatment, particularly if the cause is found promptly. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases. It’s an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.

Is it a natural result of aging?

Dr. Christodoulou: No. Occasional mild memory loss may be a part of aging, but Alzheimer’s is not. However, the greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and most people with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older. About five percent of people with the disease have early onset, which often appears in one’s 40s or 50s.

What are the most common signs?

Dr. Christodoulou: Signs of Alzheimer’s can be more difficult to identify in this time of COVID-19 because the virus has disrupted routine and increased stress, which can cause cognitive problems. However, a common early sign is a loss of memory for new information that begins to disrupt daily life. Others include new problems in speaking and writing, confusion with time or space, or withdrawing from work or social activities.

Is there a cure?

Dr. Palekar: No, but early detection and treatment can help. Medications may slow the progression of symptoms, providing patients

Dr. Christodoulou: COVID-19 has complicated this as well, but perhaps it is a good time to start a healthy habit like walking, an excellent aerobic exercise that may lower Alzheimer’s risk. Exercise classes are also available online, as are educational resources to exercise your mind. Remaining socially active may also help, even if we must maintain physical distance. Other prevention tips include eating a heart healthy diet and reducing high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

What’s the Stony Brook difference?

Dr. Palekar: The Stony Brook Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease is supported by a grant from the NYS Department of Health. It’s one of only 10 such centers in the state and the only one serving Nassau and Suffolk counties. Our clinical specialists offer assessment and diagnostic services that include individualized care plans with treatment recommendations, referrals to services and community resources, outreach to primary care and other healthcare professionals, language assistance, and information about clinical trials at Stony Brook and elsewhere.

To make an appointment, call (631) 954-2323. ceadlongisland.org.

This article is intended to be general and/or educational in nature. Always consult your healthcare professional for help, diagnosis, guidance and treatment. Stony Brook University/SUNY is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educator and employer. 22120627H

Nikhil Palekar, MD Director, Geriatric Psychiatry Director, Stony Brook Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease

Christopher Christodoulou, PhD Clinical and Research Neuropsychologist, Stony Brook Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease