On December 5, a Good Samaritan brought a stray cat to the Brookhaven Town Animal Shelter and Adoption Center after caring and feeding her for the past three months. Upon examining “Mimi,” the Animal Shelter Veterinarian tech found she had a microchip that traced her back to a family in East Setauket. When they contacted the owners, they couldn’t believe what they heard since “Mimi” had been lost 10 years ago. The owners had looked everywhere for “Mimi” and they thought she was never to be found. They have since moved to Spain with their three other cats and are now arranging an animal transport company to fly “Mimi” back to Spain with them.
The Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center is celebrating the holiday season with its “Home for the Holidays” promotion, featuring free pet adoptions now through the month of December. Each adoption includes free neuter or spay, vaccinations, microchip, heartworm test, flea and other tests. The normal adoption fees are $137 for a dog and $140 for a cat. All adoptable pets are looking for a forever home this holiday season.
If you are interested in adopting a dog or cat, visit the Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center located at 300 Horseblock Road in Brookhaven. It is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm and Sunday from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm. For more information, visit the Town website or call 631-451-6950.
It’s been a while since I wrote, and I know you have a lot of last-minute requests at this time of year, so I’ll keep this short.
Kids around the world look to you as a role model for kindness and generosity. That must feel pretty good.
They also marvel at your round belly, claiming that it shakes when you laugh like a bowl full of jelly. Then, they literally feed that belly by setting out cookies and other sweets for you on Christmas Eve.
I have nothing against your round belly, but I’m concerned about the message it sends. We’re currently facing an epidemic of overweight kids and an ever-increasing number of children with type 2 diabetes. According to the CDC, the percentage of children in the U.S. between ages 10 and 19 with type 2 diabetes nearly doubled from 2001 to 2017. You, Santa, with your influence, can help reverse this trend.
Obesity has a much higher risk of shortening a person’s life span, not to mention affecting their quality of life. The most dangerous type of obesity is visceral adipose tissue, which means central belly fat. An easy way to tell if someone is too rotund is if their waistline, measured from the navel, is 40 inches or more for a man and 35 inches or more for a woman. Risks for pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer and heart disease increase dramatically with this increased fat.
Santa, here is your opportunity to lead by example (and, maybe by summer, to fit into those skinny jeans you hide in the back of your closet).
Think of the personal advantages of being trimmer. Your joints won’t ache with the winter cold, and you will have more energy. Plus, studies show that, with a diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables and whole grains, you can reverse clogged arteries and avoid strokes, heart attacks and peripheral vascular disease. With a simple change, like eating a handful of raw nuts a day, you can reduce your heart disease risk significantly.
Losing weight will also change your center of gravity, which will make it easier for you to keep your balance on those steep, icy rooftops.
Exercise will help as well. Maybe this Christmas Eve, you could walk or jog alongside the sleigh for the first continent or so. As you continue to exercise during the “offseason,” you’ll start to tighten your abs and slowly see fat disappear from your midsection.
This might make it easier to steal a base or two during the North Pole Athletic League’s Softball season. The elves don’t even bother holding you on base anymore, do they?
Of course, the cookies don’t help. You might let slip that the modern Santa enjoys fruits, especially berries, and veggies, with an emphasis on cruciferous veggies like broccoli florets dipped in humus, which have substantial antioxidant qualities and can help reverse disease. And, of course, skip putting candy in the stockings. No one needs more sugar, and I’m sure that, over the long night, it’s hard to resist sneaking a few pieces, yourself.
As for your loyal fans, you could place active games under the tree. You and your elves could create an app with workout videos for those of us who need them, and we could follow along as you showed us “12 Days of Workouts with Santa and Friends.” Who knows, you might become the next Shaun T!
You could gift athletic equipment, such as baseball gloves, footballs and basketballs, instead of video games. Or wearable devices that track step counts and bike routes. Or stuff gift certificates for dance lessons into people’s stockings.
As you become more active, you’ll find that you have more energy all year round, not just on Christmas Eve. If you start soon, Santa, maybe by next year, you’ll be able to park the sleigh farther away and skip from chimney to chimney.
The benefits of a healthier Santa will ripple across the world. Your reindeer won’t have to work so hard. You might fit extra presents in your sleigh. And Santa, you will be sending kids and adults the world over the right message about taking control of their health through nutrition and exercise. That’s the best gift you could give!
Wishing you good health in the coming year,
David
P.S. If you have a little extra room in your sleigh, I could use a new pair of batting gloves. I hear the Yankees need help, and I’ve been practicing, just in case.
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.
If you receive Social Security, you’ve probably already heard that your checks in 2023 will be bigger — considerably bigger, in fact. How can you make the best use of this extra money?
Here’s what’s happening: For 2023, there’s an 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security benefits — the largest increase in 40 years. Also, the monthly Medicare Part B premiums are declining next year, to $164.90/month from $170.10/month, which will also modestly boost Social Security checks for those enrolled in Part B, as these premiums are automatically deducted.
Of course, the sizable COLA is due to the high inflation of 2022, as the Social Security Administration uses a formula based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). So, it’s certainly possible that you will need some, or perhaps all, of your larger checks to pay for the increased cost of goods and services. But if your cash flow is already relatively strong, you might want to consider these suggestions for using your bigger checks:
Reduce withdrawals from your investment portfolio. When you’re retired, you will likely need to withdraw a certain amount from your portfolio each year to meet your expenses. A boost in your Social Security may enable you to withdraw less, at least for a year. This can be particularly advantageous when the markets are down, as you’d like to avoid, as much as possible, selling investments and withdrawing the money when investment prices are low. And the fewer investments you need to sell, the longer your portfolio may last during your retirement years.
Help build your cash reserves. When you’re retired, it’s a good idea to maintain about a year’s worth of the amount you’ll spend from your portfolio in cash, while also keeping three months’ of your spending needs in an emergency fund, with the money kept in a liquid, low-risk account. Your higher Social Security checks could help you build these cash reserves. (Also, it’s helpful to keep another three to five years’ worth of spending from your portfolio in short-term, fixed-income investments, which now, due to higher interest rates, offer better income opportunities.)
Contribute to a 529 plan. You could use some of your extra Social Security money to contribute to a tax-advantaged 529 education savings plan for your grandchildren or other family members.
Contribute to charitable organizations. You might want to use some of your Social Security money to expand your charitable giving. Your generosity will help worthy groups and possibly bring you some tax benefits, too.
While it’s nice to have these possible options in 2023, you can’t count on future COLA increases being as large. The jump in inflation in 2022 was due to several unusual factors, including pandemic-related government spending, supply shortages and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It’s quite possible, perhaps even likely, that inflation will subside in 2023, which, in turn, would mean a smaller COLA bump in 2024.
Nonetheless, while you might not want to include large annual COLA increases as part of your long-term financial strategy, you may well choose to take advantage, in some of the ways described above, of the bigger Social Security checks you’ll receive in 2023. When opportunity knocks, you may want to open the door.
Michael Christodoulou, ChFC®, AAMS®, CRPC®, CRPS® is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones in Stony Brook. Member SIPC.
This week’s shelter pet is handsome Doc who was found as a stray at the end of November and is nowdoing his residency at the Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter until he can move on to a permanent home.
Doc
At approximately 8 years old, this man has a purr that won’t quit and an appetite for love and affection. Doc is diabetic, so he will need a home that can manage insulin injections twice a day and vet visits twice a year. This cat loves all people and would be a great addition to any home. He is available for adoption or as a Forever Foster.
If you would like to meet Doc, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with him in a domestic setting.
The Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Visitor hours are currently Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only).
For more information, call 631-360-7575 or visit www.townofsmithtownanimalshelter.com.
The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook recently received two grant awards totaling $50,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the recovery of the nonprofit arts and culture sector. Following New York State’s historic investment for the arts, NYSCA has awarded $90 million since Spring 2022 to a record number of artists and organizations across the state.
The Jazz Loft has received a Regrowth and Capacity grant from the New York State Council on the Arts. This grant will support the organization’s performance schedule of more than 160 show each year, as the Loft continues its ongoing recovery from pandemic challenges.
Tom Manuel, president and founder of the Jazz Loft, said the funding will allow significant programming additions to the 2023-24 season and allow the Jazz Loft to highlight collaborations with music students in the Loft School of Jazz program as well.
NYSCA Chair Katherine Nicholls said, “On behalf of the entire Council, I congratulate the Jazz Loft on this grant award. Their creative work provides the benefits of the arts to both their community and all of New York. Arts organizations are essential, leading our tourism economy and fueling sectors such as hospitality, transit, and Main Streets across our state. “
“As a cultural capital of the world, New York State is strengthened by our expansive coverage of the arts across all 62 counties.This year’s historic commitment to the arts sector will spur our continuing recovery from the pandemic and set the course for a stronger future,” said Governor Kathy Hochul.
“We are immensely grateful to Governor Hochul and the Legislature for their unprecedented investment of $240 million to support arts organizations across the state. New York State arts organizations such as the Jazz Loft are the cornerstone of our vibrant arts economy. As crucial drivers of our health and vitality, we are grateful to the unwavering dedication of arts workers across the state,” added NYSCA Executive Director Mara Manus.
Whether it’s been a banner year or a tough one, having some fun to celebrate the new year is never a bad idea. If you’re looking for a unique way to spend New Year’s Eve, then consider grabbing your friends or family and heading over to one of several lighthearted comedy events in the area.
Theatre Three in Port Jefferson is hosting two comedy performances for their New Year’s Laughin’ Eve celebration: an early bird show at 6 p.m. and a prime time show at 8 p.m.
Now in its 14th year, the event is hosted by Paul Anthony of the Long Island Comedy Festival. “This night of comedy is something that people look forward to every year,” said Douglas Quattrock, artistic associate and director of development for Theatre Three. “We always make an effort to mix up the comedians that we feature so it’s always fresh for our audiences.”
This year’s national headliners include Rich Walker, Eric Tartaglione, and John Ziegler.
Beer, wine, soda and snacks will be available for purchase and are welcome in the theater during the show. Early bird tickets are $55 per person, while tickets to the prime show are $65 per person available for purchase at www.theatrethree.com or by calling 631-928-9100.
Over on the South Shore, the Argyle Theatre in Babylon Village will also team up with the Long Island Comedy Festival to offer two comedy shows at6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Featuring Bryan McKenna, Maria Walsh and a headline performance by Chris Roach, the Argyle shows promise to heat things up while having fun. Purchase tickets for $50 to $60 per person by visiting www.argyletheatre.com or call 631-230-3500.
Later that night, the Smithtown Performing Arts Center (SPAC) is hosting their own night of comedy in partnership with Governor’s Comedy Clubs starting at 10 p.m. Comedy has been a mainstay at SPAC on New Year’s Eve for more than 10 years now, with 2022 marking the end of a two-year hiatus during the pandemic.
“Everyone is just excited to get together and be entertained again, and we’re thrilled to provide the opportunity for some laughter,” said SPAC managing director Kelly Mucciolo. “We began working with Governor’s this past summer and it’s been a lot of fun for all of us.”
Headlining the SPAC show is Chris Monty of CBS’ “Kevin Can Wait,” along with featured act Tony Landolfi, guest performer Debbie D’Amore and emcee Mary Capone.
Tickets are $70 for SPAC members and $75 for general admission. The show includeshors d’oeuvres, an open bar of beer and wine, and a champagne toast at midnight. To purchase tickets visit www.smithtownpac.org.
Park poses for his portrait on Christmas, 2021. Photo by Barbara Anne Kirshner
By Barbara Anne Kirshner
I begin with a heartfelt thank you to all who have joined Park and me on our life’s journey through the pages of TBR News Media. Readers with whom I had the privilege to meet have shared how they enjoyed our stories, how they sympathized and even empathized with our bond.
It pains me to tell you that this is our final chapter.
Park crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Oct.26, at 16 years and almost 4 months. He valiantly fought for the past year and a half to stay with me even as his aged body was breaking. He fought against the paralysis that took over his hind legs last year keeping him down for four months.
But the resilient little man miraculously bounced back. At the point when I broached the subject of having a wheelchair made to fit Park, he started to push his hind legs up, to arch, then to straighten those legs and to my amazement, the day came when he walked on all fours again!
Life was beautiful with my Prince Charming Park by my side — until Aug.28. Park put his head down and when he raised it up again, he was blind. This blindness was proceeded by two weeks of noticeable head tremors which I reported to the vet who felt that at his advanced age, anything could happen.
We went to an ophthalmic dog specialist at VMCLI who, after giving Park a thorough examination, diagnosed that his blindness was not due to cataracts, but probably to a tumor pushing against his eyes. An MRI would corroborate this diagnosis, but I was cautioned of the danger of putting a dog of his advanced age under anesthetic. They could not guarantee he would survive the procedure. There was a very real chance that he might die on the operating table or have a negative reaction shortly after. The doctors at VMCLI were caring and understanding. Their advice was to hold Park close for whatever time we have left, but to put him through procedures that might reveal a tumor and then to follow that up with radiation was really too much for my little senior man.
I followed their advice. We went home and I held Park tight, praying for more time.
BUT that was not to be. He started stroking out, falling into a coma. The first time it happened, I revived him with an eyedropper of water, prying it into his mouth through clenched teeth. As he revived, I tried giving him a spoonful of canned dog food, but he turned away from it which was alarming given the never satiated appetite of a dachshund. That’s when I thought of his favorite treat, McNulty’s vanilla ice cream. It worked like a charm!! He sniffed the plate, then licked it clean. That restored enough energy so he could sit up on his own.
I laughed thinking McNulty’s needs to advertise “Our ice cream is not only scrumptious but it saves lives too!!”
This wasn’t the last of the strokes though. A few weeks later, another took him down and he fell into a coma again. Once again, through his clenched teeth I pushed water into his mouth with the eyedropper. When he started to come around, once again, he needed several scoops of vanilla ice cream to revive, but this time he remained extremely weak, unable to hold himself up with his front legs, the legs that had remained strong even when his hind legs were paralyzed. This episode proved so debilitating that his frail body couldn’t go on.
Park crossed the Rainbow Bridge as I kissed his sweet forehead and held him, talking him from this world into the next.
I am empty without my sweet boy, my loyal companion, my protector, my travel buddy, my everything.
I try to take solace in Brandon McMillan’s quote, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
I smile when I think of my boy which is every minute of every day — about our shared trips to Park’s Bench in Stony Brook Village, about all of our journeys, our fun, his antics done deliberately to make me smile and make me give him extra attention like his penchant to stand in the rain until sopping wet knowing full well that when he sauntered into the house I would be there to towel all that long, luxurious fur.
I smile to recall how Park, the Christmas Puppy, pranced into my life ignoring my concerns that three dogs were maybe three too many and I will feel blessed for the rest of my days that Park, the Angel Puppy, chose to share his life with me.
A resident of Miller Place, Barbara Anne Kirshner writes theater reviews for TBR News Media and is a freelance journalist, playwright and author of “Madison Weatherbee — The Different Dachshund.”
At this year’s holiday gatherings, you can put together a showstopping menu from the beginning of the party to the final bite with mouthwatering recipes that bring guests back for more. Start with some savory appetizers, enjoy an elegant main course with an award-winning side dish, and top it off with a sweet cocktail and delectable dessert.
Holiday Mini Meatball Skewers
Recipe courtesy of Beef Loving Texans
Holiday Mini Meatball Skewers
Makes 12 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound ground beef
1 cup fresh zucchini, grated
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 small yellow onion, diced 1/2 inch
2 red bell peppers, diced 1/2 inch
2 green bell peppers, diced 1/2 inch
12 skewers (6 inches)
1 can (16 ounces) whole berry cranberry sauce
3 tablespoons barbecue sauce
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400 F. In medium bowl, lightly mix ground beef, zucchini, egg, salt and pepper until thoroughly combined. Shape into 24 1-inch meatballs. Alternately thread meatballs, onions, red peppers and green peppers onto skewers. Place skewers on shallow-rimmed baking sheet. Bake 22-25 minutes, or until instant-read thermometer inserted into center of meatball registers 160 F.
To make cranberry barbecue sauce: In medium saucepan, combine cranberry sauce and barbecue sauce; simmer 5 minutes, or until flavors blend. Drizzle sauce over skewers or serve as dipping sauce.
Classic Beef Wellington
Recipe courtesy of Beef Loving Texans
Classic Beef Wellington
Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1 teaspoon olive oil, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided
1 chateaubriand tenderloin roast
8 ounces mushrooms
1 large shallot
2 tablespoons dry red wine
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
flour
1 sheet puff pastry
DIRECTIONS:
In large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1/2 teaspoon oil until hot. Combine salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Press evenly onto all surfaces of roast. Place roast in skillet; brown evenly. Remove roast from skillet. Heat oven to 425 F. In food processor, pulse mushrooms and shallot about 10 times until finely chopped. Do not overprocess. Place same skillet used for roast over medium-high heat and heat remaining oil until hot. Add mushrooms and shallot; cook 4-6 minutes until tender and all liquid is evaporated, stirring often. Add wine; cook 2-3 minutes until all liquid is evaporated. Stir in mustard, thyme and remaining pepper. Cook 2-3 minutes. Remove from skillet to medium bowl; cool.
Line rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and place in oven. On lightly floured cutting board, unfold pastry dough. Roll pastry out to 12-by-9-inch rectangle; lay dough with shortest edge toward you. Spread mushroom mixture onto pastry dough, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges. Place roast in center of mushrooms. Fold pastry dough neatly around roast, stretching dough if necessary. Cut off excess pastry dough; press to seal overlapping edges.
Remove baking sheet from oven and dust lightly with flour. Place pastry-wrapped roast, seam-side down, on baking sheet. Cut four (2-inch) vents in top of pastry. Bake 35-50 minutes, or until golden brown and instant-read thermometer inserted into center of roast registers 135 F for medium-rare or 150 F for medium. Transfer roast to carving board. Let stand 10 minutes. Temperature will rise about 10 F to reach 145 F for medium-rare or 160F for medium. Carve into slices and serve.
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Apple
Recipe courtesy of Susan McGreevy of Port Jefferson Station, who was recently awarded a blue ribbon for this side dish by Just a Pinch Recipes
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Apple
Makes 8 servings
“Not too many people like Brussels sprouts, but I happen to love them. I have made a believer out of them with this recipe. I always make it for special dinners.”
Recipe courtesy of the Beverage Team at Mirabelle Restaurant in Stony Brook
Espresso Martini
Makes 1 serving
INGREDIENTS:
1.5oz Titos Vodka
1.5 oz Black Coffee Liqueur
1 oz Fresh Espresso
1 oz Vanilla Simple Syrup
3 espresso coffee beans for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
Shake over ice and strain into martini glass.
Guy Reuge’s Ginger AlmondTart Mirabelle
Recipe courtesy of Chef Guy Reuge
Guy Reuge’s Ginger Almond Tart Mirabelle
Makes 8 servings
“This pie is part of the early history of Mirabelle. I created the recipe for our dessert list when the restaurant opened in 1983. The recipe has been printed many times, and still today my customers ask for it…so I keep it on the menu. Personally, I love it with a cup of great coffee; it just goes well together.”
Pâte sablée (pastry dough)
INGREDIENTS:
4 ounces confectioners’ sugar
8 ½ ounces all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
4 ½ ounces butter, chopped into small cubes
1 egg
DIRECTIONS:
In a the bowl of an electric mixer (such as a Kitchenaid) fitted with the paddle combine the confectioners’ sugar, flour, salt, butter, and egg. Form the dough into a ball and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour. Roll out the dough 1/8-inch thick to fit a 10-inch tart shell mold. Fit the dough into the tart mold and freeze it for 1 hour before baking. Bake the tart shell in a preheated 325 F. oven for 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and reserve it.
Ginger Almond Filling
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound light brown sugar
1 cup blanched sliced almonds
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 tablespoon grated fresh gingerroot
6 ounces unsalted butter
4 large egg yolks
confectioners’ sugar for dusting the top of the tart
unsweetened whipped cream
DIRECTIONS:
In a saucepan combine the brown sugar, almonds, cream, grated gingerroot, and butter, cook the mixture over moderate heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it is liquefied but not too hot. Rapidly stir in the egg yolks. Pour the mixture into the reserved tart shell and bake it in a preheated 240 F. oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until it is semi-firm and the top looks shiny. Remove the tart and let it cool for at least 3 hours before unmolding. Sprinkle the tart with the confectioners’ sugar and slice it into 8 pieces. Serve each slice with the unsweetened whipped cream.
CSHL’s David Spector (center) and postdoctoral fellows Rasmani Hazra on left and Gayan Balasooriya on right.
Photo courtesy of CSHL
By Daniel Dunaief
One came from India, the other from Sri Lanka. After they each earned their PhD’s, they arrived on Long Island within seven months of each other about seven years ago, joining a lab dedicated to studying and understanding cancer. Each of them, working on separate projects, made discoveries that may aid in the battle against heart disease.
Working for principal investigator David Spector at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, postdoctoral fellow Rasmani Hazra, who grew up in Burdwan, India, found a link between a gene that affects cancer in mice that also can lead to a problem with the development of heart valves.
Hazra worked with two long noncoding RNAs that are highly expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells, which have the ability to differentiate into many different types of cells.
Specifically, she found that mice that didn’t have Platr4 developed heart-related problems, particularly with their valves.
At the same time, postdoctoral fellow Gayan Balasooriya, who was born and raised in Sri Lanka, discovered that a single, non-sex gene is governed by different epigenetic mechanisms based on whether the gene is inherited from the mom or the dad.
While it was known that males are more susceptible to heart disease than females, researchers did not know which copy of the gene related to those diseases are expressed. This discovery could help in understanding the development of heart defects.
“Although we ended up at heart development” in both of these published studies, “we didn’t initiate” looking for heart-related information, said Spector. “The science led us there.
Spector, however, expects that the lessons learned about differentiation in the context of the developing heart can also “impact out knowledge about tumors” which he hopes will eventually lead to advances in how to treat them.
He added that any clinical benefit from this work would take additional research and time.
An on and off switch
In Hazra’s study, which was published in the journal Developmental Cell, she worked with Platr4 because humans have several possible orthologous genes.
When Platr4 expression, which shuts down after birth, is deleted from cells or embryos, the mice died from heart valve problems.
The human equivalent of Platr4 is located on chromosome 4. At this point, clinical case studies have connected the deletion of this chromosome to cardiac defects in humans.
Hazra said her project initially examined the function of these long non-coding sections of RNA. She was exploring how they affected differentiation. She found this link through in vitro studies and then confirmed the connection in live mice.
Spector explained that this work involved extensive collaborations with other researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, including teaming up with researchers who can do electrocardiograms on mice and who can assess blood flow.
A shared mouse imaging resource also helped advance this research.
“One of the advantages of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is that we have over 10 shared resources, each of which specializes in sophisticated technologies that scientists can use on their own projects,” he said. Each lab doesn’t have to learn and develop its own version of these skills.
Hazra plans to continue to study other long noncoding RNA. She is also working on glioblastoma, which is a form of brain cancer.
Hazra plans to start her own lab next fall, when she completes her postdoctoral research.
Inactive gene
Balasooriya, meanwhile, published his research in the journal Nature Communications.
He used RNA sequencing to identify numerous genes. He also looked at whether the RNAs originated from the mom or dad’s genes in individual cells.
Also planning to start his own lab next fall, Balasooriya found changes that alter gene expression between the alleles from the mother and the father experimentally and through data mining approaches.
“What was most surprising in my studies is that [he identified] the gene from the father’s side and the mother’s side are regulated in a different manner,” Balasooriya said. “I’m interested in following up on that finding.”
The next step for him is to look not only at the heart, but, more broadly, at how monoallelic gene expression changes the way regulators affect development and disease.
“I want to do a deep dive to find out the mechanisms” involved in this expression of a single copy of the gene, Balasooriya said, which could provide ways to understand how to control the process.
In the long run, this kind of research could provide insights into ways to treat heart disease as well as other diseases like cancer and immune diseases.
Growing up in the North Western Province in Sri Lanka, Balasooriya was interested in math and science. After he finished his bachelor’s degree in biology in Sri Lanka, he earned a master’s in molecular biology at the University of Hertfordshire in England. He “got so excited about biology and exploring new fields” that he decided to pursue his PhD at the University of Cambridge, England.
After college, he worked in computer science for a while and realized he was not passionate about it, which encouraged him to do his master’s. The experience in computer science helped him with bioinformatics.
As for Spector, he is pleased with the work of both of his postdoctoral researchers. “This is what being a principal investigator is all about, having young people join your lab, sitting down with them, discussing a potential project, not really knowing where it’s going to go,” he said.
He described both members of his team as “extremely successful” who were able to make discoveries that they shared in prestigious journals. Balasooriya and Hazra both laid the groundwork to go and start their own careers.
“Seeing the fruits of their work is the most rewarding experience” as the leader of a lab, Spector said.
The Girl Scouts Holiday Light Show at Smith Point County Park runs through Dec. 30.
Ongoing
Festival of Trees
Visit the Festival of Trees, a month long extravaganza to kick off the holiday shopping season, on the second floor of the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson Dec. 1 through Jan. 2, 2023 (except Dec. 25) from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Free. Call 473-4778.
Girl Scouts Holiday Light Show
Smith Point County Park, 1 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley will host the 19th annual Girl Scout Holiday Light Show daily from Nov. 26 to Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 24 and 25) from 5 to 9 p.m. The drive-thru event features more than a mile of illuminated holiday-themed displays. This year, the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County have added 5 exhibits that were conceptualized by local, award-winning Girl Scouts. $25 per car. Tickets can be purchased at the gate with a credit card or visit www.gssclightshow.com.
Thursday Dec. 22
Bright Lights at the Vanderbilt
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its third annual holiday event, Bright Lights: Celebrate the Season, from 5 to 8 p.m. Thousands of warm-white lights will create holiday magic inside and outside the Mansion and illuminate trees, wreaths, garlands, guest rooms, walkways, and the Vanderbilt Library. The event will include Candlelight Tours of the decorated Vanderbilt Mansion, visits with Santa and friends in his workshop, a children’s scavenger hunt, and a 15-minute Holiday Laser show in the Reichert Planetarium. Tickets are $25 adults, $15 children ages 12 and under at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
Riverhead Holiday Light Show
Splish Splash Water Park, 2549 Splish Splash Drive, Calverton hosts its 5th annual Riverhead Holiday Light Show through Dec. 31. The 25-minute drive-thru event features hundreds of dazzling, never-before-seen holiday themed displays, and music sync’d to lights. Hours are tonight from 5 to 10 p.m., Dec. 23 and 24 from 5 to 11 p.m., and Dec. 25 to 31 from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 per car. For more information, visit www.holidaylightshow.com or call 727-3600.
Live Nativity
One night only! Caroline Church of Brookhaven, One Dyke Road, Setauket will host a live nativity with animals at the Carriage Shed from 5 to 8 p.m. with hot beverages and Christmas carols. Free. All ages welcome. Call 941-4245 or visit www.carolinechurch.net.
Native American Drumming
All Souls Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook will host an evening of Native American Drumming Meditation from 7 to 8:45 p.m Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. Call 655-7798.
Jazz Christmas Party
The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook presents Nicole Zuraitis’ Jazz Christmas Party from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Grammy nominated vocalist Nicole Zuraitis appears backed by a big band ensemble to present classic holiday chestnuts. Tickets are $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children. To order, visit www.thejazzloft.org or call 751-1895.
Friday Dec. 23
Riverhead Holiday Light Show
See Dec. 22 listing.
Happy Holidays Concert
The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame, and Museum 97 Main St., Stony Brook presents its 1st annual Happy Holidays Afternoon Concert at 12:30 p.m. featuring performances by Rorie Kelly and Pete Mancini & The Hillside Airmen. (Gene Casey has canceled) The event is free with paid admission to the museum. For more information and for future events, visit www.limusichalloffame.org/museum/ or call 689-5888.
Winter Lantern Festival
The Smithtown Historical Society, 239 East Main St., Smithtown celebrates the holiday season with Suffolk County’s FIRST immersive Winter Lantern Festival tonight, Dec. 24 and 25 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 8, 2023. The walk-through holiday light show will feature lanterns and displays in the shape of flowers, mushrooms, farm animals, dinosaurs and many more, all handmade by artisans with decades of dedication to their craft. Tickets are $22 per person, $12 ages 3 to 12. To order, visit https://www.showclix.com/tickets/suffolk-winter-lantern-festival. Call 265-6768.
Saturday Dec. 24
Riverhead Holiday Light Show
See Dec. 22 listing.
Winter Lantern Festival
See Dec. 23 listing.
Sunday Dec. 25
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Riverhead Holiday Light Show
See Dec. 22 listing.
Winter Lantern Festival
See Dec. 23 listing.
Monday 26
Riverhead Holiday Light Show
See Dec. 22 listing.
Tuesday 27
Riverhead Holiday Light Show
See Dec. 22 listing.
Wednesday 28
Riverhead Holiday Light Show
See Dec. 22 listing.
Thursday 29
Riverhead Holiday Light Show
See Dec. 22 listing.
Whale Boat Chats
The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor kicks off itsnew monthly “Whale Boat Chats” surrounding the star of the museum’s permanent collection, the 19th century whaleboat Daisy, at noon and again at 1 p.m. These educator-led gallery talks around the whaleboat will share the story of whaling on Long Island and in Cold Spring Harbor specifically. Visitors will learn that people have been hunting whales here on Long Island for thousands of years. Free with admission to the museum of $6 adults, $5 children and seniors. Call 367-3418.
Theater
‘A Christmas Carol’
“I will honor Christmas in my heart…” Join Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson for its 38th annual production of A Christmas Carol in all of its thrills, music, joy, and spirit.from Nov. 12 to Dec. 30. Follow the miser Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey that teaches him the true meaning of Christmas — past, present and future. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘A Christmas Story’
The John W. Engeman Theater presents A Christmas Story, The Musical from Nov. 17 to Dec. 31. Nine-year-old Ralphie Parker only wants one thing for Christmas an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Rebuffed at every turn, Ralphie plots numerous schemes to achieve his desperate desire for the coveted BB gun. Based on the beloved movie, A Christmas Story, The Musical is the perfect holiday gift for the entire family! Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
‘Mostly True Things’
The Performing Arts Studio, 224 East Main St., Port Jefferson presents (Mostly) True Things on Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. Hosted by Jude Treder-Wolff, the show features 4 true stories but 3 of them include subtle little lies. In the second act, the audience questions the storytellers, then votes for the person they think told it straight. Winners get a tote bag, and the whole truth about each story is shared before the end of the evening. Tickets are $15 online at Eventbrite or $20 at the door (cash only). Visit www.mostlytruethings.com.
* All numbers are in (631) area code unless otherwise noted.
If you receive Social Security, you’ve probably already heard that your checks in 2023 will be bigger — considerably bigger, in fact. How can you make the best use of this extra money?
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