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Pixabay photo

By Nancy Burner, Esq.

Nancy Burner, Esq.

Although cryptocurrencies like bitcoin have gone mainstream, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) were relatively unknown until 2021. You may have heard about “Bored Apes,” “Crypto Kitties” or that artist Beeple sold an NFT for $69 million. If you do not exactly understand what an NFT is, you are not alone.

Unlike cash, which is interchangeable, non-fungible items are one of a kind. An NFT is a unique digital asset built on a blockchain that comes with the right to use it. An NFT can be a photograph, animation, graphic image, video, meme, tweet, or anything digital. The value of the NFT lies in its uniqueness, which is attributable to its traceability on the blockchain.

The easiest to understand use of NFTs is when they represent real-world assets or serve as certificates of authenticity. For example, Nike distributing an NFT with every sneaker to protect against counterfeiting. Owning a multi-million dollar digitally generated avatar is a bit harder to grasp. But 1 out of 10 Americans invested in NFTs in 2021, so even if the appeal escapes you, the concept of scarcity should be familiar.

What to do if your grandson gifts you an NFT for Christmas or grandma sends an NFT as a birthday present? Keep the password safe! NFTs reside in “digital” wallets, which are stored on a computer, flash drive, or an app on your phone. You must have the private key or seed phrase (at least 12 unrelated words) to access the wallet. This private phrase is the only way to retrieve the NFT.

Whether you buy the NFT or it is gifted, the basis in the asset is the purchase price. Just like stock or real estate, the basis (purchase price) is used to calculate the capital gain or loss for tax purposes when the item is sold. Likewise, the NFT gets a step up in basis to fair market value at the owner’s death.

NFTs pass like any other asset at death — if you can find them. Unless the private key is known, there is no way of accessing and gaining ownership. We recommend redundancy. Write the phrase down and store it some place safe, keep it in a password protected file on a computer and flash drive. Since there is no central repository to verify ownership of an NFT, we advise clients to make specific bequests of an NFT in their wills. Calling attention to it ensures that the Executor at least knows of its existence. Do not include the password of course, since a will becomes public after probate!

You can also hold an NFT in a Trust or Limited Liability Company (LLC). An NFT cannot be retitled in the name of a Trust — but you can transfer the NFT on paper, much like we do with stocks and LLC interests. Some practitioners champion using an LLC because it is easier to transfer compared to transferring the NFT on the blockchain. However, avoiding recording the transfer on the public ledger defeats the purpose of transparency and authenticity. There are other advantages to an LLC to consider, such as transfer tax discounts and asset protection.

The future use, value, and regulation of NFTs is unknowable. Perhaps one day your Last Will & Testament will be stored in a digital wallet. For now, just make sure to disclose NFTs to your estate planning attorney, so she can incorporate them into your estate plan.

Nancy Burner, Esq. is the founder and managing partner of Burner Law Group, P.C. focusing her practice areas on Estate Planning, Elder Law and Trusts and Estates. Burner Law Group P.C. serves clients from Manhattan to the east end of Long Island with offices located in East Setauket, Westhampton Beach, NYC and East Hampton.Visit www.burnerlaw.com.

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Cedar Beach waters in Mount Sinai run into the Long Island Sound. File photo by Elana Glowatz
Councilwoman Jane Bonner

Councilwoman Jane Bonner has announced the 2022 schedule of Spring Nature Programs at the Town of Brookhaven’s Cedar Beach, located on Harbor Beach Road in Mount Sinai. All programs are free, but registration is required. For more information or to register, e-mail Environmental Educator Nicole Pocchiare at [email protected]. Please provide your name, phone number, and the number of people and the ages of the children attending. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Programs will not run during inclement weather.

“Cedar Beach is one of the most beautiful locations in all of Brookhaven Town. It’s a wonderful place for children to get up close and personal with nature and the best way to do it is for them to participate in our Spring Nature programs. I encourage parents to enroll their children in the fun and educational seasonal programs offered free of charge by the Town of Brookhaven,” said Councilwoman Bonner.

The 2022 schedule of Summer Nature Programs are:

Gee Golly Geology March 26 at 2:00 pm Cedar Beach Nature Center We start our nature program series from the ground up. Join us for a geology lesson and guided walk of the peninsula. On this walking tour we will explore and observe the ever-changing topography that provides the foundation for distinct ecosystems and habitats of the beach and salt marsh.

Return to Nature Walk April 2 at 2:00 pm Cedar Beach Nature Center Please join us as we explore the unique ecology of the beach and salt marsh. We will learn about the different and overlapping ecosystems of flora and fauna, and the habitats that comprise this beautiful place. Please wear closed, comfortable shoes and bring binoculars if you have them.

Arbor Day Walk April 30 at 2:00 pm Cedar Beach Nature Center Come join us as we take a closer look at the trees that shape the landscape and support the ecosystem on this beautiful north shore peninsula. Bring binoculars to better see the birds and animals that live in or visit these trees.

Birding by the Beach April 9 at 2:00 pm Cedar Beach Nature Center

Long Island is a popular stop over and nesting area for many avian species. Join us as we observe and identify the birds that spend time on our coast. Please wear closed comfortable shoes, bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them.

International Migratory Bird Day May 14 at 2:00 pm Cedar Beach Nature Center Long Island is a popular stop over and nesting area for many avian species. Join us as we observe and identify the birds that spend time on our coast. Please wear closed comfortable shoes, bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them.

Every Day is Earth Day April 23 at 10:00 am or 2:00 pm Cedar Beach Nature Center Families are invited to celebrate Earth Day with their little ones. During the class we will discuss what kids can do to help save the planet, followed by some Earth Day fun, and a sneak peak of our Center. For kids ages 3-10.

Growing Up Wild May 21 at 10:00 am or 2:00 pm Cedar Beach Nature Center Parents and grandparents are invited to explore nature with their little ones. Each class will feature a nature topic, include a story telling, and may feature some live marine animals. For children ages 3-6.

Junior Environmental Stewards Ages 11+ Animal Tracks March 19 at 10:00 am Cedar Beach Nature Center Today’s goal will be to restore the animal tracks on the Nature Trail. This amazing educational component will teach visitors for years to come about the animals they can find here, and how to identify their tracks.

Native Plants April 16 at 2:00 pm Cedar Beach Nature Center During this lesson and activity, the stewards will learn about plants that are native to Long Island, how to care for them, and why planting native and encouraging our pollinators is so important.

Micro-Plastic & Data Collection May 7 at 2:00 pm Cedar Beach Nature Center
Our stewards will concentrate on finding and cataloguing tiny pieces of plastic hiding in the sands and seaweed of the beach. These microplastics are detrimental to all life in the water and on the shore. Not only are the stewards helping to remove these troubling plastics, but the data collected will go towards helping us understand more about the plastic bits that are plaguing our seas and shorelines.

For more information, call 631-451-TOWN.

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The following incidents have been reported by the Suffolk County Police:

Centereach

■ Walmart on Middle Country Road in Centereach reported a shoplifter on March 4. A man allegedly stole four car batteries with a total value of $325.

■ A resident on Chevy Drive in Centereach reported that someone entered their vehicle parked in the driveway on March 8 and stole an iPhone, Nintendo Switch games, gift cards, a pocketbook, and sunglasses. The items were valued over $500.

Commack

■ Walmart on Crooked Hill Road in Commack reported two shoplifters on March 10. A man and a woman allegedly stole 9 sets of LED lights worth about $170.

East Northport

■ A resident on Jameson Court in East Northport called the police on March 10 to report that cash had been removed from his unlocked vehicle which had been parked in the driveway.

■ A resident on Lilan Court in East Northport reported that his 2007 Lexus ES350 was stolen on March 10. The keys had been left in the unlocked vehicle which had a value of $7,000.

■ A resident on Honey Lane in East Northport reported that his rental car, a 2021 Nissan Sentra, was stolen from his driveway on March 10. A second set of keys may have been left inside the vehicle which was valued at $21,000.

■ A resident on Cori Lane in East Northport called the police to report that his unlocked car had been entered on March 10 and a wallet containing credit cards and gift cards had been removed.

Fort Salonga

■ A resident on Deauville Court in Fort Salonga called the police on March 7 to report that his 2011 BMW had been stolen the night before. The vehicle was valued at $10,000.

Hauppauge

■ A resident on Dewberry Place in Hauppauge reported that someone stole a pocketbook with cash, credit and debit cards from their vehicle on March 11.

■ A resident on Pine Hollow Road in Hauppauge called the police on March 9 to report that a man allegedly stole two Amazon packages from his doorstep. The incident was captured by the homeowner’s Ring security camera. The suspect fled in a waiting beige Toyota Camry. The merchandise was valued at $80.

■ A resident on Northfield Road in Hauppauge reported that a man allegedly stole an Amazon package from his doorstep on March 9. The incident was captured on video. The value of the merchandise was $60.

Huntington Station

■ Two men allegedly stole an electric bike, a Ninja Power Pitcher blender and four Old Spice from Target on East Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station on March 8. The merchandise was valued at approximately $640.

■ Victoria Secret at the Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station reported a shoplifter on March 10. A man allegedly stole 48 pairs of women’s underwear valued at $960.

■ Target on East Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station called the police on March 8 to report a petit larceny. A man entered the store with a blue bag, allegedly filled it up with seven prepaid cell phones worth $725, and walked out without paying.

■ Macy’s at the Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station reported a grand larceny on March 9. A man allegedly stole 19 handbags from a storage room in the store. The merchandise was valued at $8,550.

■ Target on East Jericho Turnpike In Huntington Station reported a shoplifter on March 9. A man allegedly stole two vacuum cleaners worth $596 and a Nespresso machine worth $380.

Kings Park

■ A resident on Hawthorne Avenue in Kings Park reported that someone broke into his vehicle on March 10 and stole assorted tools and equipment. The items were valued at approximately $2,000.

Lake Grove

■ Victoria Secret’s PINK store at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove reported a petit larceny on March 10. A man and two women entered the store, allegedly filled up a shopping bag with 10 articles of miscellaneous clothing worth approximately $1,000, and walked out without paying.

Miller Place

■ Vincenzo’s Pizzeria and Restaurant on Route 25A in Miller Place called the police to report a burglary on March 7. Someone threw a rock through the front glass door, entered the restaurant and stole cash from the register in the middle of the night.

■ A resident on Harrison Avenue in Miller Place reported that someone stole mail from their mailbox on March 3.

Port Jefferson

■ A resident on Hillcrest Avenue in Port Jefferson called the police on March 3 to report that a 7.2 FX Trek Bike had been stolen from his open garage. The bicycle was valued at approximately $600.

Port Jefferson Station

■ Seven copper wire rolls and two nail guns were stolen from a construction site at Brightview Senior Living on Route 112 in Port Jefferson Station on March 10. The items were valued at $3,200.

Rocky Point

■ A resident on Friendship Drive in Rocky Point reported that someone broke the passenger window of his vehicle parked in their driveway on March 7 and stole medical equipment and supplies worth approximately $500. The cost to fix the window was $200.

■ A resident on Dawn Road in Rocky Point called the police on March 7 to report that his vehicle had been broken into and assorted items were stolen. Entry was gained through the vehicle’s passenger window.

St. James

■ Sal’s Auto Body on Middle Country Road in St. James called the police on March 11 to report that 8 vehicles parked on the property were damaged, 5 windows were broken and 11 tires and rims were stolen. The damage was estimated at approximately $8,000. The stolen property was valued at $15,000.

Selden

■ Guitar Center on Middle Country Road in Selden reported that two men allegedly stole three Fender guitars from the store on March 4. The total value of the items was $3,430.

■ A resident on Farner Avenue in Selden called the police on March 10 to reported that a man stole packages containing men’s clothing from their doorstep. The incident was recorded on the homeowner’s Ring security camera. The merchandise was valued at $300.

■ Aldi on Middle Country Road in Selden reported a shoplifter on March 11. A woman allegedly stole six cases of Tide Pods and three bottles of Downy Unstopables. The merchandise was valued at $90.

Smithtown 

■ A resident on Flamingo Drive in Smithtown called the police on March 8 to report that someone had broken into his vehicle and removed two pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses valued at $240 and cash.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS.

— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

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The Town of Smithtown Youth and Community Alliance, Horizons Counseling & Education Center, and Youth Bureau are pleased to present a service workshop and focus group for all middle school students, high school students, and adults in the community. The purpose is to encourage local teens and adults to come together to find ways to strengthen and better our community. This free event will take place in the Smithtown Library Main Branch Meeting Room, located at 1 N. Country Road in Smithtown, on Thursday, March 24th, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

“Over the last two years, our community has experienced many challenges. The goal of this event is to get young people involved in civil engagement opportunities regarding the environment and substance use, as well as to find out what they think our community needs to thrive.” Kelly DeVito – Horizons Counseling and Education Center Youth Services Coordinator

This interactive event will feature several hands-on activities. Participants will plant seedlings that will be later transplanted into community areas for beatification; take part in a National Drug and Alcohol Facts week game; and give valuable input about the main concerns our community is facing, and brainstorm ways to address these concerns.

Registration is required in order to attend. Anyone interested can register on the Town of Smithtown website on the Horizons, Youth Bureau, and Youth and Community Alliance pages. Space is limited. Community service certificates will be given to participants.

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Jennie Melville. Photo from WMHO
Dorothy Melville. Photo from WMHO

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization will present a walking tour titled “Against the Grain” featuring newly uncovered stories of Stony Brook Village women on Thursday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m. and again at 3:30 p.m. 

Participants in the walking tour will enjoy at least six entirely new stories about the women of Stony Brook Village, spanning thousands of years. This includes indigenous women; the women of the Revolution; a few scandalous wills; the story of Jennie Melville and her role in the suffrage movement; Alida Emmet and the Center for Twilight Sleep; and Dorothy Melville, the Fairy Godmother of Stony Brook. 

Tours will leave from the Stony Brook Grist Mill at 100 Harbor Road at 10:30 a.m. and again at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person, and includes a dessert (with the purchase of an entrée) at Mirabelle Restaurant and Tavern. To reserve your spot, call 631-751-2244.

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Inflammatory responses are at the heart of allergy symptoms        

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

After last week’s extended blast of winter, we’re all looking forward to warmer weather. This past weekend, we adjusted our clocks for Daylight Saving Time, the unofficial end of winter. We’re just a few weeks out from tree buds and daffodil sprouts. What joy!

However, for people who suffer from seasonal allergic rhinitis, hay fever, seasonal allergies or whatever you would like to call it, life is about to get miserable.

Just over 19 million U.S. adults were diagnosed with seasonal allergies in 2018, and an additional 5.2 million children were diagnosed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1).

The triggers for seasonal allergies are diverse. They include pollen from leafy trees and shrubs, grass and flowering plants, as well as weeds, with the majority from ragweed (mostly in the fall) and fungus (summer and fall) (2).

What triggers allergic reactions? 

A chain reaction occurs in seasonal allergy sufferers. When foreign substances such as allergens (pollen, in this case) interact with immunoglobulin E (IgE), antibodies that are part of our immune system, they cause mast cells in the body’s tissues to degrade and release inflammatory mediators. These include histamines, leukotrienes and eosinophils in those who are susceptible. In other words, it is an allergic inflammatory response.

The revved up immune system then responds with sneezing; red, itchy and watery eyes; scratchy throat; congestion; sinus headaches; postnasal drip; runny nose; diminished taste and smell; and even coughing (3). Basically, it emulates a cold, but without the virus. If symptoms last more than 10 days and are recurrent, then it is more than likely you have allergies.

If allergic rhinitis is not properly treated, complications such as ear infections, sinusitis, irritated throat, insomnia, chronic fatigue, headaches and even asthma can result (4).

Treating allergies with medications

The best way to treat allergy attacks is to prevent them, but this can mean closing yourself out from the enjoyment of spring by literally closing the windows, using the air-conditioning, and using recycling vents in your car.

On the medication side, we have intranasal glucocorticoids (steroids), oral antihistamines, allergy shots, decongestants, antihistamine and decongestant eye drops, and leukotriene modifiers (second-line treatment only).

The guidelines for treating seasonal allergic rhinitis with medications suggest that intranasal corticosteroids (steroids) should be used when quality of life is affected. If there is itchiness and sneezing, then second-generation oral antihistamines may be appropriate (5). Two well-known inhaled steroids are Nasacort (triamcinolone) and Flonase (fluticasone propionate). While inhaled steroids are probably most effective in treating and preventing symptoms, they need to be used every day and do have side effects.

Oral antihistamines, on the other hand, can be taken on an as-needed basis. Second-generation antihistamines, such as loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec) and fexofenadine (Allegra), have less sleepiness as a side effect than first-generation antihistamines.

Possible alternative treatments

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus), an herb, has several small studies that indicate its efficacy in treating hay fever. In one randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 131 patients, results showed that butterbur was as effective as cetirizine (Zyrtec) in treating this disorder (6).

In another RCT, results showed that high doses of butterbur — 1 tablet given three times a day for two weeks — was significantly more effective than a placebo (7). Researchers used butterbur Ze339 (carbon dioxide extract from the leaves of Petasites hybridus L., 8 mg petasines per tablet) in the trial.

A post-marketing follow-up study of 580 patients showed that, with butterbur Ze339, symptoms improved in 90 percent of patients with allergic rhinitis over a two-week period (8). Gastrointestinal upset occurred as the most common side effect in 3.8 percent of the population.

The caveats to the use of butterbur are several. First, the studies were short in duration. Second, the leaf extract used in these studies was free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). This is very important, since PAs may not be safe. Third, the dose was well-measured, which may not be the case with over-the-counter extracts. Fourth, there are interactions with some prescription medications.

Can you treat allergies with diet?

While there are no significant studies on diet, there is one review of literature that suggests that a plant-based diet may reduce symptoms of allergies, specifically rhinoconjunctivitis, affecting the nose and eyes, as well as eczema and asthma. This is according to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood study in 13- to 14-year-old teens (9). In my clinical practice, I have seen patients who suffer from seasonal allergies improve and even reverse the course of allergies over time with a vegetable-rich, plant-based diet, possibly due to its anti-inflammatory effect.

While allergies can be miserable, there are a significant number of over-the-counter and prescription options to help reduce symptoms. Diet may play a role in the disease process by reducing inflammation, though there are no formal studies. There does seem to be promise with some herbs, especially butterbur. However, alternative supplements and herbs lack large, randomized clinical trials with long durations. Always consult your doctor before starting any supplements, herbs or over-the-counter medications.

References: 

(1) CDC.gov. (2) acaai.org/allergies/types/pollen-allergy. (3) J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Dec;112(6):1021-31.. (4) J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Jan;125(1):16-29.. (5) Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015 Feb;2:197-206. (6) BMJ 2002;324:144. (7) Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Dec;130(12):1381-6. (8) Adv Ther. Mar-Apr 2006;23(2):373-84. (9) Eur Respir J. 2001;17(3):436-443.

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. 

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Dr. Henry Tannous during surgery. Photo from SBU

By Daniel Dunaief

While she hasn’t resolved the debate about two approaches to a type of heart surgery, Laurie Shroyer, Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Surgery at Stony Brook University’s Renaissance School of Medicine, has contributed considerable information over a long period of time.

Laurie Shroyer. Photo from SBU

In a recent study released in JAMA Surgery, Shroyer, who is the principal investigator and co-PIs Fred Grover and Brack Hattler of the Rocky Mountain Regional Affairs Medical Center, revealed that coronary artery bypass grafting had similar post-surgical death rates for the veterans in their study whether the surgeon used a heart-lung machine, called “on pump,” or performed the surgery without the machine, called “off pump.”

Using long-term results from 2,203 mostly men at 18 VA Centers in the Department of Veterans Affairs Randomized On/Off Bypass (ROOBY) trial, Shroyer determined that the death rate at 10 years was 34.2 percent for off-pump, compared with 31.1 percent for on-pump.

Patients typically need bypass graft surgery when they have a narrowing of their coronary arteries, which comes from fatty material accumulating in the walls of the arteries. Doctors take a part of a healthy blood vessel from the leg, wrist or elsewhere and bypass the blockage, building a detour for the blood and enabling better circulation in the heart.

Using the “off pump” procedure means doctors operate on a heart that’s still pumping blood through the body. The “on pump” procedure uses a heart lung machine to pump blood while the heart remains still.

While the results of this study don’t end the debate over whether one procedure is superior to another, doctors welcomed the data as a well-researched and detailed analysis.

“There’s always going to be this ever-last question of whether off versus on pump bypass surgery is better,” said Dr. Henry Tannous, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. “There’s always going to be very little nuances with different patients that will make us pick one or the other.”

Dr. Tannous who has performed the majority of all bypass surgeries at Stony Brook over the last five years, said the hospital offers surgeries with and without the pump. SB has doctors who specialize in each kind of bypass in case of a change in the expected procedure.

Doctors typically get a clear sense of whether a patient might benefit from on or off pump procedures before starting surgeries. In the great majority of cases, doctors perform the surgery according to their pre-planned expectations for the use of the pump.

Rarely, they convert to the other procedure based on inter operative findings that dictate the switch, Dr. Tannous explained.

Dr. Jorge Balauger, Associate Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Director of Advanced Coronary Surgery, has performed 4,000 CABG procedures, including about 1,000 without the heart lung machine, or “off pump.”

In his considerable experience, he suggested that an 80-year old, who has renal or liver dysfunction and/or arteries in his or her neck that are partially blocked or had another type of comorbidity, such as something in the bone marrow, would not tolerate a heart lung machine well. A person with cirrhosis also would likely be better served with an off pump operation.

“Avoiding the heart lung machine on the older, sick patients is beneficial,” Dr. Balauger said, adding that he looks at the CABG procedure as being akin to a “tailor made suit” that has to fit the patient specifically.

In cases where patients need a second bypass procedure, Dr. Balauger also recommends off pump efforts because a second operation on pump is “way more complex” and requires “dissection of all the scar tissue around the heart, which makes it not only time consuming, but also risky.”

Dr. Henry Tannous. Photo from SBU

Dr. Tannous appreciates the perspective Shroyer brings to the discussion. “Sometimes, it’s an asset to have a researcher and statistician with a very scientifically oriented mind lead the study,” he said, adding that when surgeons meet with patients, they will discuss the use of the pump.

Dr. Baulager described the trial conducted by Shroyer as having an “excellent design” from a scientific standpoint.

He believed, however, that the study didn’t include surgeons who had sufficient expertise in off pump procedures. Dr. Baulager thought more experienced surgeons likely ensured better outcomes for off pump procedures.

One aspect of the study that was “refreshing” to Shroyer was how durable the surgical procedure is, with about 70 percent of patients who received this procedure, both on and off pump, still experiencing improvements in their pre-surgical chest pain symptoms after 10 years.

“We never expected the high proportion of patients would do so well longer term in terms of freedom from events, and in terms of symptoms,” she said. “The fact that the symptoms weren’t different between on and off pump is good news.”

After this type of study, Shroyer will work with several other trials to identify if certain sub-groups of high risk patients may have benefits from an off pump procedure.

To be sure, Shroyer cautioned that these results couldn’t be extrapolated to the general population, especially to women, as almost all of those the study followed were men.“Veterans are a unique population,” she said. “Many received cigarettes as part of their rations, and hypertension is quite high. They are a different population in terms of their [health care] complexities and their [underlying] illnesses.”

While the 10 year outcomes were similar, Shroyer found a shorter revascularization-free survival period among off pump patients. 

Dr. Tannous said this kind of study would generate considerable interest among cardiac surgeons.

“Everything [Shroyer] has written about bypass surgery from the ROOBY trials will catch any cardiac surgeon’s attention nationwide,” he said. “This paper is not any different. It has the extra long-term follow up that makes it more relevant.”

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Tom Manuel

By Tara Mae

After a two year COVID-19 induced hiatus, the Swing into Spring Jazz Festival makes a triumphant return from March 22 to March 27. 

A co-creation of Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn and The Jazz Loft founder Tom Manuel, the concert series, established in 2018, features local artists playing live music at multiple restaurants and shops in the Stony Brook and Setauket area. Performances will also take place at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts and The Jazz Loft. 

“Every year the festival has grown, which is a tribute to Kara supporting us and the community’s response. I get excited that it’s been growing and that this year the funding allows us to expand beyond Stony Brook Village into Setauket. We have three new businesses — Bliss, Mario’s, and Madiran The Wine Bar — as well as the Staller Center, which we haven’t included before,” said Manuel. 

Hahn and Manuel developed Swing into Spring as a way to promote local restaurants, give musicians opportunities, and attract both locals and tourists to the establishments, during the “slow season.” 

Supported by funding through the New York State Council on the Arts and a grant from Hahn’s office, the series is a mutually beneficial cooperation between local culture and local businesses, according to Hahn.

“I had grant funding from Suffolk County earmarked for cultural arts and the local economy. The Jazz Loft is a phenomenal destination for Stony Brook and Three Village, and the question was how to get people —  ­both tourists and locals — to visit our other businesses during the off season,” Hahn said. “We help fund the musicians so that they will play at the local businesses and attract patrons when people aren’t really coming out, on days of the week that are normally less busy.”

That funding enables steady gigs for musicians who generally have less work during the colder months, providing performance opportunities and income. Musicians such as Carl Safina and his Natural Causes Band, The Jazz Loft Trio, Mala Waldron, Rich Iacona, and Manuel will play at the businesses for a couple of hours. 

“We’re excited to be doing this again and to be employing artists who are still suffering from a lack of work. For those of us who rely on this for a paycheck 24/7, this is our slow season too. It’s hard, between the weather being poor, and people being spent from the holidays, January to March are the most difficult months to be employed. We try to hire individuals who are part of the community and perform at The Jazz Loft and throughout the Island during the summer,” Manuel said. 

Via personal and professional connections, Manuel unites the talent with the venues. Many of the people and places have been involved in the event during previous years. “I’ve had relationships with them for years, they were thrilled. The new participants are individuals and institutions I knew but had not collaborated with before,” Manuel said. “They were all aware of it and honored that we wanted them to be a part of it.”

It is this rapport that enabled Manuel to put together Swing into Spring’s culmination, a new conceptualization of American composer/arranger Oliver Nelson’s 1967 recording of The Kennedy Dream: A Musical Tribute to John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Inspired by Kennedy’s legacy of social conscience, scientific growth, and individual creativity, Nelson’s motivation and music are still relevant today, according to Manuel. 

“Dream addresses some of those issues Kennedy was trying to champion; there is still work to be done,” he added. 

A 38-piece jazz orchestra will give two performances: first at The Jazz Loft and then at the Staller Center the following night. It is a passion project many months in the making. “I reached out to the artists, we were all home due to COVID and everyone got on board; we have been working on it for over a year,” Manuel said.  

Drawing his own inspiration from Nelson’s work, Manuel organized the second act of the concerts to feature new original compositions by jazz musicians Ray Anderson, Jeff Lederer,  Peter Coco, Steve Salerno, Grammy nominee Dan Pugach, and Nelson’s son, Oliver Nelson, Jr., who is flying in from Indiana for the concerts. Manuel also contributed original work.

“These are reflections on our society and our world. Some reflect on COVID-19, some on social statements around Black Lives Matter, equality, and equity, ” Manuel said. “It’s very beautiful and fresh, very emotional. Both halves resonate and have a lot in common with each other. When composers’ emotions are expressed honestly and genuinely, music always communicates powerfully; any music of any style that moves us, speaks to us.”

This language of music is spoken through community support, and the co-founders of Swing into Spring agree that the Three Village area is a uniquely welcoming atmosphere. “It’s a breath of fresh air, and what our community does so well. I’ve performed all over the world and the Three Village community is unique in how it offers support,” said Manuel. 

Hahn views the event as an indication of neighborly investment in community and the future. “When we create partnerships, we can create ways to thrive. It depends on our sense of place.” 

Additional funding for the festival comes from Michael Ardolino, founder and owner of  Realty Connect USA, and Dan Oliveri, who sponsors a concert series at The Jazz Loft.

To learn more about Swing Into Spring, visit https://www.thejazzloft.org. Prices and COVID protocols vary based on location.

Schedule of events:

Tuesday, March 22

◆ Live jazz at Bliss, Mario’s and Sweet Mama’s from 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, March 23

◆ Jazz Improv Workshop & Jam at The Jazz Loft from 4 to 5:30 p.m. All ages and abilities welcome. $10

◆ Live jazz at Madiran The Wine Bar, The Three Village Inn, Sweet Mamas and The Country House from 6 to 8 p.m.

◆ Jam session at The Jazz Loft from 7 to 9:30 p.m. All ages and abilities welcome. $10 ($5 after 8 p.m.)

Thursday, March 24

◆ Jazz Duo at The Country House from 6 to 8 p.m.

◆ Interplay Jazz Orchestra at The Jazz Loft from 7 to 9:30 p.m. $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students,  $15 children ages 6 and up; children 5 and under free.

Friday, March 25

◆ Community Jazz Night at The Jazz Loft from 7 to 9:30 p.m. $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children ages 6 and up; children 5 and under free.

Saturday, March 26

◆ Live Jazz and $5 hot chocolate at Stony Brook Chocolate from 4 to 6 p.m.

◆ The Kennedy Dream Project at The Jazz Loft from 7 to 9:30 p.m. $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students,  $15 children ages 6 and up; children 5 and under free.

Sunday, March 27

◆ The Kennedy Dream Project at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts from 7 to 9:30 p.m. $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children ages 6 and up; children 5 and under free.

 

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METRO photo

By Michael Christodoulou

Michael Christodoulou
Michael Christodoulou

As an investor, your own decisions will be the biggest factor in your success. Nonetheless, you’ll always want to consider the potential power of external events. And today is no different — with the lingering effects of the pandemic, the geopolitical situation in Ukraine, the impact of inflation and the rise in interest rates, you might be grappling with feelings of uneasiness. How should you respond?

First of all, remember that the financial markets have shown great resilience through wars, recessions, natural disasters and political crises — events as serious as what’s going on now.

Nonetheless, you could still feel some discomfort when you’re bombarded by anxiety-producing news of the day. But you don’t have to go it alone. Many people have found support and guidance from a financial professional to be especially valuable in turbulent times. 

In fact, more than three-fourths of investors who work with a financial advisor are very or somewhat confident in their knowledge of the impact on the economy on their financial situations, according to a recent survey from Morning Consult, a research and data analysis company. By comparison, the same survey found that only about half of the adults in the general population have this degree of confidence.

Specifically, a financial professional can help you:

Reduce the tendency toward emotion-driven investing. It’s usually not a good idea to let emotions be a primary driver of your investment decisions. For example, if you let fear drive your choices, you could end up selling quality investments — ones that still have good prospects and are still suitable for your needs — when their prices have fallen, just to “cut losses.” A financial professional can help you make informed moves appropriate for your goals.

Put investment results in context. You may wonder why your investment portfolio’s performance doesn’t track that of a major index, such as the S&P 500. But if you maintain a diversified portfolio — and you should — you’ll own investments that fall outside any single index. So, instead of using an index as a benchmark, you should assess whether your portfolio’s performance is keeping you on track toward your individual goals. A financial professional can help you with this task and suggest appropriate changes if it appears you are falling behind.

Recognize investment trends and patterns. If you invest for several decades, you’ll likely see all kinds of event in the financial markets. You’ll see “corrections,” in which investment prices fall 10 percent or more in a short period of time, you’ll see “bear markets,” in which the downturn is even greater, and you’ll see bull markets, in which prices can rise, more or less steadily, for years at a time. A financial professional can help you recognize these trends and patterns — and this knowledge can make it much easier for you to maintain a long-term perspective, which lead to informed decision-making.

Gain feelings of control. Most important of all, a financial professional can enable you to gain a feeling of control over your future by helping you identify your important goals and recommending strategies for achieving them.

The world, and the financial markets, will always be full of events that can be unsettling to investors. But by getting the help you need, you can reduce the stress from your investment experience — and you’ll find it’s easier to keep moving in the direction you want to go.

Michael Christodoulou, ChFC®, AAMS®, CRPC®, CRPS® is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones in Stony Brook. Member SIPC.

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'The Automat.' Photo courtesy of PJDS

The Port Jefferson Documentary Spring Series continues on Monday, April 11 with a screening of “The Automat” at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson at 7 p.m.

Chock-full of rich archival footage of old Philadelphia and NYC, this everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-automats film is a lighthearted trip through the history of Horn & Hardart’s iconic and innovative eateries. Led by the irrepressible Mel Brooks, the film also features an impressive roster of celebrities (Colin Powell, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Carl Reiner, to name a few) waxing nostalgic on their experiences at the nickel-driven restaurants and their dreamy lemon meringue pie. Automats fed millions throughout the Depression and two World Wars, serving all comers in palaces of marble, silver, and steel.

Good food served cheap, and the enduring thrill of the automat machines themselves wins the Automat a place in our culture and hearts alike. More than just entertainment, THE AUTOMAT is a parable of how we once dined happily together before turning to the isolated and unhappy experience offered by fast food, a bad deal that no amount of advertising can disguise. Running time is 79 minutes.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Director Lisa Hurwitz moderated by Tom Needham, Host of The Sounds of Film at WUSB radio.

Tickets are $10 per person at the door or at www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com.

See a trailer of the video here.

 

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