Arts & Entertainment

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.

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. 

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.”

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.

 

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.

'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.

 

Devin Sharkey. Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook baseball team was not able to get it done in its series finale, dropping the final match of a three-game set at Old Dominion in Norfolk, Virginia on March 13.

Stanton Leuthner and Derek Yalon each led the Seawolves with a pair of hits, with Yalon recording a pair of RBI, including a fourth-inning home run. David Alleva recorded his first collegiate RBI, lacing a double to right before Yalon’s run-scoring single gave Stony Brook an early advantage. Leuthner added a third-inning double to score Brett Paulsen in the third, then the Seawolves added two more in the fifth with a Cole Durkan RBI single and Stanton scoring on a wild pitch one batter later.

STATS AND NOTES

  • Leuthner has increased his on-base streak to 14 games to start the season after his 2-for-3 effort.
  • Yalon’s homer is also the first of his collegiate career, driving in RBI No. 20 in his third Stony Brook season.
  • Shane Paradine has recorded a hit in seven consecutive.
  • Stony Brook also worked a season-high seven walks.

UP NEXT
The Seawolves open a four-game homestand on March 23, taking on Iona with a 3 p.m. first pitch at Joe Nathan Field. Conference play begins on March 25 as UMass Lowell comes to town for a three-game set.

The Jazz Loft
The following events are scheduled at The Jazz Loft for April 2022.
Wed. 4/6     Young at Heart: Blame It On The Bossa Nova                               1 PM
The Jazz Loft Trio performs the popular Brazilian music in the afternoon concert series Young at Heart.
Tickets: $10
Wed. 4/6     Jazz Loft Trio and Jam Session                                                      7 PM
The Jazz Loft Trio performs at 7 PM followed by a jazz jam at 8 PM.
Tickets: $10 at 7 PM, $5 at 8 PM
Thu. 4/7      Jazz Loft Big Band                                                                           7 PM
The 17 member Jazz Loft Big Band led by Jazz Loft founder and trumpeter, Tom Manuel, performs jazz standards, original compositions and arrangements written by band members.
Tickets: $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children, children under 5 free
Fri.  4/8      Lew Tabackin-Randy Brecker Quartet                                               7 PM
The Quartet is led by jazz tenor saxophonist and flutist, Lew Tabackin and Grammy winning trumpeter and flugelhornist, Randy Brecker.
Tickets: $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children, children under 5 free
Sat.  4/9       Bakithi Kumalo South African All Stars                                            7 PM
Bakithi Kumalo is a South African bassist, composer and vocalist best known for his playing on Paul Simon’s Graceland recording.
Tickets: $30 adults,$25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children, children under 5 free
Tuesday 4/12    Amadis Dunkel DMA Recital                      7 PM
Amadis Dunkel, trombonist, is a graduate student in the Stony Brook University Music Department.
The concert is a recital for his DMA degree.
Tickets: Adults $10,  Seniors & Students $5, SBU Faculty and Staff Free with SBU ID
Wed. 4/13     Jazz Loft Trio and Jam                                                                    7 PM
The Jazz Loft Trio performs at 7 PM followed by a jazz jam at 8 PM.
Tickets: $10 at 7 PM, $5 at 8 PM
Tuesday 4/19    Eli Yamin DMA Recital                                7 PM
Eli Yamin is a pianist, composer, author and singer. He has performed as a jazz and blues ambassador in over 25 countries. The concert is his graduate recital for his DMA degree from Stony Brook University.
Tickets: Adults $10, Seniors & Students $5, SBU Faculty and Staff Free with SBU ID
Wed. 4/20     Jazz Loft Trio and Jam                                                                   7 PM
The Jazz Loft Trio performs at 7 PM followed by a jazz jam at 8 PM.
Tickets: $10 at 7 PM, $5 at 8 PM
Thu. 4/21       The Bad Little Big Band                                                                  7 PM
Pianist Rich Iacona leads the 12 member Bad Little Big Band in performing the music of the Great American Song Book. Vocalist Madeline Kole accompanies the band.
Tickets: $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children, children under 5 free
Sat. 4/23       Sivan Arbel Quartet                                                                         7 PM
Sivan Arbel is a critically acclaimed Israeli vocalist, composer, arranger and world wide performer.
Tickets: $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children, children under 5 free.
Wed.4/27     Jazz Loft Trio and Jazz Session                                                       7 PM
The Jazz Loft Trio performs at 7 PM followed by a jazz jam at 8 PM.
Tickets: $10 at 7 PM, $5 at 8 PM
Thu. 4/28     Interplay Jazz Orchestra                                                                   7 PM
The 17 member Interplay Jazz Orchestra plays original music and arrangements written by band members.
Tickets:$30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children, children under 5 free
The Jazz Loft is located at 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook Village, phone 631 751-1895.
Tickets can be purchased at www.thejazzloft.org and if available, before events at The Jazz Loft.

Stuffed Peppers

Recipe courtesy of Chef Anthony Serrano

INGREDIENTS:

Stuffed Peppers

6  bell peppers, halved lengthwise and deseeded

1  tablespoon avocado oil

1  teaspoon sea salt

16 ounces Fresh Cravings Chunky Style Salsa

2  cups riced cauliflower (fresh or frozen)

2  cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

2  pounds 80% lean ground beef, cooked, lightly seasoned and drained

1  bunch cilantro, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

Heat grill to medium-high heat. Brush both sides of bell peppers with avocado oil and season with salt. Grill peppers on each side 2-3 minutes, or until grill marks appear. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

Add salsa, riced cauliflower and 1 cup cheddar cheese to cooked ground beef. Stir and return to heat until cheese begins to melt.

Place bell peppers on sheet pan or casserole dish. Use large spoon to fill peppers with ground beef mixture. Top stuffed peppers with remaining cheese.

Return to grill and grill approximately 15-20 minutes, or until cheese begins to caramelize.

Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Garnish with cilantro.