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Monthly Archives: August 2016

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Ryan Wood, age 7, of Sayville gets a guitar lesson from SBU student Shari Cummings at the LIM's Family Fun Day on July 31. Photo by Heidi Sutton

Ryan Wood, age 7, of Sayville gets a guitar lesson from SBU student Shari Cummings at the LIM’s Family Fun Day on July 31. Photo by Heidi Sutton

The grounds of the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook were swarming with families last Sunday afternoon as the venue hosted a perennial favorite, Family Fun Day.

Children enjoy a concert with Aly Sunshine and Johnny Wheels of Funky Town Playground at Family Fun Day at the LIM
Children enjoy a concert with Aly Sunshine and Johnny Wheels of Funky Town Playground at Family Fun Day at the LIM

The free event, which was sponsored by Target, included 1960s-inspired crafts, a musical performance by Funky Town Playground, access to all the exhibits and outbuildings and refreshments.

The highlight of the day was a visit from the Stony Brook University’s Staller Center of the Art’s Instrument Petting Zoo. During this interactive presentation, students from SBU’s Music Department, which included Tommy Wu, Shari Cummings, Emily Sobel, Sean Silvestrone, Carina Canonico and David Gazaille, demonstrated many instruments including the flute, piccolo, violin, cello, bass, saxophone, guitar, chimes, slide whistle, rainstick, a kazoo and even a theremin.

Children were then given the chance to hold, touch and play many of the instruments and received a kazoo as a gift at the end of the performance to encourage continued music appreciation and participation.

“Family Fun Days are our chance to welcome our community for a free day to come and experience all that the LIM has to offer,” said Lisa Unander, director of education at the museum. “The Instrument Petting Zoo’s approach of introducing young children to musical instruments, through interactive games and humor, was the perfect connection to what families could experience in our galleries and grounds throughout the day.”

Catch the museum’s next Family Fun Day, complete with a Halloween theme, on Sunday, Oct. 30.

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Lemon Tea Bread

Lemon Tea Bread

Lemony herbs and lemon juice give this bread its flavor.

YIELD: Makes one loaf

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup milk

1 tablespoon finely chopped lemon balm

1 tablespoon finely chopped lemon thyme, and/or 1 tablespoon finely chopped lemon verbena

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons butter or margarine, at room temperature

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 tablespoons grated lemon zest

Juice of two lemons

Confectioners’ sugar

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 325 F. Butter a 9- by 5-inch 3-inch-deep pan. Heat milk gently with herbs, set aside and let cool. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Add the lemon zest. Gently fold in flour alternately with the herbed milk, until the batter is blended. Put the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry. Remove from pan onto wire rack that is set over waxed paper. Pour lemon glaze (juice of two lemons and 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar) over the still-hot bread. Garnish with some freshly grated zest.

Lavender Olive Oil Cake with Honeyed Ricotta

The lavender honey gives this cake a fresh, slightly floral aroma, but you can try using different types of honey in this recipe to subtly vary the flavor.

YIELD: 8 to 10 servings

INGREDIENTS:

Pillsbury Baking Spray with Flour

1 3/4 cups Pillsbury BEST All Purpose Flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon finely grated orange peel

1 tablespoon culinary lavender, crushed, plus additional 1 to 2 tablespoons for garnish

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2/3 cup plain yogurt

3 large eggs

2/3 cup Crisco Pure Olive Oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup heavy cream

3 tablespoons honey

3/4 cup ricotta cheese, at room temperature

DIRECTIONS: Heat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9- by 5-inch loaf pan generously with baking spray; set aside. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Whisk together sugar, orange peel, lavender and pepper in a large mixing bowl until evenly distributed. Add yogurt, eggs and olive oil; continue whisking until smooth. Whisk in vanilla. Add flour mixture and gently whisk in until just combined. Scrape batter into prepared pan. Bake 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely. Whip cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add honey and continue to whip until stiff. Add ricotta, a dollop at a time, and beat until fluffy. Slice cake. Top slices with honeyed ricotta cheese and sprinkle with lavender.

 

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No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Here are some delicious quick desserts when you just have a craving for something sweet.

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

YIELD: 16 bars

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup salted butter, melted

1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 8 full sheets)

1 cup powdered sugar

3/4 cup and 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (not natural style)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS: Line a 8-by-8 or 9-by-9 square baking pan with aluminum foil. Set aside. In a medium bowl, mix the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and powdered sugar together until combined. Stir in 3/4 cup of peanut butter. Spread into prepared baking pan. In a small bowl, microwave 2 tablespoons of peanut butter with the chocolate chips until melted. Stir until smooth. Spread over peanut butter layer. Chill until completely firm, at least 3 hours. Allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before cutting. Bars stay fresh for 5 to 7 days stored in the refrigerator. Serve chilled. (Setting them out for a few hours at room temperature for serving is OK.) Bars can be frozen up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Two Minute Apple Tart
Two Minute Apple Tart

Two-Minute Apple Tart

YIELD: Serves 8

INGREDIENTS:

1 refrigerated ready-to-use pie crust

1 pound apples, cored and sliced

2 tablespoons cold butter

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 425 F. Remove pie crust from refrigerator and warm to room temperature, about 15 to 20 minutes. Unroll crust and place it on large baking sheet. Arrange sliced apples on crust, leaving about two inches of space around edge. Chop cold butter into small bits and scatter over apples. Mix sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle over apples. Fold two-inch section of open pie crust over apples — this will not cover apples, but contain them inside crust. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until crust is golden brown and apples are just soft.

Easy Plum Tart
Easy Plum Tart

Easy Plum Tart

YIELD: Serves 10

INGREDIENTS:

¾ cup canned almond pastry filling

1 refrigerated premade pie crust

4 medium plums, sliced

DIRECTIONS: Spread canned almond pastry filling on pie crust (rolled out to 12 inches on parchment-paper-lined cookie sheet), leaving 2-inch border; top with plums, fold in edges, and bake at 400 F for 30 to 35 minutes or until crust is golden and filling is bubbling.

 

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Stony Brook University Hospital. File photo

By L. Reuven Pasternak, MD

How can you be sure you’ll get safe, quality care when you go to a hospital? You can consult any of the numerous rating systems created by the government, insurance companies, medical associations, registries, health care report cards, national magazines and patient evaluation websites. However, because there are no common guidelines for rating attributes like hospital quality or safety, it’s difficult to make apples-to-apples comparisons. The same hospital can be rated at the top by one agency and at the bottom by another.

When you’re searching for information, rely only on results from reputable, unbiased sources. And make sure the information is up-to-date. A ranking or a report card based on data that’s more than a year old may no longer be accurate.

With no single source of reliable, relatable information to evaluate health care providers, how can you uncover the facts you need?

Ask your primary care physician for a referral. Your doctor is very familiar with the quality of care that hospitals and specialists in your area provide. Talk to family and friends who’ve had firsthand experience. Ask nurses and doctors if they would send their relatives to that hospital or specialist.

Hospital and state health department websites provide statistics about procedures, results, specialists and facility certifications. Some hospitals also post information about the specialists who work there. If you’re having heart or orthopedic surgery, for example, get specifics about those procedures. Find out how often the surgeon and surgical team have done the procedure and what the nurse-to-patient ratio is, as well as the rate of readmissions and infections, in addition to other indicators of safety and quality.

And, find out what the hospital is doing to improve. Hospitals should always be looking to raise the bar, to pursue excellence. With our Patient Safety First program and other quality and safety initiatives, Stony Brook University Hospital has instituted rigorous systems to identify and prevent potential issues rather than react to them.

To enhance the patient experience, we have made and continue to make many improvements. For example, we’ve created “quiet times,” which involve shutting lights during specified times during the day, and we will also be offering noise reduction aids in the near future. To make the rooms more comfortable, we’re improving furnishings and creating a clutter-free environment. And, beyond the walls of our hospital, we’re taking steps to coordinate care among more than 500 countywide organizations to support health care providers and patients in achieving individual health goals.

Finally, don’t wait until an emergency happens to learn about health care facilities in your area. There is a lot of useful information available to help people make good choices, but it’s best accessed before you need it. At Stony Brook University Hospital, we want to answer all your questions — simply call our Department of Patient Advocacy at 631-444-2880 or visit www.stonybrookmedicine.edu.

Our goal is to exceed your expectations every time you turn to Stony Brook for your care — by delivering high quality, safe and compassionate care that supports your well-being every step of the way.

L. Reuven Pasternak, MD, is the CEO at Stony Brook University Hospital and vice president for health systems at Stony Brook Medicine

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By Bob Lipinski

‘Drink wine in winter for cold, and in summer for heat.’

— Henry G. Bohn 1796–1884, British publisher, ‘Handbook of Proverbs,’ 1855

For centuries wines have been bottled in glass containers (bottles) and enjoyed by millions of drinkers, novices and connoisseurs alike.

Over the past few decades, wineries have sought alternative containers for consumers to enjoy their red, white and rosé (blush) wines. Some of the ideas are: aluminum cans similar to a six-pack of beer, aluminum bottles, single servings of wine in a plastic glass, plastic wine bottles, bottles made from cardboard (plastic lined), Tetra Pak cartons (they house tomato sauce), AstraPouch (Capri Sun) ceramic bottles (Lancer’s Rosé) and yes even in a paint can!

By far, the best alternative package for wine is the “bag-in-the-box” or BiB for short. BiB packaging refers to a food-grade, plastic bag hidden inside a cardboard box fitted with a tap for serving and a handle for transport. The BiB was invented by U.S. chemist William R. Scholle in 1955 for the safe transportation and dispensing of battery acid. In 1965, the idea was patented and became the Wine Box thanks to Thomas Angove (1918–2010), a winemaker from Renmark, South Australia.

BiB comes in various sizes, including 1.5-liter (2 bottles), but the 3-, 4-, and 5-liter containers are the most common. It easily fits inside the refrigerator and is ideal for dispensing a single or multiple glasses of wine. BiB is ideal for the outdoor locations where glass may not be appropriate or accepted — swimming pools, outdoor concerts, picnics, barbecues, sporting events, parks and beaches.

Once opened, BiB can easily last several weeks before a replacement is needed. In years past, the quality of some offerings was low-end, appealing to the “jug drinkers.” However, the past few years has seen not only the quality dramatically improve but also the offerings. You can purchase cabernet sauvignon, merlot, Shiraz, Riesling and many others.

Two of my recent favorite brands are Archer Roose and Bota Box:

Archer Roose Sauvignon Blanc (3-liters) Central Valley, Chile: Aroma of stone fruit and kiwi is followed by a crisp, clean flavor of tropical fruit, and lemon, with hints of tartness.

Archer Roose Carmenère (3-liter) Maipo, Chile: Full bouquet and flavor of spicy plums, black raspberries, cherries and black pepper. Medium-bodied with subtle flavors of mint, herbs and dark chocolate.

Archer Roose Cabernet Sauvignon (3-liter) Maipo, Chile: Deeply colored with a bouquet and taste of black currants, blackberries and cherries. Medium-bodied with flavors of chocolate-cherry and spices.

Bota Box Chardonnay (3-liter) California: Bouquet and flavor of baked bread, pineapple and apples. Off-dry with just the right amount of citrus to keep it interesting.

Bota Box 2014 Sauvignon Blanc (3-liter) California: Aroma and flavor of melon, mint and orange blossoms. Light-bodied with plenty of flavor.

Bota Box 2014 Night Hawk Black (3-liter) California: Ruby-colored with a luscious bouquet and off-dry taste of blackberries, cherries and jam.

Bob Lipinski, a local author, has written 10 books, including “101: Everything You Need to Know About Vodka, Gin, Rum & Tequila” and “Italian Wine & Cheese Made Simple” (available on Amazon.com). He conducts training seminars on wine, spirits and food and is available for speaking engagements. He can be reached at www.boblipinski.com or [email protected].

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By Melissa Arnold

Every year at Christmastime, my friends and I get together for some holiday cheer and a game of White Elephant. If you’re not familiar with the concept, here’s how it works: Everyone brings a prewrapped gift to the party and draws a number from a hat that determines the order of play. When it’s your turn, you can choose to open one of the gifts in the pile or steal someone else’s opened gift.

Last year’s party had some hot commodities — the new Adele album, a chocolate gift basket, a Visa gift card — but none got the group more riled up than a coloring book and colored pencils. I’m not talking about a kiddy book, either. These drawings were incredibly intricate, featuring flowers, mandalas and other complex designs meant for adults.

The coloring trend has swept the nation over the past several years with no end in sight. Everyone from college students to seniors is clamoring to get their hands on something to color.

As for me, I had only one question: What’s the big deal?

Coloring books for adults have been around for decades in smaller quantities. The first of its kind likely emerged in the 1960s, when the “JFK Coloring Book” reached the top of the New York Times’ best-seller list. The modern craze is often attributed to British illustrator Johanna Basford, whose coloring book “Secret Garden” has sold millions of copies since its debut in 2013 and was translated into more than a dozen languages.

Adult Coloring ContestGetting together

Now, coloring books are flying off the shelves at craft stores, supermarkets and book shops. Several hotel chains offer coloring books to their guests to help them de-stress. For some people, there’s even a social component — coloring groups have cropped up all over the country as well as online.

Annina Wildermuth, a freelance illustrator, is the informal “coach” for one such group at the Huntington Public Library.

Library staff members approached Wildermuth, a frequent patron, about a year ago asking if she knew about the craze. They wondered about setting up regular opportunities for adults to color in a group setting. Wildermuth told them it was a fantastic idea.

“I had a Twitter list of people who enjoyed coloring, and there’s a publisher here on Long Island that has done very well producing adult coloring books, so I had no doubt it would be successful and people would come out.” And she was right. More than 30 people came to the first session, and while the group has slimmed down since then, she sees at least 10 adults at each bimonthly gathering.

“It’s really a very diverse group of people who come out for all kinds of reasons. We have younger and older people, and both men and women,” Wildermuth says. She always puts on relaxing instrumental music to color by. At some meetings, she’ll do a demonstration of different coloring techniques or supplies, while other meetings are self-directed.

Most attendees will bring their own projects and supplies to the meetings, but Wildermuth always provides plenty of options for newcomers or those who want to switch things up. She also noted that people love to bring friends and sit and chat while they color, to catch up on life.

Healing in color

The accessibility of art makes it beneficial for more than just stimulating creativity. That relaxed, peaceful feeling when you settle down to color is exactly what art therapists work to develop in their clients.

Ed Regensburg has always had a passion for the arts, creating his own artwork, working in schools and conducting market research in the field. More than 40 years ago, he began to explore the intersection of art, psychology and spirituality. Those questions led him to a lengthy career in art therapy, with a private practice in East Northport and several published books.

Art therapy involves more than just drawing pictures, Regensburg said. The certification process is rigorous, including a master’s degree, a board exam and licensing test with the state.

Therapy sessions usually involve a combination of traditional talk therapy and time in the studio creating and discussing art. The therapist will hold on to the client’s work to use in a future session if there’s a need. Regensburg’s clients can try drawing, painting and sculpture.

“Part of the human experience is being driven by unconscious feelings, emotions and perceptions. Art gives a person the ability to explore and release their emotions in a way that’s comfortable.”

Put simply, art can help all kinds of people share what they’re feeling when talking about it is difficult or even impossible. In Regensburg’s practice, art therapy is particularly effective with young children and nonverbal individuals, such as those with autism spectrum disorders.

“How do you talk to a four-year-old about losing her father? We talk using the language of imagery,” he explained. “Grief is a very complicated process that all human beings have major defenses against. Grieving healthily involves navigating through that. That’s why art therapy is so powerful … you can experience the relief and release you need while creating a drawing that reminds you of your loved one that we can talk about and use to help identify what you’re experiencing.”

Regensburg also stressed that effective art therapy should be tailored to each person’s needs and experience. Every client has a consultation before starting therapy to determine if they’re a good fit and what mediums will encourage recovery.

free-adult-coloring-page-foxPiece by piece

Deborah S. Derman admits she’s not exactly an artist. But she knows that art can work wonders for people in pain. Her own story is about as traumatic as it gets: Derman, who grew up in Rochester and now lives in Philadelphia, suffered her first loss at 27 when a dear friend committed suicide. It only got worse from there, Derman recalled.

“It was incredibly traumatic for me. When I moved to Philadelphia, my parents were flying down to take care of me and my newborn son, and their plane crashed in front of me. I also lost my husband of a sudden heart attack while I was pregnant with my third child. And when all of that passed, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

But despite it all, Derman was determined to work through the grief in a healthy way. That motivation led her to study bereavement academically and then open her own grief counseling practice. “One person’s experience isn’t everyone’s experience. Looking at things clinically enabled me to bring both academic research and my own personal experience to my work, which is invaluable,” she said.

Today, she is 11 years cancer-free, her children are grown, and her career has brought hope and healing to people from all backgrounds. With help from friends in the New York area, she even launched a support group for families of 9/11 victims from Staten Island in the months following the attacks. Many of those people are now among her closest friends, she said.

Her foray into art therapy was a very recent, happy accident. Like so many of us, Derman received an adult coloring book as a Christmas gift this past year. She didn’t understand the hype but found a comfy chair and decided to give it a chance. “I opened up the book and I admit that I was overwhelmed by how complex the pictures were. But I started working on it, coloring just one space at a time,” she said.

Then, suddenly, Derman had what she called a lightbulb moment: “I thought to myself, ‘This is how I got through (my grief)! — one thing at a time, not focusing on the whole page, the whole book, or my whole life.”

The epiphany sent Derman on a creative ride that hasn’t stopped. That same day, she wrote down 35 words that made her think of recovery. Then, she approached an illustrator friend, Lisa Powell Braun, and asked for her help designing coloring pages.

The finished product, “Colors of Loss and Healing: An Adult Coloring Book for Getting Through the Tough Times,” was published April 1 and features deeply personal drawings that bring Derman peace. In addition, each drawing has a corresponding journal page for writing about any feelings that arise. Plans for a second edition with more images and personal reflections are already in motion.

“When you go through a significant loss, one of the first things you experience is a loss of concentration, because all you can focus on is your anguish. Coloring gives people something relaxing to do that will also help restore focus. It’s deceptively simple,” she said. The book’s Facebook page has received messages from around the world from those who are benefiting from the images. coloring-adult-zentangle-squirrel-by-bimdeedee

A lasting trend

Wildermuth, Regensburg and Derman all agree that the success of adult coloring is bound to continue.

“We all know the adult coloring trend is here to stay,” Derman said. “When someone is stressed and they pick up a pencil and start to color, they start to relax. And it can be a private activity or a social experience. You can’t go wrong. The images are right there for you on any topic you can imagine. All you have to do is start. So what if you color outside the lines?”

Regensburg has a deeper theory for why adults are gravitating to coloring books: “People are responding to an over-digitized society. So much of what we do is digital and screen-based. They’re seeking a way to express themselves in a way that’s concrete and more real.”

And Wildermuth views the trend from an artist’s perspective, explaining that it gives everyone a chance to explore art in a “safe” way. “There’s something intimidating about a blank page, to come up with an idea from nothing,” she said. “But a coloring book gives you options. You can dive right in and not worry about whether or not you can draw. It’s accessible for all kinds of people.”

To learn more about Ed Regensburg and art therapy, visit his website at www.creativesanctuary.com or call 631-493-0933.

Deborah S. Derman’s book, “Colors of Loss and Healing: An Adult Coloring Book for Getting Through the Tough Times,” is available online at www.amazon.com. Learn more about her book by visiting www.deborahdermanphd.com, or search Colors of Loss and Healing on Facebook.

Get coloring!

Ready to try coloring for yourself? Grab a book at your local craft store and head to one of these upcoming events:

Setauket: Aug. 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St. Led by artist Pam Varacek, adults will receive 10 coloring pages and all supplies are provided. Preference is given to library cardholders, but all are welcome as space allows. Call 631­-941­-4080.

Huntington: Join artist Annina Wildermuth twice monthly at the Huntington Public Library, 338 Main St., for the Coloring for Grownups Club. Bring your own pages and supplies if you can. Snacks are encouraged. Preference is given to library cardholders, but all are welcome as space allows. The club will resume meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. beginning Sept. 15. Session dates will vary, so call for information: 631-­427-­5165.

Greenlawn: An adult coloring workshop meets Tuesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Harborfields Public Library, 31 Broadway. All are welcome. Info: 631­-757-­4200.

Port Jefferson Station: While not an official class, the Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, has a large coloring sheet and pencils set up for anyone to color. The shared project remains at the library, but feel free to stop by and work on a section. Questions, call 631-928-1212.

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Ready to celebrate, Joseph Wolkin (center in white shirt) and his group, Israel 2.0, went to the Western Wall for Shabbat services on Friday evening, dancing and singing before the Sabbath even began. Photo from Joseph Wolkin

Ready to celebrate, Joseph Wolkin (center in white shirt) and his group, Israel 2.0, went to the Western Wall for Shabbat services on Friday evening, dancing and singing before the Sabbath even began. Photo from Joseph Wolkin

By Joseph Wolkin

Embarking on our second week in what we call Eretz Yisrael, Israel 2.0 had a relaxing day in the Golan Heights before setting off for Jerusalem.

We started the day with a beautiful, calm hike in the Golan. Next, we journeyed to the Golan Heights Winery, where we went wine tasting and experienced the joy of the sweet grape flavors. While in the winery, we were able to get a tour of how the wine is made, processed and eventually sent out for shipping.

The highlight of that day was driving ATVs in the northern part of Israel. Our group split up between three and four people per ATV, roaring through the dirt roads. Some people were spontaneous enough to even jump inside a shallow river just off the path during one of our three stops, while others enjoyed some fresh watermelon from the ATV staff. But the craziest part of that journey might have been going full throttle into mud, destroying our clothes and needing a shower immediately after we got off the ATVs.

Once we arrived in what is considered to be Judaism’s holiest area, our group’s first task was to take a tour of the Western Wall – the Kotel in Hebrew. Walking to the Kotel, my heart paced rapidly, visiting one of the holiest sites in Judaism for the first time in a year.

Eventually, it was time to start learning at Aish HaTorah. With a series of four lectures throughout the day, our group learned about different levels of pleasure, understanding how much knowledge you truly have and the most intriguing part of the day’s classes, a presentation from ZAKA, a non-profit international rescue unit.

Yossi Fraenkel, an operation’s officer at ZAKA, gave an emotional hour-plus presentation about the unit’s rescue efforts. As he showed us crime scenes of terror attacks not only in Israel but also throughout the world, his voice cracked, showing how horrific things have been throughout his career.

The next day was full of lectures, discussing the difference between knowledge and faith, “The Seven Wonders of Jewish History,” hidden codes within the Torah and the belief of G-d’s role in the history of the universe.

During the evening, we set out for Ben Yehuda Street, one of the premier nightlife areas in all of Israel. It was the first time our group went to Ben Yehuda during the trip, and we made the most of it, going to different restaurants and exploring the bar scene.

The following day was quite the busy one. We had one-on-one learning in the yeshiva, followed by a discussion led by Stand with Us, an Israeli advocacy organization that works to help educate people in order to create peace in Israel. The discussion went on for quite awhile, with some heated debates about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as we learned about the heavy propaganda use by the Palestinian government, history of the land and other key facts.

A snake-shaped bomb shelter sits in the midst of a park in Sderot, one of the closest cities to the Gaza border. Photo from Joseph Wolkin
A snake-shaped bomb shelter sits in the midst of a park in Sderot, one of the closest cities to the Gaza border. Photo from Joseph Wolkin

Later that afternoon, we went to Sderot, one of the scarier areas of Israel. Seemingly always under the radar of being attacked by rockets from Gaza, there is a bomb shelter in a park in the shape of a snake where children can hide, along with each bus stop in the area being a bomb shelter. We went to a police station, in that park, and saw the types of missiles that are sent into the area, but fortunately seldom cause any major damage.

Finally, we got to ride camels at Kfar Hanokdim, a bedouin tent in the midst of the Judean desert. The camels might smell horrific, but hopping on top of them as the sun was setting was indeed on point. We spent the evening in the area, where we were able to see the Milky Way, full of shooting stars and the dim white light of the sky.

The next morning, we went straight to Yam HaMelach — the Dead Sea. Ouch. Don’t go in there if you have any cuts, especially open ones. It hurts just as much as people say it will. However, the beauty of the area is remarkable. And if you use TMobile like I do, you’ll probably receive a text saying, “Welcome to Jordan.”

That evening, Israel 2.0 was one of numerous groups from around the world to attend the Olami Mega Event, featuring Naftali Bennett, Israel’s minister of education. Dancing and singing with random people from around the world, I was astonished by how welcoming everyone was, from the soldiers to the rabbis and all of my peers.

Leading up to Shabbat, our Friday was spent at Yad Vashem — the Holocaust museum — and shopping at Machane Yehuda, an open market area within Jerusalem.

Come sunset, we journeyed back to the Kotel, singing and dancing for over an hour with two other groups from Olami to welcome in the Sabbath. After jumping around for Lecha Dodi, one of the main songs to begin Shabbat, I stopped to take a minute to embrace the beauty of everyone coming together. We didn’t care who had germs, where we were from or anything like that. All that mattered was we were Jewish and were becoming bigger believers by the second.

Oh, and that Saturday was my 21st birthday. The amount of kindness from my group on that day was absolutely astonishing. One of our staff members, Julia, organized an unbelievable night for me once Shabbat concluded.

We went to a beautiful restaurant in Jerusalem, where I was greeted with ice cream and had whipped cream thrown at me by my friends after we finished eating. The rest of the night is kind of a blur, but we went to a great bar, with plenty of my friends treating me to drinks because they were quite awesome.

The rest of the trip was spent doing some more one-on-one learning, along with a few group sessions. During this time, I studied Pirkei Avot, known as the Ethics of the Fathers. Delving into this new level of learning, something my rabbi has pushed me to do for quite some time, I began to realize something about myself: It takes true patience to learn about the major concepts of Judaism, and for me, this is just the start of something beautiful.

Sadly, our time with Israel 2.0 came to an end on July 13. As the plane launched off the ground at Ben Gurion Airport, one could not help but wonder when we will be back in the Holy Land.

Joseph Wolkin is a journalism major at Stony Brook University, a regular NASCAR reporter for multiple publications and an intern for Times Beacon Record Newspapers.

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Joseph Wolkin, second from right, during a visit to the Golan Winery in Golan Heights with his group, Israel 2.0, just before departing for Jerusalem. Photo from Joseph Wolkin

By Joseph Wolkin

The goose bumps were out and about among the 38 students traveling to the Holy Land at the end of June on Israel 2.0, a post-Birthright trip designed to give an additional learning experience throughout Israel.

Traveling to the only Jewish state in the world, our group was greeted by Rabbi Chaim Burg, a Mexican-born rabbi who now lives in Passaic, New Jersey, and leads the group. Throughout the 10-plus-hour flight, Rabbi Burg made sure to greet each individual. When he approached me, my first question was simple: How did you get this trip started?

The rabbi’s answer was quite intriguing. He teased about how he was not born in America but refused to delve into it until Shabbat — the holiest day of the week in Judaism, which includes not using electronic devices for those who strictly observe it. However, he spoke about how he used to lead Birthright trips and was inspired to start his own program.

Israel 2.0 is a 16-day trip run by Rabbi Burg. The program is quite different from Birthright, where the majority of that trip — one that is free — is spent on touring Israel. This one, however, had a mixture of touring, followed by approximately one week studying about Judaism at Aish HaTorah — a well-respected Yeshiva — in Jerusalem overlooking the Western Wall.

When we arrived in Israel, our first stop was Jaffa Port. The area is known as the location of Jonah’s battle with a whale, which swallowed the prophet for several days to save him from drowning after being thrown off a ship by sailors during a storm. Then, it was off to Tel Aviv.

Known as Startup City, Tel Aviv is home to some of the world’s most successful start-up companies. The area has blossomed over the years, featuring a plethora of high-tech companies throughout the city overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

In addition to Tel Aviv’s modern, secular culture, it is also known for its rather wild nightlife. Our group set out for a journey during our first evening in the area, a few hours after traveling to the beach to relax after a hectic day. We ended up at a bar in the midst of the city, being greeted by Israelis left and right, who welcomed us with open arms.

The next morning, it was time to volunteer at Save a Child’s Heart, an organization that provides heart surgery and follow-up care for children living in countries where having cardiac procedures is essentially unattainable. According to the foundation, a child is saved every 29 hours within Israeli facilities or on an Israeli medical mission in a partner country.

We spent a few hours at Save a Child’s Heart, learning about the process of how kids are selected to be flown to Israel and receive treatment. At the time we were visiting, the majority of the children were from Africa, but they also treat kids from the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Iraq, Morocco, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Americas.

I had the honor of spending time with a 13-year-old boy from Tanzania, who loves music. He took my iPhone and went straight to YouTube, searching for his favorite music. As his grin got larger, I realized just how fortunate we are to have such amazing doctors and how amazing these kids feel to know that their lives are being saved.

Later that day, we journeyed to the Center for the Deaf and Mute. The tour was quite intense, with no cell phones allowed and soundproof headphones covering everyone’s ears. Oh, and we weren’t allowed to talk because the tour guide was indeed deaf and wanted us to communicate only with our hands.

Our guide was all smiles throughout the dynamic, not once seeming upset about her disability. She showed us how she communicates with family and friends, providing an insight as to what it is like to be deaf, one that a non-hearing-impaired person can’t experience in everyday life. The experience was truly moving, especially in a question-and-answer session with the woman, who spoke through a sign language translator, elaborating on how she was born deaf and makes the most out of her life with no complaints.

Kayaking on the Jordan River the next day, my group was tossed into the river. The competitor in all of us truly came out, splashing each other and acting like 5-year-olds during our journey.

At night, we took at boat ride in Tiberius, otherwise known as the Sea of Galilee. The remarkable beauty of the mountains surrounding us, along with the crystal clear water, was outstanding, giving us a nice sense of calm while playing drums on the boat after quite the busy week.

Wrapping up the week, we spent Shabbat in the holy city of Tzfat. But before Shabbat began, we toured the area, learning about the roots of Kabbalah — the mystical part of Judaism.

Our group met an artist, Avraham Loewenthal, who spoke about how he went from living in Michigan to being a Kabbalist. His insight onto life was remarkable, seeing how thrilled he was to live in Tzfat and studying Kabbalah. As he put it, “the Kabbalah changed my life.”

Finally, the Sabbath arrived. The men were suited up and the women were dressed in traditional clothes as we walked down the road from our hotel to a Chabad in Tzfat. Singing Kabbalat Shabbat — the prayers to welcome in the Sabbath — in the melodies made famous by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach in the 20th century, our group was just one of several within the synagogue.

As we kicked back and enjoyed a traditional meal on Friday night, Rabbi Burg spoke about a key term known in Hebrew as “Shamor V’Zachor,” translated into English as “keep and remember.” He elaborated on the importance of remembering the Sabbath day, but to make a true effort to keeping Shabbat as the sages of Judaism teach us.

Throughout Shabbat, we mingled and sang songs. It was the first time on the trip we united as one. That day, we learned about the rabbi’s heritage, never expecting to hear he grew up in a non-Jewish home, though his mother was Jewish. Post-Shabbat, we journeyed back to Tiberius, going on the boat once again. As we danced and sang, as one person put it, “It was like our own little club.” Finally, we set off for Jerusalem …

(See Part Two of Joe’s journey to the Holy Land in next week’s issue.) Joseph Wolkin is a journalism major at Stony Brook University, a regular NASCAR reporter for multiple publications and an intern for Times Beacon Record Newspapers.

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Neil Watson. File photo by Katelyn Winter

By Katelyn Winter

When Neil Watson, the executive director of the Long Island Museum (LIM), sat down with me in his office for an interview, he warned me not to be alarmed if, during our session, people came up close to the window to take a photo with a tree covered in crocheted yarn. It is one of five trees in the Crocheted Tree Project, a current exhibition at the museum, and visitors love to take photos with the stunning pieces of art.

Watson, who began his career as a maker of art, loves the attention the trees are getting. Living and working in the heart of Stony Brook Village, his appreciation for art and eagerness to engage with the community has shone through since becoming executive director in 2013.

What do you like the most about working at the LIM?

There are so many aspects to what I do, which is the beauty of it, because I’m involved in curatorial, education, fundraising, the site itself and the community. So if I could take one of those things, it would be that as the director I get to work with the community and make this museum as vibrant and as relevant to here as possible. This job is so far from boring because there’s something new all the time.

What is the most popular exhibit at the LIM right now?

Having a show from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Common Ground: The Music Festival Experience) is terrific, because a lot of people can’t go to Cleveland, so to have that here is great and having it alongside the Long Island in the ‘60s exhibit that was curated by Joshua Ruff, our chief curator, there’s a connection to that. While they are two different exhibitions, they are speaking of culture in America, a lot of which overlaps with what was happening on Long Island in the ‘60s; it’s looking at the political, the economic and also art and design. Those two shows overlap as the ‘60s, and the culture and the counterculture of the ‘60s and music festivals, from those in the past to more contemporary.

What kinds of exhibits would you like to see the Long Island Museum present in the future?

Well, there’s the vehicles — we have the carriages and people have become so disengaged from the idea of carriages, while at the same time they’re completely engaged with their cars. This is the car that was available for them before cars. The way cars and carriages work is, to me, so similar, and what we like to do is we like to make that connectivity come to life. We have a long-term desire to create a new interactive space in the carriage exhibit, … a simulated ride in a carriage, so people could not just ask what it feels like to ride in one, but actually experience it. It would involve using technology in some capacity to create a virtual ride. It’ll connect people to our collection. We have the finest collection of carriages in America — it’s a major part of what people know about us. The carriages already have a certain draw to them, but to engage people even more is what we’d really like to do.

How have the LIM’s summer events been?

It’s been great, and we love to have events that tie into what we’re showing at the museum currently. On Aug. 7 we’re showing “Neil Young: Heart of Gold,” which is a documentary by Jonathan Demme on Neil Young. It’s such a great concert film. Andy Keir, the film editor, will be speaking about cutting that film at the showing. We also have a new bluegrass series, and there will be a concert for that on Aug. 12 [with Jeff Scroggins & Colorado]. I love having a variety of music series. People will come here for all kind of music who maybe haven’t been here before, and then want to come back and explore more. We are an art museum, but we are also a cultural hub: for music, for talks about books, for history — it’s very broad.

Do you have any hobbies?

If I do have a hobby, it’s cooking. I prepare all the meals for my family; I love to cook. I think it’s a great way of separating yourself from what you’ve done during the day, good, bad, whatever, it’s nice to focus on the task at hand. And feeding people is such a great thing to do; [whether it’s] feeding them knowledge, visual information, or food — I love it. Music is also always on in the house, and I play guitar. I still have the callused fingers; I started when I was 13, and I have the same guitar that I bought in 1974. Now it’s actually vintage, which is scary. I also love going to museums. My family and I just went to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art up in Amherst, and it’s a wonderful museum. We also went to the Emily Dickinson Museum, which is the house where she grew up.

What is your favorite thing to do in Stony Brook Village?

My family and I walk every morning. We walk in the village, because I live right here, right by the museum — when I say I’m here all the time, I’m really here all the time! Having the Long Island Sound here, I mean, the water is just such a gift. I also like to shop locally whenever I can. I love Pentimento; I love the wine shop, Lake Side Emotions & Spirits; Brew Cheese; my drycleaner’s. I try to support everyone as much as I can. So that’s what I like to do here — walk and shop. It’s a beautiful place to be.

Author Katelyn Winter is a rising junior at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., majoring in English and creative writing. She is from Stony Brook and hopes to one day work in the publishing industry.

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The types, quantity and quality of dietary fat all matter. Stock photo

Dietary fat is one of the most controversial and complicated topics in medicine. Experts have debated this topic for years, ever since we were told that a low-fat diet was important. There are enumerable questions, such as: Is a high-fat diet good for you? What about low-fat diets? If this is not enough, what type of fats should we be consuming?

There are multiple types of fats and multiple fat sources. For instance, there are saturated fats and unsaturated fats, which include monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. There are also trans fats, which are man-made. However, there are several things that we can agree on, like we need fat since the brain is made of at least 60 percent fat (1), and trans fats are downright dangerous. Trans fats are the Frankenstein of fats; anything created in a lab when it comes to fats is not a good thing.

How have we evolved in the fat wars? Originally we were told that a low-fat diet was beneficial for heart disease and weight loss (2). This started in the 1940s but gained traction in the 1960s. By the 1980s, everyone from physicians to the government to food manufacturers was exclaiming about a low-fat diet’s benefits for overall health. But did they go too far trying to make one size fit all? The answer is a resounding YES!!

There are only three macronutrients: fats, carbohydrates and protein. Declaring that one of the three needed to be reduced for everyone did not have the results we wanted or expected. Americans were getting fatter, not thinner, heart disease was not becoming rare, and we were not becoming healthier.

Some fats more equal than others

The biggest debate recently has been over the amount of fats and saturated fats. The most recent 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans do not limit the amount of fat, but do limit the amount of saturated fat to less than 10 percent of our diet (3). Does this apply to everyone? Not necessarily. Remember, it is very difficult to apply broad rules to the whole population.

However, the most recent research suggests that foods containing pure saturated fats are not useful, may be detrimental, and at best are neutral. Meanwhile, poly- and monounsaturated fats are potentially beneficial. You will want to read about the most recent study below.

Sources of fat

Pure saturated fats generally are found in animal products, specifically dairy and all meats. The exception is fish, which contains high levels of polyunsaturated fats. Interestingly, most foods that contain predominantly unsaturated fats have saturated fat as well, though the reverse is not typically true. There are also saturated plant oils, like coconut and palm. Processed foods also have saturated fats. Potentially beneficial polyunsaturated fats include fatty fish and some nuts, seeds and soybeans, while potentially beneficial monounsaturated fats are olive oil, avocados, peanut butter, some nuts and seeds (4). Let’s look at the research.

Saturated fat

takes a dive In the ongoing battle over saturated fats, the latest research suggests that it is harmful. In recent well-respected combined observational study (The Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professional Follow-up Study), results show that replacing just 5 percent of saturated fat with poly- or monounsaturated fats results in significant reductions in all-cause mortality, 27 and 13 percent, respectively (5). There were also significant reductions in neurodegenerative diseases, which include macular degeneration, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.

However, when reduced saturated fats were replaced with refined grains, there was no difference in mortality. There were over 126,000 participants with an approximate 30-year duration. Also, the highest quintile of poly- and monounsaturated fat intake compared to lowest showed reductions in mortality that were significant, 19 and 11 percent, respectively. Not surprisingly, trans fat increased the risk of mortality by 13 percent.

The polyunsaturated fats in this study included food such as fatty fish and walnuts, while the monounsaturated fats included foods such as avocado and olive oil. Eating fish had the modest reductions in mortality, 4 percent. The authors suggest replacing saturated fats with healthy poly- and monounsaturated fats that are mostly plant-based, but not with refined grains or trans fat.

Previous study showed neutrality

This was a meta-analysis (a group of 72 heterogeneous trials, some observational and others randomized controlled trials), with results showing that saturated fats were neither harmful nor beneficial, but rather neutral (6).

However, there were significant study weaknesses. The researchers may have used foods that include both saturated fats and unsaturated fats. This is not a pure saturated fat comparison. What did those who had less saturated fat eat instead — refined grains, maybe? Also, the results in the study’s abstract partially contradicted the results in the body of the study. Thus, I would pay a lot more attention to the above study than to this one. Again, though, even the best outcomes for saturated fats in this study did not provide a beneficial effect.

What about butter?

In a meta-analysis (group of nine observational studies), results showed that butter was neither beneficial nor harmful, but rather neutral in effect (7). Then is it okay to eat butter? Not so fast! Remember, the above study showed that saturated fat was potentially harmful, and butter is pure saturated animal fat. Also, there are study weaknesses. It is not clear what participants were eating in place of butter, possibly refined grains, which would obfuscate the potential harms. It was also unclear whether there were poly- and monounsaturated fats in the diet and what effect this might have on making butter look neutral.

Unearthing a saturated fat study

In a randomized controlled trial (Minnesota Coronary Experiment), this one from 1968 to 1973 and not fully analyzed until recently, results showed that polyunsaturated fat from corn oil, compared to a diet with higher saturated fat, reduced cholesterol level while increasing the risk of mortality (8).

The researchers expected the opposite result. Is this a paradox? Fortunately, no! Corn oil is used in processed foods and has a high amount of inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids that may negate the positive results of reducing cholesterol. Plus, the patients were only consuming the corn oil for a short 15-month period, which is unlikely to be long enough to show beneficial effects on mortality.

The bottom line is this: It’s not about low-fat diets! Saturated fats have not shown any benefits, and could be potentially harmful, but at best, they are neutral. However, foods that contain high amounts of poly- or monounsaturated fats that are mostly plant-based have shown significant benefit in reducing the risk of death and neurodegenerative diseases.

However, there are several caveats. Not all unsaturated fats are beneficial. For instance, some like corn oil may contain too many omega-6 fatty acids, which could contribute to inflammation. Also, replacing saturated fats with carbohydrates, especially refined grains, does not improve health. I told you fats are not easy to understand. It can be helpful to change our perception of fats: They are not “good and bad.” Instead, think of them as “useful and useless.” For our health, we should be focused on the “useful.”

References: (1) Acta Neurol Taiwan. 2009;18(4):231-241. (2) J Hist Med Allied Sci 2008;63(2):139-177. (3) health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015. (4) https://www.heart.org. (5) JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176(8):1134-1145. (6) Ann Intern Med. 2014;160(6):398-406. (7) PLoS ONE 11(6):e0158118. (8) BMJ 2016;353:i1246.

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

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