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Yearly Archives: 2023

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Photo from Unsplash/David Close

It’s summer, that time of year when our residents can enjoy the full splendors of our incredible seashores. 

It’s an opportunity for us to soak up sunrays and cool off in the ocean. But when enjoying a summer’s day at the beach, we must be on guard for sharks, remembering to take the appropriate safety measures.

Scientists are seeing rising shark populations in the surrounding waters of Long Island. Healthier waters have allowed marine life to thrive. And sharks, at the peak of the aquatic food chain, play an essential role in stabilizing the ecosystem. Rising shark populations suggest our conservation efforts are going rewarded.

Consequently, interactions with these apex predators have become more commonplace. Already this summer, there have been five reported shark encounters in Suffolk County waters.

As the likelihood of making contact with a shark increases, we must begin to adapt our behaviors to meet the demands of the changing environment and keep ourselves safe.

While we cannot eliminate the threat of shark interactions altogether, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation outlines ways to reduce these risks.

NYSDEC advises against swimming in areas with seals, schools of fish, splashing fish or diving seabirds. Swimmers should avoid bathing at dusk, night or dawn, as these are peak feeding periods for sharks.

We should also refrain from swimming in murky waters, stay close to the shore and swim in groups. And we must always remember to swim in front of a lifeguard and listen closely to their instructions.

Although a classic, the 1975 film “Jaws” did a tremendous disservice to sharks’ reputations. These marine creatures play an important role in regulating marine life; they are not monsters and are unworthy of the ridicule cast upon them by popular culture.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration maintains that most sharks are not a danger to humans as we “are not part of their natural diet.” Still, when we enter their waters, we must play by their rules. 

A little precaution can go a long way. By taking a few positive steps and proactive measures, we can all enjoy this summer — humans and sharks both.

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Photo from Pixels

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

Picture a cup.

Better yet, picture 100 drinking vessels, all of different sizes, lined up next to each across a long table.

Now, on a cold day, when you’re not that thirsty but could use something to warm your hands, you might choose a mug that allows heat to bring comfort against a cold wind and frigid temperatures.

On a hot day, when you’re running, gardening or watching your child play yet another sporting event, you might choose an insulated cup that has plenty of ice cold water. That container also might have condensation on the outside, which could give your palms a respite from the pools of sweat clinging to them.

When you’re handing your two-year-old a cup filled with milk, soy milk, water or juice, the container likely has a lid and a drinking attachment.

These cups can all be different sizes and shapes, can serve various purposes and can hold different amounts of liquid.

Even before you touch one of them or take a sip, no matter how eager you are for the liquid inside, you can imagine the feel of the cup in your hand, and you can gauge just how much your mouth and body can expect. You’re likely to take small sips of a scalding cup of hot chocolate, while you might down eight ounces of iced cold water in a matter of seconds.

What would you do if you had a cup mismatch?

Let’s say you were incredibly thirsty after a long run on a mid-July day when you pushed yourself to go further or faster than you had in months. Instead of a tall glass filled with water or a water bottle, you take out a shot glass. The water might be just as cold, but the amount could leave you wanting more and disappointed, even before you lift that small glass to your lips.

At various points in life, the size of the glass (OK, now I’m speaking figuratively) from which we drink doesn’t align with our expectations or hopes.

We want a day, an interaction, or an outing that fills a large cup, and, yet, the lived experience falls short of our hopes.

As a barometer of our expectations, the cup, like the small shot glass filled with barely enough water to wet our parched lips, can feel like it’s too small, leaving us disappointed and thirsty.

As we go through life, we, our friends, and our family members experience times – after a storm, amid a physical or mental health crisis, after leaving a satisfying job, to name a few – when the size of the cup, as a measure of the expected dose of happiness, coherence, joy, or meaning, falls short.

Those tough times become disheartening. We might lose faith or feel slighted or cheated. We need more to fill our cup.

While we can seek to fill the largest cup around with successes, accomplishments, support, and affection, we can also rethink the container.

A small child pouring water into a Dixie cup, for example, might be incredibly successful if a few drops make it.

As adults, the juxtaposition of our daily expectations against our experiences can dictate our mood and reflect our evaluation of the quality of the day. When something happens that reduces the likelihood of our achieving or enjoying our lives, we can feel like we’re holding a frustratingly empty cup that we have little prospect of filling.

Instead of being disappointed, we might consider reaching for a different container. I’m not suggesting that we aim low or that we stop striving for personal achievement and growth.

A smaller cup, however, breaks the iconic model of the optimistic half-full cup or the pessimistic half-empty container. Instead, we can choose to fill a smaller cup.

Over time, we can increase the size of the cup, filling it each time until it runs over.

This process might restore our sense of accomplishment and help us appreciate what we have and not lament what’s missing.

As life changes, we can redefine what we need to feel fulfilled.

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Alexander Hamilton's statue in Central Park. Photo from Wikipedia

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief

“What if,” is always a tempting game to play with history. This week in July, thanks to what we learned from the play “Hamilton,” makes us wonder. 

What if Alexander Hamilton had not been fatally wounded on July 11, 1804? He died of his stomach wound the next day, yesterday, all those years ago.

He is reputed to have tossed away his shot, but Aaron Burr didn’t.

What if the two men, bitterly at odds over The Jefferson-Burr election for President in 1800, had never had a duel? Even though Hamilton was a member of the Federalist Party along with Burr, still Hamilton campaigned for Jefferson, a member of the Republican-Democratic Party, as having the better character.

What if Burr and Hamilton’s father-in-law, Philip Schuyler, had not opposed each other in the election for New York State Senate? Subsequently, would Hamilton still have said such derogatory things about Burr’s character that prompted Burr to challenge him to a duel?

Hamilton’s oldest son, Philip, was killed in a duel not long before, reportedly defending his father’s honor. Instead, he brought unimaginable grief to his parents. Hamilton is said to have thrown away his shot in turn because of the anguish caused by that killing. What if that great loss hadn’t happened? Would Hamilton have accepted Burr’s challenge, then deliberately missed? After all, Hamilton had been a highly decorated Major General, proficient in battle. He surely knew how to use a gun.

What if Hamilton had lived? After all, he was only in his 40s at the time of his death. Hamilton had been of enormous influence, first as an aide-to Camp for George Washington, then in writing most of the Federalist Papers and helping to get the Constitution passed, again as the United States first Secretary of the Treasury and setting up the national banking system that still exists today during Washington’s administration. (Perhaps less known, to get the Southern members of the Congress to vote “aye,” he agreed to their demand to move the Capital from Philadelphia to Washington, DC, a far easier destination for them.)

Hamilton is regarded today as a brilliant visionary and one of the most outstanding men of his century, at least according to the French diplomat Talleyrand in 1794. His life and thoughts have spanned three centuries. What more might he have given us had he lived?

What if?

His wife, Elizabeth, known as “Eliza,” lived to age 97 and is saluted for her remarkable contributions to the young nation.

Initially left with young children, a mortgage and bills, she was to additionally suffer the loss of her father, who had at the time of his death lost his fortune. 

With the help of friends, she was able to hold on to her home but eventually was forced to move her family to lower Manhattan from her 35-acre estate in Harlem. Her children were well-educated and went on to impressive careers.

Eliza became co-founder and director of New York City’s first private orphanage in the area now just south of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. She remained in that role for 27 years, during which time she oversaw 700 children. She also was a founder of the Orphan Asylum Society. Throughout her life, she remained sensitive to the plight and the needs of orphaned children, reflecting the world her husband had grown up in.

Eliza also was dedicated to preserving her husband’s writings and legacy, including the purchase of his work by Congress. This is how we know so much today about his life and thoughts. His writings are in the Library of Congress.

We might play, “What if,” at any turn in history, some of which could send shivers down our spines. This week, though, it seemed clearly Alexander Hamilton’s turn. He did much to create the world we live in today.

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DOG DAYS OF SUMMER The second annual Port Paws Dog Festival returns to Port Jefferson this weekend. Photo by Dianne Ferrer
Ongoing

Huntington Summer Arts Festival

Heckscher Park’s Chapin Rainbow Stage, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington hosts the Huntington Arts Council’s 58th annual Summer Arts Festival with music, theater and dance Wednesdays through Sundays from July 1 to 30. Free. Bring seating. For the full schedule, visit www.huntingtonarts.org. 631-271-8423

Thursday July 13

Summer SWAP Concert

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook continues its free “Summer Stage With a Purpose” (Summer SWAP) concerts on its front lawn from 6 to 8 p.m. with Nikos Chatzitsakos Big Band with Alexandria DeWalt on vocals. Guests may purchase refreshments in the Basie Garden beside the venue. Bring seating. 631-751-1895, www.thejazzloft.org

Author Talk at the LIM

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook will host an Author Talk with Art Shamsky from 6 to 8 p.m. Join the former NY Met and 1969 World Series Champion for a talk and signing of his 2019 New York Times best selling book, After the Miracle: The Lasting Brotherhood of the ’69 Mets. This event is free but registration is preferred at www.longislandmuseum.org. 631-751-0066.

Art History Lecture

The Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook hosts a free art history lecture with award winning artist and Art History enthusiast, Kevin McEvoy from 6:30 to 8 p.m. McEvoy will discuss Brunelleschi and the creation of Duomo. Light snacks will be served for your enjoyment. No reservations required. 631-751-7707

Music Behind the Barn

Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead hosts a free outdoor concert featuring the Yazoo Brothers at the historic Naugles Barn from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy the music and the beautiful North Fork sunset over the farm fields. Guests are encouraged to bring their own picnics, blankets, and chairs to set out on the field. No registration required. 631-298-5292

Northport Fireman’s Fair

The Northport Volunteer Fire Department will hold their 97th annual Firemen’s Fair today through July 15 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the fire department grounds on Steers Ave, off of Ocean Ave in Northport. The six day event will feature carnival rides by Blue Sky Amusements, festival food, games and more. 631-261-7504

Dennis Cannataro Concert Series

The Dennis Cannataro Family Summer Concert Series returns to the Smithtown Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown with a concert by Any Way You Want It tonight at 7:30 p.m. with a preshow at 7 p.m. Bring seating. 631-360-2480 ext. 150

Harborside Concerts

The Village of Port Jefferson continues its annual Harborside concerts at the Show Mobile at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson on Thursdays at 7 p.m. with a performance by the Bangos. Bring seating. 631-473-4724

Northport Community Band

The Northport Community Band will host a concert at the Robert W. Krueger Bandshell in Northport Village Park tonight, July 20 and July 27 starting at 8:30 p.m. Bring seating. Rain location is Northport High School. www.ncb59.org

Friday July 14

Northport Fireman’s Fair

See July 13 listing.

Happenings on Main Street

Northport Arts Coalition continues its Happenings on Main Street series, free concerts at the Northport Village Park Gazebo at the harbor at 7 p.m., with a performance by Christine Sweeney & The Dirty Stayouts. Bring seating. 631-261-1872, www.northportarts.org

An Evening of Opera

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 109 Browns Road, Huntington welcomes Opera Night Long Island for a concert featuring arias from popular operas at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will follow. $10 donation, students free. 631-261-8808

Psychic Medium Robert Hansen

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson welcomes Psychic Medium Robert Hansen to the Main Stage at 8 p.m. Hansen will share with the audiences his psychic gifts of communication with loved ones that have crossed over to the other side. Messages of love will be randomly demonstrated to the audience and sensitively shared. Tickets are $49. 631-928-9100, www.theatrethree.com

Travel Back to the 80s Experience

Join the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown for a Travel Back To The 80s Experience at 8 p.m. Immerse yourself in the fun, the fashion, and the sounds of the 80s! Meet familiar characters and personalities while being thrown back in time to a story straight out of the 80s, all set to the tunes you know and love. Arrive dressed up to enjoy yourself to the max! Featuring a live performance by Guilty Pleasures. All ages are welcome. Tickets are $35 (each ticket includes one drink from the bar). Call 1-800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org to order.

Saturday July 15

Northport Fireman’s Fair

See July 13 listing.

Summer Craft Fair

Time to shop! Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 716 Route 25A, Rocky Point will hold a Summer Craft Fair today from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and July 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The indoor event will feature handmade crafts, unique gift items and home and holiday decor. 631-924-8143

Port Paws Dog Festival

Come see dogs fly as the second annual Port Paws Dog Festival heads to the Joe Erland Baseball Field, Caroline Ave., Port Jefferson today and July 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The two-day festival will feature a Dock Dogs® aquatic competition, canine vendors, food trucks, activities, live music and more. Tickets are $12 per adult at www.portpawsdogfest.com, kids under 12 and canines are free. Questions? Text 516-939-8960.

Sunflower Festival

Lenny Bruno Farms, 740 Wading River Road, Manorville hosts a Sunflower Festival today and July 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission to the festival area is $10 per person, children ages 2 and under free, and includes live music, strolls through a sea of sunflowers, 5 oz. tasting, vendors, toddler play area, petting zoo, jumbo garden games, unique photo opportunities, food trucks, artisan vendors, face painting, other children and teen activity vendors, hayrides, u-pick, and jumbo garden games. 631-591-3592.

Sherwood-Jayne House Tour

Preservation Long Island will host tours of the Sherwood-Jayne House (c. 1730), 55 Old Post Road, Setauket at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. with a self-guided tour at noon. The house contains period furnishings and features original late eighteenth-century hand-painted floral wall frescoes. Tickets are $10, $5 children ages 6 to 15, under age 6 free at www.preservationlongisland.org/tours. 

Pop Up Saturdays

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization hosts a Pop-Up Saturdays event in Stony Brook Village’s Inner Court (by Crazy Beans and/or the Waterfall Garden) from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Come enjoy live R&B, Roots, Blues and Contemporary Acoustic music from Brenda & Burke, as well as Caricatures by Marty. 631-751-2244, www.wmho.org.

Concert in the Park

Wildwood State Park, 790 Hulse Landing Rd, Wading River welcomes The East End Trio in concert at 7 p.m. Come enjoy songs you know by heart with music from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s. $10 vehicle fee. 631-929-4314

The Brooklyn Bridge in concert

Back by popular demand, The Brooklyn Bridge returns to Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson at 8 p.m. Enjoy such hits as “Sixteen Candles,” “Trouble In Paradise,” “Step By Step,” “The Wanderer,” “Runaround Sue,” and many others. All seats are $59. 631-928-9100, www.theatrethree.com

Sunday July 16

Summer Craft Fair

See July 15 listing.

Port Paws Dog Festival

See July 15 listing.

Sunflower Festival

See July 15 listing.

Mazarin in Concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will host a concert by Mazarin from 3 to 4 p.m. Free with admission to the museum. For more information, call 689-5888 or visit www.limusichalloffame.org.

Wind Down Sundays

The popular summer concert series continues at Hap’s historic Red Barn at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket with Rod Borrie and Free Range at 5:30 p.m. Bring seating. 631-689-6146, www.frankmelvillepark.org

Common Ground in Concert

Celebrate St. James continues its summer concert series at Celebrate Park, 369 Lake Ave., St. James with music by Common Ground from 6 to 9 p.m. Free. Bring seating. 631-984-0201, www.celebratestjames.org

Summer Concert on the Green

Summer concerts are back in front of the Stony Brook Post Office at the Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main Street, Stony Brook from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Sunday through Aug. 20, courtesy of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization. This week’s concert features Country Rhythms. Free. Bring seating. 631-751-2244, www.wmho.org

Monday July 17

No events listed for this day.

Tuesday July 18

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a presentation on the Long Island Coastal Environment  by a representative from the Department of Environmental Conservation in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

The Art of Gardening

Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket continues its summer programs series with The Art of Gardening at 11 a.m. Master gardener Haig Seferian will answer your questions about your vegetable and flower gardens. He may even have a few bonus plants to share with you. Meet at Hap’s Red Barn. Event is held rain or shine. Free. 631-689-6146

Huntington Manor Fireman’s Fair

Long Island’s largest Fireman’s Fair heads to the Henry L. Stimson Middle School, 401 Oakwood Rd., Huntington Station, and adjoining Peter Nelson Park today to July 22 from 6 to 11 p.m. (Parade on July 19 at 7:30 p.m.) Featuring amusement rides, games, food and  gambling. Fireworks  Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. P.O.P bracelets for the rides are $35. 631-427-1629, ext. 4.

Northport Harbor Family Nights

The Northport Chamber of Commerce hosts a Northport Harbor Family Night from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Village of Northport’s Main Street will be closed to traffic from Gunther’s to Skippers. Enjoy live music, outdoor dining, vendor sidewalk sales and antique cars. 631-754-3905

Concerts at The Gazebo 

Enjoy Tuesday night concerts at The Gazebo, 127 Smithtown Blvd., Nesconset  through Aug. 15, courtesy of the Nesconset Chamber of Commerce. Tonight’s concert will feature Pump (Aerosmith tribute band)  at 7 p.m. Rain dates are the next day. Bring seating. 631-672-5197, www.nesconsetchamber.org

Concert in the Courtyard

Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Ave., Northport continues its Concerts in the Library Courtyard at 7 p.m. with a performance by Just Sixties. Rain date is July 19. No registration required. Seating will be provided.

Community Band Concert

The Smithtown Community Band continues its 37th annual concert series, By Land, Sea, & Sky, on the grounds of the Smithtown Historical Society’s Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown at 8 p.m. Free. Bring seating. 631-275-0443

Wednesday July 19

Huntington Manor Fireman’s Fair

See July 18 listing.

St. James Summer Nights

For the 5th year, St. James Elementary School, 580 Lake Ave., St. James hosts a St. James Summer Night from 5 to 9 p.m. featuring live music, food and vendors and musical acts. It’s a perfect family outing and a chance to mingle with your neighbors and community under the summer stars. 516-220-8217

Sunset Concerts

Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council continues its Sunset Concerts at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with a performance by Arbutus & Vine. Held rain or shine. Bring seating. 631-473-5220, www.gpjac.org

Summer Concert Wednesdays

Join the Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Chamber of Commerce for a Luau Night at the Chamber Train Car Park, corner of Nesconset Highway and Route 112, Port Jefferson Station with live music by One Step Ahead from 7 to 9 p.m. Free. Bring seating. 631-821-1313, www.PJSTChamber.com

Thursday July 20

Northport Community Band

See July 13 listing.

Huntington Manor Fireman’s Fair

See July 18 listing.

Summer Thursdays at the LIM

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook presents a free family show, Bash the Trash, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Pack a picnic supper, enjoy the show and view the latest exhibits at the Art Museum. In the case of rain, concert will be held in the Carriage Museum’s Gillespie Room. 631-751-0066 See more events for children on page B22

Dennis Cannataro Concert Series

The Dennis Cannataro Family Summer Concert Series returns to the Smithtown Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown with a concert by One Step Ahead tonight at 7:30 p.m. with a preshow at 7 p.m. Bring seating. 631-360-2480 ext. 150

Harborside Concerts

The Village of Port Jefferson continues its annual Harborside concerts at the Show Mobile at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson on Thursdays at 7 p.m. with a performance by Southbound. Bring seating. 631-473-4724

Theater

‘Macbeth’

The Carriage House Players continue their 34th annual Summer Shakespeare Festival in the mansion courtyard of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with Macbeth on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. from July 7 to Aug. 6. Tickets are $20, $15 children under 12 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

‘Escape to Margaritaville’

Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is Escape to Margaritaville from July 13 to Aug. 27. This upbeat and energetic new musical features all your favorite Jimmy Buffett classics including “Volcano,” “Fins,”,“Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and of course “Margaritaville.” Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Laughter on the 23rd Floor’

Minstrel Players presents Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor at Trinity Episcopal Church’s Houghton Hall, 130 Main St., Northport on July 22 and 29 at 8 p.m. and July 23 and 30 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and students. To order call 516-361-7232.

‘Pippin’

Community Playhouse of Northport presents a Bucket List Production of Pippin at Harborfields High School Auditorium, 98 Taylor Ave., Greenlawn on July 21, 22, and 23 at 7:30 p.m. with a July 22 matinee at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 at www.communityplayhousenorthport.org. 631-683-8444

Film

Stony Brook Film Festival

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook will host the 28th annual Stony Brook Film Festival from July 20 to July 28. Line-up includes 36 feature films and shorts from over 26 countries. Opening night includes a screening of feature film Sea of Time and the short film The Red Suitcase at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15, $13.50 seniors at wwww.stonybrookfilmfestival.com. 631-632-2787

Movies on the Harbor

Village of Port Jefferson presents its Movies on the Harbor at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson Tuesdays at dusk with Here Today on July 18; Dream Horse on Aug. 1; and In the Heights on Aug. 8. Rain date is the next evening. 631-473-472

Class Reunions

• Hauppauge High School Class of 1978 will hold its 45th reunion on July 22, 2023 with a reunion party on July 21 and a reunion picnic on July 23. For details, email [email protected].

• Port Jefferson High School Class of 1973 will hold its 50th reunion on the weekend of August 4-6. For information, email Lori Sternlicht Lucki @ [email protected] or call 631-495-8604.

• Ward Melville High School Class of 1973 will hold its 50th reunion at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket on Sept. 9, 2023 from 6 to 11 p.m. For ticket information, contact Tibo Dioguardi at [email protected].

• Save the date! Port Jefferson High School Class of 1964 will hold its 60th reunion at the Meadow Club, 1147 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station on Oct. 17, 2024. For more information, email Mike Whelen at [email protected].

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

 

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Charles F. Wurster. Photo by Malcolm J. Bowman
Prepared by Malcolm J. Bowman

Charles F. Wurster, professor emeritus of environmental science, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, last surviving founding trustee of the Environmental Defense Fund, died on July 6 at the age of 92.

Wurster came to prominence on the issue of the toxic effects of the persistent pesticide DDT on nontarget organisms. During the 1950s and 60s, DDT was used in the mosquito-infested swamps of Vietnam during the war, sprayed on farmer’s crops and impregnated in household fly traps.

A world-class birder, Wurster was concerned with the effects of DDT on birds, ranging from the colorful species of the tropics to the penguins of Antarctica. While a postdoctoral fellow at Dartmouth College in the early 1960s, he gathered robins that had fallen from Dutch elm trees on the campus. In his biochemistry lab, he found their bodies riddled with DDT. The trees had been sprayed to kill the Dutch elm disease.

Of particular concern to Wurster was the concentration of DDT found in birds of prey, including pelicans and raptors, such as the osprey and bald eagle. DDT caused a thinning of eggshells, which led to a catastrophic decline in the osprey reproductive success rate to 2%. The bald eagle was heading toward extinction in the lower 48 states.

In the fall of 1965, Wurster began his academic career as an assistant professor of biological sciences at the newly opened Stony Brook University Marine Sciences Research Center. He gathered 11 colleagues from the university and Brookhaven National Laboratory. In October 1967, for the sum of $37, the group incorporated as a nongovernmental organization in New York State and called it EDF — the Environmental Defense Fund. 

Departing from other environmental organization’s approaches, the EDF used the law to ensure environmental justice. The EDF sought the court’s help in halting the application of toxic and lethal chemicals, with a focus on DDT.

After the EDF filed a petition in New York State Supreme Court in Riverhead to halt the spraying of DDT on South Shore wetlands by the Suffolk County Mosquito Commission, a judge in Suffolk County issued a temporary restraining order. Although EDF was later thrown out of court for lack of legal standing, the injunction held.

Under Wurster’s leadership, EDF set up its first headquarters in the attic of the Stony Brook Post Office. This was followed by moving to a 100-year-old farmhouse and barn on Old Town Road in Setauket.

Lacking funding, EDF nonetheless made a bold public step, taking out a half-page ad in The New York Times on March 29, 1970, picturing a lactating Stony Brook mother nursing her baby. Highlighting the concentration of DDT in humans, the text read “that if the mother’s milk was in any other container, it would be banned from crossing state lines!” Funds poured in.

In 1972, following six months of hearings, founding administrator William Ruckelshaus of the Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of DDT nationwide.  

EDF rapidly grew into a national organization. Its purview spread into new areas, including litigating against the U.S. Army’s Corps of Engineers dream of completing a cross-Florida sea level shipping canal (1969), removing lead from gasoline and paint (1970-1987) and eliminating polystyrene from fast-food packaging. 

Today EDF boasts 12 offices throughout the U.S. and in China, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Indonesia and Mexico and has three million members and an annual budget of about $300 million. It focuses on environmental justice, protecting oceans and fisheries, sustainable energy and climate change.

In 1995, at Charles Wurster’s retirement from Stony Brook University, Ruckelshaus traveled from Seattle at his own expense to address the campus celebration.

In 2009, Wurster was awarded an honorary degree from Stony Brook University for his seminal contributions to environmental science and advocacy.

Wurster’s enduring leadership and tenacity helped put SBU firmly on the world stage for environmental science, education and advocacy.

Wurster is survived by his two sons Steve and Erik, daughter Nina and his longtime partner Marie Gladwish.

 

Malcolm J. Bowman is a distinguished service professor emeritus of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University. He joined the faculty in 1971 and closely followed the development of EDF for over 50 years, becoming a close associate and personal friend of Charles Wurster.

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Photo courtesy of PSEG Long Island

PSEG Long Island will host a food drive at Stop & Shop supermarket, 291 West Main St., Smithtown on Friday, July 14 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is one of six Power to Feed Long Island summer food collection events to benefit Long Islanders facing hunger. The food and supplies will be collected by Island Harvest Food Bank and distributed to Long Islanders through local agencies and their food programs.

Hundreds of thousands of Long Island families struggle with hunger throughout the year. During the summer months, there is a significant reduction in food donations to local food banks, pantries and programs. Compounding the issue, children are not in school where they can receive free and reduced-cost breakfast and lunch. In addition, the pandemic and the increased inflation rate have further strained local food pantries and emergency feeding programs served by Island Harvest. Long Islanders are being encouraged to remember their neighbors who are struggling to feed themselves and their families every day.

PSEG Long Island is providing the venue for Long Islanders to donate to their neighbors in need. The initiative aims to collect the equivalent of 50,000 meals from the first day of summer 2023 to the last. In the past two years, thanks to the generosity of Long Islanders, the equivalent of more than 60,000 meals was collected.

Food collection bins and a drive-thru option will be set up in the parking lot of the supermarket where the public can donate nonperishable items and household essentials for community members facing food insecurity.

Island Harvest requests the following:

  • Nonperishable food (no glass jars please): Healthy varieties of canned foods, such as low-sodium beans, vegetables, soups, pasta sauces and tomato varieties, tuna and chicken, along with rice, pasta, popcorn kernels, nut butters, olive and canola oil, spices and pet food
  • Household essentials: Toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer, laundry detergent and dish soap
  • Personal care items: Toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, shampoo, conditioner, feminine care products and shaving products, antibacterial wipes and washcloths
  • Baby care items: Diapers, wipes, formula, creams, ointments and baby wash

The schedule of remaining collection events is:

  • July 28, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Stop & Shop – 95 Old Country Road, Carle Place
  • Aug. 11, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at ShopRite – 3901 Hempstead Tpke., Bethpage
  • Sept. 1, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Stop & Shop – 3126 Jericho Turnpike, East Northport
  • Sept. 15, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Stop & Shop – 575 West Montauk Highway, West Babylon

For more information, visit www.psegliny.com/feedLI.

 

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