Caption: Christopher Berger, AVP for Procurement. Photo by John Griffin/SBU
Stony Brook University recently announced that Christopher Berger, MBA, has been appointed as Associate Vice President for Procurement. He reports to Vice President for Finance Lyle Gomes.
Christopher Berger brings over 25 years of procurement leadership experience serving local and national organizations, most recently as Chief Procurement Officer for Suffolk County. There, he established a centralized, comprehensive procurement framework for the county. He has also held roles as Chief Procurement Officer at Hearst Media, Global Head of Procurement, Travel, Expense, Vendor Risk and Contracts at Bloomberg, LLP and as Chief Procurement Officer at CA Technologies.
“After completing an extensive search, Chris emerged from a highly competitive pool of candidates as a seasoned, innovative and collaborative procurement leader.” said Lyle Gomes, Vice President for Finance. “Chris has a demonstrated track record of excellence in numerous procurement practices including centralizing procurement functions, implementing cutting-edge technologies and optimizing processes to deliver exceptional service. He has also served as an advocate and champion for cultivating collaborative supplier relationships and using digital infrastructures to enhance operational efficiencies.”
As Associate Vice President for Procurement, Berger will be responsible for the management of all procurement activities, including strategic sourcing, procure-to-pay processes, and utilization of technology systems. In his role, he will craft and implement procurement operations to enhance efficiency and accuracy. Additionally, he will oversee the operations of purchasing, receiving, paying, mail, and property control, with a focus on delivering exceptional customer service to the campus community.
Berger earned his BA in Math & Science and a Master in Business Administration from Dowling College.
Stony Brook University Distinguished Professor of Mathematics Christopher Bishop was awarded the 2024 Senior Berwick Prize by the London Mathematical Society (LMS).
The Senior Berwick Prize is awarded in even-numbered years for an outstanding piece of mathematical research published by the LMS within the last eight years. Bishop was awarded the Senior Berwick Prize for the publication of two papers: ‘Models for the Eremenko–Lyubich Class’, published in the Journal of the London Mathematical Society in 2015, and ‘Models for the Speiser Class’, published in the Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society in 2017. He will formally receive this award in November.
“I was gratified and delighted to hear that I had been awarded the Senior Berwick prize by the London Mathematical Society,” said Bishop. “To be recognized with this highly regarded award is a tremendous honor that I appreciate very much.”
Since its inception, Bishop is the only sitting faculty member from Stony Brook University that has received this prestigious award. Other notable winners include mathematicians John G. Thompson, Louis Mordell, JHC Whitehead, Nigel Hitchen, William Hodge, Ian Agol, and many others.
“Professor Bishop’s groundbreaking work creating the technique of quasiconformal folding and applying it to open questions in transcendental dynamical systems is an important milestone, opening new methods of investigation in this branch of mathematics,” said Scott Sutherland, professor and chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Mathematics. “It is a great pleasure to see the London Mathematical Society acknowledge its importance with this well-deserved prize.”
Bishop joined the Stony Brook University Department of Mathematics in 1991 and was named a SUNY distinguished professor in 2021. Throughout his career, he has participated in several notable conferences and fellowships. In 2018, Bishop was invited to speak at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM). He also participated in several fellowships, including as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, the Sloan Foundation Fellowship in 1992, was selected as a fellow of the American Mathematical Society Award in 2019, and as a Simons Fellow in Mathematics in 2019.
Bishop received his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge where he was a Churchill Scholar, and his PhD from the University of Chicago.
Bradley Dirks, James H. Simons Instructor in the Department of Mathematics, and Yichul Choi, PhD student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, were awarded fellowships at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS). Dirks will complete his fellowship in the School of Mathematics for the 2024-2025 academic year and Choi will complete his in the School of Natural Sciences between 2024-2027.
This prestigious membership allows for focused research and the free and open exchange of ideas among an international community of scholars at one of the foremost centers for intellectual inquiry.
Bradley Dirks
During his stay, Bradley will work on the study of singularities in geometry. Though his research lies in the field of pure mathematics, singularities arise in many adjacent fields, like statistics and theoretical physics. An important point of his project is to attempt to quantify “how singular” a geometric space is. The hope is that spaces that are “not too singular” from this point of view should share many nice properties with smooth spaces.
“It is an amazing honor to spend a year at the Institute for Advanced Study,” said Bradley. “A large proportion of the mathematics that I study was developed by past and permanent members of the Institute. I am especially excited because I will have the opportunity to meet many scholars from various universities and fields of study.”
“Brad Dirks has been doing great work as part of our algebraic geometry group, and the math department has been very fortunate to have him among us for the past year,” said Scott Sutherland, professor and chair in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Mathematics. “This fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study is a well-deserved opportunity, and the Department looks forward to him rejoining us to continue his Simons instructorship afterwards.”
Yichul Choi
In his time with the IAS, Yichul will study topological and global aspects of quantum field theory. In particular, his research focuses on symmetries, anomalies, and their generalizations. He is interested in applying new generalized symmetry principles to particle physics phenomenology and condensed matter physics.
“The Institute provides an ideal environment for scholars to explore ideas, focus on their research, and collaborate with world-experts coming from all over the globe,” said Yichul. “I am excited to use this opportunity to deeply investigate the physical rules behind our Nature, and to seek new understandings. I am also looking forward to sharing thoughts with leading scientists in the field.”
“I am delighted to learn that Yichul was awarded this prestigious fellowship,” said Chang Kee Jung, distinguished professor and chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Physics and Astronomy. “Last spring, Yichul, working with Stony Brook’s outstanding theoretical physicists, Shu-Heng Shao and Zohar Komargodski at C.N. Yang ITP, was one of the winners of the Stony Brook President’s Award to Distinguished Doctoral Students for his work on Generalized Symmetries in Quantum Field Theory and Particle Physics. So, this news did not come as a big surprise. As the chair of the Department, I am proud of Yichul’s accomplishment and the world-class faculty at C.N. Yang ITP that consistently educates and produces top-notch physicists.”
IAS
Each year, IAS welcomes more than 250 of the most promising post-doctoral researchers and distinguished scholars from around the world to advance fundamental discovery as part of an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment. Visiting scholars are selected through a highly competitive process for their bold ideas, innovative methods, and deep research questions by the permanent Faculty—each of whom are preeminent leaders in their fields. Past IAS Faculty include, Albert Einstein, Erwin Panofsky, John von Neumann, Hetty Goldman, George Kennan, and J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Among past and present scholars, there have been 35 Nobel Laureates, 44 of the 62 Fields Medalists, and 23 of the 27 Abel Prize Laureates, as well as MacArthur and Guggenheim fellows, winners of the Turing Award and the Wolf, Holberg, Kluge, and Pulitzer Prizes.
On September 20, Councilwoman Jane Bonner (sixth from left) was at the 7-Eleven, located at 33 Middle Country Road in Coram where she met with Suffolk County Police officers and COPE Officers from the 6th Precinct for “Coffee with a Cop.” Councilwoman Bonner was joined by NYS Assemblyman Ed Flood (sixth from right) and Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa (seventh from right).
The objective of “Coffee with a Cop” is for police officers to interact with the residents who they serve each day and discuss local issues in their community. As the officers and the residents get to know each other better, they become more comfortable, creating the opportunity for real conversations about issues that matter.
Councilwoman Bonner said, “Coffee with a Cop is a great opportunity for law enforcement to touch base with Brookhaven Town residents It’s also a good time for people to say “thank you” to the men and women who protect and serve us every single day. “
Lightning Warriors team pose at the finish line after competing in the 5th Annual Mini Maniac Youth Triathlon at Smith Point Beach on Sunday, September 15.
On September 15, Lightning Warriors hosted the 5th Annual Mini Maniac Youth Triathlon — the largest youth triathlon on the East Coast — which was held at Smith Point Beach in Shirley. The event attracted 181 participants between the ages of 5 and 17, including 56 first-time triathletes.
The Mini Maniac Youth Triathlon aims to promote healthy physical activity and build lifelong skills in swimming, biking, and running for youth athletes. This year’s race featured triathletes competing in different age groups, with distances tailored to each category. Younger athletes also had the opportunity to participate in the Splash & Dash, a 50-meter swim and a quarter-mile run for kids between 5 and 7 years old.
“We were thrilled to see so many young athletes take part in the event, especially those trying a triathlon for the first time,” said Noah Lam, head coach of the Lightning Warriors. “The smiles at the finish line are what this is all about, and we’re proud to help kids build confidence through sport.”
Participants received medals for their efforts, as well as favor bags and refreshments.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly stole merchandise from a Medford store in September.
A man allegedly stole baseball cards from Target, located at 2975 Horseblock Road, on September 2 at approximately 5:35 p.m.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.
Billy Joel- My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey at LIMEHOF extended through Spring of 2025. Photo Credit: Myrna Suarez @myrnasuarezphoto
‘My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey’ draws in tens of thousands of visitors from near and far to celebrate legendary Long Island musician
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) has announced it will be extending the run of the first ever exhibit dedicated exclusively to LIMEHOF Inductee and Legendary Long Island Musician Billy Joel. The exhibit opened last November and is currently running at LIMEHOF’s Stony Brook Village location (97 Main Street, Stony Brook). It was initially planned to run through September 2024.
The exclusive exhibit, called Billy Joel- My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey spans Joel’s life and career from growing up in Hicksville to his legendary run at Madison Square Garden. It includes over 50 years of Billy Joel’s most cherished items including rare memorabilia, behind-the-scenes video, dozens of awards, rare audio and video recordings, vintage instruments and historic photos, many donated by Billy Joel himself.
“The Billy Joel – My Life exhibit continues to attract enthusiastic audiences from throughout world, exceeding our expectations as his legions of fans experience every facet of Billy’s incredible career in this extraordinary exhibition,” said Ernie Canadeo, LIMEHOF Chairman. “We are thrilled that our visitors and the media have rated us one of the best Music Hall of Fame’s in the country, as we showcase rare memorabilia from our Long Island Inductees representing every musical genre from rock, pop, jazz, blues hip-hop and more.”
The exhibit was created by renowned designer and LIMEHOF board member Kevin O’Callaghan with direct feedback from Billy Joel himself. Upon touring it in an advanced VIP preview before it opened, Joel himself was so emotionally moved and impressed with the exhibit that he kept saying “Where did you get all of this stuff?” The exhibit has been featured in People, American Songwriter, Billboard, The New York Post, Newsday, NY1, Pix 11, News 12, NBC 4, Fox 5, and many more local and music industry news outlets.
Ticket sales have been in the tens of thousands. The opening weekend alone attracted visitors from other states including New Jersey, Massachusetts and the Carolinas. Since then, visitors have traveled in from far and wide and even from overseas to see this once in a lifetime exhibit. The Hall of Fame itself was even listed on Grammy.com as one of the top Halls of Fame in the country to visit.
The exhibit remains a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Billy Joel’s life-spanning career from his roots in Hicksville and Levittown through his albums, tours, inspirations, and personal experiences. There will be more items added including rare photos, awards and other memorabilia from Billy Joel’s life and career.
Tickets are available now at www.TheBillyExhibit.com or are available to be purchased in person at LIMEHOF. This is a timed entry exhibit so tickets will be sold by time block availability, or you can purchase VIP “any time” tickets good any time for the duration of the exhibit. For more information about LIMEHOF visit https://www.limusichalloffame.org/museum/
About LIMEHOF
Founded in 2004, the Long Island Music Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the idea that Long Island’s musical and entertainment heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. The organization, which encompasses New York State’s Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings (Brooklyn) Counties, was created as a place of community that inspires and explores Long Island music and entertainment in all its forms. In 2022, LIMEHOF opened its first Hall of Fame building location in Stony Brook Village. To date, the organization has inducted more than 120 musicians and music industry executives, and offers education programs, scholarships, and awards to Long Island students and educators.
Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) suffer from a variety of movement disorders caused by a breakdown of brain neurons. While we don’t fully understand the causes of PD, we know that risk factors may include head trauma, genetics, exposure to toxins and heavy metals, and other issues, such as a sedentary lifestyle.
The prime culprit is dopamine deficiency that occurs in a region at the base of the brain (1). Because of this, the mainstay of medical treatment has been adding back dopamine; however, eventually the neurons themselves break down, and the medication becomes less effective.
Newer approaches include medications and deep brain stimulatory surgery, as well as modifying lifestyle, considering factors like iron, inflammation, CoQ10, and vitamin D. While the research is not conclusive, it is continuing. This provides us with hope and more options.
Iron accumulation
Iron accumulation is potentially harmful in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, as well as Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, and multiple sclerosis, because of the oxidative damage it can cause.
In a small, yet well-designed, randomized controlled trial (RCT), researchers used a chelator to remove iron from the substantia nigra. An iron chelator is a drug that removes the iron. Here, deferiprone (DFP) was used at a modest dose of 30 mg/kg/d (2).
The chelator reduced the risk of disease progression significantly on the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) during the 12-month study. Participants who were treated sooner had lower levels of iron compared to a group that used the chelator six months later. A specialized MRI was used to measure the brain’s iron levels.
A subsequent small RCT of 22 early-onset PD sufferers found a trend for improvement at the same dosing of DFP, results did not achieve statistical significance by the conclusion of the six-month trial (3).
An iron chelator does not affect systemic levels of iron, only those in the substantia nigra region of the brain. The chelator may work by preventing degradation of the dopamine-containing neurons. Your physician may also recommend that you consume foods that contain less iron.
Inflammation
In a 2023 study, researchers tested 58 newly diagnosed PD participants’ blood and compared their results to 62 healthy control participants to compare inflammatory markers (4). Some PD-arm participants had additional testing done, including cerebrospinal fluid samples and brain imaging.
Researchers found that those with PD had significantly higher brain inflammation levels than those without PD in specific regions. Their blood and cerebrospinal fluid also had high inflammatory markers. These measures correlated with worse visuospatial and cognitive scores.
While this study provides hints of possible treatments, we need additional studies to confirm whether the inflammation is a cause or an effect of PD.
Regardless, adopting a low-inflammatory diet might help mitigate some symptoms of PD or slow its advancement.
CoQ10
In an RCT, results showed that those given 1,200 mg of CoQ10 daily reduced the progression of the disease significantly based on UPDRS changes, compared to a placebo group (5). Other doses of 300 and 600 mg showed trends toward benefit, but were not significant. This was a 16-month trial in a small population of 80 patients. In this study, CoQ10 was well-tolerated at even the highest dose.
Unfortunately, a 2022 meta-analysis of CoQ10 studies concluded that it was not universally beneficial, even if some studies showed benefits for specific patients (6). The authors concluded that a personalized approach to its administration and follow-up is critical.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D may play dual roles of both reducing the risk of Parkinson’s disease and slowing its progression.
A prospective study of over 3000 patients showed that vitamin D levels measured in the highest quartile reduced the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by 65 percent, compared to the lowest quartile (7). This is impressive, especially since the highest quartile patients had vitamin D levels that were insufficient, with blood levels of 20 ng/ml, while those in the lowest quartile had deficient blood levels of 10 ng/ml or less.
In an RCT with 121 patients, results showed that 1,200 IU of vitamin D taken daily may have reduced the progression of PD significantly on the UPDRS compared to a placebo over a 12-month duration (8). Also, this amount of vitamin D increased the blood levels by almost two times from 22.5 to 41.7 ng/ml.
In a 2019 study of 182 PD patients and 185 healthy control subjects, researchers found that higher serum vitamin D levels correlated to reduced falls and alleviation of other non-motor PD symptoms (9).
Like other PD research, investigations into the role of Vitamin D are ongoing.
So, what are our takeaways? Though medication is the gold standard for Parkinson’s disease treatment, lifestyle modifications can have a significant impact on both its prevention and treatment. While each change in isolation may have modest effects, their cumulative impact could be significant.
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 or consult your personal physician.
Legislator Rob Trotta introduces Nicole Garguilo, Smithtown Public Information Officer,
to sing the National Anthem.
Known as the “Singing Attorney,” many people in the audience recognized John Zollo when he took to the stage.
The audience was very impressed by the singing of Giuliana Gallone, who is starting her
freshman year at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Cherie Stawecki, a music teacher, opened the concert series with a beautiful rendition of
the National Anthem. Pictured right is Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta.
This year, the “Summer Concert Series at the Smithtown Library” celebrated its 20th year of bringing entertainment to the residents and neighbors of Smithtown. In 2021, the name of Dennis Cannataro, former Legislator Lynne Nowick’s late brother, was added to the title, as it was his idea for her to do such an event while she was a Legislator.
When Legislator Rob Trotta succeeded Nowick in office, he continued the concerts and invited residents from his legislative district to sing the National Anthem before each show. This year they were Cherie Stawecki of Kings Park, Nicole Garguilo of St. James, John Zollo of Smithtown and Giuliana Gallone, who attended the School of Rock.
A relatively new addition to the series is having students who attend the School of Rock and Musicology perform before the scheduled tribute bands
Trotta receives funding from the Suffolk County Office of Economic Development for the concerts. He is pleased that so many people attend the shows and support the downtown business community. “Julie Delaney, the Smithtown Library’s Director of Community Relations, did an excellent job of coordinating and organizing the concerts, as well as selecting the bands,” said Legislator Trotta.
Captions:
Cherie Stawecki, a music teacher, opened the concert series with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. Pictured right is Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta.
Legislator Rob Trotta introduces Nicole Garguilo, Smithtown Public Information Officer, to sing the National Anthem.
The audience was very impressed by the singing of Giuliana Gallone, who is starting her freshman year at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Known as the “Singing Attorney,” many people in the audience recognized John Zollo when he took to the stage.
Love it or hate it, pumpkin spice season is upon us. If you’re a fan of all things fall or just have an appreciation for beautiful things, stop by the Setauket Presbyterian Church from Sept. 27 to 29 for a unique experience and a good cause.
More than a thousand hand-blown glass pumpkins of every size and color will dot the church lawn during a three day Fall Fair and Glass Pumpkin Patch fundraiser. Each piece, created by glassblower Gregory Tomb of the Adirondack Glassblowing Studio, is for sale; a portion of the proceeds will benefit the church’s Open Door Exchange.
Located in Port Jefferson Station at 200 Wilson Street, Open Door Exchange is a furniture bank, the first of its kind on Long Island. People in need can visit to browse the collection of donated furniture, selecting whatever they’d like at no cost. There are no income checks or other proof of need required — all are welcome.
The program began in 2015, when former pastor Kate Jones Calone visited a furniture bank in Maryland. Sitting around her kitchen table with friends not long after, she began to brainstorm how Setauket Presbyterian could bring something similar to their own community.
Almost a decade later, they’ve grown out of the small storage unit from their early years and clients now have an entire warehouse full of options to choose from. Over the years, they’ve received more than 6,000 pieces of donated furniture and assisted more than 800 households.
“Whether it’s someone moving into their first home, people who have escaped domestic violence, veterans or LGBT youth, we’re here for everyone. We want to honor the dignity of each person and want them to feel the same excitement we all do when furnishing our homes,” said Ryan Haugstatter, director of development for the program. “I love that we get to help people from all walks of life find a sense of stability again. You don’t always realize until you don’t have them how important it is to have a kitchen table to share a meal or a couch to sit on with your family.”
When clients come in for an appointment, they get to choose furniture that fits not only what they need, but appeals to their own tastes and style as well.
The program also helps the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans throw out more than 12 million tons of furniture each year, and the majority ends up in landfills.
Demand and costs are on the rise for Open Door, Haugstatter said, with some clients coming from as far as Brooklyn and Queens to find assistance.
Haugstatter knew Gregory Tomb from his work with another nonprofit organization, and reached out in hopes of creating an interesting community fundraiser.
Gregory Tomb splits his time between his two studios in Phoenix, Ariz. and North Creek in upstate New York. As a child, his family often stopped at the renowned Corning Museum of Glass on the way to visit relatives, and it was there that his love for glassblowing was born.
“It’s like magic — glowing, hot globs of glass that become these beautiful creations,” Tomb said.
The artist attended Hartwick College initially studying psychology, but found that the glassblowing classes for his art minor were more engaging. He ultimately dropped psychology and graduated with a degree in art.
After graduation, Tomb did all kinds of work, from tending bar and playing music to teaching ski lessons and white water rafting. But he always returned to glassblowing.
“I thought that it was something I would always do, though maybe not professionally,” Tomb said. “People told me I should work in a factory, but I said no, I wanted to be an artist. In mastering a craft like blowing glass, the skill of it, eventually you can begin to create art.”
Since 2015, he’s focused exclusively on creating art and sharing his skills with the public through workshops. Most recently, he converted an old barn on the Hudson River into a studio, where he offers classes from mid-spring to mid-fall.
As for glass sales, pumpkins are consistently among his best-sellers.
“In the art glass world, pumpkins are kind of looked down on — but I see them as a canvas,” Tomb said. “You can try so many different colors and styles and arrangements, and they have a big impact on people who come to see them. It brings a lot of joy to us making them as well.”
The Fall Fair will include hundreds of whimsical, vibrantly colored one-of-a-kind pumpkins as small as a golf ball to as large as a basketball, with prices ranging from $50 to $500. Twenty percent of sales will benefit Open Door Exchange. Agway of Port Jefferson is helping out by donating bales of hay for the event, and Duck Donuts of Selden will sell sweet treats on site for additional fundraising. Families can enjoy kid-friendly activities each day including face painting..
Tomb is happy to support Open Door Exchange’s mission. “The more I learned about the project, the more important I saw that it was — especially in today’s world, when it’s hard to even afford housing,” he said.
Setauket Presbyterian Church, 5 Caroline Ave., Setauket will host the Fall Fair and Glass Pumpking Patch fundraiser on Sept. 27, 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Call 631-941-4271 for further information.
For more information about Open Door Exchange and to make an appointment, visit www.opendoorexchange.org or call 631- 743-0633, ext. 1.
To learn more about the art of glassblowing with Gregory Tomb, visit www.tryglassblowing.com.
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