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Yearly Archives: 2024

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Legumes can reduce your risk significantly

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

How would you like to be “heart attack proof?” This term was introduced by Dr. Sanjay Gupta and later gained traction when it was iterated by Dr. Dean Ornish. While it’s probably not possible to be completely heart attack proof, research shows us that it is possible to significantly reduce your risk by important lifestyle choices.

About five percent of U.S. adults over age 19 have coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common type of heart disease (1). This contributes to a heart attack rate of one every 40 seconds. We can do better.

Many of the biggest contributors to heart disease risk are well-known: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. In addition, if you have diabetes or are overweight or obese, your risk increases significantly. Lifestyle factors, such as poor diet, lack of physical activity and high alcohol consumption are among the significant risk contributors.

This is where we can dramatically reduce the occurrence of CAD. Evidence continues to highlight that lifestyle changes, including diet, are the most critical factors in preventing heart disease. Dietary changes that have a significant impact include consuming dietary fiber, legumes, nuts, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and chocolate.

Increase your dietary fiber

We can significantly reduce our heart disease risk if we increase our fiber consumption to recommended levels.

The more fiber you eat, the greater you reduce your risk. In a meta-analysis of 10 studies that included over 90,000 men and 200,000 women, results showed that for every 10-gram increase in fiber, participants experienced a corresponding 14 percent reduction in their risk of a cardiovascular event and a 27 percent reduction in their risk of heart disease mortality (2).

According to a 2021 analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2013 to 2018, only 5 percent of men and 9 percent of women get the recommended daily amount of fiber (3). The average American consumes about 16 grams per day of fiber (4).

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories consumed, or roughly 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men (5).

Good sources of fiber are fruits and vegetables eaten with edible skin or peel, beans, lentils, and whole grains.

Various legumes.

Eat your legumes 

In a prospective (forward-looking) cohort study, legumes reduced the risk of coronary heart disease by 22 percent (6). Those who consumed four or more servings a week saw this effect when compared to those who consumed less than one serving a week. The legumes used in this study included beans, peas and peanuts. There were over 9,500 men and women involved, and the study spanned 19 years of follow-up.

I recommend that patients consume a minimum of one to two servings a day, significantly more than the relatively modest four servings a week used to achieve statistical significance in this study.

Include healthy nuts

Why should you include nuts? In a study with over 45,000 men, consuming omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) led to significant reductions in CAD. Both plant-based and seafood-based omega-3s showed these effects (7). 

Good sources of omega-3s from plant-based sources include nuts, such as walnuts, and ground flaxseed. Of course, be cautious about consuming too many nuts, since they’re also calorically dense.

Consume a modest amount of chocolate

In an analysis of six studies with over 336,000 participants, researchers found that eating chocolate at least once a week was associated with an 8 percent decreased risk of coronary artery disease when compared with consuming chocolate less than once a week (8).

The author notes that chocolate contains heart healthy nutrients such as flavonoids, methylxanthines, polyphenols and stearic acid which may reduce inflammation and increase good cholesterol. The study did not examine whether any particular type of chocolate is more beneficial or whether there is an ideal portion size.

An earlier study did show that two pieces of chocolate a week may decrease the risk of a heart attack by 37 percent, compared to those who consume less (9). 

Both study’s authors warn against the idea that more is better. High fat and sugar content and chocolate’s caloric density may have detrimental effects when consumed at much higher levels. 

I typically recommend that patients have one to two squares — about one-fifth to two-fifths of an ounce — of high-cocoa-content dark chocolate daily. Aim for chocolate labeled with 80 percent cocoa content.

You can also get chocolate’s benefits without the fat and sugar by adding unsweetened, cocoa powder to a fruit and vegetable smoothie. Do not use Dutch-process cocoa, also known as alkalized cocoa; the processing can remove up to 90 percent of the flavanols (10).

References:

(1) cdc.gov. (2) Arch Intern Med. 2004 Feb 23;164(4):370-376. (3) nutrition.org (4) NHANES 2009-2010 Data Brief No. 12. Sep 2014. (5) eatright.org. (6) Arch Intern Med. 2001 Nov 26;161(21):2573-2578. (7) Circulation. 2005 Jan 18;111(2):157-164. (8) Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2021 Oct 13;28(12):e33-e35. (9) BMJ 2011; 343:d4488. (10) J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Sep 24;56(18):8527-33.

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.

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Stony Brook, NY; Stony Brook University: Office of Emergency Management (OEM) toy drive. Photo by John Griffin/Stony Brook Medicine
Stony Brook, NY; Stony Brook University: Office of Emergency Management (OEM) toy drive. Photo by John Griffin/Stony Brook Medicine

The season of giving is in full swing at Stony Brook! Pediatric patients at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital got a special visit from not only Santa Claus himself but everyones favorite Snowman Olaf and Stony Brook’s own mascot Wolfie on December 12th, as they stopped by to deliver some holiday cheer.

A caravan of 30 first responder vehicles traveled from the Wang Center to the Children’s Hospital to drop off dozens of presents collected during their annual Holiday Toy Drive.

Since 2019, Stony Brook University’s Division of Enterprise Risk Management has teamed up with campus Fire, Police, EMS & Emergency Management staff to collect new and unwrapped gifts for patients spending the holidays in a patient room instead of home with family and friends.

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Ward Melville High School students put on a production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Photo courtesy of the Three Village Central School District
Ward Melville High School students put on a production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Photo courtesy of the Three Village Central School District
Ward Melville High School students put on a production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Photo courtesy of the Three Village Central School District
Ward Melville High School students put on a production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Photo courtesy of the Three Village Central School District
Ward Melville High School students put on a production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Photo courtesy of the Three Village Central School District

Ward Melville High School student actors and musicians impressed audiences over three live performances of the production “How to Succeed in Business Without ReallyTrying.” Students took to the stage for the comedic musical performance while the pit orchestra helped set the tone throughout and the stage crew established the many scenes. Audiences watched Pierrepont Finch try and climb the corporate ladder while faced with the challenges of office-life, including competitive co-workers, powerful executives, coffee addictions and romance.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Robert Terry Accused of Shorting Workers $83K

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Dec. 16 that Robert Terry, 65, of Southampton, owner of Terry Contracting & Materials in Riverhead, was indicted for Willful Failure to Pay the Prevailing Wage Rate, and other related charges, for allegedly misclassifying his employees’ work categories on certified payrolls, resulting in approximately $83,694 in underpayments.

According to the investigation, between March and August 2018, Terry was a contractor at the Davis Park Marina Improvement project, a public works contract that required the contractor to pay his employees the proper prevailing wage rate, based on the tasks that they performed on the project. Additionally, he was responsible for completing certified payrolls that affirmed he paid his employees the proper prevailing wages while they worked on the project.

Instead, Terry allegedly classified his employees under the wage rate for “laborers,” which is lower than the wage rate for “dock builders,” though the employees were performing tasks necessitating the higher salary rate.

Moreover, even though additional employees of Terry Contracting & Materials, Inc. worked as crane operators on the project, they were allegedly unlawfully omitted from the certified payrolls. After an investigation, New York State Department of Labor determined that Terry and his company owes the employees over $80,000 for failing to pay them as dock builders.

On December 12, 2024, Terry and his corporation, Terry Contracting & Materials, Inc. were arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice, Timothy P. Mazzei for one count of Willful Failure to Pay the Prevailing Wage Rate and Supplement, Falsifying a Business Record in the First Degree, both Class E felonies, and Falsifying a Business Record in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

Justice Mazzei ordered Terry to be released on his own recognizance because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set, bail. Terry is due back in court on January 23, 2025, and faces 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison if convicted on the top count. He is represented by Michael Cornacchia, Esq.

“This defendant allegedly pocketed money that would have gone to his workers and their families,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We will not allow unscrupulous business owners to enrich themselves by cheating workers out of their legally mandated wages on taxpayer-funded projects.”

This case is being prosecuted by Adriana Noyola of the Financial Crimes Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Investigators Dennis Marcel and Daniel Ayrovainen of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s Financial Crimes Bureau.

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Police car stock photo

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the death of a man who was assaulted and had his vehicle stolen in Deer Park last week.

Donald Klune was sitting in his 2009 Mitsubishi on Brook Avenue when he was approached by at least one person and removed from his vehicle, punched and kicked at approximately 8:35 p.m. on December 11.

The suspect or suspects fled the scene in Klune’s vehicle. Klune, 65, of Deer Park, was transported to a local hospital where he died on December 13.

Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

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Scene from the Three Village Historical Society's 45th annual Candlelight House Tour. Photo by Bill Landon

From this weekend’s Three Village Historical Society’s 45th annual Candlelight House Tour, to the Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival, we live in an area of rich history and culture.

The quaint holiday atmosphere of villages like Huntington and Stony Brook take us back to a more simple time and place — one of one-horse towns, one story buildings and one community spirit.

The North Shore of Suffolk County has a cozy charm coupled with not only rich historical background, but the cutting edge of modern-day living. Take for example Stony Brook University. Located 20 miles or less from all of TBR’s coverage areas, it is a world-class university, brimming with state-of-the-art scientific research, a diverse student body and cultural heritage. With the musical performances, various film screenings and varied organizations, which the university provides, as a result, the residents of Stony Brook have a portal to some of the most intriguing cultural presentations around.

With a home as unique as Suffolk’s North Shore, our residents appear to have a sense of community that is unlike a major city. We are able to boast a sense of connection that is only possible in a small town. Just walking down the street, one is greeted with warmth. A possible run in with a friend from a dedicated civic association can happen.

So don’t write off the suburbs too quickly.

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Above, the front cover of the Bessie Whiting log book.

The Port Jefferson Historical Society recently added a fascinating piece of history to its collection by acquiring a ship’s log for the historic sailing vessel Bessie Whiting in a local auction. The log contains entries for the years 1903 to 1904 and covers details of the vessel’s merchant voyages to Charleston, Jacksonville, and Savannah.

The ship’s log joins other valuable research resources in the Port Jefferson Historical Society’s archive of historic artifacts, including those related to the early shipbuilding industry of Port Jefferson Village. The log was purchased with the help of funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. 

Above, the title page of the Bessie Whiting log book.

“When small treasures come to light, our goal is to assist in securing them for our historic stewards,” said Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. “These new and old finds will be available for research and to grow our community’s history.”

The Bessie Whiting was a three-masted schooner built in 1882 at the John R. Mather shipyard in Port Jefferson Harbor for Captain George Dayton of Port Jefferson and John R. Mather, along with other Port Jefferson investors. The vessel appears to have carried primarily lumber north from southern ports. 

In the summer of 1882, the vessel made a remarkable voyage of 135 miles up the Hudson River from the Battery in New York City to the village of Coeymans just south of Albany. It was reported to be one of the largest vessels to travel up river and dock at Coeymans Wharf with a cargo of Carolina railroad ties.

After thirty-six years of service, the Bessie Whiting was eventually wrecked on the night of January 11, 1918 on a reef off Perico Island in Bradenton, Florida. The vessel’s long life is a tribute to the design, materials and craftsmanship employed by Port Jefferson’s John R. Mather shipyard along with the skill of its captain during its years of service.

The contents of the ship’s log have been digitized and will be reviewed by the historical society in the near future.

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From left to right: County Legislator Robert Trotta, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, TOB Supervisor Dan Panico, TOB Superintendent of Highways Daniel Losquadro, Representative from the Governor's, office Thalia Olaya, and in front, Gloria Rocchio, Ward Melville Heritage Organization President, at a Stony Brook Village press conference. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R) announced the opening of two U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) to assist New York businesses and residents affected by the severe storms and flooding which took place this past August 18–19.

The centers, located at the Rose Caracappa Senior Center in Mount Sinai and in the Village of Head of the Harbor in Saint James, will help residents and business owners recover from disaster-related losses.

Loan Details:

● Businesses and Nonprofits: Eligible to borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate, equipment, inventory and other assets.

● Small Businesses, Agricultural Cooperatives, Aquaculture Businesses and Most Private Nonprofits:: Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are available to help with working capital needs even if no physical property damage occurred.

● Homeowners: Loans up to $500,000 to repair or replace damaged real estate.

● Renters and Homeowners: Loans up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged personal property.

The SBA Customer Service Representatives at the centers can assist with disaster loan applications, accept documents for existing applications and provide status updates. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments can be scheduled.

DLOC Locations and Hours:

Rose Caracappa Senior Center

● 739 NY-25A, Mount Sinai

● Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; Closed Sunday

Village of Head of the Harbor

● 500 N. Country Rd., Saint James

● Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; Closed Sunday

The disaster declaration includes Suffolk County and neighboring Nassau County. Residents affected by the storms are encouraged to visit the centers for assistance. For more information on this program visit www.sba.gov. 

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Photo of Gould General Store taken circa 1890. Photo courtesy of Three Village Historical Society.

By Beverly C. Tyler

The post office in Stony Brook has a long history of service to the community. Until the 20th century, the postmaster was the only person authorized to handle letters and write money orders. Each rural post office had one representative of the postal system, the postmaster, who was appointed by the president of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate.

A postal system existed in Massachusetts as early as 1639. In 1672, New York Gov. Lovelace established service between New York and Boston along the future Boston Post Road. Benjamin Franklin was appointed Postmaster General for the British Colonies in America in 1753 and served until 1774, when he was dismissed by the Crown. He was reappointed by the Continental Congress in 1775 and served for 15 months, establishing a sound postal system. The U.S. postal system was created when Samuel Osgood was appointed the first Postmaster General on Sept. 26, 1789.

A portion from the 1873 Atlas from Beers, Comstock & Cline, showing Stony Brook Village. Photo courtesy of Three Village Historical Society.

The first Stony Brook postmaster was Nathaniel Hallock. According to National Archives records, he was appointed on March 21, 1826, and served until June 24, 1836. Little is known about Hallock or his post office, but it was likely part of a general store, as was typical of post offices on Long Island in the 19th century.

The cost of posting a letter weighing less than 1 ounce was six cents until 1847, when stamps were first issued. Letters were single sheets of paper folded, addressed, and delivered for six cents within 30 miles. Beyond 30 miles or for heavier letters, the cost increased slightly, with a maximum charge of 25 cents for a letter traveling more than 400 miles. For example, a letter sent to “Mr. William S. Mount – Stony Brook – Long Island – N.Y.” in 1841 from Monticello, Georgia, was marked, folded, sealed, and addressed in the customary manner of the time.

The second Stony Brook postmaster was James N. Gould, who was appointed in 1836 and served until 1861. He was reappointed on March 29, 1867, and served until 1870. Gould owned and operated a general store, which was located just north of where the Reboli Center now stands. The store was demolished before 1900, as was Gould’s home, which stood just north of the store. Both were removed to make way for the village improvements in the 1940s by Ward Melville.

According to local lore, it was said to be impossible to ask for any item James Gould didn’t have in his store. On a bet, a customer once asked for a pulpit, and Gould amazed everyone by producing one from the store’s attic.

The third postmaster, Edward Oakes, began his service in 1861 as the Civil War began at Fort Sumter. He served until 1867, when James Gould resumed the position. During this period, the post office introduced the money order system in 1864 to allow soldiers to send money home. Only the postmaster could process money orders, as he was the sole postal employee.

Oakes’ general store was located north of Gould’s store and home, on the west side of the business triangle along what was then Main Street. Residents recalled a long horse block in front of the store where men gathered for evening chats. Oakes served as postmaster again from 1870 to 1885. During this time, the store was known as “Oakes and Topping,” later “Topping and Smith,” and eventually, around 1901, “E.E. Topping.”

William O. Gould succeeded Oakes as postmaster in 1885, taking over his father’s general store. He served until 1889, during which time the post office expanded its services. In 1885, the special delivery service was introduced, allowing for prompt mail delivery, which marked a shift from the rural post office’s general store model to independent operations.

From 1889 through the end of the century, Stony Brook had five postmasters. John W. Copley was appointed in 1889, followed by David R. Rayner in 1892. Charles J. Williamson succeeded Rayner on Aug. 4 of that year. William O. Gould returned as postmaster in 1893. On May 1, 1895, Nellie E. Smith became Stony Brook’s first female postmaster. In 1898, Daniel W. Arnold became postmaster, serving for less than two years.

The turn of the century brought stability to the post office as it continued to grow and adapt to the needs of the community.

Beverly C. Tyler is the Three Village Historical Society historian and the author of books available from the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket. Tel: 631-751-3730.

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Front row, first from left: Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) surrounded by law enforcement officers. Top row, middle: Joan Alpers, the director of Child Life Services at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, and Landan Hoenig, founder of Teddies for Happiness. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo

By Toni-Elena Gallo

Selden resident Landan Hoenig has always been an altruistic young man. 

When asked why Hoenig was interested in starting his two-year-old initiative Teddies for Happiness, his grandmother Christina Rundberg replied, “he has always been this way.”

“Landan is always getting involved with different things — very involved with our church when he was young. He’s just an all around good kid,” Rundberg continued.

A law enforcement agent unloading gifts from his vehicle, assisted by Stony Brook Children’s Hospital employees. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo

This charity operation came to fruition in 2023, when Hoenig, a student at St. Joseph’s University who works as a traffic control officer for the Southampton Town Police Department, had interned with the Town Police in Spring of 2023 through the Suffolk County Community College Criminal Justice Program internship class, and was energized by his experience.

“Doing the internship with them and then getting a job as a traffic control officer with them, actually helped inspire me to create this event,” Hoenig said.

He originally planned to donate only teddy bears to Stony Brook Children’s Hospital but decided to expand the drive to include all types of toys when finalizing his idea. “I had only two months of prep time to put it all together. It was a very small turnout because, with two months, I really wasn’t sure what I was doing, but it was still very successful,” Hoenig explained.

Hoenig credits having a nine-month prepping period this time, helping make this year’s drive on a bigger scale.

“I knew what I was doing this time.”

In a similar format to 2023’s drive, Hoenig gathered the donated toys at a car show, this year held at the Levitt Ballfield Park in Centereach. Eighteen law enforcement agencies were involved in attracting attendees, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, National Park Service Law Enforcement Rangers, New York State Police and Stony Brook University Police Department, as opposed to last year’s two, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police and Centereach Fire Department. There with their service vehicles, they invited visitors to engage with them as well as listen to music with radio stations 106.1 WBLI and 102.3 WBAB, eat Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwiches and cookies, provided by the restaurant chain and, most importantly, donate toys.

 “About 150 to 200 people came, and I have eighteen boxes of toys. Half of them I put here at the hospital, and the other half I’m bringing to St. Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church in Selden, where they will be split up between the Saint Cuthbert’s Food Pantry and a local women’s shelter,” Hoenig said. The name of the shelter was not disclosed.

According to Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D, Stony Brook), while the Town of Brookhaven did co-sponsor the event and provided the car show’s venue, “all the credit for the hard work goes to Landan for his enormous time commitment in following up with all of these agencies.”

After numerous law enforcement agencies pulled up to Stony Brook Children’s Hospital on Friday, Dec. 6, including the Suffolk County Police Department and a van from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s office, numerous law enforcement agents unloaded their vehicles with the assistance of hospital volunteers.

Addressing the small crowd which gathered to assist and watch Hoenig carry out his mission to “provide joy to people no matter what type of situation they are in, even if it’s just a little bit of joy.” Hoenig thanked “not only the Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, but the great, amazing officers who want to help people. I cannot be more thankful, so thank you for being able to help me.’

“It was so fun organizing all of the boxes for two hours last night, because I am a last minute person,” he laughed.

Joan Alpers, director of Child Life Services at Stony Brook Medicine, was extremely grateful for Hoenig’s charitable spirit. “We are grateful for all of our main donors at this time of year, and he is one of our significant donors, and we’re happy to have him come back.”

“Thank you, I can’t wait to come back next year,” Hoenig smiled.

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