A scene from 'The Wizard of Oz." Photo courtesy of Fathom Events
Fathom Events’ Big Screen Classics 2024 kicks off with the beloved 1939 fantasy The Wizard of Oz returning to select theaters nationwide in honor of its 85th anniversary on Jan. 28, 29, and 31.
In this classic musical fantasy, Judy Garland stars as Dorothy Gale, a young Kansas farm girl who dreams of a land “somewhere over the rainbow.” Dorothy’s dream comes true when she, her dog Toto, and her family’s house are transported by a tornado to a bright and magical world unlike anything she has seen before. Unfortunately, she makes a mortal enemy of theWicked Witch of the West when the house falls on her sister. Now, befriended by a scarecrow without a brain, a tin man with no heart and a cowardly lion, and protected by a pair of enchanted ruby slipper, Dorothy sets off along a yellow brick road for the Emerald City to beseech the all-powerful Wizard of Oz for his help to return home.
The Wizard of Oz received five Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture (Outstanding Production), and captured two Oscars®—Best Song (“Over the Rainbow”) and Best Original Score — plus a special award for Outstanding Juvenile Performance by Judy Garland.
Each screening includes an exclusive introduction by acclaimed film critic and historian Leonard Maltin, shedding light on the groundbreaking film’s incredible legacy and lasting impact—both on cinema and pop culture.
Locally the film will be screened at AMC Stony Brook 17, Island 16 Cinema de Lux in Holtsville, Showcase Cinema de Lux in Farmingdale and Regal UA Farmingdale. For tickets, visit www.fathomevents.com.
AN EVENING OF STORYTELLING
Northport Symphony Orchestra presents a winter concert at the Northport High School on Feb. 26. Photo courtesy of NSO
Thursday January 25
Library Book Sale
Center Moriches Free Public Library, 235 Main St., Center Moriches will hold an Antique, Vintage, and Premium Book Sale sponsored by the Friends of the Library today from 2 to 8 p.m., Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All proceeds benefit Library. 631-438-6972
Beyond the Book Club
Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor continues its Beyond the Book Club series with The Soul of the Octopus at 6:30 p.m. Can an animal — not to mention an invertebrate — possess intelligence? Consciousness? A soul? These are some of the questions author Sy Montgomery tackles in her emotional and enlightening portrait of one of the ocean’s most fascinating creatures — the octopus. Explore historical documents from the museum’s collection that reveal how 19th century whalers viewed whales and discover how these views have changed over time. $15 per participant. To register, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.
Native American Drumming
All Souls Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook will host an evening of Native American Drumming Meditation from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. Call 631-655-7798 for more information.
Friday January 26
Coffee House concert
Celebrate St. James continues its Coffee House series at the St. James Calderone Theatre, 176 Second St., St. James with John Zollo featuring the songs of Tony Bennett at 7 p.m. with special coffee beverages, tea and sweet treats. Tickets are $25, $20 members. For tickets, visit www.celebratestjames.org. 631-984-0201
American Heritage Night
Kings Park Heritage Museum, RJO Intermediate School auditorium, 101 Church St., Kings park presents American Heritage Night at 7 p.m. Featuring the Big Band sounds of The Gold Coast Jazz Band with a guest performance by Robert Levey II. Free admission. 631-269-3305, www.kpheritagemuseum.net
Symphony Orchestra concert
The Northport Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Eric Mahl, will present a classical music concert titled Storytelling at Northport High School, 154 Laurel Hill Road, Northport at 8 p.m. The concert will feature “Scheherazade” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov and “Magnolias” by Robert Nathaniel Dett. Tickets are $15.www.northportsymphony.org.
Friday Night Face-Off
Friday Night Face Off, Long Island’s longest running Improv Comedy Show, returns to Theatre Three’s Second Stage, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson tonight at 10:30 p.m. Using audience suggestions, FNFO pits two teams of improvisers against each other in an all-out championship! Recommended for ages 16 and up, due to adult content. Tickets are $15 at the door – cash only. 631-928-9100
Saturday January 27
Port Jefferson Ice Festival
Port Jefferson Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce presents the 5th annual Port Jefferson Ice Festival today and Jan. 28 from noon to 5 p.m. Enjoy ice sculptures throughout the village along with live music, dance performances, ice skating demos, live ice carvings by Rich Daly, character photo opportunities, horse-drawn wagon rides and more. Rain dates are Feb. 3 and 4. 631-473-1414
Rock N Raptors fundraiser
Sweetbriar Nature Center will hold a Rock N Raptors fundraiser at the Bates House, 1 Bates Road, Setauket from 2 to 6 p.m. with live music, raptor presentations, raffles, games, food and more. Musical guests include 45 RPM, Screamer of the Week (Classic New Wave)and an acoustic duet with George Tebbitt and Mike Green of Beyond Fab. Tickets are $25 per person, children under 12 free. To order, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org. 631-979-6344
Ceramics fundraiser
Join the Art League of Long Island for a Ceramics Department Fundraiser at Vanderbilt Elementary School, 350 Deer Park Ave., Dix Hills at 5 p.m. Titled Made with Mud, Kissed by Fire, the event will feature raffles, an auction, and hors-doeuvres for you to enjoy while helping the Art League enhance and maintain the facilities and equipment in their ceramic studios. $55 admission fee includes a small bowl to go home with. Register at www.artleagueli.org. 631-462-5400
Sunday January 28
Port Jefferson Ice Festival
See Jan 27 listing.
Le Petit Salon concert
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 380 Nicolls Road, E. Setauket hosts a Le Petit Salon de Musique classical concert featuring soprano Rachel Schutz and pianist Andrea Christie at 2 p.m. Titled Silence the program will include works by Morfydd Owen, Grace Williams, Margaret Bonds, Thomas Osborne and Sergei Rachmaninov. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 students $10 ages 12 and under at the door. To purchase in advance, visit www.lepetitsalon.org. 631-751-0297
Ken McGorry in concert
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will host a concert by Ken McGorry and the Achievements from 3 to 4 p.m. The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. For more information, call 689-5888 or visit www.limusichalloffame.org.
Monday January 29
No events listed for this day.
Tuesday January 30
NSJC Social Club event
North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a concert by the barbershop quartet“Once Upon a Time”—100 years of combined singing experience, entertaining audiences all around Long Island — in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737
Wednesday January 31
No events listed for this day.
Thursday February 1
Unsung Heroes program
Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station kicks off Black History month with a program titled Unsung Heroes: Segregated Military Units from 7 to 8 p.m. Learn about history of the African American units that bravely served their country in the face of discrimination. Open to all. Call 631-928-1212 or visit www.cplib.org to register.
An Evening of Jazz
The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook presents a concert featuring The Jazz Loft Big Band, a 7-piece big band directed by Jazz Loft Director Tom Manuel, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children and children under 5 years old are free. To order tickets, visit www.thejazzloft.org.
Film
‘Joke Man’
Join the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook for a special screening of Jackie Martling’s Joke Man on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Famous for being the head writer of the Howard Stern show for 15 years and infamous for leaving that position, Martling’s life story is fascinating, funny, and heartwarming. Joke Man is a universal story of self-discovery and the how humor is one of the keys to happiness. Followed by a Q&A with Jacki Martling. Tickets are $35 per person and includes admission to the Hall of Fame museum. For more information, call 689-5888 or visit www.limusichalloffame.org.
‘I Remember Mama’
Celebrate St. James continues its Classic Movie Series with a screening of I Remember Mama at the St. James Calderone Theatre, 176 Second St., St. James on Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. The 1948 film follows a young writer recalls her ups and downs of growing up as one of four children to Norwegian immigrant parents in 1910s San Francisco. Tickets are $25, $20 seniors. To register, call 631-984-0201 or visit www.celebratestjames.org.
‘Toxic Beauty’
Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington and Green Inside and Out present a special screening of Toxic Beauty on Jan. 28 at 2:30 p.m. The documentary reveals the truth about harmful health consequences of chemicals found in everyday beauty products, the huge corporations that knowingly use them and the lack of governmental regulations to protect consumers and follows the class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and the plaintiffs. Preceded by a panel discussion regarding the Toxic Free Cosmetics Act. Tickets are $16, $10 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org. 631-423-7610
Theater
UP FOR A GAME OF CARDS? Catch a performance of ‘The Gin Game’ at Theatre Three. The show runs through Feb. 3. Photo courtesy of Theatre Three
‘The Gin Game’
Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson presents D.L. Colburn’s The Gin Game from Jan. 13 to Feb. 3. A fierce battle of wits and wills is revealed as a mismatched pair in a retirement facility inadvertently reveal their hearts as they show their hands in increasingly combative rounds of gin rummy. Poignant, powerful, and heartbreakingly honest, The Gin Game shows that secrets held close to the vest are not safe from being put on the table. The production stars Theatre Three veterans Bradlee and Marci Bing. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘I Love You, You’re Perfect …’
John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St. Northport presents I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, a witty musical revue that tackles modern love in all its forms: from the perils and pitfalls of the first date to marriage, children, and the twilight years of life, from Jan. 18 to March 3. Set in the modern world and told in a series of vignettes and songs, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change traces the overall arc of relationships throughout the course of a life. To order tickets, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. See review on page B13.
‘(Mostly) True Things’
The Performing Arts Studio, 224 East Main Street, Port Jefferson presents a production of (Mostly) True Things on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. with stories on the theme Sucker For Love about those times we go to extremes, abandon reason and take big leaps because of love. Four storytellers will compete to win the audience’s choice for the biggest “sucker for love.” Also 3 of the stories will include subtle little lies, but all the stories are otherwise true. The audience gets to question the storytellers, then vote for the person they think told it straight. Tickets are $20 online at eventbrite.com, $25 at the door (cash only).
Farmers Markets
Huntington Farmers Market
Spirit of Huntington Art Center, 2 Melville Road North, Huntington Station hosts the Long Island Winter Farmers Market every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through March. 631-470-9620
Port Jefferson Farmers Market
The Port Jefferson Winter Farmers Market returns to the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through April 28. 631-802-2160
Class Reunions
•Centereach High School Class of 1974 will hold its 50th reunion at the Meadow Club, 1147 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station on April 26 from 6 to 10 p.m. For more information, email Jean Ann Renzulli at [email protected].
•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. For more information, email Mike Whelen at [email protected]
Tickets are going fast for 'Frozen Jr.' at the John W. Engeman Theater. The show opens Jan. 27.
PROGRAMS
First Steps in Nature
Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown will host a First Steps into Nature program titled Discover Your Senses: Camouflage, Sounds, Textures, & 5 Senses on Jan. 26 at 9:30 a.m. Children ages 2 to 4 will learn about nature through hands on activities, music, crafts, stories and gain a greater appreciation of nature and wildlife while having fun. $20 per class. To register, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org. 631-979-6344
Growing Up Wild
Town of Brookhaven continues its nature programs series at the Cedar Beach Nature Center, 244 Harbor Beach Road, Mt. Sinai with Growing Up Wild on Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. Children ages 3 to 6 with a parent or caregiver will enjoy learning about nature through story time and a related craft or activity. Free but registration required by emailing [email protected].
Story & Craft with Nana Carol
The Next Chapter bookstore, 204 New York Avenue Huntington hosts a Story and Craft event with Nana Carol on Jan. 29 at 10:30 a.m. No registration required. Appropriate for ages 0-4 (sometimes older siblings join as well). 631-482-5008
Erupting Volcanoes
Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park presents a Tiny Tots program titled Erupting Volcanos on Feb. 1 from 10 :30 to 11:30 a.m. Children ages 3 to 5 with a parent or caregiver will enjoy short walks, story time, animal visitors, and crafts. $4 per child. To register, call 631-269-4333.
Night at the Museum
Explore, learn, and lay after hours at the Long Island Explorium, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson during its Night at the Museum event on Feb. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. Children in grades 2 to 5 will enjoy pizza, play at the museum after-hours and participate in a fun STEM-themed activity. $40 per child. To register, visit www.longislandexplorium.org. 631-331-3277
THEATER
‘Frozen Jr.’
Frozen Jr. returns to the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport on weekends from Jan. 27 to March 3. When faced with danger, princesses Anna and Elsa discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. This enchanting musical features all of the memorable songs from the hit Disney film including “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?,” “For the First Time in Forever” and “Let It Go.” All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
‘Jack and the Beanstalk’
Children’s theater continues at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson with Jack and the Beanstalk — or The Boy Who Cried “Giant!” from Jan. 20 to Feb. 3. A handful of magic beans starts our hero and his best friend, Filpail the Cow, on one of the best-remembered adventures. Come explore the Castle in the Sky with Jack as he learns the importance of truth-telling in a hilarious original musical for the entire family. All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
FILM
‘The Wizard of Oz’
Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Cinema for Kids! series with a screening of The Wizard of Oz on Jan. 28 at noon. In this classic musical fantasy, a young Kansas farm girl dreams of a land “somewhere over the rainbow.” Dorothy’s dream comes true when she, her dog, Toto, and her family’s house are transported by a tornado to a bright and magical world unlike anything she has seen before. Tickets are $13 adults, $5 children 12 and under. www.cinemaartscentre.org.
DANCE
‘Swan Lake Act II’
Ballet Long Island, 1863 Pond Road, Ronkonkoma will present a performance of Swan Lake Act II on Feb 7 at 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. and Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. Dazzling white and beautiful best describe the second act of the most classical of all classical ballets: Swan Lake, choreographed to Tchaikovsky’s brilliant music. Tickets are $20 adult, $10 senior citizen, $10 children. To order, call 631-737-1984or visit www.balletlongisland.com
The cast of 'Jack and the Beanstalk' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Jack and the Beanstalk.' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Jack and the Beanstalk.' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Jack and the Beanstalk.' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Jack and the Beanstalk.' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Jack and the Beanstalk.' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Jack and the Beanstalk.' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Jack and the Beanstalk.' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Jack and the Beanstalk.' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
By Heidi Sutton
The temperature outside was a bone-chilling 22 degrees as I drove into Theatre Three’s parking lot in Port Jefferson last Sunday morning. Once inside, however, the atmosphere was warm and inviting as families with young children settled in their seats to watch a most excellent performance of Jack and the Beanstalk or The Boy Who Cried Giant!
Written by Jeffrey Hoffman, Douglas J. Quattrock and Jeffrey Sanzel the original musical combines the well known fairytale with the classic fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf and tells the story of a nice boy named Jack (played by Sean Amato) who lives in a small village with his mother (Josie McSwane) and his best friend in the entire world, Filpail the Cow (Julia Albino).
But Jack has a problem — he tends to exaggerate and has told so many tall tales (“I can even wash a cat!,” “My cow can speak in seven different languages!”) that no one believes him anymore. “Someday your stories are going to get you in trouble,” his mother warns. Jack also receives a visit from the Fairy Mary Goodwing (Cassidy Rose O’Brien) who tries to convince him to “always tell the truth and you will be true to yourself.”
One day his mother tells him that they have no other choice than to sell Filpail to Butcher Blackstone (Ryan Worrell). On the way to the market, Jack and his cow meet two pirate gypsies, Marco and Margot (Liam Marsigliano and Kaitlyn Jehle), who claim they want to buy Filpail for “cowpanionship” (they really want to sell her to Butcher Blackstone) and trick Jack into trading her for some magic beans.
Jack’s mother is furious when she finds out what happened and throws the beans away. A giant beanstalk suddenly appears, signaling the start of a wonderful adventure.
In Act Two, Jack climbs the beanstalk and discovers a castle in the sky occupied by a cranky (and whiny!) giant (Ryan Worrell), the giant’s wife (Gina Lardi), a golden harp (Liam Marsigliano) and a hen that lays golden eggs (Kaitlyn Jehle).
When Jack returns home and tells his mother and the villagers what he has seen no one believes him. He decides to return to the giant’s castle with Filpail to bring something back as evidence. The giant’s wife gives Jack a pair of her husband’s enormous pants. But as they are about to leave, the giant gets a whiff of the boy and his cow (“Fee Fi Fo Fum!”). Will they escape in time?
Under the direction of Steven Uihlein, a talented cast of eight adult actors play multiple roles during this action adventure. The songs, accompanied on piano by Douglas J. Quattrock, are catchy and fun and there’s even a tap dance number choreographed by Sari Feldman.
Costume designer Jason Allyn deserves “giant” accolades for the beautiful outfits and props, including a three-foot-long sneaker and a beanstalk that magically grows all the way to the ceiling.
With the important message that one should always tell the truth, Jack and the Beanstalk will warm your heart. Don’t miss this one. Meet the cast in the lobby after the show for photos.
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Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Jack and the Beanstalk through Feb. 3. Children’s theater continues with Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz from Feb. 21 to March 16; The Adventures of Peter Rabbit from April 13 to 27; and a brand new show, The Mystery of the Missing Ever After, from May 25 to June 15. All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
Smithtown Township Arts Council announced in a press release that the works of Smithtown artist Kusuma Bheemineni will be on view at Apple Bank of Smithtown, 91 Route 111, Smithtown from Jan. 26 to March 22. The exhibition, part of the Arts Council’s Outreach Gallery Program, may be viewed during regular banking hours Monday – Thursday 9 am – 4 pm; Friday 9 am – 6 pm; Saturday 9 am – 1 pm.
Smithtown resident Kusuma Bheemineni has had a passion for sketching and painting since childhood. She began painting in oils at the age of 16, then added watercolor to her list of accomplished mediums.
Bheemineni had to put her love for painting on hold to pursue a career in the medical field as a physician. Many years later she is happy to have the time to return to her long-time passion which brings her so much joy!
“STAC is grateful to Apple Bank for its continued support of culture in our communities. We are so happy to feature the talents of Long Island artists in this space!” read the press release.
Smithtown Township Arts Council is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization.
Join the Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport for a Victorian Valentine’s Day on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. Make your date night, Gal-entine’s, or early Valentine’s Day celebration unforgettable! Education Coordinator Carol Taylor takes you on a journey from the beginning of Valentine’s Day to modern times while learning (and sampling) wine paired with handcrafted chocolates. Your evening concludes with a gift provided by Nite Owl Promotions. Tickets are $60, $50 members and must be purchased in advance at www.northporthistorical.org. Ages 21+ only. Questions? Call 631-757-9859.
Evan Musterman with lead SRX beamline scientist Andrew Kiss at the SRX beamline. Photo by Kevin Coughlin/Brookhaven National Laboratory
By Daniel Dunaief
When he took over to lead the sub micron resolution X-ray spectroscopy, or SRX, beamline at Brookhaven National Laboratory on January 1, 2020, Andrew Kiss expected to balance between improving the machinery and helping visiting scientists use it. The pandemic, however, altered that balance.
BNL received components for the beamline in December 2019, when the researchers were going to try to take a fraction of the available x-ray time to install and commission it, all while still running experiments. The pandemic, however, kept scientists from visiting the site. That meant Kiss and his colleagues could dedicate more time to technical enhancements.
“Since the pandemic shut down the user program, this gave us an opportunity to focus all of our time on the new equipment” that visiting researchers could tap into when they returned, he explained in an email.
The beamline, which postdoctoral researcher Evan Musterman is enhancing further with diffraction techniques to reveal information about strain (see related story here), is in high demand. During the current cycle, 324 researchers applied for beamline time, while 99 time slots were allocated.
Scientists have a range of ways of discovering which beamline might best suit their research needs, including word of mouth. Kiss has had conversations with researchers who describe how they read something in a research paper and have similar goals.
Scientists “usually have a good idea of what instrument/ facility to use and why it is good for their research so informal conversations at conferences and seminars can be very useful,” Kiss said.
Most of Kiss’s time is dedicated to ensuring the stability and reliability of the beamline, as well as extending its capabilities to scan larger regions with less overhead, he explained.
“All of this is to help the researchers that come to the beamline, but my hope is that with this baseline of reliable and fast data acquisition, I can focus more on scientific topics such as metal additive manufacturing,” Kiss wrote.
With the SRX, Kiss can explore applied questions related to corrosion effects or how a material is modified by exposure to different gases, liquids or other parameters.
Working at the beamline has given Kiss an unusual perspective outside the lab. A few years ago, he received a notification about a recall on baby food he purchased that could have elevated levels of something unhealthy in it. His second thought, after making sure he didn’t give any to the child, was to wonder how much was in the food and if he could measure it. Before he could bring it to the lab, the contaminated food was already taken away with the garbage.
Kiss enjoys his work and suggested that the field attracts a “certain type of person and, once you are there, it is tough to pull yourself away from the instrument and the community of researchers around you,” he explained.
In addition to making basic discoveries in fields such as materials science, Earth science and biological sciences, the SRX beamline has played an important role in studies that have affected public policy.
Indeed, a study in 2022 showed that veterans who worked in Iraq and Afghanistan near burn pits had oxidized particles of iron and titanium in their lungs. “This is not direct evidence it came from a burn pit, but these were not seen in healthy lungs,” Kiss said. Only a few places in the world had the kind of machinery with a bright enough source and high enough resolution to discover these particles.
Kiss and collaborators from other laboratories, universities and medical institutions appreciated the opportunity to have a “positive impact on these soldiers’ lives by providing the measurements to get them help,” he said. The discovery of these elements in the lungs of veterans who lived near burn pits and suffered health consequences, which the study at SRX and other facilities helped demonstrate, led to the Pact Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022 and which provides $280 billion in federal funding for the health effects veterans suffer after exposure to such toxins.
SRX has high spatial resolution and is highly sensitive to trace concentrations for elemental mapping and chemical composition. SRX is an x-ray fluorescence microscope with “high spatial resolution and highly sensitive to trace concentrations for elemental mapping and chemical composition,” Kiss said. “If that can be used to help people’s lives, that is a wonderful thing.”
Evan Musterman at the SRX beamline. Photo by Kevin Coughlin/Brookhaven National Laboratory
By Daniel Dunaief
It’s everywhere, from holding the water we drink to providing a cover over the Norman Rockwell painting of “The Three Umpires” to offering a translucent barrier between our frigid winter backyards and the warm living room.
While we can hold it in our hands and readily see through it, glass and its manufacture, which has been ongoing for about 4,000 years, has numerous mysteries.
Indeed, given enough temperature and time, glass crystallizes. Controlling the process has been used to increase strength and chemical durability, tailor thermal properties and more over the last several decades.
Evan Musterman, who studied the way lasers served as a localized heat source to induce single crystal formation in glass when he was a graduate student at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based Lehigh University, joined Brookhaven National Laboratory in September as a postdoctoral researcher.
Musterman, who received funding for nine months at the end of his PhD program through the Department of Energy’s Office of Science Graduate Student Research program when he was at Lehigh that enabled him to work at BNL, is adding scanning x-ray diffraction mapping as a more user-ready technique at the Submicron Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy beamline (or SRX) that he used as a graduate student.
The beamline looks at x-ray fluorescence measurements, which provide information about the elemental distribution and chemical information, such as oxidation state and bond distances, in an experimental sample. The next component scientists are looking for is using diffraction to inform the crystal structure of the material and to gather information about strain, explained Andrew Kiss, the lead beamline scientist for the SRX.
Musterman hopes to build on the electron diffraction mapping he did during his PhD work when he studied the crystals he laser-fabricated in glass. X-rays, he explained, are more sensitive to atomic arrangements than electrons and are better at mapping strain.
Musterman’s “background in materials science and crystal structures made him an excellent candidate for a post-doc position,” Kiss said.
The SRX has applications in material science, geological science and biological imaging, among other disciplines.
Glass questions
For his PhD research, Musterman worked to understand how glass is crystallizing, particularly as he applied a laser during the process. He explored how crystal growth in glass is unique compared with other methods, leading to new structures where the crystal lattice can rotate as it grows.
Musterman finds the crystallization of glass ‘fascinating.” Using diffraction, he was able to watch the dynamics of the earliest stages after a crystal has formed. In his PhD work, he used a spectroscopy method to understand the dynamics of glass structure before the crystal had formed.
Musterman started working at the SRX beamline in June of 2022. He was already familiar with the beamline operation, data collection and types of data he could acquire, which has given him a head start in terms of understanding the possibilities and limitations.
In his postdoctoral research, he is developing diffraction mapping and is also finishing up the experiments he conducted during his PhD.
Himanshu Jain, Musterman’s PhD advisor at Lehigh who is Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, was pleased with the work Musterman did during his five years in his lab. Jain sees potential future extensions and applications of those efforts.
Musterman’s research “forms a foundation for integrated photonics, which is expected to revolutionize communications, sensors, computation and other technologies the way integrated circuits and microelectronics did 50-60 years ago,” Jain explained in an email. The goal is to “construct optical circuits of single crystal waveguides in a glass platform.”
Musterman’s work “showed details of these optical elements made in glass by a laser,” he added.
Jain, who is an alumnus of BNL, indicated that his lab is continuing to pursue the research Musterman started, with his former graduate student as a collaborator and guide.
Musterman appreciates the opportunity to work with other scientists from different academic and geographic backgrounds. In addition to working with other scientists and helping to refine the functionality of the SRX beamline, he plans to continue glass and glass crystallization research and their interactions with lasers. As he refines techniques, he hopes to answer questions such as measuring strain.
As glass is heated, atoms form an ordered crystalline arrangement that begins to grow. The nucleation event and crystal growth occurs at the atomic scale, which makes it difficult to observe experimentally. Nucleation is also rare enough to make it difficult to simulate.
Most theories describe crystal nucleation and growth in aggregate, leaving several questions unanswered about these processes on single crystals, Musterman explained.
As they are for most material processing, temperature and time are the most important factors for glass formation and glass crystallization.
Historically, studies of glass structure started shortly after the discovery of x-ray diffraction in 1913. In the 1950’s, S. Donald Stookey at Corning discovered he could crystallize glass materials to improve properties such as fracture resistance, which led to a new field of studies. Laser induced single crystal formation is one of the more recent developments.
Musterman and his colleagues found that laser crystallization does not always produce the same phase as bulk crystallization, although this is an active area of research.
Musterman created videos of the earliest stages of crystal growth under laser irradiation by direct imaging and with electron and x-ray diffraction.
Kiss anticipates that Musterman, who is reporting to him, will build infrastructure and understanding of the detection system in the first year, which includes building scanning routines to ensure that they know how to collect and interpret the data.
Once Musterman demonstrates this proficiency, the beamline scientists believe this expanded technical ability will interest scientists in several fields, such as materials science, energy science, Earth and environmental science and art conservation.
Pitching in with former colleagues
While Musterman is not required to work with other beamline users, he has helped some of his former colleagues at Lehigh as they “try to get their best data,” he said. He has also spoken with a scientist at Stony Brook University who has been collecting diffraction data.
A native of Troy, Missouri, Musterman lives in an apartment in Coram. When he was younger, he said science appealed to him because he was “always curious about how things worked.” He said he frequently pestered his parents with questions.
His father John, who owns a metal fabrication and machining business, would take various ingredients from the kitchen and encourage his son to mix them to see what happened.
As for the future, Musterman would like to work longer term in a lab like Brookhaven National Laboratory or in industrial research.
As 2024 unfolds, we find ourselves at war in the Middle East and in the Ukraine. Tens of thousands of innocent people have been slaughtered because of hate.
We have people running for public office peddling the election lie, demeaning and name-calling fellow Americans who are also running for public office. The people in power sit in silence and by their silence they affirm it’s okay to peddle lies and hatefully assassinate another person’s character.
In the religious community, many of our major religious leaders keep silent and are complicit, making excuses for those who hate and have no respect for the human person.
Congress is paralyzed. They were elected to lead and for the most part are frozen in place and distracted by nonsense, instead of really doing the people’s business.
COVID has impaired our educational system. The next generation of college students are ill prepared to continue higher education. Many don’t even know what a declarative sentence is. They possess very weak critical thinking and writing skills. On some levels, we as educators have failed them. We must do things differently.
They have little or no interest in civics, or on becoming the next generation of public leaders. They are more fixated on their cell phones and their social media platforms.
Every semester I ask my freshman at St. Joseph’s University and Suffolk County Community College how many would be willing to hand in their cell phone for the semester. The reaction is unfortunately predictable. You would think I was asking for a kidney. Last semester not one student was willing to take the risk and do this.
As a student of human behavior, I have seen a steady increase in student isolation, student disconnectedness, anxiety, and depression. When I raised these observations, they affirmed what I was seeing. I asked why? They said COVID, cellular technology intensified their insecurity and their fear of reaching out and honestly not knowing how to do it!
However, hope still lives. Those same students indicated that they wanted to make a difference in the world. They wanted to feel and strengthen their human connectedness. I am cautiously optimistic with the right support and education their human connectedness will grow and be strengthened.
They are our next generation of leaders, teachers, social workers, law enforcement professionals, and healthcare professionals just to name a few of the professions before them. We need this generation to recapture compassion, service and the desire to make the world a better place. I am hopeful that they will do a better job than we did.
Father Francis Pizzarelli, SMM, LCSW-R, ACSW, DCSW, is the director of Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson.
Can Purr-fection come in a cuter package? We think not … This lovable female Persian mix at the Smithtown Animal Shelter is approximately eight years young (estimated birthdate: 2015) and was found emaciated at her namesake; Taco Bell. She is outgoing, affectionate, vocal and a full-time love machine.
When she first arrived at the shelter she had severe tummy issues. However, the Smithtown Animal Shelter has her gastrointestinal issues down to science, which can be managed through a restricted diet. As a result, her hair has grown lush and thick, she has packed on weight and is ready for a family to adore her around the clock.
Taco Belle is outgoing and loving with everyone and would do well in a home with kids, other cats and even dogs. She is just learning how to properly use a litter box and does have accidents from time to time. The staff at the shelter are hoping to find her a good home that can be patient through the learning process.
If you are interested in meeting Taco Belle, please fill out an application to schedule time to properly interact with her in a domestic setting.
The Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Visitor hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only). For more information, call 631-360-7575 or visit www.townofsmithtownanimalshelter.com.
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