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Yearly Archives: 2024

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A MESSAGE OF LOVE Singer Toby Tobias heads to Comsewogue Public Library in concert on Jan. 21. Photo by Clyde Berge
Thursday January 18

Four Harbors Audubon lecture

Join the Four Harbors Audubon Society for a winter lecture via Zoom at 7 p.m. Guest speaker Jennifer Ackerman will discuss her latest book, What An Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds, in a multimedia presentation with photos, videos and audio recordings. Registration required by visiting 4has.org/upcoming-events.

Comedy Night at the CAC

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington presents an evening of comedy with Peter Bales and Rich Walker at 8 p.m. Hosted by Steven Taub, the program will include a screening of a video segment ‘Day in the life of a stand-up comedian’ from the Emmy nominated PBS documentary ‘Laugh a Day’ featuring Dom Irrera and a grouping of legendary comedians and a sit-down interview with Bales and Walker in celebration of the art of stand-up comedy. Tickets are $40 per person, $30 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org.| 

Friday January 19

No events listed for this day.

Saturday January 20

Maple Sugaring

Join the staff of Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington for a maple sugaring workshop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  This interactive program geared for adults will teach you how to make your own maple syrup at home! Not recommended for children. $4 per person. Please call for 631-423-1770 for reservations.

Winter Wonderland Walk

Town of Brookhaven continues its Winter Nature Program series with a Winter Wonderland Walk at West Meadow Beach Pavilion in Stony Brook at 10 a.m. and at Cedar Beach Nature Center at 2 p.m. During these walks your guide will discuss the stark beauty of the beach and salt marsh in the cold season. Explore the effects of snow and ice on the natural environment, discuss wildlife adaptations, identify plants in their winter form, and observe active winter wetlands. Free but registration is required by emailing [email protected].

Health and Wellness Fair

Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill, Farmingville will host its 4th annual Health and Wellness Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Fair will feature over 70 vendors from the healthcare industry who will provide valuable information about health insurance, healthcare law and health services available to Brookhaven Town residents with complimentary refreshments, raffles, giveaways, free health screenings, interactive activities,  and face painting for children. 631-451-6331

Sunday January 21

Toby Tobias in concert

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station welcomes singer Toby Tobias in concert at 1:30 p.m. The South African-born musician will present an original multimedia performance titled Journey from Johannesburg that chronicles his story of growing up in Apartheid-era South Africa. Open to all. Call 631-928-1212 to reserve your seat.

Historic Spirits and Ghosts lecture

Celebrate St. James continues its Living History series with a lecture titled Talking with the Historic Spirits and Ghosts around St. James at the Calderone Theatre, 176 Second St., St. James at 2 p.m. Medium and paranormal investigator Joe Giaquinto will share his personal experiences during in-depth ghost investigations of local historic properties. Tickets are $25, $20 members at www.celebratestjames.org. 631-984-0201

LITMA Contradance

Join the Long Island Traditional Music Association for a Contradance at the Frank Brush Barn, 211 East Main St., Smithtown at 2 p.m. Basic instruction begins at 1:45 p.m. with live music from Torrent and Chart Guthrie as caller. Admission is $15 adults, $10 members, $7.50 students, children under 16 free with paid adult. 631-369-7854

Simple Days in concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will host a concert by Simple Days featuring Dusty Bowl and LoriAnn Lennon 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 22

TVHS lecture

Three Village Historical Society continues its lecture series at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket tonight at 7 p.m. Robert Müller will make a presentation titled Long Island Lighthouses: Past & Present based on Müller’s 2004 book of the same name and his experience as a local lighthouse history researcher and preservationist. Images in the program range from the 1850s to the present and include lighthouse keepers, lightships, and lighthouses that no longer stand. Free and open to all. Donations appreciated. To register, visit www.tvhs.org. 631-751-3730.

Tuesday January 23

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a concert by singer/guitarist Alex Alexander — an NSJC favorite — in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

Preschool Fair

Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook will host a Preschool and Daycare Showcase at 6 p.m. Meet with representatives of local preschools and daycare services. No registration required. 631-588-5024

Wednesday January 24

No events listed for this day.

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.

Film
Robert Hays in a scene from ‘Airplane!’

‘Airplane!’

“Roger, Roger. What’s our vector Victor?” Join the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington for a screening of the Comic Gem Airplane! on Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. In this quintessential parody of disaster movies traumatized ex-fighter pilot Ted Striker has been unable to hold a job due to his fear of flying and “drinking problem.” When his ex-girlfriend, Elaine Dickinson, now a flight attendant, leaves him before boarding her assigned flight,Ted drops everything and buys a plane ticket to try to win her back. After the pilots become ill, it’s up to him to land the plane. Introduction by film historian Glenn Andreiev. Tickets are $16, $10 members. To order tickets in advance, visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Theater

‘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. See review on page B13.

‘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. 

‘(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].

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Princess with her new mom Sonya. Photo from Little Shelter

Arriving at Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center’s doorstep in Huntington on March 3, 2021, ten-year-old Terrier mix Princess was malnourished, emaciated, and in need of a miracle. 

Utilizing due diligence and some rather impressive detective work, the medical team diagnosed her with a combination of inflammatory bowel disease and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This complex situation allowed her to eat normally, though it rendered her unable to digest and absorb sufficient nutrients to maintain a normal healthy weight. Once prescribed the correct medications and diet, this warrior Princess began to flourish, her positive spirit winning everyone’s hearts.

Over time, as so often happens, other medical issues arose. Princess began requiring Insulin to keep her endocrine system in check and also lost most of her functional vision. Rather than looking at these as challenges, she saw them as opportunities to spend more time with the staff and volunteers already smitten with her, garnering even more support.

With her every need met, including being the best-dressed occupant of Kennel One, she still dreamed of a home to call her own. Enter Sonya, a previous staffer and now exceptional volunteer, who began taking Princess out for a few hours at a time to enjoy new experiences. Gradually, those brief adventures turned into overnight stays at Sonya’s home where she relished being part of a family.

Unable to resist this royal’s powers of persuasion, Sonya made the decision to become her permanent foster. After years of being in multiple rescues, Princess found a soft place to land at Little Shelter, day one of her miracle. Spending each day in between filled with curiosity, zeal, and the intention of living life to the fullest, a mere 1,039 days later our perfect Princess has found her happily ever after with Sonya. 

Albert Einstein once said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is that everything is a miracle.” Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center chooses to believe the latter.

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Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

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 stole from a store in Medford this month.

A man stole a chainsaw valued at $208 from Lowe’s Home Improvement, located at 2796 Route 112, on January 5 at 3:37 p.m. The suspect fled in a tan Hyundai Elantra.

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.

 

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Police car

A Port Jefferson Station man died after he became trapped between two hangar doors in Calverton on Jan. 15.

Riverhead Police Department responded to Old Castle Precast located at 931 Burman Blvd in Calverton and found 56-year-old Thomas Savier of Port Jefferson Station unconscious and not breathing. 

It appeared that Savier had attempted to enter the facility through one of the large hanger doors, which was partially opened. As Savier was doing so, the hanger door closed, pinning him in between two portions of the door. 

After an unknown period of time, two other male subjects were able to free Savier from the door using a forklift and then began CPR. Riverhead Town Ambulance responded and attempted life saving measures; however, Savier succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to contact Riverhead Police at 631-727-4500.

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File photo

Suffolk County Police arrested two people on Jan. 16 for allegedly selling marijuana and vape products during compliance checks at businesses in the Second Precinct.

In response to numerous community complaints, Suffolk County Police Second Precinct officers conducted an investigation into the sale of marijuana and vape products during which 13 businesses were checked for compliance with the law.

During the investigation, two businesses were found to be selling marijuana and vape products. The following people were charged with alleged Unlawful Sale of Cannabis:

• Jacob Abdulluh, 21, of Bay Shore, employed at Venom Smoke Shop II, located at 6160 Jericho Turnpike, Commack.

• Gregory Bux, 30, of Deer Park, employed at Gotham Smoke Shop, 681 E. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station.

Abdulluh and Bux were both issued Field Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to appear for
arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.

 

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Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD
Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Just released! Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly stole from a Commack store in October of last year.

A man allegedly stole merchandise from Kohls, located at 45 Crooked Hill Road, on October 5 at approximately 5:45 p.m. The merchandise was valued at $975.

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.

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Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD
Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly stole from a store in Commack this month.

A man allegedly stole a baby monitor valued at $299 from Target, located at 98 Veterans Memorial Highway, on January 3 at approximately 3:35 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.

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Do you recognize this woman? Photo from SCPD
Do you recognize this woman? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police First Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate two women who allegedly stole money from an East Farmingdale store in January.

Two women allegedly distracted a cashier and stole $1,600 from BJ’s Wholesale Club, located at 50 Daniel St., on January 10 at approximately 3:50 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.

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Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Just released! Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Riverhead Police Department detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly stole from a farm stand in Wading River in November.

A man allegedly stole merchandise from Finks Farmstand, located at 6242 Middle Country Road, on November 18 at approximately 5:23 a.m. The suspect fled the scene in a dark colored pickup truck.

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 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.

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James Konopka. Photo by Susan Watanabe

By Daniel Dunaief

Most of the time, the fungus Candida albicans, which is ubiquitous on the skin, inside people’s mouths, throat, and guts, among other places, doesn’t cause problems. It can, however, be an opportunistic infection, particularly in people who are immunocompromised, leading to serious illness and even death.

Antifungal infections work best during the early stage of an infection. Once a severe infection becomes established, it responds less well to drugs, as resistance can become a problem.

James “Jamie” Konopka, Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, is working to find the mechanism that enables C. albicans to resist attack by the immune system. His long term goal is to identify ways to make the fungus more vulnerable to immune defenses.

In a paper published recently in the journal mBio, which is published by the American Society of Microbiology, Konopka identified the mechanism by which hypochlorous acid, which is produced by cells in the immune system, attacks C. albicans.

He expanded this by testing forms of the fungus that lack specific genes. These mutants can be more vulnerable to attack by hypochlorous acid, which is produced by neutrophils and is also called “human bleach.” Longer term, Konopka hopes to find ways to sensitize the fungus to this acid, which would bolster the ability of the immune system to respond to an infection.

His study showed that hypochlorous acid disrupts the plasma membrane, which is a layer of lipids that surround the cell. Once this is breached, parts of the cell leak out, while more bleach can damage the fungus.

Hypochlorous acid reacts with proteins, lipids and DNA.

The activated immune system produces several chemicals known as “reactive oxygen species.” In some cells, particularly neutrophils, hydrogen peroxide is converted into hypochlorous acid to strengthen and diversify the attack.

To be sure, the discovery of the mechanism of action of hypochlorous acid won’t lead to an immediate alternative therapeutic option, as researchers need to build on this study.

Future studies will examine how some genes promote resistance, and which are likely to be the most promising targets for drug development, Konopka explained.

Increase sensitivity

These are C. albicans cells growing invasively into tissue in a mouse model of an oral infection. The candida hyphae are stained black, and the tissue is stained a blue/green. Image from James Konopka

Konopka suggested that increasing the sensitivity of the fungus to hypochlorous acid would likely prove more effective and less potentially toxic than increasing the amount of the acid, which could also damage surrounding tissue.

“Our idea is to sensitize fungal pathogens” to hypochlorous acid “rather than upping the dose of bleach, which could lead to negative consequences,” Konopka said. Ideally, he’d like to “take the normal level and make it more effective” in eradicating the fungus.

Other scientists funded by the National Institutes of Health created a set of about 1,000 different strains of the fungus, which provides a valuable resource for Konopka and others in the scientific community.

In a preliminary screen of plasma membrane proteins, Konopka and his team found that most of the mutants had at least a small increase in sensitivity. Some, however, had stronger effects, which will guide future experiments.

One of the challenges in working with a fungus over pathogens like bacteria or viruses is that fungi are more closely related biologically to humans. That means that an approach that might weaken a fungus could have unintended and problematic consequences for a patient.

“Although they may look very different on the outside, the inner workings of fungi and humans are remarkably similar,” Konopka explained in an email. This has made it difficult to find antifungal drugs that are not toxic to humans.

An ‘overlooked’ ally

Konopka suggested that scientists have been studying hydrogen peroxide, which is also made by immune system combatants like macrophages and neutrophils.

“It seemed to us that somehow bleach had been overlooked,” Konopka said. “It hadn’t been studied in the fungal world, so we launched” their research.

Konopka also believes the plasma membrane represents an effective place to focus his efforts on developing new drugs or for making current drugs more effective. 

Hydrochlorous acid “fell into our wheel house,” he said. In initial tests, Konopka discovered that human bleach caused damage to the membrane within minutes if not sooner, allowing outside molecules to enter freely, which could kill the potentially dangerous infection.

Considering the ubiquitous presence of the fungus, immunocompromised people who might conquer an infection at any given time could still be vulnerable to a future attack, even after an effective treatment. Even people with a healthy immune system could be reinfected amid a large enough fungal load from a biofilm on a medical device or catheter.

Providing vulnerable people with a prophylactic treatment could lower the risk of infection. When and if those patients develop an ongoing and health-threatening infection, doctors could use another set of drugs, although such options don’t currently exist.

In other work, Konopka has identified proteins in C. albicans that help CoQ, or ubiquinone, protect the plasma membrane from oxidation by agents such as hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid.

People can purchase ubiquinone at local stores, although Konopka urges residents to check with their doctors before taking any supplement.

Fish and beer

An organizer of a department wide Oktoberfest, Konopka was pleased that faculty, post doctoral researchers and students were able to decompress and enjoy the fall festival together for the first time since 2019.

In addition to a range of beer, attendees at the event, which occurred half way between the start of the semester and final exams, were able to partake in German food from Schnitzels in Stony Brook Village, which was a big hit.

An avid fly fisherman who catches and releases fish, Konopka said he caught some bigger striped bass this year than in previous years.

When he’s fishing, Konopka appreciates the way the natural world is interconnected. He pays attention to variables like the weather, water temperature, bait fish and the phases of the moon.

He particularly enjoys the wind and fresh air. This year, Konopka marveled at the sight of a bald eagle.

As for his work, Konopka said basic research may have an immediate effect or may contribute longer term to helping others in the scientific community build on his results, which could lead to the next breakthrough.

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