Pictured from left are David Lyons, Maggie Ramos and Michael Voltz of PSEG Long Island with John Tuke, Brandon King, Bruce Schadler and Steve Monez of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Photo courtesy of PSEG LI
PSEG Long Island recently commended Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) for its commitment to the environment. The lab completed several projects that qualified for rebates of nearly $280,000 through PSEG Long Island’s energy efficiency programs.
The renovations include replacing 5,700 lights with energy-saving LEDs, heating and cooling upgrades, and a sub-metering project, which will allow the lab to more effectively monitor and manage its energy usage.
CSHL is expected to realize nearly $300,000 in annual savings with the 1.7 million kWh of electricity these projects will save per year.
Pictured from left are David Lyons, Maggie Ramos and Michael Voltz of PSEG Long Island with John Tuke, Brandon King, Bruce Schadler and Steve Monez of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
PJ Country Club prior to collapse of gazebo and edge of tennis courts, undated photograph. Courtesy of PJ Village website
Phase 1 of the East Beach Bluff Stabilization was the first part of a $10 million initiative aimed at arresting bluff erosion and preventing the Village of Port Jefferson-owned country club from sliding down the slope.
This first phase of the project was completed in June 2023. By any official accounts of the time, Phase 1 was a success. But within months of completion a series of storms in late 2023 and early 2024 damaged the site, undoing costly work, setting back progress and hampering the goals of the project.
According to the May 2024 Bluff Monitoring Report covering the period from September 2023 to February 2024, conducted by GEI Consultants of Huntington Station (the engineering firm that designed Phase 1), the village had not implemented recommended repairs, increasing the risk of more complicated and expensive upkeep and repair in the future.
The report stated that “no maintenance or repairs to date were undertaken by the village following the storms,” further suggesting that the village implements “necessary repair to the project as soon as possible.”
The report’s findings have raised questions among residents and officials about the long-term viability of the stabilization efforts and financial resources needed for continued upkeep and repairs.
TBR News Media reviewed GEI’s 2024 Bluff Monitoring Report — required under the Department of Environmental Conservation permit for Phase 1 — and spoke to experts, village officials and residents, exploring the report’s recommendations and the obstacles confronting the village in completing its requirements.
Costs of phases 1 and 2
At the completion of Phase 1, a 358-foot wall of steel and cement was constructed at the base of a steep bluff, about 100-feet-tall, situated on East Beach, facing north toward the Long Island Sound.
As part of the project, the severely eroded bluff face — scoured and denuded by years of storms — underwent restoration. Native vegetation was planted and secured with eight rows of timber terraces, and coir logs (interwoven coconut fibers) at the lower section and, toward the crest, with burlap netting.
The total cost of the Phase 1 project according to village treasurer, Stephen Gaffga, is “$6,024,443 million, of which $677,791 is related to design/engineering/permitting/ surveying, and $5,346,652 was spent on construction.”
At the crest of the bluff, approximately 30 feet beyond the precipice, sits the country club. Phase 2 involves the installation of a 545-foot long, 47-foot-deep steel barrier driven into the bluff’s crest, just a few feet seaward of the country club. The barrier is designed to stabilize the area landward of the bluff and prevent erosion, further reducing the risk of the building collapsing.
The cost of Phase 2 will be partially funded by federal taxpayer dollars as a $3.75 million FEMA grant, the final approval recently completed this past week, allowing for the village to receive bids for the work in the coming months for the construction of the upper wall. Local taxpayer dollars will fund the remaining Phase 2 expenses.
According to Gaffga, the Phase 2 “complete expenses are yet to be determined,” he explained in an email. The total cost will be better understood once the village receives bids for constructing the upper wall
The stabilization project, since its inception in 2017 has been presented by village officials as an urgent necessity. With this imperative in mind, the trustees approved a $10 million bond resolution, without a community referendum, in 2021 to fund the project’s two phases.
In a January 2023 statement by former Mayor Garant, after permitting and plans had been finalized, she warned, “If immediate measures to combat and stop the erosion are not implemented, the building foundation will get exposed, will lose structural support, and slowly but surely will fail — causing significant structural damage first, followed by complete collapse of the [country club] building.”
2024 GEI report findings
Heavy rainstorms swept across Long Island in the early fall of 2023, beginning with Hurricane Lee on Sept. 12 followed by another severe storm on Sept. 23.
According to the GEI report, these storms caused “post-storm stress” to the new vegetation leading to plant die off, shifting sands and forming a small ravine — also referred to as a gully — past the western edge of the wall at the base of the bluff.
To prevent further damage, GEI recommended that the village “replant beachgrass in stressed areas of the bluff face and protect the western edge of the wall by adding a filter fabric and stone.”
Photograph of East Beach Bluff Phase 1 taken as part of the GEI post-storm inspection after Hurricane Lee on Sept. 12, 2023. Courtesy of PJ Village website
However, two additional major storms in December 2023 and February 2024 brought strong winds and heavy rainfall expanding the damage started in September. A GEI post-storm inspection in the days following the storms found that a large ravine had formed on the eastern edge of the bluff face, further damaging the vegetation, matting and terracing within the ravine.
Photograph taken as part of the GEI inspection report Feb. 22, 2024 showing extensive damage to the bluff in the vicinity of stressed growth identified in September 2023. Courtesy of PJ Village website
In total, the May 2024 report outlined detailed recommendations involving improved drainage, repairs to terracing, laying down of erosion control fabric and replacement of beachgrass. The report’s recommendations concluded with concerns about utilizing honeycomb grids by Coastal Technologies Corp. under consideration by village officials, namely: “GEI has expressed concern that such an installation may not be effective at East Beach due to the types of soils present and the steepness of the East Beach Bluff.”
Despite these concerns, the Board of Trustees at the Oct. 23 public meeting approved a resolution to use American Rescue Plan Act funds at the total cost of $33,920 to pilot test Coastal Technologies stabilizing devices, pending a revised permit from the DEC.
In response to GEI concerns, George Thatos, Coastal Technologies co-founder and head of design, said, “Our Cliff Stabilizer system stabilizes near-vertical slopes with vegetation, unlike terracing which requires major regrading and cliff-top land loss.” He added, “Our solution naturally reforests bluffs.”
According to DEC representative, Jeff Wernick, if a permit holder “cannot follow a report recommendations due to environmental conditions, DEC works with them to modify the permit to correct the issues. If the recommendations are not followed due to negligence, it could result in a violation of the permit and enforcement action.”
Port Jeff Citizens Commission on Erosion
This reporter attended a recent meeting of the Port Jefferson Citizens Commission on Erosion. Their mission, in summary, is to act as a volunteer resident advisory group to the village on matters of erosion confronting the village. So far, much of the group’s focus, chaired by village resident David Knauf, has been on the East Beach Bluff Stabilization project.
On Jan. 20, the committee submitted detailed written questions to Mayor Lauren Sheprow expressing concerns about the overall status of the stabilization project. It questioned plans to proceed with Phase 2 before implementing drainage recommendations and before updating the land survey of the upper bluff that is about three years old. The commission urged these steps be completed before soliciting bids for the construction of Phase 2.
”There was damage that occurred since the Phase 1 was completed that hasn’t been addressed, meaning that it keeps getting more pronounced. There were ongoing reports that were done during the past year,” Knauf said at the Jan. 23 commission meeting.
He added that repairs “should have been done up to now so that whatever was occurring [with Phase 1] didn’t get worse.”
The commission, to date, has not received a comprehensive update on maintenance done on the bluff/wall as recommended in the May 2024 report, according to Knauf.
According to village trustee Robert Juliano, any maintenance and repair done during the time frame of the 2024 report “was minor, such as grooming the beach by village employees.”
Other concerns brought up at the meeting included a request to review a retreat plan allegedly completed under former Mayor Garant and actively participating in vetting of contract bids.
Sheprow, present at the meeting, told TBR News Media her responses to the written questions from the commission, reviewed at the Jan. 23 meeting, would be posted on the village website.
“The village will look to enlist the Citizens Commission on Erosion to help facilitate an open forum where GEI will present the Phase 2 project design and a path forward for Phase 1 remediation and restoration,” the mayor said in an email to TBR News Media.
The 2023 Annual Post-Construction Bluff Monitoring Report dated May 2024 and related items can be viewed at the Port Jefferson Village website at: www.portjeff.com/ 206/East-Beach-Bluff.
For earlier reporting by TBR News Media, visit tbrnewsmedia.com and key in “East Beach Bluff Stabilization project.”
In response to severe blood shortages in our area, NYS Senator Mario Mattera and NYS Senator Dean Murray will sponsor a blood drive at Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the center of the mall. Each donor will receive a voucher redeemable for two complimentary tickets to a select New York Islanders regular season home game at USB Arena.
“Every year, millions of people worldwide require blood transfusions. There is an urgent need for blood donations, and your contribution can help save lives!,” said Senator Murray.
Representatives from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department will also be in attendance giving out Operation Safe Child and senior identification cards from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
These composite brain images from the study of WTC responders reveal evidence of amyloidosis. Areas shaded in red and yellow indicate regions of the brain with amyloid. Image courtesy of Sean Clouston, Stony Brook Medicine
By Daniel Dunaief
Even over 23 years after first responders raced to the smoldering site of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks, many emergency crews continue to battle the effects of their exposure.
With a combination of toxic aerosolized particles infusing the air, first responders who didn’t wear personal protective equipment and who had the highest degree of exposure have suffered from a range of symptoms and conditions.
Sean Clouston
In a recent study of 35 World Trade Center first responders in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, lead author Sean Clouston, who is a Professor in the Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine in the Renaissance School of Medicine, found evidence of amyloid plaques, which are often linked to Alzheimer’s Disease.
The paper links exposure to a neurodegenerative protein.
Research with World Trade Center first responders not only benefits those who worked tirelessly to try to find survivors and to restore the area after the attack, but also could help other people who inhale aerosolized toxins.
Indeed, such research could help those who are spending hours battling the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, which have been consuming forests and trees, homes and commercial buildings, at a furious and uncontrolled pace.
People have a feeling that fresh air is safe, but what scientists have learned from their studies of the World Trade Center first responders is that “just being six feet away from a pile of rubble that’s smoldering, even if you can’t see that it’s dangerous, doesn’t mean it isn’t,” said Clouston. “There is at least some risk” to human health from fires that spew smoke from burned computers and refrigerators, among others.
Given the variety of materials burned in the fires, Minos Kritikos, Senior Research Scientist and a member of the group in the collaborative labs of Clouston and Professor Benjamin Luft, suspects that a heterogeneity of particles were in the air.
People in Los Angeles who are inhaling these particles can have them “linger in their circulation for years,” said Kritikos. “It’s not just a neurological issue” as the body tries to deal with carrying around this “noxious” particulate matter. Since most neurons don’t regenerate, any toxicity induced neuronal death is irreversible, making damage to the brain permanent.
Even in non-emergency situations, people in polluted cities face increased health risks.
“There is a recognition that air pollution is a major preventable cause of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias, as noted by the latest Lancet Commission,” Clouston explained.
Two likely entry points
People who breathe in air containing toxic chemicals have two likely pathways through which the particulates enter the body. They can come in through the nose and, potentially, travel directly into the brain, or they can enter the lungs, circulate through the body and enter the head through the blood-brain barrier. The olfactory route is more direct, said Kritikos.
Minos Kritikos in front of Stony Brook Hospital.
The amyloid plaques in these first responders was found primarily in the area near the nose, which supports the idea that maybe inhaling the dust was the problem, Clouston said.
Once these chemicals enter the brain, Clouston and his team believe the body engages defenses that are designed much more for viruses than for toxic compounds. The immune system can encapsulate these chemicals in amyloid plaques.
Amyloid plaques, in moderation and under conditions that protect the brain against pathogens, are a part of a protective and helpful immune response. Too much of a good thing, however, can overwhelm the brain.
“When there’s too much plaque, it can physically disturb neuronal functions and connections,” said Kritikos. “By being a big presence, they can also molecularly and chemically react with its environment.”
A large presence of amyloid can be toxically necrotic to surrounding neural tissue, Kritikos added.
What the scientists believe they are tracking is the footprint of an adaptive response that may not help the brain, Clouston added.
Clouston cautioned that the plaques and cognitive decline could both be caused by something else that scientists haven’t yet seen.
The findings
The research, which used positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans to search for evidence of amyloid plaques, found evidence that doesn’t look like old age Alzheimer’s, explained Clouston. Usually these levels of plaques are not located in one spot, but occur throughout the brain during Alzheimer’s.
The immune response may be causing some of these plaques.
The amount of amyloid plaque doesn’t look like Alzheimer’s Disease and does not appear abnormal in the traditional way of testing, but with careful analysis of the olfactory system, the researchers can find elevated levels.
“I was surprised by how little amyloid was necessary to show this association,” said Clouston.
Researchers at Mt. Sinai have examined the effect of exposure to these same particulates in mice.
“The answer is very much similar to what we see in humans,” said Clouston. “That supports this work.”
To be sure, Clouston and Kritikos are hoping to build on this research. They are particularly interested in following up with participants to measure the rate of change in these plaques from the observed amyloid signals they measured at baseline.
“Doing so would enable us to calculate the rate of amyloid buildup allowing us to assess our responders more precisely, opening doors to possible therapeutic interventions such as the recently approved anti-amyloid therapies,” Kritikos explained.
Additionally, they hope to expand on the study beyond the 35 people who participated.
It is unclear whether tamping down the immune system could make patients better or worse. By reducing amyloid plaques, scientists might enable the harmful dust to cause damage in other areas of the brain. Alternatively, however, a lower level immune response with fewer plaques might, in the longer term, be better for the brain.
This study “does open the door for some of those questions,” Clouston said. Kritikos and Clouston plan to study the presence of tau proteins and any signs of neurodegeneration in the brains of these first responders.
“More research needs to be done,” Clouston said, which specifically targets different ways of measuring exposure, such as through a biomarker. He’s hoping such a biomarker might be found that tracks levels of exposure.
Future research could also address whether post traumatic stress disorder affects the immune response.
“It’s certainly possible that PTSD is playing a role, but we’re not sure what that might be,” said Clouston.
The researchers are continuing this research as they study the effects of exposure on tau proteins and neurodegeneration.
“We are hopeful that this will be an important turning point for us,” Clouston explained
From the Medditerranean to the Atlantic
Born and raised in Cyprus, Kritikos comes from a large family who are passionate about spending time with each other while eating good food.
He earned his doctorate from the University of Bristol in England.
Kritikos met his wife Jennifer LoPresti Kritikos, who is originally from Shirley, New York, at a coffee shop in Aberdeen, Scotland, where he was doing postdoctoral research.
LoPresti, who works at Stony Brook as the Department Head Administrator for Biomedical Engineering, and Kritikos live in Manorville and have an eight year-old daughter Gia and one-year old son Theseus.
As for his work, Kritikos is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to research with Clouston and Luft, who is the Director of the Stony Brook WTC Health and Wellness Program.
“I’m happy to be in a position whereby our large WTC team (the size of a small village) is constantly pushing forward with our understanding for how these exposures have affected” the brain health of WTC first responders, Kritikos explained. He would like to continue to uncover mechanisms that underly these phenomena, not just for WTC responders but also for similarly exposed populations.
Hon. Gail Prudenti, Partner at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C., has been appointed as the Chair of the Suffolk County Bar Association (SCBA) Judicial Screening Committee.
“This prestigious committee plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity and excellence of Suffolk County’s judiciary. Tasked with the responsibility of thoroughly evaluating the background, experience, and qualifications of candidates seeking judicial office, the committee ensures that only the most qualified individuals are recommended for these essential roles,” read a press release.
Comprised of 25 distinguished members, the Judicial Screening Committee represents a cross- section of legal expertise and professional dedication. These members are carefully selected by the SCBA President and Board of Directors to uphold the committee’s commitment to impartiality and rigor in the screening process.
“Hon. Gail Prudenti’s appointment to this leadership position reflects her exceptional career and unwavering dedication to the legal profession. Her extensive experience and steadfast commitment to justice will undoubtedly contribute to the committee’s important mission,” read the release.
Suzanne Marie Berran of Vero Beach was born Dec. 19, 1927 in Kendallville, Indiana and died peacefully with her loving family at her side on Jan. 21, 2025 at the age of 97 in Vero Beach, Florida. She was the daughter of Harry and Rosa Culbertson. She moved with her family at the age of three to Manhasset where she was raised with her two younger sisters, Joanne and Rosemary. Upon graduation from Manhasset High School she pursued her interest in fashion art at the Art Students League in New York City where she met her husband, Robert Berran. They married in 1952 and moved to Stony Brook where they raised their family before moving to Vero Beach, Florida in 2004.
Berran and her husband had three children, Kathryn, Kristine and Scott; three grandchildren, Kathryn, Eddie and Irene.
Berran was predeceased by her beloved husband Robert Berran. Both were devoted members of Setauket Presbyterian Church and the First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach.
A private family service will be held at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory and private burial will be in Port Washington, New York. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org/donatetoday
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach. An online guestbook is available at www.lowtherfamily.com
Gerald R. Zlotkowski was born on April 1, 1970 in Canada, and was adopted by his loving parents Robert and Betty Zlotkowski in New York.He graduated from Ward Melville High School in Setauket in 1988.He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science from Farmingdale State College in 1993 and worked at several funeral homes on Long Island. Zlotkowski’s belief in never letting age stop you from learning led him to go back to school at multiple points in his life.
Zlotkowski also worked as a devoted firefighter, dispatcher and rescue EMT for several fire departments on Long Island, including West Sayville, Nesconset, Smithtown and Setauket.Zlotkowski loved helping and being involved in his community.He was the kind of person who always held out a helping hand for anyone who needed it.Zlotkowski was a hero to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Zlotkowski was an avid outdoorsman and loved spending time hunting and at the gun range. His passion for firearms led him to become the owner and founder of Dakota Defense inn Aberdeen, South Dakota.His love for law enforcement brought him to Ashley, North Dakota to pursue a career as an Assistant Deputy Sheriff.
Zlotkowski went on to a career as a conductor and engineer with Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway based out of Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he worked until his passing.He was proud to serve the SMART-TD Local 233 Railroad Union as a past president as well as a secretary and treasurer up until his passing.
On October 5, 2006, his world changed greatly with the birth of his son, Gunner. Zlotkowski loved his son greatly and spent time with him whenever he could.He passed on to Gunner his love of firearms and they enjoyed going hunting together.
Gerald Zlotkowski is survived by his son, Gunner; sister, Susan Brocato; and numerous family and friends. He was predeceased by his beloved parents.
A celebration of life will take place at the Setauket Firehouse, 190 Main Street, Setauket on March 23 at 1 p.m.
Director of Construction/Maintenance Brendan Warner speaks on water main breaks. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
By Sabrina Artusa
On Feb. 3, the Suffolk County Water Authority delivered a presentation to the Three Village Civic Association, addressing water quality concerns and water main breaks.
SCWA Director of Water Quality and Lab Services Thomas Schneider said that the SCWA tests for more than double the number of compounds than required by the Environmental Protection Agency and endeavors to keep levels of these contaminants well under the maximum amount deemed safe.
To filter the water, the SCWA integrates varying types of filtration systems depending on what contaminants are issues in that specific area. Commonly, the SCWA simply needs to add chlorine or adjust the ph level, but in other areas they filter with granulated activated carbon.
“[At] each of the pump stations or well fields, the treatment at those is specific to what the water quality is at that particular well…its very distributed architecture rather than, as we referenced, in New York City where it all flows through one main source.”
With contaminants that are especially difficult to extricate additional treatment is required. One such contaminant is 1,4-dioxane.
Schneider said,”1,4-dioxane is a manmade chemical. It is used as a stabilizer in solvents and it is also found in a lot of consumer products, specifically laundry detergents, shampoos, and conditioners…this one is very difficult and expensive to remove.”
In order to remove this contaminate the SCWA uses advanced oxidation procedure systems that use ultraviolet light to break down the 1,4-dioxane. Schneider added that the water authority has put in 16 of these systems so far, mostly in western Suffolk.
In 2023, SCWA added two advanced oxidation procedure treatments in Northport, three in Halesite, one in Huntington Station, one in Kings Park and one in Huntington.
According to the SCWA’s water quality reports from 2024, leeching from septic tanks and runoff from fertilizers, and pesticides were common likely sources of inorganic compounds.
In 2024, the SCWA added a new well and a GAC system at Stem Lane and Oxhead Lane.
“Any disruption in the continuity of water mains or sometimes it could be a surface line. So it could be anything from a small break in the water main or a larger blowout of the water main. Sometimes it is a small trickle bubbling up from the ground,” said Director of Construction/Maintenance Brendan Warner.
Water main breaks are caused by age or from outdated materials. Since Dec. 1 SCWA has already recorded 300 water main breaks, the second most in the last 10 years during this time. The average for the whole year is 500 breaks. Weather circumstances also play a factor in causing a main break; the freezing and thawing of soil and rapid temperature changes put stress on the pipes. The majority of the water main breaks happen to pipes made out of cast-iron, which are over half of the mains in the county.
John Marafino, customer growth coordinator, urged civic members to reexamine their water use, get their irrigation systems checked and enact habits that limit water use, both helping conserve water and decreasing the water bill.
“We have a sufficient but not limitless supply of water,” he said. “Watering everyday is not necessary to keep a green and healthy lawn.”
Lawrence Martin and Patricia Wright. Photos courtesy of SBU
Stony Brook University’s Charles B. Wang Center Theater, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook will host the university’s February Provost Lecture, featuring distinguished anthropologists Patricia Wright and Lawrence Martin on Tuesday, Feb. 11 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Each will each give a brief lecture about their work and its significance followed by a reception with light refreshments. The lecture and reception are free and open to the public.
See press release below for more information:
Did you know that Stony Brook University has important African research and scientific discovery centers? The Turkana Basin Institute (TBI) in Kenya and Centre ValBio in Madagascar are both university Institutes and Centers and co-founded by members of university faculty.
Two SUNY Distinguished Service Professors, Anthropology Lawrence Martin, PhD, co-founder and director emeritus of the TBI and Patricia Wright, PhD, founder and executive director of the Centre ValBio will be speaking about their centers and the impact of thir own research to the local and university community at the upcoming Provost’s Lecture Series. The series, hosted by university Provost Carl Lejuez, showcases Stony Brook faculty who have earned the rank of SUNY Distinguished faculty. The distinguished rank is the highest honor available to faculty in the State University of New York 64-campus system.
About Lawrence Martin: Professor Martin is an expert on the evolution of apes and the origin of humans. He worked with the late world-renowned paleoanthropologist and conservationist Richard Leakey to build a bastion for research on human evolution, Stony Brook’s Turkana Basin Institute, which he directed for 17 years
About Patricia Wright: Professor Wright founded Centre ValBio, the modern research campus in the rainforest of Madagascar where she has combined her research with efforts to preserve the country’s endangered forests and the many species of plants and animals they harbor. She was the driving force behind the creation of Ranomafana National Park, a 106,000-acre World Heritage Site there, which is home to many endangered species, including several species of lemur that she works to save from extinction.
WHEN
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 from 3:30 – 5 p.m., ET (reception to follow lecture)
WHERE
Wang Center Theater, West Campus, Stony Brook University directions
Candy, flowers, heart-shaped notes — what’s not to like about Valentine’s Day? This sweet celebration, which happens every year on February 14, is all about spreading the love. Still don’t have plans for this special day? Check out these 14 events happening right in our own backyard. See more Valentine’s Day related events in next week’s TIMES … and dates.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a screening of ‘Casablanca’ at the Cinema Arts Centre.
1. ‘Casablanca’ at the CAC
“Of all the gin joints, in all the towns,
in all the world, she walks into mine.“
The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington invites all lovebirds and lonelyhearts to spend Valentine’s Day with them revisiting a classic, Casablanca, on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, $15 members and includes complimentary sweets. To order tickets in advance, visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
2. An evening of jazz
The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook presents “Here’s to the Ladies!” a special Valentine’s Day concert featuring The Jazz Loft All Stars playing tunes honoring the women of Jazz on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. The venue will supply the live jazz music, a glass of champagne and chocolate. You supply the romance. Tickets are $50. To order, visit www.thejazzloft.org.
3. HeARTS for ART
Fall in love with art at the HeARTS for ART Valentine’s Day event at the Heckscher Museum, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington on Feb. 14 from noon to 5 p.m. Fall in love with a work of art and place a heart in front of your favorite work of art for all to see/ Then post your pick on social media with #heartsforart. Free with museum admission. 631-330-3230
4. WinterTide concert
The Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson hosts a special Valentine’s Day concert on Feb. 14 with musical storyteller Gerald Bair from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. as part of its WinterTide series. Free. Sponsored by St. Charles Hospital and Greater Port Jeff-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council. Call 473-5220 or visit www.gpjac.org.
5. Valentine’s Day Paint & Sip
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Northport Historical Society and Museum, 215 Main St., Northport with a fun, creative twist! Join curator Elizabeth Abrahams Riordan for a Paint and Sip event on Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. inspired by the iconic Still in Love graffiti on Northport’s Bayview Avenue. Participants will paint their own homage to this unique piece of local street art and enjoy adult beverages. For ages 21 and over. Tickets are $35 per person, $30 members. To register, visit www.northporthistorical.org. 631-757-9859
6. Grounds and Sounds concert
Grounds and Sounds Cafe, UUFSB, 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket hosts a concert featuring The Claudia Jacobs Band on Feb. 14 to serve up tunes that will honor a wide range of feelings that are sure to touch hearts no matter where they might be residing at the moment. The show begins with an Open Mic at 7:30 (signup at 7 p.m.); the main act goes on at 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, available in advance at www.groundsandsounds.org or at the door. For more information, call 631-751-0297.
7. Michael Bublé Tribute
The Suffolk Theater, 118 E. Main St., Riverhead presents Feelin’ Good: The Ultimate Michael Bublé Experience with Anthony Bernasconi on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. Join them for a night filled with the timeless classics and unforgettable originals that have made Bublé a global sensation. Backed by a 17-piece orchestra, this show promises an authentic experience that will transport you straight to the front row of a live Bublé concert. Tickets range from $49 to $99. To order, call 727-4343 or visit www.suffolktheater.com.
8. Valentine dinner dance
Time to put on your dancing shoes! East Wind Long Island, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River presents its annual Valentine Dinner Dance in the Grand Ballroom on Feb. 14 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Enjoy a four hour premium open bar, live DJ music, passed hors d’oeuvres, gourmet buffet and dessert for $125 per person. For reservations, call 631-929-6585 or visit www.eastwindlongisland.com.
9. ‘Heartbreak Hotel’
Fans of Elvis will love Heartbreak Hotel at the John Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. The show takes a closer look at the musical icon whose impact shaped the history of rock and roll from his early days to his rise to become “The King of Rock and Roll” and features over 40 Elvis hits and iconic songs including, “That’s All Right,” “All Shook Up,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Burning Love,” “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” “Hound Dog,” “Love Me Tender,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Jail- house Rock,” “Are You Lonesome,” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” For tickets, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
10. Night Sky Love
Looking for an unusual date night with Your Valentine? The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road Centerport will present a special Valentine’s Day show, “Night Sky Love,” on Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. and again at 8 p.m.This live presentation celebrates Valentine’s Day and all of its lovers in outer space. With its Valentine/love emphasis, this show will explore how civilizations told stories about the constellations that included tales of heroism and love, and how they are depicted in the night sky.Tickets to the afternoon show are $20 adults, $18 students (with ID) and seniors (62-plus), $16 children 12 and under. Tickets to the evening show are $12 adults, $10 students (with ID) and seniors (62-plus), $8 children 12 and under. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
11. ‘Jersey Boys’
Head over to the South Shore for a performance of Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons at the Argyle Theatre, 34 West Main St., Babylon on Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Featuring chart-topping hits including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Dawn,” and “My Eyes Adored You,” which brought The Four Seasons the highest honor: induction into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. For tickets, visit www.argyletheatre.com.
12. Valentine’s Day Tribute Concert
Join the Reboli Center for Art & History 604 Main St., Stony Brook for Pure Joy, a Valentine’s Day tribute to African American singers and composers with Paige Patterson and her band on Feb. 14 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy music from Stevie Wonder, Nancy Wilson, The Drifters, Corinne Bailey Rae and more. $45 per person includes champagne and refreshments. Call 631-751-7707 to reserve your seat.
13. Valentine’s Day Yappy Hour
And for the animal lover …. Save A Pet, 608 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station will hold a Valentine’s Day Yappy Hour fundraiser on Feb. 14 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Join them for a special pregame treat. Enjoy wine, charcuterie, sweets, raffle baskets and a rose, all while supporting the animals at the shelter — and yes, adorable puppies will be in attendance to make your evening even more delightful! Your $25 ticket can be used toward an adoption fee. For reservations, visit www.saveapetusa.org.
14. Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra
Stony Brook University’s Staller Centerfor the Art, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents a Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra concert on the Main Stage on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. Conducted by Xian Zhang, the program will include Bellini’s Overture “I Capuleti e Montecchi”; Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with a piano solo by Owen Dodds; and Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5. Join emeritus professor Peter Winkler in the Recital Hall at 7 p.m. for a free pre-concert lecture. Tickets are $25 adults, $20 seniors and $10 students (with SBU ID). To order, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.
13. Valentine’s Day Yappy Hour
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