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PSEG Long Island employees will never insist and in most cases do not need to come inside

In light of a recent home invasion incident in Nassau County involving robbers dressed as utility workers, PSEG Long Island urges customers to know what its employees look like and what they typically do when making visits to a home.

“The safety of customers and employees is our top priority at PSEG Long Island,” said Lou Debrino, vice president of Customer Operations for PSEG Long Island. “In most cases, PSEG Long Island employees do not need to come inside your home to perform their work. Most meters are located outside, as is most of the electric equipment our company maintains. Our employees always wear their PSEG Long Island ID cards. Never open the door if you have any suspicion that the person knocking is not a legitimate PSEG Long Island employee.”

In-person visits

Occasionally, scammers may go door to door impersonating PSEG Long Island employees, flashing a fake ID and/or claiming to be a utility collection representative. The impostors may wear “uniforms” or affix false company signs to their vehicles. The scammers generally ask for personal information, which real utility representatives do not do, or offer bogus discounts.

PSEG Long Island employees must carry a company ID and present it when requested. If customers have doubts, they should not open the door. An actual PSEG Long Island employee will respect the customer’s decision and remain outside. If the person escalates their efforts to enter the home, customers should consider calling 911.

Phone scammers

Scammers are still using phone calls to target homes and businesses on Long Island and in the Rockaways, impersonating PSEG Long Island and area utilities and demanding immediate payment for supposed unpaid bills. PSEG Long Island reminds customers do the right thing if confronted with a demand for payment and a threat of imminent shutoff: Get the truth from real PSEG Long Island representatives at 1-800-490-0025.

Many of these scammers demand immediate payment via web-based electronic payment services. PSEG Long Island does not accept external, web-based electronic payment services (outside of payments through My Account) as a method of payment.

What customers should know about payment scams

  • Scammers impersonating PSEG Long Island most frequently threaten to shut off power immediately unless payment is made.
  • Many scammers use phone “spoofing” technology to make their number display on your phone as “PSEG Long Island.”
  • PSEG Long Island will never request that customers use one specific method of payment.
  • Scammers typically want their victims to transfer money via a web-based electronic payment service, a prepaid debit card, or even Bitcoin, sometimes asking people to buy a prepaid card at the nearest convenience store and then to read them the PIN over the phone.
  • PSEG Long Island does not accept web-based electronic payment services, prepaid debit cards or Bitcoin as payment.
  • Sometimes phone scammers will demand a deposit for a priority meter installation. PSEG Long Island does not require a deposit for meter installations.
  • If a customer has doubts about the legitimacy of a call or an email — especially one in which payment is requested — they should call the company directly at 1-800-490-0025.

Fake websites

Some scammers purchase web domains that closely resemble the actual URL of a utility and create a fraudulent replica of the legitimate website. Their plan is to dupe users who click on these fake sites via search results, or type in an inaccurate web address. Once on the spoofed site, a visitor is presented a number of bill payment options, all pointing back to an outside bill pay site.

PSEG Long Island always uses the “.com” domain. Its real website, including PSEG Long Island-hosted online payment options, can be found at psegliny.com.

Other scammers contact customers, claim to be with PSEG Long Island, demand payment and then instruct their victims to pay by scanning a QR code they send. Customers should remember that PSEG Long Island will never request that customers use one specific method of payment, and does not accept web-based electronic payment services, prepaid debit cards or Bitcoin as payment.

How actual PSEG Long Island reps handle phone calls

Customers should also know what PSEG Long Island will and won’t discuss over the phone. A genuine PSEG Long Island representative will ask to speak to the customer of record. If that person is available, the representative will explain why they are calling and provide the account name, address and current balance. If the person on the phone does not provide the correct information, it is likely the customer is not speaking with a PSEG Long Island representative.

If the customer of record is not available, the PSEG Long Island representative will not discuss the account and ask that a message be left for the customer of record to call 1-800-490-0025.

PSEG Long Island is a member of the Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS) collaborative. UUAS, a consortium of more than 150 U.S. and Canadian electric, water, and natural gas utilities and their respective trade associations, continues to raise customer awareness of common scams and new scam tactics used by utility impostors. Through its work and with the help of customer reporting, UUAS has successfully helped to take more than 14,020 toll-free numbers used by scammers against utility customers out of operation.

For more information on various payment scams reported in the PSEG Long Island service area and around the country, visit psegliny.com/myaccount/customersupport/scamsandfraud.

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Blackberry Crunch Muffins

By Heidi Sutton

Valentine’s Day is about expressing love for special people in your life. One way to do so is to pamper that person as much as possible. That can mean starting the day off with a delicious breakfast in bed for a romantic start to your February 14th.

Muffins can be prepared in advance and are easy to enjoy in hand for a breakfast that involves lounging and love. “Blackberry Crunch Muffins” marry coffee cake and muffin elements and tart berries for something that is equal parts breakfast and dessert. What better idea for Valentine’s Day? 

Try this recipe, courtesy of Lord Honey Traditional Southern Recipes (Pelican Publishing) by Chef Jason Smith and Cupid approved.

Blackberry Crunch Muffins

YIELD: Makes 12 muffins

INGREDIENTS:

2 1⁄4 cups self-rising flour

1 cup white sugar

1⁄4 cup brown sugar

1⁄2 cup canola oil

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

3⁄4 cup full-fat buttermilk

11⁄2 cups fresh or frozen blackberries

Zest of 1 lime

Crunch topping:

1⁄2 cup white sugar

1⁄4 cup brown sugar, packed

1⁄2 cup self-rising flour

1⁄2 cup quick-cook oats

1⁄4 cup sweetened shredded coconut

1⁄2 cup chopped walnuts

5 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger

Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Juice of 1 lime

DIRECTIONS: 

Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease or line a 12-hole muffin tin. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and sugars. Add the oil, eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk, and stir to combine. In a small bowl, toss the blackberries with 1 tablespoon flour, then add the berries and zest to the batter and lightly fold them in. 

Place the crunch topping ingredients in a bowl and mix with a fork until large crumbles form. Divide the batter evenly into the muffin tin, and sprinkle tops with crunch mixture. Bake for 22 to 28 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack. Place the glaze ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined. Drizzle over cooled muffins.

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Devoshion ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 1. Photo courtesy of Devoshion
Devoshion at Smith Haven Mall.
Devoshion at Smith Haven Mall.
Devoshion at Smith Haven Mall.
Devoshion at Smith Haven Mall.

The latest addition to the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove, a vegan, cruelty-free store named Devoshion, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 1. 

Owners Mor Schwartz and Jason McKee were joined by Barbara Franco, Executive Director of the Smithtown Chamber of Commerce, Jennifer Scully of Vegan Home New York, and John and Juliana Di Leonardo of Humane Long Island. 

Devoshion, blending “Devotion” and “Fashion,” advocates compassion through its range of vegan and plant-based products. It serves as an indoor craft fair, showcasing local artists and functioning as a gallery for functional art. It is also a venue for live events like comedy shows, live music, Karaoke Nights, DIY workshops, yoga classes, and more. Customers can  hang out, eat vegan food, try local craft beer, and buy and sell collectibles, comics, action figures and specialized toys. 

All items in Devoshion are vegan and cruelty-free, and the proceeds of select items, including sloth, kangaroo, and capybara plushies, are donated to Humane Long Island. In addition, in celebration of its grand opening, all of the proceeds from select plushies and a portion of all vegan candy sales up until Valentine’s Day will benefit Humane Long Island’s work to help animals on Long Island.  

Located at 313 Smith Haven Mall in the Lifestyle Village across from Dick’s Sporting Goods, Devoshion is open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 631-394-8296 or visit www.devoshion.com.

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Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook University men’s lacrosse team defeated Sacred Heart, 17-14, in the come-from-behind fashion in the 2024 season opener on Feb. 4 at Campus Field. A second-half surge saw Stony Brook outscore Sacred Heart 11-4 over the final 30 minutes to overcome a halftime deficit and emerge victorious.

The Seawolves tallied three of the contest’s first four goals, with three different scorers finding twine in the opening quarter of action. 

Stony Brook carried a one-goal advantage, 3-2, into the second period, but would concede eight goals in the quarter, facing a 10-6 deficit as the two sides headed to the half. The Pioneers scored four of the first five goals of the second quarter, and ended the period by tallying four of the last five scores of the first half.

The Seawolves surged out of the gates in the second half, netting three goals to open the third quarter and trim their deficit to one goal. After Sacred Heart padded the lead to two goals, Nick DuPuis and Noah Armitage found twine to level the game heading into the final 15 minutes of action.

Stony Brook ripped off four consecutive goals to open the fourth quarter and were responsible for six of the period’s first seven tallies, opening up a 17-12 lead with four minutes to play. The Seawolves conceded a pair of goals over the final three-and-a-half minutes, but closed out the come-from-behind victory after a strong second half performance defensively.

Three Seawolves tallied hat tricks in the win. Jack Dougherty, Nick Dupuis and Dylan Pallonetti all finished with a team-high three goals.

Dupuis finished with a career-high eight points, scoring three goals and dishing out a game-high five assists.

Jamison MacLachlan earned the victory in net, making 16 saves. MacLachlan made 10 of his 16 saves in the second half.

“Really proud of the response out of half time. Disappointed with the second quarter and the first half issues at the face-off and X, but we had a big response when we needed it in the second half,” said head coach Anthony Gilardi postgame. 

“Now we need to utilize the jump from week one to week two as we get ready for a huge home game against Rutgers,” he added.

Up next, the team hosts Rutgers on Feb. 10 at noon at LaValle Stadium. The contest will be streamed live on FloSports.

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Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics
Team hosts sixth annual Children’s Hospital Night

The Stony Brook University men’s basketball team came from behind to beat Northeastern, 59-55, on Feb. 3 at Island Federal Arena. The Seawolves had three players score in double figures, led by Dean Noll, who had 14 points, six rebounds and four steals. Aaron Clarke also added 14 points and Keenan Fitzmorris chipped in with 12 points off the bench.

The event was also the sixth annual Stony Brook Children’s Hospital Night; the Seawolves hosted more than 20 patients, and their families, from the Children’s Hospital as part of an annual tradition, celebrating the event with a victory over the Huskies.

Stony Brook started out the scoring by going on a 6-0 run, culminating in a three from Clarke, to take an early lead with 17:53 left in the first half. Northeastern responded after a slow start, tying things up at 22-22 as the contest headed into the half. Stony Brook got the job done in the paint in the first half, scoring 14 of its 22 points close to the basket. Northeastern took control of the contest in the second half, holding a lead from the 17-minute mark all the way until the 1:22 mark when Clarke buried a three on a second-chance opportunity. 

After Northeastern snagged a 52-46 advantage, Stony Brook responded by going on an 11-0 run to seize a 57-52 lead with 27 seconds to go in the contest. Noll provided a dagger, sinking a running hook shot with 39 seconds to play, helping Stony Brook close out Northeastern in front of a crowd of more than 3,500 people at Island Federal Arena.

The team heads south to face Elon on Feb. 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on FloHoops.

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'Rodney' by Sam Adoquei
Long Island Museum's Co-Executive Director Joshua Ruff with 'The Art Student' and 'Social Studies' by Sam Adoquei. Photo by Tara Mae
LIM's Co-Executive Director Joshua Ruff views 'The Art Student', oil on canvas, by Sam Adoquei in the Cowles Gallery of the History Museum. Photo by Kristin Cuomo/LIM
'Quinces' by Sam Adoquei

By Tara Mae

Perspective and reality merge in imagination, creating art that is tethered to truth and yet unfettered from realism. Finding Hidden Treasures: The Art of Sam Adoquei, a retrospective of the artist’s oil paintings, explores the scope of such interplay.

On view at the Long Island Museum (LIM) in Stony Brook through June 2, the show features 25 oil paintings of various sizes as well as an excerpt of The Unseen Beauty (2012), a film written and directed by Gabriel de Urioste about Adoquei and his work.

The entire exhibit is a milestone for Adoquei. 

“It is the first time in my life to have my large figurative works and small paintings, my traditional pieces and my outdoor oil paintings, my still lifes and my figurative pieces come together in the same room. It is also interesting to see some of my earliest paintings next to some recent canvases,” he said in an email. “Same with technique/approach: there are paintings that were approached with the most careful traditional/classical method while some of the canvases were approached with fun spontaneous innovative spirit.”

Finding Hidden Treasures reveals scenes of certainty and surprise, calmly tranquil or intensely evocative. During a recent guided tour of the exhibit before it goes on view to the public, I was immersed in a world of soothing still lifes, inviting landscapes, and compelling figures. 

For Adoquei, a Ghanaian immigrant who is also a writer and teacher, oil painting is a language through which he communicates, inviting viewers to enmesh themselves in the core of the work and the feelings they invoke. 

“Oils provide that unlimited range of expressing myself: from the leanest and thinnest effects to the thickest layers of impasto pigments,” Adoquei said. 

In many ways, the show is a reflection and meditation on moments in time, both simple and profound. It is an intimate invitation to become acquainted with new characters and reintroduced to uncommon elements of common knowledge.  

“Sam is very ambitious to be taking on some of the subjects he takes on, like these sort of massive scale history paintings. Then there is the sensitivity that he has in his figurative and portrait work, the expressiveness, the fact that you look at the people in the paintings, you feel a connection,” said LIM’s Co-Executive Director Joshua Ruff. 

Such a kinship is formed via a shared visual dialogue between artist and audience. The paintings in this exhibit entice the breadth of human emotion in what they depict and what they evoke. 

“My approach is diverse: traditional, innovative…Creating a painting to me is always communication with the enthusiasts: whether short and poetic, a short essay, or long and epic depends on the subject and what I aim to extract from it,” he added.

Two of the most arrestingly captivating pieces in the exhibit combine narrative tradition with creative interpretation: a 10-foot-wide triptych titled “The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. (The Entombment)” which was featured in the New York Times and displayed at the S. Dillon Ripley Center of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC., and “Death of a President (John F. Kennedy).” These history paintings reimagine hauntingly human tragedies with interpersonal, even fantastical, elements.

In these renderings, persons from the artist’s life, as well as Adoquei, appear as bystanders or sympathetic participants. Adoquei frequently includes himself or his associates in his paintings, a practice that adds emotional depth to the works.  

“I love people, I am always inspired by the love of people, and humanistic pursuits are part of sentiments that I try to include in my mission to unveil my vision,” he said.

This generosity and warmth extends to pieces that do not include human figures, like idyllic interpretations of Long Island vistas and other settings. They encourage onlookers to step into them, feel the sand beneath their feet, the breeze as it rustles tall grasses, the sun on their faces, the sound of the sea, the taste of salt in the air. 

Adoquei’s still life paintings are intriguing and alluring, alluding to larger stories of which patrons are only catching a glimpse: two quinces with their stems and leaves attached, lilting sunflowers and daisies in vase, a partially sectioned grapefruit, with what appears to be a thumbprint left on the endocarp. 

“All that I do is inspired by nature, life and living, and the needs of the future. Turning nature and people into beautiful timeless paintings to inspire others inspires me daily,” Adoquei said. “As lives, works, and legacies of great minds took me from oceans and cultures away and offered me the support to create art that hangs on museum walls and in private collections, so do I hope to create meaningful timeless art worthy of inspiring future generations.” 

Versatility of technique underscores the scope and impact of Adoquei’s subject matter. His art contains and honors a multitude of human experiences, including his own journey from Ghanaian art student, to sign and billboard painter in Nigeria, and then working artist, educator, and author in the United States, where he arrived in 1987. 

Adoquei’s paintings welcome patrons to participate in moments fraught and freeing, stunning and serene. Finding Hidden Treasures is an opportunity for artist and art appreciators to enter the field of humanistic imagination.  

“I have never seen this collection of my paintings exhibited together, and knowing they wouldn’t be in the same room together again, I hope art lovers of Long Island will take advantage of the opportunity to come enjoy them at The Long Island Museum,” Adoquei said.

Also on view at the Long Island Museum: 

Painting Partnership: Reynold and Joan Ruffins in the Art Museum from Feb. 8 to June 30

Organized in conjunction with The Power of Two (see next exhibit), this exhibition presents a unique story of love, creativity, and art. Sharing 60 years of marriage and settling in Sag Harbor in 1992, Painting Partnership features close to 25 paintings and sculptures from the remarkable artistic duo, Reynold Dash Ruffins (1930-2021) and Joan B. Young Ruffins (1932-2013). Reynold began making his mark in graphic and advertising design in the 1950s and the 1960s, later working on such publications as The New York Times Magazine, Gourmet, and Essence, and creating award-winning illustrations for children’s books. Meanwhile, as Joan raised the couple’s four children, she created a studio in the family’s St. Albans home, creating art and teaching both children and adults.

The Power of Two: Artist Couples of Long Island in the Art Museum from Feb. 8 to June 30

Experience the dynamic interplay of creativity as The Power of Two: Artist Couple of Long Island exhibition showcases over 50 artworks comparing and contrasting the work produced by 14 artist couples of Long Island. From the 1880s to contemporary couples today, this exhibition provides a captivating insight into the collaborative spirit of artist partnerships.

Colors of Long Island in the History Museum from Feb. 8 to April 7

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the  Annual Colors of Long Island Student Art Exhibition, a show that affords an opportunity for hundreds of students from across Long Island to display their artwork in a museum setting. Art teachers from public and private schools in grades pre-k through 12th grade were invited to submit up to two pieces of student artwork that capture the essence of the region’s landscapes, history, and cultural diversity through various mediums including watercolor, sculpture, pencil, ink, oil pastel, photographs and computer graphics.

Located at 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook, the Long Island Museum is open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults; $7 for seniors (age 62 and older); $5 for students (ages 5-17, and college students with an ID); $3.50 for persons with disabilities (personal care assistants are free); and, free for active and retired military personnel. For more information, call 631-751-0066 or visit www.longislandmuseum.org. 

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Pixabay photo

By Nancy Burner, Esq.

Nancy Burner, Esq.

Establishing a clear and thorough estate plan is essential for artists to maintain control over their artwork and preserve their legacy. An artist’s estate not only includes physical art, but a bundle of intellectual property rights, including copyrights. Additionally many artists have art collections that include others artists’ works as well as their own. The artist’s own art work is generally treated differently than their art collection, but both can be hard to value at death.

Generally speaking, at death one can dispose of these assets either through a Last Will and Testament or a Living Trust. With either document, an artist can specify not only who is to inherit a particular work of art, such as a family member or art gallery, but how the artwork is to be managed. For example, the artist can specify the proper storage and handling, appraisal, and insurance for the art work. Professional art appraisers and dealers can be hired to find buyers or exhibit the art to a wider audience. If doing so, it is important to set aside some estate assets to pay for the upkeep and handling of the art. If the Executor or Trustee is left to handle the art without any monetary resources, the plan will not work.

The main difference between a Will and a Trust is that a Will must be validated through Surrogates Court in a probate proceeding. Probate takes several months, sometimes years, for the nominated Executor to be officially appointed and imbued with the authority to collect the decedent’s assets, pay off any debts, and distribute the property to the beneficiaries according to the terms of the Will. 

A Living Trust, in contrast, is a separate legal entity created during one’s life to avoid the probate process. Provided the art work and intellectual property are transferred into the trust during life, the trust assets will pass free from court interference at death, avoiding the costs and delay of probate.

Avoiding probate is often appealing for artists because artwork and copyrights are particularly difficult to categorize and value in a probate petition. In addition, using a trust ensures privacy whereas a Will becomes public information when it goes through the courts. 

Further, a trust created during life can have provisions regarding incapacity, ensuring that precious pieces of art are properly cared for by the successor trustee in the event the artist can no longer maintain the works. Finally, some pieces of art cannot sit for the years it may take to go through the probate process.

The main advantage of a Living Trust is that it is not subject to continuing court oversight. If someone creates a trust for their art in their Will, any changes must go through the courts. For example, any change to the trustee would require court approval. Not so if the art trust was created in a Living Trust. A Living Trust can allow the beneficiaries to remove and replace a trustee without court interference. This is particularly important in artist estates where the Trustee is a professional instead of a family member. Many famous artist’s estate were mishandled by so-called trusted advisors. Avoiding the costs of litigation is reason enough to create a trust for artwork – especially if the artist is well- known.

An experienced estate planning attorney can help create an effective strategy for the artwork in your estate, ensuring your collection ends up in the right hands after death. Artwork can simply pass outright to beneficiaries if there is no substantial resale market. But, if the artist had established sales throughout their life, creating a trust or foundation at death to hold the art is the better route. As with any estate, the goal is to minimize in- fighting. Since art is so personal and cannot be easily divided, it is even more important to bequeath your works of art in a way that does not cause conflict.

Nancy Burner, Esq. is a Partner at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. focusing her practice areas on Estate Planning and Trusts and Estates. Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. serves clients from New York City to the east end of Long Island with offices located in East Setauket, Westhampton Beach, Manhattan and East Hampton.

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Katie Engel submitted a video of her spinning on the ice to demonstrate the work of Emmy Noether.

*This article was updated  Feb. 13 to reflect a change in the Jocelyn Bell Burnell lecture from Feb. 13 to Feb. 14 due to the weather.

By Daniel Dunaief

And the winner is … women in science! 

While Stony Brook University’s Institute for Advanced Computational Science (IACS) announced the winners of its inaugural challenge to celebrate the scientific and engineering achievement of women on Feb. 7, the organizers and participants feel like they’ve already come out ahead.

The inaugural competition, which 195 students kindergarten through 12th grade in schools on Long Island entered by submitting a one-minute video, included prizes for the 13 finalists. The winner received $1,000 prize, the runner up got $750 and the third-place finisher collected $500.

Marivi Fernández-Serra

“The goal of it was to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, while simultaneously promoting the important role that women had in science in the last century,” explained Marivi Fernández-Serra, Professor in the Physics and Astronomy Department and at the Institute for Advanced Computational Science.

In their videos, the students selected one of nine scientists that included experiments showcasing the work of these researchers by using computers or household products to demonstrate the search for dark matter, explore the laws of conservation, create homemade telescopes, simulate a volcano with lava and many more.

Fernández-Serra, who had helped with a similar effort at the Institute for Theoretical Physics in Madrid, Spain, brought the idea for the competition to Mónica Bugallo, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and affiliated member of the IACS  Faculty Director of the Women in Science and Engineering Honors Program, who immediately supported it.

Fernández-Serra thought the competition might attract 10 entrants in its inaugural year while Bugallo, who reached out to Long Island schools to showcase the competition, was confident local students would embrace the opportunity.

“Wait for a tsunami of participants,” Bugallo said she told Fernández-Serra, with whom she’s been a colleague and friend for years. “I was not surprised” by the contributions from the 103 teams, which included entrants from individual students and groups of as many as three students.

Bugallo, who recommended computer scientists Grace Hopper and mathematician and writer Ada Lovelace as important scientists for the competition, was impressed with the student effort.

“It was extremely tough to come up with the finalists,” said Bugallo.

Stony Brook plans to share the videos from the finalists after naming the winners.

Figure skating and conservation

One of the finalists, Katie Engel, a senior at Cold Spring Harbor High School, chose to demonstrate the work of Emmy Noether.

A German mathematician, Noether contributed to theoretical physics and abstract algebra. A theorem named after her, the Noether Theorem, explains that any continuous symmetry in a system has an associated conservation law. That helps explain how the speed of someone spinning in a chair changes depending on how far their arms re-extended.

Mónica Bugallo

An ice skater since she was six who is also interested in studying computer science or engineering, Engel had never heard of Noether but was intrigued with the physics and with the person who helped discover ways to characterize it.

In her entry, Engel explained the mathematical principals on a white board and then recorded a video of herself spinning on ice. When she learned about Noether’s life, Engel discovered that Noether was an important contributor to her field, despite some resistance to her work from men. “Reading about her stories is really inspiring,” said Engel.

Engel is stunned at the conclusions Noether reached with the tools at her disposal.

Currently working as an intern for Peter Koo at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Engel suggested she is committed to pursuing her interest in science, technology, engineering and math fields during and after college.

Engel was also a member of the robotics team at Cold Spring Harbor High School that won the regional conference and went to the World Championships in Houston last year. In robotics, Engel said the number of girls on the team declined from 10th through 12th grades. 

She is, however, heartened to learn that 180 boys and 200 girls attended a recent research fair at her school.

New teaching tools

Fernández-Serra and Bugallo are hoping that teachers at all levels can use the videos to inspire students and help them connect with scientists whose contributions continue to resonate with current researchers. The purpose of activities like the competition is to “spark interest, so students want to investigate more,” said Bugallo.

Stony Brook plans to build on this experience in future years through either similar efforts or ongoing programs or initiatives. “Our intent was to have these challenges year after year if this was successful, and it obviously was,” said Bugallo.

In the immediate future, Fernández-Serra encourages students in the area to attend the upcoming talks given by University of Oxford astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who discovered the pulsar, as a part of the Della Pietra lecture series at the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics on Stony Brook University’s West Campus from February 13 through Feb. 15.

Bell Burnell is giving a general public lecture on Feb. 14 at 5 p.m., with a reception at 4:15 p.m. in the Simons Center Lobby. The lecture will also be livestreamed at scgp.stonybrook.edu/live.

Bell Burnell will also offer a special talk for high school students titled You Are Made of Star Stuff! on Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. that examines how and where elements in the human body were created in the cosmos. Both lectures will be held in the Della Pietra Family Auditorium (room 103).

A curiosity outside the classroom

For scientists, what they learn and study often stays with them long after they finish an assignment or submit or publish a paper.

Fernández-Serra, who studies the fundamental properties of liquid water using quantum mechanical simulations, thinks about how amazing water atoms are that are holding her when she swims.

As for Engel, thoughts of Noether will stay with her when she figure skates. “I probably can’t do a spin without thinking about her,” she said.

Heroes with staying power

For Fernández-Serra, Mildred Dresselhaus, one of the celebrated scientists of the past who was a part of the contest, was a “number one hero” in condensed matter physics.

Called the “Queen of Carbon,” Dresselhaus earned numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Science and Engineering.

“She was a positive and brilliant scientist who never lost her enthusiasm and curiosity,” Fernández-Serra explained.

Stony Brook’s IACS team hopes this competition, the Bell Burnell lecture, and other efforts ignite such enthusiasm in the next generation of STEM students.

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Catch a performance of 'Frozen Jr.' at the Engeman Theater this weekend. The show runs through March 3. Photo courtesy of The John W. Engeman Theater

PROGRAMS

Kids Craft Day

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor hosts a Kids Craft Day from Feb. 10 to 14. Drop by between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to make a Valentine’s Day craft to take home. While supplies last. Admission is $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children ages 3 to 12. 516-692-6768

Super Bowl ‘Saturday’

Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Setauket hosts a Super Bowl “Saturday” event on Feb. 10. Get excited for the big game! Elementary-aged kids and their families are welcome to stop by anytime between 2 and 4 p.m. to enjoy football-themed festivities. Includes a raffle to win a special prize. Participants are encouraged to wear their favorite team’s jersey or football-themed attire. There is no registration for this event, and it is geared towards children in kindergarten through 6th grade. 631-941-4080

Lunar New Year at the Vanderbilt

Join the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport in celebrating the Year of the Dragon on Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon. Make a paper lantern, learn Chinese calligraphy, create a traditional good luck decoration, and visit the collections to see one of the animals in the Chinese Zodiac. Tickets are $20 guests,  $18 members at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Family Hour Sunday

Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington presents a special Family Hour Sunday in both Spanish and English on  Feb. 11 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Children ages 5 through 10 are invited for a family-friendly art experience with educators Tami Wood and Karina Giménez. Explore works of art in the Museum and create fun art projects! $10 per child, adults free. Registration recommended by visiting www.heckscher.org. 631-380-3230.

Storytime Under Stars

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its Storytime Under the Stars series on Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. Your favorite bedtime storybooks come to life in the planetarium theater! Children ages 2 and older are invited to wear their most comfy pajamas and bring their favorite stuffed animal. Tickets are $8 for guests, $6 for members at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Story & Craft with Nana Carol

The Next Chapter bookstore, 204 New York Avenue Huntington hosts a Story and Craft event with Nana Carol on Feb. 12 at 10:30 a.m. No registration required. Appropriate for ages 0-4 (sometimes older siblings join as well). 631-482-5008

The Phases of Water

Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park presents Tiny Tots program titled The Phases of Water on Feb. 15 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Enjoy short walks, story time, animal visitors, and crafts. For children ages 3 to 5. $4 per child. Advance registration required by calling 631-269-4333. 

THEATER

‘Frozen Jr.’

Frozen Jr. returns to the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport on weekends from Jan. 27 to March 3. The magical land of Arendelle comes to life onstage. 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.” With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor, Frozen Jr. is sure to thaw even the coldest heart! All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

A Royal Princess Party

Sing along with a princess during winter break as the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown hosts A Royal Princess Party from Feb. 17 to 25 with a sensory sensitive performance on Feb. 18 at 10:30 a.m. Royal Historians will guide you through meeting each of the princesses, teaching the morals behind each of their stories and singing along to their favorite songs. Be sure to wear your best royal attire — this is going to be one party you don’t want to miss! You’ll love this heartwarming celebration filled with stories, songs and special guests. Tickets are $16 per person. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.

‘Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz’

Join Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson for an unforgettable trip down the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz from Feb. 21 to March 16 with a sensory sensitive performance on Feb. 25 at 11 a.m  Enjoy a grand-new take on this classic tale features an original score, memorable characters, and fun for the entire family — a delightful reminder that “there’s no place like home!” All seats are $12. To order, calll 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

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LOVE AND MARRIAGE Tickets are selling fast for the Valentine's Day performance of 'I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change' at the Engeman Theater in Northport. Photo from The John W. Engeman Theater
Thursday Feb. 8

Volunteer Fair heads to Selden

Middle Country Public Library, 575 Middle Country Road, Selden will host a Venues for Volunteering Fair from 6 to 8 p.m. Come find out what volunteer opportunities are available in our area and how you can help. Representatives from over 20 organizations will be in attendance including Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, Bethel Hobbs Community Farm, Friends of the Middle Country Public Library, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County,  Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook, Mercy Haven Inc., Save-A-Pet Animal Rescue, Selden Fire Department, and the Three Village Historical Society. No registration required. For more information, call 631-585-9393.

Reboli Art History Lecture

The Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook will host a free art history lecture with award-winning artist  and art history enthusiast Kevin McEvoy from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Light snacks will be served. No reservations are required to attend. 631-751-7707

Staller Center Music Recital

Jennifer Frautschi and Christina Dahl  of SBU Dept. of Music return for another popular evening of duos for violin and piano at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts Recital Hall, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook at 7 p.m. This program considers four very different sonatas written within a twenty-year period that encompasses WWI, and the aftermath of the war. Program includes Szymanowski Sonata in D Minor, Op. 9 for Violin and Piano (1904); Bartok Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano, SZ 76 (1922); Marguerite Canal Sonata for Violin and Piano (1922)—selections; and Ravel Violin Sonata No. 2 (1923-27). Free. 631-632-2787

Victorian Valentine’s Day

Join the Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport for a Victorian Valentine’s Day 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.

Friday Feb. 9

Game Night in St. James

Join Celebrate St. James for an adult Game Night at the Calderone Theatre, 176 2nd St., St. James from 7 to 10 p.m. Enjoy board games, card games, light refreshments, pizza and a hot chocolate bar. $10 donation. To register, visit www.celebratestjames.org. 631-984-0201

An Evening of Opera

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 270 Main St., Northport hosts a concert by Opera Night Long Island at 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature an entertaining assortment of vocal excerpts from famous and beloved operas followed by a reception. $10 donation, students free. www.operanight.org

Bennett Harris in Concert

The Village of Port Jefferson Dept. of Recreation and the Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council continue their Winter Tide concert series at the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson with a performance by Blues Master Bennett Harris in the Sail Loft Room (3rd floor) from 7 to 8 p.m. playing tunes by Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson, Blind Blake, as well as his own originals. Tickets are $5 at the door. 631-802-2160

Grounds and Sounds Concert – This event has been postponed to Feb. 16.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket hosts a Grounds and Sounds concert featuring the Claudia Jacobs Band (eclectic mix of folk, blues, pop and soul) with doors opening at 7:30 p.m.  Open mic starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person and are available in advance online or at the door. www.groundsandsounds.org, 631-751-0297

Saturday Feb. 10

February Funny Fest

The Comedy Club@Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson announces the return of February Funny Fest at 8 p.m. with comedians Ellen Karis, Coach Tom Whitely, Richie Byrne and more. Tickets are $40. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Sunday Feb. 11

Valentine’s Day Serenade

Smithtown Historical Society will host a Valentine’s Day Serenade concert by Transitions Saxophone Quartet at the Caleb Smith House, 5 North Country Road, Smithtown  from noon to 2 p.m.. Celebrating a century of songs of love, Transitions will perform the music of artists who have been inspired by love and romance. Wine and chocolate strawberries will be served. Proceeds will go towards preservation and repair of the SHS’s historic buildings. Ticket are $20 per person, $30 per couple. To order, call 631-265-6768.

Chinese Brush Painting

Join the North Shore Public Library, 250 Route 25A, Shoreham for a Chinese Brushwork Painting class from 1 to 3 p.m. where you will learn the basic brush marks, how to use rice paper using Chinese brushes and ink. By listening to the history of this art form and watching painting demonstrations of bamboo, stems, leaves and blossoms, you will create your original piece of Chinese brushwork/painting to bring home. All materials are supplied. Open to all. To register, call 631-929-4488.

Nick Russell in concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook welcomes Nick Russell with Sydney Swinson for songs and stories from 3 to 4 p.m. The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. For more information, call 631-689-5888 or visit www.limusichalloffame.org.

Ridotto Concert

Huntington Jewish Center, 510 Park Avenue in Huntington hosts a Ridotto Concert, concerts with a touch of theater, featuring pianist Sofya Gulyak at 4 p.m. Program will include works by Chopin, Debussy and Liszt’s Norma Fantasie. Tickets are $35 adults $30 seniors, $25 members and $12 students. For reservations, call 631-385-0373, or email [email protected].

Monday Feb. 12

Sound Beach Civic Meeting

Sound Beach Civic Association will hold a meeting at the Sound Beach Firehouse, 152 Sound Beach Blvd., Sound Beach at 7:30 p.m. The guest speaker will Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon. Also on the agenda will be a representative from Congressman Nick LaLota’s office with an update on the post office closure. All are welcome. For more information call 631-744-6952.

The American Bombshells

The John W. Engeman, 250 Main St., Northport celebrates Valentine’s Day with a concert by The American Bombshells, a modern day twist on the Andrews Sisters, who serve as Ambassadors of America’s Gratitude, traveling the globe with an All-American show that dazzles in three part harmony! Tickets are $45 per person. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Tuesday Feb. 13

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a talk by Rabbi Aaron Benson who will discuss the current issues in Israel in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

Shades of Bublé Concert

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Route 25A, Northport continues its Special Event Series with Shades of Bublé at 8 p.m. With three voices singing incredible songs like “Feeling Good,” “Moondance,” “Sway,” “Come Fly With Me,” “Home,” “Everything,” “Fever,” “Save the Last Dance for Me” and many more, the show brings the swinging standards and pop hits of Michael Bublé to the stage in an unforgettable high-energy concert event. Tickets are $45. To order call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Wednesday Feb. 14

Valentine’s Day Breakfast & Trivia

Town of Brookhaven’s Rose Caracappa Senior Center, 739 Route 25A, Mt. Sinai hosts a Valentine’s Day Breakfast & Trivia Game event from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. A continental breakfast will be served. Free. Please call 631-451-5312 to register.

Valentine’s Day at the LIM

Drop by the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook on Feb. 14 from noon to 5 p.m. for a special 2-for-1 admission! Treat your sweetheart to a romantic afternoon enjoying the museum’s new art exhibitions, including the Power of Two, featuring works by artist couples of Long Island; Finding Hidden Treasures: The  Art of Samuel Adoquei; Painting Partnership: Reynold and Joan Ruffins; and Colors of Long Island: Student Art Exhibition. 631-751-0066 See more on page B17.

Thursday Feb. 15

Emerson Legacy Concert

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents an Emerson Legacy Concert in the Recital Hall at 7 p.m. featuring Emerson Members Eugene Drucker, violin, and Lawrence Dutton, viola. Program will include works by Bartok, Dvorak, Mozart and Mendelssohn. Tickets range from $41 to $48. To order, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

Film

‘The Miracle Club’

Join us at Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station  for a viewing of The Miracle Club starring Maggie Smith, Laura Linney, and Kathy Bates on Fe. 14 at 2 p.m. Open to all. Call 631-928-1212 to reserve your seat. 

‘Casablanca’ at the CAC

“Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.” 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. $20 per person, $15 members. Order tickets in advance at www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Theater 

‘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. 

‘Tick Tick Boom!’ *

Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson presents Tick, Tick…Boom! from Feb. 17 to March 16. This semi-autobiographical pop/rock musical by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer-Prize and Tony Award winning creator of RENT, inspired Lin Manuel Miranda’s 2021 Netflix movie adaptation and explores the sacrifices one man makes and the passion it takes to pursue a dream. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.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).  631-928-6529

Festival of One-Act Plays

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the 25th annual Festival of One-Act Plays from  Feb. 24 to March 23 at The Ronald F. Peierls Theatre, on the Second Stage. Selected from over 2,000 submissions world-wide, these eight cutting-edge premieres are guaranteed to entertain and engage. Directed by Jeffrey Sanzel, the plays will feature Sean Amato, Ginger Dalton, Jae Hughes, Brittany Lacey, Phyllis March, Andrew Markowitz, Linda May, Rob Schindlar, Evan Teich, Steven Uihlein, Julia Albino, Courtney Gilmore, Gina Lardi, and Cassidy Rose O’Brien. . Please Note: Adult content and language. All tickets are $25. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

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

Lake Grove Farmers Market

Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove hosts a Winter Farmers Market in the southwestern quadrant of the parking lot (adjacent to Bahama Breeze) on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 516-444-1280

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