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When you read the label look for words such as bird friendly, fair trade, certified organic, etc.
A Column Promoting a More Earth-Friendly Lifestyle

By John L. Turner

John Turner

If you watch birds you’ve undoubtedly enjoyed watching them in the early morning while having a cup of coffee. Want to enjoy the latter while better helping the species you enjoy viewing? Drink shade-grown coffee. 

As the name suggests, shade-grown coffee is composed of coffee shrubs and trees grown in the understory of a shady tropical rainforest in which the ecosystem remains largely intact. Unfortunately most coffee consumed by Americans are sun-grown varieties where the rainforest is destroyed and manicured rows of coffee plants grow. Sun grown coffee farms have many fewer wildlife species, such as the birds we love — Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks to name but a few; in some cases sun-grown coffee farms have 5% of the species found in shade grown farms. 

Shade grown coffee brands are available in some stores and certainly on-line. They are a  bit more expensive but if more consumers buy coffee sustainably grown, prices should come down. And you will gain something more than you ever could by consuming a cheaper cup of sun-grown coffee — knowing you’re helping migratory birds that visit us during the Spring and Summer survive.

A resident of Setauket, John Turner is conservation chair of the Four Harbors Audubon Society, author of “Exploring the Other Island: A Seasonal Nature Guide to Long Island” and president of Alula Birding & Natural History Tours.

 

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DOG DAYS OF SUMMER The second annual Port Paws Dog Festival returns to Port Jefferson this weekend. Photo by Dianne Ferrer
Ongoing

Huntington Summer Arts Festival

Heckscher Park’s Chapin Rainbow Stage, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington hosts the Huntington Arts Council’s 58th annual Summer Arts Festival with music, theater and dance Wednesdays through Sundays from July 1 to 30. Free. Bring seating. For the full schedule, visit www.huntingtonarts.org. 631-271-8423

Thursday July 13

Summer SWAP Concert

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook continues its free “Summer Stage With a Purpose” (Summer SWAP) concerts on its front lawn from 6 to 8 p.m. with Nikos Chatzitsakos Big Band with Alexandria DeWalt on vocals. Guests may purchase refreshments in the Basie Garden beside the venue. Bring seating. 631-751-1895, www.thejazzloft.org

Author Talk at the LIM

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook will host an Author Talk with Art Shamsky from 6 to 8 p.m. Join the former NY Met and 1969 World Series Champion for a talk and signing of his 2019 New York Times best selling book, After the Miracle: The Lasting Brotherhood of the ’69 Mets. This event is free but registration is preferred at www.longislandmuseum.org. 631-751-0066.

Art History Lecture

The Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook hosts a free art history lecture with award winning artist and Art History enthusiast, Kevin McEvoy from 6:30 to 8 p.m. McEvoy will discuss Brunelleschi and the creation of Duomo. Light snacks will be served for your enjoyment. No reservations required. 631-751-7707

Music Behind the Barn

Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead hosts a free outdoor concert featuring the Yazoo Brothers at the historic Naugles Barn from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy the music and the beautiful North Fork sunset over the farm fields. Guests are encouraged to bring their own picnics, blankets, and chairs to set out on the field. No registration required. 631-298-5292

Northport Fireman’s Fair

The Northport Volunteer Fire Department will hold their 97th annual Firemen’s Fair today through July 15 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the fire department grounds on Steers Ave, off of Ocean Ave in Northport. The six day event will feature carnival rides by Blue Sky Amusements, festival food, games and more. 631-261-7504

Dennis Cannataro Concert Series

The Dennis Cannataro Family Summer Concert Series returns to the Smithtown Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown with a concert by Any Way You Want It tonight at 7:30 p.m. with a preshow at 7 p.m. Bring seating. 631-360-2480 ext. 150

Harborside Concerts

The Village of Port Jefferson continues its annual Harborside concerts at the Show Mobile at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson on Thursdays at 7 p.m. with a performance by the Bangos. Bring seating. 631-473-4724

Northport Community Band

The Northport Community Band will host a concert at the Robert W. Krueger Bandshell in Northport Village Park tonight, July 20 and July 27 starting at 8:30 p.m. Bring seating. Rain location is Northport High School. www.ncb59.org

Friday July 14

Northport Fireman’s Fair

See July 13 listing.

Happenings on Main Street

Northport Arts Coalition continues its Happenings on Main Street series, free concerts at the Northport Village Park Gazebo at the harbor at 7 p.m., with a performance by Christine Sweeney & The Dirty Stayouts. Bring seating. 631-261-1872, www.northportarts.org

An Evening of Opera

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 109 Browns Road, Huntington welcomes Opera Night Long Island for a concert featuring arias from popular operas at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will follow. $10 donation, students free. 631-261-8808

Psychic Medium Robert Hansen

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson welcomes Psychic Medium Robert Hansen to the Main Stage at 8 p.m. Hansen will share with the audiences his psychic gifts of communication with loved ones that have crossed over to the other side. Messages of love will be randomly demonstrated to the audience and sensitively shared. Tickets are $49. 631-928-9100, www.theatrethree.com

Travel Back to the 80s Experience

Join the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown for a Travel Back To The 80s Experience at 8 p.m. Immerse yourself in the fun, the fashion, and the sounds of the 80s! Meet familiar characters and personalities while being thrown back in time to a story straight out of the 80s, all set to the tunes you know and love. Arrive dressed up to enjoy yourself to the max! Featuring a live performance by Guilty Pleasures. All ages are welcome. Tickets are $35 (each ticket includes one drink from the bar). Call 1-800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org to order.

Saturday July 15

Northport Fireman’s Fair

See July 13 listing.

Summer Craft Fair

Time to shop! Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 716 Route 25A, Rocky Point will hold a Summer Craft Fair today from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and July 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The indoor event will feature handmade crafts, unique gift items and home and holiday decor. 631-924-8143

Port Paws Dog Festival

Come see dogs fly as the second annual Port Paws Dog Festival heads to the Joe Erland Baseball Field, Caroline Ave., Port Jefferson today and July 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The two-day festival will feature a Dock Dogs® aquatic competition, canine vendors, food trucks, activities, live music and more. Tickets are $12 per adult at www.portpawsdogfest.com, kids under 12 and canines are free. Questions? Text 516-939-8960.

Sunflower Festival

Lenny Bruno Farms, 740 Wading River Road, Manorville hosts a Sunflower Festival today and July 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission to the festival area is $10 per person, children ages 2 and under free, and includes live music, strolls through a sea of sunflowers, 5 oz. tasting, vendors, toddler play area, petting zoo, jumbo garden games, unique photo opportunities, food trucks, artisan vendors, face painting, other children and teen activity vendors, hayrides, u-pick, and jumbo garden games. 631-591-3592.

Sherwood-Jayne House Tour

Preservation Long Island will host tours of the Sherwood-Jayne House (c. 1730), 55 Old Post Road, Setauket at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. with a self-guided tour at noon. The house contains period furnishings and features original late eighteenth-century hand-painted floral wall frescoes. Tickets are $10, $5 children ages 6 to 15, under age 6 free at www.preservationlongisland.org/tours. 

Pop Up Saturdays

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization hosts a Pop-Up Saturdays event in Stony Brook Village’s Inner Court (by Crazy Beans and/or the Waterfall Garden) from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Come enjoy live R&B, Roots, Blues and Contemporary Acoustic music from Brenda & Burke, as well as Caricatures by Marty. 631-751-2244, www.wmho.org.

Concert in the Park

Wildwood State Park, 790 Hulse Landing Rd, Wading River welcomes The East End Trio in concert at 7 p.m. Come enjoy songs you know by heart with music from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s. $10 vehicle fee. 631-929-4314

The Brooklyn Bridge in concert

Back by popular demand, The Brooklyn Bridge returns to Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson at 8 p.m. Enjoy such hits as “Sixteen Candles,” “Trouble In Paradise,” “Step By Step,” “The Wanderer,” “Runaround Sue,” and many others. All seats are $59. 631-928-9100, www.theatrethree.com

Sunday July 16

Summer Craft Fair

See July 15 listing.

Port Paws Dog Festival

See July 15 listing.

Sunflower Festival

See July 15 listing.

Mazarin in Concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will host a concert by Mazarin from 3 to 4 p.m. Free with admission to the museum. For more information, call 689-5888 or visit www.limusichalloffame.org.

Wind Down Sundays

The popular summer concert series continues at Hap’s historic Red Barn at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket with Rod Borrie and Free Range at 5:30 p.m. Bring seating. 631-689-6146, www.frankmelvillepark.org

Common Ground in Concert

Celebrate St. James continues its summer concert series at Celebrate Park, 369 Lake Ave., St. James with music by Common Ground from 6 to 9 p.m. Free. Bring seating. 631-984-0201, www.celebratestjames.org

Summer Concert on the Green

Summer concerts are back in front of the Stony Brook Post Office at the Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main Street, Stony Brook from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Sunday through Aug. 20, courtesy of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization. This week’s concert features Country Rhythms. Free. Bring seating. 631-751-2244, www.wmho.org

Monday July 17

No events listed for this day.

Tuesday July 18

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a presentation on the Long Island Coastal Environment  by a representative from the Department of Environmental Conservation in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

The Art of Gardening

Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket continues its summer programs series with The Art of Gardening at 11 a.m. Master gardener Haig Seferian will answer your questions about your vegetable and flower gardens. He may even have a few bonus plants to share with you. Meet at Hap’s Red Barn. Event is held rain or shine. Free. 631-689-6146

Huntington Manor Fireman’s Fair

Long Island’s largest Fireman’s Fair heads to the Henry L. Stimson Middle School, 401 Oakwood Rd., Huntington Station, and adjoining Peter Nelson Park today to July 22 from 6 to 11 p.m. (Parade on July 19 at 7:30 p.m.) Featuring amusement rides, games, food and  gambling. Fireworks  Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. P.O.P bracelets for the rides are $35. 631-427-1629, ext. 4.

Northport Harbor Family Nights

The Northport Chamber of Commerce hosts a Northport Harbor Family Night from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Village of Northport’s Main Street will be closed to traffic from Gunther’s to Skippers. Enjoy live music, outdoor dining, vendor sidewalk sales and antique cars. 631-754-3905

Concerts at The Gazebo 

Enjoy Tuesday night concerts at The Gazebo, 127 Smithtown Blvd., Nesconset  through Aug. 15, courtesy of the Nesconset Chamber of Commerce. Tonight’s concert will feature Pump (Aerosmith tribute band)  at 7 p.m. Rain dates are the next day. Bring seating. 631-672-5197, www.nesconsetchamber.org

Concert in the Courtyard

Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Ave., Northport continues its Concerts in the Library Courtyard at 7 p.m. with a performance by Just Sixties. Rain date is July 19. No registration required. Seating will be provided.

Community Band Concert

The Smithtown Community Band continues its 37th annual concert series, By Land, Sea, & Sky, on the grounds of the Smithtown Historical Society’s Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown at 8 p.m. Free. Bring seating. 631-275-0443

Wednesday July 19

Huntington Manor Fireman’s Fair

See July 18 listing.

St. James Summer Nights

For the 5th year, St. James Elementary School, 580 Lake Ave., St. James hosts a St. James Summer Night from 5 to 9 p.m. featuring live music, food and vendors and musical acts. It’s a perfect family outing and a chance to mingle with your neighbors and community under the summer stars. 516-220-8217

Sunset Concerts

Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council continues its Sunset Concerts at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with a performance by Arbutus & Vine. Held rain or shine. Bring seating. 631-473-5220, www.gpjac.org

Summer Concert Wednesdays

Join the Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Chamber of Commerce for a Luau Night at the Chamber Train Car Park, corner of Nesconset Highway and Route 112, Port Jefferson Station with live music by One Step Ahead from 7 to 9 p.m. Free. Bring seating. 631-821-1313, www.PJSTChamber.com

Thursday July 20

Northport Community Band

See July 13 listing.

Huntington Manor Fireman’s Fair

See July 18 listing.

Summer Thursdays at the LIM

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook presents a free family show, Bash the Trash, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Pack a picnic supper, enjoy the show and view the latest exhibits at the Art Museum. In the case of rain, concert will be held in the Carriage Museum’s Gillespie Room. 631-751-0066 See more events for children on page B22

Dennis Cannataro Concert Series

The Dennis Cannataro Family Summer Concert Series returns to the Smithtown Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown with a concert by One Step Ahead tonight at 7:30 p.m. with a preshow at 7 p.m. Bring seating. 631-360-2480 ext. 150

Harborside Concerts

The Village of Port Jefferson continues its annual Harborside concerts at the Show Mobile at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson on Thursdays at 7 p.m. with a performance by Southbound. Bring seating. 631-473-4724

Theater

‘Macbeth’

The Carriage House Players continue their 34th annual Summer Shakespeare Festival in the mansion courtyard of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with Macbeth on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. from July 7 to Aug. 6. Tickets are $20, $15 children under 12 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

‘Escape to Margaritaville’

Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is Escape to Margaritaville from July 13 to Aug. 27. This upbeat and energetic new musical features all your favorite Jimmy Buffett classics including “Volcano,” “Fins,”,“Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and of course “Margaritaville.” Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Laughter on the 23rd Floor’

Minstrel Players presents Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor at Trinity Episcopal Church’s Houghton Hall, 130 Main St., Northport on July 22 and 29 at 8 p.m. and July 23 and 30 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and students. To order call 516-361-7232.

‘Pippin’

Community Playhouse of Northport presents a Bucket List Production of Pippin at Harborfields High School Auditorium, 98 Taylor Ave., Greenlawn on July 21, 22, and 23 at 7:30 p.m. with a July 22 matinee at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 at www.communityplayhousenorthport.org. 631-683-8444

Film

Stony Brook Film Festival

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook will host the 28th annual Stony Brook Film Festival from July 20 to July 28. Line-up includes 36 feature films and shorts from over 26 countries. Opening night includes a screening of feature film Sea of Time and the short film The Red Suitcase at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15, $13.50 seniors at wwww.stonybrookfilmfestival.com. 631-632-2787

Movies on the Harbor

Village of Port Jefferson presents its Movies on the Harbor at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson Tuesdays at dusk with Here Today on July 18; Dream Horse on Aug. 1; and In the Heights on Aug. 8. Rain date is the next evening. 631-473-472

Class Reunions

• Hauppauge High School Class of 1978 will hold its 45th reunion on July 22, 2023 with a reunion party on July 21 and a reunion picnic on July 23. For details, email [email protected].

• Port Jefferson High School Class of 1973 will hold its 50th reunion on the weekend of August 4-6. For information, email Lori Sternlicht Lucki @ [email protected] or call 631-495-8604.

• Ward Melville High School Class of 1973 will hold its 50th reunion at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket on Sept. 9, 2023 from 6 to 11 p.m. For ticket information, contact Tibo Dioguardi at [email protected].

• Save the date! 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, 2024. For more information, email Mike Whelen at [email protected].

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CALENDAR DEADLINE  is Wednesday at noon, one week before publication. Items may be mailed to: Times Beacon Record News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733. Email your information about community events to [email protected]. Calendar listings are for not-for-profit organizations (nonsectarian, nonpartisan events) only, on a space-available basis. Please include a phone number that can be printed.

 

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Photo courtesy of PSEG Long Island

PSEG Long Island will host a food drive at Stop & Shop supermarket, 291 West Main St., Smithtown on Friday, July 14 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is one of six Power to Feed Long Island summer food collection events to benefit Long Islanders facing hunger. The food and supplies will be collected by Island Harvest Food Bank and distributed to Long Islanders through local agencies and their food programs.

Hundreds of thousands of Long Island families struggle with hunger throughout the year. During the summer months, there is a significant reduction in food donations to local food banks, pantries and programs. Compounding the issue, children are not in school where they can receive free and reduced-cost breakfast and lunch. In addition, the pandemic and the increased inflation rate have further strained local food pantries and emergency feeding programs served by Island Harvest. Long Islanders are being encouraged to remember their neighbors who are struggling to feed themselves and their families every day.

PSEG Long Island is providing the venue for Long Islanders to donate to their neighbors in need. The initiative aims to collect the equivalent of 50,000 meals from the first day of summer 2023 to the last. In the past two years, thanks to the generosity of Long Islanders, the equivalent of more than 60,000 meals was collected.

Food collection bins and a drive-thru option will be set up in the parking lot of the supermarket where the public can donate nonperishable items and household essentials for community members facing food insecurity.

Island Harvest requests the following:

  • Nonperishable food (no glass jars please): Healthy varieties of canned foods, such as low-sodium beans, vegetables, soups, pasta sauces and tomato varieties, tuna and chicken, along with rice, pasta, popcorn kernels, nut butters, olive and canola oil, spices and pet food
  • Household essentials: Toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer, laundry detergent and dish soap
  • Personal care items: Toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, shampoo, conditioner, feminine care products and shaving products, antibacterial wipes and washcloths
  • Baby care items: Diapers, wipes, formula, creams, ointments and baby wash

The schedule of remaining collection events is:

  • July 28, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Stop & Shop – 95 Old Country Road, Carle Place
  • Aug. 11, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at ShopRite – 3901 Hempstead Tpke., Bethpage
  • Sept. 1, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Stop & Shop – 3126 Jericho Turnpike, East Northport
  • Sept. 15, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Stop & Shop – 575 West Montauk Highway, West Babylon

For more information, visit www.psegliny.com/feedLI.

 

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Hit the road with the Griswolds once again, as Fathom’s Big Screen Classics roll on with a pair of special screenings of the 1983 fan-favorite comedy “National Lampoon’s Vacation” returning to select theaters nationwide on Sunday, July 16 and Wednesday, July 19 in honor of its 40th anniversary. 

For the Clark W. Griswolds of Chicago, 50 weeks of work and routine will soon be rewarded with a fortnight of frenzied freedom. Mom (Beverly D’Angelo) and the kids (Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron) would rather fly, but Dad (Chevy Chase) insists on driving west to Walley World. 

He’s programmed everything on the family’s PC — from tire wear to best routes, from choice sights to the finest AAA-recommended lodgings. But what was supposed to be a perfectly planned getaway quickly takes a detour through Murphy’s Law, as the Griswold gang must overcome vandals, car wrecks, and even the LAPD SWAT Team to make it to their destination in one piece. 

Directed by Harold Ramis with a script by John Hughes, Vacation also stars Imogene Coca, John Candy, Christie Brinkley in her acting debut, Randy Quaid, Miriam Flynn, Eddie Bracken, Brian Doyle-Murray, Miriam Flynn, James Keach, Eugene Levy and Frank McRae. 

Each screening features an exclusive introduction by noted film critic and historian Leonard Maltin, discussing the enduring appeal and influence of the side-splitting road trip epic widely hailed as one of the finest comedies of all time.

Locally the film will be screened at AMC Loews Stony Brook, Island 16 Cinema de Lux in Holtsville and Showcase Cinema de Lux in Farmingdale on July 16 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and on July 19 at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets in advance, visit www.fathomevents.com.

See a trailer of the movie here.

 

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Cliff Eberhardt (above) and Lucy Kaplansky will headline this year's Huntington Folk Festival.
Cliff Eberhardt and Lucy Kaplansky (above) will headline this year’s Huntington Folk Festival. Photo by Beowulf Sheehan

The 17th annual Huntington Folk Festival is set for Saturday, July 22, at Heckscher Park, 2 Prime Avenue, in Huntington from 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a dinner break from 6 to 7:15 p.m. The free event is co-presented by the Huntington Arts Council, Folk Music Society of Huntington and AcousticMusicScene.com as part of the 58th Huntington Summer Arts Festival produced by the Town of Huntington. An evening concert featuring internationally touring singer-songwriters Lucy Kaplansky and Cliff Eberhardt will be preceded by a series of amplified song swaps and an open mic during the afternoon.

Hailed as “the songwriter laureate of modern city folk,” (The Boston Globe), Lucy Kaplansky is a NYC-based contemporary folk singer-songwriter with a luminous voice whose recordings have frequently topped the folk and Americana radio charts. Among the most respected and covered touring songwriters on the folk scene, Massachusetts-based Cliff Eberhardt, like Kaplansky, cut his musical teeth playing NYC clubs centered around Greenwich Village during the folk/songwriter renaissance of the 1980s. When not doing their own thing, Kaplansky and Eberhardt have been part of an On a Winter’s Night tour that also features John Gorka and Patty Larkin.

Prior to the evening concert on the park’s Chapin Rainbow Stage, Michael Kornfeld, president of the Folk Music Society of Huntington and editor & publisher of AcousticMusicScene.com (an online publication for the folk, roots and singer-songwriter communities), conducts an on-stage conversational interview with the evening’s featured artists at 7:15 p.m.

Kornreld will also emcee a series of amplified song swaps from 1:30-4 p.m. near a canopy tent on the upper lawn area overlooking the stage and from 4-6 p.m. on-stage. These will be preceded by an hour-long open mic hosted by singer-songwriter Toby Tobias, who co-hosts the NorthShore Original Open Mic (NOOM) that is co-presented by FMSH and the Cinema Arts Centre in the Cinema’s Sky Room on three Wednesday nights each month, while FMSH’s monthly Hard Luck Café concert series takes place on the third Wednesday.

Artists slated to showcase their talents during the afternoon include Josie Bello, Suzanne Ernst, Roger Street Friedman, Rorie Kelly, Ray Lambiase, Bill Lauter, Mara Levine, The Levins, Annie Mark, Stuart Markus, Catherine Miles & Jay Mafale, Louise Mosrie, Mark Newman, James O’Malley, Nico Padden, Carolann Solebello, Hank Stone, Christine Sweeney, and Toby Tobias.

Festivalgoers are advised to bring lawn chairs and blankets and a picnic supper (or they can walk into Huntington Village and enjoy a meal at one of its many restaurants).

The Huntington Summer Arts Festival is produced by the Town of Huntington and presented by the Huntington Arts Council. Additional support is provided by Presenting Sponsor Canon U.S.A., with partial funding from the New York State Council on the Arts and the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning.

Huntington Folk Festival Schedule

12:30 — Open Mic (hosted by Toby Tobias)

 1:30  —  Huntington’s Own: Josie Bello, Suzanne Ernst, Ray Lambiase

 2:00  — LI Guys: James O’Malley,  Hank Stone, Bob Westcott

 2:30  — LI Gals: Rorie Kelly, Nico Padden, Christine Sweeney

 3:00  — Huntington’s Own II: Bill Lauter, Annie Mark, Mark Newman

 4:00  — A Pair of Duos: The Levins and Catherine Miles & Jay Mafale

 4:30  — Let’s Hear It for the Guys:  Roger Street Friedman and Toby Tobias

 5:00  — Classic Folk Covers: Mara Levine and Stuart Markus

 5:30  — Women of Note: Louise Mosrie  Coombe  and Carolann Solebello

 6:00  — Dinner Break

 7:15  — A Conversation with Cliff Eberhardt and Lucy Kaplansky

 8:00  — Evening Concert with Cliff Eberhardt and Lucy Kaplansky

For more information, visit www.fmsh.org.

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Jacqueline Castaldo

Stony Brook University Director of Business in Finance & Administration (F&A) Jacqueline Castaldo has been awarded the State University of New York  (SUNY) Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service.  

Castaldo’s responsibilities include oversight of the finances and budget within several University areas including Budget, Financial Planning & Analysis; Enterprise Risk Management; Facilities & Services; Finance; Human Resource Services; Marketing & Communications and Government & Community Relations. She also collaborates on financial matters for the Division of Information Technology. 

The Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence are System-level honors conferred to acknowledge and provide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence. Individuals nominated for these awards must meet all prescribed eligibility criteria and must be individuals of achievement, committed to the State University and its students, respected by the campus community and worthy of emulation by colleagues and students on the home campus and across SUNY. 

“I congratulate Jackie on this well-deserved achievement,” said Jed Shivers, Senior Vice President, F&A. “Her responsibilities have grown significantly since joining the university and she has definitely demonstrated excellence in her efforts.  We have worked on a number of projects together and I have been impressed with her dedication to detail and ensuring that financial statements are accurate as well as actionable.”

Castaldo joined Stony Brook University seven years ago in the Office of Procurement as a Business Analyst Lead. After working in Procurement for almost two years, the Bayport resident transitioned into a new role in F&A, serving as a Senior Financial Analyst where she was responsible for data analytics within the University, developing key metrics to enhance business processes and expanding upon University initiatives. In 2021, she was promoted to Assistant Director of Finance, a post she held for approximately one year before being appointed to Director of Business Operations for F&A. 

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Sam Kleeman. Photo by Caryn Koza/CSHL
From left, Sam Kleeman, Assistant Professor Tobias Janowitz, Miriam Ferrer Gonzalez and Emma Davidson. Photo by Caryn Koza/CSHL
Sam Kleeman at Lake Tahoe
Sam Kleeman in front of a sequoia grove at Yosemite.

By Daniel Dunaief

This is part 2 of a two-part series.

Cancers not only compromise human health, but they can also suppress the body’s immune response. A little studied small protein called cystatin C, which is secreted by numerous cells, may render the immune system less effective in its response to tumors.

Sam Kleeman, a PhD student in Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Assistant Professor Tobias Janowitz’s lab, recently published results in the journal Cell Genomics that demonstrate a link between elevated levels of this protease inhibitor, the suppression of the immune system, and the development of cancer.

Kleeman was able to demonstrate a potential role “Cystatin C might play in damping down the immune response to tumors,” he said.

Cystatin C is a known cysteine protease inhibitor, but the biological and organ-level relevance of this has not been characterized in detail. This protein could be one of many mechanisms by which glucocorticoids can reduce the effectiveness of the immune system.

Cystatin C could drive the progression of the disease, which could explain why Kleeman has found evidence that higher levels coordinate with worse outcomes.

Starting with the data

Pursuing an interest in data- driven research, Kleeman, who has a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from New College at the University of Oxford, searched the UK Biobank, which provides health data for numerous people in the United Kingdom. 

In this Biobank, Kleeman, who joined Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in August of 2020, found that cystatin C was the best prognostic indicator of cancer deaths.

“I was a little surprised by this,” Kleeman said as he had heard of cystatin C as a marker of kidney function, but was not aware of any association with cancer mortality. Some studies had found evidence for this previously, but those were in small cohorts and were poorly understood, he explained.

A healthy kidney clears most proteins quickly, pumping it out into urine. A kidney that’s not functioning optimally, however, allows it to accumulate.

In his research, Kleeman removed cystatin C selectively in cancer cells, causing the tumors to grow more slowly. The main changes in the architecture of the tumor was that it reduced the frequency of macrophages with expression of a protein called Trem2. While the exact mechanism is not known, it’s likely that immune control of the tumor increases without cystatin C.

Kleeman also demonstrated a similar effect on the connection between levels of Covid-19 and mortality in a paper published in iScience.

The biological mechanism explaining the correlation is nuanced. Patients with higher levels of glucocorticoids can be associated with poor outcomes. It is not a simple relationship, he said, which makes causality difficult to assess.

Kleeman believes cystatin C secretion in response to glucocorticoids has context dependency. Not all cells posses inducible cystatin C secretion.

The research primarily found that only macrophages and cancer cells can secrete cystatin C in response to glucocorticoids.

He describes a “two hit” model, by which glucocorticoids plus an inflammatory stimulus recruit macrophages. The model applies to all inflammatory stores, but is co-opted in the case of cancer.

At this point, drugs aren’t available to inhibit or reduce cystatin C. Instead, Kleeman suggested that a viable research target route might involve creating a specific antibody.

Some researchers have created so-called knockout mice, which don’t have this protein. These mice can survive without it, although eliminating all cystatin C creates other problems.

Kleeman speculated that the protein could play a role in preventing significant immune reaction against sperm.

Indeed, this protein is secreted at high levels in the testes. Males without it have lower sperm function and production.

Kleeman hopes this work acts as a starting point to understand the mechanism better by which glucocorticoids modify immune response to cancer, and to investigate cystatin C as a possible therapeutic target.

Long standing partnership

As an undergraduate, Kleeman took a class with Janowitz, which kicked off a mentorship that now spans two continents.

Kleeman appreciates the comfort level Janowitz has in working on higher-risk, higher-reward topics or on ideas that haven’t already attracted considerable attention from other scientists.

“There’s a tendency in science towards group think,” Kleeman said. In the history of medicine and science, many widely accepted theories turn out to be wrong. “Patients undoubtedly benefit from a diversity of thought in science and medicine,” he explained.

When he completes his PhD, Kleeman said it would be a “dream to have a dual appointment” in which he could conduct research and work in the clinic with patients. To get there, he knows he needs to establish his research profile that includes a genuine track record of achievement while demonstrating that he can function as a reliable and effective clinician.

Kleeman’s thesis research lies outside the field of cystatin C, which started out as a curiosity and developed into the recent publication. He wanted to “understand what UK Biobank could teach us about cancer patients.” With Janowitz and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Professor Hiro Furukawa, Kleeman is working to understand how a specific type of cancer could cause an auto-immune disease.

A resident of Forest Hills, Kleeman lives about 45 minutes from the lab. Outside of work, he enjoys visiting national parks. He has visited 10 so far, including Yosemite National Park, Zion and Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Professionally, Kleeman feels it is a privilege to be a PhD student. He appreciates that he can explore his interests without too many restrictions and is eager to make the most of the opportunity.

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Spiced Pecan Grilled Peach Salad

By Heidi Sutton

From an enjoyable crunch to comforting creaminess and a satisfying chew, pecans deliver a perfect bite and texture. This Spiced Pecan Grilled Peach Salad and Grilled Pork Chops with Peach Pecan Salsa are loaded with fresh flavors for an easy, nutritious warm-weather meal.

Spiced Pecan Grilled Peach Salad

Spiced Pecan Grilled Peach Salad

YIELD: Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

Spiced Pecans:

1 large egg white

3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

2 cups pecan halves

Salad:

1/4 cup, plus 2 teaspoons, extra-virgin olive oil or pecan oil, divided

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper, to taste

2 large peaches, halved and pits removed

6 cups mixed baby greens (such as arugula, spring mix and spinach)

4 ounces soft goat cheese

DIRECTIONS: 

To make spiced pecans: Preheat oven to 275 F. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In medium bowl, whisk egg white, brown sugar, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and salt until well combined. Fold in pecans and mix until evenly coated in mixture. Spread in single layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake 45-50 minutes, stirring occasionally until pecans are fragrant and golden brown. Allow to cool completely.

To make salad: Heat grill to medium-high heat. In small bowl, whisk 1/4 cup olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside. Brush cut sides of peach halves with remaining olive oil and grill until grill lines appear and peaches become tender, 3-5 minutes. Remove peaches and cut into slices. Divide greens among four plates. Top with grilled peach slices and goat cheese. Divide 1 cup spiced pecans evenly among salads and reserve remaining cup for snacking. Drizzle each salad with vinaigrette. 

Grilled Pork Chops with Peach Pecan Salsa

Grilled Pork Chops with Peach Pecan Salad

 

YIELD: Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

4 boneless pork loin chops (each 1-inch thick)

3/4 teaspoon, plus 1/8 teaspoon, kosher salt, divided

 freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

2 medium peaches, diced

2/3 cup raw pecan pieces

2 tablespoons red onion, diced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

1 teaspoon minced jalapeno pepper

2 teaspoons lime juice

DIRECTIONS: 

Season pork chops with 3/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper, to taste. Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grill pork chops until browned, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook 5-6 minutes until food thermometer inserted in center registers 135 F. Transfer to plate and rest at least 5 minutes until internal temperature rises to 145-160 F. Gently stir peaches, pecans, onion, basil, jalapeno, lime juice and remaining salt. Add salsa on top of each pork chop with remaining salsa on side.

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METRO photo

By A. Craig Purcell, Esq.

A. Craig Purcell, Esq.

After an automobile accident, you should always stop and notify the police. Indeed, under New York State (NYS) law, anyone involved in an accident must stop at the scene, and if the accident caused injuries or significant property damage, it is very important for you to notify your insurance company right away.  

A car accident can have far-reaching consequences on everyday life for you and any other driver or passenger involved. Although an accident may occur within the blink of an eye, the subsequent negative impacts on an injured person’s ability to work and perform daily activities may continue well into the future. This may potentially jeopardize the health and financial security of all parties involved in the accident (driver, passenger, etc.). The property loss that may be sustained may pale when compared to the severe bodily harm from a crash.

As we have discussed previously, New York imposes the following minimum amounts for liability coverage:

• $10,000 for property damage coverage (PDL) from a single accident

• Bodily injury coverage (BIL) of $25,000 per person and $50,000 for all persons injured

• Death coverage of $50,000 per person killed in an accident and $100,000 for all persons killed in an accident

• No-Fault coverage of $50,000

Types of Automobile Liability Insurance

Liability insurance covers damages if someone makes a claim against you for loss or harm as a result of your negligence. Your insurance provider protects you and reimburses the individual who made a claim against you up to the extent of your coverage. In addition to being required by law, liability insurance is crucial to avoid out-of-pocket losses.

If you cause a car accident, your liability insurance, specifically your bodily injury liability policy, will pay for the injured parties’ pain and suffering or permanent injuries after a settlement is reached or a personal injury verdict is rendered. Remember, NYS only mandates that you hold accident coverage of $25,000 per individual. This amount should be increased to protect you and your assets, so paying for a policy that at least provides $100,000 per individual and $300,000 per accident in coverage for all injured persons is essential, and more is strongly recommended 

So how much liability coverage is enough?

As much as you can reasonably afford. Don’t scrimp on liability coverage when deciding how much auto insurance you need. Doubling liability coverage does not mean you will pay twice as much for the additional protection. Low liability limits place your savings and assets at risk should you cause an accident, making it imperative that you purchase as much liability insurance as you can. This is especially so because medical expenses are constantly increasing. 

High liability limits protect you if you cause an accident and prevent you from possibly having to sell your home to cover accident costs caused by a severe injury to the other party. Therefore, it is crucial that you assess whether your liability limits accurately reflect the assets at risk should an accident occur due to your negligence.

A. Craig Purcell, Esq. is a partner at the law firm of Glynn Mercep Purcell and Morrison LLP in Setauket and is a former President of the Suffolk County Bar Association and Vice President of the New York State Bar Association.

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Harrison Ford in a scene from 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny'. Photo courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd. / Disney

Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel

The Indiana Jones films are among the most popular blockbusters of all time: beginning with Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), followed by the prequel Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), then Indiana Jones and the Lost Crusade (1989). It was almost twenty years before the fourth chapter was released: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). This last received the poorest reviews and the weakest response. Stephen Spielberg directed all four films, with Harrison Ford starring as Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones, Jr., an archeology professor. Worldwide grosses have approached two billion dollars. 

In between the third and fourth films, a television series, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, followed Jones as a child and youth. Twenty-eight episodes and four made-for-television films ran from 1992 through 1994. In addition, dozens of books, comic books, toys, and other tie-ins surround the Jones icon.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, as Helena, and Harrison Ford, as Indiana Jones, star in ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.’ Photo courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd./Disney

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny opens in the closing days of World War II. Jones faces Nazi adversaries as he attempts to recover the Lance of Longinus. The German officers reveal Hitler believes the relic to contain extraordinary powers that could reverse the course of the war. The Lance is a fake, but Nazi astrophysicist Jürgen Voller has found half of Archimedes’ Dial, an invention of the ancient Syracusan mathematician said to be able to locate fissures in time. 

After an extended fight and chase on a train, Voller is killed (spoiler alert: he is not), and half of the Dial is supposedly lost (spoiler alter: it is not). Of course, Jones and sidekick, archaeologist Basil Shaw, survive.

The action jumps from 1944 to July 1969, just after the moon landing. Borderline alcoholic Jones, a passionless professor at New York City’s Hunter College, instructs indifferent students on the eve of his forced retirement. His son, Mutt, died in Viet Nam, and his wife, Marion Ravenwood, left him. Enter his goddaughter, Helena Shaw, Basil’s only child. Helena seeks the Dial, and while Jones had promised the near-insane Basil to destroy it, he preserved it in the college storeroom.

While retrieving it, Jones and Helena are attacked by muscle sent by Voller, now a scientist working for NASA. During this melee, Helena reveals herself to be less a student of archeology and more a mercenary treasure hunter planning to sell the Dial fragment in a Tangiers black-market auction. What ensues is a world-crossing journey, with a plethora of fights and escapes. These—the film’s raison d’être—are slightly cartoonish but grandly, energetically executed. However, they are too long. Much, much too long. 

Somewhere along the way, the series traded its signature humor and bold but neatly developed characters for impressive but bloated action sequences: extended chases in narrow streets and open spaces, replete with rooftop leaps, helicopters, planes, motorcycles, and innumerable cars. There is even an escape on horseback through a parade, invading the New York City subway.

With a few exceptions, the body count is composed of expendable characters. The almost bloodless violence borders on heightened slapstick, with square-landed punches usually followed by an attempt at a wry quip. The core villain, Voller, could be straight out of a Hollywood propaganda film; his henchmen are the usual obedient thugs. Helena’s sidekick, Teddy Kumar, vaguely replicates Short Round from the earlier films.

So much of The Dial of Destiny is an homage to Indiana Jones, one through three. While the trio paid tribute to the serials of the 1930s and ‘40s, Dial celebrates the trilogy. As soon as the chords of John Williams’ unmistakable underscore play, Jones saves the day (or at least the moment). But building an entire two hours and twenty minutes on waves of nostalgia comes up, if not empty, certainly less than satisfying. The film’s climax, a bizarre sword-and-sandal sequence, becomes uncomfortably comical and slightly clumsy.

While Ford announced this would be his final performance in the role, he remains in fine form as the curmudgeonly Jones, with his have-hat-and-whip-will-travel presence. He continues making the most incredible situations palatable. (Perhaps the CGI that renders the prologue’s younger Jones is the most extraordinary special effect.) 

Phoebe Waller-Bridge creates a quirky, amoral Helena, a great foil for Jones. She infuses the grifter with a mix of noir femme fatale and girl-next-door charm. Mads Mikkelsen’s Voller succeeds as the typically erudite fascist with requisite lip-curling contempt. Ethann Isidore manages to avoid precociousness as Teddy.

The supporting cast play mostly enlarged cameos. Antonio Banderas twinkles as Renaldo, a boat captain. John Rhys-Davies is delightful in his return as Jones’ old friend, Sallah. Toby Jones strikes the right balance between sanity and madness as Basil. Shaunette Renée Wilson gives one of the more dimensional performances as a government agent. 

While forging no new ground, those looking for another chapter in the saga will be either disappointed with its failure to compete with the earlier films or delighted with its improvement over the fourth, ill-conceived outing. With exotic locations, Teutonic villains, time travel, giant bugs, eel-filled waters, and enough stolen car chases for a dozen films, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny neither improves nor weakens the franchise. 

Disney recently announced that The Dial of Destiny is the final entry. And while not perfect closure, it is good enough to draw the curtain on four decades of epic adventure.

Rated PG-13, the film is now playing in local theaters.

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