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MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC The Whitman String Quartet (clockwise from left, Manaka Matsumoto, Dr. Joenne Dumitrascu, Dr. Stephen Gorgone and Wei-An Hung) present a free concert at All Souls Church in Stony Brook on May 6.
Thursday May 4

SCCC Spring Concert

Suffolk County Community College’s Ammerman Department of Music, 533 College Road, Selden invites the community to a free spring concert in the Shea Theatre, Islip Arts Building at 7 p.m. featuring orchestra, guitar ensemble, Suffolk Singers and college choir. No tickets required.

Friday May 5

First Friday at the Heckscher

Celebrate First Friday at The Heckscher Museum of Art from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Explore the exhibitions including the Museum’s annual high school juried exhibition Long Island’s Best during extended viewing hours and enjoy a special performance by Huntington High School student musicians at 7 p.m. Free admission. Questions? Call 631-380-3230.

Vanderbilt Evening Birdwatch

Join the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport for an Evening Birdwatch and Architecture Tour with the Museum’s director of curatorial affairs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Participants will enjoy the unique opportunity to view the Vanderbilt estate at dusk, when the grounds are closed but the birds are active. Bring binoculars. Walks will also be held on April 7 and 21, and May 5 and 19. Tickets are $12, free for members. To register, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

SCCC Spring Concert

Suffolk County Community College’s Ammerman Department of Music, 533 College Road, Selden invites the community to a free spring concert in the Shea Theatre of the Islip Arts Building at 7 p.m. featuring a contemporary music ensemble, jazz ensemble and symphonic band. No tickets required.

Saturday May 6

Outdoor Thrift Garage Sale

Rescheduled from April 29. Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown hosts an Outdoor Thrift Garage Sale fundraiser from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. around the double garage in the Sweetbriar parking lot. Featuring household items, bric-a-brac, antiques, collectibles and other treasures! Money goes back into the wildlife center. Call 631-979-6344.

Tree Fest in Setauket

Join the Four Harbors Audubon Society for its 2nd annual Tree Fest on the grounds of the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Educational activities, face painting, live animal presentations, native plant sale and more. Rain date is May 7.  Free. For more info, visit www.4has.org.

Tag, Bake and Plant Sale

Stony Brook Community Church, 216 Christian Ave., Stony Brook hosts a Tag, Bake and Plant Sale fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shop for gently used items and crafts from local vendors, pick up a baked item for dessert and choose a plant for your garden. Call 631-751-0574.

Spring Festival at the Hatchery 

Rescheduled from April 29. Join Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor for a Spring Festival fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy music, games, kid’s fishing, food, environmental exhibitors and live animal encounters. Admission is $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children ages 3 to 12. Call 516-631-692-6768 for more information.

I Love My Park Day

Drop by Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, 581 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown for I Love My Park Day from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Meet at Nature Museum. The project is placing wood chips on the walking trails. Bring work gloves and wear long pants and socks. Call 631-265-1054.

Civil War Encampment

Farmingville Historical Society invites the community to a Civil War Encampment at the Bald Hill School House, 507 Horseblock Road, Farmingville from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with soldiers from the 9th Virginia Infantry, Co. C; 30th Virginia Infantry Co. B; and 67th NY Co. K. See how life was during the Civil War at the one-room school house with drills and musket firing, period food demonstrations and much more. Free. Visit www.farmingvillehistoricalsociety.org.

Fiber Days at Benner’s Farm

Join Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket for Fiber Days today and May 7 from noon to 4 p.m. Watch the sheep being sheared for the summer on Saturday only and enjoy demonstrations on how to clean and card the freshly sheared fleeces, how to spin those fibers into yarn, how to knit and weave the yarn to make clothing. Walk around the farm to meet the many farm animals and take part in a Baby Animal Circle. Garden plants will be available for sale. $10 adults, $8 children and seniors. Call 631-689-8172.

Little Shelter Anniversary Party

Rescheduled from April 29. Join Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption Center, 33 Warner Road, Huntington in celebrating its 96th anniversary with a sweet-treat extravaganza and Garden Party at 3 p.m. Held rain or shine. Call 631-368-8770.

Whitman String Quartet in concert

All Souls Church, 61 Main St. Stony Brook continues its Saturdays at Six concert series with a performance by the Whitman String Quartet, doctoral music students and graduates from Stony Brook University, at 6 p.m. Program will include works by Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, Piazzolla, and Borodin. Free. Please bring a can of food to be donated to a local food pantry. Call 631-655-7798.

Huntington Men’s Chorus concert

St. Francis of Assisi R.C. Church, 29 Clay Pitts Road Greenlawn hosts a concert by the Huntington Mens Chorus at 7 p.m. Conducted by Henry McDonagh III, the program will include a tribute to Frank Sinatra. Tickets are $18 adults, $16 seniors and students in advance at www.huntingtonmenschorus.org/$20 at the door. 

Sunday May 7

Fiber Days at Benner’s Farm

See May 6 listing.

Car Show & Swap Meet

The “Long Island Cars” Car Show & Swap Meet returns to the LICH Amphitheater at Bald Hill, 1 Ski Run Lane in Farmingville form 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hundreds of classic and collectible automobiles including street rods, muscle cars, antiques, exotics and imports will be on display along with a vendor swap meet, cars for sale, food and more. Admission is $10 per person, children under 12 years of age are free. Free parking. Call 631-567-5898 or visit www.LongIslandCars.com.

Spring Village Craft Fair

Rescheduled from April 30. Smithtown Historical Society, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown hosts a Spring Village Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with over 100 vendors featuring crafts, home décor, jewelry and more with festival food and live music. Free admission. Call 631-846-1459.

Spring Craft & Vendor Fair

The Polish American Independent Club Ladies Auxiliary will host a Spring Craft & Vendor Fair at the Polish Hall, 35 Jayne Blvd., Port Jefferson Station from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with over 30 vendors, Polish food, raffles and more. Something for everyone. Free admission. Questions? Call 516-383-3456.

Sheep to Shawl Festival

Join the Huntington Historical Society for its annual Sheep to Shawl Festival at the Dr. Daniel Kissam House, 434 Park Ave., Huntington from noon to 4 p.m. with live sheep shearing demonstrations, carding, spinning, weaving, knitting, food, games, music and crafts. Free admission. For more information, call 631-427-7045.

Muster Day at the Arsenal

Step back in history for a day in 1775 as the Huntington Militia hosts a Muster Day at the Arsenal and Village Green, 425 Park Ave., Huntington in conjunction with the Sheep to Shawl Festival from noon to 4:30 p.m.  Featuring a Men-at-Arms drill, firing of muskets, firing of canon, and cooking over an open campfire. The Arsenal will be open for tours on a schedule through the day. Free. Questions? Call 631-223-8017.

Cherry Blossom Festival

Stony Brook University’s Wang Center, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents its annual Sakura Matsuri: Cherry Blossom Festival from noon to 5 p.m. Welcome spring to Long Island with the blooming of sakura (cherry blossoms), the sounds of taiko drums, Koto plays, Japanese traditional dances, martial arts demonstrations, calligraphy workshops, ikebana flower arrangement, tea workshops, manga drawing, origami paper folding, kimono dress-ups, and cosplay for all ages. Held rain or shine. Admission of $30, $20 students/seniors, $10 children ages 6 to 12 includes all film viewings, workshops, and theater presentations. For tickets, visit www.thewangcenter.org/events.

Silver Chords concert

The Silver Chords presents a free concert, The Times They Are A-Changin’, A Journey Through the Changing World of Music and Culture, at the  Bates House, 1 Bates Road, Setauket at 2 p.m. The program features  Amazing Grace, The Music of MGM, This Land Is Your Land, Sumer Is Icumen In, Louder Than Words, and many more. With fabulous gift basket raffles/handicap accessible. Call 631-235-3593 for details.

Sip & Shop For a Cause 

The Gino Macchio Foundation hosts a Sip & Shop event at the Port Jefferson Moose Lodge, 37 Crystal Brook Hollow Road, Mount Sinai from 3 to 7 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon of shopping with creative vendors, hors d’oeuvres, raffles, plus DJ & dancing. Tickets are $60 per person. Funds raised will support the foundation’s Recovery to Work Program and Oyster Project. To purchase tickets, visit www.ginomacchiofoundation.com. For more information, call 631-496-6179.

Dance Theatre of Harlem at SBU

One of the premier companies performing today, Dance Theatre of Harlem comes to Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Art’s Main Stage, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook to captivate the hearts and minds of audiences with their incredible performances at 7 p.m. Its signature company of 18 dancers performs a forward-thinking repertoire of traditional works and contemporary pieces. Tickets range from $42 to $75. To order, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

Monday May 8

Rocky Point BOE Forum

The Sound Beach Civic Association will hold a forum for Board of Education candidates in the Rocky Point School District at the Sound Beach firehouse, 152 Sound Beach Blvd., Sound Beach at 8 p.m.  Doors will open at 7 p.m. to give everyone the chance to submit questions. All are welcome. For more information, call 631-744-6952.

Tuesday May 9

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station welcomes licensed private investigator Don Longo for a presentation titled “Scam Alert: Don’t Be A Victim” at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee among other refreshments will be served. $5 per person, $3 members. Call 631-928-3737 for more information.

Civil War presentation

The Bates House, 1 Bates Road, Setauket hosts a presentation by Cliff Eastman and Rob Walker on the equipment and uniforms of the Union soldiers during the Civil War along with the history of Company H of the 119th New York, organized in the Town of Hempstead at 7 p.m. Eastman and Walker are members of Company H, 119th New York Volunteers, “Willis Company,” based out of Old Bethpage Village Restoration. $10 per person. To register, visit www.frankmelvillepark.org.

An evening of Swing Dance

Swing Dance Long Island, a non-profit social dance club, holds weekly dances every Tuesday evening at the  Huntington Moose Lodge, 631 Pulaski Rd. Greenlawn with beginner swing lessons at 7:30 p.m. and dancing from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Singles and beginners are welcome.  No partner necessary. Admission is $15 on DJ night,  $20 on band night on the third Tuesday of the month. Call 516-521-1410.

Miller Place BOE Forum

The Sound Beach Civic Association will hold a forum for Board of Education candidates in the Miller Place School District at the Sound Beach firehouse, 152 Sound Beach Blvd., Sound Beach at 8 p.m. Doors will open at 7 p.m. to give everyone the chance to submit questions. All are welcome. For more information, call 631-744-6952.

Wednesday May 10

No events listed for this day.

Thursday May 11

Lunch & Learn

Huntington Historical Society continues its Lunch & Learn series with a presentation by Bill Bleyer titled The True Story of the Culper Spy Ring at Matteo’s Restaurant, 300 Jericho Turnpike, Huntington from noon to 2 p.m. $55, $50 members includes a gourmet three-course meal, dessert and house wine. To register, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org or call 631-427-7045.

Theater

Summer Shakespeare Festival

The Carriage House Players kick off the 34th annual Summer Shakespeare Festival in the mansion courtyard of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) on May 5, 12 13 and 26 at 8 p.m. and May 7, 14 and 21 at 7 p.m. Three Shakespeare enthusiasts attempt to do the impossible: Act their way through all of The Bard’s 37 plays in one night. They comedically stumble their way through in a hilarious race against the clock, and what they don’t remember, they simply make up on the spot! Tickets are $20, $15 children under 12. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

‘Pride@Prejudice’

Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson, presents the Long Island premiere of Pride @ Prejudice from April 7 through May 6. Watch Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy fall in love all over again — this time filtered through the world of the internet. Five actors play nearly two dozen roles in this hilarious and moving homage to Jane Austen’s most beloved novel, Pride and Prejudice. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and up. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘The Sound of Music’

Up next for the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is The Sound of Music from May 18 to July 2. The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical. Featuring a trove of cherished songs, including “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do Re Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and the title number, The Sound of Music has won the hearts of audiences worldwide. Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Something Rotten!’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its Mainstage productions with Something Rotten! from May 20 to June 24.  Living in the shadow of Renaissance rock star The Bard, two brothers set out to write the world’s first musical in this hilarious mash-up of sixteenth-century Shakespeare and twenty-first-century Broadway. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being to thine own self be true—and all that jazz! Contains adult humor and situations. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and up. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Film

‘Soul of the Ocean’

Join the Four Harbors Audubon Society for movie night screening of Soul of the Ocean at the Smithtown Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown on May 5 at 6:30 p.m. The film explores the complexity of ocean ecosystems and highlights the critical role biodiversity plays in maintaining a healthy ocean. Free and open to all.  Reservations required by calling 631-766-3075 or 631-360-2480, ext. 232.

‘Harry Chapin’

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will hold a special film screening of the documentary Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something which celebrates the extraordinary life and activism of LIMEHOF inductee singer songwriter Harry Chapin from Huntington Bay on May 6 at 2 p.m. Followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. Please bring a non-perishable food donation for Long Island Cares. The screening is free with admission to the museum. To order, visit www.LIMEHOF.org.

Class Reunions

•Save the date! Port Jefferson Class of 1964 will hold its 60th high school 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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John P. Mastacciuola. Photo courtesy of Gurwin

Gurwin Healthcare System has announced the appointment of John P. Mastacciuola as Executive Director of Fountaingate Gardens, Gurwin’s new 129-apartment luxury Independent Living Community located on its 36-acre Commack campus. Mr. Mastacciuola will manage all day-to-day operations for the unique senior living Life Plan Community, which is designed for active adults age 62 and older.

Prior to joining Fountaingate Gardens, Mr. Mastacciuola served as Regional Director of Operations at Unidine, part of the Compass Group, where he oversaw dining and hospitality services for Gurwin’s nursing and rehabilitation center, assisted living and independent living communities.  A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Mr. Mastacciuola brings to his new role more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality sector. 

“John’s extensive background in hospitality and dedication to providing exceptional member-centered services perfectly aligns with Fountaingate Gardens’ mission to provide a rich, vibrant lifestyle for active older adults. We look forward to seeing our community flourish with John at the helm,” said Stuart B. Almer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Gurwin Healthcare System,

“I am very pleased to be part of such an innovative community, providing Long Islanders with an opportunity for active retirement living,” said Mr. Mastacciuola. “I look forward to leading our team in providing distinctive service that will enrich our Fountaingate Gardens community members’ lives and create memorable moments.”  

Fountaingate Gardens is the final piece of Gurwin’s senior living offering. Within the community are two residential buildings — The Parkview and The Terraces — that consist of one- and two-bedroom elegant apartment homes. Both four-story buildings are connected to the community’s 20,000+ square-foot Clubhouse which features an array of wellness-focused amenities, a heated saltwater pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, salon, library, a variety of dining venue options and more. 

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Pete Caldera will perform at The Jazz Loft on May 4, 5 and 6.

Frank Sinatra once said, “I think my real ambition is to pass on to others what I know. It took me a long, long time to learn what I now know, and I don’t want that to die with me.”

Enter vocalist Pete Caldera to grab the “Sinatra baton” with his perfectly nuanced interpretations of Frank’s catalog. Caldera will head to The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook for three shows filled with Sinatra classics, called “Strictly Sinatra,” on May 4, 5 and 6, with all shows starting at 7 p.m. Caldera will be joined by the Jazz Loft’s 17-piece big band directed by Jazz Loft founder Tom Manuel.

“Sinatra was one of the most important entertainers of the 20th Century,” said Manuel. “Just as Frank never did anything in a small way, we will be devoting three nights to Ol’ Blue Eyes, with Pete Caldera.”

This is Caldera’s second year performing at The Jazz Loft’s tributes to Frank Sinatra. Away from performing, Caldera is a reporter for the Bergen Record and the USA Today network, covering the Yankees. He is a past chairman of the New York Chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America for the Bergen Record and the USA Today network, covering the Yankees.

Tickets are $40 adults, $35 seniors, $30 students, $25 children at www.thejazzloft.org or at the door. For more information, call 631-751-1895.

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Photo from Leg. Hahn's office

On May 1, Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket) kicked off her annual countywide “A Park a Day in May” campaign designed to encourage Suffolk residents to visit, enjoy and help promote and protect Suffolk County’s hundreds of parks. This year, she invited her fellow legislators to participate by choosing a favorite park in each of their districts to highlight together.

In addition, in a separate but related initiative, Hahn is also partnering with the Association for Mental Health and Wellness (AMHW) to bring attention to May being Mental Health Awareness month and the tangible role parks can play in helping to minimize the impact of stress on our daily lives.

For several years, Hahn has highlighted a park a day each day for 31 days during May using social media to spread the word. She challenges county residents to visit each of the parks highlighted sometime during the spring or summer; take and post a “selfie” that identifies which park they are visiting, and include the hashtag #aparkaday with their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts.  “We have a remarkable park system in Suffolk County and across Long Island that provides our residents with nearly limitless recreational opportunities to get out in nature at very little cost,” said Hahn.  “Not only does the ‘A Park a Day in May’ Challenge give people a roadmap for exploring our majestic natural landscape, but it also gives them the opportunity to celebrate that journey of exploration with their family and friends.”

Each day in May, Hahn will highlight another park, more than half chosen by her fellow legislators. From Inlet Pond Park on the North Fork to Laurel Valley Park on the South Fork, Sagtikos Manor on the South Shore and West Hills on the North Shore, the legislators are joining with Hahn in highlighting favorite parks across the county. In 2016, Hahn began her challenge focusing on parks within District Five, the legislative district she serves. “Residents of my district really took up the challenge, and each year since we have expanded our reach and I am excited and hopeful that across Long Island, families are going to get into the spirit of the idea of ‘A Park a Day in May,’” said Hahn.

Through the “A Park a Day in May” campaign, Hahn has enlisted scores of Suffolk residents in raising awareness about Suffolk’s parks.  “Whether along a waterfront or deep in a forest, our parks and beaches are the natural resources that define our quality of life and make Suffolk and all of Long Island unique, and we must do everything we can to keep them clean, safe and accessible to local residents,” said Hahn.

Hahn chaired Suffolk’s Parks & Recreation Committee for five years beginning in 2017 and has focused on protecting the County’s more than 50,000 acres of parkland from illegal dumping and misuse, while also finding innovative ways to increase public access and enjoyment of these parks.  That year, Hahn led an effort to expose illegal dumping in some county parks and provide stiffer penalties for such abuse. Hahn has also created a volunteer Parks Stewardship program for County parks and has also created a fifth-district Parks Passport for kids and is working with the County Parks Department on a countywide version as well.

Legislator Hahn is accepting recommendations for parks to highlight during the 2023 “A Park a Day in May,” and is asking residents to take a photo of themselves in their favorite park and e-mail it to [email protected] along with the reason why that park is their favorite.

 

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Aardvark. Pixabay photo

An international scientific project that compares the genomes of 240 living species of mammals has identified transposable elements (TEs) – genes that can change their position within a genome, creating or reversing mutations and thus altering a cell’s genetic identity – as a crucial area of study to help uncover the evolutionary process of mammals and to better understand biodiversity. Stony Brook University’s Liliana M. Dávalos is a collaborator in the analyses of TEs for the project. Two new papers, one published in the current issue of Science, and the other in Molecular Biology and Evolution, highlight the findings.

This graphic depicts the range of recently accumulated transposable elements (TEs) among sample mammals by proportion of their genome. Image credit: Osmanski et al. 2023 Science

The past 100 million years has caused mammals to adapt to virtually every environment on the planet. The Zoonomia Project, of which Dávalos is a scientific contributor, has cataloged the diversity in mammalian genomes by completing comparative genomic DNA sequences from the 240 species. The team, which consists of more than 150 scientists worldwide, published their multi-year comparative genome analysis in the Science paper.

Dávalos studies how biodiversity changes through time and what biological processes fuel biodiversity. She teamed up with David Ray and his lab at Texas Tech University to qualitatively analyze the dynamics of TEs.

The paper describes the TE repertoires of 248 placental mammals. TEs make up a sizeable proportion of all mammalian genomes, yet there is much variation from one species to the next. The scientific team points out that that relating TEs to biodiversity is far from simple. Additionally, with the ability to move throughout the genome, TEs can contribute to biodiversity or also stymie it.

“Determining how many transposable elements of each kind are in each species is key to figuring out how transposons contribute to biodiversity. It seems simple to relate these counts to the number of species or their ecology, however that is misleading,” explains Dávalos, Professor of Conservation Biology in the Department of Ecology and Evolution, and a co-author of the paper. “Some species , like bats and whales, believe it or not are more closely related to each other than to others, such as bats and primates, so we must factor this related into our statistics within the comparative genomic mammalian analyses.”

The researchers identified more than 25,000 TE sequences in the mammalian set, with some mammals having large portions of TEs in their genome, calculated over time for each species. The average was approximately 45 percent

Overall, they concluded that “considering the wide-ranging effects that TEs impose on genomic architecture, these data are an important resource for future inquiries into mammalian genomics and evolution and suggest avenues for continued study of these important yet understudied genomic denizens.”

In the Molecular Biology and Evolution paper, novel statistical approaches to determining genome sequences in bats developed by Dávalos were used by the authors to describe the place bats hold with regard to TEs in mammals.

According to the lead author, Nicole Paulat, a graduate student in the Ray Lab, the research team found bats uniquely have more events involving TE transfers from one species to another. One mechanism that may explain such excess transfers is through viruses, an important finding on how several bat species have been found to host diverse and sometimes dangerous viruses.

Both papers based on the work from the Zoonomia Project illustrate that TEs are highly active across the genome of most mammal species, and because of this, future studies centering on TEs may help provide answers to mammalian biodiversity worldwide. Such research may also provide further hints as to how and why TEs disrupt mammalian genomes, therefore changing DNA and contributing to evolutionary processes and/or the development of disease.

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METRO photo

By Fr. Francis Pizzarelli

Father Frank Pizzarelli

What will it take for the country to push the pause button and then reset? We are a nation that is out of control. The pandemic has only underscored how out of control we are.

We are losing hundreds of young people every day due to fentanyl, heroin and suicide. The nation has declared that we have a national heroin epidemic but what is being done to address this tragic health concern that is killing more than 100,000 lives a year?

Yes, we are making Narcan more available but what about holistic residential treatment beds? There are no beds anywhere. Yes, a few for-profit programs have emerged in the midst of this crisis but what about the working class and working poor? How do they pay for evidence-based treatment for their children?

No one wants to challenge the insurance empire that is sentencing so many of our at- risk people to death. It is scandalous that an insurance gatekeeper with no training decides whether or not your son or daughter gets treatment! So many of these gatekeepers are clueless about addiction; our silence in this regard is deafening

How many more young people have to die before we say enough? If human life is such a priority, then challenge our paralyzed leadership to work together for systematic change in the treatment of substance use disorder and mental health.

Our social welfare system in Suffolk County needs to be overhauled department by department. Instead of empowering the broken and wounded to healing and change, our system is setting people up for failure. Your tax dollars are being wasted on a system that is inept and incapable of breaking the cycle of poverty and dependence among the people they are supposed to serve.

For more than 40 years in the trenches I have seen firsthand our destructive system at work I have seen countless homeless men set up for failure because we have no real transitional housing for them. We do not have enough case managers and social workers to assist them for so many of them are mentally ill and dependent.

The state is once again using fancy rhetoric to trick us with their new initiative to keep troubled youth at home. These troubled youth are young people between the ages of 12 and 17 who already have stolen cars, assaulted people and some are even in dangerous gangs. We have few to no mental health services in our local communities to support these young people and their families.

The few programs that do exist are being forced to close; soon we will have no help and no resources for families in need.

We are blessed to have a dynamic commissioner of social services in Suffolk County in the person of Frances Pierre. She is a talented and gifted professional who is being shackled by a legislature that lack the vision and commitment to the most vulnerable and broken among us. Our commissioner needs to be free to do her job. We need to raise our voices in support of her!

Father Francis Pizzarelli, SMM, LCSW-R, ACSW, DCSW, is the director of Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson.

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METRO photo

By Michael Christodoulou

Michael Christodoulou

Another school year will soon come to a close. And if you have young children, they’re now a year closer to heading off to college or some other type of post-secondary education or training. So, if you haven’t already done so, you may want to start preparing for these costs.

And they can be considerable. During the 2022-23 school year, the average estimated annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, transportation and other personal expenses) was nearly $28,000 for public four-year in-state schools and more than $57,000 for private nonprofit four-year schools, according to the College Board.

Of course, some students don’t pay the full bill for college. Any grants and scholarships they receive can bring down the “sticker price.” Still, there’s often a sizable amount that students and their families must come up with. To help fill this gap, you may want to explore various strategies, one of which is a 529 education savings plan.

A 529 plan offers several key benefits. First of all, your earnings can grow tax deferred and your withdrawals are federally tax free when used for qualified education expenses, such as tuition, fees, books and so on. You may be eligible to invest in a 529 plan in most states, but depending on where you live, you may be able to deduct your contributions from your state income tax or possibly receive a state tax credit for investing in your home state’s 529 plan. Tax issues for 529 plans can be complex. Please consult your tax advisory about your situation.  

METRO photo

And 529 plans aren’t just for college. You may be able to use one to pay K-12 expenses, up to $10,000 per student per year. (However, not all states comply with this 529 expansion for K-12, so you might not be able to claim deductions and your withdrawals could be subject to state tax penalties.)  

A 529 plan can also be used to pay for most expenses connected to apprenticeship programs registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. These programs are often available at community colleges and combine classroom education with on-the-job training.

Furthermore, you can now withdraw funds from a 529 plan to repay qualified federal private and student loans, up to $10,000 for each 529 plan beneficiary and another $10,000 for each of the beneficiary’s siblings.

But what if you’ve named a child as a 529 plan beneficiary and that child doesn’t want to pursue any type of advanced education? If this happens, you, as the account owner, are free to name another family member as beneficiary.

And beginning in 2024, you may have even more flexibility if a child foregoes college or other post-secondary education. Due to the passing of the Secure Act 2.0 in December 2022, unused 529 plan funds of up to $35,000 may be eligible to roll over to a Roth IRA of the designated beneficiary.

One of the qualifications for this rollover is to have had your 529 plan for at least 15 years. To determine if you qualify for this rollover, you will want to consult your tax advisor.

A 529 plan has a lot to offer — and it might be something to consider for your family’s future.

Withdrawals used for expenses other than qualified education expenses may be subject to federal and state taxes, plus a 10% penalty. Make sure to discuss the potential financial aid impacts with a financial aid professional as Edward Jones, its financial advisors and employees cannot provide tax or legal advice.

Michael Christodoulou, ChFC®, AAMS®, CRPC®, CRPS® is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones in Stony Brook. Member SIPC.

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We still have a lot to learn with diabetes, but our understanding of how to manage lifestyle modifications, specifically diet, is becoming clearer. METRO photo
Soy puts less stress on the kidneys than animal protein

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

There are many myths about managing type 2 diabetes that circulate. Fortunately, our understanding of diabetes management is continually advancing, and some older guidance deserves to be retired. Let’s review a few common myths and the research that debunks them.

Should fruit be limited or avoided?

Fruit in any form, whether whole, juiced, or dried, has been long considered taboo for diabetes patients. This is only partly true.

Yes, fruit juice and dried fruit should be avoided, because they do raise or spike glucose (sugar) levels. This includes dates, raisins, and apple juice, which are often added to “no sugar” foods to sweeten them. The same does not hold true for whole fresh or frozen fruit. Studies have demonstrated that patients with diabetes don’t experience sugar level spikes, whether they limit whole fruits or consume an abundance (1). In a different study, whole fruit was shown to actually reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes (2).

In yet another study, researchers looked at the impacts of different types of whole fruits on glucose levels. They found that berries reduced glucose levels the most, but even bananas and grapes reduced these levels (3). That’s right, bananas and grapes, two fruits people associate with spiking sugar levels and increasing carbohydrate load, actually lowered these levels. The only fruit tested that seemed to have a mildly negative impact on sugars was cantaloupe.

Whole fruit is not synonymous with sugar. One of the reasons for the beneficial effect is the fruits’ flavonoids, or plant micronutrients, but another is their fiber.

Do all carbohydrates raise your sugars?

Fiber is one type of carbohydrate that has distinct benefits. We know fiber is important for reducing risk for a host of diseases and for managing their outcomes. This is also true for type 2 diabetes. 

In the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and NHS II, two very large prospective observational studies, plant fiber was shown to help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes (4). Researchers looked at lignans, a type of plant fiber, specifically examining the metabolites enterodiol and enterolactone. They found that patients with type 2 diabetes have substantially lower levels of these metabolites in their urine, compared to the control group without diabetes. There was a linear, or direct, relationship between the amount of metabolites and the reduction in risk for diabetes. So, the more they ate, and the more metabolites in their urine, the lower the risk. The authors encourage patients to eat more of a plant-based diet to get this benefit.

Foods with lignans include cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower; an assortment of fruits and whole grains; flaxseed; and sesame seeds (5). The researchers could not determine which plants contributed the greatest benefit. They wrote that they believe antioxidant activity drives this effect.

Should you avoid soy when you have diabetes?

In diabetes patients with nephropathy (kidney damage or disease), soy consumption showed kidney function improvements (6). There were significant reductions in urinary creatinine levels and proteinuria (protein in the urine), both signs that the kidneys are beginning to function better.

This was a small, randomized control trial over a four-year period with 41 participants. The control group’s diet consisted of 70 percent animal protein and 30 percent vegetable protein, while the treatment group’s diet consisted of 35 percent animal protein, 35 percent textured soy protein and 30 percent vegetable protein.

This is very important, since diabetes patients are 20 to 40 times more likely to develop nephropathy than those without diabetes (7). It appears that soy protein may put substantially less stress on the kidneys than animal protein. However, those who have hypothyroidism and low iodine levels should be cautious about soy consumption, since some studies suggest it might interfere with synthetic thyroid medications’ effectiveness (8).

Is bariatric surgery a good alternative to changing my diet?

Bariatric surgery has grown in prevalence for treating severely obese (BMI>35 kg/m²) and obese (BMI >30 kg/m²) diabetes patients. In a meta-analysis of 16 randomized control trials and observational studies, the procedure illustrated better results than conventional medicines over a 17-month follow-up period in treating HbA1C (three-month blood glucose measure), fasting blood glucose and weight loss (9). During this time period, 72 percent of those patients treated with bariatric surgery went into diabetes remission and had significant weight loss.

However, after 10 years without proper management involving lifestyle changes, only 36 percent remained in remission with diabetes, and a significant number regained weight. Thus, even with bariatric surgery, altering diet and exercise are critical to maintaining long-term benefits.

We still have a lot to learn with diabetes, but our understanding of how to manage lifestyle modifications, specifically diet, is becoming clearer. Emphasizing a plant-based diet focused on whole fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes can improve your outcomes. If you choose a medical approach, bariatric surgery is a viable option, but don’t forget that you need to make significant lifestyle changes to accompany the surgery in order to sustain its benefits.

References:

(1) Nutr J. 2013 Mar. 5;12:29. (2) Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Apr.;95:925-933. (3) BMJ online 2013 Aug. 29. (4) Diabetes Care. online 2014 Feb. 18. (5) Br J Nutr. 2005;93:393–402. (6) Diabetes Care. 2008;31:648-654. (7) N Engl J Med. 1993;328:1676–1685. (8) Thyroid. 2006 Mar;16(3):249-58. (9) Obes Surg. 2014;24:437-455.

Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com or consult your personal physician.

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By Nancy Burner Esq.

Nancy Burner, Esq.

Revocable trusts have become increasingly popular estate planning tools to avoid probate. A  trust allows for the orderly and private administration of your assets at death without court  involvement. 

A revocable trust is a trust that you create during your lifetime designed to give you flexibility and control over your assets. You may act as your own trustee, thereby  maintaining complete control over your assets. Assets can be transferred in and out of the  trust at your discretion and you may change or revoke your trust at any time. 

A revocable trust can hold any asset. Common assets include real property, non-qualified  investment accounts, bank accounts, certificates of deposit, and life insurance policies. Qualified retirement accounts should never be transferred to a revocable trust as it would  cause a taxable event.  

Assets titled in the name of your revocable trust pass to the beneficiaries automatically,  thereby avoiding probate. Likewise, any assets with designated beneficiaries pass directly to  beneficiaries. Assets in your sole name that do not have designated beneficiaries must go  through probate.  

Why do people want to avoid probate? Probate is time consuming and can be expensive. When a person dies with a will, the nominated executor must file a probate petition with  the Surrogate’s Court before having the authority to act. First, the Executor will file the  original will, certified copy of the death certificate and the probate petition in Surrogate’s  Court. Then, notice is given to the decedent’s next-of-kin who would have inherited had  there been no will. The next-of-kin will either sign waivers and consents or be issued a  citation to appear in court to have the opportunity to object to the Executor. 

After  jurisdiction is complete and issues with the will, if any, are addressed, the Surrogate’s Court  will issue a decree granting probate and Letters Testamentary. Only then can the Executor  gather the assets and distribute them according the directives in the will.  

When a person dies without a will (intestate), the process is similar. It is necessary to file an  Administration Petition with the Surrogate’s Court. Here, a close relative of the decedent  applies to become the decedent’s Administrator. As with a probate proceeding, all interested  parties must be given notice and must either sign a waiver or be served with a citation issued by the court. The Court will then issue Letters of Administration appointing them as Administrator.  

By creating and funding a revocable trust, your beneficiaries will avoid having to go through  this probate process. This avoids the attendant costs and delay, which can be substantial if  there is a will contest or hard to find relatives. Additionally, because of the backlog created  by the pandemic and the recent ransomware attack on the Suffolk County government this  past fall, the courts are extremely behind.

Even “straightforward” probate matters take months, even years, to make their way through the court system. This explains why more and more people  are deciding to create revocable trusts so that their spouses and children can inherit their  estate seamlessly, free from court interference. 

Nancy Burner, Esq. is the founder and managing partner at Burner Law Group, P.C with offices located in East Setauket, Westhampton Beach, New York City and East Hampton.

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Pecan Toffee Oatmeal Cookies

By Heidi Sutton

Oatmeal is a versatile ingredient found in desserts, breakfast foods, savory dishes, and so much more. While it is enjoyed in many different dishes, for cookie lovers, oatmeal shines brightest in cookie recipes. Homemade oatmeal cookies not only fill the kitchen with delicious aromas, they are a comfort food prepared and enjoyed with others. Many recipes are even passed down among generations. 

The first recorded oatmeal cookie recipe was written by Fannie Merritt Farmer in 1896. The cookies were billed as “health food,” and by the early 1900s a recipe appeared on every container of Quaker Oats. 

In honor of National Oatmeal Cookie Day on April 30, bake up a batch of “Pecan Toffee Oatmeal Cookies” from Laurie McNamara’s Simply Scratch: 120 Wholesome Homemade Recipes Made Easy (Avery).  They could easily become a family favorite in no time.

Pecan Toffee Oatmeal Cookies

YIELD: Makes 3 dozen cookies

INGREDIENTS:

11⁄2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

3⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup unsalted butter

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

1⁄2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 large eggs

3 cups old-fashioned oats

3⁄4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

1 cup toffee pieces

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing and scraping down the sides of the bowl after adding each egg. Gradually add the flour mixture until just combined.  With the mixer on low, stir in the oats, pecans and toffee bits.

Using a 2-tablespoon scoop, measure out the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 1⁄2 inch apart. 

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the baking sheets halfway during bake time for even baking. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before using a spatula to transfer to a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining dough. These cookies are extra delicious when served warm.

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