By Heidi Sutton
Middle Country Public Library in Centereach hosted the annual Women’s EXPO on Nov. 5. This year the annual event, which celebrates women entrepreneurs, headed outdoors for the first time and set up in the library’s parking lot. According to Elizabeth Malafi, Coordinator, Adult Services and Miller Business Center at the library, the event featured over 40 exhibitors and more than 950 visitors who started their holiday shopping early.
Photos by Heidi Sutton
Join the Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum at the corner of West Broadway and Barnum Avenue, Port Jefferson for a Fall Heritage Festival on Saturday, Nov. 13 from noon to 4 p.m.
Bring your family for a walk through Revolutionary times with docent led tours through the home of Culper Spy Phillips Roe and taste slow cooked foods from historic recipes. Enjoy a wampum making demonstration, time period vendors, colonial story hour and an unveiling of new spy ring evidence. Free. Rain date is Nov. 14. Sponsored by the Village of Port Jefferson.
For more information, call 631-473-4724.
By Barbara Beltrami
As far as I can tell it’s the pumpkin pie filling that everyone craves. Since it’s really nothing more than a pudding or custard, why not forget about the crust and go straight to the filling with pumpkin rice pudding, pumpkin-peanut parfait or pumpkin custard? The farm stands still have pumpkins galore and one I stopped at had a sign that said that all pumpkins are edible. So there’s no need to wait till Thanksgiving for your pumpkin fix; grab one or two modest sized ones or pick up a can of pumpkin puree at the supermarket to treat your family or guests to a smooth and creamy pumpkin dessert.
Pumpkin – Ginger Snap Rice Pudding
YIELD: Makes 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups water
1 cup arborio rice
3 cups milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
3/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups crumbled ginger snaps
8 whole ginger snaps
1/2 pint whipped cream
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375 F. In a large ovenproof saucepan bring the water to a boil; stir in rice, cover and simmer until most of the water has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. In a large bowl whisk together the milk, puree, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt. Immediately add pumpkin mixture to hot rice; stir well; cover and place saucepan in oven. Bake until liquid is reduced by one third and mixture is bubbly and foamy, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven, stir well, transfer to large bowl and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. When ready to serve, spoon mixture and crumbled ginger snaps in alternating layers into wine glasses or stemmed dessert dishes; top with whipped cream and garnish with whole gingersnaps. Serve with hot apple cider.
Pumpkin-Peanut Parfait
YIELD: Makes 6 servings
INGREDIENTS:
4 cups milk
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/3 cups chopped salted peanuts
DIRECTIONS:
In a medium saucepan combine 3 cups of the milk, puree, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and ginger; whisk to combine then cook to a simmer over medium-low heat. In a large bowl whisk together sugar, cornstarch, salt, egg yolks and remaining cup milk. Whisk half the hot milk-pumpkin mixture into the egg mixture, then transfer back to saucepan and whisk to combine with remaining hot milk mixture. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until mixture boils; continue to cook, still whisking constantly, until mixture thickens, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and butter. Layering alternately with peanuts, transfer to stemmed glasses, then refrigerate covered, at least two hours. Serve with whipped cream.
Pumpkin Custard
YIELD: Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
2 large eggs
12 ounces evaporated skim milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch salt
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl whisk together the pumpkin puree, eggs, milk and vanilla. In another large bowl combine the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, ginger and salt. Sift sugar mixture into pumpkin mixture; stir until dry ingredients are completely absorbed; pour into 3/4-cup custard dishes. Place custard dishes in 9” x 13” oven dish and fill it with enough hot water to reach halfway up dishes. Bake 45 to 50 minutes, until custard is set and top is nicely browned. Transfer custard to wire racks to cool. Serve with crème fraîche.
It’s the season of giving! Theatre Three and the Knights of Columbus Joan of Arc Council 1992 are teaming up this year to host a Thanksgiving Food Drive for the food pantry at Infant Jesus Church in Port Jefferson on Sunday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Please help those who are less fortunate enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with their loved ones.
The pantry is in need of stuffing, gravy, yams, cranberry sauce, certificates for turkeys, pies, sugar, Maseca corn flour, cooking oil, peanut butter, ketchup, mayonnaise, coffee, hot chocolate, rice (1# and 2# bags/boxes) canned fruit and healthy snacks.
Baby items are needed including diapers size 6, baby shampoo, baby wipes, baby powder, Desitin and lotion. Toiletries are also in low supply including shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine pads and toilet paper.
Donations of grocery gift cards and cash to purchase whatever else is needed will also be accepted.
Volunteers will be set up in front of Infant Jesus Church, 110 Myrtle Ave., the convent building behind the church at 110 Hawkins Street, and Infant Jesus Chapel at St. Charles Hospital, 200 Belle Terre Road. For more information, call Brian at 631-938-6464.
This week’s shelter pet is Crinkles, currently up for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter. We can not believe this amazing cat ended up as an unclaimed stray! He is insanely outgoing and affectionate. He adores every single person he meets and will dole out kisses like a dog.
Crinkles has signs of past surgery on his ear and a procedure to prevent urinary blockages, so he was loved very much at some point. He is estimated to be 8 to 10 years young and has so much love to give.
If you would like to meet this handsome boy, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with him in a domestic setting, which includes a Meet and Greet Room.
The Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Shelter operating hours are currently Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only). Call 631-360-7575 or visit www.smithtownanimalshelter.com.
This calendar first appeared in print in the Arts & Lifestyles section of TBR News Media.
All numbers are in (631) area code unless noted.
Colorful Critters
Sunken Meadow State Park, Route 25A and Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park presents a program titled Colorful Critters for children ages 3 to 5 and their parents on Nov. 13 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Explore the natural world through short walks, animal visitors, and crafts. $4 per child. Advance reservations required by visiting Eventbrite.com and searching for #NatureEdventures. For more information, call 581-1072.
Family Hour Sunday
The Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington presents a Family Hour Sunday event on Nov. 14 from 1 to 2 p.m. Children ages 5 through 10 are invited for a family-friendly art experience with Museum Educator Tami Wood. Explore works of art in the Museum and create fun art projects. $10 per child, adults free. Registration is required by visiting www.heckscher.org.
Sprouts & Friends
New! The Town of Brookhaven presents an interactive holiday program for toddlers titled Sprouts & Friends at the Robert E. Reid Sr. Recreation Center, Defense Hill Road, Shoreham on Tuesdays, Nov. 16, 23, 30, Dec. 7, 14 and 21 from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Children will enjoy a safe and creative way to learn and move through music and release energy. Bring a blanket, mat or beach towel. For ages 2 to 5 with a caregiver. $35 for 6-week-class. Registration is required by calling 744-2601.
Self-Serve Family Crafts
Visit the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor during the month of November and enjoy seasonal, self-serve crafts in their workshop. Free with admission of $6 adults, $5 kids/seniors. Call 367-3418.
‘Barnaby Saves Christmas’
The holidays have arrived at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson with Barnaby Saves Christmas from Nov. 20 to Dec. 26 with a sensory sensitive performance on Nov. 21. Come join Santa, Barnaby, Franklynne and all of their friends for a wonderful holiday treat. As Santa’s littlest elf and his reindeer friend set off on their journey to save Christmas, they meet some new friends along the way and learn the true meaning of Christmas, Hanukkah, and the holiday season. All seats are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘Frosty’
Tis the season! The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Frosty from Nov. 21 to Jan. 2. Join Jenny and Frosty on their chilly adventures as they try to save the town of Chillsville from mean old Ethel Pierpot and her evil machine that will melt all the snow. Jenny calls on her Mom, the mayor, and all of you to help her save her home, get Frosty to the North Pole, and make this holiday season a Winter Wonderland for one and all! Tickets are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
‘Frozen Jr.’
Do you want to build a snowman? The Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown will present Frozen Jr. from Nov. 20 to Jan. 17. A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen Jr. expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor, Frozen Jr. is sure to thaw even the coldest heart! Tickets are $25. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.
This calendar first appeared in print in the Arts & Lifestyles section of TBR News Media.
* All numbers are in (631) area code unless otherwise noted.
Veterans Day
Veterans Day Parade
VFW Post 395 in St. James invite the community to their annual Veteran’s Day Parade at 10 a.m. The parade will step off from the intersection of Lake and Woodlawn Avenues in St. James and march to the St. James Elementary School for a ceremony. Questions? Call 250-9463.
Veterans Day Ceremony
The Sound Beach Civic Association will hold a Veterans Day ceremony at the Sound Beach Vets Memorial Park on New York Ave., Sound Beach at 11 a.m. All are welcome. For further information, call 744-6952.
Veterans Day Observance
In commemoration of Veterans Day 2021, American Legion Greenlawn Post 1244 will conduct its annual Veterans Day Observance at 11 a.m. at Greenlawn Memorial Park, at the corner of Pulaski Rd. and Broadway in Greenlawn. For more information, call 516-458-7881 or e-mail [email protected].
Veterans Day Ceremony
VFW Post 3054 of Setauket hosts its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Setauket Veterans Memorial Park on Shore Road and Route 25A at 11 a.m. All are welcome. For more information, call 751-5541.
Free admission to Vets at LIM
The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook remembers, honors and thanks all the men and women who have served and who are currently serving. As a tribute, the museum is offering free admission to all Veterans and their families today from noon to 5 p.m. Call 751-0066 for further information.
Starry Nights concert
Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents Starry Nights, a magical evening of music with artistic director and cellist Colin Carr in the Recital Hall at 7 p.m. The evening will feature the Schumann Piano Quartet, pieces for guitar ensemble, and even some African drumming. Tickets range from $44 to $48. To order, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.
Opera Stars of Tomorrow
Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts presents Opera Stars of Tomorrow in the Recital Hall at 8 p.m. featuring Eugene Onegin: Tchaikovsky/Act I Scene I, Le nozze di Figaro: Mozart/Act II Finale, La Gioconda: Ponchielli/ Act II Scene & Duet, Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Rossini/Act Two Trio, Rosenkavalier: R. Strauss/Final Trio, and La Clemenza di Tito: Mozart/Act Two Scene X. Tickets are $10 general admission; $5 students and seniors online at www.stallercenter.com or at the door.
History Hike
Join the staff at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington for a History Hike from 9:45 a.m to 1 p.m. While the main purpose of this hilly, moderately paced 6-mile walk is to relax and socialize, stops will be made to discuss some spots of historic interest. Bring lunch and drinking water. $4 per person. Advance registration required by calling 423-1770.
Autumn Holiday Bazaar
Siena Village, 2000 Bishops Road, Smithtown holds its Autumn Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. Shop for holiday gifts, jewelry, homemade cards, a Gold Table with slightly used items, food, cakes, drinks, raffles and more. Call 360-6000 for more info.
Holiday Craft Fair
St. James Lutheran Church, 230 Second Ave., St. James will hold a Holiday Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring over 50 dealers with hand and needle crafts, folk art, wood items and more. There will also be a raffle for a handmade quilt, baked goods, homemade soups and refreshments. Admission is free. For more information, call 584-5212.
Garage Sale fundraiser
Celebrate St. James will hold a garage sale fundraiser today, Nov. 14, 20 and 21 at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 Second St., St. James from 10 a.m. to 4 pm. Lots of treasures including books, lamps, sporting goods, lightly used clothing, collectibles, fishing equipment and more. For more information, call 984-0201.
Holiday Bazaar
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 716 Route 25A, Rocky Point holds its annual Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Featuring holiday handcraft items, Grandma’s Attic (gently used holiday themed items), bake sale, and food. Free admission. Call 744-9355.
Second Saturdays Poetry
Join All Souls Church in Stony Brook for a virtual Second Saturdays Poetry Reading via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon. Hosted by Suffolk County Poet Laureate Richard Bronson, the featured poet will be Virginia Walker. An open reading will follow. All are welcome to read one of their own poems. To register, visit www.allsouls-stonybrook.org. Call 655-7798.
Superheroes of the Sky
Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown hosts a family program, Superheroes of the Sky, from 11 a.m. to noon. Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds the Birds of Prey and tells you about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. You’ll be seeing and learning about bald eagles, turkey vultures, owls, hawks and many more. Fee is $10 adults, $5 children under 12. Register at www.sweetbriarnc.org.
Saturdays at Six concert
All Souls Church, 61 Main St., Stony Brook continues its Saturdays at Six Concert series with a performance by Alison and Taylor Ackley, partners in life and in music. Founders of the Deep Roots Ensemble, the rich sound of their two-part harmony singing brings songs old and new to life in a way that feels both timeless and remarkable. Free but donations accepted. Bring a can of food to donate to a local food pantry. Call 655-7798.
Sheléa in concert
Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook welcomes Sheléa in concert in the Recital Hall at 8 p.m. An oasis of sultry sound in the age of Auto-Tune, Sheléa is a unique artist who blends traditional pop, jazz, R&B, and soul. Tickets range from $50 to $54. To order, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.
Garage Sale fundraiser
See Nov. 13 listing.
Sunday at the Society
In correlation with the Northport Historical Society’s ‘Immigrants of Northport and East Northport’ gallery exhibit, a ‘Stamp Your Passport’ event will be highlighting Greece at the Society’s headquarters, 215 Main St., Northport from 1 to 3 p.m. The owner of the Northport Sweet Shop, Pete Panarites, will be presenting a history of his restaurant, famous clientele, and other interesting facts along with a concert by the Northport High School’s chamber orchestra to our event as they play music live at our Carnegie Gallery. Tickets are $5, members free. Register at www.northporthistorical.org.
Pianist Nadejda Vlaeva in concert
Ridotto, concerts “with a Touch of Theater,” presents the critically acclaimed pianist Nadejda Vlaeva in Recital at the Huntington Jewish Center, 510 Park Ave., Huntington on Sunday, Nov. 14 at 4 p.m. The pianist returns to Ridotto with a program of Chopin, Scriabin, Bortkiewicz, Liszt and more. Tickets are $12 (student), $20 (members), $25 (seniors), $30 (general admission). The hall is handicapped accessible. For reservations, call 385-0373, or [email protected]
An evening of Chamber Music
Stony Brook University.s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents Chamber Music on an Autumn Evenings in the Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. featuring works by Dvořák, W. A. Mozart, Brahms and Beethoven, Free admission. For more information, call 632-2787.
SBU Orchestra concert
Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents the University Orchestra’s Chamber Orchestra and Concerto Orchestra concert on the Main Stage at 7:30 p.m. Conducted by Susan Deaver, the University Orchestra will perform music of Bartok, Gershwin, Schubert, Villa-Lobos and concertos by Sibelius and Beethoven.The featured soloists are the Winners of the 2020 Stony Brook University Undergraduate Concerto Competition — violinist Ethan Forman who will perform the first movement of Sibelius Violin Concerto, and pianist Victoria Wen who will perform the first movement of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor.” Admission is $10 at www.stallercenter.com or at the door.
‘Anything But Silent’ event
Join the Cinema Arts Centre for an online screening of “Chicago” (1927) with live piano accompaniment by Ben Model at 7 p.m. Like the musical Chicago that won the Best Picture Academy Award and five other Oscars in 2002, this original 1927 version descends from a 1926 hit Broadway play by Maurine Watkins. Long believed to be a lost film, but a perfect print survived in Cecil B. DeMille’s private collection. General admission is pay-what-you-want. To register, visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
Whaling Museum Trivia Night
Join the Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor for an online music-themed night of trivia at 7 p.m. From whale song to sea shanties to cricket chirps to Mozart to Broadway to the Beatles to Beyonce, join them for a tune-filled evening with trivia questions about music in film, television, art, nature, and history. For adults. Free to play, $10 donation appreciated. To register, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.
An evening of jazz
The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook presents the Bad Little Big Band in concert at 7 p.m. Led by pianist Rich Iacona, the 12-member band performs music of the Great American Song Book and original compositions and arrangements written by band members accompanied by vocalist Madeline Kole. Tickets are $25 adults, $20 seniors, $15 students, $10 children. For tickets, visit www.thejazzloft.org. For more info, call 751-1895.
Native American Drumming
All Souls Church Rectory, 5 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook hosts an evening of Native American Drumming Meditation from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. Please call 655-7798 for more information.
‘Mission Joy’
The Port Jefferson Documentary Series concludes its Fall 2021 season with a screening of Mission Joy — Finding Happiness in Troubled Times at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. The film is a profound and jubilant exploration of the remarkable friendship between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Inspired by the international bestseller, The Book of Joy, the documentary welcomes viewers into intimate conversations between two men whose resistance against adversity has marked our modern history. Followed by a Q&A with co-director Peggy Callahan via Skype. $10 per person at the door. For more information, visit www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com.
‘All Together Now!’
Star Playhouse, Stage 74, at the Suffolk Y JCC, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack presents Music Theatre International’s “All Together Now!,” a global event celebrating local theatre, on Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. The venue will be joining thousands of theatrical organizations around the globe for this one-night only performance. The event will highlight songs from beloved Broadway musicals, and will feature appearances by Broadway stars in addition to local talent. Tickets are $55 in advance, $60 at the door. To order, visit www.starplayhouse.com or call 462-9800 x-136.
‘White Christmas’
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its MainStage season with White Christmas from Nov. 11 to Jan. 2, 2022. Based on the beloved film, this heartwarming adaptation follows vaudeville stars and veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis as they head to Vermont to pursue romance with a duo of beautiful singing sisters. This family classic features beloved songs by Irving Berlin including “Blue Skies,” “I Love A Piano,” “How Deep Is The Ocean” and the perennial favorite, White Christmas. Tickets are $80 per person on Saturdays, $75 other days. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
‘A Christmas Carol’
Join Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson for the 37th annual production of A Christmas Carol from Nov. 13 to Dec. 26. Celebrate the season with Long Island’s own holiday tradition and broadwayworld.com winner for Best Play. Follow the miser Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey that teaches him the true meaning of Christmas — past, present and future. A complimentary sensory sensitive abridged performance will be held on Nov. 28 at 11 a.m. $20 tickets in November; December tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com
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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.
Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel
“Plastic shapes human identity and speeds up the rate at which we move across the world and through our days, connecting people and allowing us to express who we are to each other. And yet plastic also helps us destroy. Plastic has saved our lives while taking others’ away. Plastic is a miracle. Plastic is a scourge.”
Erica Cirino’s Thicker Than Water (Island Press) is a frank and pointed examination of one of the most toxic elements of our “throwaway” culture. “Almost every single person alive today uses plastic on a daily basis, most of which is designed for minutes or seconds of use before it no longer serves a designated purpose.” Cirino, a gifted author whose writings have been featured in Scientific American and The Atlantic, has penned a smart, passionate exploration of one of the most troubling and challenging issues. Subtitled “The Quest for Solutions to the Plastic Crisis,” the book examines a problem of overwhelming global impact.
The book’s first part focuses on Cirino’s 3,000-mile journey on the S/Y Christianshavn to the Pacific Ocean’s Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Located in the turbulent North Pacific Gyre, this is “the most notoriously plastic polluted stretch of ocean in the world.” And while “the patch” has been described as a “static, floating pile of plastic” (i.e., a “plastic island”), the reality is much graver. “These waters are more akin to a soup to which humanity has added an unknown number of plastic items and pieces. The plastic is commonly suspended right below the surface, pushed just of out sight, constantly and unpredictably stirred by the rolling sea.” Her thesis is clear: While plastic defines our culture, it should not be allowed to determine our future.
The book features vivid descriptions. Whether depicting a meal or the rescue of a sea turtle from “ghost fishing,” nothing escapes her insight, expressed in often lyrical prose:
“Out at sea, time is not measured in hours or minutes, but by the intensity of the burning sun, the oscillating fade-sparkle-fade of thousands of stars and specks of glowing algae, the size and shape of the moon, the furor or calm of the sea […] The sea can show us what it is in life we need, and what we can live without.”
But the writing never masks the underlying and driving force of the dire situation.
Throughout, Cirino investigates the shift from the historical use of plants and animals to fossil fuels. She traces the involved reliance on the latter and the products created from it. She shares a comprehensive understanding. “Plastic is so permanent because of its structure on the molecular level.” She clarifies both microplastic and the even smaller particles—nanoplastic—and their invasion of the food chain.
The facts are harrowing. “About 40 percent of the plastic used today is actually not even really used by people—instead, as packaging, it covers or holds the foods and goods we purchase and is simply torn off and thrown away so we can access what’s inside.” The flimsy, disposable plastic is tossed, sometimes after a few moments’ use. “In 2015, experts estimated the amount of plastic in the oceans would outweigh fish by the year 2050 […] By 2020, humans had created enough petrochemical-based plastic to outweigh the mass of all marine and land animals combined, by a factor of two.”
And while the material presented is alarming, Cirino is never alarmist, never resorting to sensationalism. Instead, facing such devastating research, she maintains a fair and fairly objective view.
When on shipboard or in the laboratory, she presents the science to inform and engage the reader. There is a wealth of data from the manufacture of plastics to the associated chemical pollution, from oceans to fresh waters. For example, she depicts the research done on human-ingested plastic with a mannequin that emulates human breathing. Postdoc Alvise Vianello, from Denmark’s Aalborg University, states: “From what we can tell, it’s possible people are breathing in around eleven pieces of microplastic per hour when indoors.”
The third part of the book tackles the frequently ignored environmental racism. Industrial plants are commonly erected in minority communities. Cirino focuses on Welcome, Louisiana, and its environs. The area of Louisiana is home to about one hundred and fifty industrial plants, dubbed Cancer Alley. There is a great deal of corruption surrounding these factories and complexes, with the companies permanently damaging the communities with chemical pollution. Furthermore, often the factories are built on top of presumed burial grounds of enslaved African Americans. This section highlights both environmental and sociological devastation.
Cirino connects the dots from plastic production to climate change. She has a sense of the irony that the pandemic briefly lowered our carbon footprint. Additionally, as renewable energies rise, fossil fuel corporations—notably big oil and gas—counter the lack of demand by turning ancient carbon stocks into plastic.
The final section of the book, “Cleaning It Up,” centers on solutions. Technical invention (trash wheels, booms, grates, etc.) and grassroots work (simply picking up garbage) are important. But, ultimately, the solution is a combination of public awareness through education, science, and systemic change of using less, or ideally, no plastic. “You wouldn’t just mop up water off your floor if your bathtub were overflowing,” says Malene Møhl of Plastic Change. “You’d turn off the tap.”
Taxes, bans, and other legislation, combined with the search for biodegradable resources (even using bacteria, fungi, and algae), face pushback from large industries, the complexity of plastic recycling, and our own desire for convenience.
It would be impossible to read this powerful book and not look at the world differently, both in the larger picture and day-to-day life. Contents of Thicker Than Water can be overwhelming—even paralyzing. But, in the end, Erica Cirino’s ideas stimulate thought, raise awareness, and, most importantly, are a call to action.
Thicker Than Water is available at IslandPress.org, Amazon.com, or BarnesandNoble.com. For more information on the author, visit www.ericacirino.com.
THAT’S A WRAP
This scarecrow at Holzman’s Family Farm on Doctor’s Path in Riverhead gets rid of the last of the pumpkins, signaling the end of fall harvest on the North Shore.
Send your Photo of the Week to [email protected]
By Nancy Burner, Esq.
Couples who are both U.S. citizens receive the benefit of the unlimited marital deduction on federal estate and gift taxes. The idea is that the surviving spouse pays any estate tax at their death.
In contrast, transfers from a U.S. citizen to a non-citizen spouse do not enjoy this benefit. The IRS figures they may return home to their own countries and avoid U.S. estates taxes at their death. Instead, lifetime transfers to non-citizen spouse are only tax-free up to the annual exclusion amount –$159,000.00 in 2021.
Remember, with the current high federal estate tax exemption, a U.S. citizen can gift up to $11.7 million dollars during their lifetime or at their death to anyone, including a non-citizen spouse. But, for high net worth international couples or those planning for when the estate tax exemption is lowered, a Qualified Domestic Trust (“QDOT”) is as an exception to this rule.
A QDOT allows the marital deduction for property passing to a non-citizen surviving spouse. It does not avoid estate tax, just defers it until the surviving spouse’s death. The overall purpose is to ensure that the IRS will eventually be able to tax property for which a marital deduction is claimed.
The requirement that the surviving spouse place property in a QDOT ensures that if the marital deduction is allowed, the property will still ultimately be subject to death tax.
A QDOT, like a qualified terminable interest property trust (“QTIP”), mandates that all income be paid to the surviving spouse and that no other person have an interest in the trust during their lifetime. However, QDOTs have additional requirements and limitations, such as:
• At least one Trustee must be a domestic corporation or a U.S. citizen.
• The trust must be subject to and administered under the laws of a particular state or the District of Columbia.
• Property placed in the QDOT must pass from the decedent to the surviving spouse in a form that would have qualified for the marital deduction if the surviving spouse was a U.S. citizen.
• The trustee must have the right to withhold the estate tax and pay it to the IRS.
The IRS imposes different security requirements depending on if the assets in the trust exceed $2 million dollars, whether the trustee is a U.S. Bank, and what percentage of the trust property is located within the United States. These requirements ensure the IRS get its due on the surviving spouse’s death.
A QDOT can even be set up after the U.S. Citizen spouse passes away. A trust created for the spouse which fails to meet all of the requirements can be amended to qualify as a QDOT. Additionally, under certain circumstances, an executor can, with the permission of the surviving spouse, make an irrevocable election to a QDOT.
A QDOT would not be needed if the surviving spouse becomes a U.S. citizen before the deceased spouse’s estate tax return is filed. This is usually nine months from date of death, but can be extended six months. Multinational spouses should seek out an experienced estate planning attorney, as the rules are complex and always changing.
Nancy Burner, Esq. practices elder law and estate planning from her East Setauket office. Visit www.burnerlaw.com.
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