Arts & Entertainment

Join Dorothy and Toto for Theatre Three's 'Dorothy's Adventures in Oz' this weekend! Photo courtesy of Theatre Three Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc
PROGRAMS

First Steps Into Nature 

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown presents First Steps Into Nature for children ages 2 to 4 on March 21 and 28 at 9:30 a.m. Little ones will learn about nature through hands on interaction, music, crafts, stories, play and more. $20 per child. To register, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org. 631-979-6344

World Frog Day

Celebrate World Frog Day at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor on March 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Make a fun frog craft and enjoy frog encounters with special animal guests at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Admission is $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 ages 3 to 12. 516-692-6768

Water Rockets

Suffolk County Farm, 350 Yaphank Road, Yaphank presents a class on Water Rockets on March 26 or March 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Learn how rockets fly, build a rocket out of a soda bottle, then go outside and launch it from our custom-built compressed air powered launch pad. You will take your rocket home, along with instructions to build your own launch pad. For ages 6 to 10. $20 per participant. To register, go to https://www.eventcreate.com/e/rockets25. For more information, call 631-852-4600.

Story & Craft with Nana Carol

The Next Chapter bookstore, 204 New York Ave., Huntington hosts a Story and Craft event with Nana Carol on March 24 at 10:30 a.m. Free. No registration required. Appropriate for ages 0-4. 631-482-5008

Feeding Frenzy

As part of its Pollywog Adventures series, Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor presents Feed Frenzy on March 26 at 11 a.m. Children ages 2 to 5 will enjoy an activity, craft, story and feeding the hungry trout. $20 fee includes admission for the day for one child and one adult. Pre-registration required at www.cshfishhatchery.org. 516-692-6768

THEATER

‘Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz’

Theatre Three, 423 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz from Feb. 19 to March 29. Join them for an unforgettable trip down the Yellow Brick Road as Dorothy Gale is whisked away by a tornado to that magical land that lies just Over the Rainbow. Follow Dorothy and her friends the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Lion ­as they encounter challenges and celebrate friendship. All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Musical’

Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is Diary of  a Wimpy Kid The Musical from March 22 to April 27. Read the books? Watched the movies? Now experience the musical! Middle school, ugh. It’s the worst. But Greg is determined not to be at the bottom of the popularity chart. He’ll leave that to his weird neighbor, Fregley. Or maybe Greg’s best friend, Rowley Jefferson. But it’s not going to be Greg…no way. All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

‘Peter and the Wolf’

Tickets are on sale now for Peter and the Wolf at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook in the Recital Hall on March 30 at noon (3 p.m. performance is sold out). Gather the whole family for an immersive adventure as the Staller Center Outreach Ensemble brings Prokofiev’s beloved children’s classic to life! In this symphonic fairy tale, a lively narrator guides you through a whimsical story, while the orchestra paints vivid scenes with sound. Each instrument represents a unique character within the story, allowing listeners to discover how the orchestra weaves together different musical voices to tell a tale. Conducted by Tommy Wu  and featuring musicians from the Stony Brook Department of Music. Tickets are $31 per person. To order, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com

Send your calendar events to [email protected]

 

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A CELEBRATION OF SISTERHOOD AND THE CHANGE What better way to honor the journey of womanhood than with a night of laughter, music, and sisterhood? ‘Menopause the Musical’ continues at the Smithtown Performing Arts Center this weekend.
Thursday March 20

Swing Into Spring Jazz Festival

The Jazz Loft’s Swing Into Swing Festival 2025 continues today and runs through March 22 with opportunities to hear live Jazz music throughout the community at five local restaurants in the Stony Brook/East Setauket area. L  For the full festival schedule, visit www.thejazzloft.org.

Lunch and Learn

Huntington Historical Society continues its Lunch and Learn series at Red Restaurant, 417 New York Ave., Huntington from noon to 2 p.m. as Tara Rider will present “The Witchcraft Trial of Goody Garlick.” The most famous American witch-hunt began in 1692 Salem, Massachusetts. Yet, more than three decades before that notorious event, Long Island had its very own witchcraft trial — the trial of Goody Garlick! $55 per person, $45 members includes a gourmet two-course meal and dessert. Cash bar available. For tickets, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Spring Bingo

The Rose Caracappa Senior Center, 739 Route 25A, Mt. Sinai will hold a free bingo event sponsored by The Bristal of Mt. Sinai  from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Bingo cards will be provided. Open to Town of Brookhaven residents age 60 and older. Free. To register, call 631-451-5312.

Women’s Recognition Awards

Town of Brookhaven will host the39th Annual Women’s Recognition Night at Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill, Farmingville at 6:30 p.m. The event, which is open to the public, is sponsored by the Town’s Office of Women’s Services, Department of General Services. All are welcome to attend. 631-451-6146

Friday March 21 

Swing Into Spring Jazz Festival

See March 20 listing.

Third Friday at the Reboli

The Reboli Center for Art and History, 604 Main St., Stony Brook continues its Third Friday series from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Join Frances Campani for an enriching Gallery Tour of the gallery’s current exhibit, Figure and Form. Campani will offer a unique perspective on her own works as well as the broader themes of the show. Free. No registration  required. 631-751-7707

WinterTide Concert 

The Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson presents Marci Geller in concert from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. as part of its WinterTide series. Free will donation at the door. Sponsored by St. Charles Hospital and GPJAC. 631-473-5220

Hispanic Heritage Night

The Leo P. Ostebo Kings Park Heritage Museum, RJO Middle School, 101 Church St., Kings Park presents Hispanic Heritage Night at 7 p.m. Enjoy an acoustic evening with Nick Sassano, a tribute to Latin divas by Linda Miller and more. Free admission. 631-269-3305

Sound Symphony Concert

Comsewogue Public High School, 565 Bicycle Path, Port Jefferson Station hosts a concert by the Sound Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Directed by Maestro Dorothy Savitch, the program will include works by Schumann, Tchaikovsky and more. Admission is $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students at the door. Children under the age of 12 are free. www.soundsymphony.org.

Rhythm India head to SBU

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents a Main Stage performance by Rhythm India: Bollywood & Beyond at 8 p.m. Vibrant costumes, dynamic music, and stirring rhythms echo the heartbeats of South Asia’s royal palaces and sacred temples, desert villages and modern stages. Created by director and choreographer Joya Kazi, Rhythm India is a joyous commemoration of India’s diverse culture! Tickets range from $48 to $71. To order, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

Saturday March 22

Swing Into Spring Jazz Festival

See March 20 listing.

HealthyU Workshop

Take part in Mather Hospital’s free HealthyU Spring Semester workshop focused on your physical, emotional and financial well-being at The Meadow Club, 1147 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Choose from six health seminars and visit a health fair. To register and to view the complete schedule, visit www.matherhospital.org/healthyU.

Repair Café at the Library
Join Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station for a Repair Café from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. where knowledgeable volunteers will help to repair your broken items and offer advice and inspiration. No registration required. Just drop in! For more information, call 631-928-1212.

Downsizing for Seniors luncheon

Howard Hanna Coach Realtors of Port Jefferson invites seniors looking to downsize to a FREE educational luncheon at the VFW Post 3054,  8 Jones Street, Setauket from noon to 2 p.m. A panel of experts will be on hand to explore the planning and process of Downsizing for Seniors with a focus on housing options for seniors, addressing the challenges of buying a selling a property, financing issues and options, repairs and maintenance, Trusts and Estates and more.  Whether you are looking to make a move this year of sometime down the road, this is an event you won’t want to miss. Lunch and prizes for all attendees as well as all your questions answered. Registration is required by calling 631-994-0082 or go to https://bit.ly/DownsizerWorkshop.

Celebrating Irish Music

Join Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook for a concert celebrating Irish music with Tom Donovan at 2 p.m. No registration required. For more information, call 631-588-5024.

Grand Opening Celebration

Join Optical Outfitters, 158 East Main Street, Suite 2, Port Jefferson for a grand re-opening celebration from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to view the new spring collection. For more information, call 631-928-6401.

Sunday March 23

Model Train Show

The St James Model Railroad Club will host an Open House at the Mills Pond House, 176 Mills Pond Road, St. James from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This 38’ X 48” Lionel train layout, the result of 42 years of continuing improvements, represents Railroading from the Age of Steam to Present Day with many freight and passenger trains running simultaneously in a scenic, imaginative setting. Children of all ages will enjoy the sights and sounds of this truly impressive event. Suggested donations are $2 for adults, 50 cents for children. 516-263-9607 or 631-543-8732.

NHS lecture

Did you know that a visit to Gardiners Island led to famed pirate Captain Kidd dying on the gallows in London? Or that the Atlantic Ocean off the South Shore became known as Rum Row during Prohibition? Join the Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport for an illuminating talk titled “Maritime Smuggling on Long Island: From Pirates to Rumrunners” with historian, author and former Newsday reporter Bill Bleyer at 1 p.m. and discover all about Long Island’s fascinating maritime past, from pirates to bootleggers. Tickets are $15, $12 members. To register, visit www.northporthistorical.org.

Joe Piket in concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook  presents a concert by Joe Piket, a two-time finalist in the Long Island Music Festival and four-time winner in the Best of Long Island Entertainer of the Year poll, at 3 p.m. The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. 631-689-5888, www.limusichalloffame.org

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce presents the 55th annual Ronkonkoma St. Patrick’s Day Parade at 2 p.m. Grand Marshal Dan Moloney will lead the parade from Amvets Post 48, 660 Hawkins Ave. at School Street, south down Hawkins Ave. ending at Thorne Street. 631-304-6303, www.ronkonkomaparade.org 

Monday March 24

Community Blood Drive

Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach will host a Community Blood Drive from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. If you or anyone you know would like to make an appointment, all 1-800-933-2566.

SHS Spring Lecture

Join the Smithtown Historical Society at the Frank Brush Barn, 211 East Main St., Smithtown for a spring lecture titled Long Island Lighthouses from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Robert G. Müller of the Long Island Chapter, of the US Lighthouse Society, will offer an in-depth look at over 20 local light stations spanning more than 200 years. Through a combination of historic and contemporary images, it explores the intricate details of lighthouse construction and the compelling stories of lightkeepers’ lives. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. No reservations required. 631-265-6768.

Tuesday March 25

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a presentation by Francine Holland on the “Pillars of Brain Health” at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

An Evening of Comedy

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its Special Events series with a Comedy Night at 8 p.m.  Come have some laughs, enjoy some cocktails, and listen to some very funny comedians! $45 per person. For tickets, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
Wednesday March 26

No events listed for this day.

Thursday March 27

Community Blood Drive

Farmingville Fire Department, 780 Horseblock Road, Farmingville will hold a Community Blood Drive from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Participating donors will receive a coupon for a pint of your choice of Italian ice at the Farmingville location. All donors will also receive a hero, salad and refreshments. For questions, call 516-310-2382.

Library Blood Drive

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road Port Jefferson Station will hold a Community Blood Drive from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Appointments are suggested but walk-ins are welcome. To determine eligibility or make an appointment please call New York Blood Center at 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.cplib.org/BloodDrive. 631-928-1212

Music Bingo Fundraiser

Smithtown Children’s Foundation will hold a Music Bingo fundraiser at the Elks Lodge, 120 Edgewood Ave., Smithtown at 6 p.m. Join them for dinner and dancing to benefit the Smithtown Central School Districts’ Business School scholarships. Tickets are $50 per person. To register, visit www.smithtownchildrensfoundation.com.

Native American Drumming

All Souls Church, 61 Main St., Stony Brook presents an evening of Native American Drumming Meditations from 7 p.m. to 8 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.  Call 631-655-7798 for more information.

Film

‘Here’

Join Comsewogue Public LIbrary, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station for a screening of Here starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright on March 20 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. To reserve your spot, call 631-928-1212 or visit www.cplib.org.

‘A Man with Sole’

The Port Jefferson Documentary Series continues its spring season with A Man with Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole at the First United Methodist Church, 603 Main Street, Port Jefferson on March 20 at 7 p.m. which chronicles the rise of renowned fashion entrepreneur, Kenneth Cole, from his scrappy start selling shoes through to his current day success. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Director Dori Berinstein. Tickets are $10 at the door (cash only) or at www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com.

‘Gattaca: and the Science of Genetics’

As part of National Science on Screen® Day, the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington will screen the 1997 sci-fi thriller Gattaca: and the Science of Genetics on March 25 at 7:30 p.m. Following the film, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Geneticist W. Richard McCombie will present a lecture and discussion on the fascinating science of genetics. Tickets are $16, $10 members. To order in advance, visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

‘Facing the Wind’

The Port Jefferson Documentary Series continues its spring season with Facing the Wind at the First United Methodist Church, 603 Main Street, Port Jefferson on March 27 at 7 p.m. The film examines the connection forged between two women as they care for their spouses stricken with Lewy Body dementia. Director Deirdre Fishel will join the post-film discussion in person with Cindy Morris of the Benson Agency. Tickets are $10 at the door (cash only) or at www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com.

Theater

Festival of One Act Plays

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the 26th annual Festival of One-Act Plays at The Ronald F. Peierls Theatre on the Second Stage from March 8 to April 5. Featuring the world premieres of 7 one act plays. Tickets are $25. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

‘Menopause the Musical’

It’s back! Menopause the Musical returns to the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown from March 15 to April 6. A hilarious celebration of women and The Change, this musical parody set to classic tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles. See what more than 15 million women and fans worldwide have been laughing about for over 20 years. Tickets are $61.50, $56.50 seniors. To order, call 1-800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

‘Ring of Fire’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its Mainstage season with Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Show from March 1 to March 30. From the heart of the songs of singer-songwriter Johnny Cash  comes a unique musical show about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, home and family. The show captures America’s legendary Man in Black in an exhilarating, tuneful, foot-stomping celebration. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students, $25 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

‘Waitress The Musical’

John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Waitress The Musical from March 13 to April 27. Based on the 2007 movie, it tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, Jenna fears she may have to abandon the dream of opening her own pie shop until a baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s handsome new doctor offer her a tempting recipe for happiness. To order, call 631-261-2900 or go to www.engemantheater.com.

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.

 

SCCC Selden. Photo by Heidi Sutton

Suffolk County Community College’s Flecker Gallery, 533 College Road Selden will host a High School Art Exhibition featuring the young talent of Suffolk County high school students from March 24 through April 4, 2025. A reception and award ceremony will take place on March 27 from 5 to7 p.m. The awards will be announced at 5 p.m.for best of show, as well as additional awards for best 2D, 3D, and digital art.

The following high schools that will be Invited in the exhibition: Bayport Blue Point, Bell Port, Centereach, Comsewogue, Connetquot, East Islip, Earl L. Vandermeulen, Hauppauge, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Anthony’s, Longwood, Miller Place, Mt. Sinai, Newfield, Patchogue-Medford, Rocky Point, Sachem East, Sachem North, Sayville, Shoreham Wading River, Smithtown, and Ward Melville.

The art work will include submissions from students in the ninth through twelfth grade. All Mediums are accepted including painting, photography, collage, drawing, sculpture, digital art and time-based media. Department Chairs and art teachers from the high schools are asked to work with their students to selecting their strongest work and fill out submission forms.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (and by appointment). For more information, please contact the Flecker Gallery at 631-451-4093.

METRO photo

Howard Hanna Coach Realtors of Port Jefferson invites seniors looking to downsize to a FREE educational luncheon at the VFW Post 3054, 8 Jones Street, Setauket on Saturday, March 22 from noon to 2 p.m.

A panel of experts will be on hand to explore the planning and process of Downsizing for Seniors with a focus on housing options for seniors, addressing the challenges of buying a selling a property, financing issues and options, repairs and maintenance, Trusts and Estates and more.  Whether you are looking to make a move this year of sometime down the road, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Lunch and prizes for all attendees as well as all your questions answered. Free but registration is required by calling 631-994-0082 or go to https://bit.ly/DownsizerWorkshop.

Photo courtesy of Island Federal

Island Federal Credit Union (Island Federal) will award $25,000 in college scholarships to graduating seniors in May 2025. Long Island high school seniors who plan to continue their education at a university, college, community college, or vocational school are invited to apply.

The 2025 Island Federal Scholarship Program provides scholarships to five (5) local high school seniors, all selected by random drawing among qualified applicants. There are no essays or transcripts required to enter.

Island Federal’s mission is to enable Long Islanders to achieve their dreams for themselves and their families, which includes helping them afford a college education. Since the launch of the Island Federal Scholarship Program in 1992, Island has given out $910,000 in scholarships to a total of 375 recipients,” said Craig Booth, President/CEO, Island Federal. He continues, “I look forward to presenting the scholarships to the 2025 recipients this spring.”

For complete requirements and applications, go to islandfcu.com/scholarship or visit any Island branch. Applications are due no later than Friday, April 25. The five winners will be announced on May 2.

 

Photo courtesy of St. James Model Railroad Club

Mark your calendars! The St James Model Railroad Club will host an Open House on Sunday, March 23 at the Mills Pond House, 176 Mills Pond Road, St. James from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This 38’ X 48” Lionel train layout, the result of 42 years of continuing improvements, represents Railroading from the Age of Steam to Present Day with many freight and passenger trains running simultaneously in a scenic, imaginative setting.

Featured are many new additions to the Layout including a New City scene with operating roadway, a Freight yard upgrade and a new power plant & Fire scene. An improved layout guarantees that you will see many trains presented in a detailed, realistic setting.

Children of all ages will enjoy the sights and sounds of this truly impressive event. Suggested donations are $2 for adults, 50 cents for children.

Please note: The St. James Model Railroad club is not handicap accessible. Parking is in the rear of the building.

For further information, call 516-263-9607 or 631-543-8732.

IThe Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) has announced the launch of its inaugural Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival from Aug. 8 to Aug. 10  at LIMEHOF’s museum location at 97 Main Street in Stony Brook Village. Entries are now open to music documentary films from around the world and will be accepted through May 1st on FilmFreeway.

“This music documentary film festival is the perfect way to extend the mission of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame—to preserve the past, celebrate the present, and ignite a love for music in future generations,” said LIMEHOF Vice Chairman Tom Needham who is organizing the film festival as Executive Director with film festival Artistic Director Wendy Feinberg.

While many know LIMEHOF as the exclusive home of the My Life: A Piano Man’s Journey Billy Joel exhibit, over the last 20 years, LIMEHOF has inducted over 130 Long Island artists, from a wide range of artists in all music genres including Billy Joel, Stephen Schwartz, Mariah Carey, Lou Reed, Clive Davis, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Ramones, Public Enemy, Carter Burwell, John Coltrane, Run DMC, Cyndi Lauper, Louis Armstrong and Simon & Garfunkel. This is the first time the museum is holding a music themed film festival of this kind.

“As a music lover, I am extremely excited to be involved in the creation of a film festival totally devoted to music docs to be held at a fantastic venue, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame!” said Wendy Feinberg, Artistic Director of the film festival.

The film festival has just accepted the new documentary “Cat’s in the Cradle: The Song That Changed Our Lives” which celebrates LIMEHOF inductee Harry Chapin who founded Long Island Cares. The film features several LIMEHOF inductees including Billy Joel, Pat Benatar, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Dee Snider.

“As Executive Director of the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival, I am honored to announce the screening of Cats in the Cradle: The Song that Changed Our Lives,” said Needham. “Harry Chapin, a proud Long Islander and LIMEHOF inductee, used his music not only to tell stories but to change lives. This documentary beautifully captures the enduring power of Cats in the Cradle, a song that has resonated across generations and continues to inspire reflection on family, time, and the choices we make.”

This brand-new initiative amplifies LIMEHOF’s mission to celebrate music in all its forms. This festival will exclusively showcase music documentary films from around the world that examine music topics like music scenes, music history, tours, biographies, festivals, music education, concerts, culture and music technology.

The festival accepts music documentaries in features and shorts categories. The entry fee is $40, and entries are accepted through May 1. At the conclusion of the festival, awards will be issued in a variety of categories to recognize the best participating films. For more information, full rules and details please visit FilmFreeway(https://filmfreeway.com/LongIslandMusicandEntertainmentHallofFameMusicDocumentaryFilmFestival)

About LIMEHOF

Founded in 2004, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the idea that Long Island’s musical and entertainment heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. The organization, which encompasses New York State’s Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings (Brooklyn) Counties, was created as a place of community that inspires and explores Long Island music and entertainment in all its forms.  In 2022, LIMEHOF opened its first Hall of Fame building location in Stony Brook, New York. To date, the organization has inducted more than 130 musicians and music industry executives, and offers education programs, scholarships, and awards to Long Island students and educators.

SUNY Distinguished Professor Rowan Ricardo Phillips. Photo by Sue Kw0n

Stony Brook University Distinguished Professor Rowan Ricardo Phillips, from the College of Arts and Sciences Department of English, was recently recognized by the American Academy of Arts as a 2025 Arts and Letters Award winner.

“Art is its own reward,” said Professor Phillips. “But, even with that said, I feel honored to be in such fine company.”

The American Academy of Arts and Letters is an honor society of artists, architects, composers, and writers who foster and sustain interest in the arts. The Arts and Letters Award, established in 1941, was established to encourage creative work in the arts. The award is $10,000, granted annually to four architects, five artists, eight writers, and four composers.

“My sincere congratulations to Rowan Ricardo Phillips for yet another highly prestigious honor,” said David Wrobel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “This has been an exciting year of recognition for Rowan’s creative work. His book, Silver, recently made the longlist for both the National Book Award and for the Laurel Prize. Now, Rowan has been selected as one of eight writers across all genres to receive the Arts and Letters Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. We are so proud that Rowan is part of our intellectual and creative community. He is a brilliant ambassador for the Humanities at Stony Brook.”

“This is a significant honor from a very prestigious arts organization,” said Benedict Robinson, professor and chair of the Department of English. “The membership of the American Academy of Arts and Letters reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of all the arts in the contemporary U.S., and the list of honorees being recognized this year includes some of the most significant contributors to contemporary art and culture. It’s a tremendous honor for the Department of English and for Stony Brook University as a whole. We’re extremely lucky to have Professor Phillips as a colleague and teacher.”

Phillips was recently longlisted for the National Book Award and the Laurel Prize for his book, Silver. Phillips’ poem “The First and Final Poem Is the Sun” also was included in Best American Poetry 2024.

Phillips earned his doctorate in English Literature from Brown University in 2003. He is recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, including the Nicolás Guillén Outstanding Book Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports writing, a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award for Poetry, a Whiting Award, and the GLCA New Writers Award. He has also been a finalist for the National Book Award for his poetry collection, Heaven, the Griffin International Poetry Prize, the NAACP Award for Outstanding Work in Poetry, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.

 

Heather Zinkin, MD, next to the Varian Ethos HyperSight for radiation cancer therapy machine at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute at Greenlawn. Photo credit: Northwell Health

Northwell Cancer Institute’s radiation therapy centers in Greenlawn and Lake Success are the first on Long Island to offer state-of-the-art Varian Ethos™ radiation therapy with HyperSight™ imaging technology. This cutting-edge technology delivers advanced external beam radiation therapy treatments, which boosts precision and effectiveness for patients undergoing radiation therapy for numerous cancers.

HyperSight provides high-quality, daily pre-treatment imaging in a single six-second breath hold, improving the ability for radiation oncologists to see and target a tumor. Ethos offers a new treatment called adaptive radiation therapy, which allows for real-time adjustments based on tumor response and daily changes in normal anatomy, optimizing accuracy, reducing exposure to healthy tissue, and minimizing side effects. The technology minimizes side effects by leveraging artificial intelligence and the fastest on-table imaging in the field to enhance accuracy and patient comfort.

“With the introduction of the new technology, we’re offering patients access to the most modern and fastest imaging and treatment technology available anywhere in the world,” said Heather Zinkin, MD, chief of radiation oncology at Huntington Hospital. “Patients benefit from the convenience of consulting with their radiation oncologist, undergoing planning, and receiving treatment all in one location close to home, ensuring a seamless, personal and efficient care experience.”

As part of a $4 million investment, the Greenlawn center has also undergone significant renovations and expansion. Enhancements include a second treatment vault, modern waiting area, updated restrooms, expanded changing rooms, and additional exam rooms and office space. The improvements provide a more comfortable and accommodating environment for patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Additionally, the Greenlawn center has introduced a new CT simulator, offering patients the latest and fastest imaging technology available. This simulator enhances the treatment planning process by providing highly detailed images that guide radiation oncologists and medical physicists in developing customized treatment protocols. It also has 4- dimension (4D) capability to track tumor motion. At the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center in Lake Success, the Ethos and HyperSight technology enhances one of the largest radiation therapy centers in the region offering an extensive array of internal and external radiation therapy treatments and technology. The total investment there cost $5.1 million.

“Northwell’s Radiation Medicine Department has a long history of investing in the latest radiation therapy technology. We were the first in New York State to offer HyperSight at Lenox Hill Hospital and are thrilled to now offer extraordinary imaging and treatment technology on Long Island,” said Louis Potters, MD, SVP and deputy physician-in-chief, Northwell Health Cancer Institute. “In addition to being extremely precise, this new technology enhances patient comfort by getting patients in and out quickly, with an average on-table time of just 10 minutes or less.”

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Exercise is an inadequate weight-loss tool

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

We hear continuously about the importance of exercise. Why is it so important, though? Exercise has benefits for preventing and improving a wide range of medical conditions, from cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes to depression, insomnia, fatigue, balance, cognitive decline, and osteoporosis. Will it help you lose weight, though? While gym equipment ads emphasize this, exercise without dietary changes may not help many people lose weight, no matter what the intensity or the duration (1). It may only reduce fat mass and weight modestly for most people. It might, however, be helpful with weight maintenance.

Ultimately, it may be more important to examine what you are eating than to succumb to the rationalization that you can eat without care and work out to compensate for that extra cookie.

Does exercise help with weight loss?

The well-known weight-loss paradigm is that when you burn more calories than you consume, you will promote weight loss. However, study results say otherwise. They show that in premenopausal women there was neither weight nor fat loss from exercise (2). This involved 81 women over a short duration, 12 weeks. All of the women were overweight to obese.

However, more than two-thirds of the women gained a mean of 1 kilogram, or 2.2 pounds, of fat mass by the end of the study. There were a few who gained 10 pounds of predominantly fat. A fair amount of variability was seen among the participants, ranging from significant weight loss to substantial weight gain. These women were told to exercise at the American College of Sports Medicine’s optimal level of intensity (3). This is to walk 30 minutes on a treadmill three times a week at 70 percent VO2max — maximum oxygen consumption during exercise, which is characterized as a moderately intense pace.

On the positive side, the women were in better aerobic shape by the study’s end. Also, women who had lost weight at four-weeks were more likely to continue to do so by the end of the study.

Other studies have shown modest weight loss. For instance, in a meta-analysis involving 14 randomized controlled trials, results showed that exercise alone led to a disappointing amount of weight loss (4). In six months, patients lost a mean of 3.5 pounds, and at 12 months, they lost about 3.75 pounds.

A recent meta-analysis of aerobic exercise studies found that, in order to break through to meaningful reductions in waist circumference and body fat, participants had to exercise more than 150 minutes per week, up to 300 minutes weekly, at moderate to vigorous aerobic intensity (5).

However, exercise may help with weight maintenance, according to observational studies. Premenopausal women who exercised at least 30 minutes a day were significantly less likely to regain lost weight (6). In another study, when exercise was added to dietary changes, women were able to maintain 30 percent more weight loss than with diet alone after a year (7).

How does exercise help with disease?

Let’s look at chronic kidney disease (CKD), which affects about 14 percent of U.S. adults, as one example of exercise’s impact on disease (8).

Trial results showed that walking regularly could reduce the risk of kidney replacement therapy and death in patients who have moderate to severe CKD (9). When walkers were compared to non-walkers, walkers experienced a 21 percent reduction in the risk of kidney replacement therapy and a 33 percent reduction in the risk of death.

The more frequently patients walked during the week, the better the probability of preventing complications. Those who walked between one and two times per week had 17 and 19 percent reductions in death and kidney replacement therapy, respectively, while those who walked at least seven times a week saw a 44 percent reduction in death and a 59 percent reduction in kidney replacement. This is significant. The authors concluded that the effectiveness of walking on CKD was independent of kidney function, age or other diseases.

There are many benefits to exercise; however, food choices will have a greater impact on weight and body composition. The good news: exercise can help maintain weight loss and is extremely beneficial for preventing progression of chronic diseases, such as CKD.

References:

(1) Diabetes Spectr. 2017 Aug;30(3):157–160. (2) J Strength Cond Res. 2015 Feb;29(2):297-304. (3) ACSM.org. (4) Am J Med. 2011;124(8):747. (5) JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(12):e2452185. (6) Obesity (Silver Spring). 2010;18(1):167. (7) Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1997;21(10):941. (8) cdc.gov. (9) Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014 Jul;9(7):1183-1189.

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.