Happy New Year to all! At the very least, we can say that we are off to a rousing start. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose a phenomenal 700+ points this past Friday. Not bad; another 7000 points and most of us will be even.
My wife states that I always look at the glass as half empty. Somewhat true, but as I write this article, it is Happy Hour; consequently my glass is half empty!
There are so many things to write about. Where to start? Oh yeah, how about our new Congress Person representing New York’s 3rd congressional district. Brought to you by Saturday Night Live, Mr. George, you can’t make it up, Santos. Let me think about his credentials. Baruch College, NOPE. Worked at Citibank, NOPE. Worked at Goldman Sachs, NOPE. Jewish, NOPE. Jew-ish — that’s correct!
Why do I write about this clown? [I don’t want to offend clowns, sorry]. I write about him because I hope they put him on the Congressional Finance Oversight Committee. A person that claimed he earned $6500 in 2020 was able to donate $175,000 to the Nassau Republican Committee in 2021 and lend his own campaign committee $750,000 in the same year. The man is a genius! How do you do that? I hope to be able to interview him for the next article. Boy oh boy, what we could learn. Alright, enough on this topic. UGH!
Starting with the bad news, it appears that Bed Bath & Beyond will have to close all of its stores — ran out of cash. They were never able to recover after the pandemic.
Sorry to digress, but speaking of clowns, it seems that Party City is also going into bankruptcy. So much for the song, “Send in the Clowns.” I really couldn’t help it!
Tesla is having its share of problems. It is cutting the cost of cars to be sold in China by 30%. Hey, what about us? Elon Musk appears to have become distracted by his purchase of Twitter. He needs to hire a new CEO for Twitter to show investors that he is refocused on Tesla.
Growth stocks lost their luster in 2022. The Russell 1000 Growth Index fell by 30% versus a 10% decline in the Russell Value Index. This was the widest gap in many years. It appears that high interest will be with us for a quite a while since Treasury yields are the highest in 20 years, thus giving us somewhat of “risk free” returns for the short term. This makes growth stocks less attractive for the present due to falling multiples. Even though the Value Index fared better, an investor should still look at only the companies that have strong balance sheets, thus weathering this awful inflation period we are in.
Companies that looked like they would grow forever made some terrible decisions. Prior to the year 2020, Amazon doubled its staff to more than 1.5 million. Alphabet [Google] increased its staff more than double to 180,000!
What do we do? The 60/40 portfolio model looks much better today than it did 12 months ago. Bond yields are much higher and stock prices are much lower. Bear in mind however, despite falling more than 20% in 2022, the S&P 500 is still trading around 17 times earnings, nearing its historical average.
Please be aware that tomorrow, Friday, brings the start of fourth quarter earnings season, with some of America’s giants — Bank of America [BAC], United Health Group [UNH], JPMorgan Chase [JPM], and Delta Airlines [DAL] — reporting results. The consensus is that several S&P 500 companies are to report fourth quarter losses for the first time in quite a while.
Even though there are more electric vehicles on the road, our giant oil companies have seen their stock prices close to double. Check out my favorite, Exxon Mobil [XOM] — $62 in January 2022, closed Dec. 31 at $110. Make sure you fill up this week!
Once again, wishing all a healthy and prosperous 2023.
Michael E. Russell retired after 40 years working for various Wall Street firms. All recommendations being made here are not guaranteed and may incur a loss of principal. The opinions and investment recommendations expressed in the column are the author’s own. TBR News Media does not endorse any specific investment advice and urges investors to consult with their financial advisor.
BE THEIR GUEST
Smithtown Performing Arts Center presents 'Beauty and the Beast Jr.' through Jan. 22. Photo by Jackie St. Louis
PROGRAMS
Fossil Finds
Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park presents a Tiny Tots program, Fossil Finds, on Jan. 12 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. This program will connect children and their parents with nature through short walks, animal visitors, and crafts. For ages 3 to 5. $4 per child. Register at www.eventbrite.com or call 269-5351.
Snow Globe Family Workshop
The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St.. Cold Spring Harbor presents a Snow Globe Family Workshop on Jan. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. Celebrate the wonder of arctic whales in this drop-in program. Use clay, glitter, and other materials to design and create a wintry whale scene inside of a shimmering snow globe. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Admission fee plus $10 per participant. Call 367-3418.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with a Lunar New Year Celebration at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport on Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon. Visit the wildlife dioramas, learn Chinese calligraphy, and make a decoration that will bring good luck all year. For grades 2 to 4. $20 per child. To register, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
Pizza and Puppets!
Join Celebrate St. James at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 Second St., St. James for a Kids Community class on Jan. 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Featuring Pizza by Tano making delicious pizza enjoy, learn about the history of pizza and then create a fun puppet to take home. $20 for child and parent, $10 each additional child or adult. Register at www.celebratestjames.org.
Storytime Under the Stars
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents its next Storytime Under the Stars on Jan. 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. A live narrator will read from winter-themed picture books, with pages projected onto the Planetarium dome for families to enjoy the illustrations and follow along. Between stories, an astronomy educator will explore seasonal constellations visible from here on Long Island. All children are invited to wear their comfiest pajamas and bring their favorite stuffed animals. Admission fee is $8 per person. Purchase tickets at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
THEATER
‘The House That Jack Built’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St. Port Jefferson welcomes the New Year with The House That Jack Built, a delightful collection of stories, specially adapted for the youngest audiences from Jan. 21 to Feb. 4 with a sensory sensitive performance on Jan. 22. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm and Aesop’s Fables, the seven stories include The Fisherman and His Wife, Henny Penny, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, The Bremen Town Musicians, Stubborn as a Mule, The Lion and the Mouse That Returned a Favor, and The Tortoise and the Hare. This original musical features bold storytelling and a tuneful new score. Tickets are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’
The Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown kicks off the holiday season with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr. from Nov. 19 to Jan. 22. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. All seats are $25. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.
Disney’s ‘Frozen Jr.’
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its children’s theater with Disney’s Frozen Jr. on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. from Feb. 4 to March 5. When faced with danger, princesses Anna and Elsa discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. This enchanting musical features all of the memorable songs from the hit Disney film and will thaw even the coldest heart! All seats are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
'Thirteen Moons: Nature Adapts and Transforms' by Anne Seelbach. Image courtesy of Gallery North
By Tara Mae
Nature’s beauty is at once defiantly delicate and stubbornly resilient. Elements Adrift, on view at Gallery North from Jan. 12 to Feb. 19, considers the alchemy and artistry of the natural world as expressed through Long Island artist Anne Seelbach’s oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings as well as mixed media pieces.
Seelbach’s first solo show at Gallery North, it consists of approximately 35 works from three different series that organically ripple outward, encompassing the serenity of the sea and the perniciously predatory impact of pollution. Elements Adrift explores the inspiration found in the environment and the toxicity inherent in careless encounters with it.
‘Thirteen Moons: Nature Adapts and Transforms’ by Anne Seelbach. Image courtesy of Gallery North
“Seelbach’s figural abstraction reflects her fascination and love of nature and interest in pointing to those elements that are polluting and deprecating it. In the past, she has tried to bring attention to that through her work,” said Gallery North’s Executive Director Ned Puchner.
Put together, each individual series transforms from island unto itself to an archipelago of artistic expression, chronicling Seelbach’s relationship with the world around her and transitioning the audience from one sequence into another.
“Some pieces are really fascinating in that they show [Seelbach] moving on…you see her moving from one series into another, and I think that is really where the excitement in her work lies. She goes from series to series and in each series, she will sort of dwell on a topic and then move on, finding new avenues to build off of,” Puchner said.
The first collection, “Troubled Waters,” follows the ebbing of natural resources as pollution flows into and interferes with sensitive ecosystems. Drawn to the seascapes of Peconic Bay off Long Beach in Sag Harbor and the Napeague Harbor at Lazy Point Beach in Amagansett, Seelbach’s work evolves to encapsulate the devolution of marine life as the disruption and detritus of humankind menaces it.
“Instead of painting traditional landscapes, I always ask the question, ‘What is happening?’ in nature, rather than painting a beautiful view,” Seelbach said. “The landscape and seascape are created by forces of nature, the change of seasons, with the rotation of the earth. This is what I try to get at.”
Dance into the Unknown, 2014, oil on canvas, 30″ x 30″ by Anne Seelbach. Image courtesy of Gallery North
The vague abstraction of her fish renderings in this series came from fact, as the pollutants were actually getting into aquatic animal reproductive systems and causing deformities.
“When I started the series the fish were more realistic. I had to find a way to represent the effects of the chemicals. So, I stylized the fish form and duplicated it to create stencils of schools of fish,” she explained.
Seelbach’s fish and other animal stencils are frequently made from repurposed and up-cycled washed up or left behind bits of metal, plastic, and netting from which she rescues the shoreline.
While nature may have been shifting and changing around her, with rightful residents being harmed by invasive interlopers, Seelbach’s relationship with it remains steadfast and symbiotic, as reflected in her “Moon Paintings” series.
These works, conjured from summer trips to Monhegan Island, Maine, illuminate the serenity she found walking along the sea cliffs, gazing at the lunar lit waters below.
“I am still interested in the edge, where land, water, and sky meet…The moon shining on the sea and in tidal pools inspired these paintings,” Seelbach said. “As the sun nurtures the growth of everything by day, I suggest that the moon nurtures creative thought, ideas and possibility at night. I get most of my ideas at night when my mind is drifting, without a particular thought.”
Primarily painted on paper rather than on canvas, the “Moon Paintings” are imbued with deep blues and other hues that convey the depth of the setting’s nighttime repose. Yet, in these works, the moon is both a light and power source, rejuvenating sea, sky, and artist.
In fact “Earth: The Elements,” the third series to be highlighted in the exhibit, was a concept that came to Seelbach as she sat on the cliffside rocks and boulders.
Earth: mercury (Vermillion), 2020, acrylic and reflective paint on linen, 30″x36″, relates to the planet Mercury by Anne Seelbach. Image courtesy of Gallery North
“They made me ask ‘What is the Earth?’ And immediately I thought of the elements. Thinking about each individual element, what it was and a bit of its history, I realized that many were acknowledged thousands of years ago, by the scientists of that time, the alchemists and philosophers,” Seelbach said.
Breaking down these otherwise immovable objects into their most basic essence, Seelbach sought to honor the individuals of the past who had understood better than to take them at face value. So, within some of these paintings, she includes the alchemical symbol of the historical elements and the periodic table designation.
Each element Seelbach selects is thoroughly, albeit abstractly, examined and expressed. Similar to the other two series, “Elements” inner complexity and vitality is amplified by Seelbach’s color palette and painting style. Rich, earthy tones and texture add dimension and definition to the paintings.
“I was really drawn to the raw energy of them, dark and muddy in certain places,” Puchner said. “In all of her art, there is a kind of an endless search for beauty in nature. Even in the study of the earth’s elements, at root is her trying to explore the minerals and elements that exist within the nature that she brings into her artwork.”
Seelbach’s art is an outlet for her observations, an investigation of the inquiries raised by striving to be attuned to the world around her. At its core, her art seeks to explore and observe rather than obfuscate.
“I paint what is. I see landscape as formed by the forces of nature, the seasons, the rotation of the planet. The question I ask sitting on the beach or a rock is ‘What is happening?’ What are the forces of nature that underly what I am looking at?” she said.
Patrons are invited to make their own discoveries about nature through Elements Adrift. An opening reception will be held tonight, Jan. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. As a complement to the exhibition, Gallery North will present a lecture on the marine ecology of New York’s waterways by Patricia Woodruff from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University on Jan. 20 at 6 pm. Gallery North will also host an ArTalk with Anne Seelbach on Feb. 4 at 3 p.m.
Located at 90 North Country Road, Setauket, Gallery North is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 631-751-2676 or visit www. gallerynorth.org.
SATURDAYS AT SIX
All Souls Church in Stony Brook welcomes The Island Chamber Brass in concert on Jan. 14.
Thursday Jan. 12
Lunch & Learn
Huntington Historical Society kicks off its Lunch & Learn series in the new year with Reflections on Women in Long Island at Encore Luxury Living, 300 Jericho Turnpike, Jericho from noon to 1:30 p.m. Dr. Natalie Naylor will present an overview of Long Island women’s roles in colonial settlements, the Revolution, religion and community activities. Lunch will be served. $50 per person, $45 members. RSVP by Jan. 9 at www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.
Atelier art reception
Join the Atelier at Flowerfield, 2 Flowerfield, Suite #15, St. James for the opening reception of its latest exhibit, Vivid World of Denis Ponsot, in Atelier Hall from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The exhibit will run through Feb. 22. For more information, call 250-9009.
Comsewogue Library art reception
Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to an artist reception for Casey Greene’s Lore & Myth in the gallery from 6 to 8 p.m. No registration is required. Questions? Call 928-1212.
Movie Trivia Night
Join the Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor for a virtual Movie Trivia Night at 7 p.m. Casual film lovers and buffs are invited to join the museum staff online for a night of cinematic fun. From Seinfeld to Star Wars, enjoy trivia about people, places, music, and famous maritime moments inspired by TV and film. Work solo, or form a team for the chance to win Narwhal Ball tickets and guest passes. $10 suggested donation. Visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.
Sky Room Talk
Join the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington for a Sky Room Talk titled Elvis Movies: A Closer Look at 8 p.m. Could you see Elvis Presley cast as Hamlet or Abraham Lincoln? The words “Elvis Movie” conjures up images of a Technicolor Elvis singing for surfer girls, children and animals. Elvis Presley’s better films display memorable, stellar filmmaking, and some remarkable, often believable performances by the King of Rock and Roll. Film historian Glenn Andreiev returns to the Cinema with a fresh look at those enjoyable and sometimes surprising Elvis Presley movies. Tickets are $17. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
Friday Jan. 13
An evening of opera
Calling all opera lovers! St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 270 Main Street, Northport hosts a concert by Opera Night Long Island at 7:30 p.m. $10 donation, students free. Refreshments will be served. For more information, visit www.operanight.org.
Grounds and Sounds Concert
Grounds and Sounds Cafe, UUFSB, 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket presents Pete Mancini and the Hillside Airmen in concert at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 per person, available in advance and at the door. Light refreshments for sale. For more information, visit www.groundsandsounds.org or call 751-0297.
Saturday Jan. 14
Second Saturdays Poetry
The Second Saturdays poetry series will be returning to historic All Souls Church via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon. Hosted by Suffolk County Poet Laureate Richard Bronson, the featured poet will be Dick Westheimer. An open-reading will follow; all are welcome to read one of their own poems.For more information, please call 655-7798.Participants can access the program through the All Souls website https://www.allsouls-stonybrook.org/
Superheroes of the Sky
Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown kicks off the new year with a family program titled Superheroes of the Sky from 11 a.m. to noon. Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds the Center’s 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. $10 adults, $5 children ages 11 and under. Register at www.sweetbriarnc.org.
Island Chamber Brass in concert
As part of its Saturdays at Six concert series, All Souls Church, 61 Main Street, Stony Brook, will present The Island Chamber Brass in concert at 6 p.m. Stony Brook University graduate students, the group will be playingworks by Stravinsky, Gabrieli, Ewald, Ewazen, and more. Free. Call 655-7798 for more information.
Sunday Jan. 15
Port Jefferson Farmers Market
The Port Jefferson Winter Farmers Market kicks off today at the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be held every Sunday through April 30. For more information, call 473-4778.
Huntington Farmers Market
The John J. Flanagan Center, 423 Park Ave., Huntington hosts the Huntington Winter Farmers Market every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through March with over 40 vendors plus guest vendors. Visit www.longislandfarmersmarkets.com.
Peace Garden dedication
Mt. Sinai Congregational Church, 233 North Country Road, Mt. Sinai invites the community to a Peace Pole and Peace Garden dedication on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday at 11:15 a.m. Refreshments will follow in Voorhees Hall. For more information, call 928-4317.
LITMA Contradance
The Smithtown Historical Society’s Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St. Smithtown will host a Contradance by the Long Island Traditional Music Association at 2 p.m. with caller Chart Guthrie and music by the Blarney Possum band (dance music from the crossroads of Appalachia and Ireland). Basic instruction will be held at 1:45 p.m. Admission is $15, $10 members $7.50 students, children under 16 free with paid adult. For more information, call 369-7854 or visit www.litma.org.
Monday Jan. 16
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tuesday Jan. 17
NSJC Social Club event
North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station welcomes certified life coach Linda Mazza to the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Learn how to go from worrier to warrior by reframing your state of mind. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee among other refreshments will be served. $5 per person, $3 members. Call 928-3737 for more information.
Wednesday Jan. 18
Tech Support
Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station will provide hands-on help with your smartphone or tablet from 7 to 9 p.m. Be sure to bring your device and passwords. Space is limited. Sign up for a 15-minute appointment by calling Adult Services at 928-1212. Open to all.
Thursday Jan. 19
Community Outreach Bus
The Catholic Health Community Mobile Outreach Bus will be in the Emma Clark Library’s parking lot, 120 Main St., Setauket from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registered nurses will provide blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, and glucose screenings along with patient education and referrals as needed. Free flu vaccinations will be offered as well. The last screening will begin at 1:45 p.m. No appointments are necessary, there are no fees, and insurance is not required. Open to all. Questions? Email [email protected] or call 941-4080.
Vanderbilt lecture
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its Climate Change and Ecology lectures series with a presentation by Dr. Becca Franks titled What the Fishes Taught Us at 7 p.m. A leading scholar in animal welfare studies, Franks will speak about the concept of dignity and its role in thinking through our relationships with the non-human world. Tickets are $10, free for members, at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
Theater
‘The Sweet Delilah Swim Club’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its Mainstage season with The Sweet Delilah Swim Club from Jan. 14 to Feb. 4. This hilarious and touching show features five very different but deeply connected Southern women whose friendships began on their college swim team. Each summer they meet for a reunion at the same beach cottage in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Visiting them on four weekends over thirty-three years, we learn of their lives, loves, and losses. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St.. Northport presents Dirty Rotten Scoundrels from Jan. 19 to March 5. Con artist Lawrence Jameson is a longtime resident of a luxurious coastal resort, where he enjoys the fruits of his deceptions–that is, until a competitor, Freddy Benson, shows up. When the new guy’s lowbrow tactics impinge on his own work, Jameson resolves to get rid of him. Based on the uproarious movie, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels boasts a jazzy-pop score by David Yazbek, who also wrote the music for The Full Monty. Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
Film
I KNOW IT WAS YOU, FREDO Catch a screening of ‘The Godfather Part II’ at the Cinema Arts Centre on Jan. 17.
‘The Godfather Part II’
The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Best of the Big Screen series with a screening of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. Part II of the Godfather trilogy continues the saga of the Corleone Family, serving as both a prologue and a sequel, extending over a period of 60 years and three generations. Chronicling both the rise of youthful Don Vito Corleone (Robert DeNiro replacing Marlon Brando) to Mafia chief in the early 1900s in the Little Italy section of New York City, as well as the career of Corleone’s son Michael (Al Pacino) from his patriarchal prime to his decline a year later. Winner of six Academy Awards, the film will be introduced by film historian and librarian, Philip Harwood. Tickets are $15, $10 members. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
* All numbers are in (631) area code unless otherwise noted.
During 2023, Huntington’s beloved arthouse community theater, the Cinema Arts Centre, will celebrate its 50th anniversary. In celebration of its decades-long tenure as Huntington’s premier destination for independent film, the Cinema will show a number of universally acclaimed classic films, as well as many audience favorites from its long history as one of Huntington’s main destinations for the arts.
After a turbulent few years coping with a temporary closure due to COVID, and then a major restoration of its three theaters, the theater reopened in Spring 2022, and has seen success screening highly acclaimed classic films – many of which audiences rarely have the opportunity to see on the big screen.
From its earliest history, the Cinema Arts Centre, also known as CAC by many of its followers, has relied upon its dedicated legion of members and supporters in the Huntington and Long Island communities. Long-time patrons often reminisce about the early days when films were projected on a sheet hung on a wall in a friend’s dance studio. Today, in large part due to the support of the local community, the Town of Huntington, Suffolk County, and the New York State Council on the Arts, the theater shows a diverse selection of film, 365 days a year in its three, newly renovated theaters.
Collaboration with other local businesses has also been a fundamental piece of the Cinema’s success. The Folk Music Society of Huntington, The Next Chapter, Huntington’s new independent bookstore, and local comic shop, Escape Pod Comics, have all partnered with the Cinema to present special events this year. This January, CAC will be partnering with Butera’s Restaurant for a special brunch screening of the Academy Award winning Italian classic Cinema Paradiso.
In recent years, the theater has placed a greater focus on hosting events that appeal to all corners of the community. With the introduction of weekly screenings of treasured family-friendly films, as well as screenings of offbeat horror and cult films, concert films, and critically acclaimed classics; the Cinema has been able to round out its program schedule – which still affords audiences unparalleled access to both new and old independent and international cinema.
“This has been a transformative year for the Cinema Arts Centre,” said Nate Close, Director of Marketing and Communication. “50 years in business is a huge achievement for any organization. We believe that it’s the special, and intimate, relationship that we’ve fostered with our community that has allowed us to remain part of the fabric of Huntington for so long. Whether that means showing nostalgic favorites, or things that you can’t see anywhere else, or just offering a place where everyone is welcome and people can come together. Community is everything to us and we look forward to the showing movies here in Huntington for the next 50 years.”
The Cinema Arts Centre is located at 423 Park Avenue in Huntington. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 631-423-7610 or visit www.cinemaartscentre.org
The Brown Mouse Lemur (Microcebus rufus) is recognized as a vulnerable species on Madagascar. Photo by Chien C. Lee
A new study by a team of international scientists including Liliana M. Dávalos, PhD, of Stony Brook University’s Department of Ecology and Evolution, reveals that it would take three million years to recover the number of species that went extinct from human activity on Madagascar. Published in Nature Communications, the study also projects that if currently threatened species go extinct on Madagascar, recovering them would take more than 20 million years – much longer than what has previously been found on any other island archipelago in the world.
From unique baobab species to lemurs, the island of Madagascar is one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots. Approximately 90 percent of its species of plants and animals are found nowhere else. After humans settled on the island about 2,500 years ago, Madagascar experienced many extinctions, including giant lemurs, elephant birds and dwarf hippos.
Yet unlike most islands, Madagascar’s fauna is still relatively intact. Over two hundred species of mammals still survive on the island, including unique species such as the fossa and the ring-tailed lemur. Alarmingly, over half of these species are threatened with extinction, primarily from habitat transformation for agriculture. How much has human activity perturbed Madagascar away from its past state, and what is at stake if environmental change continues?
The team of biologists and paleontologists from Europe, Madagascar and the United States set out to answer this question by building an unprecedented new dataset describing the evolutionary relationships of all species of mammals that were present on Madagascar at the time that humans colonized the island.
As a co-author of “The macroevolutionary impact of recent and imminent mammal extinctions on Madagascar,” Daválos helped design the study, interpret a previously published lemur phylogeny, and analyzed prospects for new species discovery in Madagascar.
The dataset includes species that have already gone extinct and are only known from fossils, as well as all living species of Malagasy mammals. The researchers identified 249 species in total, 30 of which already are extinct. Over 120 of the 219 species of mammals that remain on the island today are currently classified as threatened with extinction by the IUCN Red List, due to habitat destruction, climate change and hunting.
Using a computer simulation model based on island biogeography theory, the team, led by Nathan Michielsen and Luis Valente from the University of Groningen (Netherlands) and Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Netherlands) found that it would take approximately three million years to regain the number of mammal species that were lost from Madagascar in the time since humans arrived.
The research team also determined through the computer simulation that if currently threatened species go extinct, it would take much longer: about 23 million years of evolution would be needed to recover the same number of species. Just in the last decade, this figure has increased by several million years, as human impact on the island continues to grow.
The amount of time it would take to recover this mammalian diversity surprised the international team of scientists.
“These staggering results highlight the importance of effective conservation efforts in Madagascar. Here at Stony Brook, we can have an extraordinary impact on preventing extinction because of the longstanding biological field research at Centre ValBio and the associated Ranomafana National Park, with ongoing research on conservation while enhancing local livelihoods,” said Dávalos.
“It was already known that Madagascar was a hotspot of biodiversity, but this new research puts into context just how valuable this diversity is,” says leading researcher Luis Valente, Assistant Professor at the University of Groningen. “The time it would take to recover this diversity is much longer than what previous studies have found on other islands, such as New Zealand or in the Caribbean.”
The study findings ultimately suggest that an extinction wave with deep evolutionary impact is imminent on Madagascar, unless immediate conservation actions are taken. The good news – the computer simulation model shows that with adequate conservation action, we may still preserve over 20 million years of unique evolutionary history on the island.
Stony Brook Professor John Fleagle during a paleontology expedition in Ethiopia. Photo by John Shea
His work in the evolution of primate locomotion and adaptation spans 50 years
John Fleagle, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Anatomical Sciences at Stony Brook University’s Renaissance School of Medicine, has won the Charles Darwin Lifetime Achievement Award. Granted by the American Association of Biological Anthropology (AABA), the award will be presented at the association’s annual conference held April 19-22 in Nevada. Known as the AABA’s most prestigious honor, this yearly award recognizes a senior member of the association who has exhibited a lifetime of contributions and commitment to biological anthropology.
Fleagle is only the second Stony Brook professor to receive the Charles Darwin Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004, it was bestowed upon the late Robert R. Sokal, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolution.
Professor Fleagle’s presence in the field of biological anthropology spans half a century. Much of his work has centered around investigating primate evolution, primate locomotion, and broad patterns of evolution and adaptation across many taxa. From Argentina to India, his fieldwork has taken him across the world. In Ethiopia, Professor Fleagle directed a groundbreaking study that uncovered fresh insights into the African origin of homo sapiens.
Professor Fleagle has mentored and trained young anthropologists, founded and edited an authoritative review journal called Evolutionary Anthropology, and authored a highly regarded textbook titled Primate Adaptation and Evolution. He is also a member of the Scientific Executive Committee of the LSB Leakey Foundation.
“I’m delighted that John was granted the award,” said AABA President Steven Leigh. “His work is remarkable and has made major impacts across many aspects of our discipline. His textbook set the standard for our field and I consider it one of the best textbooks in any field.
“Personally, John helped me immensely 30 years ago when I was a postdoc at Stony Brook just getting a start in the field,” added Leigh. “It will be a career highlight for me to present the award to him.”
Professor Fleagle is a MacArthur Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow, and a member of three graduate programs at Stony Brook University – the Doctoral Program in Ecology and Evolution, the Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, and the program in Anatomical Sciences.
A scene from Cinema Paradiso. 1988. Cristaldi Film. Courtesy of Titanus & Miramax.
The Cinema Arts Centre will host a three-day celebration of Italian Cinema
In the month of January, Huntington’s Cinema Arts Centre will host a celebration of Italian Cinema. The three day series will feature new restorations of several of Italian cinema’s most enduring classics: Giuseppe Tornatore’s Academy Award winning Cinema Paradiso, Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, and Bernardo Bertolucci‘s The Conformist. As well as film screenings, the series will be ornamented by a live concert from Italian vocalist Mafalda Minnozzi.
The series celebrates the vibrant decades-spanning oeuvre of Italian cinema’s greatest artists, presenting the newly restored films for rare big-screen viewings. Each of the three films will feature post-film discussions, where cinema staff and program patrons will examine filmmaking techniques used in the films, the history of Italian cinema, along with the impact these films had on cinema as a whole.
The Cinema Arts Centre’s Italian Cinema program will begin on Sunday, January 29th with a screening of Cinema Paradiso, and an Italian Cinema Concert, and will run for three consecutive days, concluding with a screening of La Dolce Vita on Tuesday, January 31st. The Films: Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Sunday, January 29th, Brunch at 10 AM | Film at 11 AM Winner of an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Cinema Paradiso is the beautiful, enchanting story of a young boy’s lifelong love-affair with the movies. Set in an Italian village, Salvatore finds himself enchanted by the flickering images at the Cinema Paradiso. When the projectionist, Alfredo, agrees to reveal the mysteries of moviemaking, a deep friendship is born. The day comes for Salvatore to leave and pursue his dream of making movies of his own. Thirty years later he receives a message that beckons him back home to a secret and beautiful discovery that awaits him.
Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Conformist (1970) Monday, January 30th at 7:00 PM
Bernardo Bertolucci’s masterpiece, set in Mussolini’s Italy, follows a repressed man, Jean-Louis Trintignant, who joins the Fascists in a desperate attempt to fit in and purge memories of a youthful murder. While on his way to assassinate a political refugee, he flashes back through numerous exaggerated, distorted scenes that encompass the formative experiences of his life. A hugely influential film to American cinema of the seventies, Bertolucci marries expressionism with a strain of 70’s realism in this exploration of sex, desire, politics, and responsibility.
Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (1960)
Tuesday, January 31st at 7:00 PM
The biggest hit from the most popular Italian filmmaker of all time, La dolce Vita rocketed Federico Fellini to international success—ironically, by offering a damning critique of the culture of stardom. A look at the darkness beneath the seductive lifestyles of Rome’s rich and glamorous, the film follows a notorious celebrity journalist (Marcello Mastroianni) during a hectic week spent on the peripheries of the spotlight. A sharp commentary on the decadence of contemporary Europe, it provided a glimpse of how fame-obsessed our society would become.
The Concert:
Fotogrammi: Scenes from Life and Music by Mafalda Minnozzi Sunday, January 29th at 4 PM In Fotogrammi, internationally renowned vocalist Mafalda Minnozzi presents an intimate soundtrack inspired by the composers who accompanied and inspired her during her 35 year career in Italy, Brazil, and beyond. With a jazz sensibility and unique arrangements featuring accomplished guitarist Paul Ricci, Mafalda taps into her acclaimed albums “Cinema City – Jazz Scenes From Italian Film” and “Sensorial – Portraits in Bossa and Jazz.” Presenting diverse selections such as Ennio Morricone’s “Cinema Paradiso” to Jobim’s “Águas de Março,” and from Bruno Martino’s “Estate” to Piaf’s ”Hymne A L’Amour.”
Location:
Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave, Huntington
You can purchase tickets or find more information about these and other events on the Cinema Arts Centre website: www.cinemaartscentre.org
The Town of Brookhaven’s Parks & Recreation Department kicks off its 2023 winter season with a series of new classes & programs at its various recreation centers:
Henrietta Acampora Recreation Center
39 Montauk Highway, Blue Point, NY 11715
Call: 631-451-6163 for more information or to register
Yoga
Yoga that meets you where you are today. The class will include standing postures, strengthening exercises on the mat, seated stretches and a guided relaxation. Our practice supports strength, agility, flexibility, and balance, while reducing stress and having fun. Please bring yoga mat, yoga blocks or rolled towel.
– Mondays, 1:00PM – 2:00PM
January 23, 30, February 6, 13, 27 & March 6 – Pre-register by Wednesday, January 18
– $35 per 6-week session
Kids Karate
Kids will learn confidence, concentration and respect.
-Thursdays, 6:00PM – 7:00PM
January 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23, March 2, 9, 16
– Pre-register by Monday, January 23
– $50 per 8-week session
Belly Dancing
Looking for a fun way to get in shape? This class is a great introduction to belly dancing as a form of fitness, stress reduction and a way to obtain grace and femininity. Emphasis will be placed on basic belly dance techniques and steps in addition to its exercise benefit. Please wear comfortable clothing & non-slip socks or slippers. No sneakers. Ages 18+.
– Mondays, 6:30PM – 7:30PM
March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3, 17, 24, May 1 – Pre-register by Wednesday, March 1 – $45 per 8-week session
Country Line Dancing coming early Spring 2023!
New Village Recreation Center
20 Wireless Road, Centereach, NY 11720
Call: 631-451-5307 for more information or to register.
Zumba
This high-energy cardio aerobics class combines Latin and international beats with salsa, merengue, cha-cha, samba, hip-hop and belly dancing.
– Mondays, 10:30AM – 11:30AM
January 23, 30, February 6, 13, 27, March 6, 13, 20 – Pre-register by Friday, January 20, 2023
– $50 per 8-week session
Koga Lite
These classes are a unique workout combination of kickboxing and yoga. Classes are designed as a gentle introduction to exercise/weight loss without the intimidation.
Sneakers, weights and water are recommended.
– Mondays, 6:00PM – 7:00PM
January 23, 30, February 6, 13, 27, March 6, 13, 20 OR
– Wednesdays, 10:00AM – 11:00AM
January 25, February 1, 8, 15, 22, March 1, 8, 15 – Pre-register by Friday, January 20
– $50 per 8-week session
Adult Self-Defense
Stay aware, stay safe, stay you! Learn how to build confidence and self-esteem through self-defense.
-Tuesdays, 7:00PM – 8:00PM
January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14
–Pre-register by Friday, January 20, 2023
-$50.00 per 8-week session
Robert E. Reid, Sr. Recreation Center
Defense Hill Road & Route 25A, Shoreham, NY 11786
Call: 631-451-5306 for more information or to register
Tai Chi
In this low-impact, slow-motion exercise class, participants will practice “medication in motion”.
Tai Chi has been proven to treat and prevent many health problems by performing a series of movements with relaxed muscles. Bring water and wear comfortable clothes and shoes to move in.
– Mondays, 11:00AM – 11:45AM
January 30, February 6, 13, 27, March 6, 13 – Pre-register by Thursday, January 26
$45 per 6-week session
Dance for Tots
These classes are a great way to introduce dance to young children. Classes combine jazz and ballet and are suitable for children with or without experience. Learning becomes fun!
– Wednesdays, February 1, 8, 15, 22, March 1, 8, 15, 22
10:00AM – 10:45AM (Ages 2 ½ – 3)
11:00AM – 11:45AM (Ages 3 ½ – 4) – Pre-register by Friday, January 27
– $45 per 8-week session
Jump Bunch
Learn a new sport each week. Sports include: soccer, football, lacrosse, volleyball & basketball. No equipment necessary. Just bring water.
– Fridays, February 3, 10, 17, 24, March 3, 10
4:00PM – 5:00PM (Ages 3-5)
5:15PM – 6:15PM (Ages 6-9) – Pre-register by Tuesday, January 31
– $60 per 6-week session
Belly Dancing
Looking for a fun way to get in shape? This class is a great introduction to belly dancing as a form of fitness, stress reduction and a way to obtain grace and femininity. Emphasis will be placed on basic belly dance techniques and steps in addition to its exercise benefit. Please wear comfortable clothing & non-slip socks or slippers. No sneakers. Ages 18+.
– Thursdays, 6:30PM – 7:30PM
February 9, 16, 23, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – Pre-register by Monday, February 6
– $45 per 8-week session
Country Line Dancing coming early Spring 2023!
Centereach Administration Building
286 Hawkins Road, Centereach, NY 11720
Call: 631-451-6112 for more information or to register
Indoor Morning Bocce
Meet and play with different people each week. 2 games per week. Individual sign up.
Tuesday, January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21 OR
Thursdays, January 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23
10:00AM – 12:00PM Pre-register by Friday, January 13
– $30 per player per 6-week session
Ewes and Coos Felted will be at the Winter Holiday Market.
This January, the Reboli Center for Art and History is showcasing the whimsical, captivating creations of Shamma Murphy, a needle felting expert from Stony Brook. The Center is displaying a variety of her work, focusing on fanciful sheep and cows – “ewes and coos” (Scottish Highland cows that have long fur that hangs over their face), as well as other adorable creatures.
Shamma Murphy’s needle felted animals and flowers.
An experienced civil engineer, Murphy now works at a local horse farm promoting organic farming and gardening. A native of Port Washington, the artisan has lived in Stony Brook for more than 10 years. It is where she is raising her two teenagers and loves the sense of community that Stony Brook offers.
Murphy has always enjoyed making things and cross stitching and crocheting were her favorite winter hobbies until she discovered needle felting. Her passion for this craft has developed over the past two years. Murphy is fascinated by the process of needle felting.
“Poke a barbed needle into unspun wool as this ‘knits’ the fibers together compressing the wool into whatever shape you choose to sculpt. It is a dry process much like crocheting and knitting, using coarse wool in most cases. Wet felting, on the other hand, is ‘knitting’ the fibers together by agitating the wool with soapy water, and usually using a finer fiber like merino wool,” she said.
The supplies for this craft are wool and felting needles, which Murphy orders from England. She does get raw wool from a farm in Huntington that she processes herself.
According to Murphy, “I use wool that has been processed into a prespun form, one would use this to spin into yarn. Most of the time I use coarse wool with a high micron (fiber diameter) count. These types of wool needle felt quite nicely and you don’t see many needle marks at the end. For the finer coat of an animal, I will use a very fine merino wool, it is quite delicate, and due to its low micron count, it is rather difficult to needle felt well. The wool locks (wool that is delicately washed without any agitation, this enables the wool to keep its form) are from two different farms, one in New Jersey and the other in upstate New York, all are hand dyed by the shepherdess. Goat mohair locks and a tiny bit of alpaca is also locally sourced.”
Murphy is honored to be selected as artisan of the month. She noted that she never thought of herself as an artisan, but just enjoys crafting and creating cute things. She met Lois Reboli, founder and president of The Reboli Center, at the Center, and when Lois saw her beautiful and delightful pieces, she invited Murphy to be an artisan of the month.
The community will have a chance to meet Murphy at the Reboli Center’s Third Friday of the Month series on Jan. 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Murphy will be the featured guest speaker at this free event and will discuss needle felting, sourcing sustainable materials, different types of fibers and provide a demonstration of her craft. A Q&A will follow. The Center will also sell kits for guests to purchase to make a felted heart – just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The Reboli Center is located at 64 Main Street in Stony Brook, and is open Tuesdays to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 631-751-7707 or visit www.rebolicenter.org.
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