Arts & Entertainment

The Center of Italian Studies at Stony Brook University presents its 16th annual Fall Italian Vehicle Concorso d’Eleganza on Sept. 18.
Ongoing

Stone Bridge Nighthawk Watch

Every evening through Oct. 6, from 5:30 p.m. until dusk, the Four Harbors Audubon Society will be tallying migrating Common Nighthawks to better understand nighthawk population trends. Join them at the stone bridge at Frank Melville Memorial Park, One Old Field Road, Setauket to witness nighthawks as they pass over during their migratory journey to their wintering grounds in Brazil and Argentina. Visit www.4has.org for further details.

Thursday September 15

Lunch & Learn

The Huntington Historical Society continues its Lunch & Learn series with a presentation titled Historic Sammis Houses of West Neck with Toby Kissam and Robert Hughes at Matteo’s Trattoria of Huntington, 300 W. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington from noon to 2 p.m. Fee is $55 per person, $50 members includes a gourmet three-course meal, house wine and dessert. To register, call 427-7045 or visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety .org.

Atelier lecture

Join the Atelier at Flowerfield for an online lecture titled “How To Select the Best View For Your Painting” at 7 p.m. When you are about to paint from a photo or when you are doing Plein Air painting, do you ask yourself “what is the best view”? Guest speaker and award-winning artist Antonio Masi will discuss and demonstrate a method he has used very successfully that helps answer this basic question. Free. To register, visit www.theatelieratflowerfield.org or call 250-9009.

Friday September 16

Greek Festival

Saint Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Shrine Church, 1 Shrine Place, Greenlawn will hold its annual Greek Festival today from 4 to 11 p.m., Sept. 17 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sept. 18 from noon to 8 p.m. Enjoy authentic Greek food and pastries, beer & wine, music and dancing, carnival rides and games, Yiayia’s Attic flea market, vendors and more. Call 261-7272 or visit  www.stparaskevi.org

Celebrating Tesla’s Birthday

In honor of Nikola Tesla’s birthday, the TeslaScience Center at Wardenclyffe, 5 Randall Road, Shoreham will celebrate with a Tesla Birthday Coil Show, featuring the world’s largest portable Tesla coil, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and a Tesla Birthday Expo and Coil Show on Sept. 17 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. with STEAM exhibits, robotics, Amateur Radio demos, drones, youth activity station, Tesla car showcase, a special appearance by a Dr. Who TARDIS, interactive STEM Bus from NYIT and much more. Tickets to each event are $25 adults, $22 seniors and students, $10 children, free for ages 4 and under. To purchase, visit www.teslasciencecenter.org. Call 886-2632.

Saturday September 17

Greek Festival

See Sept. 16 listing.

Celebrating Tesla’s Birthday

See Sept. 16 listing.

Dragon Boat Race Festival

Dragons will roar as the 8th annual Dragon Boat Race Festival heads to Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Presented by the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, the event will showcase dragon boat races throughout the day with Asian-themed food, cultural crafts, traditional lion dance, children activities and much more. Held rain or shine. Free admission. Call 473-1414 or visit www.portjeffdragonboatracefest.com.

Greenway Trail Clean-up

Join the Three Village Community Trust’s Friends of the Greenway for a trail clean-up at the Port Jefferson Station trailhead off Route 112 starting at 9 a.m. All necessary supplies will be provided. 

Fall Yard Sale

Join the Yaphank Historical Society for its annual Fall Yard sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Hawkins House at 4 Yaphank Avenue, Yaphank. Featuring a large variety of crafts, collectibles, and household items. Rain date is Sept. 18. Call-924-4803 or visit www.yaphankhistorical.org.

Friends of MCPL Garage Sale

The Friends of Middle Country Public Library’s will hold a Community Garage Sale will be held in the parking lot of the Centereach branch, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Over 30 families will be selling toys, furniture, gently used clothing, home/kitchen items and garden gear. The Teen Advisory Council will be hosting a Kids’ Zone for children visiting the sale. Rain date is Sept. 24. Call 585-9393.

St. Elizabeth Church Car Show

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton,800 Portion Road, Lake Ronkonkoma hosts its annual juried car show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Trophies awarded for People’s Choice, Best of Show, with food, vendors and 50/50 raffle. Free admission to spectators. Visit www.steas.org.

E-Waste & Metal Recycling

Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Setauket will host an E-Waste and Metal Recycling event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the library parking lot. Bring your used computers, cell phones, laptops, servers, wire & cable, scrap metal, circuit boards, batteries, printers, hard drives & storage devices, power tools, small appliances, small electronics, keyboards/mice, stereos, flat screen TVs and computer monitors, cameras, and more. Open to all. Call 941-4080.

Gallery North Outdoor Art Show

Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket presents its 56th annual Outdoor Art Show & Music Festival today and Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featuring over 100 of the finest art and craft from regional artists and artisans, the event will also include live musical performances, kids activities, as well as delicious food vendors. Awards are granted for best in show for each category, including crafts, fiber art, glass art, jewelry, painting, photography, pottery, printmaking, and more. Free admission. Call 751-2676, or visit www.gallerynorth.org

Hallockville Country Fair

Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead welcomes the community to its 41st annual Country Fair and Craft Show today and Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The two-day event features over 50 craft and artisan vendors, craft demonstrations and displays, live music, exhibits in the historic Naugles Barn, children’s activities and games, guided tours of the farmhouse, farm animals, food and more. Admission is $10 per person, children 2 and under free. Held rain or shine. Call 298-5292 or visit www.hallockville.org

German Fall Festival

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 30 Brooksite Drive, Smithtown presents its annual German Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featuring brats & beer, German baked goods, pickles, pretzels, hair braiding, vendors, bracelet making, children’s games, bounce house and raffles. Rain date is Sept. 24. Call 265-2288 or visit  www.standrewsofsmithtown.org

Draw Out! Arts Festival

Join the Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington for its annual Draw Out! Community Arts Festival from noon to 5 p.m. Enjoy a day full of art and music in the Museum and Heckscher Park with watercolor painting by the pond; sketching from a live model; docents in galleries and live music on the terrace by Dead Ahead;  Create with guest artists; meet and create with the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum, The Vanderbilt Museum & Planetarium and more and enjoy dance performances by renowned artist Wendi Weng. Free. No reservations required. Call 380-3230 or visit www.heckscher.org.

Old Burying Ground tour

Join the Huntington Historical Society for an Old Burying Ground  walking tour at 4 p.m. Established soon after the Town’s 1653 founding, Huntington’s earliest public burying ground features stunning folk art and beautiful epitaphs honoring Huntington’s residents and rich history. Tour begins at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, 228 Main St., Huntington .Tickets are $15 adults, $5 children. For reservations, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Sunday September 18

Greek Festival

See Sept. 16 listing.

Hallockville Country Fair

See Sept. 17 listing.

Gallery North Outdoor Art Show

See Sept. 17 listing.

Pancake Breakfast fundraiser

Pass the maple syrup! Join the Setauket Fire Department Auxiliary Department for its annual Pancake Breakfast/Chinese Auction Fundraiser from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Setauket Fire Department’s Station #2, 9 Arrowhead Lane, East Setauket. Tickets: are $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 children under 10. Toddlers under age 2 are free. Email [email protected].

Theatre Three food drive

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson hosts a food and personal care items drive at Infant Jesus Convent, 110 Hawkins Ave.(off Myrtle Ave.), Port Jefferson from 9 a.m. to noon to benefit the pantry at Infant Jesus Church. Items needed include juice, complete pancake mix, syrup, jelly, mac & cheese, cooking oil, cereal, oatmeal, canned fruit, black beans and healthy snacks as well as shampoo, conditioner and deoderant. Grocery store cards and cash also accepted. 

Corvair Car Show

Heckscher Park, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington will host the annual Long Island Corvair Car Show in Field #1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come and see the incredible Corvair in all models and styles. Free. [email protected]

Lions Club Car Show

The Port Jefferson Lions Club invites the community to its first annual judged Car Show at Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Rain date is Sept. 25) Presented by The Fabulous 50s & 60s Nostalgia Car Club, the event will feature food and music with over 14 trophy classes plus  a special people’s choice trophy decided by YOUR vote. Food, music and vendors. Proceeds will sponsor a guide dog for the blind. Call 680-7212.

Heritage Country Fair 

The Smithtown Historical Society, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown will hold its annual Heritage Country Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy blacksmithing, spinning and weaving demonstrations, live music, historical re-enactments, house tours and more. New this year, folks can grow their own produce and compete in an exhibition. Tickets are $5 each. Held rain or shine. Call 265-6768.

Italian Car Show

The Center of Italian Studies at Stony Brook University presents its 16th annual Fall Italian Vehicle Concorso d’Eleganza event, a display of “art forms on wheels” as a means of illustrating one form of Italian culture, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Display vehicles will rally at Stony Brook University campus on the lawn adjacent to the Graduate Physics Building and directly across from the Sports Complex off John S. Toll Drive. Call 632-7444 or visit www.stonybrook.edu/italianstudies

Classic Car Show

Step back in time with the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society as they present a Classic Car Show sponsored by the AACA Vanderbilt Cup Region and a tour of the Fitz-Greene Hallock Homestead, 2869 Pond Road, Lake Ronkonkoma, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a 50/50 raffle and basket auction. $5 donation. Call 588-7599.

Over 50 Fair

The Melville Marriot, 1350 Walt Whitman Road, Melville will hold its 13th annual Over 50 Fair from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The fair connects adults 50 and older with products and services and exhibitors including travel, health and wellness products, financial services, and education. $5 in advance at www.over50fair.com, $7 at the door. Call 516-621-1446.

Cow Harbor Day

Village of Northport hosts its annual Cow Harbor Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Main Street is closed to cars as visitors enjoy rides, games, food, music, arts and craft vendors, sidewalk sales and a parade at noon. Call 261-7502, or visit www.cowharborday.com.

Stan Wiest in concert

South Huntington Public Library, 145 Pidgeon Hill Road, Huntington Station welcomes pianist Stan Wiest in concert in the auditorium at 2:30 p.m. Wiest will perform his personal piano arrangements of music from the Great American Songbook along with humorous stories of the celebrities he’s performed with and closing out with a sing-along. Open to all. Call 549-4411.

Monday September 19

Olivia Newton-John celebration

As part of its Rock Legends Live! series, the Cinema Arts Center, 423 Park Ave., Huntington will present an Olivia Newton-John celebration at 7:30 p.m. Join guest lecturer Bill Shelley for a music-filled celebration of the late, great Australian singer and actress Olivia Newton-John. with many clips from concerts, television and movies. Songs will include “Physical,” “Summer Nights,” “Have You Never Been Mellow?,” “Let Me Be There,” “You’re The One That I Want,” “Hopelessly Devoted To You,” and “Magic” – plus many more favorites! Tickets are $17, $12 members. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.s

Tuesday September 20

Travel Presentation Club meeting

Join the Travel Presentation Club for its meeting at 7:30 pm at Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, 120 Main St., Setauket. Ron and Claire Ondrovic will share their early summer road trip entitled “Nine States in 17 Days.” All are welcome. Please contact [email protected] for further information.

Wednesday September 21

Harbor Jazz Festival

Jazz lovers are invited to attend the Harbor Jazz Festival at The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook today through Sept. 24. Each day brings a line-up of jazz greats, including some of the top internationally and nationally recognized talents. All events on Sept. 24 are free and take place on the Stony Brook Village Green. Call 751-1895 or visit www.thejazzloft.org.

Thursday September 22

Harbor Jazz Festival

See Sept. 21 listing.

Film

‘Poltergeist’

The Smithtown Library’s Kings Park branch, 1 Church St., Kings Park hosts an outdoor screening of the 1982 classic Poltergeist on Sept. 16 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free but registration is required. Call 360-2480.

‘Kaepernick & America’

The Port Jefferson Documentary Series kicks off its Fall season with a screening of Kaepernick & America at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. It was the summer of 2016, an election year with unrest rumbling through America. There were countless triggers—the murder videos of Philando Castille and Alton Sterling, the counterpunch of Alt- Right and Fake News, Black Lives Matter, Russian meddling—a discordant national cauldron ready to boil over. It was the birth of Trumpism, but nobody knew it yet. Then, Colin Kaepernick took a knee and America lost its mind. Kaepernick & America examines the man and his protest, exploring the remarkable conflict stirred by such a symbolic gesture. Followed by a Q&A with co-director Tommy Walker. Tickets are $10 at www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com or at the door. See more on page B15.

Theater

‘Henry V’

The Carriage House Players continues its annual Shakespeare Festival at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with Henry V from Aug. 26 to Sept. 18 on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 7 p.m. Performances take place outdoors on stage in the courtyard, where the Spanish-Mediterranean architecture adds a touch of timeless charm and magic. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy before the show and bring your own lawn chair. Inclement weather cancels. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and children ages 12 and under. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

‘Guys and Dolls’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson kicks off its 52nd season with Guys and Dolls from Sept. 17 to Oct. 22. Considered the perfect musical of Broadway’s Golden Age, this delightful romp gambles in luck and love from Times Square to Havana. High rollers and low characters from Damon Runyon’s mythical New York are joyously presented in Frank Loesser’s bold and brassy score, featuring “Luck Be a Lady,” “I’ve Never Been in Love Before,” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” An award-winning classic for the entire family! Tickets are $35 adults, $28 senior and students, $20 children ages 5 and up. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. Read review in next week’s paper.

‘Mystic Pizza’

Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is the new musical comedy, Mystic Pizza, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 30. Based on the classic 1988 movie starring Julia Roberts, Mystic Pizza charts the lives and loves of three unforgettable waitresses in the harbor town of Mystic, CT. Add in some of the best pop songs of the ‘80s and ‘90s such as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “Addicted To Love,” “Small Town,” “Hold On,” and “Take My Breath Away,” and you have all the ingredients for a romantic comedy–with the works! Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

‘The Lightning Thief’

The Smithtown Performing Arts Center presents The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical  from Sept. 30 to Oct. 29. As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly-discovered powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t want, and a mythology textbook’s worth of monsters on his trail. When Zeus’s master lightning bolt is stolen and Percy becomes the prime suspect, he has to find and return the bolt to prove his innocence and prevent a war between the gods. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the thief. He must travel to the Underworld and back; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and come to terms with the father who abandoned him. Adapted from the best-selling book by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, The Lightning Thief is an action-packed mythical adventure “worthy of the gods” Tickets are $40, $35 seniors, $25 students. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.

Vendors Wanted

Caroline Episcopal Church of Setauket is sponsoring a Fall Craft Fair & Barn Sale on the Setauket Village Green (Main St. and Caroline Ave.) on Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain date is Sept. 25 from noon to 5 p.m. Limited spaces still available on the Village Green (10’x10’) and covered Carriage Shed (9’x18’). Reserve your spot at www.depasmarket.com. Questions? Call 631-806-4845. 

Stony Brook Community Church, 216 Christian Ave., Stony Brook is seeking vendors for its Apple Festival on Oct.1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date Oct. 2). Spots (10’ x 10’) are $40 each; vendors can call or text 631-252-0777 for an application.

Parents of Troop 362 will hold a Craft Fair & Basket Raffle at Hope Lutheran Church, 46 Dare Road, Selden on Oct. 1. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain date Oct. 2). Vendors wanted -— 10’ by 10’ space for $40 donation. To reserve a space, email [email protected].

St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, 29 Brooksite Drive, Smithtown seeks craft or new merchandise vendors for its Craft Fair and Car Show on Oct. 8 (rain date is Oct. 15 for craft fair only) $50/space. Visit www.stthomasofcanterbury.net or call 631-265-4520 to obtain an application.

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 716 Route 25a, Rocky Point seeks vendors to be a part of their annual October Festival on Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fee for vendor participation of new items, no raffles is $35 per  10’ x 10’ space. Must supply own table and chairs. Visit www.thefishchurch.com Festivals and Events page.

Class Reunion

✴Ward Melville High School Class of 1972’s  50th reunion is Oct 1. Please spread the word and visit Facebook page “Ward Melville High School Class 72 50th Reunion” for more information and purchasing tickets. For more information, email [email protected] or call 631-928-5684 and leave your name and contact information for any questions.

The Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo’s First-Ever After Dark Haunted Experience

New for 2022, the Bronx Zoo is adding an after-hours event – Dinosaurs in Darkness: The Hatching. This is the zoo’s first-ever Halloween nighttime event for older audiences. Dinosaurs in Darkness transforms the fan favorite Dinosaur Safari into a thrilling nighttime experience each Friday and Saturday night from October 7-29 (including Monday Oct. 10). The Hatching is a scary Halloween walk-through experience that sends participants on an adventure that brings them up close with prehistoric creatures in a whole new way as they follow the story of a rare dinosaur egg, found intact after 66 million years, that is finally ready to hatch! What could possibly go wrong? This  is an after-hours event and is ticketed separately from Bronx Zoo admission. It is recommended for ages 13 and up. More information and tickets are available at https://bronxzoo.com/dinos-in-darkness.

See a video here: Dinosaurs in Darkness: The Hatching

The tradition of Boo at the Zoo will operate at the Bronx Zoo during normal open hours each Saturday and Sunday from October 1 to 30 (including the holiday, Monday October 10). Outdoor activities will include the popular professional pumpkin carving demonstrations and displays; magic and mind reading shows; trick or treating on the Candy Trail; and the spooky extinct animal graveyard. Animal-themed costumed stilt walkers and Halloween animal puppets will headline the costume parade, and everyone can meet live vultures, owls, ravens and other birds each day on the zoo’s historic Astor Court. Finally, October and Boo at the Zoo is the last chance to catch the Dinosaur Safari. The experience will go extinct on October 30.

See a video here: Boo at the Zoo

For more information, tickets and a full schedule of activities, visit the website at BronxZoo.com/Boo-at-the-Zoo.

About the Bronx Zoo: The Bronx Zoo, located on 265 acres of hardwood forest in Bronx, NY, opened on Nov. 8, 1899. It is world-renowned for its leadership in the areas of animal welfare, husbandry, veterinarian care, education, science and conservation. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is the flagship park of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) which manages the world’s largest network of urban wildlife parks including the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo and New York Aquarium. Our curators and animal care staff work to save, propagate, and sustain populations of threatened and endangered species. We have educated and inspired more than 400 million visitors at our zoos and aquarium since our opening and host approximately 4 million guests at our parks each year – including about a half-million students annually. The Bronx Zoo is the largest youth employer in the borough of the Bronx, providing opportunity and helping to transform lives in one of the most under-served communities in the nation. The Bronx Zoo is the subject of THE ZOO, a docu-series aired world-wide on Animal Planet. Members of the media should contact [email protected] for more information or with questions.

Photo from SCPD

The Suffolk County Police Department will host a vehicle auction on September Saturday, Sept. 17 at 9 a.m. at the department’s impound yard, located at 100 Old Country Road in Westhampton.

The auction begins at 9 a.m. and will be held rain or shine. There will be a preview of vehicles on September 15 and 16 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the impound yard. Vehicles will also be available for preview for one hour prior to the start of the auction.

More than 100 lots will be auctioned with a minimum bid of $300 All vehicles are sold as is.

New Village Recreation Center Fall Class Schedule

20 Wireless Road, Centereach, NY 11720
Call: 631-451-5307 to register.

Kids Karate (Ages 6-12)
Check out these new Karate classes. Kids will learn confidence, concentration and respect. Be the next Karate Kid!
Tuesdays, 4:30PM – 5:30PM
September 20, 27, October 4, 11, 18, 25, November 1, 15
Pre-register by Monday, September 19, 2022
$50.00 per 8-week session

Yoga
This class offers a balanced approach to yoga consisting of physical postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation to help restore physical, mental and emotional health and well being. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a mat, blanket, or pillow
to sit on.
Fridays, 7:00PM – 8:00PM
October 7, 14, 21, 28, November 4, 18
Pre-register by Monday, October 3, 2022
$35.00 per 6-week session

Fall Craft Fair

Love crafts? Come in to browse or buy some of the handmade crafts made by local vendors here in Brookhaven!
Saturday, October 8th
11:00AM – 3:00PM

 

METRO photo

By Michael E. Russell

Michael E. Russell

What we do know is that often, history repeats itself. We tell our children that they need to learn from their mistakes.  However, we never seem to follow our own advice. So where are we?

Trying to get a handle on how to manage our investments is proving to be difficult at best. The stock market is following every comment by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, hoping for a guiding light. 

This past Friday, stocks dropped after a strong opening despite a solid August payroll report. The report showed solid job growth, increasing labor force participation and slowing hourly wage increases. Perhaps this shows that inflation may have peaked. The report was positive enough to unlikely change monetary policy. In spite of this the S & P 500 Index still fell 1.1% with the Nasdaq Composite down 1.3%. This capped an awful August in which the S&P 500 fell more than 4%. That followed July’s 9% gain, the market’s most solid month in more than two years.

Okay folks, the lesson for today is which month to believe. Is this the start of a new bull market or is it a bear market rally?

Let’s talk about a sector of the market that is extremely perplexing. Social media is probably the most influential innovation of the 21st century. Think about this. In 2022, if an event does not appear on a social feed, it never really happened! Most of Wall Street has been blind-sided by social media’s troubles. With every passing year, digital advertising is near a point where the market is saturated.

Case in point: Facebook. This stock, under its new name Meta, traded at $175 during 2017. This past Friday, it closed at $160. Over the past five years it traded as high as $380. As we have learned this past year, market realities eventually trump technology.  (Note:  trump with a small ‘t’).

I have not spoken about Crypto in a few weeks, so here are some thoughts. If Bitcoin is crypto’s answer to gold, Ethereum is the closest thing it has to its own internet.  For example, any person who wants to mint a new token or spend $150,000 on a Bored Ape non-fungible token, or NFT, probably uses the Ethereum network.

As of today, more than $3 billion in transaction volume flows through Ethereum daily. About $60 billion in crypto assets sit on its blockchain through third-party apps.  Other than Bitcoin, there is no network that is more critical to crypto’s infrastructure going forward.

A stock I have owned, Nvidia, has been a casualty of a slowdown in hardware purchases. Recently, on the company’s last earnings call, it was stated that the stock has suffered from a slowdown in gaming and other core areas. It was also stated it could not predict how reduced crypto mining might hit demand for its products. 

All of this new technology is growing way too fast for me. I am still having trouble learning all of the features on my iPhone. 

With school classes resuming and the holidays fast approaching, here are thoughts on some retailing stocks. Target (tgt) looks to be a cheaper stock based on its P/E ratio than Walmart (wmt). There is a potential for 20% upside from its Friday close of $164.  It trades at less than 16X earnings, while Walmart trades at 22X earnings — a 33% discount. 

On the interest rate front, it looks like Chairman Powell will be calling for two more rate increases of 50 to 75 basis points each. Banks will be charging more for car, personal, business and mortgage loans, while paying little if any interest on your savings accounts. Hmm, not fair!!

Just a thought …With the President’s new plan on school loan forgiveness, would it not be a good idea to convert your 30-year mortgage to a school loan? Probably not legal, also just kidding! On a closing note, I just cannot wait for the IRS to put the 87,000 new inspectors to work. Have a great September.

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. 

Come dance with the lions at the 8th annual Port Jefferson Dragon Boat Race Festival. Photo from PJCC

Dragons will roar and lions will dance once again as the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Port Jefferson Dragon Boat Race Festival on Saturday, Sept. 17. The free event will take place at Mayor Jeanne Garant Harborfront Park, 101A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson and the village’s inner harbor.  

A scene from last year’s festival. Photo from PJCC

The festival is the brainchild of Barbara Ransome, Director of Operations at the chamber, who attended a dragon boat race festival in Cape May, New Jersey, a few years ago.

Opening ceremonies will begin at the Jill Nees Russell Performance Stage at the east end of the park at 8:30 a.m. and will include a performance by the Asian Veterans Color Guard, singing of the national anthem by Sophia Bloom, a Blessing of the Dragon and the traditional “Eye Dotting” ceremony to awaken the dragon.

“This is our 8th annual Dragon Boat Race Festival and we have 24 racing teams, last year 17 just out of COVID, so I think we are back to normal!,” said Ransome, ‘Mother of Dragons.’

With dragon boats provided by Great White North,  the first race scheduled for 9 a.m., boat teams will compete on a 250-meter, three-lane racing course. Each team is made up of 20 “paddlers,” one steersman and one drummer. Heats will run all day, culminating in an awards ceremony at 5 p.m. where medals will be awarded in three divisions. Spectators can easily view the race course from the park’s edge.

Team contests for the best team T-shirt, best drummer and best costumed drummer will be judged in the middle of the day. 

A scene from last year’s festival. Photo from PJCC

In addition to the races, there will be a day-long festival featuring numerous performances including the famous Lion Dance, Taiko and Korean Drum performances, martial arts demonstrations and Asian singing. Cultural and educational vendors and retailers will be on hand as well including representatives from Power Home Remodeling, Pure Mammography ­­— Lake Grove, Northshore Properties Realty, Renewal by Anderson Windows, Mather Hospital, Stony Brook Chinese School, Rebel Thaiboxing and T-Mobile for Business. 

Always a highlight, food this year will include pot stickers, veggie lo-mein, burgers, tacos, bacon quesadillas, and empanadas and there will be an abundance of children’s activities including origami, trick yo-yo demonstrations, face painting, and Chinese calligraphy and crafts, courtesy of the Port Jefferson Free Library. In addition, an educator from the Center for Environmental Educational and Discovery will bring Ozzy the bearded dragon and other ambassador animals.

“The harborfront park lends itself to this event, with our team encampments, the performance stage for all the Asian entertainment and plenty of room for our food trucks, sponsors and vendors! This will be a great team building day and lots of fun. The Chamber is very proud to be  hosting this unique event,” said Ransome.

The event will be held rain or shine. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and come enjoy the festivities! For more information, call 631-473-1414 or visit www.portjeffdragonracefest.com.

Schedule of Events: Saturday Sept. 17

7:45 a.m.  

Team Captains Meeting on the Great Lawn at Harborfront Park

8:30 a.m.  

Opening Ceremonies with Master of Ceremony Suzanne Velazquez, Asian Veterans Color Guard, Singing of the National Anthem by Sophia Bloom, and Blessing of the Dragon, ‘Eye Dotting’ ceremony

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

Food Vendors, Cultural Crafts, Children Activities, Retail/Educational/Nonprofit Vendor Tables

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

Continual Dragon Boat Races in Port Jefferson’s Inner Harbor

10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. 

The Sound of Long Island Chorus:

Americana Program and Traditional Chinese Songs

10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Long Island Chinese Dance Group

A scene from last year’s festival. Photo from PJCC

11:15 a.m. to noon

Chinese Classical Long Fan Dance, Chinese Folk singing, umbrella dance, and instrumental performance of “Big Fish” by Port Jefferson High School Music Group

12 p.m. to 1:20 p.m.  

Lunch Break (no racing)

12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Taiko Tides Drumming and Oroshi Drumming contest

12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. 

Parade of the Team T-shirts Contest 

Best Drummer Costume Contest

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.  

Shaolin Kung Fu Lion Dance 

Kung Fu  & Tai Chi Demonstrations

2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.  

Galante Martial Arts demonstrating Tai Chi, Armis (Filipino Martial Arts) and Jiu Jitsu

2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Stony Brook Youth Chorus

3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Yana Dance Group – Chinese Traditional Dance

3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Yixin Dance Center – Chinese Classical Dance

4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Rebel Thaiboxing Demonstrations

4:30 p.m.

Last Dragon Boat Race

5 p.m.

Closing Ceremonies and Awards

 

The Groomery won first place in the professional category in last year's scarecrow competition. Photo by Heidi Sutton
Photo from WMHO

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization is currently accepting submissions for its annual Scarecrow Competition. This will be the 32nd year the spooky and silly six-foot creations will adorn the pathways of picturesque Stony Brook Village Center for visitors to enjoy and vote for their favorite.

You can pick up a registration form at any of the shops in Stony Brook Village, or you can download it digitally from the events section of the Stony Brook Village Center website. To enter this competition, please return the completed registration form to The Ward Melville Heritage Organization, P.O. Box 572, Stony Brook, NY 11790, with the entry fee of $30 by Sept. 23.

Vote for your favorite scarecrows by picking up a ballot at any of the shops and restaurants at the Stony Brook Village Center from Oct. 1 and 26. Deadline for voting is Oct. 26. Winners will be notified on Oct. 28 by 5 p.m. and will be announced during the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s Halloween Festival on Oct. 31.

For more information on the Scarecrow Competition, please call the WMHO at 631-751-2244.

 

A baby gelada foraging in Simien Mountains National Park in Ethiopia. Their early-life gut microbiome, from infancy through first years of life, are shown to be influenced by bacteria likely passed down from mom. Photo by Sharmi Sen

The bacteria that reside in the human gut (“the gut microbiome”) are known to play beneficial and harmful roles in human health. Because these bacteria are transmitted through milk, mothers can directly impact the composition of bacteria that their offspring harbor, potentially giving moms another pathway to influence their infant’s future development and health. A study of wild geladas (a non-human primate that lives in Ethiopia) provides the first evidence of clear and significant maternal effects on the gut microbiome both before and after weaning in a wild mammal. This finding, published in Current Biology, suggests the impact of mothers on the offspring gut microbiome community extends far beyond when the infant has stopped nursing.

A research team co-led by Stony Brook University anthropologist Dr. Amy Lu, and biologists Dr. Alice Baniel and Dr. Noah Snyder-Mackler at Arizona State University, came to this conclusion by analyzing one of the largest datasets on gut microbiome  development in a wild mammal.

“Early life gut microbial development is known to have a large impact on later life health in humans and other model organisms,” said Lu, Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Stony Brook University. “Now we have solid evidence that mothers can influence this process, both before and weaning. Although we’re not 100% certain how mothers do this, one possible explanation is that they transfer specific bacteria to their offspring.”

The research team used high throughput DNA sequencing to identify and characterize the bacteria residing in the guts of young geladas, and identified 3,784 different genetic strains of bacteria belonging to 19 phyla and 76 families. However, this diversity was not equally distributed across the developmental spectrum: similar to what is seen in humans, younger infants had the least diverse microbial communities that gradually became more diverse as they got older. These changes reflected what the infant was eating, specifically when they switched from consuming milk to consuming more solid foods. These diet-focused bacteria actually help infants process foods – for instance, milk glycans, which cannot be digested without the help of bacteria.

However, it was the team’s findings of strong maternal effects on the infant gut microbiome both before and after weaning that was the most groundbreaking.

“Infants of first-time moms showed slower development of their gut microbiota, meaning that their guts were specialized toward milk digestion for longer compared to kids from other moms. This may put offspring of newer moms at a slight developmental disadvantage,” said Baniel. “In addition, even after infants were weaned, their microbiome community was more similar to mom’s than to other adult females in the population, suggesting that mom’s may be sharing microbes with their offspring.”

According to Snyder-Mackler, “these early life changes might have far-reaching consequences–impacting the health and survival of these offspring once they become adults.”

Future work from this research team will focus on examining how differences in the gut microbiome during infancy influence other aspects of development, such as growth, the maturation of the immune system, or the pace of reproductive maturation. Because they are continuing to study the same infants as they age, they expect to eventually be able to link the infant gut microbiome and the early-life maternal effects to health, reproduction, and survival in adulthood.

The research was funded by several grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society, the Leakey Foundation, and from the University of Michigan, Stony Brook University, and Arizona State University.

Pass the maple syrup! Join the Setauket Fire Department Auxiliary Department for its annual Pancake Breakfast/Chinese Auction Fundraiser on Sunday, Sept. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Setauket Fire Department’s Station #2, 9 Arrowhead Lane, East Setauket. Tickets: are $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 children under 10. Toddlers under age 2 are free. [email protected].