SUNSET SPLENDOR
Elisa Hendrey of Sound Beach submitted this gorgeous photo taken at the end of July. She writes, ‘Cars were pulling up along the shore of Mt. Sinai Harbor to take photos or simply gaze at what seems to have been one of the most stunning sunsets this summer. I had seen clouds earlier in the day and made a mental note that they might become part of a special sight as the sun went down.
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By David Dunaief, MD
If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), its symptoms can directly affect your quality of life. They include abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea.
According to estimates, 10 to 15 percent of the population suffers from IBS symptoms, although only five to seven percent have been diagnosed (1).
Diagnosing IBS is challenging. While the general perception is that IBS symptoms are somewhat vague, there are discrete criteria physicians use to provide a diagnosis it and eliminate more serious possibilities.
The Rome IV criteria comprise an international effort to help diagnose and treat functional gastrointestinal disorders. Using these criteria, which include frequency of pain and discomfort over the past three months, in combination with a physical exam helps provide a diagnosis.
So, what can be done to improve symptoms? There are a number of possibilities that require only modest lifestyle changes.
Addressing your mental state
The “brain-gut” connection refers to the direct connection between mental state, such as nervousness or anxiety, to gastrointestinal issues, and vice versa.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction was used in a small, but randomized, eight-week clinical trial with IBS (2). Those in the mindfulness group (treatment group) showed statistically significant results in decreased severity of symptoms compared to the control group, both immediately after training and three months post-therapy.
Those in the treatment group were instructed to do meditation, gentle yoga and “body scanning” — focusing on one area of the body for muscle tension detection. The control group attended an IBS support group once a week.
Possible link with migraines
A preliminary study has suggested there may be a link between IBS and migraine and tension-type headaches. The study of 320 participants, 107 with migraine, 107 with IBS, 53 with episodic tension-type headaches (ETTH), and 53 healthy individuals, identified significant occurrence crossover among those with migraine, IBS and ETTH. Researchers also found that these three groups had at least one gene that was different from that of healthy participants. Their hope is that this information will lead to more robust studies that could result in new treatment options (3).
Gluten consumption a factor?
In a small randomized clinical trial, patients who were given gluten were more likely to complain of uncontrolled symptoms than those who were given a placebo, 68 percent vs. 40 percent, respectively (4). These results were highly statistically significant. The authors concluded that nonceliac gluten intolerance may exist. Gluten sensitivity may be an important factor in for some IBS patients (5). I suggest to my patients that they might want to start avoiding gluten and then add it back into their diets slowly to see the results.
What about fructose?
Some IBS patients may suffer from fructose intolerance. In a study, IBS researchers used a breath test to examine this possibility (6). The results were dose-dependent, meaning the higher the dose of fructose, the greater the effect researchers saw. When patients were given a 10 percent fructose solution, only 39 percent tested positive for fructose intolerance, but when they were given a 33 percent solution, 88 percent of patients tested positive.
The symptoms of fructose intolerance included gas, abdominal pain, bloating, belching and alternating bowel habits. The authors concluded that avoidance of fructose may reduce symptoms in IBS patients.
According to another study, about one-third of IBS patients are fructose intolerant. When on a fructose-restricted diet, symptoms appeared to improve (7). Foods with high levels of fructose include certain fruits, like apples and pears, but not bananas.
Considering the effects of lactose
Another small study found that about one-quarter of patients with IBS also have lactose intolerance. Two complications are at play here. One, it is very difficult to differentiate the symptoms of lactose intolerance from IBS. The other is that most IBS trials are small and there is a need for larger trials. Of the IBS patients who were also lactose intolerant, there was a marked improvement in symptomatology at both six weeks and five years when placed on a lactose-restricted diet (8).
Though the trial was small, the results were statistically significant, which is impressive. Both the patient compliance and long-term effects were excellent, and visits to outpatient clinics were reduced by 75 percent. This demonstrates that it is probably worthwhile to test patients who have IBS symptoms for lactose intolerance.
Are probiotics part of the solution?
Treatment with probiotics from a study that reviewed 42 trials shows that there may be a benefit to probiotics, although the endpoints, or objectives, were different in each trial. The good news is that most of the trials reached one of their endpoints (9). Probiotics do show promise, including the two most common strains, Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteri, which were covered in the review.
All of the above provides hope for IBS patients. These are treatment options that involve modest lifestyle changes. I believe there needs to be a strong patient-doctor connection in order to select an approach that results in the greatest symptom reduction for a specific patient.
References:
(1) American College of Gastroenterology [GI.org]. (2) Am J Gastroenterol. 2011 Sep;106(9):1678-1688. (3) American Academy of Neurology 2016, Abstract 3367. (4) Am J Gastroenterol. 2011 Mar;106(3):508-514. (5) Am J Gastroenterol. 2011 Mar;106(3):516-518. (6) Am J Gastroenterol. 2003 June;98(6):1348-1353. (7) J Clin Gastroenterol. 2008 Mar;42(3):233-238. (8) Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2001 Aug;13(8):941-944. (9) Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2012 Feb;35(4):403-413.
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.
Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott announced Aug. 12 that 13 mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus. The samples, all Culex pipiens-restuans, were collected 8/9/22 from Bohemia (1), Copiague (2), West Babylon (2), Port Jeff Sta (1), Selden (1), and 8/10/22 from Islip (1), Brentwood (1) BayShore(1) and Northport (3).
To date, 51 samples have tested positive.
West Nile virus, first detected in birds and mosquito samples in Suffolk County in 1999 and again each year thereafter is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito.
Most people infected with West Nile virus will experience mild or no symptoms, but some can develop severe symptoms including high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. The symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent. Individuals, especially those 50 years of age or older, or those with compromised immune systems, who are most at risk, are urged to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
“The confirmation of West Nile virus in mosquito samples indicates the presence of West Nile virus in the area,” said Dr. Pigott. “While there is no cause for alarm, we advise residents to cooperate with us in our efforts to reduce exposure to West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases.”
Dr. Pigott offers the following tips to avoid mosquito bites:
Dead birds may indicate the presence of West Nile virus in the area. To report dead birds, call the Bureau of Public Health Protection at 631-852-5999from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Residents are encouraged to take a photograph of any bird in question.
To report mosquito problems or stagnant pools of water, call the Department of Public Works’ Vector Control Division at 631-852-4270.
For further information on West Nile virus, visit the Department of Health Services’ website.
The Long Island Seaport and Eco Center and the Bayles Boat Shop invites the community to tcome cheer on participants in the 11th annual Sikaflex “Quick & Dirty” Boat Building Competition at Harborfront Park, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson on Aug. 14 at 3 p.m.
Boats will be assembled on Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., painted on Aug. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon and then participants will take part in a race the same day at 3 p.m. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place and original design. For more information, call 631-689-8293 or visit www.lisec.org.
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) NY Metro officially opened its newest Family Room at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Stony Brook Hospital on Aug. 4. The space will serve as a respite area for parents and families caring for a newborn in the NICU receiving life-saving treatment.
The new family room was designed and decorated mostly with donated goods and services and is equipped with a kitchen area, laundry facility and shower, all to keep families close to their ill children in the hospital. Coffee and snacks are also made available free of charge and local restaurants regularly donate warm meals to serve to families.
“This has been a labor of love,” said Matt Campo, CEO of RMHC NY Metro. “We have partnered with Stony Brook over the last two years to see this come to fruition. Families have been stopping in, expressing their gratitude, and using the facilities that we built for them. It’s providing so much comfort and has given us a glimpse of what this room will mean to them.”
The room is the second at Stony Brook Hospital. Ronald McDonald House opened a family room in the Stony Brook Children’s Hospital before the COVID pandemic. Both rooms are staffed entirely by volunteers from around Long Island.
“Serving families is at the heart of what we do,” said Dr. Hal Paz, Executive Vice President of Health Sciences, CEO of Stony Brook University Medicine. “Having the opportunity to provide a quiet space for families is an essential part of providing quality care for all of our patients. Partnerships like these are fundamental to the care that our hospital system provides, allowing us to meet the needs of our patients and their families more fully.
More photos of the Ronald McDonald NICU Respite Lounge at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital can be found here.
Welcome to the eighth edition of Paw Prints, a monthly column for animal lovers dedicated to helping shelter pets find their furever home!
Meet Butterscotch & Patch
These five-month-old Labrador mixes recently arrived at Little Shelter in Huntington via the Passage to Freedom Program and are quickly acclimating to New York life on their road to adoption. Eager about the prospect of finding their forever homes, they can hardly contain their excitement, as evidenced by enthusiastic wiggles and wagging tails! Gentle, sweet-spirited, and slightly goofy, it’s easy to see why Labradors are Americans favorite breed. Stop by to meet Butterscotch (female) and Patch (male) and choose the one that’s just right for your family. *Butterscotch & Patch are not yet fully grown nor completely housebroken.* Call 631-368-8770, ext. 21.
Meet Chai
A beautiful balance of smooth and spicy, this five-month-old Shepherd mix is Chai, currently up for adoption at Little Shelter in Huntington. Full-bodied and fun-loving, she is ready to find her forever home and begin her life as part of a loving family. Intelligent and intrigued by everything around her, she’ll show you the world through puppy dog eyes, renewing your appreciation for the simple things. Eager to learn and develop into her best self, she’ll quickly move to the top of the class during obedience training, proudly wearing the title of “best girl”. Stop by Little Shelter today and request to meet the most delicious Chai! *Chai is not yet fully grown nor completely housebroken.* Call 631-368-8770, ext. 21.
Meet Betty Boop
Betty has been waiting at the Smithtown Animal Shelter for her knight in shining armor for a very long time. A low key and loving 10-12 year old spayed female pit bull mix, Betty suffers from significant arthritis of the hips and knees and will need a home that can manager her medications. She is available for adoption or Forever Foster. Betty loves all people, but must be the only pet in an adult only home. She will roll over for belly rubs from absolutely anyone and loves food and snuggles! She also likes to dip her feet in the kiddie pools and shred dog toys. Betty hates to be away from people and would love to be by your side all day long, though she deals with her alone time well. Snuggle up with Betty and be lulled to sleep by her adorable snore. Call 631-360-7575.
Meet Robert
Robert is a short-haired, adult/senior male waiting at Little Shelter for his furever home. He enjoys being around people and seeks out attention from everyone! Come meet this happy gentleman! Call 631-368-8770, ext. 36.
Meet Dandelion
Dandelion, a three-year-old Boxer mix, was recently rescued from a shelter in Texas and is now safe at Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton. A bundle of sunshine, she LOVES to snuggle, get ear rubs, go for walks, play with other dogs, chew on her toys, and meet new people! She is affectionate, outgoing, smart, eager to please, energetic, and would make a wonderful family dog! She is as sweet as pie and has even spent some time in a foster home learning some good manners. Will you make Dandelion’s day and come visit her? Call 631-727-5731, ext. 1.
Did you know? The Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter, 300 Horseblock Road, Brookhaven currently has many beautiful kittens available for adoption including Jan and Marsha, pictured above. Visit www.brookhavenny.gov or call 631-451-6950.
Check out the next Paw Prints in the issue of. Sept. 8.
In the heart of Smithtown is a 22-acre pastoral oasis bordered by barns and cottages. The Smithtown Historical Society hosts a diversified array of events. Programs include an annual heritage fair, summer camp for children, old-time baseball, goat yoga, technology help for seniors, and most recently, a cooking series.
On Tuesday, August 16, at 6 p.m, Chef Stephen Gallagher of The Trattoria in St. James will perform some Long Island summer harvest magic as attendees will get to experience a taste, tips, and techniques, This program will be veggie-centric and the final program of the Cooking with the Stars series in 2022.
“I underestimated the power of food and how it brings people together,” said Priya Kapoor, Executive Director of SHS. “We were pleasantly surprised by the success of Cooking with the Stars.”
During the height of the COVID pandemic, most 501-C non-profit organizations were faced with fundraising challenges. A pivot to the great outdoors was made. “The Smithtown Performing Arts Center constructed our outdoor theater during the pandemic for rehearsals and performances. Once they could resume indoors, the outdoor theater became available for use by others,” explained Kapoor.
Kapoor and local food writer, Nancy Vallarella entertained hosting cooking classes at the Smithtown Historical Society years before the pandemic. Vallarella explained, “We weren’t sure who, what, or when, but once the outdoor theater became available, we had a special where. Cooking with the Stars was born and the rest fell into place.”
The series was launched in June 2022, and features local culinary businesses and accomplished cooks.
First up, Myra Naseem (Elegant Eating) and Nancy Vallarella (Long Island Locavore) demonstrated Board and Platter recipes and techniques. Chefs Marco Pellegrini and Sabrina Vallorini (Osteria Umbria) followed in July with Italian favorites. A special program in late July honored Smithtown Town Historian, Brad Harris. Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim and his wife Diana demonstrated a favorite family tradition, Mussels in White Wine sauce, in his honor.
The Smithtown Historical Society pays tribute to Long Island’s rich history while creating new traditions for the present community.
Tickets for Chef Gallagher’s presentation of Cooking with the Stars at the Smithtown Historical Society, 239 East Main Street, Smithtown are $25 in advance here, $35 at the door (cash or check). For more information, call 631-265-6768.
By Barbara Beltrami
It used to be that melon was melon. Period. My mother used to halve or quarter a cantaloupe or honeydew, scoop out the seeds, plunk the salt shaker on the table, and that was melon the only way I knew it. Watermelon got a little different treatment; it was halved or quartered and sliced into triangles, but there was no salt.
But now melon has become a whole new phenomenon. Used in an amazing variety of preparations and dishes, it’s all grown up and no longer a loner, but an actual ingredient in myriad recipes.
You are probably familiar with cantaloupe or honeydew with prosciutto and watermelon with feta cheese, two winning combos that are testimony to sweet and salty being ideal complements to each other. Maybe you’ve even had melon gazpacho or soup or salad where it’s enhanced by savory herbs, spices and veggies. My mother would be incredulous!
Melon Salad with Shrimp, Prosciutto and Feta
YIELD: Makes 4 to 6 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled, deveined and cooked
Freshly squeezed juice of one lemon
3 pounds melon, seeded, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
8 slices prosciutto, torn into bite size pieces
1/2 cup crumbled feta
DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, toss together the shrimp, lemon juice, and melon mixture with onion, jalapeño and bell pepper. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, honey, oil, salt and pepper. When ready to serve, toss shrimp and melon mixture with lime juice mixture and top with prosciutto and feta. Serve immediately with corn bread. .
Melon Salsa
YIELD: Makes about 3 cups
INGREDIENTS:
Zest from 1 small lime
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon sugar
Freshly ground white pepper to taste
3 cups seeded and minced cantaloupe, honeydew or watermelon or a combination
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely diced
1 mango, peeled and finely diced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1 small onion, peeled and minced
Leaves from one sprig fresh basil, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
DIRECTIONS:
In a small bowl combine the lime zest, juice, sugar and pepper; add remaining ingredients, toss, cover, and refrigerate up to 4 hours. Serve with tortilla chips as an hors d’oeuvre or with grilled beef, pork or chicken
Green Gazpacho with Honeydew
YIELD: Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1 ripe honeydew melon, seeded, removed from rind and coarsely chopped
1 English cucumber, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 ripe kiwi, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup seedless green grapes, washed, halved
1 cup packed arugula
1/4 cup chopped basil leaves
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
4 scallions, white and green parts sliced
1 serrano chili, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Freshly squeezed juice of one lime
1 tablespoon sugar
1 ripe avocado, peeled and coarsely sliced or chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 cup sour cream
DIRECTIONS:
In the bowl of an electric food processor, puree the melon, cucumber, kiwi, grapes, arugula, basil, cilantro, scallions, chili, oil, vinegar, lime juice, sugar, avocado and salt and pepper; stop to scrape bowl often. When smooth, transfer to large bowl, cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least one hour. Ladle into four soup bowls, top each with a dollop of sour cream and serve with a corn, bean and tomato salad.
By Daniel Dunaief
When Jacqueline Olsen learned the day before her birthday last November that she needed surgery for lung cancer, she felt anxious about a procedure she knew could be painful and could involve a lengthy recovery.
“It’s not only my birthday, it’s Thanksgiving,” said Olsen, who is a resident of St. James and is an agent for personal insurance such as home, auto and umbrella insurance. “Everybody was real tense. It was not a pleasant holiday.”
Olsen’s father, William Leonard, and father-in-law, James Olsen, had died of lung cancer after having open chest surgeries. The pain of what her father went through 48 years ago and father-in-law over 20 years ago was fresh in her mind as she readied herself for her own procedure.
Speaking with doctors at Stony Brook University Hospital, Olsen heard about newer, better options.
Dr. Ankit Dhamija, Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Director of Thoracic Robotic Surgery at Stony Brook Medicine, suggested to Olsen that she was a candidate for a robot-assist surgery called the da Vinci Surgical System.
Olsen and her family gathered considerable information about the procedure.
“I did some research on it and it said it would be a faster recovery and I would be up and back to my normal self pretty soon afterward,” said Olsen. “It seemed like a less invasive surgery.”
The robotic surgery does not involve turning over the procedure to a machine, Dr. Dhamija explained.
Instead, the process involves making considerably smaller incisions and guiding the robot through the body to remove the cancerous tissue.
“The robot is a machine that is an extension of our hands,” said Dr. Dhamija, who has performed about 500 such procedures with the help of a robot, including around 70 since he arrived at Stony Brook.
The robotic system allows surgeons like Dr. Dhamija and Dr. Henry Tannous, Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Chief of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Division at Stony Brook Medicine, among others, to sit in the operating room with the patient while the robot enters through an incision. The robot provides a three dimensional view of the inside of the body, magnifying cells by ten times.
The robot assist can also improve the ability of surgeons to perform fine operations.
The system “does have a machine algorithm associated with it that actually is known to reduce tremors in surgeons that have tremors,” said Dr. Dhamija. “Someone that may not be able to do a certain portion of the operation due to their technical limitations can subsequently do it with the robot.”
In the procedure, the surgeon can see and maneuver through the body effectively, searching for the specific cells to remove.
An interventional radiologist can inject a dye which under CT guidance allows the surgeon to “see where the lesion is and to verify that you have adequate margins” or the border between cancerous and non-cancerous cells, Dr. Dhamija said. “Having the dye in there to identify [the cancer] is helpful,” he added.
By using the robot instead of creating a large incision, doctors can reduce the time patients spend in a hospital down to as little as one to three days from the four to eight days after an open chest lobectomy.
“There’s so much to be said about someone [recovering] in their own home,” said Dr. Dhamija. They “get to sleep properly, their bowel habits are more normal, and they get to reengage in their daily life functions sooner. I’m a big proponent of a patient taking charge of their own postoperative care.”
Indeed, Stony Brook doctors have become so confident and comfortable with the robot assist that it has become the main platform for thoracic oncology patients at Stony Brook Medicine, explained Dr. Tannous. Tannous estimates that 90 percent of the lobectomies will be performed robotically in 2022, up from 10 to 20 percent in 2021.
In an email, Dr. Tannous wrote that other specialties that have adopted the robotic platform include gynecology, urology, colorectal, bariatrics, and general surgery.
Stony Brook is also expanding robotic surgery to include cardiac procedures in 2023.
Dr. Tannous said robotic procedures that cut down on recovery time means less risk of hospital-acquired infections, lower extremities blood clots, and numerous other benefits.
Some day, theoretically, the robot may enable remote procedures, with surgeons operating the robot with the help of an on-site local medical team. That could be helpful for astronauts who develop a medical problem far from home where they need emergency surgery.
An important caveat with that, Dr. Dhamija said, is that the staff on site would need to be able to complete a procedure if an open chest surgery became necessary.
Olsen, who was out of the hospital less than 24 hours after she had surgery in late May, has become a fan of the technology and of the team at Stony Brook.
Olsen, who has three scars on her back and two on her side, felt pain for about a week. As she recovered, she never felt the need to fill a prescription for a stronger painkiller, choosing to treat the pain with Motrin. She plans to continue to take blood tests every three months and to get CAT scans every six months.
Olsen was thrilled with the quality of care she received and is pleased she can look forward to sharing quality summer time during the family’s annual beach trip. “It’s heaven to me,” she said, where she can “spoil my grandchildren.
As for a perspective on her surgery, she said the difference between 20 years ago and now is “unbelievable. It was such an awful experience” for her father and father in law. “This was a million times better.”
By Nancy Marr
Did you know that almost half of America doesn’t vote, even in presidential elections? Elections for state and county officials, school board members, and fire department members have even fewer voters.
Our primaries that are scheduled for August 23 will be open only to those registered in a party, and even those may not vote. The will of the people is reflected in the results of elections. In an effort to get 100% participation in our elections, groups like the League of Women Voters are supporting same-day registration (already in place in 23 states).
Concerned about the low percentage of voters, Miles Rappaport and E. J. Dionne have written 100%: The Case for Universal Voting. They relate the experience of Australia, which requires all citizens to vote, just as we require all citizens to perform jury duty; they suggest ways of automatically registering voters, as we now do with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
In 2022, Get Out The Vote efforts must be stronger, louder, and even more creative. We can register millions, but if only thousands vote, have we truly empowered voters?
When the country was founded, voting was not secret, and the men who were eligible to vote, by virtue of race and sex and income, met in public to decide who they would choose. Nowadays, everyone 18 years or over is legally entitled to vote, and can vote privately, although some are prevented from casting their ballots by suppressive state legislation.
Data from The American Presidency Project at U.C. Santa Barbara shows that 67% of eligible voters voted during the pandemic in the U.S. presidential election of 2020, but it was a record high compared with earlier elections (the election in 2012, for instance, had votes from 54.9 percent of the eligible voters).
In 1965 the Federal Government’s Voting Rights Act acknowledged the need to protect the rights of all to register and vote, especially in states where there had been racial discrimination, although that protection was weakened in 2013 by the U.S. Supreme Court in Shelby vs. Holder.
Reaching potential voters has become more difficult as our population has become more transient, which has led many voter rights organizations to increase their efforts to find new ways to appeal to voters. Rock the Vote was founded in 2010 to recruit potential voters on beaches, targeting youth aged 18 to 24 who represent the citizens least likely to vote. (Adults over 65 are the most likely to vote.) Training volunteers as “captains” to canvass their social networks of friends and neighbors is effective, with a follow up to answer any questions and provide support. Many groups enlisted volunteers to make phone calls to a list of registered voters. They found that a personable, non-rigid manner increased the turnout, especially if they went off-script and sounded like a real person, not a robot.
Working to get out the vote is something we can all do. On your own, with your family and friends and neighbors, you can ask them to plan to vote by asking them when they plan to vote and how they plan to get there. (In a campaign to encourage people to vote, it is important to remain neutral and nonpartisan, refraining from expressing your view about the best candidates.)
If you would like to do more, visit the League of Women Voters of New York’s website lwvny.org/league-toolkits/ Click on GOTV toolkit, or Voter Registration Drive toolkit.
Rock the Vote (www.rockthevote.org) focuses on getting young people to vote, and Glaad (www.glaad.org/vote) focuses on LGBTQ people and their allies. Both welcome volunteers and can provide information about voting dates and places. If you wish to support a particular candidate, contact their campaign office to offer to make phone calls. We need to reach citizens in every part of the country to be sure their views are represented.
As our population changes demographically, it is especially important for everyone to learn to work together to create and maintain a healthy society, beginning with our participation in elections.
Nancy Marr is Vice-President of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org or call 631-862-6860.
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