What if scientists could train the immune system to recognize something specific on the outside of unwanted cells?
That’s what new Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory fellow Corina Amor is doing, as she found an antigen on the surface of senescent cells. She hopes to train a patient’s T-cells to search for these cells, much like providing a police dog with the scent of a missing person or escaped convict.
Amor, who joined Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in January after earning her medical degree inat Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain and her PhD in the lab of CSHL Adjunct Professor Scott Lowe, recently found a surface molecule called uPAR that is upregulated on senescent, or aging, cells.
If senescent cells excessively accumulate, it can lead to tissue decline and disease like lung and liver fibrosis, Lowe, who is the Cancer Biology Chair at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, explained in an email. Senescent cells also contribute to tissue decline as people age.
Studies suggest eliminating these senescent cells could provide therapeutic benefit, she added.
Using artificial T-cells, called CAR-T, for Chimeric Antigen Receptor, Amor looks to use specific antigens to find these senescent cells and eliminate them.
“It was sort of a crazy idea, but it worked and, while much more preclinical and clinical work needs to be done, the concept could lead to better treatments for lung and liver fibrosis, and other diseases that increase as we age,” Lowe wrote.
The combination of an inflamed environment and an ineffective immune system can create conditions that favor the growth and development of cancer.
Amor, who currently has one technician and is planning to add a graduate student this summer at her lab at CSHL, is building on her PhD research.
“My doctoral work was the development of the first CAR-T cells that are able to target senescent cells,” she said. “We were the first in the world to do this.”
Amor, who was recently named to the 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 Europe list, describes this approach as a new frontier for treating senescent cells and one in which researchers would need to clear numerous hurdles before developing clinical therapies.
She is searching for other antigens on the surface of cancerous and fibrous cells that would increase the specificity of these synthetic immune cells.
Combining antigens could be the key to avoiding off target effects that might cause the immune system to attack healthy cells.
Amor plans to tap into CSHL’s affiliation with Northwell Health to analyze clinical samples that might provide a better understanding of various potential markers.
Fellowship route
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is one of several programs in the country that provides talented researchers with the opportunity to go directly from finishing their PhD to leading their own lab.
Amor is following in the footsteps of her MSKCC mentor Lowe, who also had been an independent fellow at CSHL.
Lowe saw some similarities in their career paths, as they both made “unexpected discoveries during our Ph.D. research that were not only important, but clearly set a path for future research,” he explained in an email.
Lowe describes Amor as an “intense and driven scientist” who has an “extraordinary bandwidth to get things done, and a mental organization that allows her to execute science efficiently.” He believes her work is game changing at many levels and opens up numerous new directions for scientific study.
Lowe is “extraordinarily proud of [Amor] for becoming a CSHL fellow – and I hope she both contributes and benefits from the lab as I did,” he wrote in an email.
Amor said CSHL provided an ideal balance between finding collaborators who worked in similar areas, without competing for the same resources and conducting similar research.
“The last thing you want is to go somewhere and be completely isolated,” she said. “You also don’t want to be at a place where there’s three other people doing the same thing and you’re not adding anything.”
She feels like she had a “nice synergy” with CSHL, which is trying to expand its immunology research.
As the first person to bring cellular therapy to CSHL, she has already started collaborating with several groups.
Amor recognizes the challenges ahead in training scientists who often have their own ideas about the questions they’d like to ask.
“The science is the easy part” and it comes naturally, but there is a “learning curve in how to manage people,” she said.
She appreciates the opportunity to talk with senior researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and plans to attend courses and seminars for principal investigators who are starting out.
When she was in graduate school, Amor said she rotated through different labs. When everything didn’t work as she might have hoped during those rotations, she said she had the opportunity to learn from those experiences.
“When training people in the lab, I try to be really specific about what I want to do” while also ensuring that the researchers understand and appreciate the bigger picture and context for individual experiments, she said.
Originally from Madrid, Amor felt comfortable during her five years in Manhattan and is enjoying the open space and fresh air of Long Island in her role at CSHL. She also appreciates the chance to kayak in the waters around Long Island.
When she was around seven years old, Amor said her mother Esperanza Vegas was diagnosed with breast cancer. By participating in a clinical trial for a new drug, her mother fought off the disease.
“That made me realize how important science and research is,” Amor said.
During her educational training, Amor went directly from high school into a six-year program in which she earned a bachelor’s degree and a medical degree.
By the time she finished her PhD, she was hooked on research.
She appreciates the advice she received from Lowe, who encouraged her to conduct experiments despite the risks.
“Don’t get paralyzed at the beginning by fear,” she said. “Do the experiment and see what happens.”
FIREWORKS GALORE
Children ages 6 to 12 can create this painting at the Atelier at Flowerfield for Memorial Day. Image from the Atelier
PROGRAMS
Owl Prowl Thursday
Visit Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown on May 26 from 7:45 to 9:45 p.m. for an Owl Prowl! Meet and learn about some of the Center’s resident owls and then embark on a walk into the darkness to enjoy the night. Dress warmly, wear bug spray, and bring a flashlight just in case. Open to families with children ages 5 and up. $15 per person. For tickets, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org.
Firework painting workshop
The Atelier at Flowerfield, 2 Flowerfield, Suite #15, St. James invites children ages 6 to 12 to join Miss Linda in some fun as she teaches you how to paint a beautiful fireworks painting in time for Memorial Day at Atelier Hall on May 28. Two workshops will be offered — 10 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. $50 per child includes an 11×14 canvas and art supplies. To register, call 250-9009 or visit www.theatelieratflowerfield.org.
Scavenger Hunt at the Hatchery
The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor hosts a Scavenger Hunt to find all things reptile related on May 30 between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children ages 3 to 12. For more info, call 516-692-6768.
Pirate Quest
Ahoy mateys! For the month of June, the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor presents Pirate Quest during gallery hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Use a compass and a treasure map to solve puzzles and hunt for hidden treasure around the museum in this pirate-themed drop-in program. Complete your quest and decorate your very own treasure chest to take home. This is a self-directed activity; explore at your own pace. Admission fee + $10 participant. Call 367-3418 for more information.
THEATER
Pinkalicious The Musical
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its children’s theater season with Pinkalicious The Musical from May 28 to July 3. Pinkalicious can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe — a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this predicament. Tickets are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on May 28, June 4, 11 and 18 at 11 a.m. with a sensory sensitive performance on June 12 at 11 a.m. Join them for a hysterical retelling of a wonderful story with a Queen, a Witch, a Princess with skin as white as snow, and seven dwarfs guaranteed to keep you laughing from start to finish. Costumes encouraged. All seats are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
HONORING OUR FALLEN
Memorial Day Parades return to the North Shore on Monday including the one in Setauket along Main Street and Route 25A. File photo by Rita J. Egan 2019/TBR News Media
Thursday 26
Author Talk
In honor of ALS Awareness Month, Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson will welcome local author Christine Pendergast for a discussion of the book Blink Spoken Here from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing at the event. Open to all. Call 928-1212 to register in advance.
Old Time Jam at Hallockville
Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead invites the community to an Eastern Long Island Old Time Jam from 6 to 8 p.m. Free. Call 298-5292 for more information.
Atelier lecture
The Atelier at Flowerfield in St. James continues its online lecture series with Introduction to Freehand Airbrush Painting with Ross Barbera from 7 to 9 p.m. With a Spring crocus as his subject, Barbera will present a video demonstration to introduce viewers to the tools, techniques, and materials used when painting freehand with an airbrush. To register for this free webinar, visit www.theatelieratflowerfield.org/lectures.
Vanderbilt lecture
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport hosts a lecture titled Long Island Estates of the Great Gatsby Era with best-selling author, architect, and historian Gary Lawrance at 7 p.m. Lawrance will introduce participants to the real Long Island mansions that inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary classic The Great Gatsby. Light refreshments will be served. Tickets are $10 per person. To register, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
Friday 27
Birdwatch & Architecture Tour
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport will host a Birdwatch and Architecture Tour today at 8 a.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. Explore the Vanderbilt Estate and its diverse bird species with the museum’s chief curator and learn about the Spanish Revival architecture of the mansion. . Tickets are $12 per person. Sturdy hiking footwear is strongly suggested and participants are asked to bring their own binoculars. Register at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org or call 854-5579.
Huntington YMCA Carnival
The Huntington YMCA, 60 Main St., Huntington will host its annual Memorial Day Weekend Carnival tonight from 6 to 10:30 p.m., May 28 and May 29 from 1 to 10:30 p.m., and May 30 from 1 to 6 p.m. featuring carnival rides, entertainment, food, games, and Dominguez Attractions as seen on America’s Got Talent. POP bracelets are $35 or individual ride tickets. Visit ymcali.org/carnival for more information.
Friday Night Coffee House
Celebrate St. James continues its Friday Night Coffee House series at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 Second Street, St. James with singer/songwriter/musician Jill Decker playing acoustic guitar from 7 to 9 p.m. Coffee and refreshments will be served. Donation of $20, $15 seniors. Visit www.celebratestjames.org or call 984-0201 to register.
Poets in Port
Northport Arts Coalition hosts Poet In Port at the First Presbyterian Church, 330 Main St., Northport on the last Friday of every month at 7:30 pm. Featured poet this month will beDeborah Hauser, author of Ennui: From the Diagnostic and Statistical Field Guide of Feminine Disorders. All are welcome. Register for your free ticket through EventBrite. Visit www.northportarts.org for more info.
Friday Night Face-Off
Friday Night Face Off, Long Island’s longest running Improv Comedy Show, returns to Theatre Three’s Second Stage, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson tonight at 10:30 p.m. Using audience suggestions, FNFO pits two teams of improvisers against each other in an all-out championship! Recommended for ages16 and up, due to adult content. Tickets are $15 at the door only. Call 928-9100 for more information.
Saturday 28
Huntington YMCA Carnival
See May 27 listing.
Caumsett Hike
Join the staff at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington for a Nature on the Move hike from 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. This slow to moderate 4 mile hike will include observations of the west side of the park including fields and woods. Adults only. $4 per person. Advance registration required by calling 423–1770.
Spring Village Craft Fair – This event has been postponed to June 4 due to the weather forecast.
Springtime is shopping time! The Smithtown Historical Society, 239 E. Main St., Smithtown will host a Spring Village Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Over 125 exhibitors are expected featuring fine art, photography, textiles, jewelry, wood crafts, soft sculpture, home and garden decor, organic bath and body products, candles, gourmet foods, live music and food trucks. Free admission. Rain date is June 4. Call 846-1459.
Audubon Society Tree Fest
Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket hosts a Tree Fest by the Four Harbors Audubon Society from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come learn about and celebrate trees! Enjoy educational exhibits, face painting, native plant sale, DIY crafts and free tree seedlings. Free admission. Visit www.4has.org. See more on page B12.
Maritime History Walking Tour
Join the Three Village Historical Society for a maritime history walking tour titled Down the Ways, the Wooden Ship Eraat 4 p.m. Led by Historian Beverly C. Tyler, guests will learn about shipbuilders, ship captains, and families prominent in Setauket’s maritime history. The walking tour explores the Dyer’s Neck-East Setauket Historic Shipbuilding District where coast-wise and ocean-going ships were built and where these local families, lived, worked and died. You will see the carpenter shop where the construction planning took place and visit the area where completed ships wintered over and where the bones of these ships rest today. Tours leave from the Brookhaven Town Dock, 58 Shore Road, East Setauket. $20, $5 children under age 12. Walk-ins welcome, but reservations are strongly recommended by visiting www.tvhs.org. Walk-ins MUST pay in cash at the start of tour. For more information, call 751-3730.
Sunday 29
Huntington YMCA Carnival
See May 27 listing.
Port Jefferson Farmers Market
Get local! The Port Jefferson Farmer’s Market returns to Harborfront Park, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson today and every Sunday through Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Purchase local produce, honey, bread and baked goods, plants and flower bouquets. Call 473-4724.
Street Painting Festival
East End Arts, 133 E. Main St., Riverhead will host the 26th annual Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival in Downtown Riverhead and in front of East End Arts from noon to 5 p.m. Featuring street painting for all ages and skill levels, live music, interactive art, a kids zone, craft and artisan Vendors, food trucks , fine arts sale, drum circle and dance and theatre performances. Free admission. Call 727-0900.
Ronkonkoma Street Fair
The Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce will host the 2022 Ronkonkoma Street Fair along Hawkins Avenue in Ronkonkoma on from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. featuring over 200 vendors with live entertainment, merchandise, food, children’s rides, arts and crafts and lots of fun for fall. Call 963-2796 for more info.
Grist Mill tours
The Stony Brook Grist Mill, 100 Harbor Road, Stony Brook will be open today and every Sunday through October from 1 to 4 p.m. Learn about the inner workings of the mill as it crushes grain into flour and hear about its 323 year history on a guided tour will a miller during guided tours and a visit the Country Store. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children. Cash only. For more information on the Stony Brook Grist Mill and for large group tours, call The Ward Melville Heritage Organization at 751-2244.
Monday 30
*See local Memorial Day parades and ceremonies at the bottom of the page.
Huntington YMCA Carnival
See May 27 listing.
Tuesday 31
No events listed for this day.
Wednesday 1
Cruise Night Car Show
It’s back! The Shoppes at East Wind, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River hosts a Cruise Night Car Show every Wednesday through Oct. 26 from 5 to 9 p.m. Visit the Shoppes, enjoy a bite to eat and then check out the fine array of classic cars in the parking lot. Call 929-3500.
Thursday 2
Stony Brook Walking Tour
Join the Ward Melville Heritage Organization for a Secrets of Stony Brook Village Walking Tour today at 11:50 a.m. or 3:50 p.m. Hear some newly uncovered stories while strolling through the village. $10 per person. Make your reservations by calling 751-2244.
Theater
‘Mamma Mia!’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson closes its 2021-2022 with Mamma Mia! from May 21 to June 25. ABBA’s timeless hits tell the enchanting story! On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the Greek island paradise they last visited twenty years ago. Featuring such chart toppers as “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!,” and “Dancing Queen,” this is a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget. Contains adult themes and situations. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and older. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘Much Ado About Nothing’
The Carriage House Players continues its annual Shakespeare Festival at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with Much Ado About Nothing from June 5 to June 26 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.
‘Kinky Boots’
John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Kinky Boots from May 19 to July 3. With songs by Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein, this dazzling, sassy and uplifting musical celebrates a joyous story, inspired by true life events, taking you from the factory floor of a men’s shoe factory to the glamorous catwalks of Milan! Tickets range from $75 to $80 with free valet parking. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. Read review next week!
Vendors Wanted
◆ The Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25A, Wading River has vendor opportunities available for its upcoming outdoor Farmer’s Markets on June 18,July 16, Aug. 20 and Sept.17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 631-929-3500 x708 for an application.
◆ Commack United Methodist Church, 486 Townline Road, Commack seeks vendors for its Community Yard Sale on June 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fee is $25 per space. Tables are not supplied and the event is held rain or shine. Outdoor spaces are 10’ by 10’; indoor spaces 6’ by 6’. For additional information, call 631-499-7310 or email [email protected].
◆ Farmingville Hills Chamber of Commerce will host its 10th annual Farmingville Street Fair along Portion Road on June 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interestedvendors can call 631-317-1738 or visit www.farmingvillechamber.com for an application.
◆ St. Thomas of Canterbury, 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). Visit www.stthomasofcanterbury.net or call 631-265-4520 to obtain an application or get more info.
Memorial Day parades/ceremonies
Pixabay photo
‘Remember those who served before.
Remember those who are no more.
Remember those who serve today.
Remember them all on Memorial Day.’
— Emily Toma
Centerport
The Centerport Fire Department will host a Memorial Day Parade on May 30 at 10 a.m. from Centershore Road, Harrison Drive, east on Mill Dam Road Centerport, southeast on Prospect Road, south on Little Neck Road.Ends at 9 Park Circle, Centerport followed by a ceremony at the memorial monuments in the park. 631-261-5916
Commack
VFW Elwood-Commack Post 9263 hosts a Memorial Day parade on May 30 at 10 a.m. Kick off is at the Home Depot parking lot at the intersection of Larkfield Road and Jericho Turnpike and head east on Jericho Turnpike to junction at Veterans Highway to Cannon Park for a ceremony. 631-368-9463
East Northport
Father Judge Council Knights of Columbus hosts the East Northport Memorial Day Parade with kick off on May 30 at 12:15 p.m. at Clay Pitts and Larkfield roads and proceed to John Walsh Memorial Park adjacent to Northport-East Northport Library. 631-262-1891
Greenlawn
Organized by the Greenlawn Fire Department, a Memorial Day parade will kick off on May 30 at 9 a.m. on East Maple Road, south on Broadway to Greenlawn Memorial Park, at the corner of Pulaski Road and Broadway. 631-261-9106
Kings Park
The 96th annual Kings Park Memorial Day Parade, sponsored by American Legion Post 944, will be held on May 30 at 9 a.m. Kick off is at the RJO School at Old Dock Road and Church Street to the Veterans Plaza at Route 25A for flag ceremonies. 631-269-4140
Northport
Organized by the Northport American Legion Post 694, the parade will begin at 10 a.m. on May 30 at Laurel Avenue School and proceed to the Northport Village Park. 631-261-4424
Huntington
The Town of Huntington will host a Memorial Day Wreath Ceremony on May 29 at Veterans Plaza on the front lawn of Huntington Town Hall at 100 Main Street at noon. Patriotic music will be performed by the Northport High School Choir. 631-351-3012
On May 30, a Memorial Day parade organized by Nathan Hale VFW Post 1469 and American Legion Post 360 will commence at 10 a.m. at West Neck Road and Gerard Street and head east on Main Street to Stewart Avenue in Huntington. 631-421-0535
Port Jefferson
On May 30, American Legion Wilson Ritch Post 432 will be performing a Memorial Day ceremony honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces at Port Jefferson Memorial Park, West Broadway, Port Jefferson. Call 631-473-9774 for the time.
St. James
A Memorial Day Parade organized by Sgt. John W. Cooke VFW Post 395 will be held on May 30 at 10 a.m. The parade steps off at the corner of Lake Avenue and Woodlawn Avenue and proceeds to St. James Elementary School for a ceremony. 631-862-7965
Setauket
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3054 will hold its annual Three Village Memorial Day Parade in Setauket on May 30 at 11 a.m. Parade starts at the corner of Main Street and Route 25A with an opening ceremony at the Village Green across from the library and a closing ceremony at Memorial Park along Route 25A. 631-751-5541
Smithtown
The Smithtown Fire Department will host a Memorial Day Parade on May 30 at noon. Kickoff is at the corner of Main Street and Singer Lane, continuing west on Main Street to Town Hall. 631-360-7620
Sound Beach
The Sound Beach Civic Association hosts a Memorial Day service at Veterans Memorial Park, New York Ave., Sound Beach on May 30 at noon. 631-744-6952
Stony Brook
VFW Post 3054 will host a Memorial Day ceremony at the Stony Brook Harbor Memorial (near Stony Brook Fire Department) on Main Street in Stony Brook Village on May 30 at 9 a.m. 631-751-5541
Friday, May 27, is National Heat Awareness Day, and PSEG Long Island reminds customers to properly protect themselves during the high heat days of summer.
PSEG Long Island is prepared to meet the increased electrical demand that high temperatures bring.
“There has been a shift in weather patterns over the last few years toward higher temperatures, and PSEG Long Island prepares for these, along with other extreme conditions, by updating and maintaining the electric infrastructure all year round,” said Michael Sullivan, PSEG Long Island’s vice president of Transmission and Distribution. “We do this so our customers have the best service possible under these conditions. It is also important for families to know how to maintain their personal safety during high heat.”
During extreme heat conditions, customers should:
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
Avoid wearing dark colors. Dark colors absorb the sun’s rays.
Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
Avoid overexertion during work or exercise, especially between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service, “on average, extreme heat has killed more people in the last 10 years than any other weather phenomena.” The NWS encourages people to remember the acronym HEAT: Hydrate. Educate yourself. Act quickly. Take it easy.
Customers on qualifying life-support equipment can register for the PSEG Long Island Critical Care Program to receive enhanced notifications from the company. During severe weather, registered customers will receive additional outreach from PSEG Long Island. Customers who rely on such equipment are responsible for planning ahead to meet medical needs in the event of a power outage. If power is lost, every effort will be made to restore it as soon as possible. Participation in the Critical Care Program does not guarantee priority power restoration. To register, call 1-800-490-0025.
High temperatures can also lead to higher energy use, resulting in higher electric bills. To help save energy and money this summer, PSEG Long Island offers the following tips to customers:
Do not cool an empty house. Set your thermostat higher when you are away, or use a smart thermostat to control the temperature in your home. Customers can receive an incentive on qualifying thermostats for enrolling in PSEG Long Island’s Smart Savers Thermostat program, which can be used to control usage during peak summer days. Visit https://www.psegliny.com/efficiency for more details.
Seal holes and cracks around doors and windows with caulk or weather-stripping.
Replace air filters monthly. Dirty filters make your air conditioner work harder.
Operate appliances in the morning or evening when it is cooler outside.
Set refrigerators and freezers to the most efficient temperatures.
Replace old appliances with new, energy efficient ENERGY STAR® appliances.
Close blinds and draperies facing the sun to keep out the sun’s heat.
Ceiling fans cool fast and cost less than air conditioning. (In hot weather, set your ceiling fan to spin quickly, counterclockwise to push air downward toward the floor.)
Extreme temperatures and high electric demand can sometimes cause scattered, heat-related outages. Customers can prepare by keeping PSEG Long Island’s contact information handy. During extreme heat, PSEG Long Island will have additional personnel available to address outages safely and as quickly as possible.
Stay connected:
Download the PSEG Long Island mobile app to report outages and receive information on restoration times, crew locations and more.
Report an outage and receive status updates by texting OUT to PSEGLI (773454). You can also report your outage through PSEG Long Island’s app, its website. at www.psegliny.com/outages or with your voice using the Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant[1] app on your smartphone.
To report an outage or downed wire call PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour Electric Service number: 800-490-0075.
Follow PSEG Long Island on Facebook and Twitter to report an outage and for updates before, during and after the storm.
Visit PSEG Long Island’s MyPower map for the latest in outage info, restoration times and crew locations across Long Island and the Rockaways at https://mypowermap.psegliny.com/.
PSEG Long Island energy efficiency programs provide residential and commercial customers with tools to lower energy use and save money. For information on PSEG Long Island energy saving programs and tips visit https://www.psegliny.com/savemoney.
[1] Amazon, Alexa is a trademark of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, and Google Assistant is a trademark of Google LLC.
The Whaling Museum and Education Center is awarded $5,000 from The Museum Association of New York (MANY) in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).
The Museum Association of New York (MANY) in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) awarded a total of $500,981 to 102 grantees to assist New York museums with capacity building.
“We thank NYSCA for this partnership and this opportunity to rapidly distribute much-needed funding to New York’s museums,” said Erika Sanger, Executive Director, MANY.
“The wonder of our whaling past continues to capture the public’s imagination. At the same time, many people are unaware of how our country’s maritime industries provided the greatest source of employment to African Americans in the 19th century. There are estimates that between one-quarter and one-third of all American whaling crews were people of color. To illuminate our region’s cultural heritage, we will apply our Partnership Grant Award to strengthen our museum’s commitment to grow engagement through equitable representation in our exhibitions and the stories we share. We are thankful to NYSCA and MANY for choosing to help our museum accomplish this goal for the Long Island community, ” said Nomi Dayan, Executive Director, The Whaling Museum & Education Center.
Capacity Building grants were awarded in amounts up to and including $5,000 to help museums respond to pandemic-related challenges, build financial stability, strengthen board and community engagement, update technology, support leadership, and change systems to address diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and justice. Awards were made to museums of all budget sizes and disciplines.
The Whaling Museum & Education Center will use the grant funds in advancing the Museum’s capacity to develop, install, and evaluate the special exhibition and public programming project, Black Whalers (working title).The project explores the deep significance of whaling in African American history, a topic largely unknown to the general public. Black Whalers (working title).will benefit lifelong learners by preserving our democratic culture, renewing cultural heritage, deepening cross-cultural understanding, expanding empathy and tolerance, and contributing to strengthened cultural identity by fostering a shared vision for the Long Island community in a post-covid world.
“The arts and culture sector is facing a multi-year recovery process after two years of unimaginable challenges,” said Mara Manus, Executive Director, NYSCA. “We are grateful to MANY for their stewardship of this opportunity that will ensure New York State museums continue to grow and thrive. We send our congratulations to all grantees on their awards.”
Partnership Grants for Capacity Building are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Save the date! The Meadow Club, 1147 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station will be hosting the 7th Annual United Nations Day of Yoga on June 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is open to all and will include a variety of yoga classes for all ages and levels, meditation sessions, vendors and more.
This event is being sponsored by Indu Kaur, Director of The Meadow Club; Jas Singh, founder of ReflectandRespond; Sharmila Nigam, founder of One Love Generation; and Marcy Guzman of The Healing Center at Port Jeff Salt Cave, along with 14 holistic teachers and volunteers.
Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn, Director of the Staller Center Alan Inkles, and President of the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce Jennifer Dzvonar, to name a few, will be in attendance for the candle lighting ceremony to start the morning program.
A vision of Indu Kaur, owner of The Meadow Club, the event is intended to promote harmony, world peace, health and wellness through the various practices of yoga and holistic modalities.
Event speakers include Dr. N who is Board certified Doctor of Integrative Medicine, Alternative Medicine and Doctor of Humanitarian services with PhD graduated from International Quantum University of Integrative Medicine; and Meditation teacher Bhante Kottave Nanda from Long Island Meditation Center.
Attendees will be able to learn and practice various forms of yoga such as Hatha, Chair, Kundalini, Restorative, Vinyasa, Yin, Yoga Nidra and more from local instructors of Yoga, Pranayama breathing, Ayurveda, Holistic health lifestyle, meditation, Reiki, financial wellbeing and more.
In addition, a delicious vegan vegetarian buffet will be available for a nominal fee along with raffle of baskets valued at $200+ to support this fully volunteered sponsored event and raise awareness of peace with yoga, love, and light. Bring your own yoga mats or mats will be available for purchase.
The event is FREE and open to the public. RSVP requested by calling 631-828-4818.
This week’s featured shelter pet is Linx, a 3-year-old German Shepherd. Linx is highly intelligent with a love for chasing tennis balls. He will only go to a home that has experience with the breed.Linx is not a dog that enjoys cuddle time; if it’s not play time, he is not interested. He should be the only pet in a adult only home with lots of time to throw tennis balls and teach him new commands.
If you would like to meet Linx, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with him in a domestic setting.
The Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Visitor hours are currently Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only). Call 631-360-7575 or visit www.townofsmithtownanimalshelter.com for more information.ShelShel
The beginning of this year has proved to look at more than one factor when predicting the future of real estate. Sellers and buyers have been on the edge of their seats.
National headlines, including “foreclosures” and “recession,” haven’t helped matters. To avoid misconceptions, those wanting to sell or buy a home need to read past headlines for context.
Let’s discuss foreclosures
Earlier in the pandemic, people were eligible for a forbearance program for coronavirus-related financial hardships. The federal program allowed property owners going through a difficult time to request a pause or reduction of their mortgage payments from their lenders. It provided an opportunity for many to get back on their feet.
Experts are finding that many who took advantage of this plan could catch up on their payments or restructure their loans, making it easier for them to make payments again.
Mortgage Bankers Association findings show that 36% of loans upon exiting the forbearance program were paid in full, 44.6% were repayment plans and 18.4% of mortgage holders still had problems.
For the homeowners who had enough equity to sell their homes, the real estate market has quickly absorbed the new listings because inventory is low and demand still remains high.
Recession doesn’t equal housing crisis
When some people hear “recession,” they think if there’s a housing bubble it will be ready to pop. Looking back at 2008, I can understand the concerns. Interestingly, there have been half a dozen recessions since 1980, and homes have appreciated four times and only twice depreciated. (See the chart in my ad in Arts & Lifestyles)
The data proves that a slow economy doesn’t necessarily mean home values fall.
I mentioned in past columns that this time around, as homes appreciated and the trend continued, we were in better condition than 2008 when a high percentage of borrowers were defaulting on their subprime mortgages.
Those mortgages were easier to get than they are today, and the banking industry learned from its mistake. Banks are looking for buyers with credit scores on the high side who can afford a solid down payment. Also, homeowners who refinance must maintain 20% equity, which wasn’t the case in 2008 and led to property values falling to a point where the owner had a higher principal than what their house was worth.
Takeaway
Timing is everything. There’s no need to panic even if the economy isn’t ideal. With a little research, you can find the best time for you to sell or buy a home.
So … let’s talk.
Michael Ardolino is the Founder/Owner-Broker of Realty Connect USA.
Communities, both human and otherwise, thrive through connection. Four Harbors Audubon Society celebrates these relationships with a Tree Fest, a community event hosted at Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road in Setauket, on Saturday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visitors will be able to partake in raffles, face painting, arts and crafts, educational exhibits by Avalon Nature Preserve and Living Lands Habitat Garden Design, a live bird presentation by Sweetbriar Nature Center of Smithtown, and other activities.
During the event, Four Harbors Audubon Society will be giving away native tree and shrub whips procured from the Department of Conservation’s Saratoga Farm. These will include Black Cherry, Pussy Willow, Bare Oak, Beach Plum, Bayberry, Button Bush, and Red Osier Dogwood. In addition, a native plant sale will feature local flora such as shrubs, grasses, and spring/early summer flowering herbaceous plants.
Board member Sue Avery said that the demand for native plants has increased in recent years as gardeners have become more cognizant of the benefits of growing them. Four Harbors promotes the national Audubon Society’s Plants for Birds initiative, which is an online resource that identifies the best plants for local birds. “We hope to raise awareness on the significance of trees and native plants for our ecosystem and how essential they are for birds,” Avery added.
Native plants are integral to the biosphere and local ecosystems. They provide fruits, berries, and nuts for birds as well as other animals and create a habitat for pollinators and other insects.
The Tree Fest aligns with the national Audubon Society’s objective of restoring the wildlife and plants that have diminished or disappeared because of climate change, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, pollution, and other environmental factors.
“Basically, National Audubon and Audubon New York call this type of work bird-friendly communities work,” President of the Audubon Society Joy Cirigliano said.
Creating and supporting a stable environment for birds is incorporated into the Audubon Society’s mission, which recently launched the Bird Oasis Program that encourages residents to construct habitats in their yards to support bird life.
“Part of the Audubon Society’s work is to restore as much habitat as possible because when birds thrive, people prosper. Everything in the natural world is connected and the health of one goes hand and with the health of the other,” Cirigliano said.
Throughout the year, the Audubon Society organizes bird walks, installs native plant gardens in public places, and advocates for open spaces. Such a commitment to the local environment and its inhabitants is a trait Three Village Historical Society (TVHS) Director Mari Irizarry recognizes well.
“Community is at the core of every program we run at TVHS and, we are absolutely thrilled to host Four Harbors Audubon Society on May 28th for their annual Tree Fest,” Irizarry said. “We support Four Harbors Audubon Society mission to protect and preserve birds, wildlife, and the places and resources needed, for today and tomorrow.”
Admission to the Tree Fest is free with a rain date of May 29. For more information, please visit https://4has.org or call 631-675-1803.
From left, Harry Hadden-Paton, Laura Carmichael, Tuppence Middleton and Allen Leech in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Focus Features
Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel
In 2015, the landmark television series Downton Abbey ended its six-season run. Four years later, Downton Abbey arrived on the big screen (reviewed in this paper in September 2019). Set in 1927, the story focused on a visit from King George V and Queen Mary. While the film lacked the weight and depth of the series, it was a satisfactory outing for Crawley fans, featuring almost the entire roster of principals.
After several delays in release, Downton Abbey 2, rechristened Downton Abbey: A New Era, arrives. Picking up one year later, the film opens with the wedding of former chauffeur Tom Branson (Allen Leech) to Lucy (Tuppence Middleton), the illegitimate child of Lady Bagshaw (Imelda Staunton). The scene serves as a reverse curtain call of the entire cast—both upstairs and down.
A New Era weaves two unrelated plots. In one, the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) has inherited a villa in the south of France, left to her by a possible former paramour, the late Marquis de Montmirail. While the Dowager is too ill to travel, members of the household journey to meet the man’s irate widow (Nathalie Baye) and welcoming son (Jonathan Zaccaï). Here, questions arise regarding the Earl of Grantham’s (Hugh Bonneville) birth.
Meanwhile, in need of a cash influx, the family leases Downton to a film company. Lady Mary takes charge of the endeavor, dealing with the director (Hugh Dancy), who, in traditional Downton fashion, falls in love with her. The undertaking is made more difficult by its beautiful but crass leading lady (Laura Haddock), coupled with the reality that silent films are dying.
The plots serve to put the characters in action but do little more. However, they offer a reminder that the Downton universe revolves around property—acquisition, ownership, and maintenance. Beginning with Episode One, Downton Abbey was driven by the issue of entailment and succession. With this shadow no longer present, the tension is gone. Even the roof repairs seem less dire and more a whacky (and almost desperate) way to introduce a screwball element. There is something tamped down in the emergency.
The simplistic arcs are predictable and provide opportunities for glorious scenery and occasionally sitcom exchanges. There are many jokes at the expense of the film industry and the French, but the barbs are benign. The film is liberally sprinkled with minor subplots involving a peppering of romance and domestic frustrations, but these function to give the less active characters a bit of screen time.
Ultimately, the problem at the core of both films is that the characters have matured. They no longer have the life-and-death conflicts that shook their worlds and forced them to look outward and inward. The entire clan has become not just better people but their best selves. The often dangerous and destructive relationship that fueled the conflict between Lady Mary and her sister, Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael), no longer exists. If they are not best friends, they are as close as possible.
Even the usually destructive Barrow (Robert James-Collier) has become a more benevolent soul. Happiness is not bad, but it is not the furnace that heats a story. The roadblocks and hurdles are minor; the experience is almost tacit. The culmination of emotional growth is not necessarily the best dramatic force.
Because of this, the first two-thirds of the film are composed of brief scenes (sometimes as short as two or three lines), jumping from place to place and from one set of characters to another, allowing for barely a breath. The frantic, frenetic, and often whimsical quality has a Muppets Take Downton Abbey feel.
Strangely though, these are minor cavils. Watching A New Era—which is an improvement on the first—reminds us of the journey taken. The actors are uniformly true to the characters who have aged and seem appropriately worse for wear. The delicacy and honesty of the performances echo a world created over many years. The final act allows the characters to breathe. Even in the most contrived situations, the company is incapable of a wrong or false note.
In one of the most beautiful scenes, Isobel (Penelope Wilton) and the Dowager (Smith) reflect on their history, reminding us how these longtime adversaries developed a deep bond. This is the film—and Downton—at its best.
Many loose threads are tied up, providing closure. But the ending also honors the circle of life, composed of births and weddings, illnesses and deaths.
It would be a safe bet that there will be a Downton Abbey 3, probably dealing with the problematic situation in Lady Mary’s marriage to racing fanatic Henry Talbot (absent from the film as actor Matthew Goode had production conflicts). In addition, societal changes, financial challenges, and global conflict will likely offer myriad opportunities. And while nothing will take us back to the height of Downton Abbey, we will gladly join the Crawleys as they move forward.
Rated PG, the film is now playing in local theaters.
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