The Smithtown Township Arts Council has announced in a press release that the works of Smithtown artist Lynn Staiano will be on view at Apple Bank of Smithtown, 91 Route 111, Smithtown grin Feb. 21 to April 21. The exhibition, part of the Arts Council’s Outreach Gallery Program, can be viewed during regular banking hours — Monday to o Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Smithtown artist Lynn Staiano is a licensed psychotherapist and clinical social worker by day, and a landscape artist in the evenings and weekends. She is a self-taught artist who has always been involved with creative arts, having had a mother who was an artist in her youth. However, in recent years, Lynn has developed a new passion and talent for painting.
“The isolation of the pandemic opened up my ability to really observe and appreciate little details in nature; reflections in water, how the sunlight diffuses through the trees, or how shadows cover the grass,” she said. “I try to capture these elements and hope that my paintings evoke emotion or give the viewer an experience. I especially love it when it feels as though you can walk right into one of my paintings. That’s always the best compliment I could ever receive about my art.”
Staiano is now further developing her technique and style through tutorials and classes. Some of her favorite things to paint include rustic old farmhouses or uninhabited buildings, barns, quaint restaurants, and colorful landscapes. She paints in studio or plein air, primarily in acrylic, and has tried pencil sketches, pastels, and hopes to someday master oils.
“STAC is grateful to Apple Bank for its continued support of culture in our communities. We are so happy to feature the talents of Long Island artists in this space!,” said the press release.
Gallery North in Setauket has announced it’s latest exhibit,Emergence: Gerald Monroe, a memorial retrospective of the late abstract artist Gerald Monroe, on view from Feb. 24 to April 3. An opening reception will be held on Feb. 24 from 6 pm to 8 pm.
The exhibition and opening reception will be free and open to the public.
This exhibition of small, medium and large oil paintings — Monroe’s first at Gallery North — embodies every possible meaning of the title, Emergence. These are paintings formed from pure intensity of feeling. Each painting arises from in-the-moment narratives, personal speculation, and a long-held fascination with nature.
Monroe’s abstractions derive from a decades-long dedication to Modernist abstraction, and uniformly emerge from natural sources — bodies, plant forms, passing clouds, thin rays of light, or the slow melt of a sunset seen from his studio.
“Every mark is a speculative act; uncertainty spurs possibilities, only to have them become mired in incoherence. I must bring method to the madness: the creation of a well-constructed picture that relies on the tendency of color, shape, texture, etc. to strike metaphorical connections to the real world of palpable space and energy,” said Monroe, who passed away in June, 2021.
Emergence explores the natural world and reveals how our physical experience of the world shapes and sometimes distorts our inner lives in mysterious ways.
Gerald Monroe was born in New York City in 1926. He attended classes at the Art Students League in Manhattan and graduated from the Cooper Union for Art. He then earned his doctorate in education from New York University and spent the early years of his career as a scholar and published author, known for his seminal research on the activities of the Artists Union during the Great Depression.
Based in Water Mill, he exhibited widely, including solo shows at Manhattan galleries, the New Jersey State Museum and the Loeb Center at NYU, as well as group exhibitions at the Parrish Museum in Southampton, the Heckscher Museum in Huntington and Guild Hall in East Hampton. His work can be found in many public and private collections, including the Newark Museum.
This exhibition is generously sponsored by Jefferson’s Ferry, and Suffolk County’s Department of Economic Development and Planning.
Gallery North is located at 90 North Country Road in Setauket. For more information, call 631-751-2676 or visit www.gallerynorth.org.
Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, 120 Main St., Setauket will host a Health and Hygiene Drive from Saturday, Feb. 26 to Sunday, March 13.
Many of us take basic personal care items for granted, but they are essential for day-to-day health. The cost of these necessities can add up and may be inaccessible to some individuals. Thus, to support the community, the library will be collecting new toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, shampoo, mouthwash, razors, shaving cream, feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, diapers, and more.
These personal care items will be distributed to various local organizations that help those in need of supplies. A box will be located in the Library lobby and all (residents or nonresidents) are welcome to donate. Call 631-941-4080 for more information.
Farmingdale State College (FSC) and The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) have signed a strategic alliance to drive innovation and support for emerging STEM talent across Long Island. The announcement was made in press release on Feb. 10.
As part of the collaboration, ELC has leased approximately 40,000 sq. ft. of laboratory and office space atBroad Hollow Bioscience Park (BHBP), located on the FSC campus. ELC intends to hire talent for more than 30 new scientific R&D roles and in spring 2022 will relocate select teams of employees to the new space.
The collaboration will include an applied learning initiative, which will begin in Fall 2022, and will help prepare students in FSC’s science and engineering programs for potential R&D roles at ELC. It will also include internships and collaborative research activities for FSC students and faculty, adjunct academic opportunities for ELC R&D leaders, and student scholarships.
The arrangement also brings to BHBP an anchor tenant focused on research and development, and marks ELC’s first co-location with an academic institution. The space at BHBP is only two miles from ELC’s skin care, makeup, body, fragrance, basic science and advanced technology R&D labs in Melville.
The Broad Hollow Bioscience Park is a partnership between Farmingdale State College, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and the Research Foundation of the State University of New York (SUNY). BHBP is home to various biotech companies partnering to grow the bioscience industry along the Route 110 corridor.
“We are thrilled to welcome The Estée Lauder Companies to the Broad Hollow Bioscience Park and Farmingdale State College,” said Dr. John Nader, President of Farmingdale State College (FSC). “This extraordinary public-private alliance brings a premier corporate partner to our campus and will lead to scholarship support and collaboration opportunities for Farmingdale State College students and faculty. This is a victory for Long Island, the College, and the region’s bioscience corridor.”
The new alliance reinforces ELC’s longstanding commitment to investing in and modernizing its Long Island operations and supporting the local communities in New York State. The company currently, which has been on Long Island for more than 50 years, has thousands of employees across R&D, manufacturing, finance, information technology, and other areas working on its Melville, NY campus. ELC has a strong history of hiring SUNY graduates and also has FSC alumni working at the company.
“We are very proud to collaborate with Farmingdale State College and SUNY to further fuel R&D innovation and empower STEM leaders of tomorrow across Long Island and New York State,” said Lisa Napolione, Senior Vice President, Global Research & Development at The Estée Lauder Companies.
“At ELC, our scientists, researchers, engineers, and product developers thrive on combining science, technology and creativity to formulate transformative prestige beauty products. Our collaborations with universities around the world help us stay on the cutting edge and advance our commitment to scientific excellence and delivering the highest quality, breakthrough prestige beauty products to consumers.”
“This partnership between Farmingdale State College and The Estée Lauder Companies at Broad Hollow Bioscience Park is a testament to how SUNY and the private sector can work together to create limitless opportunities within STEM fields,” said SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley.
“I’m confident this collaboration will yield hands-on experiences for our students to learn and grow, research and instruction opportunities for our faculty and job creation potential for years to come. Congratulations to Farmingdale State College on this exciting venture, and to our students who are seizing this opportunity and making their mark,” he added.
The Three Village Historical Society (TVHS) hasannounced that Mari Irizarry has been appointed by the Board of Trustees as its new Director. Her appointment comes at an opportune time in the Society’s history, as it will unveil powerful new augmented reality experiences this spring that complement the Spies! exhibit and, plans for the Dominick-Crawford Barn Education Center groundbreaking.
Irizarry has worked with TVHS since 2016 and has emerged as a dedicated visionary after the forced restructuring, in January 2021, brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Mari brings over 20 years’ experience as a leader in non-profit and government sectors, in NYC and Long Island, focusing on leadership, programming, strategy, marketing, and communications.
“The Board is ecstatic to have Mari lead the Three Village Historical Society as we begin our next endeavor of expanding programming in the Three Village area with the addition of the Dominick Crawford Barn Education Center,” said Jeff Schnee, President of the Board of Trustees. “We are thankful that Mari has devoted so much of her time and expertise to the growth of the Society. She has walked with me every step of the way since the Society had to shift operations with Covid-19. In the end, we were compelled by Mari’s unique combination of energy, thought leadership, and experience, as well as her rare ability to toggle effortlessly between vision and action. We could not be more excited about this appointment!”
“I am very proud and honored to be part of this great organization that has been a staple of our Three Village area for nearly 60 years,” said Irizarry. “I look forward to building strategic partnerships and continuing to build on this incredible legacy which has already contributed so much to our community.”
During the February school break, Monday to Friday, February 21 to 25, the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Reichert Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport will be open every day from noon to 4 p.m. (and Sunday as always) for exploring galleries, guided Mansion tours, and shows. The Planetarium also will be offering shows on Friday and Saturday, February 25 and 26, from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
The Gift Shop and Café will be open. Visitors can purchase sandwiches, salads, and snacks prepared by the renowned Copenhagen Bakery and Café in Northport.
Visitors may purchase tickets for guided tours of the Vanderbilt Mansion and for two recently premiered Planetarium shows: Exoplanets: Discovering New Worlds and Explore. And parents can sign up their children for fun, creative workshops.
In Exoplanets, visitors will be transported to planets orbiting faraway stars. While science has not yet found evidence of alien life, this exciting program speculates on the existence of such life and explores how scientists are currently searching for exoplanets and their potential inhabitants. Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Explore is an odyssey to the planet Mars, seen through the lens of human history and scientific development. This visually stunning fulldome film begins with a look at how scholars and scientists throughout the ages used the sky as a clock and calendar to measure the passage of time. Their charts and star catalogs informed the modern science of astronomy. Dave Bush, director of the Reichert Planetarium, called Explore “one of the finest productions ever made available to our audiences. It’s truly an immersive masterpiece.” Recommended for ages 14 and up.
Children’s Winter Workshops
Portraits and Mixed-Media ‘Selfies’ – Monday, February 21: 10 am – 12 pm
Grades K-4 | $20 / $18 MembersWe will see Vanderbilt family portraits in the historic house, have a special viewing of a portrait of George Washington, and create a mixed-media “selfie” portrait.
Bulb Botany and Winter Blooms – Wednesday, February 23: 10 am – 12 pm
Grades K-4 | $20 / $18 MembersExplore the ways living things get energy, examine plant bulbs, make a bulb forcing container.
The Museum is following New York State and Suffolk County guidelines – wearing masks is suggested, but not required. For more information, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
On January 1, 2020, as we entered another year without any idea of what was on the horizon, a new federal law took effect regarding retirement accounts.
The SECURE Act, “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement,” affects millions of Americans who have been saving through tax-deferred retirement plans with the biggest impact falling those set to inherit these plans. Now, two years later, SECURE is still a new concept for many clients who are unaware of the law or how it applies to their own situation.
One change is that the age at which a plan holder must take required minimum distributions (“RMDs”) was increased from 70 1⁄2 to 72. RMDs are taken annually, based on the full value of the account on December 31 of the prior year and the life expectancy of the plan holder. The delay to age 72 will result in a year and a half more of tax-deferred growth on the funds.
SECURE also created a $10,000 penalty-free withdrawal for someone giving birth to or adopting a child. The Act also expanded the ability for small business owners to offer retirement plan funding. However, the most drastic item in SECURE takes aim at the beneficiary of the plan after the death of the original plan holder.
Prior to SECURE, a non-spouse designated beneficiary had the option of converting the plan to an inherited IRA and taking a RMD based upon their own life expectancy. The beneficiary could take more than the RMD if needed, realizing that each distribution is taxable income.
Consider a 90-year-old with an IRS life expectancy of 12.2 years who names a 65-year-old child as designated beneficiary. A 65-year-old has an IRS life expectancy of 22.9 years. That beneficiary could previously “stretch” the distributions over their life expectancy and allow those funds to grow tax-deferred for many more years. With SECURE, this stretch is lost for the majority of beneficiaries. SECURE prescribes a mandatory 10-year payout for a designated beneficiary. Being forced to liquidate in the 10 years will result in the payment of more income taxes than if the beneficiary had the 22.9-year payout.
The SECURE Act carved out limited exceptions to this 10-year payout rule. These five categories of designated beneficiaries include a spouse, minor child of the plan holder, chronically ill person, disabled person, or a person not more than 10 years younger than the plan holder.
If you have retirement assets, this change serves as a trigger to have your plan reviewed by your estate planning attorney and financial advisor. This review is especially important where an estate plan includes a trust as the beneficiary of a retirement account. The terms of the trust may need to be adjusted from being a conduit trust to an accumulation trust.
A conduit trust forces all distributions out to the beneficiary, whereas an accumulation trust allows the distributions to remain protected in the trust. Other clients may decide to leave tax-deferred retirement assets to charities rather than individuals. Still others may rearrange allocations to make IRAs payable to a person not less than 10 years younger than them, such as a sibling, thereby focusing on saving other types of assets for beneficiaries otherwise forced to take a 10-year taxable payout.
Many Americans have spent their working lives contributing to tax-deferred plans with the idea that it will give them a stream of income in retirement, and pass on to their beneficiaries as a stream of income. While SECURE may not alter the plan for some, the impact of SECURE should be considered by all. Stay tuned for future updates because there are already whisperings about SECURE 2.0 which, among other things, may raise the age at which RMDs are required.
Nancy Burner, Esq. practices elder law and estate planning from her East Setauket office. Visit www.burnerlaw.com.
Over these past two trying years, more and more people have been flocking to nature for recreation and solace. It’s no wonder that birding, also known as birdwatching, continues to grow in popularity.
Birding can be enjoyed by all and in just about any spot you can imagine.Not only is it an engaging hobby for the whole family, but it can also be emotionally therapeutic, mentally stimulating, and provide physical exercise.Additionally, being connected to nature makes us more attuned to our planet’s needs, and more passionate about protecting it. There’s never been a better time to begin birding. I’d like to share a few easy tips to help you get started.
1. There’s no place like home. Odds are, you have a variety of birds right where you live. Get familiar with your common backyard species that are easy to identify such as Northern Cardinals and Blue Jays.Then start to notice finer details in other birds such as different sparrows. You will be amazed at the variety you see.
2. Get your hands on some resources to help you identify the birds you see.
◆ Merlin is a great free app. It allows you to enter some basic info such as color, size, and location, to help you figure out what you’ve spotted.
◆ AllAboutBirds.org is a phenomenal, user-friendly website chock full of helpful birding info.
◆ Field Guides: My favorites are the Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America, the Crossley ID Guide Eastern Birds, and the Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America.
3. Create a Backyard Bird Oasis. Make your yard a paradise for a wide array of bird species by offering various food and water sources, and shelter.
There are many ways to feed your feathered friends, including planting native berry-and-seed-producing plants and offering feeders full of birdseed and suet. Some of my favorite native flora are Red Mulberry bushes to attract anything from Baltimore Orioles to Red-Breasted Grosbeaks, and Bee Balm flowers for Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds as well as other pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
In addition to native plants, especially at times when they are not in season, consider supplementing your backyard birds’ diets with quality seed and suet. Safflower and black oil sunflower seeds attract dozens of species of songbirds. Hearty suet is the perfect winter treat for woodpeckers, chickadees, and more, due to its high protein and fat content.
If you choose to set up birdfeeders of any kind, (platform feeders, cage feeders, etc.) please be mindful of where you place them. Be sure they are several feet away from glass windows to avoid bird collisions. Additionally, they should be very close to shelter, such as shrubs and trees, so birds can easily hide if a predator is nearby. Keep your feeders clean to help maintain the birds’ health.
Providing clean sources of water is equally important. Birdbaths, ponds, and water dishes are wonderful ways to ensure your backyard birds are hydrated. Use a “water-wiggler” or similar device to keep the water from becoming stagnate and home to bacteria and mosquito larvae. Think about purchasing a heated birdbath in the colder months so the water doesn’t freeze. Lastly, the water should be shallow enough for birds to stand in.
Shelter for birds in your yard can range from a pile of wood to a stone wall to leafy trees and shrubs. Birds also require good nesting materials and nesting locations. Although it depends on the species, birds often nest on tree branches, in tree cavities, or in or around manmade structures. They build their nests using grasses, twigs, found objects, and even mud. If you are looking to attract more nesting birds, namely woodpeckers, consider not removing dead trees on your property. Dead trees are home to lots of cavities where birds like to nest, and they are home to millions of insects which are a vital food source to birds and their chicks. For more information, visit 4has.org/bird-oasis.
4. Seek out Other Birders. Join a local Audubon chapter or one of the many bird-related social media groups. The birding community can be very friendly, with members eager to share their knowledge.What’s this Bird? from the American Birding Association on Facebook has very helpful and knowledgeable members.
5. Keep a Life List. It’s an exciting challenge to keep track of all the bird species you see. The ABA has a list you can download at https://www.aba.org/aba-checklist/
6. Get involved in Remote Learning. Cornell Lab of Ornithology offers many resources (free and some with a fee) for learning about birds.For youngsters all the way through high school, check out https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/, and for birders of all ages, check out Bird Academy, https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/
7. This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning eBird.org. This amazingly comprehensive website provides resources such as maps, photos, descriptions, graphs, notifications, and other data collected by birders worldwide.Participate in community science by making your own account so that you can contribute to the findings and keep track of your life list using eBird.
8. Optics such as Binoculars or a Monocular (I found a monocular simpler to use when I was younger) can certainly add to the experience and make it easier to enjoy birds’ behaviors and identify them. 8×42 binoculars are a popular choice among birders. The numbers refer to the magnification and objective diameter.
9.A few tips on how to Bird Responsibly.
◆ Maintain a respectful distance when birding.This is especially important for migratory species such as the Snowy Owl.Remain at least a few hundred feet away from such species. There have been many unfortunate circumstances (out of not knowing or out of selfishness to get a better photo), of people getting too close and stressing out birds that require rest from their long journey.
◆ Apply bird collision window stickers. Birds have trouble seeing the reflections in glass and often accidentally collide with windows. Adhering stickers to your windows can prevent injuries and fatalities because of this.
◆ Keep your cat indoors. Feral and outdoor pet cats kill 2.4 billion birds annually. By keeping your cat inside, you are protecting wildlife from your cat, and keeping your cat safe from vehicle collisions, parasites, and run-ins with other animals.
Whether you gaze through your kitchen window with a warm mug of coffee in hand or bundle up for a brisk jaunt through the park, our feathered friends are always there to make us smile. I hope these tips help you get started in a lifelong pursuit of birding that will accompany you wherever your travels may take you. Best wishes and happy birding!
Cayla Rosenhagen is a local high school student who enjoys capturing the unique charm of the community through photography and journalism. She serves on the board of directors for the Four Harbors Audubon Society and Brookhaven’s Youth Board, and is the founder and coordinator of Beach Bucket Brigade, a community outreach program dedicated to environmental awareness, engagement, and education. She is also an avid birder, hiker, and artist who is concurrently enrolled in college.
This past month or two, every time the wind has howled, every time the thermometer has registered below freezing, every time the weather forecast has announced a Nor’easter, icy roads, a power failure or what seems like another apocalyptic act of God, every time I’ve thought I’m going crazy from cabin fever, quarantining, covid statistics, news of partisan shenanigans, military troop deployments, climate change and inflation, I’ve done what any self-respecting cook would do to save her sanity.
I’ve taken to the kitchen, pulled out my biggest pot and made soup. All kinds of soup. So many kinds that a whole shelf of my freezer is now full of containers of soup.
It started with butternut squash soup, then lentil soup, pea soup, a minestrone, a ribollita, cabbage soup, mushroom and barley, French onion, pasta e fagioli and a chicken soup made with a rotisserie chicken I bought on impulse. No matter how tummy-warming and delicious any of them have been, they don’t seem to have made anything go away, but they sure as hell have made me feel better, at least until the next headline. Undaunted, however, here are 3 new recipes I’ve been fooling around with.
Beet and Cabbage Borscht
YIELD: Makes 6 to 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups diced onion
1 cup finely chopped celery
1 leek, washed and sliced thin cross wise
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon paprika
1 bay leaf
1 thyme sprig
6 potatoes, peeled and diced
6 red beets, peeled and diced
4 carrots, peeled and diced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
3 cups finely chopped red cabbage
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Fresh chopped dill
DIRECTIONS:
In a large pot heat oil over medium-high heat; add onion, celery, leek, salt and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until just beginning to brown, about 5 to 7 minutes; add garlic, tomato paste, paprika, bay leaf and thyme, cook and stir about one minute. Add potatoes, beets, carrots, 6 cups water and salt and pepper to taste, bring to a boil, then reduce to a good simmer and cook, partially covered, until beets and carrots are tender, about 20 minutes. Add cabbage and vinegar and cook until cabbage is tender, 20 to 30 minutes; remove and discard bay leaf and thyme sprig. Sprinkle with dill. Serve hot with sour cream or plain yogurt.
Salmon and Corn Chowder
YIELD: Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1/4 pound bacon, cooked until crisp
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 onions, peeled and chopped
2 cups water
1 cup clam juice
2 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 celery rib, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
2 cups half and half
1 1/2 pounds salmon, cut into bite size pieces
DIRECTIONS:
Crumble bacon. Remove all but one tablespoon bacon fat. In a large pot melt butter with the one tablespoon bacon fat; add onions and cook over medium heat until they’re soft, 5 minutes. Add water, clam juice, potatoes, celery, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper. Stirring occasionally, bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer and cook 20 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Add bacon, corn, and half and half, simmer for 10 minutes, then add salmon and simmer 3 more minutes. Serve hot with oyster crackers.
Chicken Soup with Escarole and Tortellini
YIELD: Makes 6 servings
INGREDIENTS:
6 cups chicken broth
1/2 pound fresh tortellini
1 small head escarole, washed and sliced cross-wise into one-inch strips
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS:
In a large pot bring the broth and two cups water to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat to medium, add tortellini and cook according to package directions, about 3 to 5 minutes. With slotted spoon remove from heat and set aside to keep warm. Add escarole to cooking liquid and simmer until soft, about 2 to 4 minutes; return tortellini to pot and simmer for half a minute or so, just enough to heat them up again. Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with grated cheese.Serve hot with a crisp dry white wine.
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson will hold open auditions for all roles in the ABBA musical Mamma Mia! on Thursday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. Seeking strong singer/actor/dancers ages 16 and older. Performances will be held from May 21 to June. 25. Bring a headshot/resume if available. For more information, visit www.theatrethree.com/auditions.htm.
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