Arts & Entertainment

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine has announced that the Youth Bureau INTERFACE Program’s Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive will run from October 15 to November 15. INTERFACE is a partnership between individuals, generous corporate neighbors and the Town of Brookhaven united in a shared effort to provide assistance to Brookhaven’s less fortunate residents all year round.

Supervisor Romaine said, “Every year, our Thanksgiving Food Drive provides healthy holiday meals to families in need throughout Brookhaven Town. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Youth Bureau staff, and volunteers have risen to the challenge by collecting donations are committed to make the holidays.”

“Many families struggle to make ends meet and our Thanksgiving Food Drive eases the stress of how they will pay for Thanksgiving,” said Councilman Michael Loguercio, Town Board Liaison to the Youth Bureau. “Thank you to the Youth Bureau and all the local businesses and residents who contribute to this drive each year.”

Last year’s Thanksgiving Food Drive provided hearty Thanksgiving meals for 956 families in need, feeding a total of 4,342 people. Without the generous contributions received during this drive, this would not have been possible.

Drop off locations for this year’s Thanksgiving Food Drive include:

  1. Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill in Farmingville
  2. Brookhaven Town Highway Department, 1140 Old Town Road in Coram
  3. Brookhaven Town Parks & Recreation Department, 286 Hawkins Road in Centereach
  4. Brookhaven Town Vehicle Control Building, 550 North Ocean Avenue in Patchogue
  5. Coram Fire Department, 303 Middle Country Road in Coram
  6. College 101 Resource Center, 290 Main Street in East Setauket
  7. Rose Caracappa Senior Center, 739 Route 25A in Mount Sinai
  8. Modular Devices, 1 Roned Road in Shirley

Suggested food items for donations include all non-perishables, including, but not limited to canned cranberry sauce, stuffing, canned vegetables, canned sweet or white potatoes, instant mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, soup, jar or canned sauce, pasta, canned pasta, macaroni & cheese, cake mix, icing, pudding, jello, cookie mix, cereal, and juice. Due to refrigeration requirements, the Town cannot accept frozen turkeys. However, residents can donate $10 gift cards from local supermarkets, enabling families to purchase turkeys. For more information about the Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau INTERFACE Program’s Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, call 631-451-8011.

Jessica and Jennifer Morales

One of the area’s favorite fall events, the Middle Country Public Library’s Women’s EXPO is back in person on Nov. 5 and, for the first time, outdoors. The annual event, which will feature more than 40 exhibitors this year, celebrates women entrepreneurs by connecting them with their peers, local business women and potential customers. 

“We are eager to see some of our favorites and to meet a great selection of new women entrepreneurs at this year’s EXPO,” said Elizabeth Malafi, coordinator of the library’s Miller Business Center. 

As always, the EXPO welcomes a diverse group of entrepreneurs with something for everyone. Shoppers can find items such as jewelry, pottery, handbags and home decor.  Library director, Sophia Serlis-McPhillips, reminds us that the EXPO is much more than a trade show. “The library’s Miller Business Center works with these and other entrepreneurs all year, educating them on business topics and offering them ample opportunities to network with business professionals from throughout Long Island.” 

TD Bank has been a sponsor of the EXPO since 2007. Maryellen Ferretti, Retail Market Manager, V.P./Long Island East Region says, “The Middle Country Library is a great partner with TD Bank because we both believe in giving back to the community in which we live and work. The Women’s EXPO is a great example of TD Bank’s commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs and business on Long Island.”

Let’s learn more about some of the women you’ll meet at the EXPO.  

Jessica and Jennifer Morales, Luv Chic Boutique

Jessica and Jennifer Morales Luv Chic Boutique

On their birthday in 2019, twins Jessica and Jennifer Morales tossed around the idea of starting their own clothing business. They wanted Luv Chic Boutique to help “women feel beautiful, comfortable and confident.” Having worked at the Middle Country Library since 2014, Jessica knew the Miller Business Center can help entrepreneurs like her and her sister. Librarians at the Center connected them with the Stony Brook Small Business Development Center, where they were able to get their business going. 

Learning as they went, Jessica and Jennifer started with big clothing drops, promoting via social media, but soon found that smaller collections were more successful. Both women look forward to growing their business, eventually adding accessories and even a store front.  Jessica and Jennifer are eager to finally be a part of the EXPO as exhibitors as they have seen the energy of the day. “We are excited to do the show because it is such a big and important event.”

Shannon Messina, North Fork Creations

Shannon Messina

Shannon Messina of North Fork Creations is an EXPO veteran. She worked with her business partner and mother-in-law, Elaine, to create beautiful hand painted glassware. After Elaine passed away, Shannon had a difficult time picking up a paint brush so she tried something new. She started hosting paint parties at wineries out East and was building her new niche when Covid happened.

Like most small businesses, Shannon pivoted to survive, creating kits for people to paint at home and investing in a laser cutting machine. She loves the creativity involved with both painting and designing laser cut items and is looking forward to showing her new products to EXPO shoppers. “What’s so nice about the EXPO is that you speak with so many different types of people. Whenever I meet another woman [business owner] from Long Island, I tell them to do the EXPO.” 

Cathy Buckley, Cathy Buckley Cat’s Meow 

Cathy Buckley

Cathy Buckley always loved seeing the beautiful, unique handmade jewelry when she attended art fairs and felt inspired to make her own. Being a registered nurse, designing jewelry with copper, brass, silver and vintage items is also a way for Cathy to keep her sanity.  During the pandemic, she shifted sales to online and worked hard to increase the presence of Cat’s Meow on Instagram and other social media outlets. Cathy even participated in the virtual EXPO last year but is eager to get back to in-person events. “I love the EXPO! It’s very empowering to be in the presence of so many women entrepreneurs.”

Diana McDonough, ACD Vinyl

Diana McDonough

Diana McDonough is BUSY! She works full-time and is a full-time grad student in Cyber Security at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in NYC. Oh, and did we mention she runs ACD Vinyl? As many entrepreneurs did, during the start of the pandemic, Diana took her graphic design background and turned it into a business. She was happy to be able to use her creativity to make her own designs in cake toppers, stickers, cards, banners and more. 

Each month, Diana donates a portion of sales to an organization focused on getting women & girls into STEM such as Girls Who Code. While most of her sales are online, Diana loves to attend shows so she can network with other small businesses. She is excited to attend the EXPO for the first time because “celebrating women and helping women is something I am extremely passionate about.”

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The annual Women’s EXPO will take place outdoors on Friday, November 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd, Centereach. Admission is free and there is ample parking. The rain date for the EXPO is Friday, November 12th. For further information, call the library at 631-585-9393 x296 or visit www.womensEXPOli.org. 

 

Richard F. Welch

The Huntington Historical Society continues its virtual Lunch & Learn series on Thursday, Nov. 4 at noon with a presentation titled Long Island Gold Coast Elite and the Great War. Historian Richard F. Welch reveals how the potent combination of ethno-sociological solidarity, clear-eyed geopolitical calculation and financial self-interest inspired the North Shore elite to pressure the nation into war. 

Presentation will last 45 minutes with time for commentary and Q&A from participants. Suggested donation is $10. Your donation will help the Society continue to preserve and share the history of Huntington! To register, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Maryland Crab Chowder

By Barbara Beltrami

If you travel around this nation of ours, it becomes obvious that every region has its own variation of what we provincially think of as indigenous to our own region. Case in point: chowder. Here in the Northeast we’re particularly partial to clam chowder, and even that is subdivided into versions particular to some states. Travel a little bit south and you’ll find, not surprisingly, Maryland crab chowder, travel further south for Cajun shrimp chowder and go to the Pacific Northwest for salmon chowder.  

Having noted the differences, however, let’s now observe that all of them, no matter their provenance, rely on the same supporting casts of diced veggies, broth, corn and/or cream, and then add a few ingredients that put the region’s stamp on their flavor.

Maryland Crab Chowder

YIELD: Makes 8 first course servings or 4 main course servings.

INGREDIENTS: 

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 to 4 carrots, peeled and diced

1 large Yukon Gold potato, peeled and diced

1 medium onion, peeled and chopped

1 celery rib, sliced thin

1/2 pound string beans, trimmed and sliced into 1” pieces

Kernels from 2 ears freshly picked and shucked corn

1 cup frozen lima beans

1 cup frozen peas

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning

Large pinch dried hot red pepper flakes

One 28-ounce can San Marzano tomatoes, diced

1 pound jumbo lump crab meat

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS: 

In a large pot, warm oil over medium-high heat; add carrots potato, onion and celery and, stirring frequently, cook 3 to 5 minutes until onions turn opaque and veggies start to brown. Add 6 cups water, string beans, corn, lima beans, peas, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay Seasoning, red pepper flakes and tomatoes with their juice. 

Over high heat, bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, over medium low heat 30 minutes, until veggies are tender; add crabmeat, stir, cover and continue to simmer about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot with oyster crackers.

Southern Shrimp Chowder

YIELD: Makes 6 servings

INGREDIENTS: 

1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

6 slices bacon, cooked and diced (fat reserved)

1 tablespoon butter

1 onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons flour

1 pound potatoes, peeled and diced

4 cups chicken broth

4 sprigs fresh thyme

3 scallions, cleaned and sliced

3 cups fresh corn kernels

2/3 cup heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

DIRECTIONS: 

Toss shrimp with Cajun, salt and pepper seasoning to thoroughly coat. Reheat bacon fat and add shrimp; cook over medium heat until they turn pink, about 2 minutes per side; remove and set aside. Drain bacon fat, and discard; then add butter and melt it; add onion and cook until opaque, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and flour and cook half a minute more. Add potatoes, broth, thyme and scallions and bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer till potatoes are cooked, about 10 minutes. Stir in corn and cream and simmer 5 minutes; remove from heat and stir in shrimp, bacon, scallion and cayenne. Serve with biscuits or corn bread.

Pacific Northwest Salmon Chowder

YIELD: Makes 6 servings

INGREDIENTS: 

1/2 pound bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2” strips

2 bunches scallions, cleaned and sliced

1 cup fresh corn kernels

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

1 bay leaf

1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes

3 cups milk

3/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 pound potatoes, peeled, diced and cooked

1 1/2 pounds fresh salmon, skin removed, then cut into 1’ pieces

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

DIRECTIONS: 

In large heavy pot, cook bacon over medium heat, then drain; reserve two tablespoons of fat. Set bacon aside; add scallions, corn, garlic, thyme, bay leaf and hot pepper flakes to bacon fat and cook, stirring occasionally, over medium-low heat until scallions are tender but still bright green, about 5 minutes. Add milk and cream and bring just to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and add potatoes, salmon, bacon, salt and pepper; cook, stirring frequently, until salmon is cooked through, about 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, remove and discard bay leaf and serve hot with toasted sourdough bread. 

Olivia Swanson
Arianna Maffei

The role of neuron and dopamine loss in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) has long been recognized by neuroscientists. However, how dopaminergic modulation affects brain regions involved in the control of voluntary movement remains a subject of investigation.

Researchers in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, used an experimental model to demonstrate that a loss of midbrain dopaminergic centers impairs the ability of the primary motor cortex neurons to transform inputs into appropriate output. The finding, published in eNeuro, supports a new line of research regarding the origins of changes in the motor cortex and its role during PD.

Patients with PD show abnormal activity in the motor cortex, which to date remains difficult to explain. Scientists have proposed that motor cortex dysfunction in PD may come from loss of direct dopaminergic innervation of the cortex, or, alternatively, it could arise as a consequence of basal ganglia pathology.

Dopamine neurons are vital to a healthy brain, but they degenerate in Parkinson’s Disease. This coronal section of the ventral part of the brain visualizes midbrain dopamine neurons in a healthy brain. Green: dopamine neurons. Red: axons from the motor cortex. Blue: all neurons, cell bodies. Image from Olivia Swanson

“Our study shows that the changes in excitability of motor cortex neurons very likely are due to basal ganglia pathology and not loss of direct dopaminergic innervation of the motor cortex,” says Arianna Maffei, PhD, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior. “The results we showed support the idea that changes in motor cortex activity due to loss of dopamine are very important for the pathophysiology of PD. This adds to our current knowledge and points to the motor cortex as a potential novel site for intervention.”

The research team assessed how the loss of dopamine affects the input/output function of neurons in the motor cortex. They tested three different ways to reduce dopamine signaling to ask how motor cortex dysfunction may arise: 1) Used pharmacology to block the receptors selectively in the motor cortex 2) Injected a toxin that kills dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain to induce basal ganglia pathology, and 3) Used the same toxin to eliminate dopamine neuron axons in the motor cortex to test the possibility that loss of dopaminergic input to the motor cortex may be responsible for its dysfunction.

Professor Maffei explains that the idea behind these approaches was to dissect out the circuit mechanisms underlying loss of function in the motor cortex and possibly use these data to better understand PD pathophysiology.

Overall, the research demonstrated that diminished dopamine signaling, whether acute or chronic, has profound effects on the excitability of primary motor cortex neurons.

The authors believe the results should spur additional research that focuses on the primary motor cortex as an additional site of intervention to treat motor symptoms and improve outcomes in PD patients.

 

Photo from TVSD

Cycling for a cause

Arrowhead Elementary School student Joseph Peritore once again joined his father’s team this September on a ride to fight childhood cancers by taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge.

With the amazing support from the Three Village community last year, Joseph was able to raise $3,406 for Children’s Cancer Research Fund. This motivated him to ride a total of 53 miles and also earned him the rank of #1 in his age group in the state and top 10 in the nation. This year, he has raised more than $2,290 and has rode more than 20 miles. 

Joseph was recently honored by Three Village Central School District Board of Education for his altruistic efforts and is pictured with, from left, Arrowhead Assistant Principal Tanya Hurowitz, Principal Marisa Redden, Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Pedisich and Board of Education President Deanna Bavlnka.

For more information about his work or to donate to Joseph’s team, please visit: https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/JosephPeritore

Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Medicine

According to new research released by Healthgrades, Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) has earned national recognition as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery™, one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention™ for seven consecutive years, one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care™ for eight consecutive years and one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care™ for seven years in a row. Every year, Healthgrades, a leading online resource that connects consumers, physicians and health systems, evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 31 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions.*

“As the new leader of the Stony Brook Medicine healthcare system, I’m delighted by all that Stony Brook University Hospital has accomplished to earn this well-deserved recognition,” said Hal Paz, MD, Executive Vice President, Health Sciences, Stony Brook University. “I’m excited to be part of an organization that is so fully committed to quality patient outcomes, and enhancing the lives of our patients, their families and the community.”

“Being named as one of America’s best year after year shows our staff’s commitment to providing nationally recognized high-quality care to every patient who walks through our doors,” said Carol A. Gomes, MS, FACHE, CPHQ, Chief Executive Officer for Stony Brook University Hospital. “These exceptional patient outcomes are a direct result of Stony Brook’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards of service.”

“Consumers can feel confident in the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac and Stroke Care for their commitment to quality care and exceptional outcomes. The recognition helps provide peace of mind when selecting a place for care,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Data Science at Healthgrades.

This year, Stony Brook University Hospital has taken many steps to raise the bar for cardiac care on Long Island. The Stony Brook University Heart Institute opened its Cardiac Catheterization (Cath) and Electrophysiology (EP) Advanced Multifunctional Laboratory, bringing more advanced cardiac diagnosis and treatment to patients. Central to the lab’s operation is the latest-generation image-guided diagnostic and therapeutic imaging system, the Philips Azurion 7, which provides imaging capabilities at ultra-low radiation dose levels — allowing physicians to conduct more complex procedures with greater precision and adding a significant measure of safety for both the patients and medical team. The Heart Institute also added the Center for Advanced Lipid (Cholesterol) Management, the first of its kind in Suffolk County. The center uses testing tailored to each patient to get a complete understanding of inflammatory markers, lipid profile, apolipoprotein B levels and more. From there, Stony Brook experts can develop a cardiac disease prevention and cholesterol management plan.

Stony Brook Medicine continues to operate Long Island’s first and only Mobile Stroke Unit Program, designed to provide specialized, lifesaving care to people within the critical moments of a stroke before they even get to the hospital. This allows for time-sensitive stroke therapies to be administered earlier and for the transport of stroke patients directly to the most appropriate hospital for the level of care they require.

In 2021, SBUH received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Award with Target: Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. The award recognizes Stony Brook Medicine’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

Stony Brook University Hospital was also recognized by Healthgrades for the following clinical achievements:

  • America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award for 3 years in a row (2019-2021)
  • Cardiac Care Excellence Award for 8 years in a row (2015-2022)
  • Coronary Intervention Excellence Award for 8 years in a row (2015-2022)
  • Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award for 2 years in a row (2021-2022)
  • Neuroscience Excellence Award for 7 years in a row (2016-2022)
  • Stroke Care Excellence Award for 7 years in a row (2016-2022)
  • Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award for 3 years in a row (2020-2022)

For its analysis, Healthgrades evaluated approximately 45 million Medicare inpatient records for nearly 4,500 short-term acute care hospitals nationwide to assess hospital performance in 31 common conditions and procedures and evaluated outcomes in appendectomy and bariatric surgery using all-payer data provided by 16 states. Healthgrades recognizes a hospital’s quality achievements for cohort-specific performance, specialty area performance, and overall clinical quality. Individual procedure or condition cohorts are designated as 5-star (statistically significantly better than expected), 3-star (not statistically different from expected) and 1-star (statistically significantly worse than expected).

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About Stony Brook University Hospital:

Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) is Long Island’s premier academic medical center. With 624 beds, SBUH serves as the region’s only tertiary care center and Regional Trauma Center, and is home to the Stony Brook University Heart Institute, Stony Brook University Cancer Center, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and Stony Brook University Neurosciences Institute. SBUH also encompasses Suffolk County’s only Level 4 Regional Perinatal Center, state-designated AIDS Center, state-designated Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, state-designated Burn Center, the Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence and Kidney Transplant Center. It is home of the nation’s first Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center. To learn more, visit stonybrookmedicine.edu/sbuh.

Visitors to NYBG Glow can explore a glowing world of color and light featuring the Haupt Conservatory as the centerpiece. Photo NYBG.

Tickets are on sale now for the 30th annual Holiday Train Show® and the return of NYBG GLOW at The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). The Holiday Train Show—a favorite holiday tradition—is back at NYBG for its 30th year. Returning for its second year, NYBG GLOW will offer more displays to wander through and explore.

The annual Holiday Train Show is a treasured holiday experience for New Yorkers and visitors to the city. It marks the start of the festive season in New York, a magical tradition as essential as a stroll past colorful department store windows on Fifth Avenue and ice skating at Rockefeller Center. A day or an evening at NYBG is one of the city’s top holiday experiences and the perfect outing for families with young children, friends, or date night.

The Holiday Train Show® at The New York Botanical Garden.

The Holiday Train Show

The Holiday Train Show features a miniature wonderland in the warmth of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Famous New York landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Rockefeller Center, and many other favorites, are crafted from natural materials such as pine cones, acorns, and seeds. To celebrate the 30th year of the Holiday Train Show, a showcase of NYBG’s buildings and structures will feature a new replica of the majestic LuEsther T. Mertz Library Building along with the iconic Haupt Conservatory. Both are designated New York City Landmarks.

Visitors will marvel as model trains zip through an enchanting display of more than 175 New York landmarks, each delightfully re-created from natural materials such as birch bark, lotus pods, and cinnamon sticks. As day turns to night on select dates, families and friends can start a new holiday tradition exploring the Botanical Garden’s festively illuminated landscape and enjoying music, dance, food, and more at the expanded outdoor color-and-light experience NYBG GLOW. It will be the perfect night out this holiday season.

Visitors to NYBG Glow can explore a glowing world of color and light featuring
the Haupt Conservatory as the centerpiece. Photo NYBG.

NYBG GLOW

Returning for its second year, NYBG GLOW will offer more displays to wander through and explore. The beauty of the Garden’s landmark landscape and historic buildings will be breathtakingly illuminated with a newly expanded 1.5-mile colorful experience. NYBG’s iconic sights and buildings will become dramatic, glittering canvases with the Haupt Conservatory and Mertz Library Building as the centerpieces. Washes of brilliant color, thousands of dazzling, energy-efficient LED lights, illuminated plant stories, and whimsical, picture-perfect installations reflect the surrounding gardens and collections, creating a spectacle not to be missed.

Hours

The Holiday Train Show opens to the public on Saturday, November 20, 2021, and runs through Sunday, January 23, 2022. NYBG GLOW will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. on 25 select nights starting Wednesday, November 24, 2021, and running through Saturday, January 22, 2022.

During NYBG GLOW evenings, beverages and light fare will be available at one of NYBG’s outdoor bars or the Bronx Night Market Holiday Pop-Up, and festive offerings will include artistic ice sculpting, music, and pop-up performances around the Garden to add to the seasonal atmosphere.

NYBG GLOW will take place on 25 select dates: Wednesday, November 24; Friday, November 26; Saturday, November 27; Thursday, December 2; Friday, December 3; Saturday, December 4; Thursday, December 9; Saturday, December 11; Thursday, December 16; Friday, December 17; Saturday, December 18; Thursday, December 23; Sunday, December 26; Monday, December 27; Tuesday, December 28; Wednesday, December 29; and Thursday, December 30, 2021; Saturday, January 1; Thursday, January 6; Friday, January 7; Saturday, January 8; Friday, January 14; Saturday, January 15; Friday, January 21; and Saturday, January 22, 2022.

Tickets for both the Holiday Train Show and NYBG GLOW are on sale now for NYBG Members and the general public. https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show-2021/

If you go:

NYBG is just 20 minutes from Midtown Manhattan, via Metro-North Railroad. On-site parking is available at the Main Entrance of NYBG at 2900 Southern Boulevard as well as at the NYBG Parking Garage at The Peter Jay Sharp Building at 401 Bedford Park Blvd.

Tickets for the Holiday Train Show are $32 for adults and $18 for children (ages 2–12). NYBG GLOW tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for children. Combination tickets are $49 for adults and $34 for children. Children under 2 are free. https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show-2021/plan-your-visit/

Advance timed tickets are recommended to guarantee admission as tickets do sell out.

The New York Botanical Garden is located at 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York 10458. For more information, visit nybg.org

Stock photo

By Michael Ardolino

Michael Ardolino

In last month’s column, we talked about the importance of keeping an eye on the news regarding real estate trends. I mentioned Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen appeared before a Senate panel on Sept. 28 to testify in a hearing about economic recovery.

Fortunately, the Senate passed a temporary extension of the debt ceiling, which allows the government enough funding until December.

Aftereffects

Decisions like this affect the housing market. When the debt ceiling isn’t raised, interest rates and mortgage rates rise, which influences mortgage rates and in turn new homebuyers and sellers.

There has been a slight increase in mortgage rates. According to Freddie Mac, early in October rates passed 3%. What experts do is watch the U.S Treasury yield when they predict mortgage rates because there is a strong correlation between the yield and the 30-year mortgage rate.

Sam Khater, chief economist at Freddie Mac, said, “We expect mortgage rates to continue to rise modestly which will likely have an impact on home prices, causing them to moderate slightly after increasing over the last year.”

Trends

Homeowners for months have enjoyed an attractive year-to-year home price appreciation due to not enough homes on the market. Findings from sources such as FHFA, CoreLogic and S&P/Case Shiller back this up.

Bill McBride, who writes the blog Calculated Risk, said recently that his “sense is the Case Shiller National Annual Growth Rate of 19.7 percent is probably close to a peak. And year-over-year price increases will slow later this year.”

When mortgage rates rise, we usually see changes such as house prices and the length of time it takes a home to sell. Trends are showing the market will slow down slightly in the final quarter of the year.

Analyst expert Ivy Zelman has said that “closings are set to decline roughly 10 percent year over year in the second half of 2021 and home price appreciation is on the cusp of flipping to a decelerating trend.”

What we as real estate experts are talking about is not depreciation. Decelerating at this time means increased home price appreciation at a slower or more moderate rate. This moderate rate, experts believe, will continue into the next year. 

Takeaway

We’re seeing this trend around the country. If you’re planning on moving or downsizing to an area that was once considered in demand, make sure to talk to a real estate agent in the town you’re planning to move to, and they can tell you what the current trends are in their market.

The time is now while the housing market is still up. While things are trending slightly to higher interest rates, prices are really good, and the housing market is changing at a moderate pace. Now is the time to get the most for your investment or lock in a fantastic mortgage rate. So … let’s talk.

Michael Ardolino is the Founder/Owner-Broker of Realty Connect USA.