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IN MEMORY OF A LEGEND Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington will pay tribute to director David Lynch with screenings of many of his films beginning with ‘Eraserhead’ on Feb. 3. Photo courtesy of CAC
Thursday Jan. 30

Trivia On Ice

Join the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor for Trivia on Ice, a winter-themed trivia in film, music, nature, history, geography, and more with a whale or two added in, at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy hot chocolate — spiked or plain — and appetizers from Grasso’s Restaurant. Prizes and bragging rights for winners! Team-style; minimum of 2, max of 5 per team. Fee is ​$30, $25 members. To register, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Friday Jan. 31

Comedy Coffee House

Celebrate St. James presents Comedy Coffee House featuring Stevie G.B.  at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 2nd St., St. James at 7 p.m. Join them for a night of laughter and great vibes while enjoying specialty coffees, teas and sweet treats. Tickets are $20 in advance at www.celebratestjames.org, $30 at the door. 631-984-0201

Friday Night Face Off

Long Island’s longest running Improv Comedy Show, Friday Night Face Off, 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 ages 16 and up, due to adult content. Tickets are $15 at the door, cash only. 631-928-9100

Saturday Feb. 1

SWR Garden Club Meeting

The Shoreham-Wading River Garden Club will host a program, “Transforming Suburban Landscape into Natural Oasis,” at Wading River Congregational Church, 2057 North Country Road, Wading River at 10:30 a.m. Bill Schiavo, retired educator and North Shore Public Library Board President, will present his dramatic garden transformation. Admission is free.

LIMEHOF Award Presentation

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEOHF), 97 Main St. Stony Brook will honor Rocky Point Elementary Music Teacher and Department Chairperson Craig Knapp as its 2024 ‘Educator of Note’ winner at a special presentation ceremony at 2 p.m. The event will feature a performance and visual presentation. The public is invited to attend. Tickets are $29.50 per person at www.limusichalloffame.org and at the door. 631-689-5888.

Saturdays at Six Concert

All Souls Church, 61 Main St., Stony Brook continues its free Saturdays at Six concert series with the Island Chamber Brass performing “Brass Quintet Through the Centuries.” The group features Peter Auricchio (trumpet), Dan Jones (trumpet), Alejandro Salaverry (horn), Shaun Cagney (trombone) and Taylor Peterson (bass trombone).  The musical selections start with pieces written in 1500 and conclude with pieces from 2000+. The program will begin promptly at 6 p.m. 631-655-7798

Bourbon in the Barn

Join the Huntington Historical Society for Bourbon in the Barn with Sommelier Louis Victor Kuhn in the Conklin Barn, 2 High St.. Huntington from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy a history of bourbon, and sample of a few types of whiskey paired with chocolates from Bon Bons Chocolatier. $85 per person, $75 members. To register, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

An Evening of Music and Comedy

Temple Beth El, 660 Park Ave., Huntington welcomes all for a evening of music and family-friendly comedy with Les Degen at 7 p.m. Tickets are $18 (cash or check only). To RSVP, call 31-421-5835 x200

Meat Loaf Tribute Concert 

Calling all Meat Loaf fans! The Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown presents Meat Loaf tribute band, All Revved Up, in concert at 8 p.m. Performing all of your favorite Meat Loaf songs while putting on a fantastic stage show with choreography, props, stage design and costume changes to take you on an epic Rock and Roll journey. All seats are $35. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.

Staller Center Gala

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road Stony Brook continues its season with two-time Tony® Award-winner Sutton Foster live in concert on the Main Stage at 8 p.m.  This performance is part of the Center’s annual gala celebration. Tickets range from $58 to $196. For VIP seats, and various celebrations including a gala dinner, the show, and a post-show dessert reception, please visit stallercenter.com/gala. 631-632-2787

Sunday Feb. 2

Frost Fest

Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor invites families to come warm up from the cold and take part in their wintry celebration, Frost Fest, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Discover survival tricks of polar sea creatures, see a tusk from a walrus and narwhal, create snow-tastic crafts, get your face painted, meet the character Elsa and of course enjoy ice cream. Tickets in advance are $20 child (2-17 years), $8 adults, $6 seniors at www.cshwhalingmuseum.org. Tickets at the door are $25 child (2-17 years), $8 adults, $6 seniors 631-367-3418 

Sundays at the Society

Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport continues its Sundays at the Society series with Living on Common Ground: A New Look at Northport’s Black History at 1 p.m. This free lecture explores pivotal periods in Northport’s history from the perspective of African American members of the community. Hear the stories of Black families who lived in Northport and Long Island for more than four generations. Register at www.northporthistorical.org.

Toby Tobias in concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook  presents a concert by Toby Tobias. “Songs & Stories For a New World” from 3 to 4 p.m. Singer/songwriter Jen Grace will open the concert.  The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. 631-689-5888, www.limusichalloffame.org

Monday Feb. 3

Country Line Dancing w/Natalie

Celebrate St. James presents Country Line Dance lessons with Natalie at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 2nd St. St. James from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Come learn the hottest dances! $15 per person at the door. Please RSVP at  www.celebratestjames.org.

CAC Movie Trivia Night

Join the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington for a Movie Trivia Night at 8 p.m. Try to answer 50 questions based all around film, actors and actresses, awards, and everything else associated with the world of film. Challenge like-minded film fans in a battle of wits for cash and other prizes. You can form teams, so bring some friends and work together. Feel free to come alone and play solo as well! Hosted by Dan French. Tickets are $11 per person, $7 members at cinemaartscentre.org. 631-423-7610.

Tuesday Feb. 4

No events listed on this day.

Wednesday Feb. 5

No events listed on this day.

Thursday Feb. 6

An Evening of Jazz

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook presents the Jazz Loft Big Band in concert at 7 p.m. The 17-piece big band directed by Tom Manuel; the band will be presenting a program of all Black composers to celebrate Black History Month. Tickets: are $30 adult, $25 senior, $20 student, $15 child. For tickets, visit www.thejazzloft.org.

Faithful Conversations

Setauket Presbyterian Church, 5 Caroline Ave., Setauket continues its Faithful Conversations series with decorated veteran and New York Times bestselling author Elliot Ackerman at 7 p.m. Following a conversation with the Reverend Dr. Johanna McCune Wagner and audience Q&A, there will be an opportunity to meet Mr. Ackerman at a book signing. Free but registration is required by visiting setauketpresbyterian.org/speaker-series.

Film

‘The Jazz Singer’

Join award winning author & journalist Richard Bernstein for a special screening and discussion of the groundbreaking film, The Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolson, at the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington on Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m.  Bernstein is the author of the newly published biography “Only in America: Al Jolson and The Jazz Singer.” $18 tickets include film screening, interview with audience Q&A, and book signing; copy of book and film screening is $32. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

David Lynch Tribute

In memory of legendary director David Lynch, who passed away on Jan. 15 at the age of 78, the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington will be screening a selection of his most iconic films including Eraserhead on Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m., Blue Velvet on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m., Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m., Wild at Heart on Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m.; Mulholland Drive on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Inland Empire on Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m., Lost Highway on March 1 at 7 p.m, and A Straight Story on March 29 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $16, $10 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Theater

‘Crossing Delancey’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its 54th season with Susan Sandler’s Crossing Delancey from Jan. 18 to Feb. 9. Isabel is an independent young woman living alone and working in a book shop. When not pining after a handsome author, she visits her grandmother in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. This spunky granny and her friend the matchmaker have found a “good catch” for Izzy, whose initial reluctance gives way to a blossoming romance when she finally meets Sam, the pickle vendor. A sincere, delightful, and loving comedy. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students, and $25 for children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘Heartbreak Hotel’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Heartbreak Hotel from Jan. 16 to March 2. The tribute to Elvis takes a closer look at the musical icon whose impact shaped the history of rock and roll as well as popular culture following him from his early days to his rise to become “The King of Rock and Roll.” Featuring over 40 Elvis hits and iconic songs including “That’s All Right,” “All Shook Up,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Burning Love,” “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” “Hound Dog,” “Love Me Tender,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Jail- house Rock,” “Are You Lonesome,” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. See review on page B4.

Festival of One Act Plays

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the 26th annual Festival of One-Act Plays at The Ronald F. Peierls Theatre on the Second Stage from March 8 to April 5. Featuring the world premieres of 7 one act plays. Tickets are $25. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘(Mostly) True Things’

(Mostly) True Things Storytelling show kicks off Valentine’s Day month with an all-comedy line-up of storytellers sharing true tales on the theme Bad Romance at The Performing Arts Studio, 224 E. Main St., Port Jefferson on Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. Featuring Ivy Eisenberg, Bryan Berlin, Brian Grossi, Sean Brown, Tracey Segarra  and host Jude Treder-Wolff. Tickets are $20 online at www.mostlytruethings.com, $25 at the door (cash only).

‘Comedy of Errors’

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road Stony Brook presents The Acting Company in Comedy of Errors on the Main Stage on Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. Shakespeare’s ultimate farce of mistaken identities and wild reunions comes alive in a production that combines the Bard’s timeless humor with a modern twist. Tickets range from $47 to $66. To order, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com

CALENDAR DEADLINE  is Wednesday at noon, one week before publication. Items may be mailed to: Times Beacon Record News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733. Email your information about community events to [email protected]. Calendar listings are for not-for-profit organizations (nonsectarian, nonpartisan events) only, on a space-available basis. Please include a phone number that can be printed.

 

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Stony Brook Medicine (SBM) is partnering with the Suffolk Academy of Medicine to host a Galentine’s Women’s Health Fair aimed at empowering women in Suffolk County with valuable health resources and information. The free, community-focused event will take place on Wednesday, February 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Long Island Aquarium, 431 East Main Street in Riverhead.

“Stony Brook Medicine is proud to support the well-being of women in our community and provide them with the resources they need to thrive,” says Carol Gomes, chief executive officer of Stony Brook University Hospital. “Initiatives like this —whether aimed at prevention, education, or care—strengthen the foundation of healthier families and a healthier future.”

“We are thrilled to bring this resource to the women of our community,” said Nicole Gerberg, Executive Director of Suffolk Academy of Medicine. “Women play a pivotal role in shaping healthy families and communities, and this event is a way to give back and support their well-being.”

The fair is open to all Suffolk County residents, 16 years and older and will feature:

  • Educational wellness demonstrations
  • Talks with Stony Brook Medicine health professionals, as well as other medical institutions, including experts in breast cancer, breast imaging, radiology, massage therapy, nutrition, exercise physiology and LGBTQ* healthcare services
  • Sweet treats in honor of Valentine’s Day
  • Raffles
  • A cash bar
  • And more!

*To attend the Valentine’s Women’s Health Fair, the public must RSVP. The form can be found at this link.

About Stony Brook Medicine:

Stony Brook Medicine integrates and elevates all of Stony Brook University’s health-related initiatives: education, research and patient care. It includes five Health Sciences schools — Renaissance School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, School of Health Professions, School of Nursing and School of Social Welfare — as well as Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and more than 200 community-based healthcare settings throughout Suffolk County. To learn more, visit www.stonybrookmedicine.edu.

About Suffolk Academy of Medicine:

The Suffolk Academy of Medicine is dedicated to promoting the health and wellness of Suffolk County residents by providing education, resources, and community outreach.

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A scene from 'Crossing Delancey' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Crossing Delancey' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Crossing Delancey' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Crossing Delancey' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Crossing Delancey' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Crossing Delancey' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Crossing Delancey' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Crossing Delancey' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Crossing Delancey' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Crossing Delancey' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Crossing Delancey' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Crossing Delancey' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'Crossing Delancey' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
The cast of 'Crossing Delancey'. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.

By Julianne Mosher

Looking for something to do on a cold winter’s day? May I recommend the latest offering at Theatre Three as the stage turns into 1980s New York City where we meet a 30-something single lady who’s trying to navigate dating, the prospect of marriage and an overbearing (yet lovable) grandmother.

With a small, yet strong, cast of five, Crossing Delancey is a refreshing romantic comedy that will make anyone in the audience smile. Although it has simple, predictable plot (especially if you’ve seen the 1988 film starring Amy Irving), Theatre Three’s production is still a must see. 

The show, written by Susan Sandler and directed by Colleen Rebecca Britt, follows Isabelle “Izzy” Grossman (Michelle LaBozzetta), a young, single bookstore worker who spends almost every day at her Yiddish grandmother, Ida’s (Ginger Dalton) apartment on the Lower East Side. 

We watch Grossman as she falls for local author Tyler (Antoine Jones), who frequents her bookshop, meanwhile Ida recruits a matchmaker, Mrs. Mandelbaum (Catherine Maloney) to find her granddaughter a nice boy. Mandelbaum has the perfect suitor for the independent Izzy — Sam (Steven Uihlein), a local pickle vendor who comes from a nice, Jewish family. Izzy must answer one question; does she go after her crush who barely knows she exists, or does she “settle” with someone who’s seen her standout amongst the crowd in their community for years?

Upon entering the theatre, the stage transforms to a typical 1980s kitchen to the right and small bookshop on the left thanks to Randall Parsons’ scenic design. There, Ida and Izzy share stories, food and drink. LaBozzetta’s Izzy is a bold modern-day woman (with great 80s style from Jason Allyn’s costume design) and her monologues make you laugh when she breaks the fourth wall. Her colorful jumpsuits and bowler hat are straight out of a John Hughes film’s closet.

The two suitors of the plot, Jones and Uihlein, bring a table full of emotions; you’re going to fall in love one, but hate the other, audibly rooting for the pickle man to win Izzy’s heart. Maloney’s Hannah Mandelbaum is an unsung hero as a supporting actor whose comic relief brings joy to the stage. Portraying a stereotypical Jewish matchmaker, her character is a lot of fun.

However, Dalton’s Ida, or Bubbie as she’s lovingly called by her family, is a riot. Dalton does a great job playing this dynamic granny who’s just looking out for her granddaughter. Everyone knows a Bubbie — she looks out the window, tells tales about how all the boys wanted her back in the day, shows off her muscles and sings in Yiddish full of heart and humor.    

With funny and authentic dialogue throughout the show, the characters are genuine and shine bright on the stage. You won’t want to miss this one.

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson  presents Crossing Delancey through Feb. 9. The season continues with Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical from March 1 to March 30. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students, $25 children ages 5 to 12, $25 Wednesday matinees. To order, cal 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

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Registration underway. St. Charles Hospital, 200 Belle Terre Road, Port Jefferson will offer a 24-class free diabetes prevention program (DPP) in St. Luke’s lecture room, 2nd floor, from March 4 to Dec. 2 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This program provides trained lifestyle coaching, CDC approved curriculum, and group support during the course of the year. Classes will be held weekly from March 4 to June 17, bi-monthly from July 8 to Aug. 26 and then monthly from Sept. 9 to Dec. 2. 

If you have prediabetes, you can take control and reduce your risk of developing diabetes. Pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, please email [email protected] or call 631-474–6797.

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Drs. Iwao Ojima, left, and Martin Kaczocha in a Stony Brook University laboratory. Photo by John Griffin, Stony Brook University

A non-opioid investigational drug with promising pre-clinical results in treating neuropathic pain has passed an important hurdle after the study’s safety review committee (SRC) reviewed the data from initial volunteers and recommended to progress into the next dose level in a first-in-human clinical trial.The drug, ART26.12, is being developed by Artelo Biosciences, Inc, based in Solana Beach, Calif.

The compound was discovered and initially developed by Stony Brook University’s Iwao Ojima, PhD, and Martin Kaczocha, PhD. The technology is based on a class of fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) inhibitors, including what is now ART26.12, and was licensed to Artelo in 2018 by the Research Foundation for the State University of New York.

Neuropathic pain is estimated to affect about eight percent of the U.S. population, which translates to approximately 20 million people. ART26.12 is being developed specifically for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, which remains a serious adverse problem for patients during cancer therapy and post therapy.

Dr. Ojima and colleagues selected FABPs as drug targets of the body’s endocannabinoid system to modulate lipids within the cell for a potentially promising way to treat pain, inflammation and cancer. According to Artelo, ART26.12 is the lead compound in Artelo’s proprietary FABP platform and is believed to be the first-ever selective FABP5 inhibitor (5 indicates a specific protein) to enter clinical trials.

The SRC completed its initial clinical safety review of ART26.12 in early January for the first cohort of eight volunteers. With that, the phase 1 clinical trial of this drug will advance to the next step, which will include more subjects and an evaluation of higher doses of the investigational drug. 

Artelo says that other potential indications with the lead compound and other FABP5s in development include treatments related to cancer, osteoarthritis, psoriasis and anxiety.

Dr. Ojima, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Stony Brook University, and Director of the Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, and Dr. Kaczocha, Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesia in the Renaissance School of Medicine, led the Stony Brook team in its work developing inhibitors to various FABPs.

They continue to consult with Artelo regarding the advancement of these compounds in clinical trials.

For more about the FABP inhibitor story, see this 2024 press release. For more about Artelo’s successful completion of the first cohort in the phase 1 study of ART26.12, see this press release.

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Craig Knapp Photo courtesy of LIMEHOF
Presentation event on Feb. 1 to honor music teacher Craig Knapp

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEOHF) recently announced Rocky Point Elementary Music Teacher and Department Chairperson Craig Knapp as its 2024 ‘Educator of Note’ winner. 

“The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame is thrilled to honor Craig Knapp with the ‘Educator of Note’ Award and to recognize his extraordinary dedication, innovation, and profound impact on countless students and on music education in our community,” said LIMEHOF Vice Chairman Tom Needham, who manages LIMEHOF’s education programs.

With an impressive career that spans 27 years on Long Island, Knapp is the 18th music teacher to be recognized by LIMEHOF since the ‘Educator of Note’ Award was established in 2007. This award recognizes exceptional teachers who demonstrate a commitment to music education, play an active role in the community, and have a significant influence on the lives of music students of all backgrounds and abilities.

“I am absolutely honored to be inducted into the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame as the 2024 recipient of their ‘Educator of Note,’” said Knapp. “To be included on the list of past honorees—many of whom I have worked with collaboratively in a variety of music education organizations, committees, conferences, and initiatives—is both gratifying and humbling. I am very proud that I carved out a successful career in a rather unconventional and unique way.”

Knapp is the director of the Nassau and Suffolk Treble Choirs of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York, Elementary Classroom Music Specialist and Choral Director in the Rocky Point Public School District, former Adjunct Assistant Professor at Hofstra University, former Director of the Early Childhood Community Music Program at Stony Brook University, music educator, guest conductor, clinician, folk dance leader and author. He says of all his accomplishments, the most significant honor to him is the lasting influence he has had on his students.

“I have the luckiest job in the world as I get to wake up every Monday morning and make music with incredible children,” Knapp said. “Of all that I have achieved—more important than any accolades I could receive, books I could publish, guest conducting opportunities I could receive, invitations to present at professional development conferences, or performances I direct—my greatest accomplishment, and what I’m most proud of, is that students still come to visit me decades later to tell me that I was their favorite teacher and to thank me for the positive impact I had on their life. What could be better than that?”

Knapp will accept the award at a special presentation ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 1st at the LIMEHOF, 97 Main St., Stony Brook at 2 p.m. The event will feature a performance and visual presentation. The public is invited to attend. Tickets are $29.50 per person at www.limusichalloffame.org and at the door. 

For more information, please call 631-689-5888.

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Improve fatigue, mood, headaches and itchy skin

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

Brrr! It’s been super cold this winter, and heating systems have been in overdrive. All the dry heat pumping into our homes, offices and cars can have a dehydrating effect on our bodies. Symptoms of dehydration can range from itchy skin and constipation to fatigue, mood changes and headaches. Our dry throats and sinuses can also make us uncomfortable and more susceptible to irritations and viruses. More serious complications of dehydration can include migraines, heart palpitations and heart attacks. 

Let’s look at techniques for improving hydration and reducing the symptoms and consequences of all this dry air.

Improve ambient humidity

Measure the humidity level in your home with a hygrometer and target keeping it between 30 and 50 percent (1). When the temperature outside drops below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, lower this to 25 percent. You can add moisture to the air in several ways. Use cool mist humidifiers, keep the bathroom door open after you shower or bathe, and place bowls of water strategically around your home, including on your stovetop when you cook or on radiators. If you use humidifiers, take care to follow the manufacturer’s care instructions and clean them regularly, so you don’t introduce mold or bacteria into the air.

Reduce headaches and migraines

A review of studies found that those who drank four cups or more of water had significantly fewer hours of migraine pain than those who drank less (2). Headache intensity decreased as well.

Decrease heart palpitations

Heart palpitations are common and are broadly felt as a racing heart rate, skipped beat, pounding sensation or fluttering. Although they are not usually life-threatening, they can make you anxious. Dehydration and exercise contribute to this (3). Palpitations can be prompted when we don’t hydrate before exercising. If you drink one glass of water before exercise and continue to drink during exercise, it will help avoid palpitations.

Lower your heart attack risk

The Adventist Health Study showed that men who drank more water had the least risk of death from heart disease (4). Group one, which drank more than five glasses of water daily, had less risk than group two, which drank more than three. Those in group three, which drank fewer than two glasses per day, saw the lowest benefit, comparatively. For women, there was no difference between groups one and two, although both fared better than group three. The reason for this effect, according to the authors, may relate to blood or plasma viscosity (thickness) and fibrinogen, a substance that helps clots form.

Resolve decreased concentration and fatigue

Mild dehydration resulted in decreased concentration, subdued mood, fatigue and headaches in women in a small study (5). Dehydration was prompted by walking on a treadmill and taking a diuretic (water pill) prior to the exercise. Results were compared to a control group that did not take the diuretic. The authors concluded that adequate hydration was needed, especially during and after exercise.

Consume hydrating foods

METRO photo

How much water you need to drink depends on your diet, activity levels, environment and other factors. In a review article, researchers analyzed the data, but did not find adequate studies to suggest that eight glasses a day is a magic number (6). It may be too much for some patients.

You can increase your hydration by altering your diet. Diets with a focus on fruits and vegetables increase water consumption (7). As you may know, 95 percent of the weights of many fruits and vegetables are attributed to water. An added benefit is an increased satiety level without eating calorically dense foods.

In a review, it was suggested that caffeinated coffee and tea don’t increase the risk of dehydration, even though caffeine is a mild diuretic (8). With moderate amounts of caffeinated beverages, the liquid in them has a more hydrating effect than its diuretic effect. Remember that salty foods can dehydrate you, including soups, breads and pastries, so try to avoid these.

It is important to stay hydrated to avoid uncomfortable — and sometimes serious — complications. Diet is a great way to ensure that you get the triple effect of high nutrients, increased hydration and sense of feeling satiated without calorie-dense foods. However, don’t go overboard with water consumption, especially if you have congestive heart failure or open-angle glaucoma (9).

References:

(1) epa.gov (2) Handb Clin Neurol. 2010;97:161-72. (3) my.clevelandclinic.org. (4) Am J Epidemiol 2002 May 1; 155:827-33. (5) J. Nutr. February 2012 142: 382-388. (6) AJP – Regu Physiol. 2002;283:R993-R1004. (7) Am J Lifestyle Med. 2011;5(4):316-319. (8) Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2007;35(3):135-140. (9) Br J Ophthalmol. 2005:89:1298–1301.

Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com or consult your personal physician.

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Some of the hats knitted by Sue Harrison for children and adults. Photo courtesy of Leg. Trotta's office

For several years, Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta has been working with Smithtown based SMM Advertising and the Retired Senior Volunteer Programs (RSVP) to conduct a winter coat drive to benefit the residents of Suffolk County who need warm winter clothing.

Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta with some of the coats residents dropped off at his office in Smithtown. Photo courtesy of Leg. Trotta’s office

“The response was phenomenal. We received numerous donations from so many residents,” said Legislator Trotta. “In addition, for the third year in a row, Sue Harrison knitted hats for the children and adults,” added Trotta.

“Every donated coat and warm garment represent a message of hope and care from one human being to another. Thank you to RSVP and Legislator Rob Trotta for all your support and enthusiasm each year to make our Coat Drive a success,” said Tricia Folliero, Vice President, SMM Advertising.

The donated winter wear was distributed to the Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry, St, Vincent de Paul’s Food Pantry at St. Jospeh’s Church in Kings Park, St. Gerard of Majella Outreach, Infant Jesus Outreach, Church of the Resurrection Outreach, Echo Arms Adult Home, Lighthouse Mission and Pax Christi Men’s Shelter.

“The Friends of the Retired and Senior Volunteer program is overwhelmed by the response of our RSVP volunteers and our community members to take this opportunity to care for our community. The number of blankets and coats that they provided was incredible and so often the donation came with a willingness to continue to help. We are grateful to be working with Leg. Trotta and SMM Advertising.,” said Maryflorence Brennan, Executive Director of RSVP.

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Hand-drawn renderings of two of the seven sampled molars from Australopithecus (StW-148 and StW-47), illustrative of teeth frequently exposed to plant eating. Credit: Dom Jack, MPIC

Study published in Science identifies Australopithecus as a plant eater, narrowing the scope on when regular animal consumption increased and brains grew.

 An international team of researchers including Dominic Stratford, PhD, of Stony Brook University and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, have discovered that an ancient human ancestor found in deposits at the Sterkfontein Caves, Australopithecus, which lived more than three million years ago in South Africa, primarily ate plant-based foods. The finding, published in the journal Science, stems from an analysis of tooth enamel from seven Australopithecus fossils and is significant because the emergence of meat eating is thought to be a key driver of a large increase in brain size seen in later hominins.

Every human behavior, from abstract thought to the development of complex technology, is a result of the evolution of the brain. According to evolutionary scientists, meat consumption is a primary driver of many aspects of the evolution of our own genus, Homo, including brain size. When hominins started to exploit and consume highly nutritious animal products is a major question in human evolution studies because it represents a turning point in our evolution. However, direct evidence of when meat eating emerged among our earliest ancestors, and how its consumption developed through time, has remained elusive to scientists.

The research team included investigators from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (MPIC) in Germany and the University of Witwatersrand. They analyzed stable nitrogen isotope data (15N/14N) from tooth enamel of Australopithecus fossils found in the caves, an area known for its rich collection of early hominin fossils.

The ratio of stable nitrogen isotopes accumulated in animals’ tissues has been used to understand its trophic position – place in the food chain – for many years. An enrichment of 15N is generally indicative of a higher position in the food chain and consumption of animal tissue. Conventionally, bone collagen or dentin are sampled to attain enough nitrogen isotopes for analysis. But these tissues typically decay relatively rapidly, limiting the application of nitrogen isotope analysis to about 300,000 years.

The recent development of more sensitive analytical techniques that can measure less nitrogen provided the opportunity to sample enamel, the hardest tissue of the mammalian body that also traps Nitrogen stable isotopes while it is forming. Enamel can potentially preserve the isotopic fingerprint of an animal’s diet for millions of years.

According to Stratford, an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Stony Brook University, and Director of Research at the Sterkfontein Caves, and his colleagues, this advancement in nitrogen isotope analysis enabled the researchers to obtain the first direct evidence of the diet of ancient hominin fossils and explore when meat eating started, the behavior that set hominins on a new evolutionary path.

They compared the isotopic data from those fossils with tooth samples of other coexisting animals at the time, such as monkeys, antelopes, hyenas, jackals and big cats. The comparison revealed that while its possible Australopithecus occasionally consumed meat, its primary diet was plant-based.

In fact, the isotopic data showed the hominin ate more like a herbivore than a carnivore. One interpretation of this result, explains Stratford, is that changes in behavior known to occur in Australopithecus may not be a result of an increase in meat consumption. It may also suggest that regular meat eating had not yet emerged as a behavior in a hominin this old, implying that it occurred only later in time, or in a different geographic area.

“Overall, this work provides clear evidence that Australopithecus in South Africa did not eat significant amounts of meat three million years ago, and it represents a huge step in extending our ability to better understand diets and trophic level of all animals back into the scale of millions of years,” adds Stratford.

 

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'Reverie' by Adam Lowenbein

The Flecker Gallery on the Suffolk County Community College’s Ammerman Campus, 533 College Road, Selden has announced its first exhibition of the semester, DAYLIGHT by acclaimed artist Adam Lowenbein. This captivating exhibition will open on Thursday, February 6, with a reception and artist talk from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Southampton Building of the Ammerman Campus. The show will run through March 6, 2025.

DAYLIGHT features a series of large-scale works that are both visually stunning and thought-provoking. Lowenbein’s art transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, using unrestrained color and layered textures to create pieces that are at once beautiful and unsettling. His paintings stretch moments in time, inviting viewers into a world where tension and anticipation hover in the air, blurring the lines between clarity and unease. This exhibition offers audiences an opportunity to explore the hidden layers of the familiar, uncovering an unexpected underbelly within everyday environments.

Adam Lowenbein is an artist whose work has been celebrated both nationally and internationally. Based on Long Island, and Fort Lauderdale, FL, Lowenbein holds a BFA in painting from The Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA in painting from Indiana University, where he attended on a fellowship. His impressive career includes grants to attend the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and the Vermont Studio Center, as well as a year as a Core Fellow at The Glassell School, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

This exhibition and artist talk present a unique opportunity for the public to engage with Lowenbein’s remarkable work and gain insight into his creative process. Don’t miss the chance to experience DAYLIGHT at the Flecker Gallery this semester.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (and by appointment).

For more information, please contact the Flecker Gallery at 631-451-4093.

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