Sanjay Galhotra, MD, FACP, DABOM, and the newly established Suffolk Primary Care, 200 Motor Parkway, Suite C-16, Hauppauge have joined Stony Brook Medicine Community Medical Group, Stony Brook Medicine’s expanding network of community practices.
“We are excited to have Dr. Sanjay Galhotra and his practice join,” said Dara Brener, MD, Clinical Quality Director of Stony Brook Medicine Community Medical Group. “His experience and dedication to his patients’ health and well-being will be a great asset.”
Dr. Galhotra is board-certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine and has more than 10 years of experience working as a hospitalist.
“I am very excited to join Stony Brook Medicine Community Medical Group,” said Dr. Galhotra. “I look forward to collaborating with other providers to provide excellent medical care to our patients. To make an appointment, call 934-213-4830.
Firehouse Restaurant and Bar celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting on April 20. Photo from TOB
On Saturday, April 20, BrookhavenTown Councilwoman Jane Bonner, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico, community members and local firefighters were in Sound Beach to celebrate the the grand opening of the new Firehouse Restaurant and Bar with a ribbon cutting .
Formerly The Hartlin Inn, the restaurant, located at 30 New York Avenue, is a tribute to fallen New York City Firefighter Joey DiBernardo, who died in 2011 from injuries sustained during a 2005 fire in the Bronx.
Pictured with the ribbon are, from left, Councilwoman Bonner, Barbara and Joseph DiBernardo, co-owner Eddie Spagnolo, Gabriella Ingoglia, co-owner Carolyn DiBernardo Ingoglia and Supervisor Panico.
Open noon to midnight daily, the menu at the Firehouse Restaurant and Bar includes soups and salads, starters, sandwiches, burgers, entrees, desserts and more. There is also a bar menu and happy hour menu and takeout is available.
Want to be part of the action at this year’s fairs and festivals? Do you have unique merchandise, crafts, yard sale items or food and beverages to sell? Here are a list of vendors wanted for upcoming community events on the North Shore. The list will be updated weekly.
◆ Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road Setauket is now accepting vendors for the 10th annual Three Village Farmers & Artisans Market which will be held from May 3 to Oct. 25 (May to August from 3 to 7 p.m., September to October from 3 to 6 p.m. Fee is $650 for full season (25 weeks), $450 half season (12 weeks), $50 pop up per week, food trucks $50 per week. For an application, visit www.tvhs.org
◆ Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket seeks vendors for its annual Community Wide Yard Sale on May 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Each 10 x 10 space is up for grabs at $50, $35 members. Reserve your spot now at www.tvhs.org/yardsale. 631-751-3730
◆ Smithtown Historical Society, 239 E. Main St., Smithtown seeks vendors for its upcoming Spring Farm Festival on May 25 from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, call 631-265-6768 or email officemanager@smithtownhistorical.org.
◆ Long Island Game Farm, 489 Chapman Blvd., Manorville seeks food and flea market vendors for its Wild Treasures Market on June 9, July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 8 and Oct. 13 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www.wildlifesustainability.org/market for more information.
When planning for your estate, consider your goals. Stock photo
By Nancy Burner, Esq.
Nancy Burner, Esq.
While there are very good reasons for creating a trust, the TYPE of trust is of great consequence and depends upon many facts and circumstances. No one should create and fund a trust unless they understand the reason — the problem (or problems) they are trying to solve. This article is intended as a simplified “primer” on the most common trusts used in estate planning. It is not exhaustive by any means but certainly provides a framework for designing an estate plan.
First, what is a living trust? A living trust is a document executed by you as the grantor or creator during your lifetime, as opposed to a testamentary trust that is created at your death. It is a free-standing document that sets forth how your trust assets should be managed during your lifetime and distributed at your death.
One of the most common living trusts is the Revocable Trust. This document is meant to obviate the need for probate by titling all assets in the name of the trust. If properly drafted and funded, this trust will alleviate delays, make the administration of your assets seamless and significantly reduce the legal fees costs incurred on the settling ofyour estate after you die.
Typically, you would be the Grantor and Trustee of your own revocable trust. In the trust document you would name successor Trustees to act in the event of your incapacity or death. The revocable trust uses your Social Security number and is not a separate taxable entity.
Another common trust is the irrevocable Medicaid qualifying trust. This trust will also avoid probate and has the added benefit of protecting assets should you require long term care in a nursing home or care at home through the Medicaid program. This trust is often funded with your home, as well as other assets. You would not be the Trustee of this trust, but you would name one or more of your beneficiaries or any other trusted individualto act on behalf of the trust. Even if your home is transferred to this trust, you will still pay all the expenses of maintaining the home and have exclusive use and occupancy.
You would also enjoy all the tax benefits like star exemptions, capital gains exemption upon the sale of your primary residence and your heirs would still obtain a step up in basis at your death. All income earned by the trust can be paid to you or accumulated in the trust, but will still be taxable to you at your individual rate.
Often clients do not realize that life insurance proceeds are taxable in their estates. With the federal exemption likely to be cut in half by January 1, 2026, keeping the value of life insurance proceeds out of your taxable estate is a number one priority for many. A well drafted irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) will avoid such taxation. If the life insurance trust purchases the policy, then the life insurance will be completely outside your taxable estate. If you already own the policy and then transfer it to your insurance trust, you must survive the transfer by three years.
With the prospect of the federal estate tax exemption being drastically reduced, many clients are opting to create spousal limited access trusts (SLAT). The SLAT could be used to transfer a significant amount of wealth out of your estate while the exemption is high. A SLAT is an irrevocable trust created by one spouse for the benefit of the other during his or her lifetime. The SLAT can provide income and principal distributions for the benefit of the non-grantor spouse and descendants, with the spouse being primary. The spouse can serve as a Trustee.
Furthermore, assets in the SLAT are protected from the spouse’s creditors and not included in the spouse’s taxable estate.
When planning for your estate, consider your goals. Do you havetaxable estate or are you worried about the cost of nursing home care? The solution should address those issues.
Nancy Burner, Esq. is a Partner at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. focusing her practice areas on Estate Planning and Trusts and Estates. Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. serves clients from New York City to the east end of Long Island with offices located in East Setauket, Westhampton Beach, Manhattan and East Hampton.
There’s perhaps no better occasion to show off your kitchen skills than Mother’s Day, a perfect opportunity to turn the tables on mom and let her relax while you handle cooking duties. A homemade breakfast — or better yet, letting her sleep in for brunch — is a sure way to win her over and show how much you care.
Show your delicate side by working up a batch of Apple Ricotta Crepes, which require a soft touch to cook the light, silky batter to golden perfection. This rendition of the beloved thin pancakes calls for a ricotta spread and apple-cinnamon topping for a delightful pairing of savory and sweet.
If a full Mother’s Day celebration is on the menu, something a bit heartier may be required. A frittata provides the best of both worlds, as it’s a filling meal that’s also easy to make — just let the oven do the work. This Apple, Tomato and Goat Cheese Frittata is no exception as it calls for a handful of everyday ingredients you can whisk together in a cinch. While it’s in the oven (about 30 minutes, give or take) you can put the finishing touches on your last-minute decorations and handwritten cards.
Apple Ricotta Crepes
Recipe courtesy of Envy Apples
Apple Ricotta Crepes
YIELD: Makes 12 crepes
INGREDIENTS:
Crepes:
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1cup whole milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
butter, for cooking
Ricotta Filling:
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 lemon, zest and juice only
2 to 3 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
Apple Topping:
butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 apples, sliced or cubed
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
salt, to taste
maple syrup
DIRECTIONS:
To make crepes: In bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt. Add milk, eggs and vanilla then, using whisk, combine thoroughly. Mixture should be silky smooth. Refrigerate.
To make ricotta filling: Combine ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice and sugar, mix well and set aside.
To make apple topping: In pan over medium heat, heat butter and brown sugar until bubbly and golden. Add apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, to taste; cook over medium-low heat until apples are soft. Turn off heat and finish with maple syrup.
In nonstick pan over medium-low heat, melt small amount of butter. Add one ladle crepe batter, cook until bubbles form, flip and cook until golden. Repeat with remaining batter. Stack crepes to keep warm and soft.
Spread ricotta mixture thinly onto crepes and fold into quarters. Top with apple mixture and serve.
Apple and Goat Cheese Frittata
Recipe courtesy of Envy Apples
Apple and Goat Cheese Frittata
YIELD: Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
6 eggs
1 teaspoon hot sauce
2 teaspoons kosher salt
20 turns fresh cracked pepper
1/4 cup whole milk
1 small apple, diced
1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons thinly sliced chives
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 F. In large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, hot pepper sauce, salt, pepper and milk until well combined. Stir in apples, tomatoes, goat cheese and chives until well combined. Using 1/3 measuring cup, spoon frittata mixture into oven-safe large skillet or 9-by-9-inch pan. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until eggs are set. Let cool slightly then serve.
A scene from 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown'. Photo courtesy of Simple Gifts Productions
A scene from 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown'. Photo courtesy of Simple Gifts Productions
A scene from 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown'. Photo courtesy of Simple Gifts Productions
Simple Gifts Productions, a professional performing arts company for kids and teens, will present “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 at First United Methodist Church of Port Jefferson, 603 Main Street, Port Jefferson. Both shows start at 7:30 p.m.
This “revised” version is a fresh approach to the all-time 1967 classic, based on the beloved comic strip by Charles Schulz. Featuring all your favorite Peanuts characters, this charming revue of vignettes and songs is fun for the whole family (ages 4 and older). Running time is 1 hour.
Tickets are $15. For Reserved Seating, tickets can be purchased online. Visit www.simplegiftsproductions.com for more information. Tickets for General Seating will also be sold at the door before each performance.
Responding to the critical National need for both blood donors and firefighter volunteers, The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF), and the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO), will be hosting a blood drive, a Shed the Meds event, anda volunteer firefighter recruitment information table at the LIMEHOF, 197 Main St., Stony Brook Village on Saturday, May 4 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Joined by State Senator Palumbo, Assemblyman Ed Flood, LIMEHOF and WMHO:
– The New York Blood Center mobile blood collection van will be collecting donations. (Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome. Call 1-800-933-2566 to make your reservation.) The first 10 student donors will receive a ticket to The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of
Fame (LIMEHOF), courtesy of Stony Brook University.
– Firefighters from the Stony Brook, Centereach, Terryville, and, Stony Brook University Campus will be hosting an information table.
-The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Deputies will be collecting pharmaceuticals.
-Stony Brook University students will be conducting a mental health research survey.
-The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) will be hosting a raffle!
Mother’s Day is a time to express love and appreciation for mothers, sentiments that are often expressed with gifts. Flowers are a popular present to bestow on Mother’s Day, as they can brighten a room and bring a sweet aroma to any household. While any flowers may ultimately suffice on Mother’s Day, gift givers may want to select flowers for Mom that convey specific messages. The language of flowers has been recognized for centuries. Though perhaps not as heralded as it once was, flower symbolism persists to this day. Here’s a look at some of the meanings behind certain types of flowers to help guide Mother’s Day gifting.
• Amaryllis: These plants start as bulbs and are naturally spring-blooming flowers. The name comes from the Greek word “amarysso,” which means “to sparkle,” and they symbolize pride.
• Aster: These daisy-like flowers are delicate-looking perennials. Asters make great gifts because they symbolize love and daintiness.
• Begonia: There are more than 2,000 types of begonias, and the flower symbolizes deep thoughts. Begonias were made famous by French horticulturist Michel Bégon, who thought the blooms looked like beautiful girls.
• Bleeding heart: These flowers are red and pink blossoms that look like the perfect heart shape with a teardrop at the bottom. They’re beautiful and symbolic of love and affection.
• Buttercup: These are associated with youthfulness and cheerfulness and can call to mind childhood days spent picking buttercups and holding them under chins to reveal that you like butter. The flower is known for its beauty and innocent charm.
• Camellia (white): White camellias stand for purity and innocence, but they also symbolize admiration and respect. Camellias make beautiful additions to any bouquet.
• Carnations: Carnations are traditionally the official flower of Mother’s Day. It has come to signify purity, faith, love, beauty and all the traits that represents the virtue of Motherhood. Pink carnations symbolise a mother’s pure and never-ending love. They can be used to express appreciation and thankfulness. Red carnations symbolise sincere love, affection, and admiration.
• Daisy: Daisies are happy-looking flowers, and according to Norse mythology they represent motherhood and children.
• Delphinium: Delphiniums come in pink, white and blue varieties and embody youth and renewal. They’re a good pick if you want to convey a continued or renewed affection for a person.
• Hydrangea: Hydrangeas symbolises gratitude, grace, and beauty. This lush and multi-petaled bloom is a great choice for the mother that gives ample amount of love and support. Blue hydrangeas represents understanding and deep gratitude. Pink hydrangeas represent love and sincerity. White hydrangeas represents purity and grace. Purple hydrangea shows understanding and abundance.
• Lilies: Lilies are one of the most beloved flowers by many mothers due to their large bloom size and beautiful shape. Coming in a variety of colours and species, they associated with good fortune, happiness and Motherhood. White lily represents purity and majesty. Pink lilies symbolises admiration, love and abundance.
• Orchids: Orchids are a great option to send as they represent love, luxury, beauty, and strength. In Asian and Chinese culture, this auspicious flower also symbolises abundance, wealth, and is a lucky plant to have at home. Additionally, cut orchids or potted ones last for a long time in the Singapore weather. Pink or purple orchids signify respect, admiration, and elegance. Green orchids represent good health and fortune.
• Roses: Roses are a reliable classic bloom, however, skip the red, which is typically associated with romantic love. Opt for other colours or a mixed coloured bouquet. Deep Pink Roses represents appreciation and gratitude. Light Pink Roses represents happiness, joy, admiration. Peach Roses symbolise thanks and gratitude
• Tulip: Tulips with an orange hue are thought to represent understanding and appreciation. They can express appreciation for Mom or another special person. Purple tulips represent elegance and royalty,making it a great choice for your mother-in-law. Orange and yellow tulips symbolises happiness, joy and hope, while pink tulips are symbolic of love. Red blooms should be reserved for sweethearts.
Sweetbriar Nature Center is currently taking care of baby owls, ducks, rabbits, opossums and squirrels. Photo courtesy of Sweetbriar
By Tara Mae
Spring harbors hope for new life. A promise of possibility soars on wings of a compassionate community that sees the specialness of not only the human species.
The most beautiful beasts will be in attendance at Sweetbriar Nature Center’s Baby Shower for Wildlife on Sunday, May 5, from 1 to 3 p.m. Come join staff members, volunteers, and ambassador animals to enjoy a meet and greet, crafts, and a walking tour of the property.
An annual event, this preparation party is thrown to help offset the practical and monetary strains that hatchling/birthing season puts on the Center. This year has been particularly taxing as a mild winter led to an early baby boom.
Sweetbriar Nature Center is currently taking care of baby owls, ducks, rabbits, opossums and squirrels. Photo courtesy of Sweetbriar
“Honestly you are never prepared for baby season; it comes at different times every year. This year it was very, very early. Ducklings and goslings were being hatched in January. We never really had a winter so to speak…if it is warm and it never gets cold, animals get confused,” Sweetbriar Curator and Wildlife Rehabilitation Director Janine Bendicksen said.
Although it began sooner, it is not winding down, and so supplies are urgently needed.
Like any well organized shower, this one provides a detailed registry for its guests. Curated to the delicate needs of its charges, Sweetbriar’s Amazon Wish List includes rabbit and squirrel formula, meal and wax worms, and supplies like gallon size ziploc bags, trash bags, white vinegar, baby bottle warmers and latex gloves. Monetary donations are also appreciated.
“The public support goes a very long way,” Bendicksen said. “We are not allowed to charge for the care of wildlife, so we are not funded by government entities.” Caring for infants is time consuming, but Sweetbriar is determined that it not be cost prohibitive. It hosts the yearly baby shower as a way to gather the supplies it needs and garner public interest. True to its nature, this event offers opportunities for socializing and promises party activities.
Meet Turnip the Screech Owl at Sweetbriar’s Baby Shower for Wildlife. Photo courtesy of Sweetbriar Nature Center
Its guests of honor are Turnip, a screech owl, and Little Blue, a bluejay. Although they are now adults, the attendance of these creatures is particularly poignant. As babies, Turnip and Little Blue each benefitted from a previous shower. Permanent residents of Sweetbriar, they are unable to be rereleased into the wild.
Turnip was injured when the tree in which he resided was knocked over, causing him to fall to the ground and sustain life-altering injuries. Little Blue was born blind. Witnessing their individual distress, concerned citizens reached out to Sweetbriar to save them. Neither animal would have survived without the intervention of the nature center. As with the other ambassador animals, Turnip and Little Blue continue to rely on its resources while educating the public about wildlife and conservation.
These are lessons that Bendicksen hopes citizens heed.
“If you find wildlife and you know it needs help, make a phone call before doing anything,” she said. “One of the biggest mistakes is feeding the animal, causing the animal to aspirate. It is easier to bring back a dehydrated animal rather than an aspirated animal. On our social media we give you options, including how to re-nest baby birds, baby squirrels, etc.,”
Sweetbriar’s primary service is as a rehabilitation for injured and/or orphaned animals, but part of its efforts include teaching individuals what to do if they encounter an animal they fear may be in distress. Correcting any well-intentioned misconceptions about “saving” wild animals is a large component of that.
“If you find a nest and everything seems normal — nothing has attacked it — leave it alone and enjoy it. For instance, baby birds fledge [go to the ground], parents feed them on the ground, etc. So educate yourself; do not just Google it. Follow Sweetbriar’s social media — we are constantly educating the public every day. Or just call us,” Bendicksen added.
It may still be difficult to leave an animal alone if an observer notes that an animal is not in distress but may be imperiled by a potential unfortunate encounter, such as with a feral or free range cat. In this or similar scenario, Bendicksen counsels that the animal still be left on its own but advises certain precautions may be taken.
Sweetbriar Nature Center is currently taking care of baby owls, ducks, rabbits, opossums and squirrels. Photo courtesy of Sweetbriar
“We do not accept wildlife based on the fact that they may get eaten by something. We have come up with ways to protect wildlife. For a baby bunny nest, put a wheelbarrow over it upside down. For a fledgling on the ground, pick it up and put in a basket outside,” she said.
In general, the objective is to support the animal with as little human interference as possible.
A main goal of Sweetbriar is to rehabilitate the animals in its care so that they may return to their natural habitat. In instances where the animals would not survive being rereleased, they are able to live out their lives in protected enclosures on the nature center’s 54 acres of woodland, field, garden, and wetland habitats along the Nissequogue River.
This shower allows animal lovers to aid Sweetbriar and its charges in a way that enables it to continue offering a healing haven for both the temporary visitors and permanent population. “Our work is a service to the public, and any assistance is a great help,” Bendicksen said.
Tickets to the Baby Shower for Wildlife are $5 for adults and $15 for children. To learn more about the event and to shop the Amazon Wishlist, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org. Located at 62 Eckernkamp Drive in Smithtown, Sweetbriar Nature Center is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Its preserve is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 631-979-6344.
Mike Faist and Zendaya in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of MGM Studios
Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel
The plethora of sports films would take up pages, if not volumes. From comedies (Bull Durham, A League of Their Own) to dramas (Rocky, The Boys in the Boat) to the better left undefined (Space Jam?), cinema has often trained its eye on everything from football (Friday Night Lights) to curling (Men with Brooms). While not as popular as baseball or football, tennis is featured in films such as King Richard, Borg vs. McEnroe, 7 Days in Hell, Wimbledon, and even the thriller Match Point.
Zendaya plays tennis star Tashi Duncan in ‘Challengers’. Photo courtesy of MGM Studios
Challengers presents doubles partners and best friends Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) and Art Donaldson (Mike Faist). After a bold win, they meet superstar Tashi Duncan (Zendaya). All are high school seniors on the cusp of entering college, though Tashi has the skills and ferocity to skip the university level for a professional career. The boys are immediately smitten with the independent Tashi and vie for her affection. Tashi and Art attend Stanford and play college tennis. Patrick turns professional, carrying on a fractious long-distance relationship with Tashi. Early on, Tashi suffers a knee injury, ending her career. She shifts her focus and becomes Art’s coach and then wife.
Challengers is a lust triangle that zig-zags through thirteen years. Beginning in the present of 2019, the film flashes backward and forward through time. Sometimes, the narrative returns to the beginning and sometimes to just a few days prior. Unobtrusive but necessary title cards clarify the time frame, removing the guesswork. Given the short time span and the aging of late teens to early thirties, it would have been almost impossible to follow without them. Notwithstanding changes in hairstyle and facial hair, the outward changes to the characters are minor.
Director Luca Guadagnino is known for his bold style and surprising choices. His most popular film, Call Me by Your Name, garnered numerous accolades, with substantial nominations and awards. His other films have included the violent remake of the horror film Suspiria and the “cannibal love story” Bones and All. He does not shy away from crossing lines or making an impact.
Josh O’Connor and Zendaya in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of MGM Studios
Strangely, with Challengers, he seems to pull his punches. Justin Kuritzkes’ functional screenplay is at its best when it draws on the similarities between sex and tennis. Perhaps intentionally, it makes the latter far more exciting and passionate. Challengers takes a benign stab at privilege with Art and Patrick as boarding school boys who have been roommates since they were twelve. Later, Patrick tries to put himself forward as the starving athlete living in his car. Tashi calls him out on the façade. This provides one of the few references to the nature of their indulgence and her place as an outsider. Much has been made of the trailer’s indication of another layer to the menage, but the film skirts around this, with nods towards the homoerotic but never fully embracing it.
Where the film succeeds is in the three central performances (no one else gets much of a look in). Faist makes the sweeter, more conservative Art as likable as possible, showing an easy but often brittle charm. O’Connor gives Patrick a certain amount of doubt and introspection, even when his behavior is terrible. The sense that he is always on the edge softens an otherwise narcissistic individual.
But Zendaya owns the film, bringing raw energy to the femme fatale struggling with her constantly shifting and mixed feelings about these two man-children. She balances an electric presence with unspoken frustrations and even simmering rage. She makes every moment, every beat count. She is both queen and pawn. Is she a homewrecker or a victim?
As a tight ensemble, the trio owns the shifting dynamics, which are interesting and intense as they try but fail to define themselves. The repetitions and changing of partners create a sort of interpersonal hell where, ultimately, none are winners. Rages lead to broken rackets; disappointments lead to double-crossing.
The tennis is filmed with energy and style, bringing as much excitement and edge to the game. Even the peripatetic timeline enhances the somewhat predictable plot. But where the film frustrates is its overuse of slow motion and a heavy-handed, pulsing soundtrack, adding minutes that become endless. Dwelling on predictable cuts, sweaty faces, hard stares, and triumphant grimaces eventually feels like a parody.
Judicious editing, trimming to a lean ninety minutes, would have made the film a winner. However, Challengers at two hours and eleven minutes is just challenging.
Rated R, Challengers is now playing in local theaters.
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