When we feel achy, nauseous and dizzy, we know something is wrong. We might visit the doctor, take cold medicine or cancel plans in order to get some rest.We quickly equate the corporeal symptoms with a physical ailment and treat the illness appropriately. A cut requires a bandage, a broken bone needs a cast.
When we are mentally struggling, the problem is more difficult to diagnose. Our stubborn minds, too smart for their own good, may equivocate and minimize the pain, convincing ourselves that in the absence of physical symptoms, pain should not exist. We are busy–kids need rides to school, deadlines loom and work piles up. There isn’t time for a quiet moment to check in with our emotions.
It may seem inconvenient, or even embarrassing for us to admit that our mental state is suffering, but we can’t outrun, outwork or suppress something as vital as mental health. We shouldn’t accept it as a weakness or as an unavoidable dispositional quality. Help awaits to alleviate our discomfort or suffering.
Prolonged distress or anxiety has physical consequences, such as high blood pressure, weight fluctuation, heart disease and sleep issues. We shouldn’t ignore our minds.
Mental illness doesn’t discriminate by age, gender or class. Stigmas surrounding asking for help differ by demographic, with men less likely to reach for help when they are struggling. Prescribing to stereotypes and gender roles contributes to the idea that men shouldn’t ask for help, or are failing in their masculinity if they do. Less than half of men suffering from depression or anxiety actually seek help.
It may seem like we are alone–that there must be something wrong with us for feeling anxious or depressed or paranoid. This is untrue. The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 8 adults suffer from mental disorders each year.
It is time to prioritize mental health instead of pushing it to the side. If something is off with friends or loved ones–they aren’t as enthusiastic about their hobbies, aren’t eating as much or are eating more than normal, or are isolating themselves– make sure they know you are there to support them and get them any help they may need. If you feel your mental health slipping, lean on those around you or call the Suffolk County’s Mental Health Helpline at 631-471-7242.
Sometimes, just opening up and talking about what you are feeling can ease the pain. Other times, contacting a professional could be what work best.
Most Americans consume far too much sodium — an average of 3400 mg per day, which is well over the 2300 mg per day recommended upper limit for teens and adults (1). It’s become such an issue that the FDA is working with food manufacturers and restaurants to drive these numbers down (2).
If you don’t have hypertension, what difference does it make? Sodium can have a dramatic effect on your health, regardless of your blood pressure.
It’s hard to avoid, with sodium hiding even in foods that don’t taste salty, like bread products and salad dressings. Other foods with substantial amounts of sodium include cold cuts and cured meats, cheeses, poultry, soups, pasta, sauces and, of course, snack foods. Packaged foods and restaurant meals are where most of our consumption occurs.
In contrast, only about two percent of people consume enough potassium in their diets (3). According to the National Institutes of Health, target potassium intake is between 2600 mg and 3400 mg for adult women and men, respectively.
How are sodium and potassium related?
A high sodium-to-potassium ratio increases your cardiovascular disease risk by 46 percent, according to a 15-year study of more than 12,000 participants (4).
A more recent analysis of over 10,000 participants followed for almost nine years tested sodium and potassium excretion, a more reliable measure of intake, and found that higher sodium excretion, lower potassium excretion, and a higher sodium-to-potassium ratio were all associated with a higher cardiovascular risk (5). Each daily incremental increase of 1000 mg in sodium excretion was associated with an 18 percent increase in cardiovascular risk.
To improve your overall health, you might need to shift your sodium-to-potassium balance so that you consume more potassium and less sodium. And if you struggle with — or are at risk for — high blood pressure, this approach could help.
Why lower your sodium consumption?
Two studies illuminate the benefits of reducing sodium in high and normal blood pressure patients, ultimately preventing cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke.
The first was a meta-analysis that evaluated data from 34 randomized clinical trials, totaling more than 3,200 participants. It demonstrated that salt reduction from 9-to-12 grams per day to 5-to-6 grams per day had a dramatic effect. Blood pressure in both normotensive and hypertensive participants was reduced by a significant mean of −4.18 mm Hg systolic (top number) and −2.06 mm Hg diastolic (bottom number) (6).
When looking solely at hypertensive patients, the reduction was even greater, with a systolic blood pressure reduction of −5.39 mm Hg and a diastolic reduction of −2.82 mm Hg.
The researchers believe that the more we reduce salt intake, the greater the blood pressure reduction. The authors recommend further reduction to 3 grams per day as a long-term target and hypothesize that the effects on blood pressure will most likely result in a decrease in cardiovascular disease.
In the second study, a meta-analysis of 42 clinical trials including both adults and children, there was a similarly significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures (7). Both demographics experienced a blood pressure reduction, although the effect was greater in adults. Interestingly, an increase in sodium caused a 24 percent increased risk of stroke incidence but, more importantly, a 63 percent increased risk of stroke mortality. The risk of mortality from heart disease increased by 32 percent alongside an increase in sodium.
Isn’t too little sodium a risk?
Some experts warn that sodium levels that are too low can be a problem. While this is true, it’s very rare, unless you have a health condition or take medication that depletes sodium. Since sodium is hiding everywhere, even if you don’t add salt to your food, you’re probably consuming more than the recommended amount of sodium.
Why focus on potassium consumption?
In a meta-analysis involving 32 studies, results showed that as the amount of potassium was increased, systolic blood pressure decreased significantly (8). When high blood pressure patients consumed foods containing 3.5 to 4.7 grams of potassium, they experienced an impressive −7.16 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure. Anything more than this amount of potassium did not provide additional benefit. Increased potassium intake also reduced stroke risk by 24 percent.
Blood pressure reduction was greater with increased potassium consumption than with sodium restriction, although this was not a head-to-head comparison. The good news is that it’s easy to increase your potassium intake; it’s found in many whole foods and is richest in fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes.
So, what’s the bottom line? Decrease your sodium intake and increase your potassium intake from foods to strike a better sodium-to-potassium balance. As you reduce your sodium intake, give yourself a brief period to adapt; it takes about six weeks to retrain your taste buds.
References:
(1) Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2019 Mar. (2) fda.gov. (3) nih.gov. (4) Arch Intern Med. 2011;171(13):1183-1191. (5) N Engl J Med 2022;386:252-263. (6) BMJ. 2013 Apr 3;346:f1325. (7) BMJ. 2013 Apr 3;346:f1326. (8) BMJ. 2013; 346:f1378.
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.
Welcome to the 41st edition of Paw Prints, a monthly column for animal lovers dedicated to helping shelter pets find their furever home
Penny
Meet Penny
“Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes, there beneath the blue suburban skies.” A song that captures the beauty in the ordinary and turns it into something extraordinary is a fitting tribute for this nine year old Shepherd mix.
Penny first arrived at Little Shelter via the Passage to Freedom Program from far away Azerbaijan. Adopted soon after, she was living a happy life until she suddenly lost her family and found herself back at the beginning. Enjoying long walks, ear scratches, and good conversation, this bright, shiny Penny is hoping to get a second chance. Finding a Penny brings good luck…this one is as close as your nearest shelter! 631-368-8770
Roo
Meet Roo
“Good morning from me — Roo!
I’m just sitting here in the sunshine, waiting and wishing for my forever home. I’m Roo, a 1-year-old mixed breed girl with big ears, a happy heart, and the sweetest soul you’ll ever meet. I weigh about 40 pounds, which means I’m the perfect size for cuddling, car rides, and couch time (if you’re into that—because I sure am!).
I love going on walks, making new friends, and showing off my good leash manners. I may be young, but I’ve got a calm, gentle way about me that makes people smile. Just look into my eyes—you’ll see!
If you think we might be a perfect match, call Kent Animal Shelter for more information. I’m here patiently waiting, hoping today is the day someone chooses me.” 631-727-5731
Sally
Meet Sally
Sally is a 5-year-old goldendoodle mix who came to the Brookhaven Animal Shelter as a stray, but she hasn’t let her past dim her bright and loving spirit. This sweet girl is bursting with energy and affection! Sally thrives on activity and would love a family who enjoys walks, playtime, and plenty of outdoor adventures. She seems to be very dog friendly, but further testing will be done once she is spayed.
Sally hasn’t had much training in her life, so she’s still learning not to jump up and is working on her leash manners—she can be strong! She’ll need a family who’s patient and committed to helping her grow with some basic obedience training.
Because of her energy and strength, Sally would do best in a home with children aged 14 and up. She’s the kind of pup who’ll match your enthusiasm for life, and she’s ready to be your loyal sidekick for all the fun ahead. Fill out a Matchmaker Application at https://www.brookhavenny.gov/152/Animal-Shelter to meet her in person! 631-451-6955
Bronco
Meet Bronco
This sweet boy was abandoned at a local park last August and is still waiting at the Smithtown Animal Shelter for his forever home. Estimated to be around 5 years old, this brindle and white bully mix weighs in at 65 pounds. A true gentleman, Bronco’s favorite pastimes include carrying around his stuffies and going for car rides that end with pup cups! He enjoys kids and alladults and is indifferent to other animals.Bronco deserves his happily ever after. Will that be with you? 631-360-7575
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Free rabies vaccination clinic
Save the date! The Suffolk County Department of Health Services in conjunction with the Town of Brookhaven will offer free rabies vaccinations for dogs, cats and ferrets on Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Brookhaven Animal Shelter located at 300 Horseblock Road in Brookhaven. Although the clinic is available to all county residents, the quantity of vaccine is limited and available only while supplies last. All dogs must be on leashes and all cats and ferrets must be in carriers.
New York State and Suffolk County laws require that all dogs, cats, and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies. Vaccinating pets not only provides protection for the animals but also acts as a barrier to keep the rabies virus from spreading between wild animals and people.
“Take the time to protect your beloved pets against rabies. They give us so much joy and love and deserve to be kept safe,” said County Executive Ed Romaine. For more information, call 631-451-6950.
Rescue is a lifestyle. Adopt, don’t shop.
Check out the next Paw Prints in the issue of June 12.
Paw Prints is generously sponsored by Mark T. Freeley, Esq.
Many families crave those memorable moments together at the dinner table, and in spite of frenetic schedules and seemingly never-ending to-do lists, there are easy ways to make those meals a reality like serving a simple recipe made for sharing like this flavorful French Onion Baked Chicken or Cheesy Baked Mushroom Chicken, courtesy of Family Features.
1 cup shredded mozzarella gruyere or fontina cheese
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400 F. In large pan over medium-high heat, heat oil. Sear chicken breasts 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove from pan.
To make caramelized onions: In separate pan over medium-high heat, heat butter and olive oil. Once butter is melted and bubbling, add onions. Let sit 5 minutes. Turn heat to low and cover onions. Cook 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. Stir in salt, fresh thyme and garlic; cover onions. Cook 10 minutes.
Stir in balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire, beef broth and Dijon mustard. Cover and cook 10-15 minutes, or until onions are brown and jammy. Stir onions every 10 minutes.
Place chicken breasts in greased baking dish. Top with onions then cheese. Place any additional onions in bottom of dish. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 F.
Heat oven to 375° F. Prepare baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cut each chicken breast in half. Coat with flour. In large skillet, melt butter. Add chicken to skillet; brown all sides.
Transfer chicken from skillet to 11-by-7-inch baking dish. In skillet, saute sliced mushrooms in remaining butter until softened. Add chicken broth, salt and pepper. Bring to boil then cook 5 minutes. Spoon over chicken. Bake 15 minutes. Sprinkle with cheeses and green onions. Bake 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve with green beans and mashed cauliflower.
For those who pass away in 2025, the federal estate tax exemption stands at $13.99 million per individual—or nearly $28 million for a married couple. This historically high exemption is a result of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which temporarily doubled the prior $5 million exemption (indexed for inflation).
But there’s a catch: the increased exemption is set to expire at the end of 2025. Without congressional action, the exemption will revert to approximately $7 million per person, adjusted for inflation. This change is already written into the law, so unless Congress intervenes, the reduction is inevitable.
What can be done? Estate planning strategies will vary based on a number of factors, including the types and total value of assets, family structure, access and control considerations, and intended beneficiaries. However, there are several proactive steps individuals can consider now to take advantage of the current exemption before it sunsets:
Because the federal exemption applies to both lifetime gifts and assets transferred at death, one effective strategy is to gift up to the full exemption amount before the end of 2025. Gifting $13.99 million in 2025 removes that amount from your taxable estate, and the IRS has confirmed it will not be “clawed back” later, even if the exemption is reduced.
These gifts can be made to irrevocable trusts specifically designed to protect assets and control how they are used by beneficiaries. Depending on the trust’s terms, beneficiaries may include children, grandchildren, charities, or even a spouse.
In addition to the lifetime exemption, individuals can gift up to $19,000 per recipient in 2025 without affecting their lifetime exemption. These annual exclusion gifts are a simple and effective way to gradually reduce the taxable estate over time. Making charitable gifts, whether made during life or at death through a will, trust, or beneficiary designation, can further reduce your taxable estate while also meeting your philanthropic goals.
For New York residents, planning must address both federal and state estate taxes. Unlike Florida, which has no state estate tax, New York currently imposes estate tax on estates exceeding $7.16 million per person. Importantly, New York does not offer “portability,” meaning a surviving spouse cannot use the unused exemption of a deceased spouse.
To preserve the state exemption, planners often recommend a credit shelter trust (also called a bypass trust). This allows assets up to the exemption amount to be held outside the surviving spouse’s estate, thereby reducing the combined estate tax liability for the family.
Plan now! Even for estates that may not be taxable today, planning ahead can provide significant tax savings and peace of mind. For high-net-worth individuals, early planning is especially critical. While some strategies may require a “wait and see” approach, having a team in place—including a trusts and estates attorney, accountant, and financial advisor— ensures that you are ready to act quickly once the future of the federal exemption becomes clear.
Britt Burner, Esq. is a Partner at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. focusing her practice areas on Estate Planning and Elder Law. Erin Cullen is a graduate of the Maurice A. Dean School of Law at Hofstra University. 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.
Sprinkle candles for sale from Pink Zebra. Photo by Heidi Sutton
By Heidi Sutton
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.
◆ Pickles & Paws event at Southaven County Park in Yaphank on May 31 from 11 am. to 5 p.m. has space for a few more artisan and food vendors. Visit www.picklesandpaws.com for an application.
◆ Town of Huntington Councilwoman Theresa Mari and The Children with Special Needs Committee invites vendors including businesses, service providers, and organizations dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities and special needs to participate in the 1st annual All Abilities Expo at Heckscher Park in Huntington on May 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendor admission is free. To reserve a booth, call Michelle at 631-351-3173.
◆ Sound Beach Civic Association seeks vendors for its “Out of This World” Kids Day on June 1 from 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. on New York Avenue in Sound Beach—a free event celebrating children and their uniqueness. Craft/retail vendors, vendors providing only information or kids activities, food trucks, and non-profits should call 631-744-6952 or email [email protected].
◆ Port Jeff Bowl, 31 Chereb Lane, Port Jefferson Station is looking for vendors (limited to 5) and sponsors for their Kids Bowl Free Kick-Off event on June 1 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Deadline to apply is May 1. For more information, visit portjeffbowl.com, email [email protected] or call 631-473-3300.
◆ Lenny Bruno Farms, 740 Wading River Road, Manorville has a vendor call out for artisan makers, small shops, food vendors, & family-friendly services to join their Strawberry Festival on June 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Apply at www.staysaltedinc.com/lenny-bruno-2025/p/vendor
◆ Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket seeks vendors for its Community Wide Yard Sale on June 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For an application and more information, visit www.tvhs.org or call 631-751-3730.
◆ Health & Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) is accepting nonprofit, managed care(MCOs), and health and human service organizations to take part in their 3rd annual Nonprofit Job Fair at Farmingdale State College on June 11 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. $50 registration fee, $30 for HWCLI network participants includes one 6-foot table and two chairs. To register, visit www.hwcli.com.
◆ St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 270 Main Street, Northport seeks vendors for its Summer Craft Fair on July 12 from9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you are an interested vendor, please contact the church at 631-261-0804 to obtain a registration form.
◆ Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook is looking for vendors to participate in an outdoor Summer Craft Fair on July 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Online application opens on June 6 on the library’s website, www.sachemlibrary.org. For more information, call 631-588-5024.
Nursing students use mannequins and hospital equipment to train for various health care challenges for future patients. Photo by Jeanne Neville/Stony Brook Medicine
Using immersive virtual reality that simulate real-world healthcare settings in a simulated hospital room, emergency room, intensive care unit or patient homes, nursing students use technology to train in a low-stress setting. Photo from Stony Brook Medicine
Nursing students use mannequins and hospital equipment to train for various health care challenges for future patients. Photo by Jeanne Neville/Stony Brook Medicine
By Daniel Dunaief
Dr. Patricia Bruckenthal Photo from Stony Brook School of Nursing
People put their lives in the hands of unseen airline pilots who have enhanced and sharpened their skills using simulators. These simulators can prepare them for a wide range of conditions and unexpected challenges that enhance their confidence on the fly.
The same approach holds true for nurses, who seek to help patients whose symptoms may change even as the nurse is working with several people at the same time.
In an initiative designed to provide in depth training to nurses throughout the state, while filling a shortage of these vital professionals, New York State recently announced a $62 million contribution to three nursing simulation centers: SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Canton and Stony Brook University. With $10 million of state funds that the university will match with $10.5 million of its own money, SBU will increase the number of nurses it trains.
“We are very fortunate here at Stony Brook that we get many, many qualified applicants for our nursing program [for whom] we have not, to date, been able to offer seats,” said Dr. Patricia Bruckenthal, Dean of the School of Nursing at Stony Brook. This will enable the school, as well as the other programs, to train more students.
Effective training
While Stony Brook offers nursing simulation training, the additional funds will greatly expand the size and scope of that effort.
The NEXUS-Innovation Center, which stands for Nursing EXcellence Using Simulation, will take about two years to build and will have a phased in enrollment approach. In the third year, the school will add 56 baccalaureate nursing students. In the fifth year, Stony Brook will have space for 80 more students.
The current simulation center is about 1,850 square feet, which includes a nursing skills lab, exam room and debrief/ flex room.
The new center will add 15,000 square feet.
The simulation center will have 16 hospital style beds, with all the equipment nurses would normally see in a hospital room, including suction, air, oxygen, otoscope, ophthalmoscope, monitoring, and a call bell system. The center will also have eight examination rooms.
The proposal also includes the design of an apartment with a laundry, kitchen, bathroom and shower, helping train nurses who will help people in residential settings.
Among other features, the center will have a control room where instructors and operators manipulate the AV equipment and patient simulations, observe and document performance, collect data and prepare for debriefing.
Bruckenthal is planning to hire a faculty member in the next few months to become simulation coordinator who will work with the Director of the Learning Resource Center.
Within the next two years, Stony Brook anticipates hiring one more nursing faculty Clinical Simulation Educator and one Simulation Operations Specialist, who will ensure that all technical aspects of the center are functioning correctly. This new hire will also troubleshoot equipment, while performing emergency repairs on equipment and arranging for vendor repairs.
All of this equipment and expertise provides opportunities to create scenarios that build expertise. The conditions can change, as a patient goes from an expected outcome to one in which the conditions rapidly deteriorate.
In addition to expanding capacity and giving nurses an opportunity to understand and react to patients who have a wide range of conditions they might not see during routine clinical training, the center will also enable these students to build their competence and confidence in a low-stakes environment.
“It provides for a safe learning environment,” said Bruckenthal. “Students can make mistakes without risking patient safety. It’s much less stressful.”
Future nurses can also continue to work in the simulation lab on a particular skill until they feel confident in their abilities.
Several studies have validated the effectiveness of educating and preparing nurses in a simulated setting.
A landmark study in 2014 conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing compared the clinical competence of nurses in training across three groups: one that had no simulation training, a group with 25 percent of their clinical training replaced by simulation, and a third group with 50 percent clinical training through simulation.
The nursing certification pass rate scores were the same for all three groups. Simulation trained nurses performed as well or better in areas like critical thinking and clinical judgment.
Additionally, follow up studies showed that employers found that nurses trained using high fidelity simulation were just as effective as those who were trained in the clinic in areas including patient safety, communication and evidence-based practices..
The center can also pivot to provide nurses with training for expanding local health threats, such as a simulated version of a measles outbreak, Lyme disease or a spike in other conditions that might cause a surge in hospital visits.
“We can build and design cases that meet those needs,” said Bruckenthal.
The center can build in disaster training, giving nurses a chance to interact with colleagues in other health professions during any of a host of other scenarios. When interacting with other healthcare professionals, nurses can practices the SBAR technique, in which they describe the Situation, provide Background, give an Assessment, and offer a Recommendation.
The expanded simulation center will incorporate design elements such as soundproofing, lighting and ventilation and will align with the university’s goals towards sustainability and green-oriented design.
Long term commitment
Bruckenthal has been contributing to Stony Brook for 44 years, ever since she graduated from the nursing school in 1981.
Her first job as a nurse was at the newly opened hospital. She and Carolyn Santora, Stony Brook Medicine Chief Nursing Officer, have worked together since 1981 and went through the Stony Brook master’s program together. They have established the Stony Brook Nursing Alliance.
Bruckenthal is energized by the opportunities ahead.
“Nursing is one of those careers where you can always keep yourself new and find new and exciting opportunities,” she said.
In the early days of her nursing career, she recalled that nurses weren’t exposed to all the types of conditions they might face in various settings.
“Having the opportunity to have nurses practice in this low risk environment and build that confidence and skills is a better way to prepare nurses to be ready for the work force,” she said
With nurses involved in so many aspects of patient care, Bruckenthal dreams of creating a nursing innovation incubator.
Nurses can offer insights into developing innovative ways to improve health care, whether working with biomedical engineers or biomedical informatics and can help design human-centered technology. Such a center could allow nurses to learn more about technology and business while enabling them to become leaders and entrepreneurs.
“Nurses have a problem-solving mindset,” Bruckenthal explained. “Sustainable and scalable solutions are really going to take a joint effort between educators, clinicians and industry partners.”
Esther Takeuchi. Photo by Roger Stoutenburgh/Brookhaven National Laboratory
By Daniel Dunaief
Daniel Dunaief
Esther Takeuchi has won numerous awards and received plenty of honors for her work.
In 2009, President Barack Obama presented her with a National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest honor possible for technological achievement in the country.
She has also been elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences,received the 2013 E.V. Murphree Award in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry from the American Chemical Society and was selected as a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, among others.
Takeuchi, who has over 150 patents to her name and is Distinguished Professor in Materials Science and Chemical Engineering at Stony Brook University and Chair of the Interdisciplinary Science Department at Brookhaven National Laboratory, spoke with Times Beacon Record News Media about a range of topics.
“In the long run, I think energy storage can significantly improve energy availability and affordability,” said Takeuchi. “We end up throwing a lot of [energy] away.”
Indeed, in a widely cited statistic based on a 2021 study, 65 percent of energy produced is thrown away. Energy from any source, whether it’s fossil fuels, sunlight, wind or nuclear, is inefficient, with losses from heat, limitations on technology, friction with machinery and incomplete combustion, among a host of factors.
“Let’s use it more effectively, where we can follow the load,” urged Takeuchi.
At the same time, Takeuchi recognizes the importance of ensuring the safety of energy storage, including for the proposed storage facilities in Setauket.
“The Fire Department and police need to be brought into the discussion,” she said. “A lot of these folks are extremely knowledgeable.”
Community education, involvement and awareness is necessary for any such project, ensuring that the appropriate people are informed and know how to respond to any crisis.
Energy needs
Future energy needs are considerably higher than they are today, thanks to the demands of artificial intelligence.
Large data centers that house the kinds of information necessary for AI are “incredibly power hungry,” Takeuchi said. If AI continues to expand at the current pace, it alone will use more energy than the world makes today.
“We need to have broader sources of energy” so it is available, she added. “Where is going to come from?”
Indeed, Takeuchi and her collaborators are working on energy storage that doesn’t use the kind of lithium-ion batteries that power much of consumer electronics. Lithium ion batteries are compact and are highly reactive, packing energy into a small volume. If something goes wrong, these batteries are flammable.
“We are working on a project at Stony Brook and Brookhaven National Laboratory where we’ve demonstrated electrolytes that don’t burn at all,” she said. “You can put a butane lighter on them and they won’t burn.”
To be sure, these batteries, which would be larger than the current systems, are a “long way” from commercialization, but it’s possible.
Still, Takeuchi is excited about rechargeable water-based batteries. She’s focused on making sure the materials are elements that are used broadly, instead of exotic materials mined in only one place on Earth. She’s also looking to create a cycle life that’s as high as possible.
Aqueous materials have a lower cycle life. She and her team are trying to understand why and overcome those challenges, which would enable these batteries to be recharged more times before degrading.
Funding environment
The current funding environment for science and technology has reached an uncertain time, Takeuchi said.
“One of the ways the United States has been so effective at competing economically on a global level is through science and technology,” she said. During many decades, the country has been an innovation leader as measured by the number of patents issued.
Driven by the Manhattan Project that built the atomic bomb, by frenzied competition with the Soviet Union after the launch of Sputnik in October of 1957 amid the Cold War, and by the drive to send people to the moon in the 1960’s, the country has attracted top talent from around the world while making important discoveries and creating new technology. Realizing that science and technology is a driver of future commercial and economic growth, other countries have been actively recruiting scientists concerned about the future funding landscape to their countries. This creates the potential for a brain drain.
If the United States gives up its leadership position when other nations are charging ahead, it could take a long time to recover the current standing, not to mention to mirror the successes and personal and professional opportunities from previous generations, said Takeuchi.
“Science is critical to lead us to the future we all want to live in,” she added.
The worlds of art and politics might seem quite separate, but here is a life that bridges them both. Two lives, in fact.
In one of those chance happenings that amounts to little more than a footnote but turns the tide of history, William Luers became the new ambassador to Czechoslovakia in 1983. It was a time of tumult in the Soviet-bloc country, as the unlikelypoet-playwright, Vaclav Havel, was leading a peaceful uprising to oust the Communist state. Havel was in and out of prison and appeared to be a long-shot among other dissidents to triumph against the Soviets. Nonetheless Luers recognized the potential of the cultural leader and contributed to his very survival and political successes that resulted in the independence of Czechoslovakia in 1989 and the subsequent creation of the Czech Republic.
In betting on Havel, Luers was in fact recognizing the pairing of politics and art that informed his own life.
Luers was born in Springfield, Illinois, and attended high school there, where he played basketball with a distinct advantage. He was exceptionally tall. After majoring in chemistry and math and graduating from Hamilton College in upstate New York, he went on to switch to the humanities and study philosophy at Northwestern University, then joined the Navy. It was 1952 and the United States was at war with Korea. After graduating from officers’ candidate school and being discharged in 1957, he entered the Foreign Service and in 1958 earned a master’s degree in Russian Studies from Columbia University. He spoke fluent Russian, Spanish and Italian, and worked at embassies in Moscow, Rome and other capitals in Europe and Latin America. Before he went to Czechoslovakia, he was ambassador to Venezuela.
His most important post was his last. He protected Havel by inviting dozens of American cultural celebrities to visit Prague, and after meeting the playwright, “then at news conferences outside the reach of the government-controlled Czech news media, recast him in a protective armor of global publicity,” according to The New York Times. By burnishing Havel’s name “as a writer but not as a statesman, which might have increased Havel’s perils,” continued The Times’ reporter Luer saved him.
Some of the celebrity visitors included John Updike, Edward Albee, E.L. Doctorow, Kurt Vonnegut, William Styron, Philippe de Montebello, director of New York’s Metropolitan Museum, theater director Joseph Papp, abstract painter Richard Diebenkorn and Katharine Graham, publisher of The Washington Post.
Since Luers came from a culturally prominent family, many of these people were his friends and they understood their purpose in visiting. “The underlying message…was that harming Mr. Havel might risk incalculable international consequences for the Czech government,” according to The Times. In fact, Luers used the arts to promote, protect and ultimately elect Vaclav Havel as leader of the Czech Republic.
After 29 years in the Foreign Service, during which time he became an aide to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (and in 1974 personally delivered President Nixon’s resignation letter over the Watergate scandal to him), Luers went on to be president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for 13 years. Like Havel, the arc of his life spanned politics and art.
William Luers died this past Saturday, May 10, in his home in Washington Depot, Connecticut, at the age of 95. His greatest satisfaction was the success of Vaclav Havel, according to The Times. “The Communist system was deeply flawed. It underestimated cultural leaders’ influence on the people.”
The Smithtown Library's Main Branch reopened the first floor on May 5. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
For eight months, the Smithtown library’s Main Branch on North Country Road was closed. Readers were able to visit other branches, but the library is more than just a place to exchange books.
The library is certainly a hub of ideas and information, full of fiction, nonfiction and history. It is also an essential resource for those who need to use a computer but don’t have one, or would like access to free wifi. One of the few places where economic class doesn’t play a role, the library provides a haven with no spending expectations. You can learn how to play mahjong or fold a piece of paper into an intricate origami figure. Gardening clubs and sewing clubs meet regularly. Offering a podcast and community room, the library provided the setting for numerous friendly conversations.
Walking through the doors again on May 5, patrons are greeted by friendly staff. In the entrance corridor, a television plays recordings from the destructive rains of August 19 and a sped-up recording of the subsequent work. In one recording, water pushes furniture and shelves around like toys. Books float away and out of the recording. In another, the murky brown water slowly fills the hall until suddenly, the pressure pushes out the wall. In a picture, books lay in piles across the floor–any reader would cringe at the sight. The library is back though, and will return fully in coming months, with the bottom and second floors open and services and programs once again available. However, the status of libraries is precarious as the administration looks to cut funding.
When the Smithtown building closed, many card-holders travelled to other branches. When the federal government began eliminating grants to libraries, we imagined what we would do without an accessible library.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is not guaranteed. While libraries will still exist without the small federal agency, which only employed around 70 people and from the perspective of the federal government is unnecessary, they may not receive grants for programming or internships. Recently, a judge blocked a move to place its employees on temporary leave, giving the institute a reprieve. However, the agency is still at risk of getting washed out; it is possible resources and programs will get carried away by the swift stream of government efficiency.
In the meantime though, the wonderful librarians and administrators at the Smithtown library are ensuring that residents have access to the wealth of knowledge inside.
Welcome to the 41st edition of Paw Prints, a monthly column for animal lovers dedicated to helping shelter pets find their furever home
