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Shushan Toneyan and Peter Koo at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Photo by Gina Motisi/CSHL

By Daniel Dunaief

The real and virtual world are filled with so-called “black boxes,” which are often impenetrable to light and contain mysteries, secrets, and information that is not available to the outside world.

Sometimes, people design these black boxes to keep concepts, ideas or tools outside the public realm. Other times, they are a part of a process, such as the thinking behind why we do certain things even when they cause us harm, that would benefit from an opening or a better understanding.

In the world of artificial intelligence, programs learn from a collection of information, often compiling and comparing enormous collections of data, to make a host of predictions.

Companies and programmers have written numerous types of code to analyze genetic data, trying to determine which specific mutations or genetic alterations might lead to conditions or diseases.

Left on their own, these programs develop associations and correlations in the data, without providing any insights into what they may have learned.

That’s where Peter Koo, Assistant Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and his former graduate student Shushan Toneyan come in.

The duo recently published a paper in Nature Genetics in which they explain a new AI-powered tool they designed called CREME, which explored the genetic analysis tool Enformer.

A collaboration between Deep Mind and Calico, which is a unit of Google owner Alphabet, Enformer takes DNA sequences and predicts gene expression, without explaining what and how it’s learning.

CREME is “a tool that performs like large-scale experiments in silico [through computer modeling] on a neural network model that’s already been trained,” said Koo. 

“There are a lot of these models already in existence, but it’s a mystery why they are making their predictions. CREME is bridging that gap.”

Award winning research

Indeed, for her work in Koo’s lab, including developing CREME, Toneyan recently was named a recipient of the International Birnstiel Award for Doctoral Research in Molecular Life Sciences.

“I was genuinely surprised and happy that they selected my thesis and I would get to represent CSHL and the Koo lab at the ceremony in Vienna,” Toneyan, who graduated from the School of Biological Sciences, explained. 

Toneyan, who grew up in Yerevan, Armenia, is currently a researcher in The Roche Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme in Zurich, Switzerland.

She said that the most challenging parts of designing this tool was to focus on the “interesting and impactful experiments and not getting sidetracked by more minor points more likely to lead to a dead end.”

She credits Koo with providing insights into the bigger picture.

New knowledge

Without taking DNA, running samples in a wet lab, or looking at the combination of base pairs that make up a genetic code from a live sample, CREME can serve as a way to uncover new biological knowledge.

CREME interrogates AI models that predict gene expression levels from DNA sequences.

“It essentially replicates biological or genetic experiments in silico through the lens of the model to answer targeted questions about genetic mechanisms,” Toneyan explained. “We mainly focused on analyzing the changes in models outputs depending on various perturbations to the input.”

By using computers, scientists can save considerable time and effort in the lab, enabling those who conduct these experiments to focus on the areas of the genome that are involved in various processes and, when corrupted, diseases.

If scientists conducted these experiments one mutation at a time, even a smaller length sequence would require many experiments to analyze.

The tool Koo and Toneyan created can deduce precise claims of what the model has learned.

CREME perturbs large chunks of input sequence to see how model predictions change. It interrogates the model by measuring how changes in the input affect model outputs.

“We need to interpret AI models to trust their deployment,” Toneyan said. “In the context of biological applications, we are also very interested in why they make a certain prediction so that we learn about the underlying biology.”

Using ineffective and untested predictive models will cause “more harm than good,” added Koo.  “You need to interpret [the AI model’s] programs to trust them for their reliable deployment” in the context of genetic studies

Enhancers

Named for Cis Regulatory Element Model Explanations, CREME can find on and off switches near genetic codes called enhancers or silencers, respectively.

It is not clear where these switches are, how many there are per gene and how they interact. CREME can help explore these questions, Toneyan suggested.

Cis regulatory elements are parts of non-coding DNA that regulate the transcription of nearby genes, altering whether these genes manufacture or stop producing proteins.

By combining an AI powered model such as Enformer with CREME, researchers can narrow down the possible list of enhancers that might play an important genetic role.

Additionally, a series of enhancers can sometimes contribute to transcription. A wet lab experiment that only knocked one out might not reveal the potential role of this genetic code if other nearby areas can rescue the genetic behavior.

Ideally, these models would mimic the processes in a cell. At this point, they are still going through improvements and are not in perfect agreement with each other or with live cells, Toneyan added.

Scientists can use the AI model to aid in the search for enhancers, but they can’t blindly trust them because of their black box nature.

Still, tools like CREME help design genetic perturbation experiments for more efficient discovery.

At this point, the program doesn’t have a graphical user interface. Researchers could use python scripts released as packages for different models.

In the longer term, Koo is hoping to build on the work he and Toneyan did to develop CREME.

“This is just opening the initial doors,” he said. “One could do it more efficiently in the future. We’re working on those methods.”

Koo is pleased with the contribution Toneyan made to his lab. The first graduate student who worked with him after he came to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Koo suggested that Toneyan “shaped my lab into what it is.”

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Turnout in local elections and primaries, is historically low … find out if you are eligible to vote in a primary, and make your voice heard. Stock photo

By Karen Anderson

The General Election is almost here. New York State makes it convenient for all its citizens to vote and offers four options. You may choose to vote in person during early voting days, Oct. 26 to Nov. 3 (See chart below for locations, dates and times.) and on  Election Day, Nov. 5, from 6 a.m.  to 9 p.m. 

If you can’t get to a voting site, you can apply for an absentee ballot or an early mail ballot. Apply for either of these by October 26. They must be mailed and postmarked by Nov. 5. These ballots can also be hand delivered by close of polls. To apply for an absentee ballot, you must provide a reason for the request. No reason is needed for an early mail ballot. 

Each polling place has a voting machine designed for use by people with disabilities. The NYS Board of Elections website, elections.ny.gov, is helpful with online voter registration, absentee and early mail ballot applications. It can tell you if you are registered, where your polling place is and the national, state and local districts you are in. 

Our safe and secure elections are also private and a personal choice. No one needs to see your ballot. Everyone should mark their own ballot in a private booth. A privacy sleeve can be used to cover your ballot and keep it secret until you slide it into the ballot counting machine. Your name is not on the ballot. There is no way to see who or what you voted for. If you are registered with a political party, people may assume you support that party and its candidates but you are free to cast your ballot anyway you choose. 

This election, our rights and health are on the ballot. Voters in Suffolk County will be asked to flip the ballot and vote on the propositions on the back. New York State Proposition 1, if passed, will amend our state constitution which currently only protects us from government discrimination based on race and religion. 

The amendment will add protection from discrimination to include age, sex, gender identity, disability, national origin, and pregnancy, closing loopholes in the state Constitution. 

Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, we have seen many legislatures pass laws outlawing abortion, criminalizing healthcare workers, and causing women to travel to other states for needed healthcare. Even life threatening complications have not been enough for some women to receive medical treatment. Doctors are afraid to treat their pregnant patients because they could be jailed and lose their licenses. Women are dying due to restrictive laws written by politicians who base the laws on religious, personal and political beliefs, not scientific or medical knowledge. Contraception drugs and IVF treatments have come under fire. Politicians want to deny women the right to choose how and when they should plan their families. 

New Yorkers have reproductive rights now, but this can change with changing political winds. We should all have the freedom to control our own bodies. Amending the constitution will enshrine these rights and make it difficult to remove them. Proposition 1 will protect all New Yorkers from government discrimination and maintain abortion rights.

Suffolk County Proposition 2 if approved will create a fund, financed by an 1/8 of a penny increase to the county sales tax (that’s 12 cents on $100), which will only be used to improve water quality in Suffolk County. Our water and way of life are at risk due to nitrogen pollution from untreated sewage. The Water Quality Restoration Act would expand sewers and provide tax-free grants to homeowners to replace old polluting septic systems with clean water technology. Clean water projects will create good jobs, increase property values, restore our bays and harbors and improve public health. 

The League of Women Voters is advocating for these propositions and urges you to vote “Yes” on both.

Karen Anderson is a member of the leadership team of the League of Women Voters of  Smithtown. For more information, visit https//my.lwv.org/news-york/suffolk-county.Visit vote411.org for comprehensive election information (available 4 weeks before election day).

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A view of the Seat of the Hon. Selah Strong Esq., St. George’s Manor, Suffolk County, Long Island. NOTE: This is the house built by William “Tangier” Smith. Photo from B. Tyler

By Beverly C. Tyler

She was baptized Martha Tunstall on July 2, 1652, daughter of Henry Tunstall of Putney, Surrey, England. She moved with her family to Tangier, Africa, where she married William Smith. From her marriage on Nov. 26, 1675, until her death in Setauket in 1709 at 57, Martha led a life dedicated to her husband, family, business interests and community. She gave birth to 13 children, buried seven, and journeyed from Tangier back to England, to Ireland for a birth, and finally to America. She raised her family in primitive conditions, assisted her husband in his business dealings, often during his long absences, and became respected as lady of the manor. Widowed at 52, Martha successfully managed her husband’s business interests, including offshore whaling, and became a well-regarded community leader.

Historian Kate Strong as a young girl with her dog on the steps of her home on Strong’s Neck. Photo from B. Tyler

Lady Martha Smith, as referred to in many documents, is not listed in The Encyclopedia of Women’s History in America or Long Island Women: Activists and Innovators, both excellent books on overlooked women. However, she was a woman of wealth and influence on Long Island, especially in Setauket and Mastic, where she and William “Tangier” Smith resided.

Colonel William “Tangier” Smith was born in Feb. 1654. Tangier, a key port, was abandoned and burned by England in 1683. William arrived there at 20 and married Martha a year later. He became mayor on Nov. 11, 1682. The couple returned to England in 1683 and, in 1686, sailed from Ireland to America. They arrived in New York in the fall of 1686 with their two children, 7-year-old Henry and 5-year-old Martha. A third child, Hibernia, had died at sea, the couple’s fifth child to die. Three of their children, Elizabeth, John, and William Jr., died in Tangier. Their second William Jr. and Mary died in London.

In New York City, Martha gave birth to Jeane in Dec. 1687. William bought land in Setauket, “Ye Little Neck,” and the south shore. By 1689, the family had moved permanently to Setauket. Martha gave birth to William that March, followed by Gloryana the next year, then Theodocia, who died at 15 days old. Two years later, their last child, Charles Jeffery, was born.

In Setauket, William and Martha moved from their first house near the Woodhull homestead to the Neck, where they built St. George’s Manor. Martha managed the home while William expanded his land holdings. In Oct. 1693, he received a patent from Gov. Fletcher for land bordered by Carmen’s River and Forge River, between Middle Country Road and the Atlantic Ocean. This, combined with previous purchases, created the Manor of St. George. By 1697, he added land extending to Southampton and Southold. The family spent summers at a second manor house on Smith Point, returning to Setauket for the rest of the year. With the 1693 land acquisition, William and Martha became lord and lady of the manor.

As detailed by Kate Strong, “In 1675 (in Tangier), Colonel William Smith began entries in what is now called The First Pigskin Book. The first entry was his marriage. He then recorded baptisms and some deaths of his many children. Writing only on one side of the page, his wife, Martha, turned the book upside down and wrote in her recipes.”

Strong listed a few recipes, including: “To make pancakes—take the yolks of six eggs, add one white, one pint of cream, half a pint of sack, nutmeg, a little salt, and some sugar. Make the batter of a reasonable thickness, work in some flour, and fry them.” Martha also included medicinal recipes: “For a sore throat—take rue, pound it fine, make a poultice, about an inch thick, and lay it on the throat. It is a sure cure. You may sprinkle it with brandy.”

“She was not too busy to enjoy riding with her husband,” Strong related. “I imagine they had fine horses. Their saddles were covered with velvet, hers a side saddle of course.”

When William died in 1705, their children included Henry, later second lord of the manor, age 26; Mrs. Martha Heathcote, 23; Jeane, 17; William Henry, later to inherit the south shore manor, 15; Gloryana, 14, who later married the Rev. George Muirson; and Charles Jeffery, who died of smallpox in 1715 at 11. Lady Martha now had to raise her family and manage her late husband’s holdings and businesses.

Entries in the Pigskin Book recorded Indian whaling crews and whale oil and bone quantities. As noted by Dr. John Strong, “From 1696 until 1721, the Smiths used the book to track Native Americans working for their whaling company. Lady Martha Smith, for the 1706-07 season, made a net profit of 120 barrels of whale oil from 180 barrels—a sizable profit.”

“Offshore whaling was a fine business in those days, and Madam Martha had her own whaleboat,” Strong wrote. “The crew was mostly Indians. She kept records in a second pigskin book, which was almost lost in the San Francisco fire. A family member had taken it west. During the fire, a gentleman found it in a trunk, examined the contents, and returned the book to its owner.”

As noted in Bellport and Brookhaven (1968), “The Lady Martha was remarkable, managing both the vast estate and whaling business successfully.” Kate Strong observed, “Fifteen Indians, the whaling crew, are listed by name; their wages and the charges against them for shot, powder, rum, coats, britches, etc. She must have had trouble controlling them, as there are complaints, such as, ‘He [Will Bene] got nothing this season, stayed away 10 days to see his Shua. Was a great loss to me.’ But there were cheerful entries too: ‘I thank God, my company killed a yearling whale. Made 27 barrels ogle.’”

Early settlers recognized Martha’s prominence, noting that “at the table, no woman except Madam Martha Smith was to sit.” She died five years after her husband on Sept. 1, 1709, and was buried beside him on a spot overlooking the bay at St. George’s Manor.

Beverly Tyler is Three Village Historical Society historian and author of books available from the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Rd., Setauket.

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METRO photo
Emphasis put on screening, diet and exercise

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

Currently, approximately 30 percent of new cancer diagnoses in women are breast cancer (1). While age is a risk factor for breast cancer, 16 percent of 2024 diagnoses will be in women under age 50.

This October, for Breast Cancer Awareness month, let’s review the latest research on screening, treatments, and prevention strategies.

What are current screening recommendations?

In April 2024, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force expanded their screening recommendations for women of average breast cancer risk. They lowered the recommended start point for mammograms to age 40, continuing every other year through age 74 (2).

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is reviewing their recommendations in light of this USPSTF shift. They currently encourage a process of shared decision-making between patient and physician to determine age and frequency of exams, including whether to begin exams before age 50 or to continue after age 75 (3). Generally, it recommends beginning annual or biennial mammograms starting no later than 50 and continuing until age 75. 

The American Cancer Society’s physician guidelines are to offer a mammogram beginning at age 40 and recommend annual exams from 45 to 54. At age 55 until life expectancy is less than 10 years, they recommend biennial exams (4).

You should consult with your physician to identify your risk profile and plan your regular screening schedule.

Does diet matter?

A small, eight-week randomized control trial of 32 women who had metastatic breast cancer and who were on stable treatment found that the 21 study subjects who ate a whole food, plant-based diet free from added oils and fats lost more weight and reported feeling healthier than the 11 who maintained their current, traditional American diet as part of the control group (5). In addition to losing weight and reporting better emotional well-being and quality of life, they reported less diarrhea and fatigue and experiencing less shortness of breath during activities.

Medical measures of improved health, in addition to weight loss, included reduced insulin resistance and better cholesterol measures. While cancer progression markers did not move significantly in eight weeks, they did show improvement.

The study authors recommend larger and longer follow-up studies to assess the longer-term impact of diet.

What’s the role of exercise?

We know exercise is important in diseases and breast cancer is no exception. An observational trial found that exercise reduced breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women significantly (6). These women exercised moderately; they walked four hours a week over a four-year period. If they exercised previously, five to nine years ago, but not recently, no benefit was seen. The researchers stressed that it is never too late to begin exercise.

Only about one-third of women get the recommended level of exercise every week: 30 minutes for five days a week. Once diagnosed with breast cancer, women tend to exercise less, not more. 

A recently published French study assessed cancer recurrence of over 10,000 women with an average age of 56 who were diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer between 2012 and 2018 (7). The researchers found that pre-menopausal women who completed 90 minutes to five hours of moderate exercise per week before starting treatment for hormone receptor-negative breast cancer had a lower risk of metastatic recurrence than women who didn’t exercise.

We need to expend as much energy and resources emphasizing exercise for prevention as we do screenings.

What about soy?

Soy may actually be beneficial in reducing breast cancer risk. In a meta-analysis, those who consumed more soy saw a significant reduction in breast cancer compared to those who consumed less (8). There was a dose-response curve among three groups: high intake of >20 mg per day, moderate intake of 10 mg and low intake of <5 mg.

Those in the highest group had a 29 percent reduced risk, and those in the moderate group had a 12 percent reduced risk when compared to those who consumed the least. In addition, higher soy intake has been associated with reduced recurrence and increased survival for those previously diagnosed with breast cancer (9). The benefit from soy is thought to come from isoflavones, plant-rich nutrients.

A more recent meta-analysis of six observational studies expanded on these outcomes (10). It concluded that post-menopausal women and women diagnosed with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer lowered their breast cancer recurrence risk the most by eating 60 mg of soy isoflavones per day, or two-to-three servings. A serving consists of either one cup of soy milk, three ounces of tofu, or one-half cup of cooked soybeans.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a good time to reflect on the importance of mammography and breast self-exams. However, we need to give significantly more attention to prevention of breast cancer and its recurrence. Through potentially more soy intake, as well as a plant-based diet and modest exercise, we may be able to accelerate the trend toward a lower breast cancer incidence or recurrence.

References:

(1)breastcancer.org (2) uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. (3) acog.org. (4) cancer.org. (5) Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2024 Jun;205(2):257-266. (6) Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014 Sep;23(9):1893-902. (7) J Clinical Oncology. 2024;42(25). (8) Br J Cancer. 2008; 98:9-14. (9) JAMA. 2009 Dec 9; 302(22): 2437–2443. (10) JNCI Cancer Spectrum, Volume 8, Issue 1, February 2024, pkad104.

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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As discussed in the paper this week, the Oct. 7 service at the  North Shore Jewish Center in Port Jefferson Station served as a coming together of humans healing from an event which rocked a nation and the world, one year ago this month.

But, it is so incredibly crucial to note that it was a group of human-beings coming together — not people of any one religion, background or gender — but people of all walks of life, who gathered on that Sunday night to comfort one another, and lend a shoulder to anyone in need of comfort.

Despite the presence of a few politicians, the night was not one of politics, but of deep empathy for anyone who lost a dear one in Israel, or community members who know someone who has.

It was a beautiful reminder that despite the complexities of what is happening in the Middle East at this moment in time, we can still congregate as a united body, purely in support of humanity.

No hidden agendas. No hatred of anybody.

People were there to hold one another’s hand, and honor the memory of those they loved, and those they had never met.

At its core, religion is about peace, love and compassion, and that was precisely what occurred that night. People of a shared faith, came together in prayer to provide their neighbors with an hour of solace.

And, we can all use some solace in these horrific times.

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Stock photo

By Michael Christodoulou

Michael Christodoulou

You can find several ways to make charitable gifts — but if you’re looking for a method that can provide multiple tax benefits, along with an efficient platform for giving year after year, you might want to consider a donor-advised fund.

Once you open a donor-advised fund (DAF), you can contribute many types of assets, including cash, publicly traded stocks, bonds, CDs or non-cash items such as closely held business interests, art or collectibles. You can then decide how to invest the money, possibly following a strategy suggested by the DAF sponsor organization you’ve selected. The next step involves choosing which charities to support, how often to provide support (such as once a year) and how much to give each time. You’re essentially free to direct the money to any charities you like, provided they’re IRS-approved charitable organizations.

Now, let’s look at the possible tax advantages offered by a DAF:

IMMEDIATE TAX DEDUCTION

A few years ago, changes in tax laws resulted in a vastly increased standard deduction, which, in turn, led to far fewer people itemizing on their tax returns and having less incentive, at least from a tax standpoint, to contribute to charities. But if you don’t typically give enough each year to itemize deductions, you could combine several years’ worth of giving into one contribution to a DAF and take a larger deduction in that tax year. And you can claim that deduction, even though the DAF may distribute funds to charities over several years.

TAX-FREE GROWTH OF EARNINGS

Once you contribute an asset to a DAF, any earnings growth is not taxable to you, the DAF or the charitable groups that receive grants from the DAF. 

AVOIDANCE OF CAPITAL GAINS TAXES

When you donate appreciated stocks or other investments — or for that matter, virtually any appreciated asset — to a DAF, you can avoid paying the capital gains taxes that would otherwise be due if you were to simply sell the asset and then donate the proceeds to charitable organizations. Plus, by receiving the appreciated asset, rather than the proceeds from a sale, the charitable groups can gain more from your contribution. And you can also take a tax deduction for your donation. 

While these potential tax benefits can certainly make a DAF an attractive method of charitable giving, you should be aware of some potential tradeoffs. Once you contribute assets to a DAF, that gift is irrevocable, and you can’t access the money for any reason other than charitable giving. Also, your investment options are limited to what’s available in the DAF program you’ve chosen. And DAFs can incur administrative costs in addition to the fees charged on the underlying investments.  

You may want to consult with your financial professional about other potential benefits and tradeoffs of DAFs and whether a DAF can help you with your charitable giving goals. Also, different DAF sponsors offer different features, so you will want to do some comparisons. And because DAFs can have such significant implications for your tax situation, you should consult with your tax professional before taking action.

If a DAF is appropriate for your situation, though, consider it carefully — it might be a good way to support your charitable giving efforts for years to come. 

Michael Christodoulou, ChFC®, AAMS®, CRPC®, CRPS® is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones in Stony Brook, Member SIPC.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

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Max the Vanderbilt cat. Photo by Ed Clampitt
Max the Vanderbilt cat. Photo by Ed Clampitt
Max the Vanderbilt cat. Photo by Ed Clampitt
Max the Vanderbilt cat. Photo by Ed Clampitt

Ellen Mason, a volunteer at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport, has reported that Max,  the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum cat who greeted visitors at the gatehouse for years, has passed away. Below is a poem she wrote in his honor. 

Our Max, the Vanderbilt Cat

A sad day has fallen,

Enshrouded in gray.

Cherished and honored,

Our Max passed away.

Max was our mascot,

Our Vanderbilt cat.

He lived on the grounds,

But was much more than that.

He greeted our patrons

From his perch near the gate,

By the Vanderbilt gatehouse,

Entrance to this estate.

His special companion,

A guard here named Ed,

Brushed Max and loved him,

Making sure he was fed.

He bought Max a house

For those cold wintry days,

Where he snuggled inside,

Staring with his cat gaze.

Max lived life to the max,

Living up to his name.

For the guards at the gatehouse,

It just won’t be the same.

— By Ellen Mason, Stony Brook

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Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese

By Heidi Sutton

As the weather gets cooler, it’s a great opportunity to add pumpkin to your favorite comfort dishes. Not only is pumpkin delicious, it is also rich in beta-carotene, fiber and potassium. 

Hearty and made with comfort in mind, this mac and cheese contains whole wheat pasta shells, cheddar and reduced-fat cream cheese for a wholesome take on a dinnertime classic. Great for snacking or sharing at your fall festivities, pair this pumpkin spice Greek yogurt dip with apples, graham crackers or whatever you wish to dip. 

Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese

Recipe by Rachel Gurk of Rachel Cooks

Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese

YIELD: Makes 4 to 6 servings

INGREDIENTS: 

2 cups milk, whole

1 (15-ounce) can plain pumpkin puree

12 ounces beer, IPA recommended

1 cup chicken stock or chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon cayenne powder

1 pound whole wheat pasta shells

8 ounces cheese, grated sharp Cheddar

4 ounces cream cheese, reduced-fat

DIRECTIONS:

In a large pot over medium-high heat, bring milk, pumpkin, beer, chicken stock, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne to a good simmer (do not boil).

Reduce heat to medium and add pasta. Cook, stirring frequently, for 12 to 14 minutes or until al dente. Make sure to stir frequently so pasta cooks evenly and does not burn.

Reduce heat to low and add Cheddar cheese and cream cheese. Serve immediately.

Pumpkin Spice Greek Yogurt Dip

Recipe by Liz Della Croce of The Lemon Bowl

Pumpkin Spice Greek Yogurt Dip

YIELD: Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS: 

2 cups yogurt, nonfat or whole vanilla Greek

1 cup pure pumpkin

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Apple slices and graham crackers, optional for dipping

DIRECTIONS:

Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse until smooth. Pour into a bowl and serve with sliced fruit, graham crackers or anything else you desire, to dip.

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By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

Back in the day when I covered Wall Street and spoke with power-broking bankers, mergers and acquisitions experts, and traders, I often chatted with people who had little to no time.

As often as I could, I’d catch someone in the midst of an exciting transaction. I pictured them standing at their desks, staring at papers, looking closely at the clock, and envisioning various life or community-altering transactions, such as multi-billion dollar mergers.

The information would be even better, of course, if other journalists hadn’t yet heard the news, giving me the chance to be first.

Some of my sources would share juicy tidbits, about a company, a strategic move, or a new hire. The cadence of their voice was often quick and clipped and the tone was close to a conspiratorial whisper, with the volume inversely proportional to the importance of the developing story.

They would often be eager to get off the phone so they could continue to rule the world, to collect multi-million dollar fees and to prepare to help other companies keep up with the fast-merging world by moving other pieces on the financial chess board.

A few seconds after sharing the final details, they would invariably use a two word signal that meant that the conversation, whether I liked it or not, was ending.

“Gotta hop!” they’d say. It was a universally understood code for, “I’m not hanging up on you, per se, but those are the last sounds you’ll hear from me on this call.”

During busy days on Wall Street, I’d picture investment bankers in expensive suits, hopping on one foot from building to building, keeping one leg in the air as they frantically finalized details and collected signatures.

Once they reached their destination, I imagined them putting the non-hopping leg down comfortably on the ground, while massaging the one that propelled them around the lower part of Manhattan.

Wall Street hasn’t cornered the market on signals that a conversation is coming to a close.

People in the Main Street world say they “gotta run.”

Sometimes, out of politeness, someone will indicate that he or she has another important call coming in that’s related to the topic at hand.

In more personal and familiar settings, my friends and family have various codes that suggest they are preparing to end a conversation.

An audible sigh is usually the equivalent of, “okay, let’s wrap things up here.”

Then, there’s the long, slow version of “alright,” which suggests that, fun as this conversation might have been, it’s time to end the call.

I appreciate the moment when people appear to want to be sensitive to me when they’re ready to disengage. That typically includes some version of, “I’m gonna let you get back to work or whatever it is you’re doing” when, more often than not, they have to return to something.

Of course, I have been on the other side of this disengagement effort, when someone who is on a long drive is not only eager for company but is also prepared to share, stream-of-consciousness style, everything they see and comment on the driving skills of everyone around them.

“What is that red car thinking?” they’ll ask. “Did you see that?”

“No, you see, the way the phone works, I can only hear your voice. I’m not looking through a body worn camera at the road ahead of you, but I’m sure the red car did something stupid and it’s great that you’re such a skilled defensive driver.”

I sometimes try to wrap up these calls with something like, “well, it’s been nice chatting with you.”

“Yes,” they’ll reply. “It’s nice chatting with you, too. So, what do you think of the presidential election?”

“Oh, um, I think it’s a good idea every four years or so. More often than that would become too hectic and stressful for the country.”

“No, I mean, what are your top 15 issues for the election this year.”

“I’d love to share them with you, but I have to hop and I want to give you a chance to get back to driving and someone is waiting to take a run with me, so, I’m gonna go.”

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By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

As I like to say to the owner of the dry cleaning shop I use, “I’m an enthusiastic eater.” I tell him that because I want to encourage him to look for spots on the clothes I am bringing him and remove them. He smiles, nods knowingly and returns my clothes spot free.

It would be nice if I could just as easily rub out those extra pounds I routinely put on. Ever since I was in my late 30s, my weight has been a yo-yo. Until then, I never thought much about what I tended to eat. I just enjoyed my food, and ate whatever appealed to me at the moment. 

As a mother and the family cook, I did try to make balanced meals: an animal protein, a starch and a vegetable at dinner, for example. That was what cooks were encouraged to provide by the Food and Drug Administration. There were even charts in doctors offices with pictures of recommended “balanced” meals that we saw and took to heart. That was dinner.

Lunch wasn’t so different. A sandwich, a piece of fruit, maybe a small bag of chips or a cookie populated my children’s lunch boxes. The sandwich could be spread with peanut butter and jelly, or perhaps, tuna fish or bologna. The fruit was usually an apple, and the dessert was a chocolate chip cookie or a couple of Oreos. 

My husband and our children didn’t have a weight problem, so why did I? And that was in spite of my being on the club tennis team and running errands for our family of five plus dog and station wagon every day. I was certainly getting exercise.

At this point, I should confess that I love pasta. I love it in any shape, with any kind of sauce, and I love a good piece of bread. I also like desserts, the sugary kind. Donuts are a favorite, preferably loaded with raspberry jelly and rolled in sugar. In fact, there probably isn’t a carb I don’t like. 

So clearly my problem was in making choices. Recognizing what I had to do, I would forsake all of the above for the better part of a year, lose the extra pounds, buy some new clothes and feel quite pleased with myself…until after a few years, none of the clothes fit and a full length mirror showed me that I was back to my former avoirdupois. That’s a fancy French word to disguise the unwanted pounds. 

And so the cycles went, until I got older and disgusted enough to resign myself just to being fat. I passed a good number of years that way.

But now, I will tell you, I have found the solution, and it’s not Ozempic. I don’t even like taking an aspirin, much less a strong medicine with scary side effects like these miracle weight-loss drugs that were actually created for other uses but apparently remove one’s appetite. 

Why would I want to do that when eating is so much fun?

I will reveal my current weight loss routine to you, and it’s incredibly simple. It came about this way. I was noticing that a couple of my children were putting on some pounds, nothing drastic but nonetheless visible additions to their otherwise sleek frames. Now they, too, are active and until recently had no major problems with weight. But as they age, it has caught up to them.

So during the last visit, when we were all together and happened to bemoan our extra pounds, my oldest son suggested what he termed a Sunday Weigh In. This could easily be done via a group text, thanks to modern technology. We would aim for a one pound loss each week, not particularly extreme, and in the process we would connect with each other on a guaranteed regular basis. How nice! We are six weeks in now, and amid lots of love and encouragement, it’s working.

Check with me next year.

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