Fear sells. It’s as true when companies are urging people to buy products to protect themselves, families, homes and cars as it is when politicians are trying to scare youinto voting for them or, just as importantly, voting against their opponent.
Sure, they make some effort to suggest that their policies will help you, but they spend considerably more time showing unnerving images of what might happen if you vote for the other team.
One side suggests that a vote for the other candidate could mean the end of democracy, elections and a host of freedoms, while the other suggests that a vote for the other side could mean an end to the world.
Whatever you believe, we have clearly reached an extreme of brinkmanship.
On top of that, the news is filled with stories and images of murder and mayhem.
These days, all you need to do is turn on your phone and someone, somewhere, is struggling, threatened, or dying.
On top of that, people are sharing concerns about existential threats to the future, with global warming and declines in the food and water necessary to sustain the population.
Regardless of where people check in with the information of the day, threats lurk around every corner.
It’s no wonder that mental health has declined. The world is a place with dark shadows and horrifying possibilities.
Happily ever after has become the launching pad for fractured fairy tales, where couples can’t find affordable homes and, even if they did, couldn’t carry the mortgage.
This mental health strain and the difficulty of disconnecting from a phone that shares these bad news bulletins in constant alerts may be contributing to the record low fertility rate for the country reported this spring in the National Center for Health Statistics at the CDC.
Specifically, the rates declined for women aged 20 to 39, hitting a record low for women between 20 and 24.
There are numerous other reasons people are foregoing the spectacularly rewarding and challenging decision to have children. Yes, men and women are pursuing careers.
And, yes, people may be more confident and comfortable having children later, putting off the life-altering decision until after a set of vacations, a work milestone or other goals.
But to know exactly why any one or group of people are making the decisions they do requires more than statistics or even surveys. When people answer questions in a survey, they sometimes offer the kinds of replies that look good or that the questioner expects.
I spoke anecdotally with a few 50’ish parents and some children around 30 and got a range of responses about the decision to have or not have children.
Both sides suggested that developing careers made it tougher to start a family. Parents, some of whom seemed eager to have grandchildren, expressed some frustration and, perhaps, judgement, about the decisions of their children and step-children.
Some of the younger crowd said their friends didn’t receive much parenting help from their partners, making the task of raising children more difficult and exhausting and dissuading them and their friends.
They also shared concerns about the high cost of raising children.
One of the younger set added that her mother had been dealing with a lifelong illness and that she had caretaking responsibilities from the time she was young. Her mother continues to need medical and family attention, which she said has made caring for a child less appealing.
One of the younger set asked me what I thought about being a parent. It has filled me with unbelievable joy, affection, love, and laughter and has helped me understand my own parents and grandparents better. Of course, we’ve had our share of challenges interspersed with stomach dropping moments.
Not to blame the media entirely, as I work and live inside that profession, but I feel like the nonstop stream of information, stories, videos, and social media shaming has left people feeling vulnerable and exhausted.
Parenting requires energy and optimism. When people lose sleep, they don’t have much energy and, if they look at their phones, they risk losing their hold on optimism.
If we want to encourage this generation to continue the chain, we should let them know when they’re ready and when they ask, about the amazing and fulfilling moments, large and small, that make parenting the role of a lifetime.
Maine is a beautiful state. It is also a long drive from my house, as we knew before we started the drive. We were heading to a wedding in the Camden area, and the nice thing about going by car was that we didn’t have to fit all the special clothes into a suitcase. We could just hang them up in the back seat, put a few basics into a small suitcase, and we were off.
This was to be a unique wedding in our experience: no ceremony. We were going to party all weekend with relatives and dear friends and a bride and groom that had married the week before.
Guests came from all over the United States to party. They came from the northwest states, the Rockies, the Midwest and the South to wish this modern couple well and witness a truly modern event.
It began with invitations via email. When you consider that traditional snail mail wedding invitations from save-the-date to breakfast the day after run a couple about to tie the knot an average of $530, this was a clever cost-saving move. It should be said, though, that this couple is not average.
For one, they are 36 years old, late to the party, which averages 29 for the groom and 27 for the bride nationally. So they have learned a thing or two about wedding costs.
Second, she is an event planner and was able to put her considerable experience helping other couples spend their money to saving for a leaner wedding, notwithstanding the guest list of some 140.
While we did not witness the solemn event during which they would pledge their everlasting love, we did hear remarks from the siblings, cousin, mother and father of the groom, mother and father of the bride in a kind of spontaneous fashion rather than according to ritualistic assignments. We didn’t know who was to speak next until they gave their prepared remarks.
The setting along the shore was both bucolic and rustic. Indoor activities, like dancing and hors d’œuvres, were in a barn-like structure that boasted chandeliers. The building was set on a long, grassy lawn that led to the beach, and guests enjoyed walking its length to the water and, since it was early evening, watching the sun set.
Dress, as you might have guessed, was Maine Cocktail. Many of the men wore trousers and sports jackets. Not many of the younger men wore suits. The women‘s attire was varied, from long dresses to cocktail length and pants, mostly adorned with flowered patterns and lots of summer colors.
The food was as varied as the dress. Appetizers included pastrami knishes, egg roll hot dogs and crab Rangoon. The Maine course included a buffet, offering brisket, mac and cheese, BBQ chicken, a vegetarian dish and copious salad —all happy food.
As original as this wedding may sound, it is something of a trend today. Just as dating apps and zoom weddings have become accepted, so have text message and email invites joined the era of digital romance. It is all part of a post-pandemic culture shift toward more casual gatherings. Some folks like it better. As Vogue magazine wrote, “The non-wedding wedding with less traditional clothing, casual food and spontaneous photography are growing in popularity.”
And of course, this movement is prompted by increasing wedding costs. This more relaxed type of wedding is more affordable than the traditional highly structured wedding of yore. And a lot of fun.
PS: I thank Jeff Crilley, who publishes digitally “The Rundown” for journalists, for sharing the above observations.
The award-winning composer and sound designer will perform a live concert and speak to the audience about his career
On Friday, August 30 at 7 p.m., legendary film composer and sound designer Alan Howarth, best known for his collaborations with John Carpenter, and his work on the Star Trek films, will perform a live concert of his iconic film music at Huntington’s Cinema Arts Centre. The concert will be proceeded by a Q&A with the audience where he will discuss the art of film composing, and storied long career.
Alan Howarth and John Carpenter at work on Escape from New York. 1980. Photo by Phil D’Angelo
Alan Howarth’s award–winning film work started on Star Trek–The Motion Picture, launching him as a sound designer for the following 6 Star Trek feature films. He would then go on to collaborate with the director John Carpenter, crafting the scores for many of Carpenter’s most iconic works. He has since composed music for over 50 films. A sound design innovator, Howarth has worked on such films as Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula, The Hunt for Red October, Die Hard II, Stargate, The Little Mermaid, Back to the Future II and III, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Together with Carpenter, Alan Howarth pioneered a synth heavy style that would go on to influence many of the horror films that would follow, as well as the techno music genre as a whole.
The concert will feature music from beloved John Carpenter films such as Escape From New York, Halloween II, III & IV, The Thing, Big Trouble In Little China, Christine, They Live, Prince Of Darkness, and others.
The Cinema Arts Centre is located at 423 Park Avenue in Huntington. Tickets to the event are $27 public | $20 Cinema Arts Centre members.
You can purchase tickets or find more information about this and other events on the Cinema Arts Centre website: www.cinemaartscentre.org
Heavier than Normal Flooding Reported – Street Pumping Prohibition Temporarily Waived
Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth and Highway Superintendent Andre Sorrentino are responding hastily to Sunday night’s heavy rain storm that slammed the Long Island region.
As forecasters called for strong storms on Sunday night, Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth began rallying his team to handle anything that could impact the Town, including downs trees, sink holes and heavier than normal flooding.
“When the weather turns ugly, I always know I can rely on my partners in Government to come to the aide of the Town, especially Andre Sorrentino and the Highway Department”, said Ed Smyth. “Huntington’s emergency response protocol is second to none when it comes to tackling what mother nature dishes out.”
To assist residents with the impact of the heavier than normal rains and the flooding, Supervisor Smyth has ordered a temporary waiver for residents to discharge storm water from flooded basements into the roadway. The Town’s Pubic Safety office will not be issuing violations for the next 48 hours, while residents deal with home flooding.
Smyth added, “under normal circumstances a discharge into our roadways would be a violation of Town Code (Ch 133-1 A, B & C).This can cause hazards for pedestrians and traffic. In this case, our neighbors were impacted greater than normal and we want to do whatever we can to assist them in bringing their property back to normal.”
The Highway Department took to the roads at the early onset of the storm. After surveying the Town, they reported approximately 10 sink holes and minimal trees down. Flooding, however, was the predominant issue, with the Town reporting heavy flooding in a few areas.
According to Highway Superintendent Andre Sorrentino, “The Town’s Highway Department is responding to the heavier flooded areas. Our team will work until these areas are secure. We are happy to report that most of the Town is clear and passable thanks to the overnight work of our crews. They did a terrific job responding to this weather emergency.” Sorrentino added, “as always, we want our residents to know we are here for them. If you have an issue, please contact the Town’s Highway Department at 631-499-0444.”
Cornerstone Kings Park, a 50-unit luxury apartment building proposed for the corner of Meadow Road and Indian Head Road in Kings Park, was discussed at the Smithtown Board of Zoning Appeals public hearing on Aug. 6.
The 44,883-square-foot project would sit outside of the LIRR train station and would be part of the Kings Park downtown revitalization effort.
The proposed project necessitates a special exception as the surrounding area is currently zoned as commercial-business & industrial. A vacant restaurant pad site would need to be demolished if the project is to be built.
In order to progress and be considered by the Smithtown Town Board, the Smithtown Zoning Board of Appeals must approve the special exception.
The zoning board doesn’t anticipate making a recommendation to the Town Board until the Smithtown Comprehensive Master Plan is adopted, which would change the zoning of the area to transit oriented development (TOD). Further, the zoning board expressed dissatisfaction with several setbacks, which they deemed deficient even if the plan is adopted. The zoning change to transit oriented development would alter the minimum requirement for a setback.
Smithtown Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on Aug. 6. Photo courtesy of Smithtownny.gov
Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) spoke at the public hearing. “I am all for building something on this property,” he said. “Make no mistake about it. But 50 units in the parking lot of a shopping center is ridiculous.”
Trotta went on to suggest making a portion of the units co-ops or condominiums, an idea he has integrated in a resolution he designed to increase home ownership. The resolution was shot down in a Suffolk County Economic Development, Planning & Housing Committee meeting.
The size and magnitude of the project is one of the chief factors of concern for many. One constituent said, “I used to work in Queens and I like to come home to a backyard and a different style of life … it will kind of diminish and ruin what we are trying to have here. This kind of deviates from that kind of thinking.”
Another member of the community was eager for the project to provide more housing opportunities for the aging generation and to economically boost the downtown area.
Indeed, the developers market the project as a step towards fulfilling the goals listed in the Revitalizing Downtown Kings Park Action Plan which was developed by The Kings Park Chamber of Commerce and Kings Park Civic Association in 2016.
“Utilizing the Revitalizing Downtown Kings Park Action Plan, Terwillliger Bartone, with the Cornerstone Kings Park project, fills an important role of meeting the desires of the plan, from parking to transit oriented development to design and more” the Cornerstone Kings Park website reads.
After receiving criticism from citizens, the developers, Tanzi Properties LLC and Terwilliger & Bartone Properties, made several adjustments to the proposal, including decreasing the stories from four to three and supplementing above ground parking with an underground garage.
The developers expect the project to bring in $2 million annually in discretionary spending. Furthermore, their traffic study indicated that “it is the perfect complement to what is already existing in the area,” said the lawyer for the developers, Garrett Gray of Weber Law Group.
Gray said in his presentation that at peak hours, the parking is not expected to exceed 77% capacity.
Cornerstone Kings Park is one of the projects being considered for the $10 million Smithtown-Kings Park has received from the state for its downtown revitalization.
The application is still under review; the Zoning Board will more seriously consider making a recommendation once the Smithtown Comprehensive Master Plan is adopted, which is expected to occur within the coming months.
Downtown Port Jefferson flooded during Superstorm Sandy. File photo
This week’s Port Jefferson Civic meeting devoted a great deal of time to all things flood-related.
Now, of course, flood prevention is not unique. It is something all communities think about — especially, a port town.
But, why did the Village of Port Jefferson feel so strongly about a little bit of water falling from the sky, that they have decided to implement a two-phase plan, to build infrastructure designed to aid areas “[vulnerable] to flooding, associated with individual and co-occurring flood drivers?”
There are a few reasons. The first one is that this problem is not small, at all. It is much more dire than the flooding of yesteryear. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Long Island’s sea level has risen 13 inches from 1880. Just to put that figure into perspective, the global average is 8-9 inches. Secondly, warming temperatures have created hurricanes, with intense conditions, putting our island at increased storm surge-induced flooding, (for this factor, the South Shore is at a much higher risk.) And, lastly, Port Jefferson’s unique geography. Being situated on the harbor front, the village becomes susceptible to the strong flooding a confined harbor can induce.
Additionally, the area’s high groundwater table means that the soil does not have much capacity for additional water, thus exacerbating surface runoff, on an already small watershed. The geography of Port Jeff is, truly, unique, as it is a valley, which creates the imperfect opportunity for water to run down, from all directions — affording it the nickname “Drowned Meadow.”
So, what can we, as a community, do to prevent floods from disrupting our livelihoods? While this issue requires the careful care of our local government, as it is a truly serious issue, here are a few general suggestions:
• Consider purchasing a sump pump, to prevent basement or crawl space flooding.
• Ensure new building and development does not occur in flood-prone areas, or historic hurricane tracks.
• Merge nature-based solutions and infrastructure, to enhance resilience. An example would be improving upon infrastructure in need of flood safeguards, or replenishing beaches, to avoid erosion, and ensure the land’s natural slope and profile stays intact.
• Minimize your greenhouse gas emissions, to reduce the risk of severe storms. Starting is as easy as purchasing home appliances that are Energy Star — products approved by the EPA — certified, and lowering the thermostat.
• Bolster awareness. Talk to neighbors about the dangers of climate-influenced natural disasters, and generate community action. We need it
Following a relentless drive to succeed, scientists have a great deal in common with athletes.
In addition to putting in long hours and dedicating considerable energy to improving their results, these talented professionals also enjoy moments of success — large and small — as opportunities to appreciate the victories and then build to greater challenges.
And so it is for Hiro Furukawa, a Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Hiro Furukawa. Photo courtesy of JMSA
Working with a team of scientists including at Emory University, Furukawa recently published a paper in the prestigious journal Nature in which he demonstrated the long-sought structural process that leads to the opening of an important channel in the brain, called the NMDAR receptor.
When this cellular channel doesn’t function correctly, it can lead to numerous diseases, including Alzheimer’s and depression. Understanding the structural details of this channel could, at some point in future research, lead to breakthrough treatments.
“Each moment of discovery is exciting and priceless,” Furukawa explained. “When I finally see what I have sought for many years — in this case, the mechanism of NMDAR channel opening — it fills me with immense euphoria, followed by a sense of satisfaction.”
That sounds like the kind of mountaintop moment that star athletes whose achievements people applaud share once they’ve reached a long-desire milestone, like, perhaps, winning a gold medal in the Olympics.
The thirst for more for Furukawa, as it is for those with a passion for success in other fields beyond science and athletics, is unquenchable and unrelenting.
“This feeling is fleeting,” he added. “Within a few hours, a flurry of new questions arising from the discovery begins to occupy my mind.”
Indeed, Furukawa suggested that he expects that many other scientists share this experience.
Forming a winning team
Furukawa and Stephen Traynelis, Professor and Director in the Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, started to work together on a series of modulators for the NMDAR protein about eight years ago.
Hiro Furukawa. Photo courtesy of JMSA
This particular protein binds to the neurotransmitter glutamate and to glycine, which is another compound. Once bound to both, the channel, as if responding to the correct combination in a garage door, opens, creating electrical signals that contribute to brain functions.
To study the way the binding of these molecules opened the channel, the researchers needed to figure out how to keep the receptor in the open position.
That’s where a combination of work in the labs of Traynelis and Dennis Liotta, also a Professor at Emory, came in. Liotta’s lab made over 400 analogs that Traynelis ran in his lab.
Liotta created a compound called EU-1622-A, which is now known as EU-1622-240, that upregulates NMDAR activity, Furukawa explained.
“We used cryo-EM [electron microscopy] to capture the NMDAR structure with the compound, validated its conformation through electrophysiology and elucidated the activation mechanism,” he said.
Incorporating EU-1622-240 along with glycine and glutamate into the GluN1-2B NMDAR sample, which is a specific subtype and is the easiest to work with, enabled a visualization of the open channel.
Furukawa described the compound Traynelis created at Emory as the “key factor in capturing the open channel conformation.”
Determining the structure of a functioning protein can provide clues about how to alter those that may be contributing to the onset or progression of a disease.
To be sure, Furukawa recognizes the work as one step in what’s likely to involve an extensive research journey.
“We still have a long way to go, but we’ve made progress,” Furukawa said. “In this study, a compound bound to NMDAR gave us a clue on how to control the frequency of ion channel openings. Both hyperactive and hypoactive functions of NMDAR ion channels have been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, so being able to regulate NMDAR activity would be significant.”
Furukawa can’t say for sure if this compound could alleviate the symptoms of certain diseases, but it serves as a new series of potentially clinically relevant options to test.
The researchers are developing a method to purify NMDAR proteins from animal tissues. Once they accomplish that task, they should be able to isolate NMDAR from Alzheimer’s brains to compare them to a normally functioning protein.
Furukawa suggested that it’s probable that specific NMDAR conformations are stabilized to different extents in various diseases compared to normal brains.
The researchers have not yet presented this work at meetings. First author Tsung-Han Chou, who is a postdoctoral fellow in Furukawa’s lab, plans to present the work at upcoming conferences, such as the Biophysical Society Meeting.
The review process for the research proceeded quickly, as the team submitted the paper in February of this year.
Next steps
As for what’s next, Furukawa suggested that the team planned to solidify their findings.
“We must determine if the channel opening mechanism applies to other types of NMDARs,” he said. “Although we observed that EU1622-A compound binds to NMDAR, its structure was not sufficient resolved.”
To facilitate the re-design of EU1622-240, the scientists will need to improve the cryo-EM map resolution.
Traynelis, meanwhile, said that he and Liotta are synthesizing new modulators in this class and related classes and are working on mechanisms of action for this series at all NMDA receptors as well as actions in neuronal systems.
“We have a robust synthetic program with our collaborator [Liotta], whose laboratory is synthesizing many new modulators in this class and related classes,” Traynelis explained.
Traynelis added that his goal is to “develop new medicines to address unmet clinical needs. We want to find new and effective therapeutic treatments that help patients.”
The Emory professor is excited about the “potential development of positive NMDA receptor allosteric modulators that could enhance NMDA receptor function.”
Broader perspective
Furukawa, who lives in Cold Spring Harbor and whose sons Ryoma, 16 and Rin, 13, attend senior and junior high school, respectively, was interested in international politics and economics when he attended Tufts University as an undergraduate.
These non-science topics provide additional perspective that enrich his life.
“I remain very interested in understanding history and the reasons behind current events in Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S.,” he said. “This endeavor is far more challenging than decoding NMDAR structures and functions.”
As for his collaborations, Furukawa suggested that the findings from this research inspire him to continue to search for more answers and greater scientific achievements.
“We will continue to unravel these mysteries in future studies,” Furukawa said. “The best is yet to come.”
Stony Brook University named physician-scientist Dr. Imoigele “Imo” Aisiku as chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Renaissance School of Medicine, starting Aug. 15.
A national leader who has dedicated his career to critical care and neurocritical care in emergency medicine, Aisiku worked for more than a decade at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Aisiku, who was born in Nigeria and raised in Brooklyn and Auburn, Massachusetts, found several factors appealing about the Stony Brook role.
“My immediate family is predominantly in the Northeast” stretching from New York to Richmond, Virginia,” he said. Additionally, he suggested that numerous aspects of the role were “right in my area of expertise.”
His experience at Brigham and Women’s Hospital involved integrating systems, and he recognizes the opportunity to deploy that skill set at Stony Brook, where he will help integrate the emergency department at different hospitals.
He also has considerable experience in critical care, which is a strength at SBU.
“There are some natural synergies that you couldn’t script” he added, including strong clinical interest in stroke, telehealth, critical care and a desire to develop a systems integration model
Indeed, before he came to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Aisiku worked at the University of Texas at Houston. UT Houston/Memorial Hermann was one of the earliest to be named a JCAHO Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Aisiku was the medical director of their neurosurgery intensive care unit, which had one of the first mobile stroke units in the country. The unit was a collaboration between EMS, neurology, the stroke division, EM and the ICU.
A mobile stroke unit can provide critical and timely diagnostics and care for people having a stroke, which can not only save lives but can also lead to a dramatic improvement in the outcome after a stroke event for patients.
Stony Brook currently has two mobile stroke units and is working on adding a third.
“I hope to leverage what is the strength of Stony Brook with my experiences” and strengthen any weaknesses in a bidirectional manner, said Aisiku, who will report to Peter Igarashi, dean of the Renaissance School of Medicine.
For his part, Igarashi was eager to welcome the new addition to the emergency department.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Aisiku will lead Stony Brook’s remarkable team of emergency physicians,” Igarashi said in a statement. “As a pioneering physician-scientist in neurocritical care, and as an emergency medicine scholar and researcher, Dr. Aisiku will help advance our capacity to save lives and care for critically ill patients in the years to come.”
Evolutionary change
The new emergency department chair is hoping to learn more about Stony Brook’s strengths and weaknesses before implementing any changes.
“I hope to make a change and a difference,” Aisiku explained in an email. “I believe it is prudent to aim for evolutionary change and, if there is an opportunity, for positive revolutionary change.”
His goal is to see the department grow from a regional strength to a national and even an international strength.
He plans to develop partnerships with other chairs and departments and hopes to enhance programmatic and faculty development.
Aisiku also hopes to develop opportunities for faculty at Stony Brook, including in areas that involve research. He would like to see the department earn more National Institutes of Health and federal funding.
DEI experience
An accomplished physician, researcher and administrator, Aisiku also has considerable experience building and encouraging opportunities for underrepresented groups in medicine.
Aisiku was the founder and director of the Offices of IDEaS, which stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Social Justice, in Emergency Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he credits a team of faculty administrative staff and supportive chair for the success of that effort.
Aisiku “played a crucial role in the development of the office of IDEaS,” Jayelani Hall, administrative manager for Emergency Medicine and the Office of IDEaS at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, explained in an email. Aisiku’s vision for creating an inclusive environment and commitment to equity and diversity were “instrumental in shaping the initiatives and programs that define IDEaS today.”
IDEaS has launched several initiatives, such as the Profile in Diversity Series and the SPAK Grant program, which provides funding to projects that advance diversity, equity and inclusion.
The office established scholarship programs to support underrepresented students pursuing careers in medicine and health care, Hall added.
The president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital named Aisiku endowed Distinguished Chair in Health Equity and Diversity.
The broader Stony Brook area extending to New York City “draws diverse and international people to the region,” Aisiku explained. “While I acknowledge that [DEI] is an area of controversy in our country, I believe continuing to strive for diversity has a significant role for the development of our youth all the way to impacting our patients.”
In speaking with the leadership of the hospital and medical school, Aisiku believes his diversity goals are “aligned in these efforts” as he looks forward to developing strategies that will lead to diverse students, residents and faculty.
In addition to providing opportunities to students in the health care field, a more diverse population of caregivers enhances the patient experience, Aisiku contends.
A diverse health care force provides greater opportunity for patient choice and advocacy, he added.
Aisiku, who has master’s degrees in business administration from Goizueta School of Business and a master’s in clinical research from Rollings School of Public Health at Emory University, would like to partner with the business school and the school of public health, among others, to build diversity, which may broaden and enhance his efforts in this area.
People who have worked with Aisiku appreciate his commitment and openness to those around him.
Aisiku is “known for his compassion and dedication both as a physician and as a leader,” Hall wrote. “He consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that his patients receive the best care possible and his commitment to equity in health care is evident in all his endeavors.”
Hall suggested that the Stony Brook community is fortunate to have Aisiku in this role.
“Given his track record, I fully expect him to engage deeply with students, faculty and community members, fostering connections and driving positive change,” Hall explained.
From left to right, Robert Samuel Decosta Higgins, Jayelani Hall, Imoigele Aisiku, Ron Walls and Mike VanRooyen, at a ceremony for Aisiku. Photo courtesy Imoigele Aisiku
Telehealth experience
Over a decade ago, Aisiku started iDoc Telehealth Solutions, a telemedicine company dedicated to critical and neurocritical care and tele-stroke services, with the goal of providing this type of care to people in areas that didn’t have enough clinicians with that experience.
Since then, he has become co-CEO of a public company called VSEE Health.
He expects to pass the torch on to other executives. His commitment is to the university as his obligation to the company is for about four more months.
To be sure, he wants to ensure there are no conflicts of interest in his roles at Stony Brook and in the decision about how and in what ways the university can continue to build telehealth capacity.
“If there is an opportunity to enhance an area, with full disclosure, there can be pathways to achieve things that improve the patient experience while separating ‘church’ and ‘state’ so to speak,” he explained in an email.
Morana Lasic, interim chief diversity & inclusion officer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, suggested that Aisiku has served as a personal and institutional resource for a wide range of people.
Aisiku “works with those who are yet to enter the medical field and need mentorship, just as he does with institution presidents,” Lasic explained in an email. “He empowers those on his team and pays special attention to those who are often forgotten in mentorship (such as young administrative staff.)”
Lasic added that Aisiku was generous with his time and has reached out to her with emails and new thoughts and ideas at any time of day.
“Just like the rest of his life, his sleeping schedule is unique and his own, and he wears an Oura ring (which tracks sleep patterns) just to confuse it,” Lasic said.
In his research, Aisiku has focused on three areas: traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhages and acute respiratory distress syndrome/sepsis.
Aisiku is living with his wife Diana, who is a nurse, and their 4 1/2-year-old son Myles in Westbury. They are in the process of searching for a home.
Outside of work, Aisiku has a black belt in the martial art of Jeet Kune Do, enjoys working out and played Division 3 tennis and basketball, at Worcester State University. He is also a motorcycle enthusiast.
As for his likely contribution to the Stony Brook community, Lasic, who has been at Brigham and Women’s Hospital for 25 years, suggested that she anticipated he would continue on an impressive journey.
Aisiku is “one of the most innovative leaders in academic medicine I have seen in a long time,” she wrote. “He is a true role model in his ability to connect with those around him.”
Edward Lange, [Northport, Lower Main Street], 1880. Watercolor, gouache, and lead pencil on paper, 15.375 x 21.625. Collection of Preservation Long Island, 2011.2
Preservation Long Island presents Promoting Long Island: The Art of Edward Lange, 1870–1889, a new exhibition focusing on the life, work, and career of one of Long Island’s most prolific artists of the late nineteenth century. On view August 16 – December 1 2024 at the Preservation Long Island Gallery, 161 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, this exhibition of watercolors, photographs, and historical objects from the collection of Preservation Long Island and on loan from collections across Long Island, is inspired by the upcoming release of Preservation Long Island’s latest publication of the same name, arriving September 2024.
Edward Lange grew up in a German family of prominent artists and publishers and arrived on Long Island during one of its most critical moments. For nearly two decades, he watched new industry creep into an older agricultural landscape and used his artwork to record the region’s transformation. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Lange inserted himself into Long Island’s booming economy and created detailed images of main streets, factories, railroad depots, and hotels that resonated with local residents and tourists alike.
“Lange’s artwork represents a tangible connection to a period of Long Island’s history when its people, culture, and landscape were undergoing rapid change,” said Elizabeth Abrams, Preservation Long Island Interim Executive Director. “The artist’s views of Long Island towns, villages, landscapes, and waterscapes have endeared themselves to Long Islanders and visitors for over 135 years.”
“Artists like Lange played a significant role in a promoting Long Island’s scenery to the larger public during the nineteenth century,” noted Preservation Long Island Chief Curator & Director of Collections, Lauren Brincat. “Not only was Lange’s artwork reflective of a resulting new age of booming tourism on Long Island, but it was instrumental in the region’s growth by advertising hotels, resorts, and experiences to a greater public.”
Peter Fedoryk, exhibition guest curator added, “In the late nineteenth century, Lange’s artwork had immense visual influence in the New York metropolitan area. Today, the artist’s paintings, drawings, prints, and photographic reproductions are celebrated as snapshots of a world before suburbanization permanently reshaped Long Island’s built environment.”
Programming
Exhibition related programs and events will take place throughout the show’s run and include:
Curator Exhibition Tour: September 28, 2024
Northport Walking Tour: October 6, 2024
Authors Panel Discussion & Book Signing: November 16, 2024
Call or visit Preservation Long Island’s website for more information about the exhibition and related programs and events.
Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History; Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association; Heckscher Museum of Art; Huntington Historical Society; Incorporated Village of Northport; The Long Island Museum; Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation, & Museums; Oyster Bay Historical Society; Raynham Hall Museum, Smithtown Historical Society; Veronica Mollica; Whaling Museum & Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor.
Publication
The exhibition accompanies the release of Preservation Long Island’s latest publication, Promoting Long Island: The Art of Edward Lange, 1870–1889 which presents over two years of new research into Edward Lange’s life and work. The new hardcover publication, arriving September 2024, features over 100 full-color images. Edited and authored by Preservation Long Island’s Chief Curator & Director of Collections, Lauren Brincat, and former curatorial fellow, Peter Fedoryk, the book also includes essays by Jennifer L. Anderson, Thomas Busciglio-Ritter, and Joshua M. Ruff.
Generous funding in support of this publication has been provided by The Gerry Charitable Trust and The Decorative Arts Trust
About Preservation Long Island
Preservation Long Island is a not-for-profit organization that works with Long Islanders to raise awareness, appreciation, and support for the protection of our shared past through advocacy, education, and the stewardship of historic sites and collections.
Sunny Island Foot Spa has been the subject of a two-month NPD investigation. Courtesy Craigslist
By Lauren Feldman
The Aug. 13 meeting of the Northport Board of Trustees revealed shocking details from a months-long investigation by the Northport Police Department. Chief of Police Christopher Hughes reported on the conclusion of an inquiry into a local spa suspected of prostitution.
Sunny Island Foot Spa, located at 377 Fort Salonga Road, first drew police attention in June when “alarming” advertisements appeared on Craigslist. The ads, Hughes said, described spa services as performed by “sweet and discreet pretty girls” and the “best service” by “young and beautiful girls from Asia.” The ad has since been removed, and a subsequent one posted in July refrained from mentioning spa employees.
“Our investigation began immediately following the June ad,” Hughes said. While the investigation did not yield evidence of prostitution, Hughes noted that the spa’s ads were listed on “several websites known to advertise adult services.” He added, “The mere messaging in the ads can easily attract individuals looking for those types of services.” Hughes also reported that police observed only male clientele entering and leaving the premises during the investigation.
On Aug. 8 and 9, Jing Fang Zhou, 50, and Lisi Ou, 38, both of Flushing, were arrested for the “unauthorized practice of a profession.” Hughes thanked lead investigator Detective Stephen Kerekes, the county district attorney [Ray Tierney] and his team. “We were able to work together to identify an illegitimate business and effectively end their illicit operation,” Hughes said.
Since last week’s arrests, the spa is reportedly vacant, and Hughes noted that no further traffic has been observed in or around the establishment.
At the same meeting, the board approved Hughes’ resolution, which adds another detective position to the Northport Police Department. Officer Sean Sagistano was recommended for the position and, per the resolution, “will not receive the additional pay and benefits he is entitled to under the collective bargaining agreement until the day after Stephen Kerekes vacates his current position of detective.” The board also clarified that this measure will not increase the size of the police department, and Sagistano will continue to be assigned to patrol duties.
Resolution 2024-139 also drew attention from the board. The resolution authorizes Mayor Donna Koch to execute a contract to purchase a new ambulance. Residents may be aware that an ongoing ambulance purchase has been progressing slowly for some time.
In February 2022, the village passed a resolution to purchase another ambulance from a company that has yet to deliver. As a result, the fire commissioner met with Koch last week to discuss purchasing an alternative unit: a 2024 Ford F-550 Wheeled Coach through LI Proliner Inc., estimated to cost $470,343.
The initial unit, the village is being told, will not be ready until the end of the first quarter of 2025, which may lead to its cancellation. Koch emphasized that the new unit is a stock model with everything the department needs. Additionally, the unit includes a Stryker, a part worth $100,000 that is already included with the vehicle. The board approved the measure to move forward with this purchase, but the decision to cancel the initial ambulance order was not voted on at this time.
Board meetings are held once a month at the Northport Village Hall, 224 Main St., Northport. The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 6 p.m. For more information, visit northportny.gov.
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