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Individuals who have had multiple Covid-19 infections appear prone to contracting Long Covid, which may include symptoms such as fatigue, respiratory distress and mental fog.

Study published in The Lancet provides a basis for investigating Long Covid in the post-pandemic era

A new study that identified 475 patients with post-acute sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC), also known as Long Covid, revealed that nearly 85 percent (403) of these patients had multiple Covid-19 infections over the course of a four-year period (March 2020 to February 2024). Additionally, vaccination independently reduced the risk of Long Covid in patients who had received the vaccination prior to contracting the infection.

Conducted by a team of researchers at the Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University, in conjunction with the Stony Brook World Trade Center (WTC) Health and Wellness Program, the study may serve as a foundational assessment of Long Covid patients in the post-pandemic era. To date there are few studies with such a patient sample size that investigates what puts patients at risk for Long Covid and what causes this chronic condition.

The findings are published early online in the February edition of The Lancet Regional Health – Americas.

“While it is possible that the causes of Long Covid could be many and variable depending on the patient population studied, with this cohort the evidence is clear that by having Covid numerous times, patients became more at-risk for developing Long Covid,” says lead author Sean Clouston, PhD, Professor, Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine in the RSOM, and Program in Public Health.

He adds that after adjusting for relevant demographic, lifestyle, and clinical variables, the findings reveal a statistically significant association between experiencing multiple Covid-19 infections and the risk of experiencing PASC (aka Long Covid).

The patients were identified from a group of more than 2,500 first responders who previously had Covid and are prospectively monitored for infection complications by the Stony Brook WTC Health and Wellness Program. The 475 identified with Long Covid by the Program’s physicians, led by Benjamin Luft, MD, Director of the Program, continually experienced Long Covid symptoms ranging from fatigue, mental fog, other neurological conditions, as well as multiple respiratory problems and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Given that some of the first responder patients have had symptoms over the years related to their environmental exposures, such as respiratory illnesses, Long Covid symptoms were identified and charted separately and after each subsequent Covid infection.

Since there is no diagnostic test for Long Covid, the researchers followed the World Health Organization’s guidelines as to identifying Long Covid. They identified participants with Long Covid as having experienced the continuation or development of at least one new symptom that emerged within three months after their initial Covid-19 infection and persisted for at least two months without other concurrent medical explanation. In contrast, those without such experiences after having Covid were placed in the non-Long Covid group.

“There are some possible pathogenic mechanisms that cause Long Covid, but the entire spectrum of its risk factors remains unknown,” explains Dr. Luft, a co-author, the Edmund D. Pellegrino Professor of Medicine in the RSOM, and an infectious diseases specialist. “This is why our study and future ones are so important. Identifying specific risk factors such as re-infection or lack of vaccination can assist in better understanding and managing the condition.”

The authors point out that the safest way to avoid contracting Long covid is to prevent the infection in the first place. However, they emphasize that the role of vaccination in the risk of developing Long Covid cannot be underestimated. They wrote, “Among those who later developed PASC, we found that the risk of PASC was much higher among individuals who were unvaccinated at the time of their first (Covid-19) infection.”

Dr. Luft adds that the vaccine is imperfect, and of those who develop Covid – even though vaccinated – are at risk and should take measures to mitigate the severity of infection.

This research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging (NIA) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) – grants (NIH/NIA R01 AG049953), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – grants (CDC/NIOSH U01 OH011864) and (CDC/NIOSH U01 OH012275).

 

 

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President Joe Biden walks to the Oval Office with President-elect Donald Trump, Wednesday, November 13, 2024. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz) Wikimedia Commons Public Domain

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

Here we are, teetering on the precipice of the transition from Joseph Biden back to Donald Trump at the White House.

What better time than now to ponder some random facts, such as birth order, about the presidency? I used a Potus Presidential Facts website that included siblings and half-siblings for the first part of this column and a host of other websites, including Wikipedia for the second part.

For starters, none of the men (it’s a men’s only club so far) who were the commander in chief were only children. Three presidents, meanwhile, had only one sibling. That list includes Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan.

Now, I figured that more presidents were first children than subsequent children, in part because first children often rule the roost, as primogeniture would suggest. But I was wrong.

Yes, first children are well represented, as 11 presidents were the oldest in their families.

First born children who would go on to become president started with John Adams and James Madison and included Lyndon Baines Johnson, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush (43) and the soon-to be ex-president Joseph Biden, among others.

Second children, however, constituted the greatest number of presidents. After a lifetime of being described as number two, I now realize what a compliment such a designation is, at least in terms of presidential history, where number two is number one.

Starting with James Monroe, that list includes such luminaries as Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and, well, Richard Nixon. Okay, so, Nixon didn’t exactly cover himself in glory, resigning in disgrace after the Watergate Scandal, but he doesn’t bring all second children down.

First and second children constitute 56 percent of the presidents.

Going to the presidents who had numerous older siblings, the three presidents who were born seventh all shared the same first name: William. The seventh born commanders in chief were William Henry Harrison, William McKinley and William Howard Taft. If history is any guide, that means a seventh born William, assuming somehow your parents didn’t choose the name for any of your older siblings, has a path to the presidency.

Four presidents were born sixth, starting with George Washington. Joining the first president in the number six club are Martin Van Buren, John Tyler and Franklin Pierce.

The fifth born list only has three entrants: James Garfield, Chester A. Arthur and Grover Cleveland, who shares the distinction of being the only president elected in two non-consecutive terms with Trump.

Fourth born presidents also have three members, starting with Zachary Taylor, continuing with Rutherford B. Hayes and going to Trump.

And, finally, seven presidents were born third in their families. The list started with Thomas Jefferson and included Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, Woodrow Wilson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Now, seven presidents were the youngest child, including Herbert Hoover, Ronald Reagan, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield and William Henry Harrison.

On average, presidents had a little over five siblings. Biden had three siblings and Trump had four, making him the penultimate child.

James Madison, who served as the fourth president, had the most siblings, at 11.

While similar lists for first ladies are harder to find (at least for me), I did find some interesting factoids about a few first ladies.

During the war of 1812, Dolley Madison, whose first name originally had an “e” then didn’t in historical records and then did again as of 1958, rescued artifacts from the White House before the British burned it down. Frances Cleveland, meanwhile, was the youngest first lady and the only one who got married in the White House. At 21, she wed 49-year old Grover Cleveland.

Helen Taft was the first to ride with her husband in the inaugural parade and the first to ensure staff were treated equally in the White House. She planted the first of 3,000 cherry trees Tokyo had sent as a gift, helping to establish cherry trees as a staple along the Potomac river.

As for pets, Trump, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson were the only White House occupants who didn’t have pets, according to Wikipedia. I’m guessing that some of the Secret Service members bitten by Biden’s dog Commander would have preferred that the incumbent didn’t own a canine.

Teddy Roosevelt had numerous pets when he was president, including snakes, dogs, cats, a badger, birds, and guinea pigs.

Numerous presidents received larger animals that they sent elsewhere. Eisenhower, for example, received a baby Forest Elephant from the French Community of African Republics that he shipped to the National Zoo.

 

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Damage to a home and vehicle from the Eaton Fire in northern Altadena, California in January 2025. Photo from Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

It may have started as a new year filled with hope, but this is a difficult week. The terrible fires in Southern California have burned entire neighborhoods to the ground, from mansions to mobile homes. We already know about the displaced and the deaths, but more destruction may yet come. Weather forecasts from the National Weather Service are predicting fierce winds ahead that may drive the fires into new areas.

The end is not in sight.

While this horror is on the other side of the country, it is not remote. Many of us have friends and relatives who live, work, study or are retired there, driving the tragedy right into our midst and into our hearts in a deeply personal way. These are not only abstract numbers of people and homes about which we would feel a humanitarian empathy. These are our people. These are our forests and our lands. The dreadful irony of it all, remembering the 1972 Albert Hammond song, “It Never Rains in Southern California.”

While there was already a serious homeless population for Los Angeles, the newly displaced are trying to figure out what to do next. The lucky ones have relatives or friends with whom they can seek shelter. It may be long weeks, even months before they can return, if their homes miraculously are still standing. What if they are not? Will the insurance companies hold up to enable rebuilding, or will some of them declare bankruptcy, as they have done in similar cataclysmic situations, like the one in the Caribbean Island St. Croix? Can FEMA bear the entire load?

Private citizens can be counted on to respond generously, as we have with virtually every disaster in the world. With such an enormous catastrophe, the entire national economy could take a hit. How will the new administration respond? 

Speaking of the government, we have less than a week before the new administration is sworn into office. The change of political parties may in itself contribute to some emotional reaction this week, regardless of one’s party affiliation.

Many Dems are worried, while many members in the GOP are optimistic. There has been much talk of changes to come, from buying Greenland for its exotic minerals to changing the name from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Perhaps more seriously, there may be a tax cut in the future, some change in immigration policy and new tariffs imposed or at least threatened.

Some good news did emerge this week. There may be a truce in Gaza after 15 months of violence, with some hostages to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners and specific movements of Israeli troops. While the atmosphere surrounding the peace talks remains tense, according to media reports, there now seems some hope.

According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the negotiators are only awaiting Hamas’s sign off. Perhaps the imminent changeover of presidents from Biden to Trump in the United States hastened the deal. The governments of Qatar and Egypt have also directly participated in the talks.

Perhaps now the fighting in Ukraine and the fires in Southern California can also be brought to a halt. Then we could return to hope.

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Pixabay photo

The Town of Brookhaven’s Parks & Recreation Department is ringing in the new year with a series of new classes and programs at our various recreation centers. Learn more about what we have to offer and register online today!

Centereach Administration Building
286 Hawkins Road, Centereach
631-451-6112

Indoor Winter Bocce League
Meet and play with different people each week. 2 games per week. individual sign up.
Dates: Tuesdays, January 7, 14, 21, 28, February 4, 18   OR   Thursdays, January 9, 16, 23, 30, February 20, 27
Time: 10:00AM – 12:00PM
Fee: $32.00 per person per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Indoor Winter Night Bocce League
4-6 players per team. Each team plays 2 games per day. 12 points or 25 minute rounds.
Dates: Tuesdays, February 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Fee: $185.00 per 6-week session per team
Click HERE to register online.

Henrietta Acampora Recreation Center
39 Montauk Highway
Blue Point, NY 11715
631-451-6163

Yoga
Yoga that meets you where you are today. This class includes standing postures, strengthening exercises on the mat, seated stretches and guided relaxation. Our practice supports strength, agility, flexibility, and balance, while reducing stress and having fun. Please bring a yoga mat, yoga blocks or rolled towel. 
Dates: Mondays, February 3, 10, 24, March 10, 17, 24
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Fee: $47.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Watercolor Painting Class
Meet fellow artists, try a new hobby or work on an old project. Bring your own material and work in a relaxed environment. Instructor will give demonstrations along with group and individual guidance.
Dates: Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Copper Repousse’ Decorative Metal Workshop (18+)
Create a design in relief (a sculptural technique where figures or scenes are carved into a flat background, creating the illusion that the sculpted material has been raised above the background) using copper sheet and embossing stylus tools. Students must bring your own simple design drawn in a coloring book style or use a class supplied design. 
Dates: Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25
Time: 12:00PM – 2:00PM
Fee: $25.00 per 4 week session PLUS $7.00 material fee paid to instructor the first day of class.
Click HERE to register online.

Adult Art Class
Meet fellow artists, try a new hobby or work on an old project. Bring your own material and work in a relaxed environment. Instructor will give demonstrations along with group and individual guidance.
Dates: Thursdays, February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online. 

Sprouts & Friends Baby Class (Ages 3-12 months)
Join Sprouts & Friends for a fun, safe and creative way to learn to move through music and release energy. Our mission is to create joy while helping your little ones grow, learn, develop, and explore through playful activities. Please bring a blanket for baby to lay on. Non-walkers only. 
Dates: Fridays, February 7, 14, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4
Time: 1:00pm – 1:45pm
Fee: $57.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Country Line Dancing
These classes welcome advanced beginner and intermediate dancers (improver level). Classes will teach students popular line dances being done across the country while having fun and getting exercise as well.
Dates: Mondays, March 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19
Time: 2:30pm – 4:00pm
Fee: $57.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

New Village Recreation Center
20 Wireless Road
Centereach, NY 11720
631-451-5307

Zumba
This high-energy cardio aerobics class combines Latin and international beats with salsa, merengue, cha-cha, samba, hip-hop and belly dancing. 
Dates:Fridays, January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14
Time: 5:30pm – 6:30pm  
OR  
Dates: Mondays, January 27, February 3, 10, 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24 
Time: 10:30am – 11:30am
Fee: $52.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online for the Friday session.
Click HERE to register online for the Monday session.

Koga Lite
These classes are a unique workout combination of kickboxing and yoga. Classes are designed as a gentle introduction to exercise/weight loss without the intimidation. Sneakers, weights and water are recommended.
Dates:Mondays, January 27, February 3, 10, 24 March 3, 10, 17, 24
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm
OR
Dates: Wednesdays, January 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26 March 5, 12, 19
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Fee: $62.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online for the Monday session.
Click HERE to register online for the Wednesday session.

Kids Karate (Ages 6-12)
Kids will learn confidence, concentration and respect.
Dates: Tuesdays, January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18
Time: 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Fee: $52.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online. 

Adult Self-Defense (Ages 13+)
Learn how to build confidence and self-esteem.
Dates: Tuesdays, January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Fee: $52.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Jump Bunch Junior (Ages 3-5)
Learn a new sport each week. Includes sports such as soccer, football, lacrosse, volleyball and basketball. No equipment necessary. Just bring water.
Dates: Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11
Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Fee: $62.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online. 

Jump Bunch Kids (Ages 6-9)
Learn a new sport each week. Includes sports such as soccer, football, lacrosse, volleyball and basketball. No equipment necessary. Just bring water.
Dates: Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11
Time: 5:15pm – 6:15pm
Fee: $62.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online. 

Watercolor Painting Class
Meet fellow artists, try a new hobby or work on an old project. Bring your own material and work in a relaxed environment. Instructor will give demonstrations along with group and individual guidance.
Dates: Wednesdays, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Adult Drawing Class
Unleash your creativity and explore the versatile mediums of pencil, charcoal, and pastels. This hands on course is designed for artists of all levels. Students will learn to capture light, texture, and depth, using pencil for fine details, charcoal for bold contrasts, and pastels for vibrant, expressive color. Join us and discover new ways to bring your drawings to life!
Dates: Fridays, February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Mixed Media Adult Art
Meet fellow artists try a new hobby or work on an old project with your choice of medium. Each week there will be still life and fine art drawing exercises to help students develop their skills.
Dates: Saturdays, February 8, 15, 22, March 1, 8, 15
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Fee: $42.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Country Line Dancing for Beginners
Want to learn country line dancing? Classes will teach students popular line dances being done across the country while having fun and getting exercise as well.
Dates: Wednesdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21
Time: 11:30am – 1:00pm
Fee: $57.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Robert E. Reid, Sr. Recreation Center
Defense Hill Road & Route 25A
Shoreham, NY 11786
631-451-5306

Yoga
This is a slow-flow yoga class for all levels, moving at a slower pace and holding poses a little longer. Breathing and relaxation exercises are incorporated to help de-stress. Please bring a yoga mat or towel.
Dates: Mondays, January 27, February 3, 10, 24, March 3, 10
Time: 5:45pm – 6:45pm
Fee: $47.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Dance for Tots (Ages 2 1/2 – 3)
These classes are a great way to introduce dance to young children. Classes combine jazz and ballet and are suitable for children with or without experience. Learning becomes fun!
Dates:Wednesdays, January 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19
Time: 10:00am – 10:45am
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Dance for Tots II (Ages 3 1/2 – 4)
These classes are a great way to introduce dance to young children. Classes combine jazz and ballet and are suitable for children with or without experience. Learning becomes fun!
Dates:Wednesdays, January 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19
Time: 11:00am – 11:45am
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Watercolor Painting Class
Meet fellow artists, try a new hobby or work on an old project. Bring your own material and work in a relaxed environment. Instructor will give demonstrations along with group and individual guidance.
Dates: Tuesdays, January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18 
Time: 12:30pm – 2:30pm
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Mixed Media Adult Art
Meet fellow artists, try a new hobby or work on an old project. Bring your own material and work in a relaxed environment. Instructor will give demonstrations along with group and individual guidance.
Dates: Wednesdays, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Jump Bunch Jr. (Ages 3-5)
Learn a new sport each week. Includes sports such as soccer, football, lacrosse, volleyball and basketball. No equipment necessary. Just bring water.
Dates: Thursdays, January 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 6
Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Fee: $62.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Jump Bunch Kids (Ages 6-9)
Learn a new sport each week. Includes sports such as soccer, football, lacrosse, volleyball and basketball. No equipment necessary. Just bring water.
Dates: Thursdays, January 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 6
Time: 5:15pm – 6:15pm
Fee: $62.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

St. Michaels Recreation Center
Wilson Ave.
Medford, NY 11763
631-451-6112

Zumba
This high-energy cardio aerobics class combines Latin and international beats with salsa, merengue, cha-cha, samba, hip-hop and belly dancing. 
Dates: Saturdays, January 25, February 1, 8, 15, 22,
March 1
Time: 9:30AM – 10:30AM
Fee: $42.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

OTHER UPCOMING PROGRAMS…

Adult Softball (Ages 18+)
Spring/Summer season – April thru August
Fall season – September and October
Visit BrookhavenAdultSoftball.TeamPages.com

Senior Softball (Ages 60+)
Spring/Summer season – May thru August
Visit SuffolkSeniors.TeamPages.com

Call 631-451-6128 for more information.

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Kathy Koutouvidis with Jefferson's Ferry President and CEO Bob Caulfield. Photo courtesy of Jefferson's Ferry

When Jefferson’s Ferry Life Plan Community in South Setauket brought its management and staff together to celebrate another year of teamwork and camaraderie, it also recognized the outstanding contributions of individual employees throughout the year.

Two outstanding employees were recognized for their stellar work in service of Jefferson’s Ferry residents. Agustin “Augie” Carrasco was named 2024 Employee of the Year and Kathy Koutouvidis took home 2024 Manager of the Year honors. 

Agustin “Augie” Carrasco with Jefferson’s Ferry President and CEO Bob Caulfield. Photo courtesy of Jefferson’s Ferry

Augie has a passion for helping people and making their quality of the life the best it can be. During his close to 12 years of service, Augie has served in roles of increasing responsibility and touched the lives of residents and coworkers with a pleasant demeanor matched only by the highest standard of performance. From his first job in the kitchen through his steady rise to housekeeping to his current position as Maintenance Tech II, his responsiveness, knowledge and overall helpful nature have always put Augie in high demand. “Everyone wants to work with him,” wrote his nominating supervisor, Director of Maintenance Patty Tuscano. “Several other departments have expressed their appreciation for Augie’s hard work and dedication to me. He shows great concern for the welfare of others and is actively involved in finding solutions to difficult challenges.”

Kathy Koutouvidis, Assistant Director of Nursing, was recognized as Manager of the Year for her many contributions to both the Jefferson’s Ferry residents who live in the Vincent Bove Health Center and the dedicated team who cares for them. In 2025 Kathy will celebrate her 20th year of service to Jefferson’s Ferry. Over that time, Kathy has never faltered in exceeding expectations and practicing her profession with expertise, compassion and caring attention to residents, their families and staff.

She shone during the challenges of COVID-19 and in the post-pandemic environment, playing a significant role in the award-winning care at the Health Center. For the sixth year running, the Vincent Bove Health Center at Jefferson’s Ferry Life Plan Community has received the Pinnacle Quality Insight Customer Experience Award for outstanding resident satisfaction and overall achievement in skilled nursing care, placing the health center in the top 15% of skilled nursing facilities nationwide.

“Kathy’s dedication has been instrumental in her training and recertification of our Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA),” noted Anthony Comerford, Vice President of Health Services in writing his nomination. “She has cultivated meaningful relationships among our staff and residents and worked to make sure our residents and staff are educated about the importance of vaccination to protect against illness. Our outstanding results with the Department of Health, ongoing 5-star rating from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and “Best Of” nursing home rating by U.S. News & World Report are reflective of Kathy’s work.”

The last 12 months saw the opening of The Grove, a state-of-the-art 20-bed memory support neighborhood, part of Jefferson’s Ferry Journey Toward Renewal, which in the past few years has added 60 new one- and two-bedroom independent living apartments to the campus, as well as six distinct dining venues, new dining options in Assisted Living; an expansion of its Healthy Living Center and Fitness Center, and its state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Therapy Center. 

“It was an exhilarating year in which we’ve seen many or our efforts come to fruition,” enthused Jefferson’s Ferry President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Caulfield. “We can all feel pride in the jobs we’ve performed that have contributed to making Jefferson’s Ferry a singular Life Plan Community that can offer both the latest amenities and modern living within an established, caring community of neighbors and friends.”

About Jefferson’s Ferry   www.jeffersonsferry.org

 

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Ketcham Inn in Center Moriches. Photo by Beverly C. Tyler
Austin Roe leaving the Brooklyn Ferry. Painting by Vance Locke
Roe Tavern location marker. Photo by Beverly C. Tyler
A painting by Patricia Windrow of President Washington visiting Roe Tavern. Photo by Beverly C. Tyler
Abraham Woodhull & Caleb Brewster. Painting by Vance Locke

By Beverly C. Tyler 

We are all familiar with the lives of the famous men and women in US history. From the time we were students in school, with the images of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln staring down at us from their place of honor in the classroom, we learned of the people who made our great nation. Our coinage includes U.S. presidents as well as men and women who contributed to America and American freedoms.

We can now see movies, videos and streaming programs about these same heroes of American democracy. Students are familiar with the poem about the “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,” but the lives of many of our local men and women, who have contributed to history, are largely unknown. 

Long Island has played host to a number of these famous and well-known people from the past. In this century one of the best known was Charles Lindbergh, the Lone Eagle, who took off from Roosevelt Field on his solo flight across the Atlantic on May 20, 1927. Long Island was the scene of many other historic flights and record-setting attempts by early pioneers of flight throughout the 20th century. 

Long before Lindbergh, in June, 1791, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison came to Long Island at the conclusion of a pleasure trip which included the recording of many natural science observations through New England as detailed in “Jefferson and the Rights of Man” by Dumas Malone.“ They proceeded down the Connecticut ( River), crossed Long Island Sound, followed the northern coast of Long Island to Brooklyn, and then crossed to New York. On their way they visited a nurseryman in Flushing and Jefferson left with him a large order for trees and shrubs, including all the sugar maples that were available.” Not mentioned by Malone was the Ketcham Inn in Center Moriches where Jefferson and Madison spent at least one night. During the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Havens ran the inn and provided intelligence to the Culper Spy Ring, usually through Caleb Brewster who was a frequent visitor.

George Washington also visited Long Island after the Revolutionary War. In April 1790, while he was president of the United States, Washington toured part of Long Island traveling to Setauket from Patchogue. In his personal diary for April 22, 1790, Washington wrote, “We struck across the Island for the north side, passing the east end of the brushy marsh – and Coram, 8 miles – thence to Setauket 7 miles more, to the house of Captain Roe, which is tolerably decent, with obliging people in it.” According to Selah B. Strong, in an article written in the 1920’s, “The procession was led by my great grand-father, Capt. Selah Strong. He was evidently an important man in the county, holding the offices of County Judge, supervisor and President of the Board of Trustees of Brookhaven; and County Treasurer, and afterwards State Senator. It was very appropriate that he should entertain the General at Roe’s as the house was the former residence of his grandfather, the first Strong to bear the name of Selah, who came to Setauket about 1700 and on March 23, 1703 bought the land from Thomas Clark and built the house.” 

Captain Austin Roe maintained his home as a tavern and, in addition to hosting General Washington on that April evening in 1790, he is known as one of Washington’s spies during the Revolutionary War. This group of men and women, mostly from Setauket, were Patriots who, after their deeds were discovered, became famous. The Setauket Spies operated with such secrecy and modesty that their heroism and, in most instances, even their identities were not fully known until Morton Pennypacker discovered the facts, as we now know them, and published them in his book “General Washington’s Spies,” in 1939. 

As detailed in the Three Village Historical Society exhibit “SPIES!”, for two years, since August 1776, when General Washington’s army was defeated by British and Hessian soldiers at the Battle of Long Island, New York City and Long Island were occupied by the enemy.  Washington and the Continental Army were fighting elsewhere, in upstate New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and in the South. British headquarters was in New York City.

The only way for Washington to get information about enemy troop movements and strength was to plant reliable spies among them. But this had been tried and failed. In September 1776, Captain Nathan Hale had volunteered, crossed Long Island Sound, and gathered information on his way to and from the city, by then in British hands. Without training and support he was captured and brought to British General Howe who had him hanged the next day as a spy.

On Washington’s staff was 24-year-old Dragoon Major, Benjamin Tallmadge. Washington asked Tallmadge to create a spy ring of Patriots who could be trusted and who would support each other. Hale had been Tallmadge’s best friend at Yale. He would make sure that his spy ring would operate safely. Tallmadge was born in Setauket, a village across Long Island Sound from Fairfield, Connecticut, where Tallmadge and his Dragoons were stationed. There, Tallmadge had friends, Patriots like himself, who were determined to defeat the British. Tallmadge assured Washington that they could be trusted spies. To keep them safe, Washington did not want to know their names, so Tallmadge gave them code numbers and aliases, or spy names. General Washington called them Culper Spies, after Culpeper County in Virginia where he had his first job as a surveyor. Tallmadge gave himself an alias, too, and gave Washington and himself code numbers. Washington’s number was 711.

“SPIES!” tells the story of Washington, Tallmadge, and the Culpers. All but one was born in Setauket. Each had known Tallmadge since childhood: Abraham Woodhull, a farmer who had reason to hate the British; Anna Smith Strong, who let Woodhull know where Brewster was hiding with his whaleboats and crews: Austin Roe, a tavern keeper who rode into Manhattan as a courier for the Culper Spies; Caleb Brewster, a fearless whaleboat captain and artilleryman who crossed the Sound repeatedly to pick up and deliver spy messages, daring the British to capture him.

The one Culper spy not from Setauket was Robert Townsend. He was born in Oyster Bay. His family home was occupied by the British. Townsend owned a shop in Manhattan where Loyalists and British soldiers visited. He was in a position to gather information. He wrote messages in a code Tallmadge devised. Sometimes he wrote with invisible ink, between the lines of ordinary letters, a suggestion from George Washington himself. Roe picked up the letters and brought them back to Setauket where Woodhull gave them to Brewster, who took them back across Long Island Sound to Tallmadge in Connecticut. From there the letters were sent to General Washington. Information gathered by Long Island’s spy ring helped save the Revolution. 

The homes, markers and graves of these Patriots can still be seen, many of them in the Three Village area. The location of the Roe Tavern is marked by a state plaque that locates where the house was, at the corner of Route 25A and Bayview Avenue, before it was moved. The grave and memorial for Abraham Woodhull is located directly behind the Setauket Presbyterian Church. A state plaque also marks the location of the home of Woodhull and is located on Dyke Road between Heritage and Bob’s Lane, overlooking Little Bay and Strong’s Neck. These Patriots are part of our local history and their lives can be an inspiration to us aIl.

Beverly C. Tyler is Three Village Historical Society historian and author of books available from the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Rd., Setauket, NY 11733. Tel: 631-751-3730. WWW.TVHS.org

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Kevin Gardner Photo by Elise Sullivan

By Daniel Dunaief

Kevin Gardner has ambitious research goals. 

The Vice President for Research at Stony Brook University, who started working on Long Island on the same day as interim President Richard McCormick, is encouraging researchers to pursue interdisciplinary grants.

“We have a very robust office of proposal development,” said Gardner in an interview from Washington, DC when he was meeting on Capitol Hill with the New York delegation prior to the holidays. “Our strategy is to focus on growing larger grants.”

With a team prepared to help faculty across the university, Gardner hopes to drive innovation and discovery while building the university’s research budget.

The total funds from the top 1.6 percent of grants at the university account for 23 percent of the university’s research expenditures, which means that winning additional awards in this top tier could have a material effect on the funds that enable research.

The team that works with Gardner does considerable administrative work, reducing the burden for scientists focused on directing and overseeing research. Stony Brook also provides project management support.

Faculty members “can’t write these giant grants without that kind of support,” Gardner said. Stony Brook wants to get to that rarefied air where universities receive large, ambitious funds for comprehensive interdisciplinary work.

Going after these larger grants predates Gardner’s arrival.

“This is something that has been in the making for a couple of years,” said Gardner. He has seen an uptick in applications for these kinds of projects.

Stony Brook started research town halls this fall, with the first describing and encouraging collaborations between the east and west campuses.

Gardner has renamed his office the Office for Research and Innovation.

“This was done to more formally combine the offices of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development,” he explained. “Innovation speaks to new technologies, new approaches, and we have important roles in helping Long Island businesses innovate and continue to be successful. This is true for startups but equally true for manufacturing companies (through our Manufacturing Extension Program) and through our Small Business Development Center, among others!”

Enhancing an entrepreneurial culture

Hannah Estes

At the same time, the university is building and expanding efforts to encourage entrepreneurial initiatives among students and faculty.

Stony Brook recently hired Hannah Estes to become Director of Student Innovation.

Estes, who previously worked with Gardner at the University of Louisville, officially started at Stony Brook on January 6th.

She is focused on the entire school, as she hopes to help encourage students from a range of disciplines pursue various business ideas.

“Entrepreneurship can be found in any school or department,” said Estes, as she has seen new ideas originate in schools of social work, music and education.

She wants students to recognize problems and find ways to solve them. 

Estes plans to reach out to students through newsletters and social media and hopes to spend her first semester at Stony Brook listening to students and getting a sense of their interests and ideas.

In her work at the University of Louisville, she partnered with art school students who were able to get credit and helped coordinate financial aid to get them paid $20 per hour.

“It works and students are able to get away from their desks and get into the community,” Estes said.

As for local students on Long Island who are not members of the Seawolf community, Estes suggested the doors would be open to supporting with them as well.

Working with area high school students can create momentum that can develop into an interest in their business ideas and in joining Stony Brook.

As with the bigger university projects among faculty, the student efforts will also focus on interdisciplinary teams.

“The whole concept is to get out of your bubble and hear new perspectives,” said Estes. “It’s important for students to know that there are different ways of thinking.”

Gardner hopes the student-driven ideas can help engage a culture change among faculty as well.

“It is my sense that students are effective agents of change on a university campus,” Gardner explained. “And beyond that, these types of experiences are incredibly valuable for students during their education. “

In July, Stony Brook hired Dr. Michael Kinch as the inaugural Chief Innovation Officer, who is part of the university’s council and reports to Gardner.

At the same time, Andrew Wooten, the Executive Director of Long Island High Tech Incubator, has been taking inventions and ideas through a proof of concept to launch new companies. Wooten reports to the board of LIHTI.

Computing initiatives

In addition, Stony Brook has started an initiative to create an enclave for a computing environment that provides controlled unclassified information computing.

Such computing power, which is on the road towards classified work, is necessary to apply for funding from the Department of Defense and other agencies.

This effort requires a greater level of security and compliance.

As for high performance computing, the university does not have the level of capacity that the research community needs.

“High performance computing is a challenge at most campuses, particularly now keeping up with needs for AI-related computing,” Gardner explained. Stony Brook has a “very significant level of AI expertise,” which makes keeping up with their computational needs challenging.

Research and Development Park

Stony Brook is looking at how they can make the Research and Development Park an even greater asset to the university and the community.

“Everything we do serves our mission, so we need to make sure our neighbors in [Stony Brook] and our partners across the state share in a vision for how that R&D park can change and serve our mission and our community even better,” Gardner said.

He is energized by the opportunity to work at Stony Brook, where he feels that he has the ongoing support of colleagues who are working well together. As for his visit to Capitol Hill, Gardner travels to meet with the delegation and federal agencies around once a month.

“We want to make sure not just that they are advocates for us (which they most certainly are), but also to make sure we know what we can do for them,” he said. Stony Brook needs to “make sure that we are good partners for them.”

Echoing recent comments from Interim President Richard McCormick, Gardner recognizes the need to add more wastewater treatment to meet the university’s goals for expansion.

The university, which has seen state, national and international interest climb among students as Stony Brook rises in the rankings of universities and attracts major funding, is limited by several factors, including available wastewater facilities.

The university can’t bring in additional students because they don’t have the housing for them and “we can’t have the housing without the wastewater capacity,” Gardner said. “As an environmental engineer, I get it.”

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METRO photo

By Dylan Friedman

Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicates a significant increase in illness across the United States, with roughly 40 states reporting high illness activity levels in the past week.

So, what illnesses are hitting the hardest at the moment?

According to Carrie Reed, epidemiologist with the CDC Influenza Division, as reported in a recent NBC News Chicago article, “There is a lot of flu out there.”

Reed further emphasized that the current flu surge is being driven by multiple strains, a fact supported by the latest CDC hospitalization data.

According to the CDC, “flu symptoms usually come on suddenly.”

Some of the most common symptoms include fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue (tiredness). Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than in adults.

According to the CDC, antiviral medications may be a treatment option if you contract the flu. These medications can potentially lessen the severity of illness and shorten the duration of sickness. They may also help prevent certain flu complications, such as pneumonia.

For optimal effectiveness, antiviral medications should be initiated promptly, ideally within the first two days of the onset of flu symptoms.

While the flu is prevalent at the start of 2025, it is essential to note that several pathogens, including COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, can present with similar symptoms, such as fever, cough and sore throat. While RSV typically causes cold-like symptoms, it can pose significant health risks for infants and the elderly.

According to the CDC, people infected with RSV usually exhibit symptoms within four to six days after getting infected. The most common symptoms are runny nose, congestion, decrease in appetite, coughing, sneezing and fever.

It is also important to note that symptoms often appear in stages rather than simultaneously. While adults may experience more pronounced symptoms, they can be less noticeable in young infants. Although RSV typically causes mild cold-like illness, it can lead to severe conditions such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Preventive and protective measures against RSV infection vary depending on the age group. For adults, RSV vaccination is recommended for individuals aged 75 and older as well as those aged 60-74, who are considered at increased risk for severe RSV. In infants, two primary approaches are utilized to mitigate the risk of severe RSV infection. First, a maternal RSV vaccine can be administered to pregnant women, providing some level of protection to the developing fetus. Alternatively, an RSV antibody can be administered to infants after birth to enhance their immunity against the virus.

Additionally, the common cold can present with symptoms similar to both RSV and the flu, including a runny nose, sore throat and cough. While the common cold is generally considered a mild illness, it can cause significant discomfort and may lead to more serious complications in individuals with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly or those with chronic health conditions.

According to the CDC, the manifestation of cold symptoms usually reaches a peak within two to three days of infection and may include runny nose or nasal congestion, cough, sneezing, sore throat, headache, mild body aches and fever (usually low grade in older children and adults).

The common cold is a self-limiting viral infection that typically resolves without the need for specific medical intervention. It is crucial to understand that antibiotics are ineffective against viruses and, therefore, will not alleviate cold symptoms. 

Additionally, individuals experiencing cold-like symptoms who suspect a possible COVID-19 or flu infection, particularly those at elevated risk for severe illness, are strongly encouraged to undergo testing. 

Antiviral treatments are available for both COVID-19 and flu, and their efficacy is significantly enhanced when administered promptly following the onset of symptoms.

More information can be found on the CDC website: www.cdc.gov.

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METRO photo

As winter enters it’s peak, drivers should be ever-conscious of the dangers the season poises to drivers and pedestrians.

The short winter days provide limited sunlight and therefore, limited visibility to drivers returning home during rush hour. With the sun setting at the early time, most people drive home from work in the hazy twilight. The early sunset often means that many are forced to drive towards the intolerable glare of the sun, blinding drivers who forgot their sunglasses.

Flurries crowd the window and accumulate on the ground. In the following days thirty degree weather is projected after last weeks hiatus of slightly warmer temperatures. Snow is in the forecast.

During times like these, it is imperative that we practice defensive driving. This means putting our blinkers on the ensure others can see our vehicles (even if there is next car is far away, remember, it is illegal to switch lanes without using your blinker), cleaning the frost off our cars so that it doesn’t blend in with the surroundings, and pumping the break and testing the acceleration on icy days. After snow, the roads are full of salt, moisture, and black ice–all of which affect the traction of the tires on the road.

In neighborhoods, folks who walk their dogs after getting home from work have to do so in the diminishing sunlight. We need to be cautious. As eager as we may be to get home, we must resist the urge to press the accelerator a little more as we round the bend to our homes. Sidewalks are not ubiquitous and dogs aren’t always well-behaved and walking calmly next to their owner. Pedestrians, wear bright, reflective colors, carry flashlights, and to the extent possible, walk on quiet streets.

The dangers to public safety from cold, early, snowy days are, of course, paramount, but the dangers to the state of our vehicles is not to be ignored. To save yourself hundreds in repairs, we must ensure that our vehicle is in top condition.

•Check the tire pressure. The cold weather can cause the air to contract and result in under-inflated tires.

•Clean the exhaust. Condensation build-up can cause the exhaust system to rust.

•Lift the wiper blades upwards off the windshield when it snows so they don’t break. Wipe down the rubber lining of the car door so the rigid rubber doesn’t make it difficult to open in freezing temperatures.

•Let the oil circulate. Oil gets thicker in colder temperatures, so we need to be conscious of allowing time for the oil to warm up or switch to oil with a lower viscosity for the winter.

Enjoy the sight of snow-lined trees and slowly descending flakes, but we should not let the precautions slip from our mind. Drive safely.

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By Daniel Dunaief

Close to six decades after another surgeon general urged a warning label about the link between cancer and smoking, Dr. Vivek Murthy, the current surgeon general, would like to add cancer warnings to labels for alcohol.

The third leading cause of preventable cancers after tobacco and obesity, alcohol increases the risk for at least seven types of cancer, the surgeon general recently wrote.

At the same time, less than half of the American population recognize alcohol as a risk factor for cancer.

As with the prevailing wisdom about smoking decades ago, several doctors and various studies have, until recently, indicated that moderate drinking such as a single glass of red wine for women each day and two glasses for men, have suggested a medical benefit to consuming alcohol.

Dr. Mark Solomon

“We have been misguided all these years by thinking there’s an acceptable amount of alcohol that’s safe enough to recommend,” said Dr. David Rivadeneira, Director of Northwell Health Cancer Institute at Huntington Hospital. 

Any change in required labels for alcohol would have to come from Congress, which would likely face lobbying pressure from the alcohol industry.

Local doctors, however, suggested that the potential increased risk of cancer from alcohol outweighs any potential reduction in the risk related to any cardiovascular incident or stroke.

Dr. Mark Solomon, medical director of St. Charles’ chemical dependency program, called the benefits of alcohol a “myth.”

“Anything you put in your body affects every cell in your body,” said Solomon. “It’s finally coming to the forefront that we should put labels [on alcohol]. Drinking alcohol is not some benign social activity. There are certain risks associated with that, with cancer being one of them.”

Paolo Boffetta, Associate Director for Population Sciences at the Stony Brook Cancer Center, explained that earlier studies, including one that he participated in, that showed a cardiovascular benefit to drinking had various scientific problems.

Those studies didn’t differentiate between people who quit drinking and those who never consumed alcohol.

“The category of a non drinker had an increased risk” that was above what researchers had understood because that group included a mix of people, Boffetta said.

This sampling problem suggested to Boffetta that the results of some of these studies that suggested a cardiovascular health benefit to drinking “were probably not correct.”

Boffetta, who welcomed Dr. Murthy’s recommendation to add cancer risk to a label that already warns consumers who are pregnant or who are operating a car or heavy machinery, urged researchers to continue to study the link between alcohol and cancer.

Protecting health

Dr. David Rivandeneira. Photo courtesy of Northwell Health

Dr. David Rivadeneira, director of Northwell Health Cancer Institute at Huntington who specializes in colorectal cancer, is concerned about the increased incidence of cancer among the younger population.

The current cancer rates are at levels “we’ve never seen before in patients that are less than 50 years old,” said Rivadeneira. “That is very worrisome. The issue of alcohol may have something to do with it.”

Indeed, during the worst of the lockdowns amid the Covid pandemic, some people increased their consumption of alcohol.

“Our current understanding is that alcohol is a chemical that probably has no health benefits whatsoever,” said Rivadeneira. “If anything, it’s detrimental even in small quantities.”

Rivadeneira anticipates the effect of such a discussion of the health consequences of consuming alcohol and of any future labeling on bottles may alter consumer behavior more rapidly than changes in established patterns for smoking decades ago.

“People are more likely to take ownership with regard to their own health,” he said. “They want to be healthier.”

Rivadeneira wants to give patients information that is appropriate and medically sound, giving them the option to decide if they want to incorporate this knowledge into their lifestyle.

Working with their doctors, people can decide on their overall risk profile, based on their family history, other health factors such as their weight and their history through cancer screenings such as mammographies, whether they want to reduce the kind of risk that might tip the scales through alcohol consumption, Rivadeneira said.

“I tell people, ‘You can be proactive or reactive. Here you are, you’ve got to make a decision about what you want to do. Do you want to reduce the chance of cancer and other ailments?’” Rivadeneira said.

A warning and behavior

Dr. Jana Deitch

Doctors believed a warning label on alcoholic products might alter consumer behavior.

“People are more afraid when it’s written down,” said Dr. Jana Deitch, breast surgical oncologist at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown. “If it’s on the bottle, the population will take it more seriously.”

Deitch added that everyone has to decide to what degree they are putting themselves at risk.

“It’s information that’s readily available to the general population” Deitch said.

Solomon suggested that doctors should educate their patients about the dangers of consuming alcohol.

“The medical community and physicians have to be more educated so they can start to relay this to the patient,” said Solomon. “There’ll be some kind of shock to this” because people will indicate that they have been drinking their whole lives. “It’s going to take a long time and it has to start with education from doctors.”

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