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Ixchel restaurant in East Setauket.

By Evan McAteer

Located in Old Town Road, East Setauket where Old Fields Tavern once operated, Ixchel Mexican Cuisine opened officially in December 2023. 

In a conversation with co-owner Daphnee Munar, she recounted a dream of opening a Mexican restaurant of their own with her husband Juan, backed by over 10 years of experience in the restaurant industry and a deep reverence for Mexican culture and cuisine.

“It was a very early decision that we made to focus on Mexican cuisine,” Munar said, expressing that Ixchel is proud to serve “100% authentic” fare.

When discussing the location in the East Setauket for Ixchel, Munar detailed the benefits of opening a restaurant in a place close to home, and how the location benefited the final concept for authenticity. Being residents of East Setauket themselves, she praised the community that greeted Ixchel with warmth. Juan and Daphnee are parents as well as restaurant owners, so living close to their new business is nothing but a bonus.

The inspiration for the restaurant itself was a point of great interest during the conversation. Munar once again stressed the importance of adhering to authenticity in everything Ixchel does when it comes to their cuisine, focusing on food staples prevalent in Mexican and Mayan culture, such as corn, squash, fish and various herbs.

Munar explained what elements make Mexican cuisine uniquely delicious. “Simple ingredients for, let’s say a taco, can be amazing on their own, and then can be elevated further like some of the dishes we make,” she said.

The name of the restaurant has its own interesting background. Ixchel is the name given to the Mayan moon goddess, linked with harvest times, rainfall and fertility. Juan and Daphnee found the name early on when researching Mayan cultural elements and it felt incredibly inspirational to them.

Daphnee emphasized that the restaurant was not a solo effort, but something born from team building and cooperation. She also highlighted Ixchel’s lead chef, Amelia Sanchez, praising her work, dedication to her craft and the fact that she is a woman in a position predominantly held by men.

“We have incredible staff — our chefs, our hosts and hostesses, our servers. Everyone matters, it’s not just me,” Munar said.

Ixchel Mexican Cuisine is open at 130 Old Town Road, East Setauket. The restaurant has an official website, which contains more information about their story, menu and drink selections, as well as a reservations tab. The website can be found at: ixchelmexicancuisine.com. 

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Port Jefferson Station/Terryville civic association meeting on June 20. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

By Sabrina Artusa

Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association reviewed a potential plan by Staller Associates to redevelop the Jefferson Plaza on Route 112 at the civic’s June 20 meeting.

The civic invited Valentin Staller, vice president of Staller Associates, to answer questions regarding the proposed redevelopment.

Staller Associates already owns a residential property in Farmingdale and submitted a proposal to rebuild Jefferson Plaza in 2021. Staller hopes to rezone the area to accommodate the changes, which also include a public plaza, a restaurant and a health club. 

“We have been harboring our own personal investment capital. We want to do it right here in Port Jefferson Station and we want to do it in a way that will stimulate new redevelopment” Staller said. “I see the potential for something far greater. This is in our back door, this is important to us.”

Given the dissatisfaction with the current state of the property under Staller Associates’ ownership, some residents were doubtful that Staller would be able to deliver on their promise to restore the property in an engaging manner.

“How can we trust you to know that you are going to keep up on this new building that is coming in?” said one civic attendee, citing the tenants that left the plaza under Staller Associates’ ownership.

“The tenants that left, including Rite Aid and Teachers Federal Credit Union, left through no fault of Staller Associates,” Staller said, adding that Rite Aid closed stores across the county. In regards to crime, Staller said it has been a prevailing issue for years, and that “112 has unfortunately seen a slide.” 

Others welcome the prospect of revitalizing the plaza, but want to ensure that the development doesn’t encroach on the community’s wishes.

“We are being asked to take on potentially as much as three times the density of any multifamily development that has ever been constructed in the Town of Brookhaven and in return we would like to have something we can appreciate, respect and digest in this community whether it is traffic, whether it is safety, [or] a sense of place,” civic president Ira Costell said.

After previous discussions with Costell, councilmembers, county officials and others, Staller Associates agreed to a variety of covenants and alterations, including height limitations, the addition of a green buffer and the forfeit of 20 loft apartment units, which Staller said have proven most profitable.

Residential building

Further, some members were uncertain that their community would even be able to benefit from the 280-unit building. Housing in Long Island is a long-debated and highly relevant issue — one that is inextricably tied with the subject of overdevelopment. 

“It is important to have growth in this community. Kids can’t go out of college and find an apartment to live in — they can’t afford it,” said another attendee, who went on to give her approval of the proposal.

While there is a pressing need for housing at reasonable prices, long-time residents fear the loss of the suburban communities they love. As a result, residents want to be certain that if housing developments are built, they will be put to good use.

“It is extremely difficult to find housing in this area. We live in an extremely supply constrained area,” Staller said. In response, residents noted that some apartment buildings remain unfilled.

Staller didn’t announce the prices of the units, saying that it will be determined as a function of supply and demand. Though 20% of the units will be dedicated to affordable housing, these units will be given to adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, as they have done at their Farmingdale property. 

The necessity of alleviating the housing demand remains, chafing against efforts to preserve the character of the community. 

“They don’t want towering, oppressive, block-swallowing buildings. People want to live in a pleasant place.” said Holly Fils-Aime, vice president of the Port Jefferson Civic Association.

More than housing

In addition to the residential units, Staller Associates intends to add other businesses, making the project “mixed use”. The first floor will be open to the public, as it will be dedicated to business.

“What the four stories allow us to do is create those public-facing amenities,” Staller said. “At the end of the day a critical mass of apartments is necessary to revitalize the 112 corridor. This has been the case in hamlets and villages across Long Island.”

Costell is hopeful that the development will progress in a manner that benefits both parties. He also mentioned that as Staller Associates enters “the beginning of the final stage” he looks forward to continuing the dialogue between Staller Associates, the town and the civic association. The building architecture and layout have not been finalized yet and Staller said they are still open to discussion during the site-planning process. 

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Project Action Committee member Beth Watson, trustee-elect Kyle Hill, Deputy Mayor Rebecca Kassay, Andy Freleng, director of Planning & Building Department, PAC members Bob Laravie, Mary Ann Bernero, Frances Campani and Michael Schwarting. Photo by Lynn Hallarman

By Lynn Hallarman

Increasing intense storms and rising sea levels compound the risk of damaging and costly flooding in the Village of Port Jefferson. 

On June 20, village officials hosted the second of two interactive community workshops to explore project proposals for addressing flood risk in the downtown area. The initial workshop was held in April 2023. 

Climate Resilience Plan

In 2021, the village secured grant funding from the New York State Regional Economic Development Councils to tackle the longstanding flooding problem in Port’s downtown watershed. The total project is budgeted at $110,000, for which the state funding covers 75% ($82,500) and the village is responsible for 25% ($27,500), according to village Treasurer Stephen Gaffga.

Village officials formed the Project Action Committee, composed of expert consultants, to collect and analyze data related to flood risk and use it to create the Climate Resilience Plan. The plan currently outlines five potential projects focused on innovative flood and storm surge prevention as part of the village’s strategic planning. The purpose of the June workshop was for PAC leadership to receive community input on several of their proposals and to inform the public about the committee’s progress. 

The initiative, led by outgoing Deputy Mayor Rebecca Kassay who is the village’s sustainability commissioner, includes PAC members such as architectural experts from Campani and Schwarting; Amani Hosein, legislative aide to Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook); village residents and other local experts. 

Mayor Lauren Sheprow, Kassay, trustee-elect Kyle Hill, Andrew Freleng the village’s director of Planning and Building Department, Kornreich, several PAC members and members of the public attended the workshop. 

“Our village is experiencing issues related to stormwater runoff, a high-water table and tidal flooding that all impact downtown Port simultaneously,” Kassay said. “Tonight’s workshop is part of the village’s ongoing efforts to explore all angles of the problem and to find solutions that will truly make a difference.” 

Project proposals

Michael Schwarting, partner of Campani and Schwarting Architects, presented updated committee findings and outlined five potential projects. A breakout session allowed the public to learn about individual projects from PAC experts. 

“The village watershed is a bowl, collecting water from the south, east and west, all going to one place — down into the commercial district of Port Jefferson,” Schwarting said. “Then there is the harbor from the north, whose sea level is rising and having increasing storm surges.”

According to data from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Long Island region is predicted to experience a sea rise of up to 12 to 25 inches by around 2050.

Blue line represents downtown watershed area in the village of Port Jefferson. Maps courtesy of CASA.

Overview of the projects: 

1.  Develop designs for reducing stormwater flowing from the numerous steep streets upland of the village into the downtown area. 

2.  Assess the flooding problems of the culvert (underground drainpipe) that collects stormwater from Main Street and Barnum Avenue to Old Mill Creek at Village Hall. Convert portions of the culvert into a series of cased ponds for flood mitigation. The water is naturally cleaned when exposed to light. 

3. Complete the 2011 Old Mill Creek restoration plan from Brook Road to the harbor, restoring Old Mill Pond and daylighting the creek culvert — removing obstructions covering the creek — from West Broadway to the harbor.  

4. Update the 2013 village-approved Harbor Front Revitalization Plan in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, incorporating storm flood mitigation and rising tides solutions as well as creating a green Harborfront Park. This plan would require relocating the harborfront marina parking. 

5.  Research ways to contain stormwater on-site in public off-street parking lots and mitigate these heat islands with trees. 

Water table levels below the surface of the village of Port Jefferson. Courtesy of CASA

Public concerns, official responses

Most concerns voiced at the meeting focused on project feasibility and potential costs to the village. One resident questioned the impacts on village parking if the Harborfront area, currently used to park up to 300 cars, is converted into a green space. 

To date, Campani and Schwarting Architects has billed the village $33,200 for its work studying the flooding problem as PAC members. According to Gaffga, the village has been reimbursed $17,850 of this cost by the state as part of the grant funding. The state grant will ultimately cover 75% of the total costs of the PAC initiative studying flooding risk in downtown Port.  

This reporter asked PAC members if the impacts of the recent uptick in housing development projects and installation of impervious surfaces, such as the Mather Hospital parking lot and asphalt repaving of the walkway at Harborfront Park, have been accounted for in the data analysis and project proposals.  

“That is a good question,” Frances Campani of CASA responded. “We can consider overlaying those impacts in our next mapping update.” 

“This is a step-by-step process,” Sheprow told TBR in a post-workshop interview. “The village has to put together many preliminary studies like the PAC initiative to garner support from the state to win big funding opportunities for major infrastructure projects. Without the studies, we’ll never get those large state and federal grants.”    

Rendering of the proposed Harborfront Park. Courtesy of CASA

New funding

Kassay informed the public at the workshop about the recent attainment of a $300,888 grant, including $270,799 from FEMA with the difference covered by the village, for an engineering study of flood mitigation at especially vulnerable sights in the downtown watershed. Kassay hopes this new funding for an expert engineering study will create synergy with the PAC initiative to set up the village to receive funding from New York State to implement the proposed projects and other innovations. 

The full workshop and slideshow can be viewed on the Port Jefferson YouTube channel. Comments about the project proposals are open until July 15. 

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File photo by Raymond Janis

Putting the record straight

In response to Drew Biondo’s “A letter correction” in last week’s Letters to the Editor, I wholeheartedly stand by my declaration that “all elected trustees attended and sat at the dais,” regarding the town hall meeting about the East Beach bluff.

For the record, Drew Biondo was not elected. He was appointed. So yes, all elected trustees attended and sat at the dais.

Kathianne Snaden

Former Port Jeff Deputy Mayor

Port Jefferson 

 

Prom season is upon us

Prom season is upon us and there is probably no greater community tradition than the Port Jefferson Senior Prom. Since 1958, the senior prom has been a highly anticipated community event in our village. Valued partnerships with the school district, Village Hall, code enforcement and local businesses allow the Prom Committee to create a one-of-kind event not only for the senior class, but for the entire community.

We’ve been fortunate to have the extraordinary commitment of parents and community volunteers — some of whom have been volunteering with the prom for decades — to support us all along the way. Now, after a busy year of fundraising, creating, painting and constructing, we ae ready to build the prom! 

We begin Prom Build on Thursday, June 27, at 9 a.m. and will continue through Prom Night on Monday, July 1. We encourage community members to come lend a hand and take part in the transformation of the high school gym into an awe-inspiring venue, complete with custom designed vignettes, props and theatrical lighting. On July 1, we proudly show our creation to the public from 4-6 p.m., with the Drive-Up Procession and Red Carpet entrance following afterward. 

If you have never experienced the excitement of the Prom Build, we invite you to join in the amazing transformation of the high school. If you have volunteered at the prom before, we hope to see you and your friends again this year. The senior prom truly embodies the spirit of volunteerism and community, with volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to carry on the beloved tradition that is the Port Jefferson Senior Prom. 

Paul Braile 

President, Port Jefferson 

Senior Prom

May day

Russian nuclear missiles from Cuba have targeted the very heart and soul of America and shall be more destructive than Pearl Harbor. 

“Lord, what fools these mortals be” (Shakespeare). God bless America

Leonard Henderson

Port Jefferson

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Eden Campbell, center, won the top spot among kindergarten projects. Photo by Kevin Coughlin/BNL
Eden Campbell
Milan Patel
Advika Arun
Isla Cone
Jude Roseto
Luke Dinsman
Owen Stone

More than 250 students from 65 Suffolk County schools entered science projects in the 2024 Elementary School Science Fair hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory on June 8.

Students used the scientific method to explore all kinds of questions about their favorite things and the world around them. The annual fair organized by Brookhaven Lab’s Office of Educational Programs celebrated and showcased all projects submitted, ranging from finding the best detangler for Barbie dolls’ hair to using a hand-crafted wind tunnel to test wing shapes for the best lift.

“Our judges enjoyed reading through the projects and were impressed with questions, ideas, and designs,” Amanda Horn, a Brookhaven Lab administrator who coordinated the science fair, said before announcing the winning projects. “We certainly have some future scientists and engineers here today.”

Local teachers and Lab staff volunteered as judges to pick the top spots and honorable mentions for each grade level, from kindergarten to sixth grade. The competition also included a Judges’ Choice award for creative questions.

Students who earned first place in their grade level received medals and ribbons, along with banners to hang at their school to recognize the achievement. All participants received a ribbon in recognition of having won their grade level competition at their school.

Science Fair awards

The following students earned first place in their grade level: 

◆ Kindergartener Eden Campbell, Ocean Avenue Elementary School in Northport for “Tasting Color.” Eden’s project explored whether the color of food affects its taste. What was her favorite part of the experiment? “Eating the jellybeans,” she said.

◆ First grader Milan Patel, Ocean Avenue Elementary School in Northport for “How Does the Direction of a House Affect the Amount of Heat Absorbed from the Sun?” 

◆ Second grader Advika Arun, Bretton Woods Elementary School in Hauppauge, for “Slower and Steadier the Safer it Will Be.” For her experiment, Advika crafted small parachutes to test which materials fostered a slow and safe landing. She found that nylon worked the best. “I liked the part where we dropped them and we saw the speed they went,” she said. She added of her first-place win, “I’m really excited!”

◆ Third grader Isla Cone, Love of Learning Montessori School in Centerport, for “The Impact of pH on Boba.” Isla tested food-friendly liquids with different pH levels to find out which could form boba, the round and chewy pearls found in bubble tea. She confirmed that boba spheres occurred in liquids with a pH between 4 and 10. “I wanted to do a project that was related to food,” she said. “My favorite part was getting to eat all the stuff!”

◆ Fourth grader Jude Roseto, Cutchogue East Elementary School in Cutchogue, for “Rise of the Machines: AI vs. Human Creativity Writing.” 

◆ Fifth grader Luke Dinsman, Northport Middle School in Northport, for “Maximizing Moisture — Nature Knows Best.” In his project, Dinsman found that homemade, natural moisturizers worked better than store-bought lotions at treating the dry skin he experiences as a swimmer. A shea body butter with beeswax turned out to be the best option. Making the lotions and testing them was the best part of the process, Luke said. He added, “It’s just a really cool project.”

◆ Sixth grader Owen Stone, East Quogue Elementary in East Quogue for “Can Common Foods Help Grow Potatoes?” 

Judges’ choice

Kindergarten: John Jantzen, Sunrise Drive Elementary School in Sayville

First Grade: Julianna Zick, West Middle Island Elementary School in Middle Island

Second Grade: Timothy Donoghue, Riley Avenue Elementary School in Calverton

Third Grade: Charlotte Sheahan, Pulaski Road School in East Northport

Fourth Grade: Dominick Padolecchia, Sunrise Drive Elementary School in Sayville

Fifth Grade: Isabella Maharlouei, Raynor Country Day School in Speonk

Sixth Grade: Zoe Wood, Northport Middle School in Northport

Honorable mentions

Kindergarten: Michael McCarthy, Pines Elementary School in Smithtown; Scarlett Luna, Hampton Bays Elementary School in Hampton Bays; Autumn Vlacci, Riley Avenue Elementary School in Calverton

First Grade: Tyler Paino, Bretton Woods Elementary School in Hauppauge; Logan Pierre, Brookhaven Elementary School in Brookhaven; Nora Boecherer, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School in Port Jefferson

Second Grade: Charlotte Tholl, Forest Brook Elementary School; Gabi Opisso, Cutchogue East Elementary School in Cutchogue; Matthew Ingram, Ocean Avenue Elementary School in Northport; Erios Pikramenos, Frank J. Carasiti Elementary School in Rocky Point; Maya Salman, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School in Port Jefferson

Third Grade: Emma Puccio Edelman, Hiawatha Elementary School in Lake Ronkonkoma; Vincent Calvanese, Pines Elementary School in Smithtown; Kaylee Krawchuck, Ridge Elementary School in Ridge; Isabella Guldi, Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School in Rocky Point

Fourth Grade: Juliam Gianmugnai, Ridge Elementary School in Ridge; Joseph Frederick, Lincoln Avenue Elementary School in Sayville; Gabriel Affatato, Pulaski Road School East Northport; Levi Beaver, Raynor Country Day School in Speonk

Fifth Grade: Evangeline Jamros, Edna Louise Spear Elementary in Port Jefferson; Colette Breig, RJO Intermediate School in Kings Park; Riona Mittal, Bretton Woods Elementary School in Hauppauge

Sixth Grade: Eamon Ryan, Lindenhurst Middle School in Lindenhurst; Michael Mineo, Silas Wood 6th Grade Center in Huntington Station; Alex Uihlein, Montauk Public School in Montauk.

Science Fair Expo

While their projects were on display, students and their families browsed a Science Fair Expo that featured up-close, hands-on demonstrations guided by Brookhaven Lab staff, interns, and volunteers.

The activities connected to science concepts and tools found across the Lab, from magnets and particle accelerators to electron microscopy and conductors. Students peered through microscopes, learned how fuel cells and solar panels work, became junior beamline operators, and more.

 

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Pixabay photo
Due to heavy rainfall, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services has issued an advisory against bathing at 63 beaches. The advisory, issued on June 27, is based on the potential bacteria levels at these beaches exceed New York State standards.

The beaches covered by the advisory are located in areas that are heavily influenced by stormwater runoff from the surrounding watersheds or adjacent tributaries, and because of their location in an enclosed embayment, experience limited tidal flushing.

Health officials recommend that bathing and other water contact be suspended in affected areas until the waters have been flushed by two successive tidal cycles, at least a 24-hour period, after the rain has ended. This advisory will be lifted on Friday, June 28,at 5 a.m., unless sampling reveals elevated levels of bacteria persisting beyond the 24-hour period.

Beaches closed for swimming include:

  • Amityville Beach in Amityville
  • Tanner Park in Copiague
  • Venetian Shores Beach in West Babylon
  • Sound Beach POA East in Sound Beach
  • Sound Beach POA West in Sound Beach
  • Tides Beach in Sound Beach
  • Beech Road Beach (NSBA) in Rocky Point
  • Broadway Beach (NSBA) in Rocky Point
  • Friendship Drive Beach (NSBA) in Rocky Point
  • Shoreham Village Beach in Shoreham
  • Shoreham Beach in East Shoreham
  • Corey Beach in Blue Point
  • Stony Brook Beach in Stony Brook
  • Shoreham Shore Club Beach in East Shoreham
  • Miller Place Park Beach in Miller Place
  • Scotts Beach in Sound Beach
  • Woodhull Landing POA Beach in Miller Place
  • Bayberry Cove Beach in Setauket-East Setauket
  • Bayview Beach in Setauket-East Setauket
  • Grantland Beach in Setauket-East Setauket
  • Indian Field Beach in Setauket-East Setauket
  • Little Bay Beach in Setauket-East Setauket
  • Soundview Beach Association Beach in Old Field
  • Terraces on the Sound in Rocky Point
  • Havens Beach in Sag Harbor
  • Eagle Dock Community Beach in Cold Spring Harbor
  • Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club Beach in Lloyd Harbor
  • West Neck Beach in Lloyd Harbor
  • Lloyd Neck Bath Club Beach in Lloyd Harbor
  • Lloyd Harbor Village Park Beach in Lloyd Harbor
  • Gold Star Battalion Park Beach in Huntington
  • Head of the Bay Club Beach in Huntington Bay
  • Nathan Hale Beach Club Beach in Huntington Bay
  • Baycrest Association Beach in Huntington Bay
  • Bay Hills Beach Association in Huntington Bay
  • Crescent Beach in Huntington Bay
  • Knollwood Beach Association Beach in Huntington
  • Fleets Cove Beach in Huntington
  • Centerport Beach in Centerport
  • Huntington Beach Community Association Beach in Centerport
  • Steers Beach in Northport
  • Asharoken Beach in Asharoken
  • Hobart Beach (Sound & Cove) in Northport
  • Crab Meadow Beach in Northport
  • Wincoma Association Beach in Huntington Bay
  • Valley Grove Beach in Eatons Neck
  • Prices Bend Beach in Eatons Neck
  • West Islip Beach in West Islip
  • Benjamins Beach in Bay Shore
  • Islip Beach in Islip
  • East Islip Beach in East Islip
  • West Oaks Recreation Club Beach in West Sayville
  • Brightwaters Village Beach in Brightwaters
  • Bayport Beach in Bayport
  • Sayville Marina Park Beach in Sayville
  • Bayberry Beach & Tennis Club Beach in Islip
  • Ronkonkoma Beach (Town of Islip) in Ronkonkoma
  • Callahans Beach in Northport
  • Short Beach in Nissequogue
  • Nissequogue Point Beach in Nissequogue
  • Long Beach in Nissequogue
  • Schubert Beach in Nissequogue

For the latest information on affected beaches, please call the Bathing Beach HOTLINE at 631-852-5822 or visit the website link: www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health. Search “Beach Monitoring Program”.

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METRO Photo

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

The montage played in my mind even before I stepped out of the car at the Old Field Club last weekend. My father and older brother were pedaling ahead of me, too fast for my thick, stocky legs to keep pace. My younger brother and mother were behind me, too slow for my taste and my level of impatience.

“Pe-dal fa-ster,” I recalled grimacing through crooked, gritted teeth, hoping that I could hear whatever magic words my father and older brother were exchanging.

Pushing on a bicycle that didn’t have any gears and struggling against a wind that always seemed to be blowing in my face, I only caught up to them when they circled back. Determined as I was not to cut corners or shorten my ride, I reached the end of West Meadow Beach, stopped for a few seconds to rest my legs and restarted the pursuit.

I could also picture the numerous times I stood on the shore, searching for the perfect skimming rock, bringing a collection to the water’s edge and waiting my turn to try to send a rock far from shore.

More dramatic weather scenes also played in my head, as I pictured waves frozen in place by a prolonged stretch of cold weather. I’m sure I love winter beaches because of those moments when I felt like I owned the isolated sand sculpted by the same powerful wind whose fingers tried to reach through any holes in my coat or open air spaces to stab at exposed skin.

After heavy rainstorms, I recalled stopping on my ten-speed bike, staring at the flooded road that turned the road into a canal.

And then there was last Saturday, as I drove up to the entrance to the club, waiting for a valet to park my car and to celebrate the wedding of the son of a close friend and former coworker of my wife.

We entered the club, took our glass of champagne and made our way to the benches outside, where other people my wife knew greeted her and compared notes about the changes in their lives since they last saw each other.

While overlooking the water, we listened as my wife’s friend’s son, whom I recall seeing years earlier eating ice cream and “making memories,” exchanged vows each of them wrote to mark this incredible occasion. My wife’s friend’s son expressed his eagerness to start his own family.

I watched carefully as my wife’s friend had a perma-grin plastered on her ageless face, reveling in this couple that seemed to melt into each other’s arms for their first dance. The family I didn’t know at all also seemed pleased, albeit in a more buttoned down and restrained way, as they clapped for the happy couple.

Then, of course, the music, which served as a starter’s gun for my wife and me at these events, began, sending us vaulting out of our seats and onto the dance floor.

Life was so different for me now, as an appreciative guest for this loving event, but also for the world. People took out their cell phones to take pictures of this endless love, they exchanged cell phone numbers, and smiled at a camera atop a giant mirror on the dance floor that developed a sequence of photos.

Several grandparents enjoyed the celebration, beaming with pride at their children and grandchildren.

They likely had even more memories flooding through their mind than I, as they could recall the birth of their own children and grandchildren, with yet another magical turn of the time wheel to the next generation.

When these grandparents were considerably younger, they couldn’t have attended such a wedding, as the loving couple are both men. 

Here they were, supporting their grandson, who floated across the room with his husband and expressed his keen appreciation for the guests who came to celebrate this momentous day.

I wonder what ways the world might change between now and when we, if we’re fortunate enough, get to celebrate a similar event for future generations.

For me, that night was yet another memory on a familiar road that has served as the backdrop for my life’s journey. Even as I replay the celebration, I can hear the words of several ABBA songs, like “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme” and “Lay all your love on me.”

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METRO photo

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

Speaking of our health, which we often do with friends, there were a couple of interesting bits of news this week in that department.

Probably the most dramatic is the idea that by delaying the onset of menopause, a woman’s life and good health might be extended. The health benefits that women have before menopause lessen as we age past that mark. So current longevity research is asking if the whole picture could be slowed. And so, Dr. Jill Biden announced from the White House a new health initiative to pursue this concept, with Dr. Renee Wegrzyn steering the research.

Ovaries, which seem to play a role throughout a woman’s lifetime, not just until menopause, are the main focus. “Researchers think that prolonging their function, better aligning the length of their viability with that of other organs, could potentially alter the course of a woman’s health—and longevity research overall,” according to Tuesday’s front page story in The New York Times.

Using hormones like estrogen and progesterone, ovaries communicate with every other organ in the body. When they stop communicating, “all kinds of problems arise.” They stop when the eggs that they carry are gone, at which point risk increases for dementia, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and other age-related diseases and lifespan, according to The Times. Women whose ovaries have been prematurely removed for other health reasons are at greater risk, which suggests that even after all the eggs are gone, ovaries may still play a protective role.

All of this is subject to much further investigation. Researchers are not sure whether aging negatively affects the ovaries or if the ovaries cause other organs to age. But prolonging ovarian function in lab animals does seem to improve their health and longevity. This encourages further research into reducing the number of eggs lost by a woman during each menstrual cycle, thus preserving ovarian function. (Women shed may eggs many cycle but one ovulates). A current drug, rapamycin, which is an immunosuppressant used in organ transplants, is being studied for that role.

Anti-aging research is highly popular among scientists these days.

Another surprising article in the same issue of The Times, this one in the ScienceTimes section, has to do with our sense of smell. Though it lessens with age (and might as the result of infections, like Covid), “A diminished ability to smell is associated with worsening memory, cognition and overall well-being—as well as dementia and depression.”  The good news is that such a situation may be reversible. 

We can train our noses with smelling exercises, and our ability to smell, in turn, may improve not only depression but also help remember words faster. One explanation for this is “the areas of the brain involved in smelling are uniquely connected to parts involved in cognition, such as the prefrontal cortex.”  Further to the point, “The olfactory system is the only sensory system that has a direct superhighway projection into the memory centers and the emotional centers of your brain,” according to Professor Michael Leon of the University of California, Irvine.

So take out products from your kitchen cabinets and alternately smell cinnamon, honey, coffee, wine or others and sniff each of them at least 30 seconds at a time, once in the morning and once more at night. Small studies have indicated this not only tests one’s power to smell but also enhance cognitive abilities.

Finally for this column, I would like to quote the Times’ article on the Walking Cure for Lower Back Pain. Although those with pain may be loathe to exercise, movement can strengthen muscles that support the back and ease the pain. This is a conclusion that is supported with any number of studies over the past few years. 

“Researchers found that regular exercise combined with physical education was the most effective way to prevent lower back pain from recurring,” according to The NYT.

Walking can help strengthen the support muscles at the base of the spine. When they weaken, it can lead to pain.

So, as the song goes, “Shake, Shake, Shake Your Booty,” for good health. 

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Joshua Bozek. Photo courtesy Bozek

By Aidan Johnson

Summer has arrived, and with it warm weather and longer days. However, as kids participate in outdoor activities, it is important for parents, coaches and camp counselors to watch for signs of heat-related illnesses, including heatstroke, sunburns and dehydration.

Dr. Joshua Bozek, emergency medicine physician at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown, discussed how to identify the causes of heat-related illnesses in kids in an exclusive interview June 5.

“The first thing that I usually look for is when the kids are grabbing for their water bottle a little bit more frequently,” Bozek said.

“If they suddenly start feeling kind of weak, more tired … let’s say they’re playing a sport and suddenly they want to go on the bench, that’s a sign that they’re getting a heat illness,” he said, also noting nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps and irritability. He described more serious symptoms such as fainting, severe headaches and cool, clammy skin.

It’s important to remember that some conditions, such as heatstroke, do not only occur outside or on sunny days, but can happen when it’s cloudy or in places like gyms.

If symptoms of heat illness appear to be present in a child, it is important to move to a cooler area, such as a building with air conditioning. He suggested changing to lighter clothing like shorts and a T-shirt and laying the child down with their feet slightly raised.

If the symptoms start to progress even more, Bozek recommended spreading water on their skin, which can help to cool down the blood vessels underneath, though he clarified that this shouldn’t be done to the point where the child is frigid.

Importance of hydration

“As long as they’re not actively vomiting, you want to try to get some fluids into their system,” Bozek said, adding, “If you drink some cold liquid, your esophagus, your stomach, your intestines, until it warms up will help cool you from the inside out.”

However, if symptoms continue to worsen to severe vomiting, fainting or seizure activity, the best option would be dialing 911.

Bozek also discussed preventing sunburn in children, saying, “The number one thing that you can do with kids that are going to be out, particularly when they’re at camp, is making sure that they have adequate amounts of sunblock on and reapplying frequently.”

Hydration once again plays an important role, as when sunburn progresses and the skin gets hot, which dehydrates the inflicted person much more quickly. Therefore, it is important to drink more water than normal, even if the kids are not feeling thirsty.

Sunburns can progress into severe degrees of burns, with blistering being a sign of severity.

“You don’t want to get to the point where you’re actually getting some necrosis of the skin or blisters that become deep, but the main thing is just when it’s very sunny out, if you can do activities that are in the shade or indoors, that’s better,” the emergency doctor added.

Bozek noted the difference between sunscreen and sunblock, with sunscreen used as the generalized “full body preventative measure,” and sunblock being used more “for areas that are at higher risk,” such as the ears and nose, since they’re directly pointing up to the sky.

It’s important to remember to apply sunblock to the lips, as it is possible to develop blisters, or even skin cancer, if left unprotected. Additionally, wearing a hat can keep the sun off of a person’s scalp and potentially cool them down by providing some shade to their face.

Bozek recommends using SPF 50 and above for children.

Kids are more susceptible to sun burning and dehydration due to having more sensitive skin and being able to drink less liquid than an adult, along with not necessarily being able to recognize the symptoms of heat-related conditions as well. 

It is important for everyone to practice safety in the heat and sun, so the fun can continue throughout the summer.

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Pixabay photo

By  Aidan Johnson and Samantha Rutt

Former CNN anchor John Avlon will face off against incumbent Congressman Nick LaLota (R) on Election Day, Nov. 5, after winning the Democratic primary for New York’s 1st Congressional District on June 25. Avlon garnered over 70% of the vote, with 19,026 votes in a landslide victory against opponent Nancy Goroff, former chair of the Department of Chemistry at Stony Brook University, who received 8,053 votes. There were 58 write-in votes.

The race saw its fair share of contentious moments, with Avlon and political action committees supporting him attacking Goroff on her loss in the 2020 congressional election against Rep. Lee Zeldin (R). Meanwhile, Goroff and PACs supporting her criticized Avlon on his past work for Republicans, including with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

In a speech after the results, Avlon thanked his supporters and said the next stage of the campaign has started “right now.”

He also stated that it was important to reach out to independent and center-right voters, saying most Americans want “reasoning together over a common set of facts to solve the common problems we face.”

“I’ve always believed that politics is history in the present tense, and that this is our chance to write a new chapter of the American story,” he said.

In a statement, Goroff congratulated Avlon and called for Democrats to “come together to defeat Nick LaLota and flip this seat in November,” adding that Avlon will be “a commonsense voice for the people of Suffolk in Washington and a vast improvement over LaLota, who has proven to be far too extreme for this district.”

“The people of Suffolk deserve a representative who will work hard and find solutions to the major problems facing our community, and that is John Avlon,” she said.

Kassay triumphs

In the race for the state 4th Assembly District, Rebecca Kassay, business owner, environmentalist and former deputy mayor of Port Jefferson Village, garnered nearly 64% of the vote with 3,395, outpacing opponent Skyler Johnson, who received 1,909 votes. There were 11 write-in votes.

“In this pivotal moment for our communities and our government, I am grateful to have earned the trust of voters here in Assembly District 4,” Kassay said in a statement following the election announcement. “I am entirely committed to the tireless work required to lead our district and our state through unprecedented challenges. In the thousands of conversations at the doors of district residents, one thing was clear: People want their government to focus on delivering for their communities instead of being distracted by divisive politics-as-usual.”

Kassay congratulated opponent Johnson on his campaign.

“I commend Skyler Johnson and his team for their work energizing voters and engaging more residents in the important issues facing our communities. Primary elections can be divisive, and we are grateful to have shared a positive, message-based primary here in Assembly District 4.”

Johnson congratulated Kassay on her win and has since offered his support for her continued campaign. 

“I’d like to congratulate Rebecca Kassay on her win. There is a lot at stake in New York – and all that matters is defeating anti-choice, anti-Democracy politicians in November. Rebecca has my full support in this mission,” Johnson said in a statement following the election results.

The primary elections have set the stage for a dynamic and competitive general election. Avlon’s decisive victory in the Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District demonstrates a strong mandate from his party, positioning him to challenge LaLota in November. Avlon’s call for unity and outreach to a broad spectrum of voters highlights his strategy for the upcoming campaign. 

Meanwhile, Kassay’s success in the 4th Assembly District primary reflects her commitment to addressing community concerns and fostering positive political engagement as she attempts to unseat incumbent Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson).

As both Avlon and Kassay prepare for the next phase of their campaigns, their focus on commonsense solutions and effective leadership will be critical in their bids to represent the people of Suffolk County.

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