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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CLIMB The annual Port Jefferson Hill Climb will take place this Saturday. Photo by Julianne Mosher/TBR News Media
Ongoing

Huntington Summer Arts Festival

The 59th annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival returns to Heckscher Park, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington from June 21 to Aug. 24, Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m. The 10-week festival will feature over 40 live performances including dance, theater and music. Bring seating. Held rain or shine. Free. For a list of scheduled performers, visit www.huntingtonarts.org. 631-271-8423

Thursday Aug. 15

Summer Thursday at the LIM

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook continues its after hours Summer Thursdays series from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a family-friendly performance from the School of Rock Band outside the Carriage Museum, playing family friendly tunes while Art Across Ages offers music-themed crafts. The Carriage Museum will be open for self-guided tours. Free. 631-751-0066

St. Joseph’s Family Festival

St. Joseph’s Church, 59 Church St., Kings Park hosts a Family Festival tonight from 6 to 10 p.m., Aug. 16 and 17 from 6 to 11 and Aug. 18 from 6 to 10 p.m. with carnival rides, games and food. Fireworks on Aug. 16. Free admission. Pay-one-price rides. 631-499-6824

Dennis Cannataro Concert Series

The Dennis Cannataro Family Summer Concert Series continues at the Smithtown Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown with Don’t Stop (Journey tribute) tonight at 7:30 p.m. No registration required. Bring seating. 631-360-2480 ext. 150

Friday Aug. 16

St. Joseph’s Family Festival

See Aug. 15 listing.

Third Friday at the Reboli

Reboli Center for Art & History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook continues its Third Friday series with a talk and book signing with ceramist and feature Artisan of the Month Jonathan Zamet from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Copies of the Zamet’s book, “Magic and Mystery: A Potter and His Pots” will be available for purchase. Refreshments will be served. Free. No reservations required. 631-751-7707

Musical Moments

Musical Moments in Kings Park return to Russ Savatt Park, 14 Main St., Kings Park from 7:30 to 9 p.m. with a performance by Stagecoach (country music and dancing), courtesy of the Kings Park Civic Association. Weather permitting. 516-509-7231

Concert in the Park

Heritage Park, 633 Mount Sinai-Coram Road, Mount Sinai will host a free concert with BonJourney paying tribute to rock icons Bon Jovi and Journey at 7 p.m. Presented by Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon and the North Shore Youth Council. 631-403-4846

Happenings on Main Street

Northport Arts Coalition presents Happenings on Main Street, free concerts at the Northport Village Park Gazebo at the harbor Friday evenings at 7 p.m. through Aug. 30. Tonight’s performance will feature Valerie Rose. Bring seating. 631-261-1872

Woodstockmania

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its summer concert series with Woodstockmania tonight and Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. Come hear the iconic music of Jimi Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone, the Who, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, the Jefferson Airplane, Country Joe and the Fish, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, the Band, Santana, Sweetwater, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Joan Baez, Joe Cocker and more. Tickets are $65. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. See story on page B11.

Saturday Aug. 17

St. Joseph’s Family Festival

See Aug. 15 listing.

Woodstockmania

See Aug. 16 listing.

Greenway Trail Clean-up

Three Village Community Trust’s Friends of the Greenway will host its monthly cleanup of the Greenway Trail starting at a new time of 8:30 a.m. in the Port Jefferson Station trailhead parking lot off Route 112 next to Port Jeff Bowl. The group will check out the trail for litter and any branches that may have fallen with the past week’s storm. Come help keep our community gem clean for the summer. Questions? Email [email protected].

Salt Marsh Special

Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington will host a 5 mile walk through fields and forest to study salt marsh life from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes or boots. Adults only. $4 per person. Call 631-423-1770 for reservations.

Pet Palooza

Join Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption Center, 33 Warner Road, Huntington for its annual Pet-A-Palooza celebration today and Aug. 18 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. which will feature a huge Chinese auction, games for kids, face painting, BBQ, and many animals for adoption. Free admission. 631-368-8770, www.littleshelter.org

Outdoor Thrift Garage Sale

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown will hold an Outdoor Thrift Garage Sale fundraiser in its parking lot from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shop for household items and fun treasures! Money goes back into the wildlife center. 631-901-5911

Polish Town Street Fair & Festival

Polish Town Civic Association will hold a Polish Town Street Fair & Festival along Pulaski Street in Riverhead today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. followed by dancing “under the tent” from 6 to 11 p.m. and Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Featuring over 200 vendors, Polish food, Polish music and plenty of Polish culture! 631-369-1616

Port Jefferson Hill Climb

The Port Jefferson Conservancy will host a re-enactment of the 1910 Hill Climb from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come cheer on antique cars as they  retrace the original Hill Climb course from the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson to the top of East Broadway followed by a car parade through the village. 631-238-2290, www.portjeff.com

Chicken Hill BBQ Fundraiser

Three Village Community Trust hosts its 9th annual Chicken Hill BBQ, a genuine old-fashioned country picnic to be held at the Bruce House, 148 Main St., Setauket on at 4 p.m. Titled Celebrating a Special Time and Place in Our Past, the event will feature delicious food, live music by the Rum Dogs, house tours, basket raffles, chicken races and more with special guests Hub and Nellie Edwards. Tickets are $30 adults in advance ($40 at the door); children ages 5 to 12 $10; children under the age of 5 are free. Rain date is Aug. 18. Proceeds benefit the Trust’s ongoing restoration projects. To order tickets, visit threevillagecommunitytrust.org. 631-689-0225

Sunday Aug. 18

St. Joseph’s Family Festival

See Aug. 15 listing.

Pet Palooza

See Aug. 17 listing.

Polish Town Street Fair & Festival

See Aug. 17 listing.

Car Show and Swap Meet

Flowerfield Fairgrounds, Route 25A, St. James hosts a Car Show and Swap Meet by Long Island Cars from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Street rods, classics, muscle cars, antiques, exotics, imports and collectible cars on display. Vendors selling parts and accessories, plus a variety of cars for sale by owners. Admission is $10, under 12 years free. Rain date is Aug. 25. 631-567-5898, www.longislandcars.com

Rocket Rally Car Show

The Maples, 10 Ryerson Ave., Manorville hosts the 19th annual Rocket Rally, an East End Olds Car Club car show, with music, DJ, and awards from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  $5 spectators. Rain date Aug. 25. 631-680-9399

Art in the Park

Join the Northport Arts Coalition for an Art in the Park festival at Northport Village Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featuring music, dance, poetry readings and other performances plus more than forty artists displaying and selling their original work, this free event is a fun day for the entire family. Held rain or shine. www.northportarts.org

Lake Grove Summer Festival

The Village of Lake Grove will host its annual Summer Festival at the Gazebo and Memorial Park, 980 Hawkins Ave., Lake Grove from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Featuring vendors, kids activities, live music by Miles to Dayton, Amber Ferrari Band and Wonderous Stories, classic car show, carnival games, food, raffles and more. 631-873-0961

Northport Walking Tour

Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport presents a Historic Main Street Walking Tour at 1:30 p.m. Join local historian Dan Sheehan as he weaves the tale of Northport’s Historic Business District during this lively walking tour of Main Street. Travel back in time as you hear the stories of the people and landmarks that helped shape Northport, including Jack Kerouac, the Northport Oyster Barons, Rum Runners and the Trolley. All ages welcome. $7 per person. To register, visit www.northporthistorical.org.

Shindig! in concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook  presents a concert by the classic rock band Shindig! from 3 to 4 p.m. The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. 631-689-5888, www.limusichalloffame.org. 

Wind Down Sundays

The popular summer concert series returns to Hap’s historic Red Barn at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket with a performance by Wayne Hart & Dirty Boots at 5:30 p.m. Bring seating. 631-689-6146, www.frankmelvillepark.org

Celebrate St. James Concert Series

Celebrate St. James continues its summer concert series at Celebrate Park, 369 Lake Ave., St. James with the SouthBound Band from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The series continues every Sunday through Aug. 18. Free. Bring seating. 631-984-0201

Village Green Summer Concert

Summer concerts return to the Stony Brook Village Center every Sunday at 7 p.m. in front of the Stony Brook Post Office, 111 Main Street, Stony Brook through Aug. 18. Tonight’s performance will feature The Rustlers. Bring seating. 631-751-2244, www.wmho.org

Monday Aug. 19

Generational Ukulele Jam

Join Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station for a Generational Ukelele Jam from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Learn and perform classic songs that appeal to all generations, fostering connections and musical collaboration. No experience necessary.g Open to all. To reserve your spot, call 631-928-1212 or visit www.cplib.org

Tuesday Aug. 20

First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station offers a first-time homebuyer assistance program from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Are you looking to buy your first home in Suffolk or Nassau? Drop by to speak with a representative from Community Housing Innovations who will provide you with information about how you can receive help with down payment, closing cost, and renovation assistance. For more information, call 631-928-1212.

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a special concert by singer/guitarist Al Nicci featuring favorite oldies and pop songs in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

zNational Night Out

Rescheduled from Aug. 6. The Centereach Pool Complex at 286 Hawkins Road, Centereach will host a National Night Out from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sponsored by Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Manzella, Brookhaven Town Clerk Kevin LaValle, SCPD’s 6th Precinct and the Middle Country Public Library, the event will feature music, swimming, touch-a-truck, food trucks, vendors and more. 631-451-6647

Backtrack Vocals in Concert

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its Special Event Series with a concert by Backtrack Vocals, a 5-person professional a cappella singing group that transforms familiar pop, funk, Motown, standards, and Broadway songs with all-new vocal (and beatbox)  arrangements, at 8 p.m.. Featuring new arrangements of songs by Sia, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, Ed Sheeran, John Legend, Meghan Trainor, Michael Jackson, and Shawn Mendes. Tickets are $45. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Wednesday Aug. 21

Nature Walk at the Vanderbilt

Join CEED Wildlife Biologist, Ranger Eric Powers, for an interpretive nature walk on the grounds of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This is an advanced hiking trail with many steep climbs and descents along a variety of mixed terrain with an elevation gain of nearly 300 feet. There will be two opportunities to cut your hike short and head back to the parking lot if you feel you or your party cannot finish the entire loop. The signs will show you the way out. Please bring water and wear sturdy footwear. Bring binoculars if you have them, and your sense of adventure! Tickets are $12. To register, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Port Jefferson Sunset Concert

Port Jefferson Arts Council continues its Sunset Concert series at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson with a performance by Ray Lambiase & The Tin Kickers from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Free. Bring seating. Held rain or shine. 631-473-5220, www.gpjac.org

Summerfest Concert

The Northport Chamber of Commerce continues its Summerfest Concert series on Wednesday nights at the Robert Krueger Bandshell in Northport Village Park with Milagros from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Bring seating. 631-754-3905

Thursday Aug. 22

Family Fun Day

The Long Island Game Farm, 489 Chapman Blvd., Manorville and the Foundation for Wildlife Sustainability presents its first annual Family Fun Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The day’s events will include a celebration of the beloved capybaras with a “Happy Capy Day” theme, including games and challenges, a camel meet-and-greet, storytelling by Long Island authors, tortoise talk,  a concert by Brady Rymer and TheLittle Band That Could, interactive sing-a- long with singer-songwriter Anne O’Rourke, face painting, scavenger hunt, family holiday photo station, and more. Tickets are $30 at the door. 631-878-6344

Historic Harbor Tours

The Northport Historical Society presents Historic Harbor Tours at 5 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. Get a new perspective on Northport when you spend a relaxing evening learning local history while cruising in the harbor on launches from Seymour’s Boatyard 63 Bayview Avenue, Northport. The 45-minute guided harbor tour will spotlight the rich waterfront history that has helped shape the community. Followed by drinks and light fare. Tickets are $75, $60 members. Rain date is Aug. 28. 631-757-9859, www.northporthistorical.org

Port Jefferson Greek Festival

Opa! Greek Church of the Assumption, 430 Sheep Pasture Road, Port Jefferson presents its annual Greek Festival tonight from 5 to 10 p.m., Aug. 23 from 5 to 11 p.m., Aug. 24 from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Aug. 25 from noon to 9 p.m. with vendors, authentic Greek delights, dancing, music, carnival rides, church tour and giant raffle. Fireworks on Aug. 23 and 24 at 9:15 p.m. (weather permitting), raffle drawing on Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. $2 per person, free for children under 12. 631-473-0894, www.portjeffgreekfest.com.

Holbrook Carnival

Join the Holbrook Chamber of Commerce for its annual Carnival & Festival on the grounds of the Holbrook Country Club, 700 Patchogue-Holbrook Road, Holbrook tonight and Aug. 23 from 6 to 11 p.m., Aug. 24 from 2 to 11 p.m. and Aug. 25 from 2 to 9 p.m. Games, food, rides, craft vendors, entertainment. 631-471-2725

Native American Drumming Workshop

All Souls Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook will host a Native American Drumming Meditation from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. Free. Call 631-655-7798 for more information.

Harborside Concerts

Harborside concerts in the Village of Port Jefferson conclude with a special concert by The Movin’ Out Band on the Ferry Dock at 7 p.m.  Bring seating. 631-473-4724, www.portjeff.com

Film

‘Barbie’

St. James Chamber of Commerce invites the community to Deepwells Farm County Park, 497 Route 25A, St. James for a screening of Barbie on Aug. 21 at dusk. Come early at 7 p.m. for a Best Barbie & Friends costume contest with prizes for kids and adults. Free. Bring seating.  631-584-8510

‘Mamma Mia’

Heritage Park, 633 Mount Sinai-Coram Road, Mount Sinai continues its Movies in the Moonlight series with a screening of Mamma Mia on Aug. 23 at dusk (8:30 p.m.) Bring seating. Presented by the North Shore Youth Council and Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon. 631-403-4846

Theater

‘Newsies’

Stop the presses! This Disney film turned Tony-winning Broadway hit Newsies heads to the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown from July 13 to Aug. 18. Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right! Tickets are $35 adults, $32 seniors, $25 students. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org. 

‘Legally Blonde The Musical’

Extended! The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Legally Blonde The Musical from July 11 to Sept 1. Elle Woods appears to have it all until her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend dumps her to attend Harvard. Determined to get him back, Elle charms her way into the prestigious law school. An award-winning musical based on the adored movie, the show follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Tickets range from $80 to  $95. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘King Lear’

The Carriage House Players at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in  Centerport closes their 35th annual Shakespeare in the Courtyard Festival with King Lear from Aug. 16 to Sept. 8. Performances are held on the Vanderbilt mansion courtyard stage on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and children under age 12 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. 

‘Guys and Dolls’

Celebrate St. James presents a production of the musical Guys and Dolls at St. James Episcopal Church (Mills Hall), 490 North Country Road, St. James on Aug. 23 and 24 at 8 p.m. The show takes us from the bustle of Times Square to the dance clubs of Havana to the sewers of New York City as it demonstrates the great lengths to which a guy will go when he truly falls in love with a “doll.” Tickets, which include refreshments and dessert, are $35 adults, $30 seniors. To order, call 516-272-6597 or visit www.celebratestjames.org.

Class Reunion

Port Jefferson High School Class of 1964 will hold its 60th reunion at the Meadow Club, 1147 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station on Oct. 17. Members of the Class of 1963 are invited to join them. For more information, email Mike Whelen at [email protected]

CALENDAR DEADLINE  is Wednesday at noon, one week before publication. Items may be mailed to: Times Beacon Record News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733. Email your information about community events to [email protected]. Calendar listings are for not-for-profit organizations (nonsectarian, nonpartisan events) only, on a space-available basis. Please include a phone number that can be printed.

 

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The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has announced it has granted $1 million to the PBS Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Public Broadcast System (PBS), in support of PBS’s historical documentary series “American Experience.”

The grant will bolster the 35-year-old award-winning program’s operating budget, supporting its television broadcast as well as the online streaming of the series made available to classrooms across the United States through PBS LearningMedia, a free online resource. With the latest grant, the Gardiner Foundation has contributed $3 million to PBS since 2017.

“As America’s home for documentary storytelling, PBS is committed to shining a light on untold stories and examining our shared past,” said PBS president Paula Kerger. “We could not be more grateful to Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation for its generous support of this important work and for bringing viewers across the country more of the award-winning storytelling that has made American Experience America’s most-watched history series.”

ABOUT THE ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION

The mission of the Foundation is to educate, cultivate and encourage the study and understanding of Long Island and New York’s historic role in the American experience. The Foundation also supports scholarships and historic preservation, including study, stewardship and promotion of Long Island’s historic educational aspects.

The Foundation was established by Robert David Lion Gardiner in 1987. Robert David Lion Gardiner was, until his death in August 2004, the 16th Lord of the Manor of Gardiner’s Island, NY. The Island was obtained as part of a royal grant from King Charles I of England in 1639. The Gardiner family and their descendants have owned Gardiner’s Island for 385 years. The Island remains private and is owned and maintained by direct Gardiner descendants to this day. The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation remains inspired by Robert David Lion Gardiner’s personal passion for Long Island and New York history. Since 2015, the Foundation has awarded over $45 million to support historical societies, museums, archives, research, scholarships and renovation, restoration and adaptive reuse of historic sites.

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Grace Miller, pictured with Councilman Manzella and Town Clerk LaValle, won first place in the women's division this year. Photo courtesy of TOB
Hunter Wilson, pictured with Councilman Manzella and Town Clerk LaValle, won first place in the men's division this year. Photo courtesy of TOB
Runners line up for the 2024 Run the Farm race. Photo courtesy of TOB

On August 10, Town of Brookhaven Councilman Neil Manzella and Town Clerk Kevin LaValle co-hosted the Annual Shoprite Run the Farm 4 Mile Run/Walk to benefit Bethel Hobbs Community Farm in Centereach. Hundreds of runners and spectators attend the Run the Farm 4 Mile Run/Walk each year. This year, over 200 runners participated and more than 350 community members joined the post-race celebrations. Hunter Wilson was the male leader at 21 minutes, 16 seconds and Grace Miller was the female leader at 25 minutes, 31 seconds. Ms. Miller beat her own record from last year. 

The historic Bethel Hobbs Community Farm is one of Long Island’s last remaining, all-volunteer farms. Established in 1906, this not-for-profit farm embodies the spirit of giving by donating as much as 90% of its annual harvest to feed those less fortunate. Hobbs Farm raises over 100,000 pounds of food each year which is donated to various food pantries around Long Island. 

Councilman Manzella and Town Clerk LaValle thanked the organizers and runners who participated as well as the sponsors, Suffolk County Police Department 6th Precinct; Town of Brookhaven Highway Department; Town of Brookhaven Public Safety; Centereach Fire Department; and the event producers, EliteFeats. They also acknowledged Hobbs Farm owner, Ann Pellegrino, all the dedicated volunteers and vendors who helped make the Shoprite Run the Farm 4 Mile Run/Walk. 

They also thanked the event sponsors, including Suffolk County Legislators Leslie Kennedy and Nick Caracappa; ShopRite; New York Blood & Cancer; Pepsi; Bethel AME Church; Middle Country Chamber of Commerce; John T. Mather Memorial Hospital; Stony Brook UUP; Mondelez International; Frito Lay; Team Rita; Island Nursing and Rehab; Techworks; Brooklyn Delights; Bimbo Bakeries; Campbells and Dunkin Donuts. 

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Pixabay photo
Sauces and breads are among the sneakiest offenders

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

If you have high blood pressure, you’ve probably been told to reduce your sodium. But what about the rest of us? 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 90 percent of Americans consume too much sodium. This puts our health at risk — and not just for high blood pressure (1).

What are the effects of too much sodium?

In addition to increasing our risk of high blood pressure (hypertension), with consequences like stroke and heart disease, sodium can affect our kidney function, even without high blood pressure.

The Nurses’ Health Study evaluated kidney function in approximately 3,200 women, assessing estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as related to sodium intake (2). Over 14 years, those with a daily sodium intake of 2,300 mg had a much greater chance of a 30 percent or more reduction in kidney function when compared to those who consumed 1,700 mg per day.

Kidneys are an important part of our systems for removing toxins and waste. They are also where many hypertension medications work, including ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and diuretics (water pills). If kidney function declines, it can be harder to treat high blood pressure. Worse, it could lead to chronic kidney disease and dialysis. Once someone has reached dialysis, most blood pressure medications are not very effective.

What are sodium recommendations?

Interestingly, the current recommended maximum sodium intake is 2,300 mg per day, or one teaspoon. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed that’s the same level that led to negative effects in the study. However, Americans’ average intake is 3,400 mg a day (1).

If we reduced our consumption by even a modest 20 percent, we could reduce the incidence of heart disease dramatically. Current recommendations from the FDA and the American Heart Association indicate an upper limit of 2,300 mg per day (3, 4). The American Heart Association goes further, suggestion an “ideal” limit of no more than 1,500 mg per day (3).

What are the biggest sodium sources?

More than 70 percent of our sodium intake comes from processed and packaged foods and from restaurants, not the saltshaker. There is nothing wrong with eating out or ordering in on occasion, but you can’t control how much salt goes into your food. Even when you request “no salt,” many items are pre-seasoned, and sauces can contain excessive amounts of sodium.

One approach to reduce your sodium intake is to choose products that have 200 mg or fewer per serving indicated on the label. Foods labeled “low sodium” have fewer than 140 mg of sodium. This is not the same as foods labeled “reduced sodium.” These have 25 percent less than the full-sodium version, which doesn’t mean much. For example, soy sauce has about 1,000 mg of sodium per tablespoon, but low-sodium soy sauce still has about 600 mg per tablespoon.

Salad dressings, sauces and other condiments, where serving sizes are small, add up quickly. Mustard has about 120 mg per teaspoon. Most of us use more than one teaspoon. Make sure to read the labels on all packaged foods and sauces very carefully, checking for sodium and for serving size. In restaurants, ask for sauces on the side and use them sparingly, if at all.

Bread products are another hidden source. Most contain a decent amount of sodium. I have seen a single slice of whole wheat bread include up to 200 mg. of sodium. That’s one slice. Make a sandwich with four ounces of lower sodium deli meat and mustard, and you could easily consume 1240 mg in a single sandwich.

Soups and canned goods are notoriously high in sodium. There are a few on the market that have no sodium. Look for these and add your own seasonings. Restaurant soups are a definite “no.”

Become an avid label reader. Sodium hides in all kinds of foods that don’t necessarily taste salty, such as cheeses, sweet sauces and salad dressings. Put all sauces and dressings on the side, so you can control how much — if any — you choose to use.

Is sea salt better than table salt?

Are sea salts better for you than table salt? Not really. They can have a slightly lower level of sodium, but that’s because their crystal shape means fewer granules fit in a teaspoon. I recommend not using either. In addition to causing health issues, salt dampens your taste buds, masking other flavors.

As you reduce your sodium intake, you might be surprised at how quickly your taste buds adjust. In just a few weeks, foods you previously thought didn’t taste salty will seem overwhelmingly so, and you will notice new flavors in unsalted foods.

When seasoning your food at home, use salt-free seasonings, like Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute or, if you prefer a salty taste, consider a salt substitute, like Benson’s Table Tasty.

References:

(1) cdc.gov. (2) Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010;5:836-843. (3) heart.org. (4) fda.gov.

Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com or consult your personal physician.

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Josh Hartnett and Ariel Donoghue star in 'Trap.' Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Studio

Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel

Will it have the craft of The Sixth Sense? The clumsy mess that was Lady in the Water? Or the true horror of the disastrous Old? Few directors inspire the puzzling mix of hope, disappointment, and divisiveness than M. Night Shyamalan. As the director, producer, and screenwriter, the king of the “twist” must take complete responsibility for his work.

His newest film, Trap, focuses on firefighter Cooper Adams (Josh Hartnett), who happens to be a serial killer dubbed “The Butcher.” Cooper takes his daughter, Riley (Ariel Donoghue), to a Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan) concert as a reward for her stellar report card. With a massive police presence, Cooper quickly learns that, somehow, law enforcement knows he is attending the concert. Under the guidance of Dr. Josephine Grant (Hayley Mills), an FBI profiler, every man of a certain age and type will be checked before they can leave the arena.

The premise is simplistic but not without interest. A concert setting is naturally charged—a closed universe of organized chaos—screaming teen fans, food counters, and a warren of dressing rooms, storerooms, and connecting doors. The scenario and location open a world of possibilities. Unfortunately, Trap fails to spring, plodding and creaking as the resourceful Cooper evades capture in a series of “close calls.” 

Eventually, Trap builds to a half dozen false endings, one more predictable than the last. The film’s minimal tension escapes like the air from a bicycle tire (a specifically selected metaphor). The Oedipal layer to the killer’s motivation has played in myriad films since the 1970s, and the revelation lands with a thud.

Hartnett (exceptional in last year’s Oppenheimer) seems to be vying for the Most Excruciatingly Goofy Dad Award in a performance of painful grimaces, pasted grins, and “gosh-heck” incredulity. He punctuates every line with a waggle of the eyebrows that would make Groucho blush. In the opening moments, his daughter urges him to drive faster so they do not miss the opportunity to glimpse Lady Raven leaving her tour bus. He responds that they do not want to break any laws:  “Trust me.” The aggressive lack of subtlety is almost impressive. Riley comments more than once, “You’re acting strange, Dad.” Strange acting, indeed. 

Hartnett and company are failed by a script composed solely of cliches. A subplot about a mean girl, Jody, who has been freezing out Riley, amounts to several shrill exchanges between Cooper and the girl’s mother (Marnie McPhail). After Cooper manipulates Lady Raven’s uncle and promoter (M. Night Shyamalan), Riley goes onstage as Lady Raven’s “Dream Girl.” Outraged by her peer’s opportunity, we glimpse Jody throwing a cup of soda in her mother’s face. 

Alison Pill is a strong actor but does not appear until the final act when she takes the mantle of clueless wife. Even with the character’s few extra shades, she cannot rescue the absence of surprise and dimension. 

The concert portions are grating. In another film, the director might comment on pop culture’s empty self-indulgence and repetitive nature. However, one suspects Shyamalan is showcasing his daughter’s singing career. (Social media also helps to save the day.) As an actor, Saleka is decent, but like Pill, given few notes to play. As for Jonathan Langdon’s duped t-shirt seller, Jamie—the stereotype borders on offensive, especially in the film’s tag. Hayley Mills’ Dr. Grant amounts to an extended cameo, but she lends a hint of gravitas with her rich voice and regal bearing. 

Shyamalan populates the world with enough police and SWAT extras to fill a Batman franchise. Visually, the shots are strangely static, often screaming, “Look here—he’s going to do something clever.” He liberally “borrowed” elements from The Hitcher, Silence of the Lambs, Dressed to Kill, Dexter, and even A Clockwork Orange. 

In particular, he saddled Hartnett with elements of these famous psychopaths but then directed him to play Cooper with the vigor of a middle school Thanksgiving pageant. Trap is less Hitchcock and more Parent Trap. 

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Fool the moviegoing public repeatedly—Shyamalan on all of us.

Rated PG-13, the film is now playing in local theaters.

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AHOY MATEYS! Pirates will take over Port Jefferson Village for the 4th annual Sea Shanty and Maritime Musical Festival this weekend. Photo by Aidan Johnson/TBR News Media
Ongoing

Huntington Summer Arts Festival

The 59th annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival returns to Heckscher Park, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington from June 21 to Aug. 24, Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m. The 10-week festival will feature over 40 live performances including dance, theater and music. Bring seating. Held rain or shine. Free. For a list of scheduled performers, visit www.huntingtonarts.org. 631-271-8423

Thursday Aug. 8

Kings Park Rocks 

Kings Park Chamber of Commerce presents a Kings Park Rocks summer concert featuring Southbound at Russ Savatt Park, 14 Main Street,  Kings Park from 6 to 10 p.m. 631-269-7678

East Northport Fire Dept.  Fair

The East Northport Fire Department, 1 9th Ave., East Northport will host its annual Fair tonight through Aug. 10 from 7 to 11 p.m. with carnival rides, games of chance and skill, live music, large selection of food and more. Parade kicks off tonight on Larkfield Road at 7 p.m. Free admission. POP ride bracelets. 631-261-0360, ext. 110

Adventure Trivia

Join Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station for Adventure Trivia from 4 to 5 p.m. or from 7 to 8 p.m. Test your knowledge of music, movies, history and more with a chance to win prizes with Theresa Maritato. Adults only. To register, call 631-928-1212.

Harborside Concerts

Harborside concerts continue at the Show Mobile at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson tonight at 7 p.m. with Drive (Cars tribute band). Bring seating. 631-473-4724, www.portjeff.com

Music in the Park

The Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce presents Music in the Park at Veterans Park, Boyle Road, Selden with live music by Milagro (Santana tribute band) starting at 7 p.m. Rain date is Aug. 28. Bring seating. 631-681-8708

Dennis Cannataro Concert Series

The Dennis Cannataro Family Summer Concert Series continues at the Smithtown Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown with Penny Lane (Beatles tribute) tonight at 7:30 p.m. No registration required. Bring seating. 631-360-2480 ext. 150

Friday Aug. 9

East Northport Fire Dept.  Fair

See Aug. 8 listing.

Happenings on Main Street

Northport Arts Coalition presents Happenings on Main Street, free concerts at the Northport Village Park Gazebo at the harbor Friday evenings at 7 p.m. through Aug. 30. Tonight’s performance will feature Izzy Potter. Bring seating. 631-261-1872

British Rock Legends Tribute

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its summer concert series with The British Legends of Rock Show at 8 p.m. Spend an evening with ALL of your favorite 60s & 70s British rock legends A-Z. The Animals to Led Zeppelin and everything in  between. Tickets are $55. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Peterson & Cowsill in Concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook presents Vicki Peterson (The Bangles) and John Cowsill (The Cowsills, The Beach Boys) in concert at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 at www.limehof.org.

Saturday Aug. 10

East Northport Fire Dept.  Fair

See Aug. 8 listing.

Run the Farm

Friends of Hobbs Farm and Town of Brookhaven Councilman Neil Manzella and Brookhaven Town Clerk Kevin LaValle invite you to take part in the 10th annual ShopRite Run the Farm 4-mile run/walk. Fun Run for children begins at 8:30 a.m., and the 4-mile challenge starts at 9 a.m. $30 in advance;  $35 the day of the race; $5 for  children under the age of 10. The challenge starts at Oxhead Elementary School, 144 Oxhead Road, Centereach, and ends at Bethel Hobbs Community Farm, 178 Oxhead Road, Centereach. Proceeds benefit Hobbs Farm’s mission of feeding the hungry. To register in advance, visit events.elitefeats.com/24runthefarm. 

LISEC Sikaflex Boat Build

LISEC and the Bayles Boat Shop will sponsor the 12th annual Sikaflex “Quick & Dirty” Boat Building Competition at Harborfront Park, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson today and Aug. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Up to 12  two-person  teams will construct a boat in four hours on Saturday and return on Sunday to decorate their boats and prepare to race them at 3 p.m. Prizes are awarded after the races for design, decoration, first built and race winners. 631-689-8293, www.lisec.org

Tri-Spy Walking Tours

Hike your way through the history of the Revolutionary War’s Culper Spy Ring with local historian Margo Arceri of Tri-Spy Tours at 9 a.m. Participants follow in the actual footsteps of the Culper Spy Ring, and, along the way, historical places of interest are pointed out and discussed. Tours start at the entrance of Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket. $25 per person. 631-751-3730, www.tvhs.org

The I Love Bacon Fest

Walt Whitman Shops, 160 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station hosts The I Love Bacon, Butter, Beer and Bourbon Fest, a two-day celebration of bacon prepared every way imaginable, today and Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The outdoor event will feature live music all day, food trucks, craft vendors and line dancing lessons by Long Island’s country band Audawind. Admission is $10 adults, $5 children ages 4 to 12, kids 3 and under are free. For tickets, visit lovebaconfest.com/tickets/

Saturdays Poetry Reading

All Souls Church in Stony Brook continues its Saturdays poetry series via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon. Featured poet will be Hiram Larew. An open-reading will follow; all are welcome to read one of their own poems.  For more information, call 631-655-7798.  Participants can access the program through the All Souls website https://www.allsouls-stonybrook.org/

Sea Shanty/Maritime  Music Fest

In conjunction with the LISEC Sikaflex Boat Build, the annual Port Jefferson Sea Shanty and Maritime Musical Festival will be held at Harborfront Park, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson today and Aug. 11 from noon to dusk featuring authentic sea shanties, a pirate camp, street singers and more. Free. portjeffersonseamusicfestival.com

One Hit Wonderers Concert

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its summer concert series with One Hit Wonderers at 8 p.m. Each and every song you will hear was, you guessed it…a number 1 hit of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. Tickets are $55. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Sunday Aug. 11

LISEC Sikaflex Boat Build

See Aug. 10 listing.

The I Love Bacon Fest

See Aug. 10 listing.

Sea Shanty/ Maritime Music Fest

See Aug. 10 listing.

Big Rig & Antique Truck Show 

The Long Island Chapter of the American Truck Historical Society will host the 6th annual Big Rig & Antique Truck Show at the LIAPA Show Grounds, 5951 Sound Ave., Riverhead from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring antique trucks and modern straight jobs to semis. Admission is $5. 631-339-3065

Car Show Fundraiser

Sawmill Intermediate School, 103 New Highway, Commack hosts a Commack Fire Department Engine 3 Car Show fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with food trucks, raffles and more. 

The Spirit of Summer Art Festival

The Spirit of Huntington, 2 Melville Road, Huntington Station presents a Spirit of Summer Art Festival, a day of fine art, community networking, games and activities, food trucks, raffles and music/dance performances, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain date is Aug. 18. 631-520-1147

Frank Latorre in concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook  presents a concert by Frank Latorre & the King Bees from 3 to 4 p.m. The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. 631-689-5888, www.limusichalloffame.org. 

Wind Down Sundays

The popular summer concert series returns to Hap’s historic Red Barn at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket with a performance by The Toby Tobias Ensemble at 5:30 p.m. Bring seating. 631-689-6146, www.frankmelvillepark.org

Celebrate St. James Concert Series

Celebrate St. James continues its summer concert series at Celebrate Park, 369 Lake Ave., St. James with the Lisa Polizzi Band from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The series continues every Sunday through Aug. 18. Free. Bring seating. 631-984-0201

Village Green Summer Concert

Summer concerts return to the Stony Brook Village Center every Sunday at 7 p.m. in front of the Stony Brook Post Office, 111 Main Street, Stony Brook through Aug. 18. Tonight’s performance will feature The Precisions. Bring seating. 631-751-2244, www.wmho.org

Monday Aug. 12

Sound Beach Civic Meeting

Sound Beach Firehouse, 152 Sound Beach Blvd., Sound Beach hosts a Sound Beach Civic Association meeting at 7:30  p.m. Guest Speaker will be Kevin LaValle, Town of Brookhaven Clerk. All are welcome. For more information call 631-744-6952.

Tuesday Aug. 13

Shibori Indigo workshop

Huntington Historical Society will host a Shibori Indigo workshop with Oksana Danziger at the Conklin Barn 2 High St., Huntington from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Experience the magic of indigo dye firsthand in a two and a half hour workshop using freshly harvested Japanese Indigo. You will be dyeing silk scarves with nothing but fresh leaves and a sprinkle of table salt. The dye is permanent without any further processing. After dyeing, you can add some pattern using indigo pigment and stencils. Fee is $55 per person, $50 members. To register, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Concerts at The Gazebo 

Enjoy Tuesday night concerts at The Gazebo, 127 Smithtown Blvd., Nesconset at 7 p.m. through Aug. 27. Tonight’s performance will feature Rusty Spur. Rain date is Aug. 14. 631-672-5197, www.nesconsetchamber.org

Music Under the Stars

Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach celebrates summer with its Music Under the Stars concert series in its parking lot featuring Men of Soul (Soul and R&B) at 7 p.m. Bring seating. 631-585-9393

A Night of Comedy

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its Special Event Series with Comedy Night at 8 p.m. Come have some laughs, enjoy some cocktails, and listen to some very funny comedians. Tickets are $45. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Wednesday Aug. 14

St. James Summer Nights

St. James Elementary School, 580 Lake Ave., St. James hosts a St. James Summer Nights event from 5 to 9:30 p.m. featuring live music, crafts and vendors under the summer stars. Rain date is Aug. 21. 516-220-8217

Historic Walking Tour/Pub Crawl

The Huntington Historical Society offers a Historic Walking Tour and Pub Crawl tonight throughout Huntington Village from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Town of Huntington Historian, Robert C. Hughes, will guide you through the notable buildings and events in the history of Huntington. Along the way participants will stop at local establishments to enjoy some refreshment before continuing the tour. Tickets are $25, $20 members (drinks not included). Tours will begin at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building, 228 Main Street,  Huntington. Reservations are required. 631-427-7045, www.huntingtonhistorical.org

Summer Sips Trivia Night

Join the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St. Cold Spring Harbor for a Summer Sips Trivia Night from 6:30 p.m to 8 p.m.  General trivia questions are tied to the fun-in-the-sun beach season and will have something for everyone, including film, music, logos, history, geography, art, and nature. Enjoy appetizers from Grasso’s Restaurant and a refreshing Dirty Dolphin cocktail or mocktail. Prizes and bragging rights for winners of trivia rounds. Adults 21+. $30 per person.  Advance registration required by visiting cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Port Jefferson Sunset Concert

Port Jefferson Arts Council continues its Sunset Concerts at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson with a performance by the Dave Christian Project from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Free. Bring seating. Held rain or shine. 631-473-5220, www.gpjac.org

An Evening of Summer Pops

Caroline Episcopal Church will host a free concert by the Sound Symphony Orchestra on the Setauket Village Green at 7 p.m. Directed by Maestro Dorothy Savitch with vocal soloist Christine Cornell, the program will include “Over the Rainbow,” “My Fair Lady,” a salute to the Big Bands, “The Magnifecent Seven,” and more. Bring seating. Free. www.carolinechurch.net/upcomingevents.

Summerfest Concert

The Northport Chamber of Commerce continues its Summerfest Concert series on Wednesday nights at the Robert Krueger Bandshell in Northport Village Park with the Little Wilson Band from 7:30 to 9 p.m.. Bring seating. 631-754-3905

Thursday Aug. 15

Summer Thursday at the LIM

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook continues its after hours Summer Thursdays series from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a family-friendly Performance from the School of Rock Band outside the Carriage Museum, playing family friendly tunes while Art Across Ages offers music-themed crafts. The Carriage Museum will be open for self-guided tours. Free. 631-751-0066

St. Joseph’s Family Festival

St. Joseph’s Church, 59 Church St., Kings Park hosts a Family Festival tonight from 6 to 10 p.m., Aug. 16 and 17 from 6 to 11 and Aug. 18 from 6 to 10 p.m. with carnival rides, games and food. Fireworks on Aug. 16. Free admission. Pay-one-price rides. 631-499-6824

Dennis Cannataro Concert Series

The Dennis Cannataro Family Summer Concert Series continues at the Smithtown Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown with Don’t Stop (Journey tribute) tonight at 7:30 p.m. No registration required. Bring seating. 631-360-2480 ext. 150

Theater

‘Newsies’

Stop the presses! This Disney film turned Tony-winning Broadway hit Newsies heads to the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown from July 13 to Aug. 18. Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right! Tickets are $35 adults, $32 seniors, $25 students. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org. 

‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’

The Carriage House Players at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in  Centerport continue their 35th annual Shakespeare in the Courtyard Festival with The Merry Wives of Windsor from July 12 to Aug. 9 followed by King Lear from Aug. 16 to Sept. 8. Performances are held on the Vanderbilt mansion courtyard stage on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and children under age 12 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. 

‘Legally Blonde The Musical’

Extended! The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Legally Blonde The Musical from July 11 to Sept 1. Elle Woods appears to have it all until her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend dumps her to attend Harvard. Determined to get him back, Elle charms her way into the prestigious law school. An award-winning musical based on the adored movie, the show follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Tickets range from $80 to  $95. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Guys and Dolls’

Celebrate St. James presents a production of the musical Guys and Dolls at St. James Episcopal Church (Mills Hall), 490 North Country Road, St. James on Aug. 23 and 24 at 8 p.m. The show takes us from the bustle of Times Square to the dance clubs of Havana to the sewers of New York City as it demonstrates the great lengths to which a guy will go when he truly falls in love with a “doll.” Tickets, which include refreshments and dessert, are $35 adults, $30 seniors. To order, call 516-272-6597 or visit www.celebratestjames.org.

‘King Lear’

The Carriage House Players at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in  Centerport closes their 35th annual Shakespeare in the Courtyard Festival with King Lear from Aug. 16 to Sept. 8. Performances are held on the Vanderbilt mansion courtyard stage on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and children under age 12 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. 

Class Reunion

Port Jefferson High School Class of 1964 will hold its 60th reunion at the Meadow Club, 1147 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station on Oct. 17. Members of the Class of 1963 are invited to join them. For more information, email Mike Whelen at [email protected]

CALENDAR DEADLINE  is Wednesday at noon, one week before publication. Items may be mailed to: Times Beacon Record News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733. Email your information about community events to [email protected]. Calendar listings are for not-for-profit organizations (nonsectarian, nonpartisan events) only, on a space-available basis. Please include a phone number that can be printed.

 

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Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon takes part in a previous National Night Out event in Ridge. Photo courtesy of Suffolk County Sheriff's office
Update: These events have been canceled due to the weather.

The Town of Brookhaven, Town of Smithtown and Town of Huntington are among the many communities across the United States that will soon be celebrating National Night Out — a national initiative seeks to improve bonds between police and the public during an evening of family fun. And best of all, it’s free. No registration necessary.

Centereach – This event has been rescheduled to Aug. 20. 

The Centereach Pool Complex at 286 Hawkins Road, Centereach will host a National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sponsored by Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Manzella, Brookhaven Town Clerk Kevin LaValle, SCPD’s 6th Precinct and the Middle Country Public Library, the event will feature music, swimming, touch-a-truck, food trucks, vendors and more. 631-451-6647

Holtsville

Holtsville Ecology Center, 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville will host a National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. Sponsored by the SCPD’s Fifth Precinct, Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Foley, Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico and Brookhaven Town Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro, the event will include food, music, and face painting. The pool complex, zoo and Safety Town will also be open. 631-451-6645

Huntington

Manor Field Park, 110 East 5th Street in Huntington Station, will host a National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. Sponsored by Huntington Town Councilman Dr. Dave Bennardo, SCPD Second Precinct and the Huntington Town Board, the event will feature basketball and soccer tournaments, food, music, bounce house, obstacle course, spray park, food, giveaways, raffles, vendors and more. 631-351-3000

Lake Grove

The Smith Haven Mall’s Lifestyle Village in Lake Grove will host National Night Out with the SCPD 4th Precinct on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy a night of fun and safety education. Rain date is Aug. 8. 631-724-1433, 631-852-6000

Ridge – This event has been cancelled due to the weather.

Fireman’s Memorial Park, 725 Middle Country Road, Ridge will host a National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. Sponsored by Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner and Councilman Michael Loguercio, the event will feature games, a petting zoo, Sheriff’s Office vehicle displays, ice cream truck, softball and hockey games and giveaways along with a table for medical ID cards and Safe Child cards. 631-852-2200, 631-451-6964

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A potassium-rich diet may help to reduce blood pressure. Stock photo
Drugs may not be necessary in early stages

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

High blood pressure affects over 48 percent of U.S. adults (1). This scary number means that almost 50 percent of us are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke, the two most frequent causes of death (2). It also puts us at higher risk for chronic kidney disease and dementia (3).

Hypertension severity is categorized into three stages, or levels of severity, each with a different recommended treatment regimen. When the stages were created in 2017, what we used to call “prehypertension” was split into two new categories: elevated blood pressure and hypertension stage 1.

Elevated blood pressure is defined as systolic blood pressure (the top number) of 120-129 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) of less than 80 mmHg. Stage 1 includes systolic blood pressure of 130-139 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure of 80-89 mmHg (4). You can find a simple chart of all levels on The American Heart Association’s website: www.heart.org.

Both have significant consequences, even though there are often no symptoms.

In an analysis of the Framingham Heart Study, researchers found that those with prehypertension experienced a 3.5-fold increase in the risk of heart attack and a 1.7-fold increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease (5). Many other studies support these increased risks (6, 7). This is why it’s critical to address increased blood pressure, even in these early stages.

The good news is that new and extended studies have given us clearer insights about effective treatments, stratifying our approaches to improve outcomes.

What’s the best treatment for elevated blood pressure?

The Joint National Commission (JNC) 8, the association responsible for guidelines on the treatment of hypertension, included lifestyle modifications at the top of its recommendations for elevated blood pressure (8).

Lifestyle changes include dietary changes. A Mediterranean-type diet or the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet are both good options.

Any diet you select should focus on increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables and reducing your daily sodium consumption to no more than 1500 mg (two-thirds of a teaspoon) (9). You should also ensure you exercise, manage your weight, and consume no more than modest amounts of alcohol (1 or fewer drinks for women and 2 or fewer drinks for men on a daily basis) (8).

Some studies have also shown that a potassium-rich diet helps to reduce blood pressure (9). Fortunately, foods like fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes have significant amounts of potassium. However, do not take potassium supplements unless instructed for other reasons by a physician; high potassium can be very dangerous and can precipitate a heart attack.

Some drugmakers have advocated for using medication to treat elevated blood pressure. The Trial of Preventing Hypertension (TROPHY) suggested the use of a hypotensive agent, the blood pressure drug candesartan to treat prehypertensive patients (10)(11). The drug reduced the incidence of hypertension significantly compared to placebo over two years. However, after stopping therapy, the following two years showed only a small benefit over placebo. The study was funded by Astra-Zeneca, which made Atacand, a brand version of the drug. 

In an editorial, Jay I. Meltze, M.D., a clinical specialist in hypertension at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, noted that the results were interpreted in an unusually favorable way (12). 

Since elevated blood pressure responds well to lifestyle changes, why add medication when there are no long-term benefits? I don’t recommend using medication to treat elevated blood pressure patients, and the JNC8 agrees.

Do lifestyle changes treat Stage 1 hypertension?

For those with Stage 1 hypertension, but with a low 10-year risk of cardiovascular events, these same lifestyle modifications should be implemented for three-to-six months. At this point, a reassessment of risk and blood pressure will determine whether the patient should continue with lifestyle changes or if they need to be treated with medications (13). 

Your physician should assess your risk as part of this equation.

I am encouraged that the role of lifestyle modifications in controlling hypertension has been recognized and is influencing official recommendations. When patients and physicians collaborate on a lifestyle approach that drives improvements, the side effects are only better overall health.

References:

(1) cdc.gov. (2) NCHS Data Brief. 2022;456. (3) Hypertension 2020;75:285-92. (4) heart.org. (5) Stroke 2005; 36: 1859–1863. (6) Hypertension 2006;47:410-414. (7) Am Fam Physician. 2014 Oct 1;90(7):503-504. (8) J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018 May, 71 (19) 2176–2198. (9) Arch of Internal Medicine 2001;161:589-593. (10) N Engl J Med. 2006;354:1685-1697. (11) J Am Soc Hypertens. Jan-Feb 2008;2(1):39-43. (12) Am J Hypertens. 2006;19:1098-1100. (13) Hypertension. 2021 Jun;77(6):e58-e67.

Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com or consult your personal physician.

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Screenshot

Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel

Author Sarah Beth Durst

It is no surprise that Sarah Beth Durst’s latest novel forges intriguing new territory. The gifted author of over two dozen books (six reviewed in this publication) has penned a highly original fantasy novel: The Spellshop. While fantasy is not new terrain for Durst, she has populated her world with a blend of magic and humanity, creating a delightful but wholly grounded universe. 

Librarian Kiela is at the center of The Spellshop. She lives in Alyssium, the capital of the Crescent Island Empire, where freedom fighters instigated a revolution to bring free elections and knowledge sharing.

As the novel opens, the Great Library of Alyssium is on fire. “Its hallowed stacks were filled with centuries-old treatises, histories, studies, and (most importantly, in Kiela’s opinion) spellbooks. Only the elite, the crème de la crème of the scholars, were allowed to even view the spellbooks, as only the rarefied few were permitted, by imperial law, to use magic.” The narrative hinges on this last point. 

Kiela gathers up five crates of books and her sentient spider plant pal, Caz, and escapes in one of the library’s boats, heading to her birthplace, the island of Caltrey. “Behind them, the great city burned, with its people (both good and bad) and its history (both good and bad) and its books and its flowers. And she knew she wasn’t coming back.” Durst deftly sets the story in motion with quick, tense strokes, evoking a perfect intersection of fantasy and reality.

Kiela arrives on Caltrey, taking up residence in the family’s long-abandoned cottage. A loner by nature (and afraid of anyone discovering her literary contraband), she is reluctant to connect with the locals. “It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. It was only that she liked books more.”

To her dismay, Kiela discovers that her native island is depressed and desperate. Bryn, the local baker, shares with her the current state: “It used to be that the emperor would send his sorcerers on a regular rotation to tend to the outer islands, and they’d cast spells that balanced whatever nonsense they’d done in the capital city to throw them out of whack, but then they stopped coming.” 

This absence resulted in a scarcity of fish, dangerous changes in weather patterns, and depletion of crops. The capital’s abandonment of its responsibilities leads Kiela to the realization that “no matter who was in charge, the powerful always wanted to keep power for themselves.”

With serious poverty looming, Kiela delves into the rescued and forbidden tomes. Creating a jam shop as a front, she embarks on healing many of Caltrey’s problems, claiming her magic offerings are “old family remedies.” In Alyssium, Kiela was friendless by choice. Gradually, in Caltrey, she finds a welcoming community, a circle of friends, and a new sense of self. Eventually, the outside world threatens the enclave in the specter of imperial investigators. 

Along the way, romance appears in the form of her neighbor, Larran, the strapping merhorse herder and jack-of-all-trades. At first, she resists any interaction and then questions if he—or anyone—could be interested in her. But collaboration blossoms into more than just companionship.

Durst populates The Spellshop with a wonderful integration of the expected and fantastical. Here, four-armed harpists dwell side-by-side with centaurs. The forest is full of cloud-like bear spirits and unicorns. Winged cats take up residence on roofs and shelter in attics during storms. 

Possibly Durst’s greatest creation is the resourceful but angst-ridden spider plant, Caz, whose first words in the novel are “We’re going to die.” The anthropomorphic sidekick is hilarious, strangely human, and unique. “[Caz] crossed his leaves like a professor, preparing to listen to a student’s wildly incorrect theories. All he needed was a pair of wire-rimmed glasses perched on his roof to complete the look.” (Later, he is joined by a non-binary cactus whose sole vocal communication is the single word, “Meep.”)

The Spellshop celebrates the power of books: Anything can be accomplished by reading, researching, and studying. “If everyone failed her, whatever they did, she had all the immortal voices caught in pages.” However, Kiela learns that it is not solely what you learn but the application of that knowledge. Her life transforms from clerical and theoretical to harnessing information in active, productive, far-reaching results.

Ultimately, the story traces Kiela’s emergence from a narrow and disconnected academic to a risk-taking hero embracing life. Durst writes with rich, engaging prose; even her most whimsical ideas resonate with deep truth. The story takes on several contemporary issues in subtle but formidable ways. She highlights sustainability. It is not who you love but how truly you care. Parallels between magic and science are sharply drawn. Laws should protect and elevate the population and keep it safe. And, finally, that “law” and “right” are not synonymous—but should be. 

The Spellshop is a far-reaching and insightful novel that speaks great and important truths. But, first and foremost, it is a terrific read.

Pick up a copy online at www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com. For more information, visit sarahbethdurst.com.

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Horseshoe crabs at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai. Photo by John Turner

By John L. Turner

John Turner

Spending the first five years of my life in Flushing situated in central Queens, I knew nothing of horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus). My first encounter, after moving to Smithtown, was at the age of six during a visit to Cordwood Beach at the southern edge of Stony Brook Harbor. As I waded in the water these strange domed creatures were around us, moving slowly in the sand, animals so otherworldly different in appearance than any other thing I had seen in my young life.  

I don’t know when he learned this but my friend Tommy, a several year veteran of the beach scene, yelled loudly to watch out for their tails because they sting and I’d get hurt! Unfortunately, Tommy was perpetuating a false and unfortunate myth, one that has caused far too many crabs to be hurt and killed, as this remarkable and novel species is utterly harmless. In reality, as the passing decades have illustrated all too well, horseshoe crabs have considerably more reason to fear humans than we do them.    

This fear is borne out by numbers, numbers as alarming as they are staggering. Over the past quarter century more than four million horseshoe crabs have been killed in New York alone for use as bait in the American eel and whelk fisheries. As of now, the NYSDEC allows for 150,000 crabs to be “harvested” annually, as it has for each year of the past decade,  although to the agency’s credit, they could allow more than twice that amount based on the annual allotment of the 13-state Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) which sets crab quotas for the thirteen east coast states that are members of the Commission. 

This will change if Governor Kathy Hochul signs into law a bill (Assembly bill 10140/Senate bill 3185-A) the New York State legislature passed earlier this year which bans commercial crab harvest. It also bans the harvest of crabs for medical reasons but more about that later. 

Horseshoe crabs, which are not crabs at all but most closely related to scorpions and spiders, are often referred to as living fossils due to how far back they appear in the fossil record. Crabs reminiscent of the four existing species date back 450 million years ago to the Silurian Period of the Paleozoic Era and, remarkably, horseshoe crab fossils from the Mesozoic Era some 245 million years ago appear almost identical to modern-day species, a span many hundreds of times longer than humans have been on Earth. Now that’s an effective body design! 

Talking about the crab’s body, it consists of three basic parts: the horseshoe-shaped main body known as the prosoma to which is hinged a middle section, this part distinctive as each side contains half a dozen backward pointing spines. The middle is connected to the crab’s tail or telson, reportedly used by native Americans and early colonists as spear tips used for impaling eels and other fish. The telson is not used for stinging or stabbing (the horseshoe crab can’t do these things) but is used to right a crab overturned in a strong shoreline surf typically during mating. 

 If you turn a horseshoe crab upside down, cradling its prosoma in your hand, you’ll see other key body parts protected by the shell. Immediately jumping into view are the six pairs of legs, probably moving around wildly as you hold the animal in a position it finds disturbing. 

The first two smaller leg pairs are used to place food in the crab’s mouth which is situated in the middle of the legs, surrounded by them, and the other five pairs are used to help the crab walk, especially the legs closest to the tail. The first of these five pairs of legs, the ones next to the legs used for feeding, are different between males and females and are diagnostic in determining sex. With males, the ends of these legs contain claspers which look like tiny boxing gloves, making them distinctive from the other legs the male crab has; in females these legs look the same as all the others. Males use these claspers, well, to clasp the shell edge of the female with whom he is mating.   

Between the legs and the tail are the animal’s gills. Known as book gills because the gills are laid out like the pages in a book, the 150-200 “pages” per each of the five gills provide an amazing surface area the crab uses to absorb dissolved oxygen from the water — about 30 square feet of surface area! This is a major reason why crabs can survive in areas with lower oxygen levels. The crab also uses the gills to move through the water as it fans the gill covers synchronously.

Another distinctive aspect of horseshoe crab are their eyes — all ten of them! The two lateral eyes on each side of the body are, by far, the most noticeable and were closely studied for several decades, helping scientists to learn some basic aspects of animal vision. These are compound eyes with each one containing up to one thousand photoreceptors; these photoreceptors allow for the crab to see to each side, up and down, and forward and backward. They are about 100 times as large as the photoreceptors — rods and cones — situated in our eyes.    

And internally, there’s some pretty fascinating stuff going on. Take their blood. We humans bleed red, having blood that is iron based. Not so with horseshoe crabs. Their blood is turquoise colored because it is copper based. It is also extremely sensitive to bacterial endotoxins with the blood clotting in their presence. This clotting agent, known as Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL), is used on materials and medicines placed or injected in the human body such as vaccines or the fabricated joints used in knee and hip replacements to make sure they’re bacteria free.  If you’ve had an operation you can thank horseshoe crabs for ensuring your safety!

 Unfortunately, there is a downside to LAL — it is collected by bleeding horseshoe crabs via a needle inserted at the base of the tail — and approximately 15% die in the process and all survivors released back into the water are compromised at least temporarily. The good news is a synthetically manufactured alternative to LAL known as rFC has been developed which harms no crabs. rFC is widely used in Europe and is very likely to be approved for use in the United States later this summer, as well as in Asian countries.             

If you spend time along the shore you’ve probably seen the shells of horseshoe crabs. If they’re dark brown (and stinky!) you’ve come across a deceased crab. You might also find crabs that are tan-colored. These aren’t dead crabs but rather the “unstinky” molts of crabs that were very much alive when they shed their outgrown exoskeleton. If you pick up one of these fragile structures and pinch the sides you might see a crack along the edge of the shell where the top and bottom meet. It is through this seam from which the molting crab emerges, casting off its old skin, so to speak. Horseshoe crabs molt as many as eighteen times during their 25-year lives (assuming they’re not caught for bait) as they grow from tiny crabs to dinner-plate size animals.     

Drawn by the full (especially) and new moons in May and June, (actually the attraction is the higher than usual tides caused by these moons rather than the moon phases themselves) horseshoe crabs come to the water’s edge to spawn. You might find several smaller males swarming around a large female with one male attached by the aforementioned claspers. She lays the eggs in the well oxygenated sand at the interface of land and water. A healthy large female can lay upwards of 90,000 tiny green colored eggs per season. These eggs are vital food for a number of other animals.  At least one dozen species of shorebirds feed upon these tiny but protein rich little packets, including Ruddy Turnstones, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and  the federally threatened Red Knot. Many fish eat them too such as bluefish and weakfish. Loggerhead turtles, a federally endangered species, prey on the adults.        

We have a complex and ever evolving relationship with horseshoe crabs. We’ve harvested them by the truckload to be cut up into quarter pieces for bait, yet we spend time walking beaches to return stranded crabs to the water or flip right-side up crabs on their back in order to save their lives. We have ground them up for fertilizer but also lead moonlit “horseshoe crab appreciation” hikes highlighting their fascinating life histories. 

We still retain unfounded fears they sting, stab, or bite but delight in watching them during their annual mating rituals as they spawn billions of eggs, some of which provide sustenance to shorebirds traveling between hemispheres. But with the advancement of rFC and its promise to eliminate crab mortality from bleeding and the legislation to stop the commercial harvest awaiting the Governor’s action, we have a chance to write a new, much more positive chapter in the horseshoe crab-human relationship, one that no longer views crabs as only a commodity to be used and abused. 

A resident of Setauket, author John L. Turner is conservation chair of the Four Harbors Audubon Society, author of “Exploring the Other Island: A Seasonal Nature Guide to Long Island” and president of Alula Birding & Natural History Tours.

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