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Get out and enjoy Spring!

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

Ah, the paradox of Spring. Trees and bushes are in full bloom, and flowers are popping up everywhere. For those with seasonal allergies — also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever — it’s challenging to balance the desire to be outside with the discomfort it can bring.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25.7 percent of U.S. adults and 18.9 percent of children were diagnosed with seasonal allergies in 2021 (1). Triggers include pollen from leafy trees, shrubs, grass, flowering plants, and weeds.

What prompts allergic reactions?

Sufferers experience a chain reaction when they inhale pollen. It interacts with immunoglobulin E (IgE), antibodies that are part of our immune system and causes mast cells in the body’s tissues to degrade and release inflammatory mediators. These include histamines, leukotrienes, and eosinophils in those who are susceptible. In other words, it is an allergic inflammatory response.

The revved up immune system then responds with sneezing; red, itchy and watery eyes; scratchy throat; congestion; sinus headaches; postnasal drip; runny nose; diminished taste and smell; and even coughing (3). It can feel like a common cold, but without the virus. If you have symptoms that last more than 10 days and are recurrent, then it is more likely you have allergies than a virus.

If allergic rhinitis is not treated, it can lead to complications like ear infections, sinusitis, irritated throat, insomnia, chronic fatigue, headaches and even asthma (4).

What medications help? 

If you don’t want to seal yourself inside, to prevent allergy attacks, you might consider medications to reduce your symptoms.

Options include intranasal glucocorticoids (steroids), oral antihistamines, allergy shots, decongestants, antihistamine and decongestant eye drops.

The guidelines for treating seasonal allergic rhinitis with medications suggest that you use intranasal corticosteroids (steroids) when your quality of life suffers (5). Two commonly used inhaled steroids are triamcinolone (Nasacort) and fluticasone propionate (Flonase). They need to be used daily and can cause side effects, including headaches.

If itchiness and sneezing are your greatest challenges, second-generation oral antihistamines may be appropriate. These can be taken “as needed.” Examples include loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec) and fexofenadine (Allegra). These have less sleepiness as a side effect than first-generation antihistamines, like Benadryl, but they don’t work for everyone.

Is butterbur an effective treatment?

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) leaf extract has several small studies that indicate its efficacy in treating seasonal allergies. Butterbur is a shrub found in Europe, Asia and North America. 

In one randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 131 patients, results showed that butterbur was as effective as cetirizine (Zyrtec) (6). In another RCT, results showed that high doses of butterbur — 1 tablet given three times a day for two weeks — was significantly more effective than placebo (7). Researchers used butterbur Ze339 (carbon dioxide extract from the leaves of Petasites hybridus L., 8 mg petasines per tablet) in the trial.

A post-marketing follow-up study of 580 patients showed that, with butterbur Ze339, symptoms improved in 90 percent of patients with allergic rhinitis over a two-week period (8). Gastrointestinal upset occurred as the most common side effect in 3.8 percent of the study population.

There are several important caveats about using butterbur. The leaf extract used in studies was free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). PAs have been implicated in causing liver and lung damage and may cause cancer (9). Also, studies used well-measured doses, which may not be the case with over-the-counter extracts. Finally, there are interactions with some prescription medications.

If you are allergic to butterbur-related plants, such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and daisies, butterbur may cause an allergic reaction (9).

Can dietary changes treat seasonal allergies? 

There are no significant studies specifically on using diet; however, there is one literature review that suggests a plant-based diet may reduce symptoms of seasonal allergies in teens, as well as eczema and asthma (10). In my clinical practice, many patients with seasonal allergies have improved and even reversed the course of allergies over time with a vegetable-rich, plant-based diet. This might be due to its anti-inflammatory effects. Analogously, some physicians suggest that their patients have improved after removing dairy from their diets.

While allergies can make you miserable, there are many over-the-counter and prescription options to help. Diet may play a role by reducing inflammation. There does seem to be promise with butterbur extracts, there are caveats. Always consult your doctor before starting any supplements, herbs or over-the-counter medications.

References:

(1) CDC.gov. (2) acaai.org/allergies/types/pollen-allergy. (3) J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Dec;112(6):1021-31.. (4) J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Jan;125(1):16-29.. (5) Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015 Feb;2:197-206. (6) BMJ 2002;324:144. (7) Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Dec;130(12):1381-6. (8) Adv Ther. Mar-Apr 2006;23(2):373-84. (9) ncchih.nih.gov. (10) Eur Respir J. 2001;17(3):436-443.

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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Naomi Watts as Iris and Bing the Great Dane as Apollo in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Bleeker Street

Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel

“What will happen to the dog?” That question is the inciting force of The Friend, Scott McGehee and David Siegel’s meditative adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s 2018 novel, winner of the National Book Award for Fiction.

Canine cinema is its own subgenre. From Old Yeller to As Good as It Gets, Marley & Me to The Art of Racing in the Rain, the four-legged companions have threaded through dozens, if not hundreds, of stories. The films (Cujo excepted) focus on the transformative power for and of the love of dogs. From tear-jerkers to family farces, man’s best friend has often provided a mirror of their companions’ hearts, minds, and souls. 

Naomi Watts as Iris and Bing the Great Dane as Apollo in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Bleeker Street

The Friend lives in the intersecting worlds of literature and academia. Writer-former professor Walter (Bill Murray) takes his own life, and his third wife, Barbara (Noma Dumezweni), asks his former graduate student, colleague, and friend, Iris (Naomi Watts), to adopt his dog, a Great Dane named Apollo (Bing). Reluctantly, Iris agrees to temporarily house the dog in her rent-controlled New York apartment, where Hektor (Felix Solis), the superintendent, reminds her that pets are forbidden in the building. The film follows the usual path of distance to acceptance to bonding. 

While the description might indicate a by-the-numbers tale, The Friend rises above the basic. Iris and the denizens of her narrow, mostly intellectual world dwell in inner emptiness. Even Walter’s death leaves them numb, struggling to find meaning or even feeling. (It is no coincidence that Walter’s hero was the existential and almost perpetual bleak writer Samuel Beckett.) 

Iris, a self-proclaimed cat person, lives without a cat. Though the claim could be because of the apartment rules, it is more likely about her disconnection from connection. She collaborates with Walter’s illegitimate daughter, Val (Sarah Pidgeon), editing a book of Walter’s correspondence. But the undertaking is sluggish, frustrating, and unsatisfying. The publisher, Jerry (Josh Pais), pressures them to finish as there is “more interest in a dead Walter.” 

Iris’s mixed views about Walter (a serial philanderer) seep into every moment of Watts’ strikingly understated performance. Her Iris dwells in a sort of twilight void; the conflict and eventual acceptance of Apollo awakens her spirit, giving her life and giving that life meaning. Watts creates a powerfully subtle, multi-dimensional Iris. Watts is not so much slow as methodical, breathing the struggle of daily life. She is nothing less than riveting.

Naomi Watts as Iris and Bill Murray as Walter in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Bleeker Street

Watts is surrounded by equally restrained and effective performances. The always reliable Dumezweni grounds Barbara; Pidgeon makes the daughter simultaneously free-spirited and haunted; Constance Wu brings the right touch of narcissism to Tuesday, the insufferable second wife. Solis and Ann Dowd, as neighbor and friend, Marjorie, offer some of the brighter, warmer colors. 

Murray appears in a brief prologue, a few short flashbacks, and a fascinating speculative scene in which Iris attempts to work out her relationship with the dead man through the process of writing. Murray finds sweetness and restraint adding to Walter’s contradictory behaviors.

The only one who seems to truly mourn Walter is Apollo. From the drive from the kennel with Apollo gazing sadly out the taxi window to his coopting of Iris’s bed where he lays woefully inert, Bing brings a heart-breaking “humanity” to the Great Dane. (World-famous Bill Berloni is the supervisory animal trainer.)

The Friend can be summed up simply: Dogs are good. Dogs heal. Dogs provide hope. Dogs change lives. It still comes down to “What will happen to the dog?” But, with McGehee and Siegel’s mutely elegant screenplay and fluid, sensitive direction, Watts’ cathartic Iris, and a first-rate supporting cast, The Friend transcends expectations and delivers a memorable, occasionally painful, but ultimately hopeful film.  

Rated R, the film is now playing in local theaters.

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STEP RIGHT UP! Bubi the Clown invites you to Flip Circus under the big top at the Smith Haven Mall through April 15. Photo courtesy of Flip Circus
Ongoing

Flip Circus in Lake Grove

Flip Circus returns to the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove from April 4 to 15. Experience the magical moments under the red and white big top with trapeze artists, acrobats, jugglers and more! Show times are 7 p.m. on weekdays; and 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $15 for children and $50 for adults, with senior/military/handicap and family pack discounts available at www.flipcircus.com or at the  box office during each engagement.

Thursday April 10

TCAC art reception

Trinity Community Art Center, 130 Main St., Northport invites the community to an opening reception for “Reflections of Autism” by artist Erich Preis from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The exhibition runs through April 27. 631-637-2278

Atelier at Flowerfield reception

Join the Atelier at Flowerfield, 2 Flowerfield, Suites 6 & 9, St. James for an opening reception for “Inside and Outside The Box,” a solo exhibition of Dino Rinaldi’s latest artwork, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The exhibit runs through May 22. 631-250-9009

Crafts & Cocktails

Join the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor for Crafts & Cocktails: Beachy Botanicals from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Just in time for spring, enjoy the floral notes of a refreshing Botanical Bliss cocktail or mocktail while crafting a unique whelk shell planter. Discover the cultural history of the channel whelk, then be inspired by the swirling geometry of these shells as you decorate your planter complete with a plantlet to take home! For adults 21 and up. $35 per person. Register at www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Spring Wreath Making Workshop

Create a floral spring wreath with Diana Conklin of Diana Everlasting at the Reboli Center for the Arts, 64 Main St., Stony Brook from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. A beautiful wreath in your decor is something special but a beautiful wreath made by you is even better! $45 per person includes all materials. For ages 12 and up. Call 631-751-7707 to register.

Thankful Thursdays

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its Thankful Thursdays series with a free family-friendly planetarium show at 7 p.m. After the show, an astronomy educator will invite you to look through a telescope at the night sky (weather permitting). Recommended for ages 8 and up. For complimentary tickets, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Comedy Night at the CAC

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Stand Up/Sit Down comedy series in the Sky Room Cafe with live stand up with Richie Byrne at 8 p.m. followed by a Q&A with host Steven Taub. Tickets are $35, $25 members. To purchase in advance, visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Friday April 11

An evening of Opera

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 270 Main St., Northport presents an concert by Opera Night Long Island at 7:30 p.m. featuring performances by Darlene Bennett, Michaela Larsen, Georgia Rehbock, Christina Russo, Rebecca Rutkovsky, Ariana Warren, Logan Dell’Acqua and Arthur Lai. $10 donation, students free. 631-261-8808

The 7 Fingers in Duel Reality

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents The 7 Fingers in Duel Reality on the Main Stage tonight and April 12 at 8 p.m. This otherworldly production showcases a unique blend of circus, theatre, illusion, music, and dance, creating a jaw-dropping performance for audiences of all ages. Set against the backdrop of a tale reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, two warring families clash in a series of thrilling challenges, each more daring than the last. Tickets range from $47 to $66. To order, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

Grounds and Sounds concert

Grounds and Sounds Cafe, UUFSB, 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket hosts a concert featuring Annie Mark Ensemble at 8:15 p.m. The show begins with an Open Mic at 7:30 p.m. (signup at 7 p.m.); the main act goes on at 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, available in advance at www.groundsandsounds.org or at the door. For more information, call 631-751-0297.

Saturday April 12

The 7 Fingers in Duel Reality

See April 11 listing.

Grateful Paw Yard Sale fundraiser

Come support Grateful Paw Cat Shelter, 3 Verleye Ave., East Northport at their Yard Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Browse their selection of household items, jewelry, toys and more. 631-757-4517

Port Jeff Health & Wellness Fair

The Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce presents their 16th Annual Health and Wellness Fest at The Meadow Club, 1147 Rte. 112, Port Jefferson Station from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Featuring over 50 health and wellness vendor tables along with a food court, health screenings, plenty of giveaways and much more. Free.  631-473-1414, portjeffhealth.com

Shred-Recycle-Dispose event

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station and Brookhaven Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich host a Shred-Recycle-Dispose at the library from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring your paper documents for secure shredding, electronic devices for recycling, and old prescription drugs for safe disposal. No registration required. Questions? Call 631-928-1212.

Red Barn Thrift Shop reopens

Save the date! The Red Barn Thrift Shop at the Mt. Sinai Congregational Church, 233 North  Country Rd. Mt. Sinai will reopen for the season today and will be open every Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. through the fall. For more information, call 631-473-1582.

Volunteer Open House

Ever thought about volunteering at a museum? Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport will hold a Volunteer Open House from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come learn more about what their amazing volunteers do and the opportunities available. For more information, call 631-757-9859.

Model Train Show

Train Masters of Babylon Model Train Club at the Upper Room Church, 722 Deer Park Ave., Dix Hills hosts a Model Train Show Open House on Saturday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come see their new 6500 square foot Come check our progress and enjoy  multiple trains from prewar to the most modern O gauge trains running at all times. Fun for the whole family. Free admission. For more information, visit www.tmbmodeltrainclub.com

Second Saturdays Poetry

The Second Saturdays poetry series continues at All Souls Church in Stony Brook via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon. Former Suffolk County Poet Laureate Barbara Southard will be the featured poet followed by an open reading. 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/

Easter and Spring Farm Festival – *This event has been postponed to April 19 due to the weather.

Hippity hop to the Smithtown Historical Society, 239 East Main St., Smithtown for an Easter and Spring Festival from noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy a day of farm fun with spring crafts, an Easter scavenger hunt for a special prize, live music, craft and food vendors, pony rides, face painting, farmhouse tours and a special visit from the Easter Bunny. Rain date is April 13.  Tickets are $10 per person, $7 members, children under the age of 3 are free at the door or in advance at www.eventbrite.com.

Sunday April 13

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Selden Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary & Jr. Company will be hosting their annual breakfast with the Easter Bunny, at Engine #1, 44 Woodmere Place, Selden from 8 a.m. to noon with pancakes, raffles to win some Easter Basket goodies, and pictures with the Easter Bunny. $12 per person at the door. Children under the age of 3 are free. 631-732-1234

Pancakes with the Easter Bunny

Mt. Sinai Fire Department Company 1, 746 Mt. Sinai Coram Road, Mt. Sinai hosts its 15th annual Pancakes with the Easter Bunny from 8 a.m. to noon. Come out and eat some pancakes, see the Easter Bunny and take a chance on a raffle. Admission is $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 children, children under age 4 are free at the door. For more information, call 631-530-3820.

Pancake Breakfast w/Easter Bunny

The Polish American Independent Ladies Auxiliary presents a Pancake Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Polish American Independent Club, 35 Jayne Blvd., Port Jefferson Station with seatings at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Enjoy pancakes, sausage and fruit served with orange juice, coffee and tea, free photo booth and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny! Tickets are $20 adults, $10 children ages 6 to 17, $2 ages 5 and under at the door. Call 516-383-3456 for more information.

Golden Girls Gone Wild fundraiser

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents The Golden Girls Gone Wild: Dorothy’s Wedding fundraiser on the Second Stage at 11 a.m. The “girls” are back at it, but this time to get Dorothy hitched. It really was bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding because he gets knocked off before making it to the altar. Using clues, help solve the murder during this interactive brunch. Tickets are $125 and includes show and brunch. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Reboli Center art reception

Join the Reboli Center for Art & History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook for a closing reception for its Figure & Form exhibit from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Enjoy light refreshments, meet the artists, and explore a stunning showcase of contemporary art. 631-751-7707

Emmett Hughes in concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook  presents singer-songwriter Emmett Hughes in concert at 3 p.m. The singer-songwriter writes and performs original songs featuring an eclectic mix of styles; rock, reggae, pop and singer songwriter, together with heartfelt lyrics. The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. 631-689-5888, www.limusichalloffame.org

Lucy Kaplansky in concert

WUSB’s Sunday Street Series continues at The Long Island Museum, Stony Brook with a concert by Lucy Kaplansky in the Carriage Museum’s Gillespie Room at 5 p.m. Named the “troubadour laureate of modern folk,” Kaplansky will accompany herself on guitar, mandolin and on piano. Tickets in advance are $30 at www.sundaystreet.org. Any remaining tickets at the door are $38 (cash only).

Arriza Under the Stars

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents Arrizza Under the Stars, an exclusive planetarium live performance by local artist and musician Yannaki Arrizza, based on his recent 2022 album release Astronomia from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.  The music includes brilliant electronic soundscapes that combine digital and analog synthesizer sounds along with modern textures provided by the latest digital-audio technologies. Tickets in advance at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org are $35, $40 at the door.

Monday April 14

Ukranian Egg Workshop

Huntington Historical Society presents an Ukranian Egg Papier Mache workshop with Oksana Danziger at the Conklin Barn, 2 High St., Huntington from 6 to 8 p.m. At this special Easter/Spring workshop, participants will be painting beautiful papier-mâché eggs, which are twice the size of real eggs—making them much easier to decorate with intricate designs! Perfect for all skill levels. $45 per person, $40 members. To register, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Hip pain treatment lecture

St. Charles Hospital’s Wisdom Conference Center, 200 Belle Terre Road, Port Jefferson will hold a free community lecture on “Modern Approaches to Conservative and Non-Conservative Treatment of Hip Pain” with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gregory Minutillo from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. To register, call 631-474-6797.

Country Line Dancing

Celebrate St. James presents Country Line Dance lessons with Natalie at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 2nd St., St. James from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Come learn the hottest dances! $15 per person at the door. Please RSVP at  www.celebratestjames.org.

Emerson Legacy Concert

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook present an Emerson Legacy Concert in the Recital Hall at 7 p.m. Settle down for an intimate evening of classical music and cabaret, featuring Emerson String Quartet cellist Paul Watkins (on piano!) alongside Stony Brook University alumna and Metropolitan Opera star Christine Goerke. The pair will be joined by Emerson String Quartet members Eugene Drucker, violin, and Larry Dutton, viola, for an enthralling classical and cabaret program. Ticket prices range from $49 to $56. To order, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

Sound Beach Civic meeting

Sound Beach Civic Association will hold a meeting at the Sound Beach Firehouse, 152 Sound Beach Blvd., Sound Beach at 7:30 p.m. On the agenda is a senior scam seminar presented by the Suffolk County DA’s office and the Suffolk County police. All are welcome. For more information call 631-744-6952.

Movie Trivia Night at the CAC

Join the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington for a Movie Trivia Night at 8 p.m. Try to answer 50 questions based all around film, actors and actresses, awards, and everything else associated with the world of film. Challenge like-minded film fans in a battle of wits for cash and other prizes. You can form teams, so bring some friends and work together. Feel free to come alone and play solo as well! Hosted by Dan French. Tickets are $11 per person, $7 members at cinemaartscentre.org.

Tuesday April 15

Travel Presentation Club meeting

Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Setauket hosts a meeting of the Travel Presentation Club at 7:30 p.m.  Patricia Paladines will make a presentation entitled “ A World of Birds: Photo Journal of Avian Encounters.” All are welcome. Please contact [email protected] for further information.

Shades of Bublé

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its Special Events series with Shades of Bublé at 8 p.m. With three voices singing incredible songs like “Feeling Good,” “Moondance,” “Sway,” “Come Fly With Me,” “Home,” “Everything,” “Fever,” “Save the Last Dance for Me” and many more, the concert brings the swinging standards and pop hits of Michael Bublé to the stage in an unforgettable high-energy concert event. $45 per person. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Wednesday April 16

Fire Island Lighthouse lecture

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to explore the history of the iconic Fire Island Lighthouse from 1826 to the present with author Bill Bleyer at 7 p.m. Books will be available for sale and signing. To register, call 631-928-1212 or visit www.cplib.org

The Honey Badgers in concert

The Honey Badgers, a Newark, Delaware-based folk and Americana duo,  perform during the monthly Hard Luck Cafe concert series co-presented by the Folk Music Society of Huntington and the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Avenue, Huntington in the Cinema’s Sky Room from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.  An open mic, for which sign-up begins at 6:30 p.m, precedes the concert.  Tickets are $25 ($20 for Cinema Arts Centre/FMSH members) at www.cinemaartscentre.org or at the box office.

Thursday April 17

Huntington Walking Tour

Huntington Historical Society presents a Masonic temple tour with Ron Seifried, Chairman, Jephtha Masonic Lodge and Town Historian Robert Hughes at 6:30 p.m. Participants will learn about their history, practices, mission, and historic significance, and will be able to enjoy a drink from the lodge bar. This tour will begin at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building, located at 228 Main Street in Huntington Village. $25 per person, $20 members. Register at www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Film

‘Dust to Dust’

The Port Jefferson Documentary Series continues its spring season with Dust to Dust at the First United Methodist Church, 603 Main Street, Port Jefferson on April 10 at 7 p.m. Director Kosai Sekine follows haute couture designer Yuima Nakazato as he discovers the grave impact of “fast fashion” on the environment and then challenges his team and his industry to act more sustainably. Resources on recycling and a upcycled fashion show to follow the screening. Tickets are $10 at the door (cash only) or at www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com.

‘Free for All: The Public Library’

In partnership with Independent Lens, the Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council will host an Indie Lens Pop-Up screening of the documentary Free for All: The Public Library by Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor at the Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach on Friday, April 11 at 6 p.m. The documentary tells the story of the U.S. public library system—a simple idea that shaped a nation and the quiet revolutionaries who made it happen. The event will be followed by a library fair where MCPL representatives across the library’s departments show all the ways libraries serve their communities. Free but registration is required by visiting www.gpjac.org.

Theater

‘Waitress The Musical’

John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Waitress The Musical from March 13 to April 27. Based on the 2007 movie, it tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, Jenna fears she may have to abandon the dream of opening her own pie shop until a baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s handsome new doctor offer her a tempting recipe for happiness. To order, call 631-261-2900 or go to www.engemantheater.com.

‘Wait Until Dark’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its Mainstage season with Wait Until Dark from April 18 to May 11. One of the American theatre’s greatest suspense plays, Jeffrey Hatcher’s gripping new adaptation of Frederick Knott’s classic sets the action in 1944 Greenwich Village. Susan, a woman who recently lost her vision, is imperiled by con men searching for a mysterious doll. Trapped in her apartment, Susan draws on new depths of resourcefulness as the story builds to its extraordinary, breath-taking conclusion. Contains adult situations. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’

Suffolk County Community College, 533 College Road, Selden presents Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – The Musical in the Shea Theater in the Islip Arts Building April 17 to 19 and April 23 to 26 at 7:30 p.m. and  April 27 at 2 p.m. Based on the smash-hit movie, the play is the heartwarming, uplifting adventure of three friends, Tick, Bernadette and Adam, a glamorous Sydney-based performing trio who agree to take their show to the middle of the Australian outback. Featuring hits like “It’s Raining Men,” “I Will Survive,” “Hot Stuff,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “Go West,” “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” and “I Love The Nightlife.” General admission is $15, veterans and students 16 years of age or younger $10. SCCC students with current ID get one free ticket. To order, call 631-451-4163.

(mostly) TRUE THINGS 

The Performing Arts Studio, 224 East Main St., Port Jefferson presents a (mostly) TRUE THINGS Storytelling Show on April 26 at 7 p.m. Join them for a compelling evening of true stories – with a twist on the theme GAME ON! Hosted by Jude Treder-Wolff, the show will feature Marc Abbott, Aaron Foss, Cyndi Zaweski, and Jezrie-Mercano-Courtney. Tickets are $20 online at www.mostlytruethings.com, $25 at the door (cash only)

Farmers Markets

Huntington Farmers Market

Spirit of Huntington Art Center, 2 Melville Road North, Huntington Station hosts the Long Island Winter Farmers Market every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Jan. 5 through April 27. 631-470-9620

Port Jefferson Farmers Market

The Port Jefferson Winter Farmers Market returns to the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Jan. 12 through April 27. 631-802-2160

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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Exercises that involve balance, strength, movement, flexibility and endurance all play significant roles in fall prevention. METRO photo

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

Taking a tumble can cause broken bones and torn ligaments. While these might not be life-altering in younger folks, they can have serious consequences for older patients, including a decrease in functional ability and a decline in physical and social activities, which can lead to a loss of independence (1)(2). One recent study found that older adults who had suffered a fall had poorer health and well-being two years later when compared to those who had not fallen (3).

What increases your fall risk?

Obviously, environmental factors, like slippery or uneven surfaces, can increase your risk of falling. Age and medication use are also contributing factors. Some medications, like those used to treat high blood pressure or those targeting anxiety, depression and insomnia, are of particular concern. Chronic diseases may also contribute.

If you have upper and lower body strength weakness, decreased vision, a hearing disorder or psychological issues, such as anxiety and depression, these conditions predispose you to falling (4).

How can you reduce your fall risk?

Most importantly, exercise. Exercises that involve balance, strength, movement, flexibility and endurance all play significant roles in fall prevention (5). The good news is that many of these can be done inside with no equipment or with items found around the home. We will look more closely at the research.

Nonslip shoes are a big help. Look for slippers and shoes with non-skid soles. During the winter, choose footwear that prevents sliding on ice, such as boots with cleats or slip-on ice cleats that fit over your shoes.

In the home, secure area rugs, remove tripping hazards, install grab-bars in your bathroom showers and tubs, and add motion-activated nightlights.

And, of course, always pay attention when you’re walking. Don’t text, read or video chat while you’re moving around. A recently published study of young, healthy adults found that texting while walking affected their gait stability and postural balance when they were exposed to a slip hazard (6).

How do medications increase risk?

Several medications heighten fall risk, including psychotropic drugs and high blood pressure medications.

A well-designed study showed that those taking moderate doses of blood pressure medication had the greatest risk of serious injuries from falls, a 40 percent increase (7).

Because these medications can reduce cardiovascular risks, physicians must consider the risk-benefit ratio in older patients before prescribing or stopping a medication. We also should consider whether lifestyle modifications can reverse your need for medication or your dosage (8).

Using exercise to reduce fall risk

A meta-analysis showed that regular exercise significantly reduced the risk of a fall (9). It led to a 37 percent reduction in falls that resulted in injury and a 30 percent reduction in falls that required medical attention. Even more impressive was a 61 percent reduction in fracture risk. The author summarized that exercise not only helps to prevent falls but also fall injuries.

Unfortunately, those who have fallen before often develop a fear that leads them to limit their activities. This leads to a dangerous cycle of reduced balance and increased gait disorders, ultimately resulting in an increased fall risk (10).

Any consistent exercise program that focuses on flexibility and muscle tone and includes core strengthening can help improve your balance. Among those that have been studied, tai chi, yoga and aquatic exercise have all been shown to reduce falls and injuries from falls.

A randomized controlled trial showed that those who did an aquatic exercise program had a significant improvement in the risk of falls (11). The goal of the aquatic exercise was to improve balance, strength and mobility. Results showed a reduction in the overall number of falls and a 44 percent decline in the number of exercising patients who fell during the six-month trial, with no change in the control group.

Tai chi, which requires no equipment, was also shown to reduce both fall risk and fear of falling in older adults (12).

Another pilot study used modified chair yoga classes with a small, over-65 assisted-living population where participants had experienced a recent fall and had a resulting fear of falling (13). While the intention was to assess exercise safety, researchers found that participants had less reliance on assistive devices and three of the 16 participants were able to eliminate their use of mobility assistance devices.

Our best defense against fall risk is prevention with exercise and managing our environments to reduce fall opportunities. In addition, if you are 65 and older, or if you have arthritis and are over 45, it may mean reviewing your medication list with your doctor. Before you consider changing your blood pressure medications, review your risk-to-benefit ratio with your physician.

References:

(1) MMWR. 2014; 63(17):379-383. (2) J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1998;53(2):M112. (3) Aging Ment Health. 2021 Apr;25(4):742-748. (4) JAMA. 1995;273(17):1348. (5) Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;9:CD007146. (6) Heliyon. 2023 Aug; 9(8): e18366. (7) JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Apr;174(4):588-595. (8) JAMA Intern Med. 2014;174(4):577-587. (9) BMJ. 2013;347:f6234. (10) Age Ageing. 1997 May;26(3):189-193. (11) Menopause. 2013;20(10):1012-1019. (12) Mater Sociomed. 2018 Mar; 30(1): 38–42. (13) Int J Yoga. 2012 Jul-Dec; 5(2): 146–150.

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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'The Warbler'

Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel

“My mother is a willow. She stands by a stream that burbles like a toddler’s kisses, and her leaves dip into the water whenever the wind blows …” So opens the gifted Sarah Beth Durst’s latest novel, The Warbler. 

Author Sarah Beth Durst with a copy of her latest novel.

“If I stay, then one day, beneath the watchful blue sky, I too will grow roots, my skin will harden to bark, and the strands of my hair will blossom.” Elisa’s curse—what her mother called “our family inheritance”—condemns the family’s women to become trees if they remain in any place for too long.

“I’m packed before I’m ready to leave.” This statement embodies the nomadic Elisa, The Warbler’s central figure. She is never going to but “coming from.” Living under different names, she has taken on Beatrix, Wanda, Gitana, and Barbara, all of which mean “traveler” or “stranger.” Elisa’s quest is threefold: find her familial origins, understand her inability never to remain, and how to break the curse. The sole clue is the location must possess enough “unexplained oddities.” 

Until her mother Lori’s passing two years before, mother and daughter crisscrossed the United States, visiting strange and out-of-the-way towns.

As the book opens, Elisa leaves Tyler, with whom she has lived for ten months. She lived in the “now, now, now.” But her life is governed by strong tenets: “Don’t form ties. Don’t take mementos. Don’t keep in touch.” Elisa must always run. A particularly poignant memory is Elisa reflecting on a gift to her mother: a novelty pillow. But the simple offering was left behind because it tied them to that place. Elisa desires something as simple as a junk drawer or a jar of peanut butter “that I don’t have to ration.”

Elisa lands in Greenborough, Massachusetts (The verdant name hints at the possibility of answers to a nature-based enchantment.) Drawn by a cat in the window, her first stop is The Book Cellar, “overflowing with books, exactly as a bookstore should be. Every shelf is stuffed, with volumes wedged horizontally on top of vertical rows and crammed between the top shelf and the ceiling, so many that they look as if they have been quietly breeding for years.” 

Elisa is drawn to books because “they’re portable and replaceable.” Owen, the shop’s proprietor, befriends her. She immediately applies and is given a job in the store. But quickly, the town’s nature reveals itself when she witnesses a strange accident and its peculiar aftermath. 

‘The Warbler’

The town’s charming surface belies a roiling strangeness beneath its seemingly bucolic surface. Greenborough’s inhabitants include a musician who plays a stringless guitar, a writer whose fingers never touch the keys, a waiter who is perpetually wiping a dessert carousel, and a woman who keeps dozens of birds caged in her yard. Even the most benign statement can be ominous: “You know, I’ve lost track of when I came here. Guess time flies when you’re having fun.” The driving force of the peculiar but well-drawn cast of characters is a nameless trio of elderly sisters who suggest the fates in their many forms. 

Ultimately, The Warbler chronicles three generations: grandmother Rose, daughter Lori, and granddaughter Elisa. The book’s chapters alternate in three timelines, exploring the women’s lives and challenges. What seems, at first, a traditional fantasy grows into a complex and emotional narrative. Durst addresses the power of choice and the spirit (and danger) of wishing. Of her many works, Durst’s The Warbler is probably her most visceral and raw, compelling in Elisa’s passion to find truth but also a sense of self. 

Having been condemned to wander, the idea of home burns deeply. Elisa is one of Durst’s finest creations, an individual struggling with loneliness and looking for a sense of the whole. “I love music. It’s something that’s actually supposed to be ephemeral. You experience it, then move on, carrying it only as an imperfect memory of how it made you feel. It’s one of the few things that I can experience exactly like everyone else.” Glimpses of her various “lives” help create a wholeness as Elisa puts the pieces together.

Once again, Durst celebrates nature in its beauty and mystery. The metaphor of roots plays as a grounding but equally as a trap. Each woman yearned for a different life, but their choices or those around them failed to complete them. The novel’s resolution shows depth and insight into the fragility of human nature.

In previous novels, Durst demonstrated her skill as a world-builder with fantastical and wholly original universes. She inverts this idea with The Warbler, constructing her story in the very real, recognizable here-and-now. While no less effective, the immediacy becomes a driving force. Durst addresses the idea of home, the struggle between living free and being caged. 

In turns sinister and heartfelt, The Warbler is a tale of bravery in facing supernatural and wholly human adversity, looking beyond the shadow of danger, and embracing the healing power of self-reflection and understanding.

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Sarah Beth Durst is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty-five books for adults, teens, and kids. She lives in Stony Brook with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. Pick up a copy of The Warbler at your local bookseller or online at www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com. For more information, visit sarahbethdurst.com.

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Nicole Kidman as Nancy Vandergroot in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Amazon Prime

Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel

“Sometimes I wonder. Is it even real?” This notion heralds an interesting premise, but the idea fails to manifest in Amazon Prime’s limp psychological thriller Holland. 

Holland, Michigan, is a midwestern idyll—a Dutch Stepford, complete with tulips and windmills. Rooted in Americana values, one expects the town to be composed of theme park facades. 

Nicole Kidman as Nancy Vandergroot in a scene from the film.
Photo courtesy of Amazon Prime

Life Management (Home Economics) teacher Nancy Vandergroot (Nicole Kidman) lives a seemingly picture-perfect existence with her devoted optometrist husband, Fred (Matthew Macfadyen), and a well-behaved thirteen-year-old son, Harry (Jude Hill). Her world is a softly padded suburban prison, with a church deacon husband who is a community pillar. When asked if she did something different with the dinner recipe, she replies: “Brown mustard instead of yellow. I felt like doing something crazy.” 

Nancy’s hunt for a missing earring reveals a stash of Polaroid film and a suspicious parking ticket. The discoveries suggest Fred is having an affair. Admitting that she likes to “play detective,” Nancy enlists the attentive shop teacher, Dave Delgado (Gael Garcia Bernal), to help uncover Fred’s double life. 

Nicole Kidman and Gael Garcia Bernal in a scene from ‘Holland.’ Photo from Amazon Prime

“He goes to a lot of conferences for an optometrist,” she shares. The pair embark on a search for answers. “Sometimes in life, you know, you’ve got to follow the clues wherever they take you.” About one hundred minutes in, the story turns dark. A climactic confrontation leads to a complication and a less-than-satisfactory second climax/conclusion. 

With the right treatment, the predictable setup can make for an engaging story. Alfred Hitchcock often elevated modest plots with unusual twists, interesting points of view, and an ability to elicit fully realized characters. Hitchcock knew film was less the telling of the story but how the story is told. Unfortunately, Andrew Sodroski’s cluttered screenplay and Mimi Cave’s jumbled direction fail to commit to a tone or style. 

Mixing horror tropes (including nightmare visions), caper standards (almost being caught while searching for evidence), and off-beat humor (a kiss interrupted by a car hitting another car), the genres are not blended but rather randomly stacked. 

Much of the dialogue feels like it is being delivered in quotation marks and italics as if everything is simultaneously important but not what it seems. “We have to stay through Tulip Time.” Is this meant to be humorous? Foreboding? Quirky? Ultimately, the statement feels awkward, as does most of the film.

Matthew Macfadyen and Jude Hill in a scene from ‘Holland.’ Photo from Amazon Prime

The most effective piece is the model train hobby shared by father and son in the orderly garage: “You get to make a story about someone you’ve never met before and direct their whole lives … you get to control everything.” The toy railway’s real purpose is much deeper and the film’s most chilling element. 

Kidman is a gifted actor. With Nancy, she channels some of the more benign shades of To Die For’s Suzanne Stone. Nancy is naïve, frayed, and sometimes a little loopy. Kidman manages to carve some dimension in the homemaker’s struggle, finding balance and understanding in the gathering darkness of Nancy’s crumbling reality. The fact that her internal imbalance is not fleshed out (or resolved) lies squarely with Sodroski and Cave. 

Macfadyen (so strong as Mr. Darcy in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice) makes Fred charming, easy, and plausible, veering away from the ominous. Bernal is slightly over-earnest as a man of great conscience who is clearly in love with Nancy. Some racial issues imposed on the narrative ultimately go nowhere, but Bernal uses those to give his character a sense of other in an almost solely white community. Hill makes Harry believable—both likable and subtle. 

Holland attempts to cover self-knowledge, infidelity, guilt, racism, psychological abuse, societal expectations, and a host of other concepts. By trying to say and do so many things, the film fails to unify as one. In the end, Holland is a simplistic suspenser mired in assorted clichés.

Rated R, the film is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

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FINAL ONE ACTS The 26th annual Festival of One-Act Plays is winding down at Theatre Three Come see what everyone's raving about before the show closes on April 5. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
Ongoing

FLIP Circus in Lake Grove

Flip Circus returns to the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove from April 4 to 15.  Experience the magical moments under the red and white big top with trapeze artists, acrobats, jugglers and more! Showtimes are 7 p.m. on weekdays; and 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $15 for children and $50 for adults, with senior/military/handicap and family pack discounts available at www.flipcircus.com or at the  box office during each engagement.

Thursday April 3

Game Night at the LIM

As a companion program to its Voices and Votes exhibition, the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook presents an American Experiments Game Night from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. featuring a series of games developed by the Smithsonian Institution. Drop in to view the exhibition and participate in meaningful discussions about ideas that are critical to our democracy, all in a fun and engaging format. Adults and children are welcome to stop by and play! Free admission. No registration required. 631-751-0066

Gallery North Art Reception

Gallery North , 90 North Country Road, Setauket invites the community to an opening reception for Lori Horowitz: Undergrowth from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The exhibition, which runs through May 11, features mixed media sculptures, reliefs, and photographs inspired by the study of the pristine and precious environment surrounding the artist’s home, and the cycles of nature and the social complexities that threaten the delicate balance. For more info, call 631-751-2676.

Audubon Society Lecture

Join Four Harbors Audubon Society for a Spring presentation, Paved Paradise: The Ecological Impacts of America’s Road System with guest speaker Ben Goldfarb,  via Zoom at 7 p.m. In his talk, Goldfarb will discuss the ecological harms wrought by transportation and the movement to redress them — and how we can create a better, safer world for all living beings. To register, visit www.4has.org.

Friday April 4 

Military Bridge

Join Union United Methodist Church, 1018 Pulaski Road, East Northport for an evening of Military Bridge at 7 p.m. Bring a group of four or come on your own. Tickets are $20. Call 631-806-3491 to reserve your tickets.

Jazz Orchestra Concert

The Jazz Loft’s 28-piece Big Band will present a performance of Stan Kenton’s “Cuban Fire Suite,” an authentic and highly energetic composition inspired and infused by Cuban rhythms, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. tonight at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Performing Arts 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook and on April 5 at The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook. Tickets are $35 adults, $30 seniors; $25 for students and $20 for children. To order, visit www.thejazzloft.org.

Saturday April 5

Jazz Orchestra Concert

See April 4 listing.

Nature Walk

Town of Brookhaven continues its free spring nature programs with Birding by the Beach at West Meadow Beach in Stony Brook at 10 a.m. and Cedar Beach Nature Center in Mt. Sinai at 2 p.m. Explore the unique ecology of the beach and salt marsh during this free program. Pre-registration required by emailing [email protected].

Hauppauge Spring Craft Fair

Shop small and save big! Hauppauge High School, 500 Lincoln Blvd. Hauppauge hosts a Spring and Gift Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Featuring 100 local vendors selling crafts, jewelry, clothing, bath soaps, crochet, holiday decor, honey, candy, fashion accessories, woodworking, and spring lawn decor at this indoor event. Free admission and free door prize. 631-885-1267

Inclusion Resource Fair

In partnership with Sachem SEPTA and the Sachem School District, Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook will host an Inclusion Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Caregivers and individuals with special needs can connect with organizations that offer support services. Stop by and get a picture with Chippy, the library mascot. 631-588-5024

St. Baldrick’s event

VFW Post 3054, 8 Jones St., Setauket will host a St. Baldrick’s event for Three Village Heroes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring the family for a fun-filled day including music, food trucks, raffles, outdoor games and more to raise money to fight childhood cancer. Held rain or shine. 631-406-1938

Youth Abilities Fair

In partnership with Middle Country SEPTA, the Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach will host a Youth Abilities Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meet representatives from various organizations and learn about their resources, services and activities for children and teens. Enjoy a sensory space, crafts, games, activities and meet the Super Mario Brothers and friends! Enjoy a spectacular magic show at 1 p.m. with the Great and Powerful Dave. 631-585-9393

Wet Paints Studio Art Reception

Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson invites the community to an artist reception for its latest exhibit on the Second Floor by the Wet Paints Studio Group from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Refreshments will be served. The exhibit runs through April 29. 516-380-7715

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser

St. Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church 18 Magnolia Place, Selden will hold a Spaghetti Dinner and Basket Raffle from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. $10 admission includes dinner, dessert, 5 raffle tickets and a door prize ticket. Proceeds benefit St. Cuthbert’s Food Pantry. To RSVP, call 631-732-8773 or visit their Facebook page.

Saturdays at Six Concert

All Souls Church, 61 Main Street, Stony Brook continues its Saturdays at Six series with a concert by Brazilian guitarist Octávio Deluchi at 6 p.m. The program will feature a balance between Spanish and Brazilian repertoire, including selections by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Astor Piazzolla, Chiquinha Gonzaga, Marco Pereira, and others. Free. Call 631-655-7798 for more information.

Sunday April 6

All Kids Fair

Huntington Hilton, 598 Broad Hollow Road, Melville will host the 14th annual All Kids Fair from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with over 80 kid-centered exhibitors. Activities include bounce houses, petting zoo, music, face painting, balloon animals, puppies to cuddle, kid’s classes, arts and crafts and much more. Tickets purchased in advance are $5;  $10 for children ages 2 and up and $5 for adults at the door. www.AllKidsFair.com/Tickets.

Spring Craft Fair

Backstage Studio of Dance, 200 Wilson St., Port Jefferson Station will hold a Spring Craft Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shop for art, crafts, jewelry, homemade gifts, soaps, clothing, personalized items, baked goods, crocheted items and much more. Free admission. For more information, call 631-331-5766.

Ridotto concert

Huntington Jewish Center, 510 Park Ave., Huntington hosts a Ridotto concert featuring Spanish pianist Gustavo Diaz-Jerez at 4 p.m. The program will include works by Albeniz (Iberia), DeFalla, Soler and his own composition. Tickets are $35 adults $30 seniors, $25 members $12 students. To order, call 631-385-0373, or email [email protected]

Simon & Garfunkel lecture

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook  presents Simon & Garfunkel: Old Friends at 3 p.m. In this unique 90-minute multimedia program, Tony Traguardo presents the story of the two kids from Queens who started their professional career together as ‘Tom and Jerry.’ Followed by a Q&A. The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. 631-689-5888, www.limusichalloffame.org

Toby Tobias in Concert

The Toby Tobias Ensemble presents a concert of Global American music at Stony Brook Community Church, 216 Christian Ave., Stony Brook at 3 p.m. A reception with the musicians will follow the concert. Tickets are $20 adults, $10 students. For more information, call 631-751-0574 or email [email protected].

Monday April 7

Lyme Disease Awareness Workshop

Visit Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station to learn all about Lyme disease with Doreen Eadie NP, Advanced Practice Provider from the Specialty Care Center at St. Charles Hospital from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. To register, call 631-928-1212 or visit www.cplib.org

Tuesday April 8

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to concert by singer and entertainer Susan Capri at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

Local Author Fair

Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook hosts a Local Author Fair from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Celebrate the joy of reading and writing! Meet and chat with local authors, purchase signed books and enter a raffle to win exciting prizes. Light refreshments will be served. Questions? Call 631-588-5024

Wednesday April 9

No events listed for this day.

Thursday April 10

TCAC art reception

Trinity Community Art Center, 130 Main St., Northport invites the community to an opening reception for “Reflections of Autism” by artist Erich Preis from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The exhibition runs through April 27. 631-637-2278

Crafts & Cocktails

Join the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor for Crafts & Cocktails: Beachy Botanicals from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Just in time for spring, enjoy the floral notes of a refreshing Botanical Bliss cocktail or mocktail while crafting a unique whelk shell planter. Discover the cultural history of the channel whelk, then be inspired by the swirling geometry of these shells as you decorate your planter complete with a plantlet to take home! For adults 21 and up. $35 per person. Register at www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Spring Wreath Making Workshop

Create a floral spring wreath with Diana Conklin of Diana Everlasting at the Reboli Center for the Arts, 64 Main St., Stony Brook from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. A beautiful wreath in your decor is something special but a beautiful wreath made by you is even better! $45 per person includes all materials. For ages 12 and up. Call 631-751-7707 to register.

Comedy Night at the CAC

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Stand Up/ Sit Down comedy series in the Sky Room Cafe with live stand up with Richie Byrne at 8 p.m. followed by a Q&A with host Steven Taub. Tickets are $35, $25 members. To purchase in advance, visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Film

Made in Huntington Film Festival

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington will host the Made in Huntington Film Festival at various times from April 3 to April 6. Explore 36 selections ranging from a Public Service Announcement, animation, a silent film, bundles of short subjects and multiple feature length films. Tickets are $20, $18 members. For the full schedule, visit www.madeinhuntington.com/screenings.

‘Man From Pretentia’

The Port Jefferson Documentary Series continues its spring season with Man From Pretentia, a tender portrait of “quirky” art dealer, Paul Bridgewater, who became a fixture of the Downtown NYC art scene, at the First United Methodist Church, 603 Main Street, Port Jefferson on April 3 at 7 p.m. Followed by a Q&A with the director, Chih Hsuan Liang, and producer, Steve Zehentner. Tickets are $10 at the door (cash only) or at www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com.

‘Juror #2’

Join Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station for a viewing of Juror #2 starring Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, and Kiefer Sutherland on April 9 at 2 p.m. Open to all. To reserve your seat, call 631-928-1212 or visit www.cplib.org.

‘Theater of Thought’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Science on Screen series with Theater of Thought: Neuroscience and the Human Brain on April 9 at 7:30 p.m. Followed by a conversation and Q&A with Dr. Alexei Koulakov from CSHL. Tickets are $16, $10 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org.

‘Dust to Dust’

The Port Jefferson Documentary Series continues its spring season with Dust to Dust at the First United Methodist Church, 603 Main Street, Port Jefferson on April 10 at 7 p.m. Director Kosai Sekine follows haute couture designer Yuima Nakazato as he discovers the grave impact of “fast fashion” on the environment and then challenges his team and his industry to act more sustainably. Resources on recycling and a upcycled fashion show to follow the screening. Tickets are $10 at the door (cash only) or at www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com.

Theater

Festival of One Act Plays

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the 26th annual Festival of One-Act Plays at The Ronald F. Peierls Theatre on the Second Stage from March 8 to April 5. Featuring the world premieres of 7 one act plays. Tickets are $25. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

‘Menopause the Musical’

It’s back! Menopause the Musical returns to the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown from March 15 to April 6. A hilarious celebration of women and The Change, this musical parody set to classic tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles. Tickets are $61.50, $56.50 seniors. To order, call 1-800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

‘Waitress The Musical’

John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Waitress The Musical from March 13 to April 27. Based on the 2007 movie, it tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, Jenna fears she may have to abandon the dream of opening her own pie shop until a baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s handsome new doctor offer her a tempting recipe for happiness. To order, call 631-261-2900 or go to www.engemantheater.com.

‘Into the Woods’

Lighthouse Theatre Company presents the Tony award-winning musical Into the Woods at St. James Episcopal Church, Mills Hall, 490 North Country Road, St. James on April 4 and April 5 at 8 p.m. and April 6 at 3 p.m. Stephen Sondheim’s masterful score soars in this poignant dark-comedy featuring all your favorite fairytale characters as you’ve never seen them before. Proceeds benefit Celebrate St. James. (CSJ). Tickets are $35 adults $30 seniors/veterans, $25 CSJ members and includes dinner and dessert. To order, visit lighthousetheatrecompany.com/tickets.

‘Wait Until Dark’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its Mainstage season with Wait Until Dark from April 18 to May 11. One of the American theatre’s greatest suspense plays, Jeffrey Hatcher’s gripping new adaptation of Frederick Knott’s classic sets the action in 1944 Greenwich Village. Susan, a woman who recently lost her vision, is imperiled by con men searching for a mysterious doll. Trapped in her apartment, Susan draws on new depths of resourcefulness as the story builds to its extraordinary, breath-taking conclusion. Contains adult situations. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’

Suffolk County Community College, 533 College Road, Selden presents Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – The Musical in the Shea Theater in the Islip Arts Building April 17 to 19 and April 23 to 26 at 7:30 p.m. and  April 27 at 2 p.m. Based on the smash-hit movie, the play is the heartwarming, uplifting adventure of three friends, Tick, Bernadette and Adam, a glamorous Sydney-based performing trio who agree to take their show to the middle of the Australian outback. Featuring hits like “It’s Raining Men,” “I Will Survive,” “Hot Stuff,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “Go West,” “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” and “I Love The Nightlife.” General admission is $15, veterans and students 16 years of age or younger $10. SCCC students with current ID get one free ticket. To order, call 631-451-4163.

(mostly) TRUE THINGS 

The Performing Arts Studio, 224 East Main St., Port Jefferson presents a (mostly) TRUE THINGS Storytelling Show on April 26 at 7 p.m. Join them for a compelling evening of true stories – with a twist on the theme GAME ON! Hosted by Jude Treder-Wolff, the show will feature Marc Abbott, Aaron Foss, Cyndi Zaweski, and Jezrie-Mercano-Courtney. Tickets are $20 online at www.mostlytruethings.com, $25 at the door (cash only).

Farmers Markets

Huntington Farmers Market

Spirit of Huntington Art Center, 2 Melville Road North, Huntington Station hosts the Long Island Winter Farmers Market every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Jan. 5 through April 27. 631-470-9620

Port Jefferson Farmers Market

The Port Jefferson Winter Farmers Market returns to the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Jan. 12 through April 27. 631-802-216

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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Sugar

ADOPT SUGAR!

She’s Sugar, spice and everything nice! Sugar is a delightfully sweet, and petite, chocolate-colored Min-Pin (Miniature Pinscher and Boston Terrier) Mix up for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter.

This six-year-old girl’s journey began under some very unfortunate circumstances, originally rescued by the Shelter from a terrible breeding situation where she was used, neglected, and discarded. After medical care for being malnourished and dehydrated, this tiny survivor was later adopted… only to be returned to the shelter two years later due to her fears when it comes to meeting new people. This little survivor has been let down far too many times… but we know the right family is out there to give her the love she truly deserves.

Because of her difficult past, Sugar can be a little shy when meeting new people — but with patience, kindness, and a few treats, you’ll quickly earn her trust and see her wonderful personality shine. Sugar is smart, energetic, and eager to please. She loves to learn and will thrive in a quiet, compassionate home where she can finally feel safe, loved, and part of the family. If you’re ready to show Sugar that not all humans disappoint, she’s ready to fill your life with joy, loyalty, and unconditional love.

Sugar can become protective of her people, however she will listen when corrected. Sugar would be best suited in a quiet home with no other pets or children. Let’s get her story out to the world far and wide… if you’re not the right person for Sugar, you can still help by sharing her story on Social Media and with friends, neighbors and family.

If you are interested in meeting Sugar please fill out an application and schedule a date/time to properly interact in a domestic setting, which includes a Meet and Greet Room, the dog runs, and a Dog Walk trail.

The Town of Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Visitor hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only). For more information, call 631-360-7575 or visit www.townofsmithtownanimalshelter.com.

For more information regarding more rescue animals available for adoption visit:. TownofSmithtownAnimalShelter.com 
URGENT – Foster Opportunity:
If you have no other pets or young children at home, and are looking for a way to serve your community, please consider signing up to be a foster. Foster parents provide temporary care for cats, kittens, and dogs in their own homes. Some animals need as little as two weeks of care, while others may need care for extended periods of time.
Download the Foster Application at:

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 Obesity can influence your body’s ability to use vitamin D

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

Happy Spring! It’s been a rougher winter than in recent years, and the additional hours of sunshine each day seem even more welcome than usual.

The extra sunshine is also good news for your vitamin D3 levels. Realistically, though, it’s still challenging to get enough sun exposure to meet your vitamin D requirements without putting yourself at risk for developing skin cancer. Even without this concern, sun exposure doesn’t address all our vitamin D needs. In a study of Hawaiians, a subset of the study population with more than 20 hours of sun exposure without sunscreen per week still had some participants with low vitamin D3 values (1).

This is why many of us rely on food-sourced vitamin D from fortified packaged foods, where vitamin D3 has been added. 

Why do we care about vitamin D? Studies have shown that it may be effective in preventing and treating a wide swath of chronic diseases. If you have low levels of vitamin D, replacing it is important. There’s still a lot we don’t know, though.

For example, there is no consensus on the ideal blood level for vitamin D. For adults, the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine (IOM)) recommends between 20 and 50 ng/ml (2). The Endocrine Society updated their testing and supplementation recommendations in 2024 to stratify them by age and pregnancy status, among other risk factors (3). Generally, however, they do not recommend testing vitamin D3 levels for healthy adults and defer to the IOM for supplementation recommendations.

How does body fat affect Vitamin D absorption?

Data from the VITAL trial, a large-scale vitamin D and Omega-3 trial, suggests that participants with BMIs of less than 25 kg/m2 had significant health benefits from supplementation versus placebo (4). These included 24 percent lower cancer incidence, 42 percent lower cancer mortality, and 22 percent lower incidence of autoimmune disease. Those with higher BMIs did not experience these benefits.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), those with obesity issues might need greater intakes of vitamin D to achieve vitamin D levels similar to those of people with lower weights, because subcutaneous fat sequesters vitamin D, making it unavailable for their systems to use (2).

Does vitamin D improve cardiovascular health?

Several observational studies have shown benefits from vitamin D supplementation with cardiovascular disease. The Framingham Offspring Study showed that patients with deficient levels were at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (5).

In contrast, though, a small randomized controlled trial (RCT) questioned the cardioprotective effects of vitamin D (6). This study of postmenopausal women, using biomarkers such as endothelial function, inflammation or vascular stiffness, showed no difference between vitamin D treatment and placebo. The authors concluded there is no reason to give vitamin D for prevention of cardiovascular disease. 

An NIH review of both observational and randomized clinical trials concluded that, even for those with low vitamin D levels, supplementation does not reduce cardiovascular disease risk (2). 

How does vitamin D affect your weight?

There is moderately good news on the weight front. The Study of Osteoporotic Fractures found that vitamin D plays a role in reducing the amount of weight gain in women 65 years and older whose blood levels were more than 30 ng/ml (7).

This association held true at baseline and after 4.5 years of observation. If the women dropped below 30 ng/ml in this period, they were more likely to gain more weight, and they gained less if they kept levels above the target. There were 4,659 participants in the study. Unfortunately, sufficient vitamin D did not result in weight loss.

Does vitamin D supplementation reduce fracture risk?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against giving “healthy” postmenopausal women vitamin D, calcium or the combination of vitamin D3 400 IUs plus calcium 1,000 mg to prevent fractures, and it found inadequate evidence of fracture prevention at higher levels (8). The combination does not seem to reduce fractures, but it does increase the risk of kidney stones.

Should you supplement your vitamin D3?

While vitamin D may not be a cure-all, it might play a role with many disorders. It is important to supplement to optimal levels, especially since many of us living in the Northeast have insufficient to deficient levels. This is especially important for those with specific health issues that are affected by low vitamin D levels. However, it is important not to raise your blood levels too high (9). I advise my patients to target a range between 32 and 50 ng/ml, depending on their health circumstances.

References:

(1) J Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2007 Jun;92(6):2130-2135. (2) nih.gov. (3) JCEM, August 2024 (online June 2024). (4) JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Published online Jan 2023. (5) Circulation. 2008 Jan 29;117(4):503-511. (6) PLoS One. 2012;7(5):e36617. (7) J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. May 17, 2012 online. (8) JAMA. 2018;319(15):1592-1599. (9) Am J Lifestyle Med. 2021 Jul-Aug; 15(4): 397–401.

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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A scene from 'Snow White.' Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Rachel Zegler as Snow White in a scene from the film.Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Andrew Burnap as Jonathan and Rachel Zegler as Snow White in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Gal Gadot as the evil stepmother in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
'Snow White' is now playing in local theaters. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel

Disney’s Snow White arrives in theaters on a wave of bad publicity. The casting of a non-traditional Snow White and that actor’s criticism of the original animated version, the approach to the seven diminutive cohorts, and the friction between its two stars have caused the House of Mouse to take a cautious approach to the live-action release.

The 1937 feature was part of Disney’s Golden Age of Animation. While a progressive sensibility can find fault with its outdated views, it remains unmatched for pure art and craft. Over the years, dozens of Snow Whites have graced the big and small screens. Beginning with the 1902 silent, adaptations include Mirror, Mirror; Snow White and the Huntsman; Snow White: A Tale of Terror; and Snow White and the Three Stooges.

Putting this aside, Disney’s Snow White is a by-the-numbers remake with some modern additions. The plot connects the usual dots. Snow White’s mother dies, and her father, the king, remarries a beautiful but vain woman. The sorceress queen’s magic mirror informs her she is no longer “the fairest of them all”—that honor now bestowed on her stepdaughter, Snow White.

Enraged, the queen orders her huntsman to take the princess into the forest, kill her, and bring back the girl’s heart. The huntsman takes pity on the girl and lets her escape. Snow White seeks refuge in the cottage of seven dwarfs. When the queen discovers the girl is still alive, she turns herself into a crone, giving her a poisoned apple. Snow White eats the apple and “falls dead.” True love’s kiss—in the form of a prince—wakes her from her death-like slumber, and they live happily ever after.

The new Snow White follows the essentials with a few variations. Snow White is named for the snowstorm during which she was born. The king disappeared, but no proof of death added to Snow White’s quest. The young woman displays a strong independent streak and speaks up for the mistreated citizens. The biggest departure is the absence of a prince. In his place is the generic “guy,” Jonathan, and his seven out-of-work actors. Snow White and the low-rent Robin Hood “meet cute” when she catches him stealing potatoes from the royal kitchen. While she lets him go, he is arrested and tied to the palace’s front gate. She sets him free. Later, they meet in the forest and reconnect. 

None of the changes are terribly original. While nodding towards political correctness, they could have enhanced this Snow White had they been well-handled. However, they are not, and they do not. The leaden film’s muted and desaturated colors create a joyless landscape. The production is oddly cheap, with costumes evoking dollar-store cosplay. (The exception is the queen’s wardrobe.) The new songs—by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Jack Feldman—barely register. From the lifeless and oddly brief opening number, “Good Things Grow,” and Snow White’s generic I Want song, “Waiting on a Wish,” to the queen’s bizarrely wrong-headed “All is Fair,” not one is memorable. The incongruous “Princess Problems” might be a Meet Me in St. Louis cast-off.

Rachel Zegler (wonderful in West Side Story) is a fine, charming Snow White, understanding the decisive, strong character. She moves with elegant determination and sings with heart and purpose. She just deserved a better script and a modicum of direction. 

Gal Gadot is the most wooden villain on record (including the talking trees in The Wizard of Oz). Her stiff line readings compete with the worst community theatre divas. She looks great; unfortunately, she speaks as though she learned her lines phonetically. 

Andrew Burnap is saddled with Jonathan, a hero so dull that he seems like he is going to fall asleep mid-sentence. (The vibe is a fast-food counter worker on his third consecutive shift.) A distinct lack of chemistry separates Zegler and Burnap; whether this is an absence of spark between the actors or the failure of the screenplay is hard to judge. 

The always reliable Patrick Page voices the Magic Mirror and ably channels the 1937 film. Ansu Kabia’s huntsman barely receives two dimensions. One suspects with the right opportunity, he could have made more of the role. The entire cast appears under-rehearsed as if the cameras rolled days before they found any comfort with the material. Snow White is indifferent Renaissance Faire meets second-rate theme park.

And then there are the dwarfs. (Oh, those dwarfs.) Regardless of the public relations problems, this choice was not the solution. The seven CGI-ed figures attempt to capture the charm of their animated counterparts. They do not—not even a little. Living in a Thomas Kinkade-inspired cottage, their images are simultaneously generic and disturbingly hideous. (The equally CGI-ed forest creatures are a little better, in their kinda weird-kinda cute way.)

Disney misfired, trying to please everyone by twisting itself into a knot of contemporary sensitivity. With lackluster design, an underwritten but overthought screenplay, and an insignificant score, this Disney canon entry will be remembered for its muddled controversies rather than its less-than-bland enchantment. In the end, Snow White is not so much about staying woke but staying awake. 

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

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