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Xolo Maridueña in a scene from 'Blue Beetle.' Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Comics

Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel

For every superhero blockbuster, an equal number are box office disasters. For each Avengers: Endgame or Iron Man 3, there is Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash. Many superheroes have risen and fallen, only to rise again in a parade of reboots and colored tights.

The Blue Beetle first appeared in Fox Comics’ Mystery Men Comics #1 (1939). The titular hero, Dan Garet, took Vitamin 2X, which gave him “super-energy.” When Fox went out of business, Charlton Comics bought the character, reprinting some of the stories before launching its version in 1955. In 1964, Charlton re-envisioned the character: Dan Garrett acquired an extra “r” and “t” along with a new origin story centered around a mystical power-giving Egyptian scarab. In 1966, inventor Ted Kord became a gadget-centric Blue Beetle following Garrett’s death. Next, the character’s mythology was reinvented with both Blue Beetles—Garrett and Kord—in Americomics (published by AC Comics). 

Xolo Maridueña in a scene from ‘Blue Beetle.’ Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Comics

DC Comics bought Charlton’s superhero collection in 1983, changing Ted Kord to a billionaire industrialist. This Ted Kord appeared in various titles, including Justice League, Justice League America, and Birds of Prey, the identity continuing through 2005. DC presented a new Blue Beetle in 2006: teenager Jaime Reyes, whose powers came from the scarab, a piece of alien technology. While the initial series was cancelled due to poor sales, a revival came in 2011, disconnecting Reyes from previous Beetles. In 2016 Garrett and Kord were restored as previous Blue Beetles. Jamie Reyes was the focus of a limited series, Blue Beetle: Graduation Day, offered from 2022 to 2023. 

Enter DC studio’s Blue Beetle. After a prologue establishing Kord Industries locating the scarab in a frozen tundra, the action quickly shifts to bright-eyed pre-law college graduate Jamie Reyes returning home to the fictional Texan town of Palmera City. As he rides down the airport escalator, he adjusts his mortarboard. Turning to the gentleman beside him, he asks, “How do I look?” The man dryly responds, “Like you’re six figures in debt.” The smart quip establishes the tone and world that Jamie faces. 

Jamie is greeted by his family—mother, father, grandmother, sister, and eccentric uncle. During a celebratory meal, Jamie learns that his auto mechanic father lost his job due to a heart attack. They are now in danger of losing the family home, three months in arrears. His sister, Milagro, gets them a job working in the mansion of Kord Industries CEO Victoria Kord (whom Milagro describes with begrudging respect as “Cruella Kardashian”). They lose their positions when Jamie steps into a fight between Victoria and her niece, Jenny. In gratitude, Jenny offers Jamie employment and tells him to come to Kord Tower. 

The next day, Jenny discovers that Victoria uses the scarab for her OMAC (One Man Army Corps) project. Jenny steals the scarab in a fast-food hamburger container, but the laboratory director discovers its theft, and the building is put on lockdown. In danger of being caught, Jenny passes the box to Jamie, who takes it home, warning him not to open it or touch its contents.

Upon returning, the family pressures him to see what is in the box. In full view of his family, Jamie touches the scarab, which attaches itself to him. He is immediately surrounded by an exoskeleton/armored suit, complete with a guidance voice and myriad abilities, including flight and a host of defensive and offensive capacities. (Jenny later tells Jamie that the scarab is an ancient sentient weapon that has chosen him as host.) 

The plot is traditional: a struggle between the emerging hero and the dastardly villain. Jamie learns to harness the powers as Victoria sets out to reclaim the scarab. Victoria is a classic nemesis cut in the Bond villain mode. Susan Sarandon chews the scenery, practically singing the watchcry, “Sacrifices must be made for the greater good.” Her main conflict is with her brother’s daughter, Jenny (Bruna Marquezine), an underdeveloped and bland character. Victoria has a traditional henchman, Ignacio Carapax (Raoul Max Trujillo, expressive with only a few lines), with an important backstory. 

A scene from ‘Blue Beetle.’ Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Comics

There are references to Jenny’s father, Ted Kord, as well as Ted’s professor, archaeologist Dan Garrett, bringing the Blue Beetle’s entire history into superficial play. The effects are pure videogame, with an excessive amount of blue electricity. The action often resembles Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots. 

On the surface, little new or exciting is on offer. However, director Ángel Manuel Soto and writer Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer manage one important coup: the extraordinary bond of the Reyes family. 

Unlike many genre movies, Blue Beetle uses family not as a vehicle but as the core force. If the theme of familial bond is heavy-handed, the first-rate cast engages us on a genuinely human level. Xolo Maridueña shines as Jamie, easily holding center for the film’s stretched two hours. Damián Alcázar makes the father, Alberto, wise and touching, a patriarch of great understated strength. He is matched beautifully by Elpidia Carrillo as Rocio, Jamie’s mother. Adriana Barraza, as Nana, the matriarch, avoids cliché and has a fun eleventh-hour reveal. Belissa Escobedo brings humor and caring to Milagro, Jamie’s sister. George Lopez takes Uncle Rudy to the limit and beyond, both hilarious and touching. Each stands out individually, but as a whole, they are an exceptional unit. 

While there have been Latino superheroes, Blue Beetle puts representation at its center. An important moment comes late in the film involving the laboratory director (played with conflicted integrity by Harvey Guillén). The exchange leads to a bold choice, highlighting racial issues that weave through the film. 

In the end, Blue Beetle is uneven and occasionally uninspired, but a superior cast and a celebration of family let the film soar. Rated PG-13, Blue Beetle is now playing in local theaters. 

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St. John's Hellenic Dancers perform for guests at last year's Port Jefferson Greek Festival. Photo courtesy of John Damaskos

By Heidi Sutton

Traditional Greek food, music and dancing will take center stage as the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption in Port Jefferson hosts its 62nd annual Greek Festival on church grounds tonight, Thursday, Aug. 24 from 5 to 10 p.m.,  Friday, Aug. 25 from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 26 from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 27 from noon to 10 p.m. 

A celebration of Greek culture, the four-day event will feature a variety of vendors, fireworks, church tours, live Greek music and dancing, games of chance and carnival rides by Newton Shows. Pay-one-price bracelets for the rides may be purchased in advance at www.newtonshows.com.

Authentic mouth-watering foods such as gyros, tyropita (cheese pie), moussaka, souvlaki, and spanakopita (spinach pie) will be served up, along with sweet desserts such as galaktoboureko, koulourakia, baklava and loukoumades, a fried dough pastry favorite.

One of the main attractions at the festival is the over-the-top sweepstakes that the church holds every year. This year 200 prizes will be awarded from cars — a 2023 Mercedes Benz CLA 250 C4 is first prize — to an Apple Watch, 10″ Samsung Tablet, Smart TV, Ring Security Camera, a fire pit, Nintendo Switch, Robot Roomba, espresso machine, Michael Kors handbag, Coach handbag, cash prizes and more. Tickets for the sweepstakes are $100 each and are limited to 4,499 tickets. The drawing will be held on Aug. 27 at 8 p.m.

The event is also an opportunity to see traditional Greek dance performances by the St. John’s Hellenic Dancers who will take to the dance floor on Saturday at 7 p.m. Fireworks will be held on Friday and Saturday nights at 9:15 p.m., weather permitting. 

Free shuttle buses will pick up attendees from Ward Melville High School, 380 Old Town Road, East Setauket to transport them to festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. Parking is also available at BASF Corporation across the street from the church at 361 Sheep Pasture Road and at Head Start at 400 Sheep Pasture Road. Handicapped parking is available at the church. Admission to the festival is $2 per person; children under 12 can attend for free.

The Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption is located at 430 Sheep Pasture Road in Port Jefferson. For more information, call the church office at 631-473-0894 or visit www.portjeffgreekfest.com.

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Photo from MetroCreative
Fiber plays an important role in immune system function

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

Autoimmune disease is an umbrella term that covers more than 80 different diseases (1). Among them are type 1 diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The common thread for all of them is that the body’s immune system is attacking organs, tissues and cells and causing chronic inflammation.

Unfortunately, autoimmune diseases tend to cluster (2). Once you have one, you are at high risk for acquiring others.

Typical medical protocols

Immunosuppressives are the “go-to” treatment for autoimmune issues. In RA, for example, a typical drug regimen includes TNF (tumor necrosis factor) alpha inhibitors, like Remicade (infliximab), and methotrexate. These therapies reduce underlying inflammation by suppressing the immune system and interfering with inflammatory factors. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), a class that also includes Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine), may slow or stop the progression of joint destruction and increase physical functioning.

There are several concerning factors with these treatments.

First, the side-effect profiles are substantial. They include risks for cancers, opportunistic infections and even death (3). Opportunistic infections include diseases like tuberculosis and invasive fungal infections.

It is no surprise that suppressing the immune system would increase the likelihood of infections. Nor is it surprising that cancer rates would increase, since the immune system helps fend off malignancies. One study showed that after 10 years of therapy, the risk of cancer increased by approximately fourfold with the use of immunosuppressives (4).

Second, these drugs were tested and approved using short-term clinical trials; however, many patients are prescribed these therapies for 20 or more years.

So, what other methods are available to treat autoimmune diseases? 

Medical nutrition therapy

Medical nutrition therapy using bioactive compounds and supplementation are being studied. Medical nutrition therapy may have immunomodulatory (immune system regulation) effects on inflammatory factors and on gene expression.

Raising the level of beta-cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid bioactive food component, by a modest amount has a substantial impact in preventing RA. Several studies have also tested dietary interventions in RA treatment (5). Included were fasting followed by a vegetarian diet; a vegan diet; and a Mediterranean diet, among others. All mentioned here showed decreases in inflammatory markers, including c-reactive protein (CRP), and improvements in joint pain and other quality of life concerns.

What are the effects of fish oil?

Fish oil helps your immune system by reducing inflammation and improving your blood chemistry, affecting as many as 1,040 genes (6). In a randomized clinical study, 1.8 grams of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation had anti-inflammatory effects, suppressing cell signals and transcription factors (proteins involved with gene expression) that are pro-inflammatory.

In RA patients, fish oil helps suppress cartilage degradative enzymes, while also having an anti-inflammatory effect (7). A typical recommendation is to consume about 2 grams of EPA plus DHA to help regulate the immune system. Don’t take these high doses of fish oil without consulting your doctor, since fish oil can have blood-thinning effects.

Can probiotics help?

Approximately 70 percent of your immune system lives in your gut. Probiotics, by populating the gut with live beneficial microorganisms, have immune-modulating effects that decrease inflammation and thus are appropriate for autoimmune diseases. Lactobacillus salvirus and Bifidobacterium longum infantis are two strains that were shown to have positive effects (8, 9).

In a study with Crohn’s disease patients, L. casei and L. bulgaricus reduced the inflammatory factor TNF-alpha (10). To provide balance, I recommend probiotics with Lactobacillus to my patients, especially with autoimmune diseases that affect the intestines, like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

Does fiber intake affect autoimmune disorders?

Fiber has been shown to modulate inflammation by reducing biomarkers, such as CRP. In two separate clinical trials, fiber either reduced or prevented high CRP in patients. In one randomized clinical trial, 30 grams, or about one ounce, of fiber daily from either dietary sources or supplements reduced CRP significantly compared to placebo (11).

In the second trial, which was observational, participants who consumed the highest amount of dietary fiber (greater than 19.5 grams) had reductions in a vast number of inflammatory factors, including CRP, interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and TNF-alpha (12).

Can diet substitute for medication?

Immune system regulation is complex and involves over 1,000 genes, as well as many biomarkers. Bioactive compounds found in high-nutrient foods and supplements can have a profound impact on your immune system’s regulation and may help reset the immune system. Even in severe cases, bioactive compounds in foods may work in tandem with medications to treat autoimmune diseases more effectively and help reduce dosing of some immunosuppressives, minimizing potential side-effects.

This is not hypothetical. I have seen these effects in my practice, where patients have been able to reduce — or even eliminate —immunosuppressives by altering their diets.

References:

(1) niaid.nih.gov. (2) J Autoimmun. 2007;29(1):1. (3) epocrates.com. (4) J Rheumatol 1999;26(8):1705-1714. (5) Front Nutr. 2017; 4: 52. (6) Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Aug;90(2):415-424. (7) Drugs. 2003;63(9):845-853. (8) Gut. 2003 Jul;52(7):975-980. (9) Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 1999 Jul-Nov;76(1-4):279-292. (10) Gut. 2002;51(5):659. (11) Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(5):502-506. (12) Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010 May 13;7:42.

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 BIG DEAL Mike DelGuidice, frontman of the Billy Joel tribute band Big Shot, will give a free outdoor concert at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Rocky Point on Aug. 28. File photo by Greg Catalano/TBR News Media
Ongoing

Stone Bridge Nighthawk Watch

Every evening from Aug. 27 through Oct. 6, from 5:30 p.m. until dusk, the Four Harbors Audubon Society will be tallying migrating Common Nighthawks to better understand nighthawk population trends. Join them at the Stone Bridge at Frank Melville Memorial Park, One Old Field Road, Setauket to witness nighthawks as they pass over during their migratory journey to their wintering grounds in Brazil and Argentina. Visit www.4has.org for further details.

Thursday Aug. 24

Vanderbilt Architecture Tour

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents an Architecture & Collections Tour at noon and again at 1:30 p.m. Learn about the history of the Eagle’s Nest estate, the architectural details and visit the marine, natural history, and cultural artifact collections. Tickets, which include general admission, are $16 adults, $15 seniors/students, $14 children at the door only. www.vanderbiltmuseum.org

Port Jefferson Greek Festival

Greek Church of the Assumption, 430 Sheep Pasture Road, Port Jefferson presents its annual Greek Festival tonight from 5 to 10 p.m., Aug. 25 from 5 to 11 p.m., Aug. 26 from noon to 11 p.m. and Aug. 27 from noon to 10 p.m. with vendors, authentic Greek delights, dancing, music, carnival rides, church tour and giant raffle. Fireworks on Aug. 25 and 26 (weather permitting), raffle drawing on Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. $2 per person, free for children under 12. 631-473-0894, www.portjeffgreekfest.com.

Historic Harbor Tours

The Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport hosts two Historic Harbor Tours today at 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. The Society and Seymour’s Boatyard invite you to take a relaxing evening cruise while learning about the history of Northport Harbor, followed by drinks and light fare. Tickets are $60, $50 members. 631-757-9859, www.northporthistorical.org

Art Reception at Gallery North

Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket invites the community to an opening reception for Poetic Visions: Recent Works by Bruce Lieberman from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, call 631-751-2676 or visit www.gallerynorth.org.

Weaving with Wine

Huntington Historical Society hosts a Weaving with Wine event at the Conklin Barn, 2 High St., Huntington from 6 to 8:30 p.m. This fun program offers a chance to learn to weave using a traditional manual table loom. At the end of class, you will have a piece of fabric to bring home. You supply the wine, they provide the weaving, glasses and light refreshments. $45 per person.  To register, call 631-427-7045, ext. 404 or visit huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

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. 25 from 6 to 11 p.m., Aug. 26 from 2 to 11 p.m. and Aug. 27 from 2 to 9 p.m. Games, food, rides, craft vendors, entertainment. 631-471-2725

Native American Drumming

All Souls Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook hosts an evening of Native American Drumming 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. Call 631-655-7798 for more information.

Vanderbilt lecture

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport will host Scott Chaskey, poet-farmer and pioneer of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) movement, for a presentation of his latest memoir, Soil and Spirit: Cultivation and Kinship in the Web of Life at 7 p.m. Chaskey will share a life in verse, agriculture, and ecology. Tickets are $10, free for members at www.vanderbiltmuseum.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 Shining Star (Earth, Wind and Fire Tribute) at 7 p.m. Bring seating. 631-585-9393

Harborside Concerts

Village of Port Jefferson closes out its Harborside concert series with a final concert featuring Foreign Journey with special guest Randy Jackson at the Ferry Dock tonight at 7 p.m. 631-473-4724, www.portjeff.com

Summer SWAP Concert

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook continues its free “Summer Stage With a Purpose” (Summer SWAP) concerts on its front lawn from 6 to 8 p.m. with the Phoenix Big Band. Guests may purchase refreshments in the Basie Garden beside the venue. Bring seating. 631-751-1895, www.thejazzloft.org

Friday Aug. 25

Port Jefferson Greek Festival

See Aug. 24 listing.

Holbrook Carnival

See Aug. 24 listing.

Robin Wilson Induction Ceremony

Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will hold an induction ceremony for Gin Blossoms frontman Robin Wilson from 7 to 10 p.m. Wilson will perform with special guests on the Exhibit Hall stage as part of the evening’s ceremony. Tickets are $40, $35 members at www.limusichalloffame.org or by calling 631-689-5888. 

Happenings on Main Street

Northport Arts Coalition continues its Happenings on Main Street series, free concerts at the Northport Village Park Gazebo at the harbor with An Evening of Lennon & McCartney featuring Tony Garofalo and Mike Green at 7 p.m.  Bring seating. 631-261-1872, www.northportarts.org

Musical Moments

Musical Moments in Kings Park returns to Russ Savatt Park, 14 Main St., Kings Park tonight from 7:30 to 9 p.m. with Urban Rodeo, courtesy of the Kings Park Civic Association. Bring seating. 516-319-0672

Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson  continues its summer concert series with Gypsy celebrating the music of Stevie Nicks & Fleetwood Mac at 8 p.m. Gypsy faithfully recreates Stevie Nicks’ live show and the music of Fleetwood Mac with striking accuracy. Tickets are $59. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Friday Night Face Off – just added!

Friday Night Face Off, Long Island’s longest running Improv Comedy Show, returns to Theatre Three’s Second Stage, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson tonight at 10:30 p.m. Using audience suggestions, FNFO pits two teams of improvisers against each other in an all-out championship! Recommended for ages 16 and up, due to adult content. Tickets are $15 at the door – cash only. 631-928-9100

Saturday Aug. 26

Port Jefferson Greek Festival

See Aug. 24 listing.

Holbrook Carnival

See Aug. 24 listing.

Outdoor Thrift Sale

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown wild hold an outdoor thrift sale in front of the red double garage doors in the parking lot from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come shop for antiques, small treasures, knick knacks and more! For more information, call 631-901-5911.

Farmingdale Craft & Gift Fair

Farmingdale will host a Craft & Gift Fair along Main Street and the Village Green today and Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a Farmers Market on Aug. 27. 516-442-6000

Outside the Box Art Reception

Mills Pond Gallery, 660 Route 25A, St. James invites the community to an art reception for Outside the Box Fine Art Showcase from 1 to 4 p.m. featuring works by Ron Becker, JoAnne Dumas, Sejal Mehra and Felecia Montfort. The exhibit runs through September 23. 631-862-6575

Farmingville Community Day

Join the Farmingville Residents Association, One More for Jesus Church, Helping Hands Outreach, Sachem Public Library and YMCA Long Island for its annual Community Day Festival at Triangle Park, corner of Horseblock Road and Woodycrest Drive from 3 to 8 p.m. Enjoy food, entertainment, activities for kids, a bounce house area, and more. Held rain or shine. 631-260-7411, www.farmingvilleresidents.org

UCC Steeple Showcase Concert 

Mount Sinai Congregational Church, 233 North Country Road, Mt. Sinai continues its UCC Steeple Showcase concert series with an outdoor performance by Bluegrass Buddies (DeTurk/Barry/Lonas families) playing bluegrass and country music from 4 to 6 p.m. Bring a chair, a snack and sit back and relax! Concert will be held indoor in the event of rain. 631-473-1582.

A Night of Laughs

The Long Island Comedy Festival heads to Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson at 8 p.m. Hosted by Paul Anthony, comedians include Bryan McKenna, Richie Byrne, Scott Baker, Vinnie Mark and surprise guest comedians. All seats are $49. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

Sunday Aug. 27

Port Jefferson Greek Festival

See Aug. 24 listing.

Holbrook Carnival

See Aug. 24 listing.

Farmingdale Craft & Gift Fair

See Aug. 26 listing.

Thai Fair

Vajiradhammapadip Buddhist Temple, 110 Rustic Road, Centereach hosts a Thai Fair from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with crafts and food. Thai music and dance show starts at 12:30 p.m. $5 admission fee, children 12 and under free. 631-471-8006.

Shecky & The Twangtones

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will host a concert by Shecky & The Twangtones from 3 to 4 p.m. Free with admission to the museum. For more information, call 689-5888 or visit www.limusichalloffame.org.

Sunday Street Summer Special

As part of The Sunday Street series, the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook presents The Kennedys CD release show in Carriage Museum’s Gillespie Room at 5 p.m. The band will share songs from ‘Headwinds’, their first studio album of original songs in seven years. Advance sale tickets are $ 25 at www.sundaystreet.org; tickets at the door, if available, are $30 (cash only). The Sunday Street Series is a collaboration of WUSB’s Sunday Street Series, The Long Island Museum, and The Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council. 631-751-0066

Wind Down Sundays

The popular summer concert series continues at Hap’s historic Red Barn at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket with One Step Ahead at 5:30 p.m. Bring seating. 631-689-6146, www.frankmelvillepark.org

Tales from the field with Jeff Corwin

Sweetbriar Nature Center presents an evening of “Tales from the Field with Jeff Corwin,” renowned Biologist, Conservationist and Environmental Journalist, at the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown at 7 p.m. Corwin will share his passion for environmental conservation in this highly interactive and educational program. Tickets are $50 at www.sweetbriarnc.org.

Monday Aug. 28

Mike DelGuidice in concert

Suffolk County Summer Concert series continues with a free performance by Mike DelGuidice and his band at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 614 Route 25A, Rocky Point at 7 p.m. Rain date is Aug. 30. Bring seating. Presented by Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker and the North Shore Youth Council. 631-854-1600 for more information.

Tuesday Aug. 29

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to presentation by Dr. Brian Yonks, BC  titled “Looking Good and Feeling Younger” in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

Nature Photography Workshop

Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket continues its 2023 Family Summer Program series today at 11 a.m. with a Nature Photography Workshop with Joe Kelly. Meet at Hap’s Red Barn. Free. No registration necessary. 631-689-6146

The Classic Comedian

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson kicks off The Classic Comedian Collection with The Tim Conway Story on the Second Stage at 12:30 p.m. Emmy award-winning funnyman, Tim Conway, is best remembered for his memorable TV roles including McHale’s Navy and The Carol Burnett Show. Award-winning playwright   Sal St. George will delve into the brilliant comic mind of one of America’s most beloved, and unpredictable, entertainers. Complimentary refreshments, cookies, and treats are included. Tickets are $25 adults $22 seniors and veterans, $20 group rate (8or more). To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Wednesday Aug. 30

Sunset Concerts

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

Northport Summerfest Concert

The Northport Chamber of Commerce concludes its Summerfest Concert series at the Robert Krueger Bandshell in Northport Village Park, with a performance by The 90s Band from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Bring seating. 631-754-3905

Thursday Aug. 31

Greenlawn Fireman’s Fair

It’s back! The Greenlawn Fire Department’s Fireman’s Fair, 23 Boulevard Ave., Greenlawn will return tonight from 7 to 11 p.m. with a parade along Broadway in Greenlawn at 7 p.m.; Sept. 1 and 2 from 7 to 11 p.m. and Sept. 3 from 5 to 11 p.m. Rain date is Sept. 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. New York State’s longest-running Fireman’s Fair, the event will feature games of chance, rides for the kids and all-around family fun. 631-261-9106.

 Theater

‘The Prom’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson kick off its 53rd season with The Prom from Sept. 16 to Oct. 21. As the lights dim on four fading Broadway stars, they wildly seek the spotlight. Courting the controversy surrounding a small-town Indiana prom, the quartet invades a community that wants to keep the party straight. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors, $20 students, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’

The Carriage House Players continue their 34th annual Summer Shakespeare Festival in the mansion courtyard of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with Love’s Labour’s Lost on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. from Aug. 11 to Sept. 8. Tickets are $20, $15 children under 12 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

‘Rent’

Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown presents Jonathan Larson’s Rent from Sept. 16 to Oct. 22. Based loosely on Puccini’s La Boheme, the groundbreaking musical follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians — Roger, Mimi, Tom, Angel, Maureen, Joanne, Benny and Mark — struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Tickets are $35 adults, $32 seniors, $28 students. To order, call 800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

‘Escape to Margaritaville’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Escape to Margaritaville from July 13 to Sept. 3. This upbeat and energetic new musical features all your favorite Jimmy Buffett classics including “Volcano,” “Fins,”,“Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and of course “Margaritaville.” Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Every Brilliant Thing’

Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson, in association with Response Crisis Center, presents Every Brilliant Thing, a one-man show starring Jeffrey Sanzel, on the Second Stage from Sept. 17 to Oct. 8.  With audience members recruited to take on supporting roles, Every Brilliant Thing is a heart-wrenching, hilarious story of depression and the lengths we will go for those we love. All seats are $20. Fifty percent of the gross proceeds of this production will benefit Response Crisis Center. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Film

Zombiethon at the CAC

Retro Picture Show hosts an all night Zombie-thon at the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington on Aug. 26 at 8 p.m. Line-up includes Army of Darkness, Friday the 13th VII: The New Blood, Re-Animator, Night of the Living Dead, and The Gates of Hell. All movies will be shown from vintage 35mm film prints. Ticket purchase of $70, $60 members includes admission, free giveaways, raffle prizes, and so much more. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

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'COVID Driveway Quince' by Bruce Lieberman. Image courtesy of Gallery North

By Tara Mae

It is an art form to recognize one’s daily surroundings as fecund food for thought despite their familiarity. Gallery North’s new exhibit, Poetic Visions: Recent Works by Bruce Lieberman, explores the eponymous artist’s appreciation and perception of his own backyard as he cultivates its curated wildness. On view from Aug. 24 to Oct. 1, the show will feature approximately 35 of Lieberman’s oil paintings. While canvas sizes vary, the world within them is universally expansive. 

‘Yellow Thirst’ by Bruce Lieberman Image courtesy of Gallery North

“The paintings are vivid, luscious, gardenscapes spanning summer through winter, when it is more bleak. Even then, he still pulls out colors and textures in the browns and other, more muted, [tones] that he paints,” said Gallery North’s Curator Kate Schwarting. 

Immersing the audience in a verdantly vivacious, incrementally abstract atmosphere, these renderings inspired by his Water Mill property are rooted in realism, yet blossom with imagination.  

“This is a presentation of paintings that blur the line between representation and abstraction. It also presents a painter who is very far along in his career trying to move into something new and push boundaries of his artistic practice. [Lieberman] revels in color and gets others excited about the interaction between color and form,” Gallery North’s Executive Director Ned Puchner said. 

Poetic Visions, Lieberman’s fifth solo show at Gallery North amid many group exhibitions, is the latest harvest of a long, fruitful relationship. Making their public debut, the paintings invite viewers to seek the serenity of soulful solitude.  

For Lieberman, these works reflect an introspection born out of necessity: they were primarily started during the COVID-19 lockdown, when he ceased teaching painting and figure drawing as an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University. 

‘Crape Myrtle Pool’ by Bruce Lieberman. Image courtesy of Gallery North

Informally referred to as the “COVID Driveway Series” by Lieberman, the paintings reference a time when circumstances encouraged him to find novelty in the known as he navigated the unprecedented pandemic.                                                                                                                                        “It has become rather a cliché to speak about how ‘COVID made me do it.’ Or how one’s COVID experience framed and affected their work.’ But…it sort of did. It gave me an excuse to cut my ties with everything. I stopped teaching, stopped going out, stopped going to openings, stopped going to New York,” Lieberman said in an email. “[My wife and I] canceled everything! It, the COVID experience, removed guilt from the decision…For us, we were lucky to have the ability—the luxury—to withdraw from the world.”

Setting up an easel at the furthest point of his property line and painting whatever he saw in all directions, Lieberman experimented with different points of view, paint techniques, and previously untapped styles of brushstrokes. 

Such interior creativity born of outside chaos is evidenced in the precise details and less defined boundaries of Lieberman’s paintings. Using the landscape as his muse results in a sort of inherent optimism; even as trees appear bare, traces of green can be found — the promise of fertile rebirth. 

“My garden has become a big giant motif — a living still life with endless variations…my Giverny,” Lieberman said. 

Almost impressionistic brushstrokes illustrate different types of foliage and lighting as well as rich bright colors for the plants, beautiful blue reflections on fencing, and similar nuances, according to Schwarting. 

“Bordering on abstraction, it is a very identifiable scene, but areas of canvas draw you in and almost become an abstract moment on the canvas. It happens very organically, a natural process of him exploring the medium through his paintings. There is an amazing juxtaposition of abstract, painterly brush marks, with drips of the paint. I love how you can have both in one place,” she added.  

A singular entity containing multitudes is a recurrent theme in the art of Lieberman, who began his career in the figurative art world of New York City. 

Traces of the genre are apparent in elements of Poetic Visions. Representative objects contrast and complement the somewhat subjective wonderland Lieberman’s paintings project, revealed to onlookers by the revelations of his paintbrush. 

“He developed a sort of a new vision of his home during [lockdown] and it came through daily examination of his surroundings. When you look at something long enough, you begin to see it differently and start to think about the larger meaning behind the growth of a flower, the changing of a season, or how light can illuminate colors,” Puchner said. 

Lieberman’s contemplative examination was a three year study that he now strives to share and shed. Like most acts of creation, the process of producing the paintings was a labor of love; Poetic Visions is a culmination of Lieberman’s efforts as he looks towards the next endeavor. 

“I worked hard, I worked for three years on these paintings. So I care about them. I look forward to getting them on the wall and looked at. An added bonus — [having] my studio clean so I can move on to the next thing. Trying to make great paintings is always the goal,” he said. 

Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket invites the community to an opening reception for Poetic Visions on Thursday, Aug. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. and a free ArTalk with Lieberman on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m. For more information, call 631-751-2676 or visit www.gallerynorth.org.

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Studies suggest lifestyle approaches to improve symptoms

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, such as abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, constipation and diarrhea, can directly affect your quality of life. If you are among the estimated 10 to 15 percent of the population that suffers from IBS symptoms, managing these symptoms can become all-consuming (1).

While diagnosing IBS is challenging, physicians use discrete criteria physicians to provide a diagnosis and eliminate more serious possibilities. The Rome IV criteria comprise an international effort to help diagnose and treat functional gastrointestinal disorders. Using these criteria, which include frequency of pain and discomfort over the past three months, alongside a physical exam helps provide a diagnosis.

Fortunately, there are several approaches to improving symptoms that require only modest lifestyle changes.

How is IBS affected by mental state?

The “brain-gut” connection refers to the direct connection between mental state, such as nervousness or anxiety, to gastrointestinal issues, and vice versa.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction was used in a small, but randomized, eight-week clinical trial with IBS (2). Those in the mindfulness group (treatment group) showed statistically significant results in decreased severity of symptoms compared to the control group, both immediately after training and three months post-therapy.

Those in the treatment group were instructed to do meditation, gentle yoga and “body scanning” — focusing on one area of the body for muscle tension detection. The control group attended an IBS support group once a week.

Could gluten be a factor in IBS?

Gluten sensitivity may be an important factor for some IBS patients (3). In a small randomized clinical trial, patients who were given gluten were more likely to complain of uncontrolled symptoms than those who were given a placebo, 68 percent vs. 40 percent, respectively (4). These results were highly statistically significant, and the authors concluded that nonceliac gluten intolerance may exist. 

I suggest to my patients that they might want to start avoiding gluten and then add it back into their diets slowly to see the results.

Does fructose play a role in IBS?

Some IBS patients may suffer from fructose intolerance. In a study, IBS researchers used a breath test to examine this possibility (5). The results were dose-dependent, meaning the higher the dose of fructose, the greater the effect researchers saw. When patients were given a 10 percent fructose solution, only 39 percent tested positive for fructose intolerance, but when they were given a 33 percent solution, 88 percent of patients tested positive.

The symptoms of fructose intolerance included gas, abdominal pain, bloating, belching and alternating bowel habits. The authors concluded that avoidance of fructose may reduce symptoms in some IBS patients.

According to another study, about one-third of IBS patients are fructose intolerant. When on a fructose-restricted diet, symptoms appeared to improve (6). Foods with high levels of fructose include certain fruits, like apples and pears, but not bananas.

Are lactose intolerance and IBS connected?

Another small study found that about one-quarter of patients with IBS also have lactose intolerance (7). 

Of the IBS patients who were also lactose intolerant, there was a marked improvement in symptoms at both six weeks and five years when placed on a lactose-restricted diet.

Though the trial was small, the results were statistically significant, which is impressive. Both the patient compliance and long-term effects were excellent, and visits to outpatient clinics were reduced by 75 percent. This demonstrates that it is probably worthwhile to test patients who have IBS symptoms for lactose intolerance.

Will probiotics help with IBS?

A study that analyzed 42 trials focused on treatment with probiotics shows there may be a benefit to probiotics, although the objectives, or endpoints, were different in each trial (8).

Probiotics do show promise, including the two most common strains, Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteri, which were covered in the review.

Is there a link between IBS and migraines?

A preliminary study has suggested there may be a link between IBS and migraine and tension-type headaches. The study of 320 participants, 107 with migraine, 107 with IBS, 53 with episodic tension-type headaches (ETTH), and 53 healthy individuals, identified significant occurrence crossover among those with migraine, IBS and ETTH. Researchers also found that these three groups had at least one gene that was distinct from healthy participants. Their hope is that this information will lead to more robust studies that could result in new treatment options (9).

All of these studies provide hope for IBS patients. These are treatment options that involve modest lifestyle changes. Since the causes can vary, a strong patient-doctor connection can help in selecting an approach that provides the greatest symptom reduction for each patient.

References:

(1) American College of Gastroenterology [GI.org]. (2) Am J Gastroenterol. 2011 Sep;106(9):1678-1688. (3) Am J Gastroenterol. 2011 Mar;106(3):516-518. (4) Am J Gastroenterol. 2011 Mar;106(3):508-514. (5) Am J Gastroenterol. 2003 June;98(6):1348-1353. (6) J Clin Gastroenterol. 2008 Mar;42(3):233-238. (7) Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2001 Aug;13(8):941-944. (8) Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2012 Feb;35(4):403-413. (9) American Academy of Neurology 2016, Abstract 3367.

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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Robin Wilson Photo from LIMEHOF

By Kevin Redding

As a teenaged self-taught singer and “bedroom songwriter” in Tempe, Arizona, Robin Wilson would comb through ads of local bands in the paper—dreaming about being in one someday. The powerful yet tender voice he’d honed, mostly in his room and car, ultimately landed him in a new band that was blowing up in Tempe called Gin Blossoms.

Not long after that, the group found major mainstream success. Throughout the 90s, Gin Blossoms’ catchy harmonies and jangle guitar-driven pop rock dominated the airwaves with massive hits like “Hey Jealousy,” “Follow You Down,” “Found Out About You,” “Til I Hear It From You,” “Allison Road,” and “As Long As It Matters.” 

Wilson and his bandmates had music videos on MTV, became mainstays on late night shows, and were nominated for a Grammy. They’ve not only contributed to the soundtracks for such movies as Wayne’s World 2, Empire Records, and Speed, but for many people’s lives. 

On Aug. 25, Wilson will be inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook Village. He’s bounced between Arizona and Valley Stream since the mid-90s, but says he became a full-time Long Islander in 2001 and even more so over quarantine. 

TBR News Media had the opportunity to interview Wilson by phone last Sunday as the singer/songwriter took a trip down memory lane.

What does this induction mean to you?

It makes me very proud and it’s really great to be part of the “Big Rock Story” and to know that we’ve had the same sort of impact that so many of my favorite groups did. I was just onstage last night [in Reynoldsburg, Ohio] looking out at 6,000 people who all know the words to a song I wrote in my bedroom and I was thinking, ‘Ya know, we really did great. Nobody thought we could still be doing it this long.’ And here we are 35 years later…I’m very gratified and grateful that I still get to do this for a living. It’s bewildering to me.

We got inducted into the Arizona Hall of Fame back in 2017 alongside the Meat Puppets, one of my favorite bands. I still just shake my head in disbelief because one minute you’re a teenager going to open mic nights and thinking ‘God I hope someday I can be in a band that plays this bar’ and now we’re among the most successful acts to ever come out of our homestate, alongside Jimmy Eat World and Alice Cooper. 

More than anything else, I’m really proud for my family here. It really feels like their achievement and it means the world to me that so many of them are going to be there for the ceremony. My son’s band is rehearsing and his biggest influences all come from the 90s.

What was it like to be a rock band in the 90s?

There were so many great moments where we knew we were accomplishing something very rare. Most of it was the grind of doing the work and being a touring rock band…it’s only with the perspective of time that you realize how grandly we succeeded. We’re going on tour in a couple weeks with some of my all time favorite bands to tour with: Fastball, Tonic, and Sugar Ray. We’ve been on these package tours with Lit and Everclear and Smash Mouth and none of them have done “Saturday Night Live.” 

We performed at the American Music Awards and I got to front KISS on Letterman! There was a lot of diversity [in the 90s] but the bands that survived as the soundtrack of those times were delivering high quality music and really great, memorable songs. I think certainly the key to our success has been having really good songs.

How did you come to join the band?

As I was finally forming my first band with my best friend, Gin Blossoms called and asked me in for an audition. They had only been playing out for a few months but as soon as they hit the local scene, they were a big deal. I already knew our bass player, Bill Leen, and our original guitar player/songwriter Doug Hopkins [who penned many of their early hits and passed away in 1993]. We all went to high school together. They were a few years ahead of me, but they were the only kids that had a band and putting out records. I was listening to Bill’s and Doug’s music since I was like 15. 

Bill and Doug had heard me sing at a couple of parties so when they needed somebody for Gin Blossoms, I got the call. I auditioned on a Wednesday, they gave me the job that night, we rehearsed on Thursday, and then we did three days of shows that weekend, Friday-Sunday. I was playing rhythm guitar and they’d let me sing a couple tunes. Jesse Valenzuela [Gin Blossoms’ guitar player] was the lead singer. I got the job because he and I sounded so good together; it was really special right from the beginning. 

A few months in, Jesse said, “You and I are gonna switch. I’m gonna be the guitar player and you’re gonna be the lead singer.” I was just blown away. In the history of rock and roll, has a lead singer ever done that? It was just such good fortune and destiny…the right place at the right time with the right skillset.

What’s your favorite song to play live?

Doug started the band with this incredible batch of songs, including “Found Out About You,” so it was easy for me to just step in and sing them. And then there were a handful of songs he and I wrote together. The only one of them we ended up recording was “Hold Me Down” [off their 1992 LP “New Miserable Experience”] and that one’s really special to me. Playing the hits is very gratifying too. There’s a song I wrote for our last record called “Break” and it’s great to see them react to it and to know it’s a song that holds up to the rest of our catalog.

What was it like bringing your own songs to the band?

Being in Gin Blossoms with seasoned composers, it helped me to raise my [songwriting] game at an accelerated pace. It wasn’t until I wrote “Allison Road” that the whole band seemed to realize I was approaching their level as a songwriter. Earlier this year, our hometown of Tempe honored us by renaming a street Allison Road.

What’s the strangest bill the band has been on?

[Laughs] We did a show once with Missing Persons, MC Hammer, Joe Walsh, and Toto. And it was just like, ‘How did we end up on this bill?!’ Missing Persons was on before us and MC Hammer was on after us. That was like 12 years ago or something.

In honor of Empire Records, if you were in a record shop right now, what would you be looking for?

My favorite band right now is called White Reaper. They’re one of the best bands of their generation and I love them to death. If I walked in right now, I’d be looking for White Reaper on vinyl. My favorite band of the last couple decades is The Darkness, and I’m excited they’re going to be performing in Tempe in October and so my son and I are going to home to Arizona at a club I’ve played a bunch of times to see them. Another great rock band I love is called Volbeat.

What’s it like being a rock star on Long Island?

This is the first time since winter that I’ll be home here on Long Island for more than five days. I’m home until the Hall of Fame induction and then I leave town the day after that and I’ll be gone for about six weeks. But I have until the 26th to actually be in the same place so I’m fixing to make the most of it, spend time making the racket down in the basement in our new studio, exercising. I played a lot of video games during the pandemic. I bought a Switch and I love that system.

A few years ago, when the pandemic hit, that’s when I really got to meet my neighbors, and they’re like, ‘Oh, you’re in a band, huh?’ I’m like ‘Yeah’ and they’re like ‘Well, you keep at it!’ And then a few months later, the neighbor will come up and be like ‘Holy ___, apparently my brother has your record!’

It took me a while to get used to living here, but I’m finally a citizen. And I’m the only guy on Long Island who flies an Arizona flag on his front porch.

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will hold an induction ceremony for Robin Wilson on Friday, Aug. 25 from 7 to 10 p.m. Wilson will perform with special guests on the Exhibit Hall stage as part of the evening’s ceremony. Tickets are $40, $35 members at www.limusichalloffame.org or by calling 631-689-5888.

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METRO photo

By Fr. Francis Pizzarelli

Father Frank Pizzarelli

It’s hard to believe that the summer is almost over. Many of our college students are already getting ready to begin college for the first time and/or returning back for another full semester.

As our college freshmen are preparing to leave for school for the first time, I am sure there is a lot of excitement about being away, being on one’s own, but also some anxiety on how to manage all of this freedom.

College is not high school where everyone was constantly reminding you of everything you needed to take care of. It is in college where you learn how to act as an independent and responsible adult. No one will chase after you regarding getting to class on time, coming home at a reasonable hour or handing in assignments when they are due.

Time management is in your hands. You will have to design a schedule that works for you. Balance is probably the most important concept that you must learn during your first semester.

It is very easy to get lost in all of the newfound freedom. It’s easy to lose sight of what’s important and how to balance everything out. Balance is not just about your schoolwork and your school related activities; it also relates to your social life and your mental health.

Too many young people are still suffering from post -pandemic stress and anxiety; they have become overwhelmed by the simplest things that too often become overwhelming.

Communication even before the pandemic was weak; now it’s a disaster. Too many young people are obsessed with their technology and devices. They would rather text than talk; social media is their top priority over human relationships.

Interpersonal relationships have gotten lost by the wayside. Human connections for the right reasons are things of the past. We have to work harder at helping this year’s freshman class reclaim some very basic human dynamics.

Over the last three decades, I have watched firsthand this shift in my college classroom. My college students of just a few years back were not afraid to communicate. They valued human connections and were not driven by so much anxiety and depression.

However, what has not been lost in the shuffle is their generosity of spirit; their wanting to reach out to those in need and their commitment to volunteerism. Each freshman class continues to inspire me by their hearts of compassion and commitment. In the midst of all the chaos, they genuinely do care for others. I hope they don’t lose any of that caring concern during their next four years.

They are the hope for tomorrow; may we give them all the support they need to thrive and succeed.

Father Francis Pizzarelli, SMM, LCSW-R, ACSW, DCSW, is the director of Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson.

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HONORING LOCAL HISTORY Catch a special screening of ‘Invisible Threads — From Wireless to War’ at the Cinema Arts Centre on Aug. 20. Photo from CAC
Thursday Aug. 17

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. 18 and 19 from 6 to 11 and Aug. 20 from 6 to 10 p.m. with carnival rides, games and food. Fireworks are scheduled for Aug. 18. Free admission. Pay-one-price rides. 631-499-6824

Summer Thursdays at the LIM

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook continues its Summer Thursdays series with a free concert by musicians from The Jazz Loft from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Pack a picnic supper, enjoy the concert and take a free tour of the Carriage Museum. Held rain or shine. 631-751-0066

Friday Aug. 18

St. Joseph’s Family Festival

See Aug. 17 listing.

Third Friday at the Reboli Center

The Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook continues its Third Friday series with a talk by Steve Englebright titled “A Sense of Place: Nature, Joe Reboli’s Landscapes and New England” followed by a Q&A from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Light snacks and refreshments will be served. Free. No reservations required. 631-751-7707

Travel Back to the 80s Experience

Join the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown for a Travel Back To The 80s Experience at 8 p.m. Immerse yourself in the fun, the fashion, and the sounds of the 80s! Meet familiar characters and personalities while being thrown back in time to a story straight out of the 80s, all set to the tunes you know and love. Arrive dressed up to enjoy yourself to the max! Featuring a live performance by The Ronald Reagans. Tickets are $35. Call 1-800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org to order.

Creedence Revived in Concert

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson  presents Creedence Revived (Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band) in concert on the Main Stage at 8 p.m. Enjoy the original band’s greatest hits including “Travelin’ Band,” and “Down on the Corner.”   Tickets are $59. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Saturday Aug. 19

St. Joseph’s Family Festival

See Aug. 17 listing.

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. 20.  Up to 12  2-person  teams will construct a boat in five 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

Pet Palooza

Join Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption Center, 33 Warner Road, Huntington for its annual Pet-A-Palooza celebration today and Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The two-day event will feature a huge Chinese auction, games for kids, face painting, BBQ, a parade, doggie swimsuit contest and many animals for adoption. For more information visit www.littleshelter.org or call 631-368-8770.

Community & Music Festival

Join the Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce for its 2nd annual Community & Music Festival at the Centereach Turf Field, Elks Club Lodge parking lot and surrounding areas along Horseblock Road in Centereach from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy live music by SouthBound and The Day Trippers, craft and business vendor tables, food trucks, beer garden, children’s activities and much more. Held rain or shine. Admission for ages 12 and over is $5. 631-681-8708. 

ELIQG Quilt Show

Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead hosts the Eastern Long Island Quilters’ Guild annual show, “Hopes and Dreams,” today and Aug. 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with quilt displays, vendors, exhibits, yard sale featuring fabrics and notions, and raffle baskets. $5 adults, free for children. www.eliqg.com

Sea Shanty Festival

The 3rd annual Port Jefferson Sea Shanty and Maritime Musical Festival heads to Harborfront Park, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson from noon to dusk. Presented by the Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council, PJ Village Historian and the Folk Music Society of NY, the event will feature authentic sea shanties, a pirate camp, street singers and more. Free. www.gpjac.org

Chicken Hill Country Picnic & BBQ

Three Village Community Trust invites the community to its 8th annual Chicken Hill Country Picnic and BBQ at the Bruce House, 148 Main St., Setauket from 4 to 7 p.m. Enjoy a country picnic, live music, an art raffle, raffle baskets, house tours and talks on the history of the Three Villages. Tickets for adults are $30 in advance at www.threevillagecommunitytrust.org, $35 at the door; tickets for kids ages 5 to 12 are $10, under age 5 free. Rain date is Aug. 20. 631-942-4558

Summer Comedy Night

In partnership with Governor’s Comedy Club, the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown presents a night of laughs with comedians Tommy Gooch, Olga Namer, Debbie D Amore and Steve Rocco Parrillo at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.

Larger Than Life Boyband Tribute

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson welcomes Larger Than Life, the #1 boy band experience in the country, in concert on the Main Stage at 8 p.m. Featuring boy band-style singing, dancing, and that iconic pop look, Larger Than Life will perform over 50 boy band songs by the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, New Kids on the Block, 98 Degrees, O-Town, Boyz II Men, LFO, One Direction, and many more. Tickets are $49. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Sunday Aug. 20

St. Joseph’s Family Festival

See Aug. 17 listing.

LISEC Sikaflex Boat Build

See Aug. 19 listing.

Pet Palooza

See Aug. 19 listing.

ELIQG Quilt Show

See Aug. 19 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. 27. 631-567-5898, www.longislandcars.com

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, magician, face painting, live music by Miles to Dayton, Amber Ferrari Band and Milagro, classic car show, carnival games, food and more. 631-873-0961

Northport Walking Tour

Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport hosts a Walking Tour at 1:30 p.m. Join 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, Rum Runners and the Trolley. All ages welcome. $7 per person. To register, visit www.northporthistorical.org. 631-757-9859

History Talk with John Avlon

Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Setauket hosts a Book Talk and Q&A with CNN Senior Political Analyst John Avlon from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The veteran journalist will discuss his latest book, Lincoln and the Fight for Peace, a timely and insightful look at our nation’s gravest conflict. All are welcome to register at emmaclark.org/programs. 631-941-4080.

Wind Down Sundays – This show has been canceled.

The popular summer concert series continues at Hap’s historic Red Barn at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket with Taylor Ackley and the Deep Roots Ensemble at 5:30 p.m. Bring seating. 631-689-6146, www.frankmelvillepark.org

Celebrate Park Concert

Celebrate St. James continues its summer concert series at Celebrate Park, 369 Lake Ave., St. James with music by SouthBound from 6 to 9 p.m. Free. Bring seating. 631-984-0201

Summer Concert on the Green

Summer concerts are back in front of the Stony Brook Post Office at the Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main Street, Stony Brook from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Sunday through Aug. 20, courtesy of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization. Tonight’s concert features the Sound Symphony Orchestra. Free. Bring seating. 631-751-2244, www.wmho.org

Monday Aug. 21

An Evening of Goat Yoga

Join the Smithtown Historical Society, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown for a 45 minute session of yoga with friendly, interactive goats from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and again from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m courtesy of  by Steppin’ Out Ponies and Petting Zoo. Tickets are $30 per person. Please bring a mat & towel. Registration required via Eventbrite. For more information, call 631-265-6768.

Tuesday Aug. 22

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to enjoy a medley of Yiddish songs sung by Henry Beder accompanied by Thelma Grossman in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Come and immerse yourself in one of the most expressive and emotional languages — especially, if you have never learned Yiddish. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

Audubon Summer Lecture

The Bates House, 1 Bates Road, Setauket will host a summer lecture by Four Harbors Audubon Society at 6:30 p.m. Titled Butterflies, Birds, & Habitats with guest speaker Rick Cech, this lecture will explore how butterflies and habitats co-exist, with a comparison to bird life ecology for perspective, and with an emphasis on the U.S.’s East Coast. Free but reservations required by emailing [email protected].

Taiko Drums of Japan

Join Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Setauket for a performance of Taiko Drums of Japan on the library lawn from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. With performances drawn from the rick folk heritage of Japan, Ryu Shu presents a diverse program of Taiko drums, folk songs, and dance to immerse you in a traditional Japanese festival experience. Bring a blanket or lawn chair or even pack a picnic! Registration required only if you want to attend the program indoors in the event of rain at emmaclark.org/programs.

Wednesday Aug. 23

Sunset Concerts

Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council continues its Sunset Concerts at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with a performance by Gene Casey & The Lone Sharks. Held rain or shine. Bring seating. 631-473-5220, www.gpjac.org

Summerfest Concert

The Northport Chamber of Commerce continues its Summerfest Concerts on Wednesdays in August at the Robert Krueger Bandshell in Northport Village Park, with Santana tribute band Milagro from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Bring seating. 631-754-3905

Thursday Aug. 24

Vanderbilt Architecture Tour

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents an Architecture & Collections Tour at noon and again at 1:30 p.m. Learn about the history of the Eagle’s Nest estate, the architectural details and visit the marine, natural history, and cultural artifact collections. Tickets, which include general admission, are $16 adults, $15 seniors/students, $14 children at the door only. www.vanderbiltmuseum.org

Port Jefferson Greek Festival

Greek Church of the Assumption, 430 Sheep Pasture Road, Port Jefferson presents its annual Greek Festival tonight from 5 to 10 p.m., Aug. 25 from 5 to 11 p.m., Aug. 26 from noon to 11 p.m. and Aug. 27 from noon to 10 p.m. with vendors, authentic Greek delights, dancing, music, carnival rides, church tour and giant raffle. Fireworks on Aug. 25 and 26 (weather permitting), raffle drawing on Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. $2 per person, free for children under 12. 631-473-0894, www.portjeffgreekfest.com.

Historic Harbor Tours

The Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport hosts two Historic Harbor Tours today at 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. The Society and Seymour’s Boatyard invite you to take a relaxing evening cruise while learning about the history of Northport Harbor, followed by drinks and light fare. Tickets are $60, $50 members. 631-757-9859, www.northporthistorical.org

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 on tonight and Aug. 25 from 6 to 11 p.m., Aug. 26 from 2 to 11 p.m. and Aug. 27 from 2 to 9 p.m. Games, food, rides, craft vendors, entertainment. 631-471-2725

Weaving with Wine

Huntington Historical Society hosts a Weaving with Wine event at the Conklin Barn, 2 High St., Huntington from 6 to 8:30 p.m. This fun program offers a chance to learn to weave using a traditional manual table loom. At the end of class, you will have a piece of fabric to bring home. You supply the wine, they provide the weaving, glasses and light refreshments. $45 per person.  To register, call 631-427-7045, ext. 404 or visit huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Native American Drumming

All Souls Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook hosts an evening of Native American Drumming 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. Call 631-655-7798 for more information.

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 Shining Star (Earth, Wind and Fire Tribute) at 7 p.m. Bring seating. 631-585-9393

Harborside Concerts

Village of Port Jefferson closes out its Harborside concert series with a final concert featuring Foreign Journey with special guest Randy Jackson at the Ferry Dock tonight at 7 p.m. 631-473-4724 www.portjeff.com

Summer SWAP Concert

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook continues its free “Summer Stage With a Purpose” (Summer SWAP) concerts on its front lawn from 6 to 8 p.m. with the Phoenix Big Band. Guests may purchase refreshments in the Basie Garden beside the venue. Bring seating. 631-751-1895, www.thejazzloft.org

 Theater

‘The Prom’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson kick off its 53rd season with The Prom from Sept. 16 to Oct. 21. As the lights dim on four fading Broadway stars, they wildly seek the spotlight. Courting the controversy surrounding a small-town Indiana prom, the quartet invades a community that wants to keep the party straight. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors, $20 students, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’

The Carriage House Players continue their 34th annual Summer Shakespeare Festival in the mansion courtyard of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with Love’s Labour’s Lost on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. from Aug. 11 to Sept. 8. Tickets are $20, $15 children under 12 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

‘Rent’

Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown presents Jonathan Larson’s Rent from Sept. 16 to Oct. 22. Based loosely on Puccini’s La Boheme, the groundbreaking musical follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians — Roger, Mimi, Tom, Angel, Maureen, Joanne, Benny and Mark — struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Tickets are $35 adults, $32 seniors, $28 students. To order, call 800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

‘Escape to Margaritaville’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Escape to Margaritaville from July 13 to Sept. 3. This upbeat and energetic new musical features all your favorite Jimmy Buffett classics including “Volcano,” “Fins,”,“Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and of course “Margaritaville.” Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Every Brilliant Thing’

Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson, in association with Response Crisis Center, presents Every Brilliant Thing, a one-man show starring Jeffrey Sanzel, on the Second Stage from Sept. 17 to Oct. 8.  With audience members recruited to take on supporting roles, Every Brilliant Thing is a heart-wrenching, hilarious story of depression and the lengths we will go for those we love. All seats are $20. Fifty percent of the gross proceeds of this production will benefit Response Crisis Center. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Film

‘Invisible Threads’

Coinciding with National Radio Day, the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington will host a special screening of the award-winning documentary Invisible Threads — From Wireless to War on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. While Nikola Tesla, Guglielmo Marconi and a mysterious German wireless plant compete for radio supremacy off the east coast of Long Island, the unseen casualties of war threaten to divide a nation. The charity screening will benefit the Cinema Arts Centre  and the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, and will feature a live Q&A with filmmaker Joseph Sikorski and Marc Alessi, Executive Director of the Tesla Science Center. Tickets are $25, $20 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org.

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New research suggests inflammation is associated with early Parkinson's disease­. METRO photo

By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dr. David Dunaief

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the U.S. after Alzheimer’s disease. Estimates put the number of people living with Parkinson’s disease at up to 1.2 million, with 90,000 new diagnoses each year (1).

Patients with PD suffer from a collection of symptoms caused by the breakdown of brain neurons. There’s a lot we still don’t know about the causes of PD; however, risk factors may include head trauma, genetics, exposure to toxins and heavy metals, and lifestyle issues, like lack of exercise.

The part of the brain most affected is the basal ganglia, and the prime culprit is dopamine deficiency that occurs in this brain region (2). Adding back dopamine has been the mainstay of medical treatment, but eventually the neurons themselves break down, and the medication becomes less effective.

Is there hope? Yes, in the form of medications and deep brain stimulatory surgery, but also by modifying lifestyle, considering factors like iron, vitamin D, inflammation, and CoQ10. While the research is not conclusive, it is intriguing and gives us more options.

What impact does iron have on the brain?

This heavy metal is potentially harmful for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, multiple sclerosis and, yes, Parkinson’s disease. The problem is that it can cause oxidative damage.

In a small, yet well-designed, randomized controlled trial (RCT), researchers used a chelator to remove iron from the substantia nigra, a specific part of the brain where iron breakdown may be dysfunctional. An iron chelator is a drug that removes the iron. Here, deferiprone (DFP) was used at a modest dose of 30 mg/kg/d (3).

The chelator reduced the risk of disease progression significantly on the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) during the 12-month study. Participants who were treated sooner had lower levels of iron compared to a group that used the chelator six months later. A specialized MRI was used to measure the brain’s iron levels.

The iron chelator does not affect, nor should it affect, systemic levels of iron, only those in the substantia nigra region of the brain. The chelator may work by preventing degradation of the dopamine-containing neurons. Your physician may also recommend that you consume foods that contain less iron.

What is the role of inflammation in PD?

In a recent study, researchers tested 58 newly diagnosed PD participants’ blood and compared their results to 62 healthy control participants (4). Some of the PD arm participants had additional testing done, including cerebrospinal fluid samples and brain imaging. All these tests were looking for specific inflammatory markers.

Researchers found that those with PD had significantly higher brain inflammation levels than those without PD in specific regions. Their blood and cerebrospinal fluid also had high inflammatory markers. These measures correlated with worse visuospatial and cognitive scores.

While this study provides hints of possible treatments, we need additional studies to identify whether the inflammation is a cause or an effect of PD.

Regardless, adopting a low-inflammatory foods diet might help mitigate some symptoms of PD or slow its advancement.

Does CoQ10 help slow PD progression?

There is evidence that CoQ10 may be beneficial in PD at high doses.

In an RCT, results showed that those given 1,200 mg of CoQ10 daily reduced the progression of the disease significantly based on UPDRS changes, compared to a placebo group (5). Other doses of 300 and 600 mg showed trends toward benefit, but were not significant. This was a 16-month trial in a small population of 80 patients. Unfortunately, results for other CoQ10 studies have been mixed.

In this study, CoQ10 was well-tolerated at even the highest dose. Thus, there may be no downside to trying CoQ10 in those with PD.

Does Vitamin D make a difference?

Vitamin D may play dual roles of both reducing the risk of Parkinson’s disease and slowing its progression.

In a prospective study of over 3000 patients, results show that vitamin D levels measured in the highest quartile reduced the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by 65 percent, compared to the lowest quartile (6). This is impressive, especially since the highest quartile patients had vitamin D levels that were what we qualify as insufficient, with blood levels of 20 ng/ml, while those in the lowest quartile had deficient blood levels of 10 ng/ml or less.

In an RCT with 121 patients, results showed that 1,200 IU of vitamin D taken daily may have reduced the progression of PD significantly on the UPDRS compared to a placebo over a 12-month duration (7). Also, this amount of vitamin D increased the blood levels by almost two times from 22.5 to 41.7 ng/ml. 

In a 2019 study of 182 PD patients and 185 healthy control subjects, researchers found that higher serum vitamin D levels correlated to reduced falls and alleviation of other non-motor PD symptoms (8).

Vitamin D research is ongoing, as this all seems promising.

So, what are our takeaways? Though medication is the gold standard for Parkinson’s disease treatment, lifestyle modifications can have a significant impact on both its prevention and treatment. Each lifestyle change in isolation may have modest effects, but cumulatively their impact could be significant.

References:

(1) parkinson.org. (2) uptodate.com. (3) Antioxid Redox Signal. 2014;10;21(2):195-210. (4) Movement Disorders. 2023;38;5:743-754. (5) Arch Neurol. 2002;59(10):1541-1550. (6) Arch Neurol. 2010;67(7):808-811. (7) Am J Clin Nutr. 2013;97(5):1004-1013. (8) Neurologica. 2019;140(4):274-280.

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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