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Kids Korner: January 2 to 9, 2025

by Heidi Sutton - January 2, 2025

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Light House — Create a festive lighthouse at the Whaling Museum on Jan. 2.

PROGRAMS

Holiday Break at the Hatchery

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor hosts a Holiday Break on Jan. 2. Take part in hatchery tour at 11 a.m., trout feeding demonstrations at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and a live animal encounter at 2 p.m. Admission is $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children ages 3 to 12. 516-692-6768

Festive Lighthouses

Did you know lighthouses were once lit with whale oil? The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor hosts a Festive Lighthouses drop-in workshop on Jan. 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Design and decorate a unique lighthouse of your own — complete with battery-powered tea light and mini wreath — to light up your home this winter. Admission fee + $10 participant; $5 member. No registration required. 631-367-3418

First Steps in Nature

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown continues its First Steps in Nature series for ages 2 to 4 on Jan. 3 at 9:30 a.m. with hands-on exciting activities, crafts, stories and much more. Children will gain a greater appreciation of nature and wildlife while having fun. $20 per child. To register, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org. 631-979-6344

Snow Globe Workshop

Join the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St.. Cold Spring Harbor for a Snow Globe Workshop on Jan. 3 at noon or 2 p.m. Have you ever wondered how whales stay warm in freezing waters? Celebrate the wonder of whales and other arctic creatures and explore blubber and bones from our collection. Design and create a wintry whale scene inside of a shimmering snow globe-style craft to take home. Admission fee + $10 participant; $5 member. No registration required 631-367-3418

Trout Birthday Celebration

Join the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor for a Trout Birthday Celebration on Jan. 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Meet the hatchery’s baby trout and don’t forget to bring a birthday card! Admission is $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children ages 3 to 12. 516-692-6768

Story & Craft with Nana Carol

The Next Chapter bookstore, 204 New York Ave., Huntington hosts a Story and Craft event with Nana Carol on Jan. 6 at 10:30 a.m. Free. No registration required. Appropriate for ages 0-4. 631-482-5008

THEATER

‘Frozen Jr’

Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown presents Frozen Jr. from Jan. 18 to Feb. 23. A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen Jr. expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. Tickets are $25 per person. To order, call 1-800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

‘Hansel and Gretel’

Theatre Three, 423 Main St., Port Jefferson kicks off the new year with Hansel and Gretel from Jan. 25 to Feb. 8 with a sensory friendly performance on Jan. 26. Go into the woods for an outrageous adventure with the world’s most famous brother-and-sister team, Hansel and Gretel. A feeble father, a wicked stepmother, and a well-meaning if misguided witch add up to hilarious hijinx. All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘Frozen Jr’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport kicks off the new year with a production of Frozen Jr. from Jan. 25 to March 2. When faced with danger, princesses Anna and Elsa discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. This enchanting musical features all of the memorable songs from the hit Disney film and will thaw even the coldest heart! All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

FILM

‘Spy Kids’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Cinema for Kids series with a screening of Spy Kids on Jan. 5 at noon. Nine years ago, top international spies Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez traded the excitement of espionage for the adventure of parenthood. But when they’re called out on a secret mission, the Cortezes are separated from their family and kidnapped by the evil Fegan Floop. Fortunately, there are two people who possess the skills and know-how to reunite the family: Carmen and Juni Cortez, their kids. Rated PG. Tickets are $13 adults, $5 children. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Send your calendar events to [email protected]

Times … and dates: Dec. 26, 2024 to Jan. 2, 2025

by Heidi Sutton - December 25, 2024

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Longwood train display — A WINTER WONDERLAND The Longwood Estate in Ridge invites the community to a free holiday train display this week.

Ongoing

Holiday Light Show

The Riverhead Holiday Light Show, 149 Edwards Ave., Calverton is back for its 7th season on various days from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31. The largest drive-through light show in Suffolk County features dozens of dazzling displays to delight the entire family! For schedule and tickets, visit www.holidaylightshow.com.

Festival of Trees

Visit the Festival of Trees, a month long extravaganza to kick off the holiday shopping season, on the second floor of the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson Dec. 1 through Jan. 2 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free. 631-802-2160

Thursday Dec. 26

Holiday Train Display

Town of Brookhaven’s Longwood Estate, corner of Longwood Road and Smith Road, Ridge will host a Holiday Train Display today through Dec 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participate in an “I Spy” game and try to find all the hidden items in the display. Free event. 631-924-1820

Friday Dec. 27

Holiday Train Display

See Dec. 26 listing.

Friday Night Face Off

Long Island’s longest running Improv Comedy Show, Friday Night Face Off, 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 Dec. 28

Holiday Train Display

See Dec. 26 listing.

Caleb Smith Hike

Join the staff at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, 581 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown for Trails Less Traveled from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Enjoy some refreshing autumn air as you embark on some of the hilly, secluded trails of the park. $4 per person. Reservations taken on eventbrite.com.

Organ Concert

Mt. Sinai Congregational Church, 233 North Country Road, Mt. Sinai will host an Organ Concert by Michael Kearney at 4 p.m. Come hear beautiful organ music in the church sanctuary. There will be a free will donation, with proceeds used to repair the organ. For additional information, contact 631-473-1582.

Sunday Dec. 29

Holiday Train Display

See Dec. 26 listing.

Lydia Von Hof in concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook presents a concert by folk-rock harmony trio Lydia Von Hof from 3 to 4 p.m. The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. 631-689-5888, www.limusichalloffame.org.

Monday Dec. 30

Holiday Train Display

See Dec. 26 listing.

Tuesday Dec. 31

Holiday Train Display

See Dec. 26 listing.

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a club meeting in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Rabbi Aaron Benson will discuss the current situation in Israel. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

New Year’s Laughin’ Eve

Join Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson for a New Year’s Laughin’ Eve at 6 p.m. (early bird show) or 8 p.m. with comedians Meghan Hanley, Chris Monty and Mick Thomas. Tickets are $70 for the early bird show, $80 for the prime time show. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

New Year’s Eve Extravaganza

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook presents Tom Manuel’s New Year’s Eve Extravaganza with shows at 7 p.m. and again at 10 p.m. Join The Jazz Loft All-Stars and accompanying vocalist on the dance floor. $75 per person includes open bar, beer and wine and champagne toast. www.thejazzloft.org.

New Year’s Eve Comedy Night

Ring in the New Year with laughs as the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown and Governor’s Comedy Clubs host a night of comedy at 10 p.m. Stand-ups include Kevin Downey Jr., Olga Namer, Debbie D’Amore and MC Jessica Collazo. $90 per person includes an open bar of beer and wine, a selection of hors d’oeuvres and a champagne toast at midnight. To order, call 1-800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

Wednesday Jan. 1

First Day Hike at Sunken Meadow

Join the staff at Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park in kicking off the new year with a 2-mile hike to explore Sunken Meadow State Park from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Take in the breathtaking views of the Long Island Sound as you travel along the Sunken Meadow boardwalk and trails. Meet at Field 1, Park Office. Call 631-269-4333 for further details.

First Day Hike at Caumsett

Join the staff at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington for a 5-mile habitat hike through the fields and forest of Caumsett to enjoy the history and nature of the park from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please remember to dress warm and for rain, bring water. For ages 8 and up. Meet at flagpole by office. No registration necessary. Free. Call 631-423-1770 for further info.

New Year’s Day Hike

Join Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor for a New Year’s Day Hike at 11 a.m. Come learn about Long Island winter habitats and end your visit with a guided 1/2 mile nature hike, Family friendly. Free with general admission fee of $7 adults $6 seniors, $5 children ages 5 to 12. Pre-registration is required by visiting cshfishhatchery.org or click here.

Thursday Jan. 2

Medicaid Enrollment Assistance

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station hosts a Medicaid Enrollment Assistance event for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled from 10:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Those 65+, blind, and/or disabled can enroll in selected Medicaid programs. First come, first served. No appointment necessary. For more information, contact the Nassau-Suffolk HospitalCouncil at 631-656-9783 (option 2) or visit: https://coverage4healthcare.org/

Film

‘Christmas Vacation’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington presents National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on Dec. 28 at 9:30 p.m. America’s favorite family; The Griswolds are back and ready to celebrate Christmas with their extended family the only way they could in a continuous chain of disastrous events! Rated PG-13. Tickets are $16, $10 members. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Theater

‘Crossing Delancey’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its 54th season with Susan Sandler’s Crossing Delancey from Jan. 18 to Feb. 9. Isabel is an independent young woman living alone and working in a book shop. When not pining after a handsome author, she visits her grandmother in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. This spunky granny and her friend the matchmaker have found a “good catch” for Izzy, whose initial reluctance gives way to a blossoming romance when she finally meets Sam, the pickle vendor. A sincere, delightful, and loving comedy — fresh, timeless, and heart-warming. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students, and $25 for children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘Heartbreak Hotel’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Heartbreak Hotel from Jan. 16 to March 2. The tribute to Elvis takes a closer look at the musical icon whose impact shaped the history of rock and roll as well as popular culture following him from his early days to his rise to become “The King of Rock and Roll.” Featuring over 40 Elvis hits and iconic songs including “That’s All Right,” “All Shook Up,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Burning Love,” “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” “Hound Dog,” “Love Me Tender,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Jail- house Rock,” “Are You Lonesome,” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” Tickets start at $80. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

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.

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. 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 to the end of April.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.

Gurwin Jewish announces winners of 31st annual photo contest

by Press Release - December 22, 2024

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Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center announced the winners of the 2024 Annual Gurwin Photo Contest, revealing the photos at a wine and cheese reception in Gurwin’s Simon Rainbow Room at the 460-bed skilled nursing facility in Commack on Dec. 9.

Nearly 1,000 submissions are received each year from across the globe by amateur photographers and students, and are judged by a panel of professional photographers for clarity, composition, subject matter and suitability for display at the Center.

This year’s judges, Iris Zaverdas De Vita of Golden Iris, Tony Lopez of Tony Lopez Photography, and Josh Schmidt of The Tiffen Company, chose 34 winning photos.

Grand Prize, Honorable Mentions, as well as a Best-in-Show winners were awarded in 12 categories: Action/ Sports, Altered/Enhanced, Children, Landscapes, Long Island/ New York, Nature, People, Pets, Still Life, Student, Travel, and Wildlife. Gurwin residents and staff also weighed-in on their favorites for “Resident/ Staff Selection” winners.

Best-in-Show went to Regina Matarazzo (Tobyhanna, PA) for her photo “Seagull Under the Pier” and Best-In-Show Runner-Up to Alan Sloyer (Roslyn) for “Millie’s Diner.”

“We are thrilled to celebrate not only the incredible talent of our photo contest winners but also the joyous return of our in-person reception at the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, marking the first time since the pandemic,” said Stuart B. Almer, President and CEO of Gurwin Healthcare System.

“Each year we are so very impressed by the incredible artistry of the participants, many of them perennial supporters of our unique contest. We are pleased to showcase their work, and a grateful for the beauty and inspiration the photos bring to our residents.”

Winning photos are permanently displayed in the Center’s renowned Tiffen Gallery, named in memory of Helen and Nat Tiffen of The Tiffen Company, long-time sponsors of the contest. More than 1,000 photos are showcased throughout the Center for the enjoyment of the community’s 460 long- and short-term residents, staff and visitors.

Photos not selected for a prize award are repurposed as reminiscence aids, for visual stimulation and art therapy, providing a source of comfort and inspiration, for residents throughout the Center, including Gurwin’s Memory Care Unit and Adult Day Care Programs.

“It’s hard for me to fathom that we’ve been hosting this contest for 31 years…at first, it was a way to decorate our newly opened nursing home; today, it’s so much more than that,” said Dennine Cook, Chief Corporate Communications Officer for Gurwin Healthcare System.

“All the selections, whether they be honorable mentions, grand prizes or resident/staff selections, will be judged, discussed and enjoyed by so many appreciative eyes for years to come. That is the real honor – that your photos will hang for decades in our residents’ home,” Cook added.

Global Language Reads in Port Jefferson brings diversity and culture to its bookshelves

by Julianne Mosher - December 22, 2024

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By Julianne Mosher

Inside Global Language Reads, the maroon-colored walls are home to shelves filled with different books. There are novels varying from classic writers like Charles Dickens to true crime, local authors and historical fiction. There’s a shelf of Oliver Sacks’ best sellers and a room dedicated to solely to children’s books in the back.

It just opened in November, but GLR is already a special oasis that brings the feel of a small, family-owned book shop to Port Jefferson village. But what makes this spot different compared to some other local bookstores is the variety of different languages and cultures they bring to the table. Owner Caterina Lemos Cunha said that many of the books on site are not just sold in English, but are also available in more than a dozen different languages.

Offering a many different services, classes and events, the goal of GLR is to bring readers together through game nights, language classes and debate teams, while creating an environment that welcomes everyone and anyone — no matter what you speak.

With her three children, Cunha was living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn working as a scientist specializing in neuroscience. Using her background in research, she decided to start writing children’s books surrounding different types of science with her (little) free time. Cunha would often interview women scientist, disseminate the information into simpler terms and create a story surrounding that science featuring the main character, Alicia (named after her youngest daughter).

Alicia has more than a dozen stories — she learned about rainbows, fireworks, spiders and mental health, and each book offers a science experiment or recipe that kids can do with their families when they’re done reading. Cunha wanted to break down science and make it easy to digest for kids.

“I try to highlight women because sometimes we get forgotten,” Cunha said. “And then we translate them and publish the stories in other languages.” Out of her 10 books, more than half are written bilingually to cater to people of all backgrounds.

Alicia’s adventures had Cunha writing for years and years with one end goal in mind.

“Our dream was always to have our own store to sell them and also sell other books,” she said. “But I was always very busy with research work.”

Cunha and her family decided to leave the city after her son, Gabriel, was killed last year and move to Port Jefferson.

“We needed a change and we kind of followed our intuition,” she said.

After visiting several empty store fronts, Cunha was introduced to 402 Main Street next door to Theatre Three. A former insurance agent, Cunha repainted the walls her late-sons favorite color and named the shop “Global Language Reads” — the same initials as his name.

“We got into the mindset of wanting to do things now in our life and not wait,” she said.

Since officially opening their doors Nov. 8, Cunha said her favorite thing so far is becoming part of the community. “So far we’ve met so many people and got to learn their stories,” she said. “That’s really the best part.”

Cunha, who was born in Portugal and raised in Germany, wanted to bring a sense of culture to her new store. While stocking the shelves with New York Times bestsellers and typical classics, she wanted to be sure to also showcase authors that other people might not know or who are not well-known in the United States.

And to cater to the rich, diverse local community, she decided to bring in authors and books in not just English but Hindu, Bengali, Arabic, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, French, German, Russian, Japanese and Mandarin. Her children’s books are also written side-by-side bilingually, too. Some genres that can be found include young adult, nonfiction, independent study, historical fiction and some science-heavy reads.

Cunha added that when she opened up the shop, she wanted to bring in different programming for people of all ages. GLR hosts weekly book clubs, game nights and will bring in local authors to talk about their writing.

“I always liked teaching and when I went into research I preferred it,” she said. “Here, too, I want to get kids excited about this and in a small, independent setting you can just come in, learn and have fun.”

The shop is open daily from noon to 9 p.m. Call 631-314-9080 or visit glrbooks.com for more information.

Medical Compass: Wishing Santa Claus the gift of good health

by David Dunaief - December 21, 2024

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By David Dunaief, M.D.

Dear Santa,

I’m sure you have a lot on your mind these days, with an abundance of Christmas requests and only a few remaining days to fill them.

My message is intended as a gift for you, not a request for myself. Your kindness and generosity toward others deserve to be returned. I am concerned about your growing belly, which has been compared to a bowl full of jelly when you laugh. Honestly, your upcoming journey around the world will likely make it worse. The cookies and milk, along with other sweets left for you on Christmas Eve, are only likely to make it worse.

I’m concerned about your health and about the message it sends to kids. We’re currently dealing with an epidemic of overweight kids, which has contributed to the growing number of children with type 2 diabetes. According to the CDC, these numbers only get worse as children age.

You, Santa, can help reverse this trend and stem the increased risks of pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer and heart disease that central belly fat promotes. Help children improve health outcomes that will follow them throughout their lives.

This is your opportunity to model the way — and, maybe fit back into that clingy tracksuit you’ve had in the back of your closet since the early 18th century, when you were still trim.

Think of the advantages of losing that extra weight. Your joints won’t ache as much in the cold; your back doesn’t hurt as much; and you will have more energy. Studies show that eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains can reverse clogged arteries and help you avoid strokes, heart attacks and peripheral vascular disease. Even a simple change, like eating a small handful of raw nuts each day, can reduce your heart disease risk significantly.

Losing weight will also make it easier for you to keep your balance on steep, icy rooftops. No one wants you to take a tumble and break a bone — or worse.

Exercise will help, as well. Maybe this Christmas Eve, you could walk or jog alongside the sleigh for the first continent or two. During the “offseason” you and the elves could train for the North Pole After Christmas 5k. Having a team to train with is much more fun.

If you add some weight training into your routine, you’ll strengthen your core. In addition, your new muscles will help melt away fat from your midsection.

It doesn’t have to be a chore. After all, who doesn’t love a game of tag with the reindeer?

If you really want to make a strong start, take a cue from the reindeer, who love their raw carrots and celery. Broadcast that the modern Santa enjoys fruits, especially berries and veggies, with an emphasis on cruciferous veggies like broccoli florets dipped in humus, which have antioxidant qualities and can help reverse disease.

And, of course, don’t put candy in our stockings. We don’t need more sugar, and I’d guess that, over the long night, it’s hard to resist sneaking a few pieces, yourself. Why not reduce the temptation? This will also eliminate the sugar highs and lows you feel during your all-night expedition.

As for your loyal fans, you could place active games under the tree. You and your elves could create a phone app with free workout videos for those of us who need them; we could join in as you showed us “12 Days of Dance-Offs with Santa.”

Think about giving athletic equipment, such as baseball gloves, soccer balls, and basketballs, instead of video games. Or wearable devices that track step counts and bike routes. Or stuff gift certificates for dance lessons into people’s stockings.

As you become more active, you’ll find that you have more energy all year round, not just on Christmas Eve. If you start soon, Santa, maybe by next year, you’ll be able to park the sleigh farther away and skip to each of the neighborhood chimneys.

The benefits of a healthier Santa will be felt across the world. Your reindeer won’t have to work as hard. You could fit extra presents in your sleigh. And Santa, you will be sending kids and adults the world over the right message about taking control of their health with nutrition and exercise. That’s the best gift you could give!

Wishing you good health in the coming year,

David

P.S. If it’s not too late to ask, I could use a bucket of baseballs and a new glove. I hear the Yankees have an opening for an outfielder, so I need to start practicing.

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.

Celebrate the Festival of Lights on the North Shore

by Heidi Sutton - December 20, 2024

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By Heidi Sutton

Hanukkah begins at sundown on Wednesday, December 25 and ends on the evening of Thursday, Jan. 2 this year. Here are some menorah lighting ceremonies, parades and celebrations in our communities.

Commack

Multiple synagogues in the area and the Suffolk Y JCC will sponsor a community menorah lighting event at the Commack Corner Shopping Center parking lot, southeast corner of Jericho Turnpike and Commack Road, in Commack on Monday, Dec. 30 at 6:30 p.m. There will be entertainment, live music, dreidels, chocolate gelt, latkes and giveaways. 631-462-9800

Coram

Join Lubavitch of the East End for a menorah lighting at the Davis House, 263 Middle Country Road, Coram on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 4 p.m.

Dix Hills

The Chai Center, 501 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills invites the community to their Grand Menorah Lighting on Thursday, Dec 26 at 5:30 p.m. with latkes and donuts. on Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. 631-351-8672

East Setauket

Village Chabad, 360 Nicolls Road, East Setauket will host a Chanukah Car Parade and Grand Menorah Lighting with a Chocolate Gelt Drop on Thursday, Dec. 26 starting at 4 p.m. with latkes, donuts, magic show and hot cocoa. $10 per person in advance, $15 day before. RSVP required at at MyVillageChabad.com/RSVP. 631-585-0521

Farmingville

Join the Town of Brookhaven and Lubavitch of the East End for a Chanukah celebration at Town Hall, One Independence Hill, Farmingville on Thursday, Dec. 26 at 6 p.m. with a menorah lighting, magic show, latkes, donuts and more. 631-698-4000

Greenlawn

The Greenlawn Civic Association will host a Menorah Lighting Ceremony and Hanukkah celebration at Harborfields Public Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn in the Communiy Meeting Room on Monday, Dec. 30 at 6 p.m. www.greenlawncivic.org

Huntington

Chabad of Huntington Village will host a Grand Menorah Lighting at the Huntington Village Winter Wonderland along Wall Street on Monday, Dec. 30 at 5 p.m. featuring music by Toby Tobias, fire juggling, festive balloons, chocolate gelt and donuts. 631-276-4453

Huntington Station

Chabad of Huntington & Melville invites the commuity to a Chanukah Wonderland at the Walt Whitman Shops,160 Walt Whitman Rd, Huntington Station (near center court) on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 4 p.m. Enjoy dreidel painting, doughnut decorating, face painting, giant Menorah lighting, build your own menorah, balloon designing, Chanukah gelt, arts & crafts, music, family entertainment, and much more. Free. RSVP suggested. www.Melvillechabad.com/chanukah, 631-385-2424.

Mount Sinai

Join Lubavitch of the East End for a menorah lighting at Heritage Park, 633 Mt. Sinai-Coram Road, Mt. Sinai on Monday, Dec. 30 a 5:30 p.m.

Northport

Join the Village of Northport in lighting the menorah outside Northport Village Park on Thursday, Dec. 26 at 6 p.m. 631-261-7502

Port Jefferson Station

The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Menorah Lighting at the Chamber Train Car, corner of Route 112 and Nesconset Highway, Port Jefferson Station on Wednesday, Dec. 25 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Join them for a special ceremony led by Rabbi Aaron Benson of the North Shore Jewish Center. 631-821-1313.

St. James

The community is invited to the St. James Menorah Lighting Ceremony at The Triangle, Route 25A and Lake Ave., St. James on Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 at 5 p.m., Dec. 27 at 4 p.m. and Dec. 28 to Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. 631-584-8510

Stony Brook

Temple Isaiah, 1404 Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook invites the community to a Community Candlelighting on Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 5 p.m. Join Rabbi Josh, Rebbetzin Meg and the Shabbat Singers for the first night of Chanukah. Please RSVP by calling 631-751-8518.

Smithtown

The Town of Smithtown and Chabad of MidSuffolk will hold its annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Town Hall, 99 West Main St., Smithtown onThursday, Dec. 26 at 4:30 p.m. Enjoy live music, latkes, donuts and a special gelt drop for children. 631-360-7512

Nature Matters: Conserving ‘Cutsgunsuck’

by John Turner - December 19, 2024

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West Brook wetlands — Above, what Blydenburgh County Park could look like if the dam isn't put back ... this is West Brook in Bayard Cutting Arboretum several years after the dam failed and a beautiful stream valley with great biodiversity has emerged. Photo from John Turner

By John L. Turner

Due to the extensive development of Long Island, starting with European colonization nearly 400 years ago, virtually no species, natural area, or landscape has been untouched. Some of these “touches” have been minor, others moderate, while still others have been drastic or complete, like the virtual destruction of the Hempstead Plains, a once 40,000 square mile tallgrass prairie located in the middle of Nassau County. True too, for the timber wolf which was eradicated early in the Island’s settlement driven by a bounty paid during the 17th century for each dead wolf.

There are few places where these impacts have been more extensive than with the more than 100 streams and rivers flowing outward from the center of Long Island to the salty waters that surround it. For centuries these streams were viewed as only having commercial value; modified by dams the streams became artificial ponds to supply water for cranberry bogs and for the harvest of ice.

Mills were constructed in many places, taking advantage of the water funneled over constructed dams, to grind corn, saw wood or for fulling clothing fiber. Today, there are very few unobstructed streams on Long Island. (One of the few is Alewife Creek in Southampton which drains Big Fresh Pond, emptying into North Sea Harbor).

The ‘brook’ in Stony Brook. Photo from John Turner

Obstruction is the reality at “Cutsgunsuck,” the Setalcott Indigenous Nation’s name for a “brook laden with stones,” a brook that we know today as Stony Brook. This “stone laden” brook, fed by freshwater oozing out of the Upper Glacial aquifer on its northward flow to the harbor, was drastically altered about 275 years ago, with the construction of the dam to funnel water for the Stony Brook Grist Mill so only a limited section of the original brook remains. Predictably, as with all dams, the water backed up behind the newly constructed dam, creating a pond in the process and drowning much of the stream and streamside environment — and its interwoven array of plants and animals — that had evolved in place over many thousands of years. Same was the case with the dam in Blydenburgh County Park creating Stump Pond.

Victims of these dams were the migratory fish, American Eel and Alewife, a species of river herring, that undoubtedly used Stony Brook and the upper reaches of the Nissequogue River centuries ago to spawn and develop. These fish, known as diadromous species, live in two worlds — in the case of American eels spawning in the ocean (the Sargasso Sea), migrating inland to freshwater streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds to spend more than a decade growing and maturing before returning to the ocean. Alewife behave in the opposite fashion — coming inland to spawn with the adults and young leaving to develop in the ocean.

Eels and river herring are important components of the coastal food chain, nourishing cormorants, wading birds, eagles, and ospreys while back in the sea, a host of predatory fish such as striped bass, bluefish, and tuna. Mammals that prey on these species include river otters, making a slow comeback on Long Island, and seals. The dams created insurmountable obstacles to the completion of their life cycle so for these fish and the other species that feed upon them two ecological threads were severed.

The Northern Dusky Salamander found in the Stony Brook Mill Pond. Photo from John Turner

Other animals that prosper in cold and clear streams lost out too, seeing their habitat lost or substantially diminished. Remarkably, one of them is a species hanging on in the truncated stream segment south of the now drained portion of the Stony Brook Mill Pond — the Northern Dusky Salamander, an amphibian discovered by someone helping wildlife in the pond after the dam failure; a species which has not been seen on Long Island in nearly a century and was presumed extirpated here!

The northern dusky is one of nine native salamander species that call Long Island home and some naturalists wonder if this population constitutes a new species since it’s been reproductively isolated from other populations of the species, the nearest being in Westchester county, for some 12,000 to 15,000 years. DNA work is proposed to sort the genetics out.

The same adverse ecological impacts occurred when the dam was constructed to operate a grist mill at Stump Pond within Blydenburgh County Park in Hauppauge (which had its dam blow out due to the same storm event in August) but on an even larger scale. The two streams feeding Stump Pond, that is two headwater sections of the Nissequogue River, one beginning in the Hauppauge Springs area near the Suffolk County Center on State Route 454, the other emanating further afield in the Village of the Branch, disappeared with the construction of the dam that created Stump Pond, flooding many dozens of acres of riparian habitat including the killing of dozens of Atlantic White Cedar, a rare wetland tree species.

What if the dams at Stony Brook Mill Pond and Stump Pond are not reconstructed? What would this mean for the environmental setting there? Almost immediately wetland dependent plant species and wildlife would repopulate the stream and the adjacent low-lying floodplain and the wetland at West Brook in the Bayard Cutting Arboretum can provide insight. Here, the dam failed in 2019 draining an area about the size of the Stony Brook Mill Pond and naturalists have been studying the result ever since.

Migratory fish now have unimpeded access to the full length of the West Brook watershed. Plants have flourished, emerging from the seed bank that has laid dormant for many decades, awaiting just the right conditions to germinate. Within two years 108 native species of wetland-loving wildflowers began to fill in the mud banks on both sides of West Brook, including an extensive stand of cattails. These plants now support numerous insects including a number of pollinators.

Underappreciated concerns from dams and dam failures are property damage and loss of human life. These concerns are very likely to grow as the frequency and severity of storm events increases due to climate disruption.

For example, the National Centers for Environmental Information, part of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), keeps tallies of storms and for New York noted seven weather related disasters in the 1980’s causing $1 billion worth of property damage. By the 1990’s the total doubled to 14, the same number for the period of 2000 to 2009.

For the 2010’s? Twenty-nine such events. And in 2023 alone there were seven, the same number you’ll remember for all of the 1980’s. With slightly different circumstances it is not difficult to envision several houses and the occupants within them, living downstream from the failed dams at both the Stony Brook Mill Pond and Blydenburgh County Park, being destroyed and killed, respectively.

Then there’s the cost of maintaining dams and impoundments. The impoundments behind dams collect sediment which eventually have to be dredged, at considerable expense, or the pond becomes increasingly shallow and eventually disappears from the sediment load. And the warm, still waters in the impoundments are conducive to plant growth, especially by invasive species which often proliferate, eventually covering the entire water surface, compromising other recreational uses like boating and fishing.

For example, the Town of Brookhaven spent more than $4 million of taxpayer funds to combat Cabomba, a species of fanwort that’s a noxious weed, growing in the Upper Lake of the Carmans River (it wasn’t successful in eliminating the weed).

Suffolk County spent several million dollars more to dredge the sediments from Canaan Lake in Patchogue and Nassau County officials have committed significant staff and equipment in an effort to eradicate Water Chestnut from Mary’s Lake in Massapequa.

One last example is the state’s more-than-a-decade fight to control Ludwigia, also known as floating primrose-willow, an invasive species that’s proliferated an impoundment in the Peconic River. Multiply these fiscal impacts out to the more than 90 dams and impoundments on Long Island and pretty soon we’re talking real money. Fiscal conservatives like free-flowing conditions.

For these aforementioned ecological, public safety, and fiscal reasons, the dam at Blydenburgh County Park should not be repaired. A channel, forking from the stream currently, can be deepened to supply water to the mill wheel if the county ever makes the grist mill functioning again; it has laid dormant for nearly half-a-century.

The good news is that an alternative vision to repairing the dam at Blydenburgh County Park has emerged that would, some believe, enhance a visitor’s experience: construct a bridge over the stream where the dam gave way so hikers can once again walk around the park and the former pond and add two pedestrian footbridges over the two streams that flow through the park, providing scenic and panoramic views of the stream valleys and diverse wetland meadows that will form.

A slightly different vision can be advanced for the Stony Brook Mill Pond. Here, the Town of Brookhaven, other levels of government, and the Ward Melville Heritage Organization are moving to restore the dam, an understandable response to what the Mill Pond has meant to the local Three Village community — a landscape that’s loved and cherished.

The challenge, then, is to determine if there is a way to rebuild the dam and restore the pond but create a richer ecological setting. Can this be done? A good first step would be to incorporate a fish ladder and eel passage that effectively allows for migratory fish to access the pond; the natural-looking rock ramp fish ladder in Grangebel Park in Riverhead and the eel passage further upstream on the Peconic River serve as useful models. Also, establishing a lower pond level through a lower elevation dam would increase stream and streamside habitat for the betterment of the rare salamander and other stream dwelling species.

Two other actions that could improve conditions at the Mill Pond: 1) Soften the boundary along the eastern edge of the pond by removing the bulkheading encompassing much of the shoreline here, planting this transition area with native wetland plants and wildflowers, and 2) Better control road runoff into the pond from Main Street.

A recent conversation I had with someone who assisted in the effort to free stranded wildlife said she noticed an oil sheen on the surface of the remaining pooled water in the southeastern section of the pond where a drainage pipe empties into the pond from Main Street; a number of ducks were swimming around in this water. On a recent visit, I noticed a few ducks preening and wondered if they weren’t ingesting toxic oil into their bodies in the process.

If we embrace the alternative described above, a better experience can be had at Blydenburgh County Park and if we make these modifications, a better, more environmentally sound Stony Brook Mill Pond can emerge from the ruins, to once again be enjoyed and valued by the local community. Here, these elements would create enhanced wetland habitat for the betterment of many of our wildlife neighbors — fish, birds, and salamanders alike. And in no small measure, it would allow for the landscape feature that gave the community its name —Stony Brook — to be enhanced and better protected. Indeed, we’d be putting a bit of the “brook” back in Stony Brook.

A resident of Setauket, author John L. Turner is a naturalist, conservation co-chair of the Four Harbors Audubon Society, and Conservation Policy Advocate for the Seatuck Environmental Association.

Times …. and dates: Dec. 19 to Dec. 26, 2024

by Heidi Sutton - December 18, 2024

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A Christmas Carol THEATRE THREE Linda May, Skye Greenberg, Roy Fleischer, Jennifer Salvia, James Bressler, Ray Gobes Jr, Scott Hofer standing — Catch a performance of 'A Christmas Carol' at Theatre Three this weekend! Photo by Steve Ayle/ Showbiz Shots

*Menorah Lightings are listed in a separate post.

Ongoing

Holiday Light Show

Festival of Trees

Free admission to the LIM

From now through Dec. 22, the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook invites the community to enjoy free admission to the History Museum’s LIMarts Members’ exhibition, Milestones, featuring art from over 100 local artists. Many of the featured pieces will be available for purchase — perfect for unique gifts for any art lover! The Gift Shop will also be open for all those last-minute gift needs with select items up to 50% off. The Carriage and Art Museums will be closed for the LIM’s annual winter break and will reopen on February 20, 2025, with a new exhibition in the Art Museum. For more information, call 631-751-0066 or visit www.longislandmuseum.org.

Vote for favorite holiday tree!

Cast your vote for your favorite decorated tree at the Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main St., Stony Brook for the holidays. This year over 45 beautifully decorated trees are showcased for you to choose from! Voting is free and ballots are available at all Stony Brook Village shops, so stop by, explore, and make your choice by Dec. 20. For more information, call 631-751-2244.

Thursday Dec. 19

Reduce Your Energy Bill

Drop by Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to speak with a PSEG representative to learn about REAP (Residential Energy Affordability Partnership), a free program for income-eligible customers, and how it can help you save energy and reduce your electric bills. No registration required. Open to all.631-928-1212

Live Nativity

Caroline Episcopal Church, 1 Dyke Road Setauket will present a live Nativity from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Witness the miracle of Christmas in the church’s historic carriage shed, with real barn animals (courtesy of Steppin’ Out Ponies), Christmas music, roasted marshmallows and hot chocolate for all! Free. 631-941-4245

Nutcracker Holiday Show

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook will be presenting the Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, one of the most often performed jazz versions of the holiday classic, tonight and Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The show will feature The Jazz Loft’s 17-piece Big Band, led by Tom Manuel. Tickets are $40 adults, $35 seniors, $30 students and $25 children. www.thejazzloft.org

Native American Drumming

All Souls Church Rectory, 5 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook hosts an evening of Native American Drumming Meditation from 7 p.m. 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.

Stand-Up/Sit-Down at the CAC

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Stand-Up/Sit-Down live comedy series tonight with Chris Roach at 8 p.m. Following the comedy show, Roach will “Sit-Down” with host Steven Taub to share stories about his career. Tickets are $35, $25 members. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Friday Dec. 20

Nutcracker Holiday Show

See Dec. 19 listing.

Community Blood Drive

Give the gift of life this holiday season. St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, 48 Route 25A, Smithtown will hold a Community Blood Drive in the St. Vincent’s Conference Room on the lower level of the Medical Office Building from 7 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. To register, call 631-469-0989.

Vanderbilt Candlelight Tour

Enjoy some holiday magic on an evening Candlelight Tour of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum’s decorated Spanish Revival waterfront mansion, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Renowned designer and author Tricia Foley has decorated eight mansion rooms. The Asharoken, Centerport, Dix Hills, Nathan Hale, and Three Village garden clubs have decorated an additional eight rooms. Tickets are $15 adults, $12 seniors, $8 children, free for members. www.vanderbiltmuseum.org

Holiday Trail of Lights

Step into the holiday spirit as the Smithtown Historical Society, 239 East Main St., Smithtown presents a dazzling Holiday Trail of Lights tonight, Dec. 21 and Dec. 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Stroll through a beautifully illuminated pathway featuring festive Holiday Trees from the Society’s Tree Contest, sparkling lights, and whimsical decorations. Warm up with delicious food and drinks from local food trucks, enjoy live music and photos with Santa, and roast marshmallows over a cozy fire as you make memories with family and friends. Tickets are $10 per person, kids under the age of 3 are free. Tickets available on Eventbrite or at the Info Booth during the event. Rain dates are Dec. 23 and 24. For more information, call 631-265-6768.

Reboli Center Holiday Party

The Reboli Center for Art & History, 64 Main St. Stony Brook invites the community to their Holiday Party from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy live music by Nicole Demarco, kids crafts, cocoa and cookies, an art exhibition and exquisite gifts. Free. 631-751-7707

Holiday Country Barn Dance

Spirit’s Promise Equine Rescue, 2746 Sound Ave., Riverhead will hold a Holiday Country Barn Dance from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Join them in the beautifully decorated barn for a night of line dancing with guest instructor Ray Schwartz.. Wear your favorite holiday attire and BYO drinks & snacks. We will have door prizes and a 50/50 raffle. $15 per person, register online or pay cash at the door. All proceeds help to support the animals and programs at Spirit’s Promise. 631-875-0433, www.spiritspromise.com.

Saturday Dec. 21

Nutcracker Holiday Show

See Dec. 19 listing.

Holiday Trail of Lights

See Dec. 20 listing.

Santa on the Farm

Santa returns to Long Island Game Farm, 489 Chapman Blvd., Manorville by popular demand. Meet the jolly fellow in the heated Woodland Hall today and Dec. 22 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Bring your camera to take treasured family photos, visit with the animals, and enjoy holiday crafts. $35 per person. www.longislandgamefarm.com

Caumsett Hike

Join the staff at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Lloyd Harbor for a History Hike from 9:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Relax and socialize on this hilly, moderately paced 6-mile walk, as we make stops to discuss some spots of historic interest. Dress for the possibility of long grass. $4 per person. Call 631-423-1770 for reservations.

Selden Craft & Gift Fair

One of the area’s longest continuously running indoor craft fairs, the 43rd annual Selden Craft & Gift Fair will return to Newfield High School, 145 Marshall Drive, Selden today and Dec. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Over 200 exhibitors offer hand picked gift items including photography, textiles, soy candles, crafted jewelry, floral, organic soaps, country crafts and more. Free admission. 631-846-1459

Superheroes of the Sky

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown presents Superheroes of the Sky from 11 a.m. to noon. Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds the Center’s Birds of Prey and tells you about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. You’ll be seeing and learning about a Bald Eagle, Turkey Vultures, owls, hawks and many more. $10 adults, $5 children under the age of 12. www.sweetbriarnc.org

Ronkonkoma Holiday Market

Station Yards, 9 Hawkins Ave., Ronkonkoma hosts a Holiday Market around the Village Green from noon to 4 p.m. Shop from a curated selection of local vendors and artisans, offering unique gifts, handmade goods, and seasonal treats—perfect for holiday gifting and supporting our community’s small businesses.

Art League of LI Reception

Join the Art League of Long Island, 107 East Deer Park Road, Dix Hills for the opening reception for its 68th annual juried Members’ Exhibition Part I from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The exhibition, hosted in the Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery and featuring an array of artwork from painting and ceramics to jewelry and fiber arts, will run through Jan. 25, 2025. 631-462-5400, www.artleaguli.com

Winter Wonderland

Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, 829 Old Nichols Road, Islandia presents a Winter Wonderland fundraiser from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy a walk-through experience across 10 acres of lights, winter decorations and activities including winter-themed games, storybook readings, hot chocolate and treats, outdoor holiday movies, holiday music and caroling and much more. $20 per person, children under the age of 2 are free. 631-348-1389

Sunday Dec. 22

Santa on the Farm

See Dec. 21 listing.

Holiday Trail of Lights

See Dec. 20 listing.

Selden Craft & Gift Fair

See Dec. 21 listing.

Somehow Sorry in concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook presents a concert by Somehow Sorry (John McCarthy and Lorraine Lisa aka Rain)from 3 to 4 p.m. The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. 631-689-5888, www.limusichalloffame.org.

Jazz Nativity

Join the Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook for a candlelight jazz nativity service featuring the Biblical Christmas story at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. with a 12 piece chamber Jazz orchestra featuring Metropolitan Opera soprano Susanna Phillips. Journey with the Three Wise Men as they travel to Bethlehem, join Mary and Joseph as they follow the Star and celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus. Tickets are $40 adults, $35 seniors, $30 students and $25 children. www.thejazzloft.org

Monday 23

Jazz Christmas Party

Grammy-winning vocalist Nicole Zuraitis presents a Jazz Christmas Party at the Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook at 7 p.m. backed by a big band ensemble to present classic holiday chestnuts. Tickets are $40 adults, $35 seniors, $30 students and $25 children. www.thejazzloft.org

Tuesday Dec. 24

No events listed for this day.

Wednesday Dec. 25

No events listed for this day.

Thursday Dec. 26

Holiday Train Display

Dance

Nutcracker Ballet

Seiskaya Ballet’s Nutcracker returns to Staller Center’s Main Stage, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.; Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. The cast will again be led by guest artist David Wright (Cavalier/Nutcracker) a leading dancer of the vaunted Dance Theater of Harlem, and Seiskaya Ballet’s award winning principal dancers Madeleine Martufi, Kaede Urso and Michaela Lettiere plus returning principal dancers Brianna Jimenez, Eva Pyrros, Lara Caraiani and Diana Atoian. Tickets are $45 for adults and $38 for children under 12 and seniors aged 62+. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit nutcrackerballet.com.

Film

‘The Godfather II’

CLASSIC CINEMA
Join the Cinema Arts Cenre for a rare big-screen viewing of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II, the epic second entry into the story of the Corleone family, on Dec. 19.

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, The Godfather II will be screened at the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington on Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. The Godfather trilogy continues the saga of the Corleone Family, serving as both a prologue and a sequel, extending over a period of 60 years and three generations. Chronicling both the rise of youthful Don Vito Corleone to Mafia chief in the early 1900s in the Little Italy section of New York City, as well as the career of Corleone’s son Michael from his patriarchal prime to his decline a year later. Tickets are $16, $10 members. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Theater

‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’

Step into a world of pure imagination this holiday season as the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from Nov. 14 to Dec. 29. Join young Charlie Bucket and four other lucky Golden Ticket winners as they embark on an unforgettable journey through Willy Wonka’s magical candy factory. With beloved songs from the 1971 film, this production promises to be a treat for the entire family. For tickets, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

‘A Christmas Carol’

“I will honor Christmas in my heart…” Celebrate the season with the 40th annual production of A Christmas Carol at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson from Nov. 9 to Dec. 28. Follow the miser Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey that teaches him the meaning of Christmas — past, present, and future. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students, $25 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘It’s A Wonderful Life’

Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown presents It’s A Wonderful Life from Dec. 7 to 29. Based on the story “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern, this beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. Tickets are $35 adults, $32 seniors, and $25 students. To order, call 800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

Medical Compass: Eat your way to better cardiac health

by David Dunaief - December 16, 2024

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Legumes can reduce your risk significantly

By David Dunaief, M.D.

How would you like to be “heart attack proof?” This term was introduced by Dr. Sanjay Gupta and later gained traction when it was iterated by Dr. Dean Ornish. While it’s probably not possible to be completely heart attack proof, research shows us that it is possible to significantly reduce your risk by important lifestyle choices.

About five percent of U.S. adults over age 19 have coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common type of heart disease (1). This contributes to a heart attack rate of one every 40 seconds. We can do better.

Many of the biggest contributors to heart disease risk are well-known: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. In addition, if you have diabetes or are overweight or obese, your risk increases significantly. Lifestyle factors, such as poor diet, lack of physical activity and high alcohol consumption are among the significant risk contributors.

This is where we can dramatically reduce the occurrence of CAD. Evidence continues to highlight that lifestyle changes, including diet, are the most critical factors in preventing heart disease. Dietary changes that have a significant impact include consuming dietary fiber, legumes, nuts, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and chocolate.

Increase your dietary fiber

We can significantly reduce our heart disease risk if we increase our fiber consumption to recommended levels.

The more fiber you eat, the greater you reduce your risk. In a meta-analysis of 10 studies that included over 90,000 men and 200,000 women, results showed that for every 10-gram increase in fiber, participants experienced a corresponding 14 percent reduction in their risk of a cardiovascular event and a 27 percent reduction in their risk of heart disease mortality (2).

According to a 2021 analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2013 to 2018, only 5 percent of men and 9 percent of women get the recommended daily amount of fiber (3). The average American consumes about 16 grams per day of fiber (4).

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories consumed, or roughly 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men (5).

Good sources of fiber are fruits and vegetables eaten with edible skin or peel, beans, lentils, and whole grains.

Eat your legumes

In a prospective (forward-looking) cohort study, legumes reduced the risk of coronary heart disease by 22 percent (6). Those who consumed four or more servings a week saw this effect when compared to those who consumed less than one serving a week. The legumes used in this study included beans, peas and peanuts. There were over 9,500 men and women involved, and the study spanned 19 years of follow-up.

I recommend that patients consume a minimum of one to two servings a day, significantly more than the relatively modest four servings a week used to achieve statistical significance in this study.

Include healthy nuts

Why should you include nuts? In a study with over 45,000 men, consuming omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) led to significant reductions in CAD. Both plant-based and seafood-based omega-3s showed these effects (7).

Good sources of omega-3s from plant-based sources include nuts, such as walnuts, and ground flaxseed. Of course, be cautious about consuming too many nuts, since they’re also calorically dense.

Consume a modest amount of chocolate

In an analysis of six studies with over 336,000 participants, researchers found that eating chocolate at least once a week was associated with an 8 percent decreased risk of coronary artery disease when compared with consuming chocolate less than once a week (8).

The author notes that chocolate contains heart healthy nutrients such as flavonoids, methylxanthines, polyphenols and stearic acid which may reduce inflammation and increase good cholesterol. The study did not examine whether any particular type of chocolate is more beneficial or whether there is an ideal portion size.

An earlier study did show that two pieces of chocolate a week may decrease the risk of a heart attack by 37 percent, compared to those who consume less (9).

Both study’s authors warn against the idea that more is better. High fat and sugar content and chocolate’s caloric density may have detrimental effects when consumed at much higher levels.

I typically recommend that patients have one to two squares — about one-fifth to two-fifths of an ounce — of high-cocoa-content dark chocolate daily. Aim for chocolate labeled with 80 percent cocoa content.

You can also get chocolate’s benefits without the fat and sugar by adding unsweetened, cocoa powder to a fruit and vegetable smoothie. Do not use Dutch-process cocoa, also known as alkalized cocoa; the processing can remove up to 90 percent of the flavanols (10).

References:

(1) cdc.gov. (2) Arch Intern Med. 2004 Feb 23;164(4):370-376. (3) nutrition.org (4) NHANES 2009-2010 Data Brief No. 12. Sep 2014. (5) eatright.org. (6) Arch Intern Med. 2001 Nov 26;161(21):2573-2578. (7) Circulation. 2005 Jan 18;111(2):157-164. (8) Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2021 Oct 13;28(12):e33-e35. (9) BMJ 2011; 343:d4488. (10) J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Sep 24;56(18):8527-33.

Smithtown Performing Arts Center shows us ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’

by Julianne Mosher - December 14, 2024

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By Julianne Mosher

Just in time for the Christmas season, the Smithtown Performing Arts Center is now playing It’s a Wonderful Life on its main stage. But this version is slightly different compared to Frank Capra’s award winning 1946 film. In true 40s fashion, the show is cleverly set at a New York radio station where five voice actors tell the whole story as if you’d hear it on the air back in time: a live radio broadcast.

Originally written by Joe Landry, the stage turns into WBFR Radio located in the heart of Manhattan. Old microphones litter the stage while a pianist (Vincent Donnadio) plays the music live. Directed by Jordan Hue, we soon meet the broadcast’s cast — dressed in their best 40s attire — who will then be playing a whole other cast, portraying several different characters each (with different voices) straight from the movie.

And just like during a broadcasted show, there are commercials, too.

While It’s a Wonderful Life is based on the 1943 short story “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern, the tale is loosely based on the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. What’s common between the two? Christmas ghosts.

The show starts off with George Bailey (Zach Johnson) who is a generous and well-meaning man. When he was young, he had big plans of traveling the world and going to college. He wanted to get out of Bedford Falls. But things fell through, and fate had some other plans for him.

He marries a neighborhood girl named Mary (Elle Lucksted) and the two move into an old, abandoned house in town. Their family grows quickly while George takes over the family business, but Mr. Potter (Chris Dippel) — who is a member of the board, owns the bank and basically the rest of town — looks to dissolve the company.

Through a string of bad luck and some unfortunate circumstances, George starts to spiral. While he falls further and further into a depression, he’s being closely watched by Clarence (Eugene Dailey), his guardian angel. Clarence is told that if he helps George out, he will soon get his wings.

On Christmas Eve, George gets drunk at a bar and then contemplates jumping off a bridge. Before he can fall to his death, Clarence, straight from heaven, dives into the river forcing George to rescue him. Clarence explains he’s an angel here to help George, but George doesn’t believe him and states out loud that he wishes he was never born.

Similar to the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future haunting Scrooge, Clarence shows George a timeline of events that happened in a world where George was never born. He soon learns that even the smallest interaction with someone made a big difference and his life does matter.

While the cast is small and fast-paced, the actors do a phenomenal job of keeping the audience engaged. While Johnson and Lucksted play just two of the main characters, the supporting actors shine with their impressive voice changes and ability to switch personalities quickly on their feet.

Some other characters include Dippel (Freddie Filmore: Joseph, Tommy, Old Man Collins, Bert the Cop, the Bridgekeeper, Binky and Nick); Dailey (Harry Heywood: Peter, Charlie, Harry, Schultz, Mr. Welch, Pete, Horace, Ed); Christine Boehm (Lana Sherwood: Violet, Rose, Zuzu, Ruth, Mrs. Hatch, Mrs. Thompson, Matilda, Sadie and Janie); and Andrew Lenahan (Sam Seymour: Stage Manager, Old Man Gower, Ernie, Sam Wainwright, Uncle Billy, Dr. Campbell and the Sheriff).

So, be prepared to step into the Smithtown Performing Arts Center and be transported to 1946 for this great rendition of a Christmas classic.

————————-

The Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown presents It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play on weekends through Dec. 29. Tickets are $36.50 for adults, $33.50 seniors and $26.50 students. To order, call 1-800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

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Tuesday Dec. 31

Wednesday Jan. 1

Thursday Jan. 2

Film

Theater

Farmers Markets

*Menorah Lightings are listed in a separate post.

Ongoing

Thursday Dec. 19

Friday Dec. 20

Saturday Dec. 21

Sunday Dec. 22

Monday 23

Tuesday Dec. 24

Wednesday Dec. 25

Thursday Dec. 26

Dance

Film

Theater

Legumes can reduce your risk significantly

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