As the Summer winds down, now is the perfect time to plan the treatments and procedures that will have you looking and feeling your best. The new season sparks our desire to continue with our healthy Summer habits inclusive of greater activity and a lighter diet of fresh fruits and vegetables. Many times this becomes difficult to maintain as the months turn cooler, which makes this the optimal time to have the cosmetic procedure you’ve always wanted. From our non-invasive Medspa treatments, to our Rapid Recovery surgical options, Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology will help you begin the Fall season in the best shape possible.
Many of us enjoy the outdoors with the best intentions, but sun and wind exposure can affect the skin. Now is the time of year to refresh and revitalize, and get your s kin ready for the colder months ahead. A deep-cleansing HydraFacial® is a great place to start! Perfect for all skin types, the HydraFacial® resurfacing procedure thoroughly cares for your skin, providing cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, and hydration.
Now is the optimal time to take advantageof our advanced chemical peels which chemically exfoliate damaged skin cells resulting in even skin tone, smooth texture and fabulous, glowing, healthy skin. Treating sun damage is easy with our IPL Photo Facial skin rejuvenation treatment that reverses the signs of aging. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) penetrates the layers of the skin and stimulates the growth of new collagen, while destroying excess pigment, redness, spider veins, fine lines and enlarged pores. IPL Photorejuvenation can be used on the face, hands, chest or arms, and promotes smoother, more youthful looking skin.
Keeping up with physical fitness routines may become challenging and with the continued closure of gyms and health clubs, many find it difficult to maintain their Summer bodies. Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology specializes in providing the latest Rapid Recovery options, ranging from Face Lifts, Mini-Face Lifts, Eyelid Lifts, Breast Lifts with or without implants, Breast Augmentations, Breast Reductions, and Tummy Tucks (which may be covered by insurance), Liposuction including our Plasma Lipo ™ provides greater skin retraction for tighter and firmer skin and cosmetic injectable treatments provide a Liquid Facelift for a refreshed look. Non-invasive body treatments such as Coolsculpting® and EMsculpt® reduce stubborn fat and trim and tone the body with zero downtime and incredible results. Use this time to tune up and make a difference in how you feel about your appearance. Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg and his award winning team create customized treatment plans based on your personal goals and individual physique. Many times, it is a combination of procedures that produce the most natural and best result. With the Summer Season ending, this is the perfect time to have the cosmetic procedure you’ve always wanted and start on the path to a younger, more confident looking you. Schedule your complimentary consultation today.
Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg is a double board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery. He is director of New York’s Premier Centers for Plastic Surgery in Manhattan, Woodbury, Southampton, Smithtown and Boca Raton, Florida. To schedule an appointment, or request additional information, call 516.364.4200 or visit www.GreenbergCosmeticSurgery.com.
PO Box 176, Malverne, NY 11565
516-505-0555 • info@liwomanonline.com • liwomanonline.com
Pri Nt su Bscri PtiON s: One year (12 issues) $30 liwomanonline.com/subscriptions
Digital su Bscri PtiON s: Free at liwomanonline.com
tO OrDer curreNt Or PreviOus issues: liwomanonline.com/past-issues
©Copyright 2020 by Long Island Woman. All rights reserved. No portion of Long Island Woman may be reproduced without permission. Long Island Woman is published monthly by Maraj, Inc.
Favorite Broadway Show
Old school would be “West Side Story,” and more recently it would be “Hamilton.” It’s just so damn smart. How do you not love “Hamilton?”
Guilty Pleasure Genre
Young Adult fantasy. I became obsessed with it when I was writing “The Book of Two Ways.” I won’t read something that’s similar to what I’m writing when I’m writing.
Favorite Beach Read
I would take Jennifer Weiner’s or Elin
Hilderbrand’s books. Josie Silver’s “The Two Lives of Lydia Bird” is a light relationship novel that I enjoyed.
Favorite Movie
Probably “Shakespeare in Love.” It’s the only movie I keep downloaded on my devices. I don’t watch it, but it’s there in case I need it.
Favorite Pastime (excluding books)
Baking. I’m a really good baker, and my two boys are phenomenal bakers as well. I make bread all the time.
Favorite Music (when you’re writing)
I don’t listen to anything when I’m writing. That’s kryptonite for me. It’s funny because I love music and I have it playing in the car when I’m driving and I sing at the top of my lungs. But I cannot have it in the background when I’m writing because I get distracted by lyrics. It’s weird.
Favorite Long Island Restaurant
When I was growing up we used to go out to Ben’s Deli. In New Hampshire you cannot get good deli.
Cosmetic Surgery performed by a female surgeon, committed to the quality care of women
Surgery of the BreaSt
Breast Augmentation • Breast Uplift
Breast Reduction (Lollipop Scar)
Skin Care
Microdermabrasion • Chemical Peels
Restylane/Juvederm • Botox/Dysport
CoSmetiC Surgery
Face/Neck Lift • Eyelid Surgery • Liposuction
Tummy Tuck • Repair of Torn Earlobes
complimentary cosmetic consultation
Charlotte ann rhee, mD, faCS
Board Certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon 631-424-6707
257 E. Jericho Tpke., Huntington Station www.liplasticsurgery.com
Breast Surgery Combined with Tummy Tuck and/or Liposuction
by Charlotte Rhee, MD, F.A.C.S., P.C.Many of my patients come to me seeking help with the changes that can occur after childbirth. Following childbirth, a woman’s breast can grow to uncomfortable proportions or just the opposite can happen. A woman’s breast can actually lose volume and shrink, resulting in the breast appearing “deflated.” Additionally, a large number of women come to me seeking help with the post partum changes of their abdomen. During pregnancy the skin and abdominal wall muscles are stretched. Following childbirth, the abdomen can protrude and the skin can be loose or sag. In some cases, the abdominal muscles can be so weakened that the individual may look like she is still pregnant. Despite daily workouts including sit ups and crunches, a tummy tuck may be needed to restore these muscles.
Women with very large pendulous breasts may experience varied medical problems including back and neck pain. Also, the weight of large breasts can cause the bra straps to dig into the shoulders leaving groove markings. Large breasts get in the way of physical activities such as running, making exercise and weight loss very difficult if not impossible. Breast reduction (reduction mammaplasty), is a surgical procedure which makes breasts smaller. There are many different breast reduction techniques. The more traditional method (inverted T-scar) leaves the breasts with a vertical, long horizontal scar (along the breast crease). “I utilize the Lejour technique, which leaves the breast with a single vertical incision (lollipop scar) and, in my opinion, with a rounder more natural appearing breast and a better cosmetic result.” Breast reductions are performed as an outpatient procedure and are covered by insurance.
Women who come to me seeking breast enlargement have very similar goals to those seek-
ing breast reduction. Both groups of women want to have breasts that are proportional to their body size with the most natural result possible. In certain situations, a breast lift is also needed to tighten lax skin. The laxity can be the result of pregnancy or weight loss. When a breast lift is needed, I utilize the lollipop scar technique. A breast lift procedure is very similar to a breast reduction. The only difference is that with a breast reduction, breast tissue is removed. Combined Breast/Tummy Tuck and Liposuction Procedures.
Many of my patients who have breast surgery also have other procedures performed at the same time. This allows for one surgery and one recovery. The most common combined procedures performed by Dr. Rhee are breast surgery, whether it is a breast reduction or augmentation, combined with tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty. For those patients who desire breast augmentation together with a tummy tuck, I am able to place the breast implants through the tummy tuck incision, leaving the breasts without any scars.
Liposuction is also commonly performed at the same time. Despite diet and exercise, certain areas of the body are prone to carry excess fat. For these areas, liposuction can help. The most common areas for liposuction are the love handles (upper hip area) and thighs.
Patients who have combined procedures do surprisingly well. In addition to having the benefit of just one recovery process, there can also be a significant savings in price.
To learn more, please call our Huntington office to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Rhee at (631) 424-6707. Located at 257 E. Jericho Tpke., Huntington Station. www.liplasticsurgery.com.
Dr. Charlotte Rhee is a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in breast surgery.
Many of my patients who have breast surgery also have other procedures performed at the same time. This allows for one surgery and one recovery.by Annie Wilkinson
Join TV’s Long Island Medium star Theresa Caputo as she discusses her new work, Good Mourning: Moving Through Everyday Losses with Wisdom from the Other Side. The three-time New York Times bestselling author’s latest book shares how to ritualize and recover from the daily losses in our lives. Tickets for the Long Island LitFest event, streaming live from Book Revue in Huntington on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m., are $40 at LongIslandLitFest. com, and include access to the event on Crowdcast and a copy of the book signed by Caputo.
Almost everyone has been affected by breast cancer. By dedicating a tribute to a loved one lost, someone currently battling the disease, or anyone who’s overcome breast cancer; joining an app-based virtual team scavenger hunt; or adding to the online mosaic of small groups of people making socially distant strides in their own way, you can provide valuable support to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides on Long Island programs during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Society’s mission includes helping a survivor look good so they feel better, or being available to answer a caregiver’s question at 2 a.m. Also planned are online streaming activities with performers and survivor ceremonies, a physical display at Jones Beach State Park, and more. Proceeds from the events help fund the American Cancer Society’s mission to save lives. See how you can participate at secure.acsevents.org.
Grief is a natural process, but the isolation of battling the COVID-19 public health crisis has meant postponing healing rituals — funerals, shivas, or memorials — which drastically limits our ability to grieve with others at our side. To find ways to deal with grief, Mount Sinai South Nassau offers a new Virtual Bereavement Group. Register at southnassau.org or call 516-377-5400, option 1. Other groups for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one meet in person, by telephone, or via the internet, to help participants accept their loss, express their grief, and put their lives back together. Through the free information service 2-1-1 Long Island, hospitals, hospices, churches, and other community centers welcome those facing loss in groups such as Adults Mourning the Death of a Grandparent, Handling the Holidays for the Bereaved, Little Stars
Children’s Bereavement, Suicide and Overdose Bereavement Support, Afterlife Science Discussion, and many more. In-person groups meet at locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk. The service connects residents to health and human services needed on a daily basis or during a disaster, and is supported by 2-1-1 Long Island, a project of Suffolk County government, United Way of Long Island, and Middle Country Library (MCL) Foundation. See the groups offered at 211longisland.communityos.org or call 2-1-1; outside Nassau or Suffolk counties, call 1-888-774-7633.
Who knew? Adventurous Long Islanders will be roughing it, gathering their camping gear and sleeping bags for an overnight wilderness survival training adventure in the woods. There will be some pampering allowed — breakfast in a 116-year-old castle at Sands Point Preserve on the original Guggenheim Estate — and the grounds’ autumn foliage will be at its glorious
peak. Biologist/ranger Eric Powers and survival expert Adam Nestor will teach participants how to survive by building shelter, making fire, purifying water, and cooking, from noon on Saturday, Oct. 17 to noon on Sunday, Oct. 18. Social distancing and face mask rules are respected throughout the program. The cost is $85 per person for Sands Point Preserve Conservancy members, $95 for nonmembers. Meet at the preserve Gate House, 127 Middle Neck Rd., Sands Point. The preserve also offers nature activities including Owl Prowl for Adults, where nightwalkers can listen to the preserve residents’ native calls in the forest on Friday, Oct. 23 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. (members pay $15 per car, nonmembers pay $25), and a Forest Therapy Walk on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2-4:30 p.m. (members pay $35 per person, nonmembers pay $40). Register at sandspointpreserveconservancy.org or call 516-3045076.
Because the show must go on, Long Island theaters that had to go dark during the pandemic are finding creative ways to keep their audiences by grooming aspiring thespians. The Fall Intensive season at The Argyle Theatre at 34 W. Main St. in Babylon offers a wide variety of limited-size, in-person and virtual children’s and adult classes through Dec. 23. Try your hand at musical theatre tap, hip-hop, acting, playwriting, meditation, and more. See schedule at argyletheatre.com or call 844-631-LIVE (5483). Out East, Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor is collaborating with AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) Long Island to provide free online seminars via Zoom, focusing on stage acting, improv, creative writing, public speaking, and other classes for adults ages 18 and older. Explore/register at baystreettheater.org or call 631-725-0818. s
To submit info for FYI consideration please send it to fyi@liwomanonline.com.
“Elements” is the theme of Long Island Photo Gallery’s curated exhibit, on display through Nov.
7. On Thursday, Oct 29, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., an in-person and virtual reception takes place at the gallery at 467 Main Street in Islip. Find out more info at longisland photogallery.com or call 888-6005474.
After spending its first few years as a pop-up store in a restored vintage camper, Hitch Lifestyle Boutique just celebrated its one-year anniversary as an established brick-and-mortar business in Babylon Village, selling handmade goods by more than 70 local artisans. Visit at hitchlongisland.com, 37 E. Main St., Babylon, or call 516-860-5543.
Tour the starry sky, featuring the Red Planet Mars at its most spectacular, at the Custer Institute and Observatory’s program, “What’s in the Sky This Month.” The indoor/outdoor program takes place Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. at 1115 Main Bayview Rd., Southold. Purchase tickets (adults $5, children younger than 12 $3, members free) at eventbrite com. Masks and social distancing are required. Learn more at custerobservatory.org or call 631-765-2626.
The Apple & Arts Festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary from Saturday to Sunday, Oct. 17 and 18 with outdoor arts and crafts projects for children and adults, including mobile making, pumpkin painting, and scarecrow making. Go to eventbrite.
com to see the schedule and register (required) for the free festival, to be held at the Nathaniel Conklin House, 280 Deer Park Ave., Babylon. Masks are required. Learn more about the 217-year-old house at villageofbabylonny.gov.
The Transition Network invites professional women with changing life situations, 50 and forward, to explore its programs and workshops. Offerings from TTN’s Long Island chapter include an Overview of Photojournalism, Meditation, and Women Directors. Yearly membership is $100. Visit at thetransitionnetwork.org.
The Nassau County-supported COVID-19 Food Pantry Distribution Center will be open every Monday through December from 12-4 p.m. Located at 650 Magnolia Blvd. in Long Beach, the pantry is sponsored by Long Island Cares, Inc., the Harry Chapin Food Bank and is open to Nassau County residents only; bring I.D. Families are welcome back monthly for food support.
Since 1976, Dortoni Bakery has been creating wedding and specialty cakes, European tortes, Italian pastries, fresh breads, and classic American desserts at two locations: 11 Vanderbilt Motor Pkwy., Commack, 631-623-6999, and 3264 Hempstead Tpke., Levittown, 516-796-3033. Savor buttercream at its best at dortonibakery.com.
Submissions for Picks should be sent to fyi@liwomanonline.com for consideration.
Describe the work you do and how you became involved in this work. I am a trainer, consultant, and speaker. I work with organizations and individuals who want to grow their business and professional brand using LinkedIn and in-person networking. When clients are asked why they work with me, the answer is often: Because she listened! l love helping people who may not be comfortable with technology to embrace its power.
What was your biggest challenge?
I don’t know if I can think of one challenge that was the biggest, because each person has their own. I think a big challenge for women is often imposter syndrome (the feeling that you don’t belong, that friends or colleagues will discover you’re a fraud, and you don’t deserve your job and accomplishments).
Based on your area of specialty, what advice would you give to other women? As a social media consultant in Port Washington, I would advise women to build strong networks of trusted referral partners. My networking group knew I was starting a business before I did.
What’s the best life advice you’ve received?
This quote by author Joseph Campbell: “You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.”
What’s the best business advice you’ve received?
To “fail fast” and act “as if.” This means that you should behave like the owner of the business you want to have. Also, “give first.”
What was your biggest break?
Believe it or not, getting laid off was my biggest break, because I never would havetaken the perceived risk to leave a company to start my own business.
Please briefly define what a neck lift is.
by Dilip D. Madnani, MD, FACS
A neck lift is a surgical procedure that defines and contours the neck. As we age, the platysmal bands separate and the skin stretches in the neck. This muscle separation occurs due to natural daily movements we make. The two sides of the muscle have an attachment in the midline, which naturally weakens overtime, allowing the muscles to separate. This causes the two defined neck bands to appear and causes a loss of neck definition and contour as the neck skin stretches.
A neck lift addresses this muscle in the neck with or without addressing the loose skin.
If only the muscle is addressed, then an incision is made under the chin to suture/tie/bring the two separated bands together. This approach is great if there is minimal loose skin. It can redefine the neck and bring back a youthful contour.
If there is excess skin and loose muscle, then an incision is made around the ears – this allows access to tighten the back part of the platysma muscle and allows the excess skin to be re-draped and removed from around the ears in addition to an incision under the chin to tighten the middle of the muscles together,
A third type of necklift, Is called a direct neckflit. I never perform this as It involves and incison right down the middle of the neck and can leave an unsightly scar.
Your Surgeon’s Experience
A facelift will provide the best possible results when it is performed by a skilled, experience plastic surgeon. It is important to consider your surgeon’s qualifications
before you schedule your procedure. Some of the questions you may want to ask include:
Do you typically perform a neck lift on its own—or in conjunction with another procedure?
I typically perform a necklift with a facelift. Rarely do I perform a neckllift alone. There are other approaches to defining the neck that include laser liposuction that removes excess fat and also tightens the skin using smaller incisions or just plain liposuction combined with ultherapy or other energy based devices to tighten the skin. These procedures address the fat in the neck and loose skin without addressing the muscles, so its not for everyone. Who are the best candidates for this procedure? (Who is not a good candidate?)
A necklift is great for anyone with with looseness in the neck muscles and skin. This is why its important to see a specialist. If its just fat there, then other options as mentioned above, are a great idea, if there is fat and loose skin/muscle, then a necklift with liposuction is needed. The necklift approach will also vary depending on the amount of loose skin.
What kinds of conditions does a neck lift most commonly help improve?
A necklift helps anyone with loss of neck definition from loose skin or muscle or a combination of the two. Some people are born with a double chin, that can also be improved with a necklift.
To learn more about the neck lift procedure, contact Madnani Facial Plastics today at 212-203-8591 or 516.226.1080. drmadnani.com.
A necklift is great for anyone with with looseness in the neck muscles and skin. This is why its important to see a specialist.
For me, books have always provided solace— a way to feel less alone in the world. And during the pandemic, they’ve become as vital as eating, sleeping, and–let’s face it–Netflix. That’s why I’m so eager to spread the word about Caroline Leavitt’s luminescent new book, With or Without You. Engaging, emotional, and even joyous, it may be the perfect novel for this moment in time.
It introduces a complicated couple in their forties at a pivotal moment in their relationship. Simon, a talented rock musician, is about to head out to LA for his big break, but Stella–a bright and steady nurse at a New York City hos pital–isn’t sure she wants to accompany him. They are very much in love, but their relationship is at the brink, and could go either way. Then Stella falls into a coma and everything changes. Literally. When she finally rouses, she is not the same person, and these two–along with her best friend–have new terrain to navigate. The changes are shocking and exhilarating, and the prose is so propulsive I nearly got whiplash turning the pages.
I’m delighted to share my conversation with bestselling author Caroline Leavitt.
First, let’s talk about Simon, whose life craters just when he’s on the cusp of his biggest break. I really liked his complexity, talent, guilt … the whole works. Are you surprised by my reaction to him?
That’s a great question and actually your response is the one I hoped for! When some readers originally read the opening they said things like, “Jeeze, Simon is a jerk, isn’t he?” and I kept telling them, “No, no, he isn’t! He just needs to grow up a bit, but you will come to understand why he is the way he is.” So I absolutely LOVE that you said that. I wanted to showcase the complexity, and how there are really so many layers underneath people that you sometimes have to go through to get to the real person below.
Do you know what would have happened to the relationship between Simon and Stella if she hadn’t gone into a coma?
I think the resentment would have grown, alas. You have two people wanting two different things and neither one is willing to budge and wants the other to change—it’s never a good mix. So in an odd way, it’s actually a good thing for both of them that coma happened.
I know that you had your own experience with
coma following the birth of your son. How did that inform this book and the choices you made?
I actually wrote two coma books, one before this, Coming Back to Me, which was about a woman like me, who went into a coma after the birth of her child, but came out unchanged. I didn’t feel any better after writing it–as I thought I would. (I had been given memory blockers so while my mind didn’t remember the experience, my body did, with all sorts of PTSD triggers.) About five years ago, when I still couldn’t sleep and certain sounds and smells would panic me, my therapist told me that the brain doesn’t know the difference between what is real and what isn’t. You tell someone you are putting a match to their skin, their skin will blister. So she told me to write about a woman different from me. So unlike me, Stella remembered everything in her coma. Unlike me, Stella came out changed completely. And to my surprise, it was actually fun to write. I felt this huge sense of wonder and delight because I was making something lovely (I hoped) come out of something tragic.
Stella’s doctor friend, Libby, is distrustful of Simon, but their relationship changes over time. Can you talk about what drew Libby to Simon?
Originally Libby is looking out for her best friend Stella, and she disapproves of Simon’s lust for fame, his self-interest, and she thinks he needs to grow up. She doesn’t trust him. But then I think she sees him grow up a little once Stella is in a coma, to change a little, to be more vulnerable, and she cannot help but be drawn to that, despite the fact that he’s her best friend’s partner.
As she recovers from her coma, Stella’s brain rewires to grant her an artistic ability—a plot point that took my breath away. How did you get this idea?
It’s true!! I was researching coma with this wonderful scientist Joseph Clark at the University of Cincinnati, and he told me that in a coma, our brains rewire. Neurons fire in all sorts of ways, and people can emerge as different people and no one knows why. There was a woman who woke speaking fluent Mandarin, and she quit her job and moved to China. Another man woke, who had never played an instrument, and suddenly he was a virtuoso playing concert halls! Does coma awaken abilities we all have? Were these things somehow in the DNA passed down to us as cellular memory that had been awakened? We don’t know.
“With or Without You” is a great book club pick. What one question or issue do you hope readers will discuss?
What do you owe the person you love, when there is a cost to yourself? And how do you make that decision? l
Engaging, emotional, and even joyous, it may be the perfect novel for this moment in time.Photo: Jeff Tamarkin Caroline Leavitt
“The stories of young girls are devalued,” says best-selling author Jodi Picoult of New York’s current theatrical landscape, a place in which she hopes to be making her mark with the Off-Broadway musical, Between the Lines. “I talk a lot about gender discrimination in publishing, but it’s even worse on Broadway.”
Picoult adresses that inequity with Between the Lines, which is based on the novel Picoult co-wrote with her daughter, Samantha Van Leer. The musical is centered on Delilah (Arielle Jacobs), a young girl who finds herself an outsider in a new town and school, only to find comfort in the pages of her favorite book. Delilah finds that the fairy tale prince in her book is very much alive and lonely in his own unescapable literary existence–perfect fodder for an intricate musical.
The Nesconset-native has seen her novels adapted for film and television ( My Sister’s Keeper stars Cameron Diaz and a limited series adaptation of A Spark of Light is set to star Joey King, respectively) but Between the Lines ’ page-to-stage adaptation is a first for the author, whose 26 thought-provoking novels are multi-faceted in ways that complement any story-telling experience. Ten of her novels have debuted at number one on the New York Times Bestseller List with good reason.
Jodi Picoult spoke with LONG ISLAND WOMAN about the Long Island roots that first lead her to become a high school English teacher, and the extensive journey on which she embarked before helping to create what hopes to be a most magical Off-Broadway musical.
How is growing up on Long Island conducive to becoming a writer?
I wouldn’t say that there was something specific about Long Island that made me a writer, but there were a bunch of English teachers at my high school (Smithtown High School East) in particular who really encouraged me to write and who knew that I loved to do it. That’s saying a lot because, to be honest, it was a public school, it wasn’t as if they were grooming people to do this kind of thing. I don’t know what it was that made me a writer. I think my parents also had a lot to do with it.
How did your parents encourage you?
They were super realistic. One of the first things that I remember my mom saying when I told her I was going to be a writer was, “That is so great; who is going to support you?” It was a good lesson because the truth is that most writers don’t support themselves. Many writers teach or they have multiple jobs. For me, that was a total reality check and a really important one. I am so glad that they didn’t say, “Don’t even try it.” They were willing to say, “If this is what you love to do you should do it,” but they also made me realize that it wasn’t going to be an easy path. I think that combination of support and realism was really important to me when I was starting out. I often recall how I was teaching and consider that I have a Masters and I have two kids who are teachers. I’m still teaching, I just think I have a different type of classroom and a lot more students.
Pinpoint a moment or lesson that really spoke to your choice to become a writer. The one moment that always sticks with me is when I was graduating. Ed Ehmann was my English teacher. He knew I loved to write. He had these posters in his classroom that were these cool block prints with quotes from Romeo & Juliet, which is my favorite
Shakespeare play. (I know it sounds pedestrian, but if you can meet someone and start speaking in a sonnet, that’s totally true love.) I loved the prints and when I graduated he gave them to me. I put them up in my bunk at Princeton. They were the first thing that I saw when I woke up in the morning, and the last thing I saw when I went to sleep at night. It was a nice carryover from my past to my future in college. How were you originally inspired to become an English teacher?
I come from a long line of teachers. I kind of felt like I was pre-destined to be one. The surprise was that I didn’t end up being one! I didn’t go into college thinking that I was going to teach. When I graduated from college I worked on Wall Street. It was before the crash of 1987. I had been hired to write bond offering circulars for Solomon Brothers. They wanted a writer and I was a writer, but I hated every minute of it. Later I moved to Boston and I got a job as a textbook publishing editor. Then I switched to copywriting for a two-person ad agency and got a Masters in Education at the same time. Finally, I got hired to teach 8th grade English in Concord, Massachusetts. The whole time that I had been working in all of those jobs, which was a two-year period, I was writing because I can’t not write. I used that time to get an agent, and she sold the book that I had been working on. It sold right before my first son was born and I never looked back; I just kept writing.
Each of your novels forces readers to explore outside the realms of their own moral codes and look at life from different perspectives. Have any of your own feelings changed about the important issues on which your stories are focused?
If I am doing my job right you should be able to read a book and not know what I think. For example, with A Spark of Light, I love when people say, “I can’t tell if you’re pro-life or pro-choice.” I am more than happy to tell you that I am pro-choice, but I want someone who is pro-life to be able to read the book and not feel like their opinion doesn’t matter. What I want to do is show you all of the facts on both sides and then ask you to re-evaluate what you believe. That’s really important to me. When I’ve gone into contentious topics for books, I haven’t changed my mind, I haven’t shifted from the more liberal perspective to a conservative one, but I have changed my reasons why as I have learned more about the topic. When I was writing about the death penalty for Change of Heart I was against the death penalty, but by the time I finished doing the research, it was for different reasons.
How did you and Samantha begin working on “Between the Lines?”
She is 24 now. When she was 13 she called me and said, “I think I have a really good idea for a book. What if every time a book is closed, the characters inside it have lives and personalities different from the ones that they live in the book? What if there was this teenage girl who was kind of shy and who had a really terrible home life, who was obsessed with a children’s fairy tale book because the prince who was illustrated in it was really hot? What if one day he started speaking to her and he wanted out of his story just as much as she wanted out of hers?” I was like, “Okay, you are brilliant.” What she’s really talking about is a literary crush. You don’t have to be a kid to have that. I’m still waiting for Mr. Darcy. Everybody has one. That’s one of the great joys of books. Men are ideal in books the way they’re not in the real world. I said to her, “I think we
One of the first things that I remember my mom saying when I told her I was going to be a writer was, “That is so great; who is going to support you?”
Editors Note: This interview was conducted prior to the pandemic and was scheduled to be published in an earlier issue before the opening of her Off-Broadway musical “Between The Lines.” We reconnected with Jodi Picoult in August for an update and asked her to share her thoughts regarding the pandemic and how she was impacted. The update appears on page 16.
to write this book. We’re going to write it together.”
Describe what it means to write a book “together” with a teenager.
I really meant together. And Sammy had a full-time job: she was a student. For two summers after that, when she was 14 and 15, we spent three months sitting side-by-side at my desk. We spoke every single word of that book out loud. We would take turns typing. We argued, we laughed, we had a really great time and a really frustrating time. When we sold Between the Lines, Sammy went on a book tour with me the summer when she was 16. We went to three different continents to promote it. It spent eight weeks on the bestseller list. She is truly the only person in my family who understands what I do because of it.
How did it begin to evolve into a musical?
When the book came out I felt like there was more. I felt like the book sang, like it was musical. I was in musical theater when I was a kid and I run a musical theater teen group in New Hampshire. For years my best friend and I (she’s a composer) wrote family-friendly original musicals that we performed, and now we’re doing licensed shows; all of the money that we’ve raised goes to local charities. In a decade we’ve raised over $130,000. I knew that I didn’t want Between the Lines to be done by my theater group because it felt bigger. I didn’t know anything about writing a musical that was Broadway-bound.
What were some of the big questions you faced when adapting the book for the stage?
It was a really interesting struggle in the beginning, to figure out whose story this is. Is it Delilah’s, or is it the prince’s? Is it both of theirs? What’s the tone that we want to strike? And we have kind of evolved over a fi ve year period as we’ve written the musical. The message, the heart, the story is something that anyone can relate to. Who hasn’t found themselves in a situation they don’t want to be in?
Three years ago we went to Kansas City for our first out-of-town tryout. We broke box office records there. We had people who were coming back repeatedly and we got great reviews. It was amazing to me. It resonated with the people I expected it to, but then there were those who surprised me. For example, the man who was in his seventies who started crying and told me that Delilah reminded him of when he was a shy kid and he used to hide from his brothers in a tree and read. No matter who sees it, people leave moved, energized and singing the songs; there’s something special and magical about this show. It succeeds against all the odds. Most importantly, it’s going to give a lot of young women and mothers a chance to see themselves reflected on the stage in a way that we really do not get to see.
What surprised you the most about bringing the show to New York?
There is a brick wall that you hit when you realize that the gatekeepers of Broadway are all very similar and looking for a similar story. They didn’t know what to make of ours. It’s not a group that’s dying to tell women’s stories, and that makes me really nervous. We need representation on our stages. We need to see more female creative
teams and female creative directors. It would be awesome to see some female theater owners and female critics.
How has theater inspired your writing process?
One of the things that has come easily to me is dialogue. I see it very visually, almost like a movie. If that’s the way writing is to me, it’s really theatrical already. Writing a script is like the difference between taxidermy and a skeleton. To write a novel you have to include point of view, detail, narrative voice, internal monologue, setting, etc. All of that is layered onto your story and it’s the full, taxidermied animal. If you’re writing a libretto, you’re creating the bare bones of a skeleton, and that’s going to be layered by actors, your director, producer and songwriting team. You’re just creating the structure and the confines of the story. It’s really a very interesting difference. They’re two very different mediums, so it’s hard to confuse them. It’s lonelier to write a novel now without everyone’s brains colliding.
How has your life been more fulfilling because you have successfully been able to achieve your goals for your family and your career?
I think that I am a better writer because I am a mother and I was a better mother because I was a writer. I know that I function better when I have time to write and to be creative, and having a husband who supported that as my kids were little and allowed me to do something that I loved to do is probably the biggest gift I’ve ever gotten in my life. When I was not writing and I was with my kids I was completely devoted to them because I had my own time. That’s not to say that a stay-at-home mom is a bad person or the working mom is a better person. I just know myself and I needed that balance in my life between the two. I think that having kids and having a family really has helped me evolve as a writer based on my own fears, concerns and worries as a mother.
Your new novel, “The Book of Two Ways,” is now on shelves. The concept for it is so intriguing!
It’s about love, life and death. It asks the questions, “Who would you be if your life hadn’t turned out the way it had? What if you had made one slightly different choice?” And it also has a lot to do with ancient Egypt.
What are people’s biggest misconceptions about female authors and their careers?
That we all write romance, chick-lit, or children’s books. There’s nothing wrong with writing those things, but we don’t all do it. I get called a chick-lit author all the time, and I am the first person to tell you that if you are taking A Spark of Light to the beach with you to have a light, fluffy read, you are making a big mistake. I do not write things that are supposed to make you crack up and laugh. I think it’s demeaning to assume that a woman only writes women’s fiction. I can tell you that fi fty percent of my fan mail comes from men. There’s nothing wrong with women’s fiction, I just wouldn’t label myself as that. Small Great Things won an award in Poland for Best Romance Novel. I don’t even think there’s a kiss in that book, so I find that fascinating.
Update on page 16
“Fifty percent of my fan mail comes from men.”
Update: August 2020
How have you coped and managed during the pandemic?
I have asthma, so this has not been a fun time for me. I haven’t left my home since the first week of March, except to go for runs/hikes. I haven’t even been to a grocery store; my husband won’t let me go! I have seen so much I was looking forward to disappear—from my off-Broadway show to my three-continent book tour. It’s been very lonely, and very debilitating, but I am healthy and safe and I have a home and an income and I’m not a target of racism—so compared to many others, I have been lucky. What are your thoughts/observations regarding the pandemic?
Frankly, I’m furious. I feel like our current political administration has completely dropped the ball—and has effectively given up. I am dismayed by the fact that Americans are so selfish they will not wear a mask. Every time I see someone without one, I think: ‘That’s another few weeks I’m stuck at home.’
Two of my children and their significant others have had COVID—mild cases, one with no symptoms at all. They are exactly why masks should be worn —they were not even aware they had the virus when they were contagious.
I am flummoxed by people who think this is a hoax. I attended a wedding the week before lockdown and five out of the six people at my table (and the groom) all were infected. Two were hospitalized for weeks. I was the only person to not contract the virus.
I have two children who are public school teachers and I literally fear for their lives if school opens this fall. I am saddened by how we do not seem to have a path forward through this crisis that is being spearheaded by the government. Not only can I not see a light at the end of the tunnel…I don’t know if the tunnel ever ends. Although I recognize that no one can predict a pandemic, I also recognize that serious errors in political judgment have prolonged and exacerbated the suffering of Americans; and I think that coronavirus has illuminated the inequities in our society—from racism to health care to poverty to internet deserts. The sad truth is that our country has decided some people are expendable. And I vehemently disagree. How has it impacted your show?
At present Between The Lines has been postponed indefinitely. We will no longer open at 2ST Theatre; our slot was given to another show. We are hoping for a new home, but do not have one at this time–nor do we know what Broadway or offBroadway will look like when this pandemic ends, or when it will be safe to sing in public again. My second show, The Book Thief, has been pushed to 2022 in the UK. ▲ Iris Wiener
entertainment writer and theater critic. Visit her at IrisWiener.com or on Twitter @Iris_Wiener.
“Not only can I not see a light at the end of the tunnel…I don’t know if the tunnel ever ends.”
Some healthcare appointments shouldn’t be avoided, even during a pandemic–the dentist, the gynecologist, and the yearly mammogram. For most women over the age of 40, the mammogram comes once a year, and while they may dread it, the actual appointment is rather quick and safe. In America, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women after skin cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control, around 250,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women each year. A mammogram is the first line of defense in detecting breast cancer or breast abnormalities, which is why women need to get their yearly mammograms.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s understandable that women may be hesitant and even afraid to walk into a medical office. Concerns about safety and cleanliness are understandable, but are they valid?
“Yes. It is safe to get your mammogram during COVID-19,” assured Nina S. Vincoff, M.D., Chief of Breast Imaging for the Northwell Health System and Vice-Chair of Radiology for Patient Experience, “During the early peak of the pandemic, back in March and April, some centers stopped doing routine mammograms for a short while. But today, most breast imaging centers are back open for mammograms and have put processes in place to make sure that patients will be safe and comfortable.”
As New York and Long Island’s COVID-19 numbers continue to remain low and even decline, safety remains a priority for most labs. “At Northwell Health, all of our breast imaging centers are open, and patient safety is our number one priority,” shared Vincoff. “I believe the biggest fear would be exposure to the disease at the appointment,” shared Jennifer Kolton, LCSW Oncology Social Worker on Long Island, “It is a valid fear, but again the risks outweigh the consequences because early detection saves lives. If you have a medical condition that puts you at higher risk for COVID, speak with your gynecologist or primary medical doctor about your concerns.”
But even with infection rates below 1 percent, women still have concerns. “Women have the same kinds of fears about having a mammogram that they might have about going to the grocery store or any public space,” said Vincoff, “It can be scary to come into contact with other people, or touch surfaces that others have touched.” Vincoff said women
by Fellisa Allardshould remember that healthcare facilities are one of the safest places to be since most healthcare workers understand how COVID-19 spreads and the precautions that need to be taken to protect their patients. If women consider postponing or delaying their mammograms, checking out the lab’s safety precautions may help give some peace of mind. “You should expect to be asked questions about possible COVID exposure before entering the building,” shared Vincoff, “You should expect to see that all patients and staff are wearing masks and that hand sanitizer is readily available. It’s important to realize that you may not see that all the safety precautions are taken, such as cleaning the rooms and equipment between each patient. So if you have concerns about what safety measures are in place, you should ask.”
Additionally, women can take some of their own precautions before visiting a lab for a mammogram. “The most important thing is to stay home if you might be sick or have recently been exposed to COVID,” said Vincoff, “You should wait to have your mammogram until you are feeling well.” She also suggested wearing a mask while at the breast imaging center and washing your hands upon entering and leaving the appointment. She also said to try and go to the appointment alone. “Having visitors in the waiting room makes social distancing difficult,” said Vincoff. Lastly, she suggested wearing clothing that can quickly and easily be removed during the appointment. Kolton also reminded patients that they should be sure to keep their distance from others in the waiting room. “Most importantly, I believe is that all of the staff are wearing the appropriate PPE such as masks, gloves, and keeping their distance as much as possible,” said Kolton, “Again, if you feel uncomfortable at any time, do not hesitate to say something. Your health is in theirs and your hands.”
Yearly mammograms are vital to ensuring a woman’s health. “Mammograms save lives, and they work best when they are performed regularly,” Vincoff said. Kolton added, “Keeping your regularly scheduled appointments could save your life. Early detection is the most preventative way to reduce a woman’s risk of dying from breast cancer.” According to Vincoff, research shows that having mammograms regularly helps reduce a woman’s risk of dying from breast cancer up to 40 percent. “Protecting yourself from contracting COVID is important, but it shouldn’t take priority over everything,” said Vincoff, “Women need to continue to take care of their health so that they can live long healthy lives after this pandemic has passed–and that includes having annual mammograms.” l
“Today, most breast imaging centers are back open for mammograms and have put processes in place to make sure that patients will be safe and comfortable.”
Left to Right: Dr. John Layliev, Dr. James Romanelli Board Certified Plastic Surgeons
Iwill never forget the first time I voted. My polling place was in a portable trailer on the corner of South Oyster Bay Road and Woodbury Road on the Hicksville/ Plainview border. I remember my heart pumping as I stood outside on the metal steps waiting for my turn to do something so incredibly adult, responsible, and American. I felt the power as I pulled that little lever on a 1970s election booth that may still have been in service a few years ago. It was November 7, 1972. I had just turned 18. I was voting because I finally could, but it also felt like America was on fire. We were still in the grips of the Vietnam War. My brother, just 11-months older, had his draft lottery number. It felt like there were demonstrations everywhere, on campus and in the streets of America, anti-war, pro-military, anti-abortion, pro-choice, women’s rights, racial equality in education, racial justice, save the environment, save the whales. And more.
I was also pumped to go to the polls in the first wave of 18-year old Americans who could vote in a Presidential election. Only a year earlier, July 5, 1971 the 26th Amendment was adopted into the U.S. Constitution, granting us the right to vote. In 1971 eighteen-year-olds could get married, work, pay taxes, and go to war. Many of the soldiers in ‘Nam were just 18 and 19. The slogan of the day, “Old enough to fight, old enough to die,” also meant “Old enough to vote” – for the elected leaders who sent “the boys” to war. In 1971 eleven-million new, young voters were added to the electorate. The next year half of us new, young voters used our power in the 1972 presidential election. The Richard Nixon administration lasted less than two more years until President Nixon resigned under the weight of the Watergate scandal.
Nixon remains part of the dark side of America’s story, but I haven’t missed an election since, nor will I this year.
2020 has been an ugly political year. The war of words seems to be invigorating some people to vote no matter what, but others seem weary with political fatigue. Then
by Carol Silvathere’s concern about getting sick by going to the polls, the validity of mail-in-ballots, or whether each vote really matters. So midway between the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, I posed the question on Facebook: “Will you vote?”
There were memes, passion and commitment. Susan is among those hell-bent on casting a ballot. “I’ll crawl over broken glass to vote this year and NOT for the current occupant.” There was also a steady stream of endorsements for the incumbent President, two with the same sparkling, thumbs-up picture of Donald Trump, saying “Yes. Trump 2020!!” and “Hell yeah, I will be voting!” Not as many people publicly vowed loyalty to Democrat Joe Biden, but there was some #BidenHarris2020 love.
In between, there were fighting words. Casanova warned, “TRUMP 2020! If Sleepy gets in, this country is screwed.” Then other talk of, “socialism, communist and evil imperial capitalism, plus racism, bigotry, morals, intelligence, experience.”
But most of all was a commitment to vote. Emily will be there in person, writing, “YUP! voting at our voting booth!” Among the long list of others who can’t wait, Cindy posted an American flag with her promise, “I will be voting. Nothing will stop me.” Said Donna, “We have two crappy choices, but I WILL vote. In person. Even if I have to wear a hazmat suit.”
Finally, Glen looked at the fire on Facebook, saying, “Geez folks. Carol is the most amazing sweet woman in the world. She didn’t want us to crap all over her post. C’mon. Yes, I’m voting. I hope I’m part of history. Well, maybe her-story.”
Well, thanks Glen. And that “her-story” mention evokes visions of a female American President. But that’s a story for another day. l
For more than 40 years Carol Silva has had the honor of telling the stories of the people of Long Island and beyond.
It was November 7, 1972. I had just turned 18. I was voting because I finally could, but it also felt like America was on fire.Richard Nixon George McGovern Joe Biden
Legislation to strengthen protections for employees against sexual harassment and discrimination was recently signed by New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. In a culture where sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace have become so pervasive, this is a significant victory for workers. These sweeping reforms eliminate many of the obstacles victims face in pursuing a claim and will finally hold offenders accountable.
Some important changes, many of which became effective on October 11, 2019, are:
•Lower Burden of Proof: To constitute actionable sexual harassment, a worker is no longer required to meet the stringent burden of demonstrating that the harassment was “severe or pervasive.” Instead, employees need only show that that they were subjected to inferior terms, conditions or privileges
of employment because of their membership in a protected class (based on gender, age, pregnancy, medical condition, etc.).
•Required Notice: Employers are now required to provide employees with a notice of their sexual harassment prevention policies in the employees’ primary language, which will ensure that all workers are advised of their rights.
•Limited Non-Disclosure Agreements: While NonDisclosure Agreements (NDAs) have traditionally restricted employees’ rights to pursue claims and kept harassers in power by silencing victims, the new legislation mandates that all NDAs include language allowing an employee to file a complaint of harassment or discrimination with a state or local agency.
If you are a victim of workplace sexual harassment in Long Island or NYC, please contact Leeds Brown Law, 516.873.9550 or leedsbrownlaw.com.
Part 2 in the February issue of LI Woman.
Women with very large pendulous breasts may experience a variety of medical problems including back and neck pain. Also, the weight of large breasts can cause the bra straps to dig into the shoulders leaving groove markings. Large breasts get in the way of physical activities such as running and other sports which can make exercise and weight loss very difficult if not impossible.
Breast Reduction, also known as reduction mammaplasty, is a surgical procedure undertaken to make the breasts smaller. There are many different breast reduction techniques. The more traditional method (inverted
We are just past the mid-point of the year, which by all accounts should mean that we have met our New Year’s resolution halfway. Although 2020 has had its challenges it is never too late to plan for your future. For many of us on a systematic investment plans such as a 401(k) retirement plan at work, should see half of our dedicated annual contribution amount go towards our investment goal.
It is also time to check your investments! Most investment accounts send out quarterly statements and reviews after the second quarter. Find out whether you have a good mix of stocks, bonds and cash savings and what has performed well.
Calculate the interest you are receiving at the bank as well as your emergency savings. Take a visit to your AnnualCreditReport.com to get a free copy of your credit report and do a midyear checkup on your credit score! Review all of your insurance policies. Insurance policies are a personal risk management tool and should be reviewed annually in our fast changing world. You’ll be surprised where you can save.
“Stress-testing” your financial life should lead to a distressing sigh of relief as you assure yourself all is in order. Feel free to email me for advice and tips on how to review your finances at 866-932-5130 or Barbara@americaninvestmentplanners.com and for a free consultation.
Tscar) leaves the breasts with a vertical and a long horizontal scar (along the breast crease). I utilize the LeJour technique which leaves the breast with a single vertical incision (lollipop scar) and in my opinion, with a rounder and more naturally appearing breast with a better cosmetic result. Breast reductions are performed as an outpatient procedure and are covered by insurance. I you would like to learn more about this procedure, please call our Huntington office to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Rhee at (631) 424-6707.
Dr. Charlotte Rhee is a Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon who specializes in surgery of the breast. Visit www.liplasticsurgery.com.
Long Island infertility expert Dr. Gregory Zapantis from New York Reproductive Wellness in Syosset, answers some key questions about infertility.
What are the top causes of infertility?
Age of the female and failure to ovulate, often due to a hormonal imbalance like PCOS are key causes of infertility. For men, infertility is primarily about sperm quantity or quality. If you’ve been trying to conceive for six to twelve months without success, speak with a reproductive endocrinologist about an infertility work-up today.
How is a practice like New York Reproductive Wellness different than larger IVF centers?
Infertility can be isolating for many patients. You need both science as well as a hands-on approach where you can
talk things through with your care team to be successful. Have a question on Sunday night at 8pm, we’re listening. You get to know your physician and team at NYRW.
Why is Single Embryo Transfer (SET) recommended at NYRW?
Multiple embryo transfers carry a risk of multi-births, higher risk of C-sections and NICU admissions, financial stress, and health complications. NYRW routinely uses genetic screening, endometrial synchrony, and IVF to reduce the risk of multiples. We have a great track record of using SET, with no compromise to our success rates which are at or above U.S. averages.
New York Reproductive Wellness
300 South Oyster Bay Rd., Syosset. 516-612-8466
nyreproductivewellness.com
These sweeping reforms eliminate many of the obstacles victims face in pursuing a claim and will finally hold offenders accountable.
Although 2020 has had its challenges it is never too late to plan for your future.Securities offered through Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through American Investment Planners, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. American Investment Planners, LLC and Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. are separate entities.
The LeJour technique leaves the breast with a single vertical incision (lollipop scar).
You need both science as well as a hands-on approach where you can talk things through with your care team to be successful.
•AA/Al Anon Meetings
631-669-2827
John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, Port Jefferson matherhospital.org
•AA/NA/Family Support 516-746-0350
THRIVE Recovery Community and Outreach Center
1324 Motor Pkwy, Hauppauge. Ste. 102. thriveliorg
•Al- Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous
friedbergjcc.com
Bereavement
631-474-6489
St. Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson stcharleshospital.chsli.org/support-groups-1
•Alcoholics Anonymous 516-292-3040 aa.org
•Debtors Anonymous 212-969-8111
Ascension Lutheran Church
33 Bayshore Rd., Deer Park. danyc.info
•Families Anonymous 800-736-9805 familiesanonymous.org
•Food Addicts Anonymous 772-878-9657 foodaddictsanonymous.org
•Gamblers Anonymous 516-484-1545 x196
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills. sjjcc.org
•Gamblers Anonymous 855-222-5542 gamblersanonymous.org
•Gam-Anon Hotline 516-200-4932/718-352-1671 gam-anon.org
•Long Island Recovery Association. 631-552-LIRA lirany.org.
•Narcotics 631-474-6262
St. Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson stcharleshospital.chsli.org/support-groups-1
•Overeaters Anonymous 516-484-1545 x196
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills. sjjcc.org
•Overeaters Anonymous 631-981-5850
John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, Port Jefferson. matherhospital.org
•S-Anon Anonymous (Partners of Sexaholics) 516-366-4354
•Women for Sobriety 215-536-8026 womenforsobriety.org
•Alzheimer’s and Dementia 516-767-6856
Long Island Alzheimer’s & Demntia Center. 1025 Old Country Rd., Westbury. lidementia.org
•Alzheimer’s Association 631-629-6950 429 Broadhollow Rd., Melville. alz.org/longisland
•Alzheimer’s Caregivers 516-746-0350
Family and Children’s Assoc., 100 E. Old Country Rd., Mineola. familyandchildrens.org
•Alzheimer’s Caregivers 631-585-2020 x261
Community Programs Center of L.I., Ronkonkoma cpclongisland.com
•Alzheimer’s Family and Caregivers 516-593-2424
Bristal Assisted at Lynbrook
•Alzheimer’s Caregivers (JASA) 516-432-0570
Friedberg JCC, 15 Neil Ct., Oceanside. jasa.org
•Alzheimer’s Caregivers 631-629-6950
Alzheimer’s Association, 429 Broadhollow Rd., Melville. alz.org/longisland
•Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center 516-218-2026
750 W. Broadway, Ste. 2R, Long Beach. lbdny.org
•Memory Support Program 516-766-4341 15 Neil Court, Oceanside. pjaffe@friedbergjcc.org
•Bereavement 516-274-0540 Cope Foundation. Cedarmere Estate, Roslyn. copefoundation.org
•Bereavement (March and Sept.).......631-351-2013 Huntington Hospital, Northwell Health. northwell.edu
•Bereavement 516-634-4010 Friedberg JCC, Oceanside. friedbergjcc.org
•Bereavement 516-822-3535 x328
Mid-Island Y JCC, Plainview. miyjcc.org
•Bereavement 516-484-1545 x196
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills. sjjcc.org
•Bereavement 516-520-2706 St. Joseph Hospital, Bethpage. stjosephhospital.chsli.org
•Bereavement 631-581-4266 x100 St. Mary’s Church, 20 Harrison Ave., E. Islip parishofstmary.org
•Bereavement (suicide) 631-687-2960 Brookhaven Hospice
•Bereavement 516-484-4993
Elias Hicks Historical Home, 1740 Old Jericho Tpke., Jericho. copefoundation.org
•Bereavement for Children and Families 516-626-1971
North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center
•Death of a Child 631-738-0809 St. Sylvester’s Church, Medford
•GriefShare
Bethlehem Asembly of God
•Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline 800-877-8077 breast-cancer.adelphi.edu
•Adolescent Support/Mentoring 516-374-3190
Hewlett House, 86 Rockaway Rd., Hewlett. hewlett-house.org
•American Cancer Society 800-ACS-2345 cancer.org
•Breast Cancer
516-877-4314
Adelphi Univ. School of Social Work, Garden City breast-cancer.adelphi.edu
•Breast Cancer (under 40) 516-877-4314
Adelphi Univ. School of Social Work, Garden City breast-cancer.adelphi.edu
•Breast and Ovarian Cancer 631-462-9800 Suffolk Y JCC, Commack. suffolkyjcc.org
•Breast Cancer 631-376-4444
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, Breast Health Center, W. Islip. good-samaritan-hospital.org
•Breast Cancer Family and Friends 631-376-4444
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, Breast Health Center, W. Islip. good-samaritan-hospital.org
•Breast Cancer 516-663-2556
Newly -Diagonosed, NYU Winthrop Hospital MichelleDecastro@NYULangone.Org
•Breast Cancer 516-374-3190
Hewlett House, 86 Rockaway Rd., Hewlett. hewlett-house.org
•Breast Cancer: Newly Diagnosed Stage 4 516-877-4314
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center Breast Health Center, W. Islip. good-samaritan-hospital.org
516-561-6150
9 E. Mineola Ave., M1 Building, Valley Stream. bethlehemmag.org/whatshappening
•H.E.A.L. (Help Ease A Loss) 631-265-4520 St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, Smithtown
•Holocaust Survivors and Friends 631-462-9800 Suffolk Y JCC, Commack. suffolkyjcc.org
•Loss of a Child 516-520-2500 St. Joseph Hospital, Bethpage. stjosephhospital.chsli.org
•Loss of a Parent 516-822-3535 x328 Mid-Island Y JCC, Plainview. miyjcc.org
•Loss of a Spouse 516-822-3535 x328 Mid-Island Y JCC, Plainview. miyjcc.org
•Sibling Bereavement 516-484-4993
Elias Hicks Historical Home
1740 Old Jericho Tpke., Jericho. copefoundation.org
•Teen Bereavement (10-17) 516-250-3598 St. Mathew Church, 35 North Service Rd., Dix Hills. helpingkidzkope@gmail.com
•Widows and Widowers 631-462-9800 x129 Suffolk Y JCC, Commack. suffolkyjcc.org
•Widow/Widower (ages 50-60) 516-766-434, x170 Friedberg JCC, Oceanside. friedbergjcc.org
•Young Widows and Widowers (20-54/55-65) 631-241-7237
St. Mathew Church, 35 North Service Rd., Dix Hills. arlenepsalm23@verizon.net.org
Adelphi Univ. School of Social Work, Garden City breast-cancer.adelphi.edu
•Breast Cancer: Newly-Diagnosed 631-476-2776 Mather Hospital, Port Jefferson. matherhospital.org
•Cancer 516-256-6025
Long Island Jewish Valley Stream
•Cancer 516-734-8817 Northwell Health. northwell.edu
•Cancer 516-374-3190
Hewlett House, 86 Rockaway Rd., Hewlett. hewlett-house.org
•Cancer Excercise 516-484-1545 x231 Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills. sjjcc.org
•Caregivers for People with Breast Cancer
516-877-4314
Adelphi Univ. School of Social Work, Garden City breast-cancer.adelphi.edu
•Caregivers...............................................516-374-3190
Hewlett House, 86 Rockaway Rd., Hewlett. hewlett-house.org
•Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition 631-547-1518 hbcac.org
•Islip Breast Cancer Coalition 631-968-7424
Southside Hospital, 301 E. Main St, Bay Shore
•Live, Love and Laugh Again (breast cancer) 631-476-2776
John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, Port Jefferson matherhospital.org
•Look Good, Feel Better 631-376-4444
•Lung Cancer
516-374-3190 Hewlett House, 86 Rockaway Rd., Hewlett. hewlett-house.org
•Men With Breast Cancer
516-877-4314 Adelphi Univ. School of Social Work, Garden City breast-cancer.adelphi.edu
•National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) 631-838-4357 LI Chapter, Huntington Station. ovarian.org
•Oncology (for women) 516-374-3190 Hewlett House, 86 Rockaway Rd., Hewlett. hewlett-house.org
•Online Young Women’s (under 40) Breast Cancer Support ....................................................516-877-4314 Adelphi Univ. School of Social Work, Garden City breast-cancer.adelphi.edu
•Ovarian Cancer 516-374-3190 Hewlett House, 86 Rockaway Rd., Hewlett. hewlett-house.org
•Strength for Life (exercise class) 631-675-6513. Various locations. strengthforlifeNY.org
•Support for People With Oral, Head and Neck Cancer 800-377-0928 New Hyde Park, Syosset and Stony Brook. spohnc.org
•Thyroid Cancer Survivors Hotline 877-588-7904
•Touchstone Group: (for women who had breast cancer treatment 18 months ago+) 516-877-4314 Adelphi Univ. School of Social Work, Garden City breast-cancer.adelphi.edu
•Upper GI Cancer...................................631-638-0718 Stony Brook Cancer Center, 2nd floor, Stony Brook
•Breast Cancer Hotline 800-877-8077
•Dementia Caregivers 516-767-6856 Long Island Alzheimer’s & Demntia Center. 1025 Old Country Rd., Westbury. lidementia.org
•Caregivers 516-292-1300
Family and Children’s Assoc., 100 E. Old Country Rd., Mineola. familyandchildrens.org
•Caregivers 516-742-2050
Mid-Island Y JCC, Plainview. JASA Nassau County Caregiver Resource Center. miyjcc.org
•Caregivers....................................516-822-3535 x328
Mid-Island Y JCC, Plainview. miyjcc.org
•JASA Caregivers 631-724-6300 x1600 Suffolk Y JCC, Commack and Bristol Assisted Living, Northport. bsignore@jasa.org
•Caregivers 516-484-1545 x211
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills. sjjcc.org
•Caregivers...............................................631-807-6819
Paulette Demato, Southside Hospital, 301 E. Main St, Bay Shore
•Caregivers....................................631-462-9800 x147 Suffolk Y JCC, Commack. suffolkyjcc.org
•Caregivers of a Loved One with Early Stage Memory Loss 516-484-1545 x211
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills. sjjcc.org
•Let’s Do Dinner (spouses of Young Onset Dementia patients) 516-484-1545 x211
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills. sjjcc.org
•Senior Caregivers 631-385-0754
NAMI, Pederson Krag, 55 Horizon Dr., Huntington
•Divorce 516-476-1774
Alliance to Restore Integrity in Divorce (ARID)
•Divorced and Separated 516-822-3535 x328
Mid-Island Y JCC, Plainview. miyjcc.org
•Divorced and Separated 12-Step 718-740-1684
Community Church of East Williston
•Divorced/Separated 516-484-1545 x211
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills. sjjcc.org
•Divorced and Separated 631-462-9800 x139
Suffolk Y JCC, Commack. suffolkyjcc.org
•Separated/Divorced Counseling 516-599-1181
Peninsula Counseling Center, Lynbrook
•Separation/Divorce 516-634-4010
Friedberg JCC, Oceanside. friedbergjcc.org
•Singles 631-462-9800 x139
Suffolk Y JCC, Commack. suffolkyjcc.org
•Singles 516-822-3535
Mid Island Y JCC, Plainview. miyjcc.org
•Brighter Tomorrows 631-395-1800 brightertomorrowsli.org
•Child Abuse and Maltreatment Referrals 800-342-3720
•The Crime Victims Center/Parents for Megan’s Law 631-689-2672 CrimeVictimsCenter.org
•Brain Tumor Patients and Families 631-474-2323
Gardian Brown Foundation, Gurwin Medical Ctr., 50 Hauppauge Rd., Commack. guardianbrain.org
•Brain Tumor Patients and Families
516-4442-2250 x110
Neurological Surgery PC. 1991 Marcus Ave., Ste. 108, Lake Success. nspc.com. rvanallen@nspc.com
•Chron’s and Colitis Foundation 516-222-5530 585 Stewart Ave., Ste 304, Garden City ccfa.prg/chapters/longisland
•Coma/ Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery Assoc. 516-377-5333
South Nassau Community Hospital, Oceanside
•Diabetes 516-520-2500 St. Joseph Hospital, Bethpage stjosephhospital.chsli.org
•Epilepsy 631-474-6489 St. Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson stcharleshospital.chsli.org/support-groups-1
•Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder 516-739-7733 x1145 epicli.org
•Hearing Impaired and Cochlear Implant 718-470-7550
Northwell Health Hearing and Speech Center, New Hyde Park
St. Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson stcharleshospital.chsli.org/support-groups-1
•Stroke and TBI 516-674-7696 x7696 Northwell Health. northwell.edu
•Stroke/TBI Caregivers 516-586-4480 Common Ground Alliance, Plainview commongroundall.com
•Stroke Support Groups
St. Francis Hospital DeMatteis Center, 101 Northern Blvd., Greenvale
516-629-2013
•Trigeminal Neuralgia/Facial Pain 516-4442-2250 x110
1991 Marcus Ave., Ste. 108, Lake Success. nspc.com. rvanallen@nspc.com.
•Anxiety and Panic 631-226-3900 mhaw.org
•Emotions Anonymous 631-474-2090
John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, Port Jefferson matherhospital.org
•Families Anonymous (for families and friends of drug abusers) 631-589-3790 Various locations. familiesanonymous.org
•Link Age 516-746-0350
•Nicotine Anonymous 877-879-6422
nicotine-anonymous.org
•Smoking Cessation Workshops 516-629-2013 St. Francis Hospital DeMatteis Center, 101 Northern Blvd., Greenvale
•Bariatric and Weight Loss Surgery 631-376-3697
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, W. Islip. goodsamaritan.chsli.org
•Post-Bariatric 516-62MERCY Mercy Medical Center, Rockville Centre
•Overeaters Anonymous 631-473-1320 John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, Port Jefferson matherhospital.org
Miscellaneous
•Developmental Disabilities Inst. 631-360--2900 Smithtown (family support services). ddiny.org
•Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) 888-408-6222
•NAMI Huntington 631-424-4528
•National Infertility Network Exchange (NINE) 516-794-5772
•New Mothers 631-376-4444
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Ctr., W. Islip good-samaritan-hospital.org
•Parenting (Children w/ Cancer) 516-484-1545 x211 Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills. sjjcc.org
•Hearing Support Group
516.628-4300 Center for Hearing Health, Mill Neck, centerforhearinghealth.org/events
Family and Children’s Assoc., 100 E. Old Country Rd., Mineola. familyandchildrens.org
•Mental Illness Family Support 516-504-HELP
•My Sistas: Domestic Abuse Victims
631-645-6300 comeawaymybelovedInc.org
•Family Violence and Child Abuse 516-485-5710 F.E.G.S. fegs.org
•The Safe Center Long Island 24 Hour Hotline 516-542-0404 tscli.org
•WomenHeart of Nassau/Queens 718-526-0790 Northwell Health, New Hyde Park
•WomenHeart of Huntington 631-499-4160
The Huntington Heart Center, Huntington
•Hepatitis C (American Liver Foundation) 631-754-4795
•HIV/AIDS 631-691-7080
F.E.G.S. Copiague. fegs.org
Mental Health Assoc. of Nassau County, Hempstead
•Mood Disorder (Peer Support) 516-489-2322
Northwell Health (Syosset, Plainview, Valley Stream locations) mdsgli.com
•Mood Disorder (Family/Friends) 516-499-6374
Northwell Health (Syosset, Valley Stream, Bayshore locations) mdsgli.com
•Parents of Young Children, Birth to Five 516-766-4341 x162 Friedberg JCC, Oceanside ParentingResourceNetwork.org
•Pregnancy Information and Referral 631-853-3033
•Pregnancy and Infant Loss 516-562-8422 North Shore Univ. Hospital, Manhasset
•Pregnancy Information and Referral 631-853-3033
•L.I. Against Domestic Violence
631-666-8833 liadv.org
•The Retreat (Domestic Violence hotline) 631-329-2200
•Victims Information Bureau (VIBS) of Suffolk County 631-360-3606
•Adhesions (scar tissue pain) 631-921-7426 Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook adhesionsfoundation.org
•Alopecia 631-680-0148 naaf.org
•Amputee 631-968-3479 Southside Hospital, 301 E. Main St, Bay Shore
•Arthritis 631-427-8272 arthritis.org
•Bariatric 631-474-6876 St. Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson stcharleshospital.chsli.org/support-groups-1
•Brain Aneurysm 516-562-3059
The Brain Aneurysm Center at North Shore Univ. Hospital, Manhasset. nsalant@northwell.edu
•Brain Injury 631-474-6952 St. Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson stcharleshospital.chsli.org/support-groups-1
•Lupus.......................................................516-783-3370
Lupus Alliance of LIQ
•Melanoma (Patients/Caregivers) 516-352-4227 cmbc1@optonline.net
•Multiple Sclerosis (National) 631-864-8337
•Multiple Sclerosis 631-694-4370 Syosset Hospital Conference Room A/B
•Muscular Dystrophy 631-474-6300 St. Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson stcharleshospital.chsli.org/support-groups-1
•Myasthenia Gravis 631-765-2186
Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, Setauket
•National Federation of the Blind 516-868-8718
•National Multiple Sclerosis Society 631-864-8337
•Parkinson Disease 631-862-3560 St. Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson stcharleshospital.chsli.org/support-groups-1
•Speech Communication 631-474-6831 St. Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson stcharleshospital.chsli.org/support-groups-1
•Spinal Cord Injury 516-739-4900 St. Charles Hospital, Albertson stcharleshospital.chsli.org/support-groups-1
•Stroke Club 516-562-4947/516-562-3111
•Stroke 631-474-3700
•Mood Disorders 631-226-3900 mhaw.org
•NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness (Queens/Nassau) 516-326-0797
1981 Marcus Ave., Ste. C117. namiqn.org
•NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
Suffolk. landsburyhunt@aol.com
631-385-0754
•Parents of Children w/Mental health Diagnosis
516-746-0350
Various Locations. familyandchildrens.org
•Postpartum Depression 631-422-2255/855-631-0001
Postpartum Resource Ctr. of NY. postpartumNY. org.
•Relatives and Friends of persons with a Mental Illness 631-226-3900 mhaw.org
•Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-SUICIDE
•American Cancer Society 8 00-ACS-2345 516-921-6016 or 631-436-7070. cancer.org
•Smoking Cessation 631-853-2928
John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, Port Jefferson matherhospital.org
•Prison Families Anonymous.................631-943-0441 pfa-li.com
•Second Generation (Children of Holocaust Survivors) 516-484-1545 x196 Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills. sjjcc.org
•Women’s Issues 516-746-0350 Hempstead Family treatment and Recovery Assoc., 126 N.Franklin St. familyandchildrens.org
•Young Widow and Widowers 631-495-8541 35 N. Service Rd., Dix Hills. widowednotalone.com
•Women’s Issues 516-634-4010 Friedberg JCC, Oceanside. friedbergjcc.org
All listings for Support Group consideration must be submitted by the first of the month for the following month at: liwomanonline.com/support
Deadline for the November issue is October 1. No information will be accepted by telephone. Listings are published on a space-available basis. To advertise a for-profit support group call 516-505-0555 x1 or liwomanonline.com/advertise
If you have a support group listed in this guide that no longer exists or requires updated information, please email us at: support@liwomanonline.com.
