Arts & Lifestyles - August 12, 2021

ARTS&LIFESTYLES T N E C S A C I R O A HIST

TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA AUGUST 12, 2021

4 1 t s u g u A s n r u t e r b m li C l il H n o s r e f f e J t r Po See story on page B18

Photo by Bob Savage

ALSO: Stony Brook Film Festival awards B5 • Photo of the Week B12 • Sunday Gravy reviewed B27

PAGE B2 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

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AUGUST 12, 2021 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B3

THE WINE CONNOISSEUR

a unique wine experience with 20 wines and divine charcuterie

Hot weather = chilled wine

Summer is upon us in full force. The surf and sun beckon while lazy days lounging poolside or swinging in a hammock entice us away from daily chores.

Seeking relief from those hot summer days can indeed be a tedious, tiresome task.

Chilled wines not

BY BOB LIPINSKI only add enjoyment and lift to your step but are refreshing as well.

Now, while grilling steaks or rings of sausage, I’m looking for plenty of water or beer to quench my thirst. Although there’s nothing like a chilled glass of wine, it’s best when it’s dry with little or no oak. The rule of “drinking red wine at room temperature” may work inside a cave, but not when it’s 90-plus degrees outside and around 500 degrees next to my grill. That sure isn’t room temperature to me! At those times I sometimes quench my thirst with red wine served over ice with chilled seltzer.

Sacrilegious, heresy you say!

Now, forget Bordeaux, California Cabernet Sauvignon, and Italian Barolo… they’re best for cooler outdoor weather. Young, fresh, light-bodied red wines (see below) taste better when chilled, no matter whether it’s summer or winter. So, take a large glass and fill with ice, then fill three-quarters with one of those fruity reds, add seltzer, and an optional twist of lemon or lime.

Here are some of my hot weather favorites: 2018 Château de la Maltroye “ChassagneMontrachet,” Burgundy, France. Straw yellow with a fruity bouquet and flavor of citrus, apples, pineapple, and smoky oak.

Dry and clean tasting with a minerally finish. Pair with crab cakes dusted with some Old Bay. 2020 Ron Rubin “Pam’s Unoaked” Chardonnay, California. It’s a screwcap with a handwritten label. Aroma and flavor

UNSPLASH photo

of coconut, pears, and apples. Easy to drink with just a hint of sweetness. Served well chilled with roasted chicken stuffed with plenty of fresh herbs.

2018 Ron Rubin Pinot Noir “Russian River Valley,” Sonoma, California. Cherry colored with flavors of cranberries, spices, vanilla, and plums. Good finish and long aftertaste. A dish of lasagna with sun-dried tomatoes would pair well.

2019 Melini “Chianti” Borghi d’Elsa, Tuscany, Italy. Dry and full-flavored with an elegant taste of blackberries, hazelnuts, plums, and licorice. Grilled spicy sausage with bitter greens works for me.

Other recommended wines are (white) Albariño, Arneis, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Moschofilero, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Torrontés, Vermentino, and Viognier.

(Reds) Bardolino, Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône, Shiraz, and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.

Just remember … don’t overchill the wine or it will become “numb” in taste. Keep an ice-bucket filled with ice and water for a quick chill.

Bob Lipinski is the author of 10 books, including “101: Everything You Need To Know About Whiskey” and “Italian Wine & Cheese Made Simple” (available on Amazon.com). He consults and conducts training seminars on Wine, Spirits, and Food and is available for speaking engagements. He can be reached at www.boblipinski.com OR bkjm@hotmail.com.

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PAGE B4 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

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AUGUST 12, 2021 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B5

26th annual

©

winners announced at awards ceremony

T

he 26th annual Stony Brook Film Festival, presented by Island Federal Credit Union, wrapped up with a Closing Night Awards Reception on July 31.

The evening recognized the outstanding new independent films screened at the festival, which was held at Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University from July 22 to 31.

Making its world premiere at the festival, Anchorage won the Grand Prize this year.

Director Scott Monahan and screenwriter Dakota Loesch star as two brothers who attempt to drive a trunk full of opioids from Florida to Alaska to cash in big in the Land of Gold. But their plan gets challenged by their surroundings, their shortcomings, and their tendency to dip into their own supply. This one-of-a-kind film explores the national crises of opioid addiction.

Special Achievement in Directing was awarded to Trey Nelson for his directorial debut in The 5th Man, a documentary that tells the extraordinary story of Paul Limmer, a world class track coach at Mepham High School in North Bellmore, whose dedication impacted so many lives. This film is also the first documentary to ever open the Stony Brook Film Festival.

The Spirit of Independent Filmmaking Award, given to a filmmaker whose work exemplifies the spirit and breadth of filmmaking where the focus is on the art

Top from left, Kent Marks, Stony Brook Film Festival co-programmer; Trey Nelson, The 5th Man; Paul and Jade Schuyler, Red River Road; Scott Monahan, Meredith Treinen, Erin Naifeh, Dakota Loesch, Anchorage; and Alan Inkles, Director of the Stony Brook Film Festival; right, Trey Nelson, Steven Braff, Christine Curtin, and Mark Belger, The Fifth Man. Photos courtesy of Staller Center

and most often produced with an extremely limited budget, was awarded to Red River Road. Written and directed by Paul Schuyler, the film was shot entirely under COVID-19 lockdown by one family and their dog that served as the entire cast and crew.

Written and directed by Lina Luzyte, The Castle captured the Audience Award for Best Feature. The film features Monika, a thirteenyear-old Lithuanian girl living in Dublin with her mother, a pianist who works at a local fish factory, and her grandmother, who has dementia and requires constant supervision.

After singing with her mother at a small locale, they are approached with an invitation to play in 'The Castle' which they are told is one of the best music venues in Ireland.

Willow received the Jury Award for Best Feature. Written and directed by Milcho Manchevski, the film tells of a young peasant woman who seeks the help of an aged sorceress in the attempt to get pregnant.

Centuries later, two contemporary women find themselves struggling with their own beliefs, modern science, and societal mores, in their own struggles to navigate motherhood.

With its amazing images and unconventional narrative, this is a film whose story and characters exhibit that rare authenticity that makes you forget you’re watching a movie.

Noisy received the Audience Award for Best Short. A film by Cedric Hill, it features two strangers on a noisy subway who discover they have way more in common than where they’re heading.

Rounding out the awards, The Saverini Widow captured the Jury Award for Best Short. A French film by Loïc Gaillard, it details how a widow’s life falls to pieces when her son is killed in a clash. Left with only her dog, she plots a desperate scheme. With stunning visuals and no dialogue, this film keeps you riveted to the end.

Of the winning films, filmmakers and cast and crew from Anchorage, Red River Road, and The 5th Man were in attendance to accept their awards. It was an unusual

year indeed, with only American filmmakers in attendance for the live Q&A sessions following their screenings, but a joyful and celebrated return to the theater.

Virtual passes are now available to view the encore screening of the Festival on IndieFlix Festivals through Aug. 30. Passes for the entire 4 weeks are $85 per household or $25 for a weekly pass. Virtual passholders will be able to watch films multiple times and will have access to a number of features and shorts beginning each Thursday at 7 p.m. through Monday at midnight. Pre-recorded discussions with filmmakers, directors, cast, and crew will be included as well. For more information, call 631-632-2787 or visit stonybrookfilmfestival.com.

PAGE B6 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

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AUGUST 12, 2021 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B7

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PAGE B8 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

HELPING YOU NAVIGATE TO OPTIMAL HEALTH

EXCITING UPDATE:

Two of my research studies were recently published by the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine showing that my whole food plant based LIFE diet reduces inflammation, the root of many chronic diseases.

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You are not limited by your genes.

Fortunately, most diseases are based primarily on epigenetics, which are environmental influences, and not on genetics. Epigenetics literally means above or around the gene. In epigenetics, lifestyle choices impact gene expression. Just because your first degree relatives may have had a disease, you are not predestined to follow suit.

We are specialists who will partner with your primary care physician.

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AUGUST 12, 2021 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B9

MEDICAL COMPASS

Chronic inflammation is at the heart of autoimmune disease Increasing fiber intake may help modulate the immune system

When the immune system attacks the body’s own organs, cells and tissues and causes chronic inflammation, we classify it as an autoimmune disease. However, this umbrella term refers to more than 80 different diseases (1). Some are familiar names, like type 1 diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Others, like LambertEaton myasthenic

BY DAVID DUNAIEF, MD syndrome and Cogan syndrome, are less well-known.

Chronic inflammation is the main consequence of immune system dysfunction, and it is the underlying theme tying these diseases together. Unfortunately, autoimmune diseases tend to cluster (2). Once you have one, you are at high risk for acquiring others.

Autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women, although men do also get them.

Drug treatments

Presents...

Probiotic supplements

Eating a high-fiber breakfast cereal is a great way to start.

METRO photo

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

So, what other methods are available to treat autoimmune diseases? Medical nutrition therapy using bioactive compounds, which have immunomodulatory (immune system regulation) effects on inflammatory factors and on gene expression, and supplementation are being studied.

Nutrition and inflammation

Raising the level of beta-cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid bioactive food component, by a modest amount has a substantial impact in preventing RA. Several studies have also tested dietary interventions in RA treatment (5).

Included were fasting followed by a vegetarian diet; a vegan diet; and a Mediterranean diet, among others. All mentioned here showed decreases in inflammatory markers, including CRP, and improvements in joint pain and other quality of life concerns.

Fish oil supplementation

Fish oil helps your immune system by reducing inflammation and improving your blood chemistry, affecting as many as 1,040 genes (6). In a randomized clinical study, 1.8 grams of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation had anti-inflammatory effects, suppressing cell signals and transcription factors (proteins involved with gene expression) that are proinflammatory, such as NFkB. In RA patients, fish oil helps suppress cartilage degradative enzymes, while also having an anti-inflammatory effect (7). When treating patients with autoimmune disease, I typically suggest about 2 grams of EPA plus DHA to help regulate their immune systems.

Don’t take these high doses of fish oil without consulting your doctor, since fish oil may have blood-thinning effects.

The gut contains approximately 70 percent of your immune system. Probiotics, by populating the gut with live beneficial microorganisms, have immune-modulating effects that decrease inflammation and thus are appropriate for autoimmune diseases.

Lactobacillus salvirus and Bifidobacterium longum infantis are two strains that were shown to have positive effects (8, 9).

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

Fiber intake

Fiber has been shown to modulate inflammation by reducing biomarkers, such as CRP. In two separate clinical trials, fiber either reduced or prevented high CRP in patients. In one, a randomized clinical trial, 30 grams, or about 1 ounce, of fiber daily from either dietary sources or supplements reduced CRP significantly compared to placebo (11).

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

Immune system regulation is complex and involves over 1,000 genes, as well as many biomarkers. Dysfunction results in inflammation and, potentially, autoimmune disease. We know the immune system is highly influenced by bioactive compounds found in high nutrient foods and supplements.

Therefore, bioactive compounds may work in tandem with medications and/or may provide the ability to reset the immune system through immunomodulatory effects and thus treat and prevent autoimmune diseases.

References:

(1) niaid.nih.gov. (2) J Autoimmun. 2007;29(1):1.

(3) epocrates.com. (4) J Rheumatol 1999;26(8):17051714. (5) Front Nutr. 2017; 4: 52. (6) Am J Clin Nutr.

2009 Aug;90(2):415-424. (7) Drugs. 2003;63(9):845853. (8) Gut. 2003 Jul;52(7):975-980. (9) Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 1999 Jul-Nov;76(1-4):279-292. (10) Gut. 2002;51(5):659. (11) Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(5):502506. (12) Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010 May 13;7:42.

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

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The mainstay treatment is immunosuppressives.

In RA, for example, where there is swelling of joints bilaterally, a typical drug regimen includes methotrexate and TNF (tumor necrosis factor) alpha inhibitors, like Remicade (infliximab). These therapies seem to reduce underlying inflammation by suppressing the immune system and interfering with inflammatory factors, such as TNF-alpha.

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), a class that also includes Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine), may slow or stop the progression of joint destruction and increase physical functioning.

However, there are several concerning factors with these drugs. First, the side-effect profile is substantial. It includes the risk of cancers, opportunistic infections and even death, according to black box warnings (the strongest warning required by the FDA) (3).

Opportunistic infections include diseases like tuberculosis and invasive fungal infections.

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

TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA

PAGE B10 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

News Around Town

BUSINESS NEWS

Meditation in the Park

The Port Jefferson Village Center hosts a Meditation for a Healthy Lifestyle program at Harborfront Park, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson on Sunday, Aug. 15 at 1:30 p.m.

Join long-time meditator John Bednarik for an engaging workshop that will teach you practical strategies to reduce stress and create a more healthy and positive lifestyles.

Please bring a chair, blanket or mat for seating. Class will be held indoors in case of inclement weather. Free but registration is required by visiting www.portjeff.com. For more information, call 631-802-2160.

Open auditions

Save the date! Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson will hold young people’s auditions (ages 12 to 17) with proof of vaccination for its 37th annual production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Tuesday, September 21 at 7 p.m.

Performances will be held from Nov. 10 to Dec. 26. For full details, please visit https:// theatrethree.com/auditions.html.

Gregorian Chant at All Souls

All Souls Church, 61 Main Street, Stony Brook, hosts a Gregorian Chant/Music of Taizé on Thursday, Aug. 19 from 8 to 9 p.m. The historic chapel will be lit with candles and alive with the mystical sounds of Gregorian chant and Songs of Taizé, providing a time for quiet meditation to clear the mind and rest the soul. This is a unique opportunity for reflection and/or silent prayer for people of all faiths (or no faith) searching for a spiritual connection in their lives. Call 516-607-9111.

Barn Thrift Shop reopens

Temple Beth Emeth’s Barn Thrift Shop, 52 Mt. Sinai Ave., Mt. Sinai will reopen on Sunday, Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Shop for clothing, jewelry, sports equipment, housewares, decorative items, books, electronics, toys and more. Fill a bag with clothing for $5. The shop will be open one Sunday a month including Sept. 12, Oct. 10, Nov. 7 and Dec. 12. For further details, call 631-928-4104.

Long Island Lending a Helping Hand opens in Rocky Point The Rocky Point Sound Beach Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Long Island Lending a Helping Hand, Inc. at 341 Route 25A in Rocky Point on August 2.

Guests who attended included Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio, Councilwoman Jane Bonner, Chamber President Gary Pollakusky and the RPSB Chamber board, the Girl Scouts, volunteers, local media and residents.

Long Island Lending a Helping Hand is a food pantry and resource center that helps provide assistance for families in need. They offer families and individuals school supplies, food, diapers, formula, clothing, furniture as well as other resources and support around the holidays.

Founder, Dawn Lang, said “In 2014, I realized that there was a real need in my local community. Many people “in need” have jobs, sometimes more than one, and are still struggling to get by sometimes having to make a difficult

Photos from Rocky Point Chamber of Commerce

decision of whether to pay a bill or buy food / diapers. Some have family and friends to lean on but many others do not. That’s why I created…Long Island Lending a Helping Hand…we do our best to fill in the gap and help people who are in need.”

“We are so appreciative of founder Dawn Lang and Donna

McCauley’s commitment to our community. It is with great pride that the chamber formally welcomes this brick & mortar Food Pantry and Resource Center to the community,” added Gary Pollakusky.

Operating hours are Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m, Wednesday and Thursday

from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday. For more information regarding Long Island Lending a Helping Hand, please visit www.lilahh.com.

Send your business news to leisure@tbrnewspapers.com

AUGUST 12, 2021 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B11

BUSINESS NEWS

COMINGS AND GOINGS

Robert P. Sweeney

New board trustee appointed to Eastern Suffolk BOCES

Arkk Wellness Center celebrates grand opening in Port Jeff Sta.

On July 26, Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (sixth from left) and Town Clerk Donna Lent (second from right) and members of the Port Jefferson StationTerryville Chamber of Commerce were on hand to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for The Katherine Jon Salon’s The Arkk Wellness Center and Academy located at 4747 Nesconset Highway in Port Jefferson Station.

The ceremony included live music from 1 Step Ahead and featured healthy food tastings and tropical beverages. Also

pictured are members of the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce; Katherine Jon Salon and The Arkk Wellness Center and Academy team members and owner Kat Riley (fourth from right).

“Congratulations to Kat Riley on her continued success. Self-care is an important part of our overall wellness and I’m happy to see that the salon utilized its resources and opened a creative and much needed space,” said Councilmember Kornreich. “I wish nothing but success to Kat and her team who have already done and continue to do such

amazing work. Despite the challenges that may occur when owning a business, she remains as cool as the other side of the pillow.”

“Kat Riley’s history of long-standing success in business continues to flourish with the grand opening of The Arkk Academy.

This wellness center, born out of the pandemic and driven by a desire to bring forth healing through education and self-care, is a testament of Kat’s commitment to the community,” added Town Clerk Donna Lent.

For more information, call 631-474-0747 or visit arkkwellnesscenter.org.

Gurwin’s Matthew Hetterich honored by Moxxie Foundation Matthew Hetterich, administrator of Gurwin Healthcare System’s Certified Home Health Agency in Commack, has been honored with a 2021 Moxy Man Award. The award is presented by the Moxxie Mentoring Foundation and honors men and organizations that have contributed to the advancement of women in the workplace.

The Sound Beach resident was nominated by four women who have worked closely with him throughout his career. They highlighted his intelligence, kindness,

fierce independence and his ability to constantly unify those he worked with.

“Matt has always reminded us to continue to fight the good fight and that sitting back was never an option. He always inspired,” said Taryn Birkmire, executive director of Recco Home Care. Eileen Gerard, an agency consultant at Addus Homecare, said, “Matthew was surrounded by powerful, convicted women, and he never feared us. He embraced us as we all learned from each other, and together we soared.”

Hetterich was celebrated at a luncheon in June. Upon receiving the award, he shared high praise for his female colleagues.

“Healthcare, especially home care, is primarily dominated by women in both clinical and administrative roles. I’m fortunate to have spent my career surrounded by strong, intelligent women who have shared invaluable professional and life experience that has helped me to not only become a better leader, but a better person as well.”

Eastern Suffolk BOCES welcomes Robert P. Sweeney as its newest board trustee. Sweeney currently serves as the president of the Mt. Sinai Board of Education and is both the managing and a founding partner of the 36-person, Bohemia-based law firm, DeSena & Sweeney, LLP. Sweeney has served his community in numerous voluntary capacities, such as being a member of the ESBOCES Administrative Budget Advisory Committee meeting, serving on the board of directors for the Long Island Explorium lin Port Jefferson, among others. He is a Mount Sinai resident.

Jefferson’s Ferry fundraiser

Save the date! Jefferson’s Ferry in South Setauket will hold its 17th annual Making Memories fundraiser at Flowerfield, 199 Mills Pond Road, St. James on Friday, Sept. 10 from 7 to 11 p.m. Cocktail attire, 21 and older only. Proceeds will support its Journey Toward Renewal project. For information and ticket pricing, call 631675-5507.

Free legal clinic for veterans

Suffolk County Bar Association, 560 Wheeler Road, Hauppauge will host a free legal clinic for veterans on Friday, Aug. 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Veterans can phone-in or Zoom-in to speak with a lawyer. For more information, email clennon@fedattorney.com.

Burlington heads to Farmingville

Matthew Hetterich with Nancy Geiger, Director of Gurwin Home Care Agency, after receiving his award. Photo from Gurwin Jewish

Burlington Stores has announced it will open a new store in Farmingville at Expressway Plaza on North Ocean Avenue in the former Kmart location.

The outlet, which is best known for an array of discounted coats, will offer a wide selection of items, including womenswear and accessories, menswear, footwear, children’s clothing, home decor, and pet care and toys. A layaway program will also be offered at the store.

PAGE B12 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

WILDLIFE AT THE TYLERS

Beverly C. Tyler snapped this photo of a groundhog at his home in Setauket on Aug. 1. He writes, 'A visitor to our backyard who did not see his shadow.' In addition to this cutie, the Tylers have had many wildlife visitors this year including quail, fox, turkey, red-tailed hawks, snakes and deer.

Send your Photo of the Week to leisure@tbrnewspapers.com

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AUGUST 12, 2021 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B13

COOKING COVE

Don't send out ... cook out ... with pizza on the grill DIRECTIONS:

BY BARBARA BELTRAMI

Don’t bother sending out for pizza because you’re going to make your own pizza … right on the grill. Actually, first, it’s all about the crust. Then once you’ve got the crust nice and charred and bubbly, it’s all about the topping, and the trick is to not load the pizza with too much topping or it will get soggy.

Grilled Pizza Margherita YIELD: Makes two 12 to 14" pizzas INGREDIENTS: • 2 2/3 to 3 cups flour • One 1-ounce package rapid-rise yeast • 1 teaspoon coarse salt • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 1 cup warm (105 to 115 F) water • 1 tablespoon olive oil • Nonstick cooking spray • 1/4 cup corn meal • Extra flour for coating • Extra olive oil for preparing grill and coating dough • 1/3 cup tomato sauce • Shredded mozzarella as desired • Fresh basil leaves

In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the flour, yeast, salt and pepper; add the water and oil and process until dough pulls together into a ball. Spray a large bowl with nonstick cooking spray and place the ball of dough in it; cover bowl with a damp linen towel or plastic wrap and let it sit in a warm place for at least 1 1/2 hours, preferably several hours to rise.

When dough has doubled in size, remove from bowl, invert onto a wooden board and divide in half; shape each half into a disc and lightly coat with flour and/or cornmeal.

Press down on disc with the heel of your hand and fingertips to gently stretch and pull the dough outward until it has reached the desired size; place on baking sheet or pizza peel that has also been lightly dusted with flour and cornmeal.

Prepare a hot grill. Dip a wadded paper towel in olive oil and with long tongs wipe hot grill racks with it. Next to the grill have ready a bowl of olive oil and a long handled basting brush. Gently slide pizza dough onto hot grill, close lid and vents and cook for two minutes. Lift the lid

and, with the tongs, gently lift the pizza crust to see if it is evenly browning; if not, rotate it; the top should be bubbly; keep a close watch to see that it doesn’t burn (it’s ok if it’s a little charred in some parts). When the crust is evenly browned, use tongs or a long spatula to remove it and slide it back onto the peel or baking sheet.

Close lid. Being sure that there is enough flour and cornmeal on the peel, gently flip the crust so that the uncooked side is on the bottom and brush top sparingly with olive oil. Smear the crust with tomato sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella; reduce heat to medium-high and slide pizza back on grill; close lid and cook 2 to 3 more minutes or until cheese is melted. (If crust starts to get too dark, remove the pizza to a cooler part of the grill, but keep lid closed.)

Grilled Pizza Margherita METRO photo

Remove from grill, place on cutting board and top with basil leaves, then slice.

Serve with ice cold beer and a crisp green salad.

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PAGE B14 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

READERS’ CHOICE: Nominate your favorite businesses and be eligible to win a

$100 GIFT CERTIFICATE $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE

from any of the nominated businesses that appear in the Best of the North Shore supplement on Thursday, December 16, 2021

TBR NEWS MEDIA

Best of the North Shore Ballot

Times Beacon Record News Media readers will be voting for the Best of the Best in over 80 categories on the ballot below.

Here’s a chance to get your favorite North Shore businesses, currently operating, the recognition and fame they deserve!

Readers are asked to vote by September 30, 2021. Please print your choices and use complete names and TOWN of business. Winners will be announced in the Best of the North Shore publication, inserted in the full run of all six newspapers on Thursday, December 16, 2021.

Accountant

TOWN

Carpet Cleaning Service

TOWN

Equipment Supply/Rental

Arborist/Tree Service

TOWN

Caterer

TOWN

Eye Care

Appliance Store

TOWN

Cesspool Service

TOWN

Eyewear

Art Gallery

TOWN

Chamber of Commerce

TOWN

Ophthalmologist (see Medical & Wellness)

Assisted Living/Nursing Home

TOWN

Cleaning Service

TOWN

Optometrist

Attorney/Lawyer

TOWN

Clothing Store

TOWN

Farm Stand

TOWN

Audiologist/Hearing Specialist

TOWN

Coffee Shop

TOWN

Financial Planner

TOWN

Auto Body Shop

TOWN

College/University

TOWN

Film Festival

TOWN

Auto Dealer

TOWN

Computer Services

TOWN

Firehouse

TOWN

Auto Repair Shop

TOWN

Convenience Store

TOWN

Flooring Store (carpet/tile)

TOWN

Bagel Shop

TOWN

Dance School

TOWN

Florist

TOWN

Bakery

TOWN

Daycare/Preschool

TOWN

Fuel Company

TOWN

Bank

TOWN

Deli/Sandwich Shop

TOWN

Funeral Home

TOWN

Barber

TOWN

Dental

Furniture Store

TOWN

Bike Shop

TOWN

Dentist

TOWN

Garden Center/Nursery

TOWN

Bowling Lanes

TOWN

Cosmetic Dentistry

TOWN

Golf Course

TOWN

Bridal Shop

TOWN

Orthodontist

TOWN

Grocery Store

TOWN

Builder/Contractor

TOWN

Pediatric Dentist

TOWN

Gym/Fitness Center

TOWN

Building Supply/Lumber

TOWN

Diner

TOWN

Hair Salon

TOWN

Bus Company

TOWN

Doctor/Physician/Internist (see Medical & Wellness)

Hardware Store

TOWN

Camp

TOWN

Dramatic Theater (Playhouse)

TOWN

Health Food Store

TOWN

Car Wash

TOWN

Dry Cleaner

TOWN

Hotel/Motel

TOWN

Card/Gift Shop

TOWN

Electrician

TOWN

Ice Cream Stand/Store

TOWN

TOWN

TOWN



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SEE NEXT PAGE FOR MORE EXCITING CATEGORIES!

TOWN

AUGUST 12, 2021 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B15

READERS’ CHOICE:

TBR NEWS MEDIA

Insurance Agency

TOWN

Orthopedics

TOWN

Pool Store & Supply

TOWN

Jewelry Shop

TOWN

Pediatrician

TOWN

Real Estate Agency

TOWN

Kitchen/Bath Design

TOWN

Pharmacy

TOWN

Real Estate Agent

TOWN

Landscaper

TOWN

Physical Therapy

TOWN

Restaurants

Library

TOWN

Psychotherapist

TOWN

Chinese/Japanese

TOWN

Liquor/Wine Store

TOWN

Vascular/Vein

TOWN

French

TOWN

Local Brewery

TOWN

Mortgage Company

TOWN

Italian

TOWN

Movie Theater

TOWN

Mexican

TOWN

Medical & Wellness Acupuncturist

TOWN

Museum

TOWN

Seafood

TOWN

Allergist

TOWN

Nursing Service

TOWN

Thai

TOWN

Cardiologist

TOWN

Nail Salon

TOWN

Security Systems Service

TOWN

Chiropractor

TOWN

Painter (Interior/Exterior)

TOWN

Senior Housing Complex

TOWN

Cosmetic Surgeon/Practice

TOWN

Paint Store

TOWN

Sign Maker

TOWN

Dermatology

TOWN

Party Supply/Event

TOWN

Spa

TOWN

Family Doctor

TOWN

Pet Boarding/Sitting Service

TOWN

Sporting Goods Store

TOWN

Gastroenterology

TOWN

Pet Grooming

TOWN

Tanning Salon

TOWN

Hospital

TOWN

Pet Hospital

TOWN

Tire Shop

TOWN

Internist

TOWN

Pet Supply Store

TOWN

Trash Removal

TOWN

Laser Treatment

TOWN

Photographer

TOWN

Veterinarian

TOWN

Massage

TOWN

Piano Entertainer

TOWN

Winery

TOWN

OBGYN/Obstetrics & Gynecology

TOWN

Pizzeria

TOWN

Yoga Studio

TOWN

Ophthalmologist

TOWN

Plumber

TOWN

Other

TOWN

Your Votes Can Be Hand Delivered to: TBR News Media, 185 Route 25A, Setauket, NY 11733 • 631- 751-7744 OR Mailed to: PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733 Attn: READERS’ CHOICE Name:

Street Address:

Town:

Zip:

Email Address:

Phone:

OR

VOTE Online at tbrnewsmedia.com RULES: Complete Business Names Required • At least 10 nominations must be filled out to be eligible, more are welcome • Employees of TBR News Media and their families are not eligible to vote • No photocopies accepted – we want you to pick up and read our papers!

• Name, address, phone number & email address must be filled out • 1 entry per person

PAGE B16 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

YOUR TURN

What is a community without theatre?

BY MICHAEL TESSLER

What is a community without theatre?

Theatre brings us comfort, joy, a sense of wonder, togetherness, and an appreciation for life. For children, especially those lucky enough to find themselves on stage, it is a great escape and a wonderful place to learn about humanity and its many expressions.

It is a safe way to learn and explore. For theatre kids like me, it is a home away from home and the place you can truly feel most like yourself.

For so many children in our community, the Performing Arts Studio (PAS) of New York at 224 East Main Street in Port Jefferson is the beating heart of our hometown. Mayor Margot Garant has called it a “hidden gem.”

Right now, this incredible staple of our village is in need of our help.

For 25 years, a dynamic trio who has brought music, laughter, tears, and every imaginable expression of the arts to a small but magical theatre in Port Jefferson. They are a gift to this community. Deborah and Michael Livering and Terri Morrissey were some of the first people to ever believe in

me. They are true professionals. Class acts who have impeccable talent and have chosen to dedicate their lives to helping young performers find themselves and immerse themselves in all the wonder and adventure theatre has to offer.

This small studio is unique. Its black box stage is cozy but limitless. Countless children have spent their days after school and summer breaks discovering themselves and the magic of the arts. This is a place where lifelong friends are made. I would know; even two decades later and my old cast members still feel like family.

Times Beacon Record News Media has been the beneficiary of PAS’ great talent as well; our paper’s first original film One Life to Give and its sequel, Traitor, featured several veteran actors trained at PAS including Dave Morrissey, Jr. and Max Golub.

A veteran of Broadway, Deborah Livering has taken her remarkable voice and talent and used it to uplift a new generation of performers. Her husband Michael is a master of the keyboard and Miss Terri is the most beautiful and pure soul you’ll ever meet — the lessons she’s taught me and countless

other children have guided us through life and endure long after curtain call.

PAS has been closed due to COVID-19 since March of 2020 and forced to downsize.

The show must go on and our friends at PAS need our help. They’ve launched a GoFundMe with plans to reopen in September and the community has already been pouring in with words of encouragement and much needed donations.

Theatre isn’t just great entertainment. It is the embodiment of community — countless individuals coming together to make something truly magical. Let’s help make sure live theatre makes a roaring comeback in Port Jefferson. You can support PAS by donating at https://gofund.me/89cc325e.

I’d also strongly encourage you to visit my dear friend Jeffrey Sanzel and the amazing folks at Theatre Three as they return to live shows. How blessed we are as a community to have stages filled with so much love and endless talent. Tickets are on sale now!

Michael Tessler is a film and television producer living in Los Angeles. He previously served as Director of Media Productions for TBR News Media and is a proud PAS alum.

From left, Michael and Deborah Livering and Terri Morrissey with an announcement that PAS will reopen in September. Photo from PAS

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AUGUST 12, 2021 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B17

NATURE MATTERS Monarch butterfly, With Mexico on its mind, Flutters over road.

Monarchs

BY JOHN L. TURNER

W

hile snipping off shoots from a few tomato plants growing on the edge of the vegetable garden, a fluttering movement caught my eye. Turning to look in the direction of a small stand of Common Milkweed pinched against the garden’s deer fence, I watched as a Monarch Butterfly danced from one milkweed plant to another. After a minute or two she left (in addition to the egg-laying habit of females, you can distinguish male and female by the presence of two black dots on the hind wings of male Monarchs and the thicker black wing veins of females) and I had a chance to see the results of her activity — four tiny white eggs laid on the underside of milkweed leaves.

The butterfly’s dance was a dance of life, for she was creating the next generation.

Various milkweed species serve as host plants for Monarch caterpillars, provisioning them with all the food they’ll need to develop into adults.

Feeling a tad bit paternal, I checked on the eggs daily. On the fourth day I was in for a surprise. On the underside of a milkweed leaf was a small caterpillar about a third of an inch long. With the diagnostic colors of white, black, and yellow I knew it was a very young Monarch. As the next few days went by the hungry little caterpillar grew, reaching about half an inch in length.

When I next checked in, it had molted its skin for the first time, which sat like a tiny rumpled shirt stuck to the leaf surface.

I anticipated seeing several more molts before the caterpillar was fully grown.

However, when I inspected the next day there were no signs of the caterpillar, not in the form of nibbled milkweed leaves, nor the caterpillar itself despite an extensive search in which I turned over every milkweed leaf in the small stand of plants. It was gone.

Disappeared. Nowhere to be seen.

The disappearance of this caterpillar serves as a metaphor for the species, as the Monarch butterfly is disappearing before our eyes. The Western Monarch population which overwinters in southern California is critically endangered with a few thousand butterflies separating it from extinction and in the past two decades Eastern Monarchs have declined by 85%, primarily due to the loss of milkweed in

Pixabay photo

the Midwest, killed by herbicides designed to reduce competition with agricultural crops like soybeans and corn.

Here the story turns to Monsanto, the chemical industry giant. Monsanto developed, and for many decades manufactured, ROUNDUP, the most widely used herbicide in the United States.

And while herbicides can kill unwanted weeds, they can also have a negative effect on crops, a problem Monsanto solved by developing genetically engineered corn and soybeans, immune to ROUNDUP’s effects.

Now, Monsanto could sell both countless tons of soybeans and corn kernels and the herbicide that’s effective at eliminating competing plants, like milkweeds, all made the easier by the farmer not having to worry about the herbicide killing the crops. Spray away!

Not surprisingly, in the past twentyfive years ROUNDUP use has increased 20-fold. The result of all this spraying?

The Midwest has lost 99% of its milkweed stands. Wonderful profits for Monsanto but deep peril for Monarchs — so deep that a petition to have the butterfly added

to the federal Endangered Species List has been submitted to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and accepted with merit.

The life cycle of the Monarch is complex, unique, and remarkable. By the middle of March adults begin to disperse northward from their overwintering sites in Mexico with virtually all funneling through Texas.

These females lay eggs on milkweeds and the young that hatch out become the 1st generation; the adults die but the eggs hatch, the caterpillars grow and the adults move north before repeating the process.

The butterflies repeat the process, several hundred to a thousand miles to the north, so by the time we’re seeing Monarchs here on Long Island it may be the 3rd or 4th generation of butterflies for the year. These northward bound generations are much shorter lived than the southbound generation, individuals of which can live for six months. Few other insects undergo such long-distance migrations or have generations part of an annual cycle that behave so differently.

In autumn, the last generation of Monarchs move south, leaving the eastern

United States (we see them as they flutter past or perhaps nectaring on fall blooming wildflowers) on their way to one of a dozen or so major colonies situated in the oyamel fir forests scattered in the mountains of central Mexico, where, for the next five or so months, they’ll overwinter.

The climate conditions in these evergreen forests are ideal for Monarchs, a range of cool-to-cold temperatures that allows them to enter a metabolic pause.

This can be risky though, as sometimes temperatures drop below freezing and the butterflies perish in huge numbers.

These winter colonies provide another way to measure the Monarch’s status: by looking at the extent of their collective size, measured in acres. The colonies are assessed annually and the trend in the last couple of years has been cause for alarm.

This past winter (2020-2021) the colonies covered a little more than five acres, the lowest amount in five years; in 2019 they totaled just shy of 15 acres.

Once Monarchs arrive on Long Island females quickly seek out milkweeds on which to lay eggs. And here an ages-old battle plays out between the plant and the animal. The caterpillar eats leaf tissue that the milkweed doesn’t want to provide.

So milkweeds, living up to their name, defend against this by leaking latex-like sap, a poisonous liquid containing cardiac glycosides in an attempt to gum-up the works. This sometimes works with newly hatched caterpillars occasionally dying, not from the poisons but from the stickiness of the sap. But the caterpillars have a trick up their sleeve — they feed in a pattern that blocks off the flow of latex to the portions of the leaf upon which they subsequently feed, without the worry of sticky sap.

Monarchs are unaffected by, and in fact are immune to, the poisonous sap, with recent research finding the species has undergone three mutations that negates the damage caused by the liquid. Remarkably, the caterpillar is able to incorporate the plant’s poisons into its own tissues making it poisonous and highly distasteful to birds, a fact quickly learned by inexperienced birds and which is reinforced by the bright and bold colors of the Monarch (you can imagine this lesson being lost on birds if the Monarch was an indistinctive, browncolored butterfly).

NATURE MATTERS continued on page B18

PAGE B18 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

COVER STORY

NATURE MATTERS Continued from page B17

Young birds quickly associate the butterfly’s bright coloration (known as aposematic coloration) with their poisonous qualities and leave them alone.

If you wish to protect Monarch butterflies there’s a few things you can do to help ensure the future for “North America’s best-known and most-loved insect.” The first is to plant milkweeds, its host plant. Common milkweed is best but swamp milkweed and butterflyweed work too. Stay away from tropical milkweed which isn’t native and is much less effective at growing caterpillars. While you can buy milkweed seeds, better to collect seed pods from local plants and use the seeds once removed from the pods, making sure to let them become cold hardy.

The second is to plant wildflower species that provide nectar for resident and migrating Monarchs. If you live along the coast, a highly desirable native plant that Monarchs enjoy is seaside goldenrod.

Other favorable plants include many aster and goldenrod species, Northern Blazing Star, Bee balm, New York Ironweed, and Joe Pye Weed.

Plant common milkweed to help Monarch butterflies thrive. Photo by John Turner

Third, move away from using pesticides and other garden and lawn chemicals.

Two weeks later another female Monarch visited the edge of the garden and laid several eggs. A few hatched and the caterpillars have prospered. So, perhaps a few more Monarchs will survive to soon participate in the southbound journey to the mountains of Mexico.

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

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Port Jefferson Hill Climb returns on Aug. 14

BY TARA MAE

W

hat’s old is new again as Port Jefferson’s Hill Climb returns on Saturday, August 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Continuing in the tradition of the 1910, 1911, and 1925 Port Jefferson hill climbs, this event is an historic tribute that features an antique car parade with about 50 automobiles and a photo exhibit at the Port Jefferson Village Center.

"This is a celebration of the history of the hill climbs," said Bob Laravie, a Port Jefferson Conservancy board member. "The parade starts at the Port Jefferson Village Center, goes up East Broadway hill and hits Belle Terre Road, turns onto North Country Road, and heads back to Main Street, and East Main Street."

The parade concludes when they circle back to the Village Center where visitors can view prints of historic photographs by Spooner and Wells. Primarily images of the 1910 Port Jefferson Hill Climb, they are shown courtesy of the Detroit Public Library which now houses them in its collection.

Hill climbing is one of the oldest forms of motorsports, with the first one taking place in France in 1897. Generally, rather than race each other, cars race the clock as they ascend a peak. Port Jefferson’s version is arguably more a combination of parade and car show rather than a traditional hill climb.

As each vehicle joins the parade route, the announcer will provide insight and details about the car, its history, and its owner. The cars are driven to a height of about 2,000 feet before beginning their descents.

Participants were recruited from car clubs and car shows, according to Laravie, who is showing the electric car replica he constructed, a Baker Torpedo Kid. The primary requirement for the entries is that they are at least 74 years old, although there are some exceptions.

"My car is modified for actual hill climbing," explained Laravie. "I built a replica/tribute to a 1903 electric racecar and they let me in the event ..."

In 1910, the Port Jefferson Automobile Club sponsored the first Port Jefferson Hill Climb to promote its cars. "Port Jefferson was a good location for a hill climb; you didn’t need a track or tremendous spectator control.

There was a very good turnout the first two years," Laravie said. A commemorative hill climb was held in 1925. The modern incarnation has been held periodically for the past 50 years and run every 5 years since 2000. Scheduled for 2020, the event was postponed due to the pandemic.

"It is a great piece of Long Island automotive history," said Howard Kroplick, of East Hills, who is returning for his third Port Jefferson hill climb, having participated in 2010 and 2015. This year, Kroplick will be driving the "Black Beast," a restored racecar that won the 1909 and 1910 Vanderbilt Cup races and was in the first Indy 500.

"The hill climb has a kind of a legacy about the beginnings of automotive history, not only on Long Island but throughout the United States. We respect history by participating in this event. Also, it’s a lot of fun. It gives [drivers and spectators] the opportunity to utilize these cars and see them in action; most car shows are really stationary," added Kroplick.

Sponsored by the Port Jefferson Conservancy, East End Shirt Company, Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry, Blacktop Yacht Club and the Village of Port Jefferson, the Port Jefferson Hill Climb is free to the public with a rain date of Aug. 21. For more information, please call 631-965-0797.

Please note: Parking at the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson is reserved for the hill climb’s participants; other public lots are available to spectators.

Times ... and dates

Thursday 12 Estate Walk & Talk

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport hosts an Estate Walk & Talk today, Friday and Saturday at noon and again at 1 p.m. Join a museum educator for a walking tour of the Vanderbilt estate and gardens and learn about architectural details and William Vanderbilt’s passion for travel, marine biology, and car racing. Tickets, which include general admission, are $16 adults, $15 seniors and students, and $13 children under 12. For more info, call 854-5579 or visit www. vanderbiltmuseum.org.

AUGUST 12, 2021 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B19

Aug. 12 to Aug. 19, 2021

The Farmingville Residents Association hosts a Farmers, Artisans and Friends Market at the corner of Horseback Road and Woodycrest Drive in Farmingville from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Featuring vendors selling local produce, homemade and handmade products, flea market items and live music. For more info, call 260-7411.

Drive-in live music is back at Hallockville Museum, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead with the Grateful Blues Jammers (aka Klyph Black & Rumor Has It) in concert at 6:30 p.m.

With a nod towards the Bluegrass spectrum, this group of joined at the hip musicians will move you with the standouts of the Grateful Dead Bluegrass catalogue – which finds its roots in classic bluegrass as well as Mel Tillis, George Jones and the immortal Merle Haggard. Tickets are $20 per person, $50 per car. Advance reservations only by calling 2985292 or by visiting www.hallockville.org.

Second Saturdays Poetry

Magic Show at the Vanderbilt

Behind the Scenes at the Museum

Explore hidden treasures, back stories, and highlights from the Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor’s historic collection and archives with Executive Director Nomi Dayan during a virtual Behind the Scenes event at 7 p.m. View a backstage glimpse of a beautiful piece of scrimshaw, a fascinating letter, or other artifacts which give us insight into the lifeways of Long Island’s maritime communities and beyond. Free. $10 suggested donation appreciated. Register at www. cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Atelier lecture

The Atelier at Flowerfield in St. James hosts a virtual lecture via Zoom on artist Hieronymus Bosch: Enigmatic Northern Master and Father of Modern Surrealism at 7 p.m. Join instructor Randall DiGiuseppe as he examines Bosch’s puzzling life, work, techniques and his enduring influence on contemporary art and culture. Free. To register, visit www. theatelieratflowerfield.org.

* All numbers are in (631) area code unless otherwise noted.

The Port Jefferson Conservancy will host a reenactment of the 1910 Hill Climb on Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come cheer on antique cars as they retrace the original Hill Climb course from the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson to the top of East Broadway followed by a car parade through the village. A historic photo exhibit of early Port Jefferson Hill Climbs will be on display at the Village Center. Rain date is Aug. 15. Questions? Call 238-2290. See story on page B18.

Farmers, Artisans, Friends Market

Hallockville Drive-In Live Music

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents a Courtyard Conjuring, an interactive performance of wonder, mystery, and astonishment featuring magician, Alexander Boyce at 7 p.m. Boyce will be joined by jazz duo MYSA to brings the performance that The New York Times called “sophisticated” to the Vanderbilt Mansion Courtyard. Recommended for adults and children ages 10 and older. Tickets are $45 per person, $35 members at www. vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Port Jefferson Hill Climb

ROCKABILLY LEGENDS Gene Casey & the Lone Sharks head to Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson for a free concert on Aug. 18. Photo by Heidi Sutton

All Souls Church in Stony Brook continues its Second Saturdays poetry series virtually via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon. Hosted by Suffolk County Poet Laureate Richard Bronson, the featured poet will be Bruce Johnson. An open-reading will follow; all are welcome to read one of their own poems. Participants can access the program through the All Souls website https://www.allsouls-stonybrook.org/ For more information, call 655-7798.

East End Trio in concert

Harborside Concert

Musical Moments

The Kings Park Civic Association kicks off its Musical Moments in Kings Park summer concert series at Russ Savatt Park, 14 Main St., Kings Park at 7:30 p.m. with Mystery Play (Rock, Pop, Funk). Free. Weather permitting.

Bring seating.

Wildwood State Park, 790 Hulse Landing Road, Wading River hosts a special summer concert featuring the East End Trio at 7 p.m. Come enjoy songs you know by heart with music from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, and 2000's, performed with style, grace and originality! This is a FREE event and all ages are welcome. For more information, call 929-4314.

Friday 13

Saturday 14

Sunday 15

See Aug. 12 listing.

See Aug. 12 listing.

See Aug. 13 listing.

The Village of Port Jefferson continues its Harborside Concert series with a performance

by Liverpool Shuffle (Beatles tribute band) at Harborfront Park, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson at 8 p.m. Bring seating. Free. Visit www.portjeff.com.

Estate Walk & Talk

Estate Walk & Talk

Free admission to LIM

Free admission to LIM

As it prepares for its new exhibitions in the Art Museum and History Museum, The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook will offer free admission to its state of the art Carriage Museum, which includes eight renovated galleries that tell the story of transportation before the automobile, today, Aug. 14 and Aug. 15 from noon to 5 p.m.

Questions? Call 751-0066.

Happenings on Main Street

The Northport Arts Coalition presents Happenings on Main Street, free concerts at Northport Village Park at the harbor Friday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. Tonight’s performance features The Toby Tobias Ensemble (American Global Music). Weather permitting. Bring seating and a picnic. Free. Call 827-6827 or visit www.northportarts.org.

See Aug. 13 listing.

Run the Farm race

Time to lace up those sneakers! Friends of Bethel Hobbs Farm, 178 Oxhead Road, Centereach and Councilman Kevin LaValle hosts the 7th annual Run the Farm 4-mile race beginning at 9 a.m. All proceeds from the event will go towards the handicap accessible garden and other equipment that is critical to the functions of the farm. Please sign up at BrookhavenNY.Gov/RunTheFarm or call 451-6647 for more information.

Greenway Trail Cleanup

Join the Three Village Community Trust’s Friends of the Greenway volunteers for a clean up at the Setauket or Port Jefferson Station trailhead from 9 to 11 a.m. Email HJMones@gmail.com for more information.

Free admission to LIM Lake Grove Summer Festival

The Village of Lake Grove hosts a SummerFest at Village Hall 980 Hawkins Ave., Lake Grove from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. featuring live music, a magician, face painting, carnival games, arts and crafts vendors, classic car show, food trucks, raffles and much more. Take part in a 5K Run/Walk at 8 a.m. ($25 registration fee). For more information, call 585-2000.

Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser

Join the Selden Fire Department, 44 Woodmere Place, Selden for a Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser and Chinese Auction for ex-chief Tony Ryan from 1 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person. Call 445-4488 or visit www.seldenfd.com.

TIMES ... and dates continued on page B19

PAGE B20 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

Shakespeare Festival

TIMES ... and dates continued from page B20

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport and The Carriage House Players continue their annual Summer Shakespeare Festival with Titus Andronicus from Aug. 8 to 29. Shakespeare’s first tragedy, a tale of ambition and revenge, comes to the Vanderbilt stage with a modern spin on the classic material. Performances are held on the mansion courtyard stage Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and children. To order, call 516-557-1207 or visit www.carriagehouseplayers.org.

Grist Mill Tours

The Stony Brook Grist Mill, 100 Harbor Road, Stony Brook is open to the public for guided tours with a miller and a Country Store on Sundays from 1 to 4:30 p.m. through October. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children. For more info, call 751-2244 or visit www.wmho.org.

Parading Down Main Street

The Northport Historical Society hosts a guided walking tour of Northport’s historic Main Street business district from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Using storytelling and historic photos from the society’s collection, your guide will make the past come alive! Tour leaves from the Society, 215 Main Street, Northport.

Tickets are $7 per person online. Call 7579859 or visit www.northporthistorical.org.

‘I Love You, You’re Perfect ...’

Wind Down Sundays

The popular summer concert series continues at the historic Red Barn at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket with the Just Sixties Band (60s tribute band) at 5:30 p.m. Bring seating. Free. Questions? Call 689-6146 or visit www.frankmelvillepark.org.

Summer Concerts on the Green

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization welcomes Carolyn Benson & the Anthem Band for a concert titled A Tribute to America on the Village Green across from the Stony Brook Post Office, 129 Main St., Stony Brook from 7 to 9 p.m. Bring seating. Free. Call 7512244 or visit www.wmho.org.

Monday 16 TVHS lecture

The Three Village Historical Society in Setauket continues its virtual lecture series with the Jupiter Hammon Project: Confronting Slavery at Joseph Lloyd Manor via Zoom at 7 p.m. Guest speaker Darren St. George, Preservation Long Island’s Director of Education and Public Programs, will outline the development, execution, and findings of Preservation Long Island’s three virtual roundtables which took place in 2020 from August to October to develop a more relevant and equitable interpretation of Joseph Lloyd Manor, a site that enslaved generations of people of African descent, including Jupiter Hammon (1711–ca.1806), one of the earliest published African American authors.

Followed by a Q&A. $5 suggested donation, free for TVHS members. Registration is required by visiting www.tvhs.org.

Tuesday 17

Concerts at The Gazebo

Enjoy Tuesday night concerts at The Gazebo, 127 Smithtown Blvd., Nesconset at 7 p.m. with School of Rock, courtesy of the Nesconset Chamber of Commerce. Free.

Weather permitting. Bring seating. Call 6725197 or visit www.nesconsetchamber.org.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE COURTYARD Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport presents Titus Andronicus through Aug. 29.

MCPL Under the Stars

Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach presents MCPL Under the Stars, a free outdoor concert featuring Southbound at 7 p.m. Country Line Dancing instruction begins at 6 p.m. and food trucks will be on hand to grab a bite before the show.

Bring seating. Questions? Call 585-9393.

Anything But Silent event

The Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington presents a virtual Anything But Silent event livestreaming at 7 p.m. Enjoy a screening of “Go West” (1925) starring Buster Keaton featuring live piano accompaniment by Ben Model.

General Admission is Pay-What-You-Want, Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org to register.

Wednesday 18

Cruise Nights at The Shoppes

Cruise Nights are back at The Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25A, Wading River tonight from 5 to 9 p.m. and every Wednesday through Oct. 27. Car enthusiasts from across Long Island will display their classic and coveted automobiles in The Shoppes parking lot. Free. Call 929-3500 or visit www.

EastWindLongIsland.com.

Sunset Concert in Port Jeff

The Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council continues its Sunset Concert series at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson with Gene Casey & the Lone Sharks from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Bring seating. Held rain or shine. Dogs welcome. Rain location inside Port Jefferson Village Center. Free. For more information, visit www.gpjac.org.

Northport Summerfest

The Northport Chamber of Commerce presents a free Summerfest concert featuring The Little Wilson Band (Funky Rock ’n Soul).at the Robert W. Krueger Bandshell in Northport Village Park at 7:30 p.m. Bring seating. Call 754-3905.

Thursday 19 Historic Harbor Tour

The Northport Historical Society hosts two Historic Harbor Tours — at 5:30 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. Meet at Seymour’s Boatyard (63 Bayview Avenue) where you will board launches and enjoy a 45-minute cruise around Northport’s historic harbor.

Guides will share stories about the boat builders, oystermen, and businesses that influenced the development of Northport as a thriving waterfront community.

Refreshments will be served afterward. Rain date is Aug. 13. Cost is $60 per person, $50 members at www.northporthistorical.org.

Film

‘News of the World'

As part of its movie matinee series, Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station will screen News of the World starring Tom Hanks on Aug. 17 at 2 p.m. Open to all but registration is required by calling 928-1212, option #3.

Theater

‘The Fantasticks’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the world’s longest running musical, The Fantasticks, on the Mainstage from July 16 to Aug. 15. A boy, a girl, two fathers, and a wall … Here is a timeless tale of love and loss, of growth and acceptance. Featuring a score blending musical theatre and jazz, the show is a heartfelt celebration of moonlight and magic. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $35 adults, $20 children ages 5 to 12, $28 seniors and students. For more information or to order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

The Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown continues its Main Stage productions with “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” from Aug. 21 to Sept. 19. This celebration of the mating game takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum know as “the relationship.” This hilarious revue pays tribute to those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, to those who have dared to ask, “Say, what are you doing Saturday night?” Tickets are $45 per person, $40 seniors. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www. smithtownpac.org.

Vendors wanted

»The Davis Town Meeting House Society, 263 Middle Country Road, Coram seeks vendors for its annual Yard Sale and Craft Fair on Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain date Sept. 19. $25 per spot/$15 members. For a vendor application, call 804-2256. »Stony Brook Community Church, 216 Christian Avenue, Stony Brook is seeking vendors for their Apple Festival (2021 version!) on Oct. 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date Oct. 3). 10’ x 10’ spots are $40 each.

Call or text 631-252-0777 for an application to reserve a space and for further information. »East End Arts in Riverhead seeks vendors and street painting artists for its 25th annual Community Street Painting Festival in downtown Riverhead on Sept. 5 from noon to 5 p.m. Rain date is Sept. 6. For an application, visit www.eastendarts.org. For more info, email mparsons@eastendarts.org. »Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead is accepting applications for its 40th annual Hallockville Country Fair & Craft Show on Aug. 28 and 29. Call 298-5292 or visit www.hallockville.org.

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 leisure@tbrnewspapers.com. 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.

AUGUST 12, 2021 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B21

Religious D irectory Catholic INFANT JESUS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 110 Myrtle Ave., Port Jefferson 631-473-0165 Fax 631-331-8094 www.www.infantjesus.org REVEREND PATRICK M. RIEGGER, PASTOR ASSOCIATES: REV. FRANCIS LASRADO & REV. ROLANDO TICLLASUCA To schedule Baptisms and Weddings, Please call the Rectory Confessions: Saturdays 12:30-1:15pm in the Lower Church Religious Ed.: 631 928-0447 Parish Outreach: 631-331-6145 Weekly Masses: 6:50 and 9am in the Church, 12pm in the Chapel* Weekend Masses: Saturday at 5 pm in the Church, 5:15 pm in the Chapel,* Sunday at 7:30 am, 10:30 am, 12 pm, and 5 pm in the Church and at 8:30 am, 10 am, and 11:30 am (Family Mass) in the Chapel* Spanish Masses: Sunday at 8:45 am and Wednesday at 6 pm in the Church *Held at the Infant Jesus Chapel at St. Charles Hospital

ST. GERARD MAJELLA ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 300 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station 631-473-2900 www.stgmajella.org REV. GREGORY RANNAZZISI, PASTOR Each Saturday 3:45pm, 4:45pm Mass: Saturday 5pm only Sunday 8am, 10am & 12pm Weekday Mass: 9am Confessions: Saturday 3:45pm-4:45pm Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am - 4:30pm Thrift Shop: Monday-Thursday 10am - 4pm and Friday 10am-2pm.

Baptism and Wedding arrangements can be made by calling the Parish Office

ST. JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 429 Rt. 25A, Setauket Phone: 631-941-4141 Fax: 631-751-6607 Parish Office email: parish@stjamessetauket.org www.stjamessetauket.org REV. ROBERT KUZNIK, PASTOR REV. ROBERT SCHECKENBACK, ASSOCIATE PASTOR REV. JOHN FITZGERALD, IN RESIDENCE REV. MIKE S. EZEATU, SBU HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN, IN RESIDENCE Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9am to 4pm ...

Saturday 9am to 2pm Weekday Masses: Monday to Saturday 8am Weekend Masses: Saturday (Vigil) 5pm (Youth) Sunday 8am ... 9:30am (Family) ... 11:30am (Choir) Baptisms: contact the Office at the end of the third month of pregnancy to set a date.

Matrimony: contact the Office at least nine months before desired date to set a date.

Reconciliation: Saturdays 4 to 4:45pm or by Appointment. Anointing of the Sick: by request.

Bereavement: 631-941-4141 x 341 Faith Formation Office: 631-941-4141 x 328 Outreach: 631-941-4141 x 313 Our Daily Bread Sunday Soup Kitchen 3:00 pm closed ... reopening TBD Food Pantry Open ... Wednesdays 12Noon to 2pm and Sundays 2pm to 3pm Mission Statement: We, the Catholic community of the Three Village area, formed as the Body of Christ through the waters of Baptism, are a pilgrim community journeying toward the fullness of the Kingdom of God, guided by the Holy Spirit, nourished by the Eucharist and formed by the Gospel.

We strive to respond to Jesus’ invitation: to be faithful and fruitful disciples; to be a Good Samaritan to our neighbor and enemy; to be stewards of and for God’s creation and to be living witnesses of Faith, Hope and Charity ... so that in Jesus’ name, we may be a welcoming community, respectful of life in all its diversities.

ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 75 New York Avenue, Sound Beach Parish office: 631-744-8566; fax 631-744-8611 Parish website: www.stlouisdm.org REV. MSGR. CHRISTOPHER J. HELLER, PASTOR REV. ALPHONSUS IGBOKWE, ASSOCIATE PASTOR REV. MSGR. DONALD HANSON, IN RESIDENCE REV. FRANCIS PIZZARELLI, S.M.M., PARISH ASSISTANT REV. HENRY VAS Office Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs.: 9 am to 5 pm Wednesday: 9 am to 8 pm; Friday: 9 am to 4 pm; Saturday: 9 am to 1 pm; Closed on Sunday Mission Statement: To proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ’s love through our active involvement as a parish family in works of Charity, Faith, Worship, Justice and Mercy. ALL ARE WELCOME! No matter what your present status is in the Catholic Church. No matter your family situation. No matter your practice of faith.

No matter your personal history, age or background. YOU are invited, respected and loved at St. Louis de Montfort.

Weekday Masses: Monday through Friday 8:30 am in the Chapel Weekend Masses: Saturday Vigil: 5 pm Sunday: 7:30 am; 10:00 am; 12 noon.

Baptisms: Most Sundays at 1:30 pm.

Please contact Parish Office for an appointment.

Reconciliation: Saturday 4-4:45 pm or by appointment.

Anointing of the Sick: by request.

Holy Matrimony: Contact Parish Office at least six months in advance of desired date.

Religious Education: Contact 631-744-9515 Parish Outreach: Contact 631-209-0325

Catholic Traditional Latin Mass ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL SOCIETY OF SAINT PIUS X 900 Horseblock Road, Farmingville 631-736-6515 sspxlongisland.com Sunday Masses at 7am and 9am Please consult sspxlongisland.com for updates and current mass times

Congregational MT. SINAI CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 233 North Country Road, Mt. Sinai 631-473-1582 www.msucc.org REV. DR. PHILIP HOBSON “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”

Online service continues 10am with Rev. Phil Hobson on our You Tube channel.

The service is accessible anytime thereafter.

We are going to hold our Sunday service at 10:00AM out of doors, on the east side of the church. Bring chair, mask and we will socially distance from each other. We also have Sunday School at the same time, outdoors.

We continue with our Online Service, at 10AM and anytime thereafter, on our You Tube channel with Reverend Phil Hobson.

The online service with Rev. Hobson on our You Tube channel continues at 10Am and is accessible anytime Our Island Heart Food Pantry continues to help those in need at 643 Middle Country Road, Middle Island, NY. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00-4:30pm.

Wear a mask and stay in car Grace and Peace REV. PHIL

Episcopal ALL SOULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH Our little historic church on the hill” across from the Stony Brook Duck Pond 61 Main Street, Stony Brook Visit our website www.allsoulsstonybrook.org or call 631-655-7798 allsoulsepiscopalchurch@verizon.net Interdenominational Morning Prayer ServiceTuesday 8:00am- Half Hour Interdenominational Rosary Service-Wednesday 12noonSunday Services: 8am Virtual Service 9:30am Service at the Church-Organ Music 8am Tuesday-Morning Prayer Service at the Church This is a small eclectic Episcopal congregation that has a personal touch. We welcome all regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey. Walk with us.

CAROLINE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SETAUKET 1 Dyke Road on the Village Green, Setauket Web site: www.carolinechurch.net email: office@carolinechurch.net 631-941-4245 REV. COOPER CONWAY, INTERIM PRIEST-IN-CHARGE Let God walk with you as part of our familyfriendly community Holy Eucharist Saturday 5pm Sunday 8am and 9:30am

CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH B a r n u m Av e . , P o r t J e f f e r s o n 631-473-0273 email: ccoffice@christchurchportjeff.org www.christchurchportjeff.org Church office hours: Tues. - Fri. 9am - 12pm FATHER ANTHONY DILORENZO: PRIEST IN CHARGE Please join us for our 8:00 and 10:00 Sunday Eucharists and our 10:00 Wednesday Eucharist in our chapel. Please wear masks.

GOD BLESS YOU. Father Anthony DiLorenzo It is the mission of the people of Christ Church to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ and to make his love known to all through our lives and ministry. We at Christ Church are a joyful, welcoming community. Wherever you are in your journey of life we want to be part of it.

127

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH “To know Christ and to make Him known” 12 Prospect St, Huntington (631) 427-1752 On Main St. next to the Library REV. DUNCAN A. BURNS, RECTOR MRS. CLAIRE MIS, SEMINARIAN ALEX PRYRODNY, MUSIC DIRECTOR & ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Sunday Worship In Person, Zoom & Facebook 8:00 AM Rite I Holy Eucharist with music 10:00 AM Rite II Holy Choral Eucharist Sanctuary Music at Noon Sundays in our beautiful, historic church & Facebook Live Soothe your soul and revive your spirit with 30-minute performances by pianist Alex Pryrodny and guest artists Taize service every last Sunday of the month Morning Prayer Via Zoom 9:00 am Monday thru Friday Thrift Shop Open!

12 to 3pm- Tuesdays & Saturdays www.stjohns1745.org FOLLOW us on Facebook

Greek Orthodox CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION 430 Sheep Pasture Rd., Port Jefferson Tel: 631-473-0894 Fax: 631-928-5131 www.kimisis.org goc.assumption@gmail.com REV. ELIAS (LOU) NICHOLAS, PROISTAMENOS Sunday Services:

PLEASE CALL OR VISIT YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP’S WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE.

PAGE B22 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

Religious D irectory Greek Orthodox Orthros 8:30 Am - Divine Liturgy 10 Am Services Conducted In Both Greek & English* Books Available To Follow In English* Sunday Catechism School, 10 Am - 11 Am* Greek Language School, Tuesdays 5 Pm - 8 Pm* Bible Study & Adult Catechism Classes Available* Golden Age & Youth Groups Banquet Hall Available For Rental* For Information Please Call Church Office* Adjustments to services will be made according to CDC and NYState DOH COVID-19 guidelines. Please call Church office for updates.

Jewish NORTH SHORE JEWISH CENTER 385 Old Town Rd., Port Jefferson Station 631-928-3737 www.northshorejewishcenter.org RABBI AARON BENSON CANTOR DANIEL KRAMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARCIE PLATKIN PRINCIPAL HEATHER WELKES YOUTH DIRECTOR JEN SCHWARTZ Services: Friday At 8 Pm; Saturday At 9:15 am Daily Morning And Evening Minyan Call For Times. Tot Shabbat Family Services Sisterhood Men’s Club Seniors’ Club Youth Group Continuing Ed Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah Judaica Shop Food Pantry Lecture Series Jewish Film Series NSJC JEWISH LEARNING CENTER RELIGIOUS SCHOOL Innovative Curriculum And Programming For Children Ages 5-13 Imagine A Synagogue That Feels Like Home!

Come Connect With Us On Your Jewish Journey. Member United Synagogue Of Conservative Judaism.

TEMPLE ISAIAH (REFORM) 1404 Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook 631-751-8518 www.tisbny.org A Warm And Caring Intergenerational Community Dedicated To Learning, Prayer, Social Action, and Friendship.

Member Union For Reform Judaism RABBI PAUL SIDLOFSKY CANTOR INTERN KALIX JACOBSON EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR RABBI PAUL SIDLOFSKY, RABBI EMERITUS STEPHEN A. KAROL RABBI EMERITUS ADAM D. FISHER CANTOR EMERITUS MICHAEL F. TRACHTENBERG Sabbath Services: 1st Friday of the month 6pm, all other Fridays 7:30pm and Saturday B’nai services at 10am Religious School Monthly Family Service Monthly Tot Shabbat Youth Groups Adult Education Sisterhood Brotherhood Book Club-More

Lutheran-ELCA

Methodist

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH AND ANCHOR NURSERY SCHOOL 46 Dare Road, Selden 631-732-2511 Emergency Number 516-848-5386 Email: office@hopelutheran.com Website: www.hopeluth.com REV. DR. RICHARD O. HILL, PASTOR DALE NEWTON, VICAR On Sundays the services are at 9 and 10:30 a.m.

A link for all these services is on the website: www.hopeluth.com.

Our Food Pantry is open to everyone on Thursdays from 12:30 2:30 p.m. for picking up food. Also, donations can be made from 11 a.m.-noon or by making arrangements by leaving a message on the church answering service.

Offerings to support our ministry can be made at church services and through our website’s “Share God’s Mission” page.

In any emergency, call the pastor at 516-848-5386

BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 33 Christian Ave/ PO 2117, E. Setauket 631-941-3581 REV. LISA WILLIAMS PASTOR Sunday Worship: 10:30 Am Adult Sunday School 9:30 Am Lectionary Reading And Prayer: Wed. 12 Noon Gospel Choir: Tues. 8 Pm Praise Choir And Youth Choir 3rd And 4th Fri. 6:30 PM.

ST. PAUL’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 309 Patchogue Road, Port Jefferson Station 631-473-2236 E-mail: Pastorpauldowning@yahoo.com Pastor’s cell: 347-423-3623 (voice or text) www.StPaulsLCPJS.org facebook.com/stpaulselca REV. PAUL A. DOWNING PASTOR June 1-September 30 Indoor Service of Holy Communion will be offered each Sunday at 8:30am in our sanctuary.

We will continue to follow CDC Guidelines.

Masks not required if fully vaccinated. Please maintain social distancing if not fully vaccinated.

Outdoor Parking Lot Service 10:30am each Sunday. Service of Holy Communion. Masks not required. Maintain Social Distancing. Bring your own lawn chairs or stay in your car and listen over your radio.

Lutheran-LCMS MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH 465 Pond Path, East Setauket 631-751-1775 www.messiahny.org PASTOR NILS NIEMEIER ASSOCIATE PASTOR STEVE UNGER Our summer worship schedule is one service at 9:30am followed by a coffee fellowship. The wearing of masks while attending service is optional. The service will be live streamed on our YouTube page.

Go to our website (www.messiahny.org) for the link.

We are here for you and if you are in need, please call us. Our Pastors are available and you are welcome to call thechurch to speak to them.

May God keep you safe and shine His light and love upon you.

S E TA U K E T

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 160 Main Street, Corner of 25A and Main Street East Setauket 631-941-4167 REV. STEVEN KIM, PASTOR Sunday Worship Service Indoor at 10am Every 3rd Sunday only Outdoor service at 10am Services are streamed online @www.setauketumc.org and livestreamed on Facebook.

Church School meets online Holy Communion 1st Sunday of Month Mary Martha Circle (Women’s Ministry) meets every 2nd Tuesday each month at 1pm No Matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here!

Presbyterian FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF PORT JEFFERSON 107 South/Main Streets (631) 473-0147 We are an accepting and caring people who invite you to share in the journey of faith with us.

Email: office@pjpres.org Website: www.pjpres.org THE REV. DR. RICHARD GRAUGH Sunday Worship Service-10 am (social distancing & masks required) service is also broadcast on church FB page under “Missions and Activities” Christian Education Activities: Call 631-473-0147 Bible Study: Tuesday 2 pm via Zoom Holy Communion 1st Sunday of the Month Hot meals, groceries & clothing provided on a take out basis by Welcome Friends on Fridays 4-5:30 pm Call the church office or visit our website for current activities and events.

NYS Certified Preschool and Daycare The purpose of First Presbyterian Church of Port Jefferson is, with God’s help, to share the joy & good news of Jesus Christ with the congregation, visitors and the community at large; to provide comfort to those in need and hope to those in despair; and to seek justice for all God’s people.

SETAUKET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 5 Caroline Avenue ~ On the Village Green 631- 941-4271 Celebrating and Sharing the love of God since 1660.

THE REV. KATE JONES CALONE, INTERIM PASTOR THE REV. ASHLEY MCFAUL-ERWIN, COMMUNITY OUTREACH PASTOR In- person worship in Fellowship hall Sundays at 9:30 AM. Masks requires-social distancing possible. Childcare availableBasic live streaming of the service. Link available on our website Sunday mornings. website:setauketpresbyterian.org Bell Choir All ringers welcome Setauket Presbyterian Pre-School, ages 2-5 www.setauketpreschool.org Open Door Exchange (furniture ministry) Opendoorexchange.org 631-751-0176 For all program information visit our website, email the church Setauketpresbyterian@verizon. net Follow us on FB

Quaker QUAKER RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS Conscience Bay Meeting 4 Friends Way, St. James 11780 631-928-2768 www.consciencebayquakers.org We gather in silent worship seeking God,/the Inner Light/Spirit.

We’re guided by the Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship. In-person worship blended with virtual worship. Monthly discussions, Sept.June. Religious education for children.

Sept.-June, 11 a.m.; July-Aug., 10 a.m. All are welcome. See our website.

Unitarian Universalist UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP AT STONY BROOK 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket 631-751-0297 www.uufsb.org office@uufsb.org REV. MARGARET H. ALLEN (MINISTER@UUFSB.ORG) Sunday Service by Zoom: 10:30 a.m. (go to uufsb.org for Zoom links) Adult Faith Development, Choir, Folk Group, classical music, Vespers, Sangha Meditation, Labyrinth Walks, Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Yoga, Essentrics, Grounds & Sounds Café, Le Petit Salon de Musique Our website also offers information about other activities we are currently holding online, such as our Humanist Discussion Group and meditative and wellness arts classes .

PLEASE CALL OR VISIT YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP’S WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE.

AUGUST 12, 2021 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B23

KNOWLEDGE SEEKERS

BNL’s Chang-Jun Liu finds way to boost plant chemical used in toothpaste Harnessing the Technology of our Research Giants

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF

Plants not only make our food, produce the oxygen we breathe, and provide key ingredients in medicines, but they could also contribute chemicals that might otherwise require fossil fuels to produce.

Scientists have known since 1955 that poplar trees produce small amounts of a product called p-hydroxybenzoic acid that they attach to the lignin in their cell walls.

What they didn’t know, however, was how they were attached.

After years of cloning genes and, more recently, using the gene editing tool CRISPR, ChangJun Liu, a plant biochemist at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and collaborators in Japan discovered the gene that codes for an enzyme that catalyzes the attachment of pBA to the lignin.

Up to now, companies have produced pBA by using fossil fuels as raw materials and for the energy required to generate enough heat and pressure for the catalytic reactions.

This discovery, which Liu published in the journal Nature Plants, could provide a more ecofriendly way to produce a chemical involved in the manufacture of toothpaste, shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, and spray tanning solutions, among other products.

The global market value of p-hydroxybenzoic acid was $59 million in 2020 and is expected to climb to $80 million in the next five years.

“We wanted to identify the enzyme that is responsible for attaching pBA into lignin and reconstitute this pathway and promote its storage in the cell wall,” Liu said. Ideally, he’d like to combine the pathways that produce

SPOTLIGHTING DISCOVERIES AT (1) COLD SPRING HARBOR LAB (2) STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY & (3) BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LAB

the donor molecule containing pBA with their enzyme to promote pBA storage in cell walls.

Once Liu found the gene responsible for that enzyme, he did what scientists typically do to check on the importance of a genetic sequence: first, he knocked it out and second, he overexpressed it.

By knocking out the genetic sequence, he found that poplar trees stopped producing pBA. Overexpressing the gene, on the other hand, not only increased the amount of this chemical by about 48 percent, but also raised the strength of the lignin and, consequently, the durability of the cell wall.

Aside from the benefit of increasing the natural production of the chemical, changing the amount of pBA could have implications for the environment and industry.

Less durable lignin, which has a lower amount of pBA, could be useful in producing pulp, paper and biofuel, making it easier to access the biomass of the wood.

More durable lignin could be useful in the timber industry, while also enabling the plant to remove more carbon, mostly in the form of carbon dioxide, from the air.

“If we can engineer the plant to produce more of this carbondense compound, ... particularly in the root, we can fix more carbon into the underground fraction, which will absorb more carbon from the air to promote carbon sequestration,” Liu said.

A long process

The work that led to identifying the gene that codes for the enzyme that attaches pBA to lignin took about 15 years.

Liu knew this enzyme worked to attach pBA, among other chemicals, in a test tube, but the journey to prove its importance in the poplar trees took considerable work.

From left, postdoctoral researcher Yunjun Zhao and Brookhaven Lab biochemist Chang-Jun Liu in a greenhouse with poplar trees. Photo from BNL

Liu cloned 20 genes that are expressed in woody tissues and encoded enzymes called acyltransferases. While expressing these enzymes, he mixed them with an isotope-labeled carbon, which allowed him to check to see whether the enzyme contributed to the process of attaching pBA to lignin.

He tried using RNA interference to knock down the targeted gene, but that didn’t work.

The breakthrough that established the importance of this gene came when Liu used CRISPR.

Next steps

Scientists aren’t sure of the specific steps or even why plants produce pBA in the first place.

Plants produce pBA through the shikimate pathway, but the exact routes leading to pBA formation are still undiscovered.

As for why plants produce pBA, one hypothesis is that the plant uses a higher amount as a defense mechanism, making its lignin harder to remove for an insect. It could also provide resistance to mechanical stress caused by wind or snow.

“We do not have solid evidence to prove that,” he said, but “we need to explore that further.”

Liu also hopes to take a synthetic biology approach to build a more effective pathway by using the enzyme to make the plant a partner in producing pBA and in capturing and storing organic carbon.

The biochemist hopes to find a commercial partner who might be interested in exploring the development of a process that occurs naturally in poplar trees.

The environmental impact of increasing pBA in plants on the ecology of the areas in which these poplar trees might grow is unclear.

“We do not know at this moment whether this will benefit or be harmful to the soil microbial community,” he said. “In some cases, it can help the plant absorb more nutrients. It potentially can also kill other microbial life.”

For the plant, it’s unclear what the effect of higher pBA might be.

The enzyme Liu identified moves pBA from inside the cell to the cell where, which would likely mitigate any toxicity because that is dead material.

“We expect the increase of cell wall-bound pBA should promote the trees’ ability in withstanding environmental changes,” he explained.

This discovery could provide a more ecofriendly way to produce a chemical involved in the manufacture of toothpaste, shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, and spray tanning solutions, among other products.

Altering the cell’s metabolic processes by rebuilding a new pathway that produces high amounts of pBA could negatively affect a tree’s normal growth. Liu would need to conduct more experiments to explore this possible effect.

A resident of Rocky Point, Liu lives with his wife Yang Chen, who is a special education teacher assistant at Rocky Point Middle School. Their son Allen is in his third year at Purdue University, while Bryant is in his second year at the University of Southern California. The family enjoys skiing and hiking trips.

The work to confirm the link between the gene and the production of pBA involved numerous post doctoral researchers.

Liu appreciates the effort of his research team over the years. “I’m very happy that we were finally able to resolve this issue,” he said.

PAGE B24 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

SHELTER PETS OF THE WEEK

SEND IN YOUR PHOTOS!

Celebrate connecting generations with TBR News Media’s

Love Our Grandparents Grandparents Day, celebrated September 12th, is designated to honor grandparents and to help children become aware of the strength, information, and guidance older people can offer. The passing of knowledge is one of the greatest gifts we can give to future generations.

The Coronavirus pandemic has kept so many of our seniors secluded in order to protect their own health and the well being of their families. Love Our Grandparents is the perfect opportunity to show your love and support to our grandparents and remind them just how important they are to you, your family and our community.

MEET BUCKY, FALCON, BARTON, RHODIE, WANDA AND SHURI!

Celebrate...

Send in your favorite grandparents photo, could be a photo of just the grandparents, or a group family photo or of the grandparents and grandchildren, your choice! Photos must be received by 5:00pm on Thursday, August 26.

Include names in photo, town and name of relative submitting the photo and email to loveourphotos@tbrnewsmedia.com with Grandparents in the subject line and we will publish it for FREE! This special issue will be inserted into all six TBR Newspapers, from Cold Spring Harbor to Wading River.

This week's shelter pets are a litter of adorable pups named after some of the unsung Avengers — Bucky, Falcon, Barton, Rhodie, Wanda and Shuri — who are available for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter.

These amazing pit/Staffordshire mixes are as sweet and outgoing as they come.

They are around 7 months old and every single pup has a gentle and loving personality. They love to run, give kisses and snuggle. They were raised together, with their doggy parents and with a human baby, so they are used to kids and a little chaos! They can be adopted as singles or pairs and need homes that will continue

Special tribute message opportunities available.

For Details Call 631–751–7744

Published September 9

to nurture their gentle demeanors. These little avengers are sure to steal the heart of anyone who meets them.

If you are interested in meeting these puppies, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with them in a domestic setting, which includes a dog run and a Meet and Greet Room.

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

ONLY ON THE WEB:

Check out the following stories on our website, www.tbrnewsmedia.com:

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» Cancer Prevention in Action (CPiA) Grant Awarded to Stony Brook Cancer Center » Town of Brookhaven’s Youth Bureau hosts Back to School Drive » Stony Brook Film Festival now available virtually » Leg. Nick Caracappa tours Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Shellfish Hatchery » ESBOCES makes summer 'school' fun » Stony Brook Medicine names Pet Therapy Team 2020 Volunteer of the Year » Recipe with video: Baked lemon donuts

AUGUST 12, 2021 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B25

Horoscopes of the week

MOVIE REVIEW

Photo courtesy of A24

The Green Knight loses his head in medieval adaption

REVIEWED BY JEFFREY SANZEL

The tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have always been fair game for adaptation. Whether it is Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1889), Lerner and Loewe’s Broadway musical Camelot (1960), or the gritty but entertaining film Excalibur (1981), the story has embraced (or at least stood up to) revisionism. As a result, the legends have endured over seven centuries, from The Sword in the Stone (1963) to Spamalot (2005).

The Green Knight loosely draws on the fourteenth-century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and other sources.

Knowledge of the story and history is not necessary to view the film. Clearly. David Lowery has written, directed, edited, and produced the film. So, he can be considered the responsible party.

Gawain (Dev Patel) awakes on Christmas morning in a brothel, having spent the night with Essel (Alicia Vikander). His mother, sorceress Morgan le Fay (Sarita Choudhury), sends him on his way to celebrate Christmas with King Arthur (Sean Harris) and Queen Guinevere (Katie Dickie).

Unbeknownst to Gawain, his mother performs a ritual, raising and sending the Green Knight to the feast where the tree-like titular lord issues a challenge: If anyone can land a blow on him, he will win his green axe. However, in exchange, the victor must meet the Green Knight on the following Christmas to receive a reciprocal hit. For some reason, Gawain, a bit of a slacker,

volunteers. He decapitates the Green Knight, who then picks up his head and leaves. Sort of a hah-hah-see-you-next-Christmas.

Fast-forward a year. Gawain has become something of a celebrity; he is even featured in a puppet show. He sets off to the Green Chapel, and throughout, he encounters a handful of challenges, mostly unsatisfying blips. He also meets a fox who joins his journey. “The Quest” is a well-known, oftentrod trope and can be exciting, engaging, and enthralling. Unfortunately, it can also be an epic slog into scenery, mumbled dialogue, and symbols. Oh, so many symbols.

The Green Knight is full of meaning and “meaning” and meaning and MEANING. One suspects that Lowery’s goal was a rumination on the nature of heroism and honor, with a few nods to the dangers of celebrity. But this is all lost in a meandering and pretentious narrative. There are a few dramatic strokes, but these do not add up to a film.

In the theatre across the hall, the sounds of The Suicide Squad could clearly be heard.

Sitting at The Green Knight was like attending a lecture that you suspect might be good for you, but next door, there’s a barnburner where everyone is having a good time. “I’ll bet it’s fun over there,” you think. “But, no, this is going to make me a better and smarter person.” You have plenty of time to think these thoughts because, in The Green Knight, the pauses are longer than the dialogue.

There are pauses and scenery. Lots of pauses. Lots of scenery. Then a monologue.

Please note the singular: monologue. While

there are multiple long speeches by various characters, they all sound like the same monologue. Followed by some pauses. And then some scenery.

The filming itself is impressive, highlighting the vast expanses of wilderness as Gawain travels towards his destiny.

Cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo has done beautiful work capturing the natural/supernatural world. But landscape only goes so far. In this case, it seems to go really, really far.

Dev Patel is a fine actor, and he does what he can. But he is offered the emotional range of dissipated to slightly less dissipated. The script’s Gawain is painfully passive; Patel ultimately struggles to show the character’s evolution. The rest of the talented cast is saddled with dialogue that is spoken in harsh whispers with a great deal of meaning and “meaning and … (One suspects the CGI-ed fox called his agent mid-filming to see if he could get out of his contract.)

The ending—one of the only brisk moments in the film—has been much discussed on the internet. Suffice it to say, the denouement owes not a little to t, the well-crafted story by Ambrose Pierce later made into a memorable short film.

As a public service and attempt to salvage the reader’s time, the balance of this review is given over to something of value. Here is the beginning of a recipe for a good vegan pound cake: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.

Rated R, The Green Knight is now playing in local theaters.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 You are rarely one to sit back and avoid the limelight, Leo. This week presents yet another opportunity to step up and make your voice heard. Take a leap of faith.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 While life may have been difficult in the past weeks and months, a breath of fresh air is blowing in new opportunities for you, Virgo. See which direction you are headed in.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 There could be some important news coming your way this week, Libra. However, it may not be as obvious as opening up a newspaper or reading a letter. Keep your eyes open.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 An influx of money could bring about a lot of changes in your life, Scorpio. Speak with a financial planner regarding how to utilize these funds in positive ways.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Renew your dedication to the path in front of you as it pertains to selfless endeavors, Sagittarius.

Perhaps you can increase your volunteerism efforts.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, you are inspired to change, but you may not know which path to take. Get some advice from others and you will find a suitable path.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Cast a wide net into a pool of potential friends and you’re bound to grab a great catch, Aquarius.

It is time to widen your social circles and learn a few things along the way.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, set your sights high this week and you may be surprised at what you can accomplish.

Projects may be completed quickly.

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Attempt to break down any barriers you have built up around yourself, Aries. It’s time for a fresh perspective and you can dive head first into new opportunities.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 There is something magical in you that needs to come to life, Taurus. In the next few weeks you will develop a plan to put major changes into action with the help of a few others.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, you may feel on top of the world at the beginning of the week and then out of sorts by the weekend. It is okay to go through a range of emotions.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, the stars are offering an opportunity to make some major changes in the days to come.

Hop on board with ideas that come your way.

PAGE B26 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

Willy Wonka returns to the big screen

Your golden ticket to adventure awaits! Enter a world of pure imagination when Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies and Warner Bros. Entertainment bring the beloved film, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), back to the big screen in select cinemas nationwide for a special two-day event on Sunday, Aug. 15 and Wednesday, Aug. 18 in celebration of the film’s 50th anniversary.

When eccentric candy man Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) promises a lifetime supply of sweets and a tour of his chocolate factory to five Photo from Fathom Events lucky kids, penniless Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) seeks the priceless golden ticket that will make him a winner. Thanks to his Grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson), Charlie gets the prize of his dreams! But a far more wonderful surprise than Charlie ever imagined awaits him.

In a land of chocolate waterfalls, giant lollipops, edible flowers and, of course, Oompa Loompas, it's nonstop, mouth-watering fun in this timeless fantasy. Plus, enjoy exclusive insights from Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz that will serve as your Golden Ticket to learn more about this magical film.

In our neck of the woods, screenings will be held at Island 16 Cinema De Lux in Holtsville on Aug. 15 at 3 p.m. and on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m.; and AMC Stony Brook 17 in Stony Brook on Aug. 15 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. To order tickets in advance, please visit www.fathomevents.com.

KIDS KORNER

Programs

Storytime with Nana Carol

Book Revue, 313 New York Ave., Huntington hosts Storytime with Nana Carol every Thursday (new day) including Aug. 12 and 19 at 11 a.m. Storytime is free to attend and open to any young reader who would like to hear a story. No need to sign up, just drop by to join!

For more information, call 271-1442.

Drop In & Create at the Heckscher

The Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington invites children ages 5 to 10 to stop by the museum on Aug. 12 to take part in their Drop In & Create program from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Create fun works of art in a variety of materials inspired by artwork in the Museum’s Collection! Held outside on the Museum Terrace, this program is weather-permitting.

Rain date is the following day. Families are invited to come into the Museum following the program at 11:30 am to explore the galleries!

Fee is $10 per child, adults free, payable at the door. No registration necessary. Call 380-3230 or visit www.heckscher.org.

Family Scavenger Hunt

Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket hosts its annual Family Scavenger Hunt on Aug. 17 at 11 a.m. How well do you know the park? Prizes for the first three winners. Meet at the Red Barn.

Free. For more info, call 689-6146.

Funky Town Playground in concert

The Village of Port Jefferson will present a children’s concert by Funkytown Playground at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson on Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Come sing, dance, jump and jam! Free. Bring seating. For more info, call 473-4724.

Pirate Quest

Drop in at the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor Tuesdays to Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. through Aug. 22 for a Pirate Quest. This drop-in program offers pirate fun where you can use a compass and a treasure map to solve puzzles and hunt for hidden treasure around the museum.

Complete your quest and decorate your very own treasure chest to take home. For ages 5 and up. Fee is $10 per participant plus admission fee to the museum. Call 367-3418.

Theater

Bunny, Mrs. Rabbit and the McGregors come to life in this Theatre Three tradition. All seats are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

'Moana Jr.'

The Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts will present outdoor performances of Disney's Moana Jr. on the grounds of the Smithtown Historical Society, 239 E. Main St., Smithtown through Aug. 14. Join Moana and the legendary demigod Maui as they embark on an epic journey of self discovery, as they both learn to harness the power that lies within. Featuring all the beloved songs from the film, the adventures of Moana come to life live on stage. Tickets are $18 per person. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www. smithtownpac.org.

'The Little Mermaid Jr.'

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr. through Aug. 22. In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home — and her fins — behind and live in the world above. But first she’ll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she’s the girl whose enchanting voice he’s been seeking.

All seats are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Film

'Trolls World Tour'

'The Adventures of Peter Rabbit'

Children’s theatre at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues with a perennial favorite, The Adventures of Peter Rabbit — an original musical based on the characters created by Beatrix Potter, on Saturdays at 11 a.m. through Aug. 14.

Peter, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-Tail, Benjamin 12880 39660

Catch a free screening of Trolls World Tour at Heritage Park in Mt. Sinai on Aug. 13.

Heritage Park, 633 Mount Sinai-Coram Road, Mount Sinai continues its Movies in the Moonlight series with a screening of Trolls World Tour on Aug. 13. Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy a family event in the park watching a movie on a large screen. Refreshments will be available at The Shack concession stand. Call 509-0882 or visit www.msheritagetrust.org for more info.

All numbers are in (631) area code unless noted.

AUGUST 12, 2021 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B27

BOOK REVIEW

Sunday Gravy

By Robert Lorenzo

Young Adult Fiction Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel “Good friends, a hot summer day, on their way to the beach, and not a care in the world.”

It’s never too late for an engaging summer read. Sunday Gravy by Robert Lorenzo is a sincere, brisk novel that is just the right blend of naivete and coming-of-age. Dealing with the day-to-day heartaches of adolescence and greater issues, the book is a page-turning adventure exploring the chasm between childhood and maturity and the burgeoning self-awareness.

Set in the fictional Heatherwood, in the very real Setauket of 1974, the streets sit on what were once potato fields. The setting is Suffolk County, post-pastoral but prior to the siege of condos and developments.

The story depicts the highs and lows of summer in the height of a heatwave, viscerally painted throughout. Here, boys gather in a fort made from abandoned crates, ride their bicycles to get ice cream, and dream of girls.

Lorenzo shares the universal yet is always specific. While the boys’ experiences are easily recognizable, they are uniquely detailed.

Eastern Long Island is a world of fathers who work in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens and mothers who stay home: “Their long days of chugging to work on the train and fulfilling their forty-hour work weeks kept them away from home for too many hours […] Up before dawn and home after dark, the task of disciplining the kids fell onto the sturdy shoulders of their loyal wives. Tired from running their households every day and raising their kids virtually on their own, a lot slid by the moms, who were very willing to ignore minor infractions.”

At the center of the story is thirteenyear-old Eddie Ragusa, who idolizes his brother, Tommy, two years his senior. Good looking and self-assured, Tommy has his first girlfriend, the beautiful and slightly older Maria. “Maria was another puzzle piece, but more like a silky one he’d found unexpectedly on the floor that didn’t quite fit anywhere in the current puzzle. She was unexpected, but welcome. The way he felt about her was new and exciting. This was his first real relationship, and he had real feelings for her.”

Tommy and Maria are Our Town’s George and Emily for a savvier time. While

Author Robert Lorenzo

they are actively intimate, there is still innocence and awakening. Tommy is in the rush and flush of first love, where every moment means something: hours of phone calls, of anticipation. Lorenzo writes with accuracy, of hormones and hope, but also with kindness. His young people wade through their own truths and struggle with hypocrisies. There is sex and drugs, but there is also a genuine connection.

Joining the brothers in the narrative are Eddie’s buddies Darren O’Leary, Michael Dorazio, and K.K. Krause, a ragtag crew of mixed ethnic backgrounds, enjoying the freedom of being young in the suburbs.

Whether fantasizing about the divorcée on the corner or sharing an illicitly “borrowed” magazine, their bond is genuine.

Lorenzo introduces a range of characters into the mix, creating a landscape of family and community. The recluse Anne Clarkson is notable in the roster. Dubbed “Old Lady Annie” by the kids, she is a smart blend of bogeyman and tragic figure. Her introduction to the narrative bears interesting fruit.

There are plenty of local references — Smith Point County Park, Carvel’s, the Port Jefferson Firemen’s Carnival, West Meadow

Beach, The Dining Car 1890, Mario’s restaurant, Ward Melville High School, Comsewogue High School, etc. — that ground it in its Long Island locale.

The fort, central to the story, is cleverly shown through three different perspectives: the adolescents who embrace it as a refuge; the young adults as a haven to cut loose; and the adults who regard it warily. Best of all, Lorenzo understands the fine line and great divide between ages thirteen and fifteen.

Ultimately, the Ragusas are the driving force and center. Lorenzo insightfully explores both functional and dysfunctional domestic dynamics with a revelation that separates and reunites the clan. Finally, in the wake of a terrible accident, there is a portrait of the power of neighborhood, where disparate people set aside their differences and come together to help their children recover.

With Sunday Gravy, Robert Lorenzo has fashioned an honest, entertaining tale of the joys and heartaches of youth. He celebrates the untidiness of life and what it means to hurt and heal, to live and forgive.

Author Robert Lorenzo was born in Queens and grew up in East Setauket.

He spent his childhood playing outside, riding bikes, exploring the woods in and around his home, and visiting the beautiful beaches all over the region. He began his first career in the advertising industry in New York City and now teaches high school English in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Lorenzo is currently working on his second novel, inspired by the recent worldwide pandemic.

Visit his website at www. robertlorenzobooks.com and pick up a copy of Sunday Gravy online at Amazon.com.

PAGE B28 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • AUGUST 12, 2021

SEAWOLVES FOOTBALL 2021 Home Schedule

September 2 September 25 October 16 HOMECOMING

October 23 November 20

vs. New Hampshire vs. Fordham vs. Delaware

6 pm 3:30 pm 3:30 pm

vs. Richmond vs. Albany

3:30 pm 1 pm

All dates are subject to change.

Purchase tickets at

StonyBrookAthletics.com Stony Brook University/SUNY is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educator and employer. 21051585

39700