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Vol. 128 No. 2
JANUARY 9 - 15, 2026
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Discovery at lab could help fight dementia By WIll SHEElINE wsheeline@liherald.com
Courtesy Jason DeCrow/Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Corina Amor Vegas, who is originally from Madrid, has run a lab at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory since 2022.
Corina Amor Vegas, an associate professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and her research team have made a scientific discovery that could help restore gut health in people suffering from age-related diseases. The work builds on advances in immunotherapy and aging research, and could soon lead to clinical trials aimed at improving the quality of life for patients whose intestinal tissue has been damaged by aging or cancer treatment. The discovery centers on the intestine, an organ critical to digestion and overall health. Under normal conditions, the intestinal epithelium, a single layer of cells lining the gut, regenerates every three to five days. With age or injury — from radiation therapy, for example — that regeneration can slow or stop, leading to inflammation and conditions such as leaky gut syndrome. Continued on pAge 10
Oyster Bay-East Norwich gets update on high school By WIll SHEElINE wsheeline@liherald.com
The Oyster Bay East Norwich Central School District Board of Education received an extensive midyear update Monday on Oyster Bay High School, with Principal Melissa Argamen outlining academic programs, facility upgrades and student achievements during a presentation that emphasized opportunity and growth. Arg amen addressed the board at its meeting in the school auditorium, offering a wide-ranging overview of how the school is supporting students academically, socially
and personally. The high school, she said, has focused on broadening and strengthening academic pathways for students in all grades, supported by a reorganized administrative team and robust counseling services. Argamen introduced new members of the leadership team, including Assistant Principal Dr. Stephany Contreras, who also oversees English as a New Language and world languages; Assistant Principal Robert LoCastro, supervisor of STEM; and Secondary Curricu l u m A s s o c i at e K i m b e rly Corbo, humanities supervisor. They work closely with depart-
ment leaders, Argamen said, to support instruction and curriculum. “Our counseling center is instrumental in providing the support our students need to succeed in school and move confidently into their post-secondary plans,” Argamen said. She highlighted colle g e application boot camps, college mini fairs, individual counseling meetings and the school’s Decision Day celebration. Counselors also support students socially and emotionally through partnerships such as the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying and Naviance assessments.
Argamen detailed hands-on learning across departments, including collaborations with the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery in AP Human Geography, the Atlantis research program for seventh-graders and continuing participation in civic education initiatives like Operation Democracy and the Seal of Civic Readiness.
World language offerings include American Sign Language, French, Mandarin and Spanish, with opportunities to ear n the Seal of Biliteracy. Argamen noted cultural celebrations throughout the year, including Hispanic Heritage Month and Lunar New Year, as ways to build empathy and Continued on pAge 6