Village People: Local Professor Lauded; Hospital Volunteer to Head Auxiliary Council

Dr. Rouven Essig, an assistant professor at Stony Brook University in the C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics and the Department of Physics and Astronomy, has been recognized with the Department of Energy Early Career Award. Essig, who lives in Stony Brook, was one of 68 award recipients out of a pool of 850 candidates and was selected for his work in "Particle Physics at the Cosmic, Intensity, and Energy Frontiers."

Uta Dee of Setauket was elected to a one-year term as president of the Nassau-Suffolk Council of Hospital Auxiliaries. Dee, a native of England, is a volunteer at Stony Brook University Hospital who joined the Auxiliary in 1984 and has twice served as its president.

Ward Melville student Trevor Munch is one of 12 winners of a teen photo contest sponsored by Astoria Federal, which saw more than 1,200 entries. His photo of a young girl in a greenhouse, who is gazing up to the sky, won in a contest themed "Eye on Style: People, Fashion, and Trends."

Licensed broker associate Geri Ertle of Setauket has accepted a position with Charles Rutenberg Realty, where she brings 15 years of experience to the real estate field.