Southampton - On Tuesday, Dec. 15, Stony Brook Southampton Writing Center Director Stephanie Wade, a resident of East Hampton, led a ceremony, dedicating Stony Brook Southampton's new Bird Garden, outside the Center, to the memory of Marcelo Lucero, a Long Island immigrant who recently lost his life because of an alleged hate-crime.

"The Bird Garden will be a place to consider the connections among writing, sustainability, peace and justice," Prof. Wade said. "We hope this will be one step towards making our community safe for all."