THE RECORD-REVIEW "Talk of the Town" January 16, 2009

By BONNI BRODNICK

Okay, so you’re 17 days into 2009. Are you exercising more? Eating less? Spending more “quality” time with the family instead of on the computer? It’s still early and not too late to reform. Some of the resolutions I’ve overheard are to get rid of old books in the attic (donate them to the Hiram Halle Memorial Library book sales), show more affection to our beloved pets (my heart is still aching after putting my bearded dragon lizard to sleep. I know, I know. A reptile?!? I was as surprised as anyone to fall in love with a beardie. You never know what the day will bring.) This takes us back to New Year resolutions. You can always put the calendar back two weeks, wake up to Jan. 1st (for a second time) and exclaim, “Today I will . . .”

Think you’ve heard everything? Pound Ridge musician and sound artist Taylor Deupree has a new project called “One Sound Each Day 2009”. Go to 12kblog.wordpress.com/ to hear the minimalist and surreal sounds of something as simple as snow melting and dripping beneath a deck in Pound Ridge. For his audio diary project, Taylor carries a small handheld digital recorder that’s capable of recording at very high quality. His objective is to capture a single moment (could be only 30 seconds), in sound, each day. “Sound is among the most under-appreciated of senses,” Taylor said. “You can find intense beauty, calmness, and interest everywhere if one just stops and listens, whether it is to the common sounds of birds or the subtle hum of a vending machine down the hallway in a public building. 2009 will be a year of listening.” (Sounds like an excellent New Year’s resolution to me.)

Overheard at Scotts Corner Market, a source was delighted to share the news that their tortoise laid 20 eggs and 4 hatched. “We are hoping that more will hatch in the next few days. In the meantime, though, mother and babies are doing well. Daddy MIA.”

On Monday, Jan. 19, we honor the great American hero Martin Luther King, Jr., chief spokesman of the nonviolent civil rights movement that challenged racial discrimination. Tadatoshi Akiba, mayor of the Japanese city of Hiroshima and a visible peace activist, also observes this important day by hosting a special banquet in his office as an act of unifying his city’s call for peace with Martin Luther King’s message of human rights.

Inauguration Day is soon upon us. In honor of President Barack Obama, the
Pound Ridge Democratic Committee invites all in town to “An Inaugural Celebration” this Saturday, Jan. 17 from 7-10 p.m. at Conant Hall in the Hamlet. Along with special guest music artists (who will it be?!) there will be light dinner buffet, and dancing. Cocktail attire. Please make checks payable to “Committee for a Better Pound Ridge.” This inauguration is a great moment in our country’s history. Come celebrate it with your friends and neighbors! For more info, please contact Ellen Kearns at 764-1504 or email prdemocrats@hotmail.com.

Save the evenings of Thursday, Jan. 22 and Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. for two great performances of this year’s long-awaited, “PRES 2009 Cabaret” at Pound Ridge Elementary School. The first performance will feature the musical, choreographic, and comedic acts by Kindergartners through second graders. The second performance (two weeks later) will spotlight third through fifth graders as they strut their stuff on stage. Behold our local junior talent for these two fun nights that will be the perfect venues for sharing levity on wintry nights.

I recently heard from Nancy Rainsford, who grew up in Pound Ridge in the 1960s. (Her mother, the inimitable Grace Rainsford, was the inspiration for “Pound Ridge Past: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk.” “I always considered ‘Fun & Frolic’ night at Pound Ridge Elementary School as the BEST night of the school year!” Nancy wrote. “How fortunate we were to have such brilliant and inspirational music and art teachers.”


We enjoy hearing about what’s happening to Pound Ridgers near and far, present and past. Please send your quips, blips and blurbs regarding town activities, nature notes, travels afar, scholastic accomplishments, sports achievements, engagements, weddings, new babies and grandchildren to towntalk@optonline.net. All topics are appropriate for inclusion in this column. Alternatively (but not preferred), you may mail info to The Record-Review, P.O. Box 455, Bedford Hills, NY 10507, or leave a message at 244-0533, ext. 13.