Bonni Brodnick Blog

When I was in Target last weekend, I overheard a conversation between two women in their late-40s. They were standing in the bedding section talking about Facebook. "When I went on in the morning I had 365 friends," said One. "Then when I went on later in the day, I had 364 friends. I can't believe someone blocked me. Can you?" "Do you know who it was?" asked Two. "I don't know why anyone would do that to someone." "It would have seriously hurt my feelings, but then I thought, 'Who cares? At least I have 364 other friends.'"

My son moved to his first apartment in NYC. Maternal instincts were at an all-time high as I wanted to settle him in to his new home (away from my home). With three other guys living in the quarters, we anticipate a mounting degree of male-gross-me-outedness. (E.g., who made elbow noodles and didn't put the pot in the sink afterwards? And who's the dare-devil who scrambled eggs in a sauce pan?) After the new mattress was delivered, I went into gear to make up the bed with brand new sheets and give one final lesson on the importance of hospital corners. I prolonged the stay by sewing a button onto his blue blazer, and then stalled a bit more by folding his towels and organizing his books by size/by color. When he wasn't looking, I pathetically straightened out the laptop on the window sill. The bureau that used to be in my son's bedroom at home was about to have a city chapter, too. Drawers once filled with little clip-on bow ties, extra light bulbs for the Bear...

By BONNI BRODNICK W ant to be a part of giving back to our town? The Pound Ridge Ambulance Corps is a volunteer organization that was started in April 1966 by five members of the Pound Ridge Lions Club. When calls for emergency help were being fielded to Mount Kisco and other neighboring towns, it was felt that the time had come to take care of our own. The Pound Ridge Ambulance Corps’ first president, Warren Everett , used a converted Cadillac hearse as our town’s first ambulance; and the current building on Westchester Avenue was built in 1975, which is when Elaine Smith (who, with her husband, Larry , give so much to our town) joined. She is still a dedicated member 35 years later. “What we do on the Ambulance Corps is one of the most important things we can do for our friends and neighbors,” said Tammy Rainford , current president. “I get immense satisfaction from knowing that I can help in any emergency.” The Ambulance Corps is in desperate need of new members, E...

"Fry up some onions before your husband gets home from the office," my mother always told me. "It will make the house smell as if you've been cooking for hours." Oh, and, "Always put on lipstick before he walks in the front door." Is your mother Betty Draper-esque? (Her name doesn't have to be "Betty" to be so, even though my mother's name is Betty.) Write and tell me the best advice you've ever gotten from your Dear Mom. If it has to do with fried onions and lipstick, well ... we've got that covered.

September 19, 2010   "TALK OF THE TOWN" By Bonni Brodnick I s your garden starting to wane? Are you yearning for a bouquet of fresh flowers? Sandy Wellons , proprietor of Topiary the Flower Shop , has a new twist on flower giving. A “plunkett” (a.k.a. “European Wrap”) is a pre-cut bouquet plunked in thick cellophane filled with water to form its own vase. One that caught our eye was a luscious assortment of Peach Finesse and High and Yellow roses, raspberries on the stem, miniature calla lily and poppy pods. Tied with a gros-grain ribbon, and you’ve got a ready-to-go bouquet that doesn’t need cutting when received. Along with being a floral arranger with a masterful eye, Sandy is a keen pen and ink artist and is currently rendering drawings of begonias, orchids and ferns for plant care instructions that will go out with every plant. (Always handy if you don’t know/forget whether your new annual/biennial/perennial should be watered daily/weekly/monthly; does it ...

"TALK OF THE TOWN" By Bonni Brodnick R ev up your engines for the upcoming Pound Ridge Car Show , sponsored by The Pound Ridge Police Benevolent Association , on Saturday, September 18 at the Pound Ridge Town Park, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Rain date is Sunday, September 19). Classes for trophies include Antique, Classic Pre- and Post-War, Foreign Classic Pre- and Post-War, Thunderbirds, Fords, GMs, Mopars, Customs-Lead sleds, street rods, sport compacts, Corvettes, Vipers, military fire apparatus, muscle cars and motorcycles. In other words, if it’s got wheels and has a hot design, you’re likely to see it. And be inspired. And wish you had one in your garage. Along with the wheels, there will be a spitfire raffle with items from local businesses and generous neighbors, including the Avellino and Nardozzi families, Scotts Corner Market ; Grand Prix NY ; Dinardo’s , Nino’s , and North Star restaurants; Chubby’s ; Albano’s Appliance & Service ; Future Value Assoc...

September 3, 2010 "TALK OF THE TOWN" By Bonni Brodnick T he beautiful weather of summer 2010 just continues to go on and on and on. When Ellen Best , my “Talk of the Town” co-columnist flagged me that it was my turn at bat for September columns (since we alternate months), I thought, “But it’s still August. It’s been August for a nice long time.” I’m one of the crazillion who wants summer to go on forever. But September is here, and with it the town awakens. Good luck to all students — from the Pre-Kindergarteners just starting school up to the college students, many of who are leaving home for the first time. For those of us long-graduated, we will give a wink to September as we travel down our beautiful roads and notice some of the trees just slightly-kissed with a new autumn. If you take a hike in Halle’s Ravine, you’ll see touches of yellow or red on upper branches as small splashes of color gently signify summer’s end. (So do the nightmares about not being able t...