January 14, 2011

RECORD-REVIEW "Talk of the Town"

By BONNI BRODNICK



A handful of merchants from Pound Ridge to Katonah mentioned to "Talk of the Town" what a strong retail season they had during the holidays. Boo Girls in Katonah (ground zero for teen fashionistas) was busy, but not until Christmas did it really bust loose. “We had lots of regular customers and there was tons of gift wrapping going on,” said Gaynor Scott, proprietor and Pound Ridger. “One of the shopping trends this year was parents bringing in their daughters—mostly teenagers and college-age—to try on and pick out what they wanted. Some of the girls came in alone, made their selections and left with them all wrapped and ready to put under the tree because their moms were busy with other things. As time becomes more and more of a premium, customers didn’t want to buy gifts that weren’t the right size or style. They don’t want to deal with returns and credits.”

Back in Pound Ridge, the 18th Annual January Sales Days are in progress, thanks to the efforts of the Pound Ridge Business Association. Chair of the Sales, Joan Silbersher, mentioned that discounts range from 10-50% on selected items storewide. Participants include Albano Appliance & Service, Antiques & Interiors, Antiques & Tools of Business & Kitchen, Eileen Godfrey Miniatures & Dollhouses, Juleigh’s Resale Couture, Pinocchio Pizza Restaurant, Poundridge Nurseries, Pound Ridge Wine & Spirits, and Silhouette. Sales Days continue through January 31. Have any Q’s? Call Joan at 764-0015 or -5122. BTW, shopping local is a great way to run into friends and neighbors during the long, lonely cold months of winter.
Ahavah Hadassah will host Joseph Wallace, author of “Diamond Ruby,” at a book talk at Pound Ridge Library on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. The novel is based on the true story of a lady pitcher who struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in exhibition play. Set in 1923, 18-year-old New Yorker Ruby Lee Thomas is forced to raise her two small nieces, after the 1918 Spanish influenza devastates her family. This belle of the ball field is blessed with elongated arms that make for blazing fastball. She’s got street smarts, boundless determination, and one great skill: the ability to throw a ball as hard as the greatest pitchers in baseball-crazed New York City. ”Diamond Ruby” chronicles the life of this young girl who rises from impoverishment to a headlining sports star. But fame comes with a price and she must protect her family from Prohibition, rumrunners, the Ku Klux Klan, and the gangster underworld. It’s a sweeping epic filled with memorable characters. “Come meet the author and get to meet some wonderful people at Ahavah Hadassah,” writes Theresa Fischer. For more information, please contact echofisch@aol.com. The author’s visit and book talk will surely be worth marking on the calendar.
Donna Monaco Olsen has set up a selection of delicious classes for Westchester Community College’s Continuing Adult Education series. “A Taste of Westchester” is a chance for some of the county’s most exciting restaurants to offer culinary adventures to tantalize the taste buds. Each chef offers private cooking demonstrations, followed by a tasting of the prepared foods. On the menu is AJ’s Burgers in New Rochelle on Tuesday, Jan. 18 from 4-6:00 p.m.; Chutney Masala Indian Bistro in Irvington on Wednesday, Jan. 19 from 12:30-2:30 p.m.; and Chiboust Bistro & Bakery in Tarrytown on Monday, Jan. 31 from 6-9:00 p.m. All classes are $15 to the college and a small cash fee to the restaurant for the food. Register online at www. sunywcc.edu/continuing_ed/courses/taste.htm or call 606-6830.
Many benchmark birthdays abound this month (including my Mom, who turned 80. HBMom!) At Mary Moat’s 100th gathering at Conant Hall recently, another gloriously frosted cake with big pink roses was presented to Ruth Newell, who is celebrating her 90th this January. Her spritely spirit is reinvigorated all year long as Ruth walks a couple of miles a day, and in summer, can be seen swimming at Pound Ridge Pool. Ruth, who grew up on West Lane, now lives in the A-Home and is thankful for being able to stay in the town she calls home. “A-Home is so convenient to everything,” she said. “I love my apartment because I have a great view to watch deer, birds, and squirrels.” Some of Ruth’s other tricks for longevity? She’s an avid reader and “reads at least three books every two weeks. I also love to play solitaire and any kind of puzzles to keep my mind active, including crosswords and Soduko, a Japanese number puzzle game with 9x9 boxes.” And how many 90-year olds do you know who are hip enough to be on the Internet and use email? Feel free to send your warmest birthday wishes to Ruth.Newell@yahoo.com.
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 bonnibrodnick@gmail.com. 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.

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