The Week’s Roundup: Of Books and Farms

One may get used to a certain sense of calm being in Bedford, a feeling of languor that's often inherent to picture-postcard (and quiet) communities. But that's somewhat illusory, as we found out in our first full week here.

On Jan. 5, still bleary-eyed, we reported on a car accident on South Bedford Rd., where a woman had rammed her vehicle into a building by accidentally hitting on the gas pedal.

We delivered our first 'Breaking News' at that hour.

Merely two days later, on Jan. 8, we were rattled by another collision on the northbound Saw Mill River Parkway, near Cherry St.   

Fortunately, in both these cases, the drivers involved suffered minor injuries.

The week's other developments, of course, have been less unsettling. If we could impart a flavor to these seven days, it'd be a mélange of books and farm-fresh veggies.

We started out with a profile of a talented young pianist from Fox Lane High School, Luke Celenza, who is one among a few to have been selected to take part in the 2010 Grammy Jazz Ensembles.

Monday heralded the start of the Katonah Thrift Shop's yearly book sale. And from what we've heard, the event was a roaring success.

In Valerie DeBenedette spoke with Jim Wood, president of New York State's oldest farmer's club—the Bedford Farmer's Club, which was established in 1851 by the son of the first Chief Justice of the United States, John Jay.

Continuing the same thread, Lisa Buchman sat down to chat with the founder of the Rainbeau Ridge farm in Bedford Hills, Lisa Schwartz. A former management consultant, she has now embraced a pastoral life. And not to forget, she's a state-licensed cheese-maker as well.

We introduced a new column this week, called "Dining Destinations by Train" where our writer Karen Benvin Ransom will take us on a leisurely gastronomic tour of restaurants in the vicinity of the two train stations in town (Bedford Hills and Katonah).  

As far as municipal news goes, the Planning Board gave its blessing to the Bedford Action Plan—a roadmap for bringing down the community's  greenhouse gas emissions level below the 2004 baseline by 2020.

Until next week …