Pajisad.Es Free Library PALISADES
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
lni(§ PaJisad.es Free Library Mot to be taken from this room THE PALISADES NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2004 NUMBER 187 PALISADES KINDER GAR TNERS +he end nf December is a season filled with festivals •f liaht, when we a need it mast. +his liafit reminds us that the sun will eventually vanquish the cold and darkness nf winter- and our children remind us that jay, curiosity and Growth are the key to everyone's future. CLASS OF 2017 LEFT TO RIGHT: Henry Garrison, Katie Lappin, Rontan Carroll, Dionna Sheer, Shaan Greenberg, Cole Thomas Cappelletti, Kevin Lynch. PHOTOS: GERRY MIRAS A Dark Season That Celebrates Light +he Spirit Is Willing but the Supply Chain is Weak... by Greta Nettleton lions of other workers seated in front of On a damp, grey day their computers are doing all across our in mid-November, metropolitan area in a mind-bending array of 'diverse' jobs and professions. None of us it's not hard to understand the has to go out into the fields in the rain and whack clods of cold black mud with a short- fundamental need handled hoe to dig up turnips for dinner - to celebrate light we eat well, easily, winter and summer. and warmth in December. For better or for worse, petroleum plays the key role in supporting the many comforts utside, the sky seems dark even at provided by our civilization as it is orga• midday and cold rain falls steadily nized right now. (Gas is still as cheap as bot• Othrough the woods. Inside, the tled water — compare the prices next time house is warm, the dog lies sleeping by the you go to a convenience store.) radiator on his little red rug and the radio emits a cheerful parade of Irish fiddle tunes. Think Long Term, We are surely more lucky than we realize; while we go about our daily lives in comfort, ACT NOW creatures that live outdoors must do the best they can to find shelter from the weather and pick through the sodden, dead leaves on Let me quote National Geographic: "The stark the ground to find food—and for them, fail• fact is that the Earth holds a finite supply of ure means death. oil." If the optimists are correct, oil scarcity will drive prices up past affordability about How long ago was it that our ancestors 30 years from now, when the class of 2017 faced the same cruel, physical struggle will be perhaps starting families and having against the elements? Maybe not so long, children of their own. Pessimists threaten although we've completely forgotten what that this sea change will start as soon as five it was like. years from now, when the class of 2017 is in fourth grade. Our efforts to obtain resources for food and shelter are largely abstract. A writer makes Uh Oh...America Hates This Fact!! It's so tiny finger movements that make tiny elec• uncool!! Publicly planning ahead for this tronic changes on a screen, and the process is moment has been shown to be political sui• essentially indistinguishable from what mil• cide. During the late 1970s, Jimmy Carter installed solar panels on the roof of the in their own lives. Today, consumer choices White House and set in place legislation that that save energy and" resources are seen by aimed to achieve 20% of the nation's energy many as down-scale, and upscale prestige is needs from the sun and other renewable often directly linked to ostentatious con• resources by the year 2000, i.e. five years sumption. Well, what else is new about the ago. He was summarily hounded out of human race? Human leaders have demon• office in 1980 as the most unpopular strated their power by flaunting their ability American president since Herbert Hoover to organize wasteful consumption for thou• for being "too depressing." sands of years, from the pyramids in Egypt to the palace of Versailles to wild potlatches in the pre-Columbian Pacific Northwest. Over the last 25 years, AMERICANS It doesn't have to be this way. People can change if they want to. For instance, I can of all economic and social easily recall an era when people who wore seat belts looked like doofusses to kids my classes, Democrats and age. In the early 1970s, only crew-cut civil Republicans alike, servants in Dodge Darts drove around with their shoulder belts all done up. However, resoundingly chose a different market forces and education were very course, and in fact have effective in changing that. Today everyone uses shoulder harness seatbelts without "super-sized" objection. their consumption patterns. Once unleashed, the market place could If Americans continue their develop and spread effective alternative energy technology in a jaw-droppingly current consumption trends, short period of time. If cool people do it, demand for oil will be everyone else will, too. Just think of the time it took us all to adopt desktop computing, or nearly 50% higher than today's digital imaging. For lack of a better option, leadership in this direction will now have to by the time that the come from consumers - from high-profile class of 2017 "early adopters." finishes college, just when Last month, America passed through a bit• ter, divisive political election. Now it's time the supply is predicted to be to move ahead with the business of living. running short. Everyone should remember that without light and hope, both literally and figurative• ly, no one can go anywhere but down. It's up to us to build our future - we can't depend The solar panels on the White House roof on the government to do it for us. The class were removed shortly after Mr. Carter left of 2017 expects the best from their own office - an inconvenience, perhaps for main• futures. Let's see how much support we as tenance? Maybe just too humble and grownups can give them, and their brothers unsightly? Embarrassing, really, for a world and sisters, and children in other countries leader, right? These symbolic style issues are around the world to live in a world that has crucial in determining what people really do a bright future to offer them. MANY TALENTED MUSICIANS who grew up in Palisades have gone on to make a name for themselves with professional MUSIC careers - so many that space does not permit us to feature everyone in this issue. This month we are featuring Andy and John Boose, Sabelle Breer and Katie Elevitch. In the March issue, we will profile Luba (Gregus) Mason and Philip Galinsky. Other musicians are welcome to send us information and we will continue to highlight their MUSIC accomplishments! - - '. # ' ^ .Jim \ * - • mm > ; Katie Elevitch: Rene Risque and The Art Lovers Katie Elevitch Releases Debut Album ADVANCE PRAISE FOR "NOW IS THE DESTINATION" "Now Is The Destination" "Alternating between sultry come-ons and soul-baring confessionals, Katie Elevitch deftly combines raw honesty atie elevitch began performing at an early age, of the blues, storytelling techniques of folk music, and singing and acting in musical and dramatic com• sexually-charged urgency of R&B. This undeniably potent K munity theater. After graduating from Barnard and strikingly mature collection of songs puts this singer- College and studying Jazz Voice at Mannes College of songwriter eons ahead of her MTV contemporaries..." Music, she was mentored by some of the NYC down• - Nevin Martell: musk journalist, town music scene's finest musicians and began compos• author of "Dave Matthews Band: Music for the People" ing her own songs on guitar, bass, piano and drums. "Her voice, both comforting and insurgent, wafts over strutting downbeats, sharp guitar licks and distortions of Her album, produced by Tony Maimone, the former bass sound from the five corners of the earth." player of Pere Ubu, They Might Be Giants, and Bob Mould, - Carl Hancock Rux: Giant Step Records will be released in January, 2005. Katie's band most recently appeared at The Mercury Lounge and Joe's Pub in NYC. "Hippie-folk plunging toward jam-band funk complete to order the CD: www.cdbaby.com with tablas, percussion and strings." for more information: www.nowisthedestination.com - Chuck Eddy: Tillage Voice Choice 4 Rene Risque and The Art Lovers Sa belle Breer: Hit Songwriter ocal boys made good in the downtown music abelle breer, an accomplished songwriter of scene: Andy Boose, who started the 90s with the popular music who writes both lyrics and melody LVestrymen, then joined the rock act Mommy, " in partnership with singers, is the youngest of today is the alter ego of the popular lounge act, Rene Frannie Breer's four girls. Born and raised in Palisades, Risque. His brother John Boose plays the drums for the she started her career at 18 as a singer, lending her voice group. Andy is also the director of special events for to commercial jingles and background vocals. "My amFAR (American Foundation for AIDS Research), and career has had its peaks and valleys. There have been does a lot of high-profile socialite parties. He's been some tough years but I'm in a successful place now," she working with amFAR for eight years, so he's had a relates. "If you can hang in there long enough you get chance to gather inspiration for Mr. Risque's persona better if you truly love what from numberless glittering events in Monaco and Venice Avril Lavigne, you are doing." and yachts in the South of France. Ryan Cabrera, The band's fake publicist, Mr. Fernet Branca, has taken Stacie Orrico The talented composer is a con• on a life of his own.