In the New York Times, Social Q's columnist Philip Galanes takes a question from a New Rochelle teen.

I am a 15-year-old girl. At Thanksgiving, and every other time we meet, my father’s friend makes a big joke about how little I know about current events. (Really funny, right?) I wish I was interested in the news, but I’m not. I like music, TV and celebrity magazines like other kids my age. What can I do to shut him up?

Steffi, New Rochelle, N.Y.

For Galanes response, click here.

There once was a mayor named Noam
The south of the city ne’er roam
To the northenders he’d cater
The southend? He’d say, "Later!"
The northend’s where you’ll find his home

A reader sends along photos and a note:

Today, 10/15/2011, while I was with my friend at Davenport Park in New Rochelle, we noticed a dead carcass laying on rocks. The tide appeared to be low. This carcass resembles "The Montauk Monster" from 2008. This carcass may still be laying on the rocks if the tide has not already carried it away.

Every cop, firefighter, DPW supervisor, elected official and Con Ed worker agrees. The tree at 22 Laurel Place needs to come down.

A city tree in the Residence Park section of New Rochelle, NY fell Sunday at about 5 PM, as high winds kicked up on the back end of what was Hurricane Irene, shutting off power to the residence. New Rochelle Firemen and Police officers responded. They looked the tree over and saw it was being supported by a triple combo of another tree, walkway and live electrical wires, Clearly, the all agreed, it should come down. They called it in and the section was yellow taped roped off.

On Monday, Joe from DPW was visiting his sister on Liberty Avenue. He happened upon the yellow tape. Not knowing anything about it, he dutifully radioed it in. Talking to the homeowner, he agreed the tree needed to come down. Later that day Michael Duffy, a Con Edison supervisor from Manhattan meandered up and looked at the tree.

A couple of years ago I was with my family near the shore of Echo Bay when I spotted a green, white and yellow bird in a tree. I am no bird-watcher but I know enough to know a parrot when I see one. Figuring that the bird must have escaped and there was some distraught owner looking for their bird, I had the brilliant idea of trying to catch it, put it in a box and deliver it to its owner. While my family tried to lure the bird closer, I called the SPCA of Westchester County to report the bird and see if anyone had put in a claim. The bird actually did come closer, landing on a nearby railing. In a moment of stupidity I used my lightening fast reflexes to grab the bird. As visions of my heroic welcome from the relieved owner danced in my head, the bird began squawking loudly, viscously biting at my hands, breaking the skin, and causing me a good deal of, in hindsight, well-deserved pain.

Recently, my son took the Firefighters Exam for New Rochelle. Although I knew it was a futile effort and a waste of a few bucks, I figured that perhaps moving forward a different climate might be present locally and nationally, and the trend of hiring in the public sector might resurface.

About two weeks ago he received an envelope from Civil Service. Inside we found dates for a scheduled agility exam in November, and information about this phase of the test. Nowhere present was a score. I took it upon myself to call the Civil Service Office. After two days of constant voice mail I was finally connected to Jeanett Medina.

I questioned Ms. Medina to the whereabouts of my son's scores, figuring that this was merely a missed envelope. She told me that she opted to not send scores. Whereas this would "discourage" candidates with low written grades from showing up.