SalisburyHotchkiss Opens Its New Concert Hall. An opening of a new concert hall is always exciting. The $20-million music complex at Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, CT, with its Katherine M. Elfers Hall, opened officially Friday with a piano recital by faculty members Fabio and Gisele Witkowski.

SALISBURY - The Salisbury Land Trust will hold its fourth annual guided bird walk at the Schlesinger Bird Reserve Saturday, May 28, at 8 a.m. Birding expertTom Schaefer will lead the tour. The preserve is located on the south side of Scoville Ore Mine Road at Route 41,2.4 miles north of The White Hart inn. There's a small parking area at the preserve, but if that's full, please park on the south side of Scoville Ore Mine Road, pulling off the road as much as possible. The walk should take an hour and a half. All are welcome. For more information, call 860-824-7823.

The Kent Volunteer Fire Department will hold two events on Memorial Day weekend. The annual boot drive will be Saturday, May 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers will be stationed on Route 7, just south of the intersection with Route 341, collecting donations in a fire boot. Proceeds from the boot drive are targeted to the department's ambulance operations. During the past six months, the fire department had to purchase a new ambulance after a fire started in the 1997 model on Nov. 11. The ambulance was totally destroyed. A new ambu-lance was purchased using $100,000 from the insurance payment, but thedepartment had to fund the additional $34,000 from its own savings. An open house will be held the same day at the Main Street firehouse. The department plans to have all its trucks, ambulance and equipment available for the public to view. President Art Romano wants to allow Kent residents to see thetight quarters of the existing firehouse - in case people wonder why a new firehouse is needed. The Firehouse Building Committee is drafting new plans for a new firehouse that will be presented at a public hearing June 23. For more information, contact Ambulance Chief Jean Speck at 860-927-0038.

FALLS VILLAGE - On Saturday, May 28, at 7 p.m., seven bands will compete in a Battle of the Bands at the Housatonic Valley Regional High School auditorium.The event is sponsored by the Housatonic Youth Service Bureau, with cash prizes awarded by Salisbury Bank and Trust for first and second place. Eliot Osborn, a musician (his latest album, "Half Fast," was released last week) and co-founder of Project Troubador, will serve as master of ceremonies. Judges will rate the bands by their musicianship, stage presence, musical arrangements and overall impression. The bands chosen to participate are Beneath It All, Youth Dream, Mo' Funner, Tabula Raza, Lespecial, The Ice Breakers and Axis of Evil. Genres vary from acoustic rock to "ska,"hard rock, punk rock and progressive jam. The general admission ticket price is $8. Tickets will be available at the door. For more information, call 860-824-4720.

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