The Third Street sinkhole, a roughly 40-foot-wide subsurface anomaly that has been growing in the area between Elm and Harbor Road since January 26, has begun producing a low, rhythmic sound in the overnight hours that multiple residents describe as broadly consistent with "Rosanna," the 1982 single by the rock band Toto.

The sound, which begins at approximately 11 p.m. and continues until shortly before dawn, was first reported by Brenda Kowalski, who lives adjacent to the sinkhole and has maintained a set of lawn chairs around its perimeter since the crater opened. "At first I thought it was the ocean," Kowalski said. "Then I thought it was the wind. Then I recognized the chorus."

Kowalski described the experience as "not unpleasant." She has since moved one of her lawn chairs three feet closer to the rim.

Acoustical researcher Dr. Pamela Rourke of the University of Minnesota's Remote Geophysics Division reviewed an audio recording provided by Kowalski and confirmed that the sound shares "several structural characteristics" with the Toto recording, including what she described as "a detectable approximation of the signature half-time shuffle drum pattern, as well as that sick bass riff during the chorus" that are both associated with the track. Dr. Rourke cautioned that her analysis was preliminary and that the university's involvement had been requested by the Department of Defense, which asked that any findings include the word "allegedly."

"It allegedly sounds like 'Rosanna,'" Dr. Rourke said.

Mayor Clifton Reeves, addressing reporters at a press conference held at the standard distance from the crater, said the acoustic development was "not surprising" given what he called "four hundred years of underground neglect." He added that his administration had "done more on sinkhole sound management than any government this island has ever seen" and that the phenomenon would not be occurring "if the right people had been managing the land in the first place."

When a reporter noted that Toto formed in 1977 and released "Rosanna" in 1982, well after the period to which the mayor was referring, Reeves said the comment was "a perfect example of the revisionist attitude that is killing prosperity in this city."

Council President Diana Okafor-Mills issued a written statement expressing concern about the sound while clarifying that her concern "should not be read as an endorsement of how certain groups have chosen to characterize the sinkhole more broadly." She called for "a measured, community-wide listening process, in the figurative sense."

Councilmember Roy Braddock did not attend the press conference. He released a statement afterward saying he had "heard the recording" and found his position on the matter "consistent."

Public Works Director Alan Marsh said his department is monitoring the sound. When asked whether the sound's resemblance to a specific copyrighted musical work raised any legal concerns for the city, Marsh said he was also monitoring that.

The Coalition for General Cannibalism Awareness issued an unsolicited statement noting that Toto's catalog "contains no songs about cannibalism, which is a missed opportunity."

Dr. Keala Montoya-Nakamura of the Gnu Nation Cultural Council said the Tahumake have a name for geological formations that produce sound, and that the name does not translate to "Rosanna." She declined to provide additional comment.

Gerald Voss of the Newtonist Coalition said the phenomenon was "frankly remarkable" and suggested that Isaac Newton (not that one) "would have appreciated the music, had he survived long enough to hear it."

City Clerk Patricia Voss — no relation — confirmed that the city has received four petitions in the past 72 hours: one requesting the sound be amplified, one requesting it be suppressed, one requesting the sinkhole be officially renamed "Rosanna," and one requesting that the city formally dispute whether it is actually Toto.

Kowalski, reached by phone on Thursday evening, said the sound had already started for the night. She described it as "pretty good, actually."

"I'm more partial to Hold the Line," she said.