The Top Of The Mountain
Update: The Victorian Valentines event scheduled for Saturday, February 10, at C.H. Booth Library, has been canceled.
Mary Thomas is sure that the photo in last week's Way We Were column "is that of Mae Schmidle giving a citation to youth who represented the new organization, Youth Services in Newtown (YSIN). The organization, of which I was a charter member," says Mary, "was created to help youth access services specifically targeted to that age group. Its original office was in the old Congregational Church building, torn down later." The group's name was always debated, she adds, recalling many meetings "where we bounced around the wisdom of calling the organization "Why Sin?" It was batted around a lot, and changed to Newtown Youth Services within a few years." Mary goes on to note that while she does not know the older fellow on the left in the photo, the young woman is Sarah Kenyon. "Many of the founding board members were from Trinity Church, most especially Gail Smith and Jim Kowalksi. After many auto accidents which were fatal for the teen population, and other concerns, these two took the lead to address the issues. Lori Trotto and Nancy Gosling were also key members. It's great to know Youth Services still exists in Newtown; the need never changes."
Some things do change, though, and one of those changes is for a certain lifelong resident of our town. On February 2, Joan Crick moved to Southbury from her home on Glover Avenue - the street where she grew up as a child and then returned to as a young married woman, and where she and her husband raised their family. "She lived in the house on Glover Avenue for 57 years," daughter Maureen Crick Owen tells me. "She leaves Newtown - more importantly the Borough - that has been her home for her entire life. And she'll remind you she is tenth generation of the Glover family in Newtown. But she has started a new chapter where she is making new friends, spending time with old friends, enjoying new experiences, and will flourish with good food and conversation," says Maureen. If you would like to send Joan a note, her new address is 655 South Main Street, Apt 225, Southbury CT 06488.
It's a yummy invitation to residents 65 years of age and older, from the Youth Basketball Association and the NHS athletic department. Seniors can sample desserts at a free tasting at Newtown High School, at 6 pm, Tuesday, February 13. Follow up the treats with watching a girls' basketball game, at 7 pm. (The school is at 12 Berkshire Road, for those who have not attended in many years.) Hurry - to reserve a spot, contact Kathleen Mulligan at
scoreboards67@gmail.com by Saturday, February 10.
Incidentally, Newtown Youth Basketball Association players attended the UConn women's basketball game against Cincinnati on February 4. I'm sure that was a fun and exciting outing for all of them.
At the annual meeting of Newtown Congregational Church's Woman's Fellowship, Liz Eaton noticed something. The group met at My Place Restaurant and she realized there was a plethora of one thing: Louises - Woman's Fellowship member Louise Baker, My Place co-owner Louise Tambascio, and Woman's Fellowship member Louise Zierzow.
During the time of Queen Victoria, handmade valentines were popular. Rita Parisi will provide the traditional materials for making Victorian-style valentines, as well as instruction, this Saturday, February 10, from 2 to 3:30 pm, in the Meeting Room of the C.H. Booth Library. The library website tells us that "These tokens of affection were made of paper and decorated with flowers, ribbon, doilies, glitter, lace, and other materials." There is a $10 materials fee, and the class is appropriate for ages 5 to adult. To register, visit
Here's the perfect way for guys to celebrate the month of the heart. The Heart of Men - Monthly Mens Circle at Sticks and Stones Farm on Huntingtown Road meets February 15, "up behind wood shed no later than 7:15 pm." This group usually meets every second Wednesday of the month, by the way. Contact Jim Kavallines, 203-948-1684, to confirm your attendance.
Speaking of love... I hear that 2006 Newtown High School grad Stephen Petrovich is in the first national tour of
Love Never Dies, the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. Stephen received his BFA in musical theater from the Boston Conservatory in 2010. Keep your eyes peeled for this tour's arrival in Connecticut in the spring.
The C.H. Booth Board of Trustees is hosting a welcome reception for Douglas Lord, the new library director. The public is invited to the event on Sunday, February 25, from 2 to 4 pm, at the library. Meet the new director, say hello, and enjoy some refreshments. (Snow date of March 4.)
There's nothing like a good battle - of the books, that is. Students in grades 5 through 8 should get ready to form their teams for the 14th Annual Battle of the Books at C.H. Booth Library. Team sign-ups start now through Saturday, March 17. Once a team has read the four books (and become experts on those books), attend a Battle practice on April 5, and prepare for the April 7 event. You can get details in the Young Adult department of the library, or by going to
Calling all graduates - from 50ish years ago. The Newtown High School graduating Class of 1966 is scheduling a reunion for this fall. In addition, students from the classes of 1963 through 1969 are welcome to respond. If interested in attending, e-mail Don Bowers at
donald.bowers@nm.com or call Domenica Alban at 203-221-5228.
The Newtown International Center for Education (NICE) is seeking host families for students and teachers from Spain, from March 13 to 21, and a delegation from France, from March 21 to 26. Hosts do not need to speak Spanish or French, nor do you have to have school age children. For more information e-mail
cathyfiliato@gmail.com or apply to host students online at nicenewtown.wixsite.com/nice/host.
I'll be hosting the news in this column next week, as usual, so be sure to... Read me again.