For a while, it looked like the string of clear sunny days was going to stretch all the way to September. But wouldn't you know it, the weatherman finally gets bored drawing high pressure isobars on his map and decides to dump a little rain on us o
For a while, it looked like the string of clear sunny days was going to stretch all the way to September. But wouldnât you know it, the weatherman finally gets bored drawing high pressure isobars on his map and decides to dump a little rain on us on Friday â the very day Bee employees are scheduled to gather after work for a much-anticipated clambake.
Hoping to make the most of this summer tradition (we did it last year too) everyone here at the office was preparing themselves in their own way for the party down in the bossâs backyard. For example, Genevieve Ward went out and got herself a bad case of poison ivy on her foot. No summer is complete without the smell of calamine lotion, right?
The boss and his wife, Helen, in the meantime have been busy, as always, fixing up the yard with new sylvan attractions. This yearâs addition is a pond, which the boss has been working on pretty steadily for the past two weeks. Helenâs been throwing herself into the project as well â literally. With one misstep, she pitched herself into the new pond, which the boss thought was pretty funny. He couldnât wait to get to the office to tell everyone about it. Heâs a modest man, however, and he neglected to mention that he himself had made a pretty big splash in the pond project. He slipped and fell in just a few days after Helen did.
At any rate, I hope the rain holds off on Friday so the rest of us donât get wet while we shuck our clams.
Genevieve Ward wasnât the only one with poison ivy this week. Janet Woycik has a good dose of it too. She is beginning to think that it might be a good idea to give up gardening. Last weekâs weeding gave her not only poison ivy but also Lyme disease â again. She says she might not have even noticed the bullseye-shaped rash under her arm if she hadnât been slathering on calamine lotion for the poison ivy. Better stay inside with a good book, Janet.
Even during the summer, the Newtown Choral Society thinks singing. This week three members, David Jurman, Sharon Goodkowsy, and Patsy Beddoe Stephens, will be joining choral director Mary Andreotta at a singing camp. They will all be back in time to join the rest of the choral members Saturday when they sing at the Meeting House when Stacy MacMillan marries Jarat Boujoukos.
Kudos go out to Jake Rouse of Newtownâs 13-year-old Babe Ruth all-star baseball team. At Bethel High School last Saturday, the left fielder sprinted after a fly ball with his head up. Unfortunately, Jake ran out of room, slamming head first into the chain link fence as the ball kept sailing for a home run. Jake went down hard and suffered only minor scrapes to his arm. The Bethel team chuckled at Jakeâs collision with the fence, but those who know the game appreciated the young manâs fine effort. Most would have slowed up long before reaching the fence.
Ever wonder what cigar smokers do when they finish a box of their favorite stogies? George Nafey drops the empty boxes off at Edmond Town Hall. The various town agencies there always find them handy. George was spotted dropping the boxes off late last week.
Mark Neilsen of Danbury was in town Monday night to accept the nomination of the Republican Party to run against US Congressman Jim Maloney in the Fifth District in November. Apparently Mark and his gang forgot that Newtown has an unwritten political rule that prohibits candidates from putting up campaign signs. His signs littered the sides of roadways from one border to the next. If he wins, I hope we see a lot more of him and a lot less of his signs.
Ed Osterman says there still are openings for the free four-week trip to London sponsored by the Rotary Club beginning September 24. Applicants must be between the ages of 25 and 40. Airfare, accommodations, and meals will be provided and participants will get a close-up look at business on Fleet Street and other areas of this historic city. Anyone who is interested should call Michael Gordon at 860/885-1098 for an application.
The Newtown Chamber of Commerce is planning to hold its annual picnic at the Inn at Newtown at 5 pm on Friday, July 14, after which they invite the community to attend the concert they are sponsoring at the Booth Library. The Jackson Pike Skifflers will be back in Newtown to entertain beginning at 7 pm on the lawn behind the library. Admission to the concert is free.
Lois Barber says historic World War II aircraft, a B-17 Flying Fortress and a HE-111 Heinkel German bomber, will be on display and available for limited rides at the Westchester County Airport on Friday, July 21, from 2 to 5 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, July 22 and 23, from 9 am to 5 pm. There also will be a World War II living history group and military vehicles from that era. Call 914/946-0100 for more information.
Karen Finlayson always posts the birthdays of her students in her studio, but somehow she apparently forgot to include her own natal day, which her family will celebrate this Sunday. Happy birthday, Karen.
On the whole, Dave Harris would rather go fishing than tend to the comings and goings of his new dog, Mattie, especially after last week. Dave was trying to get the eager dog off its backyard tether when Mattie saw something that caught her attention. She bolted, and the line raked down the side of Daveâs ankle in the most painful way. Dave had to make a quick trip to the doctorâs office, and this week his foot was black and blue.
Well, if Dave isnât going fishing, I guess I will, but Iâll be back here next week with more tall tales, so be sure toâ¦
Read me again.