Date: Fri 17-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Mountain-heat-wave

Full Text:

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

Summer really sizzled this week as the temperature and humidity conspired to

drive everyone into air conditioned spaces, or at least into the shade. Many

people, especially those cooped up with kids, made their way to the Dickinson

or Treadwell park pools. Both places were mobbed by midweek with people trying

to beat the heat.

Newtown's head lifeguards Sean Martins and Christine Foster have reportedly

put their staff on full alert, making sure everyone cools off safely.

People aren't the only living things that need to cool off in this weather.

Plants and animals caught out in the blistering heat need help too. Tom

Johnson, down at Lexington Gardens, reported that his staff has stepped up the

watering schedule to four times a day just to keep all the potted plants in

good shape.

As for me, I've been trying to stay close to the fan without getting my tail

too close. Tailless creatures, like humans, forget sometimes that those of us

with tails require a little more consciousness than normal. Otherwise, you

never know what kind of trouble can crop up behind your back.

Take, for example, my friend Oblivious.

Oblivious is a cat who belongs to David and Kim Proctor. Kim says people are

always asking her why she named her cat as she did.

(CAT PHOTO HERE)

This week Kim sent me this picture which should answer the question once and

for all. The cold-blooded snake shown here evidently was looking for warmth on

the rock surface when it had the incredible good fortune of finding a cat fur

comforter as well. Meanwhile, good ol' Oblivious lived up to his name.

Did you watch the soap opera "All My Children" on Monday? If you did, you saw

an explosion and Newtown's Bob Kick, playing the part of a paramedic, arrive

to treat the injured. Rescuing people comes naturally to Bob because he has

been a fireman for years. He started his firefighting career with the Sandy

Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company and now works full-time as a fireman for

the town of Greenwich. Acting is new for him, but his small part in the soap

opera could lead to bigger and better roles.

We've heard a rumor that Rich Rauner has grown a mustache and now looks a bit

like Dick Van Dyke. We'll have to get someone to take his photo down at Temple

University Hospital, where he is waiting for a heart transplant, so that we

can get a look at the new Richie.

Bill Allard, the friendly fellow who used to sell newspapers out in front of

The Bee on Thursday afternoons until his recent stroke, is now at the Glen

Hill Convalescent Center in Danbury. Anyone who wants to drop him a note can

send a card to Glen Hill at 1 Glen Hill Road, Danbury, 06811.

Legislative Council member Will Rodgers had a house full of some 40 young

women at his home this past weekend. His daughter, Amelia, recently graduated

from prep school in Boston and had all her friends down.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal told us this week that he has gotten calls in

his office from people asking where they can pick up the bocci balls for use

at The Pleasance, the park created and maintained by The Bee at the corner of

Main and Sugar streets. First of all, The Pleasance isn't a town park, so Herb

should not be held responsible for bocci balls. Play at the bocci court at The

Pleasance is strictly BYOBB, so you are going to have to cruise the tag sales

until you find a good set of bocci balls. Also, if your games drift on past

dusk, there is a light switch by the electrical boxes nearby that will bring

some extra light to the court.

It's good to see people using The Pleasance, though we want to remind those

using the gazebo to exercise a little care with the furniture there. The two

tables were broken this week. They should be fixed soon and back in place.

Remember, though, that they aren't designed to be sat on, so take care.

I've got to go find some shade now, but I'll be back no matter what the

weather, so be sure to...

Read me again.