Date: Fri 19-Mar-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Mountain-spring-weather

Full Text:

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

It almost seemed like Mother Nature was feeling guilty late this week for

subjecting us to such a nasty Monday. People were strolling around in

shirtsleeves on Wednesday while all the snow from Monday's storm was melting

under foot. But as we know from living here so long, Mother Nature's moods

blow hot and cold, so we aren't putting away our snow shovel yet.

Jamie Morris was awakened by a banging on his front door early Monday morning

at the height of the storm. It was the United Fire Company of Botsford

informing him that the snow had caused his cable TV wire to dip down onto

Huntingtown Road. They wanted permission to cut the wire. Mr Morris said, "I

guess I have no choice -- cut it." And the volunteer firefighters cut it. The

only problem was that the wire was a telephone wire not a cable wire, and

phones were out for two days.

It's too bad we can't harness some of the heat in Canaan House at Fairfield

Hills where the town offices are temporarily located. The vigorous heating

system there has always kept temperatures running high. Consequently, the

chocolate items in the vending machine in the staff kitchen get rather soft,

runny and limpid and lose their flavor. By the time some of them are

unwrapped, they look like something that should be applied with a paint brush.

Inmates from Garner Correctional Institution recently took up paint brushes to

repaint three sides of Town Hall South, giving the weathered municipal

building a freshened look. Garner Warden Giovanny Gomez has assured First

Selectman Herb Rosenthal that the prison will provide inmate labor to repaint

the west side of the building, the two-story wall which faces Town Hall

South's rear parking lot.

Builder John Kukulka marshalled a team of volunteer workers last Saturday at

Housatonic Habitat for Humanity's new home construction site on Philo Curtis

Road in Sandy Hook. Even though the swarm of works seemed to be getting things

done in a hurry, Mr Kukulka, Habitat's construction chairman, says that

volunteer home construction projects often take a while longer than houses

constructed by commercial builders. The goal, however, is worth the extra time

and effort: providing safe, modern housing for moderate-income families.

Dr Thomas Draper had an awfully busy schedule last Thursday afternoon. He was

trying his best to make a meeting of the health district board of directors at

the Mona Lisa Restaurant, but he was having difficulty completing his

appointments at Danbury Hospital. He did finally make it to the meeting and

it's a good thing because it wasn't a meeting at all -- it was a surprise

party honoring the doctor for 29 years of service to the town's health

district.

Newtown resident Jack Ryan couldn't help but wonder if the Legislative Council

was on tour during the past week. On March 10, the council met at the middle

school auditorium. The following day, it held its meeting at the Cyrenius

Booth Library. And on Tuesday, the council took up business in the lecture

hall at Newtown High School. Mr Ryan joked about the council's nomad-like week

prior to his comments regarding his support for the proposed Board of

Education budget.

All the moving around by the council did cause a little confusion among

members of the public trying to attend the meetings. Melissa Pilchard, never

one to pass up an object lesson, sympathized with late comers at Tuesday

night's meeting, but also used the opportunity to point out that until

something is done about the town hall space needs, the situation isn't likely

to change any time soon.

The members of the local Knights of Columbus and the St Rose Home & School

Association are busy getting ready for the charity basketball game that will

be held at Newtown High School on Friday, March 26, beginning with some

special events at 6 pm. The game starts at 7. Among the prizes and raffles

that have been collected are a gift basket and signed cookbook from actor Paul

Newman. The Marquettes will perform a dance routine during halftime, the Pep

band will play and Heather Gunn will sing the National Anthem. The evening

will include many special games and shooting events for children, teenagers,

and adults. Pizza, hot dogs and other refreshments also will be available.

Proceeds from the basketball game will benefit the Ray Connor Scholarship Fund

at St Rose School.

While she isn't quite up to playing basketball yet, State Rep Julia was up and

moving around town after her heart bypass surgery a little more than two weeks

ago. She stopped by The Bee on Wednesday, thinking she could be a lot of news

with just one stop. She says she is trying to take it easy, but we'll believe

it when we see it.

Hundreds of people showed up for the mural open house to honor artist David

Merrill at Edmond Town Hall on Sunday but the organizing committee was ready

for them. Marie Sturdevant and Carol Mattegat were busy making punch, cutting

cake, putting out trays of cookies. For everyone who asked, I found out the

recipe for the punch: 1 large bottle of white grape juice and one bottle of

ginger ale. Simple but delicious. Float an ice ring on top and top with some

orange and lime slices in a large punch bowl. Replenish as necessary, which

was often on Sunday.

This column will be fully replenished next week at this time, so be sure to...

Read me again.