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TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

The kite-hungry trees that ring the Ram Pasture thought they were in for a

feast last weekend, when what seemed like dozens of kite-flyers converged on

the field at different times to take advantage of the breezy spring weekend.

But as far as I could see, everyone went home with their kites intact, ready

to fly another day.

In addition to kites, love is in the air this spring. And when middle school

science teacher Jennifer Neves marries the school's choral director Jonathan

Pope in May, a host of angelic voices will be raised to celebrate the event.

The music won't be heaven-sent, however. The couple has arranged for the

Newtown Choral Society to sing during the service. Jonathan is the former

director of the society. In February, the Choral Society sang when member Meg

Porcella married Karl Friedrich at The Newtown Meeting House.

Speaking of the Meeting House, paper weights and wall mirrors are currently on

sale by the Historic Preservation Trust to help support the historic landmark

on Main Street at the head of Church Hill Road. Examples of the paper weight

and wall mirror are on exhibit at the C.H. Booth Library. The wall mirror,

featuring a picture of the Meeting House with a brief history, is hung near

the elevator and stairs opposite the circulation desk on the second floor.

Caroline Stokes said this week the mirror, which sells for $125, would make a

lovely wedding gift for a couple being married at the Meeting House. The paper

weight, featuring a photo of the Meeting House, is in the display case

opposite the circulation desk. It sells for $35. For information on how to

obtain a paper weight or wall mirror, call 426-2409.

The Rev Gregory Wismar of Christ the King Lutheran Church and his wife,

Priscilla, are all excited by the birth of their first grandchild, Jorge

Justin Wismar, on April 21 in Japan. Their son, Eric, Class of '89 at Newtown

High School, is teaching at the Nova School in Mitaka-shi. He and his wife,

Mikaru, who is a nurse, chose the name Jorge Justin for their first child

partly because it resembles the popular Japanese name Jo-Ji.

Pastor Wismar said the baby was two weeks early, weighed 5 lbs 8 oz, and was

born at 4:38 am at the Red Cross Hospital. The couple barely had time to make

it to the hospital by taxi. Photos of the infant were in Pastor Wismar's hands

within hours, sent by e-mail from Japan.

Rev Wismar also has a surprise for Priscilla, who thinks she is on her way to

Maine for vacation today. Actually, the Wismars are going to Iceland for an

early celebration of their 30th wedding anniversary, which will take place on

June 7. Meanwhile, their daughter Betsy, who is a psychiatric social worker,

is getting ready for a big tag sale at the parsonage because she is moving to

Washington, D.C. The sale will be on Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2 at the

parsonage, 81 Mt Pleasant Road.

Former Bee sports editor Tom Wyatt and his wife, Michele, had their first

child last weekend. The Wyatts' new daughter, Sydney, was born on Sunday,

April 25.

Speaking of birthdays, a happy 60th birthday goes out Assistant Superintendent

of School Bob Kuklis. Also, John Lamb and Dan O'Handley, a couple of guys

still fighting to keep their youth, have both turned 40.

Penny and Tom Meek were hosts for a luncheon for Henry and Joan Eickelberg of

Illinois, who were passing through town last week. While here, the Eickelbergs

visited the C.H. Booth Library to view a display of Ukrainian eggs that were

designed and painted by the late Anastazia P. Cooper, who was considered an

authority on Ukrainian Easter eggs. Mr Eickelberg is the nephew of Mrs

Cooper's late husband, Edmund Cooper, who was a well-known actor. The Meeks

and the Eickelbergs enjoyed sharing memories of the Coopers, who had lived in

Newtown since the mid-1940s. Mrs Cooper was a resident of Parmalee Hill Road

when she died on October 11, 1989.

The public is invited to attend a one-act play that recounts the life of Mary

Hawley, Newtown's famous benefactress, May 4th and 5th at 7 pm. The production

is being put on by the Housatonic Valley Tourism Commission and will take

place at the Newtown Meeting House. The play is based on the accounts of

Newtown Historian Dan Cruson. Admission is free. For reservations, call

743-0546.

The fate-tempting killdeer is back at The Pleasance this year, laying her

eggs, as she did last spring, on the stone path. The eggs are so well

camouflaged that they are very hard to tell from the stones. Little signs have

gone up on either side of the stone nest warning passers-by to watch their

step.

Mary Kennedy, who works in The Bee's production department, decided to eat her

lunch at the picnic table behind the office this week so she could enjoy the

birds and other delights of a fine spring day. One of the birds, however,

strafed her pocketbook, ruining her appetite and her handbag.

Leave it to Joe Kocet at the Newtown Country Club to get all excited about a

sprinkling system. Not only does the system keep the course green and lush, it

works on a timer, which means Joe doesn't have to get up at 4 am anymore to

turn the water on.

The Legislative Council's finance committee got involved in some serious

discussion over the proposed purchase of the Fairfield Hills property at its

meeting Tuesday night. Melissa Pilchard greeted First Selectman Herb Rosenthal

as he arrived late. "You're too late, we already bought Fairfield Hills," she

joked.

Don't you be late. You never know what you're going to miss if you're not here

at the same time next week to...

Read me again.