Date: Fri 01-Oct-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

mountain-coopersmith

Full Text:

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

When Claudia Coopersmith went to the taping of the Food Network's Emeril Live

, she never dreamed that she would wind up eating dinner with Emeril Lagasse

and Julia Child.

Claudia went to the show with friends who had tickets for the show that was

taped in New York last week. They arrived a little early, hoping to be chosen

to sit at small tables between the set and the studio audience, but these were

already filled. They did manage to sit in the front row, however, and it

wasn't long before a producer tapped Claudia to be one of the lucky four

individuals who get to sit at the counter next to where the chefs cook and

then to taste the finished dishes.

Julia Child was on the show to promote a new Public Broadcasting Series and

her new cookbook, Julia and Jacques (Pepin) Cooking At Home.

Claudia said Emeril made a brie quesadilla with blue cheese and pear chutney,

followed by a kind of rabbit coq a vin with a potato gratin; then he and Julia

made a recipe -- hamburgers -- from her new book.

According to Julia Child, a perfect hamburger is made with meat that is 20

percent fat -- "none of that lean stuff." First she sautes some shallots and

mixes them with the meat, adding thyme, salt and pepper. Then she fries the

burgers in a pan. She puts mayonnaise on both sides of the bun, adds sliced

raw onions, iceberg lettuce, bacon, tomato, and a little ketchup.

"It was the best hamburger I ever ate," Claudia said.

The show will air at 8 pm on October 20 on Channel 35. To celebrate her

experience, Claudia says she plans to have a dinner party that night and cook

for her guests -- certainly not the rabbit dish, but probably something from

Julia's new book.

Newtown's name is showing up in only the best places this week.

On Sunday, September 26, The New York Times reported that one of the proposed

developers of Fairfield Hills, Bruce R. Becker, had engaged a historian to

inspect the Depression era buildings on the campus and present them as

candidates for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. This

designation could garner the developer $17 million in tax credits should the

historian, Jan Cunningham of Middletown, be successful, according to The

Times.

Then, in the October issue of Connecticut magazine, the Newtown Bridle Lands

Association's "Frost on the Pumpkin" Hunter Pace is not only mentioned, but

even gets a full color picture. The event is scheduled for October 31. The

Hunter Pace, the magazine notes, is one of the oldest and the biggest in the

Northeast, with 250 riders expected. Call Newtown's own Bev MacMillan at

270-0202 to register.

The Community Covenant drawn up in the spring by local teens in response to

the tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, was displayed

Sunday during the Newtown Congregational Church's 10 am worship service.

Members were asked to join the multitude of signers already committed to the

covenant by signing their names during the coffee hour during the service. The

covenant read: "As a citizen of the community of Newtown, I promise to uphold

the Covenant by appreciating differences, caring, resolving conflict, having

respect, taking responsibility."

Do you have an old computer stored in a closet or in the basement? A one-day

collection of residential computers and televisions will be a new feature of

the third annual America Recycles Day Celebration, set for Sunday, October 17,

at the Danbury Green. Some of the computers will be refurbished and donated to

civic organizations and disadvantaged families. The rest will be properly

disposed of, including the hazardous materials that are contained in

components of these electronic products.

This Saturday, October 2, VFW Post 308 in Newtown will hold a fund-raising

picnic from 10 am to 6 pm at the post on Tinkerfield Road at Route 25 to

commemorate the 100th anniversary of the national Veterans of Foreign Wars

(VFW). The public is invited to attend. There will be a wide variety of food

all day, beginning with breakfast. Proceeds raised by the event will be used

to assist disabled veterans and their families; a $10 donation is requested.

On Sunday, the members of the Sandy Hook Fire and Rescue Company will hold an

open house from 11 am to 3 pm at the main firehouse on Riverside Road. There

will be lots of demonstrations and fire safety activities and information for

the entire family.

David Quinn of Paugussett Road in Sandy Hook is trying to organize a Twelve

Months of Christmas organization to coincide with USA Weekend's Make a

Difference Day on October 23. The local group will start with a project to

collect baby and infant supplies to help needy families. The group is looking

for donations of toys, clothes, diapers, wipes, baby formula and other items

in new or like-new condition. The Make A Difference Day Hotline is

800/416-3824 and information also can be found at the Web site

www.makeadifferenceday.com. Organizations, churches, or others who want to

help can reach David Quinn by e-mail at dquinn01@snet.net or by calling

270-9538.

Changing leaves isn't the only thing that usually marks the beginning of

October. There is also usually a lot of talk about the upcoming November

election. However, all is quiet this year in Newtown, which may be due to the

fact that there is no race for first selectman. Residents who want to meet

those candidates who are running are invited to attend the October 26 Pizza &

Politics event. The annual event is being put on by the Chamber of Commerce of

Newtown and the Newtown Lions Club.

Rev Steve Gordon of Newtown Congregational Church gave a brief speech prior to

his prayer at the Newtown Savings Bank's ribbon-cutting ceremony September 22.

He told the 200 or so people on hand that the church and the bank have much in

common. "We're both in the business of savings," he said.

While I'm on the topic, I'd like all of you to save a little time next week

to...

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