The 2001 election campaign in Newtown seems to have been directed by Miss Manners. I cannot recall a friendlier campaign. While he may have lost the election, Owen Carney won lots of handshakes of appreciation Tuesday night - and not just from his
The 2001 election campaign in Newtown seems to have been directed by Miss Manners. I cannot recall a friendlier campaign. While he may have lost the election, Owen Carney won lots of handshakes of appreciation Tuesday night â and not just from his fellow Republicans. People seemed to truly appreciate his determination to stick to the high road throughout the campaign.
Owen says he enjoyed his first foray into the realm of politics, so I wouldnât be surprised to see him back in the fray two years from now.
It is interesting to see how the two political parties fortify themselves for a long election night. On Election Night this year in Newtown, the Democrats ate pizza, and the Republicans ate chili. And I expect the bipartisan choice at bedtime was Alka-Seltzer.
Newtown resident Jim White was honored at a retirement party at the Inn at Newtown Saturday night. Friends, family, and corporate associates roasted Jim, a longtime executive at Union Carbide. Jimâs career spanned 37 years, the last 10 of which were spent living in Newtown. Those in attendance included his wife, Dolores, three of his four sons â Jeff, Greg, Paul and his wife, Danielle â along with Jimâs new grandson, Mason. The Inn may be scrambling to restock its wine cellar as the celebrating crowd was rumored to have made quite a hefty dent.
 Chris Hoeffel stopped by the office this week to announce that season tickets for the Newtown High School ice hockey team are now on sale. The new team will play all its home games at the new ice rink in downtown Danbury. Four season tickets for 10 games cost just $100. Thatâs just $2.50 per game and you get to see some great high school hockey.
When Greg Hays, a junior at UCONN, turned 22 this week, he planned on celebrating at a nice quiet dinner with his girlfriend, Ashley Lavender. When he walked into Applebeeâs, however, he got quite a surprise. Ashley had invited 12 of Gregâs friends (including his sister, Stephanie) to surprise him and celebrate with him. Another invitee, Sandy Lerman, said Greg didnât stop smiling all night.
Lenny Manz, best known locally for playing the organ at the Newtown Meeting House, is an American hero, according to Rear Admiral Henry C. McKinney (Retired), president of the US Navy Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C. Lennyâs name and record of service recently were enshrined in the Navy Log at the US Navy Memorial, the national monument in Washington, D.C., that honors all who have served in Americaâs naval services.
Women Involved in Newtown members are asking for everyone to help with the annual Thanksgiving Basket food drive that benefits local families that need a helping hand. Anyone interested in sponsoring a family, or making donations of food or grocery store gift certificates, should contact Cyndy DaSalva at 364-1061 by November 12.
The Lions Club is hoping everyone will turn out with their rakes about 8:30 on Saturday morning at Treadwell Park to spread the mulch that is needed to complete the new playground. Anyone who can help should call Gordon Williams at 426-6443.
A noisy crowd milled about in the corridor at the town land use office at Canaan House at Fairfield Hills on the night of November 1, following an emotional public hearing on proposed zoning regulations on horse keeping. Well, the crowd got so restless that someone blew an electronic whistle in the building in an apparently attempt to disperse the group. It apparently worked. The folks then walked outside where they milled about for quite a while as the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting proceeded in relative calm.
âIâd heard about Toronto, but I never realized what a nice place it is.â Thatâs the view of Police Chief Michael Kehoe, who last week attended an international conference for police chiefs held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The International Association of Chiefs of Police conference had a focus on terrorism in the modern world, according to Chief Kehoe.
After passing a written exam last week at the high school, about 40 police patrol officer job candidates are scheduled to put on their running shorts this Saturday morning and make some laps around the Newtown High School track as part of the physical agility component in the testing for two police officer jobs. Iâve heard of bike patrols, but now maybe NPD will be in a position to institute jogging patrols around town. Weâll have to look for a Spandex line item in the police budget this year.
I guess Iâve stretched things out, Spandex and all, about as far as I can this week, but Iâll be snapping back for more next week, so be sure toâ¦
Read me again.