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TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

Now that the town has agreed to buy the string of houses and properties along

Queen Street, the rush is on to come up with some good uses for this prime

real estate.

I've heard that a lot of the area farms are innundated with cats since people

still think that it's OK to drop cats off wherever there's a barn. I can tell

you right now that living in a barn with cows or horses isn't that much fun

for creatures that like to nap undisturbed as much as cats do. I think the

town should turn some of these houses over to homeless cats, so they can

catnap the whole day through on windowsills, radiators, and on sunny

bookshelves without having to worry about a hoof descending rudely on their

dreams. This issue should be a high priority for the town.

I don't know where they stand on this cat issue, but talk of town issues has

always been a staple in the Pilchard household. Both Melissa and Chuck have

been active in town affairs for years. But now that Chuck is serving on the

Police Commission as Melissa continues her long tenure on the Legislative

Council, the dinner conversation, though always cordial, can be downright

adversarial at times.

For example, Chuck noted on as stormy night not too long ago that it seemed

like town trucks were going up and down the street in front of their house so

often that it was sure to be costing the town money that might be better spent

on, say, police services. Melissa noted, however, that if the roads weren't

cleared, sanded and salted so conscientiously, there would be more accidents

and then the police would be racking up the overtime -- money that might

better be spent on, say, making the roads safer for the public. The debate

went on into the night, and we expect the issue still hasn't been resolved in

the Pilchard household.

Sledding with the kids always seems like a pleasant enough diversion on a

snowy afternoon, at least that's what Maryann Adams thought. That was until

the inner tube she was sliding on tried to re-install itself on her parked

car. Both Maryann and the car survived the collision without any lasting

damage.

Bea Potter was back in town for a visit last week. Bea, who lives in

California now, caught up with a lot of her old Newtown friends at last

Sunday's service at the Newtown Congregational Church.

I don't think anyone was more disappointed by the loss of the New York Jets to

the Denver Broncos in the NFL's AFC championship game last Sunday than James

Busby, The Bee's pressman. James eats and sleeps Jets football, so the

pressroom crew didn't know what to expect when James showed up for work on

Monday. They were ready, though. They greeted him at the door with a brand new

box of tissues.

The Newtown High School Band Parents are selling $5 cards that provide

discounts at 19 area businesses. The cards can be used repeatedly during 1999

so users will quickly save more than their initial investment in the card. All

proceeds from the sale of the card will help the high school marching,

concert, symphonic and jazz bands, the color guard, winter percussion, and

brass groups. Cards are available by calling Nada Adler at 426-3720, Ellen

Hopkins at 426-1341, or Jan Bennett at 426-3368.

I heard that ambulance corps member Debbie Aubin received an award from the

Northwest EMS Region for her dedication and service in coordinating the first

responder program with the volunteer fire companies in Newtown. That program

trained firefighters to be medical response technicians (MTRs) who can give

CPR and use defibrillators on heart attack victims.

Newtown Middle School boys' basketball coach Gino LoRicco was forced to put a

skeleton crew on the floor for Tuesday's game against Whisconier Middle School

of Brookfield. The Lions usually suit up a small army of players (about 25)

for each game. However, colds, flus and a couple of broken ankles kept 13 of

his players from making the game. Newtown lost the game.

Newtown High School graduate Cecily Tynan has been a big hit the past few

years as the morning weather forecaster on Philadelphia's WPVI-TV Channel 6.

All next week, Cecily will be filling in on the national morning program, Good

Morning America. Look for her on Channel 8 early Monday morning.

I've dropped a few hints to Cecily that Good Morning America could use a

gossip segment featuring a black cat. I'm still waiting for a call from ABC,

so for now it looks like you won't find me anywhere else but here, so be sure

to...

Read me again.