Date: Fri 18-Dec-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Sarah-Mannix-90th-birthday

Full Text:

Newtown Helps Sarah Mannix Mark A Milestone

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Sarah Mannix has a sign hanging in her greenhouse that reads, "bloom where you

are planted." Indeed, her life reflects that statement.

The lifelong Newtown resident celebrated her 90th birthday last week and was

honored by the Democratic Town Committee at a surprise party.

Mrs Mannix still lives on the property along South Main Street where her

father, James Farrell, was born. She has spent the past nine decades working

to help children, plants and the community bloom.

As First Selectman Herb Rosenthal's proclamation states, "Mrs Mannix has given

so much of herself to all around her, thereby enriching our community."

Mrs Mannix said people often ask her why she decided to stay in Newtown,

rather than explore life in some other part of the world. Her answer is

simple: Newtown is my home, and it's been a good place to live a life well

spent.

"The best thing about Newtown is the people -- the people you've known for

years. The way of life," she said during a recent interview. "You have your

share of things -- good and bad -- that go with a town. But still, it's a

pretty nice place to live."

Mrs Mannix served as vice chairman and a member of the Edmond Town Hall Board

of Managers for 38 years. She has also given generously of her time to the

Democratic Party and to the political scene in Newtown.

"Sarah Mannix has brightened many lives over the years with her beautiful

flowers and her equally beautiful smile," the proclamation states.

Mrs Mannix graduated from Hawley School (then the high school) in the late

1920s, then attended the Connecticut Froebel Normal School, a private school

in Bridgeport, which trained women to be teachers for kindergarten and the

primary grades. Soon after, she started a private kindergarten, affectionately

known to townspeople as "Miss Farrell's kindergarten."

After she married Bill Mannix in 1944, Mrs Mannix stopped Miss Farrell's

School and drove a school bus for the next 35 years. Her husband, who worked

in the post office, was from New Haven and planned to stay in Newtown

temporarily. However, he too soon fell in love with the town and lived here

until his death in 1969.

Mrs Mannix was always fond of flowers. In 1954, she wrote for a greenhouse

catalogue and one day, a salesman from the company came to visit and offered

to sell her a small greenhouse. She jumped at the opportunity and wasted

little time filling it with beautiful African violets. She and her husband

eventually erected two more greenhouses on the property and grew all different

types of plants and flowers. Over the years she spent a lot of time developing

her flower shop into a popular business.

At 90, Mrs Mannix is still going strong. She still has her hand on the pulse

of the town, even as it grows into something far different from the small town

she remembers.

Years ago, Mrs Mannix was often seen driving her motorcycle around town.

Betty Lou Osborne has known Sarah for more than 50 years. The two spent many

years together as members of the Town Hall Board of Managers. She called her

close friend a tremendous asset to the town.

"She's sort of an extended member of our family. She's so much a part of the

town," Mrs Osborne said. "Sarah has a feeling for the town and for the people.

It's rare to have that kind of loyalty. She's just a very special person."

Mrs Mannix still drives the little red Plymouth she won in a raffle at the St

Rose Carnival a few years back.

"She just loves that car. She toots around in it and is still a confident

driver," Mrs Osborne said.

Down in Florida, you will often see Sarah on the beach with rod and reel.

"She's quite a gal -- always a lot of fun. She's very special to us all," Mrs

Osborne said.