Date: Fri 16-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Mountain-leaves

Full Text:

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

This weekend promises to be a great leaf-peeping weekend if the promised

sunshine and mild temperatures actually do come to pass. Wear your earplugs,

though. Between the traffic and the leaf blowers, it's hard to hear yourself

think on a fine October weekend. Gone are the days of the gentle swish, swish,

swish of the leaf rake and the intoxicating smell of the burning leaf pile.

You can't burn leaves anymore -- it's not good for the environment. It's far

better to power up those gasoline burning engines to a steady roar so they can

whip, chop, and puree those leaves so they can be put in plastic bags and

carted off somewhere to decompose.

Fortunately, there are still some people who have a feel for the natural

world. A resident of the Boggs Hill Road and Route 302 area stopped by

recently to say how much she has enjoyed the garden planted under the sign at

the intersection. It seems that Jonathan Aragones of Boggs Hill Road has been

tending the small parcel of land at the corner and planted the flowers that

passers by have enjoyed throughout the summer.

The Legislative Council sat down together last week for the first time since

early August. Some members needed a refresher course on names. Chairman Pierre

Rochman accidentally called Peg Baiad, "Peg Daley." At least you got the first

name right, Pierre.

John Diftal went down to Monroe last week on the morning Big Mouth Eddie's

opened in Monroe, and since he was one of the first ten customers through the

door, he got a $25 gift certificate as a welcoming gift. Most of the stuff in

the store is a dollar or less, so his prize added up to quite an unexpected

haul.

Joan Bowers announced that a food drive is taking place at Nunnawauk Meadows

during the months of October and November. Anyone wishing to help support the

local food pantry for needy families may bring non-perishable food items to

the Activity Building at Nunnawauk Meadows and leave them in the boxes that

have been set out for that purpose.

My condolences go out to Newtown resident David McCauley, who lost his long

time horse, Sage, this past weekend. Sage was 24. Mr McCauley is an active

member of the Newtown Bridle Lands Association.

Bill and Jean Honan were off to Spain this week to get a taste of that warm

October air in Madrid. Bill said he probably won't head down to Pamplona to

take part in the "running of the bulls."

Speaking of bull, everybody's saying that all the shenanigans in Washington,

D.C. will probably keep voters away from the polls this year. If you want to

prove them wrong, and if you still haven't registered, stop by the

voter-making session at the Registrars of Voters office in Edmond Town Hall

Saturday morning between 10 am to 2 pm.

You can also sign up to vote during regular office hours at the town clerk's

office during the week. While you're there you can spend $7 on the new

Connecticut Association of Town Clerk's Cookbook. The recipes come from the

secret vaults of town clerks all over the state -- except Newtown. The local

clerks forgot to send their entries this year. However, Sue Shpunt has

volunteered to divulge the secrets of her exotic Rice Krispies Bars to anyone

who asks. If you twist her arm, she might also give you her jealously guarded

boiled egg recipe.

Mae Schmidle said she plans to bring her magnifying glass and Sherlock Holmes

hat to Friday night's murder mystery at the Fireside Inn. The fundraising

event is being put on by the Republican Town Committee.

Newtown lost two opera lovers this week when Gordon and Fran Shogren moved to

Orlando. The Shogrens were very active when Newtown used to bring operas to

the Newtown High School stages back in the 1980s. The couple lived on Echo

Valley Road for the past 15 years.

The members of the Newtown Board of Realtors, all 20,000 of them, showed up

for a year-end picture at The Pleasance on Tuesday afternoon, just as the

gentle mist started to turn to a steady rain. The Bee photographer coaxed them

out of the gazebo and arranged the large crowd on a knoll so they all could be

seen. As he prepared to take the picture, he realized he was out of film. The

rain picked up a little in intensity, and so did the exhortations from the

back rows of well-coifed realtors to hurry things up. The picture was snapped

after a quick film change, and everyone managed to smile, despite the rain.

Next year, the Newtown Board of Realtors will celebrate its 40th year, and

they have already reserved some sunshine for next year's year-end picture.

No need to make reservations for next week's column. Just show up, same time,

same place, and...

Read me again.