Date: Fri 26-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Mountain-Year-2000-Y2K

Full Text:

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN for 2/26

I'm beginning to get a little worried about the Year 2000. People I actually

know are beginning to stockpile food and supplies against the eventuality of

having civilization come apart at the seams on January 1 next year. And these

are people not generally prone to paranoia; they are reasonable, prudent

folks, for the most part.

For example, Jerry Valenta just fired up his new home generator last week. He

bought it with the Y2K problems in mind, but he says that mostly he doesn't

like being cold, and the power has gone out enough at his Sandy Hook home over

the years to make the purchase worthwhile in any event. Other people I know

say they plan to hoarde everything from cash to gasoline in the next ten

months. Perhaps I should start setting aside kitty litter in case things start

to get really bad next January. If it's cold and dark, the last thing I'm

going to want to do is go outside when nature calls.

Paul Hoffman almost got stuck outside with his kids on a cold dark night last

weekend. Paul got to play the bachelor dad when his wife, Debbie, was out of

town on a business trip. Paul took care of dinner with the kids by making a

quick trip to Mexicali Rose. Dinner went well, and the evening looked like a

great success until they got home, and Paul realized that he had locked

himself out of the house. He was getting ready to break in when he remembered

he had left a key with a neighbor. That was his good luck. His bad luck was

that the neighbor decided to share the story with me.

There were tears of sadness and joy following the Markettes' final halftime

show of the year at the Newtown High School boys' basketball game Monday

night. "It was very emotional for all the seniors," said senior Emily

Hitchison. The all-girl dance group used to be part of the NHS band, but

became a separate entity three years ago after school officials said its

outfits, which had been worn for more than a decade, were too revealing. The

group got new uniforms and continued to perform, but without a formal

affiliation with the band. The Markettes take their performances and their

role in raising school spirit very seriously; they practice three times a

week.

You may remember Amy Youngs from a feature The Bee did on her a few years ago

when she was a Peace Corps volunteer. Well, Amy was back in the public eye

this week when she was selected to appear on national television in Live With

Regis and Kathie Lee Wednesday morning for a "makeover" segment on the show.

We always thought Amy was great just the way she was, but I guess everyone

could use an extra dose of glamour every now and then.

Last week's Legislative Council meeting went remarkably fast, a real change of

pace for this group. Some figured it was because Melissa Pilchard, the

council's most talkative member, had temporarily taken over the chairman's

seat from Pierre Rochman, who was absent. The town charter states that the

chairman is supposed to refrain from discussion on issues and should speak

only as moderator for the meeting. Pierre shouldn't stay away too long or

Melissa might be elevated to the chairmanship by acclamation.

Town Engineer Ron Bolmer and Administrative Aid Carole Ross are nearing the

completion of their second tour of duty on the town's municipal space needs

committee. Both are hoping the town will accept their proposed plan to address

space needs by adding on to Main Street. If not, the two town employees have

made it clear this is their last run, so don't blame Carole or Ron if town

hall ends up somewhere in Newark, NJ.

Julia Wasserman, who usually grouses when her duties as a state legislator

require that her picture be taken, was really quite accommodating to a Bee

photographer this week who wanted to get her picture by one of the new signs

on the bypass road which designate it as "Wasserman's Way." In case she is

challenged again in her next election by Charles Noe, who ran against her last

year, she may want to use the photo as a subtle reminder to voters that

choosing an alternative to her incumbency would be "Noe Way" to go.

Well, it's time for me to be on my way. I've got to go start stocking up on

kitty litter. But I'll be back next week, so be sure to...

Read me again.