Date: Fri 01-Dec-1995

By KAAREN VALENTA

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Claire-Bannister-antiques

Full Text:

w/photo Shop Marks A New Chapter In Claire Bannister's Life and Career

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

"The first time I saw Newtown, I fell in love with it. Main Street says hello

and wraps itself around you."

For Claire Bannister, Newtown was the perfect spot to build the new American

headquarters for Gordon Fraser, the English greeting card company, in the late

1960s. Now, years later, she has opened another business, Claire Bannister

Collection, Antiques Consignment, at 85 South Main Street, next to Galerie

Van-Os, in the white frame house which formerly was the site of the Fashion

Exchange before that business relocated earlier this year.

A lot has happened since Claire Bannister left Gordon Fraser in 1989 when the

business was sold to another English card company. She began designing a

greeting card collection for an American company, C.R. Gibson, and built her

dream house in Brookfield, a house that was featured in the June 1995 issue of

Victorian Home magazine.

But a near-fatal automobile accident in 1993 left Claire Bannister in a coma

with a traumatic brain injury which required years of rehabilitation, first at

the Gaylord Rehabilitation Institute and then at Datahr.

"The doctor told my children that I wouldn't make it," Ms Bannister recalled.

"My children told the doctor, `You don't know our mother.'"

Now fully recovered except for an errant eye which she fashionably conceals

with sunglasses, Claire Bannister is enthusiastic about her future. Her

flamboyant personality - she starred in radio soap operas - and 23 years of

experience with Gordon Fraser mesh well with her new career.

"I wanted to keep myself active and involved," she said. "I like antiques

shops. In my travels around the world with Gordon Fraser, I always went into

the shops I saw. Now I have one of my own."

Besides consignment antiques, the shop stock includes classic reproductions,

gift items and cards. A dining room table in the front showroom is set with

china and crystal; the walls are filled with mirrors, needlepoint, and framed

and unframed prints and paintings. Dresser sets, silk flowers, old tins,

intricately carved and inlaid boxes, candlesticks, antique and reproduction

silver accessories and jewelry, statuary and other treasures fill the rooms on

both floors of the building.

"Not pricey but tasteful," Ms Bannister says, describing the stock which

includes such bargains as gold and mirror-encrusted pens priced at just $2. "I

have greeting cards and gifts but I'm not in conflict with Gordon Fraser - I

wanted to do something different from what I did for so many years with that

company."

"I used to go to England every year but haven't been there since the

accident," she said. "While I was at Datahr, one of my therapists was Patrick

Mahoney, a young man who is now my associate here. We're having a good time

starting this business. We laugh a lot - laughter is a very good thing."

Claire Bannister Collection, Antiques Consignment, is open Tuesday through

Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from noon to 5. Closed Monday. For

information, call 270-6255 or fax 740-8905.

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 01-Dec-1995

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