Date: Fri 15-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

snapshot-Dorothy-Kelly

Full Text:

Snapshot for November 15 Issue: Dorothy Kelly

Occupation: Hairstylist. I just do it for myself - I go to some elderly

people's houses. One lady, I've been doing for 14 years. I used to work in

Brookefield. Before that, at the Danbury Hat Factory - my job was dusting

hats.

How long in Newtown: 33 years. Basically, I've been here all my life. My

parents still live in the house in Sandy Hook [where I grew up]. My daughter

has some of the teachers I had in the Middle School. The secretary at Sandy

Hook School is the same as when I was there.

Biggest change in Newtown: Of course, all the development, the congestion of

traffic. You used to be able to drive right through town... And you used to

know everybody. Now you don't know anybody. There's not enough for older kids,

teens. There used to be more activities. Teens are kind of lost. They do have

the Garage, but I don't know if that's a place for everybody. A lot of parents

work, so you don't have parents volunteering as much anymore. This was a real

small town. My biggest beef is the town has to think more about the people who

are already here, rather than those coming and going. We need to think more

about the younger people and older people. It's sad that you can't afford to

live in the same town you grew up in. And we need more parent volunteers - one

hour a week is not too much to ask. We need more family and parent

participation. You can't just pawn it off on someone else.

Family: Married for 15 years to Marty. I have Megan, 11, and Dillon 2«. My

parents are Mae and Bob Hein; I have two sisters and two brothers - all live

and work in town except my ssiter who lives in Southbury.

Pets: A bird - a cockatoo - named Angel, and a fish. We've always been fish

lovers. The cockatoo says "hello" and "good morning," but they are more

affectionate than talkers.

Hobbies: I do all kinds of stuff: ceramics, arts and crafts, folk art

painting, needlework... Just about any crafty thing, I can make. And

line-dancing - that's good, fun exercise. We are real big campers. We go for

two weeks up to Maine, and weekends go to Kettletown or other campgrounds. My

husband takes me out for rides on his motorcycle.

Favorite place to camp: Ellsworth, Maine, near Bar Harbor. We camp on a lake

up there.

Organizations: Girl Scouts. I've been a leader off and on for seven years; and

a registered Girl Scout for probably 22 years. The PTA, and I volunteer for

Pop Warner.

Favorite place outdoors in Newtown: Lake Zoar because I was raised there. Just

seeing water is relaxing. That's another thing that has changed - it used to

be clear water.

Do you like to read: Yes. I read. I'm not a big TV person. I like historical

novels. I like the history aspect of learning; I was never really good at

history and dates when I was in school. Learning through a story is a whole

lot better. I've liked Auel's books: Valley Of The Horses, Clan Of The Cave

Bear , that whole series was just wonderful. I'm still waiting for the next

one to come out.

Favorite hairstyle: The bob. It's a good hairstyle for a lot of people. It's a

good, no-fuss hairstyle that can be put up and set. It's versatile.

Personal philosophy: I always believe everything you do comes back to you. If

it's meant to be, it will be, no matter what. I don't think people make their

destiny - I think it's already there.