Date: Fri 16-Jan-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Booth-Library-Jennie-Bruen

Full Text:

At The Library: Powder Rooms Get A Flowery Treatment

BY DOROTHY EVANS

So what's the deal with the men's bathrooms in the new Cyrenius H. Booth

Library?

Why don't the guys get to have flowers on their walls, like the girls do?

Longtime Newtown resident and mural artist Jennifer Bruen said she has nothing

against the library's male patrons. But she figured any creative efforts spent

in their behalf might not be appreciated.

"It would be wasted on them. They probably wouldn't even notice," said Ms

Bruen, known as Jenny, as she laid on a tiny dab of pale pink paint to finish

up the last rose in a decorative garland on the upper wall behind the wash

basin in the main floor ladies powder room.

Ms Bruen, working quickly because it was Friday, January 9, the day before the

Gala and Grand Opening weekend, planned to do another similar decorative

enhancement for the upstairs ladies room.

Both would be a part of her contribution to the new addition.

A lifelong Newtown resident, Jenny Bruen graduated from Newtown High School

with the Class of 1975.

Although she traveled to California, Florida and Georgia, she "ended up back

here" and maintains a studio on Hundred Acres Road from which she designs

custom floral or mural wall decorations for area clients.

One of her more recent projects was a wall mural and archway enhancements at

the recently relocated and remodeled My Place Restaurant on Church Hill Road.

Jenny very much enjoys living and working in her hometown and wanted to

contribute "something" to the new library building that people would enjoy,

she said.

She is glad the town has grown and looks forward to the Big Y coming in, but

hopes the rate of growth won't continue at such a rapid pace.

"Change is basically good, but let's stop soon!" she joked.