Date: Fri 17-Nov-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Mountain-Scholarship-Ball

Full Text:

MOUNTAIN FOR 11/17

The government may have shut down over money problems, but two Newtown kids

have found the secret to easy money. Newtown Middle School students Greg Maxon

and Adam Hopkins came out winners in the stock market game for People's

Securities. The students, who made the most money in the region for their age

group, invested a hypothetical $100,000 into stocks, and by the end of 10

weeks, they had $131,413. Greg and Adam contend they had no real system, but

that is what all the smart investors say.

If you're wondering what these active kids do when they grow up, take a look

at Tina LaRoche, who hails from Sandy Hook. She's now a member of the staff of

AmeriCorps, working in California on various community projects. She recently

helped lead a group that refurbished a school garden at the Eagle Rock

Elementary School in Los Angeles. The group prepared new beds and planted fall

and winter food crops. The project was designed to educate the school children

and their parents about good nutrition and self-sufficiency.

This is the time of year when there isn't much light of any kind around, so it

doesn't help that one of the lamps on the bridge in the middle of Sandy Hook

has been out for the past month or so. So, how many months does it take to

screw in a light bulb?

When the Taunton Lake Drive and Diamond Drive neighborhoods were under sewer

construction last winter and spring, it was pretty much like driving through a

world that didn't know pavement existed. Now that sewers have been installed,

and the roads have been rebuilt with smooth new surfaces, the only giveaway

that sewers are in place are the manhole covers positioned along the roads.

And speaking of "other worldly," Walnut Tree Village condominium units in

Sandy Hook have been popping up like mushrooms after an overnight June rain.

Now that sections of Walnut Tree Hill Road have been repaved after public

utility lines were installed there, a bright new yellow stripe has been

painted down the middle of the road, making it much easier to drive on the

narrow, winding street.

As heavy rains and high winds hit the town, sewering crews worked on this

week, installing sewer pipes, refilling trenches and laying down courses of

temporary asphalt pavement on the short resdiential streets which link South

Main Street to Queen Street. Wearing bright yellow slickers to be highly

visible to motorists and to stay dry, the sewer installers fought the elements

to continue working on the town's largest public works project ever.

Others in town were forced to brave the storm. Mae and Bob Schmidle and

several of their neighbors on Echo Valley Road lost their power for more than

three days as a result of Saturday night's storm. Mae said she wonders if she

has any friends left after using so many of their showers and eating meals at

their homes. But the worst part was not having running water for the toilets,

she said. Of course, the Schmidles have a fully operational, completely

restored outhouse behind their 1710 colonial but Mae said she didn't use it.

"Too cold," she insisted, "although I think Dad might have used it once - as a

joke."

Quite the puppet show on Wednedsay morning at Edmond Town Hall's auditorium.

Hundreds of tots from far and near attended the colorful event with their

parents in tow.

If you haven't started shopping, you better get off the mark - only 37 more

days til Christmas! All the local organizations are gearing up for the season:

the Festival of Trees, Tree Lighting at Ram Pasture, Holiday House Tour, many

cameo appearances by Santa, the Newtown Fund delivery of food and presents

(and maybe trees!) to less fortunate families, and other fun and worthwhile

events. Almost all are run by volunteers and even small donations of time or

money add up to big contributions. It's nice to be known as a town that gives

in a big way .

Also to our credit, are residents who demonstrated extraordinary talents. Like

Mary Ann and Tom Murtha who headed the Conga Line at last weekend's

Scholarship Ball at the Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury. Evidently, the

band, Bags Moran and the Bad Boys, managed to wear away the inhibitions of the

crowd at the annual benefit for the Newtown Scholarship Association. In fact

at one point Jim Morley got up and sang an operatic piece - a capella! Bill

Brimmer, not to be outdone, offered his own show-stopping rendition of "Mack

The Knife."

If you're a senior and you like to sing, you can still join the chorus every

Monday at 1 pm. Right now they're building up to a performance at the annual

Christmas Party at The Fireside Inn.

Speaking of singing and swinging, where has the Main Street/Church Hill Road

exercise woman disappeared to? This is the time of year when we all try to

forget how those delectable little Christmas cookies can ravage a waistline.

Maybe I should ask for a walkman and spandex suit for Christmas. Then, by

pussy footing around, I'm sure I could wangle a contract to do a sleek feline

video.

Ah, well. Turkey and pumpkin are almost within sight. Have a happy

Thanksgiving, everyone, and be sure to waddle back here to...

Read me again.