Date: Fri 25-Aug-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Mountain-fireflies-Burger

Full Text:

I don't know about you, but I've noticed some pretty basic pleasure of summer

are missing this year. Like the Perseid meteor shower. And fireflies. Where

are those blinking beetles? Has it been too hot, too dry for them to flash

their beacons?

I'm especially disappointed about the lack of fireflies because I just found

out how to attract them using a pen light. The latest newsletter of the

National Science Foundation says male fireflies blink every seven seconds;

females answer with one flash. If you get a penlight and flash it for half a

second two seconds after the male flashes , he will answer. Repeat your signal

and he'll be over to visit. Not having been able to try this yet, I can't

guarantee results. But if your kids manage to capture some of these elusive

bugs, blow through the holes in the lid and watch the fireflies light up.

Bioluminescence is produced when air flows into a lamp-like tail section.

I guess everybody has his own idea about fun. Bob Berger for example is really

having a great time experimenting with computer fonts and layout in order to

make the Senior Center newsletter, Flagpole Folio, catch the eye of its

readers. Bob, who has taught continuing ed computer classes in the past, now

volunteers his time to create the newsletter.

Pat Anzellotti and her husband, Rudy, have found that fun can be profitable.

During a recent visit to Ledyard, they really cleaned up - Pat at the dollar

electronic slot machines and her husband at the tables. If you don't see her

at the dog pound you'll know she's either back at the casino, or has hit the

jackpot and isn't coming back.

So many people have called the town clerk's office this week inquiring about

the auditions for the movie Sleepers , which are scheduled to take place in

the Alexandria Room on Monday afternoon, that the clerks are having a hard

time getting anything else done. (Don't call their office - the arrangements

were made by the Board of Managers office.) There have been calls from many

surrounding towns and one woman even showed up this Monday with several

teenagers, thinking the auditions were this week.

Speaking of budding stars, Jillian Lippman's family is excited because she got

a letter recently informing her that she is a winner in California Cosmetics'

1995 Spokeswoman Search. She was one of ten people selected nationwide whose

photographs will appear in the makeup company's fall '95 SilkSkin catalogue.

The company was started by Bob Sydell, the makeup artist for television shows

like Dynasty, and Jillian says she has been using the skin care products since

she saw them advertised on an " informational " on television about six years

ago. When she ordered a product last year, she received an invitation to enter

the competition by sending a photo and a small blurb about why she likes using

the products. The company was looking for " regular people, " not professional

models. " I told them about how I was in Las Vegas last year playing a slot

machine when two security guards approached me, and sternly told me to step

away from the machine and produce identification, " she said. " I was really

confused because I couldn't figure out what I had done wrong. You should have

seen their faces when they discovered that I was almost 45. They thought I was

underage and were carding me! "

Jillian confessed that the women in her family all tend to look much younger

than their actual age so it's not just the skin care products that do the

trick. But she was delighted to receive a thank you gift of about $200 worth

of the company's products and she's hoping that even if she doesn't wind up on

the catalogue cover - which is a possibility - she may be selected to go to

California to do an informercial. The company is located just a town away from

where the Lippmans used to live before they moved to Newtown about ten years

ago so it would give her an opportunity to visit a lot of friends.

Bob Cascella became an uncle for the first time this week when his brother

Tony's wife, Chris, had a baby girl last Saturday morning. Of course, Bob says

he has 13 or 14 " adopted " nieces and nephews, the children of his wife,

Sue's, siblings.

Happy birthday wishes to Sonnie Lippman, intrepid salad girl at My Place, who

will be 15 on September 3.

This week Kathi Sorrentino, her daughter, Samantha, 3, and Samantha's

grandfather came to The Bee with this beautiful rust-colored cat, possibly a

Himalayan, which is a stray but obviously once belonged to someone who took

very good care of it.

Kathi rescued the cat, which was going to be destroyed, two and a half weeks

ago but she can't keep it because her own pets, two cats and a dog, won't

accept it.

" This cat deserves better, " she said. " He's definitely used to the finer

things in life, so I can't leave him outdoors. " here's his photo (you can see

Samantha in the background).

The cat is between one and two years old, has been neutered, has just had all

his shots, and is playful and very handsome. Kathi says he is obviously used

to being handled by children and being around other cats and dogs. Anyone who

is interested in adopting him should call Kathi at 426-6327.

Don't forget The Bee's 10K Race this Saturday morning. It starts at 9 am sharp

at Dickinson Town Park - so be there to cheer the runners on. I'll be running.

I hope I'm not too exhausted after the run to get a column out for next week.

If you're lucky, you'll get to...

Read me again.