Date: Fri 26-Dec-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Mountain-Christmas

Full Text:

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

Of all the Christmas traditions that have grown up throughout the years, I

think the one I like best is the custom of leaving Santa Claus a couple of

cookies and a glass of milk on Christmas eve. When else does a cat get a

chance like this, when everyone retires and no one is stirring, not even the

mice, and there lies low at child's eye level unattended milk and cookies? I

must say that being Santa's little helper on these special occasions has been

very gratifying for me over the years.

Speaking of holiday treats, here's a new idea for a holiday or cold-weather

drink that ranks right up there with hot-buttered rum, eggnog and English

wassail (whatever that is!). Down at the "Chat House" ( chat , I might add, is

French for cat) on Church Hill Road, owner Al Doceti is serving up something

wonderful called "Gilly's Hot Vanilla."

This drink is so smooth and creamy you'll be licking your whiskers and going

back for more. It has no caffeine and no chocolate and almost no calories

(well, only 160). Just add water and foam. It comes in three flavors: plain,

strawberry or butterscotch. You can let Al make your Hot Vanilla to drink

there, or you can bring it home pre-packaged in powder form to have later in

front of a roaring fire. Hot Vanilla. Remember that name. It's a drink, not a

rock band.

Longtime Newtown bus driver Gary Wheeler has always received dozens of gifts

from students during the holiday season. Parents and kids alike have always

enjoyed his off-beat sense of humor. This year, however, Gary, who drives bus

number 4, asked his student/passengers to instead give their gifts to the

needy.

Gary has been taking the gifts over to the stuff-a-bus drive in Danbury.

Firefighters from all five companies were sent to a home on Mount Pleasant

Road for what was described as a structure fire. However, when firefighters

arrived, all they found was a man burning wooden pallets. He had a burning

permit, as well, so firefighters weren't even able to extinguish the small

blaze.

Think everyone closes on Christmas Day? Well, there is one business that will

be open -- the Sandy Hook Deli, which will be open until 2 pm. How about that

for dedication?

Al Boyson sure is dedicated to his '89 Chevy pick-up truck. He claims it is

only just now getting good and broken in. The truck has 130,000 miles on it,

much of it behind a snowplow. The truck did show a little premature aging last

summer when the battery finally went dead.

No one ever needs to recharge Irma Carpenter on New Year's Eve. She has always

managed a big celebration, since December 31 is her birthday. Next Wednesday

night, Irma will be celebrating her 94th birthday.

Bill Brimmer stopped at The Bee this week to pick up an engagement

announcement form for his daughter Kelley, 26, who is planning to marry a fine

young man (according to Bill) named Patrick Flynn. Bill says that he and

Barbara already have begun to count their pennies to pay for the upcoming

nuptials. With the wedding and Bill's new (unpaid) job as selectman, it's

going to be an interesting year in the Brimmer household.

I went to Newtown Hardware on Tuesday to pick up some catnip and a new

scratching post and nearly got trampled by the crowd of shoppers. The hardware

store was really a busy place. Besides the shoppers picking up sand and salt

to combat slick sidewalks and driveways after the storm, the store also was

crowded with shoppers looking at power tools and other items to give relatives

on their Christmas gift lists. One of the hottest items this year wasn't even

hardware. It was Don Cruson's book, Newtown . Eighty copies sold out in almost

no time.

A new supply of the books is expected in shortly at the hardware store, but if

you can't wait, you can pick up a copy at The Book Review in Sand Hill Plaza.

The book really is fantastic, and because it's mostly pictures, even a cat can

read it. It assembles in one place so many of the old photos of Newtown that

have been hidden away in files, drawers, and attics. You gotta get one.

In this, the wonderful afterglow of Christmas, everyone deserves a long

winter's nap, but before you nod off, set your alarm clocks so you get up in

time to...

Read me again.