Date: Fri 30-Jan-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Mountain-groundhog-day

Full Text:

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

This is the time of year when another furry creature hogs the limelight with

extravagant claims of long-range weather prognostication skills. I'm talking

about that uppity groundhog Punxatawney Phil of course, and his confusing

little ritual of looking at his shadow.

I never did understand what the deal is with the shadow. If he sees it, there

are six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see it, spring is right around the

corner, right? I don't get it. Even the worst case scenario puts the end of

winter sometime in the middle of March. When was the last time winter ended in

March? So he's wrong every year. Why do people still pay attention to him?

Obviously, I don't put much faith in prognosticating rodents. I prefer the

kind that don't hibernate, which reminds me of a song I used to know that goes

like this.

Love them little mousies,

Mousies what I love to eat,

Bite they little heads off,

Nibble on they tiny feet!

Ummm, ummm, good.

Speaking of gustatory delights, while I was out one afternoon this week

checking on the progress of construction at the shopping center on Queen

Street, Mike Nieman stopped at The Bee to drop off some of his homemade

chicken soup. I wasted no time in trying it and can assure everyone that it is

worth the long hours Mike spends boning chickens, and chopping onions, celery,

carrots and potatoes.

Two groups were meeting in the Booth Library Monday night when someone

apparently tried to come in through the front door, setting off the building's

burglar alarm. The Newtown police came, of course, but so did library director

Janet Woycik, who arrived from home in her pajamas (covered discreetly by a

coat), to turn off the alarm and reset it.

Julia Elizabeth Monaco will always be remembered for her good timing. She was

born on Super Bowl Sunday at about 1 pm, less than 15 minutes after her

parents, Mandy and Bill Monaco, arrived at the hospital. Bill was able to get

home in time for the game; Mandy and Julia came home Tuesday.

Building Official Albert Brinley showed a lighter side this week, delivering

bagels and donuts with a smile to the first selectman's office Wednesday

morning. This is Mr Brinley's last week on the job.

Greenways Committee Chairman Gary Fetzer met with the Board of Selectmen

Monday night to discuss the progress his committee has made over the past

year. The group is looking to piece together open space throughout town for

the eventual development of a trail system from one end of town to the other.

Mr Fetzer joked about the irony of his role in Greenways. "It's kind of funny,

I'm a motorcyclist and I'm allergic to horses," he said.

The Chamber of Commerce of Newtown held its annual dinner dance last Saturday

at the Stony Hill Inn. As it turned out, everyone was a winner. There were

nearly 70 door prizes from various area businesses, so everyone who paid $5

for a ticket was guaranteed to win something. Almost all of the prizes were

worth more than the $5 entry fee.

Queen Street Shopping Center has never had the best parking lot in the world,

but with the recent move of Dunkin' Donuts to its new location, visitors to

the coffee shop are more confused than ever about where to park. There are no

parking space lines directly in front of the store yet, so some improvised

parking is being done. It's hard enough for people to cope in the morning

before they get their first blast of coffee at Dunkin' Donuts. I hope it's not

too long before the lines are drawn so everybody can find a space without too

much confusion.

All eyes will be on the TV this weekend at Michele Hogan's house. The Bee's

education reporter was looking through TV Guide this week to find the exact

listing, but on Saturday morning FOX-TV will be airing a program called Erie,

Indiana . After taking a few years off, Michele's sister, Julie, has returned

to her career as a costume designer, and her latest project was working on the

program FOX will be airing this weekend.

Did anyone else notice how Jewel started singing before her lips started to

move as she sang the National Anthem at the Super Bowl? Neat trick, eh? Anyone

paying close attention this week will notice that this entire column was

lip-synched. If you didn't notice this time, you're just going to have to...

Read me again.