Date: Fri 07-Feb-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: LIBRAR

Quick Words:

Mountain-wasserman

Full Text:

Mountain For February 7

Will Rogers used to say that folks get the same feeling when the legislature

is in session as they get when the baby gets hold of a hammer. Somehow, this

quip came to mind when State Rep Julia Wasserman showed up in the office this

week with a metal splint on the middle finger of her right hand. I though

maybe the baby with the hammer somehow got elected last November and was

actually in the legislature.

But Julia says no. She says she broke the finger two weeks ago as she was out

walking the dog at night. She looked up at the night sky and before she knew

it, she was flat on her back in the driveway, which, as she learned too late,

was covered with ice. Other than the broken finger, Julia says she survived

the mishap in pretty good shape.

Julia claims the splint is not hampering her work as state representative,

although I've heard some wags suggest the middle finger is invaluable in

dealing with the state bureaucracy.

Meanwhile, school administrators are having their own problems with winter

weather. Mindful of the oil bill, they have been adhering strictly to Building

and Grounds instructions regarding thermostat settings, which must remain at

68§ F. during school operating hours.

But as Board of Education members found out Tuesday night, thermostats don't

always take into account the inherent draftiness of some places, like the

large board conference room that has four curtain-less windows. Those metal

Venetian blinds were not holding much heat, either.

After braving a light snowfall outside, board members came into Tuesday

night's meeting already feeling a bit chilled - and it didn't get any warmer

as the budget deliberations wore on.

"My hands are cold, my nose is cold!" complained board member Peggy

Ulrich-Nims.

Susan Hills was more stoic. She said nothing but got up from the table to put

on her heavy overcoat.

"I just thought I was doing what everyone wanted me to!" said Superintendent

of Schools John Reed as he trudged back to his office to fetch his trusty

digital thermometer - just as Assistant Superintendent Bob Kuklis predicted he

would do - and placed it on the table in front of school board chairman, Herb

Rosenthal. It looked suspiciously like an ice pick.

By the end of the meeting Dr Reed's thermometer read 70.1§ F., but board

members remained unconvinced.

The Newtown Health & Fitness Club's Thursday night men's basketball league

kicked off its season last week, a few months later than usual. Nevertheless,

the diehards were all on hand as things got underway. The six teams are

expected to be battling it out on the hardwood until late May, which is about

the same time the National Basketball Association's season comes to a close.

That, by the way, is the only thing the two leagues have in common.

Now that your shoebox is full of W2 forms, interest and dividend statements,

and all the little receipts you have squirreled away over the past year,

instead of dumping it all out on the kitchen table for an extended session of

pencil chewing and math anxiety, why not take it over to the Booth Library's

temporary quarters in Shelton House at Fairfield Hills where an income tax

assistance volunteer will help you organize the mess? The Volunteer Income Tax

Assistance (VITA) program is available to taxpayers free of charge every

Tuesday, through April 8, from 1 and 4:30 pm. No appointments are necessary.

Most tax forms are also available at the library.

The Second Marine Division Association is looking for any person who served

with, or was attached to the division at any time, for its next reunion which

will be held in Boston on September 1-6. For more information, contact Gerard

Bloutin at 1 Livingston Drive, Peabody, MA 01960-3419, or call him at

508/535-4066.

The flag has been flying high at Edmond Town Hall to raise money for the

installation of lights at the high school stadium. For a $10 donation, you can

have the flag flown in anyone's honor. On January 26, the flag was flown for

the 16th birthday of Pat Kelley. The Barillari family had it flown on February

1 in honor of the employees at Dunkin' Donuts, and it was flown on February 3

for the Barillari family.

Recipients receive a special proclamation indicating when the flag was flown

in their honor. For more information about this fund-raiser call the first

selectman's office at 270-4201.

For all of you who forgot to send me a Valentine's Day card last year, don't

forget that there's just one week left to make amends this year. Also, don't

forget to...

Read me again.