Date: Fri 13-Feb-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Mountain-Valentine's-Day

Full Text:

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

Here it is just hours before Valentine's Day, and I have yet to receive even a

single, solitary, lonesome little card in my mailbox. This is putting a real

dent in my fantasy that I have crowds of secret admirers out there just

brimming over with affection for a wise old black cat. Of course I have to

admit that I haven't sent any cards this year, and as they say, you get what

you give, you reap what you sow, etc, etc, etc.

So with that in mind I submit to all my readers this Valentine's Day wish:

If you wish you could be purring

Instead of feeling flat,

I don't mind inferring

That baby, I'm your cat

There. That should bring me some notes of admiration (or perhaps, protest).

Things were purring pretty good in the high school auditorium Sunday night

when Harmony Street and Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge performed in an

event sponsored by the Blue & Gold Booster Club. There was lots of

hand-clapping and feet tapping. The only thing that kept John Reed and Bill

Manfredonia in their seats was Mike Kelley's announcement that the fire

marshal had prohibited any dancing in the aisles.

There's been a great response in Newtown to the challenge by the millionaire

benefactor from Rhode Island who promises matching donations to food pantries

and soup kitchens, up to a total of $1 million at least. The Faith Food Pantry

in Sandy Hook has received $1,335 so far, including one check for $500. For

those who still want to help, checks must be for at least $25, must be dated

between February 4-14, and must be in the hands of the food pantry treasurer,

Nancy Taylor, by next Tuesday because she must submit copies for verification

on February 18. Checks should be made payable to the Faith Food Pantry and

sent c/o Taylor, 31 Zoar Road, Sandy Hook, 06482 in time for Nancy to make

copies of the checks and send the copies on February 18 to the millionaire.

The library is a great place for dummies. Mannequins, that is. If you have a

mannequin, male or female (but not the headless "dressmaker" forms), hanging

around in your attic, Booth Library curator Caroline Stokes is interested. She

says she could use some more mannequins to periodically exhibit the collection

of antique dresses and costumes in the library collection. Call the library,

426-1561, and let her know.

Books are always welcome at the library, too, especially donations for the

library's annual book sale. The collection is running well behind previous

years because the library was closed for so many months. Donations are

accepted anytime during library hours. Leave books on the lower level inside

the entrance doors, not by the front door. For big deliveries, come between 10

am and noon on Mondays and Thursdays when members of the Friends of the

Library are there sorting and pricing books and can help you carry them in

from your car. To arrange pickup for large orders, call Barbara Yarborough at

426-8995.

Janet Woycik discovered that the library had its biggest day ever,

circulationwise, on Super Bowl Sunday when 900 books were checked out. To

women and children, she wondered?

What are the odds of the following happening?

Two little girls, both named Haley Kean(e) and both Newtown residents, were

each listed in The Bee Birthday Album on the last two weeks.

The first was Haley Keane, age 7, born January 29, 1991. The second was Haley

Kean, age 1, born January 27, 1997. But for the e at the end of the older

Haley's name, their names would be identical. "Her birthday is so close. I was

probably in labor by then, and if I'd been two days earlier, I could have had

my Haley the same day!" said 7-year-old Haley Keane's mother, Joann Keane.

Meanwhile, Tracy Kean, mother of 1-year-old Haley, was trying to cope with the

cosmic ramifications of such a strange coincidence. It seems she had been out

of town in California the week when the other Haley was listed in The Bee

Birthday Album , and when she returned, friends said there was another little

girl in town with the same name. After seeing the picture of a more grown up

Haley Keane, she confessed to feeling a definite chill.

"I thought I was living in the twilight zone. It was like I was seeing a

picture of my daughter in the future!" said Mrs Kean.

I don't know about you, but by now I am totally confused. Some day soon, Mrs

Kean and Mrs Keane plan to get together and sort things out. Obviously, one of

them will have to drop or add an e to her daughter's last name.

When the Legislative Council learned it was to have its picture taken last

Wednesday night, several members playfully protested that they hadn't received

enough notice. If they had known sooner, they would have worn their best duds.

Nevertheless, all 12 of them smiled for the camera and the meeting continued.

I was at last week's Newtown High School boys' basketball game against Notre

Dame of Fairfield when a sudden roar went out from the crowd. It seems NHS

star Andrew Gellert had scored his 1,000th career point. He becomes only the

third boys' team player in school history to do so, adding his name to the

list that already includes Randy Gunther ('81) and Steve Kordish ('79).

The workmen who have replaced the roof on Edmond Town Hall appear to be

putting some finishing touches on their project which started last fall. The

roof men had been away from the project for the past several weeks. Besides

collecting their roofing gear, they are cleaning up the parking lot which had

become quite cluttered with bales of tar, melting tanks, propane bottles,

trucks and various hand tools. After the roofers leave, town hall workers can

again breathe fresh air. They certainly won't miss the stink of molten tar.

Speaking of things that stink, the skunk stuck in the swimming pool I told you

about last week finally made his way out of his predicament, according to

mailman Gary Allen. Hopefully, he won't be back looking for the bagels and

kibbles Gary had been leaving for him.

Time for me to make my escape for the week, but I'll be back, so be sure to...

Read me again.