Date: Fri 27-Feb-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Mountain-Big-Y

Full Text:

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

There was so much red, white, and blue on the bunting and streamers draped

around the Newtown Shopping Center this week, I thought for a moment that we

skipped over Easter and Memorial Day and went straight to the Fourth of July.

All the hoopla, of course, was associated with the long-awaited opening of the

Big Y supermarket.

Early in the week, there were so many workmen and store employees putting the

finishing touches on the 54,000-square-foot "World Class Market" that the

parking lot was almost full. By the time you read this, the store should be

open for business, and parking spaces will be at a premium. I happen to have a

parking space reserved for me at The Bee, which I am prepared to rent out.

Call me anytime during the day at 426-3141, and I'll spell out the rates and

terms of the arrangement.

The people at Big Y aren't the only ones trying to leap into the middle of

summer. The Parks and Recreation Department has started selling pool passes

this week. The warm weather has inspired them, I guess. There is a good reason

for getting your pass early, however. Parks and Rec is offering a $10 discount

on both family and individual passes for those who sign up before May 1.

The Newtown League of Women Voters sponsored a "Breakfast with Legislators"

last Saturday at Elizabeth's Tea Room. During the event, state representatives

Julia Wasserman, Bill Varese and John Stripp fielded questions on the

goings-on in Hartford. The highlight of the event, however, came when Mrs

Wasserman arrived wearing lipstick, a rare site, according to Melissa

Pilchard. Mrs Wasserman has always told her constituents, "What you see is

what you get," and so far that has proved to be more than enough to win her

the approval of the voters in every election.

When Public Works Director Fred Hurley received the news that his father was

sick down in Florida last week, he attempted to make a plane reservation. But

everything was booked due to the holiday weekend. His efforts to book a seat

on Amtrak were also unsuccessful. Finally, Mr Hurley purchased a bus ticket.

However, after getting a late start out of Bridgeport Friday, February 13, he

was held up at the Port Authority in New York City.

"I would have missed all my connections. I wouldn't have gotten down there

until Sunday night," Mr Hurley said. "I would have had to turn around and come

right back."

Mr Hurley never made the trip. The good news, however, is that his father is

doing much better.

There's going to be an interesting open house at the VFW Hall in Southbury on

Saturday. The volunteers of Animals For Life will be there with a herd of

pets, ranging from cute little kittens to full-grown dogs. Everyone who yearns

for companionship from a devoted friend is invited to show up to meet the

prospective pets there. At a similar adoption event in January, 17 dogs and 6

cats were placed with new owners. The hours of Saturday's event are 11 am to 3

pm.

Speaking of animals in need of a better place to live, Cindy Gadoci, who lives

next to the police station on Main Street, was flabbergasted when she saw a

coyote in front of her house at 7 am last Friday morning.

"Usually I see deer but this is the first time I've seen a coyote," she said.

She called The Bee after failing to interest the police or the dog warden in

responding to the sighting. Ms Gadoci admitted that the coyote wasn't doing

anything harmful when she saw it, but she said she is afraid it might kill

someone's cat or other small pet.

I really wish she hadn't said that. Now I'm going to have to stay close to the

trees when I take my morning walk along Main Street.

Main Street walkers, both quadruped and biped, should be happy about efforts

to extend the sidewalks in the borough to complete the loop from Main Street

to Glover Avenue to Queen Street to Church Hill Road, and back to Main Street.

I sure get the jitters walking along Glover Avenue with all those cars

whizzing by. A sidewalk would be a great idea. There are a number of petitions

in the stores around the center of town, so put your name on one to show your

support.

I've noticed that the dogs in the borough are also circulating a petition to

ensure that the new sidewalks have plenty of hydrants along the way.

I have my own petition here I would like you to sign. It commits you to...

Read me again.