Selectman Bill Brimmer was heard to remark Monday night upon leaving the relative warmth of the Booth Library’s public meeting room and striking out across a snowy parking lot, “Man, I’m tired of Minnesota winters!” Well, Bill, we checked the Weather Channel, and this past week Minnesota suffered temperatures of 10 degrees below zero and wind chills of minus 35 degrees. Be glad you live in beautiful, balmy Connecticut where we enjoyed a January thaw this week that saw temperatures rising to just below freezing. And be glad you don’t live in that Great Gopher State where according to humorist Garrison Keillor, there are only two seasons: July and Winter.

The truth is that Bill Brimmer was just glowing with grandfatherly warmth on Monday after he and Barbara announced the birth of their first grandson, Nathaniel, son of their daughter and son-in-law, Erin and Matthew Burrows of Rocky Hill, at St Francis Hospital. The baby, who weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 19¾ inches in length, arrived in a timely manner at 4:17 pm so his grandfather could welcome him and still be able to make it to that night’s Board of Selectmen budget session. The Brimmers also have a granddaughter, Sarah, the daughter of their daughter and son-in-law, Kelley and Patrick Flynn of West Haven.

Speaking of January thaws, Julia, a checkout clerk at the Big Y who wears mitties while scanning the groceries, remarked on Monday night while ringing up ice cream and frozen peas that she had given up on January. “I’m just hoping we have a March thaw,” she said disgustedly.

With all the winter weather we’ve had recently, the town has plowed a heaping pile of snow next to the northern driveway of Edmond Town Hall. If the pile were any taller, I’d install a rope tow on it and charge people to ski down.

Despite the frigid cold weather, owner-baker Tony Posca of Andrea’s Pastry Shop at 5 Queen Street is still putting out those plump, fragrant loaves of fresh bread every day.  A curious customer recently asked, “Doesn’t all this cold weather keep the dough from rising well?” Tony replied, “No, but sometimes I don’t rise very well myself on these cold mornings.”

Mandy Monaco says that the local Meals on Wheels group needs a few drivers to help deliver meals to shut-ins. The commitment is to deliver several meals between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm on one day each month. The meals are prepared at Ashlar of Newtown. Anyone who can donate a few hours once a month is asked to call Colleen Honan, the driver coordinator, at 426-0714.

Mae Schmidle says she is getting inundated with donations of red clothing for “Go Red” women’s heart health day on February 6 so people should call her at 426-6264 if they need something red to wear on that day. “I’ve even got a sexy red sequined gown if anyone wants it,” she said. Men aren’t excluded either. Mae says Dr Tom Draper, the heath district’s medical advisor, plans to wear a red tie to show his support for educating women about their risk for heart attack and stroke.

A magic variety show featuring Steve Johnson is coming to Newtown on Sunday at Edmond Town Hall Theater. The Newtown Junior Woman’s club is sponsoring the show to help raise money for the planned theater renovations. Show times are 1:30 and 3:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now at the town hall, the Booth Library, and the Newtown Savings Bank branch at the Sand Hill Plaza. And, yes, the concession stand will be open during the performances.

I just saw Gary Frenette, the town’s zoning enforcement officer, who has returned to work after an absence. Gary was looking hale and hearty, as he was preparing to enforce some zoning regulations. There must be 2,000 of those regulations. I wonder how he keeps them straight.

The lovers of snack food and candy had a hard time of it recently at Canaan House at Fairfield Hills. The candy machine, which is positioned just outside the office of Tunxis Management Company, had been broken, so there was no way to get at all those yummy treats. But the damaged switch has been repaired, so now the goodies are once again available for a price.

Groundhog Day is next Monday, but I’m never sure whether to hope for sun or not. Six more weeks of winter would put an end to the season in the middle of March, which would suit me just fine. But if the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow, then what? Two more weeks? Twelve more weeks? I’ve never understood what the deal is with Groundhog Day. I can say for certain, however, that it’s just one more week until my next column, so be sure to…

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