By Shannon Hicks

One of the largest representations of the membership of Newtown Woman’s Club turned out for the club’s March meeting last week. The reason? A combination of things, really. The 80 or so ladies who attended the club’s luncheon at The Fireside Inn in Newtown enjoyed conversation and lunch with friends and fellow members of the service organization. There was also a program by guest speaker and local radio and television broadcaster Virginia Wren, an arts and crafts fair in which members were competing for the honor of progressing to the district level of the annual event, and a fun fashion show in which members were invited to model antique hats.

While members of the club gathered in the outer lobby of the restaurant/banquet hall at 123 Main Street South late last Thursday morning, guest judges from Newtown Senior Center and a local woman’s club selected the placings for a number of items that had been entered in the arts and crafts show. The annual event is something the members of the club look forward to, so the extra time the judges take in making their selections and resulting announcements are met with patience.

When the judges had completed their arduous task, the table that had been laid out with all of the members’ various entries was dotted with blue, red, yellow, white, and green ribbons. In all, a total of 20 blue ribbons were awarded this year. Additionally, Lilleba Peterson won Best in Show for her “Rabbit Pillow” entry in the needlework division (canvas needlepoint, large, kit).

The following members will be going to the district competition, which will be on March 29 in Orange:  Joan Bergquist (photography: black & white, feature), Marcia Cavanaugh (decorative painting: early American, theorem painting; original art: oil), Virginia Chiaramonte (sewing: adults, evening and special occasion), Coke Cramer (photographer: black and white, portrait/personality; photography: black and white, scenic; photography: color, portrait/personality; photography: color, natural history), Pat Denlinger (photography: color, feature), Barbara Dzitko (decorative painting: early American, country painting), Peg Forbell (stenciling: pre-cut fabric; sewing: doll clothes), and Norma Gray (needlework: counted cross-stitch, small, kit).

Also going to the districts this year will be Dolores Judge (needlework: counted cross-stitch, large, kit), Paulette Jurewicz (lampshades: stamped and bonded; creative material: recycled; creative material: other; stationery: cards, stamped design), Nancy Larin (stationary: molded paper), Clarice McKay (knitting: adult apparel, sweater), Ingrid Meier (photography: color, scenic), Gertrude Nagy (Christmas decorations: table/centerpieces), Lilleba Peterson (needlework: canvas needlepoint, large, kit), Mary Ruffles (knitting: children’s apparel, sweater), Marion Thompson (knitting: children’s apparel, sweater sets; knitting: toys), Lorraine VanderWende (heritage crafts: paper cutting/Scherenschnitte) and Betty Warner (crocheting: yarn article, large; knitting: accessories).

Another highlight of the meeting was the antique hats fashion show. Members had been challenged to go deep into their closets, up in their attics, down in their basements, or into the collections of friends, and to bring with them hats that were at least 20 years old.

Longtime club member Joan Tynan served as emcee for the fashion show, and about a dozen members served as models, parading the hats through the banquet room for their fellow club members to see. The show was broken into the four seasons, with the hats presented following that theme. There were jaunty berets, satin-cloth hats, string and straw hats, hats with tulle shells, and hats that were “just perfect for a day at the races.” The selection was wide, as were some of the hats’ brims.

“It was wonderful,” said Ginny Berry, a former first vice president and longtime club member who had a hand in organizing the March 16 luncheon meeting. “We had such a wonderful time, and the idea for the fashion show was quite unique. Most of those hats were more like 40 to 70 years old.”

Virginia Wren, who concluded the meeting with her talk, is currently the host of Profiles with Virginia Wren. The interview-style program is broadcast monthly on Charter Communications’ local access station. She recently presented a program featuring Ms Berry, and the two women discussed the history of the club in Newtown.

Thursday afternoon, Ms Wren commented on the hats that had been modeled by the club members and also talked about her own history. Before she began producing her television program, Ms Wren was a radio host on the Danbury-based radio station WLAD (850 AM).

Newtown Woman’s Club holds luncheon meetings the third Thursday of each month, at various area locations, September through May. The purpose of NWC is to promote friendship among members, provide opportunities for organized interest, and participate in social, cultural, philanthropic, intellectual, and civic affairs of the Newtown community.

One of the club’s largest annual events is its arts and crafts show, which is open to the public. This year’s show and sale will be on Saturday, April 8, in the auditorium of Edmond Town Hall in Newtown. Nearly 50 tables have been promised up for the event, which will run from 10 am to 4 pm and will feature members’ works alongside the efforts of area fine artists and crafters. Admission to the show is free.