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The Amity Star
A Weekly Newspaper Published at The Bethany Press
Litchfield Turnpike, Bethany, Connecticut
Telephone -- New Haven 3-1682
George D. Vaill
Editor & Publisher
Alice M. Vaill
Business Manager
Subscription Rates
One Year     52 issues     $4.75
Six Months     26 issues     2.40
Three Months     13 issues     1.20
Vol. I, No. 15     Thursday, March 8, 1951

Editorial Comment
Bertha Haskell Kinney
The death of Mrs. Bertha H. Kinney has remopved from this community one of its most highly respected citizens, and the many organizations with which she was affiliated have lost a tireless and devoted worker. Although confined to her home with an affliction which would have defeated most other people, she continued to serve her Church, her Town, and her many friends with a rare spirit of self-sacrifice and with never-failing cheerfulness and good humor.
When this paper, then in the planning stage, was first mentioned several years ago, she volunteered her services in its behalf, and since the beginning of publication in December, she had been its most faithful supporter and most energetic correspondent.
The sense of loss which we feel will be widely shared throughout this area, and we join with a host of others in extending sympathy to those whom she leaves.

Communications
From the Pacific
To the Editor:
I have just received my first copy of your fine, friendly newspaper. I find it difficult to express my appreciation in words for your thoughtfulness. The "Star" is a nostalgic link with home which is excelled by nothing short of a personal letter. Many thanks!
John C. Harrison
502 Recon. Plt., APO 301
c/o P.M., San Francisco, Calif.
How to Guess Our Embarrassment
To the Editor:
That brilliant piece, "How to Guess Your Age," was written by the inimitable Corey Ford. As is usual in these cases, the original article was far droller and better written than the pitiful attempt at paraphrasing that appeared in your fine paper.
Local Reader
(The "pitiful attempt at paraphrasing" has returned to haunt us unmercifully. Six people have telephoned about it, four have written, and two have stopped speaking to us. We have been made to realize, with a vengeance, that what we printed in all innocence as an anonymous bit from an unknown friend (with anonymous credit duly given) was actually a condensation of a book written by Corey Ford, illustrated by Gluyas Williams, and published by Doubleday & Company. Our apologies go herewith to all concerned, as well as our thanks to those whose alert attention has brought us to this low point of abnegation and confusion. -- Ed.)
Trucks vs. Engines
To the Editor:
On several recent occasions, while reading "The Amity Star," I have noticed such news notes as the following: "Six men and two trucks of the Woodbridge Fire Department responded to an alarm at ....." It is with a somewhat tongue-in-cheek attitude that I differ with you in this usage of the word "truck" ..... speaking technically, there are no fire "trucks" in Bethany, Orange, or Woodbridge, Seymour has one truck and two engines, Woodbridge has three engines, Orange has three engines, and Bethany has, at the present time, two serviceable engines.
Back in the days of horse-and hand-drawn fire equipment, the engine was the steam-or hand-operated pumping unit, while the hook-and-ladder apparatus was the truck, and the hose wagon was just that-a wagon.
Sailors, firemen, and some (not all) old women are among the most unchangeable, hidebound, and superstitious people in existence,.....so, today, with modern motor-driven automobile fire equipment, the pumping unit is still the engine, the hose carrier is still the "wagon," and the huge hook-and-ladder rigs (whether aerial type or carrying portable ladders) are still the trucks. There are many technical variations, such as a combination wagon, carrying both hose and a small pump which works from a water tank on the rig -- all on an automobile truck chassis, of course -- and even more complicated set-ups sucah as triple combinations, quadruple combinations, etc. Basically, however, even though the unit is truly an automobile truck, the term belongs exclusively to the hook-and-ladder rig, where fire equipment is concerned..... Our rigs are engines -- triple combination engines, to be exact.
Devoted Reader
(Grateful for this corretion, The Star promises to keep the engines, trucks, and wagons in their proper places hereafter. --Ed.)

Bethany Notes
The Bethany P.T.A. is planning a dance in the Town Hall on March 31. Jack Whitehead and an orchestra will provide music from nine until twelve. The price of admission will be 75¢ a person. The proceeds from the affair will go toward the purchase of film strips and a recorder for the Community School. Mr. and Mrs. A. Raymond Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Terrel[...]r. Edward Lee, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Riley are the committee in charge of arrangements.

The Star Reporter
A few weeks ago this paper, commenting editorially on the subject of party affiliation in local politics, expressed the opinion (a) that there isn't much difference between a Republican and a Democrat at this level and (b) that those who remain unregistered miss the best part of the fun, which takes place in the caucuses.
An examination of the newly-printed Caucus List reveals that there may, after all, be more difference between the parties than we suspected: there are fourteen couples who are split politically. In nine cases the wife is a Republican and the husband a Democrat, while five Democratic wives can claim Republican spouses. There are also several families in which one member is enrolled with one of the parties while the other is unregistered.
We have also noticed, in looking over the roster of voters for the Town of Orange, that there they list all the men together on one side and all the women on the other, as though they were sitting in a Quaker meeting. To date, however, neither sex has come forward with its own exclusive party. In that idea lie the seeds of warfare heretofore unimagined.
"Wheelman's Rest"
So much information has come in about the "Wheelman's Rest" picture which we printed last week that we haven't been able to boil it all down yet. The whole story should be ready for publication by next week.
If any other readers have old pictures which might be of interest, we shall be happy to receive them. Rare and fragile items will be given very careful handling.
Sins of Omission
"The Amity Star" is constantly indebted to a large group of friends who write or telephone the news to us and who help in countless other ways. If some of them feel, from time to time, that we are slighting important items which they have taken the trouble to give us, it is understandable -- but it is not a matter of either casual or ruthless omission of any item or any subject. As we approach press-time, we often encounter radical changes in space available, for a number of reasons, and it sometimes becomes necessary to cut out notes and articles which have cost someone a considerable amount of time to collect and report. Limited by an established page size and column length, and bound by advertising commitments made in advance, we frequently have to change the arrangement of the paper at the last minute. Whenever it is possible to use omitted items in a subsequent issue, we do so.

Bethany Notes
Dr. Herman Scott, who has been ill at his Fairwood Road home for some time, expects to resume practice at his office sometime in April.
Bethany Post 9990, V.F.W., will hold a meeting tonight in the Town Hall. Members of the post will begin a series of First Aid Classes in preparation for Atomic Warfare. The classes are under the supervision of the Bethany Civil Defense Program and are conducted by Dr. Ned Shutkin.
Sandra Whitehead, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Whitehead of Carrington Road, attended the Yale University Freshman Prom last weekend. Sandra is in her senior year at the Gateway School in New Haven, where she is Captain of both the Fencing and the Basketball teams.
A son, Clifford Bailey Strong, II, was born on February 4 to Mr. and Mrs. Milton Strong of Cheshire Road. Mrs. Strong is the former Gladys Jackson.
At a meeting of the Teenagers last Friday, officers for the coming year were elected. They are Kay Harrison, Chairman; Judy Svirsky and Ronnie Williams, Vice-Chairmen; Joan Cox, Secretary; and Jane Carlson, Treasurer. The dance planned by the group for Saturday, March 10, has been postponed until a later date.
The Bethany P.T.A. will hold its regular meeting at the Community School on Monday, March 12, at 8:00 P.M. William Benedict, of the State Department of Health, will be the guest speaker and will show a film called "Human Beginnings". At the Parent-Teacher Institute held the week of July 10, 1950, in New Britian, the first public showing of this newly-released film met with almost unanimous approval. Although there was considerable agitation for immediate use in the public schools, the general consensus was that this film be restricted, for the time being, to showings for parents and teachers. Hostesses for the meeting will be Mrs. Irving Clark, Mrs. Warren Downs, and Mrs. Clifford MacDonald.
The Recreation Committee of the P.T.A. will sponsor a class in social dancing to begin when enrollment is complete. The classes will be held at the Community School in the early evening. Mrs. David Black will be the instructor. Please call Mrs. Lena Fenwick for information.
Mr. and Mrs. William Charles Mason became the parents of a son, William Charles, on March 4. Mrs. Mason was formerly Winifred Clement. The child is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mason of Carrington Road, and the first Great-Grandchild to be born to William L. Wooding, for many years Bethany's First Selectman.
Mrs. Walter Beletsky is chairman of the committee making arrangements for the Eight O'clock Club card party to be held at the Town Hall on the evening of March 17. Table and door prizes will be zawarded, and the 50¢ admission price will include refreshments. Tickets may be obtained from Mrs. Everett Whitlock, Mrs. Harry Austin, and Mrs. Grant Durley, or any other member of the Club.

906 Whalley Ave.     Tel. 3-2625
Sachs Dept. Store
Benjamin Moore Paints
Complete line of Easter Toys, Baskets, Candy, and Decorations

D'Andrea's Pharmacy
Famous for Prescriptions
M. S. D'Andrea, Reg. Pharm.
911 Whalley AVe.     New Haven, Conn
We Deliver     Phone 3-0642
Hallmark Cards
Fine Cosmestics
School Supplies
Magazines
Candy

Janice L. Harris
Sadye R. Abeshouse
Tel: 3-4811
House of Charm at 1299 Whalley Ave.
Gifts -- Antiques
Greeting Cards -- Stationery

271 Bank Street     Tel: 422
Seymour
K. Klarides
Supermarket
Fine Food at Chain Store Prices
Open Sunday Mornings

Vincent
Clocks     Watches     Jewelry
11 Bank St., Tel. 2479
Seymour, Conn.

Always the Freshest Flowers
S. H. Moore Co.
Florists
95 Whitney Ave.
New Haven
Tel. 6-4188

College Shop
1042 Chapel Street
New Haven, Connetcicut
Mort Rappaport
négociant en vins
invites your Inspection of his Fine Selection of Domestic & Imported Wines, Cognacs & Liqueurs.

The Clothesline
Marjorie Shutkin     Bethany, Conn.
Telephone 3-1171
Toppers $25.00 to $39.95
Tie print silk and silkshantung dresses $18.95 and $19.95
Cashmere sweaters - - - imported wool
Short Sleeve Slipover $10.39
Cardigan $13.50