Bethel Daily Briefing: Wednesday, February 29, 2012

TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012

WEATHER 

No telling what's going to happen. It's a Connecticut thing.

See

QUOTE OF THE DAY from Brainy Quotes 

I do not want art for a few any more than education for a few, or freedom for a few.

William Morris

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Alyssa Bailey, of Bethel, was named to the Marist College Dean's List for the Fall 2011 Semester Bailey is a member of the Class of 2014 and is majoring in Chemistry.

Bethel Chamber of Commerce, 9 am Municipal Center

Bethel Women's Club is now accepting new Members, please join them at their montly meetings, which are held the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00pm in the Bethel Sr. Center.  Contact Elaine at 55elaine@comcast.net for more information.

Enjoy a friendly and lively discussion of the book Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson.  Held in the Library's historic Seelye Room. Feb 29, 10 am, Bethel Public Library All are welcome!

Jazz Jam at Molten Java, 7 pm, 213 Greenwood Avenue

Meditation Class 8 pm, 164 Greenwood Avenue

Kids Cooking Classes at Daily Fare, 4:30 pm, 13 Durant Avenue, cost $25

MAR. 1 COFFEEHOUSE: WCSU will present the Midtown Coffeehouse at 8 p.m. in Alumni Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The coffeehouse will include open mic performers at 8 p.m., followed by the featured act, a capella group Parallel Fifths, at 9 p.m. Admission will be free and the public is invited. Donations to sustain the Coffeehouse will be accepted. Call (203) 837-9700 or visit www.wcsu.edu/stuaffairs/Coffeehouse.asp for more information.

New Business? Planning an event? Proud of someone? New baby in the family? Send in your announcements and we will let the world know!

MUNICIPAL MEETINGS:

Public Hearing re: Razing Old Town Hall/Library Parking, 7 pm, Bethel High School, 300 Whittlesey Drive

GARDENING HINTS from Old Farmer's Almanac

 Continue to sow cool-season vegetable seeds, such as beets, carrots, cabbage, peas, and potatoes. Continue to transplant artichokes, asparagus, chard, lettuce, and onions.

TODAY IN HISTORY from On This Day

“February 29, known as a leap day in the Gregorian calendar, is a date that occurs in most years that are evenly divisible by 4, such as 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. Years that are evenly divisible by 100 do not contain a leap day, with the exception of years that are evenly divisible by 400, which do contain a leap day; thus 1900 did not contain a leap day while 2000 did. Years containing a leap day are called leap years. February 29 is the 60th day of the Gregorian calendar in such a year, with 306 days remaining until the end of that year.” From Wikipedia, February 29

1288 - Scotland established this day as one when a woman could propose marriage to a man. In the event that he refused the proposal he was required to pay a fine. 

1860 - The first electric tabulating machine was invented by Herman Hollerith. 

1904 - In Washington, DC, a seven-man commission was created to hasten the construction of the Panama Canal. 

1940 - Hattie McDaniel became the first black person to win an Oscar. She won Best Supporting Actress award for her role as Mammy in "Gone with the Wind." 

1944 - The invasion of the Admiralty Islands began with "Operation Brewer." U.S. General Douglas MacArthur led his forces onto Los Negros. 

1944 - Dorothy McElroy Vredenburgh of Alabama became the first woman to be appointed secretary of a national political party. She was appointed to the Democratic National Committee. 

1944 - The Office of Defense Transportation, for the second year in a row, restricted attendance at the Kentucky Derby to residents of the Louisville area. This was an effort to prevent a railroad traffic burden during wartime. 

1952 - In New York City, four signs were installed at 44th Street and Broadway in Times Square that told pedestrians when to walk. 

1964 - Dawn Fraser got her 36th world record. The Australian swimmer was timed at 58.9 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle in Sydney, Australia. 

1972 - Jack Anderson revealed a memo written by ITT's Washington lobbyist, Dita Beard, that connected ITT's funding of part of the Republican National Convention. 

1988 - "Day by Day" premiered on NBC-TV.

Have an announcement or an interesting bit of news?  Let us know! 

Email Christine Rose at RosepetL5@aol.com