January 26, 1996

With three straight home basketball games this week for the Newtown High School boys’ basketball team, Hank Gellert, proud father of player Andrew Gellert, decided to let everyone know about the NHS schedule, Tuesday morning. He hired a plane to tow a banner around town. It worked. The Indians had plenty of support for Tuesday’ battle against Bunnell and Wednesday’s matchup with Stratford. Another big crowd is expected in the NHS gym for Friday night’s “pack the gym” contest against Weston.

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In an effort to boost attendance, the Edmond Town Hall Theatre is reducing its ticket prices to $2 for all seats starting Friday, January 26. The new price drops the regular adult admission from $3 to $2, rescinding the $1 increase established last spring by the Board of Managers.

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In a valiant rescue effort amid ice, snow, mud and high winds, firefighters last Friday pushed, prodded, and cajoled an injured pony named Candy from her collapsed cold shed in Hawleyville to a warm garage, seeking to spur the pony’s recovery from the traumatic incident. Despite the efforts of volunteers and a veterinarian, the pony died later. Resident Kenn Williams... had tended to the two pet ponies in the shed behind their house at dusk the preceding day... At about 9:30 am on Friday, Mr Williams went to the shed to check on the ponies, Faith and Candy, both 17. He found the dappled Faith lifeless beneath the wreckage of the shed, which had collapsed sometime overnight under the weight of accumulated snow. Candy, A 650-pound black pony with a shaggy winter coat, was found still alive down on the ground in the cold mud, lying in the rubble of the shed.

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The Board of Selectmen met Wednesday night to begin reviewing the $18.8 million budget proposed by First Selectman Bob Cascella for the 1996-97 fiscal year. The vote on the initial sections of the budget reviewed by the selectmen generally fell along party lines, with Democrat Gary Fetzer opposed to increased spending and expressing concerns over Mr Cascella’s proposal that the town bond $1 million for road work.

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The Newtown Bee Sportsman Award is presented annually to recognize a person for longterm achievement or contribution to sports in the town of Newtown... This year’s clear-cut winner, John Ball, is only the second athlete ever to earn the award... The past two decades have seen John Ball’s name and photo grace the Sports pages countless times. Since he was a small boy, it was evident John was a very special athlete. Soccer became his family’s passion and John Ball’s name quickly became synonymous with the sport... Today, John has a college degree, two national championship rings, and a professional soccer contract.

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Residents at a January 30 public hearing will have an opportunity to air their views on a proposal to renovate and expand Newtown Shopping Center on Queen Street, which includes construction of a Big Y supermarket. On January 4, Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members endorsed Joseph Kasper’s proposal for the redevelopment of the shopping center... If all proposed work is completed, it would result in more than 60,000 square-feet of new store space in the shopping center.

January 22, 1971

The Conservation Commission met Monday evening, January 18, on the third floor of the Congregational Church house, and the burden of the evening was protest. A strong letter of protest at the changing of the proposed location of Route 25 from any of those already suggested to one that is entirely new and which, in all probability, would destroy the wetlands that constitute the headwaters of the Half Mile and Pootatuck Rivers, is being prepared and will be sent to the state and town officials before the Newtown hearing on February 8.

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“Panacea,” the Newtown band (Leslie Ballard, Mark “Corky” Ballard, Richard Kuhn, and John Dodson) under the direction of Mark “Corky” Ballard, was the winning band in the Jaycee’s “Battle of the Bands,” last Saturday in the Edmond Town Hall Gym. The “battle” was under the direction of Charles Chamberlin, Jaycee program director.

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A TV system which allows swimmers, basketball players, and other participants in sports to take a look at both the good and the bad points of play is in operation at Newtown High School. The events are filmed for the closed circuit system and can be played in slow motion and reverse for the study of certain plays. In addition, a commentary is made at the same time and coordinated with the film, here in the works by the “Howard Kocel” [sic] of the school, Jeff Gordon, a junior.

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Mr and Mrs Frank Halak, proprietors of the White Birch Inn, Church Hill Road, entertained the children of their many friends at a Christmas party at the restaurant. Over 100 children were there to greet Santa and receive gifts.

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DINE WELL AT MODEST PRICES! This Is Possible At The Drover. For Example We serve a generous cut of Char-Broiled Sirloin Steak With Baked Potatoe, large crisp tossed salad, hot rolls and coffee. But the tariff for this is jus $4.00. Yankee Drover Inn, Newtown, Conn., at the FLAGPOLE, the junction of Route 6, 202, & 25. Tel 426-4401 Closed Mondays.

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The University of Connecticut’s 7-member concert band, which is embarking on its annual tour of New England, this month will perform at the Newtown High School, on Tuesday, January 26, at 8 pm. Under the Baton of Professor Allan E. Gillespie, director of bands at the university, the concert ensemble has gained recognition as one of the outstanding collegiate bands in the east.

January 18, 1946

Six fire companies responded to a call at the home of John Sedor in the Mt Pleasant district shortly after one o’clock Monday afternoon. In spite of their best efforts, the home built by Mr Sedor within the last few years was badly damaged... Mr Sedor is the chief of the Hawleyville fire company and for four years has been chief driver of the Newtown Ambulance Association... The firefighters were badly handicapped by the lack of nearby natural supply of water... Mr Sedor already has plans underway for rebuilding.

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Friday, January 11, will long be remembered in the annals of Newtown as the day when Governor Raymond E. Baldwin and his party of twenty-four, which included the seven members of the interim committee on permanent headquarters for the United Nations Organization, who had arrived in New York from London by plane the previous Saturday, lunched at Hawley Manor. The seven man inspection committee has the important task of recommending a site for the headquarters of the world government of fifty-one member nations.

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After weeks of preparation, the Youth Clubs of Newtown are presenting this Friday evening at eight o’clock at the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium the first of three scheduled Jamborees. The young people have planned the occasion as a get-together for the adults and younger people of the town. To defray expenses, a small charge of ten cents per student or child, and 25 cents for adults is being charged. The doors will open at 7:30 with some preliminary dancing, the scheduled program will be in full swing at eight o’clock, opening with a ping-pong exhibition by boy ROMP champions.

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With the increasing use of radios, public address systems, and probable use of television in educational work in the schools, the department of education at the Museum of Natural History in New York held its second annual audio-visual aids institute for teachers last Friday and Saturday. Hawley school was represented by Walter Los, science teacher.

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Following the ending of gasoline and automobile tire rationing, the Merritt Parkway Commission met last Thursday in Weston and raised the parkway speed limit from 40 to 50 miles per hour, effective April 1st. This ruling makes the only highway in the state on which a speed above 40 miles per hour is permitted... The commissioners also approved a plan for numbering the exits from the parkway, coordinating with the system now in use on the New York State portion of the highway.

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The Newtown Orchestral Society will begin rehearsals about the middle of February, under the direction of Mario de Cecco of Waterbury. This orchestra is well known throughout the state and had ten successful seasons of fine concerts, which ended with the war. It is understood a concert will be given in the spring. The orchestra is made up of amateurs from Newtown and the surrounding communities, plus a group of professionals from Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, and New York who join the orchestra for their concerts.

January 7, 1921

The State Board of Education has appointed a supervisor of schools for Newtown in the person of Frank H. Johnston of Allentown, Pa. Mr Johnston was in town, Tuesday, in company with Mr Garrison of the State Board office, and met Secretary Peale of the local School Board, and other members of the board.

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The Peterson Phonograph Co of 142 Main Street, Danbury, is agent for the new Edison, “The Phonograph with a Soul.” Mr Edison’s designers have carried into the 20th Century the spirit of the 16th, 17th, and 18th Century furniture design. These years were called the Golden Age of Furniture. Mr Edison’s designers have skillfully adapted 17 of its best designs to the Edison Period Phonographs.

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Conductor Fred Woodruff, who runs on passenger trains No.’s 1429 and 1414 New Haven to Brookfield Junction, is laid up with an injured leg. Henry Gomberg was brought into Dr W.H. Kiernan’s Wednesday night, having cut his head badly. Several stitches were taken to close the wound. Mrs Isaac Hawley is ill with double pneumonia. Miss Shaftonberg, a trained nurse, and Dr W.H. Kiernan are assisting in her care.

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Quite a little excitement was aroused when, at 11:30, Friday morning, word was received that E.G. Lake’s house was on fire. The firemen responded, but it was found that it was not necessary to turn on the water, as it was a chimney fire. J.E. Corbett, of the Newtown Inn, took up three or four fire extinguishers and the blaze in the chimney was promptly put out. The “gong” did its full share of work and Trinity bell was put in use to summon the willing workers that they were needed.

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Woman loves a clear, rosy complexion. Burdock Blood Bitters is splendid for purifying the blood, clearing the skin, restoring sound digestion. All druggists sell it. Price, $1.25.

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Selectman John S. Thornhill has had a pleasant letter from James Lee, who is at Southern Pines, N.C. Mr and Mrs Lee started for Florida, but were obliged to stop off at Southern Pines, owing to the illness of Mrs Lee. They found it so pleasant they will now pass the winter there.

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