February 9, 1996

Shortly after 9 am, Thursday morning, Newtown High School Principal Bill Manfredonia announced the end of the school’s Indian mascot to the student body, effective June 1. Before finishing, a roar broke out in the NHS lobby as more than 400 students assembled in protest of the decision... According to Mr Manfredonia, more than 90 percent of the school staff voted to drop the Indian.

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Police Chief Michael DeJoseph announced Wednesday that he is leaving the Newtown Department of Police Services after more than 29 years with the force and more than eight years as chief... Chief DeJoseph, 50, will begin a new job on April 1 as manager of technical assistance for the International Association of Chiefs of Police in Alexandria, Va.

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A former Newtown resident escaped injury following an explosion in his parents’ garage at 38 Parmalee Hill Road, Tuesday afternoon. Kyle Trucozi, who now lives in Woodbury, was apparently changing the engine on a pickup truck near a kerosene heater when volatile fumes caused an explosion. A fire broke out in the garage, but Mr Trucozi managed to get out before things got serious... Volunteer firefighters from three companies responded quickly to the blaze.

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Borough zoning officials are seeking a state study on possible traffic signal installation at the intersection of Church Hill Road and The Boulevard to improve traffic flow in the town center. The request comes in light of expected increases in town center traffic stemming from the planned expansion of Newtown Shopping Center on Queen Street... At the January 30 session, residents voiced concerns over the difficulty of making a left turn from The Boulevard onto eastbound Church Hill Road, as well as the difficulty of making any turns from Church Hill Road businesses onto Church Hill Road.

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It was crazy. Bizarre. Kooky. Looney. With just 50 yards left in the 400-yard freestyle relay, the final event of the evening, head coach Brian Reiff and the rest of the Newtown High School swim team had resigned itself to the fact that, in less than 15 seconds, Bunnell would be climbing out of the Otto Heise pool with a 98-87 win and the Indians would be climbing out with their fifth loss in nine meets... But in the second to the last turn, right before the final sprint in the last 50 yards, Bunnell’s anchorman came up short on his flip turn, missing the wall completely and automatically disqualifying his team... the Indians... escaped their own pool with a shocking 93-92 victory.

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When the 120th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is held at Madison Square Garden February 12-13, Newtown’s Pat Laurans will be one of the most important people there. As a “group” judge, Ms Laurans will select one of the finalists that will go on to compete for Best in Show honors and perhaps win everlasting fame in the canine world.

February 5, 1971

This coming Monday, February 8, the State Department of Transportation will conduct a public hearing on the proposed relocation of Route 25 through the southern section of Newtown. It promises to be an “interesting” evening, since the difference of opinion on the best location run at least as deep at Pine Swamp on the east and Pootatuck River on the west.

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The Bible Baptist Church is happy to announce the calling of a new pastor, the Rev Vern E. Spencer, pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Windsor Locks, who will begin his service here on March 14. The church has been without a pastor since the first of September, when the Rev John A. Lawhead was called to the Northside Baptist Church in Lima, Ohio... Pastor Spencer and his family will live in the parsonage at 35 Sugar Street.

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Postmaster Robert J. Shannon of the Sandy Hook Post Office has asked that people mail their Valentines for local delivery by Thursday, February 11, so that delivery can be assured in time for Valentine’s Day. This request is being asked by all of the post offices in Newtown. Valentine cards, whether sealed or unsealed, require a minimum six cents postage and should bear the ZIP Code number, not only in the address but also on the return address, as this assists in the delivery of cards.

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A Shelton man placing a classified ad in this week’s Bee has written (cleverly and with a real sense of humor): Dear Queen Bee, Please dispatch quickly your busy little worker bees to place this dainty morsel of lucious nectar into the combe for the enjoyment and fufillment of humanity.

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First Selectman Timothy Treadwell has announced that final approval has been received from David Wiggin, director of Environmental Service of the State Health Department, for use of the new sanitary landfill on Route 25.

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The Saint Rose Church is looking for teen-agers or young adults who can sing or play — guitars, ukeleles, tamborines, banjos, violins — for a new folk Mass to begin soon at 12:15 every Sunday. Tryouts will be Thursday evening, February 11, at 7 pm at the Church Hall.

February 1, 1946

A marked increase in births in Newtown is the outstanding fact revealed in the vital statistics for 1945... There were 64 births in 1945, comparing with 47 in 1944, 48 in 1943, and 52 in 1942. There were 35 marriages as compared with 21 a year ago, 32 two years ago, and 56 in 1942. Deaths among the town population numbered 44, compared with 42, 53, and 51 in the next preceding years. At the Fairfield State Hospital there were 228 deaths in 1945, against 248 in 1944.

***

The members of the board of trustees of the Newtown Ambulance Association are giving a dinner for the ambulance drivers at the Parker House this Sunday evening at six o’clock. The drivers have all received personal invitations and the Newtown physicians and visiting nurse have also been invited to attend.

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An important meeting of the Newtown Fire Company is called for Monday evening, February 4, at 8 o’clock at the firehouse. All members are urged by Chief Fred Mayer to attend. Chief Mayer also wishes to warn the public to be careful in starting outdoor fires, particularly when the snow is off the ground, as many lots were not mowed last summer and there will be danger of serious grass fires unless extra precautions are taken.

***

After a rather slow start, the Newtown Captains bowling team defeated the Stepney Fire Department team, two out of three games, Sunday evening, at the Edmond Town Hall alleys. The first game was won by the visiting team by a three-pin margin.

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The Newtown Committee for Child Refugees has received a letter of thanks from the Dutch Red Cross for a shipment of children’s clothing recently received by them in Utrecht. The people of Newtown may be interested to know that their work is reaching the needy in Europe.

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A fire of unknown origin was discovered about 8 o’clock Tuesday morning in the caretaker’s cottage on the estate of Selksar Gunn on Huntingtown Road, leased to Hallet Abend, foreign correspondent of the New York Times. The cottage, a four-room bungalow, was mostly destroyed, but owing to a good supply of water from a nearby pond formed by damming the brook, The Newtown Fire Department and neighbors, after a few hours of strenuous work, were able to save most of the furniture and the belongings of John Black, who lived in the cottage and is employed by the estate. The fire loss is estimated at about $5,000.

January 21, 1921

John O. Leavey, the popular and esteemed RFD man, among his many qualifications, is a fine soloist and may take a position in a choir soon. The boys want him to appear in Warner’s singing orchestra at an early date.

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The thermometer registered at four degrees below zero in Sandy Hook, Wednesday morning. Ice Contractor Frank Banks will fill the house of H.G. Warner at the Berkshire pond.

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L. Birdsey Parsons has come out as a musical author Frank Harding of New York City, having published “This Dry Land.” It is on sale at the Golden Peach, and is in demand. It is said he intends publishing other musical numbers.

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A rumor seems to be circulating around town that the Newtown Community school is not going to run next year. In order to correct any misapprehension, which may be caused by such rumor, I wish to officially announce that it is our intention to continue the school so long as it seems to be needed. —H.N. Tiemann, Chairman Board of Governors

***

They came, we saw, we conquered! And it was a basketball game well worth beholding. Such was the case when the Blue Ribbons of Danbury tackled the Community school boys on Saturday evening. You would think that the Blue Ribbons would be the winners, so robust were they, but our boys fought with a good round will and finally won with a score of 41 to 34.

***

Edgar T. Andrews has returned from New York, where he underwent a rather serious operation. His brother, Dr John L. Andrews, was the operating surgeon.

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