January 29, 1999

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — BE CAREFUL OUT THERE: Every New England winter seems to have its own personality, and this winter is marked by caprice, wandering from warm sunny days to a biting gray chill and back again without warning. Wet pavement can turn to glare ice in a few minutes’ time. Even those wise enough to forsake their cars when the roads are slick are still at risk when they venture outside; as they try to break their falls on unexpected ice, people are breaking their wrists and arms instead. The consequences of the freeze-thaw see-saw of this winter’s weather can be measured quite easily in the hospital emergency room. … These are the days of the year when the struggle to stay upright, healthy, and in good spirits presents its biggest challenges, and frankly it makes us a little crazy. Perhaps that explains why on Tuesday next week, we will all look to a groundhog for some early winter relief. Until that relief arrives, we want to remind everyone to be careful out there.

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HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Eugene Garriepy.

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The Board of Selectmen Monday appointed Mike McCarthy as the town’s tree warden. Longtime tree warden John Mead, who recently stepped down from the position, was appointed deputy tree warden.

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Webelos II Scouts from Pack 170 of Sandy Hook School participated in the annual Scatacook District Klondike Derby held on Friday and Saturday, January 22-23, at the Hoyt Scout Reservation in West Redding. Despite more mud than snow, the scouts were able to push and pull their sleds through the approximately two miles of hilly, wooded trails. Scouts Timothy Boncek, Stephen Graham, Andrew Mormando, Chris Proulx, James Repasi, and Edward Small participated in the derby, along with several leaders, parents, and Cubmaster Chris Graham.

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Carolyn B. Anders, daughter of Lt Col W. Scott Anders and Mrs Anders, was presented at the 45th International Debutante Ball at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. The ball was held to benefit the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmens Club and other International Debutante Ball Foundation charities. As a third generation debutante, Miss Anders was presented along with 45 other young women from around the world. She was one of six young women representing Connecticut. She was escorted by Scott A. Dickerson of The Woodlands, Texas. Miss Anders’ brother, Robert S. Anders, was also her military escort, and carried the flag of Connecticut. He is a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Miss Anders is a 1997 graduate of Newtown High School, and is currently a sophomore at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas.

January 25, 1974

The 25th annual winter convention of The New England Press Association was held last Thursday through Sunday at the Sheraton-Boston Hotel in Boston. It was attended by a large and enthusiastic group of weekly and smaller daily newspaper publishers and editors from all six of the New England states. The Bee was represented by Consulting Editor and Mrs Paul S. Smith. One of the highlights of the convention was the annual awards dinner when awards were made in The Annual New England Press Association Newspaper Contest. This attracts more entries every year and is now the largest newspaper contest in New England. The Bee won three awards — a first for Spot News Photography, a second for Community Service, and a second for Best Local Advertisement in Color.

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Back in December the Newtown Lions Club Members had a gala dinner dance at the Curtis House in Woodbury. The cause of the celebration was to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the chartering of the Newtown Club, and 73 Lions and ladies enjoyed an evening of dining, dancing and reminiscing. Included among the guests were Past President Jack Murphy and wife, Rosemary, from Danbury. They were there to bring the congratulations and extended good wishes from the Danbury Lions Club, which was the sponsoring club for Newtown in 1948.

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Newtown has been invited to join Bethel and Danbury in a state funded program to provide hot meals at conveniently located centers to elderly citizens, Miss Asenath Johnson, chairman of the Commission on Aging, revealed at the January 17 meeting of the Commission in Edmond Town Hall. The proposal, prepared by Community Action Committee of Danbury and forwarded by First Selectman Frank DeLucia for recommendations to the Commission, utilizes a $79,600 grant from the state for cooking 143 meals a day, which will be transported via Red Cross to meal centers in each town, two in Danbury, one each in Bethel and Newtown, and providing personnel for supervising the programs, preferably by pairing senior citizens to serve and clean up. Because of its large elderly population, Newtown was selected to receive 35 meals a day.

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New officers have been elected for the Drivers Corps of the Newtown Ambulance Association, and stepping in as chief driver is Kingston (Nick) Smith. Assistant Chief Driver is Samuel Eisenbach, and secretary-treasurer is William E. Bausch.

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The first formal meeting of the Newtown Association for Children with Learning Disabilities was conducted Wednesday, January 16, in the Middle School. Mrs Nancy Dubin was appointed president; Mrs Terry Scinto, treasurer; and Mrs Mary Cary, secretary. The three women form the nucleus of a parent organization which will attempt to inform Newtown citizens of the needs and problems of children with learning disabilities. At present, approximately 30 parents are involved.

January 21, 1949

The last barrier to the sale of the Parker House was removed on Saturday. Then it was that the Zoning Board of Appeals, to whom petition had been addressed requesting that alterations be permitted to be made to the Parker House property, acted favorably by granting the request. The decision followed a large public hearing attended by approximately 300 townspeople in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall last Thursday evening.

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It is a pleasure to be able to report that the condition of William A. Upham of Hawleyville, who has been a patient in Danbury hospital since January 3rd, is so improved he looks forward to returning to his home soon, probably at the beginning of next week.

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The Bee hears that radishes grow in January in Sandy Hook just as they do on Mount Pleasant. Miss Anna May Betts is enjoying them fresh from her garden, and with due modesty she reports that lettuce, planted by her brother, James, in September, is well up and gives promise of table use in another couple of weeks – if the weather holds out. Our “soft” winter is tough on skaters and skiers, but is making gardening a twelve-month activity with some startling results.

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The Women’s Auxiliary of Trinity church met at Mrs Frank Mitchell’s on Thursday afternoon, January 13th. The annual reports were read and election of officers held. Mrs Frederick F. Johnson, the retiring president, presided at the early part of the meeting, and Rev Mr Mutton took the chair to receive the nominating committee’s report. All officers were unanimously elected. They are: president, Mrs A.M. Judd; vice-president, Mrs George Tower; treasurer, Mrs George Vello; recording secretary, Mrs Stuart Rohleder; corresponding secretary, Mrs Edward M. Conger; United Thank Offering treasurer, Miss Henrietta Whitley; supply chairman, Mrs Frederick F. Johnson; Church Periodical Club, Mrs Hobart Warner; Church World Service, Mrs Archibald Mansfield; White Envelopes, Mrs Anna Leahy.

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Town Players elected its officers for 1949 at the annual business meeting and banquet at the Parker House on January 14. Harold Smith will be chairman for the coming year. Other officers are: treasurer, Charles Goodsell; business manager, Julian Drew; publicity, Allen Reed; recording secretary, Estelle Penning; and corresponding secretary, Isabelle Davis. “Juno and the Paycock,” a comedy drama by one of Ireland’s greatest living playwrights, Sean O’Casey, was voted to head the production schedule for 1949. Next on the list was “Kind Lady,” which in all probability will follow the mid-March production of the O’Casey play.

January 18, 1924

Gus Forest of Bridgeport was the guest, Sunday, of Mr and Mrs A.P. Smith.

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Dea and Mrs R.D. Smith are passing two weeks with Mr and Mrs Benjamin Smith in Arlington, N.J.

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Mr and Mrs Frank W. Knight and daughter of Southport were guests, Sunday, of Mr and Mrs Frank H. Johnston. Miss Knight had the misfortune to break a limb, but is getting along nicely.

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Mr and Mrs Frederick N. Shepard passed Sunday in New Haven, guests of Mr and Mrs Leonard Shepard.

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The annual meeting of Trinity Parish was held on Monday evening, January 7, in the Guild room of the church. The report of the treasurer was a satisfactory one, and showed the finances to be in a good condition. The following officers were elected: Clerk, Frank Wright; Treasurer, David C. Peck; Wardens, Henry G. Curtis, David C. Peck; Vestrymen, Frank Wright, C.F. Beardsley, Alfred Walker, W.C. Johnson, William R. Curtis, John C. Beers, S.C. Glover, Wallace Mitchell; Delegates to diocese convention, John C. Beers, S.C. Glover; alternates, C.F. Beardsley, Wallace Mitchell.

January 27, 1899

The insurance on the life of John Kelly (who died about a year ago) in the Mutual Reserve Fund Insurance Co, of New York, has been paid. The Hartford Life Insurance Co, who had a policy on his life, has refused to pay in full and have been sued by Beecher & Canfield in the Superior Court. They also had charge of the policy in the Mutual Reserve Fund Insurance Co.

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The friends of S.E. Fairchild will be very sorry to learn that he is failing and very poorly at present.

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At a meeting of the School Board, Saturday evening, it was voted to require the teachers of the public schools to make up the time lost during the November blizzard.

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Mrs Tamkins of Zoar is very sick with grip. Her sister, Mrs Garvie of New Haven, is with her.

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After considerable haggling, the Commercial Union Insurance Co of London has paid John H. Costello $2190 loss on barn and personal property stored therein in Sandy Hook, which was destroyed by a fire on the morning of May 17 last. They refused to pay more than $1500, which Mr Costello refused, when appraisers were appointed by Mr Costello and the company. William J. Candee of Stepney represented Mr Costello and Dr Burtiss of the New York company. They were unable to agree and called Col Charles Mason of Bridgeport in as umpire, who figured the loss as above. Beecher & Canfield represented Mr Costello.

Do you have photographs of people or places in town from a bygone era? The Way We Were is the perfect landing spot so that your photographs can be enjoyed by Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed as attachments to shannon@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date. If you live locally and would like to loan a photo/photos, please give us a call (203-426-3141) to let us know when you will be visiting