March 10, 2000

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — THE FUTURE OF GARNER: Connecticut’s Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, John Armstrong told state legislators last week that he would like to add 1,700 prison cells at existing facilities in the state with money already budgeted by the Rowland administration. Here in Newtown, relations with state agencies have been slowly warming since the state forced a prison upon the town a decade ago. So Mr Armstrong’s comments sent a chill of recollection down the spines of those who remember how Newtown was selected as the best site for the Garner Correctional Institute based on a wildly inaccurate demographic study of the town. When the state starts scheming about prisons, the town — to borrow from the wit of Will Rogers — gets the same feeling as when the baby gets hold of a hammer. First Selectman Herb Rosenthal has already notified the corrections commissioner that Newtown stands ready to fight any plan to increase the size of Garner prison. … As we saw 10 years ago, when it comes to prisons, the state can pretty much get what it wants — especially when it owns the property. … We trust that Newtown’s officials and state representatives will make that price sufficiently high so that if Garner is expanded against our collective will, there is a commensurate reduction in the price the town will be expected to pay for Fairfield Hills and the decontamination of the toxic hazards the state has left behind at the campus.

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HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Pushpa Kapur.

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The Legislative Council Wednesday night voted 7-5 in favor of what amounts to a $1 million cut to the proposed Board of Education budget. The move angered a large group of school supporters who were on hand to urge the council to not make such a move. Others say the cut really is not that drastic, calling it more like a $200,000 reduction, taking into account provisions for capital funding and health insurance. It all depends on how you look at it, noted Finance Director Ben Spragg. Important to note is that the budget can still be re-opened next week and many council members believe some money will be restored.

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The Police Commission has fired Police Chief James E. Lysaght, Jr, dismissing the 50-year-old from the job he has held since 1996. Mr Lysaght plans a court appeal of the termination in seeking to regain the post. The commission’s swift action, without discussion among its members, drew loud heckles, jeers and catcalls March 3 from a crowd of Mr Lysaght’s supporters at a commission meeting in the basement conference room at Town Hall South, directly below the police station. About 30 people attended.

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Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) Chairman Daniel Fogliano has told Walnut Tree Developers he wants the development firm to provide annual maintenance for a falling rock problem posed by a looming rock face near some of the condominium units at the controversial Walnut Tree Village. “I know we’ve had extra rocks fall off the slope face,” Mr Fogliano told attorney Stephen Wippermann, representing the developers, at a March 2 public hearing. “This area is going to be fairly sensitive for some years,” Mr Fogliano said, adding that he wants the developers to provide annual maintenance at their own expense. The chairman said he expects falling rocks will be a recurring problem due to the freeze-thaw cycle.

March 7, 1975

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — THE MANY COSTS OF VANDALISM: Only once or twice during the past two and one half years that we have been writing this column have we devoted our attention to the vandalism which exists both in our town and in all other communities and cities. Before now our expression has been side-line comments, standing back able to do little more than show our concern over the wrong deed of the moment. This time we are right on the firing line, full into the situation, having just gone through what seemed like an eternity of aggravation surrounding the theft of the bee weathervane from the top of our building. … Surrounding this theft, an idea which might have started as a prank or dare but ended up as an act of sheer vandalism, are a few heartaches, a broken trust or two, and a great deal of personal and family disappointment. For, while the responsibility of the deed lies on the five young people involved, as all are over the legal age of eighteen, the burden falls hardest on the parents. At this time we are not even certain that all of the parents are aware of just what has transpired, for we have talked to only one mother and father. … we do not feel the same concern for those guilty of this deed, for they knew full well just what they were doing and in the back of their minds were probably aware of the troubles they could be creating for those around them. It is all such a senseless thing, this enemy, vandalism … The out-of-pocket costs are terrific, and are shared by the police department, the insurance companies, the victim of the attack, and sometimes even the accused. … We wish someone had the solution to this long-time problem, but so far few, if any, towns have been able to eradicate vandalism. … We are pleased and proud of the job done by the media in spreading the word of the missing bee and we attribute the recovery of the property, in part, to this far flung attention. … For the record, we have had letters and word from Florida, Buffalo, Detroit, all parts of New England, California, and Canada. Irene Kirk, our Bethel correspondent, sent us a clipping entitled “Heist a Hive of Trouble” which she received from Tokyo, Japan. In her note Miss Kirk concluded by saying that “People all over the world are wishing you good luck in getting that beautiful weathervane back.” It’s back, and it won’t be too long before it is up again. We only wish that feelings and trusts could be repaired as quickly and as painlessly as a broken set of copper wings. In fact, it would be nice if damage on both counts did not have to happen at all.

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The bee weathervane, with three of its legs detached and its wings missing, was recovered on Tuesday evening and is now in the process of undergoing repair. On Monday, following the finding of parts of the wings on Huntingtown Road, a search was conducted in the area, including the pond opposite the residence of Mr and Mrs Raymond Hall. Detective Owen Carney, who is in charge of the case, ventured into the water and searched the section where a hole in the ice had been observed nine days ago.

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Town officials from the Department of Environmental Protection Water Compliance Unit accompanied Town sanitarian Jack Goett to the landfill on Tuesday, March 4, to inspect a site suggested for Town septic lagoons. As matters were left when the group broke up later on, the DEP men will want to get more ground water information about the site. Before that, though, they want a precise map drawn of the site to clear up the confusion which developed about whether property and setback lines in the area left enough room for the facility. The site in question is the long thin portion of the landfill across the railroad tracks from the Ethan Allen warehouse.

March 3, 1950

More than 100 townspeople observed the World Day of Prayer at a service held in the Newtown Congregational Church last Friday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock. Similar to services held the world over, the ministers of Newtown and Sandy Hook conducted the devotional program and the Rev Paul A. Cullens, pastor of the Congregational Church, spoke on the theme for the day, “Faith for Our Time.” The outlined program, carried out under the direction of Mrs Benjamin S. Winchester, resulted in an hour’s worship which proved to be of great value in its atmosphere of devotion and warm cooperation.

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Newtown has received another flag to adorn the new flagpole, through a gift from Mrs John F. Ross of Main Street and reported by First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson. The new flag is a Number 4, the regulation U.S. Navy size for a 100-foot pole, and is approximately 12 1-2 by 23 1-2 feet in size. The flag flown at the dedication was one presented to the town by Mrs Antoinette Lawson, being the flag which she received from the War Department following the death of her husband, Captain Peter Lawson, in World War II. Because of its association it is being carefully protected and will be used on outstanding patriotic occasions to be flown from the memorial monument at the head of Main Street. The banner now being flown from the pole is one purchased by the town for the purpose.

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A large audience braved the storm of last Thursday night to attend a showing of “The Secret Garden” at Edmond Town Hall Theatre under sponsorship of the Newtown Camp Fire Girls. The play, a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production starring Margaret O’Brien, Herbert Marshall and Jean Stockwell, had an especial appeal for the younger people and the earlier show was particularly well patronized. The proceeds, for which the final figures are not yet available, will be used to further the work of Camp Fire in Newtown. Mrs John R. McMahon was chairman in charge of the project.

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The state convocation of Hiram Chapter, No. 1, R.A.M., scheduled to have been held last Wednesday night at the Masonic Temple in Sandy Hook, was postponed because of the inclement weather to March 8 at 7:30 p.m., when the P.M. degree will be conferred.

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The Pine Tree Patrol, made up of the older Boy Scouts, left for the Scoutmaster’s camp at Francestown, New Hampshire, on Tuesday afternoon. They plan to return home Friday night. With good luck, there will be skiing on the near-by slopes, and if conditions are just right, it may be possible to spend a day on one of the slopes in the White Mountains. There are ten members in the party. Rev Paul A. Cullens, Scoutmaster, is driving one car, and Hoyt Johnson is acting as assistant and driving the other car. … The Scouts had been getting their equipment together and making preparations for this trip for a number of days, and with weather conditions ideal when they left on Tuesday, they looked forward to an excellent trip.

February 27, 1925

Bishop Chauncey B. Brewster visited the two parishes in this town, Trinity and St John’s, on Sunday, February 22. The bishop, arriving at Sandy Hook, Saturday evening, was the guest of Dr Gesner and the Misses Gesner, during his stay in Newtown. On Sunday morning he celebrated the Holy Communion, in St John’s at 9.15, being assisted in the service by the rector. The congregation comfortably filled the church and 70 persons received Holy Communion … From St John’s the Bishop hurried to Trinity, where a very large congregation awaited him. Preaching on St Paul’s constraint to preach and love Jesus Christ, he referred, in the course of his discourse, to the fact that this is Washington’s birthday, and that though this parish contained many Tories, Washington, and most of the great Americans, were staunch Americans as well as local Christians. Bishop Brewster made some very kind remarks about the rector, alluding to the “conspicuous positions held by him in this church, in another diocese, and that he had been the first contributor to the cathedral fund and prophysing an era of success for the parish.”

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Mr and Mrs Samuel Nalevsky entertained over the week end their son, Nathan Nalevsky, Mr and Mrs Leo Moskowitz, Irving Cutler, Morris Chernick, Al Chergin, and Sis Stoddard of New York City.

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Miss Helen Houlihan of South Manchester is passing a vacation of 10 days with her mother, Mrs Ann Houlihan.

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The Ways and Means Committee of the Sandy Hook Library wishes to express its appreciation to the people of the town who so willingly contributed toward the success of the cherry drive. The members of the Girls’ Friendly Society sold $32 worth of cherries and other interested workers brought in $23, a total of $55.

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One of the most enjoyable entertainments and dancing parties of the season was given, last Friday evening, by the Hawley School Junior class, and netted the treasury $50. Dancing was enjoyed by all until 11 o’clock, music being furnished by the Palais Orchestra. The Junior class wishes to thank all who helped make the affair a success. Rehearsals are being held for the junior play, which will be given after Lent.

March 9, 1900

HATTERTOWN — MANY SICK: At this writing, Wednesday, the condition of H.B. Sherman, who is sick with pneumonia, is slightly better. Miss Myra Warner, who came to help care for her grandfather, was taken sick with bronchitis and has been confined to her room for a week. Mrs Sanford of Redding is now helping take care of the sick ones. | Mrs J.W. Penny and grandson, Chester, have visited Dr C.M. Penny and family in Bridgeport. | Miss Irene Wakelee of Chestnut Hill is the guest of Bobert Davis and family. | Charles Robert is confined to his house with a severe cold. | Rev Mr Sawyer’s lecture was attended by about 70 people. Nearly all in this vicinity have attended and enjoyed the lectures that have been given.

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It is always gratifying for The Bee to note the success of Newtown boys in worthy lines. Among the number who are coming to the front in the musical world is Arthur I. Platt, son of Prof and Mrs C.S. Platt of this town. He played, last Friday evening, at a recital given by the pupils of Leslie E. Vaughn in Waterbury. The Waterbury Republican, in speaking of Mr Platt’s work says: “The solo numbers were given to Mr Platt and Mr Bottomly and it would be unjust to say that one was more skillful than the other. Mr Platt had selected ‘Il Travatore Fantasia’ while Mr Bottomly had a similar movement from ‘Faust,’ and the work of both the young artists was beyond criticism.”

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Rev and Mrs O.W. Barker have been passing a few days in New York City.

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Rev O.W. Barker and George R. Wilson represented the Congregational church at the council in New Fairfield, Monday, to dismiss the Rev Mr Berckman from the pastorate.

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New supply of homespun and ladies dress goods at the Sandy Hook Woolen Co.

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M.B. Smith, Butternut, Mich., says “DeWitts Little Early Risers are the very best pills I ever used for costiveness, liver and bowel troubles.” R.H. Beers & Co., Newtown; S.C. Bull & Co., Sandy Hook; A.B. Blakeman, Botsford; B. Hawley & Co., Stepney; A.B. Fancher, Hawleyville.

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.