March 19, 1999

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — FAIRFIELD HILLS: AN INFORMED DECISION: With the selection last week of four firms as finalists in the process leading to the redevelopment of the 186-acre core campus at Fairfield Hills, the town-state partnership for shaping the future of this key property in the heart of Newtown entered a critical phase. Over the next three months, a final decision about development options for Fairfield Hills will be made. From the town’s perspective, the most important decision will be whether to let full scale development of the property proceed according to the prerogatives of a private owner, or whether to reserve those prerogatives for the people of Newtown by purchasing the property with public money. Fortunately, for now, the best route to either option follows a common path. Whether Fairfield Hills is given up for private development or reserved for more public uses, an assessment must be made of the environmental and economic consequences of the property’s transformation. … By June or July, when the state and town representatives on the Fairfield Hills Selection Committee have made their final selection of a development firm, the state will then allow the town to exercise its right of first refusal on the property.

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HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Ernest W. Franck.

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State police have charged a Garner Correctional Institution inmate in the March 17 strangulation death of his cellmate in the high-security prison on Nunnawauk Road. State police spokesman Lt Ralph Carpenter said Thursday state police detectives charge inmate John Barletta, 28, with capital felony murder late Wednesday afternoon after investigating the death of his cellmate Kenneth Briggaman, 44, in Cell G-102 of Garner about 1:30 am that day. Barletta already is serving a 60-year murder sentence.

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On a routine shuttle flight from Washington, D.C., to LaGuardia International Airport several weeks ago, the primary hydraulic system on the Boeing 727 that Capt Paul “Red” Arneth was flying developed a leak. The crew reacted calmly as all the hydraulic liquid leaked out and the plane’s A system failed, disabling the landing gear along with many other functions. “The flight engineer lowered the landing gear with a hand crank, but we could only put out half the flaps so we had greater speed than we should for the shorter runways at LaGuardia,” Capt Arneth said. “We landed at Newark [N.J.] instead. Some of the passengers were nervous, but it wasn’t a big deal. I did get a lot of kidding from the other shuttle pilots who said I wanted to get in an A system failure before I retired.” A few weeks later, on March 9, Capt Arneth officially did retire, piloting his last flight for the US Air Shuttle. He was accompanied on Boston-LaGuardia Flight 6061 by his wife, Liz, and several other members of their family. Capt Arneth had reached the age of 60, the mandatory retirement age for pilots of commercial passenger airlines.

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After 40 years of treating Newtown’s youngsters, Dr Thomas Draper Jr hung up his stethoscope and put away his tongue depressors Friday. The beloved pediatrician, now 72, is stepping down from his practice, but will remain active in his never-ending effort to promote community medicine. “It has been a joyful experience. I highly value the opportunity to care for these children and their families. It’s been very rewarding,” said Dr Draper, who stopped seeing patients in December.

March 15, 1974

With full honors, Newtown’s new dog pound was opened on Friday morning, March 8, at its location at the town landfill. A complement of town and state officials, including representatives from the Newtown Police Department and Police Commission, the builders, and interested citizens were on hand for the event. John P. Futtner, deputy commissioner of the State Department of Agriculture, cut the ribbon on the new facility as First Selectman Frank DeLucia, Police Chief Louis Marchese, Sgt Michael Fekete, the police department’s canine officer, and Dog Warden George Mattegat Sr took part. The town’s new facility, it turns out, is already the envy of several other communities. According to the First Selectman, officials from West Haven, Easton and New Canaan have been in touch with him to see how Newtown got the kind of dog pound it did at the price it paid. The total price tag of the new pound is $35,589.

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The Board of Education had its regular meeting on Tuesday evening, March 12, and during the course of that meeting issued a statement regarding the construction of a school on the Boyle property on Boggs Hill Road: “We believe that the Town will successfully defend its ownership of the Boyle property in court against the attacks of all opposition groups. An architect, Richard Butterfield, has already been selected, and he has been authorized to complete the preliminary architectural plans for a school on the Boyle property. We have not wanted to spend Town funds in the past on architectural plans until the court decision was final, but we think the time has now come to do so. If the Town votes to retain the site, we will bring the preliminary plans before the voters and request authority to proceed to more detailed plans and specifications. If that authority is granted we will proceed as expeditiously as possible to get those finished plans. If the lawsuit still is not settled when the plans are completed, we will seek the court’s permission to build on the site without waiting for the final judgment. We urge the Town to retain the Boyle site so that we can move forward with the school. We commit ourselves to the Town so that we will press forward with all possible speed if given the opportunity to do so.”

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Susan O’Dell of Sandy Hook was runner-up in the Hood Pure Simple Recipe Contest. She will receive an electric corn popper for her winning recipe.

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The monthly luncheon meeting of the Board of Directors of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce was held Wednesday noon at the Newtown Inn. President Philip Rose announced his appointments to the Chamber’s various committees, requesting each chairman to activate his committee and have a report ready for the Board’s next monthly meeting. … First Selectman Frank DeLucia, who is an honorary member of the Board, attended the luncheon and spoke of the problems of his office and the advantages of cooperation between town officials and various organizations within the town. He hoped that through cooperation, many of the items in the Chamber’s proposed program could be made effective during the year.

March 11, 1949

The Newtown High school girls have captured the Housatonic Valley Schoolmen’s League basketball championship for the third time in five years, under the fine guidance of their coach, Miss Ann Anderson. On the Washington High school floor last Friday night, the Newtown girls, leaders in the Southern half of the League, won handily from the Thomaston girls, leaders in the Northern half, by the score of 32-21.

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A daughter was born to Mr and Mrs Clifford Lathrop of Newtown on March 9 in the Danbury hospital.

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Warning is given by Fire Warden Vincent Gaffney that fire permits are required for all outside fires from March 1st to December 1st. Anyone wishing to start a fire in the open, must obtain permits from Mr Gaffney, or from either of the district wardens in the Newtown district, Abraham Nezvesky or Henry Wachsmuth.

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Joseph Dumsar of Currituck road, Newtown, trust officer at the City National Bank and Trust Company in Danbury, was guest speaker at the regular meeting of the Lions Club held in Hawley Manor on Wednesday evening. Mr Dumsar had for his topic “Wills and Trusts.”

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Whether by intent or chance, Town Players could hardly have picked a more appropriate time of year for the presentation of “Juno and the Paycock.” Written by Sean O’Casey, one of the greatest living Irish playwrights, it performs next week during the St Patrick’s Day season, bringing to mind the fact that this play has the melodious style and witty malice, the sentimental humor and realistic sense of tragedy for which Irish literature has long been famous.

March 7, 1924

The final basket ball game between young ladies of the Hawley High school and the New Milford High school was played at the Hawley gymnasium on last Friday evening. There was a good sized audience out to see the snappy game. It was anybody’s victory until the last whistle blew, but the Hawley young ladies finally won by a score of 8 to 7. The teams were very evenly matched, first one and then the other being in the lead. Miss Keane did the honors for the Hawley school, getting the four baskets needed to win the game. She was excellently supported by the rest of the tossers.

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The boys of the Hawley High school had an easy time defeating the Brookside A.C., of Bridgeport. The score was 19 to 8. Evidently the Brookside team was “out of form,” for they had to go to the dressing room very often.

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While returning from Bridgeport on Tuesday evening, the Ford truck of John Stefanko became unmanageable and crashed into the fence at the foot of Toll Gate hill. Riding with Mr Stefanko at the time of the accident was Anthony Kasiulis. Both were thrown completely from the car, which was badly wrecked. Both men were somewhat bruised and cut from the windshield and were taken to Danbury hospital by Constable Thomas Carlson and Henry G. Carlson. On Wednesday they were able to return to their homes.

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Samuel Susman, who has conducted a feed business at Botsford for the past few years, has sold his business to Albert Rasmussen. Mr Susman has made many friends in town, who regret his leaving for New York, where he will reside in the future. Mr Rasmussen will conduct the feed business in conjunction with his general store. He has a host of friends who wish him success in his new undertaking.

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The Town hall was filled to the doors, Tuesday night, at the Mock Trial, a benefit for the Newtown Library. The culprit was that worthy esteemed and exceedingly popular Taunton young man, Willis Arndt, who was charged by the plaintiff, Allison Artemas Ward Paragoric Smith, with willfully running down and destroying his Papa duck, alleged to be worth $108.75. Attorney Edward S. Pitzschler prosecuted for the state, while Attorney William C. Johnson approved for the defense. Both attorneys were corking good. Herman N. Tiemann, becomingly gowned, made an ideal judge, and handled proceedings in good style. The feature of the trial was the amusing costumes worn by the witnesses and members of the jury. … Sentence was then passed on the victim by Judge Tiemann and the court adjourned. Excellent music for the dancing was furnished by Beavans’ orchestra, who very generously contributed their services for this event. The library treasury will net something over $70 from the trial.

March 17, 1899

At a meeting of the creditors of Edgar F. Hawley, held at No 13, Franklin Building, in the city of Bridgeport, on the 13th day of March, 1899, Attorney Charles H. Northrop of Newtown was duly appointed trustee of said bankrupt estate under bonds of $5,000. Robert H. Beers, Ezra L. Johnson and Charles H. Gay were appointed appraisers of said estate.

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Lee & Seabrook have rented the Newtown creamery for another year, and if there are additional dairies to come in, the firm would be glad to be notified as early as possible in order that they may obtain a sufficient supply of cans.

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Mr and Mrs F.B. Hazen of Willimansett, Mass., are the happy parents of a son, born March 7. Mr Hazen is a brother of Mrs A.P. Smith.

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Miss Lottie Blackman is ill with bronchitis, and under the care of Dr Smith.

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J.S. Peck of Cold Spring has purchased the Edwin G. Terrill place in Obtuse and is to take possession, April 1. Mrs Terrill is to move back to her old home in Taunton district.

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One of the fine flocks of sheep belonging to A.S. Hawley has about broken the record, this spring. This flock contains 21 sheep and he now has 31 lambs from the flock.

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Reuben H. Smith, editor of The Religious Herald, passed Sunday at Bridgeport with his mother, Mrs S.H. Smith.

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Henry Beers has enclosed the south side of the stoop to his house, put in a window, etc, which makes quite an improvement, besides adding warmth and comfort to his home.

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At the Congregational church on Sunday, H.E. Mott was baptized and received into membership on confession of faith.

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