April 9, 1993

The vernal equinox didn't do it. Neither did daylight saving time. It took the opening day of baseball season to convince us that the season had changed. It was a beautiful day, and everywhere people were stealing away. In the middle of a workday, Shea Stadium filled with a crowd of winter-weary people who sat blinking in the sunlight as the tried and true right arm of Dwight Gooden shut out a brand-new baseball team, the Colorado Rockies. In Denver, the team's hometown, the workday came to a halt as fans cheered the team's first hit, first out, first walk. They never did get to cheer their team's first run, which would have to wait for another day.

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There is often uncleared snow and ice in the parking lot, weeds in the lawn, mud in the foyer, and a general down-and-out look to the place. At least that's how Police Chief Michael DeJoseph sees the condition of the front of Town Hall South. At a Board of Police Commissioners meeting this week, the chief said the lack of a maintenance account in the budget is a reflection of the short-shrift the department gets. "There is no full-time janitor here," he said. The work is bid out, "So someone comes in periodically and moves the dust around. I have called the Highway Department every time it snows to get the parking lot cleared. It's always a problem because we have one employee who is in a wheelchair and he can't into the building if the lot isn't cleared." The parking lot is inadequate, the parking deck has been condemned and is unusable, and no one maintains the outside of the building, he said. "Town Hall South is the only building that the town doesn't take care of," said commissioner Carole Mattegat. They decided to write a letter to First Selectman Zita McMahon, asking her to address the problem.

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Massive logs have been placed along the old Yankee Drover property's entryways on West and Main Streets, preventing motorists from using the lot as a parking area. The area had been used on occasion as convenient, informal parking for people coming to the town center for errands or to events in public buildings. The lot can hold several dozen vehicles. Property owner John Vouros, said, "It's not zoned for a parking lot." Mr Vouros said he had been advised by zoning officials during recent years to end its use as a parking lot and has decided to do so. Also, using the land for parking poses liability issues, he said. William Riebe, another owner of the property, could not be reached for comment.

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Alfred M. Butts, inventor of the Scrabble board game, which was manufactured in Newtown for many years, died April 4 at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, N.Y. He was 93. Mr Butts was a jobless architect during the Depression when he designed the crossword game, originally called the Criss-Cross Word, which featured 100 lettered wooden tiles that are arranged into words on a gameboard. Although sales would eventually approach 100 million sets, Scrabble languished for nearly two decades, rejected by major game manufacturers as unremarkable. In 1948 he formed a partnership with one friend, James Brunot, who coined the name Scrabble, and began to produce the game at his house on Taunton Hill Road, and later the game was made in the one-room schoolhouse on Route 302. Mr Brunot had the Production and Marketing Company, Inc, in the Newtown Shopping Center and all Scrabble games shipped around the world bore the words "Made in Newtown."

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LASSIE HAS FOUND A NEW HOME:  The three-year-old male collie joined Dan and Pat Barrett and children, Tim, Noreen, and Christopher, at their home on Black Walnut Drive this week. "We saw the article in The Bee last week that the dog needed a home," Mrs Barrett said. "My husband and I had been talking about getting a dog. I had a part-collie mix when I was a child, so I knew collies were good with children, and this dog was just the right age." Lassie's prior owners had to give up the dog for health reasons. The collie was slightly underweight and behind on shots and spent most of its time tied outside the owner's house. But it was raised with children, other animals, and had a good disposition.

April 12, 1968

At the Republican Town Committee meeting on Monday, April 8, Harvey Hubbell IV was narrowly defeated by Timothy Treadwell as committee-endorsed candidate for appointment as First Selectman. The vote was 22-26. At the meeting's close, Mr Hubbell announced intentions to continue as a candidate for the special election in July, and seek endorsement at the GOP caucus. His statement: We have entered a spirited contest, the results of which will permit more insight and understanding to the future plans and vitality of our Republican Party by the Newtown citizens.

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MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING TO BE BUILT ON ROUTE 6: The site of the proposed medical center is that of the old Hillandale Restaurant on Route 6, which burned some time ago. Its construction was proposed by three Newtown physicians: . A change of zone to professional classification was granted for this area. The building is to be on two levels, with ground entrances on both to eliminate stair climbing. Plans are being drawn by Professional Office Buildings of Madison, Wisconsin. The building will be 14,000 square feet of office space. Some 8,000 square feet have already been spoken for.

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On Friday, April 26, will be "The Happening," in the Trinity Church undercroft from 7:30 to 11 pm, sponsored by Fish of Newtown. Music from The Bakers Field Experience will be featured. Free refreshments (except soda, which may be purchased at cost) will be served during the dance. Tickets may be purchased at the high school or junior high school at 75 cents per person or $1.25 per couple. Proceeds will benefit the expense of the Fish switchboard which will begin operation on April 15 and toward the cost of mailings. As everyone must know by now, Fish is a sort of emergency rescue service, offering a hand to anyone who needs it in an emergency.

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Looking down the center of Queen Street toward Church Hill Road, one cannot escape the message on the barriers, "Caution," and this is the advice of town police in judging this experiment in traffic control. Queen Street has been divided since April 1. The experiment will continue through the month. Police and business owners urge that this amount of time be given to motorists to learn the new one-way routes to their familiar shopping places. There have been complaints, however, the Chamber of Commerce reports that eight out of ten merchants consider the new system is working fairly well. Queen Street barriers may make motorist zig when they are used to zagging, but you can still reach your destination.

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Scoutmaster Charles L. Dirienzo of Troop 270 has announced that members of the troop have been named as award recipients to be presented in the near future. On April 25, at the Dodgingtown Fire House, sponsoring organization, the Eagle Award, Scouting's highest honor, will be presented to Ralph Arata, Jr. The presentation will highlight a court of honor at which other promotions and awards will be received by other members of the troop.

April 16, 1943

Paul S. Smith, who has been sponsoring a campaign in Newtown for the benefit of the Connecticut Junior Republic at Litchfield, is pleased to report than a number of generous contributions have been received during the past week, bringing the total to $318. It is hoped that others wishing to help this cause will do so in the near future. It requires $300 to support a boy at school for one year. This year Newtown will be supporting one boy and giving considerable aid to a second, depending on amount.

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On Thursday of last week Mrs H.L. Green and daughter, Joyce, returned to Green Acres, their home in Newtown, after spending the winter months in their home in Miami Beach, Florida. While at Miami Beach, Mrs Green did a great deal of volunteer work at the Service Men's Recreation Pier, where she served as hostess. Splendid work is being done by this organization, and often more that 1,000 boys are entertained in the course of a day.

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"Scuddy" Smith, son of Editor and Mrs Paul Smith, celebrated his eighth birthday on Saturday by entertaining a few of his friends at dinner, followed by a baseball game and a trip to the movies where Bambi was enjoyed. Guests included John and Holmes Strozier, Jimmy Carroll, Tommy Sullivan, Danny Desmond, Donny Giddings, and Teddy Smith.

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A meeting of the officers and directors of the Chamber of Commerce, scheduled for this Thursday evening, has been postponed to a later date. Members will be notified of the new date by H.H. Cutler, chamber secretary.

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Like the tradition in the theatrical field that, "The Show Must Go On," something akin exists in the realm of the Fourth Estate. This week's issue of The Bee reaches readers because of a lot of faithful work on the part of the staff who have performed the additional duties of members away from the shop or ill. The Bee wants its readers to share appreciation for this fine spirit. Hopefully staff will soon be over their Grippe and sinus afflictions. Meanwhile, The Bee goes on.

April 12, 1918

good friend, Michael J. White, has joined the millionaire class, having bought a Ford touring car of J.B. Nichols.The Bee's

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Miss Rebecca Nalevky lost her ring while playing on the school grounds at the Huntingtown school. Will the finder please return the same to Sam Nalevky's store?

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Arrest of Harris C. Coburn, 35, of No 35 of 3195 Main Street, until Saturday the president of the Farmers' Dairy Co. of North Avenue, on a charge of embezzlement of $4,800 from the company caused widespread sensation throughout Bridgeport. Coburn's severance of connection from the management of Farmers' Dairy Co., and his subsequent arrest are said to be the outcome of a pretty tangle of financial affairs and of considerable trouble. Relations existing between the Farmers' Dairy Co., a cooperative of area farmers, and retailer, The Bridgeport Dairy Co., are said to figure prominently in the case. W.C. Johnson of Newtown, Farmers' Dairy Co. Treasurer, declared emphatically Tuesday, that there is absolutely no business connection between his concern and the Bridgeport Dairy Co. When arrested, Mr Coburn was greatly agitated and surprised. He declared then and again on Wednesday that he knew nothing of the $4,800 embezzlement charge against him. He declares that if the auditors now working on the company's books can find that he does owe the company anything, he is ready and willing to pay it. If they find the company owes him money, he wants them to settle. After the city court session when he was placed under $5,000 bond, no bondsman appeared, and Mr Coburn was removed to the county jail until a bond was procured.

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A week ago Sunday a fire broke out on the side hill of Hon W.T. Cole's residence and as a result some 5,000 fir and other trees and shrubs were probably killed. Where the fire started two men were seen going across the land smoking and the theory is that they carelessly threw down a lighted match. Smokers should be especially careful when outdoors. Careless action like that of the men in question is well nigh criminal.

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The Young Men's Club of Sandy Hook is giving one of their popular dances Friday night at St Mary's Hall. Durgy's orchestra from Danbury will furnish the music. Admission is 50c. A good time is promised all who attend.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with The Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed to kendra@thebee.com, or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.

[naviga:img class="aligncenter wp-image-312818" src="https://newtownbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/WWW-4-6-Sedor-brothers-Donald-Murray-in-Hawleyville-approx-1948.jpg" alt="WWW 4-6 -- Sedor brothers & Donald Murray in Hawleyville approx 1948" width="500" height="748" /]

We continue to enjoy some of the old photos shared recently by former resident Paul Sedor including this one showing, from left, William Sedor, Jr, Paul Sedor, Donald Murray, and Steven Sedor. The boys are standing on the corner of Farrell Road and Hawleyville Road/Route 25. The approximate date is 1948.