June 3, 1994

CALLING ALL DOG LOVERS! The town needs adult volunteers to help spruce up the Canine Shelter by painting its exterior on Saturday, June 25. “We can start to help the dogs by making their environment better,” said volunteer organizer Julie Starkweather, “and by making the people who work there feel better… Pounds are frequently last on the list — they forget people work there.” She hopes other projects can be planned for the future. She is hoping to get 20 people to paint the outside dog runs and the exterior of the facility. Paint will be provided, but volunteers will need to bring their own rollers, brushes, and ladders, she said. Ms Starkweather would like to find some artistic people who could paint a “doggy mural” and “make it pretty out there.”

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The boating season started over the Memorial Day weekend, and the Lake Lillinonah Authority welcomed boaters to the lake by posting lake patrol officers at the boat launch ramps offering free boat safety inspections. The authority has also announced that it is upgrading its equipment and currently has two boats for sale: a 17-foot Bayliner with 85 horsepower; and a 50-foot Hobie with a 50 hp motor. The boats can be seen in Driftwood Marina in Bridgewater. Reasonable offers will be accepted.

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Mike Porco of the Veterans Memorial Society work[ed] May 26 at installing three granite benches for contemplative purposes at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Hanover Road. A plaque bearing the names of all Newtowners who served in WWII is planned for installation there in the future.

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A proposal by the Local Housing Partnership to let Housatonic Habitat for Humanity build two homes for low-income families on town-owned land on Philo Curtis Road passed its first hurdle, Wednesday night. The Legislative Council accepted the proposal order to send it to the Planning and Zoning Commission for review. The proposal will come back to the council for a vote based on P&Z’s recommendations. The Housing Partnership approved a resolution calling for the town to give 3.5 acres to Habitat for Humanity for the construction of two affordable, owner-occupied houses. The houses would be owned by Newtown residents or town employees who meet income guidelines for Habitat for Humanity. The family selected to own a home would provide 400 hours of homebuilding labor, known as “sweat equity.” The homeowner would receive a 20-year, no-interest mortgage for the actual cost of the house, estimated at about $55,000. The cost of the land would be “forgiven” (donated) incrementally over 20 years.

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First Selectman Robert Cascella has issued a proclamation designating Tuesday, June 14, as Flag Day and inviting all citizens to join with other Americans in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag at 7 pm on that day. The effect of this ceremony, which transcends “age, race, religion, country of origin, geographic and political differences,” will be a “stimulating patriotic experience at home and abroad,” Mr Cascella said. He said he learned recently that the National Flag Day Foundation invited President William Clinton to lead all Americans in the 14th annual Pause For The Pledge of Allegiance. The first selectman responded by issuing the proclamation and by sending a letter to the president indicating that Newtown will join the national celebration.

May 30, 1969

According to the latest information on the subject, the moon is not made of green cheese. While this may not necessarily be considered a fact... it is nonetheless a reasonably accurate assumption. Among the personal equipment of the young men at the moment most qualified to make a possible statement of any sort on the condition of the moon and its “lumpy” surface is a small, portable, faithful air-conditioning unit. It is a sort of private and vital cooling system to an astronaut, whenever bound in one of the grotesque oversized jumpsuits that are what the space set wears. Quite literally a life preserver at the times it is needed, it is a Frigivest, and no bigger than a small suitcase, it simply goes on working. The young man with the sole license to handle, assemble, distribute, and further develop this gadget is Richard Haas, A&R Controls, of Hattertown Road.

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Newtown Bee, Dear Mr Editor, I feel we should do something about our “famous” flagpole. I have three suggestions. Remove it. It is a hazard. If there is too much resistance to this — we can build an island with guard rails to deflect wayward vehicles and provide better lights and warnings. If we can’t do one of the above, we can at least straighten it, paint it, and put the ball back on top. Sincerely, Jerry J. Greaves.

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Gordon Williams is the newly elected president of the Newtown Jaycees for the 1969-70 year. The election took place at the monthly meeting at Solly’s Wayside Inn on May 20. Mr Williams is an ancient history teacher at Hillcrest Junior High School in Trumbull. He had been chosen Jaycee of the year in 1968 for the Newtown chapter and had the distinct honor of being Jaycee of the Month for Connecticut. His greatest efforts went into initiating the “Great Books” discussion group at Fairfield Hills Hospital. He resides on Baldwin Road with his wife, Lina, and son, Chris.

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Last Saturday, May 24, Hook & Ladder Company, United Fire Company of Botsford and the Sandy Hook Volunteer Company, using six pumpers, emptied an estimated 500,000 gallons of water from the swimming pool at the town park. The water was pumped into the brook. The operation started at 1 o’clock and was finished at 6:30 pm. Approximately 28 men, under the direction of assistant chief Ken Pelletier of Hook & Ladder, chief Herb Lewis of Sandy Hook, and John Trowbridge of Botsford, worked the job. The empty pool was cleaned and refilled in preparation for the summer season at A. Fenn Dickinson Memorial Park.

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Miss Loretta May Shpunt, daughter of Mrs John Joseph Shpunt of Crestwood Road, Sandy Hook, and a senior majoring in English at Trinity College in Washington, DC, has accepted a $1,350 assistantship in creative writing to the University of Iowa. Miss Shpunt was editor of the Record, Trinity’s literary magazine.

June 2, 1944

James O’Connell of Zoar district suffered a dislocated shoulder Saturday afternoon when a horse which he was working in a field, became frightened at the sound of three low-flying airplanes. As the horse bolted, Mr O’Connell was thrown to the ground, but fortunately escaped without more serious injuries.

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Miss Charlotte Isham, principal of the Sandy Hook School, announces that war savings stamps in the amount of $192.50 were purchased by the school children during the month of May. This figure is topped only by the month of February when the total reached the sum of $414.40.

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Tennis players in town will be pleased to know that two courts at the Country Club have been put in excellent playing condition, being used for the first time this Memorial Day. The courts are available for use at any time, at a small rental fee, details of which can be obtained at the club caddy house. Tennis memberships are also available. It is hoped that the courts will see a lot more use this summer.

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The following four little youngsters were recent visitors in the first grade room at the Sandy Hook School at the invitation of Miss Charlotte Isham, principal: Misses Anna Lou Watkins, Barbara Oberstadt, Elaine Knapp, and Master David Carmody. These children will enter school next fall.

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The Bee is pleased to carry the news that former staff member John Linden Crouch has been promoted to corporal in the U.S. Marines. “Lindy” has just completed a course of training in the Aviation Machinist’s Mate School at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Memphis, Tenn.

May 30, 1919

Are you a progressive? Do you want to make Sandy Hook a better place to live in? Do you want to provide healthful exercise for your boys? Do you favor harmless recreation and amusement for Sandy Hook citizens? If so, help the drive! When the canvasser needs you, give up with a smile. You’ve helped every other drive; give to your own baseball team and see the finest diamond in the state played on this summer.

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Mr and Mrs Henry J. Curtis are enjoying a sojourn at Lakewood N. J. They made the trip down by motor. They had planned to stay at Atlantic City, but were unable to secure reservations at the hotel where they usually stop.

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Frank Hopkins has a new Ford touring car, purchased through the agency of F. A. Blackman.

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John and Patrick Donahue of Walnut Tree Hill will pass Memorial Day with their brother, Thomas, in Hartford.

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Newtown Equal Franchise League. Owing to most unforeseen circumstances, the meeting, which was to have taken place on May 28, was postponed because of a most important County meeting in Norwalk, to which all county officers were summoned. The next regular meeting will occur on Wednesday, June 3 at Mrs Irwin’s at the usual hour, 3 o’clock. Miss Grace Murray will positively appear and make the much promised address. Happily, most good things will keep.

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 [naviga:u]kendra@thebee.com[/naviga:u], 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.