June 28, 1991

With temperatures in the 90s and with sunglasses and beachballs in abundance, it seemed more like a party than the occasion for a solemn farewell to Newtown High School from the Class of 1991. Spirits were high on June 20, but promptly at 5 pm, the 248 graduates took their seats in the Bruce Jenner Stadium and settled down to hear the commencement speaker, English teacher Mary Tomaino.

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Buying development rights to farmland or setting up bike trails are just two of 10 land preservation proposals residents will have a chance to support at a July 15 public hearing. The proposals are ideas that residents have come up with to take advantage of nearly a million in Iroquois funding to preserve open space. The Iroquois Gas Transmission System is granting the town $904,000 as part of its land preservation program.

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The public is invited to watch or participate in a fleece-dyeing program and demonstration on Sunday, June 30, at the Newtown Historical Society's Matthew Curtiss House on Main Street. Participants can bring fabric or fleece for dyeing using either natural or chemical dyes.

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Although many towns use fireworks on the Fourth of July, residents are warned that personal use of fireworks is against the law. "All fireworks are illegal," said Police Chief Michael DeJoseph. According to the chief, the ban was enacted in the 70s "for safety reasons - kids were losing their fingers and losing their eyes."

July 1, 1966

The Bee staff wishes all a happy holiday weekend, and in the interest of having one, asks for cooperation from all in getting copy for the July 8 issue. Stories or ads that can be brought in Friday, July 1, will be most welcome. While The Bee is closed Monday, copy may be dropped through the slot in the front door.

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In Wednesday night's game, Tradewell Yankees vs Rexall Red Socks, Mike Kascak had three hits and allowed only a bunt single as he pitched the Yankees to their 11th straight win of the season and a 6-0 record for the second half.

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Mrs Charles Tribby of Still Hill Road reports a family of flying squirrels frolicking in the tree tops around her home. The handsome little creatures are a brownish-gray with light underparts. They are incredibly agile, she says, and skim about almost like birds.

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Families opening their homes to children from New York City for two weeks or longer will meet their small visitors on July 6. In Newtown, The Jaycee Wives Fresh Air Project chairman Mrs Richard Hamlin has been working toward this day. A picnic for host families and children is planned at A. Fenn Dickinson Memorial Park on July 17.

June 27, 1941

Last year at the carnival sponsored by the Newtown Committee For Child Refugees, there was a pet show, which proved to be such a great success that the committee is planning to repeat the event. However, as it is necessary to reserve the space in advance, all those who want to enter pets are asked to get in touch with Mrs Robert McGraw, Tel. Newtown 338, as soon as possible.

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The Newtown Country Club Softball team captured its second victory of the season on Sunday afternoon by trimming the Fairfield Hills State Hospital 6-4 at the Club grounds. It was a ding-dong struggle, one which had the crowd on edge throughout. Both hurlers were in great form.

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The Newtown and Sandy Hook fire companies were called to Cantone's Restaurant, Sandy Hook, at 1:30 am Wednesday morning to extinguish a blaze started in an upstairs bedroom. The extent of the damage was small, as only the bedding was lost, due to firemen's prompt and efficient work.

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The editor of The Bee enjoyed a visit Tuesday morning from Philip R. Dillon of Redding Ridge. During the course of that chat Mr Dillon took occasion to remark, "I see you continue to publish a darn good newspaper," which to the Editor of The Bee is praise enough. Mr Dillon, long Editor of Editor and Publisher, is well qualified to pass judgment on the relative merits or frailties of any publication.

June 23, 1916

There will be a dance at the Upham Food Products factory at Hawleyville on Friday evening at which Bevans' well known orchestra will furnish music. Ice cream and cake will be served. Ladies admitted free and gentlemen will be charged 50 cents each. A good time is assured all who attend. Everybody is welcome.

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The managers of the moving picture show have secured four of Charley Chaplin's comedies for next week. The first show will be on Tuesday evening, July 4, showing Chaplin in a Pre-Historic past, two reels, together with a good three-reel feature and a single drama. On Friday evening, Chaplin will be shown in two single reels, "Getting Acquainted" and "Those Love Pangs."

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On Thursday evening, June 22, a number of representative farmers residing in Newtown met at the Brick building in order to find ways and means of bettering the diary farmers' conditions, and especially to organize themselves into a body or association in order to be in a better position to protect their interests. Some farmers complain that their milk dealers did not keep their contracts and returned all milk sent to them, which the farmers have been obliged to hold back in some cases as long as six weeks.

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Coroner John J. Phelan was in town Tuesday morning to take evidence on the death of John Reardon. Clarence Brouty, the driver of the machine that knocked Reardon over, was asked if he wished to say anything about the accident. He said he was going very slowly when the accident occurred. He was in Sandy Hook looking to see the sign posts and Reardon was ahead of him and he thought he was out of the way when he put on the gas and was about to go by. Instead, Reardon lurched in front of the machine and the mud guard struck and threw him down onto some rocks. He immediately stopped and jumped out and laid Reardon on the Postoffice steps. That Reardon had been drinking was very evident. Arthur Crowe saw the accident and did not see how it could be helped. Coroner Phelan would consider it an unavoidable accident and that no one was due blame.

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.