July 9, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Paul Sirois.

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Monday, July 12, is the deadline for four firms to submit their final proposals to the state for the acquisition and redevelopment of the 186-acre Fairfield Hills core campus. In the coming weeks, the Fairfield Hills Selection Committee, a joint town-state panel, will be reviewing the redevelopmental proposals with an eye toward recommending one for implementation at the former state mental institution in the geographical center of town.

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Like opening up the oven door, this week’s heat wave took your breath away. The air exceeded blood temperature, and people seemed to want to jump out of their skins in search of relief. Sure, there was air conditioning, but you had to come out eventually. The same was true for the town’s swimming pool, where people emerged looking like prunes and the water was like a bath tub anyway.

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About 100 Newtown Montessori School parents and students July 1 pressed the Planning and Zoning Commission to approve allowing private schools as an allowed land use in an M-2 Industrial zone, so that the school can proceed with plans to relocate from its current cramped Dodgingtown quarters to the spacious former Gordon Fraser Gallery at 173 South Main Street. The Montessori push for the zoning amendment comes in the face of opposition to the proposal from the Economic Development Commission, whose members recommend against approving the amendment because they fear the local property tax base would be damaged by having a currently taxed industrial building converted for use as a non-taxable private school.

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Nathan Gaines stole home with the game-winning run to lift Botsford Drive-In to an exciting 7-6 win over Key Realty in the finals of the Babe Ruth 14/15 League June 30. Gaines’s head-first slide put the cap on Botsford’s three-run sixth inning, which turned a 6-4 deficit into a one-run lead. Pitcher Justin Harding kept Key Realty scoreless in the seventh to pick up the win.

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In an effort to bring health screenings to the employees of local businesses, the Visiting Nurse Association of Newtown (VNA) conducted a blood pressure screening at the Sonics & Materials Inc plant at 53 Church Hill Road recently. “It’s a first for us,” said VNA President Mae Schmidle. “Hopefully this will be the start of a new program in which we can bring services directly to people at work.” Most of the more than 50 employees of the technology firm took advantage of the opportunity when Jean Carlsen spent two hours in a conference room on June 24 taking blood pressure readings.

July 5, 1974

Stephen Dann, tournament director of the Connecticut Amateur Chess Championship Tournament, presented the winner’s trophy to Ben McCready, The Newtown Bee chess columnist and member of Newtown Chess Club. The tournament was contested June 28-29 at Mohegan Community College in Norwich.

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The Newtown Conservation Commission met on Wednesday, July 3, to discuss changes in the inland-wetlands regulations as a result of suggestions presented at the public hearing on June 24. The Commission with its attorney, Samuel Chambliss of Easton, reviewed the regulations which it had drawn up for the Town. “There were some good points raised at the public hearing,” Howard Hemmerer, vice-chairman, said. “Since the State’s inland-wetlands regulations are in effect in Newtown as of July 1, we feel that we would be doing the townspeople a disservice by not having our regulations completed and accepted as soon as possible. As it is now, people have to go to Hartford for licensing.”

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On Thursday evening, June 27, the Boggs Hill School building committee, as ordered by a town meeting vote on June 5, had a public hearing in the auditorium of the Middle School. The purpose of the hearing was to gather information from townspeople on what they thought should be included in the plans for the proposed elementary school. A handful of people attended and the evening turned out to be, instead of informational, one which centered around philosophical discussions on the pros and cons of open classroom teaching.

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On Thursday, June 27, the Active Group of the Boys Social and Athletic Club Inc (SAC) had its annual election in the Elbow Room at SAC Park. The junior officers for the coming year are Tim Stefanko, president; Rob Knapp, vice president; Dennis Morgan, treasurer; and Dave Doherty, secretary. After the business meeting, the boys enjoyed their annual birthday party with one of Ren’s artistic cakes and hot dogs from the Stage Coach Diner. Former Sacker Karl Khune of the Grand Union helped with the soda. Presents from Mrs Dorothy Hull and Jerry Jackson were received with thanks.

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Newtown Boy Scouts Troop 270 conducted a Court of Honor on Thursday, June 27, at the Dodgingtown Fire House. The court was convened in conjunction with the National Council of Boy Scouts of America, which has begun its observance of our nation’s bicentennial. Each year until August, 1977, Scouts will have a special emphasis or theme. This year’s theme is “GIFT” (Getting Involved For Them). The primary aims of this theme are to encourage troops and individual Scouts to get involved for others through good turns, and to honor people in the community for their significant service for others.

July 1, 1949

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — WE SPEAK FOR A SAFE, SANE AND SATISFYING FOURTH: The Fourth of July promises considerable activity in Newtown. There will be a large parade in the morning. In the evening a display of fireworks will take place at Taylor Field. The fireworks display, which has been rather hastily arranged by the Boy Scouts, has two purposes in view. One is to provide a safe and well-ordered community entertainment for all who wish to enjoy the set pieces, sky rockets and other pyrotechnic effects which will be set off. The second purpose is to aid the Scout camp fund by means of free-will contributions which those who attend will be given the opportunity to make. Anyone wishing to add suitable fireworks to those being provided by the Scout organization, will be most welcome to do so.

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The Couples Club of the Newtown Congregational church had its final meeting of the season in the form of a picnic on Tuesday night at Camp Pomperaug, Southbury. Fifteen couples enjoyed a delicious meal, a softball game and singing around the campfire. Dorothea and Mort Baker were in charge of the arrangements for the affair, assisted by Albert and Verne Knapp.

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John J. Broadbrook of The Bee staff who was taken to Bridgeport hospital for an operation on June 20th, was returned to his home Tuesday on Toll Gate Hill, where he is reported to be resting comfortably.

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Governor Chester Bowles on Wednesday night announced interim appointments of several minor court judges as he completed selection of judges for the 69 minor courts in the state. John F. Holian was named judge of the Newtown court, with Fred J. Carmody as deputy. The Governor said that he was making the appointments on an interim basis because the General Assembly had failed to enact a law setting terms for the judges. The appointments become effective on Friday, July 1, with the possibility that the present judges whose terms expire on Friday, will challenge the appointments in the State Supreme Court. The Assembly of Minor Court Judges of Connecticut is meeting this Thursday evening in the State Supreme Court building to decide on a course of action. Walter A. Reynolds is the present judge of the Newtown Court and Edward S. Pitzschler is deputy.

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EARLY COPY, PLEASE: Because of the Fourth of July holiday on Monday, The Bee’s regular schedule for the publication of next week’s issue will be shortened by one day. It is requested, therefore, that subscribers, advertisers and all others submitting material for publication, send it to The Bee office at the earliest possible moment. Such cooperation will be much appreciated. —Paul S. Smith, Editor

June 27, 1924

PIANO FUND-ABOUT $50 MORE NEEDED: During the past week the following contributions to the piano fund have been received: Ray Hall, $3; Mrs George Beehler, $1; Sandy Hook Parent, $1. About $50 more is needed. Who will help?

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The pupils and teachers of the Taunton and Land’s End schools, with a number of the parents of the children, held an enjoyable picnic and field day on Wednesday afternoon on the grounds of the Land’s End school. Games were enjoyed and a fine picnic lunch.

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Mrs F.F. Johnson of St Louis, Mo., has been in town, this week. Bishop and Mrs Johnson will open their Newtown residence for the summer, next week.

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All the latest in fireworks at S. Nalevky’s, Huntingtown.—[Adv.

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Mr and Mrs Arthur J. Smith, Paul and Earl Smith, and M.E. Scudder sail on Saturday from New York on the Celtic of the White Star line for Europe. They will travel through Holland, Belgium, France, Switzerland and England.

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John J. Keating, a faithful employee of the Fabric Fire Hose Co., and an esteemed resident of Mile Hill, was operated on for appendicitis, Saturday morning, being conveyed to the hospital by Dr W.H. Kiernan. He came through the operation all right and is now convalescing nicely.

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Mr and Mrs Charles F. Beardsley and Mr and Mrs A.E. Brinley returned, Monday night, from a three-day trip to Whitingham, Vt., where they were the guests of Mr and Mrs Robert Olds. They inspected the wonderful water power development just completed at Whitingham.

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A committee consisting of Rev G.H. Ekins, F.H. Duncombe, Willis Arndt, Mrs A. W. Reynolds and Mrs Arthur Stowe has been appointed to arrange for the annual summer outing of the Congregational church.

July 7, 1899

F.E. Beach, associate editor of the Bridgeport Morning Telegram, was in town on Monday and paid a fraternal call at The Bee office.

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Z.M. Allen of Brooklyn was in town over Sunday, the guest of his brother, W.L. Allen.

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Clarence Beardsley of New Haven was with his parents, Mr and Mrs C.F. Beardsley, over Sunday and the Fourth, returning to New Haven, Tuesday night.

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At a business meeting of the Congregational church on Sunday, following the morning service, Allison P. Smith was elected to the office of deacon for a term of two years.

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M.J. Toohey, recently with J. H. Costello at Sandy Hook, has taken a position in Mulcahy’s blacksmith shop at New Milford.

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Newtown friends of Mr and Mrs E.P. Taylor of Oakland, Cal., were shocked to learn of the sudden death of their only son, on June 8. He was a grandson of the late Dr Monroe Judson and had visited in Newtown. The San Jose (Cal.) Daily Mercury in describing the awful accident says: “At about 4:30 p.m., June 8, the cruel wheels of a freight car crushed the life from the body of a bright 14-year-old boy, and it was by the narrowest possible margin that a second life was spared. The scene of the distressing accident was on Lenzen avenue, at the crossing of the railroad tracks near the new roundhouse. The victim was Edward Page Taylor, Jr., of Oakland, a son of E.P. Taylor, a prominent stationer of that city.”

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.