August 20, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Lyndon Thomas.

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The fervent dedication to technological advancement is paying off for Newtown schools, as the district was recently named a potential state model of how to create, maintain and implement a technology plan. In a letter to Superintendent of Schools John Reed, State Educational Coordinator German Bermudez announces that Newtown is one of two districts being considered by the Department of Education as a technology model to help kick off a new state technology initiative. The announcement comes on the heels of a new state grant that Newtown has received for $23,238, money to be used for further technology upgrades and personnel salaries.

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Police Commission members have issued a concise “notice of grounds for dismissal” to Police Chief James E. Lysaght, Jr, explaining the reasons why they believe he should be fired. The three-page notice dated August 17 lists five specific grounds for the chief’s dismissal and provides examples of his conduct, plus incidents which the commission will use in evaluating whether there is “just cause” for his termination. Police Commission members Monday night unanimously endorsed the document which was sent to Chief Lysaght Tuesday. The commission’s decision to issue the notice followed an hour-long, closed-door session at which members privately discussed legal strategy with Town Attorney David Zabel.

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Members of the town road crew were busy digging a trench for a stormwater drainage project on Georges Hill late on the morning of Friday the 13th when they turned up an ominous object. Out from beneath a pile of leaves amid the excavation work near 75 Georges Hill Road appeared a plastic tube containing what the workers thought to be a type of pliable explosive used in construction known as “slurry.” … After the workers had found the object, they cleared the area and summoned help. Hawleyville and Sandy Hook firefighters responded to the scene. Police closed Georges Hill Road to traffic as a precaution. The Connecticut State Police Bomb Squad was summoned to investigate. The bomb squad, with a bomb-containment trailer in tow, later proceeded to cut open the ominous tube and found it contained a roll of Federal Express shipping labels, relieving fears that the object would explode.

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Newtown High School Class of 1996 members Katie Lukeris and Andrea Tarka had a formula when they signed up to participate in this year’s Boston-New York AIDS Ride: they wanted a challenge and to fight for a good cause. They will be at the starting line near Northeastern University September 16 in Boston, and when the gun sounds, they will tackle the 275-mile course that concludes at the intersection of 8th Avenue and 16th Street in New York City. … Both students are currently collecting donations as they need to collect $1,700 each to participate in the ride.

August 16, 1974

At 3:30 pm, August 12, a lot of people in Newtown suddenly found themselves without electricity due to an accident at the intersection of Routes 302 and 25. It all happened when Anthony Sega of New Milford was driving his tractor-trailer truck with crane eastbound on Route 302 and attempted to make a left-hand turn at the light. When he did so, he struck a Connecticut Light and Power pole, breaking it and also taking down quite a few of the overhead wires, which ended up being strewn across Routes 25 and 302. … Newtown Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 had to be called to the scene because a tree and a small area of grass caught fire when the pole started to burn. No injuries were reported, and Mr Sega was issued a summons for making an improper left turn. … A report from CL&P shows the statistics of the power outage: 725 customers without electricity for 30 minutes, 1,373 out for 57 minutes, and 696 out for 105 minutes. All customers had power restored by 5:45.

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The dispute over who is to sit as the sixth member of the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers has been settled. The Democratic members of the Board have conceded the spot to Frank Scinto, the Republican Town Committee recommendation, instead of pressing their contention that Lois Woodward, also a Republican but their choice, was the proper member.

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David Larson, chairman of the Park and Recreation Commission, reports that the water in the pool at Dickinson Town Park was tested very recently and is excellent. The Park and Recreation Commission also reports it is very pleased with the condition of the pool this summer and to learn so many people have been enjoying it.

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Patrick Simms, young son of Mr and Mrs Bernard Simms of Fairchild Drive, returned home from Danbury Hospital Monday, August 12, after treatment for injuries received in a late June accident resulting from a children’s attempt at homemade fireworks.

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Robert P. McCulloch, GRI, president of the McCulloch Agency, Inc Realtors, with offices at 10 Queen Street, Newtown, was awarded the realtors highest achievement by the Newtown Board of Realtors as “Realtor of the Year.” Mr McCulloch has served the Newtown Board of Realtors as its president, vice president, director and chairman of many committees over his ten-year association with the Real Estate Board.

August 12, 1949

What transpired on the stage of the Edmond Town Hall theatre last Wednesday night, August 3rd, was pretty wonderful fantasy, showing an endless amount of work and patience on the part of the Town Players in its production of the Carroll classic, “Alice In Wonderland.” From all accounts, what went on the following night was even better. By that time the fifty cast members had acquired assurance and their efforts, combined with the backstage crew, made for a smooth performance. Last week’s review of the play was necessarily based on its opening night performance. Credit was given where it was known, but Town Players, rightfully, would like to extend its thanks to all those who aided in any way with its most ambitious production to date.

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More than 400 persons from 15 towns, members of the Housatonic Valley Clean Waters League, condemned the inaction of town officials in curbing pollution of Lake Zoar and other valley waters at a meeting held last Friday evening in Edmond Town Hall gymnasium. Meeting at 8:30 o’clock, the two-year-old group elected a board of directors to lead the fight to clean up the Western Connecticut lakes and streams, explained the purposes of the organization and presented resolutions in protest of the “inaction of officials.”

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Townspeople gathered in the Newtown Congregational church at 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon to pay their respects to the memory of the late George W. Trull, a member of the firm of Knapp, Trull and Meyers, whose death occurred just before noon on Monday. The service, as conducted by the Rev Paul Lynn, was simple and eloquent, as was the committal service later at the Newtown Village cemetery. The Rev Mr Lynn was pastor of the local church during the war years, while the regular minister, the Rev Paul A. Cullens, was on leave of absence, serving as chaplain with the armed forces overseas. It was during this period that Mr Trull came to Newtown, when, in 1942, he formed a partnership with Albert J. Knapp to operate a combined grocery and meat market on Newtown’s Main street.

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The recently organized Independent Hose Company of Botsford held its weekly meeting Tuesday evening at 8 o’clock in the Pines Inn, Route 25, with Alvin B. Coger presiding. There were 30 members present. F. Robert Mount is secretary. The Ways and Means committee, composed of John Hansen, Carroll R. Eaton and Oswald M. Peck, announced that it has drawn up a letter to be sent to all property owners in the district who should be interested in fire protection of their property asking for contributions, large or small, to help in the establishment and maintenance of the newly-formed fire company. … It was also announced at the meeting that land for the building site of the new company has been donated by Louis Bedat. Negotiations are being conducted for the purchase of a fire engine. … Louis Bedat was elected first honorary member of the company.

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Danny Lawler, golf pro at the Newtown Country Club, has announced that beginning next week he will give free golf lessons to all junior members of the club. It is hoped that all the young people will sign up for this unusual opportunity, regardless of whether or not they have started golf. A junior golf tournament is being planned for the last two weeks in September, the exact date to be announced later.

August 8, 1924

The annual meeting of the Newtown Forestry Association, Saturday evening, on the attractive grounds of Dr and Mrs Charles H. Peck on Mt Pleasant, was attended by an even 200 people who appeared to thoroughly enjoy the event. The meeting place was arranged on the tennis court, electric lights adding to the beauty and the comfort of the event. The grounds were further beautified by large Japanese lanterns, which sent out their glimmering light. The exercises opened with three selections by the Sandy Hook band, who played in fine style and won repeated applause.

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ENTERTAINMENT! By St Francis Juvenile Minstrels of Waterbury, at NEWTOWN TOWN HALL, AUGUST 15 AT 8.30 D.S.T., and SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 16, at ST MARY’S HALL, SANDY HOOK, Under Auspices Of ST ROSE’S CHURCH, Admission 50c. Dancing.

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Perfect oil heaters, Palmer hammocks, screen doors, window screens, Black Flag, Flyosan, stick fly paper, poison fly paper, Crenoid and Creatol Dip for cattle, spray pumps at Corbett & Crowe’s.—[Adv

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Butter 47c, cheese 31c, Swift’s shoulders 15c lb, salt pork 25c a lb, shredded wheat 11c, Kellogg’s corn flakes 8c, Post Toasties 8c, Puffed rice 15c, oranges, lemons, bananas and peaches at Davey Brothers’.—[Adv.

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Just ninety members of the Church School of the Congregational church journeyed by auto to Lake Quassapaug, Friday, for the annual picnic of the school. The weather was ideal and everyone had a good time. Dinner was served in the pavilion, under the direction of Mrs Arthur Stowe, Mrs A.W. Reynolds and others. The sports for the young people were under the direction of Rev G.H. Ekins. In the afternoon came a ball game between nines representing the single men and married men, when the latter were beaten by the score of 22 to 5.

August 18, 1899

In a card in the Bridgeport Telegram Mr and Mrs John Kennedy, whose daughter died in Newtown, last week, express their sincere and heartfelt thanks to Rev Father Smith of Newtown, who so feelingly and kindly attended their daughter, Mary, and knelt beside her bed until she calmly and peacefully passed away, and also to Father Fox and to the Sisters of Charity for so kindly visiting her, and to the family of John Keane, with whom she died.

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Dr R.N. Todd, New Milford’s well-known veterinarian, operated on a black colt successfully, afflicted by an abscess, belonging to Charles L. Briscoe. He also performed an operation on a colt belonging to William Jillson, and sewed up the udder of a cow belonging to Asa Hawley, which had the appearance of having been cut by some sharp instrument.

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Tickets are now on sale at Newtown Inn for the grand concert and hop to be held Saturday evening, August 19.

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Mrs H.E. Tucker sang at the Congregational church on Sunday morning to the pleasure of the large congregation present.

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FATHER SMITH HANDSOMELY REMEMBERED: On Wednesday evening of last week at St Patrick’s Hall in the presence of 300 or 400 people took place exercises which will long live in the minds of those who participated. The occasion was the presentation to Rev T.B. Smith, the assistant pastor of St Rose’s church, in honor of his 10th anniversary as a priest, of a beautiful gold chalice set with precious stones, medallions and inscriptions, also a purse of $350, by the parishioners of St Rose’s parish.

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