October 6, 1995

If Molly Dorozenski never felt special before, she certainly does now. The 17-year-old Newtown High School senior is being flown to Tokyo this month, to join 39 others for a three-day summit on how computers, linked globally, can tackle world problems. Molly, one of six American students chosen to go to the GII (Global Information Infrastructure) Summit, will also get a tour of the Asian city after the conference and a new computer, compliments of Isao Okawa, president and chairman of CSK Corporation and Sega Enterprises, Ltd... Through an essay contest in September, 40 students from around the world were picked to go to the conference... Molly had the third highest score on her essay out of 150 submissions.

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The Conservation Commission is proposing construction of a townwide trail network for the public enjoyment of open space areas and low-intensity recreational activities... The network would consist of a system of interconnecting multipurpose trails on exclusive rights of way, as well as roadside bikeways. The trail network would include a “primary trail” which follows the town’s boundary lines to provide access to trails in adjoining towns. A series of secondary interior trails would provide access to the primary trail.

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Two physical education teachers at Newtown High School have been disciplined by the superintendent of schools for consuming alcohol on school grounds. Bob Zito and Dan Winsett were fined in excess of $3,000 and suspended for two weeks in the wake of an investigation by Newtown Superintendent of Schools Dr John Reed.

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A jazz concert will be held at McLaughlin’s Vineyard on Alberts Hill Road in Sandy Hook on Sunday, October 8, to benefit the Family Life Center of Newtown, Inc. The event, the vineyard’s last jazz concert of the season, will be held from 3 to 7 pm, and will feature Ali Ryerson on the flute from 3 to 5 pm.

***

Followers of the girls’ cross country team are perhaps seeing history in the making. The team opened the books this season and are determined to make their entry. So far, they have an unmarred record of 11-0, with one quad meet left in the season. That meet is October 12th in Newtown... Sights will then turn to the SWC championships and state competition.

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Autumn goodies such as gourds, squash, pumpkins, cornstalks, farm-fresh raspberry jelly and handmade wooden crafts can be found at the Ferris Acres Farm Stand on Route 302 at Robin Hill, each weekend until they sell out — usually before the end of October... The business was established three years ago by Terri Ferris and her husband, Charlie, and Shirley Ferris, as a supplement to the family dairy farm. And its popularity has grown so, they need to start planning for it in January.

October 2, 1970

Apartments for Newtown, this time condominiums only, were discussed last Friday evening, September 25, with the Planning & Zoning Commission. The presentation was made by Atty Thomas Cheney, speaking for Val Hair, the developer. The property is off Philo Curtis and Pole Bridge Roads in Sandy Hook. Mr Cheney noted this is the fourth request for apartments made by clients he represented. The initial applications came some ten years ago, and Mr Cheney noted that attitudes toward “multi-family dwellings” have changed considerably since that time.

***

Starting Sunday afternoon, October 4, Newtowners will be able to try out for themselves the new swimming pool at the high school in Sandy Hook. Regulations for use of the pool will be strictly adhered to. Swimmers should bring their own bathing suits; those with longish-hair must wear bathing caps. Three lifeguards will be on duty at all times.

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In less than a week Newtown has made great progress towards its much-needed new grade school... Last Friday, Otto Heise, Sr, and Otto Heise, Jr, notified the Site Committee of their desire to donate funds for the 25-acre Boyle Property on Boggs Hill Road offered to the town at $3,200 an acre. This is by no means the first of Mr Heise’s generous gifts to Newtown and its schools. Others are scholarships... and the $25,000 donation towards the swimming pool in the new high school... The Heises’ offer came while the Site Committee was negotiating to obtain an option on the Boyle property.

***

Landslide Spill At The Dump: Raymond Eaton was driving the town’s new scoop-shovel dumping garbage into the pit. The earth at the precipice of the pit gave way and the truck with Eaton in the cab fell approximately 60 feet, the truck landing on its side. Miraculously, Eaton, in white hard hat, was unhurt.

***

There is a place in Newtown that now displays all the delights of October and Halloween; a witch, Indian corn, brilliant mums, stacks of cornstalks, and pumpkins — row after row of pumpkins — all ready for making steaming pies and carving leering faces. It has been known as The Pumpkin House for 25 years now and is located on Route 34 in Sandy Hook. Here is a beautiful old home that has been known traditionally for its display of pumpkins that line the porches, walls and gardens — all mixed in with fall flowers and clusters of Indian corn. The pumpkins and mums were raised and are being sold by two 16-year-old boys, Steve Jones, who lives at The Pumpkin House, and Carl Burgquist.

***

The Newtown branch building of the Danbury Savings and Loan Association is well on its way to completion at its location in the Cianci block on Queen Street. According to Assistant Vice President Dave Wells, the branch expects to open the first week of November.

September 28, 1945

“I know that man! He was in my outfit!” was the exclamation of a sergeant in the uniform of an infantry paratrooper as he singled out one of the 125 photographs of local servicemen on display in the Corbett and Crowe drug store at Sandy Hook, last Saturday. The speaker was Sgt Joseph Kitson, Co F, 513 Parachute Infantry, of New Britain, wounded in France and at the crossing of the Rhine and now home on furlough recuperating... The picture was one of Sgt Charles Ust of Sandy Hook... “I knew him as a good sergeant and a good soldier, and one who was absolutely without fear,” was his description of the missing Sgt Ust.

***

Newtown’s annual town election will be held at the Edmond Town Hall on Monday, October 1, for the purpose of electing by ballot all town officers to be voted for at that time and to vote on three amendments to the state constitution.

***

The past two or three practices for a soccer team have drawn out more players until Tuesday afternoon twenty were on hand and a real good scrimmage was fitteed into the afternoon workout. Litchfield High School has written in for two dates and others will be contacted now that a team looks possible.

***

A common reason why so many paper ballots are invalidated and thrown out every year appears in a letter to the editor of The Bee: “Each year in the paper ballot towns,” the letter states, “many, many paper ballots are thrown out because of improper marking. The difficulty arises particularly in connection with split tickets, and there are many split tickets. When marking a split ticket, many will show their party affiliation by marking the “X” in the circle indicating the party and then proceed to vote for candidates in both party columns... Years ago this procedure was considered correct. Today it voids the ballot. I think it might be wise to call this to the attention of our readers; if they wish to vote a split ticket — for candidates in both parties — they should leave the circle indicating their party entirely alone.

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On this Saturday, September 29, the Senior Girl Scouts will hold a food sale on the lawn of Trinity church, starting at 10:30 am. The Senior Girl Scout organization is new in Newtown, having been organized less than four weeks ago.

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The Newtown Ration Board will close for all time Friday, September 28th. Local friends will be interested in knowing that Mrs Arthur Boyhen, congenial chief clerk of the board, has been transferred to the Price Control Division of the Danbury office, and Miss Lorraine Shepard has accepted a position with the telephone office, Newtown exchange.

September 17, 1920

The microfilm containing 1920 Newtown Bee editions is kept at the C.H. Booth Library, which is temporarily closed due to coronavirus health precautions.

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