October 1, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Joan Tynan.

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The funeral for Stephen Mazuroski, 24, who was killed during an automobile accident during the early hours of last Friday morning was held Monday. “Stephen was always a teacher of life; he needed no degree,” Brennan Fraczek told the family and friends that crowded into St Rose Church to stay good-bye to his best friend. A star football player for both Newtown High School and Siene College in Londonville, New York, friends that morning remembered Stephen for what he excelled in the most: humanity.

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Judy Benson took over an agency still in its infancy when she first arrived at the Family Counseling Center back in 1988. Later this month, she’ll depart after having led the non-profit center to where it is today — fully licensed, fully accredited, and fully prepared to meet the needs of individuals and families of Newtown and greater Danbury. “I feel like I’ve helped install the foundation. Now the Family Counseling Center is ready to move on to the next level. It’s an exciting time,” Mrs Benson said earlier this week.

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Newtown has always been known as a Republican town, but like a lot of other towns, it is actually more of an unaffiliated town. In Newtown, the biggest bloc of voters is neither Republican nor Democrat. Forty percent of the town’s voting population does not belong to a political party. According to the office of registrars, as of September 1 there were 12,655 registered voters living in Newtown. Of those, 5,157 are unaffiliated, 4,475 are Republications, and 3,022 are Democrats.

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The two young men charged with murder in the July shooting death of Jason Gowdy, 15, of Sandy Hook, entered not guilty pleas in Danbury Superior Court Tuesday. Roberto Lugo, 19, of Stratford, and Alejandro Melendez, 19, of Bridgeport, are charged with felony murder, first-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery. The charges are punishable by life in prison. Both men are being held in prison on $1 million bond.

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After Jim Leebaert achieved CT #1 in 1995, ‘96 and ‘97, US #6 and National #13 and #16 in 1997, he stopped racing BMX. But after nearly 18 months of no racing, Jim started up again in July and quickly regained those winning ways. Wasting no time, he was beating the current No. 1 rider in his division with consistent wins, racing four times a week throughout Connecticut. At the state championship race on Sunday, September 19, Jim won the No. 1 trophy of the day in the 11 Expert division and cinched the coveted #1 position for the 1999 season.

October 27, 1974

Vegetables and fruit seem to be reaching superlative proportions this year. Who can say what combinations of sun, rain and soil have made it so. Mike Kopesky of Parmalee Hill Road, an 8th grader, came across a two pound tomato in his garden, as well as a one and three-quarter pounder and slightly smaller ones. His strawberries were also big this season, he says. Mrs Nicole Morris of Glover Avenue is looking for ideas of what to do with a 105 pound pumpkin. It might have grown bigger if aphids had not attacked. Other huge pumpkins lie out in the garden on their straw mulch as if waiting for a huge hen to come back and sit on them.

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After waiting with some nervousness for several weeks, the members of Newtown Housing for the Elderly Inc (NHE) learned at their meeting on Monday that A. Searle Pinney, chairman of the Fairfield Hills Hospital Advisory Board, has sent a letter to Ernest Shepherd, state mental health commissioner, approving location of a rental housing facility for the elderly on a 20 acre parcel of the hospital’s land off Nunnawauk Road. In a September 18 letter to Commissioner Shepherd, Mr Pinney said the Advisory Board had reendorsed the use of the land, which the members had indicated they supported in July, after NHE President Stanley Main received the support of Dr Robert Miller, FHH administrator.

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First Selectman Frank DeLucia has drafted a set of guidelines for dealing with purchases and contracts made after the annual budget has been decided upon but before the fiscal year has begun. He cited for the Board of Finance at its meeting on September 23, the case of a Highway Department bulldozer for which $8,500 worth of parts had been bought and used before the fiscal year had begun but billed for after July 1. His proposed policy, said Mr DeLucia, would cover such cases.

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For the second time this year the Planning & Zoning Commission has rejected a set of proposed regulations for multiple housing in Newtown. The first disapproval, on February 15, 1974, was on local attorney Frank Mercier’s “trial balloon” regulations for planned unit developments. The second occurred last Friday. By unanimous vote the Commission members voted to reject the application of Victor Christ-Janer and Do Chung Associated, New Canaan architectural firm, and John Barton, for an amendment to the zoning regulations to create “planned residential zones” in town. Mr Barton is trustee for the People’s Savings Bank of Bridgeport for a 132 acre tract of land off Blackman and Tunnel Roads, which Mr Christ-Janer, in association with the bank, has been eyeing for development of a 300-unit condominium complex. Public hearing by P&Z on the amendment was August 20.

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A large tract of land behind the home of Mrs Henrietta Metcalf on Main Street was devoted at the suggestion to the Newtown Recreation Department’s “Farming Program” this summer and the results include some extra badges for Boy Scouts from Troop 270 and a lot of good food for seven Newtown families and their friends. David Darrow of Fox Run Lane South, who has a considerable vegetable garden at his home, says the “Farm Program” land is better suited to growing beans and corn, so he had maintained a plot there as well as advising the Scouts with the “corn growing” and “vegetable gardening” badge projects.

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A new teacher at St Rose Elementary School is not really new. Mrs Rita Zacher of Juniper Road taught two years ago before she was transferred to Holy Innocents School in Ridgefield. Back now, Mrs Zacher has many of the same children in her 7th grade that she had before in 4th and 5th grades.

September 23, 1949

The Newtown Ambulance Association held its eighth annual meeting Tuesday night in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall, with 33 members present. A. Fenn Dickinson, president, was in the chair and reports were read by Mrs Ralph Knibloe, treasurer, and John McMahon, chief driver. To fill vacancies on the board of trustees for terms of three years, Bayard C. Hoppin, chairman of the nominating committee, presented a slate of three names: Mrs Ralph L. Knibloe, Anthony Amaral and Felix Baridon. Henry L. McCarthy was also nominated from the floor. On the balloting, Mrs Knibloe and Messrs McCarthy and Amaral were elected.

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The October issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, out this week, contains between pages 65 and 102, one of the largest features ever devoted to a single subject. What makes it doubly interesting is the fact that Harrie and Marni Wood of Dodgingtown are the two whose work it is. Called a Furniture Chart, it illustrates individual pieces of all types, styles and periods. The illustrations are done by Mr Wood, the exhaustive detail, text and bibliography being furnished by Mrs Wood. This monumental project, incidentally, was undertaken at the time both Mr and Mrs Wood were devoting their time and talents to the production of “Alice in Wonderland.” That two such projects could have been successfully accomplished at the same time is an achievement worth noting.

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Pvt Joseph A. Marcinek, son of Mr and Mrs Joseph J. Marcinek of Currituck road, is now a student in the X-ray Technician course being given at Medical Field Service School. A component of Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, this school trains both officers and enlisted personnel for medical service in the Army. Upon completion of the highly concentrated course, the graduates will be assigned to technical jobs of importance in the Medical Department.

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Gremlins invaded the telephones down in Riverside last Sunday afternoon. The “41” line strung along Lake Zoar, [sic] tieing up the Howard Marvins, the Horace Sanfords, the Louise Behrs, Leonard Starr, the Al Penovis, and the Ben Tomainos, went out for a long stretch. In response to inquiries, the Newtown operators declared someone had left a receiver off the hook. After checking all six phones, reports R.L. Harding, the Repair Service in Danbury was contacted and Bert Carey, test man, dispatched Tom Evans to clear the wires. At 8:05, trouble-shooter Tom climbed a pole near the cemetery and discovered an “old bicycle chain” draped across the wires. This had closed a circuit and caused the light to shine on the switchboard.

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A son was born on Wednesday, September 21st, at Danbury hospital to Mr and Mrs William A. Kamas of Newtown.

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The year’s first meeting of the Newtown P.T.A. on Tuesday evening drew a record attendance of parents, teachers and children to see the annual agricultural and home-making exhibition by the children of the town and sponsored by the Association. Vincent Gaffney, teacher of agriculture at Hawley school, did a fine job in putting on the largest and most comprehensive display of farm projects ever to be seen at Hawley. He had the assistance of Mrs Caroline Schneider, home economics teacher. The exhibition was set up in the gymnasium and presented a lively, colorful and varied display with its bees, rabbits, chickens, vegetables, flowers, cakes, cookies, embroidery and other things. Many of the young exhibitors were on hand to receive in person the awards which were presented by Mr Gaffney. This year $100 was given out with the prize winning ribbons, of which $50 was donated by the Newtown Rotary Club and $50 by the P.T.A.

September 19, 1924

Rev Dr Richmond H. Gesner preached his first sermon as rector of Trinity church, Sunday morning. Dr Gesner took as his text from St Luke 22:36 “But now let him that hath no sword, sell his garments and buy one.” The speaker said a few words of greeting to his congregation before beginning his sermon. He spoke of his joy at coming among them and paid fitting tribute to the many distinguished rectors who had laid the foundations of the Faith deeply in all this region. He paid tribute to his laity, who made the bulk of the church. He hoped to carry on the work they had so nobly done and trust all with one heart and one mind would strive to promise the name of Jesus Christ and to build on the Eternal Foundation of His Word and Truth.

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At the democratic state convention in Hartford, Wednesday and Thursday, Attorney Charles G. Morris of Newtown, who resides summers in the old Morris homestead in Gray’s Plain, was nominated for governor. Mr Morris is chairman of the Newtown School Board. Mr Morris is president of the New Haven Dairy Company. His father, ex-Governor Morris, was one of the most interesting figures in Connecticut politics in the early nineties. He was thrice in succession the democratic nominee for governor.

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William B. Warner of Newbury, N.Y., an expert miner, is carrying on quite a mining enterprise on the farm of F.A. Young, having leased the feldspar mine on Mr Young’s farm opened up a few years ago by Capt Cook. Mr Warner opened up on a new ledge and has struck a very fine grade of feldspar. There is a sufficient quantity of high grade rock to last from five to 12 years. The mine has been christened “The Grace feldspar mine.” Mr Warner has two trucks engaged in hauling the feldspar to Hawleyville. Mr Warner expects to open with another gang of men soon in the quarry on the same form which Capt Cook developed.

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The Men’s Republican Club held a very pleasant meeting at the Parker house, last Thursday evening. The officers elected were: President, Wallace N. Mitchell; vice-president, Harry M. Greenman; secretary, George M. Stuart; treasurer, H.H. Curtis. A nice luncheon was served by Mine Host Parker.

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The reception tendered by Rev and Mrs G.H. Ekins to the members of the congregation, Friday night, at the Congregational church parsonage, in honor of Rev Mr Ekins’ first anniversary in the Congregational pastorate, was a very pleasant event. Vocal solos were given by F. Arthur Ekins, Arthur W. Reynolds, Mrs Walter Reynolds, a duet by F. Arthur Ekins and Henry R. Horton, piano solos by Mrs George Curtis Morgan and violin solos by Mrs Catharine Winchester of Greenfield Hill, Mrs B.S. Winchester accompanying. An eloquent and inspiring address was given by Rev Dr Herbert S. Brown, pastor of Olivet church, of Bridgeport, on “New England.” Allison P. Smith also spoke briefly. Refreshments of cake and punch were served. The attendance was large. Among the number present was Rev Dr Richmond Gesner, the new rector of Trinity parish.

September 29, 1899

(This issue is missing from the Library of Congress archives, which we use for Way We Were segments of 125 years ago.)

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