October 8, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Caroline Stokes.

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The development of Avalon at Newtown, a proposed 304-unit rental apartment complex envisioned for Hawleyville, has withdrawn its two development applications from review by the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) and Conservation Commission. The project hit a stumbling block in obtaining sanitary sewer service for the project. Avalon Bay Communities, Inc, however, plans to resubmit new applications after securing access to sewers from the Water Pollution Control Authority.

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Later this month, a construction team is scheduled to pull up a section of old, worn-out sidewalk along Main Street and replace it with a concrete-like material called Bomanite. … The plans call for the addition of 3,500 feet of sidewalk within an inner loop of the borough. The new, five-foot-wide concrete sidewalks would be built along the southern part of the eastern side of Main Street, along the northern side of Glover Avenue, the western side of Queen Street, and then up Church Hill Road on the northern side.

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Local volunteer fire and ambulance personnel are seeking the creation of a new tax abatement program from the town. Their request comes in response to the passage of a new state law that allows towns to grant fire and EMS volunteers up to $1,000 a year off their property taxes. On Monday, Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Kevin Cragin, and John Basso, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps chief, made the request to the Board of Selectmen in person. In response, the selectmen agreed to form an ad hoc committee of emergency volunteers to take a closer look at the tax relief program.

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It’s been 20 years since Dan Baker and Joe LaCava Jr last caddied together on the links at Rock Ridge Country Club. Both loved the sport of golf, but, no doubt, neither could have dreamed where it would take them. LaCava is now a professional caddy on the PGA tour for Fred Couples, and the PGA employs Baker as a tournament director.

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Showing a young pup and a veteran bitch, local Norwegian Elkhound breeder Lisa Peterson recently captured top honors in specialty dog shows from Canada to Cape Cod. At the Norwegian Elkhound Club of Canada National Specialty, Stasha, owned by Nancy and Steve Hales of New Canaan, won Best Puppy in Specialty Show under English judge Pam Mead of Georgia. In addition, judge Glady Gates awarded the 10-month-old bitch Best Puppy in Sweepstakes at the Canadian National. Mrs Peterson, who owns and operates Elvemel kennels in Dodgingtown, is Stasha’s breeder, co-owner and handler.

October 4, 1974

Between last week’s issue and this week’s publication date, several new wrinkles were added to the ever-shifting story about the trials and tribulations of setting up the first-ever contract between the Town of Newtown and the new public works department union. Last week, following two days of mediation, the union officers announced they were taking the stalled contract negotiations to fact finding by the state Labor Department. At the same time, local union president John Butler said the highway and landfill workers were planning a new form of protest about the contract proceedings, though no details were given. On Friday, September 27, the new tactic surfaced as 18 out of 32 total employees called in “sick.”

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Town Sanitarian John E. Goett is very leery about the proposed new septic code which has been proposed by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Health. The stringent proposals, which the DEP says “will represent a substantial tightening of standards,” were bluntly appraised for The Bee by Mr Goett, who recently attended state-sponsored information sessions on the planned code. “They’re causing a hell of a stir with anybody who’s connected with building, subdividing, real estate, septics installation—and it’s going to be the homeowner who’s going to have to foot the bill,” he said.

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The annual meeting of the Newtown Service Unit of the Salvation Army was Tuesday evening, October 1, at the home of the chairman, Mrs Benjamin B. Blanchard. Twenty local families have been aided during the past year by donations of food, clothing and furniture. Mrs Kenneth Bigham reported that through the Lucia Ross Memorial Dental Fund, 26 children have received dental care during the past year. Mr Alex Yasenski reported that members of the Sixty-Plus Club and other seniors have enjoyed bus trips and parties during the year through the Lucia Ross fund for Senior Citizens. Twenty-two children from Newtown enjoyed an eight-day stay this past summer at Camp Nathan Hale in Coventry.

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There is a new feature at Newtown’s sanitary landfill—a reclamation area for aluminum cans and townspeople are urged to separate and place all their aluminum cans in the barrels, which are located near the transfer station. First Selectman Frank DeLucia said that, in a cooperative agreement with Batchelder’s Aluminum Smelting, the Town will realize 12 cents a pound for the metal, which will go into the Town’s general fund, and help offset costs of running the landfill. Paper, tires and heavy metal are also being reclaimed.

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One of the projects of the Garden Club of Newtown this past year has been to plant flowers and shrubs at the Historical Society’s Matthew Curtiss House on Main Street. Members have already planted a colonial garden on the side of the house and an herb garden at the rear. This week Dody Loutrel, William Perry and Nancy Willis put in the base plantings in the front, all selected to go with the age of the house: a white lilac, myrtle for ground cover, and quince.

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The cupboard was bare Friday morning, September 27, when high school power mechanics instructor Greg O’Losky got to the school. Tools valued at up to $1,000 were stolen and other equipment smashed by burglars who broke open a window in the electronics room and gained entry into the auto shop. Many industrial arts classes were cancelled for the day while Det Sgt Michael DeJoseph, Det Harry Noroian, Sgt Michael Fekete and Officer Robert Braats investigated the theft. Following the investigation, a Newtown male and a Sandy Hook male were arrested and charged with burglary in the third degree and larceny in the second. The tools were found in a vacant lot off Birch Hill Road by the detectives. A juvenile was also apprehended in connection with the break-in. He was referred to juvenile court and released in custody of his parents.

September 30, 1949

With a total of $2,246 collected between August 19th and September 12th, the Newtown Visiting Nurse Association brought its annual campaign for funds to an official close this week. To the district chairmen and the 69 canvassers who worked so tirelessly to achieve the project’s success, and to the members of the community who contributed so generously, Miss Katherine Kirby, campaign chairman, extends her deepest appreciation of a job well done. Although the drive has officially closed, the books will remain open and if residents who have neglected to do so wish to contribute, their checks will be gratefully received.

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A fitting climax to the 50th wedding anniversary recently celebrated by Mr and Mrs Charles G. Morris of Zoar district took place on Saturday when they motored to the Westchester County Airport at Rye Lake, N.Y., and made their first flight aloft in a helicopter, piloted by their son, Charles Lester Morris. Through the courtesy of Attorney Charles Betts of New York City, the editor of The Bee has received a clipping from the New York Sunday News of September 25th, picturing Mr and Mrs Morris and their son, beside the helicopter at the time of their flight. The picture, appropriately enough for a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, is entitled “High Spirited.”

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An enjoyable occasion took place at the New Haven Country Club on Friday evening, when Charles G. Morris of Newtown, president emeritus of the Connecticut Merit System Association, was honored at a testimonial dinner. The occasion was arranged by the Merit System Association in tribute to Mr Morris, who has been active in the work of the association since 1901. Other friends, as well as members of the association, attended the dinner in order to thus pay their respects to a man who has devoted to so much of his long and useful life to affairs of a public nature.

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Born as a result of civilian suffering, particularly of the children, caused by World War II, and carried on after war’s end because of its continuing aftermath, the Newtown Committee for Child Refugees held its final session in the social rooms of the Newtown Congregational church on Wednesday of last week, completing more than nine years of service during which it produced thousands of children’s garments for distribution among European war victims.

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To none of the hundreds who saw the M.G.M. motion picture short of the famous Child City at Mooseheart, Illinois, presented in Edmond Town Hall Theatre earlier this week did this inspiring and interesting film mean more to than Superintendent E.N. Roselle of the Southbury Training School, who attended the theater Monday evening. Mr Roselle directed the Child City for ten years prior to coming to Connecticut in 1936 to head with a board of trustees the planning of the Training School at Southbury. Many of the structures and much of the program of the Illinois community known internationally for its program of care and training of children were developed under Mr Roselle’s direction and many features of the Mooseheart enterprise were incorporated in the planning of the Training School at Southbury. Mr Roselle is still associated with the Child City and visits it in an advisory capacity each year.

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Edward R. Olmstead left Newtown this Thursday morning by motor car to celebrate his 81st birthday at the home of his son, Charles Olmstead, and his family in Arlington, Va. He was taken by car to Washington by his son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs Herbert Brodie, of Church Hill road.

September 26, 1924

Edgar C. Northrop spent Sunday with his parents, Mr and Mrs Eugene Northrop. | The man occupying the Short farm had the misfortune to fall from a ladder and break his leg. He is now in the hospital at Bridgeport.

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Leonard Mayer has just put up a new Globe silo, for which he is sub-agent in this section.

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Miss Amelia Saltis, a student in Waelleigh High school of New York, spent the week end with her parents.

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To the patrons of the Sandy Hook Postoffice [sic]: Due to the change in train schedule to take effect Monday, September 29, it is desired that all mail for afternoon dispatch be received at the postoffice no later than 4 o’clock.—[A.C. Tucker, Postmaster.

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E.C. Buescher has moved his household goods to Bridgeport.

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Thomas Wright moved his family and household goods to New York, last week.

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The Bethel Hardware Co., has wired the residence of Edward Talty in Sandy Hook for electric lights.

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Joseph Collins has had his house wired for electric lights by the Bethel Hardware Co.

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Thomas Keane of the Glen has had his house wired for electricity by the Bethel Hardware Co.

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Corn Knives, binders, twine, tobacco cord. Lane track and rollers, Heavy barn door hinges, safe.—[H.G. Warner & Co.Adv.

October 6, 1899

The annual town election, Monday, brought out the largest number of voters at any town election in recent years. The whole number of votes cast was 725 against 636 one year ago. The democratic ticket was again successful, the average majority over the citizen’s nominees being above 150, Ex-Senator M.H. Houlihan for town clerk on the democratic ticket, having 158. On the citizens ticket James Coles for assessor led with 307. Two Danbury democratic tickets were voted by some careless voter and also two double tickets, containing citizens and democrats were rejected. Judge M.J. Bradley was moderator.

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The Newtown fair is certainly an admirable one for a medium sized exhibition for the benefit of the farmers. Everything is well arranged. The grounds are of ample size, well situated between the village proper of the hill and the railroad station in the valley. The grounds were rather muddy, but the defect in the soil will probably be remedied in the future by filling in the low places with sufficient dirt to make the necessary elevation. The race track is an unusually good one and the buildings are well adapted to the purposes for which they are intended. The Newtown fair is representative of substantial agricultural interests and the farmers can take justifiable pride in it.

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The family of W.F. Hayes returned to Bridgeport for the winter, last Friday, closing their Newtown residence, Hazelhurst. The departure of the city residents is always regretted.

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The pleasant summer home of W.L. Allen of Brooklyn, at the head of the Street, was closed for the season on Monday, Mrs Allen, children and servants returning to Brooklyn.

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Mr and Mrs Stephen Horan of Bridgeport attended the fair, Wednesday.

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Miss Anna McNamara of Bridgeport attended the fair, Wednesday.

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Mrs M. McNamara of Sandy Hook has been visiting New York and Bridgeport.

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Miss Lizzie Corbett returned to Bridgeport, Saturday, after spending a month in Botsford.

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Mrs P. Crowe of Danbury has been visiting her sister, Mrs M. McNamara, of Sandy Hook.

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Charles McDermott of Danbury of President street, New York, is visiting his cousin, Willie McDermott, of Sandy Hook.

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.