* * *

A report released this week on the fatal accident September 10, in which four Newtown teenagers died, states that Bethel police officers eased off of their pursuit, while witnesses say they saw the unmarked police cruiser right behind the ill-fated 1978 El Camino pickup immediately before the crash. The report released by First Selectman Jack Rosenthal and the Newtown Police Department is still considered open.

* * *

It’s off the shelves, but because customers are apparently taking no chances, several retailers now have more than their usual supply of Extra-Strength Tylenol on hand. Soon after it was discovered that cyanide placed in these capsules had killed seven people in the Chicago area, many retailers voluntarily removed the widely consumed painkiller from their shelves and refunded money to those who had purchased this brand of acetaminophen.

* * *

Two Main Street attorneys are hoping that borough officials will allow them to make changes in the buildings which they own — both longstanding Main Street landmarks. Attorney Robert Hall of 43 Main Street who owns the building where the Newtown General Store is located, wishes to make improvements to the inside of the building which would allow him to expand his law practice. Mark V. Oppenheimer, who owns the former “Budd” House at 50 Main Street, is asking for a special exception to turn the 6,100 square foot mansion into a two-family house and to be allowed to maintain his law office there.

* * *

There’s no doubt about it! The romance of the English gentleman is alive and well for fall ’82, infusing tailored clothing and casual wear alike, with the spirit of relaxed gentility, Savile Row elegance and bygone glamour, recreating a world of intense fragility shattered by a succession of wars and a changing economic climate.

* * *

A panel of six women talked about what it’s like to be a woman in politics in the 1980s during a program at the October 4 meeting of the Business and Professional Women’s Club. The club also honored businesswoman Sarah Mannix as “Woman of the Year.”

* * *

On Wednesday, October 13, at 7:30 pm, the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Department will sponsor an Alternate Energy Safety Program at the Sandy Hook Fire House on Riverside Road. The program will concentrate on woodburning and fuel operated heating units. There will be slides and actual demonstrations in the use of chain saws and axes, as well as vital information on the use of fireplaces, woodstoves, and kerosene heaters.

 

October 11, 1957

Newtown pulled the second lever Monday to elect Republicans to all contested offices in the biennial town election as voting interest lagged behind the 1955 balloting. First Selectman Edward J. Coleman won reelection by a margin of 329 votes over Democrat Jack Rosenthal, 1,491 to 1,162. Republican Selectman Edward E. Knapp won reelection with 1,564 votes. Herbert H. Cutler, Republican town clerk, defeated Robert Shannon 1,544 to 1,110.

* * *

The Newtown Junior Chamber of Commerce will initiate its Highway Safety Campaign on Saturday morning, October 12. Members will solicit the cooperation of all automobile drivers in backing the attack on traffic accidents at the various shopping centers within town. The Jaycees will display a wrecked automobile at the Newton Shopping Center, badly damaged in a near tragic accident in Newtown a short time ago.

* * *

Four youths were arrested on Sunday and charged with breaking and entering and with destruction of public property in connection with damage done to the Newtown High School grounds late last Saturday night. According to Superintendent of Schools Carl LeGrow, the vandalism involved several broken windows and screens; goal posts on the athletic field were ripped up and shrubbery just planted in front of the building was torn out.

* * *

In addition to the election day bell-ringing conducted by members of the Newtown Lions Club, a large replica of the Liberty Bell was prepared out of plaster of paris and mounted on a pickup truck and driven to all parts of town to remind voters to exercise their privilege. Members of the club rang the bell at Trinity Church and St John’s Church for five minutes every hour on the hour during the voting day, from 6 am to 6 pm.

* * *

The initial part of a landscape plan for the Newtown High School and grounds was begun last week by the Garden Club of Newton with the planting of two dogwood trees and eight yews around the main entrance of the school on Queen Street. The plan, of necessity a long-range one because of the large area involved, has the approval of the Board of Education and was prepared early this year by Prof H.O. Perkins, associate professor of landscape design of the University of Connecticut.

* * *

With little preamble Monday evening’s gathering of about 125 voters voted to accept the 1957-58 budget as recommended by the Board of Finance. The only question on the budget was posed by Walter J. McCarthy, who asked whether it was legal to vote approval of an increased salary for the first selectman without specifically listing it in the warning for the meeting.

 

October 7, 1932

On Wednesday evening one of the hottest bowling matches of the season took place at the Edmond Town hall, when Edward Bennett and Arthur Boucher bowled Michael Scanlon and Arthur Bouchard. The former team won with a lead of 102 pins. Scanlon’s eye seemed to be anywhere but on the pin and Boucher gave a first class exhibition of hitting ‘em where they “ain’t.”

* * *

A surprise awaited Trinity choir last Thursday night. Choirmaster Griscom, at the rehearsal, produced and presented for the choir to sing an original setting of the Benedicte. His fine composition was effectively sung by the choir which congratulated the young composer on his success. The composition, set to music in the key of F, is a short and simple setting of the chant which is always used in Advent and Lent.

* * *

In a republican landslide at Monday’s town election, the entire republican ticket led by Stanley J. Blackman and Arthur J. Page as selectmen carried the entire ticket with the exception of Town clerk, to victory by an average majority of 254. Robert N. Camp for tax collector was high man on the ticket with 795 votes to 460 for John J. Northrop democratic nominee.

* * *

The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera, “Patience,” was given a colorful and very praiseworthy presentation, Friday evening, under the auspices of the Fairfield County Pomona Grange, in the Edmond Town Hall. An audience of about 500 people from all over the county were present. An unpleasant feature was the lateness in starting, it being about 8:45 when the curtain was drawn.

* * *

An announcement of interest to people of Newtown and vicinity is that of Joseph Knowlton, manager of the United Meat Market, Danbury, which appears on another page of this paper. The United Meat Market will start on this coming Tuesday a Traveling Meat Market which will visit the homes in this locality every Tuesday and Saturday with a full line of high grade meats at reasonable prices.

* * *

The Newtown Bee is celebrating, this week, its 40th anniversary under the present management. The editor of The Bee is Allison P. Smith, who joined with his brother in the Bee enterprise in 1892. Arthur J. Smith in his youth had worked for two years on The Bee under his brother, Reuben Smith. When Mr Smith took hold of the business management of The Bee, he found a plant with meager and poor equipment. While still in the postoffice block, Mr Smith excavated the basement pit deeper and put in an up-to-date Babcock press. As the paper continued to prosper the quarters in the postoffice block were found to be inadequate. The business manager than purchased a building lot on Church street. The new office was occupied in 1903. Mr Smith is still active in the paper, although he has passed the duties of business management over to his son, Paul S. Smith. The Bee has continued to move in the right direction.

 

October 11, 1907

The down-pour of rain, Tuesday, practically made Wednesday, the opening day at the Danbury fair, and the crisp, cold weather made fair going a pleasure. About 12,000 people were present, including Gov Woodruff and members of his staff. The Danbury fair is a unique institution. Newtown fair has died, the New Milford fair has just voted to close up, but the Danbury fair booms on bigger and greater than ever.

* * *

An important business change takes place in Sandy Hook by which the drug and grocery business of Betts & Betts passes into the hands of Charles H. Finch, who has lately established his home in Sandy Hook. Gustavus A. Betts, who has successfully managed the business since his father’s death, started in to clerk for his father in the old store, February 1901. He has been faithful, and obliging, attending to all his arduous duties in a cheerful and pleasing manner. Mr Finch comes with pleasing recommendations and will endeavor to enlarge and build up the business.

* * *

The stone work has been laid over and new bridge put down over the little brook running west from the turnpike to the cemetery road, opposite H.H. Peck’s residence. Mr Peck superintended the job.

* * *

A duty at once painful and exasperating was that which confronted Town Auditors Pitzschler and Briscoe in their examination of the town treasurer’s accounts. But in uncovering the tangled and nauseating condition of the town finances as administered by C.H. Northrop they have performed a duty for which every right thinking man should thank them. The action of the town, Monday, was eminently proper in asking for further expert examination into the affairs of the town treasurer and the town clerk.

* * *

The department of agricultural tools and engines at the Danbury fair was very interesting. T.E. Platt & Sons of Newtown had two large tents filled with corn and grain harvesters, mowing machines, plows and the Fairbanks engines. It was a splendid exhibit and was in charge of Philo Platt.