November 4, 1994

Police said they learned at 5 pm on November 2 of a motorcycle theft at Newtown Shopping Center. Police said Newtown motorcyclist John Bojnowski, 18, told them he had parked his 1985 black Honda motorcycle in the shopping center parking lot and when he returned to the spot, he found it had been stolen. The crime is a third-degree larceny which involves the theft of an item worth between $1,000 and $5,000. Police said there are no suspects or witnesses at this time.

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The November meeting of the Western Connecticut Bird Club will be a merry and musical one. The Cuckoos will make their fourth appearance before the club on Thursday, November 17, at 8 pm at Rochambeau School on Peter Road, Southbury. A social hour begins at 7pm. The public is invited to this free and fun performance by WCBC members: Chris Wood on guitar, Mike DiGiorgio on banjo, Dave Titus on fiddle, and Mark Szantyr on bass. They will sing and play songs about birds in styles of blues, rock and roll, bluegrass, contemporary folk, and gospel.

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Over The Back Fence, By Jean Loveland. My friend Bea Dring was watching the chipmunk out in the garden. Suddenly, she sat up straight and said, “Do I see — yes I do.” I knew at once that the advance scouts from the flock of juncos that visit here all winter, had arrived. I had thought I had seen one the day before, but thought it was too early. I always wait for the first snowflakes after the juncos come! In a few days the rest of the small flock will be here, hopping around under the spruce tree. I just hope the snow will wait awhile.

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Preschoolers at Trinity Day School in Newtown have been spending the month measuring and weighing pumpkins, toasting seeds, and sampling foods such as squash, pumpkin, and carrots to celebrate the fall crops. The annual Harvest Festival held on Friday, October 28, was the culminating event.

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On Saturdays, November 5 and 12, Newtown Youth Services will host the “Take Down Socko’s Haunted Yard Event” from 9 am to 5 pm at Dickinson Town Park. In order to continue this community event next year, NYS needs many volunteers to dismantle and put away “the yard” as well as building it again next year. This is a labor-intensive project and requires a lot of community spirit. NYS asks that anyone 13 and under who wants to help should be accompanied by a parent. Please take work gloves, hammers, screw guns and your friends. The more people, the faster the work will get done. Anyone with a truck that could help transport items to storage would be welcome.

October 24, 1969

The Newtown Forest Association’s annual meeting last Friday afternoon at the Congregational Church House was highlighted by the presentation of a deed to 95 acres of land by Miss Anna Lord Strauss of Hattertown District. Accepting this generous gift with much appreciation for the association was Paul A. Cullens, president, and Thomas L. Cheney, secretary. In speaking of this gift of land, which is part of the Hattertown District, Miss Lord said she was pleased to find a local organization of integrity to which she could give the land, rather than to an organization on the state or federal level. She said she was grateful to the association and its founders for the interest being maintained in conservation and wildlife preservation, and that she was delighted to do her part. The association’s present holdings include 17 tracts amounting to 323 acres, with Ms Strauss’ gift providing a wildlife preserve of impressive size.

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EST Returns. Eastern Standard Time returns to the area this weekend. Turn your clock back one hour before going to bed Saturday evening, October 25, and you’ll be all set. Remember: “Spring forward; fall back.”

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The Saint Rose Teen Club presents, “A Barn Dance” on Friday, October 24, from 7 – 11 pm featuring “Shades of Blue” at K of C Hall, Route 6 (Danbury – Newtown Road) Casual dress.

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Everything from a mums sale to a showing of old-time movies is planned Saturday, October 25 when the University of Connecticut observes “Parents Day.” Registration will be at the student union lobby. The Board of Governors is sponsoring a lecture by distinguished actress Lillian Gish, at 7:30 pm in Von der Mehden Recital Hall.

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There was a meeting of Hook & Ladder firemen who are serving on the committee for the Halloween Party on October 31 at Edmond Town Hall gymnasium. Attending the meeting were Lou Pelletier, Millard Goodsell, Ed Shanley, Dick Knopf and Paul Alexander. Final arrangements were made for the party which is scheduled for 6:30 to 9 pm, for children in kindergarten through grade 6. The firemen indicate that a number of new attractions are planned for the children’s entertainment.

October 27, 1944

It is announced that that the Cyrenius H. Booth Library will observe American Art Week, from November 1 – 7 with its third annual display by local artists. Townspeople who viewed the past two years’ exhibits will well recall the fine collection. An even larger exhibit and more local exhibitors are anticipated this year.

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Last Saturday morning a fifteen-minute broadcast was given over the radio station WELI, sponsored by the Farm Bureau and the New Haven County Agricultural Extension Service. Taking part in the broadcast were Frederick Norcross, county agent of New Haven, L.M. Chapman, county agent of Fairfield County, and Lester Reynolds, president of the Fairfield-New Haven Artificial Breeding Association. The broadcast subject was, “The Story Of The Test Tube Cow.” Both county agents took turns asking Mr Reynolds questions about the artificial breeding of cows. Mr Reynolds told of the modest start of the association in 1939 with 100 members and 1,000 cows, compared with present membership of 600 persons and almost 6,000 cows.

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Mrs Pearl Tilson, Sandy Hook, has received word that her son, Cpl. Charles Tilson, is stationed, “Somewhere in France,” after serving for seventeen months in North African territory. Pvt Roswell Tilson is also stationed in France and it is Mrs Tilson’s hope that the two brothers unite.

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Taunton district again kept alive its tradition of friendship and goodwill by tendering a surprise party to Mr and Mrs Robert D. Fairchild last Friday evening. Despite the rainy weather, 32 friends and neighbors gathered in the old-style housewarming. Refreshments were served, and Mr and Mrs Fairchild received a beautiful gift.

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A bull calf born September 1, a grandson of Baker Farm, Dauntless, whose index is 17,850 pounds of milk and 775 pounds of fat, with a 4.33% test, was purchased by Robert K. Mitchell of Southbury on his trip to Massachusetts last week. Baker Farm Dauntless is owned by National Director Harold Shaw of Stanford, Me. and is one of the highest record Holstein bulls in the country. Other records in the pedigree are his granddam with 20,885 pounds of milk, 4%test and 840 pounds of fat. The calf’s dam has a record of 14,646 pounds of milk, 565 pounds of fat, with a 3.9% test.

October 24, 1919

There was a barn raising on Saturday at the farm of William Stevens. Thomas F. Brew, the popular and skilled contractor, was assisted by a dozen of the neighbors. After the frame was raised, refreshments of coffee and cake were served. Contractor Brew now has the barn all covered.

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The going out of about 45 high school children Tuesday morning appears to have been a matter of their own origination. They walked out to call on Miss Spring and bid her goodbye. After they got home most of the parents decided as that in many cases the children were in more or less of a nervous condition owing to the local excitement at the high school and decided to keep them out for a few days. The children who walked out, are naturally indignant at the leaving of Miss Spring.

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Daniel Keane has been quite poorly and expects soon to go to New York for an operation.

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George Tessier entertained his parents from Bridgeport over Sunday.

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Ward Cencor of Buckingham street, Bridgeport, passed a few days, last week, at Martin A. Moller’s

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