November 5, 1999

In about two weeks some Florida students, not accustomed to the splendor of autumnal New England, will have a chance to bury themselves in a flamboyant fall foliage. They have only to thank Newtown residents Kate and Ben Striano for the opportunity. For the past four years, Mrs Striano and her son Ben have been literally exporting leaves to her cousin, an early childhood teacher in Florida.

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Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile, a cellular telephone carrier, is making some changes at its Sandy Hook antenna site, replacing an existing tower with a new tower to expand the facility’s communications signal carrying capacity. In recent days, workmen have been building a new 185-foot-tall monopole tower on the site between Berkshire Road and Interstate 84’s Exit 11 off-ramp. The site is behind the JP Maguire Associates office building at 17 Berkshire Road.

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The revitalization of Sandy Hook Center took a step forward Monday night when the Board of Selectmen initiated support for the extension of United Water public water lines down Church Hill Road. The project may be a public-private venture. For developer Michael Burton, doing business as Pootatuck Properties LLC, the selectmen’s favorable stance will help his plan to open Newtown’s only laundromat. On a larger scale, however, public water in Sandy Hook (it already has sewers) could help boost business and provide a safe, reliable drinking water supply for public, private and commercial users.

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Representatives of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and First Selectman Herb Rosenthal visited Newtown Senior Center to honor many of the 42 Newtown residents who volunteer their services to many area agencies through RSVP. The 42 volunteers contributed 5,993 hours of service in 1998-99.

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The Newtown Bridle Lands Association held its annual Frost on the Pumpkin Hunter Pace last Sunday at Windover Farm on Mount Nebo Road and the weather was anything but frosty. Perfect temperatures greeted dozens of riders, many in costume. The Frost on the Pumpkin Pace concluded the six-pace Associated Bridle Trails series begun back in September.

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On Friday, October 29, over 600 high school students crammed into the Fireside Inn for the fourth annual Harvest Ball. An autumnal tradition, freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors put on their best semi-formal threads, some opting for costumes instead, and danced for almost four hours straight to the DJ-supplied sound. For the freshmen, it was the first dance of their high school careers, and for seniors, it was one of the last. Students can cool their heels for a while; the next big ball is the Snowball, later in the winter. The memories of last Friday night should sustain them.

November 1, 1974

Newtown’s Board of Education new member, Dr Ruby Johnson, is a lady with a solid educational background and experience in the field of education. She also has, over the past few years, been vitally interested in the Newtown school system and has appeared as a regular visitor to Board of Education meetings, either to voice her support towards one or more of the Board’s goals or as a critic who often felt the members “were dragging their feet” in many issues involving the education of Newtown. Dr Johnson was sworn in as the newest Board of Education member on Wednesday morning by Town Clerk Mae Schmidle.

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The lovely young ladies from Newtown High School who were chosen as Homecoming Queens for the Homecoming Weekend on October 26 were Patty Sullivan, representing the senior class; Debbie Pierson, junior class; Carolyn Hundt, sophomore class; and Lisa Cogswell, freshman class.

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Sixteen members of Newtown Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 extinguished a blaze in a town truck at the town garage on Wednesday afternoon. The fire started when welding repair work was done on the truck, one which usually carries oil and tar, the substances which ignited. Lost were four rear tires, miscellaneous tools and one asphalt curbing machine. The truck was backed up at the entrance to the garage at the time the fire broke out, but men managed to get in and drive it away from the building. The volunteers from Hook & Ladder were under the direction of Chief Kenneth Pelletier.

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New student council at the Middle School includes Brian Nanavaty, Grade 8 president; Lisa Bouvette, vice president; Debbie Somogie, secretary; and Fred Schempp, treasurer; Beth Esposito, Grade 7 president; John O’Boyle, vice president, David Hiteshew, treasurer; and Ingrid Domaas, secretary; and Floyd Higgins, Grade 6 president, John Kerhoffer, vice president; Domenick Esposito, secretary; and Tom Niedemayer, treasurer.

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Airman Sheila K. Allen, daughter of Mrs Darrell H. Stearns of Newtown, has been assigned to Keesler AFB, Miss., after completing Air Force basic training. During her six weeks at the Air Training Command’s Lackland AFB, Tex., she studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs, and received special instruction in human relations. The airman has been assigned to the Technical Training Center at Keesler for specialized training in communications-electronics systems. Airman Allen is a 1974 graduate of Newtown High School.

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The Newtown High School PTA marked United Nations Day October 24 by making a window display to point out to students that the purpose and interests of the U.N. extend far beyond the function of the Security Council. Foreign dolls proclaiming “decolonization,” “human rights,” “World Health Organization,” “UNICEF,” and this year’s focus on world population control, show a few of the various United Nations programs.

October 28, 1949

Hawley’s second night football of the 1949 season has gone down into history. It was played Monday night at Taylor Field, having been postponed from Saturday night because of the weather. For the second time in two years the Bethel six-man team was the opponent of Hawley School in a night game. This year the Bethel lads carried off the honor in great style. The Newtown boys seemed unable to get started but in defeat they showed ability … Bethel only converted one of their two-pointer tries, so went home happy with a 38-0 score.

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The resignation of Mrs William J. Oakley as president of the Newtown League of Women Voters was regretfully accepted by the Board of Directors on October 25. Mr and Mrs Oakley and their children, Kathy and Duke, are moving to Stamford shortly. As first president and charter member of the local League organized in 1948, she has served diligently and efficiently and under her leadership a better understanding of government has been established in Newtown. The Board of Directors elected Mrs Herman E. deVries as president at a special meeting on Tuesday.

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Mr and Mrs William Kayfus, Jr., of Botsford Hill, Sandy Hook, are the parents of a fourth son born Wednesday evening of this week in Bridgeport hospital.

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Paul S. Smith and son, Teddy, spent Friday and Saturday at Amherst, Mass., where they attended the Alumni Week-End festivities at Amherst College, including the Amherst-Wesleyan football game.

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Winston Furbush of Bethel has accepted a position with The Bee, starting his work on the staff on Monday.

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Mr and Mrs John Janocsko of South Main street, Newtown, announce the marriage of their daughter, Doris Helen, to Vincent A. DeVito, son of Michael DeVito of New Rochelle, N.Y., on Saturday, October 22nd in New Rochelle, N.Y. A graduate of Hawley school, Mrs DeVito has been employed in the local office of the Southern New England Telephone Company. Mr DeVito is a graduate of Isaac E. Young School in New Rochelle and is owner of the Harmony Cleaners, Inc. in Bridgeport.

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In celebration of his 81st birthday on October 1st, Edward R. Olmstead of Taunton district visited his son, Charles, and family in their new home at Fairfax, Virginia. One highlight of the week’s visit was a fishing trip on Chesapeake Bay. Within an hour’s time, the trolling efforts of the father and son combination brought four sea bass into the boat, weighing sixteen pounds apiece. The laurels were divided evenly, each catching two fish. The Bee compliments Mr Olmstead for the lively way in which he observed his 81st birthday.

October 24, 1924

The fall program of young people’s work got off to a good start on Sunday last, when nearly 50 sat down to dinner served by a committee of the younger church ladies under the chairmanship of Mrs G. Herbert Ekins. Dr J.H. Grant of Fairfield addressed the gathering, speaking of the importance of young people being organized for Worship, Training, Service and Comradeship. Dr Grant’s address was greatly appreciated by all present. Rev G. Herbert Ekins outlined the endeavor plan of organization, reading the pledge.

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CARD OF THANKS: We wish to thank our many friends and neighbors for the kindness shown to Mr Tobey during his sickness and death. Miss Eva Botsford, Austin Botsford.

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William H. Egan gave a little dinner party, Monday night, at Camp Egan, on Walnut Tree Hill in honor of Editor A.P. Smith and Miss Hazel H. Smith. Other guests present were Editor James L. McGovern of the Bridgeport Times, Dr W.J. McLaughlin and James L. McGovern Jr., of Bridgeport. Delicious soup and spring lamb were served by “Bill” Egan’s expert cook and it was a repast not soon to be forgotten. Hallowe’en favors and decorations graced the table. Everyone present declared it was the finest dinner they had enjoyed in many a day.

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Clement Maye, the Hawley school bus driver, has had a telephone installed in his residence. His number is 67-13.

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Trinity church of Newtown, St John’s church of Sandy Hook and about 300 people about town welcomed the Rev Dr Gesner and daughters at the reception held last Friday evening in the basement of Trinity church. The rooms of the church were handsomely decorated with autumn leaves, dahlias and asters, and made a fitting setting.

November 3, 1899

The annual meeting of the Newtown Savings Bank was held on Saturday, the 28th. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Aaron Sanford; vice-presidents, Daniel G. Beers, David C. Peck, Philo Nichols; secretary and treasurer, Arthur T. Nettleton; trustees, John B. Peck, Cyrus B. Sherman, Aaron Sanford, David C. Peck, Daniel G. Beers, Philo Nichols, Hosea B. Northrop, John B. Wheeler, Theron E. Platt, Cornelius B. Taylor, Henry G. Curtis, Hobart H. Curtis, Frank Wright, Arthur T. Nettleton, Walter H. Glover, Edward S. Lovell. The treasurer’s report showed an increase in deposits of over $6000, a gain of 19 accounts opened for the past year. The deposits now are nearly $625,000. From the net earnings the past six months $1000 was carried to surplus account, making the bank’s surplus $20,000.

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A representative of The Bee was pleasantly received, the other day, by F.A. Beckley of New Haven, president of the W.A. Beckley Co., lumber dealers of that city. Mr Beckley has many friends in Newtown, being a regular summer visitor at the Newtown Inn. The lumber yards of the Beckley Co., cover something like four and a half acres and they carry a great stock. On the property is an old house, now used for lumber storage, which was once the residence of Benedict Arnold. Mr Beckley said he has many visitors who desire to get relics from the old building.

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In a community in which The Bee circulates, a case of domestic infelicity has arisen, caused it is said, by meddling and jealous neighbors. An elderly couple married for the second time, and all went happy as the marriage bell, til a meddling neighbor stirred up strife between the married people, resulting in a separation. The man in question evidently lacked a proper spirit of self control, allowing himself to be influenced by the neighbor with the slippery tongue.

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H.E. Mott, the manager of the Vincent local establishment, The Newtown Store, moved on Tuesday from the Warner place to the Beers residence, formerly occupied by Edgar F. Hawley.

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Edward K. Morgan of Bridgeport passed Sunday in town, the guest of Mr and Mrs Charles Henry Peck.

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Miss Lizzie Scudder of New Haven was in town over Sunday, the guest of her sister, Mrs Arthur J. Smith.

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.