* * *

A resident is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the person or persons responsible for pushing her car over an embankment Saturday night. She reported to police that her 1977 Subaru had been pushed down a steep embankment, breaking through two fences and collapsing a stone retaining wall. The small station wagon was in gear with the emergency brake on, she said.

* * *

Final documents transferring ownership of the Buckingham Convalescent Home on Toddy Hill Road, Sandy Hook, to the fraternal Masonic Charity Foundation of Connecticut were signed in Stamford, Tuesday, and the deeds were filed in the town clerk’s office Wednesday, November 3. The facility is now called “Ashlar of Newtown, a Masonic Home,” the name taken from the Masonic Foundations’ long-range Ashlar Plan for a statewide network of Masonic care for the organization’s aging. The new owners of the nursing home have said that the sale will not affect current residents of the Sandy Hook home.

* * *

Police report that several hundred dollars worth of damage occurred to the Sandy Hook Elementary School building when someone spray painted the exterior brick walls. The brickwork will have to be sandblasted, police said. The spray paint, which was also applied to windows and doors, was discovered by a custodian and reported at 6:15 am Thursday, October 28.

* * *

The Bee Publishing Company was denied its application to place two more stories on top of the back wing of its building on church Hill Road by the Borough Zoning Board of Appeals, Wednesday, November 3. Board members William Meyer, James Behan, James Crick, and John Madzula were unanimous in denying the application because they felt it was not in harmony with the neighborhood.

* * *

The Newtown Police Union sponsored an event its members hope will become a tradition — the first annual Newtown Policemen’s Ball, which took place at the Fireside Inn on Saturday, October 30. The combination of hard work, enthusiasm, over 400 guests, good food and music seemed to assure that before long plans will begin for the Second Annual Policemen’s Ball.

* * *

If all goes well, Newtown should have a program similar to Darien’s Safe Ride program by the beginning of the year, Mrs Emi Lydem said. Safe Ride is a program of teens helping teens. It assures that someone is available on weekend nights should a teenage driver find himself or herself unable to drive home because of alcohol or other disability.

 

November 8, 1957

‘Tis a sad sight, indeed, to see a member of homo sapiens too tiddly to hold his head up, though not what you’d call a rarity. But have you ever seen a gray squirrel so potted he couldn’t hold up his tail? Bright and early Monday forenoon, Forester Arthur H. Christie of the State Park and Forest Commission stopped in at The Bee office with the announcement that he had a drunken squirrel in his car, and sure enough, he had. Seems he’d been tippling on too many apples and Mr Christie found him staggering around the Christie yard. The forester, afraid a dog or cat might take advantage of his condition, picked him up and was going to let him ride around with him in the fresh air till he sobered up.

* * *

The Bee is pleased to announce that, starting this week, “The Better Half,” a cartoon panel by Bob Barnes of Roxbury, will be a regular feature. This popular cartoon appears in over 100 daily newspapers in the country, but The Bee is the only weekly to carry it.

* * *

A special town meeting has been called by selectmen to consider and take action on an ordinance to regulate the disposal of garbage, rubbish, or other waste matters to be disposed of in the Newtown Disposal Area. The proposed ordinance will implement the establishment of a sanitary fill system at the dump. Harry Clark of Newtown will operate the “Traxcavator” and will be in charge of the disposal area.

* * *

More than 725 costumed children took part in the four Hallowe’en parties held in Edmond Town Hall, Sandy Hook School, and the Botsford and Hawleyville fire houses last Thursday evening. Newtown youngsters collected $253.08 for the UNICEF United Nations’ childrens’ organization annual Hallowe’en “trick or treat” campaign. Marcus Dairy donated 1,000 milk cartons for coin collecting boxes.

* * *

Townspeople will have an opportunity this Sunday, November 10, to hear an eminently qualified speaker discuss the complex problems of the Middle East, and in particular, the Arab-Israeli issue. The meeting, to be held at the Newtown High School cafeteria, is sponsored by the League of Women Voters as a continuation of its foreign policy series begun last spring. The speaker will be the Rev Karl Baehr. Viewing the so-called “Jewish problem” through the eyes of a Christian minister, Rev Baehr looks at it as a world problem, and therefore, in the final analysis, a Christian problem. In his analysis, the new State of Israel represents a victory for the democratic forces in the world, and demonstrates the great potentials of underdeveloped lands and backward peoples.

* * *

Senior Class Newtown High School Notes: The seniors are planning a box supper for the class to be held on a Friday night sometime in November. Another important activity is to have dancing lessons, for those who feel the need to learn a few new dance steps, during lunch time in the senior homeroom.

 

November 4, 1932

John Johnson of Trumbull has sold his attractive house and five acres of land located on Park Lane to Charles Ferris of West Redding. Mr Ferris expects to move into his new home next spring. The sale was made by Stanley Botsford, local real estate agent.

* * *

The Hallowe’en merry makers were out in full force, Monday night. Some boys secured a farm wagon from the Newtown Country Club and trundled it up through the Street. They parked it in the entrance to the Beach Memorial library. The hung a carpenter’s saw horse in front of the Booth Library for full measure. A crowd who went to Hawley High school lost their heads and broke out several windows. They went across the street and broke down one of the illuminated signs at the Maryland, pulled up a mailbox and going down Queen street they took veranda furniture from Charles Burkhard’s place and hurled it into a field. Some bad boys threw a rock and broke the windshield of one of the State trucks. Good-natured fun is all right, but the foolish destruction of property is quite another matter.

* * *

Mrs Irene Kettle of Hawleyville has opened a laundry in the Blackman block, near the Newtown Station. Laundry will be called for and delivered and the public is assured of satisfactory work. Their telephone is 291.

* * *

The Democratic rally, at the Edmond Town hall, Wednesday night, had the edge of enthusiasm taken off, as Gov Wilbur Cross was unable to be present, owing to illness, and Congressman Tierney and other speakers arrived late. About 150 people were present.

* * *

Miss Elizabeth Carlson had the misfortune to lose a silver bracelet at the St John’s Masquerade dance at the Edmond Town hall on Friday evening. Miss Carlson would greatly appreciate the return of the bracelet.

* * *

Last week Tuesday morning, about 6 am, an early morning motorist saw six deer on state road in front of the residence of John H. Haugh. They took to their heels and left the cement road at the Country Club. One little baby deer had hard work to keep up with the buck and does.

 

November 8, 1907

On Saturday, Attorney Charles H. Northrop, the ex-treasurer of the town, was placed under arrest on the charge of embezzlement, the writ of arrest being drawn at the instigation of the citizens’ committee. The complaint was signed by Grand Juror Charles F. Beardsley, and he was arraigned for trial before Justice of the Peace Theron E. Platt. When Mr Northrop realized that he could not escape commitment, he broke down and wept bitterly.

* * *

A boss Flash antiseptic hand cleaner, something entirely new and will clean your hands as nothing else will, at Morris’, the grocer. It is great stuff and The Bee force knows it from a trial experience.

* * *

A large audience greeted the High school pupils in their Hallowe’en entertainment at the Town hall, Friday evening, under the direction of Principal Curtis E. Cook and the assistant teachers. The program include and opening chorus, readings, a short scene from “Hamlet,” a piano duet, recitations, a scene from “Macbeth,” and a closing chorus, the school song. The entertainment netted about $40.

* * *

Taylor, Curtis & Co are selling fresh cased eggs at 36 cents per dozen. As showing the scarcity of nearby fresh eggs, Taylor, Curtis & Co only received from farmers and others about five dozen, last week.

* * *

Despite a deluge of rain about 50 people came out to the Sunday school conference, held in the vestry room of the Congregational church, Wednesday night. The speakers were Rev Timothy J. Lee and Rev Otis W. Barker. Cake, ice cream and coffee were served by the young men, and the affair was voted a great success.