November 14, 1997

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — HAWLEY’S FOUL-WEATHER FRIENDS: Volunteering can be fun, especially when it means getting together with friends to do something different on a nice day. But what about when a cold, hard rain whipped by a chilly November wind finds its way down the back of your neck and turns the ground beneath your feet into oozing mud? Well then, volunteering is not always fun. The 30 or so parent volunteers who stood in the driving rain looking upon the pile of playground parts behind Hawley School early Saturday morning most definitely had nicer things to do with their weekend, but they all knew deep down that there was nothing better to do. Their work would not let up for the rest of the weekend, and neither would the horrid weather. It was a test of endurance, and by Monday, when the hardiest of the workers were still on the job and the last pieces of the new playground were falling into place, it was clear that the volunteers had prevailed over the forces of nature. Hawley had a colorful, new playground. We often sing the praises of volunteers in this space, but the efforts of this hardy band of Hawley volunteers were truly inspiring and deserve recognition. From now on, no one will ever call them fair-weather friends.

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JOB WITH A VIEW: On Wednesday, November 12, a construction crane hoisted several wheelbarrow loads of tools and equipment for use by men working on the re-roofing project at Edmond Town Hall. The company, Commercial Roofing & Contracting, Inc., of Putnam, N.Y., was hired to put a new flat roof on the 70-year-old building. The $243,400 project is estimated to take two to three months.

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The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) has upheld the zoning enforcement officer’s position concerning a controversial earth materials processing facility on Turkey Hill Road. The ZBA on November 5 upheld Zoning Enforcement Officer William Nicholson’s decision not to issue a cease-and-desist order to the processing operation’s owner. Neighbors of the facility, upset by its presence in the residential area, had asked Mr Nicholson to shut down the operation through such an order.

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Local veterans made their annual pilgrimage to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Main Street Tuesday morning to pay tribute to the men and women who lost their lives in war. The Veterans Day ceremony was put on by members of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 308 and the American Legion Post 202, both of Newtown. About two dozen residents also assembled at the 40-foot monument, the town’s focus for remembrance of those who served in all wars. During the ceremony, VFW past commander Donald Monckton asked that everyone take a moment to remember the sacrifice veterans of all wars have made to ensure that the American flag still flies over a nation of free people.

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The rain came down in buckets outside, but there was nothing dreary about the tenth annual Northeast Music, Art and Dance Festival (NOMAD). An estimated 1,000 people attended last weekend’s three-day annual event. Held at Newtown Middle School for the second consecutive year, the decade-old festival produced buoyant music, revelry, and activities — including a birthday party for the festival itself on Sunday afternoon — without much regard for the lousy weather outdoors. NOMAD is a festival of folk dance and music from around the world, collected and brought to Newtown for one weekend in November since 1988.

November 10, 1972

The Old Rock Road Corporation has decided to withdraw its application for a racetrack in Newtown for the time being, and try again next year. ORRC hopes at that time to bring the issue to a referendum. Seth O.L. Brody, special counsel to the Planning and Zoning Commission, told The Bee such a move had been expected as an obvious way of gaining more time to campaign for public support of the track., Mr Brody said he expected the published hearing scheduled for November 17 and 18 would be called off, but the decision would be made at a meeting of the P&Z Friday, November 10, at which Mr Brody and Town Counsel Robert H. Hall will be present.

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EDITORIAL INK DROPS — POSTSCRIPT ON ORRC: An hour before final press time on Thursday, a representative of ORRC arrived with the announcement that their application before the P&Z is to be withdrawn for the time being, and resubmitted next year when ORRC hopes they will have built up enough popular support to win in a referendum. We are glad the application has been withdrawn, and for our part we hope that is the last we’ll hear of it. In seven weeks of campaigning for public support, ORRC hasn’t come close to getting enough support to win a referendum, and we hope they’ll abandon the attempt. Our neighbors in Wolcott have invited ORRC to build the track in their town, and everybody would be happy if ORRC accepts the invitation.

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A former US Air Force pilot from Newtown has been awarded the Silver Star medal for gallantry in a bombing and strafing mission over Khe Sanh, Vietnam, during which he risked death by swooping down repeatedly to destroy two enemy mortar positions which were cutting off air supply lines and pinning down friendly troops. In a ceremony delayed nearly a year while US Senator Lowell P. Weicker Jr traced lost recommendation papers through several levels of Air Force command, Capt Thomas J. McManus of Currituck Road, Newtown, was presented with the nation’s third highest decoration for valor. Present at the award ceremonies in the office of Sen Weicker in Bridgeport, Monday, November 6, were Sen Weicker, members of his staff, Miss Sandy Gross of New Fairfield, and Harvey Hubbell of Newtown. Col Thomas J. Ciccalone, chief of staff of the Connecticut Air National Guard at Bradley Field, presented the award.

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CARD OF THANKS FROM THE EDITOR: It has been very heartening to me to receive so many letters and cards during my present illness — especially while in the hospital for two and one half weeks. I’m grateful also for the phone calls, flowers, and other remembrances which have been sent to me. Appreciation is due to Newtown Ambulance Association and the Danbury Hospital with its fine doctors and capable staff. It is a well-operated institution and is a great credit to the area which it serves so well. While I may find it impossible to express personal thanks to all those who remembered me so well, I hope each one will take this message as an expression of real appreciation from me. —Paul S. Smith.

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Six Newtowners were among the 111 Realtors from throughout the state who received diplomas for having completed a three-course program of intensive study in the Realtors’ Institute of the Connecticut Association of Real Estate Boards: Jeanne Fitzgerald, Bruce M. Herring, Robert McCulloch, Ted M. Richert, John C. Stratton, and Loretta M. Teets.

November 7, 1947

Ranging from the frankly amateur work of beginners to the mature work of men and women who can make a living at it, art has this week crowded itself into three rooms at the library. Run in conjunction with American Art Week, celebrated nationally at this time, the current show affords Newtown residents the opportunity to see work produced by their friends and neighbors. That it is not even more representative of the works turned out by those living in the area is to be regretted, but the omissions in no way detract from what work has been made available to the library staff. The show, consisting of approximately 40 paintings, is made up of oils and water colors, with several pieces of sculpture. Handicrafts, work in mental, ceramics and fabrics, complete this year’s exhibit.

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In spite of forbidding weather, there was a large attendance at the first meeting of the season held by the Newtown Parent Teachers Association in Hawley school on Tuesday evening at 8 o’clock, when Dale Messick, better known to Newtown friends and neighbors as Mrs Everett G. Soltmann, creator of the comic strip, “Brenda Starr”, was the guest speaker. Mrs Soltmann’s “chalk talk” was preceded by a brief business session, with a number of important announcements. Mrs Soltmann constantly illustrated the points of her talk with drawings of the various characters appearing in her comic strip, and continued the illustrative technique during the questioning period. She lavishly passed out the drawings to her audience. At the close of the meeting, Mrs Alexander McQuillan, assisted by Mrs Rudolph Berkemann and Mrs M. Fred Reed, served cider and doughnuts. Mrs Henry H. Taylor and Mrs Edmond E. Neary served as hostesses.

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Mr and Mrs James Craig and family of Palestine District, have left for Miami, Fla., for a six month’s visit with Mr Craig’s brother, who has been living in Miami for several years. Mr Craig is also planning on buying some property in Florida and building some cabins.

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Mrs Robert Leahy of Newtown and Mrs Leighton Porter of New Milford were guests of honor on Saturday, November 1, at a Mother and Daughter dinner and shower given by Mrs Robert Thomas and Mrs Herbert Vogelson of New Milford.

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Mrs Beatrice Leaver, formerly of The Bee staff, recently returned from a stay of several weeks with relatives in York, Pa., visited The Bee office this week and spent several hours reading proofs for this edition. Her father, William Leaver, returned last Friday aboard the Queen Elizabeth from a six-week’s stay and his first visit in 25 years in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. His sister is also with the parents. Beatrice’s grandparents are in their early eighties and both are in excellent health.

November 3, 1922

Notes from this week’s archives were unavailable.

November 12, 1897

A MONUMENT FOR GOV MORRIS’ GRAVE: An attempt to move a granite rock to Botsford and New Haven, has caused much excitement here for several days past. Oxen and horses were almost futile in their attempts to draw a rock weighing 11 tons. Four and one-half inch tires, on our narrow roads, could not stand the pressure and the beautiful old boulder that our late Gov L.B. Morris wanted for his monument is to be moved upon planks and rollers. This rock was a favorite resting place for “Lou,” when a boy in the “Old Homestead.” Charles Warner says he could move it to Botsford for $150, on timbers in good sledding. The price for delivery of this rock to Botsford is $500 and as wheels are now given up for planks and rollers, it will probably take two weeks at least to get it there with the “new road” blockaded in the meantime.

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Arthur Beardsley with wife and child are moving in with H.W. Bradley. We are pleased to welcome them as neighbors.

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H.D. Ward, New England operator at the Hawleyville station, has resigned and gone to New York. Henry A. Watson, from the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg road, has taken his place.

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Mrs J.A. James of Hawleyville was in Danbury and Bethel on Monday.

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Asa Hawley has bought 18 fine steers of O’Dell & Canfield of Roxbury and Bridgewater.

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Mr and Mrs Arthur J. Smith passed Sunday at Springfield, Mass., guests of Rev T.A. Hazen.

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In the Congregational church on Sunday the rite of baptism was administered to Miss Mary Bacon, Miss Jennie Banks and Levi Banks, who were also received into the membership of the church.

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.