November 18, 1988

Ethel Connor, Board of the Burgesses and an employee at Union Trust on Queen Street was shocked when she saw what was going on outside the bank. She immediately called Jean St Jean, the borough’s zoning code enforcement agent. “My God,” said Mrs Connor. “They’re cutting down the trees.” Two sugar maples — one 18-inches in diameter and the other 20 — were down, on the Queen Street island in front of Union Trust. In addition, workers planned to cut down at least another three trees in that row of trees on that side of Queen Street. Mrs St Jean ordered them to stop. The Eton Center Company, which owns the Grand Union, is building additional retail space between the supermarket and the bank. To execute a plan approved by the State Traffic Commission, the owners plan to widen Queen Street. Although the site plan was approved by the Borough Zoning Commission, Mrs St Jean said borough officials never were told any trees would be removed. Because this right of way is in the borough, approval for taking down any trees must be obtained from borough officials. Richard Donohoe, architect, wrote saying that he, the owners, and the contractor were sorry for the misunderstanding of the permit requirements. Although there was no specific mention on the site plan map that the two maple trees would be removed, Mr Donohoe said these two trees were drawn in the plans showing what would be a paved area; the implication, he said, was that the trees would be gone. Mr Donohoe said this week that he had prepared an alternate plan that could possible save some of the trees.

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With the recent arrival of new metal bins for the separation and collection of recycled items, and the hiring of an additional employee, the town landfill has entered a new stage in its continuing efforts to develop an effective recycling program.

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Three juvenile vandals went on a rampage last Thursday in Land’s End Cemetery in Hawleyville. Over 80 headstones were knocked over by the vandals, who were arrested following an investigation into the incident by Newtown Police. Lt Owen Carney said that in the past there have been minor incidents of vandalism in Newtown involving cemeteries, but this was the worst ever.

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School and town officials met this week to discuss how to go about acquiring a site for a new elementary school. One of the matters brought up at the meeting was where funds might be found to hire an appraiser to evaluate properties earmarked by the School Site Selection Committee as the best spot for a new elementary school. The sites have not been identified publicly. The most housing growth is expected in Sandy Hook, but recent enrollment statistics showed a sharp increase in enrollment at Hawley and Head O’ Meadow Schools.

November 22, 1963

During the executive session of the Board of Selectmen held Tuesday evening in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall, Harry F. Greenman, chairman of the Permanent Building Committee, presented preliminary plans for the proposed new elementary school in Botsford district. The proposed elementary school, capacity 700, will contain 19 elementary classrooms, two kindergartens, a school library, cafeteria, gymnasium-auditorium, and administrative offices, at a total cost of $750,000.

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Victor Caserta, who for the past ten years has operated a beauty salon in the Queen Street Shopping Center, Newtown, announces that the business will now be known as Victor & Louis and will continue at the same location as heretofore. Louis LaBarba has joined Mr Caserta as a partner in this well established business.

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A new group of folk singers has been formed by four Newtown High School seniors. The quartet, known as “The Three and One,” includes Margitta Nagy, Gail Parker and Sarah Franck. John Larabee provides the fourth voice, as well as the musical accompaniment. They have already made several public appearances, including a spot in the Variety Show at the Congregational Church Harvest Festival.

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Ricky’s Salon of Beauty, will have its official opening on Sunday afternoon, when Daniel T. Riccio, its proprietor, invites the public to a cocktail party from 2 to 5 o’clock. This new beauty salon is located in the Newtown Shopping Center on Queen Street. Mr Ricky will have seven other qualified hair stylists and colorists working with him, including Mr Anthony, who has been in an exclusive shop in Westport and has a certificate from the Clairol Hair Coloring School. With this staff and his new salon, Mr Ricky will welcome his old and new friends — ready and well equipped to serve them in the care of their hair.

November 18, 1938

Several hundred banking institutions operating in 38 States have established New York World’s Fair 1939 Savings Clubs to enable individuals and families to finance without hardship a trip to the Exposition next year. Many banks plan to inaugurate this Fall these World’s Fair clubs which are to run for twenty-five weeks. Weekly deposits in already established clubs range from 50 cents to $10.

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Willis H. Chase of Mt Pleasant district has a two-year-old pet rooster named “Ebenezer.” Up until about ten days ago, Ebenezer crowed in the usual manner, but since then has developed a crow that sounds like, “Heil, Hitler!” Mr Chase does not approve of this new salute of his pet and appeals to readers of The Bee for a suggestion as to how to discourage Ebenezer’s newly-formed habit.

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Young People’s Club: The big social event of the near future is the informal Thanksgiving dance to be held Friday evening, November 25, from 9 to 1 o’clock in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town hall. First comes a good swing band. Roy Wright, known to Newtown as the champion drum major of the state who twirled the baton so efficiently in the Spring Swing in the Edmond Gym last May, is bringing his Newtown Britain “Nobles.” Tickets at $1 per couple, 75 cents for stags, may be secured from members of the club.

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The annual meeting of the Newtown Branch of the Bridgeport Chapter of the American Red Cross was held in the memorial room of the Edmond Town Hall on Tuesday, at 4 pm, with a good attendance present. During the course of the meeting it was decided to continue the remedial dental work for the school children begun last winter. It was also disclosed that Miss Gratto may be able to conduct a class in home hygiene and care of the sick in Sandy Hook, if there is sufficient demand.

 

November 21, 1913

A Thanksgiving dance will be given, Friday evening, November 28, at the Town hall, by the Newtown High school Athletic association. Everyone come, for a good time is guaranteed. Dancing will begin promptly at eight o’clock. A Bridgeport orchestra furnishes the music. Admission, 50 cents each.

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New orders from the Post Office Department: All first class mail left in Rural delivery boxes shall be stamped before being deposited by the patron of the office. And all money put in the box for stamps should be wrapped up and not left loose in the box. —W.M. Reynolds, postmaster

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The beautiful new organ being installed in the Congregational church by the Hall Organ Co., of New Haven, will be used, Sunday, at the morning service, for the first time and the public are invited. The organ is 21 feet across the front. There are 51 front pipes, finished in bronze. It has a case of colonial design and a Mahogany key desk. It is a two-manual pneumatic organ. There are 799 speaking pipes in the organ. The organ has three divisions, the swell organ, the great organ and pedal organ. The organ has a pedal arrangement of 32 notes.

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State Highway Commissioner C.J. Bennett awarded Tuesday, the contract for the construction of 8,350 lineal feet of gravel road on the main turnpike between Newtown and Danbury, in the town of Newtown, to the O’Brien Construction Co of New York. The contract price is approximately $14,660. The awarding of this contract means an immediate commencement of the construction of what eventually will be a state highway connecting Danbury and Newtown.