November 28, 1997

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — THANKS FRANK: We have often used this space to extol the virtues of voluntarism, urging people to get involved in the town by donating a few hours of their time on a regular basis to a worthy cause. Rarely do we come across an individual, however, who embodies the volunteer spirit so completely as Frank Krasnickas. As chairman of the town’s busy Public Building and Site Committee, most days Mr Krasnickas has been on job sites at Newtown High School, The Hawley School, and most recently at Booth Library. Then, quite often, he spends his evenings in meetings of the Board of Selectmen, or the Board of Education, or the Legislative Council, discussing the construction projects. For the duration of the complex and sometimes controversial projects, he has worked 30 hours or more every week representing the interests of the town. A retired engineer, Mr Krasnickas has brought knowledge, patience, diplomacy, persistence, and a rigorous set of personal standards to bear on these construction projects. He has not sought to put himself in the limelight, despite his important role. (For the story The Bee wrote about him this week, he was very reluctant to be photographed.) We would like Frank Krasnickas to know that his work has had great value for the people of Newtown, even though he was paid nothing for what amounted to a full-time job. It’s hard to put a value on voluntarism at this level. So we offer our thanks and respect and hope that it is enough.

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The developers of Walnut Tree Village, a condominium complex for senior citizens at 26 Walnut Tree Hill Road in Sandy Hook, are exploring the possibilities of building 150 more age-restricted housing units on land nearby. Walnut Tree Village has approvals to build 80 units. So far, about 50 units have been constructed. The 80 units are planned for completion by the end of 1998, Louis DeFilio of Walnut Tree Hill Developers said Monday. Walnut Tree Village is intended for people at least 55 years old. The property is in an EH-10 zone and designated for multifamily housing for the elderly.

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First Selectman Bob Cascella presented Judy Benson and Debbie Richardson of the Family Counseling Center of Newtown with a proclamation marking November 23-29 as National Family Week in Newtown. “As we reflect and celebrate our own family life during National Family Week and this Thanksgiving, let us reaffirm our commitment as individuals and as a community to establish policies and programs that help parents, children and all individuals,” the proclamation said.

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Mick Haggerty of Christmas Décor was busy hanging wreaths and banners last Friday to signal the start of the holiday shopping season at Sand Hill Plaza.

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It might not be a very memorable day for many — November 15, 1997 — but it was a momentous one nevertheless at Newtown Country Club as Joan Crick was named the first woman president in the club’s 82-year history. Mrs Crick, who has been a member of the club since 1985, succeeds Bill Hubbard as president and will preside over a nine-member Board of Governors that will include five new members —two of them women.

November 24, 1972

The Annual Meeting of the Poverty Hollow Pony Club took place Friday, November 10, at 8 pm, in the Johnson Room of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Newtown. Fifteen parents and 20 members were present to re-elect the incumbent slate of officers: Mrs Dan Teelin and Mrs Dan Lufkin as the district commissioners; Mrs Richard Pennell as treasurer; Mrs R.J. Hopkins as secretary; and Mrs S.D. Booth as the chief instructor.

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Newtown High’s football team spent a pleasant afternoon Saturday demolishing the Green Wave of New Milford 42-14, then had short-lived better news at the game’s end when they were told that Joel Barlow lost its game. That report turned out to be a false one, so the Indians remain in a first-place tie with Barlow for the Western Connecticut Conference Title.

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George Zitnay, regional director of a state program, was guest speaker at the Rotary Club meeting Monday evening, November 20, at the Hawley Manor Inn. Plans were discussed for the club’s annual Pancake Day December 2, when members will bake and serve pancakes, with sausages and syrup and other trimmings, in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall. The sale will go on all day, from 11 am to 7 pm, to raise funds for a variety of Rotary projects. Members of the Pancake Day Committee are Thomas Ineson, James Schweir, and Carl B. Bergquist.

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Mrs Vincent Gaffney received a beautiful silver bowl when she was named Connecticut Farm Bureau’s Mother of the Year during the Bureau’s annual meeting in New Britain on November 15. Last month Mrs Gaffney had been named Fairfield County Farm Bureau Mother of the Year. The state award came as a complete surprise to Mrs Gaffney, and included with the guests were her four sons and their wives.

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On Wednesday, November 15 at 1 pm the regular bi-monthly meeting of the Sixty Plus Club was held in Trinity Church undercroft. Approximately 75 members attended. A game of bingo was enjoyed by all. The knitting group brought in a generous sampling of the work that had been done so far this season, and some very nice articles will be distributed to the Southbury Training School at Christmas time. Many dolls furnished by the Salvation Army will be dressed by the ladies of the Club and distributed with the Christmas baskets for Newtown’s needy families. In response to a letter regarding “Home Care” received from the Department of Aging in Hartford, the Club members are asked to bring in their written suggestions as to what might be done in Newtown to help the elderly.

November 21, 1947

Newtown’s Congregational church was the scene of an attractive wedding last Saturday afternoon when Miss Shirley Jeannette Nichols, daughter of Mrs A.B. Nichols and the late Mr Nichols of the Taunton district, became the bride of the Rev Arthur E. Berry, son of Mr and Mrs Frank A. Berry of Bethel. The Rev Paul A. Cullens, pastor of the church, performed the ceremony in a simple and tasteful setting in which the candlelit altar was decorated with chrysanthemums and ivy. Mrs Charles M. Goodsell, organist, prefaced the playing of traditional music by furnishing a musical program while the church filled with friends and relatives of the bride and bridegroom. The bride was given into marriage by her brother, Postmaster Albert H. Nichols.

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Twice in twenty-four hours townspeople turned out for a special town meeting, close to 450 assembling in the gymnasium of Edmond Town Hall last Thursday evening to act on matters concerning Regional High School District No 3; the meeting, however, finally adjourned without action. On the previous evening, November 12, at the first of the two meetings, it had been voted to continue to name Newtown’s Regional Board members by appointment by the local Board of Education.

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Miss Barbara Baxter, daughter of Mr and Mrs William C. Baxter of Mt Pleasant, was one of 27 members of the senior class at the University of Connecticut, chosen to represent the University in the next publication of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. The nominees for recognition were selected on the basis of outstanding effort and accomplishment in academic work, extra-curricular activities, and service to the school. Dr Northby, director of student personnel, has commented, “It is a great honor and distinction to be chosen as a member of this group.”

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Mr and Mrs Francis B. Richards of Grays Plains district, Sandy Hook, left on Sunday for Largo, Florida, where they will spend the winter. In their absence, Mr and Mrs Gilpin Johns will occupy their home.

November 17, 1922

GRANGE BULLETIN — POOTATUCK GRANGE ELECTS OFFICERS: The officers elected for the year, 1923, are as follows: Master, Frank H. Platt; Overseer, Robert W. Tiemann; Lecturer, Edith W.G. Mitchell; Steward, Elliott H. Platt; Assistant Steward, Willis F. Arndt; Chaplain, Herman N. Tiemann; Treasurer, Wallace N. Mitchell; Secretary, Anna G. Murphy; Gate-Keeper, Charles F. Cavanaugh; Ceres, L. Vincent Cavanaugh; Pomona, Viola A. Geckle; Lady Assistant Steward, Florence R. Carlson; Pianist, Frances S. Smith.

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The biggest news sensation of the week is the announcement that Premier Manufacturing Co., of Sandy Hook, through Charles S. Cole, its capable and wide awake treasurer and general manager, has effected a consolidation of manufacturing interests whereby the Premier Manufacturing Co., of Sandy Hook acquires a controlling interest in the old and well known W.&B. Douglas Co., of Middletown, manufacturers of all kinds of pumping machines, and also of the Standard Metal Works Corporation of Thompsonville, Conn. The editor got Mr Cole on the telephone at Thompsonville on Wednesday morning. Mr Cole confirmed the truth of the merger, and said that business would go on the same at present in the factories in Sandy Hook, Middletown and Thompsonville.

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Mrs Lula Ellicock of New Haven passed the week end with her mother, Mrs Jennie Canfield.

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Mrs Homer A. Hawley of Pittsfield, Mass., was the guest, Tuesday, of Mrs Ida Hawley of Hawleyville.

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Mr and Mrs F.W. Andrews and Mr and Mrs Henry Moore motored to Newark, N.J., Saturday, returning on Sunday.

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Paul S. Smith and Earle Widtman, students at Amherst college, were guests over Sunday of Mr and Mrs A.J. Smith.

November 26, 1897

It was our intention, last week, to call particular notice to the letter published in our columns regarding Newtown Water Works, but press of business, and want of space prevented. The very clear statement given in the letter of B.H. Hull, civil engineer, should convince all of our citizens that the matter spoken of is practicable, and it needs only the combined efforts of one and all to make this important enterprise a success. It has been estimated that $5000 would be a sufficient sum to carry out this project, embracing the building of a reservoir, and laying at least one mile of 4-inch iron pipe, besides furnishing six fire hydrants, to be located on our beautiful street, and 300 feet of rubber hose, which we would not have to go out of town for.

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The bridge across the Housatonic at Sandy Hook is being painted.

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The Dayton street bridge at Sandy Hook has been replanked. It has been in a bad condition for a long time.

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Minott Augur has some prime beef hanging on the hooks of his Sandy Hook market, this week, for the Thanksgiving trade. It was furnished by Elmer W. Fairchild and was a noble steer weighing in the vicinity of 1,000 pounds when dressed.

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At the Congregational church on Sunday morning, Rev Mr Barker read the governor’s proclamation. He preached an excellent sermon from the text, “Be ye thankful.”

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.