December 17, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Al Penovi.

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The Police Commission has started explaining to an arbitrator its job termination against Police Chief James E. Lysaght, Jr, describing why it believes the 50-year-old Sandy Hook resident should lose his post as the town’s top law enforcement officer. In response to the town’s allegations, Chief Lysaght has started telling his version of the events which led the Police Commission last August to formally call for his removal from the job, which pays $65,280 a year.

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Burke Marshall and his family traveled to Washington, D.C. last week for a special ceremony at the White House. The Newtown resident was there to accept The Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights presented to him by President Bill and First Lady Hilary Clinton. Mr Marshall, one of five recipients of the award, served as assistant attorney general during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations of the 1960s. And, as the award points out, he played a central role in the civil rights struggle and in the passage of the Civil Rights Act and Voting Right Act.

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State and national preservationists were in town Monday night calling for the preservation of 17 buildings at Fairfield Hills. In doing so, they also endorsed the development plan of Becker and Becker Associates, Inc, of New Canaan, which they said reflected the best proposals for re-use of these structures.

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First Selectman Herb Rosenthal announced this week that Newtown is prepared to meet the needs of the community when the clock strikes midnight on January 1. The town’s leader does not expect much to happen in the way of Y2K problems, but just in case, he and his staff will be on alert. The two-week countdown begins today (Friday, December 17). … Mr Rosenthal joined Bill Halstead, the town’s director of emergency management, at a Wednesday morning press conference to announce the town’s preparedness. All “critical” computer systems in the town have been tested and are believed to be compliant. The same is true to emergency service equipment, including the 911 system, Mr Halstead said. Utility companies have confirmed that telephone lines and electricity will remain on line as Newtown and the Eastern Standard Time Zone cross over the threshold. An emergency shelter will be open New Year’s Eve and Day at the middle school. Town crews will be on call and extra police officers will be patrolling the streets.

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Poet and storyteller Joanna Featherstone got Sandy Hook students to practice their participation skills last Monday during her hour-long presentation, part of Sandy Hook’s ongoing Cultural Arts program. Although a lot of poetry was used, Ms Featherstone also told stories without words, having students perform different hand gestures to symbolize words. The theme for the morning was the importance of dreams.

December 13, 1974

The draft of the contract proposal worked out between the Town negotiators and representatives of the Highway Department union has been completed and is being examined by both parties. The contract, the first for the Highway Department since it became a local in the National Association of Government Employees, provides an average of 8.75 per cent increase in salary for the 28 employees involved.

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Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission expressed extreme indignation at their December 6 meeting when chairman Philip Kopp read a letter from First Selectman Frank DeLucia saying in part, “If action is not taken to replace (zoning enforcement officer Richard Howe), I feel that I would take further steps to remove him from his position.” Vice chairman Arthur Spector, in response to this latest in a series of charges and counter charges surrounding the controversial zoning enforcement officer, said that he did not feel Mr DeLucia had the right to fire Mr Howe. “If he does try to fire him,” Mr Spector said vehemently, “I will personally go to court.”

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They may be somewhat different from the romantic tropical scenes that more people associate with the word lagoon, but the Planning and Zoning Commission has approved the construction of three lagoons in the Town’s sanitary landfill for dumping septic waste. Town sanitarian Jack Goett and professional sanitary engineer Eugene Orlowski of Sugar Street appeared before the P&Z meeting on December 6 to present the plan for a septic lagoon system which was recently approved by Dr T.W. Workman of the Department of Environmental Protection.

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In the recent weeks faces in the audience at the Board of Education meetings have become almost as familiar as those of the members of the Board, and the public participation subjects have also become familiar ones. Tuesday night’s Board meeting again brought out familiar faces and topics, as the plans for the proposed new school and its large open classroom were discussed. Robert Ruland of Cedarhurst again asked for closer school bus transportation for his son, and members of the Sandy Hook PTA discussed needed items for that school, such as some blacktopping in a walkway.

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On these pre-Christmas weekends, the Newtown Ambulance may be seen parked down at Johnnie Cake Lane and Route 25, since the members of the Drivers Corps have gone into the Christmas tree business. The members of the Corps are having a cut-your-own tree sale to raise funds for winter jackets, and last weekend saw the opening days of the sale. The men will be there again on December 14, 15 and 21, and there is a fine selection of trees from which to choose. … Trees may be either taken right away, or for a 50 per cent deposit of the price, tagged and cut later.

December 9, 1949

On Tuesday evening of this week, the Ladies Guild of St John’s church held a successful card party in the church social rooms, the benefits of which will go to the church. In addition to the card games, there were tables of white elephants, aprons and fancywork, and refreshments. Mrs Carl Robinson had charge of the party, assisted by Mrs Harold Peterson, Mrs E.F. Dinkler and Mrs Albert Kuhne, Sr.

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Staff Sgt. T.P. Healy, his wife and baby daughter, Anne, are guests of Mr and Mrs Dominic Digilio of Sandy Hook. A brother of Mrs Digilio, Sgt. Healy comes from Tennessee and South Carolina.

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It was open house in Taunton last Saturday afternoon when the public relations firm of R.H. Morris Associates gave neighbors, residents of the area and clients an opportunity to see the organization’s new headquarters. Located in the Hutchinson barn at the corner of Taunton and Sturges roads, the building, a high-ceilinged, modern structure has been transformed into workable, attractive quarters. The finished product, completed less than three weeks ago, resembles an office less than it does a well-ordered and neatly kept studio.

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The Auxiliary of the Charles Howard Peck Post, VFW, recently observed its tenth anniversary with a party in the social rooms of St. John’s Episcopal church, Sandy Hook. A baked ham dinner was served at which Mrs Elizabeth Carey, first president of the Auxiliary, cut the large birthday cake. A program was presented which included a brief history of the local group given by Mrs Helen Tomlinson, past president, a grab bag, carol singing, and Christmas music provided by Mrs Ruth Watkins, pianist, and George Hanlon, violinist.

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Newtown’s ardent astronomer, Henry Allen Price of Sunset Hill, hopes that many local people witnessed the close conjunction of Jupiter and Venus, which was very obvious in the heavens during the early evenings of this week, particularly on Tuesday. Venus was exceptionally bright and will be at her brightest on December 26th, when, as Mr Price appropriately states, “She will practically be the ‘Star of Bethlehem.’” On that date, Venus will be as close as she can come to the earth, which, however, is still 37,000,000 miles away.

December 5, 1924

The case of State vs Selectman John J. Northrop, who was charged by Grand Juror George M. Hayes, with irregularity in the making of voters, individuals who the State claimed could not read, was tried on Saturday afternoon in the Brick building before Justice M.D. Curtis of Monroe. Attorney Willis of Bridgeport appeared for the State and Attorney J. Robert Beecher for Mr Northrop. … Justice Curtis then briefly reviewed the case and bound Mr Northrop over to the Superior Court under bonds of $500. John M. Beers of Hopewell qualified as surety. The case occupied more than two hours in trial. The upper room of the Brick building was crowded with a representative body of citizens, who remained until the conclusion of the case.

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On Friday evening Selectman J.J. Northrop was again arrested on a warrant charging him with adding the name of Bertha S. Beecher to the “list to be made,” after the registrars of voters had closed the list on October 7. The case has been assigned for a public hearing on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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HATTERTOWN PERSONAL NOTES: Mr and Mrs J.C. Lewis entertained as their Thanksgiving guests Mr and Mrs Lester Mills and Mr and Mrs Edward Mills and Miss Cromwell of Southport. | Mrs Peck and C.D. Stillson were the guests, Thanksgiving, of C.B. Taylor and family in Newtown Street. | Mr and Mrs Stephen Hall, Misses Edith and Evelyn Hall and Bertrand Hall of West Redding spent Thanksgiving with Mr and Mrs Thomas Perkins. | C.D. Stillson is serving on the Jury in the Criminal Court of Common Pleas at Bridgeport.

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The Christmas Bazaar and sale given by the ladies of St John’s Guild, Sandy Hook, was held at the rectory on Wednesday afternoon. The ladies had a great display of useful and appropriate wares, goods for the holiday season. During the afternoon many patrons bought until the stocks on hand were nearly exhausted. The guild may congratulate its members on their success in raising nearly $100 as the result of their hard work.

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The interest of the boys and girls in scouting was abundantly proved, last Saturday, when in the fact of the storm, about 29 girl scouts and 10 boy scouts attended the meetings in the Guild room of Trinity church. In the absence of Miss Marie Gregory, who was ill, Mrs Gregory gave an interesting talk on some matters relative to the care of the body. Quite a number of mothers were present to encourage Mrs Gregory in her good work. Scout Master Tiemann was greeted by the full compliment of tenderfoots on Saturday. He is to be congratulated on the jolly, “peppy” crowd of youngsters he has gathered around him. Dr Gresner was present and spoke words of encouragement to the members of both troops.

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The Newtown High school basketball team met its first defeat, last Friday night, at the hands of the Bridgeport Ramblers, an independent group of Bridgeport High school boys. Besides being a heavier team, the Ramblers showed superior team work throughout the game. The local club showed indications of individual brilliancy but lacked definite co-ordination and team work to result their efforts in talliers. Dancing was enjoyed after the game to music furnished by John Ray, Jr.

December 15, 1899

The case of Frederick Bemis, executor, against Botsford H. Peet was tried before Judge Dayton in Sandy Hook on Saturday last and upon the conclusion of the trial the court reversed its decision. It was a suit brought by Mr Bemis against Mr Peet to compel him to account for several hundred gallons of cider which it was claimed he had charge of in the mill of the late Charles Warner. Beecher & Canfield appeared for the plaintiff and C.H. Northrop for the defense.

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A present valued very highly by the editor is the photograph and autograph of Hon. AB. Mygatt, president of the First National bank of New Milford. The picture was taken a few weeks ago on his birthday, and also includes a photograph of his daughter, Mrs F.S. Andrews of Bridgeport. Mrs Andrews is pleasantly known in Newtown for her kindly and unostentatious acts of charity to the poor while she was a resident here. Although in somewhat feeble health Mr Mygatt possesses remarkable vitality for someone of his years, and is a daily visitor to the bank.

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S.W. Lesher, formerly operator at Newtown siding on the Highland division, is now day operator at Southford, where W.A. Shepard is the agent. G.W. Warner of New York state is the new operator at Newtown siding.

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A new fence has been erected on the Glen road from the upper Rubber factory toward Walnut Tree Hill. It was a needed improvement.

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The body of Mrs Julia Ann Couldock, who died on Thursday last at the home of her daughter, Mrs Julia Toms of Rahway, N.J., was brought to Newtown for burial on Monday of this week. The deceased is a cousin of the Bradleys in the eastern part of the town, her home being at Carmel, N.Y. She was 72 years old and is survived by her husband, Frederick Couldock, and two daughters, Mrs Julia Toms of Rahway and Mrs Ida Brown of Jersey City. The burial did not take place till Tuesday, as it was the request of the deceased that her remains might be kept over night here, before being deposited in the soil of her native town. Mrs Couldock was a lady of most excellent character, and her death is sincerely regretted.

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A young couple, evidently just married, attracted much attention at the Hawleyville station, the other night. They seemed utterly oblivious to the large number in the waiting room, and the fair bride reposed in the arms of her husband in a true lover’s fashion. They were accompanied by a woman, evidently the bride’s mother, who looked calmly on and never smiled. Around the Hawleyville station it was thought they hailed from Washington.

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.