December 19, 1997

The Spay & Neuter Association of Newtown recently held its annual quilt raffle and visited the office of The Newtown Bee on Monday to select this year’s winner. SNAN President Donna Safee and Marilyn Mahler, raffle committee chairperson, visited the office, where Managing Editor Curtiss Clark selected the winning name of Patricia Audibert of Sandy Hook. The handmade quilt was made by Alice Doherty.

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Members of the Knights of Columbus, Council #185, recently helped out with renovations at the Shelter of the Cross in Danbury, a home purchased to house homeless people in the Danbury area. Among those working at the shelter were Mark Fine, Steve Genzoli, Ray Kurkjy, John McCabe, Joe Ratyna, Rick Russell and John Taaffe. The shelter is expected to open in January.

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A handful of Republicans Monday night urged the Board of Selectmen to appoint Tom Paisley as an alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Their efforts failed, however, bringing home to them the reality of last November’s election. Newtown is no longer a Republican-led town. The selectmen voted, 2-1, to instead appoint Democrat Lilla Dean to the seat. Suddenly, the P&Z is split right down the middle, four Democrats and four Republicans.

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Singer Lisa St Ann and The Fabulous Band performed a pair of shows at Borders Books Music Café last weekend during the new store’s official grand opening. St Ann and her band are on the road these days to support the singer’s second independently-released album, called Curiously Strong. One of the best parts of the shows last week — in addition to the performances of some great music — was catching up with two of the band’s members, both of whom are from Newtown. Paul Crowley is the band’s bass player and John Clancy is the percussionist.

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Neumade Products, which recently moved into Newtown, is hoping to become the first company in town to receive a tax break under a new tax incentive plan. During informal discussions, town officials told the company that some tax breaks would likely be offered, but did they make promises? That is what First Selectman Herb Rosenthal is trying to find out. Mr Rosenthal has made it clear he is against tax deferrals, saying they do not necessarily bolster a town’s tax base.

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Residents at Ashlar of Newtown had a musical treat on Monday, December 15, when fourth grade students from Head O’Meadow School performed Christmas carols there. Mary Berge, music teacher at Head O’Meadow, led the children in the singing. Richard Jansen, chaplain volunteer for Ashlar, said how happy he was to hear the children sing “Do You Hear What I Hear.” He had been planning on doing that song in his church, and he said it was wonderful to hear the children’s beautiful voices. Each child had also made a personalized card for one resident.

December 15, 1972

The Newtown Kennel Club chose its Dog of the Year at its 233rd AKC Sanctioned Match, Plan, B, Thursday evening, December 7, at Edmond Town Hall. The winning entry was Heatherbull Arrogant Kate, an English bulldog owned by Bernard Kennedy Jr of Wallingford and Jean Hetherington, breeder, of Heatherbull Kennels. Mrs Barbara Kennedy, mother of the 15-year-old owner, said she was delighted that Heatherbull Kate was chosen Dog of the Year, especially given the fact that bulldogs, not being glamorous animals, don’t often win such awards.

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Christmas is the time for giving and nobody knows that better than Santa Claus. The Bee was pleased to be on hand at the Danbury Hospital on Wednesday, December 13, to witness Santa (really Dr Robert Grossman, blood program chairman) donating a pint of blood to the hospital bloodmobile. His smile after the event indicated he was none the worse for wear after his donation.

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The Newtown Christian Church is pleased to announce its new minister, Rick Fordyce. He is a graduate of Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tenn. Before coming to Newtown he held ministries in St Charles, Va., Hollis, Queens, NYC, and Lynbrook, N.Y.

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Newtown’s first revenue-sharing checks were received from the US Treasury Department this week, and they turned out to be a lot smaller than expected — a total of $61,938 instead of the anticipated $102,000. US Treasury Secretary George Schultz announced that last-minute changes in the allocations had been made, using tax data from 1971 instead of the 1965-66 data that had been used in the preliminary estimates. Notified of the change by Representative Ella Grasso’s office, First Selectman Frank DeLucia immediately wrote to Senator Lowell Weicker asking him to find out what figures were used in the computation, so as to determine if an error had been made.

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Santa’s helpers in Newtown this year, as in many years in the past, will be bringing food and many other needed items, including happy things such as toys and personal gifts to families in need. The Newtown Fund has put out an urgent appeal. With over 50 families selected for a visit, a large supply of canned goods is urgently needed. Of the 50 families, only 22 have been adopted. A person may adopt a family by providing the necessary funds to help make their holiday a happy one.

December 12, 1947

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — A WORD TO SHOPPERS: Those who have visited retail establishments in recent days must be well aware that Christmas and the season of gifts is close upon us. Likewise, readers of The Bee cannot fail to understand that Santa Claus has many helpers. For this particular issue, expanded to 30 pages, fairly shouts the message of merchants and shop keepers whose shelves are well stocked with items that will be sure to please on Christmas Day. We take this opportunity, therefore, to speak a good work for our many advertisers who, in record number, are making use of The Bee as a medium through which to tell the general public of the excellence of their wares. These advertisers will be found reliable and worthy of your trade.

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A handful of voters turned out for the recessed town meeting held in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town hall last Thursday evening, December 4th. This was the meeting recessed from the one of October 6th, election night. Herbert H. Cutler was chairman. Among the recommendations to be made and passed as a motion was the resolution that the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Education submit to the Board of Finance on or before the 10th of January, April and July a detailed statement of expenditures for the preceding quarter, showing the original appropriation, all transfers of funds and the unexpended balance of each item of the budget. This was unanimously approved.

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FIGHT FIRES — SAVE FORESTS: Believed to be the first similar unit established in the State of Connecticut, the forest fire suppression crew of Newtown Chapter FFA, since its organization, has extinguished 75 woods and field fires, and answers 10 to 12 calls in each season. Members of this year’s crew are Robert Jacot, Richard Knutson, Adrian Lillis, Richard Liskin, Ernest Morgan, John Pendergast, William Renz, Richard Rideout, Gilbert Standley, and Jack Watkins. Vincent P. Gaffney is the FFA advisor and Vo-Ag instructor.

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There was a gathering of 50 persons of the meeting of the Men’s Social and Literary club held at Hawley Manor Wednesday evening at 7 o’clock. “Chief” W.M. McKenzie, the club’s host for the evening, had invited the wives of members and other guests for the occasion. Following a steak dinner, the speaking program was an address by Mortimer B. Smith of the Zoar district on Norway. Mr Smith and his family had spent the last summer visiting in the Scandinavian country, the home of Mrs Smith’s grandfather, Ole Bull. Jerome P. Jackson, Sr, was essayist for the meeting.

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Newtown High school girls and boys started their basketball seasons with decisive wins over the Morris High school aggregations in Edmond Town hall gymnasium, Wednesday evening. The Newtown girls started off with a near all-new team and won handily by a score of 40-15, being ahead at half time 15-8. The Newtown boys, while held closely for the first half and much of the third period, surged ahead to win by 16 points, 37-21.

December 8, 1922

A wedding of interest was solemnized at St Rose’s church, last week Wednesday morning, the happy couple being Miss Mary B. Troy and Martin X. Carey. The ceremony took place at 9 o’clock, Rev M.J. Regan, the pastor of St Rose’s, officiating. The bride was charming in a gown of beaver brown crepe knit nilly, with paisley trimmings. Her hat was a combination brown velvet and metallic cloth trimmed with a plume of lighter color. She carried a bridal bouquet of white roses. The groom’s gift to the bride was a string of pearls and to the best man platinum cuff links. The bride’s gift to the groom was a platinum stick pin, diamond studded, and to the bridesmaid a brooch.

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HATTERTOWN PERSONAL NOTES: Miss Jennie Mellen of New Milford has been visiting her sister, Mrs Ella Summers. | Miss Edith Fairchild of New York and Miss Angie Wakeman of Norwalk were guests of Mrs Parmelee over the Thanksgiving holiday. | Miss Ida Burritt of Stratford has been the guest of C.D. Stillson. | Miss Mary J. Briscoe is spending the winter months with Mr and Mrs Thomas Perkins. | Mr and Mrs J.H. Jackson were Thanksgiving guests of relatives in Hartford. | Mrs Joyce, who has been caring for Miss Josephine Briscoe for several months, has returned to her home in New Milford. | Claude Lewis of Astoria, L.I., Earl Lewis of Chelsea, Mass., and Miss Maude Lewis of Bridgeport, spent Thanksgiving with their parents, Mr and Mrs J.A. Lewis. | Mr and Mrs Eugene Northrop and E.C. Northrop were guests of relatives in Danbury, Thursday. | Mr and Mrs Birdsey Peck entertained as their guests on Thanksgiving day, Mr and Mrs Loveks, of Danbury and Mr and Mrs Clifford Morgan and family of Bethel. | Mr and Mrs Edwin Morgan and Millard T. Morgan were Thanksgiving guests of Mr and Mrs Herbert Botsford in Nichols.

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Dea Robert D. Smith of Dodgingtown was kicked by one of his horses, Wednesday morning, fracturing the leg above the knee. By the advice of Dr Wight he was taken to the Danbury hospital, where the leg was set and placed in a plaster cast by Drs Wight and Stratton. The patient is as comfortable as could be expected.

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The whist held at the Country Club Monday evening was attended largely. Mrs F.W. Knight and Mrs Rodney Shepard were the more fortunate for the ladies, and F.W. Knight and Senator Philo T. Platt for the gentlemen. Mrs Fannie Edward and Mrs James L. Lasher entertained. The next whist will be held as usual on Monday evening, December 11.

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CARD OF THANKS: I wish to extend my sincere thanks to our many friends and neighbors for all their kindness and sympathy during the long illness and death of my husband; especially to Hiram lodge, F. & A.M. of Newtown, Bridgeport lodge No. 289 L.O.O.M., and Uncas council O.U.A.M., of Bridgeport.—[Mrs Charles W. Canfield.

December 17, 1897

“Prof” William Thompson, the globe trotter, visited The Bee office on Thursday last. He left San Francisco, November 30, 1893, on a wager of $20,000 that he could cross the American continent five times, cross the Dominion of Canada once and travel once around the globe in four years and a half. He is now on his way home from his trip around the world. Began without a cent and only a paper suit of clothes. When he started he weighed 176 pounds and now registers 120 pounds. Here are some of the statistics he gave: sick 50 times; slept out of doors over 500 nights; sold over 5,000 photographs; worn out 37 suits of clothes, 70 hats and caps, 169 sweaters, 168 pairs of stockings, 27 pairs of shoes, 243 suits of under clothing. Born in London, Eng; 43 years old; has traveled 24,705 miles; longest distance in one day, 87 miles.

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George R. Wilson has decorated his Taunton residence in colors, the prevailing shade being of the sunflower order.

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W.C. Johnson visited at R.W. Bennett’s in Bridgeport, last week.

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E.S. Lovell believes in providing for the comfort of his stock. He has connected two wells with his barn and supplies his cows with fresh water by means of Buckley’s device. An iron bucket is between each two cows and the flow is regulated by an automatic feed from a supply tank near at hand. Theodore Sturges of West Cornwall placed this convenience in position and it is one which milkmen in this vicinity would do well to look into and pattern after.

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Alexander Beard of Bridgeport, who purchased the Thomas Farrell farm in South Center district, has broken ground for a large barn, which he will erect north of the house. James Farrell has the work in hand.

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The December meeting of the Men’s club was held on Tuesday evening at the Grand Central hotel as the guest of Dr E.M. Smith. In place of the customary essay, short papers were presented by the members on subjects previously assigned, and it proved one of the most enjoyable sessions of the club yet held.

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.