January 12, 1996

Having barely dug its way out from last weekend’s snowstorm, Newtown braced for another possible assault this weekend... For a few days this week Newtown congratulated itself for getting through the Blizzard of 1996, which dumped 22 inches of snow on the Newtown area... So far this winter, almost 60 inches of snow has fallen in the greater Danbury area.

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The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) is recommending that the Borough Zoning Commission approve a commercial redevelopment proposal involving the construction of a Big Y supermarket, plus new stores, at a renovated and expanded Newtown Shopping Center... The proposed work includes construction of the 56,000-square-foot Big Y supermarket similar to the one which is operating on Route 111 in Monroe. Work would also include the demolition of the 20,000-square-foot southern section of the main building at the shopping center, as well as construction of 25,000-square-feet of new retail space.

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The State Elections Enforcement Commission has ruled substantively in favor of the Friends of the Library regarding a complaint filed by Newtown resident Martin Schertzer. The commission found that while the Friends did violate a provision of the state statute that says the name of the organization’s treasurer must be included on political literature, the omission was “unintentional” and no fine will be imposed. The ruling also absolved the group from Mr Schertzer’s charge that the Friends spent money to influence the November 13, 1995 referendum on the expansion of the C.H. Booth Library before registering as a political committee.

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The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) has approved a set of zoning amendments that would allow a commercial golf course and driving range in Botsford. The P&Z’s approval of the zoning rule changes came January 4 after a public hearing on the topic. Professional golfer Peter Belmont submitted the zoning amendments as a means to let him apply for an 18-hole, Par 3 “executive course” off South Main Street.

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Addiction Prevention Treatment (APT), a private, nonprofit longterm residential treatment center for drug addicts and alcoholics at Fairfield Hills, will be relocating its facilities, according to a state planning official... Peter Rockholz, APT’s executive director, said this week APT wants to remain at Fairfield Hills because it is the best-suited location in the area for the programs APT provides. APT wants to obtain a longterm lease or buy the facilities it now occupies at Fairfield Hills... APT would be hard pressed to relocate due to the “provincialism” which exists in Connecticut, Mr Rockholz said.

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The Newtown High School boys’ basketball team traveled to Milford to take on one of its new South-West Conference opponents, Jonathan Law, on Friday night, January 5, and started off the new year with a bang. The Indians got career-high scoring efforts from three different players as they pasted the Lawmen, 69-39. NHS sophomore guard Andrew Gellert led all scorers with 20 points on the night.

January 8, 1971

“The census figures released this past summer showed the population of Newtown to be more than 2,000 greater than the estimates of the State Health Department. The preliminary regional plan for the Housatonic Valley Region, as prepared by the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials, indicates that the population of area towns will continue to grow. However, in approximately 1980, the growth for the region will be largely in the Town of Newtown... This makes it eminently clear that Newtown must continue the process of planning for the future started in largest part when Planning and Zoning was adapted... —Timothy B. Treadwell, First Selectman

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Volunteer firemen fought a fire on Borough Lane for two hours on Monday night at the home of Paul Tardiff. A call came into Newtown Hook & Ladder Company No 1 at 6:04 via the town hall switchboard, and when firemen arrived they found the attached garage and what appeared to be the west end of the building involved. Thanks to what Chief Lee Glover of Hook & Ladder described as a very good fire wall between garage and house, the fire was kept to the garage and did not extend into the living quarters.

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Two new sergeants have been named to the Newtown Police Department. The newly created sergeants are former Officers David Lydem and Michael DeJoseph. Their appointments became effective January 1... Sgt Lydem was appointed to the force on December 9, 1967... Sgt DeJoseph joined the force on January 1, 1967.

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The Newtown Kennel Club, Inc will hold its 220th AKC Sanctioned Match (Plan B) on Thursday evening, February 4, at the Edmond Town Hall, Newtown. Entries will be taken from 6:45 pm and judging starts promptly at 7:30 pm... Entry fees are $1 per dog and admission is 50 cents per person. Refreshments will be available.

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ATTENTION ALL RESIDENTS We Are Having Our Annual Dinner-Dance at the Knights of Columbus January 23, 1971 To which we cordially invite you and all your friends. We are planning a Sumptuous Meal from 7 till 9 and dancing to Marty Del Percio from 9 till 1. Sponsored by Newtown Hook & Ladder Co No 1, Inc for the Combined Fire Companies of Newtown. $15.00 per couple. BYO.

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Newtown High School: Girls basketball started its season this past Tuesday as the girls went down to a strong Brookfield team. The girls played a good game, but the Brookfield team was excellent, playing like a bunch of boys.

January 4, 1946

The Board of Assessors has completed its work in compiling the Grand List for the Town of Newtown for 1945, and reports a grand total of $6,927,650, with exemptions of $151,590, leaving a final taxable amount of $6,776,060. This shows an increase of $63,995 over last year’s final figure.

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A Buffet Supper and Christmas Dance for the employees and staff of the Fairfield State Hospital was held in Bridgeport Hall of the hospital on Thursday evening, December 27, from seven until one o’clock, the occasion being in the nature of a farewell to Dr Clifford D. Moore, whose resignation as superintendent became effective on December 31. During the evening, on behalf of the employees, a gift was presented to Dr Moore by his successor, Dr William F. Greene, who wished him all success in his new work at Stamford.

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The Hawley High School basketball team will play its first League game on Edmond Town Hall court this Friday evening at 8 o’clock against the fast Abbot Tech team of Danbury. So far the local lads have been showing promise over their playing ability of last year.

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A.J. Gies of Newtown will be one of the 31 nationally famous judges at the nation’s oldest and largest poultry show, the 98th Annual Boston Show, at Boston Garden, January 16-20. Mr Gies, a former General Electric executive and longtime breeder of fine poultry, will judge the Wyandotte and Wyandotte Bantam classes.

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Another Smash Hit: Red Bailey in His New Version of Modern and Old-Fashioned Music; Square Sets by Request; Will Appear Every Wednesday Nite. PAT AND GENE’S Newtown Log Cabin, Newtown, Conn. Phone 185. Monday Nite — Amateur Nite. Our Special This Sunday — Chicken Chow Mein, 75 cents.

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William A. Upham was the genial host on New Year’s Day to friends who were invited to call during the afternoon and evening. Mr Upham’s unique invitations bearing “Greetings for a Hale and Hearty 1946!” also carried the address “Hawleyville, Conn., United States of America — Thank God we live in it!”

December 24, 1920

The Men’s club enjoyed a real treat Tuesday night at their meeting in Trinity Guild room. After an excellent supper served by the ladies of the Guild, I.F. Terry of Bethel talked to the members for three hours on his trip through Europe during the summer and fall. It was 12:15 am when the club adjourned and the men were reluctant to have him stop. Mr Terry met some of the leading men of Europe, including Paderewski, who has been prime minister of the new kingdom of Poland.

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The funeral of Mrs Henry G. Curtis was very largely attended on Saturday afternoon from her late home in Berkshire. Rev James L. Lasher, rector of Trinity church, officiated. The pallbearers were A.T. Nettleton, D.C. Peck, C.B. Taylor, C.F. Beardsley, Hobart H. Curtis, and George F. Taylor. The burial was in the beautiful Berkshire cemetery, where the branches of numerous pines sing a perpetual requiem.

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Methodist Church Notes: Monday evening, December 27, the annual Christmas exercises of the Church school will be held in the church. A program in three parts has been prepared... At 8 o’clock there will be recitations by the children, and the tree. It is expected that Santa Claus will appear during this part of the program.

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MOVING PICTURES At The Town Hall: The management regret to announce that with “The Saphead,” Saturday night, this will be the last picture to be presented for a time, owing principally to the heating and other conditions at the Town hall. They also wish to thank the public for their generous patronage in the past. This Saturday night, and it being Christmas night, will be shown one of the highest class productions to appear this year. “The Saphead” is one of the best. There is no trace of anything cheap about it... Dancing after the picture continues until 12... The best effort will be made to have the hall warm and comfortable.

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Hiram Morgan had the misfortune to lose a valuable horse last week. Roy Hyatt is driving a new horse. He has also purchased a Buick auto. William A. Starr of Botsford Hill has a new Ford car, bought of Frank A. Blackman, the local agent.

Your memories are the ones we want to share! 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 editor@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.