***

First Selectman Jack Rosenthal has written a letter to Governor William O’Neill, in which he sharply criticizes Northeast Utilities (NU) for its response to last week’s snowstorm. Of Newtown’s 7,200 homes, about 5,100 lost power, Mr Rosenthal said. Although many outages started on the early morning of November 19, there still were 2,100 homes without power on the morning of November 21, he said. Mr Rosenthal said that the power company was not interested in receiving from his office the names and addresses of persons who reported power outages. His office was told that the company already had that information on a computer printout. “We later learned that the printout was a compilation using the information which was reported to the company by phone,” Mr Rosenthal said. “Therefore, we could have provided information which the power company did not have — and would not take.”

***

Two elderly residents were asphyxiated in a home in Shady Rest along Lake Zoar on November 20 by fumes from an improperly vented gasoline-powered generator. The generator had been used because of the power failures caused by the snow storm of November 19.

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The Board of Fire Commissioners on November 24 adopted a policy designed to prevent volunteer firefighters under age 18 from entering hazardous situations. The policy prohibits these firefighters from wearing air packs into buildings and from climbing more than six feet on ladders. The policy was adopted after volunteer firefighters, participating in a state sponsored firefighter training course in Bethel, learned of OSHA regulations designed to keep these young firefighters out of danger.

December 1, 1961

Plans for Newtown’s Old-Fashioned Community Christmas were well started at a meeting of the Christmas Festival Committee, recently named by the Chamber of Commerce. The first highlight of the town’s Yuletide celebration will be the arrival of Santa Claus, December 16. Santa will greet his little friends in the gymnasium of the town hall. He will then tour the town. The free movie for the children of the town will be given that afternoon by Manger Arthur Smith and the Town Hall Committee. The Town Players will give two performances of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” December 21 and 22. Community carol singing will take place.

***

The Sisterhood (Adath Israel) will sponsor a Hanukkah party for the patients at Fairfield State Hospital. The party will be held on Wednesday, December 6, at 7 pm, in Plymouth Hall. The menu will include candy, cake, coffee, and potato pancakes, which is the traditional Hanukkah dish.

***

Mrs Timothy B. Treadwell of Parmalee Hill Road was the winner in a recent “Sweater Sweepstakes” put on by Helen Curtis Industries. Mrs Treadwell, one of 1,000 first prize winners in 50 states, was awarded a Bernard Altman cashmere Cardigan sweater.

***

The Knights of Columbus of Newtown, acting upon the request of Garrett Becker, have agreed to the use of their new home on Route 6 for civil defense in the event of any national attack. Grand Knight Frank Scinto also emphasized that the building will be made available in the event of any local emergency.

 

November 27, 1936

The Woman’s Auxiliary of Trinity church have planned a novel and interesting Gift Fair for the afternoon of Tuesday, December 8th, in the parish rooms. Even those who feel that their Christmas shopping is complete will find a gift with an “individual” air. Much though and preparation has gone into making the novel tally cards and coasters, not to mention ornaments for the Christmas tree such as have never been seen before.

***

The first real snow fall of the season occurred during Monday night to the depth of about three inches. Motorists and others found traveling conditions quite hazardous Tuesday morning. Many autos were stalled on the Newtown hills, but no accidents have been reported.

***

The volleyball enthusiasts of the Newtown Athletic Association gathered at the Edmond gymnasium on Monday evening for their weekly workout. In a series of seven games, Captain “Doc” Corrigan and his Sandy Hook players managed to win four of the games and the evening’s championship from Paul Smith’s Newtown team.

***

A rare treat is in store for Newtown next Thursday when a Donkey Basketball Game will be held in the gymnasium at the Edmond Tow Hall. Just think of it — ten donkeys cavorting, or balking, all over the gym floor with such notable athletes as “Doc” Corrigan, Harry Hillhouse, Rev Paul Cullens, Paul Smith, “Art” Carroll, “Hub” Beers, and “Bill” Leahy riding their donkeys with the elusive basketball clutched firmly under one arm. Local rules have barred Birdsey Parsons from the play, although Harry Hillhouse, with first hand experience during the war, is expected to be the mainstay of the Newtown team. Tickets for the affair in Newtown are now on sale and may be procured at 25 cents and 35 cents.

The rules of the Donkey encounter: 1. Each player rides a donkey while playing. 2. The two Centers must act as centers at all times. 3. If player misses ball, he must ride to the ball, dismount, pick up ball, remount, before putting ball in play. 4. A player is not allowed to dismount intentionally in order to push, pull, or carry his Donkey for a better position. 5. A player may ride full length of the court (donkey willing). 6. In case of held ball, same two players shall jump. 7. In stopping, the player with ball is not allowable to take hold of player, but can grab the ball or knock ball out of opponent’s hands. 8. When player dismounts, he must be allowed to remount before taking the ball from him. 9. Any time a player loses his mount, by turning loose reins, a personal foul will be called. 10. A personal foul will be called for blocking a player intentionally. 11. A player, in recovering a ball, must hold reins at all times. 12. The ball is never out of bounds, but shall be put in play on the line, by the referee and the first player there on a donkey gets the ball. The donkeys are due to arrive in town next Wednesday and “Doc” Corrigan has intimated that they will be fed at, or in the rear of his diner.

 

December 1, 1911

Mrs W. J. Driscoll is making extensive alterations and improvements on her home on Walnut Tree Hill. She has had the house moved 11 feet nearer the road and raised up three feet, new sills put under the house, a cellar dug and walled up under the south end and is having the lawn in front of the house nicely graded.

***

H.N. Tiemann returned on Tuesday from an enjoyable hunting trip in Maine. His headquarters was near North Anson, Me. He bagged one deer while there. Mr Tiemann reports a foot of snow in Maine.

***

The Newtown post office has been designated as a postal savings depository. Interest at the rate of two per cent per annum will be allowed and paid on each deposit which has remained for at least one year. To enable any person to accumulate for deposit amounts less than one dollar, depository offices will keep for sale postal savings cards at 10 cents each, and specially prepared adhesive ten-cent postal-savings stamps, which may be affixed by any intending depositor as desired. A postal-savings card with nine ten-cent savings stamps affixed will be accepted by the postmaster at any depository office as a deposit of one dollar, either in opening an account or in adding to an existing account.

***

The old Hobby homestead burned to the ground, last Tuesday night. The fire broke out in the back part of the house and with a good wind fanning the flames made sparks drop on the home and barns of Louis Freide, which was in danger of being burned to the ground and if it had not been for the prompt arrival of the Dodgingtown firemen, the property could not have been saved. Foreman Glover was in charge of the Dodgingtown fire company and is proud of the way they turned out to the fire and the way they worked.