September 16, 1994

In this country, we are fond of pointing out that our great rivers and lakes belong not to one person or group but to all people. By holding to the ideal that all citizens are proprietors of these natural resources, however, we often are confronted with the disheartening realization that no one is taking responsibility for their welfare. When so many are supposed to be responsible, it is easy to rationalize that our own irresponsibility is somehow of little consequence. The result is that our rivers and lakes get trashed —literally. Fortunately, the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) is taking responsibility for the Housatonic River by coordinating a massive Source-to-Sound clean-up of the Housatonic and its tributaries this Saturday, September 17. The HVA is also making it possible for the public to get involved. The group seeks volunteers for this day-long effort. The Newtown Environmental Action Team has agreed to take on clean-up of the Pootatuck River. Take the time on Saturday to show that you take your responsibility seriously by helping with the clean-up. Don’t let your rivers be dirty.

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Police report that a 12-year-old boy riding a bicycle was involved in an accident with a motor vehicle at about 7 pm on September 8 on Indian Hill Lane. Police said the boy, whom they didn’t identify, rode the bicycle out of a driveway without stopping and struck the right front section of the motor vehicle driven by June Schiller, 45, of 21 Indian Hill Lane. Police said the boy complained of pain in the head and leg. The Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps transported the boy to the hospital. Police took no enforcement action.

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Emergency service workers prevented a possible disaster at a Riverside section home on the night of September 12 after a parked car rolled down a bank and into a house, resulting in a ruptured propane gas line. Police said they received a report about 8:24 pm that a 1988 Chrysler LeBaron owned by Kurt Schaller of New Windsor, N.Y., which was parked on the cul-de-sac of Round Hill Road, had rolled down a slope and collided with the 29 Round Hill Road house of Gerard Cahill. Police said the car rolled down the steep grade because its emergency brake was not fully engaged. The car’s front end struck the house, lifting the house about two inches off the foundation. A propane gas line next to the house was damaged. Firemen closed a valve on the 200-pound gas tank, averting the possibility of a fire. Firefighters stood by as a wrecker removed the car from the crash site.

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If you could have one wish granted, what would it be? That’s the question the Danbury-area organization, “Dream Come True” asks critically ill children. Some want a trip to Disney World. One 11-year-old boy wanted the opportunity to be a radio announcer. Another child wanted a baby brother. “That was a tough one,” said Dream Come True volunteer Leslie McDannald said. “You should have seen the father’s face when we told him about the wish for a baby brother. It’s a good thing we ask for a second or third choice too.” Courtney Knees, 12, of Newtown, already has been to Disney World. Her first wish was for a computer system. If she couldn’t have that, how about a flight to Paris? Or maybe a car for when she turned 16? On Saturday, Courtney, her parents Joanne and Geoffrey Knees of Old Hawleyville Road, and Courtney’s sister Morgan, 4, attended the Dream Come True picnic at the Brookfield YMCA. A highlight of the day was the presentation, by Ron Sledzieski of Dream Come True, of a computer system to Courtney. Courtney has been undergoing treatment since June 1993 for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, the most prevalent type of childhood leukemia. Years ago, most children diagnosed lived just a few months; today most children go into remission and the cure rate is more than 50 percent.

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Police arrested a 14-year-old boy at Newtown High School on the afternoon of September 12 charging him with falsely reporting an incident. Police said the boy, whom they did not identify because he is under 16, dialed 911 from a pay phone at the school and reported a fire that didn’t exist. The false alarm was received at 3:21 pm. Police, the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company and Newtown Hook and Ladder Fire Company responded to the high school. The boy will be referred to juvenile court for the disposition of his case. Falsely reporting an incident is a class B misdemeanor.

September 5, 1969

Plans for the annual Newtown Scholarship Ball are taking shape rapidly and everything points to another gala social event. Mrs Douglas L. Hewitt, chairman, and Mrs Alan S. Kumble, co-chairman, are fast completing their important committees with plans to center around a “Gay Nineties” theme. The ball is scheduled to take place Saturday, October 4 in the Edmond Town Hall amid gay and colorful decorations planned by Mrs Robert E. Schmidle, decorations chairman. Tickets are $12 per couple. Dancers will enjoy the music of Joey Zelle and his orchestra. Anyone willing to share in this exciting and worthy event should call Mrs Hewitt or Mrs Edmund C. Platt 2nd at 426-9262.

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For all “RR” buffs, on Monday, September 15, it will be “Boooooard” at the first fall meeting of the Newtown Historical Society at 8 pm in the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. Locomotive engineer Pete McLachlan will speak on Newtown’s railroads and he knows about them, is a connoisseur and collector, as it were, of the journeys of the iron horse from the great days of railroading to the present effort to preserve the Canaan Station. The railroad bug bit Mr McLachlan early and has been chewing away steadily ever since. He is now a bona fide locomotive engineer with Penn Central Railroad, president of the Connecticut Railway Historical Society, as well as of the organization in charge of keeping the old RR station in Canaan intact. It is the oldest station building in continuous use in the United States.

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Provided the weather is favorable, there will be lifeguards on duty at Dickinson Park Saturday and Sunday, September 6 and 7, according to William A Honan, Park and Recreation Commission Chairman. After this week-end there will be no more swimming.

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Connecticut and Long Island descendants of John Randall, who came to America in 1667, are planning a reunion for noon Saturday, September 13, at the home of Mrs Jesselyn Van Horn, Route 25, Middle Island, Long Island. All members of the family are invited. President Ralph B. Randall of Merrick Long Island will preside at the meeting that is scheduled and requests that all members bring momentos or interesting anecdotes of the family to add to the entertainment. Ferries that leave Bridgeport at 8:15 and 11:45 am will be met at Port Jefferson.

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Newtown’s parade on Labor Day was well attended and much enjoyed. The line of march largely consisted of local entries and held a good deal of appeal for that very reason. The various groups and organizations who participated should well repaid for their efforts. And perhaps a pang of guilt is bothering some groups who might well have stirred themselves to participate. We would like to make two comments on the behavior of those who watched from the sidelines. An alarming disregard for the American flag was shown by too many spectators who remained seated and made no effort to indicate respect when the Stars and Stripes passed by. Perhaps we are living in an age too callous or too sophisticated for flag waving, but true patriotism is something deeper than that. It draws a person erect, with a tug at the heart as evidence of the feeling of respect for the banner of this great nation. Perhaps next year the public will be more respectful of the flag.

September 8, 1944

Just before going to press, The Bee learned Thursday afternoon with deepest regret of the death of Platoon Sergeant Charles Dean Perry with the U.S. Marines, who was killed in action in the South Pacific. A veteran of the Jap attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, he had recently been attached to the First Marine War Dog Platoon on Guam. The Bee hopes to be able to publish further details in next week’s issue, meanwhile heartfelt sympathy is extended to his mother, Mrs William C. Perry, and other members of Dean’s family.

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Dr and Mrs Clifford D. Moore and family returned from their cottage at Candlewood Knolls to the Chamberlain home on Lovell’s Lane. Dr Moore is enjoying a leave of several days from his Navy duties in New York City. The Moores recently entertained at The Knolls Mrs Moore’s father, Peter Morley, and her sister and husband, Mr and Mrs J.O. Cliff, and children Doreen and Jackie of Ontario Canada.

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Last week Mr and Mrs Harold DeGroat of Springfield Mass., moved into the former John F. Maloney house on South Main Street. Mr DeGroat began his duties this week as Newtown’s new Physical Education instructor.

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A recent request for extra copies described this paper as the “honey-gathering Bee — notable for its clean nectar.” The Bee staff makes every effort to publish a clean paper and is happy to have its work recognized. In these days, if ever, there is need for clean newspapers and clean living in every respect.

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Mrs F. Joseph Budd and daughter Ann have returned to their home on Currituck Road after spending the summer at Weekapaug, Rhode Island.

September 5, 1919

In spite of days of rain and lack of sun, the Elberta peaches at the Curtis orchards at Curtis hill are taking on a wonderful coloring. Picking is now at its height. One of the handsomest sights we have ever looked at in the fruit line was some peach branches loaded down with the handsome colored fruit. Mr Curtis persuaded the editor to drive out to the orchard, Wednesday evening, and we are glad we made the exertion to go. While the peaches are not as thick as the trees, they are much larger and seem to be taking on a handsomer color than usual. All roads will lead to Curtis Hill for a few days. It’s a short run up from the brick store, to the lovely spot where the peaches grow.

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The Ford car, belonging to Frank Hopkins of Mt Pleasant, was stolen from his garage some time toward morning on Wednesday. The garage is located within 15 feet of the house and was locked. The thief unlocked the door, ran the car out by hand and started in the road. Mr Hopkins thinks he heard the man start in the road, but he thought nothing of it as cars frequently stop in the road for one cause or another. The car was driven toward Danbury.

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On Friday evening, September 12, the young people of town will present a program of entertainment, which will beat anything which has been shown in town for a long time. The program consists of clog dancing, songs, cornet solos, trombone solos, black face dialogue, Cavanaugh and Coger will be on hand with a funny sketch. Also, the well-known “Bill” Steinke will present — “nuf sed.” Proceeds will go for the buying of a new stage curtain and other improvements at the Town Hall. Tickets will be on sale at the stores of R.H. Beers, Newtown, and The Golden Peach, Sandy Hook. Durgy’s orchestra will play for dancing.

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Miss Helen Mead gave an enjoyable corn roast, Labor Day night. Refreshments of roasted corn, hot dogs, and delicious pie were served.

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If the sewer from the street that is now being run on Mr Richard’s land is removed, he says he will build a new ice house. He plans to put a dam across the brook just south of his house just as soon as the sewer is removed. He claims he can sell ice 90 percent cheaper. He plans to build an up-to-date ice house.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with The Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed to kendra@thebee.com or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.