April 21, 1995

Fairfield Hills Hospital workers upset with the planned closure of the state psychiatric institution rallied Wednesday on the steps of the administration building to register their protest and call for the facility to remain open. More than 100 people gathered at Newtown Hall in a light drizzle to walk a picket line and hear speakers voice their concerns over Governor John Rowland’s proposal to close Fairfield Hills in 1996. The state legislature hasn’t yet acted on the proposal.

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Perplexed by the defeat of the historic district proposal in last Thursday’s referendum, borough officials have begun looking for other ways to protect Main Street from the encroachment of commercial development. Borough Warden Joan Crick said it would be premature to consider whether to mount another campaign for the historic district, which failed by 2-1/2 votes to get the necessary two-thirds support of its property owners.

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Earlier this year, a group of Newtown High School students taped a pep rally and then brought it to the Institute of American Indian Studies in Washington for some Native Americans to view. After seeing the school’s oversized tomahawk, cheerleaders dressed up as squaws and young men parading as warriors, not many of those Native Americans felt like cheering the Newtown High School Indians on to victory. Many of them called the pep rally a mockery of their religion and an insult to their heritage. The high school students — Cheryl Bennett, Molly Dorozenski, Stephanie Dorenbosch and Mark Ruckenwald taped their reactions and then put together a video on the mascot issue to show fellow students... They said they hope to make this point to peers through the video and garner support for their campaign to have the Indian mascot changed.

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Faced by the need to spend millions of dollars to upgrade Newtown’s roads, town officials are starting to take a hard-line position with property developers. At two Board of Selectmen meetings this month, developers learned that if they wanted to build houses along a town road, they would have to improve the road as part of the agreement. “We’re getting buried by road costs,” explained First Selectman Bob Cascella.

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Before the Newtown High School golf team takes one swing the next time it hosts a match at the Newtown Country Club, it should nail a plaque to the tree at the first tee. And it should read, “Home Sweet Home.” The Indians, who have one of the most prevalent home course advantages in Western Connecticut Conference golf, coasted over the soggy fairways and tiny greens of NCC last week to an 11-shot victory over WCC rival Brookfield... Newtown’s senior captain, John Dansdill, was comfortable on the sodden NCC layout, and showed it, parring five of the first six holes enroute to a medalist round of 4-over-par 38.

April 17, 1970

Newtown’s biggest concern for the future is for more and better elementary schools, with emphasis upon the primary grades, John B. Sommi, former Superintendent of Schools told the League of Women Voters Wednesday night, April 15. The most important periods in a child’s growth are during his first few years in school... Change was the topic of the meeting and Mr Sommi stressed the point that teachers and parents must be brought to believe in the new methods if the necessary changes can be made.

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It started out as a brush fire and spread to a small barn on the property of Abraham Nezvesky on Huntingtown Road, April 14. Five firetrucks of the United Fire Company of Botsford and eight men under the direction of Chief John Trowbridge fought the blaze that almost completely destroyed the structure. As a result of this fire, Chief Trowbridge urges all fire calls to be put through the emergency fire number, which is 426-4425, and for people not to dial the operator, since this can cause serious delays in reaching the proper fire companies.

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There will be a cake sale on Saturday, April 18, at the Grand Union, by the Town & Country Garden Club. The sale will begin at 9 am. Homebaked cakes and cookies will be featured. The proceeds will be used to help defray the expense of staging the club’s forthcoming flower show, “Happiness Is...”

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It was a big night for the Camejo family, Friday, April 10, when a Scouts Award Ceremony for Troop 270 was conducted at the Botsford Fire House. Paul Camejo Jr, a 15-year-old sophomore at Newtown High School, became an Eagle Scout at the ceremony; and his younger brother Ricky became a Tenderfoot, while another brother, Skip, received a Merit Badge. Their father, Paul Camejo, is Scoutmaster for Troop 270.

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Jerry Philbin, start defensive lineman for the New York Jets, will be the speaker at the sixth annual sports award banquet sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Newtown. Richard Teller, principal of the Middle School, is chairman of the May 28 event.

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There will be a Bingo Night, Friday, April 17, at 7:45, at the K of C Hall in Newtown to benefit FISH of Newtown. The FISH are neighbors who are able to give their time, talents, and resourcefulness to others who are temporarily unable to meet their own needs independently. Two years ago, on April 15, the FISH program began in Newtown.

April 13, 1945

Tech. Sgt. Charles Ust, Jr. Has Been Reported Missing Over Germany Since March 24th, According to A Telegram Received On Sunday from The War Department By His Father, Charles Ust, Sr., of Sandy Hook. Sgt. Ust, Who Was a Paratrooper, Enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1941, Three Days After Pearl Harbor. His Sister, Mrs Carl Hornbeck of Hawleyville, Learned That He Was Recently Wounded in Action But Had Recovered and Returned To Duty. He Was Serving With the 513th Paratroop Infantry. Before Entering Service He Was Employed at The Sandy Hook Garage and at the Store of Corbett and Crowe.

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Responding to the contagious enthusiasm of its hard-working Red Cross chairman, Russ Strasburger, Newtown, has achieved the distinction of passing its quota by a larger percentage than any other town in the area. The five figure goal has been reached. A check for $10,080 was turned over last Friday evening to Howard Comstock, campaign manager, when he and Mrs Stephanie McCarthy, executive secretary for the Bridgeport Chapter, presented the Red Cross “E” with two stars to Mr Strasburger. This flag now flies from the staff in front of Edmond Town Hall.

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It has been announced by Mrs Paul Clarkson, Surgical Dressings chairman, that after a long delay in shipment, a new supply of gauze for dressings has finally reached Newtown. She states that there is an urgent need for workers to fold these bandages, since there is a large quota which must be filled within the next few weeks.

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Local war garden chairmen, functioning as part of the War Council organization, will assist the OPA again this year in determining what extra gasoline should be allowed for war gardeners who must travel by automobile to the garden plots... the local chairmen have been asked to investigate and certify all claims from gardeners for extra gasoline, whenever the rationing board feels that such certification is necessary.

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Only two more weeks left for high school students to enter the National Essay Contest sponsored by the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the V.F.W. Subject: “What Americanism Means To Me.” Be one of those lucky winners of the 24 cash prizes. Rules and regulations can be obtained from either Charles LeGrow, principal of Hawley high school, or The Newtown Bee.

April 9, 1920

The microfilm containing 1920 Newtown Bee editions is kept at the C.H. Booth Library, which is temporarily closed due to coronavirus health precautions.

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