December 15, 1995

If it’s any consolation, more than three feet of snow fell in Buffalo, N.Y. this week. While Newtown accumulated three to four inches last weekend, the accompanying Arctic temperatures and storm that began early Thursday have meant slick roads, patches of ice on sidewalks, and problems for anyone who didn’t shovel while the snow was new and powdery.

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It appears Newtown may be able to squeeze by without the addition of a fifth elementary school, despite an expected 25 percent increase in enrollment over the next ten years. School officials this week heard a report by a New York firm, giving up-to-date school enrollment forecasts for the next eight years. By all accounts, the town’s six public schools will have to pull out all the stops if they are to house the significant increase in students. Nonetheless, Superintendent of Schools John Reed believes it can be done.

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The public is invited to attend a free community holiday choir concert, scheduled for 9:30 to 11 am, on Saturday, December 16, at Garner Correctional Institution, the state’s high security prison at 50 Nunnawauk Road. Six musical groups will perform at the event in Garner’s main visitation complex... After the concert, there will be a reception for the public, at which the institution’s culinary arts students will provide refreshments.

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As if it couldn’t get any better, finishing the season with the first winning record in 11 years, finishing third in the South-West Conference, and watching one of their own named to the All-SWC team, the Newtown High School girls’ swim team still had one more honor to receive. The Western Connecticut Swimming Officials Association presented the Lady Indians this week with the 1995 Sportsmanship Award for their deportment in and out of the pool.

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Newtown High School has a ski team. It’s only at the club level and receives no funding from the school, but that isn’t stopping 16 would-be skiers from ponying up $250 to form a team, pay a coach — Rod Taylor of the Woodbury Ski & Racquet Club — and compete in the longstanding Connecticut Interscholastic Ski League.

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Thoughts of stardom had just about vanished from the mind of ten-year-old Patrick O’Handley when the Wilfley-Todd Casting Company called in late October. Did he still want to play a juvenile delinquent in the movie Sleepers? You bet. Patrick was given a haircut on the day he went for wardrobe fitting. The boys ahead of him were given a buzz cut, but his hair was left long on top, because the producer wanted Patrick to look like he’d been at the facility longer than the other boys... Patrick spent five days acting... As a toe touching scene was shot again and again, Patrick’s enthusiasm lagged and he wasn’t bending over as far as the other boys... Without realizing it, the Newtown youth had set himself up as a “scene stealer” and director Barry Levinson ran with it.

December 11, 1970

Last year, 37 families, including 71 adults and 172 children, received food, clothes, toys, and personal gifts from Newtown neighbors through the Newtown Fund. Contributions came from 37 different organizations here in town plus a large number of individuals. Everyone in Newtown is asked to lend support to help at least equal the fine spirit of Christmas last year.

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As a result of excellent police undercover work, three Newtown youths have been arrested for selling and dispensing marijuana... a Newtown Police officer has been quietly working undercover in the general area of Newtown and Fairfield Hills Hospital obtaining evidence of drug sales and abuse for court action... The selling of marijuana constitutes a felony and can carry a maximum sentence of ten years.

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The Charter Revision Commission will have a public hearing on Monday, December 21, at 8 pm, in the gymnasium of Edmund [sic] Town Hall to explain what revisions are to be made in the Newtown Charter... The first item to be discussed will be to change the present Charter to provide for a Board of Police Commissioners to organize a police department.

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The Newtown Chamber of Commerce will sponsor, in conjunction with the Grand Union, the arrival on a float of Santa Claus, Monday, December 14, at 3 pm, in the parking area in front of the store. On Saturday, December 19, the Chamber of Commerce will give its official welcome to Santa when he arrives by helicopter at 10:30 am in the parking lot behind Edmond Town Hall.

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Newtown’s traditional Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Carol Sing will be Tuesday, December 15, at 7 pm in front of the town hall. Singing will be the Middle School mixed chorus, 110 voices from grades 7 and 8, and “A Second Generation,” 15 students selected from grades 7 and 8... The tree lighting ceremony will precede the carol sing, and after the carols are over, the Chamber will provide refreshments for the youngsters in the lobby of the town hall.

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Hawley Manor Inn in the Spirit of Christmas and in Time With The Economy offers: FULL COURSE DINNERS, Prime Ribs of Beef or Stuffed Maine Lobster, incl. cup of soup, baked potato, salad, hot rolls, butter, coffee, ice cream, $3.95. CHILDREN’S SPECIALS Fried Chicken or Chopped Sirloin, $1.95; BUSINESS MEN’S LUNCHEON Sandwich, Soup, Coffee — $1.75; Fabulous Hot & Cold Buffet, Coffee, $1.75; Chef’s Luncheon Special, Coffee, Dessert, $1.95; Several Christmas Party Dates Still Available; 426-4456; below the flag Flagpole on Rt 25, Newtown.

December 7, 1945

Fresh from long conferences with Chiang Kai-shek and from talks with General Hurley in China while he remained there as US ambassador, having been in Chungking, the Chinese Nationalists’ capital the day the first atom bomb fell on Japan, Dr James L. McConaughy, head of United China Relief, brought up-to-the-minute views of China’s place in the world to his audience at the Edmond Town Hall, Monday night.

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Two more Newtown Servicemen have arrived back in town, this time two brothers who have served in the Army for a total of seven and a half years between them. Pfc Roswell Tilson, son of Mrs Pearl Tilson of Sandy Hook arrived in the states on November 25th... The other brother, Sgt Charles Tilson, is at this writing at Fort Devons in Massachusetts, waiting for his final discharge. He landed in this country on Saturday and immediately phoned his anxious mother, who expects him home in Sandy Hook by Sunday, when the two boys can sit down to a long-awaited, delicious home cooked meal.

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The annual show of the Danbury Pigeon Club will be held in the Edmond Town Hall Gymnasium this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday... This is the second year that the exhibit has been held in Newtown, last year being the first. The 1944 exhibit was also the first of its kind ever to be held in Newtown. Latest reports indicated that over 700 birds will be shown.

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A well attended meeting of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce was held last Thursday evening at the Parker House, when C.J. Hooper of the State Highway Department gave a talk on the relocation of Route 6, particularly in and around Newtown... the speaker stated that it would be built to the east of Newtown, through the towns of Southbury, Middlebury, Waterbury, New Britain and into Hartford. The route from Southbury toward Sandy Hook is now definitely determined, crossing the Housatonic at a point about where the old Bennett’s Bridge stood... proceeding through Riverside, crossing Route 34 on the Berkshire side of Sandy Hook and rejoining Route 6 just west of the residence of John Flanagan.

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Lieut Commander William Cole, son of Mr and Mrs Charles S. Cole of Sandy Hook, returned from the Philippines on November 8, flying his whole squadron, the “Screaming One-O-Four” from there to San Diego, California... “Bill,” as he is known to his Newtown friends, has been in the service since 1938, and has covered many of the battle areas.

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Miss Mary McMahon returned on December 1st to her secretarial duties at the Fairfield Hills Hospital after serving for 14 months in the Women’s Army Corps, stationed at the convalescent hospital at Camp Upton on Long Island.

November 26, 1920

A sensational and dramatic automobile accident took place on Saturday night about 10:10 o’clock on the State road at a point near the residence of Arthur Stowe. The car figuring in the accident was that of the roadster type, owned and driven by Dr Richard A. Ratchford of Springfield, Mass., which overturned and Dr Ratchford’s fiancee Miss Margaret McArdie imprisoned in the flames that quickly enveloped it... Dr Ratchford managed to make his way out of the vehicle but was unable to reach his companion, who was held beneath the top... The physician attempted to raise the car, but his strength was not equal to the task... Arthur Stowe, living nearby, immediately responded and for his good judgement and quick actions, Miss McArdie probably owes her life... The two men were able to raise the car, but even then it was necessary to break through the burning top in order to reach the young woman inside and she was drawn out through the rent in the leather. The rescue was effected not a moment too soon.

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The body of the Town hall was well filled on Friday afternoon when Max Kranz of Bridgeport and Joseph E. Roach of Danbury were arraigned before Justice P.H. McCarthy on the charge of being concerned in the shooting of Arthur V. Donahue. Neither of the accused took the stand. After the testimony of the state’s witnesses, Justice McCarthy found probable cause and ordered the men held for the higher court without bail... State Policeman Frank M. Nichols, testifying for the state, told of a confession he said Kranz made to the state policemen shortly after the arrest of the two men... The officer did not read the confession, but told the greater part of it from memory. In the confession, he testified, Kranz told the entire story of the shooting of Donahue. The story was much the same as that of Edward S. Pitzschler, brother-in-law of the victim, who was with Donahue at the time of the murder.

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Arthur J. Smith and Earle W. Smith were among the Newtown people who witnessed the Yale-Harvard game in New Haven, Saturday. Mr and Mrs Gustave W. Carlson of Englewood, N.J. passed Friday, Saturday and Sunday with relatives in town. On Saturday, they attended the Yale-Harvard football game. George Stuart and Florence Sutphin attended the Yale-Harvard football game in New Haven.

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William C. Johnson was host at the last meeting of the Men’s club on the 16th. A fine chicken dinner was enjoyed, after which an address was given by Rev James Tracey lasher. Frank Ives and Tracey Peck were guests of the club. At the next meeting of the club on December 21, I.F. Terry of Bethel will give a talk on his travels in Europe.

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Stanley Blackman has bought a new Ford Touring car through the local Ford representative, F.A. Blackman. Benjamin Rosenberg has bought a new Ford car of the suburban type from Frank A. Blackman, the local agent.

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MOVING PICTURES At The Town Hall, Newtown: A delightful audience greeted May Allison in “Fair and Warmer,” last Saturday night. This week is to be shown one of the very best to be had and at a large expense — Wallace Reid, a great and a clean favorite, in “Excuse My Dust.”

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