February 16, 1996

Last week’s decision to abolish Newtown High School’s traditional Indian mascot has been the talk of the town. While some have applauded the high school’s initiative in parting with the Indian, others have voiced strong opposition. Nevertheless, Newtown High School is expected to have a new mascot by June, and Mr Manfredonia says the termination of the Indian is a done deal.

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The Newtown High School marching band has received yet another bowl bid. The Indians have been invited to perform in the Citrus Bowl Parade in Orlando, Florida, on December 28, NHS band director Jack Zamary announced earlier this week. Last year, Newtown marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, an eight-mile walk that called for some physical training. Luckily for the band, the Citrus Bowl Parade is a little over two miles long and concludes inside the stadium.

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Newtown’s Board of Education unanimously passed a $28.5 million operating budget for 1996-97 Tuesday night —untouched and uncut. Next year’s spending plan, a 5.6 percent increase over the current budget, now heads to the Legislative Council, which will begin deliberations in March.

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Police Commission members are making plans to find a replacement for Chief Michael DeJoseph. The police chief announced last week he will retire from the police force to take a newly created post with the International Association of Chiefs of Police in Alexandria, Va. After Chief DeJoseph has departed but before his successor is at work here, Police Captain Michael Fekete will serve as the town’s interim police chief.

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The 1995-96 season has been one of tremendous turnaround for the Newtown High School wrestling program, which has seen five different coaches over the past five seasons. Under first-year coach John Zelina and assistants Dave Taylor and John Scalia, this year’s Indians posted at winning record of 7-3-1 during the regular season and place fourth in the advent of the new ten-team South-West Conference.

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An afternoon of Our Gang/Little Rascals and Laurel and Hardy classics will be offered by the Newtown Congregational Church on Sunday, February 25, at 2 pm, in the Edmond Town Hall Theatre... Memorabilia will be available and a guest appearance will be made by Shirley Jean Measures, one of the Our Gang members, who is a Newtown resident.

February 12, 1971

Monday night’s hearing on Route 25 lasted close to five and a half hours and drew between 600 and 700 on a night providing some of the worst weather of the winter. The Conservation Commission, Planning & Zoning Commission, the Health Director, the Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Development Committee of the CofC, and petitions carrying 851 signatures opposed the route proposed by the state, called C4, which runs well east of Toddy Hill Road through parts of Pine Swamp. Residents west of Toddy Hill backed the eastern route and petitions bearing 167 signatures have been sent to Israel Resnikoff, director of planning for the state... First Selectman Timothy Treadwell and attorney Seth Brody, who represents a number of property owners east of Toddy Hill, each separately urged that the state postpone any further action... In its presentation the state documented the need for a new highway... inaccuracies such as those on open space and industry brought forth a number of requests that the state “do its homework,” i.e., correct these and provide more information... The Bee regrets it cannot cover in detail this five and a half hour meeting... Many people have already written their comments on the best route to state planners.

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On February 4, members of the Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen of Newtown were served with a writ, summons, and complaint and order to show cause regarding the condemnation proceedings the town has started on the Boyle property... This is the latest of a long line of controversies that have arisen over the acquisition of 29 acres of the property on Boggs Hill Road for an elementary school.

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Newtown’s first snowmobile club was organized Monday evening when a group of over 35 snowmobile enthusiasts gathered to form the Newtown Snow Stars Inc. The purpose of the organization will be to promote participation and to coordinate a fourfold program of trailing with snowmobiles, competition, social and civic uses; also to represent the membership in negotiations with similar organizations and/or interested groups, and to promote interest in the sport and use of snowmobiles.

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Newtown residents may now use Hawley Pond as another ice skating area, it was announced by the Parks and Recreation Commission. The Commission has received permission from the Cemetery Association and has the necessary insurance to allow the pond to be used by Newtown skaters.

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H.G. Heisel, chief driver for the Newtown Ambulance Corps reports that the Newtown Ambulance made 30 trips to Danbury Hospital and traveled a total of 672 miles during the month of January. There were 18 daytime trips and 12 night trips. The ambulance served 23 residents and eight nonresidents.

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It will be a four-day weekend for some and a three-day weekend for others on February 12,13,14, and 15. If parents are thinking it’s a good time for haircuts with the kids out of school, don’t take them to the barber on Monday. Their shops will be closed.

February 8, 1946

Announcement is made, following the initial advertisement in last week’s Bee, that Newtown’s new Business Center will be located on South Main Street, on the east side of Route 25, almost opposite Amaral’s Service Station. The builder and owner of the new Center will be Vincent T. Sullivan, who states that construction will be started as soon as weather permits in the spring... Since the announcement of the new Business Center, which Mr Sullivan will build, much favorable comment has been heard that the town will soon have the additional space which is so sorely needed for expanding professional and commercial use.

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A food sale for the benefit of the Camp Fire Girls program will be held at the Sandy Hook Public Library on Saturday, February 23, from 1 to 4 o’clock. This is the event that all the Blue Birds and Camp Fire Girls have been looking forward to, for it will give each girl her opportunity to show what she is able to bake, and best of all, do her part for her favorite club.

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On Thursday evening, February 21, at 8 o’clock, at Pootatuck Grange Hall in Sandy Hook, Lovell’s Farm Equipment will sponsor a “Family Party.” It will be the first of such programs to be held in this vicinity for the farmer and his family, and from advance reports it should prove a popular event.

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To enable the Newtown Board of Education to proceed with the actual work of improving the grade school facilities here, the Board of Selectmen has called a special meeting of legal voters of the town for this Friday evening, February 8, at the Edmond Town Hall, at 8 o’clock. Funds for the purpose have been set aside and formal action is necessary to make them available to the board.

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Save up to half Baking Time. Exciting! New! Baking Discovery. BIG Ann Pillsbury Book Tells How... A gift to you with... Pillsbury’s Best Enriched Flour; 25 lb bag, $1.29. Knapp & Trull, Main Street, Newtown

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The patrol leaders and junior assistants of the Newtown Scout Troop have been busy planning for a camping trip in New Hampshire during the February vacation. Two cars will take the Scouts and the destination is the Scoutmaster’s cabin in Francestown. It may be necessary to tote in the supplies by toboggan the last few miles.

January 28, 1921

Notes From the Community Workers: Owing to the severe weather of last Tuesday, the attendance was much smaller than usual, but those who were present made a fine showing of work at the end of the day, 20 infants’ shirts were made and shipped, Tuesday night. Of course, this is not the intensive work required during the war, yet it is a work that should interest and excite the sympathy of everyone. We whose children have always been so nurtured and cared for in sickness and in health, have little idea of the great suffering of the sick children of the poor in a great city.

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The various towns throughout the state that are under state supervision, have a programme arranged to compete with each other in speaking and spelling contests. The chief purpose is to encourage the children and endeavor to arouse their interest in public speaking and give a stimulus for higher efficiency in spelling.

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Frank A. Blackman, the genial and popular RFD man, is taking an enforced vacation for a few days. While assisting his brother, Stanley Blackman, in harvesting ice last Friday, at Taunton lake, he accidentally dropped a 225-lb cake of ice on his left big toe. Frank made a few remarks suitable for the occasion and is now using an old shoe and hobbling about like a veteran of the Civil war.

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An impromptu concert was held at the Golden Peach, Tuesday night, when Mrs Henry Lane sang two original songs she has had written to the great delight and pleasure of those assembled. Birdsey Parson, who was present, also sang his new selection, “This Dry Land.” Birdsey is certainly a promising soloist.

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Frank Banks filled the Berkshire ice house, last week, with a prime quality ten-inch ice. Dr Kiernan took up his stand in the Brick store several evenings and told Banks just how the job should be executed.

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Jesse L. James, father of Jesse A. James of Hawleyville, instituted divorce proceedings against his wife, Edith F. James in January 1920, and the same was heard before Hon Alberto T. Roraback. Judge Roraback recommended that Jesse L. James be divorced from his wife, Edith F. James, on the grounds that she deserted him on or before October 31, 1912. Mrs James contested the divorce on the grounds that Mr James gave her just provocation to leave him.

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