March 1, 1996

Howling winds tore through Newtown last Sunday morning, uprooting trees, breaking limbs, and knocking out power to about 600 homes. Several roads were blocked by fallen trees until highway department crews were able to clear them... Newtown was one of the hardest hit areas in the state, according to Northeast Utilities.

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Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed said a problem with Newtown High School’s septic system could set back the Berkshire Road school’s $26.5 million expansion at least five or six months... School officials now say a town vote on the project must be put off... The superintendent said a referendum on the project probably won’t be until the fall.

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Already assured of a drop in state funding, local officials are waiting to see how the legislature reacts to the additional cuts Governor John Rowland proposed for the 1996-97 state budget. The cuts are expected to decrease local funding for education even more than had been anticipated in the second year of the biennial budget.

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Mark IV Construction Company, Inc, of Bridgeport, began trenching work Wednesday to lay sanitary sewers on Wendover Road. Sewer work had been scheduled to start on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook on Monday, but construction there has been postponed for a variety of reasons.

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When [Booth Library Director] Janet Woycik gets involved in a project, “It comes out tops,” said one longtime associate. And that’s what the Connecticut Library Association decided when it bestowed its Special Achievement Award for her extraordinary work on the library addition and for her extensive service to the community... Gordon Williams, who is the president of the Cyrenius Booth Library board of trustees, read about two awards offered by CLA in the Connecticut Library Journal. “One was the Special Achievement Award for someone who had done something incredible. Janet just fits that to a ‘T’,” he said.

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In the spring of 1960, the town was abuzz as boxing heavy-weight champion Floyd Patterson used a Newtown farm as his training complex for an upcoming title fight. Today, 36 years later, a heavy-weight of another variety is training in town for a pending fight of another kind, in a different sport. Seven-foot-four-inch, 285-pound Eric Gingold has been one of Newtown’s best kept secrets as he and his personal coach, Larry Gillman of Redding, have spent countless hours over the past year working out for NBA scouts behind closed doors for what they think will be early selection in the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery.

February 26, 1971

Wednesday night, the [Board of Education] handed out the proposed budget figures which will go to the Board of Finance on March 15. The proposed budget the board is requesting for 1971-72 is $4,792,347, which is 20.2 percent increase over the 1970-71 budget of $3,998,493.

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President Ed Dudeck of the Newtown Little League announced that Newtown will field a Senior Division this season. The age limitation on the senior loop is 13 to 15 years of age. A boy who does not reach his 16th birthday before August 1 is eligible.

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As The Bee went to press this week, the Newtown members of the Boy Scouts of America were preparing to fill all of the important town offices for the day. So, if all goes well, Scouts are sitting in the official chairs of the First Selectman, Assessor, the Tax Collector, the Comptroller, the Town Clerk, et al. It is in this dramatic manner that the Boy Scouts are given a taste of participation in town government.

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March 4 and 5, the Newtown High School Drama Club will present William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Night Dream.” The play will be presented at the Newtown High School Auditorium at 8 pm. Adult tickets are $1.50 and student tickets are $1 and can be obtained from all Drama Club officers.

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Politics became all fun and games Friday night when the Republicans and Democrats took each other to court in a basketball first that should become an annual event... What was billed as a comedy of errors turned into a good basketball game, well played by the two teams... All in all it was a good evening, and those who didn’t bring kids to see how the “then generation” behaves, stayed to enjoy the party afterwards, which was reported to be peaceful and without any post-game altercations.

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Hawley Manor “Towne Meeting” DANCING: Every Saturday Night (9 pm to 1 am) Presenting for your Listening & Dancing Pleasure RICK BRUNO & THE SELECTMEN. WEDNESDAY, March 3rd, 9 pm to 1 am, SWINGLES CLUB, Dancing, Drinking, Friendly People. Come join the Fun. $3.00 Club Dues & Fee (Over 21 please.) Hawley Manor Inn, 19 Main St., (below the Flagpole on Rt 25) Newtown. For reservations call 426-4456,

February 22, 1946

The Hawley girls play the grand finale of the Housatonic Valley League season when they meet the Washington high school girls in the championship game on the Bethel high school floor, this Saturday afternoon at 3:30. Interest is running high and 66 students have indicated they will follow the team to Bethel.

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At the meeting of the officers and directors of the Newtown Forestry Association, arrangements were made to close the title to the land being purchased from the New Haven Railroad for use of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of Newtown. Title will rest in the name of the Forestry Association, which is already incorporated and holds title to the land for the Town Forest in Taunton district. It is hoped that building conditions will permit the troop committees to proceed with the construction of adequate quarters in the near future.

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Ch. Deb Greencorg, a Pembroke Welsh corgi, bred and owned by Mrs H.L. Green, whose hobby is the Greencorg Kennels in Palestine district, won a rating of best of breed over 30 entries at the Westminster Kennel Club Show held at Madison Square Garden, New York City, last week. Connecticut, from its earliest days, has been noted as a good spot for dog breeding.

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The Southern New England Telephone Company announces that it has completed the installation of telephones for all Newtown residents whose applications for telephone service have been on file with the company. “The telephone company here is now on a current basis,” said T.H. Tuohy, local manager. Mr Tuohy stated that the delay in providing service here has been for the lack of telephone instruments and not because of the need for additions to the central office equipment. Telephones have been manufactured in record-breaking numbers, enabling the company to report today that the waiting list for service has been completely eliminated.

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“Iron Man” Frankie Hubbell established some sort of record when he drove from Jacksonville, Fla. to Newtown, covering the 1,200 miles in 33 hours. He arrived home last Wednesday night after a stay in the Sunny South with Martin Sealander, who is remaining for a longer period.

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Next Thursday evening, February 28, at 8:30 o’clock, Town Players will present their second major production of the season in the Edmond theater, offering the popular comedy, “Kiss and Tell,” by F. Hugh Herbert. The play provides many good roles and the cast is working out their development under the direction of Charles Goodsell.

February 11, 1921

H.E. Case, the capable local repair man attached to the local telephone office, had a somewhat thrilling experience coming up Church Hill, the other night. The rear end of his Ford car went out of commission in front of The Bee office and the car ran backwards into the ditch beyond the tenement owned by P.H. Gannon. W.C. Johnson kindly had the state road truck pull the car out, Monday morning. The car was damaged but slightly.

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One of the largest and pleasantest occasions of the season was given at the home of Mr and Mrs Charles Jackson, Friday evening. During the evening there was fancy dancing by Misses Van Heiser and Jackson, which was greatly enjoyed by all. At 12:30, a delicious lunch was served. After lunch, the merry party continued until three in the morning, when the guests all departed for their homes.

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Davey Bros Grocery, Inc., R.H. CARMODY, Manager. SANDY HOOK. SPECIALS for Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 10 Pounds Sugar... 75c; Best Butter, Pound... 49c; Oolong and Ceylon Teas, Pound... 29c; First Prize Nut Oleo, Pound... 33c; 3 Cans Campbell’s Tomato Soup... 25c; Pur Lard, Pound... 17c.

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The ice house of Charles E. Beers was filled, Friday and Saturday, the neighbors assisting Mr Beers’ hired man, Abel. The ice was taken fro Albert Boyson’s pond.

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W.G. Tomlinson has cut and sawed the timber on the tract of land he bought of the town on the hill in the rear of A.L. Peck’s residence. He also has men hewing trees on Mt Pisgah and has a tie job on land across the Housatonic river.

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The one great game of basketball was played at the Town hall, last Friday night. It was between the girls form the Sanford school and the Newtown Community school girls. Whether the Community school overtopped itself and played like demons or the Sanford school did not know how to play the game, the score will have to decide. Suffice it to say the Newtown team got 54 baskets and Redding just two fouls.

Your memories are the ones we want to share! Do you have photographs of people or places in town from a bygone era? The Way We Were is the perfect landing spot so that your photographs can be enjoyed by Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed as attachments to editor@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.