November 1, 1996

Every kid dreams of catching a baseball while at a game, and Michael Barbour had his at game six of the 1996 World Series between the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves. He got a little help from an umpire, however. Michael and his father were at game six in a first-row field level box down the first base line. A foul ball went off the bat of Derek Jeter and Michael, like dozens of others, leaned over the railing to try and get it. He missed. But the rightfield line umpire made the stab and flipped the ball backhanded to Michael.

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A total of 12,834 Newtown voters will be eligible to cast their ballots Tuesday, November 5, for candidates for President, Congress, State Senate, State House, and Registrar of Voters. Voters will also be asked to decide on a state constitutional amendment regarding the rights of victims of crimes. This year’s local electorate includes 4,758 Republicans, 3,034 Democrats, 4,914 unaffiliated voters, as well as a handful of minority party members.

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Booth Library board of trustees held a special meeting October 28 after they received from architect Bruce Tuthill a recommendation that the library not reopen until the entire expansion is completed, projected next May or June. After considering the possibilities, board members postponed making a decision until BTI Construction provides an estimate for both the cost and schedule implications on two options.

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When Shirley Ferris travels out of state, she makes it a point to stop at dairy farms and talk to the farmers. She asks about the price of diesel and feed, how their operations compare with those of dairy farmers in Connecticut. “It’s amazing how much more expensive it is to run a dairy farm in Connecticut,” the Robin Hill road resident said. Knowing what concerns farmers in other states is important to Mrs Ferris, who has been a Newtown dairy farmer since she married her husband, Charles, more than 30 years ago. Currently completing her second year as the state’s commissioner of agriculture, Mrs Ferris recently was named to the board of directors of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

November 5, 1971

The Visiting Nurse Association of Newtown is now conducting its own independent fund drive, as it has done in previous years. The drive has been under way for one month, and contributions of $2,740 have been received to date. The goal is $4,000. This joint statement is made by Mrs Francis J. Hiney, president, and Mrs William Honan, fund drive chairman of the VNA, in order to clarify any misunderstanding which might occur regarding association with a United Way solicitation.

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Revised regulations for Newtown’s Sanitary landfill were adopted at a special meeting of the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday, October 27. A system of licenses — to be for commercial operators, not individual citizens — has been initiated. For a small commercial vehicle having little or no power to compact what it picks up, the fee will be $10 per cubic yard of rated capacity for the calendar year. Larger vehicles with substantial power of compaction will pay double this fee. Stationary packers, such as those used at the supermarket, will be charged a flat fee of $100 a year. This fee will also be for the calendar year.

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Men from Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company and Newtown Hook and Ladder Company No 1 fought a fire which leveled an empty house on Round Hill Road in Sandy Hook early Monday morning, November 1. The call came in to the fire companies at 2:15 am, and according to the firemen, the entire building was very heavily involved by the time they arrived on the scene. The call had come from a neighbor down the road who had noticed the flames. There were 30 Sandy Hook volunteers at the fire under the direction of Chief Herb Lewis. Trucks used were 41 with George Oberstadt, 49 with Paul Wilson, the town tanker with Joe Cavanaugh; the aerial with Richard Liska, Hook and Ladder; and Engine I with Tom Anderson and Llew Rowe, Hook and Ladder. The six man crew from Hook and Ladder was under the direction of Chief Lee Glover. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

November 1, 1946

To date, 260 new voters have been made in Newtown this year as compared with 370 at the same prior two years ago — a presidential year. There will be another opportunity to be made voters for those whose rights have matured since October 19. This occurs in the Town Clerk’s office Monday, November 4, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Local forecasters are somewhat puzzled by a non-committal attitude on the part of many voters who, it is hoped, are doing their own thinking, quietly and independently, and will appear en force at the polls on Tuesday. Active interest in elections makes for clean, constructive politics.

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Mrs Starr Wildman of Botsford announces the engagement of her daughter, Alice Mary, to Edward Allan Rutan, grandson of Mrs Sarah D. Cassidy of 31 Diller avenue, Newton, N.J. Miss Wildman attended Hawley High school and is now employed at the Park City Binding Company. Mr. Rutan is a graduate of Netcong (N.J.) High school, and has recently been discharged from the Army, after serving two and one-half years in the Pacific.

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Mr. and Mrs. Alvin B. Coger were hosts last week to two of his cousins who were on vacation from Kankakee, Illinois, the Misses Eva and Naomi Minor. Miss Eva Minor is attorney for the Illinois Central Railroad at Kankakee. The sisters were taken to New York by Mr Coger on Saturday.

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Through the columns of The Newtown Bee, we wish to express our most hearty and sincere thanks to our many friends for their acts of kindness and expressions of sympathy and thoughtfulness in our recent bereavement, and to the members of the Newtown Ambulance Association for their considerate and most efficient aid during the crisis. —Louis A. Schonleben and Family

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The Congregational Sunday school held its annual Hallowe’en Party for the intermediate and junior high school group on Wednesday evening at the church. Prizes for the best looking costume went to Patricia Ann Smith and “Teddy” Smith; funniest costumes, Joan Weeks and Ronald Stevens; and the most disguised costumes, Sheila Steck and Howson Stevens. Games were planed under the leadership of Miss Ann Anderson, and refreshments of ice cream was served at the close of the event.

November 4, 1921

Davis, one of the best magicians in the business, kept his audience spell-bound at the Town hall, Tuesday night, with his magical art. For one and one-half hours he performed one feat after another, there being no tiresome waits or useless patter, keeping all children present between the ages of one and a hundred and seven years in constant convulsions of laughter. Davis was ably assisted by an expert and several local assistants, DeForest Glover being especially noted for his canary cage and egg disappearing act. Mr Davis’ many magical tricks among the audience defied detection as he caused one constant surprise after another. Davis’ trunk act was marvelous in spite of the fact that he was securely handcuffed, bound with rope, tied into a bag and lock into a trunk, he escaped within five seconds.

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The Misses Anna and Celia Peterson entertained at a miscellaneous shower at their home in the Glen in honor of Miss Clara Casey, whose marriage to Joseph Frick will take place in the near future. Miss Casey was presented with many beautiful presents. Victrola and piano selections and games were played and a bountiful luncheon was served.

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HATTERTOWN: Stephen Urbanovsky fell and dislocated his elbow, Monday night. Dr Kingman attended the injured boy and he is getting along nicely. | Miss Maud Lewis has returned to her position in the office of the Bridgeport Brass Co., after a vacation at her home in this place. | Miss Stefer Liska of New York spent the week end with her parents, Mr and Mrs Simon Liska. | Millard Morgan has purchased a fine pair of Devon steers of Mr Beardsley in Roxbury.

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A tax of $3,014.21 has been assessed against the town of Newtown as its share of the $2,000,000 state tax, laid by the last General Assembly. A tax of $333.71 is also assessed against Newtown as its share in the support of the military establishment of the state. Both taxes are payable on or before November 10.

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Dr Charles H. Peck has recently had erected a very handsome shaft monument on his lot in the Newtown Village cemetery in honor of his son, the late Charles Howard Peck, Jr., who gave his life for his country over in France. The shaft is very handsome and reflects much credit on the builders, Hughes & Chapman Co., of Bridgeport.

November 6, 1896

The Saturday afternoon gathering of the local horsemen at Ronalds’ Park, last Saturday, was quite a successful affair. To be sure it didn’t look much as it did fair time, but quite a number showed their interest in the event by turning out and fairly well sprinkling the grand stand with an audience. Two trots were made up for the horses on the grounds. It was agreed that they should be half-mile heats and the best three out of five won the trophy, which was a nice horse blanket for the winner and a good bone whip for the second best.

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Nathan G. Shepard has been appointed sexton of the Sandy Hook cemetery for the ensuing year. Any word can be left for Mr Shepard at the store of Warner Taylor & Curtis.

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Reuben H. Smith, editor of The Religious Herald, is now a licensed preacher, having been recently granted a license to preach by one of the Congregational ministerial associations of Hartford.

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The many friends of Charles Jonas, Newtown’s well-known tailor, will regret to learn of his illness. He is, however, we are glad to state, on the road to recovery.

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 shannon@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date. If you live locally and would like to loan a photo/photos, please give us a call (203-426-3141) to let us know when you will be visiting.