February 7, 1997

The library asbestos clean-up, which is about 90 percent complete, has taken much longer and cost more than expected due to a combination of things — newly discovered areas of exposed asbestos, the weather, and the “sensitivity” of the general contractor and his subcontractors, according to Director of Public Works Fred Hurley. Two change orders were added to the original $42,000 contract with Petco Insulation Company, Inc, the abatement contractor hired by the town to address the asbestos problem as mandated by the state health department. One change order was for $18,823.80, to cover 274 hours of additional abatement work.

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Two Newtown police officers have received new assignments. Officer Michael Kehoe, who has served more than 18 years on the police force, has been named the school resource officer (SRO). Before becoming SRO, Officer Kehoe worked as the youth officer, serving in that post since 1989. Officer George Sinko, who has been with the department more than seven years, has been named youth officer. Before that he served as a patrol officer.

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A $125,000 request by the town’s fire commission for a “length of service awards program” for long-serving volunteer firefighters in all five of Newtown’s companies and ambulance personnel got approval from the Board of Selectmen last week. Money for a pension plan has been requested nearly every year this decade, since Rod MacKenzie was first selectman, according to fire commission chairman Kevin Cragin, but the plan never actually made it past the Board of Selectmen. Mr Cragin said the awards program is similar to what many other area towns have set up in recent years so “it’s not like it’s a wild idea.” The awards program would be based on points, with the most active and longest-serving volunteers eligible for the most extensive benefits. The Board of Selectmen recently approved a plan to waive all town park pool and dump fees for volunteer firefighters and members of the ambulance corps. First Selectman Bob Cascella supports the plan, saying volunteer first responders save the town huge amounts of money by not forcing it to go to a paid system. As with all pension plans, the expense in the annual budget will be recurring.

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Pat and Rich Barillari and Dom Cisero, the owners of the Dunkin Donuts on Queen Street, recently presented a $5,000 check to The Blue & Gold Booster for the project to install lights and a new concession stand at the Newtown High School football field, currently under reconstruction. Mr and Mrs Michael Kelly also recently donated $1,000 toward the effort. Anyone wishing to donate to the effort can contact the Newtown Blue & Gold Booster Club.

February 11, 1972

Vital statistics for 1971 show that Newtown has continued to grow with 90 deaths compared to 214 births, not including Fairfield Hills Hospital statistics. The number of boys and girls was exactly even, with 107 of each sex. The most babies, 22, were born in February. The fewest, 15, were born in March, May, July, and November. The figure represents a drop of 11 compared to 1969. When it came to marriage, 138 weddings took place, 22 of them in June. Of the 90 deaths in Newtown during 1971, 27 of them were people over the age of 80. There were 182 deaths at Fairfield Hills Hospital during the same period of time.

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A Sandy Hook dog, a Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Chippinsbank Tarn, owned by W. Winton and B.J. Greenwood, took Best in Match in Newtown Kennel Club’s AKC-sanctioned match Thursday, February 3. This was the nine-month-old male’s third show. There were 137 entries. Judging Best in Match was Stanley Saltzman of Westport who also judged the working breeds. Ron Krohne of Vails Gate, N.Y., judged toys, terriers and hounds, and Frank Homer of Newtown, the sporting and non-sporting dogs, in this the 227th match, the first of the year for the Newtown Club.

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The Horticulture Committee of the Garden Club of Newtown met on Tuesday, February 8, at the home of Mrs Robert Macdonald. The main topic of discussion was plantings for bird shelter and food.

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Philip J. Kopp was named chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission at its meeting Friday evening, February 4. Mr Kopp replaces Frank Scinto of Partridge Lane, chairman for the past year and half. Mr Scinto resigned as chairman for reasons of health but will remain as a Commission member. Mr Kopp, a Commission member since July of 1970, has been connected with the Connecticut National Bank for 20 years and is currently vice president for public relations and advertising. A graduate of Fairfield University, he has lived all his life in this area, moving to Newtown about ten years ago. He and his wife and their two children live in Sandy Hook.

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Timothy Kayfus, the first Eagle Scout of Boy Scout Troop 470, was honored by Virgilius Council No 185, Knights of Columbus, for his achievement. The KofC sponsors the Troop. Tim was awarded a $50 savings bond and his name was added to a new plaque at the KofC Hall to honor all Eagle Scouts of Troop 470. Tim is the son of Mr and Mrs Robert L. Kayfus of Sandy Hook. He is 14 years old and a member of the freshman class of Newtown High School. The Eagle is the highest rank a Boy Scout can attain. The requirements for the Eagle rank include 21 merit badges, rigid citizenship and community service achievements. Boy Scout Troop 470 meets in the St Rose Church Hall on Thursday evenings and is considered the camping Troop of Newtown, camping out one weekend a month on a year-round basis. The most recent campout was in 10-degree temperatures at the Boy Scout Camp Grounds in South Britain. The Troop numbers 35 Scouts. Thomas Helmacy is Scoutmaster, assisted by Robert Campbell and Joseph Dauplaise. Duane Dickerson is chairman of the Troop Committee.

February 10, 1922

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: The people of Stevenson and the vicinity of the new lake have agreed upon Lake Zoar as a popular name for the beautiful new sheet of water. This seems to have the approval of the people of Newtown, as Zoar is a historic name in the town’s history. A well meaning gentleman, C.H. Mann of Norwalk, is sending out circulars in favor of having it named Lake Humphrey. But Lake Zoar it has been christened and Lake Zoar it is to be known henceforth. We hope we have made the matter quite plain, Mr Mann! We have no desire, of course, as a Son of the American Revolution, to detract from the fame of that eminent Revolutionary patriot, Gen Humphrey. But just because the people of Derby were so unwise as not to honor his name to their town and city, there is no good reason why this lake should be named after him. The name of Zoar has been associated with the region of the lake prior to Revolutionary times. Do you get that, Mr Mann?

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Frank Ruffels of Hawleyville has bought a new Special Six Studebaker car off Clark S. Blackman, the local agent.

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John Edward Keane of Dayton street is spending a few days with friends in New York City.

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The funeral of Private Charles F. Duffy, 19th Engineers, was held from Sisk Brothers’ mortuary parlor, 635 Grand avenue, New Haven, Monday morning at 9:45, and from St Patrick’s church at 10 o’clock, where a requiem high mass was celebrated by the Rev Father Hutchinson. Private Duffy was the son of James F. and the late Anna Cavanaugh Duffy, and his death occurred in France on June 13, 1918. Members of the local post of the American Legion acted as the bearers and a guard of honor. The firing squad of the post fired a volley as the body was lowered to its final resting place. Interment was in the family plot in St Bernard’s cemetery, New Haven. Mr Duffy was a brother of Mrs W.D. Parker of the Parker House.

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BUSINESS NOTES: Barbed and plain wire, rubber roofing, at Corbett & Crowe’s [Adv] | Walton and Long Walker shoes for boys and girls [Corbett & Crowe’s Adv] | A fine line of Bates’ ginghams, McCall’s dress patterns, men’s, women’s and children’s rubbers —[M.G. Warner & Co, Adv] | A community is judged by the number of magazines it buys. There has been an appreciable increase in the sale of magazines the past month. Any magazine may be secured at the Golden Peach. —[Adv] | For spring cleaning, Kyanize floor enamel, Kyanize floor finish, Muresco, floor linoleums, paints, varnish, brushes at Corbett & Crowe’s —[Adv]. | Those Eskimo pies are selling fast; the most delicious confection of the hour, at the Golden Peach —[Adv].

February 12, 1897

Bennett Blackman is passing some days with his daughter, Mrs Short, in Bethel.

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Merchant Morris has taken the agency for Allen’s laundry for Newtown and Hawleyville, and goods for Mr Allen may be handed to Mr Morris of assistant or can be left at Morris’ store.

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Lillian Hubbell, the girl whose pitiful condition has caused much sympathy about town by those interested in the case, was taken to the Bridgeport hospital on Monday by Mr and Mrs C.B. Johnson and E.L. Johnson. For a week past her condition was much worse, it being necessary to have some one watch her all of the time, and it was thought advisable to remove her to the hospital where she could receive constant attention and care.

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Frank Rivers, who has cobbled shoes and mended harnesses for several months past in E.F. Hawley’s shop at Printing House Square, packed up his tools on Monday and bag and baggage left for Bridgeport.

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Alex Allen, proprietor of Allen’s laundry, will call every Tuesday at your house for your laundry and delivers it on Saturday. See his new “ad.”

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.