May 30, 1997

The Legislative Council’s finance committee will recommend to the full council that it support the acquisition of the Amaral property on Elm Drive using Iroquois pipeline funds. The board voted on the issue at its meeting Wednesday night. The 13-acre property was recently put on the market by brothers Daniel and Marcus Amaral. The town was given right-of-first-refusal on the lot, which lies adjacent to Dickinson Park, just north of the tennis courts.

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Technical Sgt Wayne Ferris of Sandy Hook has been named by the Connecticut Air National Guard as the Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. The award was based on Sgt Ferris’s past performance, leadership skills, training, and his deployments to Italy in Operation Decisive Action. Tech Sgt Ferris is an intelligence operations specialist based at Bradley Air National Guard based in Windsor Locks.

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Over the Memorial Day weekend, town police lodged drunken driving charges against seven motorists, according to Lieutenant David Lydem, head of the police department’s field services unit. Of these seven DWI arrests, three were made while officers were on overtime patrol shifts which were added to normal patrols with the aid of a federal highway safety grant. Besides the DWI arrests, police issued 69 summonses and 25 written warnings for motor vehicle violations, the lieutenant said. Lt Lydem said police did a good job enforcing the motor vehicle laws and making the roads safer for the driving public during the holiday weekend.

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A 46-year-old truck driver from Kingsley, Penn., was driving a tractor-trailer truck eastbound on Church Hill Road about 2:45 pm on Tuesday when the 13-foot 6-inch tall trailer got stuck under the 12-foot, 7-inch tall clearance of the Housatonic Railroad overpass. Newtown Hook and Ladder Volunteer Fire Company responded to the accident in case the trailer’s load of hydrated alumina caused problems, but it didn’t. Hilario’s Service Center’s heavy wrecker pulled the trailer out from the overpass. The trailer was stuck under the bridge for more than an hour, causing traffic back-ups. Police gave the driver an infraction for failure to obey a state traffic commission warning for a low clearance.

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Senior Jen Bacsik and sophomore Ashley Maxon won the second doubles championship at the South West Conference Tournament on Wednesday. It was Newtown High’s first conference title since 1985. Bacsik and Maxon faced Alexis Kaufman and Kate Pistone of Joel Barlow, and earned a thrilling 7-6 (7-6), 6-3 victory.

June 2, 1972

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — THE TOWN’S HONOR LIST: The three-day holiday, celebrating Memorial Day on Monday, was favored with the sort of New England weather which rarely stays so wonderfully clear, mild and exhilarating over a 72-hour period. Without a cloud in the sky, and with spring flowers in abundance, the urge to enjoy the great outdoors was irresistible. In many communities hereabouts, Memorial Day was fittingly observed with parades and patriotic exercises. Somewhat to its shame, there was no general observance in Newtown. However, the graves of veterans in the various cemeteries about town were marked with American flags, and a color guard of the Charles Howard Peck Post, VFW, marched to the War Memorial Monument at the head of Main Street. A wreath was placed there in honor of those men and women of the two who have served their country in time of war and some of them, in so doing, gave their very lives. We compliment the VFW Post and Auxiliary members who participated in Monday’s observance and those who decorated the soldiers’ graves with flags … Perhaps another year more townspeople will take part in the homage paid every Memorial Day to those who served in time of war in order that this country might forever be “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

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Sven Tilly was the winner of the President’s Cup tournament at the Newtown Country Club with a net 128 for two rounds of play. The tournament was part of a big week-end at the club, which included the Governor’s Ball on Saturday night.

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Newtowners will be glad to learn that John Sedor of Mount Pleasant, long-time Dog Warden, is back home after a five-week stay in Danbury Hospital.

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First Selectman Frank DeLucia reports that he has met with Dr Robert Miller, superintendent of Fairfield Hills Hospital, in connection with the report recently broadcast on WINE radio on the subject of patient security at the hospital. Mr DeLucia said the men discussed in particular “the various degrees of security which the hospital is able to provide for patients whose mental disorders include tendencies to criminal actions or who may be suspected of possession of such tendencies. We also reviewed the statutes covering the confinement of such persons to Fairfield Hills and similar mental institutions.”

May 30, 1947

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION: It is fitting that so many towns are this year making of the observance of Memorial Day a serious occasion. By its very nature, the day should be much more than just another holiday. There is scarce a family which was not saddened during World War II by the loss of some member or close friend. And, of course, the heroes of other wars, while fewer in numbers and not so freshly mourned, are due their share of homage. We believe that it is a real chore on the part of many to participate in the observance of Memorial Day. Those who marched in service would rather forget it all than be reminded through participation in parade formation. And some of those whose sons or husbands did not return, find Memorial Day an especially difficult occasion. … Memory is fleeting, and human endeavor often falls short its goal. All the more reason, then, to observe Memorial Day in serious mood — reflecting on the sacrifices of those who fought and died that we might live — and work for that peace which, this time, must be lasting.

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Kathleen Ingram won out in the friendly rivalry of four examples of Newtown charm last Saturday night at the benefit dance for the Sandy Hook Fire, Drum and Bugle Corps held in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall and was crowned Queen of the May during the merry-making.

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Sunday’s rain cancelled games in the Pomperaug Valley League series for the second week in a row. Thomaston was due to play at Hawley Field in Newtown, and the team traveled here in the hope that it might be possible to play. Most of “Jack” Leavy’s men also reported at Taylor Field, but the rain which started in earnest about 1:15, continued in no uncertain fashion. This coming Sunday, The Newtown Bees will play Oxford at Oxford, with Bethany playing Thomaston, Southbury at Roxbury and Bethlehem at Stepney.

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Miss Jeanne O. Smith, daughter of Mr and Mrs Harold F. Smith of South Center district, was guest of honor at a miscellaneous shower given by Mrs Stanley Karcheski, Mrs George Mayer and Miss Kathleen Perkins on Tuesday evening at the Smith home in South Center. Thirty invitations were issued and a cleverly designed wishing well in the center of the living room held the gifts. The dining room was decorated with lilies of the valley and other white flowers. Miss Smith will become the bride of William B. Karcheski on Saturday morning, June 7th, at 11:30 o’clock, at St. Rose church.

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Thanks are expressed to all who contributed to the Cancer Drive in the Newtown-Brookfield district, for which Mrs Marie Kaiser and Mrs W.M. McKenzie served as co-chairmen. They are delighted to report that the $1000 goal which they set has been exceeded. The cause is a most worthy one, and so the co-chairmen are especially grateful for the generosity of all who made donations.

May 26, 1922

Sunday, the 21st of May, Bishop Acheson of the Diocese of Connecticut, visited Trinity church, Newtown, at 7.45 in the evening, and St John’s, Sandy Hook, at 4 in the afternoon. His address to the candidates at St John’s was on the Antiquity of the Church for His Child individually as well as collectively, and that we cannot go away so far from God as to be totally forgotten. His address at Trinity was on the thought of the “Cloud of Witnesses.” Both at Trinity and St John’s there were classes sufficiently large to testify to the work and devotion of the rector.

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At a regular convocation of Hiram chapter, No. 1, R.A.M., Wednesday night, the Mark Master degree was conferred. Next Wednesday night a special convocation of Hiram chapter, No. 1, R.A.M., will be held.

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A party of young ladies, members of the Girls’ Friendly society of Bridgeport, were guests on Tuesday afternoon of Mr and Mrs O. Howard Hall in Cold Spring. Rev and Mrs Greene and Mr and Mrs Edward Harroll of Bridgeport were also guests for the day of Mr and Mrs Hall.

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County Game Warden Wilbur Smith of Norwalk was in Taunton, Wednesday, looking up alleged violators of the fishing law. It has been reported that there are parties catching bass out of season. The close season on all ponds and lakes on bass does not end till June 30.

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Mr and Mrs C.W. Skiff have opened their summer home on Botsford Hill.

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Martin Keniry has a new Ford touring car, bought of Frank A. Blackman, the local agent.

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Carl Rasmussem is building a new store at Dodgingtown, 24x50, on the site of the Andrews’ blacksmith shop and expects to open up a general store about July 1. His many friends wish him success in this new venture.

June 4, 1897

THE BEE BUZZ — GOOD WORK ON THE HIGHWAYS: The work that has been done on the public highways this season speaks for itself and will serve as an object lesson in good government to all who have eyes to see. It shows what honest, intelligent service will do for the common welfare of the community. The men who have done the labor as well as those who have directed the business are already receiving much of the praise they so well deserve, from grateful citizens. It is many a day since so much good work has been done on the roads for the money. It is easy to conclude that even a few years of the right sort of administration of our public affairs would go far toward redeeming the good name and political respectability of the town. Let us try it.

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Mrs R.H. Smith is assisting her husband in canvassing for his paper, The Religious Herald, and is meeting with good success. The paper has improved under Editor Smith’s management, and is worthy of the support of the Congregational families of the state.

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We regret to state that Sunday ball games are becoming frequent at Sandy Hook, and should be stopped. On Sunday last a Sandy Hook nine crossed bats with a Bridgeport nine, winning in a five inning game. The score was 10 to 112

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Among the young men who took in the bicycle races in Danbury on Monday were Curtis Morris, Fred Shepard, Harry Curtis, Will Minor, Leonard Botsford, Ernest Hawley, Will Hawley, Thomas Coles, Stanley Blackman, Henry Moore, Arthur Day, R.H. Beers, Frank Blackman and Harry Mason.

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H.P. Boyson is at the present time taking his milk to the creamery in Newtown.

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DODGINGTOWN: Master Arthur Platt of Redding has been spending a few days with his grandparents, Mr and Mrs George Crane. | Mr and Mrs R.D. Shepard have been entertaining relatives from Bridgeport. | Mrs Mary Beck of Bridgeport has been the guest of Mrs James. | Mrs J.W. Behn has been entertaining her brother, Edward Miller of Bethel. | Mrs and Mrs Wood and son of Bethel spent Sunday with Mrs Lorenzo Durant. | A.E. Bevans of Bethel is spending a few days with his parents.

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