June 6, 1997

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — AWARDS NIGHT: Newtown High School conducted its 14th Annual Awards Night last Thursday, conferring more than 90 awards on students who had distinguished themselves. The recognition ranged from substantial scholarships to book awards. While the awards may have differed in some pecuniary degree, none were insignificant. Each reflected the light of the precious incandescence of a young mind engaged. The real value lay not in the awards given but in the achievement honored.

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The Legislative Council unanimously approved the purchase of a 13-acre piece of property off Elm Drive at its meeting Wednesday. The council was the final approval needed. The Board of Selectmen approved the purchase last month. Now all the town needs to do is write a check. Daniel and Marcus Amaral, owners of Amaral Motors, put the former farm land on the market in March, giving the right-of-first-refusal to the Town. The $400,000 property will be paid for from the town’s $455,000 in open space grants which it received from the Iroquois Gas Transmission System.

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A judge has ordered a Redding man to remove several more old cars and trucks from his property on John Beach Road by July 21 as part of the Town’s continuing effort to resolve longstanding zoning violations. Danbury Superior Court Judge Edward F. Stodolink told the Redding man that he must make progress in removing the unregistered vehicles, which are illegally stored outdoors. The town has been to court numerous times in recent months, seeking to have the property owner comply with the zoning regulations.

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Between 90 and 95 percent of the municipal sewer system has been constructed, according to the senior project representative for Fuss and O’Neill Inc, the town’s consulting engineers. The sewage treatment plant taking shape at the end of Commerce Road is about 90 percent finished and the network of sewer lines which transport sewage to the plant is about 95 percent complete.

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Newtown High junior and track athlete Becky Crane not only broke the school record in the 300 meter intermediate hurdles on June 3, she also became Newtown High’s second state champion in this decade. Crane burned up the track when Newtown traveled to Willow Brook Park in New Britain to compete in the Class L State Championships, finishing in 47.71 to place first, ahead of Joi Burnette of Hillhouse (47.91), Mandy Shenko of Killingly (48.6), Morgan Galante of Ledyard (49.35), Nikki Economopolous of Lyman Hall (49.45) and Jecelyn Warner of Hall (49.88).

June 9, 1972

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — APPLAUD BEAUTIFICATION: We applaud, and we think the entire town will applaud, the program being undertaken by the Newtown Beautification Committee to do exactly what the name implies — beautify the town. The need is there, and now the will to fulfill the need is becoming apparent. The committee is comprised of representation from a long list of local organizations including the League of Women Voters, Conservation Commission, Park Commission, Garden Club of Newtown, Town and Country Garden Club, Horticulture Club and such professionals as Howard Kemmerer and R.J. Favretti of the Extension Service. … The Queen Street Shopping Center area has been designated as the Committee’s starting point. … It is most fortunate that the Beautification Committee has come into being, recognizes the benefits which a sustained effort will produce for the town, and is willing to undertake the assignment. It will soon earn the plaudits of a grateful community.

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Newtown police under the supervision of Det Sgt Michael DeJoseph arrested six persons in a drug raid at a home in Hawleyville. The raid took place at approximately 12:30 am Wednesday, June 7. A quantity of suspected heroin, equipment for injecting heroin such as hypodermic needles and syringes, and a quantity of controlled drugs were confiscated in the raid. It is the first time that heroin has been seized in a drug raid in town. Four men and two women were arrested, all for the possession of heroin and controlled drugs and held under $1,000 bond each pending arraignment in New Milford Circuit Court on Wednesday morning. The arrests came after a two-month intensive investigation and surveillance by the detective bureau of the Newtown Police Department regarding illegal drug traffic at the home of the raid.

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The Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission, following a three-hour executive session on Friday evening, voted to grant a special exemption which would permit construction of an alcoholic treatment center on Albert’s Hill Road. The decision was two-to-one with Commission Chairman Philip Kopp and alternate John D’Addario voting in favor and Arthur Spector against. The applicant for the hospital was William Johnson, and the proposed hospital would be known as Eagle Hill and will be located on Mr Johnson’s property on Albert’s Hill Road.

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At its regular meeting in the Cyrenius Booth Library Tuesday, June 6, the Visiting Nurse Association elected and installed new officers. They are Mrs Gilbert Teal, president; Mrs John Schwerdtle, first vice president; Mrs Ben Blanchard, second vice president; Mrs Thomas Cheney, treasurer; Mrs Robert Domke, recording secretary; and Mrs Vincent Gaffney, corresponding secretary.

June 6, 1947

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — OUR COMPLIMENTS: We compliment the Sandy Hook Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps for the splendid appearance which they made in their first public performance on Memorial Day. In spite of their relatively short period of training, they played and marched like seasoned troupers. Credit is also due Bert Sheldon, Irving Shaw and numerous members of the Sandy Hook Fire Company and Community Auxiliary who have devoted much time and effort to help the young musicians weld themselves into a well uniformed and competent group of fifers, drummers and buglers. We know their enthusiasm will continue and their musicianship grow as time goes on, so that the corps will fill an increasingly important place in the life of the town. Congratulations and best wishes.

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Following the Main Street parade last Friday morning, Bert Sheldon, director, mustered the Sandy Hook Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps on the steps of Edmond Town Hall, where they entertained townspeople with their numbers and, in their new uniforms, were enthusiastically received. The occasion was the first public appearance of the Corps.

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Miss Jeanne O. Smith was guest of honor at a surprise shower, at Stamford last Sunday afternoon, given by four of her maiden great-aunts, the Misses Catherine, Anna, Dorothea and Effie Mack. Twenty-two members of the family were present and the house was appropriately decorated with white garden flowers. Miss Smith received many choice gifts, including a footstool, the top of which was cross-stitch work done by 95-year-old Aunt Kate; a Sheraton mahogany inlaid chair, over one hundred years old; family linen hand-woven sheets, made by Jeanne’s 3rd great grandmother in 1797, and dinner napkins and matching large banquet cloth used in the 18th century court. Miss Smith will become the bride of William B. Karcheski this Saturday morning at St Rose church at 11:30.

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Mr and Mrs Harry N. Kirby left on Wednesday for Jacksonville, Illinois, where Mr Kirby will attend his 50th class reunion at Illinois College. The Kirbys will be away for several weeks, and will stop enroute with their son, Davis, and his family in Winnetka, Illinois.

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The Bee is pleased to have as a visitor on its staff Ulrich Gut of Zurich, Switzerland. Mr Gut is quite familiar with newspaper work in his native country, where his father, Dr Theodore Guy, Swiss Congressman, is publisher of the daily paper, Zurichsee-Zeitung. He is in America to become familiar with newspaper publishing as conducted in the United States. … Mr Gut arrived in Newtown on Monday and has already made a popular place for himself with his fellow workers at The Bee. … He has also become a member of the “Parker House family,” where he is living.

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“Bob” Stevens is enjoying a vacation this week from his duties at The Bee office. He and “Bob” Leahy are on a fishing expedition at North Waterford, Me. Mrs Leahy is visiting friends at Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The fisherman made no promises before leaving Newtown, but a shipment of bass is expected to arrive any day now at The Bee office.

June 2, 1922

The passing of Memorial Day, this year, again reminds us of the thinning ranks of the veterans of the Civil War. If we are not mistaken the only surviving members of Custer Post, G.A.R., of Sandy Hook are Former Selectman Ephraim D. Brisco, Henry B. Coger, Beach Nichols and Charles M. Parsons. The last commander of Custer Post, G.A.R., was Edward Troy who died on April 18, 1920. Mr Troy enlisted in the Connecticut Third Infantry, independent battery and served three years. Mr Troy was appointed an aide de camp to Alfred B. Beers, commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic of Connecticut on May 8, 1913, and served during Mr Beers’s term as commander. As long as he lived Mr Troy attended the annual meetings of the state encampment, G.A.R.

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Through the courtesy of The Bee of May 25 an invitation was extended to all parents whose children attend Hawley school, and to all persons interested in the welfare of the children of the town to join the Parent-Teachers’ Association. The dues are only 10¢ a month, and it is hoped that many will avail themselves of the opportunity to join this association and help the good work along. Fathers as well as mothers are parents and we feel that they will be willing to spend an hour a month in the interests of the children. The next meeting will be held in the auditorium of Hawley school, Thursday evening, June 8, commencing at 8 o’clock d.s. —[Louise M. Tiemann, Secretary

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ARRIVALS AT THE PARKER HOUSE: E.S. Dunson, Newark, N.J.; R.J. Reighlath, New Haven; W.J. Brew, Waterbury; Mr and Mrs Orlando Marine, Miss Mabel F. Marine, J. Sidney Marine, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Allison P. Smith, Newtown; Rev F.S. Morehouse, Shelton; Mr and Mrs J.H. Spafford, Bedford Hills, N.Y.; G.W. Harrison, Berkley, Cal.; Miss Ella Crowly, Bridgeport; Mr and Mrs C.G. Rusher, J.J. Wallace, New Rochelle, N.Y.; Mary C. Houlke, Westport; C.M. McGrath, Bridgeport; Mr and Mrs D.D. Browning, Nyack, N.Y.; Mr and Mrs Robert Meakpall, Daniel Safford, Helen A. Safford, Louise A. Kemble, Brooklyn, N.Y.; W.H. Sanford, Newtown; Mrs A.E. Nash, Bridgeport; Martin Kelly, Stepney Depot.

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The Taylor Field in back of the Hawley school is certainly a God send to the children, who enjoy out of door sports, only it needs a little fixing up of the diamond. There ought to be a skinned diamond and the brush grubbed up by the roots in the outer field. There ought to be bleachers, where the audience could sit and enjoy the game, not too many but just enough for comfort. The Bee will give $10, provided $200 can be raised among other parents and friends of the boys and girls, to begin the work with. Let us see that the “kiddies” have a good diamond. Boys see what you can do to get the $200.

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As a result of the recent entertainment given by the K. of C., the chairman has turned over to the treasurer of the Visiting Nurse association the sum of $100. The association wishes to return thanks for the same and express appreciation of all that the Knights did to make the entertainment such a success. They also wish to say “thank you” to all others who took part in the entertainment. It is good to know we have so many friends.

June 11, 1897

Mrs Eliza Winton, one of the highly esteemed residents of Gray’s Plain district, died last week Thursday afternoon, after an illness of about three weeks. She was 71 years old and a native of Newtown, born in Half Way River district. Her parents were Marshal and Delaney Jordan. She was united in marriage to Oscar Winton, who died some 15 years ago. Three children came to bless their home, Belle, the wife of John H. Blackman, Oscar, who was drowned a year and a half ago in the Housatonic river and Charles Winton, a resident of Huntingtown district. Mrs Winton is also survived by three sisters and a brother. The funeral was attended on Sunday afternoon from the house, Rev George T. Linsley officiating. The burial was in the Berkshire cemetery. Mrs Winton was a woman of refined and lovable character and her death comes as a great grief to the people in the circle in which she moved. She was a devout woman, a communicant of St John’s church.

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Masters Fred Shepard and Austin Botsford rode to New Haven and Bridgeport on their bicycles, Saturday.

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BERKSHIRE: Charles Costello has moved his family into one of the Curtis houses. | Mrs Clark Page has entertained company from Kent. Her sister, Mrs Will Parkhurst, is also her guest. | A monument has been erected in this cemetery to the memory of the late Hanford Tongue. | Miss Mary E. Carey visited in Danbury, last week. | George Wautz of Orange, N.J., was the guest of his brother-in-law, Alonzo Taylor, over Sunday.

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Claude Blackman and mother of Hawleyville were the victims of a runaway, recently. When in the vicinity of Stony Hill the horse took fright at some object by the side of the road. It turned around suddenly, throwing them both out, but fortunately they escaped without any broken bones.

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.