December 10, 1999

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Jim Crick.

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For the first time that anyone connected to the Newtown Fund can recall, the fund is in danger of falling short this year in providing a happy Christmas for all local families that are in need. “We will wind up with more than 90 families on the list this year, and not all of them — including some with a lot of children — have been adopted,” said Sandy Stockwell. “We’ve had as many as 125 families a few years ago, and all of them were adopted. The booming economy of the past few years may have begun to lull people into a sense that there is no one in need of help, but in fact there are many in the community who need assistance, Ms Stockwell said.

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Property owners who would be affected by the Planning and Zoning Commission’s (P&Z) proposal to “upzone” many densely-built residential sections of town told P&Z members at a December 2 public hearing they fear that increasing minimum zoning standards will damage their properties’ development potential and thus reduce the value of their land. At the session attended by about 25 people, the P&Z outlined its rezoning proposal intended to protect water quality in the Pootatuck Aquifer and preserve local groundwater quality in general.

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A large number of town residents including First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, three Legislative Council members and several teachers joined the Newtown Board of Education Tuesday night to hear the “conceptual design” proposal for a new fifth- and sixth-grade school by architects Jeter, Cook and Jepson (JCJ). The Hartford firm’s proposal would involve building a new 162,783-square-foot, $32.8 million school on the town-owned parcel of land where Watertown Hall now sits.

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On Friday, November 19, Cub Scouts from Den Two of Pack 270 (Middle Gate) visited First Selectman Herb Rosenthal at Edmond Town Hall. The Scouts asked a variety of questions, covering the subjects of new ball fields for the Babe Ruth League, the town’s preparation for Y2K, road construction projects around town, options for Fairfield Hills, and Mr Rosenthal’s experience and qualifications as first selectman. Mr Rosenthal remembered his Cub Scout days as he was joined by the young men.

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According to the American Cancer Society, more than 3,500 rides have been given to cancer patients throughout Fairfield and southern Litchfield counties during this past year through the Road To Recovery program. This program offers cancer patients in-need rides to and from life-saving treatments. Gerry Jove, the American Cancer Society Road to Recovery Coordinator for the Greater Danbury area, recently organized the 1st Annual Patient/Driver Reunion. Sherri Miller of Newtown, a volunteer driver, attended the event. Ms Miller has been driving for nearly three years. “It’s a great feeling to know that you are making a difference in someone else’s life,” said Ms Miller, who started driving in order to fulfill volunteer hours for a college program. “After graduating, I couldn’t walk away from the rewarding feeling the experience gave me,” she said.

December 6, 1974

Town officials said it was no surprise when it was learned this week that a suit is to be brought against the Town of Newtown and Highway Superintendent Edward Napier by the parents of one of the boys killed in the sand bank slide last month. The Town Clerk was in receipt of a registered letter Monday from George W. Ganim, attorney for the estate of Jack Leake. The notice was sent in accordance with Section 7-465 for “the wrongful death of Jack Leake, a 13 year old minor,” it said in part. “The death of the minor occurred in the afternoon of November 16, 1974, in the rear of the Sandy Hook School in the Town of Newtown when a sand bank collapsed upon the Leake youth causing his death by suffocation. The sand bank in question had been mined by highway department employees under the direction of Edward Napier in such a manner to weaken it and thereby cause its collapse,” the attorney said in the letter. No monetary amount, nor the type of action that would be brought against the Town was mentioned.

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The Cyrenius H. Booth Library was a warm and friendly place to be on Sunday afternoon as visitors, including a group of ladies from Southbury Training School, were treated to a concert of Renaissance music and Christmas carols by the County Consort Madrigal singers. Following the music, the guests were invited to share in cookies and punch made and served by the Country Consort. The group will present another concert this coming Sunday, December 8, at 3 pm in Trinity Episcopal Church.

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The Board of Finance denied First Selectman Frank DeLucia’s request for a special appropriation of $60,000 to demolish the existing unsafe bridge on Turkey Hill Road and build a new one. The Board did approve, at its December 2 meeting however, a special appropriation of $6,000 for the engineering design of a new bridge. Complaining that the letter from Flaherty and Giavara, the Town’s engineers, outlining a proposal for the project, was confusing and imprecise and that the $60,000 was not a quote but an estimate by the engineers, the Board told Mr DeLucia to go and come back with more precise numbers.

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Louis Untermeyer, the octogenarian poet, editor and longtime friend of Robert Frost, charmed an overflow audience and faculty at Sacred Heart University Tuesday, November 26, with a talk entitled “Acquaintance with Frost.” Mr Untermeyer, a Newtown resident, described how he first became acquainted with Frost’s work at the time the poet was in England, and then with Frost himself on his return to this country in 1915.

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The Board of Selectmen has received a petition signed by 55 persons requesting that Pond Brook Road be [improved]. An agreement was reached between the Town and the state Department of Transportation in 1970 by which $5,000 of Newtown’s state road aid would be placed in escrow for improvements. The escrow account was initiated under the Activities 19 account of state aid for the improvement of 1.5 miles of Pond Brook, from Hanover Road westerly to Lake George Road, though no construction has ever taken place.

December 2, 1949

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — TWENTY-THREE DAYS ‘TIL CHRISTMAS: This year, more so than in the recent past, the rush toward Christmas did not start until after Thanksgiving Day. That is as it should be, for we could never condone the mercenary-minded activities of those who would mar the proper observance of our New England Thanksgiving for the sake of a head start toward Christmas. But now the rush is on, and will continue until Saturday night, December 24th — that all-important date on young people’s calendars — Christmas Eve.

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In observance of their 30th wedding anniversary which occurred on Saturday, November 26th, Mr and Mrs Edward S. Pitzschler of Church Hill road entertained a few relatives and friends on Sunday. They received many congratulatory messages on that day. Mrs Pitzschler is the former Miss Alice Veronica Donahue of Flushing, L.I. Their marriage took place in St. Andrew’s church, Flushing, November 26th, 1919.

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Friends will be glad to learn that John Brewer, son of Mr and Mrs Cranston Brewer, who has been confined to Danbury hospital since early fall, returned to his home on Main street on Tuesday of this week. John has been undergoing treatment for burns received in a flash fire which occurred in back of the Brewer home on September 15th.

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The annual Christmas gift collection for the Fairfield State Hospital is now under way and packages may be left at Knapp, Trull and Meyers. It is hoped that Newtown organizations, religious, fraternal and social, will include a box for the hospital in their Christmas plans. Except for matches, razor blades or other sharp instruments, all the usual Christmas gifts are enjoyed by the patients. … The contents of packages should be listed on the outside of the gift wrappings so that packages need not be opened for inspection.

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The Town Development Committee held its first meeting of the year on Tuesday evening in the Selectmen’s office at the Edmond Town Hall. Judge Paul V. Cavanaugh, last year’s chairman, opened the meeting, stressing the importance of the work which can be accomplished by such a group of town officials and interested citizens in cooperating and planning for the future best interests of the town. Mrs Helen Gladwin was elected as secretary, and James Brunot as chairman.

November 28, 1924

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: The drive for the tubercular Red Cross seals is about to commence and Mrs Charles A. Peale and her score of efficient helpers want this year to be the greatest in the history of Newtown. Let’s get behind and push the seals, for it means that you may never know who will be the next to want the help of the nurse, who goes about town in her unselfish ministry of life. The seals will be sent out the last of the week and let us all help to make Newtown go over the top.

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The sale given by the Girls’ Friendly Society of St John’s church, Sandy Hook, fell upon one of the rainiest days of the year. However, undaunted by the storm the girls, with the help of their faithful associates, managed to make a success of the affair. Many [illegible] the storm to partake of the delicious cake, sandwiches and tea which the girls had prepared. They also sold many lovely Christmas cards. Those who went were repaid by the cheerful meeting and greetings on a dark day in the front of the hearth fire at the rectory. The G.F.S. doesn’t know the meaning of the word failure. The sale netted the nice sum of $27.

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THE JOHNSON-FERRIS WEDDING: Mr and Mrs Oliver J. Johnson wish to announce the wedding of their daughter, Miss Mabel M. Johnson, to William D. Ferris, son of Mr and Mrs Charles Ferris, of Newtown. The happy couple went by motor for a wedding trip. On their return home, November 18, a surprise awaited them. Friends and relatives assembled early at the home of George L. Minor, and when the bride and groom arrived, they were ushered into a beautifully decorated parlor, as a bridal march was played by a four piece orchestra and guests from Southbury, Roxbury, Woodbury, Bethlehem, New Milford and Rhode Island were standing in line to receive them. A bountiful lunch was served at midnight. On a separate table was a bridal loaf surmounted by blue and pink, bride and groom. Mr and Mrs Ferris were the recipients of a handsome array of wedding gifts. The evening was enjoyed by all and the guests departed, wishing them much happiness for the coming years.

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Those who heard H.F. Kazmiers’ address on the work in the Near East were abundantly rewarded for the effort of attending. The pictures told an encouraging story and demonstrated the value of the welfare and educational work in Greece, Palestine, Syria and Armenia. The offering was generous, those who were not able to be present will have the opportunity to help by the observance of Golden Rule Sunday, December 7. Rules will be distributed on Sunday next to be returned the following Sunday.

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Dr Kersey, the capable Danbury veterinarian, was at Richard Arndt’s in Taunton, Tuesday night, caring for a valuable cow. Tuesday he was in town again, professionally. Dr Kersey is a busy man, and a most successful veterinarian.

December 8, 1899

Reuben H. Smith, who lately retired from the editorship of the Religious Herald of Hartford, has taken a position as assistant editor on the Thomaston Express, Thomaston, Ct., F.W. Etheridge being the editor and proprietor.

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John C. Leavy of Walnut Tree Hill captured a handsome owl, the other day, which measured about four feet from tip to tip of its wings. It is of gray color and a beauty, and has been inspected by a large number of visitors.

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Mr and Mrs John Marin, who reside in the old Toll Gate house on the turnpike, have a new son, born on Saturday last.

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Leonard Botsford of Bridgeport passed Thanksgiving day with friends in town.

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Dr and Mrs C.M. Penny and son of Bridgeport passed Thanksgiving and Sunday with Dr Penny’s parents, Mr and Mrs J.W. Penny of Hattertown.

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Paul Beardsley returned to the Cheshire Academy, Monday, after spending Thanksgiving day and Sunday with his parents. Howell Wright, a pupil at the same school, also returned to Cheshire on Monday, after the Thanksgiving recess.

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Letters addressed to the following person remain uncalled for in the Newtown post office, December 1, 1899: Miss M. Hornsby, Jacob Leige.—[George F. Duncombe, postmaster.

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