December 13, 1991

We've all heard of "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," but who has ever heard of someone shooting the Christmas Tree? That's apparently what happened Saturday night, to the town tree in Ram Pasture only a day after the Chamber of Commerce's annual tree-lighting ceremony. On Monday morning, both Barbara Miles of Elm Drive and Parks and Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian asked town librarian Janet Woycik why the lights were out for most of the weekend. Chair of the Chamber's Christmas Tree committee, Ms Woycik didn't know. She called Kesco Electric owner Stan Perrone, a committee member who for years has volunteered his time as the tree electrician. On Monday he went to the tree and immediately saw the problem. The steel electrical box that is attached to the tree and controls the lights contained a hole about the size of a quarter. He contacted the police and officer Mike Brokaw confirmed that the damage was caused by some sort of gunfire.

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When we first heard over the weekend that someone had shot Newtown's Christmas Tree in Ram Pasture, or more precisely the electrical box that power's the tree's lights, we wondered what possible motivation someone would have had to take aim at such a symbol of joy and peace. It is a waste of time, however, to search for the rationale. There will always be those perverse souls who get their thrills by bringing darkness to where there was light, destruction to where there was creativity, and an end to where there was a beginning. The tree's lights shone like a beacon after a quick repair Monday. In the face of darkness, destruction, and dead-ends, there is always the opportunity to begin again, which is the essential message of every Christmas tree.

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The Main Street office of Newtown Savings Bank was forced to close Friday, December 6, and Saturday, December 7, because it was covered in soot as a result of a furnace problem. Office Manager Linda Billman said the malfunction with the oil furnace in the basement was a "puffback." She explained that this was like a backfire on a car. After a cleaning crew worked in the office over the weekend, the office reopened on Monday, December 9. On that day, cleaners were still working in parts of the office. Mrs Billman was at home Friday morning when called by a courier who discovered the problem. She went to work and what she found was soot everywhere. "It looked like it snowed soot. Everything you touched was black."

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Former First Selectman Roderick Mac Kenzie was indicted by a federal grand jury December 11 in connection with his part in a real estate transaction in the summer of 1987, before his election as Newtown's chief administrator that November. Mr Mac Kenzie, an attorney, was indicted on one count of aiding a Newtown man in the defrauding of a bank, and on two counts of providing false information. His attorney Andre Nagy said that at this time he and his client would have no reaction to the indictment other than this: "Mr Mac Kenzie knows that he is innocent, and Mr Mac Kenzie believes in the American system of justice."

December 2, 1966

We all shudder in consternation after every holiday, especially weekend holidays, when we read figures compiled by the National Safety Council, announcing the number of persons killed in traffic accidents across the country. The Thanksgiving holiday this year covered four days and set a new record, with more than 700 such fatalities. The National Safety Council reports that 49,000 persons died in accidents last year. Through September of this year the count had reached 38,190, which is about 20 percent more than the first nine months of 1965. But in spite of more drivers on the road and a steady increase in the number of miles traveled, it is indefensible that so many thousands of people must die each year in traffic accidents.

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White stuff: With snow sneaking into area weather predictions, First Selectman Carl M. Schutz has announced that the annual ban on overnight roadside parking is in effect, as of December 1. Residents are asked to park their cars off town roads and highways so that the road crews will not be hampered while removing snow.

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It's that old but honorable battle returned once again to Newtown's stages… that war of evil over good woven melodramatically around the innocence of young Nell. The Newtown High School class of 1967 will take to the Edmond Town Hall stage on December 15 at 8 pm with "There's Gold In The Hills" or "The Dead Sister's Secret" to prove that goodness will win out, as the villain and the hero vie for the innocent heroine Nell.

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Three people eminently qualified and of widely diversified experience, have been asked to act as judges for the Lions Club essay contest, "Search For Peace." Paul S. Smith, editor of The Bee; Mrs Ethel K. Harte, high school English department director; and Louis Untermeyer, author, poet, and anthologist, will select winners in Newtown in the Lions' $35,000 peace essay contest. To be eligible, a contestant must be 14 but less than 22 on January 15, 1967.

November 28, 1941

Through misunderstanding, it was reported in last week's issue of The Bee that the petition recommending to the Board of Selectman that a plan for police protection be immediately adopted and placed in operation, had been favorably acted upon by the Board of Finance. As a matter of cold fact the petition had at the time of last week's issue been handed to First Selectman Stanley J. Blackman, who with his colleagues had requested from the board an appropriation not to exceed $5,000 to cover the cost of police protection.

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Newtown rooters had small chance to cheer as they watched last Wednesday's evening basketball games between the boys and girls teams of Woodbury and Newtown high schools at the Edmond gym. Both scores ended decisively in Woodbury's favor, the girls' game 57-23, and the boys' game 55-16. In the opener, the Woodbury girls had little to worry them as they fed the ball to Miss A. Coer whose extreme height allowed her to stand and toss the ball through the hoop with all the deliberation in the world. While the Newtown guards played a hard game and did not give up until the last whistle, the size of the Woodbury forwards was simply too much for them. As for the boys of Hawley school, they put a lot of effort and energy into their play but we don't remember when we have seen such waste of motion.

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The annual drive for canned goods for the Danbury Hospital is now being held with Mrs Fannie B. Edwards and  Mrs William Burroughs in charge of the solicitation in Newtown and Sandy Hook. Contributions of jellies, jams, soups, and all sorts of canned goods will be most welcome and left at the stores of Morris & Shephard and the A & P.

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Newtown added to its long list of accidents last Wednesday evening, when two trucks collided on South Main Street at the intersection of Lovell's Garage. One truck belonging to M. Montrey's Bridgeport Contractor, which was proceeding toward Bridgeport, went out of control when the brakes were suddenly applied and overturned, throwing seven workmen and tools onto the concrete and into a ditch. The other truck, operated by Frank Houghton of Manchester, N.H., which was proceeding from the Bethel road, suffered only a bent fender, when the other truck slid into it.

December 1, 1916

Dr John Kersey, the competent and popular assistant to Dr W.J. McLoughlin, has opened a dental office at 1155 Main Street where he will be pleased to have his Newtown friends call needing his professional services. Dr Kersey's phone is Barnum 7663.

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Daniel Griffin, familiarly known as "Kaiser" Griffin, fell over some barrels at Wetmore's Mill on Friday. Dr W.H. Kiernan attended him and by the physician's advice, Selectman Newton Curtis conveyed Griffin to St Vincent's hospital in Bridgeport.

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Mr L. Philllips Morris, while driving the Ford delivery car for Morris and Shephard, met with an unfortunate accident while near Miss Julia Prindle's. When in the act of starting the car in the front of Miss Prindle's residence the car overturned. Mr Morris escaped with some slight bruises. The car sustained a broken windshield and some minor injuries.

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The dance at the Septmo Club at the Town hall Friday evening of this week should prove to be an enjoyable affair. Good music has been engaged. You should be there.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with The Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed to kendra@thebee.com, or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.