July 22, 1994

We know some Newtown kids who are having an incredibly exciting summer. Some are traveling with the circus. Some are studying otters, and many are listening to a very wise spider. Others are flying on patchwork quilts or traveling in time back to the American Revolution and beyond to the age of dinosaurs. Maybe one or two will even try their hand at unraveling the “Lazarus Plot.” And we expect a few will even turn up on Asteroid B-612. All these extraordinary adventures have been made possible by the Booth Library’s highly successful summer reading program. More than 300 children ages 3 to grade 6 are signed up for the program this year. Each has been encouraged to set a reading goal and to schedule some reading time every day until the program ends on August 10.

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The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) has granted the town a zoning variance to allow the former Hi-Way Cleaners at 75-77 Church Hill Road to be demolished while the right to redevelop the property in the future as a non-conforming land use is protected. The selectmen’s committee on eyesores sought the development rights protection as an incentive to have the owners of the burned-out building allow it to be torn down. The building is owned by William A. Trudeau, Jr, and Brett Trudeau doing business as Trudeau Enterprises. The variance allows the building to be removed and then eventually rebuilt, restored, and maintained. In a May 27 letter to the ZBA, First Selectman Robert Cascella wrote that the former Hi-Way Cleaners has been vacant since October 1987, when it burned. The damaged building has been a blight on the landscape ever since. The fact that the building had been uninsured at the time of the fire and that sewer line installation for the building has been delayed constitutes a hardship for the owners, Mr Cascella wrote. In approving the variance, ZBA members stipulated that new construction at the site must be underway within two years of sewers being available there.

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Rabies has taken its toll on the raccoon population in Western Connecticut, with a lull in the number of rabid animals being found. Bob Yaroshevich, the Department of Environmental Protection’s campground manager at Kettletown State Park, has noticed a significant drop in raccoon sightings. “We used to have a population of 100 or so,” hew said over the weekend. “This year I have seen only three.” The disease threat has shifted to the east, according to officials, who have charted its progress since it entered Fairfield County in 1991. The decline in reports of the rabid animals is contained in the recordkeeping by the Pomperaug Health District.

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The Annual Osborne Hill Clambake. The annual Osborne Hill Clambake surpassed even last year’s attendance record when 102 people showed up at Ron and Sue Stockman’s house to a feast of clams, summer sausage, chicken, ice cream, and a variety of refreshments. Karaoke singing was again the highlight of the evening’s entertainment. The crowd consumed more than 17 pounds of shrimp, 4 ½ bushels of clams, and 108 ears of corn.

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Only five months to go ‘til Christmas! That’s why The Book Review is hosting Christmas in July this Sunday, July 24 from 11 am to 5 pm. Patrons can munch cookies and sip coffee while perusing a display of Christmas ornaments and gifts. A classical guitar performance will round out the afternoon.

July 11, 1969

The Newtown Little League Minor Division Mets finished the current season united and unbeaten, becoming the first team in the history of the minors with a record of 10 and 0. The boys ranged in age from 8–12 years and some had never played baseball before. Hard work at many practice sessions and team effort enabled them to achieve the winning record. In the majors, the Red Sox won the title with a record of 13 wins and one loss. The majors were managed by Leo Chase with Joseph Cavanaugh as assistant manager. The Mets and Red Sox won both parts of the season, so no play-offs were required in either league.

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The Sandy Hook volunteer Fire Company will have a rug sale at the Fire House in Sandy Hook from 9 am to 3 pm on Saturdays, July 19 and 26. A wide variety of lengths and sizes of area rugs and carpeting will be available. Proceeds from the sale will be added to the Fire Company’s Welfare Fund. Rugs may be inspected at the Fire House Friday evening, July 18, from 7 to 9 o’clock.

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The Sandy Hook pumper and 20–25 men under the direction of Chief Herb Lewis responded to a fire call at the home of Louis G. Geckle on Walnut Tree Hill Road in Sandy Hook on Wednesday night, July 9, at 11:51 o’clock The blaze was determined to be a small brush fire which was quickly extinguished.

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The Outlaw, Blackfeet Seminoles, Iroquois, Cherokees, Sioux, Comanches, Mohicans, Mohawks and Apache are having their summer pow wow from now until August 8 at Dickinson Memorial Park. Their activities include arts and crafts, native lore, tennis lessons, creative dramatics, swimming, games, and also horseback riding at Open Gate Farm on Papoose Hill Road.

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Damage to the Scout cabin on Church Hill Road was discovered this past weekend, yet may have happened anytime over the past 10 days. Paint, tar, and other building materials were thrown about the floor, with some of it hitting the walls. The worst part of the entire act, however, involved cutting down the American flag, leaving only the corners hanging on the pole, and throwing it on the floor with the rest of the mess. Police are investigating the incident.

July 14, 1944

In a recent letter from Corporal Marcus Sekyouma, one of the Hopi Indian dancers who spent considerable time at Cold Spring Park with “Cliff” Younger, he writes that his tank outfit was “in the thick of it” during the Normandy invasion. He evidently is seeing plenty of action.

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Word has been received from “somewhere in Italy” that Private Archie Lawrence, son of Mr and Mrs J.D. Lawrence, has been promoted to the rank of Private, first class. Archie, who entered the service with two other local boys, Frank Miles and James Scanlon in August, 1943, writes he is enjoying a much-needed rest behind the lines, and wishes to be remembered to all the folks back home.

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It is good news to hear that Henry Taylor of Mount Pleasant is much better after his recent illness and is now able to get around.

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Editor and Mrs Paul. S. Smith and children returned on Monday after spending three weeks at Candlewood Knolls, Mr Smith resuming his duties at The Bee office. With the present hot weather, three young members of the family, at least, are in a hurry for the week-end and their return to The Knolls.

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Mr and Mrs Emil Sanberg of Clinton, N.J. spent last weekend with Mr and Mrs Albert Kuhne. Sr., of Sandy Hook.

July 4, 1919

Mr and Mrs E. F. Northrop and son and Master Reynolds of Sandy Hook were down in the cellar of the Northrop residence attending to some work when a thunderstorm passed over on Friday last. A bolt of lightning appeared to enter the cellar and exploded, knocking both boys unconscious and burning the lads slightly. Mr and Mrs Northrop suffered a severe electrical shock.

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The Sandy Hook Baseball team will cross bats on Sunday at Pine Grove Park with the Centers of Bridgeport. The game will commence at 3 pm. Last Sunday the Sandy Hook nine met the fast All Stars of Danbury on local grounds, defeating them by a score of 7 – 4.

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Mrs Mortimer Smith and sons of Mt Pleasant are passing a month at Silver Beach.

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Rev and Mrs Edward O. Grisbrook motored to Hartford on Wednesday, Miss Hilda Grisbrook returning home with them.

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Mr and Mrs Laurence Pearson and little daughter Helen Marie of Easton were guests on Sunday of Mr and Mrs George Pearson of Dodgingtown.

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.