April 8, 1994

The Hawley Manor Inn & Restaurant may have new owners soon. Addie Vazzano of Trumbull, owner of the Hawley Manor, said Wednesday that she is in the process of negotiating the sale of the business which has been closed for more than two months. “I can’t say anything more right now, but I should know definitely by next week,” she said. The Hawley Manor closed in February after Mrs Vazzano was notified of violations of the fire, building, and health codes. Health Director Marc Cooper said the restaurant closed voluntarily to take care of problems that had caused the town to issue two violations orders in the past six months. “There was a recurring lack of heat and hot water in the tenant units (in a building behind the restaurant) and an ongoing problem with the septic system,” Mr Cooper said. The restaurant also only scored 56 out of a possible 100 points on its last quarterly inspection. During the past year the restaurant had been managed by Mrs Vazzano’s son Chris. Previously his older brother John was the manager. John Vazzano left last year to open another restaurant, Vazzy’s, in Bridgeport.

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Police report criminal mischief instances involving residential mailboxes along Hanover Road at about 10:30 am on April 3. Police said they were able to determine the owners and returned the mailboxes to them. Three pieces of mail belonging to a Brookfield resident were found on Hanover Road. Newtown police turned the mail over to Brookfield police. Police said they found two mailboxes lying on Obtuse Road. The owners of each mailbox were found, and the mailboxes returned to them. Residents reported that several other mailboxes were missing form Hanover Road. Police ask anyone with information to contact them.

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The Board of Education voted March 31 to expel three Newtown High School students for the remainder of the school year. School Superintendent John Reed said this action was taken because the three students were involved in setting a fire in a school bathroom on March 7. Dr Reed said the fire caused only minor damage and did not cause interruption at the school. But he said the school system’s “number one base obligation” is to assure safety in the school. He characterized the expulsion as a “message” that acts such as setting fires in school will not be tolerated. The students’ names have not been made public.

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A fashion show and tea featuring the spring and summer designer collections of Andrea Ward Productions will be hosted by the Heritage Inn of Southbury on Sunday, April 10 at 2 pm as a fundraiser for the fifth annual Summer Picnic & Pops. The collections of Bettina Riedel, Ballanger Gold, Randy Kemper and other designers will be featured. Leonore Templeton, who conceived the Summer Picnic &b Pops series, has been selected as honorary chairman of the show. Marilyn Mulvey, the first soloist, will be the guest of honor. The Picnic & Pops committee is a non-profit organization composed of an all-volunteer committee whose mission is to present a “pops” concert that will appeal to both adults and children. The concert will be held on August 21 at Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury.

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Top Of The Mountain. I have been waiting for the first few robins to come “bob-bob-bobbing” along to give me my first real taste of spring. Imagine my surprise when I was wandering along to the south end of Elm Drive and five extra large wild turkeys came out of the wetlands and went down to Deep Brook for a drink. I might have been a good match for them, but I gave them a break and left them alone. At Trinity Church, Stockbridge tells me the crocuses should be popping up soon on the bank along Church Hill Road, and that the church also intends to plant a whole bunch of trees on its property. If the trees grow a fraction as fast as the Japanese bamboo, the property should be forested in no time. Before leaving you all for another week, I’d like to share with you a picture of Nancy Kerrigan, on the day I saw her at that parade in her hometown. In case you forgot what she looks like, she’s the one who is not in a police uniform. Tonya Harding, by the way, called me up and asked me if I wanted to wrestle with her, but I respectfully declined, citing other obligations, such as my obligation to keep my knees intact. Read me again.

April 4, 1969

Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter take on added significance this year, because they come so closely after the death of Ex-President Dwight Eisenhower. Adding extra meaning too, are the ills of the troubled times in which we live. Our troubled times are doubly troubled, of course, by the warfare in Viet Nam and the Middle East. Added to the tragedy of death facing so many Americans in service outside the country are the uncertainties of life as it is being lived within the country. Perhaps these internal difficulties are not nearly so serious as the ravages of war, but they are disturbing, nevertheless. We refer to disturbances on college campuses, the increasing use of drugs by our young people, the lack of harmony between blacks and whites. Other areas come readily to mind, but those mentioned will prove the point that behavior on the part of American people is in need of drastic reformation. Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter present an opportune time for a change of heart by all Americans.

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A new ambulance is now on duty to serve the townspeople, having arrived only a week ago. The vehicle was built to the specification of the Newtown Ambulance Association and will carry four people in a horizontal position It is fully equipped with the necessary emergency needs and will continue to be manned by the capable volunteers in the Association. Charles Clark and Llewellyn Rowe flew out to Piqua, Ohio, last week, and drove the ambulance to its home behind the Edmond Town Hall. It was manufactured at the Miller-Meteor Plant.

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Charles Chamberlin of Route 202, Newtown, has been named head coach of the Newtown Lions, Pop Warner football team. Mr Chamberlin, an industrial engineer with Handy and Harmon of Fairfield, has had many years of football experience. He started his career as a high school standout at Wilby High School in Waterbury and also played at the University of Connecticut and the Ansonia Black Knights semi-pro team. Mr Chamberlin intends to hold periodic seminars on the basics of football for the interested youngsters through the summer months in preparation for tryouts for the coming season. Boys interested in registering for the team are asked to call Coach Chamberlin. Boys interested should weigh between 85 and 115 pounds and be between the ages of ten and 13 years.

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‘Project Hospital’ for FHH Termed Success. Mrs Robert Campbell, chairman of “Project Hospital,” which was sponsored by The Republican Women’s Club of Newtown, to collect spring hats, purses, scarves and gloves for the Easter Hat and Purse Bar at Fairfield Hills Hospital, announces that the project was an outstanding success. Over 100 hats were collected, as well as 38 purses, many pairs of gloves, scarves and jewelry. The Easter Hat and Purse Bar at Fairfield Hills was opened in the gymnasium of Plymouth Hall on April 1.

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The speaker at the April 9 AARP meeting, American Association of Retired Persons, will be the Rev Robert Brown. His subject: “A Look At The Universe,” including the solar system, will be illustrated with slides. Mr Brown has a background in astronomy. All retired persons over 55 are welcome to these meetings on the second Wednesday of each month. They are at 1:30 pm in the social rooms of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Brookfield.

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First Selectman Timothy B. Treadwell cut the ribbon last Saturday for the official opening of the VNA Thrift Shop at the rear of the Edmond Town Hall. With him was Mrs Robert Schmidle, president of the VNA board, and Mrs Graham Patmore of Monroe. The shop will now be open on Wednesdays from 12 to 3 pm and on Saturdays from 9 am to 3 pm. Donations will also be accepted during the hours and all proceeds will benefit the Visiting Nurse Association.

April 7, 1944

Easter Romp Last Friday Night. No Romp Good Friday. A festive group of young people congregated at the Town Hall gym last Friday for an Easter romp. In the middle of the evening the boys competed in an “Easter Egg Roll.” Much to the dismay of several contestants, the eggs broke en route. Lee Glover succeeded in reaching the goal first. A country folk dance, Pickin’ Up Paw Paws,” afforded much amusement to onlookers. The evening was brought to a close with the traditional Grand March, led by Lorraine Wheeler and Ray Person. The next romp will take place on Friday, April 21.

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Friends will be interested in a recent quotation from a letter received by the editor of The Bee from Sgt. Tech. John Woichowski who is attached to a Medical Detachment somewhere in the Pacific. He writes as follows: “I always enjoy reading The Bee. It seems to bring me closer to home. Keeps me informed of what goes on in town. I’ve been out here more than two years now; it’s really hell. The only time I have seen “Tropical Isle Glamour” was on the screen. I am well and everything is under control. I’ve been promoted to Sgt. Tech. now. Sgt Thrall and St. Sgt Tolarico are out here with me. I send my best wishes to all you folks back home. Till victory, Sgt Woichowski.”

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Sylvia Moore, who is living with her aunt and uncle Mr and Mrs Fred Wetmore of Elm Drive, listened last Thursday evening at 6 o’clock to a short-wave British forecast, during which parents in England spoke with their children in this country. She heard her father, Cyril Moore of North Harrow, as well as her older sister, Delme, and her younger brother, Stuart. The program was entitled “Hello Children.” Sylvia and Mrs Wetmore heard the broadcast at the home of Mr and Mrs Paul S. Smith. Pamela and Tom Moore, twin brother and sister of Sylvia, are living with their aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs George Moore in Stratford. Those “Hello Children” broadcasts furnish a real treat to both parents and children, who are separated for the duration by the wide Atlantic ocean.

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The Newtown Country Club held its regular Monday night contract bridge at the club rooms, with a good number in attendance. Miss Gertrude Endemann was high scorer for ladies of the evening, and Arthur Judd Smith took the honor for the gentlemen. Mrs R.O. Judson of Woodbury was leading lady for the month of March, and Mr Smith the leading gentleman. Mrs Florence Burroughs and Miss Clair Endemann very delightfully entertained. Next week, Mrs Frank Mitchell and Miss Isabell Bartman will be the hostesses.

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Howland’s “A good store for all the family all the time.” Easter Shirt Special. $2.98, Ceiling price $3.93. Just in time for the Easter Parade! Superb quality madras shirts in the newest, smartest stripes of varying widths. Perfectly tailored throughout, sanforized shrunk, of course, with soft attached collars. Blues, browns, tans, greys and greens. Sizes 14 to 17. Sleeves 32 to 35.

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Last Thursday afternoon the Lenten Study Group of the Woman’s Auxiliary of Trinity church met at the home of Mrs Frank Mitchell on Main Street to discuss the most important book, “We Who Are American.” This book is a fine study of the various nations who make up the people of this country, and the effect of their other country backgrounds as influencing us who now are America. Mrs H. Gould Curtis opened the discussion which was varied and wide.

April 7, 1919

Microfilm for the January 17 through April 18, 1919 issues of The Newtown Bee are not available. It is unclear why New England Micrographics Inc in 2000 was not able to produce film for these dates. Based on the poor quality of the early January issues, the film for which reveals torn and damaged originals, the newspapers for these dates may have been destroyed.

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.