January 3, 1992

At its meeting Monday, January 6, the Board of Selectmen is expected to schedule the date for a town meeting to consider appropriating money for the proposed swimming pool at Treadwell Park. First Selectman Zita McMahon said she will propose the town meeting be scheduled February 4 at 8 pm in the Alexandria Room. The idea of taking the issue to a town meeting has already been approved by the selectmen and the Legislative Council. Since the inception of Treadwell Park in the 1970s, the town's plans always called for the eventual construction of a pool. The Parks and Recreation Commission has requested funding for the pool each year since the early 1980s. Town officials have consistently deleted the request for project funding which is estimated at $750,000.

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As we sit in our office early Monday morning watching a loose shutter on the house next door flap in the wind and snow, we thought that the view never looked more forlorn or bleak. Perhaps it was the post-holiday letdown coupled with the severe face of winter that made our spirits sag. Perhaps it was the relentless analysis of the current economic gloom in the media that put us in this mood. It turns out we are not alone in feeling glum. Pollsters last week reported that the level of optimism about a range of personal and national issues has fallen to its lowest level in Connecticut in a decade. We don't like our bad moods to be quantified by social scientists looking for trends, so this week we set out to upset their analysis by being stubbornly optimistic. We poured our coffee, rolled up our sleeves, and got on with our lives. We also noticed that every day is a few minutes longer, and little by little the world is turning toward the light.

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Months ago, Francis and Madeline Keating of Sandy Hook asked the town to invest in a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) for use in potential emergencies. In July, Newtown did, and on October 1, it helped save Francis's life. The Keatings recalled the incident last fall in detail, and with gratitude. "She was glad she had a TDD so she wouldn't have to run over to the neighbor's and could stay with him," said Bobby Carroll, the attending ambulance volunteer, referring to Francis's heart attack. "It really came in handy in a time of need." Both Keatings are deaf, but able to sign. The TDD is a device equipped for the deaf and speech impaired. Each unit has a built in listening receptor where the telephone receiver is placed and a keyboard to type messages. Madeline recalled, Francis, 80, suddenly began having chest pains. She went to her TDD and called 911. A dispatcher sent an ambulance with Mr Carroll on board.

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The head of Fairfield Hills Hospital has been placed on administrative leave by Dr Albert J. Solnit, Department of Mental Health commissioner. Lewis Lippner, who changed his title from superintendent to chief executive officer when he came to the hospital about a year ago, will be on paid leave for three weeks. The "procedure" allows for an evaluation and investigation of the hospital's leadership structure, said DMH spokesman Elizabeth Omara-Otunnu. She declined to elaborate. The action comes at a time when a state committee has begun evaluating whether or not to close one of three large state hospitals.

December 30, 1966

As the clock in the Edmond Town Hall marks the hour of the new year,

The Newtown Bee sends greeting to all its friends in the area served by the paper. The Bee believes that one of its strength is in numbers - the 26 towns whose news it carries and the variety this gives each week to The Bee's pages. Our wish is for a happy, prosperous, and peaceful New Year. Our thanks too for your continuing support which has made The Bee grow almost beyond our capacity to produce it, to a print run of well over 9,000.

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The annual drive for money, clothing, toys, and food, to fill baskets for Newtowners who would not have otherwise enjoyed a really Merry Christmas, was generously answered. Forty-six well-filled Christmas baskets were delivered this year by members of the Newtown Rotary Club. Station wagon after station wagon pulled out of the town hall with baskets, often as much as eight or ten cartons filled with food, clothing, and toys, all carefully chosen to fill the needs of a family of children and adults. From one of those families comes the following letter: Dear Mr Smith, I wish you could have seen the look on my children's faces when they saw the beautifully wrapped presents under the tree. It was pure joy. Any mother can tell you how she feels when her children are happy. We are truly grateful. Yours Truly, A Newtown Mother.

***

About 2 o'clock Tuesday morning a tractor-trailer truck of the Bridgeport Transfer Station was heading north on Route 25 up Whisconier Hill near the Newtown-Brookfield line when the drive shaft broke. The driver applied the brakes to keep the truck from slipping downhill, but this caused a skid and the vehicle ended up in a culvert, tipped on its side.

***

It was Christmas Night in the Frederick Abbott household on Currituck Road, toward the close of a festival dinner, when a chance remark sent someone off to see how the member of the family not at the table was doing. Princess Pat, the handsome German Shepherd, was contributing her own very special Christmas present, a litter of pups. Alas, there was trouble, and Pat and her first born were bundled into a blanket warmed by hot water bottles and rushed to Dr Russell Strasburger's. From 10:30 pm to 2:30 am the following morning, Dr Frederic Baff, Dr Strasburger's assistant, helped Pat produce her family, cheered on by the Abbotts. The princess is now home.

December 26, 1941

There was a party to celebrate the Christmas spirit at the Newtown Country Club on Monday evening. Tables were arranged about the room and dessert bridge was in order with apple pie and ice cream. Mr and Mrs H.N. Kirby made splendid hosts and all those attending brought gifts. These gifts will later be distributed among the children of the town. Special prizes for the highest bridge scores were made and donated by Mrs Frank S. Mitchell and Mrs Fannie B. Edwards.

***

News reached Mrs Morris J. Frank of the Taunton district last week of the death of her son, Second Lieutenant Pierre Bensa, who was killed in action on June 15, 1941, near Damascus while fighting with Free French forces. He was 28 years old. Much sympathy is extended to Mrs Frank by her Newtown friends in the loss of her son.

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More than 200 children, their mothers and friends attended the annual Christmas party, held under the direction of Rev William J. Collins, pastor of St Rose Church and the Sisters of Mercy at St Peter's Convent, Danbury, at St Rose Hall on Tuesday afternoon. The hall was prettily decorated, a large Christmas tree being the center of attraction. Santa Claus was on hand and distributed gifts and candy to each child. Ice cream and cake were served.

***

As everyone knows, the Red Cross War Relief Drive is now on, so let us all do our share to help Newtown make its quota which is a large one, $4,500. It is a difficult time at Christmas to be called upon to give extra dollars, but we must remember that the Red Cross needs our help. So far everyone has been very generous, and those in charge are grateful for every contribution, no matter how small. If your canvasser has overlooked you and you wish to contribute, call her and she will come to collect your donation.

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"Art" Smith and his assistants at the Edmond Town Hall have placed their usually well-lighted Christmas tree on the lawn in front of the building for the enjoyment of the townspeople during the Christmas season.

December 29, 1916

We hear of all kinds of clubs these days, but really there is one club that everyone wishes to be a member of, and that is the Club of Success. Everyone who has an account with Newtown Savings Bank belongs to this club. Everyone who has even a dollar here not only has a safe dollar but a saved dollar. If you have not already started your savings account with us, do it NOW.

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In one of the fastest games played in Danbury, the Blue Ribbon basketball team of Bridgeport defeated the Danbury team 17-15 on Friday night. From the first whistle to the last five minutes of the game, the Danbury team was ahead. Then a free toss tied the score at 15-15. During the next few minutes spectators witnessed some fast basketball.

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Handsomely decorated Christmas trees and ropes of mountain pine formed a lovely background Wednesday evening for the marriage of Miss Loretta Hayes and George Edward Nothnagle of Bridgeport. The wedding was a quiet, simple home affair and was attended by relatives and closest friends to the bride and groom. Miss Hayes wore a gown of cream French faille, which was her mother's wedding gown, remodeled. The bride wore the slippers, gloves, and stocking that were part of her mother's wedding apparel.

***

Glover Warner is seriously ill with pneumonia in the hospital at Montclair, New Jersey. Mr and Mrs George F Taylor have been with him since last Thursday. His parents Mr and Mrs Lawrence Warner arrived at his bedside on Christmas Day.

***

"I want to say to you, Mr Smith," said OG Camp of Waterbury on Friday last, "I have taken the Bee a great many years, but of late it has greatly improved in the quality of its contents and its mechanical makeup." Mr Camp is a leading businessman, but is now on the retired list, having a fine residence overlooking the city.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with 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.