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The last meeting of the current Board of Selectmen, which goes out of office January 4, sparked verbal pyrotechnics as Republican Town Chairman John D’Addario lashed out at Democratic First Selectman Jack Rosenthal for replacing two incumbent GOP members of the town’s Conservation Commission with Democrats. Mr Rosenthal, however, said the two Republican Conservation commissioners will be placed back on the commission almost immediately to fill vacancies.

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The Commission on Aging has been waiting months, years actually, but the 12-passenger bus contracted for through the Housatonic Area Regional Transit District (HART) finally arrived and was put into immediate service for Newtown’s elderly and handicapped. The new white bus, nicknamed the “Sweet Hart” to distinguish it from full size HART buses, arrived in Newtown on Thursday, December 10, and has been traveling around town since it arrived.

* * *

A hot dog stand located on the property of the Italian Community Center off Route 34, Sandy Hook was completely destroyed in a blaze on Wednesday, December 16 at 7:32 pm. According to Sandy Hook Fire Chief William Halstead about 30 firefighters from Sandy Hook and the Hook & Ladder aerial crew responded. “When we arrived at the scene the building was nothing but a ball of fire. It was a total loss,” said Chief Halstead.

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It’s been a dragged-out, if rewarding experience; Patrolman Llew Rowe’s two-year-old German Shepard Thor finally was certified December 14 for patrol dog training at the Connecticut State Police Canine Unit in Meriden. Prior to September 29, when the intensive training began, Officer Rowe said he had been working with the dog on a “piecemeal basis.” In order to receive certification, Thor and Officer Rowe attended classes eight hours a day, five days a week for 10 weeks.

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Mother Nature initiated Newtown’s new highway superintendent to his first day on the job in grand style Monday, serving up a snowstorm that evening. Fifty-seven year old James M. Murphy, of High Rock Road, Sandy Hook, who has been employed as a homebuilder and land developer, said there were no problems as the experienced highway crew plowed through the night.

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Although his trip was scheduled for just two weeks after the assassination of President Anwar el-Sadat, John McArdle of Newtown visited Egypt, nonetheless in October, fulfilling a long-time desire. “I’m awful glad I went,” reflected the 95-year-old resident of Johnnie Cake Lane. Retired for 25 years, he is a graduate naval architect and marine engineer. France, Italy, England, Belgium and Mexico have all been stops for him, but there was always the allure of Egypt. “In fact, a lot of people cancelled their reservations and didn’t go, but I said ‘I’ll go, this is my last shot at it.’”

 

December 21, 1956

Power Off In 7,000 Homes As Ice Storm Hits The two-day ice storm brought widespread disruption in electric service to the Danbury area and kept line crews of the Housatonic Public Service Company and tree crews employed by the company on almost round-the-clock duty until late Sunday. Friday night repair crews fought a losing battle with the ice. They made some progress on Saturday until early afternoon when increasing ice again began to outpace repairs.

* * *

A delegation from the Newtown Chamber of Commerce, together with Mrs Nelson Curtis, Newtown representative, conferred with Governor Abraham Ribicoff at his office in the State Capitol, Hartford, on Monday afternoon. The purpose of the conference was to discuss with Governor Ribicoff the urgency of hastening the construction of the section of Route 6 which will by-pass the center of Sandy Hook.

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The Town of Newtown received an early Christmas gift from the League of Women Voters during its meeting on Tuesday, December 18 at the Cyrenius Booth Library. Mrs Nina Blake presented to First Selectman Edward Coleman two copies of the book “Newtown” to be placed in the permanent town archives. For the benefit of newcomers in town it should be explained that “Newtown” was published by the League of Women Voters, and illustrated by 12 local artists.

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An unexpected Christmas present for Mr Harry King Tootle of Dingle Brook Lane is the showing of “Tension At Table Rock” at Edmond Town Hall this Friday and Saturday nights, December 21 and 22. The picture was directed by Charles Marquis Warren, their son-in-law, who has established himself as one of the leading young writers, directors and producers in motion pictures or television. He is now at work on a 90-minute “spectacular” television production to be released by his own company through Columbia Broadcasting.

* * *

The culmination of weeks of preparation for the Christmas season on the part of the staff and the patients themselves is now apparent at Fairfield State Hospital. This week Santa Claus made his appearance in the wards, recreation rooms, and halls of every building, together with reindeer, sleighs and decorations galore. Members of the rehabilitation department under the guidance of Gordon D. Holmes, director, are busy sorting gifts, giving parties and supervising volunteer groups who come in to give special entertainment.

* * *

The demands for aid for the Hungarians who have fled their country is so great that everyone who helps may feel sure that whatever the form of contribution, it will be used. There being so many involved, the major groups have channeled their efforts to avoid overlapping. Instead of shipping food and clothing, the American Red Cross is asking only for money.

 

December 18, 1931

The Consumers’ Food Stores, Inc, will open their handsome new store in the former Golden Peach building on Saturday of this week, which has been handsomely remodeled with up-to-date and modern equipment, and electrical refrigeration for the meat department. They certainly have a very attractive and up-to-date store.

* * *

A meeting of the committee appointed by the Newtown Chamber of Commerce to arrange for a local celebration of the 200th birthday of George Washington, which is to be commemorated by thousands of cities and towns throughout the nation during 1932, will be held Monday night at 8 o’clock, at the Edmond Town hall. The committee consists of Allison P. Smith, W.F. Scott, Attorney Joseph Symonds, Judge Edward Hampton, Hobart G. Warner, W.A. Upham and Dr W.F. Desmond.

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Trinity Guild: The ladies of the Guild assembled at the home of Mrs William N. Burroughs in Sandy Hook for a business meeting on Tuesday afternoon. It was a very joyful occasion for not only was there a large attendance but the ladies summed up the successes of the past year, in which in spite of the hard times they have raised for the church more than ever before.

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Hawley School Notes: The art exhibit given, last Friday, was a success in the instructive point of view. Mr Smith’s lecture was well received by the club and helped them understand the various portraits. The work shown represented many well-known artists, among whom, Rembrandt, Abbey and Morci stand out.

* * *

The Wholesale Market: Potatoes, $1-$1.10, crt; onions, $3.50, crt.; turnips, $1.50 Crt.; carrots, $2.50 Crt; parsnips, $1.50, Bu.; cauliflower, $2.50 Crt.; spinach, $1.75 Bu.; Iceberg lettuce, $4-$4.50 Crt.; beans, green, $2.25 Bsk.; Parsley, 60 cents doz.; oranges, $3.50-$5.50 Bx.; eggs, 30 cents and 40 cents doz.; live fowl 16 cents-22 cents; live chicken 16 cents-22 cents.

* * *

Pootatuck Grange will have a Christmas program on Tuesday evening, December 22. There will be a Christmas tree and E.S. Pitzschler will do the honors as Santa Claus. Each member will bring a present costing not over 10 cents. The lecturer’s programs will be as follows: Song by the Grange. Paper, “The Spirit of Christmas,” Louise M. Tiemann, Recitation, Sophia H. Northrop, Christmas Carols, Led by Mrs Burr, Reading, Eva L. Read, Roll Call “What Can I Do To Make Someone Else Happy?” Distribution of Gifts, in charge of E.S. Pitzschler.

December 21, 1906

SANDY HOOK LIBRARY: The printed catalogue has been received, at last, and is on sale at the library room, at 25 cents per copy. We hope to sell 100 copies at least, within a few weeks, to raise part of the expense of printing. It will be of great convenience, both to the takers of books, and to the librarian if the patrons of the library will use it in the selection of vols. They may want. Rules for the use of the library are printed on the title page of the catalogue.

* * *

John H. Frank of Huntingtown district has just purchased a tract of 10 acres of timber of Mrs E. Northrop, a 24-acre tract of Michael Keating and a tract of Mrs Harriet Briscoe, and is in shape to furnish to all who wish building lumber of all kinds if ordered at once. If he receives no orders he will convert the timber into railroad ties. Now is your opportunity to buy some lumber.

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At the last session of the Paris Academy of Medicine Dr Vidal called attention to the great danger of contagion from the use of Oriental carpets. These carpets come from countries in which dysentery and other diseases prevail. The disease germs settle in the fibres of the material and their transmission to the user is a probability if the textiles are not carefully disinfected.

* * *

Several Flowers Edwards, the young son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Edwards of Taunton, met with a serious accident, last week Wednesday. The young man, who is only 10 years old, was cutting wood at the wood pile near his home when the axe slipped, hitting his left hand and completely severing one finger, and three others only just hung to the hand. The doctor was called and dressed the hand and the young man is now doing as well as could be expected.

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The Newtown Savings Bank has bought of Mrs Emma Beers what is known as the Academy lot, south of the Congregational parsonage. The lot is 60x120 feet. It is the intention of the management to erect a suitable building for bank purposes on the lot the coming year. This is pleasing news, and THE BEE congratulates President Peck and Treasurer Nettleton on the forward movement.