June 10, 1988

A standing room only crowd of 150–200 teenagers and parents showed up at a forum held at the Newtown Congregational Church House, Tuesday night, to discuss the problem of providing Newtown teens with a meeting place where they could go without receiving trespassing tickets or being constantly kicked out by police. After a brainstorming session produced many ideas for possible meeting places, it was apparent that the consensus felt that what is needed immediately is some outdoor location where the teens can go to simply “hang out.” Several problems that would be inevitable with having a designated spot for teens to meet were brought up. Among them were nearby residents complaining, the police, need for parking, liability, vandalism and drinking.

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A minor oil spill that traveled along a Brookfield tributary into Newtown’s Pond Brook is almost completely contained, but officials here are still sounding off because they were not promptly notified of the spill. Employees at Norbert E. Mitchell Company, Inc of Danbury discovered a shut off valve that was leaking the company’s No. 2 fuel oil into a Brookfield watercourse on Stage Road. They contacted DEP’s oil spills division at 8 am on Friday, June 3, but Newtown officials were unaware of the spill until a resident notified them two or three hours later.

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The Police Commission will ask consultants for a fuller report than the 1½ page evaluation which claims a $46 million proposed state jail will have no long-term impact on the Newtown Police Department. Police Chief Michael DeJoseph said the commentary on jail impact was his only objection to an otherwise fine report. The consultant maintains that state police typically handle all state jail matters. “I disagree,” said Chief DeJoseph. “I think it’s going to have an impact on the Newtown Police Department: an increase in vehicular traffic, an increase in personnel and an increase in visitation.”

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Outstanding work performance and dedicated service on the part of two Fairfield Hills Hospital employees resulted in their each receiving recognition as “Employee of the Quarter.” Ms Cheryl Ghent, a Rehabilitation Therapist Assistant, has worked 11 years at Fairfield Hills Hospital and resides in Bridgeport. She received her award for outstanding planning and implementation of psycho-social rehabilitation services. Ms Elaine Williams, a Mental Health Worker Specialist, and an employee of 17 years, resides in Newtown, and was recognized for her dedication to patient care and the improvement and enhancement of the environment of patient areas.

June 14, 1963

The Newtown Association for Retarded Children announces the opening of a summer camp for retarded children in Newtown. Camp Roberta will be located at the Boy Scout cabin on the Gretsch property on Castle Hill Road, and is named in memory of the late Roberta Walker, a special class child. The association has purchased a bus to transport the children to and from the camp and to the Town park for swimming.

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A bright event in Newtown’s world of education took place Saturday evening at the Knights of Columbus Hall on the Danbury-Newtown Road, when more than 200 people attended a testimonial dinner given in honor of three retiring teachers — Mrs William Hayes, Miss Jane Honan, and Harold S. DeGroat, whose combined services in the town’s school system totals 118 years.

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The Newtown Rotary Club will sponsor an after graduation party this year to be held in the Nutmeg Room of the Danbury New Englander Hotel. The party will begin immediately after graduation on Thursday, June 20, with a buffet supper about 1 am. The Joe Piera Orchestra will provide the music for the event. The Rotary has engaged the able assistance of Mr and Mrs Mack Lathrop, who will conduct several dance contests with gift certificates for the winners.

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The Newtown Elementary School Track and Field sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce and directed by Coach Harold S. DeGroat, took place Saturday, June 8, at the Sandy Hook School playground with approximately 125 children participating. Richard Beddow announced that due to the success of the first field day, it will be continued as an annual event under the sponsorship of the Jaycees.

June 10, 1938

The Editor of The Bee is indebted to Joseph H. Ringers for a copy of “The Richmond Bee,” published at Richmond, Maine, where Mr Ringers went on business recently in his capacity as sales manager for the Fabric Fire Hose Company. Our namesake in Maine is of this paper’s approximate age, having been established in 1880. The Maine Bee furnished our Newtown Bee staff considerable interest.

On Wednesday, June 15, at 7 pm, a Red Cross First Aid Station will open in Lovell’s Garage, located at the junction of Glover avenue, Main street, and Sugar street, an intersection which has been the scene of several accidents. This station is in connection with a new program, undertaken by the Red Cross to cut down the toll of motor vehicle deaths on the highway and to aid those injured in accidents. It is furnished by the Red Cross with a Special First Aid Kit and other equipment.

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Fire, thought to have been started by an overheated incinerator, located in the cellar, caused a loss of about $1,000 in an early morning blaze at the store of Morris & Shepard, Sunday. The fire was discovered about 1:30 am, by J.A. Gunzenhauser and Walter W. Clark, who were passing in a car. By the time the firemen arrived the store was so filled with smoke that it was impossible to enter, and it was necessary to remove some of the siding on the outside of the building to get at the fire. Considering the seriousness of the blaze, very little water damage was suffered in the main room. The seriousness of a fire on Main street was evidently realized by many people, as fully fifty cars from all points of the town were parked along the street within a short time.”

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“Bill” Leahy, pro-greenkeeper of the Newtown Country Club, equaled his own golf record made in 1936 by putting together a 31 and a 34 for a 65 on Sunday, playing over the local course. In 1936, when Mr Leahy first accomplished his record for the course, he was playing a match with Donald Meeker of Bombay, India.

 

June 13, 2013

Grover Loveland has rented the buildings at the “Bemis place” for the summer, to some men who are gathering ferns to be sent to the cities and placed in storage to be used for decorations during the coming winter.

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W.A. Honan has bought out the grocery business of David Smith at Hawleyville and will take possession, July 1. Mr Honan has been in the employ of Levi C. Morris for 13 years and has made a host of friends by his genial and obliging manners. Mr Honan will continue the feed business in connection with the grocery line.

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Henry Hunt expects to deliver his patented improved clothes line props to the Newtown patrons, this week. He has been delayed in receiving castings from the factory for his clothes props. These props are made by the Hunt & Northrop Manufacturing Co., Newtown.

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In the tornado and thunder storm of Saturday, two cows belonging to Mr Zabriski of Hawleyville, were killed. In the heavy tornado, Saturday, 19 fruit and shade trees were blown down near the residence of Edgar F. Northrop of Hanover. During Saturday’s shower a large maple tree near the residence of D.B. Parmalee was blown down, blockading the road for some time. As soon as possible, Mr Parmalee, with his oxen and a half dozen men, removed the tree from the highway.