January 22, 1993

THE HOUSATONIC EAGLES, STILL FLYING HIGH: Bald eagles from the north have returned to the area, feeding on fish buoyed toward the surface of the Housatonic River by upswelling currents at the Shepaug Dam. On a recent day at Northeast Utilities' (NU) eagle observation post, 21 individual birds were spotted, making for a "very good day," said Gary Smolen, an NU spokesman. The number of birds that can be seen on a given day varies, he said, noting the likelihood of seeing eagles tends to be "hit or miss." This is the eighth year NU has allowed the public to view eagles near their feeding grounds at Shepaug Dam. Eagles are attracted to the river just downstream of the hydroelectric dam because the facility's turbine keeps the water turbulent and unfrozen.

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"Is he there? Can you see him?" Donna Spaner asked as a small crowd gathered around the television set up in the Newtown General Store on Wednesday for the presidential inauguration broadcast. Mrs Spaner was not referring to Bill Clinton, however. She was searching for her son, John, 22, a King's Point cadet who was scheduled to march at the head of the Merchant Marine Navy procession in the inaugural parade. Lunchtime shoppers came and went, many stopping for a few minutes to watch the proceedings on the small television. The parade was scheduled to start at 2 pm. "John will be in the front of his group because he finished in the top ten in his graduating class," Mrs Spaner proudly said at one point. "He was in the Persian Gulf and wants to be a fighter pilot."

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When power shifts in the world's odd corner, something usually gets broken. The old guard topples, new regimes spring up, and coups complete the circle of change. Vengeance and violence mark the track of history in small, relatively powerless countries beset be economic instability and poverty. When what little power there is to be had in such places changes hands, people die, and social progress is set back. Meanwhile, in the most powerful country in the world, where the economy is stable, where culture flourishes where ordinary people have the opportunity to live extraordinary lives, power changes hands at a great party where citizens sing and dance, and political adversaries stand together and applaud each other. Aside from the odd champagne glass, nothing gets broken. Is it a lucky accident of fate that the world's greatest nation should enjoy a political tradition where transitions of power take place in the spirit of healing and reconciliation rather than hatred? Or is our nation great precisely because of this tradition?

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The state Siting Council will have a public field review on Friday, January 29, of alternative sites to Connecticut Light & Power Company's proposed substation site on Great Ring Road. The council has reopened its hearing on this case partly because it wants to know more about alternative sites off Hoseye Coach Road and off Still Hill Road. Another reason for reopening the case is to consider updated information on research pertaining to the possibility that electric and magnetic fields can harm people's health. The Board of Selectmen and residents of Great Ring Road have objected to building the substation in a residential area.

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If you love quilts, the place to be on January 23 will be Newtown Meeting House. From 10 am to 4 pm that day, Newtown Junior Woman's Club will sponsor a special show entitled "Quilts at the Meeting House." Placed on pews and hung on walls will be about 45 quilts, loaned for the day by individuals and organizations. Members thought it would be "picturesque" to have a quilt show.

January 26, 1968

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Sandy Hook Fire Company has started making plans for a St Patrick's Day dinner dance to be held at the firehouse on Saturday, March 6, when the traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner will be served. Dinner will be followed by dancing to the music of Cerrone's orchestra.

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The Executive Committee of Community Action Newtown, or CAN, met Wednesday, January 17. Representatives of "The Thing," CAN's teen-aged project development committee, were present. It was decided to host a round-table discussion in early March on the activities of young people in Newtown. Groups and agencies within the community will be invited to participate.

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This is the second in a series of articles prepared on current thinking and activities in the schools. "Paraprofessional" is a term being used increasingly by educators throughout the country. What is it? What use is it? By answering these questions, we may better understand why EAN is urging the increased use of paraprofessionals in Newtown's schools. A paraprofessional is a person employed to assist the trained worker in necessary and useful but tedious and time-consuming tasks. The aide brings important assets to the classroom. The aide can devote time to individual students and those small groups in every class who need additional attention. Necessary duties such as clerical, record-keeping, and the like, can also become the province of the aide. In either case, the teacher is freed to do what he or she has been trained to do.

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All the members of Girl Scout Troop 46 put in some time during the past week decorating and designing cookie-sale posters which will be on view about town soon. In connection with the poster work, a contest was held, with Sue Morton named the winner. Gay Engelberger was the runner-up. Sue will receive a special prize on Thursday, when the troop meets at the Scout cabin. Judge for the contest was R. Scudder Smith, associate editor at The Bee.

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Production has begun on "Circuit Guard," Harvey Hubbell Inc's new protective device to guard against electrical ground faults not cleared by conventional overcurrent devices. This new ground fault circuit interrupter opens an electrical circuit when fault current to ground exceeds five Milliamperes. The unit, intended as a device for cutting off current if there is a ground fault in lights and electrical equipment in and around swimming pools, will also be used in connection with portable power tools, factory and lab equipment, and building construction. It is expected to find a market in homes for safeguarding people and electrical equipment in the home, outdoors, or wherever electricity is used.

January 29, 1943

As The Bee goes to press, it learns that the stores in town will be closing on Mondays in the future, as a means of conserving fuel. In this regard, we make the suggestion that proprietors take it upon themselves to confer together, to arrange a schedule so that each week some stores will close on Mondays and some stores on Tuesdays - alternating, if necessary, to share the curtailment evenly. In this way, just as much fuel would be saved, and those buyers who wish, for some good reason, to shop on Mondays, rather than another day, would find it possible to do so.

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On October 3, 1917, a young lad of real courage traveled over the dusty roads of Lakeside, through Washington, and down to New Milford railroad station, where a train was waiting to take him off to Fort Devens, Mass., induction center for World War I. The stout-hearted youth was Shiah Slaiby, now of Washington, who has enlisted in the armed service of his adopted country. Born in Syria, he came to this country with his mother when he was but eleven years old and settled in Lakeside. When the call came for volunteers to combat the German forces, he was off to do his part. He manipulated a deadly machine gun, as well as being an able man with a rifle. Battle engagements in which he took part were many, including Meuse Argonne from September 26 to October 12. It was in this last battle that he was gassed and wounded. He returned to his Lakeside home in the summer of 1919, where he took up farming. On December 4, 1942 his routine of farming was brightened. He received by mail US government award of the Purple Heart.

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The first meeting of the newly organized Newtown Girl Scouts, held on January 25 at Hawley School, was well attended and proved successful. Meetings will continue to be held on Mondays, and on Monday, February 15, all girls 10 years old or over are invited to come to the meeting and become acquainted with the Scout activities.

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The Bee editor was pleased to receive a postcard from Postmaster "Al" Nichols on Tuesday. "Al," who had left the post office to serve in the US Army, is now at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., where, like all new men, he has been in quarantine for two weeks. He writes he will be located there for another four or five weeks. After that, only the Army can tell. He reports they work hard from 5 am to 9 pm and it is agreeing with him. "Lots to eat and very good."

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At the Monday evening supper meeting of the Newtown Rotary Club, the members enjoyed a talk by John Hansen of the club, chairman of the Community Service Committee. He told of the club's activities regarding the men in service and of plans Rotary have made for their part in the March O' Dimes Infantile Paralysis Campaign.

January 25, 1918

Tidings from The Bee's Good Friend, Herbert Beers. In France, December 24, 1917. Dear Mother: Today is the day before Christmas and it has been a fine day. Lodric James and I have been out all day and have seen a bit of France. Tonight we are going to have a Christmas tree at 7:30. I expect we will have a good time. Ella Beers sent me a nice muffler and some chocolate. Mary and Hope sent a Christmas card. Francis Paine sent a fine letter. In fact, everyone has been writing to me. Lillian and Sarah, too. You should see our turkeys: beautiful birds. Mince and apple pies, nuts, figs, and lots of good things. The boys are all singing and dancing. We have some dandy singers. Merry Christmas to all and love to all, G. Herbert Beers, 102d Ambulance Co.

***

In spite of Tuesday's storm, an enthusiastic groups of women met in the Red Cross rooms and needles flew to execute, by February 1 as designated, the order received through the Bridgeport chapter for pajama suits for our convalescent soldiers. Scarcity of yarn is responsible delays in the progress of knitters, but it is hoped that in a very short time more will be procured.

***

There was quite some excitement, Wednesday afternoon, about 3:30 pm when some wood stored near the furnace in the house of F.A. Harris at Sandy Hook ignited. The fire was discovered by Mrs Harris, who notified her husband at the Harris Wire Mill. Mr Harris and a number of helpers hastened to the house with extinguishers and soon had the fire out. The smoke in the cellar was dense and bothered them at first. Mr Harris wishes to thank all who manifested a desire to help. The property damage was practically nothing.

***

A lady, living in East Orange N.J., one day, early in the morning, heard a timid knock at her door. A beautiful Italian boy came seeking breakfast. His soft eyes, tangled hair, trustful smile, and glorious Italian voice won her heart and an unusual breakfast. He ate with appetite. He concluded his meal and she dismissed him at the door with regret. Going out two hours later she found him sitting on the steps. "Why?" she asked. "I thought you had gone." "Oh, no," he said. "Why go away? There is plenty of time to go away." It may be true that the lady became a mother to the little, homeless Italian lad. Be that as it may, the story brings us a lesson: It is far easier to begin an interference with other people, if only for breakfast, than it is to get them out of our lives afterward. A little interest in others may lead to heavy responsibilities in life. But oh! How empty life would be without the interest and the responsibilities.

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The store of Morris & Shepard has been thoroughly fumigated by Dr W.H. Kiernan, the health officer.Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with readers. Images can be e-mailed to , 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.kendra@thebee.com

[naviga:img class="wp-image-301354" src="https://newtownbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/way-we-were-Jan.-19-2018-FCE-Laurel-chapter-ca-1984.jpg" alt="Written on a label attached to this old Newtown Bee photo is the phrase, "Counting their stitches." Additional writing states: "Members of the Laurel Chapter of Friends of Counted Embroidery." This photo was among others in a folder dated 1984. The group has continued to meet in Newtown until just last month; its first meeting in a new location - the meeting room of Stony Hill Fire Department, 59 Stony Hill Road (Route 6) in Bethel - is scheduled for Thursday, February 8, at 10 am. Anyone interested in learning more about the longstanding group can call its current president, Beverly Regan, at 203-775-2648. " width="800" height="533" /]

Written on a abel attrached to this old Newtown Bee photo is the phrase, "Counting their stitches." Additional notes state: "Members of the Laurel Chapter of Friends of Counted Embroidery." This photo was among others in a folder dated 1984. The group has continued to meet in Newtown until just last month; its first meeting in a new location - the meeting room of Stony Hill Fire Department, 59 Stony Hill Road (Route 6) in Bethel - is scheduled for Thursday, February 8, at 10 am. Anyone interested in learning more about the longstanding group can call its current president, Beverly Regan, at 203-775-2648.