March 27, 1992

The bizarre week in politics: Tuesday's presidential primary vote in Connecticut sent the spin doctors whirling off into paroxysms of interpretive sound-bit babble, suggesting the following: that a miracle had occurred on behalf of Jerry Brown; that Bill Clinton's failure was a product of his success; that a significant percentage of the population believes the political ghost of Paul Tsongas would make a good president; that George Bush has nothing to worry about; that George Bush has everything to worry about. In fact, a majority of Connecticut voters elected to stay home. Statewide, 25 percent of registered Democrats and just 21 percent of registered Republicans voted in the primary. Politics in the 1990s are coming to be viewed as a social problem, and in searching for solutions, increasing numbers of people are looking to methods employed against other social problems, concluding that it is best to "Just Say No."

***

Fairfield Hills and two other state psychiatric hospitals will not close, but downsizing will occur over the next five years, after which time closing may again be considered. That is the recommendation issued March 24 in the final report in whether or not to close three large state hospitals. The report basically confirms the preliminary draft suggestions issues earlier this month by the Ad Hoc Committee to Evaluate the Future of Large State Hospitals. "For what they were asked to do, they did a very thorough job," commented Rep Julia Wasserman (R-106), who sat in on committee meetings. "Closing would have caused considerable upheaval. I am relieved." First Selectman Zita McMahon was also relieved to learn of the committee's final recommendation. "We really need the community-based services to be in place first, and I think the ad hoc committee saw the value of that."

***

Every year the Girl Scouts of the USA celebrate with the Girl Guides in other countries the birthdays of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, the founders of both Girl Guides and Boy Scouts. WAGGGS, The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, is the international organization that joins girls from all over the world. They are responsible for centers in London, India, Mexico, and Switzerland, which are visited by many scouts during the year. To honor the Baden-Powells, the girls in the Unites States hold Thinking Day, which is a time to think about those in other lands and to contribute to the Juliette Lowe World Friendship Fund.

***

A Christian concert held at Newtown High School on Saturday night drew a full house. The concert, sponsored by Grace N' Vessels of Christ Ministries, was to have featured singer Pat Boone, but Mr Boone was snowed in, in Chicago, and didn't arrive in New York until 2 am. A makeup concert has been scheduled for sometime in May. The concert was the fourth in a series of fundraisers, proceeds to be used to build a chapel for the ministry, which meets regularly in Brookfield.

March 31, 1967

This summer when Arthur J. Smith retires as Edmond Town Hall manager, the walls will not crumble, but they will doubtless feel empty without the man who has been "Mr Town Hall," since first appointed in 1930. What a tale he could tell, and one day perhaps will. Meanwhile on April 1, the genial ex-host of the Hawley Manor Inn, Kendall Hathaway, will begin serving his apprenticeship under Art Smith, preparing to take over July 1.

***

Newtown will soon welcome another new industry, according to Robert McCulloch, Western Connecticut Development Corporation president. The Lloyd Lumber Company of Brewster, Patterson, and other New York locations has just purchased property in the Newtown Industrial Park on Church Hill Road near I-84, which is being developed by Mr McCulloch's company. "Lloyd's of Newtown," wholesalers and retailers of a full line of building materials, plans to start construction of its new plant immediately, with completion scheduled for mid summer.

***

A brand-new Cessna 150 made an unscheduled landing on the grounds of Fairfield Hills Hospital at 4:30 pm last Sunday. Owned by Connecticut Aviation company and flying out of Danbury Airport, the light plane was piloted by John Pavolini of Mt Vernon, N.Y., an instructor with the Connecticut Air Service. He was accompanied by student Sidney Bandes. No one was reported injured, but the plane suffered damage to both wing tips, propeller, and landing gear. Tracks in the snow indicate that it required about 100 feet to come to a stop. According to the flying school spokesman, Mr Pavolini took emergency actions to land the plane when its engine failed. Investigation is being made into the nature of this failure.

***

On Saturday, March 25, more than 350 children and their parents attended the Jaycees' annual Easter Egg Hunt. The hunt was moved indoors to the Town Hall this year because snow still covered the ground. Children, in three age brackets, scrambled for 60 dozen eggs and over 1,000 packages of Easter candy. Ed Borodenko of Dodgingtown Market donated the eggs, which the Jaycees colored.

***

An exciting example of Lumia will be a novel feature of "Stars in Daytime," the headliner variety show to benefit the Newtown Historical Society to be staged on Sunday, April 9, at 3 pm at the Edmond Town Hall theater. Lumia is the "Art of Light," and one of the significant creators in this field is W. Christian Sidenius of Newtown. He is a mechanical engineer by training, and for the last ten years he has devoted himself to Lumia. He was one of the artists whose work was included in the show of the "art of light" in New York this past winter.

March 27, 1942

Local motorists are warned that unless they wish to fall victim of the State Police, they should keep their driving speed down to 40 miles per hour. The State Police are making numerous arrests throughout the state, in a campaign to enforce reduced speeds and thus aid in the conservation of gasoline, oil, and rubber. A word to the wise should be sufficient (though it apparently takes more than that in some cases).

***

The Newtown chapter of the Future Farmers of America is traveling at its peak. On Friday, March 27, at 9 pm, at the Edmond Town Hall, there will be modern and square dancing, sponsored by members of the FFA. Music will be furnished by the Ramblin' Rangers. Before the dance will be a basketball game between the FFA and the Newtown Eagles.

***

It is discouraging to Newtown's PTA, and we are sure, to the parents of some thirty girls at Hawley School, that more progress has not been made toward a Homemaking course to be added to next year's high school curriculum. The accomplishments of such a course were convincingly shown at a recent PTA meeting when students and teachers from Woodbury came to talk about their course and display their work. As we understood the local situation, the school board asked permission of the Edmond Town Hall committee to use the Alexandria Room kitchen, provided the course was given.

***

Friends of Newell Tiemann will be glad to know that he has returned to the home of his parents, Mr and Mrs Herman Tiemann, Jr, in East Hartford, from the Littleton, N.H., hospital, where he has been confined for the last few weeks with a broken leg, which he suffered while skiing in the Cannon Mountain section near Littleton.

***

The Girl Scouts report that their food sale, held Saturday at Morris and Shephard's store, proved very successful and they wish to take this opportunity to thank the many people who donated food, together with others who contributed money. A vote of thanks is also due to Morris and Shephard's for the use of their store. The sale, which was entirely handled by the scouts, was headed by Dorothy Quinn, Beatrice Morgan and Barbara Baxter.

March 30, 1917

An enthusiastic meeting to organize a Newtown company of Home Guards was held on Monday night at the Newtown Inn with about 100 in attendance. Seaman Mead appointed as recruiting officer by the state authorities presided and he explained the movement. "If men over 60 would be accepted in the company," C.F. Beardsley said he wished to be the first one to offer his services. Representative Rupf said he would want to be included if they would take men over 60. Mr Mead will go to Sandy Hook Saturday evening to meet the men of the east end of town, The meeting was bristling with patriotic enthusiasm.

***

The Bridgeport Farmer furnished a shining example of irresponsible journalism in its issue of Saturday in the lying statements made about the business manager of The Bee which caused Mr Smith and his family much annoyance. The Farmer promptly retracted its statements in the issues of Monday and Tuesday evening. In these days of a universal telephone service an editor can get at the bottom of facts generally, if he really wants to. A correspondent who sends in such wild cat stuff needs investigation, or a course in the Pulitzer school of journalism. The New Haven Associated Press office managers informed the writer that the lying story broadcast over the state came from a correspondent in the Bridgeport Farmer office.

***

Deputy Sheriff Morris D. Beers, Martin A. Corbett and Mr and Mrs Clark were in Waterbury, Tuesday, as witnesses for George Wentsch in his suit against a gentleman, whose auto ran into the auto of Mr Wentsch. Mr Wentsch finally won his case without trial.

***

An interesting exhibit of the various branches of learning taught in the high school has been arranged by the faculty and is to be presented on Tuesday, April 3 at 1:30. The public is very cordially invited to attend, and a pleasant afternoon is assured to all who accept the invitation. The program will consist chiefly of matters of interest discussed in the class room, experiments in General Science and chemistry, recitations, lectures, and orations. The exhibition of work in General Science and chemistry promises to be especially entertaining.

***

A rehearsal for the three-act comedy drama Romantic Mary to be given in the Newtown Town Hall Easter Monday night, April 9, promises a very successful and pleasing entertainment. Owing to the generosity of Hon. William H. Egan of New York, the scenery and costumes will be provided by him, which will secure for all a more complete fitting of the stage and cast.

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.