December 4, 1992

The holiday shopping has begun and with it a corresponding jump in crime. "Shoplifting, people breaking into cars to steal gifts, that is all business as usual at Christmas," said Police Chief Michael DeJoseph. "But burglaries are also up, more than 10-12 percent in the last year." Five burglaries over the Thanksgiving weekend brought the total for the first 11 months this year to 144. "Most of the problem is due to the availability of narcotics in the western Connecticut region," Chief DeJoseph said. "Addicts have to support their habit, and many do it with burglaries. The burglaries are done primarily in the daytime and executed very quickly. The suburbs are a great place for burglaries because many people are away at work during the day." Newtown is especially vulnerable because of its location with easy access by major roads to such urban areas as Danbury, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Waterbury. The same features that make Newtown a desirable place to live also make it attractive to burglars.

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The state plans to close the Housatonic Adolescent Hospital, a psychiatric facility at Fairfield Hills. The adolescent facility will be merged with two others elsewhere in a cost-cutting move. Housatonic, a 35-bed hospital, currently has 28 patients and 90 staff members. It's unclear if the patients who are in Housatonic when it closes will be moved directly to the Riverview Hospital in Middletown. Housatonic is expected to close in six to nine months. Housatonic serves 14-17-year-old males and females from western Connecticut. The hospital has a unit for acute psychiatric evaluation and treatment and a residential unit.

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It started out as a big hole in the ground, but gradually the swimming pool at Treadwell Park is taking shape. This week excavation for the eight-lane, 25-yard pool was completed, and workers began to prepare a hole for the pool shell. Before the next phase begins, however, the town must receive approval from the state Department of Health Services. This involves formal approval of design plans, which was not done earlier because of delays in the bid process. "The state had our early drawings," said First Selectman Zita McMahon, "but they wouldn't look at them seriously until final plans were submitted." No major changes were made to the plans for the $671,090 project.

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The gently rolling Fairfield Hills present pleasing views to those living amid the crests and slopes. The view is somewhat different, though, for the prisoners living in the state's sprawling new high security Garner Correctional Institution on Nunnawauk Road. Looking through a laminated, high-impact window on the ground level of as-yet unoccupied Cell Block F, future prisoners will be able to see the rolling hills. But in the foreground they will see an open expanse of close-cropped lawn, beyond which a towering chain-link fence snakes across the landscape. Topping the fence is spiraling, glinting, spurred stainless steel razor wire lit by sodium vapor lamps. Beyond the fence lies a 3,000-foot-long road encircling the prison where guards patrol armed with shotguns. Guards inside the prison do not carry firearms but have access to them if needed. Prisoners began arriving in mid-November. By Friday, December 4, 96 prisoners were scheduled to be in the facility that cost $66 million to build. "Everything has been going exactly as planned," said State Department of Corrections spokesman Bill Flower.

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On December 2 the state gave the town a deed for the 44-acre property adjacent to the Nunnawauk Meadows apartment complex for elderly persons. This land was requested so the complex can be expanded. First Selectman Zita McMahon said Town Attorney David Grogins will review the deed before it is recorded in the town clerk's office. The 44-acre donation is part of the 75 acres that the state promised the town as part of its agreement with the town in connection with the town's dropping legal challenges against the state decision to build a prison on Nunnawauk Road. Nunnawauk Meadows Administrator Frank DeLucia said he was "ecstatic" about the state giving the town the deed. It was six years ago, he said, that he wrote a letter on behalf of Newtown Housing for the Elderly, asking for this land. Progress in those discussions was impeded for several years by the town-state fight over the prison.

December 15, 1967

Each year since 1964, The Newtown Fund has distributed food baskets at Christmastime to needy families in town. This year, once again, donations of food, clothing, toys, and money are asked of Newtown's more fortunate citizens to help them in this worthwhile project. The Newtown Fund depends very much on individual effort. Organizations in the Christmas Basket program donate or improvise according to their special talents. This year, for example, a Girl Scout Troop has made a project of a mitten tree; another troop is redressing well-loved dolls; Cub Scouts are collecting canned foods; and canned goods are also being collected at the high school. A remarkable contribution has been made in the past couple years by William F. MacMillan of Tunnel Road, who all year long, collects and repairs broken toys from fellow employees at United Illuminating in Bridgeport and from friends and neighbors who are aware of his hobby. He has two truck loads of toys ready for Christmas delivery.

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Jolly Old St Nick will arrive in Newtown this Saturday, December 16, at noon, via four-wheeled sleigh. He will travel up Main Street from Lovell's Garage to the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium, where he will distribute gifts to boys and girls. He will then tour the shopping centers and continue down to Sandy Hook, hopefully missing no one. A free movie will be at the Town Hall Theater at 2 pm. It is hoped that The Isle Of Dolphin can be obtained for this special showing.

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Newtown Lions Club members gave forth with a roar on Saturday night to welcome the holiday season with their annual dinner dance at the Hawley Manor Inn. And a real roaring good time it was. The evening's program got off to a good start with a cocktail party at the Rock Ridge Road home of Mr and Mrs Harold Schwartz, where the grandest line-up of fancy hors d'oeuvres awaited guests. However, an even bigger attraction was a table of king crab, which drew everyone like a magnet, especially one of the town's best known house painters. The party moved to the Manor shortly after 7 o'clock, where a roast beef dinner was served, followed by fun and dancing to the music of Bob Masters and his orchestra.

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The Newtown Park and Recreation Commission at a recent meeting reported that the new garage and lavatories at Dickinson Memorial Park are 99 percent complete. Miles Harris has been contracted for drilling of a new well to be completed by May 1, 1968. Hans Boyce reported that the ice skating will be held afternoons and weekends on the pavilion as soon as the weather permits.

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The monthly meeting of Pack 270, Newtown, will be held at Middle Gate School on Tuesday, December 19, at 7 pm. The cubs will trim the tree and sing Christmas Carols. Santa will be there to give out gifts. Each cub is to bring a 75 cent gift. If there are other children from a family attending the parents are asked to provide a gift with the child's name on it. It is requested that the boys be there promptly so the meeting can get started at 7 pm sharp.

December 11, 1942

John Murphy of Glen Road Sandy Hook is improving nicely at the Danbury hospital, where he is a patient recovering from injuries sustained when a tree fell on him several weeks ago.

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In view of the strict dimout regulations now in effect throughout the state, The Bee calls the attention of all motor vehicle operators to the following requirements that could apply to them: "All automotive vehicles shall conform to the following: (1) The upper half of each headlight lens should be completely obscured by black paint. (2) Vehicles should not exceed 30 miles per hour. (3) In thickly settled communities the lowest beam in the headlight system should be used. (4) All parked automotive vehicles should have all lights, except parking and tail lights, extinguished." These dimout regulations have been issued by the First Service Command of the United States Army through the defense Council.

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As time marches on, the inconveniences caused by the war confront us in increasing number. Lately we have sensed a noticeable change in the general attitude, as short rations develop from sugar, gas and tires, to coffee, fuel oil, and we won't guess what else. There is even a tendency among civilian defense workers to give up their duties in the face of it all. Granted, however, that rationing, and regimentation irk the true American spirit, it is still up to the general public to do its part in winning the war. Perhaps we are asked to do things for which we see no reason, quite likely there are too many fumblers at Washington and elsewhere - still the homefront must be maintained. Most of all our important volunteer services, and especially such cherished institutions as church and school.

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A group of local farmers met at the Edmond Town Hall to elect a community committee to act on the Agricultural Conservation Plan to secure benefits for local farmers in accordance with the soil conservation act. Robert Clark acted as chairman and Arthur Page as secretary. The local committee elected were Mrs M. Stanley Northrop, Albert Boyson Sr, and Robert Clark. Irving Waterhouse and Horace Smith will act as alternates and will assist the committee. The committee's work will be to contact local farmers as to their needs for lime and other fertilizers.

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A leak was discovered in the water main in front of the Episcopal rectory on Main Street on Friday. The work of repairing the broken pipe was started at once and completed on Saturday afternoon.

December 7, 1917

FRANK GOODSELL AT CHICKAMAUGA PARK, GA: Dear Aunt Mary and Uncle Will, Received your letter several days ago. We are having some pretty good weather here now; snowed a little on Friday. After inspection yesterday, we went up in the trenches on Snodgrass Hill with overcoats and full packs, stayed there about two hours and returned to camp. There is a lot of sickness in camp, pneumonia and mumps, mostly. I am writing this at the Y.M.C.A. It is too cold in the squad rooms; they are short of fuel and will not be able to get any for several days. Would rather write in the squad room when it is warm because there are so many writing here and there is so much noise. Our company was on guard one day last week; I got the job of messenger again. Well, it will soon be Thanksgiving. Wish I could be home for that, but it's no use. I was also thinking that I would try again at Christmas time, but that will also be impossible because I am one of the 50 in the company detailed to go to the target range on December 23, to be there four days. Give my regards to George Clarke when you see him. In fact remember me to everybody -[Frank Goodsell]

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Mrs William Ackley was so unfortunate Wednesday to fall and injure her side quite seriously. Dr W. J. Kiernan attended her.

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Elizabeth Agnes Hopkins was committed by the court in Derby, Monday, to the House of Good Shepherd in Hartford. Deputy Sheriff Beers took her to Hartford, Tuesday. Mr Beers was appointed guardian for the girl.

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PERSONAL NOTES: Mrs Frank Wilson spent several days last week in the Bronx, the guest of her brother, Thomas Miller and family. Mr and Mrs J.H. Summers were Thanksgiving guests of Mr and Mrs John Mellen of Easton. Miss Angie Wakeman, who is teaching in Thomaston, spent the holiday with her mother, Mrs Lizzie Wakeman. D.B. Parmalee, Thomas Perkins and Philo Cogswell are building a new bridge near Morgan's Store.

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I.W. Andrews, who has conducted the blacksmith shop at Dodgingtown for the past several years, and William Gower have accepted positions at the Remington Arms factory in Bridgeport.kendra@thebee.comidentify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date., or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please

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