November 27, 1992

Residents poured over multicolored planning maps, viewed slides of the local landscape, and exchanged ideas on future land use on November 19 at a Planning and Zoning Commission session for gathering public comment on the continuing revision of the town's plan of development. At the workshop meeting, about 60 people broke into four simultaneous discussion groups to mull the developmental directions the town should take during the coming decade. "We're optimistic that we're going to have a very good plan of development," based on the number of people who attended the session, said commission chair John Deegen. Elizabeth Stocker, community development director, said land use officials have been reviewing comments made. She asked residents to carefully consider how the town should develop during the next 10 years.

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Newtown postmaster Richard McGuire said this week he's hoping the new post office on Commerce Road will open Tuesday, January 19, 1993. Mr McGuire said that the opening date will allow the old Post Office on Queen Street to remain open on Saturday, January 17, helping to move the mail over that long weekend. Martin Luther King day on January 18 is a federal holiday. Originally, postal officials hoped to open the new building in November of 1992. Mr McGuire explained, there have been construction-related delays coupled with changes associated Postal Service's program of downsizing. He said it might have been possible to open the facility in December of this year, but the Postal Service doesn't want to make significant changes during the Christmas rush.

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A steady increase in the incidence of crime in Newtown and the opening of the new prison have prompted Police Chief Michael DeJoseph to ask the town for $30,000 to pay for increased overtime and $60,000 to train and equip a "critical incident response team." "All the key crime indicators are up," he said. "Burglary-larceny calls are up 13 percent, residential burglaries are up 10 percent. There is no doubt that crime is increasing and will only continue to get worse." Only $36,000 was budgeted for police overtime this year, compared to $50,000 last year, so the additional request would only result in only a small increase in spending over last year, the chief said. "The additional funds would enable us to put more policemen on the street," he said. "It would give us 1,040 hours of overtime to be used at times when we need the extra coverage."

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When he was a boy in Fairfield, Jim Currier enjoyed being in his grandfather's big library and oiling leather bindings of old books. Like many things a young person does, that passed. In college, Jim studies mass communications with an emphasis on film and graduated from Emerson College in 1971. A year later he was in his family's home when he read an article that changed his life. In his father's alumni magazine from Brown University, Jim read about a man who restored books for the university. "All of a sudden, things clicked," he recalled. "I said, 'Wow, that sounds like fun!'" For the next year he drove to Providence for bookbinding classes that this man - Dan Knowlton - offered through the university's extension program. He enjoyed the class and found that he was good at it. Ever since, he has been a bookbinder. He now works out of his house on East Street. "I always had a fondness for books," said Mr Currier. "As objects, as items, as things. They feel good. When you oil a leather book, it's like a living thing taking nourishment."

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The Legislative Council recently adopted a resolution, calling upon the state and federal governments, along with the Connecticut Light and Power Company, to pay for maintaining and policing Lake Zoar and Lillinonah. In the resolutions the council said the lakes were created by the public utility, for the aid of the utility; and that the federal and state governments require they be open to the public, regardless of the wishes of citizens in abutting communities. The council is asking that other towns, having land next to either lake, join in passing this resolution and in forwarding it to officials as well as CL&P.

December 8, 1967

Newtown's purchase of two acres of land adjoining the Town Park on Lake Lillinonah was consummated on Tuesday, December 5. Authorization of $8,000 for the purchase was made at a special meeting August 3, at which time it was also voted unanimously to accept a gift of $2,000 from the Newtown Rotary Club toward the $10,000 price. The two-acre tract adjoining the Town Park was recommended for purchase by the Conservation Commission. The property has 369 feet of lake frontage, with an easy slope to the water. Accessible from Hanover Road, the wooded tract, adjacent to the 1.6 acre Town Park, gives the town 3.6 acres of recreational, waterfront land.

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Earl Morrall, New York Giants quarterback, and Roger Treat, author of "Encyclopedia of Football," were applauded by a standing-room-only crowd of about 200 football enthusiasts at the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall Tuesday night, December 5. The affair, sponsored by Mrs Eleanor Trampler of the Country Book Store, was in honor of the publication of Treat's latest edition of his massive football history. Mr Morrall, a veteran of 12 seasons of quarterbacking for four NFL teams, proved to be a witty and gracious speaker, answering loaded questions deftly and signing autographs for nearly three hours.

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On December 13 Newtown Realtors will spark off the Christmas season with a jolly celebration at the Hawley Manor Inn, their seventh annual Christmas party. A cocktail hour will be observed from 6:30 to 7:30 pm followed by dining and dancing to the music of George Tobbins. Traditionally, a "scotch raffle" will support the Newtown Fund, in addition to a contribution from the Newtown Board of Realtors to this worthy organization. All members, associates, affiliates and friends are invited to attend.

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An appreciative audience enjoyed the fourth holiday concert given by the Newtown Choral Society at the Edmond Town Hall on Sunday afternoon. Though the weather outside was stormy and quite un-Christmaslike, the singers soon created in the theater a most appropriate atmosphere for the season. The Bee scribe thought the songs were especially well done and wisely chosen for the holiday program. Joseph Grasso conducted the chorus in his usual effective manner, and Mrs Grasso proved once more her ability as accompanist. Though the chorus could use a few more members, especially tenors and basses, the voices on Sunday afternoon seemed to blend especially well, giving a very pleasant effect.

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Purse strings open more easily during the Christmas season than at any other time of year. Surely that is not why the annual drive for funds is now being conducted in Newtown for the Girl Scouts. Yet the Scouts are hoping for a generous response to their appeal for contributions. At present there are 550 girls active in town as Girl Scouts. They are grouped in 22 troops, and quite obviously an organization of that size needs at least a modest budget to operate successfully. As for the Scouts themselves, they are an eager group of girls who are learning through the spiritual, educational, and social experiences of the Girl Scout program. Be generous to them. While the purse strings are untied, do not forget the Newtown Fund, which needs help in its Christmas Basket program. The purpose of the program is to provide food, clothing, and toys to families in need.

December 4, 1942

US Army Treasury Asking Every American To Loan Every Available Dollar For Victory; Newtown Expected To Do Its Part. The United States Treasury's nationwide campaign to raise more than $9,000,000,000 during the month of December, with the help of the Victory Fund organization, has already started. This is, by far, the largest single financial operation that any government has ever attempted, eclipsing even the great Fourth Liberty Loan of 1918 which totaled nearly seven billion dollars. Bank and investment houses all over the country are taking part, with thousands of volunteers. Believing that every American should lend every available dollar to our Government and that every American Corporation with available cash should purchase suitable Treasury issues, the Treasury Department has provided a variety of offerings to meet the requirements of all investors. There will be the continued sale of War Savings Bonds and stamps, as well as Tax Savings Notes, which are especially adapted to individuals and corporations accumulating cash for the payment of federal income or other taxes.

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Two important town meetings are scheduled for Friday and Saturday this week in the Alexandria Room at the Edmond Town Hall. The meeting on Friday, is called for 7 o'clock, when reports from the various town officials will be presented for voters' action. Copies have been available at the Town Clerk's office since November 25, and a supply has also been placed in Warner's Store, Sandy Hook, and Honan's Store, for the convenience of townspeople. This meeting is a recessed session of the annual town meeting held on election day, as copies of the town report were not available then. The meeting on Saturday at 8 o'clock is called to consider an appropriation of $1,000 for the purpose of constructing and equipping an observation post for the use of the Aircraft Warning Service, according to plans approved by the US Army Air Corps.

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Because of the tremendous load that will be placed on all transportation systems this holiday season, it is more important than ever to mail your Christmas parcels as soon as possible, in order to avoid the disappointment occasioned by the arrival of a Christmas present after December 25. Packages mailed from Newtown to destinations west of the Mississippi River should be in your local post office by December 10 at the latest. Parcels for destinations east of the Mississippi should be mailed by December 17, and those addressed to destinations in Connecticut and bordering states should be in the mails December 18, 19, and 21. Pack, wrap, and tie all parcels securely, address plainly and place your return address in the upper left corner. Your post office will be glad to supply you with additional information that you may need.

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According to dimout regulations prepared by the headquarters of the First Service Command, Newtown is not in the dimout area of Connecticut, insofar as house and store lighting is concerned. Nevertheless, in the interest of cooperation and conservation, all property owners are urged to refrain from outdoor Christmas lighting this year. In order, however, that the spirit of Christmas will not entirely be given up, it is suggested that the Community Tree at the head of Newtown street and the Community Tree in Sandy Hook be lighted as usual. These should be equipped with switches, enabling the air raid warden to extinguish them at a moment's notice.

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Cyrenius H. Booth Library Board of Trustees members voted at the Tuesday quarterly meeting, that the library be closed on Sunday afternoons and evenings from now until June 1, 1943. This measure is deemed necessary because of the national emergency and the need to conserve fuel oil.

November 30, 1917

The horse of Mamert Wolcehowski, stolen Saturday night, was picked up by a Bridgeport jitney driver on the state road in Stepney, late Monday night. The driver got out of his machine and hitched the horse to the fence and went on to Bridgeport. He met V.G. Hard and told him about the horse and suggested he put it in some barn. Mr Hard kindly put the horse in Stanley Botsford's barn. Arthur Rydell notified Sheriff Beers, who called up Edward Beardsley, and asked about the horse. Convinced he was on the right track, Sheriff Beers went to Stepney and secured the horse. On Monday the sheriff rode 200 miles in New York state following up clues. The horse had a saddle on and evidently had been abandoned. It is probable that the culprit will be apprehended.

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The Willing Workers of Stepney turned out in force last Friday evening and gave Mr and Mrs Harold Tomlinson a serenade and surprise. Before leaving for their homes, they presented the newly wedded couple with a handsome desk.

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An informal dance will be given at the Newtown Inn to-night (Wednesday) at 8 o'clock for the boys returning from camp Devens. All are cordially invited.

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Herbert Beers In France. Somewhere in France, Oct. 26, 1917. Dear Jessie: Arrived in France safe and sound. Stayed in England only a few days. Bud, Jimmie Peck and Lodric are all feeling fine. I told you before that I wasn't seasick and that it took us three weeks to cross. We are in good barracks and guess we will be comfortable. I have just written to Percy and perhaps I can telephone him when I get paid. I would just like to see Mayor Peck, Burt, and Howard. Probably I write about the same stuff each time, but if we were allowed to tell where we had been I could say whole lot more. Send me some Rameses, Fatinas, and Prince Albert. I may seem to want a lot of tobacco and chocolate, but the stuff you get here is pretty cheap, and the French tobacco so green and strong you can hardly use it. We have got a dandy mess sergeant and he sure can cook up food in good style.

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Henry Petitt was unfortunate enough to have a valuable horse run a piece of stubble into its foot. Dr Knapp of Danbury was summoned and it looks as if the horse will be saved.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.

[naviga:img class="aligncenter wp-image-293245" src="https://newtownbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/way-we-were-Nov.-24-2017-e1516913535898.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="790" /]

Received by The Newtown Bee were these images from resident Alan Shepard, who described the one on the left as a photo of the old town hall and annex building. The photo was taken in the 1920s, facing north on Main Street. The store in the second photo is Newtown General Store, which was one owned by Mr Shepard's family.