***

Grand Union temporarily withdrew its expansion plans from the Borough Zoning office about one-and-one-half weeks ago in order to comply with health code regulations. Eton Center, the New York-based owner of Grand Union, has been planning the expansion of the supermarket and surrounding shopping area since 1983. Richard Donohoe, architect for the proposed building, said this latest delay has been made “in order to do some testing of the water usage with the supermarket.”

***

Last Saturday while on a Parks and Recreation night ski trip, two 12-year-old girls were trapped in a ski lift chair for 2½ hours when the power went out at Big Birch Ski Area in Patterson, N.Y. The girls, Meredith Buonanno and Melissa Mayhew, were riding up the mountain in the chair lift when the power failed, stranding them 50 feet above the ground. By the time they were rescued, both girls were numb with cold. The girls were given soup, sandwiches, and hot chocolate by the ski area employees to warm them up for the trip home. Before they got on the bus, both girls also received free ski passes.

***

The Public Building Committee has directed architect George Reichert to develop plans for the conversion of an unused storage room in the basement of Town Hall South into a combined dispatch center for the town’s Police Department, volunteer fire companies, ambulance corps, and Civil Preparedness unit.

January 26, 1962

Paul S. Smith, editor and business manager of The Bee, this week marks his 30th anniversary at this newspaper, a milestone he hasn’t mentioned but one noted by Bees with a long memory. Before we make him feel any older, it is justice to point out that he is running third in length of service on The Bee staff, for Mrs Matthew Winkle, the former Anna Connors, came to The Bee in 1923, and shop foreman Ray Jandreau came here in 1928.

***

The Newtown Bee was winner of three awards in the annual newspaper contest conducted by the New England Weekly Press Association, a contest that attracted 477 entries from close to 100 newspapers all over New England. The Bee was pleased to learn it received an award for community service in recognition of two series of articles and editorials. An award was presented to The Bee for “Best Promotional Advertising.” The third prize captured by The Bee was a “Special Award” in recognition of the unusual front page of December 23, 1960, when Christmas greeting cartoons drawn by Paul Webb, Dana Fradon, and Lee Lorenz were featured.

***

Four directors were elected at the seventh annual meeting of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce, held last Thursday evening at the Hawley Manor Inn. Miles Harris, retiring president, warned that, with growth in population and commercial activity come problems. There will be increased demand on the part of the buying public for more merchandise and all possible service. To take full advantage, a great deal of attention must be given to the task of supplying the customer with the goods he wishes to buy, making Newtown an inviting center for commercial activity.

***

The United Fire Company of Botsford will hold a games party at the Botsford Fire House on Wednesday evening, January 31, at 7:30 o’clock. The public is cordially invited.

 

January 22, 1937

By coincidence, the annual meetings of Trinity Parish and the Newtown Congregational church were both held last Thursday evening. Members of Trinity took advantage of the opportunity to instruct their clerk to send a resolution of greetings and friendship to the members of the Congregational church at their meeting. A response was sent back to Trinity at once. Both resolutions show the fine spirit of good will enjoyed between the two churches.

***

In keeping with the countrywide celebration of the 27th birthday of the Boy Scouts of America, a party is being held for the Scouts, their parents and friends. The highlight of the evening will be the appearance on the program of a G-Man from Washington, D.C. This speaker, connected with the Criminal division of the Attorney General’s office in the Department of Justice, will tell of the work the J. Edgar Hoover’s G-Men are doing, which will prove quite as interesting to the parents and friends as to the Scouts themselves.

***

The Play Reading Group will hold its next meeting at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library on Wednesday, January 27, at 2:30 o’clock, when the discussion will center about “The Spanish Tragedy.” In the evolution of drama in English, “The Spanish Tragedy” has two special marks of distinction. It provided suggestions for part of the plot of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” and it shows us the best example of the earliest “blood and thunder” type of tragedy.

***

Newtown and Sandy Hook residents were shocked on Sunday morning, when it became known that John O. Pitzschler, 54, one of the town’s most prominent citizens, was found dead at his home in Sandy Hook, shortly after 9 o’clock on Saturday evening. The deceased was born in Newtown, the son of the late Probate Judge Oscar Pitzschler and Margaret Brennan Pitzschler. For some years he was associated with his father in a barbershop in the former Beers block on Main street… and about 35 years ago he opened a barbershop in Sandy Hook. For many years he was treasurer of St John’s church and took a leading part in the building of the new church after the old edifice was destroyed by fire.

 

January 26, 1912

Arthur D. Fairchild filled his ice house, the first week of the blizzard weather, cutting the supply from his private pond. He was assisted by A.C. Moore, Robert D. Smith and men, and others. A fine spirit of cooperation exists in Taunton District, one farmer turning out and helping his neighbor with such heavy work as the ice harvest.

***

Mr and Mrs R.D. Smith were thrown out of their wagon, Thursday, as they were starting for Danbury. The wagon struck a piece of ice and both went over, Mrs Smith landing on her husband. Mr Smith received quite a blow on the head. Dr Moore of Bethel was called to attend him.

***

It does not often happen that a man in his 80th year can be in correspondence with a man to whom he went to school when eight years old. Our old friend, E.L. Johnson, whom everybody knows by name at least, tells of receiving a letter last week from Edwin A. Lum, to whom he went to school in Tinkerfield in 1840. There are two others besides himself who are 83 and 85, who went to school to Mr Lum at the same time and all three of them live within sight of the site of the old schoolhouse. Mr Lum writes he was 93 years old last October, is now living in New Milford and with his wife, both bid fair to live to a good old age.

***

The Bakers’ Jolly Dozen, consisting of young ladies and gentlemen from Newtown, Sandy Hook, and the Glen, took advantage of the fine sleighing on Sunday afternoon and drove to Woodbury, where they stopped at the Stiles House and were finely entertained. They left at about 7 o’clock, the proprietor wishing them all good luck to reach their homes safely, which they did. Much credit is due to the judgment of the one who did the driving, for there were no upsets. The people well knew that there was a sleighing party out as their merry songs and laughter could be heard all the way.