March 25, 1994

First Selectman Bob Cascella would like to [words missing] the state to “give, lease or sell” a building at Fairfield Hills to be converted into a new town hall. Describing the proposed facility as a “community center,” Mr Cascella said he envisioned it as including all town services, excluding fire and police but including space for the Board of Education and school administration offices. Mr Cascella said he intends to present the proposal at the Fairfield Hills Task Force meeting on April 13.

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After nearly three years of negotiations, teams of officials from Newtown and Danbury have come to terms on a $1.1 million interlocal sewer agreement which could boost the development of the planned industrial zone in Hawleyville... Town and region officials believe that putting sewers in Hawleyville would facilitate the development of a planned industrial park adjacent to Exit 9 of I-84, giving the area a much needed boost in economic development.

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Police have charged five local youths on vandalism counts in connection with the January bombings of two residential mailboxes. Each of the five boys were charged with two counts of third-degree criminal mischief... The teenagers turned themselves in at the police station after learning that Danbury Superior Court warrants had been issued for their arrests... Police allege the youths blew up the mailboxes early on the morning of January 23... Police said the boys used explosive devices composed of a chemical mixture to blow up the mailboxes.

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Beginning Saturday, April 9, Newtown will begin a pilot program to recycle additional plastics beyond No. 1 and No. 2. In cooperation with Newtown Environmental Action Team the Recycling Center on Ethan Allen Road will also accept plastics No. 3 through 7, styrofoam and plastic film, (such as plastic wrap, dry cleaner bags and newspaper delivery bags) on Saturdays only during the month of April... The additional plastics will be accepted only at the Recycling Center; curbside pickup will still be limited to No. 1 and No. 2 plastics. “Newtown is the leading town in the region in recycling so it’s logical we should expand our program,” First Selectman Bob Cascella said

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Newtown resident Tim Carey has recently developed a computer program called Easy Log that allows scuba divers to log their dives electronically. The new product also provides an extensive global listing of recompression chambers, a special section on women and diving, and names and numbers of dive boat operators... The entrepreneur will be marketing his Easy Log computer program at the 18th Annual Beneath the Sea Exposition, Westchester County Center, White Plains, N.Y., March 25 through 27... Easy Log lives up to its name by needing only 12 keystrokes to install.

March 21, 1969

The Town of Newtown is facing the highest budget in its history for fiscal 1969-70. According to budget figures released this week the combined Selectman’s budget and Board of Education budget totaled $5,106,829.48, up from $4,312, 633.71 in fiscal 1968-69... Steepest increase is in the Board of Education budget, up from $2,656,368 in 1968-69 to $3,240,260 in 1969-70, an increase of some 22 percent. It should be noted that negotiations for teachers’ salaries are continuing at the present time... Another factor bearing on the education budget is the possible reduction by the state of per pupil aid on an average daily membership (ADM) basis.

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Mrs Robert Campbell of 40 Grand Place has been named chairman of the Newtown Republican Women’s Club drive to collect Easter hats, pocket books, and accessories for patients at the Fairfield Hills Hospital. Townspeople are urged to give to this worthy cause. An Easter hat and accessories bar will be set up at the Fairfield Hills Hospital beginning on March 27. Patients will select their free Easter bonnet the following week.

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The 125,000 square-foot Newtown facility of Allied Container Corporation is beginning to take shape on the site just off of I-84 between School House Hill and Church Hill Roads...skeletal steel framework of the modern one-story plant [is] designed by architect Summer Schein. Contractor is Dwight Building Company of Hamden. Allied Container, a subsidiary of Union Camp Corp., is a corrugated box company.

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A Newtown man was formally commended for his important part in a rescue operation recently at the Avco Lycoming Division in Stratford. Fireman John A. Butler of Brushy Hill Road, Newtown, along with Walter W. Kuzia of Shelton, went to the aid of Robert P. Iacomacci of Bridgeport in response to an emergency call. Mr Iacomacci had fallen through the weakened roof of a main transformer shed and was caught only inches from a number of live feeder lines carrying 17,000 volts of electricity. Mr Kuzia secured a wooden ladder and, with the help of Mr Butler, extended it over the trapped man’s head. Using the ladder for support, he was able to grasp Mr Iacomacci and pull him straight up out of the hole. Mr Butler, who was also on the ladder then helped hoist Mr Iacomacci to safety.

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Let it Bee known that... Weather such as we have had over the past five or six days is hard to beat. In fact, it may bring a lot of the Florida vacationers home early. Yet, despite the coming of spring, Doug Kellogg still had his Christmas wreath out last weekend and Archie LaForte — he is the guy who can really cut you short — is still sending out Season’s Greetings from the top of his business building... A boom to the milk industry was felt when it was learned that the cow count in Bethlehem was up to 24... a nature note tells us a woolly bear was on the march in Dodgingtown... Conflicts raged in the Town Hall again on Monday evening with two groups wanting the former bowling alley for meetings. — Now It Is Known.

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Come one, come all to a Great Chicken Pie Dinner at the Newtown United Methodist Church, Saturday, March 22. There will be two servings at 5 or 7 o’clock. The donation is $1.75 adults, 75 cents for children. If you are a connoisseur of chicken pie, this is the place to be.

March 24, 1944

The public is reminded that a general increase in postage rates becomes effective Sunday, March 26. While first class mail remains at 3 cents an ounce, local RFD mail is increased from 2 cents to 3 cents an ounce. Air mail rates are increased from 6 cents to 8 cents an ounce, exception of air mail to servicemen overseas, which remains at 6 cents per half ounce.

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It is reported by Frank H. Strasburger, chairman, that $4,209 has been donated to date to Newtown’s goal of $7,200 in the Red Cross War Fund Drive. To collect the remainder will mean greater effort on the part of everyone... Because your husband or wife has given, do not feel that your duty is finished. Every individual — man, woman, and child — must bear a share in this joint gift.

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Local anglers will be happy to know that the Newtown Fish and Game Club is stocking sections of Pohtatuck brook and Pond brook with brook trout, in preparation for the fishing season. The first shipment will arrive here on Saturday, the second being expected on the 30th... Announcement is also made that bounties have been paid on twelve foxes, although there are indications that more than that number of foxes have been killed in town during the winter.

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RATION REMINDERS: Food Stamp Dates: Meats and Fats: Red stamps A8 through F8 are now valid and have a value of 10 points each. They will expire May 20th. Red stamps G8, H8, J8 will be valid from March 26 to June 18th. Butchers will give consumers two meat points and four cents for each pound of rendered used fat turned in by the consumer. Processed Foods: Blue stamps A8 through E8 in Book 4 are now valid and have a value of ten points each. They are valid through May 20th. Sugar: Stamp 30 in Book 4 is good for five pounds and is valid until further notice. Stamp 31 will be good for five pounds from April 1st until further notice. Stamp 40 in Book 4 will be good for five pounds of sugar to be used solely for canning fresh fruits and will be valid for 13 months, from February 1st, 1944 through February 1945.

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MEAT SHORTAGE WILL BE SERIOUS and will continue to be short for some time. The Department of Agriculture forecasts a 20 percent decrease in the number of sows to farrow this spring. Better place your order now for one or more of those thick, low down, quick finishing Berkshires... BUY PIGS. BUY WAR BONDS. YOU CAN’T GO WRONG. Greta Ring Farm. The Home of Good Berks. Sandy Hook Tel. Newtown 56-2.

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Cynically speaking, “Death Took A Holiday” Sunday morning at 10:15 in Bridgewater, when a herd of 75 to 80 purebred Ayrshire cattle were saved, the barn, its entire structure, being leveled to the ground in complete ruins by fire, two hours later. The property known as Talisman Farms and owned by Mrs Kate F. Carpenter, is located 3 1-2 miles south of the center on Skyline Ridge Road... Chester Boyd, the head herdsman, was in the creamery which is attached to the dairy, and seeing the smoke opened the door, being forced to close it due to smoke and flames... with rare presence of mind he decided to try to get the livestock out, which he successfully succeeded.

March 7, 1919

Microfilm for the January 17 through April 18, 1919 issues of The Newtown Bee are not available. It is unclear why New England Micrographics, Inc in 2000 was not able to produce film for these dates. Based on the poor quality of the early January issues, the film for which reveals torn and damaged originals, the newspapers for these dates may have been destroyed.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with The Newtown Bee 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.