June 5, 1998

Newtown residents got a taste of what life can be like in Kansas Sunday night when the area had a tornado scare. At around 9 pm, meteorologists began informing residents that the National Weather Service had issued a tornado warning for several towns, including Newtown. They urged people to seek shelter in a basement, pointing to radar screens showing a nasty storm headed eastward toward the Danbury area. … As it turns out, the only weather event was a nasty thunderstorm. Just the talk of tornados was enough to raise the general anxiety level in town. Severe thunderstorms struck the area once again on Tuesday night.

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For the first time ever, Newtown Middle School entered a statewide middle school of the year contest, and they won! While Newtown Middle School students, teachers, administrators and parents were out on the lawn in front of the school, being honored for annual awards, the phone was ringing in Principal Les Weintraub’s office on Friday, May 29. It was late morning before Mr Weintraub found a message from Timothy Doyle of the Connection Association of Schools, who requested a callback. The first thing Mr Doyle said to Mr Weintraub, however, was “Congratulations!” … Newtown Middle School was one of two schools chosen from across the state for the CAS Middle Level School of the Year 1997-98.

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About 30 cyclists in Habitat for Humanity’s Fifth Annual Bicycle Challenge rode through Newtown on the afternoon of May 30, traveling in small groups of two, three or four. The Saturday run was the first leg of a 4,000-mile ride to raise funds for the affordable housing organization. Organizers hope to raise $125,000, which is enough to underwrite the construction of two Habitat homes.

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The 2nd Company Governor’s Horse Guard on the campus of Fairfield Hills has been undergoing a facelift of sorts and the State Bond Commission will be helping the renovation continue. The commission this week approved $435,000 in funding for the second phase of the renovation project. State Representatives Julia B. Wassermann, William J. Varese and John Stripp made the announcement. The first phase of the project included demolition and other work necessary to convert the former car barn for horse use. The second phase will include the installation of stalls at the horse barn.

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More than 20 members of Congregation Adath Israel’s B’nai Youth Organization chapter gathered at a barbecue on Memorial Day to say Good-Bye for the summer, thank their outgoing officers, and elect new leaders. The group’s officers for 1998-99 are Adam Hopkins, president; Seth Guiterman, vice president; Jessica Block, secretary; and Andrew Portnoy, treasurer.

June 1, 1973

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — A THREAT TO THE TOWN MEETING: The budgets of the Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen, and ultimately a mill rate and taxes, while being the subject of the town meeting on Wednesday evening at the high school, have taken a back seat to the immediate threat and abuse being leveled against our form of town meeting government. We believe that the last two budget meetings, poorly attended in the shadow of a referendum, stand as ample proof of this. … Newtown has not grown too big, nor become too complex, to still operate effectively under the town meeting system … We believe that our town is still made up of enough sensible people, ones who really care, who will come out to a town meeting, listen to the pros and cons, and vote intelligently.

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The town budget for 1973-74 was discussed for the second time at a town meeting Wednesday evening, and this time almost all the speakers were in favor of accepting the Board of Finance recommendations as they stand. Since a referendum petition had been filed before the meeting, it was recessed at 10 pm for a vote by machine on Tuesday, June 12, from 6 am to 8 pm in the gymnasium of Edmond Town Hall. Much of the two-hour meeting was taken up by members of town boards who appealed to the voters to turn out for the referendum and vote to approve the budget.

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Officer Robert Taylor, head of the youth division of the Newtown Police Department, attended a two-day seminar given at the University of Bridgeport on May 22 and 23. The seminar was on dealing with troubled juveniles and speakers were from Juvenile Court and the department of Children and Youth Services. … The seminar was the first in a series of seminars dealing with problems of this nature and was attended mainly by law enforcement officers who are heads of juvenile departments.

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After Monday, June 4, a familiar name in the Wheeler Shopping Center on Queen Street will be gone, and a new one will replace it. On that date a new owner takes over Borodenko’s Market, which has been in the shopping center since 1962 and has since then been known for its high-quality, over-the-counter meats. John T. Lappas of Pawling, N.Y., will be the new owner and the name of the store will be changed to Newtown A.G. Market. Mr Lappas also owns grocery stores in Pawling and Beekman, N.Y., and his new store in Newtown will be associated with Allied Grocers Co-op, as his other markets are.

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The Newtown Ambulance Association has a beautiful new ambulance to serve residents. The vehicle was delivered on May 21, and the keys were turned over to Charles Clarke, president of the Association’s Board of Trustees, by Gerald Ferrari, vice president of Eastern Coach Sales, the company from which the ambulance was purchased. The old ambulance which served the town so well was traded in when the new one was purchased.

May 28, 1948

Speaking with fervor and logic, Vernon Nash held an audience of approximately 100 persons in rapt attention when he spoke on “Prospects for a Governed World” in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall. His appearance in Newtown was sponsored by the local chapter of United World Federalists.

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Miss Florence McIntosh and Donald Drew were united in marriage at a very pretty ceremony held in the Newtown Congregational church last Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rev Paul A. Cullens performed the ceremony, and Mrs Charles Goodsell rendered the wedding music. The altar was beautifully banked with many spring flowers. Given into marriage by her father, the bride wore a long white chiffon gown trimmed with true love knots. A full fingertip veil fell from a dainty seed pearl crown. Long white lace mitts completed the bridal costume.

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The annual meeting of the Newtown Village Cemetery Association was held in the trustees’ room of the Newtown Savings Bank last Friday afternoon. George M. Stuart, president, presided. The following officers were re-elected to succeed themselves: Mr Stuart, president; Arthur T. Nettleton, secretary and treasurer; S. Curtis Glover, auditor; Mr Stuart, Mr Nettleton and H. Carleton Hubbell, trustees.

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Robert de Veer of Glover avenue, Newtown, who survived combat in the Pacific and at least one near-fatal crack-up in a Navy fighter, is confined to his home this week suffering from the mumps.

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Mrs Robert D. Smith returned to her home in Dodgingtown district this past week-end, after her winter’s stay at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Mr and Mrs Clarence T. Yerkes of Riverton, N.J. Mr and Mrs Yerkes drove Mrs Smith to Newtown, spending the week-end here.

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Chest X-ray prints taken of Newtown school children in the recent tuberculosis testing program have been interpreted and the results reported to the Visiting Nurse Association of Newtown, under whose auspices the program was conducted. The survey disclosed only 2.11 per cent reportable findings, according to Miss Martha Kline, Visiting Nurse. Parents of children who need further attention have all been notified, so parents who have not received such notice may assume that their child’s test was negative.

May 25, 1923

At a meeting of the directors of the Newtown Water Company held recently, it was voted to increase the flat rate from $10 to $14 per year. No change in other rates. This was found absolutely necessary as the Water Company has not been meeting expenses, and has bills outstanding of several hundred dollars. … This is the first time, since the Water Company was started, that the rates have been changed, although the maintenance has gone up by leaps and bounds.

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Newtown secured fifth place in the selling of Red Cross stamps to help the tubercular cause along. Beacon Falls was first and Canton second in the race. Mrs Charles A. Peale and her host of helpers may well feel satisfied with the showing Newtown made.

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Otto Kandler, a world war veteran, is a patient at the Danbury hospital, having been ill for over a year. Mr Kandler was in the Marines before he joined the army. His father, August Lemke of Dodgingtown, was with Admiral Dewey at Manila Bay. Mr and Mrs Lemke bought the farm in Dodgingtown with the hope the outdoor work would help Mr Kandler’s health.

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Andrew J. Wheeler of Sharon, who is visiting here, has a hen which is a record-breaker in laying eggs. Just before he left home she laid an egg which weighed five ounces, and measured 8 1-2 by 6 3-4 inches in circumference. The egg was on exhibition in Sharon. Newtown can always beat the world. Our friend Herbert Beers brings an egg to The Bee office, measuring 9 1-4 by 7 1-4 inches and weighing five and one-quarter ounces.

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Miss Evanna Briscoe, a former resident of Newtown, was brought here for burial Tuesday. Miss Briscoe died in South Norwalk Saturday. Although she had been ailing for some time, her death was unexpected, and came as a shock to her friends. She was 53 years old, a daughter of the late Edwin and Mrs Harriett Briscoe. The funeral was held from the home of her mother, Rev Mr Jacobs of South Norwalk Congregational church, officiating. She leaves beside her mother, one sister, Mrs Jennie Hayden, two nephews, and three nieces. Burial was in the Huntingtown cemetery.

June 3, 1898

Your correspondent was so well pleased with the address of the reverend pastor of the Congregational church to the veterans of Newtown, and all in attendance last year, that we attended again on Sunday last. The address was masterly, eloquent, soul-stirring. The men who had felt and seen war in all its phases were visibly affected. The discourse was, as usual, full of the best of classical reference, and held the audience spellbound. We hope to be able to attend next year, if Mr Barker is still there. The music was excellent. We learn that Father Smith was earnest and eloquent on war also. We hope The Bee will give us every word of both efforts. We were glad we [sic] staid to hear Miss Moffat’s talk of her experience with “Great Bear” and all his Indians. It requires nerve and courage to visit the red skin in his wilds, and we felt proud of the lady who did it.—[G.W.B.

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The usual preaching service at the Hawleyville chapel was omitted on Sunday.

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The foundation for the new residence of J.A. James is nearing completion.

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Herbert Ames, the popular night operator for the New England road at Hawleyville, spent Memorial Day in Danbury.

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Miss Nellie Green and her sister were visitors in Danbury on Memorial day.

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The honor of catching the largest trout, this season, hereabouts, belongs to Attorney W.J. Beecher, who hooked a splendid specimen on Saturday, weighing close to a pound and a half. He presented it to his friend, Former Congressman De Forest.

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Miss Moffatt, whose eloquent address at the Congregational church on Sunday night was so much enjoyed, was entertained over Sunday by Mr and Mrs W.H. Hubbell.

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Mrs Allison P. Smith and Miss Hazel Smith visited Mrs S.H. Smith at Bridgeport on Tuesday.

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Miss Anna McMahon of Elmira, N.Y., accompanied by Miss Mamie Harrigan of Bridgeport, spent Sunday and Memorial day with friends in town.

Do you have photographs of people or places in town from a bygone era? The Way We Were is the perfect landing spot so that your photographs can be enjoyed by Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed as attachments to shannon@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date. If you live locally and would like to loan a photo/photos, please give us a call (203-426-3141) to let us know when you will be visiting.