October 1, 1993

Tom Sawyer’s Inc., doing business as Tom Sawyer’s Restaurant, has filed a lawsuit in Danbury Superior Court seeking to prevent the town from ending live entertainment at the nightspot at 160 South Main Street. On July 7 the town issued a cease and desist order, calling for the restaurant to discontinue its nighttime live entertainment. The order stated that unreasonably loud music and noise emanated beyond the boundaries of the property during evening hours, violating town zoning. Residents living near the restaurant in the Wills Road area have complained to town officials that bands playing in the restaurant produce heavily amplified music. In seeking a temporary court injunction against the enforcement of the cease and desist order Joseph Romano and Michael Bocuzzi of Tom Sawyer’s claim that regulations concerning noise are unconstitutionally vague in that they fail to give clear, sufficient and adequate notice concerning the circumstances under which the regulations are allegedly violated. They also claim a large majority of their business depends on live entertainment and its absence will reduce food and bar business, reduce income, and cause the loss of a large customer base. A planning and Zoning Department staff member is required to appear in Danbury court on October 18 to state the town’s response to the restaurant’s lawsuit.

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The US Postal Service didn’t deliver mail to residents on Great Ring Road on September 28. A post office spokesman said it is “a rarity” that mail is not delivered on a road but declines comment on why this happened. Residents called The Newtown Bee on September 29 to complain, saying they were unable to contact the Sandy Hook Post Office by phone. The post office phone was off the hook for an unspecified period of time that day during a special meeting involving postal workers, according to the spokesman.

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Members of the Borough Zoning Commission on September 30 were scheduled to deliberate on a request from Newtown Shopping Center for Borough zoning rule changes intended to allow a large discount package store to locate in the former A&P Supermarket. The 7:30 session came after The Bee deadline. Shopping Center owner Joseph Kasper’s request for rule changes drew fire August 12 from local package store owners who say the proposal is a bad idea. Mr Kaspar wants rule changes which would allow an existing 1,000 square foot package store in the shopping center to move to the 10,000 square foot former supermarket. Local package store owners say a large discount store would damage them competitively. Mr Kaspar said a large package store would attract shoppers to the center and is essential to its future economic vitality.

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Women Involved in Newtown is inviting all interested women to attend a fall orientation meeting at 7:30 pm Wednesday, October 13, at Hawley Manor Inn. The organization, which is involved in social, civic and charitable projects, usually meets the second Monday of each month at the restaurant but has changed the date because of Columbus Day. WIN provides Thanksgiving baskets to needy families, has a Heart Beat Dance in February and an annual progressive dinner among its many activities.

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Over The Back Fence. Turning the calendar page is yet another reminder that winter, cold weather, ice and snow, are all a bit closer. But before that perhaps we will be lucky enough to have a nice Indian Summer. This is the time when sunshine warms field, stream, and those who venture forth to capture just a bit more outdoors before real weather changes come. Even in Indian Summer, when night creeps close and the sun drops below the horizon, the air takes on a nip and we face the promise of fall. Pumpkins appear seemingly from nowhere. Where were they until this crisp air arrived?

October 4, 1968

Mothers, get Johnny to the barber shop and roll up Susie’s hair, Candid Camera is coming to Hawley School on Monday, October 7. Pupils will be photographed individually, and a class composite will also be taken.

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Bassett’s Liquor Store in Sandy Hook was broken into early Tuesday morning, October 1. According to state police a person or persons kicked in a back window, entered the rear of the store and removed 16 cases of liquor. They left through the back door. Nothing appeared to have been disturbed in the front of the store. The case is under investigation.

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We commend the town’s selectmen for their letter to Governor Dempsey on the resurfacing of Main Street. As the letter points out, there are so many danger spots on state roads in other parts of town needing correction, that the expenditure of funds on Main Street hardly seems justified. One other point should be stressed. In the process of resurfacing Main Street, the roadway has been considerably widened and the lawns on either side correspondingly narrowed. This not only tends to encourage speeding; it also makes a boulevard of the main street of a New England village — one of the prettiest in all of New England, until this racetrack appearance was created. We wonder, too, how long it will be until new water mains must be laid and sewer lines installed. If the state had conferred with the town in advance of the resurface job, we feel that the cause of proper planning would be well served.

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The Y-Indian guides are a YMCA sponsored organization of fathers and sons from kindergarten through grade 3, designed to give them a chance to work and play together in a structure built around Indian lore. Between six to nine fathers with their sons meet every other week in a tribe to work on crafts, play games, outings, trips, kite flying, soapbox derbies, all are part of the fun in Y-Indian Guides. The Braves take turns as hosts of the meeting which begin and end with the beating of the tribe tom-tom and a short impressive ceremony.

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September has been a busy month for the Rocking Roosters. Beside the usual club dances, there was a special dance with Guest Caller Dick Ledger, also an open house for all people wanting to learn to square dance. The lessons started October 2, but anyone interested is invited to come out and join. The next regular club dance is October 11 at 8 o’clock at the high school. Bob Paris will be the caller.

October 8, 1943

This very day the encircling hills are robed in their annual array of fall colors. We are not concerned whether this year’s coloring is above or below that of last year. However, we are concerned that every one of us should open our eyes to feast upon the beauties of nature by which we are so handsomely surrounded. Of course, we all have daily toils, frets and worries. But there is a brighter side of life, and strength comes from the hills, particular strength just at this season of the year. Look unto the hills.

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During the year’s leave of absence granted Mrs Alice Davidson, Librarian at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, Mrs Sarah Beers Mitchell will be the acting librarian and Miss Ruth Thomas and Miss Elizabeth S. Smith, the assistant librarians. Both Miss Thomas and Miss Smith are trained librarians and are residents of this town.

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We wish to thank the voters of Newtown for the splendid support accorded us in the town election on October 4. We will continue to give the same economical administration as we have in the past. We welcome suggestions and will try to carry out all measures beneficial to the town. —Stanley J. Blackman, Arthur J. Page.

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Mrs Herbert Clark called on a friend, Mrs Forrest Kalbemburg, in Lordship Park Tuesday and found her confined to her bed at the present time.

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Word has been received by Miss Margaret Ryan from her brother, Private f.c. William J. Ryan, who is now with the armed forces somewhere in Australia.

October 4, 1918

It was one of A.T. Nettleton’s characteristic jobs of thoroughness, by which the Liberty Loan Committee, under his wise direction, put Newtown “over the top” in the drive for the local quota of the Fourth Liberty Loan. Newtown citizens showed their patriotism in splendid shape in the ready response to the committee’s appeals. All agreed in handing Mr Nettleton the just praise his due.

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Thieving from vegetable gardens and orchards that are near a large city on the part of the inhabitants of the more populated centers have made it necessary for the state Grange to take some action to protect its members from the serious losses that occur each year. A bill is to be introduced in the next session of the legislature making it a felony for anyone to steal vegetables and fruit and to put the crime on the same level as chicken stealing. The Grange is drafting a bill that will make it possible for a fine of at least $100 or two months in jail to be imposed on those convicted of appropriating goods. It is high time some legislation of this character was enacted.

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The Sunshine Branch will meet with Mrs H.G. Warner in Berkshire on Friday, October 4, instead of Saturday, as announced last week. This change is due to other matters of importance which are to take place on Saturday. Will those desiring transportation please meet at the Brick Store in Sandy Hook at 2:30 Friday afternoon.

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THE HOME BOYS IN FRANCE: Letter From G. Herbert Beers. Dear Mother:— It must be a week or two since I have written to you, but I have been on the move. Our company moved, and then we were busy moving sick patients. Then one night about 11 o’clock another fellow and I had orders to be ready to move at 4:30 the next morning. We got up at said time, reaching our objective at 6:15. We were to take some officers away for tank instruction. They hadn’t had any breakfast, so when we reached a good town, one of them gave us 50 francs and told us to eat. We did. That day we reached our destination, covering 260 kilos in seven hours. They were all young fellows and certainly used us fine. In one town we went to a French moving picture show. It was sort of dry, but the French seemed to think it was great. We went through a town we stayed in last winter and had supper there. While we had supper is where some of us had our New Year’s Party. The lady took us into her best room and used her best dishes. The whole town soon knew we were there and after supper there was a bunch around asking for certain ones they knew in the company. The country is great and I have enjoyed it all very much. Yesterday, I had a trip to the town Bert Peck is in. He is working hard. I saw Bill Carr yesterday. He is a Sandy Hook fellow. From what I hear the girls are all getting married off. I guess I will have to be an old bachelor or else make up to an old maid with a big roll. Must close for now. Tell me how all the crops [are doing] for you probably won’t get this letter until they are all in. Love to all. Private Herbert Beers. 102 Amb. Cr, 101 Sanitary Train A.E.F. Annex Forces, France.

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The auto races at the Danbury Fair, Saturday, October 12, will be the last automobile races to be held in the U.S. until the war is ended. This is in response to the fuel administration made to the contest board of the American Automobile Association, which has charge of all sanctioned races. The fact that sanction had been granted by A.A.A. for the Danbury Fair races was explained to the government and consent to hold them given, with the understanding that there would be no more races until the war is over.

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.