January 6, 1989

The Legislative Council voted 17-0 January 4 to approve a resolution “censoring” First Selectman Rod Mac Kenzie for violating the town charter by overspending certain line item accounts without having authorization. Mr Mac Kenzie did not comment at the council meeting. But he said afterwards that he considered the motion illegal, because, he maintained, the council lacked the authority to censure anybody.

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Four times, so far, skaters have ignored No Skating signs at Dickinson Park and have used the rink there before the ice was completely frozen. Each time, the rink’s liner was ripped, causing the water to leak out. The vandalism is becoming frustrating to Parks and Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian, who had hoped to have the rink, which is located in the park’s pavilion, open to the public by now.

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The newly formed Babe Ruth baseball league is looking for coaches for the 13-year-old prep-league. The prep-league is made up of 13-year-olds who are coming up from the majors and the minors divisions of the Little League, and will be playing on the Major League sized field for the first time. They will also be playing by official Major League rules for the first time. No previous coaching experience is required, as there will be a coaching clinic offered by former big league slugger George Foster at the end of January.

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The Board of Education heard the pros and cons of requiring Newtown school bus owners to install seatbelts at its January 3 workshop meeting. The board did not make a decision but said it would include the issue on the agenda for the next meeting, scheduled for January 10, at which point it would accept additional information from the public. Most parents at the meeting were in favor of installing seat belts on school buses, while drivers expressed opposition to installing the belts in the large school buses.

January 10, 1964

This Thursday morning’s thin but treacherous coating of ice caught almost everybody flatfooted, including The Bee. Many cars wound up in ditches throughout Newtown, or spun their wheels on roadways or driveways. The ice was so thin that on the main roads it began to disappear quickly as Thursday morning wore on, with the weight of vehicles and increasing temperatures causing ice to melt and crumble. In common with other businesses in the town, Bee staff had difficulty in getting to work, but one by one the staff members arrived, “in time,” to get The Bee out — “on time.”

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With the completion of an addition to the building and the installation of John Bean Visualiner equipment, Carl S. Oberg announces the opening of a new wheel aligning department at Oberg’s Texaco Servicenter on Church Hill Road. The new addition to the building increases the floor space of the Servicenter by about one-third. Mr Oberg reminds the public that he also has equipment for turning drums, brakes and armatures and is equipped for motor tune-ups, brake relining and general repairing.

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The Newtown Chapter of AFS is happy to announce that Om Prakash Sabu, our visiting AFS student from India, is now available for speaking engagements. For the last few months, Om has been acquainting himself more fully with our language and customs and is eager to tell the many organizations in Newtown and vicinity about his country and its many fascinating customs.

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Mrs Charles S. Cole is a patient at the Danbury Hospital, where she is recuperating from a fall which she suffered on December 24, while decorating her mailbox for Christmas. She received a fractured pelvis in the fall.

January 6, 1939

An Egg Quality School will be held on Saturday, January 7, at Hawley High School in Newtown for all boys in Fairfield County interested in poultry and under twenty-one years of age. The school is being conducted for the purpose of teaching boys how to candle eggs and grade according to Connecticut grades. Also to point out the qualities of a good candler and how to handle it. Cocoa will be provided at noon, and it is advised that pencils, note books, and home-made candlers be brought to the meeting so that full benefit may be derived from this worthwhile project.

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Paul V. Cavanaugh, Judge of Probate elect, was sworn into office by Town Clerk May E. Sullivan on Wednesday morning, when he assumed his duties as local Judge of Probate. During the day, numerous officials of the town besides many of his friends, stopped at his office to congratulate him on his new position.

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Through the columns of The Bee, acknowledgement is made by the Newtown Chamber of Commerce to the Danbury and Bethel Gas and Electric Light Company who have generously donated the electric current for lighting the Christmas tree at the head of Newtown’s Main street, near the Soldiers’ Monument. Each evening the tree has shone forth in an attractive fashion to help lend a Christmas atmosphere to the Street. The Chamber wishes to be known the generosity of the Danbury company in not only supplying the “juice,” but also stringing wires to the tree at their own expense.

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On last Thursday evening in the Edmond gym the Newtown A.C. dropped their second game of the season to the Lutherans of Danbury by the close score of 35 to 29. The local team, playing to the largest gathering of fans that has attended any game in a season or two, got off to a fast start and at one point during the first quarter led by nine points. However, the Lutheran combine, living up to their impressive record thus far this year continued to play hard ball. The strong Danburians took over the lead late in the second quarter and were successful in holding it.

 

January 9, 1914

James Gorman, while in Shelton on Saturday, came to his death in a shocking way. He was run over by a freight train and horribly mutilated. It is said he was sitting on the platform near the station and whether the tremendous suction of the passing train drew him under its wheels or just how the accident happened is not known so far. Identification was established through a letter which was found in his pocket.

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Dorothy, the young daughter of Mr and Mrs T.J. Corbett of Queen street, is ill with scarlet fever. On Saturday, the little miss was taken ill, with what at first appeared to be tonsillitis. On Monday, Dr Gale pronounced it scarlet fever. The child is isolated from the rest of the family and the family has been quarantined. The publications which have been delivered by Master James T. Corbett will be delivered by Master John Casey in Sandy Hook and Master Cornelius Houlihan in Newtown. James Lynch, a former High school student, is substituting for Mr Corbett in the Sandy Hook school, during the period of quarantine.

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C.W. McChesney, representing the Danbury & Bethel Street Railway Co, has been in Newtown, making a canvas of the town, with a view of introducing electric lighting into the residences and business places. Mr McChesney has met with encouraging success and is still prosecuting the canvas.

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A runaway team belonging to Eli Greenblat ran into Miss Angie Wakeman, Friday forenoon, near the residence of E.R. Botsford in Huntingtown. Miss Wakeman was thrown from her wagon and quite badly injured. Mr Botsford brought Miss Wakeman to her home at Mrs Ada Parmelee’s and her injuries were cared for by Dr Smith.