March 7, 1986

Five persons, including Bridgeport industrialist F. Francis D’Addario, died March 5 in the crash of Mr D’Addario’s business plane in Eola, Ill. The plane, a Mitsubishi MU-2, a twin-engine turbo-prop, crashed at 5:06 pm on open ground, near large storage tanks at the Thermoglas propane gas plant in Eola. In Newtown, Mr D’Addario owned the bulky waste landfill on Button Shop Road. The landfill has been at the center of a series of lawsuits between Mr D’Addario and the town.

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Jay Walker of Northeast Utilities was raised in the bucket of his truck to the top of a telephone pole to repair wiring that had burst into flame and caused a small explosion. A wire fell off the insulator and landed on a steel bracket, causing the flame and power outage on Elm Drive.

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The Police Commission voted to reject the requests by Officer Darlene Froehlich for maternity leave and Sergeant Raymond Paccadolmi for paternity leave after lengthy executive sessions. Office Froehlich requested that the police department create a light duty position for her so that she could continue to work as a police officer up until July, shortly before her baby is due. She said she will try and work with the police union and with human rights agencies to try and get some action. The board also denied Sgt Paccadolmi’s request to change his five vacation days to sick leave, for the birth of his daughter in February.

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The controversy continued this week over the 19 percent pay raises that First Selectman Jack Rosenthal gave his two staff members, taking each of them out of the town’s merit pay plan for non-union employees and giving them raises retroactive to January 6. The other two selectmen were not told of the contracts. They both criticized the raises, which they said were out of line with raises being given to other town employees.

 

March 10, 1961

A large number of Botsford residents are expressing interest in the vacancy for the position of Postmaster, caused by the death of Albert W. Rasmussen. Hearing that Miss Miriam Rasmussen, daughter of the late Postmaster, would like the appointment, the residents are circulating a petition which will be forwarded to the Democratic Town Chairman. Miss Rasmussen is a Republican. The Botsford friends and neighbors are endeavoring to gain enough support to cause the Democrats to consider the appointment of a Republican.

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Harry King Tootle, former personnel director of The New York Times, who had been a leader in many Newtown activities, died last Sunday, of a heart attack, in Tucson, Ariz. Mr Tootle was the town’s Civil Defense director in the early days and had served as chairman of the Newtown Branch of the Red Cross. When the 250th anniversary of the town was celebrated, he was an executive committee member of the Honorary Committee of 100, and edited, with Col James A. Tobey and Paul S. Smith, the commemorative booklet “The 250th Anniversary of Newtown.” He studied law and journalism at Johns Hopkins University in 1903.

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One of two living charter members of the Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company and its first chief, William Gower, called The Bee this week to say the company’s 50th birthday arrived Wednesday. The fire company, second oldest in town, was formed on March 8, 1911.

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A large white rabbit was spied late Wednesday night, poking a note through The Bee’s letter slot. “Lost — a large bag of jelly beans. Please return to Newtown Shopping Center on Saturday, March 25, between 10 am and 4 pm. X — Peter Rabbitt (His Foot Mark.) The shivering bunny is surely calling attention to his presence on that date at the Shopping Center to greet all frisky rabbits and children.

 

March 6, 1936

Mr and Mrs Charles G. Morris sailed February 29th for California by way of the Panama Canal, on the Steamship Santa Elena. From San Francisco they will go to point Lobos where their daughter Mrs George B. Vaughn is now living. They will return by way of Santa Fe, where their daughter Mrs Earl Jackson, is living.

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The annual meeting of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce took place last Friday evening at the Parker House. Following the business meeting, Mrs W.M. McKenzie gave a very interesting talk on “Earthquakes and Earthquake Waves.” There is an average of 4,000 district earth tremors felt each year, with an average of better than one a day in the United States. Quite a distinct shock occurred, it will be remembered, in New England eleven years ago.

***

Anyone wishing to go to the opera, speak to some member of the Young People’s Club, then find three dollars and be ready on Friday afternoon, March 20, and your wish will be granted. A transportation bus will leave Newtown at three o’clock. That will allow time to look about a bit. The opera starts at 8:15. There will be two short operas. Schicchi, to be sung in English and Pagliacci with the full ballet of the Metropolitan.

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By defeating Bethel high school in their postponed basketball game last Friday night, the girls of Hawley school become the champions in their half of the high school league and will meet Salisbury high school, winners in the other section, to determine the league championship. This game is sure to be a “hummer” and it is hoped that the scene of the encounter will be near at hand.

 

 

March 10, 1911

Former Selectman Hermon H. Peck was the victim of a bad accident, Saturday. While superintending the loading of material for the Castle, his team of horses backed up suddenly, catching his knee between the wagon and the building. At first he feared his knee was smashed, but found he had sustained painful bruises.

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Sunday evening when Misses Anna, Bessie, and Grace Ruffells were driving from their home in Palestine to Newtown Street, the horse was frightened and jumped to one side of the road, throwing out the three young ladies. The young ladies fortunately escaped with severe bruises. The horse was not injured, but the carriage was quite badly broken.

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The offering for the China famine sufferers at the Congregational Church Sunday morning amounted to $34.13. This has been forwarded to the Red Cross headquarters. It is estimated by the Red Cross authorities that the sum of $2 will keep one person through the famine.