March 24, 1995

William Flood, 62, of Monroe, was reported in stable condition Thursday morning in Danbury Hospital following a Wednesday afternoon accident in which he was struck by a station wagon while crossing Main Street from Newtown Savings Bank to his parked car in the road shoulder. Police said motorist Jean McBride, 86, of Old Hawleyville Road told them she did not see Mr Flood walking across the street before the 3:23 collision. Mr Flood received head and hand injuries. The Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corp transported him to the hospital. Mr Flood was jaywalking when struck. The accident is under investigation.

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State police are investigating circumstances of the untimely death of an inmate at the Western Substance Abuse Treatment Center, a state Department of Corrections minimum security facility at Fairfield Hills. State police said that on March 14, inmate Allen Bowens, 36, of Bridgeport was transported from Western to Danbury Hospital due to medical problems he was experiencing. Mr Bowens died at Danbury Hospital March 18. An autopsy reportedly indicated that Mr Bowens’ death was accidentally caused by respiratory arrest stemming from cocaine and opiate abuse and coronary artery disease. Officials are investigating whether Mr Bowens somehow smuggled drugs into the prison when he returned from a furlough on the weekend of March 11-12.

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The Newtown Historical Society announces two 18th Century workshops led by Cheryl M. Compton in March at The Matthew Curtis House. Ms Compton operates Remnants of History, an organization which is dedicated to the preservation of the American Colonial Period. On March 25 and 26, A Favorite Meals II will be from 1-5 pm. Both workshops are open to adults only. Favorite Meals II will focus on the essential cookery techniques of the 18th Century. This basic course will include recipes authentic to the period. The fee is $40.

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Flo Caron won four first-place awards including “best of show” in the Newtown Woman’s Club craft show at the Fireside Inn last Thursday, March 16. Ten other projects also took first place awards and will be entered, with Flo Caron’s projects, in the district 8 competition of the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs in Milford next week. Flo won best of show for a heart-shaped arrangement of pressed flowers on black velvet under glass.

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The Newtown Rotary Club will hold its annual gold raffle on Saturday, March 25, at 7 pm, at the Fireside Inn. The evening will include cocktails, dancing to the music of Bob Schmidt, and dinner, plus a raffle of 20 prizes worth a total of approximately $9,000. Raffle tickets are $135. Only 200 tickets will be sold. Ticket holders can bring a guest for cocktails and dinner for an additional $35.

March 20, 1970

As The Bee goes to press, results of the latest site test on the Luf property are not yet available. Therefore, any further discussion of the site for a new elementary school is being postponed, including coverage of the Taunton residents’ meeting on Monday evening, March 16.

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Project Chairman Roger Bjornberg reports that the Annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Saturday, March 28 at 1 pm at the town park. Pre-schoolers through eight-year-olds are invited to partake in this fun-filled event for children and parents. There will be prizes for some lucky youngsters, and it is also reported that there will be many “rabbits” to help distribute goodies. All Newtown residents are invited.

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Betty Christensen is wearing a hand-painted cast on her left leg as a result of a fall she took while on vacation in Austria.

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A home horticulture course will be taught on four consecutive Mondays starting March 23 from 7-9 pm at the Hamilton Park Pavilion, Waterbury, reports Ted Stames, regional horticulturalist for the University of Connecticut. This series is designed to benefit the average homeowner in the care of his lawn and gardens. Practical solutions and suggestions will be given by three university Cooperative Extension Service horticulturalists. The schedule will be lawn care, care of shrubs and trees, how to prune shrubs and trees, and basic landscaping.

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All girls ages 10 through 13 are invited to register for cheerleading for the Newtown Pop Warner Football Team. Registration will be Friday night, March 20 at 7:30 in the Sandy Hook Elementary School. This year two teams will be entered in the Candlewood Valley League, and cheerleaders will be needed for both teams. No previous experience is necessary to register. Try-outs will be at a later date to determine which girls will cheer for the teams this year. Each girl who wishes to register is asked to bring a parent.

March 16, 1945

There were seven tables at play at the Newtown Country Club bridge party held at the clubhouse on Monday evening, when Misses Gertrude and Claire Endemann very graciously entertained. The gathering was also a farewell party for Mrs R.O. Judson of Woodbury, a former club member. High scores for the evening went to Mrs G.H. Vello and Dr John L.W. Jenkins while Miss Gertrude Endemann and Mrs Vello hold the highest scores for the month.

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The partnership existing between Agnes Smith and Laura Karcheski under the name of the Colonial Beauty Salon in Newtown, has been terminated by mutual consent. The business will hereafter be conducted by Agnes Smith.

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Mr and Mrs W. C. Richardson, formerly of Sandy Hook, recently purchased a house on Newtown Turnpike in Weston, owned by Maurice Hill. Mr and Mrs Richardson and family plan to occupy their new home about May 1.

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Mrs Georgie Northrop Andrews, who received word several weeks ago that her son, Private Richard W. Andrews, was missing in action, received a card this week from her son telling of his capture by the Germans. Private Andrews, who is a member of the 106th division, was taken prisoner at the time the Germans made their drive into Belgium and is now a prisoner at Camp Luckenwade in Germany.

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The Visiting Nurse Association of Newtown Board of Directors’ monthly meeting will be held at the Edmond Town Hall on Tuesday, March 20, at 3 pm.

March 12, 1920

Owing to the shortage of coal, the Community school is taking its vacation this week, instead of Easter. A supply of coal was received on Wednesday, so the school will be all right for heat when school opens again on Monday.

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Raymond Keating, while sliding down hill with Paul Stevens the other afternoon, met with a painful accident. In passing under a barbed wire fence, Master Keating sustained a bad cut on his upper lip. Dr. W.H. Kiernan, who was summoned, sewed up the wound. John. J. Keating, his father, and William Stevens, shoveled out the road so Dr Kiernan could get to Mr Keating’s house. They were obliged to make their way through the lots to get there.

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While chopping in the woods, one day last week, William P. Nelson was unfortunate enough to let his axe slip, cutting a bad gash in his ankle. Dr W.H. Kiernan dressed the wound.

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Constable Thomas Carlson, who has kept a record of snow storms, says there has been 32 snow storms, the past winter.

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Edward Troy, the esteemed Grand Army veteran, is confined to his room at the Sandy Hook Hotel, but is able to sit up part of the time. A trained nurse, Miss Ryan, is assisting in his care. Mr Troy is slowly on the gain, a fact his many friends will be pleased to learn.

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.