April 14, 2000

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Fawn Schmidt.

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The state Department of Labor has decided against paying unemployment benefits to former police chief James E. Lysaght, Jr, deciding he was terminated from his $65,280 annual post by the town for “willful misconduct.” The DOL notified the town this week that the merit rating unit of its unemployment security division has decided “the claimant [Lysaght] has been found ineligible for his benefit [because] his discharge from your employ on 03/03/2000 was for willful misconduct or other disqualifying conduct” as specified by state law. My Lysaght has the right to appeal the decision.

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A reconnaissance mission went slightly awry last Friday afternoon as three top ranking school officials narrowly escaped having to spend the weekend locked inside Canaan House at Fairfield Hills. Had it not been for Zoning Enforcement Officer Gary Frenette, there’s no saying what night have happened to John Reed, John Bienkowski, and Dominic Posca. The three men were on a tour of the massive building, which once served as home to hundreds of patients within the former state mental health hospital. The Board of Education has plans to move their offices to the Fairfield Hills campus next year. As the three men entered a section of Canaan House, a door accidentally locked behind them. Trapped for nearly 30 minutes, the three men tried unsuccessfully to free themselves. Even the handy Dominic Posca, the school system’s director of buildings and grounds, was unsuccessful at picking the lock.

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Parents can start planning winter skiing trips next year. The Newtown Board of Education Tuesday night approved a school calendar that starts the year earlier but provides two full weeks of vacation. As adopted, students are scheduled to report to school on August 30, with the school year ending June 15, barring no days lost to snow.

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About three years after proposing construction of a commercial building in an environmentally sensitive area just north of Sand Hill Plaza, a local businesswoman has gained required town approvals to start work on the project. Planning and Zoning Commission members unanimously approved Judith Volpe’s plans to build a two-story, 6,065-square-foot office/retail building at 224 South Main Street in the town’s Aquifer Protection District. The 1.7-acre site is on the corner of South Main Street and Bryan Lane. Bryan Lane formerly was known as Washbrook Road.

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Marie Sturdevant, chairman of the Newtown Republican Town Committee, was honored April 9 with the GOP-5 Achievement Award at the GOP-5 Brunch at the Fireside Inn. The award honored Mrs Sturdevant for her long-standing efforts to elect Republican candidates to office in Newtown, the fifth congressional district, and the state. The GOP-5 group is a booster organization for Republican candidates running for Congress from Connecticut’s fifth district.

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Although Newtown High School seniors Kate Yackel and Kelly Fuller excel at different disciplines, the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) has recently recognized them both as outstanding artists. Every year, the high schools that participate in CAS programs select one student to receive the organization’s music award, and one student to receive the art award. Kate has been honored with the music award, and Kelly has been recognized with the art award.

April 11, 1975

It has been 13 months since the negotiators for the Newtown Federation of Teachers and the Board of Education first sat down at the bargaining table in order to try to write a new contract for the teachers of Newtown. In that period of time, one which involved hundreds of hours of talking, impasses were reached which finally led to mediation and then arbitration. During that time also the contract under which the teachers had been working ran out, on August 31, 1974, and when school opened in September, the teachers went to the classrooms without a contract and worked under the terms of the old one. … On Tuesday, April 8, the teachers of Newtown began a work stoppage at 6 am … several of them picketed that afternoon in front of Hawley School. Ninety per cent of the teachers in the system supported the strike.

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Proposed rental of office space, the Highway Department budget, funds for the Bicentennial Committee’s planned observances in 1976, salary increases — all received scrutiny by those attending the Board of Finance public hearing Tuesday when the Board of Selectmen’s $3,577,883.48 budget request for 1975-76 was the topic of discussion.

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The Newtown Beautification Committee is happy to report that all the dogwood trees have been sold. The members would like to thank the townspeople for the wonderful response. A coupon will appear in The Bee soon for ordering top-quality daffodil bulbs for further beautifying Newtown for the Bicentennial year and years to come. For those who bought trees, there will be a notice in The Bee as to when they may be picked up at Paynes Nursery.

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“At this time I announce my candidacy for reelection to the office of First Selectman of Newtown,” said Frank R. DeLucia in a formal statement released Wednesday. “In seeking the nomination of the Republican party of Newtown as reelection candidate I respectfully ask for the support of all Newtown voters. This administration has seen a multitude of complex changes arise from State and Federal requirements. New techniques and new policies have proliferated. New capacities and new skills have been acquired. I feel it is logical that this strong experience should be utilized without interruption in the continued development of Newtown’s priorities.”

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The peace of Route 6 was broken Monday morning, April 7, when a Volkswagen, driven by a South Main Street resident, hit a corner of a truck making a left turn, skidded several hundred feet and turned over. Billy McCarthy, third assistant fire chief of Newtown Hook and Ladder, used a Hurst tool to open the car and release the driver. While he was using it, the Volkswagen briefly caught fire. The blaze was soon extinguished by the nearby firemen. According to police reports, the female driver was taken to the hospital and released later. Members of the Hawleyville Fire Company and the Hook and Ladder Company along with the Newtown Ambulance Corps responded.

April 7, 1950

On Tuesday evening Hawley School presented a gay appearance with every window in the building ablaze with light. The occasion was the April meeting of the Newtown Parent-Teacher Association and the reason for the lights was that every classroom was open and ready for the inspection of parents. The children’s schoolwork was on display and the teachers were present to discuss the school and the pupils. A large number of mothers and fathers took advantage of this opportunity to learn more about the work being done at school and to become better acquainted with the teaching staff. As usual, the parents of pupils in Mrs Thayer’s second grade room were the most numerous and Mrs Thayer again walked off with the attendance prize for the fifth time in succession.

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A project begun in the fall of last year and postponed during the winter months now nears completion. It is the construction of a garage in which to house the ambulance owned and operated by the community’s Newtown Ambulance Association, Inc. Since 1942, at which time the first and present ambulance was purchased, it has been housed in a number of places in town. For a time it was kept at Dickinson’s Service Station, then in a garage on the property of Mr and Mrs Milton F. Hull, also in Mr and Mrs Stephen Budd’s barn. At one time First Selectman Stanley Blackman arranged to have it housed in the Newtown Hook and Ladder Company’s building, and later it was transferred to the barn at the rear of the Trinity Episcopal rectory, where it is currently located.

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A number of people from Newtown and vicinity enjoyed the tennis matches played Saturday night at the State Armory in Bridgeport, when Richard (Pancho) Gonzales, 1949 National amateur champion, played Jack Kramer, world champion, and largely through his powerhouse service banged out a 3-set victory, 6-3, 6-8, 6-4.

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Last year at the time of the Easter Seal Sale when little Charles Verrell’s picture appeared in The Bee, he was not able to get about without assistance, nor was he able to talk. Charles is the son of Mr and Mrs Fred Verrell of Botsford and is now a husky five-year-old. His wide smile … expresses his happiness in the progress he has made this past year in walking. With braces, he gets about very well. He has also learned to say many words and is continuing to show improvement in his speech. The little fellow, a victim of cerebral palsy … [is attending clinics and seeing therapists] at Danbury Children’s Clinic and physical therapy clinic at the Danbury Hospital. His regular attendance … has been made possible by the Connecticut Society for Crippled Children and Adults, Inc. When townspeople buy Easter Seals they help just such cases as that of Charles.

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The clock at the front of The Bee was just put back in place on Saturday morning, after an absence of some time for repairs at the hands of Jerry Jackson. “Doc” Crowe was the first person to note its return and he reported on Tuesday that he finds it is again keeping excellent time. “Doc” says that Jerry is to be complimented for his repair job — not all ailing time-pieces respond so accurately to treatment.

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Mr and Mrs Arthur W. Fairchild of Fairfield were guests, Sunday, of Mr Fairchild’s father, Dea A.D. Fairchild.

April 10, 1925

Mrs Seaman Mead has sold her attractive farm property in South Center to W.A. Johnston of Brookfield, who has resided on the Howard Peck place in Obtuse. Mrs Mead will retain a few rooms in the house for her use until October. The sale was made through the agency of Stanley Botsford of Stepney.

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This week has had a chapter of accidents. Robert Southwell was badly cut when a ladder on which he was standing to wash windows slipped and his arm went through the glass. It is understood that 14 stitches had to be taken.

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The much cussed and discussed motor gasoline ‘bus which runs on the Berkshire division, figured in a sad accident, Tuesday morning, at the Carson street in Trumbull, when the auto of Mr and Mrs Timothy M. Collins of Bridgeport was struck by the motor bus. Mr and Mrs Collins were killed. The fact that the automobile, an open touring car, had the side curtains on, obstructing the view of the driver, is said to have prevented Mr Collins from seeing the approaching motor.

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C.B. Taylor is driving a new Special Six Studebaker Brogham, purchased through the local agent, C.S. Blackman.

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Allison P. Smith motored to Middletown, Wednesday, where he attended the quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State Hospital. He was accompanied by Rev Dr Richmond H. Gesner, who was kindly conducted over to the hospital by Dr Waterman.

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Charles D. Ferris, Jr, is out riding in a Nash touring car, bought of John A. Carlson, the local Nash dealer.

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Earl W. Smith, a student at Lafayette University of Easton, Pa., is passing the Easter vacation with his parents, Mr and Mrs A.J. Smith

April 13, 1900

William Nichols, who lives with Mrs Wunderlich on Walnut Tree Hill, went on a trouting expedition, one day last week, bringing home some fine specimens. He caught one that weighed over a pound.

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The deed of the site for the new library building has been given by Elmer W. Fairchild to the Newtown Library Association. The site consists of a plot of ground, south of his residence, 60 feet front by 80 feet deep. We understand, however, that there is an understanding between Mr Fairchild and the officers of the association that the association is to have more ground in the rear of the building later on if needed, so as to have a space in the rear, 20 feet in the clear.

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Herbert Flansburgh, now touring with the dramatic troupe, “The Girl in the Barracks,” passed Sunday with his mother at the Newtown Inn. Mr Flansburgh is to travel next season with one of the “Shore Acres” companies.”

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Hobart Hawley has rented the house on the Cox farm, above Hawleyville.

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Walter Ruffles of the Palestine district is among the number of the local grip victims.

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Rev Mr Hutchins, who has charge of the local canvass for the Connecticut Bible society, is stopping at George R. Wilson’s in Taunton. Mr Hutchins spoke at the schoolhouse in Taunton, Sunday afternoon, following the Sunday school session, and was also present at the morning and evening services at the Congregational church.

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.