April 25, 1997

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: SPRING CLEANING — A New England winter can make almost anything look a little rough around the edges by the time spring rolls around. That is especially true for Newtown’s roadways, where unnecessary litter seems to be spread in equal measure with the necessary grit of salt and sand. For each of the last six years, volunteers have taken to the roadways in Newtown at the end of April to “Lose The Litter.” The annual roadside clean-up is scheduled for this weekend on Sunday, April 27, from 9 am to 1 pm, and individuals and civic groups are needed to help in the effort. Last year, under the sponsorship of the Newtown Environmental Action Team (NEAT), 175 volunteers picked up 11 tons of rubbish from the sides of Newtown’s roads and streets. Unfortunately, litterers never seem to take a year off, and this year there is at least that much trash back on the roadsides. This year, the Newtown Lions Club is sponsoring Lose the Litter. Gordon Williams, chairman of this year’s clean-up, has asked that volunteers sign up early, if possible.

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A small number of Newtown voters showed up at a referendum Tuesday to approve the town’s largest municipal/school budget in history. The $52.6 million spending plan passed by more than 300 votes. Of the 1,748 voters who showed up (14 percent of all registered voters), 1,026 of them voted in favor of the budget. The 722 taxpayers who voted against the budget did so without any real organized opposition movement.

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Reid Warner knew the opportunity to break Bruce Jenner’s 29-year-old pole vault record at Newtown High School would come along at some point, but when it did — Monday afternoon at Masuk — he almost wasn’t ready for it. “I wasn’t really prepared to go for the record,” Reid said. “It was my first meet and I was hoping for 12-6, maybe 13. When I made 13, I had to ask coach Carl [Paternoster] what to do.” What to do? Coach Carl said go for the record. Back in 1968, Jenner — who became one of the world’s most recognized track athletes — set the vault record at 13 feet 3 inches, and it stood until Monday afternoon … when Reid did 13½.

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Motorists, while driving through Newtown, may find that they are on “Candid Camera” with the police department’s recent acquisition of a compact video camera. Police have positioned the video camera behind a police cruiser’s front windshield. The device displays an image on a monitor and can feed an electronic signal to make video tapes on a video cassette recorder mounted inside the police car’s truck, explained Detective Robert Tvardzik, a police spokesman. The camera cost police about $3,700. Some $1,000 of that amount was contributed by The Allstate Foundation. The remainder came from highway safety grants.

April 28, 1972

The Woman’s Club of Newtown reminds residents that it has purchased five etching machines which may be borrowed from the Police Department at no cost to mark household valuables with an identifying number. At present there is no waiting list. A story in the April 17 issue of US News and World Report indicates that in Monterey Park, Calif., where the idea originated, half of the 11,000 homeowners participated in the plan, and of them, only 23 have been burglarized, while 2,000 break-ins have been reported by non-participants. Similar figures have been reported from other areas where the program is in operation. It is not necessary to provide the police with a list of marked items, but a spokesman for the Woman’s Club says it is advisable to give them a description of television sets in the home, as these are prime attractions to thieves.

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The 1971-72 season of the Newtown Bowling League ended with the annual meeting and banquet at the Newtown Country Club, Monday, April 24. There was good attendance, and a short business meeting, and presentation of trophies and prizes was followed by a roast beef dinner. The Orioles, captained by Don Ferris, placed first in the first half, tied for this spot in the second half, won a roll-off against the Bluebirds, and won the league championship. Other members of the champs were Ken Nelsen, Ken Sherman, and Joe York. Individual honors included high average, 120.2, Don Ferris; high single string, 180, Stan Siebert; high three string, 414, Don Ferris; and 97, the high no mark string for the year, was rolled by Roger Streeter.

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New Orleans Jazz shook the rafters of the Newtown High School Auditorium on Saturday evening, April 22, and a capacity hand-clapping, rhythm stomping audience loved every sweet minute. It was the final program in the Newtown Arts Festival series for the year and featured the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Program notes asked that the audience sit back and let the music happen, and happen it did, two hours of spontaneous, improvised great music, played as only jazz can be played, by some of the “old timers” who helped create it. Some of the members of the sextet may have been old in body, but they were young in soul, and their enjoyment and love of their music radiated off the stage into the audience from the very first number and stayed there all night.

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First Selectman Frank DeLucia signed a Proclamation declaring May 1st through May 7th as “Light For Sight Week,” in conjunction with the Newtown Lions Club upcoming annual light bulb sale. President Jim Anderson and Program Chairman Bill Petrey joined Mr DeLucia for the signing event. The Town of Newtown will be canvassed starting May 1 and the Lions are hoping for their most successful fundraising sale ever. Eye Research, local eye care for the needy, and the Ophthalmology Department at Danbury Hospital are a few of the present and upcoming projects supported by this drive. Eyesight is vital — light bulbs are useful.

April 25, 1947

The fortunate few of the Newtown community who attended the series of ten lectures on The Art of Acting by Mr and Mrs Charles Suggs of the Yale Dramatic School will not soon forget the experience. Mr Suggs opened the series by two lectures on “Directing” at the Farnum Underhill’s home. Mrs Suggs gave two lectures on “Acting” at the Mortimer Smith’s home. Mr Suggs then gave two lectures on “Lighting” at the Felix E. Baridons’. Mrs Suggs gave two lectures on “Speech” at the Harold F. Smiths’. Then they gave two on “Make-up” at the home of John Angel, and on Monday evening last Mr E. von Jarochowski lectured on “The History of Stage Settings.”

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D.S.T. REMINDER: Don’t forget to calibrate your sundial Saturday night upon retiring — or if you are a modern and have a Seth Thomas above the sink in the kitchen — be sure to set it AHEAD one hour, else you find yourself arriving in church in time for nothing but the collection. During the small hours of Saturday night and Sunday morning, we go on Daylight Saving Time. It will continue throughout the summer months, as usual, giving us the distinct pleasure of getting up one hour earlier than formerly, and arriving at work, at school or whatever, somewhat sleepier. But — small compensation that it is — D.S.T. gives us an extra hour of daylight at the tag-end of the day, which, when we get accustomed to it, should prove welcome, indeed.

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A Junior High School baseball league has been formed, including Brookfield, New Milford, Bethel, Newtown and Southbury. The first games will be held next Wednesday. Coach DeGroat has also announced that plans are under way for the town Softball League, and a meeting of the managers will be held soon.

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Mr and Mrs Milton Millard of Elm road returned to Newtown Tuesday, following the death of Mrs Millard’s father in Detroit, Mich.

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Announcement is made by the Auxiliary of the Charles Howard Peck Post, VFW, that the annual essay contest has been won by Mary Pat Carroll, with Patricia Perry taking the second prize. This year’s subject was “The Home — Cradle of Good Citizenship.” The award will be made at an Assembly at Hawley School next Tuesday morning, the prizes being $5 and $2.50 in Savings stamps. Judges in the contest were Mrs Reginald Watkins, Principal Carl LeGrow and Paul S. Smith. Miss Carroll’s essay will be entered in the state contest.

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Mrs William A. Honan of Main street is spending a month in Denver, Colo., as a guest of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs J. Bruce Espy.

April 21, 1922

EASTER AT TRINITY AND ST JOHN’S: After an old Apostolic custom the communicants of Trinity Church met at 7:30 in the morning for the early celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Many were present at this Easter service, which was followed by the second celebration of the Holy Communion at 11 a.m. The crucifer, Robert Tiemann, wore a new scarlet cassock, a gift from the Guild to the choir. The rector, as is his custom on this high festival of the church, wore his Eucharistic vestments, which were presented to him many years ago by a friend now in paradise. The children of the Sunday school met in the afternoon at 3 for a brief service and made their Lenten offering for general missions. At St John’s the service at 9:15 was equally beautiful and satisfactory, as was the service at Trinity. Miss Dinkler and Miss Maguire rendered solo parts in the choice. Mr Warner added a pleasing feature in the music with violin. At 4:30 the children of the Sunday school met and made their Easter offering. This offering was what the children had saved during the sacred season of Lent. All offerings at both Trinity and St John’s were most satisfactory. The rector was pleased to have most of his communicants kneeling at God’s altar on this great feast of the resurrection.

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St Rose’s church was crowded at both Masses, Easter Sunday. The altar was radiant in the beautiful flowers, lilies, etc. Rev Father Conway, the beloved pastor, preached an eloquent and helpful sermon on “The Resurrection,” from the text “He is Risen, He is not here; behold the place where they laid Him.” The collections at St Rose’s, Easter Sunday, were for the poor of the diocese. It is sent to the bishop and is divided between St Agnes’ Home in Hartford, the hospitals in different cities and the Home for the Poor in New Haven, all blessed and helpful charities.

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A wedding of unusual interest in town was solemnized at St Rose’s Catholic church on Tuesday, April 18, at 9 o’clock, when Miss Helen Agnes Kilbride of the Glen, became the bride of Francis Patrick Flynn, son of Mrs Mary Flynn of Watertown. The nuptial High Mass and wedding ceremony was celebrated by the Rev Patrick Fox of Easthampton, a cousin of the bride, and former pastor of St Rose’s. Rev John Conway, pastor of St Rose’s, served at the Mass. Father Fox was the officiating clergyman at the marriage of the bride’s father and mother. The bridesmaid was Miss Madeline Flynn, sister of the groom. The groom was attended by Sidney V. Kilbride, of Stamford, a brother of the bride. There was a number of guests from Bridgeport, Watertown, Hartford, Waterbury, and Oakville. Immediately after the ceremony the bridal party drove to the Hotel Taft, where a wedding breakfast was served, after which they left on a short honeymoon to Atlantic City and other points of interest. Mr and Mrs Flynn will be at home to the friends after June 1 at Highland avenue, Watertown.

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The minstrel show and dance, given by the Knights of Columbus, on Easter Monday evening, played to one of the largest crowds ever seen at the Town hall. Promptly at 8:30 pm, the curtains rose with the chorus singing the opening number. The end men entered on either side of the stage, wheeling their partners on trucks. The opening numbers were, “Love Me,” “Ten Little Fingers,” and “The Shiek.”

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The Sandy Hook Y.M.C.A. held an exceedingly interesting meeting, Monday night. Mr Saxton, the county secretary, was present and introduced Mr Lane of the Y.M.C.A., college of Springfield, Mass. The principal speaker of the evening was Mr Brown, principal of the Woodbury High school. Mr Brown gave a very interesting address, his subject being “Principles in Choosing a Life’s Work.” The usual social hour followed and light refreshments were served.

April 30, 1897

THE EDITOR’S FAMILIAR CHAT: The selectmen deserve commendation for having the small stones raked from the roads, after the road repairers have completed the work. It is a practice that ought to be carried out in every town. | That is a mighty mean man who will try to cheat the farmer out of his pay for farm produce, after he has labored all summer to raise the crops. A citizen of Birmingham tried it on Cicero Beardsley of Newtown, who proposed to get justice and so attached the man’s bicycle. The case was set for trial, last Wednesday, but the night before the Birmingham citizen walked up to the captain’s office and settled.

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GOOD WORK APPRECIATED: Editor The Newtown Bee | Dear Sir: Although indebted to your for past favors, the kindly interest manifested by you in the prosperity of our institution prompt me to request that you will kindly permit us to acknowledge through the columns of your paper our grateful appreciation of the kindly greeting extended to our young people by the citizens of Woodbury, Roxbury, Washington and Kent. We are especially indebted to Mrs Horace Curtis, Miss Fannie Curtis, Rev Mr Wyckoff, Rev Mr Brian, Mrs Munson and Miss Grace Curtiss of Wddbury, Mrs Hurlbut, Rev Mr Bushee, Mrs Charles Booth, Mrs Walter Thomas, Mrs Bradley, Mrs Merwin, Mrs O’Dell and Mrs Smith of Roxbury, Rev Mr Carter, Mrs Beach, Mrs Aspinwall, Rev Mr Angell, J. Woodruff, Mrs Richards, Mrs Galpin and Mrs James Bunnell of Washington, Rev Mr Mudle, Mrs Lineburg, Mrs Frisbie and Mrs Gibbs of Kent for entertaining our young people. We are also grateful to all who have contributed to the success of the concert given by our young people by selling tickets. We are pleased to state the receipts from the concert so far as reported amount to $54.55 from Woodbury, $30.60 from Roxbury, Washington $54.50, Kent $33.80, and trust that the efforts put forth to afford a pleasing entertainment have been measurably successful. Very truly yours,—[F.E. Cleaveland. president

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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.