May 19, 2000

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Paul Hansen.

* * * * *

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — SAVORING THE SIGNS OF CHANGE: It is difficult to determine when it happened, when Newtown shed its brown-hued winter coat for the verdant vestments it now wears. Sure, we have been cataloging the warning signs in passing, like the buds on spindly tree branches taking their first hopeful look out into the world. But when was the actual change? We don’t know. We woke up one day, and as we drove out into our lives we realized our town was green and new again. … In lives that are punctuated with telephone rings, business meetings, and vacation plans, it is so easy for us not to savor the signs of change. The warning signs of a waning scholastic season will be around us now for the next month. We hope students and their families attend as many end-of-the-year events as possible. We hope pictures are taken, scrapbooks are filled, and celebratory dinners are planned. The seeming suddenness with which our surrounding green world announced itself recently should teach us the importance of savoring the small signs of change, like the ones that occur in our children every day. As they turn their backs on one school year, they look out at new universities, buildings, and grade levels of another, with the hope of a new bud on a springtime tree.

* * * * *

Lt David Lydem of Newtown Police Department took center stage earlier this week, performing a bit of spring cleaning at the foot of the flagpole on Main Street. He was seen painting the pole later in the week. Lt Lydem has long been hailed as the keeper of the flagpole and served as the grand marshal of the 1998 Labor Day Parade, the year Newtown celebrated the landmark.

* * * * *

The “ayes” have it. A total of 320 registered voters turned out at a town meeting Monday night to approve the town’s $66.9 million budget for 2000-01. About 80 percent of those in attendance voted in favor of the budget, which was decided by a voice vote. The newly adopted budget will bump up taxes by 1.5 mills (5.9 percent) from 27.9 mills to 29.5 mills. … According to the tax collector’s office, a home assessed at $200,000 (or a value of $285,000) will have a tax increase of $320 — nearly $27 a month.

* * * * *

The National Association of Letter Carriers held its annual food drive across the country Saturday. In Newtown and Sandy Hook, more than 12,000 pounds of food were raised. It was the best year ever, according to Newtown local coordinator Robert Frangione. Volunteers included members of local churches and organizations. The food was divided between Newtown Social Services and the food pantry at St John’s Episcopal Church in Sandy Hook.

May 16, 1975

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — LET’S SHARPEN OUR TRI-CORNERED HATS: Several weeks ago the Board of Finance laid its hand to the budgets of the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Education and presented to the voters of Newtown two cut versions for approval. The recommended budget for the Board of Ed did not pass, and it is now the duty of the Board of Finance to come back with either another set of figures, or even the same ones. … The recommended budget for the Board of Selectmen did meet the test and with all of its cuts won a favorable nod from the Town’s taxpayers. One of the items which was eliminated entirely from that budget was the $9,000 requested by the Bicentennial Committee … There is no question in our mind that the festivities planned for Newtown cannot be run on a self-supporting basis. Had the appropriation of $9,000 been given to the committee, it just might have gone up in a puff of fireworks smoke. … It is no easy task to run a series of town-wide events and still maintain the interest necessary to have the celebration meaningful. Help is hard to come by, suggestions are scarce, and criticism flows at its usual rapid pace.

* * * * *

The swimming pool in Dickinson Town Park will not be ready for use on Memorial Day weekend because the Park Department lacked funds to get it ready and help from the Town was not forthcoming. It will be the third year the pool opening has been delayed. Members of the Park and Recreation Commission became somewhat testy Tuesday, May 13, as they went through a list of picayune account transfers in order to cover operating expenses with the end of the fiscal year still six weeks away. Budget shortages were exasperating with preparations for summer activities to be made.

* * * * *

The sheriff is a lady and after June 1, Newtown’s deputy sheriff will be too. Democrat Gloria Rice Clark of Greenwich, who became the first woman to be elected a county high sheriff last November, announced Monday that Joy L. Martin of Newtown was among over 30 appointees to deputy sheriff positions in Fairfield County. “As far as I know, I’m the first woman from Newtown to become a deputy sheriff,” Mrs Martin told us Monday. She was recommended for the job by local Democratic chairman Jack Rosenthal, with the approval of the Democratic Town Committee’s executive committee.

* * * * *

Paul S. Smith was re-elected president of the Newtown Historical Society at the annual meeting of the Society on Monday, May 12, in the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. Other officers elected were Thomas Cheney, vice-president; Mrs Richard Liska, secretary; James Hess, treasurer; and Mrs Nina Blake, Mrs Herman Parker and Mrs Steven Kellogg, board of trustees.

* * * * *

With over 100 volunteers, Newtown Meals on Wheels is well set up to deliver meals to local people who need such a service — and they’d like to serve more. The program, which has been in operation here since last August, offers nutritionally-balanced hot meals at a very reasonable price to members of the community. Robert E. Smith, publicity chairman of the state-chartered local organization, notes, “We feel there are many more people in Newtown who can use the service, but for some reason people don’t call in.” … “Some people think it’s welfare, but it isn’t. The recipient actually pays for the meals,” he said. The meals are prepared at Cochran House, Fairfield Hills, and are $1 per serving.

May 12, 1950

Much opposition was voiced at the public hearing, held Monday evening by the Zoning Commission of the Borough of Newtown in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall. The opposition concerned itself not alone with the application of Mrs Edith C. Parker for the reclassification of her Parker House property from residence to business, but also the grant of any further business sites or increase of business activity on Newtown’s Main Street.

* * * * *

At the end of the second week of the 1950 Cancer Crusade in Newtown, Chairman George M. Stuart reports that contributions have been totaling slightly in excess of $500. Newtown’s quota is $885 and therefore there is still a sizable amount to be raised for this most important work. … The chairman acknowledges on behalf of the Connecticut Cancer Society with thanks and appreciation those contributions which have already been sent in and is grateful for that support. An earnest appeal is made to those who have not already sent their contribution and to do so at an early date so that the Crusade here in Newtown can be brought to an early close.

* * * * *

The annual meeting of the Fairfield County Association of Congregational Churches and Ministers took place in Newtown, this Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Rev Paul A. Cullens, pastor of the Newtown Congregational Church, acting in the name of the church as host. More than 100 members of the association from various parts of Fairfield County took part in the meetings which opened in the Congregational Church, with Rev Howard Orr, minister of the Olivet Congregational Church, Bridgeport, acting as moderator. Rev Harold Craw, pastor of the First Congregational Church, Danbury, was program chairman.

* * * * *

Dr William H. Walker, former assistant superintendent at the Fairfield State Hospital, arrived back in Newtown on Sunday, after an enjoyable winter’s stay at Winter Park, Fla. Dr Walker motored leisurely north, spending several weeks in doing so and visiting at several places en route.

* * * * *

William Dudde and family, who purchased a place last fall on Walnut Tree Hill, will spend the summer here in their new home. Mr Dudde is district manager of the Mack-International Motor Truck Corporation, of Leggett Avenue and Barry Street, New York City.

May 15, 1925

A quiet but very pretty wedding was solemnized on Saturday at noon at the pleasant home of Mr and Mrs George Geckle of Walnut Tree Hill, when their daughter, Viola, became the bride of Nicholas Maderno of Derby. The ceremony was performed in the presence of the family and relatives and a few invited guests, the bridal couple taking their place under a bower of apple blossoms, Rev James L. Lasher of Havre de Grace, Md., formerly of Newtown, officiating. The bride was charming in a gown of white crepe de chine, trimmed with Chantilly lace, with hat to match and wore a corsage bouquet of white roses and lilies of the valley.

* * * * *

Cards have been received announcing the engagement of Miss Gertrude Crowe to Arthur McCollam of Redding. Miss Crowe is a graduate of Newtown High School class of 1923, and is at present employed in the local post office. Mr McCollam is a graduate of Sanford school, Redding. Both young people are receiving congratulations from their many friends.

* * * * *

Miss M.J. Ready has accepted a position with Upham Food Products, Inc, at Hawleyville, Conn.

* * * * *

The many friends of D.F. Cavanaugh will be glad to learn that he has returned to his home after being seriously ill in the Danbury hospital. Mr Cavanaugh is a popular railroad man at Hawleyville.

* * * * *

The Hawley High School baseball team journeyed to Washington, Tuesday last, where they administered a stinging defeat to the Washington team to the tune of 5-3. It was a thrilling encounter all the way through, first one team leading the other, until the game was finally put on ice by a screaming double off the bat of our fast pitcher, Donald Griscom. It was quite a surprise, that setback to Washington, as they are supposed to be the leading contenders for the league pennant. The features of the game were home runs by the opposing pitchers, D. Griscom and O. Anderson. It certainly was a red letter day for the Newtown aggregation.

May 18, 1900

EDITORIAL INK DROPS: The taxpayers should turn out in force at the adjourned town meeting, Saturday, to hear the report of the investigating committee appointed to look over Selectman Glover’s books. Town affairs should be looked upon from a business standpoint, and the officials judged from this standpoint solely. Let the taxpayers come forward and look after their interests. If there is anything “rotten at headquarters,” let the truth be known.

* * * * *

There is no man who comes into so intimate a relationship with the family life of a town or village as the physician, and if he be a man of character, his influence is always helpful and uplifting. To this class belongs Dr Edwards M. Smith, and so when persistent rumors were circulated that Newtown was to lose this estimable man as a citizen, a host of friends and patients at once set up an earnest protest. His departure was looked upon as a calamity in Newtown Street, and throughout other sections of the town there was the same feeling. These objections and protests were brought home with so much force to the doctor, that after carefully weighing the matter he has decided to stay in town.

* * * * *

A GENEROUS OFFER: Stage Driver Charles Hawley has generously offered to take all parties from Sandy Hook and vicinity to the Foresters’ dance and return for the modest sum of $1 per couple. So place your orders in time.

* * * * *

Frederick Tripp of Bridgeport has rented the Mrs Charles Briscoe place on Botsford Hill.

* * * * *

HATTERTOWN-THE LOCAL NEWS BUDGET: Prof John Taylor has been spending some days with Henry Morgan. | Mrs William Waterhouse and daughter, Miss Alice, have been visiting with relatives in this place. | Surveyor Sanford reports that the Summers farm contains 281 acres. | Mrs Almira Porter has moved from the Patchen home to C.B. Taylor’s house below the village. | Mr Woolsey, the new owner of the Summers farm, arrived this week, bringing besides his furniture 40 heads of cattle. | Mr and Mrs J.C. Lewis and little son have been visiting with friends in Trumbull. | M.D. Morgan has men at work cutting brush and clearing up the rubbish around the pond. He proposed to make it into a beautiful lake.

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.