May 26, 2000

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — NEWTOWN’S BLUE RIBBON HIGH SCHOOL: Finally, the nation has recognized something that Newtowners have known all along: Newtown High School is a blue ribbon school. The high school was presented this week with the prestigious Blue Ribbon School Award from the US Department of Education, one of just two schools in Connecticut and 198 schools nationwide to get the honor. The school was nominated by the state Department of Education for the honor, and it was assessed by federal officials in four areas: the dynamic interaction between students and teachers; elements within the school that are conditions for success; how the school functions as a member of the larger community; and the coherence of the school’s overall assessment system. We congratulate Newtown High School’s administration, faculty, and particularly the students for their blue ribbon achievement. Their hard work and dedication to excellence will ultimately be rewarded not with ribbons but with better lives.

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HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Pat Hammalian.

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The televised segment on Antiques and The Arts Weekly due to be aired on the show Martha Stewart Living has been rescheduled to Memorial Day Monday, May 29, and will not appear on May 31 as was reported last week. The show will air on Channel 2 WCBS at 9 am Eastern Time.

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Traffic on Main Street was slowed Monday evening as police, fire and other community members took part in what has become an annual rite of spring — the raising of Newtown’s summer flag. Headed by Lt David Lydem of the Newtown Police Department, the event took all of 10 minutes and drew the attention of all those who passed by. Newtown flies a small (12 by 18 feet) flag designed to survive the cold and wind of the winter. Between Memorial Day and October, however, the town puts up the much larger 20- by 30-foot nylon flag.

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Newtown seniors who meet income eligibility criteria will receive some tax relief this year. But they must act quickly. In order to save as much as $1,000 on this year’s tax bill, those residents over 65 are required to fill out a form in the tax collector’s office by June 15. The Legislative Council Wednesday night unanimously approved what was essentially a modification to the existing elderly tax relief program, which offered only minimal savings. Under the new plan, however, the tax savings is more significant and requires a means test.

May 23, 1975

The Newtown Beautification Committee is sponsoring the second annual Beauty Contest for all service stations in Newtown. Last year’s contest proved to be very successful and this year even wider participation and better results are expected. Letters of notification of the contest have been sent to all of the 20 service stations and garages selling gas in the town. The letters have been mailed by Mrs Hastings Morse who is heading the committee in charge. Inspections will be made in mid-June and in mid-September when citations will be awarded to the winners on the basis of beauty, improvements made, and overall neatness.

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Department of Transportation officials heard complaints all evening from speakers attending the Department of Environmental Protection public hearing on the application for the proposed reconstruction of Interstate 84. Only a New Milford truck driver and George Koch, former DOT official and now consultant for the Connecticut Industries Association, spoke in favor of the project. Residents of Newtown and Southbury continually said they felt the proposed bridge to parallel the Rochambeau Bridge was unnecessary and that DOT officials should address themselves to the more pressing traffic problems in Waterbury and Hartford. Great concern was expressed for the environmental impact of the construction on the gorge at Pole Bridge Brook in Newtown.

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Board of Police Commissioners chairman George McLachlan went to the Board of Finance Monday night to seek a $12,000 special appropriation for the depleted police department overtime account. After its members learned from the First Selectman around $4,000 in the Town’s engineering account is expected to be unexpended at the end of the current fiscal year, the finance board approved an $8,000 special appropriation, the remainder to come through a transfer.

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The final monthly meeting of the year of the Newtown Woman’s Club took place on May 15 in the Yankee Drover Inn. A $1,000 check was presented to Mrs Joseph Maher of the Newtown Ambulance Association. The gift was earmarked for the purchase of a second ambulance. The Woman’s Club also donated $300 to the Newtown Scholarship Fund which was accepted by Mrs C. Harold Schwartz.

May 19, 1950

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — OUR CONGRATULATIONS: An informal neighborly supper party last Friday evening marked the fiftieth wedding anniversary of Rev and Mrs Walter Pickering at their home in Sandy Hook. We mentioned the gathering in this column for two reasons. First, because we wish to extend our congratulations to the Pickerings on their anniversary. We think they should know that everyone in town, and their friends in Stepney as well, hold them in high regard and affection. … We think, too, that the nature of the neighborhood festivity merits comment, and those who arranged it should be complimented. Life nowadays is too much a matter of hustle, bustle and impersonal relations. There is little time, so we tell ourselves, for the pleasures of friendship, the relaxation to be found in the absorbing interests of leisure time, and the sociability that abounds among companionable neighbors. It is pleasant, therefore, to record this distinct exception to the accustomed rule. Such parties and such anniversaries are so very worth the while. May there be more of them. They add to the richness of living.

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On Friday evening of last week the neighbors and friends of the Rev and Mrs Walter Pickering, Sandy Hook, surprised them in their home with a covered dish supper in honor of the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary. Each guest brought a covered dish and his own table setting, and the party got under way with the presentation to Mrs Pickering of a corsage of pink carnations. To Rev Pickering went a white carnation. The couple was presented with a gold purse containing 50 shining quarters, all polished to a high gloss with glass wax.

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Newtown Brownie Troop No. 14, organized a year ago, celebrated its first birthday with a party at the Newtown Congregational Church House Wednesday, May 10, after school. Mothers of the Brownies attended the party and were entertained by singing and ceremonies, followed by refreshments, including a birthday cake. A number of girls were officially invested into the Brownie ranks, receiving their pins and the right to wear the official Brownie uniform. These new members are: Carol Kondratiw, Gay Parker, Olea Smith, Nancy Trull and Anne Ward.

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One of the notable social events of the Hawley High School year took place last Friday evening when the class of 1951 entertained members of the senior class at the Junior Prom held in Edmond Town Hall gymnasium. More than 50 couples, students in Hawley High School and their friends, alumni and members of the faculty were present. The decorating committee headed by Mary Mead has transformed the gymnasium with a gala circus setting, with red, white and black streamers simulating a “big top,” and gaily colored balloons adding to the festive atmosphere.

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The Sandy Hook Cemetery Association held its annual meeting at the home of the secretary, Miss Anny May Betts, in Sandy Hook this Wednesday afternoon at 1 o’clock. In the election, all officers were reelected as follows: Miss Katherine Payne, president; Mrs Jessie Allard, vice president; James N. Betts, treasurer; and Miss Anna May Betts, secretary. Mrs Alice Meyers was also reelected a member of the board of directors. Following the meeting, Mrs Mayers, Mrs Allart and Miss Payne, residents of New Haven, spent the rest of the day at the home of Miss Betts.

May 22, 1925

On Tuesday afternoon at 1.45 o’clock there passed from earth to Paradise, Hazel Pierce Northrop, wife of First Selectman John J. Northrop. Mrs Northrop had been in ill health for several years, but throughout the long period of suffering she manifested a cheerfulness and bravery of spirit that has seldom been excelled. Mrs Northrop was a most lovable and talented woman, and in spite of her infirmity of health kept up her interest in the church activities and in her every good word and work.

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The district spelling and speaking contest at the Hawley school, Friday afternoon, was well attended. William Perry won the first honors in the speaking contest, and Miss Margaret McCollam first in the spelling contest. Miss Mary Sherwood of Danbury, George Buck, principal of the Danbury Trade School, and Frank Johnston, state supervising agent, did the honors as judges.

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The Men’s Club had a very interesting meeting, Tuesday night, at the Parker house. Charles S. Cole was host, and Dr W.H. Kiernan had the program in charge. He introduced Dr Stanley Osborne of Hartford, commissioner of health for Connecticut, who gave an interesting address. He spoke of the different departments of the state work, vital statistics, preventable diseases, laboratory, child hygiene, sanitary engineering, public health nursing, mental hygiene and occupational diseases.

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DISTRICT OF NEWTOWN, as Probate Court, May 13, 1925. Estate of Sarah E. Glover, late of Newtown, in said District, deceased. The Court of Probate for the District of Newtown hath limited and allowed six months from the date hereof, for the creditors of said Estate to exhibit their claims for settlement. Those who neglect to present their accounts, properly attested, within said time, will be debarred a recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make immediate payment to Jennia A. Canfield, Administratrix.

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A COMMUNICATION. Dear Editor: I understand you are a fearless man, you must be one as you are raising more ducks this year, it is hard to keep a good man down.—[H.G. Warner. Sandy Hook, Ct., May 16, 1925

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The Pine Grove ball ground at Sandy Hook is no more, as it has been plowed up. It is said, as a result, there will be no baseball team in Sandy Hook this year. John Stefanko has leased the former ball ground and is planting it with corn.

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William Egan of Walnut Tree Hill attended the State Foresters’ Convention in Waterbury, Tuesday and Wednesday. Mr Egan went as representative of Court Sandy Hook, No. 54.

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Miss Josie Jeane, who has been a patient in the New Haven hospital, has returned home improved in health.

May 25, 1900

The adjourned special town meeting, last Saturday, was not as largely attended as expected, owing no doubt, to the heavy downpour of rain, but despite that fact about 100 turned out. The meeting opened with Charles H. Peck in the chair, when on call from the meeting Attorney W.J. Beecher, acting as secretary for the committee, read the report.

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Rev O.W. Barker, pastor of the Newtown Congregational church, has received a unanimous call to the pastorate of the Taylor Congregational church in New Haven. After giving the matter careful attention, he has declined the same, to the great satisfaction of the local church, which is united and harmonious under his leadership. Mr Barker’s devotion to his people and work here has been barked, and in strong contrast to the actions of some ministers of this denomination who are affected by the itch for larger places.

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Mrs R.D. Smith and children were in Bridgeport, Monday, guests of Mrs Sarah H. Smith.

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Trinity church choir on Sunday morning, May 13, had the assistance of Jullian Sterling, the basso of Park street Congregational church, Bridgeport. He sang in a very acceptable manner for the offertory “My God, My Father, while I stray,” by Marston.

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THE NEWTOWN LIBRARY List Of New Books Recently Added: 1278. Trinity Bells, Amelia E. Barr. 1279. The Freedom of the Sea, C.S. Brady. 1280. In Connection with the De Willoughby Claim, F.H. Burnett. 1281. A Strange Story, Bulwer. 1282. Young April, Egeston Castle. 1283. Merles Cerles, Rosa N. Carey. 1284. When Knighthood Was In Flower, Edwin Caskoden. 1285. Red Pottage, Mary Cholmondeley. 1286. Via Crucis, F.M. Crawford. 1287. Janice Meredith, P.L. Ford.

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.