August 5, 1994

Last year, at about this point in the summer, the Newtown Village Cemetery Association disappointed the not insignificant segment of the town’s population that takes a proprietary interest in the Ram Pasture by mowing down the spectacular profusion of loosestrife in full bloom on the property. A number of loosestrife lovers, from serious painters to passers-by, complained bitterly — some to the first selectman’s office. The issue even appeared on the agenda for the Board of Selectmen, which seemed puzzled as to what it was doing there when it came time to discuss the issue. This year, to avoid the fuss and help preserve the pasture’s summer beauty, we urge the cemetery association to spare the loosestrife, at least until after Labor Day.

***

Ideas for a theme and decorations are needed for the Hawley School float, which will be entered in the Labor Day Parade. Any Hawley parents who are interested in creating the float may call Beth at 426-7117 or Debi at 426-8632. The group hopes to schedule their first meeting next week.

***

State police report an inmate’s untimely death at Garner Correctional Institution on July 29. State police said Kmarr Semedo, no given age, formerly of Bridgeport, apparently suffered a seizure while locked in his cell, and lost consciousness. State police said attempts to revive him failed. Mr Semedo was rushed to Danbury Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 5:50 am. Mr Semedo had a history of asthma problems, police said.

***

The Town Hall Board of Managers and the Democratic Town Committee have invited the community to a “gala” scheduled for Sunday, August 21, at the Edmond Town Hall to honor Betty Lou Osborne and Sarah Mannix. The two women recently resigned from the Board of Managers after serving a combined 80 years on the board. The gala is from 11 am to 2 pm. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by August 14.

***

Over The Back Fence. It was in the days of radio and fierce competition between the Red Sox and the Yankees, as baseball season began. We lugged a little brown leather radio wherever we went, and Red Barber was our “man of the hour.” Later, he announced the games on a TV network. Finally one day there was a special game — a perfect game. It was the ninth inning, the ball was hit hard — Red Barber merely groaned. Then he bit hard on his lower lip to keep from saying whether or not it was a hit or ball four. Only after the very definite signal of the referee did Red burst into a smile that lit up the broadcaster’s box. “A perfect game,” he said. Just like the ones Red was used to seeing in their sand lot games down south.

July 25, 1969

Mr and Mrs Harvey Hubbell 4th of West Street and two of their children, Gayle and Harvey 5th, were guests of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fla. for the launch of Apollo 11. “On Wednesday morning we awoke at 2:45 in Daytona and drove 70 miles to Titusville. Mr and Mrs Nicholas Sikorsky joined us where we got our first view of “the bird,” in its final stages of preparation, still some 12 miles away across the Indian River on launch pad 39A. Television prepares you for the familiar configuration of the vehicle, but TV is most deceiving as to the Saturn’s scale and dramatic impact. At 4 o’clock in the morning a floodlit white monument 36 stories high is an impressive sight... Nick Sikorsky put into perspective the unbelievable growth in the capability of flight, stating that he was a babe in arms on Roosevelt Field in September 1926, when his father’s ill-fated S-35 crashed in the quest to be the first non-stop flight to Paris. The prize was destined to be won by his friends Charles Lindbergh on May 21, 1927. Now only 42 years after the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic, we are watching the first flight to the moon... Science will be served as we learn more about our earth and our universe because of our ability to reach and use the moon. History has been made and inscribed on the ten-foot high landing half of Eagle remaining perched upright upon the moon is this inscription, “Here men from Planet Earth first set foot upon the moon July, 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.”

***

The Connecticut Association for Mental Health has reaffirmed its desire for an independent evaluation of charges made about operations at Fairfield Hills Hospital and has indicated that it will seek the support and advice of various Connecticut professional mental health organizations. President of the voluntary citizen’s action group is Mrs W. Robert Wilson of Norwich.

***

The unsightly accumulation of refuse, which has been growing in Sandy Hook’s Rocky Glen for many years was the subject of much discussion and also plans for action at the Conservation Commission meeting on July 21. The site, owned by Thor Plastics, is on a steep slope that drops off from Black Bridge Road to the Pootatuck River. According to Tom McClintock, Commission member, Thor has been concerned about the situation for some time. At least one old car, refrigerators and other bulky household items have been thrown there, as well as just plain garbage. The result is a narrowing of the river gorge to a point where choking the stream entirely has become a real possibility. Pollution from the illegally dumped raw garbage is a constant offense to area residents and a health hazard. The river empties into Lake Zoar a short distance from the scenic Rocky Glen. A portion of The Glen is a state park. Mr McClintock reported a possible solution to the dumping at Monday’s meeting. He has talked to Thor executives who say that the company cannot afford to remove the refuse and fence off the area; however, the firm would heartily agree to having the town do it. He has also spoken with First Selectman Timothy Treadwell. The plan is to have the town provide a thin layer of fill to cover the region and let nature do the rest. It will take at least 400 feet of eight-foot fencing to prevent further illegal dumping.

***

Lake Zoar is to receive its annual copper sulphate treatment against algae on Monday, July 28. Boats will be put out from Eichler’s Marina in Sandy Hook and from Lakeside Marina in Southbury. As The Bee goes to press, the starting time is not yet definite but volunteers are asked to bring their boats to one of those two locations at about 2 pm or shortly thereafter. Howard and Joyce Hornbecker, Lakeside Marina owners, and Zygmunt Kacprzynski, owner of Eichler’s, are cooperating with the project, with Bryant Edgerton rounding up volunteers from the Sandy Hook side. Newtown’s part in the project is this year under the Park and Recreation Commission, With Art Bennett in charge. Dr Richard Benoit, chief of marine research of the Electric Boat Company in Groton will supervise.

***

The Bee’s box of old photos is bulging and must be emptied. Newtowners and others whose pictures have been used in past issues of The Bee are invited to come in and remove their photos. Old photos not claimed by August 8 will be reluctantly discarded.

July 28, 1944

Mr and Mrs Walter Mann, former residents of Taunton district, now located in Washington D.C., have been spending several days in town, staying at the home of Mr and Mrs Clark Blackman, Church Road. Friends were glad to see them back in town, although it was only for a few days. Both Mr and Mrs Mann are doing war work in Washington.

***

Items of Interest. Mrs Ann Bartow and Miss Barbara Bartow of Oneonta, N.Y., are visiting Mrs Grover Loveland of Stevenson. Mrs Florence Sherry of Great Quarter is spending a week’s vacation at her home. Mr and Mrs Thomas Jennings and daughter Elizabeth spent the weekend at the Holmes cottage. On Sunday, Mr and Mrs J.P. Fritz and granddaughter Joan Fardella, returned to New Jersey after spending their vacations with Mr and Mrs Clarence Wentworth.

***

The Newtown Rotary Club held its weekly supper meeting at the Parker House on Monday evening. The speaker of the evening, Dr. Benjamin S. Winchester, was introduced by Frank Strasburger. The subject of Dr Winchester’s address was, “Newtown Prepares for Tomorrow.” He prefaced his remarks by asking his auditors to think of the 300 names of local men and women now appearing on the Honor Roll at the Edmond Town Hall, many of whom will come back to settle in Newtown after the war and make their homes here, and asked, “What will they have a right to expect?” — not in vague abstractions such as “freedom,” “democracy,” “justice,” etc., but something very concrete — a house to rent or own, a plot of ground on which to make a home, good schools for children, a chance to work and earn a living, enough to eat and wear, a chance to enjoy healthy recreation, a feeling of security against accident and disease… these are some of the things they have a right to expect; not charity, public or private, but a chance to help themselves.

***

Here’s news for all war gardeners! For all housewives who can, preserve and store! The Bridgeport War Council with the cooperation of Howland’s announces the coming of the War Gardeners Harvest Show! September 14, 15, and 16 on our 3rd floor auditorium. Come one, all you victory gardeners. Better start weeding — don’t forget to spray. Tell the missus to get the pressure cooker out. It’s time to get busy if you expect any blue ribbons. Here’s a chance to prove your cabbages ARE bigger than your neighbor’s. Start planning for the bigger-than-ever show.

***

Miss Laura Gower of Dodgingtown, who is in on the staff of the F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company of Danbury, enjoyed a week’s vacation at Ted Hilton’s hide-away in Moodus, Conn.

July 25, 1919

Frank Corbett motored to Danbury Friday evening. Frank appears to have some place to go!

***

Selectman Newton Curtis thinks from present appearances he will have about half a peach crop this season. There was a heavy blow but in the spring the small peaches began to drop off. The orchard south of his house is doing very well, this year, while the orchards, west and south of his residence, are not bearing so many peaches.

***

P.J. Sullivan and bride, who was Miss Catherine Lynch of Danbury, have returned from their wedding trip and are now at the Newtown Inn. They were married in St Peter’s Church, Danbury, Wednesday morning, July 16. A wedding breakfast followed at the Newtown Inn, after which the happy couple left for a trip to New York City.

***

J.D. Kimball, Miss Erminie Kimball and Kenworth Kimball of Woodbury were callers at The Bee office on Thursday morning.

***

Thomas Holian, the capable agent of the Newtown railroad station, is enjoying a vacation of two weeks. Motor trips have been enjoyed to Middletown and other cities.

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.