October 16, 1998

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Junior Dreher.

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Dozens of Bee readers got quite a surprise last Thursday afternoon when they pulled up in front of The Bee offices to purchase their weekly newspaper. Except for the banner, a six-inch story, and a weather report, the paper they received was completely blank. The printing press must have broken down, some figured. Maybe there was simply no news to print, others thought. Gotcha! Smile, you’re on Candid Camera. It’s true. Candid Camera was in town to film a piece for one of its upcoming shows.

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A public health alert was issued this week after bird-biting mosquitoes that carried the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus were found in Newtown and Ridgefield. The infected bird-biting mosquitoes (Culiseta melanura) do not carry an immediate health risk to humans, according to Newtown Health District Director Mark A.R. Cooper. But they can precede the appearance of human-biting mosquitoes that carry the dangerous virus, he said.

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Commander Kenneth M. Law of Sandy Hook has completed a 15-month assignment as commanding officer of Helicopter Squadron Light Nine Four (HSL-94) at the Naval Air Station in Willow Grove, Penna. HSL-94 deploys seven detachments aboard Naval Reserve frigates, taking an active role in peacetime contributory support for counternarcotics operations in the Caribbean and Joint Naval operations in the Baltic Sea and throughout Europe. While under the command of Cmdr Law, the Titans of HSL-94 received the Admiral Alfred M. Pride Award for anti-submarine warfare excellence, Gold Wrench Aircraft Maintenance Award, Chief of Naval Operations Award, and the Administrative Excellence Award.

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Mike Pelillo of Sandy Hook has won his second Cully Award in four years. The Cullys are the culinary equivalent of the Oscars and the Emmys in the foodservice industry. The national award is presented to a select group of professional chefs each year, each of whom wins a different category for creating original recipes. Mike actually won his second grand prize and an honorable mention Cully Award this year for his recipe New England BBQ Haddock, using Kraft Regular Open Pit BBQ Sauce.

October 12, 1973

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — CHANGING THE GUARD: The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace has long been a ritual of much pomp and ceremony. It symbolizes something of the rich history of the British Empire, drawing spectators from around the world who always watch it with a deep sense of awe and admiration. With this issue of The Bee, there is a sort of changing of the guard on this newspaper, as the title of editor is passed from father to son. Just a year ago a stroke suddenly curtailed my accustomed activity in the editor’s chair, and without prior notice my duties were taken up unhesitatingly by my son, R. Scudder Smith. Those same months find my health still improving under therapy, but short of the complete recovery which would allow a full work schedule. Moreover, a stint of forty years is about long enough to warrant my retirement to an advisory and part-time capacity which I will fill in the future. And so The Bee’s masthead is now changed to show R. Scudder Smith as editor and business manager, with my own name bearing the title of consulting editor. This seems an appropriate time to applaud the entire staff for the fine performance of each member. I also thank The Bee’s many readers and advertisers for the support given to the paper under my leadership. And, of course, my greatest satisfaction comes from a son willing, capable and eager to continue to make of The Bee a weekly newspaper whose prime purpose will always be to serve to the best of its ability the town and the surrounding area in which it has been circulating each week since 1877. —Paul S. Smith.

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Zoar Cemetery on Route 34 has had its face lifted, thanks to a willing group of volunteers who cared enough to devote their time and muscle power for the past several Sundays. The idea to fix up the old cemetery was Hiram Hanlon’s, who organized the work crews. Mr Hanlon also went to New Hampshire and brought back cans of a special epoxy to use to mend tombstones. All in all, 65 stones were either uprighted or repaired by the men. Many of those stones were the older ones dating back to when the cemetery was first created, early on in the town’s history.

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At the Board of Police Commissioners meeting on Monday, October 8, Police Chief Louis Marchese presented a report of the department’s activities for the period from September 1 to September 30. There were 27,306 miles patrolled during that period, 466 complaints handled, 125 formal case investigations, 136 motor vehicle arrests, 81 motor vehicle warnings issued, 217 total motor vehicle contacts, and 28 criminal arrests made. A breakdown of the formal case investigations shows they concerned the following: motor vehicle accidents, 38; motor vehicle complaints, 18; assaults, 5; burglaries, 8; breaches of the peace, 6; larcenies, 21; missing persons, 3; robberies, 1; patients returned to Fairfield Hills, 4. Also, frauds, 1; criminal mischief, 12; narcotics violations, 1; untimely deaths, 1; liquor violations, 2; weapons violations, 1; canine investigations, 2; and miscellaneous, 1.

October 8, 1948

The prediction that Newtown would cast its heaviest vote in the town elections this year was invalidated at the polls on Monday, for the total of 1,662 ballots cast was a decrease of 173 over the total of last year. Voting was steady throughout the day, from the time the polls opened at 6 am, until closing, but there was no long line of electors in the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium except in the final half-hour, when last-minute voters arrived in time to get under the wire. The Republicans won over their Democratic opponents by a two-to-one majority.

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Mr and Mrs Henry Johnson and John Johnson of Curtis Hill road have returned from a trip to Colorado and California. While in Colorado, they visited with Mr and Mrs Robert Schweighardt, daughter and son-in-law of Mr and Mrs Henry Johnson, who joined them on their trip to California where they were the guests of Mr and Mrs John Schweighardt. On their return home, they stopped at Chicago where they were guests of Mr and Mrs Louis Von Stefenelli.

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Rev B.S. Winchester is improving slowly at the Grace New Haven hospital where he has been under treatment for the past two weeks.

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Friends of Francis Casey will be pleased to learn that he is much improved after a major operation performed a week ago at the Bridgeport hospital. “Frank” is expected home the end of this coming week.

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CARD OF THANKS: I wish to thank my neighbors and the Fire Company for answering the call to my house to try and save the chicken I left cooking on the gas stove when I went out Sunday afternoon. I had my chicken Monday night! —John A. Carlson

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The food sale which was held on Election Day by the PTA at the Town Hall brought in the sum of $93 and $2.75 of this amount is being awarded as prizes to the winners of the contest which was conducted among the school children for the best posters advertising the sale. The winners were: William McQuillan, first prize, $1.00; Kenny Berglund, second prize, 75 cents; and Sally Jones and Sally Lorenzo, who tied for third prize, winning 50 cents each. The PTA wishes to thank all those who contributed their food, time and money to the project.

October 12, 1923

Master Francis Hubbell was a visitor at the Danbury fair on Saturday.

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Mr and Mrs A.P. Smith and Miss Hazel H. Smith passed Sunday in Bridgeport, guests of Mr and Mrs Martin A. Moller of Dewey Street. Mr Smith spoke morning and evening at the Swedish Congregational church.

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Miss Hazel H. Smith and Miss Anna Connors passed Saturday at the Danbury fair.

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Michael Cavanaugh, operator at the Newtown railroad station, has bought a new Chevrolet touring car, bought of F.E. Knox, the Woodbury hustler.

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Mr and Mrs David N. Hubbard of Berlin and Mr and Mrs Albert Hubbard of Higganum were guests over Saturday, September 30, of Mr and Mrs Curtis Morgan.

October 14, 1898

Parties entered the club house at Walnut Tree Hill on Saturday night or Sunday morning and acted in the meanest of manner, by turning over all the furniture and breaking three chairs. This did not satisfy their desire for mischief, so they proceeded to tear the pictures from the wall, and destroy them. They lighted the lamp and turning it up to the exploding point, left the building in danger of catching fire. In driving away from the premises their carriage was overturned by driving off a bank wall in front of the building. One of the party was injured very badly, and thereby hangs the clue to their identity. Now the parties are known to the members of the club, and it will be to their interest to call at the club and pay the damages or the law will take its course. Signed,—[Walnut Tree Hill Club.

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At the regular meeting of the Walnut Tree Hill social club the following were elected for the ensuing term: President, Daniel J. Lyons; vice-president, James W. Colgan; treasurer, Henry L. Meyers; secretary, Charles F. Cavanaugh; inside guard, T.J. Harrigan; outside guard, Edward A. Lyons; sergeant at arms, P.F. Lynch; trustees, Thomas F. Leavy, James J. McMahon, Charles F., Meyers. After the meeting members enjoyed a social session and all had an enjoyable time. A vote of thanks was extended to the out-going officers. [Charles F. Cavanaugh, Secretary.

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The Men’s club was very pleasantly entertained, Wednesday night, by Daniel G. Beers.

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E.C. Platt, the Hawleyville lumber dealer, has secured the contract for the lumber for Senator Platt’s new house to be erected in Washington.

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E.F. Hawley offers $5 reward for return of bag containing a canvas tent lost between Newtown Street and Fair grounds, Thursday, September 29. No questions will be asked.

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.