October 18, 1996

Clean-up efforts continue two weeks after a fiery crash killed the driver of a tanker truck that rolled onto its side while traveling on Sugar Street, near its intersection with Hattertown Road. The gas-filled tanker rolled onto its side, struck two utility poles, then plunged into the parking lot of George’s Restaurant, where it burst into a ball of flames. No one in the restaurant was injured. Newtown Police Department Lt David Lydem said the department’s investigation remains open as it awaits the results of a state police reconstruction of the scene. George Hoti, owner of the restaurant, said he expects to reopen some time later this month.

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Wednesday night, First Selectman Bob Cascella proposed a “house-cleaning” of the annual budget process to an ad hoc committee of the Legislative Council. He is looking to consolidate the annual budget by creating less spending categories. For example, the first selectman wants to lump all of the town’s gas and oil accounts into one centralized account in the Public Works Department, instead of having them spread out over police, fire etc.

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An international film crew has been in Newtown the past couple of weeks shooting scenes for the motion picture Pink Pumpkins at Dawn. Tuesday afternoon, cameras were rolling in a field at the Orchard Hill Nature Center. The bright autumn leaves were at their peak, providing a near-perfect backdrop for the shooting. The low budget movie is being directed by Rick Onerato, a Brookfield High School graduate, who said he chose Newtown for the film because of its picturesque setting and close proximity to New York City. Rick is the son of Newtown resident Nancy Onorato, an assistant principal at Newtown Middle School. Filming has also been done at Fairfield Hills Hospital and in Danbury and Brookfield.

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Thirty minutes into the special screening of the feature film Sleepers Tuesday at the Rich Forum/Stamford Center for the Arts, a definite rustle went through the audience. On the screen was a blue school bus filled with juvenile delinquents, rounding a bend on a tree-lined road. An ordinary shot to establish scenery for most film-watchers, but for many in the audience it was an especially memorable moment: It was the Town of Newtown’s first appearance on the big screen in Sleepers, a drama based on the autobiographical account of Lorenzo Carcaerra’s life while growing up in Hell’s Kitchen. The film stars Brad Renfro, Kevin Bacon, Jason Patric, Brad Pitt, Robert DeNiro, and a host of others, was partially filmed on the campus of Fairfield Hills Hospital last summer. Fairfield Hills was transformed into Wikinson Home for the Boys for the Barry Levinson-directed feature.

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All 12 of the Newtown High School cheerleaders who participated in the Elite Cheerleading Clinic at NHS in August earned Elite All-American honors, it was announced recently. “This is a very big deal,” said NHS Cheerleaders Coach Pam Beer. “The award is an individual honor and it’s very uncommon for the entire team to make it.”

October 22, 1971

The Newtown Park and Recreation Commission announced the appointment of Newtown’s first full-time recreation director at it meeting on Tuesday, October 19. He is Edward F. O’Dowd of Marquette, Michigan, and was chosen from a field of 47 candidates. Mr O’Dowd’s qualifications include a good educational background and a great deal of experience in the field of recreation.

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Newtown’s Selectmen at their October 19 meeting one by one expressed their unwillingness to sign a call to a town meeting on the Vietnam War. Purpose of the meeting was to give townspeople a chance to vote on immediate withdrawal of US troops. At their October 5 meeting the Selectmen had agreed to call such a meeting, provided the call were to be legally drawn by Town Counsel, embodying the sense of a resolution presented to the Selectmen by the Vietnam Veterans Against The War. This group in Newtown is headed by William J. Clark and is seeking immediate withdrawal as well as no future involvement of US troops in wars undeclared by Congress.

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If talk of Veterans’ Day has taken you by surprise this year, it may be because it has fallen on a new, earlier, date — this Monday, October 25. Monday is Veterans’ Day and the schools, the library, town hall offices, and the post office will be closed. Because of its new location, the high school will not march to the monument this year, but will observe the holiday on Friday with a short program of music and recitation over the intercom system as part of the homeroom period in the morning.

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The Panacea will be in concert at the Newtown High School on Friday, October 22, starting at 8 pm. The program is being sponsored by the high school drama club, and proceeds will go towards the scholarship fund. Tickets are $1.50 and may be purchased at the door the night of the performance.

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In Congregation Ahavath Achim Synagogue Sunday, October 17, Rabbi Joshua P. Epstein pronounced Miss Bonny Beth Nezvesky and David Alan Salad man and wife. The bride is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Maurice S. Nezvesky of Huntingtown Road, Newtown. The bridegroom is the son of Mrs and Mrs Isadore Salad of Bloomfield. Miss Karen Ruth Nezvesky was maid of honor for her sister. Bridesmaids were Mrs Christopher Beck and Miss Trudy Jacobs, cousins of the bride; Mrs Michael S. Rosenthal, college roommate of the bride; and Mrs Charles E. Goring Jr. Norman Rulnick was best man for his nephew. Ushers were Bruce Salad, brother of the groom; Lawrence Lewis, Seymour Feldblum, and Michael S. Rosenthal.

October 18, 1956

The Newtown Rotary Club is sponsoring next Thursday night a benefit movie, “Jane Eyre,” at the Edmond town Hall theater for the purpose of compiling and potting into permanent form the records of Newtown men and women who served in the armed forces during World War II.

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Percy Grainger, world famous pianist and composer, is coming to the Edmond Town Hall on Tuesday, November 19, to give a full evening piano recital. Sponsors and subscribers of the Newtown Orchestral Society under whose auspices the recital is presented, are being given the opportunity to reserve seats before they go on sale to the general public on October 21. Seats are priced at $1.80 and $1.20, tax included, and can be reserved by telephoning Meken’s, Newtown 240.

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George M. Stuart, is has been announced by the Connecticut USO State Campaign Committee, has been appointed Newtown chairman for the 1946 Campaign. Mr Stuart served throughout the war, first as Chairman of the USO drives and then as chairman of the United War Fund drives. The drive for funds from Newtown started October 15th and will end November 15th, with a quota of $800. The countrywide quota is $19,000,000.

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In spite of forbidding weather, there was a good attendance at the benefit auction for the fund for the proposed addition to the Congregational church building, held in the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium last Saturday, and more than $1,000 was realized toward the project. It is estimated that about $950 was raised on the auction itself, and final figures are expected to show over $150 proceeds from the cafeteria conducted by the Women’s Federation of the church in connection with the auction.

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Robert Hawley, son of Mrs and Mrs Charles F. Hawley, and Frank H. Leaver, son of William Leaver, who enlisted in the U.S. Army two weeks ago, are now stationed at Fort Dix, N.J., prior to being sent to another camp for basic training.

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Residents of Newtown with soda and acid fire extinguishers which they wish to have refilled, should get in touch with Fred Mayer, first chief of the Newtown Volunteer Fire Company. The material will be furnished at no cost by the Fire Company. In the interest of adequate fire protection, fire extinguishers should be kept in usable condition at all times.

October 21, 1921

A very pretty surprise shower was given, Thursday evening, at the home of Mrs and Mrs Bernard Keane, of 698 Shelton street, Bridgeport, for Miss Gertrude Bradley, of this town, who became the bride of John Keane on Wednesday. Many games were enjoyed as were the vocal selections by Miss Genevieve Brown, accompanied by Dr J.J. Kersey, after which a luncheon was served. The house was prettily decorated with dahlias, interspersed among green and gold colors. Miss Bradley was presented with a very pretty electric table lamp. There were about 40 guests present, among whom were the following from Newtown: Postmaster and Mrs Robert T. Bradley, Mr and Mrs Michael Crowe, Helen Finkelmeir, Mary Bradley, Margaret Hourigan, Margaret White, Clara and STET Firoence Sheehan, Gertrude Bradley, Messrs Harry and Edward Bradley, Paul Cavanaugh, Dr J.J. Kersey, ad John Kene.

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Mr and Mrs Ralph O’Rouke of Far Rockaway, L.I., are guests of Mr and Mrs Martin A. Donahue of Queen street.

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That the motion picture drama is the best medium for the moulding of sentiment toward preservation of the sacredness of the home was the declaration of the Rev Lincoln Caswell, pastor of the Crawford Memorial church, New York, during a sermon on “Mother and the Fifth Commandment.” Dr Caswell elects to choose his topics for Sunday night sermons from the stage and the screen. He selected recently as his topic, “Over the Hill,” the William Fox film production, which is to open a one week engagement at Taylor’s Opera House, Danbury, on October 23.

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MOVING PICTURES At The Town Hall, Newtown: This week, Saturday night, Mary Miles Minter, that screen favorite will be seen in “Judy of Rogue’s Harbor.” Some Harbor and some Judy and also some Rogues. But that’s the story. If you want to laugh and hold your breath and enjoy a regular first aid to happiness here’s your chance. We can’t show “Judy of Rogue’s Harbor” every Saturday night, we wish we could. One of the season’s best features, it opens with a bang and closes with – oh, boy! Come and see for yourself. The curtain will probably ring down for the winter next week, Saturday, the 29th. A good news reel this week.

October 23, 1896

THE EDITOR’S FAMILIAR CHAT: The promoters of the excellent musical entertainment given at Sandy Hook, Wednesday night, deserve the thanks of all whose good fortune it was to be present. It was of a high order and reflected great credit on those having it in charge.

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The republican caucus to nominate a candidate for judge of probate was held on Monday night. It was called for the Brick building, but the attendance was so large an adjournment was made to the Town hall. Veteran republicans who cast their first vote for John C. Fremont declared it to be the largest republican caucus in their memory. E.L. Johnson was the chairman of the meeting. Following the votes by 81 men, William J. Beecher was the overwhelming winner.

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BOTSFORD AND VICINITY: Mrs Eliza Bray has removed her fence, much improving the looks of her place. | H.C. Beers contemplates building another hennery to add to his extensive poultry farm. | Our popular merchant, A.B. Blakeman, is improving his house with a coat of paint inside and out. | Charles Canfield is doing the work. Blakeman also opened his house to a social party on the 20th. | Morris Beers has accepted a position in a meat market at Lime Rock.

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.